JP2017039247A - Printer and medium holding part setting method in the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer which enables a medium holding part to be set at a proper position, and to provide a medium holding part setting method of the printer.SOLUTION: A printer includes: a first rail 30A which may move in a first direction; a second rail 30A which is provided spaced apart from the first rail 30A in a second direction intersecting with the first direction and may move in the first direction; a first support part 23A attached to the first rail 30A and connected to a medium holding part 20 which holds a medium to be printed; and a second support part 23B attached to the second rail 30B and connected to the medium holding art 20. The first support part 23A can change its posture relative to the first rail 30A, and the second support part 23B can change its posture relative to the second rail 30B.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 11

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus in which a medium holding unit for holding a print medium is set and a method for setting a medium holding unit in the apparatus.

  Conventionally, as a kind of printing apparatus, liquid is supplied from a liquid discharge head provided in a printing unit to a medium to be printed that is sent out from a rolled state and conveyed so as to pass through the printing unit. 2. Description of the Related Art There is known a printing apparatus that performs printing by discharging and then cuts and discharges the medium into a predetermined length.

  Some types of printing apparatuses have a configuration in which a medium holding unit that holds a medium is set in the main body of the printing apparatus, and the medium is fed from the set medium holding unit to the printing unit. In the printing apparatus having such a configuration, a configuration in which the medium holding unit can be easily set in the apparatus main body by sliding the medium holding unit using a slide-movable rail provided in the apparatus main body. Has been proposed.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, a medium holding unit (magazine) is set on a support unit (magazine set stand) for supporting a medium holding unit attached to a rail (guide rail), and then the medium holding unit is mounted on a rail. Is configured to be slid along with the support unit and set on the apparatus main body (fixed base).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-151000

  However, in the configuration described in Patent Document 1, when the support unit (magazine set stand) is attached to the rail (slide rail) in an inclined posture, the medium holding unit (magazine set in the support unit) ) Will also be tilted with respect to the rail. For this reason, the medium holding unit may not be set at an appropriate position with respect to the apparatus main body (fixed base).

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus capable of setting the medium holding unit at an appropriate position and a method for setting the medium holding unit in the apparatus. is there.

Hereinafter, means for solving the above-described problems and the effects thereof will be described.
A printing apparatus that solves the above-described problem is provided with a first rail that is movable in a first direction and an interval in a second direction that intersects the first direction with respect to the first rail. A second rail movable to the first rail, a first support attached to the first rail and connected to a medium holding part for holding a medium to be printed, and attached to the second rail, the medium holding part A second support part coupled to the first support part, the attitude of the first support part with respect to the first rail being changeable, and the attitude of the second support part with respect to the second rail being changeable. .

  According to this configuration, the medium holding unit connected to the first support unit and the second support unit is set at an appropriate position by changing the posture of the first support unit and the posture of the second support unit, respectively. be able to.

In the printing apparatus, it is preferable that the first support portion is rotatable with respect to the first rail.
According to this configuration, the medium holding unit can be set at an appropriate position with respect to the apparatus main body by rotating the first support unit with respect to the first rail.

In the printing apparatus, it is preferable that the second support portion is slidable with respect to the second rail.
According to this configuration, the medium holding unit can be set at an appropriate position with respect to the apparatus main body by sliding the second support unit with respect to the second rail.

  In the printing apparatus, the first support portion is rotatable with respect to the first rail, and the second support portion is connected to the medium support portion with the first support portion and the second support portion. In this state, it is preferable that the first support portion slides with respect to the second rail according to the rotation of the first support portion.

According to this configuration, since the second support portion slides as the first support portion rotates, the medium holding portion can be set at an appropriate position with respect to the apparatus main body.
In the printing apparatus, it is preferable that the first support portion is attached to the first rail by a pin.

According to this configuration, the attitude of the first support portion with respect to the first rail can be easily changed with the pin as an axis.
In the printing apparatus, it is preferable that the second support portion is attached to the second rail by a plurality of pins.

According to this configuration, it is possible to change the posture of the second support portion with respect to the second rail while suppressing an excessive change around the plurality of pins.
A method of setting a medium holding unit in a printing apparatus that solves the above problem includes a first rail that is movable in a first direction, and a gap in a second direction that intersects the first direction with respect to the first rail. A second rail provided and movable in the first direction; a first support portion attached to the first rail and connected to a medium holding portion for holding a medium to be printed; and the second rail. A medium holding unit setting method in a printing apparatus comprising: a second support unit attached and coupled to the medium holding unit, wherein the attitude of the first support unit with respect to the first rail is changed, and By changing the posture of the second support portion with respect to the second rail, the posture of the medium holding portion connected to the first support portion and the second support portion is changed.

  According to this method, the medium holding unit connected to the first support unit and the second support unit is set at an appropriate position by changing the posture of the first support unit and the posture of the second support unit, respectively. be able to.

1 is a side view showing an embodiment of a printing apparatus. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a state where a medium holding unit is set in the apparatus main body. FIG. 6 is a side view showing a state before the medium holding unit is moved to the set position of the apparatus main body. The perspective view which shows the medium holding | maintenance part supported by the rail of the apparatus main body. The perspective view which shows the 1st rail and 2nd rail which support a medium holding | maintenance part. The perspective view which shows the 1st support part and 1st rail connected with a medium holding | maintenance part. The perspective view which shows the 2nd support part and 2nd rail connected with a medium holding | maintenance part. The perspective view which shows the structure where a medium holding | maintenance part is connected with a 1st support part. The perspective view which shows the structure where a medium holding part is connected with a 2nd support part. 10 is a flowchart showing a procedure for setting the medium holding unit to the apparatus main body. The schematic diagram which shows the medium holding | maintenance part which a 1st support part rotates and moves and changes an attitude | position. The schematic diagram which shows the medium holding | maintenance part set by rotating the 1st support part. The schematic diagram which shows the medium holding | maintenance part which a 1st support part changes attitude | position by movement of both rotation and a slide. The schematic diagram which shows the 1st support part and the 2nd support part which were integrally connected with the medium holding | maintenance part.

  Hereinafter, as an embodiment of a printing apparatus, a liquid discharge head that discharges a liquid has a liquid discharge head, and a liquid is discharged from a liquid discharge head to a long medium that is fed from a roll body and fed. A printing apparatus that prints an image including characters and figures by discharging the ink will be described with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a printing apparatus 11 according to the present embodiment includes, as an apparatus main body 12, a casing unit 13 and a base unit that supports the casing unit 13 from the vertical direction −Z side (lower side). 14. The base unit 14 includes a medium holding unit 20 that holds a medium wound in a roll shape. In FIG. 2, in order to facilitate understanding of the shapes of the base unit 14 and the medium holding unit 20, the housing 13 fixed to the base unit 14 and the medium held by the medium holding unit 20 are indicated by a two-dot chain line. It is shown in the figure.

  The casing 13 is composed of a plurality of casing members, and after printing on a long sheet ST as an example of a medium fed and fed from a roll body RT accommodated therein, the sheet ST is Cut and eject as cut sheet CS. The base portion 14 is composed of a plurality of plate-like members, and fixes the housing portion 13 from the lower side, which is the vertical direction −Z side, using fastening members such as screws.

  The casing 13 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape with the longitudinal direction of the width direction X (the front and back direction in FIG. 1) of the sheet ST intersecting (here, orthogonal) to the discharge direction of the sheet ST indicated by the arrow H in FIG. doing. In the housing unit 13, a medium storage unit 15 having a storage space that can store a roll body RT in which a long sheet ST is wound in a roll shape, a printing unit 16 that performs printing on the sheet ST, and the sheet ST are provided. A discharge port 17 for discharging from the apparatus main body 12 (housing unit 13) is provided. Further, a cutting unit 18 for cutting the discharged sheet ST is provided between the printing unit 16 and the discharge port 17.

  The medium storage unit 15 rotates a long sheet ST, which is a roll body RT, around a roll shaft (not shown) whose axial direction is the width direction X of the sheet ST (hereinafter also referred to as “width direction X”). Store in the storage space as possible. Then, the stored long sheet ST is sent out from the roll body RT and fed to the printing unit 16.

  The printing unit 16 is positioned on the printing surface side in the vertical direction + Z side (upper side) with respect to the sheet ST sent out from the roll body RT, and the width direction of the sheet ST by a driving unit (not shown). X, that is, a carriage 61 that reciprocates in the longitudinal direction of the casing 13 is provided. The carriage 61 is provided with a liquid ejection head 62 at a position facing the sheet ST. In addition, the printing apparatus 11 includes a support base that supports the sheet ST from the vertical direction −Z side (lower side) opposite to the liquid discharge head 62 and a transport roller that transports the sheet ST (both not shown). The sheet ST fed from the roll body RT is transported in the transport direction Y on the support table. In this conveyance, printing is performed on the sheet ST by ejecting liquid from the liquid ejection head 62 provided on the carriage 61 that reciprocates in the width direction X onto the printing surface of the sheet ST conveyed on the support base. The printed sheet ST is discharged out of the housing unit 13 from the discharge port 17 located on the downstream side in the transport direction Y with respect to the printing unit 16.

  The cutting unit 18 cuts the sheet ST sent out from the roll body RT into a sheet having a predetermined length in the transport direction Y, that is, a cut sheet CS after the printing unit 16 performs printing. In other words, the cutting unit 18 includes a rotary cutter 81 that is rotated by a driving unit (not shown) and moves in the width direction X. The rotary cutter 81 cuts in the thickness direction of the sheet ST and moves in the width direction X. The sheet ST is cut by moving. Then, the sheet ST cut by the cutting unit 18 in the middle of conveyance becomes a cut sheet CS and is discharged from the discharge port 17 to the outside of the housing unit 13.

  The base part 14 includes a pair of leg bases 14A and a leg base 14B to which upper ends thereof are respectively fixed at lower sides of both end portions in the longitudinal direction (width direction X) of the housing part 13. Of these, the leg base 14A is fixed on the right side and the leg base 14B is fixed on the left side when viewed from the downstream side in the transport direction Y of the sheet ST. In the present embodiment, when viewed from the downstream side in the transport direction Y of the sheet ST, the right side is a printing start side (so-called zero digit side) on the sheet ST by the printing unit 16.

  A base portion 41A extending from the base end portion of the foot base 14A toward both sides in the horizontal direction, which is a direction intersecting with the longitudinal direction of the housing portion 13, is attached to the foot base 14A. A substantially inverted T-shaped shape is formed by the portion 41A. Similarly, a base 41B extending from the base end of the base 14B toward both sides in the horizontal direction, which is a direction intersecting with the longitudinal direction of the casing 13, is attached to the base 14B. 14B and the base portion 41B form a substantially inverted T-shape. Further, the leg base 14 </ b> A and the leg base 14 </ b> B are connected by a support column 43 extending along the longitudinal direction (width direction X) of the housing portion 13. Furthermore, the base part 14 can be easily moved together with the casing part 13 by casters 42 attached to the respective base parts 41A and 41B. A medium receiving device (not shown) that receives the discharged cut sheet CS is attached to the base unit 14 as necessary, and is configured to receive the cut sheet CS discharged to the outside of the housing unit 13.

