This patent application is based on and claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) to Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-183507, filed on Sep. 28, 2018, in the Japan Patent Office, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.
The present disclosure relates to a printing target holder, a printer, a heater, an image forming system, and a recording medium.
Conventionally, the following structure is known to hold a fabric. For example, a fabric holder includes a base, a platen to hold a portion of the fabric in which printing is made in a flat state, and an outer cover. The outer cover sandwiches the fabric with a peripheral portion of the platen. Between the platen and the base, an accommodation space is formed to accommodate a surplus portion of the fabric.
According to an embodiment of this disclosure, a printing target holder includes a platen to hold a printing target portion of a printing target to which printing is applied, and the platen is configured to hold the printing target in a flat state. The platen includes a support face disposed on a top side of the platen and configured to support the printing target portion of the printing target; and an escape portion lower in height than the support face.
According to another embodiment, a printer includes a mount on which the printing target holder described above is removably mounted, and a printing device configured to print an image on the printing target held by the printing target holder.
According to another embodiment, a heater includes a mount configured to removably accommodate the printing target holder described above, and a heating element configured to heat the printing target held by the printing target holder.
According to another embodiment, an image forming system includes the printing target holder, the printer, and the heater described above.
A more complete appreciation of the disclosure and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The accompanying drawings are intended to depict embodiments of the present invention and should not be interpreted to limit the scope thereof. The accompanying drawings are not to be considered as drawn to scale unless explicitly noted.
In describing embodiments illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. However, the disclosure of this patent specification is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner and achieve a similar result.
Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views thereof, and particularly to
Descriptions are given below of an image forming system according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure with reference to
An image forming system 1000 (an image applying system) includes a cassette 200 as a printing target holder (a fabric holder in the present embodiment), a printer 1, and a heater 500. The cassette 200 is attachable to and detachable from the printer 1. The printer 1 prints an image on a cloth, serving as a printing target (or a printing medium) held in the cassette 200. In the example described here, a pair of socks 400 (see
The printer 1 and the heater 500 of the image forming system 1000 are separate from each other. For example, the printer 1 is disposed on a side of the heater 500. Alternatively, the printer 1 and the heater 500 may be stacked one on the other. Yet alternatively, the printer 1 can be disposed away from the heater 500. When the printer 1 and the heater 500 are stacked one on the other, the installation area occupied by the printer 1 and the heater 500 can be reduced.
To form an image on the sock 400 by the image forming system 1000, a user sets (mounts) the cassette 200 holding the sock 400 in the printer 1 and prints the image on the sock 400 with the printer 1.
When the printing of the image on the sock 400 by the printer 1 is completed, the cassette 200 holding the sock 400 is removed from the printer 1. Then, the user opens a front door 502 (a front cover) of the heater 500, sets the cassette 200 holding the printed sock 400 in the heater 500, and closes the front door 502. The heater 500 heats the entire cassette 200 together with the sock 400. The image printed on the sock 400 is fixed on the sock 400 as the sock 400 is heated.
Thus, the cassette 200 which is a printing target holder can be shared by both the printer 1 and the heater 500. Accordingly, the user can set, inside the heater 500, the cassette 200 with the sock 400 held in the state at the printing. This feature can prevent crease or overlapping of the sock 400 caused in transport of the sock 400 and accordingly prevent disturbance of the image on the sock 400 due to such creasing or overlapping. Thus, workability in image formation on the sock 400 can improve.
Next, an example of the printer is described with reference to
A printer body 100 of the printer 1 includes a stage 111 and a printing device 112. The stage 111 serves as a mount (a receiver) that removably holds the cassette 200 and moves back and forth. In the cassette 200, the sock 400 (the cloth) being the printing target is set. The printing device 112 prints an image on the sock 400 placed in the cassette 200 held by the stage 111.
The stage 111 is disposed on a conveyance structure 113. The conveyance structure 113 is held so as to be movable in a direction (feed direction) indicated by arrow Y (hereinafter, direction Y) with respect to the printer body 100.
