JPH11138923A - Recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a paper from floating to the recording head side of a recording medium regardless of the state thereof (cockling, curling, etc.). SOLUTION: A recorder comprises a platen 19 provided with a plurality of ribs 18 extending in the carrying direction of a recording medium 7 in the direction intersecting the carrying direction and guiding/supporting the recording medium 7 at a position opposite to a recording head, and a plurality of member 23 deformable resiliently to press the recording medium 7 against the platen 19 side depending on the rigidity of the recording medium 7 and arranged on the recording face side thereof on the upstream side of a recording area in the direction intersecting the carrying direction wherein the resilient member 23 is disposed oppositely to the platen 19 between the ribs 18 such that the resilient member 23 enters between the ribs 18 of the platen 19.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording apparatus for recording on a recording medium by recording means, and more particularly, to a recording apparatus such as an ink jet printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in order to obtain a clear and high-quality printing result in an ink jet type recording apparatus, recording media under various conditions (for example, a recording medium in which cockling occurs due to the application of ink, For example, the distance between the surface of the recording medium and the recording head (hereinafter referred to as the "paper interval") while preventing the paper from floating in the direction of the recording head from the platen to the recording medium that has curled due to moisture or the like. Must be set as narrow as possible.

As a first conventional example of an apparatus for realizing these, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-69264, a paper pressing member presses an upstream portion of a recording medium in a conveying direction to a platen side. There is. A second conventional example is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-95966,
As described in Japanese Patent No. 9359 and the like, a configuration is known in which a plurality of small-diameter holes are provided in a platen, and a recording medium is brought into close contact with the platen by a suction force generated by using negative pressure generating means.

[0004]

However, in the configuration in which the upstream portion of the printing range is pressed against the platen by the paper pressing member as in the first conventional example, the printing range is narrow, and the recording medium is pressed against the platen. This method is effective when the distance from the current position (upstream in the transport direction from the print area) to the position where the recording medium is pressed next (for example, a pair of paper ejection rollers) is short. In the case where the width is large and the distance to the next pressed position is long, the effect is weakened as the distance from the pressed position is increased, and cockling and paper floating are easily generated. In particular, when the recorded image has a high density, a large amount of ink is injected into the recording medium, a large cockling occurs, the image is disturbed by contacting the print head, or the head is clogged, The paper interval had to be set wider.

Further, in the second conventional example, since the recording medium is sucked by using the negative pressure generating means, there is a problem that the apparatus becomes large-sized, the cost is high, and the intake / exhaust noise is loud. Furthermore, when using recording media of different sizes, a desired suction force cannot be obtained unless a new means for sealing a small-diameter hole on the platen that is not covered by the recording media is provided in accordance with each size. There was a problem.

It is an object of the present invention to prevent the recording medium from floating on the recording head side regardless of the state of the recording medium (cockling, curl, etc.) with a low-cost and simple configuration. is there.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a typical configuration of the present invention is a recording apparatus which conveys a recording medium by a conveying means and performs recording in a recording area of the recording means. A plurality of convex portions extending in the transport direction are provided in a direction intersecting the transport direction, and a platen for guiding and supporting the recording medium at a position facing the recording means, and a transport section upstream of the recording area and on the recording surface side of the recording medium. A plurality of elastic members that are arranged in a direction intersecting the direction and that elastically deform according to the rigidity of the recording medium so as to press the recording medium toward the platen, wherein the elastic member faces the convex portion of the platen. At a position between the projections of the platen.

According to the above configuration, the elastic member which is elastically deformed in accordance with the rigidity of the recording medium so as to press the recording medium toward the platen on the upstream side of the recording area and on the recording surface side of the recording medium, Since the recording medium is disposed at a position opposite to the convex portion of the platen that guides and supports the recording medium at a position opposing the recording means and so as to enter between the convex portions, the recording medium has a wavy shape at least in a recording area, and Can be imparted to the recording medium, thereby making it possible to prevent, for example, a curled recording medium from floating on the recording means side.

Further, since the elastic member is used, the recording medium can be reliably pressed between the convex portions of the platen in accordance with the growth of the cockling, that is, the decrease in the rigidity of the recording medium. Since the contact can be prevented, the distance between the recording surface of the recording medium and the recording means can be set narrow.

In addition, since the amount of undulation varies depending on the rigidity of the recording medium, for example, plain paper or the like, which is a thin recording medium in which cockling easily occurs, can be given a large undulation, and the cockling can be surely formed on the platen. It can be held down between clubs. In addition, high-quality recording results are required, and special-purpose paper, which is a thick recording medium that hardly causes cockling, has a high rigidity of the paper itself. As a result, the interval between the recording means and the recording medium becomes narrow, and a high-quality recording result can be obtained.