  In the present embodiment, separately from the roll body RT stored in the medium storage unit 15 of the housing unit 13, a long sheet STa as a medium to be printed by the printing unit 16 is separately rolled. A medium holding unit 20 that holds the roll body RTa is provided on the base unit 14 side of the apparatus main body 12. The sheet STa fed from the separate roll body RTa held by the medium holding unit 20 provided on the base unit 14 side is provided in the medium holding unit 20 as indicated by a broken arrow F in FIG. Then, the paper is fed from the outlet 26 to the printing unit 16 located in the housing unit 13. Similarly to the sheet ST, the sheet STa fed to the printing unit 16 is conveyed on the support table in the conveyance direction Y in the printing unit 16, and is provided on the carriage 61 that reciprocates in the width direction X in this conveyance. The liquid is ejected from the liquid ejection head 62 onto the printing surface, and printing is performed.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a guide member 19 is attached in the housing portion 13, and a positioning portion 29 is provided in the medium holding portion 20. When the sheet STa is fed from the delivery port 26 into the housing unit 13, the positioning unit 29 is positioned by the guide member 19, so that the delivery port 26 of the medium holding unit 20 is appropriately positioned with respect to the apparatus main body 12. Is positioned. That is, the medium holding unit 20 provided on the base unit 14 side is configured to be set in the apparatus main body 12 in a state where the positioning unit 29 is correctly positioned by contacting the guide member 19. In the present embodiment, the positioning portion 29 is formed of a metal plate bent into an L-shape (see FIG. 9), and the deformation associated with the contact with the guide member 19 is suppressed, thereby holding the medium. The unit 20 is positioned with respect to the apparatus main body 12 with high accuracy.

  Next, referring to FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, a structure for setting the medium holding unit 20 to the apparatus main body 12 will be described. For ease of explanation here, FIG. 4 shows the base portion 14 before the housing portion 13 is fixed, and the medium holding portion before the separate roll body RTa is held. 20 is shown. 5 shows the base unit 14 in a state where the medium holding unit 20 is removed from the state shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the medium holding unit 20 is set in the apparatus main body 12 and has a longitudinal direction in the width direction X so as to be substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the housing unit 13. 21, and another roll body RTa is held in the holding case 21 so that the roll axis direction thereof substantially coincides with the longitudinal direction of the holding case 21. Further, the medium holding unit 20 is provided with a conveying unit such as a roller (not shown) that sends out the sheet STa sent from the separate roll body RTa held in the holding case 21 to the housing unit 13 side.

  3 and 4, the medium holding unit 20 has a longitudinal direction (width direction) of the housing unit 13 between the leg base 14A and the leg base 14B of the base unit 14 as indicated by white double-sided arrows. X) is slidable in the direction intersecting. As a result of this sliding movement, the medium holding unit 20 has a set position (a position indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIGS. 3 and 4) and a non-set position (a position indicated by a solid line in FIGS. 3 and 4) with respect to the apparatus main body 12. Move between. In the present embodiment, the moving direction when the medium holding unit 20 moves from the non-set position with respect to the apparatus main body 12 to the set position is referred to as a first direction. Note that the moving direction when moving from the medium holding unit 20 set position to the non-setting position is opposite to the first direction.

  The holding case 21 of the medium holding unit 20 is provided with a slit-like opening extending in the width direction X at the upstream end in the transport direction Y so as to face the vertical direction + Z side as the delivery port 26 from which the sheet STa is sent out. ing. The holding case 21 is provided with positioning portions 29 for the medium holding portion 20 (outlet 26) with respect to the apparatus main body 12 (housing portion 13) on both sides in the width direction X of the outlet 26. The positioning unit 29 is positioned by the guide member 19 attached in the housing unit 13 when the medium holding unit 20 slides in the first direction and moves to the set position.

Next, the slide moving structure of the medium holding unit 20 will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the leg base 14 </ b> A and the leg base 14 </ b> B of the base portion 14 are arranged on the inner surfaces facing each other along a first direction intersecting (orthogonal) with the longitudinal direction of the housing portion 13. Each slide rail is attached. In the present embodiment, the rail attached to the leg base 14A is referred to as a first rail 30A, and the rail attached to the leg base 14B is referred to as a second rail 30B for distinction. Accordingly, the apparatus main body 12 (base 14) can move in the first direction with a gap in the second direction intersecting the first direction with respect to the first rail 30A movable in the first direction. A second rail 30B is provided. In summary, the printing apparatus 11 is provided with a first rail 30A that is movable in the first direction and an interval in the second direction that intersects the first direction with respect to the first rail 30A, and moves in the first direction. Possible second rail 30B. In the present embodiment, the first direction is a horizontal direction or a direction close to horizontal. The second direction is a direction along the width direction X, which is the longitudinal direction of the housing portion 13.

  The first rail 30A includes a fixed rail 34A attached to a fixed frame 45A fixed to the base 14A, a first-stage moving rail 31A that slides along the first direction with respect to the fixed rail 34A, and The multi-stage rail structure includes a second-stage moving rail 32 </ b> A that slides along the first direction with respect to the moving rail 31 </ b> A. Similarly, the second rail 30B includes a fixed rail 34B attached to a fixed frame 45B fixed to the base 14B, and a first-stage moving rail that slides along the first direction with respect to the fixed rail 34B. In addition, a multi-stage rail structure including a second-stage moving rail 32B that slides along the first direction with respect to the moving rail 31B.

