JP2001158149A - Carriage and recorder having the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a carriage capable of adjusting a parallelism between a recording face and a head face and a paper gap without adjusting a support position of a guide shaft and to adjust a parallelism between a dot forming element arrangement and a conveying direction. SOLUTION: A recording head 2 is displaced in a direction perpendicular to the recording face with respect to the carriage 1 by the rotation of first bearing members 15, 16 and the recording head 2 is rotated with respect to the carriage 1 centering around a support shaft 10 by the rotation of a γ angle adjusting lever 12. As a result, the parallelism between the recording face and head face is adjusted. The position of the support shaft 10 supporting the recording head 2 is displaced in the conveying direction of a recording medium with respect to the carriage 1 by the rotation of a rotating member 14 and then the parallelism between the dot forming element arrangement and conveying direction is adjusted. When the support shaft 10 is rotated, the recording head 2 is vertically moved with respect to the carriage 1 by virtue of the eccentric structure of the support shaft 10 so that the paper gap can be adjusted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a carriage used for a recording apparatus such as a printer, a facsimile, a copying machine, and the like, and more particularly, to a carriage parallel to a recording surface of a recording material and perpendicular to a conveying direction of the recording material. The present invention relates to a carriage provided with a recording head that reciprocates while being guided by a guide shaft to be disposed and that performs recording on the recording surface of the recording material.

[0002] The present invention also relates to a recording apparatus provided with the carriage.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art In a recording apparatus such as a printer, a facsimile, a copying machine, etc., generally, in order to improve recording quality, a recording surface of a recording material (paper or the like) is opposed to a recording material of a recording head. It is preferable that the degree of parallelism between the surface (hereinafter referred to as “head surface”) is adjusted with high accuracy.

Similarly, in order to improve the recording quality, a dot forming element (for example, a nozzle) row provided on the head surface (refers to a dot forming element row arranged in the carrying direction) and a carrying direction. Is preferably adjusted with high accuracy.

The parallelism between the recording surface and the head surface is shown in FIG.
The angle is adjusted by setting two of the angles as shown in FIG. That is, of the angles formed by the head surface of the recording head 2 provided on the carriage and the recording surface of the recording material 22, a first angle (hereinafter referred to as "the main scanning direction: Y-axis") in the reciprocating direction of the carriage. angle) between the head surface and the recording surface, and the second angle in the transport direction of the recording material (sub-scanning direction: X axis) (hereinafter also referred to as the "γ angle"). Are adjusted by making と and で き る だ け as zero as possible.

The parallelism between the dot forming element row and the transport direction is the third angle (in FIG. 3, perpendicular to the dot forming element row) between the dot forming element row and the transport direction. The angle is shown as an angle between the front surface of the recording head and the reciprocating direction, and is also referred to as an “α angle” hereinafter).

Further, in order to improve the recording quality,
It is preferable that the paper gap can be finely adjusted so that the distance between the recording surface and the head surface (hereinafter, referred to as “paper gap” or simply “PG”) is appropriately maintained. Further, in order to properly record on a recording material having various thicknesses such as thick paper or thin paper, it is preferable that the paper gap can be adjusted according to the thickness of the recording material. In the following, both the fine adjustment of the paper gap and the adjustment in accordance with the thickness of the recording material are collectively referred to as “paper gap adjustment”. The fine adjustment of the paper gap is only referred to as the adjustment according to the thickness of the recording material.

[0008] In a recording apparatus for recording on a recording material of a normal size such as A3 size, A4 size, B4 size, B5 size, etc., a side frame provided in the recording device has both ends of a guide shaft for guiding a carriage. It has a supporting structure. And
The β angle is adjusted by providing an adjusting member at a supporting position of the guide shaft on the side frame and displacing the supporting position of the guide shaft by the adjusting member, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-300769. Have been done.

The adjustment of the γ angle is generally performed by a support structure of the carriage (for example, adjustment of a mounting position of a guide shaft and a slider shaft).

On the other hand, the adjustment of the α angle is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-2583.
As disclosed in JP-A-69-6969, this is achieved by a spacer having an appropriate thickness interposed between the carriage and the recording head, or an eccentric cam attached to the carriage.

Further, as shown in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-300769, the paper gap is adjusted.
This is performed by displacing the support position of the guide shaft in the side frame.

[0012]

However, for example, A2
In a large-sized recording apparatus that performs recording on a recording material having a large width such as a medium or larger, the guide shaft for guiding the carriage becomes longer and the carriage also becomes larger, so that the weight of the carriage and the weight of the guide shaft itself cause The deflection of the guide shaft increases, which causes deterioration of the recording quality. Therefore, as a structure for suppressing this bending, generally, the both ends of the guide shaft are not fixedly supported by the side frame, and both ends of the guide shaft are fixedly supported by the side frame. It is conceivable to adopt a structure that protrudes from

On the other hand, in the case where the intermediate portion of the guide shaft is fixedly supported by the side frame as described above,
As in the ordinary recording apparatus described above, adjustment members are provided at the support positions at both ends of the guide shaft, and the adjustment of the β angle and the adjustment of the paper gap cannot be performed by these adjustment members. The gamma angle cannot be adjusted due to the structure.

It is also conceivable to provide an adjustment member at a support position in the middle of the guide shaft in the side frame for adjustment. However, the strength of the adjustment member and the accuracy of the adjustment are reduced by the weight of the guide shaft and the weight of the carriage. It becomes a problem.

Further, the conventional adjustment of the α angle is based on the premise that the β angle and the paper gap are adjusted by adjusting the support position of the guide shaft as in the above-described ordinary recording apparatus. It is difficult to use the conventional adjustment of the α angle in a recording apparatus that does not assume this.

An object of the present invention is to adjust the parallelism between the recording surface and the head surface without adjusting the support position of the guide shaft, thereby deteriorating the recording quality even when used in a large recording apparatus. It is an object of the present invention to provide a carriage capable of preventing the occurrence of printing and a recording apparatus having the carriage.

Another object of the present invention is to make it possible to adjust the parallelism between the dot forming element row and the conveying direction in such a carriage and a recording apparatus.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a carriage capable of adjusting the paper gap so that the paper gap is properly maintained without adjusting the support position of the guide shaft, and a paper gap of the carriage. An object of the present invention is to provide an adjusting device and a recording device including the carriage.

[0019]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a carriage according to the present invention is provided so as to be parallel to a recording surface of a recording material and perpendicular to a conveying direction of the recording material. A carriage provided with a recording head for performing reciprocation while being guided by a guide shaft to be arranged as a recording medium, and performing recording on a recording surface of the recording material, wherein the recording head comprises:
A third angle adjusting means for displacing the recording head with respect to the carriage in a direction of a third angle between a dot forming element array provided on the recording head and a conveying direction of the recording material. It is characterized by being.

According to the present invention, the carriage reciprocates while being guided by a guide shaft which is to be arranged in parallel with the recording surface of the recording material and perpendicular to the conveying direction of the recording material. The recording is performed on the recording surface of the recording material by the provided recording head. The third angle adjusting means provided in the recording head is configured to move the recording head with respect to the carriage in a third direction in which a row of dot forming elements provided on the recording head and a conveying direction of the recording material are formed. Displace in the direction of the angle (α angle).

As described above, according to the present invention, the third angle adjusting means is provided in the recording head. Therefore,
As described above, by adjusting the position of the recording head with respect to the carriage, the carriage that adjusts the first angle and the second angle is also affected by the adjustment of the first angle and the second angle. Instead, the third angle can be adjusted with high accuracy, and the parallelism between the dot forming element row and the recording material transport direction can be adjusted. Note that the direction of the third angle (α angle) includes both the direction of the positive angle and the direction of the negative angle.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the carriage according to the first aspect, the third angle adjusting means includes:
A support shaft disposed substantially parallel to the guide shaft and passing through the second hole formed in the recording head to support the recording head with respect to the carriage; And a second bearing member that supports the shaft and that can be adjusted at a position to be supported on the downstream side in the transport direction of the recording material.

According to the present invention, the support shaft disposed substantially parallel to the guide shaft supports the recording head with respect to the carriage through the second hole formed in the recording head. The second bearing member is mounted in the second hole and supports the support shaft. When the position where the second bearing member supports the support shaft is adjusted to the downstream side in the transport direction of the recording material, the recording head supported by the support shaft moves the support shaft through the other second hole. With the supporting point as a fulcrum, the carriage rotates in the direction of the α-angle with respect to the carriage, whereby the third angle is adjusted.

As described above, the position supported by the support shaft moves to the downstream side in the transport direction, so that the third angle (α
Since the angle is adjusted, only the third angle can be adjusted without changing other angles (β angle and γ angle).

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the carriage according to the second aspect, the second hole has a diameter substantially equal to the support shaft in a direction orthogonal to the recording surface. The second bearing member moves the support shaft in a longitudinal direction of the second hole to form a third angle in the transport direction. Is adjusted.

According to the present invention, since the second hole is a long hole in the transport direction, and the second bearing member moves the support shaft in the longitudinal direction of the long hole, the third angle can be adjusted. The third angle can be adjusted with a relatively simple configuration.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the carriage according to the third aspect, the second bearing member has a circular outer periphery, is eccentric with respect to the outer periphery, and the support shaft passes therethrough. A third circular hole for supporting the support shaft;
The recording head has a fourth hole around the second hole in which the second bearing member is rotatably fitted.

According to the present invention, the second bearing member fits into the fourth hole formed around the second hole of the recording head and rotates. The third hole of the second bearing member is an eccentric hole with respect to the circular outer periphery, and supports the support shaft. On the other hand, the support shaft is also supported by a second hole formed in the recording head. Therefore, by rotating the second bearing member, the position where the support shaft is supported by the second hole and the eccentric third hole is set in the longitudinal direction of the second hole,
In other words, it is displaced upstream and downstream in the transport direction, so that the third
Is adjusted. As described above, the third angle can be adjusted with a simple member such as an eccentric member having a hole eccentric to the outer periphery.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the carriage according to the third aspect, the second bearing member is a first bearing.
And a second member, wherein the first member has a circular outer periphery and a circular fifth hole eccentric to the outer periphery and through which the support shaft can pass. The second member is provided with a third hole that fits into the hole of the first member and passes through the support shaft to support the support shaft. A fourth hole is provided around the second hole, in which the first member is rotatably fitted.

According to the present invention, the first member of the second bearing member is the fifth member formed around the second hole of the recording head.
And rotate. The second member of the second bearing member fits into the eccentric fifth hole of the first member and supports the support shaft. On the other hand, the support shaft is also supported by a second hole formed in the recording head. Therefore, when the first member is rotated, the position of the second member and the supporting position of the support shaft are moved in the longitudinal direction of the second hole, that is, in the transport direction by the second hole and the eccentric fifth hole. It is displaced upstream and downstream, whereby the third angle is adjusted.
As described above, the third angle can be adjusted with a simple member such as an eccentric member having a hole eccentric to the outer periphery.

