JP2558718Y2 - Printing device - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, and more particularly to a printing apparatus which performs a printing operation with a printing portion of a print head being separated from a surface to be printed by a predetermined printing distance.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As one mode of a printing apparatus for performing printing on various printing surfaces, for example, when a printing operation is performed such as a printing apparatus having a dot-type ink jet type print head, the printing head described above is used. In some cases, the printing unit is separated from the surface to be printed by a predetermined printing distance.

[0003]

When a printing operation is performed using the above-described printing apparatus, it is necessary to accurately position the print head with respect to the surface to be printed in order to secure the predetermined printing distance. For this reason, for example, when the above-described printing apparatus is used by being mounted on an arm of an industrial robot, there is a disadvantage that extremely complicated position control is required to accurately position the printing head. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus capable of performing positioning of a print head with respect to a printing surface without requiring complicated position control means in view of the above-described situation.

[0004]

Therefore, in the present invention, a print head having a printing portion arranged so as to face a printing surface is moved in a direction approaching and separating from the printing surface between an initial position and a printing operation position. A first back-and-forth moving means for moving forward and backward is provided, and when the print head is moved in a direction approaching the printing surface, the distance between the printing portion of the printing head and the printing surface is set to a predetermined printing distance. Print head positioning means for contacting the print surface and preventing movement of the print head is provided in a side area of the print head, and further, a contact position at which the print head positioning means contacts the print surface. The above object is achieved by providing a second forward / backward moving means for moving forward and backward in a direction approaching and separating from the printing surface between the line retreat position and the line retreat position.

[0005]

According to the above arrangement, the distance between the printing portion of the print head and the printing surface can be set to a predetermined printing distance by operating the printing device in close proximity to the printing surface. The positioning of the print head with respect to the printing surface can be easily performed without the need for the position control means.

[0006]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the construction of the present invention. 1 to 20
Next, an example in which the printing apparatus according to the present invention is applied to a printing system for performing various markings such as a part number on a packing box in which a large automobile part is stored is shown.

[0007] The printing system 1 comprises a frame 10 installed on the floor so as to straddle the transport area of the packing box W, and an elevating beam 20 provided on the frame 10 so as to be movable up and down.
A, 20B, 20C, and 20D, and a printing device 100 that is provided on each of these lifting beams so as to be horizontally movable.
A, 100B, 100C, and 100D.

The frame 10 has columns 2A and 2A, 2C and 2C, which are erected on the floor with the conveyance area interposed therebetween, and columns 2B, 2B, 2D, and 2C which are erected on the side of the conveyance area.
D, and the upper part of each column is fixed to the fixing beams 3A, 3
B, 3C, and 3D.

The lifting beam 20A is shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 3, a pair of upper and lower square pipes 21, 21 and side frames 22 for supporting both ends of the square pipes 21, 21 are provided.
L, 22R. The lifting beam 20
A is spanned between a pair of columns 2A, 2A in a manner that the square pipes 21, 21 extend in the horizontal direction, and each slide base 23 fixed to each side frame 22L, 22R is connected to each column 2A, 2A. Guide rails 24, 24 extending vertically in 2A are slidably fitted respectively. Also,
Pinions 27, 27 supported by a lifting beam 20A via pinion shafts 26 mesh with racks 25, 25 extending from the columns 2A, 2A, respectively, and these pinions 27, 27 are connected to side frames. Driven via a belt transmission mechanism 29 by a servomotor 28 fixed to 22R, the lifting beam 20A moves up and down while being guided by the guide rails 24, 24 based on the rotation of the servomotor 28. That is, the lifting beam 20
A, the racks 25, 25, the pinions 27, 27, the servomotor 28, the belt transmission mechanism 29, and the like constitute a vertical moving unit 200 that moves the printing apparatus 100A up and down. The configuration of the lifting beams 20B, 20C, and 20D is basically the same as that of the above-described lifting beam 20A, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted. Elevating beam 2
Right and left moving units having the same configuration as the above-described vertical moving unit 200 are also provided in 0B, 20C, and 20D.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, guide rails 30, 30 extending in the horizontal direction are fixed to the square pipes 21, 21 of the elevating beam 20A. A slide base 32 fixed to a support frame 31 supporting the printing apparatus 100A is slidably fitted. On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 7, the toothed drive pulleys 33 are attached to the side frames 22L and 22R of the lifting beam 20A, respectively.
And a toothed driven pulley 34 are pivotally supported.
An endless belt 35 is wound between the endless belt 35 and the printing device 10.
OA is fixed to the support frame 31 for supporting OA. The toothed drive pulley 33 is provided on the side frame 22L.
The belt transmission mechanism 3 is driven by a servomotor 36 fixed to the
7, the printing device 100A is
The guide rail 3 based on the rotation of the servo motor 36
It moves horizontally while being guided by 0,30. That is, the lifting beam 20A, the toothed driving pulley 33, the toothed driven pulley 3
4, an endless belt 35, a servo motor 36, a belt transmission mechanism 37, and the like constitute a left / right moving unit 300 for operating the printing apparatus 100A in the horizontal direction. The lifting beams 20B, 20C, and 20D
Also, a left-right moving unit having the same configuration as the left-right moving unit 300 described above is provided.

