Recording apparatus and recording method

There is provided an adhesive belt which is configured to support and transport a recording medium, a recording head which is configured to record by discharging ink onto the recording medium which is supported by the adhesive belt, and a cleaning mechanism which is configured to clean the adhesive belt. The cleaning mechanism has a cleaning liquid tank which is configured to have a cleaning liquid, a contact section which is configured to come into contact with the adhesive belt to apply the cleaning liquid and clean off ink which is attached to the adhesive belt, and an anti-foaming agent supply section which is configured to supply an anti-foaming agent for ink to the adhesive belt directly or via another member, and the anti-foaming agent remains on the adhesive belt.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-048386 filed on Mar. 11, 2013. The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-048386 is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a recording apparatus and a recording method where a transport mechanism, which transports a recording medium using an adhesive belt, is provided.

2. Related Art

In the prior art, recording apparatuses, which are provided with a transport mechanism which transports a recording medium by placing the recording medium on a moving belt, are used. Among such recording apparatuses, there are disclosed recording apparatuses which are provided with an adhesive belt, as the moving belt, where an adhesive, which holds the recording medium by bonding such that the recording medium is able to be peeled off, is attached to a surface where the recording medium is placed. In a case where images are recorded on the recording medium using the recording apparatus, there are cases where ink is attached to the adhesive belt which sticks out from an end section when recording is performed on the end section of the recording medium. In addition, in a case where fabric is used as the recording medium, there are cases where ink is attached to the adhesive belt due to ink bleeding out from the surface (an image forming surface) of the fabric to the rear surface.

As a result, for example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application Publication No. H11-192694 discloses a recording apparatus which is provided with an adhesive belt which performs transporting of the recording medium and a cleaning mechanism which is equipped with a wiping roller where the surface around the adhesive belt is formed of a porous polymer material.

However, in the recording apparatuses of the prior art which are provided with the adhesive belt which is able to support and transport the recording medium such as the recording apparatus which is disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application Publication No. H11-192694, there are cases where bubbles which originate from ink are generated and the recording apparatus is soiled when the adhesive belt is cleaned. Here, the generation of bubbles which originate from ink is particularly remarkable in a contact section (for example, the position of the wiping roller in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application Publication No. H11-192694) where the cleaning mechanism of the adhesive belt comes into contact with the adhesive belt.

SUMMARY

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to suppress the generation of bubbles which originate from ink when cleaning an adhesive belt which is able to support and transport a recording medium.

In order to solve the problems described above, a recording apparatus of a first aspect of the present invention includes an adhesive belt which is configured to support and transport a recording medium, a recording head which is configured to record by discharging ink onto the recording medium which is supported by the adhesive belt, and a cleaning mechanism which is configured to clean the adhesive belt. The cleaning mechanism has a cleaning liquid tank which is configured to have a cleaning liquid, a contact section which is configured to come into contact with the adhesive belt to apply the cleaning liquid and clean off ink which is attached to the adhesive belt, and an anti-foaming agent supply section which is configured to supply an anti-foaming agent for ink to the adhesive belt directly or via another member, and the anti-foaming agent remains on the adhesive belt.

According to the present aspect, it is possible to suppress the generation of bubbles which originate from ink since the anti-foaming agent for ink is supplied to the adhesive belt by the anti-foaming agent supply section. Moreover, the effect of suppressing the generation of bubbles which originate from ink is further increased due to continued use since the anti-foaming agent remains on the adhesive belt.

A recording apparatus of a second aspect of the invention is the recording apparatus of the first aspect, which is configured to record in a plurality of recording modes, and the recording apparatus further includes a control section which is configured to control at least one of a supply amount and a supply timing of the anti-foaming agent based on the recording mode.

