JP2018043384A - Printer device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer device that allows an operator to place a printing medium at a proper position of a placing portion even during printing.SOLUTION: A printer device 1 comprises a placing portion 10 for placing a printing medium, a Y bar 11 extending in Y direction above the placing portion 10, a control unit for controlling the printing medium placed in a first area of the placing portion 10 and the printing medium placed in a second area different from the first area so as to print on them in order, and a guide pin provided at an end part of the first area and the second area for positioning when a printing medium is placed on the placing portion 10, the end part being on a side located at the end of a movable area in an X direction of the Y bar 11. The printer device 1 also comprises adsorption means for adsorbing the printing medium onto the placing portion 10, and a foot pedal 15 for switching on and off of the adsorption means. The foot pedal 15 is connected by a cable to a device body having the placing portion 10.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a printer apparatus including a placement unit on which a print medium is placed.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a so-called flatbed type printer device that performs printing by placing a print medium on a placement unit is known. Patent Document 1 discloses a device that can efficiently record an image in a flatbed printer. In the apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the placement unit on which the print medium is placed has a first placement surface area and a second placement surface area, and the print medium placed in the first placement surface area During printing, the print medium placed on the second placement surface area can be exchanged. Accordingly, there is an effect that the print medium placed in the first placement surface area and the print medium placed in the second placement surface area can be alternately and repeatedly recorded. In this specification, the printing of the print medium alternately is referred to as “toggle printing”.

JP2015-58553A

  When image data is input to the printer apparatus, the printer apparatus performs printing by driving the ink head in accordance with the image data. Therefore, when placing the print medium on the placement unit, it is necessary to set the print medium according to the coordinate system of the placement unit.

  However, when the printer device performs toggle printing, the print head moves to perform printing on the print medium, so that another print medium is placed at an appropriate position in an area where printing is not performed. It is not easy.

  In view of the above-described background, the present invention provides a printer device that allows an operator to appropriately place another print medium on a placement unit even during printing of a part of the placed print medium. Objective.

  The printer device of the present invention has a placement unit for placing a print medium, and a head unit that extends in the first direction above the placement unit, and that is capable of moving an ink discharge head unit in the first direction. A Y-bar that is held and movably held in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction with respect to the placement unit, and a print medium placed in the first region of the placement unit And a control unit that controls the printing medium placed in a second area different from the first area to be printed in order, and an end of the first area and the second area An alignment for aligning the print medium provided on the placement portion provided at the end of the Y bar on the side of the movable region in the second direction. Means.

  Thus, by providing the alignment means at the end portions of the first region and the second region at the end portion on the side of the movable region in the second direction of the Y bar, the operator can The operation of exchanging the print medium from the opposite end of the head unit during printing can be performed. With this configuration, even during printing of the print medium in the first area, the print medium can be placed at an appropriate position in the second area, and conversely, while the print medium in the second area is being printed. Also, the print medium can be placed at an appropriate position in the first area. Here, the alignment means is, for example, a guide pin that extends from the upper surface of the mounting portion to above the mounting portion.

  The printer device according to the present invention includes a suction unit that sucks the print medium placed on the placement unit in the first region or the second region, and a foot that switches whether the suction unit is operated or stopped. And a pedal.

  By having a foot pedal for operating the suction means in this way, both hands can be used to align the print medium, and at the stage of alignment, the foot pedal can be operated with the foot to perform suction, Easy alignment of print media.

  In the printer device of the present invention, the foot pedal may be disposed at an operable position when the print medium is placed on the placement portion using the positioning means.

  With this configuration, when placing the print medium using the alignment means, the operator performs the alignment of the print medium, and sucks the print medium to the placement portion without leaving the place. be able to.

  In the printer device of the present invention, the foot pedal may be connected to a device main body including the mounting portion by a cable.

  Although the place where the operator works depends on the operator's dominant foot and the size and shape of the print medium, the foot pedal is connected to the operator's easy-to-use place by connecting the foot pedal with a cable according to the configuration of the present invention. Can be moved.

  In the printer apparatus of the present invention, the cable may be connected to the apparatus main body in the vicinity of the positioning means.

