JP2020011786A - Web transfer device and liquid discharge device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a web transfer device using a transferring roller capable of exhibiting an appropriate wrinkle extension function according to a web specification and wrinkle status without increasing machine down time.SOLUTION: The web transfer device includes: a transferring roller 20 driven by a web W to be transferred, in which a roller width direction of the transferring roller is divided into at least three or more sections and a roller outer diameter of any section can be changed; outer diameter changing means for changing the roller outer diameter of any section of the transferring roller; outer diameter adjusting drive means 30 for adjusting the roller outer diameter of any section of the transferring roller; web condition input means 50 for inputting condition of the web to be used; and outer diameter storage means 40 for storing a roller outer diameter value of each section of the transferring roller according to the web. The outer diameter adjusting drive means 30 is driven according to the condition of the web set by the web condition input means.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a web transport device and a device for discharging liquid.

In order to prevent wrinkles of the long web (wrinkle expansion), a technique using a roller (also referred to as a concave roller or an inverted crown roller) having an outer diameter at both ends larger than the center in the axial direction is already known ( For example, see Patent Document 1).
Also, a technique using a roller (also referred to as an expander roller or a bow roller) that pushes the web outward to prevent wrinkles (wrinkle expansion) by rotating a curved roller is already known (for example, see Patent Document 2). ).

  However, in the conventional concave roller, there are restrictions on the web specifications and the wrinkle expansion amount that can be supported by a single concave roller (concave amount). Therefore, a plurality of concave rollers having different specifications (concave amount) are prepared. There is a problem that it is necessary to select and replace the concave roller according to the specifications of the web and the amount of wrinkle expansion.

  Also, in the conventional bowl roller, there is a restriction on the web specification and the amount of wrinkle expansion that can be supported by a bowl roller (bending amount) of one specification. Therefore, the phase of the bowl roller is changed according to the web specification and the amount of wrinkle expansion to the web. However, there is a problem that it is necessary to adjust the contact angle of the roller or to prepare a plurality of bowl rollers having different specifications (bending amounts), and to selectively replace the bowl roller according to the specification of the web and the amount of wrinkle expansion.

If the concave amount of the concave roller and the curving amount of the bow roller are small, the intended wrinkle expansion function cannot be exhibited, and if the concave amount and the curving amount are large, the web does not follow the outer shape of the roller and wrinkles are induced.
Therefore, it is necessary to replace the roller with an appropriate concave roller or bow roller according to the specifications of the web and the amount of wrinkle expansion, and there is a problem that the machine downtime increases.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and without increasing the machine down time, a transport roller capable of exhibiting an appropriate wrinkle extension function according to the specification of the web as a roll body and the wrinkle occurrence situation. It is an object of the present invention to provide a web transport device used.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a transport roller driven by a web to be transported, wherein a roller outer diameter of an arbitrary section obtained by dividing a roller width direction of the transport roller into at least three sections is provided. A transport roller that can be changed, an outer diameter changing unit that changes a roller outer diameter of the arbitrary section in the transport roller, and an outer diameter adjustment driving unit that adjusts a roller outer diameter of the arbitrary section in the transport roller. Web condition setting means for setting conditions of a web to be used, and outer diameter storage means for storing a roller outer diameter value of each section of the transport roller according to the web, and set by the web condition setting means. Web driving device for driving the outer diameter adjusting drive means in accordance with the set web conditions.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the web conveyance apparatus using the conveyance roller which can exhibit the appropriate wrinkle expansion function according to the specification of a web and the wrinkle occurrence state can be provided, without increasing machine downtime.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a web transport device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a transport roller provided in the web transport device according to the first embodiment. 2A is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration different from the configuration of the transport roller illustrated in FIG. 2, and FIG. 2B illustrates a configuration different from the transport roller illustrated in FIG. 2 and FIG. It is a typical sectional view. It is a figure explaining the composition of the web conveyance device concerning a 2nd embodiment. It is a figure explaining the composition of the web conveyance device concerning the modification of a 2nd embodiment. It is a figure explaining the composition of the web conveyance device concerning a 3rd embodiment. It is a perspective view of the principal part of the liquid discharge head concerning a 5th embodiment. FIG. 3 is a plan view of each component of the liquid ejection head viewed from a side surface on a nozzle hole side. FIG. 3 is a plan view of each component of the liquid ejection head viewed from a piezoelectric element side. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating a cross section of the liquid ejection head illustrated in FIG. 7 taken along a line AA that is a direction orthogonal to a nozzle arrangement direction.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention including examples will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Throughout the embodiments, components (members and components) having the same function, shape, and the like will be described once unless there is a risk of confusion, and the description will be omitted by assigning the same reference numerals. For simplicity of the drawings and description, components that do not need to be specifically described in the drawings may be omitted without omission, even if they are components to be shown in the drawings. When a description is given with reference to constituent elements of a published patent publication or the like, the reference numerals are shown in parentheses to distinguish them from those of the embodiments and the like.

(First embodiment)
In the first embodiment, in addition to the object described in the problem to be solved by the invention, a web transport device using a wrinkle expansion roller that can cope with a web transport device of edge reference transport without increasing machine down time is provided. It is intended to be.
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a web transport device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a transport roller provided in the web transport device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3A is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration different from the configuration of the transport roller illustrated in FIG. 2, and FIG. 3B is a schematic view illustrating the configuration of the transport roller illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3A. It is a typical sectional view explaining another composition.

  In FIG. 1, a web transport device 100 is a device for transporting a long web W. A web roll 11 in which a web web is wound into a roll is set on an unwinding shaft 1 and is driven by a driving roller. By driving a feed roller 4, the web W is continuously conveyed in the web conveyance direction X indicated by the arrow in the figure, and is rotated by the winding shaft 2 in the direction of the arrow (clockwise) in the figure to be wound. A take-up roll 12 is formed as a product. A drive motor, for example, as a drive source is connected to the winding shaft 2, and the winding shaft 2 is driven to rotate in the direction of the arrow (clockwise) in the figure by the driving motor. In the present embodiment, as a specific example of the web W, for example, roll paper or coated paper is used.

