This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-189449, filed on Oct. 16, 2019, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
The present disclosure relates to a liquid jet head and a liquid jet recording device.
As a liquid jet recording device, there can be cited an inkjet type recording device for spraying ink onto a recording target medium such as recording paper to perform recording of images, characters, or the like. In the liquid jet recording device of this type, the ink is supplied from an ink tank to an inkjet head. Then, by jetting the ink from a plurality of nozzle holes provided to the inkjet head toward the recording target medium, recording of the images, the characters, or the like is performed.
The inkjet head is provided with a nozzle array constituted by a plurality of nozzle holes arranged along a predetermined direction. Further, inside the liquid jet recording device, the nozzle array is disposed at a predetermined position with respect to a carriage. As an alignment technology used when arranging the nozzle array, there has already existed what makes the inkjet head make a relative displacement to the carriage due to an operation of an eccentric part to achieve the alignment of the nozzle holes or the nozzle array (JP-A-2006-212791).
In Patent Application No. 2019-107218 having already been submitted to Japan Patent Office by the applicant of the present application, there is described a position adjustment mechanism of a liquid jet head (nozzle holes in essence) provided with a member the position in a planar direction of which is fixed with respect to a carriage. Here, by forming a fixed point with respect to the carriage using such a member and then pushing the fixed point with an adjustment member separately provided to the liquid jet head side, it is possible to realize an alignment in a different direction from that in the mechanism described above.
However, the pressing point by the adjustment member with respect to the member on the carriage side is shifted depending on the positional relationship between the both members in some cases, and in this case, there is a concern that it becomes unachievable to smoothly perform the alignment of the nozzle holes since the displacement in other directions than the desired direction occurs in the liquid jet nozzles.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a liquid jet head and a liquid jet recording device taking such a problem into consideration.
In one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a liquid jet head to be installed in a carriage of a liquid jet recording device. The liquid jet head according to the present aspect includes a nozzle section having a jet hole for liquid, a support member configured to support the nozzle section, and a position adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a position of the jet hole with respect to the carriage. The position adjustment mechanism includes a reference member a position of which with respect to the carriage is fixable, a position adjustment member which is coupled to the support member, and is configured to push the reference member to change a relative distance with respect to the reference member to thereby displace the support member on the carriage, and an intermediary member intervening between the reference member and the position adjustment member. The intermediary member is attached to either one of the reference member and the position adjustment member to form a first pressure-receiving surface facing to a displacement direction of the support member, and the other of the reference member and the position adjustment member has contact with the first pressure-receiving surface.
In another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a liquid jet recording device including the liquid jet head according to the above aspect, the carriage to which the liquid jet head is attached, and a drive mechanism configured to move the carriage with respect to a print medium.
According to the liquid jet head related to one aspect of the present disclosure and the liquid jet recording device equipped with the liquid jet head, since a substantive pressing point of the position adjustment member with respect to the reference member is formed on the first pressure-receiving surface of the intermediary member, it becomes possible to move the support member in the desired direction (specifically, the direction in which the first pressure-receiving surface faces) with respect to the carriage irrespective of the positional relationship between the both members, and therefore, it is possible to smoothly perform the position adjustment of the nozzle holes.
An embodiment of the present disclosure will hereinafter be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[Overall Configuration of Printer 1]
As shown in
The printer 1 is a specific example of the “liquid jet recording device” according to the present disclosure, and the inkjet heads 4 are each a specific example of the “liquid jet head” according to the present disclosure.
(Carrying Mechanisms 2a, 2b)
The carrying mechanisms 2a, 2b carry the recording paper P along a predetermined carrying direction d (an X direction in
(Ink Tanks 3)
The ink tanks 3 contain the ink color by color. In the present embodiment, as the ink tanks 3, there are disposed four types of ink tanks 3Y, 3M, 3C, and 3K for individually containing the ink of a plurality of colors such as four colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). These ink tanks 3Y, 3M, 3C, and 3K are arranged side by side in the X direction inside the chassis 10. The ink tanks 3Y, 3M, 3C, and 3K all have the same configuration except the color of the ink contained. Therefore, in the following description, the generic term of ink tank 3 is used.
(Inkjet Heads 4)
The inkjet heads 4 each have a plurality of jet holes, and each jet the ink received from the ink tank 3 via the supply tube 5 from the plurality of jet holes toward the recording paper P as droplets to perform the recording of the images, the characters, or the like. In the present embodiment, there are disposed two or more, for example, twelve inkjet heads 4 (see
(Scanning Mechanism 6)
The scanning mechanism 6 makes the inkjet heads 4 perform the scanning action in the width direction of the recording paper P (i.e., the Y direction). The scanning mechanism 6 is provided with a pair of guide rails 31, 32, a carriage 33, and a drive mechanism 34, wherein the pair of guide rails 31, 32 extend in the Y direction, the carriage 33 is supported so as to be able to move on the pair of guide rails 31, 32, and the drive mechanism 34 moves the carriage 33 in the Y direction. The drive mechanism 34 is provided with an electric motor 35 as a power source, and at the same time, provided with an end-less belt 36 spanning a pair of pulleys not shown. The carriage 33 is attached to the end-less belt 36, and by the power of the electric motor 35 being transmitted to the carriage 33 via the end-less belt 36, the carriage 33 moves on the guide rails 31, 32 in the Y direction.
In the present embodiment, the scanning mechanism 6 and the carrying mechanisms 2a, 2b described above constitute a specific example of the “drive mechanism” related to the present disclosure for relatively moving the inkjet heads 4 and the recording paper P in an X-Y plane.
(Carriage 33)
In the present embodiment, the two or more, specifically twelve, inkjet heads 4 are attached to the carriage 33. The inkjet heads 4 each form a rectangular solid shape as a whole, and in a plan view perpendicular to the X-Y plane, the long sides of the inkjet head 4 are disposed in the X direction, and the short sides of the inkjet head 4 are disposed in the Y direction. In such an arrangement, three inkjet heads 4 are disposed along the X direction of the carriage 33, and four inkjet heads 4 are disposed in the Y direction thereof. The three inkjet heads 4 arranged in the X direction are aligned with each other in the Y direction, and the four inkjet heads 4 arranged in the Y direction are disposed in a zigzag manner. As described above, in the carriage 33, the plurality of inkjet heads 4 is arranged in the Y direction in a zigzag manner.
[Detailed Configuration of Inkjet Heads 4]
The details of the configuration of the inkjet heads 4 will be described with reference to
The inkjet head 4 is typically provided with head modules 40, a base plate 41, position adjustment mechanisms M, and the cover 42, wherein the head modules 40 each have a plurality of jet holes 40H, the base plate 41 intervenes between the carriage 33 and the head modules 40 to support the head modules 40, the position adjustment mechanisms M adjust the positions of the jet holes 40H with respect to the carriage 33, and the cover 42 covers the head modules 40. The head modules 40 are each a specific example of a “nozzle section” related to the present disclosure, and the base plate 41 is a specific example of a “support member” related to the present disclosure.
(Head Modules 40)
The head chip 400 jets the ink received via the introduction port 44 toward the recording paper P from the jet hole 40H to thereby make the ink (the droplet 9) adhere to the recording paper. The head chip 400 is provided with a nozzle plate 401, an actuator plate 402, and a cover plate 403 stacked in sequence from, for example, a side far from the electronic control board 43, namely a side close to the recording paper P not shown.
The nozzle plate 401 has a plurality of communication holes forming the jet holes 40H. In the present embodiment, the plurality of communication holes is arranged side by side in the X direction. Thus, the nozzle plate 401 has a nozzle array extending in the X direction (
The actuator plate 402 has a plurality of jet channels respectively communicated with the jet holes 40H, and electrically changes the pressure in the jet channel in which the ink 9 is introduced to thereby push the ink in the jet channel out toward the jet hole 40H, and thus, jet the ink outside from the jet hole 40H when performing recording (printing) on the recording paper P.
The cover plate 403 has a plurality of slits, and introduces the ink 9 into the actuator plate 402 (specifically the jet channel) via the plurality of slits.
(Base Plate 41)
The base plate 41 is fixed to the carriage 33 to support the head modules 40. In the present embodiment, the base plate 41 is formed of a plate-like member having a roughly rectangular shape, and forms a flat plate-like shape as a whole. The base plate 41 further includes positioning areas 41R in which the position adjustment mechanisms are implemented in both end portions in a long-side direction (the X direction in
The base plate 41 shaped like a flat plate has an obverse surface S1, and a reverse surface S2 facing opposite to the obverse surface S1, wherein the cover 42 is attached to the obverse surface S1. A thickness direction of the base plate 41 (the Z direction in
In a central part of the base plate 41, there are disposed insertion holes 410 to which the head modules 40 are respectively inserted. The insertion holes 410 penetrate the base plate 41 in the thickness direction, and each have a shape coinciding with the outer shape of the head module 40 in a plan view of the base plate 41 viewed in an insertion direction of the head module 40 (the Z direction in
The base plate 41 has the positioning areas 41R in the both end portions in a long-side direction (the X direction). The positioning areas 41R are each an area where the position adjustment mechanism M described later is installed, and the position adjustment mechanism M adjusts the relative position of the base plate 41 with respect to the carriage 33 to thereby indirectly adjust the positions of the jet holes 40H or the nozzle array with respect to the carriage 33. In the present embodiment, the positioning areas 41R are each disposed outside the head modules 40 and the cover 42, specifically, outside in the long-side direction or the X direction in the plan view shown in
(Electronic Control Board 43)
The electronic control board 43 controls the overall operation of the inkjet head 4. In the present embodiment, the electronic control board 43 is provided with a circuit board 431, a drive circuit 432, and a flexible board 433. The circuit board 431 is elected on the head chip 400, and the drive circuit 432 includes an electronic component such as an integrated circuit (IC), and is provided to the circuit board 431. The flexible board 433 is coupled to the head chip 400 and the drive circuit 432.
(Cover 42)
The cover 42 is disposed on the base plate 41 (specifically, the obverse surface S1) so as to surround the electronic control board 43 to prevent the adhesion of the ink 9 to the electronic control board 43. In the present embodiment, the cover 42 has a rectangular solid box-like shape, and the long sides of the cover 42 are disposed along the long-side direction (the X direction) of the base plate 41.
[Detailed Configuration of Position Adjustment Mechanism M1]
(δ-Adjustment Section)
The θ-adjustment section is generally constituted by a carriage pin 411 and a spring 412. The carriage pin 411 is a specific example of a “reference member” related to the present disclosure, and is a position adjustment member for the θ adjustment, and at the same time, also functions as the reference member for the X adjustment in the present embodiment. The spring 412 is a specific example of a “biasing member” related to the present disclosure, and is constituted by a wire spring in the present embodiment. In each of the positioning areas 41R, there are disposed a hole part H penetrating the base plate 41 in the thickness direction and screw holes 41SH, and the carriage pin 411 and the spring 412 are fitted into the hole part H.
The hole part H has a bottomed hole Ha opening on the obverse surface S1 side of the base plate 41, and a through hole Hb penetrating the base plate 41 in the thickness direction. A seating surface 41Z of the bottomed hole Ha is disposed between the obverse surface S1 and the reverse surface S2 of the base plate 41, namely in the middle in the thickness direction of the base plate 41. On the seating surface 41Z, there are disposed protruding parts Hp protruding toward the obverse surface S. The bottomed hole Ha and the through hole Hb are communicated with each other to form an integrated space opening on the obverse surface S1 side.
The screw holes 41SH each penetrate the base plate 41 in the thickness direction, and screws 46 (
In the present embodiment, the carriage pin 411 has a shaft part 4111, an eccentric part 4112, an intermediate part 4113, and a shaft part 4114 in this order along the central axis from the upper side toward the lower side in
On the other hand, the shaft part 4114 is inserted into a shaft hole of the carriage 33. In the present embodiment, the cross-sectional surface of the shaft part 4114 perpendicular to the central axis of the carriage 33 has a circular shape, and the shaft part 4114 can rotate around the central axis of the carriage pin 411 in the state of being inserted in the shaft hole. In other words, the carriage pin 411 is rotatably pivoted by the shaft hole of the carriage 33. Thus, the position in the X and Y directions, namely planar directions, of the carriage pin 411 with respect to the carriage 33 is fixed.
The spring 412 is disposed in the bottomed hole Ha of the hole part H (
The spring 412 is clipped between the protruding parts Hp and the interior wall of the bottomed hole Ha, and the position in the bottomed hole Ha is fixed by the protruding parts Hp. The spring 412 has a bend part, and a tip part from the bend part protrudes toward the inside of the hole part H to have contact with the eccentric part 4112 (specifically, the outer circumferential surface) of the carriage pin 411. The eccentric part 4112 is in a state in which the rotation initial part 4112a has contact with a second pressure-receiving surface Sp2 of the base plate 41 formed as a part of the interior wall of the hole part H, and is pressed against the second pressure-receiving surface Sp2 by the spring 412. The reactive force reaches the base plate 41 via the spring 412 to bias the base plate 41.