  Since the cable is connected to the apparatus main body in the vicinity of the alignment means, the work can be performed in the vicinity of the alignment means. Thus, the operator can align the print medium when viewed from directly above, and can easily and reliably align the print medium. Note that the vicinity may be a side closest to the alignment unit among the sides of the placement unit.

  In the printer device of the present invention, the control unit operates the suction unit to cause the print medium placed in the first area or the second area to be sucked to the placement part at the start of printing. May be.

  With this configuration, even when the operator forgets the process of attracting the print medium to the placement unit, printing can be performed after the print medium is attracted to the placement unit and securely fixed. .

  In the printer device according to the aspect of the invention, the control unit may perform 180 when printing the print medium placed in the first area and when printing the print medium placed in the second area. Rotated image data may be used.

  As described above, in the case of the first area and the second area, by using the image data rotated by 180 °, the print medium can be placed in either the first area or the second area. Since it is only necessary to place the print medium in the same direction as viewed from the outside of the placement unit 10, the efficiency of the work of placing the print medium can be increased.

  According to the present invention, there is an effect that the print medium can be appropriately placed in an area where printing is not performed even during printing of the print medium.

1 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of a printer apparatus according to an embodiment. 1 is a top view of a printer apparatus according to an embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of a foot pedal. It is a figure which shows the process of connecting the table for expansion to a table. It is a figure for demonstrating the image data when printing the printing medium mounted in the 1st area | region, and the printing medium mounted in the 2nd area | region. It is a figure which shows the structure of the printer apparatus which concerns on a modification.

Hereinafter, a printer apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of a printer device 1 according to an embodiment. The printer device 1 is a flatbed printer device. In the present embodiment, a table constituting a flat bed is added. By adding a table, it is possible to print 2.5 x 3.1 m large format print media. If a 4 x 8 plate size (1,220 mm x 2,440 mm) print medium is set, 2 sheets at a time can do.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram of the printer device 1 according to the embodiment as viewed from above. As shown in FIG. 2, the placement unit 10 is configured by connecting a table 10a and a table 10b. When two print media are set, they are set in the first area of the table 10a and the second area of the table 10b. Of course, one print medium may be set on the entire placement unit 10 across the first region and the second region.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the printer apparatus 1 includes a Y bar 11 extending in the Y direction above the flat bed. The Y bar 11 holds a carriage 12 accommodating an ink jet head (not shown) for ejecting ink so as to be movable in the Y direction (main scanning direction). The Y bar 11 is held in such a manner that it can move in the X direction (sub-scanning direction). As a result, the carriage 12 can be moved in the XY directions, and printing can be performed on the print medium placed on the placement unit 10.

  A plurality of suction holes 18 are formed in the mounting portion 10. The suction hole 18 is a hole for sucking air. By sucking air in a state where the print medium is placed, the print medium is sucked and fixed to the placement unit 10.

  The printer device 1 includes a control unit 13 that controls the printer device 1. The control unit 13 is connected to the PC 20 and receives image data and the like transmitted from the PC 20. The printer apparatus 1 has an operation panel 14 on the front side in FIG. The operation panel 14 is a panel having a display unit and buttons for operating the printer apparatus 1 and constitutes an input / output interface. The operation panel 14 is connected to the control unit 13, and inputs an operation instruction command to the control unit 13 based on an instruction input to the operation panel 14.

  The operation panel 14 also includes a button for operating whether or not the print medium is attracted to the placement unit 10. However, in the present embodiment, this button controls the entire placement unit 10 and cannot individually control the suction of the first area and the second area.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the printer device 1 has two foot pedals 15 connected to the main body of the printer device 1 by cables. Each foot pedal 15 can perform suction control of the print medium for each of the first region and the second region.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the foot pedal 15. The foot pedal 15 has an upper surface 15b that is rotatably attached to the base 15a, and the upper surface 15b is held in an inclined state by an urging means (not shown). When the upper surface 15b of the foot pedal 15 is stepped on with a foot and rotated in a direction to lay the upper surface 15b against the urging means, the foot pedal 15 is depressed when it is rotated by a predetermined angle. A signal to be transmitted is transmitted to the control unit 13 of the printer apparatus 1.

