JP2000280567A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a recording head form being damaged and to raise image quality even when an object is changed due to a camber an irregularity. SOLUTION: This printer 10 that prints an image on an object P comprises a recording head 12 for ejecting an ink drop on the object, a guide means 14 for supporting the recording head 12 and moving to guide it in the first direction X and a table 16 that contains the object and moves the object with respect to the recording head 12 in the second direction Y perpendicular to the first direction X. It further comprises a recording head operation section 18 that moves the recording head 12 along the third direction Z perpendicular to both of the first direction X and second direction Y over the surface of the object on the table 16 when the recording head 12 is moved in the first direction X and an actuator M2 for moving the table 16 in the second direction Y.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer for drawing on an object such as a glass plate, a metal plate, a plastic plate or the like, which is a non-flexible industrial material.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When an object to be drawn is, for example, a printed circuit board, the printed circuit board may be warped by being heated. FIG. 14 shows an example of a conventional printer. In FIG. 14, a printed board 1000 is placed on a table 1001 of the printer. By moving, for example, an ink jet type recording head 1004 in the X direction with respect to the printed board 1000, a marker for mounting, for example, a component is drawn and printed on the printed board 1000.

[0003]

However, when the printed circuit board 1000 is warped due to heat or the like as described above, there are the following problems. Printed circuit board 1
Assuming that the warped end portion 1002 of the 000 is warped in the Z1 direction, the recording head 1004 moves in the X1 direction, passes through the end portion 1002 as shown by the two-dot chain line, and When the head returns to the direction of X2,
The recording head 1004 may collide with the end 1002 and damage the recording head 1004.

Further, an end 1002 of the printed circuit board 1000
Is warped, the print head 1004 and the printed circuit board 1
Since the drawing gap t formed between 000 changes, the following problem occurs.

[0005] As shown in FIG. 15, a solid angle or radial ink 1010, 101 is applied to a printed circuit board 1000 from an ink jet recording head 1004.
1 and 1012 are fired and land on the printed circuit board 1000. In this case, if the gap t is large, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1A, adjacent inks overlap, causing color mixing, resulting in dirty printing.

[0006] When the gap t in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6 (B), an interval occurs between adjacent inks, and color display cannot be performed properly.

As described above, the drawing gap t between the recording head 1004 and the printed board 1000 as an object is
Since it changes due to warpage, undulation, or unevenness of the printed circuit board 1000, there is a problem that the drawing quality is reduced.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and to provide a printer capable of preventing damage to a recording head and improving drawing quality even when an object changes due to warpage or unevenness. The purpose is.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer for drawing an image on an object, a recording head for causing ink to land on the object, and a first direction supporting the recording head. Guide means for moving and guiding the object, a table for mounting the object, and moving the object in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction with respect to the recording head, and When moving in the first direction, recording is performed so as to move the recording head along third surfaces orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction, following the surface of the object on the table. A printer comprising: a head operation unit; and an actuator that moves the table in the second direction. According to the first aspect of the present invention, the recording head causes the ink to land on the object. The guide means supports the recording head,
It moves in the first direction to guide.

The table places an object thereon and moves the object relative to the recording head in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction.

When moving the recording head in the first direction, the recording head operating section moves the recording head in a third direction orthogonal to the first and second directions, following the surface of the object on the table. It is possible to move along. The actuator moves the table in the second direction.

Thus, when the recording head moves in the first direction and draws on the object, the recording head operation unit can move the recording head along the surface of the object in the third direction. To Therefore, even when the object is warped, uneven, or undulating,
It is possible to prevent the recording head from colliding with the object and prevent the recording head from being damaged. In addition, since a gap between the recording head and the object can be secured, the drawing quality can be improved.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the printer according to the first aspect, the third direction is a vertical direction, and the recording head operating unit includes a holding unit that holds the recording head, A roller that is arranged and contacts along the surface of the object to move the holding unit and the recording head up and down in accordance with irregularities on the surface of the object, and one end of the guide unit. A first recording head lifting member and a second recording head lifting member for lifting the recording head by holding the holding portion and the recording head by lifting the position of the roller from the object, provided near the other end of the recording head; Is provided.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the holding section holds the recording head. The roller contacts along the surface of the object and moves the holding unit and the recording head up and down according to the unevenness of the surface of the object. The first recording head lifting member and the second
The recording head lifting member can lift the holding portion and the recording head by lifting the position of the roller. Thus, even when the end of the object is warped, the recording head does not collide with the end, and the recording head is stably provided by placing the roller on the end of the object. Drawing printing can be started from the end of the object.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the printer according to the second aspect, a plurality of rollers of the recording head operation unit are provided for the holding unit, and the plurality of rollers are arranged in the first direction. Have been.

