JP2011083904A - Medium printing handling device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make compact and simple a cleaning mechanism for a printing head and a cleaning mechanism for a printing surface of a medium. <P>SOLUTION: In the medium printing handling device which has a printing mechanism for printing to the medium having the printing surface, the printing mechanism includes the printing head which has a head front end surface for printing and performs printing by contacting the head front end surface to the printing surface of the medium, a moving mechanism which moves a position of the printing head, and a cleaning member for cleaning the head front end surface of the printing head. The cleaning member for the head front end surface is placed on a movement track of the head front end surface of the printing head by the moving mechanism. A printing surface cleaning member for cleaning the printing surface of the medium is integrally formed with the printing head so as to pass on the printing surface of the medium in interlocking with movement of the head front end surface of the printing head by the moving mechanism from the printing surface of the medium. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a medium print processing apparatus that performs printing on a rewrite card using a heating head.

  In a device that prints on a rewrite card taken in from the outside, various rewrite cards such as a dusted and dirty card may be taken into the card processing mechanism of the device. If this dirty rewritable card is transported as it is inside the printing mechanism of the apparatus, the transport mechanism and the print head tip surface, which is the contact surface of the print head with the card, may be soiled. In addition, the conveyance of the dirty rewrite card not only stains the conveyance mechanism and the front end surface of the print head, but also when the printing process is performed on the dirty rewrite card, the printing unevenness and the print rubbing in the dirty portion are performed. Or the like occurs, which is a factor of deteriorating the print quality.

  Therefore, for a printing mechanism that requires good print quality, it is desirable that the print surface of the medium and the head end surface of the print head are always cleaned, especially the head end surface of the print head after printing or printing. Before doing so, it is preferable to clean the head tip surface.

  As a cleaning method when the influence of dirt is large and it is necessary to perform cleaning for each printing operation, for example, Patent Document 1 is disclosed. In Patent Document 1, a card retracting unit is installed in the conveyance path of the apparatus. A configuration in which one cleaning card is always prepared in the transport path is described. During the printing operation, the cleaning card is moved to the retracting portion, and after the printing operation, the cleaning card is transported to the head portion, and the head surface is scraped to clean the print head for each printing operation of the print head. The method of performing is described.

  Further, Patent Document 2 describes a card reader having a card surface cleaning member between a card insertion slot and a print head, and describes that cleaning is performed before printing.

JP-A-8-255317 JP-A-6-139683

  In the case of Patent Document 1, the card processing mechanism itself is downsized in order to secure a place for installing the card retracting unit in the transport path of the apparatus and a space for transporting the cleaning card when cleaning the head unit. There is a problem that it is difficult. Further, in cleaning with a cleaning card, the cleaning card itself is soiled every time the head portion is cleaned, and the cleaning effect is diminished. Therefore, the cleaning card is frequently replaced. Therefore, in the case of an apparatus with a large number of processing cases, there is also a problem that a mechanism for storing a plurality of cleaning cards inside the apparatus and replacing and collecting cleaning cards that have become dirty due to cleaning must be installed.

  Further, in the case of Patent Document 2, in the card conveyance after printing, the printing surface after printing may be soiled by a conveyance mechanism such as a roller, and the dirty medium may be discharged from the apparatus. There is a problem.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a medium print processing apparatus in which a print head cleaning mechanism and a medium printing surface cleaning mechanism are miniaturized and simplified.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to solve at least a part of the problems described above, and the invention can be implemented as the following forms or application examples.

[Application Example 1]
A medium printing processing apparatus having a printing mechanism for printing on a medium having a printing surface,
The printing mechanism is
A print head having a head front end surface for performing printing, and performing printing by bringing the head front end surface into contact with the print surface of the medium;
A moving mechanism for moving the position of the print head;
A cleaning member for cleaning the front end surface of the print head,
On the movement trajectory of the head tip surface of the print head by the moving mechanism, a cleaning member for the head tip surface is installed,
A printing surface cleaning member for cleaning the printing surface of the medium so as to pass over the printing surface of the medium in conjunction with the movement of the head end surface of the printing head from the printing surface of the medium by the moving mechanism. A medium printing processing apparatus characterized in that it is constructed integrally with the print head.
According to this medium printing processing apparatus, the print head moving mechanism is provided, the head leading end surface cleaning member is provided on the moving track of the head leading end surface of the print head, and the medium printing surface on the head leading end surface of the print head is provided. Since the print surface cleaning member for cleaning the print surface of the medium is integrated with the print head so as to pass over the print surface of the medium in conjunction with the movement of the print head, it is necessary in the conventional apparatus. There is no need for a place to install the cleaning card evacuation section and a space for transporting the cleaning card when cleaning the print head. The print head cleaning mechanism can be downsized and simplified, and the print surface cleaning mechanism of the medium Miniaturization and simplification are possible.

[Application Example 2]
A medium print processing apparatus according to Application Example 1,
The moving mechanism rotates the print head around a rotation axis provided in parallel to the print surface of the medium, thereby guiding the head end surface of the print head onto the cleaning member. A medium printing process characterized by cleaning the front end surface of the head and further rotating the print head to pass the print surface cleaning member over the print surface of the medium to clean the print surface. apparatus.
According to this configuration, the print head moving mechanism is realized with a simple and small configuration by rotating the print head, and the print surface cleaning member moving mechanism is realized in conjunction with the movement of the print head. It is possible to realize a mechanism for cleaning the printing surface of the medium with a simple and small configuration.
[Application Example 3]
A medium print processing apparatus according to Application Example 2,
Furthermore, the print surface cleaning member is guided onto the cleaning member by rotating the print head to clean the print surface cleaning member.
According to this configuration, a cleaning mechanism for the printing surface cleaning member can be easily realized.
[Application Example 4]
A medium print processing apparatus according to Application Example 1,
The moving mechanism translates the print head relative to the print surface of the medium to guide and clean the head end surface of the print head, and in conjunction with the parallel movement of the print head, the print surface. A medium printing processing apparatus, wherein a cleaning member is moved in parallel and passed over a printing surface of the medium to clean the printing surface.
According to this configuration, the print head moving mechanism is realized with a simple and small configuration by moving the print head in parallel, and the print surface cleaning member moving mechanism is realized in conjunction with the movement of the print head. It is possible to realize a mechanism for cleaning the printing surface of the medium with a simple and small configuration.
[Application Example 5]
A medium print processing apparatus according to Application Example 4,
The cleaning member includes not only the head front end surface but also the print surface cleaning member that moves in conjunction with the movement of the head front end surface of the print head when the head front end surface is guided onto the cleaning member. A medium printing processing apparatus characterized in that the medium printing processing apparatus is also sized to be installed on an orbit including it.
According to this configuration, a cleaning mechanism for the printing surface cleaning member can be easily realized.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a card print processing apparatus 100 according to a first embodiment. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a cleaning state of the head front end surface 7 of the print head 1. It is explanatory drawing which shows the cleaning state of the printing surface of the card | curd 6. FIG. FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a cleaning state of the printing surface cleaning member 2. It is a schematic block diagram of the card printing processing apparatus 200 of 2nd Example. It is explanatory drawing which looked at the card printing processing apparatus 200 shown in FIG. 5 from the upper side. FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a cleaning state of the head front end surface 17 of the print head 11 and the print surface of the card 16.

A. First embodiment:
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a card printing processing apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment, and shows a card printing mechanism portion from the side surface side. The card print processing apparatus 100 includes a print head 1, a card transport path 8 for transporting a card 6, and a platen 5. The printing surface of the card 6 is conveyed to the lower part of the print head 1 by the card conveying path 8 and the platen 5, and printing is executed by the head front end surface 7 provided at the lower end of the print head 1.

  Here, the card print processing apparatus 100 is provided with a rotation shaft 3 perpendicular to the paper surface at the end opposite to the head tip surface 7 at the lower end of the print head 1, and the print head 1 is connected to the rotation shaft 3. Is provided with a drive mechanism DS for rotating around the center. A cleaning body (corresponding to the cleaning member of the present application) 4 for cleaning the head front end surface 7 is installed on the rotation path through which the head front end surface 7 passes when the print head 1 is rotated and moved. . The cleaning body 4 is drawn out from the winding unit 10, arranged on the above-described rotation path, and wound around the winding unit 9. The print head 1 is integrally provided with a print surface cleaning member 2 for cleaning the print surface of the card 6. The print surface cleaning member 2 moves in an arc shape in conjunction with the rotational movement of the print head 1, passes so as to contact the print surface of the card 6 disposed on the platen 5, and reaches the cleaning body 4. It has a guided structure. The position of the print surface cleaning member 2 moves in an arc shape in conjunction with the rotational movement of the print head 1 and passes so as to contact the print surface of the card 6 arranged on the platen 5. Any structure that leads to the cleaning body 4 may be used, and it is preferable that the structure be integrated with the print head 1 on the side as close as possible to the front end surface 7 of the head 1.

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a cleaning state of the head tip surface 7 of the print head 1. When cleaning the head front end surface 7 of the print head 1, as shown in FIG. 2, the print head 1 is rotated in the direction A (the direction of the broken line arrow), so that the head front end surface 7 Move onto the cleaning body 4. The head tip surface 7 can be cleaned (wiped) by rubbing the head tip surface 7 with the cleaning body 4. The dirt is cleaned by rubbing by winding the cleaning body 4 from the winding section 10 to the winding section 9 in the H direction (solid arrow direction) while the head end surface 7 is in contact with the cleaning body 4. Can be executed. In this case, since the head front end surface 7 is wiped off by an unused clean cleaning body that is fed from the winding unit 10, the head front end surface 7 is not soiled and good printing can be performed. In addition, as this cleaning body 4, the thing made from cloth, such as a gauze, an adhesive film-like thing, etc. can be utilized, for example.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a cleaning state of the printing surface of the card 6. When cleaning the printing surface of the card 6, as shown in FIG. 3, the printing surface 1 is cleaned by rotating the print head 1 in the direction B (arrow arrow direction), that is, cleaning the printing surface of the card 6. The member 2 is moved to a position facing the platen 5. In this state, the card 6 is reciprocally conveyed in the C and D directions on the conveying path of the card conveying path 8 with respect to the printing surface cleaning member 2, so that dust, dust, etc. adhering to the entire surface of the card, particularly the printing surface Can be removed by the printing surface cleaning member 2. As the printing surface cleaning member 2, for example, a commonly used adhesive roller can be used.

  As described above, by providing the moving mechanism for the print head 1, the head front end surface 7 of the print head 1 can be cleaned as shown in FIG. 2. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 3, the printing surface of a card | curd can be cleaned by the printing surface cleaning member 2 (card cleaning member) provided integrally with the printing head 1. FIG.

  The head front end surface 7 of the print head 1 and the print surface of the card 6 are cleaned as follows, for example. First, the moving mechanism of the print head 1 is operated to clean the head end surface 7 of the print head 1 as shown in FIG. Next, as shown in FIG. 3, the printing surface of the card 6 is cleaned. 1, that is, after the card 6 is conveyed in the D direction, the head front end surface 7 of the print head 1 is moved to a position facing the platen 5, and the print surface of the card 6 is moved to the head front end surface. 7 is conveyed to the lower part of 7 to start printing. In this way, at the time of printing, it is possible to execute printing in a state where dirt such as dust and dirt is not attached to the head front end surface 7 and the printing surface of the card 6.

  Note that dirt such as dust and dust attached to the printing surface cleaning member 2 by cleaning the card 6 adheres and accumulates every time the card is cleaned. It is preferable to perform an operation for removing dirt. That is, it is preferable that the cleaning surface of the printing surface cleaning member 2 is always kept clean. Therefore, in this embodiment, as described below, the print surface cleaning member 2 can be cleaned by using the cleaning body 4 by rotating the print head 1.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a cleaning state of the printing surface cleaning member 2. When cleaning the printing surface cleaning member 2, as shown in FIG. 4, the printing surface cleaning member 2 is rotated and moved in the K direction (broken arrow direction) by rotating the print head 1 to clean the cleaning body. 4 Move up. As in the cleaning of the head end surface 7 of the print head 1, dirt such as dust and dust attached to the print surface cleaning member 2 can be removed by the cleaning body 4.

  It should be noted that dirt such as dust and dust attached to the cleaning body 4 by cleaning the head front end surface 7 of the print head 1 and the printing surface cleaning member 2 is taken up by the winding portion 9 of the cleaning body 4. Therefore, dust, dust or the like does not fall on the printing surface of the card 6 and become dirty, and the card transport path 8 does not get dirty. Further, it is possible to facilitate the cleaning of the card and the print head without requiring the operator's cleaning work until there is no unused cleaning body 4 wound in the winding portion 10.

