Patent Application
20240326482
The present application is based on, and claims priority from JP Application Serial Number 2023-055096, filed Mar. 30, 2023, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
The present disclosure relates to a recording apparatus that performs recording on a medium.
In an inkjet recording apparatus, a support member is provided at a position facing a recording head, and recording is performed on a medium supported by the support member. Here, when the medium is raised up from the support member, the medium comes into contact with a head surface and the head surface becomes contaminated, and thus, a means for curbing rising up of the medium from the support member may be disposed. Hereinafter, the contact of the medium with the head surface may be referred to as “head rubbing of the medium”.
A driven roller indicated by reference sign 49 in JP-A-2021-107287 is an example thereof, and this driven roller is provided downstream in a medium transport direction with respect to a head surface of a recording head. In JP-A-2021-107287, a pressing member denoted by reference sign 81 is provided upstream in the medium transport direction with respect to the head surface of the recording head. The pressing member functions to press the medium against a support member.
Since a configuration of the related art for curbing floating of a medium from a support member is provided at a position separated upstream or downstream in a medium transport direction with respect to a head surface of a recording head, it is difficult for a floating curbing effect to be exhibited in a region of the head surface, and there is room for improvement.
A recording apparatus of the present disclosure for solving the problem includes a liquid ejection head including a plurality of nozzles configured to eject a liquid onto a medium; and a facing portion disposed to face the liquid ejection head, wherein the liquid ejection head includes a plurality of head chips including the nozzles, in a plate member facing the facing portion, and a cutout portion is formed in a peripheral edge of the plate member to avoid the head chips, and a contact member configured to come into contact with the medium is disposed in the cutout portion.
Hereinafter, the present disclosure will be schematically described.
A recording apparatus according to a first aspect includes a liquid ejection head including a plurality of nozzles configured to eject a liquid onto a medium; and a facing portion disposed to face the liquid ejection head, wherein the liquid ejection head includes a plurality of head chips including the nozzles, in a plate member facing the facing portion, and a cutout portion is formed in a peripheral edge of the plate member to avoid the head chips, and a contact member configured to come into contact with the medium is disposed in the cutout portion.
According to the present aspect, since the cutout portion is formed in the peripheral edge of the plate member to avoid the head chips, and the contact member configured to come into contact with the medium is disposed in the cutout portion, effects of curbing floating of the medium by the contact member are easily exhibited in the region of the plate member, and head rubbing of the medium can be curbed more reliably.
A second aspect is an aspect according to the first aspect, wherein the contact member is a driven roller configured to be driven into rotation while in contact with the medium.
According to the present aspect, since the contact member is a driven roller configured to be driven into rotation while in contact with the medium, formation of damage such as scratch in the medium at the time of contact of the medium with the contact member can be curbed.
A third aspect is an aspect according to the first aspect, wherein the plurality of head chips are alternately disposed at upstream positions and downstream positions along a medium width direction which is a direction intersecting with a medium transport direction, and the cutout portion is interposed between two of the head chips adjacent in the medium width direction.
According to the present aspect, since the plurality of head chips are alternately disposed at upstream positions and downstream positions along a medium width direction which is a direction intersecting with a medium transport direction, and the cutout portion is interposed between two of the head chips adjacent in the medium width direction, it is possible to dispose the contact member at a position closer to the head chip, and to further reliably curb head rubbing of the medium.
A fourth aspect is an aspect according to the third aspect, wherein a portion of the contact member is interposed between two head chips adjacent in the medium width direction.
According to the present aspect, since a portion of the contact member is interposed between the two head chips adjacent in the medium width direction, it is possible to further reliably curb head rubbing of the medium.
A fifth aspect is an aspect according to the third aspect, wherein the cutout portion and the contact member are provided upstream and downstream in the medium transport direction in the plate member.
According to the present aspect, since the cutout portion and the contact member are provided upstream and downstream in the medium transport direction in the plate member, it is possible to further reliably curb head rubbing of the medium.
The present aspect is not limited to the third aspect and may be applied to the fourth aspect.
A sixth aspect is an aspect according to the third aspect, wherein a plurality of cutout portions and a plurality of contact members are provided along the medium width direction.
According to the present aspect, since the plurality of cutout portions and the plurality of contact members are provided along the medium width direction., it is possible to curb head rubbing of the medium in a wide region in the medium width direction.
The present aspect is not limited to the third aspect and may be applied to the fourth or fifth aspect.
A seventh aspect is an aspect according to the first aspect, wherein the recording apparatus includes a wiper configured to wipe the plate member while moving in a medium width direction which is a direction intersecting a medium transport direction, the liquid ejection head is movable in a direction in which the liquid ejection head moves forward and backward with respect to the facing portion according to power of a motor, a movement region of the liquid ejection head includes a recording position at which recording is performed on the medium and a wiping position at which the plate member is wiped by the wiper, the wiping position being a position spaced apart from the facing portion as compared to the recording position, the contact member is provided in a frame located between the liquid ejection head and the facing portion in a movement direction of the liquid ejection head, the frame being provided independently of the liquid ejection head, and a gap is formed so that the wiper is interposed between the frame and the liquid ejection head by the liquid ejection head moving from the recording position to the wiping position.
When the plate member is wiped by the wiper, the contact member needs to be configured not to interfere with the wiper.
According to the present aspect, since the contact member is supported by the frame provided independently of the liquid ejection head, and the gap is formed so that the wiper is interposed between the frame and the liquid ejection head by the liquid ejection head moving from the recording position to the wiping position, the contact member is located at a place away from the plate member when the plate member is wiped by the wiper. Accordingly, the contact member does not interfere with the wiper when the plate member is wiped by the wiper.
Note that this aspect is not limited to the above-described first aspect, and may also be applied to any of the above-described second to sixth aspects.
An eighth aspect is an aspect according to the seventh aspect, wherein an opening portion is formed in the facing portion, a cap portion configured to cover the nozzle is provided at a position facing the nozzle on the inner side of the opening portion, the movement area of the liquid ejection head includes a cap position at which the nozzle is covered by the cap portion, the frame is displaceable along a movement direction of the liquid ejection head and is pressed toward the liquid ejection head by a first pressing member, and the liquid ejection head abuts on the frame in a process in which the liquid ejection head moves from the recording position to the cap position, and moves the frame against pressing force of the first pressing member.
