Patent Application
20160096385
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a recording apparatus that performs recording on a medium.
2. Related Art
In the related art, in a recording apparatus, a distance (gap) between a recording head which discharges ink on a medium and the medium is changed so as to correspond to a thickness of a medium, which is different in accordance with a type of medium, and to maintain recording quality on the medium. In addition, when the recording head is not used, the recording head is capped by a cap member which is contactable with and separable from the recording head so as to prevent a nozzle, through which ink is discharged, from drying or to maintain the recording head in an appropriate state.
There is provided a recording apparatus that includes a gap adjusting unit for changing the gap and maintain the changed gap (see JP-A-2013-63617). In the recording apparatus disclosed in JP-A-2013-63617, the gap adjusting unit is provided in a carriage including a recording head and includes a sliding member which slides on a guide member and a cam member which is supported by the sliding member and adjusts a gap.
The cam member has a step-like cam surface which abuts on the sliding member. In the recording apparatus, the cam member has a structure to be interposed between a housing of the carriage and the sliding member in a direction in which the gap is changed. The cam member moves relative to the sliding member, which causes an abutting position of the cam surface with the sliding member to be changed. As a result, the recording apparatus has a configuration in which a position of the housing of the carriage is changed with respect to the sliding member in the direction in which the gap is changed and a gap between the medium and the recording head is adjusted.
In addition, the recording apparatus includes a bias member which biases the sliding member to the carriage with the cam member interposed therebetween, in the direction in which the gap is changed. However, in the configuration, a bias force of the bias member acts in the direction in which the gap is changed. As a result, when the gap is switched to another gap, the bias force by the bias member acts as a load on the gap adjusting unit. In this manner, loads increase during a gap switching operation of the gap adjusting unit.
Incidentally, there is also provided a recording apparatus that includes the cap member by which the recording head is capped when the recording head is not used (see JP-A-2010-201911). As illustrated in
Specifically, when a housing 94′ of the carriage 84 comes into contact with an engagement section 90′ and the engagement section 90′ is pressed and is caused to move toward the home position side (−X axial direction side in
When the carriage 84 disclosed in JP-A-2010-201911 has the gap adjusting unit disclosed in JP-A-2013-63617, that is, the configuration, in which the cam member is biased to the housing in the direction in which the gap is changed, a force resistant to a press force of the cap member 88 during the capping is needed to prevent the carriage 84 from separating from the guide member during the capping and the bias force of the bias member increases and acts as a load on the gap adjusting unit. As a result, the loads increase during the gap switching operation.
In addition, in a case where the carriage 84 disclosed in JP-A-2010-201911 does not have the configuration, in which the cam member is biased to the housing in the direction in which the gap is changed, there is a concern that the carriage 84 will be lifted from the guide member by the press force of the cap member 88 during the capping so as to separate from the guide member. Here, for example, when a regulation section is provided on the guide member and regulates a shift of the sliding member in the direction in which the gap is changed, the shift of the sliding member is regulated in the direction in which the gap is changed. As a result, the carriage 84 is separated from the sliding member during capping.
In this state, in a case where the carriage 84 decelerates approaching the home position, an inertial force obtained by multiplying the weight of the cam member by an acceleration of a carriage during deceleration is applied to the cam member. As a result, there is a concern that the cam member is likely to unexpectedly move with respect to the carriage 84 such that a gap between the medium and the recording head will be changed. There is a concern that the cam member will unexpectedly move with respect to the carriage 84 even during acceleration when the carriage 84 moves to a recording region side of the medium from the home position.
In addition, when the carriage 84 is lifted and separated from the guide member even in a state in which the carriage is not caused to move, there is a concern that the cam member will unexpectedly move with respect to the carriage due to vibration or the like.
An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to provide a recording apparatus in which it is possible to regulate a movement of a cam member with respect to a housing and a sliding member of a carriage with light loads even in a state in which the carriage is lifted through capping.
A recording apparatus of a first aspect of the invention includes: a carriage that has a housing in which a recording head is provided and performs recording on a medium and that is movable in a first direction; a guide member that extends in the first direction, supports the carriage, and guides the carriage in the first direction; a gap adjusting unit that adjusts a position of the housing with respect to the guide member and thereby adjusts a gap between the medium and the recording head; and a cap member which is movable in a direction in which the gap is changed, and by which the recording head is capped. The gap adjusting unit includes a sliding member that slides over an upper side of the guide member in response to a movement of the carriage, a cam member that is interposed between a part of the housing and the sliding member and has a shape with which the housing of the carriage is caused to shift in the direction in which the gap is changed, by moving in the first direction relative to the housing and the sliding member, and a pressing member that presses the cam member to the housing of the carriage in a second direction intersecting with the first direction and the direction in which the gap is changed.
According to the aspect, the pressing member is provided to press the cam member, which changes the gap between the housing and the medium by moving in the first direction relative to the housing and the sliding member, to the housing of the carriage in the second direction intersecting with the first direction and the direction in which the gap is changed. In this manner, for example, when the recording head is capped by the cap member, the housing is lifted such that the cam member and the sliding member are separated from each other in the direction in which the gap is changed. Even in this case, since the cam member is pressed to the housing by the pressing member, it is possible to suppress the cam member not to move relative to the housing of the carriage and the sliding member. In addition, since a force for suppressing the relative movement of the cam member with respect to the housing only needs to be equal to or greater than an inertial force obtained by multiplying the weight of the cam member and an acceleration of the carriage during acceleration or deceleration, it is possible to reduce the press force of the pressing member. As a result, it is possible to regulate the relative movement of the cam member with respect to the housing of the carriage and the sliding member, with a low load.