  The control unit 13 receives a signal from the foot pedal 15 and switches between sucking air from the suction hole 18 on the side where the foot pedal 15 is provided or stopping the suction. That is, every time a signal indicating that the foot pedal 15 is depressed is sent, the suction means repeatedly performs air suction ON → OFF → ON →.

  In addition, when the image data is transmitted from the PC 20 and the transmitted image data is printed on the print medium, the control unit 13 operates the suction unit in the area where the print medium is placed to place the print medium. Adsorbed to the part 10. Thereby, even if an operator forgets the adsorption process by the foot pedal 15, the printing medium can be fixed to the mounting portion 10 and appropriate printing can be performed on the printing medium.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the printer apparatus 1 has guide pins 17 for positioning on the placement unit 10. The guide pin 17 is a rod-shaped member that protrudes upward from the placement unit 10. The guide pin 17 is provided near the end of the movable region in the X direction of the Y bar 11. The guide pins 17 are located at the end portions of the first region and the second region, and the print medium is set so as to be pressed against the guide pins 17, so that the origin of the print medium is set to the first region. Or it can match with the origin of the second region. The guide pin 17 may be configured to be detachable from the placement unit 10. For example, a plurality of attachment holes for detachably attaching the guide pins 17 to the placement unit 10 may be formed, and the guide pins 17 may be attached to the necessary attachment holes as necessary.

  In the vicinity of the alignment guide pin 17, there is an insertion port 16 into which a cable connected to the foot pedal 15 is inserted. Since the operator uses the guide pins 17 to position the print medium, the foot pedal 15 is arranged in the vicinity of the guide pins 17 to position the print medium on the guide pins 17 using both hands. By operating the foot pedal 15 with the foot, the print medium can be fixed to the placement unit 10 in a properly positioned state.

  Next, the structure which connects table 10a, 10b is demonstrated. As can be seen from the above description, when the tables 10a and 10b are connected, it is necessary that the Y bar 11 can move to the side of the added table 10b beyond the connecting portion.

  First, a configuration in which the Y bar 11 is guided so as to be movable in the X direction will be described. Guide rails extending in the X direction are provided on both side surfaces of the mounting portion 10. In addition, a slider that is guided by the guide rail and moves in the X direction is provided. The Y bar 11 is connected to the slider by a connecting member extending in the vertical direction. With this configuration, the Y bar 11 moves in the X direction when the slider is guided by the guide rail.

  The slider has a pinion gear. Rack rails parallel to the guide rails are provided on both side surfaces of the mounting portion 10 and mesh with the teeth of the pinion gear. When the pinion gear is driven to rotate by the motor, the slider moves in the X direction accordingly. Since it has the above configuration, it is necessary to extend the guide rail and the rack rail when adding the table 10b.

  FIGS. 4A to 4C are diagrams illustrating a process of connecting the table 10b to the table 10a. First, as shown to Fig.4 (a), it is set as the state which match | combined the position of the recessed part 34 of the table 10a, and the convex part 35 of the table 10b. As described above, the rack rail 32 and the guide rail 31 are held on the tables 10 a and 10 b by the rail support member 33.

  Next, as illustrated in FIG. 4B, the table 10 b is moved in the −X direction, and the table 10 b is coupled to the table 10 a so that the convex portion 35 is inserted into the concave portion 34. After the connection, the table 10a and the table 10b may be fixed by a fixing member (not shown).

  Next, as shown in FIG. 4C, a connecting guide rail 36 is disposed between the guide rail 31 of the table 10a and the guide rail 31 of the table 10b. Further, a connecting rack rail 37 is disposed between the rack rail 32 of the table 10a and the rack rail 32 of the table 10b. Thereby, connection with the table 10a and the table 10b is completed.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining image data when printing a print medium placed in the first area and a print medium placed in the second area. In FIG. 5, the Y bar and the suction holes are omitted. Whether the print medium is placed in the first area or the print medium is placed in the second area, the lower right corner of the image is set as the origin.

