JP7209232B2 - recording device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a recording apparatus that performs recording by ejecting liquid onto a recording medium.

In Patent Document 1, in order to prevent ink (liquid) from adhering to a discharge section (receiving section) or to a sheet (recording medium) placed in the discharge section, the sheet onto which ink has been discharged is moved downstream and downstream of the head. After waiting (stopping) and drying in a guide (downstream path) provided upstream of the discharge part,
Ejection to an ejection section is shown (see paragraphs 0038, 0042 and FIG. 1).

JP 2014-080011 A

When printing is continuously performed on a plurality of recording media, if the individual recording media are sequentially stopped and dried in the downstream path as in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-200013, the throughput may decrease.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to suppress a decrease in throughput even when it is necessary to stop a recording medium onto which liquid has been ejected in a conveying path and dry it when continuously recording onto a plurality of recording media. To provide a recording device capable of

A recording apparatus according to the present invention includes a liquid ejection section having a plurality of ejection openings for ejecting liquid;
a storage section for storing the recording medium fed to the liquid ejection section; a receiving section for receiving the recording medium on which the liquid has been ejected by the liquid ejection section; a conveying unit that conveys a recording medium along a conveying path leading to the receiving unit via a position; An upstream route to the facing position, a downstream route from the facing position to the receiving section, and a switchback route branching from the downstream route and returning to the upstream route or the downstream route, wherein the control unit a first determination process for determining whether or not the recording medium onto which the liquid has been ejected needs to be stopped in the conveying path and dried when performing continuous recording on a plurality of recording media; a transport control process for controlling the transport unit so that the recording medium is stopped in the transport path when it is determined in the determination process that the recording medium needs to be dried; In the switchback, the conveying direction, which is the direction in which the recording medium is conveyed by the conveying unit, is reversed for the one recording medium that has been conveyed from the upstream path to the downstream path and recorded at the opposing position. A recording medium different from the one recording medium and transported from the upstream path to the downstream path to the opposite position. stopping another recording medium on which recording has been performed in a state in which at least a portion thereof is in the downstream path while the one recording medium is stopped in a state in which at least a portion thereof is in the switchback path. It is characterized by

According to the present invention, when recording is continuously performed on a plurality of recording media, even if it is necessary to stop the recording media onto which the liquid has been ejected and dry them in the conveying path, the individual recording media can also be dried. By simultaneously stopping a plurality of recording media (the first recording medium and the other recording medium) on the switchback path and the downstream path instead of stopping at the same location in order, the total number of recording media during recording can be reduced. Drying stop time is shortened, and a decrease in throughput can be suppressed.

In the transport control process, the control unit causes the one recording medium, which has been stopped with at least part of it on the switchback path, to return to the upstream path or the downstream path without reversing the transport direction. A second determination process is executed for determining whether or not movement in the returning direction is started, and the another recording medium is continued until it is determined in the second determination process that the one recording medium has started the movement. is kept stopped in the downstream path, and when it is determined in the second determination process that the one recording medium has started the movement, at least a part of the recording medium is stopped in the downstream path. Another recording medium may be transported to the switchback path by reversing the transport direction. According to the above configuration, collision between recording media can be prevented. again,
When one recording medium starts to move, another recording medium is transported to the switchback path and dried in the switchback path without waiting until the other recording medium dries, thereby further reducing the decrease in throughput. can be suppressed.

In the transport control process, the control unit executes a stop time derivation process for deriving a stop time necessary for drying each recording medium, and the one recording medium is transported on the transport path until the stop time is equal to the stop time. After stopping with at least a part of the sheet on the switchback path for the stop time derived in the derivation process or longer, the sheet is returned to the upstream path or the downstream path without reversing the conveying direction. may start moving. According to the above configuration, by drying the recording medium and then returning it to the upstream path or the downstream path, it is possible to prevent the liquid from adhering to the constituent members of the upstream path or the downstream path.

The switchback path diverges from the downstream path and returns to the upstream path, and the controller controls a plurality of recording media each having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. On the other hand, in the transport control process when performing recording on both sides continuously, the one recording medium on which recording has been performed on the first side is stopped in a state where at least part of it is on the switchback path. After that, the sheet is returned to the upstream path without reversing the conveying direction, and after the second surface is recorded at the opposing position, the sheet is conveyed from the downstream path to the receiving section, and The other recording medium having the first surface recorded thereon is transferred to the first recording medium having the first surface recorded.
may be stopped with at least part of the recording medium being in the downstream path when at least part of the recording medium is in the switchback path. According to the above configuration, by using a path originally provided as a path for double-sided recording as a switchback path,
Addition of a route becomes unnecessary, and complication of the device configuration can be avoided. In addition, after the recording medium on which recording has been performed on the first side is stopped in the switchback path, it is transported to the upstream path and recorded on the second side, so that the recording medium is dried and stopped and then faced again. The time required to reach the position can be shortened, and recording on the second surface of the recording medium can be performed quickly.

The switchback path diverges from the downstream path and returns to the upstream path, and the controller controls a plurality of recording media each having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. On the other hand, in the transport control process when the recording on both sides is continuously performed, the transport direction of the another recording medium on which recording has been performed on the first surface is reversed and the transport direction is reversed from the downstream path. The sheet is conveyed to the back path, returned from the switchback path to the upstream path without reversing the conveying direction, conveyed from the upstream path to the downstream path, and recorded on the second surface at the facing position. After being recorded, the recording medium is stopped with at least a part of it being in the downstream path, and recording is performed next to the another recording medium on which the first surface has been recorded. When the one recording medium is conveyed from the downstream path to the switchback path by reversing the conveying direction, and the another recording medium is stopped with at least a part of it being in the downstream path, It may be stopped while at least part of it is on the switchback path. According to the above configuration, by using the path originally provided as the path for double-sided recording as the switchback path, it is possible to eliminate the need to add a path and avoid complication of the apparatus configuration. The other recording medium after double-sided recording is stopped in the downstream path to dry both sides, and the recording medium 1 after single-sided recording is stopped in the switchback path to dry one side (first side). . That is, by simultaneously drying a total of three surfaces at two locations, a decrease in throughput can be more reliably suppressed.

