EP3241682B1 - Recording apparatus and calculation method of travel distance of transport belt - Google Patents
Recording apparatus and calculation method of travel distance of transport belt Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP3241682B1 EP3241682B1 EP17163468.6A EP17163468A EP3241682B1 EP 3241682 B1 EP3241682 B1 EP 3241682B1 EP 17163468 A EP17163468 A EP 17163468A EP 3241682 B1 EP3241682 B1 EP 3241682B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- transport belt
- recording
- travel distance
- transport
- imaging units
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Active
Links
- 238000004364 calculation method Methods 0.000 title claims description 43
- 230000032258 transport Effects 0.000 claims description 154
- 238000003384 imaging method Methods 0.000 claims description 151
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 claims description 53
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 12
- 238000012937 correction Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000000853 adhesive Substances 0.000 description 150
- 230000001070 adhesive effect Effects 0.000 description 150
- 230000007723 transport mechanism Effects 0.000 description 8
- 238000005259 measurement Methods 0.000 description 7
- 238000012545 processing Methods 0.000 description 7
- 238000004140 cleaning Methods 0.000 description 6
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 description 6
- 239000004744 fabric Substances 0.000 description 5
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 5
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 5
- 238000007639 printing Methods 0.000 description 4
- 239000000835 fiber Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000011521 glass Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000004417 polycarbonate Substances 0.000 description 3
- -1 polyethylene terephthalate Polymers 0.000 description 3
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000007641 inkjet printing Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 239000002985 plastic film Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229920006255 plastic film Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 238000012546 transfer Methods 0.000 description 2
- 244000025254 Cannabis sativa Species 0.000 description 1
- 235000012766 Cannabis sativa ssp. sativa var. sativa Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 235000012765 Cannabis sativa ssp. sativa var. spontanea Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 229920000742 Cotton Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000004677 Nylon Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004698 Polyethylene Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004743 Polypropylene Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004793 Polystyrene Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000010521 absorption reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001133 acceleration Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000009471 action Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 description 1
- 235000009120 camo Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 235000005607 chanvre indien Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 230000000052 comparative effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000013461 design Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000003599 detergent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000011487 hemp Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004745 nonwoven fabric Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920001778 nylon Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920000515 polycarbonate Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920000573 polyethylene Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920000139 polyethylene terephthalate Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000005020 polyethylene terephthalate Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920001155 polypropylene Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920002223 polystyrene Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000004814 polyurethane Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920002635 polyurethane Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000004800 polyvinyl chloride Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920000915 polyvinyl chloride Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000009958 sewing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000001179 sorption measurement Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004381 surface treatment Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229920002994 synthetic fiber Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000012209 synthetic fiber Substances 0.000 description 1
- 210000002268 wool Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 239000002759 woven fabric Substances 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J11/00—Devices or arrangements of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form
- B41J11/007—Conveyor belts or like feeding devices
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J11/00—Devices or arrangements of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form
- B41J11/0095—Detecting means for copy material, e.g. for detecting or sensing presence of copy material or its leading or trailing end
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J29/00—Details of, or accessories for, typewriters or selective printing mechanisms not otherwise provided for
- B41J29/38—Drives, motors, controls or automatic cut-off devices for the entire printing mechanism
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J3/00—Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed
- B41J3/407—Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed for marking on special material
- B41J3/4078—Printing on textile
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J3/00—Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed
- B41J3/44—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms having dual functions or combined with, or coupled to, apparatus performing other functions
- B41J3/445—Printers integrated in other types of apparatus, e.g. printers integrated in cameras
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a recording apparatus, and a calculation method of a travel distance of a transport belt.
- Various types of recording apparatuses have thus far been utilized, including a type that includes a transport belt for transporting a medium so as to perform recording on the medium transported by the transport belt.
- the recording position may be shifted owing to variability of the travel distance of the transport belt.
- recording apparatuses configured to suppress the variability of the travel distance of the transport belt have been proposed, for example as disclosed in JP-A-2013-1512 , JP-A-2013-199048 , JP-A-2010-260242 , and JP-A-2011-73143 .
- the recording apparatuses have been attaining faster recording speed. Accordingly, the moving speed of the transport belt has also come to be moved at a higher speed, which makes it difficult for a measurement unit to accurately measure (calculate) the travel distance of the transport belt, depending on the design of the measurement unit. This is because the increase in travel distance of the transport belt per unit time may exceed the measurable range of the measurement unit. Therefore, it is still difficult to suppress the variability of the travel distance of the transport belt even with the techniques disclosed in the above-cited documents and, consequently, it is difficult to minimize the shift of the recording position originating from the variability of the travel distance of the transport belt.
- JP H 11 291468 discloses a method for controlling an image forming device in which a conveyance belt having a pattern on its surface is intermittently fed beneath first and second cameras and an ink jet head.
- the pattern of the conveyance belt is loaded into the first camera as a registered image, and into the second camera as a searched image.
- An image processing device performs a comparative calculation, using the registered image and the searched image, to calculate a relative positional deviation level between the registered image and the searched image.
- An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to provide a recording apparatus capable of accurately calculating travel distance of a transport belt.
- the invention provides a recording apparatus according to claim 1.
- the distance travelled by the transport belt in the predetermined time is calculated on the basis of the position of the part of the moving object in the image picked up by the upstream imaging unit and the position of the part of the moving object in the image picked up by the downstream imaging unit the predetermined time after the image pickup by the upstream imaging unit.
- the recording apparatus may further include a correction unit that corrects the travel distance of the transport belt according to a calculation result of the calculation unit.
- the travel distance of the transport belt can be corrected according to the calculation result of the calculation unit. Accordingly, the accurately calculated travel distance of the transport belt can further be corrected, and therefore the recording position can be prevented from shifting owing to the variability of the travel distance of the transport belt.
- the transport belt may intermittently transport the medium
- the recording unit may move, with respect to the medium supported by the transport belt, in a scanning direction intersecting the transport direction of the medium, and eject a liquid according to ejection data through a nozzle row including a plurality of nozzles aligned in a nozzle alignment direction intersecting the scanning direction
- the plurality of imaging units may shoot the moving object each time the transport belt stops in the intermittent transport of the medium.
- the imaging unit shoots the moving object each time the transport belt stops in the intermittent transport of the medium. Therefore, the travel distance of the transport belt can be accurately calculated, for example each time the transport belt makes one movement in the intermittent transport of the medium.
- At least one of the plurality of imaging units may be configured to move toward at least one of the upstream side and the downstream side. Therefore, even when the recording apparatus is configured to perform a plurality of recording modes in which the transport belt is set to move at a different speed, the travel distance of the transport belt can be accurately calculated in each of the recording modes, by moving the imaging unit according to the recording mode.
- the recording apparatus may include three or more imaging units.
- the recording apparatus includes three or more imaging units. Therefore, even when the recording apparatus is configured to perform a plurality of recording modes in which the transport belt is set to move at a different speed, the travel distance of the transport belt can be accurately calculated in each of the recording modes, by adopting the images shot by different imaging units selected according to the recording mode.
- the moving object may be the transport belt.
- the moving object is the transport belt. While the medium has a uniform surface appearance in general, the transport belt often has marks that can serve as an index, such as a scratch. Therefore, adopting the transport belt as moving object to be shot by the imaging unit enables the travel distance of the transport belt to be calculated with improved accuracy.
- the invention provides a calculation method according to claim 6.
- the distance travelled by the transport belt in the predetermined time is calculated on the basis of the position of the part of the moving object in the image picked up by the upstream imaging unit and the position of the part of the moving object in the image picked up by the downstream imaging unit the predetermined time after the image pickup by the upstream imaging unit.
- the invention provides a recording apparatus according to claim 7.
- the invention provides a calculation method according to claim 8.
- Fig. 1 is a schematic side view of the recording apparatus 1 according to this embodiment of the invention.
- Fig. 2 is a schematic plan view showing a transport mechanism 3, which is an essential part of the recording apparatus 1 according to this embodiment.
- the recording apparatus 1 includes a feeding unit 2 configured to unwind and deliver a roll R1 of a recording medium P (exemplifying the medium in the invention) on which the recording is to be performed.
- the recording apparatus 1 also includes a transport mechanism 3 configured to transport the recording medium P in a transport direction A, with an adhesive belt 10 (endless belt, exemplifying the transport belt in the invention) supporting the recording medium P on a support surface F coated with an adhesive.
- the recording apparatus 1 includes a recording mechanism 4 that performs recording (ejects ink, exemplifying the liquid in the invention) on the recording medium P, by causing a carriage 16 having thereon a recording head 7, exemplifying the recording unit in the invention, configured to eject the ink for the recording, to reciprocate (perform reciprocal scanning) in a scanning direction B intersecting the transport direction A of the recording medium P.
- the recording apparatus 1 further includes a cleaning mechanism 15 for the adhesive belt 10, and a take-up mechanism 28 including a take-up shaft 17 around which the recording medium P is wound.
- the term “scanning” refers to causing the carriage 16 to move in the scanning direction B including, for example, causing the carriage 16 to move in the scanning direction B while ejecting the ink from the recording head 7 during the recording operation.
- the printing materials refer to fabrics, clothing, and other garments that can be subjected to a printing process.
- the fabrics include woven fabrics, knitted fabrics, and non-woven fabrics made of natural fibers such as cotton, hemp, silk, and wool, synthetic fibers such as nylon, or conjugated fibers of the cited materials.
- the clothing and other garments include sewn T-shirts, handkerchiefs, scarves, towels, tote bags, and cloth bags, furniture such as curtains, sheets, and bed covers, and fabrics already cut or yet to be cut, prepared as parts for sewing.
- paper sheets exclusively for ink jet printing for example plain paper, wood-free paper, and glossy paper, may also be employed as the recording medium P.
- a plastic film not subjected to surface treatment for the ink jet printing i.e., without an ink absorption layer
- a paper sheet coated with plastic or to which a plastic film is adhered may be employed as the recording medium P.
- the type of the plastic is not specifically limited, for example polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polystyrene, polyurethane, polyethylene, and polypropylene may be preferably employed.
- the feeding unit 2 includes a rotary shaft 5 which also serves for the positioning of the roll R1 of the recording medium P used for the recording, and is configured to deliver the recording medium P from the roll R1 set on the rotary shaft 5 to the transport mechanism 3 through slave rollers 6 and 30.
- the rotary shaft 5 rotates in a rotation direction C.
- the transport mechanism 3 includes the adhesive belt 10 that transports the recording medium P delivered from the feeding unit 2 and mounted on the adhesive belt 10, a drive roller 8 having a motor M (see Fig. 2 ) to move the adhesive belt 10 in a direction E, and a slave roller 9.
- the recording medium P is pressed by a pressure roller 12 against the support surface F of the adhesive belt 10, thus to be stuck thereto.
- the drive roller 8 rotates in the rotation direction C.
