The present application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-042395, filed on Mar. 16, 2021, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The present disclosure relates to a head bar unit which includes a mechanism which moves a head bar having a plurality of heads in a vertical direction, and a printing apparatus which includes the head bar unit.
A certain heretofore known printing apparatus includes a mechanism which moves vertically a head bar having a plurality of ink-jet heads by an air cylinder. In the heretofore known printing apparatus, it is possible to move the head bar downward substantially by driving the air cylinder. The heretofore known printing apparatus further includes a first engaging member which is extended downward below the head bar, as a mechanism which carries out a fine adjustment of a vertical position of the head bar after the head bar has moved downward, and a second engaging member which is extended upward below the head bar, and which is engaged with the first engaging member. The position in the vertical direction of the head bar is determined by the first engaging member and the second engaging member being engaged. Here, the first engaging member is provided at a front end of a male screw member screwed to a female screw member, and it is possible to move the first engaging member in the vertical direction by a motor rotating the male screw member. In such manner, by moving the first engaging member in the vertical direction by the motor, it is possible to adjust the vertical position of the head bar.
Here, in the heretofore known printing apparatus, the first engaging member is moved in the vertical direction by rotating the male screw member by the motor. With the movement of the first engaging member, the head bar also moves in the vertical direction. Therefore, in a case in which a weight of the head bar is large (heavy), it was necessary to select a motor with a high output as the motor for rotating the male screw member. Since a cost of a drive system including such motor with a high output and a gear head to be connected to the motor with a high output becomes extremely high, it was becoming a factor contributing to a high cost of the printing apparatus.
An object of the present disclosure is to provide a technology which enables to adjust the vertical position of the head bar, without using a motor with a high output.
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a head bar unit including a head bar, an adjuster and a movement. The head bar includes a plurality of heads. The adjuster is configured to adjust positions in a vertical direction of the plurality of heads. The movement is configured to move the head bar and the adjuster in the vertical direction. The adjuster includes a motor, a rotator and a stopper. The rotator includes a plurality of contact portions. Positions of the contact portions in the vertical direction are different from each other. The rotator is configured to be rotated by the motor around a rotating shaft which is parallel to the vertical direction. The stopper is located at a position facing the rotator in the vertical direction, and is configured to position the rotator in the vertical direction, by making contact with one of the contact portions.
In the abovementioned configuration, the motor in the adjuster being used for rotating the rotator, is not required to be a motor with a high output which is necessary for moving the head bar up and down for example. In the abovementioned configuration, since it is possible to use an air cylinder for instance, as the movement which moves the head bar up and down, it is possible to reduce a cost as compared to that in a case of moving the head bar up and down by using a motor. Moreover, the plurality of contact portions on the rotator to be rotated by the motor are at mutually different positions in the vertical direction. By selecting any of the contact portions to make a contact with the stopper, it is possible to adjust easily the position of the head bar in the vertical direction.
A printing apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the accompanying diagrams.
As depicted in
As depicted in
As depicted in
The controller 7 includes an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-only Memory), and a RAM (Random Access Memory). The controller 7 may also include a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit). The controller 7 is data-communicably connected to an external apparatus 9 such as a PC (Personal Computer), and controls each section of the printing apparatus 1 on the basis of print data that has been sent from the external apparatus 9.
A lower surface 11b of each head 11 is a nozzle surface in which a plurality of nozzles 11a is formed. As depicted in
As depicted in
The controller 7 controls the motors driving the conveyance rollers 5A and 5B, and transports the recording medium M to the two conveyance rollers 5A and 5B. Moreover, herewith, the controller 7 controls the four head bars 10, and makes jet the ink from the nozzles 11a toward the recording medium M. Accordingly, an image is printed on the recording medium M.
