JPWO2015041156A1 - Image recording apparatus and image recording method - Google Patents

Abstract

The conveyance unit of the image recording apparatus continuously conveys the long recording medium in the conveyance direction in a state where it is spanned. The conveyance unit includes a first adjustment roller, a second adjustment roller, a first pin, and a second pin. The first adjustment roller is provided on the upstream side in the conveyance direction from the recording unit of the image recording apparatus, and the second adjustment roller is provided on the downstream side in the conveyance direction. The recording medium being conveyed in a state of being passed passes through the first adjustment roller and the second adjustment roller. The first pin is provided between the first adjustment roller and the recording unit in the conveyance direction, and the second pin is provided between the recording unit and the second adjustment roller in the conveyance direction. The first pin and the second pin are in contact with the first side end in the short direction of the recording medium. The first adjustment roller and the second adjustment roller have concave surfaces whose peripheral side surfaces are inclined from both sides in the lateral direction toward the center side.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus and an image recording method for recording an image on a recording surface of a long recording medium conveyed in a spanned state.

  Techniques relating to image recording apparatuses and image recording methods have been proposed. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an ink jet printer that forms an image on a recording medium. This ink jet printer ejects UV ink as droplets toward a recording medium. The recording medium is a belt-like web. The recording medium is continuously conveyed without stopping. The ink jet printer includes a web conveyance device and an image forming unit. The web conveyance device conveys a recording medium. The web conveyance device includes an original winding roller, a plurality of driven rollers, a winding roller, and a tension adjusting roller. The image forming unit forms an image on the recording medium conveyed by the web conveying device. The image forming unit is arranged to face the platen above the recording medium stretched between the two driven rollers. The first driven roller is provided closer to the original winding roller than the image forming unit. The second driven roller is provided on the winding roller side from the image forming unit. In the web conveyance device, the winding roller is rotated by a driving source such as a motor. Thereby, in the web conveyance device, the recording medium is pulled out from the original winding roller and conveyed to the winding roller. The tension adjusting roller is provided closer to the original winding roller than the first driven roller.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a continuous paper printing apparatus using an electrophotographic system. In this printing apparatus, the buffer mechanism unit is disposed between the transport tractor and the fixing mechanism unit on the paper transport path. The buffer mechanism unit includes a buffer shaft. The buffer shaft is rotatable at a predetermined angle. The paper passes over the buffer shaft. A tension is applied to the entire width of the sheet via a buffer shaft or the like. The paper is a special paper having a different thickness in the width direction. A mechanism capable of correcting the tilt with respect to the paper in the width direction of the paper is introduced into the buffer mechanism. In the buffer mechanism unit, the meandering correction of the paper is performed by the inclination in the paper width direction. The fixing mechanism unit includes a heat roller and a backup roller. The sheet is conveyed while being sandwiched between the two. In the fixing mechanism unit, the backup roller is inclined and pressed against the heat roller. As a result, the paper meandering correction is performed in the fixing mechanism section.

JP 2004-91151 A JP 2012-158456 A

  An image formed product in which an image is recorded on a recording medium is produced. The recording medium serving as the base material of the image-formed product may be a long recording medium in which the thickness on the first side in the short direction is greater than the thickness on the second side. The short direction of the long recording medium is the width direction of the recording medium. Some of these recording media have a width of about several mm to several tens of mm. When recording media having different thicknesses on the first side and the second side in the short direction are continuously conveyed, skewing or meandering of the recording medium may be a problem. Tension acts on the recording medium to be transported during transport. The skew or meandering of the recording medium is caused by the fact that the elongation of the recording medium due to the tension during conveyance differs between the first side and the second side in the short direction. On the second side in the short direction, the elongation is greater than on the thick first side. By changing the force that presses the recording medium on the first side and the second side in the short direction, skewing or meandering of the recording medium may be suppressed. The inventor considered that it is difficult to change the pressing force between the first side and the second side in the short direction with a narrow recording medium.

  The inventor suppresses slanting or meandering of the recording medium when passing through the recording unit regardless of the shape of the long recording medium, such as thickness and / or width, and records a high-quality image on the recording medium. Possible image recording devices and image recording methods were investigated. At that time, the inventor has also taken into consideration the fact that skew or meandering is suppressed with a simple configuration in consideration of maintainability of the image recording apparatus. Complex configurations may be difficult to maintain. If a long time is required for maintenance at the production site of the image-formed product, the productivity is lowered.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image recording apparatus and an image recording method capable of suppressing a skew or meandering of a portion of a recording medium in the middle of passing through a recording unit and recording a high-quality image.

  One aspect of the present invention is transported by a transport unit that continuously transports a long recording medium in a transported direction along the longitudinal direction of the recording medium in a stretched state. A recording unit that records an image on a recording surface of the recording medium, and the transport unit is provided upstream of the recording unit in the transport direction and is transported in a stretched state. A first adjustment roller through which the recording medium passes, and the recording medium that is provided downstream from the recording unit in the conveyance direction and arranged side by side with the first adjustment roller in the conveyance direction, and is conveyed in a stretched state. A second adjustment roller that passes, and a side edge on the first side in the short direction of the recording medium that is provided between the first adjustment roller and the recording unit in the transport direction and that has passed through the first adjustment roller A first pin in contact with the part and the conveying method The side edge of the first side in the short direction of the recording medium provided between the recording unit and the second adjustment roller and arranged side by side with the first pin in the transport direction The first adjustment roller and the second adjustment roller have a circumferential side surface that is in contact with a surface opposite to the recording surface of the recording medium and a first side in the short direction. The image recording apparatus has a concave surface inclined from each of the two sides toward the central side.

  According to this, the side edge part of the 1st side of the transversal direction of a recording medium can be arrange | positioned at each trough bottom part of the 1st adjustment roller and 2nd adjustment roller whose peripheral side surface makes a concave surface. With such an arrangement, the recording medium can be stably conveyed in the conveyance direction. Accordingly, the portion of the recording medium that is passing through the recording unit can be linearly conveyed. The first pin and the second pin can guide the linear conveyance of the recording medium and restrict the movement of the recording medium to the first side in the short direction. As a result, the position of the portion of the recording medium that is passing through the recording portion can be stabilized. For example, it is assumed that the recording medium has a long shape in which the thickness on the first side in the lateral direction is thicker than the thickness on the second side. Even in such a case, it is possible to stabilize the position of the portion of the recording medium that is in the middle of passing through the recording section and guide the linear conveyance of the recording medium. The skew or meandering of the recording medium can be suppressed without contacting the recording surface on which the image is recorded.

