JP2017227559A - Printing portion inspection apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing portion inspection apparatus which can achieve the space-saving and secure the stability of the performance of imaging by an imaging unit.SOLUTION: A printing portion inspection apparatus includes: a thermal transfer printer 6 which prints a printing portion on a printed object E; and an imaging unit 41 which images the printing portion printed on the printed object E. The thermal transfer printer 6 includes: a print head 32; an ink ribbon R; one or a plurality of guide rollers 321, 322, 323, 324; and a printing reception unit 5. The print head 32 and one or the plurality of guide rollers 321, 322, 323, 324 constitute a head unit 24 which is integrally-movable. The head unit 24 is movable between a printing position A1 where at least a portion of the head unit 24 is arranged between the imaging unit 41 and the printing reception unit 5 and a retreat position A2 where the portion is retreated from the space between the imaging unit 41 and the printing reception unit 5.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing unit inspection apparatus that inspects a printing unit.

  Conventionally, a printing unit inspection apparatus that inspects a printing unit is known (for example, see Patent Document 1). The printing unit inspection device described in Patent Literature 1 includes a thermal printer (thermal transfer printing device) and a camera (imaging unit), and connects the thermal printer and the camera so that the thermal printer and the camera are integrated at the same time. Move in the moving direction. As a result, the printing unit inspection apparatus described in Patent Document 1 is configured such that the thermal printer is retracted from the location where the thermal printer is located when the printing unit is printed, and the thermal printer is located when the printing unit is printed. By moving the camera, the printing unit printed by the thermal printer is imaged and inspected by the camera.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-209067

  In the printing unit inspection apparatus described in Patent Document 1, a thermal printer and a camera are connected to move the thermal printer and the camera integrally. Therefore, when printing the printing part with a thermal printer, a space for retracting the camera is required. On the other hand, when the printing part printed with the thermal printer is imaged with the camera, a space for retracting the thermal printer is required. I was trying. Also, if the thermal printer and camera are moved together, the cables connected to the thermal printer and camera will be repeatedly moved. There is a possibility that the imaging performance of the camera may be reduced due to vibration caused by the movement.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a printing unit inspection apparatus that can realize space saving and can ensure the stability of imaging performance by an imaging unit.

  The present invention relates to a thermal transfer printing apparatus that prints a printing unit on the printing material that is stopped at the printing stop position when the printing material that is intermittently transferred by repeatedly transferring and stopping is stopped at the printing stop position. An imaging unit that images the printing unit that is printed on the substrate that is stopped at the printing stop position, and a printing unit inspection device that inspects the printing unit captured by the imaging unit, A thermal transfer printing apparatus includes: a print head; an ink ribbon disposed between the print head and a printing surface of the substrate; one or more guide rollers that guide the ink ribbon; and printing on the substrate. A print receiving portion that is disposed to face the print head with the ink ribbon and the substrate being sandwiched between the print head and the one or more gas prints. The droller constitutes an integrally movable head unit, and the head unit has a print position in which at least a part of the head unit is disposed between the imaging unit and the print receiving unit, and the imaging The present invention relates to a printing unit inspection apparatus that can move between a printing unit and a retreat position that is retreated from the printing receiving unit.

  In addition, the wound ink ribbon can be rotatably held, the raw fabric holder for feeding the ink ribbon to a predetermined path, the ink ribbon passing through the path can be wound, and the ink ribbon A winding holder that rotatably holds the head so that it can be sent back to the path, and the length of the path is when the head unit is located at the printing position and when the head unit is located at the retracted position. Are preferably the same.

  Further, while the head unit moves from the printing position to the retracted position, the print head presses the ink ribbon toward the print receiving portion while moving the print head, thereby It is preferable to print a printing part on a printed matter.

