JP2003103840A - Manual scanning type printing unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a manual scanning type printing unit capable of printing graphics, characters, or the like regardless of the surface shape of a printing subject, particularly in the case there is large ruggedness (waving) in the main scanning direction. SOLUTION: An opening part 1a elongating in the main scanning direction is formed in the lower surface 1b of a housing 1 in a manual scanning type printing unit. Wheels 4 are provided on the four corners of the lower surface 1b via axles 3. An rotary encoder 5 is provided in the wheels 4. An ejection head 6 comprising a plurality of small heads having a plurality of nozzles arranged is provided at a position corresponding to the opening part 1a, and a distance measuring sensor 2 is provided ahead the small heads for measuring the distance d between a printing subject P and the lower surface 1b. A controlling part 12 is provided for controlling a moving means for keeping the distance d constantly based on the sensor 2 output and adjusting ink ejection timing based on the encoder 5 output. Thereby, even in the case there is large ruggedness in the main scanning direction, graphics, characters, or the like can be printed on the printing subject P according to movement of the small heads.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a manual scanning type printing apparatus for manually scanning a main body provided with a printing unit to print an object to be printed, and more particularly, to an inkjet recording system,
The present invention relates to a manual scanning type printing apparatus capable of printing even a printing object having relatively large irregularities (waviness) in a main scanning direction orthogonal to the manual scanning direction such as cloth, screen doors and walls.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a thermal ink jet has been used in various printers in which a part of ink is rapidly vaporized by heating with a heater and an ink droplet is ejected from a nozzle by its expansive force or the like (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Sho 48). -9622,
54-51837, etc.). There is also known a printer that uses an ink jet in which ink droplets are ejected from a nozzle by energy generated when a diaphragm is vibrated by a driving unit such as static electricity or a piezo element (Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 11-207956 and 11). -30985
(See each publication such as No. 0).

In general, such an ink jet printer performs image recording while taking in a single-cut sheet or roll paper into the apparatus and conveying it. For example, in the case of a printer that uses a so-called line head type inkjet recording head (hereinafter referred to as a recording head), in which nozzles that eject ink over one side of the image receiving paper to be printed are arranged,
The recording head is fixed, and while the image receiving paper is positioned at a predetermined recording position, the image receiving paper is continuously conveyed in the direction (sub scanning direction) orthogonal to the nozzle array direction (main scanning direction) (scan conveyance). By doing so, an image is recorded on the entire surface of the image receiving paper.

However, the above-mentioned ink jet printer has a problem in that it cannot print on paper that cannot be conveyed into the apparatus and on the floor surface, wall surfaces and thick objects of a building.

Therefore, there has been proposed a manual scanning type printing apparatus which prints desired characters on a print object by manually scanning a case provided with a printing means on the print object (actual fairness 8-).
1096 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-277565).

The manual scanning type printer disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 8-1096 has a movable housing, a print head is provided in the movable housing, and an opening formed in the bottom wall portion is used. The print surface of the print head is protruding. A rotatable support shaft is provided on the bottom wall of the movable housing, and a pair of rollers is attached to the support shaft. Further, an auxiliary roller is rotatably provided at a position apart from the support shaft. A desired character pattern is formed on the print head based on the print data, and the character pattern is transferred to the surface of the print target by the ink donor film arranged on the print head (hereinafter referred to as prior art 1).

Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-277565 proposes a manual scanning type printer in which an ink jet type recording head is provided in the body and ink is supplied to the recording head via a pump ( Hereinafter, referred to as Conventional Technique 2). In this conventional technique 2, it is possible to print on the recording medium regardless of the posture of the body at the time of printing.

