Patent Application
20230166534
The present application is based on, and claims priority from JP Application Serial Number 2021-191793, filed Nov. 26, 2021, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
The present disclosure relates to a medium supporting mechanism that supports a transported medium and a printing apparatus.
Hitherto, there has been known, as an example of a printing apparatus, an ink jet-type printing apparatus that performs printing on a medium by ejecting ink onto the medium supported on a medium support face. The ink jet-type printing apparatus includes a medium supporting mechanism in some cases. The medium supporting mechanism supports a medium so as to prevent the medium from floating from the medium support face during printing or transport of the medium. A medium supporting mechanism disclosed in JP-A-2019-162803 has a structure in which two grooves (rails) are provided in a platen to intersect a transport direction and an abutting portion provided to a sheet holding plate passes through the rails. The medium supporting mechanism has a structure in which, when an operating lever is gripped, a clearance is generated between the rails and the abutting portion and the sheet holding plate is freely movable along the rails.
However, in JP-A-2019-162803, when an ejection head extends in the transport direction of the medium for the purpose of increasing a printing speed, the sheet holding plate is also required to be elongated accordingly. Note that, when the sheet holding plate is elongated, a weight of the sheet holding plate is also increased. Thus, there arises a problem of degradation of usability such as operability of the sheet holding plate.
A medium supporting mechanism includes a medium supporting unit, and a medium holding unit, wherein the medium supporting unit includes a support face supporting a medium, a guide rail being provided, at the support face, to extend along a width direction intersecting a transport direction in which the medium is transported, and an engaged portion being positioned upstream of the guide rail in the transport direction and intersecting the support face, the medium holding unit includes a holding portion covering an edge of the medium in the width direction, an abutting portion movable between an abutting position and a separation position, the abutting position being a position at which the abutting portion presses and abuts against the abutting surface being an inner wall of the guide rail, the separation position being a position at which the abutting portion is separated away from the abutting surface, a switching portion configured to switch a position of the abutting portion from one of the abutting position and the separation position to the other one thereof, and an engaging portion configured to engage with the engaged portion, and the medium holding unit further includes a pressing portion downstream of the abutting portion in the transport direction, the pressing portion being configured to press the support face to move a position of the holding portion in a direction away from the support face.
A printing apparatus includes a printing unit configured to perform printing on a medium, and a medium supporting mechanism configured to support the medium, wherein the medium supporting mechanism includes a medium supporting unit, and a medium holding unit, the medium supporting unit includes a support face supporting a medium, a guide rail being provided to extend along a width direction intersecting a transport direction in which the medium is transported, and an engaged portion being positioned upstream of the guide rail in the transport direction and intersecting the support face, the medium holding unit includes a holding portion covering an edge of the medium in the width direction, an abutting portion movable between an abutting position and a separation position, the abutting position being a position at which the abutting portion presses and abuts against the abutting surface being an inner wall of the guide rail, the separation position being a position at which the abutting portion is separated away from the abutting surface, a switching portion configured to switch a position of the abutting portion from one of the abutting position and the separation position to the other one thereof, and an engaging portion configured to engage with the engaged portion, and the medium holding unit further includes a pressing portion downstream of the abutting portion in the transport direction, the pressing portion being configured to press the support face to move a position of the holding portion in a direction away from the support face.
In the present exemplary embodiment, description is made on a printing apparatus 1 that performs printing on a medium M wound in a roll-like shape, as an example. The printing apparatus 1 according to the present exemplary embodiment is a Large Format Printer (LFP) used for printing on a poster, a signboard (a billboard, a direction board, and the like), a banner, a suspension screen, a tapestry, and the like.
For convenience of the description, an XYZ coordinate system is used for illustration in each of the drawings described below while placing the printing apparatus 1 on a horizontal plane as a reference. The X direction corresponds to a main scanning direction of an ejection head 43, and also corresponds to a width direction of the medium M on which printing is performed. A Y direction is orthogonal to the X direction on a horizontal plane including the X direction, and corresponds to a front-back direction of the printing apparatus 1. A Z direction corresponds to a direction orthogonal to the X direction and the Y direction, a vertical direction with respect to the horizontal plane including the X direction and the Y direction, and a height direction of the printing apparatus 1.
