Conveying device and recording device

Abstract

A conveying apparatus and a recording apparatus are provided, in which a detection mechanism for detecting a moving amount of a conveying belt is used as a unit for detecting a magnitude of tension of the conveying belt. The conveying apparatus includes: a conveying belt that alternately repeats a conveying operation of a medium and a non-conveying operation of the medium; a detection mechanism that detects a moving amount of the conveying belt in the conveying operation; and a control section that judges the magnitude of tension of the conveying belt based on a vibration state of the conveying belt at the end of the conveying operation detected by the detection mechanism.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a conveying device and a recording device. Background Technology

[0002] Conventionally, as shown in Patent Document 1, printing apparatuses are known that include a conveyor belt capable of supporting a medium, a drive roller for rotating the conveyor belt, and a tension measuring unit for measuring the tension of the conveyor belt. The tension measuring unit is a microphone capable of detecting sound waves generated by vibrating the conveyor belt with a hammer.

[0003] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-154071

[0004] However, the printing apparatus described in Patent Document 1 requires an additional tension measuring unit for measuring the tension of the conveyor belt, which complicates the structure of the printing apparatus. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The conveying device includes: a conveyor belt that alternately and repeatedly performs a conveying action of conveying a medium and a non-conveying action of not conveying the medium; a detection mechanism that detects the amount of movement of the conveyor belt during the conveying action; and a control unit that can determine the tension of the conveyor belt based on the vibration state of the conveyor belt at the end of the conveying action, as detected by the detection mechanism.

[0006] The conveying device includes: a conveyor belt that alternately and repeatedly performs a conveying action of conveying a medium and a non-conveying action of not conveying the medium; a detection mechanism that detects the amount of movement of the conveyor belt during the conveying action; a drive roller disposed downstream of the detection mechanism in the conveying direction of conveying the medium, causing the conveyor belt to rotate and move; and a control unit that can determine the tension of the conveyor belt based on the difference between the target speed of the conveyor belt and the detection speed of the conveyor belt detected by the detection mechanism.

[0007] The recording device includes: a recording unit capable of recording on a medium; a conveyor belt that alternately and repeatedly performs a conveying action of conveying the medium and a non-conveying action of not conveying the medium; a detection mechanism that detects the amount of movement of the conveyor belt during the conveying action; and a control unit capable of determining the tension of the conveyor belt based on the vibration state of the conveyor belt at the end of the conveying action, as detected by the detection mechanism.

[0008] The recording device includes: a recording unit capable of recording on a medium; a conveyor belt that alternately and repeatedly performs a conveying action of conveying the medium and a non-conveying action of not conveying the medium; a detection mechanism that detects the amount of movement of the conveyor belt during the conveying action; a drive roller disposed downstream of the detection mechanism in the conveying direction of conveying the medium, causing the conveyor belt to rotate and move; and a control unit capable of determining the tension of the conveyor belt based on the difference between the target speed of the conveyor belt and the detection speed of the conveyor belt detected by the detection mechanism. Attached Figure Description

[0009] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the recording device according to the first embodiment.

[0010] Figure 2 This is a top view showing a portion of the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment.

[0011] Figure 3 This is a perspective view showing the configuration of the detection mechanism according to the first embodiment.

[0012] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the detection mechanism according to the first embodiment.

[0013] Figure 5 This is a block diagram illustrating the control configuration of the recording device according to the first embodiment.

[0014] Figure 6 This is a coordinate graph showing an example of the detection results of the tension of the conveyor belt according to the first embodiment.

[0015] Figure 7A This is a flowchart illustrating the control method of the recording device according to the first embodiment.

[0016] Figure 7B This is a flowchart illustrating the control method of the recording device according to the first embodiment.

[0017] Figure 8 This is a coordinate graph showing an example of the detection results of the tension of the conveyor belt according to the second embodiment.

[0018] Figure 9A This is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the testing mechanism according to the third embodiment.

[0019] Figure 9B This is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the testing mechanism according to the third embodiment.

[0020] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0021] 1, 1A…Control unit, 2…Interface unit, 3…CPU, 4…Storage unit, 5…Control circuit, 6…Input device, 7…Detector group, 10…Media supply unit, 20…Media conveying unit, 23…Conveyor belt, 23a…Surface, 23b…Back side, 24…Rotating roller, 25…Drive roller, 27…Drying unit, 30…Media recovery unit, 40…Recording unit, 42…Head unit, 43…Carriage, 45…Carriage moving part, 50…Cleaning unit, 60…Media contact part, 70, 70A…Detection mechanism, 71…Base, 72…Guide rail, 74… Switching unit, 75… Scale unit, 76… Return unit, 77… Rod moving unit, 78… Moving rod, 80… Holding unit, 81… Holding base plate, 82… Guide block, 83… Elastic member, 84… Strong magnetic body, 85… Reading unit, 88… Adsorption unit, 100… Recording device, 110, 110A, 110B… Conveying device, 120… Rotary encoder, 121… Disk unit, 121a… Shaft, 121b… Outer peripheral surface, 122… Scale, 123… Reading unit, 123a… Light-emitting unit, 123b… Light-receiving unit, M… Medium. Detailed Implementation

[0022] 1. First Implementation Method

[0023] First, the configuration of the recording device 100 will be described. The recording device 100 of this embodiment is an inkjet printer that prints images or the like onto a medium M.

[0024] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the recording device 100 includes a conveying device 110 and a recording unit 40. The conveying device 110 includes a media conveying unit 20 and a detection mechanism 70. The recording device 100 also includes a media contact unit 60, a drying unit 27, a cleaning unit 50, etc. The recording device 100 includes a control unit 1 that controls these parts or mechanisms / units. All parts of the recording device 100 are mounted on a frame unit 90.

[0025] The media conveying unit 20 is a component that conveys the medium M in the conveying direction. The media conveying unit 20 includes a media supply unit 10, a conveying roller 22, a conveyor belt 23, a rotating roller 24, a drive roller 25, conveying rollers 26 and 28, and a media recovery unit 30.

[0026] It should be noted that in this embodiment, an XYZ coordinate system in which the X, Y, and Z axes are orthogonal is used to describe each part of the recording device 100. The direction along the X-axis is designated as the X direction, the direction along the Y-axis as the Y direction, and the direction along the Z-axis as the Z direction. Furthermore, the tip of the arrow indicating the direction is designated as the + direction, and the base of the arrow indicating the direction is designated as the - direction. The direction in which gravity acts on the recording device 100 is designated as the -Z direction, the direction along the transport medium M in the recording section 40 is designated as the X direction, and the width direction of the medium M, which intersects both the Z and X directions, is designated as the Y direction. Additionally, the positional relationship along the transport direction of the medium M or the movement direction of the conveyor belt 23 is also referred to as the "upstream side" and "downstream side."

[0027] The media supply unit 10 is a component that supplies the medium M, to which an image is to be formed, to the recording unit 40. The medium M can be, for example, a fabric such as cotton, wool, or polyester fiber. The media supply unit 10 has a supply shaft 11 and a bearing 12. The supply shaft 11 is formed in a cylindrical or cylindrical shape and is rotatable in the circumferential direction. A strip of medium M is wound onto the supply shaft 11. The supply shaft 11 is detachably mounted to the bearing 12. Thus, the medium M, pre-wound onto the supply shaft 11, can be mounted together with the supply shaft 11 onto the bearing 12.

[0028] The bearing portion 12 rotatably supports both ends of the supply shaft portion 11 in the axial direction. The media supply portion 10 has a rotary drive portion (not shown) that drives the supply shaft portion 11 to rotate. The rotary drive portion rotates the supply shaft portion 11 in the direction of conveying the media M. The operation of the rotary drive portion is controlled by the control portion 1. The conveyor roller 22 relays the media M from the media supply portion 10 to the conveyor belt 23.