As depicted by an arrow in
By driving the suction pump which is not depicted in the diagram, in a state of the caps 23 making a contact with the lower surface 11b of the heads 11 to cover the plurality of nozzles 11a, it is possible to depressurize a space between the caps 23 and the lower surface 11b of the heads 11. Accordingly, it is possible to carry out a suction purge which is (a process of) sucking and discharging an ink from (through) each of the plurality of nozzles 11. By carrying out the suction purge, it is possible to discharge forcibly from the nozzles 11a a highly thickened ink inside the nozzles 11a, and to recover jetting characteristics of the heads 11. The ink discharged by the suction purge is accumulated in the waste liquid tank which is not depicted in the diagram.
As depicted in
Next, a structure of the head bar unit will be described in detail while referring to
Of the pair of arms 41, a first arm 41 is fixed to one end portion in the left-right direction of the first frame 42, and a second arm 42 is fixed to the other end portion in the left-right direction of the first frame 42. As depicted in
Of the two shafts 44, a lower end of a first shaft 44 is fixed to one end portion in the left-right direction of the second frame 43, and a lower end of a second shaft 44 is fixed to the other end portion in the left-right direction of the second frame 43. Each shaft 44 passes through a through hole which is not depicted in the diagram, but is made in the first frame 42, and is extended further upward. At the time of moving the first frame 42 upward by the movement 50 that will be described later, the first frame 42 moves upward along the two shafts 44. In other words, the two shafts 44 function as a guide at the time of the first frame 42 moving upward.
As depicted in
The adjuster 60 includes a trestle (mount, stand) 61 which is fixed to the first frame 42, a motor 62, a rotator 70 which is attached to a rotating shaft of the motor 62, and a stopper 65 which is fixed to the second frame 43. A lower end of the trestle 61 is fixed to the first frame 42, and the motor 62 is fixed to an upper portion of the trestle 61. The rotator 70 is attached to the rotating shaft of the motor 62 via a coupling. A through hole which is not depicted in the diagram is formed in the first frame 42, and the rotator 70 passes through the through hole and is extended downward of the first frame 42. By driving the motor 62, it is possible to rotate the rotator 70 around the rotating shaft of the motor 62.
As depicted in
As depicted in
In the present embodiment, a lower end of the rod 72 is at a position X2 mm away downward from the lower surface of the base 71 of the rotator 70. In the description below, a height-wise position of the lower end of the rod 72 is described to be X2 mm. In a case in which, the lower end of the rod 72 has made a contact with a surface of the stopper 65, the head bar 10 is positioned to be (at the) lowermost (position). In the description below, the lower end of the rod 72 is referred to as a contact portion of the rod 72. The same applies to the other rods as well. In the description below, a position in the vertical direction of the head bar 10 in a case in which the rod 72 and the stopper 65 are in contact, is referred to as a first print position. In a case in which, the recording medium M is a thin sheet such as a regular paper, the head bar 10 is positioned at the first print position at the time of printing on the recording medium M.
In the present embodiment, a height-wise position of a contact portion of the rod 73 is X3 mm. In a case in which the contact portion of the rod 73 has made a contact with the stopper 65, a space (gap) between the lower surface (nozzle surface) of the head bar 10 and the upper surface of the platen 3 becomes X3−X2 mm larger than a space between the upper surface of the platen 3 and the lower surface of the head bar 10 when the head bar 10 is at the first print position. In the description below, a position in the vertical direction of the head bar 10 in a case in which the contact portion of the rod 73 and the stopper 65 are in contact, is referred to as a second print position. At the time of printing on the recording paper M, in a case in which the recording paper M is a sheet thicker than the regular paper, the head bar 10 is positioned at the second print position. Consequently, the height-wise position of the contact portion of the rod 73 is larger (higher) than the height-wise position of the contact portion of the rod 72 (X3>X2), and X3−X2 corresponds to (a thickness of a thick sheet)−(a thickness of a thin sheet).