  5, the first rail 30A and the second rail 30B support an L-shaped first support portion 23A and a second support portion 23B in which a metal flat plate is bent at a substantially right angle. . The first support portion 23A and the second support portion 23B are configured so that the fixing screw N is screwed to the screw hole HN provided in each of the first support portion 23A and the second support portion 23B. Fixed (connected) to the bottom surface. In the medium holding unit 20, the first support portion 23A and the second support portion 23B fixed to the bottom surface of the medium holding portion 20 are moved in the second step on the second rail 30A and the second rail 30B in the first rail 30A. By being attached to the rail 32B, it is supported by the first rail 30A and the second rail 30B (see FIG. 4). In other words, the printing apparatus 11 is attached to the first rail 30A and is attached to the first support portion 23A connected to the medium holding portion 20 that holds the medium to be printed and the second rail 30B, and the medium holding portion 20 is connected. 2nd support part 23B connected with. FIG. 5 illustrates the state of the base unit 14 before the medium holding unit 20 is connected to the first support unit 23A and the second support unit 23B and supported by the first rail 30A and the second rail 30B. ing.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 5 to FIG. 7, the attachment structure of the first support portion 23A to the first rail 30A and the attachment structure of the second support portion 23B to the second rail 30B will be described. Further, with reference to FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, a connection structure between the first support portion 23A and the medium holding portion 20 and a connection structure between the second support portion 23B and the medium holding portion 20 will be described.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, first, the first support portion 23 </ b> A is attached to the first rail 30 </ b> A located on the printing start side (zero digit side) on the sheet ST by the printing unit 16. That is, the first support portion 23A is provided with a circular hole H1 as one hole in one of the two L-shaped plate portions. On the other hand, the first rail 30A is provided with a pin P1 that protrudes upward (vertical direction + Z side) from the second-stage moving rail 32A. The first support portion 23A is mounted such that one plate portion is placed on the upper surface of the second-stage moving rail 32A in a state where the pin P1 provided on the first rail 30A is inserted into the circular hole H1. Is attached to the first rail 30A. That is, the first support portion 23A is attached to the first rail 30A by the pin P1.

  In the present embodiment, the inner diameter of the circular hole H1 of the first support portion 23A is the same as or slightly larger than the outer diameter of the pin P1 provided on the first rail 30A. For this reason, the first support portion 23A is restricted from moving in the direction along the first direction with respect to the first rail 30A, and is capable of rotating around the pin P1 provided on the first rail 30A. ing. That is, the posture of the first support portion 23A can be changed with respect to the first rail 30A by movement in the rotation direction about the pin P1 that is movement in a direction different from the first direction. In addition, rotational movement is movement along a rotation direction, and is also called rotation. In summary, the first support portion 23A can change the posture with respect to the first rail 30A. More specifically, the first support portion 23A is rotatable with respect to the first rail 30A.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 8, in the present embodiment, the medium holding unit 20 is fixed to the first support portion 23A attached to the first rail 30A by a fixing screw N as an example of a fastening member. Are connected. That is, the first support portion 23A is provided with screw holes HN on both sides along the extending direction of the bent portion that is bent at a substantially right angle with respect to the circular hole H1. On the other hand, a first flange portion 24 is formed in the holding case 21 at one end side in the longitudinal direction of the medium holding portion 20 connected to the first support portion 23A. The first flange portion 24 is larger than the circular hole H1 and the screw hole HN provided in the first support portion 23A, and includes a first through hole 24a and two screws corresponding to one circular hole H1. Two second through holes 24b corresponding to the holes HN are provided.

  Then, after placing the first flange 24 on the first support portion 23A so that the pin P1 of the first rail 30A inserted into the circular hole H1 is further inserted into the first through hole 24a, the second through hole 24b On the other hand, by inserting the fixing screw N from above and tightening it in the screw hole HN, the medium holding part 20 is connected to the first support part 23A at the first flange part 24. As a result, the medium holding unit 20 connected to the first support unit 23A can move in the rotation direction about the pin P1 provided on the first rail 30A, and the first rail 30A can move with respect to the first rail 30A. It is attached so as to be rotatable around an axis whose axial direction is the direction intersecting both the first direction and the second direction. By this rotational movement, the attitude of the medium holding unit 20 with respect to the first rail 30A can be changed.

  In addition, since the pin P1 is configured to be inserted into the circular hole H1, the medium holding unit 20 connected to the first support unit 23A has a first direction and a second direction with respect to the first rail 30A. Movement in the crossing direction that intersects both directions is allowed. In the present embodiment, the intersecting direction is the vertical direction, and the medium holding unit 20 moves, for example, to the vertical direction + Z side (upward) with respect to the first rail 30A to adjust the position relative to the apparatus main body 12 in the vertical direction. It is also possible to do.

  Next, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the second support portion 23 </ b> B is located on the opposite side (so-called full digit side) from the printing start side (zero digit side) on the sheet ST by the printing unit 16. It is attached to the two rails 30B. That is, the second support portion 23B is provided with two oblong holes H2 as two holes in one plate portion of the two L-shaped plate portions, similarly to the first support portion 23A. Yes. On the other hand, the second rail 30B is provided with a plurality of (here, two) pins P2 protruding upward (vertical direction + Z side) on the second-stage moving rail 32B. The second support portion 23B has one plate portion on the upper surface of the second stage moving rail 32B in a state where the two pins P2 provided on the second rail 30B are respectively inserted into the two oblong holes H2. By being mounted so as to be placed, it is attached to the second rail 30B. That is, the second support portion 23B is attached to the second rail 30B by the plurality of pins P2.

  In the present embodiment, the two oval holes H2 of the second support portion 23B are provided at a predetermined interval in the extending direction of the bent portion of the second support portion 23B formed by bending, and the second support The extending direction of the bent portion of the portion 23B is the short direction, and the direction intersecting the extending direction of the bent portion of the second support portion 23B is the long direction. Each of the oblong holes H2 has a short dimension that is the same as the outer diameter of the pin P2 provided on the second rail 30B or slightly larger than the outer diameter of the pin P2. The dimension in the longitudinal direction of the hole H2 is larger than the dimension in the lateral direction (for example, a dimension that is 1.5 times the outer diameter of the pin P2 provided on the second rail 30B). For this reason, the second support portion 23B is slid in the longitudinal direction of the oblong hole H2 while the movement of the oblong hole H2 in the short direction is restricted by the two pins P2 provided on the second rail 30B. It is possible to move. By this sliding movement, the posture of the second support portion 23B with respect to the second rail 30B can be changed. That is, the attitude of the second support portion 23B with respect to the second rail 30B can be changed. More specifically, the second support portion 23B is slidable with respect to the second rail 30B.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 9, in the present embodiment, the medium holding unit 20 is fixed to the second support unit 23B attached to the second rail 30B by a fixing screw N as an example of a fastening member. Are connected. That is, the second support portion 23B is provided with screw holes HN at positions shifted to one side along the extending direction of the bent portions with respect to the two oblong holes H2. On the other hand, a second flange 25 is formed in the holding case 21 on the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the medium holding part 20 connected to the second support part 23B. Two first through holes 25a corresponding to the two oblong holes H2 are formed in the second flange 25, which are larger than the oblong holes H2 and the screw holes HN provided in the second support portion 23B. And two second through holes 25b corresponding to the two screw holes HN.

