JP2006239888A - Printing equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide printing equipment which comprises a printing part for printing an image on a recording medium, and a winding part for winding the printed recording medium in a roll shape, which suppresses an influence, exerted on the printed image by a tensile force applied to the recording medium from the winding device, to the utmost, and which can bring about the more correct cylindrical roll, even if, for example, misregistration with respect to the width direction of the recording medium exists between the printing part and a core body of the winding device. <P>SOLUTION: This printing equipment P comprises a loop forming part L for forming a loop of the recording medium M between the printing part 4 and the winding part R1, the loop forming part comprises a pair of rollers 5 which can carry the recording medium M in pressure contact with it, and the rollers 5 are constituted to be capable of being brought/released into/from pressure contact with each other. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, and more specifically to a printing apparatus having a printing unit that prints an image on a recording medium and a winding unit that winds the printed recording medium in a roll shape.

  As this type of printing apparatus, there is Patent Document 1 shown below as prior art document information related to the present invention. In the printing apparatus described in Patent Document 1, a winding device is disposed on the downstream side of a printing unit (plotter), and a columnar core is rotatably supported by a stand of the winding device. . A long recording medium printed from the printing unit can be wound around the peripheral surface of the core. A sheet-like connecting member is fixed to the core so that the leading end of the recording medium discharged from the printing unit is not wasted.

JP 2001-80800 A (paragraph numbers 0022 to 0023, FIG. 1)

  However, in the printing apparatus described in Patent Document 1, if there is a positional deviation or an angular deviation in the width direction of the core recording medium between the printing unit and the winding apparatus, the recording medium is inclined with respect to the core body. There is a risk of being wound. Further, at one end of the core body, an excessive gap may be generated between the recording mediums wound around the core body, and a roll having different outer diameters may be formed on the left and right sides. There is a possibility that the position of the sheet in the width direction is shifted and the sheet is wound up in the shape of a bamboo shoot.

  Therefore, in view of the above-described drawbacks of the printing apparatus according to the related art exemplified above, there is a positional deviation in the width direction of the recording medium between the printing unit and the core of the winding apparatus. Even so, it is an object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus that can obtain a correct cylindrical roll having a uniform outer diameter on the left and right.

A first characteristic configuration of the present invention is a printing apparatus including a printing unit that prints an image on a recording medium, and a winding unit that winds the printed recording medium in a roll shape,
A loop forming portion is provided that forms a loop of a recording medium between the print portion and the winding portion,
The loop forming portion includes a roller pair capable of transporting the recording medium by pressure bonding, and the roller pair is configured to be capable of releasing the pressure bonding.

Therefore, in the printing apparatus according to the first characteristic configuration of the present invention, since the loop forming unit that forms the loop of the recording medium is provided between the printing unit and the winding unit, the discharge speed from the printing unit is not necessarily limited. Even if the winding speeds of the winding unit are not always equal, the speed difference can be absorbed by the loop forming unit, and the tension applied to the recording medium from the winding device can be absorbed by the loop forming unit interposed therebetween. Therefore, since it is not transmitted directly to the recording medium of the print unit, an intended correct print image free from the influence of tension can be obtained.
In the printing apparatus according to the first characteristic configuration of the present invention, it is assumed that the recording medium conveyed by the printing unit and the roller pair of the loop forming unit, or the roller pair of the loop forming unit and the winding unit Even if there is a positional deviation or the like in the width direction of the recording medium between the core and the recording medium, the recording medium is released from restraining in the width direction by temporarily releasing the pair of rollers constituting the loop forming portion. The released state is free and extends perpendicularly to the axis of the core of the winding unit, and is in a state along the original correct conveyance direction. If winding is resumed from a state perpendicular to the axis of the core, the state of being wound obliquely with respect to the core is eliminated, and an excessive gap is formed between the recording media at the end of the core. Without occurrence, a more correct cylindrical roll having relatively uniform outer diameters on the left and right is formed.

