JP4535188B2 - Recording device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording apparatus that records information on a recording medium.

  In general, a large-sized printer, which is one of the conventional recording apparatuses, includes a paper supply unit that supplies, for example, printing roll paper as a recording medium, a printing unit that prints information on the supplied roll paper, A paper discharge unit for discharging the roll paper is arranged in this order from the top. When using such a large-sized ink jet printer, for example, the user stores the roll paper in the paper feed unit and pulls out the leading end of the roll paper. Then, the leading end of the roll paper is passed over a flat paper feed guide that acts as a paper conveyance surface, and is sandwiched between a paper feed roller and a driven roller to activate the printer.

  The inkjet printer then prints information on the roll paper by rotating the paper feed roller and feeding the roll paper onto a flat platen that acts as a paper transport guide surface, while ejecting ink droplets from the nozzle openings of the print head. To do. Then, the paper discharge roller is rotated to discharge the roll paper to the outside through a flat paper discharge guide that acts as a paper transport surface.

JP 2000-296941 A

  In the conventional printer described above, a paper suction unit for sucking the roll paper is provided between the platen and the paper discharge guide so that the curled roll paper does not float after printing. In this paper suction unit, normally, a plurality of suction ports are provided in a direction orthogonal to the roll paper conveyance direction, that is, the main scanning direction, and a plurality of suction ports are provided in the roll paper conveyance direction, that is, the sub-scanning direction, A fan that sucks outside air from each suction port is built-in.

  However, when a large number of suction ports are provided as described above, the suction capability of a fan with a limited number of installations is reduced, and the leading edge of a roll paper that is particularly strongly curled cannot be reliably suctioned. To solve this problem, it is sufficient to reduce the number of suction ports. However, because the roll paper is large, the number of suction ports is necessary to some extent, and it is difficult to balance the number of suction ports with the suction capacity of the fan. Met.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a recording apparatus capable of reliably sucking a recording medium.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the recording apparatus according to the present invention, a suction port is provided, and a first member having a transport surface on which the recording medium is transported and a plurality of holes spaced in the transport direction of the recording medium are provided. A second member, wherein the suction port is switchable between a first state closed by the second member and a second state communicating with the hole of the second member, In the two states, the recording medium is sucked, and the hole on the upstream side of conveyance of the recording medium extends longer in the conveyance direction than the hole on the downstream side of conveyance.

  Thereby, when the recorded recording medium is conveyed, only the suction port of the portion where the tip is located can be opened, so that the suction ability of the fan can be concentrated on the opened suction port, In particular, the leading edge of the strongly curled recording medium can be reliably sucked. In addition, since the suction port is opened and closed by the second member, the operation of sequentially opening the suction port according to the conveyance of the leading end of the recording medium can be easily performed only by synchronizing the conveyance of the recording medium and the opening operation of the second member. It can be carried out.

  To achieve the above object, in the recording apparatus according to the present invention, in the recording apparatus for recording information on the recording medium, a plurality of suction ports for sucking the recorded recording medium are provided in the transport direction of the recording medium. A suction portion having a suction port, and when the recording medium has not been conveyed, the suction port is closed by a shutter, and when the recording medium has been conveyed, The suction ports are sequentially opened by the shutter, and all the suction ports are opened immediately before the leading edge of the recording medium reaches the suction port on the downstream side of the conveyance.

  Thereby, when the recorded recording medium is conveyed, only the suction port of the portion where the tip is located can be opened, so that the suction ability of the fan can be concentrated on the opened suction port, In particular, the leading edge of the strongly curled recording medium can be reliably sucked. In addition, since the suction port is opened and closed by the shutter, it is possible to easily perform the operation of sequentially opening the suction port according to the conveyance of the leading end of the recording medium only by synchronizing the conveyance of the recording medium and the opening operation of the shutter. .

  In the recording apparatus according to the present invention, the shutter is operated by a cam mechanism. Thereby, opening and closing of the suction port can be reliably operated with a simple mechanism.

  In the recording apparatus according to the present invention, the shutter is provided with a hole corresponding to the suction port. Thereby, the suction port can be opened only by matching the suction port and the hole, and the suction port can be closed only by shifting the suction port and the hole.

  In the recording apparatus according to the present invention, the hole is formed as a long hole extending in the transport direction longer than the hole on the transport downstream side of the hole on the transport upstream side of the recording medium. .