The control unit is configured to derive a stop time required for drying each recording medium in the transport control process when printing is continuously performed on both sides of a plurality of recording media having both sides. executing a process to stop the another recording medium while at least part of it is in the downstream path so that the stop time in the transport path is longer than or equal to the stop time derived in the stop time derivation process Afterwards, it may be transported to the receiver. According to the above configuration, by drying the recording medium and then conveying it to the receiving section, it is possible to more reliably prevent the liquid from adhering to the receiving section or the recording medium received in the receiving section.

When continuously recording on three or more recording media, the control unit controls n (n=natural number)
the first surface of the n-th recording medium, the first surface of the n+1-th recording medium, the second surface of the n-th recording medium, the first surface of the n+2-th recording medium, the n+1-th recording medium the second side,
The transport unit and the liquid ejection unit may be controlled so that printing is performed in the order of . Throughput can be improved by performing recording in the above order.

The control unit controls the transportation when continuously performing recording on the first surfaces of a plurality of recording media each having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. In processing
The recording medium on which recording has been performed on the first side is reversed in the conveying direction, conveyed from the downstream route to the switchback route, and is again conveyed from the switchback route without reversing the conveying direction. When conveyed to the downstream path and received by the receiving section, the liquid ejecting section is controlled so that printing is performed in descending page order when the first surface faces the side opposite to the receiving section. You can If the pages are printed in ascending order as described above, the pages on the recording medium in the receiving unit are placed in descending order after printing is completed, and the user needs to rearrange the order of the pages. In this regard, according to the above configuration, the order of the pages of the recording medium in the receiving section is in ascending order after the completion of recording, and the user does not need to rearrange the order of the pages.

The transport unit includes a transport member that transports the recording medium in contact with the recording medium in the switchback path, and the control unit controls whether a predetermined amount or more of liquid is ejected onto the recording medium before the transport control process. and, after the extraction process, a determination process of determining a stop position of the recording medium on the switchback path so that the area extracted by the extraction process does not come into contact with the conveying member. can be executed. According to the above configuration, it is possible to prevent the liquid adhering to the recording medium from transferring to the conveying member (and thus the liquid adhering to the conveying member from transferring to the recording medium conveyed along the switchback path).

Before the conveyance control process, after the determination process, the control unit determines whether a part of the recording medium is caught in the downstream path when the recording medium is stopped at the stop position determined in the determination process. If it is determined in the third determination process that the recording medium does not overlap the downstream path, in the transport control process, at least part of the one recording medium is stopping the recording medium on the switchback path, and at least part of the recording medium is on the downstream path while the other recording medium is stopped with at least part of the recording medium on the switchback path; If the recording medium is stopped in a certain state and it is determined in the third determination process that part of the recording medium is caught in the downstream path, the transport control process includes:
At least part of the one recording medium is stopped in the switchback path, and at least part of the another recording medium is received after the one recording medium is received in the receiving section. It may be stopped while in the switchback path. According to the above configuration, it is possible to select an appropriate process according to the length and stop position of the recording medium and dry the recording medium.

The conveying section may include a spur roller that contacts and conveys the recording medium in the downstream path. The spur roller has a small contact area with the recording medium and makes point contact with the recording medium. Therefore, according to the above configuration, when the recording medium after printing is conveyed along the downstream path, the liquid adhering to the recording medium is transferred to the roller (and the liquid adhering to the roller is transferred along the downstream path). transfer to the conveyed recording medium) can be prevented.

According to the present invention, when recording is continuously performed on a plurality of recording media, even if it is necessary to stop the recording media onto which the liquid has been ejected and dry them in the conveying path, the individual recording media can also be dried. By simultaneously stopping a plurality of recording media (the first recording medium and the other recording medium) on the switchback path and the downstream path instead of stopping at the same location in order, the total number of recording media during recording can be reduced. Drying stop time is shortened, and a decrease in throughput can be suppressed.

1 is a schematic side view showing the inside of an inkjet printer according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of an inkjet head included in the inkjet printer of FIG. 1; FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the inkjet printer of FIG. 1; FIG. FIG. 2 is a flow diagram showing the contents of control executed by a control unit of the inkjet printer of FIG. 1; FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing "conveyance control <simultaneous drying stop for two sheets>" S7 in FIG. 4 ; FIG. 10 is a schematic side view showing a state in which the n-th sheet is stopped in the switchback path and the n+1th sheet is stopped in the downstream path in "conveyance control <simultaneous drying stop for two sheets>" S7; FIG. 11 is a schematic side view showing a state in which the n-th sheet is stopped in the switchback path in "conveyance control <stop drying one sheet at a time>" S8; In "conveyance control <simultaneous drying stop of two sheets>" S7, after the state shown in FIG. 10 is a schematic side view showing a state in which the (n+1)th sheet, which has been conveyed by the sheet and stopped in the downstream path, is conveyed to the switchback path and stopped in the switchback path; FIG.

An inkjet printer (hereinafter simply referred to as a "printer") according to an embodiment of the present invention.
) 1 has a housing 1a, as shown in FIG. The internal space of the housing 1a accommodates an inkjet head (hereinafter simply referred to as "head") 10, a platen 20, a paper feed tray 30, a transport section 40, a paper sensor 50, and a control section 1c. A receiving portion 60 is provided on the upper portion of the top plate of the housing 1a.

The head 10 corresponds to the "liquid ejector" of the present invention. The head 10 of this embodiment is a line head elongated in the main scanning direction, and includes a channel unit 12 and an actuator unit 17, as shown in FIG.

The channel unit 12 is a laminate in which plates 12a to 12d are laminated. A channel is formed inside the channel unit 12 . A plurality of discharge ports 14 are formed on the lower surface of the channel unit 12 .
A is an open ejection surface 10x. The channels formed inside the channel unit 12 include one manifold channel 13 and a plurality of individual channels 14 . The individual channel 14 is provided for each discharge port 14a and extends from the outlet of the manifold channel 13 through the pressure chamber 16 to the discharge port 14a. The manifold channel 13 communicates with a tank (not shown) that stores ink. Ink supplied from the tank to the manifold channel 13 passes through the individual channel 14 and is ejected from the ejection port 14a.