As shown in FIGS. 10 to 13, chain sprockets 40A and 40B are supported on the upper portions of the columns 2A and 2B which stand upright next to each other. One end of the chain sprocket 40A is connected to the chain sprocket 40A. A chain 42A anchored to an arm 22La protruding from the side frame 22L of the lifting beam 20A and the other end anchored to a counterweight 41 housed inside the column 2A is wound around, thereby forming a balancer mechanism. I have. The same configuration is adopted on the side frame 22R (not shown) of the lifting beam 20A, and the lifting beam 20A can be raised and lowered with a small driving force by the above configuration. As clearly shown in FIGS. 10 to 13, the lifting beam 2 is attached to the chain sprocket 40B.
Arm 22R provided on side frame 22R of OB
a, and a chain 42B anchored to a counter weight (not shown) accommodated in the column 2B is wound therearound, and the lifting beam 20B side of the side frame 22L (not shown), and furthermore, the lifting beams 20C and 2C
A similar balancer mechanism is also configured in 0D.

As shown in FIGS. 14 to 19, the printing apparatus 100A includes a dot type ink jet type print head 101, and first and second movements for moving the print head 101 forward and backward between an initial position and a printing operation position which will be described later. An air cylinder actuator (rodless cylinder) 102 as a moving means, and a second back-and-forth movement for moving a print head positioning means, which will be described later, between a contact position in contact with a printing surface and a retreat position at the time of a line change described later. The print head 101 is provided with an air cylinder actuator 103 as a means.
3 and is supported by the support frame 31.

The actuator 1 is mounted on the support frame 31.
02 are fixedly mounted, and guides 103L and 104L and guides 103R and 103R are provided.
4R are fixedly provided with the cylinder 102a interposed therebetween.

The front end of the guide rod 105L slidingly fitted to the guides 103L and 104L and the front end of the cylinder rod 102b of the actuator 102, and the rear end of the guide rod 105L and the rear end of the cylinder rod 102b. Are connected to each other via a front plate 106 and a rear plate 107. The two plates 106 and 107 are connected to the bottom plate 10 extending below the actuator 102.
8 fixed. A cylinder 103a of the air cylinder actuator 103 is fixed to a lower portion of the bottom plate 108, and a base plate 110 is fixedly mounted on an end of a cylinder rod 103b of the actuator 103 via an angle frame 109. On the base plate 110, the print head 101 is provided with the ink jet nozzles (printing section) 10.
1a is fixedly provided in such a manner that it faces the printing surface Wa of a packing box W (see FIG. 1) as a printing object.

As shown in FIG. 16, guide roller rods 111 extending along the direction of movement of the print head 101 operated by the actuators 102 and 103 are supported on the base plate 110 in the lateral area of the print head 101 so as to be able to move forward and backward. Have been. Guide roller rod 11
The roller holder plate 11 is located at the tip (the left end in the figure)
2 are attached, and the roller holder plate 11
A guide roller 114 is pivotally supported by 2 via roller holders 113, 113. A spring seat 115 is fixed to the guide roller rod 111, and a compression spring 116 is interposed between the spring seat 115 and the base plate 110. A stopper portion 115a is formed on the spring seat 115, and a stopper 117 is fixed to a rear end (right end in the drawing) of the guide roller rod 111. Figures 15 and 1
As shown in FIG. 6, a guide 103R fixed to the support frame 31 is provided on the roller holder plate 112.
Guide rod 105R slidably fitted to the front plate 104 and the rear plate 105.
(The left end in the figure) is fixed. Each element of the guide roller rod 111 to the stopper 117 constitutes a print head positioning means 400 for positioning the print head 101 at a predetermined print work position as described later. The printing devices 100B, 100C,
Also, the configuration of the printer 100D is basically the same as that of the above-described printing apparatus 100A, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 20, each of the above-described printing devices 1
Each of the air cylinder actuators 102 in 00A, 100B, 100C, and 100D receives a separate electromagnetic switching valve 151A, 151 from one air supply source 150.
B, 151C, and 151D. In addition, each printing device 100A, 100B, 100C,
20 and 100D are also driven by the same air supply circuit as shown in FIG.

