A large-format plotter paper suction platform device suitable for a wide-area environment

Abstract

The present application relates to a kind of wide area environment suitable for large-format plotter paper suction platform device, including plotter cabinet, medium shaft is provided in plotter cabinet, paper path unit, printing medium drive unit, ink car and print head unit, paper cutter unit, first stage suction unit is arranged in the lower portion of ink car and print head unit, movable drape unit of opposite opening is arranged in the first wind cavity of first stage suction unit, the movable drape unit includes the movable drape of symmetry and moves along its lower surface in the lower portion of first stage air deflector, and the movable drape adjusts the movable drape and is shielded to the air hole of first stage air deflector;Second stage suction unit is arranged in the lower portion of the paper cutter unit.The present application can be implemented in the microenvironment of relatively closed plotter space, forms pressure difference above and below platform air deflector, so that printing medium is adsorbed to air deflector, different printing medium of different size can be adsorbed, meet the shipborne vehicle-mounted requirement of large-format color plotter, suitable for wide area environment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the technical field of professional plotters for harsh environments or field operations, and in particular, it is a paper suction platform device for large-format plotters suitable for wide-area environments. Background Technology

[0002] Large-format color plotters, as a type of computer output device, mostly use inkjet printing and are primarily used to draw various survey maps, architectural design drawings, wiring diagrams, and photographic images. As plotters are increasingly used for outputting media involving national and commercial secrets, such as topographic maps, aeronautical charts, coastal maps, and high-precision image data, their printing media have also diversified, with heavy-weight white paper, tracing paper, and photographic paper becoming widely used.

[0003] Large-format plotters suitable for wide-area environments differ from traditional commercial plotters. Because they must meet requirements for high and low temperatures, vibration and shock, humidity and heat, salt spray, mold, and electromagnetic compatibility, their structure is not open; it is a relatively closed, sealed structure with only a narrow, shielded slit at the paper output. The paper suction mechanism of the printing platform in traditional plotters is insufficient to meet the media adsorption requirements of such applications.

[0004] Traditional commercial and industrial plotters are all open-structured, with media adsorption devices utilizing the pressure difference created by airflow inside and outside the plotter to adsorb media. These devices typically consist of a single large cavity beneath the adsorption platform, with fans at both ends or the bottom. The adsorption platform has evenly distributed small air passages. Because the fans and air passages are relatively fixed, and the fan speed is not adjustable, the resulting suction force is also relatively constant. Wide-area, large-format plotters, due to their relatively enclosed structure, cannot utilize the pressure difference created by airflow inside and outside the plotter to adsorb media like traditional plotters. They must create a microenvironment within the internal space to adsorb specialized printing media in a specific environment, enabling normal printing on different media in harsh environments to meet specific application requirements, especially for shipboard and vehicle-mounted applications. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and provide a paper suction platform device for large-format plotters suitable for wide-area environments. It can create a microenvironment in the relatively enclosed plotter space. By adjusting the fan speed, the movable cover of the air cavity, and other components, a pressure difference is formed above and below the air guide plate of the paper suction platform, so that the printing medium is adsorbed onto the air guide plate. It can adsorb different printing media of different sizes, meet the ship-mounted and vehicle-mounted requirements of large-format color plotters, and is suitable for wide-area environments.

[0006] The technical problem solved by this invention is achieved through the following technical solution:

[0007] A large-format plotter paper suction platform device suitable for wide-area environments includes a plotter chassis. Inside the plotter chassis are a media shaft, a paper path unit, a printing media drive unit, an ink carriage and printhead unit, a paper cutter unit, and a paper suction platform. The printing media drive unit drives the printing media from the media shaft along the paper path unit, through the ink carriage and printhead unit, and the paper cutter unit, and outputs it through the plotter's paper outlet. The paper suction platform includes a first-stage suction unit and a second-stage suction unit. The first-stage suction unit is located below the ink carriage and printhead unit, and includes a first air chamber and... A primary fan unit is connected to the first air chamber. A primary air guide plate is horizontally arranged on the upper part of the first air chamber. The primary air guide plate has air passage holes. A pair of movable shielding units are arranged inside the first air chamber. The movable shielding unit includes symmetrical air chamber movable shieldings located below the primary air guide plate and moving along its lower surface. The air chamber movable shieldings adjustably block the air passage holes of the primary air guide plate. A second-stage adsorption unit is arranged below the paper cutter unit. The second-stage adsorption unit includes a second air chamber and a secondary fan unit connected to the interior of the second air chamber. A secondary air guide plate is arranged on the upper surface of the second air chamber. The secondary air guide plate has air passage holes.