  As a result, the suction port corresponding to the long hole can be opened for a long time compared to other suction ports corresponding to the holes smaller than the long hole, so that the suction ports are sequentially arranged according to the conveyance of the leading end of the recording medium. The opening operation can be easily performed.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of an ink jet printer that is one of recording apparatuses according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an internal configuration example of a main part of the ink jet printer. FIG. An ink jet printer 100 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a large-sized printer that can print on a relatively large size printing paper such as JIS standard A0 size or JIS standard B0 size. The section 120, the paper discharge section 130, and the leg section 140 are arranged in this order from the top. The printing unit 120 and the paper discharge unit 130 are integrated as a main body, and are configured to be separable from the paper supply unit 110 and the leg unit 140, respectively.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the paper feeding unit 110 is provided so as to protrude to the upper rear of the main bodies 120 and 130. As shown in FIG. 2, a roll paper holder 111 on which two roll papers (printing paper) can be set is provided obliquely up and down inside the paper feeding unit 110. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a flip-up roll paper cover 112 that can be opened and closed is attached so as to cover the roll paper holder 111.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the roll paper holder 111 includes a spindle 113 that holds the roll paper, and a pair of spindle receivers 114 that are attached to the inner surfaces of both side walls of the paper feeding unit 110 so that the spindle 113 can be attached and detached. 115. Then, after the roll paper is mounted at the center, both ends of the spindle 113 are mounted on the spindle receivers 114 and 115, and the spindle 113 is rotatably supported. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the roll paper cover 112 is rotatably supported at the upper part, and is opened and closed by lifting or pushing down the lower part.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the printing unit 120 includes a carriage 122 on which the print head 121 is mounted, a flexible flat cable (hereinafter referred to as FFC) 123 that connects the print head 121 and a control unit (not shown) for executing printing, An ink tube 124 that connects the print head 121 and an ink cartridge (not shown) containing ink, a paper feed roller (not shown) that conveys the roll paper in the sub-scanning direction, and a paper suction means (not shown) that prevents the roll paper from lifting up are provided. Yes. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an upper lid 125 and a front lid 126 are attached to the upper surface and the front surface of the printing unit 120 so as to cover the print head 121, the carriage 122, and the like.

  The print head 121 includes a black ink print head for ejecting black ink and a plurality of color ink print heads for ejecting inks of various colors such as yellow, light cyan, cyan, light magenta, and magenta. The print head 121 is provided with a pressure generation chamber and a nozzle opening connected to the pressure generation chamber. The size of the print head 121 is controlled from the nozzle opening toward the roll paper by storing ink in the pressure generation chamber and pressurizing the ink with a predetermined pressure. Ink droplets are discharged.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the carriage 122 is suspended from a rail 127 provided in the main scanning direction via a roller and connected to the carriage belt 128. The carriage belt 128 is operated by a carriage driving device (not shown). Then, it is accompanied by the movement of the carriage belt 128 and is guided by the rail 127 so as to reciprocate.

  The FFC 123 has one end connected to the connector of the control unit and the other end connected to the connector of the print head 121, and sends a print signal from the control unit to the print head 121. The ink tube 124 is provided for ink of each color, and one end of each ink tube is connected to the corresponding ink cartridge via an ink pressure supply unit (not shown), and the other end is connected to the corresponding print head 121 of each color. It is connected.

  The ink tube 124 sends ink of each color pressurized by the ink pressure supply means from the ink cartridge to the print head 121. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the front lid 126 is rotatably supported at the lower part, and is opened and closed by pushing down or pushing up the upper part.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the paper discharge unit 130 includes a paper discharge guide 131 that forms part of a path for transporting roll paper in the sub-scanning direction, and paper discharge (not shown) that transports roll paper in the sub-scanning direction. It has a roller. Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a cartridge holder 150 for storing and holding the ink cartridge is disposed on the right side when viewed from the front side of the paper discharge unit 130.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the leg portion 140 includes two support columns 142 each having a moving roller 141, and a reinforcing bar 143 spanned between the support columns 142. . The paper feeding unit 110 and the main bodies 120 and 130 are placed on the support pillar 142 and fixed with screws.

  In such a configuration, when the ink jet printer 100 is used, first, the spindle 113 constituting the roll paper holder 111 is taken out from the paper supply unit 110, and the roll inserted into the spindle 113 as shown in FIG. The paper presser 113 a is pulled out from one end of the spindle 113.

