Patent Application
20240308807
The present application is based on, and claims priority from JP Application Serial Number 2023-042750, filed Mar. 17, 2023, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
The present disclosure relates to a medium transportation device that transports a medium onto which liquid is discharged. The present disclosure also relates to a recording apparatus, a post-processing apparatus, and a relay apparatus each of which includes the medium transportation device.
Disclosed in JP-A-2007-168992 is a configuration in which the entire surface of a paper sheet is embossed by using a male roller and a female roller as units that correct a curl formed at the paper sheet.
In the configuration described in JP-A-2007-168992, the male roller comes into contact with a first surface of a paper sheet and the female roller comes into contact with a second surface of the paper sheet, where the first surface is one surface of the paper sheet and the second surface is another surface of the paper sheet. Therefore, protrusions and recesses formed at the paper sheet are asymmetrically formed at the first surface and the second surface of the paper sheet. Accordingly, a curl of which an inner side is at the first surface or the second surface of the paper sheet may be generated, that is, a curl correction unit itself may cause a curl of the paper sheet.
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a medium transportation device transporting a medium onto which liquid is discharged, the medium transportation device including a transportation roller pair that nips and transports the medium. The transportation roller pair includes a first uneven roller of which a surface coming into contact with the medium is provided with protrusions and recesses and a second uneven roller that is a roller disposed to face the first uneven roller and of which a surface coming into contact with the medium is provided with protrusions and recesses and a protrusion portion of one of the first uneven roller and the second uneven roller faces a recess portion of another of the first uneven roller and the second uneven roller.
According to still another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a recording apparatus including a recording unit performing recording by discharging liquid onto a medium and the above-described medium transportation device that transports the medium on which the recording is performed by the recording unit.
According to still another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a post-processing apparatus directly or indirectly coupled to a recording apparatus performing recording by discharging liquid onto a medium, the post-processing apparatus including a post-processing unit performing post-processing on the medium on which the recording is performed by the recording apparatus and the above-described medium transportation device that transports, toward the post-processing unit, the medium on which the recording is performed by the recording apparatus.
According to still another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a relay apparatus that is disposed between a recording apparatus performing recording by discharging liquid onto a medium and a post-processing apparatus performing post-processing on the medium on which the recording is performed by the recording apparatus and that passes the medium from the recording apparatus to the post-processing apparatus, the relay apparatus including the above-described medium transportation device.
Hereinafter, the present disclosure will be schematically described.
According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a medium transportation device transporting a medium onto which liquid is discharged, the medium transportation device including a transportation roller pair that nips and transports the medium. The transportation roller pair includes a first uneven roller of which a surface coming into contact with the medium is provided with protrusions and recesses and a second uneven roller that is a roller disposed to face the first uneven roller and of which a surface coming into contact with the medium is provided with protrusions and recesses and a protrusion portion of one of the first uneven roller and the second uneven roller faces a recess portion of another of the first uneven roller and the second uneven roller.
According to the present aspect, the protrusion portion of the one of the first uneven roller and the second uneven roller faces the recess portion of the other of the first uneven roller and the second uneven roller in a configuration in which a medium is nipped by the transportation roller pair including the first uneven roller and the second uneven roller so that curl of the medium is corrected. Therefore, the degree of a difference between protrusions and recesses formed at a first surface of the medium and protrusions and recesses formed at a second surface can be suppressed and generation of a curl of which an inner side is at the first surface or the second surface can be suppressed.
A second aspect of the present disclosure is an aspect that is subordinate to the first aspect and in which the medium transportation device further includes a first gear provided at the first uneven roller and a second gear provided at the second uneven roller and the first gear and the second gear mesh with each other.
According to the present aspect, since the first gear provided at the first uneven roller and the second gear provided at the second uneven roller mesh with each other, adjustment of the phase of rotation of the first uneven roller and the phase of rotation of the second uneven roller can be performed easily.
A third aspect of the present disclosure is an aspect that is subordinate to the second aspect and in which a ratio between the number of protrusion portions of the first uneven roller and the number of protrusion portions of the second uneven roller is equal to a reduction ratio between the first gear and the second gear.
According to the present aspect, since the ratio between the number of protrusion portions of the first uneven roller and the number of protrusion portions of the second uneven roller is equal to the reduction ratio between the first gear and the second gear, the phase of rotation of the first uneven roller and the phase of rotation of the second uneven roller being offset from each other as the rollers rotate can be suppressed.
A fourth aspect of the present disclosure is an aspect that is subordinate to the first aspect and in which a gap is provided between a protrusion portion of the first uneven roller and a protrusion portion of the second uneven roller.
According to the present aspect, since the gap is provided between the protrusion portion of the first uneven roller and the protrusion portion of the second uneven roller, generation of a noise accompanied by contact between the protrusion portion of the first uneven roller and the protrusion portion of the second uneven roller or wear of the protrusion portions can be suppressed.
Note that the present aspect may be an aspect that is subordinate to the second aspect or the third aspect instead of the first aspect.
A fifth aspect of the present disclosure is an aspect that is subordinate to the third aspect and in which a first tooth of the first gear and a first tooth groove of the second gear mesh with each other when a position of a first recess portion which is a recess portion of the first uneven roller and a position of the first tooth which is a tooth of the first gear coincide with each other in a circumferential direction and a position of a first protrusion portion which is a protrusion portion of the second uneven roller and faces the first recess portion and a position of the first tooth groove which is a tooth groove of the second gear coincide with each other in the circumferential direction and a second tooth groove of the first gear and a second tooth of the second gear mesh with each other when the position of the first recess portion of the first uneven roller and a position of the second tooth groove which is a tooth groove of the first gear coincide with each other in the circumferential direction and the position of the first protrusion portion of the second uneven roller and a position of a second tooth which is a tooth of the second gear coincide with each other in the circumferential direction.
According to the present aspect, when the first tooth of the first gear enters the first tooth groove of the second gear, the first recess portion which is a recess portion of the first uneven roller faces the first protrusion portion which is a protrusion portion of the second uneven roller. Alternatively, when the second tooth of the second gear enters the second tooth groove of the first gear, the first recess portion which is a recess portion of the first uneven roller faces the first protrusion portion which is a protrusion portion of the second uneven roller.
According to such a configuration, positional alignment of the first recess portion of the first uneven roller and the first protrusion portion of the second uneven roller is facilitated.
A sixth aspect of the present disclosure is an aspect that is subordinate to the fifth aspect and in which the first gear includes a first indication portion indicating the position of the first tooth and the second gear includes a second indication portion indicating the position of the first tooth groove.
According to the present aspect, with the first indication portion and the second indication portion, it is possible to easily cause the first tooth to enter the first tooth groove.
A seventh aspect of the present disclosure is an aspect that is subordinate to the second aspect and in which each of the first uneven roller and the second uneven roller includes a shaft portion, a reference portion mounted on the shaft portion, a ring portion that is positioned closer to a side, to which a first direction along an axial direction of the shaft portion extends, than the reference portion is and that is mounted on the shaft portion, and a restriction portion that is positioned closer to the side, to which the first direction extends, than the ring portion is and that is mounted on the shaft portion to restrict movement of the ring portion in the first direction, the ring portion is composed of a plurality of uneven rings disposed along the axial direction, the uneven ring including a plurality of protrusion portions disposed along a circumferential direction, the first gear is provided at the reference portion of the first uneven roller, and the second gear is provided at the reference portion of the second uneven roller.
According to the present aspect, since the ring portion of each of the first uneven roller and the second uneven roller can be configured by mounting the plurality of uneven rings between the reference portion and the restriction portion, it is possible to easily configure the uneven rollers having different specifications by changing the shape of the uneven ring with the shaft portion used as a common component and thus the cost of members can be reduced.
In addition, by changing the number of the uneven rings, it is possible to easily change the length of the ring portion in the axial direction.
In addition, a job to be performed when wear or the like of a portion of the ring portion occurs is simply replacing the uneven ring of a corresponding portion. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the required cost in comparison with the case of replacement of the entire uneven roller and to cope with requests for reuse and waste minimization.
Note that the present aspect may be an aspect that is subordinate to any one of the third, fifth, and sixth aspects instead of the second aspect.