[0008] Furthermore, the movable cover unit includes a first movable cover unit and a second movable cover unit symmetrically arranged; both the first and second movable cover units include a wind chamber movable cover, a cover drive motor, a motor bracket, a cover rack, gears, and a cover track. The motor brackets are fixedly installed at both ends within the first wind chamber. The cover drive motor is mounted on the motor bracket, with gears installed at both ends. Cover racks are fixedly installed on both sides of the cover. A transverse U-shaped cover is fixedly installed inside the first wind chamber. The cloth track has a rack that meshes with the gear and guides the cloth to run on it. The upper and lower layers of the transverse U-shaped cloth track have a length of 1 / 2 the length of the first-stage air guide plate. The length of the rack is slightly greater than the length of the upper or lower layer of the U-shaped cloth track. When the movable cloth in the air cavity runs to the lower layer of the cloth track, the air passage holes of the first-stage air guide plate at the upper part of the movable cloth in the air cavity are opened, and the adsorption area increases. When the movable cloth in the air cavity runs to the upper layer of the cloth track, it covers part of the air passage holes of the first-stage air guide plate, and the adsorption area decreases.

[0009] Furthermore, a first sensor is installed on the printing media inlet side of the primary air guide plate inside the plotter chassis. This first sensor transmits the printing media arrival signal to the plotter host, which then controls the masking drive motor of the primary fan unit and the movable masking unit to form a stable negative pressure differential for adsorbing the printing media at the lower part of the primary air guide plate of the primary adsorption unit.

[0010] Furthermore, a second sensor is installed on the printing media inlet side of the secondary air guide plate inside the plotter chassis. This second sensor transmits the printing media arrival signal to the plotter host, which then controls the secondary fan unit to form a stable negative pressure differential for adsorbing the printing media at the lower part of the primary air guide plate of the primary adsorption unit.

[0011] Moreover, both the primary fan unit and the secondary fan unit are composed of a set of speed-regulating fans arranged at intervals.

[0012] Moreover, the plotter chassis has a relatively enclosed structure, and the paper output port is a narrow, elongated slit with a medium thickness.

[0013] The advantages and beneficial effects of this invention are as follows:

[0014] 1. The large-format plotter paper suction platform device of the present invention, applicable to wide-area environments, can create a microenvironment in the relatively enclosed plotter space. By adjusting the fan speed, the movable cover of the air cavity and other components, a pressure difference is formed above and below the platform air guide plate, so that the printing medium is adsorbed onto the air guide plate. It can adsorb different printing media of different sizes, meet the ship-mounted and vehicle-mounted requirements of large-format color plotters, and is suitable for wide-area environments.

[0015] 2. The large-format plotter paper feeding platform device of the present invention, applicable to wide-area environments, overcomes the influence of tension and friction changes caused by different media on the plotter's precise stepping and printing quality.

[0016] 3. The paper suction platform device for large-format plotters of the present invention, which is suitable for wide-area environments, has a reasonable structural design. Plotters using the paper suction platform of the present invention are suitable for wide-area environments and are office printing output devices with high and low temperature operation, waterproof and salt spray resistance, electromagnetic interference resistance, and low electromagnetic radiation. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 This is a front view of the large-format plotter paper suction platform device of the present invention, applicable to wide-area environments;

[0018] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 Sectional view along the AA direction;

[0019] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 A half-section view;

[0020] Figure 4 yes Figure 1 BB-direction section view;

[0021] Figure 5 This is a top view of the paper suction platform of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 6 yes Figure 1 CC-direction section view;

[0023] Figure 7 This is a cross-sectional view of the first movable cover unit of the present invention.

[0024] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0025] 1-Plotter main unit, 2-Plotter chassis, 3-Insulator carriage and printhead unit, 4-Paper cutter unit, 5-Second-stage suction unit, 6-Paper outlet, 7-Printing media, 8-First-stage suction unit, 9-Media shaft, 10-First drive motor, 11-Paper path unit, 12-Second drive motor, 13-Platform frame front end, 14-Air cavity movable cover, 15-First-stage fan unit, 16-Cover drive motor, 17-Air cavity end plate, 18-First-stage air guide plate, 19-First sensor, 20-Platform frame rear end, 21-Second sensor, 22-Second-stage air guide plate, 23-Cover rack, 24-Gear, 25-Cover track, 26-Motor bracket, 27-First media drive roller, 28-Second media drive roller, 29-First air cavity, 30-Second air cavity, 31-First movable cover unit, 32-Second movable cover unit, 33-Second-stage fan unit. Detailed Implementation

