JP2016159568A - Liquid discharge device, wrinkle detection method and wrinkle detection program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid discharge device, a wrinkle detection method and a wrinkle detection program capable of detecting the position of a wrinkle on a scan path of a head.SOLUTION: A printer 10 comprises: a head 22 which discharges liquid to a T-shirt M; a conveyance part 16 which conveys the T-shirt M along the conveyance direction DC; an optical sensor 32 which emits light with an optical path set to the upstream side of the conveyance direction DC with respect to the head 22 and for detecting a wrinkle projecting from the T-shirt M toward the head 22; a carriage 23 which mounts the head 22 and the optical sensor 32 and moves along a main scan direction D1; an optical sensor 32 which outputs information on whether or not the light is received with reception of the light having passed in the optical path; and a determination part which determines that the T-shirt M has a wrinkle when receiving information indicating that the optical sensor 32 does not receive the light among pieces of information output from the optical sensor 32.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid ejection apparatus, a wrinkle detection method, and a wrinkle detection program.

  Among ink jet printers, printers that perform printing or printing on a medium such as a T-shirt are known. Such a printer includes a detection mechanism that detects wrinkles formed on the medium. The detection mechanism includes a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit capable of receiving light emitted from the light emitting unit, and the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit are defined as a direction in which the medium is conveyed through a conveyance unit that conveys the medium. It is attached to the mechanism frame of the printer so as to be sandwiched in the orthogonal direction. When the wrinkle is detected in the medium, the light is emitted from the light emitting unit toward the light receiving unit while being conveyed by the conveyance unit. The presence or absence of wrinkles in the medium is determined based on whether the light receiving unit receives light emitted from the light emitting unit (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

JP 2003-311938 A JP 2005-221916 A

  By the way, when it is determined whether or not wrinkles are formed in the medium, the transport unit transports the medium so that the medium crosses detection light that is light emitted from the light emitting unit toward the light receiving unit. Then, when one or more wrinkles cross the optical path of the detection light, it is determined that the medium has wrinkles. On the other hand, the head that discharges the liquid is scanned along a direction substantially parallel to the optical path of the detection light. Therefore, no information can be obtained regarding the position of the wrinkle on the optical path of the detection light, in other words, on the scanning path of the head.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid ejection apparatus, a wrinkle detection method, and a wrinkle detection program that enable detection of a wrinkle position on a scanning path of a head.

  A liquid ejection apparatus for solving the above problems includes a head that ejects liquid toward a medium, a transport unit that transports the medium along a transport direction, and an optical path upstream of the head in the transport direction. A light emitting unit configured to emit light for detecting wrinkles protruding from the medium toward the head, and a direction in which the head and the light emitting unit are mounted and intersect the transport direction A carriage that moves along the scanning direction, and a light receiving unit that receives light traveling through the optical path, the light receiving unit outputting information indicating whether the light receiving unit has received light, A determination unit configured to determine that the medium has the wrinkle when receiving the information indicating that the light receiving unit does not receive light among the information output from the light receiving unit.

In the wrinkle detection method for solving the above-described problem, light for detecting wrinkles protruding from the medium toward the head is an optical path set upstream of the head in the transport direction in which the medium is transported. A step in which the light emitting unit emits, a step in which the light emitting unit is scanned along a scanning direction that is a direction intersecting the transport direction, and whether or not the light receiving unit has received light traveling through the optical path. The medium receives the wrinkle based on the information indicating that the light receiving unit is not receiving light among the information output from the light receiving unit. And a step of determining by the determination unit that the determination is being made.

  A wrinkle detection program for solving the above problem is a wrinkle detection program for detecting wrinkles formed on a medium from which a liquid ejecting apparatus ejects liquid, and detects wrinkles protruding from the medium toward the head. In the transport direction in which the medium is transported, a step of emitting the light to the light emitting unit with respect to an optical path set upstream of the head, and the light emitting unit in a direction intersecting the transport direction A step of scanning along a certain scanning direction, and information indicating whether or not the light receiving unit has received light traveling through the optical path is received by the determination unit from the light receiving unit, and the information output from the light receiving unit And causing the determination unit to determine that the medium has the wrinkle based on the information indicating that the light receiving unit is not receiving light.

