JP5936836B2 - Droplet discharge device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a droplet discharge device.

  Patent Document 1 describes an ink jet printer head height adjustment mechanism for adjusting the distance between a plurality of nozzles arranged on the lower surface of a head and the surface of a medium such as a sheet mounted on a platen by moving the head up and down. Has been.

  The head height adjusting mechanism includes elevating means for elevating the head up and down relative to the platen, and presenting means for presenting a standard distance between the media surface mounted on the platen and the nozzles arranged on the lower surface of the head. . Then, based on the standard distance H presented by the presenting means, the head is moved up and down with respect to the platen so that the distance between the nozzle and the media surface becomes the target standard distance H by the elevating means. It can be moved up and down.

JP 2002-292968 A (published October 9, 2002)

  In the above prior art, the size of H can be adjusted by the presenting means, but there is no disclosure of a clamp mechanism, and there has been no conventional idea of simultaneously adjusting the distance between the head and the medium and adjusting the clamp pressure of the medium. It was.

  For this reason, when the printer has a mechanism for transporting sheet-like media, it takes a two-step process of adjusting the clamp pressure of the media for transport and adjusting the distance between the head and the media. Met.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and improves work efficiency by simultaneously adjusting the pressure for pushing the discharged object and adjusting the distance between the discharging means and the discharged object. It is an object of the present invention to provide a droplet discharge device capable of performing the above.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a droplet discharge device according to the present invention discharges droplets and discharges droplets to the mounting table on which the discharge target is placed and the discharge target placed on the mounting table. Discharging means, supporting means for guiding the moving direction of the discharging means, driving means for moving the supporting means relative to the mounting table, and a tip portion as a roller. The pressing means for pressing the discharged object to be placed on the roller by the roller and the position opposed to the roller, the discharged object is sandwiched between the rollers, and the discharged object is described above A transport roller for transporting to the mounting table; and a detecting unit for detecting a distance between the discharge object placed on the mounting table and the discharging unit; and the support unit is connected to the discharging unit, By movement by the drive means The distance between the discharge means and the discharged object is adjusted, and is connected to the pressing means, and the distance between the pressing means and the discharged object is adjusted by movement by the driving means. The pressing means is supported by the support means so that its position relative to the support means can be changed, and is urged in a direction to press the discharge object, whereby the discharge object Is pressed by the roller, and the drive means detects when the detection result of the detection means is different from a predetermined distance between the discharge object placed on the mounting table and the discharge means. The support means is moved so that a distance between the discharge target placed on the mounting table and the discharge means becomes a predetermined distance, and the diameter of the roller of the pressing means It is characterized by being equally formed and the diameter of the conveying roller.

  According to said structure, it has a drive means to move a support means relatively with respect to a mounting base. Since the supporting means is connected to the pressing means and the discharging means, the positional relationship of these three attachments does not change. That is, the distance between the discharge means and the discharge object and the distance between the pressing means and the discharge object can be adjusted to be constant regardless of the thickness and type of the discharge object. Therefore, the distance between the discharge means and the discharged object and the distance between the pressing means and the discharged object can be adjusted simultaneously. By adjusting the distance between the pressing means and the discharged object, the pressure of the pressing means against the discharged object can be adjusted. That is, by using the driving unit, it is possible to simultaneously adjust the pressure for pushing the discharged object and adjust the distance between the discharging unit and the discharged object. This eliminates the need for a two-stage operation of clamping the discharged object and adjusting the distance between the discharge means and the discharged object. Therefore, the work efficiency can be improved by simultaneously adjusting the pressure for pressing the discharge object and adjusting the distance between the discharge means and the discharge object. For example, the labor of the worker can be reduced due to the improvement of workability.

  Also, if the distance between the pressing means and the discharged object is adjusted to be constant, the pressure for pressing the discharged object can be made constant, so that the driving force of the discharged object is stabilized and the printing image quality is improved. Can be improved.

  In addition, the number of necessary parts can be reduced by integrating the support means and the pressing means.

  By having the detection means, the distance between the discharge means and the discharge target can be detected. As a result, since the distance between the discharge means and the discharge target can be adjusted to be constant, the landing accuracy of the droplets discharged from the discharge means on the discharge target can be stabilized, and the print image quality can be stabilized. Can be improved.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to improve the work efficiency by simultaneously adjusting the pressure for pressing the discharge object and adjusting the distance between the discharge means and the discharge object. .

