Pointer and inkjet printer with pointer

Abstract

To provide a pointer which has a simple configuration with a reduced number of components to simplify assembly work and thus also reduce the cost, and to provide an inkjet printer equipped with the same.SOLUTION: A pointer is provided, comprising an LED for emitting light, an LED substrate for connecting the LED, and light exit hole forming member mounted on an irradiation side of the light from the LED relative to the LED substrate and provided with a light exit hole for allowing the light irradiated from the LED to exit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a pointer and an inkjet printer equipped with the pointer. More specifically, the present invention relates to a pointer suitable for being disposed in an inkjet printer that performs printing by ejecting ink onto a medium using an inkjet method, and an inkjet printer equipped with the pointer.

[0002] In this specification and claims, "medium" includes not only various recording media made of paper such as plain paper, but also various materials such as resin materials such as PVC and polyester, and materials such as aluminum, iron, and wood.

[0003] Furthermore, in this specification and the claims, the term "inkjet method" refers to a printing method using inkjet technology by various conventionally known methods, including various continuous methods such as a binary deflection method or a continuous deflection method, and various on-demand methods such as a thermal method or a piezoelectric element method. [Background technology]

[0004] Generally, inkjet printers are known in which the overall operation is controlled by a computer system, and which have a platform on which a medium such as recording paper is placed, a carriage that can move in a predetermined direction above the medium placed on the platform, an ink head mounted on the carriage, and which use this ink head to print the desired image on the medium using an inkjet method.

[0005] In this specification and claims, the direction in which the carriage moves in an inkjet printer will be referred to as the "main scanning direction" where appropriate.

[0006] In the inkjet printer described above, a pointer is provided that irradiates a small diameter light beam onto a reference point provided on the mounting table or the medium placed on the mounting table in order to align the origin position when starting printing on the mounting table or the medium placed on the mounting table.

[0007] In other words, the user of the inkjet printer aligns the origin position when the inkjet printer starts printing on the medium by moving the mounting table or the medium so that the light emitted from the pointer illuminates the alignment reference point provided on the mounting table or the medium placed on the mounting table.

[0008] Here, laser light sources have traditionally been used as the light source for the above-mentioned pointers. However, laser light sources are relatively expensive and result in increased costs. To reduce costs, a method of using cheaper light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as the light source for pointers has been proposed, for example, in JP 2019-101435 A.

[0009] However, according to the method disclosed in the above-mentioned JP 2019-101435 A, various components including LEDs are arranged inside a case having an approximately rectangular cylindrical shape, which increases the number of components, making the configuration more complex and the assembly work more tedious, resulting in problems such as increased costs. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0010] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-101435 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0011] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems of the conventional technology, and its object is to provide a pointer and an inkjet printer equipped with a pointer that has a reduced number of components and a simple configuration, thereby simplifying the assembly process and reducing costs. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the pointer of the present invention is configured so that a light exit hole forming member is attached to an LED substrate on which an LED is arranged, the light exit hole forming member having a small diameter through which light emitted from the LED exits.

[0013] Therefore, with the pointer of the present invention, since various components are not arranged inside a case having a roughly square cylindrical shape as in the conventional technology described above, the number of components can be significantly reduced compared to the conventional technology described above, and the simple configuration also simplifies the assembly work.

[0014] In order to achieve the above object, an ink jet printer according to the present invention is equipped with the above-described pointer according to the present invention.

[0015] That is, the pointer according to the present invention comprises an LED that emits light, an LED board to which the LED is connected, and a light emission hole forming member that is attached to the LED board on the side where the light is emitted by the LED and that has a light emission hole formed therein through which the light emitted from the LED exits.

[0016] Furthermore, the pointer according to the present invention is the pointer according to the present invention described above, wherein the LED substrate has an approximately flat plate shape, and the light emission hole forming member is an approximately plate-like body having an approximately U-shaped configuration.

