Inkjet printer

Abstract

Provided is an inkjet printer capable of improving the strength of a main body frame and reducing the weight of the main body frame, the inkjet printer comprising: a platen on which a medium during printing is placed; the main body frame is used for supporting the bedplate from the lower side; and a plurality of support legs, wherein the main body frame is fixed on the upper end parts of the plurality of support legs. In the inkjet printer, a main body frame (9) is provided with: a fixed part (21a) which is formed in a flat plate shape that is elongated in a Y direction that is the width direction of a medium, and which is placed and fixed on a plurality of support legs (10); and a main frame part (22a) which is formed in a long and thin shape that is long and thin in the Y direction and is formed in a channel steel shape that is open on both sides and the lower side in the Y direction. The width of the fixed portion (21a) in the X direction orthogonal to the vertical direction and the Y direction is wider than the width of the main frame portion (22a) in the X direction, and the main frame portion (22a) is fixed to the upper surface of the fixed portion (21a).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an inkjet printer for printing on a medium by ejecting ink. Background Art

[0002] Inkjet printers that eject ink to print on media are known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The inkjet printer described in Patent Document 1 includes a support platform, a guide portion supported by the support platform, and a main body. The support platform includes support legs and two bottom plates. The support legs include two legs and a connecting plate connecting the two legs. The legs include a foot, a support column, an arm, and a top plate.

[0003] The inkjet printer described in Patent Document 1 has a main body comprising a main housing, a base portion supporting the main housing, and two connecting members secured to the base portion. The base portion has a columnar appearance and extends along a main scanning direction, which serves as the width of the media. In the inkjet printer described in Patent Document 1, the main body is secured to the supporting base portion by securing connecting members to the top plates of the legs. The guide portion includes a platen on which the media is placed during printing. The platen is supported from below by the base portion.

[0004] Inkjet printers that print on media by ejecting ink are also known (see, for example, Patent Document 2). The inkjet printer described in Patent Document 2 includes an inkjet head that ejects ink onto the media; a carriage that carries the inkjet head; a carriage drive mechanism that moves the carriage in the main scanning direction; and a Y-rail that maintains the carriage so that it can move in the main scanning direction. The Y-rail serves as a guide as the carriage moves in the main scanning direction.

[0005] In the inkjet printer described in Patent Document 2, the carriage is mounted on the Y-rail via a mounting structure. The mounting structure is attached to both ends of the carriage in the main scanning direction. The mounting structure includes a plurality of guide rollers (bearings) that roll in contact with the Y-rail and a support base on which the guide rollers are rotatably mounted. The support base is fixed to the carriage. In the inkjet printer described in Patent Document 2, the carriage is guided in the main scanning direction using the guide rollers and the Y-rail.

[0006] Prior art literature

[0007] Patent Literature

[0008] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-49721

[0009] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-221540 Summary of the Invention

[0010] Problems to be solved by the invention

[0011] Like the inkjet printer described in Patent Document 1, the inventors of the present application have developed an inkjet printer comprising: a platen on which a medium is placed during printing; a main frame for supporting the platen from below; and a plurality of support legs (legs), the main frame being fixed to the upper ends of the plurality of support legs. In this inkjet printer, the main frame, which is fixed to the upper ends of the plurality of support legs, needs to support the various structural components constituting the inkjet printer from below. Therefore, the main frame is preferably of high strength. In addition, in order to reduce the weight of the inkjet printer, the main frame is preferably of low weight.

[0012] Therefore, the subject of the present invention is to provide an inkjet printer that can improve the strength of a main frame and make the main frame lightweight, wherein the inkjet printer comprises: a platen on which the medium during printing is placed; a main frame for supporting the platen from the bottom side; and a plurality of support legs, the main frame being fixed to the upper end portions of the plurality of support legs.

[0013] Similarly, similar to the inkjet printer described in Patent Document 2, the inventors of the present application have developed an inkjet printer comprising: an inkjet head that ejects ink onto a medium; a carriage that carries the inkjet head; a carriage drive mechanism that moves the carriage in a main scanning direction; and a carriage retaining member that retains the carriage so that it can move in the main scanning direction. In the inkjet printer under development, the carriage comprises a carriage body to which the inkjet head is mounted and a plurality of guide rollers rotatably mounted to the carriage body.