  According to this configuration, the light emitting unit is mounted on the carriage that moves along the scanning direction, and the light emitting unit emits light so as to travel along the optical path that is set upstream of the head in the transport direction. With such a configuration, the light emitted from the light emitting unit is scanned along the scanning direction as the carriage moves. Since the light traveling on the optical path is received by the light receiving unit, it is determined that no wrinkle is formed at the position where the light receiving unit receives light among the positions where the head is scanned. It is determined that wrinkles are formed at a position where no wrinkles are received. As a result, it is possible to detect the wrinkle position on the scanning path of the head.

  In the liquid ejecting apparatus, the light receiving unit is a reflecting unit that is mounted on the carriage and is disposed upstream of the light emitting unit in the transport direction, and the light emitting unit and the reflective unit in the transport direction It is preferable to further include the reflection unit configured to be able to dispose the medium between them and to reflect the light emitted from the light emitting unit toward the light receiving unit.

  According to this configuration, the configuration of the liquid ejection device can be simplified because the scanning unit that scans the light receiving unit in synchronization with the scanning of the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit that is arranged over the range scanned by the light emitting unit are unnecessary. can do.

In the liquid ejecting apparatus, it is preferable that the light emitting unit is disposed upstream of the head in the transport direction.
According to this configuration, the portion where the light emitting unit is attached in the carriage and the shape of the light emitting unit are not easily restricted by the head.

  The liquid ejecting apparatus preferably further includes a changing unit that changes a distance between the medium and the carriage in a facing direction, which is a direction in which the head and the medium face each other.

  According to this configuration, since the position where the optical path is set in the facing direction can be changed by the changing unit, the degree of freedom of the position where the light emitting unit is arranged in the carriage is increased in the facing direction.

1 is a perspective view illustrating a perspective structure of a printer according to an embodiment in which the liquid ejection device of the present invention is embodied as a printer. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram schematically illustrating a side structure of a printer. 2 is a plan view schematically showing a planar structure of the printer. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows roughly the side structure of a carriage. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the printer. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of a process of a wrinkle detection method.

  With reference to FIGS. 1 to 6, an embodiment in which the liquid ejection apparatus of the present invention is embodied as an ink jet printer will be described. Hereinafter, the configuration of the printer, the electrical configuration of the printer, and the wrinkle detection method will be described in order.

[Printer configuration]
As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 10 includes a first casing 11 having a box shape and a second box connected to the first casing 11 having a box shape smaller than the first casing 11. And a housing 12. An opening is formed in each of two surfaces of the first housing 11 that face each other in one direction, and the first housing 11 is formed on a surface of the second housing 12 that faces the first housing 11. An opening communicating with is formed.

  The printer 10 further includes a conveyance guide unit 13 that extends along the sub-scanning direction D2, a moving unit 14 that moves along the conveyance guide unit 13, and a placement unit 15 that is attached to the moving unit 14. . The conveyance guide portion 13 extends toward the second housing 12 from a position facing the second housing 12 with the first housing 11 sandwiched between the outsides of the first housing 11.

  The moving unit 14 holds the mounting unit 15 along the conveyance guide unit 13, that is, along the sub-scanning direction D <b> 2, between the outside of the first housing 11 and the inside of the second housing 12. Move between. The sub-scanning direction D2 includes two directions: a direction from the outside of the first housing 11 to the inside of the second housing 12 and a direction from the inside of the second housing 12 to the outside of the first housing 11. Is included. Of the two directions, the direction from the inside of the second housing 12 to the outside of the first housing 11 is a transport direction DC that is one direction.

  Of the two arbitrary positions in the printer 10, the one with the smaller distance from the second housing 12 in the transport direction DC is the downstream position in the transport direction DC, and the other is the upstream position in the transport direction DC. It is.

  A T-shirt M, which is an example of a medium, is placed on the placement unit 15. The conveyance guide unit 13, the moving unit 14, and the placement unit 15 constitute a conveyance unit 16 that conveys the T-shirt M along the sub-scanning direction D2.