  This image recording apparatus may be configured as follows. The first pin has a side surface on the second side in the short direction, which is in contact with a side end portion on the first side in the short side of the recording medium, of the peripheral side surface of the first pin. The first adjustment roller and the second adjustment roller provided side by side are provided at a position that is on the second side in the short direction from the valley position of each circumferential side surface of the second adjustment roller. Of the peripheral side surfaces, the first adjustment roller provided with side-side portions on the second side in the short-side direction that are in contact with a side end portion on the first side in the short-side direction of the recording medium arranged side by side in the transport direction; You may make it provide in the position which becomes the 2nd side of the said transversal direction from the valley bottom position of each peripheral side surface of a said 2nd adjustment roller. According to this, the recording medium can be pressed to the second side in the lateral direction. The portion of the recording medium in the middle of passing through the recording section can be made stable.

  The first pin and the second pin may be provided upright in the vertical direction. According to this, the recording surface of the recording medium can be maintained in a horizontal state.

  The recording unit may be formed by an ink jet head in which nozzles for ejecting ink are formed. According to this, it is possible to maintain the state of the recording surface on which the ink ejected from the inkjet head has landed. The image recorded on the recording surface of the recording medium can be maintained in a high quality state.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, a long recording medium is continuously conveyed in a conveyance direction along a longitudinal direction of the recording medium in a state of being stretched, and is conveyed by the conveyance unit. A recording unit that records an image on a recording surface of the recording medium, and the transport unit is provided upstream of the recording unit in the transport direction and is transported in a stretched state. A first adjusting roller through which the medium passes; and the recording medium provided downstream from the recording unit in the transport direction and arranged side by side with the first adjustment roller in the transport direction, and transported in a stretched state A second adjustment roller through which the first adjustment roller and the second adjustment roller have a circumferential side surface in contact with a surface opposite to the recording surface of the recording medium in a short direction of the recording medium. Central side from each of the first side and the second side Toward forming an inclined concave surface, an image recording apparatus.

  According to this, the side edge part of the 1st side of the transversal direction of a recording medium can be arrange | positioned at each trough bottom part of the 1st adjustment roller and 2nd adjustment roller whose peripheral side surface makes a concave surface. With such an arrangement, the recording medium can be stably conveyed in the conveying direction even if the recording medium has a long shape in which the thickness on the first side in the short side direction is thicker than the thickness on the second side. . Accordingly, the portion of the recording medium that is passing through the recording unit can be linearly conveyed. The skew or meandering of the recording medium can be suppressed without contacting the recording surface on which the image is recorded.

  According to still another aspect of the present invention, a long recording medium in which the thickness on the first side in the short side direction is thicker than the thickness on the second side is stretched by the conveyance unit included in the image recording apparatus. The recording step of the recording medium transported by the transporting unit in the transporting step is performed by a transporting step of continuously transporting in the transporting direction along the longitudinal direction of the recording medium and a recording unit included in the image recording apparatus. A recording step of recording an image, wherein the conveying step includes providing the recording medium conveyed in a stretched state upstream of the recording unit in the conveying direction, and a peripheral side surface of the short recording medium. An upstream adjustment step for passing a first adjustment roller having a concave surface inclined toward the center side from each of the first side and the second side in the hand direction; The recording medium that has passed the adjusting roller An upstream contact step in which the side end portion on the first side in the short-side direction is brought into contact with a first pin provided between the first adjustment roller and the recording portion in the transport direction; The side end on the first side in the short side direction of the recording medium that has been conveyed in the state and passed through the recording unit is, in the conveying direction, the recording unit and the downstream side in the conveying direction from the recording unit. And the 2nd adjustment roller which is provided along with the 1st adjustment roller and the conveyance direction, and makes the concave side in which the peripheral side surface inclined toward the center side from each of the 1st side and the 2nd side of the transversal direction. And a downstream contact step for contacting the first pin and a second pin provided in parallel in the transport direction, and the recording medium that has been transported and passed through the second pin Downstream adjustment work that passes the second adjustment roller And the upstream side adjusting step includes a surface opposite to the recording surface of the recording medium in contact with a peripheral side surface of the first adjusting roller, and a first side of the recording medium in the short direction. The side end of the recording medium passes through the valley bottom portion of the peripheral side surface of the first adjustment roller, and the downstream adjustment step is such that the surface opposite to the recording surface of the recording medium is the surface of the second adjustment roller. The image recording method is performed in a state where the side end portion on the first side in the lateral direction of the recording medium passes through a valley bottom portion on the peripheral side surface of the second adjustment roller.

  According to this, by arranging the side end portion on the first side in the short direction of the thick recording medium at the bottom portions of the first adjustment roller and the second adjustment roller whose peripheral side surface forms a concave surface, The recording medium can be stably conveyed in the conveyance direction. Accordingly, the portion of the recording medium that is passing through the recording unit can be linearly conveyed. The first pin and the second pin can guide the linear conveyance of the recording medium and restrict the movement of the recording medium to the first side in the short direction. As a result, the position of the portion of the recording medium that is passing through the recording portion can be stabilized. The skew or meandering of the recording medium can be suppressed without contacting the recording surface on which the image is recorded.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a simple image recording apparatus capable of suppressing the skew or meandering of the portion of the recording medium in the middle of passing through the recording unit and recording a high-quality image. It is possible to obtain an image recording method capable of suppressing the skew or meandering of the portion of the recording medium in the middle of passing through the recording unit and recording a high-quality image.

It is a front view which shows an example of an inkjet recording device. It is a perspective view which shows an example of a elongate recording medium. A part of a recording medium continuous in the longitudinal direction is shown. It is the figure which looked at the inkjet head from the discharge surface side in which the nozzle was formed. It is a top view which shows an example of the state of the recording medium currently conveyed between the 1st adjustment roller and the 2nd adjustment roller. It is a perspective view which shows an example of a 1st adjustment roller and a 2nd adjustment roller. FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating another example of a state of a recording medium being conveyed between a first adjustment roller and a second adjustment roller.

  Embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the configurations described below, and various configurations can be employed in the same technical idea. For example, some of the configurations shown below may be omitted or replaced with other configurations. Other configurations may be included.