In the web transport device 100, a transport path (web transport path) is formed by arranging a plurality of guide rollers 3 that are driven and rotated by the transported web W. FIG. 1 illustrates a printing apparatus (image forming apparatus) as a web transport apparatus having a printing unit 10 and a drying unit 6 on a transport path. The printing unit 10 includes a plurality of liquid ejection heads 5K, 5C, 5M, 5Y, and 5W that eject and eject liquid from nozzles. The liquid discharge heads 5K, 5C, 5M, 5Y, and 5W are ink jet heads that form an image by discharging ink as liquids of five colors, for example, black, cyan, magenta, yellow, and white, on a web surface. The drying unit 6 dries and fixes the ink.
Hereinafter, the liquid discharge head 5 is used as a code that generally indicates the liquid discharge heads 5K, 5C, 5M, 5Y, and 5W. The details of the liquid discharge head and the device for discharging liquid will be described at the end of each embodiment.

  If wrinkles are generated on the web W during transportation, the quality and value of the winding roll 12 which is a resultant product are reduced, and it is necessary to prevent the generation of wrinkles. For this reason, in the embodiment of the present invention, a transport roller 20 having a function of rotating following the transported web W to expand wrinkles is provided upstream of the printing unit 10.

As shown in FIG. 2, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, the transport roller 20 is driven by the web W to be transported by a roller shaft 20 a protruding from both end surfaces of the transport roller 20 being rotatably supported by the web transport apparatus main body. It is designed to rotate. The transport roller 20 is divided (divided) into at least three or more sections (six sections (1) to (6) in the present embodiment) in the roller width direction Y orthogonal to the web transport direction X which is the web transport direction. The rollers are composed of section rollers 20-1 to 20-6 which are variable outer diameter bodies, and the roller outer diameters of the section rollers in an arbitrary section can be changed. Incidentally, the section roller 20-1 is provided in the section (1), the section roller 20-2 is provided in the section (2), the section roller 20-3 is provided in the section (3), and the section roller 20 is provided in the section (4). -4, the section roller 20-5 is arranged in the section (5), and the section roller 20-6 is arranged in the section (6). Note that the roller width direction Y of the transport roller 20 is also referred to as the longitudinal direction and the axial direction of the transport roller 20.
Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an outer diameter changing means for arbitrarily changing the roller outer diameter of the sorting rollers 20-1 to 20-6 in each section (1) to (6) of the transport roller 20. Further, the roller outer diameters of the sorting rollers 20-1 to 20-6 in each section (1) to (6) are configured to be adjustable by the outer diameter adjusting drive means 30.

  In the present invention, the outer diameter changing means is not limited. That is, as the outer diameter changing means, a method by adjusting the internal pressure disclosed in Patent Document 2 described above, a method using a piezo element disclosed in Patent Document 1 as a driving source, and a method using a balloon as a driving source Or a mechanical memory using a shape memory alloy as a drive source.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the roller width direction Y (also the web width direction) is divided into six sections, and the web having a width extending over the sections (1) to (6) of the transport roller 20 is defined as the web width direction. This shows a case where the sheet is conveyed on the basis of the center. The embodiment of the present invention is not limited to this, and is preferably divided into at least four sections or more, and further divided into at least three sections or more. (Hereinafter, also referred to as exhibiting a wrinkle expansion effect). In the case where the section is divided into a plurality of sections (two sections in the limit), the position in the width direction can be adjusted instead of the wrinkle expansion effect.
The outer periphery of the transport roller 20 has a flexible outer member 20A, and the transport roller 20 substantially follows the roller outer diameter of the section rollers 20-1 to 20-6 in each section (1) to (6). The shape profile of the surface is formed.

  For example, in general, in order to have the wrinkle expansion function, the outer diameters of the rollers at both ends are made larger than those at the center in the roller width direction Y. When it is desired to obtain a wrinkle expansion effect using a web having a width extending over the sections (1) to (6) of the transport roller 20, the roller outer diameter of the sorting roller is set to the section (3) = (4) <(2) = Assuming that (5) <(1) = (6), as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. It is possible, and a wrinkle expansion effect can be exhibited.

  Here, it is necessary to appropriately set the shape profile of the transport roller 20 according to the specifications of the web and the expected amount of wrinkle expansion. That is, when comparing the web A and the web B having different specifications, the web A is more likely to generate wrinkles and wants to increase the web expansion effect, and the sections (1) ((6)) and (3) (( 4) The difference between the outer diameters of the sorting rollers in (1) is increased. On the other hand, if the difference between the outer diameters of the section rollers in the sections (1) ((6)) and (3) ((4)) is too large, the web is formed into a shape profile of the transport roller 20 (hereinafter, also referred to as an outer profile). Therefore, not only the wrinkle expansion effect originally expected cannot be obtained, but also wrinkles may be induced. Similarly, the outer diameters of the section rollers in the sections (2) and (5) need to be appropriately set.

In the embodiment of the present invention, a web condition input unit 50 as a web condition setting unit for setting (inputting) a web condition used by a user, and an outer diameter of each outer peripheral surface of a plurality of sorting rollers of the transport roller 20 are described. An outer diameter storage unit 40 stores an appropriate roller outer diameter value (hereinafter, referred to as a roller outer diameter value) according to a web to be used.
Specific examples of the web condition input unit 50 include, for example, a dedicated key or a numeric keypad for a user to input web conditions, or a touch panel type input unit configured with a liquid crystal display device or the like, and an operation display including a liquid crystal display unit. Part.

  When using the web A for the first time, an operator (including a user) inputs and registers the material, thickness, width, and the like of the web in the web condition input unit 50. Then, the outer diameter of each section roller in the sections (1) to (6) of the transport roller 20 is determined so that the expected wrinkle expansion effect can be exhibited in the first test transport, and the outer diameter is registered in the outer diameter storage unit 40. Next time, when using the web A, by selecting the web A by the web condition input means 50, an appropriate outer profile of the transport roller 20 can be called from the outer diameter storage means 40, and the outer diameter adjustment drive means 30 is driven. can do. In this manner, by performing the same processing for each web specification, it is possible to reduce the machine down time required for searching for, evaluating, and adjusting an appropriate outer profile of the transport roller 20.

