EP2754560B1

EP2754560B1 - Recording apparatus

Info

Publication number: EP2754560B1
Application number: EP14150773.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Hirotaka Ishizuka; Shuichi Kanemoto
Original assignee: Seiko Epson Corp
Current assignee: Seiko Epson Corp
Priority date: 2013-01-10
Filing date: 2014-01-10
Publication date: 2018-03-14
Anticipated expiration: 2034-01-10
Also published as: JP2014148157A; EP2754560A1; JP6274399B2; TR201807254T4

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a recording apparatus including a transportation mechanism that transports a recording target medium placed on a movable belt.

2. Related Art

Recording apparatuses including a transportation mechanism that transports a recording target medium placed on a movable belt have been used. Disclosed is a recording apparatus including an adhesive belt as the movable belt among the recording apparatuses. The adhesive belt is a belt whose surface is coated with an adhesive that adheres to and holds a recording target medium placed thereon in a separable manner.
For example, JP-A-11-192694 discloses a recording apparatus including an endless belt and a cleaning unit having a wiping roller for cleaning the endless belt. The endless belt transports a recording target medium in a state in which the recording target medium is adhered and fixed to the belt. The circumferential surface of the wiping roller is made of a polymer porous material.
In the recording apparatus including the adhesive belt, in general, a pressure portion formed by a pressure roller or the like is provided for attaching the recording target medium to the adhesive belt without generating wrinkles, floating, or the like.
In a recording apparatus that causes a recording head to make reciprocating scanning in a direction intersecting with a transportation direction of a recording target medium and discharge ink so as to perform recording, it is necessary to transport the recording target medium so as to correspond to the reciprocating scanning of the recording head. Therefore, the transportation of the recording target medium is intermittent transportation.
However, in the recording apparatus having the configuration in which the pressure portion formed by the pressure roller or the like is provided, the transportation of the recording target medium generates a portion (portion that is pressed by the pressure portion in a stopped state of the medium) to which a longer pressing time by the pressure portion is given and a portion (portion that is pressed by the pressure portion only in a moving state of the medium) to which a shorter pressing time by the pressure portion is given on the recording target medium with the intermittent transportation. Therefore, the thickness of the recording target medium on the portion to which the longer pressing time by the pressure portion is given is smaller than that on the portion to which the shorter pressing time by the pressure portion is given. Due to this, unevenness is generated in the thickness of the recording target medium on the adhesive belt in some cases. In addition, color unevenness is also generated in a recorded image formed on the recording target medium due to the thickness unevenness of the recording target medium in some cases. The color unevenness in the recorded image is particularly prominent on a surface of a fabric at the side opposite to the recording surface when the fabric is used as the recording target medium, but can be also recognized clearly on the recording surface in some cases.
As far as the recording apparatus disclosed in JP-A-11-192694 is concerned, it is not described that the color unevenness in the recorded image is suppressed by suppressing the thickness unevenness of the recording target medium.
US 2009/167833 discloses an ink jet textile printing apparatus including a printing section having a recording head and performing printing on a recording medium by ejecting ink from the recording head, a transporting belt having an adhesive surface, and a lifting preventer disposed on an upstream side with respect to the printing section in a transporting direction in which the transporting belt is rotated. The lifting preventer includes a free roller that is provided over the recording medium adhered to and supported by the transporting belt and is movable in the transporting direction and in a direction opposite to the transporting direction.
US 2002/054781 discloses a method and system for printing on a dimensionally-unstable substrate, such as a textile. The method comprises pressing the substrate onto an adhesive surface of a dimensionally-stable film, thus forming a unified dimensionally-stable substrate and substantially immediately thereafter advancing the unified dimensionally-stable substrate in a predetermined direction while printing.
EP 2669094 is novelty-only prior art cited under Article 54(3) EPC. EP 2669094 discloses a printer for fabric comprising a printing unit adapted to carry out printing of the fabric, a conveyor apparatus adapted to dispose the fabric close to the printing unit and defining a rest surface of the fabric, and a pressure member adapted to press the fabric against the rest surface.

SUMMARY

An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to suppress color unevenness in a recorded image by suppressing thickness unevenness of a recording target medium, which is generated by pressing the recording target medium and attaching it to an adhesive belt.
A recording apparatus according to the invention is defined in claim 1.
The expression "transportation distance of the recording target medium in one-time intermittent transportation when recording is performed on the recording target medium" has the following meaning. In the recording apparatus that causes a recording head to make reciprocating scanning in the scanning direction intersecting with the transportation direction of the recording target medium so as to perform recording, the transportation mechanism stops the transportation of the recording target medium during recording scanning (during movement of the recording head). In another expression, the reciprocating scanning of the recording head and the transportation of the recording target medium are alternately performed when the recording is performed. The above-mentioned expression indicates a transportation distance per transportation of the recording target medium, which is performed alternately.
According to the invention, the length of the pressure portion at the contact portion with the recording target medium in the transportation direction is equal to or larger than the transportation distance of the recording target medium in one-time transportation corresponding to the reciprocating scanning of the recording head. Therefore, when the recording target medium is transported intermittently at the time of the recording, any portion of the recording target medium is pressed by the pressure portion in a state where the recording medium stops in the transportation direction. In another expression, no portion of the recording target medium is pressed by the pressure portion only in the movement state thereof.
Therefore, all the portions of the recording target medium in the transportation direction receive equal to or larger than a certain pressing force. This can suppress generation of thickness unevenness of the recording target medium, thereby suppressing color unevenness of a recorded image.
According to the invention, the length of the pressure portion at the contact portion with the recording target medium in the transportation direction is capable of being varied in accordance with the transportation distance of the recording target medium in the one-time intermittent transportation. Therefore, in a recording apparatus that is capable of varying the transportation distance of the recording target medium in the one-time intermittent transportation, transportation failure of the recording target medium, and damage to the recording target medium, the adhesive belt, and the pressure portion, which can be caused due to the contact between the pressure portion and the adhesive belt, can be suppressed.
Preferably, a length of the pressure portion at the contact portion with the recording target medium in a scanning direction is equal to or larger than a length of the recording target medium in the scanning direction.
Accordingly, the recording target medium overall in the scanning direction intersecting with the transportation direction can be pressed. That is to say, the recording target medium can be pressed on a wide contact surface. This can suppress generation of the thickness unevenness of the recording target medium, thereby suppressing color unevenness of the recorded image.
Preferably, an upstream side of the pressure portion in the transportation direction is chamfered at the contact portion with the recording target medium.
Accordingly, the upstream side of the pressure portion in the transportation direction is chamfered at the contact portion. This suppresses a problem that the contact portion and the recording target medium interfere with each other to generate transportation failure of the recording target medium and give damage to at least one of the contact portion and the recording target medium when the recording target medium is transported.
Preferably, the recording apparatus further includes a movement mechanism of the pressure portion by which the pressure portion is moved so as to make contact with or be separated from the adhesive belt.
Accordingly, when the recording target medium is placed on the adhesive belt, the recording target medium can be pressed in the following manner. That is, the pressure portion is separated from the adhesive belt once and a front end of the recording target medium is placed on the adhesive belt. Thereafter, the pressure portion is made closer to the adhesive belt so as to press the recording target medium. Therefore, operability when the recording target medium is placed on the adhesive belt is improved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numbers reference like elements.

Fig. 1 is a schematic side view illustrating a recording apparatus according to a first embodiment provided as background art only.
Fig. 2 is a schematic plan view illustrating the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment provided as background art only.
Fig. 3 is a schematic side view illustrating a recording apparatus according to a second embodiment provided as background art only.
Fig. 4 is a schematic plan view illustrating the recording apparatus according to the second embodiment provided as background art only.
Fig. 5 is a schematic plan view illustrating a recording apparatus according to a third embodiment provided as background art only.
Fig. 6 is a schematic plan view illustrating a recording apparatus according to a fourth embodiment forming part of the claimed invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, recording apparatuses according to embodiments are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Only the fourth embodiment described below and shown in Fig. 6 forms part of the claimed invention. The first, second and third embodiments described below are provided as background art only.

First Embodiment (Fig. 1 and Fig. 2)

