1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a print apparatus.
2. Related Art
A known large print apparatus has a so-called roll-to-roll configuration in which a recording medium is supplied in a rolled form and a printed recording medium is wound into a roll and is collected. Such a print apparatus includes medium supports that support both sides of a rolled medium. JP-A-2013-32206, for example, describes a print apparatus that presses a rolled medium from one side to the other to fix the rolled medium by user's rotation of a handle provided to one of roll medium holder devices (medium supports).
In the print apparatus of JP-A-2013-32206, however, to exchange rolled media, a user needs to rotate the handle in a direction opposite to the direction in attachment to return the medium supports to an initial state. That is, to exchange rolled media in the known print apparatus, the user expends effort to exchange the rolled media.
An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to solve at least a part of the problems described above, and can be obtained in the following embodiments or aspects.
A print apparatus according to an aspect is a print apparatus including a medium support that holds a rolled medium. The medium support includes a base that moves along an axial direction of a guide rail and is fixed to the guide rail, a main shaft that is supported on the base and moves along the axial direction to thereby fix the rolled medium, a split-nut portion that is provided on the base and is splittable into two, a bolt that moves the main shaft along the axial direction, a handle that rotates the bolt axially, and an opening/closing mechanism that opens and closes the split-nut portion, and the split-nut portion is screwed onto the bolt and moves the bolt rotated with the handle along the axial direction while the split-nut portion is closed, and releases the bolt while the split-nut portion is open.
In this aspect, the medium support of the print apparatus includes a split-nut portion and an opening/closing mechanism that opens and closes the split-nut portion. The split-nut portion is screwed onto the bolt and moves the bot rotated with the handle along the axial direction while the split-nut portion is closed. In addition, the bolt moves the main shaft along the axial direction so that the rolled medium is fixed to the medium support. While the split-nut portion is open, the split-nut portion releases the bolt onto which the split-nut portion is screwed. In this manner, the bolt and the handle provided to the bolt can be freely moved along the axial direction relative to the split-nut portion connected to the base. In other words, by opening the split-nut portion using the opening/closing mechanism in exchanging rolled media, a user can return the medium support to an initial position without rotating the handle. Thus, efficiency in exchanging rolled media can be enhanced. As a result, it is possible to provide a print apparatus having enhanced efficiency in exchanging rolled media.
The print apparatus of the above aspect preferably includes an elastic member that returns the bolt to an initial position when the split-nut portion is unscrewed from the bolt.
In this aspect, with the medium support, when the split-nut portion is unscrewed from the bolt, the bolt and the handle connected to the bolt return to initial positions by an elastic force of the elastic member. Thus, efficiency in exchanging rolled media can be further enhanced.
In the print apparatus of the above aspect, the opening/closing mechanism preferably includes an opening/closing roller that is connected to the split-nut portion and opens and closes the split-nut portion, an arm that is engaged with the opening/closing roller and moves along the axial direction to thereby open or close the opening/closing roller, and an elastic member that moves the arm along the axial direction.
In this aspect, the opening/closing mechanism includes the elastic member that moves the arm to be engaged with the opening/closing roller for opening or closing the split-nut portion along the axial direction. By moving the arm along the axial direction using an elastic force of the elastic member when the rolled medium is unfixed, the split-nut portion can be opened using the opening/closing roller.
In the print apparatus of the above aspect, the opening/closing mechanism preferably includes an elastic member that keeps the split-nut portion closed, and a button that opens the split-nut portion.
In this aspect, since the opening/closing mechanism is constituted by a small number of components including the elastic member keeping the split-nut portion in the closed state and the button, the opening/closing mechanism for opening/closing the split-nut portion can be obtained at low costs.
The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numbers reference like elements.
An embodiment of the present invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, dimensions of members are different from those of actual members so that the members have recognizable sizes.
First, a configuration of a print apparatus will be described. The print apparatus is, for example, an ink jet printer. In this embodiment, a large format printer (LFP) using a relatively large-size medium will be described as an example of the configuration of the print apparatus.
The feeder 26 unwinds the recording medium S from the rolled medium R and feeds the recording medium S in a conveying direction Q. Specifically, the feeder 26 is provided at the rear (−Y axis side) of the print apparatus 1, and is supported by the legs 17 through a retainer 35. The feeder 26 includes first holder units 3 serving as medium supports that are feed-side roll holders supporting the rolled medium R.