According to the present aspect, since the frame is displaceable along the movement direction of the liquid ejection head and is pressed toward the liquid ejection head by the pressing member, and the liquid ejection head abuts on the frame in the process in which the liquid ejection head moves from the recording position to the cap position, and moves the frame against pressing force of the pressing member, it is possible to curb the frame obstructing the movement of the liquid ejection head when the liquid ejection head moves to the cap position.
A ninth aspect is an aspect according to the eighth aspect, wherein the facing portion is displaceable along a movement direction of the liquid ejection head and is pressed toward the liquid ejection head by a second pressing member, and the liquid ejection head abuts on the facing portion in a process in which the liquid ejection head moves from the recording position to the cap position, and moves the facing portion against pressing force of the second pressing member.
When the facing portion is used as a support means for supporting the medium and the opening portion formed in the facing portion is large, there is concern that the medium may enter the opening portion, and therefore, it is preferable to make the opening portion as small as possible. However, when the opening portion is made small, the facing portion interferes with the liquid ejection head when the cap portion covers the nozzle, and there is a problem in that the cap portion cannot cover the nozzle.
Therefore, in the present aspect, the facing portion is made displaceable along the movement direction of the liquid ejection head, and is pressed toward the liquid ejection head by the second pressing member. The liquid ejection head is configured to abut on the facing portion in a process in which the liquid ejection head moves from the recording position to the cap position, and move the facing portion against the pressing force of the second pressing member. Accordingly, when the cap portion covers the nozzle, the facing portion does not become an obstacle, the opening portion can be made small, and entrance of the medium into the opening portion can be curbed when the facing portion is used as the support means.
Hereinafter, the present disclosure will be specifically described.
Hereinafter, an inkjet printer 1 will be described as an example of a recording apparatus that performs recording on a medium. Hereinafter, the inkjet printer 1 is simply referred to as a printer 1.
In an X-Y-Z coordinate system illustrated in each figure, an X-axis direction is an apparatus width direction and is a width direction of a medium on which recording is performed. When viewed from an operator of the printer 1, a +X direction is on the left side and a −X direction is on the right side.
A Y-axis direction is an apparatus depth direction, and is a direction along a medium transport direction at the time of the recording. A +Y direction is a direction from a back surface to a front surface of the apparatus, and a −Y direction is a direction from the front surface to the back surface of the apparatus. In the present embodiment, the side surface in the +Y direction among side surfaces constituting the periphery of the printer 1 is the front surface of the apparatus, and the side surface in the −Y direction is the back surface of the apparatus.
A Z-axis direction is a direction along a vertical direction, and is an apparatus height direction. A +Z direction is a vertically upward direction, and a −Z direction is a vertically downward direction.
Hereinafter, a direction in which the medium is sent may be referred to as “downstream”, and a direction opposite thereto may be referred to as “upstream”.
Hereinafter, a medium transport path of the printer 1 will be described with reference to
A pick roller 3 driven by a motor (not illustrated) is provided above the medium accommodation cassette 2. The pick roller 3 can move forward and backward with respect to the medium accommodated in the medium accommodation cassette 2, and rotates in contact with the medium stored in the medium accommodation cassette 2 to feed the medium in the +Y direction from the medium accommodation cassette 2.
A feeding roller 5 driven by a motor (not illustrated) and a separation roller 6 to which a rotational torque is applied by a torque limiter (not illustrated) are provided downstream of the medium accommodation cassette 2. The medium fed from the medium accommodation cassette 2 is separated by being nipped between the feeding roller 5 and the separation roller 6, and is further fed downstream.
A reversing roller 8 driven by a motor (not illustrated) is provided downstream of the feeding roller 5 and the separation roller 6. A first nip roller 9 and a second nip roller 10 are provided around the reversing roller 8, and the medium is nipped by the reversing roller 8 and the first nip roller 9, further nipped by the reversing roller 8 and the second nip roller 10, and transported. The transport direction of the medium is reversed from the +Y direction to the −Y direction by the reversing roller 8, and the medium is transported downstream.
A first transport roller pair 15 including a drive roller 16 driven by a motor (not shown) and a driven roller 17 that is configured to be driven into rotation is provided downstream of the reversing roller 8. The medium is transported to a position facing the line head 40 by the first transport roller pair 15.
The printer 1 includes a medium feeding path from the medium support portion 12, in addition to the medium feeding path from the medium accommodation cassette 2. The medium support portion 12 supports the medium in an inclined posture, and the supported medium is transported to the first transport roller pair 15 by the feeding roller 13 driven by a motor (not illustrated). Reference sign 14 denotes a separation roller to which rotational torque is applied by a torque limiter (not illustrated).
A medium detection unit 22 is provided upstream of the first transport roller pair 15. A control unit 80 (see
The line head 40 is an example of a liquid ejection head that ejects ink, which is an example of liquid, onto a medium for recording. The line head 40 is a liquid ejection head in which a plurality of nozzles 44 for ejecting ink are disposed to cover an entire region in the medium width direction. The line head 40 is configured as an ink ejection head that is elongated in a medium width direction and is capable of recording over an entire region in the medium width direction without moving in the medium width direction. Reference sign 42a denotes a head surface that is a surface that faces the medium. The head surface 42a is an example of a liquid ejection surface or a nozzle surface. The head surface 42a is formed by a plate member 42 to be described below.
The printer 1 includes an ink storage unit (not illustrated), and the ink ejected from the line head 40 is supplied from the ink storage unit to the line head 40 via an ink tube (not illustrated).
A facing portion 50 is provided at a position facing the head surface 42a of the line head 40. The facing portion 50 according to the present embodiment prescribes a gap between the medium and the head surface 42a by supporting the medium. Hereinafter, the gap between the medium and the head surface 42a may be referred to as a platen gap.