  As with the T-shirt M, clothes formed of cloth are more likely to be wrinkled when placed on the placement portion 15 as compared to other media such as paper. Note that the wrinkle includes one surface of the T-shirt M and a bulge caused by distortion, deflection, and slack formed on the surface opposite to the surface in contact with the placement portion 15.

  Inside the first housing 11, a guide shaft 21 extending in the main scanning direction D1 which is a direction orthogonal to the sub-scanning direction D2 and is an example of the scanning direction, and a carriage on which the head 22 is mounted. 23 and a carriage motor 24 for moving the carriage 23 along the guide shaft 21 are mounted. The guide shaft 21 and the carriage motor 24 constitute a scanning unit 20 that scans the carriage 23. The head 22 has a nozzle surface 22a on which nozzles for discharging liquid are formed. The nozzle surface 22 a is a surface of the head 22 that faces the placement unit 15.

A reflection portion 31 that reflects predetermined light is disposed at an end portion of the conveyance guide portion 13 that is located outside the first housing 11. The reflecting portion 31 has a plate shape extending along the facing direction D3, which is the direction in which the head 22 and the placement portion 15 are opposed to each other. In the reflection unit 31, the length along the facing direction D <b> 3 is larger than the distance between the surface of the transport guide unit 13 facing the head 22 and the nozzle surface 22 a of the head 22. In the reflection part 31, the length along the facing direction D <b> 3 is preferably equal to or shorter than the length along the facing direction D <b> 3 in the first housing 11. Thereby, even if it is a structure provided with the reflection part 31, it can suppress that the maximum value of the length in the opposing direction D3 in the printer 10 becomes larger than the structure which is not provided with the reflection part 31. FIG.

  In the reflection part 31, the length along the main scanning direction D <b> 1 is at least longer than the length along the main scanning direction D <b> 1 in the T-shirt M placed on the placement part 15. The length along the main scanning direction D1 in the reflecting part 31 is more preferably larger than the length along the main scanning direction D1 in the mounting part 15. Further, the length along the main scanning direction D <b> 1 in the reflecting portion 31 is preferably equal to or shorter than the length along the main scanning direction D <b> 1 in the transport guide portion 13. Thereby, it is suppressed that the length in the main scanning direction D1 in the reflection part 31 becomes large excessively.

  As shown in FIG. 2, an optical sensor 32 is mounted on the carriage 23 in addition to the head 22, and the optical sensor 32 is a wrinkle formed on the T-shirt M and protruding toward the head 22. The light for detecting is emitted. Of the optical sensor 32, at least an emission port that emits light faces an opening formed in the first housing 11 in the transport direction DC when irradiating light.

  The optical path LP of the light emitted from the optical sensor 32 is set upstream of the head 22 in the transport direction DC. The optical path LP of the light extends along the transport direction DC from the optical sensor 32 to a position of the reflecting portion 31 that faces the optical sensor 32.

  The optical sensor 32 includes a light emitting element that can emit light along the optical path LP, and the light emitting element is, for example, a light emitting diode or a semiconductor laser. The optical sensor 32 is an example of a light emitting unit.

  A change unit 25 that changes the position of the carriage 23 in the facing direction D3 is mounted on the first housing 11. The changing unit 25 changes the position of the optical sensor 32 in the facing direction D3 by changing the position of the carriage 23 in the facing direction D3.

  The reflection unit 31 is disposed upstream of the optical sensor 32 in the transport direction DC. The reflection unit 31 can reflect the light emitted from the optical sensor 32, and at least a portion of the reflection unit 31 that faces the optical sensor 32 has a function of reflecting the light emitted from the optical sensor 32. If you do. Alternatively, the shape of the reflecting portion 31 is not limited to the plate shape extending along the facing direction D3 described above, but has a linear shape located on the optical path LP of the optical sensor 32 and extending along the main scanning direction D1. You may do it.

  The reflection unit 31 reflects at least part of the light emitted from the optical sensor 32 toward the optical sensor 32. The reflection unit 31 preferably reflects all of the light emitted from the optical sensor 32 toward the optical sensor 32. If the reflection part 31 can reflect at least a part of the light emitted from the optical sensor 32 along the optical path LP from the reflection part 31 toward the optical sensor 32, the reflection part 31 is long along the facing direction D3. However, the reflected light different from the incident light may be emitted.