[0008]

However, the prior art 1 has a problem that a desired character cannot be accurately printed due to the surface roughness or unevenness of the transfer destination.
There is also a problem that color printing cannot be performed.
On the other hand, in the prior art 2, since it is an ink jet method, it is possible to deal with smaller irregularities and gaps as compared with the prior art 1, but a large gap,
In particular, when there are large irregularities (waviness) in the main scanning direction, there is a problem in that desired characters cannot be printed.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, regardless of the surface shape of an object to be printed,
In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a manual scanning type printing apparatus capable of printing a picture or a character even when there is a large unevenness (waviness) in the main scanning direction.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention is provided with a moving means capable of moving on a print object, and scans in one direction by a hand to move the print object. In a manual scanning printing apparatus for printing, an ejection head having a plurality of nozzles for ejecting droplets and an ink ejection unit arranged corresponding to each nozzle and driven to be modulated in accordance with a signal; A distance measuring unit that is provided on the upstream side in one direction to measure a distance between the ejection head and the printing target; a head moving unit that moves the ejection head in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the printing target; A manual control means for controlling the head moving means in accordance with the measurement result of the distance measuring means, for holding the distance between the ejection head and the printing object constant. There is provided a 査型 printing device.

In such a manual scanning printing apparatus of the present invention, the ejection head extends in the other direction orthogonal to the one direction and is divided into small heads having a plurality of nozzles in the other direction. The moving means and the control means are provided in each of the small heads, the distance is measured by the distance measuring means for each of the small heads, and each of the small heads is measured according to the distance measurement result of each of the small heads. Preferably move independently of each other in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the printing object.

Further, it is preferable that an ink tank is provided integrally with each of the small heads. Further, each of the small heads and each of the ink tanks are provided via an ink supply pipe, and each of the small heads and each of the ink tanks move integrally in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the printing object. It may be one.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A manual scanning type printing apparatus according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. 1 is a sectional view showing a manual scanning type printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a bottom view showing a manual scanning type printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a manual scanning type printing apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a control unit of the printing apparatus.

In the manual scanning type printer of this embodiment, the distance measuring sensor 2 and the ejection head 6 are provided inside the housing 1.
The ink tank 7, the motor 8, and the controller 12 are included. In this embodiment, the casing 1 is manually scanned on the print target P in the direction indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 1 (one direction (hereinafter, referred to as the sub-scanning direction A)) to perform printing. Case 1
The lower surface 1b has an opening 1a extending in the main scanning direction (another direction) orthogonal to the sub-scanning direction A in the lower surface 1b. On the lower surface 1b of the housing 1, a pair of wheels 4 is provided at both ends on the side of the sub-scanning direction A and at both ends of an axle 3 extending in the main scanning direction. A rotary encoder 5 is mounted on the axle 3 on the upstream side in the sub-scanning direction A, and generates a pulse signal according to the rotation of the wheels 4 due to the movement of the housing 1 in the sub-scanning direction A. CP in control unit 12
Send to U20 (see FIG. 3).

A discharge head 6 is provided inside the housing 1 at a position aligned with the opening 1a. This discharge head 6
Is a known (inkjet) recording head having a nozzle for ejecting ink and an ink ejecting means corresponding to each nozzle. The ejection head 6 is a line head in which a plurality of nozzles are arranged in the main scanning direction. As shown in FIG. 2, in this embodiment, the ejection head 6 is, for example, 3
For example, eight small heads 60 each having a total of nine nozzles in rows and three columns are arranged in the main scanning direction. The ink tank 7 is divided corresponding to each small head 60, and is integrally provided with each small head 60 so as to supply ink to each small head 60 independently of each other. Each small head 60 and each ink tank 7 provided integrally therewith are configured to be vertically movable with respect to the print target P independently of each adjacent small head 60 and each ink tank 7. There is. As shown in FIG. 1, the print target P and the lower surface 1b are parallel to each other in a state where the housing 1 is arranged perpendicular to the print target P. Discharge head 6
Is installed so as to eject ink from the nozzle in a direction perpendicular to the lower surface 1b of the housing 1, and the ink is ejected toward an open space outside the housing 1.

A support plate 10 is provided on each ink tank 7. A support plate 11 is provided in the housing 1, and a motor 8 is mounted on the support plate 11 so as to be located above each support plate 10 of the ink tank 7. The motor 8 is provided with a screw shaft 9, and the screw shaft 9 of each motor 8 is screwed to each support plate 10. As a result, by rotating the motor 8 in either direction, the small heads 60 and the ink tanks 7 can move integrally in the vertical direction with respect to the lower surface 1b of the housing 1.

