WO2022201553A1

WO2022201553A1 - Printer

Info

Publication number: WO2022201553A1
Application number: PCT/JP2021/013126
Authority: WO
Inventors: 悟白石
Original assignee: 株式会社フェニックス
Priority date: 2021-03-26
Filing date: 2021-03-26
Publication date: 2022-09-29

Abstract

The objective of this invention is to provide a printer with which a decrease in the precision of laser printing can be suppressed even when a print target object has a surface inclined relative to a placement surface.　Provided is a printer for printing on a case, said printer being provided with a housing, a case transport mechanism, a movable stage, and a laser illumination unit, wherein the movable stage is provided inside the housing and the housing has a loading opening, the case transport mechanism is configured to transport the case to the movable stage through the loading opening, the movable stage is provided with a base part, a placement surface configured such that the case can be placed thereon is formed on the base part, the base part is configured to be rotatable, the laser illumination unit is configured to illuminate the case placed on the base part with a laser, and thereby carry out printing on the case.

Description

printer

The present invention relates to printers.

Conventionally, a technique has been proposed for printing an identification number or the like on the surface of an object using laser irradiation light (for example, Patent Document 1). Patent Document 1 discloses a technique of laser-marking an object to be printed after reflecting the laser emitted from the lens of the laser irradiation unit on a mirror arranged around the object to be printed (case). It is The printer described in Patent Document 1 has a plurality of mirrors, and the orientation of each mirror is predetermined according to the orientation of the printing surface of the printing target. Therefore, the printer described in Patent Literature 1 is configured to be able to print even if the surface of the object to be printed is inclined.

WO2020/031038

The printer described in Patent Document 1 has a configuration in which an optical system mechanism such as a mirror is attached to the periphery of the object to be printed. A place where the object to be printed is laser-printed is, for example, a stage, and such a place communicates with the entry port for the object to be printed, so it is difficult to prevent foreign matter such as dust from entering. The mechanism of the optical system is a delicate mechanism that requires fine adjustment. For example, if a foreign substance adheres to the mirror, it becomes a factor that lowers the precision of laser marking.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and suppresses deterioration in the accuracy of laser printing even when the object to be printed has a surface that is inclined with respect to the placement surface. The aim is to provide a printer that

According to the present invention, a printer for printing on a case includes a housing, a case transport mechanism, a movable stage, and a laser irradiation section, and the movable stage is provided in the housing. and the housing has an inlet, the case transport mechanism is configured to transport the case to the movable stage through the inlet, and the movable stage has a base portion. The base portion has a mounting surface on which the case can be placed, the base portion is configured to be rotatable, and the laser irradiation portion includes the base. A printer is provided that is configured to irradiate the case placed on the unit with a laser to print on the case.

According to the present invention, by rotating the base portion of the movable stage, even if the surface to be printed of the object to be printed is inclined, the surface to be printed can be properly directed to the laser. Also, at that time, there is no need to attach a mirror or the like around the object to be printed. Therefore, according to the present invention, even if the object to be printed has a surface that is inclined with respect to the mounting surface, it is possible to suppress the deterioration of the accuracy of laser printing.

