JP2016155634A - Conveyance device, conveyance method and inkjet printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a conveyance device which accurately detects a movement amount of an endless belt formed with a welded portion.SOLUTION: A conveyance device which is formed with a welded portion and conveys a medium on a belt by moving the endlessly-stretched belt in a prescribed direction comprises: a mark for specifying the position of the welded portion; first detection means which outputs a first signal on the basis of the movement amount of the belt; second detection means which outputs a second signal on the basis of the movement amount of the belt; third detection means which detects that the welded portion is located in the vicinity of the first detection means from the mark; fourth detection means which detects that the welded portion is located in the vicinity of the second detection means from the mark; acquisition means which acquires the first signal or the second signal: switching means which switches the signal to be acquired to the second signal when the mark is detected by the third detection means and switches the signal to be acquired to the first signal when the mark is detected by the fourth detection means; and calculation means which calculates the movement amount of the belt on the basis of the signal acquired by the acquisition means.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a transport device, a transport method, and an ink jet printer, and more particularly to a transport device that transports media by an endless belt, a transport method, and an ink jet printer that includes the transport device and performs printing by an ink jet method.

  In this specification, “media” includes various recording media made of paper such as plain paper, as well as resin materials such as PVC and polyester, and various materials such as aluminum, iron, and wood. Shall.

  Further, in the present specification, the “inkjet method” means various conventionally known methods, including various continuous methods such as a binary deflection method or a continuous deflection method, and various on-demand methods such as a thermal method or a piezoelectric element method. This means a printing method based on an inkjet technique based on the above method.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known an ink jet printer that performs desired printing on a medium by ejecting ink from an ink head whose overall operation is controlled by a microcomputer and that moves in a direction perpendicular to the medium conveyance direction. .

  In the following description, a direction orthogonal to the medium conveyance direction is appropriately referred to as a “main scanning direction”.

  In such an ink jet printer, a transport device that transports media in a predetermined direction is used.

In this conveying device, a driving roller and a driven roller are arranged so as to be parallel to each other at a predetermined interval, and a belt is stretched endlessly between the driving roller and the driven roller. The belt is moved by the driving roller, and the medium placed on the belt is conveyed in a predetermined direction.

  By the way, in the ink jet printer, in order to detect the transport amount of the medium, the movement amount of the belt of the transport device is measured using, for example, an encoder.

  Specifically, for example, a technique using a linear encoder as shown in Patent Document 1 is known.

  That is, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, a scale is provided at a predetermined position of the endless belt, the scale is read by a sensor, and the amount of movement of the belt is measured based on the read information. (Refer to FIG. 1A).

  A technique using a rotary encoder is also known.

That is, a roller that rotates as the belt moves is provided at a predetermined position of the endlessly stretched belt. The rotation amount of the roller is measured by a rotary encoder, and the belt rotation is determined based on the rotation amount of the roller. The amount of movement will be measured (see FIG. 1B).

  Here, in the case where a resin material or the like is used as a material for forming the belt, the endless belt is generally formed in an endless manner by welding one end of the belt and the other end. ing. In addition, when using a metal material as a material which forms a belt, it forms by welding one edge part and the other edge part.

Such a welded (welded) part (hereinafter referred to as “welded part” as appropriate) is used.
When the belt is stretched, it is formed with a predetermined length in the transport direction.

  In addition, since this welded portion is formed by applying pressure or heat at one end and the other end of the belt, in the endless belt formed with the welded portion, the welded portion and the other portions , The thickness will be different or the surface condition will be different.

  In this specification, the term “welded portion” does not mean only a portion where one end of the belt is joined to the other end by welding or welding, and other methods may be used. And a portion where one end and the other end of the belt are joined together in a state where the thickness and the surface state are different from those in FIG.

In addition, as for the endless belt, there is a belt that is formed seamlessly without forming a welded portion, but such a belt is expensive and causes an increase in the cost of the product.

  As a result, in the technology that measures the movement amount of the belt using a linear encoder, a step due to the thickness of the welded portion is formed. Therefore, the scale reading on the sensor cannot be accurately read at such a step portion. It was.

Also, with the technology that measures the amount of movement of the belt using a rotary encoder, the roller cannot be rotated in accordance with the movement of the belt due to the level difference due to the thickness of the welded portion or the surface state of the welded portion. In some cases, the rotary encoder cannot accurately detect the amount of movement.