The line head 40 is provided to be movable in a direction in which the line head 40 moves forward and backward with respect to the facing portion 50, that is, in a direction in which the platen gap is adjusted. In the present embodiment, the direction in which the platen gap is adjusted is parallel to the Z-axis direction. Hereinafter, movement of the line head 40 in the +Z-axis direction may be referred to as “upward movement”, and movement of the line head 40 in the −Z-axis direction may be referred to as “downward movement”.
A motor gear 82 is provided in a motor shaft of the head movement motor 81, and the motor gear 82 transmits a driving force to a pinion gear 85 via a gear 83. The pinion gear 85 is fixed to a shaft 86.
The line head 40 is held to be displaceable in the Z-axis direction by a guide member (not illustrated). A rack portion 41d is formed along the Z-axis direction in the line head 40, and the pinion gear 85 meshes with the rack portion 41d to constitute a rack and pinion mechanism.
The pinion gear 85 is provided in a shaft 86, and the pinion gear 85 is rotated by the rotation of the head movement motor 81, so that the line head 40 moves upward and downward.
The rack and pinion mechanism constituted by the rack portion 41d and the pinion gears 85 is provided in the vicinity of both end portions of the line head 40 in the medium width direction.
When the line head 40 moves upward, the line head 40 abuts on an upward movement regulation portion (not illustrated), and further upward movement is regulated. The control unit 80 detects an increase in a motor driving current value when the line head 40 abuts on the upward movement regulation portion, to ascertain that the line head 40 is located at an upward movement limit position.
Further, the head movement motor 81 is provided with an encoder sensor (not illustrated), and the control unit 80 can detect an amount of rotation of the head movement motor 81. Accordingly, the control unit 80 can detect an amount of movement of the line head 40 from the upward movement limit position, that is, can ascertain the current position of the line head 40.
Based on a medium type included in received printing data, the control unit 80 moves the line head 40 up and down according to a thickness of the medium and adjusts the platen gap. For example, assuming that a position of the line head 40 when recording is performed on plain paper is a first recording position, when recording is performed on special paper thicker than the plain paper, the line head 40 is positioned at a second recording position higher than the first recording position.
A movement region of the line head 40 includes a cap position which is a position when the line head 40 is capped by a cap portion 61 to be described below, and a wiping position which is a position when the head surface 42a is wiped by a wiper 36 to be described below, in addition to the plurality of recording positions as described above.
In the present embodiment, the above-described positions of the line head 40 are the cap position, the first recording position, the second recording position, and the wiping position in order in the +Z direction.
Referring back to
A third transport roller pair 27 is provided downstream of the second transport roller pair 19, and a discharge roller pair 28 is also provided downstream of the third transport roller pair 27. A portion between the third transport roller pair 27 and the discharge roller pair 28 is configured as a face-down discharge path, and the medium on which recording has been performed is discharged to a discharge tray 29 by the discharge roller pair 28 in a state in which the most recent recording surface faces down.
Next, the cap portion 61 that covers the head chip 43 of the line head 40 will be described with reference to
Since the head chip 43 is provided in the head surface 42a, the cap portion 61 can also be referred to as a member that covers a portion of the head surface 42a. Since the head chip 43 is provided with the nozzles 44, the cap portion 61 can also be referred to as a member that covers the nozzles 44. The head chip 43 will be described below.
An opening portion 50a is formed in the facing portion 50 as illustrated in
The cap portion 61 forms a shape elongated in the X-axis direction, and includes a cap body portion 61b formed of a resinous material or the like, and an elastic portion 61a formed of an elastic material such as rubber, which is a portion in contact with the head surface 42a. The cap body portion 61b is held to be displaceable in the Z-axis direction by a guide portion (not illustrated) formed in the base portion 62, and a movement limit in the +Z direction is prescribed by a regulation portion (not illustrated) formed in the base portion 62. The cap body portion 61b is pressed in the +Z direction by a cap spring 63 which is an example of a pressing member. In the present embodiment, two cap springs 63 are provided for one cap body portion 61b.
A waste liquid tube 64 is coupled to each cap body portion 61b. The waste liquid tube 64 is coupled to a pump (not illustrated). When the pump is operated in a state in which the cap portion 61 covers the head surface 42a, a negative pressure is generated in the cap portion 61, and thus ink is sucked from the nozzles 44 of the line head 40.
When the line head 40 is moved to the cap position, the cap portion 61 is slightly pressed down in the −Z direction against the pressing force of the cap spring 63, so that the elastic portion 61a comes into close contact with the head surface 42a.
The cap portions 61 are alternately disposed at an upstream position and a downstream position along the X-axis direction, that is, the medium width direction. In the present embodiment, three cap portions 61 are provided at upstream positions, that is, in the +Y direction, and four cap portions 61 are provided at downstream positions, that is, in the −Y direction.
Such a disposition of the cap portions 61 corresponds to the disposition of the head chips 43 in the line head 40.
The plate member 42 is a metallic plate and forms the head surface 42a.
A plurality of opening portions 42d are formed in the plate member 42, and the head chip 43 is provided in each opening portion 42d. The head chip 43 is provided with the plurality of nozzles 44 (see
Further, in the present embodiment, cut-out portions indicated by reference signs 42b and 42c are formed in a peripheral edge of the plate member 42. The cutout portion indicated by the reference sign 42b is referred to as an upstream cutout portion, and the cutout portion indicated by the reference sign 42c is referred to as a downstream cutout portion.
Further, concave portions 41b are formed in the base 41 at positions corresponding to the cutout portion of the plate member 42. All of the concave portions 41b have a shape recessed at least in the +Z direction from the plate member 42.
Further, the first abutting portion 41a, which will be described below, is formed at both end portions of the base 41 in the medium width direction to protrude in the −Z direction. Further, two second abutting portions 41c are provided at both the end portions of the base 41 in the medium width direction at an interval along the Y-axis direction.
The head chips 43 are alternately disposed at the upstream position and the downstream position along the X-axis direction, that is, the medium width direction. In the present embodiment, three head chips 43 at upstream positions are provided along the medium width direction, and four head chips 43 at downstream positions are provided along the medium width direction. Accordingly, the cap portions 61 covering the head chips 43 are alternately disposed at the upstream position and the downstream position along the medium width direction as described with reference to
The head chip 43 forms a shape elongated in the medium width direction, and includes a plurality of nozzles 44 (see
Next, the wiper 36 will be described.
