JP2018065334A - printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer that can prevent a tip of a tooth of a driving gear and a tip of a tooth of an intermittent gear of a wiper unit from colliding with each other when the driving gear of and the intermittent gear start to engage with each other.SOLUTION: A driving force transmitting mechanism 34 that transmits driving force to a wiper moving mechanism 32 comprises an intermittent gear 51 to which is transmitted driving force of a motor 33, a driving gear 52 that engages with the intermittent gear 51 and a driving gear rotating mechanism 54. The driving gear 52 comprises a first inclined cam surface part 86 which intersects in a radial direction with a tooth part 65. The driving gear rotating mechanism 54 comprises a sliding member 101 and an energizing member 102 that energizes the sliding member 101. At timing when engagement of the intermittent gear 51 with the driving gear 52 is released, the sliding member 101 is positioned on a cam surface 85, and the driving gear 52 rotates, accompanying movement of the sliding member 101 toward an inner periphery of the driving gear 52 while sliding on the cam surface 85 due to energizing force of the energizing member 102, so that a last engagement tooth 65a of the tooth part 65 is positioned closer to outside than a tip circle S of a tooth of the intermittent gear 51.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

  The present invention relates to a printer that cleans an ink nozzle surface of a print head with a wiper.

  In an inkjet printer, foreign matter such as paper dust or ink may adhere to the ink nozzle surface of a print head (inkjet head). In order to prevent problems caused by such deposits, some inkjet printers have a wiper unit that cleans the ink nozzle surface. The wiper unit includes a wiper made of an elastic material such as rubber, a wiper moving mechanism that moves the wiper while sliding on the ink nozzle surface, and a driving force transmission that transmits the driving force from the motor as a driving source to the wiper moving mechanism. Provide mechanism. Patent Document 1 describes a drive force transmission mechanism that includes a full-tooth drive gear that transmits rotation of a motor and an intermittent gear that meshes with the drive gear.

JP 2004-203056 A

  When the driving force transmission mechanism has an intermittent gear, if the tooth tips of the teeth come into contact with each other at the beginning of the next meshing of the driving gear and the intermittent gear, abnormal noise may be generated or the tooth tip may be lost. There is. The start of the next meshing is the time when the intermittent gear and the drive gear that rotate in the rotation direction opposite to the rotation direction just before the mesh release starts meshing.

  In view of these points, the problem of the present invention is that when the driving force transmission mechanism that transmits the driving force of the driving source to the wiper includes an intermittent gear, the teeth of the driving gear at the start of meshing of the driving gear and the intermittent gear. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printer capable of preventing or suppressing the collision between the tooth tip of the tooth and the tooth tip of the tooth of the intermittent gear.

  In order to solve the above problems, a printer of the present invention includes a print head, a wiper capable of slidingly contacting an ink nozzle surface of the print head, and a wiper moving mechanism that moves the wiper along the ink nozzle surface. A motor, and a driving force transmission mechanism that transmits the driving force of the motor to the wiper moving mechanism. The driving force transmission mechanism includes an intermittent gear that transmits the driving force of the motor, and the intermittent gear. A drive gear that meshes with the intermittent gear, and a drive gear rotating mechanism that rotates the drive gear when the meshing between the intermittent gear and the drive gear is released, and the drive gear is meshable with the intermittent gear. And a cam surface inclined in a direction crossing the radial direction toward the outer peripheral side, and the drive gear rotation mechanism includes a sliding member capable of sliding on the cam surface, and the sliding member. A biasing member that biases the cam surface from the outer peripheral side to the inner peripheral side of the drive gear, and when the meshing between the intermittent gear and the drive gear is released, the sliding member is As the sliding member moves to the inner peripheral side of the driving gear while sliding on the cam surface by the biasing force of the biasing member, the driving gear immediately before meshing release is located. The final meshing tooth that rotates in the rotation direction and meshes with the intermittent gear until just before meshing is disengaged is positioned outside the tip circle of the intermittent gear.

  According to the present invention, when the meshing between the intermittent gear and the driving gear is released, the sliding member of the driving gear rotating mechanism slides on the cam surface of the driving gear so that the driving gear is rotated in the rotational direction immediately before the meshing is released. Rotate and move the final meshing tooth meshed with the intermittent gear until just before meshing is released to the outside of the tip circle of the intermittent gear. As a result, it is possible to prevent the tooth tip of the intermittent gear and the tooth tip of the final meshing tooth of the drive gear from contacting each other at the start of the next meshing of the drive gear and the intermittent gear. It is possible to prevent or suppress the intermittent gear and the final meshing teeth from coming into contact with each other at the beginning of meshing to generate abnormal noise or missing the tooth tip. Here, the time of starting the next meshing is the time when the intermittent gear and the drive gear that rotate in the rotation direction opposite to the rotation direction before the meshing is disengaged start to mesh.

  In the present invention, when the drive gear rotates and the final meshing tooth is located outside the tooth tip circle, the adjacent tooth positioned next to the final meshing tooth is located behind the tooth tip circle in the rotational direction. It is desirable to be located inside. In this way, at the start of the next meshing, the tooth at the tip that first meshes with the drive gear at the intermittent tooth portion of the intermittent gear (after the meshing with the drive gear until just before meshing is released at the intermittent gear portion of the intermittent gear) End teeth) mesh with the final meshing teeth of the drive gear. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a phase shift from occurring between the intermittent gear and the drive gear at the start of the next meshing.