The actuator unit 17 includes a vibration plate 17a, a piezoelectric layer 17b and a plurality of individual electrodes 17
c is laminated. The vibration plate 17 a is fixed to the upper surface of the channel unit 12 and closes the plurality of pressure chambers 16 . The piezoelectric layer 17b is fixed to the upper surface of the diaphragm 17a and faces the plurality of pressure chambers 16. As shown in FIG. The plurality of individual electrodes 17c are fixed to the upper surface of the piezoelectric layer 17b,
It faces each of the plurality of pressure chambers 16 . A portion sandwiched between each individual electrode 17c and each pressure chamber 16 in the actuator unit 17 functions as an individual unimorph type actuator for each pressure chamber 16, and operates independently according to the application of voltage to the individual electrode 17c. It is transformable. By deforming the actuator so as to protrude toward the pressure chamber 16, the volume of the pressure chamber 16 is reduced, pressure is applied to the ink in the pressure chamber 16, and the ink is ejected from the ejection port 14a.

The platen 20 consists of a flat plate and is arranged at a position facing the ejection surface 10x.
A predetermined gap suitable for printing is formed between the surface 20x of the platen 20 and the ejection surface 10x.

The paper feed tray 30 corresponds to the “accommodation section” of the present invention, and accommodates the paper P to be fed to the head 10 . The paper P corresponds to the "recording medium" of the present invention. The paper feed tray 30 holds a plurality of sheets P
, and can accommodate a plurality of sizes of paper P, and is detachable from the housing 1a.

The transport unit 40 is configured to transport the paper P along the transport path R from the paper feed tray 30 to the receiving unit 60 via the facing position X facing the ejection surface 10x. The transport route R includes an upstream route R1 from the paper feed tray 30 to the facing position X, a downstream route R2 from the facing position X to the receiving section 60, and a switchback route R branching from the downstream route R2 and returning to the upstream route R1.
3.

The switchback route R3 is the downstream route R at the branch position A determined in the downstream route R2.
2, and joins the upstream route R1 at a confluence position B determined in the upstream route R1. The switchback route R3 is a route having the branch position A as one end, passing under the head 10 and the platen 20, and the joining position B as the other end. At the branch position A, a switching mechanism (not shown) for switching the transport destination of the paper P to either of the routes R2 and R3 is arranged. At the merging position B, a switching mechanism (not shown) for switching the transport destination of the paper P to either of the routes R1 and R3 is arranged. Each switching mechanism is controlled by the controller 1c so that the paper P is conveyed along the determined path.

The transport unit 40 includes a paper feed roller 41 , roller pairs 42 to 46 and a plurality of guides 49 .

The paper feed roller 41 is arranged at a position in contact with the uppermost sheet P in the paper feed tray 30 . The paper feeding roller 41 is controlled by the control unit 1c to move the conveying motor 40M (see FIG. 3).
is driven to rotate, and the paper P located at the uppermost position in the paper feed tray 30 is sent out.

The roller pairs 42 to 46 are arranged along the conveying path R at predetermined intervals. Each of the roller pairs 42 to 46 includes two rollers in contact with each other, and is configured to transport the paper P while being nipped between the two rollers. One of the two rollers forming each of the roller pairs 42 to 46 is a driving roller, which is rotated by driving the conveying motor 40M (see FIG. 3) under the control of the control section 1c. The other of the two rollers forming each roller pair 42 to 46 is a driven roller, which rotates in a direction opposite to the drive roller while being in contact with the drive roller as the drive roller rotates. The paper P sent out from the paper feed tray 30 by the paper feed roller 41 is transported along the transport path R by the rotation of the roller pairs 42 to 46 .

The roller pairs 42, 43, and 46 move in the forward direction (the direction in which the paper P is conveyed in the direction D1 indicated by the black arrow in FIG. 1 in the roller pair 42 and 43, and the paper P in the white It is rotatable only in the direction D2 indicated by the arrow). The roller pairs 44 and 45 are
Forward and reverse directions (the direction in which the paper P is conveyed in the direction D1 and the direction in which the paper P is conveyed in the direction D2)
can be rotated to

Of the roller pairs 43 to 45 arranged on the downstream path R2, one roller (roller in contact with the surface of the paper P on which ink has been ejected at the facing position X during the most recent recording) 43a to 45
A is a spur roller having a plurality of projections on its outer circumference, and the other rollers 43b to 45b are rubber rollers.

The roller pair 46 corresponds to the "conveying member" of the present invention, and conveys the paper P in contact with the paper P in the switchback route R3.

Each guide 49 includes a pair of plates facing each other with a gap therebetween so as to form a space in which the paper P is transported along the transport path R. As shown in FIG.

The paper sensor 50 is turned on when the paper P is at the detection position 50a defined on the upstream route R1.
An N signal and an OFF signal when there is no sheet P at the detection position 50a are output to the controller 1c.

The receiving portion 60 is configured by the top plate of the housing 1a in this embodiment, and receives the paper P transported along the transport path R. As shown in FIG.

The control unit 1c includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 1c1 which is an arithmetic processing unit, an RO
M (Read Only Memory) 1c2, RAM (Random Access Memory) 1c3, ASIC (Ap
Application Specific Integrated Circuit) 1c4, I/F (Interface) 1c5 and I/
O (Input/Output Port) 1c6 is included. The ROM 1c2 stores fixed data such as programs executed by the CPU 1c1. The RAM 1c3 temporarily stores data (such as image data) necessary for the CPU 1c1 to execute the program. The ASIC 1c4 rewrites and rearranges image data (for example, signal processing and image processing). I/F1c5
transmits and receives data to and from an external device (for example, a PC connected to the printer 1). I/O
1c6 transmits and receives signals to and from various sensors including the paper sensor 50 .

Next, with reference to FIGS. 4 to 8, the contents of control executed by the control unit 1c (more specifically, the CPU 1c1) will be described.

