JP2018193199A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

To achieve a reduction in size of a printer.SOLUTION: A printer 100 includes: a printing part 40; a conveyance belt 23; a scale part 75 provided in a conveyance direction; a detection part 85 detecting a relative movement amount with respect to the scale part 75; a holding part 80 being constituted integrally with the detection part 85, holding the conveyance belt 23 and capable of changing a state between a holding state where moving together with the conveyance belt 23 and a non-holding state where not holding the conveyance belt 23; and a switching part 74 switching the holding part 80 between the holding state and the non-holding state. At least a part of the holding part 80 is constituted of an elastic member 83, and the switching part 74 switches from one to the other of the holding state and the non-holding state by utilizing elasticity of the elastic member 83.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus.

In recent years, in printing on fabrics such as cotton, silk, wool, chemical fibers, and mixed spinning, an ink jet printing apparatus that ejects ink toward the surface of the fabric to print a pattern or the like is used. A printing apparatus used in textile printing includes a transport belt that places a medium and transports it in the transport direction in order to handle a stretchable fabric as a medium. In such a printing device,
In order to improve the conveyance accuracy of the conveyance belt, one having a mechanism for detecting the movement amount of the conveyance belt is known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an ink jet recording including a movement amount detection unit configured by a scale unit that engages and moves with a conveyor belt and a sensor unit that is fixed to a base and measures the movement amount of the scale unit. An apparatus (printing apparatus) is disclosed.

JP 2013-28143 A

However, in the printing apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the gripping unit that grips (engages) the scale unit with the transport belt requires a rotation mechanism for switching between the gripping state and the non-gripping state. . The rotating mechanism is composed of a number of members, such as a rotating shaft, a support member that supports the rotating shaft, a base connected to the rotating shaft, and a rotational drive source that rotates the rotating shaft. The mechanism of the switching unit for switching between the two has increased in size, which in turn has led to an increase in the size of the printing apparatus.

SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to solve at least a part of the problems described above, and the invention can be implemented as the following forms or application examples.

Application Example 1 A printing apparatus according to this application example is provided along a printing unit that performs printing on a medium, a conveyance belt that conveys the medium in a conveyance direction by rotating, and the conveyance direction. A scale unit, a detection unit that detects a movement amount relative to the scale unit, and a unit that moves integrally with the scale unit or the detection unit, and holds the conveyance belt together with the conveyance belt A gripping portion that can be changed to a gripping state that moves and a gripping state that does not grip the conveyor belt; and a switching unit that switches the gripping portion between the gripping state and the non-gripping state. Is at least partially configured by an elastic member, and the switching unit switches from one of the gripping state and the non-gripping state to the other using the elasticity of the elastic member.

According to this application example, the printing apparatus includes a grip portion that can be changed between a grip state in which the transport belt is gripped and a non-grip state in which the transport belt is not gripped, and a switching unit that switches the grip portion between the grip state and the non-grip state. Have. At least a part of the gripping part is constituted by an elastic member, and the switching part uses the elasticity of the elastic member to switch the gripping part from one of the gripping state and the non-gripping state to the other. A switching part can be made into a simple structure. Thereby, size reduction of a printing apparatus can be achieved.

Application Example 2 In the printing apparatus according to the application example described above, it is preferable that the elastic member is carbon fiber or a composite material containing carbon fiber.

According to this application example, since the elastic member constituting at least a part of the gripping portion is carbon fiber or a composite material containing carbon fiber, the elasticity and strength required for the elastic member of the gripping portion can be ensured. it can.

Application Example 3 In the printing apparatus according to the application example, the switching unit includes an electromagnet,
It is preferable that the gripping portion has a ferromagnetic body and is changed from the non-gripping state to the gripping state by a magnetic force generated when a current flows through the electromagnet.

According to this application example, the switching unit includes an electromagnet, and the gripping unit includes a ferromagnetic body that is attracted to the magnet. The gripping unit is changed from the non-gripping state to the gripping state by a simple configuration of the magnetic force generated when an electric current flows through the electromagnet of the switching unit and the ferromagnetic material of the gripping unit. It can be downsized.

Application Example 4 In the printing apparatus according to the application example described above, the printing apparatus includes a driving unit that rotates and moves the conveyance belt, and the driving unit is provided on the downstream side of the printing unit with respect to the conveyance direction. It is preferable that the unit grips the transport belt on the upstream side in the transport direction from the printing unit.

According to this application example, the driving unit of the conveyance belt is provided on the downstream side of the printing unit, and the gripping unit grips the conveyance belt on the upstream side of the printing unit. When the driving unit is rotationally driven to move the gripping part in the gripping state together with the transport belt in the transport direction, the transport belt may be loosened between the drive unit and the gripping part in the rotational movement direction of the transport belt. However, since the printing unit of this application example is located between the gripping unit and the driving unit, it is possible to reduce the influence due to the looseness of the conveyance belt in the printing unit.

Application Example 5 In the printing apparatus according to the application example described above, when the grip portion in the grip state is moved from the first position to the second position that is located downstream in the transport direction from the first position. Preferably, the apparatus further includes a control unit that stops the rotation of the transport belt and performs an adjustment operation for adjusting the position of the transport belt based on the movement amount detected by the detection unit.

According to this application example, when the driving unit moves the conveyance belt from the first position to the second position, the printing apparatus determines the position of the conveyance belt based on the actual movement amount of the conveyance belt detected by the detection unit. Since it has the control part to adjust, the position of a conveyance belt can be adjusted suitably.

Application Example 6 In the printing apparatus described in the application example, it is preferable that the control unit can switch whether or not to perform the adjustment operation.

According to this application example, the printing apparatus can be suitably controlled according to the required image quality.

Application Example 7 The printing apparatus according to the application example described above includes a return unit that moves the gripping unit in the non-gripping state in a direction opposite to the transporting direction, and the gripping unit in the gripping state transports the transporting unit. When moving in the direction, it is preferable that the return part is separated from the grip part.

According to this application example, the printing apparatus includes the return unit that moves the grip unit in the direction opposite to the transport direction. As a result, the gripper is returned to the upstream side in the transport direction, so that the gripper in the grip state can be repeatedly moved together with the transport belt. Further, when the gripping portion in the gripping state moves together with the transport belt, the return portion is separated from the gripping portion, so that it is possible to suppress the return portion from applying a load to the rotation driving of the transport belt.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a schematic overall configuration of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment. The top view which shows the principal part of a printing apparatus. The perspective view which shows the structure of a belt movement amount measurement part. Sectional drawing in the AA in FIG. FIG. 3 is an electrical block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the printing apparatus. The flowchart figure explaining a printing method.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following drawings, the scale of each layer and each member is different from the actual scale so that each layer and each member can be recognized.
1 to 4, for convenience of explanation, the X axis, the Y axis, and the Z axis are illustrated as three axes that are orthogonal to each other. The end side is defined as “− side”. The direction parallel to the X axis is referred to as “X axis direction”, the direction parallel to the Y axis is referred to as “Y axis direction”, and the direction parallel to the Z axis is referred to as “Z axis direction”.

(Embodiment)
<Schematic configuration of printing device>
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a schematic overall configuration of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a main part of the printing apparatus. First, a schematic configuration of the printing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. In the present embodiment, an ink jet printing apparatus 100 that performs printing on the medium 95 by forming an image or the like on the medium 95 will be described as an example.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the printing apparatus 100 includes a medium transport unit 20, a medium contact unit 60, and a printing unit 40.
, A drying unit 27, a belt movement amount measuring unit 70, a cleaning unit 50, and the like. And it has the control part 1 which controls each of these parts. Each unit of the printing apparatus 100 is attached to the frame unit 90.

The medium transport unit 20 transports the medium 95 in the transport direction. The medium conveyance unit 20 includes a medium supply unit 10, a conveyance roller 22, a conveyance belt 23, a belt rotation roller 24, a belt driving roller 25, conveyance rollers 26 and 28, and a medium recovery unit 30. First, the conveyance path of the medium 95 from the medium supply unit 10 to the medium recovery unit 30 will be described. In the present embodiment, the direction along the gravity is the Z axis, the direction in which the medium 95 is conveyed in the printing unit 40 is the X axis, and the width direction of the medium 95 that intersects both the Z axis and the X axis is the Y axis. And Further, the positional relationship along the conveyance direction of the medium 95 or the movement direction of the conveyance belt 23 is “upstream side” or “downstream side”.
Also called.

The medium supply unit 10 supplies a medium 95 for forming an image to the printing unit 40 side.
As the medium 95, for example, a cloth such as cotton, wool, or polyester is used. The medium supply unit 10 includes a supply shaft portion 11 and a bearing portion 12. The supply shaft portion 11 is formed in a cylindrical shape or a columnar shape, and is provided to be rotatable in the circumferential direction. A belt-like medium 95 is wound around the supply shaft portion 11 in a roll shape. The supply shaft portion 11 is detachably attached to the bearing portion 12. Thus, the medium 95 that has been wound around the supply shaft portion 11 in advance can be attached to the bearing portion 12 together with the supply shaft portion 11.

The bearing portion 12 rotatably supports both ends of the supply shaft portion 11 in the axial direction. Medium supply unit 1
0 has a rotation drive unit (not shown) for rotating the supply shaft unit 11. The rotation drive unit rotates the supply shaft unit 11 in the direction in which the medium 95 is sent out. The operation of the rotation drive unit is controlled by the control unit 1. The conveyance roller 22 relays the medium 95 from the medium supply unit 10 to the conveyance belt 23.

The conveyance belt 23 is held between at least two rollers that rotate the conveyance belt 23, and conveys the medium 95 in the conveyance direction (+ X axis direction) as the conveyance belt 23 rotates. Specifically, the transport belt 23 is formed in an endless shape by connecting both end portions of a belt-like belt, and is hung between two rollers of a belt rotating roller 24 and a belt driving roller 25. The conveyor belt 23 is held in a state where a predetermined tension is applied so that a portion between the belt rotating roller 24 and the belt driving roller 25 is horizontal. An adhesive layer 29 for adhering the medium 95 is provided on the surface (support surface) 23 a of the transport belt 23. The conveyance belt 23 supports (holds) a medium 95 that is supplied from the conveyance roller 22 and is in close contact with the adhesive layer 29 by a medium contact portion 60 described later. As a result, a stretchable fabric or the like is applied to the medium 9.
5 can be handled.

The belt rotation roller 24 and the belt driving roller 25 are an inner peripheral surface 23 of the transport belt 23.
Support b. In addition, a configuration in which a support portion such as a roller that supports the conveyance belt 23 is provided between the belt rotation roller 24 and the belt driving roller 25 may be employed.