[0029] The conveyor belt 23 is held between at least two rollers that rotate it, and the medium M is conveyed in the conveying direction (+X direction) by the rotational movement of the conveyor belt 23. Specifically, the two ends of the belt-like material of the conveyor belt 23 are connected to form a loop, and it is wound between the rotating roller 24 and the drive roller 25. The conveyor belt 23 is held in a state where the portion between the rotating roller 24 and the drive roller 25 is horizontal, under a predetermined tension. An adhesive layer 29 for bonding the medium M is provided on the surface 23a (support surface) of the conveyor belt 23. The conveyor belt 23 is supplied from the conveyor roller 22, and the medium M, which is adhered to the adhesive layer 29, is supported (held) by the medium-adhesive portion 60 described later.

[0030] The rotating roller 24 and the drive roller 25 support the back surface 23b (inner circumferential surface) of the conveyor belt 23. It should be noted that the conveyor belt 23 may also be supported by a roller or other support component between the rotating roller 24 and the drive roller 25.

[0031] The drive roller 25 is a drive unit that rotates the conveyor belt 23, and power is transmitted directly or indirectly from a motor (not shown) that drives the drive roller 25 to rotate. The drive roller 25 is positioned downstream of the recording unit 40 in the conveying direction of the medium M, and the rotary roller 24 is positioned upstream of the recording unit 40. When the drive roller 25 is driven to rotate, the conveyor belt 23 rotates along with the drive roller 25, and the rotary roller 24 rotates as the conveyor belt 23 rotates. Due to the rotation of the conveyor belt 23, the medium M supported by the conveyor belt 23 is conveyed in the conveying direction, and an image is formed on the medium M by the recording unit 40, which will be described later.

[0032] Furthermore, the drive roller 25 is controlled to perform intermittent conveying on the conveyor belt 23. That is, the conveyor belt 23 can alternately and repeatedly perform conveying actions that convey the medium M in the conveying direction and non-conveying actions that do not convey the medium M.

[0033] In this embodiment, the medium M is supported on the side of the conveyor belt 23 surface 23a opposite to the recording unit 40 (+Z direction side), and the medium M is conveyed together with the conveyor belt 23 from the rotating roller 24 side to the drive roller 25 side. Conversely, on the side of the conveyor belt 23 surface 23a opposite to the cleaning unit 50 (-Z direction side), only the conveyor belt 23 moves from the drive roller 25 side to the rotating roller 24 side. It should be noted that while the conveyor belt 23 is described as having an adhesive layer 29 for adhering the medium M, it is not limited to this. For example, an electrostatic adsorption belt could be used, where the medium M is adsorbed onto the conveyor belt 23 due to static electricity, and various adsorption force detection mechanisms, such as vacuum suction or intermolecular forces, could be employed.

[0034] The conveyor roller 26 peels the medium M with the image formed from the adhesive layer 29 of the conveyor belt 23. The conveyor rollers 26 and 28 relay the medium M from the conveyor belt 23 to the medium recovery section 30.

[0035] The media recovery unit 30 recovers the media M conveyed by the media conveying unit 20. The media recovery unit 30 has a winding shaft 31 and a bearing 32. The winding shaft 31 is formed in a cylindrical or cylindrical shape and is configured to rotate in the circumferential direction. In the winding shaft 31, the strip-shaped media M is wound into a roll. The winding shaft 31 is detachably mounted to the bearing 32. Thus, the media M wound on the winding shaft 31 can be removed together with the winding shaft 31.

[0036] The bearing portion 32 rotatably supports both ends of the winding shaft portion 31 in the axial direction. The medium recovery portion 30 has a rotation drive portion (not shown) that drives the winding shaft portion 31 to rotate. The rotation drive portion rotates the winding shaft portion 31 in the direction of winding the medium M. The operation of the rotation drive portion is controlled by the control portion 1.

[0037] Next, the medium contact part 60, the detection mechanism 70, the recording part 40, the drying unit 27, and the cleaning unit 50 provided along the medium conveying part 20 will be described.

[0038] The media-adhering part 60 is a component that ensures the media M adheres tightly to the conveyor belt 23. The media-adhering part 60 is located upstream of the recording part 40 (on the -X direction side). The media-adhering part 60 includes a pressing roller 61, a pressing roller drive part 62, and a roller support part 63. The pressing roller 61 is formed in a cylindrical or cylindrical shape and is rotatably arranged in the circumferential direction. The pressing roller 61 can rotate around its axis and is arranged such that its axis direction intersects the conveying direction. The roller support part 63 is located on the back side 23b of the conveyor belt 23, opposite the pressing roller 61 and separated from the conveyor belt 23.

[0039] The pressing roller drive unit 62 presses the pressing roller 61 towards the -Z direction while moving the pressing roller 61 in the conveying direction (+X direction) and in the opposite direction (-X direction). The medium M, which overlaps with the conveyor belt 23, is pressed by the conveyor belt 23 between the pressing roller 61 and the roller support unit 63. As a result, the medium M can be reliably bonded to the adhesive layer 29 provided on the surface 23a of the conveyor belt 23, and the floating of the medium M on the conveyor belt 23 can be prevented.

[0040] The detection mechanism 70 is disposed between the medium-adhering part 60 and the recording part 40. The detection mechanism 70 detects the amount of movement of the conveyor belt 23 during the conveying operation of the conveying medium M. It should be noted that the configuration of the detection mechanism 70 will be described later.

[0041] The recording unit 40 is a component positioned above (on the +Z direction side) the conveyor belt 23 and used for printing (recording) on ​​a medium M supported on the surface 23a of the conveyor belt 23. The recording unit 40 includes a head unit 42, a carriage 43 mounted on the head unit 42, and a carriage moving part 45 that moves the carriage 43 in the width direction (along the Y-axis) of the medium M, which intersects the conveying direction. In this embodiment, the head unit 42 is composed of four sub-units 42a, each of which also includes multiple nozzles (not shown) that eject ink (e.g., yellow, cyan, magenta, black, etc.) supplied by an ink supply unit (not shown) to the medium M supported by the conveyor belt 23 as droplets.

[0042] The carriage moving part 45 is disposed above the conveyor belt 23 (on the +Z direction side). The carriage moving part 45 has a pair of guide rails 45a and 45b extending in the direction along the Y-axis. The guide rails 45a and 45b are mounted between frame parts 90a and 90b that are vertically disposed on the outer side of the conveyor belt 23. The head unit 42 is supported on the guide rails 45a and 45b in a state where it can reciprocate along the Y-axis direction together with the carriage 43.

[0043] The carriage moving part 45 includes a moving mechanism and a power source (not shown). The moving mechanism can be, for example, a mechanism combining a ball screw and a ball nut, or a linear guide mechanism. The carriage moving part 45 also includes a motor (not shown) as a power source for moving the carriage 43 along the guide rails 45a and 45b. Various types of motors can be used, such as stepper motors, servo motors, and linear motors. When the motor is driven under the control of the control unit 1, the head unit 42 moves together with the carriage 43 in the direction along the Y-axis.

[0044] A drying unit 27 is disposed between the conveyor roller 26 and the conveyor roller 28. The drying unit 27 is a component that dries the ink sprayed onto the medium M. The drying unit 27 includes, for example, an IR heater, which can dry the ink sprayed onto the medium M in a short time by driving the IR heater. As a result, the strip-shaped medium M on which images or the like are formed can be wound onto the winding shaft 31.

