JPH04355137A - Printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enhance working efficiency, in a printing system for a car part packing box, by positioning respective printers in opposed relation to a plurality of the printing surfaces of an object to be printed and positioning the respective printers and the printing heads thereof. CONSTITUTION:A packing box W is fed to the center of the frame 10 of a printing system 1 to be set to a predetermined position. Next, printers 100A-100D are moved vertically and horizontally on the basis of the preliminarily inputted data of the packing box W using the vertical moving means and horizontal moving means thereof to be set to the predetermined printing positions of the respective printing surfaces of the packing box W. The respective printers 100A-100D are simultaneously moved to shorten a positioning time. Subsequently, the respective printers 100A-100D are operated by air cylinder actuators to allow the printing heads of the printers to approach the surfaces to be printed to set them to printing start positions. Then, printing is started.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing system, and more particularly to a printing system that performs various types of printing on a plurality of printing surfaces of a printing medium.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art For example, when exporting large automobile parts overseas, the automobile parts are placed in a packaging box, and the name of the car model and part number are written on the outside of the packaging box. Various markings such as etc. are printed. To print the above various markings, name and part number. This is done by applying a template created by punching out letters and numbers corresponding to the number on a sheet material to the outside of the packaging box, and applying paint such as ink using a brush or spray.

0003

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] By the way, in the above-mentioned large packaging box, the above-mentioned various markings are printed on each of the multiple walls of the packaging box so that the contents of the stored items can be easily confirmed from various directions. It is commonly done. However, when printing on a plurality of walls of a packaging box using the above-mentioned templates, the work becomes extremely complicated and requires a long working time. In view of the above-mentioned circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a printing system that can efficiently perform printing operations on a plurality of printing surfaces of a printing object without requiring complicated operations.

0004

[Means for Solving the Problems] Accordingly, the present invention provides a plurality of back and forth moving means for moving a print head and a printing section of the print head in a direction toward and away from the printing surface of a printing medium. The printing devices are arranged to face each of the plurality of printing surfaces that require printing on the printing material, and each printing device is arranged so that the print head of each printing device is located at a printing position on the printing surface. A vertical moving means for moving each printing device in the vertical direction along the printing surface, and a left-right moving means for moving each of the printing devices in the horizontal direction along the printing surface, respectively, were provided.

[0005]

[Operation] According to the above configuration, various operations such as bringing the template into contact with the printing surface are not necessary, and moreover, it is possible to carry out printing work on multiple printing surfaces of the printing object at the same time. .

[0006]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The specific structure of the present invention will be explained in detail below based on the drawings showing one embodiment.

1 to 19, a printing system according to the present invention is installed in a packaging box containing large automobile parts. An example of application to a printing system for applying various markings such as

The above printing system 1 includes a frame 10 installed on the floor so as to straddle the transportation area of the packaging boxes W, and an elevating beam 20 provided on the frame 10 so as to be movable up and down.
A, 20B, 20C, and 20D, and a printing device 100A provided horizontally movably on each of these lifting beams.
, 100B, 100C, and 100D.

The frame 10 consists of columns 2A and 2A, 2C and 2C, which are erected on the floor across the transfer area, and columns 2B, 2B, 2D and 2, which are erected on the side of the transfer area.
D, and fixing beams 3A, 3 are attached to the upper part of each column.
It is configured by connecting each other through B, 3C, and 3D.

The lifting beam 20A is shown in FIGS. 3 to 7.
As shown in FIG.
It is composed of L and 22R. The above lifting beam 20
A is spanned between a pair of columns 2A, 2A with square pipes 21, 21 extending horizontally, and each slide base 23 fixed to each side frame 22L, 22R is connected to each column 2A, 2A. They are slidably fitted into guide rails 24, 24 extending vertically in 2A. Also,
Pinions 27, 27 supported by the lifting beam 20A via a pinion shaft 26 are engaged with the racks 25, 25 extending on the columns 2A, 2A, respectively, and these pinions 27, 27 are connected to the side frames. The elevating beam 20A is driven by a servo motor 28 fixed to the servo motor 22R via a belt transmission mechanism 29, and the elevating beam 20A moves up and down while being guided by the guide rails 24, 24 based on the rotation of the servo motor 28. That is, the lifting beam 20
A, racks 25, 25, pinions 27, 27, servo motor 28, belt transmission mechanism 29, and the like constitute a vertical movement means 200 that moves the printing device 100A up and down. The configurations of the elevating beams 20B, 20C, and 20D are basically the same as the elevating beam 20A described above, so a detailed explanation will be omitted. Also, the lifting beam 2
0B, 20C, and 20D are also provided with left-right moving means having the same configuration as the above-described vertical moving means 200, respectively.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, guide rails 30, 30 extending in the horizontal direction are fixed to the square pipes 21, 21 of the lifting beam 20A. , a slide base 32 fixedly attached to a support frame 31 supporting the printing device 100A is slidably fitted. On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 7, toothed drive pulleys 33 are provided on the side frames 22L and 22R of the lifting beam 20A, respectively.
and a toothed driven pulley 34 are pivotally supported, and both pulleys 3
An endless belt 35 is wound around between 3 and 34, and a part of the endless belt 35 is connected to the printing device 10.
It is fixed to the support frame 31 that supports 0A. The toothed drive pulley 33 is driven by a belt transmission mechanism 37 by a servo motor 36 fixed to the side frame 22L.
The printing device 100A is driven via the guide rail 30 based on the rotation of the servo motor 36.
, 30 and move horizontally. That is, the lifting beam 20A, the toothed drive pulley 33, and the toothed driven pulley 34.
, an endless belt 35, a servo motor 36, a belt transmission mechanism 37, and the like constitute a left-right moving means 300 that moves the printing device 100A in the horizontal direction. Note that the elevating beams 20B, 20C, and 20D are also each provided with a left-right moving means having the same configuration as the left-right moving means 300 described above.

As shown in FIGS. 10 to 13, chain sprockets 40A and 40B are pivotally supported on the upper portions of columns 2A and 2B that are erected adjacent to each other. A chain 42A is tied to an arm 22La protruding from a side frame 22L of the lifting beam 20A, and the other end is tied to a counterweight 41 housed inside the column 2A, thereby forming a balancer mechanism. There is. A similar configuration is adopted on the side frame 22R side (not shown) of the lifting beam 20A, and the above configuration allows the lifting beam 20A to be raised and lowered with a small driving force. In addition, as shown in FIGS. 10 to 13, the chain sprocket 40B has a lifting beam 2.
Arm 22R installed on side frame 22R of 0B
a and a counterweight (not shown) housed in the column 2B.
A similar balancer mechanism is also configured in 0D.

As shown in FIGS. 14 to 17, the printing device 100A includes a dot-type inkjet type print head 101 and an air cylinder actuator (rodless cylinder) 102 as a means for moving the print head back and forth. 101 is supported by the support frame 31 via the actuator 102 described above. The cylinder 102 of the actuator 102 is mounted on the support frame 31.
a is fixedly installed, and guides 103L and 103R are also fixedly installed with the cylinder 102a in between. Guide rod 103L slidingly fitted to the above guide 103L
a, the front end of the cylinder rod 102b in the actuator 102, and the guide rod 1.
The rear end of the cylinder rod 102b and the rear end of the cylinder rod 102b are connected to each other via a base plate 104 and a rear plate 105, respectively. 101a is fixed so as to face the printing surface Wa of the packaging box W (see FIG. 1) as the printing object.

As shown in FIG. 16, the print head 101
A guide roller rod 106, which extends along the forward and backward direction of the print head 101 operated by the actuator 102, is supported by the base plate 104 so as to be freely forward and backward. A roller holder plate 107 is attached to the tip (left end in the figure) of the guide roller rod 106, and a guide roller 109 is pivotally supported on this roller holder plate 107 via roller holders 108, 108. . The above guide roller rod 10
A spring seat 110 is fixed approximately in the center of 6,
The spring seat 110 and the base plate 104
A compression spring 111 is interposed between the two. Further, a stopper 112 is fixed to the rear end (right end in the figure) of the guide roller rod 106.

On the other hand, as clearly shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the roller holder plate 107 is provided with the support frame 3.
Guide 103R and base plate 104 fixed to 1
The guide rod 1 is slidably fitted to the rear plate 105 and the rear plate 105.
The tip of the guide rod 103Ra (left end in the figure) is fixed, and the rear plate 1 is attached to the guide rod 103Ra.
A stopper 113 is fixed to the right side in the figure of 05. Note that the configurations of the printing devices 100B, 100C, and 100D are also basically the same as the above-described printing device 100A, so a detailed explanation will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 19, each of the above-mentioned printing devices 1
Each air cylinder actuator 102 in 00A, 100B, 100C, and 100D is connected to individual electromagnetic switching valves 151A, 151B from one air supply source 150.
, 151C, and 151D, respectively.

[0017] The operation of the printing system 1 will be explained in order below. As shown in FIG. 1, a packaging box W as a printing object is first moved so that its center is aligned with the center of the frame 10 by a transport means (not shown) such as a cart or a floor conveyor, as shown by arrow I in the figure. It is carried into the work area surrounded by the frame 10 in such a manner that the At this time, each printing device 100A, 100B, 100C,
and 100D are connected to the respective lifting beams 20A, 20B, 20C, and 2 so as not to interfere with the packaging box W.
Due to the upward movement of 0D, each elevating beam 20A, 20B, 20C, and 2
They occupy the leftmost position in 0D. Note that the initial position of each printing device described above can be arbitrarily set based on conditions such as the size of the packaging box and the printing position.

The packing box W carried into the work area is kept at a constant position with respect to the frame 10 by a positioning means (not shown), regardless of the size of the packing box. Positioning is performed so that the

When the completion of the positioning work is detected by a detection means (not shown) after the packaging box W is carried in, each of the printing devices 100A, 100B, 100
C and 100D are each vertical movement means 200 and each left and right movement means that operate based on individual data of the packaging box inputted in advance into a controller (not shown) or individual data of the packaging box manually inputted by the operator at the time of delivery. By the cooperative action of 300, it is moved vertically and horizontally along each printing surface, and is transferred to a predetermined printing position on each printing surface. At this time, the printing devices 100A, 100B, 100C, and 100D are
In order to shorten the working time, they are transported simultaneously and in parallel to each other to a predetermined printing position on each printing surface. It should be noted that it is also possible to configure such that the transfer of each of the printing devices is started by an operator's switch operation without using the detection means. Furthermore, depending on the type of packaging box, each printing device 100A, 100B, 100C, and 100D can be arbitrarily selected and moved.

[0020] Each of the above printing devices 100A, 100B, 10
When 0C and 100D are located at predetermined printing positions on each printing surface, the air cylinder actuator 102 in each printing device starts operating. In the state shown in FIG. 18A, the stopper 112 comes into contact with the base frame 104 due to the biasing force of the compression spring 111, so that the guide roller 109 protrudes forward to a greater extent than the inkjet nozzle 101a of the print head 101. At the same time, the guide roller 109 is spaced apart from the printing surface Wa of the packaging box W. When the cylinder rod 102b of the actuator 102 moves to the left, the print head 101 approaches the printing surface W of the packaging box W, and the guide roller 109 comes into contact with the printing surface Wa, as shown in FIG. 18(b).

When the cylinder rod 102b moves further to the left, the print head 10 compresses the compression spring 111.
1 moves to the left, then the stopper 1 moves to the left as shown in FIG. 18(c).
13 comes into contact with the rear plate 105, the leftward movement of the cylinder rod 102b is restricted, and the print head 101 starts printing with a predetermined printing distance T between the inkjet nozzle 101a and the printing surface Wa. positioned in position.

When the positioning of the print head 101 to the printing start position is completed, the print head 101 is moved in the horizontal direction and ejects ink to form a desired character pattern on the printing surface based on the individual data of the packaging box. Print on Wa. At this time, due to the action of the guide roller 109, stopper 113, etc., the inkjet nozzle 1
The distance between 01a and the printing surface Wa is always maintained at a predetermined printing distance T.

When the printing operation for the first line is completed, the print head 101 is moved as shown in FIG. 18 by the operation of the actuator 102.
After being separated from the printing surface Wa as shown in (a), it is moved to the printing start position of the second line in the same manner as described above, and then printing of the second line is executed. Thereafter, the above-described printing operation is repeatedly executed for a predetermined number of printing lines, thereby completing the printing operation.

[0024] When the printing work is completed, each of the above printing devices 1
00A, 100B, 100C, and 100D each return to the above-mentioned initial position and stop, and then the packaging box W is moved to the frame 10 by a floor conveyor (not shown) or the like as shown by arrow O in FIG. will be removed from. Thereafter, based on the above-described operations, printing operations are performed on subsequent packaging boxes one after another.

It goes without saying that the printing system according to the present invention can be effectively applied not only to the packaging box shown in the embodiment, but also to various printing systems for various printing objects.

[0026]

As described above in detail, according to the printing system according to the present invention, the printing head and the printing portion of the printing head are moved in the direction toward and away from the printing surface of the printing object. a plurality of printing devices having a moving means;
Each printing device is arranged to face a plurality of printing surfaces that require printing on the printing material, and each printing device is placed on each printing surface so that the print head of each printing device occupies the printing position on the printing surface. The present invention includes a vertical movement means for moving the above-mentioned printing devices in the vertical direction along the printing surface, and a left-right movement means for moving each of the printing devices in the horizontal direction along the printing surface. In addition, it is possible to perform printing on multiple printing surfaces of a printing medium at the same time without the need for various operations. It becomes possible to perform printing work efficiently on the surface.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

[Fig. 1] Conceptual overall perspective view of a printing system related to the present invention

[Figure 2] Overall plan view of the printing system

[Figure 3] Side view of main parts showing a means for moving the printing device in the printing system

[Fig. 4] Side view of main parts showing a means for moving the printing device in the printing system

[Fig. 5] Cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in Fig. 4

[Fig. 6] Side view of main parts showing a means for moving the printing device in the printing system

[Figure 7] Cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in Figure 6

FIG. 8 is a side view of main parts showing a printing device of the printing system and a means for moving the printing device.

FIG. 9 is a front view of main parts showing a printing device of the printing system and a means for moving the printing device.

[Figure 10] Side view of main parts showing the balancer mechanism of the printing system

[Fig. 11] Cross-sectional view taken along line C-C in Fig. 10

[Figure 12] Plan view of main parts showing the balancer mechanism of the printing system

[Figure 13] Side view of main parts showing the balancer mechanism of the printing system

[Fig. 14] Cross-sectional side view showing the printing device of the printing system.

[
Figure 15: Overall plan view showing the printing device of the printing system

[Fig. 16] Cross-sectional view taken along line DD in Fig. 14

[Figure 17] Overall front view showing the printing device of the printing system

[
Figure 18: (a), (b), and (c) are conceptual diagrams showing the operation mode of the printing device.

[Figure 19] Air circuit diagram for driving the air cylinder actuator in the printing device of the printing system

[Explanation of symbols]

1...Printing system 10...Frame 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D...Elevating beam 100A
, 100B, 100C, 100D...Printing device 101...Print head 101a...Inkjet nozzle (printing part) 102...Cylinder actuator (back and forth moving means) 200...Vertical moving means 300...Left and right moving means W...Packaging box (printed object) Wa …Printed surface

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A print head, and a back-and-forth moving means for moving a printing portion of the print head in a direction toward and away from a print surface of a print object, the plurality of objects on which printing is required on the print object. A plurality of printing devices are arranged facing each other on the printing surface, and each of the printing devices is placed on the printing surface so that the print head of each of the printing devices can occupy the printing position on the printing surface. a vertical moving means for moving the print head in each of the above printing devices in the vertical direction along the
A printing system comprising: horizontal movement means for moving each of the printing devices horizontally along the printing surface so as to occupy a printing position on the printing surface.