In the present embodiment, the second pressure-receiving surface Sp2 is located at a position with a distance dl from the position of the central axis C of the carriage pin 411. The distance dl is the same as the distance r1 from the central axis C of the rotation initial part 4112a of the eccentric part 4112. Therefore, by disposing the carriage pin 411, and rotating the carriage pin 411 (clockwise shown in
(X-Adjustment Section)
The X-adjustment section is provided with the carriage pin 411, the eccentric pin 421, and a sleeve (in the present embodiment, the sleeve is a member overlaid on, or fitted into, the pin, and can therefore be also referred to as a “socket”) 425. As described above, the carriage pin 411 is a specific example of the “reference member” related to the present disclosure, and in the present embodiment, the shaft part 4114 on the lower side is inserted into the shaft hole of the carriage 33. In the state in which the shaft part 4114 is inserted into the shaft hole of the carriage 33, the carriage pin 411 can be rotated around the central axis C of the carriage pin 411 with respect to the carriage 33, and at the same time, the position in X-Y directions, namely the position in planar direction, with respect to the carriage 33 is fixed. The eccentric pin 421 is a specific example of the “position adjustment member” related to the present disclosure, and is rotatably coupled to the base plate 41. The sleeve 425 is a specific example of an “intermediary member” related to the present disclosure, and is disposed between the carriage pin 411 and the eccentric pin 421 as an intermediate. In the present embodiment, the eccentric pin 421 is provided with an eccentric part 4212 having an outer circumferential surface eccentric with respect to the central axis of the rotation, the eccentric action exerted by the outer circumferential surface of the eccentric part 4212 is transmitted to the carriage pin 411 (specifically, the shaft part 4111 in the upper part thereof) via the sleeve 425, and the base plate 41 is moved on the carriage 33 due to the reactive force.
(Eccentric Pin 421)
As shown in
(Sleeve 425)
In the present embodiment, on a side surface of the main body part 4251 of the sleeve 425, there is formed a first pressure-receiving surface Sp1 disposed in parallel to the central axis of the through hole h, namely the central axis of the carriage pin 411. In the state in which the sleeve 425 is attached to the carriage pin 411, the first pressure-receiving surface Sp1 faces to a displacement direction of the base plate 41 and the jet holes 40H due to the X adjustment, and in other words, the normal line of the first pressure-receiving surface Sp1 is parallel to the displacement direction of the base plate 41. As shown in
Further, in the present embodiment, there is further provided a locking part 4253 for locking the eccentric part 4212 of the eccentric pin 421 to the main body part 4251 of the sleeve 425 from the distal side from the base plate 41. Thus, the eccentric part 4212 is set in the state of being vertically sandwiched by the locking part 4253 and the obverse surface S1 of the base plate 41. In other words, in the sleeve 425, a recessed part R in which a part of the eccentric part 4212 is inserted is disposed on a side surface of the main body part 4251, and the first pressure-receiving surface Sp1 is formed on the recessed part R to which the outer circumferential surface of the eccentric part 4212 faces.
The position adjustment in the X direction can be realized not only by the function of the eccentricity (due to, e.g., the eccentric pin 421 (421a)), but also by a function of a cam.
[Method of Installing Inkjet Heads 4]
Firstly, the carriage pin 411 and the spring 412 are fitted into the hole part H of the base plate 41 in this order. The shaft part 4111 and the eccentric part 4112 of the carriage pin 411 are inserted into the large-diameter part Hb1 of the through hole Hb from below, and then the carriage pin 411 is moved in the through hole Hb so that the intermediate part 4113 is fitted in the small-diameter part Hb2 of the through hole Hb (
Subsequently, the shaft part 4114 of the carriage pin 411 protruding from the reverse surface S2 of the base plate 41 is inserted into a shaft hole 33H of the carriage 33. Thus, the carriage pin 411 is pivotally supported by the shaft hole 33H of the carriage 33.
Further, when mounting the base plate 41 on the carriage 33, the spring 412 having contact with the carriage pin 411 (specifically the eccentric part 4112) biases the carriage pin 411 pivotally supported by the shaft hole 33H of the carriage 33. The base plate 41 is biased by the reactive force, and the stoppers 41A, 41B of the base plate 41 are struck against predetermined regions of the carriage 33, and thus, the rough position in the X-Y plane of the base plate 41, namely the jet holes 40H, with respect to the carriage 33 is fixed. Here, on the second pressure-receiving surface Sp2 disposed on the interior wall of the bottomed hole Ha, there is disposed the rotation initial part 4112a out of the eccentric part 4112 of the carriage pin 411.