The belt drive roller 25 is a drive unit that rotates and moves the transport belt 23, and includes a motor (not shown) that drives the belt drive roller 25 to rotate. The belt drive roller 25 as a drive unit is provided on the downstream side of the printing unit 40 with respect to the conveyance direction of the medium 95, and the belt rotation roller 24 is provided on the upstream side of the printing unit 40. When the belt driving roller 25 is rotationally driven, the conveyor belt 23 is rotated along with the rotation of the belt driving roller 25.
And the belt rotation roller 24 is rotated by the rotation of the conveyor belt 23. The rotation of the conveyance belt 23 causes the medium 95 supported by the conveyance belt 23 to be conveyed in the conveyance direction (+ X axis direction), and an image is formed on the medium 95 by the printing unit 40 described later.

In the present embodiment, the surface 23a of the conveyor belt 23 faces the printing unit 40 (+ Z axis side).
The medium 95 is supported by the belt rotating roller 24 together with the conveyor belt 23.
From the side to the belt drive roller 25 side. On the side (−Z axis side) where the surface 23 a of the conveyor belt 23 faces the cleaning unit 50, only the conveyor belt 23 moves from the belt driving roller 25 side to the belt rotating roller 24 side. The transport belt 23 has been described as including the adhesive layer 29 that allows the medium 95 to be in close contact therewith, but is not limited thereto. For example, the conveyance belt may be an electrostatic adsorption type belt that adsorbs a medium to the belt with static electricity.

The transport roller 26 peels the medium 95 on which the image is formed from the adhesive layer 29 of the transport belt 23. The transport rollers 26 and 28 relay the medium 95 from the transport belt 23 to the medium recovery unit 30.

The medium collection unit 30 collects the medium 95 conveyed by the medium conveyance unit 20. The medium recovery unit 30 includes a winding shaft portion 31 and a bearing portion 32. The winding shaft portion 31 is formed in a cylindrical shape or a columnar shape, and is provided to be rotatable in the circumferential direction. The winding shaft 31 includes
A belt-like medium 95 is wound up in a roll shape. The winding shaft portion 31 is detachably attached to the bearing portion 32. Thereby, the medium 95 in the state of being wound around the winding shaft portion 31.
Can be removed together with the winding shaft 31.

The bearing portion 32 rotatably supports both ends of the winding shaft portion 31 in the axial direction. The medium recovery unit 30 includes a rotation driving unit (not shown) that drives the winding shaft unit 31 to rotate. The rotation driving unit rotates the winding shaft portion 31 in the direction in which the medium 95 is wound. The operation of the rotation drive unit is controlled by the control unit 1.

Next, the medium contact portion 60 and the belt movement amount measuring portion 7 provided along the medium conveying portion 20.
0, the printing unit 40, the drying unit 27, and the cleaning unit 50 will be described.

The medium contact portion 60 is for bringing the medium 95 into close contact with the transport belt 23. Medium adhesion part 6
0 is provided on the upstream side (−X axis side) from the printing unit 40. The medium contact portion 60 includes a pressing roller 61, a pressing roller driving unit 62, and a roller support unit 63. The pressing roller 61 is formed in a cylindrical shape or a columnar shape, and is provided to be rotatable in the circumferential direction.
The pressing roller 61 is disposed so that the axial direction intersects the transport direction so as to rotate in a direction along the transport direction. The roller support part 63 is provided on the inner peripheral surface 23 b side of the conveyor belt 23 that faces the pressing roller 61 with the conveyor belt 23 interposed therebetween.

The pressing roller driving unit 62 presses the pressing roller 61 in the conveying direction (+ X axis direction) and the direction opposite to the conveying direction (−X axis direction) while pressing the pressing roller 61 downward in the vertical direction (−Z axis side). The roller 61 is moved. The medium 95 superimposed on the conveyor belt 23 is a pressing roller 61.
And the roller support 63 are pressed against the transport belt 23. Thereby, the medium 95 can be reliably adhered to the adhesive layer 29 provided on the surface 23 a of the transport belt 23, and the occurrence of the floating of the medium 95 on the transport belt 23 can be prevented.

The belt movement amount measuring unit 70 is provided between the medium contact unit 60 and the printing unit 40. The belt movement amount measuring unit 70 will be described in detail later.

The printing unit 40 is disposed above (+ Z axis side) with respect to the position where the transport belt 23 is disposed, and performs printing on the medium 95 placed on the surface 23 a of the transport belt 23. The printing unit 40 includes a head unit 42, a carriage 43 on which the head unit 42 is mounted, and a carriage 4.
3 for moving the carriage 3 in the width direction (Y-axis direction) of the medium 95 intersecting the transport direction.
5 etc. The head unit 42 according to this embodiment includes four subunits 42a. Further, the subunit 42a includes ink (for example, an ink supplied from an ink supply unit (not shown) to the medium 95 placed on the transport belt 23). A plurality of discharge heads (not shown) for discharging droplets of yellow, cyan, magenta, black, etc.) are provided.

The carriage moving unit 45 is provided above the conveyance belt 23 (+ Z axis side). The carriage moving unit 45 has a pair of guide rails 45a and 45b extending along the Y-axis direction. The guide rails 45a and 45b are bridged between frame portions 90a and 90b that are vertically provided outside the conveyor belt 23. The head unit 42 is supported by the guide rails 45a and 45b so as to be capable of reciprocating along the Y-axis direction together with the carriage 43.

The carriage moving unit 45 includes a moving mechanism and a power source (not shown). As the moving mechanism, for example, a mechanism in which a ball screw and a ball nut are combined, a linear guide mechanism, or the like can be employed. Furthermore, the carriage moving unit 45 includes a motor (not shown) as a power source for moving the carriage 43 along the guide rails 45a and 45b. Various motors such as stepping motors, servo motors, and linear motors can be employed as the motor. When the motor is driven by the control of the control unit 1, the head unit 42 moves along the Y axis direction together with the carriage 43.

The drying unit 27 is provided between the transport roller 26 and the transport roller 28.
The drying unit 27 is for drying the ink ejected on the medium 95. The drying unit 27 includes, for example, an IR heater, and the ink ejected on the medium 95 is driven by driving the IR heater. It can be dried in a short time. Thereby, the belt-shaped medium 95 on which an image or the like is formed can be wound around the winding shaft portion 31.

The cleaning unit 50 is disposed between the belt rotating roller 24 and the belt driving roller 25 in the X-axis direction. The cleaning unit 50 includes a cleaning unit 51, a pressing unit 52, and a moving unit 5.
3. The moving unit 53 integrally moves the cleaning unit 50 along the floor surface 99 and fixes it to a predetermined position.

The pressing part 52 is, for example, an elevating device constituted by an air cylinder 56 and a ball bush 57, and makes the cleaning part 51 provided on the upper part abut on the surface 23a of the conveyor belt 23. The cleaning unit 51 includes a belt rotating roller 24 and a belt driving roller 25.
The surface (support surface) 23a of the conveyor belt 23 that is applied with a predetermined tension between the belt drive roller 25 and moves from the belt drive roller 25 toward the belt rotation roller 24 is washed from below (−Z axis direction). .

The cleaning unit 51 includes a cleaning tank 54, a cleaning roller 58, and a blade 55. The cleaning tank 54 is a tank for storing a cleaning liquid used for cleaning ink and foreign matters attached to the surface 23 a of the conveyor belt 23, and the cleaning roller 58 and the blade 55 are provided inside the cleaning tank 54. As the cleaning liquid, for example, water or a water-soluble solvent (alcohol aqueous solution or the like) can be used, and a surfactant or an antifoaming agent may be added as necessary.

When the cleaning roller 58 rotates, the cleaning liquid is supplied to the surface 23a of the transport belt 23, and the cleaning roller 58 and the transport belt 23 slide. As a result, ink adhering to the conveyor belt 23, fabric fibers as the medium 95, and the like are removed by the cleaning roller 58.

The blade 55 can be formed of a flexible material such as silicon rubber, for example.
The blade 55 is provided downstream of the cleaning roller 58 in the conveyance direction of the conveyance belt 23. When the conveying belt 23 and the blade 55 slide, the conveying belt 23 is moved.
The cleaning liquid remaining on the surface 23a is removed.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of the belt movement amount measurement unit. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG.
It is sectional drawing in a line. Next, the configuration of the belt movement amount measuring unit 70 will be described with reference to FIGS.

The belt movement amount measuring unit 70 is provided on the upstream side of the printing unit 40 and is provided along either one of both ends in the width direction (Y-axis direction) of the transport belt 23. The belt movement amount measuring unit 70 according to the present embodiment is provided on the + Y axis side of the conveyor belt 23. The belt movement amount measuring unit 70 is provided on a base 71 having a long rectangular parallelepiped shape along the conveyance direction (X-axis direction) of the medium 95, a scale attaching unit 73 provided above the base 71, and the base 71. And a gripping portion 80 that moves along a guide rail 72 that extends in the X-axis direction, a return portion 76 that moves the gripping portion 80 to the upstream side in the transport direction, and the like.

The scale attaching part 73 is bridged between pillar parts 73a and 73b provided perpendicularly to both ends in the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) of the base 71. The scale sticking portion 73 has a protruding portion that protrudes like a bowl in the −Y-axis direction, and a part thereof overlaps the transport belt 23 in plan view.
A scale portion 75 is provided on the lower surface (the surface on the −Z axis side) of the protruding portion of the scale pasting portion 73 along the conveyance direction of the medium 95. The scale unit 75 of this embodiment uses a magnetic scale in which magnets having different polarities are alternately arranged.

The gripping unit 80 of the present embodiment grips the transport belt 23 on the upstream side in the transport direction from the printing unit 40. When the belt drive roller 25 is rotationally driven to move the gripping portion 80 in the gripping state together with the transport belt 23 in the transport direction, the transport belt 23 has elasticity, and therefore the belt drive is performed in the rotational movement direction of the transport belt 23. There is a possibility that the conveyor belt 23 may be loosened between the roller 25 and the grip portion. Since the printing unit 40 is provided between the gripping unit 80 and the belt driving roller 25 in the rotational movement direction of the transport belt 23, the printing unit 40
The influence of the looseness of the conveyor belt 23 can be reduced. Thereby, the conveyance accuracy of the medium 95 is improved.