First, described is a recording apparatus according to a first embodiment provided as background art only.
Fig. 1 is a schematic side view illustrating a recording apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment.
The recording apparatus 1 according to the embodiment includes a set portion 2 that can feed out a roll R1 of a recording target medium P for recording. The recording apparatus 1 further includes a pressure portion 12 and a transportation mechanism 3. The pressure portion 12 presses the recording target medium P against an adhesive belt 10 as a movable belt and attaches the recording target medium P thereto. The transportation mechanism 3 transports the recording target medium P in a transportation direction A by the adhesive belt 10. In addition, the recording apparatus 1 includes a recording mechanism 4 that causes a recording head 7 to make reciprocating scanning in a scanning direction B intersecting with the transportation direction A of the recording target medium P so as to perform recording. Moreover, the recording apparatus 1 includes a cleaning mechanism 15 for the adhesive belt 10. The recording apparatus 1 further includes a wind-up mechanism 18 having a wind-up shaft 17 and a cutter 16. The wind-up shaft 17 winds up the recording target medium P. The cutter 16 cuts the wound-up recording target medium P.
The set portion 2 includes a rotating shaft 5 that also serves as a set position of the roll R1 of the recording target medium P for recording. The set portion 2 has a configuration capable of feeding out the recording target medium P to the transportation mechanism 3 from the roll R1 set on the rotating shaft 5 through a driven roller 6. It is to be noted that the rotating shaft 5 rotates in a rotating direction C when the recording target medium P is fed out to the transportation mechanism 3.
The transportation mechanism 3 includes the adhesive belt 10 and a transportation roller 8 and a driven roller 9. The recording target medium P fed out from the set portion 2 is placed on the adhesive belt 10 so as to be transported. The transportation roller 8 and the driven roller 9 move the adhesive belt 10. The recording target medium P is pressed against and attached to the adhesive belt 10 by the pressure portion 12 so as to be placed thereon. It is to be noted that the transportation roller 8 rotates in the rotating direction C when the recording target medium P is transported.
The upstream side and the downstream side of the pressure portion 12 at a contact portion with the recording target medium P in the transportation direction A are chamfered. This suppresses a problem that the contact portion and the recording target medium P interfere with each other to generate transportation failure of the recording target medium P and give damage to at least one of the contact portion and the recording target medium P when the recording target medium P is transported.
Further, a movement mechanism (not illustrated) of the pressure portion 12 makes it possible to move the pressure portion 12 so as to make contact with or be separated from the adhesive belt 10. Therefore, when the recording target medium P is placed on the adhesive belt 10, the recording target medium P can be pressed in the following manner. That is, the pressure portion 12 is separated from the adhesive belt 10 once and the front end of the recording target medium P is placed on the adhesive belt 10. Thereafter, the pressure portion 12 is made closer to the adhesive belt 10 so as to press the recording target medium P. That is to say, operability when the recording target medium P is placed on the adhesive belt 10 is preferable.
The recording mechanism 4 includes the recording head 7, a carriage (not illustrated), and a carriage motor (not illustrated). The recording head 7 is mounted on the carriage. The carriage motor causes the carriage to reciprocate in a scanning direction B. The scanning direction B is a direction perpendicular to the paper plane in Fig. 1.
When recording is performed, the recording head 7 is caused to make reciprocating scanning so as to perform recording. During the recording scanning (during movement of the recording head), the transportation mechanism 3 stops transportation of the recording target medium P. In another expression, the reciprocating scanning of the recording head 7 and the transportation of the recording target medium P are alternately performed when the recording is performed. That is to say, the transportation mechanism 3 transports the recording target medium P intermittently so as to correspond to the reciprocating scanning of the recording head 7 when the recording is performed.
The cleaning mechanism 15 for the adhesive belt 10 includes a cleaning unit 13 and a tray 14. The cleaning unit 13 is configured by coupling a plurality of cleaning rollers in a rotating shaft direction. The tray 14 accommodates a cleaner as a cleaning mechanism of the cleaning unit 13.
The wind-up mechanism 18 is a mechanism for winding up the recording target medium P on which recording has been performed and which has been transported from the transportation mechanism 3 through a driven roller 11. The wind-up mechanism 18 can wind up the recording target medium P as a roll R2 by setting a paper tube or the like for medium-winding on the wind-up shaft 17 and winding the recording target medium P around the paper tube.
The recording apparatus 1 according to the embodiment includes the pressure portion 12 of which length L1 at the contact portion with the recording target medium P in the transportation direction A is equal to or larger than a transportation distance A1 of the recording target medium P in one-time transportation corresponding to the reciprocating scanning of the recording head 7. That is to say, the pressure portion 12 has a configuration capable of suppressing generation of thickness unevenness of the recording target medium P depending on the pressing time against the recording target medium P following the intermittent transportation of the recording target medium P.
The pressure portion 20 in the embodiment is constituted by a single member. However, the pressure portion 20 may have a configuration in which a plurality of members are aligned in the transportation direction A so as to make the length L1 of the pressure portion 20 at the contact portion with the recording target medium P in the transportation direction A be equal to or larger than the transportation distance A1.
Fig. 2 is a schematic plan view illustrating the recording apparatus 1 according to the embodiment.
The recording apparatus 1 according to the embodiment includes the pressure portion 12 of which length L2 at the contact portion with the recording target medium P in the scanning direction B is equal to or larger than a length L3 of the recording target medium P in the scanning direction B. Therefore, the recording target medium P can be pressed overall in the scanning direction B. That is to say, the pressure portion 12 can press the recording target medium P on a wide contact surface. This can suppress generation of the thickness unevenness of the recording target medium P, thereby suppressing color unevenness of the recorded image.