In the present embodiment, a height-wise position of a contact portion of the rod 74 is X4 mm. In a case in which the contact portion of the rod 74 has made a contact with the stopper 65, a space (gap) between the lower surface of the head bar 10 and the upper surface of the platen 3 becomes approximately 2.5X2(=X4−X2) mm larger than a space between the lower surface of the head bar 10 and the upper surface of the platen 3 when the head bar 10 is at the first print position. In the description below, a position in the vertical direction of the head bar 10 in a case in which the contact portion of the rod 74 and the stopper 65 are in contact is referred to as a capping position. When the head bar 10 is at the capping position, a front end of the cap 23 makes a contact with the lower surface of the head bar 10. A height (length in the vertical direction) of the cap 23 when the front end of the cap 23 is in contact with the lower surface (nozzle surface) of the head bar 10 is approximately 2.5X2 mm. Accordingly, it is possible to cap the lower surface of the head bar 10 by using the cap 23, thereby preventing drying of ink inside the nozzle 11a of the head 11, and it is possible to prevent a foreign matter from getting mixed inside the nozzle 11.
In the present embodiment, a height-wise position of a contact portion of the rod 75 is X5 mm. In a case in which, the contact portion of the rod 75 has made a contact with the stopper 65, a space (gap) between the lower surface of the head bar 10 and the upper surface of the platen 3 becomes approximately 2.6X2(=X5−X2) mm larger than a space between the lower surface of the head bar 10 and the upper surface of the platen 3 when the head bar 10 is at the first print position. In the description below, a position in the vertical direction of the head bar 10 in a case in which the contact portion of the rod 75 and the stopper 65 are in contact is referred to as a wiping position. When the head bar 10 is at the wiping position, a front end of the wiper 24 makes a contact with the lower surface of the head bar 10. A height (length in the vertical direction) of the wiper 24 when the front end of the wiper 24 is in contact with the lower surface (nozzle surface) of the head bar 10 is approximately 2.6X2 mm. By moving the maintenance unit 20 in the left-right direction in this state, it is possible to wipe off the nozzle surface of the head by 10 by the wiper 24. Note that, the height-wise position of the contact portion of the rod 75 is larger (higher) than the height-wise position of the contact portion of the rod 74 (X5>X4). Moreover, a height-wise position of a front end of the wiper 24 when the front end of the wiper 24 is in contact with the nozzle surface of the head bar 10 is larger (higher) than a height-wise position of an upper end of the cap 23 when the front end of the cap 23 is in contact with the nozzle surface of the head bar 10. In other words, X5−X4 substantially corresponds to (is substantially equivalent) to a value obtained by deducting the height-wise position of the upper end of the cap 23 when the front end of the cap 23 is in contact with the nozzle surface of the head bar 10 from the height-wise position of the front end of the wiper 24 when the front end of the wiper 24 is in contact with the nozzle surface of the head bar 10.
In the present embodiment, a height-wise position of a contact portion of the rod 76 is X6 mm. In a case in which the contact portion of the rod 76 has made a contact with the stopper 65, a space (gap) between the lower surface of the head bar 10 and the upper surface of the platen 3 becomes approximately 3X2(=X6−X2) mm larger than the space between the lower surface of the head bar 10 and the upper surface of the platen 3 when the head bar 10 is at the first print position. In the description below, a position in the vertical direction of the head bar 10 in a case in which the contact portion of the rod 75 and the stopper 65 are in contact, is referred to as a retracted position. When the head bar 10 is at the retracted position, since a space between the lower surface of the head bar 10 and the upper surface of the platen 3 become adequately large, at the time of moving the maintenance unit 20 in the left-right direction toward the lower side of the head bar 10, the head bar 10 and the maintenance unit 20 do not interfere mutually. By positioning the head bar 10 at the retracted position, it is possible to move the maintenance unit 20 in the left-right direction up to a position facing the head bar 10 in the vertical direction without interfering with the head bar 10. The height-wise position of the contact portion of the rod 76 is larger (higher) than the height-wise position of the contact portion of the rod 75 (X6>X5). Moreover, a height-wise position of the front end of the wiper 24 in a state of the front end of the wiper 24 not in a contact with the nozzle surface of the head bar 10 is larger (higher) than a height-wise position of the upper end of the wiper 24 in a state of the front end of the wiper 24 in contact with the nozzle surface of the head bar 10. In other words, X6−X5 corresponds to (is equivalent to) a value obtained by adding a slight value (amount) of a vertical play which is developed when the maintenance unit 20 moves, to a value obtained by deducting the height-wise position of the upper end of the wiper 24 when the front end of the wiper 24 is in contact with the nozzle surface of the head bar 10 from the height-wise position of the front end of the wiper 24 in a state of the front end of the wiper 24 not in contact with the nozzle surface of the head bar 10.
