JPH11138848A - Image-forming and cutting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To discharge idly from an ink-jet head when a pause time of the ink-jet head is over a fixed time, thereby preventing a printing failure, by arrang ing a cap device to the ink-jet head to protect a nozzle face of the ink-jet head. SOLUTION: A slider 31 is mounted to an upper end of a coil spring 54 which has a lower end fixed to a base 50, inclined towards a print area and set to be slightly buckled to a non-print area (frame 7). At the non-cap time, the slider 31 is urged to the print area by the coil spring 54 while one end of the slider is regulated by a lowest end of an inclined face 46b of a guide member 46 and a central part is regulated by a lever 32, thereby maintaining a position whereat a gap (g) suitable for idle discharge can be formed, without bringing cap members 33, 34 in touch with heads 2a, 2b. When the cap is not fitted (at the idle discharge time), the ink discharged idly by a suction action of a tube pump is discharged outside of the cap members 33, 34.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image creating and clipping device, and more particularly to an image creating and clipping device capable of creating a desired image and clipping a desired image based on image data. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an image such as a character, a figure or a symbol is formed on a sheet such as paper or a marking film based on image data output from a host computer, which is operated under the control of a microcomputer. 2. Description of the Related Art There is known a cutting plotter (image creating and clipping apparatus) for printing and then cutting out an image such as a character, a figure or a symbol from the sheet.

As such a conventional cutting plotter, for example, a printer head controlled by an output signal from a data processing unit and a printer head are controlled independently as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 5-76743. There has been proposed an image creating and clipping apparatus in which a cutting head is integrated into the apparatus.

As shown in FIG. 8, an image forming and cutting apparatus 100 disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 5-76743 has an ink jet printer and a guide rail 102 provided along a platen 101. A head (ink-jet head) 103 is movably installed, and a guide rail 104 provided in parallel with the guide rail 102 at a constant interval.
In addition, a cutting head 105 having a cutter is movably installed.

In the above arrangement, the image input to the input unit 106 is moved by moving the ink jet head 103 up and down while moving the sheet P placed on the platen 101 left and right in FIG. An image based on the data is created by an inkjet head.

The cutter of the cutting head 105 is mounted so as to be substantially perpendicular to the peripheral surface of the platen 101. When the cutter is in contact with the sheet P, the sheet P is moved in the left-right direction. By moving the cutting head 105 in the vertical direction while moving, the sheet P can be cut out based on the image data input to the input unit 106.

As described above, after an image is formed on the sheet P by the ink-jet head, the contour of the formed image is cut out by the cutter of the cutting head, whereby a sign sheet or the like can be formed. .

[0008] However, in the above-mentioned conventional image forming and clipping apparatus, two parallel guides and guides are used.
The inkjet head and the cutting head are movably arranged on the rail, and the inkjet head and the cutting head are moved by different driving devices. In addition, there is a problem that the cost increases. In addition, since the ink jet head and the cutting head are arranged so as to be parallel to each other, a short sheet such as an end portion of a wound sheet cannot be used, and there is a problem that the sheet is wasted. .

As an image creation and clipping device which solves this problem, an image creation and clipping device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 7-256960 has been proposed.

The outline of this apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. 1. An image forming and cutting apparatus 1 comprises one guide rail 4 for movably supporting an ink jet head 2 and a cutting head 3; A drive unit that controls movement of one of the inkjet head 2 and the cutting head 3 based on the image data;
A connection portion for connecting the ink jet head 2 and the cutting head 3 so as to be separable;

With such a configuration, the cutting head 3 and the ink jet head 2 are movably supported by one guide rail 4, and the connecting portion connects the cutting head 3 and the ink jet head 2.
When the head 2 is connected, the movement of both the cutting head 3 and the inkjet head 2 is controlled by a single drive unit that controls the movement of only either the cutting head 3 or the inkjet head 2. You.

Therefore, in such an image forming and cutting apparatus, the ink jet head 2 and the cutting head 3 are mounted on one guide rail 4, and the ink jet head 2 and the cutting head 3 are connected to each other. Since the movement is controlled by one drive unit, the structure is simplified and the cost can be significantly reduced. Further, since the ink jet head 2 and the cutting head 3 are mounted on one guide rail 4, a short sheet such as the end portion of a wound sheet can be used, and the sheet is not wasted.

[0013]

The ink-jet head is suitable for an image forming and clipping apparatus because it has relatively low noise at the time of printing and can form small dots at a high density. Widely used in equipment.

This ink jet head forms dots by discharging ink pressurized in a pressure generating chamber in the head as ink droplets from nozzles facing the sheet onto the sheet. For this reason, in order to improve the print quality, it is necessary to prevent bleeding on the sheet, and the ratio of the ink solvent is reduced as much as possible, and a material which easily evaporates is used.

Therefore, when the operation of the cutting head 3 is performed for a long time (when the suspension of the ink jet head 2 is performed for a long time), the ink solvent evaporates from the nozzle openings, the viscosity of the ink is increased, and printing is performed. When restarted, there was a technical problem of causing printing failure.

During the operation of the cutting head 3,
The ink jet head 2 is located at the upper end or the lower end in FIG. 8, and is located at the right end or the left end in FIG. 1, and is retracted. There is a technical problem that the ink may adhere to the nozzle opening of the second nozzle, which results in defective ink ejection.

Further, during operation of the cutting head 3,
The cut sheet touches the surface (nozzle surface) of the inkjet head 2 where the nozzle openings are formed, and the sheet is
There is a technical problem that the product may be soiled, resulting in a defective product.

The present invention has been made to solve the above technical problem. During the operation of the cutting head, the nozzle surface of the ink jet head is protected by covering the nozzle surface with a cap device so that paper dust adheres. It is another object of the present invention to provide an image forming and clipping apparatus which prevents ink ejection failure and sheet contamination, and thereby prevents product deterioration.

Further, in order to prevent a printing failure, there is provided an image forming and clipping apparatus in which the idle discharge of ink is performed from the ink jet head when a certain period of time has elapsed for the ink jet head. Aim.

[0020]

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming and cutting apparatus which is capable of moving on an ink jet head for discharging ink and a guide rail on which the ink jet head is mounted. Head carriage, a cutter capable of cutting out an image printed by the head, and the cutter
An image forming and cutting apparatus having at least a cutter carriage movable on a guide rail having a cap mounted thereon, wherein a cap device attached to the ink jet head is provided to protect a nozzle surface of the ink jet head. It is a feature.

Here, while the cutter cuts out an image printed by the ink jet head, the cap device is mounted in close contact with the ink jet head to protect the nozzle surface of the ink jet head, It is desirable to prevent the evaporation of the ink from the nozzle opening. In addition, it is preferable that when the ejection of the ink from the inkjet head is stopped for a predetermined time, the cap device is configured to perform the idle ejection of the ink to the cap device.

Further, the head carriage on which the ink jet head is mounted and the cutter carriage on which the cutter is mounted are formed as separate bodies, and are formed so as to be slidable on different guide rails. Desirably, a head carriage on which the ink jet head is mounted and a cutter carriage on which the cutter is mounted are integrally formed and slidably formed on the same guide rail. Further, a head carriage equipped with the inkjet head,
It is preferable that the cutter carriage on which the cutter is mounted is formed so as to be separable and slidable on the same guide rail.

Further, a head carriage on which the ink jet head is mounted and a cutter carriage on which the cutter is mounted are formed so as to be separable and slidable on the same guide rail. When the cutter cuts out the image printed by the ink jet head, it is preferable that the head carriage and the cutter carriage are separated, and the ink jet head is placed in a standby position in a state sealed by a cap device.

As described above, since the ink jet head of the image forming and cutting apparatus according to the present invention is protected by the cap device, paper dust generated at the time of sheet cutting adheres to the nozzle openings of the ink jet head. Therefore, it is possible to prevent ink ejection failure due to the above. Further, the cut sheet does not touch the nozzle surface and does not contaminate the sheet, thereby preventing the product from becoming defective.

Further, while the cutter is cutting out an image, the cap device is mounted in close contact with the ink jet head, so that the ink can be prevented from volatilizing from the nozzle openings, and printing can be performed. When resuming, good printing can be performed.

Further, when the ink ejection from the ink jet head is paused for a predetermined time, the ink is ejected to the cap device idle, so that good printing can be performed. Can be.

Further, the head carriage on which the ink jet head is mounted and the cutter carriage on which the cutter is mounted are integrally formed and slidable on the same guide rail, or If the head carriage on which the ink jet head is mounted and the cutter carriage on which the cutter is mounted are formed to be separable and slidable on the same guide rail, the structure of the apparatus will be described. And the inkjet head and cutting head are mounted on a single guide rail, allowing the use of shorter sheets such as the end of a wound sheet. In addition, waste of sheets can be prevented.

[0028]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an image creating and clipping apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 1 is used in the description of the prior art,
Since the range shown in FIG. 1 is the same as the embodiment of the present invention, it will be used for describing the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front view showing a connected state of the ink jet head and the cutting head in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a front view showing a separated state of the ink jet head and the cutting head in FIG.

The image forming and clipping apparatus 1 mainly controls a main unit 5 to which a signal of image data is input from a host computer (not shown), and controls the overall operation and instructs various processes. Operating panel 6, an inkjet head 2 and a cutting head 3 as output units, a platen (not shown) for feeding a sheet P such as a single sheet or a long rolled sheet in the X direction, and rotating the platen And a stepping motor (not shown).

The ink jet head 2 and the cutting head 3 are mounted on carriages 10 and 12,
The carriages 10, 12 are supported by both side frames 7, 7 serving as a fixing system member of the image forming and cutting apparatus 1, and are disposed at right angles to the traveling direction of the sheet P.
It is formed movably in the Y direction along the rail 4.

The operation panel 6 has a display section 6a for displaying an operation state, and cursor keys 6 for designating the positions of the ink jet head 2 and the cutting head 3.
b, a start area setting key 6c for designating an area of a predetermined portion where image creation or clipping is to be started based on a signal of image data, and creation or clipping of an image from the set start area is started Start key 6 for
d etc. are provided.

The sheet P is wound around a platen via a sheet feed roller 9 installed on the upper surface of the base 8, and is fed in the X direction by rotation of a stepping motor.

As described above, the ink jet head 2 is mounted on the carriage 10, and the upper and lower portions of the carriage 10 are slidably mounted on the guide rail 4 via the guide rollers 11, 11. . The cutting head 3 is installed on a carriage 12, and the upper and lower sides of the carriage 12 are guide rollers 13,
13 slidably mounted on the guide rail 4.

That is, the ink jet head 2 is shown in FIG.
Cutting on the guide rail 4 as shown in
The magnet 14 fixed to the left side wall of the carriage 10 on which the inkjet head 2 is installed, and the cutting head 3 are installed side by side so as to be located on the side of the head 3 (the right side in FIG. 2). The magnet 15 is fixed to the right side wall of the carriage 12 so that the two can be connected or disconnected as appropriate.
The magnet 14 and the magnet 15 form a connecting portion.

A hook 19 is fixed to the right side wall opposite to the carriage 10 to which the magnet 14 is fixed, and the hook 19 is used for the image forming and cutting device 1.
Is engaged with and disengaged from an engaging hook 20 fixed to the side frame 7 side. The engagement / disengagement operation between the hook 19 and the engagement hook 20 is performed by operation keys provided on the operation panel 6, and as shown in FIG. The holding force of the engaged locked state is set to be stronger than the attraction force between the magnet 14 and the magnet 15 that connect the inkjet head 2 and the cutting head 3. In addition, the hook 19 and the engagement hook 20
A locking portion is configured.

Here, the ink jet head 2 installed on the carriage 10 will be described.

First, a plurality of ink jet nozzle openings are formed on the lower surface (nozzle surface) of the ink jet head 2. In this embodiment, as shown in the figure, four ink cartridges 2c of yellow, magenta, and cyan are used as black printing ink and color ink.
Is installed, and ink-jet and
A nozzle opening is provided. In the following description, the nozzle opening for discharging the black printing ink is referred to as a first nozzle.
And the nozzle opening for discharging color ink is referred to as a second head 2b.

An ink jet nozzle opening is selected based on a signal of image data, so that a desired color image can be formed on the surface of the sheet P. When the image is formed in a single color, for example, only the first head 2a having the nozzle opening for discharging the black printing ink can be used.