1 is a diagram schematically showing the structure of an inkjet printer 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the inkjet printer 10 which adjusted the clamp pressure of the to-be-discharged object. It is a figure which shows the inkjet printer 10 which adjusted the clamp pressure of the to-be-discharged object.

  An ink jet printer (droplet discharge device) 10 that is an embodiment of a droplet discharge device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing the structure of an inkjet printer 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a view showing the ink jet printer 10 in which the clamp pressure of the discharged object 7 is adjusted. FIG. 3 is a view showing the ink jet printer 10 in which the clamp pressure of the discharged object 8 is adjusted.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the ink jet printer 10 includes a slider (ejection unit) 1, a platen (mounting table) 2, a guide mechanism (support unit) 3, a clamp mechanism (pressing unit) 4, and a conveyance roller 5.

  The slider 1 ejects ink (droplet) to a medium (object to be ejected) and includes an ink ejection port 6. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the slider 1 moves on the medium A and the medium B placed on the platen 2 in the direction guided by the guide mechanism 3 to be described later. Ink is ejected to the medium B via the ejection port 6.

  The discharge port 6 is a port through which ink discharged to the medium placed on the platen 2 is discharged, and is a part of the slider 1. In order to realize high-quality printing, the discharge port 6 is usually composed of a plurality of nozzles.

  The slider 1 is connected to the guide mechanism 3. The slider 1 moves on the medium along the direction guided by the guide mechanism 3. As the slider 1 moves, the ejection port 6 also moves above the platen 2, and ink is ejected from the ejection port 6 at a predetermined timing. If the distance between the slider 1 and the medium is constant, the reproducibility of image quality can be improved even with different media. As will be described later, the guide mechanism 3 adjusts the distance between the slider 1 and the medium. However, since the ink is actually ejected from the ejection port 6 and the shape of the ejection port 6 is constant, the guide mechanism 3 is guided. It can be said that the mechanism 3 adjusts the distance between the discharge port 6 and the medium.

  The platen 2 is for loading media. The medium is conveyed by the conveyance roller 5. In order to realize a constant print image quality, it is preferable that the platen 2 has a flat structure.

  The guide mechanism 3 guides the moving direction of the slider 1. For example, the slider 1 can be reciprocated so as to scan on the platen 2.

  Further, the guide mechanism 3 moves relative to the platen 2 by an actuator (drive means) (not shown). Further, since the movement is relative, the guide mechanism 3 may be moved relative to the platen 2 by moving the platen 2 by another means.

  The guide mechanism 3 is connected to the slider 1 and the clamp mechanism 4. Then, for example, by moving in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 1, the slider 1 and the clamp mechanism 4 described later are moved simultaneously to adjust the distance between the slider 1 and the medium placed on the platen 2, and The distance between the clamp mechanism 4 and the medium placed on the platen 2 is adjusted. Since the guide mechanism 3 is connected to the clamp mechanism 4 and the slider 1, the positional relationship of the three attachments does not change. That is, the distance between the slider 1 and the medium and the distance between the clamp mechanism 4 and the medium can be adjusted simultaneously and uniformly regardless of the thickness and type of the medium. As a result, the clamp pressure (the pressure by which the clamp mechanism 4 pushes the medium) can be adjusted by adjusting the distance between the clamp mechanism 4 and the medium. That is, the movement of the guide mechanism 3 can simultaneously adjust the clamp pressure and the distance between the slider 1 and the medium.

  As a result, the clamp pressure is adjusted and the distance between the ejection means and the object to be ejected without performing the two-step operation of adjusting the distance between the ejection means and the object to be ejected after clamping the medium as in the prior art. Can be adjusted simultaneously. This makes it possible to improve work efficiency and reduce the labor of workers.

  Further, if the distance between the clamp mechanism 4 and the medium is adjusted to be constant, the clamp pressure can be made constant, so that the movement of the medium can be stabilized and the print image quality can be improved.

  Moreover, since the slider 1 and the clamp mechanism 4 are integrated via the guide mechanism 3, the number of necessary components can be reduced.

  The driving means provided in the droplet discharge device according to the present invention includes, for example, an actuator using a stepping motor and a rack and pinion.

  The clamp mechanism 4 presses a medium placed on the platen 2. The clamp mechanism 4 is a pair of conveyance rollers 5. The tip of the clamp mechanism 4 is a roller, and the medium sandwiched between the roller and the transport roller 5 can be moved. Further, by making the clamp pressure constant, the medium can be moved at a constant speed, and printing and image quality can be improved. The clamp pressure is determined by the distance between the clamp mechanism 4 and the medium. If this distance is constant, the clamp pressure is constant even for different media. Note that the inclination of the clamp mechanism 4 can be adjusted independently of the other members, whereby a desired clamp pressure corresponding to the distance between the slider 1 and the medium can be set. Once the distance between the slider 1 and the medium and the corresponding clamp pressure are set, the distance between the slider 1 and the clamp pressure can be adjusted for any medium thereafter. .

  The transport roller 5 transports the medium to the platen 2 before ink discharge, and transports the medium during and after ink discharge.

  The ink jet printer 10 further includes a detection unit (detection means, not shown) that detects the distance between the medium placed on the platen 2 and the slider 1. When the distance between the slider 1 and the medium detected by the detection unit is different from a predetermined distance, the actuator moves the guide mechanism 3 so as to be the predetermined distance. Although the predetermined distance can be determined as appropriate, it is preferable to set the distance between the slider 1 and the medium when the clamp pressure becomes an appropriate value in consideration of stabilization of the driving force of the medium and printing image quality.

  The detection unit may be constituted by an electronic type using a sensor for detecting the position, for example.

  The position sensed by the sensor is transmitted to a computer built in the inkjet printer 10, and the guide mechanism 3 is moved so as to be a predetermined distance according to the result.

  By including the detection unit, the distance between the slider 1 and the medium can be detected. Therefore, even when the thickness of the media is different, the distance between the slider 1 and the media can be adjusted to a predetermined distance. Also, the clamp pressure can be adjusted simultaneously with the adjustment of the distance between the slider 1 and the medium. As a result, the landing accuracy of the ink ejected from the slider 1 can be kept stable with respect to any medium, so that a constant print image quality can be provided.

  The actuator drive control may be performed by a computer operator such as a CPU that acquires the detection result from the detection unit and controls the drive of the actuator based on the detection result. Such a computer operator may be incorporated in the inkjet printer 10 or may be externally attached.

  Next, referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, when the media 7 and the media 8 having different thicknesses are used, the media 7 and the media 8 have the same clamping pressure, and the slider 1, the media 7, and the media 8. It is explained that it is possible to make the distance to the same at the same time.

  First, the position where the medium 7 is clamped by the clamp mechanism 4 is set to a predetermined position corresponding to the distance between the slider 1 and the medium 7. Thereby, the distance between the slider 1 and the medium 7 can be made to be intended at the same time as the medium 7 is clamped with a predetermined clamping pressure. At this time, the distance between the slider 1 and the medium 7 is A, and the distance between the guide mechanism 3 and the medium 7 is B. The distance is adjusted using the detection unit and actuator described above.

  Next, the medium is changed from the medium 7 to the medium 8. Then, the medium 8 is clamped with the same clamping pressure as in FIG. Here, the distance between the slider 1 and the medium 8 when the medium 8 is clamped by the clamp mechanism 4 is C, and the distance between the guide mechanism 3 and the medium 8 is D.

  Both the distance B and the distance D are distances between the guide mechanism 3 and the clamp mechanism 4 and are always equal. Therefore, the distance B and the distance D are the same value. Further, since the distance B and the distance D are equal, the clamping pressure for the medium 7 and the clamping pressure for the medium 8 are constant.

  Further, the distance between the slider 1 and the clamp mechanism 4 is equal to the distance between the slider 1 and the medium when the clamp mechanism 4 clamps the medium 8. The distance between the slider 1 and the clamp mechanism 4 is constant even if the thickness of the medium is changed. Therefore, the distance between the slider 1 and the medium when the medium is clamped is constant even if the medium is changed. Therefore, the distance A and the distance C are the same value.

  Thus, when the media 7 and the media 8 having different thicknesses are used, the clamp pressures of the media 7 and the media 8 are made the same, and the distances between the slider 1 and the media 7 and the media 8 are made the same. Can be done at the same time. Accordingly, it is possible to achieve a constant print image quality even with different thicknesses of discharged objects.

  2 and 3, after adjusting the distances A to D, the image is drawn on the medium 7 and the medium 8 by the movement of the slider 1 by the actuator and the ejection of ink.

<Additional notes>
As described above, an inkjet printer 10 that is an embodiment of a medium processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a platen 2 on which a medium is placed, a slider 1 that ejects ink onto the medium placed on the platen 2, and the slider 1. The guide mechanism 3 includes a guide mechanism 3 that guides the moving direction, an actuator that moves the guide mechanism 3 relative to the platen 2, and a clamp mechanism 4 that presses a medium placed on the platen 2. The slider 1 is connected to adjust the distance between the slider 1 and the medium by the movement of the actuator, and is connected to the clamp mechanism 4, and the clamp mechanism 4 and the medium are moved by the actuator. The distance is adjusted.

  According to this configuration, the actuator that moves the guide mechanism 3 relative to the platen 2 is provided. Since the guide mechanism 3 is connected to the clamp mechanism 4 and the slider 1, the positional relationship of the three attachments does not change. That is, the distance between the slider 1 and the medium and the distance between the clamp mechanism 4 and the medium can be adjusted to be constant regardless of the thickness and type of the medium. Therefore, the distance between the slider 1 and the medium and the distance between the clamp mechanism 4 and the medium can be adjusted simultaneously. The clamp pressure on the medium can be adjusted by adjusting the distance between the clamp mechanism 4 and the medium. That is, by using the actuator, it is possible to simultaneously adjust the pressure for pressing the medium and the distance between the slider 1 and the medium. This eliminates the need for a two-step operation of clamping the medium and adjusting the distance between the slider 1 and the medium. Therefore, the work efficiency can be improved by simultaneously adjusting the pressure for pressing the medium and adjusting the distance between the slider 1 and the medium. For example, the labor of the worker can be reduced due to the improvement of workability.

  Further, if the distance between the clamp mechanism 4 and the medium is adjusted to be constant, the pressure for pressing the medium can be made constant, so that the driving force of the medium can be stabilized and the print image quality can be improved. .

  Further, by integrating the slider 1 and the clamp mechanism 4, the number of necessary parts can be reduced.

  The ink jet printer 10 further includes a detection unit that detects the distance between the medium placed on the platen 2 and the slider 1, and the actuator has the detection result of the detection unit placed on the platen 2 that is determined in advance. When the distance between the medium and the slider 1 is different, the slider 1 is moved so that the distance between the medium placed on the platen 2 and the slider 1 becomes a predetermined distance.

  By including the detection unit, the distance between the slider 1 and the medium can be detected. As a result, since the distance between the slider 1 and the medium can be adjusted to be constant, the landing accuracy of the ink ejected from the slider 1 on the medium can be stabilized, and the print image quality can be improved.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope shown in the claims.

  The present invention provides a droplet discharge device that can be used in an inkjet printer or the like that prints various discharge objects.

1 Slider (Discharge means)
2 Platen (mounting table)
3 Guide mechanism (supporting means)
4 Clamp mechanism (pressing means)
5 Transport roller 6 Discharge port 7, 8 Media (object to be discharged)
10 Inkjet printer (droplet discharge device)

Claims (1)

A mounting table on which the object to be discharged is placed;
Discharge means for discharging droplets to the discharge object placed on the mounting table;
Support means for guiding the moving direction of the discharge means;
Drive means for moving the support means relative to the mounting table;
The tip part is a roller, and pressing means for pressing the discharged object placed on the mounting table by the roller,
A conveying roller that is disposed at a position facing the roller, sandwiches the discharged object with the roller, and conveys the discharged object to the mounting table;
A detecting means for detecting a distance between the discharged object placed on the mounting table and the discharging means,
The support means is connected to the ejection means, adjusts the distance between the ejection means and the object to be ejected by movement by the driving means, and is connected to the pressing means, By the movement by the driving means, the distance between the pressing means and the discharged object is adjusted,
The pressing means is supported by the supporting means so that its position relative to the supporting means can be varied, and is biased in a direction in which the discharging object is pressed. Holding down,
When the detection result of the detection unit is different from a predetermined distance between the discharge target placed on the mounting table and the discharging unit, the driving unit moves the supporting unit to the mounting table. Is moved so that the distance between the object to be discharged and the discharging means placed on the surface becomes a predetermined distance,
The diameter of the said roller of the said press means and the diameter of the said conveyance roller are formed equally, The droplet discharge apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned.

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