- the endless belt exemplifying the transport belt is not limited to the adhesive belt.
- an electrostatic adsorption type endless belt may be employed.
- a support member 19 that supports the adhesive belt 10 is provided thereunder, in a region opposite to the pressure roller 12 across the adhesive belt 10.
- the support member 19 supporting the adhesive belt 10 serves to prevent the adhesive belt 10 from vibrating when being moved.
- the pressure roller 12 is configured so as to reciprocate (swing) along the transport direction A, to prevent a trace of contact from being marked on the recording medium P, because of the contact of the pressure roller 12 with the same position of the recording medium P for a certain period of time.
- a configuration of the pressure roller 12 is not mandatory.
- imaging units 18 configured to measure, by image processing, the travel distance of the adhesive belt 10 are provided under the adhesive belt 10, in a region opposite to the recording head 7 across the adhesive belt 10.
- the imaging units 18 include an upstream imaging unit 18a located on the upstream side in the transport direction A and a downstream imaging unit 18b located on the downstream side in the transport direction A.
- the upstream imaging unit 18a and the downstream imaging unit 18b are located at positions corresponding to an end portion of the adhesive belt 10 in the scanning direction B.
- another upstream imaging unit 18a and downstream imaging unit 18b may be provided at positions corresponding to the other end portion of the adhesive belt 10 in the scanning direction B. This is because providing the imaging units 18 on both end portions of the adhesive belt 10 in the scanning direction B allows the adhesive belt 10 to be shot by at least the imaging units 18 on one of the end portions, even when the adhesive belt 10 meanders, and also enables the amount of meandering to be measured with high accuracy.
- the imaging units 18 are configured to shoot the inner circumferential surface 20 of the adhesive belt 10 (see Fig. 3 ), the imaging units 18 may be configured to shoot the support surface F or the lateral edge of the adhesive belt 10 in the scanning direction B, or the recording medium P. In other words, the imaging units 18 may be configured to shoot any desired position of at least one of the adhesive belt 10 and the recording medium P, corresponding to the moving object in the invention.
- the recording mechanism 4 includes a carriage moving unit 29 (see Fig. 4 ) that causes the carriage 16, having the recording head 7 mounted thereon, to reciprocate in the scanning direction B.
- the scanning direction B corresponds to the depth direction with respect to the sheet face.
- the transport mechanism 3 stops the transport of the recording medium P during the recording scanning (while the carriage 16 is moving). In other words, in the recording operation the reciprocal scanning of the carriage 16 and the transport of the recording medium P are alternately performed. Thus, in the recording operation the transport mechanism 3 intermittently transports the recording medium P (adhesive belt 10), in response to the reciprocal scanning of the carriage 16.
- the recording head 7 of the recording apparatus 1 ejects the ink while reciprocating in the scanning direction B
- the recording apparatus may include what is known as a line head, composed of a plurality of nozzles that each eject ink aligned in a direction intersecting the transport direction of the recording medium P.
- the term “line head” refers to a recording head installed in a recording apparatus in which the region of the nozzles aligned in the direction intersecting the transport direction of the recording medium P is provided so as to cover the entire width in the intersecting direction, and the recording head or the recording medium P is relatively moved so as to form an image.
- the nozzle region of the line head extending in the intersecting direction covers the entire width of all types of the recording medium P with which the recording apparatus is compatible.
- the recording head 7 is configured to perform the recording by ejecting the ink onto the recording medium P, for example a transfer recording unit that transfers a color material onto a medium may be employed.
- the cleaning mechanism 15 for the adhesive belt 10 includes a cleaning brush 13 composed of a plurality of cleaning rollers connected in the axial direction, and a tray 14 containing detergent for cleaning the cleaning brush 13.
- the take-up mechanism 28 serves to take up the recording medium P that has undergone the recording process and been transported from the transport mechanism 3 through a slave roller 11, and includes a take-up shaft 17 on which a paper tube or the like is mounted so that the recording medium P can be wound thereon, to form a roll R2 of the recording medium P.
- Fig. 1 illustrates the case where the recording medium P is formed into the roll R1 with the recording surface oriented outward, and into the roll R2 with the recorded surface oriented outward. Accordingly, the rotary shaft 5 and the take-up shaft 17 both rotate in the rotation direction C. In the recording apparatus 1 according to this embodiment, however, the roll R1 formed with the recording surface oriented inward may be employed, and also the roll R2 may be formed with the recorded surface oriented inward. In this case, the rotary shaft 5 and the take-up shaft 17 rotate in the direction opposite to the rotation direction C.
- the imaging units 18, constituting the essential part of the recording apparatus 1 according to this embodiment will be described in detail.
- the recording apparatus 1 according to this embodiment includes the upstream imaging unit 18a and the downstream imaging unit 18b as imaging units 18 as already mentioned, since the upstream imaging unit 18a and the downstream imaging unit 18b have the same configuration these units will be collectively referred to as imaging unit 18.
- Fig. 3 is a schematic side cross-sectional view showing the imaging unit 18, constituting part of the recording apparatus 1 according to this embodiment.
- the imaging unit 18 according to this embodiment includes a light emitting unit 22, a condenser lens 23, and an image sensor 24, which are provided inside a case 26.
- the case 26 has a cylindrical shape with a truncated conical portion, and constitutes the outer shell of the imaging unit 18.
- a translucent or transparent glass 21 is attached to the leading (upper) end portion of the case 26.
- the glass 21 is opposed to the inner circumferential surface 20 of the adhesive belt 10 (opposite to the support surface F), with a gap therebetween.
- the light emitting unit 22 emits light to the inner circumferential surface 20 of the adhesive belt 10 through the translucent glass 21, and is located inside the case 26 at a position and an angle that allow the light reflected by the inner circumferential surface 20 to be collected by the condenser lens 23.
- a light emitting diode LED
- the image sensor 24 picks up the reflected light collected by the condenser lens 23 as image, and includes an imaging plane 27 at the position where the image is formed.
- the condenser lens 23 is attached to a generally central position of the case 26 by means of a retainer 25, and the image sensor 24 is located on the inner bottom face of the case 26 in the imaging unit 18 according to this embodiment as shown in Fig. 3 , a different configuration may be adopted.
- the condenser lens 23 and the image sensor 24 may be located at desired positions, provided that the reflected light collected by the condenser lens 23 can be formed into an image in the image sensor 24.
- the imaging unit 18 which performs the measurement by image processing provides an advantage in that the variability of the travel distance of the adhesive belt 10 can be detected with higher accuracy, compared with a measurement unit of the travel distance of the adhesive belt 10 based on other methods.
- Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the recording apparatus 1 according to this embodiment.
- a control unit 31 serves to control the recording apparatus 1.
- the control unit 31 includes an interface (I/F) 32, a CPU 33, and a storage unit 35.
- the I/F 32 is utilized for transmission and reception of data, such as ejecting data, to and from a PC 36 which is an example of external devices.
- the CPU 33 is a processing device for overall control of the recording apparatus 1 based on, for example, input signals from a sensor group 37 including the imaging unit 18.
- the storage unit 35 includes a ROM containing control programs to be executed by the CPU 33, and a RAM and an EEPROM for securing the storage region for the programs executed by the CPU 33 and the operation region.
- the CPU 33 controls, by means of a control circuit 34, the drive roller 8 for moving the adhesive belt 10 in the transport direction A, the carriage moving unit 29 for moving the carriage 16, having the recording head 7 mounted thereon, in the scanning direction B, the recording head 7 that ejects the ink onto the recording medium P, and other non-illustrated functional components.
- the control unit 31 configured as above according to this embodiment is capable of calculating the travel distance of the adhesive belt 10, through comparison of imaging data acquired by the imaging unit 18 before and after one to several times of the intermittent transport of the adhesive belt 10.
- Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 are schematic plan views showing a portion of the adhesive belt 10 in the vicinity of imaging ranges 38 of the imaging units 18, a part of the recording apparatus 1 according to this embodiment.
- the upstream imaging unit 18a and the downstream imaging unit 18b of the imaging units 18 according to this embodiment are both located on the side of the inner circumferential surface 20 of the adhesive belt 10, so as to shoot the inner circumferential surface 20 of the adhesive belt 10.
- an imaging range 38a corresponds to the imaging range of the upstream imaging unit 18a
- an imaging range 38b corresponds to the imaging range of the downstream imaging unit 18b.
- the upstream imaging unit 18a and the downstream imaging unit 18b are movable along a non-illustrated rail extending in the transport direction A. Accordingly, the interval between the upstream imaging unit 18a and the downstream imaging unit 18b can be set to a length corresponding to the distance travelled by the adhesive belt 10 in the one or several times of intermittent movements.
- Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 illustrate the case where the interval between the upstream imaging unit 18a and the downstream imaging unit 18b is set to the length equal to the distance travelled by the adhesive belt 10 in one intermittent movement.
- the recording apparatus 1 causes the control unit 31 to compare between an image picked up by the upstream imaging unit 18a before the one intermittent movement of the adhesive belt 10 and an image picked up by the downstream imaging unit 18b a predetermined time after the image pickup by the upstream imaging unit 18a (after the adhesive belt 10 is intermittently transported once). The control unit 31 then calculates the travel distance realized by the adhesive belt 10 during the predetermined time (travel distance realized by the one intermittent movement of the adhesive belt 10).
- the recording apparatus 1 includes the adhesive belt 10 for transporting the recording medium P, the recording head 7 that performs recording on the recording medium P supported by the adhesive belt 10, and the plurality of imaging units 18 provided on the upstream side and the downstream side of the recording medium P in the transport direction A, and configured to shoot the moving object, which is at least one of the adhesive belt 10 and the recording medium P.
- the control unit 31 serves as the calculation unit to calculate the distance travelled by the adhesive belt 10 in a predetermined time, on the basis of a position of a part of the adhesive belt 10 in the image picked up by the upstream imaging unit 18a (singular point S, see Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 ), and a position of the part of the adhesive belt 10 in the image picked up by the downstream imaging unit 18b the predetermined time after the image pickup by the upstream imaging unit.
- the recording apparatus 1 adjusts the position of the downstream imaging unit 18b with respect to the upstream imaging unit 18a according to the moving speed of the adhesive belt 10, thereby preventing the measurable range (imaging range 38) with respect to the travel distance of the adhesive belt 10 from being exceeded owing to a high moving speed. Therefore, the travel distance of the adhesive belt 10 can be accurately calculated.
- the predetermined time may be set as desired according to the moving speed of the adhesive belt 10.