The gripping unit 80 includes a gripping substrate 81, a guide block 82, a detection unit 85, and the like. The gripping substrate 81 has a rectangular plate shape that is long in the width direction (Y-axis direction) of the transport belt 23.
An end portion 81c on the −Y-axis side of the grip substrate 81 substantially coincides with the −Y-axis side wall 73c of the scale pasting portion 73 in a plan view and overlaps the transport belt 23. An end 81d on the + Y-axis side of the holding substrate 81 protrudes in the + Y-axis direction from the side wall 71d on the + Y-axis side of the base 71 in plan view. A guide block 82 is provided on the bottom surface (the surface on the −Z axis side) of the gripping substrate 81. The guide block 82 is formed with a concave groove that opens to the −Z axis side, following the shape of the guide rail 72 protruding in a convex shape. When the guide block 82 and the guide rail 72 are engaged, the grip portion 80 is configured to be able to reciprocate along the transport direction (X-axis direction).

The grip portion 80 is at least partially configured by an elastic member 83. Specifically, an elastic member 83 is provided on the upper surface (the surface on the + Z-axis side) of the gripping substrate 81. Elastic member 83
Has a rectangular plate shape shorter than the holding substrate 81. An end 83 d on the + Y-axis side of the elastic member 83 is joined to the gripping substrate 81 at the approximate center of the gripping substrate 81. -Y of elastic member 83
The shaft-side end portion 83c substantially coincides with the −Y-axis side end portion 81c of the gripping substrate 81 in plan view. The end portion 81 c of the holding substrate 81 and the end portion 83 c of the elastic member 83 have a gap slightly wider than the thickness of the transport belt 23. The gripping portion 80 is configured to be able to hold the transport belt 23 between the end portion 81 c of the gripping substrate 81 and the end portion 83 c of the elastic member 83 by the elastic force of the elastic member 83. The elastic member 83 is preferably carbon fiber or a composite material containing carbon fiber. Since the carbon fiber has a specific gravity lighter than that of the metal material and is excellent in strength, elastic modulus, and wear resistance, the elasticity and strength required for the elastic member 83 of the grip portion 80 can be ensured.

The gripping unit 80 grips the transport belt 23 and moves together with the transport belt 23.
The state can be changed to a non-gripping state in which the conveyance belt 23 is not gripped. Specifically, the grip 80 has a ferromagnetic body 84. The ferromagnetic body 84 is provided on the upper surface (the surface on the + Z-axis side) of the elastic member 83 that does not overlap the transport belt 23 in plan view. As the ferromagnetic material 84, iron, nickel, cobalt, or the like can be used.

In addition, a switching unit 74 that switches the gripping unit 80 between a gripping state and a non-holding state is provided at a position on the lower surface of the gripping substrate 81 of the gripping unit 80 and facing the ferromagnetic body 84. The switching unit 74 includes an electromagnet, and the ferromagnetic body 84 is attracted to the switching unit 74 (electromagnet) by a magnetic force generated when a current flows through the electromagnet. At this time, the elastic member 83 is moved to the holding substrate 8.
It is elastically deformed to one side, and the conveying belt 23 is held between the holding substrate 81 and the elastic member 83 by the elastic force. As a result, the gripping unit 80 is changed from the non-gripping state to the gripping state. Further, when the current flowing through the electromagnet is interrupted, the gripping unit 80 is changed from the gripping state to the non-holding state. Therefore, the switching unit 74 uses the elasticity of the elastic member 83 to hold the gripping unit 8.
It has a function of switching 0 from one of the gripping state and the non-holding state to the other. Since the gripping portion 80 is changed in state by a simple configuration of the electromagnet of the switching portion 74 and the ferromagnetic body 84,
The switching unit 74 and the gripping unit 80 can be reduced in size.

A detection unit 85 is provided on the upper surface of the end 83 c of the elastic member 83 at a position facing the scale unit 75. The detection unit 85 includes an element (for example, a Hall element or an MR element) that changes a change in magnetic field into an electric signal, and detects a movement amount relative to the scale unit 75. The detection unit 85 of the present embodiment is provided on a pedestal that is disposed close to the scale unit 75. Since the detection unit 85 is configured to move integrally with the gripping unit 80, the movement amount of the conveyance belt 23 can be detected when the gripping unit 80 in the gripped state moves together with the conveyance belt 23.

The return unit 76 moves the grip unit 80 in a non-grip state in the direction opposite to the transport direction.
The return unit 76 includes a moving lever 78 and a lever moving unit 77 that reciprocates the moving lever 78 along the transport direction. The lever moving part 77 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape that is long in the transport direction, and is fixed to the side wall 71 d of the base 71 on the + Y axis side. On the upper surface (+ Z-axis side surface) and the lower surface (−Z-axis side surface) of the lever moving portion 77, concave guide grooves extending in the transport direction are formed.

The moving lever 78 includes a pedestal 78a and a pedestal 78 having convex protrusions that follow the shape of the guide groove.
and a long handle portion 78b extending in the vertical direction (+ Z-axis direction). The moving lever 78 is configured to be able to reciprocate along the guide groove of the lever moving portion 77. Lever moving part 7
7 includes a moving mechanism (not shown) that reciprocates the moving lever 78 in the transport direction. For example, an air cylinder can be employed as the moving mechanism. Move lever 7
8 is moved upstream in the transport direction by the lever moving portion 77, the long handle portion 78b of the moving lever 78 and the gripping substrate 81 of the gripping portion 80 come into contact with each other, and the gripping portion 80 in the non-grip state is moved in the transport direction. It is returned to the upstream side in the reverse direction. Accordingly, the gripping portion 80 in the gripping state can be repeatedly moved together with the transport belt 23, and the movement amount of the transport belt 23 can be repeatedly detected by the detection unit 85.

