JP2012210781A - Inkjet recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inkjet recording apparatus that eliminates the need for exchange of position detection part that detects the position on a medium provided in a recording unit, is hard to cause displacement of a position detection part, and can facilitate an exchange operation of a cleaning members that clean a detected part.SOLUTION: The recording unit 2 includes an X-axis linear sensor 17 that detects a movement position to the medium and a linear scale 15 that is arranged opposing the X-axis linear sensor 17, and a cleaning member 19 that slides and cleans on the linear scale 15 while being touched with the linear scale 15 is detachably assembled to the recording unit 2.

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus.

  The ink jet recording apparatus includes, for example, a discharge head that discharges ink droplets such as ultraviolet curable ink, and an ultraviolet lamp that irradiates ultraviolet light to the ultraviolet curable ink discharged from the discharge head onto a medium. In this ink jet printer, the ultraviolet curable ink discharged from the ink head to the medium is cured by irradiating the ultraviolet ray with an ultraviolet lamp to perform recording.

  The Y-axis unit is provided so as to be movable in the sub-scanning direction (X-axis direction) along a scanning guide provided in the longitudinal direction of the stage unit that supports the medium of the apparatus main body. The ejection head is mounted on a carriage, and the carriage is provided so as to reciprocate in the main scanning direction (Y-axis direction) along a scanning guide provided on a Y-axis direction support member (Y bar) of the Y-axis unit. Yes. The Y-axis unit moves by a predetermined amount in the sub-scanning direction every time the ejection head records one line, and opposes the carriage movement in the main scanning direction and the Y-axis unit in the sub-scanning direction alternately. Recording is performed on the medium held by suction on the stage unit. A linear scale provided in the stage section along the sub-scanning direction (X-axis direction) is read by an X-axis linear sensor (optical sensor) provided in a recording unit (for example, in the case where the carriage moves in the main scanning direction). Thus, the amount of movement of the Y-axis unit in the sub-scanning direction driven by the motor is controlled.

  A configuration of a position detection mechanism using a scale and an optical sensor will be exemplified below with reference to FIG. 6 of JP-A-2002-361901. In the optical sensor 31, the light emitting diode 31 a and the phototransistor 31 b are arranged to face each other via a linear circular coder scale 21 made of a transparent resin sheet. The optical sensor 31 converts the intermittent state of light obtained by the black stripes 21a formed intermittently on the scale 21 into an on / off signal, and detects the position of the carriage in the scanning direction. Cleaning means (urethane resin) 33, 34 are disposed on both sides of the light emitting diode 31 a and the phototransistor 31 b in the holders 32 a, 32 b that hold the optical sensor 31, and are provided facing each other so as to sandwich the scale 21. The urethane resins 33 and 34 are always in sliding contact with the scale 21 and slide on the scale 21 when the carriage scans. As a result, even if the scattered ink adheres to the scale 21 by a wiping operation for cleaning the nozzles of the ejection head or a flushing operation for idly ejecting ink droplets, it can be cleaned immediately. The position detection is not hindered (see Patent Document 1 and FIG. 6).

JP 2002-361901 A

  However, since the cleaning means (urethane resin) 33 and 34 described above are directly fixed to the holders 32a and 32b and are always in sliding contact with the scale 21, the holders 32a and 32b are replaced when only the cleaning means 33 and 34 are replaced. There is a problem that it is difficult to remove. On the other hand, if the cleaning means 33 and 34 are replaced together with the holders 32a and 32b, the light emitting diode 31a and the photosensor 31b are also replaced together, so that the maintenance cost increases. Further, even if only the cleaning means 33 and 34 can be removed from the holders 32a and 32b, the light sensor 31 is likely to be displaced because it is disposed on both sides of the light emitting diode 31a and the photosensor 31b constituting the light sensor 31. There is also.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems, and does not require replacement of a position detection unit for detecting a position on a medium provided in a recording unit, so that the position detection unit is less likely to be displaced, and the detected part is cleaned. An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus that can easily replace a cleaning member.

  In order to solve the above problems, an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention has the following configuration. That is, an inkjet recording apparatus including a recording unit that includes an ejection head and performs recording by ejecting ink droplets onto a medium facing the ejection head and moving the ink droplets relative to the medium. Includes a position detection unit that detects a relative movement position with respect to the medium and a cleaning member that abuts on a detection target detected by the position detection unit, and the cleaning member is detachable from the recording unit. The cleaning member is cleaned by the cleaning member as the cleaning member slides on the detection portion as the recording unit and the medium move relative to each other.