As illustrated in
In the present embodiment, a home position of the wiper carriage 35 is a position illustrated in
When the wiper carriage 35 moves in the +X direction from the end portion in the −X direction and is located at the home position, the wiper carriage 35 abuts on a movement regulation portion (not illustrated) so that further movement in the +X direction is regulated. The control unit 80 can ascertain that the wiper carriage 35 is located at the home position by detecting an increase in the motor driving current value when the wiper carriage 35 abuts on the movement regulation portion.
In addition, the wiper drive motor 31 is provided with an encoder sensor (not illustrated), and the control unit 80 can detect an amount of rotation of the wiper drive motor 31. This makes it possible for the control unit 80 to detect an amount of movement of the wiper carriage 35 from the home position, that is, to ascertain a current position of the wiper carriage 35.
The wiper carriage 35 is provided with the wiper 36. The wiper 36 is made of an elastic material such as rubber, and wipes particularly the head chip 43 on the head surface 42a by the wiper carriage 35 moving in the medium width direction in a state in which the wiper 36 is in elastic contact with the head surface 42a. The ink removed by wiping is stored in the wiper carriage 35.
The wiper carriage 35 may be formed in a box shape of which an upper portion is open, or may be formed in a semi-closed shape in which only a portion corresponding to the wiper 36 is open.
As illustrated in
An ink recovery portion 37 is provided at an end portion in the −X direction in a movement region of the wiper carriage 35. The ink recovery portion 37 includes a suction portion 37a, and the suction portion 37a can be fitted to the fitting hole 35a of the wiper carriage 35. When the wiper carriage 35 moves to the end portion in the −X direction, the suction portion 37a is fitted into the fitting hole 35a. When the suction portion 37a is fitted into the fitting hole 35a, the check valve is open. In this state, a pump (not illustrated) provided in the ink recovery portion 37 is driven so that the ink stored in the wiper carriage 35 is sucked. The ink suction by the ink recovery portion 37 is performed, for example, when the apparatus is powered off or when the number of times the head surface 42a is wiped by the wiper 36 reaches a predetermined number of times.
The ink recovery portion 37 may be provided at the end portion in the +X direction, that is, on the home position side of the wiper carriage 35, instead of being provided at the end portion in the −X direction. In this case, the suction portion 37a may be configured to be fitted into the fitting hole 35a when the wiper carriage 35 is located at the home position.
Next, the facing portion 50 will be described.
As illustrated in
The opening portion 50a is formed in the facing portion 50, and the cap portion 61 is disposed on the inner side of the opening portion 50a.
The opening portions 50a are formed alternately at an upstream position and a downstream position along the medium width direction to correspond to the disposition of the plurality of head chips 43, in other words, to correspond to the disposition of the plurality of cap portions 61.
Since the opening portion 50a is formed in this manner, support portions indicated by reference signs 50c and 50d are formed between two adjacent cap portions 61 in the medium width direction in the facing portion 50. Hereinafter, the support portion indicated by reference sign 50c is referred to as a first support portion 50c, and the support portion indicated by reference sign 50d is referred to as a second support portion 50d.
The first support portion 50c extends from an upstream end of the opening portion 50a to the downstream, and a chamfered portion 50e is formed at a corner portion at a downstream end thereof. In addition, the second support portion 50d extends upstream of a downstream end of the opening portion 50a, and a chamfered portion 50f is formed at a corner portion at an upstream end thereof.
With the chamfered portion 50f, it is possible to curb the leading end of the medium being caught by the second support portion 50d when the medium is transported from the upstream toward the downstream. In addition, with the chamfered portion 50e, it is possible to curb the leading end of the medium being caught by the first support portion 50c when the medium is transported from the downstream toward the upstream.
The chamfered portions 50e and 50f may be formed in an R shape instead of a chamfered shape.
Next, the facing portion 50 is supported by the main frame 7 constituting the base of the printer 1 at both end portions in the medium width direction.
More specifically, the guide shaft 51 is provided in the main frame 7. The cylindrical portion 50g is formed in the facing portion 50, and the guide shaft 51 enters the cylindrical portion 50g. Accordingly, the cylindrical portion 50g, that is, the facing portion 50 is provided to be displaceable in the Z-axis direction.
The guide shaft 51 is provided with the pressing spring 54 which is an example of a pressing member, and the facing portion 50 is pressed in the +Z direction by the pressing spring 54.
An upper end portion of the guide shaft 51 is configured as a screw hole into which the screw 52 can be fitted. The stopper 53 is interposed between the screw 52 and the upper end portion of the guide shaft 51, and the stopper 53 is fixed to the guide shaft 51 by the screw 52. The stopper 53 prescribes a movement limit of the cylindrical portion 50g, that is, the facing portion 50 in the +Z direction. That is, the stopper 53 is a movement prescribing portion that prescribes the movement limit of the facing portion 50 in a direction to the line head 40, which is a portion on which an upper end of the cylindrical portion 50g abuts.
Although not illustrated in the drawings, the stopper 53 has a disk-like shape when viewed from the Z-axis direction, and a covering portion 53a is formed to hang downward from an outer peripheral portion.
An upper end portion of the cylindrical portion 50g is covered by the covering portion 53a.
A left drawing of
As illustrated in
The two support structures 55 located at the end portion in the +X direction in the medium width direction are located at the same position in the X-axis direction, and the two support structures 55 located at the end portion in the −X direction are located at slightly different positions in the X-axis direction. However, the positions in the X-axis direction of the two support structures 55 located at the end portion in the −X direction may be the same.
In addition, although four support structures 55 are provided in the present embodiment, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and a plurality of support structures 55 may be provided. Here, it is possible to stably support the facing portion 50 by providing three support structures 55. When the three support structures 55 are provided, for example, it is preferable to provide two of the support structures 55 at one end portion in the medium width direction and one of the support structures 55 at the other end portion. Further, in this case, it is preferable that the one support structure 55 is provided between the two support structures 55 in the Y-axis direction, particularly, at an intermediate position.