  Here, as the information to be input and registered by the web condition input means 50, the material, thickness, and width of the web are merely examples. For example, finer information such as the Young's modulus of the web and the coefficient of friction may be input. Good. In addition, the tension set when the web is transported, and in the case of the web transport apparatus 100 having the drying unit 6 as shown in FIG. 1, the drying conditions such as the drying set temperature may also be input and registered. .

Further, by accumulating and analyzing and utilizing the information on the used web inputted and registered and the information of the outer diameter storage means 40 for storing an appropriate outer diameter of the transport roller 20, a further appropriate outer profile of the transport roller 20 is searched and evaluated. Machine downtime required to make adjustments can be reduced. That is, if the input condition of the web C to be used for the first time is close to the input condition of the known web A, the outer profile of the transport roller 20 at the time of the first evaluation is stored in the outer diameter storage means 40. , And drives the outer diameter adjustment driving means 30 in the same manner. If the input condition of the web C to be used for the first time is a value between the input condition of the known web A and the input condition of the web B, the outer shape of the transport roller 20 at the time of the first evaluation is the outer shape when the web A is used. The profile and the outer profile when the web B is used are read out from the outer diameter storage means 40 and calculated, and the outer diameter adjustment driving means 30 is driven to make the outer profile between them. By doing so, fine adjustment is required to set an appropriate outer profile of the transport roller 20, so that machine down time can be reduced.
Note that a calculation means (computer) including, for example, a CPU may be attached to the outer diameter adjustment drive means 30 so that the above calculation can be performed automatically.

The appropriate outer diameter of the sorting roller in each section (1) to (6) with respect to the specifications of the web and the expected wrinkle expansion effect is determined by experiments, evaluations, and the like, and stored in the outer diameter storage means 40 in advance. The present invention is not limited to this, and it is also possible to store the corrected outer diameter of the appropriate sorting roller in the outer diameter storage means 40 at any time. For this purpose, for example, a ROM is used as the outer diameter storage means 40, and a nonvolatile memory including, for example, an EEPROM is used as the outer diameter storage means 40.
A specific example of the outer diameter storage means 40 and a part of the outer diameter adjustment driving means 30 may be constituted by a microcomputer including a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, a timer, and the like (the same applies to embodiments and the like described later). ).

Here, the center reference conveyance and the edge reference conveyance in the web width direction in the conventional web conveyance device will be supplementarily described. Conventional concave rollers and bow rollers are premised on a conveyance device for center reference conveyance in the web width direction, and cannot be used for a conveyance device for edge reference conveyance. In other words, since the concave and the curvature are symmetrical at the center of the web width, when the narrow web is transported on the basis of the edge, the intended wrinkle expansion effect cannot be exerted, or the transport position of the web changes due to the concave and the curvature. There was a problem of doing it.
In the case of the center reference transport compared to the edge reference transport, it is necessary to move both the edge guides that determine the position of both edges of the web and the edge sensor that detects the position of both edges, which complicates the parts configuration and increases reliability. There are disadvantages such as reduction and cost increase, and when using a narrow web, the running position of the web is away from the operator and operability is degraded, so it can also be used for edge-conveying web transport devices A wrinkle expansion roller is desired.

Therefore, referring to FIG. 3, a web transport device using a transport roller having a wrinkle extension function capable of coping with an edge-based transport web transport device without increasing the machine down time (hereinafter, also referred to simply as “transport device”). Will be described.
In FIG. 3, each of the transport rollers 20 shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B is a case where the web W is transported using a web W having a width across four sections in a roller width direction divided into six sections. Is shown.
The position in the width direction through which the web W passes in the conveyance device is largely divided into a center reference conveyance that conveys with reference to the center in the width direction and an edge reference conveyance that conveys with reference to an edge which is one side end of the web W. Divided into two. Which method is selected is determined according to the specifications of the transfer device. Here, when the web W having the width as shown in FIG. 3A is transported by the edge profile shown in FIG. 3A with the outer profile of the transport roller 20 as shown in FIG. There is a problem that it cannot be used or that the web transport position changes due to the concave.

  Therefore, in FIG. 3A, the section (2) = (3) <(1) = (about the outer diameter of the section rollers 20-1 to 20-4 in the sections (1) to (4) through which the web W passes. 4), and by adopting an outer profile as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 3A, it is possible to obtain a wrinkle expanding effect while suppressing a change in the transport position of the web W. At this time, since the web W does not pass through the sections (5) and (6), the outer diameter of the sorting rollers 20-5 to 20-6 is arbitrary. The transport roller 20 shown in FIG. 3A shows the case of the edge reference transport on the left side of the figure, but the case of the edge reference transport on the right side of the figure shows the transport roller 20 shown in FIG. 3B. Thus, a similar effect can be obtained.

The transfer device may be used only with the left edge reference as shown in FIG. 3 (A), or may be used only with the right edge reference as shown in FIG. 3 (B). A transport device that can set the edge position arbitrarily is already known. When the edge position is constant, the roller surface wears with time due to the edge of the web, causing a problem. For example, in the case of a transport device having a coating roller that coats a liquid on the surface of a web, using a narrow web and using a wide web in a state where a portion where the web edge of the coating roller comes into contact with wear is used. The thickness unevenness of the coating liquid occurs due to the influence of the abrasion.
Therefore, by changing the web transport reference position, the portion where the edge of the web comes into contact is changed, so that the abrasion of the rollers can be suppressed to suppress the occurrence of the above-mentioned problem, and the machine downtime for replacing the rollers can be reduced. Also in such a conveying device, the conveying roller 20 is divided into at least four sections or at least three sections along the roller width direction, and the web condition input means 50 stores the web width and the web transport reference position. By registering the input and storing the appropriate outer profile of the transport roller 20 at that time in the outer diameter storage means 40, it is possible to reduce the machine down time required for searching for, evaluating, and adjusting the appropriate outer profile. is there.