Further, the second bearing member is constituted by the first member and the second member, and the fifth hole of the first member is formed in a circular shape through which the support shaft can pass. After attaching the first member, the support shaft is passed through the fifth hole (that is, the recording head) of the first member, and then the second member can be attached, so that the carriage can be easily assembled. This is particularly effective when using a support shaft whose center is thicker than the end.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the carriage according to the fifth aspect, the first member includes a third lever-shaped member.
According to the present invention, since the turning operation can be performed by the third lever-shaped member, the turning operation can be easily performed.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording apparatus including the carriage according to any one of the first to sixth aspects. As a result, also in this recording apparatus, it is possible to achieve the same functions and effects as those of the first to sixth aspects, and as a result, it is possible to improve the recording quality. In particular, in a large-sized recording device, the recording quality can be improved.

With respect to the present invention, there are the following related inventions. The carriage according to the first related invention reciprocates while being guided by a guide shaft which is to be arranged parallel to the recording surface of the recording material and perpendicular to the conveying direction of the recording material, and reciprocates the recording medium. A carriage provided with a recording head for performing recording on a recording surface of a recording medium, wherein an angle formed between the head surface of the recording head facing the recording surface and the recording surface in a reciprocating direction of the carriage. A first angle adjusting means for displacing the recording head with respect to the carriage in a direction of a first angle is provided.

According to the present invention, the carriage reciprocates while being guided by a guide shaft which is to be arranged in parallel with the recording surface of the recording material and perpendicular to the conveying direction of the recording material. The recording is performed on the recording surface of the recording material by the provided recording head. Then, the first angle adjusting means moves the recording head in the direction of the first angle (β angle) in the reciprocating direction of the carriage among the angles formed by the head surface and the recording surface with respect to the carriage. Displace.

Thus, by adjusting the position of the recording head with respect to the carriage without adjusting the support position of the guide shaft, the first angle is adjusted, and the parallelism between the recording surface and the head surface is adjusted. can do. Therefore, the first angle is adjusted by adjusting the first angle, not only in a recording device that can adjust the support position of the guide shaft, but also in a recording device that cannot adjust the support position of the guide shaft. Can be adjusted.

Further, since the first angle adjusting means is configured to displace the recording head with respect to the carriage, the first angle adjusting means can be used.
It is sufficient that the angle adjusting means has a strength capable of supporting only the weight of the recording head, and even if the recording apparatus becomes large and the recording head becomes large, deterioration of the adjustment accuracy due to the weight hardly causes a problem. . The direction of the first angle (β angle) includes both the direction of the positive angle and the direction of the negative angle.

The carriage according to the second related invention has a first carriage.
In the carriage according to the related invention, the first angle adjusting means is disposed substantially parallel to the guide shaft, and passes through the carriage and the recording head to support the recording head with respect to the carriage. A support shaft,
A first shaft formed at a position where the support shaft passes through the carriage;
At least one of the holes has a first bearing member that supports an end of the support shaft and that can be supported in a position that is adjustable in a direction perpendicular to the recording surface. It is characterized by.

According to the present invention, the support shaft disposed substantially parallel to the guide shaft passes through the carriage and the recording head, and supports the recording head with respect to the carriage. The first bearing member is provided in a first hole formed at a position where the support shaft passes through the carriage, and supports an end of the support shaft. First
When the position at which the bearing member supports the support shaft is adjusted in the direction perpendicular to the recording surface, the position of the recording head supported by the support shaft is also adjusted relative to the carriage in the direction perpendicular to the recording surface. , Whereby the first angle is adjusted.

As described above, the position for supporting the support shaft moves only in the direction perpendicular to the recording surface, and the position of the recording head with respect to the carriage is adjusted only in the direction perpendicular to the recording surface. Only the first angle (β angle) can be adjusted without changing the α angle and the γ angle, and the side effect that other angles change with the adjustment of the first angle can be prevented. . Further, the first angle can be easily adjusted with a small number of parts such as the support shaft and the bearing member.

The carriage according to the third related invention has a second
In the carriage according to the related invention, at least one of the first holes has a linear contact side extending in a direction orthogonal to the recording surface, and the first bearing member is provided with the hole. And an elastic member that rotatably fits into the supporting shaft, supports the end of the support shaft, and presses the end of the support shaft against the contact side.

According to the present invention, the first bearing member is made of an elastic member, and the elasticity presses the end of the support shaft against the linear contact side of the first hole. Therefore, when the first bearing member is rotated, the end of the support shaft moves along the straight contact side. Thus, the first angle can be adjusted only by rotating the first bearing member, and the end of the support shaft moves only in the direction perpendicular to the recording surface, so that the adjustment is easy. Become.

The carriage according to the fourth related invention is provided with a third carriage.
In the carriage according to the related invention, the first hole includes a second side opposed to the contact side, and a pair of third sides connected to the contact side and the second side and opposed to each other. And the end of the support shaft has a first arc surface in contact with the contact side, and the first bearing member has a second arc surface in contact with the second side. , And a pair of third arcuate surfaces respectively in contact with the third sides.

According to the present invention, by the rotation of the first bearing member, the support shaft slides with its first arc surface abutting against the contact side, and the first bearing member slides with its second arc surface. And the third arc surface slides on the second side and the third arc surface comes into contact with the third side, respectively, so that the turning operation is smoothly performed.

The carriage according to the fifth related invention is similar to the carriage according to the fourth invention.
In the carriage according to the related invention, the second circular arc is provided.
The surface is an arc surface concentric with the center of the first arc surface,
The pair of third arc surfaces have a common center and a radius of curvature.
Are the same arc surface, and the center of the first arc surface is
O₁, The radius of curvature is R₁, The radius of curvature of the second arc surface
R ₂, The center of the third arc surface is O₃, The radius of curvature
R₃, The center O of the first arc surface₁And in the third arc surface
Heart O₃When A is the distance from₁+ R₂= 2R
₃And R₃-R₁= A
Sign.

According to the present invention, since the support shaft and the first bearing member are configured as described above, when the first bearing member is rotated, the center O3 of the _third arc surface is brought into contact with the contact. while moving in the direction perpendicular to the Sehhen, center O ₁ of the first arcuate surface of the end portion of the support shaft is able to move parallel to the contact edges. Since the linear contact side extends in the direction perpendicular to the recording surface, the end of the support shaft moves only in the direction perpendicular to the recording surface. That is, even if the first bearing member is not necessarily formed of an elastic member, the parallelism between the recording surface and the support shaft can be adjusted only by rotating the first bearing member. Since the end of the shaft moves only in the direction perpendicular to the recording surface, the first
Can be easily adjusted.

The carriage according to the sixth related invention has a third
In the carriage according to any one of the first to fifth related inventions, the first bearing member includes a first lever-shaped member for rotating the first bearing member. . Thus, by rotating the first lever-shaped member, the first angle can be easily adjusted, and the parallelism between the recording surface and the head surface can be easily adjusted.

The carriage according to the seventh related invention has the first
In the carriage according to any one of the first to sixth related inventions, the first bearing member is provided in each of two of the first holes.

According to the present invention, the first bearing member is the first bearing member.
Are provided in two of the holes, respectively, so that by simultaneously adjusting these two first bearing members, the support position is maintained in a direction perpendicular to the recording surface while the support shaft is kept parallel to the recording surface. Can be displaced. This gives
The recording head can be adjusted in a direction perpendicular to the recording surface while keeping the recording surface and the head surface parallel, that is, the paper gap can be adjusted.

A recording apparatus according to an eighth related invention is characterized by including the carriage according to any one of the first to seventh related inventions. As a result, also in this recording apparatus, the same functions and effects as those of the first to seventh related inventions can be achieved, and as a result, the recording quality can be improved. In particular, in a large-sized recording device, the recording quality can be improved.

The carriage according to the ninth related invention reciprocates while being guided by a guide shaft which is to be arranged parallel to the recording surface of the recording material and perpendicular to the conveying direction of the recording material. A carriage provided with a recording head for performing recording on a recording surface of the recording material, wherein the recording material has an angle formed by a head surface of the recording head facing the recording surface and the recording surface. A second angle adjusting means for displacing the recording head with respect to the carriage in the direction of the second angle in the transport direction.

According to the present invention, the carriage reciprocates while being guided by a guide shaft which is to be arranged parallel to the recording surface of the recording material and perpendicular to the conveying direction of the recording material. The recording is performed on the recording surface of the recording material by the provided recording head. The second angle adjusting means is configured to move the recording head in a direction of a second angle (γ angle) in the transport direction of the recording material among the angles formed by the head surface and the recording surface with respect to the carriage. To be displaced.

Thus, the second angle can be adjusted by adjusting the position of the recording head with respect to the carriage without depending on the carriage support structure, and the parallelism between the recording surface and the head surface can be adjusted. it can. Therefore, the parallelism between the recording surface and the head surface is adjusted not only in the recording device in which the support structure of the guide shaft can be adjusted, but also in the recording device in which the support structure of the guide shaft cannot be adjusted. can do.

Further, since the second angle adjusting means is configured to displace the recording head with respect to the carriage, the second angle adjusting means can be used.
It is sufficient that the angle adjusting means has a strength capable of supporting only the weight of the recording head, and even if the recording apparatus becomes large and the recording head becomes large, deterioration of the adjustment accuracy due to the weight hardly causes a problem. . Note that the direction of the second angle (γ angle) includes both the direction of the positive angle and the direction of the negative angle.

A carriage according to a tenth related invention is the carriage according to the ninth related invention, wherein the second angle adjusting means is disposed substantially parallel to the guide shaft, and the carriage and the recording head are arranged. , A support shaft for rotatably supporting the recording head with respect to the carriage, first rotating means for rotating the recording head about the support shaft as a rotation axis, And fixing means for fixing the rotation of the recording head by the turning means at a desired angle.

According to the present invention, the support shaft arranged substantially parallel to the guide shaft passes through both the carriage and the recording head, and supports the recording head rotatably with respect to the carriage. The first rotating means rotates the recording head with respect to the carriage with the support shaft as the rotating axis.
The rotation of the recording head is fixed at a desired angle. The recording head is rotated and fixed relative to the carriage with the support shaft disposed substantially parallel to the guide shaft as the rotation axis, so that the second angle (γ angle) is adjusted.

Further, since the second angle is adjusted by this turning operation, it is possible to adjust only the second angle (γ angle) without changing other angles (α angle and β angle). Thus, it is possible to prevent a side effect that another angle changes with the adjustment of the second angle. Further, the second angle can be adjusted by a simple operation of rotating and fixing the rotation.

A carriage according to an eleventh related invention is the carriage according to the tenth related invention, wherein the first rotating means includes a first urging means which abuts on the recording head to urge the recording head. The fixing means includes contact means for contacting the recording head against the urging force of the first urging means.

According to the present invention, the first rotating means can be constituted by the first urging means and the fixing means can be constituted by the abutting means. Therefore, the second angle adjusting means can be formed with a small number of parts. Can be configured.