  The second characteristic configuration of the present invention is that the loop formed on the upstream side of the roller pair is eliminated by releasing the pressure-bonding of the roller pair.

  Therefore, in the printing apparatus according to the second characteristic configuration of the present invention, the loop of the roller pair is eliminated by releasing the pressure-bonding of the roller pair. Therefore, when the loop is eliminated, the elastic repulsive force of the recording medium constituting the loop is used. The recording medium tends to be in a state along the original correct conveyance direction.

  A third characteristic configuration of the present invention is that a medium release mechanism is provided that releases the pressure-bonding of the roller pair at a predetermined timing for a predetermined time.

  Therefore, in the printing apparatus according to the third feature configuration of the present invention, the operation of temporarily releasing the pressure-bonding of the roller pair is automatically repeated at a constant feed length interval or a constant time interval, which bothers the operator. Without any problem, a roll having a uniform outer diameter on both the left and right sides is automatically made at the winding portion. In this way, when a more correct cylindrical roll having the same outer diameter is produced on the left and right sides, when the recording medium is subjected to another finishing process while being unwound from the roll in the next step, the uniform processing is performed on the recording medium. Can be used to improve the quality of the final printed product.

According to a fourth characteristic configuration of the present invention, the winding portion is disposed further below the pair of rollers,
The medium releasing mechanism is configured to drop the loop by releasing the pressure-bonding of the roller pair when the loop is formed on the upstream side of the roller pair.

  Therefore, in the printing apparatus according to the fourth characteristic configuration of the present invention, at the time of releasing the pressure bonding, the recording medium falls out of the roller pair by its own weight by the length of the loop and hangs downward from the core of the winding unit. Stop. At the time of the fall, the recording medium can be returned to the original correct conveyance direction by the pulling force due to the weight of the recording medium.

  According to a fifth characteristic configuration of the present invention, the loop is formed based on a curved portion of a recording medium formed by changing a conveyance direction on the upstream side of the roller pair.

  Therefore, in the printing apparatus according to the fifth characteristic configuration of the present invention, the curved portion of the recording medium is always formed in a corner shape protruding in a certain direction on the upstream side of the roller pair. It is possible to increase the curved portion by an operation such as stopping automatically, and to provide a smooth and always constant without damaging the recording medium without providing a guide for determining the direction in which the loop is formed. Loops that bulge in the direction can be formed.

  According to a sixth characteristic configuration of the present invention, the winding unit includes an outer periphery of the roll when the roll of the wound recording medium reaches a maximum diameter, and a common tangent line extending up and down of the roller pair. It is in the point arrange | positioned so that the horizontal space | interval of a predetermined magnitude | size may be formed between them.

  Therefore, in the printing apparatus according to the sixth characteristic configuration of the present invention, the recording medium that falls by its own weight between the pair of rollers hangs in an arc shape on the outer side in the radial direction than the roll formed in the winding portion. As compared with the case where the recording medium falls on the recording medium, wrinkles and damage are less likely to be formed on the recording medium. In addition, as a result of the above configuration, the recording medium is maintained in contact with the circumferential surface of the driving roller disposed near the print unit even when the roller pair is crimped, so that the driving roller exerts a conveying force on the recording medium. Can be given.

  Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments using the drawings.

A recording medium processing apparatus 1 including a printing apparatus P according to an embodiment of the present invention as a part of the configuration will be described below with reference to the drawings.
(Overall configuration of recording medium processing apparatus)
A recording medium processing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 heats a printing apparatus P that forms an image on a sheet-like recording medium M with ink containing a sublimable dye, and a recording medium M that is discharged from the printing apparatus P. And a heat fixing unit F for fixing the dye. Since the printing apparatus P and the heat fixing unit F constitute completely different units separated from each other, the distance and angle between the units can be freely varied, and the allowable range of installation space is widened. A matching layout is possible.