[0045] The cleaning unit 50 is located below the conveyor belt 23 and is arranged between the rotating roller 24 and the drive roller 25 along the X-axis. The cleaning unit 50 has a cleaning section 51, a pressing section 52, and a moving section 53. The moving section 53 moves the cleaning unit 50 integrally along the ground 99 and fixes it to a predetermined position.

[0046] The pressing part 52 is, for example, a lifting device consisting of a cylinder 56 and a ball bushing 57, which is a component that brings the cleaning part 51 located on its upper part into contact with the surface 23a of the conveyor belt 23. The cleaning part 51 cleans the surface 23a (support surface) of the conveyor belt 23, which moves from the drive roller 25 toward the rotating roller 24, from below (in the -Z direction).

[0047] The cleaning unit 51 includes a cleaning tank 54, a cleaning roller 58, and a scraper 55. The cleaning tank 54 is a tank for storing cleaning fluid for cleaning ink or foreign matter adhering to the surface 23a of the conveyor belt 23. The cleaning roller 58 and the scraper 55 are disposed inside the cleaning tank 54. As the cleaning fluid, water or a water-soluble solvent (such as an aqueous alcohol solution) can be used, and surfactants or defoamers can be added as needed.

[0048] As the cleaning roller 58 rotates, cleaning fluid is supplied to the surface 23a of the conveyor belt 23, and the cleaning roller 58 and the conveyor belt 23 slide. As a result, ink or fibers of the fabric that serve as the medium M adhering to the conveyor belt 23 are removed by the cleaning roller 58.

[0049] The scraper 55 is formed of a flexible material, such as silicone rubber. The scraper 55 is positioned downstream of the cleaning roller 58 in the conveying direction of the conveyor belt 23. By sliding between the conveyor belt 23 and the scraper 55, the cleaning fluid remaining on the surface 23a of the conveyor belt 23 is removed.

[0050] Next, the composition of the testing organization 70 will be explained.

[0051] like Figure 2 , Figure 3 as well as Figure 4 ( Figure 4 for Figure 2 As shown in the AA cross-sectional view, the detection mechanism 70 is provided on the upstream side of the recording unit 40, and is provided at either end along the width direction (along the Y-axis direction) of the conveyor belt 23. In this embodiment, the detection mechanism 70 is provided on the +Y direction side of the conveyor belt 23. The detection mechanism 70 includes: a cuboid base 71 that extends along the conveying direction of the medium M, a scale adhesive part 73 provided on the base 71, a holding unit 80 that is provided on the base 71 and moves along a guide rail 72 that extends in the direction along the X-axis, and a return part 76 that moves the holding unit 80 upstream in the conveying direction, etc.

[0052] A scale attachment 73 is mounted between two vertically arranged columns 73a and 73b at both ends of the base 71 along its long side (along the X-axis). The scale attachment 73 has a protrusion that projects in an eave-like shape in the -Y direction, a portion of which overlaps with the conveyor belt 23 when viewed from the +Z direction. A scale portion 75 is provided on the lower surface (the surface on the -Z direction side) of the protrusion of the scale attachment 73 along the conveying direction of the medium M. A scale is formed on the scale portion 75 along the X-axis. In this embodiment, the scale portion 75 forms a magnetic scale with alternating magnets of different polarities.

[0053] The gripping unit 80 grips the conveyor belt 23 upstream of the recording unit 40 in the conveying direction. Here, it is assumed that the drive roller 25 is positioned upstream of the recording unit 40 in the conveying direction of the medium M, and the rotating roller 24 is positioned downstream of the recording unit 40. In this state, if the drive roller 25 is rotated to move the gripping unit 80 in the gripping state together with the conveyor belt 23 in the conveying direction, slack may occur on the conveyor belt 23 between the drive roller 25 and the gripping unit 80 due to the elasticity of the conveyor belt 23. In contrast, in this embodiment, the drive roller 25 is positioned downstream of the recording unit 40 in the conveying direction of the medium M, and the rotating roller 24 is positioned upstream of the recording unit 40. Therefore, the traction force generated by the drive roller 25 acts on the portion of the conveyor belt 23 that moves upward. In this embodiment, the recording unit 40 is positioned between the holding unit 80 and the drive roller 25 in the rotational movement direction of the conveyor belt 23, thus mitigating the effects of slack in the conveyor belt 23 of the recording unit 40. Consequently, the conveying accuracy of the medium M or the quality of the image formed on the medium is improved.

[0054] The holding unit 80 includes a holding base plate 81, a guide block 82, and a reading section 85 for reading a magnetic scale 75. The holding base plate 81 is formed into a rectangular plate that extends along the width direction (along the Y-axis) of the conveyor belt 23. The end 81c of the holding base plate 81 on the -Y direction side is approximately aligned with the side wall 73c of the scale adhesive section 73 on the -Y direction side when viewed from the -X direction, and overlaps with the conveyor belt 23. The end 81d of the holding base plate 81 on the +Y direction side protrudes further in the +Y direction than the side wall 71d of the base 71 on the +Y direction side when viewed from the -X direction. The guide block 82 is provided on the bottom surface (the surface on the -Z direction side) of the holding base plate 81. A concave groove that opens towards the -Z direction side is formed in the guide block 82, mimicking the shape of a convexly protruding guide rail 72. The guide block 82 engages with the guide rail 72, thereby enabling the holding unit 80 to reciprocate along the conveying direction (along the X-axis).

[0055] At least a portion of the holding unit 80 is composed of an elastic member 83. Specifically, the elastic member 83 is provided on the upper surface (+Z direction side) of the holding substrate 81. The elastic member 83 is formed into a rectangular plate shape shorter than the holding substrate 81. The +Y direction side end 83d of the elastic member 83 engages with the holding substrate 81 approximately at its center. The -Y direction side end 83c of the elastic member 83 is approximately aligned with the -Y direction side end 81c of the holding substrate 81 when viewed from the -X direction. The end 81c of the holding substrate 81 and the end 83c of the elastic member 83 have a gap slightly wider than the thickness of the conveyor belt 23. The holding unit 80 is configured to clamp the conveyor belt 23 between the end 81c of the holding substrate 81 and the end 83c of the elastic member 83 by the elastic force of the elastic member 83. The elastic member 83 is preferably carbon fiber or a composite material including carbon fiber. Carbon fiber is lighter than metal materials and has superior strength, elastic modulus, or wear resistance, thus ensuring the elasticity and strength required by the elastic member 83 of the holding unit 80.

[0056] The holding unit 80 is configured to move integrally with the reading unit 85, and its state can be changed to a holding state in which it holds the conveyor belt 23 and moves with the conveyor belt 23, and a non-holding state in which it does not hold the conveyor belt 23. Specifically, the holding unit 80 has a strong magnetic body 84. The strong magnetic body 84 is provided on the upper surface (the surface on the +Z direction side) of the elastic member 83 that does not overlap with the conveyor belt 23 when viewed from above in the +Z direction. Iron, nickel, cobalt, etc., can be used as the strong magnetic body 84.