[0011]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

[First Embodiment] A recording apparatus according to a first embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. First, FIG.
The schematic configuration of the recording apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view around a recording unit of the recording apparatus according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a recording head as recording means for recording an ink image on a recording medium. As a recording unit in this apparatus, an ink jet recording system for discharging ink from a recording head for recording is used.

The recording head 1 is removably mounted on a carriage 2. The carriage 2 is slidably supported by a guide rail 3, and a guide roller 4 protruding from the carriage 2 is slidably supported by a support rail 5. Therefore, the carriage 2 scans on the guide rail 3 and the support rail 5 via the timing belt 6 by a carriage motor (not shown), and the carriage 2
The recording is performed by applying ink droplets to a predetermined position of a recording medium from a recording head 1 mounted on the recording medium.

On the other hand, the recording medium 7 is driven by a motor (not shown) by a paper feeding mechanism (not shown), and a resist that is pressed against the upstream conveying roller 8 by an urging spring 11 and is driven to rotate. The sheet is fed to the nip position of the pair of registration rollers 10 formed by the rollers 9, the skew of the registration rollers 10 is corrected, and the sheet is conveyed to the recording area of the recording head 1 by the rotation of the pair of registration rollers 10.

Downstream of the recording area of the recording head 1, a downstream transport roller 12 for discharging the recording medium 7 that has passed through the recording area to a discharge tray (not shown), and a biasing spring attached to the downstream transport roller 12 A spur 13 which is pressed by and driven by 15 is provided, and forms a paper discharge roller pair 14.

Here, the spur is configured such that the contact area with the recording medium is small and the recorded image on the recording medium is not disturbed even if the recording surface contacts the recording surface after recording.

Next, the configuration near the recording area will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an elastic member mounting plate 16 is provided upstream of the recording area of the recording head 1. A platen 19 that guides and supports the recording medium 7 is disposed at a position facing the recording head 1.
Are formed in the width direction crossing the recording medium conveyance direction. This platen 19 is fixed to the apparatus main body. The elastic member 23 that elastically deforms according to the rigidity of the recording medium 7 so as to press the recording medium 7 against the platen 19 side,
A plurality of double-sided tapes are arranged on the elastic member mounting plate 16 so as to be arranged in the width direction crossing the transport direction on the recording area upstream of the recording head 1 and on the recording surface side of the recording medium 7 so as to face between the ribs 18 of the platen 19. It is affixed via a rib 22 and is arranged so as to enter between the ribs 18. Accordingly, the recording medium 7 has a wavy shape in which the rib 18 has a peak at the rib 18 and a valley between the ribs 18 due to the elastic member 23 having entered between the ribs 18. As a result, the stiffness is given to the recording medium 7 at least in the recording area of the recording head 1,
For example, even a curled recording medium can be prevented from floating on the recording head side.

In this embodiment, the elastic member 23 is
The platen 19 is disposed at a substantially central position in a direction intersecting with the conveyance direction between the ribs 18. In this embodiment, the elastic member 23 is formed by processing a sheet-like PET film or using a thin metal plate.

Next, the behavior of the recording medium before and after recording will be described with reference to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 by taking plain paper, which is a thin recording medium in which cockling is particularly likely to occur, as an example.
3 and 4 are views as viewed in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 shows a state of plain paper before recording, and FIG. 4 shows a state of plain paper in which cockling has occurred after recording.

The plain paper 24 is conveyed by the pair of registration rollers 10 and becomes a vertex at the rib 18 of the platen 19 by an elastic member 23 arranged so as to enter between the ribs 18 of the platen 19. A gentle undulating shape is provided. The waving amount (X) here is determined by the rigidity of the plain paper 24 and the elastic force of the elastic member 23.

The amount of undulation (X) of the plain paper 24 at this time is 0.
It is about 1 to 0.3 mm, and the accuracy of ejection onto paper when recording is negligible. That is, it does not lower the recording quality. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, since the plain paper 24 is surely formed along the platen rib 18 by the elastic member 23, it is only necessary to manage the dimensions of the platen rib 18 and the recording head 1 between the papers which affect the recording quality. It will be. Further, the leading end of the plain paper 24 does not float from the platen rib 18 and the recording head 1 is not rubbed.