In addition, according to the aspect, the press force of pressing the cam member to the housing of the carriage does not act in the direction in which the gap is changed. Therefore, the press force is not applied as an extra load during gap switching by the gap adjusting unit such that it is possible to reduce loads during the gap switching.
In the recording apparatus of a second aspect of the invention according to the first aspect, the cam member may engage with the housing of the carriage.
According to the aspect, the cam member shifts integral with the housing of the carriage in the direction in which the gap is changed. Thus, when the housing shifts with respect to the sliding member in the direction in which the gap is changed, it is possible to prevent the cam member from being subjected to torsion due to a difference between a frictional force on a side of the cam member on which the cam member comes into contact with the housing and a frictional force on another side on which the cam member comes into contact with the sliding member.
In the recording apparatus of a third aspect of the invention according to the first or second aspect, the pressing member may press the cam member to the housing of the carriage through the sliding member.
According to the aspect, the pressing member presses the cam member through the sliding member. Here, when the pressing member is a spring as an example and the cam member moves along with the carriage relative to the sliding member in a configuration of directly pressing the cam member, the spring is also bent in response to the movement of the cam member and thus, the direction of the force of pressing the cam member is changed. As a result, it is not possible to stably press the cam member to the carriage. According to the aspect, since the pressing member presses the cam member through the sliding member, the direction of the press force of the pressing member is not changed even when the cam member moves. As a result, the pressing member can stably press the cam member to the carriage.
In the recording apparatus of a fourth aspect of the invention according to the first or second aspect, the cam member may be pressed by the sliding member at at least two positions with intervals in the first direction.
According to the aspect, the cam member is pressed by the sliding member at at least two positions with intervals in the first direction. Here, if the cam member is pressed at one position in the first direction, there is a concern that torsion will be generated between the cam member and the sliding member due to angular moment generated in the carriage during acceleration or deceleration of the carriage. In the aspect, since the cam member is pressed at at least the two positions with intervals in the first direction, it is possible to suppress the concern that torsion will be generated between the cam member and the sliding member. As a result, it is possible to prevent an unstable movement of the carriage in the first direction due to the generated torsion and thus to prevent recording quality from deteriorating.
In the recording apparatus of a fifth aspect of the invention according to the fourth aspect, the pressing member may press the sliding member between at least the two pressing positions in the first direction.
According to the aspect, since the pressing member presses the sliding member between at least the two pressing positions in the first direction, it is possible for the press force of the pressing members to be uniformly applied to the cam member through the sliding member at at least the two pressing positions in the first direction, and it is possible to consistently press the cam member to the housing of the carriage.
In the recording apparatus of a sixth aspect of the invention according to the first or second aspect, the cam member may be pressed by the pressing members at at least two positions with intervals in the first direction.
According to the aspect, the cam member is pressed by the pressing members at at least two positions with intervals in the first direction. Here, if the cam member is pressed at one position in the first direction, there is a concern that torsion will be generated between the cam member and the pressing member due to angular moment generated in the carriage during acceleration or deceleration of the carriage. In the aspect, since the cam member is pressed at at least two positions with intervals in the first direction, it is possible to suppress the concern that torsion will be generated between the cam member and the pressing member. As a result, it is possible to prevent an unstable movement of the carriage in the first direction due to the generated torsion and thus to prevent recording quality from deteriorating.
In the recording apparatus of a seventh aspect of the invention according to the first to sixth aspects, the pressing member may move along with the shift of the carriage in the direction in which the gap is changed.
According to the aspect, since the pressing member is able to move along with the shift of the carriage in the direction in which the gap is changed, the pressing member is able to stably press the carriage without changing the pressing direction of the pressing member to the carriage.
A recording apparatus of an eighth aspect of the invention includes a carriage that has a housing in which a recording head is provided and performs recording on a medium and that is movable in a first direction; a guide member that extends in the first direction, supports the carriage, and guides the carriage in the first direction; a gap adjusting unit that adjusts a position of the housing with respect to the guide member and thereby adjusts a gap between the medium and the recording head; and a cap member which is movable in a direction in which the gap is changed, and by which the recording head is capped. The gap adjusting unit includes a sliding member that slides over an upper side of the guide member in response to a movement of the carriage, a cam member that is interposed between a part of the housing and the sliding member and has a shape with which the housing of the carriage is caused to shift in the direction in which the gap is changed, by moving in the first direction relative to the housing and the sliding member, and an elastic member that is provided between the housing of the carriage and the cam member in a second direction intersecting with the first direction and the direction in which the gap is changed and that biases the cam member with respect to the sliding member.
According to the aspect, the elastic member is provided between the carriage and the cam member and biases the cam member with respect to the sliding member. The cam member receives a reactive force from the sliding member and is biased to the carriage through the elastic member. In this manner, for example, when the recording head is capped by the cap member, the housing is lifted and the cam member such that the sliding member are separated from each other in the direction in which the gap is changed. Even in this case, since the cam member is pressed against the housing, it is possible to suppress the cam member not to move relative to the housing of the carriage and the sliding member. In addition, since a force for suppressing the relative movement of the cam member with respect to the housing only needs to be equal to or greater than an inertial force obtained by multiplying the weight of the cam member and an acceleration of the carriage during acceleration or deceleration, it is possible to reduce the bias force of the elastic member. As a result, it is possible to regulate the relative movement of the cam member with respect to the housing of the carriage and the sliding member, with a low load. In addition, since the force of suppressing the relative movement of the cam member with respect to the housing only needs to be equal to or greater than the inertial force obtained by multiplying the weight of the cam member and an acceleration of the carriage during acceleration or deceleration, it is possible to reduce the bias force of the elastic member. As a result, it is possible to regulate the relative movement of the cam member with respect to the housing of the carriage and the sliding member, with a low load.
