JP4943271B2 - Head unit position adjustment mechanism for line type ink jet recording apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a head unit position adjusting mechanism for a line type ink jet recording apparatus that moves a recording medium in a scanning direction and discharges ink from a plurality of head units arranged in a direction orthogonal to the scanning direction. is there.

  The ink jet recording method is a method for performing printing or image recording by ejecting minute ink to a recording medium from an ink ejection port of an ink jet recording head, and can perform a recording operation in a state separated from the recording medium. It can be recorded on recording media and articles of various materials and is used in a wide range of applications.

  As a recording operation using inkjet recording, a serial type in which the recording head is moved in the main scanning direction to perform a recording operation on the recording medium along the scanning line, and the recording medium is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction to sequentially record, A line type in which a plurality of recording heads are arranged in a line in the main scanning direction and recording is performed while the recording medium is conveyed in the sub scanning direction has been developed according to the application.

In such an ink jet recording apparatus, when performing high-definition image recording such as a color image or high-density recording, it is necessary to control the recording position of the ejected ink with high accuracy. Must be set. As a method of adjusting the position of the recording head, for example, in Patent Document 1, a base plate that supports the recording head is provided so as to be rotatable about a pin, and the inclined surface of the position adjusting wedge is pressed against the base plate. The point that the position of the recording head is adjusted by moving the head forward and backward with a screw is described. In Patent Document 2, the rotation base unit provided in the fixed base unit is rotated by rotating the cam to adjust the position, and the slide base unit provided in the rotation base unit is slid by rotating the cam. The point to be adjusted is described. Further, in Patent Document 3, the position adjustment mechanism includes a plurality of adjustment screws provided extending in the X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction. By operating each adjustment screw, the position adjustment mechanism is parallel to each direction. It is described that the position adjustment is performed by moving and rotating each axis.
JP 2002-321344 A JP 2004-136555 A JP 2005-178392 A

  In a line-type inkjet recording apparatus that performs a recording operation with a plurality of recording heads fixed, the arrangement position of the ink discharge ports provided in the recording head directly affects the image quality. Must be performed with high accuracy. In order to perform high-density recording, it is desirable to attach a plurality of arranged recording heads in close contact with each other without leaving an interval.

  In Patent Documents 2 and 3, although the position of a plurality of recording heads arranged in a line can be adjusted, a space for the position adjusting mechanism is required around each recording head. It must be taken widely. For this reason, the recording heads are arranged in a plurality of lines. However, an increase in the number of recording head lines is not preferable because a positional error between the recording heads increases accordingly. Further, when the base plate itself supporting the recording head is enlarged, the influence of the expansion / contraction error due to the temperature of the base plate increases, and it becomes difficult to adjust the position of the recording head with high accuracy.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a head unit position adjusting mechanism for a line-type ink jet recording apparatus that can adjust the position of the head unit with high accuracy.

  The head unit position adjusting mechanism of the line type ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention moves the recording medium in the scanning direction and discharges and records ink from a plurality of head units arranged in a direction orthogonal to the scanning direction. 1 is a head unit position adjusting mechanism of a type inkjet recording apparatus, comprising a pair of position adjusting blocks disposed so as to sandwich the head unit with an attachment member to which the head unit is attached, and the pair of position adjusting blocks include the scanning direction The first position adjusting means for adjusting the position in the direction orthogonal to the second position, the second position adjusting means for adjusting the position in the scanning direction, and the third position adjusting means for adjusting the position in the predetermined rotational direction are provided. It is characterized by being. Further, the first to third position adjusting means can be independently adjusted in position. Further, the first and second position adjusting means include an adjusting bolt screwed to the position adjusting block and an adjusting pin whose tip is in contact with the head unit and moved in the adjusting direction by the adjusting bolt. Features. Further, the third position adjusting means is a shaft support member rotatably supported in a predetermined rotation direction with respect to the head unit, and at least the scanning direction and the scanning direction are orthogonal to the shaft support member. And a connecting bolt that is loosely fitted in a swingable direction and is screwed into the position adjusting block to connect and fix the shaft support member.