Next,
A leftmost diagram in
When the line head 40 is further lowered, the line head 40 presses down the facing portion 50 against a pressing force of the pressing spring 54. When the line head 40 moves to the cap position as illustrated in a rightmost drawing of
At power-off or in a recording standby state, the line head 40 is positioned at the cap position.
In
Further, in
In addition, a plurality of first abutting portions 41a, for example, two first abutting portions 41a may be provided between the two support structures 55 provided with an interval in the Y-axis direction. In this case, it is preferable that the two first abutting portions 41a are disposed at positions symmetrical with respect to the intermediate position between the two support structures 55 provided with an interval in the Y-axis direction.
Next,
An upper diagram of
In this state, the wiper carriage 35 is moved as indicated by an arrow Wm so that the wiper 36 wipes the head surface 42a.
When the wiper 36 moves to the end portion in the −X direction, that is, when the wiper 36 wipes the head surface 42a, the wiper carriage 35 moves in the +X direction to return to the home position at the end portion in the +X direction. Prior to this operation, the line head 40 may be slightly moved upward so that the wiper 36 does not contact the head surface 42a.
As described above, the line head 40 is movable in the direction in which the line head 40 moves forward and backward with respect to the facing portion 50 by the power of the head movement motor 81, and the movement region of the line head 40 includes the recording position at which recording is performed on the medium, and the cap position at which the head surface 42a is covered by the cap portion 61.
This eliminates the need for a drive source for driving the cap portion 61, thereby curbing an increase in the size and cost of the apparatus.
The line head 40 includes the first abutting portion 41a abutting on the facing portion 50, the facing portion 50 is displaceable along the movement direction of the line head 40 and pressed toward the line head 40 by the pressing spring 54, and the line head 40 abuts on the facing portion 50 in a process in which the line head 40 moves from the recording position to the cap position, and moves the facing portion 50 against the pressing force of the pressing spring 54.
Here, when the facing portion 50 is used as a support means for supporting the medium, and the opening portion 50a formed in the facing portion 50 is large, there is concern that the medium may enter the opening portion 50a, and therefore, it is preferable to make the opening portion 50a as small as possible. However, when the opening portion 50a is made small, the facing portion 50 interferes with the line head 40 when the cap portion 61 covers the head surface 42a, and there is a problem in that the cap portion 61 cannot cover the head surface 42a.
Therefore, in the present aspect, the facing portion 50 is made displaceable along the movement direction of the line head 40, and is pressed toward the line head 40 by the pressing spring 54. The line head 40 is configured to abut on the facing portion 50 in a process in which line head 40 moves from the recording position to the cap position, and move the facing portion 50 against the pressing force of the pressing spring 54. Accordingly, when the cap portion 61 covers the head surface 42a, the facing portion 50 does not become an obstacle, the opening portion 50a can be made small, and when the facing portion 50 is used as a support means, entrance of the medium into the opening portion 50a can be curbed.
In addition, the line head 40 includes a plurality of head chips 43 having nozzles 44 that eject ink, and the head chips 43 are alternately disposed at an upstream position and a downstream position along the medium width direction that is a direction intersecting the medium transport direction. The opening portions 50a are formed alternately at upstream positions and downstream positions along the medium width direction to correspond to the disposition of the plurality of head chips 43. The facing portion 50 includes a first support portion 50c and a second support portion 50d, which are support portions that support the medium, between two head chips 43 adjacent in the medium width direction. This makes it possible to appropriately support the medium and to curb entrance of the medium into the opening portion 50a.
In the present embodiment, the first support portion 50c and the second support portion 50d do not overlap each other in the medium transport direction, but may be configured to overlap each other. With this configuration, it is possible to suitably curb entrance of medium into the opening portion 50a.
The support portion provided between the two head chips 43 adjacent in the medium width direction includes a first support portion 50c extending from upstream to downstream in the medium transport direction and a second support portion 50dextending from downstream to upstream in the medium transport direction. This makes it possible to more appropriately support the medium, and thus to further curb entrance of the medium into the opening portion 50a.
Further, the corner portion at the downstream end of the first support portion 50c in the medium transport direction is formed as the chamfered portion 50e, and the corner portion at the upstream end of the second support portion 50d in the medium transport direction is formed as the chamfered portion 50f. This makes it possible to curb the leading end of the medium being caught by the second support portion 50d when the medium is transported from upstream to downstream in the medium transport direction, and it is possible to curb the leading end of the medium being caught by the first support portion 50c when the medium is transported from downstream to upstream in the medium transport direction.
Further, the printer 1 includes the guide shaft 51 that guides the facing portion 50 in the movement direction, which is a shaft extending in the movement direction of the line head 40, the cylindrical portion 50g which is provided in the facing portion 50 and is guided by the guide shaft 51 by the guide shaft 51 being inserted into the cylindrical portion 50g, and the stopper 53 which is a portion on which the upper end of the cylindrical portion 50g abuts and which is a movement prescribing portion which prescribes the movement limit of the facing portion 50 in the direction to the line head 40. The pressing spring 54 is configured to press the cylindrical portion 50g toward the stopper 53.
With this configuration, the cylindrical portion 50g is sandwiched between the pressing spring 54 and the stopper 53. As a result, it is possible to curb bending of the facing portion 50 caused by the pressing force of the pressing spring 54.
Further, the stopper 53 includes the covering portion 53a that covers the periphery of the upper end of the cylindrical portion 50g. Accordingly, the following operational effects are obtained.
That is, when foreign matter is interposed between the upper end of the cylindrical portion 50g and the stopper 53, this distorts the platen gap which is a gap between the line head 40 and the facing portion 50, and there is concern that recording quality is adversely affected. However, since the stopper 53 includes the covering portion that covers the periphery of the upper end of the cylindrical portion 50g, it is possible to curb entrance of foreign matter between the upper end of the cylindrical portion 50g and the stopper 53, and thus to appropriately maintain the platen gap.
Further, the facing portion 50 extends along the medium width direction that is the direction intersecting the medium transport direction, and the cylindrical portions 50g are provided at two locations with an interval therebetween in the medium transport direction at both end portions of the facing portion 50 in the medium width direction. The line head 40 abuts on the facing portion 50 between the cylindrical portions 50g provided at two locations with an interval therebetween in the medium transport direction. This makes it possible to curb the facing portion 50 being bent along the medium width direction when the line head 40 presses down the facing portion 50.