[0017] Furthermore, the pointer according to the present invention is the pointer according to the present invention described above, wherein the light emission hole forming member engages one end of the approximately flat plate shape of the LED substrate at one end of the approximately U-shape, and engages the other end of the approximately flat plate shape of the LED substrate at the other end of the approximately U-shape.

[0018] Furthermore, the pointer according to the present invention is the pointer according to the present invention described above, further comprising a light passing hole between the LED and the light exit hole, through which the light irradiated from the LED passes.

[0019] Furthermore, the pointer according to the present invention is the pointer according to the present invention described above, wherein the light passing hole is formed in an intermediate plate having a substantially flat shape and arranged between the LED and the light exit hole forming member.

[0020] Furthermore, the pointer according to the present invention is the pointer according to the present invention described above, wherein the intermediate plate has one end and the other end of its approximately flat plate shape engaged with each of the opposing portions of the approximately U-shaped portion of the light emission hole forming member.

[0021] Furthermore, the pointer according to the present invention is the pointer according to the present invention described above, wherein the diameter φA of the light exit hole and the diameter φB of the light passing hole satisfy the relationship "diameter φA < diameter φB".

[0022] Furthermore, a pointer according to the present invention is the above-described pointer according to the present invention, wherein the LED comprises a point light source LED element and a collimator lens.

[0023] In addition, the inkjet printer according to the present invention is an inkjet printer that prints on a medium by ejecting ink from an ink head using an inkjet method, and has a mounting table for placing the medium, a pointer arranged above the mounting table, a carriage arranged above the mounting table, and an ink head mounted on the carriage, and the pointer is any of the pointers according to the present invention described above.

[0024] Furthermore, the ink-jet printer according to the present invention is the ink-jet printer according to the present invention described above, wherein the pointer is mounted on the carriage.

[0025] Furthermore, an ink-jet printer according to the present invention is the ink-jet printer according to the present invention described above, wherein the carriage is movable relatively to the mounting table. [Effects of the Invention]

[0026] Since the present invention is configured as described above, it has the excellent effect of being able to reduce the number of components and simplify the assembly work through a simple configuration, thereby also reducing costs. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0027] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of an inkjet printer equipped with a pointer according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the inkjet printer shown in FIG. 1 with an exterior member removed. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the vertical cross section of the inkjet printer shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a front view (viewed in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 3) illustrating a configuration of a pointer according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] Fig. 5(a) is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the bottom surface (as viewed from the arrow C in Fig. 4) of the pointer shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 5(b) is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the right side surface (as viewed from the arrow D in Fig. 4) of the pointer shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 5(c) is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the left side surface (as viewed from the arrow E in Fig. 4) of the pointer shown in Fig. 4. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a front view (viewed in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 3) illustrating an example of a state in which the pointer shown in FIG. 4 is attached to the carriage. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a plan view (viewed in the direction of arrow F in FIG. 6) illustrating a schematic configuration of an example of how the pointer shown in FIG. 4 is attached to the carriage. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a front view (viewed in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 3) illustrating a typical example of how to use the pointer shown in FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a front view (viewed in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 3) illustrating a typical example of how to use the pointer shown in FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a front view (viewed in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 3) illustrating a typical example of how to use the pointer shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028] Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of a pointer and an inkjet printer equipped with a pointer according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0029] (I) Description of the overall configuration of the inkjet printer equipped with a pointer according to the present invention

[0030] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the configuration of an inkjet printer equipped with a pointer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the ink jet printer shown in FIG. 1 with its exterior member removed.

[0032] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the ink jet printer shown in FIG. 1 in a schematic longitudinal section.

[0033] In the following description, the Y direction in the XYZ Cartesian coordinate system indicates the main scanning direction, which is the direction of movement of carriage 20 (described later), the X direction in the XYZ Cartesian coordinate system indicates the sub-scanning direction, which is the direction perpendicular to the Y direction (main scanning direction) on the XY plane, and the Z direction in the XYZ Cartesian coordinate system indicates the height direction perpendicular to the XY plane.

[0034] Furthermore, in the following explanation, for the sake of convenience, the left side of the paper on which Figure 1 is drawn will be referred to as the left direction and the right side will be referred to as the right direction in the Y direction (main scanning direction), the lower side of the paper on which Figure 1 is drawn will be referred to as the front direction and the upper side will be referred to as the rear direction in the X direction (sub-scanning direction), and the lower side of the paper on which Figure 1 is drawn will be referred to as the down direction and the upper side will be referred to as the up direction in the Z direction (height direction).

[0035] It should be noted that the directions described above are merely defined for the convenience of explanation, and do not in any way limit the manner in which the inkjet printer may be installed, nor do they in any way limit the present invention.

[0036] Reference numeral 10 denotes a so-called flatbed type inkjet printer, and this inkjet printer 10 prints images and the like by ejecting ink from an ink head 22 onto a medium 12 using an inkjet method.

[0037] More specifically, the inkjet printer 10 has a base 14 that is rectangular in the XY plane, an exterior member 16 that is arranged on the base 14 so as to cover the base 14 from above, leaving a predetermined area of ​​space A, a mounting table 18 that is arranged within space A so as to be movable in the X direction (sub-scanning direction) and Z direction and on which the medium 12 is placed, a carriage 20 that is arranged above the mounting table 18 within space A so as to be movable in the Y direction (main scanning direction), an ink head 22 mounted on the carriage 20, and a pointer 100 mounted on the carriage 20.

[0038] Reference numeral 20a denotes a carriage cover that covers the carriage 20, and the ink head 22 and the pointer 100 are mounted on the carriage 20 while covered by the carriage cover 20a.

[0039] As will be described later, the carriage 20 is configured to be movable relative to the mounting table 18 in the Y direction (main scanning direction), the X direction (sub-scanning direction), and the Z direction (height direction).

[0040] Such inkjet printer 10 is equipped with a computer system (not shown), and the user can control the overall operation of inkjet printer 10 through the computer system by operating various controls provided on operation panel 24 located at the top right end of exterior member 16.

[0041] That is, although detailed illustration is omitted, the operation panel 24 is provided with operators that allow the user to perform various operations such as setting operations and input operations related to image printing, as well as a display unit that displays the operation status of the operators.

[0042] Specifically, the display unit displays information related to printing, such as the type of printing, resolution, printing status, and printing area settings.

[0043] Further, as operation devices, for example, a switch for turning on / off the power supply of the inkjet printer 10, input buttons for setting information relating to printing, and the like are arranged.

[0044] Here, the exterior member 16 has a box-like shape with an open bottom, and is provided with an openable and closable cover member 26 at the front portion.

[0045] The exterior member 16 is detachably attached to the base portion 14 at its lower portion.

[0046] More specifically, the inkjet printer 10 has a frame 28 disposed on the base 14 above the mounting table 18 and extending in the Y direction (main scanning direction).

[0047] A guide rail 30 extending along the Y direction (main scanning direction) is provided on the front surface of the frame 28, and the carriage 20 is engaged with this guide rail 30 so as to be slidable in the Y direction (main scanning direction).

[0048] Here, the inkjet printer 10 is configured to allow the carriage 20 to move back and forth along the Y direction (main scanning direction) on the guide rail 30, and includes a left pulley 32 located to the left of the left end of the guide rail 30, a right pulley 34 located to the right of the right end of the guide rail 30, an endless belt 36 wound around the left pulley 32 and the right pulley 34, and a motor 38 connected to the right pulley 34 and rotating the right pulley 34.

[0049] The carriage 20 is fixed to a predetermined location on the belt 36, and when the motor 38 is driven to rotate the right pulley 34, the belt 36 runs between the left pulley 32 and the right pulley 34, causing the carriage 20 fixed to the belt 36 to move in the Y direction (main scanning direction).

