Recording device, method for controlling the same, program and recording medium

Abstract

To provide a recording device for rewinding a recording medium which suppresses lowering of image quality.SOLUTION: A recording device includes: conveyance means for conveying a recording medium in a first direction with respect to recording means for discharging liquid and performing recording; drying means which is arranged on a downstream of the recording means in the first direction, and heats and dries the recorded recording medium; and control means which performs control so that a heat transfer amount to the recording medium from the drying means becomes smaller than a heat transfer amount to the recording medium from the drying means when the recording medium is conveyed in the first direction, when the recording medium is conveyed in a second direction opposite to the first direction by the conveyance means after the recording medium has passed through the drying means.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a printing apparatus that performs printing by ejecting liquid onto a printing medium. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in inkjet recording apparatuses, there are known configurations that include drying means such as a heater and a blowing mechanism for drying a recording medium onto which ink has been ejected.

[0003] Furthermore, Patent Document 1 discloses a recording device in which a recording medium printed in a printing unit is transported in a forward and reverse direction along a transport path and passed through a drying unit multiple times in order to promote drying of the ink on the recording medium and shorten the drying time.

[0004] Furthermore, Patent Document 2 discloses an image forming device that forms a mark at a position corresponding to an image formed on a long recording medium, transports the long recording medium in the reverse direction, and controls the transport of the long recording medium in the reverse direction to be stopped when a detection means detects the mark. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2021-160089 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2006-225128 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, in Patent Documents 1 and 2, when the recording medium is transported in the reverse direction along the transport path and rewound, the amount of the recording medium rewound is large for a long image pattern. In this case, the recording medium to which ink has been applied and which has been heated and dried may reach the position of the ink ejection head. For example, in the case of a recording medium printed at a high density, the volatile components of the heated ink may evaporate and condense on the head nozzle surface, which may reduce the nozzle ejection accuracy and adversely affect the image quality.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has an object to suppress deterioration in image quality in a recording device that rewinds a recording medium. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The recording device according to the present invention is characterized by comprising: a transport means for transporting a recording medium in a first direction toward a recording means that ejects liquid to perform recording; a drying means that is arranged downstream of the recording means in the first direction and heats and dries the recorded recording medium; and a control means that, when the recording medium passes through the drying means and is transported by the transport means in a second direction opposite to the first direction, controls the amount of heat transferred from the drying means to the recording medium so that it is smaller than the amount of heat transferred from the drying means to the recording medium when the recording medium is transported in the first direction. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress deterioration of image quality in a recording device that rewinds a recording medium. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a recording apparatus. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the drying section and a schematic cross-sectional view in the paper width direction and transport direction. [Figure 4] 3A and 3B are a block diagram and a schematic cross-sectional view in the paper width direction of a cooling unit. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which the recording paper is transported in the forward direction. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a state in which the recording paper is transported in the reverse direction. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a drying unit in a second embodiment. [Figure 8] 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating a state in which a recording paper is transported in a forward direction in the third embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a state in which the recording paper is transported in the reverse direction in the third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims. Although the embodiments describe a number of features, not all of these features are essential to the invention, and the features may be combined in any manner. Furthermore, in the attached drawings, the same reference numbers are used for the same or similar configurations, and duplicated descriptions are omitted.

[0012] (First embodiment) First, the top of the paper in Fig. 1 is defined as the top, the right to left as the recording paper transport direction, and the front to back of the paper, which is perpendicular to the recording paper transport direction, as the recording paper width direction. The recording device 1 in this example is a high-speed line printer that uses continuous recording paper wound in a roll. For example, it is suitable for printing fields such as print labs, where large volumes are printed.

[0013] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of a recording device 1. The recording device of this embodiment includes the following units inside: a recording paper supply unit 102, a first conveying roller pair 103, a skew correction unit 104, a tension detection unit 105, a recording unit 106, a drying unit 108, a cooling unit 111, a second conveying roller pair 109, a recording paper recovery unit 110, and a control unit 101. The recording paper is transported along a recording paper transport path indicated by a solid line P in the figure, and is processed in each unit. Here, transport of the continuous recording paper from the recording paper supply unit 102 to the recording paper recovery unit 110 is defined as forward transport, and transport in the opposite direction is defined as reverse transport.

[0014] The recording paper supply unit 102 is a unit for holding and supplying continuous sheet-like recording paper wound in a roll. The recording paper supply unit 102 is configured to store a roll 112 and pull out and supply recording paper. The number of rolls that can be stored is not limited to one, and two or three or more rolls may be stored and recording paper may be selectively pulled out and supplied. In addition, as long as the recording paper is continuous, it is not limited to being wound in a roll. For example, continuous recording paper with perforations for each unit length may be folded back at each perforation and stacked, and stored in the recording paper supply unit 102. The recording paper supply unit 102 is independently controlled to rotate forward and backward by a drive motor (not shown).

