Patent Grant
10639915
The present invention relates to a printing apparatus.
In the related art, an ink jet printer is known which includes an ink jet head, transport means which transports a recording medium, and a transport path along which the recording medium is transported. The transport path of the ink jet printer includes a front guiding plate that is configured from a single plate made of aluminum (for example, refer to PTL 1).
PTL 1: JP-A-2009-279877
However, the ink jet printer is assumed to be a large type printer which is able to print on large format media, and the size of the front guiding plate is large. However, since the front guiding plate has a curved portion (bent portion) and the like, there is a problem in that it is difficult to form the front guiding plate which includes the curved portion from a single plate and manufacturing yield of the front guiding plate is lowered.
The present invention is carried out in order to solve at least a part of the problem described above and can be realized in the following aspects or application examples.
A printing apparatus according to the present application example includes a printing portion which is able to print on a medium, a transport portion which transports the medium, and a transport guiding portion on which a transport surface on which the medium is transported is formed and which has a plurality of bent portions, in which the transport guiding portion is provided with a first guiding member which has a bent portion and forms the transport surface on a transport direction upstream side of the medium and a second guiding member which has a bent portion and forms the transport surface on a transport direction downstream side of the medium.
According to this configuration, the transport guiding portion is configured by the first guiding member and the second guiding member. That is, the transport guiding portions are not formed in one member and are separately formed. Accordingly, in comparison to a case where the transport guiding portion which has a bent portion that is relatively difficult to process is formed in one member, since it is easier to form the transport guiding portion with a plurality of members, it is possible to increase manufacturing (processing) yield of the transport guiding portion.
In the printing apparatus according to the application example described above, the first guiding member and the second guiding member are separated.
According to this configuration, it is possible to prevent interference of the members with each other by separating the first guiding member and the second guiding member.
The second guiding member of the printing apparatus according to the application example described above has a lower height of a normal direction of the transport surface than the first guiding member.
According to this configuration, it is possible to smoothly transport the medium which is transported from the first guiding member side without the second guiding member being a hindrance.
The first guiding member of the printing apparatus according to the application example described above is a heat generating portion.
According to this configuration, it is possible to transport the medium on which liquid is applied in the first guiding member while heating.
The first guiding member of the printing apparatus according to the application example described above is thicker than the second guiding member.
According to this configuration, it is possible to secure rigidity in the first guiding member.
In the printing apparatus according to the application example described above, the first guiding member and the second guiding member are supported by a common member at an end portion in a direction which intersects with the transport direction.
According to this configuration, it is possible to stably form a transport path for a medium by supporting using the common member.
An embodiment of the invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that, in each of the drawings described below, the scale of each member and the like is indicated differently from the actual size in order for the sizes of each member and the like to be to the extent so as to be recognizable in the drawings.
First, the configuration of a printing apparatus will be described. For example, the printing apparatus is an ink jet printer. In the present embodiment, a large format printer (LFP) which handles relatively large type media is described as a configuration example of the printing apparatus.
As shown in
The transport portion 2 has a roller 21 which delivers the roller shaped medium M in a transport direction (arrow direction in the Figs.) and a roller (reel unit) 22 which is able to wind the delivered medium M. In addition, the transport portion 2 has a transport roller pair 23 and 24 which transport the medium M on the transport path between the rollers 21 and 22.
The printing portion 3 is able to discharge ink in a discharge region E, and has a recording head (ink jet head) 31 that is able to discharge ink on the medium M, and a carriage 32 which is reciprocally movable in the width direction of the medium M by placing the recording head 31. The recording head 31 is provided with a plurality of nozzles, and is configured to be able to discharge ink for which penetration drying or evaporative drying is necessary by selecting a relationship with the medium M. Then, it is possible to record the image, the character, or the like on the medium M by discharging ink from the recording head 31 while reciprocally moving the carriage 32. Note that, the printing portion 3 may be configured to be able to discharge liquid across the width direction of the medium M without moving. At this time, the printing portion 3 has a configuration in which a nozzle row is formed along the width direction of the medium M and is referred to as a so-called line head.
The platen 4 is disposed to be able to support the medium M in the discharge region E in which ink is discharged by the printing portion 3. That is, the printing apparatus 1 is provided with the platen 4 which is able to support the medium M onto which liquid is discharged in the discharge region E. In the embodiment, the platen 4 is disposed between the transport roller pair 23 and the transport roller pair 24.
The transport guiding portion 5 is disposed to be able to support the medium M further on the downstream side in the transport direction of the medium M than the platen 4. In the embodiment, as shown in
In addition, the printing apparatus 1 of the embodiment is configured to be displaceable in a state in which the transport guiding portion 5 is developed and a state in which the transport guiding portion 5 is folded to the body frame 10 side. First, a configuration of the state in which the transport guiding portion 5 is developed will be described. As shown in
Next, a configuration of a state in which the transport guiding portion 5 is folded to the body frame 10 side will be described. First, the bolt 91 of the fastening member 90 is removed. Here, a shaft portion 410 which extends in a direction which intersects with the transport direction of the medium M is provided on the transport guiding portion 5. Then, as shown in
In addition, in this state, as shown in
Note that, in a case where the printing apparatus 1 is displaced from a state in which the transport guiding portion 5 is folded to the body frame 10 side to a state where the transport guiding portion 5 is developed, a tip end portion of the transport guiding portion 5 is moved in a direction (development direction) separated from the apparatus main body centered on the shaft portion 410. Then, the bolt 91 is fitted corresponding to the guide hole 85 of the support portion 80. Thereby, the transport guiding portion 5 is in a state of being developed.
The tension adjustment portion 50 is able to apply tension to the medium M. The tension adjustment portion 50 of the embodiment is disposed to be able to apply tension to the medium M between the transport guiding portion 5 and the roller 22. The tension adjustment portion 50 is provided with a pair of frame portions 54, and is configured to be rotatable centered on the rotary shaft 53. In addition, a tension bar 55 is disposed between one ends of the pair of frame portions 54. The tension bar 55 is formed to be longer in the width direction than a width of the medium M. Then, there is a configuration in which tension is applied to the medium M by one portion of the tension bar 55 contacting the medium M. Meanwhile, a weight portion 52 is disposed between other ends of the pair of frame portions 54. Thereby, it is possible to displace a position of the tension adjustment portion 50 by rotating the tension adjustment portion 50 centered on the rotary shaft 53.
Next, a detailed configuration of the transport guiding portion will be described. In the transport guiding portion 5, the transport surface is formed on which the medium M is transported, and the transport guiding portion which has a plurality of bent portions is provided. In detail, as shown in
The first guiding member 501 has a first bent portion 502, and has a first transport surface 510 on the transport direction upstream side of the medium M. Then, on a first transport surface 510 of the first guiding member 501, a first bent portion 502 is disposed on the transport direction upstream side of the medium M, and a first flat portion 503 is disposed on the transport direction downstream side of the medium M of the first bent portion 502.
The first bent portion 502 has a shape in which a portion of the first transport surface 510 is bent into a plurality of folds in the transport direction of the medium M. For example, the first bent portion 502 forms a plurality of folds 502a in a direction which intersects substantially perpendicular to the transport direction of the medium M and is an aggregation of a plurality of flat surface portions 502b that are formed between adjacent folds 502a with respect to a flat plate portion which is a raw material of the first guiding member 501 using a press die. The first bent portion 502 is able to smoothly transport the medium M on which the ink is applied by the printing portion 3 to the transport downstream side via the first bent portion 502 since the first bent portion 502 is disposed further on the transport direction downstream side of the medium M than the transport roller pair 24. In addition, the first flat portion 503 has a flat surface, and transports the medium M which is transported from the first bent portion 502 side to the second guiding member 601 side.
In addition, as shown in
Furthermore, in the embodiment, an upstream side guiding portion 6 is disposed to be able to support the medium M further on the upstream side in the transport direction of the medium M than the platen 4. The upstream side guiding portion 6 is disposed between the roller pair 21 and the transport roller pair 23 on the transport path of the medium M. Then, also in the same manner in the upstream side guiding portion 6, the heater 71 is disposed on a surface (rear surface) side on the opposite side from the surface which supports the medium M in the upstream side guiding portion 6. Note that, the configuration of the heater 71 is the same as the configuration of the heater 73.
Here, the heater 71 which corresponds to the upstream side guiding portion 6 preheats the medium M further at the transport direction upstream side than the position at which the printing portion 3 is provided. There is a configuration in which drying from a time at which ink is landed is rapidly encouraged by gradually raising the temperature of the medium M from a normal temperature toward a target temperature (temperature in the heater 72). The heater 72 which corresponds to the platen 4 heats the medium M in the discharge region E of the printing portion 3. The heater 72 is configured to cause landed ink to be received on the medium M in a state in which the target temperature is maintained, rapidly encourage drying from a time at which ink is landed, rapidly dry and fix ink to the medium M, prevent bleeding and blurring, and increase image quality. Then, the heater 73 which corresponds to the transport guiding portion 5 raises the temperature of the medium M until the temperature is higher than the raised temperature due to the heater 71 and the heater 72, and rapidly dries a material that is not yet dried out of ink which is landed on the medium M. Thereby, prior to winding at least the roller 22, there is a configuration in which the landed ink is appropriately dried and fixed to the medium M. Note that, temperature settings and the like of the heaters 71, 72, and 73 are able to be appropriately set by combining the medium M, ink, and printing conditions.
The second guiding member 601 has a second bent portion 602, and has a second transport surface 610 on the transport direction downstream side of the medium M. Then, on a second transport surface 610 of the second guiding member 601, a second flat portion 603 is disposed on the transport direction upstream side of the medium M, and the second bent portion 602 is disposed on the transport direction downstream side of the medium M of the second flat portion 603.
The second flat portion 603 has a flat surface, and transports the medium M which is transported from the first flat portion 503 side of the first guiding member 501 to the second bent portion 602 side. The second bent portion 602 has a shape in which a portion of the second transport surface 610 is bent in the transport direction of the medium M. For example, the second bent portion 602 is obtained by forming due to bending a flat plate portion which is a raw material of the second guiding member 601 using a press die. Then, the medium M is transported to the roller 22 side via the second bent portion 602.
In addition, a pair of side surface members 700 are disposed on an end portion which intersects with the transport direction of the medium M of the first guiding member 501 and the second guiding member 601, and the first guiding member 501 and the second guiding member 601 are supported by the side surface member 700. That is, the first guiding member 501 and the second guiding member 601 are supported by a common member. In detail, the first guiding member 501 and the side surface member 700 are fixed by the fastening member 710, and the second guiding member 601 and the side surface member 700 are fixed by the fastening member 711. Thereby, it is possible to stably form the transport path of the medium M.
In addition, as shown in
In addition, as shown in
Furthermore, the thicknesses of members of the first guiding member 501 and the second guiding member 601 are different, and the first guiding member 501 is thicker than the second guiding member 601. For example, the first guiding member 501 is configured by a plate material of approximately 2 mm (dimension t1), and the second guiding member 601 is configured by a plate material of approximately 1 mm (dimension t2). Thereby, it is possible to secure rigidity in the first guiding member 501 and improve processability of the second guiding member 601.
According to the embodiment described above, it is possible to obtain the effects indicated below.
The transport guiding portion 5 is configured by two members of the first guiding member 501 and the second guiding member 601. That is, the transport guiding portion 5 is not formed in one member, and the first guiding member 501 and the second guiding member 601 are separately formed. Here, for example, when the transport guiding portion 5 is formed to be one member, since it is necessary to form the first bent portion 502 and the second bent portion 602 in one member, there is a concern that work is difficult and manufacturing yield of the transport guiding portion 5 is reduced. Therefore, by forming the first guiding member 501 and the second guiding member 601 separately, the first bent portion 502 and the second bent portion 602 are easily formed, and it is possible to increase manufacturing (processing) yield of the transport guiding portion 5.
Note that, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described above and it is possible to add various modifications, improvements, or the like to the embodiment described above. Modification examples are described below.
In the embodiment, the transport guiding portion 5 is configured by two members of the first guiding member 501 and the second guiding member 601, but is not limited thereto. For example, the transport guiding portion 5 may be configured by three or more members. For example, in the first guiding member 501, the first bent portion 502 and the first transport surface 510 are configured as separate members. That is, the transport guiding portion 5 is configured by three members of the first bent portion 502, the first transport surface 510, and the second guiding member 601. By doing this, workability is improved since it is possible to separately carry out pressing work on respective parts, and furthermore, it is possible to improve manufacturing yield of the transport guiding portion 5.
In the embodiment, the heater 73 is disposed on the rear surface side of the transport guiding portion 5, but is not limited to that configuration. For example, the heater which is able to heat the medium M may be configured to be disposed at a position facing the transport surface of the transport guiding portion 5. Thereby, it is possible to heat the medium M on which ink is applied from the surface side using the printing portion 3 with respect to the medium M. In addition, the heater 73 may be provided on both the rear surface side of the transport guiding portion 5 and a position facing the transport surface of the transport guiding portion 5. By doing this, it is possible to more effectively dry ink which is applied to the medium M.
A fan device which generates air flow may be disposed at a position facing the transport surface of the transport guiding portion 5. By doing this, it is possible to remove vapor of an ink solvent which is generated when the medium M is dried by the heater 73, and more effectively dry ink.
As the printing apparatus 1, a liquid discharge apparatus may be adopted which ejects or discharges another liquid other than ink. For example, it is possible to exchange with various recording apparatuses which are provided with a recording head or the like that discharges a very small amount of liquid droplets. Note that, liquid droplet includes good, granular shape, tear shape, and yarn pulled out in a tail states of liquid which is discharged from the recording apparatus. In addition, the liquid here may be a material that it is possible for the liquid ejecting apparatus to discharge (eject). For example, it is sufficient if the material is in a state of when a substance is in a liquid phase, and the state of the substance is not limited only to being in a fluid state such as a liquid state body having high or low viscosity, a sol, a gel, and other materials such as an inorganic solvent, an organic solvent, a solution, a liquid state resin, and a liquid metal (molten metal), or a liquid in one state of a substance, and a substance where particles of a functional material made from a solid substance such as a pigment or metallic particles are dissolved, dispersed, mixed, or the like in a solvent are included. In addition, as a representative example of the liquid, ink which is described in the embodiment described above is given as an example. Here, ink contains various types of liquid-form compositions such as a typical water-based ink, oil-based ink, gel ink, and hot melt ink. In addition, in addition to plastic films such as vinyl chloride film, the recording medium is intended to encompass a thin thermal expansion functioning paper, textiles such as cloth or fabric, a substrate, a metal plate and the like.
The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-196536, filed Oct. 2, 2015 is expressly incorporated by reference herein.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-196536 | Oct 2015 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2016/004352 | 9/27/2016 | WO | 00 |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2017/056482 | 4/6/2017 | WO | A |
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| 20180272766 A1 | Sep 2018 | US |