  By having the configuration as described above, position adjustment is performed by a pair of position adjustment blocks arranged to face each other so that the head unit is sandwiched between them. Therefore, the head units are closely arranged and arranged in the arrangement direction of the head units. It is possible to dispose the position adjustment block opposite to the side other than the direction. By closely arranging the head units, the spacing between the head units can be set to a minimum, the number of lines for arranging the head units can be reduced, and the positional error between the head units can be reduced. Density recording and color recording can be performed with high quality.

  The pair of position adjustment blocks includes a first position adjustment unit that adjusts the position in the direction orthogonal to the scanning direction, a second position adjustment unit that adjusts the position in the scanning direction, and a position adjustment in a predetermined rotation direction. Since the third position adjusting means is provided, the position adjustment of the head unit can be performed with high accuracy and easily when the position adjustment is performed based on the result of the recording operation of the head unit.

  Since the first to third position adjusting means can be independently adjusted, the three position adjustments are affected by the other position adjusting means in the scanning direction, the direction orthogonal to the scanning direction, and the predetermined rotational direction. The position adjustment can be performed without any problem, and the position adjustment work can be easily performed. That is, if the head unit position error is analyzed based on the recording result of the head unit to obtain the error component in the above three directions, and the position adjustment in each direction is performed based on the obtained error component, high accuracy is obtained. Position adjustment can be realized.

  As the first and second position adjustment means, an adjustment bolt screwed to the position adjustment block and an adjustment pin that abuts the head unit and moves in the adjustment direction by the adjustment bolt are provided. The position adjustment in the direction orthogonal to each can be performed independently and with high accuracy.

  As a third position adjusting means, a shaft support member rotatably supported in a predetermined rotation direction with respect to the head unit, and swingable in at least the scanning direction and the direction orthogonal to the scanning direction with respect to the shaft support member A connection bolt that is loosely fitted and screwed into the position adjustment block to connect and fix the shaft support member, so that when the position adjustment is performed by the first position adjustment means or the second position adjustment means, If it is performed in a relaxed state, the shaft support member will not be affected. When the position is adjusted in the predetermined rotation direction, the head bolt can be rotated only in the predetermined rotation direction by the fixed shaft support member by tightening the connecting bolt and connecting and fixing the shaft support member to the position adjustment block. Therefore, it is possible to perform highly accurate position adjustment independently only in the rotational direction.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The embodiments described below are preferable specific examples for carrying out the present invention, and thus various technical limitations are made. However, the present invention is particularly limited in the following description. Unless otherwise specified, the present invention is not limited to these forms.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a line type ink jet recording apparatus. A line-type ink jet recording head 100 is disposed over the entire width of the sheet-like recording medium P, and ink discharge holes are formed in a line shape along the direction X on the lower surface of the ink jet recording head 100. Below the ink jet recording head 100, an endless transport belt 101 disposed opposite to the ink discharge holes is stretched between a pair of transport rollers 102. The recording medium P is placed on the transport belt 101 and transported in the scanning direction Y. After ejecting ink from the ink ejection holes of the ink jet recording head 100 and performing a recording operation of a predetermined line on the surface of the recording medium P, the conveying belt 101 is controlled to be transported in the scanning direction Y, and the recording medium for the predetermined line P is transported and the recording operation for the next line is performed. By repeating such a recording operation and conveyance control, an image or the like can be recorded on the surface of the recording medium P.

  FIG. 2 is a plan view relating to the ink jet recording head 100. The ink jet recording head 100 is configured by attaching a plurality of head units 10 to a rectangular base plate 1 as an attachment member. The head unit 10 is attached to the long groove portion 2 formed in the base plate 1 over almost the entire width in the direction X so as to be arranged in a line in the X direction. In this example, five or six head units 10 are arranged in a line in each of the four long groove portions 2, and the head units 10 of each line are shifted from the head units 10 of adjacent lines in the X direction. It is arranged and attached to. By displacing each line of the head unit 10 in this way, the recording position of each line is shifted in the direction X. When recording is performed by overlapping the recording line on the recording medium P with the head unit of each line. A higher density recording operation can be performed.