<Inkjet recording apparatus>
The ink jet recording apparatus 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. The ink jet recording apparatus 10 is an example of an image recording apparatus. In the ink jet recording apparatus 10, the long recording medium 14 is conveyed, and an image is recorded on the recording surface 15 of the recording medium 14. In the embodiment, the ink colors used for image recording are four colors of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. The ink color may be a color other than these. The number of ink colors may be 3 colors or less or 5 colors or more. An example of the recording medium 14 is a fabric. In the recording medium 14, the thickness T1 on the first side in the short side direction is thicker than the thickness T2 on the second side (thickness T1> thickness T2). In FIG. 2, a part of the long recording medium 14 is shown. However, the recording medium 14 is continuous in the longitudinal direction. The width W1 of the recording medium 14 is, for example, about several mm to several tens of mm. That is, the recording medium 14 has a narrow and long shape.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the ink jet recording apparatus 10 includes a transport unit 20, a recording unit 80, and a control device 90. The transport unit 20 continuously transports the recording medium 14 along the longitudinal direction of the recording medium 14. In the embodiment, the direction in which the recording medium 14 is transported by the transport unit 20 is referred to as “transport direction”. The transport direction is a direction along the longitudinal direction of the recording medium 14. The other description regarding the conveyance part 20 is mentioned later.

  The recording unit 80 includes an inkjet head 81Y, an inkjet head 81M, an inkjet head 81C, an inkjet head 81K, and a carriage 84. The ink jet head 81Y is a recording unit that discharges yellow ink and records an image with the yellow ink. The inkjet head 81M is a recording unit that ejects magenta ink and records an image with the magenta ink. The ink jet head 81C is a recording unit that discharges cyan ink and records an image with the cyan ink. The inkjet head 81K is a recording unit that ejects black ink and records an image with the black ink. The recording medium 14 transported by the transport unit 20 passes through the inkjet heads 81Y, 81M, 81C, 81K during the transport.

  The inkjet heads 81Y, 81M, 81C, 81K have the same configuration. In the embodiment, the inkjet heads 81Y, 81M, 81C, and 81K are not distinguished or are collectively referred to as “inkjet head 81”. The ink of each color is stored in an ink tank (not shown) for each color, flows through the ink flow path (not shown) for each color, and is supplied to the inkjet head 81 for the corresponding color.

  The inkjet head 81 for each color is a line-type inkjet head. In the line-type inkjet head 81, the nozzles 82 are arranged in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction. For example, in the inkjet head 81, the nozzle 82 is formed in a range W2 that is equal to or greater than the width W1 of the recording medium 14 in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction (see FIG. 3). In the ink jet head 81 for each color, the corresponding color ink is ejected from the nozzle 82. In FIG. 3, the recording medium 14 is illustrated by a two-dot chain line. The direction orthogonal to the transport direction coincides with the short direction of the recording medium 14. The short side direction of the recording medium 14 is the width direction of the recording medium 14.

  Inkjet heads 81Y, 81M, 81C, 81K are mounted on the carriage 84. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the inkjet heads 81 </ b> Y, 81 </ b> M, 81 </ b> C, 81 </ b> K are arranged adjacent to each other in the transport direction and mounted on the carriage 84. In the embodiment, the inkjet head 81Y is provided on the most upstream side in the transport direction, and the inkjet head 81K is provided on the most downstream side in the transport direction. The inkjet head 81M and the inkjet head 81C are provided in the order of the inkjet head 81M and the inkjet head 81C on the basis of the transport direction. The arrangement order of the inkjet heads 81 for each color in the transport direction may be different from the order described above. These arrangement orders are appropriately determined in consideration of various conditions.

  It is assumed that an image is recorded on the recording medium 14 in the inkjet recording apparatus 10. In this case, the inks of the respective colors are ejected toward the recording medium 14 from the nozzles 82 formed on the inkjet heads 81Y, 81M, 81C, 81K. The inks of the respective colors ejected from the nozzles 82 of the ink jet heads 81Y, 81M, 81C, 81K land on the recording surface 15 of the recording medium 14. An image is recorded on the recording surface 15 by the landed ink of each color.

  The control device 90 includes a control unit 92 and an input / output unit 94. The control unit 92 executes computer programs for various processes. In the ink jet recording apparatus 10, for example, an image recording method described later is executed. The computer program executed by the control unit 92 includes a computer program related to the execution of the image recording method. The control unit 92 controls ejection of ink of each color from the nozzles 82 formed on the inkjet head 81 for each color. The ejection of each color ink by the inkjet head 81 is controlled according to the image data. The image data is data corresponding to an image recorded on the recording surface 15 of the recording medium 14. The control unit 92 acquires the detection signal from the detection unit 55 via the input / output unit 94. The controller 92 outputs a speed command to the second motor 52 based on the acquired detection signal. An example of the detection unit 55 is a rotary encoder. Such recording control and speed control are known control techniques. Therefore, the other description regarding these each control is abbreviate | omitted.

  The input / output unit 94 is a connection interface that connects a predetermined configuration of the inkjet recording apparatus 10 to the control device 90. Various signals (commands) are output from the control device 90 via the input / output unit 94. Various signals output from the predetermined configuration are input to the control device 90 via the input / output unit 94. An information processing apparatus may be connected to the inkjet recording apparatus 10. In this case, the input / output unit 94 includes a connection interface for connecting the information processing apparatus. Image data corresponding to an image to be recorded may be input from the information processing apparatus to the inkjet recording apparatus 10. An example of the information processing apparatus is a personal computer.

  In addition to the configuration described above, the inkjet recording apparatus 10 includes a supply unit and a collection unit (not shown). A recording medium 14 is set in the supply unit. The recording medium 14 is sent from the supply unit. The recording medium 14 sent from the supply unit is transported in the transport direction by the transport unit 20. The recording medium 14 passes through the inkjet heads 81Y, 81M, 81C, 81K during the conveyance. At that time, an image is recorded on the recording surface 15 of the recording medium 14 by the ink jet heads 81Y, 81M, 81C, 81K. Thereafter, the recording medium 14 that has passed through the third conveyance roller 34 of the conveyance unit 20 is collected by the collection unit.

  In addition, the inkjet recording apparatus 10 may include a drying unit (not shown). The drying unit dries the recording medium 14 on which the image is recorded on the recording surface 15. The recording medium 14 that has passed through the third transport roller 34 passes through the drying unit, and is then collected by the collection unit. The supply unit, the recovery unit, and the drying unit have the same configuration as the supply unit, the recovery unit, and the drying unit that are included in a known inkjet recording apparatus. The other description regarding a supply part, a collection | recovery part, and a drying part is abbreviate | omitted.

<Transport section>
The conveyance part 20 is demonstrated with reference to FIG.1, FIG4 and FIG.5. The transport unit 20 includes a first transport roller 22, a first dancer roller 24, a support roller 26, a pressing roller 28, a second transport roller 30, a second dancer roller 32, a third transport roller 34, An adjustment roller 61, a second adjustment roller 62, a first pin 71, and a second pin 72 are provided. In FIG. 1, the 1st conveyance roller 22, the 1st dancer roller 24, the support roller 26, the press roller 28, the 2nd conveyance roller 30, the 2nd dancer roller 32, the 3rd conveyance roller 34, the 1st adjustment roller 61, and the 2nd adjustment roller An arc-shaped arrow described in 62 indicates the rotation direction of each of these rollers.