[0057] Furthermore, a switching section 74 is provided on the lower surface of the holding substrate 81 of the holding unit 80, opposite to the strong magnetic body 84, to switch the holding unit 80 to a holding state and a non-holding state. The switching section 74 includes an electromagnet, and the strong magnetic body 84 is attracted to the switching section 74 (electromagnet) side by the magnetic force generated when current flows through the electromagnet. At this time, the elastic member 83 elastically deforms towards the holding substrate 81 side, and the conveyor belt 23 is held between the holding substrate 81 and the elastic member 83 by this elastic force. As a result, the state of the holding unit 80 changes from a non-holding state to a holding state. In addition, when the current flowing through the electromagnet is blocked, the state of the holding unit 80 changes from a holding state to a non-holding state. Therefore, the switching section 74 has the function of switching the holding unit 80 from one holding state to the other using the elasticity of the elastic member 83. The holding unit 80 changes state using a simple configuration of an electromagnet and a strong magnetic body 84 in the switching unit 74, thus enabling miniaturization of both the switching unit 74 and the holding unit 80. It should be noted that the greater the current flowing through the electromagnet, the greater the magnetic force generated by the electromagnet. Therefore, the force (holding force) with which the holding unit 80 holds the conveyor belt 23 when in the holding state can be changed by adjusting the current flowing through the electromagnet. The magnitude of the current flowing through the electromagnet can be controlled by the control unit 1. That is, the control unit 1 can control the force with which the holding unit 80 holds the conveyor belt 23.

[0058] A reading section 85 is provided on the upper surface of the end portion 83c of the elastic member 83, opposite to the scale portion 75. The reading section 85 includes an element that converts changes in the magnetic field into an electrical signal (e.g., a Hall element or an MR element), and detects the amount of relative movement with respect to the scale portion 75. In this embodiment, the reading section 85 is provided on a pedestal for close proximity to the scale portion 75. The reading section 85 is configured to move integrally with the gripping unit 80, so that when the gripping unit 80 in the gripping state moves together with the conveyor belt 23, the amount of movement of the conveyor belt 23 can be detected.

[0059] The return section 76 is a component that moves the non-gripping gripping unit 80 in the opposite direction to the conveying direction. The return section 76 includes a moving rod 78 and a rod moving part 77 that reciprocates the moving rod 78 along the conveying direction. The rod moving part 77 is formed into a cuboid shape that extends in the conveying direction and is fixed to the side wall 71d on the +Y direction side of the base 71. Recessed guide grooves extending in the conveying direction are formed on the upper surface (the surface on the +Z direction side) and the lower surface (the surface on the -Z direction side) of the rod moving part 77.

[0060] The moving rod 78 has a pedestal 78a with a convex protrusion mimicking the shape of a guide groove, and a long handle 78b extending from the pedestal 78a in the vertical direction (+Z direction). The moving rod 78 is configured to reciprocate along the guide groove of the rod moving part 77. The rod moving part 77 has a moving mechanism (not shown) that causes the moving rod 78 to reciprocate in the conveying direction. For example, a cylinder can be used as the moving mechanism. When the moving rod 78 moves upstream in the conveying direction via the rod moving part 77, the long handle 78b of the moving rod 78 abuts against the holding base plate 81 of the holding unit 80, and the holding unit 80 in the non-holding state moves in the opposite direction to the conveying direction, returning to the upstream side of the conveying direction. Thus, the holding unit 80 in the holding state can repeatedly move together with the conveyor belt 23, and the amount of movement of the conveyor belt 23 can be repeatedly detected by the reading unit 85.

[0061] Furthermore, at least one adsorption section 88 is provided in the holding unit 80 for adsorbing the conveyor belt 23. The adsorption section 88 is configured to change its state from an adsorption state in which the conveyor belt 23 is adsorbed to a non-adsorption state in which the conveyor belt 23 is not adsorbed. The adsorption section 88 is provided in at least one of an elastic member 83 (first contact section) that contacts the surface 23a of the conveyor belt 23 and a holding plate 81 (second contact section) that contacts the back surface 23b of the conveyor belt 23. In this embodiment, the adsorption section 88 is provided in the holding plate 81. Specifically, the adsorption section 88 has an opening provided on the +Z direction end face of the end 81c of the holding plate 81 and a suction section (e.g., a pump or fan) that draws external air into the holding plate 81 through the opening. By driving the suction section, a suction force in the -Z direction is generated on the +Z direction end face of the end 81c. As a result, the holding plate 81 can adsorb the conveyor belt 23 and take an adsorption state. On the other hand, by stopping the drive of the suction unit, the suction force can be released, and a non-adsorption state can be achieved. It should be noted that the adsorption unit 88 can be provided on the side of the elastic member 83, or on both the elastic member 83 and the holding substrate 81. Furthermore, the adsorption unit 88 can also be an electrostatic suction mechanism utilizing static electricity.

[0062] The actions of the adsorption and non-adsorption states of the adsorption unit 88 are synchronized with the actions of the holding and non-holding states of the switching unit 74. That is, the holding unit 80 simultaneously executes the holding and adsorption states of the conveyor belt 23. As a result, in addition to the holding force based on magnetic force, the conveyor belt 23 can be reliably held by the adsorption force based on the adsorption unit 88. On the other hand, the non-holding and non-adsorption states of the conveyor belt 23 can be executed simultaneously.

[0063] Here, in the conveying device 110 (recording device 100), the conveyor belt 23 is preferably held at a predetermined tension by the rotating roller 24 and the drive roller 25. This is because if the conveyor belt 23 does not have the predetermined tension, the conveying accuracy of the medium M decreases, which can easily lead to a decline in image quality. However, there is a concern that the conveyor belt 23 may deteriorate or harden due to prolonged use, be affected by heat from the drying unit 27, or experience changes in the conveyor belt 23's mounting mechanism, potentially causing it to slip from the predetermined tension.

[0064] Therefore, the detection mechanism 70 in this embodiment is configured to detect the tension of the conveyor belt 23. That is, in the conveying device 110 (recording device 100) of this embodiment, the detection mechanism 70 for detecting the amount of movement of the conveyor belt 23 is configured to also serve as a means for detecting the tension of the conveyor belt 23.

[0065] In this embodiment, the detection mechanism 70 detects the vibration state of the conveyor belt 23 at the end of the conveying operation as the magnitude of the tension of the conveyor belt 23. In this embodiment, the vibration is detected in the direction along the conveying direction of the conveyor belt 23 (along the X-axis).

[0066] In detail, the vibration state of the conveyor belt 23 at the end of the conveying operation of the medium M held by the holding unit 80 is detected by reading the scale unit 75 through the reading unit 85. Therefore, by utilizing the inertia of the mass of the holding unit 80 in the holding state, sufficient force or acceleration for the conveyor belt 23 to vibrate can be provided to the conveyor belt 23, making it easy to detect the vibration of the conveyor belt 23.

[0067] Furthermore, by synchronizing the holding state and adsorption state of the conveyor belt 23 through the switching unit 74 and the adsorption unit 88, when the holding unit 80 vibrates, the slippage of the holding plate 81 of the holding unit 80 relative to the conveyor belt 23 due to the inertia of the holding unit 80 can be suppressed, and the tension caused by the vibration of the holding unit 80 can be accurately detected.

[0068] It should be noted that in this embodiment, the reading unit 85 is shown to move integrally with the holding unit 80 and the scale unit 75 is fixed thereon. However, it is also possible for the scale unit 75 to move integrally with the holding unit 80 and the reading unit 85 to be fixed thereon.

[0069] In addition, in this embodiment, a so-called magnetic encoder is shown to determine the relative movement of the scale section 75 and the reading section 85 based on the change of the magnetic field, but it could also be an optical encoder that determines the movement based on optical changes.

[0070] Furthermore, while the detection mechanism 70 is detecting the vibration state of the conveyor belt 23, the control unit 1 can also increase the gripping force of the gripping unit 80. This further suppresses slippage of the gripping base plate 81 of the gripping unit 80 relative to the conveyor belt 23, enabling more accurate detection of tension caused by the vibration of the gripping unit 80. With this control, compared to the case where the gripping force is high even outside the period when the detection mechanism 70 is detecting the vibration state of the conveyor belt 23, it is possible to suppress residual deformation of the conveyor belt 23 due to high gripping force and reduce the lifespan of the conveyor belt 23.