An eighth aspect of the present disclosure is an aspect that is subordinate to the fifth aspect and in which each of the first uneven roller and the second uneven roller includes a shaft portion, a reference portion mounted on the shaft portion, a ring portion that is positioned closer to a side, to which a first direction along an axial direction of the shaft portion extends, than the reference portion is and that is mounted on the shaft portion, and a restriction portion that is positioned closer to the side, to which the first direction extends, than the ring portion is and that is mounted on the shaft portion to restrict movement of the ring portion in the first direction, the ring portion is composed of a plurality of uneven rings disposed along the axial direction, the uneven ring including a plurality of protrusion portions disposed along the circumferential direction, the first gear is provided at the reference portion of the first uneven roller, the second gear is provided at the reference portion of the second uneven roller, the uneven ring includes a reference portion side engaging portion configured to engage with the reference portion, the reference portion includes a first engaged portion configured to engage with the reference portion side engaging portion and a second engaged portion that is an engaging portion provided at a position different from the first engaged portion in the circumferential direction and that is configured to engage with the reference portion side engaging portion, the position of the first recess portion and the position of the first tooth coincide with each other in the circumferential direction when the reference portion side engaging portion and the first engaged portion engage with each other at the first uneven roller, and the position of the first protrusion portion and the position of the first tooth groove coincide with each other in the circumferential direction when the reference portion side engaging portion and the second engaged portion engage with each other at the second uneven roller.
According to the present aspect, since the ring portion of each of the first uneven roller and the second uneven roller can be configured by mounting the plurality of uneven rings between the reference portion and the restriction portion, it is possible to easily configure the uneven rollers having different specifications by changing the shape of the uneven ring with the shaft portion used as a common component and thus the cost of members can be reduced.
In addition, by changing the number of the uneven rings, it is possible to easily change the length of the ring portion in the axial direction.
In addition, a job to be performed when wear or the like of a portion of the ring portion occurs is simply replacing the uneven ring of a corresponding portion. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the required cost in comparison with the case of replacement of the entire uneven roller and to cope with requests for reuse and waste minimization.
In addition, since the reference portion includes the first engaged portion and the second engaged portion, it is possible to positionally align the first protrusion portion and the first tooth by using the first engaged portion of the first uneven roller and to positionally align the first recess portion and the first tooth groove by using the second engaged portion of the second uneven roller and thus an assembly operation is facilitated.
A ninth aspect of the present disclosure is an aspect that is subordinate to the eighth aspect and in which the uneven ring includes a restriction portion side engaging portion configured to engage with the restriction portion and the reference portion side engaging portion and the restriction portion side engaging portion are configured to engage with each other.
According to the present aspect, since the uneven ring includes a reference portion side engaging portion configured to engage with the reference portion and a restriction portion side engaging portion configured to engage with the restriction portion and the reference portion side engaging portion and the restriction portion side engaging portion are configured to engage with each other, it is not necessary to provide a configuration for the positioning of the uneven rings and thus the configuration can be simplified.
A tenth aspect of the present disclosure is an aspect that is subordinate to the first aspect and in which the protrusions and recesses provided at the first uneven roller and the second uneven roller are formed by a first protrusion portion row composed of a plurality of protrusion portions disposed along a circumferential direction and a second protrusion portion row that is disposed adjacent to the first protrusion portion row in an axial direction and that is composed of a plurality of protrusion portions disposed along the circumferential direction, and the plurality of protrusion portions of the first protrusion portion row and the plurality of protrusion portions of the second protrusion portion row are disposed at different positions in the circumferential direction.
According to the present aspect, since the plurality of protrusion portions of the first protrusion portion row and the plurality of protrusion portions of the second protrusion portion row are disposed at different positions in the circumferential direction, it is possible to suppress formation of a noticeable line at the medium along the axial direction, that is, a medium width direction.
Note that the present aspect may be an aspect that is subordinate to any one of the second to ninth aspects instead of the first aspect.
An eleventh aspect of the present disclosure is an aspect that is subordinate to the tenth aspect and in which the plurality of protrusion portions of the first protrusion portion row and the plurality of protrusion portions of the second protrusion portion row partially overlap with each other in the axial direction.
According to the present aspect, since the plurality of protrusion portions of the first protrusion portion row and the plurality of protrusion portions of the second protrusion portion row partially overlap with each other in the axial direction, it is possible to suppress formation of a noticeable line at the medium along the medium transportation direction.
A twelfth aspect of the present disclosure is an aspect that is subordinate to the first aspect and in which the medium transportation device further includes a heating unit heating at least one of the first uneven roller and the second uneven roller.
According to the present aspect, since the medium transportation device further includes the heating unit heating at least one of the first uneven roller and the second uneven roller, the drying of the medium can be performed in addition to curl correction of the medium.
Note that the present aspect may be an aspect that is subordinate to any one of the second to eleventh aspects instead of the first aspect.
According to a thirteenth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a recording apparatus including a recording unit performing recording by discharging liquid onto a medium and the medium transportation device according to any one of the first to twelfth aspects that transports the medium on which the recording is performed by the recording unit.
According to the present aspect, in the recording apparatus, an advantageous effect of any one of the first to twelfth aspects described above can be obtained.
According to a fourteenth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a post-processing apparatus directly or indirectly coupled to a recording apparatus performing recording by discharging liquid onto a medium, the post-processing apparatus including a post-processing unit performing post-processing on the medium on which the recording is performed by the recording apparatus and the medium transportation device according to any one of the first to twelfth aspects that transports, toward the post-processing unit, the medium on which the recording is performed by the recording apparatus.
According to the present aspect, in the post-processing apparatus, an advantageous effect of any one of the first to twelfth aspects described above can be obtained.
According to a fifteenth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a relay apparatus that is disposed between a recording apparatus performing recording by discharging liquid onto a medium and a post-processing apparatus performing post-processing on the medium on which the recording is performed by the recording apparatus and that passes the medium from the recording apparatus to the post-processing apparatus, the relay apparatus including the medium transportation device according to any one of the first to twelfth aspects.
According to the present aspect, in the relay apparatus, an advantageous effect of any one of the first to twelfth aspects described above can be obtained.
In addition, in the relay apparatus, since curl correction is performed by the uneven roller, the aligning property of the medium in the post-processing apparatus is improved and the precision of the post-processing is improved.
Hereinafter, the present disclosure will be specifically described.
In the XYZ coordinate system shown in each drawing, an X-axis direction is an apparatus depth direction, a Y-axis direction is an apparatus width direction, a Z-axis direction is an apparatus height direction. Among these, the X-axis direction is an axial direction of each of rollers constituting a transportation roller pair which will be described later.
A recording system 1 shown in
The recording apparatus 2 is configured as a multifunction machine including a printer unit 7 that includes a line head 12, which serves as a recording unit that performs recording on the medium P, and a scanner unit 8 which is an example of an image reading device. In the present embodiment, the line head 12 is configured as a so-called ink jet recording head that discharges ink, which is liquid, onto the medium P to perform recording.
A cassette accommodation portion 11 including a plurality of medium accommodation cassettes 9 is provided below the printer unit 7. The medium P stored in the medium accommodation cassette 9 is sent to a recording region of the line head 12 through a feeding path 14, which is indicated by a solid line in
Note that hereinafter, one surface of the medium P will be referred to as a “first surface S1”, and another surface will be referred to as a “second surface S2”. In addition, hereinafter, it will be assumed that recording is performed on the first surface S1 first and recording is performed on the second surface S2 after the medium P is inverted in the inversion path 17 when recording is to be performed on both surfaces of the medium P in the recording apparatus 2. Hereinafter, it will be assumed that recording is performed on both surfaces of the medium P, and a surface of the medium P on which recording is performed last is the second surface S2. However, when recording is performed on only one surface of the medium P, the first surface S1 is a surface on which recording is performed last.
In
Through the second discharge path 16, the medium P is delivered to a reception path 20 of the relay apparatus 3 which is adjacent thereto. In the inversion path 17, after recording is performed on the first surface S1 of the medium P, the medium P is inverted so that the second surface S2 faces the line head 12. Note that in each of the feeding path 14, the first discharge path 15, the second discharge path 16, and the inversion path 17, one or more roller pairs (not shown) are disposed as an example of a unit that transports the medium P.
The recording apparatus 2 is provided with a control unit 18 that controls operations related to transportation of the medium P in the recording apparatus 2 and recording. Note that the recording system 1 is configured such that the recording apparatus 2, the relay apparatus 3, and the post-processing apparatus 5 are mechanically and electrically coupled to each other and the medium P can be transported from the recording apparatus 2 to the post-processing apparatus 5. The control unit 18 can control various operations in the relay apparatus 3 and the post-processing apparatus 5 which are coupled to the recording apparatus 2.
In addition, the control unit 18 can control a medium transportation device 40 which will be described later.
The recording system 1 is configured such that settings of various operations in the recording apparatus 2, the relay apparatus 3, and the post-processing apparatus 5 can be input and an instruction for execution of the various operations can be given via an operation panel (not shown). The operation panel can be provided in the recording apparatus 2, for example.
Next, the relay apparatus 3 will be described. The relay apparatus 3 delivers, to the post-processing apparatus 5, the medium P received from the recording apparatus 2. The relay apparatus 3 is disposed between the recording apparatus 2 and the post-processing apparatus 5.