A carriage according to a twelfth related invention is characterized in that, in the carriage according to the tenth or eleventh related invention, the fixing means includes a second lever-shaped member. According to the present invention, since the fixed position can be adjusted by the second lever-shaped member, fine adjustment of the second angle can be easily performed.

A recording apparatus according to a thirteenth related invention is the ninth related invention.
To a twelfth related invention. As a result, also in this recording apparatus, the same functions and effects as those of the ninth to twelfth related inventions can be achieved, and as a result, the recording quality can be improved. In particular, in a large-sized recording device, the recording quality can be improved.

The carriage according to the fourteenth related invention reciprocates while being guided by a guide shaft which is to be arranged parallel to the recording surface of the recording material and perpendicular to the conveying direction of the recording material. A carriage provided with a recording head for performing recording on a recording surface of the recording material, and a support means for supporting the recording head with respect to the carriage so as to be displaceable in a direction perpendicular to the recording surface. It is characterized by the following.

According to the present invention, the carriage reciprocates while being guided by a guide shaft which is to be arranged in parallel with the recording surface of the recording material and perpendicular to the conveying direction of the recording material. The recording is performed on the recording surface of the recording material by the provided recording head. The support means displaces the recording head relative to the carriage in a direction perpendicular to the recording surface.

Accordingly, the paper gap is adjusted by displacing the position of the recording head with respect to the carriage without adjusting the support position of the guide shaft, and the distance between the recording surface and the head surface is adjusted to an appropriate distance. be able to.
Therefore, the paper gap is adjusted so that the recording surface and the head surface can be adjusted not only in the recording device that can adjust the support position of the guide shaft but also in the recording device that cannot adjust the support position of the guide shaft. Can be an appropriate distance.

Further, since the support means is configured to displace the recording head in a direction perpendicular to the recording surface with respect to the carriage, the support means is made strong enough to support only the weight of the recording head. This makes it possible to cope with an increase in the size of the recording apparatus and the size of the recording head. The “direction perpendicular to the recording surface” includes both the direction moving away from the recording surface and the direction approaching the recording surface.

A carriage according to a fifteenth related invention is the carriage according to the fourteenth related invention, wherein the support means is disposed in parallel with a recording surface of the recording material, and the carriage and the recording head are connected to each other. A rotatable support shaft having a cylindrical central portion and a cylindrical end eccentric to the central portion, the central portion supporting the recording head; , The end portion is supported by the carriage.

According to the present invention, the support means includes a support shaft, which rotatably passes through the carriage and the recording head, supports the recording head at a columnar central portion thereof, and supports the recording head with respect to the central portion. The eccentric cylindrical end is supported by the carriage. The support shaft has a structure in which an end supported by the carriage is eccentric with respect to a center portion supporting the printhead. Therefore, by rotating the support shaft, the printhead can be displaced with respect to the carriage. it can. Further, the paper gap can be adjusted by a simple operation called a rotation operation.

A carriage according to a sixteenth related invention is the carriage according to the fifteenth related invention, wherein the recording head has a second hole through which the center of the support shaft passes, and an end of the support shaft through which the end passes. And a sixth hole, wherein the second hole is
A slot having a diameter substantially equal to the center of the support shaft in a direction orthogonal to the recording surface, and having a diameter longer than a center of the support shaft in the transport direction; The hole 6 has a diameter substantially equal to the end of the support shaft in the transport direction, and a diameter longer than the end of the support shaft in a direction perpendicular to the recording surface. It is characterized by being.

According to the present invention, since the second hole and the sixth hole are formed as described above, the central portion of the support shaft is rotated by the rotation operation of the support shaft having the end eccentric to the central portion. , In the second hole, it moves upstream and downstream in the transport direction, but does not move in the direction perpendicular to the recording surface. It moves in the direction perpendicular to the recording surface, but does not move in the upstream and downstream directions in the transport direction.

Here, since the end of the support shaft is supported by the carriage, even if the support shaft is rotated, the recording head is connected to the carriage by the structure of the sixth hole through which the end of the support shaft passes. On the other hand, it is not displaced upstream and downstream in the transport direction. on the other hand,
When the support shaft is rotated, the recording head is displaced relative to the carriage in a direction perpendicular to the recording surface due to the structure of the second hole through which the center of the support shaft passes.

As a result, only the paper gap can be adjusted, and the side effect of the recording head moving in other directions, such as the upstream and downstream directions in the transport direction, can be avoided with the adjustment of the paper gap.

A carriage according to a seventeenth related invention is the carriage according to the sixteenth related invention, wherein a second bearing member comprising a first member and a second member is mounted in the second hole. The first member fits into a fourth hole formed in the recording head, and the second member fits and a central portion of the support shaft can pass therethrough. A fifth hole having a size, wherein the second member fits into the fifth hole and has the sixth hole. .

According to the present invention, since the fifth hole of the first member has a size that allows the central portion of the support shaft to pass through, the support shaft can be inserted into the recording head even after the first member is mounted. Can be done. Thus, after the first member is mounted on the fourth hole, the recording head is mounted on the carriage, and then the support shaft is inserted, and the second member can be mounted on the fifth hole. Is easy to assemble.

A carriage according to an eighteenth related invention is the carriage according to the seventeenth related invention, wherein the second member has a substantially D-shape in a side view in which a part of its outer periphery is linear. The fifth hole has a structure in which the second member fits and penetrates, and around the second hole, the second member is provided with the fifth hole. And a seventh hole having a substantially D-shape in side view is formed so as to penetrate and fit into the recording head.

According to the present invention, the shape of the second member is substantially D-shaped when viewed from the side, and around the second hole, the second member penetrates through the fifth hole to connect with the recording head. Since a seventh hole with a substantially D-shape in side view was formed so as to abut and fit,
The rotation of the second member due to the rotation operation of the support shaft can be suppressed. As a result, the sixth member formed on the second member
The hole shall always be in the form of an elongated hole having a diameter similar to the end of the support shaft in the transport direction, and having a diameter longer than the end of the support shaft in the direction perpendicular to the recording surface. Can be maintained.

A carriage according to a nineteenth related invention is the carriage according to any one of the fifteenth to eighteenth related inventions, wherein at least a part of the cylindrical surface at the center of the support shaft has a circumferential shape. A plurality of planes along a direction, wherein the recording head has at least one of the plurality of planes.
A second urging means for urging the two.

According to the present invention, since the second urging means urges at least one of the planes on the cylindrical surface at the center of the support shaft, the rotation of the support shaft is changed for each of the plurality of surfaces. The rotation of the support shaft is stopped in a stepwise manner and in a state where the second urging means is urging the surface. Therefore, the paper gap can be switched stepwise, and the recording head can be stopped at the position switched stepwise. Further, since the support shaft is urged by the second urging means, the wobble of the support shaft itself can be prevented.

The recording device according to the twentieth related invention is the
A carriage according to any one of the fourth to nineteenth related inventions is provided.

Thus, also in this recording apparatus, it is possible to achieve the same functions and effects as in the fourteenth to nineteenth related inventions, and as a result, it is possible to improve the recording quality. In particular, in a large-sized recording device, the recording quality can be improved.

The paper gap adjusting apparatus according to the twenty-first related invention is reciprocated by being guided by a guide shaft which is to be arranged parallel to the recording surface of the recording material and perpendicular to the conveying direction of the recording material. A paper gap adjusting device for a carriage having a recording head for moving and recording on a recording surface of the recording material, the displacing means including displacement means for displacing the recording head in a direction perpendicular to the recording surface. It is characterized by being.

According to the present invention, the carriage reciprocates while being guided by a guide shaft which is to be arranged in parallel with the recording surface of the recording material and perpendicular to the conveying direction of the recording material. The recording is performed on the recording surface of the recording material by the provided recording head. Then, the displacement means displaces the recording head in a direction orthogonal to the recording surface.

Thus, by displacing the position of the recording head without adjusting the support position of the guide shaft, the paper gap can be adjusted and the proper distance between the recording surface and the head surface can be obtained. it can. Therefore, the paper gap is adjusted so that the recording surface and the head surface can be adjusted not only in the recording device that can adjust the support position of the guide shaft but also in the recording device that cannot adjust the support position of the guide shaft. Can be an appropriate distance.

Also, since the displacement means is configured to displace the recording head in a direction perpendicular to the recording surface, the displacement means can be made strong enough to support only the weight of the recording head. This makes it possible to cope with an increase in the size of the recording apparatus and the size of the recording head. In addition,
The “direction perpendicular to the recording surface” includes both the direction moving away from the recording surface and the direction approaching the recording surface.

A paper gap adjusting device according to a twenty-second related invention is the paper gap adjusting device according to the twenty-first related invention, wherein the displacement means is arranged in parallel with the recording surface of the recording material. A support shaft rotatably passing through the carriage and the recording head, and second rotating means for rotating the support shaft.
It has a cylindrical central part and a cylindrical end eccentric to the central part, the central part supporting the recording head, and the end supported by the carriage. It is characterized by.

According to the present invention, the support shaft supports the recording head at the center of the column, and the end of the column is supported by the carriage. Then, the second rotating means rotates the support shaft. Since the support shaft has a structure in which the end is eccentric with respect to the center, the recording head is displaced with respect to the carriage by the rotation of the support shaft. As a result, the recording head can be displaced with respect to the carriage, and the paper gap can be adjusted.

A paper gap adjusting device according to a twenty-third related invention is the paper gap adjusting device according to the twenty-second related invention, wherein the second rotating means is provided separately from the carriage. In addition, when the carriage returns to the standby position, the carriage is disposed at a position for rotating the support shaft.

According to the present invention, since the second rotating means is provided separately from the carriage, the weight of the carriage can be reduced. Further, since the second rotating means is arranged at a position for rotating the support shaft when the carriage returns to the standby position (home position), the recording operation of the carriage along the guide shaft is obstructed. The rotation of the support shaft can be performed without performing.

A paper gap adjusting device according to a twenty-fourth related invention is the paper gap adjusting device according to the twenty-third related invention, wherein the second rotating means is a motor,
A sun gear for transmitting the rotational force of the motor, and at least two planetary gears revolving around the sun gear, the support shaft having, at its end, a driven gear engaged with one of the planetary gears; The planetary gear is located at a neutral position where the carriage does not engage with the driven gear when the carriage returns to the home position, and is engaged with the driven gear when displacing the recording head. It is characterized by moving while rotating.

According to the present invention, the motor rotates the sun gear, the sun gear rotates the planetary gear, and the planetary gear engages with and rotates the driven gear. As a result, the support shaft rotates and the paper gap is adjusted.
As described above, since the second rotating means includes the sun gear and at least two planetary gears revolving around the sun gear, the support shaft is changed by changing the planetary gear engaged with the driven gear. It can be rotated both clockwise and counterclockwise.

When the carriage returns to the standby position,
Since the planetary gear is placed in a neutral position that does not engage with the driven gear, it is possible to avoid a situation where the planetary gear and the driven gear collide with each other and damage the gear when the carriage returns to the standby position. In addition, the carriage can be smoothly returned to the standby position.

