JP2002192789A - Recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To ensure an excellent recording quality by holding a platen gap appropriately. SOLUTION: In the recorder where a recording head 18 provided with a recording wire is carried on a carriage 19 traveling along a platen 21 and recording operation is executed by projecting the recording wire toward the platen, the platen is supported by side frames 16 and 17 through a platen shaft 33, the carriage is supported by a side frame through a carriage shaft 24 and a carriage guide shaft 28, and first, second and third press leaf springs 35, 36 and 37 are interposed between the side frame and the platen shaft, the carriage shaft and the carriage guide shaft, respectively, wherein these press leaf springs press the platen shaft, the carriage shaft and the carriage guide shaft, respectively, in the direction for canceling a displacement generated through recording operation thereof.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a recording apparatus for recording an image by projecting a plurality of recording wires of a recording head mounted on a carriage toward a platen.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a recording apparatus, a carriage on which a recording head is mounted is moved along an axial direction of a platen.
By performing a recording operation by projecting a plurality of recording wires in a recording head toward a platen, an image (including characters) is printed on a sheet conveyed between the recording head and the platen via an ink ribbon. There is a dot impact printer for recording.

[0003]

In such a printer, an impact force due to the projection of the recording wire acts on the platen and a projection reaction force due to the projection of the recording wire acts on the carriage due to the recording operation. .

[0004] Generally, there is some backlash between the platen shaft supporting the platen with respect to the frame and the frame. There is also a slight backlash between the carriage shaft and the carriage guide member supporting the carriage with respect to the frame and the frame.

[0005] From these facts, during the recording operation, the platen is displaced in the direction of the impact force together with the platen axis,
Further, the carriage may be displaced in the direction of the protruding reaction force together with the carriage shaft and the carriage guide member, and the platen gap between the platen and the recording head may increase to a predetermined value or more. As a result, shading occurs in an image of a character or the like recorded on a sheet via the ink ribbon by the recording wire, and the recording quality may be degraded.

An object of the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a recording apparatus capable of appropriately maintaining a platen gap and ensuring good recording quality.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a recording head having a large number of recording wires is mounted on a carriage running along a platen, and the recording wires are projected toward the platen. In the recording apparatus that records an image on a sheet conveyed between the recording head and the platen by performing a recording operation, the platen is supported by a frame, and the carriage is a carriage shaft and a carriage guide member. And a pressing member interposed between the frame and at least one of the platen, the carriage shaft, and the carriage guide member, and the pressing member includes the platen, the carriage shaft, and the carriage. Direction for canceling displacement of at least one of the guide members caused by the recording operation , It is characterized in that the platens, carriage shaft, configured to push at least one carriage guide member.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the platen is supported by a frame via a platen shaft, and the pressing member is at least one of the platen shaft, the carriage shaft, and the carriage guide member. At least one of the platen shaft, the carriage shaft, and the carriage guide member is interposed between one of the platen shafts, the carriage shaft, and the carriage guide member in a direction to cancel a displacement caused by at least one recording operation of the platen shaft, the carriage shaft, and the carriage guide member. Is configured to be pressed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a recording head having a large number of recording wires is mounted on a carriage traveling along a platen, and the recording operation is performed by projecting the recording wires toward the platen. By doing so, in a recording apparatus that records an image on a sheet conveyed between the recording head and the platen, the platen is supported by a frame, and the carriage is attached to the frame via a carriage shaft and a carriage guide member. Supported, a pressing member is interposed between the frame and each of the platen, the carriage shaft and the carriage guide member, and these pressing members are provided on the platen, the carriage shaft and the carriage guide member, respectively. These platens, in the direction to cancel the displacement caused by the recording operation, It is characterized in that it has been configured to press the respective Yarijji shaft and carriage guide member.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention, the platen is supported by a frame via a platen shaft, and the pressing member is each of the platen shaft, the carriage shaft and the carriage guide member. And presses each of the platen shaft, the carriage shaft and the carriage guide member in a direction to cancel the displacement caused by the recording operation of each of the platen shaft, the carriage shaft and the carriage guide member. It is characterized by having been constituted.