[0071] like Figure 5 As shown, the recording device 100 includes an input device 6 for inputting recording conditions, and a control unit 1 for controlling various parts of the recording device 100. The input device 6 can be various personal computers, tablet computers, portable terminals, etc. The input device 6 can be installed independently of the recording device 100.

[0072] The control unit 1 includes an interface unit (I / F) 2, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 3, a storage unit 4, and a control circuit 5. The interface unit 2 transmits and receives data between the input device 6, which processes input signals or images, and the control unit 1. The CPU 3 is an arithmetic processing unit for processing input signals from various detector groups 7, including the readout unit 85, and controlling the recording operation of the recording device 100. For example, the CPU 3 calculates the amount of movement of the conveyor belt 23 or the tension of the conveyor belt 23 based on the input signals output from the readout unit 85 and input to the CPU 3.

[0073] Storage unit 4 is a storage medium used to ensure the storage of the area or working area of ​​the CPU 3, and has storage elements such as RAM (Random Access Memory) and EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory).

[0074] The control unit 1 controls the drive of the nozzle mounted on the head unit 42 via a control signal output from the control circuit 5, causing ink to be ejected toward the medium M. The control unit 1 also controls the drive of the motor mounted on the carriage moving unit 45 via a control signal output from the control circuit 5, causing the carriage 43, on which the head unit 42 is mounted, to reciprocate in the main scanning direction (along the Y-axis). Furthermore, the control unit 1 controls the drive of the motor mounted on the drive roller 25 via a control signal output from the control circuit 5, causing the conveyor belt 23 to rotate. Thus, the medium M supported on the conveyor belt 23 can move in the conveying direction (+X direction).

[0075] The control unit 1 performs a recording operation (intermittent operation) by alternately and repeatedly controlling the carriage moving unit 45 and the head unit 42 to move the head unit 42 (carriage 43) while ejecting ink from the print head, and controlling the drive roller 25 to transport the medium M in the transport direction, thereby forming an image on the medium M.

[0076] The control unit 1 controls the current flowing through the electromagnet installed in the switching unit 74 by controlling the control signal output from the control circuit 5, thereby switching the gripping unit 80 to a gripping state and a non-gripping state. The control unit 1 controls the movement mechanism of the lever moving part 77 by controlling the control signal output from the control circuit 5, causing the moving lever 78 to reciprocate along the conveying direction. The control unit 1 controls the suction part of the suction part 88 to switch between an suction state and a non-suction state relative to the conveyor belt 23. In addition, the control unit 1 controls various other parts not shown.

[0077] Here, the configuration of the control unit 1 related to the tension of the conveyor belt 23 will be explained.

[0078] The control unit 1 determines the tension of the conveyor belt 23 based on the vibration state of the conveyor belt 23 at the end of the conveying operation, as detected by the detection mechanism 70. In this embodiment, the vibration state of the conveyor belt 23 at the end of the conveying operation is detected by the reading unit 85 reading the vibration of the holding unit 80 in the holding state. That is, the control unit 1 determines the tension of the conveyor belt 23 based on the residual vibration of the conveyor belt 23 at the end of the conveying operation. Furthermore, this residual vibration is detected by the detection mechanism 70, which detects the amount of movement of the conveyor belt 23 during intermittent operation.

[0079] Furthermore, when the path along which the conveyor belt 23 moves is defined as the moving path, the moving path includes a conveying path that supports and transports the medium M, and a non-conveying path that does not constitute a conveying path. The conveying path is the path where the surface 23a of the conveyor belt 23 faces the head unit 42, and the non-conveying path is the path where the surface 23a of the conveyor belt 23 faces the scraper 55 of the cleaning unit 50. Moreover, the holding state of the holding unit 80 is the state of holding the conveyor belt 23 moving along the conveying path within the moving path. The control unit 1 determines the magnitude of the tension of the conveyor belt 23 based on the vibration state of the conveyor belt 23 moving along the conveying path. Therefore, it is possible to detect the tension of the conveying path, which has a greater impact on the conveying accuracy of the medium M compared to the non-conveying path.

[0080] Figure 6 An example of the test results for the tension of conveyor belt 23 is shown. Figure 6 In the diagram, the vertical axis represents the speed Sp (mm / sec.) of conveyor belt 23, and the horizontal axis represents time t (sec.). Additionally, Figure 6 The reference time ST recorded in the text indicates the point at which the conveying action of the conveyor belt 23 ends.

[0081] like Figure 6 As shown, before reaching the reference time ST, the conveyor belt 23 is in conveying operation, and the speed of the conveyor belt 23 is detected on the positive side.

[0082] Then, when the reference time ST is reached, the conveying action of conveyor belt 23 ends. When the conveying action of conveyor belt 23 ends, conveyor belt 23 stops, but due to the mass of the holding unit 80 holding conveyor belt 23, inertia takes effect, and conveyor belt 23 vibrates in the direction along the conveying direction (along the X-axis). Thus, as Figure 6 As shown, after the reference time ST, the speed of conveyor belt 23 is detected on both the positive and negative sides. That is, the residual vibration of conveyor belt 23 is detected.

[0083] The control unit 1 calculates the amplitude or vibration number based on the residual vibration of the conveyor belt 23 during a specified elapsed period (e.g., 0.1 seconds to 0.5 seconds) from the reference time ST.

[0084] Then, the control unit 1 determines the tension of the conveyor belt 23 based on the calculated amplitude or vibration number. For example, the control unit 1 compares the calculated amplitude or vibration number with a predetermined value to determine whether the tension of the conveyor belt 23 is acceptable. It should be noted that the predetermined value is the amplitude or vibration number at the time of manufacture of the conveyor device 110 or during adjustments to the conveyor belt 23. That is, it is the value when the tension of the conveyor belt 23 is under normal conditions. This predetermined value is stored in the storage unit 4. In addition, the predetermined value has a fixed allowable range.

[0085] If the amplitude calculated by the control unit 1 is larger than the specified value, or if the number of vibrations calculated by the control unit 1 is smaller than the specified value, the tension of the conveyor belt 23 is determined to be low. On the other hand, if the amplitude calculated by the control unit 1 is smaller than the specified value, or if the number of vibrations calculated by the control unit 1 is larger than the specified value, the tension of the conveyor belt 23 is determined to be high. In other words, by comparing the calculated amplitude or number of vibrations with the specified value, the tension state of the conveyor belt 23 can be estimated.

[0086] Next, the control method of the recording device 100 will be explained. Specifically, the control method involved in determining the tension of the conveyor belt 23 in a series of recording actions (intermittent actions) will be explained.

[0087] like Figure 7AAs shown, in step S11 (holding process), when the control unit 1 receives printing data of the image recorded on the medium M from the input device 6 and saves it to the storage unit 4, it causes the holding unit 80 to hold the conveyor belt 23. The control unit 1 causes current to flow through the electromagnet of the switching unit 74 and causes the electromagnet to generate magnetic force. As a result, the holding unit 80 enters the holding state and holds the conveyor belt 23. Furthermore, the adsorption unit 88 is driven to cause the holding substrate 81 to adsorb the conveyor belt 23.

[0088] Next, in step S12 (conveyance processing), the control unit 1 controls the drive roller 25 to convey the gripping unit 80, which is in a gripping state, together with the conveyor belt 23. Based on the movement amount detected by the reading unit 85, the control unit 1 stops the rotational movement of the conveyor belt 23 when the gripping unit 80 moves from a first position to a second position located downstream in the conveying direction than the first position. The interval between the first and second positions is the line break amount in the printing operation. It should be noted that in the initial conveyance processing, the interval between the first and second positions is conveyed until a predetermined position is reached at the start of the recording process.