  The 1st conveyance roller 22, the 1st dancer roller 24, the support roller 26, the press roller 28, the 1st adjustment roller 61, and the 1st pin 71 are provided in an upstream area | region (refer FIG. 1). The upstream area is an area upstream of the inkjet head 81 </ b> Y provided on the most upstream side in the transport direction in the recording unit 80. The above-described parts are arranged in the upstream region in the order of the first transport roller 22, the first dancer roller 24, the support roller 26, the first adjustment roller 61, and the first pin 71 with reference to the transport direction. The pressing roller 28 is provided on the upper side of the first conveying roller 22 so as to face the peripheral side surface of the first conveying roller 22.

  The 2nd conveyance roller 30, the 2nd dancer roller 32, the 3rd conveyance roller 34, the 2nd adjustment roller 62, and the 2nd pin 72 are provided in a downstream area | region (refer FIG. 1). The downstream region is a region that is located downstream in the transport direction with respect to the inkjet head 81 </ b> K provided on the most downstream side in the transport direction in the recording unit 80. The above-described units are arranged in the downstream region in the order of the second pin 72, the second adjustment roller 62, the second conveyance roller 30, the second dancer roller 32, and the third conveyance roller 34 with the conveyance direction as a reference.

  In the conveyance unit 20, the first conveyance roller 22, the first dancer roller 24, the support roller 26, the first adjustment roller 61, the first pin 71, the second pin 72, the second adjustment roller 62, the second conveyance roller 30, the second A conveyance path is formed along each arrangement of the dancer roller 32 and the third conveyance roller 34. The recording medium 14 is transported in the transport direction along a transport path formed by these rollers, the first pin 71 and the second pin 72.

  In the transport unit 20, the recording medium 14 is transported between the first transport roller 22 and the second transport roller 30 in a spanned state. Tension acts on the portion of the recording medium 14 between the first conveyance roller 22 and the second conveyance roller 30. The recording medium 14 is tightly stretched in the region between the first conveyance roller 22 and the second conveyance roller 30. The portion of the recording medium 14 between the first conveying roller 22 and the second conveying roller 30 includes the portion of the recording medium 14 that faces the ejection surface 83. The portion of the recording medium 14 facing the ejection surface 83 is transported in the transport direction with the recording surface 15 being horizontal. That is, when the recording medium 14 passes through the inkjet heads 81Y, 81M, 81C, 81K, the gap between the ejection surface 83 and the recording surface 15 is constant at the gap G.

  The first transport roller 22 is fixed to the first transport shaft 41. The first conveying roller 22 is in contact with the surface opposite to the recording surface 15 of the recording medium 14. The first transport shaft 41 is connected to the first motor 51. The first motor 51 rotates the first transport shaft 41 in a direction corresponding to the transport direction. Thereby, the 1st conveyance roller 22 rotates in the direction corresponding to a conveyance direction.

  The first dancer roller 24 is urged by an urging unit (not shown). For example, the first dancer roller 24 is urged downward in the vertical direction (see FIG. 1). Examples of the urging unit include a spring, a weight, and an actuator. An example of the actuator is an air cylinder. The first dancer roller 24 pulls the recording medium 14 conveyed in a state of being stretched between the first conveyance roller 22 and the second conveyance roller 30 downward in the vertical direction. The position where the first dancer roller 24 pulls the recording medium 14 is a position between the first transport roller 22 and the second transport roller 30 in the transport direction and not facing the ejection surface 83. The recording medium 14 moves downward along the peripheral side surface of the first conveying roller 22 in the vertical direction and reaches the first dancer roller 24. The recording medium 14 folds the first dancer roller 24, moves upward in the vertical direction, and reaches the support roller 26. The first dancer roller 24 is rotated in accordance with a direction corresponding to the transport direction while in contact with the recording surface 15 of the recording medium 14.

  The support roller 26 is in contact with the surface opposite to the recording surface 15 of the recording medium 14. The support roller 26 is rotatably fixed to the support shaft 42. The support roller 26 is rotated in accordance with a direction corresponding to the transport direction while being in contact with the surface opposite to the recording surface 15 of the recording medium 14. The recording medium 14 being conveyed in the conveyance direction is bent along the peripheral side surface of the support roller 26. The recording medium 14 is conveyed in the horizontal direction from the direction from the lower side to the upper side in the vertical direction.

  The recording medium 14 is pulled downward in the vertical direction by the first dancer roller 24 between the first conveying roller 22 and the support roller 26. The recording medium 14 pulled downward in the vertical direction is in a state of hanging in a U shape between the first conveying roller 22 and the support roller 26 (see FIG. 1). The tension applied to the recording medium 14 being transported between the first transport roller 22 and the second transport roller 30 is applied in a state where the recording medium 14 is supported by the first transport roller 22 and the support roller 26. Is done.

  The pressing roller 28 is urged toward the first conveying roller 22 by an urging unit (not shown). Based on FIG. 1, the pressing roller 28 is urged downward in the vertical direction. The pressing roller 28 is in contact with the recording surface 15 of the recording medium 14. The pressing roller 28 presses the recording medium 14 against the peripheral side surface of the first conveying roller 22 while being in contact with the recording surface 15 of the recording medium 14. The pressing roller 28 is rotatably fixed to the pressing shaft 43. The pressure roller 28 rotates following a direction corresponding to the transport direction while in contact with the recording surface 15 of the recording medium 14.

  The second transport roller 30 is fixed to the second transport shaft 44. The second conveyance roller 30 is in contact with the surface opposite to the recording surface 15 of the recording medium 14. The second transport shaft 44 is connected to the second motor 52. The second motor 52 rotates the second transport shaft 44 in a direction corresponding to the transport direction. As the second motor 52, for example, a motor that can accurately control the rotation is employed. An example of such a motor is a servo motor. The rotation of the second motor 52 or the rotation of the second transport roller 30 is measured by the detection unit 55. The rotation of the second motor 52 is controlled according to the detection result of the detection unit 55. The second transport roller 30 rotates in a direction corresponding to the transport direction in a state where the rotation is controlled by the second motor 52. The conveyance of the recording medium 14 by the conveyance unit 20 is performed in a state where the conveyance speed and the conveyance amount are controlled.