[0015] The first conveying roller pair 103 is a unit that feeds the recording paper to a meandering correction unit 104, a tension detection unit 105, a recording unit 106, and a drying unit 108, which are arranged in the following order along the conveying path P, and applies tension to the recording paper between the first conveying roller pair 103 and the second conveying roller pair 109. The first conveying roller pair 103 rotates by driving a motor (not shown), and conveys the recording paper under tension.

[0016] The meandering correction unit 104 is a unit for correcting meandering in the width direction of the recording paper when the recording paper is transported under tension. The meandering correction unit 104 is configured to include a meandering correction roller 104a and a meandering detection sensor (not shown) that detects meandering of the recording paper. The meandering correction roller 104a can change the inclination of the recording paper in the transport direction by a motor (not shown), and corrects meandering of the recording paper based on the measurement by the meandering detection sensor. At this time, the recording paper is wrapped around the meandering correction roller 104a, thereby improving the meandering correction function.

[0017] The tension detection unit 105 is a unit for detecting the tension when the recording paper is conveyed with tension between the first conveying roller pair 103 and the second conveying roller pair 109.

[0018] The recording unit 106 is a recording paper processing unit that performs recording processing on the recording paper from above using a recording head 113 to form an image on the recording paper being transported. A transport path P in the recording unit 106 is formed by guide rollers 114 arranged in an arc shape that is convex upward, and a certain tension is applied to the recording paper to ensure a clearance between the recording paper and the recording head 113. A plurality of recording heads 113 are arranged along the transport direction to form an arc shape following the transport path P. In this example, the recording heads have four line-type recording heads corresponding to four colors, Bk (black), Y (yellow), M (magenta), and C (cyan). That is, each recording head 113 has a nozzle (ejection port) that ejects ink over a length corresponding to the width of the recording paper. The number of colors and the number of recording heads 113 are not limited to four. The multiple recording heads 113 are held together by a head holder 115, which can move up and down to change the clearance between the recording paper and the recording heads 113. The inkjet method can be a method using a heating element, a method using a piezoelectric element, a method using an electrostatic element, a method using a MEMS element, or the like. Ink of each color is supplied to the recording heads 113 from an ink tank (not shown) via an ink tube. Note that the present invention is not limited to a line type recording head, but can also be applied to a serial type recording head that records by moving back and forth in the width direction of the recording paper.

[0019] The drying unit 108 is disposed downstream of the recording unit 106 in the conveying direction of the recording paper, and is a unit that reduces the liquid contained in the ink applied to the recording paper by the recording unit 106, and improves the fixation of the ink to the recording paper. The drying unit 108 heats the recording paper on which data has been recorded, thereby drying the applied ink. Inside the drying unit 108, hot air is applied to at least the upper surface side of the recording paper passing through, thereby drying the ink-applied surface. Note that the drying method may be a combination of a method of applying hot air, a method of irradiating the recording paper surface with electromagnetic waves (ultraviolet rays, infrared rays, etc.), and a conductive heat transfer method by contact with a heating element.

[0020] The cooling section 111 is a unit that cools the recording paper heated in the drying section 108, and prevents heat from accumulating in the rolls in the recording paper recovery section 110 downstream in the transport direction, and prevents ink from adhering to the surface of the transport roller that comes into contact with the ink on the recording paper. Inside the cooling section 111, air is blown onto the printing surface side of the recording paper to cool the printing surface side. The cooling wind is blown onto the recording paper at a desired wind speed from outside the recording device 1 through a duct (not shown) by a fan or the like. Note that the air temperature may be determined by using a heat exchanger to blow air at a temperature lower than the outside air temperature of the device 1.

[0021] The second conveying roller pair 109 is a unit that conveys the recording paper while applying tension together with the first conveying roller pair 103, and adjusts the tension of the recording paper. The second conveying roller pair 109 is rotated by being driven by a motor (not shown), and the tension of the recording paper is adjusted by a clutch (not shown) that can control the torque of the drive connection by the tension control unit 100, which will be described later, according to the tension value detected by the tension detection unit 105. Note that, as an additional configuration for adjusting the tension of the recording paper, a configuration for controlling the speed of the second conveying roller pair 109 by the tension detection unit 105 may be added. In this case, there are two tension control methods: a torque control method that controls the torque value transmitted from the clutch, and a speed control method that controls the roller speed of the second conveying roller pair. The tension control methods can be switched or both can be used simultaneously depending on the purpose.