Next, a method of adjusting a position in the vertical direction of the head bar 10 using the adjuster 60 will be described below. Firstly, an origin adjustment of a motor which is to be carried out in an initial state such as after putting ON an electric power supply of the printing apparatus 1 will be described below. At the time of carrying out the origin adjustment of a motor, the controller 7, by driving the air cylinder 51, moves the first frame 42 upward such that the first frame 42 is farthest away from the second frame 43. Accordingly, the head bar 10 also moves upward to be farthest away from the platen 3. At this time, the front ends (contact portions) of the rods 72 to 76 do not make a mutual contact with the upper surface of the stopper 65, and have a space (gap) in the vertical direction. Consequently, at the time of rotating the rotator 70 by using the motor 62, a load applied to the motor 62 is extremely small. Note that, in the abovementioned heretofore known printing apparatus, the first engaging member coupled with the head bar was moved in the vertical direction by the male screw member being rotated by the motor. In such manner, in a case of a motor moving a large-weight (heavy) head bar, the load applied to the motor becomes large. Whereas, in the present embodiment, the motor 62 does not move the head bar 10, but rotates the rotator 70. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the load applied to the motor 62 as compared to the load applied to the motor of the abovementioned heretofore known printing apparatus. Next, the rotator 70 is rotated by driving the motor 62 such that, the rod 76 is facing the stopper 65 in the vertical direction. In the present embodiment, the position at which the rod 76 and the stopper 65 are facing (face-to-face) in the vertical direction becomes a control origin (origin of control) in (for) control of the motor 62 which rotates the rotator 70. In this state, by moving the first frame 42 downward by driving the air cylinder 51 such that, the rod 76 and the stopper 65 make a contact, the head bar 10 is positioned at the retracted position. Note that, in the description below, a direction in which the rotator 70 rotates in a direction of assuming a state of the rod 75 facing the stopper 65 from the state of the rod 76 facing the stopper 65 is referred to as a forward direction, and a direction in which the rotator 70 rotates in a direction of assuming a state of the rod 72 facing the stopper 65 from a state of the rod 76 facing the stopper 65 is referred to as a backward direction (refer to
Next, a method for adjusting a position in the vertical direction of the head bar 10 using the adjuster 60 will be described below by citing a case of moving the head bar 10 at the retracted position to the second print position as an example.
Firstly, the controller 7, by driving the air cylinder 51, moves the first frame 42 upward such that, the first frame 42 is farthest from the second frame 43. At this time, as depicted in
Next, the controller 7 rotates the rotator 70 by driving the motor 62 such that a state changes from a state in which the rod 76 and the stopper 65 are facing (face-to-face) in the vertical direction to a state in which the rod 73 and the stopper 65 are facing in the vertical direction. In this case, the following two methods may be considered. Firstly, rotating the rotator 70 in the forward direction such that, the stopper 65, after facing the rod 75 and the rod 74, faces the rod 73, may be considered (refer to
Therefore, in the present disclosure, in order that there is no possibility of the head bar 10 descending beyond the second print position as planned initially, and moreover, for reducing the magnitude of the impact received in a case in which the first frame 42 and the head bar 10 have descended where a certain rod and stopper make a contact, the rotator 70 is rotated in the forward direction which is a direction in which the stopper 65, after facing the rod 75 and the rod 74, comes face-to-face with the rod 73. Therefore, supposedly, even in a case in which the trouble such as, air in the air cylinder is vented when the stop 65 is facing the rod 75 or the rod 74 occurs, there is no possibility that the head bar 10 descends beyond the second print position that had been planned initially. Moreover, the magnitude of impact in a case in which the first frame 42 and the head 10 descended when the rod 75 (74) and the stopper 65 are facing each other becomes smaller as compared to the magnitude of impact in a case in which the first frame 42 and the head bar 10 descended when the rod 72 and the stopper 65 are facing each other. Accordingly, it is possible to control a damage of the head bar 10 due to descent beyond the second print position and a damage of the head bar 10 (for example, a damage of the lower surface of the head bar 10) caused by the impact due to collision of the rod and the stopper.