In the following description, the term "recording command" refers to a command that instructs continuous recording on a plurality of sheets of paper P. As shown in FIG. The following description relates to the transport control of the paper P when recording is continuously performed on a plurality of papers P, and the drive control of the head 10 and the
A description of the transport control of the paper P when recording is performed on is omitted. Also, the switching mechanisms (not shown) arranged at the branch position A and the merging position B are controlled according to the transport of the paper P, but the description of the control of the switching mechanisms is omitted.

First, as shown in FIG. 4, the CPU 1c1 determines whether or not a recording command has been received from an external device (S1). If it is determined that the recording command has not been received (S1: NO), the CPU
1c1 repeats the processing of S1.

When it is determined that a recording command has been received (S1: YES), the CPU 1c1 performs recording on each sheet P on which recording is to be performed based on the recording command after recording (that is, after ink is ejected at the opposing position X). ) and determines whether or not it is necessary to stop on the conveying path R and dry before receiving in the receiving section 60 (S2). The determination in S2 is made based on, for example, the amount of ink ejected onto each sheet P, the type of sheet P, and the like.

When it is determined that drying is not necessary (S2: NO), the CPU 1c1 executes "conveyance control <no drying stop>" (S3). In S<b>3 , the CPU 1 c 1 controls the transport section 40 so that each sheet P does not stop in the transport path R due to drying while being transported from the paper feed tray 30 to the receiving section 60 .

In S3, in the case of single-sided continuous recording (that is, continuous recording on the first side of a plurality of sheets P each having both sides of the first side and the second side opposite to the first side), the plurality of sheets P is
Sequentially conveyed along the direction D1 from the paper feed tray 30, through the upstream route R1 to the facing position X
, and after recording on the first side at the facing position X, the sheet is received by the receiving section 60 through the downstream path R2.

In S3, in the case of double-sided continuous recording (that is, continuous recording on both sides of a plurality of sheets P each having a first side and a second side opposite to the first side), the plurality of sheets P are , sequentially conveyed along the direction D1 from the paper feed tray 30, through the upstream route R1 to reach the facing position X, and after recording on the first side at the facing position X, is conveyed to the downstream route R2. , and is temporarily stopped while being sandwiched between the pair of rollers 44 and 45 . Then, the paper P moves between the roller pairs 44 and 4.
5 reverses the conveying direction (the direction in which the sheet P is conveyed by the conveying unit 40), and the sheet is conveyed along the direction D2 from the downstream route R2 to the switchback route R3. Further, the paper P is returned to the upstream route R1 through the merging position B from the switchback route R3 along the direction D2 without reversing the transport direction. Then, the paper P is conveyed again along the direction D1, and after recording on the second surface is performed at the facing position X, the paper P passes through the downstream path R2 and passes through the receiving section 60.
accepted by

When it is determined that it is necessary to dry (S2: YES), the CPU 1c1
, areas Px1 and Px2 (see FIGS. 6 and 7) where a predetermined amount or more of ink is ejected are extracted (S4). In this embodiment, each sheet P is
The amount of ink ejected to each of a plurality of areas Px obtained by dividing the first surface of the .

After S4, the CPU 1c1 determines the stop position of each sheet P on the switchback path R3 so that the regions Px1 and Px2 extracted in S4 do not come into contact with the roller pair 46 (S5
). Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the end of the paper P in the direction D1 is the leading edge Pa
, the area Px closest to the trailing edge Pb, where the edge of the sheet P in the direction D2 is the trailing edge Pb
1 reaches the roller pair 46, the stop position is determined so that the paper P is stopped.

After S5, the CPU 1c1 determines whether or not a part of the paper P overlaps with the downstream path R2 when each paper P is stopped at the stop position determined in S5 (S6). For example, in the case of FIG. 6, it is determined that the sheet P does not overlap the downstream path R2 (S6: NO), and in the case of FIG. 7, it is determined that a portion of the sheet P overlaps the downstream path R2 (S6: YES).

When it is determined that all the sheets P do not overlap the downstream path R2 (S6: NO), the CPU 1
c1 executes "conveyance control <simultaneous drying stop for two sheets>" (S7). In S7, the CPU
1c1 controls the conveying section 40 so that two sheets P are simultaneously stopped in the conveying path R for drying while each sheet P reaches the receiving section 60 from the paper feeding tray 30. FIG. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the CPU 1c1 stops the n-th (n=natural number) paper P _n with at least a portion of it on the switchback path R3, and The paper P _n+1 is stopped with at least a portion thereof on the downstream route R2 while the paper P _n is stopped with at least a portion thereof on the switchback route R3.

If it is determined that at least one sheet of paper P is on the downstream path R2 (S6: YES),
The CPU 1c1 executes "conveyance control <stop drying one sheet at a time>" (S8). In S<b>8 , the CPU 1 c 1 keeps the paper P from the paper feed tray 30 until it reaches the receiving unit 60 .
The transport unit 40 is controlled so that the sheets are stopped in the transport path R for drying one by one. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, the CPU 1c1 stops the paper P _n with at least a portion of it being in the switchback path R3, and also stops the paper P _n+1 and the paper P _n at the receiving portion. 60, it is stopped at least partially on the switchback path R3.

In S7 and S8, in both cases of single-sided continuous recording and double-sided continuous recording, the plurality of sheets P are sequentially conveyed from the paper feed tray 30 along the direction D1 and passed through the upstream path R1 to the opposing position X. After the first surface is recorded at the facing position X, the sheet is conveyed to the downstream path R2 and temporarily stopped while being sandwiched between the pair of rollers 44 and 45 . Then, the paper P is reversed in the conveying direction by the rotation of the roller pair 44, 45 in the opposite direction, and is transported along the downstream path R along the direction D2.
2 to the switchback route R3. The paper P is stopped with at least part of it on the switchback path R3 (see paper P _n in FIGS. 6 and 7), and after the paper P is dried, it is transported along the direction D2 without reversing the conveying direction. It is returned from the switchback route R3 to the upstream route R1 through the merging position B. Then, the paper P is conveyed again along the direction D1 and passes through the opposing position X (at this time, recording is not performed in the case of single-sided continuous recording, and recording is performed on the second side in the case of double-sided continuous recording). ), are received by the receiver 60 through the downstream route R2.

