JP5114120B2 - Method for adjusting printing apparatus and method for adjusting optical axis - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus manufacturing method and an optical axis adjustment method.

Conventionally, a transmission type optical sensor having a light projecting unit and a light receiving unit has been widely used (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the transmissive optical sensor, it is important to appropriately adjust the optical axes of the light projecting unit and the light receiving unit.
JP 2003-154720 A

  However, for example, when there is a glossy object that reflects light in the vicinity of the transmissive optical sensor, the glossy object reflects the light of the sensor, which may reduce the detection accuracy of the sensor. In particular, when the glossiness of the glossy object is non-uniform or when there is a moving glossy object, the amount of light changes due to the reflected light from the glossy object, which increases the possibility of erroneous detection by the sensor. Therefore, a method for suppressing the influence of reflected light from objects around the sensor is required. SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a printing apparatus manufacturing method and an optical axis adjustment method that can solve the above-described problems.

  For example, in recent printing apparatuses, when it is necessary to mount many parts at high density, or for the use of a transmission type photosensor, it is necessary to install the transmission type photosensor near a glossy object. Occurs. In addition, with higher printing accuracy, a sensor with higher accuracy is required. Therefore, a method for suppressing the influence of reflected light from an object around the sensor is particularly demanded in a printing apparatus or the like.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has the following configuration.
(Configuration 1) A method of manufacturing a printing apparatus, comprising: a light emitting unit that generates light; a sensor having a light receiving unit that receives light from the light projecting unit; and a glossy object installed in the vicinity of the sensor. An optical axis adjustment step for adjusting the optical axes of the light projecting unit and the light receiving unit, and the optical axis adjusting step reflects at least a region of the glossy object facing the optical axis of the light projecting unit and the light receiving unit from the glossy object. The low-reflectance member covering stage covered with the low-reflectance member with low reflectance, and the light projecting unit and the light-receiving unit facing each other with the glossy object covered with the low-reflectance member, A first optical axis adjustment stage that aligns the optical axes of the light projecting unit and the light receiving unit at a position where the amount of received light is maximized, and a high reflectivity member having a higher reflectivity than a glossy object is installed on the low reflectivity member In the stage where the high reflectance member is installed and the high reflectance member is installed, the optical axis of the light projecting part is glossy A second optical axis adjustment step for aligning the optical axes of the light projecting unit and the light receiving unit by tilting the emission direction of the light projecting unit in a direction away from the first optical axis adjustment step. The second optical axis adjustment step is a first optical axis adjustment step. At the position where the ratio of the amount of light received by the light receiving unit after aligning the optical axis and the amount of light received by the light receiving unit after aligning the optical axis in the second optical axis adjustment step becomes a preset value. And align the optical axis of the light receiving section. This sensor is, for example, a transmissive optical sensor.

  In this way, the influence of the reflected light from the gloss member can be appropriately suppressed. In addition, this makes it possible to adjust the optical axes of the light projecting unit and the light receiving unit to a position that is not easily affected by a nearby glossy object. Furthermore, by appropriately adjusting the optical axis of the sensor, a printing apparatus using this sensor can be appropriately manufactured. Accordingly, for example, even in a printing apparatus that performs high-resolution printing, the sensor can be operated with high accuracy.

  The glossy object is, for example, an object having at least a part of a surface that reflects light. The glossiness of the glossy object may be non-uniform. The glossy object may be a member that moves with the printing operation. The low reflectance member is, for example, a cloth. This cloth may be a cloth used as a medium printed by a printing apparatus. The high reflectance member is, for example, a mirror or a reflecting plate. The high reflectance member is preferably a member having a uniform reflectance on the surface facing the sensor. The high reflectivity member installation step is performed by, for example, placing the high reflectivity member on the low reflectivity member or fixing the high reflectivity member to the gloss member with the low reflectivity member interposed therebetween. Install.

  (Configuration 2) The glossy object is a conveyance belt that conveys a medium to be printed by the printing apparatus. The printing apparatus further includes a peeling roller that peels off the medium from the conveyance belt. It is a sensor that monitors the peeling position, which is the position to be peeled off. In the high reflectivity member installation step, for example, the high reflectivity member is installed on the conveyor belt covered with the low reflectivity member. In this way, the influence of the reflected light from the conveying belt can be suppressed, and the medium peeling position can be appropriately monitored.

  (Configuration 3) The glossy object is a print head having nozzles that eject ink droplets, and the sensor is a sensor that detects the passage of ink droplets. In this way, it is possible to appropriately detect the passage of the ink droplet while suppressing the influence of the reflected light from the print head.

  (Configuration 4) The glossy object is a table on which the medium to be printed by the printing apparatus is placed on the upper surface, and the sensor is a sensor that detects the thickness of the medium placed on the table. In this way, it is possible to appropriately detect the thickness (height) of the medium while suppressing the influence of the reflected light from the table on which the medium is placed.

  (Configuration 5) The second optical axis adjustment stage includes the amount of light received by the light receiving unit after alignment of the optical axis in the first optical axis adjustment stage and the light reception unit after alignment of the optical axis in the second optical axis adjustment stage. The optical axes of the light projecting unit and the light receiving unit are aligned with the position where the amount of received light is equal.

  If it does in this way, the optical axis of a light projection part and a light-receiving part can be adjusted more appropriately in the 2nd optical axis adjustment stage. The amount of light received by the light receiving unit after alignment of the optical axis in the first optical axis adjustment step and the amount of light received by the light reception unit after alignment of the optical axis in the second optical axis adjustment step depend on the required accuracy. Should be substantially equal.

  (Configuration 6) A sensor having a light projecting unit that generates light and a light receiving unit that receives light from the light projecting unit, the light of the light projecting unit and the light receiving unit in the sensor installed in the vicinity of the glossy object An optical axis adjusting method for adjusting an axis, wherein at least a region facing a light axis of a light projecting unit and a light receiving unit in a glossy object is covered with a low reflectivity member having a lower reflectivity than the glossy object. In the installation stage and in a state where the glossy object is covered with the low reflectance member, the light projecting unit and the light receiving unit are opposed to each other, and the light projecting unit is at a position where the amount of light received by the light receiving unit from the light projecting unit is maximized. And a first optical axis adjustment stage for aligning the optical axes of the light receiving portions, a high reflectance member installation stage for installing a high reflectance member having a higher reflectance than that of the glossy object on the low reflectance member, and a high reflectance member. In the installed state, tilt the emission direction of the light projecting unit in the direction in which the optical axis of the light projecting unit is away from the glossy object. A second optical axis adjustment step for aligning the optical axes of the light projecting unit and the light receiving unit, and the second optical axis adjustment step is performed after the optical axis is aligned in the first optical axis adjustment step. The optical axes of the light projecting unit and the light receiving unit are aligned at a position where the ratio between the amount of received light and the amount of light received by the light receiving unit after the optical axis is aligned in the second optical axis adjustment stage is a preset value.

  In this way, the influence of the reflected light from the gloss member can be appropriately suppressed. In addition, this makes it possible to adjust the optical axes of the light projecting unit and the light receiving unit to a position that is not affected by a nearby glossy object.

  Note that this optical axis adjustment method can be used, for example, during the manufacture of various devices using this sensor, and during maintenance such as repair and adjustment. For example, the same effects as those of Configuration 1 can be obtained by using the printer when manufacturing it. In addition, this optical axis adjustment method can be used at the time of manufacturing and maintenance other than the printing apparatus such as a cutting plotter. Also in this case, for example, by appropriately adjusting the optical axis of the sensor, various devices using the sensor can be appropriately manufactured.

  According to the present invention, for example, it is possible to appropriately suppress the influence of reflected light from an object around the sensor.

  Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an optical axis adjustment method according to an embodiment of the present invention. This optical axis adjustment method is an optical axis adjustment method for the sensor 12 installed in the vicinity of the glossy object 14, for example, during an optical axis adjustment process at the time of manufacturing the printing apparatus, or during maintenance such as repair or adjustment of the printing apparatus. Can be used. Further, it can also be used at the time of manufacturing other than a printing apparatus such as a cutting plotter and at the time of maintenance. The sensor 12 is, for example, a transmissive optical sensor, and includes a light projecting unit 102 that generates light and a light receiving unit 104 that receives light from the light projecting unit 102.

  FIG. 1A shows a state where the optical axis is not adjusted. In this state, for example, the light receiving unit 104 receives not only light directly incident from the light projecting unit 102 but also light reflected by the glossy object 14. For this reason, the sensor 12 may malfunction such as erroneous detection due to the influence of the reflected light. In particular, when the glossiness of the glossy object 14 is non-uniform or when the glossy object 14 moves, the amount of light changes due to the reflected light from the glossy object 14, so that the possibility of erroneous detection by the sensor 12 increases. Therefore, the optical axes of the light projecting unit 102 and the light receiving unit 104 are adjusted to positions that are not affected by the glossy object 14 by the following procedure.

  In the optical axis adjustment method of this example, first, as shown in FIG. 1B, the surface of the glossy object 14 is covered with a cloth 16 (low reflectance member installation stage). The cloth 16 is an example of a low reflectance member having a reflectance that is lower than that of the glossy object 14. Further, the cloth 16 may cover at least a region of the glossy object 14 that faces the optical axes of the light projecting unit 102 and the light receiving unit 104. By covering the glossy object 14 with the cloth 16, the influence of the reflected light from the glossy object 14 can be eliminated.

  Then, with the glossy object 14 covered with the cloth 16, the light projecting unit 102 and the light receiving unit 104 are opposed to each other, and the light is received at a position where the amount of light received by the light receiving unit 104 from the light projecting unit 102 is maximized. The optical axes of the unit 102 and the light receiving unit 104 are aligned (first optical axis adjustment stage). Thereby, the optical axis is adjusted in a state where the influence of the reflected light from the glossy object 14 is eliminated.

  Then, as shown in FIG.1 (c), the mirror 18 is installed on the cloth 16 (high reflectance member installation step). The mirror 18 is an example of a high reflectivity member having a higher reflectivity than the glossy object 14. Thereby, the light receiving unit 104 further receives the light reflected by the mirror 18.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 1D, the emission direction of the light projecting unit 102 is tilted in a direction in which the optical axis of the light projecting unit 102 is away from the glossy object 14 with the mirror 18 installed. Then, by adjusting the tilt angle, the received light amount of the light projecting unit 102 after the optical axis is aligned in the first optical axis adjustment stage before the mirror 18 is installed is set to a position where the received light amount becomes equal. The optical axes of the light projecting unit 102 and the light receiving unit 104 are aligned (second optical axis adjustment stage).

  In this way, it is possible to direct the emission direction of the light projecting unit 102 in a direction in which the reflected light from the mirror 18 does not affect the light receiving unit 104. In the second optical axis adjustment step, the ratio to the received light amount after the first optical axis adjustment step is set at a position where the received light amount is a preset value (for example, 95 to 100%, more preferably 98 to 100%). The optical axes of the optical unit 102 and the light receiving unit 104 may be aligned.

  Finally, as shown in FIG. 1E, the cloth 16 and the mirror 18 on the glossy object 14 are removed. In this state, the emission direction of the light projecting unit 102 is directed in a direction in which the reflected light from the glossy object 14 does not affect the light receiving unit 104. Therefore, if it does in this way, the influence of the reflected light from the glossy object 14 in the vicinity can be suppressed appropriately. Further, this makes it possible to adjust the optical axes of the light projecting unit 102 and the light receiving unit 104 to a position that is not easily affected by the glossy object 14.

  As described above, in this example, by using the mirror 18 having a uniform reflectance, the light receiving unit 104 is temporarily easily influenced by the reflected light during the adjustment. And the influence of the reflected light from the glossy object 14 can be appropriately suppressed by the idea of reversing that the state of increasing the reflected light is actively created and then the influence of the reflected light is removed.

  Furthermore, by using this optical axis adjustment method when manufacturing a printing apparatus or the like, for example, a printing apparatus or the like using the sensor 12 can be appropriately manufactured. Accordingly, for example, the sensor 12 can be operated with high accuracy even in a printing apparatus or the like that performs high-resolution printing.

  FIG. 2 shows a first example of the configuration of the printing apparatus 10 manufactured using this optical axis adjustment method. FIG. 2A is a side view illustrating an outline of the conveyance path of the medium 50 in the printing apparatus 10. FIG. 2B is a top view in the vicinity of the sensor 12. FIG. 2C shows the configuration of the control circuit of the sensor 12.

  In this example, the printing apparatus 10 includes a conveyance belt 20, a print head 30, a pressure roller 22, a peeling roller 24, and a sensor 12 in the vicinity of the conveyance path of the medium 50. Further, a sensor amplifier 106 and a control board 108 are provided as a control circuit for the sensor 12.

  The conveyance belt 20 is a member corresponding to the glossy object 14 in this example, and moves along the conveyance path of the medium 50 while holding the medium 50 to be printed by the printing apparatus 10 on the upper surface. Thereby, the conveyance belt 20 conveys the medium 50. The print head 30 is, for example, an inkjet head, and prints on the medium 50 by ejecting ink droplets onto the medium 50 held on the transport belt 20.

  The pressure roller 22 is provided upstream of the print head 30 in the transport direction, and presses the medium 50 against the transport belt 20 to hold the medium 50 on the transport belt 20. The peeling roller 24 is provided on the downstream side in the transport direction from the print head 30, and peels off the medium 50 printed by the print head 30 from the transport belt 20.

  In this example, the sensor 12 is a transmissive optical sensor that monitors a peeling position, which is a position where the medium 50 is peeled from the transport belt 20. In the sensor 12, the light projecting unit 102 generates light in response to an instruction received from the control board 108 via the sensor amplifier 106. The light receiving unit 104 notifies the control board 108 of the received light amount via the sensor amplifier 106.

  Also in this printing apparatus 10, by using the optical axis adjustment method described with reference to FIG. 1, for example, the optical axes of the light projecting unit 102 and the light receiving unit 104 of the sensor 12 are adjusted to reflect from the transport belt 20. The influence of light can be suppressed appropriately. Thereby, the peeling position of the medium 50 can be detected with high accuracy. Furthermore, it is possible to appropriately perform maintenance such as manufacture of the printing apparatus 10 and repair and adjustment after manufacture.

  When adjusting the optical axis in the printing apparatus 10 of the present example, the high-reflectivity member installation stage covers, for example, the transport belt 20 with the cloth 16 (see FIG. 1). In the high reflectivity member installation step, for example, a mirror 18 (see FIG. 1) is installed on the conveyor belt 20 covered with the cloth 16.

  The medium 50 printed by the printing apparatus 10 is, for example, a cloth. In this case, the medium 50 may be used as the cloth 16 that covers the transport belt 20. The medium 50 may be paper or the like. Regarding points other than the above, the printing apparatus 10 may be the same as or similar to a known printing apparatus, for example.

  FIG. 3 shows second and third examples of the configuration of the printing apparatus 10 manufactured using this optical axis adjustment method. FIG. 3A shows a second example of the configuration of the printing apparatus 10. In this example, the printing apparatus 10 includes a print head 30 and a sensor 12. The print head 30 is a member corresponding to the glossy object 14 in this example, and is an inkjet head, for example. The print head 30 has a nozzle that ejects ink droplets. The sensor 12 is a sensor that detects the passage of ink droplets, and is installed in the vicinity of the print head 30. Based on the detection result of the sensor 12, the printing apparatus 10 detects an ejection state such as non-ejection due to out of ink or nozzle clogging. Also in this example, by using the optical axis adjustment method described with reference to FIG. 1, for example, the optical axes of the light projecting unit 102 and the light receiving unit 104 of the sensor 12 are adjusted, and the reflected light from the print head 30 The impact can be suppressed appropriately. In addition, this makes it possible to appropriately detect the passage of ink droplets. Furthermore, it is possible to appropriately perform maintenance such as manufacture of the printing apparatus 10 and repair and adjustment after manufacture. In addition to the above, the printing apparatus 10 of this example may be the same as or similar to the printing apparatus 10 described with reference to FIG. 2 or a known printing apparatus.

  FIG. 3B shows a third example of the configuration of the printing apparatus 10. In this example, the printing apparatus 10 is a flat head type printing apparatus, and includes a print head 30, a base 40, and a sensor 12. The print head 30 is an inkjet head, for example. The base 40 is a member corresponding to the glossy object 14 in this example, and holds the medium 50 so as to face the print head 30 by placing the medium 50 on the upper surface. The sensor 12 is a media height detection sensor that detects the thickness of the medium 50 placed on the table 40.

  Also in this example, by using the optical axis adjustment method described with reference to FIG. 1, for example, the optical axes of the light projecting unit 102 and the light receiving unit 104 of the sensor 12 are adjusted, and the influence of reflected light from the table 40 is affected. Can be suppressed appropriately. Thereby, the thickness (height) of the medium 50 can be detected appropriately. Further, for example, by controlling the operation of the print head 30 according to the detected thickness of the medium 50, printing can be performed with high accuracy. Furthermore, it is possible to appropriately perform maintenance such as manufacture of the printing apparatus 10 and repair and adjustment after manufacture.

  In addition to the above, the printing apparatus 10 of the present example may be the same as or similar to the printing apparatus 10 described with reference to FIG. 2 or FIG. Moreover, the same structure as this example can be used suitably also for a cutting plotter, for example. In this case, the cutting plotter has a cutter instead of the print head 30, for example. In this case, the medium 50 can be cut with high accuracy by controlling the operation of the cutter in accordance with the detected thickness of the medium 50.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated using embodiment, the technical scope of this invention is not limited to the range as described in the said embodiment. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications or improvements can be added to the above embodiment. It is apparent from the description of the scope of claims that embodiments with such changes or improvements can be included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  The present invention can be suitably used for, for example, a printing apparatus manufacturing method and an optical axis adjustment method.

It is a figure which shows an example of the optical axis adjustment method which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 1A shows a state where the optical axis is not adjusted. FIGS. 1B to 1E show the procedure for adjusting the optical axis. The 1st example of a structure of the printing apparatus 10 manufactured using an optical axis adjustment method is shown. FIG. 2A is a side view illustrating an outline of the conveyance path of the medium 50 in the printing apparatus 10. FIG. 2B is a top view in the vicinity of the sensor 12. FIG. 2C shows the configuration of the control circuit of the sensor 12. The 2nd and 3rd example of a structure of the printing apparatus 10 manufactured using an optical axis adjustment method is shown. FIG. 3A shows a second example of the configuration of the printing apparatus 10. FIG. 3B shows a third example of the configuration of the printing apparatus 10.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Printing apparatus, 12 ... Sensor, 14 ... Glossy object, 16 ... Cloth (low reflectance member), 18 ... Mirror (high reflectance member), 20 ... Conveyor belt , 22 ... pressure roller, 24 ... peeling roller, 30 ... print head, 40 ... stand, 50 ... medium, 102 ... light projecting unit, 104 ... light receiving unit 106 ... sensor amplifier 108 ... control board

Claims (6)

Steps during manufacturing and maintenance of a printing apparatus including a light projecting unit that generates light, a sensor having a light receiving unit that receives light from the light projecting unit, and a glossy object installed in the vicinity of the sensor A method for adjusting a printing apparatus according to claim 1,
An optical axis adjustment step of adjusting the optical axes of the light projecting unit and the light receiving unit;
The optical axis adjustment step includes
At least an optical axis and a region facing the light projecting unit and the light receiving portion, and the Cormorant low reflectance member installation stage low low reflectance member reflectivity than the glossy object in the glossy object,
Wherein in a state where the gloss object has cracks under at the low reflectance member, said to face a light receiving unit and the light projecting unit, a position where the light receiving amount of the light receiving unit receives light from the light projecting section is maximized A first optical axis adjustment step for aligning the optical axes of the light projecting unit and the light receiving unit;
A high-reflectivity member installation stage in which a high-reflectivity member having a higher reflectance than the glossy object is installed on the low-reflectivity member;
In the state where the high reflectance member is installed, the optical axis of the light projecting unit and the light receiving unit is inclined by tilting the emission direction of the light projecting unit in the direction away from the glossy object. A second optical axis adjustment step for adjusting
In the second optical axis adjustment step, the amount of light received by the light receiving unit after alignment of the optical axis in the first optical axis adjustment step and the light reception unit after alignment of the optical axis in the second optical axis adjustment step A method for adjusting a printing apparatus, comprising: aligning the optical axes of the light projecting unit and the light receiving unit at a position where a ratio to the amount of received light becomes a preset value. The glossy object is a transport belt that transports a medium to be printed by the printing apparatus,
The printing apparatus further includes a peeling roller for peeling the medium from the conveyance belt,
The method of adjusting a printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is a sensor that monitors a peeling position at which the medium is peeled from the conveyance belt. The glossy object is a print head having nozzles that eject ink droplets;
The method according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is a sensor that detects passage of the ink droplet. The glossy object is a stage on which a medium to be printed by the printing apparatus is placed.
The method according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is a sensor that detects a thickness of the medium placed on the table. In the second optical axis adjustment step, the amount of light received by the light receiving unit after alignment of the optical axis in the first optical axis adjustment step and the light reception unit after alignment of the optical axis in the second optical axis adjustment step 5. The method of adjusting a printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the optical axes of the light projecting unit and the light receiving unit are aligned at a position where the amount of received light becomes equal. A sensor having a light projecting unit for generating light and a light receiving unit for receiving light from the light projecting unit, wherein the light projecting unit and an optical axis of the light receiving unit in a sensor installed near a glossy object An optical axis adjustment method for adjusting
At least an optical axis and a region facing the light projecting unit and the light receiving portion, and the Cormorant low reflectance member installation stage low low reflectance member reflectivity than the glossy object in the glossy object,
Wherein in a state where the gloss object has cracks under at the low reflectance member, said to face a light receiving unit and the light projecting unit, a position where the light receiving amount of the light receiving unit receives light from the light projecting section is maximized A first optical axis adjustment step for aligning the optical axes of the light projecting unit and the light receiving unit;
A high-reflectivity member installation stage in which a high-reflectivity member having a higher reflectance than the glossy object is installed on the low-reflectivity member;
In the state where the high reflectance member is installed, the optical axis of the light projecting unit and the light receiving unit is inclined by tilting the emission direction of the light projecting unit in the direction away from the glossy object. A second optical axis adjustment step for adjusting
In the second optical axis adjustment step, the amount of light received by the light receiving unit after alignment of the optical axis in the first optical axis adjustment step and the light reception unit after alignment of the optical axis in the second optical axis adjustment step An optical axis adjustment method characterized by aligning the optical axes of the light projecting unit and the light receiving unit at a position where a ratio of the received light amount to a preset value is obtained.

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