Conveyance guides 115 are disposed, along the direction Y, in a bottom casing 114 of the printer body 100. The conveyance guides 115 hold slider portions 116 of the conveyance structure 113 movably.
The printing device 112 includes a carriage 121 and the head 122. The carriage 121 is movable in a direction (main scanning direction) indicated by arrow X (hereinafter, direction X) with respect to the stage 111. The head 122 is mounted on the carriage 121.
The carriage 121 is movably held by a guide 123 disposed along the direction X. A driving motor 124 moves the carriage 121 back and forth in the direction X via a scanning assembly, such as a timing belt 125. In this example, the head 122 is a liquid discharge head to discharge ink onto a surface of a cloth to form an image. However, examples of the head are not limited to the liquid discharge head but may be any other suitable type of head.
In the printer 1, with the sock 400 set on the platen 300 of the cassette 200, the cassette 200 is mounted and held on the stage 111 inside the printer body 100. As the movement of the stage 111 in the direction Y and the reciprocal movement of the head 122 in the direction X are repeated, the head 122 prints a desired image on the sock 400.
In this case, the stage 111 can be moved up and down in the direction indicated by arrow Z (hereinafter, direction Z). By moving the stage 111 up and down according to the thickness of the sock 400, the gap between the sock 400 and the head 122 can be adjusted. In addition, the printing device 112 can also be made movable up and down.
Next, the cassette as the printing target holder according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure will be described with reference to
The cassette 200 includes a base 201 and a platen 300 that holds a portion of the sock 400 to be printed in a flat state.
As illustrated in
A top face of the platen 300 includes a projecting portion 304 serving as a support face and a recess 305 serving as an escape portion. The height of the projecting portion 304 is higher than the height (at a bottom face) of the recess 305.
The top face of the projecting portion 304 is used as the support face to support the sock 400 being the printing target in a flat state. The sock 400 includes a surplus portion 400b where the printing is not performed, and the recess 305 is used as a clearance (an escape portion) for letting a surplus portion 400b to escape. That is, in the present embodiment, the top face of the platen 300 includes an escape portion lower in height than the support face that supports the sock 400, and the escape portion is a recess for releasing the surplus portion 400b in which printing is not performed.
In the present embodiment, the projecting portions 304 are respectively disposed at both ends (the rear side and the front side) in the direction in which the cassette 200 is inserted to or removed from the printer 1 or the heater 500 (i.e., insertion and removal direction). The recess 305 is disposed in a center portion in the insertion and removal direction. With this configuration, two socks 400 (one pair of socks 400) can be set in the cassette 200 so that printing thereon can be performed at a time.
In addition, the clearance between the projecting portions 304 is a guide for the center of the cassette 200 in the direction orthogonal to the insertion and removal direction of the cassette 200.
One end portion of an outer cover 202 is hinged to the base 201 by a hinge 203. The outer cover 202 is openable and closable in the direction indicated by arrow R1 relative to the base 201.
The outer cover 202 includes a frame portion 202b that has an opening 202a at a position to oppose the platen 300. The platen 300 of the cassette 200 includes a flange portion 300a (see
The cassette 200 includes supports 311 standing on the base 201 to support the platen 300. With this structure, the platen 300 and the base 201 define an accommodation space 312 to accommodate a surplus portion 400a of the sock 400.
The platen 300 is supported on the base 201 by the supports 311. The supports 311 are respectively disposed on the front side and the rear side of the cassette 200 in the insertion and removal direction with respect to the printer 1. In the direction orthogonal to the insertion and removal direction of the cassette 200 from the printer 1, two supports 311 are arranged.
The support 311 includes a hollow column 231 on the base 201 side, a hollow column 331 on the platen 300 side, and a compression spring 313A between the hollow column 231 and the hollow column 331. The hollow column 331 is movably fitted with the hollow column 231.