In the X direction, the left direction of the printing apparatus 1 corresponds to a +X direction, and the right direction thereof corresponds to a −X direction when a roll body R2 of the printing apparatus 1 is viewed from the front side. In the Y direction, the front direction of the printing apparatus 1 (the roll body R2 side) corresponds to a +Y direction, and the back direction (a roll body R1 side) thereof corresponds to a −Y direction. In the Z direction, the upper direction (including a top portion, a top surface, and the like) of the printing apparatus 1 corresponds to a +Z direction, and the lower direction (including a lower portion, a bottom surface, and the like) thereof corresponds to a −Z direction.
In each of the drawings described below, for convenience of the description and the illustration, an aspect ratio of each member may be illustrated differently from the actuality in some cases. Further, other components than components needed to be described may sometimes be omitted.
Next, with reference to
As illustrated in
The transport unit 30 includes a feeding unit 20 that feeds out the medium M in a roll shape to the printing unit 40, and a winding unit 60 that winds the fed medium M after printing in the printing unit 40. The transport unit 30 includes a transport roller 31 and driven rollers 32 that transport the medium M in a transport direction A in the middle of the transport path between the feeding unit 20 and the winding unit 60.
The transport roller 31 has a substantially cylindrical shape elongated in the X direction, and is driven by a driving motor (not illustrated) to rotate about the X direction as a rotation axis direction. The plurality of driven rollers 32 are aligned in the X direction at positions facing the transport roller 31, and press the medium M against the transport roller 31. The medium M is nipped between the transport roller 31 and the driven rollers 32, and is transported in the transport direction A (the +Y direction) as the transport roller 31 is driven to rotate.
The feeding unit 20 is arranged upstream of the transport roller 31. The feeding unit 20 holds the roll body R1 obtained by winding the medium M into a cylindrical shape. The roll body R1 is replaceably loaded to the feeding unit 20, and a width dimension and the number of winding times (length) of the medium M forming the roll body R1 may differ. The roll body R1 rotates in a rotation direction B by a driving force of a feeding motor (not illustrated). With this, the medium M is unwound from the roll body R1, and is fed to the printing unit 40. Note that, in the present exemplary embodiment, in the printing apparatus 1, a roll type medium is used as the medium M, but the present exemplary embodiment is not limited to the printing apparatus using such a roll type medium. For example, a cutform type medium may be used.
The winding unit 60 is arranged downstream of the transport roller 31. The winding unit 60 winds the medium M after printing in the printing unit 40, into a cylindrical shape. With this, the roll body R2 is formed. The winding unit 60 includes a tension application mechanism 61 that applies a tension to the medium M. The tension application mechanism 61 includes an arm member 62 that is supported in a freely swingable manner and a tension roller 63 that is supported by the distal end of the arm member 62 in a freely rotatable manner.
Under a state in which the tension application mechanism 61 presses the tension roller 63 against the medium M and applies a tension thereto, a core member rotates in the rotation direction B by a driving force of a winding motor (not illustrated). With this, the medium M is wound around the core member, and thus forms the roll body R2. Note that, in the printing apparatus 1 according to the present exemplary embodiment, the medium M may be discharged without winding. For example, the medium M after printing may be accommodated in a discharge basket (not illustrated) that is attached in place of the winding unit 60.
The printing unit 40 includes a pair of guide shafts 41 that extends along the X direction, the carriage 42 that is supported by the guide shafts 41, the ejection head 43 that ejects ink onto the medium M, and an optical sensor 44 that detects the width of the medium M.
The carriage 42 reciprocates in the X direction along the guide shafts 41 by driving of a carriage motor (not illustrated). The ejection head 43 is provided at a lower part of the carriage 42 so as to face the medium M transported on a medium supporting unit 50. The ejection head 43 according to the present exemplary embodiment is an ink-jet head of a serial head type, and includes nozzle rows (not illustrated) corresponding to a plurality of colors. For example, the ejection head 43 includes nozzle rows corresponding to four colors, that are cyan, yellow, magenta, and black.