Due to a similar reason, in a case of moving the head bar 10 at the second print position, to the retracted position, the rotator 70 is to be rotated in the forward direction which is a direction of facing the rod 76, after the stopper has faced the rod 74 and the rod 75. Accordingly, since it is possible to prevent the rod 72 which is at the distance L3 (L3>L2) from the stopper 65, from facing the stopper 65, there is no possibility that the bead bar 10 descends beyond the second print position that has been planned initially. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the damage of head bar 10, such as the lower surface of the head bar 10 from being damaged. Moreover, as mentioned above, it is possible to suppress the impact due to the collision of the rod and the stopper.
To sum up, in the present disclosure, in a case of rotating the rotator 70 such that the state changes from the state in which the stopper 65 is facing one (rod at a start position) of the rods 72 to 76 to the state in which the stopper 65 is facing another rod (rod at a stop position) of the rods 72 to 76, the rotator 70 is to be rotated such that the stopper 65 does not face a rod shorter than the rod at the start position and the rod at the stop position. Accordingly, there is no possibility of the head bar 10 descending below an anticipated position, and it is possible to suppress the damage of the head bar 10 caused due to the descent of the head bar 10, such as a damage of the lower surface of the head bar 10. Moreover, as mentioned above, it is possible to suppress the impact due to the collision of the rod and the stopper.
Next, another aspect of the rotator will be described below. In the description above, lengths of the rods 72 to 76 were mutually different. In the present disclosure, the rotator 70 is not restricted to the aspect mentioned above. For instance, it is possible to adopt a rotator 170 as depicted in
As depicted in
A height-wise position of a portion of the lower surface of the base 171 in which the recess 175 having a sectorial shape is not formed, is same as a height-wise position of the contact portion of the rod 73 of the rotator 70. Therefore, by bringing the stopper 65 in contact with a portion of the base 171 on which the recess 175 is not formed, it is possible to position the head bar 10 at the second print position.
A cut CT1 is made in a portion of the lower surface of the base 171, in contact with the rod 172. A depth of the cut CT1 is adjusted such that a height-wise position of the rod 172 becomes same as a height-wise position of a contact portion of the rod 74 of the rotator 70. Therefore, by bringing the stopper 65 in contact with the contact portion of the rod 172, it is possible to position the head bar 10 at the capping position. Moreover, a cut shallower than the cut CT2 is made in a portion of the lower surface of the base 171, in contact with an end portion of the rod 173. A depth of the cut is adjusted such that a height-wise position of a front end of the rod 173 becomes same as a height-wise position of a front end of the rod 75 of the rotator 70. Therefore, by bringing the stopper 65 in contact with the front end of the rod 173, it is possible to position the head bar 10 at the wiping position. Furthermore, no cut is made in a portion of the lower surface of the base 171, in contact with an end portion of the rod 174. A height-wise position of a front end of the rod 174 is same as a height-wise position of a front end of the rod 76 of the rotator 70. Therefore, by bringing the stopper 65 in contact with the front end of the rod 174, it is possible to position the head bar 10 at the retracted position.
<Advantageous Effects of the Embodiment>
In the printing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the head bar unit includes at least one head bar 10, the movement 50, and the adjuster 60. As mentioned above, the head bar unit further includes the pair of arms 41, the first frame 42 in the form of a plate to which the pair of arms 41 is attached, the second frame 43 which is provided at the lower side of the first frame 42, and the two shafts 44. The rotator 70 (the rotator 170) and the motor 62 of the adjuster 60 are supported by the first frame 42 via the trestle 61, and the stopper 65 is supported by the second frame 43.
In the configuration mentioned above, the movement 50 is configured to move in the vertical direction the head bar 10 and the adjuster 60. The motor 62 provided to the adjuster 60 is not provided to the movement 50 which is for moving the head bar 10 and the adjuster 60 in the vertical direction, but is provided for rotating the rotator 70 (the rotator 170). Therefore, it is possible to adopt a motor having a small output as compared to a case of providing a motor to the movement 50, and it is possible to use a motor of an inexpensive price. Moreover, the adjuster 60 which adjusts the position in the vertical direction of the head bar 10 being provided apart from the movement 50, the movement is not required to carry out a fine position control. Therefore, in the movement 50, there is no need to use a motor, and it is possible to adopt a mechanism such as the air cylinder 51, which, though unsuitable for fine position control, is cheaper than using a motor.
The rotator 70 includes the base 71, and the rods 72 to 76 extended from the base 71. The lower end of the rods 72 to 76 makes a contact with the upper end of the stopper 65. The rotator 170 includes the base 171, and the rods 172 to 174 extended from the base 171. The lower end of the rods 172 to 174 makes a contact with the upper end of the stopper 65. In the present disclosure, it is also possible to fabricate the rotator by machining as an integrated component from one member. Whereas, in the present embodiment, the rotator 70 described above has a structure in which the rods 72 to 76 are fixed to the base 71, and the rotator 170 has a structure in which the rods 172 to 174 are fixed to the base 171. In this case, it is possible to fabricate the rotator 70 (the rotator 170) by machining easily as compared to a case of fabricating the rotator 70 (rotator 170), as an integrated component from one member.
The recess 175 is formed on the lower surface of the base 171 of the rotator 170. In the vertical direction, a distance between the recess 175 and the upper surface of the stopper 65 is longer than a distance between the lower end of the rods 172 to 174 and the upper surface of the stopper 65. It is possible to make a tolerance for the depth of the recess 175 in a case of forming the recess 175 smaller than a tolerance for lengths of the rods 172 to 174 in a case of forming the rods 172 to 174. In other words, it is possible to carry out accurately the positioning of the head bar 10 when the upper surface of the stopper 65 is brought in contact with the recess 175 than having brought in contact with the lower end of the rods 172 to 174.
In the embodiment described above, the rotator 70 includes the rods 72 to 76 extended from the base 71, and the positions of the contact portions of the rods 72 to 76 in the vertical direction differ mutually. Similarly, the rotator 170 includes the rods 172 to 174 extended from the base 171, and the positions of the contact portions of the rods 172 to 174 in the vertical direction differ mutually. In such manner, the positions of the contact portions of the plurality of rods being mutually different, it is possible to carry out easily the positioning at the plurality of positions by using one rotator.
In the embodiment described above, the cut CT1 is made in the portion of the lower surface of the base 171, in contact with the rod 172. Whereas, the cut shallower than the cut CT1 is made in the portion of the lower surface of the base 171, in contact with the rod 173. In such manner, the cuts of different depths being made in the respective portions of the lower surface of the base 171, in contact with the rods 172 and 173, the positions in the vertical direction of the portions of the lower surface of the base 171, in contact with the rods 172 and 173 differ mutually. Therefore, even in a case in which rods of the same length are used as the rods 172 and 173, the positions in the vertical direction of the front ends (contact portions) of the rods 172 and 173 become different positions. Therefore, it is possible to use general-purpose products having a same size as the rods 172 and 173, and to reduce a cost.
In the embodiment described above, the rods 72 to 76 are formed of stainless steel, and the stopper 65 is formed of hardened stainless steel. Therefore, the hardness of the stopper 65 is higher than the hardness of the rods 72 to 76. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the stopper from being damaged by making a contact with the rod.
In the embodiment described above, the heads 11 are arranged side-by-side in the head bar 10, in a row in the left-right direction intersecting the vertical direction. Moreover, the adjuster 60 is arranged almost in the middle of the head bar 10. Furthermore, the pair of air cylinders 51 is fixed to the first frame 42 and the second frame 43 at positions away at an equal distance in the left-right direction from the adjuster 60. Thus, since the movement 50 moves the head bar 10 supporting at least at two points, there is no possibility of the head bar 10 getting tilted (inclined), thereby making it possible to support the head bar 10 in a balanced manner. Moreover, the adjuster 60 being arranged almost in the middle of the head bar 10 in the left-right direction, there is no possibility of the head bar 10 getting tilted even when the adjuster 60 adjusts the vertical position of the head bar 10. Note that, the adjuster 60 is not restricted to be arranged accurately (exactly) in the middle in the left-right direction of the head bar, but preferably, is to be arranged in the middle as far as possible. Moreover, it is preferable that, at a position where the adjuster 60 is arranged, a load on the left side and the right side of the head bar 10 is same.
In the embodiment described above, the recess is formed on the contact surface of the rods 172 to 174, and the projection that fits in the recess of the contact surface of the rods 172 to 174 is formed on the upper surface of the stopper 65. Accordingly, it is possible to bring the rod and the stopper in contact assuredly. Note that, a projection may be formed on the contact surface of the rods 172 to 174, and a recess in which the projection on the contact surface of the rods 172 to 174 fits may have been formed on the upper surface of the stopper 65.
In the embodiment disclosed this time, all the points are exemplifications, and not restricted. For each configuration indicated in the embodiment described above, not all components are essential, and the configuration can be omitted partly according to the requirement. For example, the number and the arrangement of head bars 10 and the number and the arrangement of heads in one head bar may be changed appropriately. Moreover, the number and positions of nozzles 11a in each head 11 may be changed appropriately. Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, one movement 50 and one adjuster 60 were provided to one head bar 10, but the present disclosure is not restricted to such aspect. For instance, one movement 50 and adjuster 60 may have been provided to the plurality of head bars 10. Moreover, one movement 50 and adjuster 60 may have been provided to two head bars 10. Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, the controller 7 was provided to the printing apparatus 1, but the present disclosure is not restricted to such aspect. For instance, the controller 7 may have been provided to the head bar unit.
In the embodiment described above, the structure, the shape, and the material of the movement 50 and the adjuster 60 may be changed appropriately. For instance, in the embodiment described above, the rotator of the adjuster included five or three rods, and had five contact portions including the contact portion formed on the base of the rotator. However, the present disclosure, is not restricted to such aspect, and the rotator may have not more than four or not less than six contact portions. Moreover, in the embodiment described above, the rods of the rotator were formed of stainless steel, and the stopper was formed of hardened stainless steel. However, the present disclosure is not restricted to such aspect. It is possible to form the rods and the stopper of appropriate materials. However, it is preferable that the hardness of the stopper is more than the hardness of the rod.
Moreover, the present disclosure is not restricted to a printing apparatus of an ink-jet type which jets an ink. The present teaching may be applicable even to a printing apparatus which is used for various applications other than printing of an image. For instance, it is possible to apply the present teaching even to a printing apparatus which forms an electroconductive pattern on a substrate surface by jetting an electroconductive liquid on to the substrate. It is intended that the scope of the present disclosure includes all modifications within the scope of the patent claims and a scope equivalent to the scope of the patent claims. In the present teaching, the ordinal numbers indicate a name, and do not necessarily indicate the order.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2021-042395 | Mar 2021 | JP | national |