Although the facing portion 50 described above is provided to be displaceable in a direction in which the facing portion 50 moves forward and backward with respect to the line head 40, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the facing portion 50 may be provided in a fixed manner. In this case, the line head 40 may be lowered with respect to the cap portion 61 provided on the inner side of the opening portion 50a of the facing portion 50 so that the head surface 42a is covered with the cap portion 61.
Next, the driven roller 71 which is an example of a contact member will be described.
As illustrated in
The driven roller 71 is disposed at a position overlapping the line head 40 in the medium transport direction. In the present embodiment, the driven roller 71 is provided at an upstream position and a downstream position in the medium transport direction.
As illustrated in
A shaft hole 72a is formed in the body portion 72, a shaft portion 71a is inserted into the shaft hole 72a, so that the body portion 72 is rotatable with respect to the shaft portion 71a. The roller support frame 70 includes a shaft support portion 70b, and the shaft portion 71a is supported by the shaft support portion 70b. In the present embodiment, the shaft portion 71a is fitted to the shaft support portion 70b by snap fitting, but may be supported by using any method.
The shaft portion 71a can be formed by a bar spring as an example, and in this case, the driven roller 71 can be displaced in the Z-axis direction within a range of deformation of the shaft portion 71a. Here, the shaft portion 71a may be formed of a metallic shaft or a resinous shaft.
When the head surface 42a is viewed in plan view from the −Z direction as illustrated in
To be specific, the upstream cutout portion 42b and the downstream cutout portion 42c are formed in the peripheral edge of the plate member 42 forming the head surface 42a, as described above. The driven roller 71 enters each cutout portion in plan view of the head surface 42a.
In addition, the driven roller 71 enters the concave portions 41b formed in the base 41 of the line head 40 in the Z-axis direction as illustrated in
In the present embodiment, a portion of the driven roller 71 enters the upstream cutout portion 42b and the downstream cutout portion 42c in plan view of the head surface 42a, but the entire driven roller 71 may enter the upstream cutout portion 42b and the downstream cutout portion 42c.
Further, in the present embodiment, the driven roller 71 is provided at an upstream position and a downstream position of the line head 40, but may be provided at any one of the upstream position and the downstream position.
In the present embodiment, a plurality of driven rollers 71 are provided along the medium width direction as illustrated in
More specifically, the driven roller 71 provided at the upstream position in the medium transport direction in the present embodiment is disposed between the two head chips 43 adjacent in the medium width direction. Further, in the present embodiment, the driven roller 71 provided at the downstream position in the medium transport direction is disposed between the two head chips 43 adjacent in the medium width direction and is disposed on the outer side with respect to the head chip 43 located at the endmost portion.
Next, the roller support frame 70 is supported by the main frame 7 constituting the base of the printer 1 at both end portions in the medium width direction. A structure for supporting the roller support frame 70 in the present embodiment is the same as a structure for supporting the facing portion 50.
More specifically, the guide shaft 74 is provided in the main frame 7. The cylindrical portion 70g is formed in the roller support frame 70, and the guide shaft 74 enters the cylindrical portion 70g. Thus, the cylindrical portion 70g, that is, the roller support frame 70 is provided to be displaceable in the Z-axis direction.
The pressing spring 77 which is an example of a pressing member is provided in the guide shaft 74, and the roller support frame 70 is pressed in the +Z direction by the pressing spring 77.
An upper end portion of the guide shaft 74 is configured as a screw hole into which the screw 75 can be fitted. The stopper 76 is interposed between the screw 75 and the upper end portion of the guide shaft 74, and the stopper 76 is fixed to the guide shaft 74 by the screw 75. The stopper 76 prescribes a movement limit of the cylindrical portion 70g, that is, the roller support frame 70 in the +Z direction. That is, the stopper 76 is a movement prescribing portion that prescribes the movement limit of the roller support frame 70 in the direction to the line head 40, which is a portion on which an upper end of the cylindrical portion 70g abuts.
Although not illustrated in the drawings, the stopper 76 has a disk-like shape when viewed from the Z-axis direction, and a covering portion 76a is formed to hang downward from the outer peripheral portion.
An upper end portion of the cylindrical portion 70g is covered by the covering portion 76a.
A left drawing of
As illustrated in
The two support structures 78 located at the end portions in the +X direction in the medium width direction are at the same position in the X-axis direction, and the two support structures 78 located at the end portion in the −X direction are also at the same position in the X-axis direction.
In addition, four support structures 78 are provided in the present embodiment, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and a plurality of support structures 78 may be provided. However, it is possible to stably support the roller support frame 70 by providing three support structures 78. When the three support structures 78 are provided, it is preferable that, for example, two of the support structures 78 are provided at one end portion in the medium width direction and one of the support structures 78 is provided at the other end portion. Further, in this case, it is preferable that the one support structure 78 is provided between the two support structures 78 in the Y-axis direction, particularly, at an intermediate position.
As illustrated in
When the line head 40 is at the recording position, the second abutting portion 41c is slightly spaced apart from the roller support frame 70. The second abutting portion 41c abuts on the roller support frame 70 in a process in which the line head 40 is lowered from the recording position to the cap position. When the line head 40 is further lowered after the second abutting portion 41c abuts on the roller support frame 70, the line head 40 presses down the roller support frame 70 against the pressing force of the pressing spring 77. This series of operations of the roller support frame 70 are the same as those of the facing portion 50 described above.
The second abutting portion 41c abuts on the roller support frame 70 between the two support structures 78 provided with an interval in the Y-axis direction. Accordingly, the distance between the first abutting portion 41a and the support structure 55 does not become too long, and the cylindrical portion 50g can smoothly move with respect to the guide shaft 51 illustrated in
In the present embodiment, two second abutting portions 41c are provided at an end portion in the X-axis direction with an interval along the Y-axis direction, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto and one or three or more second abutting portions 41c may be provided. When one second abutting portion 41c is provided at the end portion in the X-axis direction, it is preferable to press the roller support frame 70 at an intermediate position between the two support structures 78 provided with an interval in the Y-axis direction. In addition, when the two second abutting portions 41c are provided with an interval along the Y-axis direction at the end portion in the X-axis direction as in the present embodiment, it is preferable that the two second abutting portions 41c are disposed at positions symmetrical with respect to the intermediate position between the two support structures 78.