With the configuration described above, the ejection head 43 is capable of performing printing by ejecting ink being a liquid from nozzles (not illustrated) onto the transported medium M while reciprocating in the main scanning direction that intersects the transport direction A of the medium M. In the printing apparatus 1 thus configured, an image or a character is printed on the medium M by repeating sub scanning and main scanning in an alternating manner. During the sub scanning, the medium M is drawn out from the roll body R1 by a predetermined amount, and is intermittently transported in the transport direction A by the transport roller 31 and the driven rollers 32. During the main scanning, the ejection head 43 reciprocates in the X direction while ejecting ink onto the medium M under a state in which the medium M that is transported by a predetermined amount is stopped.
As illustrated in
With reference to
As illustrated in
A first guide rail 52 is formed in the support face 51 of the medium supporting unit 50. The first guide rail 52 functions as a guide rail that intersects the transport direction A in which the medium M is transported and is provided to extend along the width direction. A second guide rail 55 is formed in the support face 51. The second guide rail 55 functions as an engaged portion that is positioned upstream of the first guide rail 52 in the transport direction A and intersects the support face 51. Note that the second guide rail 55 is formed to have a groove-like shape. The first guide rail 52 and the second guide rail 55 are formed to be parallel to each other. Further, the detection groove 56 that is parallel to the first guide rail 52 and the second guide rail 55 is formed between the first guide rail 52 and the second guide rail 55.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
In
As illustrated in
The holding portion 11 is a constituent portion that holds the medium M on the support face 51. The switching portion 15 is a constituent portion that switches a position of the abutting portion 16 between an abutting position and a separation position that are described later. The abutting portion 16 is a constituent portion that engages with the first guide rail 52. The engaging portion 17 is a constituent portion that is engageable with the second guide rail 55. The pressing portion 18 is a constituent portion that presses the support face 51 so that a position of the holding portion 11 moves in a direction away from the support face 51 (moves upward).
As illustrated in
With reference to
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
In plan view of the support face 51 as illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
Specifically, as illustrated in
Next, with reference to
The switching portion 15 mainly includes the lid 151 that covers the upper part, the pair of levers 153 each having a base end supported by a turning shaft 152 in a turnable manner, and a coil spring 154 as an elastic member. Note that the abutting portion 16 is coupled to the base ends of the levers 153, and hence is coupled to the levers 153. The levers 153 and the abutting portion 16 are formed of the same member such as a hard resin. As illustrated in
The pair of levers 153 are provided. Each of the levers 153 is a turning lever that has a base end supported by corresponding one of the pair of turning shafts 152 in a turnable manner and that has an abutting portion extending downstream from the turning shaft 152. The switching portion 15 includes the coil spring 154 that is engaged with the levers 153. Both the ends of the coil spring 154 are engaged with inner surfaces facing each other in the vicinity of the distal ends of the levers 153. An elastic force of the coil spring 154 causes the space between the abutting portions of the pair of levers 153 to expand in the X direction. Grippers 155 are provided on the outer surfaces in the vicinity of the distal ends of the levers 153. A user grips the grippers 155 to narrow the space between the abutting portions of the levers 153 in the X-axis direction.
The abutting portion 16 is positioned substantially in the +X direction and the −X direction with respect to the turning shafts 152. Thus, when the coil spring 154 expands the space between the abutting portions of the pair of levers 153 in the X-axis direction, the abutting portion 16 (the tip portion 162) abuts against and presses an abutting surface 533 being an inner surface of the first groove 53 in the −Y direction in the region corresponding to the gap G3. Note that the abutting surface 533 is an inner wall of the first guide rail 52. With this, although the details thereof are described later, a position of the medium holding unit 10 is fixed, and the space S between the covering portion 12 and the support face 51 that support the medium M is fixed.
A pressing force with which the abutting portion 16 (the tip portion 162) abuts against and presses the abutting surface 533 in the −Y direction is larger than a pressing force generated when the support face 51 is pressed from above by a spring force of the leaf spring 181 forming the pressing portion 18. Thus, when the tip portion 162 is fixed by the abutting surface 533, the medium holding unit 10 does not float from the support face 51 due to the pressing force of the leaf spring 181. Specifically, in the present exemplary embodiment, an elastic force of the coil spring 154 of the switching portion 15 is set to be larger than a spring force (pressing force) of the leaf spring 181. Thus, when the tip portion 162 is fixed by the abutting surface 533, the medium holding unit 10 does not float from the support face 51 due to the pressing force of the leaf spring 181.