(Configuration of recording medium)
The recording medium M includes a sheet-like base material having a predetermined rigidity, and an ink receiving layer that is adhered and adhered to the upper surface of the base material via an adhesive layer or the like. A base material consists of a base sheet formed with synthetic resin materials, such as PET, and a highly weather-resistant protective layer integrally provided on the upper surface of the base sheet. The protective layer is made of, for example, a fluororesin. The protective layer has a low affinity with the aqueous ink used for image formation in the printing apparatus P, but the ink receiving layer has a sufficiently high affinity with the aqueous ink.
As will be described later, the recording medium M prints an image on the ink receiving layer with a water-based ink containing a sublimable dye by the printing apparatus P, and heat-treats it with a heat-fixing unit after printing to thereby sublimate the dye. It is designed on the assumption that it is sublimated and fixed inside the recording medium M.

(Fixing of sublimation dyes)
In the printing apparatus P, water-based ink containing a sublimable dye is discharged onto the surface of the ink receiving layer of the recording medium M. When the recording medium M discharged from the printing apparatus P is heated by the heat fixing unit F under an appropriate heating condition (for example, about 180 ° C.), the sublimable dye is sublimated from the ink positioned on the surface of the receiving layer, and the receiving layer Then, it passes through the protective layer, reaches the interface between the base sheet and the protective layer, or the interior near the surface of the base sheet, and is fixed therein. When the fixing is completed, the ink receiving layer can be easily peeled off from the substrate in a sheet form at an arbitrary time. The dye fixed on the recording medium M is protected from the front by a protective layer having weather resistance and from the back by a base sheet. Further, the surface of the recording medium M has a shape in which an image can be seen through a transparent protective layer.

(Configuration of printing device)
The printing apparatus P includes a storage unit 2 that rotatably supports a long recording medium M wound up in a roll shape. The roll-shaped recording medium M is pulled out of the storage unit 2 by the transport mechanism 3 including a pair of transport rollers, transported in the sub-scanning direction, and supplied to the print unit. In this printing unit, ink is ejected from the recording medium M by an ink jet print head 4 (an example of a printing unit) that can reciprocate in the main scanning direction orthogonal to the sub-scanning direction, thereby forming an image. . The print head 4 is provided with a cutter C that cuts the recording medium M along the main scanning direction.

On the downstream side of the print head 4, a flat first guide plate J <b> 1 for transporting the printed recording medium M in an inclined posture slightly downward from the horizontal posture is disposed. A number of small through holes are formed in the first guide plate J1, and a suction fan V is provided below the first guide plate J1 to prevent the recording medium M from being lifted by negative pressure.
On the downstream side of the first guide plate J1, there is disposed a flat second guide plate J2 that is disposed in a posture with a greater downward inclination than the first guide plate J1.

(Configuration of the first winding device R1)
At a position below the printing apparatus P and further below the second guide plate J2, the printed recording medium M discharged from the printing apparatus P is rolled onto a winding core T (an example of a core body). A first take-up device R1 (an example of a take-up unit) is provided for taking up the wire in a shape. The first winding device R1 includes a reel U including a cylindrical winding core T, a pair of support cones 7 fitted to the inner surfaces of disk-shaped flanges Ua attached to both ends of the reel U, and a support cone. And a pair of support brackets 6 that rotatably support 7. A gear (not shown) that receives the rotational driving force of the stepping motor E <b> 1 is formed on the outer periphery of the flange Ua. A transmission mechanism including a torque releaser and a connecting gear is interposed between the gear and the drive motor E1. The drive motor E1 winds the recording medium M onto the winding core T at a winding speed that basically exceeds the conveying speed of the recording medium M by the conveying mechanism 3.