  Further, it is preferable that the thermal transfer printing apparatus is configured not to move the ink ribbon while pressing the ink ribbon while moving the print head.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, while being able to implement | achieve space saving, the printing part inspection apparatus which can ensure the stability of the imaging performance by an imaging part can be provided.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a case where the head unit 24 is located at the printing position A1 and the print receiving portion 5 is located at the separated position in the printing unit inspection apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a side view showing a case where the head unit 24 is located at the printing position A1 and the print receiving portion 5 is located at the pressing position in the printing unit inspection apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a side view showing a case where the head unit 24 is located at the print retracted position A2 and the print receiving part 5 is located at the pressing position in the printing unit inspection apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view of the periphery of the head unit 24 in FIG. 1 for explaining the movement of the head unit 24, where (a) shows that the head unit 24 is positioned at the printing position A1 and the print receiving portion 5 is at the pressing position. FIG. 4B is a diagram in the case where the head unit 24 is positioned at the print retracting position A2 and the print receiving portion 5 is positioned at the pressing position. (A) is a figure which shows the case where the head unit 24 is located in the printing position A1, and the head unit 24 is arrange | positioned between the camera 41 and the print receiving part 5, Comprising: (b) FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a case where the head unit 24 is positioned at the print retract position A2 and the head unit 24 is not disposed between the camera 41 and the print receiving unit 5. FIG. 6 is a side view showing a case where the head unit 24 is located at the print retracted position A2 and the print receiving part 5 is located at the separated position in the printing unit inspection apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a side view showing a case where the head unit 24 is located at the printing position A1 and the print receiving portion 5 is located at the separated position in the printing portion inspection apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side view showing the case where the head unit 24 is positioned at the printing position A1 and the print receiving portion 5 is positioned at the pressing position in the printing unit inspection apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a side view showing the case where the head unit 24 is located at the print retracted position A2 and the print receiving part 5 is located at the pressing position in the printing unit inspection apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a partially enlarged view of the periphery of the head unit 24 in FIG. 1 for explaining the movement of the head unit 24. FIG. 4A shows the print receiving unit 5 while the head unit 24 is located at the printing position A1. (B) is a diagram in the case where the head unit 24 is positioned at the print retracted position A2 and the print receiving portion 5 is positioned at the pressed position. FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating a case where the head unit 24 is located at the printing position A1 and the head unit 24 is disposed between the camera 41 and the print receiving unit 5, and FIG. FIG. 7B is a diagram illustrating a case where the head unit 24 is positioned at the print retract position A2 and the head unit 24 is not disposed between the camera 41 and the print receiving unit 5. FIG. 6 is a side view showing the case where the head unit 24 is located at the printing retracted position A2 and the print receiving part 5 is located at the separated position in the printing unit inspection apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention.
4A and 4B, the ink ribbon R, the first movement guide roller 321, the second movement guide roller 322, the third movement guide roller 323, and the fourth movement guide roller 324 are indicated by solid lines. The first sub plate 332 and the second sub plate 333 are indicated by a two-dot chain line.

  In the following description and drawings, in the present embodiment, the direction in which the empty bag E is transferred is referred to as a transfer direction P (a direction penetrating the paper surface in FIG. 1). A direction perpendicular to the transfer direction P and in which the print receiving unit 5 moves is referred to as an advancing / retreating direction X. Of the advancing and retreating directions X, the direction in which the print receiving unit 5 approaches the thermal head 32 is referred to as the advancing direction X1, and the direction in which the print receiving unit 5 is separated from the thermal head 32 is referred to as the retreating direction X2. A direction perpendicular to the advancing / retreating direction X and the head unit 24 moves is referred to as a moving direction Y. Of the movement directions Y, the direction in which the head unit 24 heads from the print retract position A2 to the print position A1 is referred to as a first movement direction Y1, and the direction in which the head unit 24 heads from the print position A1 to the print retract position A2 is the second movement direction. It is called Y2. In the present embodiment, the movement direction Y coincides with the vertical direction Z.

  The printing unit inspection apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is used for an inspection process in a bag supply packaging machine 10 or the like, for example. The bag supply and packaging machine 10 supplies an empty bag (hereinafter referred to as “empty bag”) (printed material) that is a pre-formed bag and is not filled with an object, and supplies the empty bag E with the filler. It is a device that fills and packages things in bags. In the present embodiment, the empty bag E is formed in a sheet shape as a whole while a film-like sheet is formed in a bag shape, and one side is open. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the shape of the empty bag E is a shape having a predetermined length in the transport direction P (direction passing through the paper surface in FIG. 1) and the vertical direction Z.

  In the bag supply and packaging machine 10, the empty bag E is filled with a filling material and packaged through each process. As each process in the bag supply packaging machine 10, for example, a printing process for printing a printing part on an empty bag E by a thermal printer 6 as a thermal transfer printing apparatus, an inspection process for inspecting a printing part printed by the thermal printer 6, There is a filling step of filling the empty bag E with a filling material.

  In each process in the bag supply and packaging machine 10, the empty bag E is intermittently sequentially transferred by repeating the transfer and stop along the transfer direction P shown in FIG. Is done. The empty bag E is positioned along the transfer direction P with the opening of the empty bag E facing upward and the surface of the sheet-like empty bag E extending substantially parallel to the transfer direction P. Transported. In the present embodiment, the pair of nail claws 12 of the transport mechanism 11 are configured to be moved in the transfer direction P with the upper side of the empty bag E sandwiched between the front end and the rear end in the transfer direction P. The empty bag E is transferred in the transfer direction P.

  In the present embodiment, the printing unit inspection apparatus 1 includes, for example, a printing unit in an empty bag E that is stopped at a printing stop position by a thermal printer 6 (described later) in the printing process and the inspection process in the above-described bag feeding and packaging machine 10. While printing is performed, the camera 41 (described later) picks up an image of the printing section printed on the empty bag E that is stopped at the print stop position. 1 to 6 in the present embodiment, the empty bag E is stopped at the printing stop position.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the printing unit inspection device 1 of the present embodiment includes an inspection device body 2 having a printer body 3 and a camera device 4, a print receiving unit 5, and a support base 7.
The printer body 3 and the print receiving unit 5 constitute a thermal printer 6 as a thermal transfer printing apparatus. The thermal printer 6 prints a printing unit (not shown) on the stopped empty bag E at the print stop position while the empty bag E that is intermittently transferred by repeatedly transferring and stopping is stopped at the print stop position. .
The camera device 4 includes a camera 41 as an imaging unit and a strobe 42 as a light emitting unit.