Next, when recording ink using water as a main solvent is injected into the plain paper 24, the plain paper 24 swells by absorbing moisture, and cockling occurs. Here, in the present embodiment, the plain paper 24 is
The cockling is surely generated downward due to the downward bias, and the amount of waving (X) increases from (X) to (X + Δx) as in the plain paper 25 in which the cockling occurs in FIG. Thus, the swelling of the paper can be absorbed, and the paper can be prevented from rising to the recording head 1 side. In addition, the cockling height (Δx) gradually increases in accordance with the amount of recording ink applied, that is, the rigidity of the paper, so that a high quality recording result can be obtained without unnecessarily widening the paper interval. Becomes possible.

Further, the paper discharge roller pair 14 is provided downstream of the rib 18 provided on the platen 19, and is arranged so as to have substantially the same cross section as the unevenness of the platen 19 (the nip position of the paper discharge roller pair 14 is the platen rib 18). Are arranged so as to be aligned on the same straight line as the position of the apex in the conveying direction), so that the waving imparted by the elastic member 23 and the generated cockling are not disturbed by the paper discharge roller pair 14.

Further, in the case of the special paper (thick paper) 26 which is a thick recording medium in which a higher quality recording result is required and cockling hardly occurs, the rigidity of the paper itself is strong, and therefore, as shown in FIG. The member 23 is elastically deformed,
The amount of undulation (Y) is reduced. As a result, the space between the sheets is reduced, and higher-quality recording results can be obtained.

Further, there is a problem of curling of the recording medium due to the atmospheric environment. This is related to the ambient environment, especially rapid changes in humidity.In a high-humidity environment, the recording medium absorbs and swells. Since the recording medium is shrunk due to being released from the medium and curled, in the present embodiment, the recording medium is corrugated as described above to give the recording medium a stiffness. At the same time, the curl of the recording medium is corrected, so that the recording medium can be prevented from floating on the recording head side.

[Second Embodiment] A recording apparatus according to a second embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. First, FIG.
The general configuration of the recording apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view around a recording unit of the recording apparatus according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view.

In FIG. 6, reference numeral 1 denotes a recording head as recording means for recording an ink image on a recording medium. As a recording unit in this apparatus, an ink jet recording system for discharging ink from a recording head for recording is used.

The recording head 1 is removably mounted on a carriage 2. The carriage 2 is slidably supported by a guide rail 3, and a guide roller 4 protruding from the carriage 2 is slidably supported by a support rail 5. Therefore, the carriage 2 scans on the guide rail 3 and the support rail 5 via the timing belt 6 by a carriage motor (not shown), and the carriage 2
The recording is performed by applying ink droplets to a predetermined position of a recording medium from a recording head 1 mounted on the recording medium.

On the other hand, the recording medium 7 is driven by a motor (not shown) by a paper feeding mechanism (not shown), and a resist which is pressed against the upstream conveying roller 8 by an urging spring 11 and is driven to rotate. The sheet is fed to the nip position of the pair of registration rollers 10 formed by the rollers 9, the skew of the registration rollers 10 is corrected, and the sheet is conveyed to the recording area of the recording head 1 by the rotation of the pair of registration rollers 10.

Downstream of the recording area of the recording head 1, a downstream transport roller 12 for discharging the recording medium 7 that has passed through the recording area to a discharge tray (not shown), and an urging spring attached to the downstream transport roller 12 A spur 13 which is pressed by and driven by 15 is provided, and forms a paper discharge roller pair 14.

Here, the spur is configured such that the contact area with the recording medium is small, and the recorded image on the recording medium is not disturbed even if the recording medium contacts the recording surface after recording.

Next, the configuration near the recording area will be described. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a paper pressing plate 28 as a guide member for guiding the recording medium 7 and regulating the upper surface thereof is provided upstream of the recording area of the recording head 1.
Is fixed at a position at which the interval between the recording surface and the recording head 1 (hereinafter, referred to as “paper interval”) is a predetermined interval. A platen 19 that guides and supports the recording medium 7 is disposed at a position facing the recording head 1, and a rib 18, which is a convex portion extending in a direction parallel to the transport direction of the recording medium 7, is provided on the platen 19. A plurality is formed in a direction intersecting the transport direction. The platen 19 is guided and supported by a platen support 20, and moves in the direction of arrow D when the sliding surface 19 a of the platen 19 is guided by the platen guide surface 20 a of the platen support 20. A platen spring 21 as a biasing member is hung between the platen 19 and the platen support 20. The platen spring 21 follows the sliding surface 19 a of the platen 19 to the platen guide surface 20 a of the platen support 20, and
The recording medium supporting surface of the recording medium 7 is moved in parallel with the transport direction, and the recording surface of the recording medium 7 is pressed against the paper pressing plate 28, and an urging force for maintaining a constant paper interval regardless of the thickness of the recording medium 7 is used. Occurs. An elastic member 23 that is elastically deformed in accordance with the rigidity of the recording medium 7 so as to press the recording medium 7 toward the platen 19 is located upstream of the recording area of the recording head 1 and on the recording surface side of the recording medium 7 in the transport direction. Are arranged in the width direction that intersects with the paper holding plate 28 via a double-sided tape 22 so as to face between the ribs 18 of the platen 19, and are arranged so as to enter between the ribs 18. ing. Accordingly, the recording medium 7 has a wavy shape in which the rib 18 has a peak at the rib 18 and a valley between the ribs 18 due to the elastic member 23 having entered between the ribs 18. As a result, stiffness is given to the recording medium 7 at least in the recording area of the recording head 1, so that, for example, even a curled recording medium can be prevented from floating on the recording head side.