Thus, the recording head can start drawing and printing in a stable state from the end of the object by placing the roller on the end of the object.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the printer according to the third aspect, the plurality of rollers are a main contact roller,
It has a first auxiliary contact roller and a second auxiliary contact roller arranged with the main contact roller at the center, and the main contact roller is compared with the first auxiliary contact roller and the second auxiliary contact roller. , Are arranged closer to the object side.

In the present invention, the contact roller is disposed closer to the object than the first auxiliary contact roller and the second auxiliary contact roller, so that the main contact roller records according to the unevenness of the object. The gap between the head and the object can be set constant. The first auxiliary contact roller or the second auxiliary contact roller contacts the recording head with one end of the object or the other end of the object, so that the recording head is moved to one end or the other of the object. Drawing printing can be started in a stable state from the end.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the printer according to the second aspect, the first recording head lifting member and the second recording head lifting member are arranged so that the first and second recording head lifting members move when the recording head moves in the first direction. There is an inclined surface for guiding a guide roller to guide the roller gradually up or down, and the guide roller is provided on the holding section.

Each of the first recording head lifting member and the second recording head lifting member has an inclined surface for guiding a guide roller to guide the roller gradually up and down or gradually down. Since the guide roller has the inclined surface, the guide roller is gently lifted or guided along the inclined surface, so that the roller is gently moved at one end of the object or the other of the object. Can be placed in contact with the end of the object, and drawing can be started in a stable state from the end of the object with high drawing quality.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the printer according to the first aspect, the actuator is a motor, and a guide rail for guiding the table along the second direction by operation of the motor; And a base for fixing the base.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the printer according to the first aspect, the recording head is an inkjet recording head.

[0023]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the printer of the present invention. The printer 10 schematically includes the recording head 1
2, a guide unit 14, a table 16, a recording head operation unit 18, a bed (base) 20, and the like.

The recording head 12 can be moved and positioned along the X direction (first direction) by the guide means 14. The recording head 12 is a recording head operating unit 18
Are held detachably with respect to the holding portion 30 of the main body.

The table 16 can be moved and positioned along the guide rail 80 on the bed 20 side in the Y direction (second direction). Guide the recording head 12 to the guide
The motor M1 is used to move and position in the X direction along position 4. Similarly, the motor M2 is used to move and position the table 16 in the Y direction along the guide rail 80. These motors M1 and M2 operate according to a command from the control unit 100.

An object, for example, a printed board P is positioned and mounted on the table 16 in FIG.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the structure of the printed board P and the recording head 12 facing the printed board P.

As the recording head 12, for example, an inkjet recording type recording head can be employed. The liquid chambers 32, 34, 36 are provided in the head portion 12A of the recording head 12.
And piezo elements 38, 40, 42. Liquid chamber 3
2, 34, and 36 are nozzle portions 32A, 34A, 3
6A. The piezo elements 38, 40, and 42 are driven by the drive signal from the control unit 100 to control the liquid chambers 32, 34,
6 by applying a force to each of the nozzle portions 32A, 34
Each ink can be fired from A, 36A and land on the surface of the printed circuit board P. Each liquid chamber 32,
The inks of the same color or different colors are put in 34 and 36, respectively. In the case of color printing, the color of the ink in each liquid chamber contains, for example, yellow (Y), magenta (M), and chroma (C).

