JP2000190467A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer, with which the printing on a plate-like recording medium such as a thicker wooden plate or the like can be easily performed. SOLUTION: This ink jet printer performs a printing on a recording medium by placing the recording medium such as a wooden plate or the like on a medium carrying tray 7 so as to carry it through the printing position of a printing unit 3 equipped with ink jet heads. The tray carrying unit 6 of the medium carrying tray 7 is equipped with a pair of sprockets 61 and 62, which engage with the medium carrying tray 7 and can be vertically moved with an interval adjusting mechanism 10. As a result, the conveyance of a weighty recording medium can be performed surely. By vertically moving the sprockets 61 and 62 in response to the thickness of the recording medium to be carried, the gap between he heads and the recording surface of the recording medium can be held at a certain distance. The direct printing to a thicker recording medium can be realized.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer suitable for printing on the surface of a thick recording medium such as a wooden plate or a round material. In particular, the present invention relates to a printer having a medium transport tray of a type in which a medium transport tray carrying a recording medium is transported via a print position by a print head to print on the surface of the recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to perform printing on a surface of a CD or the like using an ink jet printer, the present applicant places a recording medium such as a CD on a medium conveyance tray and moves the medium conveyance tray via a printing position by an ink jet head. A printer having a configuration for transporting has been proposed.

The medium transport tray is transported by the paper feed rollers while being sandwiched between the paper feed rollers, like the recording medium. Since the gap between the print head and the medium transport tray for transporting the print position by the print head is kept at a fixed size, the thickness of the recording medium that can be transported by the medium transport tray is naturally limited, and the thickness is large. Plates and the like cannot be transported via the printing position.

Accordingly, in order to print on a thick plate material or the like,
Conventionally, a method has been adopted in which silk printing or desired printing is performed on a thin recording medium, and the desired printing is performed on a surface of a thick plate or the like.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a printer capable of directly printing on the surface of a thick plate or the like in view of the above point.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention conveys a medium carrying tray carrying a recording medium through a printing position of a print head, thereby forming a recording medium. In a printer for printing on the front surface: a transfer engaging member for transferring the medium transfer tray through the printing position by frictionally engaging or engaging with the medium transfer tray; And a gap adjusting mechanism for moving the member in a direction approaching and moving away from the print head.

[0007] As the transport engaging member, a sprocket that meshes and engages with the medium transport tray or a roller that frictionally engages can be used.

In the printer of the present invention, the distance between the print head and the medium transport tray transported by the sprocket or roller can be adjusted by moving the transport engaging member such as a sprocket or roller. Therefore, when the recording medium conveyed by the medium conveyance tray is thick, the sprocket or the roller is moved away from the print head, and when the recording medium is thin, the sprocket or the roller is moved closer to the print head. , The distance between the recording medium being conveyed and the nozzle surface of the print head, that is, the platen gap, can always be maintained at a constant value.

Therefore, printing can be easily performed on the surface of thick wood or the like, which cannot be directly printed conventionally. Further, when the medium transport tray is transported by a sprocket, it is possible to transport a heavy recording medium without slippage or the like.

Here, the rotational force transmission path to the moving sprocket can be configured as follows. A driven gear that is coaxially connected to the sprocket; and a driving gear that meshes with the driven gear. The gap adjusting mechanism is configured to engage the driven gear with the driving gear. The print head may be moved relative to the print head along an arc centered on the rotation center of the drive-side gear.

[0011] The interval adjusting mechanism that operates as described above includes:
An arc-shaped slide groove defining a movement locus of the driven gear along the arc, a rotating shaft slidable along the arc-shaped slide groove, and a support plate rotatably supporting the rotating shaft, A holding unit that holds the support plate in a state where it can be slid only in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the sprocket, and a drive mechanism that moves the holding unit along the direction of movement of the sprocket. The sprocket and the driven gear may be coaxially attached to the rotating shaft so as to rotate integrally.

Here, in order to enlarge the meshing area between the medium transport tray and the sprocket, the following may be performed.

That is, the arc-shaped slide groove includes first and second arc-shaped slide grooves, and the rotation shaft is a first rotation shaft slidable along the first arc-shaped slide groove. And a second rotating shaft slidable along the second arc-shaped slide groove, wherein the driven gear and the first gear are coaxially mounted on the first rotating shaft. A second gear is coaxially mounted on the second rotating shaft, and meshes with a sprocket hole formed in the medium tray between the first and second gears. A configuration in which a toothed belt having a possible tooth portion formed on the outer peripheral surface is stretched may be adopted. In this case, the toothed belt functions as the sprocket.