- the recording apparatus 1 which includes the adhesive belt 10 for transporting the recording medium P, the recording head 7 that performs recording on the recording medium P supported by the adhesive belt 10, and the plurality of imaging units 18 provided on the upstream side and the downstream side of the recording medium P in the transport direction A, and configured to shoot the moving object, which is at least one of the adhesive belt 10 and the recording medium P, can be utilized to perform a calculation method of the travel distance of the transport belt, for calculating the distance travelled by the adhesive belt 10 in a predetermined time, on the basis of a position of a part of the adhesive belt 10 in the image picked up by the upstream imaging unit 18a, and a position of the part of the adhesive belt 10 in the image picked up by the downstream imaging unit 18b the predetermined time after the image pickup by the upstream imaging unit.
- the measurable range (imaging range 38) of the travel distance of the transport belt (adhesive belt 10) can be prevented from being exceeded despite a high moving speed thereof, by adjusting the position of the downstream imaging unit 18b with respect to the upstream imaging unit 18a according to the moving speed. Therefore, the travel distance of the transport belt can be accurately calculated.
- the recording apparatus 1 causes the control unit 31 to identify a singular point (e.g., a scratch or trace on the adhesive belt 10, or irregularity of the fiber of the recording medium P) S, which is a characteristic point in the image picked up by the upstream imaging unit 18a, as an example of the position of a part of the image picked up by the imaging units 18 (upstream imaging unit 18a and the downstream imaging unit 18b). Then the control unit 31 calculates the travel distance of the adhesive belt 10, on the basis of the position of the singular point S in the image picked up by the downstream imaging unit 18b after the adhesive belt 10 is intermittently transported once or a predetermined number of times.
- the "position of a part of the moving object" serving as index for calculating the travel distance is not limited to the singular point S, but may be, for example, a mark formed in advance on the adhesive belt 10.
- Fig. 5 illustrates the stage where a singular point S1 has been identified in the image picked up by the upstream imaging unit 18a.
- Fig. 6 illustrates the stage where, after the adhesive belt 10 is intermittently transported once from the state shown in Fig. 5 , the singular point S1 has been identified in the image picked up by the downstream imaging unit 18b, and another singular point S2 has been identified in the image newly picked up by the upstream imaging unit 18a.
- the imaging units 18 can also pick up images in a form of a movie (shoot the movement of the adhesive belt 10). Accordingly, the control unit 31 can decide (calculate), during the intermittent movement, whether the travel distance of the singular point S (i.e., the travel distance of the adhesive belt 10) is likely to be an appropriate travel distance, on the basis of the position of the singular point S shot by the upstream imaging unit 18a and the position of the singular point S shot by the downstream imaging unit 18b during the intermittent movement. Then the control unit 31 adjusts, according to the decision result, the travel distance of the adhesive belt 10 during the intermittent movement to the appropriate travel distance.
- the travel distance of the singular point S i.e., the travel distance of the adhesive belt 10
- the control unit 31 adjusts, according to the decision result, the travel distance of the adhesive belt 10 during the intermittent movement to the appropriate travel distance.
- Fig. 7 is a graph for explaining a control example performed by the control unit 31 with respect to the travel distance of the adhesive belt 10.
- the horizontal axis of Fig. 7 represents the travel distance of the adhesive belt 10 (transport distance of the recording medium P in the transport direction A) during one intermittent movement, and the vertical axis of Fig. 7 represents the moving speed of the adhesive belt 10 in the direction E (transport speed of the recording medium P in the transport direction A).
- the adhesive belt 10 moves from a point d0 to a point d1 in an acceleration mode, from the point d1 to a point d3 in a constant speed mode, and from the point d3 to a point d7 in a deceleration mode.
- the distance between point d0 and the point d7 represents the appropriate travel distance of the adhesive belt 10.
- the control unit 31 lowers the deceleration rate at a point halfway through the deceleration mode (point d4), so as to allow the adhesive belt 10 to move as far as the point d7.
- the control unit 31 raises the deceleration rate at a point halfway through the deceleration mode (point d6), so as to cause the adhesive belt 10 to stop at the point d7.
- the control unit 31 determines the timing at which the adhesive belt 10 has entered the deceleration mode, on the basis of the time that the downstream imaging unit 18b has started shooting the singular point S after one intermittent movement of the adhesive belt 10 started.
- a measurement result of a non-illustrated encoder may be utilized.
- the recording apparatus 1 is capable of correcting the travel distance of the adhesive belt 10 according to the calculation result of the control unit 31, in which case the control unit 31 also corresponds to the correction unit in the invention.
- the accurately calculated travel distance of the adhesive belt 10 can further be corrected, and therefore the recording position can be prevented from shifting owing to the variability of the travel distance of the adhesive belt 10.
- the recording head 7 according to this embodiment will now be described hereunder.
- Fig. 8 is a schematic bottom view showing the recording head 7 according to this embodiment.
- the recording head 7 includes nozzle rows N1 to N8, each composed of a plurality of nozzles N aligned in the transport direction A (intersecting the scanning direction B).
- the recording apparatus 1 is configured to eject cyan ink, magenta ink, yellow ink, and black ink, and the nozzle rows N1 and N5 correspond to the cyan ink, the nozzle rows N2 and N6 correspond to the magenta ink, the nozzle rows N3 and N7 correspond to the yellow ink, and the nozzle rows N4 and N8 correspond to the black ink.
- the recording apparatus 1 intermittently transports the recording medium P on the adhesive belt 10.
- the recording head 7 moves relative to the recording medium P supported by the adhesive belt 10, in the scanning direction B intersecting the transport direction A of the recording medium P, when the adhesive belt 10 is at a stop, and ejects the ink through the nozzle rows N1 to N8 each including the plurality of nozzles N aligned in the direction intersecting the scanning direction B, according to the ejection data.
- the imaging units 18 shoot the adhesive belt 10, corresponding to the moving object, each time the adhesive belt 10 stops while intermittently transporting the recording medium P.
- the imaging units 18 shoot the adhesive belt 10 each time the adhesive belt 10 stops while intermittently transporting the recording medium P. Therefore, the travel distance of the adhesive belt 10 can be accurately calculated, for example each time the adhesive belt 10 makes one movement in the intermittent transport of the recording medium P.
- the recording apparatus 1 can also calculate the travel distance of the adhesive belt 10 each time the adhesive belt 10 moves a plurality of times, in addition to calculating the travel distance of the adhesive belt 10 each time the adhesive belt 10 makes one movement in the intermittent transport of the recording medium P as described above.
- the upstream imaging unit 18a and the downstream imaging unit 18b are movable along the non-illustrated rail extending in the transport direction A.
- at least one of the plurality of imaging units 18 is movable toward at least one of the upstream side and the downstream side in the transport direction A.
- the recording apparatus 1 is configured to perform a plurality of recording modes in which the transport belt is set to move at a different speed (travel distance by one movement, as in the recording apparatus 1 according to this embodiment in which the adhesive belt 10 is intermittently transported, or moving speed of the transport belt in a recording apparatus in which the transport belt is continuously moved), the travel distance of the adhesive belt 10 can be accurately calculated in each of the recording modes, by moving the imaging units 18 according to the recording mode.
- three or more imaging units 18 may be provided.
- the recording apparatus 1 is configured to perform a plurality of recording modes in which the transport belt is set to move at a different speed (travel distance by one movement, as in the recording apparatus 1 according to this embodiment in which the adhesive belt 10 is intermittently transported, or moving speed of the transport belt in a recording apparatus in which the transport belt is continuously moved)
- the travel distance of the adhesive belt 10 can be accurately calculated in each of the recording modes, by adjusting the interval between the imaging units 18 according to the recording mode, and calculating the travel distance using image pickup results from different imaging units 18 selected according to the recording mode.
- the recording apparatus 1 has three types of recording modes in which the travel distance of the adhesive belt 10 by one intermittent movement is set to a first travel distance, a second travel distance, and a third travel distance respectively
- three imaging units 18 may be provided, such that the interval between the most upstream imaging unit 18 and the intermediate one in the transport direction A is set according to the first travel distance, the interval between the intermediate imaging unit 18 and the most downstream one in the transport direction A is set according to the second travel distance, and the interval between the most upstream imaging unit 18 and the most downstream one in the transport direction A is set according to the third travel distance.
- the moving object is the adhesive belt 10 exemplifying the transport belt.
- the transport belt such as the adhesive belt 10 often has marks that can serve as index, such as a scratch. Therefore, adopting the transport belt as moving object to be shot by the imaging units 18 facilitates identifying the singular point S, thereby enabling the travel distance of the transport belt to be calculated with improved accuracy.
- the mentioned configuration is not mandatory.
- Fig. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of the calculation method of the travel distance of the transport belt that can be performed by the recording apparatus according to this embodiment. This flowchart corresponds to the control example of the travel distance of the adhesive belt 10 performed by the control unit 31, described with reference to Fig. 7 . In addition, the flowchart of Fig. 9 represents the calculation method of the travel distance of the transport belt by one intermittent movement of the adhesive belt 10.
- the recording apparatus 1 When the recording apparatus 1 according to this embodiment receives inputs of the ejection data from the PC 36 and starts the calculation of the travel distance of the transport belt according to Fig. 9 , first the upstream imaging unit 18a shoots the adhesive belt 10 at step S110, where also the control unit 31 identifies the singular point S and recognizes the position thereof.
- the recording apparatus 1 measures the travel distance of the adhesive belt 10 by image processing by shooting the inner circumferential surface 20 thereof, the measurement of the travel distance of the adhesive belt 10 by image processing may be performed by shooting the support surface F or the lateral edge of the adhesive belt 10. Alternatively, the travel distance of the adhesive belt 10 may be indirectly measured by image processing, by shooting the recording medium P.
- the adhesive belt 10 starts to be moved (recording medium P starts to be transported) so as to cover a predetermined travel distance (corresponding to one intermittent movement of the adhesive belt 10).
- the downstream imaging unit 18b shoots the adhesive belt 10, and also the control unit 31 recognizes the position of the singular point S and the stop position of the adhesive belt 10 is predicted.
- This prediction may be made, for example, on the basis of the travel distance of the singular point S per unit time, or on the basis of the position of the singular point S, the position corresponding to the appropriate travel distance (stop position), and the number of remaining driving pulses to be inputted to the motor M of the drive roller 8.
- step S140 the control unit 31 decides whether the travel distance of the adhesive belt 10 is likely to be an appropriate travel distance.
- the travel distance of the adhesive belt 10 is adjusted at step S150 as in the control example of the travel distance of the adhesive belt 10 performed by the control unit 31, described with reference to Fig. 7 , and the process returns to step S130.
- the process proceeds to step S160.
- step S160 it is checked whether the adhesive belt 10 has stopped. Before the adhesive belt 10 stops, step S130 to step S160 are repeated, and when the adhesive belt 10 stops the calculation of the travel distance of the transport belt according to Fig. 9 is finished and the recording based on the ejection data is started.
- the start of the recording herein refers to execution of ejection corresponding to one scanning (one path), in other words the recording action of the recording head 7 in one stroke in the scanning direction B, either in the forward or backward direction.
- the travel distance of the adhesive belt 10 is calculated during the period between the start of the movement of the adhesive belt 10 at step S120 and the stopping of the adhesive belt 10 at step S160, and therefore the travel distance of the adhesive belt 10 can be efficiently adjusted.
- Fig. 10 is a flowchart showing another example of the calculation method of the travel distance of the transport belt that can be performed by the recording apparatus according to this embodiment.
- step S130 to step S150 in the flowchart shown in Fig. 9 are omitted, and instead step S170 to step S200 are added. Therefore, the description of step S110, step S120, and step S160 which are the same as those of Fig. 9 will not be repeated, and only step S170 and subsequent steps will be described.
- the travel distance of the adhesive belt 10 is calculated and adjusted, during the period between the start of the movement of the adhesive belt 10 at step S120 and the stopping of the adhesive belt 10 at step S160.
- the travel distance of the adhesive belt 10 is calculated and adjusted after the adhesive belt 10 both starts to move at S120 and then stops moving at step S160.
- the downstream imaging unit 18b shoots the adhesive belt 10 at step S170.
- control unit 31 calculates an amount of shift of the travel distance of the adhesive belt 10 according to the position of the singular point S.
- the control unit 31 decides whether the travel distance of the adhesive belt 10 that has resulted is appropriate, according to the shift amount calculated at step S180.
- the adhesive belt 10 is moved (travel distance of the adhesive belt 10 is adjusted) according to the shift amount at step S200, and then the process returns to step S170, and step S170 to step S200 are repeated until the appropriate travel distance is achieved.
- the travel distance is decided to be appropriate, the calculation of the travel distance of the transport belt according to Fig. 10 is finished.
- the adhesive belt 10 When the adhesive belt 10 is moved at step S200, the adhesive belt 10 may be moved in the direction opposite to the transport direction A, not only in the transport direction A.
- the travel distance of the adhesive belt 10 is calculated after the adhesive belt 10 starts to move at S120 and then stops moving at step S160, and therefore the travel distance of the adhesive belt 10 can be accurately adjusted.
- Fig. 11 is a flowchart showing another example of the calculation method of the travel distance of the transport belt that can be performed by the recording apparatus according to this embodiment.
- This flowchart of the calculation method of the travel distance of the transport belt is composed of the flowchart according to Fig. 9 with the addition of step S170 to step S200 out of the flowchart according to Fig. 10 . Therefore, the description of step S110 to step S200, which are the same as those of Fig. 9 and Fig. 10 , will not be repeated.
- the travel distance of the adhesive belt 10 is calculated and adjusted during the period between the start of the movement of the adhesive belt 10 at step S120 and the stopping of the adhesive belt 10 at step S160.
- the travel distance of the adhesive belt 10 is calculated and adjusted after the adhesive belt 10 starts to move at S120 and then stops moving at step S160.
- the travel distance of the adhesive belt 10 is calculated and adjusted, both during the period between the start of the movement of the adhesive belt 10 at step S120 and the stopping of the adhesive belt 10 at step S160, and thereafter. Therefore, the calculation method of the travel distance of the transport belt according to Fig. 11 allows the travel distance of the adhesive belt 10 to be adjusted, both efficiently and accurately.
- a recording apparatus including a line head and a transport belt set to continuously transport a medium, not intermittently, may be employed, and the travel distance of the transport belt may be calculated each time a predetermined time elapses, by picking up images with an upstream imaging unit and a downstream imaging unit each time the predetermined time elapses.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Textile Engineering (AREA)
- Handling Of Sheets (AREA)
- Ink Jet (AREA)
- Controlling Rewinding, Feeding, Winding, Or Abnormalities Of Webs (AREA)
Description
- The present invention relates to a recording apparatus, and a calculation method of a travel distance of a transport belt.
- Various types of recording apparatuses have thus far been utilized, including a type that includes a transport belt for transporting a medium so as to perform recording on the medium transported by the transport belt. In such a recording apparatus that includes the transport belt for transporting the medium, the recording position may be shifted owing to variability of the travel distance of the transport belt.
- Accordingly, recording apparatuses configured to suppress the variability of the travel distance of the transport belt have been proposed, for example as disclosed in
JP-A-2013-1512 JP-A-2013-199048 JP-A-2010-260242 JP-A-2011-73143 - Recently, the recording apparatuses have been attaining faster recording speed. Accordingly, the moving speed of the transport belt has also come to be moved at a higher speed, which makes it difficult for a measurement unit to accurately measure (calculate) the travel distance of the transport belt, depending on the design of the measurement unit. This is because the increase in travel distance of the transport belt per unit time may exceed the measurable range of the measurement unit. Therefore, it is still difficult to suppress the variability of the travel distance of the transport belt even with the techniques disclosed in the above-cited documents and, consequently, it is difficult to minimize the shift of the recording position originating from the variability of the travel distance of the transport belt.
-
JP H 11 291468 - An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to provide a recording apparatus capable of accurately calculating travel distance of a transport belt.
- In a first aspect, the invention provides a recording apparatus according to
claim 1. - In the recording apparatus thus configured, the distance travelled by the transport belt in the predetermined time is calculated on the basis of the position of the part of the moving object in the image picked up by the upstream imaging unit and the position of the part of the moving object in the image picked up by the downstream imaging unit the predetermined time after the image pickup by the upstream imaging unit. With the mentioned arrangement, the measurable range of the travel distance of the transport belt can be prevented from being exceeded despite a high moving speed thereof, by adjusting the position of the downstream imaging unit with respect to the upstream imaging unit according to the moving speed, and therefore the travel distance of the transport belt can be accurately calculated.
- In a second aspect of the invention, the recording apparatus may further include a correction unit that corrects the travel distance of the transport belt according to a calculation result of the calculation unit.
- With the mentioned configuration, the travel distance of the transport belt can be corrected according to the calculation result of the calculation unit. Accordingly, the accurately calculated travel distance of the transport belt can further be corrected, and therefore the recording position can be prevented from shifting owing to the variability of the travel distance of the transport belt.
- In the recording apparatus according to a third aspect of the invention, the transport belt may intermittently transport the medium, the recording unit may move, with respect to the medium supported by the transport belt, in a scanning direction intersecting the transport direction of the medium, and eject a liquid according to ejection data through a nozzle row including a plurality of nozzles aligned in a nozzle alignment direction intersecting the scanning direction, and the plurality of imaging units may shoot the moving object each time the transport belt stops in the intermittent transport of the medium.
- With the mentioned configuration, in what is known as a serial type recording apparatus, the imaging unit shoots the moving object each time the transport belt stops in the intermittent transport of the medium. Therefore, the travel distance of the transport belt can be accurately calculated, for example each time the transport belt makes one movement in the intermittent transport of the medium.
- In the first aspect, at least one of the plurality of imaging units may be configured to move toward at least one of the upstream side and the downstream side. Therefore, even when the recording apparatus is configured to perform a plurality of recording modes in which the transport belt is set to move at a different speed, the travel distance of the transport belt can be accurately calculated in each of the recording modes, by moving the imaging unit according to the recording mode.
- In a fourth aspect of the invention, the recording apparatus may include three or more imaging units.
- In this aspect, the recording apparatus includes three or more imaging units. Therefore, even when the recording apparatus is configured to perform a plurality of recording modes in which the transport belt is set to move at a different speed, the travel distance of the transport belt can be accurately calculated in each of the recording modes, by adopting the images shot by different imaging units selected according to the recording mode.
- In the recording apparatus according to a fifth aspect of the invention, the moving object may be the transport belt.
- In this aspect, the moving object is the transport belt. While the medium has a uniform surface appearance in general, the transport belt often has marks that can serve as an index, such as a scratch. Therefore, adopting the transport belt as moving object to be shot by the imaging unit enables the travel distance of the transport belt to be calculated with improved accuracy.
- In a sixth aspect, the invention provides a calculation method according to
claim 6. - With the method arranged as above, the distance travelled by the transport belt in the predetermined time is calculated on the basis of the position of the part of the moving object in the image picked up by the upstream imaging unit and the position of the part of the moving object in the image picked up by the downstream imaging unit the predetermined time after the image pickup by the upstream imaging unit. With the mentioned arrangement, the measurable range of the travel distance of the transport belt can be prevented from being exceeded despite a high moving speed thereof, by adjusting the position of the downstream imaging unit with respect to the upstream imaging unit according to the moving speed, and therefore the travel distance of the transport belt can be accurately calculated.
- In a seventh aspect, the invention provides a recording apparatus according to
claim 7. - In an eighth aspect, the invention provides a calculation method according to
claim 8. - 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 showing a recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention. -
Fig. 2 is a schematic plan view showing an essential part of the recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention. -
Fig. 3 is a schematic side cross-sectional view showing an essential part of the recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention. -
Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention. -
Fig. 5 is a schematic plan view showing an essential part of the recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention. -
Fig. 6 is another schematic plan view showing an essential part of the recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention. -
Fig. 7 is a graph for explaining a control example of the recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention. -
Fig. 8 is a schematic bottom view showing a recording head of the recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention. -
Fig. 9 is a flowchart showing a calculation method of travel distance of the transport belt that can be performed by the recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention. -
Fig. 10 is a flowchart showing another calculation method of travel distance of the transport belt that can be performed by the recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention. -
Fig. 11 is a flowchart showing still another calculation method of travel distance of the transport belt that can be performed by the recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention. - Hereafter, a recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention will be described in detail, with reference to the drawings.
- First, the outline of the
recording apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the invention will be described. -
Fig. 1 is a schematic side view of therecording apparatus 1 according to this embodiment of the invention.Fig. 2 is a schematic plan view showing atransport mechanism 3, which is an essential part of therecording apparatus 1 according to this embodiment. - The
recording apparatus 1 according to this embodiment includes afeeding unit 2 configured to unwind and deliver a roll R1 of a recording medium P (exemplifying the medium in the invention) on which the recording is to be performed. Therecording apparatus 1 also includes atransport mechanism 3 configured to transport the recording medium P in a transport direction A, with an adhesive belt 10 (endless belt, exemplifying the transport belt in the invention) supporting the recording medium P on a support surface F coated with an adhesive. In addition, therecording apparatus 1 includes arecording mechanism 4 that performs recording (ejects ink, exemplifying the liquid in the invention) on the recording medium P, by causing acarriage 16 having thereon arecording head 7, exemplifying the recording unit in the invention, configured to eject the ink for the recording, to reciprocate (perform reciprocal scanning) in a scanning direction B intersecting the transport direction A of the recording medium P. Therecording apparatus 1 further includes acleaning mechanism 15 for theadhesive belt 10, and a take-up mechanism 28 including a take-up shaft 17 around which the recording medium P is wound. Here, the term "scanning" refers to causing thecarriage 16 to move in the scanning direction B including, for example, causing thecarriage 16 to move in the scanning direction B while ejecting the ink from therecording head 7 during the recording operation. - Printing materials may be employed as the recording medium P. The printing materials refer to fabrics, clothing, and other garments that can be subjected to a printing process. Examples of the fabrics include woven fabrics, knitted fabrics, and non-woven fabrics made of natural fibers such as cotton, hemp, silk, and wool, synthetic fibers such as nylon, or conjugated fibers of the cited materials. Examples of the clothing and other garments include sewn T-shirts, handkerchiefs, scarves, towels, tote bags, and cloth bags, furniture such as curtains, sheets, and bed covers, and fabrics already cut or yet to be cut, prepared as parts for sewing.