[0089] Next, in step S13 (detection process), the control unit 1 determines the tension of the conveyor belt 23. Figure 7B The detection and processing method is shown.

[0090] In step S131 (vibration acquisition process), the control unit 1 acquires the residual vibration (minor movement) detected by the reading unit 85.

[0091] Next, in step S132 (calculation processing), the control unit 1 calculates the amplitude or vibration number based on the acquired residual vibration.

[0092] Next, in step S133 (storage processing), the control unit 1 stores the calculated amplitude or vibration count in the storage unit 4. Additionally, the control unit 1 combines the date and time information of the calculated amplitude or vibration count with the attribute information of the recording device 100 or the conveying device 110 and stores this information in the storage unit 4. The tension information related to the tension of the conveyor belt 23 stored in the storage unit 4 can be output to the input device 6. Therefore, the user can monitor the tension state of the conveyor belt 23 and estimate the tension state of the conveyor belt 23 based on the stored tension information.

[0093] It should be noted that in step S131, the control unit 1 can also increase the gripping force of the gripping unit 80.

[0094] Next, in step S134 (judgment processing), the control unit 1 compares the calculated amplitude or vibration number with the specified value to determine whether the tension of the conveyor belt 23 is within the allowable range.

[0095] If the tension of the conveyor belt 23 is within the allowable range ("Yes"), proceed to step S14; if the tension of the conveyor belt 23 is not within the allowable range ("No"), proceed to step S135.

[0096] In step S135 (warning processing), for example, the input device 6 displays the meaning that the tension of the conveyor belt 23 is out of the allowable range, thus warning the user. Based on this warning, the user can, for example, make appropriate adjustments to the conveyor belt 23 or contact a maintenance service provider.

[0097] Next, in step S14 (recording process), the control unit 1 controls the head unit 42 and the carriage moving unit 45 to move the carriage 43, which is equipped with the head unit 42, in the width direction (along the Y-axis direction) of the medium M that intersects the conveying direction, while spraying ink from the head unit 42 toward the medium M.

[0098] Next, in step S15 (non-holding process), the control unit 1 blocks the current flowing through the electromagnet of the switching unit 74 and demagnetizes the electromagnet. Additionally, the drive of the adsorption unit 88 is stopped. Thus, the holding unit 80 enters a non-holding state.

[0099] Next, in step S16 (return processing), the control unit 1 controls the lever movement unit 77 to move the moving lever 78, which is waiting at a predetermined position downstream of the gripping unit 80 in the conveying direction, upstream in the conveying direction. As a result, the gripping unit 80 comes into contact with the moving lever 78, and the gripping unit 80, in its non-gripping state at the second position, returns to the first position. This allows the gripping unit 80 in the gripping state to repeatedly move from the first position to the second position together with the conveyor belt 23. Afterwards, the moving lever 78 moves downstream of the second position in the conveying direction and waits at a predetermined position. Therefore, in step S12, when the gripping unit 80 in the gripping state moves together with the conveyor belt 23, the moving lever 78 of the return unit 76 is separated from the gripping unit 80, thus suppressing the load provided by the return unit 76 to the rotation drive of the conveyor belt 23. It should be noted that steps S15 and S16 can also be executed approximately simultaneously with step S14.

[0100] Then, steps S11 to S16 are repeated until the processing of the printing data sent from the input device 6 is completed.

[0101] According to this embodiment, the detection mechanism 70 used to detect the movement of the conveyor belt 23 can also be used as a detection means to detect the tension of the conveyor belt 23. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the structural complexity of the conveying device 110 (recording device 100) without the need for a separate sensor to detect the tension of the conveyor belt 23.

[0102] Furthermore, since the control configuration of the conveyor device 110 (recording device 100) can be simplified by performing a series of recording operations to detect the movement of the conveyor belt 23 without requiring special control operations for detecting the tension of the conveyor belt 23. Additionally, by monitoring the residual vibrations of the conveyor belt 23 during the series of recording operations, the tension state of the conveyor belt 23 can be estimated. Moreover, monitoring the conveyor belt 23 can aid in the analysis of the status of components highly correlated with the movement of the conveyor belt 23, such as the media conveying section 20, the media contact section 60, or the cleaning unit 50.

[0103] It should be noted that while the recording process (step S14) is described within a series of recording actions in the control method of the recording device 100, it is not limited to this and can also be performed on a per-conveying-device-110 basis. This allows the tension of the conveyor belt 23 to be determined without the influence of the media conveying unit 20 or the cleaning unit 50. Furthermore, it allows for comparison of the conveyor belt 110 with the factory-specified values ​​and estimation of the tension state of the conveyor belt 23.

[0104] Furthermore, in step S133 of the control method for the recording device 100, the tension information stored in the storage unit 4 may include information such as the usage history of the drying unit 27, the operation history of the recording unit 40, and the usage time of the conveyor belt 23. By combining information that has a high impact on the tension of the conveyor belt 23, the accuracy of estimating the tension state of the conveyor belt 23 can be improved.

[0105] Alternatively, in step S133, the tension information stored in the storage unit 4 can be transmitted via a communication circuit to an external maintenance service provider (e.g., a server device). This allows the user to receive appropriate service.

[0106] Furthermore, the configuration of the gripping unit 80 is not limited if it can grip the conveyor belt 23. For example, the gripping unit 80 may be a scissor-shaped configuration including a pair of arm members that can rotate about at least one axis of rotation.

[0107] It should be noted that in this embodiment, the configuration of the recording device 100 including the conveying device 110 is described as an example, but it is not limited to this, and it may be configured only with the conveying device 110. That is, the conveying device 110 includes a conveyor belt 23, a detection mechanism 70, and a control unit 1 capable of determining the tension of the conveyor belt 23. Even so, the same effects described above can be obtained.

[0108] 2. Second Implementation Method

[0109] Next, the second embodiment will be described. It should be noted that the same reference numerals are used for components that are the same as those in the first embodiment, and repeated descriptions are omitted.

[0110] The conveying device 110A of this embodiment includes: a conveyor belt 23 that alternately and repeatedly performs a conveying operation of the conveying medium M and a non-conveying operation of not conveying the medium M; a detection mechanism 70 that detects the amount of movement of the conveyor belt 23 during the conveying operation; a drive roller 25 that is disposed downstream of the detection mechanism in the conveying direction of the conveying medium M and causes the conveyor belt 23 to rotate and move; and a control unit 1A.

[0111] In this embodiment, the control unit 1A determines the tension of the conveyor belt 23 based on the difference between the target speed of the conveyor belt 23 and the detection speed of the conveyor belt 23 detected by the detection mechanism 70.

[0112] Figure 8 An example of the test results for the tension of conveyor belt 23 is shown. Figure 8 In the diagram, the vertical axis represents the speed Sp (mm / sec.) of conveyor belt 23, and the horizontal axis represents time t (sec.). Additionally, Figure 8 The two dashed lines in the figure indicate the target speed (instructed speed) Si, which specifies the moving speed of the conveyor belt 23, and the solid line indicates the detected speed (measured value) Sm of the conveyor belt 23 as detected by the detection mechanism 70.

[0113] In this embodiment, while the conveyor belt 23 is held by the holding unit 80, the control unit 1A drives the drive roller 25 based on the target speed Si, causing the conveyor belt 23 to accelerate. Furthermore, the detection mechanism 70 detects the speed of the conveyor belt 23 during acceleration. Thus, as... Figure 8 As shown, it can detect the target velocity Si and the measured value Sm, and can use the difference between the target velocity Si and the measured value Sm as the phase difference for calculation.

[0114] It should be noted that, in this embodiment, by positioning the drive roller 25 that causes the conveyor belt 23 to rotate and move downstream of the detection mechanism 70 in the conveying direction, the pulling force used to detect the phase difference can be provided to the conveyor belt 23.

[0115] The control unit 1A determines the magnitude of the tension of the conveyor belt 23 based on the phase difference between the target speed Si and the measured value Sm. Specifically, the control unit 1A determines whether the tension of the conveyor belt 23 is adequate based on the calculated magnitude of the phase difference.

[0116] For example, if the phase difference is greater than a specified value, the control unit 1A determines that the tension of the conveyor belt 23 is low. In this case, it is assumed that when the stretch of the conveyor belt 23 increases and the drive roller 25 rotates, the conveyor belt 23 cannot follow the drive roller 25, and the rotation speed will be delayed. It should be noted that the specified value is the phase difference between the target speed Si and the measured value Sm when the conveyor device 110 is manufactured or when the conveyor belt 23 has been adjusted. That is, it is the value at which the tension of the conveyor belt 23 is in a normal state. This allows for the determination of whether the tension of the conveyor belt 23 is acceptable or to estimate the tension state.

[0117] According to this embodiment, the detection mechanism 70 used to detect the movement of the conveyor belt 23 can also be used as a means to detect the tension of the conveyor belt 23. Therefore, the structural complexity of the conveying device 110A can be reduced without the need for a separate sensor or the like for detecting the tension of the conveyor belt 23.

[0118] It should be noted that in this embodiment, the conveying device 110A has been described, but it may also be configured as a recording device including the conveying device 110A and the recording unit 40. Even so, the same effects described above can be obtained.

[0119] 3. Third Implementation Method

[0120] Next, the third embodiment will be described. It should be noted that the same reference numerals are used for components that are the same as those in the first embodiment, and repeated descriptions are omitted.

[0121] like Figure 9A and Figure 9B As shown, the conveying device 110B of this embodiment includes rollers (rotating roller 24 and drive roller 25) that are wrapped around the conveyor belt 23, a detection mechanism 70A, and a control unit 1.

[0122] The detection mechanism 70A is equipped with a rotary encoder 120 that is fixed in position relative to the rollers (rotating roller 24 and drive roller 25).

[0123] The rotary encoder 120 has: a disc portion 121 that abuts against the surface 23a of the conveyor belt 23 and is rotatable relative to the conveyor belt 23; and a reading portion 123 that can read the scale (scale) 122 formed on the disc portion 121.

[0124] The disc portion 121 is disc-shaped, and scales 122 for detecting multiple positions are formed at equal intervals along its circumference. Each scale 122 is a slit extending through the disc portion 121 in the direction along the Y-axis. A shaft 121a extending along the Y-axis is provided at the center of the disc portion 121. The shaft 121a is supported by a bearing (not shown) fixed at a predetermined position. The outer peripheral surface 121b of the disc portion 121 abuts against the surface 23a of the conveyor belt 23, and as the conveyor belt 23 moves, the disc portion 121 rotates around the shaft 121a at the predetermined fixed position.

[0125] The reading unit 123 is positioned at the location traversed by the peripheral portion of the disk portion 121. Specifically, the reading unit 123 includes a light-emitting unit 123a (e.g., a light-emitting diode) and a light-receiving unit 123b (e.g., a phototransistor) positioned opposite each other across the peripheral portion of the disk portion 121. When light emanating from the light-emitting unit 123a passes through the scale 122 of the disk portion 121 and is received by the light-receiving unit 123b, an electrical signal is output from the light-receiving unit 123b. This allows for the detection of the amount of movement of the conveyor belt 23.

[0126] Furthermore, in the control unit 1 of this embodiment, the tension of the conveyor belt 23 is determined based on the vibration state of the conveyor belt 23 at the end of the conveying operation, as detected by the detection mechanism 70A. Specifically, the vibration state of the conveyor belt 23 at the end of the conveying operation is detected by the reading unit 123 reading the scale 122 formed on the disc portion 121. That is, the control unit 1 determines the tension of the conveyor belt 23 based on the residual vibration of the conveyor belt 23 at the end of the conveying operation. The detection result of the tension of the conveyor belt 23 is compared with... Figure 6 Similarly, the residual vibration is then detected by a detection mechanism 70A that detects the amount of movement of the conveyor belt 23 during intermittent operation.

[0127] It should be noted that the configuration other than the rotating roller 24, the drive roller 25, and the detection mechanism 70A is the same as that in the first embodiment.

[0128] According to this embodiment, compared with the detection mechanism 70 of the first embodiment, the detection points in the detection mechanism 70A of this embodiment are unchanged, so it is possible to suppress the difference in the ease of vibration detection of the conveyor belt 23 based on the detection position.

[0129] It should be noted that the detection mechanism 70A may also include a pressure adjustment mechanism capable of adjusting the pressure of the disc portion 121 relative to the conveyor belt 23. The pressure adjustment mechanism may include, for example, a drive source such as a motor, and a conversion unit that converts the driving force from the drive source into pressure. The conversion unit may include, for example, a power transmission mechanism that transmits power such as a ball screw or gear. In this case, the pressure adjustment mechanism may also be controlled by the control unit 1. That is, the control unit 1 may also control the pressure of the disc portion 121 relative to the conveyor belt 23. During the period when the detection mechanism 70A detects the vibration state of the conveyor belt 23, the control unit 1 may also increase the pressure of the disc portion 121 relative to the conveyor belt 23 by controlling the pressure adjustment mechanism.

[0130] The following describes the content derived from the implementation method.

[0131] The conveying device is characterized by comprising: a conveyor belt that alternately and repeatedly performs a conveying action of conveying a medium and a non-conveying action of not conveying the medium; a detection mechanism that detects the amount of movement of the conveyor belt during the conveying action; and a control unit that can determine the tension of the conveyor belt based on the vibration state of the conveyor belt at the end of the conveying action, as detected by the detection mechanism.

[0132] Based on this configuration, the detection mechanism used to detect the movement of the conveyor belt can also be used as a means to measure the tension of the conveyor belt. Therefore, the structural complexity of the conveyor device can be reduced without the need for a separate sensor to measure the tension.

[0133] Preferably, in the above-described conveying device, the detection mechanism includes: a scale section disposed along the conveying direction of the medium; a reading section capable of reading the scale formed on the scale section; and a holding unit capable of moving integrally with the scale section or the reading section, and capable of changing its state to a holding state in which the conveyor belt is held and moves together with the conveyor belt, and a non-holding state in which the conveyor belt is not held. The vibration state of the conveyor belt at the end of the conveying operation is detected by the reading section reading the vibration of the holding unit in the holding state.

[0134] According to this configuration, sufficient force for vibration of the conveyor belt can be provided to the conveyor belt by utilizing the inertia of the mass of the gripping unit in the gripping state. As a result, the vibration of the conveyor belt is easy to detect.

[0135] Preferably, the conveying device described above includes at least one adsorption portion for adsorbing the conveyor belt by the holding unit. The holding unit includes a first contact portion that contacts the surface of the conveyor belt and a second contact portion that contacts the back side of the conveyor belt. The at least one adsorption portion is disposed on at least one of the first contact portion and the second contact portion.

[0136] According to this configuration, when the gripping unit vibrates, it can suppress the slippage of the first and second contact parts of the gripping unit relative to the conveyor belt due to the inertia of the gripping unit, thus preventing the tension from being accurately measured by the vibration of the gripping unit.

[0137] Preferably, the above-described conveying device includes a roller that is wound around the conveyor belt, and the detection mechanism includes a rotary encoder disposed in a state in which the position relative to the roller has been fixed. The rotary encoder includes: a disc portion that can abut against the surface of the conveyor belt and rotate passively relative to the conveyor belt; and a reading portion that can read the scale formed on the disc portion. The vibration state of the conveyor belt at the end of the conveying operation is detected by reading the scale formed on the disc portion by the reading portion.