Further, when printing a long recording medium in the transport direction, it is necessary to use a long medium transport tray, and for that purpose, it is necessary to guide the medium transport tray before and after the printing position. Therefore, when performing printing on a long recording medium, with respect to the print position by the print head, the tray has a tray guide disposed on at least one of the upstream side and the downstream side in the transport direction of the medium transport tray, It is desirable to adopt a configuration in which the guide surface of the medium transport tray by the tray guide can be adjusted to match the transport surface of the medium transport tray by the sprocket.

If a plurality of tray guides can be connected, printing on a long recording medium can be easily performed.

Further, when printing on a recording medium having an uneven surface such as wood, instead of using a contact type print head such as a thermal head, an ink jet head which is a non-contact type print head is used. It is desirable to use.

Still further, the medium transport tray may be an endless belt that moves along a looped endless path passing through the printing position. In this case, the medium transport tray does not reciprocate but rotates in an endless track.

On the other hand, the present invention relates to a printer for printing on a recording medium by conveying the recording medium via a printing position of a print head by a conveying roller, wherein the conveying roller is moved relative to the print head. It is characterized by having an interval adjusting mechanism for moving in the direction of approaching and leaving. Also in this case, an ink jet head can be used as the print head. Also in the printer having this configuration, printing on recording media having different thicknesses can be easily performed.

Next, the present invention relates to a printer for conveying a recording medium via a print position of a print head and performing printing on the recording medium by the print head. It is characterized in that it is movably supported in a direction away from it.

Here, there are a print head side inclined surface formed on a base on which the print head is mounted, and a printer body side inclined surface formed on the printer body chassis, and these inclined surfaces are mutually slidable. The print head can be moved in a direction approaching and leaving the recording medium by relatively moving these inclined surfaces.

In the printer having this configuration, an ink jet head can be used as the print head.

By moving the print head as described above, printing on recording media having different thicknesses can be easily performed.

[0023]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an ink jet printer having a medium transport tray to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the ink jet printer of this embodiment, FIG. 2 is a side view of the ink jet printer as viewed in the direction of the line II-II in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is cut along the line III-III in FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram of a portion illustrated as a part.

Referring to these drawings, the ink jet printer 1 of the present embodiment includes a gantry frame 2, an ink jet head unit 3 disposed substantially at the center of the upper surface, and a paper feed side for the head unit 3. Between the disposed paper feed side flat bed (tray guide) 4, the paper discharge side flat bed (tray guide) 5 disposed on the paper discharge side of the head unit 3, and between the head unit 3 and the paper supply side flat bed 5 And a tray transport unit 6 arranged in the tray. Further, the print position 31 by the head unit 3 is controlled by the tray transport unit 6.
And a medium transport tray 7 that reciprocates along a transport path that passes through.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the medium transport tray. As shown in FIG. 4, the medium transport tray 7 has a rectangular plate 71 having a constant thickness and a rectangular plate 71 extending in the transport direction along both side edges. Sprocket holes 72 formed in a row, respectively.
73 are provided. A region surrounded by a dotted line on the flat surface of the rectangular plate 71 is a recording medium carrying surface 74. The recording medium 8 such as a thick wooden board is placed on the support surface 74.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are a perspective view and a side view, respectively, showing a schematic configuration of the tray transport unit 6. As shown in FIGS. Referring to these drawings, the tray transport unit 6 includes a pair of sprockets 61 and 62 that can mesh with the sprocket holes 72 and 73 on both sides of the medium transport tray 7 and the sprockets 61 and 62 are connected to the head unit 3. Adjustment mechanism 10 for moving the nozzle head 33 toward and away from the nozzle surface 33 (see FIG. 2) of the inkjet head 32
And a driving force transmission mechanism 9 that rotationally drives the pair of sprockets 61 and 62.

The sprocket 61 of this embodiment has two gears 6
3, 64, a toothed belt 65 bridged over them,
The outer peripheral surface of the toothed belt 65 is provided with meshing projections 66 formed at regular intervals. The toothed belt 65 is stretched so as to draw a long oval loop in the transport direction of the medium transport tray. The other sprocket 62 has the same structure, and includes two gears 67 and 68, a toothed belt 69, and a meshing projection 70 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the toothed belt 69. The height of the medium tray transport surface is defined by a horizontal outer peripheral surface located above the pair of toothed belts 65 and 69.

(Spacing Adjusting Mechanism) The spacing adjusting mechanism 10 includes a common rotating shaft 11 to which the gears 63 and 67 of the respective sprockets 61 and 62 are fixed coaxially, and the other gear 64 and sprockets of the respective sprockets 61 and 62. 68 and a common rotating shaft 12 fixed coaxially. These rotating shafts 11 and 12 are rotatably supported by a support plate 13. The support plate 13 includes a bottom plate portion 131 and side plate portions 132 and 133 that stand vertically from both ends of the bottom plate portion 131.
Between the shafts 33, the rotating shafts 11 and 12 extend horizontally and parallel in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction.