  Then, after placing the second flange portion 25 on the second support portion 23B so that the pin P2 of the second rail 30B inserted into the oval hole H2 is further inserted into the first through hole 25a, the second penetration By inserting the fixing screw N into the hole 25b from above and tightening it in the screw hole HN, the medium holding part 20 is connected to the second support part 23B at the second flange part 25. As a result, the medium holding portion 20 connected to the second support portion 23B can be slid in the longitudinal direction of the oblong hole H2 by the two pins P2 provided on the second rail 30B. The medium holding unit 20 is attached to 30B so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction. By the sliding movement in the longitudinal direction, the medium holding unit 20 can change its posture with respect to the second rail 30B.

  In addition, since the pin P2 is inserted into the oblong hole H2, the medium holding part 20 connected and fixed to the second support part 23B has a first direction with respect to the second rail 30B. Movement in the intersecting direction intersecting both of the second directions is allowed. In the present embodiment, this intersecting direction is the vertical direction, and the medium holding unit 20 moves, for example, to the vertical direction + Z side (upward) with respect to the second rail 30B, and adjusts the position relative to the apparatus main body 12 in the vertical direction. It is also possible to do.

  In addition, the 1st collar part 24 and the 2nd collar part 25 are respectively connected and fixed to the 1st support part 23A and the 2nd support part 23B which were made into the L-shaped metal flat plate bent by the substantially right angle. As a result, the medium holding unit 20 is suppressed from lowering its mechanical strength. That is, when the holding case 21 is made of, for example, a resin material, the strength reduction against bending or twisting generated at each end portion of the holding case 21 provided with the first flange portion 24 and the second flange portion 25 is fixed. The first support portion 23A and the second support portion 23B are suppressed.

  As shown in FIG. 9, in the present embodiment, in the second flange portion 25 of the medium holding portion 20, the shape of the second through hole 25b corresponding to the screw hole HN is an ellipse similar to that of the first through hole 25a. The hole is shaped. Thus, for example, when the second flange 25 of the medium holding unit 20 is placed on the second-stage moving rail 32B so that the oval hole H2 is positioned in the first through hole 25a, the screw hole HN Even if there is a misalignment between the first through hole 25b and the second through hole 25b, it is easy to insert the fixing screw N into the second through hole 25b from above and fasten it to the screw hole HN. Of course, also in the 1st collar part 24 of the medium holding | maintenance part 20, it is good also considering the shape of the 2nd through-hole 24b corresponding to the screw hole HN as an oval hole (refer FIG. 8).

Next, the operation of the present embodiment, that is, the operation when the medium holding unit 20 is set in the apparatus main body 12 will be described along the procedure for setting the medium holding unit 20 to the apparatus main body 12.
As shown in FIG. 10, as a procedure for setting the medium holding unit 20, first, in step S1, the first support 23A is attached to the first rail 30A. Here, with the second stage moving rail 32A of the first rail 30A being pulled out in the direction opposite to the first direction, the first support portion 23A is connected to the pin P1 provided on the second stage moving rail 32A. It is inserted into the circular hole H1 and placed so as to overlap the upper side of the second-stage moving rail 32A.

  Next, in step S2, the second support portion 23B is attached to the second rail 30B. Here, in the state where the second stage moving rail 32B in the second rail 30B is pulled out in the direction opposite to the first direction, the second support portion 23B is provided with two pins provided on the second stage moving rail 32B. P2 is inserted into each of the two oblong holes H2 and placed so as to overlap the upper side of the second-stage moving rail 32B.

  Next, in step S3, the medium holding unit 20 is connected to the first support unit 23A and the second support unit 23B. Here, after the first support portion 23A and the medium holding portion 20 (first flange portion 24) are connected by the fixing screw N, the second support portion 23B and the medium holding portion 20 (second flange portion 25) are fixed. They are connected by screws N.

  That is, when the medium holding part 20 is connected to the first support part 23A and the second support part 23B, first, one pin P1 is inserted into one first through hole 24a of the first flange part 24. In addition, the first flange 24 of the medium holding unit 20 can be easily placed on the first support portion 23A. Thereafter, the second flange 25 of the medium holding part 20 can move and adjust the positions of the two first through holes 25a in accordance with the rotation around the pin P1 of the connected first support part 23A. Since it can do, it becomes easy to insert two pin P2 simultaneously with respect to the two 1st through-holes 25a in the 2nd support part 23B. As a result, the second flange 25 of the medium holding part 20 can be easily placed on the second support part 23B.

  Note that the movement amount (movement length) of the second support portion 23B accompanying the rotation of the first support portion 23A is made by a plurality of (here, two) pins P2 provided on the second rail 30B in the second support portion 23B. Limited. In other words, the posture of the second support portion 23B with respect to the second rail 30B can be prevented from being changed excessively by adjusting the movable amount of the pin P2 in the oblong hole H2.

  Of course, in the present embodiment, first, the second support portion 23B and the medium holding portion 20 (second flange portion 25) are connected by the fixing screw N, and then the first support portion 23A and the medium holding portion 20 (first flange) are connected. The part 24) may be connected to the fixing screw N.

  Next, in step S <b> 4, the housing unit 13 is fixed to the base unit 14. By doing so, the operation from step S1 to step S3 for connecting the medium holding part 20 to the first support part 23A and the second support part 23B becomes difficult by the housing part 13 fixed to the base part 14. It is possible to avoid this. The guide member 19 that determines the set position of the medium holding unit 20 with respect to the apparatus main body 12 is attached by fixing the housing unit 13 to the base unit 14 (see FIG. 2).