  The optical sensor 32 includes a light receiving element that is an example of a light receiving unit for receiving light that has traveled through the optical path LP from the optical sensor 32 and the optical path LP from the reflecting unit 31. The light receiving element receives light traveling from the reflecting portion 31 toward the optical sensor 32, generates an electrical signal indicating that the light has been received, and outputs the generated electrical signal to the outside. That is, the light receiving element outputs information indicating whether or not light has been received.

  As described above, if the reflection unit 31 is configured to reflect all of the light emitted from the optical sensor 32 toward the optical sensor 32, the amount of light reaching the optical sensor 32 is reduced when the light is emitted. It can be made difficult to decrease with respect to the amount of light. Therefore, the light receiving element of the optical sensor 32 can increase the certainty in receiving light.

  The position where the entire placement unit 15 is arranged outside the first housing 11 among the positions to which the placement unit 15 is moved is the placement position. In addition, the position where the entire placement unit 15 is disposed downstream of the carriage 23 in the transport direction DC among the positions to which the placement unit 15 is moved is the print start position. When a predetermined image is printed on the T-shirt M, first, the user of the printer 10 places the T-shirt M on the placement unit 15 located at the placement position. Then, the moving unit 14 moves the mounting unit 15 from the mounting position to the printing start position. Next, the moving unit 14 moves the mounting unit 15 toward the carriage 23 along the sub-scanning direction D2 from the printing start position, so that a part of the T-shirt M faces the nozzle surface 22a of the head 22. Place in position. Thereafter, the head 22 ejects ink, which is an example of liquid, toward the T-shirt M while the carriage 23 moves along the main scanning direction D1 while the moving unit 14 is stationary. An area where an image is printed on one T-shirt M is a print area, and the movement of the moving unit 14 along the sub-scanning direction D2 and the main scanning direction D1 until an image is printed on the entire printing area. The movement of the carriage 23 along the line is repeated alternately.

  At this time, the optical sensor 32 emits light toward the reflecting portion 31 when the placement portion 15 on which the T-shirt M is placed is disposed at the placement position. When the wrinkle of the T-shirt M overlaps the optical path LP, the progress of light from the optical sensor 32 toward the reflecting portion 31 is blocked by the wrinkle. As a result, the optical sensor 32 outputs an electrical signal indicating that no light is received to the outside.

  On the other hand, when the T-shirt M does not have wrinkles or the wrinkles of the T-shirt M do not overlap with the optical path LP, the reflection unit 31 reflects the light emitted along the optical path LP, and the reflection unit 31 The optical sensor 32 receives the reflected light. As a result, the optical sensor 32 outputs an electrical signal indicating that light has been received to the outside.

  As shown in FIG. 3, when light is emitted from the optical sensor 32, the carriage 23 moves along the main scanning direction D1 while the optical sensor 32 continues to emit light. Thereby, the optical sensor 32 moves along the main scanning direction D1 together with the carriage 23 from one end to the other end of the mounting portion 15 in the main scanning direction D1, and the light emitted from the optical sensor 32 is the entire T-shirt M. Is irradiated. For this reason, the T-shirt M is irradiated with light for detecting wrinkles throughout the sub-scanning direction D2 of the T-shirt M.

  As described above, a configuration in which the length along the main scanning direction D1 in the reflecting portion 31 is larger than the length along the main scanning direction D1 in the mounting portion 15 is preferable in the following points. That is, according to such a reflection part 31, even if the optical sensor 32 emits light toward any position in the T-shirt M in the main scanning direction D1, the reflection part 31 is reliably directed toward the optical sensor 32. It can reflect light.

  According to the configuration of the reflection unit 31 described above, even if the light emitting unit is scanned along with the scanning of the carriage 23, a scanning unit that scans the light receiving unit and the reflection unit in synchronization with the scanning of the optical sensor 32 is unnecessary. is there. Therefore, the configuration of the printer 10 can be simplified.

As shown in FIG. 4, the optical sensor 32 is attached upstream of the head 22 in the transport direction DC. Thereby, the optical path LP of the light emitted from the optical sensor 32 is changed to the head 2.
2, the part where the optical sensor 32 is attached in the carriage 23 and the shape of the optical sensor 32 are not easily restricted by the head 22.

  The optical sensor 32 is attached to the lower end of the carriage 23 in the facing direction D3, and the lower end of the optical sensor 32 in the facing direction D3 is disposed at the same position as the lower end of the carriage 23 in the facing direction D3.

  The head 22 is attached to the lower surface of the carriage 23 in the facing direction D3. That is, the head 22 including the nozzle surface 22a is positioned below the carriage 23 in the facing direction D3. Since the optical sensor 32 is located above the nozzle surface 22a in the facing direction D3, the optical sensor 32 can be prevented from hitting the T-shirt M when printing on the T-shirt M is performed.

  The changing unit 25 changes the position of the carriage 23 in the facing direction D3. The changing unit 25 arranges the nozzle surface 22a of the head 22 at the ejection position P1 that is one position in the facing direction D3 and the ejection position P2 that is located below the ejection position P1. When the change unit 25 discharges ink from the head 22 toward the T-shirt M, the changing surface 25 arranges the nozzle surface 22a at the discharge position P1. On the other hand, when the changing unit 25 emits light from the optical sensor 32, the changing unit 25 positions the nozzle surface 22a at the emission position P2. Thereby, in the facing direction D3, the position of the optical path LP of the light emitted from the optical sensor 32 becomes the same as the ejection position P1. The light for detecting the wrinkle of the T-shirt M is the same as the position of the nozzle surface 22a when ink is ejected from the head 22 in the facing direction D3. Collides with wrinkles with protrusions. That is, the light has a shape such that the length along the facing direction D3 in the T-shirt M is greater than the distance between the surface facing the head 22 and the nozzle surface 22a in the wrinkle. Collide with wrinkles.

Therefore, the information output from the optical sensor 32 can be used as information for detecting wrinkles having a protruding amount larger than that contacting the nozzle surface 22a.
Further, according to the changing unit 25, the position where the optical path LP of the optical sensor 32 is set in the facing direction D3 can be changed by the changing unit 25. Therefore, in the facing direction D3, the position of the optical sensor 32 in the carriage 23 can be changed. The degree of freedom of the position where it is arranged increases.

[Electrical configuration of printer]
An electrical configuration of the printer 10 will be described with reference to FIG. For convenience of explanation, FIG. 5 shows only the configuration related to detection of wrinkles in the T-shirt M among the electrical configurations of the printer 10.

As shown in FIG. 5, the printer 10 includes a control unit 40, and the control unit 40 includes a drive control unit 41, a determination unit 42, and a storage unit 43.
The storage unit 43 stores a wrinkle detection program 44. The wrinkle detection program 44 is a program for causing the printer 10 to detect wrinkles formed on the T-shirt M by being interpreted and executed by the control unit 40.

  The drive control unit 41 controls the driving of the optical sensor 32, the scanning unit 20, and the changing unit 25 when the wrinkle detection program 44 is executed by the control unit 40. The drive control unit 41 causes the optical sensor 32 to emit light along the optical path LP, and causes the scanning unit 20 to scan the carriage 23 along the main scanning direction D1.

The determination unit 42 determines whether wrinkles are formed on the T-shirt M based on information output from the optical sensor 32. That is, when the electrical signal output from the optical sensor 32 is a light reception signal indicating reception of reflected light, the determination unit 42 determines that no wrinkles are formed on the T-shirt M. On the other hand, when the electrical signal output from the optical sensor 32 is a non-light receiving signal indicating non-light reception of the reflected light, the determination unit 42 determines that wrinkles are formed in the T-shirt M.

[Wrinkle detection method]
The wrinkle detection method will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6, the optical sensor 32 starts emitting light, and the scanning unit 20 starts scanning the carriage 23 (step S11). At this time, the optical sensor 32 emits light for detecting wrinkles protruding from the T-shirt M toward the head 22 along the optical path LP set upstream of the head 22 in the transport direction DC.