  4, one end of the spindle 113 is inserted through one end of the shaft hole C of the roll paper R, and one end of the shaft hole C of the roll paper R is inserted into the spindle 113 as shown in FIG. 5. It is fitted and brought into contact with a roll paper presser 113b inserted and fixed on the other end side. Subsequently, the roll paper presser 113 a is inserted from one end of the spindle 113 and fitted into the other end of the shaft hole C of the roll paper R. Thereby, the roll paper R can be rotated together with the spindle 113.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 6, the both ends of the spindle 113 in which the roll paper R is inserted are inclined with respect to the front-rear direction of the ink jet printer 100, that is, the spindle 113 in which the roll paper R is inserted. The other end side of this is directed to one spindle receiver 114.

  Here, the spindle receiver 114 is configured to be rotatable in the horizontal direction. Normally, the recesses 114a and 115a of the spindle receivers 114 and 115 receiving the end of the spindle 113 are opposed to each other. When setting the inserted spindle 113, as shown in FIG. 7, one spindle receiver 114 is rotated to make an angle of about 45 degrees with respect to the other spindle receiver 115.

  Thereafter, the other end portion of the spindle 113 in which the roll paper R is inserted is put in the recess 114a of one spindle receiver 114, and the spindle receiver 114 is rotated together with the spindle 113 in which the roll paper R is inserted. Then, the recesses 114 a and 115 a of the spindle receivers 114 and 115 are opposed to each other, and one end of the spindle 113 in which the roll paper R is inserted is hung on the recess 115 a of the other spindle receiver 115. Thereby, the spindle 113 with the roll paper R inserted can be easily set in the paper feeding unit 110.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 8, the leading edge of the roll paper R is pulled downward, passes through the transport path of the printing unit 120, and further passes through the transport path of the paper discharge unit 130 as shown in FIG. Then, as shown in FIG. 10, the roll paper R is rotated in the winding direction so that the leading end of the roll paper R is positioned at a marker M formed on the paper discharge guide 131, for example. Thereafter, the ink jet printer 100 is started, and ink droplets are ejected while the print head 121 is moved in the main scanning direction while feeding the roll paper R in the sub-scanning direction, and predetermined information is printed on the roll paper R. To eject the paper.

  FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional side view showing a roll paper conveyance surface including a suction part which is a characteristic part of the present invention, and FIG. 12 is a plan view showing the periphery of the suction part. A sheet conveyance path from the sheet feeding unit 110 to the sheet discharge unit 130 via the printing unit 120 is provided to be inclined from the upper rear surface side to the lower front surface side of the inkjet printer 100.

  This sheet conveyance path is mounted on a flat sheet feeding guide 211 disposed from the sheet feeding unit 110 to the printing unit 120, a contact / separable sheet feeding roller 212 and driven roller 213, and a carriage 122 that are disposed opposite to each other. A platen 214 which is a flat sheet conveyance guide unit disposed opposite to the print head 121, a flat suction unit 215 disposed from the printing unit 120 to the sheet discharge unit 130, and a sheet discharge guide disposed in the sheet discharge unit 130. 131.

  Each surface of the paper feed guide 211 and the paper discharge guide 131 functions as a paper transport surface. The surface of the platen 214 functions as a sheet conveyance guide surface and also as a sheet suction surface. That is, as shown in FIG. 12, the platen 214 is provided with a plurality of suction ports 214a arranged in parallel in the main scanning direction, and as shown in FIG. 11, by a fan 217 disposed inside the printing unit 120. The outside air is sucked from the suction ports 214a, so that the roll paper conveyed on the platen 214 is sucked. Therefore, even when the width of the roll paper is particularly wide at the time of printing, the roll paper is reliably sucked and flattened over the entire width on the platen 214, so that the printing accuracy can be maintained with high accuracy.

  As shown in FIG. 12, a gap C is provided between the platen 214 and the suction unit 215, and outside air is sucked from the gap C by a fan 217 disposed inside the printing unit 120 as shown in FIG. By doing so, the roll paper conveyed on the gap C is adsorbed. Accordingly, during printing, the roll paper is also sucked between the platen 214 and the suction unit 215 and becomes flattened by the platen 214, so that the printing accuracy can be maintained with higher accuracy.