FIGS. 2 and 3 show structural examples of the guide means 14 and the recording head 12 shown in FIG.

The guide means 14 has a guide rail 26 and a beam 28. These beams 28 and guide rails 26 are provided between the supports 22 and 24 in parallel in the X direction as shown in FIG. Support 2
2, 24 are mounted on the bed 20 along the Z direction. In FIG. 2, the printed circuit board P is mounted on a table 16. The table 16 can be moved and positioned in the Y direction by a guide rail 80. The X, Y, and Z directions in the figure are orthogonal to each other.

Next, the recording head operation section 18 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

The recording head operating section 18 is provided on the beam 28 and has a first recording head lifting member 50 and a second recording head lifting member 52. The first and second recording head lifting members 50 and 52 have the same shape but are symmetrical.

The first recording head lifting member 50 has an inclined surface 50A and a flat surface 50B, and the second recording head lifting portion 52 has an inclined surface 52A and a flat surface 52B.
B. These lifting members 50, 52
The beam 28 is disposed at one end and the other end side, that is, in the vicinity of one end and the other end of the printed circuit board P of the table 16 and at the upper part thereof.

The holding unit 30 and the recording head 12 operated by the recording head operating unit 18 are shown in FIGS.
9 show an example of the structure. The recording head 12
It is detachably held by support portions 50 and 60 of the holding portion 30. As shown in FIG. 6, the support portion 50 is substantially L-shaped and integrated with the support portion 60, but the support portion 50 is movable in the Z direction with respect to the guide 54. A spring 70 is provided between the support portion 50 and the guide 54 as shown in FIGS. The guide 54 is fixed to the slider 52. The slider 52 moves in the X direction along the guide rail 26. During this movement, the motor M1 is operated, and the slider 52 moves in the X direction along the guide rail 26 and can be positioned.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, a guide roller 56 is provided above the support portion 50. When the holding unit 30 is reciprocated in the X direction, the guide roller 56 is provided on the inclined surface 50 of the first recording head lifting member 50 or the second recording head lifting member 52 shown in FIG.
A and 52A and the flat surfaces 50B and 52B. Thus, the holding unit 30 and the recording head 12 are lifted in the Z direction against the force of the spring 70.

The support portion 60 includes the main contact roller 4
2. First auxiliary contact roller 44, second auxiliary contact roller 46
Is provided. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 4, the main contact roller 42, the first auxiliary contact roller 44, and the second auxiliary contact roller 46 are rotatably supported by a shaft 55. These rollers 42, 44, and 46 can adopt a structural example as shown in FIG. These rollers can rotate about a shaft 55, and a rubber portion 59 is provided around a core body 57. It is desirable to provide a bearing 55A between the shaft 55 and the core body 57.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show examples of the structure of the above-described holding section 30 and the like.

As shown in FIG. 10, three rollers 42, 4
The height positions of 4, 46 have been changed. That is, the position of the main contact roller 42 is located below the two auxiliary contact rollers 44 and 46. Thereby, a height G is set between the lines L1 and L2 between the main contact roller 42 and the two auxiliary contact rollers 44 and 46. As a result, the main contact roller 42 mechanically mainly considers the surface of the printed circuit board P. The value of the height G is, for example, 0.5 m
m to 1 mm.

The first auxiliary contact roller 44 and the second auxiliary contact roller 46 will be described later. However, when the holding unit 30 is separated from the end of the printed circuit board P as shown in FIG. In this case, it is used to stabilize the gap between the holding unit 30 and the printed circuit board P.

Next, an operation example of the above-described printer 10 will be described mainly with reference to FIG.

First, in FIG. 1, the printed circuit board P is mounted on the holding section 30 of the recording head 12 and is positioned and set on the table 16. When the control unit 100 gives a command to the motor M1, the holding unit 30
Is reciprocated along the guide means 14 in the X direction. At this time, when the control unit 100 gives a command to the motor M2,
The table 16 moves the printed board P by a predetermined amount in the Y1 direction, so that a predetermined pattern can be drawn and printed on the printed board P.