Further, when the recording head is displaced, the planetary gear is moved while rotating to the engagement position where it is engaged with the driven gear, so that the planetary gear and the driven gear are securely engaged. be able to.

The recording apparatus according to the twenty-fifth related invention is the
A paper gap adjusting device according to any one of the first to twenty-fourth related inventions is provided.

Thus, also in this recording apparatus, the same functions and effects as those of the twenty-first to twenty-fourth related inventions can be achieved, and as a result, the recording quality can be improved. In particular, in a large-sized recording device, the recording quality can be improved.

The carriage according to the twenty-sixth related invention reciprocates while being guided by a guide shaft which is to be arranged parallel to the recording surface of the recording material and perpendicular to the conveying direction of the recording material. 7. A carriage provided with a recording head for performing recording on a recording surface of the recording material, wherein the third angle adjusting unit according to claim 1 and the first to seventh related inventions. The first angle adjusting means according to any one of the inventions, the second angle adjusting means according to any one of the ninth to twelfth related inventions, and any one of the fourteenth to nineteenth related inventions And a supporting means according to one aspect of the invention.

According to the present invention, the first angle, the second angle, and the paper gap can be individually adjusted by adjusting the position of the recording head with respect to the carriage without adjusting the support position of the guide shaft. In addition, the third angle can be adjusted in the carriage for adjusting the first angle, the second angle, and the paper gap in this manner.

In the third angle adjustment, the same operation and effect as those of the first to sixth aspects of the invention are provided, and in the first angle adjustment, the same effect as in the first to seventh aspects of the invention is provided. In the adjustment of the second angle, the same effects as those of the ninth to twelfth related inventions are obtained, and in the adjustment of the paper gap, the same effects as those of the fourteenth to nineteenth related inventions. , Each can be achieved.

Further, the first angle, the second angle, the third angle, and the paper gap can be adjusted by one support shaft for supporting the recording head with respect to the carriage, thereby simplifying the mechanism of the carriage. And the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

The recording apparatus according to the twenty-seventh related invention is a
6 is characterized by including a carriage according to the related invention. Thereby, also in this recording apparatus, the same operation and effect as the twenty-sixth related invention can be achieved, and as a result, the recording quality can be improved.

A recording apparatus according to a twenty-eighth related invention reciprocates while being guided by a guide shaft which is to be arranged parallel to the recording surface of the recording material and perpendicular to the conveying direction of the recording material. 7. A carriage provided with a recording head for performing recording on a recording surface of the recording material, wherein the third angle adjusting means according to claim 1 and the first to seventh angle adjusting means.
A first angle adjusting means according to any one of the related inventions; a second angle adjusting means according to any one of the ninth to twelfth related inventions; and a fifteenth to nineteenth related invention. A carriage provided with a supporting means according to any one of the inventions; and a second rotating means according to any one of the twenty-second to twenty-fourth related inventions. I do.

Thus, the adjustment of the paper gap in such a carriage can be performed by the second rotating means according to any one of the twenty-second to twenty-fourth related inventions. In addition to the same function and effect as the above, the same function and effect as the twenty-second to twenty-fourth related inventions can be obtained.

[0101]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A large-size recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied will be described below as an embodiment of the present invention.

1. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a recording unit of a large recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is a front view of the recording unit. This large-sized recording apparatus is configured to perform recording (printing or the like) on a recording material (paper or the like) supplied from a recording material supply unit (not shown) by reciprocating the carriage 1.

In this large-sized recording apparatus, a main shaft 4 and a sub shaft 5 are disposed orthogonal to the recording material conveying direction. The main shaft 4 and the sub shaft 5 are respectively provided with shaft mounting portions 3 of one side frame (left side frame) 6 and the other side frame (right side frame) 7 constituting the apparatus main body.
2a, 33a and 32b, 33b, and protrude left and right beyond the range between both side frames,
They are arranged in parallel. The main shaft 4 has a main shaft bearing portion 28 of the carriage 1, and the sub shaft 5 has a sub shaft bearing portion 2 of the carriage 1.
7 are slidably mounted on the carriage 1
Are reciprocally supported by these shafts.

The recording head 2 is incorporated in the carriage 1. A carriage motor 9 and a driving pulley 35 are provided on the left side frame 6 side of the main shaft 4 projecting from both side frames 6 and 7, and a driven pulley 36 is provided on the right side frame 7 side. Drive pulley 3
Between the driven pulley 5 and the driven pulley 36, a belt 8 linked to the carriage 1 is hung. The driving force of the carriage motor 9 is transmitted to the carriage 1 by the belt 8, and the carriage 1 reciprocates along the main shaft 4 and the sub shaft 5.

One end of the flat cable 3 is connected to a connector of the recording head 2 and is fixed so as to extend horizontally in a moving direction from a portion (side portion) facing the movement when the carriage 1 moves. . Since the flat cable 3 is routed following the reciprocating movement of the carriage 1, the flat cable 3 is held by the cable holder 31 at a substantially middle point of the moving range in which the carriage 1 reciprocates. A loop-shaped U-turn portion turned 180 degrees is formed between the horizontal portions.

A standby position (home position) detector 29 attached to the right side frame 7 detects that the carriage 1 is located at the standby position.

2. Adjustment of Adjustment Angle and Paper Gap The parallelism between the head surface of the recording head 2 (the surface facing the recording surface of the recording material) and the recording surface of the recording material is one of the angles shown in FIG. , Β angle (first angle) and γ angle (second angle)
Are adjusted to be as small as possible. In addition, the parallelism between the dot forming element array provided on the head surface (in this embodiment, a nozzle array in which nozzles for ejecting ink are arranged along the transport direction) and the transport direction are shown in FIG. , Α angle (third angle) is made as small as possible.

The adjustment of the paper gap is performed by adjusting the distance between the recording head 2 and the recording material. The adjustment of these angles and the adjustment of the paper gap are performed by displacing the recording head 2 with respect to the carriage 1.

3. Configuration of carriage 3.1. Outline of Carriage FIG. 4 is a front view showing details of the carriage 1 when the carriage 1 is located at the standby position, and FIG. 5 is a right side view thereof. In the right side view of FIG. 5, the arrow A direction is originally a vertical direction, and the arrow B direction is a horizontal direction. However, for convenience of explanation, the recording surface of the recording material 22 and the head surface facing the recording material 22 are shown in FIG. In FIG. Reference numeral 23 denotes a paper feed roller (drive roller and driven roller), and reference numeral 25 denotes a paper discharge roller (drive roller and driven roller).

The recording head 2 is incorporated in the carriage 1 and attached to the carriage 1 by the support shaft 10 and the fixing plate 11. The recording head 2 has an ink cartridge 2 a mounted thereon, and a head unit 2 b for discharging ink onto the recording material 22 is provided at a position facing the recording material 22. On the head surface of the head portion 2b,
A plurality of nozzles for ink ejection are provided in a nozzle row.

The support shaft 10 penetrates the left and right side walls 1a and 1b of the carriage 1 and the left and right side walls 2c and 2d of the recording head 2, and both ends protrude from both side walls 1a and 1b of the carriage 1, respectively. ing. First bearing members (β-angle adjusting bearing members) 15 and 16 are attached to the protruding ends. Thus, the support shaft 10 is rotatably attached to the carriage 1, and the recording head 2 is supported by the carriage 1. As will be described in detail later, the first bearing members 15 and 16 and the support shaft 10 cause the β angle and the paper
The gap adjustment (especially the fine adjustment of the paper gap) is performed.

A second bearing member (a bearing member for α-angle adjustment) is attached to a portion where the support shaft 10 passes through the right side wall 2d of the recording head 2. The second bearing member includes a first member (rotating member) 14 and a second member (spacer) 13 (see also FIG. 11 described later). As will be described later in detail, the α angle is adjusted by the second bearing members (the first member 14 and the second member 13) and the support shaft 10.

A driven gear 17 is attached to one end (the right end in FIG. 4) of the support shaft 10, and the PG drive unit 1
8 to be engaged with the planetary gears 18c or 18d. The PG drive unit 18 (not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) is provided separately from the carriage 1, and is attached to a frame (not shown) of the large-sized recording apparatus.
The PG drive unit 18 can be attached to the carriage 1, but in order to reduce the weight of the carriage 1,
As in the present embodiment, it is preferable to be provided separately from the carriage 1.

The PG drive unit 18 includes a drive motor 18a, a sun gear mechanism 18b, and two planetary gears 18a.
c and 18d. Sun gear mechanism 1
8b is attached to the drive shaft of the drive motor 18a, and rotates by the drive force of the drive motor 18a. Planetary gear 1
8c and 18d engage with the sun gear mechanism 18b and revolve around this, and engage with the driven gear 17. When the carriage 1 returns to the standby position, the planetary gears 18c and 18d
Are controlled by a drive control unit (not shown) so as to be located at a neutral position that does not engage with the driven gear 17.
Thus, when the carriage 1 returns to the standby position, the driven gear 17 does not collide with the planetary gears 18c and 18d.

As will be described in detail later, when the carriage 1 is at the standby position, the PG drive unit 18 rotates the driven gear 17 (that is, the support shaft 10) by using the planetary gears 18b and 18c. Thus, adjustment of the paper gap (particularly, switching of the paper gap) is performed.

The fixing plate 11 is attached to the carriage 1 together with the γ-angle adjusting lever (second lever-like member) 12 by screws 21a and 21b. As will be described in detail later, the γ angle is adjusted by the fixing plate 11, the support shaft 10, and the γ angle adjusting lever 12, and the recording head 2 is adjusted.
Is fixed to the carriage 1.

In the following, the adjustment of the α angle, the β angle and the γ angle, and the adjustment of the paper gap will be described for the sake of convenience in the adjustment of the β angle and the paper gap (especially fine adjustment of the paper gap), The description will be made in the order of the adjustment of the γ angle and the adjustment of the paper gap (particularly, the switching of the paper gap).

3.2. Adjustment of β angle and adjustment of paper gap Adjustment of β angle and paper gap (especially fine adjustment of paper gap) is performed by first bearing members (bearing members for β angle adjustment) 15 and 16 and support shaft 10. Done by
6A and 6B show the support shaft 10, wherein FIG. 6A is a perspective view, FIG. 6B is a front view, and FIG. 6C is a side view. The support shaft 10 is made of metal, and has a large diameter portion 10a and small diameter portions 1 formed at both ends thereof.
0b and 10c.

[0119] center of both the small-diameter portion 10b and 10c (axis) _{O 1} are both with respect to the axis _{O 0} of the large-diameter portion 10a, is eccentric in the same direction by a distance d, constitute the eccentric shaft portion ing. The central part of the large-diameter part 10a is one of its circumference.
A portion corresponding to less than / 2 has a cutting portion 10d cut so as to have three continuous planes along the circumferential direction. The cutting portion 10d is formed on the side of the cylinder of the large diameter portion 10a on the side where the eccentric shaft portions 10b and 10c are eccentric with respect to the large diameter portion 10a, and the center of the center of the three planes is the axis O _1. It is formed so as to be positioned on a line connecting the axis O ₀ and.