A distance measuring sensor 2 for measuring a distance d between the print object P and the lower surface 1b of the housing 1 is provided in front of each small head 60 of the housing 1. As the distance measuring sensor 2, for example, a contact type sensor or a non-contact type sensor can be used. The contact-type sensor is, for example, a microswitch, and the non-contact-type sensor includes, for example, a sensor that measures a distance using a laser or an ultrasonic wave. A control unit 12 that controls the rotation of the motor 8 based on the output from the distance measuring sensor 2 and adjusts the ink ejection timing based on the output of the rotary encoder 5 is provided. The control unit 12 always grasps the position of each small head 60 in the vertical direction with respect to the surface of the print target P, and the distance measuring sensor 2 is used to detect the lower surface 1b of the housing 1 and the print target P.
By measuring the distance d between each of the small heads 60 and the surface of the print target P, the distance is measured. As a result, the control unit 12 controls the movement of each small head 60 with respect to the print target P so as to be at a constant vertical position (set position).

Further, as shown in FIG.
A CPU 20 that controls the entire manual scanning printer, a driver 21 that drives the ejection head 6, and an output signal A (analog signal) of the distance measuring sensor 2 that converts the signal to a digital signal A
A / D converter 22, a recording instruction switch (SW) 25 for setting the manual scanning printer to a printable state, a data input section 26 for inputting image data, a data memory 27 for storing image data, and a printer Display 23 for displaying the presence or absence of image data and forced recording switch (SW) 2
It is composed of 4 etc.

Next, the operation of the manual scanning type printer of this embodiment will be described. First, when the power of the printing apparatus is turned on, various displays such as presence / absence of image data are displayed on the display 23.

If desired, the user may be allowed to select a recorded image. These are indicators 23
It may be performed by a known method such as GUI (Graphical User Interface) using.

Next, it is confirmed whether image data exists in the data memory 27, and whether or not the image data corresponds to the recording, and if the image data corresponding to the recording is not stored, the data is input. Image data is loaded from the unit 26 into the data memory 27.

The image data can be fetched by a known method such as wired or wireless download or reading from a loaded recording medium. Further, the supply source of the image data may be the same as that of various printers such as a scanner (image reading device), a computer, a digital camera or a communication network. Further, in addition to the supplied image data, image data of a predetermined pattern may be stored, and image recording may be performed with the image data of this pattern according to an instruction.

Next, if the image data corresponding to the recording is present in the data memory 27 and the recording instruction switch 25 is turned on, the casing 1 is placed on the printing object P and the casing 1 is manually operated. While holding the wheel 4 on the object P to be printed, the housing 1 is moved in the sub-scanning direction A.

The recording instruction switch 25 may be turned on or off by the user, or may be turned on or off automatically depending on the state of the printing apparatus, for example, whether recording is possible or not.

The CPU 20 receives the pulse signal generated by the rotary encoder 5 while scanning.
The amount of movement (scanning amount) of the housing 1 is detected, the ejection timing of ink is adjusted in synchronization with this movement, and modulation is performed according to the recording image, and the ejection head 6 is driven by the driver 21 to eject the ejection head. An image is recorded on the print target P by modulating and ejecting ink from 6. At the same time as detecting the movement amount (scanning amount) of the housing 1, the distance measurement sensors 2 perform distance measurement according to the pulse signal generated by the rotary encoder 5.

The measurement result (output signal) from each distance measuring sensor 2 is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 22 and sent to the CPU 20.

The timing of measurement by each distance measuring sensor 2 is not limited to this embodiment, but in a preferred mode, the user moves the casing 1 in the sub-scanning direction A by a predetermined amount. Every time, that is, every time when the rotary encoder 5 generates a predetermined number of pulse signals, the distance measurement sensor 2 performs measurement. It is also preferable that the distance measurement sensor 2 performs the measurement at predetermined time intervals or at predetermined clock numbers. The measurement timing of the distance measuring sensor 2 or the ink ejection time may be set appropriately according to required safety and the like.

