JP2022144588A - recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a recording device equipped with cleaning means capable of cleaning recording media of various shapes.SOLUTION: A recording device includes: conveyance means for conveying a recording medium; recording means for performing recording on the recording medium conveyed by the conveyance means; and cleaning means G provided with a cleaning member 41 disposed in an upstream of the recording means in a conveyance direction of the recording medium and cleaning the recording medium by coming into contact with the recording medium conveyed by conveyance means. The cleaning member 41 is provided with a plurality of slits S radially extending from a predetermined point. Outer end parts of a pair of linearly opposed slits S1 among the plurality of slits are continuously provided with slits S2 that bend toward the same side of a region partitioned by the straight lines.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

The present invention relates to a recording apparatus that performs recording processing on a recording medium such as a long tube or tape, and that includes cleaning means for removing dust adhering to the surface of the recording medium before recording processing. .

In a thermal printer that uses an ink ribbon, if dust adheres to the surface of the recording medium during recording processing, the recording medium cannot be brought into close contact with the ink ribbon, resulting in the ink flowing onto the recording medium. In some cases, image defects are caused due to interference with fixing. Therefore, in such a thermal printer, it is common practice to remove dust adhering to the surface of the recording medium before performing recording processing, and then supply the recording medium to the recording unit.

For example, there is proposed a cleaning technology that removes dust adhering to the recording medium by placing an adhesive contact roller on the transport path of the recording medium transported to the recording unit and bringing the contact roller into contact with the transported recording medium. (Patent Document 1).

JP 2012-121645

However, the cleaning structure of Patent Document 1 is premised on removing dust adhering to a plate-shaped surface like a recording card whose outer shape and thickness are defined by standards. On the other hand, in recent years, the types of recording media have diversified, and recording has come to be performed not only on recording cards but also on long tapes, tubes, and the like. In particular, long tubes are available in a variety of shapes, such as cylindrical and flat shapes, as well as tube inner diameters, wall thicknesses, and widths. For this reason, it is difficult for the contact roller described above to follow the surface of tubes having various shapes to remove dust.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a recording apparatus having cleaning means capable of cleaning recording media of various shapes.

A typical configuration according to the present invention for achieving the above object includes transport means for transporting a recording medium, recording means for performing recording on the recording medium transported by the transport means, and transport of the recording medium. a cleaning unit disposed on the upstream side of the recording unit in the direction of the recording medium, and comprising a cleaning member that comes into contact with the recording medium conveyed by the conveying unit and cleans the recording medium; is provided with a plurality of first slits extending radially from a predetermined point, and out of the plurality of first slits, a pair of the first slits linearly opposed to each other are provided at outer ends of the It is characterized in that second slits extending toward the same side of the regions partitioned by straight lines are connected.

In the present invention, since the cleaning member is provided with the bending slits continuing to the outer ends of the radial slits, the recording medium is elastically formed so as to conform to the shape of the recording medium when it is passed through the slits. transform. Therefore, it is possible to accurately clean the surface of the recording medium passing through the slit.

1 is an explanatory diagram of the overall configuration of a recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of the periphery of the recording unit in the recording apparatus, showing a separated position where the thermal head is retracted from the transport path; FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of the periphery of a recording unit in the recording apparatus, showing a position where the thermal head is in contact with the platen roller; FIG. 4 shows an enlarged view of the periphery of a recording unit in the recording apparatus, and shows a view in which a recording medium (tube) is mounted. It is a figure which shows the structure of a cleaning means. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of the cleaning means, where (a) is an illustration of slits formed in the cleaning member, and (b) is a diagram showing a state when a cylindrical tube passes through the slit of the cleaning member. FIG. 10A is a view showing a state when the flat tube passes through the slit of the cleaning member, FIG. FIG. 10 is a view showing a state when passing through the slit of the cleaning member; (a) and (b) are modified examples of slits formed in the cleaning member. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a cleaning member having a two-layer structure;

Next, a mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<Overall Configuration of Recording Device>
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the overall configuration of a recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The recording apparatus of this embodiment performs recording on an elongated recording medium such as a tape or tube that is selectively set.

The recording apparatus is configured to be portable, and has an input unit A for inputting the type and size of recording medium, recording information, recording mode, etc., and a display unit for displaying information input from the input unit A, recording status, etc. B, a supply unit C that supplies a recording medium, a recording unit D that records an image on the recording medium supplied and conveyed by the supply unit C, a cutting unit E that cuts the recording medium, and a recording medium that has been subjected to recording processing and cutting processing is provided with a discharge section F for discharging the Further, cleaning means G for cleaning the recording medium supplied from the supply section C to the recording section D is provided.