  The second dancer roller 32 is urged by an urging unit (not shown). For example, the second dancer roller 32 is urged downward in the vertical direction (see FIG. 1). Examples of the urging unit include a spring, a weight, and an actuator. An example of the actuator is an air cylinder. The second dancer roller 32 pulls the recording medium 14 downward in the vertical direction between the second conveyance roller 30 and the third conveyance roller 34 in the conveyance direction. The recording medium 14 reaches the second dancer roller 32 in the vertical direction along the peripheral side surface of the second conveying roller 30. The recording medium 14 folds the second dancer roller 32, moves upward in the vertical direction, and reaches the third transport roller 34. The second dancer roller 32 rotates following the direction corresponding to the transport direction while in contact with the recording surface 15 of the recording medium 14.

  The recording medium 14 may be twisted between the second conveyance roller 30 and the third conveyance roller 34. In this case, the recording medium 14 is twisted 180 ° in the first direction between the second conveying roller 30 and the second dancer roller 32. Thereafter, the recording medium 14 is twisted 180 ° in the second direction between the second dancer roller 32 and the third transport roller 34. The second direction is the opposite direction to the first direction. The second dancer roller 32 is driven and rotated in a direction corresponding to the transport direction while being in contact with the surface opposite to the recording surface 15 of the recording medium 14.

  The third transport roller 34 is fixed to the third transport shaft 45. The third transport roller 34 is in contact with the surface opposite to the recording surface 15 of the recording medium 14. The third transport shaft 45 is connected to the third motor 53. The third motor 53 rotates the third transport shaft 45 in a direction corresponding to the transport direction. Thereby, the 3rd conveyance roller 34 rotates in the direction corresponding to a conveyance direction. The recording medium 14 being conveyed in the conveyance direction is bent along the peripheral side surface of the third conveyance roller 34. The recording medium 14 is conveyed in the horizontal direction from the direction from the lower side to the upper side in the vertical direction.

  The recording medium 14 is pulled downward in the vertical direction by the second dancer roller 32 between the second conveyance roller 30 and the third conveyance roller 34. The recording medium 14 pulled downward in the vertical direction is suspended in a U-shape between the second transport roller 30 and the third transport roller 34 (see FIG. 1). The tension with respect to the recording medium 14 conveyed after the second conveying roller 30 in the conveying direction is applied in a state where the recording medium 14 is supported by the second conveying roller 30 and the third conveying roller 34. The recording medium 14 is pressed against the peripheral side surface of the second transport roller 30 by the applied tension. In the transport unit 20, a motor capable of controlling rotation may be adopted as the third motor 53. By controlling the rotation of the third motor 53, the position of the second dancer roller 32 in the vertical direction can be controlled. Thereby, the pressing force of the recording medium 14 against the second conveying roller 30 can be made constant.

  The first adjustment roller 61 is in contact with the surface opposite to the recording surface 15 of the recording medium 14. The first adjustment roller 61 is rotatably fixed to the first adjustment shaft 63. The first adjustment roller 61 rotates following the direction corresponding to the transport direction while in contact with the surface of the recording medium 14 opposite to the recording surface 15. The second adjustment roller 62 is in contact with the surface of the recording medium 14 opposite to the recording surface 15. The second adjustment roller 62 is rotatably fixed to the second adjustment shaft 64. The second adjustment roller 62 is rotated in accordance with a direction corresponding to the transport direction while being in contact with the surface opposite to the recording surface 15 of the recording medium 14.

  The first adjustment roller 61 and the second adjustment roller 62 are provided side by side in the transport direction (see FIG. 4). At this time, the first adjustment roller 61 and the second adjustment roller 62 are arranged in a state in which the reference positions in the short direction of the respective rollers coincide. In the embodiment, the reference positions of the first adjustment roller 61 and the second adjustment roller 62 are the center positions of the peripheral side surfaces 65 and 66 in the short direction. The peripheral side surface 65 is a peripheral side surface of the first adjustment roller 61. The peripheral side surface 66 is a peripheral side surface of the second adjustment roller 62. The reference line L shown in FIG. 4 is a straight line that passes through the center positions of the peripheral side surfaces 65 and 66 in the short direction. The reference line L is also a straight line along the transport direction. In the embodiment, the first conveying roller 22, the first dancer roller 24, the support roller 26, the pressing roller 28, the second conveying roller 30, the second dancer roller 32, and the third conveying roller 34 are also circumferential surfaces of the rollers in the short direction. Are arranged in a state where their center positions coincide with the reference line L.

  The first adjustment roller 61 and the second adjustment roller 62 are constituted by the same roller having a shape as shown in FIG. The peripheral side surface 65 of the first adjustment roller 61 and the peripheral side surface 66 of the second adjustment roller 62 are respectively centered from the first side and the second side in the lateral direction (the side of the “reference line L” shown in FIG. 4). A concave surface inclined toward the surface is formed. For example, the peripheral side surfaces 65 and 66 are arcuate concave curved surfaces in which the position of the reference line L is a valley bottom position (see FIGS. 4 and 5). In the embodiment, a case where the peripheral side surfaces 65 and 66 whose valley bottom positions coincide with the reference line L are arcuate concave curved surfaces will be described as an example. The first adjustment roller 61 is in contact with the surface on the opposite side of the recording surface 15 of the recording medium 14 at the peripheral side surface 65. The second adjustment roller 62 is in contact with the surface on the opposite side of the recording surface 15 of the recording medium 14 at the peripheral side surface 66.

  The first pin 71 is provided upright in a vertical direction at a predetermined position in the upstream region between the first adjustment roller 61 and the inkjet head 81Y in the transport direction (see FIGS. 1 and 4). The first pin 71 is attached to the frame 11 of the inkjet recording apparatus 10. The second pin 72 is provided upright in the vertical direction at a predetermined position in the downstream region between the inkjet head 81K and the second adjustment roller 62 in the transport direction (see FIGS. 1 and 4). The second pin 72 is attached to the frame 11 of the inkjet recording apparatus 10. The first pin 71 and the second pin 72 are formed of the same cylindrical member and have the same shape.