According to the above configuration, since the cleaning member that slides while being in contact with the detected portion is detachably supported by the recording unit, the position detection unit that detects the relative movement position of the recording unit with respect to the medium can be replaced. It is not necessary, and it is difficult for the position detection unit to be displaced, and only the cleaning member provided in the recording unit needs to be replaced.
Further, even if the scattered ink adheres to the detected portion by a wiping operation for cleaning the nozzles of the ejection head or a flushing operation for ejecting ink droplets, it can be wiped immediately by the cleaning member by moving the recording unit. .

In the present invention, the recording unit includes a carriage that reciprocates in the main scanning direction, and a support member that supports the carriage so as to reciprocate in the main scanning direction and moves in the sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction. And a position detecting unit and a cleaning member provided on the support member, supporting the support member so as to be movable in the sub-scanning direction, and placing the medium on the stage unit, The detected portion that is disposed to face the position detecting portion and on which the cleaning member slides may be provided.
According to the above configuration, the position detection unit detects the position in the sub-scanning direction as the recording unit moves in the sub-scanning direction, and the cleaning member can be cleaned by the cleaning member.

In the present invention, the linear sensor as the position detecting unit and the linear scale as the detected unit are arranged to face each other, and the cleaning member is assembled so as to always contact the linear scale in the biased state. It is desirable that
According to the above configuration, since the cleaning member is assembled so as to always contact the linear scale in the biased state, the cleaning operation of the linear scale by the cleaning member can be performed reliably when the recording unit is moved. Therefore, position detection by the linear sensor can be performed reliably and with high accuracy.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the cleaning member is assembled in a direction parallel to the urging direction of the cleaning member with respect to a support member that supports the position detection unit.
As a result, the cleaning member is assembled in a direction parallel to the urging direction of the cleaning member with respect to the support member that supports the position detection unit, so that the attaching / detaching operation when replacing the cleaning member can be easily performed.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the cleaning member is made of an elastic material and is elastically deformed and pressed against the linear scale.
As a result, the cleaning member can be pressed against the linear scale in a constantly energized state only by elastically deforming the elastic material without providing any special parts on the cleaning member.

Further, in the present invention, a flexible nonwoven fabric is used for the cleaning member, and a plurality of the nonwoven fabrics are folded and pressed against the linear scale while being folded and assembled. Also good.
Thereby, dirt can be wiped off with a simple configuration by sliding while being pressed against the linear scale by bending of the nonwoven fabric itself.

Further, in the present invention, a slider that supports the support column of the recording unit is connected to a guide rail that is provided in parallel with the moving direction of the recording unit, and the cleaning member is pressed against the slider. In addition, it may be positioned in the sliding direction and detachably assembled.
Thereby, it is possible to reduce the work load of the replacement work of the cleaning member performed by the operator entering the vacant work space directly below the recording unit that protrudes on both sides from the width of the stage portion.

  According to the present invention, it is not necessary to replace the position detection unit for detecting the position on the medium provided in the recording unit, and it is difficult for the position detection unit to be displaced. It is possible to provide an ink jet recording apparatus that can easily perform the above.

1 is an external perspective view of an ink jet recording apparatus. It is a perspective view which shows connection with the Y rail with which the Y-axis unit was equipped, and the guide rail with which the stage part was equipped. It is an expansion perspective view which shows the connection structure of the slider and X guide rail which the support | pillar of Y bar connects. It is a left perspective view which shows the contact state of a cleaning member and a linear scale. It is a left-right side view which shows the contact state of a cleaning member and a linear scale. It is a perspective view of the position detection part (linear sensor) supported by the support member. It is a right perspective view which shows the procedure which mounts | wears with a mounting cover with respect to a supporting member. It is a left perspective view which shows the procedure of mounting | wearing a mounting cover with respect to a supporting member. It is a right perspective view which shows the state which piled up the attachment cover in the height direction with respect to the support member. It is a left perspective view which shows the state which piled up the attachment cover with respect to the supporting member in the height direction. It is a right perspective view which shows the state which slid the attachment cover to the moving direction with respect to the support member, and was positioned. It is a left perspective view which shows the state which slid the attachment cover with respect to the support member in the moving direction, and was positioned.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals. In the following description, the main scanning direction is the direction in which the carriage reciprocates (longitudinal direction of the Y-axis unit), and the sub-scanning direction is the longitudinal direction (Y-axis unit) of the stage portion (suction plate) orthogonal to the main scanning direction. The direction of movement) is indicated respectively.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the ink jet recording apparatus. As shown in the figure, for example, a flatbed ink jet printer is used as the ink jet recording apparatus 1. The Y-axis unit 2 is provided with a movable body such as a carriage 7 (see FIG. 2) and a slider 11 constituting a recording unit. The carriage 7 is provided with a carriage 7 (see FIG. 2) that reciprocates in the main scanning direction. The carriage 7 is equipped with an ejection head that ejects ultraviolet curable ink droplets (hereinafter referred to as “ultraviolet curable ink”) onto a medium to be printed that is adsorbed and supported by the opposing stage unit 3 (apparatus body). ing. Although not shown, the carriage 6 is mounted with an ejection head for ejecting ink droplets of, for example, M (magenta), Y (yellow), C (cyan), and K (black). The Y-axis unit 2 is provided so as to reciprocate in the sub-scanning direction (X-axis direction) orthogonal to the main scanning direction (Y-axis direction) in which the carriage 7 reciprocates. In addition to paper such as plain paper, PVC (polyvinyl chloride), PLA (polylactic acid), PP (polypropylene), PET (polyethylene terephthalate), PC (polycarbonate), PMMA (polymethacrylic acid) Various materials such as a resin sheet such as methyl), a cloth sheet such as a woven fabric and a non-woven fabric, a metal sheet such as aluminum and stainless steel, or a synthetic sheet made of a composite material are included.

  In the Y-axis unit 2, ultraviolet curing lamps that are mounted on the carriage 7 and are primarily cured by irradiating the ultraviolet curable ink immediately after ejection from the ejection head with ultraviolet rays are provided on both sides in the scanning direction of the carriage 7. The ultraviolet curing lamp unit is mounted with an LED element as a light source, and is provided corresponding to the recording range of each color head provided in the ejection head. Further, the unit cover 4 of the Y-axis unit 2 may be provided with an ultraviolet curing lamp for secondary curing.

  In FIG. 2, the Y-axis unit 2 is provided with a Y bar (Y-axis support member) 6 provided with a Y-axis guide rail 5 when the carriage 7 moves in the main scanning direction. The carriage 7 is connected to the Y-axis guide rail 5 through the Y-axis linear motion guide 8. A part of an endless timing belt that is rotationally driven by a servo motor (not shown) is connected to the carriage 7. By driving the servo motor to rotate forward and backward, the carriage 7 reciprocates in the main scanning direction (Y-axis direction).

  In FIG. 3, support columns 6 a are provided on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the Y bar 6. Each column 6a is connected to an X-axis moving mechanism. The X-axis movement mechanism is provided on X-axis frames 9 provided on both sides in the width direction of the stage unit 3. A slider 11 is slidably connected to an X-axis guide rail 10 provided in the longitudinal direction (sub-scanning direction) on the X-axis frame 9 via an X-axis linear guide 12. A support 6a is connected to the slider 11, and the Y-axis unit 2 is provided so as to be movable in the sub-scanning direction (X-axis direction). A part of a timing belt 13 that is driven to rotate forward and reverse by a servo motor (not shown) is connected to the slider 11. The timing belt 13 is an endless belt and is laid on pulleys 14 provided at both ends of the stage portion 3 in the longitudinal direction. When the servo motor is rotationally driven in a predetermined direction, the slider 11 moves in the predetermined direction through the timing belt.

  As shown in FIG. 6, a linear scale 15 (detected portion) is provided on the X-axis frame 9 along the longitudinal direction (sub-scanning direction). The linear scale 15 has an uneven surface that is not visible but continuous in the longitudinal direction. The slider 11 (recording unit) is provided with a sensor stay 16 (support member). The sensor stay 16 is provided with an X-axis linear sensor 17 (position detection unit) facing the linear scale 15. The X-axis linear sensor 17 includes a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit. The light receiving unit receives reflected light obtained by irradiating the opposing linear scale 15 from the light emitting unit, and the slider 11 (with a resolution of ± 1.0 μm, for example). The moving position of the recording unit) in the sub-scanning direction can be detected.

  In FIG. 4, the mounting cover 18 is positioned in the vertical direction and the moving direction (see the arrow in FIG. 4) with respect to the sensor stay 16 provided on the slider 11 and is detachably assembled. A cleaning member 19 is fixed to the mounting cover 18. The cleaning member 19 is detachably assembled so as to always contact the linear scale 15 in the vicinity of the X-axis linear sensor 17 (on both sides in the movement direction).

  Hereinafter, the configuration of the cleaning member 19 and the mounting cover 18 to which the cleaning member 19 is fixed will be described. 5 (a) and 5 (b), the mounting cover 18 includes an overlapping surface 18a that is superimposed on the sensor stay 16 from above, a mounting surface 18b that mounts the cleaning member 19, and a reinforcing surface 18c that is assembled perpendicularly thereto. Yes. The reinforcing surface 18c also serves as a mounting surface for the cleaning member 19 (see FIG. 5B).

  The cleaning member 19 is preferably made of an elastic material and is elastically deformed against the linear scale 15 and is always pressed against the linear scale 15. Specifically, a flexible nonwoven fabric (felt material) is used for the cleaning member 19, and a plurality of the nonwoven fabrics are overlapped and folded together with the sheet metal 18d and screwed to the mounting surface 18b and the reinforcing surface 18c. . Thus, when the attachment cover 18 is attached to the sensor stay 16, each cleaning member 19 is pressed against the linear scale 15 and assembled.

  7 and 8, locking pieces 16a are formed upright at both ends of the sensor stay 16 in the longitudinal direction. Further, a ball latch 16b is provided in the vicinity of the locking piece 16a on one side. The standing tip portion of the locking piece 16a is formed in, for example, a T shape so as to serve as a stopper and be wider than the original end portion. Further, on the overlapping surface 18a of the mounting cover 18, an insertion locking hole 18e in which an insertion hole and a locking hole are continuous at a position corresponding to the locking piece 16a, and an insertion hole and a locking hole of the ball latch 16b are continuous. Each insertion locking hole 18f is formed. In addition, a gripping portion 18g is erected on the central edge portion of the overlapping surface 18a so that the mounting cover 18 can be gripped and handled easily.

  The operation for assembling the cleaning member 19 described above to the recording unit will be described with reference to FIGS. First, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the operator holds the holding portion 18 g of the mounting cover 18 and overlaps the overlapping surface 18 a so that the reinforcing surface 18 c faces outward from above the sensor stay 16. A cleaning member 19 is fixed to the mounting cover 18 together with the sheet metal 18d in advance.

  As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the locking piece 16a of the sensor stay 16 is inserted into the insertion hole side which is the large diameter hole of the insertion locking hole 18e, and the ball latch 16b is inserted into the insertion hole of the insertion locking hole 18f. insert. Then, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the mounting cover 18 is inserted into the insertion locking holes 18e and 18f so that the locking piece 16a and the ball latch 16b are locked from the insertion hole to the locking hole side. Slide. Thereby, the attachment cover 18 is attached to the sensor stay 16 and is positioned and attached in the vertical direction and the movement direction. At this time, the cleaning member 19 fixed and assembled to the mounting cover is pressed against and assembled to the linear scale 15 in a constantly bent state.

  In the embodiment described above, two cleaning members 19 are provided on both sides of the movement direction of the X-axis linear sensor 17 with respect to the mounting cover 18, but one may be provided, or only on one side. It may be provided. The cleaning member 19 is not limited to a non-woven fabric, and may be another member as long as it is elastic and hygroscopic such as urethane or sponge.

  In addition, the linear scale 15 is provided on the stage unit 3 (apparatus main body side) and the X-axis linear sensor 17 is provided on the slider 11 (recording unit). However, these can be provided on the Y-axis unit 2 side. is there. For example, the present invention can also be applied to the case where the linear scale 15 is provided along the longitudinal direction of the Y bar 6 and the Y-axis linear sensor is mounted on the carriage 7 (recording unit).

According to the present invention, since the cleaning member 19 that is always in contact with the linear scale 15 is detachably mounted on the exterior side of the X-axis linear sensor 17, the replacement of the X-axis linear sensor 17 that detects the moving position of the recording unit is performed. Therefore, it is difficult to cause positional displacement, and only the cleaning member 19 can be easily replaced.
Accordingly, even if the scattered ink adheres to the linear scale 15 by a wiping operation for cleaning the nozzles of the ejection head or a flushing operation for idly ejecting ink droplets, the cleaning member 19 may immediately wipe off the ink by the movement of the recording unit. it can.

  Further, since the cleaning member 19 is assembled so as to be in constant contact with the linear scale 15 in a biased state, the cleaning operation of the linear scale 15 by the cleaning member 19 can be performed reliably when the recording unit is moved. Therefore, the position detection of the recording unit by the X-axis linear sensor 17 can be performed reliably and with high accuracy.