  As described above, in the card print processing apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, the moving mechanism for rotating the print head 1 and the cleaning body installed on the moving track of the head end surface 7 of the print head 1 by this moving mechanism. 4, by moving the print head 1 onto the cleaning body 4, dirt such as dust and dirt on the head front end surface 7 can be easily cleaned. Further, by moving the print surface cleaning member 2 integrated with the print head 1 to a position facing the platen 5, dirt such as dust and dirt on the card 6, particularly the print surface of the card 6, can be easily obtained. It is possible to clean. Thereby, high quality printing is possible by cleaning the head front end surface 7 of the print head 1 and the print surface of the card 6 before the start of printing. Next, when there is time before the printing operation is started, the cleaning operation is performed immediately after printing, before the dirt adhering to the head end surface 7 of the print head 1 is solidified. By doing so, it is possible to clean the head tip surface 7 of the print head 1 and the like.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, a place where the cleaning card retracting unit is installed in the apparatus and a space for transporting the cleaning card when the print head is cleaned, such as the apparatus described in the prior art, is not necessary. It is possible to downsize and simplify the print head cleaning mechanism and the card print surface cleaning mechanism. In addition to the print head and card cleaning operations prior to printing, the print head and card cleaning operations can be performed after printing. It becomes possible to release.

B. Second embodiment:
FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of the card printing processing apparatus 200 of the second embodiment, and shows the card printing mechanism portion from the side as in FIG. FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of the card print processing apparatus 200 shown in FIG. 5 as viewed from above. FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing a cleaning state of the head front end surface 17 of the print head 11 and the print surface of the card 16.

  The card print processing apparatus 200 includes a print head 11, a card transport path 18 for transporting the card 16, and a platen 15. Similar to the first embodiment, the card 16 is conveyed to the lower part of the print head 11 by the card conveying path 18 and the platen 15, and printed by the head front end surface 17 provided at the lower end of the print head 11. Is executed.

  Here, a cleaning body (cleaning member of the present application) for cleaning the head tip surface 17 of the print head 11 is placed on the side surface on the near side of the platen 5 on a track along which the head tip surface 17 moves in parallel as will be described later. 14) is installed. The print head 11 is provided with a print surface cleaning member 12 for cleaning the card 16 so as to be integrated. The cleaning body 14 has a size that is also installed on a track that moves in conjunction with the movement of the print head 11, as will be described later. However, the size of the cleaning body 14 may be at least large enough to clean the head end surface 17 of the print head 11.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the print head 11 includes a moving mechanism that translates the head tip surface 17 of the print head 11 in a direction orthogonal to the E direction (card transport direction), that is, in the F direction or the G direction. ing. This moving mechanism can be realized by using various general driving mechanisms using, for example, a solenoid or a linear motor. The print head 11 and the print surface cleaning member 12 can move in the F direction and the G direction in conjunction with each other. Note that the cleaning body 14 is on the side where the head end surface 17 of the print head 11 moves (the F direction side). is set up. Then, the head end surface 17 of the print head 11 moves in parallel with the F direction with respect to the cleaning body 14, so that the entire head end surface 17 of the print head 11 contacts the cleaning body 14 as shown in FIG. 7. It is possible to remove (clean) dirt such as dust and dust on the head tip surface 17 while passing through. As the cleaning body 14, the same structure as the cleaning body 4 in the first embodiment can be used.

  Before moving the print head 11, it is preferable to move the card 16 to a position directly below the print surface cleaning member 12, as shown in FIG. Accordingly, the print surface cleaning member 12 that moves in conjunction with the parallel movement of the print head 11 is reciprocated in the F direction and the G direction, so that the print surface cleaning member 12 contacts the print surface of the card 16. The printing surface can be cleaned by passing. As the printing surface cleaning member 12, for example, a brush or the like can be used.

  Further, as described above, when the print head 11 is translated and the head front end surface 17 is passed over the cleaning body 14, the print surface cleaning member 12 is also linked to the parallel movement of the print head 11. 14 can be passed. Thereby, dirt such as dust and dust attached to the printing surface cleaning member 12 can be removed.

  In the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, high quality printing is possible by cleaning the head front end surface 17 of the print head 11 and the print surface of the card 16 before the start of printing. Next, when it takes time until the printing operation is started, the cleaning operation is performed immediately after the printing, before the dirt attached to the head end surface of the print head 11 is solidified. By doing so, it is possible to clean the head tip surface 17 of the print head 11. Further, in this embodiment, unlike the first embodiment, the print head 11 and the print surface cleaning member 12 move in conjunction with each other to clean the head end surface 17 of the print head 11 and the print surface of the card 16. There is an advantage that two functions of cleaning can be performed simultaneously by one operation.

  Also in this embodiment, unlike the apparatus described in the prior art, a place for installing the cleaning card retracting unit in the apparatus and a space for transporting the cleaning card when the print head is cleaned are not required, and each printing operation is performed. The print head cleaning mechanism and the card print surface cleaning mechanism can be reduced in size and simplified. In addition to the print head and card cleaning operations prior to printing, the print head and card cleaning operations can be performed after printing. It becomes possible to release.

C. Variation:
Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the scope of the present invention.

(1) For example, in the above embodiment, the cleaning bodies 4 and 14 are made of cloth such as gauze, but there is no particular regulation, and it is an adhesive film-like mechanism that attaches dirt such as dust and dust, or a brush. Various modes of cleaning are possible without being restricted by the shape of the cleaning body 4 that cleans the print head, such as a scraping mechanism. For example, it is possible to eliminate the remaining wiping residue by moving the print head reciprocally a plurality of reciprocating movements of the print head relative to the cleaning body. In addition, there is a case where the print quality is not stable because dirt is likely to remain on the head front end surface 7 because only the reciprocation of the head front end surface to the cleaning body results in wiping in only one direction. Therefore, a mode of performing wiping to eliminate the wiping unevenness of the head tip surface by moving the cleaning body that cleans the print head in a direction that is parallel to the head tip surface and orthogonal to the moving direction of the print head. It is good. That is, various cleaning modes with various wiping directions can be applied.

(2) In the said 1st Example, the printing surface cleaning member 2 which cleans a card employ | adopts the adhesive roller generally used, and the said 2nd Example cleans a card | curd. Although the printing surface cleaning member 12 employs a brush, the purpose of the printing surface cleaning members 2 and 12 is to remove dirt such as dust and dirt on the printing surface of the card. Therefore, the printing surface cleaning member 2 for cleaning the card can be assembled in various forms such as a sticky roller, a cloth wiping mechanism, and a brush rubbing mechanism.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Print head 2 ... Cleaning body 3 ... Rotating shaft 4 ... Cleaning body 5 ... Platen 6 ... Card 7 ... Head front end surface 8 ... Card conveyance path 9 ... Winding part 10 ... Winding part 11 ... Print head 12 ... Cleaning body DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 14 ... Cleaning body 15 ... Platen 16 ... Card 17 ... Head front end surface 18 ... Card conveyance path 100 ... Card print processing apparatus 200 ... Card print processing apparatus DS ... Drive mechanism

Claims (5)

A medium printing processing apparatus having a printing mechanism for printing on a medium having a printing surface,
The printing mechanism is
A print head having a head front end surface for performing printing, and performing printing by bringing the head front end surface into contact with the print surface of the medium;
A moving mechanism for moving the position of the print head;
A cleaning member for cleaning the front end surface of the print head,
On the movement trajectory of the head tip surface of the print head by the moving mechanism, a cleaning member for the head tip surface is installed,
A printing surface cleaning member for cleaning the printing surface of the medium so as to pass over the printing surface of the medium in conjunction with the movement of the head end surface of the printing head from the printing surface of the medium by the moving mechanism. A medium printing processing apparatus characterized in that it is constructed integrally with the print head. The medium print processing apparatus according to claim 1,
The moving mechanism rotates the print head around a rotation axis provided in parallel to the print surface of the medium, thereby guiding the head end surface of the print head onto the cleaning member. A medium printing process characterized by cleaning the front end surface of the head and further rotating the print head to pass the print surface cleaning member over the print surface of the medium to clean the print surface. apparatus. The medium print processing apparatus according to claim 2,
Furthermore, the print surface cleaning member is guided onto the cleaning member by rotating the print head to clean the print surface cleaning member. The medium print processing apparatus according to claim 1,
The moving mechanism translates the print head relative to the print surface of the medium to guide and clean the head end surface of the print head, and in conjunction with the parallel movement of the print head, the print surface. A medium printing processing apparatus, wherein a cleaning member is moved in parallel and passed over a printing surface of the medium to clean the printing surface. The medium print processing apparatus according to claim 4,
The cleaning member includes not only the head front end surface but also the print surface cleaning member that moves in conjunction with the movement of the head front end surface of the print head when the head front end surface is guided onto the cleaning member. A medium printing processing apparatus characterized in that the medium printing processing apparatus has a size installed on an orbit including the medium.

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