  For this reason, the proposal of the conveying apparatus, the conveying method, and the inkjet printer which can detect correctly the movement amount of the endless belt in which the welding part was formed was desired.

JP 2006-347039 A

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described demands of the prior art, and the object of the present invention is to accurately detect the amount of movement of an endless belt on which a welded portion is formed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a possible transfer device and transfer method.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet printer provided with the above-described transport device.

  In order to achieve the above object, the transport device according to the present invention transports the media placed on the belt by moving the endlessly stretched belt in a predetermined direction while forming a welding portion. And a first detection unit that outputs a first signal based on a moving amount of the belt, a first detection unit that outputs a first signal based on a movement amount of the belt, Based on the position of the second detection means, which is disposed with a gap wider than the length in the predetermined direction of the welded portion, and outputs a second signal based on the amount of movement of the belt, Third detection means for detecting that the welded portion is in the vicinity of the first detection means and upstream of the first detection means in the predetermined direction; and a position of the mark. Based on above Fourth detection means for detecting that the attachment portion is in the vicinity of the second detection means and located upstream of the second detection means in the predetermined direction; and the first signal or When the mark is detected by the acquisition means for acquiring the second signal and the third detection means, the signal acquired by the acquisition means is switched from the first signal to the second signal, When the mark is detected by the fourth detection means, the switching means for switching the signal acquired by the acquisition means from the second signal to the first signal, and the first acquired by the acquisition means And calculating means for calculating the moving amount of the belt based on at least one of the first signal and the second signal.

  In the transport apparatus according to the present invention, in the transport apparatus described above, the first detection means and the second detection means are rotary encoders.

  In addition, the conveying method according to the present invention is based on a belt in which a welded portion is formed and stretched endlessly, a mark for specifying the position of the welded portion in the belt, and a movement amount of the belt. A first detection means for outputting a first signal and a second detection means for outputting a second signal based on the amount of movement of the belt, the second detection means being disposed at a predetermined interval from the first detection means. Based on the detection means and the position of the mark, the welded portion is in the vicinity of the first detection means, and on the upstream side of the first detection means in a predetermined direction that is the direction in which the belt moves. Based on the position of the third detection means for detecting the position and the mark, the welded portion is in the vicinity of the second detection means, and the second detection means is in the predetermined direction. 4th detecting that it is located upstream In a transport apparatus having a detection means, a transport method for transporting a medium placed on the belt, wherein the acquisition step for acquiring the first signal or the second signal and the third detection means When the mark is detected, the signal acquired by the acquisition means is switched from the first signal to the second signal. When the mark is detected by the fourth detection means, the acquisition means A switching step of switching the acquired signal from the second signal to the first signal, and at least one of the first signal and the second signal acquired by the acquiring means On the basis of this, the conveying device executes a calculating step for calculating the moving amount of the belt.

  In the transport method according to the present invention, in the transport method described above, the first detection means and the second detection means are rotary encoders.

  The ink jet printer according to the present invention is an ink jet printer that performs predetermined printing on a medium moving in a predetermined direction by ejecting ink from an ink head that moves in a direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction. In the printer, the medium is transported in the predetermined direction by the transport device described above.

  Since the present invention is configured as described above, it has an excellent effect that it is possible to accurately detect the amount of movement of the endless belt on which the welded portion is formed.

FIG. 1A is a schematic configuration explanatory diagram of a main part of an ink jet printer provided with a conveying device that measures a moving amount of a belt using a linear encoder according to a conventional technique, and FIG. It is schematic structure explanatory drawing of the principal part of the inkjet printer provided with the conveying apparatus which measures the moving amount | distance of a belt using the rotary encoder by a prior art. FIG. 2A is a schematic configuration explanatory diagram of a main part of an ink jet printer provided with a transport device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2B is a view taken in the direction of the arrow I in FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the functional configuration of the microcomputer. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the detailed processing contents of the printing process. FIG. 5A is an explanatory diagram showing a modification of the position where the tab is provided, and FIG. 5B is an explanatory diagram showing the first print area on the medium, and FIG. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a region where ink is ejected from an ink head and a printing region on a medium. FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a modified example of the ink jet printer in the transport apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 6 (a) is an explanatory view showing holes provided in the vicinity of the welded portion of the belt. (B) is explanatory drawing which shows the structure using a linear encoder. FIG. 7A is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a tab is detected by the sensor 30, and FIG. 7B is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the tab is not detected by the sensor 30, FIG. 7C is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a tab is detected by the sensor 32, and FIG. 7D is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the tab is not detected by the sensor 32.

Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of an ink jet printer provided with a transport device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 2 (a) shows a schematic configuration explanatory diagram of a main part of an ink jet printer provided with a transport device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 (b) shows an arrow I in FIG. 2 (a). A view is shown.

The inkjet printer 10 shown in FIG. 2 includes a transport device 12 that transports the medium 100 in a predetermined direction, an ink head 14 that ejects ink to the media 100 transported by the transport device 12, and a transport device 12. A microcomputer 16 that controls the operation of the ink head 14 is provided.

More specifically, the conveying device 12 includes a driving roller 18 that rotates via a motor (not shown) under the control of the microcomputer 16, and a driven roller 20 that is disposed at a predetermined interval from the driving roller 18. A belt 22 stretched endlessly between the driving roller 18 and the driven roller 20, a rotary encoder 24 as a detecting means for measuring the movement amount of the belt 22, and a predetermined interval from the rotary encoder 22. The rotary encoder 26 as a detecting means for measuring the movement amount of the belt 22 and the rotary encoder 24 are provided in the vicinity of the rotary encoder 24 and provided on one outer peripheral portion 22 a of the belt 22. A sensor 30 as a detecting means for detecting the tab 28 and a rotary encoder 26 are disposed in the vicinity. Both are configured and a sensor 32 as a detecting means for detecting one of the outer peripheral portion tabs 28 provided on the 22a of the belt 22.

  The belt 22 is formed with a tab 28 as a mark on one outer peripheral portion 22a of a welded portion 22b formed with a predetermined length in the transport direction, and the tab 28 has a length in the transport direction of the welded portion 22b. The lengths are approximately the same.

For example, as shown in FIG. 5A, the tab 28 may be formed on the downstream side in the transport direction from the welded portion 22b in one outer peripheral portion 22a of the belt 22 in the welded portion 22b. Good.

  The rotary encoder 24 outputs a signal based on the rotation amount of the roller 24 a in contact with the surface of the belt 22 to the microcomputer 16.

  The rotary encoder 26 has the same configuration and the same performance as the rotary encoder 24, and outputs a signal based on the rotation amount of the roller 26 a contacting the surface of the belt 22 to the microcomputer 16.

  The predetermined distance provided between the rotary encoder 24 and the rotary encoder 26, that is, the length in the transport direction between the roller 24a and the roller 26a is larger than the length in the transport direction of the welding portion 22b of the belt 22. Lengthen.

Further, for the rotary encoders 24 and 26, since a conventionally known technique can be used, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  The sensor 30 is disposed in the vicinity of the rotary encoder 24 and on the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the medium 100 so that the tab 28 can be detected.

  The sensor 32 is disposed in the vicinity of the rotary encoder 26 and on the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the medium 100 so that the tab 28 can be detected.

In addition, as these sensors 30 and 32, a conventionally well-known optical sensor etc. can be used, for example.

  The microcomputer 16 performs processing for calculating the amount of movement of the belt 22 and processing for printing a predetermined image on the medium 100 based on the calculated amount of movement of the belt 22 and image data.

  Here, the functional configuration of the microcomputer 16 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The microcomputer 16 prints an image on the medium 100 based on the storage unit 34 that stores various data such as image data that represents data to be printed on the medium 100, and the movement amount of the belt 22, image data, and the like. A control unit 36 that controls the transport device 12 and the ink head 14 and a movement amount calculation unit 38 that calculates the movement amount of the belt 22 are configured.

The movement amount calculation unit 38 includes a detection unit 40 that detects that the tab 28 has been detected based on signals from the sensors 30 and 32, and an acquisition unit that acquires a signal from the rotary encoder 24 or the rotary encoder 26. 42, a switching unit 44 that switches a rotary encoder that acquires a signal in the acquisition unit 42 based on a detection result of the detection unit 40, and a movement amount of the belt 22 based on signals acquired from the rotary encoders 24 and 26. And a calculating unit 46 for calculating.

The detection unit 40 detects that the tab 28 is detected in the sensor 30 based on the signal from the sensor 30, and detects that the tab 28 is detected in the sensor 32 based on the signal from the sensor 32. To do.

The acquisition unit 42 acquires a signal from either the rotary encoder 24 or the rotary encoder 26.