Subsequently, by rotating the carriage pin 411 as shown in
After or in parallel to the position adjustment (the θ-adjustment) in the rotational direction, the position adjustment in a translational direction (the X direction in the present embodiment) is performed.
As shown in
After the completion of the position adjustment of the jet holes 40H, the screws 46 are inserted into the screw holes 41SH as shown in
[Operations and Functions/Advantages]
(A. Basic Operation of Printer 1)
In the present embodiment, printing of images, characters, and so on to the recording paper P is performed by the printer 1. As an initial state, it is assumed that the four types of ink tanks 3 shown in
In the initial state, when operating the printer 1, the grit rollers 21 in the carrying mechanisms 2a, 2b rotate, and the recording paper P is held between the grit rollers 21 and the pinch rollers 22 to thereby be carried in the carrying direction d (the X direction). At the same time as such a carrying operation, the electric motor 35 in the drive mechanism 34 is driven to rotate the pulleys not shown to thereby move the carriage 33 via the endless belt 36. The carriage 33 reciprocates in the width direction of the recording paper P (the Y direction) while being guided by the guide rails 31, 32. By arbitrarily ejecting the ink from the inkjet heads 4 to the recording paper P while changing the relative positional relationship between the recording paper P and the carriage 33 in such a manner as described above, the printing of the images, the characters, and so on to the recording paper P is achieved.
(B. Operation in Head Modules 40)
In the head modules 40, the flow channels of the ink 9 extending from the introduction port 44 toward the discharge port 45 are formed, and the ink is branched from the flow channels to be supplied to the plurality of jet holes 40H. Here, a part of the ink 9 introduced into the flow channels via the introduction port 44 flows through the flow channel toward the discharge port 45, and another part thereof is introduced into the jet holes 40H when performing recording, and is jetted toward the recording paper P.
(C. Functions/Advantages)
The liquid jet heads (the inkjet heads 4) according to the present embodiment each have the configuration described hereinabove, and the advantages obtained by the present embodiment will hereinafter be described.
First, the sleeve 425 is provided, the sleeve 425 is provided with the first pressure-receiving surface Sp1 facing to the displacement direction of the base plate 41, further the sleeve 425 is attached to the carriage pin 411, and at the same time, the eccentric pin 421 is made to have contact with the first pressure-receiving surface Sp1 of the sleeve 425. Thus, even when a shift occurs in the position of the eccentric pin 421 with respect to the carriage pin 411, for example, even when the shift occurs in a direction (specifically, a direction perpendicular to the displacement direction) other than the displacement direction of the base plate 41, due to the rotation of the eccentric pin 421 for the positioning, it becomes possible to perpendicularly push the first pressure-receiving surface Sp1 with the eccentric pin 421. Therefore, it is possible to displace the inkjet head 4, namely the jet holes 40H, in the desired direction (the displacement direction of the base plate 41, and in the present embodiment, the nozzle array direction in which the plurality of jet holes 40H is arranged) with respect to the carriage 33 irrespective on the shift in the positional relationship.
Second, the position adjustment mechanisms M1, M2 are disposed on the inner side of the outer edge 41E in the planar direction, for example, the planar direction of the X-Y plane on the base plate 41. Thus, since it becomes possible to achieve the reduction of the space occupied by the inkjet head 4, it is possible to dispose the inkjet heads 4 in a space-efficient manner.
It should be noted that the positions where the position adjustment mechanisms M1, M2 are disposed are not limited to the inner side of the outer edge 41E of the base plate 41, and it is possible to dispose the position adjustment mechanisms M1, M2 on the outer edge 41E, or on the outer side of the outer edge 41E. For example, it is possible to dispose the θ-adjustment section out of the position adjustment mechanism M1 on the inner side of the outer edge 41E on the one hand, and dispose the X-adjustment section or the eccentric pin 421 out of the position adjustment mechanism M1 on the outer side of the outer edge 41E on the other hand.
Third, the sleeve 425 is attached to the carriage pin 411, and the eccentric outer circumferential surface (the eccentric part 4212) of the eccentric pin 421 is made to have contact with the first pressure-receiving surface Sp1 of the sleeve 425. Thus, it becomes possible to transmit the function of the eccentricity based on the rotation of the carriage pin 411 to the carriage pin 411 in a more straightforward manner, and therefore, finer positioning of the jet holes 40H becomes possible.