  In the present invention, the drive gear rotation mechanism includes a contacted portion provided on the drive gear, a rotation restricting member that contacts the contacted portion and restricts rotation of the drive gear in the rotation direction. And the rotation restricting member rotates when the drive gear rotates so that the final meshing tooth is located outside the tip circle and the adjacent tooth is located inside the tip circle. It is desirable to contact the contacted portion from the front in the direction. In this way, when the final meshing tooth moves outside the tip circle of the intermittent gear, the adjacent tooth can be reliably positioned inside the tip circle. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent the occurrence of a phase shift between the intermittent gear and the drive gear at the start of the next meshing.

  In the present invention, it is desirable that the sliding member includes a roller capable of rolling the cam surface and a roller support portion that rotatably supports the roller. If it does in this way, since it becomes easy to slide a sliding member on a cam surface, it becomes easy to rotate a drive gear by a sliding member.

  In the present invention, in order to move the wiper along the ink nozzle surface of the print head, the wiper moving mechanism includes a carriage that supports the wiper and a carriage that extends parallel to the ink nozzle surface and is movable. A carriage guide shaft to be supported; a timing belt having a belt portion extending along the carriage guide shaft; and a pulley around which the timing belt is stretched, and the carriage is connected to the timing belt, The rotation of the drive gear can be transmitted to the pulley.

  The drive gear is preferably provided coaxially with the pulley. In this way, since the pulley and the drive gear rotate together, the movement range of the wiper can be accurately defined by the amount of rotation of the drive gear.

1 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an internal structure of a printer to which the present invention is applied. It is a perspective view at the time of seeing a wiper unit from the 1st direction of the width direction. It is a perspective view at the time of seeing a wiper unit from the 2nd direction of the width direction. It is a perspective view at the time of seeing a driving force transmission mechanism from back. It is a side view of the drive force transmission mechanism just before meshing cancellation | release of an intermittent gear and a drive gear. It is a side view of the drive force transmission mechanism at the time of meshing release of an intermittent gear and a drive gear. It is a side view of the drive force transmission mechanism immediately after meshing cancellation | release of an intermittent gear and a drive gear. It is a perspective view at the time of seeing a driving force transmission mechanism from back. It is a side view at the time of seeing a driving force transmission mechanism from back. It is a side view of the drive force transmission mechanism immediately after meshing cancellation | release of an intermittent gear and a drive gear.

  Hereinafter, a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing the internal structure of a printer to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the wiper unit viewed from the rear and the first direction in the width direction. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the wiper unit as viewed from the front and one side in the width direction. 2 and 3 show the cap unit and the print head together with the wiper unit.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 1 includes a rectangular parallelepiped housing 2. An insertion port 4 through which the recording paper 3 is inserted is provided in the lower part of the front surface 2 a of the housing 2. A discharge port 5 for discharging the recording paper 3 is provided on the upper surface 2 b of the housing 2. Hereinafter, the printer 1 will be described with the three directions orthogonal to each other as the front-rear direction X, the width direction Y, and the up-down direction Z. The side on which the insertion port 4 is provided is defined as a front X1 in the front-rear direction X, and the opposite side is defined as a rear X2 in the front-rear direction X. Further, one side in the width direction Y is defined as a first direction Y1, and the other side is defined as a second direction Y2. The first direction Y1 in the width direction Y is a direction toward the front of FIG. 1, and the second direction Y2 is a direction toward the back in FIG.

  The printer 1 includes a print head 7 and a paper conveyance path 8 from the insertion port 4 to the discharge port 5 via the print position A by the print head 7 inside the housing 2. The print head 7 is an inkjet head. The print head 7 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape that is long in the vertical direction Z, and the ink nozzle surface 7a faces the rear X2. A plurality of ink nozzles are arranged in the vertical direction Z on the ink nozzle surface 7a. The paper conveyance path 8 includes a lateral path portion 9 extending from the insertion port 4 to the rear X2, a curved path section 10 that curves upward from the rear end of the lateral path section 9 toward the rear X2, and an upper end of the curved path section 10. A vertical path portion 11 extending upward and reaching the discharge port 5 is provided. The printing position A is set in the vertical path portion 11. The print head 7 is arranged in front X1 of the vertical path portion 11.

  The printer 1 also includes a transport mechanism 13 that transports the recording paper 3 inserted into the insertion port 4 along the paper transport path 8 and a head movement that moves the print head 7 in the width direction Y. A mechanism 14 is provided.

  The transport mechanism 13 includes a transport roller pair 15 and a transport motor 16 that drives the transport roller pair 15. The conveyance roller pair 15 is disposed in the curved path portion 10. The conveyance roller pair 15 conveys the recording paper 3 inserted into the paper conveyance path 8 through the insertion port 4.

  The head moving mechanism 14 moves the print head 7 between the printing position A set in the vertical path portion 11 and the capping position B spaced from the printing position A in the second direction Y2 in the width direction Y (FIG. 2). reference). Further, the head moving mechanism 14 scans the print head 7 in the width direction Y at the print position A. A wiping position C is set between the capping position B and the printing position A.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the head moving mechanism 14 moves the head carriage 17 along the carriage guide shaft 18, a head carriage 17 that holds the print head 7, a pair of upper and lower carriage guide shafts 18 that extend in the width direction Y, and the carriage guide shaft 18. A carriage moving mechanism 19 is provided. The head carriage 17 is positioned between a pair of upper and lower carriage guide shafts 18. The carriage moving mechanism 19 drives a pair of pulleys 20 disposed at both end portions in the width direction Y of the carriage guide shaft 18, a timing belt 21 spanned between the pair of pulleys 20, and one pulley 20. A carriage motor 22 is provided. The head carriage 17 is connected to the timing belt 21.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the cap unit 25 is disposed at the capping position B. The cap unit 25 covers the ink nozzle surface 7 a of the print head 7 with the cap 26 when the print head 7 is disposed at the capping position B.

