JP2007256104A - Recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a colorimetric unit capable of adding easily a colorimetric function to a recorder not provided with the colorimetric function. <P>SOLUTION: This recorder is provided with support plates 353 arranged opposedly each other with a space, a guide shaft 352 arranged between the support plates, an endless belt 371e laid with a tension over between the support plates, the first driving means 350 for moving the endless belt, a colorimeter holding part 310 mounted with a colorimeter 312 for measuring colorimetrically a color measuring pattern recorded in a recorded medium, attached to the guide shaft via the second driving means 330, approached or separated to/from the guide shaft, locked to the endless belt via a locking means, and moved along the guide shaft, and a medium pressing part 320 attached to the support plates via the third driving means 340, and approached or separated to/from the recorded medium. Functions required for the colorimetry are thereby integrated into one, and resultantly the colorimetric function is easily added to the recorder not provided with the colorimetric function. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a colorimetric unit including a colorimeter that measures a colorimetric pattern recorded on a recording medium.

  Some ink jet printers that are one of recording apparatuses have a colorimetric function. According to such an ink jet printer, color data such as CIEXYZ and CIELAB is measured from a recorded color image, and the color measurement data is converted into color data such as a CMYK color system to obtain a desired color reproduction. (See Patent Document 1).

JP 2005-249563 A

  Since the above-described colorimetric function is provided in the ink jet printer, it is dedicated to the ink jet printer. Therefore, color images recorded by an ink jet printer that does not have a colorimetric function need to be measured by a dedicated colorimetric device, especially when performing continuous colorimetry.

  The present invention has been made in view of the various problems as described above, and an object thereof is to provide a color measurement unit that can easily add a color measurement function to a recording apparatus that does not have a color measurement function. There is to do.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the colorimetric unit of the present invention, a support plate disposed opposite to each other with a space therebetween, a guide shaft disposed between the support plates, and a book span between the support plates. And an endless belt, a first driving means for moving the endless belt, and a colorimeter for measuring a colorimetric pattern recorded on the recording medium, and a second drive on the guide shaft. A colorimeter holding unit that is attached to the guide shaft and is moved toward and away from the guide shaft, and is locked to the endless belt through a lock means, and moves along the guide shaft, and the support plate And a medium pressing portion which is attached via a third driving means and moves toward and away from the recording medium. Thereby, since necessary functions for colorimetry can be combined into one, the colorimetry function can be easily added to a recording apparatus that does not have the colorimetry function.

  Further, the colorimeter holding part has a moving wheel. Thereby, the colorimeter holding part can be smoothly moved on the medium pressing part, and the colorimetric accuracy can be improved. Further, the medium pressing portion is provided with a window extending in the moving direction of the colorimeter holding portion. Thereby, color measurement can be performed while pressing the recording medium, and the color measurement accuracy can be improved. Further, the medium pressing portion is provided with a calibration member for the colorimeter. As a result, calibration can be started following color measurement, and processing time for color measurement and calibration can be shortened.

  Further, the calibration member is provided at a position covered by the colorimeter holding portion when the colorimeter holding portion is located at the standby position. Thereby, it is not necessary to separately provide a cover for covering the calibration member, and an increase in component cost can be suppressed. Further, the medium pressing portion is provided with a positioning member at the time of calibration of the colorimeter. As a result, high-precision calibration can be performed without performing complicated positioning control. Further, the medium pressing portion is characterized in that ribs that come into contact with the recording medium protrude at least around the window. As a result, high-precision color measurement can be continuously performed by recording the color measurement pattern on the recording medium with an interval not contacting the rib.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The embodiments described below do not limit the invention according to the claims, and all the combinations of features described in the embodiments are not necessarily essential to the solution means of the invention. Absent.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the color measurement unit of the present invention. The color measuring unit 300 includes a color measuring device holder (color measuring device holding unit) 310 that holds the color measuring device 312 and a paper pressing plate (medium pressing unit) 320 that presses a sheet (recording medium) during color measurement. ing. Furthermore, a holder lifting / lowering actuator (second drive means) 330 that moves the colorimeter holder 310 closer to and away from the colorimetric surface, and a plate lifting and lowering actuator (third drive) that contacts and separates the paper pressing plate 320 from the colorimetric surface. Driving means) 340, and a holder moving actuator (first driving means) 350 for moving the colorimeter holder 310 along the colorimetric surface.

  The colorimeter holder 310 is formed in a box shape with an open bottom, and incorporates an existing colorimeter 312 that measures a colorimetric pattern recorded on a sheet. The paper presser plate 320 is formed in a rectangular plate shape, and guide rails 321 for guiding the movement of the colorimeter holder 310 are provided on both side portions on the long side, and between the guide rails 321, guide rails are provided. A strip-shaped colorimetric window 322 is formed along the line 321.

  Further, a circular white tile (calibration member) 323 for colorimetric calibration of the colorimeter 312 is circular in the vicinity of the colorimetric window 322 at the home position (standby position) on the left side of the paper pressing plate 320 in the figure. It is surrounded by a wall 327. Positioning protrusions (positioning members) 324 for colorimetric calibration of the colorimeter 312 are provided on and between the guide rails 321 on both sides in the vicinity of the white tile 323. Then, ribs 325 project from the peripheral edge on the back surface of the paper pressing plate 320 and the peripheral edge on the back surface of the colorimetric window 322. Details of the colorimeter holder 310 and the paper pressing plate 320 will be described later.

  The holder lifting / lowering actuator 330 includes a solenoid 331, a solenoid support member 332 that supports the solenoid 331, and a guide arm 333 that guides the raising / lowering of the colorimeter holder 310. The solenoid 331 has a main body portion 331 a fixed to the solenoid support member 332 and a rod portion 331 b fixed to the colorimeter holder 310. The solenoid support member 332 is slidably attached to a holder guide shaft 352 described later. Two guide arms 333 are arranged in parallel between the colorimeter holder 310 and the solenoid support member 332, each one end of which is rotatably supported on one side of the colorimeter holder 310, and each other end. The shaft is rotatably supported by the solenoid support member 332.

  According to such a configuration, the rod portion 331b of the solenoid 331 fixed to the solenoid support member 332 protrudes and retracts with respect to the main body portion 331a, so that the guide arm 333 is circular around the solenoid support member 332 side. Reciprocates in an arc. Therefore, the colorimeter holder 310 can be moved up and down with respect to the holder guide shaft 352 to which the solenoid support member 332 is attached. That is, the colorimeter holder 310 can be brought into contact with or separated from the paper pressing plate 320.

  The plate lifting / lowering actuator 340 includes a solenoid 341 and a guide arm 342 for guiding the lifting / lowering of the paper pressing plate 320. The solenoid 341 has a main body portion 341 a fixed to a frame (support plate) 353 described later, and a rod portion 341 b fixed to a paper pressing plate 320. Two guide arms 342 are arranged in parallel at both ends on the long side of the paper presser plate 320, and one end of each guide arm 342 is rotatably supported by a side plate 326 at both ends of the paper presser plate 320. The other end is rotatably supported by the frames 353 on both sides of the holder moving actuator 350.

  According to such a configuration, the rod portion 341b of the solenoid 341 fixed to the right frame 353 in the drawing protrudes and retracts with respect to the main body portion 341a, so that the guide arm 342 has an arc shape centering on the frame 353 side. Turn back and forth. Therefore, the paper pressing plate 320 can be moved up and down with respect to the holder guide shaft 352 supported by the frame 353. That is, for example, the paper pressing plate 320 can be brought into contact with or separated from the paper conveyance surface of the printer in which the color measurement unit 300 is set.

  The holder moving actuator 350 includes a belt / pulley mechanism 351, two holder guide shafts (guide shafts) 352, and two frames 353. The belt / pulley mechanism 351 includes two pulleys 351a and 351b, a motor 351c, a pulley support member 351d, and a belt (endless belt) 351e. The pulley 351a is fitted on the rotation shaft of the motor 351c, and the pulley 351b is rotatably supported by the pulley support member 351d. The motor 351c is disposed at the left end of the paper presser plate 320 on the long side and is fixed to the left side frame (not shown).