A recording medium T (see FIG. 4) is set in the supply section C of the recording apparatus. The recording medium T is attached to an attachment 1 detachable from the main body of the recording apparatus, and the recording medium can be changed by exchanging the attachment 1. FIG. For example, although a tube is used as the recording medium in this embodiment, it is also possible to record on a tape by attaching the attachment 1 to which a tape cassette is mounted as the recording medium.

A feeding unit C is provided with a transport roller 2 and a transport roller 3. A recording medium T is mounted between the transport roller 2 and the transport roller 3, and the transport roller 3 is pressed against the transport roller 2 to feed the recording medium. The sheet is conveyed to the recording section D located downstream in the conveying direction. The conveying roller 2 is connected to a motor that is connected by a drive train (not shown) and is driven to rotate.

As shown in FIG. 2, the recording section D has a platen roller 5 arranged to face the thermal head 4 and a transport roller 6 arranged downstream of the platen roller 5 so as to face the platen roller 5 . ing. An ink ribbon 7 is interposed between the thermal head 4 and the platen roller 5 . The ink ribbon 7 is supplied from the supply spool of the ribbon cassette H and taken up by the take-up spool. The platen roller 5, the conveying roller 6, and the take-up spool of the ribbon cassette H are connected by a drive train (not shown), and are connected to a motor for rotating and driving them.

Further, the thermal head 4 is configured to be movable between a separated position retracted from the platen roller 5 as shown in FIG. 2 and a contact position where it contacts the platen roller 5 as shown in FIG. Abutment and separation are performed by the row and the motor.

FIG. 4 shows a diagram in which a tube is mounted as the recording medium T. During recording, the thermal head 4 is brought into pressure contact with the platen roller 5 with the ink ribbon 7 and the recording medium T interposed therebetween, so that the ink ribbon 7 and the recording medium T are brought into close contact with each other. The thermal head 4 is caused to generate heat in accordance with the recording data input from the input section A while being conveyed. As a result, the ink of the ink ribbon 7 is melted and a character string or the like is transferred and recorded on the recording medium T line by line.

A cutting section E is arranged downstream of the recording section D. As shown in FIG. The cutting section E of the present embodiment is composed of a cutter 8 and a blade holder 9, and performs a cutting process of cutting the recording medium T, which has undergone recording processing, into a predetermined length. The cutting method can be switched between a half cut that leaves a part of the recording medium in the width direction and a full cut that cuts the entire width of the recording medium T. FIG.

<Cleaning Means>
Next, the cleaning means G will be explained. The cleaning unit G removes dust and the like from the recording medium T supplied from the supply unit C to the recording unit D, and is arranged between the supply unit C and the recording unit D in the transportation path of the recording medium T. (See Figure 1).

The cleaning means G is attached to an attachment 1 detachable from the main body of the apparatus for mounting the recording medium. As shown in FIG. 5, the cleaning means G of this embodiment comprises a holder 40 detachable from the attachment 1 and a cleaning member 41 supported by the holder 40. As shown in FIG. The cleaning member 41 has a slit formed in an elastically deformable member, and when the conveyed recording medium T is inserted through the slit, the surface of the cleaning member 41 contacts and rubs against the cleaning member 41 to perform recording. It removes dust adhering to the surface of the medium T.

In order to elastically deform the cleaning member 41 of the present embodiment following the shape of the recording medium T through which the cleaning member 41 is inserted, and to prevent dust removed from the recording medium T from reattaching to the recording medium T, It is composed of a porous material such as sponge. By forming the cleaning member 41 with a porous material, the holding power of dust removed from the recording medium T can be increased, and the dust held by the cleaning member 41 can be prevented from adhering to the recording medium T again. be able to.

(Slit shape)
Next, the shape of the slit provided in the cleaning member 41 according to this embodiment will be described.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the cleaning member 41 according to the present embodiment is a substantially rectangular member having a predetermined thickness. A plurality of (six in this embodiment) linear slits S are provided. Then, out of the plurality of slits S, a pair of linearly opposed slits (first slits) S1 have outer ends Y (ends opposite to the point X) that are perpendicular to the first slits S1. A slit (second slit) S2 extending in the direction is provided so as to be connected. Here, as shown in FIG. 6A, a partition region Z is defined as a region surrounded by the first slit S1 and the second slit S2.

In the case where the recording medium T is a cylindrical tube or the like, as shown in FIG. The cleaning member 41 is elastically deformed and spread, and the entire outer peripheral surface of the recording medium T is pressed against the cleaning member 41 . When the recording medium T is conveyed in this state, the peripheral surface of the recording medium T is rubbed by the cleaning member 41 to remove dust adhering to the surface.

On the other hand, when the recording medium T is flat, as shown in FIG. 7A, the partition region Z of the cleaning member 41 is elastically deformed in the conveying direction of the flat recording medium T (flat tube). When the cleaning member 41 bends and falls down, the elastic force of the cleaning member 41 itself presses the area Z against the recording medium, thereby removing dust adhering to the surface of the recording medium T. FIG.

If the second slit S2 were not formed in the cleaning member 41, and a flat tube as the recording medium T was inserted through the slit S, the slit S would follow the shape of the recording medium T as shown in FIG. There is a possibility that the dust adhering to the surface of the recording medium cannot be sufficiently cleaned due to a large gap Sg between the recording medium T and the cleaning member 41 .

In contrast, in this embodiment, the cleaning member 41 is formed with a second slit S2 connected to the outer end of the first slit S1 and substantially perpendicular to the first slit S1. In the area Z formed by S2, when the recording medium T2 passes, the edge of the first slit S1 follows the shape of the recording medium T1 and bends to abut on it. Therefore, regardless of the thickness of the conveyed recording medium T, the recording medium T keeps contact with the surface of the cleaning member 41 and rubs against it.

Of the regions partitioned by the linear first slits S1 as described above, the partition region Z side is formed with the second slits S2, so that it is easy to bend. For this reason, in the present embodiment, of the recording medium T inserted through the first slit S1, the recording surface side is arranged to be on the partition area Z side. That is, the second slit S2 connected to the outer end of the first slit S1 is formed on the same side as the recording portion D when the cleaning member 41 is divided by the straight line of the first slit S1. It is Further, the holder 40 is formed with a bent portion 40a and the cleaning member 41 is formed with a notch 41c so that the region Z is not mounted on the side opposite to the recording surface side when the holder 40 is mounted on the recording apparatus. ing. As a result, the recording surface side surface of the recording medium T transported from the supply unit C to the recording unit D faces the partition area Z, and the first slit S1 follows the shape of the recording surface side of the recording medium T. To reliably remove dust adhering to the surface of a recording medium T by deforming and adhering to it. Then, the recording apparatus brings the thermal head 4 into contact with the portion of the flat tube from which the dust has been removed (the portion of the cleaning member 41 where the area Z is brought into contact) to perform recording. By providing the second slit S2, no gap is formed between the side of the cleaning member 41 facing the area Z and the flat tube. Performance improves. Therefore, recording may be performed on the side of the flat tube that is in contact with the side facing the area Z.

The length of the first slit S1 is set to a length that allows passage of a tube with the maximum outer diameter or a flat tube with the maximum width used for recording. For example, when the maximum outer diameter of the tube is 11.2 mm and the maximum width of the flat tube is 11 mm, the length of the first slit S1 is 7 mm. That is, by setting the length of the first slit S1 to exceed 1/2 of the maximum outer diameter of the tube, the recording medium can be cleaned even when the tube having the maximum outer diameter passes through the cleaning member 41. can be done. Further, by setting the length to exceed 1/2 of the maximum width of the flattened tube, the recording medium can be cleaned even when the flattened tube having the maximum width passes through the cleaning member 41 .

Moreover, in order to sufficiently bend the region Z, the length of the second slit S2 is preferably longer than the thickness of the flattened tube. As a result, the contact area between the surface of the bent cleaning member 41 and the flat tube can be secured as much as necessary for cleaning. For example, when the maximum thickness of the flat tube is 4 mm, by setting the length of the second slit S2 to 5 mm, even when the maximum thickness of the flat tube passes through the cleaning member 41, the recording medium can be effectively cleaned.

<Modified Example of Cleaning Member>
In the above-described embodiment, the plurality of slits S are formed so as to form straight lines extending radially and symmetrically about the point X. However, as shown in FIG. It doesn't have to be. The slit shape of FIG. 8(a) is the same as in the above-described embodiment in that the second slit S2 connected to the outer end of the first slit S1, which is a straight line facing the point X, is formed. However, two slits S extending obliquely upward and obliquely downward are formed in the area on the right side of the area partitioned by the first slit S1, and the second slit S2 is formed in the area on the left side of the first slit S1. A slit S is formed in parallel with the .