Meanwhile, when the pair of levers 153 are gripped by a user, and are turned so as to narrow the space therebetween in the X-axis direction being the direction indicated with the arrows in
Note that, in the following description, a position at which the abutting portion 16 (the tip portion 162) presses and abuts against the abutting surface 533 is referred to as the abutting position. In contrast, a position at which the abutting portion 16 (the tip portion 162) is away from the abutting surface 533 is referred to as the separation position. In the switching portion 15, when a user narrows the space between the levers 153 in the arrow directions, the abutting portion 16 is at the separation position. When gripping of the levers 153 is stopped, the abutting portion 16 is at the abutting position. Thus, the switching portion 15 performs an operation for switching a position of the abutting portion 16 from one of the abutting position and the separation position to the other one.
With reference to
As illustrated in
Next, as illustrated in
Next, while gripping the grippers 155 so as to narrow the space therebetween and pressing the grippers 155 downward, a user moves the abutting portion 16, which is inserted into the second groove 54, in the +X direction being a direction of the first groove 53. At this state, along with the movement of the grippers 155 (the switching portion 15), the base plate portion 13 moves while sliding on the support face 51, and the engaging portion 17 moves in the second guide rail 55 in the +X direction.
Here, as illustrated in
After the abutting portion 16 moves in the first groove 53, downward pressing of the grippers 155 is stopped, and the space between the grippers 155 is narrowed. With this, the medium holding unit 10 can move. In this case, the medium holding unit 10 moves in the direction away from the support face 51. Thus, under this state, sliding friction between the base plate portion 13 and the support face 51 can be reduced, and thus movability can be achieved. Further, at the position on the support face 51 at which the holding portion 11 covers the edge of the medium M, the grippers 155 are pressed downward again, and gripping of the grippers 155, which are gripped in the direction of narrowing the space therebetween, is stopped. With this, the medium holding unit 10 can be provided to the medium supporting unit 50.
Note that, as illustrated in
Hereinafter, with reference to
As illustrated in
In this case, as illustrated in
Note that, as illustrated in
Note that, in a case in which the distance between the support face 51 being an upper part of the regulation portion 531 and the base plate portion 13 of the holding portion 11 substantially corresponds to the distance D, even when the covering portion 12 and the base plate portion 13 that face the ejection head 43 move upward from the support face 51, the covering portion 12 and the base plate portion 13 do not abut against the nozzles of the ejection head 43, and the gap is secured therebetween.
As illustrated in
Next, as illustrated in
According to the present exemplary embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
The medium supporting mechanism 5 according to the present exemplary embodiment includes the medium supporting unit 50 and the medium holding unit 10. The medium supporting unit 50 includes the support face 51 that supports the medium M, the first guide rail 52 that is provided, on the support face 51, to extend along the width direction (the X direction) intersecting the transport direction A in which the medium M is transported, and the second guide rail 55 being an engaged portion that is positioned upstream of the first guide rail 52 in the transport direction A and intersects the support face 51. The medium holding unit 10 includes the holding portion 11 that covers the edge of the medium M in the width direction, the abutting portion 16 that is movable between the abutting position and the separation position separated away from the abutting surface 533, the abutting position being a position at which the abutting portion 16 presses and abuts against the abutting surface 533 being an inner wall of the first guide rail 52, the switching portion 15 that switches a position of the abutting portion 16 from one of the abutting position and the separation position to the other, and the engaging portion 17 that is engageable with the second guide rail 55 being an engaged portion. Further, the medium holding unit 10 includes the pressing portion 18 (the leaf spring 181) downstream of the abutting portion 16 in the transport direction A. The pressing portion 18 (the leaf spring 181) presses the support face 51, and moves a position of the holding portion 11 in a direction away from the support face 51.
With this configuration, in the medium supporting mechanism 5, when the abutting portion 16 moves to the separation position due to the switching portion 15, the pressing portion 18 (the leaf spring 181) presses the support face 51. With this, the position of the holding portion 11 autonomously moves in a direction away from the support face 51. Thus, sliding friction between the holding portion 11 (the base plate portion 13) and the support face 51 can be reduced. With this, a wrench between the first guide rail 52 and the abutting portion 16 can be suppressed. Thus, operability of the medium supporting mechanism 5 can be improved. Thus, usability such as operability of the medium supporting mechanism 5 can be improved.
In the medium supporting mechanism 5 according to the present exemplary embodiment, the pressing portion 18 is formed of the leaf spring 181.
With this configuration, since the pressing portion 18 is formed of the leaf spring 181, the position of the holding portion 11 can autonomously moves, due to a spring force exerted by the leaf spring 181, in a direction away from the support face 51 in the medium supporting mechanism 5 when the abutting portion 16 is at the separation position. Note that the pressing portion 18 is formed of the leaf spring 181, which facilitates formation of the pressing portion 18.
In the present exemplary embodiment, the abutting portion 16 has the base 161 coupled to the holding portion 11 and the tip portion 162 continuous to the base 161. In the abutting portion 16, the first length L1 of the base 161 in the transport direction A is shorter than the second length L2 of the tip portion 162 in the transport direction A. In plan view of the support face 51, the first guide rail 52 has the gap G1 that is longer than the first length L1 and shorter than the second length L2, and has the first groove 53 that guides the abutting portion 16 in a movable manner in the width direction. In plan view of the support face 51, the first guide rail 52 has the gap G2 that is continuous to the first groove 53 in the width direction and is longer than the second length L2, and has the second groove 54 for inserting and providing the abutting portion 16. Further, in plan view in the width direction, the first groove 53 has the regulation portion 531 that prevents the tip portion 162 from coming off the first guide rail 52. The second groove 54 is formed on the outer side of the region in the width direction, the region where the edge of the medium M is transported.
With this configuration, in the medium supporting mechanism 5, the gap G1 of the first groove 53 is shorter than the second length L2 of the tip portion 162. Thus, it is difficult to insert the abutting portion 16 into the first groove 53 from above. The medium holding unit 10 includes the pressing portion 18, and hence it is also difficult to insert the abutting portion 16 from the end surface of the first groove 53 in the width direction. However, the first guide rail 52 has the second groove 54 formed as the gap G2 larger than the second length L2 of the tip portion 162 of the abutting portion 16 in the transport direction A. Thus, when the abutting portion 16 is inserted into the second groove 54 from above, the abutting portion 16 can be provided in the first groove 53 in an indirect manner. Thus, a setting property of the holding portion 11 with respect to the medium supporting unit 50 can be improved. The second groove 54 is formed on the outer side of the region in the width direction, the region where the edge of the medium M is transported. With this, the medium holding unit 10 including the holding portion 11 may be removably mounted to the medium supporting unit 50 while the medium M is placed on the support face 51. Thus, operability of the medium holding unit 10 with respect to the medium supporting unit 50 is improved.
In the medium supporting mechanism 5 according to the present exemplary embodiment, the medium supporting unit 50 is provided with the recessed portion 571 being the accommodating portion 57 that accommodates the pressing portion 18.
With this configuration, the bottom surface portion 572 of the recessed portion 571 being the accommodating portion 57 is recessed with respect to the support face 51, and the leaf spring 181 is formed to establish a height relationship that prevents contact with the bottom surface portion 572. Thus, when the pressing portion 18 is positioned in the recessed portion 571 being the accommodating portion 57, the pressing portion 18 can be positioned at an initial state without exerting a pressing force while being prevented from abutting against the support face 51. Thus, even when the medium holding unit 10 includes the pressing portion 18 (the leaf spring 181), the pressing portion 18 is positioned in the recessed portion 571. With this, a setting property of the medium holding unit 10 with respect to the medium supporting unit 50 can be improved.
The printing apparatus 1 according to the present exemplary embodiment includes the printing unit 40 that performs printing on the medium M and the medium supporting mechanism 5 that supports the medium M. The medium supporting mechanism 5 includes the medium supporting unit 50 and the medium holding unit 10. The medium supporting unit 50 includes the support face 51, the first guide rail 52, and the second guide rail 55 being an engaged portion. The medium holding unit 10 includes the holding portion 11, the abutting portion 16, the switching portion 15, and the engaging portion 17. The medium holding unit 10 includes the pressing portion 18 (the leaf spring 181) downstream of the abutting portion 16 in the transport direction A. The pressing portion 18 (the leaf spring 181) presses the support face 51, and moves a position of the holding portion 11 in a direction away from the support face 51.
With this configuration, the printing apparatus 1 including the medium supporting mechanism 5 that suppresses a wrench between the first guide rail 52 and the abutting portion 16 and improves usability such as operability can be achieved.
With reference to
As illustrated in
Specifically, an inclination surface 534 is formed on the side surface in the +Y direction. The inclination surface 534 is inclined upward in the +Y direction. In other words, in the first groove 53A, a surface of the inner wall of the first guide rail 52A, which is on the side opposite to the abutting surface 533 in the transport direction A, has the inclination surface 534 inclined upward in the transport direction A.
Here, description is made on an operation for moving the medium holding unit 10 from a state in which the medium holding unit 10 is at a predetermined position.
First, a user grips the grippers 155 of the switching portion 15 so as to narrow the space therebetween. When the grippers 155 are gripped so as to narrow the space therebetween, the abutting portion 16 loses a pressing force in the −Y direction, and the end surface of the tip portion 162 in the −Y direction separates away from the abutting surface 533. In other words, the abutting portion 16 is switched from the abutting position to the separation position.
Then, due to a pressing force of the leaf spring 181, the medium holding unit 10 autonomously moves a position of the medium holding unit 10 in a direction away from a support face 51A (upward). In this case, a lower corner portion of the abutting portion 16 (the tip portion 162) in the +Y direction abuts against the inclination surface 534, and moves upward along the inclination surface 534 in a sliding manner. Further, the abutting portion 16 (the tip portion 162) abuts against the regulation portion 531 (the lower end surface 532), and hence upward movement is regulated.
According to the present exemplary embodiment, effects similar to those in the first exemplary embodiment can be exerted, and the following effects can also be obtained.
In a medium supporting mechanism 5A according to the present exemplary embodiment (the first groove 53A), the surface of the inner wall of the first guide rail 52A, which is on the side opposite to the abutting surface 533 in the transport direction A, has the inclination surface 534 inclined upward in the transport direction A.
With this configuration, due to a pressing force with which the pressing portion 18 presses the support face 51A when the abutting portion 16 is switched from the abutting position to the separation position, the abutting portion 16 abuts against the inclination surface 534, and slides along the inclination surface 534. With this, the medium holding unit 10 easily moves in a direction away from the support face 51A. Thus, a position of the medium holding unit 10 can further autonomously move in a direction away from the support face 51A.
With reference to
As illustrated in
Specifically, on the side surface in the −Y direction, an inclination surface 535 is formed from the middle of the lower end surface 532 of the regulation portion 531 to the upper part of the abutting surface 533. The inclination surface 535 is inclined downward in the −Y direction. In other words, in the first groove 53B, a surface of the inner wall of the first guide rail 52B, which is on the side opposite to the transport direction A, has the inclination surface 535 inclined downward from the lower end surface 532 of the regulation portion 531 to the abutting surface 533.
Here, description is made on an operation for providing the medium holding unit 10 in the first groove 53B from a state in which the medium holding unit 10 moves to a predetermined position.
After moving the medium holding unit 10 to a predetermined position, a user presses the grippers 155, which are gripped so as to narrow the space therebetween, downward, and then stops the gripping. When a user presses the grippers 155 downward, pressing is performed against a pressing force that the pressing portion 18 exerts against the support face 51. In this case, an upper corner portion of the abutting portion 16 (the tip portion 162) in the −Y direction can abut against the inclination surface 535, and can move downward along the inclination surface 535 in a sliding manner. With this, the abutting portion 16 (the tip portion 162) can stably abut against the abutting surface 533. Further, when gripping of the grippers 155 is stopped, the abutting portion 16 (the tip portion 162) abuts against the abutting surface 533, and is fixed to the first groove 53B. In other words, the abutting portion 16 is switched from the separation position to the abutting position.
Note that an elastic force of the coil spring 154 is set to be larger than a pressing force of the pressing portion 18 (a spring force of the leaf spring 181). Therefore, even when a pressing-down force is weak, the abutting portion 16 (the tip portion 162) stably slides along the inclination surface 535, and abuts against the abutting surface 533 by stopping gripping of the grippers 155 and pressing the grippers 155 downward at a predetermined position.
According to the present exemplary embodiment, effects similar to those in the first exemplary embodiment can be exerted, and the following effects can also be obtained.