The center portion of the bottom plate portion 131 of the support plate 13 is supported by the lifting member 14. The elevating member 14 has a side plate portion 143 in which horizontal grooves 141 and 142 capable of receiving the bottom plate portion 131 from the horizontal direction are formed.
144, and a horizontal bottom plate portion 145 connecting the lower ends of these side plate portions 143, 144.

Further, between the side plate portions 143 and 144,
One rotating shaft 145 is bridged over the horizontal grooves 141 and 142, and upper holding rollers 146 and 147 are rotatably attached to both ends of the rotating shaft 145. On the other hand, between the side plate portions 143 and 144, two rotating shafts 1 are provided below the horizontal grooves 141 and 142.
48, 149 are hung horizontally, and each rotating shaft 148, 1
Lower holding rollers 151, 152 and 153, 154 are rotatably attached to both end portions of 49, respectively.

The bottom plate portion 131 of the support plate, which is inserted into the horizontal grooves 141 and 142 formed in the side plate portions 143 and 144 from the horizontal direction, is provided with upper holding rollers 146 and 1.
47 and lower holding rollers 151, 152 and 15
3, 154 from above and below. Therefore,
The support plate 13 can be moved up and down so as to be slidable in the horizontal direction.

One side plate portion 143 of the elevating member 14 has an extended portion 155 extending downward, and a rack 16 is fixed vertically to this portion. This rack 16
The pinion 17 is meshed with the pinion 17.
Is fixed to the output shaft 181 of the stepping motor 18 for raising and lowering.

Therefore, when the stepping motor 18 is driven, the motor rotational force is converted into the elevating movement of the elevating member 14. When the elevating member 14 moves up and down, the supporting member 13 supported by the elevating member also moves up and down together, and the sprockets 61 and 62 attached to the rotating shafts 11 and 12 bridged over the supporting member 13 also move up and down. As a result, the distance between the transport surface of the medium transport tray defined by the sprockets 61 and 62 and the inkjet head 32 of the head unit 3 increases or decreases.

(Driving force transmission mechanism) Next, the sprocket 6
A description will be given of a driving force transmission mechanism for driving the first and second units 62 to rotate. A driven gear 19 is coaxially fixed to one end of the rotating shaft 11 of the sprockets 61 and 62. The driven gear 19 meshes with a driving gear 20 attached to the gantry frame 2. The drive side gear 20 is connected to a transport motor (not shown) via a reduction gear train 21. Accordingly, when the driving motor is driven, the rotating shaft 11 rotates via the driving gear 20 and the driven gear 19, so that the sprockets 61 and 62 also rotate integrally and ride on the sprockets 61 and 62. The medium transport tray 7 is transported.

Here, both ends of the two rotating shafts 11 and 12 extend horizontally outwardly through the side plate portions 132 and 133 on both sides of the support plate 13. Guide plates 22 having arc-shaped slide grooves 221 and 222 formed outside the side plate portions 132 and 133, and arc-shaped slide grooves 231 and 232.
The guide plate 23 on which is formed is disposed. Rotary axis 1
Both ends of 1 and 12 pass through the arc-shaped slide grooves 221, 231 and 222, 232 of the respective guide plates 22, 23 in a slidable manner.

As can be clearly understood from FIG. 6, the driven side gear 19 which moves up and down meshes with the drive side gear 20 arranged at a fixed position. In order for the driven gear 19 to always mesh with the driving gear 20, the driven gear 19
Must be moved up and down along an arc-shaped trajectory 19a centered on the rotation center 20a of the driving gear 20. Therefore, in this example, the rotating shafts 11 and 12 are
arc-shaped slide grooves 221, 231 and 22 along line b
It slides along 2,232.

Here, in order to raise and lower the rotary shafts 11 and 12 along the arc-shaped slide groove, it is necessary to move the rotary shafts 11 and 12 in the horizontal direction with the slide. In this example, as described above, the support plate 13 on which the rotating shafts 11 and 12 are
Is supported in a horizontally slidable manner by an elevating member 14 having upper holding rollers 146 and 147 and lower holding rollers 151, 152 and 153 and 154. Therefore, the driven gear 19 is
It is possible to move up and down while maintaining the state of meshing with.