According to the present aspect, it is possible to control at least one of the supply amount and the supply timing of the anti-foaming agent based on the recording mode. As a result, for example, since it is easy for bubbles which originate from ink to be generated in a recording mode where recording is performed up to end sections of the recording medium where it is easy for large amounts of ink to be attached to the adhesive belt, control which increases the supply amount of the anti-foaming agent and speeds up the supply timing is possible. That is, it is possible to effectively suppress the generation of bubbles which originate from ink.

A recording apparatus of a third aspect of the invention is the recording apparatus according to the first or second aspect which includes a sensor, which is configured to detect the degree of soiling of at least one of the adhesive belt and the cleaning liquid tank, and which includes a control section which is configured to control at least one of a supply amount and a supply timing of the anti-foaming agent based on the degree of soiling.

According to the present aspect, it is possible to control at least one of the supply amount and the supply timing of the anti-foaming agent based on the degree of soiling of at least one of the adhesive belt and the cleaning liquid tank. As a result, for example, since it is easy for bubbles which originate from ink to be generated in a case where the degree of soiling increases due to a large amount of ink being attached to the adhesive belt, it is possible to perform at least one of control which increases the supply amount of the anti-foaming agent and control which speeds up the supply timing. That is, it is possible to effectively suppress the generation of bubbles which originate from ink.

A recording apparatus of a fourth aspect of the invention is the recording apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, where the contact section is a rotating brush where at least one of a rotation speed and pressure on the adhesive belt is variable, and the recording apparatus further includes a control section which is configured to control at least one of a supply amount and a supply timing of the anti-foaming agent based on at least one of the rotation speed and the pressure which are variable.

Since the contact section is a rotating brush, it is easy for bubbles which originate from ink to be generated according to the rotation speed of the contact section and the pressure on the adhesive belt although cleaning power applied to the adhesive belt is high. However, according to the present aspect, it is possible to effectively suppress the generation of bubbles which originate from ink since at least one of the supply amount and the supply timing of the anti-foaming agent is controlled based on at least one of the rotation speed and pressure which are variable.

A recording apparatus of a fifth aspect of the invention is the recording apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, where the anti-foaming agent supply section supplies the anti-foaming agent to at least one of the cleaning liquid tank and the contact section.

According to the present aspect, the anti-foaming agent supply section supplies the anti-foaming agent to at least one of the cleaning liquid tank and the contact section. Since the generation of bubbles which originate from ink is particularly remarkable at the contact section, it is possible to effectively attach the anti-foaming agent to the contact section and it is possible to effectively suppress the generation of bubbles which originate from ink by supplying the anti-foaming agent to at least one of the cleaning liquid tank and the contact section.

A recording apparatus of a sixth aspect of the invention is the recording apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, which further includes a wiper for the adhesive belt provided between the adhesive belt and the cleaning liquid tank on a downstream side with regard to a supply position of the anti-foaming agent in a moving direction of the adhesive belt.

According to the present aspect, the wiper is provided on the downstream side with regard to the supply position of the anti-foaming agent in the moving direction of the adhesive belt. As a result, it is possible to recover bubbles which originate from ink at the contact section. In addition, the wiper is provided between the adhesive belt and the cleaning liquid tank. As a result, it is possible to reuse the anti-foaming agent by recovering a portion of the anti-foaming agent which is supplied to the adhesive belt.

A recording apparatus of a seventh aspect of the invention is the recording apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, where the anti-foaming agent supply section supplies the anti-foaming agent toward the wiper.

According to the present embodiment, since the anti-foaming agent supply section supplies the anti-foaming agent toward the wiper, it is possible for the wiper to eliminate bubbles when recovering bubbles which originate from ink which are generated at the contact section, and it is possible to suppress soiling of the recording apparatus due to bubbles overflowing from the cleaning liquid tank.

A recording apparatus of an eighth aspect of the present is the recording apparatus according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, where the anti-foaming agent supply section supplies the anti-foaming agent to the adhesive belt on an upstream side with regard to the contact section in a moving direction of the adhesive belt.