In addition, according to the aspect, the bias force from the elastic member and the reactive force from the sliding member does not act in the direction in which the gap is changed. Therefore, the press force is not applied as an extra load during gap switching by the gap adjusting unit such that it is possible to reduce loads during the gap switching.
In the recording apparatus of a ninth aspect of the invention according to the eighth aspect, the elastic member may be a cylindrical member having an axis of the elastic member, which extends in the direction in which the gap is changed.
According to the aspect, since the elastic member is the cylindrical member having the axis of the elastic member, which extends in the direction in which the gap is changed, the cylindrical member rotates between the carriage and the cam member such that it is possible to reduce a sliding resistance of the cam member, when the cam member moves in the first direction and the gaps are switched. In other words, it is possible to reduce the loads during the gap switching of the gap adjusting unit.
In the recording apparatus of a tenth aspect of the invention according to the eighth or ninth aspect, the cam member may be biased by the elastic members at at least two positions with intervals in the first direction.
According to the aspect, the cam member is biased by the elastic members at at least two positions with intervals in the first direction. Here, if the cam member is biased by the elastic member at one position in the first direction, there is a concern that torsion will be generated between the cam member and the sliding member, or between the cam member and the elastic member, due to angular moment generated in the carriage during acceleration or deceleration of the carriage. In the aspect, since the cam member is biased by the elastic member at at least the two positions with intervals in the first direction, it is possible to suppress the concern that torsion will be generated between the cam member and the sliding member, or between the cam member and the elastic member. As a result, it is possible to prevent an unstable movement of the carriage in the first direction due to the generated torsion and thus to prevent recording quality from deteriorating.
In the recording apparatus of an eleventh aspect of the invention according to the first to tenth aspects, the sliding member may have a regulation section which comes into contact with the cam member and regulates a shift of the cam member in the direction in which the gap is changed, and the gap adjusting unit may perform switching between a regulation state in which the regulation section regulates a shift of the cam member in the direction in which the gap is changed and a non-regulation state in which the cam member is caused to move relative to the sliding member and thereby the regulation state is cancelled.
According to the aspect, since the sliding member has a regulation section which comes into contact with the cam member and regulates the shift of the cam member in the direction in which the gap is changed, it is possible to reliably maintain the gap of the carriage in a case where the sliding member and the cam member are in the regulation state. For example, when a gap position in the regulation state is set to a gap position of regular paper on which recording is performed the most number of times, it is possible to easily maintain recording quality of the regular paper.
The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numbers reference like elements.
Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The same reference sign is attached to the same configuration according to examples, a description is provided for the first example, and a description of the configuration according to the following examples is omitted.
In addition, in an X-Y-Z coordinate system in the drawings, an X direction as a “first direction” indicates a main scanning direction of a recording head, a Y direction as a “second direction” indicates a depth direction and a sheet transport direction of a recording apparatus, and a Z direction indicates a “direction in which a distance (gap) between the recording head and the sheet is changed, that is, an apparatus height direction. In the drawings, −Y direction means a front side of the apparatus and +Y direction means a rear side of the apparatus.
An ink jet printer 10 (hereinafter, referred to as a printer 10) will be described as an example of the recording apparatus with reference to
Subsequently, a paper-sheet transport path in the printer 10 will be described with reference to
The paper sheet P set in the paper-sheet accommodating cassette 16 is sent out by the pick-up roller 18 to a feeding unit 20 positioned on the downstream side on the transport path. The feeding unit 20 includes a feeding roller 22, a first driven feeding roller 24, and a second driven feeding roller 26. The feeding roller 22 is caused to rotate by a drive source (not illustrated).
The paper sheet P sent out from the paper-sheet accommodating cassette 16 is nipped between the feeding roller 22 and the first driven feeding roller 24. The paper sheet P is fed to the downstream side in the transport direction along the outer circumferential surface of the feeding roller 22. Then, the paper sheet P is nipped between the feeding roller 22 and the second driven feeding roller 26 and is fed to the transport unit 28 positioned on the downstream side in the transport direction of the feeding unit 20.
The transport unit 28 includes a driving transport roller 30 and a driven transport roller 32. The driving transport roller 30 is caused to rotate by a drive source (not illustrated). The paper sheet P transported to the transport unit 28 is nipped between the driving transport roller 30 and the driven transport roller 32 and is transported to the downstream side in the transport direction.
A recording unit 34 is provided on the downstream side in the transport direction of the transport unit 28. The recording unit 34 includes a carriage 36, a recording head 38, and a platen 40 which faces the recording head and supports the paper sheet P. The recording head 38 is provided on the bottom of the carriage 36 and faces the paper sheet P.