  Then, while the determination unit 42 receives the light reception signal, the determination unit 42 determines that no wrinkle is formed on the T-shirt M (step S12: YES, step S13). When the scanning unit 20 finishes scanning the carriage 23 with the determination unit 42 determining that no wrinkles are formed on the T-shirt M, the optical sensor 32 finishes emitting light (step S14: YES, step S15). When the process of step S15 ends, the process related to wrinkle detection is temporarily ended.

  On the other hand, when the determination unit 42 receives a non-light-receiving signal, the determination unit 42 determines that wrinkles are formed on the T-shirt M, and the control unit 40 determines that the wrinkles are formed on the T-shirt M. 10 is performed to warn the outside (step S12: NO, step S16, step S17).

  Note that wrinkles are formed on the T-shirt M, for example, an image that prompts the user to re-mount the T-shirt M on the mounting unit 15 is displayed on the display unit provided in the printer 10 or wrinkles are formed. It is only necessary to be warned by turning on a lamp for indicating that the camera is on.

  Further, it is preferable that printing on the T-shirt M by the printer 10 is not started while wrinkles formed on the T-shirt M are detected. As a result, when the wrinkles are formed so as to be in contact with the head 22, printing on the T-shirt M is not started, so printing of the T-shirt M stops halfway due to wrinkles, and printing after the stop is not continued. Can be avoided. As a result, wasteful consumption of the T-shirt M and the ink ejected to the T-shirt M can be avoided.

  Thus, when the process of detecting wrinkles is performed, the optical sensor 32 is mounted on the carriage 23 that moves along the main scanning direction D1, and the optical path is set upstream of the head 22 in the transport direction DC. The optical sensor 32 emits light so as to travel through LP. With this configuration, the light emitted from the optical sensor 32 is scanned along the main scanning direction D1 as the carriage 23 moves. Since the light traveling on the optical path LP is received by the optical sensor 32, it is determined that no wrinkles are formed at the position where the optical sensor 32 receives light among the positions where the head 22 is scanned. In the position where the optical sensor 32 does not receive light, it is determined that wrinkles are formed. As a result, the wrinkle position on the scanning path of the head 22 can be detected.

As described above, according to one embodiment of the liquid ejection device, the wrinkle detection method, and the wrinkle detection program, the effects listed below can be obtained.
(1) Among the positions where the head 22 is scanned, it is determined that there is no wrinkle at a position where the optical sensor 32 receives light, and it is determined that there is a wrinkle at a position where the optical sensor 32 does not receive light. The As a result, the wrinkle position on the scanning path of the head 22 can be detected.

  (2) The reflection unit 31 does not require a scanning unit that scans a light receiving unit that receives light in synchronization with scanning of the optical sensor 32 or a light receiving unit that is arranged over a range scanned by the optical sensor 32. Therefore, the configuration of the printer 10 can be simplified.

  (3) Since the optical sensor 32 is arranged on the upstream side of the head 22 in the transport direction DC, the part where the optical sensor 32 is attached in the carriage 23 and the shape of the optical sensor 32 are limited by the head 22. It becomes difficult to receive.

  (4) Since the position where the optical path LP is set in the facing direction D3 can be changed by the changing unit 25, the degree of freedom of the position where the optical sensor 32 is arranged in the carriage 23 in the facing direction D3 is increased.

The embodiment described above can be implemented with appropriate modifications as follows.
The change unit 25 may be omitted, and in the configuration in which the change unit 25 is omitted, it is only necessary that the lower surface of the optical sensor 32 in the facing direction D3 is disposed at a position higher than the nozzle surface 22a of the head 22. In order to bring the position of the optical path LP of the light emitted from the optical sensor 32 closer to the position of the nozzle surface 22a in the facing direction D3, the position of the lower surface of the optical sensor 32 and the position of the nozzle surface 22a in the facing direction D3. Are preferably the same. According to such a configuration, on the premise that the printer 10 does not include the changing unit 25, the wrinkle that protrudes toward the head 22 among the wrinkles formed on the T-shirt M is detected. be able to.