  When printing the print medium placed in the first area, first, scanning is performed from the lower right part of the image to the left, and when the scanning of one line is finished, the image is fed up by one. Since the process of scanning from right to left is repeated, the image data is assigned to the coordinates of the first region so that printing is performed from the lower right of the image. When printing the print medium placed in the second area, first, scanning is performed from the upper left part of the image to the right, and when scanning of one line is completed, the image is fed down by one and left Since the process of scanning from right to right is repeated, the image data is assigned to the coordinates of the second region so that printing is performed from the upper left of the image. That is, the image data is rotated 180 degrees.

  As a result, for the operator W who sets the print medium, it is only necessary to set the print medium in the same direction as viewed from the operator W, so that the mistake of printing up and down is unlikely to occur. In addition, when the shape of the print medium is different between the upper and lower sides, for example, when the upper part is an ellipse and the lower part is a straight line, it is necessary to perform alignment by placing the lower part against the guide pins 17. In such a case, the image data cannot be printed correctly unless it is rotated 180 °.

  The configuration of the printer device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described above. However, the printer apparatus of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment.

  In the embodiment described above, an example in which the suction unit is switched on / off each time the foot pedal 15 is depressed has been described. However, the foot pedal 15 may perform control other than on / off of the suction unit. . For example, when the foot pedal 15 is pressed long, control for blowing out air from the suction hole may be performed. As a result, the print medium is lifted, so that the print medium can be easily detached from the placement unit 10.

  In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the foot pedal 15 is connected to the apparatus main body with a cable has been described. However, the foot pedal 15 does not necessarily have to be connected with a cable. The foot pedal 15 is preferably disposed at a position where the operator who places the print medium on the placement unit 10 using the guide pin 17 can operate on the spot, and the foot pedal 15 is disposed at an operable position. In addition to the method using a cable, the apparatus main body and the foot pedal 15 may be connected wirelessly. Further, a connection guide may be provided so that the connection can be made anywhere around the side of the apparatus body, and the operator can connect the foot pedal 15 at an appropriate position.

  In the embodiment described above, the printer device 1 in which the area of the placement unit 10 is increased by adding the table 10b has been described as an example, but the table 10b may not necessarily be added. Even in one table 10a, the first area and the second area may be set in the table 10a, and printing may be performed alternately.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the control unit 13 controls the suction unit and sucks the print medium on the mounting unit 10 when performing printing on the print medium has been described. In addition, a configuration for releasing the adsorption may be employed. As a result, the printed print medium can be quickly lowered from the placement unit 10.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the printer apparatus 2 according to the modification. In FIG. 6, the Y bar and the suction holes are omitted. In addition to the configuration of the printer device 1 according to the above-described embodiment, the printer device 2 according to the modified example is provided with a guide pin 17 for positioning the second region at the center of the mounting portion 10 and its vicinity. Has a cable insertion port 16. Thus, by having the guide pin 17 in the center of the placement unit 10, it is possible to set the print medium from the side surface of the placement unit 10. Depending on the environment of the place where the printer apparatus 2 is installed, there may be a case where there is not enough space for the operator to enter the end opposite to the end having the operation panel 14. By having the guide pin 17 in the center of the placement unit 10, it becomes possible to set the print medium in the second area.

  In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the print medium is placed in each of the first region and the second region of the placement unit 10 has been described. However, in the present invention, three or more placement units 10 are provided. The present invention can also be applied to a printer apparatus that prints in order by placing print media in each of these areas.

  In the above-described embodiment, the plurality of guide pins 17 have been described as an example of the alignment unit. However, a plate-like member may be erected as the alignment unit.

(Effect of embodiment)
(1) The printer device 1 according to the present embodiment moves a placement unit 10 on which a print medium is placed and a head unit that extends in the Y direction above the placement unit 10 and ejects ink in the Y direction. The Y bar 11 held in a movable manner and movable in the X direction, the print medium placed in the first area of the placement unit 10, and the second area different from the first area The control unit 13 that controls the printed media placed in order to print in order, and the end of the first region and the second region at the end of the movable region in the X direction of the Y bar 11 And a guide pin 17 provided at an end on a certain side for positioning when the print medium is placed on the placement unit 10.