  At the wiping position C, the wiper unit 28 is disposed. The wiper unit 28 and the cap unit 25 are adjacent to each other in the width direction Y. The wiper unit 28 is located in the first direction Y1 of the cap unit 25 in the width direction Y. The wiper unit 28 includes a wiper 29 that can slidably contact the ink nozzle surface 7a of the print head 7 disposed at the wiping position C, and a wiper moving mechanism 32 that moves the wiper 29 in the vertical direction Z along the ink nozzle surface 7a. Prepare. The wiper unit 28 includes a motor 33 that is a drive source of the wiper moving mechanism 32 and a driving force transmission mechanism 34 that transmits the driving force of the motor 33 to the wiper moving mechanism 32. Further, the wiper unit 28 includes a wiper cleaner 35 for cleaning the wiper 29 below the print head 7.

  When the printer 1 is in the standby state, the print head 7 is disposed at the capping position B and is capped by the cap unit 25. When print data is supplied from an external device and the recording paper 3 is inserted from the insertion port 4, the printer 1 drives the transport motor 16 and moves the recording paper 3 along the paper transport path 8 by the transport roller pair 15. Transport. Further, the printer 1 drives the carriage motor 22 to move the print head 7 at the capping position B to the printing position A. Then, the printer 1 drives the carriage motor 22 and the print head 7 to print the print data on the recording paper 3 passing through the print position A while scanning the print head 7 in the width direction Y at the print position A.

  When printing is completed, the printer 1 drives the carriage motor 22 to return the print head 7 at the printing position A to the capping position B. When the print head 7 moves to the capping position B, the printer 1 drives the cap unit 25 to cover the ink nozzle surface 7 a of the print head 7 with the cap 26.

  Here, when the printer 1 moves the print head 7 from the capping position B to the print position A, or when the print head 7 is moved from the print position A to the capping position B, the print head 7 has a predetermined timing. Is placed at the wiping position C. In addition, when the print head 7 is arranged at the wiping position C, the printer 1 drives the wiper unit 28 (motor 33) and performs a wiping operation for wiping the ink nozzle surface 7a of the print head 7 by the wiper 29.

(Wiper unit)
Next, the wiper unit 28 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the driving force transmission mechanism 34 as viewed from the rear X2. The wiper unit 28 includes a wiper 29, a wiper moving mechanism 32, a motor 33, a driving force transmission mechanism 34, and a wiper cleaner 35.

(Wiper)
The wiper 29 is made of an elastic material such as rubber. The wiper 29 is fixed to the carriage 41 of the wiper moving mechanism 32 in a state where the wiper 29 is bent into a downward convex shape. More specifically, the wiper 29 is formed by bending a single rectangular plate-like elastic material at a substantially center in the width direction Y, and is inclined upward from the center in the width direction Y toward the printing position A side. A first inclined plate portion 30 and a second inclined plate portion 31 inclined upward from the center in the width direction Y toward the capping position B side.

(Wiper moving mechanism and wiper cleaner)
As shown in FIG. 2, the wiper moving mechanism 32 includes a carriage 41 that supports the wiper 29, a carriage guide shaft 42 that movably supports the carriage 41, and a belt portion 43 a that extends along the carriage guide shaft 42. The belt 43 and four pulleys 44, 45, 46, 47 on which the timing belt 43 is bridged are provided. The carriage guide shaft 42 extends in the vertical direction in parallel with the ink nozzle surface 7a. The upper end of the carriage guide shaft 42 is located above the print head 7. The lower end of the carriage guide shaft 42 is located below the print head 7 and the wiper cleaner 35.

  The four pulleys 44, 45, 46, 47 are a first pulley 44 provided at the rear X 2 of the upper end portion of the carriage guide shaft 42 and a second pulley 45 provided at the rear X 2 of the lower end portion of the carriage guide shaft 42. A driving pulley 46 in which the driving force from the motor 33 is transmitted via the driving force transmission mechanism 34 at the rear X2 of the first pulley 44, and a third pulley positioned between the driving pulley 46 and the second pulley 45. 47. A belt portion 43 a that spans between the first pulley 44 and the second pulley 45 in the timing belt 43 extends in the vertical direction Z along the carriage guide shaft 42. A carriage 41 is connected to the belt portion 43a. A belt portion between the drive pulley 46 and the second pulley 45 is stretched over the third pulley 47 in the timing belt 43. The second pulley 45 is biased downward by a biasing mechanism (not shown) and applies tension to the timing belt 43.

  The wiper cleaner 35 faces the lower portion of the carriage guide shaft 42 with a gap in front X1 of the carriage guide shaft 42. The wiper cleaner 35 includes a plate-like cleaner body 35a extending in the width direction Y.

  Here, the wiper 29 mounted on the carriage 41 reciprocates between a first position 29A above the print head 7 and a second position 29B below the wiper cleaner 35.

  When the wiper 29 moves from the first position 29A to the second position 29B when the print head 7 is located at the wiping position C, the tip of the wiper 29 comes into sliding contact with the ink nozzle surface 7a of the print head 7, and the ink nozzle Wipe off foreign matters such as paper pieces and ink adhering to the surface 7a. Thereafter, the wiper 29 passes through the wiper cleaner 35 and reaches the second position 29B. When the wiper 29 passes through the wiper cleaner 35, the tip of the wiper 29 contacts the cleaner body 35a. As a result, the deposits wiped from the print head 7 and adhered to the wiper 29 are wiped off by the wiper cleaner 35.