As shown in FIG. 2, the reel U is provided with a chucker Ub for fixing the leading end of the recording medium M to the circumferential surface of the winding core T. The chucker Ub is supported so as to be swingable about the axis X, and in the fixed state shown in FIG. 2, the tip of the recording medium M is pressed against the circumferential surface of the winding core T by a pad provided inside the chucker Ub. Attached and fixed. Further, in the open state (not shown) in which the chucker Ub is swung around the axis X and the pad of the chucker Ub is separated from the peripheral surface of the winding core T, the leading end of the recording medium M is released. ing. Further, the reel U is provided with a biasing means (not shown) such as a spring for biasing the chucker Ub toward the fixed posture. Further, between the frame of the printing apparatus P and the chucker Ub, a cam mechanism (not shown) for switching the chucker Ub to the open position by interfering with a part of the chucker Ub according to the reverse rotation of the reel U. Is provided.
Below the conveying roller pair 5, there is provided a pressing arm N having an action of pressing the recording medium M sent out by the conveying roller pair 5 against the peripheral surface of the already produced roll with a relatively weak force. The holding arm N is supported so as to be swingable around a horizontal axis provided between the set reel U and the conveying roller pair 5, and is lowered from the axis by an urging means such as a spring. The free end Nf of the presser arm N positioned at is urged so as to be pressed near the upper and lower centers of the peripheral surface of the roll. The pressing arm N also serves to reliably guide the tip of the recording medium M toward the circumferential surface of the winding core T.

(Configuration of loop forming portion L)
A loop forming portion L is provided between the print head 4 and the first winding device R1. The loop forming portion L forms a slack portion (loop) of the recording medium M and holds it in principle, so that the tension applied to the recording medium M from the first winding device R1 is the recording medium M during printing. The recording medium M that has been printed and has not been wound up is prevented from touching the front side of the first winding device R1. The loop forming portion L includes a pair of conveying rollers 5 that can support the recording medium M by pressure bonding. The conveying roller pair 5 is located below the print head 4 and further below the second guide plate J2, and is driven by a driving roller 5a that is rotationally driven by a stepping motor E2, and a swing arm (not shown). ) And a driven roller 5b supported so as to be freely rotatable. The driven roller 5b is urged by an urging means (not shown) such as a spring and pressed against the driving roller 5a, so that the recording medium M is pressure-bonded, and the pressure-release is released when the driven roller 5b is separated from the driving roller 5a. It is configured to be switchable between states. Further, the conveying roller pair 5 is disposed at an angle at which the recording medium can be sent downward toward the first winding device R1, and here, the driving roller 5a and the driven roller 5b are arranged substantially in parallel. ing.

In this way, the conveying roller pair 5 that feeds the recording medium M downward is more than the first guide plate J1 and the second guide plate J2 for guiding the printed recording medium M discharged from the print head 4 sideways. Of course, the curved portion (the recording medium M indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 2) where the recording medium M shifts from the lateral direction to the downward direction is easily provided above the second guide plate J2. Can be formed. Therefore, when the printed recording medium M is discharged from the print head 4, if the conveying roller pair 5 is stopped for a certain period of time, the curved portion greatly grows outward (in the direction away from the second guide plate J2). As a result, a loop of the recording medium M (recording medium indicated by a solid line in FIG. 2) is smoothly formed.
The loop forming portion L is provided with a photo interrupter type optical sensor pair K1 capable of determining the size of the loop. The control device 50 provided in the printing apparatus P stops the driving roller 5a, the loop increases as the recording medium M is discharged from the print head 4 (printing unit), and is detected by the optical sensor pair K1 ( The recording medium M indicated by a one-dot chain line in FIG. 2 is rotated, and the driving roller 5a is rotationally driven based on the detection signal. When the recording medium M is sent downward by, for example, 5 mm, the basic routine is stopped again.

(Configuration of automatic fixing mechanism)
The first winding device R1 of the printing apparatus P is provided with an automatic fixing mechanism for automatically connecting the leading end of the recording medium M onto the winding core T of the reel U. The automatic fixing mechanism includes an optical sensor pair K2 disposed below the conveying roller pair 5 to detect the leading edge of the recording medium M, a movable guide J3 provided below the conveying roller pair 5, and a driving roller 5a. Means for determining the amount of rotation from the number of drive pulses of the stepping motor E2. The movable guide J3 has an action position (a chain line in FIG. 2) extending between the driving roller 5a and the winding core T in order to guide the tip of the recording medium M curled inward to an appropriate position of the winding core T. Further, it is configured to be able to switch the oscillation around a horizontal axis between the retreat position (solid line in FIG. 2) that is flipped upward so as not to interfere with the recording medium M wound on the winding core T. ing.

  First, at the start of printing, the control device 50 puts the transport roller pair 5 into the pressure-released state, holds the movable guide J3 in the operating position, and simultaneously rotates the reel U in the reverse direction, thereby controlling the chucker Ua. It switches to the said open attitude | position, and it waits in the state where the receiving space formed between the pad of chucker Ua and the winding core T faced upwards. Next, when the front end of the recording medium M sliding down the second guide plate J2 with the progress of printing is detected by the optical sensor pair K2, the conveying roller pair 5 is switched to the pressure-bonding state, and at the same time, the driving roller 5a is turned on. When the recording medium M is fed by the length that the rotation of the recording medium M enters the receiving space of the chucker Ua, the rotation of the reel U in the forward direction is started. When the reel U rotates in the forward direction, the chuck mechanism Ua is switched to the fixed posture by the reverse action of the cam mechanism, the vicinity of the tip of the recording medium M is fixed to the core T of the reel U, and the winding is continued. Start to progress. At the same time as the forward rotation of the reel U starts, the movable guide J3 is switched to the retracted position and held at the retracted position until the next reel U is set. Note that the winding core T of the first winding device R1 is wound around the recording medium M (the recording medium M in the storage unit 2) more than the nip of the conveying roller pair 5 (or the common tangent line extending up and down the roller pair 5). Since the tip of the recording medium M with the curl approachs the vicinity of the outer periphery of the core T, it is easily fixed to the core T. it can.

(Configuration of medium release mechanism B)
The printing apparatus P is provided with a medium releasing mechanism B that releases the pressure-bonding of the roller pair for a predetermined time each time the recording medium M is wound by the first winding device R1 by a predetermined length. The medium releasing mechanism B includes means for determining the rotation amount of the driving roller 5a, that is, the feeding amount of the recording medium M from the number of driving pulses of the conveying roller pair 5 and the stepping motor E2.
When the cumulative feed length of the recording medium M by the drive roller 5a reaches a certain value (for example, 300 mm), the control device 50 stops the rotation of the reel U for a predetermined time length (for example, 1 second), and at the same time, The conveying roller pair 5 is held in a pressure released state for a predetermined time length (for example, 0.5 seconds). Then, the routine of returning the winding roller pair 5 to the pressure-bonding state and resetting the cumulative feed length by the driving roller 5a to zero and restarting the winding by the reel U is repeated.

Since the first winding device R1 is disposed further below the conveying roller pair 5, the second guide plate sandwiches the conveying roller pair 5 from the winding core T by releasing the pressure of the conveying roller pair 5 for a short time. The recording medium M corresponding to the length up to the vicinity of the upstream end of J2 is by its own weight by the length of the loop that has been formed (up to the state in which the loop is substantially eliminated as shown by the solid line in FIG. 3). Fall. At this time, a part of the recording medium M falls off between the roller pair 5 and stops in a state where the recording medium M hangs down from the winding core T of the winding unit as shown in FIG. In this fall, the slanted recording medium M can be returned to the original correct conveyance path by the pulling force applied to the recording medium M, and if the winding is resumed thereafter, the winding core T is moved. Phenomenon such as being taken up obliquely is effectively eliminated.
Note that the first winding device R1 has at least the outer periphery of the roll closer to the print head 4 than the nip of the conveying roller pair 5 even when the roll of the recording medium M wound on the winding core T reaches the maximum diameter. In other words, it is disposed inside the printing apparatus P more sufficiently than the conveying roller pair 5. Therefore, the portion of the recording medium M that falls by its own weight when the conveyance roller pair 5 is released from the pressure is naturally arcuately outward in the radial direction from the roll formed on the winding core T, as shown in FIG. Therefore, the recording medium M can be wound up without being wrinkled or damaged without interfering with the roll outer peripheral surface taken up by the recording medium M and without being broken.

