JPH0565538U - Inkjet printer - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] The present invention relates to an ink jet type printing apparatus for printing on the surface of a three-dimensional printing object such as a cardboard box.
It is an object of the present invention to realize a printing device having a simple structure, which has a mechanism for keeping the distance between a print object and a print head constant. [Structure] A print head base 2 is provided with a print head 4 in which nozzles for ejecting ink are arranged and a rotatable roller 5. The surface of the roller 5 is arranged so as to protrude from the surface of the print head 4 toward the box body. The position of the roller 5 is located on the upper side of the position of the print head 4, and is arranged so as to come into contact with the box A first.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to an ink jet type printing apparatus that prints on the surface of a three-dimensional printing target such as a cardboard box and a craft bag.

[0002]

[Prior Art]

 In the past, an ink jet type print head was placed at a position slightly separated from the surface of a cardboard box or the like being transferred for printing.

[0003]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 However, since the surface of the printing object has irregularities, it is difficult to keep the distance between the print head and the surface of the printing object constant, and therefore the distance fluctuates. There is no problem if the gap between the print head and the surface of the print object is a certain distance, but if the distance between the print head and the surface of the print object is too large, the ink ejected from each nozzle may spread. If the print head and the surface of the print object come into contact with each other, the ink sprayed from each nozzle onto the print object will be rubbed by the print head surface before it dries. There is a problem that a line is drawn and it becomes difficult to see.

[0006] Therefore, in order to keep the distance to the printing object constant, manual adjustment is inefficient in working efficiency. Therefore, it is possible to control by combining a distance sensor and a servo mechanism, but it is complicated and complicated. It is not practical because it costs too much. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to realize a printing device having a simple structure, which has a mechanism for keeping the distance between the print object and the print head constant.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 Therefore, in the inkjet printing apparatus according to the present invention, a roller that can rotate while contacting the printing object is made to protrude from the surface of the printing head to the printing object side at the mounting portion of the inkjet printing head. I took the measure to establish it.

[0006]

[Action]

 In the present invention, a roller capable of rotating while being in contact with the object to be printed is provided at the mounting portion of the ink jet type print head so as to project from the surface of the print head toward the object to be printed. Since it rotates while contacting with, the distance between the mounting portion of the ink jet type print head and the printing object is kept constant.

Since the roller rotates while contacting the print target at a position protruding from the print head, the print head holds the position apart from the print target by a predetermined distance, Scan the surface.

[0008]

【Example】

 Hereinafter, an inkjet printing apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings showing an embodiment thereof. FIG. 1 is a plan view of an ink jet printer of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the same.

In the drawings, a box A as an object to be printed is carried on a base B by a carrying device (not shown) such as a conveyor. The print head base 2 is driven into and out of the box A by an air driven retractable cylinder 6.

The print head base 2 is provided with a print head 4 in which nozzles for ejecting ink are arranged and a rotatable roller 5. The surface of the roller 5 is arranged so as to protrude from the surface of the print head 4 toward the box side. The roller 5 is located on the upper side of the position of the print head 4 and is arranged so as to come into contact with the box A first. The print head 4 is connected to a print control unit (not shown) and is controlled to print a predetermined character or graphic on the surface of the box A.

In the ink jet type printing apparatus configured as described above, when the conveyed box A is detected by an optical sensor or the like, the print head 2 is extended to the box A side by the retracting cylinder 6. The roller 5 is brought into contact with the box A. Since the print head base 2 is pressed toward the box A by the retracting cylinder 6, the box A is kept in a state where the gap between the print head 4 and the surface of the box A is kept constant. It passes in front of the print head 4. That is, the print head 4 scans the surface of the box A.

During this time, printing is performed by ejecting ink droplets from a predetermined nozzle of the print head 4 at a predetermined timing. At this time, the printing start timing is a predetermined time after the contact of the roller 5 with the box A is detected by a mechanical means such as a limit switch or an optical means such as a photo sensor. Alternatively, it may be based on the timing at which the position of the box A is detected by an optical sensor or the like.

By adjusting these timings, the horizontal direction of the print position can be freely set.

When the data to be printed cannot be printed by a single scan of the print head 4 or when printing is performed over a plurality of lines, the data is printed once from the box A by the retractable cylinder 6. Then, the height of the print head 4 can be changed by the vertical movement cylinder, and the print head 4 can be returned to the original position and scanned in the same direction or in the opposite direction, and then fed out by the retractable cylinder 6 to print again. It is possible.

Further, when it is necessary to change the height to be printed depending on the type of the box A, it is possible to print at a desired height by controlling the vertical movement cylinder. In this way, the print position can be freely set in the vertical direction. Then, when printing is completed, the print head 2 is separated from the box A by the retractable cylinder 6.

Further, the height to be printed may be adjusted by a manual screw screw or the like.

In this way, according to this ink jet printing apparatus, the roller 5 keeps the gap between the box A and the print head 4 constant, so that the print is distorted and the ink is rubbed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the print from being difficult to see, and it is possible to obtain the effect that it is possible to stabilize high-quality print.

The roller 5 is not limited to the upper side of the print head 4, and may be arranged on the upper side or the lower side, or on the lower side of the print head 4. However, when it is arranged on the lower side, the shape of the roll may be changed so as not to rub the printed ink. Further, it is possible to use a guide plate, a belt or the like instead of the roller 5. Multiple print heads may be installed at different heights.

In this embodiment, the printing is performed on the side surface of the box, but the printing may be performed on the top or bottom of the box. Further, the vertically moving cylinder 3 and the retractable cylinder 6 are not always necessary. For example, a biasing means can be used instead of the retractable cylinder 6.

Further, although the box is configured to move, the print head base 2 may be configured to move with respect to the box that is being stopped. In any case, the print head 4 and the print head 4 may scan the surface of the box A by moving them relative to each other. The technique of the present invention is not limited to the ink jet type printing device, but can be widely applied to a technical field such as a water jet type cutter that needs to keep a constant distance from an object. ..

[0021]

[Effect of the device]

 In the ink jet printer of the present invention, the roller keeps the gap between the print object and the print head constant, so that the print can be prevented from being distorted, and the print can be prevented from being rubbed so that the print becomes difficult to see. The effect is that high-quality printing can be made stable.

Moreover, since the above-described effects can be obtained with a simple structure using only rollers, the above-described excellent inkjet printing apparatus can be provided at low cost.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an inkjet printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main part of the apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A Box (printing object) 2 Print head base 4 Print head 5 Roller

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. An ink jet printing method, comprising: a mounting portion of an ink jet printing head, wherein a roller capable of rotating while being in contact with a printing object is provided so as to project from a surface of the printing head toward a printing object side. apparatus.