(Driving force transmission mechanism)
As shown in FIG. 4, the driving force transmission mechanism 34 includes an intermittent gear 51, a driving gear 52 that meshes with the intermittent gear 51, and a wheel train 53 that transmits the driving force of the motor 33 to the intermittent gear 51 (see FIG. 2). And a drive gear rotation mechanism 54 that rotates the drive gear 52 when the intermittent gear 51 and the drive gear 52 are disengaged. Each gear, the intermittent gear 51 and the drive gear 52 constituting the train wheel 53 have their respective rotation center lines oriented in the width direction Y. In the state shown in FIG. 4, the wiper 29 is located at the second position 29B.

  The intermittent gear 51 is a spur gear and includes an intermittent tooth portion 56 in a part of the outer peripheral surface in the circumferential direction. A drive pulley 46 is integrally and coaxially provided on the drive gear 52. Therefore, the drive gear 52 and the drive pulley 46 rotate integrally. In this example, the number of teeth of the intermittent gear 51 is smaller than the number of teeth of the drive gear 52, but the number of teeth of the intermittent gear 51 and the number of teeth of the drive gear 52 may be the same. As shown in FIG. 3, the drive gear 52 is rotatably supported by a support shaft 59 that is supported by a printer frame 58 that extends in the front-rear direction X in the second direction Y <b> 2 of the cap unit 25.

  The drive gear 52 has a small-diameter portion 61, a medium-diameter portion 62 that is coaxial with the small-diameter portion 61 and has a larger outer diameter than the small-diameter portion 61, from one side to the other side in the width direction Y (rotation center line direction). A large-diameter portion 63 that is coaxial with the medium-diameter portion 62 and has a larger outer diameter than the medium-diameter portion 62 is provided in this order. The drive pulley 46 is provided coaxially with the large-diameter portion 63 on the opposite side to the medium-diameter portion 62 of the large-diameter portion 63. The outer diameter of the drive pulley 46 is smaller than the outer diameter of the large diameter portion 63. On the outer peripheral surface of the small diameter portion 61, a tooth portion 65 is provided over the entire circumference. The tooth part 65 of the small diameter part 61 is the tooth part 65 of the drive gear 52 and can mesh with the intermittent tooth part 56 of the intermittent gear 51.

  The large-diameter portion 63 includes a notch portion 71 that is recessed toward the inner peripheral side in a part of the circumferential direction. Thereby, the drive gear 52 (large diameter part 63) inclines in the direction which cross | intersects a radial direction toward the inner peripheral side from the circumferential end of the outer circular arc surface 72 and the outer circular arc surface 72 in the outer peripheral surface. The first inclined surface 73, the inner arc surface 74 extending in the circumferential direction from the inner peripheral end of the first inclined surface 73, and the end of the inner arc surface 74 opposite to the first inclined surface 73 from the end opposite to the outer peripheral side. And a second inclined surface 75 inclined in a direction intersecting the radial direction. The 1st inclined surface 73 and the 2nd inclined surface 75 incline to the inner peripheral side toward the direction which mutually approaches. The outer peripheral end of the second inclined surface 75 is continuous with the outer circular arc surface 72. The inner arc surface 74 and the outer arc surface 72 are both surfaces that are defined around the rotation center line L 1 of the drive gear 52. The outer arc surface 72, the first inclined surface 73, the inner arc surface 74, and the second inclined surface 75 are all parallel to the rotation center line L1 of the drive gear 52 and extend in the width direction Y.

  The large diameter portion 63 includes an arc-shaped outer rib 79 protruding in the second direction Y2 on the outer peripheral edge of the annular end surface 78 in the second direction Y2 from which the small diameter portion 61 and the medium diameter portion 62 protrude. The outer rib 79 is formed in an angular range where the outer arc surface 72 is provided, and the outer peripheral surface of the outer rib 79 and the outer arc surface 72 are continuous without a step. The large diameter portion 63 includes an annular inner rib 80 between the outer rib 79 and the middle diameter portion 62 on the annular end surface 78 in the second direction Y2. The protruding amount of the inner rib 80 protruding from the annular end surface 78 is smaller than the protruding output of the outer rib 79 protruding from the annular end surface 78. The outer peripheral surface of the inner rib 80 is a circle centered on the rotation center line L 1 and has the same outer diameter as the inner arc surface 74. Therefore, the inner circular arc surface 74 and the outer peripheral surface of the inner rib 80 are continuous without a step in an angular range where the notch portion 71 is provided in the large diameter portion 63. Furthermore, the large-diameter portion 63 extends along the edge of the notch portion 71 to the annular end surface 78 in the second direction Y2, and connects the first inclined rib 81 and the second rib connecting the inner rib 80 and the outer rib 79. An inclined rib 82 is provided. The first inclined rib 81 extends along the first inclined surface 73, and the outer peripheral surface of the first inclined rib 81 and the first inclined surface 73 are continuous without a step. The second inclined rib 82 extends along the second inclined surface 75, and the outer peripheral surface of the second inclined rib 82 and the second inclined surface 75 are continuous without a step. The protruding amount of the first connecting rib and the second inclined rib 82 from the annular end surface 78 is the same as that of the inner rib 80 and is smaller than the protruding amount of the outer rib 79.