  In addition to having the printer main body 3 and the camera device 4 as described above, the inspection apparatus main body 2 further includes a case body 21, a side cover 22, and a head unit moving mechanism 23. The camera device 4, the printer main body 3, and the head unit moving mechanism 23 are accommodated in the case body 21 and the side cover 22. The side of one side of the case body 21 is open, and the side of the case body 21 is on the side so as to block a part of the opening (the camera 41, the strobe 42, and the head unit moving mechanism 23). A part cover 22 is attached.

  The head unit moving mechanism 23 moves a head unit 24, which will be described later, to a printing position A1 (see FIGS. 1 and 2, etc.) and a printing retreat position A2 (see FIG. 3, etc.). As will be described in detail later, the head unit 24 includes a thermal head 32 as a print head, a first movement guide roller 321, a second movement guide roller 322, a third movement guide roller 323, and a fourth movement guide roller 324. A main plate 331, a first sub plate 332, and a second sub plate 333 are provided.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the printer body 3 includes a ribbon transport mechanism 31 and a thermal head 32 as a print head. The ribbon transport mechanism 31 and the thermal head 32 are held by the case body 21.
The first moving guide roller 321, the second moving guide roller 322, the third moving guide roller 323, and the fourth moving guide roller 324 in the thermal head 32 and the ribbon transport mechanism 31 constitute a part of the head unit 24 described later.

  The thermal head 32 is arranged so that the tip side protrudes from the case body 21 to the empty bag E side. The thermal head 32 includes a plurality of heating elements at the tip thereof. When the thermal printer 6 energizes the thermal head 32, a predetermined heating element generates heat.

The thermal head 32 is configured to be movable in the movement direction Y (vertical direction) when a head unit 24 described later is moved in the movement direction Y.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the thermal head 32 is disposed so as to face the empty bag E located at the printing stop position when a head unit 24 described later is located at the printing position A1. The print position A1 of the head unit 24 is also a print start position at which the thermal head 32 starts printing on the empty bag E. As shown in FIG. 3, the thermal head 32 finishes printing on the empty bag E when a head unit 24 (to be described later) moves in the movement direction Y and is positioned at the print retracted position A2. The print retract position A2 of the head unit 24 is also the print end position of the thermal head 32.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the ribbon transport mechanism 31 includes an ink ribbon R, a raw fabric side ribbon holder 310 (original fabric holder) that rotatably holds a wound unused ink ribbon R, A winding-side ribbon holder 330 (winding holder) for winding the ink ribbon R and a plurality of guide rollers 311, 312, 313, 314, 321, 322, 323, 324 for guiding the ink ribbon are provided.

  In the ribbon path K (path), the ribbon transport mechanism 31 transports the unused ink ribbon R wound around the original ribbon holder 310 toward the thermal head 32 and ink used in the thermal head 32. The ribbon R is conveyed toward the take-up side ribbon holder 320. In the present embodiment, the ribbon path K is a path along which the ink ribbon R moves between the original side ribbon holder 310 and the take-up side ribbon holder 330. In the ribbon path K, an original fabric side ribbon holder 310 (original fabric holder), a winding side ribbon holder 330 (winding holder), and a plurality of guide rollers 311, 312, 313, 314, 321, 322, 323 and 324 are arranged. It is comprised by the positional relationship.

  The original fabric side ribbon holder 310 holds the ink ribbon R rotatably, and sends the ink ribbon R to a predetermined ribbon path K. The take-up side ribbon holder 330 is configured to be driven to rotate by a rotation drive motor (not shown), can take up the ink ribbon R via the ribbon path K, and can also take the ink ribbon R into the ribbon path K. It is rotatably held so that it can be sent back to the machine.

  The plurality of guide rollers 311, 312, 313, 314, 321, 322, 323, and 324 are rollers that guide the ink ribbon R that is conveyed from the original fabric ribbon holder 310 toward the take-up ribbon holder 320. In the present embodiment, as a plurality of guide rollers, a first fixed guide roller 311, a second fixed guide roller 312, a third fixed guide roller 313, a fourth fixed guide roller 314, and a first moving guide roller 321. A second moving guide roller 322, a third moving guide roller 323, and a fourth moving guide roller 324.

  The ink ribbon R is disposed between the thermal head 32 and the printing surface of the empty bag E. The ink ribbon R is disposed between the original side ribbon holder 310 and the take-up side ribbon holder 330, the original side ribbon holder 310, the first fixed guide roller 311, the second fixed guide roller 312, and the first moving guide roller 321. The second moving guide roller 322, the third moving guide roller 323, the fourth moving guide roller 324, the third fixed guide roller 313, the fourth fixed guide roller 314, and the winding side ribbon holder 330 are guided and moved in this order. .

  The first movement guide roller 321, the second movement guide roller 322, the third movement guide roller 323, and the fourth movement guide roller 324 constitute a part of the head unit 24. The head unit 24 includes a thermal head 32, a first movement guide roller 321 to a fourth movement guide roller 324, a main plate 331, a first sub plate 332, and a second sub plate 333. The On the main plate 331, a thermal head 32 and a first moving guide roller 321 to a fourth moving guide roller 324 among a plurality of guide rollers are arranged.