In addition, the carriage 36 is driven by a drive source (not illustrated) controlled by a control unit (not illustrated) which is provided in the apparatus main body 12 such that the carriage 36 reciprocates in the main scanning direction (paper front-back direction in
A discharge unit 42 is provided on the downstream side in the transport direction of the recording unit 34. The discharge unit 42 includes a driving discharge roller 44, a driven discharge roller 46, and a discharge stacker 48. The paper sheet P, on which the recording is performed in the recording unit 34, is nipped between the driving discharge roller 44 and the driven discharge roller 46 and is discharged toward the discharge stacker 48 positioned on the front side of the apparatus. The driving discharge roller 44 is caused to rotate by a drive source (not illustrated).
In addition, in a case where recording is performed on both surfaces of the paper sheet P in the printer 10, the recording unit 34 performs recording on a first surface of the paper sheet P and then, a side of a sheet following end of the paper sheet P when the recording is performed on the first surface becomes a leading end thereof and the paper sheet P is sent to a reverse path 50 through a reverse feeding operation of the driving transport roller 30 and the driving discharge roller 44. The reverse path 50 is provided to extend from the transport unit 28 in the apparatus rear direction (+Y axial direction side in
Hence, the paper sheet P is again sent to the recording unit 34 through the transport path and the feeding roller 22 from the reverse path 50 and recording is performed on a second surface. After performing the recording, the paper sheet P is nipped between the driving discharge roller 44 and the driven discharge roller 46 and is discharged to the discharge stacker 48 provided on the front side of the apparatus.
Subsequently, a configuration of the carriage 36 will be described with reference to
In addition, the gap adjusting units 54 provided at the end portion of the housing 52 on the front side of the apparatus and at the other end portion of the housing 52 on the rear side of the apparatus, respectively, are configured such that a shift of the gap adjusting unit 54 on the housing 52 on the rear side of the apparatus is transmitted to the gap adjusting unit 54 (not illustrated) on the housing 52 on the front side of the apparatus through a linkage mechanism (not illustrated).
In addition, the carriage 36 is configured to be movable in the apparatus width direction (paper front-back direction in
In addition, as illustrated in
The cap member 78 according to the present example will be described with reference to
The cap member 78 which is positioned below the carriage 36 and is movable in the apparatus height direction is provided in the apparatus main body 12 at a position corresponding to the home position of the carriage 36. An engagement section 80 which can engage with a part of the housing 52 of the carriage 36 is provided in the cap member 78. In addition, the cap member 78 is configured to be movable in the apparatus width direction along slits 82 and 82 provided in the apparatus main body 12.
When the carriage 36 moves to the home position side in the movement region, the housing 52 engages with an engagement section 80′. At this time, the cap member 78′ is positioned under the recording head 38′. When the carriage 36 which engages with the engagement section 80′ further moves to the home position side, the cap member 78′ moves to the home position along the slit 82 and moves upward in the apparatus height direction. Then, the cap member 78′ comes into contact with the recording head 38′. In other words, the cap member 78 enters into a state in which the recording head 38 is capped. In this manner, a nozzle of the recording head 38 is prevented from being dried, or the recording head 38 is maintained in an appropriate state while the printer 10 is not used.
The carriage 36 decelerates and moves to the home position in the apparatus width direction in a state in which the recording head 38 is capped by the cap member 78. The cap member 78 moves to the home position in the state in which the recording head 38 is capped and thereby, it is possible for the recording head 38 to be reliably capped by the cap member 78. When the recording head 38 is capped by the cap member 78, the cap member 78 presses the housing 52 of the carriage 36 through the recording head 38 such that the housing 52 is lifted upward in the apparatus height direction.
In the present example, a gap regulating unit in a gap PG1 regulates the housing 52 not to be lifted from the guide member 55 in the gap PG1 and a description thereof will be provided below. In addition, an engagement member 68 to be described below regulates an upward shift of the housing 52 in gaps PG3 and PG4. In the gap PG2, when the housing 52 shifts upward in the apparatus height direction, a cam member 58 shifts upward along with the housing 52 in the apparatus height direction and separates from a sliding member 56.
Subsequently, the gap adjusting unit 54 will be described with reference to
A sliding section 56a is formed on the under-surface side (−Z axial direction side in
In addition, a regulation section 56c is provided on the sliding member 56 on the top surface side (+Z axial direction side in
Subsequently, with reference to
In addition, a thickness of the cam member 58 in the apparatus height direction (Z axial direction in
In addition, a pair of hook-shaped latching sections 58b are provided on the upper portion of the cam member 58 with an interval in the apparatus width direction (X axial direction in
In addition, a first contact section 58c is formed on the end portion of the cam member 58 on the front side of the apparatus (−Y axial direction side in
Here, with reference to
In addition, with reference to
Here, the contact section 56d of the sliding member 56 is in contact with the second contact section 58d of the cam member 58. Therefore, the pressing member 62 causes the sliding member 56 to be pressed to the front side in the apparatus depth direction and thereby, the contact section 56d of the sliding member 56 causes the cam member 58 to be pressed to the front side in the apparatus depth direction. As a result, the cam member 58 is pressed to the front side in the apparatus depth direction by the sliding member 56 such that the first contact section 58c of the cam member 58 is pushed to the housing 52 of the carriage 36. In other words, the pressing member 62 presses the cam member 58 using a press force thereof to the housing 52 of the carriage 36 through the sliding member 56.
According to the present example, as illustrated in
Therefore, since the static frictional force between the cam member 58 and the housing 52 is greater than the inertial force, it is possible to hold the cam member 58 with respect to the housing 52 even when the press force of the pressing member 62 is small, and it is possible to cause the gap adjusting unit 54 to follow the movement of the carriage 36.