In this embodiment, the platen 19 is
As shown in FIG. 7, the sheet is divided into a plurality of parts along a direction intersecting the transport direction, and a platen spring 21 is hung on each part.
Therefore, regardless of the difference in the width of the recording medium 7 (the dimension in the direction intersecting the transport direction), the recording medium 7 can be reliably pressed against the paper pressing plate 28.

Next, the behavior of the recording medium before and after the recording will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, taking plain paper as a thin recording medium in which cockling is particularly likely to occur.
8 and 9 are views as viewed from an arrow A in FIG. 6, FIG. 8 shows a state of plain paper before recording, and FIG. 9 shows a state of plain paper in which cockling has occurred after recording.

When the leading end of the plain paper 24 is conveyed by the registration roller pair 10 and enters between the paper holding plate 28 and the rib 18 of the platen 19, the platen 19 is moved to the recording head 1 by the thickness of the plain paper 24. On the other hand, the recording paper 1 is pushed down in parallel, and the interval between the plain paper 24 and the recording head 1 is maintained at a predetermined interval. at the same time,
By the elastic member 23 arranged so as to penetrate between the ribs 18 of the platen 19, the plain paper 24 is provided with a gentle wavy shape that becomes a peak at the ribs 18 of the platen 19 and becomes a valley between the ribs 18. The waving amount (X) here is determined by the rigidity of the plain paper 24 and the elastic force of the elastic member 23.

Next, when the recording ink using water as a main solvent is injected into the plain paper 24, the plain paper 24 swells by absorbing moisture, and cockling occurs. Here, in the present embodiment, the plain paper 24 is
Because of the downward biasing, the cockling surely occurs downward, and the amount of waving (X) increases from (X) to (X + Δx) as in the plain paper 25 where cockling occurs in FIG. Thus, the swelling of the paper can be absorbed, and the paper can be prevented from rising to the recording head 1 side. In addition, the cockling height (Δx) gradually increases in accordance with the amount of recording ink applied, that is, the rigidity of the paper, so that a high quality recording result can be obtained without unnecessarily widening the paper interval. Becomes possible.

Further, the paper discharge roller pair 14 is provided downstream of the rib 18 provided on the platen 19, and is arranged so as to have substantially the same cross section as the unevenness of the platen 19 (the nip position of the paper discharge roller pair 14 is the platen rib 18). Are arranged so as to be aligned on the same straight line as the position of the apex in the conveying direction), so that the waving imparted by the elastic member 23 and the generated cockling are not disturbed by the paper discharge roller pair 14.

Further, in the special paper 26 which is a thick recording medium which requires a higher quality recording result and hardly causes cockling, since the rigidity of the paper itself is strong, as shown in FIG. It is elastically deformed, and the waving amount (Y) decreases. As a result, the space between the sheets is reduced, and higher-quality recording results can be obtained.

Further, there is a problem of curling of the recording medium due to the atmospheric environment. This is related to the ambient environment, especially rapid changes in humidity.In a high-humidity environment, the recording medium absorbs and swells. Since the recording medium is shrunk due to being released from the medium and curled, in the present embodiment, the recording medium is corrugated as described above to give the recording medium a stiffness. At the same time, the curl of the recording medium is corrected, so that the recording medium can be prevented from floating on the recording head side.

In this embodiment, the case where all the ribs 18 provided on the platen 19 have the same height has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The height of the plurality of ribs 18 may be two or more, for example, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, an auxiliary rib 18a lower than the rib 18 may be provided.