[0050] In this embodiment, the ink head 22 is disposed inside the carriage 20 with the nozzles that eject ink toward the medium 12 by ink jet method positioned downward.

[0051] Similarly, in this embodiment, the pointer 100 is disposed on the carriage 20 so as to be able to emit light downward toward the mounting table 18 and the medium 12 .

[0052] The lower portion of the carriage 20 is open and is formed so as not to obstruct the ejection of ink from the nozzles of the ink head 22 toward the medium 12 or the emission of light from the pointer 100 toward the mounting table 18 and the medium 12.

[0053] Next, the inkjet printer 10 is provided with the mounting table 18 on which the medium 12 is placed as described above, and this mounting table 18 is formed of a plate-like body extending along the XY plane.

[0054] Regarding the positional relationship in the Z direction (height direction) between the mounting base 18 and the ink head 22 and pointer 100, the mounting base 18 is positioned below the nozzle of the ink head 22 and at a position below where the downward emitted light from the pointer 100 is irradiated.

[0055] Here, the inkjet printer 10 is equipped with a sub-scanning direction movement mechanism 40 that moves the mounting table 18 in the X direction (sub-scanning direction), and a height direction movement mechanism 42 that moves the mounting table 18 in the Z direction (height direction).

[0056] The sub-scanning direction movement mechanism 40 is housed within the base 14 and includes a right slide rail 44R that extends in the X direction (sub-scanning direction) and is attached to the base 14, a left slide rail (not shown) that extends in the X direction (sub-scanning direction) parallel to the right slide rail 44R and is attached to the base 14, a support member 46 that is slidably engaged with and guided by the right slide rail 44R and the left slide rail and is capable of reciprocating movement in the X direction (sub-scanning direction), and a support member movement motor (not shown) connected to the support member 46.

[0057] The support member 46 is formed in a box shape, and has an opening 46a that opens upward.

[0058] Therefore, according to the sub-scanning direction movement mechanism 40, when the support member movement motor is driven to rotate, the support member 46 is moved in the X direction (sub-scanning direction) along the right slide rail 44R and the left slide rail.

[0059] Next, the above-mentioned height-direction movement mechanism 42 is housed within the support member 46 and is configured to include a plurality of guide posts 48 extending in the Z direction (height direction), a box-shaped mounting platform support case 50 that is slidably engaged with the guide posts 48 and guided by them so as to be able to move back and forth in the Z direction (height direction), and a mounting platform support case movement motor (not shown) connected to the mounting platform support case 50.

[0060] The mounting table 18 is fixed to the top surface of the mounting table support case 50 and is supported by the mounting table support case 50 .

[0061] Therefore, according to the height direction movement mechanism 42, the mounting table support case 50 is moved in the Z direction (height direction) along the guide support posts 48 by driving and rotating the mounting table support case movement motor.

[0062] (II) Detailed Description of the Configuration of the Pointer of the Present Invention

[0063] FIG. 4 is a front view (viewed in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 3) illustrating the configuration of a pointer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0064] In addition, Figure 5(a) shows an explanatory diagram of the configuration of the bottom surface (viewed from arrow C in Figure 4) of the pointer shown in Figure 4, Figure 5(b) shows an explanatory diagram of the configuration of the right side surface (viewed from arrow D in Figure 4) of the pointer shown in Figure 4, and Figure 5(c) shows an explanatory diagram of the configuration of the left side surface (viewed from arrow E in Figure 4) of the pointer shown in Figure 4.

[0065] FIG. 6 is a front view (viewed from arrow B in FIG. 3) illustrating a schematic configuration of an example of how the pointer shown in FIG. 4 is attached to the carriage.

[0066] FIG. 7 is a plan view (viewed in the direction of arrow F in FIG. 6) illustrating a schematic configuration of an example of how the pointer shown in FIG. 4 is attached to the carriage.

[0067] The pointer 100 is composed of an LED substrate 102 having a substantially flat plate shape, an LED 104 having a point light source LED element 104a and a collimator lens 104b and connected to the LED substrate 102 to emit light L, a light emission hole forming member 106 attached to the LED substrate 102 on the emission side of the light L emitted by the LED 104 and provided with a light emission hole 106a which is a circular opening through which the light L is emitted, and an intermediate plate 108 having a substantially flat plate shape and arranged between the LED 104 and the light emission hole 106a on the emission side of the light L emitted by the LED 104 and provided with a light transmission hole 108a which is a circular opening through which the light L passes.

[0068] Reference numeral 110 denotes a connector for connecting the LED board 102 to a computer system (not shown) and a power source (not shown).

[0069] Furthermore, the symbol 112 denotes a fastening screw for fastening and fixing the LED substrate 102 and the light exit hole forming member 106 together by passing the screw shaft 112a through screw holes (not shown) formed in the LED substrate 102 and the light exit hole forming member 106, respectively.

[0070] More specifically, the light emission hole forming member 106 is an approximately plate-like body having an approximately U-shaped configuration, and fastening portion 106d, which is one end of the approximately U-shaped configuration, engages with the right end portion 102b, which is one end of the LED substrate 102, and left end portion 102a, which is the other end of the LED substrate 102, engages with the left wall portion 106f, which is the other end of the approximately U-shaped configuration.

[0071] Specifically, the light exit hole forming member 106 is configured to have a lower bottom portion 106b in which the light exit hole 106a is formed, a right side wall portion 106c that rises from the right end portion of the lower bottom portion 106b, a fastening portion 106d that extends to the right from the upper end portion of the right side wall portion 106c along the Y direction in the XY plane and has a screw hole (not shown) through which the screw shaft 112 of the fastening screw 112 passes, and a left side wall portion 106f that rises from the left end portion of the lower bottom portion 106b and has a recess 106e formed at its upper end.

[0072] In addition, the left end 102a of the LED substrate 102 is formed narrower in the X direction than other areas including the right end 102b, and is fitted into a recess 106e formed in the left side wall 106f of the light emission hole forming member 106.

[0073] That is, the LED substrate 102 and the light exit hole forming member 106 are fixed by fastening the right end portion 102b of the LED substrate 102 to the fastening portion 106d of the light exit hole forming member 106 with a fastening screw, and also fixed by fitting the left end portion 102a of the LED substrate 102 into a recess 106e formed in the left wall portion 106f of the light exit hole forming member 106, so that the two are integrally constructed.

[0074] Furthermore, the intermediate plate 108 is fixed by engaging both ends of the intermediate plate 108 with opposing portions of the approximately U-shaped light exit hole forming member 106, which is an approximately U-shaped plate.

[0075] Specifically, the intermediate plate 108 is fixedly attached to the light exit hole forming member 106 by having one end, the right end 108b, engaged with the right side wall 106c of the light exit hole forming member 106 and the other end, the left end 108c, engaged with the left side wall 106f of the light exit hole forming member 106.

[0076] Here, the light exit hole 106a and the light passing hole 108a are aligned and arranged so that the light L emitted by the LED 104 can pass through each of them.

[0077] Regarding the circular diameter φA of the light exit hole 106a and the circular diameter φB of the light passing hole 108a, it is preferable that the diameter φA of the light exit hole 106a is smaller than the diameter φB of the light passing hole 108a, that is, "diameter φA < diameter φB".

[0078] By making the diameter φA < the diameter φB, the size of the irradiation area of ​​the light L emitted from the LED 104, i.e., the size of the spot light, is determined depending on the diameter φA. However, by passing the light L through the light passage hole 108a and making it enter the light emission hole 106a, the boundary between the spot light and other areas can be made clearer, and halation can also be prevented.

[0079] The pointer 100 described above is mounted at a predetermined position on the carriage 20 by, for example, fixing the LED substrate 102, the light emission hole forming member 106, etc. to brackets 20b, 20c provided at predetermined positions on the carriage 20 by welding or the like, as shown in Figures 6 and 7.

[0080] The method of mounting the pointer 100 on the carriage 20 is not limited to the method described above, and the pointer 100 may be attached to a bracket using various fastening devices such as screws and bolts, or may be attached directly to the wall of the carriage 20 without providing a structure such as brackets 20b and 20c. The pointer 100 may be attached to the carriage 20 by an appropriate method depending on the design conditions and usage conditions.

[0081] Here, examples of specific dimensions of the pointer 100 include the following values.

[0082] The distance g1 between the top of the light emitting surface of the LED 104 (the light emitting end of the collimator lens 104a) and the upper surface of the intermediate plate 108 is, for example, 1 mm to 3 mm.

[0083] The distance g2 between the lower surface of the intermediate plate 108 and the upper surface of the lower bottom portion 106b of the light exit hole forming member 106 is, for example, 3 mm to 10 mm.

[0084] The distance g3 between the front surface of the pointer 100 and the front surface of the carriage 20 is, for example, 10 mm.

[0085] The diameter φA of the light exit hole 106a formed in the light exit hole forming member 106 is, for example, 0.8 mm to 1.0 mm.

[0086] The diameter φB of the light transmitting hole 108a provided in the intermediate plate 108 is, for example, 1.2 mm to 1.3 mm.

[0087] (III) Explanation of the positioning technique using a pointer according to the present invention

[0088] FIG. 8 is a front view (viewed from arrow B in FIG. 3) illustrating a schematic configuration of an example of how to use the pointer shown in FIG.

[0089] FIG. 9 is a front view (viewed from arrow B in FIG. 3) illustrating a schematic configuration of an example of how to use the pointer shown in FIG.

[0090] FIG. 10 is a front view (viewed from arrow B in FIG. 3) illustrating a schematic configuration of an example of how to use the pointer shown in FIG.

[0091] Here, when aligning the medium 12 and the mounting table 18 using light L emitted from the pointer 100 mounted on the inkjet printer 10, for example, when printing multiple media 12 continuously with a length (thickness) H1 in the Z direction (height direction) of 10 mm to 30 mm or more, as shown in Figure 8, the distance H2 between the bottom end of the carriage 20 and the top end of the medium 12 is set to 1 mm to 2 mm, and alignment is performed by irradiating light L onto a reference point for alignment (not shown) provided on the mounting table 18, and printing on the medium 12 is performed by ejecting ink from the nozzles of the ink head 22 of the inkjet printer 10 toward the medium 12 in the height position relationship between the bottom end of the carriage 20 and the top end of the medium 12 in the aligned state.

[0092] Alternatively, when aligning the medium 12 or the mounting table 18 using light L emitted from the pointer 100 mounted on the inkjet printer 10, for example, when printing on a single medium 12, as shown in Figure 9, the distance H3 between the bottom end of the carriage 20 and the top end of the medium 12 is set to 10 mm to 30 mm, and alignment is performed by irradiating light L onto a reference point for alignment (not shown) provided on the medium 12.

[0093] Then, as shown in Figure 10, in order to print on the medium 12 using the inkjet printer 10, the distance H4 between the lower end of the carriage 20 and the upper end of the medium 12 is set to 1 mm to 2 mm to adjust the height position for printing, and ink is ejected from the nozzles of the ink head 22 of the inkjet printer 10 toward the medium 12 to print on the medium 12.

[0094] (IV) Explanation of the effects of the pointer according to the present invention and the inkjet printer equipped with said pointer

[0095] As explained above, the pointer 100 according to the present invention does not have various components arranged inside a case having an approximately rectangular cylindrical shape as in the conventional technology described above, and therefore the number of components can be significantly reduced compared to the conventional technology described above, and the simple configuration also simplifies the assembly process.