At the tip of the eccentric shaft portion 10c, a mounting portion 10e for the driven gear 17 is formed. This mounting part 1
In 0e, a part of the circumference of the eccentric shaft portion 10c is cut, so that the eccentric shaft portion 10c is substantially D-shaped in side view. The bearing hole of the driven gear 17 into which the mounting portion 10e is fitted is also substantially D-shaped in side view. The driven gear 17 has a substantially D-shape when viewed from the side.
Is designed not to idle with respect to the support shaft 10. A groove provided in the circumferential direction near the tip of the mounting portion 10e is provided with a claw (not shown) provided on the driven gear 17.
Is to prevent the driven gear 17 from easily falling out of the mounting portion 10e by engaging with this groove.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line II of FIG.
Similarly, for convenience of explanation, the recording surface of the recording material and the head surface facing the recording material are illustrated as being horizontal in the drawing. First holes 50 and 51 are formed in both side walls 1a and 1b of the carriage 1, respectively. These first holes 50 and 51 are provided with support shafts 10.
The first bearing member 1 penetrates the two eccentric shaft portions 10b and 10c and rotatably supports these eccentric shaft portions.
5 and 16 are respectively mounted.

FIG. 7 shows a first bearing member 16 mounted on the right side wall 1b of the carriage 1 and a first bearing member 16 on which the first bearing member 16 is mounted.
Only the hole 51 is shown, and the illustration of the first bearing member 15 mounted on the left side wall 1a and the hole 50 on which the first bearing member 15 is mounted is omitted. In the following, the first bearing member 16
And only the first hole 51 will be described, except that the first bearing member 15 and the first hole 50 are mirror images of the first bearing member 16 and the first hole 51, respectively. The contents of the first bearing member 16 and the first hole 51 described below also apply to the first bearing member 15 and the first hole 50 in the same manner.

The first bearing member 16 is formed integrally with a bearing portion 16a (to be described in detail later) which fits into the hole 51 and a lever portion (first lever-like member) 16b composed of other portions. The elastic member (for example, a synthetic resin having elasticity) is provided, and is rotatable around the bearing 16a. The bearing 16a further includes a support shaft 1
A holding portion (described later) for holding the zero eccentric shaft portion 10c is formed, and a flexible piece 16e is further provided on the lever portion 16b.
And a screw hole 16c formed in an arc shape. The provision of the lever portion 16b facilitates the turning operation of the first bearing member 16 and fine adjustment of the angle.

The bearing 16a is fitted into the hole 51 with the eccentric shaft 10c penetrating the hole formed therein. Thereafter, the screw 101 is attached to the side wall 1b via the screw hole 16c. As a result, the first bearing member 16 is mounted on the side wall 1b and the support shaft 1
0 and the recording head 2 supported by the support shaft 10,
Supported on the carriage 1. The screwing with the screw 101 is performed with such a strength that the first bearing member 16 can rotate around the bearing portion 16a. However, adjustment of the β angle and / or adjustment of the paper gap are performed. After the completion of one of them, the first bearing member 16 may be further strongly screwed in order to prevent the first bearing member 16 from shifting due to vibration of the carriage 1 or the like.

At the tip of the flexible piece 16e, a knob 16d protruding forward in FIG. 7 is formed integrally with the flexible piece 16e. Also, the back surface of the flexible piece 16e (side wall 1b)
A protrusion (not shown) that engages with and disengages from a plurality of graduated grooves 1c formed in an arc shape on the side wall 1b is formed integrally with the flexible piece 16e. When the knob 16d is pulled forward, the protrusion comes off the scale-like groove 1c, and the first bearing member 16 can rotate about the bearing 16a. After turning to the desired position, when the pull of the knob 16d is released, the protrusion engages with one of the scale grooves 1c. As a result, the first bearing member 16 (that is, the β angle or the paper gap) can be adjusted to a desired position within the range in which the scale groove 1c is provided, and after the adjustment, the first bearing member 16 is adjusted. 16 can be prevented from being carelessly rotated.

The knob 16d is formed with a hole (not shown) through which a needle-like operating tool is inserted. The rotating operation of the first bearing member 16 can be performed by rotating the needle inserted through this hole. It can also be performed by using an operating tool in the shape of a letter. In addition, the first bearing member 16
(I.e., the operation of adjusting the β angle or the paper gap) is usually not performed by the user, but is performed at the factory.

Next, a specific mechanism for adjusting the β angle by the first bearing member 16 will be described. FIG.
8A is an enlarged view of a bearing portion 16a of the first bearing member 16, and FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 8A. The hole 51 has a substantially square hole 51a and a pair of insertion holes 51b, 51b formed at opposite corners. The substantially square hole 51a is formed by connecting a linear contact side a1 extending in a direction orthogonal to the recording surface, a second side a2 facing the contact side a1, and the contact side a1 and the second side a2. And a pair of third sides a3 and a3 opposed to each other.

The bearing portion 16a has a hollow rotating portion 160 rotatably fitted in the hole 51, and a bearing portion 16a.
Has a locking portion 161 on the outside and a pair of locking pieces 162 and 162 on the inside to prevent the hole from accidentally falling out of the hole.

The mounting of the bearing portion 16a into the hole 51 is performed by aligning the locking pieces 162, 162 with the insertion openings 51b, 51b.
After the bearing portion 16a is fitted into the hole 51 from the outside of the side wall 1b, the flexible piece 16e is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 8A (and FIG. 7). As a result, as shown in FIG. 8B, the locking pieces 162 and 162 come into contact with the inner surface of the side wall 1b, and the locking portion 161 moves to the side wall 1b.
The bearing portion 16a is prevented from coming out of the hole 51 by contact with the outer surface of the hole.

[0130] The rotating portion 160 is an eccentric shaft portion 1 of the support shaft 10.
0c is rotatably held by a holding portion 160a. The eccentric shaft portion 10c has a first circular arc surface c1 that contacts the contact side a1 of the hole 51. In addition, the rotating portion 160 includes a second arc surface c2 abutting on the second side a2 of the hole 51 and a pair of third arc surfaces c abutting on the third sides a3 and a3, respectively.
3 and c3.

FIGS. 9A and 9B show the eccentric shaft 10.
3 schematically shows the relationship among the hole c, the hole 51, and the rotating portion 160 of the bearing 16a. In these figures,
In order to make the explanation easy to understand,
b, 51b are omitted, and the circumferential portions of the second circular surface c2 and the third circular surfaces c3, c3 are longer than those of FIG. Is omitted.

In this embodiment, the eccentric shaft 10
The shapes and dimensions of c, hole 51, and rotating part 160 are as follows.
It is set almost as follows. The second arc surface c2 is
An arc surface of the center O ₁ and the concentric first arcuate surface c1, a third arcuate surface c3 pair has its center O ₃ is the radius of curvature R ₃ in common the same arc surface. And the first arc surface c
The radius of curvature of the _first arc surface c2 is R ₁ and the radius of curvature of the second arc surface c2 is R _1
2, when the distance between the center _{O 1} and the center _{O 3} of the third arcuate surface c3 of the first arcuate surface c1 (i.e. eccentricity) was A,
R ₁ , R ₂ , R ₃ and A are set such that the following relationship is established: R ₁ + R ₂ = 2R ₃ (1) R ₃ −R ₁ = A (2)

The first contact side a1 and the second contact side a
The distance between the 2 _R 1 + _{R 2,} the third contact side a3 interval between the are set to be 2R _3.

If the above-mentioned dimensions are obtained with high accuracy, the bearing portion 16a (ie, the rotating portion 160)
Is rotated, the center O3 of the _third arc surface c3 moves in the direction (± Y-axis direction) orthogonal to the contact side a1 while the center O3 of the first arc surface c1 of the eccentric shaft portion 10c is moved. ₁ is the contact side a
It moves in parallel (± Z-axis direction) with 1. That is, when the rotating portion 160 is rotated by the angle θ, the center O _{3 of} the third arc surface c3 is displaced in the Y-axis direction by y1 = A−A × cos θ, and the center O ₃ of the first arc surface c1 is displaced. ₁ is z1 = A × sin
Displaces in the Z-axis direction by θ.

Therefore, when the dimensions described above are obtained with high precision, as shown in FIG.
Is rotated, the center O3 of the _third arc surface c3 moves in the direction (± Y-axis direction) orthogonal to the contact side a1 while the center O3 of the first arc surface c1 of the eccentric shaft portion 10c is moved. ₁ is the contact side a
It moves in parallel (± Z-axis direction) with 1. As a result, the support shaft 10 moves parallel to the contact side a1.

Since the linear contact side a1 extends in the direction perpendicular to the recording surface, the support shaft 10 moves only in the direction perpendicular to the recording surface with respect to the carriage 1. Also,
As shown in FIG. 16 (to be described in detail later), the recording head 2 has a ceiling wall 2e and a contact portion 11a of a fixed plate 11 provided in a direction perpendicular to the recording surface and a carriage spring 20.
(Spring cap 40), and is restricted to move only in a direction perpendicular to the recording surface. Therefore, the recording head 2 supported by the support shaft 10 is moved relative to the carriage 1 by rotating one or both of the first bearing members 15 and 16.
It is displaced only in the direction perpendicular to the recording surface.

FIG. 10 shows this state. FIG.
9A shows the position of the first bearing member 16 and the recording head 2 corresponding to FIG. 9A, and FIG. 10B shows the position of the first bearing member 16 and the recording head 2 corresponding to FIG. 9B. Are shown, respectively. The first bearing member 16 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, when the recording head 2 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction, the portion of the recording head 2 on the first bearing member 16 side (right side in FIG. Move in an orthogonal upward direction. That is, the portion of the recording head 2 on the first bearing member 16 side rises with respect to the carriage 1. On the other hand, although not shown, the first bearing member 16
When the is rotated clockwise, the portion of the recording head 2 on the first bearing member 16 side descends with respect to the carriage 1.

By performing this operation on both or one of the left and right first bearing members 15 and 16, the β angle of the recording head 2 can be adjusted with high accuracy, and as a result, the head surface and the recording surface can be adjusted. The degree of parallelism with the surface is adjusted with high accuracy, and the printing quality can be improved. By performing this operation on both the left and right first bearing members 15 and 16 while keeping the head surface and the recording surface parallel, the paper gap can be accurately adjusted. In particular, fine adjustment of the position is possible, which is effective for fine adjustment of the paper gap. As a result, the distance between the head surface and the recording surface can be adjusted with high accuracy, and the printing quality can be improved. it can.

Further, since the β angle and the paper gap are adjusted by displacing the recording head 2 with respect to the carriage 1, the main shaft 4 and the sub shaft 5 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) are fixed to the side frames. In the recording apparatus, the β angle and the paper gap can be adjusted.

Furthermore, the β angle and the paper gap can be easily adjusted with a small number of parts such as the support shaft 10 and the first bearing members 15 and 16. What is necessary is just to have a strength capable of supporting the recording head 2.
Even in a large-sized recording device, it is not necessary to have a configuration having a large strength, and the bending of the support shaft 10 and the deformation of the bearing portion 16a due to the weight can be made as small as negligible.