In the medium supporting mechanism 5B according to the present exemplary embodiment (the first groove 53B), the surface of the inner wall of the first guide rail 52B, which is on the side opposite to the transport direction A, has the inclination surface 535 inclined downward from the lower end surface 532 of the regulation portion 531 to the abutting surface 533.
With this configuration, when the abutting portion 16 moves from the separation position to the abutting position, the grippers 155 are pressed downward against a pressing force that the pressing portion 18 exerts against the support face 51. However, the abutting portion 16 can easily abut against the abutting surface 533 while sliding along the inclination surface 535, and hence the medium holding unit 10 can stably be provided on the support face 51.
In the present exemplary embodiment, an ink-jet head of a serial head type is used as the ejection head 43. However, the present exemplary embodiment is not limited thereto. An ink-jet head of a line head type may be used as the ejection head 43.
In the present exemplary embodiment, the pressing portion 18 is configured as one leaf spring 181. However, the present exemplary embodiment is not limited thereto. The pressing portion 18 may be configured as a plurality of leaf springs. The shape of the leaf sprint is not limited to the present exemplary embodiment.
In the present exemplary embodiment, the pressing portion 18 is configured as the leaf spring 181. However, the present exemplary embodiment is not limited thereto. For example, the pressing portion 18 may include a displacement portion that is displaced (protrudes) toward the support face 51 by interlocking with the switching portion 15 for switching a position of the abutting portion 16 from the abutting position to the separation position. With this displacement of the displacement portion, the support face 51 can be pressed, and a position of the medium holding unit 10 can move in a direction away from the support face 51.
In the present exemplary embodiment, the second groove 54 is formed on the outer side of the region in the width direction, the region where the edge of the medium M is transported. However, the present exemplary embodiment is not limited thereto. The second groove 54 may be formed on an inner side of the region in the width direction, the region where the edge of the medium M is transported. In this case, the abutting portion 16 is only required to move while being pressed downward without coming off the second groove 54 when the abutting portion 16 moves along the first guide rail 52. With this, the medium supporting unit 50 can be reduced in size.
In the present exemplary embodiment, the second groove 54 is formed at the end of the medium supporting unit 50 in the width direction on the outer side of the region in the width direction, the region where the edge of the medium M is transported. However, the present exemplary embodiment is not limited thereto. The second groove 54 may be formed in a part on an inner side of the end of the medium supporting unit 50 in the width direction, on the outer side of the region where the edge of the medium M is transported.
In the present exemplary embodiment, the first guide rail 52 includes the second groove 54 for providing the abutting portion 16. In view of this, the second guide rail 55 may also be provided with a groove for providing the engaging portion 17, similarly to the second groove 54. In this case, there may be provided a groove in the second guide rail 55 at a position corresponding to the second groove 54. With this, the engaging portion 17 can easily be provided to the second guide rail 55.
In the present exemplary embodiment, there is provided the engaged portion that is positioned upstream of the first guide rail 52 in the transport direction A and intersects the support face 51. Note that, in the present exemplary embodiment, as an example, the second guide rail 55 having a configuration substantially similar to the first guide rail 52 is provided as an engaged portion. However, the present exemplary embodiment is not limited thereto. For example, a protrusion portion that protrudes in the −Y direction may be used as an engaged portion. When the abutting portion 16 is at the abutting position, the protrusion portion is engageable with the engaging portion 17. When the abutting portion 16 is at the separation position, the protrusion portion can cancel engagement with the engaging portion 17.
In the present exemplary embodiment, there is provided the movement assisting surface portion 575 that smoothly moves the pressing portion 18 (the leaf spring 181) from the bottom surface portion 572 of the accommodating portion 57 (the recessed portion 571) to the support face 51 in the +X direction. As illustrated in
In the present exemplary embodiment, after a position of the medium holding unit 10 autonomously moves in a direction away from the support face 51 (upward) due to a pressing force of the leaf spring 181, a user moves the medium holding unit 10 in the width direction. In this case, a member having low friction adheres to or is sprayed/applied onto the surface of the base plate portion 13 of the holding portion 11, which slides (contacts) on at least a part of the support face 51. With this, sliding friction (friction resistance) may be reduced. A region of the base plate portion 13, which slides (contacts) with a part of the support face 51, may be formed of a member having a friction coefficient smaller than that in a region of the base plate portion 13, which does not contact with the support face 51.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-191793 | Nov 2021 | JP | national |