[0014] In an inkjet printer currently under development, a guide rail is formed on the carriage retaining member, and this guide rail has a contact surface for a guide roller. In this inkjet printer, the carriage moving in the main scanning direction is guided by multiple guide rollers and the guide rail. During the development of this inkjet printer, the inventors of this application discovered through research that the carriage moving in the main scanning direction generates periodic vibrations.

[0015] Therefore, the subject of the present invention is to provide an inkjet printer that can suppress the periodic vibration of a slide moving in the main scanning direction. In this inkjet printer, the slide moving in the main scanning direction is guided by using a plurality of guide rollers possessed by the slide and a guide rail formed on a slide holding member that holds the slide so as to be movable in the main scanning direction.

[0016] Solutions for solving problems

[0017] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the inkjet printer of the present invention ejects ink to print on a medium, and is characterized in that the inkjet printer comprises: an inkjet head that ejects ink toward the medium; a platen that carries the medium during printing; a main frame that supports the platen from the bottom side; and a plurality of support legs, the main frame being fixed to the upper end portions of the plurality of support legs. When the reciprocating direction of the inkjet head is set as a main scanning direction, the main frame comprises: a first frame having a fixed portion that is formed in a flat plate shape that is elongated in the main scanning direction and is carried and fixed on the plurality of support legs; and a second frame having a main frame portion that is formed in an elongated shape that is elongated in the main scanning direction and is formed in a channel steel shape that is open on both sides and the bottom side in the main scanning direction. When the direction perpendicular to the up and down direction and the main scanning direction is set as the first direction, the width of the fixed portion in the first direction is wider than the width of the main frame portion in the first direction. The main frame portion is fixed to the upper surface of the fixed portion, and the platen is arranged on the upper side of the main frame portion.

[0018] In an inkjet printer according to the present invention, a main frame comprises: a first frame having a fixed portion formed in a flat plate shape elongated in the main scanning direction and mounted and fixed on a plurality of support legs; and a second frame having a main frame portion formed in a channel-shaped steel shape elongated in the main scanning direction and open on both sides and the bottom in the main scanning direction. In the present invention, the fixed portion has a width in the first direction greater than that of the main frame portion, and the main frame portion is fixed to the upper surface of the fixed portion.

[0019] Specifically, in the present invention, a rectangular cylindrical structure elongated in the main scanning direction is formed on the main frame by utilizing the fixed portion of the first frame and the main frame portion of the second frame fixed to the upper surface of the fixed portion. This rectangular cylindrical structure elongated in the main scanning direction can be used as the main portion of the main frame. Therefore, in the present invention, the strength of the main frame can be increased while reducing the weight of the main frame.

[0020] In the present invention, the first frame preferably includes flat side portions extending upward from both ends of the fixed portion in the first direction. This configuration improves the strength of the first frame compared to a configuration where the first frame consists solely of the flat fixed portion. Consequently, the strength of the main frame can be further enhanced.

[0021] In the present invention, the inkjet printer preferably includes two support legs, wherein the length of the fixed portion in the main scanning direction is longer than the length of the main frame portion in the main scanning direction, the two support legs are positioned outwardly of the main frame portion in the main scanning direction, and the second frame includes a reinforcement portion that extends outwardly from the main frame portion in the main scanning direction to at least the upper side of the support legs, and the reinforcement portion is fixed to the upper surface of the fixed portion. With this configuration, even if the two support legs are positioned outwardly of the main frame portion in the main scanning direction, the strength of the upper portion of the support legs, which serves as the fulcrum of the main frame supported by the two support legs, can be increased. Consequently, deformation of the main frame when a load acts on the main frame can be suppressed.

[0022] In addition, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the inkjet printer of the present invention ejects ink from the inkjet head to print on the medium, and is characterized in that the inkjet printer comprises: a platen on which the medium to be printed is placed; a main frame for supporting the platen from the bottom side; and a plurality of support legs, the main frame being fixed to the upper end portions of the plurality of support legs, and when the reciprocating direction of the inkjet head is set as the main scanning direction, the main frame comprises a first frame and a second frame, and the first frame and the second frame are formed into an elongated shape that is elongated in the main scanning direction, and when the direction orthogonal to the up and down direction and the main scanning direction is set as the first direction, the second frame comprises: a main frame portion that is formed into an elongated shape that is elongated in the main scanning direction and is formed on both sides of the main scanning direction and a channel-shaped steel shape with an opening on the lower side; and a flat bottom portion, which extends from the lower end of the main frame portion toward the outside in the first direction, the first frame has a second main frame portion, and the second main frame portion is formed into a slender shape that is slender in the main scanning direction and is formed into a channel-shaped steel shape with openings on both sides and the upper side in the main scanning direction, the second main frame portion has: a fixed portion, which is formed into a flat plate shape that is slender in the main scanning direction and is placed and fixed on a plurality of supporting legs; and a flat side portion, which stands upward from both ends of the fixed portion in the first direction, the width of the second main frame portion in the first direction is wider than the width of the main frame portion in the first direction, the bottom portion is fixed to the upper end side of the side portion, and a table is arranged on the upper side of the main frame portion.