The medium P transported through the second discharge path 16 of the recording apparatus 2 is received by the relay apparatus 3 through the reception path 20 and is transported toward the post-processing apparatus 5. The reception path 20 is indicated by a solid line in
In the relay apparatus 3, the number of transportation paths for transportation of the medium P is two. The first transportation path is a path through which the medium P is transported from the reception path 20 to a confluence path 23 via a first switchback path 21 indicated by a dotted line in
The reception path 20 branches into the first switchback path 21 and the second switchback path 22 at a branching portion 25. The branching portion 25 is provided with a flap (not shown) that switches the destination of the medium P to any of the first switchback path 21 and the second switchback path 22.
In addition, the first switchback path 21 and the second switchback path 22 join each other at a junction portion 26. Therefore, regardless of whether the medium P from the reception path 20 is sent to the first switchback path 21 or the second switchback path 22, the medium P can be delivered to the post-processing apparatus 5 via the common confluence path 23.
The medium P transported through the confluence path 23 is delivered to a first transportation path 35 of the post-processing apparatus 5 from a side surface of the relay apparatus 3 in a +Y direction. Note that in each of the reception path 20, the first switchback path 21, the second switchback path 22, and the confluence path 23, one or more transportation roller pairs (not shown) are disposed as an example of a unit that transports the medium P.
When recording is consecutively performed on a plurality of the mediums P in the recording apparatus 2, the mediums P entering the relay apparatus 3 are alternately sent to the transportation path through the first switchback path 21 and the transportation path through the second switchback path 22. Therefore, medium transportation throughput in the relay apparatus 3 can be increased.
In addition, since the medium P on which recording is performed by the recording apparatus 2 is delivered from the recording apparatus 2 to the post-processing apparatus 5 via the relay apparatus 3, a transportation time taken for the medium P after the recording to be sent to the post-processing apparatus 5 can be lengthened and drying of the medium P can be promoted until the medium P reaches the post-processing apparatus 5.
However, in the recording system 1, the relay apparatus 3 may be omitted so that the post-processing apparatus 5 and the recording apparatus 2 are directly coupled to each other. That is, the post-processing apparatus 5 may be indirectly coupled to the recording apparatus 2 or be directly coupled to the recording apparatus 2.
Next, the post-processing apparatus 5 will be described. The post-processing apparatus 5 includes, as an example of a post-processing unit, a processing unit 30 that performs binding processing. The binding processing is, for example, processing of binding one corner portions of the mediums P or one sides of the mediums P. That is, in the present embodiment, the processing unit 30 is a stapler that performs the binding processing of piling the plurality of mediums P and binding end portions thereof. Note that the processing unit 30 is not limited thereto and may be configured to perform other processing such as punching processing of punching a hole at a predetermined position in the medium P.
The post-processing apparatus 5 includes the first transportation path 35 that leads to the processing unit 30. That is, the medium P received by the post-processing apparatus 5 is transported through the first transportation path 35 indicated by a solid line in
The mediums P processed by the processing unit 30 are discharged toward a main tray 33 by a discharge unit (not shown).
A second transportation path 36, which branches off from the first transportation path 35 at a branching portion 37, is coupled to the first transportation path 35. The second transportation path 36 is a path through which the medium P is discharged to an upper tray 34 provided at an upper portion of the post-processing apparatus 5. On the upper tray 34, the mediums P that are not to be processed can be stacked.
In each of the first transportation path 35 and the second transportation path 36, one or more pairs of rollers (not shown) are disposed as an example of a unit that transports the medium P. In addition, the branching portion 37 is provided with a flap (not shown) that switches the destination of the medium P.
In the recording system 1 described above, at least one of the recording apparatus 2, the relay apparatus 3, and the post-processing apparatus 5 is provided with the medium transportation device 40. In
The medium transportation device 40 has a function of correcting a curl of the medium P, and can also be referred to as a curl correction device from this viewpoint.
The medium transportation device 40 corrects a curl of the medium P with a transportation roller pair 41 which will be described later. However, a device to which the transportation roller pair 41 can be detachably attached and that is in a state where the transportation roller pair 41 is not mounted therein may also be used as the medium transportation device 40.
In addition, when the recording apparatus 2, the relay apparatus 3, or the post-processing apparatus 5 is provided with the medium transportation device 40, a device to which the medium transportation device 40 can be detachably attached and that is in a state where the medium transportation device 40 is not mounted therein may also be used as the recording apparatus 2, the relay apparatus 3, or the post-processing apparatus 5.
When the recording apparatus 2 includes the medium transportation device 40, the medium transportation device 40 is provided in the second discharge path 16 as shown in
When the relay apparatus 3 includes the medium transportation device 40, the medium transportation device 40 is provided in the confluence path 23 as shown in
When the post-processing apparatus 5 includes the medium transportation device 40, the medium transportation device 40 is provided in the first transportation path 35 as shown in
Note that there are a plurality of embodiments of the medium transportation device 40. Hereinafter, each of the embodiments of the medium transportation device will be referred to as, for example, a medium transportation device 40B or the like with a capital alphabet letter added to the reference numeral “40”. In addition, when it is not necessary to distinguish the embodiments of the medium transportation device from each other, the embodiments will be collectively referred to as the medium transportation devices 40. Note that repetitive description about the common features between the embodiments will not be made. In addition, the action and effect described in one of the embodiments can also be achieved in the other embodiments regarding the technically common features therebetween.
In addition, there are also a plurality of embodiments of components of the medium transportation device 40 which will be described later and when a capital alphabet letter is added to a number of the reference numeral of a component of the medium transportation device 40, the reference numeral with the capital alphabet letter added thereto represents one of the embodiments. In addition, when the reference numeral of a component of the medium transportation device 40 is described with a number only, the reference numeral collectively means a plurality of embodiments thereof distinguishing therebetween. For example, in the case of the transportation roller pair 41 which will be described later, an expression “transportation roller pair 41” alone means a plurality of embodiments thereof without distinguishing therebetween. In addition, for example, an expression “transportation roller pair 41A” means one of the embodiments. Note that repetitive description about the common features between the embodiments will not be made. In addition, the action and effect described in one of the embodiments can also be achieved in the other embodiments regarding the technically common features therebetween.
A basic principle of curl correction in the medium transportation device 40 will be described with reference to
The medium transportation device 40 corrects a curl of the medium P by causing the medium P to be nipped by the transportation roller pair 41 including two rollers facing each other. In the medium transportation device 40, one transportation roller pair 41 may be provided or a plurality of the transportation roller pairs 41 may be provided. Both of the two rollers of the transportation roller pair 41 that face each other are uneven rollers 45, and the medium P is nipped by the transportation roller pair 41 including the uneven rollers 45 so that the curl of the medium is corrected. The uneven roller 45 includes a plurality of protrusion portions 61 that are formed along a circumferential direction and an axial direction and gaps between the plurality of protrusion portions 61 in the circumferential direction and the axial direction are recess portions 62. That is, a surface of the uneven roller 45 that comes into contact with the medium P is provided with a plurality of protrusions and recesses.
At a predetermined position in the axial direction of the uneven roller 45, the protrusion portions 61 are disposed at pitches θa in the circumferential direction.
In the present embodiment, two rollers facing each other are coupled to each other by a gear and are rotationally driven in synchronization with each other. However, the present disclosure is not limited to such a driving method.
A curl of the medium P is corrected when the medium P is nipped by the two uneven rollers 45.
Next, a configuration of the uneven roller 45 and a manufacturing method thereof will be described with reference to
The axial direction of the uneven roller 45 is the X-axis direction in all of embodiments which will be described below. Regarding the X-axis direction, a +X direction is an example of a first direction, and a −X direction is an example of a second direction.
The uneven roller 45 includes a shaft portion 49, a reference portion 51 mounted on the shaft portion 49, a ring portion 52 that is positioned closer to a side, to which the +X direction extends, than the reference portion 51 is and that is mounted on the shaft portion 49, and a restriction portion 53 that is positioned closer to the side, to which the +X direction extends, than the ring portion 52 is and that is mounted on the shaft portion 49 to restrict movement of the ring portion 52 in the +X direction. In addition, the ring portion 52 is composed of a plurality of uneven rings 60 disposed along the axial direction, the uneven ring 60 including a plurality of the protrusion portions 61 disposed along the circumferential direction.
In the present embodiment, the shaft portion 49 is formed of metal.
In addition, in the present embodiment, the reference portion 51 is formed of resin. For example, the reference portion 51 is formed of polyoxymethylene (POM). The reference portion 51 is a cylindrical member, has an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the shaft portion 49, and is formed to be slidable along the axial direction and not to wobble in a radial direction when being slid onto the shaft portion 49.