A timing at which the line head 40 starts to press down the roller support frame 70 may be equal to or different from a timing at which pressing down the facing portion 50 is started. However, when the timing at which the line head 40 starts to press down the roller support frame 70 is different, it is possible to reduce a temporary load applied to the head movement motor 81 that moves the line head 40 up and down, which is preferable.
Next,
In this case, since the roller support frame 70 and the line head 40 are configured as separate bodies, only the line head 40 moves upward while the position of the roller support frame 70 in the Z-axis direction is maintained. Accordingly, a gap is formed so that the wiper 36 enters is formed between the roller support frame 70 and the line head 40. Accordingly, a gap is formed so that the wiper carriage 35 is interposed between the line head 40 and the roller support frame 70, and the wiper 36 can abut on the head surface 42a. In this state, it is possible to wipe the head surface 42a with the wiper 36 by moving the wiper carriage 35 as indicated by an arrow Wm.
Further, in this state, when the wiper 36 wipes the head surface 42a, interference between the wiper 36 and the driven roller 71 can be avoided.
As described above, the line head 40 includes the plurality of head chips 43 including the nozzles 44 in the plate member 42 facing the facing portion 50. The upstream cutout portion 42b and the downstream cutout portion 42c are formed in the peripheral edge of the plate member 42 in order to avoid the head chip 43. The driven roller 71 that is configured to be driven into rotation while in contact with the medium are disposed in the upstream cutout portion 42b and the downstream cutout portion 42c. Accordingly, effects of curbing floating of the medium by the driven roller 71 is easily exhibited in the region of the plate member 42, and head rubbing of the medium can be curbed more reliably.
Although the driven roller 71 is an example of a contact member capable of coming into contact with the medium, the contact member is not limited to the driven roller 71 and may be any member as long as the member is capable of curbing the floating of the medium by coming into contact with the medium. For example, the contact member may be a non-rotating member. The non-rotating member may be a disk-like member such as a roller, may be a rib-like member, or may have other shapes. It is preferable that amount of protrusion Hg (see
However, when the contact member is a member that is configured to be driven into rotation while in contact with the medium, formation of damage such as scratch in the medium at the time of contact of the medium with the contact member can be curbed.
Further, the plurality of head chips 43 are alternately disposed at the upstream position and the downstream position along the medium width direction which is the direction intersecting with the medium transport direction, and the upstream cutout portion 42b and the downstream cutout portion 42c enter between two head chips 43 adjacent in the medium width direction.
With such a configuration, it is possible to dispose the driven roller 71 at a position closer to the head chip 43, and to further reliably curb head rubbing of the medium.
In the present embodiment, a portion of the driven roller 71 is interposed between two head chips 43 adjacent in the medium width direction. This makes it possible to more reliably curb head rubbing of the medium.
In addition, since the driven roller 71 and the cutout portion for disposition of the driven roller 71 are provided upstream and downstream in the medium transport direction in the plate member 42, it is possible to further reliably curb head rubbing of the medium.
In addition, since the plurally of upstream cutout portion 42b, downstream cutout portion 42c, and driven roller 71 are provided along the medium width direction, it is possible to curb head rubbing of the medium in a wide region in the medium width direction.
Further, the driven roller 71 is supported by the roller support frame 70 provided independently of the line head 40, which is a frame located between the line head 40 and the facing portion 50 in the movement direction of the line head 40. By the line head 40 moving from the recording position to the wiping position, a gap is formed so that the wiper 36 is interposed between the roller support frame 70 and the line head 40.
Therefore, when the head surface 42a is wiped by the wiper 36, the driven roller 71 is located at a place away from the head surface 42a. Accordingly, the driven roller 71 does not interfere with the wiper 36 when the head surface 42a is wiped by the wiper 36.
Further, the roller support frame 70 is displaceable along the movement direction of the line head 40, and is pressed toward the line head 40 by the pressing spring 77, and the line head 40 abuts on the roller support frame 70 in the process in which the line head 40 moves from the recording position to the cap position, and moves the roller support frame 70 against pressing force of the pressing spring 77. With such a configuration, when the line head 40 moves to the cap position, it is possible to curb the roller support frame 70 obstructing the movement of the line head 40.
Next, the wiper carriage 35 described above may be provided with an edge detection unit 38. Hereinafter, a configuration in which the edge detection unit 38 is provided will be described.
The edge detection unit 38 for detecting an edge of the medium is provided at a bottom portion of the wiper carriage 35, as illustrated in
The edge detection unit 38 and the control unit 80 (see
The edge detection unit 38 is an optical sensor, and includes a light emitting unit (not illustrated) that emits detection light toward the facing portion 50 and a light receiving unit (not illustrated) that receives a reflection component of the detection light. The intensity of the reflection component is stronger when the medium is irradiated with the detection light than when the facing portion 50 is irradiated with the detection light. Therefore, the control unit 80 can detect the edge of the medium based on detection information of the edge detection unit 38.
As described with reference to
In
However, it is also possible to detect an edge in the −Y direction, that is, a leading edge of the medium, or an edge in the +Y direction, that is, a trailing edge of the medium, by transporting the medium in a state in which the medium is positioned at a position at which the medium can be detected by the edge detection unit 38 in the medium width direction, for example, at a center position in the medium width direction.
When the detection of the edge of the medium is performed using the edge detection unit 38, the line head 40 may move in the +Z direction from the recording position after the medium is transported to a position at which the medium can face the edge detection unit 38, or may move in the +Z direction from the recording position before the medium is transported to the position at which the medium can face the edge detection unit 38. However, it is possible to improve a printing throughput by moving the line head 40 from the recording position to the wiping position or a spaced position (described below) before the medium is transported to the position at which the medium can face the edge detection unit 38. For example, it is possible to improve the printing throughput by performing a transport operation for transporting the medium to a position at which the medium can face the edge detection unit 38 and the movement operation of the line head 40 in parallel.