The CPU 20 confirms this measurement result, and when the measured distance exceeds or is less than the set value (threshold value), the user moves the housing 1, that is, the pulse from the rotary encoder 5. In synchronization with the generation of the signal, the driver 21 is driven by being modulated according to the recorded image, the difference between the set value and the measured value is calculated, and each small head 60 is moved by the difference so as to reach the set value. As described above, the motor 8 is rotated to move each small head 60 in a direction perpendicular to the print target P so that the distance between each small head 60 and the print target P becomes a set value, and the ejection head Ink modulated according to the recorded image from 6 for a predetermined time (predetermined number of lines)
Only discharge.

When the image data to be recorded remains in the data memory 27 after the ink modulated according to the image is ejected for a predetermined time, as long as the measured value by any distance measuring sensor 2 does not deviate from the set value. Ink ejection is repeated without moving the small head 60. When the ejection of ink to all the image data of this image is completed, the recording of this image is completed and it is confirmed whether or not there is image data to be recorded next in the data memory 27. When the image data exists and the recording instruction is issued, the image recording is performed as described above.

The recorded image data is erased from the data memory 27 automatically or in response to an instruction from the user. Such deletion of image data is preferably selectable.

On the other hand, when the measured distance value by the distance measuring sensor 2 deviates from the set value, the CPU 20 confirms the forced recording switch 24. When the forced recording switch 24 is turned on, it is necessary to operate the small head 60, but the small head 60 is not moved,
Ink is ejected for a fixed period of time to forcibly perform image recording.

When the compulsory recording switch 24 is off, the motor 8 is rotated so that the distance between each small head 60 and the printing object P becomes a set value by the signal from the CPU 20, as described above. .

At this time, to restart the image recording, the user inputs some instruction (for example, the recording instruction switch 25).
Is turned on), or the printing apparatus is automatically turned off with the forced termination of image recording,
The image recording may be restarted after the power is turned on again by the user.

In this embodiment, each distance measuring sensor 2
Since the distance between the lower surface 1b of the housing 1 and the print target P is measured by the method, there is unevenness in the direction orthogonal to the sub-scanning direction A (main scanning direction) and the measurement result is smaller than the set value, or In the case of a large value, after a predetermined time has elapsed after the distance measurement, of the plurality of small heads 60, the small head 60 whose measurement result deviates from the predetermined value has the motor 8 depending on the difference from the set value. Rotate to move up or down,
Printing is performed in a state where the flying distances of the inks of the small heads 60 are always the same, that is, the distances are within a predetermined range and ink is ejected. Therefore, even if the print target P is uneven in the main scanning direction, a predetermined image can be accurately printed on the print target P.

As described above, in this embodiment, the fluctuation of the moving speed of the printing apparatus by the user and the unevenness in the main scanning direction are compensated to enable proper image recording.

In the printing apparatus of the present invention, as described above, the ejection head 6 may be a known ink jet recording head. The ejection head 6 has a plurality of nozzles formed on a substrate. For example, the ejection head 6 may be a so-called top shooter type (face inkjet) that ejects ink in a direction perpendicular to the substrate, or a so-called side shooter type (edge inkjet) that ejects ink in parallel to the substrate. It may be. Further, a so-called thermal ink jet that ejects ink by heating with a heater may be used, and ink is ejected by a force generated when a diaphragm provided in the ink chamber is vibrated by using a piezoelectric element or electrostatic force. It may be a recording head.

In this embodiment, the ejection head 6
Although the motor 8 and the screw shaft 9 are moved up and down, the invention is not limited to this, and the ejection head 6 may be moved up and down by combining a pulse motor, a timing belt and a linear guide, for example.

Further, although the ejection head 6 and the ink tank 7 are integrated in this embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this, and the ejection head 6 and the ink tank 7 are connected to a hose (ink supply pipe). ). In this case, the ejection head 6 and the ink tank 7 are provided with moving means for moving up and down respectively, and the ink tank 7 is moved up and down together with the ejection head 6. Further, a sub tank may be provided between the ejection head 6 and the ink tank 7. In this case, the ink tank 7 does not move up and down, and only the sub tank may move up and down together with the ejection head 6.

In a preferred embodiment, the lower surface 1b of the housing 1 is prevented from being lifted up, and the position of the print target P is kept constant at the position where the ink is ejected from the ejection head 6. Auxiliary wheels are arranged to enable recording of various images. The auxiliary wheel is in the sub-scanning direction A.
Although the roller may be a roller that rotates to the right, the one that may come into contact with the print target P after image recording (after ink reception) preferably has a small contact area with the print target P, such as a spur shape. A roller or a warped roller is preferably exemplified.

In this embodiment, the ejection head 6
The configuration of is not particularly limited, and the sub-scanning direction A
A nozzle row for ejecting Y (yellow) ink, a nozzle row for ejecting M (magenta) ink, a nozzle row for ejecting C (cyan) ink, and a nozzle row for ejecting K (black) ink. May have. Further, in addition to the above four colors, ink columns such as light C and light M may be provided. Further, instead of a color printer, for example, a monochrome printer that ejects only K ink may be used.

Although the manual scanning type printing apparatus of the present invention has been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various improvements can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. And, of course, changes may be made. For example, in the present embodiment, the user manually moves the printing apparatus, but other than this, a self-propelled printing apparatus may be used by a method of providing a drive source on the axle 3 or the like.

[0042]

As described above in detail, in the manual scanning type printer of the present invention, the distance between the ejection head and the printing object is measured by the distance measuring sensor provided upstream of the ejection head in the sub-scanning direction. Is measured, and the distance is set to a predetermined value. Therefore, a picture, a character, or the like can be printed regardless of the surface shape of the print target, particularly the unevenness (waviness) in the main scanning direction.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a manual scanning type printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view showing the manual scanning type printing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a control unit of the manual scanning type printing apparatus according to the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 case 1a opening 1b lower surface 2 distance measuring sensor 3 axles Four wheels 5 rotary encoder 6 Discharge head 7 ink tank 8 motor 9 screw shaft 10, 11 Support plate 21 driver 22 A / D converter 23 Display 24 Forced recording switch 25 Recording instruction switch 26 Data input section 27 data memory A arrow (sub-scanning direction) P Print target

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Toshiya Kojima             798 Miyadai, Kaisei-cho, Ashigarakami-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture             Shishi Film Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 2C055 AA00 AA03 AA06 AA10 AA16                 2C056 EB37 EC33 FA03 FA04 FB01                       FB03 FB10 FC02 KC02 KC21

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A manual scanning printing apparatus, comprising: a moving unit that is movable on a printing object; and a hand scanning type printing apparatus that prints on the printing object by manually scanning in one direction. Nozzle and an ejection head having ink ejection means arranged corresponding to each of the nozzles and modulated and driven according to a signal, the ejection head provided on the upstream side of the ejection head in the one direction, and the printing object. And a head moving means for moving the ejection head in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the printing object, and controlling the head moving means according to a measurement result of the distance measuring means. Then, the manual scanning type printing apparatus is provided with a control means for keeping the distance between the ejection head and the printing object constant. 2. The discharge head extends in another direction orthogonal to the one direction, and is divided into small heads having a plurality of nozzles in the other direction, and each small head has the moving means and the moving means. The control means is provided, the distance is measured by the distance measuring means for each of the small heads, and the small heads are independent of each other according to the distance measurement result for each of the small heads. 2. The manual scanning printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the manual scanning printing apparatus moves in a direction perpendicular to the above. 3. The manual scanning printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an ink tank is integrally provided in each of the small heads. 4. The small heads and the ink tanks are provided via an ink supply pipe, and the small heads and the ink tanks are integrally formed in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the printing object. 3. The manual scanning type printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the manual scanning type printing apparatus moves.