# US 2013/0278691 A1 · Image recording device

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- Number: US 2013/0278691 A1
- Document ID: US20130278691A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/862,704
- Filed: 2013-04-15
- Published: 2013-10-24
- Earliest claimed: 2012-04-24
- Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation
- Applicants: Seiko Epson Corporation
- Inventors: Yujiro NOMURA
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130278691A1

## CPC

- B41J 2/2114: {Ejecting specialized liquids, e.g. transparent or processing liquids (B41J2/211 takes precedence)}
- B41J 2/2146: {for line print heads}
- B41J 11/0015: {for treating before, during or after printing or for uniform coating or laminating the copy material before or after printing (selective coating B41J2/2114)}
- B41J 11/0021: {using irradiation}
- B41J 11/00214: {using UV radiation}
- B41J 2025/008: {comprising a plurality of print heads placed around a drum}
- B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS

## Abstract

An image recording device is provided with a plurality of color ink heads, first irradiation units which are disposed between the color ink heads which are adjacent, a second irradiation unit which is disposed more to the downstream side in the transport direction than the plurality of color ink heads and which irradiates light which is stronger than the light which is irradiated by the first irradiation units, and a transparent ink head which is disposed more to the downstream side in the transport direction than the second irradiation unit and which discharges transparent ink onto the image, wherein an interval, where a furthermost downstream color ink head and the transparent ink head are lined up, is wider than an interval where the plurality of color ink heads are lined up.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An image recording device comprising:
a support member which supports a recording medium by coming into contact with one surface of the recording medium;
a transport section which transports the recording medium in a transport direction;
a plurality of color ink heads, which are lined up in the transport direction and which each discharge photo curable color inks onto the other surface of the recording medium which is transported in the transport direction while being supported by the support member;
first irradiation units which are disposed between the color ink heads which are adjacent and which irradiate light onto the color inks which are discharged from the color ink heads on the upstream side in the transport direction onto the recording medium;
a second irradiation unit which is disposed more to the downstream side in the transport direction than the plurality of color ink heads and which irradiates light which is stronger than the light which is irradiated by the first irradiation units onto the image which is formed using the color inks which are discharged by the plurality of color ink heads;
a transparent ink head which is disposed more to the downstream side in the transport direction than the second irradiation unit and which discharges transparent ink onto the image which is formed on the other surface of the recording medium which is transported in the transport direction while being supported by the support member; and
a transparent ink head which is disposed more to the downstream side in the transport direction than the second irradiation unit and which discharges transparent ink onto the image which is formed on the other surface of the recording medium which is transported in the transport direction while being supported by the support member; and
a light irradiation unit which is disposed more on the downstream side in the transport direction than the transparent ink head and which cures the transparent ink which is discharged onto the image using light irradiation,
wherein an interval, where a furthermost downstream color ink head which is disposed furthermost downstream among the plurality of color ink heads in the transport direction and the transparent ink head are lined up in the transport direction, is wider than an interval where the plurality of color ink heads are lined up in the transport direction.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The image recording device according to claim 1,
wherein an interval where the second irradiation unit and the transparent ink head are adjacent is wider than an interval where the first irradiation units and the color ink heads are adjacent in the transport direction.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The image recording device according to claim 1,
wherein the second irradiation unit is disposed more on the furthermost downstream color ink head side than the midway point between the furthermost downstream color ink head and the transparent ink head in the transport direction.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The image recording device according to claim 1,
wherein a time t, where the recording medium moves from a position where the second irradiation unit irradiates light to a position where the transparent ink head discharges the transparent ink, satisfies a relational expression of
t>−(Ci·ρi·Li·Lm/λm)loge(1/100)
where λm is the heat conductivity of the recording medium, Lm is the thickness of the recording medium, Li is the thickness of the color ink which forms the image, Ci is the density of the color ink which forms the image, and ρi is the specific heat of the color ink.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The image recording device according to claim 1,
wherein the support member is a drum with a cylindrical shape, an interval where the furthermost downstream color ink head and the transparent ink head line up in the transport direction is an angle between the furthermost downstream color ink head and the transparent ink head around a cylinder central shaft of the drum, and an interval where the plurality of color ink heads line up in the transport direction is an angle of two adjacent color ink heads out of the plurality of color ink heads around a cylinder central shaft.