  The pulley support member 351d is disposed at the right end of the paper presser plate 320 on the long side and is fixed to the right side frame (not shown). The belt 351e is stretched between the pulleys 351a and 351b, and the middle of the belt is fixed to the solenoid support member 332. Two holder guide shafts 352 are arranged in parallel to the long side direction of the paper pressing plate 320. The frame 353 supports both ends of the holder guide shaft 352 and supports the guide arm 342 as described above. Further, the left side frame supports the motor 351c, and the right side frame is a pulley support member. 351d is supported.

  According to such a configuration, when the motor 351c fixed to the left side frame is driven, the solenoid support member 332 fixed to the belt 351e is entrained to the belt 351e along the holder guide shaft 352. Slide. Therefore, the colorimeter holder 310 fixed to the solenoid 331 can be moved along the holder guide shaft 352. That is, when the colorimeter holder 310 is in contact with the paper presser plate 320, the colorimeter holder 310 can be moved along the paper presser plate 320.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing details of the colorimeter holder 310 as viewed from below, and FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view thereof. The colorimeter holder 310 includes a holder main body 311 formed in a box shape with an open bottom surface, a colorimeter 312 built in the holder main body 311, and a holder wheel ( Wheels) 313. The holder main body 311 is divided into two parts, and a colorimeter 312 is arranged between them, and is fixedly united by screws 314. And the holder wheel 313 is rotatably attached to the inner lower part of three corners of the four corners of the holder main body 312. Further, the color measuring device rides on positioning protrusions 324 formed on the guide rails 321 of the paper pressing plate 320 at the lower outer portions of the two corners of the holder main body 312 to which the opposing holder wheel 313 is attached. A positioning member 315 for positioning at the time of colorimetric calibration 312 is formed.

  4 and 5 are perspective views showing an operation state of the colorimeter holder 310 on the paper presser plate 320, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. In the initial state, the colorimeter holder 310 and the paper presser plate 320 are moved upward by the holder lifting actuator 330 and the plate lifter actuator 340, and the colorimeter holder 310 is further moved by the holder moving actuator 350 to the home of the paper presser plate 320. Moving to the position side.

  First, as shown in FIG. 4, when the paper P on which the colorimetric pattern is recorded is conveyed and positioned at the colorimetric position, the colorimeter holder 310 and the paper presser plate 320 are moved to the holder elevating actuator 330 and the plate elevating / lowering. The actuator is moved downward by the actuator 340 and the paper pressing plate 320 presses the paper P. At this time, only the ribs 325 provided on the peripheral edge of the back surface of the paper pressing plate 320 and the peripheral edge of the back surface of the colorimetric window 322 are in contact with the paper P. Highly accurate colorimetry can be performed. In addition, in order for this rib 325 to exhibit the above-described effects, it is only necessary that the rib 325 be provided at the peripheral edge portion on the back surface of the colorimetric window 322.

  Then, the colorimeter holder 310 is moved away from the home position by the holder moving actuator 350, and the colorimeter 312 measures the color measurement pattern via the color measurement window 322 of the paper pressing plate 320. At this time, the holder wheel 313 of the colorimeter holder 310 enters between the guide rails 321 on both sides of the paper pressing plate 320 and rolls in contact therewith. Accordingly, the colorimeter holder 310 can be smoothly moved on the paper presser plate 320, and the colorimeter 312 can perform colorimetry with high accuracy.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 5, when the color measurement by the color measuring device 312 is completed and the color measuring device holder 310 is returned to the home position by the holder moving actuator 350, the positioning member 315 of the color measuring device holder 310 is moved. The positioning protrusion 324 is formed on the positioning protrusion 324 formed on the guide rail 321 of the paper pressing plate 320 and the bottom left side of the colorimeter holder 310 is formed between the guide rails 321 of the paper pressing plate 320. It rides up and positions the colorimeter 312 at the time of colorimetric calibration.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 6, the colorimeter holder 310 is supported at three points by the positioning protrusions 324 of the paper presser plate 320 and the holder wheel 313 of the colorimeter holder 310 is separated from the paper presser plate 320. Therefore, the colorimeter 312 can be positioned on the white tile 323 of the paper pressing plate 320 with high accuracy without rattling. Furthermore, since the colorimeter holder 310 covers the periphery of the white tile 323 of the paper press plate 320 together with the wall 327, contamination of the white tile 323 can be prevented. Therefore, calibration of the colorimeter 312 can always be performed with high accuracy. It should be noted that the left side surface of the calorimeter holder 310 shown in the figure may be brought into contact with the left side plate 326 of the paper presser plate 320 so as to position the colorimeter 312 during the colorimetric calibration.