In addition, the present example has a configuration in which the press force of the pressing member 62 does not act in a change direction of the gap PG in the gap adjusting unit 54, that is, in the apparatus height direction, but acts in the apparatus depth direction. This means that the press force of the pressing member 62 does not act as a load which interferes with the change of the gap PG in the gap adjusting unit 54.
In addition, in the present example the contact sections 56d and 56d of the sliding member 56 come into contact with the second contact section 58d of the cam member 58 with an interval in the apparatus width direction. Here, during acceleration or deceleration of the carriage 36, angular moment which causes the carriage 36 to rotate in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction in
Subsequently, an adjustment of the gap PG in the gap adjusting unit 54 will be described. An engagement section is provided in the apparatus main body 12 and is shiftable between a position in the movement region of the carriage 36, at which engagement with the protrusion 58e of the cam member 58 is possible, and a position at which the engagement is not performed.
When the engagement section (not illustrated) is disposed at the position at which the engagement with the protrusion 58e of the cam member 58 is possible and the carriage 36 is caused to move, the protrusion 58e of the cam member 58 engages with the engagement section (not illustrated). In the state in which the protrusion 58e engages with the engagement section (not illustrated), when the carriage 36 is caused to move in the apparatus width direction, the cam member 58 moves relative to the housing 52 of the carriage 36 and the sliding member 56.
In a state in which the engagement section (not illustrated) constrains the protrusion 58e of the cam member 58 from moving in the apparatus width direction, the movement of the carriage 36 causes the cam member 58 to move relative to the housing 52 and the sliding member 56. Therefore, when the gaps PG are switched in the gap adjusting unit 54, actually, a shift in the X axial direction is performed by the housing 52 and the sliding member 56.
With reference to
Here, in the state in which the engagement section (not illustrated) constrains the cam member 58 from moving in the apparatus width direction in
As a result, since a thickness of abutting section increases in the order from the first abutting section 60a to the fourth abutting section 60d, the distance between the guide member 55 and the housing 52 of the carriage 36 in the apparatus height direction is increased. In other words, a distance between the recording surface of the paper sheet P supported by the platen 40 and the recording head 38, that is, the gap PG, is increased.
Meanwhile, in a state (not illustrated) in which the engagement section (not illustrated) constrains the cam member 58 from moving in the apparatus width direction and the support 56b of the sliding member 56 is in contact with the fourth abutting section 60d, the housing 52 and the sliding member 56 are caused to move relative to the cam member 58 in the −X axial direction in
As a result, since the thickness of the abutting section decreases in the order from the fourth abutting section 60d to the first abutting section 60a, the distance between the guide member 55 and the housing 52 of the carriage 36 in the apparatus height direction is decreased. In other words, the distance between the recording surface of the paper sheet P supported by the platen 40 and the recording head 38, that is, the gap PG, is increased.
As above, the cam member 58 is caused to move relative to the housing 52 and the sliding member 56 in the apparatus width direction (X axial direction) and thereby, it is possible to change the gap PG. A gap formed in the state in which the support 56b abuts on the first abutting section 60a is referred to as PG1, a gap formed in the state in which the support 56b abuts on the second abutting section 60b is referred to as PG2, a gap formed in the state in which the support 56b abuts on the third abutting section 60c is referred to as PG3, and a gap formed in the state in which the support 56b abuts on the fourth abutting section 60d is referred to as PG4.
In addition, which one of the first abutting section 60a, the second abutting section 60b, the third abutting section 60c, and the fourth abutting section 60d of the cam member 58, the support 56b of the sliding member 56 abuts on can be detected using an increase in a current value of a drive source (drive motor) (not illustrated) which drives the carriage 36, a movement direction of the carriage 36, and a moving distance of the carriage 36.
That is, it is possible to determine whether the gap PG is the minimum or maximum using the increase of the current value of the drive source (drive motor) (not illustrated) and it is possible to determine whether the gap PG changes to be increased or to be decreased in size using the movement direction of the carriage 36. The movement distance of the carriage 36 can be detected by a unit for detecting the movement distance of the carriage 36 with a linear encoder or the like (not illustrated).
In the present example, recording on regular paper is performed when the gap PG is PG1 and double-sided recording on regular paper or recording on cardboard, photographic paper, or the like, as an example of the medium, is performed when the gap PG is PG2. In addition, recording on an envelope is performed when the gap PG is PG4. In a case where the medium is subjected to rubbing when the gap PG is set to PG1 or PG2 and recording on the medium is performed, the gap PG is set to the PG3 greater than PG2 and thereby, it is possible to avoid causing the medium to be subjected to rubbing.
A unit for regulating the gap change in the gap PG1 will be described for the second time, with reference to
Meanwhile, when the cam member 58 is caused to move relative to the sliding member 56 in the apparatus width direction from the regulation state, that is, the state of the gap PG1, the position of the flange-shaped regulation section 56c is changed with respect to the top surface 58a of the cam member 58 and the top surface 58a is released from the engagement state with the regulation section 56c (refer to
Subsequently, a shift regulating unit of the carriage 36 in the apparatus height direction at the home position will be described with reference to
Flange-shaped regulation sections 55a and 55b (refer to
In other words, when the carriage 36 is positioned at the home position and the recording head 38 is capped by the cap member 78, the cap member 78 is likely to lift the carriage 36 upward. Here, since the cam member 58 is constrained with respect to the housing 52 by the top surface 58a and the latching section 58b, the cam member 58 is likely to shift upward along with the housing 52 of the carriage 36. Further, when the sliding member 56 and the cam member 58 are in the regulation state with the gap PG1 described above, the cam member 58 is in the state in which the shift in the apparatus height direction is regulated with respect to the sliding member 56. Thus, the housing 52, the sliding member 56, and the cam member 58 integrally shift upward in the apparatus height direction.
At this time, since the sliding member 56 is lifted upward in the apparatus height direction, the regulation sections 55a and 55b engage with the first regulated section 56f and the second regulated section 56g, respectively. Then, the regulation sections 55a and 55b regulates an upward shift of the carriage 36 in the apparatus height direction through the sliding member 56 and the gap adjusting unit 54.
Next, when the sliding member 56 and the cam member 58 are in the non-regulation state, that is, with PG2, PG3, and PG4, the cam member 58 can shift with respect to the sliding member 56 in the apparatus height direction and thus, the housing 52 and the cam member 58 are likely to shift upward in the apparatus height direction. At this time, the sliding member 56 is in the state in which the upward shift in the apparatus height direction is regulated by the regulation sections 55a and 55b.
Here, with reference to
In the present example, when the carriage 36 is capped by the cap member with any one of the gaps PG3 and PG4 and is lifted upward in the apparatus height direction, the engagement member 68 comes into contact with a part of the housing 52 of the carriage 36. Then, a bias force of the bias member 70 is transmitted to the carriage 36 through the engagement member 68. As a result, the bias force of the bias member 70 resists a force of the cap member 78 which lifts the carriage 36 and thus, it is possible for the carriage 36 to maintain the state of the gap PG3 or PG4.
In the present example, as illustrated in
In other words, the cam member 58 shifts integral with the housing 52 of the carriage 36 in a direction in which the gap PG is changed. Thus, when the housing 52 shifts with respect to the sliding member 56 in the direction in which the gap PG is changed, it is possible to prevent the cam member 58 from being subjected to torsion due to a difference between a frictional force on a side of the cam member 58 on which the cam member comes into contact with the housing 52 and a frictional force on another side on which the cam member comes into contact with the sliding member 56.
In addition, in the present example, since the pressing member 62 presses the cam member 58 to the housing 52 of the carriage 36 through the sliding member 56 in the apparatus depth direction, a static frictional force is generated between the housing 52 and the cam member 58 and is greater than the inertial force obtained by multiplying the weight of the cam member 58 and the acceleration of the carriage 36 during acceleration or deceleration. As a result, even in a state in which the sliding member 56 and the cam member 58 are separated from each other in the apparatus height direction, it is possible to suppress the cam member 58 not to shift with respect to the housing 52 in the apparatus width direction.
In summary, the recording apparatus according to the present example includes the pressing member 62 that presses the cam member 58, which changes the gap PG between the housing 52 and the paper sheet P by moving in apparatus width direction corresponding to the first direction relative to the housing 52 of the carriage 36 and the sliding member 56, to the housing 52 of the carriage 36 in the apparatus depth direction intersecting with the apparatus width direction and the apparatus height direction corresponding to the direction in which the gap is changed. In this manner, when the recording head 38 is capped by the cap member 78, the housing 52 is lifted such that the cam member 58 and the sliding member 56 are separated from each other in the direction in which the gap PG is changed. Even in this case, since the cam member 58 is pressed to the housing 52 by the pressing member 62, it is possible to suppress the cam member 58 not to move relative to the housing 52 of the carriage 36 and the sliding member 56. In addition, since a force for suppressing the relative movement of the cam member 58 with respect to the housing 52 only needs to be equal to or greater than the inertial force obtained by multiplying the weight of the cam member 58 and the acceleration of the carriage 36 during acceleration or deceleration, it is possible to reduce the press force of the pressing member 62. As a result, it is possible to regulate the relative movement of the cam member 58 with respect to the housing 52 of the carriage 36 and the sliding member 56, with a low load.
In addition, the press force of pressing the cam member 58 to the housing 52 of the carriage 36 does not act in the direction in which the gap PG is changed. Therefore, the press force is not applied as an extra load during switching between the gaps PG by the gap adjusting unit 54 such that it is possible to reduce loads during the switching between the gaps PG.
In addition, in the present example, even though the housing 52 of the carriage 36 and the cam member 58 are separated from each other in the apparatus height direction, it is possible to press the cam member 58 to the housing 52 in the apparatus depth direction. As a result, since the static frictional force acts between the cam member 58 and the housing 52, it is possible to suppress the cam member 58 not to unexpectedly move in the apparatus width direction even in a state in which the housing 52 of the carriage 36 and the cam member 58 are separated from each other in the apparatus height direction. In addition, even though the force of pressing the cam member 58 to the carriage 36 is small, it is possible to follow the carriage 36 during acceleration and deceleration. Therefore, it is possible to simplify a holding structure of the cam member 58 to the carriage 36 and thus, it is possible to achieve miniaturization of the apparatus.
In addition, according to the present example, the pressing member 62 presses the cam member 58 through the sliding member 56. Here, when the pressing member 62 is the spring as an example and the cam member 58 moves along with the carriage 36 relative to the sliding member 56 in a configuration of directly pressing the cam member 58, the spring is also bent in response to the movement of the cam member 58 and thus, the direction of the force of pressing the cam member 58 is changed. As a result, it is not possible to stably press the cam member 58 to the carriage 36. In the present example, since the pressing member 62 presses the cam member 58 through the sliding member 56, the direction of the press force of the pressing member 62 is not changed even when the cam member 58 moves. As a result, the pressing member 62 can stably press the cam member 58 to the carriage 36.