[0022] The recording paper recovery unit 110 is a unit for winding the recording paper that has been recorded on onto a core. The number of recoverable rolls is not limited to one, and the unit may have two or three or more cores and selectively switch between them to recover the recording paper. Depending on the content of the post-recording processing, the continuous recording paper may be cut using a cutter and the cut recording paper may be stacked, instead of being wound onto a core.

[0023] The recording paper recovery unit 110 is independently controlled to rotate in both forward and reverse directions by a drive motor (not shown).

[0024] By controlling the respective drive motors (not shown) of the recording paper supply unit 102 and the recording paper recovery unit 110 to rotate in the forward or reverse direction, the recording paper S is transported in the forward or reverse direction.

[0025] In the case of reverse conveyance, the sheet is conveyed with tension between the first conveying roller pair 103 and the second conveying roller pair 109 in the same manner as in the case of forward conveyance.

[0026] The control unit 101 is a unit that controls each part of the entire recording device. The control unit 101 has a CPU, a storage device, a controller equipped with various control units, an external interface, and an operation unit 118 where the user performs input and output. The operation of the recording device 1 is controlled based on commands from the controller or a host PC 119 such as a host computer connected to the controller via an external interface.

[0027] 2, the control unit that performs data flow processing of the printing apparatus in this embodiment will be described. The control unit 101 has a host I / F unit 224. Print data input from the host PC 119 via the host I / F unit 224 is rendered by the RIP processing unit 203 to become multi-value bitmap data. The print data input here is composed of, for example, PDL (Page Description Language). The multi-value bitmap data is subjected to ink color conversion and quantization processing by the print data generation unit 204 to become halftone data of the ink color. The halftone data is assigned to each nozzle by the nozzle data generation unit 205 for each color, and becomes nozzle data (binary data) of the number of nozzles for each line. The nozzle data is subjected to non-discharge complement processing (processing of reassigning ejection data assigned to non-discharge nozzles to nozzles that are not non-discharge nozzles) by the non-discharge complement processing unit 207 according to the non-discharge nozzle information stored in the non-discharge nozzle information storage unit 206. The nozzle data that has undergone the non-ejection complement process is subjected to head tilt correction (correction to move data in the transport direction according to the amount of tilt) in a head tilt correction unit 209 according to the head tilt information stored in a head tilt information storage unit 208. The nozzle data that has undergone head tilt correction in this way is stored in an image memory 223. The CPU 220 transfers the nozzle data stored in the image memory 223 to a nozzle data thinning unit 210. The transferred nozzle data after tilt correction is thinned out by the nozzle data thinning unit 210, and is transferred to the recording head 212 by an ejection data transfer unit 211. The CPU 220 also controls the above-mentioned respective units. This control is executed based on a control program stored in a ROM 222. The control program stored in the ROM 222 includes an OS for performing time-sharing control in units of load modules called tasks by a system clock. A RAM 221 is used as a working area for the CPU 220. Each unit including the CPU 220 is connected to a system bus 225.

[0028] The control unit 101 also has a drying control unit 226, which controls the temperatures of the drying module A 120, drying module B 130, drying module C 140, and drying module D 150. It can also determine whether each drying module is normal by polling (periodic inquiry) or by receiving a normal temperature. It also has a cooling control unit 227, which controls the rotation speed of the fans 401 and 402 (FIG. 4) of the cooling module A 160 and the cooling module B 170. It can determine whether each fan is rotating normally by an encoder unit (not shown) in the fans 401 and 402, or by a detection means for detecting a locked fan (rotation failure).

[0029] <Configuration of Drying Section 108> FIG. 3(a) is a diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the drying module A120. The drying module A120 is composed of a heater module 302 as a heating means, a temperature sensor 303, and a fan 304 for blowing hot air. The drying control unit 226 receives information on the target temperature from the CPU 220. The drying control unit 226 sets the heater module 302 to ON / OFF based on the hot air temperature in the duct 305 that is the measurement target of the temperature sensor 303. However, the ON / OFF state is repeated according to the DUTY ratio, not just ON / OFF. For example, if the target temperature is 70°C and the hot air temperature in the duct 305 obtained from the temperature sensor 303 is 60°C, the DUTY ratio of the heater module 302 is controlled to 100% or the like so as to increase the hot air temperature. When the hot air temperature in the duct 305 exceeds 70°C, the DUTY ratio of the heater module 302 is controlled to 10% or the like so as to decrease the hot air temperature. This value is merely an example and is variable. 3(b) is a schematic cross-sectional view of the drying module A120 in the paper width direction, as viewed from the paper transport direction. A heater module 302 and a fan 304 are provided in an air path formed by the frame 310, and the air heated by the heater module 302 is blown onto the recording paper S on the transport path P through a nozzle unit 306 as indicated by a thick solid line 500 in the figure. The frame 310 is provided with an intake unit (intake port) 307 that introduces outside air, and an exhaust unit (exhaust port) 308 that is used to dry the recording paper S and exhausts a desired amount of humidified air.

[0030] The hot air circulation configuration will be described with reference to FIG. 3(b). The thick solid line 500 in the figure indicates the basic hot air circulation path in the duct 305. The hot air circulation method is adopted in order to effectively utilize the thermal energy acting on the air from the heater module 302 and to shorten the start-up time until the desired temperature is reached when the device is first used. Outside air 500a (dashed line in the figure) sucked in from the intake section 307 is drawn in by the fan 304. At the same time, a portion of the dried air 500b (dashed line in the figure) is exhausted to the outside of the device from the exhaust section 308. The portion 500c that is not exhausted is sucked in again by the fan 304 and circulated.

[0031] Fig. 3(c) is a cross-sectional view of the drying unit 108 in the conveying direction taken along the cutting line UU shown in Fig. 3(b). Drying module A 120, drying module B 130, drying module C 140, and drying module D 150 are arranged side by side in the conveying direction. Backup rollers 309a to 309e are arranged on the opposite side across the recording paper S to prevent the recording paper from moving too far away from the drying unit when hot air is applied to it.

[0032] <Configuration of Cooling Unit 111> Fig. 4(a) is a diagram showing the internal configuration of a cooling module A160 as an example, similar to the drying module in Fig. 3. The cooling module A160 is composed of fans 401 and 402. Fig. 4(b) is a schematic cross-sectional view of the cooling module A160 in the paper width direction, as seen from the paper transport direction. Fans 401 and 402 are provided in an air path formed from duct 403, and air is blown onto recording paper S on transport path P via nozzle section 404 as indicated by arrow 510 in the figure.

[0033] <Reverse transport control> Next, the reverse direction transport control of the recording paper supply unit 102 and the recording paper recovery unit 110 will be described with reference to Figs. 5 and 6. Fig. 5(a) is a diagram showing the printing state of forward transport, and Fig. 5(b) is a diagram showing the state when printing of forward transport is interrupted. Fig. 5(c) is a diagram showing the state when printing of forward transport is resumed. Fig. 6(a) is a diagram showing the state when winding of reverse transport is interrupted, and Fig. 6(b) is a diagram showing the state when printing of forward transport is resumed.

[0034] As shown in Fig. 5(a), while the recording paper S is conveyed forward in the direction of the arrow D, an image 700 is continuously printed by the recording unit 106. Mark images 701a and 701b are printed at predetermined positions on both sides of the image 700 in the width direction, for example, diagonal positions (one position is downstream in the width direction, and the other position is upstream in the width direction). Then, on the upstream side of the recording unit 106, mark sensors 7a and 7b are provided at positions facing both ends of the recording paper S in the width direction to detect the mark images 701a and 701b, respectively. The image 700 and the mark images 701a and 701b printed by the recording unit 106 pass through the drying unit 108 and are dried and fixed.

[0035] 5(b), when the control unit 101 stops printing during continuous printing in the direction of the arrow D, printing by the recording unit 106 is immediately stopped, but the recording paper S is stopped after decelerating. Note that at this time, printing by the recording unit 106 is stopped with respect to the final image 700a printed on the recording paper S in a state where all images of the image data have been printed.

[0036] The area between the final image 700a and the recording unit 106 is blank for a length corresponding to the deceleration period. The length of this blank portion varies depending on the printing speed. For example, if the printing speed is 60 m / min and it takes 10 seconds to stop, the length will be about 10 m. This length is defined as LA1 (m).

[0037] As shown in Figure 5(c), a conventional printer that uses roll paper is configured to restart printing in this state, and an additional length is required from the upstream side of the blank portion LA1(m) until the transport speed stabilizes in order to resume printing. This length is defined as LA2(m). Therefore, the total length LB(m) of the blank portion LA1(m) and the accelerated length LA2(m) until the transport speed stabilizes in order to resume printing becomes paper waste.

[0038] 6(a), in the recording device 1 of this embodiment, when a printing restart signal is input to the control unit 101, the recording paper S is rewound in the direction of the arrow R. Specifically, the drive motors of the recording paper supply unit 102 and the recording paper recovery unit 110 are controlled to reverse the rotation of the recording paper supply unit 102 and the recording paper recovery unit 110, and the recording paper S is transported backward in the direction of the arrow R.

[0039] When the recording paper S is transported in the reverse direction, the final image 700a printed before the stop and each image 700 downstream of it pass through the recording unit 106 and are transported upstream. At this time, the final image 700a that has passed through the recording unit 106 in the reverse direction and the mark images 701a, 701b printed at predetermined positions on both sides of the image 700 in the width direction are detected by the mark sensors 7a, 7b. Then, the number of mark images 701a, 701b that have passed are counted.

[0040] Specifically, when the recording paper S is conveyed in the reverse direction, the number of each mark image 701a, 701b detected by the mark sensors 7a, 7b for the portion conveyed in the reverse direction is input to the control unit 101. At this time, each mark image 701a on the downstream side in the width direction is detected by one mark sensor 7a, and each mark image 701b on the upstream side in the width direction is detected by the other mark sensor 7b. During this reverse conveyance, the mark image 701b on the upstream side in the width direction is detected by the mark sensor 7b, thereby detecting the reverse end portion of one image 700, and the mark image 701a on the downstream side in the width direction is detected by the mark sensor 7a, thereby detecting the reverse leading end portion of one image 700.

[0041] The length of the reverse transport is the length required for the final image 700a to pass, plus an extra length of sheet length L (m) is rewound to take into account the acceleration of the transport speed when the recording paper S is transported in the forward direction and stability of meandering.

[0042] After the recording paper S has been transported in the reverse direction over a predetermined length as described above, the control unit 101 controls forward transport, whereby the recording paper S is transported in the forward direction while accelerating.

[0043] 6(b), the number of images conveyed forward in the direction of arrow D is counted by detecting mark images 701a and 701b accompanying the image 700 with the mark sensors 7a and 7b. When this count number matches the count number for the reverse conveyance, it means that the final image 700a has passed the recording unit 106. Then, the recording unit 106 starts printing a new image 700b.

[0044] As shown in Fig. 6(a), when printing is resumed, the sheet length L (m) has been rewound to provide sufficient acceleration time, so the running speed of the recording paper S when printing is resumed as shown in Fig. 6(b) reaches a predetermined printing speed. This makes it possible to resume printing from a position following the last image 700a before the stop with accurate positional accuracy in the transport direction.

[0045] In this embodiment, the reverse transport control of the recording paper S is performed using the mark images 701a and 701b and the mark sensors 7a and 7b, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, punch holes may be provided instead of the mark images at both ends of the image 700, and the reverse transport control of the recording paper S may be performed by counting the number of punch holes.

[0046] <Reverse conveyance control in the drying section> Next, the reverse direction transport control of the drying unit 108 will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0047] 5, in the case of forward transport, the image printed on the recording paper S is dried and fixed by passing through the drying unit 108. Here, in the case where reverse transport control is performed by the control unit 101, the recording paper S passes through the drying unit 108 again.

[0048] 3, in the drying unit 108, air that has passed through the heater module 302 and is heated is blown onto the recording paper S from the nozzle unit 306. Here, if the drying unit 108 is controlled to perform the same operation as during forward transport, the recording paper S will be heated again by the heated air even when transported in the reverse direction.

[0049] 6(a), if the conveying direction of the recording paper S is reversed, the recording paper S that has been reheated in the drying unit 108 will pass through the recording unit 106. At this time, the reheated recording paper S will increase the atmospheric temperature under the recording head, and there is a risk that condensation will occur on the nozzle surface on which the nozzles of the recording head 113 are formed. If condensation occurs on the nozzle surface, the accuracy of ejection from the nozzles will decrease, and image quality may deteriorate.

[0050] Therefore, in this embodiment, in order to prevent reheating of the recording paper S during reverse transport, the air volume of the fan 304 is reduced and controlled so that the amount of heat transferred per unit time to the recording paper S during reverse transport is smaller than that during forward transport. This makes it possible to suppress reheating of the recording paper S by the drying unit 108 during reverse transport. In other words, it is possible to prevent the temperature of the recording paper S transported under the recording head from becoming too high, and to suppress deterioration of image quality due to condensation. In this embodiment, an example has been described in which the air volume of the fan 304 is reduced during reverse transport, but the method of controlling the amount of heat transferred per unit time to the recording paper S to be smaller during reverse transport than during forward transport is not limited to this.

[0051] For example, the rotation of the fan 304 may be completely stopped to stop the air blown from the nozzle unit 306 to the recording paper S. Alternatively, the temperature adjustment of the heater module 302 may be controlled so that the temperature of the air blown from the nozzle unit 306 is low (for example, 60°C). Alternatively, the output of the heater module 302 may be stopped to control the temperature of the air blown from the nozzle unit 306 to be the same as the outside air. Alternatively, during the reverse direction conveyance, the conveyance speed may be increased by increasing the output of the drive motors of the recording paper supply unit 102 and the recording paper recovery unit 110, thereby shortening the time for the recording paper S to pass through the drying unit 108. Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the recording apparatus 1 has been described on the premise of a configuration including the cooling unit 111, but the present invention is also applicable to a configuration not including the cooling unit 111.