Second Embodiment (Fig. 3 and Fig. 4)

Next, described is a recording apparatus according to a second embodiment provided as background art only.
Fig. 3 is a schematic side view illustrating the recording apparatus according to the second embodiment. Fig. 4 is a schematic plan view illustrating the recording apparatus according to the second embodiment. It is to be noted that the same reference numerals denote the same constituent components as those in the above-mentioned embodiment and detail description thereof is omitted.
A recording apparatus 1 according to the embodiment is different from the recording apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment in a point that a pressure portion is constituted by two members including a contact member 19 in contact with the recording target medium P and a weight 20.
In the same manner as in the pressure portion 12 in the first embodiment, the upstream side and the downstream side of the contact member 19 in contact with the recording target medium P in the transportation direction A are chamfered in the embodiment. A movement mechanism (not illustrated) of the pressure portion makes it possible to move the pressure portion constituted by the contact member 19 in contact with the recording target medium P and the weight 20 so as to make contact with or be separated from the adhesive belt 10. Further, a length L1 of the contact member 19 in contact with the recording target medium P at the contact portion with the recording target medium P in the transportation direction A is equal to or larger than the transportation distance A1 of the recording target medium P in one-time transportation corresponding to the reciprocating scanning of the recording head 7. A length L2 of the contact member 19 in contact with the recording target medium P at the contact portion with the recording target medium P in the scanning direction B is equal to or larger than the length L3 of the recording target medium P in the scanning direction B.
Therefore, the recording apparatus 1 according to the embodiment has a configuration capable of suppressing generation of thickness unevenness of the recording target medium P, thereby suppressing color unevenness of the recorded image because of the reasons same as those in the recording apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment.

Third Embodiment (Fig. 5)

Described is a recording apparatus according to a third embodiment provided as background art only.
Fig. 5 is a schematic plan view illustrating the recording apparatus according to the third embodiment. It is to be noted that the same reference numerals denote the same constituent components as those in the above-mentioned embodiments and detail description thereof is omitted.
A recording apparatus 1 according to the embodiment is different from the recording apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment in a point that a length of a pressure portion at a contact portion with the recording target medium P in the scanning direction B can be varied in accordance with the length of the recording target medium P in the scanning direction B.
The recording apparatus 1 according to the embodiment has a configuration in which the pressure portion is constituted by pressure portions 21a to 21f serving as contact portions. The pressure portions 21a to 21f are so configured as to be capable of being detached with respect to base shafts (not illustrated) in the scanning direction B or moving to positions at which they do not make contact with the recording target medium P. The length of the pressure portion at the contact portion in the scanning direction B can be varied in accordance with the length of the recording target medium P in use in the scanning direction B.
The pressure portions 21a to 21f have movement mechanisms (not illustrated) that are movable in the scanning direction B.
This configuration can suppress transportation failure of the recording target medium P, and damage to the recording target medium P, the adhesive belt 10, and the pressure portions 21a to 21f, which can be caused by the contact between the pressure portions 21a to 21f and the adhesive belt 10.
In the same manner as in the pressure portion 12 in the first embodiment, the upstream sides and the downstream sides of the pressure portions 21a to 21f in the transportation direction A are chamfered in the embodiment. The movement mechanisms (not illustrated) of the pressure portions make it possible to move the pressure portions 21a to 21f so as for the respective pressure portions to make contact with or be separated from the adhesive belt 10. A length L1 of the pressure portions 21a to 21f at the contact portion with the recording target medium P in the transportation direction A is equal to or larger than the transportation distance A1 of the recording target medium P in one-time transportation corresponding to the reciprocating scanning of the recording head 7. A length L2 of the pressure portions 21a to 21f at the contact portion with the recording target medium P in the scanning direction B is equal to or larger than the length L3 of the recording target medium P in the scanning direction B.
Therefore, the recording apparatus 1 according to the embodiment has a configuration capable of suppressing generation of thickness unevenness of the recording target medium P, thereby suppressing color unevenness of the recorded image because of the reasons same as those in the recording apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment.

Fourth Embodiment (Fig. 6)

Next, described is a recording apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 6 is a schematic plan view illustrating the recording apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the invention. It is to be noted that the same reference numerals denote the same constituent components as those in the above-mentioned embodiments and detail description thereof is omitted.
A recording apparatus 1 according to the embodiment has a plurality of recording modes. The recording apparatus 1 can perform recording while varying the transportation distance of the recording target medium in one-time intermittent transportation from among transportation distances A1 to A3 respectively corresponding to the plurality of recording modes. The recording apparatus 1 according to the embodiment is different from the recording apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment in a point that a length of a pressure portion at a contact portion with the recording target medium P in the transportation direction A can be varied in accordance with the transportation distance of the recording target medium in the one-time intermittent transportation.
The recording apparatus 1 according to the embodiment has a configuration in which the pressure portion is constituted by pressure portions 21g to 21i serving as contact portions. The pressure portions 21g to 21i are so configured as to be capable of being detached with respect to base shafts (not illustrated) in the transportation direction A and moving to positions at which they do not make contact with the recording target medium P. The length of the pressure portion at the contact portion in the transportation direction A can be varied in accordance with the transportation distances A1 to A3 of the recording target medium P in the one-time intermittent transportation. To be specific, when the transportation distance of the recording target medium in the one-time intermittent transportation is the transportation distance A1, the length of the pressure portion in the transportation direction A can be set to a length L1 by the pressure portion 21g. When the transportation distance of the recording target medium in the one-time intermittent transportation is the transportation distance A2, the length of the pressure portion in the transportation direction A can be set to a length L4 by the pressure portion 21g and the pressure portion 21h. Further, when the transportation distance of the recording target medium in the one-time intermittent transportation is the transportation distance A3, the length of the pressure portion in the transportation direction A can be set to a length L5 by the pressure portion 21g, the pressure portion 21h, and the pressure portion 21i.
The pressure portions 21g to 21i have movement mechanisms (not illustrated) that are movable in the transportation direction A.
This configuration can suppress transportation failure of the recording target medium P, and damage to the recording target medium P, the adhesive belt 10, and the pressure portions 21g to 21i, which can be caused by the contact between the pressure portions 21g to 21i and the adhesive belt 10.
In the same manner as in the pressure portion 12 in the first embodiment, the upstream sides and the downstream sides of the pressure portions 21g to 21i in the transportation direction A are chamfered in the embodiment. The movement mechanisms (not illustrated) of the pressure portions make it possible to move the pressure portions 21g to 21i so as for the respective pressure portions to make contact with or be separated from the adhesive belt 10. A length L2 of the pressure portions 21g to 21i at the contact portion with the recording target medium P in the scanning direction B is equal to or larger than the length L3 of the recording target medium P in the scanning direction B.
Therefore, the recording apparatus 1 according to the embodiment has a configuration capable of suppressing generation of thickness unevenness of the recording target medium P, thereby suppressing color unevenness of the recorded image because of the reasons same as those in the recording apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment.
The foregoing description has been given by way of example only and it will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

A recording apparatus (1) comprising:
a transportation mechanism (3) that has an adhesive belt (10) on which a recording target medium (P) is placed, the adhesive belt (10) being adapted to transport the recording target medium (P) intermittently;

a pressure portion (12) adapted to attach the recording target medium (P) to the adhesive belt (10); and

a recording mechanism (4) adapted to perform recording on the recording target medium (P),

wherein a length (L1) of the pressure portion (12) at a contact portion with the recording target medium (P) in a transportation direction of the recording target medium (P) is equal to or larger than a transportation distance (A1) of the recording target medium (P) in one-time intermittent transportation when recording is performed on the recording target medium (P);

characterized in that a plurality of members (21) constituting the contact portion are provided on the pressure portion (12), the members (21) being adapted to be detached or moved to positions at which the members (21) do not make contact with the recording target medium (P) in the transportation direction;

whereby the length (L1) of the pressure portion (12) at the contact portion in the transportation direction is arranged to be varied by detaching or moving all or a part of the members (21) in accordance with the transportation distance (A1).
The recording apparatus (1) according to Claim 1,
wherein a length (L2) of the pressure portion (12) at the contact portion with the recording target medium (P) in a scanning direction is equal to or larger than a length (L3) of the recording target medium (P) in the scanning direction.
The recording apparatus (1) according to Claim 1 or Claim 2,
wherein an upstream side of the pressure portion (12) in the transportation direction is chamfered at the contact portion with the recording target medium (P).
The recording apparatus (1) according to any of Claims 1 to 3,
further comprising a movement mechanism of the pressure portion (12) by which the pressure portion (12) is moved so as to make contact with or be separated from the adhesive belt (10).