The first moving guide roller 321, the second moving guide roller 322, the third moving guide roller 323, and the fourth moving guide roller 324 are arranged on one end side as shown in FIGS. 4 (a) to 5 (b). The plate 331 is rotatably supported.
As shown in FIGS. 4A to 5B, the first movement guide roller 321 and the fourth movement guide roller 324 are rotatably supported by the first sub-plate 332 on the other end side.
As shown in FIGS. 4A to 5B, the second moving guide roller 322 and the third moving guide roller 323 are rotatably supported by the second sub plate 333 on the other end side.

  The thermal head 32 is attached to the main plate 331, and is disposed on the retreat direction X2 side of the print receiving portion 5 in the main plate 331.

  As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the first moving guide roller 321 is disposed on the lower side of the main plate 331 in the vertical direction Z with respect to the thermal head 32. The second moving guide roller 322 is disposed above the thermal head 32 in the main plate 331 in the vertical direction Z. The third movement guide roller 323 is disposed on the side of the print receiving unit 5 in the traveling direction X1 with respect to the second movement guide roller 322 in the main plate 331. The fourth movement guide roller 324 is disposed on the lower side in the vertical direction Z with respect to the third movement guide roller 323 in the main plate 331.

  The first movement guide roller 321, the second movement guide roller 322, the third movement guide roller 323, and the fourth movement guide roller 324 are wound from the original side ribbon holder 310 side along the ribbon path K of the ink ribbon R. It is arranged on the main plate 331 so as to guide the ink ribbon R in this order toward the side ribbon holder 330 side.

A thermal head 32 is disposed between the first movement guide roller 321 and the second movement guide roller 322, and the thermal head 32 is located between the first movement guide roller 321 and the second movement guide roller 322. The ink ribbon R is pressed toward the print receiving portion 5 side.
Thus, the thermal head 32, the first moving guide roller 321 to the fourth moving guide roller 324, the main plate 331, the first sub plate 332, and the second sub plate 333 are integrally configured as the head unit 24, and the head The unit moving mechanism 23 moves integrally in the moving direction Y.

  The head unit moving mechanism 23 is configured to be able to move the head unit 24 in the moving direction Y. The head unit 24 is moved in the moving direction Y by the head unit moving mechanism 23, so that at least a part of the head unit 24 is disposed between the camera 41 and the print receiving unit 5 (see FIG. 2). And a print retreat position A2 (see FIG. 3) retreated from between the camera 41 and the print receiving portion 5.

  In the present embodiment, the head unit moving mechanism 23 moves the thermal head 32 while moving the thermal head 32 while the head unit 24 moves from the printing position A1 (see FIG. 2) to the printing retreat position A2 (see FIG. 3). The thermal head 32 prints the printing unit on the empty bag E by pressing the ribbon R toward the print receiving unit 5 side. The print position A1 of the head unit 24 is also the print start position of the thermal head 32, and the print withdrawal position A2 of the head unit 24 is also the print end position of the thermal head 32. The thermal printer 6 is configured not to move the ink ribbon R while pressing the ink ribbon R while moving the thermal head 32.

  As shown in FIGS. 4A to 5B, the head unit moving mechanism 23 includes a pair of guide shafts 231 and 231 and a drive unit (not shown). The pair of guide shafts 231 and 231 extend in the vertical direction Z and are arranged in parallel to each other. 2 and 3, the head unit moving mechanism 23 moves the head unit 24 in the moving direction Y (first moving direction Y1, second moving direction Y2) along the pair of guide shafts 231 and 231. Move. In the present embodiment, the moving direction Y of the head unit 24 is also a direction parallel to the vertical direction Z of the empty bag E. In the present embodiment, the drive unit (not shown) is configured by an actuator such as a stepping motor, for example.

The first fixed guide roller 311 and the second fixed guide roller 312 are arranged in the ribbon path K of the ink ribbon R on the side of the ribbon holder 310 from the head unit 24 and rotate to the case body 21 of the inspection apparatus main body 2. It is supported freely.
A rotary encoder (not shown) is attached to the rotation shaft of the first fixed guide roller 311. A rotary encoder (not shown) rotates as the ink ribbon R moves, detects the amount of movement of the ink ribbon R as a rotation amount, and outputs it as a pulse signal to a control unit (not shown). Thereby, the control unit (not shown) calculates the amount of the unused ink ribbon R wound around the original fabric ribbon holder 310.

  The third fixed guide roller 313 and the fourth fixed guide roller 314 are disposed on the winding side ribbon holder 330 side of the head unit 24 in the ribbon path K of the ink ribbon R, and rotate to the case body 21 of the inspection apparatus main body 2. It is supported freely.

Here, the total length of the ribbon path K of the ink ribbon R from the original fabric side ribbon holder 310 to the take-up side ribbon holder 330 is the case where the head unit 24 is located at the printing position A1 and the case where it is located at the printing retracted position A2. The same.
The reason for this will be described below.

  In the head unit 24, as shown in FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B, the first movement guide roller 321 to the fourth movement guide roller 324 are in a positional relationship with each other even if the head unit 24 moves. Since there is no change, even if the head unit 24 is moved in the movement direction Y, the length of the ribbon path K of the ink ribbon from the first movement guide roller 321 to the fourth movement guide roller 324 is constant and does not change.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, in the ribbon path Ka between the second fixed guide roller 312 and the first moving guide roller 321, the print receiving portion in the second fixed guide roller 312. 5 is the moving direction Y of the head unit 24. The first path direction K1 of the ribbon path Ka that connects the vertex 312a on the retreating direction X2 side 5 and the vertex 321a on the traveling direction X1 side of the print receiving unit 5 in the first moving guide roller 321 is It is formed in parallel with.

  Further, in the ribbon path Kb between the third movement guide roller 323 and the fourth movement guide roller 324, the vertex 323a of the third movement guide roller 323 on the X1 side in the traveling direction X1 and the first movement guide roller 321. The second path direction K2 of the ribbon path Kb connecting the vertex 324a on the reverse direction X2 side of the print receiving portion 5 is formed in parallel with the moving direction Y of the head unit 24.

  In addition, in the ribbon path Kc between the fourth moving guide roller 324 and the third fixed guide roller 313, the vertex 324b of the fourth moving guide roller 324 on the print receiving portion 5 in the traveling direction X1 side and the third fixed guide roller 313. The third path direction K3 of the ribbon path Kc connecting the vertex 313a on the reverse direction X2 side of the print receiving portion 5 is formed in parallel with the moving direction Y of the head unit 24.

  That is, the first path direction K1 of the ribbon path Ka between the second fixed guide roller 312 and the first movement guide roller 321 and the ribbon path Kb between the third movement guide roller 323 and the fourth movement guide roller 324. The second path direction K2 of the head unit 24 and the third path direction K3 of the ribbon path Kc between the fourth moving guide roller 324 and the third fixed guide roller 313 are arranged in parallel to the moving direction Y of the head unit 24. And they are parallel to each other.

  When the head unit 24 moves in the movement direction Y, the head unit 24 moves in the movement direction Y while changing the positional relationship between the second fixed guide roller 312 and the third fixed guide roller 313. Here, as described above, the first path direction K1 of the ribbon path Ka between the second fixed guide roller 312 and the first moving guide roller 321, the third moving guide roller 323, the fourth moving guide roller 324, The second path direction K2 of the ribbon path Kb between and the third path direction K3 of the ribbon path Kc between the fourth movement guide roller 324 and the third fixed guide roller 313 are the movement direction Y of the head unit 24. It is arranged in parallel with.

  Therefore, when the head unit 24 moves from the printing position A1 in the second movement direction Y2, the length L1 of the ribbon path Ka between the second fixed guide roller 312 and the first movement guide roller 321 is reduced. The path length L2 of the ribbon path Kc between the fourth moving guide roller 324 and the third fixed guide roller 313 increases. Further, when the head unit 24 moves from the printing retract position A2 in the first movement direction Y1, the length L1 of the ribbon path Ka between the second fixed guide roller 312 and the first movement guide roller 321 is increased. Only the path length L2 of the ribbon path Kc between the fourth moving guide roller 324 and the third fixed guide roller 313 is reduced. Accordingly, even if the head unit 24 moves in the second movement direction Y2 or the first movement direction Y1, the length L1 of the ribbon path Ka between the second fixed guide roller 312 and the first movement guide roller 321; The sum of the length L2 of the ribbon path Kc between the fourth moving guide roller 324 and the third fixed guide roller 313 is constant (L1 + L2 = constant).

  Thereby, in the head unit 24, the length of the ribbon path K of the ink ribbon from the first movement guide roller 321 to the fourth movement guide roller 324 is constant, and the head unit 24 is moved in the second movement direction Y2. Alternatively, the length L1 of the ribbon path Ka between the second fixed guide roller 312 and the first movable guide roller 321 and the fourth movable guide roller 324 and the third fixed guide roller 313 when moved in the first movement direction Y1. Since the sum of the ribbon path Kc and the path length L2 is constant (L1 + L2 = constant), the first moving guide roller 321, the second moving guide roller 322, the second moving guide roller 322, The length of the ribbon path K to the third fixed guide roller 313 via the third moving guide roller 323 and the fourth moving guide roller 324 The head unit 24 becomes constant even if the mobile moves or the first movement direction Y1 in the second movement direction Y2. Accordingly, the total length of the ribbon path K of the ink ribbon R from the original side ribbon holder 310 to the take-up side ribbon holder 330 is different between the case where the head unit 24 is located at the printing position A1 and the case where the head unit 24 is located at the printing retreat position A2. The same.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, when the head unit 24 is positioned at the printing position A1 (see FIGS. 1 and 2), the print receiving unit 5 is configured to the empty bag E positioned at the printing stop position. It is arranged on the side opposite to the thermal head 32. The print receiving portion 5 is disposed to face the thermal head 32 with the ink ribbon R and the empty bag E sandwiched between them. The print receiving portion 5 is located at the print stop position when the head unit 24 is located at the print retreat position A2 (see FIG. 3) (the head unit 24 is not present between the camera 41 and the empty bag E). The empty bag E is disposed opposite to the camera 41 with the thermal head 32 retracted from between the camera 41 and the empty bag E and a lower part of a platen plate 53 (described later) of the print receiving unit 5. The print receiving portion 5 is placed and fixed on the upper surface of the placement plate 71 of the support base 7.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the print receiver 5 includes a print receiver driving unit 51, a holding plate 52, and a platen plate 53. The print receiver driving unit 51 includes a driving unit main body 511 and a rod unit 512. The drive part main body 511 holds the rod part 512 so as to be able to advance and retreat, and moves the rod part 512 in the advancing / retreating direction X (advancing direction X1, retreating direction X2).

  A holding plate 52 is attached to the tip of the rod portion 512. A platen plate 53 is attached to the holding plate 52.

  The platen plate 53 is formed in a plate shape in which the empty bag E side surface has a plane parallel to the empty bag E when the empty bag E is positioned at the printing stop position. The platen plate 53 is formed of a member having a predetermined elasticity such as silicon rubber. When the rod portion 512 is moved in the advance / retreat direction X, the platen plate 53 moves in the advancing direction X1 approaching the empty bag E or the retreating direction X2 away from the empty bag E with respect to the empty bag E stopped at the printing stop position. Moved to.

  When the platen plate 53 is moved in the advancing / retreating direction X by driving the print receiving drive unit 51, the platen plate 53 removes the empty bag E from the ink ribbon R and the thermal head 32 side with respect to the empty bag E positioned at the printing stop position. And a separation position (see FIG. 1) where the platen plate 53 is separated from the empty bag E. In the present embodiment, the print receiver driving unit 51 is configured by an actuator such as an air cylinder, for example.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the camera 41 is attached to the inside of the case body 21 and the side cover 22 of the printing unit inspection apparatus 1, and the head unit 24 is positioned when the head unit 24 is positioned at the printing retracted position A <b> 2. The unit 24 is arranged so as to face the printing portion of the empty bag E in a state where the unit 24 does not exist between the camera 41 and the empty bag E. When the head unit 24 is positioned at the print retreat position A2, the camera 41 captures an image of the printing unit printed on the empty bag E that is stopped at the print stop position. The camera 41 and the print receiving unit 5 are arranged on a straight line.

As shown in FIG. 5A, when the head unit 24 is located at the printing position A1, the head unit 24 is disposed between the camera 41 and the print receiving unit 5. That is, when the head unit 24 is positioned at the printing position A1, the head unit 24 in which the ink ribbon R is guided by the first moving guide roller 321 to the fourth moving guide roller 324 is located between the camera 41 and the empty bag E. The front side of the camera 41 is covered with the head unit 24.
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5B, when the head unit 24 is positioned at the print retracting position A <b> 2, the head unit 24 retracts from between the camera 41 and the print receiving unit 5. That is, when the head unit 24 is located at the printing retract position A2, the head unit 24 is not disposed on the front side of the camera 41 in a state where the head unit 24 does not exist between the camera 41 and the empty bag E. It is exposed to the outside.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a strobe 42 is disposed above the camera 41. The strobe 42 is attached to the inside of the case body 21 and the side cover 22 of the printing unit inspection apparatus 1, and emits light when the printing unit is imaged by the camera 41. In the present embodiment, the strobe 42 is attached to the inside of the case body 21 and the side cover 22 so that light from the strobe 42 is covered so as not to leak outside. This eliminates the need for a case for covering the strobe 42.

Next, the operation of the printing unit inspection apparatus 1 will be described.
First, the thermal printer 6 prints the printing unit on the empty bag E that is intermittently transferred. Specifically, the empty bag E is intermittently transferred by repeating transfer and stop, and is stopped at the print stop position as shown in FIG. Further, the head unit 24 is located at the printing position A1, as shown in FIG. The print position A1 of the head unit 24 is a position facing the empty bag E that is stopped at the print stop position, and is a position between the camera 41 and the print receiver 5.

  When the head unit 24 is located at the printing position A1 (see FIG. 1), the thermal printer 6 starts printing of a printing unit (not shown) on the empty bag E that is stopped at the printing stop position. Specifically, in a state where the empty unit E is stopped at the print stop position and the head unit 24 is positioned at the print position A1 (see FIG. 1), as shown in FIG. The plate 53 is moved in the traveling direction X1 so as to go from the separation position (see FIG. 1) to the pressing position (see FIG. 2). Thereby, the platen plate 53 of the print receiving portion 5 is moved from the separation position (see FIG. 1) to the pressing position (see FIG. 2), and presses the empty bag E toward the ink ribbon R and the thermal head 32 side.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the head unit 24 is moved from the print position A1 (print start position) to the print retract position A2 (print end position). Thereby, the thermal head 32 constituting a part of the head unit 24 moves in the second movement direction Y2 in the movement direction Y (downward in the vertical direction Z). When the thermal head 32 moves in the second moving direction Y2 while pressing the ink ribbon R toward the print receiving portion 5, the surface of the platen plate 53 of the print receiving portion 5 comes into contact with a predetermined heating element. The ink ribbon R thus made contacts the empty bag E. Then, the thermal printer 6 adheres the ink applied to the ink ribbon R to the empty bag E and prints a printing unit (not shown) on the empty bag E.