According to the present aspect, the anti-foaming agent supply section supplies the anti-foaming agent to the adhesive belt on the upstream side with regard to the contact section in the moving direction of the adhesive belt. Since the generation of bubbles which originate from ink is particularly remarkable at the contact section, it is possible to effectively suppress the generation of bubbles which originate from ink by supplying the anti-foaming agent to the adhesive belt on the upstream side with regard to the contact section in the moving direction of the adhesive belt.

A recording method of a ninth aspect of the invention is performed using a recording apparatus which is configured to record in a plurality of recording modes and which includes an adhesive belt which is configured to support and transport a recording medium, a recording head which is configured to record by discharging ink onto the recording medium which is supported by the adhesive belt, and a cleaning mechanism which is configured to clean the adhesive belt. The cleaning mechanism has a cleaning liquid tank which is configured to have a cleaning liquid, a contact section which is configured to come into contact with the adhesive belt to apply the cleaning liquid and clean off ink which is attached to the adhesive belt, and an anti-foaming agent supply section which is configured to supply an anti-foaming agent for ink to the adhesive belt directly or via another member, and the anti-foaming agent remains on the adhesive belt. The recording method includes controlling at least one of a supply amount and a supply timing of the anti-foaming agent based on the recording mode.

According to the present aspect, it is possible to control at least one of the supply amount and the supply timing of the anti-foaming agent based on the recording mode. As a result, it is possible to effectively suppress the generation of bubbles which originate from ink.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

First Embodiment

Below, a recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1is a schematic side surface diagram of a recording apparatus1according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

The recording apparatus1of the present embodiment is provided with a feeding section2which is able to feed out a roll R1of a recording medium P in order to perform recording. In addition, a transport mechanism3is provided which transports the recording medium P in a transport direction A using an adhesive belt10which supports the recording medium P on a support surface F where an adhesive is attached. In addition, a recording mechanism4is provided which records by a recording head7scanning back and forth in an intersecting direction B which intersects with the transport direction A of the recording medium P. In addition, a cleaning mechanism15of the adhesive belt10is provided. Furthermore, a winding mechanism18is provided which has a winding shaft17which winds the recording medium P and a cutter16which cuts the recording medium P which is wound. Here, the “adhesive belt” has the meaning of a belt where an adhesive, which holds the recording medium by bonding such that the recording medium is able to be peeled off, is attached to a surface where the recording medium is supported.

The feeding section2has a configuration where a rotating shaft5is provided to also be used for setting positions of the roll R1of the recording medium P in order to perform recording, and where it is possible to feed out the recording medium P from the roll R1which is set on the rotating shaft5to the transport mechanism3via a driven roller6. Here, when the recording medium P is fed out to the transport mechanism3, the rotating shaft5rotates in a rotation direction C.

The transport mechanism3is provided with the adhesive belt10where the recording medium P which is fed out from the feeding section2is placed and transported, and a transport roller8and a driven roller9which move the adhesive belt10. The recording medium P is placed by being pressed and attached to the support surface F of the adhesive belt10using a pressing roller12. Here, when the recording medium P is transported, the transport roller8rotates in the rotation direction C and the adhesive belt10moves in a moving direction E.

The recording mechanism4has the recording head7which is able to record by discharging ink onto the recording medium P which is supported by the adhesive belt10, a carriage (which is not shown in the diagram) where the recording head7is mounted, and a carriage motor35(refer toFIG. 2) which moves the carriage back and forth in the intersecting direction B. Here, the intersecting direction B is a direction which is orthogonal with regard to the paper surface inFIG. 1.

During recording, the recording head7records by scanning back and forth, but the transport mechanism3stops transporting of the recording medium P during the recording and scanning (during movement of the recording head). In other words, back and forth scanning of the recording head7and transporting of the recording medium P are alternately performed during recording. That is, the transport mechanism3intermittently transports the recording medium P to correspond to back and forth scanning of the recording head7during recording.