[0023] In the inkjet printer of the present invention, the second frame constituting a portion of the main frame includes: a main frame portion formed into a slender shape that is elongated in the main scanning direction and is formed into a channel-shaped steel shape that is open on both sides and the bottom in the main scanning direction; and a flat bottom portion portion that extends from the lower end of the main frame portion toward the outside in the first direction. In addition, in the present invention, the first frame constituting a portion of the main frame includes a second main frame portion formed into a slender shape that is elongated in the main scanning direction and is formed into a channel-shaped steel shape that is open on both sides and the top in the main scanning direction. Moreover, in the present invention, the width of the second main frame portion in the first direction is wider than the width of the main frame portion in the first direction, and the bottom portion portion of the second frame is fixed to the upper end side of the side portion of the second main frame portion.

[0024] Specifically, the present invention utilizes the first and second frames to form a cylindrical structural portion on the main frame that has a convex shape (a shape roughly formed by flipping a T-shape upside down) when viewed from the main scanning direction and is elongated in the main scanning direction. This cylindrical structural portion, elongated in the main scanning direction, can be used as the primary portion of the main frame. Consequently, the present invention can enhance the strength of the main frame and reduce its weight.

[0025] In the present invention, it is preferred that the first frame include a flat upper surface portion extending inward in the first direction from the upper end of the side portion, and the bottom portion is fixed to the upper surface portion while resting on the upper surface portion. This configuration stabilizes the bottom portion fixed to the upper end of the side portion. Thus, the strength of the main frame can be further increased. Furthermore, this configuration simplifies the process of securing the bottom portion, which is resting on the upper surface portion, to the upper surface portion.

[0026] In the present invention, the inkjet printer preferably includes a reinforcing member that closes the openings formed on both sides of the second main frame portion in the main scanning direction. This configuration can increase the strength of the main frame at both ends in the main scanning direction.

[0027] In the present invention, an inkjet printer includes, for example, a transport roller for transporting a medium in a first direction, and a roller support portion for rotatably supporting the transport roller, the roller support portion being mounted to a main frame. In the inkjet printer of the present invention, the strength of the main frame can be increased. Therefore, even if the roller support portion, which supports the transport roller against reaction forces from the medium during transport, is fixed to the main frame, the transport roller can still be appropriately supported by the main frame via the roller support portion.

[0028] In the present invention, the inkjet printer preferably includes a platen support portion formed or fixed to the second frame and used to secure the platen. The platen is formed with a plurality of suction holes for sucking the media during printing. A space communicating with the plurality of suction holes is formed between the upper surface of the main frame portion and the lower surface of the platen. A fan is mounted on the main frame portion for exhausting air from the space. With this configuration, the fan mounted on the main frame portion can be used to exhaust air from the space toward the interior of the channel-shaped main frame portion. Consequently, the media during printing can be suctioned and secured to the platen using a relatively simple structure.

[0029] In the present invention, it is preferred that the platen support portion is formed independently of the second frame, and the platen support portion is fixed to the second frame. Since the second frame is formed into an elongated shape that is thin and long in the main scanning direction, when the platen support portion is formed on the second frame, the processing of the second frame when forming the platen support portion is relatively complicated, and the manufacturing cost of the second frame with the platen support portion formed integrally therewith may increase. In contrast, even if the second frame is formed into an elongated shape that is thin and long in the main scanning direction, the processing of the second frame when fixing the independently formed platen support portion to the second frame is relatively easy. Therefore, with this configuration, the manufacturing cost of the second frame in a state in which the platen support portion is fixed can be reduced.