In this way, while the head unit 24 moves from the print position A1 (print start position) to the print retract position A2 (print end position), the thermal head 32 moves the ink ribbon R while moving the thermal head 32. The printing portion is pressed toward the print receiving portion 5 to print the printing portion on the empty bag E.
In this case, the total length of the ribbon path K of the ink ribbon R from the original side ribbon holder 310 to the take-up side ribbon holder 330 is the case where the head unit 24 is located at the printing position A1 and the case where it is located at the printing retracted position A2. Therefore, the thermal printer 6 does not move the ink ribbon R while pressing the ink ribbon R while moving the thermal head 32 without the ink ribbon R being drawn out or rewound. Composed.

  Next, the camera 41 prints on the empty bag E and images the printing unit. The head unit 24 is located at the print retreat position A2, and the head unit 24 does not exist between the camera 41 and the empty bag E. As a result, while the empty bag E is stopped at the print stop position, the head unit 24 is positioned at the print retracted position A2, and the thermal head 32 retracted from between the camera 41 and the empty bag E and the platen plate of the print receiving unit 5 While the empty bag E is sandwiched between the lower part of 53, the printing portion printed on the empty bag E by the thermal printer 6 can be stably imaged.

  Information on the image of the printing part of the empty bag E imaged by the camera 41 is transmitted to an inspection part (not shown) and subjected to inspection such as pattern matching. Thereby, the printing part printed on the empty bag E can be inspected with high accuracy.

  Then, the platen plate 53 of the print receiving unit 5 is moved by the drive unit main body 511 from the pressing position (see FIG. 3) to the separated position (see FIG. 6) in the retraction direction X2, and the platen plate 53 of the print receiving unit 5 is moved. Separate from the empty bag E.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 1, the head unit 24 is moved in the first movement direction Y1 in the movement direction Y (upward in the vertical direction Z), and is moved from the print retract position A2 to the print position A1, thereby performing printing. Is placed at the standby position.

  The first moving guide roller 321 prevents the front side of the camera 41 from being exposed to the outside when the head unit 24 waits for printing at the printing position A1 and the camera 41 does not image the printing portion of the empty bag E. The front side of the camera 41 can be covered by the head unit 24 in which the ink ribbon R is guided by the fourth moving guide roller 324. On the other hand, when imaging the printing part of the empty bag E with the camera 41, the head unit 24 moves to the printing retracted position A2 and exposes the front side of the camera 41 to the empty bag E side as described above. Thus, the printing part of the empty bag E can be imaged. That is, the front side of the camera 41 can be exposed only when the camera 41 is used. Therefore, the head unit 24 can be used as a cover member for covering the front side of the camera 41 when the camera 41 is not used.

According to the printing unit inspection apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, for example, the following effects are exhibited.
In the printing unit inspection apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the thermal printer 6 that prints the printing unit on the empty bag E that is stopped at the printing stop position, and the printing unit that is printed on the empty bag E that is stopped at the printing stop position. The thermal printer 6 includes a thermal head 32, an ink ribbon R, one or a plurality of moving guide rollers 321, 322, 323, and 324, and a print receiving unit 5. The thermal head 32 and one or a plurality of moving guide rollers 321, 322, 323, and 324 constitute a head unit 24 that can move integrally, and at least a part of the head unit 24 includes a camera 41. Between the printing position A1 disposed between the camera 41 and the print receiving portion 5, and the retreat position A2 retracted from between the camera 41 and the print receiving portion 5.

Therefore, the camera 41 and the print receiving unit 5 are arranged apart from each other on a straight line, and the head unit 24 arranged at the print position A1 at the time of printing is moved from the print position A1 to the print retreat position A2. The printing unit printed by the thermal printer 6 can be imaged by the camera 41. As a result, only by securing a space for moving the head unit 24 including the thermal head 32 and the plurality of moving guide rollers 321, 322, 323, and 324, printing of the printing unit on the empty bag E and printing on the empty bag E are performed. Since both the imaging of the printed printing unit can be executed, the space saving of the printing unit inspection apparatus 1 can be realized. That is, it is not necessary to provide both a space for printing the printing part on the empty bag E and a space for imaging the printing part printed on the empty bag E. From another viewpoint, the space in which the head unit 24 is positioned at the printing position A1 and printed by the thermal head 32 can be shared as the space for imaging by the camera 41 by moving the head unit 24 to the printing retracted position A2. Therefore, space saving can be realized.
Further, since the head unit 24 including the thermal head 32 and the plurality of movement guide rollers 321, 322, 323, and 324 is moved, the camera 41 is less likely to vibrate than when the camera 41 is moved. Since the empty bag E is sandwiched between the thermal head 32 retracted from between the camera 41 and the empty bag E and the lower part of the platen plate 53 of the print receiving portion 5, the stability of the imaging performance by the camera 41 is ensured. Can do.

  Conventionally, a thermal printer and a camera are integrally moved, and a printing unit printed by the thermal printer is inspected by the camera. On the other hand, in the present invention, the print unit printed by the thermal printer 6 is moved to the camera by moving the head unit 24 arranged at the printing position A1 during printing from the printing position A1 to the printing retracting position A2. 41 can be imaged. Therefore, in the present invention, rather than moving the thermal printer and the camera integrally as in the prior art and inspecting the printed portion printed by the thermal printer with the camera, the printed portion printed by the thermal printer 6 is used by the camera 41. The processing capacity to be inspected can be improved.