FIG. 11 shows the state of the plain paper 24a before recording.
FIG. 12 shows the state of the plain paper 25a in which cockling has occurred after recording. In particular, in the case of plain paper or the like, which is a thin recording medium in which cockling is largely generated, if the swelling of the paper is to be absorbed only between the ribs 18, each cockling becomes large, and the distance from the recording head 1 ( (Paper interval) will spread. In order to prevent this, if the pitch of the ribs 18 (interval in the direction intersecting the transport direction) is reduced and the cocklings are reduced one by one, the recording which is originally flat in the state before the recording is performed. It has been experimentally confirmed that a contradiction occurs in the medium, a valley cannot be formed between some of the ribs 18, and a peak protruding toward the recording head occurs. Therefore, in order to keep cockling low even in such a recording medium,
The configuration is such that auxiliary ribs 18 a having a height lower than 18 are arranged between the ribs 18. With this configuration, the plain paper 24a does not touch the auxiliary ribs 18a in a state before recording, and a wavy shape that forms a valley between the ribs 18 is provided (see FIG. 11). Next, after recording, the swelling of the plain paper 25a is dispersed between the ribs 18 and further comes into contact with the auxiliary ribs 18a, so that a wavy (cockling) occurs between the ribs 18a and the auxiliary ribs 18a. The ring can be kept low (see FIG. 12).

In the present embodiment, the elastic member 23
The example in which the attachment to the paper holding plate 28 is performed by the double-sided tape 22 has been described, but is not limited thereto.
A similar configuration may be obtained, for example, bonding or bonding using another member may be adopted.

[Third Embodiment] A recording apparatus according to a third embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 13 is a schematic perspective view showing the periphery of a recording unit of the recording apparatus according to the present embodiment,
FIG. 14 is a view on arrow A in FIG. The same members as those in the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, downstream of the recording area of the recording head 1, the same amount of the elastic member 23 as invades between the platen ribs 18 on the downstream side transport roller (discharge). A spur 27 is provided so as to penetrate between the paper rollers 12. Here, the spur is configured so that the contact area with the recording medium is small and the recorded image on the recording medium is not disturbed even if the recording surface contacts the recording surface after recording. The spur 27 is supported to rotate following the conveyance of the recording medium, and is urged by an urging means (not shown) so as to be movable in the direction of the recording head 1 in accordance with the rigidity of the recording medium. I have. Thus, the spur 27 plays the same role as the elastic member 23 downstream of the recording area of the recording head 1. Accordingly, it is possible to impart a wavy shape to the recording medium upstream and downstream of the recording area, and it is possible to surely generate cockling downward between the ribs 18.

Further, even after the rear end of the recording medium has passed through the paper pressing plate 28 and the elastic member 23, the spur
Since the wavy shape can be continuously provided by 27, the trailing end of the recording medium can be prevented from floating toward the recording head.

[Fourth Embodiment] A recording apparatus according to a fourth embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. First, Figure 15
The schematic configuration of the recording apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view around a recording unit of the recording apparatus according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 16 is a schematic perspective view.

In FIG. 15, reference numeral 1 denotes a recording head as recording means for recording an ink image on a recording medium. As a recording unit in this apparatus, an ink jet recording system for discharging ink from a recording head for recording is used.

The recording head 1 is removably mounted on a carriage 2. The carriage 2 is slidably supported by a guide rail 3, and a guide roller 4 protruding from the carriage 2 is slidably supported by a support rail 5. Therefore, the carriage 2 scans on the guide rail 3 and the support rail 5 via the timing belt 6 by a carriage motor (not shown), and the carriage 2
The recording is performed by applying ink droplets to a predetermined position of a recording medium from a recording head 1 mounted on the recording medium.

On the other hand, the recording medium 7 is driven by a motor (not shown) by a paper feeding mechanism (not shown), and a resist that is pressed against the upstream conveying roller 8 by an urging spring 11 and is driven to rotate. The sheet is fed to the nip position of the pair of registration rollers 10 formed by the rollers 9, the skew of the registration rollers 10 is corrected, and the sheet is conveyed to the recording area of the recording head 1 by the rotation of the pair of registration rollers 10.

Downstream of the recording area of the recording head 1, a downstream transport roller 12 for discharging the recording medium 7 that has passed through the recording area to a discharge tray (not shown), and a biasing spring attached to the downstream transport roller 12 A spur 13 which is pressed by and driven by 15 is provided, and forms a paper discharge roller pair 14.

Here, the spur has such a structure that the contact area with the recording medium is small and the recorded image on the recording medium is not disturbed even if it comes into contact with the recording surface after recording.