[0026] The present invention will be further described in detail below through specific embodiments. The following embodiments are merely descriptive and not limiting, and should not be used to limit the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0027] A large-format plotter paper feeding platform device suitable for wide-area environments, such as Figure 1 , Figure 2 As shown, the plotter includes a plotter housing 2, on which a plotter main unit 1 is mounted. Inside the plotter housing 2 are a media shaft 9, a paper path unit 11, a printing media drive unit, an ink carriage and printhead unit 3, a paper cutter unit 4, and a paper suction platform. The media shaft 9 is located within the media compartment and is used to mount the printing media roll. The printing media drive unit drives the printing media 7 from the media shaft 9 along the paper path unit 11, through the ink carriage and printhead unit 3 and the paper cutter unit 4, and outputs it through the plotter's paper output port 6. The plotter housing 2 has a relatively enclosed structure, with a slit only at the paper output port 6. The paper output port 6 is a narrow, elongated slit with a thickness equal to the media thickness.

[0028] The printing media driving unit includes a first driving motor 10 and a first media driving roller 27 driven by it, a second driving motor 12 and a second media driving roller 28 driven by it. Both the first media driving roller 27 and the second media driving roller are pressure roller groups, which can drive the printing media to be transported along the paper path.

[0029] The paper suction platform includes a first-stage suction unit 8 and a second-stage suction unit 5. The first-stage suction unit 8 is located below the ink carriage and printhead unit 3. This first-stage suction unit 8 includes a first air chamber 29 and a primary fan unit 15 connected to the first air chamber 29. A primary air guide plate 18 is horizontally arranged above the first air chamber, and this primary air guide plate has air passage holes. A pair of movable shielding units are arranged inside the first air chamber. Each movable shielding unit includes symmetrically positioned air chamber movable shielding sheets 14 that move along the lower surface of the primary air guide plate. These movable shielding sheets adjustably block the air passage holes of the primary air guide plate. The second-stage suction unit 5 is located below the paper cutter unit. This second-stage suction unit 5 includes a second air chamber 30 and a secondary fan unit 33 connected to the interior of the second air chamber. A secondary air guide plate 22 is arranged on the upper surface of the second air chamber, and this secondary air guide plate 22 has air passage holes. Both the primary fan unit 15 and the secondary fan unit consist of a set of spaced-apart speed-regulating fans.

[0030] The first air chamber 29 and the second air chamber 30 of the first-stage adsorption unit 8 and the second-stage adsorption unit 5 are both square barrel-shaped structures. The first air chamber 29 of the first-stage adsorption unit 8 has air chamber end plates 17 installed at both ends. The first-stage air guide plate 18 has uniformly sized air passage holes. A first-stage fan unit 15 consisting of six speed-regulating fans is installed on the rear side of the front end 13 of the platform frame, containing a cloth-covering drive motor 16 and a movable air chamber cloth 14. The air chamber of the second-stage adsorption unit 5 also has air chamber end plates installed at both ends. The second-stage air guide plate 22 has uniformly sized air passage holes. A second-stage fan unit consisting of six speed-regulating fans is installed on the bottom surface of the front end 20 of the platform frame.

[0031] The movable cover unit includes a first movable cover unit 31 and a second movable cover unit 32 arranged symmetrically. Both the first movable cover unit 31 and the second movable cover unit 32 include a wind chamber movable cover 14, a cover drive motor 16, a motor bracket 26, a cover rack 23, gears 24, and a cover track 25. The motor bracket 26 is fixedly installed at both ends within the first wind chamber. The cover drive motor 16 is mounted on the motor bracket 26, and gears 24 are installed at both ends of the cover drive motor 16. A cover rack 23 is fixedly installed on both sides of the cover, and a transverse track 25 is fixedly installed inside the first wind chamber. The U-shaped shielding track 25 has a shielding rack 23 that meshes with a gear 24 and guides the movement of the shielding track. The upper and lower layers of the transverse U-shaped shielding track are half the length of the first-stage air guide plate. The length of the shielding rack 23 is slightly greater than the length of the upper or lower layer of the U-shaped shielding track 25. When the movable shielding cloth 14 of the air cavity moves to the lower layer of the shielding track 25, the air passage holes of the first-stage air guide plate 18 at the upper part of the movable shielding cloth 14 of the air cavity are opened, and the adsorption area is increased. When the movable shielding cloth 14 of the air cavity moves to the upper layer of the shielding track, it covers part of the air passage holes of the first-stage air guide plate 18, and the adsorption area is reduced.