When the dimensions of the bearing portion 16a as described above can be obtained with high accuracy, the bearing portion 16a (rotating portion 1) is used.
60) is not necessarily made of an elastic member, or even if it does not have sufficient elasticity, the end of the support shaft 10 moves only in the direction perpendicular to the recording surface due to the rotation. Adjustment of paper gap can be performed.

On the other hand, when the bearing section 16a (rotating section 160) is made of an elastic member, the dimensions need not always be high precision. Due to the elasticity of the bearing portion 16a, the end of the support shaft 10 is pressed against the contact side a1 to rotate, and the center O3 of the _third circular surface c3 moves in a direction orthogonal to the contact side a1. Center O ₁ of eccentric shaft part 10c
Move in parallel with the contact side a1.

Therefore, the bearing 16 made of an elastic member can be used.
a (rotating part 160) is rotatably fitted in the hole 51, supports the end of the support shaft 10, and presses the end of the support shaft 10 against the contact side a1 by its elasticity. The configuration such as the shape of the hole 51 and the bearing portion 16a (rotating portion 160) is not limited to the illustrated one as long as the configuration is satisfied. For example, the rotating portion 160 does not have to be hollow, and may have a shape shown in FIG. 9 in addition to the shape shown in FIG.

On the other hand, if it has a second arc surface c2 abutting on the second side a2 and a pair of third arc surfaces c3 and c3 abutting on the third sides a3 and a3, respectively, A smoother turning operation can be obtained. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the rotating portion 160 is formed of an elastic member, and the radii of curvature of the second circular surface c2 and the third circular surface c3 are set to the geometrically ideal dimension R described above. ₂ and R ₃ are slightly larger than each other, and the rotating portion 160 is press-fitted into the hole 51.

3.3. Adjustment of α Angle Adjustment of the α angle is performed by the support shaft 10 and the second bearing member (the rotating member 14 as the first member and the spacer 13 as the second member).

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II of FIG. 4. Similarly to FIG. 4, for convenience of explanation, the recording surface of the recording material and the head surface facing the recording material are horizontal in the drawing. It is illustrated. 12 is a sectional view taken along line VV of FIG. 11, and FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI of FIG. FIG. 14A is a right side view of the recording head 2, and FIG. 14B is a left side view of the recording head 2. FIG. 15 shows how the α angle adjustment is performed.

On the left side wall 2c of the recording head 2, FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 (B), a left sixth hole (elongated hole) 2f through which the left eccentric shaft portion 10b of the support shaft 10 is rotatably penetrated is formed. The diameter of this long hole 2f is
The direction in which the recording material is conveyed (here, both the upstream direction and the downstream direction, which means the vertical direction in FIG. 12).
same as below. ), The diameter of the eccentric shaft 10b is substantially the same as or slightly larger than the diameter of the eccentric shaft 10b so that the eccentric shaft 10b penetrates, but in a direction perpendicular to the recording surface (see FIGS. 13 and 14B). In the vertical direction), the diameter is longer than the diameter of the eccentric shaft portion 10b so that the recording head 2 can move with respect to the eccentric shaft portion 10b.
Therefore, the recording head 2 does not move with respect to the eccentric shaft portion 10b (that is, the end portion of the support shaft 10) in the recording material transport direction, but can move in the direction perpendicular to the recording surface. .

Further, a through wall 2h through which the large diameter portion 10a of the support shaft 10 penetrates is provided near the inside of the left side wall 2c.
As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, a second hole (long hole) 2g on the left side through which the large diameter portion 10a of the support shaft 10 rotatably penetrates is formed in the through wall 2h. The diameter of the elongated hole 2g is substantially the same as or slightly larger than the diameter of the large-diameter portion 10a so that the large-diameter portion 10a penetrates in the direction perpendicular to the recording surface. Is larger than the diameter of the large diameter portion 10a so that the large diameter portion 10a can move to some extent. Therefore, the large diameter portion 10a (that is, the central portion of the support shaft 10)
Does not move in the direction perpendicular to the recording surface, but can move in the transport direction of the recording material.

On the right side wall 2d of the recording head 2, FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14A, the second hole 2i, the seventh hole 2j, and the fourth hole 2k on the right side are integrally formed.

The second hole 2i on the right side is formed at the deepest part when viewed from the outside of the right wall 2d.
It has the same shape as the hole 2g. The elongated hole 2i is a through hole through which the large-diameter portion 10a of the support shaft 10 penetrates, and the large-diameter portion 10a extends in the longitudinal direction of the elongated hole (the transport direction of the recording material).
It is somewhat mobile.

Therefore, the large diameter portion 10a of the support shaft 10
Is slightly movable in the transport direction of the recording material in the two second holes 2g and 2i. This movable structure is used in the adjustment of the paper gap (particularly, the switching of the paper gap) described in detail later.

The seventh hole 2j is formed in front of the long hole 2i and around the long hole 2i when viewed from the outside of the right side wall 2d. In FIG. 14A, a long hole 2i is formed in the lower left portion of the hole 2j.
The portion where i is formed is a through hole as described above, but other portions do not penetrate and have a flat bottom.

A spacer 13 (see FIGS. 11 and 15) having a substantially D-shape in a side view described later is fitted into the hole 2j. For this reason, the hole 2j also has a substantially D-shape in a side view having a straight portion at the upper part of the inner periphery. The diameter of the hole 2j in the vertical direction (that is, the direction perpendicular to the recording surface) (that is, the diameter between the linear portion and the arc portion facing the portion) s
1 (see FIG. 14A) is a diameter s2 (see FIG. 15) between the linear portion of the spacer 13 and the arc portion opposed thereto.
However, the diameter t1 (see FIG. 14A) in the lateral direction (that is, the transport direction) is
It is larger than the diameter t2 of the spacer 13 (see FIG. 15). That is, the hole 2j has a substantially D-shape when viewed from the side, but is a long hole elongated in the transport direction of the recording material.

The fourth hole 2k is located on the near side (that is, the shallowest part) of the hole 2j when viewed from the side surface of the right side wall 2d.
It is a circular round hole formed around j. This round hole 2k
, Except for the portion where the hole 2j is formed,
It has a flat bottom that is one step higher than the bottom of the hole 2j.
Thus, the holes 2i, 2j, and 2k have a three-stage structure, in which the hole 2j is formed in the hole 2k, and the hole 2i is formed in the hole 2j.

As shown in FIGS. 11, 12, 13, and 15, a rotating member 14 is mounted in the hole 2k. The rotating member 14 is a bearing 1 that is rotatably fitted into the hole 2k.
4a, a hook 14b, and a third lever-like member (flexible piece) 14c.

The bearing portion 14a has a circular outer periphery having substantially the same shape and size as the hole 2k, and a circular fifth hole 140 into which the spacer 13 is fitted. This fifth hole 140 is
The large-diameter portion 10a has a size capable of penetrating therethrough, and has a through hole through which the spacer 13 penetrates. Further, the fifth hole 140 is eccentric with respect to the outer periphery of the bearing portion 14a.

The hook 14b is connected to the right side wall 2 of the recording head 2.
d so as to movably engage with the arc-shaped slit 2m formed in the recording head 2 so that the rotating member 14 does not come off the recording head 2.

The flexible piece 14c has a knob 14d formed at the tip thereof, an insertion hole 14e formed at the base of the knob 14d, and a back surface (surface in contact with the side wall 2d) of the flexible piece 14c.
And a projection (not shown) that engages and disengages with a plurality of graduated grooves 2n formed in an arc shape on the side wall 2d.

The rotating member 14 is mounted on the side wall 2d by fitting the bearing portion 14a into the hole 2k and fitting the hook 14b into an insertion hole 20m formed at one end of the slit 2m. Is adjusted to a desired position. The turning operation is performed in a state where the protrusion on the back side of the flexible piece 14c is prevented from engaging with the scale-shaped groove 2n by pulling the knob 14d to the near side in FIG. After the rotation, when the pull of the knob 14d is released, the projection on the back side engages with one of the scale-shaped grooves 2n.

As a result, the turning member 14 (ie, the α angle) can be adjusted to an arbitrary position within the range where the scale groove 2n is provided, and after the adjustment, the turning member 14 can be adjusted.
Can be prevented from being inadvertently rotated. In addition, the provision of the third lever-shaped member (flexible piece) 14 facilitates the turning operation and the fine adjustment of the angle. Note that the operation of pulling the knob 14d forward is performed by inserting the knob 14e into the insertion hole 14e.
It can also be performed using a needle-shaped operating tool inserted through the device.

The spacer 13 is formed of a substantially D-shaped cylindrical member having a linear portion in a part of the outer periphery thereof. The spacer 13 fits into the fifth hole 140 of the bearing portion 14a and penetrates through the fifth hole 140 to fit into the substantially D-shaped hole 2j formed in the side wall 2d when viewed from the side. That is,
The linear portion on the outer periphery of the spacer 13 fits into the hole 2j in conformity with the linear portion of the substantially D-shaped hole 2j in side view. The rotation of the spacer 13 is suppressed by the fact that the linear portion on the outer periphery of the spacer 13 matches the linear portion of the hole 2j. Since the hole 2j has a bottom, the spacer 13
Abuts on this bottom to prevent its fitting.
On the other hand, since the hole 2j is a long hole that is long in the transport direction of the recording material, the spacer 13 is movable in the transport direction of the recording material along the hole 2j.

The spacer 13 has a sixth hole 13a on the right side through which the right eccentric shaft 10c of the support shaft 10 penetrates. The diameter of the hole 13a is about the same as or slightly larger than the diameter of the eccentric shaft 10c so that the eccentric shaft 10c penetrates in a direction parallel to the linear portion on the outer periphery of the spacer 13. In the direction perpendicular to the straight line portion, the eccentric shaft portion 10c is longer than the diameter of the eccentric shaft portion 10c so as to be movable. As previously mentioned,
Since the spacer 13 is mounted such that the linear portion on the outer periphery thereof coincides with the linear portion of the hole 2j, the hole 13a becomes a long hole elongated in the direction orthogonal to the recording surface in the mounted state. Therefore, in the hole 13a, the eccentric shaft 10
c is movable in a direction perpendicular to the recording surface, in other words, the recording head 2 is movable in a direction perpendicular to the recording surface with respect to the eccentric shaft portion 10c.

That is, the sixth hole 13a on the right is a long hole elongated in the direction perpendicular to the recording surface, like the sixth hole 2f on the left. Thus, the recording head 2 can move in a direction perpendicular to the recording surface with respect to the left eccentric shaft 10b and the right eccentric shaft 10c. This movable structure is used in the adjustment of the paper gap (particularly, the switching of the paper gap) described in detail later.

[0164] The second bearing member is formed of a rotating member 14 as a first member and a spacer 13 as a second member.
By configuring the carriage 1 with one member, the carriage 1 can be easily assembled.

That is, since the rotating member 14 is mounted on the recording head 2, in order to facilitate the mounting, the carriage 1 is usually assembled after the second bearing member is mounted on the recording head 2. It is preferable that the recording head 2 is incorporated into the carriage 1, and then the support shaft 10 is inserted through the carriage 1 and the recording head 2. Also in this order, since the rotating member 14 has the hole 140 having a size that allows the large-diameter portion 10a of the support shaft 10 to be inserted, the support shaft 10 can be inserted without any problem.
Finally, the spacer 13 is moved to the side wall 1 of the carriage 1.
The bearing of the support shaft 10 can be completed by fitting through the hole 51 formed in b.

On the other hand, when the rotating member 14 serving as the first member and the spacer 13 serving as the second member integrally form the second bearing member, the order of the assembly is as follows.
The support shaft 10 cannot be inserted. Conversely,
When the recording head 2 has a structure that allows the second bearing member to be mounted after the support shaft 10 is inserted,
If the recording head 2 and / or the recording head 2 have a configuration that can be assembled in an order different from the order of the assembling, the second bearing member is not necessarily composed of the first member and the second member. It is not necessary to constitute with one member, and it may be integrally constituted as one member.

Note that the adjustment of the paper gap, which will be described later,
In particular, in consideration of switching of the paper gap, it is preferable that the second bearing member is formed of two members, the rotating member 14 and the spacer 13. This is because, by using two members, even if the rotating member 14 is rotated, the long hole direction of the sixth hole 13a of the spacer 13 can be maintained in the direction orthogonal to the recording surface. This is because the support shaft 10 can be movable in the direction perpendicular to the recording surface.

As shown in FIG. 15, the center P1 of the fifth hole 140 formed in the bearing portion 14a is
It is eccentric with respect to ₀ by a distance e, and the eccentric direction is an upward direction orthogonal to the recording surface in a state where the rotating member 14 is locked at the center of the scale groove 2n. In this state, when the rotating member 14 is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise, the spacer 13 fitted in the hole 140 performs an eccentric motion together with the hole 140. Because of the eccentric motion, the eccentric hole is displaced in both the left-right direction (the direction in which the recording material is conveyed) and the up-down direction (the direction perpendicular to the recording surface) in FIG. To be displaced.

However, the spacer 13 is not provided with the hole 2 in the side wall 2d.
Since the displacement in the vertical direction is suppressed by j, and the displacement in the vertical direction is small, this slight displacement can be reduced by using an elastic member for both or one of the bearing portion 14a and the spacer 13. Absorbed (even if the spacer 13 is slightly displaced in the vertical direction, the displacement is
The eccentric shaft portion 10c is not displaced in the vertical direction by the vertically elongated hole 13a). Therefore, the spacer 13 is displaced only in the left and right directions within the range of the distance f. That is, when the rotating member 14 is rotated clockwise and counterclockwise, the spacer 13 is correspondingly displaced leftward and rightward within the range of the distance f.

As the spacer 13 is displaced in the left-right direction, the eccentric shaft portion 10c supported by the spacer 13 is also displaced in the left-right direction within the range of the distance f. That is, the position where the eccentric shaft portion 10c supports the recording head 2 is
Displace in the left and right direction. On the other hand, since the eccentric shaft portion 10c is fixed to the carriage 1 and is immobile, this displacement acts to displace the recording head 2 with respect to the carriage 1.

That is, in FIG. 12, the recording head 2 is moved in the direction of arrow a, that is, in the direction of the α angle with respect to the carriage 1 around the point T at which the other eccentric shaft portion 10b supports the recording head 2. Rotationally displaces. Specifically, when the rotating member 14 is rotated clockwise and counterclockwise, the recording head 2 correspondingly rotates in the counterclockwise direction and clockwise direction in FIG. Thus, the α angle is adjusted, and the printing quality can be improved.

Since the α angle is adjusted by displacing the recording head 2 with respect to the carriage 1, the
Also, in a recording apparatus in which the sub shaft 5 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) is fixed to the side frame, the α angle can be adjusted. Further, since the recording member 2 is provided with the rotating member 14 and the spacer 13 which are the second bearing members, the position of the recording head 2 is displaced with respect to the carriage 1 by the above-mentioned β angle and the below-mentioned γ angle. Even in this case, without being affected by these other angle adjustments, α
The angle can be adjusted with high accuracy.

Note that the turning operation of the turning member 14 (that is, the adjusting operation of the α angle) is not normally performed by the user, but is performed at the factory. Further, a mechanism for adjusting the α angle (the rotating member 14, the spacer 13, and the hole into which they are fitted) may be provided on the other side wall 2c instead of the side wall 2d of the recording head 2.

3.4. Adjustment of γ Angle Adjustment of the γ angle is performed by the fixed plate 11, the γ angle adjustment lever (second lever-shaped member) 12, and the support shaft 10. FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III of FIG. 4, and, similarly to FIG. 4, for convenience of explanation, the recording surface of the recording material and the head surface facing the recording material are illustrated as being horizontal in the drawing. I have. FIG. 17 is a front view showing how the γ angle is adjusted.
FIG. 18 is a right sectional view thereof.

The recording head 2 is provided with a ceiling wall 2e. A head spring 19 is attached to the center of the end of the ceiling wall 2e on the side of the head portion 2b (the lower side in FIG. 16) (see FIGS. 13 and 16). Head spring 19
Is configured as one surface on the upper side (outside) of the ceiling wall 2e, and is divided into three branches on the bottom side (inside). The surface on the upper surface side of the head spring 19 and the two branches on both ends on the bottom surface side are configured to sandwich the ceiling wall 2e, and one central branch on the bottom surface side is a cutting portion 10d of the support shaft 10. Is configured to bias one of the three surfaces. When the head spring 19 urges the cutting portion 10d (that is, the support shaft 10), the wobbling of the recording head 2 and the free rotation of the support shaft 10 are suppressed and fixed.

The other end of the ceiling wall 2e (the upper end in FIG. 16)
Is urged by a carriage spring 20 and a spring cap 40 provided on the carriage 1, while the protruding abutment 2 p abuts on the abutment portion 11 a of the fixed plate 11 on the inner surface thereof. . That is, the ceiling wall 2e
Are the carriage spring 20 and the spring cap 40
And the fixing plate 11.

The gamma angle adjusting lever 12 is made of an elastic member, and has a dowel 12a and a projection 12b integrally formed on the back surface (the surface in contact with the fixing plate 11) and a screw 21a.
And screw holes 12 respectively screwed by 21b
c and 12d, a knob 12e, and a hole 12f for inserting a needle-shaped operation tool.

The fixing plate 11 is formed perpendicular to the recording surface.
A contact portion 11a with which the butting 2p of the ceiling wall 2e contacts,
A lever mounting portion 11d integrally formed perpendicularly to the contact portion 11a (that is, parallel to the recording surface). A hole 1 into which the dowel 12a fits is provided in the lever mounting portion 11d.
1b, a hole 11c into which the projection 12b fits, and a screw 21
Screw holes (not shown) formed by screws a and 21b are formed.

The γ-angle adjusting lever 12 is attached to the carriage 1 together with the fixing plate 11 by screws 21a and 21b. With this mounting, the mounting portion 11d of the fixing plate 11 is fitted between a pair of rib-like projections 1d, 1d formed on the carriage 1 main body in the transport direction and having substantially the same width as the width of the mounting portion 11d.

The screw hole 12c of the γ-angle adjusting lever 12 is a vertically long hole in FIG. 17, and the screw hole 12d is an arc-shaped hole. As a result, the γ-angle adjustment lever 12 is rotatable around the dowel 12a within the range of these screw holes 12c and 12d. Therefore, screwing by the screws 21a and 21b is performed with such a strength that the γ-angle adjusting lever 12 can rotate. However, after the angle adjustment is completed, it is further strengthened to prevent the carriage 1 from moving due to vibration or the like. It may be screwed.

On the rear side near the knob 12e of the γ-angle adjusting lever 12, a projection (not shown) for engaging and disengaging from a ratchet portion 1f formed on the carriage 1 is integrally formed. Since the γ-angle adjusting lever 12 is made of an elastic member, the knob 12e is pulled forward to
The protrusion on the back surface is disengaged from the ratchet 1f and becomes rotatable. After turning to the desired position, when the pull of the knob 16d is released, the protrusion engages the ratchet 1f. As a result, the γ angle adjustment lever 12 (that is, the γ angle) can be adjusted to a desired position within the range where the ratchet 1f is provided, and after the adjustment, the careless rotation of the γ angle adjustment lever 12 is performed. Can be prevented. Also,
By making the γ angle adjustment lever 12 a lever-shaped member,
The rotation operation is facilitated, and the γ angle can be finely adjusted.

The turning operation of the γ-angle adjusting lever 12 is performed as follows.
It is also possible to use a needle-shaped operating tool inserted through the needle-shaped operating tool insertion hole 12f. Further, the turning operation of the γ angle adjusting lever 12 (that is, the adjusting operation of the γ angle) is not normally performed by the user, but is performed at a factory.

The screw holes (not shown) of the fixing plate 11 and the holes 11b into which the dowels 12a fit are formed together with the fixing plate 11
Are long holes in the vertical direction so that they can move in the vertical direction (transport direction) in FIG. On the other hand, the diameter of the hole 11c into which the projection 12b fits is long in the left-right direction (reciprocating direction) in FIG. 17, but is about the same length as the projection in the up-down direction.

Therefore, in FIG. 17, when the γ angle adjustment lever 12 is rotated clockwise, the projection 12b moves the fixing plate 11 downward (downstream in the transport direction), and moves the γ angle adjustment lever 12 counterclockwise. When rotated clockwise, the fixed plate 1
1 is moved upward (upstream in the transport direction). Fixing plate 1
Since the lever mounting portion 11d is fitted between a pair of rib-like projections 1d of the carriage 1 main body, the movement of the fixing plate 11 is performed by the rib-like projections 1d and 1d.
d, that is, along the upstream and downstream sides in the transport direction.

The parallel movement of the fixed plate 11 causes the contact portion 11a of the fixed plate 11 to move in a parallel manner as shown in FIG. When the contact portion 11a moves in parallel, the contact portion 11a and the head spring 20 and the spring cap 40
The ceiling wall 2 e (that is, the recording head 2) sandwiched by the pivots about the support shaft 10. In this way, the recording head 2 moves with respect to the carriage 1
By rotating about the support shaft 10 as a central axis, the γ angle is adjusted,
As a result, the parallelism between the head surface and the recording surface is adjusted with high accuracy, and the printing quality is improved.

Since the γ angle is adjusted by displacing the recording head 2 with respect to the carriage 1,
In a recording apparatus in which the sub shaft 5 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) is fixed to the side frame, the γ angle can be adjusted. Further, the support shaft 10 only needs to have a strength capable of supporting the recording head 2 with respect to the carriage 1, and does not need to be configured to have a large strength even in a large-sized recording apparatus.