  Here, the outer circumferential surface of the outer circular arc surface 72 of the large diameter portion 63, the first inclined surface 73, the second inclined surface 75 and the outer rib 79, the outer peripheral surface of the first inclined rib 81, and the outer peripheral surface of the second inclined rib 82 are Thus, a cam surface 85 is formed on which the sliding member 101 of the drive gear rotation mechanism 54 can slide. The cam surface 85 includes an outer cam surface portion 86 that includes outer peripheral surfaces of the outer arc surface 72 and the outer rib 79, a first inclined cam surface portion 87 that includes outer peripheral surfaces of the first inclined surface 73 and the first inclined rib 81, The second inclined cam surface portion 89 including the outer peripheral surfaces of the second inclined surface 75 and the second inclined rib 82 is provided. In addition, the circular arc surface portion 88 (including the inner circular arc surface 74 of the large diameter portion 63 and the outer peripheral surface portion of the inner rib 80) located between the first inclined cam surface portion 87 and the second inclined cam surface portion 89 in the circumferential direction. Do not constitute the cam surface 85, and the sliding member 101 does not slide.

  The annular end surface 78 in the second direction Y2 of the large-diameter portion 63 has a first rib 91 (contacted portion) and a second rib 92 that protrude between the outer rib 79 and the inner rib 80 in the second direction Y2. (Contacted part). The first rib 91 and the second rib 92 extend in the radial direction and connect the outer rib 79 and the inner rib 80. The protruding amount of the first rib 91 and the second rib 92 from the annular end surface 78 is the same as the protruding amount of the outer rib 79. The 1st rib 91 and the 2nd rib 92 are provided in the angular position spaced apart from the notch part 71 in the circumferential direction.

  Next, the driving gear rotation mechanism 54 includes a sliding member 101 that can slide on the cam surface 85, a biasing member 102 that biases the sliding member 101 from the outer peripheral side of the driving gear 52 to the driving gear 52, A rotation restricting member 103. The sliding member 101 includes a roller 105 that can roll on the cam surface 85 and a roller support unit 106 that rotatably supports the roller 105. The urging member 102 is a coil spring and urges the roller support portion 106 obliquely upward of the front X1 toward the drive gear 52 side.

  The rotation restricting member 103 is a member different from the drive gear 52. A projecting portion 103 a that projects from the second direction Y <b> 2 in the width direction Y toward the annular end surface 78 of the large-diameter portion 63 of the drive gear 52 is provided. The protruding portion 103 a is located between the inner rib 80 and the outer rib 79 in the radial direction of the drive gear 52. The protruding portion 103a of the rotation restricting member 103 can come into contact with the first rib 91 from the first rotation direction around the rotation center line L1, and the second rib 92 from the second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction. Abutment is possible. The protruding portion 103a does not interfere with the first inclined cam surface portion 87 and the second inclined rib 82.

(Wiping operation)
Next, the wiping operation of the print head 7 by the wiper unit 28 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 4 to 10. FIG. 5 is a side view of the driving force transmission mechanism 34 and shows a state immediately before the meshing is released when the wiper 29 reaches the second position 29B and the meshing between the driving gear 52 and the intermittent gear 51 is disengaged. FIG. 6 is a side view of the driving force transmission mechanism 34 and shows a state at the time of mesh release when the wiper 29 reaches the second position 29B and the meshing between the drive gear 52 and the intermittent gear 51 is released. FIG. 7 is a side view of the driving force transmission mechanism 34 and shows a state immediately after the meshing is released when the wiper 29 reaches the second position 29B and the meshing between the driving gear 52 and the intermittent gear 51 is disengaged. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the driving force transmission mechanism 34 and shows a mesh release time point when the wiper 29 reaches the first position 29A and the meshing between the drive gear 52 and the intermittent gear 51 is released. FIG. 9 is a side view of the driving force transmission mechanism 34, and shows a mesh release time point when the wiper 29 reaches the first position 29A and the meshing between the drive gear 52 and the intermittent gear 51 is released, as in FIG. FIG. 10 is a side view of the driving force transmission mechanism 34 and shows a state immediately after the meshing is released after the wiper 29 reaches the first position 29A and the meshing between the driving gear 52 and the intermittent gear 51 is released.

  In an initial state before the wiper unit 28 is driven, the wiper 29 is disposed at a first position 29A above the print head 7, as shown in FIG. In the initial state where the printer 1 performs the wiping operation, the intermittent gear 51 and the driving gear 52 of the driving force transmission mechanism 34 are in the state shown in FIG. The sliding member 101 is located inside the notch 71 of the drive gear 52.

  When the printer 1 performs the wiping operation, the printer drives the carriage motor 22 to place the print head 7 at the wiping position C. Next, the printer 1 drives the motor 33 in the forward direction. Thereby, the driving force of the motor 33 is transmitted to the intermittent gear 51 via the gear train 53, and the intermittent gear 51 rotates in the first rotation direction Q1. When the intermittent gear 51 rotates in the first rotation direction Q1, as shown in FIG. 9, the intermittent gear 51 and the drive gear 52 start meshing, and the drive gear 52 rotates in the first rotation direction R1. During the period in which the intermittent tooth portion 56 of the intermittent gear 51 and the tooth portion 65 of the drive gear 52 mesh with each other and rotate, the wiper 29 moves downward from the first position 29A, and the print head 7 and the wiper cleaner 35 are moved. To reach the second position 29B.

  When the wiper 29 passes through the print head 7, the tip of the wiper 29 slides on the ink nozzle surface 7 a of the print head 7. Thereby, the adhering matter adhering to the ink nozzle surface 7 a is wiped off by the wiper 29. Further, when the wiper 29 passes through the wiper cleaner 35, the tip of the wiper 29 comes into contact with the cleaner body 35a. As a result, the deposit that has been wiped off from the print head 7 and adhered to the wiper 29 is peeled off by the wiper cleaner 35.