The operation of the printing system 1 will be described below step by step. As shown in FIG. 1, the center of the packing box W as a printing medium coincides with the center of the frame 10 by a transport means (not shown) such as a cart or a floor conveyor as shown by an arrow I in the drawing. In such a manner as to be carried into the work area surrounded by the frame 10.
At this time, each of the printing devices 100A, 100B, 100C,
And 100D are occupied at the uppermost retreat position by the upward movement of each of the elevating beams 20A, 20B, 20C, and 20D so as not to interfere with the packing box W, and each of the elevating beams 20A, 20B, It occupies the leftmost position in 20C and 20D, respectively. The initial position of each printing device can be set arbitrarily based on conditions such as the size of the packaging box and the printing position. Further, each of the printing devices 100A, 100B, 100
The print heads 101 in C and 100D occupy the most retracted positions, in other words, the initial positions most separated from the respective print-receiving surfaces of the packing box W carried into the work area.

The packing box W carried into the work area is always occupied by the positioning means (not shown) so that the side surface on the front side of the carrying box is always in a fixed position with respect to the frame 10 regardless of the size of the packing box. Positioning is performed.

When it is detected by the detecting means (not shown) that the positioning operation has been completed after the loading of the packing box W, the printing devices 100A, 100B, 100
C and 100D denote the up / down moving means 200 and the left / right moving means which operate based on the individual data of the packing box previously input to the controller (not shown) or the individual data of the packing box manually input by the operator at the time of carrying in. By the cooperative action of 300, it is moved vertically and horizontally along each non-printing surface and is transferred to a predetermined printing start position. At this time, the printing device 100A, 1
00B, 100C, and 100D are transported simultaneously and in parallel to a predetermined printing start position on each printing surface in order to reduce the working time. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the transfer of each printing device is started by an operator's switch operation without using the detection means. Also, depending on the type of packing box, each printing device 100
A, 100B, 100C, and 100D can be arbitrarily selected and moved.

Each of the printing devices 100A, 100B, 10
When 0C and 100D occupy a predetermined printing start position on each printing surface, the operation of the actuator 102 (first forward / backward moving means) in each printing device is started. As shown in FIG. 19A, when the print head 101 is at the initial position, the guide roller 114 is brought into contact with the base frame 110 by the urging force of the compression spring 116 so that the guide roller 114 is moved.
1 and protrudes forward more than the ink jet nozzle 101a in FIG. 1 and is largely separated from the printing surface Wa of the packaging box W. Further, the cylinder rod 103b of the actuator 103 (second longitudinal moving means) is locked at the most extended position.

Referring to FIG.
When the cylinder rod 102b of the (first longitudinal movement means) moves to the left, the print head 101 approaches the printing surface W of the packing box W, and the guide roller 114 moves the printing surface Wa.
Abut. Next, the print head 101 further moves leftward against the compression spring 116, and as shown in FIG.
When the stopper 115a of the spring seat 115 contacts the base plate 110, the left row of the cylinder rod 102b, in other words, the left row of the print head 101 is regulated.
Will be positioned at a printing operation position where the distance between the inkjet nozzle 101a and the surface to be printed Wa is a predetermined printing distance T1. At the same time that the stopper portion 115a comes into contact with the base plate 110, a proximity switch (not shown) installed at an appropriate position in the printing apparatus is turned on, thereby the actuator 102
Stops, and the print head 101 stays at the printing operation position. That is, the print head 101 is transferred from the initial position to the print operation position by the actuator 102 (first forward / backward moving means).

When the positioning of the print head 101 to the printing operation position is completed, the print head 101 ejects ink while being moved in the horizontal direction, and prints a required character pattern based on the individual data of the packing box on the printing surface. Print on Wa. At this time, the print head positioning means 400
The distance between the ink jet nozzle 101a and the print surface Wa is always kept at the predetermined print distance T1 by the action of, so that stable printing operation is performed and high quality printing is obtained.