[0096] Furthermore, the pointer 100 of the present invention can be made smaller because the number of components is significantly reduced compared to the conventional technology described above.Furthermore, since it can be mounted on the carriage 20 of the inkjet printer 10 by any suitable method, it can be easily attached to a carriage 20 that does not have much space to spare. (V) Description of Other Embodiments and Modifications

[0097] The above-described embodiments are merely examples, and the present invention can be embodied in various other forms. That is, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various omissions, substitutions, modifications, etc. can be made within the scope of the gist of the present invention.

[0098] For example, the above-described embodiment may be modified as shown in the following (V-1) to (V-9).

[0099] (V-1) In the above embodiment, the case where the mounting table 18 is moved relative to the carriage 20 in the X direction (sub-scanning direction) has been described, but it goes without saying that this is not limited to this. For example, the mounting table 18 may be fixed in the X direction (sub-scanning direction), and the carriage 20 may be configured to be movable relative to the mounting table 18 in the Y direction (main scanning direction) and the X direction (sub-scanning direction).

[0100] (V-2) In the above embodiment, the case where the mounting table 18 is moved relative to the carriage 20 in the Z direction (height scanning direction) has been described, but it goes without saying that this is not limited to this. For example, the mounting table 18 may be fixedly installed in the Z direction (height scanning direction), and the carriage 20 may be configured to be movable relative to the mounting table 18 in the Z direction (height scanning direction).

[0101] (V-3) In the above embodiment, the inkjet printer has been described as a so-called flatbed type inkjet printer 10, but it goes without saying that the invention is not limited to this. Other inkjet printers include so-called paper-move type inkjet printers, such as roll-to-roll type inkjet printers that print while transporting a rolled medium in the X direction (sub-scanning direction), and the present invention may also be applied to such inkjet printers.

[0102] (V-4) In the above-described embodiment, the light passing hole 108a is provided between the LED 104 and the light exit hole 106a, but of course this is not limited to this, and depending on design conditions, etc., the light passing hole 108a located between the LED 104 and the light exit hole 106a may not be provided to reduce the number of parts and costs. Note that if the light passing hole 108a is not provided, it is of course not necessary to provide the intermediate plate 108.

[0103] (V-5) In the above-described embodiment, the pointer 100 is provided with a single light passing hole 108a, but of course this is not limited to this. Depending on design conditions, etc., a plurality of light passing holes may be provided between the LED 104 and the light exit hole 106a to further enhance clarity of the boundary between the spot light and other areas and to more reliably prevent halation.

[0104] (V-6) In the above embodiment, detailed explanation of the color of the light L emitted from the pointer 100 is omitted, but an appropriate color such as white, red, or blue may be selected arbitrarily depending on design conditions, etc.

[0105] (V-7) In the above embodiment, the case where the pointer 100 is mounted on the inkjet printer 10 has been described, but the device on which the pointer 100 is mounted is not limited to an inkjet printer. The pointer 100 may be mounted on various devices, including, in addition to inkjet printers, various processing devices such as a cutting device that cuts a medium (workpiece) into a desired shape, a cutting device that mills a medium (workpiece) into a desired shape, a foil stamping device that transfers foil to a medium (workpiece), or a three-dimensional modeling device that creates a three-dimensional object of a desired shape.

[0106] (V-8) In the above embodiment, the pointer 100 is mounted on the carriage 20 of the inkjet printer 10, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the pointer 100 may be attached to a component other than the carriage 20, such as the frame 28 of the inkjet printer 10.

[0107] (V-9) It goes without saying that the above-described embodiment and the various other embodiments and modifications shown in (V-1) to (V-8) above may be combined as appropriate. [Industrial Applicability]

[0108] The pointer according to the present invention is suitable for use in various devices such as inkjet printers that perform printing by ejecting ink onto a medium using an inkjet method.