  When the switching unit 44 detects that the tab 28 is detected in the sensor 30 by the detection unit 40, if the signal acquired by the acquisition unit 42 is a signal acquired by the rotary encoder 24, the switching unit 44 acquires it by the acquisition unit 42. The signal to be processed is switched from the signal acquired by the rotary encoder 24 to the signal acquired by the rotary encoder 26. That is, in this case, the signal from the rotary encoder 26 is acquired by the acquisition unit 42.

Further, when the switching unit 44 detects that the tab 28 is detected in the sensor 32 by the detection unit 40, if the signal acquired by the acquisition unit 42 is a signal acquired by the rotary encoder 26, the acquisition unit 42 The acquired signal is switched from the signal acquired by the rotary encoder 26 to the signal acquired by the rotary encoder 24. That is, in this case, the signal from the rotary encoder 24 is acquired by the acquisition unit 42.

  The calculation unit 46 calculates the rotation amount of the rollers 24a and 26a based on the signal acquired by the acquisition unit 42, and calculates the movement amount of the belt 22 based on the calculated rotation amount.

In addition, since the conventionally well-known technique can be used about the calculation method of the rotation amount of the rollers 24a and 26a, and the calculation method of the movement amount of the belt 22, the detailed description shall be abbreviate | omitted.

  In the above configuration, when printing is performed on the medium 100 by the ink jet printer including the transport device according to the present invention, the medium 100 is first placed at the print start position that is a predetermined position of the belt 22 in the transport device 12. . It is assumed that image data that is image data to be printed on the medium 100 is stored in the storage unit 34 in advance.

Thereafter, when the start of printing is instructed by the operator, the printing process is started.

  Here, the flowchart of FIG. 4 shows the detailed processing contents of the printing processing in the ink jet printer provided with the transport device according to the present invention.

When the printing process shown in FIG. 4 is started, first, the media 100 positioned to the printing start position, the first print area S ₁ in the media 100, the ink in the ink head 14 moves in the main scanning direction so as to be positioned below the discharge region _{S H,} starts to move the belt 22 (step S402).

Note that the print area S _n (n is a positive integer) in the medium 100 is an area where dots are formed at predetermined positions in the forward path and the backward path (or forward path or backward path) of the ink head 14 in the main scanning direction. . In the medium 100, printing is performed in each of the _n print areas Sn, and an image based on the image data is printed (refer to FIGS. 5B and 5C).

  Next, when the movement of the belt 22 is started, a signal from the rotary encoder 24 is acquired, and the movement amount of the head 22 is calculated (step S404).

  That is, in the process of step S404, the acquisition unit 42 acquires a signal from the rotary encoder 24, and the calculation unit 46 calculates the movement amount of the belt 22 based on the rotation amount of the roller 24a.

The movement amount calculated in step S404 is calculated from the signal already acquired by the rotary encoder 26, and then the movement amount is calculated from the signal acquired by the rotary encoder 24 by switching by the switching unit 44. In this case, the amount of movement is calculated by adding the amount of movement calculated from the signal acquired by the rotary encoder 24 to the amount of movement calculated from the signal acquired by the rotary encoder 26. Further, when the movement amount is calculated from the signal acquired by the roller encoder 24 in a state where the movement amount is not calculated from the signal acquired by the rotary encoder 26, the movement calculated from the signal acquired by the rotary encoder 24 is used. Only quantity.

  Then, it is determined whether or not the movement amount of the belt 22 calculated in the process of step S404 has become a predetermined movement amount (step S406).

That is, in the determination processing step S406, when the movement has been made from the print start position to the first printing area S _1, the moving amount of the moving amount of the belt 22, the print start position to the first print area S ₁ It is determined whether or not l1 has been reached. The movement amount l1 is stored in the storage unit 34 in advance.

That is, in this case, the amount of movement of the belt 22, it is determined to have reached the moving amount l1 from the storage to have the print start position to the first print area S _1, the movement amount the amount of movement is in a predetermined belt 22 by now, the a is determined, the amount of movement of the belt 22, it is determined not to reach the moving amount l1 from the storage to have the print start position to the first print area S _1, the amount of movement of the belt 22 is in a predetermined It is determined that the amount of movement was not reached.

Further, in the determination process in step S406, when the movement from the printing area S _m for which printing has been completed to the next printing area S _{m + 1} has been performed, the movement amount of the belt 22 is changed from the printing area S _m for which printing has been completed. It is determined whether or not the movement amount l2 to the next printing area Sm _{+ 1} has been reached. The movement amount l2 is stored in the storage unit 34 in advance.

That is, in this case, the amount of movement of the belt 22 is determined to stored have been printed has reached the movement amount l2 from the printing region S _m ended until the next print area S _{m + 1,} the amount of movement of the belt 22 There is determined that a predetermined amount of movement, the moving amount of the belt 22 is determined to stored have been printed does not reach the movement quantity l2 from the printing region S _m ended until the next print area S _{m + 1} Then, it is determined that the moving amount of the belt 22 has not reached the predetermined moving amount.

If it is determined in step S406 that the movement amount of the belt 22 has reached the predetermined movement amount, the process proceeds to step S420 described later.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S406 that the movement amount of the belt 22 has not reached the predetermined movement amount, it is next determined whether or not the tab 28 is detected by the sensor 30 (step S408). .

  That is, in the determination process in step S408, the detection unit 40 determines whether the sensor 30 has detected that the tab 28 has been detected.

  That is, when the detection unit 40 detects that the tab 28 has been detected by the sensor 30, it is determined that the tab 28 has been detected by the sensor 30, and the detection unit 40 detects that the tab 28 has been detected by the sensor 30. Otherwise, it is determined that the tab 28 has not been detected by the sensor 30.

  When the tab 28 is detected by the sensor 30, the welding portion 22b is positioned in the vicinity of the rotary encoder 24 and on the upstream side in the transport direction (see FIG. 7A).

Further, if the tab 28 is not detected by the sensor 30, the welded portion 22b is not positioned in the vicinity of the rotary encoder 24 (see FIG. 7B).

If it is determined in the determination process in step S408 that the tab 30 has not been detected by the sensor 30, the process returns to the process in step S404, and the processes subsequent to step S404 are performed.

  If it is determined in step S408 that the sensor 30 has detected the tab 28, the signal acquired by the acquisition unit 42 is switched to the signal output from the rotary encoder 26 by the switching unit 44 (step S410). .

That is, in the process of step S410, the acquisition unit 42 that has acquired the signal output from the rotary encoder 24 stops acquiring the signal from the rotary encoder 24 and acquires the signal output from the rotary encoder 26. Like that.

  Thereafter, the acquisition unit 42 acquires a signal from the rotary encoder 26, and the calculation unit 46 calculates the amount of movement of the head 22 (step S412).

Note that the movement amount calculated in the process of step S412 is calculated from the signal already acquired by the rotary encoder 24, and then the movement amount is calculated from the signal acquired by the rotary encoder 26 by switching by the switching unit 44. In this case, the movement amount calculated from the signal acquired by the rotary encoder 24 is added to the movement amount calculated from the signal acquired by the rotary encoder 24, and the movement amount is added. Further, when the movement amount is calculated from the signal acquired by the roller encoder 26 in a state where the movement amount is not calculated from the signal acquired by the rotary encoder 24, the movement calculated from the signal acquired by the rotary encoder 26 is used. Only quantity.

  Then, it is determined whether or not the movement amount of the belt 22 calculated in the process of step S412 is a predetermined movement amount (step S414).

That is, in the determination processing in step S414, the moving amount of the belt 22, performs printing of whether reaches the movement amount l2 from the printing region S _m ended until the next print area S _{m + 1} decision.

That is, in this case, when it is determined that the movement amount of the belt 22 has reached the movement amount l2 from the printing area S _m where printing has been completed to the next printing area S _{m + 1} , the movement amount of the belt 22 is the predetermined movement amount. If it is determined that the amount of movement of the belt 22 has not been reached, and the amount of movement of the belt 22 has not reached the amount of movement l2 from the printing area S _m in which the stored printing has been completed to the next printing area S _{m + 1} , the belt 22 is determined. It is determined that the amount of movement is not the predetermined amount of movement.

If it is determined in step S414 that the movement amount of the belt 22 has reached the predetermined movement amount, the process proceeds to step S420 described later.

  If it is determined in step S414 that the movement amount of the belt 22 has not reached the predetermined movement amount, it is next determined whether or not the tab 28 is detected by the sensor 32 (step S416). .

  That is, in the determination process of step S416, the detection unit 40 determines whether the sensor 32 has detected that the tab 28 has been detected.

  That is, when the detection unit 40 detects that the sensor 28 detects the tab 28, the sensor 32 determines that the tab 28 has been detected, and the detection unit 40 detects that the sensor 32 has detected the tab 28. If not, the sensor 32 determines that the tab 28 has not been detected.

  When the tab 28 is detected by the sensor 32, the welding portion 22b is positioned in the vicinity of the rotary encoder 26 and on the upstream side in the transport direction (see FIG. 7C).

Moreover, if the tab 28 is not detected by the sensor 32, the welding part 22b will not be located in the vicinity of the rotary encoder 26 (refer FIG.7 (d)).

If it is determined in step S416 that the tab 28 has not been detected by the sensor 32, the process returns to step S410, and the processes after step S410 are performed.

  If it is determined in the determination process of step S416 that the tab 28 is detected by the sensor 32, the signal acquired by the acquisition unit 42 is switched to the signal output from the rotary encoder 26 by the switching unit 44 (step S418). Returning to the process in step S404, the processes in and after step S404 are performed.

That is, in the process of step S418, the acquisition unit 42 that has acquired the signal output from the rotary encoder 26 stops acquiring the signal from the rotary encoder 26 and acquires the signal output from the rotary encoder 24. To.

If it is determined in step S406 and step S414 that the amount of movement of the belt 22 has reached the predetermined amount of movement, the process proceeds to step S420 to stop the movement of the belt 22, and then the media performing printing by the ink head 14 to 100 print area _{S m} of the (step S422).

Thereafter, in the process of step S422, when printing to a predetermined print area S _m is completed, printing on the entire print area performs decision whether completed (step S424).
That is, in the determination processing in step S424, in which the printing of the print area S _n performs the determination whether or not completed.

Incidentally, the determination whether the printing of such printing area S _n is completed, for example, the number of times the user moves the belt 22 (i.e., is the sum of the number of times that the processing of steps S426 to process and later in step S402 .) Is counted, and if this count reaches n times, it is determined that printing has been completed for all print areas. If the count has not reached n times, printing has been completed for all print areas. It is judged that it is not.

If it is determined in the determination process in step S424 that printing in all the print areas has been completed, this print process is terminated.

If it is determined in the determination process in step S424 that printing in all the print areas has not been completed, the print area S _{m + 1} next to the predetermined print area S _m for which printing has been completed in the process in step S422 is determined. , so as to be positioned below the area S _H for ejecting ink when the ink head 14 moves in the main scanning direction, to start the movement of the belt 22 (step S426).

  When the movement of the belt 22 is started, whether or not the signal acquired when the movement amount is calculated when it is determined that the predetermined movement amount is obtained is a signal output from the rotary encoder 24. Is determined (step S428).

That is, in the determination process of step S428, when it was determined that the predetermined movement amount was reached in the determination process of step S406 or the determination process of step S414, it was acquired when the movement amount of the belt 22 was calculated. It is determined whether the signal is a signal output from the rotary encoder 24.

If it is determined in the determination process of step S428 that the signal acquired when calculating the movement amount at the time when it is determined that the predetermined movement amount has been reached is the signal output from the rotary encoder 24, Proceeding to the processing of S404, the processing after step S404 is performed.

In the determination process of step S428, when it is determined that the signal acquired when calculating the movement amount at the time when it is determined that the predetermined movement amount has been reached is not the signal output from the rotary encoder 24. Proceeding to the process of step S412, the process after step S412 is performed.

  As described above, the inkjet printer 10 equipped with the transport device according to the present invention has the rotary encoders 24 and 26 for measuring the movement amount of the belt 22 stretched endlessly at predetermined intervals in the transport direction. It was made to arrange with a gap. At this time, the predetermined interval was made longer than the length of the welding portion 22b of the belt 22 in the conveying direction.

  Further, a tab 28 is provided on the outer peripheral side of the belt 22 in the welded portion 22b.

  Further, a sensor 30 for detecting the tab 28 is provided on the upstream side in the transport direction of the rotary encoder 24, and a sensor 32 for detecting the tab 28 is provided on the upstream side in the transport direction of the rotary encoder 26.

  When printing is started in the inkjet printer 10, first, the movement amount of the belt 22 is calculated based on the signal output from the rotary encoder 24, and the movement amount of the belt 22 is calculated based on the signal output from the rotary encoder 24. When the tag 28 is detected by the sensor 30 during the calculation, the movement amount of the belt 22 is calculated based on a signal output from the rotary encoder 26.

Further, when the amount of movement of the belt 22 is calculated based on the signal output from the rotary encoder 26, if the tag 28 is detected by the sensor 32, the movement of the belt 22 is performed based on the signal output from the rotary encoder 24. The amount was calculated.

  Thereby, in the inkjet printer 10 provided with the conveying device according to the present invention, the movement amount of the belt 22 is calculated based on the signal from the other rotary encoder at the timing when the roller of one rotary encoder contacts the welded portion 22b. Then, at the timing when the roller of the other rotary encoder comes into contact with the welded portion 22b, the movement amount of the belt 22 is calculated based on the signal from one rotary encoder.

  For this reason, in the inkjet printer 10 provided with the conveying device according to the present invention, the movement amount of the belt 22 is not calculated based on the signal from the rotary encoder in the welded portion 22b portion where the contact failure of the roller is likely to occur.

Therefore, according to the ink jet printer 10 including the transport device according to the present invention, it is possible to accurately detect the movement amount of the endless belt on which the welded portion is formed.

  The embodiment described above may be modified as shown in the following (1) to (7).

  (1) In the above-described embodiment, the fact that the welded portion 22 has approached the rollers 24a and 26a is detected by detecting the tabs provided on the outer peripheral side of the belt 22 by the sensors 30 and 32. However, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to this, and any configuration may be used as long as it can detect that the welding portion 22 has approached the rollers 24a and 26a.

  For example, instead of the tab 28, a detection object that serves as a mark such as the hole 48 may be provided in the vicinity of the outer peripheral portion of the belt 22 on the downstream side in the conveying direction of the welded portion 22b (see FIG. 6). ).

  At this time, the sensor 30 can detect the hole 48 and is disposed at a position where the hole 48 can be detected before the roller 24a comes into contact with the welding portion 22b. In addition, the sensor 32 can detect the hole 48 and is disposed at a position where the hole 48 can be detected before the roller 24a comes into contact with the welding portion 22b.

  (2) In the above-described embodiment, the signal from the rotary encoder 24 is acquired and the amount of movement of the head 22 is calculated in the process of step S404. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Of course.

  That is, in the process of step S404, a signal from the rotary encoder 26 may be acquired to calculate the movement amount of the head 22.

  In this case, in the process of step S408, it is determined whether or not the tab 28 is detected by the sensor 32. In the process of step S410, a signal acquired by the acquisition unit 42 is output from the rotary encoder 24. Switch to a signal.

  In the process of step S412, a signal from the rotary encoder 24 is acquired and the amount of movement of the head 22 is calculated. In the process of step S416, it is determined whether or not the tab 28 is detected by the sensor 30. In the process of step S418, the signal acquired by the acquisition unit 42 is switched to the signal output from the rotary encoder 26.

  Furthermore, when it is determined in the process of step S428 that the signal acquired when calculating the movement amount at the time when it is determined that the predetermined movement amount has been reached, is the signal output from the rotary encoder 24. Proceeding to the process of step S412, if it is determined that the signal acquired when calculating the movement amount when it is determined that the predetermined movement amount has been reached is not the signal output from the rotary encoder 24, step S404 is performed. The process will proceed.

  (3) In the above-described embodiment, the signal obtained when the movement amount is calculated when it is determined in step S428 that the predetermined movement amount has been output from the rotary encoder 24. Although it is determined whether or not it is a signal, it goes without saying that such processing may be deleted.

  In this case, every time the movement of the belt 22 is started, a signal from the rotary encoder 24 is acquired and the movement amount of the belt 22 is calculated.

  (4) In the above-described embodiment, the rotary encoders 24 and 26 are provided with a predetermined interval. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the rotary encoders 24 and 26 are replaced. In addition, a scale 52 and a linear encoder 50 constituted by sensors 54 and 56 that acquire position information from the scale may be provided in the vicinity of one outer peripheral portion of the belt 22 (see FIG. 6B). To do.)

  At this time, the sensor 30 is positioned upstream in the transport direction near the sensor 54, and the sensor 32 is positioned upstream in the transport direction near the sensor 56.

  (5) In the above-described embodiment, the sensor 30 is disposed in the vicinity of the rotary encoder 24 and on the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the medium 100 so that the tab 28 can be detected. In addition, the sensor 32 is disposed in the vicinity of the rotary encoder 26 and on the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the medium 100 so that the tab 28 can be detected. Of course, it is not limited.