[0138] According to this configuration, since the detection point remains unchanged in the detection mechanism, it is possible to suppress differences in the ease of vibration detection of the conveyor belt based on the detection location.

[0139] Preferably, in the above-described conveying device, when the path of the conveyor belt is set as the moving path, the moving path includes a conveying path that supports and conveys the medium, and a non-conveying path that does not constitute the conveying path. The holding state is the state of holding the conveyor belt moving on the conveying path in the moving path. The control unit determines the magnitude of the tension of the conveyor belt based on the vibration state of the conveyor belt moving on the conveying path.

[0140] Based on this configuration, it is possible to measure the tension of the conveying path, which has a greater impact on the conveying accuracy of the medium than the non-conveying path.

[0141] The conveying device is characterized by comprising: a conveyor belt that alternately and repeatedly performs a conveying action of conveying a medium and a non-conveying action of not conveying the medium; a detection mechanism that detects the amount of movement of the conveyor belt during the conveying action; a drive roller disposed downstream of the detection mechanism in the conveying direction of conveying the medium, causing the conveyor belt to rotate and move; and a control unit capable of determining the tension of the conveyor belt based on the difference between the target speed of the conveyor belt and the detection speed of the conveyor belt detected by the detection mechanism.

[0142] Based on this configuration, the detection mechanism used to detect the movement of the conveyor belt can also be used as a means to measure the tension of the conveyor belt. Therefore, the structural complexity of the conveyor device can be reduced without the need for a separate sensor to measure the tension.

[0143] The recording device is characterized by comprising: a recording unit capable of recording on a medium; a conveyor belt that alternately and repeatedly performs a conveying action of conveying the medium and a non-conveying action of not conveying the medium; a detection mechanism that detects the amount of movement of the conveyor belt during the conveying action; and a control unit capable of determining the tension of the conveyor belt based on the vibration state of the conveyor belt at the end of the conveying action, as detected by the detection mechanism.

[0144] Based on this configuration, the detection mechanism used to detect the movement of the conveyor belt can also be used as a means to measure the tension of the conveyor belt. Therefore, the structural complexity of the recording device can be reduced by eliminating the need for a separate sensor for measuring the tension.

[0145] The recording device is characterized by comprising: a recording unit capable of recording on a medium; a conveyor belt that alternately and repeatedly performs a conveying action of conveying the medium and a non-conveying action of not conveying the medium; a detection mechanism that detects the amount of movement of the conveyor belt during the conveying action; a drive roller disposed downstream of the detection mechanism in the conveying direction of conveying the medium, causing the conveyor belt to rotate and move; and a control unit capable of determining the tension of the conveyor belt based on the difference between the target speed of the conveyor belt and the detection speed of the conveyor belt detected by the detection mechanism.

[0146] Based on this configuration, the detection mechanism used to detect the movement of the conveyor belt can also be used as a means to measure the tension of the conveyor belt. Therefore, the structural complexity of the recording device can be reduced by eliminating the need for a separate sensor for measuring the tension.

Claims

1. A conveying device, characterized in that, have: The conveyor belt alternately and repeatedly performs the actions of conveying the medium and the non-conveying action of not conveying the medium; The testing agency detects the amount of movement of the conveyor belt during the conveying operation; and The control unit can determine the tension of the conveyor belt based on the vibration state of the conveyor belt at the end of the conveying action, as detected by the detection mechanism. The testing institutions include: The scale section is provided along the conveying direction of the medium. The reading unit is capable of reading the scale formed on the scale section; and The gripping unit is movable integrally with the scale section or the reading section, and can change its state to a gripping state in which it grips the conveyor belt and moves with the conveyor belt, and a non-gripping state in which it does not grip the conveyor belt. The vibration state of the conveyor belt at the end of the conveying action is detected by the reading unit reading the vibration of the holding unit in the holding state. During the period when the control unit detects the vibration state of the conveyor belt at the end of the conveying operation, it controls the gripping unit to increase the gripping force of the gripping unit.

2. The conveying device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The conveying device includes at least one adsorption part that allows the holding unit to adsorb the conveyor belt. The gripping unit includes a first contact portion that contacts the surface of the conveyor belt and a second contact portion that contacts the back side of the conveyor belt. The at least one adsorption portion is disposed on at least one of the first contact portion and the second contact portion.

3. A conveying device, characterized in that, have: The conveyor belt alternately and repeatedly performs the actions of conveying the medium and the non-conveying action of not conveying the medium; The testing agency detects the amount of movement of the conveyor belt during the conveying action; The control unit can determine the tension of the conveyor belt based on the vibration state of the conveyor belt at the end of the conveying action, as detected by the detection mechanism. as well as Rollers that are wound around the conveyor belt The detection mechanism includes a rotary encoder positioned with its position relative to the roller fixed. The rotary encoder includes: The disc portion is capable of contacting the surface of the conveyor belt and rotating passively relative to the conveyor belt; as well as The reading unit is capable of reading the scale formed on the disk portion. The vibration state of the conveyor belt at the end of the conveying operation is detected by reading the scale formed on the disc by the reading unit. The detection mechanism includes a pressure adjustment mechanism capable of adjusting the pressure of the disc relative to the conveyor belt. During the period when the vibration state is detected at the end of the conveying operation, the control unit controls the pressing force adjustment mechanism to increase the pressing force of the disc relative to the conveyor belt.

4. A recording device, characterized in that, have: The recording unit is capable of recording on a medium; The conveyor belt alternately and repeatedly performs conveying actions that transport the medium and non-conveying actions that do not transport the medium; The testing agency detects the amount of movement of the conveyor belt during the conveying action; as well as The control unit can determine the tension of the conveyor belt based on the vibration state of the conveyor belt at the end of the conveying action, as detected by the detection mechanism. The testing institutions include: The scale section is provided along the conveying direction of the medium. The reading unit is capable of reading the scale formed on the scale section; and The gripping unit is movable integrally with the scale section or the reading section, and can change its state to a gripping state in which it grips the conveyor belt and moves with the conveyor belt, and a non-gripping state in which it does not grip the conveyor belt. The vibration state of the conveyor belt at the end of the conveying action is detected by the reading unit reading the vibration of the holding unit in the holding state. During the period when the control unit detects the vibration state of the conveyor belt at the end of the conveying operation, it controls the gripping unit to increase the gripping force of the gripping unit.

5. A recording device, characterized in that, have: The recording unit is capable of recording on a medium; The conveyor belt alternately and repeatedly performs conveying actions that transport the medium and non-conveying actions that do not transport the medium; The testing agency detects the amount of movement of the conveyor belt during the conveying action; The control unit can determine the tension of the conveyor belt based on the vibration state of the conveyor belt at the end of the conveying action, as detected by the detection mechanism. as well as Rollers that are wound around the conveyor belt The detection mechanism includes a rotary encoder positioned with its position relative to the roller fixed. The rotary encoder includes: The disc portion is capable of contacting the surface of the conveyor belt and rotating passively relative to the conveyor belt; as well as The reading unit is capable of reading the scale formed on the disk portion. The vibration state of the conveyor belt at the end of the conveying operation is detected by reading the scale formed on the disc by the reading unit. The detection mechanism includes a pressure adjustment mechanism capable of adjusting the pressure of the disc relative to the conveyor belt. During the period when the vibration state is detected at the end of the conveying operation, the control unit controls the pressing force adjustment mechanism to increase the pressing force of the disc relative to the conveyor belt.

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