  Even in a transfer apparatus in which the occurrence of the trouble due to the abrasion is suppressed by periodically changing the web transfer reference position during the web transfer, even in the transfer mode and each transfer state (web transfer reference pattern). An appropriate outer profile of the transport roller 20 is stored in the outer diameter storage means 40, and the outer diameter adjustment drive means 30 is configured to be drivable during web transport, whereby a wrinkle expansion effect can be obtained.

Further, in the present embodiment, it is possible to adjust the outer diameter of the section roller of each section of the transport roller 20 by the outer diameter adjustment drive unit 30 according to the input web condition while the web is being transported.
Specifically, even after the unwinding of the web roll is completed, the web end of the web may be connected to the start end of a web having another specification, and may be transported according to the specifications of the preceding and following webs. The appropriate outer profile of the roller 20 is stored in the outer diameter storage means 40, and the outer diameter adjusting drive means 30 is driven when the web connecting portion passes through the transport roller section to switch the outer profile of the transport roller 20. Then, the apparatus can be continuously operated without stopping the conveyance of the web. Therefore, wrinkle expansion effects can be obtained while suppressing an increase in machine downtime. The timing at which the outer profile of the transport roller 20 is switched may be manually switched by an operator while watching the transport state, or a web connector detecting means for detecting a web connector in the transport device may be provided. It may be configured to be linked.
The appropriate outer diameter of the section roller in each section (1) to (6) with respect to the specifications of the web and the expected wrinkle expansion effect is determined by experiments, evaluations, and the like, and stored in the outer diameter storage means 40 as described above. is there.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, without increasing the machine down time, a web transport device using a transport roller capable of exhibiting an appropriate wrinkle expansion function according to web specifications and wrinkle occurrence conditions is provided. The effect is that it can be provided.
Also, in a web transport device that can automatically take over the start of the next web roll when the web unwinding web roll reaches the end, the web is transported to the previous and next web without stopping web transport. Since the wrinkle extension function of the roller can be properly set, the effect of suppressing an increase in machine down time and suppressing the occurrence of wrinkles can be achieved.

(Second embodiment)
A second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a web transport device 100A according to the second embodiment.
The web transport device 100A shown in FIG. 4 is provided downstream of the transport roller 20 in the web transport direction X as compared with the web transport device 100 shown in FIG. And a web position detecting means 61 for detecting the position of the web (including the position in the web width direction). In addition, an outer diameter control means 70 for determining a roller outer diameter of each section of the transport roller 20 according to each detection value of the web width detecting means 60 and the web position detecting means 61 is provided. The difference is that the outer diameter adjusting drive means 30 is driven so that the roller outer diameter of each section of the transport roller 20 determined by 70 is obtained.

  Here, the web width detecting means 60 disposed downstream of the conveying roller 20 (the web conveying path between the conveying roller 20 and the printing unit 10) serves as a first web width detecting means for detecting the web width. Function. The web position detection unit 61 disposed downstream of the conveyance roller 20 (the web conveyance path between the conveyance roller 20 and the printing unit 10) functions as a first web position detection unit that detects the position of the web. The outer diameter control means 70 determines the roller outer diameter of each section of the transport roller 20 according to each detection value of the first web width detection means and the first web position detection means. Function as

As a specific example of the web width detecting unit 60 and the web position detecting unit 61, a known member such as a light reflection type photo sensor is used.
As a specific example of the outer diameter control means 70, a microcomputer having a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, a timer, and the like may be configured (the same applies to an outer diameter control means described later).

In the web transport device 100A, by having the above configuration, the specifications (for example, the thickness and the Young's modulus) of the web vary among the same material rolls, and for example, the wrinkle generation state changes between the first half and the second half of the material roll. Even in such a case, it is possible to change the outer profile of the transport roller 20 according to the change, and to obtain an appropriate wrinkle expansion effect. That is, the detected values of the web width detecting means 60 and the web position detecting means 61 are compared with their preset target values, and the outer diameter control means 70 controls the outer diameter control means 70 so that the detected values approach the target values. The profile is determined, and the outer diameter adjustment driving means 30 is driven so as to have the outer shape profile determined by the outer diameter control means 70.
In other words, in the first embodiment described above, an appropriate outer shape of the transport roller 20 according to the web specification stored in the outer diameter storage means 40 (the web specification input by the web condition input means 50). The profile is determined. On the other hand, in the second embodiment, the outer profile which is further appropriately corrected by the outer diameter control unit 70 according to the web width and the web position detected by the web width detection unit 60 and the web position detection unit 61 is used. It is determined.

  For example, if a large wrinkle occurs, the apparent web width detected by the web width detecting means 60 becomes small. In this case, since it is necessary to increase the wrinkle expansion effect of the transport roller 20, the outer diameter of the roller segment at the end in the roller width direction is adjusted to be relatively large. Conversely, when the value detected by the web width detecting means 60 is larger than the target value, the web width has been expanded more than necessary by the transport roller 20, so that the outer diameter of the section roller at the end in the roller width direction is reduced. Is adjusted to be relatively small. Further, since the web is conveyed toward the roller having the larger outer diameter, if the position in the web width direction detected by the web position detecting means 61 is shifted to the right side from the target value, the left end of the conveying roller 20 is not moved. Adjust the outer diameter of the section roller relatively large. The condition of wrinkles changes due to changes in the environment (ambient temperature and humidity) as well as variations in the web specifications in the same web roll of the web, but this case can be dealt with similarly.

  At the start of the conveyance of the starting end of the unwinding of the material roll, the web is conveyed with the outer profile of the conveyance roller 20 stored in the outer diameter storage means 40 (the conveyance operation of the first embodiment described above), so that the web immediately after the start of conveyance is obtained. Can be suppressed to a minimum, and after the start of the web transport, the control is switched to the outer profile control by the outer diameter control means 70 (the transport operation of the second embodiment). If the outer profile of the transport roller 20 is rapidly changed, problems such as inducing wrinkling of the web and instability of the web transport position may occur. It is conceivable that The appropriate roller outer diameter of the section rollers 20-1 to 20-6 in each section (1) to (6) for the web specification and the expected wrinkle expansion effect, and the appropriate external profile switching speed are determined by experiments, evaluations, and the like. decide.

