JP3698374B2 - Recording device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a dot plotting unit using an ink jet head and a composite plotter that performs cutting using a line drawing or a cutting pen.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a conventional composite plotter, generally, a dot recording unit that performs dot recording and a line drawing recording unit that performs line drawing or cutting are provided as independent mechanisms, or the dot recording unit is provided in one moving block. The former is selectively recorded using any mechanism according to dot recording and line drawing recording, and the latter is selectively recording any of the recordings. Configured to use the means.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the above-described conventional recording apparatus, since the former apparatus is provided with dot recording means and line drawing recording means separately, a mechanism and a drive for moving each recording means relative to the recording medium The system is provided separately, which causes problems such as an increase in the number of parts, an increase in the size of the recording apparatus, and a complicated recording operation control. In the latter case, it is not necessary to provide a plurality of drive systems. However, since a plurality of recording means are mounted on one moving block, the moving block increases in size and weight, thereby increasing the recording speed. There was a problem that could not be performed. Furthermore, when an ink jet head is used as the dot recording means, it is necessary to prevent the ink jet head from drying when recording is performed using the line drawing recording means. Therefore, the line drawing recording means and the ink jet head are placed in one moving block. In the case of providing, it is necessary to provide an ink-jet head drying preventing means that acts during the line drawing recording operation and does not act during the dot recording operation, and there is a disadvantage that the configuration becomes complicated.
[0004]
The present invention has been made to solve these problems, and it is an object of the present invention to configure and operate a composite plotter without increasing the size of a moving block and with a simple configuration and recording operation control.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problems, in the recording apparatus of the present invention, a pen block having a vertical mechanism that presses and separates a recording pen or cutting pen to be held against a recording medium, and moving means for moving the pen block And an ink jet block having an ink jet head. In the drawing operation by the ink jet head, the ink jet block is coupled to the pen block by the pen block moving means, and drawing by the ink jet head is performed by the movement of the pen block. In the recording operation by the block, the ink jet block is separated from the pen block by operating the vertical mechanism of the pen block.
[0006]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The recording apparatus of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a main configuration of a composite plotter which is a recording apparatus according to the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a recording apparatus body, 2 is a pen block, 3 is a vertical mechanism, 4 is a pen block moving mechanism, The coupling means 6 is an ink jet block.
In the composite type plotter of the present invention, the recording medium is supported on the platen 12 by a medium driving means (not shown) so as to be movable in the Y direction in the figure. The pen block 2 is slidably attached to a rail 11 extending in the X direction in the figure, and the inkjet block 6 is also slidably attached to the rail 11.
[0007]
First, the line drawing recording operation or cutting operation in the composite plotter of the present invention will be described. In this line drawing recording operation or cutting operation, the pen block 2 and the ink jet block 6 are separated from each other by a separation operation described later.
The pen block 2 includes a slider body 20 slidably attached to the rail 11, a moving coil 31 as an up-and-down mechanism 3 provided on the slider body 20, and a recording pen or cutting pen attached to the moving coil 31. It is comprised by the pen holder 21 which hold | maintains.
The pen block moving mechanism 4 includes pulleys 41 provided on both sides of the rail 11 in the X direction, a belt (or wire) 42 laid between the pulleys 41 in the X direction in the figure, and a rotational driving force applied to one pulley 41. The slider 20 of the pen block 2 is coupled to the belt 42 of the pen block moving mechanism. In the line drawing recording operation or cutting operation, the drive control device of the recording device (not shown) controls the movement of the pen block 2 in the X direction in the figure by controlling the rotation of the drive motor 43 based on the recording signal or the cutting signal. At the same time, the control device of the recording apparatus drives and controls the moving coil 31 to move the recording pen or cutting pen held by the pen holder 21 up and down, and the medium driving means (not shown) moves the recording medium in the Y direction in the figure. Move to. As a result, the pen block 2 relatively moves on the recording medium, and the recording pen or cutting pen held by the pen holder 21 by the vertical mechanism 3 is pressed against and separated from the recording medium, so that the desired recording medium is formed on the recording medium. The image or the desired cut shape is formed.
[0008]
Next, the dot recording operation by the ink jet head in the composite type plotter of the present invention will be described. In this dot recording operation, the pen block 2 and the ink jet block 6 are combined by a combining operation described later.