  The head unit 10 is formed in a rectangular shape in plan view, and the sides facing each other in the direction X are set in a close contact state with no gap between adjacent head units. In addition, a head unit position adjustment mechanism including a pair of position adjustment blocks 11 and 12 is provided on the sides facing each other in the direction orthogonal to the direction X. By adopting such an arrangement, it is possible to closely arrange the head units in the arrangement direction of the head units 10 and to arrange the position adjustment blocks opposite to the sides other than the arrangement direction, and an inkjet capable of compact and high-density recording. It can be a recording head.

  FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged plan view of FIG. Support parts 13 are provided at the four corners of the head unit 10 so as to protrude outward. The support parts 13 are placed on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the long groove part 2 and are fastened and fixed by fixing bolts 14. 10 is fixed to the base plate 1. A through hole is formed in the support portion 13 in the vertical direction, and the fixing bolt 14 penetrates in a state of loosely fitting in the through hole of the support portion 13 and is screwed into a screw hole formed in the base plate 1 and tightened. It is fixed. Therefore, the base plate 1 can move in the directions X1, X2, Y1, and Y2 in a state where all the fixing bolts 14 of the support portions 13 are loosened (see FIG. 4). The pair of position adjustment blocks 11 and 12 are fitted between the support portions 13.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one head unit 10, and FIGS. 5 and 6 are an exploded perspective view and a plan view thereof. The support portion 13 of the head unit 10 is attached to the base plate 1 via a heat insulating member 15, and a lock block 16 is disposed with respect to the support portion 13 on the right side of the drawing. A through hole is formed in the lock block 16 in the vertical direction, and the fixing bolt 17 penetrates in a state of loosely fitting in the through hole of the lock block 16 and is screwed into a screw hole formed in the base plate 1 to be locked. The block 16 is fastened and fixed. Therefore, when the fixing bolt 17 is loosened, the lock block 16 can move in the directions X1, X2, Y1, and Y2.

  A stepped portion 1 a for receiving the lock block 16 is formed on both sides of the long groove portion 2, and the lock block 16 is received in the stepped portion 1 a and is fastened and fixed by a fixing bolt 17. An elastic member 18 is disposed between the lock block 16 and the stepped portion 1a so that the lock block 16 is constantly urged toward the support portion 13 by the elastic member 18. Yes. Therefore, the end surface of the lock block 16 is pressed against the side surface of the support portion 13 and biased so as to move the support portion 13 in the direction X1.

  The position adjustment block 11 includes a rectangular parallelepiped block main body 11a accommodated in a stepped portion 1b formed on one side of the long groove portion 2. The block main body 11a has a substantially central portion in the vertical direction. A through hole is formed. Then, the block body 11a is fastened and fixed to the base plate 1 by being threaded into the screw hole formed in the base plate 1 through the fixed bolt 20 loosely fitted in the formed through hole. Yes. Therefore, in a state where the fixing bolt 20 is loosened, the block main body 11a can move in the directions X1, X2, Y1, and Y2.

  A pair of adjustment bolts 21 and 22 are screwed up and down on both ends of the block body 11a in the longitudinal direction. A pair of adjustment pins 23 and 24 are attached to both ends in the longitudinal direction of the block body 11a so as to be able to advance and retract along the directions X1 and X2. The adjustment pins 23 are advanced and retracted by the adjustment bolts 21 as will be described later. The position is adjusted, and the adjustment pin 24 is adjusted in the advancing / retreating position by the adjusting bolt 22 to adjust the position in the directions X1 and X2.

  An adjustment bolt 25 is screwed up and down between the fixing bolt 20 and the adjustment bolt 21, and can be moved forward and backward from the lateral end of the block body 11a toward the head unit 10, as will be described later. The advance / retreat position of the attached adjustment pin 26 is adjusted.

  A connecting bolt 27 is provided between the fixing bolt 20 and the adjusting bolt 22 by being screwed into the block main body 11a in the vertical direction, and the connecting bolt 27 is formed at one end of the shaft support member 28. The shaft support member 28 is connected and fixed to the block body 11a by passing through the fixing hole 28a and being fastened to the block body 11a. Therefore, in a state where the connecting bolt 27 is loosened, the shaft support member 28 can move in the directions X1, X2, Y1, and Y2. A shaft support hole 28b is formed at the other end of the shaft support member 28, and a shaft support pin 10a protruding from the upper surface of the head unit 10 is rotatably fitted in the shaft support hole 28b. .

  The position adjustment block 12 includes a rectangular parallelepiped block main body 12a accommodated in a stepped portion 1c formed on the other side portion of the long groove portion 2. The block main body 12a has a substantially central portion thereof in a vertical direction. A through hole is formed. Then, the block body 12a is fastened and fixed to the base plate 1 by passing through the formed through holes with the fixing bolts 30 loosely fitted and screwed into the screw holes formed in the base plate 1. Yes. Therefore, in a state where the fixing bolt 30 is loosened, the block main body 12a can move in the directions X1, X2, Y1, and Y2 similarly to the block main body 11a.

  A pair of adjustment bolts 31 and 32 are screwed up and down on both ends of the block body 12a in the longitudinal direction. A pair of adjustment pins 33 and 34 are attached to both ends in the longitudinal direction of the block main body 12a so as to be able to advance and retract along the directions X1 and X2. The adjustment pin 33 is advanced and retracted by the adjustment bolt 31 as will be described later. The position is adjusted, and the adjustment pin 34 is adjusted in the advancing / retreating position by the adjusting bolt 32 to adjust the position in the directions X1 and X2.

  An adjustment bolt 35 is screwed up and down between the fixing bolt 30 and the adjustment bolt 31, and can be moved forward and backward from the lateral end of the block body 12a toward the head unit 10, as will be described later. The advance / retreat position of the attached adjustment pin 36 is adjusted.

  When the head unit 10 is attached to the base plate 1, the head unit 10 is placed in the long groove portion 2, and a fixing bolt 14 is inserted into the through hole of the support portion 13 and screwed into the base plate 1. In a state where the fixing bolt 14 is loosened, the lock block 16 fixed by the fixing bolt 17 is urged to contact the support portion 13 and move the head unit 10 in the direction X1, but the lock block 16 is stepped. Temporary positioning of the head unit 10 is performed in a state where the head unit 10 is in contact with the assembly surface 1a and is further in contact with the side surface of the support portion 13.

  Next, the position adjustment blocks 11 and 12 are fitted between the support portions 13, and the fixing bolts 20 and 30 are inserted into the through holes, respectively, and screwed into the base plate 1 to be temporarily fixed. Then, the adjusting bolts 21 and 22 and the adjusting bolts 31 and 32 are screwed so that the adjusting pins 23 and 24 and the adjusting pins 33 and 34 come into contact with the side surface of the support portion 13. Further, the adjusting bolts 25 and 35 are screwed so that the adjusting pins 26 and 36 come into contact with the side surface of the head unit 10. The shaft support member 28 is fixedly connected to the block body 11a by the connection bolt 27 by fitting the shaft support hole 28b to the shaft support pin 10a.

  After the head unit 10 and the position adjustment blocks 11 and 12 are set, the fixing bolts 14, 20 and 30 are fastened and fixed to set the initial position. Then, test recording or the like is performed to check the recording accuracy, and if a position error occurs in the head unit 10, the position is adjusted.

  From the measured position error, error components in three directions of the direction X, the scanning direction Y, and the rotation direction are calculated, and the position adjustment is performed based on the calculation result.

  FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram regarding an operation when the position of the head unit 10 is adjusted in the direction X1 or X2. FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 6 and illustrates the operation in the position adjustment block 12. However, it is necessary to perform the same operation in the position adjustment block 11 in advance. Please point out.

  The adjusting bolts 21 and 22 and the adjusting bolts 31 and 32 are formed with an inclined surface in contact with the adjusting pins 33 and 34 in the circumferential direction between the upper head portion and the lower screw portion. The end face of the adjusting pin that comes into contact is also formed on an inclined surface. Therefore, when the adjustment bolt is screwed and the inclined surface is lowered, the adjustment pin is pressed against the inclined surface of the adjustment pin so as to be pushed out, and is advanced so as to protrude outward. Conversely, when the adjustment bolt is screwed out and the inclined surface of the adjustment bolt is raised, a gap is generated between the adjustment pin and the adjustment pin, and the adjustment pin can be retracted inward.

  FIG. 7A shows the initial position setting state, in which the adjustment pin is in contact with the side surface of the support portion 13. When adjusting the position in the direction X1, the fixing bolts 14 and 17 are loosened, and the connecting bolt 27 is also loosened. The fixing bolts 20 and 30 remain in the tightened and fixed state, and the block main bodies 11a and 12a remain fixed to the base plate 1. Then, as shown in FIG. 7B, the adjustment bolt 31 is rotated in the direction in which the adjustment pin 33 moves backward, and the adjustment bolt 32 is rotated in the direction in which the adjustment pin 34 moves forward, thereby adjusting the position in the direction X1. Is called.

  The adjustment bolts 31 and 32 are rotated at the same rotational speed at the same time so that the position adjustment is performed with the adjustment pin in contact with the side surface of the support portion 13. Further, since the advance / retreat position of the adjustment pin is set by the rotation angle of the adjustment bolt, highly accurate position adjustment can be easily performed by determining the rotation angle to be operated based on the error component in the direction X.

  When the position adjustment is performed in the direction X2, as shown in FIG. 7C, the adjustment bolt 31 is rotated in the direction in which the adjustment pin 33 moves forward, and the adjustment bolt 32 is rotated in the direction in which the adjustment pin 34 moves backward. Thus, the position adjustment is performed in the direction X2.

  The above-described rotation operation of the adjustment bolts 31 and 32 is performed in the same manner in the adjustment bolts 21 and 22, thereby performing highly accurate position adjustment in the direction X.

  FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram regarding an operation when the position of the head unit 10 is adjusted in the direction Y1 or Y2. FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. The adjustment bolts 25 and 35 and the adjustment pins 26 and 36 can be adjusted in position by the same operation as that of the adjustment bolt 21 and the adjustment pin 23.

  As shown in FIG. 8A, each adjustment pin is in contact with the side surface of the head unit 10 in the initial position setting state. When adjusting the position in the direction Y2, the fixing bolts 14 and 17 are loosened, and the connecting bolt 27 is also loosened. The fixing bolts 20 and 30 remain in the tightened and fixed state, and the block main bodies 11a and 12a remain fixed to the base plate 1. Then, as shown in FIG. 8B, the adjustment bolt 25 is rotated in the direction in which the adjustment pin 26 moves backward, and the adjustment bolt 35 is rotated in the direction in which the adjustment pin 36 advances, thereby adjusting the position in the direction Y2. Is called.

  When performing position adjustment in the direction Y1, as shown in FIG. 8C, the adjustment bolt 25 is rotated in the direction in which the adjustment pin 26 moves forward, and the adjustment bolt 35 is rotated in the direction in which the adjustment pin 36 moves backward. Thus, position adjustment is performed in the direction Y1.

  FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram regarding an operation in the case of adjusting the position by rotating the head unit 10 around the pivot pin 10a. When adjusting the position in the rotational direction, the fixing bolts 14 and 17 are loosened, the fixing bolts 20 and 30 are kept tightened, and the block bodies 11a and 12a are fixed to the base plate 1. It becomes the state of. Further, the connecting bolt 27 is also fastened and fixed so that the shaft support member 28 is connected and fixed to the block body 11a. When adjusting the position by rotating the head unit 10 clockwise, as shown in FIG. 9A, the adjustment bolts 25 and 35 are rotated to move the adjustment pin 26 backward and the adjustment pin 36 forward. At the same time, the adjusting bolt 21 is rotated to operate the adjusting pin 23 backward.

  Further, when the head unit 10 is rotated counterclockwise for position adjustment, as shown in FIG. 9B, the adjustment bolts 25 and 35 are rotated to advance the adjustment pin 26 and the adjustment pin 36 is moved forward. The operation is performed so that the adjustment pin 32 is rotated, and at the same time, the adjustment pin 32 is rotated to move the adjustment pin 34 backward.

  With such an operation, the position can be adjusted with high accuracy with respect to the rotation direction. Further, since the position adjustment in the rotation direction is performed in a state where the shaft support member 28 is connected and fixed to the block main body 11a, the position adjustment can be performed while minimizing the influence on the direction X and the scanning direction Y.

  As described above, since the position adjustment can be performed independently for the direction X, the scanning direction Y, and the rotation direction, highly accurate position adjustment can be easily performed.

  In the example described above, the position adjustment in the directions X1 and X2 is performed by operating a pair of adjustment bolts and adjustment pins provided in the position adjustment blocks 11 and 12, respectively. One of the pins may be replaced with an elastic member such as a spring.

It is a schematic block diagram regarding a line type inkjet recording device. It is a top view regarding an inkjet recording head. FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged plan view of FIG. 2. It is a perspective view regarding a head unit provided with a position adjustment mechanism. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 4. FIG. 5 is a plan view of FIG. 4. It is explanatory drawing regarding operation in the case of position-adjusting a head unit to the direction X1 or X2. It is explanatory drawing regarding operation in the case of adjusting the position of a head unit to direction Y1 or Y2. It is explanatory drawing regarding operation in the case of position-adjusting a head unit to a rotation direction.

Explanation of symbols

1 Base plate 2 Long groove
10 Head unit
11 Position adjustment block
12 Position adjustment block
13 Support part
14 Fixing bolt
15 Insulation material
16 Lock block
17 Fixing bolt
20 Fixing bolt
21 Adjustment bolt
22 Adjustment bolt
23 Adjustment pin
24 Adjustment pin
25 Adjustment bolt
26 Adjustment pin
27 Connecting bolt
28 Shaft support member
30 Fixing bolt
31 Adjustment bolt
32 Adjustment bolt
33 Adjustment pin
34 Adjustment pin
35 Adjustment bolt
36 Adjustment pin

Claims (5)

  A head unit position adjusting mechanism of a line type ink jet recording apparatus for recording by moving a recording medium in a scanning direction and discharging ink from a plurality of head units arranged in a direction orthogonal to the scanning direction. A pair of position adjustment blocks disposed opposite to each other so that the head unit is sandwiched between the attachment members to be attached; the pair of position adjustment blocks includes a first position adjustment unit that performs position adjustment in a direction orthogonal to the scanning direction; A head unit position adjusting mechanism, comprising: a second position adjusting means for adjusting a position in the scanning direction; and a third position adjusting means for adjusting a position in a predetermined rotational direction.   2. The head unit position adjusting mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the first to third position adjusting means are independently adjustable in position.   The first and second position adjusting means include an adjusting bolt screwed into the position adjusting block, and an adjusting pin whose tip is in contact with the head unit and moves in the adjusting direction by the adjusting bolt. The head unit position adjusting mechanism according to claim 1 or 2.   The third position adjusting means includes a shaft support member rotatably supported in a predetermined rotation direction with respect to the head unit, and at least the scanning direction and a direction orthogonal to the scanning direction with respect to the shaft support member. The head unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a connecting bolt that is loosely fitted to be swingable and is screwed to the position adjustment block to connect and fix the shaft support member. Position adjustment mechanism.   A line type ink jet recording apparatus comprising the head unit position adjusting mechanism according to claim 1.

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