In addition, in the present embodiment, the restriction portion 53 is formed of resin. For example, the restriction portion 53 is formed of polyoxymethylene (POM). The restriction portion 53 is a cylindrical member, has an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the shaft portion 49, and is formed to be slidable along the axial direction and not to wobble in the radial direction when being slid onto the shaft portion 49.
In addition, in the present embodiment, the uneven ring 60 is formed of resin. For example, the uneven ring 60 is formed of polyoxymethylene (POM). The uneven ring 60 has an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the shaft portion 49 and is formed to be slidable along the axial direction and not to wobble in the radial direction when being slid onto the shaft portion 49.
Hereinafter, a configuration and a manufacturing method of an uneven roller 45A, which is an embodiment of the uneven roller 45, will be described. The uneven roller 45A is a roller with a roller surface having a higher protrusion and recess density than an uneven roller 45B which will be described later.
The uneven roller 45A includes a shaft portion 49A, a reference portion 51A mounted on the shaft portion 49A, a ring portion 52A that is positioned closer to a side, to which the +X direction extends, than the reference portion 51A is and that is mounted on the shaft portion 49A, and a restriction portion 53A that is positioned closer to the side, to which the +X direction extends, than the ring portion 52A is and that is mounted on the shaft portion 49A to restrict movement of the ring portion 52A in the +X direction. Furthermore, the uneven roller 45A includes a spring 54 that presses the restriction portion 53A in the −X direction and a stopper 55 that restricts movement of the spring 54 in the +X direction.
A method of manufacturing the uneven roller 45A includes steps S101, S102, and S103 shown in
As shown in
As described above, the manufacturing of the uneven roller 45A includes a first step (the step S101 in
Note that a method of fixing the reference portion 51A with respect to the shaft portion 49A is not limited to a method of press-fitting the fixation pin 56 and may be other fixing methods such as a screw-fixing method or an adhesion-fixing method, for example.
As a second step (the step S102 in
Here, at the reference portion 51A, the plurality of protrusion portions 61A are provided along the circumferential direction on a side to which the +X direction extends, that is, on a side on which the reference portion 51A engages with the uneven rings 60A. The reference portion 51A is provided with one protrusion portion row composed of the plurality of protrusion portions 61A disposed along the circumferential direction. A ring engagement projection 51b protruding in the +X direction is formed between some of the protrusion portions 61A adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction.
Note that the reference portion 51A may not be provided with the protrusion portions 61A.
The uneven ring 60A includes a ring-shaped base portion 60a that is fitted to the shaft portion 49A. The base portion 60a is provided with the plurality of protrusion portions 61A disposed along the circumferential direction. The uneven ring 60A is provided with one protrusion portion row composed of the plurality of protrusion portions 61A disposed along the circumferential direction. The protrusion portions 61A of the uneven ring 60A are provided to protrude in the +X direction with respect to the base portion 60a.
In addition, at a position where one protrusion portion 61A is disposed in the circumferential direction, a reference portion side engaging portion 60b that is open in the −X direction is formed at the base portion 60a (refer to
When the reference portion side engaging portion 60b and the ring engagement projection 51b are fitted to each other, the protrusion portion 61A of the uneven ring 60A enters a space between two protrusion portions 61A of the reference portion 51A that are adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction. In other words, when the reference portion side engaging portion 60b and the ring engagement projection 51b are fitted to each other, the protrusion portion 61A of the reference portion 51A enters a space between two protrusion portions 61A of the uneven ring 60A that are adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction. That is, in an assembled state, the protrusion portion 61A of the reference portion 51A and the protrusion portion 61A of the uneven ring 60A adjacent to the reference portion 51A are disposed at different positions in the circumferential direction.
The positions of the reference portion side engaging portion 60b and the ring engagement projection 51b in the circumferential direction are set such that the protrusion portions 61A can fit into each other as described above.
Note that in a state where the reference portion side engaging portion 60b and the ring engagement projection 51b are fitted to each other, the ring engagement projection 51b is in a state of being in a space below one protrusion portion 61A constituting the uneven ring 60A as shown in
In addition, at the base portion 60a of the uneven ring 60A, a restriction portion side engaging portion 60c protruding in the +X direction is formed between some of the protrusion portions 61A adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction. In addition, the restriction portion side engaging portion 60c can be fitted to the reference portion side engaging portion 60b of the uneven ring 60A adjacent thereto.
Accordingly, the reference portion side engaging portion 60b can be used not only for the positioning of the uneven ring 60A with respect to the reference portion 51A but also for the positioning of the uneven rings 60A that are adjacent to each other. In addition, the restriction portion side engaging portion 60c can be used not only for the positioning of the uneven rings 60A that are adjacent to each other but also for the positioning of the uneven ring 60A with respect to the restriction portion 53A which will be described later.
When two uneven rings 60A adjacent to each other are fitted to each other, the protrusion portion 61A of one of the uneven rings 60A enters a space between two protrusion portions 61A of another uneven ring 60A. When an uneven ring indicated by a reference numeral “60A-1” in
In other words, the protrusion portion 61A of the first uneven ring 60A-1 enters a space between two adjacent projection portions 61A of the second uneven ring 60A-2. That is, in the assembled state, the protrusion portion 61A of the first uneven ring 60A-1 and the protrusion portion 61A of the second uneven ring 60A-2 are disposed at different positions in the circumferential direction.
In
The positions of the reference portion side engaging portion 60b and the restriction portion side engaging portion 60c in the circumferential direction are set such that the protrusion portions 61A can fit into each other as described above.
As a third step (the step S103 in
The restriction portion 53A includes a cylindrical first base portion 53c, which is closer to the side, to which the +X direction extends, than a flange portion 53e having the largest outer diameter is, and a cylindrical second base portion 53d, which is closer to the side, to which the −X direction extends, than the flange portion 53e is.
A long hole 53b is formed at the first base portion 53c. The long hole 53b is a hole extending in the X-axis direction, that is, in the axial direction. In addition, a hole (not shown) into which the fixation pin 56 can be press-fitted is formed at the shaft portion 49A.
In a state where the restriction portion 53A is slid onto the shaft portion 49A and the long hole 53b and the hole of the shaft portion 49A coincide with each other, the fixation pin 56 is press-fitted as indicated by an arrow e4 in
However, since the long hole 53b is a long hole that is long in the axial direction and the width of the long hole 53b in the circumferential direction is slightly larger than that of the fixation pin 56, the restriction portion 53A is in a state of being slidable in the X-axis direction within a formation range of the long hole 53b.
Here, a plurality of the protrusion portions 61A are provided along the circumferential direction on a side closer to a side, to which the −X direction extends, than the flange portion 53e is, that is, on a side on which the restriction portion 53A engages with the uneven rings 60A. Note that the protrusion portion 61A provided at the restriction portion 53A has a shape obtained when removing the half of the protrusion portion 61A of the uneven ring 60A in the axial direction.
The restriction portion 53A is provided with one protrusion portion row composed of the plurality of protrusion portions 61A disposed along the circumferential direction. At a position where one protrusion portion 61A is disposed in the circumferential direction, a ring engagement recess portion 53a that is open in the −X direction is formed at the second base portion 53d and the restriction portion side engaging portion 60c of the uneven ring 60A can be fitted to the ring engagement recess portion 53a.
Note that the restriction portion 53A may not be provided with the protrusion portions 61A.
When the ring engagement recess portion 53a and the restriction portion side engaging portion 60c are fitted to each other, the protrusion portion 61A of the uneven ring 60A enters a space between two protrusion portions 61A of the restriction portion 53A that are adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction. In other words, when the ring engagement recess portion 53a and the restriction portion side engaging portion 60c are fitted to each other, the protrusion portion 61A of the restriction portion 53A enters a space between two protrusion portions 61A of the uneven ring 60A that are adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction. That is, in the assembled state, the protrusion portion 61A of the restriction portion 53A and the protrusion portion 61A of the uneven ring 60A adjacent to the restriction portion 53A are disposed at different positions in the circumferential direction.
The positions of the ring engagement recess portion 53a and the restriction portion side engaging portion 60c in the circumferential direction are set such that the protrusion portions 61A can fit into each other as described above.
Note that in a state where the ring engagement recess portion 53a and the restriction portion side engaging portion 60c are fitted to each other, the second base portion 53d is in a state of being in a space below the protrusion portions 61A constituting the uneven ring 60A.
Next, as a fourth step, a compression spring 54, which is an example of a pressing member, is slid onto the shaft portion 49A as indicated by an arrow e5 in
Next, as a fifth step, the stopper 55 is slid onto the shaft portion 49A as indicated by an arrow e6 in
A hole 55a is formed at the first base portion 55d. In addition, a hole (not shown) into which the fixation pin 56 can be press-fitted is formed at the shaft portion 49A.