Therefore, in S7 and S8, when performing double-sided continuous recording on three or more sheets of paper P, the first surface of sheet _Pn , the first surface of sheet _Pn+1 , the second surface of sheet _Pn , the sheet P Printing is performed in order of the first side of _n+2 and the second side of paper P _n+1 (that is, the 2nd page, the 4th page, the 1st page, the 6th page, and the 3rd page).

Further, in S7 and S8, in the case of single-sided continuous recording, the paper P on which recording has been performed on the first side is
When the transport direction is reversed and transported from the downstream route R2 to the switchback route R3, and transported again from the switchback route R3 to the downstream route R2 without reversing the transport direction and received by the receiving unit 60, the first The face faces away from the receiver 60 . Therefore, the CPU 1c1 controls the head 10 so that the pages are printed in descending order.

In S7 and S8, the paper P _n+1 passes through the branch position A along the direction D1 after recording on the first surface and before reversing the conveying direction because at least part of the paper P n+1 passes through the switchback route R3. After the paper _{P n} that has been stopped in the state of the is. Further, after the paper P _n is returned to the upstream path R1 and before it is received by the receiving section 60, the direction D1
The paper P _n+1 , which has been stopped with at least part of it on the switchback route R3, returns to the upstream route R1 without reversing the conveying direction (direction D
2) after the leading edge Pa of the paper P _n+1 passes through the branch position A.

The CPU 1c1 executes S3, S7 or S8, and after all the sheets P are received by the receiving section 60 after the recording on all the sheets P is completed, the routine ends.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 5, 6 and 8, the "conveyance control <simultaneous drying stop for two sheets>" S7 will be specifically described.

First, as shown in FIG. 5, the CPU 1c1 derives the stop time necessary for drying each sheet P (S11). In S11, the stop time is derived based on, for example, the amount of ink ejected onto each sheet P, the type of sheet P, and the like.

After S11, the CPU 1c1 sets "n=1" (S12).

After S12, the CPU 1c1 transports the paper P _n from the paper feed tray 30 along the direction D1 to the upstream route R1 and the downstream route R2, reverses the transport direction, and transports the paper P n to the switchback route R3. The paper Pn+1 is stopped on the route R3, and the paper _Pn+1 is conveyed along the direction D1 from the paper feed tray 30 to the upstream route R1 and the downstream route R2, and stopped on the downstream route R2 (
S13: See FIG. 6). Here, the period during which the paper P _n is stopped on the switchback route R3 and the period during which the paper P _n+1 is stopped on the downstream route R2 temporally overlap.

After S13, the CPU _1c1 causes the sheet Pn, which has been stopped with at least a portion of it on the switchback path R3, to return to the upstream path R1 without reversing the transport direction, based on the drive state of the transport motor 40M, for example. It is determined whether or not movement in the direction (direction D2) has started (S
14). In this embodiment, the CPU 1c1 performs the movement of the paper P _n after drying the paper P _n (that is, when the stop time in the transport path R is equal to or longer than the stop time derived in S11).
let it start.

If it is determined that the paper P _n has not started moving (S14: NO), the CPU 1c
1 repeats the process of S14. During this time, the paper P _n+1 is kept stopped in the downstream path R2.

When it is determined that the paper P _n has started to move (S14: YES), the CPU 1c1 reverses the conveying direction of the paper P _n+1 , which has been stopped with at least part of it on the downstream route R2. and transported to the switchback route R3, and stopped while at least part of it is on the switchback route R3 (S15: see FIG. 8). After the paper _Pn that has started to move is returned from the switchback route R3 to the upstream route R1, it is conveyed again along the direction D1 and passes through the opposing position X (at this time, in the case of single-sided continuous recording, In the case of double-sided continuous recording, recording is not performed, and recording is performed on the second side), and is received by the receiving section 60 through the downstream path R2.

After S15, the CPU 1c1 refers to the image data included in the recording command and determines whether or not there is recording data for the paper P _n+2 (S16).

When it is determined that there is recording data for the paper P _n+2 (S16: YES), the CPU 1c1 conveys the paper P _n+2 from the paper feed tray 30 along the direction D1 to the upstream route R1 and the downstream route R2. and stop on the downstream route R2 (S17). Here, the period (S15) during which the paper P _n+1 is stopped on the switchback route R3 and the period (S17) during which the paper P _n+2 is stopped on the downstream route R2 temporally overlap. .

After S17, the CPU 1c1 sets "n=n+1" (S18). After S18, C
PU1c1 returns the process to S14.

When it is determined that there is no recording data for the paper P _n+2 (S16: NO), the CPU 1c1
After the sheet _{Pn +1} , which has been stopped with at least a part of it on the switchback route R3, is dried (that is, the stoppage time on the transport route R is longer than the stoppage time derived in S11). ), the movement is started, and after returning to the upstream route R1, it is conveyed again along the direction D1, passes through the opposite position X, and is received by the receiving section 60 through the downstream route R2 ( S19)
.

Each sheet P may or may not be stopped while at least part of it is in the downstream route R2 after being returned to the upstream route R1 and before being received by the receiving unit 60. good.

After S19, the CPU 1c1 ends the routine.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the CPU 1c1 stops the paper P onto which ink has been ejected in the transport path R and dries the paper P when continuously performing recording on a plurality of papers P. It is determined whether or not it is necessary (S2: first determination process). When the CPU 1c1 determines that drying is necessary (S2: YES), the CPU 1c1 controls the transport section 40 so that the paper P is stopped in the transport path R (S7: transport control processing). In S7, as shown in FIG. 6, the CPU 1c1 stops the paper P _n with at least a portion of it on the switchback path R3, and also stops the paper P _n+1 and at least a portion of the paper P _n . When stopped in the switchback route R3, at least part of it is stopped in the downstream route R2. In other words, even when it is necessary to stop the paper P on which the ink has been ejected in the transport path R and dry it, instead of stopping the individual papers P in the same place in order, the plurality of papers P are individually switched. The back route R3 and the downstream route R2 are stopped at the same time. As a result, the total drying stop time during printing can be shortened, and a decrease in throughput can be suppressed.