- Other than the cited printing materials, paper sheets exclusively for ink jet printing, for example plain paper, wood-free paper, and glossy paper, may also be employed as the recording medium P. Alternatively, for example, a plastic film not subjected to surface treatment for the ink jet printing (i.e., without an ink absorption layer), a paper sheet coated with plastic or to which a plastic film is adhered, may be employed as the recording medium P. Although the type of the plastic is not specifically limited, for example polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polystyrene, polyurethane, polyethylene, and polypropylene may be preferably employed.
- The
feeding unit 2 includes arotary shaft 5 which also serves for the positioning of the roll R1 of the recording medium P used for the recording, and is configured to deliver the recording medium P from the roll R1 set on therotary shaft 5 to thetransport mechanism 3 throughslave rollers transport mechanism 3, therotary shaft 5 rotates in a rotation direction C. - The
transport mechanism 3 includes theadhesive belt 10 that transports the recording medium P delivered from thefeeding unit 2 and mounted on theadhesive belt 10, adrive roller 8 having a motor M (seeFig. 2 ) to move theadhesive belt 10 in a direction E, and aslave roller 9. The recording medium P is pressed by apressure roller 12 against the support surface F of theadhesive belt 10, thus to be stuck thereto. When the recording medium P is transported, thedrive roller 8 rotates in the rotation direction C. - The endless belt exemplifying the transport belt is not limited to the adhesive belt. For example, an electrostatic adsorption type endless belt may be employed.
- In this embodiment, a
support member 19 that supports theadhesive belt 10 is provided thereunder, in a region opposite to thepressure roller 12 across theadhesive belt 10. Thesupport member 19 supporting theadhesive belt 10 serves to prevent theadhesive belt 10 from vibrating when being moved. - In this embodiment, in addition, the
pressure roller 12 is configured so as to reciprocate (swing) along the transport direction A, to prevent a trace of contact from being marked on the recording medium P, because of the contact of thepressure roller 12 with the same position of the recording medium P for a certain period of time. However, such a configuration of thepressure roller 12 is not mandatory. - In this embodiment,
imaging units 18 configured to measure, by image processing, the travel distance of theadhesive belt 10 are provided under theadhesive belt 10, in a region opposite to therecording head 7 across theadhesive belt 10. To be more detailed, as shown inFig. 1 andFig. 2 , theimaging units 18 include an upstream imaging unit 18a located on the upstream side in the transport direction A and a downstream imaging unit 18b located on the downstream side in the transport direction A. In addition, as shown inFig. 2 , the upstream imaging unit 18a and the downstream imaging unit 18b are located at positions corresponding to an end portion of theadhesive belt 10 in the scanning direction B. Alternatively or in addition, for example, another upstream imaging unit 18a and downstream imaging unit 18b may be provided at positions corresponding to the other end portion of theadhesive belt 10 in the scanning direction B. This is because providing theimaging units 18 on both end portions of theadhesive belt 10 in the scanning direction B allows theadhesive belt 10 to be shot by at least theimaging units 18 on one of the end portions, even when theadhesive belt 10 meanders, and also enables the amount of meandering to be measured with high accuracy. - Although the
imaging units 18 according to this embodiment are configured to shoot the innercircumferential surface 20 of the adhesive belt 10 (seeFig. 3 ), theimaging units 18 may be configured to shoot the support surface F or the lateral edge of theadhesive belt 10 in the scanning direction B, or the recording medium P. In other words, theimaging units 18 may be configured to shoot any desired position of at least one of theadhesive belt 10 and the recording medium P, corresponding to the moving object in the invention. - Further details of the
imaging units 18 according to this embodiment will be subsequently described. - The
recording mechanism 4 includes a carriage moving unit 29 (seeFig. 4 ) that causes thecarriage 16, having therecording head 7 mounted thereon, to reciprocate in the scanning direction B. InFig. 1 , the scanning direction B corresponds to the depth direction with respect to the sheet face. - Whereas the
carriage 16 having therecording head 7 mounted thereon is caused to perform reciprocal scanning in the recording operation, thetransport mechanism 3 stops the transport of the recording medium P during the recording scanning (while thecarriage 16 is moving). In other words, in the recording operation the reciprocal scanning of thecarriage 16 and the transport of the recording medium P are alternately performed. Thus, in the recording operation thetransport mechanism 3 intermittently transports the recording medium P (adhesive belt 10), in response to the reciprocal scanning of thecarriage 16. - Although the
recording head 7 of therecording apparatus 1 according to this embodiment ejects the ink while reciprocating in the scanning direction B, the recording apparatus may include what is known as a line head, composed of a plurality of nozzles that each eject ink aligned in a direction intersecting the transport direction of the recording medium P. - Here, the term "line head" refers to a recording head installed in a recording apparatus in which the region of the nozzles aligned in the direction intersecting the transport direction of the recording medium P is provided so as to cover the entire width in the intersecting direction, and the recording head or the recording medium P is relatively moved so as to form an image. Here, it is not mandatory that the nozzle region of the line head extending in the intersecting direction covers the entire width of all types of the recording medium P with which the recording apparatus is compatible.
- Further, although the
recording head 7 according to this embodiment is configured to perform the recording by ejecting the ink onto the recording medium P, for example a transfer recording unit that transfers a color material onto a medium may be employed. - The
cleaning mechanism 15 for theadhesive belt 10 includes a cleaningbrush 13 composed of a plurality of cleaning rollers connected in the axial direction, and atray 14 containing detergent for cleaning the cleaningbrush 13. - The take-up
mechanism 28 serves to take up the recording medium P that has undergone the recording process and been transported from thetransport mechanism 3 through aslave roller 11, and includes a take-upshaft 17 on which a paper tube or the like is mounted so that the recording medium P can be wound thereon, to form a roll R2 of the recording medium P. - Here,
Fig. 1 illustrates the case where the recording medium P is formed into the roll R1 with the recording surface oriented outward, and into the roll R2 with the recorded surface oriented outward. Accordingly, therotary shaft 5 and the take-upshaft 17 both rotate in the rotation direction C. In therecording apparatus 1 according to this embodiment, however, the roll R1 formed with the recording surface oriented inward may be employed, and also the roll R2 may be formed with the recorded surface oriented inward. In this case, therotary shaft 5 and the take-upshaft 17 rotate in the direction opposite to the rotation direction C. - Hereunder, the
imaging units 18, constituting the essential part of therecording apparatus 1 according to this embodiment, will be described in detail. Although therecording apparatus 1 according to this embodiment includes the upstream imaging unit 18a and the downstream imaging unit 18b asimaging units 18 as already mentioned, since the upstream imaging unit 18a and the downstream imaging unit 18b have the same configuration these units will be collectively referred to asimaging unit 18. -
Fig. 3 is a schematic side cross-sectional view showing theimaging unit 18, constituting part of therecording apparatus 1 according to this embodiment. As shown inFig. 3 , theimaging unit 18 according to this embodiment includes alight emitting unit 22, acondenser lens 23, and animage sensor 24, which are provided inside acase 26. - The
case 26 has a cylindrical shape with a truncated conical portion, and constitutes the outer shell of theimaging unit 18. A translucent ortransparent glass 21 is attached to the leading (upper) end portion of thecase 26. Theglass 21 is opposed to the innercircumferential surface 20 of the adhesive belt 10 (opposite to the support surface F), with a gap therebetween. - The
light emitting unit 22 emits light to the innercircumferential surface 20 of theadhesive belt 10 through thetranslucent glass 21, and is located inside thecase 26 at a position and an angle that allow the light reflected by the innercircumferential surface 20 to be collected by thecondenser lens 23. Although the type of thelight emitting unit 22 is not specifically limited, a light emitting diode (LED) may be typically employed. - The
image sensor 24 picks up the reflected light collected by thecondenser lens 23 as image, and includes animaging plane 27 at the position where the image is formed. - Although the
condenser lens 23 is attached to a generally central position of thecase 26 by means of aretainer 25, and theimage sensor 24 is located on the inner bottom face of thecase 26 in theimaging unit 18 according to this embodiment as shown inFig. 3 , a different configuration may be adopted. Thecondenser lens 23 and theimage sensor 24 may be located at desired positions, provided that the reflected light collected by thecondenser lens 23 can be formed into an image in theimage sensor 24. - It is to be noted that the
imaging unit 18 according to this embodiment, which performs the measurement by image processing provides an advantage in that the variability of the travel distance of theadhesive belt 10 can be detected with higher accuracy, compared with a measurement unit of the travel distance of theadhesive belt 10 based on other methods. - An electrical configuration of the
recording apparatus 1 according to this embodiment will now be described hereunder. -
Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of therecording apparatus 1 according to this embodiment. - A
control unit 31 serves to control therecording apparatus 1. Thecontrol unit 31 includes an interface (I/F) 32, aCPU 33, and astorage unit 35. - The I/
F 32 is utilized for transmission and reception of data, such as ejecting data, to and from aPC 36 which is an example of external devices. TheCPU 33 is a processing device for overall control of therecording apparatus 1 based on, for example, input signals from asensor group 37 including theimaging unit 18. Thestorage unit 35 includes a ROM containing control programs to be executed by theCPU 33, and a RAM and an EEPROM for securing the storage region for the programs executed by theCPU 33 and the operation region. - The
CPU 33 controls, by means of acontrol circuit 34, thedrive roller 8 for moving theadhesive belt 10 in the transport direction A, thecarriage moving unit 29 for moving thecarriage 16, having therecording head 7 mounted thereon, in the scanning direction B, therecording head 7 that ejects the ink onto the recording medium P, and other non-illustrated functional components. - The
control unit 31 configured as above according to this embodiment is capable of calculating the travel distance of theadhesive belt 10, through comparison of imaging data acquired by theimaging unit 18 before and after one to several times of the intermittent transport of theadhesive belt 10. - Hereunder, a specific control operation of the
control unit 31, performed during the recording operation of therecording apparatus 1 according to this embodiment, will be described. -
Fig. 5 andFig. 6 are schematic plan views showing a portion of theadhesive belt 10 in the vicinity of imaging ranges 38 of theimaging units 18, a part of therecording apparatus 1 according to this embodiment. As shown inFig. 1 to Fig. 3 , the upstream imaging unit 18a and the downstream imaging unit 18b of theimaging units 18 according to this embodiment are both located on the side of the innercircumferential surface 20 of theadhesive belt 10, so as to shoot the innercircumferential surface 20 of theadhesive belt 10. Regarding the imaging ranges 38, an imaging range 38a corresponds to the imaging range of the upstream imaging unit 18a, and an imaging range 38b corresponds to the imaging range of the downstream imaging unit 18b. - In the
