JPH04360367A - Scanning carrier - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain scanning carrier for a recording material with high accuracy and less carrier speed fluctuation by forming an exposure base with a mount base on which a recording material is fixed and a carrier base engaging with a screw transmission means supporting the mount base and making the mount base and the carrier base contactless. CONSTITUTION:An exposure base 16 is made up of a mounting base 12 on which a recording material A is fixed and a carrier base 14 engaging with a screw transmission device 20 when the recording material A is subject to scanning carrying by moving the exposure base 16 with the screw transmission device 20. Moreover, the both are formed contactless. Then not only vibration resulting from a drive system delivered to the exposure base 16 through a nut 24 such as vibration or uneven revolution of a motor or a screw shaft 22 but also vibration resulting from a force given externally is absorbed. Furthermore, uneven carrying is reduced.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a scanning conveyance device applied to an image recording apparatus, which employs a screw transmission device and which exhibits very little unevenness in conveyance.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Optical scanning such as raster scanning and slit scanning is applied to various image recording apparatuses.

[0003] Among such image recording devices, for example, a device that applies raster scanning deflects a recording light beam one-dimensionally in the main scanning direction, and prints the recording material in a direction substantially perpendicular to the main scanning direction. By carrying out the sub-scanning conveyance, the entire surface of the object to be scanned is two-dimensionally scanned by the light beam, thereby recording an image on the recording material.

On the other hand, devices that apply slit scanning move a slit-shaped recording light source in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the slit, or scan and transport the recording material with respect to the slit-shaped light source. By doing so, the object to be scanned is entirely scanned by the recording light and an image is recorded.

[0005] In an apparatus that applies such raster scanning, as a means for conveying large originals and recording materials,
A scanning conveyance device in which an exposure table, which fixes an object to be scanned such as a document, is moved by a screw transmission device is well known.
Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 61-184367 discloses an image recording apparatus that performs sub-scanning conveyance using a conveying device using a screw transmission device, and for the purpose of performing accurate sub-scanning conveyance without unevenness, the screw shaft is An image recording device that uses a servo motor as a rotational drive source has been proposed.

By the way, in order to record a good image without unevenness, it is necessary to scan and convey the object to be scanned at an accurate, uniform and constant speed. However, in the above-mentioned image recording apparatus that simply uses a servo motor, vibrations due to uneven rotation of the motor and eccentricity of the screw shaft, as well as shocks, changes in frictional force with the guide member due to exposure table movement, and seams of the guide member The exposure table will vibrate due to external force such as vibration caused by the exposure, resulting in uneven conveyance.

[0007]

As described above, in order to perform good image recording, it is necessary to accurately move the exposure table (scanned object) at a predetermined constant speed. However, when the above-described uneven conveyance speed occurs, the recorded image becomes an image with uneven color and uneven density in the sub-scanning direction.

In particular, in an image recording apparatus that applies raster scanning, if the conveyance speed (sub-scanning speed) of the object to be scanned is uneven, the pitch of the main scanning lines becomes uneven, and stripes are formed in the sub-scanning direction. This results in an image with noticeable unevenness. In a scanning conveyance device that conveys a recording material by moving an exposure table using a screw transmission device, there are problems such as uneven conveyance due to uneven rotation of the motor and eccentricity of the screw shaft, etc., as well as shocks and external influences. The problem of uneven conveyance caused by vibrations and the like has not been resolved, making it particularly difficult to apply to image recording apparatuses using raster scanning.

In order to solve these problems, the present inventors proposed a pressing member disposed on the exposure table at a position sandwiching the nut in the direction of movement of the nut constituting the screw transmission means, and a By using biasing members disposed on both sides of the nut between the member and the nut, the biasing members disposed between the nut and the pressing member press the nut from both sides. He invented a scanning conveyance device that engages an exposure table and an exposure table (Japanese Patent Application No. 3-8
No. 6998).

According to this scanning conveyance device, vibrations originating in the drive system that are transmitted to the exposure table via the nut, caused by uneven rotation of the motor, eccentricity of the screw shaft, etc., are removed between the pressing member and the nut. This can be absorbed by the biasing member disposed between them, and the recording material can be accurately scanned and conveyed without any unevenness in conveyance speed caused by these factors.