[0011] The invention according to claim 5 provides the invention according to claims 1 to 4.
In the invention described in any one of the above, a groove for accommodating a carriage guide member is formed in the carriage, and the carriage guide member is pressed in a direction in which the displacement generated in the carriage by a recording operation is canceled. The pressing member is disposed.

[0012] The invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to claims 1 to 5.
In the invention described in any one of the above, the pressing member is constituted by an elastic member having a spring constant not less than a predetermined value.

The first, second, and sixth aspects of the present invention have the following effects.

A pressing member (elastic member) interposed between the frame and at least one of the platen (or platen shaft), the carriage shaft, and the carriage guide member serves as a platen (or platen shaft), a carriage shaft, and a carriage guide member. Since at least one of these platen (or platen shaft), carriage shaft, and carriage guide member is pressed in a direction to cancel the displacement caused by at least one recording operation, the platen (or platen) is pressed by the pressing force of the pressing member. ), At least one of the carriage shaft and the carriage guide member can be prevented from being displaced and rattled with respect to the frame. As a result, the platen gap between the recording head and the platen can be appropriately maintained even by the recording operation using the recording wire of the recording head, so that good recording quality can be ensured.

The invention according to claim 3, 4 or 6 includes:
It has the following effects:

A pressing member (elastic member) interposed between the frame and each of the platen (or platen shaft), the carriage shaft and the carriage guide member serves as a platen (or platen shaft), a carriage shaft and a carriage guide member. These platens (or platen axes),
Since each of the carriage shaft and the carriage guide member is pressed, it is possible to prevent the platen (or platen shaft), the carriage shaft and the carriage guide member from being displaced and rattled with respect to the frame by the action of the pressing force of the pressing member. . As a result, the platen gap between the recording head and the platen can be appropriately maintained even by the recording operation using the recording wire of the recording head, so that good recording quality can be ensured.

The fifth aspect of the invention has the following operation.

In the groove of the carriage accommodating the carriage guide member, a pressing member for pressing the carriage guide member in a direction to cancel the displacement generated in the carriage by the recording operation is arranged. The rattling between the carriage and the carriage guide member can be prevented. Therefore, the platen gap can be more appropriately maintained even by the recording operation using the recording wire, so that the recording quality can be further ensured.

[0019]

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

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a printer main body of a dot impact printer to which an embodiment of a recording apparatus according to the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing the printer main body of FIG.

A printer 10 as a recording apparatus shown in these figures hits a large number of recording wires (not shown) of a recording head on a sheet S via an ink ribbon 31 (FIG. 2), thereby recording dots. Is a dot impact printer that prints an image that includes a. Here, the sheet S is not only plain paper such as cut sheet paper or continuous paper, but also OHP
(Overhead project) There are sheets, coated paper, films, etc.

The printer 10 is configured as shown in FIG.
A printer main body 11 as a recording apparatus main body, a push tractor unit 12 and a discharge unit 13 detachably mounted on the printer main body 11, and a sheet supply guide 34 also detachably mounted on the printer main body 11.
(FIG. 2) and an upper case and a lower case (not shown) that cover the upper and lower parts of the printer main body 11, respectively.

The printer main body 11 includes a base frame 14 as a main body frame and a sheet guide frame 15.
(FIG. 2), a left side frame 16 and a right side frame 17, a printing mechanism unit 20 including a recording head 18 and a carriage 19, and a sheet transport including a platen 21, a sheet guide 22, and a pinch roller 25 (FIG. 2). Mechanism 23
And is configured.