[0187] 4. Adjustment of Paper Gap Adjustment of the paper gap (particularly, switching of the paper gap) is performed by rotating the support shaft 10. As described with reference to FIGS. 12, 13 and 14, the large diameter portion 10a of the support shaft 10 is supported by the second holes 2g and 2i, and the eccentric shaft portions 10b and 10b.
c is supported by the sixth holes 2f and 13a. The second holes 2g and 2i are long holes long in the transport direction,
The sixth holes 2f and 13a are long holes elongated in a direction perpendicular to the recording surface.

Since the support shaft 10 has an eccentric structure, the support shaft 10 performs an eccentric motion by its rotation. In this eccentric movement, the large diameter portion 10a can move in the transport direction in the second holes 2g and 2i, but cannot move in the direction orthogonal to the recording surface. On the other hand, the eccentric shaft portions 10b and 10c
The holes 2f and 13a can move in the direction orthogonal to the recording material, but cannot move in the transport direction. In other words, the recording head 2 can move in the sixth holes 2f and 13a with respect to the eccentric shaft portions 10b and 10c in a direction orthogonal to the recording material, but cannot move in the transport direction.

That is, even if the support shaft 10 is rotated, the recording head 2 is at a fixed position with respect to the eccentric shaft portions 10b and 10c in the transport direction and does not displace. On the other hand, the eccentric shaft portions 10b and 10c are also supported and fixed by the carriage 1 (see FIG. 7). As a result, even if the support shaft 10 is rotated, the recording head 2 does not move in the transport direction with respect to the carriage 1.

On the other hand, since the large diameter portion 10a cannot move in the direction perpendicular to the recording surface in the second holes 2g and 2i, the eccentric movement of the large diameter portion 10a due to the rotation of the support shaft 10 causes the recording head to move. 2 acts in a direction perpendicular to the recording surface and does not act in the transport direction. That is, the force due to the eccentric movement acts only on the carriage 1 as a force for moving the recording head 2 up and down. Also, as mentioned above,
The recording head 2 can move in a direction perpendicular to the recording surface with respect to the eccentric shaft portions 10b and 10c supported and fixed to the carriage 1 by the structure of the sixth holes 2f and 13a. Further, as described above, the recording head 2 is provided on the ceiling wall 2e with the abutting portion 11a of the fixed plate 11 provided in a direction orthogonal to the recording surface and the carriage spring 20.
(Spring / cap 40) and is restricted so as to move only in a direction perpendicular to the recording surface (see FIG. 16).

As a result, when the support shaft 10 is rotated, the recording head 2 makes only a vertical movement (ie, a movement in a direction perpendicular to the recording surface) with respect to the carriage 1, whereby the recording is performed. The distance between the surface and the head surface, ie, the paper gap, is adjusted.

FIG. 19 shows how the paper gap is adjusted. The rotation of the support shaft 10 causes the large-diameter portion 1
0a raises and lowers the recording head 2 (that is, the head portion 2b) with respect to the carriage 1, whereby the paper gap is adjusted.

As described with reference to FIG. 16, the large diameter portion 10a of the support shaft 10 is formed with a cutting portion 10d having three surfaces, and any one of these three surfaces is used as a head spring. 19 is urged, and the rotation of the support shaft 10 is suppressed. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the paper gap can be adjusted in three stages corresponding to these three surfaces. It is particularly effective for switching the paper gap. For example, there are three stages: a paper gap for cardboard, a medium paper gap between cardboard and plain paper, and a paper gap for plain paper. The paper gap can be switched.

By changing the cut surface 10d to two or four or more, the paper gap can be switched.
The number of stages can be increased to four or more. Further, as the number of cut surfaces increases, not only switching of the paper gap but also fine adjustment of the paper gap can be performed.

As described above, the recording head 2 is moved to the carriage 1
, The paper gap is adjusted, so that the paper gap is adjusted even in a recording apparatus in which the main shaft 4 and the sub shaft 5 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) are fixed to the side frames. Can be. Further, the support shaft 10 moves the recording head 2 with respect to the carriage 1.
What is necessary is just to have a strength capable of supporting the recording medium, and it is not necessary to adopt a configuration having a large strength even in a large recording apparatus. Further, the PG drive unit 18 described above is used.
4 (see FIG. 4), it is sufficient to have a driving force enough to move up and down only the recording head 2 of the carriage 1 instead of the entire carriage 1.

Next, the adjustment of the paper gap is referred to as P
A process when automatically performed by the G drive unit 18 (see FIG. 4) will be described. FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing for paper gap adjustment by the PG drive unit 18.

Unlike the α, β, and γ angles which are usually adjusted in a factory, the paper gap is adjusted immediately before recording on a recording material in consideration of the thickness of the recording material. That is, the carriage 1 is placed at the standby position shown in FIG. 4 before the recording starts, and at this time, as described above, the PG
The drive unit 18 adjusts the paper gap.

Before the start of recording, the paper gap is adjusted to a paper gap for plain paper (minimum paper gap) as an initial value (default value).

Driving control unit (not shown) of large recording apparatus
Is a paper thickness detection signal from a paper thickness detector (not shown), a first setting signal from an input device (operation panel: not shown) of a large recording device, or a first setting signal from an external computer, word processor, or the like. Based on the setting signal of 2, it is determined whether the thickness of the recording material is thick paper, medium thick paper, or plain paper (step S1).

In some cases, only one of the paper thickness detection signal and the first and second setting signals is supplied.
Two or more of these may be provided. If two or more signals are given and their contents conflict, a signal having a predetermined higher priority is preferentially selected.

If the content of the signal is thick paper ("thick paper" in step S1), the drive control unit drives the PG drive unit 18 to rotate the support shaft 10 by the rotation angle for thick paper, and the paper -Maximize the gap (step S2).

If the content of the signal is medium cardboard ("medium" in step S1), the PG drive unit 18 is also driven to rotate the support shaft 10 by the medium cardboard rotation angle. To make the paper gap medium (step S3).

When the content of the signal is plain paper, the adjustment of the paper gap is not performed. This is because the paper gap is already adjusted to the paper gap of plain paper as an initial value.

When the adjustment of the paper gap is completed, recording (printing) is subsequently performed (step S4). When the recording is completed, the carriage 1 returns to the standby position again, and the paper gap is adjusted. If the paper gap has been adjusted to something other than plain paper before the start of recording, the drive control unit drives the PG drive unit 18 to return the paper gap to that of plain paper. If the paper gap has been adjusted, the paper gap is not adjusted because there is no need to return (step S5).

It is not always necessary to provide an initial value for the paper gap and return the paper gap to the initial value after the end of recording. For example, after the recording is completed, the paper gap is left as it is, and the paper gap is stored, and before the next recording starts, the stored paper gap and the paper recording of the next recording to be performed.
Compare them with the gap, and if they are different, adjust to a new paper gap;
Recording can also be started without adjusting the gap.

[0206]

According to the present invention, since the recording head is provided with the second bearing member for adjusting the α angle, as described above, by adjusting the position of the recording head with respect to the carriage, β Even in a carriage that adjusts the angle and the γ angle, the α angle is accurately adjusted without being affected by the adjustment of the β angle and the γ angle, and the parallelism between the dot forming element array and the transport direction is adjusted. be able to.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a recording unit of a large recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a recording unit of FIG.

FIG. 3 shows an adjustment angle for making a recording head parallel to a recording surface of a recording material and an adjustment angle for making a dot forming element array parallel to a conveyance direction.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing details of the carriage when the carriage is located at a standby position.

FIG. 5 is a right side view illustrating details of the carriage when the carriage is located at a standby position.

6A and 6B show a support shaft, wherein FIG. 6A is a perspective view, FIG. 6B is a front view, and FIG. 6C is a side view.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line II of FIG. 4;

8A is an enlarged view of a bearing portion of a first bearing member, and FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 8A.

FIGS. 9A and 9B show an eccentric shaft portion of a support shaft,
4 schematically shows a relationship between a first hole and a rotating portion of a bearing portion of the first bearing member.

10A shows the positions of the first bearing member and the recording head corresponding to FIG. 9A, and FIG. 10B shows the positions of the first bearing member and the recording head corresponding to FIG. 9B. Are shown respectively.

11 is a sectional view taken along the line II-II of FIG.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along line VV of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI of FIG. 11;

14A is a right side view of the recording head, and FIG. 14B is a left side view of the recording head.

FIG. 15 shows how the α angle adjustment is performed.

FIG. 16 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III of FIG. 4;

FIG. 17 is a front view showing how the γ angle is adjusted.

FIG. 18 is a right cross-sectional view showing how the γ angle is adjusted.

FIG. 19 shows how the paper gap is adjusted.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a paper gap adjustment process performed by the PG driving unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 carriage 2 recording head 2f, 13a sixth hole 2g, 2i second hole 2j seventh hole 2k fourth hole 10 support shaft 10a large diameter portion of support shaft 10 10b, 10c eccentric shaft portion of support shaft 10 10d Cutting portion of support shaft 10 Fixed plate 12 γ-angle adjusting lever 13 Spacer 14 Rotating member 15, 16 First bearing member 17 Follower gear 18 PG drive unit 18a Drive motor 18b Sun gear mechanism 18c, 18d Planetary gear mechanism 19 Head spring 51 First hole 140 Third hole

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A reciprocating motion guided by a guide shaft which is to be arranged in parallel with a recording surface of a recording material and perpendicular to a conveying direction of the recording material. A carriage having a recording head for performing recording, wherein the recording head has a third angle with respect to the carriage between a dot forming element array provided on the recording head and a conveying direction of the recording material. A third angle adjusting means for displacing the recording head in the direction of. 2. The carriage according to claim 1, wherein the third angle adjusting means is disposed substantially in parallel with the guide shaft and passes through a second hole formed in the recording head to the carriage. A supporting shaft for supporting the recording head, and a supporting shaft for supporting the supporting shaft in the second hole, and a position for supporting the supporting shaft can be adjusted in the upstream and downstream directions in the transport direction of the recording material. A carriage comprising a bearing member. 3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the second hole has a diameter substantially equal to the support shaft in a direction perpendicular to the recording surface, and is larger than a diameter of the support shaft in the transport direction. A long hole having a long diameter, wherein the second bearing member adjusts a third angle by moving the support shaft in a longitudinal direction of the second hole. carriage. 4. The third bearing member according to claim 3, wherein the second bearing member has a circular outer periphery and a circular third eccentric with respect to the outer periphery and through which the support shaft passes to support the support shaft. Wherein the recording head has a fourth hole around the second hole, into which the second bearing member is rotatably fitted. 5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the second bearing member comprises a first member and a second member, wherein the first member has a circular outer periphery and is eccentric with respect to the outer periphery. ,And,
A circular fifth hole through which the support shaft can pass, wherein the second member fits into the hole of the first member, and the second member supports the support shaft through the support shaft. Wherein the recording head has a fourth hole around which the first member is rotatably fitted around the second hole. . 6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the first member comprises:
A carriage comprising a third lever-shaped member. 7. A recording apparatus comprising the carriage according to claim 1. Description: