JPH11208928A - Paper width detection mechanism of ink jet printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a mechanism a simple one, eliminate the need of space mounted at the inside of a printer, in particular, and surely detect the width of paper by forming a plurality of paper width detecting parts at each location corresponding to the widths of recording paper of various kinds of sizes in the longitudinal direction of a platen and disposing a paper width detection sensor on a carriage. SOLUTION: A plurality of detection holes 10A, 10B... as paper width detecting parts are punched at each location corresponding to the widths of recording paper 8 of various kinds of usable sizes so as to make a row in the longitudinal direction of a platen 7. Each detection hole 10A, 10B... is also provided with a function of a suction hole 9 punched to make the distance of the recording paper 8 and an ink jet head constant. On the side of a head frame 14 of the carriage 12, a paper width detecting sensor 17 is disposed so as to be opposed to the platen 7. The detecting sensor 17 has a light emitting element 18 and a light receiving element 19 receiving reflected light of the light emitting element 18.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a paper width detecting mechanism of an ink jet printer for detecting the width size of various types of recording paper conveyed between a platen and an ink jet head.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various paper width detecting mechanisms have been incorporated in a printer in order to detect the widthwise size of recording paper supplied to the printer.

As the paper width detecting mechanism, for example, a switch corresponding to the width of various types of paper supplied to the printer is provided in a recording paper transport path of the printer, and the switch is used to record the transported paper. There is a mechanism that detects the width of a sheet supplied by turning ON / OFF the sheet.

[0004]

In a printer capable of using papers of various sizes, mounting a paper width detecting mechanism as described above on the printer is necessary to obtain a desired recording result. Is essential, but at the same time, the printer requires a space for mounting a paper width detecting mechanism, so that there is a problem that the size of the printer cannot be reduced and the space in the printer body cannot be effectively used.

The present invention has been made in view of these points, and has a simple mechanism, does not particularly require a space for mounting inside the printer, and can reliably detect a paper width in an ink jet printer. It is an object to provide a width detection mechanism.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a paper width detecting mechanism for an ink jet printer according to the first aspect of the present invention has a mechanism for detecting the width of recording paper of various sizes which can be used by an ink jet printer. And a plurality of paper width detection units formed at positions in the longitudinal direction of the platen, and a paper width detection sensor disposed on a carriage and capable of detecting the paper width detection unit. I do.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the carriage is caused to travel, and the paper width detecting sensors detect the respective paper detecting portions formed apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the platen, and the detection is performed. The width of the conveyed recording sheet can be detected based on the presence or absence of the sheet.

The paper detecting mechanism according to a second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that:
2. The sheet detecting mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the sheet width detecting unit is formed in the platen, and also has a function as a suction hole for sucking a recording sheet to be conveyed and bringing the recording sheet into close contact with the platen. It is characterized by the following.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the paper width detection unit functions as a detection hole for detecting the paper width, and the recording paper is conveyed and supplied to an upper portion of the paper width detection unit. This functions as a suction hole for bringing the recording paper into close contact with the platen.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the paper width detection mechanism of the printer according to the first or second aspect, the paper width detection sensor is adapted to operate while the carriage is running for paper detection. A light emitting element capable of emitting light,
A light receiving element capable of receiving reflected light of light emitted from the light emitting element.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the light receiving element receives the reflected light of the light emitting element emitted while the carriage is traveling, so that the light receiving element can receive or not receive light. Thus, the width of the recording sheet conveyed can be determined.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an ink-jet printer 2 to which a paper width detecting mechanism 1 according to the present invention is applied. A printer main body 3 extends in the vertical direction and is located at the lower end in front and rear directions. A plurality of casters 4, 4,... Are supported by a pair of stands 5, 5, and an auxiliary frame is connected between the stands 5, 5 to connect a substantially central portion of the stands 5, 5 in the vertical direction. 6 are provided.

A flat platen 7 is disposed in front of the printer main body 3 so as to face upward. The platen 7 has a recording paper 8 (conveyed to the platen 7). A plurality of suction holes 9 are provided for sucking (see FIG. 2) by a suction device (not shown) and bringing the suction hole into close contact with the platen 7.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the platen 7 is provided with a plurality of paper width detecting holes 10, 10... As a paper width detecting portion constituting the paper width detecting mechanism 1 of the present invention. 2 are perforated at respective positions corresponding to the widths of recording papers 8 of various sizes that can be used so as to be arranged in a line in the longitudinal direction of the platen 7.

