JP2015166166A - Print device and sheet support device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a print device that achieves marginless print by avoiding the ink flowed from an edge of a sheet and a stain on a rear face of the sheet.SOLUTION: At a groove 25 that receives the ink discharged up to the outside of a sheet, there are provided an inclined face 26 that guides the received ink to a suction port 27, and an overhang face 34 formed on the surface of an inflexible member so as to cover the region over the suction port 27.

Description

  The present invention relates to a technology of a sheet support device that supports a sheet in an inkjet printer.

  In an ink jet printer, a marginless print for printing an image on a sheet without a margin is known. In printing without margins, the print head discharges ink to an area that protrudes beyond the edge of the sheet, so that grooves for receiving the discharged and discharged ink are formed at both ends of the platen constituting the sheet support device. Is provided. Further, a suction mechanism for guiding the ink received in the groove to a predetermined waste ink holding area is also provided.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which a flexible member is provided at both ends of a platen and air is sucked from the back surface in order to print without margins to the end of the sheet while maintaining the smoothness of the sheet. According to this configuration, the print area of the sheet is pressed against the platen and smoothed by air suction, and both ends are sucked in the groove direction while being pressed against the flexible member, and the flexible member is bent. Thus, a smooth surface substantially the same as the platen is formed.

JP 2008-238524 A

  In general, the air suction mechanism for pressing the sheet against the platen and the suction mechanism for guiding the ink received in the groove to the waste ink holding area are the same mechanism. Therefore, it is difficult to separately control the suction force necessary for pressing the sheet against the platen and the suction force for receiving the ink ejected by being protruded. For this reason, for example, when printing without margins on a sheet with strong warping (curl), a strong suction force is required to smooth the sheet, but if the suction force is too strong, the ink that is landed near the edge Drops are attracted toward the edge. Then, there is a possibility that the ink droplets are landed at a position deviating from the purpose or protrude from the end. Hereinafter, such a phenomenon is referred to as “edge flow”.

  On the other hand, if the suction force is suppressed to such an extent that “end flow” does not occur, a sheet with a strong curl will have a gap between the sheet and the platen, and the mist generated during the discharge operation will contaminate the back of the sheet. There is a risk of it. Hereinafter, such a phenomenon is referred to as “back dirt”. As described above, “end portion flow” and “back stain” are trade-off issues in an inkjet printer that prints without margins to the end of the sheet while maintaining the smoothness of the sheet using the suction mechanism.

  The flexible member disclosed in Patent Document 1 is one technique that can solve such a problem. However, in Patent Document 1, when a sheet having extremely low rigidity is used, the flexible member cannot be bent even if the sheet is sucked, and the sheet may be lifted at the end. Therefore, there is a possibility that the print head comes into contact with the lifted sheet end.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems. Therefore, the object is to realize a suitable marginless print while avoiding “edge flow” and “back stain” in an inkjet printer that prints without margin while maintaining the smoothness of the sheet using a suction mechanism. That is.

  Therefore, the present invention has an inkjet print head and a platen that supports a sheet printed by the print head, and the platen receives a groove that receives the ejected ink from the end of the sheet, and A printer having a structure in which a suction port for sucking ink received from the groove portion is provided, and the groove portion covers an inclined surface that guides the received ink to the suction port and an upper portion of the suction port. Thus, an overhang surface formed on the surface of the non-flexible member is provided, and an end portion of the sheet is supported by a support surface above the overhang surface.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to realize a suitable marginless print while avoiding “edge flow” and “back stain” in an inkjet printer that prints without margin while maintaining the smoothness of the sheet using the suction mechanism. It becomes.

The perspective view which shows the structure of the principal part of an inkjet printer Sectional view showing the configuration of the main part of an inkjet printer Top view for explaining the end configuration of the platen Schematic diagram for explaining the mechanism of "end flow" Schematic diagram for explaining the mechanism of “back dirt” The enlarged top view, sectional drawing, and perspective view of the platen end used in Example 1 Comparative example showing conventional general platen mechanism Sectional drawing of the platen edge part used in Example 2 Sectional view of the platen end used in Example 3 Sectional drawing of the platen edge part used in Example 4 Sectional drawing of the platen end used in Example 5 The perspective view and top view of the platen edge part used in Example 6 The top view and perspective view of the platen edge part used in Example 7 Top view of platen end usable in Example 7

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be exemplified. However, the constituent elements described in this embodiment are merely examples, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to them.

<Description of recording device configuration>
FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are a perspective view and a side sectional view showing a configuration of a main part of an ink jet printer as an example of a printing apparatus. A platen 2 that supports the sheet 3 in the print area is provided on the housing 1 that supports each mechanism in the apparatus, and a paper supply spool 18 that holds the sheet 3 as a roll paper 23 is provided below. ing. Also, a suction mechanism 4 for sucking a sheet located in the print region from behind the platen 2 and receiving ink droplets that protrude from the end of the sheet 3 is received inside the housing 1. is set up.

  The sheet 3 peeled from the roll paper 23 is printed on the platen 2 as the roller pair rotates while being sandwiched between the conveyance roller 11 and the pinch roller 16 that rotate via the belt 12 with the conveyance motor 13 as a drive source. Paper is fed to the area. At this time, a torque limiter 19 for applying a braking force to paper feeding and conveyance is provided inside the paper feeding spool 18 and has a predetermined tension so that the supplied sheet 3 does not bend. It is

  The carriage 6 on which the print head 7 is mounted is movable in the X direction in the figure while being guided and supported by the main rail 5 via the belt 9 using the carriage motor 8 as a drive source. An encoder sensor (not shown) is mounted on the carriage 6 so that the current position of the carriage 6 can be grasped by optically, magnetically or mechanically detecting the encoder pattern 10 stretched in the X direction. It has become. With this configuration, the print head 7 ejects ink in accordance with the image data while the carriage 6 moves in the X direction, so that an image for one line is printed on the sheet 3. In the present embodiment, the print head 7 is an inkjet print head, but the ink ejection method is not particularly limited. Various discharge methods such as a method using a heating element and a method using a piezo element can be used.

  When the printing scan for one line is completed, the conveying roller 11 rotates and conveys the sheet 3 in the Y direction intersecting the X direction by a distance corresponding to one line. An encoder pattern 14 that rotates coaxially with the transport roller 11 and an encoder sensor 15 for detecting the pattern are provided at the end of the transport roller 11 to control the rotation amount of the transport roller 11.

  Images are printed stepwise on the sheet 3 by alternately repeating the print scanning by the print head 7 and the conveying operation of the sheet 3 as described above.

  FIG. 3 is a top view for explaining an end portion configuration of the platen 2. The platen 2 made of a flat plate includes a support surface portion 2a that contacts and supports the sheet 3 to be conveyed, and a hole portion 2b in which the flat plate is die-cut. A plurality of suction holes 24 for sucking in the direction are exposed. In addition, a groove portion 25 for receiving an ink droplet ejected from the end portion of the sheet 3 is provided at the end portion of the platen 2 in the X direction. Both the suction hole 24 and the groove portion 25 suck the sheet 3 and ink droplets in the Z direction by the suction force generated by the suction mechanism 4. The platen 2 creates a complicated three-dimensional shape by injection molding of a resin material.

  4A and 4B are schematic diagrams for explaining a mechanism in which the “end portion flow” occurs in the ink jet printer described above. Here, an example in which the print head 7 is used and a dot is landed at a position of a white circle near the edge of the sheet 3 is shown. When the suction force from the groove 25 is working, the ejected ink droplets and mist are attracted toward the region of the groove 25 that is not covered by the sheet 3. However, if the degree is weak, as shown in FIG. 4A, there is no significant deviation between the target landing position (white circle) and the actual landing position (black circle). However, when the suction force from the groove portion 25 is sufficiently large, as shown in FIG. 4B, a large deviation occurs between the target landing position (white circle) and the actual landing position (black circle). And the image deteriorates.

  On the other hand, FIGS. 5A and 5B are schematic diagrams for explaining a mechanism in which “back dirt” occurs. FIG. 5A shows a case where a curl in the convex direction occurs at the leading edge of the sheet 3, and FIG. 5B shows a case where a curl in the concave direction occurs. Even when a convex curl occurs as shown in FIG. 5A or when a concave curl occurs as shown in FIG. 5B, the gap S1 or S2 is formed between the platen 2 and the sheet 3. Has occurred. When printing is performed on the end portion of the sheet 3 by the print head 7 in such a state, the bounced ink or mist enters the gaps S1 and S2, and there is a concern that the back surface of the sheet 3 and the surface of the platen 2 are contaminated.

  Hereinafter, using the inkjet printer having the above-described common configuration, a configuration example of the characteristic groove portion 25 of the present invention for avoiding “end portion flow” and “back stain” will be described as a plurality of embodiments.

Example 1
6A to 6C are an enlarged top view, a cross-sectional view, and a perspective view of a platen end portion used in the first embodiment. Referring to FIG. 6B, the suction force of the suction mechanism 4 acts on both the suction hole 24 and the suction port 27 in common. The sheet 3 is pressed in the Z direction by the suction force of the suction mechanism 4, and the smoothness thereof is maintained. Although most of the ink droplets ejected from the print head 7 land on the surface of the sheet 3 according to the image data, the ink droplets ejected from the end of the sheet 3 are received in the groove 25. Further below the groove 25, a suction port 27 is provided at a position inside the X direction from the end of the sheet 3. The ink received in the groove 25 is finally sucked from the suction port 27. Inside the groove portion 25 is provided a landing surface 26 (inclined surface) that receives ink that is slanted in the direction of the suction port 27. The ink droplet that has entered the groove portion 25 first hits the landing surface 26, and is thereafter guided toward the suction port 27 by both the action of gravity due to the inclination of the landing surface 26 and the suction force of the suction mechanism 4. Be drawn.

  The platen 2 located closest to the groove 25 has, on its side, a first surface 32, a second surface 33 continuous with the first surface 32, and a support surface 37 (support surface portion 2a) that contacts the sheet 3 continuously. And have. The first surface 32 is a flat surface that guides ink to the suction port 27 by an inclination opposite to the landing surface 26 while facing the landing surface 26. The second surface 33 is an overhang surface provided so as to overhang the upper side of the suction port 27. The second surface 33 is a plane that is connected to the first surface and has an inclination that rises in the Y direction toward the end direction (+ X direction) of the sheet 3. The support surface 37 (sheet support surface) is a surface parallel to the discharge surface of the print head 7 and supports the end of the sheet above the overhang surface. The first surface 32, the second surface 33, and the support surface 37 are formed on the surface of a member made of one non-flexible strong resin material. Even if the sheet is adsorbed to the platen, the resin material is supported by the support surface 37 from below without being deformed. The basic configuration in which the platen support surface 37 and the overhanging surface 33 for supporting the sheet end portion are provided by a single non-flexible resin material, and the above-described operation, will be described later in another embodiment. The same applies to.

  Some ink droplets and mist 31 guided from the groove 25 toward the suction port 27 by the suction force of the suction mechanism 4 are guided to the suction port 27 as they are, but there are also those that hit the first surface 32. The ink droplets and mist 31 that have hit the first surface 32 vortex in the overhang space 34 surrounded by the first surface, the second surface, and the landing surface 26 as they bounce off the first surface, Gradually it is guided to the suction port 27 and decreases. Accordingly, even when the curl of the sheet 3 is strong and a gap as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B is generated between the platen 2 and the sheet 3, most of the mist 31 once received in the groove 25 is formed. Then, the air is gradually guided to the suction port 27 while swirling in the overhang space 34. As a result, it is possible to sufficiently suppress the concern that the mist 31 enters and contaminates the back surface of the sheet 3. That is, if the platen configuration shown in FIGS. 6A to 6C is adopted and the suction force of the suction mechanism 4 is adjusted so that the “end portion flow” is not conspicuous, some curling occurs in the sheet 3. However, it is possible to execute a suitable marginless print in a state in which “back stain” does not occur. In addition, since the flexible member is not bent and supports the sheet end as in Patent Document 1 described above, the sheet can be surely used regardless of whether the sheet to be used is high or low. Supported.