The first holder units 3 are a pair of opposed holder units and hold both ends of the rolled medium R so that the rolled medium R can rotate. Each of the first holder units 3 includes a fitting portion 13 that fits into a core opening 12 of a roll core 11 of the rolled medium R. The fitting portion 13 has a substantially truncated conical shape so that the fitting portion 13 can be easily fit into the core opening 12. The fitting portion 13 may be freely rotatable or may be driven by power of an unillustrated motor. In the case where the fitting portion 13 is freely rotatable, the recording medium S is conveyed downstream in the conveying direction Q by driving a roller pair 29 disposed upstream in the recording unit 28 and configured to pinch the recording medium S in the recording casing 19 so that the recording medium S is unwound from the rolled medium R. The roller pair may be disposed downstream in the recording unit 28, at each side of the recording unit 28, or outside the recording casing 19.
At least one of the pair of first holder units 3 is moveable along the axial direction of a guide rail 7 extending along the X axis direction, and the attachment position of the first holder unit 3 is changeable. The guide rail 7 is constituted by a first pipe member 7a and a second pipe member 7b both having pipe shapes and extending in parallel along the X axis direction, and is supported at both ends by the retainer 35. The guide rail 7 also serves as a temporary placing base 5, which will be described later.
The temporary placing base 5 serving as a temporary base unit and a medium elevation unit 2 are disposed below the first holder units 3. The temporary placing base 5 is a base on which the rolled medium R is temporarily placed before being attached to the first holder units 3. As one example, the temporary placing base 5 may be constituted by two pipe members of the first pipe member 7a and the second pipe member 7b extending in the X axis direction.
The medium elevation unit 2 is a so-called elevation device, and elevates the rolled medium R having a large mass from the temporary placing base 5 so that the core opening 12 of the rolled medium R and the fitting portions 13 of the first holder units 3 are located substantially at the same height. In this manner, a user can easily hold the rolled medium R on the first holder units 3. More specifically, the medium elevation unit 2 includes a base body 8 slidable along the X axis direction relative to the first pipe member 7a and the second pipe member 7b, an operating lever 6, and an elevation portion 16. When the operating lever 6 is rotated in one direction, the elevation portion 16 ascends and can lift the rolled medium R. When the operating lever 6 is rotated in the opposite direction, the elevation portion 16 descends and can lower the rolled medium R. The medium elevation unit 2 is configured based on the principle of leverage, and the rolled medium R having a large mass can be moved up and down by a small force.
The recording unit 28 is disposed in the recording casing 19. The recording unit 28 includes a carriage guide shaft 21 extending in the X axis direction, a carriage 23, a recording head 25, and the medium support 27. The carriage 23 can reciprocate along the width direction of the recording medium S (X axis direction) while being guided by the carriage guide shaft 21. The recording head 25 is mounted on the carriage 23 to face the medium support 27, and ejects ink or other liquid substances toward the recording medium S while reciprocating. In this manner, an image or the like is recorded on the recording medium S. The medium support 27 supports the recording medium S, and keeps the distance between the recording medium S and the recording head 25 at a predetermined distance. In this embodiment, the recording head 25 is of a serial head type that is mounted on the reciprocating carriage 23 and ejects ink while moving along the width direction of the recording medium S (X axis direction), as an example. Alternatively, the recording head 25 may be of a line head type that extends along the width direction of the recording medium S (X axis direction) and is fixed in this arrangement.
In the conveying direction Q of the recording medium S, a preheater 31 is disposed upstream of the recording casing 19. In a stage before recording on the recording medium S, the recording medium S is heated beforehand so that ink attached to the recording medium S can be easily dried in perform recording. An after heater 33 is disposed downstream of the recording casing 19. In this manner, ink attached to the recording medium S can be dried from the recording unit 28 to the winder 37.
The winder 37 winds the recording medium S into a roll and holds the recording medium S as the rolled medium R. Specifically, the winder 37 is disposed at the front (+Y axis side) of the print apparatus 1, and is supported by the legs 17 through the retainer 24. The winder 37 includes second holder units 40 as medium supports that are winding roll holders. The second holder units 40 are provided in pair and opposed to each other. At least one of the pair of second holder units 40 is moveable along the axial direction of a guide rail 39 extending along the X axis direction, and the attachment positions of the second holder units 40 are changeable. The guide rail 39 is constituted by a third pipe member 39a and a fourth pipe member 39b having pipe shapes and extending in parallel along the X axis direction. One of the pair of second holder units 40 is provided with an unillustrated motor, and the recording medium S is wound into a roll by driving the motor.
As illustrated in
The base 4 has a through hole (not shown) formed along the Y-axis direction and communicating with the through hole of the first pipe member 7a. An internal screw is provided on the inner wall of the through hole. The base 4 includes an external screw that is screwed onto the internal screw and includes a knob 36. The first holder unit 3 is fixed to the guide rail 7 by rotating the knob 36 and bringing the distal end of the external screw into contact with the first pipe member 7a. The first holder unit 3 can move (slide) relative to the guide rail 7 by rotating the knob 36 to separate the distal end of the external screw from the first pipe member 7a or the second pipe member 7b. In this manner, the first holder unit 3 can hold the rolled medium R and exchange rolled media R having different widths (dimensions in the X axis direction). The distal end of the external screw may contact the first pipe member 7a or the second pipe member 7b with an intermediate member interposed therebetween.
An internal configuration of the first holder units 3 and attachment/detachment of the rolled medium R according to this embodiment will be described.
The internal configuration of the first holder units 3 will now be described. As illustrated in
The first holder unit 3 includes a bolt 42 for moving the main shaft 41 in the axial direction, and a handle 45 for rotating the bolt 42 axially. The bolt 42 has a cylindrical shape extending along the X axis direction. An external screw portion 43 is provided at the distal end of the bolt 42 at the +X axis side. The proximal end of the bolt 42 is provided with a handle 45 for rotating the bolt 42 around the X axis. The bolt 42 is supported on the base 4 through the retainer 4a. The main shaft 41 and the bolt 42 are disposed to have their center axes substantially coincide with each other. In a state where the external screw portion 43 is screwed into a split-nut portion 54 described later provided to the base 4 and the distal end of the bolt 42 and the proximal end of the main shaft 41 are in contact with each other, when the handle 45 rotates in one direction so that the bolt 42 moves in the +X axis direction, the main shaft 41 can be moved in the +X axis direction.
The first holder unit 3 includes the split-nut portion 54 that is provided on the base 4 and can be split into two. As illustrated in
The first holder unit 3 includes an opening/closing mechanism 60 for opening/closing the split-nut portion 54. In addition, the opening/closing mechanism 60 includes opening/closing rollers 52a and 52b that are connected to the split-nut portion 54 to open and close the split-nut portion 54 and an arm 51 that is engaged with the opening/closing rollers 52a and 52b and moves along the axial direction (X axis direction) to thereby open or close the opening/closing rollers 52a and 52b. As illustrated in
As illustrated in
For example, when the arm 51 moves in the −X axis direction relative to the opening/closing rollers 52a and 52b, the opening/closing rollers 52a and 52b move along the groove of the through groove 53 from the open side of the Y shape (−X axis side) to the closed side of the Y-shape (+X axis side). In this manner, when the distance between the opening/closing roller 52a and the opening/closing roller 52b decreases so that the closed state is established (see
The opening/closing mechanism 60 includes an elastic member for moving the arm 51 along the X axis direction. As illustrated in
Attachment/detachment of the rolled medium R will now be described.
More specifically, when the user moves the first holder unit 3 toward the rolled medium R (toward the +X axis side) using the base 4, the fitting portion 13 contacts the core opening 12 so that movement of the fitting portion 13 and the arm 51 connected to the fitting portion 13 in the +X axis direction stops. When the user further moves the base 4 in the +X axis direction, the base 4 and the split-nut portion 54 connected to the base 4, the opening/closing rollers 52a and 52b, the bolt 42, and the handle 45 move in the +X axis direction relative to the fitting portion 13 and the arm 51. In this manner, as illustrated in
Furthermore, a coil spring (hereinafter referred to as a handle spring 44) serving as an elastic member for returning the bolt 42 to a predetermined position when the split-nut portion 54 is unscrewed from the external screw portion 43 of the bolt 42 is provided around the axis of the bolt 42 between the retainer 4a and the handle 45. Specifically, the handle spring 44 is compressed (see
In this embodiment, the side pressure mechanism 50 and the opening/closing mechanism 60 are provided in one of the pair of first holder units 3 as medium supports. The invention, however, is not limited to this example. The side pressure mechanism 50 and the opening/closing mechanism 60 may be provided in one or both of the pair of first holder units 3.
In the example described above, the side pressure mechanism 50 and the opening/closing mechanism 60 are provided in the first holder unit 3 of the feeder 26. Alternatively, the side pressure mechanism 50 and the opening/closing mechanism 60 may be provided in one or each of the second holder units 40 of the winder 37.
In the above description, each of the fitting spring 47, the arm spring 56, and the handle spring 44 uses the coil spring as an elastic member, but the present invention is not limited to this example. Each of the fitting spring 47, the arm spring 56, and the handle spring 44 may be made of a rubber that elastically deforms, for example.
As described above, the print apparatus 1 according to this embodiment can obtain the following advantages.
The first holder units 3 as a medium support of the print apparatus 1 includes the split-nut portion 54 and the opening/closing mechanism 60 for opening/closing the split-nut portion 54. When a side pressure to the rolled medium R held by the pair of first holder units 3 is canceled, the opening/closing mechanism 60 opens the split-nut portion 54 so that the split-nut portion 54 is unscrewed from the external screw portion 43 of the bolt 42. In this manner, the handle 45 fixed to the base 4 through the bolt 42 and the split-nut portion 54 becomes freely moveable along the X axis direction relative to the base 4. The user can return the handle 45 to a predetermined position (initial position for attaching the rolled medium R) without rotating the handle 45 so that efficiency in exchanging rolled media R can be enhanced. Thus, it is possible to provide the print apparatus 1 having enhanced efficiency in exchanging rolled media R.
The first holder unit 3 includes the handle spring 4 serving as an elastic member for returning the handle 45 to a predetermined position when the split-nut portion 54 is unscrewed from the external screw portion 43 of the bolt 42. The handle spring 44 compressed in applying a side pressure to the rolled medium R extends when the split-nut portion 54 is unscrewed from the external screw portion 43 of the bolt 42 so that the handle 4 moves together with the bolt 42 in the −X axis direction relative to the retainer 4a. In this manner, the handle 45 returns to a predetermined position by an elastic force of the handle spring 44 so that efficiency in exchanging rolled media R can be further enhanced.
The opening/closing mechanism 60 includes the opening/closing rollers 52a and 52b that are connected to the split-nut portion 54 and open and close the split-nut portion 54, the arm 51 that is engaged with the opening/closing rollers 52a and 52b and moves along the X axis direction to thereby open or close the opening/closing rollers 52a and 52b, and the arm spring 56 serving as an elastic member for moving the arm 51 in the X axis direction. When a side pressure to the rolled medium R held by the pair of first holder units 3 is canceled, the arm spring 56 moves the arm 51 in the −X axis direction relative to the base 4. In this manner, when the opening/closing rollers 52a and 52b move along the Y-shaped through groove 53 formed in the arm 51 from the open side of the Y-shape (+X axis side) to the closed side of the Y-shape (−X axis side) so that the opening/closing rollers 52a and 52b and the split-nut portion 54 are opened and the split-nut portion 54 is unscrewed from the external screw portion 43 of the bolt 42.
The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, and various changes and modifications may be made on the embodiment. Variations thereof will now be described.
In the embodiment, the opening/closing mechanism 60 includes the opening/closing rollers 52a and 52b that are connected to the split-nut portion 54 and open and close the split-nut portion 54 and the arm 51 that is engaged with the opening/closing rollers 52a and 52b and moves along the axial direction (X axis direction) to open or close the opening/closing rollers 52a and 52b. The invention, however, is not limited to this example.
A print apparatus 1 according to a variation will be described. Components already described in the embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will not be repeated.
As illustrated in
The first holder unit 103 includes an opening/closing mechanism 160 for opening/closing the split-nut portion 154. The opening/closing mechanism 160 includes a coil spring (hereinafter referred to as a split-nut spring 158) serving as an elastic member for keeping the split-nut portion 154 in the closed state, and a button 157 for opening the split-nut portion 154. An end of the split-nut spring 158 is connected to a distal end of the stay 154a, and the other end of the split-nut spring 158 is connected to a distal end of the stay 154b. The button 157 has a wedge shape having a distal end at the −Z axis side in a side view from the −X axis direction, and the distal end of the wedge shape faces downward (to the −Z axis side), and is located above and between the pair of stays 154a and 154b (at +Z axis side). The button 157 is moveable in the Z-axis direction.
When a user presses the button 157 in the −Z-axis direction, the other ends of the stays 154a and 154b are opened along the wedge shape of the button 157 so that the split-nut portion 154 is opened. In this manner, the split-nut portion 154 is unscrewed from the external screw portion 43 of the bolt 42 so that a handle 45 becomes freely moveable along the X axis direction relative to the base 4. The user can return the handle 45 to a predetermined position (initial position for attaching the rolled medium R) without rotating the handle 45 so that efficiency in exchanging rolled media R can be enhanced. When the user releases he/her hand from the button 157, an extended split-nut spring 158 is compressed so that the split-nut portion 154 is closed, and the button 157 returns to the original position. The opening/closing mechanism 160 according to this variation can be constituted by a small number of components including the button 157 and the split-nut spring 158. Thus, the opening/closing mechanism for opening/closing the split-nut portion 154 can be obtained at low costs.
In the above description, the split-nut spring 158 uses a coil spring as an elastic member. The invention, however, is not limited to this example. The split-nut spring 158 may be made of, for example, rubber that deforms elastically.
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-243865, filed Dec. 15, 2015. The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-243865 is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2015-243865 | Dec 2015 | JP | national |