In a state where the stopper 55 is slid onto the shaft portion 49A and the hole 55a and the hole of the shaft portion 49A coincide with each other, the fixation pin 56 is press-fitted as indicated by an arrow e7. Accordingly, the stopper 55 is fixed so as not to move in the axial direction and the circumferential direction with respect to the shaft portion 49A.
Here, since the inner diameter of the compression spring 54 is larger than the outer diameter of the second base portion 55c, the second base portion 55c enters the inside of the compression spring 54.
In addition, the outer diameters of the flange portion 53e of the restriction portion 53A and the flange portion 55b of the stopper 55 are larger than the inner diameter of the compression spring 54 and the free length of the compression spring 54 is larger than a distance between the flange portion 53e of the restriction portion 53A and the flange portion 55b of the stopper 55 in the axial direction. Therefore, the compression spring 54 applies a pressing force in the −X direction to the flange portion 53e of the restriction portion 53A.
Accordingly, the plurality of uneven rings 60A constituting the ring portion 52A are pressed toward the reference portion 51A in the −X direction and there is no wobbling between two uneven rings 60A that are adjacent to each other between the reference portion 51A and the restriction portion 53A.
The uneven roller 45A described above has a configuration in which the protrusion portions 61A overlap with each other in the axial direction. However, a configuration in which the protrusion portions 61A do not overlap with each other in the axial direction may also be adopted.
As shown in
In addition, at a position where one protrusion portion 61B is disposed in the circumferential direction, the reference portion side engaging portion 60b that protrudes in the −X direction is formed at the base portion 60a and the reference portion side engaging portion 60b can be fitted to a ring engagement recess portion 51c (refer to
In addition, the restriction portion side engaging portion 60c that is open in the +X direction is formed between some of the protrusion portions 61B adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction at the base portion 60a and the reference portion side engaging portion 60b of the uneven ring 60B adjacent to the restriction portion side engaging portion 60c can be fitted to the restriction portion side engaging portion 60c.
Accordingly, the reference portion side engaging portion 60b can be used not only engagement with respect to the reference portion 51B but also for the positioning of the uneven rings 60B that are adjacent to each other. In addition, the restriction portion side engaging portion 60c is also used for the positioning of the uneven ring 60B with respect to the restriction portion 53 (not shown) corresponding to the above-described restriction portion 53A.
Note that unlike the above-described uneven ring 60A, the reference portion side engaging portion 60b of the uneven ring 60B is formed in a protruding shape and the restriction portion side engaging portion 60c of the uneven ring 60B is formed in a recessed shape. However, the reference portion side engaging portion 60b of the uneven ring 60B may also be formed in a recessed shape and the restriction portion side engaging portion 60c of the uneven ring 60B may also be formed in a protruding shape.
When two uneven rings 60B adjacent to each other are fitted to each other, the protrusion portion 61B of one uneven ring 60B and the protrusion portion 61B of another uneven ring 60B are disposed at different positions in the circumferential direction. When an uneven ring indicated by a reference numeral “60B-1” in
The positions of the reference portion side engaging portion 60b and the restriction portion side engaging portion 60c in the circumferential direction are set such that the protrusion portions 61B are disposed as described above.
As described above, the uneven roller 45 includes the shaft portion 49, the reference portion 51 mounted on the shaft portion 49, the ring portion 52 that is positioned closer to the side, to which the +X direction extends, than the reference portion 51 is and that is mounted on the shaft portion 49, and the restriction portion 53 that is positioned closer to the side, to which the +X direction extends, than the ring portion 52 is and that is mounted on the shaft portion 49 to restrict movement of the ring portion 52 in the +X direction. In addition, the ring portion 52 is composed of a plurality of the uneven rings 60 disposed along the axial direction, the uneven ring 60 including the plurality of protrusion portions 61 along the circumferential direction.
In addition, the uneven ring 60 is an uneven ring constituting the uneven roller 45 of which a surface coming into contact with the medium P is provided with a plurality of protrusions and recesses and can be mounted onto the shaft portion 49 constituting the uneven roller 45.
In addition, the manufacturing method of the uneven roller 45 includes a step (the step S101 in
In addition, by changing the number of the uneven rings 60, it is possible to easily change the length of the ring portion 52 in the axial direction and to easily manufacture the uneven rollers 45 having different dimensions.
In addition, a job to be performed when wear or the like of a portion of the ring portion 52 occurs is simply replacing the uneven ring 60 of a corresponding portion. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the required cost in comparison with the case of replacement of the entire uneven roller 45 and to cope with requests for reuse and waste minimization.
Note that when the uneven ring 60 is worn, the worn uneven ring 60 may be replaced with a new uneven ring or the worn uneven ring 60 of one uneven roller 45 may be replaced with the uneven ring 60 that is not worn so much.
In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the reference portion 51 and the shaft portion 49 are configured as separate members. However, the reference portion 51 and the shaft portion 49 may be configured to be integrated with each other.
In addition, the ring portion 52 may not be composed of the uneven rings 60 only and the ring portion 52 may include, for example, a flat ring of which an outer peripheral surface is flat. In such a case, it is preferable that the outermost diameter of the flat ring is smaller than the outermost diameter of the uneven ring 60. Note that an example of the flat ring will be described later as a facing ring 63.
In addition, regarding the uneven roller 45, the plurality of uneven rings 60 that constitute the ring portion 52 have the same shape as each other. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the cost of the uneven rings 60. Note that the ring portion 52 may be composed of a plurality of types of uneven rings 60 having different shapes.
In addition, regarding uneven roller 45, the plurality of protrusion portions 61 of the uneven ring 60 are arranged in a row in the circumferential direction. Accordingly, the width of the uneven ring 60 can be reduced and the length of the ring portion 52 in the axial direction can be adjusted more easily.
However, the uneven ring 60 may be provided with the plurality of protrusion portions 61 disposed in the axial direction.
In addition, two adjacent uneven rings 60 of the uneven roller 45 can engage with each other. Accordingly, the two adjacent uneven rings 60 can be restrained from rotating relative to each other such that the phases thereof are made offset from each other.
In addition, regarding the uneven roller 45, the uneven ring 60 includes the reference portion side engaging portion 60b that can engage with the reference portion 51. Accordingly, the uneven ring 60 that is adjacent to the reference portion 51 and the reference portion 51 can be restrained from rotating relative to each other such that the phases thereof are made offset from each other.
Note that the reference portion side engaging portion 60b does not need to be provided for all of the plurality of uneven rings 60 and the reference portion side engaging portion 60b may be provided only for the uneven ring 60 adjacent to the reference portion 51.
In addition, regarding the uneven roller 45, the uneven ring 60 includes the restriction portion side engaging portion 60c that can engage with the restriction portion 53. Accordingly, the uneven ring 60 that is adjacent to the restriction portion 53 and the restriction portion 53 can be restrained from rotating relative to each other such that the phases thereof are made offset from each other.
Note that the restriction portion side engaging portion 60c does not need to be provided for all of the plurality of uneven rings 60 and the restriction portion side engaging portion 60c may be provided only for the uneven ring 60 adjacent to the restriction portion 53.
In addition, regarding the uneven roller 45, the reference portion side engaging portion 60b and the restriction portion side engaging portion 60c can engage with each other. Accordingly, it is not necessary to provide a configuration for the positioning of the uneven rings 60 and thus the configuration can be simplified.
However, the present disclosure is not limited to such a configuration, and a configuration in which the reference portion side engaging portion 60b and the restriction portion side engaging portion 60c cannot engage with each other may also be adopted.
In addition, regarding the uneven roller 45, the protrusion portions 61 of one uneven ring 60 and the protrusion portions 61 of the uneven ring 60 that is adjacent to the one uneven ring 60 are disposed at different positions in the circumferential direction. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress formation of a noticeable line at the medium P along the axial direction, that is, a medium width direction.
In addition, regarding the uneven roller 45, the uneven ring 60 includes the base portion 60a into which the shaft portion 49 is inserted and the protrusion portions 61 that protrude in a radial direction of the shaft portion 49 from the base portion 60a and the reference portion side engaging portion 60b is provided at the base portion 60a. Therefore, it is possible to provide the reference portion side engaging portion 60b without influence on disposition of the protrusion portions 61.
In addition, regarding the uneven roller 45, the restriction portion side engaging portion 60c of the uneven ring 60 is provided at the base portion 60a. Therefore, it is possible to provide the restriction portion side engaging portion 60c without influence on disposition of the protrusion portions 61.