In S7, as shown in FIG. 5, the CPU _1c1 determines that the sheet Pn, which has been stopped with at least a part thereof on the switchback route R3, returns to the upstream route R1 without reversing the conveying direction (direction D2). It is determined whether or not the movement to is started (S14: second determination process). Then, the CPU 1c1 continues until it is determined that the paper P _n has started to move (S14: NO).
, the paper P _n+1 is kept stopped on the downstream route R2, and when it is determined that the paper P _n has started the movement (S14: YES), the paper P n is stopped with at least a part thereof on the downstream route R2. The paper P _n+1 that has been stuck is reversed in the conveying direction and conveyed to the switchback route R3 (S15: FIG. 8
reference). According to the above configuration, it is possible to prevent the sheets P from colliding with each other. Also, paper P _n
starts moving, the paper P _n+1 is transported to the switchback route R3 and dried on the switchback route R3 without waiting until the paper P _n+1 dries, thereby further reducing the throughput. can be suppressed.

In S7, the CPU 1c1 derives the stop time required for drying each sheet P, as shown in FIG. 5 (S11: stop time deriving process). Then, the CPU 1c1 selects the paper P _n ,
After stopping at least a part of the transport route R3 on the switchback route R3 so that the stop time on the transport route R is equal to or longer than the stop time derived in S11, the direction of returning to the upstream route R1 without reversing the transport direction. (direction D2) is initiated (see FIGS. 6 and 8). According to the above configuration, by drying the paper P and then returning it to the upstream path R1, it is possible to prevent ink from adhering to the constituent members of the upstream path R1.

The switchback route R3 branches from the downstream route R2 and returns to the upstream route R1. According to the above configuration, by using the path originally provided as the path for double-sided recording as the switchback path R3, addition of a path becomes unnecessary, and complication of the apparatus configuration can be avoided. In addition, in S7 in the case of double-sided continuous recording, the CPU _1c1 stops the paper Pn on which recording has been performed on the first surface in a state where at least a part thereof is in the switchback route R3, and then reverses the conveying direction. The sheet _Pn+ is conveyed from the downstream path R2 to the receiving unit 60 after the second surface is recorded at the opposing position X, and the recording is performed on the first surface. ₁ is stopped with at least part of the paper P _n on which recording has been performed on the first surface is in the switchback route R3 and at least part of it is in the downstream route R2 (Fig. 5
, see FIGS. 6 and 8). According to the above configuration, the paper P _n on which recording has been performed on the first surface is stopped in the switchback route R3, and then conveyed to the upstream route R1 to perform recording on the second surface,
It is possible to reduce the time required to reach the facing position X again after drying of the paper _Pn is stopped, and to quickly perform recording on the second surface of the paper _Pn .

When the CPU _1c1 performs _double -sided continuous recording on three or more _sheets of paper P, the CPU _1c1 , and the second surface of the paper P _n+1 (that is, the second, fourth, first, sixth, and third pages). control 10. By recording in the above order,
Throughput can be improved.

In the present embodiment, in the case of single-sided continuous recording, the paper P on which recording has been performed on the first side is reversed in the conveying direction and conveyed from the downstream route R2 to the switchback route R3. When the sheet is transported again from the switchback route R3 to the downstream route R2 and received by the receiving section 60, the first surface faces the side opposite to the receiving section 60. - 特許庁The CPU 1c1 performs S7 in the case of single-sided continuous recording.
, the head 10 is controlled so that the pages are printed in descending order. If printing is performed with the order of pages in ascending order as described above, the order of pages on the sheet P in the receiving unit 60 will be in descending order after the completion of printing, and the user must rearrange the order of the pages. In this regard, according to the above configuration, the pages of the paper P in the receiving section 60 are arranged in ascending order after the completion of printing, and the user does not need to rearrange the order of the pages.

As shown in FIG. 4, before S7, the CPU 1c1 extracts regions Px1 and Px2 (see FIGS. 6 and 7) on the paper P where a predetermined amount or more of ink is ejected (S4: extraction processing).
After S4, the CPU 1c1 determines that the regions Px1 and Px2 extracted in S4 are the roller pair 46.
(S
5). According to the above configuration, it is possible to prevent the ink adhering to the paper P from transferring to the roller pair 46 (and thus the ink adhering to the roller pair 46 to be transferred to the paper P conveyed along the switchback route R3). can be done. Also, as in this embodiment, the switchback route R3
is a path for double-sided recording, it is possible to arrange the paper P at a position closer to the upstream path R1 in the switchback path R3 than to determine the stop position so that the paper P does not come into contact with the roller pair 46. It is possible to quickly perform recording on the second surface.

As shown in FIG. 4, before S7 and after S5, the CPU 1c1 determines whether or not a portion of the paper P will cross the downstream path R2 when the paper P is stopped at the stop position determined in S5. to decide(
S6: third judgment processing). When the CPU 1c1 determines that the paper P does not overlap the downstream path R2 (S6: NO), the CPU 1c1 executes S7, stops the paper P _n with at least a portion of it on the switchback path R3, and P _n+1 is stopped with at least part of it on the downstream path R2 while the paper P _n is at least partly on the switchback path R3 (see FIG. 6). When the CPU 1c1 determines that the paper P is on the downstream route R2 (S6: YES), the CPU 1c1 executes S8, stops the paper P _n with at least a part of it on the switchback route R3, and P _n+1 is stopped with at least part of it on the switchback path R3 after the paper P _n has been received in the receiver 60 (see FIG. 7). According to the above configuration, appropriate processing can be selected according to the length of the paper P and the stop position, and the paper P can be dried.

The transport unit 40 includes spur rollers (
rollers 43a-45a). The spur roller has a small contact area with the paper P and makes point contact with the paper P. As shown in FIG. Therefore, according to the above configuration, when the paper P after recording is conveyed along the downstream path R2, the ink adhering to the paper P is transferred to the rollers 43a to 45a (and
Ink adhering to the rollers 43a to 45a can be prevented from being transferred to the paper P conveyed along the downstream route R2.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described.