[0052] Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment of the reverse direction transport control of the drying unit 108 will be described with reference to Figs. 5, 6, and 7. In the following description, since the overall configuration of the recording apparatus is similar to that of the first embodiment, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

[0053] Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the drying unit 108 in the second embodiment. As shown in Fig. 7, in the second embodiment, an exhaust fan 311 is added near the inlet of the exhaust unit 308 to the configuration in Fig. 3 which is the first embodiment.

[0054] A method of suppressing the temperature rise of the fan 304 as a blowing means in the drying section 108 will be described with reference to FIG. 7. The flow rate of air blown by the fan 304 is Q [m3 / min]. The air blown by the fan 304 moves along the hot air circulation path indicated by the thick solid line 500 in FIG. 7. In this case, hot air at a flow rate Qout [m3 / min] is exhausted from the exhaust section 308 by the exhaust fan 311, and air at a flow rate Qcir [m3 / min] is returned to the fan 304. In addition, the outside air at a flow rate Qin [m3 / min] sucked in by the fan 304 from the intake section 307 is mixed with the hot air at the flow rate Qcir. As a result, the relationship of the flow rates in this circulation flow path system is roughly expressed by (Equation 1).

[0055] Q=Qcir+Qin=Qcir+Qout…(Formula 1) In other words, if the exhaust volume of the exhaust fan 311 is made larger when the recording paper S is transported in the reverse direction than when the recording paper S is transported in the forward direction, the amount of intake of outside air can be increased without changing the flow rate Q of the fan 304, which is the air blowing means, and the temperature rise in the drying unit 108 can be suppressed. Not limited to this, the same effect can be obtained by changing the flow rates of the fan 304 and the exhaust fan 311 together. For example, stopping the fan 304 is also effective. By suppressing the temperature rise in the drying unit 108, the temperature of the air blown from the nozzle unit 306 to the recording paper S can also be lowered compared to when the recording paper S is transported in the forward direction.

[0056] This makes it possible to prevent the recording paper S from being reheated when passing through the drying unit 108 during reverse transport, and to prevent the temperature of the recording paper S from becoming too high when it is transported under the recording head 113. Therefore, it is possible to suppress deterioration of image quality due to condensation on the nozzle surface.

[0057] In the second embodiment, the exhaust fan 311 is added near the inlet of the exhaust unit 308 to increase the amount of outside air taken in during reverse transport, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, an intake fan may be added near the inlet of the intake unit 307 to increase the amount of outside air taken in during reverse transport. This method can also suppress the temperature rise in the drying unit 108. The second embodiment can also be applied to a recording apparatus 1 that does not include a cooling unit 111.

[0058] (Third embodiment) Next, a third embodiment of the reverse direction transport control of the drying unit 108 will be described. In the following description, since the overall configuration of the recording apparatus is the same as that of the first embodiment, the same parts are given the same reference numerals and the description will be omitted as appropriate.

[0059] Fig. 8(a) is a diagram showing a printing state in forward transport in the third embodiment. Fig. 8(b) is a diagram showing a state in which printing in forward transport has been interrupted. Fig. 8(c) is also a diagram showing a state in which printing in forward transport has been interrupted. Fig. 9(a) is a diagram showing a state in which winding in reverse transport has been interrupted. Fig. 9(b) is a diagram showing a state in which printing in forward transport has been resumed.

[0060] In the third embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, a cooling section 111 downstream of a drying section 108 is controlled.

[0061] 8(a), while the recording paper S is being conveyed forward in the direction of the arrow D, an image 700 is continuously printed by the recording unit 106. Mark images 701a and 701b are printed at predetermined positions on both sides in the width direction of this image 700. Mark sensors 7a and 7b that detect the mark images 701a and 701b, respectively, are provided upstream of the recording unit 106 at positions facing both ends in the width direction of the recording paper S.

[0062] The image 700 printed by the recording unit 106 is dried and fixed by passing through the drying unit 108. At this time, the recording paper S is heated by the heated air in the drying unit 108.

[0063] The cooling section 111 is a unit that cools the recording paper heated in the drying section 108 and prevents heat from accumulating within the roll in the recording paper recovery section 110 downstream in the transport direction and prevents ink from adhering to the surface of the transport roller that comes into contact with the ink on the recording paper.

[0064] 8(b), when the control unit 101 stops printing during continuous printing in the direction of the arrow D, printing by the recording unit 106 is immediately stopped, but the recording paper S is stopped after decelerating. Note that at this time, printing by the recording unit 106 is stopped with respect to the final image 700a printed on the recording paper S in a state where all images of the image data have been printed.

[0065] The area between the final image 700a and the recording unit 106 is blank for a length corresponding to the deceleration period. This length is defined as LA1 (m).