Further, by adopting the cam pin 421b instead of the eccentric pin 421, and making the cam face provided to the outer circumference of the cam pin 421b have contact with the first pressure-receiving surface Sp1, it is possible to achieve an increase in the displacement of the base plate 41 and the jet holes 40H with respect to the carriage 33 while suppressing an increase in force necessary to rotate the cam pin 421b due to the nature of the cam. Further, when using the function of the cam, it is possible to suppress the displacement of the jet holes 40H per unit rotational angle of the cam pin 421b necessary to achieve a predetermined displacement of the jet holes 40H to a small amount to thereby make a contribution to the realization of more precise positioning.
Fourth, the sleeve 425 is provided with the locking part 4253 to lock the eccentric part 4112 of the eccentric pin 421 with the locking part 4253 from the distal side from the base plate 41, namely in the state in which the locking part 4253 overhangs the eccentric part 4112. Thus, it becomes possible to more surely avoid the separation of the eccentric pin 421 from the base plate 41, and therefore, it is possible to smoothly perform the positioning of the jet holes 40H.
Fifth, by monotonically changing the height of the cam provided to the cam pin 421b in the rotational direction of the cam pin 421b, the rotational angle of the cam pin 421b and the displacement of the base plate 41 due to the cam face become to correspond to each other, and therefore, it becomes possible to figure out the displacement of the jet holes 40H from the rotational angle of the cam pin 421p.
Sixth, the second pressure-receiving surface Sp2 facing to a different direction from the displacement direction of the base plate 41, the nozzle array direction in the present embodiment, is formed on an interior surface of the hole part H of the base plate 41, and the eccentric part 4112 of the carriage pin 411 is made to have contact with the second pressure-receiving surface Sp2. Thus, the positioning of the jet holes 40H toward the different direction from the direction of the position adjustment by the eccentric pin 421 becomes possible, and it is possible to dispose the jet holes 40H with higher accuracy with respect to the carriage 33.
Here, by setting the direction of the second pressure-receiving surface Sp2 to the direction perpendicular to the direction to which the first pressure-receiving surface Sp1 faces, namely the nozzle array direction, the position adjustment in a direction perpendicular to the nozzle array direction, for example, the rotational direction becomes possible in addition to the position adjustment in the nozzle array direction of the jet holes 40H.
Seventh, by disposing the display sections I1, I2 for displaying the displacement of the base plate 41 toward the displacement direction of the base image 41, it becomes possible to perform the position adjustment while checking the displacement of the jet holes 40H toward the nozzle array direction, and therefore, more accurate positioning of the jet holes 40H becomes possible.
In the embodiment described above, the sleeve 425 as a specific example of the “intermediary member” is attached to the member on the carriage 33 side out of the member (the carriage pin 411) on the carriage 33 side and the member (the eccentric pin 421) on the base plate 41 side. However, the arrangement of the intermediary member is not limited thereto, and it is possible to attach the intermediary member to the member on the base plate 41 side as another specific example.
In the present embodiment, as an example of such an aspect, a sleeve 431 as another specific example of the “intermediary member” is attached to the member on the base plate 41 side, for example, the eccentric pin 421.
It is substantially the same as in the embodiment described above that the position adjustment mechanisms M1, M2 are disposed in the positioning areas 41R located at the both ends of the base plate 41, and are different in configuration from each other. In other words, the θ-adjustment section is disposed in both of the positioning areas 41R, and the X-adjustment section is disposed in either one of the positioning areas 41R. The description will hereinafter be presented using the position adjustment mechanism M1 as a representative.
In the present embodiment, the X-adjustment section of the position adjustment mechanism M1 is generally provided with the carriage pin 411 as a specific example of the “reference member,” the eccentric pin 422 as a specific example of the “position adjustment member,” and the sleeve 431 as a specific example of the “intermediary member.” Out of these elements 411, 422, and 431, the configuration of the carriage pin 411 is basically the same as that in the embodiment described above.
(Eccentric Pin 422)
In the present embodiment, there is adopted the sleeve 431 to be attached to the eccentric pin 422 (specifically, an eccentric part 4221 thereof) instead of the sleeve 425 attached to the shaft part of the carriage pin 411. As shown in
(Sleeve 431)
As shown in
The sleeve 431 is attached to the eccentric part 4221 so as to be able to rotate around the central axis (the central axis of the shaft part 4222) of the rotation of the eccentric pin 422 with respect to the eccentric pin 422. In other words, as shown in
Similarly to the embodiment described above, after the completion of the position adjustment in the rotational direction by the θ-adjustment section, the position adjustment in the translation direction, namely the nozzle array direction or the X direction, is performed by the X-adjustment section. By rotating the eccentric pin 422, the eccentric part 4221 rotates relatively to the sleeve 431. The eccentric action by the eccentric part 4221 reaches the carriage pin 411 via the first pressure-receiving surface Sp1 of the sleeve 431, and the base plate 41 and the jet holes 40H are displaced by the reactive force of that action.