  The cleaning member 19 is fixed to the mounting cover 18, and the mounting cover 18 is positioned in the pressing direction and the sliding direction of the cleaning member 19 with respect to the sensor stay 16 that supports the X-axis linear sensor 17 and assembled. Therefore, if the positioning accuracy of the sensor stay 16 and the mounting cover 18 is maintained, the cleaning member 19 can be positioned with respect to the linear scale 15, so that the mounting work when replacing the cleaning member 19 can be easily performed.

  Further, since the cleaning member 19 is made of an elastic material and is elastically deformed and pressed against the linear scale 15, the cleaning member 19 can be elastically deformed only by elastically deforming the elastic material without providing any special parts. 19 can be pressed against the linear scale 15 in a constantly energized state.

  Further, the nonwoven fabric having flexibility is used for the cleaning member 19, and when the nonwoven fabric is folded and pressed against the linear scale 15 while being folded, a plurality of the nonwoven fabric itself is assembled. By sliding while being pressed against the linear scale 15 by bending, dirt can be wiped off with a simple configuration.

  Further, a slider 11 that supports the column 6 a of the Y-axis unit 2 is connected to an X-axis guide rail 10 provided in parallel with the moving direction of the Y-axis unit 2, and a sensor stay 16 provided on the slider 11. Since the mounting cover 18 is positioned in the pressing direction and sliding direction of the cleaning member 19 and is detachably assembled, the operator directly below the Y-axis unit 2 projecting on both sides from the width of the stage portion 3. It is possible to reduce the work load of the replacement work of the cleaning member 19 performed in the empty work space.

  In the above embodiment, the recording unit is configured to move while the medium is fixed. However, the present invention is not necessarily limited to this. That is, the recording unit may be configured to move relative to the medium, and the recording unit may be fixed and the medium may be moved. For example, a Y bar 6 is fixed to the apparatus main body, and a belt that is suspended between two rollers and is rotated by the driving of the roller is mounted on the apparatus main body, and a medium placed on the belt is a carriage 7. The inkjet recording apparatus may be continuously transported in the sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the reciprocating main scanning direction.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Inkjet recording device 2 Y-axis unit 3 Stage part 4 Unit cover 5 Y-axis guide rail 6 Y bar 6a Post 7 Carriage 8 Y-axis linear motion guide 9 X-axis frame 10 X-axis linear guide rail 11 Slider 12 X-axis linear motion guide 13 Timing belt 14 Pulley 15 Linear scale 16 Sensor stay 16a Locking piece 16b Ball latch 17 X-axis linear sensor 18 Mounting cover 18a Overlapping surface 18b Mounting surface 18c Reinforcing surface 18d Sheet metal 18e, 18f Insertion locking hole 18g Gripping part 19 Cleaning member

Claims (7)

An inkjet recording apparatus comprising a recording unit that has a discharge head and performs recording by moving relative to the medium while discharging ink droplets to a medium facing from the discharge head,
The recording unit includes a position detection unit that detects a relative movement position with respect to the medium, and a cleaning member that abuts on a detection target detected by the position detection unit,
The cleaning member is detachably supported with respect to the recording unit, and the cleaning member slides on the detected portion as the recording unit and the medium move relative to each other. An ink jet recording apparatus, wherein the cleaning is performed by the cleaning member. The recording unit is provided on the support member, a carriage that reciprocates in the main scanning direction, a support member that supports the carriage so as to reciprocate in the main scanning direction, and moves in a direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction. Comprising the position detector and a cleaning member;
A stage portion for supporting the support member so as to be movable in the sub-scanning direction and a stage on which the medium is placed, and a detected portion on which the cleaning member slides are provided on the stage portion so as to face the position detection portion. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1.   The linear sensor that is the position detection unit and the linear scale that is the detected unit are disposed to face each other, and the cleaning member is assembled so as to be in constant contact with the linear scale in a biased state. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 2.   4. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning member is assembled in a direction parallel to a biasing direction of the cleaning member with respect to a support member that supports the position detection unit. 5.   The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an elastic material is used for the cleaning member, and the elastic member is elastically deformed and pressed against the linear scale.   5. The cleaning member according to claim 1, wherein a non-woven fabric having flexibility is used, and the non-woven fabric is pressed and assembled in a state of being bent with respect to the linear scale while being folded and folded. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1.   A slider that supports the column of the recording unit is connected to a guide rail that is provided in parallel with the moving direction of the recording unit, and the cleaning member is positioned in the pressing direction and sliding direction with respect to the slider. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink jet recording apparatus is detachably assembled.

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