In the present embodiment, the wound ink ribbon R is rotatably held, and the original ribbon holder 310 that sends out the ink ribbon R to a predetermined ribbon path K, and the ink ribbon R that passes through the ribbon path K. And a winding side ribbon holder 330 that rotatably holds the ink ribbon R so that the ink ribbon R can be sent back to the ribbon path K. The length of the ribbon path K is determined by the head unit. The same is true when 24 is located at the print position A1 and when it is located at the print retract position A2.
Therefore, there is no change in the length of the ribbon path K when the head unit 24 is located at the printing position A1 and the printing retreat position A2. Therefore, the plurality of movement guide rollers 321, 322, 323, and 324 can be moved without causing slack in the ink ribbon R and without affecting the conveyance of the ink ribbon R.

Further, in the present embodiment, while the head unit 24 moves from the printing position A1 to the printing retreat position A2, the thermal head 32 directs the ink ribbon R toward the print receiving portion 5 side while moving the thermal head 32. To print the printing part on the empty bag E.
Thereby, the operation of moving the head unit 24 from the printing position A1 to the printing retreat position A2 and the printing operation by the thermal head 32 can be executed simultaneously. Thereby, the operation of the thermal head 32 retracting from between the camera 41 and the print receiving portion 5 and the printing operation by the thermal head 32 can be executed simultaneously.

  In the present embodiment, the thermal printer 6 is configured not to move the ink ribbon R while the ink ribbon R is pressed while moving the thermal head 32. Therefore, even if the plurality of movement guide rollers 321, 322, 323, and 324 are moved, the printing operation by the thermal head 32 can be executed without moving the ink ribbon R.

As mentioned above, although preferred embodiment was described, this invention can be implemented with a various form, without being limited to embodiment mentioned above.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the printed material is the empty bag E, but is not limited thereto. The substrate may be, for example, a single film sheet that is not formed in a bag shape.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the printing part inspection apparatus of this invention was provided in the bag supply packaging machine 10, it is not restrict | limited to this.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the transfer direction P of the empty bag E was made into linear form, it is not restrict | limited to this. For example, in the bag-feeding packaging machine, the stations of the respective processes may be arranged along an annular shape. In this case, the transfer direction P of the empty bag E may be an arc. In this case, the possibility that the empty bag E fluctuates and becomes unstable is increased. Even in such a case, the printing unit printed by the thermal printer 6 can be accurately imaged by the camera 41.

  In the above embodiment, the moving direction of the head unit 24 is the vertical direction, but is not limited to this, and the moving direction of the head unit 24 may be the horizontal direction.

  In the embodiment, the four moving guide rollers 321, 322, 323, and 324 are used as the guide rollers, but the present invention is not limited to this. One to three guide rollers or five or more guide rollers may be used.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printing part inspection apparatus 5 Print receiving part 6 Thermal printer (thermal transfer printing apparatus)
24 Head unit 32 Thermal head (print head)
41 Camera (imaging part)
310 Original ribbon holder (original holder)
321, 322, 323, 324 Moving guide roller (guide roller)
330 Winding side ribbon holder (winding holder)
A1 Print position A2 Print retreat position (retreat position)
E Empty bag (printed material)
K ribbon route (route)
R ink ribbon

Claims (4)

A thermal transfer printing apparatus that prints a printing unit on the printed material that is stopped at the print stop position, while the printed material that is transferred intermittently by repeatedly transferring and stopping is stopped at the print stop position;
An imaging unit that images the printing unit that is printed on the printing material that is stopped at the printing stop position, and a printing unit inspection device that inspects the printing unit captured by the imaging unit,
The thermal transfer printing apparatus includes: a print head; an ink ribbon disposed between the print head and a printing surface of the substrate; one or a plurality of guide rollers that guide the ink ribbon; A print receiving portion that is disposed to face the print head with the ink ribbon and the printing material being sandwiched when the printing portion is printed,
The print head and the one or more guide rollers constitute a head unit that can move integrally,
The head unit includes a print position in which at least a part of the head unit is disposed between the imaging unit and the print receiving unit, and a retreat position in which the head unit is retracted from between the imaging unit and the print receiving unit. And can be moved between,
Printing unit inspection device. A raw material holder that rotatably holds the wound ink ribbon and feeds the ink ribbon to a predetermined path;
A winding holder capable of winding up the ink ribbon via the path and rotatably holding the ink ribbon so that the ink ribbon can be sent back to the path;
The length of the path is the same when the head unit is located at the printing position and when the head unit is located at the retracted position.
The printing part inspection apparatus according to claim 1. While the head unit is moved from the printing position to the retracted position, the print head presses the ink ribbon toward the print receiving portion while moving the print head, so that the print substrate is pressed. Print the printing part,
The printing part inspection apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. The thermal transfer printing apparatus is configured not to move the ink ribbon while pressing the ink ribbon while moving the print head.
The printing part inspection apparatus according to claim 3.

Images