At this time, the holding unit 30 and the recording head 1
In operation 2, the following operation is performed by the recording head operation unit 18.

Referring to FIG. 12, it is assumed that the end 80 of the printed circuit board P in FIG. 12A is warped in the Z1 direction due to the influence of heat or the like. In this case, the holding unit 3
0 main contact roller 42, first auxiliary contact rollers 44, 46
Among them, in particular, the main contact roller 42 mechanically considers the upper surface of the printed circuit board P, so that a constant drawing gap G can be set between the recording head 12 and the printed circuit board P. For this reason, even if the printed board P has warpage of the end portion 80 or irregularities or undulations in other parts, it is possible to perform appropriate drawing printing from the recording head 12 on the printed board P.

As shown in FIG. 12A, when the recording head 12 approaches the end portion 80, the guide roller 56 approaches the inclined surface 50A of the first recording head lifting member 50 along the X direction. When the first auxiliary contact roller 44 comes over the end portion 80, the guide roller 56 is placed on the inclined surface 50A as shown in FIG. 12B, and the guide roller 56 is further inclined obliquely upward along the inclined surface 50A. By being guided, the recording head 12 is gradually lifted in the Z1 direction and moved in the X1 direction. This is shown in FIG.
It is shown in FIG.

Conversely, when the recording head 12 moves in the direction of X2 as in the recording head 12, the guide roller 56 gradually descends along the inclined surface 50A as shown in FIG. X in the direction of Z2
Move in the direction of 2. Then, as shown in FIG. 12B, the first auxiliary contact roller 44 comes in contact with the end 80. In this state, since the first auxiliary contact roller 44 can stably set the gap G between the recording head 12 and the printed board P, the recording head 12 can stably draw from the end of the printed board P. You can start printing.

When the main contact roller 42, the first auxiliary contact roller 44, and the second auxiliary contact roller 46 are all placed on the printed circuit board P as shown in FIG. Since the gap G between the recording head 12 and the printed board P is always maintained by mechanically considering the surface of the board P, the recording head 12 can perform drawing printing on the surface of the printed board P.

Such a situation is also shown in FIG. The thickness of the printed circuit board in this case is, for example, 0.8
To 5.0 mm, the diameter of each roller 42, 44, 46 is, for example, 12 mm, and the warpage of the substrate is 0.7 mm.
/ 100.

In this way, even if the end portion 80 of the substrate P is warped, for example, the recording head 12 can move the main contact roller 44, the first and second auxiliary contact rollers 44,
6 can set the gap between the printed circuit board P and the recording head 12 correctly and stably, so that the accuracy and quality of drawing printing can be improved.

Since the guide roller 56 lifts the recording head 12 by using the inclined surface 50A or the opposite inclined surface 52A, the recording head 12 does not collide with the warp or unevenness of the substrate P, and does Or approach the edge of the printed circuit board P again.

FIG. 13 shows another embodiment of the present invention. In this case, the structure of the guide roller 56 and the like is the same, but the holding portion 30 of the recording head 12 has the main contact. This is an example in which only the roller 42 is permitted. In this example, the structure of the holding unit can be simplified.

FIGS. 12A to 12C show the operational relationship between the recording head 12, the holding section 30, the guide roller 56, and the first recording head lifting member 50. The recording head shown in FIG. 12, the operation relationship between the holding unit 30, the guide roller 56, and the second recording head lifting unit 52 is the same when the state shown in FIG. 12 is reversed.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.

In the printer 10 described above, the printed board P is used as an object to be drawn. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and is not limited to a printed board made of an inflexible industrial material, but may be a glass board, a metal plate, or a plastic plate. Various things can be adopted. Also, the recording head 12
Not only the recording head for color printing but also a recording head for monochromatic printing can be adopted.

The number of rollers may be two or four or more.