In the second embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the web width detecting means 60 and the web position detecting means 61 are described separately, but a single detecting means having both of these detecting functions may be used.
Further, in the second embodiment shown in FIG. 4, both the web width detecting means 60 and the web position detecting means 61 disposed downstream of the transport roller 20 are provided, but the present invention is not limited to this. At least one of the web width detecting means and the first web position detecting means may be provided with a first web detecting means. Then, the first outer diameter control means may determine the roller outer diameter of each section of the transport roller 20 according to a detection value of at least one of the first web detecting means.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, there is an effect that an appropriate wrinkle expansion function can be obtained in a web transport device in which the position of the web to be transported in the width direction is variable. Further, even when the wrinkle occurrence situation changes over time, an effect of obtaining an appropriate wrinkle extension function can be obtained.

(Modification of Second Embodiment)
A modification of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a web transport device 100B according to a modification of the second embodiment.
The web transport device 100B shown in FIG. 5 is different from the web transport device 100A shown in FIG. 4 in that a transport roller 20 having a wrinkle expanding function is provided instead of the guide roller 3 downstream of the drying unit 6 in the web transport direction X. At the point provided, downstream of the transport roller 20 in the web transport direction X, a web width detector 60 for detecting the width of the web W, and a web position detector for detecting the position of the web (including the position in the web width direction) 61 is different from that of FIG. Further, the roller outer diameter of each section of the transport roller 20 disposed downstream of the drying unit 6 is determined in accordance with each detection value of the web width detection unit 60 and the web position detection unit 61 disposed downstream of the drying unit 6. When the outer diameter control means 70A is newly provided, the outer diameter adjustment drive means 30 is driven so that the roller outer diameter of each section of the transport roller 20 arranged downstream of the drying unit 6 determined by the outer diameter control means 70A is obtained. The points are different.
That is, the web transport device 100B shown in FIG. 5 has an outer diameter control unit 70A in addition to the outer diameter control unit 70 of the second embodiment.

  In the web transport device 100B, as shown in FIG. 5, in addition to the web width detecting means 60 and the web position detecting means 61 provided downstream of the transport roller 20 located at the most upstream in the web transport direction X, a drying unit is further provided. 6, a transport roller 20 is provided downstream of the web transport direction X, and a web width detecting means 60 and a web position detecting means 61 are also provided. By heating the web in the drying unit 6, wrinkles are easily generated. However, the wrinkle generation condition also changes depending on the printing pattern formed in the printing unit 10. Although there is a difference depending on the drying method, for example, when the ink discharged onto the web surface in the printing unit 10 is high (the printing density is high), the amount of heat supplied in the drying unit 6 remains in the ink, so that the web wrinkles. Is easy to occur. Also, when there is a deviation in the print density in the web width direction or the web transport direction, the amount of heat remaining in the ink also varies, so that wrinkling of the web tends to occur at the boundary.

Even in such a case, an appropriate wrinkle expansion effect can be obtained by configuring as shown in FIG. That is, the detected values of the web width detecting means 60 and the web position detecting means 61 located downstream of the drying unit 6 are compared with their preset target values, and the detected values approach the target values. As described above, the outer diameter control means 70A determines the outer diameter profile of the transport roller 20 located downstream of the drying unit 6, and drives the outer diameter adjustment driving means 30.
Here, the target values of the web width and the web position upstream of the printing unit 10 and the target values of the web width and the web position downstream of the drying unit 6 may be the same, or the allowable values at the respective locations may be set. A different value may be used in consideration of the value. The appropriate roller outer diameter and the appropriate outer diameter profile switching speed in each section (1) to (6) for the web specification and the expected wrinkle expansion effect at each position are determined by experiments, evaluations, and the like. These transport rollers 20, web width detection means 60, and web position detection means 61 are described in FIG. 5 as a total of two sets arranged upstream of the printing unit 10 and downstream of the drying unit 6, but are described in FIG. It is also possible to arrange three or more sets in necessary places according to the specification, and similarly, it is possible to obtain a wrinkle expansion effect. In FIG. 5, the web width detecting means 60 and the web position detecting means 61 arranged upstream of the printing unit 10 and downstream of the drying unit 6 are separately described. However, one detection unit having both of these detecting functions is provided. Means may be used.

  As described above, according to the modified example of the second embodiment, in a web transport apparatus in which the position of the web to be transported in the width direction is variable, an effect of obtaining an appropriate wrinkle expansion function can be obtained. Further, even when the wrinkle occurrence situation changes over time, an effect of obtaining an appropriate wrinkle extension function can be obtained.

(Third embodiment)
A third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a web transport device 100C according to the third embodiment.
The web transport device 100C illustrated in FIG. 6 is different from the web transport device 100B illustrated in FIG. 5 in that the web of the transport roller 20 (hereinafter, also referred to as the most upstream transport roller 20) disposed upstream of the printing unit 10 is used. The difference is that a web width detecting means 60 and a web position detecting means 61 are newly provided upstream in the transport direction X, and that an outer diameter control means 70B is provided instead of the outer diameter control means 70. Another difference is that the outer diameter adjustment drive means 30 is driven so that the roller outer diameter of each section of the most upstream transport roller 20 determined by the outer diameter control means 70B is obtained.
That is, the web conveying device 100C includes an outer diameter control unit 70B according to a modification of the second embodiment, in addition to having the outer diameter control unit 70B in place of the outer diameter control unit 70 according to the second embodiment. I have.

  The outer diameter control unit 70 </ b> B calculates the difference between each detection value of the web width detection unit 60 arranged upstream of the most upstream conveyance roller 20 and the web width detection unit 60 arranged downstream of the conveyance roller 20, and the most upstream conveyance In accordance with the difference between the detection values of the web position detecting means 61 disposed upstream of the roller 20 and the web position detecting means 61 disposed downstream of the transport roller 20, the transport roller 20 disposed upstream of the printing unit 10 The roller outer diameter of each section is determined.