  Next, in step S5, the medium holding unit 20 is moved in the first direction. The first direction is a direction in which the medium holding unit 20 that holds the separate roll body RTa is directed to the set position of the apparatus main body 12. For example, the user of the printing apparatus 11 pushes and moves the medium holding unit 20 in the first direction. . Here, the first direction is a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the medium holding unit 20.

  Next, in step S <b> 6, the medium holding unit 20 is set on the apparatus main body 12. Here, the medium holding unit 20 that moves in the first direction is changed in posture with respect to the first rail 30A or the second rail 30B during the movement, and the guide member 19 in the housing unit 13 makes a change with respect to the apparatus main body 12. In the positioned state, the apparatus main body 12 is set at the set position. That is, in this embodiment, the medium holding unit 20 is changed in posture with respect to the first rail 30A or the second rail 30B, and the longitudinal direction thereof is parallel to the width direction X which is the longitudinal direction of the housing unit 13. As a result, the apparatus main body 12 is set at the set position.

  With reference to FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, the supplementary explanation will be given for the operations in step S5 and step S6. 11 and 12, the first rail 30A attached to the medium holding unit 20 and the leg base 14A and the second rail 30B attached to the leg base 14B are schematically shown. Further, the first support portion 23A and the second support portion 23B are schematically illustrated in a transparent state, and the positioning portion 29 of the medium holding portion 20 and the guide member 19 of the apparatus main body 12 (housing portion 13) are also schematically illustrated. It is shown in the figure.

  As shown in FIG. 11, when the medium holding unit 20 is supported by the first rail 30 </ b> A and the second rail 30 </ b> B through the operations from step S <b> 1 to step S <b> 3, the longitudinal direction of the medium holding unit 20 is the longitudinal direction of the housing unit 13. It is assumed that it is inclined with respect to the width direction X as a direction.

  For example, when the pull-out amount of the first rail 30A in the direction opposite to the first direction is smaller than the pull-out amount of the second rail 30B in the direction opposite to the first direction, the medium holding unit 20 is Is supported in an inclined state, not parallel to the width direction X as shown by the solid line in FIG. Conversely, when the amount of pulling out of the first rail 30A in the direction opposite to the first direction is larger than the amount of pulling out of the second rail 30B in the direction opposite to the first direction, the medium holding unit 20 has its longitudinal length. It is supported in a state where the direction is not parallel to the width direction X as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG.

  In addition, although illustration is omitted here, when the first rail 30A or the second rail 30B is bent, twisted, or distorted, the longitudinal direction of the medium holding portion 20 is the longitudinal direction (width direction) of the housing portion 13. X) may be inclined rather than parallel. Alternatively, even when the moving direction of the first rail 30A and the moving direction of the second rail 30B are not parallel but inclined, the longitudinal direction of the medium holding unit 20 is relative to the longitudinal direction (width direction X) of the housing unit 13. May become tilted.

  In this manner, the medium holding unit 20 whose longitudinal direction is inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction of the housing unit 13 is moved from the non-set position as indicated by the white arrow in FIG. Move in the first direction toward the set position. During the movement in the first direction, the medium holding unit 20 includes a pin P1 as shown by a solid arrow (or a two-dot chain arrow) in FIG. , The posture with respect to the first rail 30A is changed.

  In addition, the medium holding unit 20 slides with respect to the second rail 30B by the second collar 25 connected to the second support 23B sliding along with the rotation of the first collar 24 around the pin P1. The posture is changed smoothly. Specifically, when the oval hole H2 of the second support portion 23B slides with respect to the pin P2, the second support portion 23B and the medium holding portion 20 slide along the longitudinal direction of the oval hole H2. To do. Therefore, the length of the oblong hole H2 in the longitudinal direction is such that the oblong hole H2 is not restrained with respect to the pin P2 until the longitudinal direction of the medium holding part 20 is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the housing part 13. The length is movable. At this time, the moving direction of the second support portion 23B that moves along the longitudinal direction of the oblong hole H2 while sliding with the pin P2 is the direction intersecting the first direction that is the moving direction of the rail, that is, the first direction. There are two directions. In summary, the first support portion 23A is rotatable with respect to the first rail 30A, and the second support portion 23B has the medium holding portion 20 coupled to the first support portion 23A and the second support portion 23B. In the state, it is configured to slide with respect to the second rail 30B according to the rotation of the first support portion 23A.

  As a result, as shown in FIG. 12, in step S6, for example, the medium holding unit 20 that has moved from the non-set position to the set position has a longitudinal direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, and the positioning unit 29 is a guide. Positioned by member 19. As a result, the position of the medium holding unit 20 with respect to the apparatus main body 12 is adjusted, the delivery port 26 is appropriately positioned, and the sheet STa is appropriately fed from the separate roll body RTa held by the medium holding unit 20 to the printing unit 16. Sent.

  Of course, for example, when the separate roll body RTa is replaced, the medium holding unit 20 may be pulled from the set position to the non-set position for replacement work. Even in such a case, when the medium holding unit 20 moves to the set position after the replacement roll body RTa is held, the positioning unit 29 is positioned by the guide member 19 each time, and appropriately The sheet STa is appropriately fed from the positioned outlet 26 to the printing unit 16.

  The above setting operation can be summarized as a method for setting the medium holding unit 20. The first rail 30 </ b> A that can move in the first direction and the second direction that intersects the first direction with respect to the first rail 30 </ b> A are spaced apart. A second rail 30B that is movable in the first direction, a first support 23A that is attached to the first rail 30A and that is connected to a medium holding unit 20 that holds a medium to be printed, and a second A method of setting the medium holding unit 20 in the printing apparatus 11 including the second support unit 23B attached to the rail 30B and coupled to the medium holding unit 20, the first support unit 23A being mounted on the first rail 30A. The shape of the medium holding part 20 connected to the first support part 23A and the second support part 23B by changing the attitude and changing the attitude of the second support part 23B with respect to the second rail 30B. It is a method of setting the medium holding unit 20 and changes the. Accordingly, the medium holding unit 20 connected to the first support unit 23A and the second support unit 23B is changed to an appropriate position by changing the posture of the first support unit 23A and the posture of the second support unit 23B, respectively. Can be set.