The block main body 60 of the ink jet block 6 to which the ink jet head 61 is fixed in the direction of the recording medium (platen 12) so that the ink discharge ports face each other is shown on the rail 11 like the pen block 2 described above. It is slidably attached in the X direction. The head station 62 is provided outside the recording range of the line drawing recording means, and the ink jet block 6 is positioned immediately above the head station 62 so that the upper opening surrounds the ink discharge port of the ink jet head 61 and is dried. It is configured to have a so-called cap function to prevent. The ink jet block 6 is positioned on the head station 62 when the recording apparatus is in a line drawing recording operation or not in use.
[0009]
During the dot recording operation, the controller of the recording apparatus (not shown) drives and controls the pen block moving mechanism 4 to move the ink block 6 in the main scanning direction by moving the pen block 2 in the X direction in the figure. Let At this time, the control device detects the position of the ink jet block main body 60 from the output of the linear encoder 81 provided on the rail member 11, and simultaneously drives the ink jet head 61 based on the recording signal to cause the ink on the recording medium. To discharge. When the recording in the main scanning direction for one line is completed, the control device moves the recording medium by the unit feed amount in the Y direction of the drawing, that is, the sub scanning direction by the medium driving means, and moves the ink jet block 6 in the main scanning direction. And recording for one line that follows. The inkjet block 6 is configured to perform dot recording by sequentially moving the inkjet block 6 in the main scanning direction and moving the recording medium in the sub-scanning direction.
[0010]
Next, the coupling means 5 for the pen block 2 and the ink jet block 6 which are the main components of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the coupling means 5. The coupling means 5 includes a hook 51 attached to the slider 20 of the pen block 2, a lever member 52 attached to the inkjet block 6 so as to be rotatable about an axis, and a lever member 52. Is constituted by an elastic member 57 made of a torsion coil spring that constantly urges in the + Z direction in the drawing, a stopper 58, and a contact member 59.
[0011]
As shown in FIG. 2A, the lever member 52 includes an inclined portion 53, a concave engaging portion 54, a U-shaped groove portion 55, and a contact portion 56 with which the lower end portion of the pen holder 21 contacts. The lever member 52 is attached to the surface of the inkjet block 6 facing the pen block 2 so that the engaging portion 54 is positioned on the movement path of the hook 51 attached to the slider 20.
Further, as shown in FIGS. 2B and 4A, when the pen block 2 and the inkjet block 6 are in a coupled state, the lower end portion of the hook 51 abuts on the engaging portion 54 and the groove portion 55. The recording pen or cutting pen held by the pen holder 21 is fitted to the portion without contacting the pen, and the contact portion 56 is positioned directly below the lower end portion of the pen holder 21.
[0012]
In the composite plotter of the present invention, when dot recording is performed by the ink jet block 6, the pen block 2 and the ink jet block 6 are combined prior to recording.
In this coupling operation, the control device drives the pen block moving mechanism 4 to move the pen block 2 toward the ink jet block 6. With this movement, as shown in FIG. 3A, the hook 51 provided on the same movement path and the inclined portion 53 of the lever member 52 approach and contact each other. When the pen block 2 is further moved to the ink jet block 6 side, the lower end portion of the hook 51 slides on the inclined surface of the inclined portion 53 as shown in FIG. It is pushed down in the direction of the arrow in the figure against the axis against the urging force of 57. By further moving, the hook 51 passes over the inclined portion 53. At this time, as shown in FIG. 3C, the lever member 52 is returned to the original position by the urging force of the elastic member 57, and the hook 51 is moved. Engage with the engaging portion 54. At this time, the contact member 59 provided on the slider 20 contacts the inkjet block 6. In this state, the recording standby state is entered.
[0013]
In the dot recording operation using the inkjet block 6, the control device drives the pen block moving mechanism 4 based on the recording signal to move the pen block 2 in the + X direction. At this time, the lower end of the hook 51 attached to the slider 20 is engaged with the engaging portion 54 of the lever member 52, and this engagement is maintained by the urging force of the elastic member 57. It moves in the + X direction together with the pen block 2. Simultaneously with the movement of the pen block 2 and the ink jet block 6, the control device drives and controls the ink jet head 61 to eject ink onto the surface of the recording medium and perform recording.
[0014]
When dot recording for one line is completed, the recording medium is moved by a unit movement amount in the Y direction in the figure by a medium driving unit (not shown). Thereafter, the control device drives the pen block moving mechanism 4 to move the pen block 2 in the −X direction. At this time, the contact member 59 provided on the slider 20 moves the ink jet block 6 by pushing the ink jet block 6 in the −X direction. At the same time, the ink jet head 61 is driven to perform dot recording for one line.
[0015]
The dot recording is performed by sequentially performing the dot recording for one line and the unit amount movement of the recording medium.
[0016]
When this dot recording is completed and line drawing recording is subsequently performed using a recording pen or cutting pen, the pen block 2 and the ink jet block 6 are separated prior to recording.
In this separation operation, the control device drives the pen block moving mechanism 4 to position the ink jet block 6 on the head station 62 which is the standby position.
Thereafter, the control device operates the moving coil 31 of the pen block 2 to lower the pen holder 21. At this time, as shown in FIG. 4 (b), the pen holder 21 rotates the lever member 52 around the shaft and pushes it down against the urging force of the elastic member 57. As a result, the engaging portion 54 is separated from the tip end portion of the hook 51 attached to the slider 20, and the engagement is released.
In this state, the pen block 2 is moved in the + X direction, that is, in a direction away from the ink jet block 6, so that the pen block 2 is separated from the ink jet block 6, and the ink jet block 6 is placed on the head station 61 and waits. After this separation operation, the pen block 2 is moved and controlled to perform line drawing recording.
[0017]
By configuring as described above, in the composite type plotter of the present invention, the dot recording means and the line drawing recording means can be coupled and disconnected using the movement of the pen block 2 and the vertical movement of the pen holder 21.
[0018]
Next, the origin return operation of the pen block and the inkjet block in the composite plotter of the present invention will be described.
[0019]
FIG. 5 is a view for explaining the origin return operation of each recording block in the composite type plotter of the present invention. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 7 denotes a home position of each block, that is, a fixed origin where the pen block and the ink jet block are set on the movement path. It is a home position detection sensor for positioning to. Reference numeral 71 denotes a pen block detection sensor composed of a transmissive photo interrupter for positioning the pen block 2 at the home position. When a predetermined position of the pen block 2 (in the present embodiment, the −X direction end of the slider 20) is detected, The recording apparatus main body 1 is attached so that the level of the output signal changes. In this embodiment, the level of the output signal of the pen block detection sensor 71 changes when the pen block 2 is positioned at the fixed origin.
Reference numeral 72 denotes an ink jet block detection sensor composed of a transmissive photo interrupter for positioning the ink jet block 6 at a predetermined position. When the end of the ink jet block 6 in the −X direction is detected, the level of the output signal changes. It is attached to the recording apparatus main body 1.
[0020]
In the case of the present embodiment, when the control device of the recording apparatus (not shown) detects that the level of the output signal of the ink jet block detection sensor 72 changes, the count of the linear encoder 81 as the ink jet block position detection mechanism 8 is reset. This position is configured to be the fixed origin of the inkjet block 6 in the dot recording operation mode.
Further, the head station 62 is attached to the recording apparatus main body 1 so as to seal the ink discharge port of the ink jet head 61 by moving the ink jet block 6 further by a predetermined distance in the −X direction in the figure from the fixed origin. .
[0021]
When the power is turned on or when a new recording or recording mode is changed, the control device performs a home return operation for each block.
[0022]
In any of the recording operation modes of line drawing recording and dot recording, the control device first performs the cap operation of the inkjet block 6.