[0056]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the recording head is the first type.
When drawing on the object by moving in the direction, the recording head operation unit enables the recording head to move along the third direction following the surface of the object. Therefore, even when the object is warped, uneven, or undulating, the recording head can be prevented from colliding with the object, and damage to the recording head can be prevented. In addition, since a gap between the recording head and the object can be secured, the drawing quality can be improved.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, even if the end of the object is warped, the recording head does not collide with the end, and the roller is mounted on the end of the object. Then, the recording head can start drawing and printing stably from the end of the object.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the recording head places the roller on the end of the object, the recording head can start drawing and printing in a stable state from the end of the object.

According to the fourth aspect, the contact roller is disposed closer to the object than the first auxiliary contact roller and the second auxiliary contact roller, so that the main contact roller records according to the unevenness of the object. The gap between the head and the object can be set constant. The first auxiliary contact roller or the second auxiliary contact roller contacts the recording head with one end of the object or the other end of the object, so that the recording head is moved to one end or the other of the object. Drawing printing can be started in a stable state from the end.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the first recording head lifting member and the second recording head lifting member each have a slope for guiding a guide roller to guide the roller gradually up and down or gradually down. have. Since the guide roller has the inclined surface, the guide roller is gently lifted or guided along the inclined surface, so that the roller is gently moved at one end of the object or the other of the object. Can be placed in contact with the end of the object, and drawing can be started in a stable state from the end of the object with high drawing quality.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a preferred embodiment of a printer according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing a guide unit, a recording head, a holding unit, a table, and the like in the printer of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing each element of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a holding unit, a printhead operating unit, a printhead, a guide unit, and the like.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a recording head.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing a recording head operation unit and the like in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a structural example of a main contact roller and an auxiliary contact roller provided in a holding unit.

FIG. 8 is a front view showing a holding unit.

FIG. 9 is a bottom view showing a holding unit and the like.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a positional relationship between a main contact roller and first and second auxiliary contact rollers.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an operation example of a main contact roller, first and second contact rollers, a guide roller, and the like.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating operations of a printed board, a holding unit, a recording head, a guide roller 56, and the like.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a conventional printer.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a problem of a conventional printer.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a problem of a conventional printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Printer 12 Recording head 14 Guide means 16 Table 18 Recording head operation part 20 Bed (base) 26 Guide rail 42 Main contact roller 44 First auxiliary contact roller 46 Second auxiliary contact roller 50 First recording head lifting member 52 Second recording Head lifting member 56 Guide roller X 1st direction Y 2nd direction Z 3rd direction M1 Motor (for X direction) M2 Motor (for Y direction, actuator)

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A printer for drawing on an object, a recording head for causing ink to land on the object, and guide means for supporting the recording head and moving and guiding it in a first direction. A table on which the object is placed, and the object is moved in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction with respect to the recording head; and the table is moved when the recording head is moved in the first direction. Following the surface of the object above, the recording head is moved in a third direction orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction, respectively.
A printer comprising: a printhead operating unit that enables movement along a direction; and an actuator that moves the table in the second direction. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the third direction is a vertical direction, and the recording head operation unit includes a holding unit that holds the recording head; A roller for moving the holding unit and the recording head in an up-down direction in accordance with irregularities on the surface of the object; and a roller provided near one end and the other end of the guide means. A first for lifting the holding unit and the recording head by lifting the roller from an object;
The printer according to claim 1, further comprising a recording head lifting member and a second recording head lifting member. 3. The printer according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of rollers of the recording head operation unit are provided for the holding unit, and the plurality of rollers are arranged in the first direction. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of rollers include a main contact roller,
It has a 1st auxiliary contact roller and a 2nd auxiliary contact roller which are arranged centering on the main contact roller, and the main contact roller is compared with the 1st auxiliary contact roller and the 2nd auxiliary contact roller. 4. The printer according to claim 3, wherein the printer is arranged close to the object side. 5. The first recording head lifting member and the second recording head lifting member guide the roller by gradually lifting or lowering the roller when the recording head moves in the first direction. 3. The printer according to claim 2, further comprising an inclined surface for guiding the guide roller, and wherein the guide roller is provided on the holding unit. 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is a motor, comprising: a guide rail that guides the table along the second direction by operation of the motor; and a base that fixes the guide rail. The printer described. 7. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the recording head is an inkjet recording head.