JP7081707B2 - Printing equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a printing apparatus.

A printing device that prints on a recording medium such as paper by manually moving the printer body in a predetermined direction is known. In this type of printing apparatus, a printing unit (for example, a nozzle for ejecting ink) that prints on a recording medium is arranged on the lower surface of the printer body (the surface facing the recording medium), and the position of the printing unit at the start of printing. Since the print start position of the recording medium cannot be directly visually observed, there is a problem that it is difficult to accurately set the print unit of the printer main body to the print start position of the recording medium at the start of printing.

Therefore, Patent Document 1 proposes a printing apparatus provided with a transparent portion that makes the printing portion visible from the side and an index line indicating a printing position by the printing portion on the end face of the printer body in the moving direction. In addition, conventionally, the end face position in the moving direction of the printer body is set as the printing start position, and after the printing start of the printer body, printing is started after the printing unit reaches the end face position in the initial moving direction (idle running). Printing equipment is also known.

Jitsufuku 04-02615 Gazette

However, in the printing apparatus described in Patent Document 1, since the printing unit arranged on the lower surface of the printer body is visually observed from the side surface, depending on the viewing direction, the printing unit of the printer body is used for desired printing on the recording medium at the start of printing. It was difficult to accurately align to the starting position.

Further, in a printing device in which the end face position in the moving direction of the printer body is set as the printing start position and printing is started after the printing unit reaches the end face position in the initial moving direction after the moving start of the printer body, the free running distance is set. Not only the moving distance of the printer main body by the user increases by the amount, but also the printing start position may shift depending on the detection accuracy of the position detecting unit that detects the position or the moving amount of the printer main body.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus capable of accurately aligning a printing unit with a printing start position of a recording medium before starting printing. ..

In order to achieve the above object, the printing apparatus according to the present invention is a printing apparatus that prints a print target image on a recording medium in each portion along with relative movement with the recording medium, and is included in the printer main body. The first surface, which is the first surface and faces the recording medium when printing the image to be printed, is provided so as to be detachable from the first surface, and by applying to the recording medium, the recording medium is provided. An aiming member for confirming the print position on the printer and an aiming member provided on the first surface to ensure the straightness of relative movement between the printer main body and the recording medium when printing the image to be printed. The printer main body is tilted with respect to the aiming member by rotation about one side of the first surface and one side extending in a direction along the relative movement direction as a rotation axis. The wheel is configured to be possible, and the wheel is configured such that the direction orthogonal to the rotation axis is the rotation axis of the wheel.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a printing apparatus capable of accurately aligning a printing unit with a printing start position of a recording medium before starting printing.

It is a transmission diagram which shows the printing apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention, (a) is the front view of the printing apparatus, (b) is the side transmission view of the printing apparatus. It is a bottom view of a printing apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the control composition of a printing apparatus. It is a top view which shows the aiming part of a printing apparatus. It is a side view which shows the attachment state of the aiming part with respect to a printer main body. It is a figure which shows the use example of the printing apparatus, (a) is the schematic perspective view which shows the alignment state of the printing start position, (b) is the schematic perspective view which shows the printing start state. It is a top view which shows the other example of the aiming part.

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as “embodiments”) will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same elements are designated by the same reference numerals throughout the description of the embodiment.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the printing apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention manually moves the printer main body 2 in predetermined moving directions A and B on a recording medium 100 such as paper or film. It is a handy printer that prints images such as graphic character strings (hereinafter, simply referred to as "images"). The image includes not only characters, numbers, punctuation marks, symbols, patterns, blanks, etc., but also figures that can be handled in character units. Further, in the following description, the position of the recording medium 100 is fixed and the printer main body 2 is moved with respect to the recording medium 100, but the printer main body 2 is moved relative to the recording medium 100. However, for example, the position of the printer main body 2 may be fixed and the recording medium 100 may be moved.

The printing device 1 includes a head unit 3, a nozzle control unit 4, wheels 5, a position detection unit 6, a wireless communication unit 7, an external memory connection unit 8, an operation key 9, a display unit 10, a storage unit 11, a control unit 12, and an aiming unit. A unit 13 and the like are provided (see FIGS. 2 and 3).

The head unit 3 is configured by using, for example, a thermal inkjet cartridge with a nozzle that can be replaced when the ink runs out, and is a printing unit (nozzle row) composed of a plurality of nozzles 3a arranged in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the printer main body 2. 3b is provided. The printing unit 3b is arranged on the lower surface (one surface) 15 of the printer main body 2, and prints an image on the recording medium 100 based on the ink ejection control by the nozzle control unit 4 according to the movement of the printer main body 2. Although the head unit 3 of the present embodiment has a single color printing specification such as black, it is a color printing specification including a printing unit 3b (see FIG. 7) of a plurality of colors (CMY or CMYK) parallel in the moving direction. You may.

The wheels 5 are provided on the lower surface 15 of the printer main body 2 so as to be rotatable in the moving direction, and improve the straightness of the printer main body 2 when the printer main body 2 is moved in the moving direction. The printing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment includes only one wheel 5, but a plurality of wheels 5 may be provided on the front side of the printing unit 3b or at positions separated from each other in the moving direction.

The position detection unit 6 is provided on the lower surface 15 of the printer main body 2 and detects the position of the printer main body 2 on the recording medium 100 or the amount of movement of the printer main body 2 with respect to the recording medium 100 (hereinafter, simply referred to as “position”). As the position detection device constituting the position detection unit 6, for example, the same position detection device (optical type, roller ball type, etc.) used for a mouse (computer input device) can be adopted.

The wireless communication unit 7 performs wireless communication (for example, Wi-Fi) with a wireless communication terminal such as a smartphone or a personal computer, and performs user print setting data (print image data, print mode data, etc.). This is for importing into the printer main body 2.

The external memory connection unit 8 can be connected to an external memory (for example, a USB memory), and is for importing the user's print setting data into the printer main body 2 via the connected external memory.

The operation key 9 is a push button type operation switch arranged on the front portion of the printer main body 2, and includes, for example, a power key 9a for turning on / off the power, a print start key 9b for starting printing, and the like.

The display unit 10 is a liquid crystal panel arranged on the front portion of the printer main body 2, and is a status display of the printer main body 2 (for example, power ON / OFF, print mode, ink remaining amount, etc.) and an operation guide display (for example, ink remaining amount). This is for performing "Read print setting data", "Start printing", etc.).

The storage unit 11 is for storing a program for operating the control unit 12, data of an image to be printed, print execution data for executing printing, and the like.

The control unit 12 generates print execution data for printing based on the user's print setting data, and also controls and records the print unit 3b based on the print execution data and the detection value of the position detection unit 6. The image is printed on the medium 100.

When printing an image on the recording medium 100 using the printing device 1 configured as described above, first, the data of the image to be printed is read into the printer main body 2 as print setting data. Next, the printer main body 2 is set on the recording medium 100. At this time, the printing unit 3b of the printer main body 2 is aligned with the printing start position of the recording medium 100. Next, when the printer main body 2 is manually moved in a predetermined moving direction after the printing start key 9b is pressed, an image is printed along the moving direction.

The moving direction of the printer main body 2 is usually linear, and in the printing device 1 of the present embodiment, the movement in the A direction (right direction when viewed from the user) shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 contradicts the A direction. It corresponds to the movement in the B direction (to the left when viewed from the user).

For example, when printing the character string "ABC" arranged from left to right by moving in the A direction, printing in the order of "A" → "B" → "C", and printing by moving in the B direction. Is printed in the order of "C"-> "B"-> "A", and the print execution data is inverted in dot units. The moving direction of the printer main body 2 is set in the print setting data before the start of the printing operation, but it can also be configured to be determined based on the detection signal of the position detection unit 6 after the start of the printing operation.

By the way, in this type of printing apparatus 1, the printing unit 3b for printing on the recording medium 100 is arranged on the lower surface 15 (the surface facing the recording medium 100) of the printer main body 2, and the position of the printing unit 3b is set at the start of printing. Since the print start position of the recording medium 100 cannot be directly visually observed, there is a problem that it is difficult to accurately align the print unit 3b of the printer main body 2 with the print start position of the recording medium 100 at the start of printing.

Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the printing apparatus 1 is provided with an aiming unit 13 capable of clearly indicating the printing start position by the printing unit 3b on the recording medium 100. Note that FIG. 4 shows a state in which the aiming portion 13 is viewed from the printer main body 2 side. By arranging the aiming unit 13 on the recording medium 100, the user can know the printing start position on the recording medium 100.

The aiming portion 13 is formed of at least a part of a transparent member and can be arranged on the recording medium 100 away from the lower surface 15 of the printer main body 2 before printing, and is recorded in this state (first state). It is possible to indicate the printing start position on the medium 100. Further, the aiming portion 13 is provided at a position facing the lower surface 15 of the printer main body 2 and is in a state of exposing the printing unit 3b (second state), and moves together with the printer main body 2 in this state during printing. It is configured so as not to interfere with printing by the printing unit 3b.

For example, the aiming portion 13 of the present embodiment is made of a transparent thin acrylic plate having substantially the same area as the lower surface 15 of the printer main body 2, and one side or one end (the front side side in the present embodiment) is a hinge 14. It is rotatably attached to the lower surface 15 of the printer body 2 in a direction in which the angle of the lower surface 15 with respect to the surface direction changes, and rotates about 90 degrees with the hinge 14 as a fulcrum to rotate the lower surface of the printer body 2 by about 90 degrees. The printing unit 3b is exposed and moved together with the printer main body 2 in a state where the printing unit 3b is arranged on the recording medium 100 away from the 15 and is provided at a position facing the lower surface 15 of the printer main body 2. The aiming portion 13 does not have to be entirely formed of a transparent member, and at least the periphery of the opening 13a may be a transparent member.

The aiming unit 13 has an opening (or notch) 13a corresponding to the printing unit 3b, a notch (or opening) 13b corresponding to the wheel 5, and an opening (or notch) 13c corresponding to the position detecting unit 6. Therefore, the functions of the printing unit 3b, the wheel 5, and the position detecting unit 6 are not impaired during printing. At least, the periphery of the opening (or notch) 13a corresponding to the printing portion 3b is formed of a transparent member.

The opening 13a corresponding to the printing portion 3b of the aiming portion 13 is a targeting portion because the periphery of the opening 13a in the aiming portion 13 is a transparent member when the aiming portion 13 is arranged on the recording medium 100 before printing. The recording medium 100 around the opening 13a can be seen through 13. Therefore, the opening 13a of the aiming unit 13 serves as an index indicating the printing start position by the printing unit 3b on the recording medium 100. The aiming unit 13 of the present embodiment has a marker 13d that clearly indicates the printing start position in the moving direction by the printing unit 3b, in addition to the opening 13a corresponding to the printing unit 3b. The marker 13d of the present embodiment is a colored (for example, red) line provided so as to extend the opening 13a corresponding to the printing unit 3b in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction, and is based on the printing unit 3b (nozzle row). Clearly indicate the print start position in the moving direction.

Further, the aiming unit 13 is provided with at least one aiming line 13e extending along the direction in which the printer main body 2 is moved. The aiming portion 13 of the present embodiment is along a single aiming line 13e (indicated by a alternate long and short dash line) passing through the center of the nozzle row of the printing unit 3b and the nozzle row width (W: printing width) of the printing unit 3b. It has two aiming lines 13e (indicated by thin lines), and further has a plurality of non-equidistant parallel aiming lines 13e (indicated by two-dot chain lines), for example, outside the nozzle row width. May be done (see FIG. 4).

By using these aiming lines 13e and setting the aiming portion 13 so that the aiming line 13e and the ruled line 101 or the printing frame 102 of the recording medium 100 are parallel to each other, the aiming portion 13 is set along the ruled line 101 or the printing frame 102. It becomes possible to print.

Here, an example of using the printing apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

When printing an image on the recording medium 100 using the printing device 1, first, the data of the image to be printed is read into the printer main body 2 as print setting data.

Next, as shown in FIG. 6A, the aiming portion 13 is opened about 90 ° with the hinge 14 as a fulcrum and placed on the recording medium 100. Here, the aiming portion 13 with respect to the recording medium 100 is aligned so that the marker 13d is aligned with the printing start position of the recording medium 100 and the aiming line 13e is aligned with the ruled line 101 of the recording medium 100. Adjust the position of.

After the alignment of the aiming unit 13 with respect to the recording medium 100 is completed, the printer main body 2 is raised by about 90 ° with the hinge 14 as a fulcrum while holding the aiming unit 13 and the recording medium 100 so as not to move, and (b) in FIG. ) Indicates that printing can be started. After pressing the print start key 9b in this state, if the printer main body 2 is manually moved in a predetermined movement direction (ruled line direction), the print start position of the recording medium 100 (position aligned with the marker 13d) can be accurately moved. Printing is started, and the image is printed along the ruled line 101. At this time, the aiming portion 13 is provided at a position facing the lower surface 15 of the printer main body 2 and moves together with the printer main body 2.

Although the printing apparatus of the present invention has been described above based on the specific embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned specific embodiment, and various modifications and improvements may be added. It is included in the technical scope of the present invention, which is apparent to those skilled in the art from the description of the scope of claims.

(Modification example)
In the above embodiment, the aiming portion 13 is rotatably attached to the printer main body 2, but is configured to be detachably attached to the printer main body 2 by, for example, a locking tool such as a claw or a magnetic force. You may. Even the aiming unit 13 having such a configuration can be arranged on the recording medium 100 before printing, is located between the printer main body 2 and the recording medium 100 during printing, and is moved together with the printer main body 2. Can be done.

Further, in the above embodiment, since the head portion 3 is a single color printing specification including the printing portion 3b of one color and the printing start position is the same in both the moving direction A and the moving direction B, the marker 13d is set to one. In the case of a color printing specification provided with printing units 3b of a plurality of colors (CMY or CMYK) parallel to each other in the moving direction, the printing start position shifts depending on the moving directions A and B. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, the moving direction It is preferable to provide two (plurality) markers 13d according to A and B. Further, even when the nozzle rows are provided in a plurality of rows, such as in the case of the head portion 3 having a very small nozzle pitch capable of high-definition printing, it is preferable to provide the two markers 13d in the same manner.

In the above embodiment, the printer main body 2 is manually moved, but for example, a drive motor may be connected to the wheel 5 so that the printer main body 2 is automatically moved.

The inventions described in the claims originally attached to the application of this application are described below. The claims described in the appendix are the scope of the claims originally attached to the application for this application.
<Claim 1>
With the printer body
A printing unit provided on one surface of the printer body to print an image on a recording medium, and a printing unit.
The aiming unit provided on the printer body and
Equipped with
The aiming unit is provided at a position facing the one surface of the printer main body and a first state arranged on the recording medium so as to indicate a printing start position by the printing unit with respect to the recording medium. It is provided so as to be switched between the second state of exposing the printed portion and the second state.
A printing device characterized by that.
<Claim 2>
The aiming part is
When in the first state, it indicates the printing start position, and when in the second state, it has an opening or a notch that exposes the printing portion.
At least the perimeter of the opening or notch is made of a transparent member.
The printing apparatus according to claim 1.
<Claim 3>
One end of the aiming portion is rotatably attached to the one surface of the printer body in a direction in which the angle of the one surface with respect to the surface direction changes.
The printing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.
<Claim 4>
The aiming portion further has at least one marker indicating the printing start position.
The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
<Claim 5>
The aiming portion has at least one aiming line extending along the direction in which the printer body is moved.
The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
<Claim 6>
The printing device includes wheels that move the printer body with respect to the recording medium.
The aiming portion is provided at a position corresponding to the wheel and has an opening or notch that exposes the wheel.
The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5.
<Claim 7>
The printing apparatus includes, on the one surface of the printer body, a position detecting unit for detecting the position of the printer body in the recording medium or the amount of movement with respect to the recording medium.
The aiming portion is provided at a position corresponding to the position detecting portion and has an opening or a notch that exposes the position detecting portion.
The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

1 Printing device 2 Printer body 3 Head part, 3a nozzle, 3b Printing part 5 Wheel 6 Position detection part 13 Aiming part, 13a Aperture, 13d Marker, 13e Aiming line 14 Hinge 15 Bottom surface 100 Recording medium, 101 Ruled line, 102 frame

Claims (6)

A printing device that prints an image to be printed on a recording medium part by part as it moves relative to the recording medium.
The first surface of the printer body, which faces the recording medium when printing the image to be printed, is provided so as to be detachable from the first surface and is applied to the recording medium. With the aiming member for confirming the printing position on the recording medium,
A wheel provided on the first surface for ensuring the straightness of relative movement between the printer main body and the recording medium when printing the image to be printed.
Equipped with
The printer main body is configured to be tiltable with respect to the aiming member by rotation about one side of the first surface and one side extending in a direction along the relative movement direction as a rotation axis.
The wheel is configured so that the direction orthogonal to the rotation axis is the rotation axis of the wheel.
A printing device characterized by that. The aiming member is provided with a notch or an opening for avoiding interference with the wheel.
The printing apparatus according to claim 1. The aiming member is formed with a marker indicating a printing start position or an aiming line extending in a direction along the relative movement direction.
The printing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. The aiming member is formed so as to transmit light at least in a part thereof.
The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The wheel is provided at a position biased toward the other side, which is located on the side opposite to the one side.
The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4. With a print head provided on the first surface,
The print head is arranged between the wheel and the one side in a direction orthogonal to the relative moving direction.
The aiming member is provided with an opening or a notch at a position corresponding to the print head.
The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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