[0032] A first sensor 19 is installed on the inlet side of the printing medium 7 on the first-stage air guide plate inside the plotter chassis 2. The first sensor 19 transmits the arrival signal of the printing medium 7 to the plotter host, which then controls the first-stage fan unit 15 and the masking drive motor 16 of the movable masking unit to form a stable negative pressure difference for adsorbing the printing medium 7 at the lower part of the first-stage air guide plate of the first-stage adsorption unit 8.

[0033] A second sensor 21 is installed on the printing medium inlet side of the secondary air guide plate 22 inside the plotter chassis 2. The second sensor 21 transmits the printing medium 7 arrival signal to the plotter host, and the plotter host then controls the secondary fan unit to form a stable negative pressure difference for adsorbing the printing medium 7 at the lower part of the primary air guide plate of the first adsorption unit 8.

[0034] The working process of the large-format plotter paper suction platform device applicable to wide-area environments according to the present invention is as follows:

[0035] The plotter housing 2 is a relatively enclosed structure, with only a narrow, elongated gap for the thickness of the medium at the paper output port 6. The paper path unit 11 operates as follows: the medium shaft 9 is installed inside the paper tray. The size and material type of the medium are set on the plotter host 1, and a print job is issued. The first drive motor 10 drives the first medium drive roller, which in turn drives the medium on the medium shaft 9 forward in the paper path unit 11. After passing through the second medium drive roller driven by the second drive motor 12, the medium reaches the print job platform and the paper suction platform. The ink carriage and print head begin operation. After printing is complete, the medium adheres to the paper suction platform and continues to move forward to the paper output port 6. Once the entire print job is completed, the paper cutter unit 4 operates, fitting against the paper suction platform to cut the paper, thus completing the entire print job.

[0036] During printing, whether the medium 7 can be completely adsorbed onto the primary air guide plate 18 of the platform is one of the key factors for completing the printing job. The medium must be adsorbed without excessive suction causing excessive friction, which would exceed the driving force of the second drive motor 12 and prevent it from moving forward. Therefore, when the plotter host 1 inputs the medium's size and material, it retrieves the frictional force information of the medium on the primary air guide plate 18 and the driving force information of the second drive motor 12 from the database based on the input medium information. It then calculates the input voltage and current signals to the speed-regulating fan of the primary fan unit 15 to control the fan speed and inputs signals to the cloth-masking drive motor 16. The cloth-masking drive motor 16 drives the movable cloth 14 in the air cavity to move linearly under the primary air guide plate 18, blocking the air passage holes on the primary air guide plate 18 outside the printing medium 7. Because the effective air pressure inside the air cavity is precisely controlled, a pressure difference microenvironment is created in the relatively sealed space, ensuring the completion of the printing job. When the medium reaches the front end 13 of the platform frame, it triggers the first sensor 19. The first sensor 19 sends the paper arrival information back to the host 1, and the plotter host 1 starts the first-stage adsorption unit 8 to begin operation.

[0037] After the printhead unit 3 completes the step-by-step printing operation, the media 7 steps forward, passing through the first-stage adsorption unit 8. Then, the media 7 needs to be completely adsorbed by the second-stage air guide plate 22 to effectively pass through the narrow gap of the paper output port 6 of the paper cutter unit 4. Similarly, the plotter host 1 needs to control the speed of the variable-speed fan of the second-stage fan unit of the second-stage adsorption unit 5. The plotter host 1 needs to calculate the required air pressure for the media 7 based on the friction between the media 7 and the second-stage air guide plate 22 and the driving force of the second drive motor 12, and then control the speed of the variable-speed fan of the second-stage fan unit. This creates a pressure difference microenvironment at the second-stage adsorption unit 5 to ensure the completion of the paper output and loading operation. When the media reaches the rear end 20 of the platform frame, the second sensor 21 is triggered. The second sensor 21 sends paper arrival information back to the host 1, and the plotter host 1 starts the second-stage adsorption unit 5 to begin operation.

[0038] Although the embodiments and drawings of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will understand that various substitutions, variations and modifications are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and the appended claims. Therefore, the scope of the invention is not limited to the contents disclosed in the embodiments and drawings.