  On the other hand, FIGS. 7A and 7B are comparative examples showing a conventional general platen mechanism. The platen 2 located closest to the groove 25 plays a role of supporting the sheet 3 by the rib 30. However, in the region from the groove portion 25 to the suction port 27, only the first surface 32 inclined in the direction of the suction port 27 was provided. Therefore, the ink droplets and the mist 31 bounced off from the first surface 32 may adhere to the back surface of the sheet 3 as they are. Further, when a gap as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B is generated between the rib 30 and the sheet 3 due to the curl, the sheet passes through the gap and the other side in the apparatus or the back of the sheet 3 passes through the gap. There was also a risk of soiling the area. According to the first embodiment, such ink stains are greatly reduced by the action of the overhang surface.

(Example 2)
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a platen end used in the second embodiment. Also in the present embodiment, the platen 2 that is closest to the groove portion 25 has a first surface 32, a second surface 33 continuous therewith, and a support surface 37 that contacts the sheet 3, as in the first embodiment. have. The second surface 33 (overhang surface) of this embodiment is a surface parallel to the third surface, that is, parallel to the ejection surface of the print head 7. Even in such a surface configuration, an effect equivalent to that of the first embodiment can be obtained. The ink droplets and mist 31 that hit the first surface 32 vortex in the overhang space 34 surrounded by the first surface 32, the second surface 33, and the landing surface 26 as they bounce off the first surface 32. Then, it is gradually led to the suction port 27 and decreases. That is, if the suction force of the suction mechanism 4 is adjusted so that the “edge flow” is not conspicuous, even if some curling occurs on the sheet 3, a suitable marginless print is executed without causing “back stain”. I can do it.

(Example 3)
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the platen end used in the third embodiment. In the present embodiment, the platen 2 that is closest to the groove 25 has a first surface 32, a third surface 36 continuous with the first surface 32, a second surface 33 (overhang surface) continuous therewith, and And a support surface 37 that continuously contacts the sheet 3. The direction of the inclination of the first surface 32 and the second surface 33 is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the third surface 36 connecting them has a direction perpendicular to the support surface 37. Even in such a surface configuration, an effect equivalent to that of the first embodiment can be obtained. As the ink droplets and mist 31 that hit the first surface 32 bounce off the first surface 32, an overhang space 34 surrounded by the first surface 32, the second surface 33, the third surface 36, and the landing surface 26. The vortex is wound and gradually led to the suction port 27 and decreases. That is, if the suction force of the suction mechanism 4 is adjusted so that the “edge flow” is not conspicuous, even if some curling occurs on the sheet 3, a suitable marginless print is executed without causing “back stain”. I can do it.

  In Example 3, the surface connecting the first surface and the second surface is one surface (third surface) parallel to the vertical direction, but the first surface and the second surface are a plurality of surfaces having different inclinations. It is also possible to make the shape connected by.

Example 4
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the platen end used in the fourth embodiment. Also in the present embodiment, the platen 2 located closest to the groove portion 25 is similar to the first embodiment in that the first surface 32, the second surface 33 (overhang surface) continuous therewith, and the sheet continuous therewith. 3, and a support surface 37 that is in contact with 3. The first surface 32 of the present embodiment is a surface perpendicular to the support surface 37. Even in such a surface configuration, an effect equivalent to that of the first embodiment can be obtained. The ink droplets and mist 31 that hit the first surface 32 vortex in the overhang space 34 surrounded by the first surface 32, the second surface 33, and the landing surface 26 as they bounce off the first surface 32. Then, it is gradually led to the suction port 27 and decreases. That is, if the suction force of the suction mechanism 4 is adjusted so that the “edge flow” is not conspicuous, even if some curling occurs on the sheet 3, a suitable marginless print is executed without causing “back stain”. I can do it.

(Example 5)
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the platen end used in the fifth embodiment. Also in the present embodiment, the platen 2 located closest to the groove portion 25 is similar to the first embodiment in that the first surface 32, the second surface 33 (overhang surface) continuous therewith, and the sheet continuous therewith. 3, and a support surface 37 that is in contact with 3. A hole 35 extending in parallel with the suction port 27 is formed in the first surface 32 of this embodiment. In such a surface configuration, some of the ink droplets and the mist 31 that have hit the first surface 32 are sucked as they are without rebounding from the first surface 32. Therefore, compared to the configuration of the first embodiment, the amount of mist swirling in the overhang space 34 surrounded by the first surface 32, the second surface 33, and the landing surface 26 can be reduced from the beginning. As a result, as in the above-described embodiment, if the suction force of the suction mechanism 4 is adjusted to such an extent that the “end portion flow” is not noticeable, even if some curling occurs in the sheet 3, it is preferable in a state where no “back stain” occurs. Can be printed without margins.

(Example 6)
FIGS. 12A and 12B are a perspective view and a top view of a platen end used in the sixth embodiment. The difference between the present embodiment and the first embodiment is the width of the second surface 33 in the Y direction. In the first embodiment, the width of the second surface 33 is equal to the width D of the platen 2, whereas in this embodiment, the width d <D is about the same as that of the suction port shorter than this. The mist 31 attracted by the suction port 27 concentrates in the region where the suction port 27 is located in the Y direction region. Therefore, if the inclined second surface 33 (overhang surface) is arranged in the region, most mists form vortices in the overhang space 34 as in the first embodiment. On the other hand, in such a configuration, since the area where the support surface 37 of the platen 2 contacts the sheet 3 can be reduced as compared with the first embodiment, the suction effect of the suction mechanism 4 at the sheet end, that is, the curl suppressing force can be reduced. It can be higher than that of the first embodiment. As a result, it is possible to execute a suitable marginless print in a state in which “back stain” does not occur, while maintaining smoothness more than that in the above embodiment.

  In the sixth embodiment, the region where the second surface 33 and the suction port 27 are arranged has been described as the substantially center of the platen 2 in the Y direction. However, if the second surface 33 and the suction port 27 are associated with each other, These may be at any position in the Y direction.

(Example 7)
FIGS. 13A and 13B are a top view and a perspective view of a platen end used in the seventh embodiment. The difference between the present embodiment and the first embodiment is that the ridge line 38 between the second surface 33 (overhang surface) and the support surface 37 is not parallel to the Y direction. In such a configuration, the state of the vortex formed in the overhang space 34 by the mist 31 bounced off at the first surface 32 changes depending on the position in the Y direction. As a result, even if some mist adheres to the back surface of the sheet 3, since it is not aligned in the Y direction but is dispersed in the X direction, the dirt when observed can be made less noticeable than in the above embodiment.

  13A and 13B show the case where the width in the X direction of the support surface 37 becomes wider as it goes in the Y direction, but of course, the width in the X direction of the support surface 37 as it goes in the Y direction. It is good also as a structure which becomes narrow. Further, as shown in FIG. 14, the ridgeline 38 may be curved.

2 Platen
3 sheets
7 Print head
25 groove
26 Landing surface (inclined surface)
27 Suction port
31 Mist (ink)
32 1st page
33 2nd surface (overhang surface)
34 Overhanging space
37 Support surface

Claims (5)

An ink jet print head; and a platen that supports a sheet printed by the print head. The platen includes a groove that receives ink discharged from an end of the sheet, and ink received from the groove. A printer having a suction port for sucking
The groove portion is provided with an inclined surface that guides the received ink to the suction port, and an overhang surface formed on the surface of the non-flexible member so as to cover the upper side of the suction port, A printing apparatus, wherein an end portion of a sheet is supported by a support surface above an overhang surface.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the overhang surface is inclined in the same direction as the inclined surface or parallel to the support surface.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein both the overhang surface and the support surface are formed on a surface of the inflexible member.   4. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a ridge line between the overhang surface and the support surface is not parallel to a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the print head moves. A sheet support device having a platen for supporting a sheet in inkjet printing,
The platen has a structure in which a groove portion that receives ink discharged from an end portion of a sheet and a suction port that sucks ink received from the groove portion is provided,
The groove portion is provided with an inclined surface that guides the received ink to the suction port, and an overhang surface formed on the surface of the non-flexible member so as to cover the upper side of the suction port, An end portion of a sheet is supported by a support surface above the overhang surface.

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