  Here, during the period in which the intermittent gear 51 and the drive gear 52 mesh with each other and the drive gear 52 rotates in the first rotation direction R1, as shown in FIG. 9, the sliding member 101 ( The roller 105) slides on the second inclined cam surface portion 89 and the outer cam surface portion 86 of the cam surface 85. Then, immediately before the engagement of the intermittent gear 51 and the drive gear 52 is released, as shown in FIG. 5, the sliding member 101 (roller 105) has an outer cam surface portion 86 and a first inclined cam surface portion 87. Is located at the boundary portion 85a.

  Thereafter, when the wiper 29 reaches the second position 29B and the meshing between the intermittent gear 51 and the drive gear 52 is released, the sliding member 101 is moved onto the first inclined cam surface portion 87 as shown in FIG. Located in. Here, the sliding member 101 is biased by the biasing member 102 in a direction approaching the drive gear 52 from the outer peripheral side of the large diameter portion 63. Therefore, when the sliding member 101 is positioned on the first inclined cam surface portion 87, the sliding member 101 slides on the first inclined cam surface portion 87 by the urging force of the urging member 102 (the roller 105 is in the first position). 1) It moves to the inner peripheral side of the drive gear 52 while rolling the inclined cam surface portion 87). Further, as the sliding member 101 moves to the inner peripheral side of the drive gear 52, the drive gear 52 rotates in the first rotation direction R1, which is the rotation direction immediately before the mesh release.

  Thereafter, when the rotation restricting member 103 contacts the first rib 91 and the rotation of the drive gear 52 in the first rotation direction R1 is restricted, as shown in FIG. The final meshing tooth 65a meshed with the intermittent gear 51 until just before is moved to the outside of the tooth tip circle S of the intermittent gear 51.

  Further, when the rotation restricting member 103 is in contact with the first rib 91 and the rotation of the drive gear 52 in the first rotation direction R1 is restricted, the adjoining position located next to the final meshing tooth 65a at the rear X2 in the rotation direction. The tooth 65b is located inside the tip circle S. Further, since the sliding member 101 is pressed against the first inclined cam surface portion 87 (drive gear 52) by the biasing member 102, the state in which the rotation restricting member 103 is in contact with the first rib 91 is maintained and driven. The gear 52 is maintained in a stopped state.

  Here, the drive gear rotation mechanism 54 rotates the drive gear 52 by half a tooth after the meshing between the intermittent gear 51 and the drive gear 52 is released. Therefore, when the rotation restricting member 103 is in contact with the first rib 91 and the rotation of the drive gear 52 is stopped, the addendum circle S of the intermittent gear 51 is formed between the final meshing tooth 65a and the adjacent tooth 65b of the drive gear 52. Pass between.

  When the wiper 29 reaches the second position 29B, the printer 1 drives the carriage motor 22 to move the print head 7 to the print position A or the capping position B. When the print head 7 moves away from the wiping position C, the printer 1 drives the motor 33 in the reverse direction opposite to the forward direction, and returns the wiper 29 at the second position 29B to the first position 29A.

  When the motor 33 is driven in the reverse direction, the driving force of the motor 33 is transmitted to the intermittent gear 51 through the wheel train 53. Thereby, the intermittent gear 51 rotates in the second rotation direction Q2 opposite to the first rotation direction Q1.

  Here, when the intermittent gear 51 rotates in the second rotation direction Q2, the driving force transmission mechanism 34 transitions from the state shown in FIG. 7 to the state shown in FIG. 5 through the state shown in FIG. That is, the leading tooth 56 a in the second rotation direction Q <b> 2 in the intermittent tooth portion 56 of the intermittent gear 51 meshes with the final meshing tooth 65 a of the drive gear 52. More specifically, the leading tooth 56a in the second rotational direction Q2 in the tooth portion 65 of the intermittent gear 51 is adjacent to the drive gear 52 located inside the addendum circle S of the intermittent gear 51, as shown in FIG. It enters between the tooth 65b and the final meshing tooth 65a located outside the tip circle S. And as shown in FIG. 5, the meshing state of the intermittent gear 51 and a drive is formed. Therefore, the drive gear 52 rotates in the second rotation direction R2 opposite to the first rotation direction R1.

  When the drive gear 52 rotates in the second rotation direction R <b> 2, the sliding member 101 moves to the outer peripheral side along the first inclined cam surface portion 87 against the urging force of the urging member 102. Then, the outer cam surface portion 86 slides through a boundary portion 85 a between the first inclined cam surface portion 87 and the outer cam surface portion 86. When the drive gear 52 rotates in the second rotational direction R2, the wiper 29 moves upward from the second position 29B, passes through the wiper cleaner 35, and reaches the first position 29A. When the wiper 29 passes through the wiper cleaner 35, the tip of the wiper 29 contacts the wiper cleaner 35. As a result, the deposit that has been wiped off from the print head 7 and adhered to the wiper 29 is peeled off by the wiper cleaner 35.

  Thereafter, when the wiper 29 returns to the first position 29A and the meshing between the intermittent gear 51 and the drive gear 52 is released, the sliding member 101 is moved to the second inclined cam surface as shown in FIGS. Located on portion 89. Here, the sliding member 101 is biased by the biasing member 102 in a direction approaching the second inclined cam surface portion 89 (drive gear 52) from the outer peripheral side of the large diameter portion 63. Therefore, when the sliding member 101 is positioned on the second inclined cam surface portion 89, the sliding member 101 slides on the second inclined cam surface portion 89 by the urging force of the urging member 102 (the roller 105 is in the first position). 2) It moves to the inner peripheral side of the drive gear 52 (while rolling on the inclined cam surface portion 89). Further, as the sliding member 101 moves to the inner peripheral side of the drive gear 52, the drive gear 52 rotates in the second rotation direction R2, which is the rotation direction immediately before the mesh release.