Next, the configuration near the recording area will be described. As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, a thick paper regulating member 29 is provided upstream of the recording area of the recording head 1 as a guide member for guiding the recording medium 7 and regulating the upper surface thereof. The head 1 is fixed at a position where the interval between the heads 1 (hereinafter, referred to as “sheet interval”) is a predetermined interval. The thick paper regulating member 29 has a regulating guide surface 29c at a position facing the platen rib 18, and an elastic member 23 described later is arranged between the regulating guide surfaces 29c. This thick paper regulating member 29
On both sides in the longitudinal direction (outside the recording medium transport area), abutting surfaces 29a and 29b for abutting against the platen 19 are provided.

Reference numeral 19 denotes a platen, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, a rotating shaft for rotatably supporting a main body chassis (not shown) downstream of the recording area and on the recording surface side of the recording medium.
19c and 19d are provided. Further, a compression spring 30 as an urging member having one end pressed against the main body chassis and the other end pressed against the platen 19 is provided, and the compression spring 30 urges the platen 19 in the direction of arrow e in FIG. On both sides in the longitudinal direction of the platen 19 (outside the recording medium transport area), embosses 19e and 19f are provided as abutting portions for abutting against the thick paper regulating member 29, respectively. Therefore, the position of the platen 19 pressed upward (in the direction of the arrow e) by the compression spring 30 is determined by the embosses 19e and 19f abutting against the abutting surfaces 29a and 29b of the thick paper regulating member 29.

FIG. 17 is a partially enlarged view showing the positional relationship between the platen 19 and the thick paper regulating member 29. As shown in FIG. 17, since the positions of the embosses 19e and 19f of the platen 19 are determined by the abutting surfaces 29a and 29b of the thick paper regulating member 29, there is a gap between the platen rib 18 and the regulating guide surface 29c of the thick paper regulating member 29. h can be set to be constant. In the present embodiment, the gap h is about 0.2 to 0.3 mm, and the recording surfaces of the thin paper (thin recording medium) and the thick paper (thick recording medium) are adjusted according to the dimension of the gap h. Will be described later. The elastic member 23 similar to that of the above-described embodiment is attached to the attachment surface 29d of the thick paper regulating member 29 by a double-sided tape or the like so as to enter between the ribs 18.

Next, the operation around the recording area will be described. As in the above-described embodiment, a case in which recording is performed on plain paper, which is a thin recording medium, will be described first. Here, the thickness t of the plain paper is usually about 0.1 to 0.15 mm. The plain paper 24 is conveyed onto the ribs 18 of the platen 19 after the skew is corrected by the pair of registration rollers 10 in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment.
(A).

As shown in FIG. 18A, the plain paper 24 is conveyed onto the platen rib 18 against the elastic force of the elastic member 23. At this time, as in the above-described embodiment, a gentle undulation that forms a peak at the rib 18 and a valley between the ribs 18 is formed, but the amount of the undulation depends on the rigidity of the plain paper 24 and the elastic force of the elastic member 23. Decided.

The rib 18 of the platen 19 and the thick paper regulating member 29
The gap (h = h)
0.2 to 0.3 mm), the gap h
24 is conveyed, and the platen 19 is at the same position as the initial position. That is, similarly to the above-described embodiment, the plain paper 24 extends along the ribs 18 of the platen 19, and the distance between the recording surface of the recording medium 7 and the recording head 1 (hereinafter, referred to as the recording head 7).
The “paper interval” is determined by the ribs 18 of the platen 19. Thereafter, the recording is performed on the plain paper 24 having the wavy shape, and the cockling and the like at this time are the same as those in the above-described embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted here.

Incidentally, even in the case of special paper which requires further recording quality, the thickness t is 0.2 mm or less.
19 will not fall and will be in the initial position.

Next, a case where thick paper (envelope or the like) as a thick recording medium is passed will be described. FIG. 18B shows a case where thick paper is passed. At this time, the thickness t of the cardboard is 0.3
mm or more.

As shown in FIG. 18B, when the thick paper 26 is passed, the thick paper 26 elastically deforms the elastic member 23 and the upper surface thereof is regulated by the regulating guide surface 29c of the thick paper regulating member 29. As a result, the platen 19 is
Downward with d as the center (direction away from recording head 1)
It will rotate and move down. At this time, cardboard
A frictional force F is generated between the plate 26 and the platen rib 18, but by setting the rotation shafts 19c and 19d, which are the centers of rotation, to the positions shown in the drawing (downstream from the recording area), a moment M (M = F ·
L) occurs, and the platen 19 can be pushed downward against the force of the compression spring 30 by the frictional force F.
The force of the compression spring 30 is determined by the thickness t of the recording medium and the gap h.
Even in the case described above, the interval between the recording surface of the recording medium and the recording head is set to be maintained at a predetermined interval.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, an appropriate gap h is provided between the platen rib 18 and the thick paper regulating member 29, and the platen 19 is moved relative to the recording head 1 according to the thickness of the recording medium. It is configured to move in the approach / separate direction, so that for plain paper or special paper that requires recording quality, the paper interval can be determined by the ribs 18 of the platen 19, and for thick paper, the platen 19 is As a result, the head can be prevented from rubbing.