Note that regarding the uneven roller 45A shown in
Similarly, regarding the uneven roller 45A, the plurality of protrusion portion 61A may be configured to function as the restriction portion side engaging portion 60c. That is, since the protrusion portions 61A of the restriction portion 53A and the protrusion portions 61A of the uneven ring 60A of the uneven roller 45A fit into each other alternating in the circumferential direction, the uneven ring 60A adjacent to the restriction portion 53A and the restriction portion 53A can be restrained from rotating relative to each other such that the phases thereof are made offset from each other. That is, the plurality of protrusion portions 61A can function as the restriction portion side engaging portion 60c. According to such a configuration, the restriction portion side engaging portion 60c can be omitted, and an increase in cost of the uneven ring 60A can be suppressed.
In addition, regarding the uneven roller 45, since the restriction portion 53 is pressed in the −X direction, the plurality of uneven rings 60 are pressed against the reference portion 51 and formation of gaps between the plurality of uneven rings 60 is suppressed.
Note that instead of such a configuration, the restriction portion 53 may be provided to be fixed. In such a case, the compression spring 54 and the stopper 55 can be omitted.
In addition, regarding the uneven roller 45A shown in
Note that the medium transportation device 40 may further include a heating unit that heats the shaft portion 49 constituting the uneven roller 45.
According to such a configuration, the drying of the medium P can be performed in addition to curl correction of the medium P that is performed by the uneven roller 45.
Claw Portion Separating Medium from Uneven Roller
Next, claw portions 64 that separate the medium P from the uneven roller 45 will be described with reference to
As shown in
Regarding the ring portion 52C according to the present embodiment, the non-uneven regions 66, in which the protrusion portions 61 are not provided along the circumferential direction and protrusions and recesses and are not formed, are formed at portions of the ring portion 52C in the axial direction. In the present embodiment, the non-uneven regions 66 are formed by outer peripheral surfaces of facing rings 63.
In the present embodiment, the facing ring 63 is formed of resin. For example, the facing ring 63 is formed of polyoxymethylene (POM). The facing ring 63 has an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of a shaft portion 49B and is formed to be slidable along the axial direction and not to wobble in the radial direction when being slid onto the shaft portion 49B.
The claw portions 64 are provided at positions facing the facing rings 63 forming the non-uneven regions 66.
The claw portions 64 are provided downstream of the uneven roller 45C in a medium transportation direction. The claw portions 64 are provided to be rotatable around rotary shafts 64a with respect to a guide member (not shown) and are pressed in the rotation direction C1 by tension springs 65, which are examples of a pressing member. Accordingly, tip ends of the claw portions 64, that is, upstream ends of the claw portions 64 that come into contact with the facing rings 63 are pressed against the facing rings 63.
In
A reference numeral “W1” indicates a region in which a first medium P1 comes into contact with the uneven roller 45C and a reference numeral “W2” indicates a region in which a second medium P2, which has a size larger than that of the first medium P1, comes into contact with the uneven roller 45C. Facing rings 63A and the claw portions 64 are disposed slightly closer to an inner side than side ends of the first medium P1 are and are disposed slightly closer to the inner side than side ends of the second medium P2 are.
In this way, a plurality of the facing rings 63A and the claw portions 64 are provided at intervals in the axial direction, that is, the medium width direction. However, the number of the facing rings 63A provided in the medium width direction and the number of the claw portions 64 provided in the medium width direction may be one.
In
Note that in
As illustrated in the drawing, the outermost diameter Rc of the facing ring 63A is even smaller than the diameter of the contact circle Cs2.
The facing ring 63A includes a first engaged portion 63b that can engage with the reference portion side engaging portion 60b of the first uneven ring 60B-3. Since the reference portion side engaging portion 60b has a protruding shape, the first engaged portion 63b is formed in a recessed shape that accommodates the protruding shape. The reference portion side engaging portion 60b is an example of a first engaging portion that can engage with the first engaged portion 63b.
In addition, the facing ring 63A includes a second engaged portion 63a that can engage with the restriction portion side engaging portion 60c of the second uneven ring 60B-4. Since the restriction portion side engaging portion 60c has a recessed shape, the second engaged portion 63a is formed in a protruding shape that is fit to the recessed shape. The restriction portion side engaging portion 60c is an example of a second engaging portion that can engage with the second engaged portion 63a.
At the time of assembly of the uneven roller 45C, after the second uneven ring 60B-4 is slid onto the shaft portion 49B, the facing ring 63A is slid onto the shaft portion 49B and then the first uneven ring 60B-3 is slid onto the shaft portion 49B. Accordingly, as shown on the rightmost side in
Note that regarding the uneven roller 45C, the protrusion portions 61B of the two uneven rings 60B-3 and 60B-4 sandwiching the facing ring 63A are disposed at the same positions in the circumferential direction.
In the present embodiment, a dimension of the facing ring 63A in a width direction is substantially equal to a dimension of the uneven ring 60B in the width direction.
As shown in
The uneven ring 60A that is positioned closer to the side, to which the +X direction extends, than the facing ring 63B is will be referred to as a first uneven ring 60A-3 and the uneven ring 60A that is positioned closer to the side, to which the −X direction extends, than the facing ring 63B is will be referred to as a second uneven ring 60A-4.
The facing ring 63B includes the first engaged portion 63b that can engage with the reference portion side engaging portion 60b of the first uneven ring 60A-3. Since the reference portion side engaging portion 60b has a recessed shape, the first engaged portion 63b is formed in a protruding shape that is fit to the recessed shape. The reference portion side engaging portion 60b is an example of a first engaging portion that can engage with the first engaged portion 63b.
In addition, the facing ring 63B includes the second engaged portion 63a that can engage with the restriction portion side engaging portion 60c of the second uneven ring 60A-4. Since the restriction portion side engaging portion 60c has a protruding shape, the second engaged portion 63a is formed in a recessed shape that accommodates the protruding shape. The restriction portion side engaging portion 60c is an example of a second engaging portion that can engage with the second engaged portion 63a.
In the assembly step, after the second uneven ring 60A-4 is slid onto the shaft portion 49B, the facing ring 63B is slid onto the shaft portion 49B and then the first uneven ring 60A-3 is slid onto the shaft portion 49B. Accordingly, as shown on the rightmost side in
Note that in the present embodiment as well, the protrusion portions 61A of the two uneven rings 60A sandwiching the facing ring 63B are disposed at the same positions in the circumferential direction.
In the present embodiment, a dimension of the facing ring 63B in the width direction is larger than that of the uneven ring 60A and is larger than that of the facing ring 63A described with reference to
As described above, the medium transportation device 40 includes the uneven roller 45 of which a surface coming into contact with the medium P is provided with a plurality of protrusions and recesses, the elastic roller 46 that nips the medium P together with the uneven roller 45, and the claw portions 64 that guide the medium P to be separated from the uneven roller 45. Accordingly, it is possible to facilitate peeling the medium P off from the uneven roller 45.
In addition, the non-uneven regions 66 in which protrusions and recesses are not formed along the circumferential direction are formed at a portion of the uneven roller 45 in the axial direction and the claw portions 64 face the non-uneven regions 66. Therefore, wear on or damage to the claw portions 64 and the protrusions and recesses, which is caused when the claw portions 64 come into contact with protrusions and recesses, can be suppressed.
Note that the claw portions 64 may abut outer peripheral surfaces of the non-uneven regions 66 or may be separated from the outer peripheral surfaces of the non-uneven regions 66.
In addition, in a configuration in which the claw portions 64 are provided, the uneven roller 45 does not need to be composed of the plurality of uneven rings 60 and protrusions and recesses on the outer peripheral surface thereof may be integrally provided with the shaft portion, for example.
Note that when the claw portion 64 abuts the facing ring 63, as shown in
Here, in
In addition, a straight line L4 is a straight line passing through the contact position Sp and is a straight line orthogonal to the straight line L1. It is preferable that an angle α2 formed by an upper surface 64b of the claw portion 64 and the straight line L4 at the contact position Sp falls within a range of 0° to 20°. Accordingly, the medium P can be appropriately peeled off from the uneven roller 45.
In addition, in the present embodiment, the outermost diameter Rc of the facing ring 63 is smaller than the outermost diameter Rd of the uneven ring 60. Accordingly, the tip end of the claw portion 64 can enter a space inside an outermost diameter circle Cs1 of the uneven ring 60 and it is possible to more reliably peel the medium P off from the uneven roller 45 with the claw portion 64.
In addition, in the present embodiment as well, the first engaging portion (that is, the reference portion side engaging portion 60b) and the second engaging portion (that is, the restriction portion side engaging portion 60c) can engage with each other as described above and thus the uneven rings 60 that are adjacent to each other can engage with each other. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a configuration for the positioning of the uneven rings 60 that are adjacent to each other and thus the configuration can be simplified.