According to the embodiment described above, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) When the apparatus main body 12 moves in the first direction, which is the moving direction to the set position, the postures of the first support portion 23A and the second support portion 23B with respect to the first rail 30A and the second rail 30B can be changed. Therefore, the position of the medium holding unit 20 to which the first support unit 23A and the second support unit 23B are connected is adjusted with respect to the apparatus main body 12 when moving in the first direction. As a result, the medium holding unit 20 can be set at an appropriate position with respect to the apparatus main body 12. That is, the medium holding unit 20 connected to the first support unit 23A and the second support unit 23B is set at an appropriate position by changing the posture of the first support unit 23A and the posture of the second support unit 23B. can do. If the medium holding unit 20 is not set at an appropriate position, it may be difficult to transport the medium, or the medium may not be transported properly, and printing may not be performed properly. By setting the medium holding unit 20 at an appropriate position, occurrence of such a problem can be suppressed.

  (2) The position of the medium holding unit 20 relative to the apparatus main body 12 can be adjusted by changing the attitude of the first support 23A relative to the first rail 30A by rotational movement. As a result, the medium holding unit 20 can be set at an appropriate position with respect to the apparatus main body 12.

  (3) The position of the medium holding unit 20 with respect to the apparatus main body 12 can be adjusted by changing the posture of the second support unit 23B with respect to the second rail 30B by movement in the second direction. As a result, the medium holding unit 20 can be set at an appropriate position with respect to the apparatus main body 12.

  (4) The movement of the second support portion 23B in the second direction relative to the second rail 30B caused by rotating the first support portion 23A relative to the first rail 30A is not constrained. Therefore, the posture change of the first support portion 23A relative to the first rail 30A or the posture change of the second support portion 23B relative to the second rail 30B is smoothly performed. As a result, the position of the medium holding unit 20 with respect to the apparatus main body 12 can be adjusted, so that the medium holding unit 20 can be set at an appropriate position with respect to the apparatus main body 12.

  (5) The posture of the first support portion 23A relative to the first rail 30A can be easily changed by the rotation about the pin P1 provided on the first rail 30A. In addition, since movement in the intersecting direction (here, the vertical direction) intersecting both the first direction and the second direction is allowed, the position in the intersecting direction can be adjusted.

  (6) The movement amount of the second support portion 23B due to the rotation of the first support portion 23A is limited by the plurality of pins P2 provided on the second rail 30B, and the posture of the second support portion 23B with respect to the second rail 30B is It can suppress changing too much. As a result, the posture of the medium holding unit 20 at the non-set position can be stabilized. Further, since movement in the intersecting direction (here, the vertical direction) intersecting both the first direction and the second direction is allowed, the position of the apparatus main body 12 in the intersecting direction can be adjusted.

In addition, in the said embodiment, you may change into another embodiment as follows.
In the above embodiment, the medium holding unit 20 is not necessarily attached to the second rail 30B by inserting the two pins P2 provided on the second rail 30B into the two holes of the second support unit 23B, respectively. It does not have to be done. For example, the medium holding unit 20 includes the second rail by inserting three or more pins P2 provided on the second rail 30B into the three or more oblong holes H2 of the second support 23B. It may be attached to 30B.

  Alternatively, in the same manner as the first rail 30A, the medium holding unit 20 is configured such that one pin P2 provided on the second rail 30B is inserted into one oval hole H2 of the second support portion 23B. It may be attached to the rail 30B.

  In the above embodiment, the medium holding unit 20 is not necessarily inserted into the circular hole H1 as one hole provided in the first support part 23A, and one pin P1 provided in the first rail 30A is inserted. May not be attached to the first rail 30A.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 13, one hole provided in the first support portion 23A may be an oval hole H1a, not the circular hole H1, but the oval hole H2 provided in the second support portion 23B. As described above, the hole provided in the first support portion 23A is the oval hole H1a, so that one pin P1 provided in the first rail 30A is inserted into the oval hole H1a and the medium holding portion 20 is inserted. And the medium holding unit 20 can be slid in the longitudinal direction (second direction).

  Therefore, according to the modification shown in FIG. 13, the medium holding unit 20 can easily adjust the parallelism with respect to the apparatus main body 12 (housing unit 13) by rotating around the pin P1 provided on the first rail 30A. Can be done. Moreover, the position of the longitudinal direction (width direction X) with respect to the apparatus main body 12 can be adjusted in the 1st rail 30A side by the slide movement with respect to the pin P1.

  In the above embodiment, the first support portion 23A and the second support portion 23B do not necessarily have to be attached so that the medium holding portion 20 can move (slide) in the longitudinal direction (second direction). For example, both the first support portion 23A and the second support portion 23B may be configured to rotate around one pin P1 and one pin P2. For example, when the first rail 30A and the second rail 30B have a concentric arc shape that is curved with a constant interval, the medium holding unit 20 has both the first rail 30A side and the second rail 30B side. , Without moving in the second direction intersecting the first direction as the moving direction of the rail, it moves in the first direction while rotating. The medium holding unit 20 is moved to the set position by the rotational movement so that the longitudinal direction thereof is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the apparatus main body 12, and is appropriately positioned with respect to the apparatus main body 12.

  In the above embodiment, the first support portion 23A and the second support portion 23B are not necessarily attached so as to be rotatable around an axis whose axial direction is a direction intersecting both the first direction and the second direction. Also good. For example, the medium holding unit is connected to the first rail 30A and the second rail 30B in a state where the longitudinal direction of the medium holding unit 20 connected to the first support unit 23A and the second support unit 23B is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the apparatus main body 12. When 20 is supported, no rotational movement is necessary.

  In such a case, although illustration is omitted here, for example, the holes provided in the first support portion 23A and the second support portion 23B are square holes, and the pins provided in the first rail 30A and the second rail 30B are square pins. It is good. By doing so, the first support portion 23A and the second support portion 23B can be attached to the first rail 30A and the second rail 30B, respectively, in a state in which the rotational movement around the pin is suppressed while being slidable. Is possible.

  In the above-described embodiment, the first support portion 23A and the second support portion 23B are configured to be connected to the medium holding portion 20 by being fixed to the holding case 21 with the fixing screw N. However, the configuration is not limited thereto. The medium holding unit 20 may be integrally connected to the holding case 21. That is, the first support part and the second support part may be configured such that a part of the medium holding part 20 is the first support part and the second support part instead of being separated from the medium holding part 20.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 14, the medium holding unit 20 has a circular hole H1 corresponding to the pin P1 on the first rail 30A side, and two oval holes corresponding to the two pins P2 on the second rail 30B side. For example, H2 may be provided in each of the holding cases 21. In the case of such a configuration, the region portion 20A placed on the upper surface of the second-stage moving rail 32A on the one end side where the circular hole H1 is provided in both ends in the longitudinal direction of the medium holding unit 20 is the first support. The region portion 20B mounted on the upper surface of the second-stage moving rail 32B functions as the second support portion on the other end side where the oblong hole H2 is provided. Of course, in this case, the operation of step S3 is unnecessary among the operations of setting the medium holding unit 20 to the apparatus main body 12 shown in FIG.

  In the above embodiment, the second support portion 23B is attached to the second rail 30B with one hole and one pin, and the first support portion 23A is first with two (plurality) holes and two (plurality) pins. You may make it attach to 1A 30A.

In the above embodiment, the material of the medium (sheet ST or sheet STa) may be resin, metal, cloth, or paper.
In the above-described embodiment, the printing apparatus 11 prints an image including characters, figures, and the like by discharging liquid from the liquid discharge head 62 onto a long medium that is fed from the roll body RT and fed. Not limited to printers. For example, an ink jet printer that prints characters and images by ejecting liquid onto a single sheet medium may be used. In that case, the medium holding unit 20 is configured to hold a single-cut medium. Even in such a configuration, if the medium holding unit 20 is not set at an appropriate position, it may be difficult to transport the medium, or the medium may not be transported properly, and printing may not be performed properly. is there. By setting the medium holding unit 20 at an appropriate position, occurrence of such a problem can be suppressed.

The printing apparatus 11 may be a printer (for example, a line printer or a page printer) in which the carriage 61 does not move relative to the support surface in the medium width direction X.
In the above embodiment, the printing apparatus 11 is a fluid other than a liquid (a liquid material in which functional material particles are dispersed or mixed in a liquid, a fluid such as a gel, or a solid that can be discharged as a fluid. A fluid ejecting apparatus that performs printing by ejecting. For example, a liquid material ejecting apparatus that ejects a liquid material in the form of dispersed or dissolved materials such as electrode materials and color materials (pixel materials) used for manufacturing liquid crystal displays, EL (electroluminescence) displays, and surface-emitting displays. It may be. Also, a fluid discharge device for discharging a fluid such as a gel (for example, physical gel), a powder discharge device (for example, a toner jet type) for discharging a solid such as a powder (powder or particle) such as toner. Printing device). The present invention can be applied to any one of these discharge devices. In the present specification, the term “fluid” is a concept that does not include a fluid consisting only of gas. Examples of the fluid include liquid (inorganic solvent, organic solvent, solution, liquid resin, liquid metal (metal melt), etc. ), Liquids, fluids, powders (including granules and powders), and the like.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Printing apparatus, 12 ... Apparatus main body, 13 ... Housing | casing part (part of apparatus main body), 14 ... Base part (part of apparatus main body), 14A, 14B ... Leg stand, 19 ..., 20 ... Medium holding | maintenance Part, 21 ... holding case, 23A ... first support part, 23B ... second support part, 26 ... delivery port, 29 ... positioning part, 30A ... first rail, 30B ... second rail, 31A, 31B ... moving rail, 32A, 32B ... moving rail, 34A, 34B ... fixed rail, 41A, 41B ... base, 42 ... caster, 43 ... pillar, H1 ... circular hole (example of hole), H2 ... oblong hole (example of hole), P1, P2 ... pins, STa ... sheet (an example of a medium).

Claims (7)

A first rail movable in a first direction;
A second rail which is provided at an interval in a second direction intersecting the first direction with respect to the first rail and is movable in the first direction;
A first support unit attached to the first rail and connected to a medium holding unit for holding a medium to be printed;
A second support part attached to the second rail and connected to the medium holding part,
The first support portion can change a posture with respect to the first rail,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second support portion can change a posture with respect to the second rail. The printing apparatus according to claim 1,
The printing apparatus, wherein the first support portion is rotatable with respect to the first rail. The printing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
The printing apparatus, wherein the second support portion is slidable relative to the second rail. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The first support portion is rotatable with respect to the first rail;
The second support portion slides relative to the second rail according to the rotation of the first support portion in a state where the medium holding portion is coupled to the first support portion and the second support portion. A printing apparatus characterized by the above. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first support portion is attached to the first rail by a pin. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The printing apparatus, wherein the second support part is attached to the second rail by a plurality of pins. A first rail movable in a first direction; a second rail provided at an interval in a second direction intersecting the first direction with respect to the first rail; and movable in the first direction; A first support part attached to the first rail and connected to a medium holding part for holding a medium to be printed; a second support part attached to the second rail and connected to the medium holding part; A method for setting a medium holding unit in a printing apparatus comprising:
The posture of the first support portion with respect to the first rail is changed, and the posture of the second support portion with respect to the second rail is changed, so that the first support portion and the second support portion are connected to each other. A method of setting a medium holding unit, wherein the posture of the medium holding unit is changed.