This embodiment is the same as the above-described embodiment except for the control contents of double-sided continuous printing in S7. When performing double-sided continuous recording in S7, it is not essential in the above-described embodiment that at least a part of the sheet P on which both sides have been recorded is stopped in the downstream path R2 before being received by the receiving section 60. is essential in this embodiment. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the paper P _n having the first surface printed and the paper P _n+1 having the first surface printed are stopped in the switchback route R3 and the downstream route R2, respectively, and dried. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the paper P _n printed on both sides and the paper P _n+1 printed on the first side are stopped in the downstream route R2 and the switchback route R3 to dry. (i.e., the first and second sides of the paper P _n ,
A total of three surfaces, including the first surface of the paper _Pn+1 , are dried at the same time).

More specifically, in this embodiment, when performing double-sided continuous recording in S7, the CPU _1c1 reverses the conveying direction of the sheet Pn on which recording has been performed on the first side, and switches it back from the downstream path R2. Although it is transported to the route R3, it is returned from the switchback route R3 to the upstream route R1 without stopping on the switchback route R3. Then, the CPU _1c1 stops the paper Pn while at least part of it is in the downstream route R2 after the paper Pn is transported from the upstream route R1 to the downstream route R2 and recorded on the second side at the opposing position X. The CPU 1c1 conveys the paper P _n to the receiving section 60 after drying the paper P _n (that is, when the stop time in the conveying path R is equal to or longer than the stop time derived in S11). Further, the CPU 1c1 reverses the conveying direction of the paper P _n+1 on which recording has been performed on the first surface, and conveys the paper P n from the downstream route R2 to the switchback route R3 so that at least a portion of the paper P _n is transferred to the downstream route. When it is stopped in the state of R2, it is stopped in a state where at least part of it is in the switchback route R3 (see FIG. 8). Here, paper P
The period during which paper _Pn +1 is stopped on the downstream route R2 overlaps with the period during which paper _Pn+1 is stopped on the switchback route R3.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the paper P _n after double-sided recording is stopped in the downstream path R2 to dry both sides, and the paper P _n+1 after single-sided recording is transported in the switchback path R3. Stop to dry one side (first side). That is, by simultaneously drying a total of three surfaces at two locations, a decrease in throughput can be more reliably suppressed.

Further, in the present embodiment, the CPU 1c1 causes at least a part of the paper P _n after double-sided printing to be transported to the downstream route R2 so that the stop time in the transport route R is equal to or longer than the stop time derived in S11.
After being stopped in the state of , it is conveyed to the receiving section 60 . By drying the paper P in this manner and then conveying it to the receiving unit 60 , it is possible to more reliably prevent ink from adhering to the receiving unit 60 or the paper P received by the receiving unit 60 .

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. It is.

- The liquid discharge part is not limited to a line type, and may be a serial type.
・The liquid ejected by the liquid ejection unit is not limited to ink, and any liquid (for example, pretreatment liquid)
can be
- The number of liquid ejection units included in the recording apparatus may be any number of one or more, or may be plural.
- The storage unit is not limited to being detachable from the housing of the recording apparatus, and for example, can be pulled out from the housing, or can be opened and closed from the housing (manual feed tray, etc.). good too.
- The receiving part is not limited to being composed of the top plate of the housing, and may be composed of, for example, a member that can be attached to and detached from the housing, that can be drawn out, or that can be opened and closed.
- The transport may include belts instead of or in addition to rollers and guides.
- The conveying member is not limited to a pair of rollers, and may be a belt or the like.
- The transport path is not limited to the configuration of the above-described embodiment. For example, the upstream path and the downstream path may be shaped along a horizontal plane. The switchback path may return to the downstream path. In this case, the position where the switchback route branches off from the downstream route and the position where the switchback route joins the downstream route may be the same position.
- The recording medium is not limited to paper, and may be any recordable medium such as cloth.
- The recording apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to a printer, and may be a facsimile machine or a copier.

1 Inkjet printer (recording device)
1c control unit 10 inkjet head (liquid ejection unit)
14a ejection port 30 paper feed tray (accommodating section)
40 Conveying part 43a to 45a Spur roller 46 Roller pair (conveying member)
60 receiving part P paper (recording medium)
Px1, Px2 area R transport route R1 upstream route R2 downstream route R3 switchback route X opposite position

Claims (6)