  That is, the sensor 30 is arranged in any position as long as it can detect that the tab 28 is located in the vicinity of the rotary encoder 24 and upstream in the conveyance direction of the medium 100. May be.

  The sensor 32 is arranged in any position as long as it can detect that the tab 28 is located in the vicinity of the rotary encoder 26 and upstream in the transport direction of the medium 100. May be.

  (6) In the above-described embodiment, the tab 28 is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the belt 22 in the welded portion 22b. However, the present invention is not limited to this.

  That is, the tab 28 can detect that the welding portion 22b is positioned upstream in the conveyance direction near the rotor 24a by the sensor 30, and the welding portion is upstream in the conveyance direction near the rotor 26a by the sensor 32. As long as it can detect that 22b is located, it may be arranged at any position.

  (7) You may make it combine suitably the embodiment shown above and the modification shown in said (1) thru | or (6).

  The present invention is suitable for use as a transport device that needs to manage the transport amount of an object.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Inkjet printer, 12 Conveyor device, 14 Ink head, 16 Microcomputer, 18 Drive roller, 20 Driven roller, 22 Belt, 22b Welding part, 24, 26 Rotary encoder, 28 Tab, 30, 32, 54, 56 Sensor, 34 Storage unit, 36 control unit, 38 movement amount calculation unit, 40 detection unit, 42 acquisition unit, 44 switching unit, 46 calculation unit, 48 holes, 50 linear encoder

Claims (5)

In the transport device that transports the media placed on the belt by moving the belt stretched endlessly in a predetermined direction with the welded portion formed therein,
A mark for specifying the position of the welded portion in the belt;
First detection means for outputting a first signal based on the amount of movement of the belt;
Second detection means arranged to be spaced apart from the length of the first detection means and the welded portion in the predetermined direction and outputting a second signal based on the amount of movement of the belt;
Third detection for detecting that the welding portion is in the vicinity of the first detection means and located upstream of the first detection means in the predetermined direction based on the position of the mark. Means,
4th detection which detects that the said welding part is located in the vicinity of the said 2nd detection means and the upstream in the said predetermined direction of the said 2nd detection means based on the position of the said mark Means,
Obtaining means for obtaining the first signal or the second signal;
When the mark is detected by the third detecting means, the signal acquired by the acquiring means is switched from the first signal to the second signal, and the mark is detected by the fourth detecting means. Then, switching means for switching the signal acquired by the acquisition means from the second signal to the first signal;
And a calculating unit that calculates a movement amount of the belt based on at least one of the first signal and the second signal acquired by the acquiring unit. apparatus. In the conveyance apparatus of Claim 1,
The conveyance device, wherein the first detection unit and the second detection unit are rotary encoders. A welded portion is formed and a belt stretched endlessly;
A mark for specifying the position of the welded portion in the belt;
First detection means for outputting a first signal based on the amount of movement of the belt;
Second detection means arranged at a predetermined interval from the first detection means and outputting a second signal based on a movement amount of the belt;
Based on the position of the mark, the welded portion is in the vicinity of the first detection means, and is located upstream of the first detection means in a predetermined direction that is the direction in which the belt moves. Third detecting means for detecting;
4th detection which detects that the said welding part is located in the vicinity of the said 2nd detection means and the upstream in the said predetermined direction of the said 2nd detection means based on the position of the said mark And a transport method for transporting a medium placed on the belt, comprising:
When the landmark is detected by the acquisition step of acquiring the first signal or the second signal and the third detection means, the signal acquired by the acquisition means is converted from the first signal to the second signal. A switching step of switching the signal acquired by the acquisition means from the second signal to the first signal when the mark is detected by the fourth detection means;
The transport device executes a calculation step of calculating a moving amount of the belt based on at least one of the first signal and the second signal acquired by the acquisition unit. A conveying method characterized by the above. In the conveyance method of Claim 3,
The conveyance method, wherein the first detection unit and the second detection unit are rotary encoders. In an ink jet printer that performs predetermined printing on the medium by ejecting ink from an ink head that moves in a direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction with respect to the medium moving in a predetermined direction,
3. The inkjet printer according to claim 1, wherein the medium is transported in the predetermined direction by the transport device according to claim 1.

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