JP5314551B2 - Printing device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a printing apparatus having a function capable of measuring a color patch (color sample) printed on a printing medium by attaching a colorimeter on the print head side.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a color measuring device unit for measuring a color measuring pattern recorded on a recording material by a color measuring device and a recording apparatus including the color measuring device unit are known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
In addition, in a water-based ink jet printing apparatus, a product is known in which a colorimeter can be detachably attached to a print head.
A printer having a colorimeter provided in the print head is conventionally known (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

JP 2008-281549 A JP 2003-229996 A

In a printing device equipped with a colorimetric function, if the colorimeter is attached to the print head and the printing operation is performed, the colorimeter's reading section will be contaminated by ink mist, etc. This may cause problems such as inability to measure.
In addition, in an ink jet printing apparatus that can print using solvent-based ink, a heater is provided on the platen to fix the ink smoothly on the print medium, and the ink is dried (fixed) by the heat of the platen. It is common to employ a mechanism for promoting. In this case, if printing is performed with the colorimeter attached to the print head, the colorimeter will be affected by heat, evaporated solvent ink components, ink mist, etc. There is a problem that it becomes.
The present invention aims to solve the above problems.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises a connector for removably connecting a colorimeter on the print head side, enabling the colorimeter to be attached and detached, and controlling the print head and print medium under the control of the controller. Is a printing apparatus that performs printing on a print medium, and includes a colorimeter presence / absence judging means having a function of judging whether or not a colorimeter is attached to the print head side. To do.
Further, the present invention is characterized in that it has a function of prohibiting printing when a colorimeter is attached to the print head side.
Further, according to the present invention, the colorimeter presence / absence judging means judges whether a colorimeter is attached to the print head side based on a sensor for detecting the colorimeter and a detection signal from the sensor. It is characterized by comprising a controller.
The present invention also includes a connector portion on the print head side for detachably connecting the colorimeter so that the colorimeter can be attached and detached, and the print head and the print medium are moved relative to each other under the control of the controller. When the printer enters the print mode, it determines whether a colorimeter is attached to the print head before printing, and if so, remove the colorimeter. It is something to be instructed.
In the present invention, a sensor for detecting the presence or absence of a connector cover attached to the connector portion is provided on the print head side, and when the colorimeter is not attached to the connector portion, the connector portion is instructed to be attached. It is what I did.
Further, according to the present invention, a heater for warming the print medium is provided on the machine body side of the printing apparatus, and printing is performed after the heater is warmed.
In the present invention, the instruction to remove the colorimeter is given by displaying a message on a control panel provided in the body of the printing apparatus.
In the present invention, when the controller instructs to remove the colorimeter, the controller moves the print head to the place where the colorimeter is removed.
In the invention, it is preferable that a place where the colorimeter is removed is a maintenance position with an open / close cover provided on the opposite side of the standby position of the print head.
According to the present invention, the colorimeter is configured such that a grip can be detachably attached to the main body, and reading information can be supplied to a computer by cable or wirelessly by a manual operation.

The present invention can determine whether or not a colorimeter is attached to the print head side. Therefore, printing can be prevented while the colorimeter is attached to the connector portion on the print head side, so that the colorimeter can be prevented from being stained with ink mist during printing.

1 is an overall external view of a printing apparatus. 1 is an external view of a part of a printing apparatus. 1 is an external view of a part of a printing apparatus. It is explanatory drawing of a colorimeter. 1 is an overall external view of a printing apparatus. It is a side view of a colorimeter. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional explanatory diagram of the printing apparatus. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the printing apparatus. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the printing apparatus. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the printing apparatus. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the printing apparatus. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the printing apparatus.

Hereinafter, the configuration of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1, the inkjet printing apparatus 2 has a machine body 4 supported by a leg body 6, and transports a platen or the like that guides a printing medium 8 such as paper in the front-rear direction (sub-scanning direction) of the machine body 4. A road plate 10 and a Y-axis rail 14 for guiding the print head 12 in the lateral direction (main scanning direction) are attached. As shown in FIG. 7, the conveyance path plate 10 includes a platen 10a, a front guide 10b, and a rear guide 10c. The platen 10a is provided with a heater 15 for heating the paper. A cover 16 for shielding the front of the Y-axis rail 14 is attached to the machine body 4 so as to be freely opened and closed. Although the cover 16 is normally closed as shown in FIG. 7, in order to illustrate the inside of the cover 16, FIG. The controller of the inkjet printing apparatus 2 is connected to the computer 18, receives image data from the computer 18 via an input / output interface, and performs printing processing on the print medium 8 such as paper from the print head 12. The computer 18 generates original color image data to be printed out.

On the rear side of the machine body 4, as shown in FIG. 7, a roll paper supply scroller 20 on which a roll portion of roll paper is mounted is supported. A print head 12 having ink ejection nozzles is movably attached to a Y-axis rail 14 supported horizontally on the floor surface of the machine body 4 via a carriage. The print head 12 is driven in the Y-axis direction. It is linked to a Y-axis drive device arranged in the machine body 4 via an endless steel belt connected to the motor. A slit is formed between the platen 10a and the guide 10c, and a driving roller 22 is disposed in the slit. The drive roller 22 is linked to an X-axis drive device disposed on the machine body 4. A plurality of pinch rollers 24 are attached to the Y-axis rail 14 through a resilient mechanism so as to move up and down over the sheet conveyance range, and the pinch rollers 24 are separated from the surface of the drive roller 22. , And can be set to any one of the states in which the surface is elastically contacted horizontally. As shown in FIG. 1, a maintenance box 26 is provided on one side of the machine body 4 so as to be covered with a cover and open on the side facing the printing area on the platen 15. Is provided with a control panel 28 connected to the controller, and an operator can give instructions to the apparatus from the control panel 28. The box 26 includes an opening / closing cover 26a that opens the box forward.

In the box 26, a head cleaning device including a cleaning wiper and a head cap unit for performing maintenance of the print head 12 moved here is disposed. The discharge nozzle surface is configured to be cleaned. The print head 12 is set to stand by at a predetermined position in the maintenance box 26, for example, a nozzle capping position. The other side of the machine body 4 is provided with a maintenance box 30 that is covered with a cover and that is open on the side facing the printing area and used for maintenance, management, and maintenance of the print head. An opening / closing cover 30a that opens the inside of the box 30 forward is provided. In the maintenance box 30, the white color is read by the colorimeter 40, so that when the cover is closed, light from outside does not enter through the gap of the cover, etc. It has a function that can provide a stable state. A stand 32 is provided in the maintenance box 30 as shown in FIG. 3, and a plate holder 34 is fixed thereto. A plate 38 having a white reference coloring surface 36 colored with a white reference color for reference adjustment (calibration) is detachably held by the plate holder 34. The print head 12 is supported by the Y-axis rail 14 so as to be able to move to a print area on the platen 10a, a print head standby non-print area in the maintenance box 26, and a non-print area in the maintenance box 30. .

The print head 12 is provided with a colorimeter mounting portion 39, and as shown in FIG. 2, a connector portion 42 for detachably connecting to the connector portion of the colorimeter 40 is provided. Between the front surface of the print head 12 and the colorimeter 40, a detachable coupling means comprising pins 54 and 47 and corresponding pin holes is provided. As shown in FIG. 4, the colorimeter 40 used in the present embodiment is configured to be used as a manual colorimeter. The color measuring device 40 is configured to be able to be coupled with a grip 44 for manual operation. A pin 46 of the grip 44 is inserted into a pin hole on the color measuring device 40 side, and a pin 47 on the color measuring device 40 side is connected to the grip 44 side. By being inserted into the pin holes, they are detachably coupled to each other, and by this coupling, the connector part of the colorimeter 40 and the connector part of the grip 44 are connected, and the connector part provided on the grip 44 is the connector part of the colorimeter 40 To the internal circuit of the colorimeter 40. A computer connector is connected to the cord connected to the connector of the grip 44, and the colorimeter 40 can be connected to the computer by inserting the connector into the computer. You may make it connect the connector part of the grip 44 to a computer wirelessly. FIG. 4B shows a plan view of the colorimeter holder 48. The holder 48 includes a holding portion 50 that detachably holds the grip 44 and the colorimeter 40, and a white reference coloring surface 52 for calibration. When the color measuring device 40 with the grip 44 is held by the holding unit 50 of the color measuring device holder 48, the reading unit 40a of the color measuring device 40 just faces the white reference coloring surface 52 with a predetermined interval. The color of the white reference colored surface 52 can be read. The colorimeter mounting portion 39 of the print head 12 is provided with a sensor 43 for detecting whether or not the colorimeter 40 and a connector cover (not shown) are attached to the connector portion 42. In the present embodiment, the connector portion 42 is provided in the colorimeter mounting portion 39 provided in the print head 12, but it may be provided directly on the front surface of the print head 12 or integrated with the print head 12. It may be provided on a side surface of the print head 12 or a member that is linked to the general member.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.
The computer 18 connected to the controller stored in the machine body 4 stores a program and the like that can process image data necessary for printing with an ink jet printer. Processing can be performed. Also, a program for instructing the printing apparatus 2 when performing color measurement, a function for performing white calibration of the colorimeter based on data read from the colorimeter 40, and color patch print data Creation, transmission of color patch print data, color patch measurement results from the colorimeter 40, comparison of the color designated for printing with the read result, and correction of necessary data can be performed. Has programs etc.
First, in FIG. 8, when the power of the printing apparatus 2 is turned on (step 1), the necessary initial operation sequence is activated, and when a series of processing is completed, the print preparation OK is displayed on the control panel 28. (Step 2).

  Next, as shown in FIG. 1, the operator opens the cover 16 and raises the pinch roller 24 from the drive roller 22 by lever operation. Next, the roll paper (print medium) is pulled out from the roll paper supply scroller 20 onto the platen 10a, and in this state, the pinch roller 24 is lowered, and the print medium is sandwiched between the pinch roller 24 and the drive roller 22, The print medium 8 is set on the platen 10a, and the cover 16 is closed. Since it is designed from the viewpoint of safety so that printing cannot be performed when the cover 16 is opened, the setting of the print medium is completed by closing the cover 16 (step 3), and the controller stands by in the print mode. (Step 4). In normal use, the print data is transmitted to the printing apparatus, so that the colorimetry mode shift command is not received. Therefore, in decision step 5, it is confirmed that there is no colorimetry mode shift command. The print data is received (step 10). Next, the heater 15 is turned on, and printing is started after the heater 15 is warmed (step 11). In this embodiment, in order to perform printing using solvent-based ink, drying (fixing) of the ink is promoted by using the heater 15 on the platen 10a or the like. Printing of the transmitted print data is terminated (step 12), and if there is next print data, the data is printed, and if there is no print data, the print mode (step 4) is waited. If not used for a while, the power is turned off (step 13).

The operator designates the printer 18 to shift to the color measurement mode from the computer 18, and the controller receives the color measurement mode shift command from the computer 18 and confirms this (step 5). Wait in color mode (step 6). When the printing apparatus 2 shifts to the color measurement mode, the ink drying time designation information, the number of color patches, and other necessary information are input from the computer 18 to the controller of the printing apparatus 2 together with the color measurement mode command.
Next, the computer 18 instructs printing of the color patch and transmits the print data of the color patch.
When the controller receives the color patch print data (step 7), the heater 15 is turned on, and after the heater 15 has warmed, the print head 12 is driven in the main scanning direction along the Y-axis rail 14 within the print area to print. The medium 8 is sent in the X-axis direction (sub-scanning direction), and printing of the color patch 52, that is, the color sample is started (step 8). The color patch 52 is obtained by dividing a plurality of colors into individual areas and printing them on paper. Since the data of the printed position is stored in the computer 18, the color patch is used by the colorimeter 40 to be used later. When reading 52, the position data is used to read each color while moving one by one. When printing of the color patch 52 is completed (step 9), the print head 12 returns to the home position in the maintenance box 26 and stands by. When the printing of the color patch 52 is completed in step 9, as shown in FIG. 9, a display for instructing the attachment of the colorimeter 40 is displayed on the control panel 28 (step 14). When the colorimeter 40 is attached, the operator inputs an attachment command from the control panel 28. When the controller receives this instruction, the print head 12 is moved to the capping position (home position) in the maintenance box 26. To the maintenance box 30 on the opposite side of the home position along the Y-axis rail 14 (step 15). As shown in FIG. 2, the operator opens the cover 30 a of the maintenance box 30, opens the front surface of the maintenance box 30, and is detachable from the connector portion 42 of the colorimeter mounting portion 39 provided in the print head 12. The attached connector cover for protecting the connector part (not shown) is removed (step 17).

Next, the operator aligns the pin 47 of the color measuring device 40 with the pin hole (not shown) on the print head 12 side, and the pin 54 on the print head 12 side with the pin hole (not shown) on the color measuring device 40 side. At the same time, the pins 54 and 47 are inserted into the corresponding pin holes, and the colorimeter 40 is coupled to the print head 12 (step 18). In this state, the connector part of the colorimeter 40 is connected to the connector part 42 on the print head 12 side. At this time, since the contact sensor 43 is also pushed, the controller recognizes that something is attached. The contact sensor 43 exists at a position where contact can be made even when the connector cover is attached. At this time, the operator reverses the plate 38 held by the plate holder 34 with the back side up, with the white reference coloring surface 36 facing up, and, as shown in FIG. (Step 19). At this time, since it is necessary to turn the plate 38 upside down, the print head 12 that has moved stops with a positional relationship such that the plate 38 and the colorimeter 40 do not overlap. The connector 42 is set to such a height that the medium can be read as it is at the position where the colorimeter is attached. Next, the cover 30a is closed (step 20), and the inside of the maintenance box 30 is put in a light shielding state.

At this time, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the dark curtain 56 is hung down, and a window 67 that is a gap formed between the cover 16 and the print medium 8 on the conveyance path plate 10, and the cover 16 and the machine body 4. Shield the gap between the two. The open part at the rear of the machine body 4 is shielded in advance by a dark curtain 58. At this time, when the operator gives an instruction to read the white reference from the control panel 28 (step 21), the controller moves the print head 12 along the Y-axis rail 14 in the depth direction of the maintenance box 30, and the colorimeter. Forty reading units 40 a are moved onto the white reference coloring surface 36 of the plate 38. Accordingly, the reading unit 40a faces the white reference coloring surface 36 with a predetermined interval. Under the control of the controller, the colorimeter 40 reads the white reference colored surface 36 (step 22). This read information is sent to the computer 18 via the printing device and used for calibration of the colorimeter 40. Note that the computer 18 has a function of changing the parameters of the colorimeter 40 so that the value obtained by reading the white reference colored surface 36 of the colorimeter 40 is not the expected specified value. Next, under the control of the controller, the print head 12 moves in the opposite direction along the Y-axis rail 14 and moves to the head standby position, that is, the capping position in the maintenance box 26 (step 23).

Next, as shown in FIG. 10, when the operator gives an instruction to read the color patch 52 from the control panel 28 (step 24), the controller turns off the heater 15 after the designated ink drying time, and turns on the color patch 52. Is started (step 25). The controller controls the relative movement between the print head 12 and the print medium 8, sequentially moves the colorimeter 40 to each color column of the color patch 52, reads each color of the color patch 52, and transfers data to the computer 18. (Step 26). Reading by the colorimeter 40 is performed by returning the paper to the upstream side in the transport direction because the printed color patch 52 is downstream from the print position in the paper transport direction. As a basic operation, reading in the Y-axis direction is performed by moving the print head 12, and when reading to the end of one row is completed, the sheet is conveyed upstream to read the next row. Repeat the process. When the reading of the color patch 52 is completed (step 27), as shown in FIG. 11, the controller gives a display instructing the removal of the colorimeter 40 on the control panel 28 (step 28). When removing the colorimeter 40, the operator inputs a removal command from the control panel 28. When the controller receives the instruction, the print head 12 is replaced with a predetermined colorimeter in the maintenance box 30. Move to the removal position (step 29).
Next, the operator opens the cover 30a of the maintenance box 30 (step 30), removes the colorimeter 40 from the print head 12, and attaches a connector cover (not shown) to the connector portion 42 (step 32). Next, the plate 38 is inverted so that the white reference coloring surface 36 is not soiled by ink mist, and the plate 38 is set in the plate holder 34 with the white reference coloring surface 36 facing down (step 33). Next, when the operator closes the cover 30a (step 34) and instructs the end of the operation from the control panel 28, the print head 12 returns to the head standby position on the opposite side by the control of the controller (step 35), and the color measurement mode is ended. (Step 36). Next, the process returns to step 4 in FIG. 8 and waits in the print mode.

On the controller side, the determination mode is set so as to prevent printing with the color measuring device 40 attached to the print head 12. When the controller enters the determination mode from the label 37 shown in FIG. 12 and the determination mode R37 operates, the controller determines whether or not something is attached to the print head 12, that is, in this embodiment, the colorimeter 40 and the connector cover. The state without the mark is that the print head 12 is blank, and the controller enters an operation for confirming this state (step 38). This confirmation operation is confirmed by turning on / off the sensor 43 that reacts by contacting the colorimeter 40 or the connector cover when the print head 12 is attached (step 39). When the controller determines that the contact sensor is on, it checks what is attached (step 40). Next, it is determined whether the electrical confirmation is possible. If the determination is negative, it is recognized that the connector cover is attached (step 42), it is determined that there is no problem, and the controller waits in the print mode. (Step 43). When affirmative determination is made in the determination step 41 (when the color measuring device 40 is attached, since the connector of the color measuring device 40 is connected, it can be electrically confirmed), the controller measures the print head 12. Recognizing that the color device 40 is attached (step 44), the control panel 28 instructs the removal of the color meter 40 (step 45), and even if print data enters the controller, an error is displayed and printing is not performed. Return to step 39.

If it is confirmed in step 39 that the contact sensor is turned off, the print head 12 recognizes that nothing is attached (step 46), and the controller attaches a connector cover to the print head 12 using the control panel 28. (Step 47). When the operator attaches the connector cover (step 48), the controller returns to step 39. In this embodiment, for the calibration of the colorimeter 40, when the colorimeter 40 reads the white reference coloring surface 36 of the plate 38 in the maintenance box 30, the colorimeter 40 reads the color patch 52. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, dark curtains 56 and 58 made of sheet-like members are provided before and after the printing apparatus 2 so that ambient light such as room light does not affect the reading value. . Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the colorimeter 40 may be provided with a light shielding cylindrical cover 60 on the reading unit 40a. The light shielding cover 60 provided in the reading unit 40a is particularly effective when the colorimeter 40 is manually operated. As shown in FIG. 7, the front black curtain 56 is disposed on the upper surface of the airframe 4 so as to cover the hinge portion 62 of the opening / closing cover 16, and the upper edge 56 a is located behind the hinge portion 62. 4 is detachably connected to a connecting member 64 such as a magic tape (registered trademark) provided on the upper surface of 4. The connecting member may be another connecting member such as a magnet, or may be directly attached to the apparatus by screwing or the like, or a structure for winding the sheet. The black curtain 56 is formed between the maintenance box 26 and 30 between the clearance 66 between the upper end edge of the opening / closing cover 16 formed in the vicinity of the hinge portion 62 of the opening / closing cover 16 and the machine body 4 and both ends of the opening / closing cover 16. It is arranged so as to shield the paper passage window 67 or the transparent viewing window formed between the gap that can be formed, the lower end edge of the opening / closing cover 16, and the upper surface of the front guide 10b. Since the lower edge 56a of the dark curtain 56 contacts the upper surface of the print medium 8 on which the color patch 52 on the front guide 10b is printed, the dark curtain 56 is a material that is not charged (not easily charged) and is flexible. Adopting a light-shielding sheet material.

This prevents generation of static electricity due to contact with a printing medium such as paper. When the printing range of the color patch 52 becomes large, the printing surface is also exposed outside the dark curtain 56, so that dust or the like is prevented from adhering to the printing surface of the color patch 52 there. Also, by adopting a flexible material, the printing surface is not damaged. An opening portion formed between the rear guide 10c and the rear wall bottom surface 4a of the rear surface of the body 4 is shielded by a rear black curtain 58 that is detachably attached to the bottom surface 4a via a connecting member. Yes. The lower edge of the rear dark curtain 58 is disposed so as to come into contact with the upper surface of the paper on the rear guide 10c by its own weight. The dark curtain 58 is made of the same material as the dark curtain 56. The black curtain 56 can be removed when not in use, and when it is troublesome to remove, it is a flexible material so that it can be folded and stored at the flat end at the top of the machine body 4. . The black curtain may cover the entire apparatus.

2 Printing device 4 Machine body 6 Leg body 8 Print medium 10 Transport path plate 10a Platen 10b Front guide 10c Back guide 12 Print head 14 Y-axis rail 15 Heater 16 Cover 18 Computer 20 Roll paper supply scroller 22 Drive roller 24 Pinch roller 26 Maintenance box 28 Control Panel 30 Maintenance Box 30a Cover 32 Base 34 Plate Holder 36 White Reference Colored Surface 38 Plate 39 Colorimeter Mounting Section 40 Colorimeter 40a Reading Section 42 Connector Section 43 Sensor 44 Grip 46 Pin 47 Pin 48 Colorimeter Holder 50 Holding part 52 Color patch 54 Pin 56 Dark curtain 58 Dark curtain 60 Cover 62 Hinge part 64 Connecting member 66 Gap

Claims (9)

A connector is provided on the print head side to removably connect the colorimeter. The colorimeter can be attached and detached, and the print head and print medium are moved relative to each other under the control of the controller. Printing apparatus comprising colorimeter presence / absence judging means having a function of judging whether or not a colorimeter is attached to the print head side, and printing when the colorimeter is attached to the print head side A printing apparatus characterized by having a function of prohibiting printing. The colorimeter presence / absence judging means comprises a sensor for detecting the colorimeter and a controller for judging whether the colorimeter is attached to the print head based on a detection signal from the sensor. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: A connector is provided on the print head side to removably connect the colorimeter. The colorimeter can be attached and detached, and the print head and print medium are moved relative to each other under the control of the controller. When printing mode is entered, it is determined whether the colorimeter is attached to the print head before printing, and when it is attached, the removal of the colorimeter is instructed. A printing apparatus characterized by that. A sensor for detecting the presence or absence of a connector cover to be attached to the connector portion is provided on the print head side, and when the color measuring device is not attached to the connector portion, it is instructed to attach the connector cover to the connector portion. The printing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the printing apparatus is characterized. 4. A printing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein a heater for warming the printing medium is provided on the machine body side of the printing apparatus, and printing is performed after the heater is warmed. The printing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the instruction to remove the colorimeter is performed by displaying a message on a control panel provided in a body of the printing apparatus. The printing apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein when the controller instructs removal of the colorimeter, the controller moves the print head to a place where the colorimeter is removed. The printing apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the colorimeter is removed at a maintenance position with an open / close cover provided on the opposite side of the print head standby position. The printing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the colorimeter is configured such that a grip can be detachably attached to the main body, and reading information can be supplied to a computer by a cable or wirelessly by a manual operation.

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