The recording apparatus1of the present embodiment is provided with the recording mechanism4which records by the recording head7scanning back and forth, but the recording apparatus1is not limited to a recording mechanism with this configuration and the recording apparatus1may be provided with a recording mechanism which has a so-called line head which is provided with a nozzle row which discharges ink in a direction which intersects with the transport direction A.

The cleaning mechanism15of the adhesive belt10is provided with a cleaning liquid tank14which has a cleaning liquid19and a rotating brush13as a contact section which cleans off ink which is attached to the adhesive belt10by coming into contact with the adhesive belt10to apply the cleaning liquid19. In addition, the cleaning mechanism15has an anti-foaming agent supply section21which supplies an anti-foaming agent for ink to the adhesive belt10via the cleaning liquid tank14and the rotating brush13.

Here, the anti-foaming agent supply section21may be configured to supply the anti-foaming agent for ink directly to the adhesive belt10.

In addition, the cleaning mechanism15is provided with a wiper20for the adhesive belt10between the adhesive belt10and the cleaning liquid tank14on the downstream side with regard to the rotating brush13, which is the supply position of the anti-foaming agent to the adhesive belt10, in the moving direction E of the adhesive belt10. It is possible for the wiper20to recover bubbles which originate from ink which are generated at the contact section of the rotating brush13and the adhesive belt10. In addition, it is possible to reuse the anti-foaming agent by recovering a portion of the anti-foaming agent which is supplied to the adhesive belt10.

In addition, in the recording apparatus1of the present embodiment, the wiper20recovers only a portion of the anti-foaming agent which is supplied to the adhesive belt10and the anti-foaming agent remains on the adhesive belt10. As a result, the effect of suppressing the generation of bubbles which originate from ink due to continued use of the recording apparatus1of the present embodiment is further increased. Here, “the anti-foaming agent remains on the adhesive belt” has the meaning that a removal section or the like which removes all of the anti-foaming agent which is supplied to the adhesive belt by the anti-foaming agent supply section is not provided. That is, for example, “the anti-foaming agent remains on the adhesive belt” has the meaning that a cleaning mechanism or the like formed of a rotating brush or the like which removes all of the anti-foaming agent is not provided at a rear stage of the cleaning mechanism. Accordingly, “the anti-foaming agent remains on the adhesive belt” has the meaning that a removal section, such as a wiper, which removes a portion of the anti-foaming agent which is supplied to the adhesive belt may be provided.

In addition, the rotating brush13of the present embodiment is a rotating brush where the rotation speed and the pressure on the adhesive belt10are variable. A rotating brush where at least one of the rotation speed and the pressure on the adhesive belt10is variable is preferable as in the rotating brush13in order to increase the capacity to clean the adhesive belt10, but the rotating brush is not limited to such a rotating brush.

In addition, water is used as the cleaning liquid in the cleaning mechanism15of the present embodiment and water is supplied to the cleaning liquid tank14by a supply mechanism which is not shown in the diagram. Waste liquid from the cleaning liquid tank14is temporarily stored in a waste liquid tank22by being moved in a moving direction D, an organic solvent which includes the anti-foaming agent is supplied from a waste liquid tube23which is at an upper section to a water liquid tank which is not shown in the diagram, and water discharge where the main component is water is supplied from a waste liquid tube24which is at a lower section to a waste liquid tank which is not shown in the diagram.

In addition, the recording apparatus1of the present embodiment is provided with a sensor26which is able to detect the degree of soiling of the adhesive belt10, and a sensor25which is able to detect the degree of soiling of the cleaning liquid tank14.

The winding mechanism18is a mechanism which winds the recording medium P which is transported from the transport mechanism3via the driven roller11as recording is carried out, and it is possible to wind the recording medium P as a roll R2by setting a paper tube or the like for winding on the winding shaft17and wrapping the recording medium P around the paper tube or the like.