As described above, according to the present embodiment, by attaching the sleeve 431 to the eccentric part 4221, and at the same time, making the outer circumferential surface of the carriage pin 411 have contact with the first pressure-receiving surface Sp1 of the sleeve 431, it becomes possible to displace the jet holes 40H in the desired direction (the nozzle array direction in the present embodiment) with respect to the carriage 33 irrespective of the shift in the positional relationship between the carriage pin 411 and the eccentric pin 422.
Further, since it becomes possible to apply the present embodiment to the existing carriage 33 having already been provided with the element (the carriage pin 411) for realizing a specific example of the “reference member,” it is possible to implement the inkjet heads 4 and the printer 1 according to the present embodiment in a cost-effective manner.
Further, according to the present embodiment, by restricting the rotation of the sleeve 431 with respect to the base plate 41 with the tongue-like protruding part 4314, it becomes possible to keep the first pressure-receiving surface Sp1 of the sleeve 431 in a constant direction, and therefore, it is possible to more surely set the displacement direction of the jet holes 40H with respect to the carriage 33 to the desired direction.
In all of the embodiments described hereinabove, it is possible to make the sleeves 425, 431 from a different material from the material of the other member (the eccentric pin 421 to the sleeve 425, the carriage pin 411 to the sleeve 431) having contact with the first pressure-receiving surface Sp1. For example, by making the sleeves 425, 431 from a material softer than the other member, it is possible to suppress the abrasion occurring in the other member.
Further, since it becomes possible to form the sleeves 425, 431 from a material high in sliding property, it is possible to smoothly perform the position adjustment in the X direction with high accuracy. As a material applicable to the sleeves 425, 431, it is possible to cite POTICON (registered trademark). By applying POTICON, it is possible to enhance the sliding property of the sleeves 425, 431, and at the same time, it is possible to improve the abrasion resistance.
In the above description, regarding the position adjustment in the nozzle array direction, namely the X direction, it is assumed that the eccentric surface or the cam face is provided to the member on the base plate 41 side to transmit the action of the eccentricity or the cam to the member on the carriage 33 side via the first pressure-receiving surface of the sleeve. Such a configuration is not a limitation, and it is also possible to arrange that the eccentric surface or the like is provided to the member on the carriage 33 side, and the member on the base plate 41 side is displaced using the function of the eccentricity and so on to achieve the position adjustment of the jet holes 40H. For example, a sleeve having an annular shape is attached to a pin member on the base plate 41 side to make the eccentric surface or the cam face provided to the carriage pin 411 have contact with the first pressure-receiving surface of the sleeve.
Although in the above description, the positioning areas 41R are disposed in the both end parts in the long-side direction of the base plate 41, it is also possible to arrange to dispose the positioning area 41R in either one of the end parts in the long-side direction of the base plate 41. Further, it is also possible to dispose the positioning area 41R in an end part in the short-side direction besides the end parts in the long-side direction.
Further, although in the above description, there is cited the printer 1 (the inkjet printer) as a specific example of the “liquid jet recording device” according to the present disclosure, this example is not a limitation, and it is also possible to apply the present disclosure to printers of other types than the inkjet type, or other devices than the printer. In other words, the “liquid jet head” (the inkjet head 4 as a specific example thereof) according to the present disclosure can be applied to other devices than the inkjet printer. As an example to which the “liquid jet head” according to the present disclosure can be applied, it is possible to cite a device such as a facsimile device or an on-demand printing machine.
Some of the concepts which can be derived from the above description will be recited below.
<1> A liquid jet head to be installed in a carriage of a liquid jet recording device, the liquid jet head comprising: a nozzle section having a jet hole for liquid; a support member configured to support the nozzle section; and a position adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a position of the jet hole with respect to the carriage, wherein the position adjustment mechanism includes: a reference member, a position of which with respect to the carriage is fixable; a position adjustment member which is coupled to the support member, and is configured to push the reference member to change a relative distance with respect to the reference member to thereby displace the support member on the carriage; and an intermediary member intervening between the reference member and the position adjustment member, the intermediary member is attached to either one of the reference member and the position adjustment member to form a first pressure-receiving surface facing to a displacement direction of the support member, and the other of the reference member and the position adjustment member has contact with the first pressure-receiving surface.