  Here, the web width detecting means 60 disposed upstream of the uppermost transport roller 20 functions as a second web width detecting means for detecting the web width. The web position detecting means 61 disposed upstream of the uppermost transport roller 20 functions as a second web position detecting means for detecting the position of the web. The outer diameter control unit 70B is configured to detect a difference between each detection value of the second web width detection unit and each detection value of the first web width detection unit, and to detect each difference of the second web width detection unit and the first web position detection unit. It functions as a second outer diameter control unit that determines the roller outer diameter of each section of the transport roller 20 disposed upstream of the printing unit 10 according to the difference between the values.

  Even if webs of the same specifications are used, differences in the width and thickness of the web unwound by the web transfer device 100C may occur due to changes in the environment, variations in material lots, and variations in the pre-process for manufacturing a material roll. There are different wrinkle occurrence situations. Even in such a case, an appropriate wrinkle expansion effect can be obtained by configuring as shown in FIG. That is, the detection values of the uppermost web width detecting means 60 and the web position detecting means 61 are used as the target values of the web width detecting means 60 and the web position detecting means 61 downstream of the next transport roller 20 (upstream of the printing unit 10). Set as Alternatively, in consideration of the allowable value at the location downstream of the next conveyance roller 20 (upstream of the printing unit 10) with respect to the detection values of the most upstream web width detection means 60 and the web position detection means 61, the web width detection means at that location is considered. It may be set as a target value of 60 and the web position detecting means 61.

  In other words, two sets of the web width detecting means 60 and the web position detecting means 61 are compared with each other at the upstream and downstream of the most upstream conveying roller 20 arranged upstream of the printing unit 10, and the respective detected values are compared. The outer diameter control means 70B determines the outer diameter profile of the transport roller 20 located upstream of the printing unit 10 and drives the outer diameter adjustment drive means 30. In this case, it is desirable to dispose the web width detecting means 60 and the web position detecting means 61, which are the basis for setting the target value, near the uppermost stream of the transporting device where the factors affecting the web are as small as possible. The difference between the detected values of the web width detecting means 60 and the web position detecting means 61 upstream of the printing unit 10 and the detected values of the web width detecting means 60 and the web position detecting means 61 downstream of the drying unit 6 in FIG. Accordingly, the outer diameter profile of the transport roller 20 located downstream of the drying unit 6 is determined, and a total of two sets of web width detecting means 60 and web position detectors located upstream and downstream with respect to the transport roller 20 are determined. The same effect can be obtained by determining the outer diameter profile of the transport roller 20 according to the difference between the detection values of the means 61.

In the third embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the web width detecting means 60 and the web position detecting means 61 are described separately, but one detecting means having both of these detecting functions may be used.
Further, in the third embodiment shown in FIG. 6, both the web width detecting means 60 and the web position detecting means 61 arranged upstream of the uppermost transport roller 20 are provided, but the present invention is not limited to this. At least one of the second web width detecting means and the second web position detecting means may be provided. Then, the second outer diameter control means is configured to determine the difference between the detected values of at least one of the second web detecting means and at least one of the first web detecting means in each section of the most upstream conveying roller 20. The outer diameter of the roller may be determined.

  As described above, according to the third embodiment, when using webs having the same specifications, a difference in the wrinkle generation state caused by quality variations of the web material and the raw roll is suppressed, and an appropriate wrinkle extension function is provided. The effect is obtained.

(Fourth embodiment)
In the web transport devices 100A, 100B, and 100C shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the detection values of the web width detection unit 60 and the web position detection unit 61 downstream of the most upstream transport roller 20 located upstream of the printing unit 10 are If the specified target value (target range) does not reach the predetermined target value even after a certain period of time has passed, at least one of notification means for notifying a warning or the like and stop means for stopping the conveyance of the web may be provided. The case where the above-mentioned target value (target range) is not reached means a case where the target value is out of the predetermined range.

Examples of the notification means include a means for informing the operator or the user of the warning by generating an alarm sound or a warning sound, and a means of notifying the operator or the user visually by displaying an alarm.
Examples of the stopping unit include an example in which the driving motor of the feed roller 4 in the web transport apparatuses 100A, 100B, and 100C is stopped to stop the web transport as an error.

  In the fourth embodiment, even if the outer diameter profile of the transport roller 20 is adjusted to the upper limit or the lower limit, the expected wrinkle expansion effect cannot be obtained, so that the product (the take-up roll 12) with reduced quality and value is intended. It can be prevented from increasing without increasing. The time until an alarm or an error occurs or a specified target value (target range) is determined according to the product specifications of the transfer device. Therefore, according to the fourth embodiment, it is possible to prevent an unintended increase in the quality or value of the resulting product.

(Fifth embodiment)
A liquid discharge head and a device for discharging liquid according to a fifth embodiment will be described.
As described above, the liquid ejection head is a functional component that ejects and ejects a liquid from a nozzle. The liquid to be discharged is not particularly limited as long as it has a viscosity and a surface tension that can be discharged from the head, and the liquid has a viscosity of 30 mPa · s or less at room temperature, under normal pressure, or by heating and cooling. Is preferred. More specifically, solvents such as water and organic solvents, coloring agents such as dyes and pigments, polymerizable compounds, resins, functional imparting materials such as surfactants, and biocompatible materials such as DNA, amino acids, proteins, and calcium. , Edible materials such as natural pigments, and the like, solutions, suspensions, emulsions, and the like. These include, for example, ink-jet inks, surface treatment liquids, components of electronic elements and light-emitting elements, and formation of resist patterns for electronic circuits. Liquid, three-dimensional modeling material liquid, and the like.
A thermal actuator using an electrothermal conversion element such as a heating resistor, using a piezoelectric actuator (laminated piezoelectric element and thin film piezoelectric element) as described above as an energy generation source for discharging a liquid, from a diaphragm and a counter electrode And those using an electrostatic actuator or the like.