Next, an electrical configuration of the recording apparatus1of the present embodiment will be described.

FIG. 2is a block diagram of the recording apparatus1of the present embodiment.

A CPU31which is in charge of controlling the entirety of the recording apparatus1is provided in a control section30. In the CPU31, a ROM33which stores each type of control program or the like which are executed by the CPU31and a RAM34which is able to temporarily store data are connected via a system bus32. In addition, the CPU31is connected with a head driving section27for driving the recording head7via the system bus32.

In addition, the CPU31is connected with an anti-foaming agent supply section driving section36for driving the anti-foaming agent supply section21via the system bus32.

In addition, the CPU31is connected via the system bus32with a motor driving section42for driving the carriage motor35, a rotating brush motor37, a rotating brush moving motor38, a transport motor39, a feeding motor40, and a winding motor41.

Here, the carriage motor35is a motor for moving the carriage where the recording head7is mounted. In addition, the rotating brush motor37is a motor for rotationally driving the rotating brush13. In addition, the rotating brush moving motor38is a motor for moving the rotating brush13in directions which approach and move away from the adhesive belt10in order to change the pressing force of the rotating brush13on the adhesive belt10. In addition, the transport motor39is a motor for driving the transport roller8. In addition, the feeding motor40is a rotating mechanism for the rotating shaft5and is a motor which drives the rotating shaft for feeding out the recording medium P to the transport mechanism3. Then, the winding motor41is a driving motor for rotating the winding shaft17.

Furthermore, the CPU31is connected with a monitor43and a control panel44which are provided in the recording apparatus1, the sensor26which is able to detect the degree of soiling of the adhesive belt10, the sensor25which is able to detect the degree of soiling of the cleaning liquid tank14, an interface45for inputting or the like of recording data or the like from an external apparatus such as a PC, and an inputting and outputting section46for performing transmission and reception of data and signals.

It is possible for the recording apparatus1of the present embodiment to record in a plurality of recording modes. For example, it is possible to record in a recording mode where recording is performed up to end sections of the recording medium P in the width direction of the recording medium P, or a recording mode which records by recording and scanning the same parts a plurality of times. Then, programs which correspond to the plurality of recording modes are stored in the ROM33, and it is possible for the control section30to control at least one of a supply amount and a supply timing of the anti-foaming agent based on the recording mode.

In addition, in the recording apparatus1of the present embodiment, it is possible for the control section30to control at least one of the supply amount and the supply timing of the anti-foaming agent based on at least one of the degrees of soiling which are detected by the sensor26which is able to detect the degree of soiling of the adhesive belt10or the sensor25which is able to detect the degree of soiling of the cleaning liquid tank14.

In addition, in the recording apparatus1of the present embodiment, it is possible for the control section30to control at least one of the rotation speed of the rotating brush13or the pressure on the adhesive belt10based on at least one of the degrees of soiling which are detected by the sensors25and26. On the other hand, it is also possible to control at least one of the rotation speed of the rotating brush13and the pressure on the adhesive belt10regardless of the degrees of soiling which are detected by the sensors25and26. Then, it is possible to control at least one of the supply amount and the supply timing of the anti-foaming agent based on at least one of the rotation speed of the rotating brush13and the pressure on the adhesive belt10.

The anti-foaming agent supply section21is configured to supply the anti-foaming agent to the cleaning liquid tank14in the recording apparatus1of the present embodiment and may be any configuration as long as the anti-foaming agent for ink is supplied to the adhesive belt10directly or via another member.

Below, embodiments will be described where an anti-foaming agent supply position according to the anti-foaming agent supply section21is different.

Second Embodiment

Next, a recording apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 3is a schematic side surface diagram of the recording apparatus1according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Here, the constituent members which are common to the embodiment described above are illustrated with the same reference numerals and detailed description of these constituent members will be omitted.

