JP2001088977A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To keep the quality of print by flattening a circularly curled recording paper to average the distance between a printing head and the paper surface of the recording paper. SOLUTION: This printer comprises a carrying belt 8 traveling in a prescribed direction, and a printing recording paper P is closely adhered to the surface of the carrying belt 8 and carried by sucking the surface side of the carrying belt 8 from the reverse side. This device is constituted so that the sucked area is returned and sprayed on the surface side of the carrying belt 8.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a printer device for printing recording paper.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Various types of printers for printing on recording paper, such as line printers, serial printers, page printers, etc., have been conventionally provided.
It is now possible to print clear images with high resolution.

FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of a color ink jet printer which is one of the line printers and relates to a conventional technique. Such a printer device has a transporting means 5 'for transporting a recording paper P in a magazine 2' cut into a fixed size by a cutter 3 'in a fixed direction by a transport belt 8' and a plurality of rollers 6 ', 7',. And cyan, magenta, and yellow ink cartridges 12 ′, 12 ′, and 12 ′, which are arranged in parallel in opposition to the transport surface A ′ of the transport unit 5 ′.
A hood 15 'for accommodating the transport means 5' with only the transport surface A 'protruding outside, and an exhaust fan 17' attached to a ventilation hole 15d 'formed in a part of the hood 15'.
And

Further, since a plurality of perforations (not shown) are formed in the conveyor belt 8 ', the exhaust fan 1
When 7 'is operated, the air in the hood 15' is sucked and discharged to the outside. Then, by suctioning the air in the hood 15 ′, the air on the front side is sucked from the back side of the conveyance belt 8 ′, and the recording paper P ′ is brought into close contact with the surface of the conveyance belt 8 ′. Therefore, the recording paper P ′ having the curl is flattened by being formed into a roll, and the printing quality is secured by averaging the distance between the print head 13 ′ and the paper surface of the recording paper P ′. It will be.

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional printer, when the recording paper P 'is curled relatively large upward or when the recording paper P' is stiff, There is a problem that the recording paper P 'cannot be brought into close contact with the surface of the conveyor belt 8'. When the recording paper P ′ is greatly curled, the distance between the back surface of the recording paper P ′ and the surface of the conveyor belt 8 ′ becomes too wide, and in such a portion, only air flows through the perforations, and the recording paper P ′ This is because the suction action on the sapphire no longer occurs. Therefore, if the recording paper P ′ remains curled, the print head 1
Variations occur in the distance between 3 'and the paper surface of the recording paper P', and the printing quality is reduced.

Further, in the ink jet printer, since the print head 13 'is always exposed to the outside air, there is a problem that dust, dust, paper dust and the like easily adhere to the print head 13'. In this case, the presence of dust, dust, paper dust, etc. makes it impossible to eject the ink properly, and the print quality is reduced as in the case described above.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems. By flattening a recording paper curled in an arc shape and averaging the distance between the print head and the recording paper, the present invention provides: The primary task is to provide a printer device that maintains print quality, and at the same time, dust on the print head,
It is a second object of the present invention to provide a printer device which can prevent dust and paper dust from adhering and maintain print quality.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a printer device according to the present invention is provided with a transport belt 8 traveling in a predetermined direction, and an air from the back side to the front side of the transport belt 8. In the printer device configured to convey the recording paper P for printing by bringing the recording paper P into close contact with the surface of the transport belt 8, the sucked air is returned to the surface side of the transport belt 8. It is characterized by being configured to spray.

According to the printer device having the above-described configuration, the suction effect is generated on the recording paper P by sucking the air on the front side from the back side of the transport belt 8.
Is flattened (flattened) due to the close contact with the surface of the conveyor belt 8 even if is curved in an arc shape.

The sucked air is returned and blown to the surface of the conveyor belt 8, and the blowing of the air causes a pressing action on the recording paper P. Therefore, the sucked air is not flattened by the sucking action. The recording paper P is securely brought into close contact with the surface of the transport belt 8.

Further, the printer device according to the present invention includes:
A plurality of perforations 8a,... Are formed in the conveyor belt 8, and a configuration is adopted in which air on the front side of the conveyor belt 8 is sucked through the plurality of perforations 8a,. be able to. According to the printer device having the above-described configuration, the transport belt 8 is provided through the plurality of perforations 8a,.
The air on the front side of the recording paper P is sucked, and the recording paper P
Is adhered to the surface.

Further, in the printer device according to the present invention, at least two or more of the transport belts 8 are arranged at intervals in the width direction of the running direction, and the recording paper P is , Is arranged so as to straddle at least two or more of the transport belts 8, and adopts a configuration in which air on the surface side of the transport belts 8, is sucked through the gap between the transport belts 8,. be able to. According to the printer device having such a configuration, the air on the front side of the transport belt 8 is sucked through the interval between the transport belts 8, and the recording paper P straddles the two or more transport belts 8,. To bring the two or more conveyor belts 8 into close contact with each other.

Further, the printer device according to the present invention includes:
As described in the fourth aspect, it is more preferable to adopt a configuration in which the air blown to the front side of the transport belt 8 is returned through the duct 18. According to the printer device having such a configuration, it is possible to prevent the decompression of the air and to blow the surface of the transport belt 8 with a suitable air volume.

Further, the printer device according to the present invention is provided with a printing unit 13 for performing printing by skipping ink on the recording paper P, and a part of the returned air is printed by the printing unit. It is possible to adopt a configuration in which the air is sprayed in the vicinity of 13. According to the printer device having such a configuration, since the printing unit 13 is protected by the circulating air, the problem that dust, dust, paper dust, and the like adhere to the printing unit 13 is eliminated.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the printer according to the present invention will be described below. As shown in FIG. 1, the printer device according to the present embodiment is a color inkjet printer that uses three color inks of yellow, magenta, and cyan, and is housed in a magazine 2 and cut into a fixed size by a cutter 3. This is a line printer that sequentially prints from the edge of the recording paper P while transporting the recording paper P by the transporting means 5.

The transport means 5 comprises a plurality of rollers arranged in parallel in the apparatus main body 1 at a predetermined interval, and a transport belt 8 wound around the rollers and rotating endlessly. A pair of upper and lower drive rollers 6, 6 arranged opposite a receiving plate 9 for receiving the recording paper P distributed from the magazine 2, and a plurality of support rollers 7, appropriately arranged to tension the transport belt 8. … Consisting of

Then, a pair of horizontally opposed support rollers 7, 7 is provided for each of the three color ink cartridges 12,
Are arranged in a horizontal direction corresponding to..., And the tops thereof are arranged at the same height as the tops of the lower drive rollers 6, and further, between the support rollers 7, 7 of each pair. Further, another support roller 7 is disposed below the support rollers 7,7. Therefore, the transport belt 8 extended from the drive roller 6 and sequentially wound around these support rollers 7,... Moves in a horizontal direction while being bypassed between the pair of support rollers 7,. is there.

Further, between the pair of support rollers 7, a guide body 25 having an upper surface substantially flush with the conveyor belt 8 so as to communicate the conveyor belt 8 which has been dropped in the horizontal direction by detouring. The recording paper P is fed from the receiving plate 9 to the upper surface of the transport belt 8 by the drive roller 6, and can be moved in the horizontal direction by the transport belt 8.
In addition, a tray 11 for storing the recording paper P detached from the transport belt 8 is disposed at the most downstream side of the transport separate path 8.

Also, above the transport belt 8, ie, in the direction facing the transport surface A, from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction of the recording paper P, there are three ink cartridges 12 corresponding to cyan, magenta, and yellow. The printing units 13 are arranged in parallel, and each printing unit 13 is located between the pair of supporting rollers 7 and 7 and faces the upper surface of the guide body 25.