Claims

1. A large-format plotter paper suction platform device suitable for wide-area environments, comprising a plotter chassis (2), wherein the plotter chassis (2) is provided with a media shaft (9), a paper path unit (11), a printing media drive unit, an ink carriage and printhead unit (3), a paper cutter unit (4), and a paper suction platform, wherein the printing media drive unit drives the printing media to be conveyed from the media shaft (9) along the paper path unit (11), through the ink carriage and printhead unit (3) and the paper cutter unit (4), and output through the plotter's paper outlet (6), characterized in that: The paper suction platform includes a first-stage suction unit (8) and a second-stage suction unit (5); the first-stage suction unit (8) is provided at the lower part of the ink carriage and printhead unit (3). The first-stage suction unit (8) includes a first air cavity (29) and a first-stage fan unit (15) connected to the first air cavity (29). A first-stage air guide plate (18) is horizontally provided at the upper part of the first air cavity (29). The first-stage air guide plate (18) has air holes. A pair of movable cover units are provided in the first air cavity (29). The movable cover unit includes symmetrical A movable shielding cloth (14) for the air cavity is located below the primary air guide plate (18) and moves along its lower surface. The movable shielding cloth (14) for the air cavity adjustably blocks the air passage holes of the primary air guide plate (18). A second-level adsorption unit (5) is provided below the paper cutter unit (4). The second-level adsorption unit (5) includes a second air cavity (30) and a secondary fan unit (33) that connects to the interior of the second air cavity (30). A secondary air guide plate (22) is provided on the upper surface of the second air cavity (30). The secondary air guide plate (22) has air passage holes. The movable cover unit includes a first movable cover unit (31) and a second movable cover unit (32) arranged symmetrically. The first movable cover unit (31) and the second movable cover unit (32) each include a wind cavity movable cover (14), a cover drive motor (16), a motor bracket (26), a cover rack (23), a gear (24), and a cover track (25). The motor bracket (26) is fixedly installed at both ends inside the first wind cavity (29). The cover drive motor (16) is installed on the motor bracket (26). Gears (24) are installed at both ends of the cover drive motor (16). The cover rack (23) is fixedly installed on both sides of the cover. The cover track (25) is fixedly installed inside the first wind cavity (29). A transverse U-shaped shielding track (25) has a shielding rack (23) that meshes with the gear (24) and guides the movement of the shielding track (25). The upper and lower layers of the transverse U-shaped shielding track (25) are half the length of the first-stage air guide plate (18). The length of the shielding rack (23) is slightly greater than the length of the upper or lower layer of the U-shaped shielding track (25). When the movable shielding cloth (14) of the air cavity moves to the lower layer of the shielding track (25), the air passage holes of the first-stage air guide plate (18) at the upper part of the movable shielding cloth (14) of the air cavity are opened, and the adsorption area is increased. When the movable shielding cloth (14) of the air cavity moves to the upper layer of the shielding track, it covers part of the air passage holes of the first-stage air guide plate (18), and the adsorption area is reduced.

2. The paper suction platform device for a large-format plotter in a wide-area environment according to claim 1, characterized in that: A first sensor (19) is installed on the printing medium inlet side of the primary air guide plate (18) inside the plotter chassis (2). The first sensor (19) transmits the printing medium (7) arrival signal to the plotter host (1). The plotter host (1) then controls the primary fan unit (15) and the cloth drive motor (16) of the movable cloth unit to form a stable negative pressure difference for adsorbing the printing medium (7) at the lower part of the primary air guide plate (18) of the primary adsorption unit (8).

3. The paper suction platform device for a large-format plotter in a wide-area environment according to claim 1, characterized in that: A second sensor (21) is installed on the printing medium inlet side of the secondary air guide plate (22) inside the plotter chassis (2). The second sensor (21) transmits the printing medium (7) arrival signal to the plotter host, and the plotter host then controls the secondary fan unit (33) to form a stable negative pressure difference for adsorbing the printing medium (7) at the lower part of the primary air guide plate (18) of the first-stage adsorption unit (8).

4. The paper suction platform device for a large-format plotter in a wide-area environment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The primary fan unit (15) and the secondary fan unit (33) are both composed of a set of speed-regulating fans arranged at intervals.

5. The paper suction platform device for a large-format plotter in a wide-area environment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The plotter housing (2) is a relatively enclosed structure, and the paper outlet (6) is a narrow slit that matches the thickness of the medium.

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