Only the anti-foaming agent supply position according to the anti-foaming agent supply section21in the recording apparatus1of the present embodiment is different to the recording apparatus1of the first embodiment.

In detail, the recording apparatus1of the present embodiment has a configuration where the anti-foaming agent is supplied to the rotating brush13. According to this configuration, it is possible to effectively supply the anti-foaming agent at the contact section of the rotating brush13and the adhesive belt10where it is easiest for bubbles to be generated.

Third Embodiment

Next, a recording apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 4is a schematic side surface diagram of the recording apparatus1according to the third embodiment of the present invention. Here, the constituent members which are common to the embodiments described above are illustrated with the same reference numerals and detailed description of these constituent members will be omitted.

Only the anti-foaming agent supply position according to the anti-foaming agent supply section21in the recording apparatus1of the present embodiment is different to the recording apparatuses1of the first embodiment and the second embodiment.

In detail, the recording apparatus1of the present embodiment is configured to supply anti-foaming agent toward the wiper20. According to this configuration, it is possible for the wiper20to eliminate bubbles when recovering bubbles which originate from ink which are generated at the contact section of the rotating brush13and the adhesive belt10, and it is possible to suppress the soiling of the recording apparatus1due to bubbles overflowing from the cleaning liquid tank14.

Fourth Embodiment

Next, the recording apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 5is a schematic side surface diagram of the recording apparatus1according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. Here, the constituent members which are common to the embodiments described above are illustrated with the same reference numerals and detailed description of these constituent members will be omitted.

Only the anti-foaming agent supply position according to the anti-foaming agent supply section21in the recording apparatus1of the present embodiment is different to the recording apparatuses1of the first embodiment to the third embodiment.

In detail, the recording apparatus1of the present embodiment is configured to directly supply the anti-foaming agent to the adhesive belt10on the upstream side with regard to the rotating brush13in the moving direction E of the adhesive belt10. Due to this configuration, it is possible to supply the anti-foaming agent to the adhesive belt10prior to the rotating brush13and the adhesive belt10coming into contact, and it is possible to effectively suppress the generation of bubbles.

In addition, as other configurations, there may be configurations where the rotating brush13is also used as at least a portion of the anti-foaming agent supply section as a configuration where it is possible to supply the anti-foaming agent from the rotating shaft side of the rotating brush13in a direction to the outside.

Embodiment of Recording Method

Next, a recording method of the present embodiment will be described.

FIG. 6is a flow chart representing the recording method of the present embodiment.

Here, the recording method of the present embodiment is an embodiment which is performed using the recording apparatus1of the first embodiment.

In the recording method of the present embodiment, firstly, when recording data is input into the recording apparatus1in step S110, the control section30confirms the recording mode from the recording data in step S120and the recording apparatus1starts the recording operation.

Next, in step S130, the control section30confirms at least one of the degrees of soiling which are detected by the sensor26which is able to detect the degree of soiling of the adhesive belt10and the sensor25which is able to detect the degree of soiling of the cleaning liquid tank14.

Next, in step S140, the control section30sets the rotation speed of the rotating brush13and the pressure on the adhesive belt10based on the degree of soiling which was confirmed in step S130, drives the rotating brush13under the conditions which have been set, and confirms the set values of the rotation speed of the rotating brush13and the pressure on the adhesive belt10.

Next, in step S150, the control section30sets at least one of the supply amount and the supply timing of the anti-foaming agent based on the recording mode, the degree of soiling, the rotation speed of the rotating brush13, and the pressure on the adhesive belt10.

Next, in step S160, the anti-foaming agent supply section21supplies the anti-foaming agent under control by the control section30at the supply amount and the supply timing of the anti-foaming agent which were set in step S150.

Next, it is determined whether recording is finished in step S170, step S130to step S170are repeated until it is determined that the recording is finished, and in a case where it is determined that recording is finished, the recording method according to the present embodiment finishes.

General Interpretation of Terms