  As described above, the guide pins 17 for positioning the print medium are provided at the end portions of the first region and the second region, which are the end portions of the Y bar 11 on the side of the movable region in the X direction. Thus, the operator W can perform an operation of exchanging the print medium from the end portion of the mounting portion 10 opposite to the head unit being printed. Therefore, even during printing of the print medium in the first area, the print medium can be placed at an appropriate position in the second area. Conversely, even during printing of the print medium in the second area, the print medium can be placed. Can be placed in an appropriate position in the first region.

  (2) The printer device 1 according to the present embodiment has the suction hole 18 in the first area or the second area, and suction means for sucking the print medium to the placement unit 10 by sucking air. And a foot pedal 15 for switching whether the suction means is operated or stopped.

  By having the foot pedal 15 for operating the suction means in this way, both hands can be used to align the print medium, and the print medium can be fixed by suction at the stage of alignment. Can be easily aligned.

  (3) In the printer device 1 of the present embodiment, the foot pedal 15 may be disposed at an operable position when the print medium is placed on the placement unit 10 using the guide pins 17.

  With this configuration, when placing the print medium using the guide pins 17, the operator performs alignment of the print medium and adsorbs the print medium to the placement unit 10 without leaving the place. It can be carried out.

  (4) In the printer apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the foot pedal 15 is connected to the apparatus main body including the placement unit 10 by a cable. Although the place where the worker W works depends on the dominant foot of the worker W and the size and shape of the print medium, the foot pedal 15 is moved to a place where the worker W can easily use the configuration of the present embodiment. Can do.

  (5) The cable is inserted into the insertion port 16 near the guide pin 17. With this configuration, since the cable is connected to the apparatus main body in the vicinity of the guide pin 17, the work can be performed in the vicinity of the guide pin 17. Accordingly, the print medium can be aligned when viewed from directly above, and alignment can be performed easily and reliably.

  (6) In the printer apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the control unit 13 operates the suction unit to suck the print medium placed in the first area or the second area at the start of printing. With this configuration, even when the operator W forgets the process of attracting the print medium to the placement unit 10, printing is performed after the print medium is attracted to the placement unit 10 and securely fixed. be able to.

  (7) In the printer device 1 according to the present embodiment, the control unit 13 prints the print medium placed in the first area and prints the print medium placed in the second area. The image data rotated by 180 ° is used. As described above, in the case of the first area and the second area, by using the image data rotated by 180 °, the print medium can be placed in either the first area or the second area. The print medium may be placed in the same direction as viewed from the worker W who performs the work from the outside of the placement unit 10, and the efficiency of the work of placing the print medium can be improved.

  The present invention is useful as a flatbed printer device.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 2 Printer apparatus 10 Placement part 11 Y bar 12 Carriage 13 Control part 14 Operation panel 15 Foot pedal 16 Insertion port 17 Guide pin 18 Adsorption hole 20 PC
31 Guide rail 32 Rack rail 33 Rail support member 34 Concave portion 35 Convex portion

Claims (7)

A placement unit for placing a print medium;
The head unit that extends in the first direction above the placement unit and holds the head unit that ejects ink is movable in the first direction, and is orthogonal to the first direction with respect to the placement unit. A Y bar held movably in a second direction
Printing the print medium placed on the first area of the placement section and the print medium placed on the second area of the placement section different from the first area in order. A control unit for controlling
The print medium provided at the end of the first area and the second area, which is provided at the end of the Y bar on the side of the movable area in the second direction. Positioning means for positioning when placed on the unit;
A printer apparatus comprising: An adsorbing means for adsorbing the print medium placed in the first area or the second area to the placement section;
A foot pedal that switches between operating and stopping the suction means;
A printer apparatus according to claim 1.   The printer device according to claim 2, wherein the foot pedal is disposed at an operable position when the print medium is placed on the placement portion using the positioning means.   The printer device according to claim 2, wherein the foot pedal is connected to an apparatus main body including the mounting portion by a cable.   The printer apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the cable is connected to the apparatus main body in the vicinity of the positioning unit.   6. The control unit according to claim 2, wherein the control unit operates the suction unit to cause the print medium placed in the first region or the second region to be sucked to the placement unit when printing is started. A printer apparatus according to claim 1.   The control unit prints image data rotated by 180 ° between when printing the print medium placed in the first area and when printing the print medium placed in the second area. The printer device according to claim 1, wherein the printer device is used.

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