In addition, according to the present example, the cam member 58 is pressed by the contact sections 56d of the sliding member 56 at at least the two positions with intervals in the apparatus width direction. Here, if the cam member 58 is pressed at one position in the apparatus width direction, there is a concern that torsion will be generated between the cam member 58 and the sliding member 56 due to angular moment generated in the carriage 36 during acceleration or deceleration of the carriage 36. In the present example, since the cam member 58 is pressed at at least the two positions with intervals in the apparatus width direction, it is possible to suppress the concern that torsion will be generated between the cam member 58 and the sliding member 56. As a result, it is possible to prevent an unstable movement of the carriage 36 in the apparatus width direction due to the generated torsion and thus to prevent recording quality from deteriorating.
In addition, according to the present example, since the pressing member 62 presses the sliding member 56 between the contact section 56d and the second contact section 58d which mean at least the two pressing positions in the apparatus width direction, it is possible for the press force of the pressing member 62 to be uniformly applied to the cam member 58 through the sliding member 56 between at least the two pressing positions, that is, the contact section 56d and the second contact section 58d, and it is possible to consistently press the cam member 58 to the housing 52 of the carriage 36.
In addition, according to the present example, since the sliding member 56 has regulation sections 56c and 56c which come into contact with the cam member 58 and regulate the shift of the cam member 58 in the apparatus height direction, it is possible to reliably maintain the gap PG of the carriage 36 in the case where the sliding member 56 and the cam member 58 are in the regulation state. For example, when the position of the gap PG in the regulation state is set to the gap position PG1 of the regular paper on which recording is performed the most number of times, it is possible to easily maintain recording quality of the regular paper.
(1) According to the present example, a configuration is employed, in which the pressing member 62 is provided at one position at the center portion of the sliding member 56 in the apparatus width direction; however, instead of the configuration, a configuration may be employed, in which a plurality of the pressing members are provided at intervals in the apparatus width direction.
(2) According to the present example, a configuration is employed, in which two contact sections 56d of the sliding member 56, which come into contact with the second contact section 58d of the cam member 58, are provided with an interval in the apparatus width direction; however, a configuration may be employed, in which three or more contact sections are provided.
(3) According to the present example, a configuration is employed, in which the pressing member 62 is a compression spring; however, instead of the configuration, a configuration may be employed, in which the pressing member is a plate spring, an elastic body, or a material using a magnetic force.
(4) According to the present example, a configuration is employed, in which the capping operation of the cap member 78 is performed along with the movement in the direction in which the gap PG is changed and with the movement of the carriage 36 in the apparatus width direction; however, instead of the configuration, a configuration may be employed, in which the capping operation of the cap member 78 is performed only with the movement in the direction in which the gap PG is changed.
The second example will be described with reference to
As illustrated in
In addition, according to the present example, a shift of the sliding member 56 to the rear side in the apparatus depth direction is regulated by a shift regulating unit 76 of the housing 52. In the present example, the elastic member 74 is disposed between the housing 52 and the cam member 58 in the apparatus depth direction. In addition, a distance between a contact section in the housing 52 with the elastic member 74 and the shift regulating unit 76 in the apparatus depth direction is set to be smaller than a sum of a size of the sliding member 56, a size of the cam member 58, and a size of the elastic member 74 in the apparatus depth direction. In other words, when the elastic member 74 is disposed between the housing 52 and the cam member 58, the elastic member 74 is crushed in the setting.
As a result, the elastic member 74 restores its original shape and biases the cam member 58 to the sliding member 56. Since the shift of the sliding member 56 to the rear side of the apparatus is regulated by the shift regulating unit 76, the cam member 58 receives a reactive force from the sliding member 56 side. In other words, friction is generated between the cam member 58 and the elastic member 74. This means that static frictional forces are generated between the housing 52 and the elastic member 74, and between the elastic member 74 and the cam member 58, respectively.
According to the present example, the elastic member 74 is provided between the carriage 36 and the cam member 58 and biases the cam member 58 to the sliding member 56. The cam member 58 receives the reactive force from the sliding member 56 and is biased to the carriage 36 through the elastic member 74. In this manner, when the recording head 38 is capped by the cap member 78, the housing 52 is lifted such that the cam member 58 and the sliding member 56 are separated from each other in the direction in which the gap PG is changed. Even in this case, since the cam member 58 is pressed to the housing 52, it is possible to suppress the cam member 58 not to move relative to the housing 52 of the carriage 36 and the sliding member 56. In addition, since the force for suppressing the relative movement of the cam member 58 with respect to the housing 52 only needs to be equal to or greater than the inertial force obtained by multiplying the weight of the cam member 58 and the acceleration of the carriage 36 during acceleration or deceleration, it is possible to reduce the bias force of the elastic member 74. As a result, it is possible to regulate the relative movement of the cam member 58 with respect to the housing 52 of the carriage 36 and the sliding member 56, with a low load.
In addition, the bias force from the elastic member 74 and the reactive force from the sliding member 56 do not act in the direction in which the gap PG is changed. Therefore, the bias force and the reactive force are not applied as extra loads during switching between the gaps PG by the gap adjusting unit 72 such that it is possible to reduce loads during the switching between the gaps PG.