The rib 18 of the platen 19 and the thick paper regulating member 29
Since the size of the gap h between the guide guide surface 29c and the control guide surface 29c is determined only by the two components of the platen and the thick paper regulating member, the positional accuracy can be easily obtained.

Further, the same effects as in the above-described embodiment can be obtained for cockling of plain paper.

[Other Embodiments] In the above embodiment,
The platen 19 is guided and supported by a platen support base 20 so that the recording medium support surface moves in parallel with the transport direction. , A structure in which the platen spring 21 urges in the direction of the paper holding plate 28, or the platen
19 is configured to be rotatable in the direction of approach / separation with respect to the recording head 1 about pivot shafts 19c and 19d provided downstream of the recording area, and urged in the direction of the thick paper regulating member 29 by a compression spring 30. Although illustrated, the invention is not limited to this. For example, the same applies to a configuration in which the platen is guided and supported by a guide member so as to move in a direction (approach / separation direction with respect to the recording means) perpendicular to the transport direction, and is biased in the direction of the recording means by a biasing member. The effect is obtained.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, a gap is provided between the convex portion of the platen and the guide member, and the emboss 19e for the thick paper regulating member 29 is provided on both sides of the platen 19 outside the recording medium conveyance area. , 19f, and the embosses 19e, 19f are attached to the abutting surfaces 29a,
Although the configuration in which the gap h is provided by abutting the gap 29b is illustrated, the invention is not limited to this. For example, the same effect can be obtained by providing a stopper for restricting the rotation of the arm from the platen 19 to the rotation shafts 19c and 19d to form the gap.

[0067]

As described above, according to the present invention,
On the upstream side of the recording area and on the recording surface side of the recording medium, an elastic member that elastically deforms in accordance with the rigidity of the recording medium so as to press the recording medium against the platen side. Since it is arranged at an opposing position between the convex portions of the platen for guiding and supporting and so as to enter between the convex portions, the recording medium can be made wavy at least in the recording area, and stiffness can be given to the recording medium,
Thus, for example, a curled recording medium can be prevented from floating on the recording means side.

Further, since the elastic member is used, the recording medium can be reliably pressed between the convex portions of the platen in accordance with the growth of the cockling, that is, the decrease in the rigidity of the recording medium. Since the contact can be prevented, the distance between the recording surface of the recording medium and the recording means can be set narrow.

Further, since the amount of undulation varies depending on the rigidity of the recording medium, for example, plain paper or the like, which is a thin recording medium in which cockling easily occurs, can be given a large undulation, and the cockling can be surely formed by the convexity of the platen. It can be held down between clubs. In addition, high-quality recording results are required, and special-purpose paper, which is a thick recording medium that hardly causes cockling, has a high rigidity of the paper itself. The distance from the means is reduced, and a high-quality recording result can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view around a recording unit of a recording apparatus according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view around a recording unit of the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a view of arrow A in FIG. 1 showing a state of plain paper before recording.

FIG. 4 is a view on arrow A in FIG. 1 showing a state of plain paper in which cockling has occurred after recording.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the state of a special paper as viewed from the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view around a recording unit of a recording apparatus according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view around a recording unit of a recording apparatus according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a view on arrow A in FIG. 6 showing a state of plain paper before recording.

FIG. 9 is a view on arrow A in FIG. 6 showing a state of plain paper in which cockling has occurred after recording.

FIG. 10 is a view showing the state of the special paper as viewed from the direction of arrow A in FIG. 6;

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a state of plain paper before recording on a platen provided with auxiliary ribs having different heights between the ribs.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a state of plain paper in which cockling has occurred after recording on a platen provided with auxiliary ribs having different heights between ribs.

FIG. 13 is a schematic perspective view around a recording unit of a recording apparatus according to a third embodiment.

14 is a view taken in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view around a recording unit of a recording apparatus according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a schematic perspective view around a recording unit of a recording apparatus according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 17 is an enlarged view of a main part showing a relationship between a thick paper regulating member and a platen.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an operation state around a recording area.

[Explanation of symbols]

 X undulation amount 1… recording head 2… carriage 3… guide rail 4… guide roller 5… support rail 6… timing belt 7… recording medium 8… upstream conveying roller 9… registration roller 10… registration roller pair 11… biasing Spring 12: Downstream conveying roller 13: Spur 14: Discharge roller pair 15: Urging spring 16: Elastic member mounting plate 18: Rib 18a: Auxiliary rib 19: Platen 19a: Sliding surface 19c, 19d: Rotating shaft 19e , 19f… emboss 20… platen support base 20a… platen guide surface 21… platen spring 22… double-sided tape 23… elastic member 24… plain paper 24a… plain paper 25… plain paper 25a… plain paper 26… special paper (thick paper) 27… Spur 28… Paper holding plate 29… Thick paper regulating member 29a, 29b… Abutting surface 29c… Regulatory guide surface 29d… Mounting surface 30… Compression spring

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A recording apparatus that conveys a recording medium by a conveying unit and performs recording in a recording area of the recording unit, wherein a plurality of convex portions extending in a conveying direction of the recording medium are provided in a direction intersecting the conveying direction. A platen for guiding and supporting the recording medium at a position facing the means; and a plurality of platens arranged upstream of the recording area and on the recording surface side of the recording medium in a direction intersecting the transport direction so as to press the recording medium toward the platen. An elastic member that is elastically deformed in accordance with the rigidity of the recording medium, wherein the elastic member is arranged at a position facing the convex portion of the platen and between the convex portions of the platen. Recording device. 2. A recording apparatus which conveys a recording medium by a conveying means and performs recording in a recording area of the recording means, wherein a plurality of convex portions extending in a conveying direction of the recording medium are provided in a direction intersecting the conveying direction. A platen for guiding and supporting the recording medium at a position facing the means, a guide member for guiding the recording medium upstream of the recording area and on the recording surface side of the recording medium to regulate the upper surface thereof, and a conveyance direction of the guide member. A plurality of elastic members attached in a crossing direction and elastically deformed according to the rigidity of the recording medium so as to press the recording medium toward the platen, wherein the elastic member is provided at a position facing the convex portion of the platen. In addition, the platen is disposed so as to enter between the convex portions of the platen, and the platen is moved in a direction of approaching / separating from the recording unit according to a thickness of a recording medium. Recording apparatus characterized by the Uni configuration. 3. The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the platen is guided to a platen support base such that the recording medium support surface moves in a direction approaching / separating from the recording means and in parallel with a conveyance direction. A recording apparatus, which is supported and urged by an urging member in the direction of the guide member. 4. The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the platen is divided into a plurality of pieces along a direction intersecting a conveyance direction. 5. The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the platen is rotatable in a direction approaching / separating from the recording unit about a rotation center provided downstream of a recording area. And a biasing member biased in the direction of the guide member. 6. A gap is provided between the projection of the platen and the guide member, and when the thickness of the recording medium is less than the gap, the recording medium is conveyed in the gap, 6. The recording medium according to claim 5, wherein when the thickness of the recording medium is larger than the gap, the recording medium rotates the platen in a direction away from the guide member against the urging force of the urging member. Recording device. 7. The platen has an abutting portion with the guide member at at least one position outside a transport area of a recording medium, and the abutting portion abuts on the guide member to form a convex portion of the platen. 7. The recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a gap is provided between the guide and the guide member. 8. A pair of rollers for nipping and conveying a recording medium is disposed downstream of a recording area of the recording means, and a nip position of the pair of rollers is the same as a position of a vertex of a plurality of convex portions of the platen in a conveying direction. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording apparatus is arranged so as to be aligned on a straight line. 9. A recording medium, which is located on the downstream side of a recording area of the recording unit and corresponding to a position between the convex portions of the platen, elastically so as to press a recording medium toward the platen in the same manner as the elastic member. 3. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a supported rotatable roller. 10. The roller on the recording surface side of the recording medium of the roller pair according to claim 8 and the roller according to claim 9 having a small contact area with the recording medium and contacting the recording surface after recording. A recording apparatus characterized in that the recording image is not disturbed even if the recording medium is recorded. 11. The height of the plurality of projections provided on the platen is two or more types.
Or the recording device according to claim 2. 12. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an end of the elastic member near a recording area enters between the convex portions of the platen. 13. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the elastic member is disposed at a substantially central position in a direction intersecting a conveying direction between the convex portions of the platen. 14. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of convex portions of the platen are arranged side by side in a direction intersecting with a conveying direction of the recording medium. 15. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus uses an ink-jet printing system in which printing means performs printing by ejecting ink in accordance with a signal. Recording device.