  Thereafter, when the rotation restricting member 103 abuts on the first rib 91 and the rotation of the drive gear 52 in the first rotation direction R1 is restricted, as shown in FIG. Of these, the final meshing tooth 65 c that has meshed with the intermittent gear 51 until just before is moved to the outside of the tip circle S of the intermittent gear 51. Further, the adjacent tooth 65d located next to the final meshing tooth 65c at the rear X2 in the second rotational direction R2 is located inside the tip circle S of the intermittent gear 51. When the adjacent teeth 65d are located on the inner peripheral side of the addendum circle S of the intermittent gear 51, the rotation restricting member 103 comes into contact with the second rib 92, and the drive gear 52 further exceeds the second rotational direction R2. Rotation is restricted. Further, since the sliding member 101 is pressed against the second inclined cam surface portion 89 (drive gear 52) by the biasing member 102, the state in which the rotation restricting member 103 is in contact with the second rib 92 is maintained and driven. The gear 52 is maintained in a stopped state. As a result, the wiper unit 28 returns to the initial state.

  Here, the drive gear rotation mechanism 54 rotates the drive gear 52 by half a tooth after the meshing between the intermittent gear 51 and the drive gear 52 is released. Therefore, in the initial state where the rotation restricting member 103 abuts on the third protrusion and the rotation of the drive gear 52 is stopped, the addendum circle S of the intermittent gear 51 is formed between the final meshing tooth 65c and the adjacent tooth 65d of the drive gear 52. Is passing between.

  Thereafter, when the wiping operation is resumed, the motor 33 is driven in the forward direction. When the motor 33 is driven in the forward direction, the driving force of the motor 33 is transmitted to the intermittent gear 51 through the wheel train 53. Thereby, the intermittent gear 51 rotates in the first rotation direction Q1. Here, when the intermittent gear 51 rotates in the first rotation direction Q <b> 1, the driving force transmission mechanism 34 changes from the state shown in FIG. 10 to the state shown in FIG. 9, and the first rotation in the tooth portion 65 of the intermittent gear 51. The leading tooth 56b in the direction Q1 meshes with the final meshing tooth 65c of the drive gear 52. As a result, the driving force of the motor 33 is transmitted to the driving gear 52 via the intermittent gear 51. Therefore, the wiping operation is resumed.

(Function and effect)
According to this example, when the meshing between the intermittent gear 51 and the driving gear 52 is released, the sliding member 101 of the driving gear rotating mechanism 54 slides on the cam surface 85 of the driving gear 52 to move the driving gear 52. By rotating in the rotational direction immediately before the mesh release, the last meshing teeth 65a and 65c meshed with the intermittent gear 51 until immediately before are moved outward from the tooth tip circle S of the intermittent gear 51. As a result, it is possible to prevent the tooth tips of the intermittent gear 51 and the final mesh teeth 65a and 65c of the drive gear 52 from coming into contact with each other at the start of the next meshing of the drive gear 52 and the intermittent gear 51. It is possible to prevent or suppress the generation of abnormal noise or the loss of the tooth tip at the beginning of the next meshing of 52 and the intermittent gear 51.

  Further, in this example, when the driving gear 52 rotates and the final meshing tooth 65a moves outside the tip circle S of the intermittent gear 51, it is positioned next to the final meshing teeth 65a and 65c in the rear in the rotational direction. The adjacent teeth 65b and 65d are located inside the tip circle S. Therefore, at the start of the next meshing, the teeth 56a and 56b that first mesh with the drive gear 52 in the intermittent gear 51 (the teeth meshed with the drive gear 52 just before the meshing is released in the intermittent gear 51) are the drive gear 52. Mesh with the final meshing teeth 65a and 65c. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a phase shift from occurring between the intermittent gear 51 and the drive gear 52 at the start of the next meshing.

  Further, when the drive gear 52 rotates and the final meshing teeth 65a and 65c move outside the tip circle S of the intermittent gear 51 and the adjacent teeth 65b are positioned inside the tip circle S of the intermittent gear 51, the drive is performed. The rotation restricting member 103 contacts the ribs 91 and 92 of the gear 52 to prevent the drive gear 52 from rotating further. Therefore, when the final meshing teeth 65a and 65c move outward from the tip circle S of the intermittent gear 51, the adjacent teeth 65b and 65d are reliably positioned inside the tip circle S of the intermittent gear 51. can do. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent a phase shift between the intermittent gear 51 and the drive gear 52 at the start of the next meshing.

  Further, in this example, the pulley is provided coaxially with the drive gear 52 as one unit. Thereby, since the pulley and the drive gear 52 rotate integrally, the movement range of the wiper 29 can be accurately defined by the rotation amount of the drive gear 52.

  In this example, the sliding member 101 that slides on the cam surface 85 includes a roller 105 that can roll on the cam surface 85. As a result, the sliding member 101 can easily slide on the cam surface 85, so that the driving gear 52 can be easily rotated by the sliding member 101. If the sliding member 101 can slide on the cam surface 85 and is urged by the urging member 102 from the outer peripheral side of the driving gear 52 to the driving gear 52 (cam surface 85), the roller 105 is moved. It does not have to be provided.