When radial slits are formed with the point X as the center, if the number of slits is too small, it becomes difficult for the recording medium to elastically deform along the shape of the recording medium when it is inserted through the slits. Therefore, when a large-diameter tube is used as the recording medium, the gap between the recording medium and the cleaning member 41 at the slit portion becomes large, and sufficient cleaning may not be possible. On the other hand, if the number of slits is too large, the slits are likely to deform along the shape of the recording medium, but the force with which the slits contact the recording medium becomes weak. Therefore, for example, when a small-diameter tube is used as the recording medium, the contact pressure of the cleaning member 41 with respect to the recording medium becomes weak, and there is a possibility that sufficient cleaning cannot be performed. Therefore, the number of slits should be set according to the shape, maximum diameter, and minimum diameter of the recording medium T used for recording.

Also, as shown in FIG. 8B, the angle formed by the second slit S2 and the first slit S1 may not be a right angle as in the above-described embodiment. If the second slit S2 is formed on the same side of the area partitioned by the first slit S1, it is possible to obtain the same effects as in the above-described embodiment.

Further, a hole 42 for facilitating insertion of the recording medium T may be provided near the point X which is the center of the radial slit. At this time, by making the diameter of the hole 42 smaller than the minimum diameter of the recording medium T, cleaning can be performed reliably even when a tube having the minimum diameter is passed through. For example, when the minimum outer diameter of the recording medium T is 2.3 mm, by setting the diameter of the hole 42 to 2 mm, even when the tube having the minimum outer diameter passes through the cleaning member 41, cleaning can be performed reliably. It becomes possible.

Furthermore, the cleaning member 41 may have a multilayer structure. When the recording medium is inserted through the slit of the cleaning member 41, the contact area of the cleaning member 41 with the recording medium becomes large due to the deflection of the cleaning member 41 on the upstream side in the conveying direction of the recording medium. Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 9, the cleaning member 41 is configured to have a two-layer structure. It is made of a material with high holding performance, such as non-woven fabric. The second layer 41b including the downstream side surface of the cleaning member 41 in the conveying direction is made of an elastic porous material such as a sponge in order to adjust the contact pressure with the recording medium. As described above, the cleaning performance can be improved by forming the cleaning member 41 with a multi-layered structure and using different materials for the portion responsible for removing dust and the portion for adjusting the contact pressure. When the cleaning member has a multilayer structure, it is preferable to use a nonwoven fabric having a thickness of about 1 mm from the viewpoint of dust removing performance and dust holding performance. Also, from the viewpoint of contact pressure and bending amount of the cleaning member, it is preferable to set the thickness of the porous member to about 3 mm.

As described above, by using the cleaning member 41 having the above-described configuration, it is possible to perform cleaning that exhibits an effect of removing dust with good followability for recording media of various shapes.

A: input section B: display section C: supply section D: recording section E: cutting section F: discharge section G: cleaning means H: ribbon cassette S: slit S1: first slit S2: second slit T: recording medium X ... Point Y ... Outer edge Z ... Partition area 1 ... Attachment 2 ... Conveying roller 3 ... Conveying roller 5 ... Platen roller 6 ... Conveying roller 7 ... Ink ribbon 8 ... Cutter 9 ... Blade holder 40 ... Holder 41 ... Cleaning member 42 ... hole

Claims (6)

a conveying means for conveying a recording medium;
a recording means for recording on the recording medium conveyed by the conveying means;
cleaning means arranged upstream of the recording means in the conveying direction of the recording medium and comprising a cleaning member that contacts the recording medium conveyed by the conveying means to clean the recording medium;
has
The cleaning member is provided with a plurality of first slits extending radially from a predetermined point. , and second slits extending toward the same side of the areas partitioned by the straight lines are connected to each other. 2. A recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a side of said cleaning member on which said second slit extends is a side of said recording medium on which recording is performed. 3. The recording medium according to claim 1, wherein a tube can be used as the recording medium, and the length of the first slit exceeds 1/2 of the maximum outer diameter of the tube. Device. 4. The recording medium according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a flat tube can be used as the recording medium, and the length of the second slit exceeds the maximum thickness of the flat tube. Recording device as described. 5. The recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the cleaning member is made of different materials on the upstream side and the downstream side in the conveying direction when the cleaning member is attached to the recording apparatus. . 6. A recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the material of said cleaning member is a non-woven fabric on said upstream side and a porous material on said downstream side.

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