The base frame 14 and the seat guide frame 15 are arranged substantially in parallel as shown in FIG. 2, and the left side frame 16 and the right side frame 17 are provided at both ends of the base frame 14 and the seat guide frame 15.
Are respectively erected and fixed. As shown in FIG. 1, a carriage shaft 24 is bridged between the left side frame 16 and the right side frame 17 so as to be rotatably supported, and a carriage guide shaft 28 as a carriage guide member is bridged. It is fixed and supported. Further, the platen 21 is fixed to the platen shaft 33 so as to rotate integrally with the platen shaft 33. The platen shaft 33 is bridged between the left side frame 16 and the right side frame 17, and is rotatably supported.

The seat guide 22 is provided on the left side frame 16.
And the right side frame 17, and is fitted and fixed to the seat guide frame 15. Also, the rear portions of the left side frame 16 and the right side frame 17,
The push tractor unit 1 is provided on each upper part.
2. A tractor unit mounting portion and a discharging unit mounting portion (not shown) to which the discharging unit 13 can be mounted are provided.

The push tractor unit 12 shown in FIG.
Sends out the continuous paper as the sheet S to the sheet transport mechanism 23, and the sheet supply guide 34 supplies the cut sheet as the sheet S to the sheet transport mechanism 23 one by one. The discharge unit 13 pulls out continuous paper or cut sheet from the sheet transport mechanism 23 to the outside of the printer 10.

That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the rotation of the tractor belt 26 of the push tractor unit 12 causes
By the action of the pins 27 of the tractor belt 26, the continuous paper is guided by the sheet guide 22 of the sheet transport mechanism 23, is directed to the platen 21, and is fed in the arrow M direction. When the push tractor unit 12 is not operating, cut sheets can be supplied one by one from the sheet supply guide 34 to the platen 21 via the sheet guide 22. In addition, due to the rotation of the discharge roller 29 of the discharge unit 13, as described later, continuous paper or cut paper on which characters and the like are recorded by the recording head 18 is pulled out from the platen 21 of the sheet transport mechanism 23 in the direction of arrow N. . Thereby, the continuous paper or cut sheet is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction of the carriage 19 described later.

The carriage 19 shown in FIGS.
Is slidably inserted into the carriage shaft 24 and the carriage guide shaft 28, and mounts the recording head 18. Since the carriage shaft 24 and the carriage guide shaft 28 are arranged in parallel with the platen 21, the carriage 1
Reference numeral 9 is provided so as to be movable (running) in the main scanning direction coinciding with the axial directions of the platen 21, the carriage shaft 24 and the carriage guide shaft 28.

The carriage 19 is guided by a carriage shaft 24 and a carriage guide shaft 28 via a timing belt 30 (FIG. 2) by forward rotation or reverse rotation of a carriage drive motor (not shown), so that the carriage 19 is turned leftward in FIG. It is driven to the right.

The recording head 18 has a large number of recording wires (not shown), and an ink ribbon 31 is located in front of the recording wires in the projecting direction. While traveling in the main scanning direction together with the carriage 19, the recording head 18 causes the recording wire to protrude and strikes the ink ribbon 31, and the ink on the ink ribbon 31 is applied to the platen 21 and the ink ribbon 3.
Sheet S (Continuous paper or cut sheet) conveyed between 1 and
The recording operation for recording an image including characters on the sheet S is performed.

This recording operation by the recording head 18 is performed such that one line of recording is performed by the recording wire of the recording head 18 while the carriage 19 travels leftward or rightward in the main scanning direction. In the case where the sheet S is continuous paper, the sheet transport mechanism 2 shown in FIG.
3, the sheet tractor unit 12 and the discharge unit 13, and when the sheet S is a cut sheet, the platen 21, the pinch roller 25 and the discharge unit 13 of the sheet transport mechanism 23 transmit the sheet S, respectively. It is carried out by transporting a predetermined amount (usually between lines) and repeating these operations.