  The drive gear 52 that meshes with the intermittent gear 51 may be an intermittent gear. In the above example, the rotation restricting member 103 restricts the rotation of the drive gear 52. However, the rotation restricting member 103 can be omitted by reducing the angle range in which the notch 71 is provided.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printer, 2 ... Housing, 2a ... Front surface, 2b ... Upper surface, 3 ... Recording paper, 4 ... Insertion port, 5 ... Discharge port, 7 ... Print head, 7a ... Ink nozzle surface, 8 ... Paper conveyance path, 9 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS ... Horizontal path part, 10 ... Curve path part, 11 ... Vertical path part, 13 ... Conveyance mechanism, 14 ... Head movement mechanism, 15 ... Conveyance roller pair, 16 ... Conveyance motor, 17 ... Head carriage, 18 ... Carriage guide shaft, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 19 ... Carriage moving mechanism, 20 ... Pulley, 21 ... Timing belt, 22 ... Carriage motor, 25 ... Cap unit, 26 ... Cap, 28 ... Wiper unit, 29 ... Wiper, 29A ... First position of wiper, 29B ... Wiper of wiper 2nd position, 30 ... 1st inclination board part, 31 ... 2nd inclination board part, 32 ... Wiper moving mechanism, 33 ... Motor, 34 ... Driving force transmission mechanism, 35 ... Wiper Cleaner 35a ... Cleaner body 41 ... Carriage 42 ... Carriage guide shaft 43 ... Timing belt 43a ... Belt portion 44 ... First pulley 45 ... Second pulley 46 ... Drive pulley 47 ... Third pulley DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 51 ... Intermittent gear, 52 ... Drive gear, 53 ... Wheel train, 54 ... Drive gear rotation mechanism, 56 ... Intermittent tooth part, 56a ... Intermittent tooth part, 56b ... Intermittent tooth part, 58 ... Printer frame, 59 ... support shaft, 61 ... small diameter part, 62 ... medium diameter part, 63 ... large diameter part, 65 ... tooth part, 65a ... final meshing tooth, 65c ... final meshing tooth, 65b ... adjacent tooth, 65d ... adjacent tooth, 71 ... Notch 72, outer arc surface, 73 ... first inclined surface, 74 ... inner arc surface, 75 ... second inclined surface, 78 ... annular end surface, 79 ... outer rib, 80 ... inner rib, 81 ... first inclined Rib, 82 ... 2nd tilt Rib, 85 ... cam surface, 85a ... boundary portion, 86 ... outer cam surface portion, 87 ... first inclined cam surface portion, 88 ... arc surface portion, 89 ... second inclined cam surface portion, 91 ... first rib, 92 2nd rib, 101 ... sliding member, 102 ... urging member, 103 ... rotation regulating member, 103a ... protruding portion, 105 ... roller, 106 ... roller support, A ... printing position, B ... capping position, C ... Wiping position, L1 ... rotation center line, Q1 ... first rotation direction of intermittent gear, Q2 ... second rotation direction of intermittent gear, R1 ... first rotation direction of drive gear, R2 ... second rotation direction of drive gear, S ... tooth tip circle of intermittent gear, X ... longitudinal direction, X1 ... forward, X2 ... backward, Y ... width direction, Y1 ... direction, Y2 ... direction, Z ... vertical direction.

Claims (6)

A print head;
A wiper capable of sliding contact with an ink nozzle surface of the print head;
A wiper moving mechanism for moving the wiper along the ink nozzle surface;
A motor,
A driving force transmission mechanism for transmitting the driving force of the motor to the wiper moving mechanism;
Have
The driving force transmission mechanism includes an intermittent gear to which the driving force of the motor is transmitted, a driving gear meshing with the intermittent gear, and the driving gear when the meshing between the intermittent gear and the driving gear is released. A drive gear rotation mechanism for rotating,
The drive gear includes a tooth portion that can mesh with the intermittent gear, and a cam surface that inclines in a direction crossing the radial direction toward the outer peripheral side,
The drive gear rotation mechanism includes a sliding member that can slide on the cam surface, and a biasing member that biases the sliding member toward the cam surface from the outer peripheral side to the inner peripheral side of the drive gear, With
When the meshing between the intermittent gear and the drive gear is released, the sliding member is positioned on the cam surface, and the sliding member slides on the cam surface by the biasing force of the biasing member. As the drive gear moves to the inner peripheral side, the drive gear rotates in the rotational direction immediately before the mesh release, and the final meshing tooth meshed with the intermittent gear until the mesh release is released among the tooth portions. A printer, characterized in that the printer is located outside a tip circle of the intermittent gear. In claim 1,
When the drive gear rotates and the final meshing tooth is located outside the tip circle, the adjacent tooth located next to the final meshing tooth in the rear of the rotation direction is located inside the tip circle. A printer characterized by that. In claim 2,
The drive gear rotation mechanism includes a contacted portion provided on the drive gear, and a rotation restriction member that contacts the contacted portion and restricts rotation of the drive gear in the rotation direction.
The rotation restricting member moves forward in the rotation direction when the drive gear rotates and the final meshing tooth is positioned outside the tip circle and the adjacent tooth is positioned inside the tip circle. A printer, wherein the printer contacts the contacted portion. In any one of claims 1 to 3,
The said sliding member is provided with the roller which can roll the said cam surface, and the roller support part which supports the said roller rotatably, The printer characterized by the above-mentioned. In any one of claims 1 to 4,
The wiper moving mechanism includes a carriage that supports the wiper, a carriage guide shaft that extends parallel to the ink nozzle surface and movably supports the carriage, and a belt portion that extends along the carriage guide shaft. And a pulley around which the timing belt is bridged,
The carriage is connected to the timing belt;
The printer according to claim 1, wherein the rotation of the drive gear is transmitted to the pulley. In claim 5,
The printer, wherein the driving gear is provided coaxially with the pulley.

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