recording apparatus 1 according to this embodiment, the upstream imaging unit 18a and the downstream imaging unit 18b are movable along a non-illustrated rail extending in the transport direction A. Accordingly, the interval between the upstream imaging unit 18a and the downstream imaging unit 18b can be set to a length corresponding to the distance travelled by theadhesive belt 10 in the one or several times of intermittent movements. - Here,
Fig. 5 andFig. 6 illustrate the case where the interval between the upstream imaging unit 18a and the downstream imaging unit 18b is set to the length equal to the distance travelled by theadhesive belt 10 in one intermittent movement. - The
recording apparatus 1 according to this embodiment causes thecontrol unit 31 to compare between an image picked up by the upstream imaging unit 18a before the one intermittent movement of theadhesive belt 10 and an image picked up by the downstream imaging unit 18b a predetermined time after the image pickup by the upstream imaging unit 18a (after theadhesive belt 10 is intermittently transported once). Thecontrol unit 31 then calculates the travel distance realized by theadhesive belt 10 during the predetermined time (travel distance realized by the one intermittent movement of the adhesive belt 10). - In short, the
recording apparatus 1 according to this embodiment includes theadhesive belt 10 for transporting the recording medium P, therecording head 7 that performs recording on the recording medium P supported by theadhesive belt 10, and the plurality ofimaging units 18 provided on the upstream side and the downstream side of the recording medium P in the transport direction A, and configured to shoot the moving object, which is at least one of theadhesive belt 10 and the recording medium P. - The
control unit 31 serves as the calculation unit to calculate the distance travelled by theadhesive belt 10 in a predetermined time, on the basis of a position of a part of theadhesive belt 10 in the image picked up by the upstream imaging unit 18a (singular point S, seeFig. 5 andFig. 6 ), and a position of the part of theadhesive belt 10 in the image picked up by the downstream imaging unit 18b the predetermined time after the image pickup by the upstream imaging unit. - Under the mentioned configuration, the
recording apparatus 1 according to this embodiment adjusts the position of the downstream imaging unit 18b with respect to the upstream imaging unit 18a according to the moving speed of theadhesive belt 10, thereby preventing the measurable range (imaging range 38) with respect to the travel distance of theadhesive belt 10 from being exceeded owing to a high moving speed. Therefore, the travel distance of theadhesive belt 10 can be accurately calculated. - Since the
adhesive belt 10 is intermittently transported in therecording apparatus 1 according to this embodiment, it is preferable to set the predetermined time to a time corresponding to one or a plurality of times of intermittent movements of theadhesive belt 10. In a recording apparatus in which theadhesive belt 10 is continuously moved, the predetermined time may be set as desired according to the moving speed of theadhesive belt 10. - From another viewpoint, the
recording apparatus 1 according to this embodiment, which includes theadhesive belt 10 for transporting the recording medium P, therecording head 7 that performs recording on the recording medium P supported by theadhesive belt 10, and the plurality ofimaging units 18 provided on the upstream side and the downstream side of the recording medium P in the transport direction A, and configured to shoot the moving object, which is at least one of theadhesive belt 10 and the recording medium P, can be utilized to perform a calculation method of the travel distance of the transport belt, for calculating the distance travelled by theadhesive belt 10 in a predetermined time, on the basis of a position of a part of theadhesive belt 10 in the image picked up by the upstream imaging unit 18a, and a position of the part of theadhesive belt 10 in the image picked up by the downstream imaging unit 18b the predetermined time after the image pickup by the upstream imaging unit. - With the mentioned calculation method of the travel distance of the transport belt, the measurable range (imaging range 38) of the travel distance of the transport belt (adhesive belt 10) can be prevented from being exceeded despite a high moving speed thereof, by adjusting the position of the downstream imaging unit 18b with respect to the upstream imaging unit 18a according to the moving speed. Therefore, the travel distance of the transport belt can be accurately calculated.
- To be more detailed, the
recording apparatus 1 according to this embodiment causes thecontrol unit 31 to identify a singular point (e.g., a scratch or trace on theadhesive belt 10, or irregularity of the fiber of the recording medium P) S, which is a characteristic point in the image picked up by the upstream imaging unit 18a, as an example of the position of a part of the image picked up by the imaging units 18 (upstream imaging unit 18a and the downstream imaging unit 18b). Then thecontrol unit 31 calculates the travel distance of theadhesive belt 10, on the basis of the position of the singular point S in the image picked up by the downstream imaging unit 18b after theadhesive belt 10 is intermittently transported once or a predetermined number of times. Here, the "position of a part of the moving object" serving as index for calculating the travel distance is not limited to the singular point S, but may be, for example, a mark formed in advance on theadhesive belt 10. -
Fig. 5 illustrates the stage where a singular point S1 has been identified in the image picked up by the upstream imaging unit 18a.Fig. 6 illustrates the stage where, after theadhesive belt 10 is intermittently transported once from the state shown inFig. 5 , the singular point S1 has been identified in the image picked up by the downstream imaging unit 18b, and another singular point S2 has been identified in the image newly picked up by the upstream imaging unit 18a. - In addition, the
imaging units 18 according to this embodiment can also pick up images in a form of a movie (shoot the movement of the adhesive belt 10). Accordingly, thecontrol unit 31 can decide (calculate), during the intermittent movement, whether the travel distance of the singular point S (i.e., the travel distance of the adhesive belt 10) is likely to be an appropriate travel distance, on the basis of the position of the singular point S shot by the upstream imaging unit 18a and the position of the singular point S shot by the downstream imaging unit 18b during the intermittent movement. Then thecontrol unit 31 adjusts, according to the decision result, the travel distance of theadhesive belt 10 during the intermittent movement to the appropriate travel distance. -
Fig. 7 is a graph for explaining a control example performed by thecontrol unit 31 with respect to the travel distance of theadhesive belt 10. - The horizontal axis of
Fig. 7 represents the travel distance of the adhesive belt 10 (transport distance of the recording medium P in the transport direction A) during one intermittent movement, and the vertical axis ofFig. 7 represents the moving speed of theadhesive belt 10 in the direction E (transport speed of the recording medium P in the transport direction A). - When the travel distance of the
adhesive belt 10 is appropriate, theadhesive belt 10 moves from a point d0 to a point d1 in an acceleration mode, from the point d1 to a point d3 in a constant speed mode, and from the point d3 to a point d7 in a deceleration mode. Thus, the distance between point d0 and the point d7 represents the appropriate travel distance of theadhesive belt 10. - When the
adhesive belt 10 erroneously finishes the constant speed mode from the point d1 at a point d2, which is anterior to the point d3, and enters the deceleration mode from the point d2 (broken lines inFig. 7 ), thecontrol unit 31 lowers the deceleration rate at a point halfway through the deceleration mode (point d4), so as to allow theadhesive belt 10 to move as far as the point d7. - In contrast, when the
adhesive belt 10 erroneously maintains the constant speed mode from the point d1 to a point d5 beyond the point d3 and enters the deceleration mode from the point d5 (dash-dot lines inFig. 7 ), thecontrol unit 31 raises the deceleration rate at a point halfway through the deceleration mode (point d6), so as to cause theadhesive belt 10 to stop at the point d7. - The
control unit 31 according to this embodiment determines the timing at which theadhesive belt 10 has entered the deceleration mode, on the basis of the time that the downstream imaging unit 18b has started shooting the singular point S after one intermittent movement of theadhesive belt 10 started. However, without limitation to such an arrangement, for example a measurement result of a non-illustrated encoder may be utilized. - As described above, the
recording apparatus 1 according to this embodiment is capable of correcting the travel distance of theadhesive belt 10 according to the calculation result of thecontrol unit 31, in which case thecontrol unit 31 also corresponds to the correction unit in the invention. - With the
recording apparatus 1 configured as above according to this embodiment, the accurately calculated travel distance of theadhesive belt 10 can further be corrected, and therefore the recording position can be prevented from shifting owing to the variability of the travel distance of theadhesive belt 10. - The
recording head 7 according to this embodiment will now be described hereunder. -
Fig. 8 is a schematic bottom view showing therecording head 7 according to this embodiment. - As shown in
Fig. 8 , therecording head 7 according to this embodiment includes nozzle rows N1 to N8, each composed of a plurality of nozzles N aligned in the transport direction A (intersecting the scanning direction B). Here, therecording apparatus 1 according to this embodiment is configured to eject cyan ink, magenta ink, yellow ink, and black ink, and the nozzle rows N1 and N5 correspond to the cyan ink, the nozzle rows N2 and N6 correspond to the magenta ink, the nozzle rows N3 and N7 correspond to the yellow ink, and the nozzle rows N4 and N8 correspond to the black ink. - With the
recording head 7 configured as above, therecording apparatus 1 according to this embodiment intermittently transports the recording medium P on theadhesive belt 10. Therecording head 7 moves relative to the recording medium P supported by theadhesive belt 10, in the scanning direction B intersecting the transport direction A of the recording medium P, when theadhesive belt 10 is at a stop, and ejects the ink through the nozzle rows N1 to N8 each including the plurality of nozzles N aligned in the direction intersecting the scanning direction B, according to the ejection data. Theimaging units 18 shoot theadhesive belt 10, corresponding to the moving object, each time theadhesive belt 10 stops while intermittently transporting the recording medium P. - Thus, in the serial-
type recording apparatus 1 theimaging units 18 shoot theadhesive belt 10 each time theadhesive belt 10 stops while intermittently transporting the recording medium P. Therefore, the travel distance of theadhesive belt 10 can be accurately calculated, for example each time theadhesive belt 10 makes one movement in the intermittent transport of the recording medium P. - The
recording apparatus 1 according to this embodiment can also calculate the travel distance of theadhesive belt 10 each time theadhesive belt 10 moves a plurality of times, in addition to calculating the travel distance of theadhesive belt 10 each time theadhesive belt 10 makes one movement in the intermittent transport of the recording medium P as described above. - As also described above, in the
recording apparatus 1 according to this embodiment, the upstream imaging unit 18a and the downstream imaging unit 18b are movable along the non-illustrated rail extending in the transport direction A. Although such a configuration is not mandatory, it is preferable that at least one of the plurality ofimaging units 18 is movable toward at least one of the upstream side and the downstream side in the transport direction A. With the mentioned configuration, even when therecording apparatus 1 is configured to perform a plurality of recording modes in which the transport belt is set to move at a different speed (travel distance by one movement, as in therecording apparatus 1 according to this embodiment in which theadhesive belt 10 is intermittently transported, or moving speed of the transport belt in a recording apparatus in which the transport belt is continuously moved), the travel distance of theadhesive belt 10 can be accurately calculated in each of the recording modes, by moving theimaging units 18 according to the recording mode. - Alternatively, three or