Note that, an engaging portion for the positioning of the uneven rings 60 that are adjacent to each other does not need to also serve as an engaging portion for the positioning of the uneven ring 60 adjacent to the facing ring 63 and the facing ring 63 and the engaging portions may be configured separately from each other. In such a case, the engaging portion for the positioning of the uneven ring 60 adjacent to the facing ring 63 and the facing ring 63 may be provided for only the uneven ring 60 adjacent to the facing ring 63 or may be provided for every uneven ring 60.
In addition, in the present embodiment as well, in a state where two uneven rings 60 adjacent to each other engage with each other, the protrusion portions 61 of one uneven ring 60 and the protrusion portions 61 of another uneven ring 60 are disposed at different positions in the circumferential direction. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress formation of a noticeable line at the medium P along the axial direction, that is, a medium width direction.
In addition, in the present embodiment, the facing ring 63 and the claw portion 64 are disposed at the central position CL, which is the center of the ring portion 52 in the medium width direction. Accordingly, right and left sides of the medium P can be evenly peeled off with respect to the central position CL in the medium width direction and thus the medium P can be restrained from being skewed after being peeled off.
In addition, in the present embodiment, the facing ring 63 and the claw portion 64 are provided at symmetrical positions with respect to the central position CL of the ring portion 52 in the medium width direction and are provided inside end portions, in the width direction, of the medium P having a predetermined size. Accordingly, right and left sides of the medium P can be evenly peeled off with respect to the central position CL in the medium width direction and thus the medium P can be restrained from being skewed after being peeled off.
In addition, as described with reference with
Note that as a configuration in which the scribe line 49b is made visually recognizable, a configuration in which the facing ring 63 is made partially transparent instead of being provided with the hole 63c may also be adopted.
Note that a configuration in which the outermost diameter Rd of the uneven roller 45 increases from a region where the plurality of protrusions and recesses are formed (that is, the central position CL of the ring portion 52 in the axial direction) toward axial ends may also be adopted.
For example, when regions each of which is between two facing rings 63A in FIG. 14 are referred to as regions A1, A2, and A3 in order from the central position CL to the axial ends, a configuration in which the outermost diameters Rd at the regions increase in this order may also be adopted.
In
As an example, the outermost diameter Rd of the uneven ring 60B-11 can be set to 30.5 mm, the outermost diameter Rd of the uneven ring 60B-22 can be set to 31.0 mm, and the outermost diameter Rd of the uneven ring 60B-33 can be set to 31.5 mm.
Note that in such a case, the outer diameters of the base portions 60a of the uneven rings can also be caused to increase toward the axial end. For example, the outer diameter of a base portion 60a-1 of the uneven ring 60B-11 can be set to 28.5 mm, the outer diameter of a base portion 60a-2 of the uneven ring 60B-22 can be set to 29.0 mm, and the outer diameter of a base portion 60a-3 of the uneven ring 60B-33 can be set to 29.5 mm.
Note that for example, the protrusion portion 61B can be formed in the form of a portion of a sphere having a diameter of 3.0 mm.
In addition, the outer diameter of the elastic roller 46 can be set to 35.0 mm, for example.
According to a configuration in which the outermost diameter Rd of the uneven roller 45 increases from the central position CL toward the axial ends as described above, the speed of medium transportation is increased at a position on axial end sides in comparison with the central position CL. Accordingly, the medium P is pulled in directions toward the axial ends and thus formation of wrinkles at the medium P can be suppressed.
Note that the outermost diameter Rd of the uneven roller 45 does not need to stepwisely increase toward the axial ends as in the above-described embodiment and may continuously increase toward the axial ends.
According to a configuration in which the outermost diameter Rd of the uneven roller 45 changes with the facing ring 63 as a boundary as in the present embodiment, the uneven rings 60 that are the same as each other can be used between two facing rings 63. Therefore, it is possible to suppress an increase in cost of the uneven rings 60, and the assembly step is facilitated. That is, the uneven rings 60 that are the same as each other can be used in each of the regions A1, A2, and A3. Therefore, it is possible to suppress an increase in cost of the uneven rings 60, and the assembly step is facilitated.
Note that in the configuration in which the outermost diameter Rd of the uneven roller 45 increases toward the axial ends, the outermost diameters Rc of a plurality of the facing rings 63 may be different from each other or may be equal to each other. When the outermost diameters Rc of the plurality of facing rings 63 are equal to each other, the same components can be used for the plurality of facing rings 63 and an increase in cost of the component can be suppressed.
For example, when the outer diameter of the base portion 60a of the uneven ring 60B-1 is set to 28.5 mm, the outermost diameter Rc of the facing ring 63 can also be set to 28.5 mm.
Note that in the configuration in which the outermost diameter Rd of the uneven roller 45 increases toward the axial ends, the outer diameters of the base portions 60a may be different from each other as described above or may be equal to each other. When the outer diameters of the base portions 60a are different from each other, a difference between the outermost diameters Rd of the uneven rings 60 is made by a difference between the amounts of protrusion of the protrusion portions 61 from the base portions 60a. Accordingly, the following action and effect can be achieved.
Even when the outermost diameters Rd of the uneven rings 60 are different from each other, it is difficult to determine, from the external appearances thereof, that the outermost diameters Rd of the uneven rings 60 are different from each other when there is no difference between the amounts of protrusion of the protrusion portions 61 from the base portions 60a.
However, since a difference between the outermost diameters Rd of the uneven rings 60 is made by a difference between the amounts of protrusion of the protrusion portions 61 from the base portions 60a, it is easy to determine, from the external appearances thereof, that the outermost diameters Rd of the uneven rings 60 are different from each other. Accordingly, manufacturing the uneven roller 45 is facilitated.
Note that the medium transportation device 40 may further include a heating unit that heats the shaft portion 49 constituting the uneven roller 45.
Note that the claw portions 64 may be omitted from the above-described medium transportation device 40 and a medium transportation device may be configured to include the uneven roller 45 provided with the non-uneven regions 66.
Next, phase alignment of the uneven rollers 45 facing each other will be described with reference to
As shown in
Regarding the transportation roller pair 41B, the protrusion portion 61B of one of the first uneven roller 45-11 and the second uneven roller 45-22 faces the recess portion 62 of another of the first uneven roller 45-11 and the second uneven roller 45-22 in the same manner as described with reference to
Note that in
The reference portions 51C are integrally provided with gears 51e. In the present embodiment, the first uneven roller 45-11 and the second uneven roller 45-22 have the same reference portions 51C as each other. However, hereinafter, the gear 51e of the first uneven roller 45-11 will be referred to as a first gear 51e-1 and the gear 51e of the second uneven roller 45-22 will be referred to as a second gear 51e-2 as necessary.
As shown in
A first ring indication portion 51m is provided at the position of the first engaged portion 51j as a mark and a second ring indication portion 51n is provided at the position of the second engaged portion 51k as a mark. The first ring indication portion 51m and the second ring indication portion 51n are colored in different colors so that both the first ring indication portion 51m and the second ring indication portion 51n can be distinguished from each other. Note that the colors of the first ring indication portion 51m and the second ring indication portion 51n may be the same as each other as long as different shapes, letters, or the like are provided as the first ring indication portion 51m and the second ring indication portion 51n since both the first ring indication portion 51m and the second ring indication portion 51n only need to be distinguished from each other.
In addition, a first indication portion 51g and a second indication portion 51f are provided as marks at a gear surface of the gear 51e. The first indication portion 51g and the second indication portion 51f are formed at different positions in the circumferential direction. The first indication portion 51g and the second indication portion 51f are colored in different colors so that both the first indication portion 51g and the second indication portion 51f can be distinguished from each other. Note that the colors of the first indication portion 51g and the second indication portion 51f may be the same as each other as long as different shapes, letters, or the like are provided as the first indication portion 51g and the second indication portion 51f since both the first indication portion 51g and the second indication portion 51f only need to be distinguished from each other.
As shown in
In addition, regarding the uneven ring 60B adjacent to the reference portion 51C of the second uneven roller 45-22, the reference portion side engaging portion 60b as the first engaging portion is fitted to the second engaged portion 51k.
In this manner, the first ring indication portion 51m and the second ring indication portion 51n colored in different colors can be used as signs at the time of assembly.
When assembly is performed in this manner, the position of the first indication portion 51g of the first uneven roller 45-11 corresponds to the position of a tooth of the first gear 51e-1 and corresponds to the position of the recess portion 62 of the first uneven roller 45-11. Furthermore, the position of the second indication portion 51f of the first uneven roller 45-11 corresponds to the position of a tooth groove of the first gear 51e-1 and corresponds to the position of the recess portion 62 of the first uneven roller 45-11.