  The first pin 71 and the second pin 72 are respectively provided at the following positions in the lateral direction. That is, in the state where the first pin 71 is provided in the vertical direction, the side surface portion R1 is shorter than the valley bottom positions of the peripheral side surfaces 65 and 66 of the first adjustment roller 61 and the second adjustment roller 62. It is provided at a position on the second side (see FIG. 4). The side surface portion R <b> 1 is a portion that becomes the second side in the short direction of the peripheral side surface of the first pin 71. The first pin 71 is in contact with the side end portion on the first side in the short side direction of the recording medium 14 that has passed through the first adjustment roller 61 at the side surface portion R1. In the state where the second pin 72 is provided to stand in the vertical direction, the side surface portion R2 is the second in the short direction from the valley bottom positions of the peripheral side surfaces 65 and 66 of the first adjustment roller 61 and the second adjustment roller 62. It is provided at a position on the side (see FIG. 4). The side surface portion R <b> 2 is a portion that becomes the second side in the short direction of the peripheral side surface of the second pin 72. The second pin 72 is in contact with the side end portion on the first side in the short side direction of the recording medium 14 that has passed through the inkjet head 81K at the side surface portion R2. As shown in FIG. 4, the first pin 71 and the second pin 72 are provided side by side in the transport direction. Therefore, the side surface portion R1 of the first pin 71 and the side surface portion R2 of the second pin 72 have the same arrangement in the short direction.

<Image recording method>
An image recording method executed by the inkjet recording apparatus 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 4. The image recording method includes a conveying step and a recording step. The transport process is a process of continuously transporting the recording medium 14 in the transport direction by the transport unit 20 (see FIG. 1). In the transport process, the first motor 51, the second motor 52, and the third motor 53 are driven. The conveyance process includes an upstream adjustment process, an upstream contact process, a downstream contact process, and a downstream adjustment process. The upstream adjustment process is a process in which the first adjustment roller 61 is passed through the recording medium 14 that is conveyed in a stretched state. The upstream contact process is a process in which the first side 71 in the short side direction of the recording medium 14 conveyed in a spanned state and passing through the first adjustment roller 61 is brought into contact with the first pin 71. . The downstream contact process is a process in which the second pin 72 is brought into contact with the first side end in the short side direction of the recording medium 14 that is conveyed in a stretched state and passes through the inkjet head 81K. The downstream adjustment process is a process in which the second adjustment roller 62 is allowed to pass through the recording medium 14 that has been transported and passed through the second pin 72. The recording process is a process of recording an image on the recording surface 15 of the recording medium 14 conveyed by the conveying unit 20 in the conveying process by the ink jet heads 81Y, 81M, 81C, 81K.

  The recording medium 14 transported in the transport direction by the transport unit 20 and reaches the first adjustment roller 61 is in contact with the peripheral side surface 65 of the first adjustment roller 61 on the surface opposite to the recording surface 15. At this time, in the recording medium 14, the side end portion on the first side in the short side direction having the thickness T <b> 1 is disposed in the valley bottom portion of the peripheral side surface 65, and the side surface 65 on the second side in the short side direction from the valley bottom portion. It will be in the state along a part (refer to the upstream side adjustment process FIG. 4). This state is released as the first adjustment roller 61 passes. After the release, the recording medium 14 is again in a state where the recording surface 15 is horizontal.

  After the recording medium 14 passes through the first adjustment roller 61, the recording medium 14 is continuously conveyed toward the second adjustment roller 62 in the conveyance direction. The first pin 71 and the second pin 72 are provided on the side end portions (thickness T1) on the first side in the short side direction of the recording medium 14 being conveyed to the second adjustment roller 62 side by side portions R1 and R2. (Refer to FIG. 4). In the upstream contact process and the downstream contact process, the first pin 71 and the second pin 72 press the recording medium 14 to the second side in the short direction. As described above, the side surface portion R1 of the first pin 71 and the side surface portion R2 of the second pin 72 have the same arrangement in the lateral direction. Therefore, the recording medium 14 is linearly conveyed along the reference line L between the side surface portions R1 and R2. During this conveyance, the recording medium 14 passes through the inkjet heads 81Y, 81M, 81C, 81K. On the recording surface 15 of the recording medium 14, ink of each color is ejected from the nozzles 82 formed in the inkjet heads 81Y, 81M, 81C, 81K, respectively (recording process). The inks of the respective colors ejected from the nozzles 82 of the ink jet heads 81Y, 81M, 81C, 81K land on the recording surface 15 of the recording medium 14. An image is recorded on the recording surface 15 by the landed ink of each color. In FIG. 4, the recording unit 80 is illustrated by a two-dot chain line.

  The recording medium 14 that has passed through the second pin 72 reaches the second adjustment roller 62. In the recording medium 14, the side end portion on the first side in the short side direction having the thickness T <b> 1 is disposed on the valley bottom portion of the peripheral side surface 66, and along the portion of the peripheral side surface 66 on the second side in the short side direction from the valley bottom portion. (See downstream adjustment step FIG. 4). This state is released as the second adjustment roller 62 passes. After the release, the recording medium 14 is again in a state where the recording surface 15 is horizontal. The recording medium 14 is further transported in the transport direction to the second transport roller 30 side. The image recording method is continuously performed until the control unit 92 obtains a command for instructing the end of the method. A command for instructing termination is input to the control device 90 by, for example, an operator operating a predetermined operation unit (not shown).

<Effect of embodiment>
The inkjet recording apparatus 10 is provided with the following transport unit 20. That is, the transport unit 20 continuously transports the long recording medium 14 in the transport direction in a state where the long recording medium 14 is bridged between the first transport roller 22 and the second transport roller 30 (see FIG. 1). . The recording medium 14 to be transported is a long recording medium in which the thickness T1 on the first side in the short side direction is larger than the thickness T2 on the second side (see FIG. 2). The conveyance unit 20 includes a first adjustment roller 61, a second adjustment roller 62, a first pin 71, and a second pin 72 (see FIGS. 1 and 4). Tension acts on the portion of the recording medium 14 between the first conveyance roller 22 and the second conveyance roller 30.

  The first adjustment roller 61 is provided between the first conveyance roller 22 and the inkjet head 81Y in the conveyance direction (see FIG. 1). The second adjustment roller 62 is provided between the inkjet head 81K and the second conveyance roller 30 in the conveyance direction (see FIG. 1). The first adjustment roller 61 and the second adjustment roller 62 are provided side by side in the transport direction (see FIGS. 1 and 4). In the first adjustment roller 61 and the second adjustment roller 62, the peripheral side surfaces 65 and 66 are concave surfaces inclined from the first side and the second side in the lateral direction toward the center side (FIG. 4 and FIG. 4). (See FIG. 5). The recording medium 14 passes through the first adjustment roller 61 in a state where the side end portion on the first side in the short side direction having the thickness T1 is disposed at the valley bottom portion of the peripheral side surface 65 (see FIG. 4). The recording medium 14 passes through the second adjustment roller 62 in a state in which the side end portion on the first side in the short side direction having the thickness T1 is disposed at the valley bottom portion of the peripheral side surface 66 (see FIG. 4).