a liquid ejection part having an ejection port for ejecting liquid;
a storage unit that stores a recording medium to be fed to the liquid ejection unit;
a receiving section that receives the recording medium onto which the liquid has been ejected by the liquid ejecting section;
a conveying unit that conveys the recording medium along a conveying path from the accommodating unit to the receiving unit via a position facing the ejection port ;
a control unit that controls the transport unit and the liquid ejection unit;
The conveying route includes an upstream route from the storage section to the facing position, a downstream route from the facing position to the receiving section, and a switchback route that branches from the downstream route and returns to the upstream route,
The control unit reverses a conveying direction, which is a direction in which the recording medium is conveyed by the conveying unit, for one recording medium that has been conveyed from the upstream route to the downstream route and recorded at the opposing position. and conveyed to the switchback route, stopped in a state where at least a part of the recording medium is on the switchback route, and is a recording medium different from the one recording medium and conveyed from the upstream route to the downstream route. At least part of the recording medium on which recording is performed at the opposite position is on the downstream path when the one recording medium is stopped with at least part of it on the switchback path. and the control unit continuously performs recording on both sides of a plurality of recording media each having a first side and a second side opposite to the first side. At this time , after the one recording medium on which recording has been performed on the first surface is stopped in a state in which at least a part thereof is in the switchback path, the conveying direction is not reversed again, and the recording medium is transferred to the upstream path. After the recording is performed on the second surface at the facing position, the another recording medium on which the recording is performed on the first surface is transported from the downstream path to the receiving section, and the another recording medium on which the recording is performed on the first surface is When the one recording medium having recorded on the first surface is stopped with at least a part of it being on the switchback path, it is stopped with at least a part of it being on the downstream path, and When continuously recording on three or more recording media, the controller controls the first surface of the nth (n=natural number) recording medium, the first surface of the n+1th recording medium, the nth recording medium, and the nth recording medium. the second surface of the recording medium No., the first surface of the (n+2)th recording medium, and the second surface of the (n+1)th recording medium. A recording device characterized by: a liquid ejection part having an ejection port for ejecting liquid;
a storage unit that stores a recording medium to be fed to the liquid ejection unit;
a receiving section that receives the recording medium onto which the liquid has been ejected by the liquid ejecting section;
a conveying unit that conveys the recording medium along a conveying path from the accommodating unit to the receiving unit via a position facing the ejection port ;
a control unit that controls the transport unit and the liquid ejection unit;
The conveying route includes an upstream route from the storage section to the facing position, a downstream route from the facing position to the receiving section, and a switchback route that branches from the downstream route and returns to the upstream route,
The control unit reverses a conveying direction, which is a direction in which the recording medium is conveyed by the conveying unit, for one recording medium that has been conveyed from the upstream route to the downstream route and recorded at the opposing position. and conveyed to the switchback route, stopped in a state where at least a part of the recording medium is on the switchback route, and is a recording medium different from the one recording medium and conveyed from the upstream route to the downstream route. At least part of the recording medium on which recording is performed at the opposite position is on the downstream path when the one recording medium is stopped with at least part of it on the switchback path. and the control unit continuously performs recording on both sides of a plurality of recording media each having a first side and a second side opposite to the first side. In this case , the another recording medium on which recording has been performed on the first surface is reversed in the transport direction and transported from the downstream path to the switchback path, and the switch is performed without reversing the transport direction. After returning from the back path to the upstream path, conveyed from the upstream path to the downstream path, and recording on the second side at the opposing position, the recording medium is stopped while at least a portion of the recording medium is in the downstream path. and the one recording medium on which recording has been performed on the first surface and which is to be recorded next to the another recording medium is transferred to the downstream path by reversing the conveying direction. to the switchback path from the When continuously recording on three or more recording media, the controller controls the first surface of the nth (n=natural number) recording medium, the first surface of the n+1th recording medium, the nth recording medium, and the nth recording medium. the second surface of the recording medium No., the first surface of the (n+2)th recording medium, and the second surface of the (n+1)th recording medium. A recording device characterized by: a liquid ejection part having an ejection port for ejecting liquid;
a storage unit that stores a recording medium to be fed to the liquid ejection unit;
a receiving section that receives the recording medium onto which the liquid has been ejected by the liquid ejecting section;
a conveying unit that conveys the recording medium along a conveying path from the accommodating unit to the receiving unit via a position facing the ejection port ;
a control unit that controls the transport unit and the liquid ejection unit;
The conveying route includes an upstream route from the storage section to the facing position, a downstream route from the facing position to the receiving section, and a switchback route that branches from the downstream route and returns to the upstream route or the downstream route. and
The control unit reverses a conveying direction, which is a direction in which the recording medium is conveyed by the conveying unit, for one recording medium that has been conveyed from the upstream route to the downstream route and recorded at the opposing position. and conveyed to the switchback route, stopped in a state where at least a part of the recording medium is on the switchback route, and is a recording medium different from the one recording medium and conveyed from the upstream route to the downstream route. At least part of the recording medium on which recording is performed at the opposite position is on the downstream path when the one recording medium is stopped with at least part of it on the switchback path. and the control unit continuously performs recording on the first surfaces of a plurality of recording media each having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. , the recording medium on which recording has been performed on the first surface is reversed in the transport direction and transported from the downstream path to the switchback path, and the switchback is performed without reversing the transport direction. When the paper is transported again from the back path to the downstream path and received in the receiving section, when the first surface faces the side opposite to the receiving section, printing is performed in descending page order. A recording apparatus that controls a liquid ejection section. a liquid ejection part having an ejection port for ejecting liquid;
a storage unit that stores a recording medium to be fed to the liquid ejection unit;
a receiving section that receives the recording medium onto which the liquid has been ejected by the liquid ejecting section;
a conveying unit that conveys the recording medium along a conveying path from the accommodating unit to the receiving unit via a position facing the ejection port ;
a control unit that controls the transport unit and the liquid ejection unit;
The conveying route includes an upstream route from the storage section to the facing position, a downstream route from the facing position to the receiving section, and a switchback route that branches from the downstream route and returns to the upstream route or the downstream route. and
The control unit reverses a conveying direction, which is a direction in which the recording medium is conveyed by the conveying unit, for one recording medium that has been conveyed from the upstream route to the downstream route and recorded at the opposing position. and conveyed to the switchback route, stopped in a state where at least a part of the recording medium is on the switchback route, and is a recording medium different from the one recording medium and conveyed from the upstream route to the downstream route. At least part of the recording medium on which recording is performed at the opposite position is on the downstream path when the one recording medium is stopped with at least part of it on the switchback path. and the transport unit includes a transport member that transports the recording medium in contact with the recording medium on the switchback path,
The control unit extracts a region onto which a predetermined amount or more of liquid is ejected from the recording medium before conveying the recording medium, and controls the switch of the recording medium so that the extracted region does not come into contact with the conveying member. A recording device, characterized in that it determines a stop position in a back path. After determining a stop position of the recording medium in the switchback path, the control unit moves the recording medium to the stop position so that a region of the recording medium to which a predetermined amount or more of the liquid is ejected does not come into contact with the conveying member. determining whether or not part of the recording medium is caught in the downstream path when stopped;
When it is determined that the recording medium does not cross the downstream path, the one recording medium is stopped with at least a part of it being on the switchback path, and the another recording medium is moved so that at least the one recording medium is on the switchback path. stopping with at least part of it on the downstream path when part of it is on the switchback path;
When it is determined that part of the recording medium is on the downstream path, the one recording medium is stopped while at least part of it is on the switchback path, and the another recording medium is moved to the one of the recording mediums. 5. A recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein after the recording medium is received by said receiving section, it is stopped with at least a portion thereof being in said switchback path. 6. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conveying section includes a spur roller that contacts and conveys the recording medium in the downstream path.

Images