[0066] As shown in Figure 8(c), a conventional printer that uses roll paper is configured to resume printing in this state, and an additional length is required from the upstream side of the blank portion LA1(m) until the transport speed stabilizes in order to resume printing. This length is defined as LA2(m). Therefore, the total length LB(m) of the blank portion LA1(m) and the length LA2(m) of acceleration until the transport speed stabilizes in order to resume printing becomes paper waste.

[0067] 9(a), in the recording device 1 of this embodiment, when a printing restart signal is input to the control unit 101, the recording paper S is rewound in the direction of the arrow R. Specifically, the drive motors of the recording paper supply unit 102 and the recording paper recovery unit 110 are controlled to reverse the rotation of the recording paper supply unit 102 and the recording paper recovery unit 110, and the recording paper S is transported backward in the direction of the arrow R.

[0068] When the recording paper S is transported in the reverse direction, the final image 700a printed before the stop and each image 700 downstream of it pass through the recording unit 106 and are transported upstream. At this time, the final image 700a that has passed through the recording unit 106 in the reverse direction and the mark images 701a, 701b printed at predetermined positions on both sides of the image 700 in the width direction are detected by the mark sensors 7a, 7b. Then, the number of mark images 701a, 701b that have passed are counted. By transporting in the reverse direction, the recording paper S is cooled by the cooling unit 111, but if the cooling is insufficient, there is a risk that the recording paper S will be reheated by the drying unit 108.

[0069] Therefore, in this embodiment, during reverse conveyance, the output of the fans 401 and 402 in the cooling module A160 is increased, and the amount of air blown onto the recording paper S from the nozzle portion 404 is increased.

[0070] This allows the temperature of the recording paper S to be lowered to near the outside air temperature, and prevents the recording paper S from being reheated even if it passes through the drying unit 108 during reverse transport. Furthermore, by keeping the temperature of the recording paper S transported below the recording head 113 low, it is possible to prevent degradation of image quality due to condensation on the nozzle surface.

[0071] In this embodiment, the case where the recording paper S is cooled by air blown from the nozzle portion 404 of the cooling unit 111 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the conveying roller may be provided with a cooling function such as air cooling or water cooling, and the recording paper S may be directly contacted and cooled. Also, the conveying roller may be used in combination with the cooling unit 111 to assist cooling.

[0072] The disclosure of this specification includes the following recording device, method, program, and storage medium.

[0073] (Item 1) a conveying means for conveying a recording medium in a first direction relative to a recording means for ejecting a liquid to perform recording; a drying means disposed downstream of the recording means in the first direction and configured to heat and dry the recording medium on which data has been recorded; a control means for controlling an amount of heat transferred from the drying means to the recording medium when the recording medium passes through the drying means and is transported by the transport means in a second direction opposite to the first direction so as to be smaller than an amount of heat transferred from the drying means to the recording medium when the recording medium is transported in the first direction; A recording device comprising:

[0074] (Item 2) 2. The recording apparatus according to item 1, wherein the drying means comprises a heating means for heating air and a blowing means for blowing the heated air onto the recording medium.

[0075] (Item 3) The recording device described in item 2, characterized in that the control means controls the air blowing means so that, when the recording medium is transported in the second direction by the transport means, the amount of air blown from the drying means to the recording medium is less than the amount of air blown when the recording medium is transported in the first direction.

[0076] (Item 4) 4. The recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the control unit stops the air blowing unit when the recording medium is transported in the second direction by the transport unit.

[0077] (Item 5) The recording device described in item 2, characterized in that the control means controls the heating means so that, when the recording medium is transported in the second direction by the transport means, the temperature of the air blown from the drying means to the recording medium is lower than the temperature when the recording medium is transported in the first direction.

[0078] (Item 6) The recording device described in item 2, characterized in that the drying means has an exhaust port that exhausts air to the outside, and the control means controls the blowing means so that, when the recording medium is transported in the second direction by the transporting means, the exhaust volume of the exhaust port is greater than the exhaust volume when the recording medium is transported in the first direction.

[0079] (Item 7) The recording device described in item 2, characterized in that the drying means has an air intake port for taking in air from the outside, and the control means controls the blowing means so that when the recording medium is transported in the second direction by the transport means, the amount of air intake at the air intake port is greater than the amount of air intake when the recording medium is transported in the first direction.

[0080] (Item 8) The recording device described in item 2, characterized in that the control means controls the transport means so that the speed at which the transport means transports the recording medium when the recording medium is transported in the second direction by the transport means is faster than the speed at which the recording medium is transported in the first direction.

[0081] (Item 9) 9. The recording device according to any one of items 1 to 8, further comprising a cooling unit arranged downstream of the drying unit in the first direction and configured to cool the recording medium that has passed through the drying unit.