  Further, the configuration in which the changing unit 25 is omitted may be, for example, the following configuration. In other words, the optical sensor 32 and a mirror that bends the light emitted from the optical sensor 32 are mounted on the carriage 23, and the optical sensor 32 is disposed above the mirror in the facing direction D3. Then, the optical sensor 32 emits light toward the mirror, and the mirror reflects the light emitted from the optical sensor 32 toward the reflection unit 31. In addition, the mirror reflects light directed from the reflecting portion 31 toward the mirror toward the optical sensor 32.

  The optical sensor 32 may be disposed in the carriage 23 on the downstream side in the transport direction in the carriage 23 as long as it can emit light toward the reflection unit 31 through the optical path LP.

  The reflection unit 31 may be omitted, and in the configuration in which the reflection unit 31 is omitted, the printer 10 includes a light emitting unit mounted on the carriage 23 and a light emitting unit on the upstream side of the light emitting unit in the transport direction DC. And a light receiving unit arranged to face each other. The light receiving unit may be arranged in the main scanning direction D1 or may be configured to be scanned in synchronization with the light emitting unit by the scanning unit that scans the light receiving unit.

The light emitting unit and the light receiving unit are not limited to the configuration embodied as one optical sensor 32, and the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit may be arranged on the carriage 23 independently of each other.
The medium from which the liquid is ejected is not limited to clothing formed using cloth, such as the above-described T-shirt M, but may be another medium, such as paper.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Printer, 11 ... 1st housing | casing, 12 ... 2nd housing | casing, 13 ... Conveyance guide part, 14 ... Moving part, 15 ... Mounting part, 16 ... Conveyance part, 20 ... Scanning part, 21 ... Guide shaft, 22 ... Head, 22a ... Nozzle surface, 23 ... Carriage, 24 ... Carriage motor, 25 ... Change part, 31 ...
Reflection unit, 32 ... optical sensor, 40 ... control unit, 41 ... drive control unit, 42 ... determination unit, 43 ... storage unit, 44 ... wrinkle detection program, M ... T-shirt.

Claims (6)

A head that discharges liquid toward the medium;
A transport unit for transporting the medium along a transport direction;
A light emitting unit configured to emit light for detecting wrinkles protruding from the medium toward the head, the light having an optical path set upstream of the head in the transport direction;
A carriage on which the head and the light emitting unit are mounted and which moves along a scanning direction that is a direction intersecting the transport direction;
A light receiving unit for receiving light traveling through the optical path, the light receiving unit outputting information indicating whether the light receiving unit has received light;
A determination unit that determines that the medium has the wrinkle when receiving the information indicating that the light receiving unit is not receiving light among the information output by the light receiving unit;
A liquid ejection apparatus comprising: The light receiving unit is mounted on the carriage,
A reflection unit disposed upstream of the light emitting unit in the transport direction, wherein the medium can be disposed between the light emitting unit and the reflection unit in the transport direction; and The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising the reflecting unit that reflects the light emitted from the light emitting unit toward the light receiving unit. The light emitting unit
The liquid ejection device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid ejection device is disposed upstream of the head in the transport direction. 4. The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a changing unit that changes a distance between the medium and the carriage in a facing direction that is a direction in which the head and the medium face each other. A step of emitting light for detecting wrinkles protruding from the medium toward the head with respect to the optical path set upstream of the head in the transport direction in which the medium is transported;
Scanning the light emitting unit along a scanning direction which is a direction intersecting the transport direction;
The determination unit receives information indicating whether or not the light receiving unit has received light traveling through the optical path, and among the information output from the light receiving unit, the light receiving unit is not receiving light. And a step of the determination unit determining that the medium has the wrinkle based on the information to be displayed. A wrinkle detection program for detecting wrinkles formed on a medium from which the liquid ejection device ejects liquid,
Emitting light for detecting wrinkles protruding from the medium toward the head with respect to the light path set on the upstream side of the head in the transport direction in which the medium is transported;
Scanning the light emitting unit along a scanning direction which is a direction intersecting the transport direction;
The information indicating whether or not the light receiving unit has received the light traveling on the optical path is received from the light receiving unit to the determination unit, and the light receiving unit does not receive light among the information output from the light receiving unit. A wrinkle detection program that causes the liquid ejecting apparatus to execute a step of causing the determination unit to determine that the medium has the wrinkle based on the information indicating the wrinkle.

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