Reference numeral 32 shown in FIG. 2 is formed between the base frame 14 and the sheet guide frame 15 so as to open therefrom.
A bottom sheet supply port for supplying the sheet S into the inside.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a first pressing leaf spring as a pressing member is provided between one end of each of the platen shaft 33, the carriage shaft 24 and the carriage guide shaft 28 and the left side frame 16. 35, a second pressing leaf spring 36, and a third pressing leaf spring 37 are interposed.
Further, the other ends of the platen shaft 33, the carriage shaft 24, and the carriage guide shaft 28 and the right side frame 1
7, the first pressing leaf spring 35, the second pressing leaf spring 36, and the third pressing leaf spring 37 are interposed.

The first pressing leaf spring 35 is locked by the left side frame 16 and the right side frame 17, and presses both ends of the platen shaft 33 in the direction of arrow A. The second pressing leaf spring 36 is locked by the left side frame 16 and the right side frame 17, and presses both ends of the carriage shaft 24 in the direction of arrow B. Further, the third pressing leaf spring 37 is locked by the left side frame 16 and the right side frame 17, and presses the carriage guide shaft 28 in the direction of arrow C.

By the recording operation of the recording head 18 caused by the projection of the recording wire, the impact force of the recording wire acts on the platen shaft 33 via the platen 21 in the direction of the arrow α. The platen shaft 33 and the platen 21 tend to be displaced in the direction of the arrow α by the impact force. The first pressing leaf spring 35 presses the platen shaft 33 in the arrow A direction opposite to the arrow α so as to cancel the displacement of the platen shaft 33 and the platen 21 in the arrow α direction.

Further, by the recording operation of the recording wire in the recording head 18, a projecting reaction force due to the projection of the recording wire acts on the carriage 19. The protruding reaction force acts on the portion of the carriage 19 on the recording head 18 side in the direction of arrow β to try to displace the carriage shaft 24 in the same direction (direction of arrow β), and the carriage guide shaft 28 of the carriage 19. The side portions act in the direction of arrow γ to try to displace the carriage guide shaft 28 in the same direction (direction of arrow γ).

The second pressing leaf spring 36 presses the carriage shaft 24 in the arrow B direction opposite to the arrow β so as to cancel the displacement of the carriage shaft 24 in the arrow β direction. Further, the third pressing leaf spring 37 cancels the displacement of the carriage guide shaft 28 in the direction of the arrow γ,
The carriage guide shaft 28 is pressed in the direction of the arrow C opposite to the arrow γ.

Therefore, the left side frame 16 and the right side frame 1 of the platen shaft 33 are pressed by the pressing force of the first pressing leaf spring 35 pressing the platen shaft 33 in the direction of arrow A.
7 is prevented from rattling. The pressing force of the second pressing leaf spring 36 pressing the carriage shaft 24 in the direction of arrow B causes the left side frame 16 of the carriage shaft 24 to move.
Also, rattling to the right side frame 17 is prevented. Further, the pressing force of the third pressing leaf spring 37 pressing the carriage guide shaft 28 in the direction of arrow C prevents the carriage guide shaft 28 from rattling against the left side frame 16 and the right side frame 17.

Here, the first pressing leaf spring 35 is an elastic member having a spring constant of about 50 N / mm or more, and the second pressing leaf spring 36 is an elastic member having a spring constant of about 50 N / mm or more. The third pressing leaf spring 37 has a spring constant of about 50 N / mm.
The above is an elastic member.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, a groove 38 is formed in a portion of the carriage 19 on the side of the carriage guide shaft 28, and a bearing member 39 is fitted in the groove 38.
The carriage guide shaft 28 is slidably inserted into the bearing member 39. A fourth pressing rubber 40 as a pressing member is interposed between the bearing member 39 and the carriage guide shaft 28.

This fourth pressing rubber 40 is
2 and 5 is disposed between the carriage guide shaft 28 and the carriage guide shaft 28. That is, the fourth pressing rubber 40
Is an elastic member that slidably contacts the carriage guide shaft 28 and has a spring constant of about 50 N / mm or more.

As described above, at the portion of the carriage 19 on the side of the carriage guide shaft 28, a projection reaction force due to the projection of the recording wire acts in the direction of arrow γ during the recording operation of the recording head 18. The fourth pressing rubber 40 is connected to the carriage 19
The carriage guide shaft 28 is pressed in the direction of the arrow C opposite to the direction of the arrow γ so as to cancel the displacement of the portion on the side of the carriage guide shaft 28 (including the bearing member 39) in the direction of the arrow γ. As described above, the fourth pressing rubber 40 presses the carriage guide shaft 28 in the direction of arrow C, whereby rattling between the carriage guide shaft 28 and the carriage guide shaft 28 is prevented.

Therefore, according to the above embodiment, the following effects and advantages can be obtained.

Platen shaft 33 and left side frame 16
And the first pressing leaf spring 35 interposed between the right side frame 17 and the right side frame 17 cancels the displacement in the direction of the arrow α caused by the recording operation of the platen shaft 33 (the direction of the arrow A).
Since the platen shaft 33 is pressed, the platen shaft 33 can be prevented from being displaced and rattled with respect to the left side frame 16 and the right side frame 17 due to the action of the pressing force of the first pressing leaf spring 35. Further, a second pressing leaf spring 36 interposed between the carriage shaft 24 and the left side frame 16 and the right side frame 17 cancels the displacement in the direction of arrow β caused by the recording operation of the carriage shaft 24 (the direction of arrow B). In addition, since the carriage shaft 24 is pressed, the carriage shaft 24 can be prevented from being displaced and rattled with respect to the left side frame 16 and the right side frame 17 by the action of the pressing force of the second pressing leaf spring 36. Further, a third pressing leaf spring 37 interposed between the carriage guide shaft 28 and the left side frame 16 and the right side frame 17 cancels the displacement in the arrow γ direction caused by the recording operation of the carriage guide shaft 28 (arrow direction). Pressing the carriage guide shaft 28 in the direction C) causes the carriage guide shaft 28 to be displaced and rattled with respect to the left side frame 16 and the right side frame 17 by the action of the pressing force of the third pressing leaf spring 37. Can be prevented. As a result, the platen gap between the recording head 18 and the platen 21 can be appropriately maintained even by the recording operation of the recording head 18 using the recording wire, so that good recording quality can be ensured.

For example, the density of the image (including characters) recorded (printed) on one line and the density of the entire sheet S on which the image (including characters) is recorded can be made uniform, thereby improving the recording quality. be able to.

A fourth pressing for pressing the carriage guide shaft 28 in the bearing member 39 of the carriage 19 for accommodating the carriage guide shaft 28 in a direction (arrow C direction) to cancel the displacement in the arrow γ direction generated on the carriage 19 by the recording operation. Since the rubber 40 is disposed, the rattling between the carriage guide shaft 28 and the carriage guide shaft 28 of the carriage 19 can be prevented by the pressing force of the fourth pressing rubber 40. Therefore, the platen gap can be more appropriately maintained even by the recording operation using the recording wire, so that the recording quality can be further ensured.

Although the present invention has been described based on the above embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this.

For example, in the above embodiment, the first pressing leaf spring 35, the second pressing leaf spring 36, and the third pressing leaf spring 37
Has been described as a leaf spring, but a pressing member corresponding thereto may be a torsion spring 41 or a coil spring 42 as shown in FIGS. 6 (A) and 6 (B). Further, the pressing member corresponding to the fourth pressing rubber 40 may be a spring member having a spring constant of about 50 N / mm or more or plastic.

In the above embodiment, the first pressing leaf spring 35, the second pressing leaf spring 36, the third pressing leaf spring 37, and the fourth pressing rubber 40 are all provided as the pressing members. , At least one of these may be installed.