More specifically, each of the paper width detecting holes 10, 10,...
According to the widths of the four types of recording paper 8 that can be used,
In order from the supply reference position P in the width direction of the recording paper 8,
Paper width detection holes 10 for detecting recording paper 8 having a width of 24 inches (hereinafter referred to as 24 inch detection holes 10A), 36
Paper width detection hole 1 for detecting inch width recording paper 8
0 (hereinafter referred to as a 36-inch detection hole 10B), a paper width detection hole 10 for detecting the recording paper 8 having a width of 41 inches.
(Hereinafter referred to as a 41-inch detection hole 10C), and 49
Paper width detection hole 1 for detecting inch width recording paper 8
0 (hereinafter referred to as a 49-inch detection hole 10D), a total of four paper width detection holes 10, 10... The recording paper 8 is formed with a diameter larger than that of the suction hole 9 at a position having a width that is about 0.5% to 1.5% larger than the paper width in consideration of stretching due to moisture absorption. The reason why each of the paper width detection holes 10, 10...
This is for the purpose of visually confirming the discrimination from the suction holes 9 and for improving the positional accuracy (dimensional accuracy) of the paper detection holes 10, 10,....

In this embodiment, no other suction holes 9 are formed on the row of platens 7 in which the paper width detection holes 10, 10... Are formed in order to avoid erroneous recognition. .

In the present embodiment, each of the paper width detection holes 10, 10,... Is formed with a suction hole 9 formed to make the distance between the recording paper 8 and the ink jet head constant.
It is configured to also have the function of.

Behind the platen 7 of the printer body 3, two carriage shafts 11 extending in parallel to the longitudinal direction of the platen 7 are provided. Reference numeral 12 is mounted so as to be reciprocally movable along the carriage shafts 11, 11. The carriage 12 is connected to a carriage drive belt 13 located between the carriage shafts 11, 11. The carriage drive belt 13 is driven by a drive device (not shown), so that the carriage 12 is attached to the carriage shaft 11. It is designed to be driven back and forth along.

An ink jet head (not shown) is provided at a position of the carriage 12 facing the platen 7 such that a head nozzle (not shown) of the ink faces the printing surface of the platen 7. Head frame 1
In this embodiment, the ink-jet heads are configured so as to slightly protrude from the ink-jet head 4 and two for each of the four colors of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. I have.

On one rear side of the printer main body 3, four ink tanks 15, 15,... For each color are provided, and between these ink tanks 15, 15,. , Each ink tank 15, 15
A tube 16 for supplying ink to each inkjet head via the carriage 12 is provided.

On the side of the head frame 14 of the carriage 12 (in this embodiment, on the right side downstream in the running direction of the carriage 12 in FIG. 2), the paper width detecting mechanism 1 of the present invention is formed. Paper width detection sensor 17
Are disposed so as to face the platen 7.

In this embodiment, the paper width detection sensor 17 can emit light to the row of the platen where the paper width detection holes 10, 10,... Are formed while the carriage 12 is running. The light emitting element 18 and the platen 7
The light emitting element 1 reflected on the recording paper 8 conveyed to the portion
And a light-receiving element 19 capable of receiving the reflected light of the eight.

The light emitting element 18 of the present embodiment is
While the carriage 12 is configured to emit light continuously during travel of the carriage 12 for detecting the paper width, the carriage 12
Control by the drive motor of each paper width detection hole 1
Light may be emitted from the light emitting element 18 only at the position where the carriage 12 is disposed, that is, the light emitting element 18 may emit light intermittently while the carriage 12 is running.

Further, one side of the platen 7 of the printer main body 3 (the left side in FIG. 1 in the present embodiment).
Is the home position of the ink-jet head.At the position corresponding to this home position, the head nozzle is covered when not in use to prevent drying and adhesion of foreign matter, and the ink is ejected by the recovery operation of the head nozzle of the ink-jet head. Caps 20, 20,... For collecting the collected ink by suction are provided.

The auxiliary frame 6 is provided with a winding mechanism 21. The winding mechanism 21 has a pair of supports 22 located on both sides of the auxiliary frame 6. . In the present embodiment, the one support 22A (in the present embodiment, the left side in FIG. 1) is fixed to the auxiliary frame 6, and the other support 22B is movable along the auxiliary frame 6. It has been.

Each of the support members 22 has a shaft supporting recess 2 for opening the upper part and supporting the winding shaft 23.
, 24, and three support rollers 25, 25,... Are rotatably arranged inside the shaft support recess 24. The winding shaft is rotatably and removably supported by the support rollers 25.

Further, a winding drive gear 25 is provided below the shaft support recess 24 of the fixed support 22A, and one end of the winding shaft 23 is provided with the winding drive gear 25. A take-up driven gear 26 meshed with 25 is formed. The take-up drive gear 26 is driven to rotate, whereby the take-up shaft 23 is driven to rotate via the take-up driven gear 26.

Next, the operation of this embodiment having the above-described configuration will be described.

When detecting the width of the recording paper 8 in the ink jet printer 2 configured as described above, first, the recording paper 8 is conveyed between the platen 7 and the ink jet head by a paper conveying device (not shown). .
Subsequently, while the carriage driving belt 13 is driven by a driving device (not shown) to drive the carriage 12 along the carriage shafts 11, the paper width detection holes 10 of the platen 7 are formed from the light emitting elements 18. Control to emit light continuously on the rows.

At this time, by driving a suction device (not shown), the recording paper 8 is sucked from the large number of suction holes 9, 9 and the paper width detection holes 10, 10 and brought into close contact with the platen 7. In addition, it is possible to prevent the recording paper 8 from bending and prevent interference with the traveling inkjet head.

As shown in FIG. 3, the sheet width detecting sensor 17 detects the surface of the recording sheet 8 conveyed between the platen 7 and the ink jet head in the portion where the recording sheet 8 is conveyed. The light receiving element 19 receives the reflected light of the light emitting element 18 reflected by
The state becomes the N state.

Conversely, in the portion where the recording paper 8 is not conveyed, the light emitting element 1
8, the light of the light emitting element 18 passes through the paper width detection hole 10, and the light receiving element 19 reflects the light of the light emitting element 18 as shown in FIG. Light cannot be received and the paper width detection sensor 1
7 is in the OFF state. When light from the light emitting element is emitted to a portion of the platen 7 on the row where the paper width detection holes 10 are formed but other than the paper width detection holes 10, the light is reflected on the surface of the platen 7. When the light receiving element 19 receives the reflected light of the light emitting element 18, the light emitting element 18 is turned on.

For example, as shown in FIG. 2, when the recording paper 8 having a width of 36 inches is conveyed, as shown in the timing chart of FIG. 5, on the platen 7 having the 24-inch detection holes 10A. When the carriage 12 travels, the light receiving element 19 receives the reflected light of the light emitted by the light emitting element 18 reflected on the recording paper, and the paper width detection sensor 17 is turned on. Subsequently, when the carriage 12 travels on the platen 7 provided with the 36-inch detection hole 10B, the light receiving element 19 does not receive the reflected light of the light emitted by the light emitting element 18 and the paper width detecting sensor 17 is OFF. Similarly, when the carriage 12 travels on the platen 7 having the 41-inch detection hole 10C and the 49-inch detection hole 10D, the paper detection sensor 17 is similarly turned off. When the light of the light emitting element is emitted to the portion of the platen 7 on the row where the paper width detection holes 10 are formed, but to portions other than the paper width detection holes 10, the light reflected on the surface of the platen 7 The reflected light of the light emitting element 18 is
Receive light, the paper width detection sensor 17
The state becomes the N state.

As described above, by controlling the timing at which the paper width detection sensor 17 is first turned off by the number of steps of a drive unit (not shown) of the carriage 12, the width of the conveyed recording paper 8 can be detected. Becomes possible.

Similarly, when ON / OFF of the paper width detection sensor 17 is detected as shown in the timing chart of FIG. 6, the timing at which the paper width detection sensor 17 is first turned OFF is determined by the number of steps. , It is possible to determine that the carriage 12 is running on the platen 7 in which the 49-inch detection hole 10D is formed, and thus it is detected that the recording paper 8 being conveyed is the recording paper 8 having a width of 49 inches. can do.

In this embodiment, the paper width detecting holes 10, 10... Are formed at positions slightly apart from the actual width of the recording paper 8, so that the recording paper 8 is slightly absorbed in the width direction by moisture absorption. Even if the recording sheet 8 is stretched or the conveyance position of the recording sheet 8 is slightly shifted in the width direction from the supply reference position P, the sheet width can be detected.

It is needless to say that the formation positions of the paper width detection holes 10, 10,... Are not limited to the positions corresponding to the four types of paper sizes described above.

Further, the paper width detecting section of the present invention is not limited to the paper width detecting hole 10 of the present embodiment, which is provided in the platen 7, and the light of the light emitting element 18 of the paper width detecting sensor 17 can be used. Any mechanism that does not reflect light may be used. For example, a black seal member may be attached to a position corresponding to each paper size to form a paper width detection unit.

In this embodiment, the paper width detection sensor 17 is provided with the carriage 12 for detecting the paper width.
While the light is continuously emitted from the light emitting element 18 during the traveling, the light is emitted from the light emitting element 18 only at the position where each paper width detection hole 10 is provided by controlling the driving motor of the carriage 12. That is, the light-emitting element 18 may emit light intermittently according to the width of the recording paper 8 while the carriage 12 is traveling. In this case, even if other suction holes 9, 9,... Are formed on the row of the platen 7 where the paper width detection holes 10 are formed, the width detection of the recording paper 8 is not hindered. As in the above-described embodiment, the paper width detection hole 10 is formed to have a larger diameter than the suction hole 9, and the reflection of light from the light emitting element 18 is more reliably prevented, so that accurate detection of the paper width can be performed. Can be.

Further, in the present embodiment, the sheet width detecting holes 10, 10... As the sheet width detecting section are provided in the longitudinal direction of the platen 7 in relation to the number of sheet width detecting sensors 17 disposed on the carriage 12. Formed in one row in the direction
Depending on the installation and function of the paper width detection sensor 17, the arrangement position of the paper width detection holes 10, 10,... Is not limited to one row.

[0042]

As described above, the paper width detecting mechanism of the ink jet printer according to the present invention is a simple mechanism, does not particularly require a space for mounting inside the printer, and ensures that the paper width can be reliably reduced. An effect such as detection can be achieved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of an ink jet printer to which a paper width detecting mechanism according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a main part showing a case where a recording paper having a width of 36 inches is conveyed to the inkjet printer of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a light receiving element receives reflected light of light emitted from a light emitting element.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a light receiving element does not receive reflected light of light emitted from a light emitting element.

FIG. 5 is a timing chart showing ON / OFF states of a sheet width detection sensor when a recording sheet having a width of 36 inches is conveyed;

FIG. 6 is a timing chart showing ON / OFF states of a sheet width detection sensor when a recording sheet having a width of 49 inches is conveyed;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Paper width detection mechanism 2 Ink jet printer 7 Platen 8 Recording paper 9 Suction hole 10 Paper width detection hole 12 Carriage 14 Head frame 17 Paper width detection sensor 18 Light emitting element 19 Light receiving element

Claims (3)

[Claims] An ink jet head mounted on the carriage is operated based on a predetermined print signal while moving the carriage in a direction in which the platen extends, thereby being conveyed between the platen and the ink jet head. A paper width detecting mechanism of an ink jet printer mounted on an ink jet printer for recording a desired image on a recording paper, wherein each of the paper width detecting mechanisms corresponds to a width of a recording paper of various sizes which can be used by the ink jet printer. A plurality of paper width detection units formed at positions spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the platen, and a paper width detection sensor disposed on the carriage and capable of detecting the paper width detection unit, Paper width detection mechanism of the inkjet printer that performs. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet width detection unit is provided in the platen, and also has a function as a suction hole for sucking a recording sheet to be conveyed and bringing the recording sheet into close contact with the platen. Item 2. A sheet detection mechanism for an ink jet printer according to Item 1. 3. A light emitting element capable of emitting light during traveling of the carriage for detecting a sheet, and a light receiving element capable of receiving reflected light of light emitted from the light emitting element. 3. The sheet width detecting mechanism of an ink jet printer according to claim 1, wherein the sheet width detecting mechanism comprises: