JP2015139945A - Suction platen mechanism and droplet discharge device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a suction platen mechanism capable of bringing open/close states of suction holes into appropriate states corresponding to a width of a recording medium by only closing a closing lid without lifting up the recording medium.SOLUTION: A suction platen mechanism 20 comprises: a platen 21 having a platen surface 21a provided with a plurality of suction hole rows 21c consisting of a plurality of suction holes 21b and being capable of being moved to a predetermined position where transportation of a recording medium is performed in operative association with closing of a closing lid 30; shutter members 22 provided for each of the plurality of suction hole rows 21c; and engagement means 23 not engaging with the shutter members 22, not moving the shutter members 22 and opening the suction hole rows 21c in the case where the recording medium is positioned on the suction hole rows 21c when the platen 21 is positioned at the predetermined position, and engaging with the shutter members 22, moving the shutter members 22 and closing the suction hole rows 21c in the case where the recording medium is not positioned thereon.

Description

  The present invention relates to a suction platen mechanism and a droplet discharge device including the suction platen mechanism.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in order to transport a recording medium in close contact with a platen surface in a droplet discharge device, a suction platen that makes the recording medium adhere to the platen surface by air suction is known. The suction platen is provided with a plurality of suction holes on the platen surface, and air is exhausted from the plurality of suction holes to the outside by an intake fan, thereby generating a negative pressure and bringing the recording medium into close contact with the platen surface.
When there is a suction hole that is not blocked by the recording medium and is opened, air is sucked from the opened suction hole, and the suction pressure acting on the recording medium is reduced. For this reason, the recording medium floats from the platen surface, and an appropriate platen gap cannot be obtained between the droplet discharge head and the recording medium, resulting in a decrease in print quality, and the recording medium being rubbed against the droplet discharge head. There was a problem of ink smearing.

Therefore, for example, as described in Patent Document 1, a contact member that can contact the conveyed sheet is provided, and suction is selectively performed according to a change in the posture of the contact member due to contact between the contact member and the sheet. An inkjet recording apparatus having a suction platen that opens and closes a hole has been proposed.
In the suction platen described in Patent Document 1, a duct connecting the suction platen and the fan is divided into a plurality of chambers for each suction region. Each chamber divided for each suction region is provided with a contact member and an opening / closing member engaged with the contact member in the sheet conveyance direction. When the contact member is pushed down by the conveyed sheet, the opening / closing member that has closed the suction hole rotates around the support shaft to open the suction hole. That is, the opening / closing state of the suction holes can be adjusted to the width of the conveyed sheet.

JP 2012-218406 A

  However, in the suction platen described in Patent Document 1, since the suction holes are opened by pushing down the contact member with the sheet, the sheet is vertically upward from the contact member by the number of contact members that contacted the platen surface and the conveying direction. And will receive a reaction force in the opposite direction. Therefore, for example, if the suction area is divided finely according to the width of the sheet, it is necessary to increase the number of contact members by the increased suction area, and the reaction force from the contact member received by the sheet increases. Therefore, as the reaction force received by the sheet increases, the sheet is lifted by the contact member, and an appropriate platen gap cannot be obtained between the sheet and the recording head, resulting in a decrease in print quality, and a deflection of the sheet. There existed a subject that there exists a possibility of deform | transforming.

  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 suction platen mechanism according to this application example includes a platen surface in which a plurality of suction hole arrays including a plurality of suction holes arranged in the conveyance direction of the recording medium are provided in a width direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction. And a platen that is movable to a predetermined position where the recording medium is transported, a suction hole opening / closing member provided for each of the suction hole rows, and the suction when the platen is at the predetermined position. When the recording medium is above the hole array, the suction hole opening / closing member is not engaged, the suction hole opening / closing member is not moved, the suction hole array is opened, and the recording medium is placed on the suction hole array. If not, engaging means for engaging the suction hole opening / closing member and moving the suction hole opening / closing member to close the suction hole row is provided.

  According to this application example, when the platen moves and is in a predetermined position, the relationship between the suction hole opening / closing member and the engagement member depends on the presence / absence of a recording medium between the suction hole opening / closing member and the engagement member. The suction hole array was configured to be opened and closed by changing the combined state. If the recording medium is present between the suction hole opening / closing member and the engaging member when the platen is at a predetermined position, the suction hole opening / closing member and the engaging member are not engaged. For this reason, even if the recording medium is conveyed after the platen has moved to a predetermined position, the engagement member does not block the conveyance of the recording medium, so that no reaction force is applied to the recording medium. Therefore, unlike the case of Patent Document 1, there is no possibility of lifting the recording medium from the platen surface to lower the print quality or causing the recording medium to bend and deform, so that the suction state is suitable for the width of the recording medium. It is possible to realize a suction platen mechanism capable of

  Application Example 2 In the suction platen mechanism according to the application example, the engagement means includes an engagement member that engages with the suction hole opening / closing member, and the engagement member is in contact with the platen surface. It is preferably supported so as to be movable upward.

  According to this application example, since the engaging means is configured to support the engaging member that engages with the suction hole opening / closing member so as to be movable upward with respect to the platen surface, the engaging member, the recording medium, The engagement member can be released upward with respect to the platen surface even if they come into contact with each other.

  Application Example 3 In the suction platen mechanism according to the application example described above, the engagement member includes an engagement convex portion extending toward the platen surface, and the engagement means includes the predetermined platen that is the predetermined platen. When the recording medium is above the suction hole array when moving to the position, the engaging member is moved upward with respect to the platen surface, and the space between the engaging convex portion and the platen surface is reached. It is preferable that an engagement position fixing portion for fixing the engagement member is further provided at a position where a gap through which the recording medium can pass is formed.

  According to this application example, when the platen moves to a predetermined position, if there is a recording medium on the suction hole array, the engaging member is separated upward from the platen surface so that the recording medium can pass therethrough. The gap is fixed at a position where it can be formed between the engaging projection and the platen surface. For this reason, even if the recording medium is transported after the platen has moved to a predetermined position, the engaging convex portion and the recording medium do not come into contact with each other, and no reaction force is applied.

  Application Example 4 In the suction platen mechanism according to the application example described above, the engagement member opens and closes the suction hole with respect to the suction hole row that does not overlap the recording medium when the platen moves to the predetermined position. It is preferable that the suction hole opening / closing member engaged with a member and extending in the transport direction is slid from the upstream side to the downstream side to close the suction hole row.

  According to this application example, when the platen moves to a predetermined position, the engaging member moves from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction with respect to the platen surface and engages with the suction hole opening / closing member to open / close the suction hole. The member was slid from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction to close the suction hole array. Therefore, when the platen moves to a predetermined position, the engaging member moves along the downstream side from the upstream side in the transport direction with respect to the platen surface. Therefore, even when the recording medium comes into contact with the engaging member, the recording medium receives only a force in the transport direction from the engaging member and does not bend the recording medium.

  Application Example 5 In the suction platen mechanism according to the application example, the suction hole opening / closing member extending in the transport direction has a through hole having the same arrangement as the arrangement of the suction holes constituting the suction hole row. Preferably it is formed.

  According to this application example, since the suction hole opening / closing member is configured to include the through holes arranged in the same manner as the plurality of suction holes constituting the suction hole row to be opened and closed, the suction hole is engaged by engagement with the engagement member. The suction hole can be closed only by shifting the position of the opening / closing member from the position where the through hole and the suction hole communicate with each other.

  Application Example 6 In the suction platen mechanism according to the application example described above, the suction hole opening / closing member and the engagement member are disposed at positions that do not overlap the recording medium having the minimum width that can be conveyed on the platen surface. It is preferable that it is provided for the suction hole row.

  According to this application example, the suction hole opening / closing member and the engaging member are arranged so as not to overlap the recording medium having the minimum width that can be conveyed on the platen surface. In addition, the number of engaging members that come into contact with the recording medium can be reduced, and the reaction force applied to the recording medium can be further reduced.

  Application Example 7 The droplet discharge device of this application example is moved to the position where the platen is retracted by opening and the suction platen mechanism described in the application example, and the platen is moved to the predetermined position by closing. And an opening / closing lid to be moved.

  According to this application example, the suction platen mechanism described in the application example described above and the opening / closing lid that moves the platen to the retreat position or the predetermined position by opening and closing are provided. Therefore, each time the open / close lid is closed, the suction hole suitable for the width of the recording medium can be opened and closed, and a droplet discharge device capable of printing with stable print quality can be provided.

  Application Example 8 In the liquid droplet ejection apparatus according to the application example described above, the recording medium is a long object wound in a roll shape, and the opening / closing lid applies the roll-shaped recording medium to the liquid droplet. It is preferable that the recording medium is opened when being attached to the discharge device, and is closed after a part of the attached recording medium is pulled out on the platen surface.

  According to this application example, each time the roll-shaped recording medium is attached to the droplet discharge device, the opening / closing state of the suction hole can be made to be suitable for the width of the recording medium.

1 is an external perspective view of a roll paper printer according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of a roll paper printer in a state where an opening / closing lid is fully opened. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an internal structure of a roll paper printer. The top view which shows the internal structure of a suction platen mechanism. The front view which shows the internal structure of the suction platen mechanism seen from the F direction shown in FIG. The figure which shows the internal structure of the suction platen mechanism seen from SS 'broken line cross section shown in FIG. The figure which shows the state of the suction platen mechanism when opening an opening-and-closing lid and setting roll paper. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an initial operation of the suction platen mechanism when there is a recording sheet in FIG. 7. The figure which shows a state when the recording paper and engagement member of a suction platen mechanism in case there exists recording paper in FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the engaging member is lifted by the recording paper of the suction platen mechanism when there is the recording paper in FIG. 7. The figure which shows a state when the opening-and-closing lid | cover of a suction platen mechanism in case there exists a recording paper in FIG. 7 completely closed. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an initial operation of the suction platen mechanism when there is no recording paper in FIG. 7. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a state when the platen surface of the suction platen mechanism and the engaging member are in contact with each other when there is no recording paper in FIG. 7. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state when the engaging member of the suction platen mechanism enters the engaged portion of the shutter member when there is no recording paper in FIG. 7. The figure which shows a state when the opening-and-closing lid | cover of the suction platen mechanism when there is no recording paper in FIG. 7 is completely closed.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of a droplet discharge device to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following drawings, the scale of each layer and each member is made different from the actual scale so that each layer and each member can be recognized.

<Droplet ejection device>
As a droplet discharge device to which the suction platen mechanism of the present invention is applied, a roll paper printer will be described as an example. This roll paper printer is, for example, a label printer that prints on a roll paper as a recording medium by an inkjet method and cuts it to an arbitrary length. In particular, when the roll paper is set inside the roll paper printer, the suction of the roll paper can be brought into a state suitable for the width of the roll paper.

(overall structure)
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of the roll paper printer 1 of the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the roll paper printer 1 with the opening / closing lid 30 fully opened.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the roll paper printer 1 includes a printer body 2 having a rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole, and an opening / closing lid 30 attached to the front surface of the printer body 2 on which operation buttons and the like are provided. . A recording paper discharge port 4 having a predetermined width is formed on the front surface of the printer body 2. A paper discharge guide 3 protrudes forward below the recording paper discharge port 4, and a lid opening / closing lever 5 is disposed on the side of the paper discharge guide 3. A rectangular opening for taking in and out the roll paper is formed below the paper discharge guide 3 and the lid opening / closing lever 5 in the printer main body 2, and this opening is sealed by the opening / closing lid 30.

  When the lid opening / closing lever 5 is operated, the opening / closing lid 30 is unlocked. When the paper discharge guide 3 is pulled forward after unlocking, as shown in FIG. 2, the opening / closing lid 30 opens forward with the lower end as the center. The paper discharge guide 3 and the platen 21 are fixed to a part of the opening / closing lid 30, and in conjunction with the movement of the opening / closing lid 30, the paper discharge guide 3 and the platen 21 are at predetermined positions for transporting the recording paper. To the retreat position where the recording paper is supplied. Then, a platen surface 21a provided on the upper surface of the platen 21 appears, and a path from the opening to the roll paper storage unit 7 formed inside the printer is opened. At the same time, the recording paper conveyance path from the roll paper storage unit 7 to the recording paper discharge port 4 is opened, and the roll paper can be easily replaced. The configuration of the opening / closing lid 30 will be described later in detail.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the roll paper printer 1. Inside the roll paper printer 1, a roll paper storage unit 7 is formed at the center in the width direction of the printer main body frame 6. The roll paper storage unit 7 stores the roll paper 8 in a horizontally placed state with the central axis of the roll paper 8 facing the width direction of the printer.

  On the upper side of the roll paper storage unit 7, a head unit frame 9 is horizontally attached to the upper end of the printer main body frame 6. A carriage guide shaft 10 is stretched horizontally across the head unit frame 9 in the width direction of the printer. A carriage 12 on which the inkjet head 11 is mounted in a downward state is capable of reciprocating along the carriage guide shaft 10 in the printer width direction. The carriage 12 is reciprocated in the printer width direction by a known carriage conveyance device, for example, a carriage conveyance mechanism including a carriage motor and a timing belt. Further, an engaging means 23 is provided on the downstream side in the transport direction of the carriage 12.

A platen 21 that extends horizontally in the front-rear direction of the printer is disposed below the inkjet head 11. The platen 21 is provided with a platen surface 21a facing the inkjet head 11 with a certain gap in the horizontal direction of the printer, and the printing position of the inkjet head 11 is defined by the platen surface 21a.
The suction platen mechanism 20 of the present embodiment is configured to include a platen 21 and engaging means 23 that are arranged to face the platen surface 21a when the opening / closing lid 30 is closed.

  At the rear end of the platen 21, a tension guide 13 on which a long recording paper 8a pulled out from the roll paper storage unit 7 is bridged is disposed. The tension guide 13 is urged upward, and the recording paper 8a drawn out from the roll paper 8 stored in the roll paper storage unit 7 passes through printing in a state where a predetermined tension is applied by the tension guide 13. It is pulled out to the transport route.

  A paper feed roller 14 is stretched horizontally in the printer width direction at a position in front of the tension guide 13 in the platen 21. A paper pressing roller 15 attached to the head unit frame 9 side is pressed against the paper feeding roller 14 from above with a predetermined pressing force via the recording paper 8a. A front paper feed roller 16 is stretched horizontally in the printer width direction on a portion of the platen 21 on the front end side of the platen surface 21a. A front paper pressing roller 17 attached to the head unit frame 9 side is pressed against the front paper feed roller 16 from above via a recording paper 8a.

  The recording paper 8a drawn upward from the roll paper 8 stored in the roll paper storage unit 7 is transported along a transport path A indicated by a thick dashed line in FIG. The conveyance path A is directed upward via the space between the feeding roller 18 and the paper pressing roller 19, bent forward via the tension guide 13, and then between the paper feeding roller 14 and the paper pressing roller 15. The recording paper discharge port 4 is reached through between the head 11 and the platen surface 21 a and between the front paper feed roller 16 and the front paper pressing roller 17.

  The recording paper 8a fed out from the roll paper 8 is conveyed while being sucked by the platen surface 21a and passes through the printing position. Printing is performed by the inkjet head 11 mounted on the carriage 12 while reciprocating the carriage 12 along the carriage guide shaft 10 at the printing position. After a series of line printing in the width direction of the recording paper 8a is completed, the feeding roller 18, the paper feeding roller 14, and the front paper feeding roller 16 are synchronously rotated to feed the recording paper 8a by a predetermined pitch. . After this, the next line printing is performed. Thus, the recording paper 8a is printed by the inkjet head 11 while being intermittently sent out at a predetermined pitch. The recording paper 8a after printing is cut and discharged in the width direction by an auto cutter disposed in the recording paper discharge port 4.

<Suction platen mechanism>
First, a schematic configuration of the suction platen mechanism 20 provided in the roll paper printer 1 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6 are views showing the suction platen mechanism 20 in a state where the opening / closing lid 30 is closed and the engaging means 23 and the shutter member 22 are engaged. FIG. 4 is a top view showing the suction platen mechanism 20 for sucking the recording paper 8a to the platen surface 21a. FIG. 5 is a front view showing the internal structure of the suction platen mechanism 20 as viewed from the direction F shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a side view of the suction platen mechanism 20 as seen from the SS ′ broken line cross section shown in FIG. 4. The arrow X shown in FIG. 4 represents the conveyance direction of the recording paper 8a, and the arrow Y represents the width direction of the recording paper 8a. Hereinafter, the conveyance direction of the recording paper 8a is referred to as the X direction, and the width direction of the recording paper 8a is referred to as the Y direction.

As shown in FIG. 4, the suction platen mechanism 20 includes a platen 21, a shutter member 22 as a suction hole opening / closing member, an engagement means 23, and the like.
As shown in FIG. 4, the platen 21 has a flat rectangular parallelepiped shape that is long in the Y direction. A plurality of suction holes 21 b _{1 to} 21 b ₃₂ are provided on the platen surface 21 a provided on the upper surface of the platen 21. The plurality of suction holes 21b _{1 to} 21b ₃₂ are divided into a plurality of suction hole arrays 21c parallel to the Y direction with a plurality (four) of suction holes arranged in the X direction as a unit. Further, on the downstream side in the X direction of each suction hole row 21c, an engagement hole 21d having a long rectangular shape along the X direction is provided.

The suction holes 21b _{1 to} 21b ₃₂ can communicate with a suction passage (not shown) formed in the platen 21 when not closed by the shutter member 22. The rear end (upstream end in the X direction) of the platen 21 communicates with a suction passage, and the suction passage communicates with a suction fan (not shown) attached to the back plate of the printer main body frame 6. The suction fan outlet opens to the rear of the printer. When the suction fan is driven, air is sucked from the suction holes 21b _{1 to} 21b ₃₂ through the suction passages inside the platen 21. With this suction force formed by the suction fan, the recording paper 8a transported on the upper part of the platen 21 is transported while being sucked by the platen surface 21a. Hereinafter, the suction holes 21b _{1 to} 21b ₃₂ are collectively referred to as the suction holes 21b. Further, a P area shown in FIG. 4 is a printing area of the inkjet head 11. Of the four suction holes 21b constituting each suction hole row 21c, two suction holes 21b arranged on the inner side are arranged corresponding to the P region, and suction is performed together with the suction holes 21b arranged before and after the suction holes 21b. As a result, the printed portion of the recording paper 8a is brought into close contact with the platen surface 21a with high accuracy.

Also, as shown in FIG. 4, a shutter member 22 having a rectangular parallelepiped shape along the X direction for each suction hole row 21c located outside the transport area of the recording paper 8 min having the minimum width that can be transported by the suction platen mechanism 20. Is provided. The shutter member 22 is formed with through holes 22a _{1 to} 22a ₄ having the same arrangement as the suction holes constituting the suction hole row 21c. Hereinafter, when the through holes 22a _{1 to} 22a ₄ are collectively referred to as the through hole 22a. The positions of the through holes 22a formed in the shutter member 22 need to be at positions where the suction holes 21b and the through holes 22a do not overlap when the shutter member 22 slides in the X direction, and each through hole 22a is formed. that position is determined on the basis of the position of the through hole 22a _4. The position of the through hole 22a ₄ is such that when the shutter member 22 slides in the X direction, the suction hole 21b located most upstream in the X direction and the through hole 22a ₄ do not overlap with each other in the X direction. It is formed at a position away from the upstream end from the suction hole 21b. Further, in the shutter member 22, the end of the shutter member 22 positioned upstream in the X direction and the inner wall of the platen 21 are connected by an elastic member 22c such as a spring.

Further, an engaging means 23 is provided at a position downstream of the platen 21 in the X direction and facing the platen surface 21a.
As shown in FIG. 5, the engagement means 23 includes an engagement member 23a, an engagement position fixing portion 23b, and an elastic member 23c. The engaging means upper surface 23e is a surface when the engaging means 23 is viewed from the vertically upward direction.
In order to engage with the shutter member 22, the engaging member 23a is provided so as to be vertically movable above each engaging hole 21d provided in the platen surface 21a. Each engagement member 23a is attached to a support shaft 23a ₃ provided in the Y direction with respect to the engagement member 23a, and is rotatable about the support shaft 23a ₃ . The support shaft 23a ₃ moves up and down along a groove 23d provided in the engaging means 23. The upper end of the groove 23d is opened in the vertical direction of the engaging means 23, and the lower end of the groove 23d is closed at a position slightly higher than the end facing the platen surface 21a so that the engaging member 23a does not come off the engaging means 23. It has been.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the engagement position fixing portion 23b, two rectangular parallelepipeds that extend vertically downward with respect to the platen surface 21a are joined to both ends of a rectangular parallelepiped that is horizontal and has the same length as the platen 21 in the Y direction. It has a different shape.
Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 6, the shape of the engagement position fixing portion 23b is inclined by chamfering on the upstream side in the X direction. The engaging position fixing portion 23b is disposed inside the engaging means 23 so as to be movable from the downstream to the upstream along the X direction at a position downstream of the engaging member 23a in the X direction. Furthermore, the downstream end in the X direction of the engaging position fixing portion 23b and the inner wall on the downstream side in the X direction of the engaging means 23 are connected by an elastic member 23c such as a spring.

As shown in FIG. 6, the engaging member 23a includes a disk part 23a ₁ having a support shaft 23a ₃ at the center, and an engaging convex part 23a ₂ extending from the disk part 23a ₁ toward the platen surface 21a. And an anti-rotation convex portion 23a ₄ formed upstream of the disk portion 23a _{1 in} the X direction. The engagement convex portion 23a ₂ is substantially J-shaped when viewed from the Y direction, and is formed so that the area of the lower end portion contacting the platen surface 21a and the recording paper 8a is larger than the diameter of the suction hole 21b. Yes. The rotation preventing projection 23a ₄ has a cubic shape, and has a contact surface that is horizontal to the inner wall of the engagement means 23 on the upstream side in the X direction of the rotation preventing projection 23a ₄ .

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the shutter member 22 to be engaged with the engaging portion 23a ₂ is the downstream end side in the X direction, have the engaged portion 22b to engage the engaging portion 23a ₂ doing. The engaged portion 22b has an engaged convex portion 22b ₁ formed at the downstream end of the shutter member 22 in the X direction and a guide groove 22b ₂ . The guide groove 22b ₂ has a slope that becomes deeper from the upstream side to the downstream side in the X direction at the entrance portion into which the engaging convex portion 23a ₂ enters. Further, a similar inclination is also provided in the engagement hole 21d through which the shutter member 22 and the engagement convex portion 23a ₂ are engaged.

Next, the configuration of the opening / closing lid 30 that moves the platen 21 in conjunction with opening and closing will be described. As shown in FIG. 6, the open / close lid 30 includes a platen fixing portion 30a, an engagement position fixing operation portion 30b, and an open / close lid main body 30c. In the platen fixing portion 30a, the platen 21 is fixed to the upper end when the opening / closing lid 30 is closed. The platen fixing portion 30a is supported so as to be rotatable about a rotation shaft provided in the opening / closing lid body 30c, and the direction of the platen surface 21a when the platen 21 is moved together with the opening / closing lid 30 is determined by the engagement means. 23 is fixed in the opposite direction. Further, the lower end portion of the opening / closing lid main body 30c is supported by the printer main body 2 so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis provided in the roll paper printer 1.
Further, one engagement position fixing operation unit 30b is provided on each side surface of the platen fixing unit 30a in the Y direction. Since the engagement position fixing operation unit 30b is engaged with the engagement position fixing unit 23b when the opening / closing lid 30 is closed, the engagement position fixing operation unit 30b is located at the upper end in the vertical direction of the platen fixing unit 30a and downstream of the engagement position fixing unit 23b in the X direction. In the position. Further, the engagement position fixing operation portion 30b has a rectangular parallelepiped shape that is long in the X direction.

Next, an outline of the opening / closing operation of the suction hole array 21c in the suction platen mechanism 20 of the roll paper printer 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.
The suction hole array 21c in the suction platen mechanism 20 is opened and closed by engaging the engaging member 23a and the engaged portion 22b in conjunction with opening and closing of the opening and closing lid 30, and moving the shutter member 22 in the X direction. It is.

The opening / closing operation of the suction hole array 21c when the roll paper 8 is supplied to the roll paper printer 1 and the open / close lid 30 is closed will be described with and without the recording paper 8a.
FIG. 7 is a view showing a state of the suction platen mechanism 20 when the roll paper 8 is supplied with the opening / closing lid 30 opened.

  When the roll paper 8 is supplied to the roll paper printer 1, the opening / closing lid 30 is opened and the platen 21 is pulled out. Then, one of the roll paper guides 7a provided in the roll paper storage unit 7 is moved in the Y direction, and the roll paper 8 is set between the roll paper guides 7a. Thereafter, the recording paper 8a, which is a part of the roll paper 8, is pulled out to the paper discharge guide 3, and the paper discharge guide member 3a provided on the paper discharge guide 3 is moved to indicate a state in accordance with the width of the roll paper 8. Is FIG. With this state as an initial state, the case where the recording paper 8a is present on the suction hole array 21c and the case where the recording paper 8a is not present will be described.

First, the opening / closing operation of the suction platen mechanism 20 when the recording paper 8a is on the suction hole array 21c will be described.
8 to 11 are sectional views of the suction platen mechanism 20 taken along the broken line PP ′ of FIG. 7 showing the operation of the suction platen mechanism 20 when the recording paper 8a is present, and FIG. 8 is an initial view shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing of the suction platen mechanism 20 in the PP 'broken line in a state. 8 to 11, the printer main body 2 is illustrated by a two-dot chain line.

As shown in FIG. 8, when the opening / closing lid 30 is opened, the shutter member 22 is disposed on the upstream side in the X direction by the elastic member 22c, and the positions of the suction holes 21b and the through holes 22a constituting the suction hole row 21c. And the suction hole row 21c is open. Also in the engaging means 23, the engaging member 23a moves to the lower end portion of the groove 23d along the groove 23d by the weight of the engaging member 23a. Further, the engaging position fixing portion 23b is also arranged on the downstream side in the X direction by the elastic member 23c, and does not hinder the movement of the engaging member 23a. FIG. 9 shows a state in which the opening / closing lid 30 is closed from this state and the engaging convex portion 23a ₂ and the recording paper 8a are in contact with each other.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the suction platen mechanism 20 when the recording paper 8a and the engaging member 23a are in contact with each other along the broken line PP ′ shown in FIG. Even when the opening / closing lid 30 is closed, the platen 21 is moved up inside the roll paper printer 1 by the platen fixing portion 30a and maintained in a state parallel to the ground plane as in the initial state shown in FIG. The head 11 is approached. Therefore, when the recording paper 8a and the engaging convex portion 23a ₂ come into contact, the engaging member 23a is lifted along the groove 23d by the platen 21 that has moved up while moving along the X direction on the recording paper 8a. It is done. At this time, since the position of the engaging position fixing operation part 30b has not risen to the position where it engages with the engaging position fixing part 23b, the engaging member 23a can freely move along the groove 23d. . From this state, it closed further lid 30, the engaging member 23a is, to approximately the same height as the bottom of the disk portion 23a ₁ of the moves along the groove 23d engaging member 23a is an upper engagement position fixing portion 23b FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the moved state.

Figure 10 is a vacuum platen when the bottom of the disk portion 23a ₁ of the engaging member 23a is lifted to approximately the same height as the top of the engaging position fixing portion 23b by the platen 21 in the P-P'broken line shown in FIG. 7 FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the mechanism 20. As shown in FIG. 10, when the opening / closing lid 30 is further closed, the engagement position fixing portion 23b engages with the engagement position fixing operation portion 30b, and the engagement position fixing operation portion 30b engages with the engagement position fixing portion 23b. Moves in the direction opposite to the X direction. Then, the engaging member 23a is lifted by the engaging position fixing portion 23b, and the engaging member 23a moves to a position where it does not come into contact with the recording paper 8a. FIG. 11 shows a state of the suction platen mechanism 20 when the opening / closing lid 30 is completely closed.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the suction platen mechanism 20 when the opening / closing lid 30 is completely closed along the PP ′ broken line shown in FIG. 7. As shown in FIG. 11, when the paper 8a is located between the engaged portion 22b and the engaging convex portion 23a _2, the engaging member 23a in order to move on the paper 8a, not engaged. Therefore, the shutter member 22 does not slide in the X direction, the state in which the positions of the suction holes 21b and the through holes 22a match is maintained, and the suction hole row 21c is opened. Further, since the engaging member 23a is fixed by the engaging position fixing portion 23b at a position where it does not come into contact with the recording paper 8a, it does not come into contact with the recording paper 8a while the opening / closing lid 30 is closed.

Next, the opening / closing operation of the suction platen mechanism 20 when there is no recording paper 8a on the suction hole row 21c will be described.
12 to 15 are cross-sectional views of the suction platen mechanism 20 taken along the NP-NP 'broken line representing the operation of the suction platen mechanism 20 when there is no recording paper 8a, and FIG. 12 shows the initial state shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing of the suction platen mechanism 20 in NP-NP 'broken line. 12 to 15, the printer main body 2 is illustrated by a broken line.
As shown in FIG. 12, when the opening / closing lid 30 is opened, the shutter member 22 is arranged upstream in the X direction by the elastic member 22c, as in the case where the recording paper 8a is present, and constitutes the suction hole array 21c. The positions of the suction holes 21b and the through holes 22a to be matched match each other, and the suction hole row 21c is open. Also in the engaging means 23, the engaging member 23a moves to the lower end portion of the groove 23d along the groove 23d by the weight of the engaging member 23a. Further, the engaging position fixing portion 23b is also arranged on the downstream side in the X direction by the elastic member 23c, and does not hinder the movement of the engaging member 23a. From this state, FIG. 13 shows a state in which the opening / closing lid 30 is closed to the roll paper printer 1 side and the engagement member 23a and the platen surface 21a are in contact with each other.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the suction platen mechanism 20 when the platen surface 21a and the engaging member 23a are in contact with each other along the NP-NP ′ broken line shown in FIG. Even when the opening / closing lid 30 is closed, the platen 21 is lifted while approaching the roll paper printer 1 while maintaining a state parallel to the ground plane by the platen fixing portion 30a as in the initial state shown in FIG. The ink jet head 11 is approached. Because even in contact with the platen surface 21a and the engaging portion 23a ₂ is the area of the engaging portion 23a ₂ that is in contact with the platen surface 21a is larger than the suction holes 21b, the engaging member 23a is suction holes 21b Don't get caught. Therefore, the engaging member 23a is lifted along the groove 23d by the platen 21 that has been lifted while moving along the X direction on the platen surface 21a. At this time, the position of the engaging position fixing operation part 30b is not moved up to the position where it engages with the engaging position fixing part 23b, so that the engaging member 23a moves freely along the groove 23d. can do. From this state, closed further lid 30, the engaging member 23a is moved, the diagram illustrating a state in which the engaging convex portion 23a ₂ invades the engaged portion 22b is 14.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the suction platen mechanism 20 when the opening / closing lid 30 is closed at the broken line NP-NP ′ shown in FIG. 7 and the engaging member 23a enters the engaged portion 22b. When the opening / closing lid 30 is closed, the engagement protrusion 23a ₂ moves from the upstream side in the X direction toward the downstream side with respect to the platen surface 21a. Both the engaging hole 21d and the engaged portion 22b have an inclination that the downstream side becomes deeper in the X direction. As the opening / closing lid 30 is closed, the engaging convex portion 23a ₂ enters the engaged portion 22b through the engaging hole 21d provided on the downstream side in the X direction of the platen surface 21a. The engaged portion 22b ₁ of the engaged portion 22b is engaged. Therefore, when the opening / closing lid 30 is further closed, when the engaging member 23a moves, the shutter member 22 having the engaged portion 22b engaged with the engaging member 23a is pulled downstream in the X direction and slides. To do. FIG. 15 shows a state in which the opening / closing lid 30 is completely closed from this state.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the suction platen mechanism 20 when the opening / closing lid 30 is closed along the NP-NP ′ broken line shown in FIG. 7. When the opening / closing lid 30 is closed from the state of FIG. 14 and is slid by the engaging convex portion 23a ₂ , the shutter member 22 is downstream in the X direction as shown in FIG. In contact with the inner wall of the platen 21. Therefore, the positions of the suction holes 21b provided in the platen surface 21a and the through holes 22a provided in the shutter member 22 are shifted, and each suction hole 21b is closed by the shutter member 22. Further, since the engagement position fixing operation unit 30b and the engagement position fixing unit 23b are engaged by closing the opening / closing lid 30, the engagement position fixing unit 23b moves from the downstream in the X direction toward the upstream. Therefore, when the opening / closing lid 30 is completely closed, the engagement position fixing portion 23b fixes the position of the engagement member 23a in the engagement means 23 in a state where the shutter member 22 blocks the suction hole row 21c. Therefore, while the opening / closing lid 30 is closed, the suction hole row 21c can be kept closed.
The operation of the suction platen mechanism 20 has been described by taking as an example the opening / closing operation of the suction hole row 21c at the positions indicated by the broken lines PP-NP 'and NP-NP' shown in FIG. Similarly, the opening / closing operation is performed according to the presence or absence of the roll paper 8.

As described above, according to the roll paper printer 1 according to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
According to the roll paper printer 1 according to the present embodiment, the suction platen mechanism 20 includes the suction hole arrays 21c unless the recording paper 8a is on the suction hole arrays 21c of the platen surface 21a while the opening / closing lid 30 is closed. The engaging member 23a and the shutter member 22 corresponding to are engaged. As the opening / closing lid 30 is closed, the engaging member 23a slides the shutter member 22 to the downstream side in the X direction, shifts the positions of the suction holes 21b and the through holes 22a, and closes the suction hole row 21c. When the opening / closing lid 30 is closed to the end, the engagement position fixing operation unit 30b and the engagement position fixing unit 23b are engaged to fix the position of the engagement member 23a. And the state which closed the suction-hole row | line 21c while the opening-and-closing lid | cover 30 is closed is maintained.
Further, when the recording paper 8a is on each suction hole row 21c on the platen surface 21a, the engaging member 23a is lifted upward by the platen 21 as the opening / closing lid 30 is closed, and thus does not engage with the shutter member 22. When the opening / closing lid 30 is closed to the end, the engagement position fixing operation portion 30b and the engagement position fixing portion 23b are engaged, and the engagement position fixing portion 23b is moved to change the position of the engagement member 23a. The engaging member 23a is pushed up and fixed to a position where the recording paper 8a does not come into contact. And the state where the suction hole row 21c is opened while the open / close lid 30 is closed is maintained. Therefore, since the recording paper 8a and the engaging member 23a are not in contact with each other during printing, the open / close state of the suction hole 21b can be changed without the recording paper 8a being lifted or deflected by the contact member. It can be in a state suitable for the width of 8a.

  Further, the engaging member 23 a is arranged so as to move downward by its own weight, be lifted upward by the movement of the platen 21, and can move into the engaging means 23. Therefore, when the recording paper 8a comes into contact, the opening / closing state of the suction hole 21b can be matched to the roll paper 8 without increasing the downward reaction force against the platen surface 21a applied to the recording paper 8a from the engaging member 23a. A small roll paper printer 1 can be realized.

  Further, when the opening / closing lid 30 is completely closed, the engaging member 23a is engaged with the engaging position fixing operation portion 30b and the engaging position fixing portion 23b in the groove 23d, and the position thereof is fixed. . Therefore, even if printing is performed after the opening / closing lid 30 is closed, the engagement member 23a and the recording paper 8a do not come into contact with each other. Therefore, the print quality due to the contact with the engagement member 23a when the recording paper 8a is being transported. Can be prevented.

  Further, the suction platen mechanism 20 can switch the open / close state of the suction hole row 21c without using components that require electric power for operation. Therefore, the open / close state of the suction hole 21 b can be matched to the roll paper 8 without increasing the power consumption of the applied roll paper printer 1.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and improvements can be added to the above-described embodiment.

(Modification 1)
In Embodiment 1 described above, the suction force of the suction fan is not adjusted, and the suction is always performed with a constant suction force. However, the suction force of the suction fan is adjusted according to the open / close state of the suction hole row 21c. Also good. In this way, the recording paper 8a can be sucked with an appropriate suction force in accordance with the width of the recording paper 8a to be conveyed. Therefore, the power consumption necessary for the operation of the suction fan can be optimized, and the roll paper printer 1 with low power consumption can be realized.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Roll paper printer, 2 ... Printer main body, 3 ... Paper discharge guide, 4 ... Recording paper discharge port, 5 ... Cover opening / closing lever, 6 ... Printer main body frame, 7 ... Roll paper storage part, 8 ... Roll paper, 8a ... Recording paper, 8 min. Recording paper with minimum width, 9 ... Head unit frame, 10 ... Carriage guide shaft, 11 ... Inkjet head, 12 ... Carriage, 13 ... Tension guide, 14 ... Paper feed roller, 15 ... Paper pressing roller, 16 ... front paper feed roller, 17 ... front paper press roller, 18 ... feed roller, 19 ... paper press roller, 20 ... suction platen mechanism, 21 ... platen, 21a ... platen surface, 21b ... suction hole, 21c ... suction hole array, 21d ... engaging hole, 22 ... shutter member, 22a ... through holes, 22b ... engaged part, 22b ₁ ... engaged projected portion, 22b ₂ Guide groove, 22c ... elastic member, 23 ... engaging means, 23a ... engagement member, 23a ₁ ... disc part, 23a ₂ ... engaging portion, 23a ₃ ... support shaft, 23a ₄ ... rotation restriction projection, 23b ... Engagement position fixing part, 23c ... elastic member, 23d ... groove, 23e ... engaging means upper surface, 30 ... opening / closing lid, 30a ... platen fixing part, 30b ... engagement position fixing operation part, 30c ... opening / closing lid body.

Claims (8)

A suction hole array comprising a plurality of suction holes arranged in the transport direction of the recording medium has a plurality of platen surfaces provided in a width direction orthogonal to the transport direction, and is located at a predetermined position where the transport of the recording medium is performed. A movable platen,
A suction hole opening and closing member provided for each of the suction hole rows;
When the platen is in the predetermined position and the recording medium is on the suction hole array, the suction hole array is not engaged with the suction hole opening / closing member and the suction hole opening / closing member is not moved. Engaging means for opening and closing the suction hole row by engaging the suction hole opening and closing member and moving the suction hole opening and closing member when the recording medium is not above the suction hole row. A suction platen mechanism. The engaging means includes an engaging member that engages with the suction hole opening and closing member,
The suction platen mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the engagement member is supported so as to be movable upward with respect to the platen surface. The engaging member includes an engaging convex portion extending toward the platen surface,
The engaging means moves the engaging member upward with respect to the platen surface when the platen moves to the predetermined position and the recording medium is above the suction hole row, An engagement position fixing portion for fixing the engagement member is further provided at a position where a gap through which the recording medium can pass is formed between the engagement convex portion and the platen surface. The suction platen mechanism according to claim 2.   The engaging member engages with the suction hole opening / closing member for the suction hole row that does not overlap the recording medium when the platen moves to the predetermined position, and extends in the transport direction. 4. The suction platen mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the suction hole array is closed by sliding an opening / closing member from the upstream side to the downstream side.   5. The suction according to claim 4, wherein the suction hole opening / closing member extending in the transport direction is formed with a through hole having the same arrangement as the arrangement of the suction holes constituting the suction hole row. Platen mechanism.   The suction hole opening / closing member and the engagement member are provided with respect to the suction hole row arranged at a position that does not overlap the recording medium having a minimum width that can be conveyed on the platen surface. The suction platen mechanism according to any one of claims 2 to 5. The suction platen mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
A liquid droplet ejection apparatus comprising: an opening / closing lid that opens to move the platen to a position to retract, and closes to move the platen to the predetermined position. The recording medium is a long object wound in a roll shape,
The open / close lid is opened when the roll-shaped recording medium is attached to the droplet discharge device, and is closed after a part of the attached recording medium is pulled out on the platen surface. Item 8. The droplet discharge device according to Item 7.

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