<2> The liquid jet head according to <1>, wherein the support member has a through hole penetrating in a jetting direction of the liquid outside a support area of the nozzle section, the position adjustment mechanism is disposed on an inner side of an outer edge in a planar direction of the support member, and the reference member extends via the through hole.
<3> The liquid jet head according to <1> or <2>, wherein the reference member and the position adjustment member are pin members, central axes of which are disposed in parallel to each other, the intermediary member is attached to the reference member to form the first pressure-receiving surface parallel to the central axis of the reference member, the position adjustment member is rotatably coupled to the support member, and has one of an outer circumferential surface eccentric with respect to the central axis of the position adjustment member and a cam face provided to an outer circumference around the central axis of the position adjustment member, and one of the outer circumferential surface and the cam face of the position adjustment member has contact with the first pressure-receiving surface.
<4> The liquid jet head according to <3>, wherein the intermediary member has a locking part configured to lock an eccentric part of the position adjustment member having one of the outer circumferential surface being eccentric and the cam face from a distal side from the support member.
<5> The liquid jet head according to <3> or <4>, wherein in the position adjustment member, a height of cam as a distance from the central axis of the position adjustment member to the cam face monotonically increases or decreases in a rotational direction of the position adjustment member.
<6> The liquid jet head according to <1> or <2>, wherein the reference member and the position adjustment member are pin members, central axes of which are disposed in parallel to each other, the position adjustment member is rotatably coupled to the support member, and has an eccentric part having an outer circumferential surface eccentric with respect to the central axis of the position adjustment member, the intermediary member is attached to the eccentric part so as to rotate relatively to the position adjustment member to form the first pressure-receiving surface parallel to the central axis of the position adjustment member, and an outer circumferential surface of the reference member has contact with the first pressure-receiving surface.
<7> The liquid jet head according to <6>, wherein the intermediary member has a rotation restriction part configured to restrict a rotation of the intermediary member with respect to the support member.
<8> The liquid jet head according to any one of <1> to <7>, wherein the other of the reference member and the position adjustment member is made of a different material from a material of the intermediary member.
<9> The liquid jet head according to any one of <1> to <8>, further comprising a biasing member intervening between the reference member and the support member, wherein the support member has a hole part forming the through hole, and has a second pressure-receiving surface facing to a different direction from the displacement direction of the support member in an interior surface forming the hole part, the biasing member is fitted into the hole part, the reference member is rotatably coupled to the carriage, and has a second eccentric part having one of an outer circumferential surface eccentric with respect to a central axis of the rotation and a cam face provided to an outer circumference around the central axis of the rotation, one of the outer circumferential surface and the cam face of the second eccentric part has contact with the second pressure-receiving surface, and the biasing member biases the support member toward a direction of a reactive force received by the second eccentric part from the second pressure-receiving surface of the support member.
<10> The liquid jet head according to <9>, wherein the nozzle section has a plurality of the jet holes arranged in a predetermined nozzle array direction, the first pressure-receiving surface faces to the nozzle array direction as the displacement direction of the support member, and the second pressure-receiving surface faces to a direction perpendicular to the nozzle array direction.
<11> The liquid jet head according to anyone of <1> to <10>, further comprising a display section configured to display a displacement of the support member toward the displacement direction of the support member.
<12> A liquid jet recording device comprising: the liquid jet head according to anyone of <1> to <11>; the carriage to which the liquid jet head is attached; and a drive mechanism configured to move the carriage with respect to a print medium.
<13> A liquid jet head to be installed in a carriage of a liquid jet recording device, the liquid jet head comprising: a nozzle section having a jet hole for liquid; a support member configured to support the nozzle section; and a position adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a position of the jet hole with respect to the carriage, wherein the position adjustment mechanism includes: a reference member, a position of which with respect to the carriage is fixable; a movable member which is coupled to the support member, and is configured to move together with the support member to change a relative position to the carriage; and an intermediary member intervening between the reference member and the movable member, the intermediary member is attached to either one of the reference member and the movable member to form a first pressure-receiving surface facing to a displacement direction of the support member, the other of the reference member and the movable member has contact with the first pressure-receiving surface to push the first pressure-receiving surface in the displacement direction, and the movable member moves the support member on the carriage based on one of a force received by the movable member as a reactive force from the first pressure-receiving surface and a force received by the movable member via the first pressure-receiving surface.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2019-189449 | Oct 2019 | JP | national |