  The surface of the suction unit 215 acts as a paper transport surface and a paper suction surface. That is, as shown in FIG. 12, the suction part 215 includes a plurality of suction ports 215a, 215b, and 215c arranged in parallel in the main scanning direction and arranged in three rows in the sub scanning direction, as shown in FIG. In addition, the outside air is sucked from the suction ports 215a, 215b, and 215c by the fan 217 disposed inside the printing unit 120, so that the roll paper conveyed on the suction unit 215 is sucked. .

  The suction unit 215 closes all the suction ports 215a, 215b, and 215c when the roll paper is not conveyed, and when the roll paper is conveyed, the suction port 215a follows the conveyance at the leading end. 215b and 215c are opened sequentially. That is, first, the suction port 215a on the upstream side of the roll paper is opened, and then the suction ports 215b and 215c on the downstream side of the roll paper are opened.

  FIG. 13 is a plan view of the suction part 215 as viewed from the back, and an opening / closing mechanism for opening and closing the suction ports 215a, 215b, and 215c is provided on the back side of the suction part 215. FIG. In the opening / closing mechanism 250, a shutter 252 and a cam 253, a gear 254, a motor 255, a sensor 256, a tension spring 257, and the like constituting a cam mechanism are disposed in a housing 251 made of sheet metal.

  The shutter 252 is formed in a plate shape, and a plurality of (in this example, five) shutters 252 are juxtaposed and correspond to the suction ports 215a, 215b, and 215c of the suction unit 215 as shown in FIG. Holes 252a, 252b, and 252c are provided. Further, the hole 252a on the upstream side of the roll paper transport is formed to be longer than the holes 252b and 252c on the downstream side of the roll paper transport.

  The cams 253 are arranged such that the outer circumferences of the two cams 253 are in contact with one end of each shutter 252 on the side of the hole 252c, and the motor 255 is provided via a gear 254 provided on one end side of the cam shaft 253a. It is connected to. As shown in FIG. 15, the cam 253 is formed such that the shutter 252 can be moved in three stages (FIGS. 15A to 15C) in the direction in which the holes 252a, 252b, and 252c are arranged. ing.

  The sensor 256 is disposed in the vicinity of the cam 253 located on the other end side of the cam shaft 253a, and detects that the cam 253 is at the home position of the cam 253, that is, the position shown in FIG. It has become. In the tension spring 257, one end of the two tension springs 257 is locked to one end of the shutter 252 on the hole 252 c side, and the other end is locked to the housing 251.

  The housing 251 is partitioned into three chambers by a partition plate 258 in accordance with the number of fans 217 installed (three in the sub-scanning direction in this example). The partition plate 258 is formed of, for example, a sponge in order to enhance the sealing effect of each chamber.

  In such a configuration, when the roll paper is not conveyed to the suction unit 215, as shown in FIG. 15A, the cam 253 is located at the home position in the first stage, and the suction unit 215 The suction ports 215a, 215b, and 215c are all shifted from the holes 252a, 252b, and 252c of the shutter 252 and closed.

  Immediately before the roll paper is conveyed to the suction unit 215 and the leading edge of the roll paper reaches the suction port 215a, the cam 253 is driven in the direction indicated by the arrow a as shown in FIG. To enter the second stage. The cam 253 moves the shutter 252 in the direction of the arrow b in the figure, and only the suction port 215a of the suction unit 215 is opened in alignment with the hole 252a of the shutter 252. The other suction ports 215b and 215c It is shifted and closed. Thereby, since the suction capability of the fan 217 can be concentrated on the opened suction port 215a, the leading edge of the roll paper curled particularly strongly can be reliably sucked.

  Further, immediately before the roll paper is conveyed and the leading edge of the roll paper reaches the suction port 215b, the cam 253 is further rotated in the direction of the arrow a by the drive of the motor 255 as shown in FIG. Enter stage 3. The cam 253 further moves the shutter 252 in the direction of the arrow b in the figure, and the suction ports 215a, 215b, and 215c of the suction unit 215 are opened in alignment with the holes 252a, 252b, and 252c of the shutter 252.

  In this way, the suction port 215a corresponding to the hole 252a formed in the long hole can be opened for a longer time than the other suction ports 215b and 215c corresponding to the holes 252b and 252c smaller than the long hole. Therefore, the operation of sequentially opening the suction ports 215a, 215b, and 215c according to the conveyance of the leading edge of the roll paper can be easily performed.