In the present embodiment, the detection unit 85 moves together with the gripping unit 80 and the scale unit 75 is fixed. However, the scale unit moves together with the gripping unit and the detection unit is fixed. It may be a configuration.
Further, in the present embodiment, a so-called magnetic encoder that obtains the relative movement amount of the scale unit 75 and the detection unit 85 by a change in the magnetic field is illustrated, but an optical encoder that obtains the movement amount by an optical change may be used. Good.

<Electrical configuration>
FIG. 5 is an electrical block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the printing apparatus. Next, the printing apparatus 100
The electrical configuration will be described with reference to FIG.

The printing apparatus 100 includes an input device 6 to which printing conditions and the like are input, a control unit 1 that controls each unit of the printing apparatus 100, and the like. As the input device 6, a desktop or laptop personal computer (PC), a tablet terminal, a portable terminal, or the like can be used. The input device 6 may be provided separately from the printing device 100.

The control unit 1 includes an interface unit (I / F) 2 and a CPU (Central Processing Unit).
3, the memory | storage part 4, the control circuit 5, etc. are comprised. The interface unit 2 is for transmitting and receiving data between the input unit 6 that handles input signals and images and the control unit 1. The CPU 3 is an arithmetic processing unit for processing input signals from various detector groups 7 including the detection unit 85 and controlling the printing operation of the printing apparatus 100. For example, the CPU 3 calculates the amount of movement of the conveyor belt 23 from the input signal output from the detection unit 85 and input to the CPU 3.
The storage unit 4 is a storage medium for securing an area for storing a program of the CPU 3, a work area, and the like, and includes a RAM (Random Access Memory), an EEPROM (Electrically Erasabl).
(e Programmable Read Only Memory).

The control unit 1 controls the drive of the ejection head provided in the head unit 42 by the control signal output from the control circuit 5 to eject ink toward the medium 95. The control unit 1 controls the drive of the motor provided in the carriage moving unit 45 by a control signal output from the control circuit 5 to move the carriage 43 on which the head unit 42 is mounted in the main scanning direction (Y-axis direction). Move back and forth. The control unit 1 controls the drive of the motor provided in the belt driving roller 25 by the control signal output from the control circuit 5 to rotate and move the conveyance belt 23. As a result, the medium 95 placed on the transport belt 23 is moved in the transport direction (+ X-axis direction).

A main scan in which the control unit 1 controls the carriage moving unit 45 and the head unit 42 to move the head unit 42 (carriage 43) while discharging ink from the discharge head;
An image or the like is formed on the medium 95 by a printing operation in which the belt drive roller 25 is controlled to perform sub-scanning in which the medium 95 is conveyed in the conveyance direction.

The control unit 1 switches the gripping unit 80 between a gripping state and a non-holding state by controlling a current flowing through the electromagnet provided in the switching unit 74 according to a control signal output from the control circuit 5. The control unit 1 controls the moving mechanism of the lever moving unit 77 by the control signal output from the control circuit 5 to reciprocate the moving lever 78 along the transport direction. The control unit 1 controls each device (not shown).

<Printing method>
FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the printing method. Next, a printing method of the printing apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIG.

Step S1 is a print data receiving process for receiving print data. The control unit 1 receives print data for recording an image on the medium 95 from the input device 6 and stores the print data in the storage unit 4.

Step S <b> 2 is a gripping process in which the gripping unit 80 is gripped by the transport belt 23. Control unit 1
The current flows through the electromagnet of the switching unit 74 to generate a magnetic force in the electromagnet. As a result, the gripping unit 80 enters a gripping state and grips the transport belt 23.

Step S3 is a sub-scanning process for transporting the transport belt 23 in the transport direction. Control unit 1
Controls the belt driving roller 25 to move the gripping portion 80 in the gripping state together with the transport belt 23. The control unit 1 then determines the gripping unit 8 according to the amount of movement detected by the detection unit 85.
When 0 moves from the first position (initial position) to the second position located downstream in the transport direction from the first position, the rotation of the transport belt 23 is stopped. In the first sub-scanning step, the interval between the first position and the second position is a carry amount up to a predetermined position where the printing operation is started. In the second and subsequent sub-scanning steps, the interval between the first position and the second position is the amount of line feed during the printing operation.

In step S4, it is determined whether the amount of positional deviation of the conveyor belt 23 is within an allowable range. Since the conveyor belt 23 has elasticity, there is a possibility that a slight positional deviation occurs after the movement of the conveyor belt 23 is stopped. Therefore, after stopping the movement of the conveyance belt 23, the control unit 1 reconfirms the actual movement amount of the conveyance belt 23 from the first position based on the detection result of the detection unit 85. Then, the control unit 1 compares the distance between the first position and the second position with the actual movement amount of the conveyor belt 23 to calculate the positional deviation amount of the conveyor belt 23, and the positional deviation amount of the conveyor belt 23 is calculated. It is determined whether it is within a predetermined allowable range. The positional deviation amount of the conveyor belt 23 is within an allowable range (step S4: Ye
In the case of s), the process proceeds to step S6. If the amount of positional deviation of the transport belt 23 is outside the allowable range (step S4: No), the process proceeds to step S5.

Step S <b> 5 is a belt position adjustment process for adjusting the position of the transport belt 23. The controller 1 corrects the position of the conveyor belt 23 by controlling the belt driving roller 25 based on the positional deviation amount calculated in step S4 to perform the feeding operation or the returning operation of the conveyor belt 23. Here, the feeding operation is an operation for moving the conveying belt 23 in the conveying direction, and the returning operation is an operation for moving the conveying belt 23 in the direction opposite to the conveying direction. Note that the amount of movement of the transport belt 23 in the feeding operation and the return operation is often smaller than the amount of movement of the transport belt 23 in the sub-scan of the printing operation. By step S4 and step S5, the control unit 1 executes an adjustment operation for adjusting the position of the transport belt 23 based on the amount of movement detected by the detection unit 85. Thereby, the positional deviation of the transport belt 23 is corrected, so that the accuracy of the position where the ink ejected in the next step lands on the medium 95 is improved.

Step S <b> 6 is a main scanning process for ejecting ink toward the medium 95. The control unit 1 controls the head unit 42 and the carriage moving unit 45 to move the carriage 43 on which the head unit 42 is mounted from the head unit 42 while moving it in the width direction (Y-axis direction) of the medium 95 intersecting the transport direction. Main scanning is performed to eject ink toward the medium 95.

Step S <b> 7 is a non-gripping step for bringing the gripping portion 80 gripping the transport belt 23 into a non-gripping state. The control unit 1 interrupts the current flowing in the electromagnet of the switching unit 74 and demagnetizes the magnetic force of the electromagnet. Thereby, the holding part 80 will be in a non-holding state.

Step S8 is a return step for returning the return portion 76 to the upstream side in the transport direction. The control unit 1
The lever moving unit 77 is controlled to move the moving lever 78 waiting at a predetermined position downstream of the gripping unit 80 in the transport direction to the upstream side of the transport direction. As a result, the grip portion 80 and the moving lever 78 come into contact with each other, and the grip portion 80 in the non-grip state located at the second position is returned to the first position. Thereby, the gripping portion 80 in the gripping state can be repeatedly moved from the first position to the second position together with the transport belt 23. Thereafter, the moving lever 78 is moved downstream in the transport direction from the second position, and waits at a predetermined position. Therefore, in step S3, when the gripping portion 80 in the gripping state moves together with the transport belt 23, the moving lever 78 of the return portion 76 is separated from the gripping portion 80, so that the return portion 76 drives the transport belt 23 to rotate. Applying a load can be suppressed. For convenience of explanation, the steps from the main scanning process in step S6 to the returning process in step S8 have been described as different steps. However, steps S7 and S8 are performed almost simultaneously with step S6.

In step S9, it is determined whether there is print data for the next line. The control unit 1 refers to the print data stored in the storage unit 4 and determines whether there is print data for the next line. If there is print data for the next line (step S9: Yes), the process returns to step S2 and repeats steps S2 to S9. As a result, main scanning and sub-scanning are repeated, and an image or the like is printed on the medium 95. If there is no print data for the next line (step S9: No), the control unit 1 ends the printing operation of the printing apparatus 100.

In the present embodiment, the printing method capable of performing the adjustment operation for adjusting the position of the transport belt 23 based on the movement amount detected by the detection unit 85 in step S4 and step S5 has been described. Whether or not to perform (ON / OFF) may be determined by the control unit 1 according to the received print data (print image quality). Further, the printing apparatus 100 may be configured to have a function of allowing the user to select ON / OFF of the adjustment operation. By performing the adjustment operation, the image quality is improved, but the printing speed is reduced. Therefore, it is possible to suitably control the printing apparatus 100 by determining whether the adjustment operation can be executed according to the required image quality. In summary, the control unit 1 may be configured to switch whether or not to perform the adjustment operation. The switching of whether or not to perform the adjustment operation may be automatically performed by the control unit 1 or may be manually performed by the user. Thereby, the printing apparatus 100 can be suitably controlled according to the required image quality.

In the present embodiment, the flow of performing the returning process for each sub-scanning process and main scanning process is shown. However, after the sub-scanning process and main scanning process are repeated a plurality of times, the gripper 80 moves a plurality of times. It is good also as a flow which returns movement amount in one return process.
In this embodiment, steps S4 and S5 are executed after step S3. However, steps S4 and S5 may be executed in parallel while step S3 is being performed. That is, while the transport belt 23 is transported in the transport direction, the transport belt 23
It may be determined whether or not the amount of positional deviation is within an allowable range and adjusting the position of the conveyor belt 23. In this way, the amount of movement of the conveyor belt 23 can be reduced by the conveyor belt 2.
3 can be adjusted in real time while moving.

As described above, according to the printing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
The belt movement amount measuring unit 70 of the printing apparatus 100 includes a gripping unit 80 that grips the transport belt 23 and a switching unit 74 that changes the gripping unit 80 between a gripping state and a non-holding state.
A part of the grip 80 is constituted by an elastic member 83, and the switching unit 74 changes the state of the grip 80 using the elasticity of the elastic member 83. Therefore, the grip 80 and the switching unit 74 have a simple configuration. be able to. Thereby, size reduction of the printing apparatus 100 can be achieved.

The elastic member 83 is made of carbon fiber or a composite material containing carbon fiber. Since the carbon fiber has a specific gravity lighter than that of the metal material and is excellent in strength, elastic modulus, and wear resistance, the elasticity and strength required for the elastic member 83 of the grip portion 80 can be ensured.
The gripping portion 80 includes a ferromagnetic body 84 that is attracted to the magnet on the elastic member 83, and the switching portion 74 including an electromagnet is provided at a position facing the ferromagnetic body 84 via the elastic member 83 and the gripping substrate 81. Yes. The ferromagnetic body 84 is switched by the magnetic force generated when a current flows through the electromagnet.
By being attracted to 4 (electromagnet), the gripping unit 80 grips the transport belt 23. Since the gripping unit 80 can be changed in state with a simple configuration of the electromagnet of the switching unit 74 and the ferromagnetic body 84,
The switching unit 74 and the gripping unit 80 can be reduced in size.

The belt driving roller 25 of the transport belt 23 is provided on the downstream side of the printing unit 40, and the gripping unit 80 grips the transport belt 23 on the upstream side of the printing unit 40. When the belt driving roller 25 is rotationally driven in order to move the gripping portion 80 in the gripping state together with the transport belt 23 in the transport direction, the transport belt between the belt drive roller 25 and the gripping portion 80 in the rotational movement direction of the transport belt 23. 23 may be loosened. Since the printing unit 40 is provided between the gripping unit 80 and the belt driving roller 25 in the rotational movement direction of the conveying belt 23, the influence of the loosening of the conveying belt 23 in the printing unit 40 is reduced, and the medium 95 is conveyed. Accuracy is improved.

The control unit 1 executes an adjustment operation for adjusting the position of the transport belt 23 based on the movement amount detected by the detection unit 85. As a result, the positional deviation of the transport belt 23 is corrected, so that the positional accuracy of ink landing on the medium 95 can be improved.
The belt movement amount measuring unit 70 includes a return unit 76 that moves the grip unit 80 in a non-grip state to the upstream side in the transport direction. The grip portion 80 in the non-grip state is returned from the downstream side to the upstream side by the return portion 76. Accordingly, the gripping portion 80 in the gripping state can be repeatedly moved together with the transport belt 23, and the movement amount of the transport belt 23 can be repeatedly detected by the detection unit 85.
When the gripping portion 80 in the gripping state moves together with the transport belt 23, the moving lever 7 of the return portion 76
Since 8 is separated from the gripping portion 80, it is possible to suppress the return portion 76 from applying a load to the rotational drive of the transport belt 23.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Control part, 2 ... Interface part, 3 ... CPU, 4 ... Memory | storage part, 5 ... Control circuit, 6 ...
Input device, 7 ... detector group, 10 ... medium supply unit, 20 ... medium transport unit, 23 ... transport belt, 2
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 4 ... Belt rotation roller, 25 ... Belt drive roller, 27 ... Drying unit, 30 ... Medium recovery part, 40 ... Printing part, 42 ... Head unit, 43 ... Carriage, 45 ... Carriage moving part, 50 ... Cleaning unit, 60 ... Medium contact part, 70 ... Belt movement amount measurement part, 71 ... Base, 72 ... Guide rail, 73 ... Scale sticking part, 74 ... Switching part, 75 ... Scale part,
76 ... Returning unit, 77 ... Lever moving unit, 78 ... Moving lever, 80 ... Gripping unit, 81 ... Gripping substrate, 82 ... Guide block, 83 ... Elastic member, 84 ... Ferromagnetic material, 85 ... Detecting unit, 90 ... Frame Part, 95... Medium, 100.

Claims (7)

A printing section for printing on a medium;
A transport belt for transporting the medium in the transport direction by rotating, and
A scale portion provided along the transport direction;
A detection unit for detecting a movement amount relative to the scale unit;
A gripping unit configured to move integrally with the scale unit or the detection unit and capable of changing a state between a gripping state in which the transporting belt is gripped and moved together with the transporting belt and a non-griping state in which the transporting belt is not gripped. When,
A switching unit that switches the gripping portion between the gripping state and the non-gripping state;
Have
The grip portion is at least partially configured by an elastic member,
The switching unit is configured to switch from one of the gripping state and the non-gripping state to the other using the elasticity of the elastic member. The printing apparatus according to claim 1,
The printing apparatus, wherein the elastic member is carbon fiber or a composite material containing carbon fiber. The printing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein
The switching unit includes an electromagnet,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gripping unit includes a ferromagnetic body, and the state is changed from the non-gripping state to the gripping state by a magnetic force generated when a current flows through the electromagnet. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A drive unit that rotationally moves the conveyor belt;
The drive unit is provided downstream of the printing unit in the transport direction,
The printing apparatus, wherein the gripping unit grips the transport belt on the upstream side in the transport direction with respect to the printing unit. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein:
When the gripping portion in the gripping state moves from the first position to the second position located downstream in the transport direction from the first position, the rotation of the transport belt is stopped, and the detection unit A printing apparatus comprising: a control unit that performs an adjustment operation for adjusting the position of the conveyor belt based on the detected amount of movement. The printing apparatus according to claim 5,
The printing apparatus, wherein the control unit can switch whether or not to perform the adjustment operation. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
A return portion that moves the grip portion in the non-grip state in a direction opposite to the transport direction;
The printing apparatus, wherein when the gripping portion in the gripping state moves in the transport direction, the return portion is separated from the gripping portion.

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