In addition, the position of the first indication portion 51g of the second uneven roller 45-22 corresponds to the position of a tooth of the second gear 51e-2 and corresponds to the position of the protrusion portion 61B of the second uneven roller 45-22. Furthermore, the position of the second indication portion 51f of the second uneven roller 45-22 corresponds to the position of a tooth groove of the second gear 51e-2 and corresponds to the position of the protrusion portion 61B of the second uneven roller 45-22.
In addition, when the first gear 51e-1 and the second gear 51e-2 are to be caused to mesh with each other, the first gear 51e-1 and the second gear 51e-2 are caused to mesh with each other such that indication portions of which the colors are different from each other are brought together. In
When assembly is performed in this manner, a recess portion of one of the first uneven roller 45-11 and the second uneven roller 45-22 and a protrusion portion of another of the first uneven roller 45-11 and the second uneven roller 45-22 appropriately face each other when the first gear 51e-1 and the second gear 51e-2 are caused to mesh with each other.
As described above, the transportation roller pair 41B included in the medium transportation device 40D includes the first uneven roller 45-11 and the second uneven roller 45-22 and the protrusion portion 61B of one of the first uneven roller 45-11 and the second uneven roller 45-22 faces the recess portion 62 of another of the first uneven roller 45-11 and the second uneven roller 45-22. Accordingly, the degree of a difference between protrusions and recesses formed at the first surface S1 of the medium P and protrusions and recesses formed at the second surface S2 can be suppressed and generation of a curl of which an inner side is at the first surface S1 or the second surface S2 can be suppressed.
In addition, the medium transportation device 40D includes the first gear 51e-1 provided at the first uneven roller 45-11 and the second gear 51e-2 provided at the second uneven roller 45-22 and the first gear 51e-1 and the second gear 51e-2 mesh with each other. Accordingly, adjustment of the phase of rotation of the first uneven roller 45-11 and the phase of rotation of the second uneven roller 45-22 can be performed easily.
However, the present disclosure is not limited to such a configuration, and another gear may be interposed between the first gear 51e-1 and the second gear 51e-2.
In addition, in the medium transportation device 40D, a ratio between the number of the protrusion portions 61B of the first uneven roller 45-11 and the number of the protrusion portions 61B of the second uneven roller 45-22 is equal to a reduction ratio between the first gear 51e-1 and the second gear 51e-2. Accordingly, the phase of rotation of the first uneven roller 45-11 and the phase of rotation of the second uneven roller 45-22 being offset from each other as the rollers rotate can be suppressed.
For example, in the present embodiment, the ratio between the number of the protrusion portions 61B of the first uneven roller 45-11 and the number of the protrusion portions 61B of the second uneven roller 45-22 is 1 and the reduction ratio between the first gear 51e-1 and the second gear 51e-2 is also 1. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto and for example, the number of teeth of the first gear 51e-1 may be two times the number of teeth of the second gear 51e-2 when the number of the protrusion portions 61B of the first uneven roller 45-11 is two times the number of the protrusion portions 61B of the second uneven roller 45-22.
In addition, in the medium transportation device 40D, a gap dk1 is provided between the protrusion portion 61B of the first uneven roller 45-11 and the protrusion portion 61B of the second uneven roller 45-22 as shown in
Accordingly, generation of a noise accompanied by contact between the protrusion portion 61B of the first uneven roller 45-11 and the protrusion portion 61B of the second uneven roller 45-22 or wear of the protrusion portions 61B can be suppressed.
Note that when the gap dk1 is provided between the protrusion portion 61B of the first uneven roller 45-11 and the protrusion portion 61B of the second uneven roller 45-22, a pitch circle Cs3 (refer to
In addition, when the gap dk1 is provided between the protrusion portion 61B of the first uneven roller 45-11 and the protrusion portion 61B of the second uneven roller 45-22, the sum of the radius of a tip circle of the first gear 51e-1 and the radius of a tip circle of the second gear 51e-2 is larger than the sum of a distance from a rotation center of one of the first uneven roller 45-11 and the second uneven roller 45-22 to a tip end of the protrusion portion 61B and a distance from a rotation center of another of the first uneven roller 45-11 and the second uneven roller 45-22 to a bottom of the recess portion 62.
In addition, in the medium transportation device 40D, the position of a first recess portion 62-1, which is a recess portion of the first uneven roller 45-11, and the position of a first tooth 51p, which is a tooth of the first gear 51e-1, coincide with each other in the circumferential direction and the position of a first protrusion portion 61B-1, which is a protrusion portion of the second uneven roller 45-22 and faces the first recess portion 62-1, and the position of a first tooth groove 51q, which is a tooth groove of the second gear 51e-2, coincide with each other in the circumferential direction. The first tooth 51p of the first gear 51e-1 and the first tooth groove 51q of the second gear 51e-2 mesh with each other.
According to such a configuration, when the first tooth 51p of the first gear 51e-1 enters the first tooth groove 51q of the second gear 51e-2, the first recess portion 62-1 which is a recess portion of the first uneven roller 45-11 faces the first protrusion portion 61B-1 which is a protrusion portion of the second uneven roller 45-22. Accordingly, positional alignment of the first recess portion 62-1 of the first uneven roller 45-11 and the first protrusion portion 61B-1 of the second uneven roller 45-22 is facilitated.
However, as described above, the second indication portion 51f of the first gear 51e-1 and the first indication portion 51g of the second gear 51e-2 may also be brought together. In such a case, the result is as follows when a tooth groove of the first gear 51e-1 at which the second indication portion 51f is provided is referred to as a second tooth groove 51r and a tooth of the second gear 51e-2 at which the first indication portion 51g is provided is referred to as a second tooth 51s as shown in
In addition, in the medium transportation device 40D, the first gear 51e-1 includes the first indication portion 51g indicating the position of the first tooth 51p and the second gear 51e-2 includes the second indication portion 51f indicating the position of the first tooth groove 51q. Accordingly, it is possible to easily cause the first tooth 51p to enter the first tooth groove 51q.
Note that, for example, the first indication portion 51g may not be provided at the position of a tooth and the first indication portion 51g may be provided at each of tooth grooves on both sides of a tooth to indicate the position of the tooth. Similarly, the second indication portion 51f may be provided at each of teeth on both sides of a tooth groove to indicate the position of the tooth groove.
In addition, in the medium transportation device 40D, as described with reference to
The ring portions 52 are composed of the plurality of uneven rings 60 disposed along the axial direction, the uneven ring 60 including the plurality of the protrusion portions 61 disposed along the circumferential direction. The first gear 51e-1 is provided at the reference portion 51 of the first uneven roller 45-11 and the second gear 51e-2 is provided at the reference portion 51 of the second uneven roller 45-22.
In addition, in the medium transportation device 40D, the uneven ring 60 includes the reference portion side engaging portion 60b that can engage with the reference portion 51 and the reference portion 51 includes the first engaged portion 51j that can engage with the reference portion side engaging portion 60b and the second engaged portion 51k that is provided at a position different from the position of the first engaged portion 51j in the circumferential direction.
When the reference portion side engaging portion 60b of the first uneven roller 45-11 engages with the first engaged portion 51j, the position of the first recess portion 62-1 and the position of the first tooth 51p coincide with each other in the circumferential direction. In addition, when the reference portion side engaging portion 60b of the second uneven roller 45-22 engages with the second engaged portion 51k, the position of the first protrusion portion 61B-1 and the position of the first tooth groove 51q coincide with each other in the circumferential direction. According to such a configuration, an assembly operation is facilitated. Note that the reference portion side engaging portion 60b that engages with the first engaged portion 51j or the second engaged portion 51k of the reference portion 51 may be provided only for the uneven ring 60 adjacent to the reference portion 51 or may be provided for every uneven ring 60.
In addition, in the present embodiment, the first engaged portion 51j and the second engaged portion 51k of the reference portion 51 (that is, two engaged portions) are provided and the reference portion side engaging portion 60b (that is, one engaging portion) is provided at the uneven ring 60 adjacent to the reference portion 51. However, in contrast, the reference portion 51 may be provided with one engaged portion and the uneven ring 60 adjacent to the reference portion 51 may be provided with two engaging portions. In such a case, it is preferable that the one engaged portion of the reference portion 51 has a protruding shape and the two engaging portions of the uneven ring 60 have recessed shapes.
Note that in the medium transportation device 40D, the uneven ring 60 includes the restriction portion side engaging portion 60c (refer to
In addition, in the medium transportation device 40D as well, the protrusion portions 61B of the first protrusion portion row 61a (refer to
In addition, when the uneven ring 60A shown in
In addition, when the heater 112 (that is, a heating unit) described with reference to
The present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the appended claims, and as a matter of course, the modifications are also included in the scope of the present disclosure.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-042750 | Mar 2023 | JP | national |