Further, in the above embodiment, the platen 21
Has been described as a cylindrical platen rotated with the platen shaft 33, but may be a planar platen. In this case, the platen is directly supported by the left side frame 16 and the right side frame 17, and Is also good.

[0051]

As described above, according to the recording apparatus of the present invention, the recording head having a large number of recording wires is mounted on the carriage traveling along the platen, and the recording wires are moved toward the platen. In a recording apparatus that records an image on a sheet conveyed between the recording head and the platen by performing a recording operation by projecting the platen, the platen is supported by a frame, and the carriage is moved by a carriage shaft and a carriage. Supported by the frame via a guide member, the platen, the carriage shaft, a pressing member is interposed between the frame and at least one of the carriage guide member, the pressing member, the platen, the carriage shaft, Cancels the displacement of at least one of the carriage guide members caused by the recording operation Direction, platens, carriage shaft, since it is configured so as to press at least one carriage guide member, the platen gap by appropriately held, can be favorably ensured recording quality.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a printer main body of a dot impact printer to which an embodiment of a recording apparatus according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing the printer main body of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a platen, a carriage, a side frame, and the like in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the platen, carriage, side frame, and the like in FIG. 3 viewed from another direction.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a carriage guide shaft side portion of the carriage in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a modification of the pressing member.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 printer (recording device) 16 left side frame 17 right side frame 18 recording head 19 carriage 21 platen 24 carriage shaft 28 carriage guide shaft (carriage guide member) 33 platen shaft 35 first pressing leaf spring 36 second pressing leaf spring 37 3 Press leaf springs A, B, C Arrows α, β, γ Arrows

Claims (6)

[Claims] A recording head having a plurality of recording wires mounted on a carriage traveling along a platen;
A recording apparatus that records an image on a sheet conveyed between the recording head and the platen by projecting the recording wire toward the platen to perform a recording operation, wherein the platen is supported by a frame. The carriage is supported by the frame via a carriage shaft and a carriage guide member, and a pressing member is interposed between the frame and at least one of the platen, the carriage shaft, and the carriage guide member. Wherein at least one of the platen, the carriage shaft, and the carriage guide member is pressed in a direction to cancel a displacement caused by the recording operation of at least one of the platen, the carriage shaft, and the carriage guide member. Recording device. 2. The platen is supported by a frame via a platen shaft, and a pressing member is interposed between at least one of the platen shaft, a carriage shaft, and a carriage guide member and the frame, and the platen shaft is 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the platen shaft, the carriage shaft, and the carriage guide member is pressed in a direction to cancel a displacement caused by at least one recording operation of the carriage shaft and the carriage guide member. The recording device according to any one of the preceding claims. 3. A recording head having a large number of recording wires is mounted on a carriage traveling along a platen,
A recording apparatus that records an image on a sheet conveyed between the recording head and the platen by projecting the recording wire toward the platen to perform a recording operation, wherein the platen is supported by a frame. The carriage is supported by the frame via a carriage shaft and a carriage guide member, and a pressing member is interposed between the frame and each of the platen, the carriage shaft and the carriage guide member, and these pressing members are Wherein the platen, the carriage shaft, and the carriage guide member are configured to press each of the platen, the carriage shaft, and the carriage guide member in a direction to cancel the displacement caused by the recording operation. apparatus. 4. The platen is supported by a frame via a platen shaft, and a pressing member is interposed between each of the platen shaft, the carriage shaft, and the carriage guide member and the frame, and the platen shaft, the carriage 4. The recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the platen shaft, the carriage shaft, and the carriage guide member are pressed in a direction to cancel the displacement caused by the respective recording operations of the shaft and the carriage guide member. . 5. A groove for accommodating a carriage guide member is formed in the carriage, and a pressing member for pressing the carriage guide member in a direction to cancel a displacement generated in the carriage by a recording operation is arranged in the groove. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording is performed. 6. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pressing member is formed of an elastic member having a spring constant equal to or more than a predetermined value.