  As described above, according to the color measurement unit 300 of the present embodiment, since the necessary functions for color measurement are combined into one, the color measurement function is provided for a recording apparatus that does not have the color measurement function. Can be easily added. Further, since the colorimeter holder 310 has the holder wheel 313 for movement, the colorimeter holder 310 can be smoothly moved on the paper pressing plate 320, and the color measurement accuracy can be improved.

  Further, since the paper presser plate 320 is provided with a colorimetric window 322 extending in the moving direction of the colorimeter holder 310, the color can be measured while pressing the paper, and the colorimetric accuracy can be improved. . Further, since the paper pressing plate 320 is provided with the white tile 323 of the color measuring device 312, calibration can be started following the color measurement, and the processing time of the color measurement and calibration can be shortened. Further, since the white tile 323 is provided at a position covered by the colorimeter holder 310 when the colorimeter holder 310 is located at the home position, it is not necessary to separately provide a cover for covering the white tile 323. As a result, an increase in component costs can be suppressed.

  Further, since the paper pressing plate 320 is provided with the positioning projection 324 at the time of calibration of the colorimeter 312, highly accurate calibration can be performed without performing complicated positioning control. The wall 327 around the white tile 323 may also be formed as a positioning protrusion when the colorimeter 312 is calibrated. Further, the rib 325 that contacts the paper protrudes at least around the colorimetric window 322 in the paper presser plate 320, so that the colorimetric pattern is recorded on the paper with an interval that does not contact the rib 325. Highly accurate colorimetry can be performed continuously.

  In the above-described embodiment, solenoids are used as the holder lifting / lowering actuator 330 and the plate lifting / lowering actuator 340. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an air cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, a motor, a gear mechanism, or the like may be used. it can. Further, although the belt mechanism is used as the holder moving actuator 350, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a linear motor, a motor and a ball screw, or the like can be used.

  Any recording apparatus to which the colorimetric unit can be attached is applicable to an ink jet printer, a facsimile apparatus, a copying apparatus, and the like.

It is a perspective view which shows one Embodiment of the color measurement unit of this invention. It is the perspective view which looked at the detail of the colorimeter holder of the color measurement unit of FIG. 1 from the downward direction. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a first perspective view showing an operation state of a color measuring device holder of the color measuring unit of FIG. 1 on a paper pressing plate. FIG. 10 is a second perspective view showing an operation state of the color measuring device holder of the color measuring unit in FIG. 1 on the paper pressing plate. It is sectional drawing of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

300 Colorimetric Unit, 310 Colorimeter Holder, 312 Colorimeter, 320 Paper Press Plate, 330 Holder Lifting Actuator, 340 Plate Lifting Actuator, 350 Holder Moving Actuator

Claims (7)

Support plates arranged opposite to each other at intervals, and
A guide shaft disposed between the support plates;
An endless belt spanned between the support plates;
First driving means for moving the endless belt;
It is equipped with a colorimeter that measures the colorimetric pattern recorded on the recording medium, is attached to the guide shaft via a second driving means, approaches and separates from the guide shaft, and A colorimeter holder that is locked to the endless belt via a locking means and moves along the guide shaft;
A colorimetric unit comprising: a medium pressing portion attached to the support plate via a third driving means and approaching and separating from the recording medium. The colorimetric unit according to claim 1, wherein the colorimeter holding unit has wheels for movement. The color measuring unit according to claim 1, wherein the medium pressing portion is provided with a window extending in a moving direction of the color measuring device holding portion. The color measuring unit according to claim 1, wherein the medium pressing unit includes a calibration member for the color measuring device. The colorimetric unit according to claim 4, wherein the calibration member is provided at a position covered by the colorimeter holding unit when the colorimeter holding unit is located at a standby position. . The color measuring unit according to claim 1, wherein the medium pressing portion is provided with a positioning member for calibration of the colorimeter. The color measuring unit according to claim 1, wherein the medium pressing portion has at least ribs that contact the recording medium protruding around the window.

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