[0030] In the present invention, preferably, the inkjet printer comprises: a carriage which carries an inkjet head; a carriage driving mechanism which moves the carriage in a main scanning direction; and a maintenance unit which is used to prevent clogging of a plurality of nozzles formed on the lower surface of the inkjet head, the length of the first frame in the main scanning direction being longer than the length of the main frame portion in the main scanning direction, the maintenance unit being arranged on one side of the main frame portion in the main scanning direction and being mounted on the upper surface side of the first frame.

[0031] With this configuration, even if the maintenance unit is relatively high, the upper surface of the maintenance unit can be positioned appropriately relative to the upper surface of the platen by adjusting the height of the main frame. Furthermore, the position of the upper surface of the platen is set so that a predetermined gap is formed between the upper surface of the platen and the lower surface of the inkjet head. Therefore, even if the maintenance unit is relatively high, the upper surface of the maintenance unit can be positioned appropriately relative to the lower surface of the inkjet head.

[0032] In the present invention, the inkjet printer preferably includes: a carriage carrying an inkjet head; a carriage drive mechanism that moves the carriage in a main scanning direction; a carriage holding member having an elongated shape that is elongated in the main scanning direction and that holds the carriage so that it can move in the main scanning direction; two side plates that respectively secure opposite ends of the carriage holding member in the main scanning direction and are secured to a main frame; and two second side plates that are respectively disposed on opposite sides of a main frame portion in the main scanning direction and secured to the main frame, the two second side plates being disposed inside the two side plates in the main scanning direction, the carriage holding member being secured to the two side plates and the two second side plates. With this configuration, since the carriage holding member is secured to the two second side plates in addition to the two side plates, deformation such as deflection of the carriage holding member when a load acts on the elongated shape of the carriage holding member.

[0033] In the present invention, when one side in the first direction is set as the front side and the other side in the first direction is set as the rear side, for example, the inkjet head mounted on the slide is arranged on the front side of the slide holding member, and a first fixing surface and a second fixing surface for fixing the slide holding member are formed on the second side plate. The first fixing surface becomes a plane perpendicular to the up and down directions, and the second fixing surface becomes a plane perpendicular to the first direction, and is arranged at a position farther back and above than the first fixing surface. The front lower end portion of the slide holding member is fixed to the first fixing surface, and the rear lower end portion of the slide holding member is fixed to the second fixing surface.

[0034] In the present invention, the first frame preferably includes flat side portions extending upward from both ends of the fixed portion in the first direction, and the second side panels are fixed to the upper ends of the two side portions. With this configuration, the second side panels prevent the two side portions from opening outward in the first direction. This improves the strength of the first frame.

[0035] Furthermore, the inventors of the present application conducted various studies to address the aforementioned issues. As a result, the inventors of the present application discovered that there is a relationship between the period of vibration generated by the carriage when moving in the main scanning direction and the rotation period of the guide roller (the time it takes for the guide roller to rotate once). Furthermore, in an inkjet printer currently under development, the outer diameters of the multiple guide rollers on the carriage are all the same, and the rotation periods of all guide rollers are consistent. Through further research, the inventors of the present application discovered that by including guide rollers with different outer diameters among the multiple guide rollers on the carriage (i.e., including guide rollers with different rotation periods among the multiple guide rollers), the periodic vibration of the carriage moving in the main scanning direction can be suppressed.

[0036] The inkjet printer of the present invention is based on this new insight and is characterized in that the inkjet printer comprises: an inkjet head that ejects ink toward a medium; a carriage that carries the inkjet head; a carriage driving mechanism that moves the carriage in a main scanning direction which is the reciprocating direction of the inkjet head; and a carriage holding member that is formed into an elongated shape that is elongated in the main scanning direction and holds the carriage so as to be movable in the main scanning direction, the carriage comprising a carriage main body on which the inkjet head is mounted and a plurality of guide rollers for guiding the carriage in the main scanning direction, the plurality of guide rollers being rotatably mounted on the carriage main body, a guide rail being formed on the carriage holding member, the guide rail forming a contact surface for the guide rollers to contact, and an outer diameter of at least one of the plurality of guide rollers being different from an outer diameter of the remaining guide rollers other than the guide roller.

[0037] In the inkjet printer of the present invention, the outer diameter of at least one of the plurality of guide rollers is different from the outer diameters of the remaining guide rollers. Specifically, the present invention includes guide rollers having different outer diameters among the plurality of guide rollers of the carriage. Therefore, the present invention can suppress periodic vibrations of the carriage as it moves in the main scanning direction.