more imaging units 18 may be provided. With three or more imaging units also, even when therecording apparatus 1 is configured to perform a plurality of recording modes in which the transport belt is set to move at a different speed (travel distance by one movement, as in therecording apparatus 1 according to this embodiment in which theadhesive belt 10 is intermittently transported, or moving speed of the transport belt in a recording apparatus in which the transport belt is continuously moved), the travel distance of theadhesive belt 10 can be accurately calculated in each of the recording modes, by adjusting the interval between theimaging units 18 according to the recording mode, and calculating the travel distance using image pickup results fromdifferent imaging units 18 selected according to the recording mode. - For example, when the
recording apparatus 1 has three types of recording modes in which the travel distance of theadhesive belt 10 by one intermittent movement is set to a first travel distance, a second travel distance, and a third travel distance respectively, threeimaging units 18 may be provided, such that the interval between the mostupstream imaging unit 18 and the intermediate one in the transport direction A is set according to the first travel distance, the interval between theintermediate imaging unit 18 and the most downstream one in the transport direction A is set according to the second travel distance, and the interval between the mostupstream imaging unit 18 and the most downstream one in the transport direction A is set according to the third travel distance. - In the
recording apparatus 1 according to this embodiment, the moving object is theadhesive belt 10 exemplifying the transport belt. While the recording medium P has a uniform surface appearance in general, the transport belt such as theadhesive belt 10 often has marks that can serve as index, such as a scratch. Therefore, adopting the transport belt as moving object to be shot by theimaging units 18 facilitates identifying the singular point S, thereby enabling the travel distance of the transport belt to be calculated with improved accuracy. However, the mentioned configuration is not mandatory. - Hereunder, the calculation method of the travel distance of the transport belt that can be performed by the
recording apparatus 1 according to this embodiment will be described in further detail with reference to a flowchart. -
Fig. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of the calculation method of the travel distance of the transport belt that can be performed by the recording apparatus according to this embodiment. This flowchart corresponds to the control example of the travel distance of theadhesive belt 10 performed by thecontrol unit 31, described with reference toFig. 7 . In addition, the flowchart ofFig. 9 represents the calculation method of the travel distance of the transport belt by one intermittent movement of theadhesive belt 10. - When the
recording apparatus 1 according to this embodiment receives inputs of the ejection data from thePC 36 and starts the calculation of the travel distance of the transport belt according toFig. 9 , first the upstream imaging unit 18a shoots theadhesive belt 10 at step S110, where also thecontrol unit 31 identifies the singular point S and recognizes the position thereof. Although therecording apparatus 1 according to this embodiment measures the travel distance of theadhesive belt 10 by image processing by shooting the innercircumferential surface 20 thereof, the measurement of the travel distance of theadhesive belt 10 by image processing may be performed by shooting the support surface F or the lateral edge of theadhesive belt 10. Alternatively, the travel distance of theadhesive belt 10 may be indirectly measured by image processing, by shooting the recording medium P. - At step S120, the
adhesive belt 10 starts to be moved (recording medium P starts to be transported) so as to cover a predetermined travel distance (corresponding to one intermittent movement of the adhesive belt 10). - At step S130, the downstream imaging unit 18b shoots the
adhesive belt 10, and also thecontrol unit 31 recognizes the position of the singular point S and the stop position of theadhesive belt 10 is predicted. This prediction may be made, for example, on the basis of the travel distance of the singular point S per unit time, or on the basis of the position of the singular point S, the position corresponding to the appropriate travel distance (stop position), and the number of remaining driving pulses to be inputted to the motor M of thedrive roller 8. - At step S140, the
control unit 31 decides whether the travel distance of theadhesive belt 10 is likely to be an appropriate travel distance. When it is decided that the appropriate travel distance is not likely to be achieved, the travel distance of theadhesive belt 10 is adjusted at step S150 as in the control example of the travel distance of theadhesive belt 10 performed by thecontrol unit 31, described with reference toFig. 7 , and the process returns to step S130. When it is decided that the appropriate travel distance is likely to be achieved, the process proceeds to step S160. - At step S160, it is checked whether the
adhesive belt 10 has stopped. Before theadhesive belt 10 stops, step S130 to step S160 are repeated, and when theadhesive belt 10 stops the calculation of the travel distance of the transport belt according toFig. 9 is finished and the recording based on the ejection data is started. The start of the recording herein refers to execution of ejection corresponding to one scanning (one path), in other words the recording action of therecording head 7 in one stroke in the scanning direction B, either in the forward or backward direction. - By the mentioned calculation method of the travel distance of the transport belt, the travel distance of the
adhesive belt 10 is calculated during the period between the start of the movement of theadhesive belt 10 at step S120 and the stopping of theadhesive belt 10 at step S160, and therefore the travel distance of theadhesive belt 10 can be efficiently adjusted. - Hereunder, another calculation method of the travel distance of the transport belt that can be performed by the
recording apparatus 1 according to this embodiment will be described in further detail with reference to a flowchart. -
Fig. 10 is a flowchart showing another example of the calculation method of the travel distance of the transport belt that can be performed by the recording apparatus according to this embodiment. In this flowchart of the calculation method of the travel distance of the transport belt, step S130 to step S150 in the flowchart shown inFig. 9 are omitted, and instead step S170 to step S200 are added. Therefore, the description of step S110, step S120, and step S160 which are the same as those ofFig. 9 will not be repeated, and only step S170 and subsequent steps will be described. - In the calculation method of the travel distance of the transport belt shown in
Fig. 9 , the travel distance of theadhesive belt 10 is calculated and adjusted, during the period between the start of the movement of theadhesive belt 10 at step S120 and the stopping of theadhesive belt 10 at step S160. - In contrast, in the calculation method of the travel distance of the transport belt shown in
Fig. 10 , the travel distance of theadhesive belt 10 is calculated and adjusted after theadhesive belt 10 both starts to move at S120 and then stops moving at step S160. - In the calculation of the travel distance of the transport belt according to
Fig. 10 , when theadhesive belt 10 stops moving at step S160, the downstream imaging unit 18b shoots theadhesive belt 10 at step S170. - At step S180, the
control unit 31 calculates an amount of shift of the travel distance of theadhesive belt 10 according to the position of the singular point S. - At step S190, the
control unit 31 decides whether the travel distance of theadhesive belt 10 that has resulted is appropriate, according to the shift amount calculated at step S180. When it is decided that the travel distance is not appropriate, theadhesive belt 10 is moved (travel distance of theadhesive belt 10 is adjusted) according to the shift amount at step S200, and then the process returns to step S170, and step S170 to step S200 are repeated until the appropriate travel distance is achieved. When the travel distance is decided to be appropriate, the calculation of the travel distance of the transport belt according toFig. 10 is finished. - When the
adhesive belt 10 is moved at step S200, theadhesive belt 10 may be moved in the direction opposite to the transport direction A, not only in the transport direction A. - By the mentioned calculation method of the travel distance of the transport belt, the travel distance of the
adhesive belt 10 is calculated after theadhesive belt 10 starts to move at S120 and then stops moving at step S160, and therefore the travel distance of theadhesive belt 10 can be accurately adjusted. - Hereunder, still another calculation method of the travel distance of the transport belt that can be performed by the
recording apparatus 1 according to this embodiment will be described in further detail with reference to a flowchart. -
Fig. 11 is a flowchart showing another example of the calculation method of the travel distance of the transport belt that can be performed by the recording apparatus according to this embodiment. This flowchart of the calculation method of the travel distance of the transport belt is composed of the flowchart according toFig. 9 with the addition of step S170 to step S200 out of the flowchart according toFig. 10 . Therefore, the description of step S110 to step S200, which are the same as those ofFig. 9 andFig. 10 , will not be repeated. - By the calculation method of the travel distance of the transport belt shown in
Fig. 9 , the travel distance of theadhesive belt 10 is calculated and adjusted during the period between the start of the movement of theadhesive belt 10 at step S120 and the stopping of theadhesive belt 10 at step S160. By the calculation method of the travel distance of the transport belt shown inFig. 10 , the travel distance of theadhesive belt 10 is calculated and adjusted after theadhesive belt 10 starts to move at S120 and then stops moving at step S160. - In contrast, by the calculation method of the travel distance of the transport belt shown in
Fig. 11 , the travel distance of theadhesive belt 10 is calculated and adjusted, both during the period between the start of the movement of theadhesive belt 10 at step S120 and the stopping of theadhesive belt 10 at step S160, and thereafter. Therefore, the calculation method of the travel distance of the transport belt according toFig. 11 allows the travel distance of theadhesive belt 10 to be adjusted, both efficiently and accurately. - It is a matter of course that the present invention is not limited to the foregoing embodiment but may be modified in various manners within the scope of the present invention set forth in the appended claims.
- For example, a recording apparatus including a line head and a transport belt set to continuously transport a medium, not intermittently, may be employed, and the travel distance of the transport belt may be calculated each time a predetermined time elapses, by picking up images with an upstream imaging unit and a downstream imaging unit each time the predetermined time elapses.
Claims (8)
- A recording apparatus (1) comprising:a transport belt (10) configured to transport a medium (P);a recording unit (14) configured to perform recording on the medium supported by the transport belt;a plurality of imaging units (18a, 18b) provided on an upstream side and a downstream side in a transport direction (A) of the medium, and configured to shoot a moving object including at least one of the transport belt and the medium; anda calculation unit (33) configured to calculate a travel distance travelled by the transport belt in a predetermined time, on a basis of a position of a part (S) of the moving object in an image picked up by the upstream imaging unit (18a) of the plurality of imaging units, and a position of the part of the moving object in an image picked up by the downstream imaging unit (18b) of the plurality of imaging units, the predetermined time after the image pickup by the upstream imaging unit,wherein at least one of the plurality of imaging units is configured to move toward at least one of the upstream side and the downstream side.
- The recording apparatus according to Claim 1, further comprising a correction unit configured to correct the travel distance of the transport belt according to a calculation result of the calculation unit.