The main body 1 of the apparatus has a box-shaped hood 15 as a main external configuration. The hood 15 is formed by appropriately combining a plurality of flat plates (for example, a steel plate) to form side plates 15a,.
And the bottom plate 15b, the upper part has a box-like shape with a flat opening at the top, and the transporting means 5 allows only the transport surface A to protrude from the opening 15c to the outside, and
Housed within.

A circular vent hole 15d is formed in one side plate 15a, and the exhaust fan 1
7 is attached. In the present embodiment, the side plate 1
Two ventilation holes 15d are formed in 5a, and an exhaust fan 17 is attached to each of them.

Further, the exhaust port 17 of the exhaust fan 17
The duct 18 is connected to a. The duct 18
Is a first duct 19 for joining the exhaust air from the two exhaust fans 17, 17 together, and a second duct 20 connected to the first duct 19 and extending above the transport surface A of the transport means 5. And a third duct 21 connected to the second duct 20 and extending in the transport direction substantially parallel to the transport surface A.

The third duct 21 accommodates three ink cartridges 12, 12, and 12, and the open end 21a of the third duct 21 (duct 18).
Are arranged near the transport surface A (close to the transport surface A). In the present embodiment, the third duct 2
1 is on the upstream side in the transport direction of each ink cartridge 12 and on the downstream side in the transport direction, that is, on the upstream transport surface A and the downstream transport surface A across the printing unit 13 of each ink cartridge 12. The position and shape of the open end 21a are set so that air is blown.

In the hood 15, the opening 15
c, that is, between the horizontally opposed support rollers 7, 7 where the guide body 25 is not located, and on the back surface of the transport belt 8 located on the transport surface A, of the side plate 15a of the hood 15 in the transport direction. A plate-like support plate 16,... Is disposed so as to straddle the two side plates 15a, 15a in the width direction. The support plates 16,... Are for preventing the traveling conveyor belt 8 from sagging. When the rear surface side of the conveyor belt 8 slides with respect to the support plates 16,. , And the transport surface A is maintained flat.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the support plate 16 is formed with a plurality of elongated holes 16a at predetermined intervals in the transport direction and the width direction thereof. A plurality of circular perforations 8a are formed in the support plate 16 at positions corresponding to the perforations 16a,... At predetermined intervals in the transport direction and the width direction thereof. Therefore, no matter which relative position the transport belt 8 travels, the support plate 16
Are overlapped with the holes 8a,... Of the conveyor belt, so that the front side and the rear side of the conveying surface A communicate with a small and scattered opening area.

As shown in FIG. 3, the guide 25 has a substantially prismatic shape, and is arranged with its longitudinal direction parallel to the support roller 7. In the upper part of both sides of the guide body 25,
A projection 26 protruding in the transport direction of the recording paper P and having a plurality of cutouts 30,... Formed at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction.
Are formed along the longitudinal direction of the guide body 25, and both ends thereof form a wide upper surface 27 close to the conveyor belt 8. In the center of the upper surface 27, a concave groove 29 for receiving unnecessary ink that has protruded out of the area of the recording paper P is provided.
The guide body 25 is formed along the longitudinal direction.

The upstream corner of the guide body 25 is chamfered in an obliquely tapered shape so that the recording paper P can move smoothly without interference. A first inclined surface 27a and a second inclined surface 27b that are inclined downward are formed, and a horizontal surface portion 27c that is substantially the same height as the conveyor belt 8 (the conveyor surface A) is formed in a portion that is not chamfered.

The concave groove 29 is formed by a square groove 29a having a U-shape in cross section and a second inclined surface 27b rising obliquely upward from the downstream side surface to the downstream side of the square groove 29a. Inclined groove 29b. And
The printing section 13 of the ink cartridge 12 faces the concave groove 29.

The notch 30 of one protruding piece 26 and the corresponding notch 30 of the other protruding piece 26 are connected by a lateral groove 31 formed on the upper surface 27. Near both ends, a pair of columnar projections 3
4, 34 are formed. And, this horizontal groove 31, ...
One wire 36 is wound around using the projections 34,. The wire 36 is for preventing the recording paper P from entering the concave groove 29 and hindering conveyance.

The printing unit 13 of the ink cartridge 12
Is shown in FIG. The printing unit 13 has a shape in which its longitudinal direction is parallel to the support roller 7 and protrudes in a substantially prismatic shape. At the center thereof, a ceramic head 130 is provided with the sharpened tip facing down (facing the concave groove 29 of the guide body 25). The head 130
Is an upstream slope 130a elongated in the axial direction of the support roller 7.
And a downstream slope 130b.
Ink 1 supplied from a supply pipe 132 disposed in the vicinity
31 is caused to flow from the upstream slope 130a to the downstream slope 130b by surface tension, and then sucked by the suction pipe 133. Then, by applying a voltage to an electrode (not shown) disposed at the tip of the head 130 at a desired timing, the charged ink is skipped and ejected onto the recording paper P on the transport surface A to perform printing. It is.

The head 130 has an upstream side surface 1.
The cover body 135 is covered with a predetermined gap between the cover 30c (including the upstream slope 130a) and the downstream side (including the downstream slope 130b). This gap is
Part of the air 8 is connected to the duct 18 so as to be able to flow, and forms an air flow passage 137.

The flow passage 137 is formed on the upstream slope 130a.
The first flow path 137 in contact with the flow surface of the ink flowing through
a, a second flow path 137b in contact with the flow surface of the ink flowing on the downstream slope 130b, and a first flow path 137a.
A third flow path 137c that branches off from the second flow path 137b and intersects with the transfer surface A on the downstream side of the concave groove 29. 137d.

The first flow path 137a and the second flow path 137b join at the tip of the head 130,
A slit-shaped communication hole 138 is formed at a position corresponding to the partition 138 attached to the lower surface of the cover 135.
The slit-shaped communication hole 1 is also provided at a position of the partition body 138 corresponding to the third flow passage 137c and the fourth flow passage 137d.
38, 138 are formed.

The printer device according to the present embodiment has the above-described configuration. Next, the flow of air in the printer device according to the present embodiment will be described. First, a description will be given with reference to FIG. While the drive roller 6 is driven to rotate, the transport belt 8 is run, and the printing process of the supplied recording paper P is being performed, the exhaust fan 17 is operated. Then, the air in the hood 15 is sucked.

When the air in the hood 15 is sucked, the rear side of the conveyor belt 8 (the rear side of the support plate 16) is perforated through the perforations 8a,. Is sucked. Therefore, the recording paper P on the transport belt 8 is attracted by suction from the back side, and even if the recording paper P is brought into close contact with the surface of the transport belt 8 and is curled. It is flattened (flattened).

On the other hand, the air sucked by the exhaust fan 17 is returned to the upper side of the transport surface A via the duct 18. Then, the returned air is blown downward from the open end 21 a of the duct 18, that is, to the transport surface A. Therefore, the recording paper P on the transport belt 8 is pressed against the surface thereof, and is not flattened by the suction action. For example, the extremely curled or stiff recording paper P is reliably transferred to the surface of the transport belt 8. And is planarized.

Referring to FIG. 4, a part of the air returned through the duct 18 is supplied to the printing unit 13. Then, the air enters the flow passage 137,
The air is circulated through the passage and is blown out from the communication hole 138 toward the upper surface 27 (transport surface A) of the guide body 25. Therefore, a pressing action is generated on the surface of the recording paper P on the guide body 25,
It is pressed against the upper surface 27 of the guide body 25 and planarized. Thereby, even if the recording paper P on the guide body 25 cannot suck the air from the back side, the recording paper P
Can be made flat.

A part of the air flowing through the flow passage 137 is supplied to the third flow passage 137c and the fourth flow passage 1
Since the ink 131 circulates inside, the flow surface of the ink 131 is covered with the circulating air and is cut off from the outside air, so that dust and dirt do not adhere to the ink 131.