When the printing operation of the first line is completed, the cylinder rod 103b of the actuator 103 (second forward / backward moving means) is retracted, and the guide roller 114 is moved to the printing surface Wa as shown in FIG. The print head positioning means 40 occupied at the contact position by contact.
Reference numeral 0 denotes a retreat position at the time of line change shown in FIG. 19C, that is, a position where the guide roller 114 constituting the print head positioning means 400 is slightly separated from the print surface Wa. That is, the print head positioning means 400 is transferred from the contact position to the retreat position at the time of line change by the actuator 103 (second front-back movement means).

When the print head positioning means 400 moves to the retreat position at the time of line change, the print head 101 is moved to the print start position of the second line in the same operation manner as described above. The extension of 103b causes the print head 101 to occupy the printing work position shown in FIG. 19B again, and thereafter, the above-described printing operation is repeatedly executed for a predetermined number of printing lines.

When the printing operation is completed, the cylinder rod 102b of the actuator 102 moves rightward to return the print head 101 to the initial position shown in FIG.
B, 100C, and 100D also return to the above-described initial positions and stop, and thereafter, the packing box W is moved from the frame 10 by a floor conveyor or the like (not shown) as indicated by an arrow O in FIG. It is carried out. Hereinafter, based on the above-described operation, the printing operation is sequentially performed on the subsequent packing boxes.

The printing apparatus according to the present invention can be effectively applied not only to the printing on the packaging box shown in the embodiment but also to various printing apparatuses for various printing objects. is there.

[0027]

As described above in detail, in the printing apparatus according to the present invention, the printing head having the printing unit arranged opposite to the printing surface is provided on the printing surface between the initial position and the printing operation position. A first forward / backward moving means for moving forward and backward in a direction in which the print head moves toward and away from the print surface; In order to set a predetermined printing distance, print head positioning means for contacting the print surface and preventing the movement of the print head is provided in a side area of the print head, and the print head positioning means is further provided on the print surface. And a second forward / backward moving means for moving forward / backward in a direction approaching / separating from the printing target surface between a contact position contacting the line and a retreat position at the time of line change. According to such a configuration, the distance between the printing portion of the print head and the printing surface can be set to a predetermined printing distance by operating the printing device close to the printing surface, so that complicated position control means is required. , It is possible to easily position the print head with respect to the print surface. Further, according to the above configuration, since the printing operation over a plurality of lines can be performed without returning the entire printing device to the origin every time one line of characters is printed, the entire printing operation time is greatly reduced. Becomes possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual overall perspective view of a printing system employing a printing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an overall plan view of the printing system.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a main part showing moving means of the printing apparatus in the printing system.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a main part showing moving means of the printing apparatus in the printing system.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side view of a main part showing moving means of the printing apparatus in the printing system.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a side view of a main part showing the printing device and the moving means of the printing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a front view of a main part showing the printing apparatus and the moving means of the printing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a side view of a main part showing a balancer mechanism of the printing system.

11 is a sectional view taken along line CC in FIG.

FIG. 12 is a main part plan view showing a balancer mechanism of the printing system.

FIG. 13 is a side view of a main part showing a balancer mechanism of the printing system.

FIG. 14 is a sectional side view showing the printing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 15 is an overall plan view showing a printing apparatus according to the present invention.

16 is a sectional view taken along line DD in FIG.

FIG. 17 is an overall front view of the printing apparatus according to the present invention.

18 is a sectional view taken along line EE in FIG.

FIGS. 19A, 19B, and 19C are conceptual diagrams showing an operation mode of the printing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 20 is an air circuit diagram for driving an air cylinder actuator in the printing apparatus according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printing system 100A, 100B, 100C, 100D ... Printing device 101 ... Print head 101a ... Ink-jet nozzle (printing part) 102 ... Air cylinder actuator (first front-back movement means) 103 ... Air cylinder actuator (second front-back movement) Means) 400: Print head positioning means W: Printed object Wa: Printed surface

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. A printing apparatus for performing a printing operation in a state where a printing portion of a print head is separated from a printing surface by a predetermined printing distance, wherein the printing portion is arranged to face the printing surface. A print head, a first front-rear moving means for moving the print head between an initial position and a print operation position in a direction in which the print head approaches and separates from the printing surface;
Provided in a side area of the print head, when the print head is moved in a direction approaching the print surface, the print head is in contact with the print surface and the distance between the print portion and the print surface is increased. A print head positioning means for preventing the movement of the print head so as to make the printing distance, and a method for moving the print head positioning means between a contact position where the print head is in contact with the print surface and a retreat position at the time of line change. A second back-and-forth moving means for moving forward and backward in a direction approaching and separating from the surface.