(Configuration of drying mechanism)
Between the print head 4 and the loop formation part L, the 1st drying means D1 which dries the ink on the recording medium M is provided, Between the loop formation part L and the 1st winding apparatus R1, A second drying means D2 for drying the ink on the recording medium M is provided.
The first drying unit D1 and the second drying unit D2 are configured to dry the ink under a temperature condition (for example, 40 ° C. to 100 ° C.) at which the sublimable dye in the ink does not sublimate. 5 serves to prevent transfer to the peripheral surface 5 or the subsequent back surface of the recording medium M.

The first drying means D1 includes a mid-infrared lamp heater H1 (an example of a radiant heater) disposed along the width direction of the recording medium M, and a portion of the recording medium M that is heated to the highest temperature by the mid-infrared lamp heater H1. And a target G1 for monitoring the surface temperature. Each of the mid-infrared lamp heaters H1 includes a rectangular container-like casing 12, a pair of heating elements 13, and a pair of reflectors 15 for concentrating the mid-infrared rays radiated from the heating elements 13 in the direction of the recording medium M. Consists of. The mid-infrared lamp heater H1 is selected to emit mid-infrared light having a wavelength (2 to 4 μm) that is well suited to the water absorption band.
The target G1 is disposed further to the left than the passing area of the largest recording medium M when viewed from the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the recording medium M, and the distance from the mid-infrared lamp heater H1 to the target G1 is It is arranged so as to be approximately equal to the distance from the mid-infrared lamp heater H1 to the recording medium M.
The 2nd drying means D2 is also the structure similar to the above-mentioned 1st drying means D1 fundamentally. The mid-infrared lamp heater H2 of the second drying means D2 is fixedly disposed so as to face the peripheral surface of the roll of the recording medium M formed on the winding core T by the first winding device R1. The target G2 of the second drying means D2 also has the same structure as the target G1, and is disposed further to the left than the pass area of the recording medium M having the largest width.

(Configuration of heat fixing unit)
Inside the heat fixing unit F, there is provided a heating region Q that is thermally blocked from the outside by a heat insulating layer (not shown). Inside the heat fixing unit F, there is provided a transport mechanism 20 for transporting a recording medium M provided from a supply unit S, which will be described later, in the heating region Q. The transport mechanism 20 is composed of several heat-resistant transport roller pairs 21. The recording medium M transported by the transport mechanism 20 moves while sliding on the smooth upper surface of the flat support panel 22.
A first heating mechanism for heating the air in the heating region Q to a predetermined sublimation temperature (here, about 180 ° C.) is provided in the heating region Q. The first heating mechanism is configured to uniformly distribute the temperature distribution in the heating region Q, and the heating unit 23 including a plurality of rod-shaped heating elements disposed upstream of the center of the heating region Q above the conveyance surface of the recording medium M. In order to achieve this, it has a stirring fan 24 disposed downstream of the center of the heating region Q. In the heating area Q, apart from the first heating mechanism, there is a second heating mechanism for fixing the sublimation ink to the recording medium M mainly from the back side (base sheet side) through contact. Is provided. The second heating mechanism is configured by a planar heater (not shown) that heats the support panel 22 from below, and the upper surface of the support panel 22 is held at about 180 ° C. by the planar heater.

The discharge portion of the recording medium M provided on the downstream side of the heating area Q includes an inclined guide plate 25 that extends downward with a steep inclination posture, and a first discharge roller that presses and conveys both the front and back surfaces of the recording medium M. A pair 26, a deflection plate 27 for correcting the direction of the recording medium M sent out from the first discharge roller pair 26 in a direction close to the horizontal, and a recording medium M pushed out from the deflection plate 27 in a substantially horizontal direction. 2 discharge roller pair 28. The surface of the inclined guide plate 25 is heated to a temperature of 100 ° C. or less by a planar heater disposed on the back surface.
On the upstream side of the heat fixing unit F, a supply unit S for supplying the printed recording medium M taken up by the first winding device R1 of the printing apparatus P to the heat fixing unit F is disposed. The supply unit S sandwiches the reel holding unit 30 for setting the reel U around which the recording medium M has been wound in the first winding device R1 and the portion of the recording medium M that has been rewound from the reel U from above and below. A supply roller pair 35 is provided. The reel holding unit 30 includes a pair of support cones 32 fitted to the inner surface of the flange Ua of the reel U, and a pair of support brackets 31 that rotatably support the support cone 32.