A recording position (an uppermost drawing in
As described above, the wiper 36 is provided in the wiper carriage 35 that moves in the medium width direction by the power of the wiper drive motor 31, and the edge detection unit 38 for detecting the edge of the medium is included at a position facing the facing portion 50 in the wiper carriage 35. Accordingly, a dedicated configuration for moving the edge detection unit 38 in the medium width direction is not necessary, and it is possible to curb an increase in size and cost of the apparatus.
The control unit 80 that controls the wiper drive motor 31 and the head movement motor 81 can drive the wiper drive motor 31 in a state in which the line head 40 is positioned at the wiping position, to perform edge detection using the edge detection unit 38. Hereinafter, this will be referred to as a first edge detection mode.
According to the first edge detection mode, since the wiping of the head surface 42a by the wiper 36 and the edge detection using the edge detection unit 38 are simultaneously performed, it is possible to improve a recording throughput.
In addition, the control unit 80 can drive the wiper drive motor 31 to perform edge detection using the edge detection unit 38 in a state in which the line head 40 is positioned at a spaced position. Hereinafter, this will be referred to as a second edge detection mode.
According to the second edge detection mode, when the edge detection is performed, a load due to contact between the wiper 36 and the head surface 42a is not applied to the wiper drive motor 31, and it is possible to perform the edge detection with high accuracy.
In addition, the control unit 80 can perform only wiping of the head surface 42a using the wiper 36 without the edge detection. Hereinafter, this will be referred to as a wiping only mode.
The wiping of the head surface 42a by the wiper 36 can be performed, for example, when the apparatus is powered on or off. In this case, the control unit 80 selects the wiping only mode as an example.
Further, the wiping of the head surface 42a by the wiper 36 can be performed at a timing when an elapsed time from a previous wiping of the head surface 42a reaches a predetermined time, or at a timing when a total number of printed sheets from the previous wiping of the head surface 42a reaches a predetermined number. In this case, the control unit 80 selects the wiping only mode as an example.
In addition, the control unit 80 may perform edge detection on a first medium when a recording job is executed for the first time after the apparatus is powered on. For example, when designated recording quality is “normal”, the control unit 80 may perform edge detection on the first medium each time the recording job is executed. In this case, the control unit 80 may perform any of the first edge detection mode and the second edge detection mode.
Further, the control unit 80 may perform the edge detection on the first medium of the recording job each time the recording job is executed. For example, when the designated recording quality is “high definition”, the control unit 80 may perform edge detection on the first medium each time the recording job is executed. In this case, the control unit 80 may perform any of the first edge detection mode and the second edge detection mode.
Further, the control unit 80 may perform the mode on a first medium when the recording job is executed for the first time after the medium accommodation cassette 2 is inserted or removed. In this case, the control unit 80 may perform any of the first edge detection mode and the second edge detection mode.
When size information of the medium included in printing data is different from size information of the medium acquired through the edge detection, the control unit 80 stops a recording operation and displays an alert indicating this fact on a display unit (not illustrated) of the printer 1 or a display unit (not illustrated) of a computer coupled to the printer 1.
In a state in which the line head 40 is at the spaced position, the control unit 80 may perform a flushing operation in which ink is ejected from the nozzles 44 to the wiper carriage 35. Specifically, the wiper carriage 35 is formed in a size allowing the wiper carriage 35 to face one head chip 43, and the control unit 80 ejects ink only from the head chip 43 close to the home position in a state in which the wiper carriage 35 is positioned at a position facing the head chip 43 close to the home position. Such a partial flushing operation is sequentially performed on all the head chips 43 while the wiper carriage 35 being moved in the −X direction.
By using the wiper carriage 35 for the flushing operation in this way, it is possible to perform the flushing operation without moving the line head 40 to a position close to the cap portion 61.
Next, a rotation stopping structure of the wiper carriage 35 will be described.
The wiper frame 30 includes a first frame portion 30a that forms a horizontal surface, and a second frame portion 30b that forms a vertical surface. Both the first frame portion 30a and the second frame portion 30b extend over the entire movement region of the wiper carriage 35.
The wiper carriage 35 includes a guided portion 35c that forms a shape that sandwiches the second frame portion 30b, and a position of the wiper carriage 35 in the Y-axis direction is prescribed by the guided portion 35c sandwiching the second frame portion 30b. Further, the guided portion 35c comes in contact with an upper surface of the first frame portion 30a, and thus, the wiper carriage 35 is supported by the first frame portion 30a.
In the wiper carriage 35, a moment to rotate counterclockwise in
The rotation stopping structure of the wiper carriage 35 as described above can be modified as illustrated in
A rotation regulation portion 30c is formed in the first frame portion 30a of the wiper frame 30A. The rotation regulation portion 30c extends over the entire movement region of the wiper carriage 35.
The rotation stopping portion 35d is configured to enter the lower side of the rotation regulation portion 30c, so that the rotation of the wiper carriage 35A is stopped and a posture of the wiper carriage 35A is prescribed.
Further, the rotation stopping structure of the wiper carriage can be modified as illustrated in
The sub-frame 23 supports the −Y direction end portion of the wiper carriage 35B from a lower side. Accordingly, the rotation of the wiper carriage 35B is stopped so that a posture of the wiper carriage 35B is prescribed.
Further, the rotation stopping structure of the wiper carriage can be modified as illustrated in
The sub-frame 23 is provided on the guided portion 35c, and the rotation of the wiper carriage 35C is stopped by the rotation stopping portion 35d being pressed against the sub-frame 23, so that a posture of the wiper carriage 35C is prescribed.
Further, the rotation stopping structure of the wiper carriage can be modified as illustrated in
A sub-frame 23 is provided on the wiper carriage 35D, and the rotation of the wiper carriage 35D is stopped by the rotation stopping portion 35d being pressed against the sub-frame 23, so that a posture of the wiper carriage 35D is prescribed.
It is needless to say that the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments or modification examples described above, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the present disclosure as described in the claims, which also fall within the scope of the present disclosure.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-055096 | Mar 2023 | JP | national |