(Structure of Flatbed) Next, in the ink jet printer 1 of this embodiment, the flatbeds 4 and 5 are linked with the elevation of the sprockets 61 and 62.
Is also linked to move up and down. As a result, the transfer surface defined by the sprockets 61 and 62 and the transfer surface of the medium transfer tray 7 by the flat beds 4 and 5 are always located on the same plane.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, each of the flat beds 4 and 5 has tray guides 41, 42 and 51 for guiding the side surface of the medium transport tray 7 on both sides.
52 are provided. Further, a plurality of rollers 43 and 53 that define the transport surface of the medium transport tray 7 are provided, and a horizontal support that supports rotating shafts 44 and 54 that rotatably support these rollers 43 and 53. The frames 45 and 55 are supported by vertical linear guides 46 and 56 so as to be able to move up and down. Brackets 47, 57 extending downward are attached to the horizontal support frames 45, 55, and lashes 48, 58 are attached to these brackets 47, 57 vertically. Pinions 50 and 60 attached to output shafts of betting elevating motors 49 and 59 are engaged with the racks 48 and 58, respectively.

When the motors 49 and 59 are driven, the horizontal support frames 45 and 55 can be raised and lowered. In this example, the drive of the motors 49 and 59 is interlocked with the elevating motor 18 of the tray transport unit 6, so that the tray transport surface defined by the sprockets 61 and 62 always
The tray transport surfaces defined by the flat beds 4 and 5 have the same height.

(Effects of the Embodiment) As described above, in the ink jet printer 1 of the present embodiment, the medium carrying tray 7 is carried on the medium carrying tray 7 by reciprocating through the printing position. Printing can be performed on the recording medium 8. Since the medium transport tray 7 is transported by the sprockets 61 and 62, a heavy recording medium can be transported more reliably than a friction engagement type transport mechanism using a general paper feed roller.

Further, by moving the sprockets 61 and 62 up and down according to the thickness of the recording medium 8 placed on the medium transport tray 7, the gap between the transported recording medium 8 and the nozzle surface 33 of the ink jet head 32 is increased. Can always be kept constant. Therefore, printing can be performed even on a thick recording medium.

Further, in the present embodiment, there are provided flat beds 4 and 5 arranged before and after in the transport direction, and these are moved up and down integrally with the sprockets 61 and 62. Therefore,
By supporting the medium transport tray 7 also by these flat beds 4 and 5, a long medium transport tray 7 can be transported.

(Other Embodiments) In the above embodiment, the medium transport tray is transported by using a sprocket. Here, the term "sprocket" in the present invention means a mechanism for transporting the medium transport tray by mechanical engagement, and does not mean only a normal chain gear.

Next, the above example relates to a printer provided with a sprocket for transporting a medium transport tray by meshing engagement. However, the present invention uses a friction engagement roller as a transport member. Can also. Also in this case, if the roller is supported by the lifting mechanism, the gap between the medium transport tray and the print head defined by the roller can be increased or decreased.

On the other hand, in the above example, the flat beds 4, 5
Is raised and lowered using a dedicated motor,
Even if the horizontal support frames 45 and 55 of the flat beds 4 and 5 are connected to the elevating member 14 which is moved up and down by the elevating motor 18 of the tray transport unit 6, the horizontal support frames 45 and 55 can be moved up and down by the motor 18. Good.

Next, as a print head, a thermal head, a wire dot head, or the like can be used in addition to the ink jet head.

Further, the present invention provides a method of using a medium tray without using a medium tray.
The present invention can also be applied to a general printer that conveys a recording medium using a conveyance roller. In this case, the transport roller may be moved in a direction approaching and leaving the print head.

Next, contrary to the above example, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the interval between the print head and the recording medium conveyed is adjusted by raising and lowering the print head side.

For example, as shown in FIG.
The print head 101 is attached to the printer main body 103 via the base 102 so as to be movable in the vertical direction. An inclined surface 104 is formed on the base 102, and a trapezoidal member 10 having an inclined surface 105 closely contacting the inclined surface 104.
6 is attached to the printer main body 103 side so as to be movable in the horizontal direction. Motor (not shown) using trapezoidal member 106
When moved in the horizontal direction, both inclined surfaces 104,
The print head 101 slides in a state where the print head 101 is in close contact.
Goes up and down. As a result, the distance between the print head 101 and the recording medium can be increased or decreased.

In the case where the configuration in which the side of the print head is moved as described above is adopted, the same effect as in the above-described example can be obtained.