  The first pin 71 is provided upright in a vertical direction at a predetermined position in the upstream region between the first adjustment roller 61 and the inkjet head 81Y in the transport direction (see FIGS. 1 and 4). The second pin 72 is provided upright in a vertical direction at a predetermined position in a downstream region between the inkjet head 81K and the second adjustment roller 62 in the transport direction (see FIGS. 1 and 4). The first pin 71 and the second pin 72 are provided side by side in the transport direction (see FIGS. 1 and 4). The first pin 71 and the second pin 72 are positioned so that the side surface portions R1 and R2 are on the second side in the short direction from the bottom positions of the peripheral side surfaces 65 and 66 of the first adjustment roller 61 and the second adjustment roller 62. Provided (see FIG. 4). The first pin 71 and the second pin 72 provided in this manner are provided on the side surface (thickness T1) on the first side in the short side direction of the recording medium 14 conveyed to the second adjustment roller 62 side. The parts R1 and R2 are in contact (see FIG. 4). The first pin 71 and the second pin 72 press the recording medium 14 to the second side in the short direction.

  Therefore, even if the recording medium 14 is a long recording medium in which the thickness T1 on the first side in the lateral direction is thicker than the thickness T2 on the second side, the recording medium 14 is stably conveyed in the conveying direction. be able to. Accordingly, the portion of the recording medium 14 that is passing through the inkjet heads 81Y, 81M, 81C, 81K can be linearly conveyed. The first pin 71 and the second pin 72 can guide the linear conveyance of the recording medium 14 and restrict the movement of the recording medium 14 toward the first side in the short direction. As a result, it is possible to stabilize the position and state of the portion of the recording medium 14 that is passing through the inkjet heads 81Y, 81M, 81C, 81K. When the recording medium 14 passes through the inkjet heads 81Y, 81M, 81C, 81K, the recording surface 15 of the recording medium 14 can be maintained in a horizontal state. With a simple configuration, it is possible to suppress skew or meandering of the recording medium 14 that passes through the inkjet heads 81Y, 81M, 81C, and 81K. The second pin 72 and the second adjustment roller 62 do not contact the recording surface 15 on which the image is recorded. The image recorded on the recording surface 15 of the recording medium 14 can be maintained in a high quality state. The ink jet recording apparatus 10 can record high-quality images.

<Modification>
The embodiment can also be performed as follows. Some configurations of the modifications shown below can be appropriately combined and employed. Hereinafter, points different from the above will be described, and description of similar points will be omitted as appropriate.

  (1) In the above description, the inkjet recording apparatus 10 including the recording unit 80 in which the line-type inkjet heads 81Y, 81M, 81C, and 81K are mounted on the carriage 84 has been described as an example (see FIGS. 1, 3, and 4). The transport unit 20 can also be employed as a transport unit of a serial type ink jet recording apparatus. The serial type ink jet recording apparatus records an image while reciprocating the recording unit in the main scanning direction. The main scanning direction is a direction orthogonal to the transport direction. The main scanning direction coincides with the short direction of the long recording medium 14. In the serial type ink jet recording apparatus, the transport unit 20 continuously transports the recording medium 14 in the transport direction. However, in the serial type ink jet recording apparatus, the continuous conveyance of the recording medium 14 by the conveyance unit 20 is performed as follows, unlike the line type described above. That is, the continuous conveyance of the recording medium 14 by the conveyance unit 20 is intermittently performed corresponding to the movement of the recording unit in the main scanning direction. In the recording unit that reciprocates in the main scanning direction, the ink jet heads for the respective colors are mounted on the carriage in a state of being adjacent to each other in the main scanning direction. In the serial type ink jet recording apparatus, nozzles in which ink for each color is formed on the ink jet head for each color at a predetermined timing when the recording unit passes over the recording surface 15 and the ejection surface faces the recording surface 15. It is discharged from.

  In addition, the conveyance unit 20 can also be employed as a conveyance unit of an image recording apparatus including a recording unit having a recording method different from the ink jet method.

  (2) In the above description, the conveyance unit 20 in which the first pin 71 and the second pin 72 are provided at the following positions in the short direction has been described as an example. That is, the first pin 71 is provided at a position where the side surface portion R1 is on the second side in the short direction from the valley bottom positions of the peripheral side surfaces 65 and 66 of the first adjustment roller 61 and the second adjustment roller 62 (see FIG. 4). The second pin 72 is provided at a position where the side surface portion R2 is on the second side in the short direction from the valley bottom positions of the peripheral side surfaces 65 and 66 of the first adjustment roller 61 and the second adjustment roller 62 (see FIG. 4). ). The first pin 71 and the second pin 72 may be provided at the positions shown in FIG. In the state shown in FIG. 6, the position of the side surface portion R1 of the first pin 71 is the bottom position of each peripheral side surface 65, 66 of the first adjustment roller 61 and the second adjustment roller 62 (“reference line L” shown in FIG. 6). Reference). The position of the side surface portion R <b> 2 of the second pin 72 is matched to the valley bottom positions of the peripheral side surfaces 65 and 66 of the first adjustment roller 61 and the second adjustment roller 62. In this case, the recording medium 14 is conveyed between the first adjustment roller 61 and the first pin 71 and between the second pin 72 and the second adjustment roller 62 without being bent in the short direction (see FIG. 6). ). A mechanism for adjusting the positions of the first pin 71 and the second pin 72 in the short direction may be provided. Thereby, the position of the short direction of the 1st pin 71 and the 2nd pin 72 can be changed to each state of Drawing 4 or Drawing 6, for example.

  (3) In the above description, the inkjet recording apparatus 10 including the transport unit 20 provided with the first pin 71 and the second pin 72 has been described as an example (see FIGS. 1 and 4). The first pin 71 and the second pin 72 may be omitted. That is, based on the above-described embodiment, the following ink jet recording apparatus can be specified. The ink jet recording apparatus includes a transport unit and ink jet heads 81Y, 81M, 81C, 81K. The transport unit continuously transports the long recording medium 14 in the transport direction along the longitudinal direction of the recording medium 14 while being stretched. The inkjet heads 81Y, 81M, 81C, 81K record an image on the recording surface 15 of the recording medium 14 being transported by the transport unit. The arrangement order of the inkjet heads 81 for each color in the transport direction is the same as described above. The transport unit includes a first adjustment roller 61 and a second adjustment roller 62. The first adjustment roller 61 is provided on the upstream side in the transport direction from the inkjet head 81Y. The recording medium 14 being conveyed in a state of being passed passes through the first adjustment roller 61. The second adjustment roller 62 is provided downstream of the inkjet head 81K in the conveyance direction and aligned with the first adjustment roller 61 in the conveyance direction. The recording medium 14 being conveyed in a state of being passed passes through the second adjustment roller 62. The first adjustment roller 61 and the second adjustment roller 62 have peripheral side surfaces 65 and 66 in contact with the surface opposite to the recording surface 15 of the recording medium 14 from the first side and the second side in the lateral direction to the center side. A concave surface inclined toward the surface is formed.

  Therefore, the first side edge of the short side direction of the recording medium 14 can be disposed at each valley bottom portion of the first adjustment roller 61 and the second adjustment roller 62 whose peripheral side surfaces 65 and 66 form a concave surface. . With such an arrangement, even when the recording medium 14 is a long recording medium in which the thickness T1 on the first side in the short side direction is thicker than the thickness T2 on the second side, the recording medium 14 is stable in the transport direction. And can be transported. Accordingly, the portion of the recording medium 14 that is in the process of passing through the inkjet heads 81Y, 81M, 81C, 81K can be conveyed linearly. The skew or meandering of the recording medium 14 can be suppressed without contacting the recording surface 15 on which the image is recorded.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Inkjet recording device, 11 frame, 14 recording medium 15 recording surface, 20 conveyance part, 22 1st conveyance roller 24 1st dancer roller, 26 support roller, 28 press roller 30 2nd conveyance roller, 32 2nd dancer roller 34 3rd conveyance Roller, 41 First transport shaft, 42 Support shaft 43 Press shaft, 44 Second transport shaft, 45 Third transport shaft 51 First motor, 52 Second motor, 53 Third motor 55 Detector, 61 First adjustment roller, 62 Second adjustment roller 63 First adjustment shaft, 64 Second adjustment shaft, 65, 66 Circumferential side surface 71 First pin, 72 Second pin, 80 Recording unit 81, 81Y, 81M, 81C, 81K Inkjet head 82 Nozzle, 83 Ejection surface, 84 Carriage, 90 Control device 92 Control unit, 94 Input / output unit, G gap, L standard R1, R2 side section, T1, T2 thickness, W1 width, W2 range

Claims (7)

A transport unit that continuously transports the long recording medium in the transport direction along the longitudinal direction of the recording medium in a state of being stretched;
A recording unit that records an image on a recording surface of the recording medium being conveyed by the conveyance unit,
The transport unit is
A first adjustment roller provided upstream of the recording unit in the transport direction and through which the recording medium transported in a bridged state passes;
A second adjustment roller provided downstream of the recording unit in the conveyance direction and in parallel with the first adjustment roller in the conveyance direction, through which the recording medium conveyed in a bridged state passes;
A first pin that is provided between the first adjustment roller and the recording unit in the transport direction and contacts a first side end in the short direction of the recording medium that has passed through the first adjustment roller;
Provided between the recording unit and the second adjustment roller in the transport direction and side by side with the first pin in the transport direction, and on the first side in the short side direction of the recording medium that has passed through the recording unit. A second pin in contact with the side end,
The first adjustment roller and the second adjustment roller are such that a circumferential side surface contacting a surface opposite to the recording surface of the recording medium is shifted from the first side and the second side in the lateral direction to the center side. An image recording apparatus having a concave surface inclined toward the surface. The first pin has a side surface on the second side in the short direction, which is in contact with a side end portion on the first side in the short side of the recording medium, of the peripheral side surface of the first pin. The first adjustment roller and the second adjustment roller provided side by side are provided at a position on the second side in the short direction from the valley position of each circumferential side surface of the second adjustment roller,
The second pin has a second side surface portion in the short side direction that contacts a first side end portion in the short side direction of the recording medium among the peripheral side surfaces of the second pin. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image recording apparatus is provided at a position on the second side in the lateral direction from a valley bottom position of each circumferential side surface of the first adjustment roller and the second adjustment roller provided side by side.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first pin and the second pin are provided upright in a vertical direction.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording unit is formed by an inkjet head in which nozzles for ejecting ink are formed.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the recording unit is formed by an inkjet head in which nozzles for ejecting ink are formed. A transport unit that continuously transports the long recording medium in the transport direction along the longitudinal direction of the recording medium in a state of being stretched;
A recording unit that records an image on a recording surface of the recording medium being conveyed by the conveyance unit,
The transport unit is
A first adjustment roller provided upstream of the recording unit in the transport direction and through which the recording medium transported in a bridged state passes;
A second adjusting roller that is provided downstream of the recording unit in the conveying direction and aligned with the first adjusting roller in the conveying direction, and through which the recording medium conveyed in a bridged state passes. Prepared,
The first adjustment roller and the second adjustment roller have circumferential side surfaces that are in contact with the surface opposite to the recording surface of the recording medium from the first side and the second side in the short direction of the recording medium, respectively. An image recording apparatus having a concave surface inclined toward the center side. A long recording medium in which the thickness on the first side in the short side direction is thicker than the thickness on the second side by the transport unit included in the image recording apparatus is extended along the longitudinal direction of the recording medium. A transport process for continuously transporting in the transport direction;
A recording step of recording an image on a recording surface of the recording medium being transported by the transport unit in the transport step by a recording unit included in the image recording apparatus,
The conveying step is
The recording medium transported in a spanned state is provided on the upstream side in the transport direction from the recording unit, and the circumferential side faces the center side from each of the first side and the second side in the lateral direction. An upstream adjustment step of passing a first adjustment roller having a concave surface inclined toward
A side end portion on the first side in the short direction of the recording medium that has been conveyed in a spanned state and passed through the first adjustment roller is connected to the first adjustment roller and the recording unit in the conveyance direction. An upstream contact step in contact with a first pin provided therebetween;
The side end on the first side in the short side direction of the recording medium that has been transported in a spanned state and passed through the recording unit, in the transport direction, from the recording unit and the recording unit in the transport direction Of the first adjusting roller and the conveying direction, and the peripheral side surface forms a concave surface inclined from the first side and the second side in the lateral direction toward the center side. A downstream contact step in contact with a second pin provided between the second adjustment roller and the first pin and aligned in the transport direction;
A downstream adjustment step of allowing the recording medium conveyed in a spanned state and passing through the second pin to pass through the second adjustment roller;
In the upstream side adjustment step, a surface opposite to the recording surface of the recording medium is in contact with a peripheral side surface of the first adjustment roller, and a side end portion on the first side in the short direction of the recording medium is Performed in a state of passing through the valley bottom portion of the peripheral side surface of the first adjustment roller,
In the downstream adjustment step, the surface opposite to the recording surface of the recording medium is in contact with the peripheral side surface of the second adjustment roller, and the first side end in the short direction of the recording medium is The image recording method performed in the state which passes the valley bottom part of the surrounding side surface of a said 2nd adjustment roller.

Images