Next, a cap device for protecting the ink jet head 2 will be described with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 3, the cap device 30 is disposed below the ink jet head 2, and moves the slider 31 and the lever-3 in accordance with the movement of the carriage 10.
The cap members 33 and 34 provided on the slider 31 are raised by the rotation of the slider 2, and are configured to be mounted on the inkjet head 2.

This cap device will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the cap device, and shows a state in which the cap device is viewed from the inkjet head 2 side. In this figure, the slider 31 occupying two positions, a capping position covering the nozzle surfaces of the two heads 2a and 2b in conjunction with the movement of the carriage 10 and a non-capping position away from the nozzle surface, is provided with a cup made of an elastic material. First cap member 3 formed in a shape
Third, a second cap member 34 is provided. These cap members 33 and 34 can seal the corresponding first head 2a and second head 2b respectively, and reliably remove ink droplets ejected from each head 2a and 2b in a separated state. The opening area that can be received is set.

As shown in FIG. 4, the first and second cap members 33 and 34 have their suction ports 33a and 34a connected to one ends of tubes 37 and 38 which constitute a part of pumps 35 and 36, respectively. It is designed to receive suction.

First and second tube pumps 35 and 36
Is connected to a pulse motor (not shown) so that only the first tube pump 38 performs a suction operation when the motor rotates in the reverse direction, and only the second tube pump 37 performs a suction operation when the motor rotates in the forward direction.

FIG. 5 shows a side view of the carriage and cap device 30. As shown in this figure, the slider 31 moves the first and second cap members 33 and 34 in accordance with the distance between the two heads 2 a and 2 b mounted on the carriage 10.
It is provided so as to be swingable by the shafts 39a and 39b.

Reference numerals 41 and 42 in the figure denote first and second guide pieces, which are arranged on both sides in accordance with the width of the first and second heads 2a and 2b of the carriage 10, and set the carriage 10 at a predetermined position. In this case, the heads 2a, 2b are spaced apart from each other. At the tip of the slider 31, at the right end in the figure, the carriage 10 has first and second carriages.
Cap members 33, 34 and first and second heads 2a, 2a, 2
b, the engaging member 45 is provided at the tip further than the flag piece 44 abutting on the protrusion 43 at the lower end of the carriage 10, and the guide member 46 attached to the base 50 is provided. Abuts and separates.

The guide member 46 has a convex portion 46a for preventing the slider 31 from coming off, and the slider 31
The lower end of 2b and a flat surface 46b forming a constant gap g suitable for idle discharge, and the cap members 33 and 34 are connected to the heads 2a and 2b.
A plane 46c that forms a position that makes elastic contact with b and a slope 46d that connects these planes are formed.

On the other hand, the slider 31 is provided with a shaft 51 orthogonal to the moving direction of the carriage 10 in the center of the lower part, and the lower end of the shaft 51 is connected to the shaft 53 of the base 50 via the long groove 32a. Lever that is swingably attached to
32. The slider 31 is attached to the upper end of a coil spring 54 whose lower end is fixed to the base 50 and inclined toward the printing area and set to buckle toward the non-printing area (toward the frame 7).

As shown in FIG. 6, during the non-capping operation, the slider 31 has one end positioned at the lowermost end of the inclined surface 46b of the guide member 46 and the center portion controlled by the lever 32. , The cap member 33, 34 can be maintained at a position where the gap g suitable for the idle discharge can be formed without contacting the heads 2a, 2b. At the time of non-capping (during empty discharge), the above-described tube pumps 35, 36
The ink ejected idle by the suction operation of the cap member 3
It is discharged to outside of 34.

The slider 31 is provided with a valve unit 60 on the frame 7 side, which is connected to the atmosphere opening ports 33b and 34b (shown in FIG. 4) provided in the cap members 33 and 34, respectively. An operating punch 61 projects from the valve unit 60.

Thus, as shown in FIG. 5, by moving the slider 31 to the capping position, the operating punch 61 is brought into elastic contact with the frame 7 to close the valve unit 60 which is always open. Thereby, the air opening ports 33b and 34b can be closed, and the evaporation of the ink solvent can be prevented.

Next, since the cutting head 3 mounted on the carriage 12 is not different from the conventional one, the outline thereof will be described. As shown in FIGS. Blade 74
and a rear part 6 of said cutter 74
The cutter 74 is configured to be vertically movable with respect to the carriage base 12a.

Although not shown, the cutting head 3 is provided with a height detector, and the cutter 74 is moved downward by activating the actuator 72 from the stopped state. The blade 74a can be brought into contact with the surface of the sheet 20.
Here, the cutter blade 74a is of a swivel knife type, a rotary type, or the like, and an ordinary cutter, an ultrasonic cutter, a heat cutter by heat, or the like can be used.

The order and combination of the operations performed by the image creating and clipping device 1 are not limited to the embodiment described in this specification, and can be appropriately selected according to the situation. The moving speed of the carriages 10 and 12 corresponding to each output can be selected and set.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a method for controlling an image creation and clipping operation in the image creation and clipping device 1 according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the block diagram shown in FIG.

The movement of the platen and the sheet feed roller 9 of the image forming and cutting device 1 is controlled by an X motor 80 to move the sheet P wound around the platen in the X direction along the upper surface of the base 8 and to move the Y motor. 8
2, the carriage 12 on which the cutting head 18 is installed is moved in the Y direction along the guide rail 4. In addition, the carriage 12
An actuator 72 for moving up / down in the direction is provided.

First, the overall operation of the image creating and clipping apparatus 1 is controlled by a signal of image data output from the microcomputer 86 upon receiving a data signal from the host computer 84.

Therefore, when a desired image is to be formed on the sheet P, the magnet 14 and the magnet 15 are attracted to the carriage 12 on which the cutting head 3 is installed.
Carriage 10 having an ink jet head 2 installed thereon
Are connected so that movement is controlled integrally.

On the other hand, when cutting out the outline or the like of the image created by the inkjet head 2, the magnet 14 and the magnet 15 are separated from each other,
From the carriage 12 on which the head 3 is installed to the carriage 10
The hook 19 of the carriage 10 is engaged with the engaging hook 20 fixed to the side frame 7 side of the image forming and cutting apparatus 1 so that only the carriage 12 on which the cutting head 3 is installed can be controlled to move. To do.

The microcomputer 86 has a central processing unit (CPU) 88a and a read-only memory (ROM) 8 storing programs to be executed by the CPU 88a.
8b and a random access memory (RAM) 88c as a working area in which a buffer memory for temporarily storing a data signal from the host computer 84 and various registers required when executing a program by the CPU 88a are set. It is configured.

The central processing unit (CPU) 88a has a time measuring means, and the first head 2a,
The second head 2b is configured to reset when the idle discharge is performed and to measure a period until the next idle discharge is performed. In a read-only memory (ROM) 88b, a time T between idle discharges of a recording head having a relatively high degree of ink drying, in this embodiment, the first head 2a is stored.
_1, the number of ink droplets to be ejected, but also stores the time T ₂ of the inter-spit in the degree of drying of the ink relatively small second head 2b, and the number of ink droplets to be ejected configuration Have been.

The CPU 88a is connected to the CPU 88a via a bus.
X motor 80, Y motor 82 and actuator 72
Drivers 90a and 90 respectively performing on / off control of
b, 90c, a driver 90e for controlling the inkjet head 16, and an operation panel 6 on which switches for turning on / off the power and various operation keys are arranged.

Therefore, the first and second heads 2a,
If 2b is idle, the central processing unit (CPU) 8
By 8a, the Y motor 82 is controlled to face the cap members 33 and 34.

In the embodiment of the above control method,
X motor 80, Y motor 82 and actuator 72
Describes a case where a stepping motor is used, but it is also possible to use a servo motor. In this case, the X motor 80, the Y motor 82 and the actuator 72 are respectively provided with encoders 92a and 9a.
2b and the height detector 76, and connect the X motor 80, Y
The state of the motor 82 and the actuator 72 is always detectable, and the position of the carriage 10 with respect to the sheet P is always readably stored in the RAM 88c via the CPU 88a. Such an encoder 92
a, 92b and height detector 76
Regardless of the ON / OFF state of the motor 82 and the actuator 72, the states of the X motor 80, the Y motor 82, and the actuator 72 can always be detected.

In the above configuration, the magnet 14 and the magnet 15 are attracted to each other so that the cutting head 3
Head 2 on the carriage 12 on which the
In the state where the carriage 10 with
To create a desired image on the sheet P, the signal of the image data output from the host
The data is read and stored in the buffer memory of M88c.

Then, the CPU 88a sequentially reads out the image data from the RAM 88c, controls the drivers 90a, 90b and 90e according to the read out image data to drive the X motor 80 and the Y motor 82, and is installed on the ink jet head 2. An ink jet nozzle opening is selected, and ink is ejected from the selected ink jet nozzle opening to form a desired image on the surface of the sheet P.

During this printing operation, the time is measured by the timing means of the CPU 88a.
The carriage 10 is moved by the driving force of the motor to the cap device 3.
Move to zero. Then, the convex piece 43 provided at the tip of the carriage 10 contacts the flag piece 44 of the slider 31, and the first and second heads 2a, 2b of the carriage 1
Is a constant gap g between the first and second cap members 31 and 32.
Oppose each other.

In this state, the driver 90e is driven based on a command from the CPU 88a, and the time T between predetermined idle discharges is determined based on the data stored in the read only memory (ROM) 88b. _1, idle discharge of a predetermined ink droplets T ₂ is made.

The pulse motor is driven based on a command from the CPU 88a, and the ink discharged from the cap device is sucked by the first tube pumps 35 and 36 and discharged to the outside.

It should be noted that the first tube pumps 35 and 36
One of them is selectively operated by a pulse motor. This is because the types of inks, for example, the black ink and the color ink, have different degrees of drying, so that the time intervals for performing the idle discharge are different, and it is rare that both inks are discharged at the same time. This is because it is configured so that ink can be discharged by the printer.

When the end of the ink ejection operation is detected by the CPU 88a, the heads 2a and 2b
0 and moves to a print standby position close to
Resets the time measurement means inside and restarts time measurement. Next, the first and second heads 2a and 2b wait for input of print data, and when the print data is input, printing is restarted.

In the case of cutting out the outline of an image or the like created by the ink jet head 2, the carriage 10 is moved further to the right (toward the frame 7) than in the case of the above-mentioned idle discharge of ink. Thus, the slider 31 is moved to the capping position, and the cap members 33 and 34 are mounted so as to be in close contact with the first and second heads 2a and 2b. At this time, the operating punch 61 is
The valve unit 60 which is in elastic contact with the
Is closed, and the atmosphere opening ports 33b and 34b are closed.
As a result, the ink jet head 2 (first, second
The nozzle surfaces of the heads 2a and 2b) are protected by the cap device, so that the sheet P does not touch and paper dust does not adhere. Further, the ink jet head 2 (first,
Since the nozzle surfaces of the second heads 2a and 2b) are placed in a space closed by the cap member, the evaporation of the ink solvent can be prevented.

In this state, the hook 19 of the carriage 10 of the ink jet head 2 is connected to the engaging hook 20 of the side frame 7 of the image forming and cutting apparatus 1.
To fix the carriage 10 of the inkjet head 2 to the side frame 7.

Thereafter, the carriage 12 on which the cutting head 3 is installed is moved to the left in FIG.
By separating the magnet 14 and the magnet 15, the carriage 10 on which the inkjet head 2 is installed is separated from the carriage 12 on which the cutting head 3 is installed.

Then, the CPU 88a sequentially reads out the cutting data from the RAM 88c, and according to the read out cutting data, the drivers 90a, 90b, 90c.
Is controlled to drive the X motor 80, the Y motor 82 and the actuator 72, and the sheet P is cut by the cutter 74 gripped by the cutting head 3.

As described above, according to the present invention, during the cutting operation by the cutting head 3, since the ink jet head 2 is protected and sealed by the cap device, paper dust is deposited on the surface of the ink jet head 2. The ink can be prevented from drying without being attached.

Further, every time a predetermined time elapses, the ink is ejected from the ink jet head 2 at idle. Therefore, the ink can be maintained in the best condition, and good printing can be performed.

The present invention relates to the ink jet head 103 and the cutting head 10 described in the prior art.
5 can of course also be applied to image forming and clipping devices mounted on different guide rails.

The head carriage 10 on which the ink jet head 2 is mounted and the cutter carriage 12 on which the cutter 74 is mounted are integrally formed so as to be slidable on the same guide rail 4. The present invention can also be applied to an image creation and clipping device. In this case, while the contour of the printed image or the like is being cut out, the cutting operation is temporarily stopped at predetermined time intervals, and the operation of idly discharging the ink volatilized from the nozzles to the cap device is repeated. As a result, good printing can be performed even when printing is restarted.

Further, as described above, the ink jet head for forming an image and the cutting head 3 for cutting out an image contour and the like are mounted on one guide rail, and the ink jet head and the cutting head are the same. When applied to an image creation and clipping device that is controlled to be moved by a drive device, the structure of the device can be simplified, significant cost reduction can be achieved, and a short sheet such as an end portion of a wound sheet can be used. And waste of sheets can be prevented.

[0081]

As described above, in the image forming and cutting apparatus according to the present invention, since the ink jet head is protected by the cap device, paper dust generated at the time of sheet cutting is applied to the nozzle opening of the ink jet head. It is possible to prevent the ink from being inferiorly attached, and to prevent ink ejection failure due to the adhesion. Further, the cut sheet does not touch the nozzle surface and does not contaminate the sheet, thereby preventing the product from becoming defective.

Further, while the cutter is cutting out an image, the cap device is mounted in close contact with the ink jet head, so that the ink can be prevented from volatilizing from the nozzle openings, and printing can be prevented. When resuming, good printing can be performed.

Further, when the ink ejection from the ink jet head is paused for a predetermined time, the ink is discharged to the cap device idle, so that good printing can be performed. it can.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of an image creating and clipping apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing an inkjet head carriage and a cutting carriage according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing an operation state of the cap device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the cap device shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a front view showing an operation state of the cap device shown in FIG. 4 (a state in which the cap device is mounted in close contact with an inkjet head).

FIG. 6 is a front view showing an operation state of the cap device shown in FIG. 4 (a state in which the cap device is arranged at a fixed distance from the inkjet head).

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a control device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional image creation and clipping device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image creation and cut-out apparatus 2 Inkjet head 2a First head 2b Second head 3 Cutting head 4 Guide rail 7 Frame 10 Inkjet head carriage 12 Cutting head carriage 14 Magnet 15 Magnet 19 Hook 20 Engagement hook 30 Cap Apparatus 31 Slider 32 Lever 33 First cap member 34 Second cap member 74 Cutter

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Masahiro Nakamura 3-3-5 Yamato, Suwa City, Nagano Prefecture Inside Seiko Epson Corporation (72) Inventor Fumiko Ichise 3-3-5 Yamato, Suwa City, Nagano Prefecture Seiko Epson Inside the company

Claims (7)

[Claims] An ink jet head for discharging ink, a head carriage movable on a guide rail on which the ink jet head is mounted, a cutter capable of cutting out an image printed by the head, and the cutter. An image forming and cutting apparatus having at least a cutter carriage movable on a guide rail having a cap mounted thereon for protecting a nozzle surface of the ink jet head. An image creating and clipping apparatus characterized in that: 2. While the cutter is cutting out an image printed by an ink jet head, the cap device is mounted in close contact with the ink jet head to protect a nozzle surface of the ink jet head and to form a nozzle. 2. The image forming and cutting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein evaporation of the ink from the opening is prevented. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the ink ejection from the ink jet head is paused for a predetermined time, the idle discharge of the ink to the cap device is performed. Alternatively, the image creation and clipping device according to claim 2. 4. A head carriage on which said ink jet head is mounted and a cutter carriage on which said cutter is mounted are formed separately and slidably formed on different guide rails. An image creation and clipping device according to claim 1. 5. A head carriage on which said ink jet head is mounted and a cutter carriage on which said cutter is mounted are integrally formed and slidably formed on the same guide rail. The image creation and clipping device according to claim 1. 6. A head carriage on which the ink jet head is mounted and a cutter carriage on which the cutter is mounted are formed so as to be separable and slidable on the same guide rail. The image creation and clipping device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: 7. A head carriage on which the ink jet head is mounted and a cutter carriage on which the cutter is mounted are formed separably and slidably on the same guide rail. When cutting the image printed by the inkjet head, the head carriage and the cutter-carriage are separated, and the inkjet head is in a standby position in a state sealed with a cap device. An image creation and clipping device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.