Various embodiments of the present invention are illustrated below. The embodiments shown below can be combined with each other.
Preferably, a rotating member is further provided, the rotating member is configured to be engageable with the case placed on the base, and the rotating member is engaged with the case. A printer is provided that is configured to pivot to rotate the case.
Preferably, the movable stage includes a pair of first positioning parts, the pair of first positioning parts are configured to be movable in a lateral direction, and the lateral direction is a direction parallel to the mounting surface. and the direction perpendicular to the direction in which the case is conveyed from the case conveying mechanism into the housing, and the pair of first positioning portions are in contact with the pair of side surfaces of the case to move in the lateral direction. A printer is provided that is configured to adjust the position of the case.
Preferably, the movable stage includes a second positioning portion, the second positioning portion is configured to be movable from a protruding position to a non-protruding position, and the protruding position is such that the second positioning portion The non-protruding position is a position where the second positioning part is arranged below the mounting surface, and the second positioning part is positioned so that the case is In a state of being placed on the base portion, the case is arranged in a forward direction from the case, and the forward direction is a direction in which the case is transported from the case transport mechanism into the housing. The printer is provided, wherein the second positioning portion is positioned at the projecting position in a state where the base portion is rotated such that the rear end of the base portion is higher than the front end of the base portion. be done.
Preferably, when the housing is viewed from above, the entrance is provided on the laser irradiation side, the housing has a shutter section, and the shutter section is configured to be able to open and close the entrance. A printer is provided.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the printer 100 viewed from the case transport mechanism 2 side. 2A is a perspective view visualizing the inside of the housing 1 of FIG. 1. FIG. FIG. 2A shows a part of the configuration of the case transport mechanism 2 cut away for convenience of explanation. FIG. 2B is an enlarged view of the portion enclosed by the dashed line indicated by arrow B in FIG. FIG. 3A is a perspective view showing the interior of the housing 1 of the printer 100 and viewed from the laser irradiation unit 4 side. FIG. 3B is an enlarged view of the portion surrounded by the dashed line indicated by arrow B in FIG. FIG. 4A shows the drive mechanism (drive motor 31M and transmission mechanism 31T) of the movable stage 3. FIG. FIG. 4B is a perspective view for explaining the base portion 31 and various structures attached to the base portion 31. FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the positional relationship among the movable stage 3, rotating mechanism 6, and case housing mechanism 7. As shown in FIG. 6A is a perspective view of the rotation mechanism 6. FIG. FIG. 6B is a perspective view of the rotating mechanism 6 seen from a direction different from that of FIG. 6A. FIG. 6C is a perspective view of the engaging portion 61B of the rotating member 61 as seen from below. FIG. 7A shows a state in which the base portion 31 of the movable stage 3 is rotated so as to be inclined when printing on the inclined surface c1 of the case c. FIG. 7B is an enlarged view of the portion enclosed by the dashed line indicated by arrow B in FIG. 7A. FIG. 7C shows a state in which printing on the inclined surface c1 of the case c is completed and the movable stage 3 is rotated horizontally. FIG. 8A shows a state in which the rotating member 61 is engaged with the case c after the base portion 31 of the movable stage 3 has been rotated so as to be horizontal as shown in FIG. 7C. FIG. 8B shows a state in which the rotating member 61 is rotated by 90 degrees while the rotating member 61 is engaged with the case c. FIG. 9 shows a state in which the rotary member 61 is retracted from the case c and the first positioning portion 32 is engaged with the case c when printing on the side c2 (vertical surface). 10 shows the operations of the first positioning part 32 and the case c when the case c is transported to the case storage mechanism 7. FIG. FIG. 11A is a perspective view showing the positional relationship among the movable stage 3, the carry-out port 12 formed in the side member 1B, the slope 71, the storage section 75, and the like. FIG. 11B shows a state in which the side member 1B shown in FIG. 11A is removed. In FIG. 11B, arrows schematically show the movement of the case c over the movable stage 3 and the slope 71 . FIG. 12A shows the movement of the drive slider 72. FIG. FIG. 12B shows the operations of the driving slider 72, the driven slider 73, the housing shutter 74, and case c.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Various features shown in the embodiments shown below can be combined with each other. In addition, the invention is established independently for each characteristic item.

1 Embodiment 1-1 Overall Configuration Description As shown in FIGS. It has an optical sensor 5 , a reflection sensor 5 b (see FIG. 4B ), a rotation mechanism 6 , and a case housing mechanism 7 .

The printer 100 conveys the case c, which is an object to be printed, to the movable stage 3 inside the housing 1 by the case conveying mechanism 2, and when the case c is detected by the reflection sensor 5b, the movable stage 3 and the like are driven to move the case c. The surface to be printed is opposed to the lens 41 of the laser irradiation unit 4 . As a result, the laser beam from the laser irradiation unit 4 is irradiated onto the printed surface of the case c, and an identification number, a symbol, or the like can be printed on the printed surface of the case c. By rotating the base portion 31 of the movable stage 3 after printing on the case c, the case c can be carried out to the case storage mechanism 7 and stored in the storage portion 75 .

Here, before describing the configuration of the printer 100, case c, which is the object to be printed, will be described. The case c has four sides (first to fourth sides). Specifically, the inclined surface c1 (see FIG. 7B) has an inclination of about 30 to 50 degrees, for example. The remaining three side surfaces c2 (see FIGS. 8A to 9) stand perpendicular to the base portion 31 of the movable stage 3 when the case c is placed on the base portion 31 of the movable stage 3. This is the side to raise. The case c is made of resin. Also, the resin forming the case c is made of a color and material that can be printed with laser irradiation light and that allows the printing to be recognized.
The configuration of the printer 100 according to the embodiment will be specifically described below.

1-2 Detailed configuration description 1-2-1 Housing 1
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2A, the housing 1 includes a cover member 1A, a side member 1B, a base member 1C, an upper and lower partition member 1D, a horizontal partition member 1E, a lens protection member 1F, and an upper and lower partition. and a member 1G. Further, as shown in FIGS. 2B and 3B, the housing 1 includes a shutter section 13 and a bridging section 14 .

The cover member 1A is a case-shaped member with an open bottom. The cover member 1A is provided so as to be adjacent to the case transport mechanism 2 and the case storage mechanism 7. As shown in FIG. A movable stage 3, a laser irradiation unit 4, a return light sensor 5, a reflection sensor 5b, and a rotation mechanism 6 are housed inside the cover member 1A.

As shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 11A, the side member 1B is a plate-shaped member, and the side member 1B is formed with a carry-in port 11 and a carry-out port 12 . The carry-in port 11 is an opening through which the case c passes when it is carried into the housing 1 from outside the housing 1. is an opening through which the case c passes when it is carried out to the The carry-out port 12 is formed below the carry-in port 11 . The carry-in port 11 and the carry-out port 12 are rectangular in front view. A bridging section 14 (see FIG. 2B) is provided at the carry-in port 11 . The bridging portion 14 is interposed between the case conveying mechanism 2 and the loading port 11 and configured to smoothly carry the case c into the housing 1 from the case conveying mechanism 2 .

In the embodiment, when the printer 100 (housing 1) is viewed from above, the entrance 11 is provided on the laser irradiation side. In other words, when the printer 100 (housing 1) is viewed from above, the lens 41 of the laser irradiation unit 4, the movable stage 3, and the entrance 11 are arranged in a straight line. Such an arrangement allows the printer 100 to be miniaturized. On the other hand, depending on the printing conditions, the laser may be directed toward the entrance 11 or its vicinity. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3B, the printer 100 is provided with a shutter section 13 . The shutter section 13 is provided to prevent the laser emitted from the lens 41 (see FIG. 2A) from leaking out of the housing 1 . The shutter portion 13 is configured to have a size that covers the entire entrance 11 when the shutter portion 13 closes the entrance 11 .

As shown in FIG. 2A, the base member 1C is a member forming the bottom surface of the housing 1, and the case transport mechanism 2, the case storage mechanism 7, and the like are mounted on the base member 1C.
As shown in FIG. 2A, the upper and lower partitioning member 1D is a plate-like member arranged above the base member 1C and provided parallel to the horizontal plane. A movable stage 3, a laser irradiation section 4, and the like are mounted on the upper and lower partitioning member 1D. A horizontal partition member 1E is fixed on the upper and lower partition members 1D.
As shown in FIG. 2A, the horizontal partition member 1E is a plate-like member erected on the upper and lower partition members 1D. The horizontal partition member 1E is arranged so as to partition a space in which a laser generator 42 and a reflection mechanism 43, which will be described later, are arranged, and a space in which the movable stage 3 is arranged. An upper and lower partitioning member 1G is fixed to the horizontal partitioning member 1E.
As shown in FIG. 2A, the lens protection member 1F is a plate-like member provided so as to face the lateral partition member 1E and the lens 41. As shown in FIG. A slit facing the lens 41 is formed in the lens protection member 1F. The laser emitted from the lens 41 is applied to the case c through the slit.
As shown in FIG. 2A, the upper and lower partitioning member 1G is a plate-like member arranged above the movable stage 3. As shown in FIG. A rotating mechanism 6 is mounted on the upper and lower partitioning member 1G.

The shutter part 13 shown in FIG. 3B is configured to be able to open and close the entrance 11 by being moved by a drive mechanism (not shown). The drive mechanism is not particularly limited, and is configured by a mechanism such as a motor, for example. The shutter portion 13 is a generally fan-shaped plate member and is provided parallel to the side member 1B. The shutter part 13 opens and closes the entrance 11 by rotating as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 3B. The operation of the shutter section 13 is interlocked with the operation of irradiating the movable stage 3 with the laser of the laser irradiation section 4 . That is, when the laser of the laser irradiation unit 4 is irradiated toward the movable stage 3 (in the case of ON), the shutter unit 13 is closed. On the other hand, when the laser of the laser irradiation unit 4 is not irradiated toward the movable stage 3 (in the case of OFF), the shutter unit 13 is in a state in which it can be opened.

1-2-2 Case transfer mechanism 2
As shown in FIGS. 1, 2A, and 3A, the case transport mechanism 2 is provided adjacent to the side surface of the housing 1. As shown in FIGS. The case transport mechanism 2 includes an extrusion portion 21 , a slot portion 22 and a drive mechanism 23 .
As shown in FIG. 2B , the push-out portion 21 is configured to be movable in the direction from the slot portion 22 side toward the carry-in port 11 . The push-out portion 21 can push out the case c in the slot portion 22 , and the pushed-out case c is carried into the carry-in port 11 via the bridging portion 14 .
As shown in FIG. 1, the slot portion 22 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and can store the case c before printing. A push-out portion 21 is arranged below the slot portion 22 , and the cases c below the slot portion 22 are pushed out in sequence by the push-out portion 21 .
The driving mechanism 23 shown in FIG. 2A includes a motor, a mechanism for transmitting the power of the motor, and the like. As shown in FIG. 2B , the drive mechanism 23 operates the pushing part 21 so as to push out the case c in the X-axis direction within a range where the front part of the case c does not exceed the position of the second positioning part 33 .

1-2-3 Movable stage 3
As shown in FIG. 7A, the movable stage 3 includes a base portion 31, a pair of first positioning portions 32, a second positioning portion 33, a support portion 35r, a support portion 35l, and a base . there is The base portion 31 of the movable stage 3 is configured so that the case c conveyed through the inlet 11 by the case conveying mechanism 2 can be placed thereon, and is rotatable about an axis 31C parallel to the Y-axis. It is configured.

The movable stage 3 also includes a drive motor 31M and a transmission mechanism 31T, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 7A. The rotation of the base portion 31 is realized by transmitting the power of the drive motor 31M through the transmission mechanism 31T. The drive motor 31M and the transmission mechanism 31T are attached to the side of the base portion 31 . The transmission mechanism 31T includes, for example, a pulley connected to the rotation shaft of the base portion 31, a belt mechanism attached to the pulley, and the like. The movable stage 3 includes a drive motor and a transmission mechanism for driving the pair of the first positioning section 32 and the second positioning section 33, respectively. These drive motors and transmission mechanisms are arranged under the base portion 31 .

<Base part 31>
A mounting surface 31Sr on which the case c is mounted is formed on the base portion 31 of the movable stage 3 shown in FIGS. 4B and 7A. As the base portion 31 rotates, the first positioning portion 32 and the second positioning portion 33 attached to the base portion 31 and the case c placed on the base portion 31 move together with the base portion 31. Rotate. As shown in FIG. 4B , a sensor hole 34 is formed in the base portion 31 . The reflective sensor 5 b is provided under the base portion 31 and arranged in the sensor hole 34 .

<First Positioning Part 32>
The pair of first positioning portions 32 shown in FIG. 7A are in a direction parallel to the mounting surface 31Sr (see FIG. 4B) of the base portion 31, and are transported from the case transport mechanism 2 to the housing 1. It is configured to be movable in a direction orthogonal to the direction (X-axis direction). Here, the above-described direction is called a horizontal direction (Y-axis direction). The pair of first positioning portions 32 further contacts the pair of side portions of the case c to adjust the position in the lateral direction (Y-axis direction), so that even if the base portion 31 of the movable stage 3 rotates, the case c is configured to apply enough force to prevent it from slipping down. The pair of first positioning portions 32 operate by controlling a drive motor or the like attached to the bottom surface of the base portion 31 .

<Second Positioning Part 33>
The second positioning portion 33 shown in FIG. 7B is provided forward (forward in the X-axis direction) of the case c when the case c is transported onto the base portion 31 . The second positioning portion 33 extends downward from the mounting surface 31Sr of the base portion 31 from a position (projection position) where the second positioning portion 33 projects upward from the mounting surface 31Sr of the base portion 31. It is configured to be movable to the arranged position (non-protruding position). Further, in a state in which the base portion 31 is rotated such that the rear end portion of the base portion 31 is higher than the front end portion of the base portion 31, the second positioning portion 33 is positioned at the projecting position. As a result, the front end of the case c comes into contact with the second positioning portion 33 and the case c can be positioned. Further, at the central portion of the second positioning portion 33, the sensor light of the reflection sensor 5b is reflected by the second positioning portion 33, and it is erroneously detected that the case c is arranged on the base portion 31 of the movable stage 3. A notch 33a is provided to avoid this. The second positioning section 33 operates by controlling a drive motor or the like attached to the bottom surface of the base section 31 .

<Supporting Portions 35r, 35l and Base 36>
As shown in FIG. 7A, the supporting portion 35r and the supporting portion 35l are fixed so as to stand on the base 36. As shown in FIG. The base portion 31 is rotatably supported by the support portion 35r and the support portion 35l via a shaft 31C.
The base 36 is fixed on the upper and lower partitioning member 1D. The base portion 31 is rotatably provided directly above the base 36 .

1-2-4 Laser irradiation unit 4
The laser irradiation section 4 includes a lens 41 , a laser generation section 42 and a reflection mechanism section 43 .
The lens 41 is provided so as to face the upper and lower partitioning members 1G, and is configured to emit a laser.
The laser generator 42 is configured to be able to generate, for example, a laser with an infrared wavelength. The wavelength of this laser is 1064 (nm) in the embodiment. By irradiating the case c with this laser, the printed surface of the case c is printed.
The reflecting mechanism part 43 is configured to reflect the downward laser generated by the laser generating part 42 . The laser reflected by the reflecting mechanism 43 is directed toward the lens 41 .

1-2-5 Return light sensor 5 and reflection sensor 5b
The return light sensor 5 (see FIG. 2A) is provided inside the housing 1 and above the lens 41 . A return light sensor 5 is provided to confirm that the laser irradiation unit 4 is irradiating the laser.
The reflective sensor 5b is arranged under the base portion 31 . The reflective sensor 5b is provided so as to face the space above the mounting surface 31Sr of the base portion 31 through the sensor hole 34 of the base portion 31 . When the sensor light of the reflection sensor 5b is reflected by the case c on the base 31, the sensor light is detected by the light receiving element of the reflection sensor 5b. Then, the control device (not shown) of the printer 100 can determine whether the case 5c is placed at the printable position on the base 31 based on the detection result of the reflection sensor 5b.

1-2-6 Rotation mechanism 6
As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the rotating mechanism 6 includes a rotating member 61 and a driving mechanism 62. As shown in FIGS.

<Rotating member 61>
The rotating member 61 is provided inside the housing 1 . The rotating member 61 is provided on the upper side of the base portion 31 of the movable stage 3, is configured to move vertically in the Z-axis direction, and rotate about an axis parallel to the Z-axis. As shown in FIG. 6C, the rotating member 61 has a rod 61A and an engaging portion 61B.

The rod 61A is a rod-shaped member that extends vertically and is connected to the engaging portion 61B. The upper portion of the rod 61A is connected to the driving mechanism 62, and the operation of the driving mechanism 62 is transmitted to the rod 61A.

The engaging portion 61B faces the base portion 31 of the movable stage 3 in a horizontal position in parallel. A pair of projecting portions 61Bt are formed on the lower surface of the engaging portion 61B. A case c can be engaged between the pair of protrusions 61Bt. That is, the rotating member 61 can rotate the case c by rotating about an axis parallel to the Z-axis direction while the engaging portion 61B is engaged with the case c. be.

<Drive Mechanism 62>
As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the drive mechanism 62 includes a casing 62A, a vertical drive mechanism 62B, and a rotary drive mechanism 62C.

As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the casing 62A is equipped with a vertical driving mechanism 62B and a rotational driving mechanism 62C. Further, the casing 62A is fixed on the upper and lower partition member 1G. The casing 62A is a frame on which various mechanisms are mounted, and the casing 62A includes a vertically extending hood 62A1 and an elongated vertical hole 62A2.

As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the vertical drive mechanism 62B includes a drive motor 62BM and a transmission mechanism 62BT. The vertical drive mechanism 62B is configured to move the rotary drive mechanism 62C up and down. Here, since the rod 61A of the rotation member 61 is connected to the rotation drive mechanism 62C, the rotation member 61 moves up and down as the rotation drive mechanism 62C moves up and down. The drive motor 62BM is fixed to the casing 62A. The power of the drive motor 62BM is transmitted to the transmission mechanism 62BT. The transmission mechanism 62BT is composed of, for example, a pulley and a belt mechanism attached to the pulley. A belt mechanism of the transmission mechanism 62BT is connected to a connection portion of the rotation drive mechanism 62C. Therefore, when the belt mechanism of the transmission mechanism 62BT is driven, the rotation drive mechanism 62C moves up and down.

As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the rotation drive mechanism 62C includes a drive motor 62CM, a transmission mechanism 62CT, a connecting portion 62C1, and a shaft portion 62C2. A shaft 62A1 provided in the casing 62A is inserted into the rotary drive mechanism 62C, and a shaft portion 62C2 of the rotary drive mechanism 62C is inserted into a vertical hole 62A2 of the casing 62A. Power of the drive motor 62CM is transmitted to the transmission mechanism 62CT. The transmission mechanism 62BT is composed of, for example, a pulley and a belt mechanism attached to the pulley. Since the transmission mechanism 62CT is connected to the rod 61A of the rotating member 61, the rotating member 61 rotates when the transmission mechanism 62CT operates.

1-2-7 Case storage mechanism 7
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2A, the case storage mechanism 7 is adjacent to the housing 1 and arranged below the case transfer mechanism 2 . As shown in FIGS. 5, 12A and 12B, the case housing mechanism 7 includes a slope 71, a driving slider 72, a driven slider 73, a housing shutter 74, a housing 75, and a driving mechanism 76. ing.

As shown in FIGS. 5, 12A and 12B, the upper part of the slope 71 is located at the carry-out port 12. The slope 71 slopes gently while bending. The slope of the lower part of the slope 71 is steeper than the upper part of the slope 71, and as a result, at the lowest point of the slope 71, the case c stands up as shown in FIG. 12A. Although not shown in FIG. 12A, there is a wall surface portion 77 (see FIG. 5) of the housing 1 on the front side of the case c in FIG. 12A, so the case c collapses on the front side. never.

As shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, the drive slider 72 is configured to be movable in the X-axis direction by being driven by the drive mechanism 76. The driven slider 73 has a tapered surface that contacts the driving slider 72 . The drive slider 72 pushes the tapered surface of the driven slider 73 , so that the driven slider 73 moves in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the drive slider 72 . Here, the driven slider 73 is biased by an elastic body 73s (for example, a spring) shown in FIG. 12A. When the tip of the driving slider 72 pushes the driven slider 73, the elastic body 73s contracts, and the driven slider 73 is gradually pushed away in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the driving slider 72. As shown in FIG.

In addition, the storage section shutter 74 and the driven slider 73 are engaged with each other so as to operate integrally. As the driven slider 73 moves in the direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the driving slider 72 , the storage section shutter 74 also moves in the direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the driving slider 72 . By moving the storage section shutter 74, the entrance gate 74g1 and the carry-in gate 74g2 are opened. Here, the storage section shutter 74 has a configuration capable of opening and closing the entrance gate 74g1 and the carry-in gate 74g2. In the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12A, the storage section shutter 74 is composed of a plate-shaped member t1 arranged slidably parallel to the Y-axis direction at the position of the entry gate 74g1, and a plate-shaped member t1 arranged at the position of the loading gate 74g2 in the Y-axis direction. and a rod-shaped connecting member t3 that connects these plate-like members. The entry gate 74g1 is a portion (space) into which the driving slider 72 enters. The carry-in gate 74 g 2 is a portion (space) for carrying the lowermost case c of the slope 71 into the storage section 75 .

The storage part 75 shown in FIG. 5 is a tray-shaped member that can store a large number of cases c in an upright state. The storage section 75 is configured to be movable by a moving means (not shown). When cases c can no longer be stored in a predetermined row of the storage portion 75, the moving means moves the storage portion 75 so that the carry-in gate 74g2 comes to the position of the vacant row.
The drive mechanism 76 shown in FIG. 5 is mounted on the base member 1C. The drive mechanism 76 is composed of a drive motor, a transmission mechanism, and the like.

1-2-8 Other Configurations The printer 100 includes a control device (not shown). The control device is configured to be able to control the operations of the case transport mechanism 2, the movable stage 3, the rotating mechanism 6, the laser irradiation section 4, the return light sensor 5, the reflection sensor 5b, the shutter section 13, and the like.

2 Description of Operation 2-1 Regarding Case Conveyance Operation and Printing Operation The operation of the printer 100 in printing on the inclined surface c1 of the case c will be described.
The shutter portion 13 of the housing 1 is opened, and the case c is conveyed one by one onto the base portion 31 inside the housing 1 through the inlet 11 of the housing 1 by the case conveying mechanism 2 . At that time, the base portion 31 is in a horizontal position, and the case c is conveyed so that the inclined surface c1 faces forward. Also, the second positioning portion 33 is positioned at the projecting position.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the base portion 31 is rotated so that the rear end is higher than the front end so that printing can be performed on the inclined surface c1 of the case c by laser irradiation. do. At this time, the front end of the case c (the lower end of the inclined surface c1) contacts the second positioning portion 33, so that the front position is determined. Further, the position in the lateral direction (Y-axis direction) is adjusted by bringing the pair of first positioning portions 32 into contact with the pair of side surfaces c2 of the conveyed case c.

When the control device determines that the case c is in the printable position based on the detection result of the reflection sensor 5b, the second positioning portion 33 moves to the non-protruding position, and printing is performed by irradiation from the laser irradiation portion 4. . At that time, the pair of first positioning portions 32 applies a force to the case to prevent the case c from slipping forward.

Next, the operation of the printer 100 in printing on the side surface c2 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 7C, after printing on the inclined surface c1, the base portion 31 is rotated horizontally. Then, as shown in FIG. 8A, the rotating member 61 is brought close to the base portion 31 from above, and the case c is engaged between the projecting portions 61Bt of the engaging portion 61B. Also, after the engaging portion 61B is engaged with the case c, the pair of first positioning portions 32 is separated from the case c.

As shown in FIG. 8B, the rotating member 61 is rotated 90 degrees on the base portion 31, and the case c is rotated 90 degrees. Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the pair of first positioning portions 32 are brought into contact with the pair of side surfaces of the case c to adjust the position in the lateral direction (Y-axis direction). Thereafter, printing is performed on the side surface c2 by irradiation from the laser irradiation unit 4. FIG. When printing on the other side c2, the printing is performed in a similar manner.

2-2 Case Carrying-out Operation and Storage Operation The operation of carrying out the case c out of the housing 1 and the operation of storing the case c into the storage section 75 will be described.
After printing on the case c is completed, the case c is rotated by the rotating member 61 so that the inclined surface c1 of the case c is positioned forward again. Then, as shown in FIG. 10, the base portion 31 is rotated so that the front end of the base portion 31 is higher than the rear end, and then the pair of first positioning portions 32 are separated from the case c. As a result, the restraint of the case c by the pair of first positioning portions 32 is released, and the case c slides down the base portion 31 and is carried out from the carry-out port 12 of the case storage mechanism 7 onto the slope 71 . Then, the case c moves downward while sliding on the slope 71 as indicated by the arrow shown in FIG. 11B.

As shown in FIG. 12, the drive slider 72 is pushed out in the X-axis direction in order to house the case c in the housing portion 75 . As a result, the driven slider 73 and the storage section shutter 74 are moved in the orthogonal direction (Y-axis direction), and the entry gate 74g1 and the carry-in gate 74g2 are opened. As a result, the drive slider 72 enters the entry gate 74g1, the tip of the drive slider 72 contacts the side surface of the case c, and the case c is pushed out into the storage section 75 through the carry-in gate 74g2. As a result, the case c is housed in the housing portion 75 .

3 Functions and effects of the embodiment In the embodiment, the printer 100 includes the base portion 31 of the movable stage 3 that is configured to be rotatable.
Therefore, in the embodiment, by rotating the base portion 31 of the movable stage 3, even if the surface to be printed of the object to be printed is inclined, the surface to be printed can be properly directed to the laser. . Here, in the prior art (Patent Document 1), it is necessary to attach a mirror around the object to be printed. As a result, the mirror is exposed to foreign matter such as dust, which causes deterioration in printing accuracy. On the other hand, in the embodiment, since it is not necessary to adopt such a configuration, it is possible to suppress the deterioration of the precision of laser marking.

Also, with the conventional technology (Patent Document 1), it is necessary to adjust a delicate optical system such as a mirror every time the shape of the object to be printed changes. For this reason, the conventional printer has a large management burden. On the other hand, in the embodiment, the printing surface of the case c can be rotated by rotating the base portion 31, and the case c can be positioned in the horizontal direction by the first positioning portion 32. Furthermore, the case c can be positioned in the front-rear direction by the second positioning portion 33 . Therefore, in the embodiment, the surface to be printed can be appropriately directed toward the lens 41 regardless of the shape of the surface to be printed. In other words, in the embodiment, it is possible to avoid the need to control the drive motor and the like, and to delicately adjust the optical system. In other words, the printer 100 of the embodiment is provided with the base portion 31, the first positioning portion 32, and the second positioning portion 33, so that rapid and precise laser printing is possible.

In the printer 100 according to the embodiment, the movable stage 3 and the laser irradiation section 4 are arranged directly above the storage section 75 , and the rotating mechanism 6 is arranged directly above the movable stage 3 . Also, the slope 71 is arranged above the drive mechanism 76 of the case storage mechanism 7 and the slot portion 22 is arranged above the drive mechanism 23 of the case transport mechanism 2 . As described above, the printer 100 according to the embodiment has a configuration and arrangement that makes use of the width in the height direction, and thus has a compact configuration.

1: housing, 1A: cover member, 1B: side member, 1C: base member, 1D: upper and lower partitioning member, 1E: horizontal partitioning member, 1F: lens protection member, 1G: upper and lower partitioning member, 2: case transport mechanism, 3: movable stage 4: laser irradiation unit 5: return light sensor 5b: reflection sensor 6: rotation mechanism 7: case storage mechanism 11: inlet 12: outlet 13: shutter unit 14: Bridge portion, 21: Extrusion portion, 22: Slot portion, 23: Drive mechanism, 31: Base portion, 31Sr: Mounting surface, 31M: Drive motor, 31T: Transmission mechanism, 32: First positioning portion, 33: Third 2 positioning part, 33a: notch, 34: sensor hole, 35r: support part, 35l: support part, 36: base, 41: lens, 42: laser generation part, 43: reflection mechanism part, 61: rotation member, 61A: Rod 61B: Engagement Part 61Bt: Protrusion Part 62: Drive Mechanism 62A: Casing 62A1: Shaft 62A2: Vertical Hole 62B: Vertical Drive Mechanism 62BM: Drive Motor 62BT: Transmission Mechanism 62C: Rotation Drive Mechanism 62C1: Connection Part 62C2: Shaft Part 62CM: Drive Motor 62CT: Transmission Mechanism 71: Slope 72: Drive Slider 73: Driven Slider 73s: Elastic Body 74: Storage Shutter 74g1: Entrance gate, 74g2: loading gate, 75: storage unit, 76: drive mechanism, 77: wall surface, 100: printer, c: case, c1: inclined surface, c2: side surface, t1: plate-like member, t2: plate-like member, t3: rod-shaped member,

Claims

A printer for printing on a case,
comprising a housing, a case transport mechanism, a movable stage, and a laser irradiation unit,
The movable stage is provided in the housing, and the housing has a loading port,
the case transport mechanism is configured to transport the case to the movable stage through the inlet;
The movable stage includes a base,
The base portion has a mounting surface on which the case can be placed, and the base portion is rotatable,
The printer according to claim 1, wherein the laser irradiation section is configured to irradiate the case placed on the base with a laser to print on the case.
A printer according to claim 1, wherein
further comprising a rotating member;
The rotating member is configured to be engageable with the case placed on the base, and the rotating member axially rotates while engaged with the case to rotate the case. A printer that is configured to:
The printer according to claim 1 or claim 2,
The movable stage includes a pair of first positioning parts,
The pair of first positioning units are configured to be laterally movable,
The lateral direction is a direction parallel to the mounting surface and a direction orthogonal to a direction in which the case is transported from the case transport mechanism into the housing,
The printer according to claim 1, wherein the pair of first positioning portions are configured to contact a pair of side surface portions of the case to adjust the position of the case in the lateral direction.
The printer according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The movable stage has a second positioning part,
The second positioning part is configured to be movable from a protruding position to a non-protruding position,
The protruding position is a position where the second positioning portion protrudes upward from the mounting surface,
The non-protruding position is a position where the second positioning portion is arranged below the mounting surface,
The second positioning portion is arranged forward of the case in a state where the case is placed on the base portion,
the forward direction is a direction in which the case is transported from the case transport mechanism into the housing;
The printer, wherein the second positioning part is positioned at the projecting position in a state in which the base part is rotated such that the rear end of the base part is higher than the front end of the base part. .
The printer according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
When the housing is viewed from above, the entrance is provided on the laser irradiation side,
The housing has a shutter section,
The printer, wherein the shutter section is configured to be able to open and close the carry-in port.