(Configuration of the second winding device)
On the downstream side of the heat fixing unit F, a second winding device R2 for winding the fixed recording medium M discharged from the heat fixing unit F is disposed. The second winding device R2 includes a cylindrical winding core T ', a pair of support cones 39 fitted to inner surfaces of both ends of the winding core T', and a pair of support brackets that rotatably support the support cone 39. 38, and the output shaft of the drive motor E3 is connected to the back surface of one support cone 39 through a transmission mechanism including a torque releaser 40 and a connection gear (not shown).
The idling torque value of the torque releaser 40 is also provided so as to be manually changeable from the outside. Usually, the recording medium M is pulled by the second winding device R2 so that defects such as wrinkles do not occur in the recording medium M. The force is set to be 30% or less of the conveyance force of the conveyance mechanism 20 in the heat fixing unit F.

[Another embodiment]
<1> The medium releasing mechanism in the above embodiment has been described so that the operation of temporarily releasing the pressure-bonding of the roller pair is repeated at a constant feed length interval, but is automatically repeated at a constant time interval. Even if configured in this way, the same effect can be obtained.

<2> The above embodiment describes a special printing apparatus using sublimation ink and sublimation medium. However, the printing apparatus of the present invention is not limited to this, and a general printing apparatus that uses non-sublimation ink and a recording medium. Needless to say, the printing apparatus is also applicable to all general printing apparatuses having a printing unit for printing an image on a recording medium and a winding unit for winding the printed recording medium in a roll shape. It is.

  It is used as a technology that can provide a printing device that suppresses the influence on the print image due to the tension applied to the recording medium from the winding device, and that can easily obtain a roll having a uniform outer diameter on the left and right in the width direction of the recording medium. The

Schematic side view of a recording medium processing apparatus provided with a printing apparatus according to the present invention 1 is a side view showing the main part of the printing apparatus shown in FIG. The side view which shows another state of the principal part shown by FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Recording medium processing apparatus M Recording medium P Printing apparatus 4 Print head (printing part)
L Loop forming unit 5 Roller pair R1 First winding device (winding unit)
E1, E2 Stepping motor U Reel Ub Chukka T Winding core (core body)
B Medium release mechanism D1, D2 First and second drying means H1, H2 Mid-infrared lamp heater G1, G2 Target F Heat fixing unit R2 Second winding device 50 Control device

Claims (6)

A printing apparatus having a printing unit for printing an image on a recording medium, and a winding unit for winding the printed recording medium in a roll shape,
A loop forming portion is provided that forms a loop of a recording medium between the print portion and the winding portion,
The loop forming unit includes a pair of rollers capable of transporting the recording medium by pressure bonding, and the roller pair is configured to be capable of releasing the pressure bonding.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a loop formed on an upstream side of the roller pair is eliminated by releasing the pressure bonding of the roller pair.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a medium releasing mechanism that releases the pressure-bonding of the roller pair at a predetermined timing for a predetermined time. The winding portion is disposed further below the roller pair,
The printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the medium release mechanism is configured to drop the loop by releasing the pressure-bonding of the roller pair when the loop is formed on the upstream side of the roller pair.   5. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the loop is formed based on a curved portion of a recording medium formed by changing a conveyance direction on an upstream side of the roller pair.   The winding portion has a predetermined lateral distance between an outer periphery of the roll of the recording medium wound up to a maximum diameter and a common tangent line extending vertically to the pair of rollers. The printing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the printing apparatus is arranged so as to be formed.

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