However, even with the above-mentioned scanning conveyance device, it has not yet been possible to eliminate conveyance unevenness caused by external forces such as vibrations caused by the joints of the guide members, and further improvements are desired. There is.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and to fix the recording material on an exposure table and move this exposure table using a screw transmission device. This is a scanning conveyance device that performs scanning conveyance, and vibrations caused not only by the drive system that is transmitted to the exposure table via the nut, but also by forces applied from outside, such as rotational unevenness and vibration of the motor and screw shaft, etc. It is an object of the present invention to provide a scanning and conveying device that absorbs vibrations caused by such vibrations and eliminates unevenness in scanning and conveyance of a recording material caused by these vibrations.

Further, in the second aspect of the present invention, the present invention further eliminates the use of a suction device such as a vacuum pump or suction pump, or a suction device having a suction hose, etc., which causes vibrations of the exposure table and fluctuations in the moving load. To provide a scanning and conveying device which fixes the recording material, eliminates uneven scanning and conveyance of the recording material caused by a suction hose being dragged on a base, and moreover enables better fixation of the recording material. There is a particular thing.

[0014]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, a first aspect of the present invention provides a scanning conveyance device for scanning and conveying a recording material, which comprises a screw transmission device as a driving means;
It is characterized by comprising a mounting table on which the recording material is placed, and an exposure table constituted by a conveying table that holds the mounting table in a non-contact state with the recording material and engages with the screw transmission device. A scanning conveyance device is provided.

A second aspect of the present invention is a scanning conveyance device for scanning and conveying a recording material having a recording layer on an electrically conductive support, wherein at least a portion thereof includes a screw transmission device serving as a driving means. a mounting table for fixing the recording material by electrostatic adsorption, the mounting table having a base made of a conductive material; and a screw transmission device that holds the mounting table in a non-contact state with the mounting table. There is provided a scanning and conveying device characterized by having an exposure table constituted by a conveying table, and a power source for applying a voltage to the conductive support for the recording material and the base of the mounting table.

[0016] Further, a pressing member fixedly disposed on the conveyance table at a position sandwiching the nut of the screw transmission device in the direction of movement of the nut to maintain engagement between the screw transmission device and the conveyance table; A biasing member is provided between the pressing member and the nut on both sides of the nut, and the biasing member disposed between the nut and the pressing member is configured to push the nut from both sides. Preferably, this is carried out by an engaging means that engages the nut and the conveyance table by pressing.

[0017] Furthermore, it is preferable that the mounting table and the conveying table are made completely non-contact by levitating the mounting table using magnetic force.

[0018]

Effect of the Invention Conventionally, in a scanning conveyance device in which the recording material is scanned and conveyed by fixing the recording material to an exposure table and moving this exposure table by means of a screw transmission means, the exposure table to which the recording material is fixed is moved by a screw transmission means. The recording material is scanned and conveyed by engaging a conveying means such as a device and moving the exposure table. However, in such a conventional scanning conveyance device, vibrations caused by uneven rotation of the motor of the screw transmission means and frictional force between the exposure table (the engaging member with the guide member provided on the exposure table) and the guide member are generated. vibrations caused by crossing the joints of the guide members, vibrations caused by the rotation and rolling of the bearings and rollers arranged in the engaging members, fluctuations in frictional force, etc. that are applied to the conveyor table from the outside. The vibrations caused by the recording material are directly transmitted to the exposure table, causing uneven conveyance speed of the recording material, making it impossible to perform good image recording.

In contrast, in the scanning exposure apparatus of the present invention, the exposure table that scans and conveys the recording material is placed in a non-contact state with the mounting table on which the recording material is placed by a method such as levitating the exposure table using a magnet. It is composed of a conveying table that holds this mounting table and moves by a screw transmission device.

In the scanning conveyance device of the present invention, load fluctuations in the movement of the exposure table due to uneven friction between the exposure table and the guide member, impact when the guide member crosses the joint, and engagement of the exposure table can be avoided. Vibrations applied from the outside, such as vibrations caused by the rotation and rolling of bearings and rollers placed on the member, are absorbed between the non-contact transport table and mounting table, resulting in uneven scanning and transport of the recording material. Vibration and uneven speed of the transport platform
The recording material is not transmitted to the mounting table on which it is fixed.

Moreover, in the second aspect of the present invention,
The recording material is attracted and fixed onto the mounting table by electrostatic attraction. Therefore, there is no need for a connection means such as a suction hose to connect the suction means and the mounting table, and when the suction hose comes into contact with the base or the members on the base, load fluctuations occur when the transport table (mounting table) is moved. or vibration to the mounting table. In addition, by adopting a structure in which the recording material is attracted and fixed onto the mounting table using electrostatic adsorption, the mounting table can be made completely non-contact not only with the transport table but also with other components, thereby preventing external influences. It is possible to prevent vibration of the mounting table due to

Moreover, in a preferred embodiment, the engagement between the exposure table (carrying table) and the screw transmission device is controlled by a pressing member disposed across the nut of the screw transmission device, and a pressing member disposed between the pressing member and the nut. By using an engaging means having a biasing member placed between the nuts, it is possible to prevent vibrations originating from the drive system that are transmitted to the exposure table via the nuts, such as rotation unevenness and vibrations of the motor and screw shaft. can be further reduced to achieve more accurate scanning and conveyance of the recording material.

Therefore, by applying the scanning conveyance device of the present invention, the scanning conveyance speed of the recording material can be maintained at an accurate constant speed without unevenness, and it is possible to perform good image recording without image unevenness. In particular, it was difficult to obtain good images when applying conventional screw transmission devices.
Even when applied to an image recording apparatus that applies raster scanning, good image recording without striped image unevenness, density unevenness, etc. can be performed.

[0024]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The scanning and conveying apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail below based on preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic front view of an example of a scanning conveyance device according to a second aspect of the present invention. The scanning conveyance device according to the first aspect of the present invention has basically the same configuration as the second aspect shown in FIG. 1, except that the recording material is not fixed by electrostatic adsorption. Therefore, the following description will mainly focus on the second aspect of the scanning conveyance device.

The scanning conveyance device (hereinafter referred to as the conveyance device) 10 shown in FIG. 1 has a recording layer 5 on a conductive support 52.
4 (see FIG. 4) in a predetermined direction. The power source 18 for adsorption and the exposure table 16 are connected by arrow a (
or vice versa); a screw transmission device 20 that moves in the opposite direction;
Engagement means 6 for engaging the screw transmission device 20 and the conveyance table 14
0.

When such a conveying device 10 is applied to an image recording device using raster scanning, various optical systems main scan the light beam in the direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG.
By moving the exposure table 16 in the direction of arrow a (or vice versa), the recording material A is conveyed in a sub-scanning direction, and the entire surface of the recording material A is two-dimensionally scanned with the light beam to record an image (exposure). conduct. On the other hand, when the conveying device 10 is applied to an image recording device using slit scanning, the longitudinal direction is as shown in FIG.
An optical system having a slit light source perpendicular to the plane of the paper is installed above the exposure table 16, and by moving the exposure table 16 in the direction of arrow a (or vice versa), the recording material A is recorded by the recording light from the optical system. Image recording (exposure) is performed by scanning the entire surface.

[0028] Conveying device 10 according to the second aspect of the present invention
The recording material A is attracted and fixed on the mounting table 12 by electrostatic attraction. Therefore, the applicable recording material A is not particularly limited except that the support 52 is electrically conductive, and various known photosensitive materials are applicable. Further, as the support 52, any conductive material that can be used as the support 52 of the recording material A can be used, such as aluminum, carbon-containing polyethylene, or a metal-deposited film. Further, the recording material A applied to the second aspect of the present invention may have an insulating layer on the back side of the support 52.

[0029] The recording material that can be applied to the scanning conveyance device of the first aspect of the present invention is not limited at all, and all known types of recording materials can be used, including those whose supports are conductive or not. It is possible.

[0030] In the conveying device 10, a screw transmission device 20
is a screw shaft 22 and a nut 2 screwed onto this screw shaft 22.
4, a drive source, a speed reducer, etc. of a screw transmission device 20 (not shown) that engages with the left end in the drawing of the screw shaft 22. The rotational driving force from the drive source is transmitted to the speed reducer via a coupling or the like, is reduced to a predetermined rotational speed, and is transmitted to the screw shaft 22, so that the screw shaft 22 rotates at a predetermined speed.

There is no particular limitation on the drive source applied to the conveying device of the present invention, and various known sources such as brush motors and brushless motors can be applied, and various servo motors are particularly suitable. be done. Further, there is no particular limitation on the speed reducer, and any of various known speed reducers can be applied.

[0032] A screw shaft 22 connected to such a drive system
is rotatably supported at its right end by a support 26 and by a support (not shown) at its left end, and is rotated at a predetermined speed. The screw shaft 22 applied to the conveying device 10 of the present invention is not particularly limited, and all screw shafts applied to known screw transmission devices, such as ball screws and sliding screws, are applicable.

A nut 24 is screwed onto the screw shaft 22. In the illustrated transport device 10, as a preferred embodiment, the nut 24 and the exposure stage 16 (transport stage 14) are engaged by an engagement means 60 having a predetermined configuration that uses a biasing member such as a spring. This point will be explained in detail later.

As the nut 24 applied to the present invention, any nut that is applied to a normal screw transmission device, such as a ball screw nut or a sliding screw nut, can be applied depending on the above-mentioned screw shaft 22, and there are no particular limitations. There isn't.

The exposure table 16 is composed of a conveying table 14 that engages with a screw transmission device 20, and a mounting table 12 that is held on this conveying table 14 and holds the recording material A by electrostatic attraction. In the illustrated transport device 10, the mounting table 12 is held in a non-contact manner with the transport table 14 by floating the mounting table 12 by magnetic force.

Further, galleys 13a and 13b are provided on the conveyance table 14, and are engaged with a guide rail 15 supported by a support member (not shown). Bearings, rollers, etc. for smooth movement of the conveyance table 14 (exposure table 16) are arranged inside the garages 13a and 13b.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of the exposure table 16.

The conveyance table 14 has a housing-like shape with a recess 32, and a convex portion 34 formed on the lower surface of the mounting table 12, which will be described later, is housed in the recess 32. to hold the mounting table 12.

As described above, in the illustrated transport device 10, as a preferred embodiment, the engagement between the exposure table 16, that is, the transport table 14, and the nut 24 of the screw transmission means 20 is achieved by applying a biasing member or a pressing member. This is done by the engaging means 60 that

FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of the engagement means 60 arranged on the lower surface of the conveyance table 14.

In the illustrated conveyance device 10, the engagement means 60 is composed of a housing 62 and springs 64a and 64b as biasing members.

The housing 62 is fixed to the lower surface of the carrier 14, and the side walls 66 and 68 sandwich the nut 24 at the front and back in the direction of movement (direction of arrow a) (hereinafter, pinching means front and back in the direction of arrow a). will be arranged. That is, in the illustrated conveying device, the side walls 66 and 68 of the housing 62 act as pressing members.

The nut 24 moves in the direction of the arrow a as the screw shaft 22 rotates as described above.
A flange 24a is formed at the center in the moving direction.

Springs 64a and 64b, which are biasing members, are arranged between the nut 24 and the side walls 66 and 68, which are arranged to sandwich the nut 24, respectively. Spring 64a engages flange 24a and side wall 66, while spring 64b engages flange 24a and side wall 68, and both springs engage nut 2 from both sides.
Apply force so as to sandwich and press 4.

That is, in the illustrated example of the engaging means 60, side walls 66 and 68, which are pressing members, are provided at positions sandwiching the nut 24, and a spring 64a is engaged with the nut 24 and the side wall 66. By engaging the spring 64b with the nut 24 and the side wall 68, and urging the nut 24 from both sides in the moving direction by the spring 64a and the spring 64b supported by the side walls 66 and 68, the nut 24 and the housing 62, In other words, the nut 24 and the conveyor table 14 are connected.

[0046] A vibration system consisting of a biasing member such as a spring and a weight cannot follow vibrations higher than the resonance frequency of this vibration system. In other words, even if vibration is applied to the biasing member from the outside, if the vibration is higher than the resonance frequency of the vibration system, this vibration will not be transmitted to the weight and will be rapidly attenuated by the biasing member. be done.

The engagement means 60 applied to the conveyance device 10 of the present invention is an application of this, and the springs 64a and 64b are connected without directly connecting the nut 24 and the conveyance table 14 (housing 62). and are connected by the biasing force. That is, in the illustrated example of the engagement means 60, the conveyance table 14 and the springs 64a and 64b form a vibration system consisting of an urging member and a weight, and the conveyance table 14 and the nut 20 are connected to each other via the springs 64a and 64b. By having a structure that couples the springs 64a and 64b, vibrations caused by the drive system of the screw transmission device 20, such as uneven rotation of the motor and the screw shaft 22, and vibrations caused by the vibrations, which are higher than the resonance frequency of the vibration system, are prevented from occurring between the springs 64a and 64b. It is absorbed between the housing 62 and is not transmitted to the conveyance table 14. Therefore, the recording material A can be accurately scanned and conveyed without unevenness in conveyance.

Such an engaging means is described in detail in Japanese Patent Application No. 3-86998 filed by the present applicant.

In the conveyance device of the present invention, the engagement between the screw transmission device 20 and the conveyance table 14 is not limited to the method using the engagement means 60 as described above, and the engagement between the nut of the screw transmission means and the conveyance table, Alternatively, it may be configured to be fixed to the housing of the carrier by screwing, welding, or the like.

In the illustrated transport device 10, the mounting table 12 held by such a transport table 14 has an insulating layer 38 on a base 36 made of a conductive material, as described above. As shown, in the illustrated example, a convex portion 34 is formed on the lower surface to be accommodated in the concave portion 32 of the transfer table 14.

The conductive material forming the base 36 is not particularly limited, and various known conductive materials such as aluminum and stainless steel can be used.

[0052] In the conveyance device 10, the base 36
The base is not limited to one made entirely of a conductive material, but a conductive layer is disposed on an insulating material to form a base, an insulating layer 20 is formed on top of the base, and a power source 18 is formed on the conductive layer. Alternatively, only the portion corresponding to the placement of the recording material A may be formed of a conductive material.

In the illustrated transport device 10, an insulating layer 38 is formed on the upper surface of the mounting table 12.

The insulating material constituting the insulating layer 38 is not particularly limited, and any known insulating material can be used. Specifically, PET (polyethylene terephthalate),
Suitable examples include fluororesin and polypropylene. Further, there is no particular limitation on the thickness, and the thickness may be appropriately set so as to reliably insulate the mounting table 12 and the recording material A (support 52) depending on the insulating material forming the insulating layer 38. .

The insulating layer 38 may be fixed to the upper surface of the mounting table 12, or may be configured to be detachable from the mounting table 12. By configuring the insulating layer 38 to be detachable, it can be applied not only to photosensitive materials that do not have an insulating layer on the back side, such as recording material A shown in FIG. 4, but also to recording materials that have an insulating layer on the back side. It becomes possible.

There are no particular limitations on the method of making the insulating layer 38 detachable from the mounting table 12, including methods using various jigs, methods of forming unevenness on the mounting table 12 and the insulating layer 38 that fit into each other, and methods using magnets. Various known methods can be applied, such as the method by.

Note that if the recording material to be applied has an insulating layer on the back surface, the insulating layer 38 formed on the mounting table 12 is not necessary.

In the conveyance device 10 of the second aspect of the present invention, the mounting table 12 attracts and fixes the recording material A by electrostatic attraction, and the state before the start of conveyance of the recording material A,
In other words, when the exposure table 16 is at the home position shown in FIG. It is electrostatically attracted.

FIG. 4 conceptually shows the case where the recording material A is fixed on the mounting table 12 by electrostatic adsorption.

As described above, the power source 18 applies voltage to the base 36 of the mounting table 12 and the support 52 of the recording material A. In the illustrated example of the transport device 10, an insulating layer 38 is provided between the conductive base and the support 52.
is formed, so the mounting table 12 and the support 52 have charges corresponding to the connected electrodes, that is, in the illustrated example, the support 52 of the recording material A has a positive charge, and the base 36 of the mounting table 12 has a positive charge. Becomes negatively charged. Therefore, both are electrostatically attracted, and the recording material A is attracted and fixed on the mounting table 12 (insulating layer 38).

Furthermore, in the conveyance device 10, even if no voltage is applied after the recording material A is attracted, the attraction and fixation of the recording material A continues as long as the mounting table 12 and the support body 52 are not short-circuited. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1(b), even when the exposure table 16 moves and the power source 18, the base 36, and the support 50 are separated, the recording material A remains on the mounting table 12. Even when the exposure table 16 is moved, there is no need for a power cord to connect the power source and the mounting table 12, and there is no need to install a power source on the mounting table 12, so that accurate The mounting table 12 can be moved.

In addition, a switch or the like is provided to release the adsorption/fixation of the recording material A on the mounting table 12, and the mounting table 12 and the support 5 are
2 should be short-circuited.

The voltage applied by the power supply 18 is not particularly limited, as long as it can exert a sufficient electrostatic adsorption force depending on the degree of curl or bending of the recording material A to be applied, the thickness of the insulating layer 38, etc. Note that at least the curl or bending of the recording material A needs to be corrected to below the depth of focus of the recording light.

By fixing the recording material A on the mounting table 12 by electrostatic adsorption, a suction means such as a suction pump for suctioning and fixing the photosensitive material, and a suction device connecting this suction means and the exposure table are used. Since hoses, etc. are not required, the suction hose is dragged over the base when moving the exposure stage, and load fluctuations, vibrations, and suction caused by contact with various parts placed on the base are avoided. There is no unevenness in the moving speed of the exposure table, vibrations, etc. due to vibrations caused by the means, and more accurate scanning and conveyance of the recording material is possible.

[0065] Note that the conveying device according to the first aspect of the present invention is as follows:
Since the recording material is not fixed to the mounting table by electrostatic adsorption, there are no restrictions on the material of the mounting table (base) or the presence or absence of an insulating layer, and in this respect it is similar to conventional conveying devices. good.

Furthermore, there is no particular limitation on the method of fixing the recording material to the mounting table in the first aspect of the present invention, and various known methods such as a suction method, a method using a magnet, a method using various jigs, etc. Any method is applicable. However, when applying suction as a fixation method,
Since the negative effects of the suction hose as described above cannot be avoided, it is preferable to use a method such as applying a magnet or jig.
It is preferable to apply a method of fixing the recording material in a state where the mounting table and other members are not in contact with each other.

As described above, the exposure table 16 accommodates the convex portion 34 of the mounting table 12 in the concave portion 32 of the conveying table 14, and
4 is configured by holding the mounting table 12, but in the conveying device 10 of the present invention, the mounting table 12
is held on the conveyance table 14 in a non-contact state, and in the illustrated example, the mounting table 12 is levitated by magnetic force so that the two are in a non-contact state.

In the transfer device 10, the recesses 32 of the transfer table 14 are provided with magnets 40a, b, c, d, and e, while the convex portions 34 of the mounting table 12 are provided with the magnets 40a, b, c, d.
and a magnet 42a that repels the mutually opposing magnets of e,
b, c, d and e are respectively provided. Here, the mounting table 12 is held on the conveying table 14 by having its convex portion 34 accommodated in the concave portion 32 of the conveying table 14, but even if the convex portion 34 is accommodated in the concave portion 32, the magnets disposed on Since the repulsion causes the mounting table 12 to float, the mounting table 12 is held on the transport table 14 without coming into contact with the transport table 14.

Therefore, vibrations of the screw transmission device 20, load fluctuations due to uneven friction between the garages 13a and 13b and the guide rail 15, shocks when crossing the joints of the guide rails 15, vibrations applied from the outside, and further damage to the garage. Even if the conveyor table 14 vibrates due to an external force such as vibration when the bearings and rollers disposed in 13a and 13b rotate or roll, this vibration is transmitted between the conveyor table 14 and the mounting table 12. It is absorbed and is not transmitted to the mounting table 12 on which the recording material A is fixed by suction. Moreover, as described above, in the conveyance device 10, the recording material A is attracted and fixed on the mounting table 12 by electrostatic adsorption, so there is no need for a suction hose or the like, so that the mounting table 12 is completely out of contact with other members. be able to.

According to such a conveying device 10, uneven rotation of the motor, etc. can be absorbed by the engaging means 60;
Coupled with the above-mentioned fact that there is no adverse effect due to the suction hose coming into contact with the base etc., the mounting table holding the recording material A can be moved with extremely high precision without speed unevenness due to vibration etc. Scanning and conveyance of the recording material A can be carried out with extremely high precision. Therefore, by applying the conveyance device of the present invention to an image recording apparatus, it is possible to perform highly accurate and good image recording without image unevenness.