In this cap operation, first, the control device detects whether the pen block 2 is positioned on the + X side or the −X side with respect to the fixed origin from the output of the pen block detection sensor 71. When the pen block 2 is on the + X side with respect to the fixed origin, the pen block 2 is moved in the -X direction. On the contrary, when the pen block 2 is on the -X side, the pen block 2 is moved in the + X direction to detect the pen block. When a change in the output of the sensor 71 is detected, a counter of a pen block position detection mechanism (not shown) (for example, a pulse encoder that detects the rotation amount of the pulley 41 of the pen block movement mechanism 4 as the movement amount of the pen block 2). To reset. Next, based on the output of the pen block position detection mechanism, the pen block 2 is moved a predetermined distance in the −X direction from the fixed origin. By moving the pen block 2 by a predetermined distance from the fixed origin, the ink jet block 6 is coupled to the pen block 2 (regardless of being coupled or separated in advance), and is further positioned on the head station 62 and stopped. Thereby, the ink discharge port of the inkjet head 61 is sealed.
[0023]
Now, when the recording apparatus is in a line drawing recording mode in which line drawing recording is performed using a recording pen or a cutting pen, the control device drives the vertical mechanism 3 while the inkjet block 6 is positioned on the head station 6. The ink jet block 6 is separated from the pen block 2. Thereafter, after the pen block 2 is moved to a pen block standby position (for example, the endmost portion in the effective recording range in the + X direction) that is a predetermined distance away from the detected fixed origin, the driving of the pen block moving mechanism 4 is stopped. The recording standby state is entered.
[0024]
On the other hand, when the recording apparatus is in a dot recording mode in which dot recording is performed using an inkjet head, the pen block 2 is moved in the + X direction while the inkjet block 6 is coupled, and the inkjet block detection sensor 72 is- When the end of the X side is detected, that is, when it is detected that the inkjet block 6 is positioned at the fixed origin, the count of the linear encoder 81 as the inkjet block position detecting mechanism 8 is reset, and the −X direction from this fixed origin Then, the ink discharge port of the ink jet head 61 is sealed by the head station 62, the movement of the pen block 2 is stopped, and the recording standby state is entered.
[0025]
By configuring as described above, in the composite type plotter of the present invention, the ink jet block and the pen block can be surely returned to the fixed origin before performing the recording operation. The block can be positioned on the head station, and it is possible to reliably prevent ink drying in the inkjet head.
[0026]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, in the recording apparatus of the present invention, since the pen block and the ink jet block can be connected and disconnected by the operation of the pen block moving means and the pen up / down mechanism, the configuration of the pen block and the ink jet block is complicated. Thus, it is possible to realize a composite plotter that does not require complicated operation control.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a main configuration of a composite plotter that is a recording apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a coupling unit of the recording apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a coupling operation of a pen block and an inkjet block in the recording apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of connecting and disconnecting a pen block and an inkjet block in the recording apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a method for returning the origin of each recording block in the recording apparatus of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Recording device body 2 Pen block 3 Vertical mechanism 4 Pen block moving mechanism 5 Coupling means 6 Inkjet block 7 Home position detection sensor 8 Inkjet block position detection mechanism

Claims (2)

Maintains a record pen or cutting pen, presses the recording pen or cutting pen and holding on a recording medium, thereby the pen block having a vertical mechanism of separating, the pen block moved relative to the recording medium Based on the pen block moving means , the ink jet block having the ink jet head , the recording signal or the cutting signal, the pen block moving means is moved and the vertical movement mechanism of the pen block is driven and controlled, and the ink jet is controlled according to the image signal. In a recording apparatus having a control means for controlling a head and drawing a desired image ,
A mechanical coupling means for coupling and separating the pen block and the ink jet block; and during the drawing operation by the ink jet head, the control means controls the pen block moving means to move the ink block to the pen block. combining performs a drawing by controlling the moves the inkjet head by the movement of the pen block, during the recording operation by the pen block, said control means drives said pen block moving means and the vertically moving mechanism recording apparatus characterized by being configured as to cut away from the pen block inkjet block by controlling. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor for detecting a home position of the pen block and a sensor for detecting a home position of the inkjet block, wherein the recording apparatus is in a line drawing recording operation mode. , the control means, after moving the pen block to position the inkjet block to the home position by moving controls the pen block moving means based on the outputs of these sensors, the ink jet block and drive controls the vertical mechanism When the recording apparatus is in the dot recording operation mode by separating the pen block from the pen block and setting the pen block to the home position, the control means is configured to move the pen block moving means based on the outputs of the sensors. the movement control to position the inkjet block to the home position It takes as recording apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by being configured so as to record standby state pen block after moving.

Images