- The recording apparatus according to Claim 1 or Claim 2,
wherein the transport belt (10) is configured to intermittently transport the medium,
the recording unit moves, with respect to the medium supported by the transport belt, in a scanning direction (B) intersecting the transport direction of the medium, and to eject a liquid according to ejection data through a nozzle row (N1-N8) including a plurality of nozzles (N) aligned in a nozzle alignment direction intersecting the scanning direction, and
the plurality of imaging units (18) are configured to shoot the moving object each time the transport belt stops in the intermittent transport of the medium. - The recording apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising three or more of the imaging units.
- The recording apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims,
wherein the moving object is the transport belt. - A calculation method of a travel distance of a transport belt (10) to be performed by a recording apparatus (1) including:the transport belt (10) that transports a medium;a recording unit (4) that performs recording on the medium supported by the transport belt; anda plurality of imaging units (18a, 18b) provided on an upstream side and a downstream side in a transport direction (A) of the medium, and configured to shoot a moving object (S) including at least one of the transport belt and the medium,wherein at least one of the plurality of imaging units is configured to move toward at least one of the upstream side and the downstream side,the method comprising calculating the travel distance travelled by the transport belt in a predetermined time, on a basis of a position of a part of the moving object in an image picked up by the upstream imaging unit (18a) of the plurality of imaging units, and a position of the part of the moving object in an image picked up by the downstream imaging unit (18b) of the plurality of imaging units, the predetermined time after the image pickup by the upstream imaging unit.
- A recording apparatus (1) comprising:a transport belt (10) configured to transport a medium (P);a recording unit (14) configured to perform recording on the medium supported by the transport belt;a plurality of imaging units (18a, 18b) provided on an upstream side and a downstream side in a transport direction (A) of the medium, and configured to shoot a moving object including at least one of the transport belt and the medium; anda calculation unit (33) configured to calculate a travel distance travelled by the transport belt in a predetermined time, on a basis of a position of a part (S) of the moving object in an image picked up by the upstream imaging unit (18a) of the plurality of imaging units, and a position of the part of the moving object in an image picked up by the downstream imaging unit (18b) of the plurality of imaging units, the predetermined time after the image pickup by the upstream imaging unit,wherein the plurality of imaging units comprises three or more imaging units,the recording apparatus is configured to perform a plurality of recording modes in which the transport belt is set to move at a different speed, andthe imaging units to be used for calculating the travel distance, among the three or more imaging units, is selectable according to the recording mode.
- A calculation method of a travel distance of a transport belt (10) to be performed by a recording apparatus (1) including:the transport belt (10) that transports a medium;a recording unit (4) that performs recording on the medium supported by the transport belt; anda plurality of imaging units (18a, 18b) provided on an upstream side and a downstream side in a transport direction (A) of the medium, and configured to shoot a moving object (S) including at least one of the transport belt and the medium,wherein the plurality of imaging units comprises three or more imaging units, andthe recording apparatus is configured to perform a plurality of recording modes in which the transport belt is set to move at a different speed,the method comprising calculating the travel distance travelled by the transport belt in a predetermined time, on a basis of a position of a part of the moving object in an image picked up by the upstream imaging unit (18a) of the plurality of imaging units, and a position of the part of the moving object in an image picked up by the downstream imaging unit (18b) of the plurality of imaging units, the predetermined time after the image pickup by the upstream imaging unit, and wherein the method further comprisesselecting the imaging units to be used for calculating the travel distance, among the three or more imaging units, according to the recording mode.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP2016076287A JP2017185694A (en) | 2016-04-06 | 2016-04-06 | Recording device and calculation method for amount of movement of conveyance belt |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP3241682A1 EP3241682A1 (en) | 2017-11-08 |
EP3241682B1 true EP3241682B1 (en) | 2020-09-23 |
Family
ID=58454926
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP17163468.6A Active EP3241682B1 (en) | 2016-04-06 | 2017-03-29 | Recording apparatus and calculation method of travel distance of transport belt |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP3241682B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2017185694A (en) |
CN (1) | CN107264028B (en) |
Families Citing this family (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN108032620B (en) * | 2017-12-01 | 2019-09-03 | 杭州宏华数码科技股份有限公司 | Utilize the duplex inkjet printing method and textile of the textile of Numerical Control Printer |
JP7413705B2 (en) * | 2019-10-08 | 2024-01-16 | セイコーエプソン株式会社 | Printing device, printing device control method, and control program |
Family Cites Families (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JPH10100489A (en) * | 1996-09-26 | 1998-04-21 | Canon Inc | Printer and printing position control method |
JPH11291467A (en) * | 1998-04-14 | 1999-10-26 | Canon Inc | Method for controlling image forming device and image forming device |
JPH11291468A (en) * | 1998-04-14 | 1999-10-26 | Canon Inc | Method for controlling image forming device, and image forming device |
EP2165842B1 (en) * | 2008-09-16 | 2020-03-11 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Printing apparatus and printing method |
JP5332884B2 (en) * | 2009-05-01 | 2013-11-06 | コニカミノルタ株式会社 | Feed belt feed amount correction method and ink jet recording apparatus |
JP5323631B2 (en) * | 2009-09-29 | 2013-10-23 | 大日本スクリーン製造株式会社 | Inkjet image recording apparatus and belt conveyance correction method |
JP5814648B2 (en) * | 2011-06-16 | 2015-11-17 | 株式会社ミマキエンジニアリング | Medium transport device |
JP2013199048A (en) * | 2012-03-26 | 2013-10-03 | Konica Minolta Inc | Image forming apparatus |
JP2013216033A (en) * | 2012-04-11 | 2013-10-24 | Riso Kagaku Corp | Image forming apparatus |
JP2015003479A (en) * | 2013-06-21 | 2015-01-08 | キヤノン株式会社 | Recording apparatus, and method for controlling the same |
US20150138288A1 (en) * | 2013-11-21 | 2015-05-21 | Samuel Chen | High optical density inkjet printing method |
-
2016
- 2016-04-06 JP JP2016076287A patent/JP2017185694A/en active Pending
-
2017
- 2017-03-27 CN CN201710199679.5A patent/CN107264028B/en active Active
- 2017-03-29 EP EP17163468.6A patent/EP3241682B1/en active Active
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
None * |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP3241682A1 (en) | 2017-11-08 |
CN107264028B (en) | 2020-06-19 |
CN107264028A (en) | 2017-10-20 |
JP2017185694A (en) | 2017-10-12 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
JP5495682B2 (en) | Recording apparatus and recording method | |
JP6304485B2 (en) | Liquid ejection apparatus and medium flattening method | |
US9802428B2 (en) | Target transport apparatus and liquid ejecting apparatus | |
EP3241682B1 (en) | Recording apparatus and calculation method of travel distance of transport belt | |
US11141972B2 (en) | Liquid ejecting device and a method for correcting landing position deviation of liquid | |
JP6705140B2 (en) | Printer | |
JP2009066902A (en) | Image forming device | |
CN110315849B (en) | Recording apparatus | |
JP2018150099A (en) | Printer | |
US20180272746A1 (en) | Liquid droplet discharging apparatus, and pattern reading method of liquid droplet discharging apparatus | |
JP2009149398A (en) | Image forming device, droplet impact position correction method | |
JP2009066900A (en) | Image forming apparatus and method for correcting shifting of landing position | |
JP2009056746A (en) | Image forming device and method for correcting impact position deviation | |
JP2012213856A (en) | Inkjet recording device, and method of detecting inclination of inkjet head | |
CN110304474B (en) | Medium conveying device, recording device, and method for determining skew state of conveyor belt | |
JP2018149706A (en) | Liquid discharge device and setting method of discharge range | |
JP2013188899A (en) | Liquid injection device and medium conveyance device | |
JP2009034839A (en) | Image forming apparatus and method of correcting striking position gap | |
US10434799B2 (en) | Systems and methods for reducing banding artefacts of an image on a substrate | |
CN112622438B (en) | Printing apparatus, control method of printing apparatus, and storage medium | |
JP5017933B2 (en) | Inkjet recording method and inkjet recording system | |
JP2017185663A (en) | Liquid discharge device and liquid discharge method | |
JP2017222099A (en) | Printer and discharge timing adjustment method | |
JP5088280B2 (en) | Color filter manufacturing equipment | |
JP2020132408A (en) | Image recording device |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION HAS BEEN PUBLISHED |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR |
|
AX | Request for extension of the european patent |
Extension state: BA ME |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: REQUEST FOR EXAMINATION WAS MADE |
|
17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 20180508 |
|
RBV | Designated contracting states (corrected) |
Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR |
|
GRAP | Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1 |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: GRANT OF PATENT IS INTENDED |
|
INTG | Intention to grant announced |
Effective date: 20200417 |
|
GRAS | Grant fee paid |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3 |
|
GRAA | (expected) grant |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210 |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: THE PATENT HAS BEEN GRANTED |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: B1 Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: GB Ref legal event code: FG4D |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: CH Ref legal event code: EP |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: DE Ref legal event code: R096 Ref document number: 602017023970 Country of ref document: DE |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: IE Ref legal event code: FG4D |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: AT Ref legal event code: REF Ref document number: 1316006 Country of ref document: AT Kind code of ref document: T Effective date: 20201015 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: GR Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20201224 Ref country code: BG Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20201223 Ref country code: NO Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20201223 Ref country code: FI Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20200923 Ref country code: SE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20200923 Ref country code: HR Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20200923 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: AT Ref legal event code: MK05 Ref document number: 1316006 Country of ref document: AT Kind code of ref document: T Effective date: 20200923 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: LV Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20200923 Ref country code: RS Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20200923 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: NL Ref legal event code: MP Effective date: 20200923 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: LT Ref legal event code: MG4D |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: SM Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20200923 Ref country code: EE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20200923 Ref country code: LT Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20200923 Ref country code: CZ Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20200923 Ref country code: RO Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20200923 Ref country code: PT Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20210125 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: AT Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20200923 Ref country code: AL Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20200923 Ref country code: ES Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20200923 Ref country code: IS Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20210123 Ref country code: PL Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20200923 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: DE Ref legal event code: R097 Ref document number: 602017023970 Country of ref document: DE |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: SK Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20200923 |
|
PLBE | No opposition filed within time limit |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261 |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: DK Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20200923 Ref country code: SI Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20200923 |
|
26N | No opposition filed |
Effective date: 20210624 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: MC Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20200923 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: CH Ref legal event code: PL |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: BE Ref legal event code: MM Effective date: 20210331 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: IE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20210329 Ref country code: FR Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20210331 Ref country code: CH Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20210331 Ref country code: LU Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20210329 Ref country code: LI Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20210331 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: BE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20210331 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: HU Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT; INVALID AB INITIO Effective date: 20170329 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: IT Payment date: 20230213 Year of fee payment: 7 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: NL Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20200923 Ref country code: CY Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20200923 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: MK Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20200923 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: DE Payment date: 20240130 Year of fee payment: 8 Ref country code: GB Payment date: 20240208 Year of fee payment: 8 |