[0038] In the present invention, for example, the carriage has a guide roller group including a plurality of guide rollers, and when one side in a sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the up-down direction and the main scanning direction is set as the front side and the other side in the sub-scanning direction is set as the rear side, the carriage main body is arranged on the front side of the carriage holding member, the guide roller group has a first guide roller and a second guide roller as guide rollers installed on the upper end side of the carriage main body and a third guide roller and a fourth guide roller as guide rollers installed on the lower end side of the carriage main body, and the guide roller group is installed at the rear end portions of each of the two end sides in the main scanning direction of the carriage main body, and a first guide rail as a guide rail and a second guide rail as a guide rail are formed on the carriage holding member, the first guide rail forming a first contact surface as a contact surface for the first guide roller to contact from the front side and a second contact surface as a contact surface for the second guide roller to contact from the oblique rear upper side, and the second guide rail forming a third contact surface as a contact surface for the third guide roller to contact from the front side and a fourth contact surface as a contact surface for the fourth guide roller to contact from the oblique rear lower side.

[0039] In the present invention, it is preferred that the outer diameter of at least one of the first and second guide rollers be larger than the outer diameters of the remaining guide rollers. According to the inventors' research, when a carriage moves in the main scanning direction, vibrations tend to be greater at the upper end of the carriage than at the lower end. However, if the outer diameter of at least one of the first and second guide rollers attached to the upper end of the carriage body is larger than the outer diameters of the remaining guide rollers, the periodic vibrations of the carriage moving in the main scanning direction can be effectively suppressed.

[0040] In the present invention, it is preferred that the carriage include two types of guide rollers having different outer diameters. This configuration facilitates component management of the guide rollers compared to a case where the carriage includes three or more types of guide rollers having different outer diameters, and can also prevent guide roller installation errors during carriage assembly.

[0041] Effects of the Invention

[0042] As described above, in the present invention, the inkjet printer comprises: a platen on which the medium for printing is placed; a main frame which supports the platen from the bottom; and a plurality of support legs, the main frame being fixed to the upper end portions of the plurality of support legs. In this inkjet printer, the strength of the main frame can be improved and the weight of the main frame can be reduced.

[0043] In addition, as described above, in the present invention, the inkjet printer guides the slide moving in the main scanning direction by utilizing a plurality of guide rollers possessed by the slide and a guide rail formed on a slide holding member that holds the slide so as to be movable in the main scanning direction. In this inkjet printer, the periodic vibration of the slide moving in the main scanning direction can be suppressed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] Figure 1 It is a perspective view of an inkjet printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0045] Figure 2 It will Figure 1 The table, main frame, upper ends of the support legs and the second side panel shown are shown in a three-dimensional view.

[0046] Figure 3 Is used to illustrate Figure 1 An enlarged view of the structure of part E.

[0047] Figure 4 It is from Figure 3 The FF direction shows a side view of the carriage holding member, the medium conveying mechanism, the platen, the main body frame, and the second side plate.

[0048] Figure 5 yes Figure 2 Magnified view of section G.

[0049] Figure 6 yes Figure 2 Cross-sectional view of the HH section.

[0050] Figure 7 yes Figure 4 Magnified view of the J part.

[0051] Figure 8 yes Figure 4 An enlarged view of the K portion with the second side panel removed.

[0052] Figure 9 It will Figure 1 The inkjet head, carriage, and carriage holding member are shown in side elevational view.

[0053] Figure 10 It will Figure 9 The guide rollers and roller retaining member shown are shown in a rear perspective view.

[0054] Figure 11 It will Figure 9 The guide rails and guide rollers shown are shown in a side view.

[0055] Figure 12 It is a perspective view for explaining the structure of a main body frame according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0056] Figure 13 yes Figure 12 Enlarged view of the N part.

[0057] Figure 14 Is used to illustrate Figure 12 A cross-sectional view of the structure of the main frame is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0058] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0059] (Overall structure of an inkjet printer)

[0060] Figure 1 It is a perspective view of an inkjet printer 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 It will Figure 1 The table top 8, the main frame 9, the upper ends of the support legs 10 and the side panels 12 are shown in a perspective view. Figure 3 Is used to illustrate Figure 1 An enlarged view of the structure of part E. Figure 4 It is from Figure 3 The FF direction shows a side view of the Y-rod 6 , the medium conveying mechanism 7 , the platen 8 , the main frame 9 , and the side plate 12 .