In addition, according to the present example, since the elastic member 74 is the cylindrical member having the axis of the elastic member 74, which extends in the apparatus height direction, the cylindrical member rotates between the carriage 36 and the cam member 58 such that it is possible to reduce a sliding resistance of the cam member 58, when the cam member 58 moves in the apparatus width direction and the gaps PG are switched. In other words, it is possible to reduce the loads during the switching between the gaps PG in the gap adjusting unit 72.
In addition, according to the present example, the cam member 58 is biased by the elastic member 74 at at least two positions with intervals in the apparatus width direction. Here, if the cam member 58 is biased by the elastic member 74 at one position in the apparatus width direction, there is a concern that torsion will be generated between the cam member 58 and the sliding member 56, or between the cam member 58 and the elastic member 74, due to angular moment generated in the carriage 36 during acceleration or deceleration of the carriage 36. In the present example, since the cam member 58 is biased by the elastic member 74 at at least the two positions with intervals in the apparatus width direction, it is possible to suppress the concern that torsion will be generated between the cam member 58 and the sliding member 56, or between the cam member 58 and the elastic member 74. As a result, it is possible to prevent an unstable movement of the carriage 36 in the apparatus width direction due to the generated torsion and thus to prevent recording quality from deteriorating.
(1) In the present example, the elastic members 74 are provided at two positions with an interval in the apparatus width direction; however, the elastic members 74 may be provided at three or more positions in the apparatus width direction.
(2) According to the present example, the elastic member 74 is a rubber roller; however, the elastic member 74 may be a cylindrical member made of metal or a resin.
The third example will be described with reference to
In the present example, as illustrated in
According to the present example, the cam member 58 is pressed by the pressing members 62 at at least two positions with intervals in the apparatus width direction. Here, if the cam member 58 is pressed at one position in the apparatus width direction, there is a concern that torsion will be generated between the cam member 58 and the pressing member 62 due to angular moment generated in the carriage 36 during acceleration or deceleration of the carriage 36. In the present example, since the cam member 58 is pressed at at least two positions with intervals in the apparatus width direction, it is possible to suppress the concern that torsion will be generated between the cam member 58 and the pressing member 62. As a result, it is possible to prevent an unstable movement of the carriage 36 in the apparatus width direction due to the generated torsion and thus to prevent recording quality from deteriorating.
(1) According to the present example, the configuration is employed, in which the pressing members 62 are provided at two positions of the sliding member 56 with an interval in the apparatus width direction; however, instead of the configuration, a configuration may be employed, in which a plurality of the pressing members are provided with intervals in the apparatus width direction.
(2) According to the present example, the pressing member 62 may be configured to follow the shift of the cam member 58 in the apparatus height direction. Specifically, one end of the pressing member 62 attached to the housing 52 may be configured to shift in the apparatus height direction. According to this configuration, the pressing member 62 is able to follow the shift of the cam member 58 in the apparatus height direction. As a result, although the pressing member 58 shifts along with the housing 52 in the apparatus height direction, the pressing member 62 is able to stably press the cam member 58 to the housing 52 of the carriage 36 without changing the pressing direction of the pressing member 62 to the cam member 58.
According to the present example, the housing 52 of the carriage 36 has a configuration in which a portion of accommodating an ink cartridge is integral with a portion of holding the recording head 38; however, instead of the configuration, a configuration may be employed, in which the carriage driving mechanism (not illustrated) is provided in the housing 52 and the portion of accommodating the ink cartridge and the portion of holding the recording head 38 are separately provided such that the portion of accommodating the ink cartridge is not linked to the portion of holding the recording head 38 when the recording head 38 is capped by the cap member 78. According to this configuration, when the recording head 38 is capped by the cap member 78, the portion of accommodating the ink cartridge in the housing 52 is not linked to a shift of the portion of holding the recording head 38 in the apparatus height direction. Hence, it is possible to maintain a consistent load of a belt in the carriage driving mechanism (not illustrated) without changing the position of the carriage driving mechanism (not illustrated) in the apparatus height direction.
In addition, in the present example, the gap adjusting unit 54 or 72 is applied to an ink jet printer as an example of the recording apparatus and can be applied to other liquid ejecting apparatuses, in general.
Here, examples of the liquid ejecting apparatus include not only a recording apparatus such as a printer, a multifunction printer, or a facsimile, in which an ink jet type recording head is used, ink is discharged from the recording head, and recording is performed on a recording medium, but also an apparatus in which, instead of the ink, a liquid corresponding to the usage of the ink is ejected onto an ejection target medium corresponding to the recording medium, from a liquid ejecting head corresponding to the ink jet type recording head, and the liquid is caused to adhere to the ejection target medium.
Examples of the liquid ejecting head include, in addition to the recording head, a color material ejecting head which is used in manufacturing of a color filter such as a liquid crystal display, an electrode material (conductive paste) ejecting head which is used in electrode formation such as an organic EL display or a field emission display (FED), a bioorganic material ejecting head which is used in manufacturing of biochips, a sample ejecting head as an accurate pipette, or the like.
It is needless to say that the invention is not limited to the examples described above, but can be modified in various ways within the scope of the invention described in the aspects, and the modified ones are included in the scope of the invention.
The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-204897, filed Oct. 3, 2014 is expressly incorporated by reference herein.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-204897 | Oct 2014 | JP | national |