[0109] Furthermore, by incorporating the pointer of the present invention, the ink jet printer of the present invention can easily align the origin position at the start of printing. [Explanation of symbols]

[0110] 10. Inkjet printer 12 Medium 14 Base 16 Exterior materials 18 Mounting table 20 carriages 20a Carriage cover 20b bracket 20c bracket 22 Ink head 24 Operation Panel 26 Cover member 28 frames 30 guide rail 32 Left pulley 34 Right pulley 36 Belt 38 Motor 40 Sub-scanning direction movement mechanism 42 Height movement mechanism 44R right slide rail 46 Support member 46a opening 48 Guide Post 50 Mounting table support case 100 Pointer 102 LED board 102a Left end (other end) 102b Right end (one end) 104 LED 104a Point light source LED element 104b Collimator lens 106 Light exit hole forming member 106a Light exit hole 106b Lower bottom 106c Right side wall 106d Fastening part (one end) 106e recess 106f Left side wall (other end) 108 Intermediate plate 108a Light passage hole 108b Right end (one end) 108c Left end (other end) 110 Connector 112 Fastening screw 112a screw shaft φA: Diameter of the light exit hole φB Diameter of light passing hole A Space L light

Claims

1. An LED that emits light; an LED substrate to which the LEDs are connected; a light exit hole forming member attached to the LED board on the side where the light is emitted by the LED, and having a light exit hole formed therein through which the light emitted from the LED exits; and the light exit hole forming member is a substantially plate-like body having a substantially U-shape, and is configured to have a lower bottom portion in which the light exit hole is formed, one wall portion formed by rising from one end of the lower bottom portion, a fastening portion extending from the upper end of the one wall portion in parallel with the lower bottom portion toward the outside of the substantially U-shape and having a screw hole formed therein for passing a screw shaft of a fastening screw, and the other wall portion formed by rising from the other end of the lower bottom portion and having a recess formed at its upper end, the LED substrate has a generally flat plate shape, one end of the generally flat plate shape is formed with a screw hole through which the screw shaft of the fastening screw passes, and the other end of the generally flat plate shape is formed narrower than the area of ​​the one end of the generally flat plate shape so as to fit into the recess; The LED substrate and the light exit hole forming member are fixed by inserting the fastening screw into the screw hole formed in one end of the LED substrate and the screw hole formed in the fastening portion of the light exit hole forming member, and the other end of the LED substrate is fixed by fitting into the recess of the light exit hole forming member, thereby forming the LED substrate and the light exit hole forming member as a single unit. A pointer characterized by:

2. The pointer of claim 1 further comprising: a light passing hole between the LED and the light exit hole, through which the light emitted from the LED passes; A pointer comprising:

3. 3. The pointer according to claim 2, The light passing hole is formed in an intermediate plate having a substantially flat plate shape and disposed between the LED and the light exit hole forming member. A pointer characterized by:

4. 4. The pointer according to claim 3, The intermediate plate has one end and the other end of a substantially flat plate shape engaged with the one wall portion and the other wall portion facing each other in the substantially U-shape of the light exit hole forming member. A pointer characterized by:

5. 5. The pointer according to claim 2, 3 or 4, The diameter φA of the light exit hole and the diameter φB of the light passing hole are such that "diameter φA<diameter φB". A pointer characterized by:

6. 6. The pointer according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, The LED is configured to include a point light source LED element and a collimator lens. A pointer characterized by:

7. In an inkjet printer that prints on a medium by ejecting ink from an ink head using an inkjet method, a mounting table on which the medium is placed; a pointer disposed above the mounting table; a carriage disposed above the mounting table; an ink head mounted on the carriage; and The pointer is a pointer according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. An inkjet printer characterized by:

8. 8. The inkjet printer according to claim 7, The pointer is mounted on the carriage. An inkjet printer characterized by:

9. 9. The inkjet printer according to claim 7, The carriage is movable relative to the stage. An inkjet printer characterized by:

Images