[0082] (Item 10) The recording device according to claim 9, characterized in that the cooling means has a second blowing means for blowing air to the recording medium, and the control means controls the cooling means so that when the recording medium is transported in the second direction by the transport means, the air volume of the second blowing means is greater than the air volume of the second blowing means when the recording medium is transported in the first direction.

[0083] (Item 11) A method for controlling a recording device including: a conveying unit that conveys a recording medium in a first direction relative to a recording unit that discharges a liquid to perform recording; and a drying unit that is disposed downstream of the recording unit in the first direction and heats and dries the recording medium on which recording has been performed, the method comprising: A control method for a recording device, comprising: a control step of controlling an amount of heat transferred from the drying means to the recording medium when the recording medium passes through the drying means and is transported by the transport means in a second direction opposite to the first direction so that the amount of heat transferred from the drying means to the recording medium is smaller than the amount of heat transferred from the drying means to the recording medium when the recording medium is transported in the first direction.

[0084] (Item 12) Item 12. A program for causing a computer to execute the control method according to item 11.

[0085] (Item 13) A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute the control method according to item 11.

[0086] (Other embodiments) The present invention can also be realized by a process in which a program for realizing one or more functions of the above-mentioned embodiments is supplied to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or device read and execute the program. The present invention can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) for realizing one or more functions.

[0087] The invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and variations are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following claims are appended to apprise the public of the scope of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0088] 1: recording device, 7a, 7b: mark sensors, 102: recording paper supply section, 103: first conveying roller pair, 104: skew correction section, 105: tension detection section, 106: recording section, 108: drying section, 109: second conveying roller pair, 110: recording paper recovery section, 111: cooling section, 101: control section, 112: roll, 113: recording head, 701a, 701b: mark images

Claims

1. A recording means that discharges liquid to perform recording, and a transport means that transports the recording medium in a first direction, A drying means is provided which is located downstream of the recording means in the first direction and heats and dries the recorded recording medium, A control means that controls the amount of heat transferred from the drying means to the recording medium when the recording medium has passed through the drying means and is then transported by the transport means in a second direction opposite to the first direction, so that the amount of heat transferred from the drying means to the recording medium is less than the amount of heat transferred from the drying means to the recording medium when the recording medium is transported in the first direction. Equipped with, The recording apparatus is characterized in that the drying means comprises a heating means for heating air and a blowing means for blowing the heated air onto the recording medium.

2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the control means controls the air blowing means such that when the recording medium is transported in the second direction by the transport means, the amount of air blown from the drying means to the recording medium is less than the amount of air blown when the recording medium is transported in the first direction.

3. The recording apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the control means stops the blowing means when the recording medium is transported in the second direction by the transport means.

4. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the control means controls the heating means such that when the recording medium is transported in the second direction by the transport means, the temperature of the air blown from the drying means to the recording medium is lower than the temperature when the recording medium is transported in the first direction.

5. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drying means has an exhaust port for exhausting air to the outside, and the control means controls the blowing means such that when the recording medium is transported in the second direction by the transport means, the amount of exhaust from the exhaust port is greater than the amount of exhaust when the recording medium is transported in the first direction.

6. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drying means has an air intake for taking in air from the outside, and the control means controls the air blowing means such that when the recording medium is transported in the second direction by the transport means, the amount of air drawn in by the air intake is greater than the amount of air drawn in when the recording medium is transported in the first direction.

7. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the control means controls the transport means such that when the recording medium is transported in the second direction by the transport means, the speed at which the transport means transports the recording medium is faster than the speed at which the recording medium is transported in the first direction.

8. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a cooling means disposed downstream of the drying means in the first direction for cooling the recording medium that has passed through the drying means.

9. The recording apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the cooling means has a second blowing means for blowing air onto the recording medium, and the control means controls the cooling means such that when the recording medium is transported in the second direction by the transporting means, the airflow rate of the second blowing means is greater than the airflow rate of the second blowing means when the recording medium is transported in the first direction.

10. A method for controlling a recording apparatus comprising: a transport means for transporting a recording medium in a first direction to a recording means that discharges a liquid to perform recording; and a drying means arranged downstream of the recording means in the first direction for heating and drying the recorded recording medium, A control method for a recording device, characterized by having a control step of controlling the amount of heat transferred from the drying means to the recording medium when the recording medium has passed through the drying means and is then transported by the transport means in a second direction opposite to the first direction, so that the amount of heat transferred from the drying means to the recording medium is smaller than the amount of heat transferred from the drying means to the recording medium when the recording medium is transported in the first direction.

11. A program for causing a computer to execute the control method described in claim 10.

12. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute the control method described in claim 10.

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