Next, the setting of the sock 400 in the cassette 200 will be described with reference to
To set the socks 400 on the platen 300 of the cassette 200, the outer cover 202 is opened as illustrated in
When the outer cover 202 of the cassette 200 is closed as illustrated in
At this time, the portion (the surplus portion 400a) of the sock 400 that is outside the print area is accommodated in the accommodation space 312 as illustrated in
On the other hand, the surplus portion 400b of the sock 400 on the center side of the platen 300 is not pinched by the outer cover 202. However, the three sides of the sock 400 are pinched by the flange portion 300a and the outer cover 202, and tension is generated in the direction orthogonal to the insertion and removal direction. Accordingly, as illustrated in
Thus, the sock 400 smaller than the platen 300 can be reliably held flat, and printing can be reliably performed without interference with the head.
Below, a comparative example is described with reference to
In the comparative example, the entire top face of the platen 300 is flat as a support face.
When the sock 400 is held in the cassette 200 according to the comparative example, the surplus portion 400b on the center side of the platen 300 is not pinched by the outer cover 202. In this case, the surplus portion 400b may follow the platen 300 but can warp in some cases as illustrated in
In the case where the surplus portion 400b of the sock 400 warps, reliable printing is difficult. For example, the surplus portion 400b of the sock 400 interferes with the head.
By contrast, in the cassette 200 according to the present embodiment, even a printing target (here, the sock 400) smaller than the platen 300 can be reliably held flat, and reliable printing can be performed.
Next, descriptions are given below of different examples of the cassette (the printing target holder) according to Embodiment 2, with reference to
In the present embodiment, the platen 300 includes line-shaped marks (hereinafter referred to as “boundary marks 341” indicating the boundaries between the projecting portions 304 and the recess 305 in Embodiment 1. The boundary mark 341 extends in the direction orthogonal to the insertion and removal direction of the platen 300.
In the first example illustrated in
Providing a mark (the boundary mark 341) indicating the boundary between the projecting portion 304 and the recess 305 can facilitate visual recognition of the boundary of the surface unevenness, and the region in which the sock 400 is to be set can be easily recognized.
When the difference in height between the projecting portion 304 and the recess 305 is small, finding the position to place the printing target becomes difficult. Therefore, by providing the mark to make the boundary easily recognizable, the setting becomes easy.
Next, descriptions are given below of an example of a cassette as a printing target holder according to Embodiment 3 of the present disclosure, with reference to
In the present embodiment, a line-shaped mark 342 (a center mark, illustrated in
For example, as illustrated in
In view of the foregoing, providing the mark 342 in the center portion of the projecting portion 304 of the platen 300 is advantageous as follows. After placing the sock 400 on the projecting portions 304 as illustrated in
With this configuration, the sock can be easily set so that the printing is applied to the target position (in the present embodiment, the center position).
Next, another configuration of the cassette as the printing target holder according to Embodiment 3 of the present disclosure will be described with reference to
In the example illustrated in
Providing such division marks also facilitates setting of the sock as a printing target at the target position.
Next, an information processing apparatus including a program according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to
An information processing apparatus 800 is, for example, a personal computer (PC). The information processing apparatus 800 includes a print assist application 802 including a program which, when executed by, e.g., an operating system (OS) 801, causes the OS 801 to perform the following method.
The print assist application 802 aims to assist printing by the printer 1 connected to the information processing apparatus 800. With an image input unit 821, the print assist application 802 loads an image to be printed (i.e., a print image) from an image file recorded in a terminal device 803 connected to the information processing apparatus 800, an external memory 804, or an internal memory of the information processing apparatus 800.
Then, with an image edit unit 822, the print assist application 802 performs image editing such as adjustment of position, brightness, and density, rotation of the image, and cutting of the image. With an input/edit image display unit 823, the print assist application 802 displays the result of image editing. Further, the print assist application 802 stores the input image and the edited image in the input/edit image registration unit 824. The print assist application 802 further includes a user interface (UI) control unit 825 that enables input image selection, editing operation, and image registration on the application.
The format of the print image determined by the above control operation is converted into a print data format via a printer driver 805 and transferred to the printer 1.