As described above, according to the printer apparatus of the present embodiment, the recording paper P is flattened by the suction action and the pressing action at any position on the transport path, so that the print head 13 and the recording paper The distance between P and the paper surface is averaged, so that the print quality can be suitably maintained.

The printer device according to the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. That is, the type of printer is not limited to an ink jet printer, but may be a printer of a bubble jet type, a sublimation type, a thermal transfer type, or the like, and is not limited to a line printer, but may be a serial printer or a page printer. Is also good.

The present invention is not limited to a three-color printer, but may be a monochrome printer.
It may be a color printer of more than colors.

Further, the recording paper used in the printing process is not limited to a long one stored in a roll, but may be one cut in a predetermined size in advance. A magazine in which paper is stacked and accommodated is employed.

Further, according to the present invention, as in the above embodiment,
The conveyor belt 8 is provided with countless perforations 8a,.
The configuration is not limited to the configuration in which the recording paper P is sucked using a,... For example, at least two or more transport belts 8 having no perforations are arranged at intervals in the width direction of the traveling direction. , The recording paper P is laid on the at least two or more transport belts 8, and the recording paper P on the transport belts 8,. The configuration may be as follows.

[0044]

As described above, the printer device of the present invention is provided with a transport belt running in a predetermined direction, and sucks air on the front surface side from the back surface side of the transport belt to print recording paper for printing. In a printer device configured to be transported in close contact with the surface of the transport belt,
Since the suctioned air is configured to be returned and blown against the front side of the transport belt, the recording paper is flattened by a suction action and a pressing action, regardless of where the recording paper is located on the transport path, Therefore, the distance between the print head and the surface of the recording paper is averaged, so that the print quality can be suitably maintained.

Further, the printer device according to the present invention is provided with a printing unit for performing printing by flying ink on the recording paper, and blowing a part of the returned air to the vicinity of the printing unit, thereby printing the printing unit. Is covered with the circulating air and is cut off from the outside air, and is protected as an air curtain, so that dust, dust, paper dust, etc. do not adhere to the printing portion, and the printing quality is suitably maintained. be able to.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a printer device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the vicinity of a transport surface of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a guide body of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a main part near a printing unit according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of a conventional printer device.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Device main body, 5 ... Conveying means, 6 ... Driving roller, 7 ... Support roller, 8 ... Conveying belt, 8a ... Perforation, 12 ... Ink cartridge, 13 ... Printing part, 15 ... Hood, 16 ... Support plate, 16a ... Perforation, 17: Exhaust fan, 18: Duct, 25: Guide body, 130: Head, 137: Flow path, A: Conveying surface, P: Recording paper

Claims (5)

[Claims] A transport belt (8) running in a predetermined direction is provided, and air on a front surface side is sucked from a rear surface side of the transport belt (8) to thereby form a recording paper (P) for printing.
A printer device configured to closely contact the surface of the transport belt (8) to transport the sucked air and blow the air to the surface side of the transport belt (8). Characteristic printer device. 2. A plurality of perforations (8a,...) Are formed in the conveyor belt (8), and air on the surface side of the conveyor belt (8) is sucked through the plurality of perforations (8a,...). The printer device according to claim 1, wherein the printer device is configured as described above. 3. The transport belt (8) is disposed at least two or more at intervals in the width direction of the running direction, and the recording paper (P) is transported by the at least two transport belts (8, 2. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the printer is arranged so as to straddle the transport belt, and sucks air on the front side of the transport belt via the interval between the transport belts. apparatus. 4. The printer device according to claim 1, wherein the air blown to the front side of the transport belt (8) is returned through a duct (18). 5. A printing unit (13) for performing printing by blowing ink on the recording paper (P), and configured to blow a part of the returned air to the vicinity of the printing unit (13). The printer device according to claim 1.