JP6926669B2 - Printing equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a printing apparatus.

In recent years, in printing on fabrics such as cotton, silk, wool, chemical fibers, and blended fabrics, an inkjet printing device that ejects ink toward the surface of the fabric and prints a pattern or the like on the fabric has been used. The printing apparatus used in printing is provided with a transport belt on which the medium is placed and transported in the transport direction in order to treat the stretchable fabric as a medium. In such a printing device,
In order to improve the transport accuracy of the transport belt, those provided with a mechanism for detecting the movement amount of the transport belt are known. For example, Patent Document 1 includes an inkjet recording including a movement amount detection unit including a scale unit that moves by engaging with a transport belt and a sensor unit that is fixed to a base and measures the movement amount of the scale unit. The device (printing device) is disclosed.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-28143

However, in the printing apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the grip portion that grips (engages) the scale portion with the transport belt requires a rotating mechanism for switching between the gripped state and the non-grasped state. .. Since the rotation mechanism is composed of many members such as a rotation shaft, a support member for supporting the rotation shaft, a base connected to the rotation shaft, and a rotation drive source for rotating the rotation shaft, it is in a gripped state and a non-grasped state. The mechanism of the switching unit for switching between and is increased in size, which in turn has led to an increase in the size of the printing device.

The present invention has been made to solve at least a part of the above-mentioned problems, and can be realized as the following forms or application examples.

[Application Example 1] The printing apparatus according to this application example is provided with a printing unit for printing on a medium, a transport belt for transporting the medium in the transport direction by rotating and moving, and a transport belt along the transport direction. The scale unit, the detection unit that detects the amount of movement relative to the scale unit, and the scale unit or the detection unit are configured to move integrally with the scale unit, and the transport belt is gripped together with the transport belt. The gripping portion has a gripping portion that can change the state between a moving gripping state and a non-grasping state that does not grip the transport belt, and a switching portion that switches the gripping portion between the gripping state and the non-grasping state. Is characterized in that at least a part thereof is composed of an elastic member, and the switching portion switches from one of the gripped state and the non-grasped state to the other by utilizing the elasticity of the elastic member.

According to this application example, the printing apparatus has a gripping portion that can change the state between a gripping state in which the transport belt is gripped and a non-grasping state in which the transport belt is not gripped, and a switching portion that switches the gripping portion between the gripping state and the non-grasping state. Have. At least a part of the grip portion is composed of an elastic member, and the switching portion switches the grip portion from one of the gripped state and the non-grasped state to the other by utilizing the elasticity of the elastic member. The switching unit can have a simple configuration. As a result, the size of the printing apparatus can be reduced.

[Application Example 2] In the printing apparatus described in the above application example, the elastic member is preferably a carbon fiber or a composite material containing carbon fibers.

According to this application example, since the elastic member forming at least a part of the grip portion is a carbon fiber or a composite material containing carbon fibers, it is possible to secure the elasticity and strength required for the elastic member of the grip portion. can.

[Application Example 3] In the printing apparatus described in the above application example, the switching unit includes an electromagnet.
It is preferable that the grip portion has a ferromagnetic material, and the state is changed from the non-grasping state to the gripped state by the magnetic force generated when a current flows through the electromagnet.

According to this application example, the switching portion includes an electromagnet, and the grip portion has a ferromagnet that is attracted to the magnet. Since the gripping portion is changed from the non-grasping state to the gripping state by a simple configuration of the magnetic force generated when a current flows through the electromagnet of the switching portion and the ferromagnetic material of the gripping portion, the configuration of the switching portion and the gripping portion is changed. It can be miniaturized.

[Application Example 4] In the printing apparatus according to the above application example, the printing apparatus has a drive unit for rotating and moving the transport belt, and the drive unit is provided on the downstream side in the transport direction with respect to the printing unit and grips the grip. It is preferable that the portion grips the transport belt on the upstream side in the transport direction with respect to the printing portion.

According to this application example, the drive portion of the transport belt is provided on the downstream side of the printing portion, and the grip portion grips the transport belt on the upstream side of the printing portion. When the drive unit is rotationally driven to move the gripped portion in the gripped state together with the transport belt in the transport direction, the transport belt may loosen between the drive unit and the grip portion in the rotational movement direction of the transport belt. However, since the printing portion of this application example is located between the grip portion and the driving portion, the influence of loosening of the transport belt in the printing portion can be reduced.

[Application Example 5] In the printing apparatus described in the above application example, when the gripped portion in the gripped state moves from the first position to the second position located downstream of the first position in the transport direction. It is preferable to have a control unit that stops the rotation of the conveyor belt and executes an adjustment operation that adjusts the position of the conveyor belt based on the movement amount detected by the detection unit.

According to this application example, when the drive unit moves the transfer belt from the first position to the second position, the printing apparatus determines the position of the transfer belt based on the actual movement amount of the transfer belt detected by the detection unit. Since it has a control unit for adjusting, the position of the transport belt can be suitably adjusted.

[Application Example 6] In the printing apparatus described in the above application example, it is preferable that the control unit can switch whether or not to execute the adjustment operation.

According to this application example, the printing apparatus can be suitably controlled according to the required image quality.

[Application Example 7] The printing apparatus according to the above application example has a return portion for moving the grip portion in the non-grip state in a direction opposite to the transport direction, and the grip portion in the grip state is the transport. When moving in the direction, it is preferable that the return portion is separated from the grip portion.

According to this application example, the printing apparatus has a return portion that moves the grip portion in the direction opposite to the transport direction. As a result, the grip portion is returned to the upstream side in the transport direction, so that the grip portion in the gripped state can be repeatedly moved together with the transport belt. Further, when the gripped portion in the gripped state moves together with the transport belt, the return portion is separated from the grip portion, so that it is possible to suppress the return portion from applying a load to the rotational drive of the transport belt.

The schematic diagram which shows the schematic whole structure of the printing apparatus which concerns on embodiment. The plan view which shows the main part of a printing apparatus. The perspective view which shows the structure of the belt movement amount measuring part. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. An electric block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a printing device. The flowchart which explains the printing method.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In each of the following figures, the scale of each layer and each member is different from the actual scale in order to make each layer and each member recognizable in size.
Further, in FIGS. 1 to 4, for convenience of explanation, the X-axis, the Y-axis, and the Z-axis are shown as three axes orthogonal to each other. The end side is the "-side". The direction parallel to the X-axis is referred to as "X-axis direction", the direction parallel to the Y-axis is referred to as "Y-axis direction", and the direction parallel to the Z-axis is referred to as "Z-axis direction".

(Embodiment)
<Outline configuration of printing device>
FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a schematic overall configuration of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a main part of the printing apparatus. First, the schematic configuration of the printing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. In the present embodiment, an inkjet printing apparatus 100 that prints on the medium 95 by forming an image or the like on the medium 95 will be described as an example.

As shown in FIG. 1, the printing apparatus 100 includes a medium conveying section 20, a medium contact section 60, and a printing section 40.
, A drying unit 27, a belt movement amount measuring unit 70, a cleaning unit 50, and the like are provided. Then, it has a control unit 1 that controls each of these units. Each part of the printing apparatus 100 is attached to the frame part 90.

The medium transport unit 20 transports the medium 95 in the transport direction. The medium transfer unit 20 includes a medium supply unit 10, a transfer roller 22, a transfer belt 23, a belt rotation roller 24, a belt drive roller 25, transfer rollers 26 and 28, and a medium recovery unit 30. First, the transport path of the medium 95 from the medium supply unit 10 to the medium collection unit 30 will be described. In the present embodiment, the direction along the gravity is the Z axis, the direction in which the medium 95 is conveyed in the printing unit 40 is the X axis, and the width direction of the medium 95 intersecting both the Z axis and the X axis is the Y axis. And. Further, the positional relationship along the transport direction of the medium 95 or the movement direction of the transport belt 23 is defined as "upstream side" and "downstream side".
Also called.

The medium supply unit 10 supplies the medium 95 on which the image is formed to the printing unit 40 side.
As the medium 95, for example, a cloth such as cotton, wool, or polyester is used. The medium supply section 10 has a supply shaft section 11 and a bearing section 12. The supply shaft portion 11 is formed in a cylindrical shape or a columnar shape, and is provided so as to be rotatable in the circumferential direction. A strip-shaped medium 95 is wound around the supply shaft portion 11 in a roll shape. The supply shaft portion 11 is detachably attached to the bearing portion 12. As a result, the medium 95 previously wound around the supply shaft portion 11 can be attached to the bearing portion 12 together with the supply shaft portion 11.

The bearing portion 12 rotatably supports both ends of the supply shaft portion 11 in the axial direction. Media supply unit 1
0 has a rotary drive unit (not shown) that rotationally drives the supply shaft portion 11. The rotation drive unit rotates the supply shaft unit 11 in the direction in which the medium 95 is sent out. The operation of the rotation drive unit is controlled by the control unit 1. The transfer roller 22 relays the medium 95 from the medium supply unit 10 to the transfer belt 23.

The transport belt 23 is held between at least two rollers that rotate the transport belt 23, and the transport belt 23 rotates to transport the medium 95 in the transport direction (+ X-axis direction). Specifically, the transport belt 23 is formed in an endless shape by connecting both ends of the belt-shaped belt, and is hung between two rollers of the belt rotating roller 24 and the belt driving roller 25. The conveyor belt 23 is held in a state in which a predetermined tension is applied so that a portion between the belt rotating roller 24 and the belt driving roller 25 is horizontal. An adhesive layer 29 for adhering the medium 95 is provided on the surface (support surface) 23a of the transport belt 23. The transport belt 23 is supplied from the transport roller 22 and supports (holds) the medium 95 in close contact with the adhesive layer 29 by the medium contact portion 60 described later. As a result, the medium 9 is made of elastic cloth or the like.
It can be treated as 5.

The belt rotating roller 24 and the belt driving roller 25 are provided on the inner peripheral surface 23 of the conveyor belt 23.
Support b. In addition, a support portion such as a roller that supports the transport belt 23 may be provided between the belt rotation roller 24 and the belt drive roller 25.

The belt drive roller 25 is a drive unit that rotationally moves the conveyor belt 23, and has a motor (not shown) that rotationally drives the belt drive roller 25. The belt drive roller 25 as a drive unit is provided on the downstream side of the printing unit 40 with respect to the transport direction of the medium 95, and the belt rotation roller 24 is provided on the upstream side of the printing unit 40. When the belt drive roller 25 is rotationally driven, the conveyor belt 23 is rotated along with the rotation of the belt drive roller 25.
Rotates, and the belt rotation roller 24 rotates due to the rotation of the transport belt 23. By the rotation of the transfer belt 23, the medium 95 supported by the transfer belt 23 is conveyed in the transfer direction (+ X-axis direction), and an image is formed on the medium 95 by the printing unit 40 described later.

In the present embodiment, the surface 23a of the transport belt 23 faces the printing unit 40 (+ Z-axis side).
The medium 95 is supported in the belt rotating roller 24 together with the transport belt 23.
It is conveyed from the side to the belt drive roller 25 side. Further, on the side where the surface 23a of the transport belt 23 faces the cleaning unit 50 (−Z axis side), only the transport belt 23 moves from the belt drive roller 25 side to the belt rotation roller 24 side. It has been described that the transport belt 23 is provided with the adhesive layer 29 that adheres the medium 95, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the transport belt may be an electrostatic adsorption type belt in which the medium is attracted to the belt by static electricity.

The transport roller 26 peels the medium 95 on which the image is formed from the adhesive layer 29 of the transport belt 23. The transfer rollers 26 and 28 relay the medium 95 from the transfer belt 23 to the medium collection unit 30.

The medium collection unit 30 collects the medium 95 conveyed by the medium transfer unit 20. The medium recovery unit 30 has a take-up shaft portion 31 and a bearing portion 32. The take-up shaft portion 31 is formed in a cylindrical shape or a columnar shape, and is provided so as to be rotatable in the circumferential direction. The take-up shaft portion 31 has
The strip-shaped medium 95 is wound into a roll. The take-up shaft portion 31 is detachably attached to the bearing portion 32. As a result, the medium 95 in a state of being wound around the take-up shaft portion 31
Can be removed together with the take-up shaft portion 31.

The bearing portion 32 rotatably supports both ends of the take-up shaft portion 31 in the axial direction. The medium recovery unit 30 has a rotation drive unit (not shown) that rotationally drives the take-up shaft unit 31. The rotation drive unit rotates the take-up shaft portion 31 in the direction in which the medium 95 is taken up. The operation of the rotation drive unit is controlled by the control unit 1.

Next, the medium contact portion 60 and the belt movement amount measuring unit 7 provided along the medium transport unit 20.
0, each part of the printing unit 40, the drying unit 27, and the cleaning unit 50 will be described.

The medium contact portion 60 brings the medium 95 into close contact with the transport belt 23. Medium contact part 6
0 is provided on the upstream side (−X axis side) of the printing unit 40. The medium contact portion 60 has a pressing roller 61, a pressing roller driving portion 62, and a roller supporting portion 63. The pressing roller 61 is formed in a cylindrical shape or a columnar shape, and is provided so as to be rotatable in the circumferential direction.
The pressing roller 61 is arranged so that the axial direction intersects the transport direction so as to rotate in the direction along the transport direction. The roller support portion 63 is provided on the inner peripheral surface 23b side of the transport belt 23 facing the pressing roller 61 with the transport belt 23 interposed therebetween.

The pressing roller driving unit 62 presses the pressing roller 61 downward (−Z axis side) in the vertical direction while pressing in the conveying direction (+ X axis direction) and in the direction opposite to the conveying direction (−X axis direction). The roller 61 is moved. The medium 95 superposed on the transport belt 23 is a pressing roller 61.
Is pressed against the transport belt 23 between the roller support portion 63 and the roller support portion 63. As a result, the medium 95 can be reliably adhered to the adhesive layer 29 provided on the surface 23a of the transport belt 23, and the occurrence of floating of the medium 95 on the transport belt 23 can be prevented.

The belt movement amount measuring unit 70 is provided between the medium contact unit 60 and the printing unit 40. The belt movement amount measuring unit 70 will be described in detail later.

The printing unit 40 is arranged above (+ Z-axis side) with respect to the arrangement position of the transport belt 23, and prints on the medium 95 placed on the surface 23a of the transport belt 23. The printing unit 40 includes a head unit 42, a carriage 43 on which the head unit 42 is mounted, and a carriage 4.
Carriage moving portion 4 for moving 3 in the width direction (Y-axis direction) of the medium 95 intersecting the transport direction.
It has 5 and so on. The head unit 42 of the present embodiment is composed of four subunits 42a, and the subunits 42a are provided with ink (for example, ink supplied from an ink supply unit (not shown) on the medium 95 mounted on the transport belt 23. It is equipped with a plurality of ejection heads (not shown) that eject yellow, cyan, magenta, black, etc.) into droplets.

The carriage moving portion 45 is provided above the transport belt 23 (+ Z-axis side). The carriage moving portion 45 has a pair of guide rails 45a and 45b extending along the Y-axis direction. The guide rails 45a and 45b are bridged between the frame portions 90a and 90b provided vertically on the outside of the transport belt 23. The head unit 42 is supported by the guide rails 45a and 45b in a state where it can reciprocate along the Y-axis direction together with the carriage 43.

The carriage moving unit 45 includes a moving mechanism and a power source (not shown). As the moving mechanism, for example, a mechanism combining a ball screw and a ball nut, a linear guide mechanism, or the like can be adopted. Further, the carriage moving unit 45 has a motor (not shown) as a power source for moving the carriage 43 along the guide rails 45a and 45b. As the motor, various motors such as a stepping motor, a servo motor, and a linear motor can be adopted. When the motor is driven by the control of the control unit 1, the head unit 42 moves along the Y-axis direction together with the carriage 43.

The drying unit 27 is provided between the transfer roller 26 and the transfer roller 28.
The drying unit 27 dries the ink ejected onto the medium 95, and the drying unit 27 includes, for example, an IR heater, and the ink ejected onto the medium 95 is discharged by driving the IR heater. It can be dried in a short time. As a result, the formed strip-shaped medium 95 such as an image can be wound around the winding shaft portion 31.

The cleaning unit 50 is arranged between the belt rotating roller 24 and the belt driving roller 25 in the X-axis direction. The cleaning unit 50 includes a cleaning unit 51, a pressing unit 52, and a moving unit 5.
Has 3. The moving unit 53 integrally moves the cleaning unit 50 along the floor surface 99 and fixes it at a predetermined position.

The pressing portion 52 is, for example, an elevating device composed of an air cylinder 56 and a ball bush 57, and a cleaning portion 51 provided on the upper portion thereof is brought into contact with the surface 23a of the transport belt 23. The cleaning unit 51 includes a belt rotating roller 24 and a belt driving roller 25.
The surface (support surface) 23a of the transport belt 23, which is hung from the belt drive roller 25 and moves toward the belt rotation roller 24, is cleaned from below (-Z axis direction). ..

The cleaning unit 51 includes a cleaning tank 54, a cleaning roller 58, and a blade 55. The cleaning tank 54 is a tank for storing the cleaning liquid used for cleaning ink and foreign substances adhering to the surface 23a of the transport belt 23, and the cleaning roller 58 and the blade 55 are provided inside the cleaning tank 54. As the cleaning liquid, for example, water or a water-soluble solvent (alcohol aqueous solution or the like) can be used, and a surfactant or a defoaming agent may be added as needed.

When the cleaning roller 58 rotates, the cleaning liquid is supplied to the surface 23a of the transfer belt 23, and the cleaning roller 58 and the transfer belt 23 slide. As a result, the ink adhering to the transport belt 23, the fibers of the cloth as the medium 95, and the like are removed by the cleaning roller 58.

The blade 55 can be made of a flexible material such as silicone rubber.
The blade 55 is provided on the downstream side of the cleaning roller 58 in the transport direction of the transport belt 23. By sliding the transport belt 23 and the blade 55, the transport belt 23
The cleaning liquid remaining on the surface 23a of the surface 23a is removed.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the belt movement amount measuring unit. FIG. 4 shows AA in FIG.
It is sectional drawing in line. Next, the configuration of the belt movement amount measuring unit 70 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4.

The belt movement amount measuring unit 70 is provided on the upstream side of the printing unit 40, and is provided along one of both ends in the width direction (Y-axis direction) of the transport belt 23. The belt movement amount measuring unit 70 of the present embodiment is provided on the + Y-axis side of the transport belt 23. The belt movement amount measuring unit 70 is provided on a rectangular parallelepiped base 71, a scale sticking part 73 provided above the base 71, and a base 71 along the transport direction (X-axis direction) of the medium 95. It includes a grip portion 80 that moves along a guide rail 72 extending in the X-axis direction, a return portion 76 that moves the grip portion 80 to the upstream side in the transport direction, and the like.

The scale sticking portion 73 is bridged between the pillar portions 73a and 73b provided perpendicularly to both ends in the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) of the base 71. The scale sticking portion 73 has a protruding portion protruding in the −Y axis direction in an eaves shape, and a part thereof overlaps with the transport belt 23 in a plan view.
A scale portion 75 is provided on the lower surface (the surface on the −Z axis side) of the protruding portion of the scale sticking portion 73 along the transport direction of the medium 95. A magnetic scale in which magnets having different polarities are alternately arranged is used for the scale portion 75 of the present embodiment.

The gripping portion 80 of the present embodiment grips the transport belt 23 on the upstream side in the transport direction with respect to the printing portion 40. When the belt drive roller 25 is rotationally driven to move the gripped portion 80 in the gripped state together with the transport belt 23 in the transport direction, the transport belt 23 has elasticity, so that the belt is driven in the rotational movement direction of the transport belt 23. The transport belt 23 may loosen between the roller 25 and the grip portion. Since the printing unit 40 is provided between the gripping unit 80 and the belt drive roller 25 in the rotational movement direction of the transport belt 23, the printing unit 40 is provided.
The influence of loosening of the transport belt 23 in the above can be reduced. As a result, the transfer accuracy of the medium 95 is improved.

The grip portion 80 includes a grip substrate 81, a guide block 82, a detection unit 85, and the like. The gripping substrate 81 has a rectangular plate shape that is long in the width direction (Y-axis direction) of the transport belt 23.
The end portion 81c on the −Y axis side of the gripping substrate 81 substantially coincides with the side wall 73c on the −Y axis side of the scale sticking portion 73 in a plan view, and overlaps with the transport belt 23. The end portion 81d on the + Y-axis side of the gripping substrate 81 projects in the + Y-axis direction from the side wall 71d on the + Y-axis side of the base 71 in a plan view. A guide block 82 is provided on the bottom surface (the surface on the −Z axis side) of the gripping substrate 81. The guide block 82 is formed with a concave groove that opens on the −Z axis side, following the shape of the guide rail 72 that protrudes in a convex shape. By engaging the guide block 82 and the guide rail 72, the grip portion 80 is configured to be reciprocally movable along the transport direction (X-axis direction).

The grip portion 80 is composed of at least a part of the elastic member 83. Specifically, an elastic member 83 is provided on the upper surface (the surface on the + Z axis side) of the gripping substrate 81. Elastic member 83
Has a rectangular plate shape shorter than that of the gripping substrate 81. The end 83d of the elastic member 83 on the + Y-axis side is joined to the gripping substrate 81 at substantially the center of the gripping substrate 81. -Y of elastic member 83
The end portion 83c on the shaft side substantially coincides with the end portion 81c on the −Y axis side of the gripping substrate 81 in a plan view. The end 81c of the gripping substrate 81 and the end 83c of the elastic member 83 have a gap slightly wider than the thickness of the transport belt 23. The grip portion 80 is configured so that the transport belt 23 can be sandwiched between the end portion 81c of the gripping substrate 81 and the end portion 83c of the elastic member 83 by the elastic force of the elastic member 83. The elastic member 83 is preferably a carbon fiber or a composite material containing carbon fibers. Since the carbon fiber has a lighter specific gravity than the metal material and is excellent in strength, elastic modulus and wear resistance, it is possible to secure the elasticity and strength required for the elastic member 83 of the grip portion 80.

The gripping portion 80 grips the transport belt 23 and moves together with the transport belt 23.
The state can be changed to a non-grasping state in which the transport belt 23 is not gripped. Specifically, the grip portion 80 has a ferromagnetic material 84. The ferromagnetic material 84 is provided on the upper surface (the surface on the + Z axis side) of the elastic member 83 that does not overlap with the transport belt 23 in a plan view. As the ferromagnet 84, iron, nickel, cobalt or the like can be used.

Further, at a position on the lower surface of the gripping substrate 81 of the gripping portion 80 facing the ferromagnetic material 84, a switching portion 74 for switching the gripping portion 80 between the gripped state and the non-grasping state is provided. The switching unit 74 includes an electromagnet, and the ferromagnet 84 is attracted to the switching unit 74 (electromagnet) by the magnetic force generated when a current flows through the electromagnet. At this time, the elastic member 83 is the gripping substrate 8
It is elastically deformed to one side, and the transport belt 23 is gripped between the gripping substrate 81 and the elastic member 83 by the elastic force. As a result, the gripping portion 80 is changed from the non-grasping state to the gripping state. Further, when the current flowing through the electromagnet is cut off, the gripping portion 80 is changed from the gripping state to the non-grasping state. Therefore, the switching portion 74 utilizes the elasticity of the elastic member 83 to grip the grip portion 8.
It has a function of switching 0 from one of the gripped state and the non-grasped state to the other. Since the grip portion 80 is changed in state by a simple configuration of the electromagnet of the switching portion 74 and the ferromagnetic material 84,
The switching portion 74 and the grip portion 80 can be miniaturized.

A detection unit 85 is provided on the upper surface of the end portion 83c of the elastic member 83 at a position facing the scale portion 75. The detection unit 85 includes an element (for example, a Hall element, an MR element, etc.) that changes a change in a magnetic field into an electric signal, and detects a movement amount relative to the scale unit 75. The detection unit 85 of the present embodiment is provided on a pedestal for being placed close to the scale unit 75. Since the detection unit 85 is configured to move integrally with the grip portion 80, the movement amount of the transport belt 23 can be detected when the grip portion 80 in the gripped state moves together with the transport belt 23.

The return portion 76 moves the grip portion 80 in the non-grip state in the direction opposite to the transport direction.
The return portion 76 includes a moving lever 78 and a lever moving portion 77 that reciprocates the moving lever 78 along the transport direction. The lever moving portion 77 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape that is long in the transport direction, and is fixed to the side wall 71d on the + Y-axis side of the base 71. Concave guide grooves extending in the transport direction are formed on the upper surface (+ Z-axis side surface) and lower surface (-Z-axis side surface) of the lever moving portion 77.

The moving lever 78 has a pedestal 78a and a pedestal 78 having convex protrusions that follow the shape of the guide groove.
It has a long handle portion 78b extending in the vertical direction (+ Z axis direction) from a. The moving lever 78 is configured to be reciprocally movable along the guide groove of the lever moving portion 77. Lever moving part 7
Reference numeral 7 denotes a moving mechanism (not shown) for reciprocating the moving lever 78 in the transport direction. As the moving mechanism, for example, an air cylinder or the like can be adopted. Moving lever 7
When the lever 8 is moved upstream in the transport direction by the lever moving portion 77, the long handle portion 78b of the moving lever 78 and the gripping substrate 81 of the gripping portion 80 come into contact with each other, and the gripping portion 80 in the non-grasping state is in the transport direction. It is returned to the upstream side in the opposite direction. As a result, the gripping portion 80 in the gripped state can be repeatedly moved together with the transport belt 23, and the movement amount of the transport belt 23 can be repeatedly detected by the detection unit 85.

In the present embodiment, the detection unit 85 moves integrally with the grip portion 80 and the scale unit 75 is fixed, but the scale unit moves integrally with the grip portion and the detection unit is fixed. It may be a configuration.
Further, in the present embodiment, a so-called magnetic encoder that obtains the relative movement amount between the scale unit 75 and the detection unit 85 by a change in the magnetic field is illustrated, but even an optical encoder that obtains the movement amount by an optical change may be used. good.

<Electrical configuration>
FIG. 5 is an electric block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the printing apparatus. Next, the printing device 100
The electrical configuration of the above will be described with reference to FIG.

The printing device 100 includes an input device 6 into which printing conditions and the like are input, a control unit 1 that controls each part of the printing device 100, and the like. As the input device 6, a desktop type or laptop type personal computer (PC), a tablet type terminal, a portable type terminal, or the like can be used. The input device 6 may be provided separately from the printing device 100.

The control unit 1 includes an interface unit (I / F) 2 and a CPU (Central Processing Unit).
3. It is configured to include a storage unit 4, a control circuit 5, and the like. The interface unit 2 is for transmitting and receiving data between the input device 6 that handles input signals and images and the control unit 1. The CPU 3 is an arithmetic processing device for processing input signals from various detector groups 7 including the detection unit 85 and controlling the printing operation of the printing device 100. For example, the CPU 3 calculates the movement amount of the transport belt 23 from the input signal output from the detection unit 85 and input to the CPU 3.
The storage unit 4 is a storage medium for securing an area for storing a program of the CPU 3, a work area, and the like, and is a RAM (Random Access Memory) and an EEPROM (Electrically Erasabl).
It has a memory element such as e Programmable Read Only Memory).

The control unit 1 controls the drive of the ejection head provided in the head unit 42 by the control signal output from the control circuit 5, and ejects ink toward the medium 95. The control unit 1 controls the drive of the motor provided in the carriage moving unit 45 by the control signal output from the control circuit 5, and causes the carriage 43 on which the head unit 42 is mounted in the main scanning direction (Y-axis direction). Move back and forth. The control unit 1 controls the drive of the motor provided in the belt drive roller 25 by the control signal output from the control circuit 5, and rotates and moves the conveyor belt 23. As a result, the medium 95 placed on the transport belt 23 is moved in the transport direction (+ X-axis direction).

A main scan in which the control unit 1 moves the head unit 42 (carriage 43) while controlling the carriage moving unit 45 and the head unit 42 to eject ink from the ejection head.
An image or the like is formed on the medium 95 by a printing operation in which a sub-scanning in which the belt drive roller 25 is controlled to convey the medium 95 in the conveying direction is alternately repeated.

The control unit 1 controls the current flowing through the electromagnet provided in the switching unit 74 by the control signal output from the control circuit 5, and switches the gripping unit 80 between the gripped state and the non-grasping state. The control unit 1 controls the movement mechanism of the lever movement unit 77 by the control signal output from the control circuit 5 to reciprocate the movement lever 78 along the transport direction. Further, the control unit 1 controls each device (not shown).

<Printing method>
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a printing method. Next, the printing method of the printing apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIG.

Step S1 is a print data receiving step of receiving print data. The control unit 1 receives print data for recording an image on the medium 95 from the input device 6 and stores it in the storage unit 4.

Step S2 is a gripping step in which the gripping portion 80 is gripped by the transport belt 23. Control unit 1
Causes an electric current to flow through the electromagnet of the switching unit 74 to generate a magnetic force in the electromagnet. As a result, the gripping portion 80 is in the gripping state and grips the transport belt 23.

Step S3 is a sub-scanning step of transporting the transport belt 23 in the transport direction. Control unit 1
Controls the belt drive roller 25 to move the gripped portion 80 in the gripped state together with the transport belt 23. Then, the control unit 1 has the grip unit 8 according to the movement amount detected by the detection unit 85.
When 0 moves from the first position (initial position) to the second position located on the downstream side in the transport direction from the first position, the rotation of the transport belt 23 is stopped. In the first sub-scanning step, the distance between the first position and the second position is the amount of transportation to a predetermined position at which the printing operation is started. In the second and subsequent sub-scanning steps, the interval between the first position and the second position is the amount of line feed during the printing operation.

In step S4, it is determined whether the misalignment amount of the transport belt 23 is within the permissible range. Since the transport belt 23 has elasticity, there is a possibility that a slight misalignment may occur after the movement of the transport belt 23 is stopped. Therefore, after stopping the movement of the transport belt 23, the control unit 1 reconfirms the actual movement amount of the transport belt 23 from the first position based on the detection result of the detection unit 85. Then, the control unit 1 compares the distance between the first position and the second position with the actual movement amount of the transfer belt 23 to calculate the position shift amount of the transfer belt 23, and the position shift amount of the transfer belt 23 is calculated. Determine if it is within a predetermined allowable range. The amount of misalignment of the transport belt 23 is within the permissible range (step S4: Ye).
In the case of s), the process proceeds to step S6. If the amount of misalignment of the transport belt 23 is out of the permissible range (step S4: No), the process proceeds to step S5.

Step S5 is a belt position adjusting step for adjusting the position of the transport belt 23. The control unit 1 controls the belt drive roller 25 to perform a feed operation or a return operation of the transfer belt 23 based on the misalignment amount calculated in step S4, and corrects the position of the transfer belt 23. Here, the feed operation is an operation of moving the transport belt 23 in the transport direction, and the return operation is an operation of moving the transport belt 23 in the direction opposite to the transport direction. The amount of movement of the transport belt 23 in the feed operation and the return operation is often smaller than the amount of movement of the transfer belt 23 in the sub-scanning of the printing operation. In step S4 and step S5, the control unit 1 executes an adjustment operation for adjusting the position of the transport belt 23 based on the detected movement amount of the detection unit 85. As a result, the misalignment of the transport belt 23 is corrected, so that the accuracy of the position where the ink ejected in the next step lands on the medium 95 is improved.

Step S6 is a main scanning step of ejecting ink toward the medium 95. The control unit 1 controls the head unit 42 and the carriage moving unit 45 to move the carriage 43 on which the head unit 42 is mounted from the head unit 42 in the width direction (Y-axis direction) of the medium 95 intersecting the transport direction. A main scan is performed to eject ink toward the medium 95.

Step S7 is a non-grasping step of bringing the gripping portion 80 gripping the transport belt 23 into a non-grasping state. The control unit 1 cuts off the current flowing through the electromagnet of the switching unit 74 to degauss the magnetic force of the electromagnet. As a result, the gripping portion 80 is in a non-grasping state.

Step S8 is a return step of returning the return portion 76 to the upstream side in the transport direction. Control unit 1
The lever moving portion 77 is controlled to move the moving lever 78 waiting at a predetermined position on the downstream side in the transport direction from the grip portion 80 to the upstream side in the transport direction. As a result, the grip portion 80 and the moving lever 78 come into contact with each other, and the grip portion 80 in the non-grip state located at the second position is returned to the first position. As a result, the gripped portion 80 in the gripped state can be repeatedly moved from the first position to the second position together with the transport belt 23. After that, the moving lever 78 is moved to the downstream side in the transport direction from the second position and stands by at a predetermined position. Therefore, in step S3, when the gripped portion 80 in the gripped state moves together with the transport belt 23, the moving lever 78 of the return portion 76 is separated from the grip portion 80, so that the return portion 76 is driven to rotate the transport belt 23. It is possible to suppress the application of a load. For convenience of explanation, the main scanning step of step S6 to the returning step of step S8 have been described in different steps, but steps S7 and S8 are performed substantially at the same time as step S6.

In step S9, it is determined whether or not there is print data for the next line. The control unit 1 refers to the print data stored in the storage unit 4 and determines whether or not there is print data for the next line. If there is print data on the next line (step S9: Yes), the process returns to step S2 and steps S2 to S9 are repeated. As a result, the main scan and the sub scan are repeated, and an image or the like is printed on the medium 95. If there is no print data for the next line (step S9: No), the control unit 1 ends the printing operation of the printing device 100.

In the present embodiment, a printing method capable of performing an adjustment operation for adjusting the position of the transport belt 23 based on the movement amount detected by the detection unit 85 in steps S4 and S5 has been shown. Whether or not to perform (ON / OFF) may be determined by the control unit 1 according to the received print data (print image quality). Further, the printing device 100 may be configured to have a function of allowing the user to select ON / OFF of the adjustment operation. Although the image quality is improved by performing the adjustment operation, the printing speed is lowered. Therefore, the printing device 100 can be suitably controlled by determining whether or not the adjustment operation can be executed according to the required image quality. In summary, the control unit 1 may have a configuration capable of switching whether or not to execute the adjustment operation. Then, the control unit 1 may automatically switch whether or not to execute the adjustment operation, or the user may manually perform the adjustment operation. Thereby, the printing apparatus 100 can be suitably controlled according to the required image quality.

In the present embodiment, the flow of performing the return step for each of the sub-scanning step and the main scanning step is shown, but after repeating the sub-scanning step and the main scanning step a plurality of times, the grip portion 80 moves a plurality of times. The flow may be such that the movement amount is returned in one return step.
Further, in the present embodiment, steps S4 and S5 are executed after step S3, but steps S4 and S5 may be executed in parallel while step S3 is being performed. That is, while the transport belt 23 is being transported in the transport direction, the transport belt 23
It may be performed to determine whether or not the amount of misalignment of the above is within the permissible range, and to adjust the position of the transport belt 23. By doing so, the amount of movement of the transport belt 23 can be reduced to the transport belt 2.
It can be adjusted in real time while 3 is moving.

As described above, according to the printing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
The belt movement amount measuring unit 70 of the printing apparatus 100 has a gripping unit 80 that grips the transport belt 23, and a switching unit 74 that changes the gripping unit 80 into a gripped state and a non-grasping state.
A part of the grip portion 80 is composed of an elastic member 83, and the switching portion 74 changes the state of the grip portion 80 by utilizing the elasticity of the elastic member 83, so that the grip portion 80 and the switching portion 74 have a simple structure. be able to. As a result, the printing device 100 can be miniaturized.

The elastic member 83 is formed of carbon fibers or a composite material containing carbon fibers. Since the carbon fiber has a lighter specific gravity than the metal material and is excellent in strength, elastic modulus and wear resistance, it is possible to secure the elasticity and strength required for the elastic member 83 of the grip portion 80.
The grip portion 80 is provided with a ferromagnetic material 84 that is attracted to the magnet on the elastic member 83, and the switching portion 74 including the electromagnet is provided at a position facing the ferromagnetic body 84 via the elastic member 83 and the gripping substrate 81. There is. The ferromagnet 84 is switched by the magnetic force generated when an electric current flows through the electromagnet.
By being attracted to 4 (electromagnet), the gripping portion 80 grips the transport belt 23. Since the grip portion 80 can change its state with a simple configuration of the electromagnet of the switching portion 74 and the ferromagnetic material 84,
The switching portion 74 and the grip portion 80 can be miniaturized.

The belt drive roller 25 of the transport belt 23 is provided on the downstream side of the printing unit 40, and the grip portion 80 grips the transport belt 23 on the upstream side of the printing unit 40. When the belt drive roller 25 is rotationally driven to move the gripped portion 80 in the gripped state together with the transport belt 23 in the transport direction, the transport belt is between the belt drive roller 25 and the grip portion 80 in the rotational movement direction of the transport belt 23. There is a risk that the 23 will loosen. Since the printing unit 40 is provided between the grip portion 80 and the belt drive roller 25 in the rotational movement direction of the transport belt 23, the influence of loosening of the transport belt 23 on the printing section 40 is reduced, and the medium 95 is conveyed. Accuracy is improved.

The control unit 1 executes an adjustment operation for adjusting the position of the transport belt 23 based on the movement amount detected by the detection unit 85. As a result, the misalignment of the transport belt 23 is corrected, so that the position accuracy at which the ink lands on the medium 95 can be improved.
The belt movement amount measuring unit 70 has a returning unit 76 that moves the gripping unit 80 in the non-grasping state to the upstream side in the transport direction. The gripping portion 80 in the non-grasping state is returned from the downstream side to the upstream side by the returning portion 76. As a result, the gripping portion 80 in the gripped state can be repeatedly moved together with the transport belt 23, and the movement amount of the transport belt 23 can be repeatedly detected by the detection unit 85.
When the gripped portion 80 in the gripped state moves together with the transport belt 23, the moving lever 7 of the returning portion 76
Since the 8 is separated from the grip portion 80, it is possible to prevent the return portion 76 from applying a load to the rotational drive of the transport belt 23.

1 ... Control unit, 2 ... Interface unit, 3 ... CPU, 4 ... Storage unit, 5 ... Control circuit, 6 ...
Input device, 7 ... detector group, 10 ... medium supply unit, 20 ... medium transfer unit, 23 ... transfer belt, 2
4 ... Belt rotating roller, 25 ... Belt drive roller, 27 ... Drying unit, 30 ... Medium collection unit, 40 ... Printing unit, 42 ... Head unit, 43 ... Carriage, 45 ... Carriage moving unit, 50 ... Cleaning unit, 60 ... Medium contact part, 70 ... Belt movement amount measuring part, 71 ... Base, 72 ... Guide rail, 73 ... Scale pasting part, 74 ... Switching part, 75 ... Scale part,
76 ... Return part, 77 ... Lever moving part, 78 ... Moving lever, 80 ... Gripping part, 81 ... Gripping substrate, 82 ... Guide block, 83 ... Elastic member, 84 ... Ferromagnetic material, 85 ... Detection part, 90 ... Frame Part, 95 ... Medium, 100 ... Printing device.

Claims (6)

A printing unit that prints on the medium and
A transport belt that transports the medium in the transport direction by rotating and moving.
A scale portion provided along the transport direction and
A detection unit that detects the amount of movement relative to the scale unit,
A gripping unit that is configured to move integrally with the scale unit or the detection unit and can be changed into a gripping state in which the transport belt is gripped and moved together with the transport belt and a non-grasping state in which the transport belt is not gripped. When,
A switching unit that includes an electromagnet and switches the gripped portion between the gripped state and the non-grasped state.
A control unit that controls the electromagnet and
Have,
The grip portion is composed of at least a part of an elastic member.
The switching unit may switch <br/> Toggles the non-clamped state from the holding state by utilizing the elasticity of the elastic member,
The grip portion has a ferromagnet and is generated by a magnetic force generated when an electric current flows through the electromagnet.
A printing apparatus characterized in that the state is changed from the non-grasping state to the gripping state. The printing apparatus according to claim 1.
The printing apparatus, wherein the elastic member is a carbon fiber or a composite material containing carbon fibers. The printing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.
It has a drive unit that rotates and moves the transport belt, and has a drive unit.
The drive unit is provided on the downstream side in the transport direction with respect to the printing unit.
The printing apparatus is characterized in that the grip portion grips the transport belt on the upstream side in the transport direction with respect to the printing section. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
The control unit
When the gripped portion in the gripped state moves from the first position to the second position located downstream of the first position in the transport direction, the rotation of the transport belt is stopped and the detection unit stops the rotation. that perform adjustment operation for adjusting the position of said conveyor belt based on the detected amount of movement
Printing device comprising a call. The printing apparatus according to claim 4.
The control unit is a printing device capable of switching whether or not to execute the adjustment operation. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5.
It has a return portion that moves the grip portion in the non-grip state in a direction opposite to the transport direction.
A printing apparatus characterized in that when the gripped portion in the gripped state moves in the transport direction, the returning portion is separated from the gripped portion.

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