  According to the suction unit 215 having the opening / closing mechanism 250 as described above, only the conveyance of the roll paper and the opening operation of the shutter 252 are synchronized, and the suction ports 215a, 215b, and 215c are sequentially provided according to the conveyance of the leading edge of the roll paper. The opening operation can be performed reliably and easily with a simple mechanism called a cam mechanism, and the roll paper can be conveyed while being attracted to the suction unit 215.

  In the above-described embodiment, three rows of suction ports 215a, 215b, and 215c are provided, but any number of rows of suction ports can be provided as much as possible. In addition, the suction port 215a is opened first, and then the suction ports 215b and 215c are opened simultaneously. However, the suction ports 215b and 215c may be opened one by one from the upstream side of the roll paper conveyance.

  Further, although the cam mechanism is used for the opening / closing mechanism 250, the present invention is not limited to this, and a gear mechanism or the like may be used.

  As described above, according to the recording apparatus of the present invention, when the recorded recording medium is conveyed, only the suction port of the portion where the tip is located is opened, and the fan is inserted into the opened suction port. The suction ability can be concentrated. Accordingly, it is possible to reliably suck the leading edge of the recording medium that is particularly strongly curled.

  In addition, the printer has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention is also applicable to a recording apparatus having a recording medium conveyance guide unit, such as a facsimile apparatus or a copying apparatus.

1 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration example of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an internal configuration example of a main part of the printer of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a first diagram illustrating a procedure for using the printer of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a second diagram illustrating a procedure for using the printer of FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is a third diagram illustrating a procedure for using the printer of FIG. 1. FIG. 10 is a fourth diagram illustrating a procedure for using the printer of FIG. 1. FIG. 10 is a fifth diagram illustrating a procedure for using the printer of FIG. 1. FIG. 7 is a sixth diagram illustrating a procedure for using the printer of FIG. 1. FIG. 9 is a seventh diagram illustrating a procedure for using the printer of FIG. 1. FIG. 9 is an eighth diagram illustrating a procedure for using the printer of FIG. 1. It is a schematic sectional side view which shows the conveyance surface of the roll paper containing the suction part which is the characteristic part of this invention. It is a top view which shows the periphery of the attraction | suction part shown in FIG. It is the top view which looked at the suction part shown in FIG. 11 from the back surface. It is a perspective view which shows the principal part of the suction part shown in FIG. 11, and the opening / closing mechanism shown in FIG. It is a side view which shows the operation | movement state of the principal part of the suction part shown in FIG. 11, and the opening / closing mechanism shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Printer, 110 ... Paper feed part, 111 ... Roll paper holder ... 112 ... Roll paper cover, 113 ... Spindle, 114 ... Spindle receiver, 115 ... Spindle receiver, 120 ... Printing part, 121 ... Print head, 122 ... Carriage, 123 ... FFC, 124 ... ink tube, 125 ... top cover, 126 ... front cover, 127 ... rail, 128 ... carriage belt, 130 ... discharge section, 131 ... discharge guide, 132 ... side cover, 140 ... leg section, 141 ... rollers, 142 ... support pillars, 143 ... reinforcing bars, 150 ... cartridge holders, 211 ... feed guides, 212 ... paper feed rollers, 213 ... driven rollers, 214 ... platens, 214a ... suction ports, 215 ... suction sections, 215a , 215b, 215c ... suction port, 217 ... fan, C ... gap, 250 ... opening / closing mechanism, 25 ... housing, 252 ... shutter, 252a, 252b, 252c ... hole 253 ... cam, 254 ... gear, 255 ... motor, 256 ... sensor, 257 ... tension spring, 258 ... partition plate.

Claims (2)

A printing unit for recording information on a recording medium;
Suction port provided with a plurality, and a suction unit having a transport surface of the recording medium is conveyed,
Wherein a shutter in which a plurality of holes spaced in the conveying direction of the recording medium is provided, a recording apparatus Ru provided with,
According to the conveyance of the leading edge of the recording medium, the suction port and the hole on the upstream side in the conveyance direction first communicate with each other, and then the suction port and the hole on the downstream side in the conveyance direction communicate with each other sequentially. The recording medium is sucked by going ,
The hole before SL on the upstream side, recording apparatus characterized by being elongated in the conveying direction than the hole of the downstream. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the hole is provided in the shutter so as to correspond to the suction port.

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