[0053]

As described above, in the printer according to the present invention, the sprocket or the roller (transport engaging member) for transporting the medium transport tray via the printing position.
Can be moved in a direction approaching and moving away from the print head. Further, the transport engagement member for transporting the recording medium can be moved in a direction approaching and moving away from the print head. Further, the print head can be moved in a direction approaching and leaving the recording medium. Therefore, according to the present invention, printing can be performed directly on a thick recording medium.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an inkjet printer to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the inkjet printer of FIG. 1 when viewed from the direction of line II-II.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the inkjet printer of FIG.
It is sectional drawing of the part cut | disconnected by the I line.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a medium transport tray of the inkjet printer of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a medium transport tray of the inkjet printer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a side configuration of a medium transport tray of the inkjet printer in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a main part of a printer according to another example of the invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 inkjet printer 2 gantry frame 3 head unit 31 printing position 32 inkjet head 33 nozzle surface 4 flatbed 5 flatbed 6 tray transport unit 7 medium transport tray 72, 73 sprocket hole 8 recording medium 61, 62 sprocket 11, 12 rotating shaft 13 Supporting plate 14 Elevating plate 16 Rack 17 Pinion 18 Elevating motor 221, 222, 231, 232 Arc-shaped slide groove 146, 147 Upper pressing roller 151-154 Lower pressing roller 19 Driven gear 19 a Movement locus of driven gear Reference Signs List 20 drive side gear 20a center of drive side gear 100 printer 101 print head 102 base 103 printer main body 104 inclined surface 105 inclined surface 106 trapezoidal member

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A printer for conveying a medium carrying tray carrying a recording medium via a print position of a print head and printing on a recording medium carried on the medium carrying tray. By engaging or meshing engagement, a transport engaging member for transporting the medium transport tray via the printing position, and moving the transport engaging member toward and away from the print head. A printer having a medium transport tray, characterized by having an interval adjusting mechanism for moving in a direction. 2. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the transfer engaging member is a sprocket that meshes with and engages with the medium transfer tray. 3. The driven gear according to claim 2, further comprising: a driven gear coaxially connected to the sprocket; and a driving gear engaged with the driven gear. A printer equipped with a medium transport tray, wherein the printer is moved relative to the print head along an arc centered on the rotation center of the drive side gear while being engaged with the drive side gear. 4. The arc-shaped slide groove according to claim 3, wherein the interval adjusting mechanism defines an arc-shaped slide trajectory of the driven-side gear along the arc, and a rotary shaft slidable along the arc-shaped slide groove. A support plate that rotatably supports the rotating shaft, a holding unit that holds the support plate slidably only in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the sprocket, and a sprocket that holds the holding unit. And a drive mechanism for moving the sprocket and the driven gear on the rotating shaft so that the sprocket and the driven gear co-rotate with each other. With a printer. 5. The arc-shaped slide groove according to claim 4, wherein the arc-shaped slide groove includes first and second arc-shaped slide grooves, and the rotating shaft is slidable along the first arc-shaped slide groove. A first rotating shaft and a second rotating shaft slidable along the second arc-shaped slide groove, wherein the driven gear and the first gear are mounted on the first rotating shaft. A second gear is mounted coaxially on the second rotating shaft; a medium formed on the medium tray between the first and second gears; A printer having a medium transport tray, wherein a toothed belt having meshing projections formed on an outer peripheral surface thereof capable of meshing with a sprocket hole is stretched, and the toothed belt functions as the sprocket. 6. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a print position provided by the print head on at least one of an upstream side and a downstream side in a transport direction of a medium transport tray. And a guide surface of the medium transport tray guided by the tray guide is adjustable so as to coincide with a transport surface of the medium transport tray defined by the transport engagement member. Printer with media transport tray. 7. The printer according to claim 6, wherein a plurality of the tray guides can be connected. 8. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the print head is an ink-jet head. 9. The medium transport tray according to claim 1, wherein the medium transport tray is an endless belt that moves along a looped endless path that passes through the printing position. Printer with media transport tray. 10. A printer in which a recording medium is conveyed via a print position of a print head by a conveyance roller to print on the recording medium, wherein the conveyance roller is moved toward and away from the print head. A printer equipped with a medium transport tray, characterized by having an interval adjusting mechanism for moving the medium. 11. The printer according to claim 10, wherein the print head is an ink jet head. 12. A printer which conveys a recording medium via a print position of a print head and prints on the recording medium by the print head, wherein the print head can be moved in a direction approaching and leaving the recording medium. A printer characterized by being supported by a printer. 13. The printer according to claim 12, further comprising a print head-side inclined surface formed on a base on which the print head is mounted, and a printer body-side inclined surface formed on a printer body chassis. A printer characterized in that the print head is in sliding contact with each other, and the print head can be moved in a direction approaching and moving away from the recording medium by relatively moving these inclined surfaces. 14. The printer according to claim 12, wherein the print head is an ink jet head.