  The liquid discharge unit is a unit in which functional components and mechanisms are integrated with a liquid discharge head, and is an aggregate of components related to liquid discharge. For example, the liquid ejection unit includes a combination of at least one of a head tank, a carriage, a supply mechanism, a maintenance and recovery mechanism, and a main scanning movement mechanism with a liquid ejection head.

  For example, there is a liquid discharge unit in which a liquid discharge head and a head tank are integrated. In some cases, the liquid ejection head and the head tank are integrated with each other by a tube or the like. Here, a unit including a filter can be added between the head tank and the liquid discharge head of these liquid discharge units.

In the present application, a device that discharges liquid is a device that includes a liquid discharge head or a liquid discharge unit and drives the liquid discharge head to discharge liquid.
The device for ejecting the liquid may include a unit for feeding, transporting, and discharging the material to which the liquid can adhere, and may also include a pre-processing device, a post-processing device, and the like.
For example, as an apparatus for ejecting liquid, there is an image forming apparatus (printing apparatus) which is an apparatus for ejecting ink to form an image on paper.

  Further, the device for discharging liquid is not limited to a device in which a significant image such as a character or a figure is visualized by the discharged liquid. For example, a pattern that forms a pattern that has no meaning is included.

The above-mentioned thing to which the liquid can be attached refers to a thing to which the liquid can be attached at least temporarily, such as a thing which sticks and sticks, a thing which sticks and penetrates. Specific examples include sheets, for example, recording media such as paper, recording paper, recording paper, film, cloth, electronic substrates, and other electronic components such as piezoelectric elements, powder layers (powder layers), organ models, and inspections. A medium such as a cell for use, and any medium to which a liquid adheres is included unless otherwise limited.
The material to which the liquid can be attached may be paper, thread, fiber, cloth, leather, metal, plastic, glass, wood, ceramics, etc., as long as the liquid can be attached even temporarily.

  The liquid is not particularly limited as long as it has a viscosity and a surface tension that can be ejected from the head, and the liquid has a viscosity of 30 mPa · s or less at normal temperature and normal pressure, or by heating and cooling. Is preferred. More specifically, solvents such as water and organic solvents, coloring agents such as dyes and pigments, functionalizing materials such as polymerizable compounds, resins, and surfactants, and biocompatible materials such as DNA, amino acids, proteins, and calcium. , Edible materials such as natural pigments, and the like, solutions, suspensions, emulsions, and the like. These include, for example, ink-jet inks, surface treatment solutions, components of electronic elements and light-emitting elements, and formation of resist patterns for electronic circuits. Liquid, three-dimensional modeling material liquid, and the like.

  Further, as a device for discharging liquid, there is a device in which a liquid discharge head and a device to which liquid can adhere are relatively moved, but the present invention is not limited to this. Specific examples include a serial device that moves the liquid ejection head, a line device that does not move the liquid ejection head (the printing unit 10 shown in FIG. 1 and the like), and the like.

  In addition, as an apparatus for discharging a liquid, there is a processing liquid application apparatus that discharges a processing liquid onto a paper in order to apply the processing liquid to the surface of the paper for the purpose of modifying the surface of the paper.

  An example of a liquid ejection head having a piezoelectric actuator according to the fifth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a main part of a liquid ejection head having a piezoelectric actuator used in the printing unit 10 of FIGS. 1 and 4 to 6. FIG. 8 is a plan view of each component of the liquid discharge head viewed from the side surface on the nozzle hole side, and FIG. 9 is a plan view of each component of the liquid discharge head viewed from the piezoelectric element side.

  In the figure, reference numeral 102 denotes a nozzle plate in which a plurality of heaters 105 as heating convection means facing the nozzle holes 101 and pressure chambers 103 described later are formed in a row. The processing accuracy of the opening shape of the nozzle hole 101 has a great influence on the ink discharge characteristics of the liquid discharge head. In the plurality of nozzle holes 101, the nozzle holes 101 are formed by anisotropic etching of silicon using a semiconductor manufacturing process in order to suppress variations in nozzle hole accuracy. In the nozzle plate 102, a heater (heating element) 105 is formed by forming an individual electrode, a common electrode, and a heating element (thermal energy action section) on a silicon substrate by a wafer process. On the other hand, nozzle holes 101 for ejecting liquid such as ink are formed on the silicon substrate by a wafer process.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the pressure chamber 103 is formed by joining the nozzle plate 102, the upper channel plate 106, the lower channel plate 108, and the vibration plate 114. A heater 105 is provided at the bottom of the pressure chamber 103, and a nozzle hole 101 is formed at an end of the pressure chamber 103. The upper flow path plate 106 is provided with a lower fluid resistance flow path 104, and the lower flow path plate 108 is provided with a pressure chamber 103, an ink supply communication path 107, and a damper chamber 123 as a movable area of the vibration plate 114. Can be The lower fluid resistance flow passage 104 controls the amount of liquid (ink) flowing into the pressure chamber 103, and the ink supply communication passage 107 has a common ink chamber 116 as a common liquid chamber and a pressure chamber 103 which will be described later. The road 104 is connected. Since the processing accuracy of the opening shapes of the pressure chambers 103, 103 'and the lower fluid resistance flow path 104 has a great effect on the liquid (ink) discharge characteristics of the liquid discharge head, the upper flow path plate 106 and the lower flow path plate 108 is formed by a precision press method. With the two-layer liquid chamber plate composed of the upper channel plate 106 and the lower channel plate 108, the damper chamber 123 formed in the lower channel plate 108 can be formed as a through-hole, The pressure chamber 103, the fluid resistance flow path 104, and the damper chamber 123 can be formed only by processing.

  The diaphragm 114 includes a diaphragm 111 for efficiently transmitting the displacement of the piezoelectric actuator 121 to the pressure chamber 103, an ink supply port 112 flowing from the common ink chamber 116 to the lower fluid resistance flow path 104, It has a damper diaphragm 113 for absorbing pressure fluctuations. The diaphragm 111 and the ink supply port 112 are also arranged to face the pressure chamber 103. The pressure at which the ink droplets are ejected includes a component that propagates as a pressure at which the ink droplets are ejected from the nozzle holes 101 and a pressure component that returns to the common ink chamber 116. The pressure component that propagates to the common ink chamber 116 is the common ink chamber. It resonates in 116 and propagates again to the pressure chamber 103. For this reason, it interferes with the ink to be subsequently ejected as pressure, and the subsequent ink ejection speed fluctuates greatly, adversely affecting the landing position. In particular, when the driving frequency is increased and the number of driving nozzles is increased, the pressure wave remaining in the common ink chamber 116 is increased, and the influence is increased because the pressure wave is not attenuated. This is so-called cross talk of fluid factors. In order to suppress such crosstalk due to fluid factors, the common ink chamber 116 is provided with a damper diaphragm 113 for absorbing pressure fluctuation. The deformation of the damper diaphragm 113 absorbs the pressure transmitted to the common ink chamber 116.

  The frame 118 has a common ink chamber 116, an actuator insertion opening 115, and an ink introduction passage 117 for guiding ink from the ink tank to the common ink chamber 116. The frame 118 is formed by cutting a stainless material, molding a resin, or the like. The piezoelectric actuator 121 has a piezoelectric element 119 and a fixing member 120, and the fixing member 120 is made of a highly rigid member such as a stainless steel material or a ceramic material. An electric signal is input to the individual electrode pattern and the common electrode pattern of the piezoelectric actuator 121 via the FPC 122 shown in FIG. 10 to cause the piezoelectric element 119 to be displaced. The displacement generated in the piezoelectric element 119 in this manner is changed by changing the pressure inside the pressure chamber 103 via the vibration plate 114, thereby ejecting ink droplets to form an image.

  FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a cross section of the liquid ejection head shown in FIG. 7 taken along line AA which is a direction orthogonal to the nozzle arrangement direction, and shows a flow channel structure in one individual flow channel. . In this configuration, the piezoelectric element 119 fixed to the diaphragm 111 is driven to deform, thereby deforming the pressure chambers 103 and 103 'to discharge droplets.

  Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to such specific embodiments, and unless otherwise specified in the above description, the present invention described in the claims Various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the spirit of the present invention. For example, it may be a combination of the technical matters described in the above embodiments and examples as appropriate.

  In FIG. 1 and the like, a printing apparatus that performs printing (including image formation) on a web is described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. The web transport device according to the present invention may be a transport device that transports a long web such as a printing device (including an image forming device), a coating device, an inspection device, and a slitter. In addition, a roll body can be mentioned as a general term of the web, and the web is included in a roll body representing a transported object such as a long transported medium. Examples of the web include a film and the like in addition to the specific examples described above.

  The effects described as appropriate in the embodiments of the present invention merely enumerate the most preferable effects resulting from the present invention, and the effects according to the present invention are limited to those described in the embodiments of the present invention. Not something.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 unwinding shaft 2 winding shaft 3 guide roller 4 feed roller 5 liquid discharge head 6 drying unit 10 printing unit 11 raw roll 12 winding roll 20 transport roller 30 outer diameter adjusting drive means 40 outer diameter storage means 50 web condition input Means (an example of Web condition setting means)
60 Web width detecting means (an example of first and second web detecting means)
61 Web Position Detecting Unit (Example of First and Second Web Detecting Units)
70 Outer diameter control means (an example of first outer diameter control means)
70A Outer diameter control means 70B Outer diameter control means (an example of second outer diameter control means)
100, 100A, 100B, 100C Web transfer device W Web X Web transfer direction Y Web width direction

JP 2010-047372 A JP 2013-006655 A

Claims (8)

A transport roller driven by the web to be transported, the transport roller having a variable roller outer diameter in an arbitrary section obtained by dividing a roller width direction of the transport roller into at least three sections,
Outer diameter changing means for changing a roller outer diameter of the arbitrary section in the transport roller,
Outer diameter adjustment driving means for adjusting the outer diameter of the roller in the arbitrary section of the transport roller,
Web condition setting means for setting web conditions to be used;
Outer diameter storage means for storing a roller outer diameter value of each section of the transport roller according to the web,
A web transport device that drives the outer diameter adjustment driving unit in accordance with the web condition set by the web condition setting unit.   2. The web transport apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the outer diameter adjustment drive unit can adjust the roller outer diameter of each section of the transport roller during web transport. A first web detecting means provided downstream of the transport roller in the web transport direction and at least one of a first web width detecting means for detecting a web width and a first web position detecting means for detecting a web position; When,
First outer diameter control means for determining a roller outer diameter of each section of the transport roller according to a detection value of the at least one first web detection means,
3. The web transport device according to claim 1, wherein the outer diameter adjusting drive unit is driven to have a roller outer diameter of each section of the transport roller determined by the first outer diameter control unit. . In addition to the at least one first web detecting unit, a second web width detecting unit that is provided upstream of the transport roller in the web transport direction and detects a web width, and a second web width detecting unit that detects a web position. At least one second web detecting means of the web position detecting means,
A second outer diameter that determines a roller outer diameter of each section of the transport roller according to a difference between detection values of the at least one second web detecting unit and the at least one first web detecting unit; Control means,
4. The web transport device according to claim 3, wherein the outer diameter adjustment drive unit is driven so as to have a roller outer diameter of each section of the transport roller determined by the second outer diameter control unit. 5.   5. The web transport device according to claim 3, further comprising a notification unit that notifies a user when the value detected by the at least one first web detection unit is out of a specified range.   The web transport device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a printing unit that is disposed downstream of the transport roller in the web transport direction and that performs printing on the web. A transport roller that is disposed downstream of the printing unit in the web transport direction and is different from the transport roller.
A drying unit disposed downstream of the another transport roller in the web transport direction,
The web transport device according to claim 6, comprising: In a device that discharges a liquid including a liquid discharge head or a liquid discharge unit that discharges a liquid to a web,
An apparatus for discharging a liquid, wherein the apparatus for discharging the liquid is provided in the printing unit of the web transport device according to claim 6.

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