Next, different examples of the cassette usable in the printer 1 will be described with reference to
Next, an editing screen by the print assist application will be described with reference to
In each of these display examples, the printing areas 901, 911, and 921 are displayed, for example, in gray to distinguish the printing areas 901, 911, and 921 from the remaining area of the platen 300.
As the editing screen 900 provides a preview of the image 903 to be printed in the printing areas 901, 911, and 921, the actual image position can be confirmed on the editing screen 900.
Thus, on the editing screen 900 of the print assist application 802, the printing area and grid lines are displayed corresponding to the cassette 200 (the support face of the platen 300) used and the grid lines 351 of the printing target support area (printable area) of the cassette 200.
As a result, positioning and editing of the print image can be performed more properly in accordance with the actual shape and set position of the cassette 200.
The lines displayed on the editing screen 900 are not limited to the above example. For example, the number of the lines or the presence or absence of the lines may be changed according to the purpose. Further, those settings may be controlled by the UI control unit 825 of the print assist application 802.
Next, an example of the heater will be described with reference to
The heater 500 includes a heater body 501, and a front door 502 (a front cover) provided on the front side of the heater body 501. The front door 502 opens and closes an opening 511 of the heater body 501 for taking in and out the cassette 200.
The front door 502 is openable and closable. By opening the front door 502, the cassette 200 holding the sock 400 to be heated (the printing target) can be taken in and out of the heater body 501 through the opening 511.
A receiving mount 503 (e.g., a table) is disposed inside the heater body 501. The receiving mount 503 holds the cassette 200 removably from the heater body 501. As described above, the cassette 200 is a printing target holder to removably hold the socks 400. Similarly to the stage 111 of the printer 1 illustrated in
A heating element 504 to heat the sock 400 held in the cassette 200 is disposed above the receiving mount 503.
The heating element 504 includes a heating element 542 opposed to the sock 400 held in the cassette 200 and a heat insulator 543 to thermally insulate the heat from the heating element 542 to the side opposite to the receiving mount 503. A space 506 is secured between the heat insulator 543 and the inner wall surface of the heater body 501.
The surface of the heating element 542 facing the receiving mount 503 is substantially parallel to the exposed surface of the sock 400 held in the cassette 200 set in the heater body 501.
For example, a planar member made of a material having excellent heat conductivity, such as aluminum, can be disposed on the receiving mount 503 side of the heating element 504, so that the surface temperature thereof is uniformly raised by the heating element 542. Such a configuration enables heating of the sock 400 at substantially even temperature in the plane, regardless of the heating position of the heating element 542.
The receiving mount 503 is held by a lift 507 (position switching mechanism). The receiving mount 503 is movable in three steps in the vertical direction (a direction in which the relative distance changes) relative to the heating element 504.
The receiving mount 503 can be moved up and down as a control lever 558 of the lift 507 is set at a neutral position illustrated in
The three positions of the receiving mount 503 relative to the heating element 504 is described. When the control lever 558 is at the neutral position, the receiving mount 503 is at a standby position (a first position). When the control lever 558 is turned in the direction indicated by arrow A, the receiving mount 503 moves to a contactless heating position (a second position). When the control lever 558 is turned in the direction indicated by arrow B, the receiving mount 503 moves to a contact heating position (a third position).
In addition, a control panel 520 includes a self-illuminating preheating start key 521a (a preheating start button) for instructing start of preheating, a stop key 521b for instructing stopping of the heating, and a heating indicator 521c to indicate that heating is ongoing.
Although the above-described embodiments concern the case where the printing target is cloth, in particular, a sock, the printing target is not limited thereto. Aspects of the present disclosure can be similarly applied to a case of setting cloth other than a sock on a platen or a case of setting a printing target other than cloth on the platen.
The above-described embodiments are illustrative and do not limit the present invention. Thus, numerous additional modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. For example, elements and/or features of different illustrative embodiments may be combined with each other and/or substituted for each other within the scope of the present invention.
Any one of the above-described operations may be performed in various other ways, for example, in an order different from the one described above.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2018-183507 | Sep 2018 | JP | national |