There are no particular limitations on the magnets that can be applied to the conveying device of the present invention, and any magnet can be used, such as various permanent magnets and electromagnets, which can levitate the loading table 12 with magnetic force and make the conveying table 14 non-contact. Good. Furthermore, there are no particular limitations on the number or arrangement positions of the magnets 40 and 42, and the number and position at which the mounting table 12 can be levitated and not in contact with the transfer table 14 can be determined depending on the magnetic force of the magnets, the weight and size of the mounting table, etc. It may be set as appropriate.

Note that the method of making the mounting table 12 and the transport table 14 non-contact is not limited to the method of applying the illustrated example of a magnet. Various methods can be applied, such as a method of floating the mounting table 12.

The transport device 10 in the illustrated example has a configuration in which the mounting table 12 is held on the transport table 14 by housing the convex portion 34 of the mounting table 12 in the recess 32 of the transport table 14. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and includes, for example, a structure in which a recess is provided on the mounting table and a convex portion on the transfer table, a structure in which a recess is provided in the placing table or the transfer table, and the other is accommodated in the recess, etc. Any of various configurations are applicable in which the mounting table can be movably held by a conveying table that engages with the transmission means.

Although the scanning conveyance device of the present invention has been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various changes and improvements can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. Of course it's good too.

[0075]

Effects of the Invention As described above in detail, according to the scanning conveyance device of the present invention, in a scanning conveyance device that scans and conveys a recording material by moving an exposure table using a screw transmission device, The table consists of a mounting table that fixes the recording material and a conveying table that engages with the screw transmission device, and by making the two non-contact, it is possible to eliminate uneven rotation and vibration of the motor and screw shaft through the nut. Not only vibrations originating in the drive system transmitted to the table, but also vibrations caused by external forces can be suitably absorbed, and unevenness in conveyance of the exposure table can be made extremely small.

Moreover, in the scanning conveyance apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, a suction device having a suction device such as a vacuum pump or a suction pump, or a suction hose, etc., which causes vibrations of the exposure table and fluctuations in the moving load, is used. First, since the recording material is fixed by electrostatic adsorption, the scanning conveyance of the recording material is not adversely affected by vibrations or load fluctuations caused by a suction hose or the like.

Therefore, according to the scanning conveyance device of the present invention,
The sub-scanning conveyance of the recording material can be carried out with extremely high precision without unevenness in the conveyance speed, and high-quality images can be recorded without density unevenness, color unevenness, etc. in the sub-scanning direction.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a scanning conveyance device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 1;

3 is a schematic view of the engagement means of the scanning conveyance device shown in FIG. 1; FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram conceptually showing a state in which a recording material is fixed in the scanning conveyance device shown in FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Scanning conveyance device 11 Substrate 12 Mounting table 13a, 13b Garage 14 Conveying table 15 Guide rail 16 Exposure table 18 Power supply 20 Screw transmission device 22 Screw shaft 24 Nut 26 Post 32 Recess 34 Convex portion 36 Base 38 Insulating layer 40a, 40b, 40c, 40d, 40e, 42a, 4
2b, 42c, 42d, 42e Magnet 52 Support 54 Recording layer 60 Engagement means 62 Housing 64a, 64b Spring 66, 68 Side wall A Recording material

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A scanning conveyance device for scanning and conveying a recording material, comprising: a screw transmission device as a driving means; a mounting table on which the recording material is placed; and the mounting table in a non-contact state with each other. and an exposure table constituted by a conveyance table that engages with the screw transmission device and holds the screw transmission device. 2. A scanning conveyance device for scanning and conveying a recording material having a recording layer on a conductive support, comprising: a screw transmission device as a driving means; and a base at least partially made of a conductive material. an exposure table comprising: a mounting table which fixes the recording material by electrostatic attraction; and a transport table which holds the mounting table in a non-contact state with the mounting table and engages with the screw transmission device; A scanning conveyance device comprising: a power source for applying a voltage to a conductive support for the recording material and a base of the mounting table. 3. A pressing member fixedly disposed on the conveyance table at a position sandwiching the nut of the screw transmission device in a moving direction of the nut, which engages the screw transmission device with the conveyance table; A biasing member is provided between the pressing member and the nut on both sides of the nut, and the biasing member disposed between the nut and the pressing member is configured to push the nut from both sides. 3. The scanning and conveying device according to claim 1, wherein said engaging means engages said nut and said conveyance platform by pressing.