[0061] The inkjet printer 1 (hereinafter referred to as "printer 1") of this embodiment is, for example, a business-use inkjet printer. The printer 1 ejects ink onto a medium 2 (see Figure 4 ) for printing. The medium 2 is, for example, printing paper, cloth, or a resin film. The printer 1 includes: an inkjet head 3 (see Figure 3 , hereinafter referred to as "nozzle 3"), which ejects ink toward the medium 2; a carriage 4, which carries the nozzle 3; a carriage drive mechanism 5, which enables the carriage 4 to move in the main scanning direction ( Figure 1and a Y-rod 6 as a carriage holding member, which holds the carriage 4 so as to be movable in the main scanning direction.

[0062] In addition, the printer 1 includes a medium transport mechanism 7 which is arranged in the vertical direction (vertical direction, Figure 1 The Z direction of the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction ( Figure 1 The printer 1 of this embodiment comprises a platen 8 for conveying the medium 2 in the X direction (e.g., the X direction); a platen 8 for placing the medium 2 during printing; a main frame 9 for supporting the platen 8 from below; a plurality of support legs 10, the upper ends of which are fixed to the main frame 9; and side panels 11 and 12 fixed to the main frame 9. The printer 1 of this embodiment includes two support legs 10, two side panels 11, and two side panels 12. In this embodiment, the side panel 12 serves as the second side panel.

[0063] In the following description, the main scanning direction (Y direction) is referred to as the "left-right direction" and the sub-scanning direction (X direction) is referred to as the "front-back direction". Figure 1 The Y1 direction side of the same is set as the "right" side, and the opposite side of the right side is set as Figure 1 The Y2 direction side of the same is set as the "left" side, and the side in the front-back direction is set as the Figure 1 The X1 direction side of the other side is set as the "front" side, and the opposite side of the front side is set as the Figure 1 The X2-direction side is defined as the "rear" side. In this embodiment, the left-right direction (Y-direction) corresponds to the width direction of the medium 2. Furthermore, the front-back direction (X-direction) is defined as the first direction, which is perpendicular to the up-down direction and the left-right direction, which is the width direction of the medium 2. Furthermore, one side in the first direction (i.e., one side in the sub-scanning direction, the X1-direction side) is defined as the front side, and the other side in the first direction (i.e., the other side in the sub-scanning direction, the X2-direction side) is defined as the rear side.

[0064] The nozzle 3 ejects ink downward. Multiple nozzles for ejecting ink are formed on the lower surface of the nozzle 3. The nozzle 3 includes a piezoelectric element that ejects ink from the nozzles. For example, a plurality of nozzles 3 are mounted on the carriage 4. The carriage drive mechanism 5 includes, for example, two pulleys, a belt mounted on the two pulleys and partially fixed to the carriage 4, and a motor that rotates the pulleys. The specific structure of the carriage 4 will be described later.

[0065] The platen 8 is formed into a long and narrow shape in the left-right direction. The length of the platen 8 in the left-right direction is, for example, about 1600 mm. The platen 8 is arranged on the lower side of the nozzle 3. A plurality of suction holes 8a for sucking the medium 2 during printing are formed on the platen 8 (see FIG. Figure 5Multiple suction holes 8a are formed across substantially the entire area of ​​the platen 8. The Y-rod 6 is formed into an elongated shape that is slender in the left-right direction. The Y-rod 6 is positioned behind the platen 8 and above the platen 8. The specific structure of the Y-rod 6 will be described later.

[0066] The main frame 9 is formed into an elongated shape that is elongated in the left-right direction. The two support legs 10 are arranged in a state where there is a gap between them in the left-right direction. The two support legs 10 support the left-right end portions of the main frame 9 from the bottom. The two support legs 10 are arranged at a position that is closer to the inside in the left-right direction than the left-right end portions of the main frame 9. The side panels 11 are respectively fixed to the left-right end portions of the main frame 9. The side panels 12 are respectively fixed to the left-right end portions of the main frame 9. The two side panels 12 are arranged on the inside of the two side panels 11 in the left-right direction. The specific structure of the main frame 9 and the side panels 12 will be described later.

[0067] The medium conveying mechanism 7 includes a conveying roller (anilox roller) 16 for conveying the medium 2 in the front-to-back direction; a plurality of pinch rollers 17 arranged opposite the conveying roller 16; and a rotational drive mechanism for rotating the conveying roller 16. The medium conveying mechanism 7 includes, for example, approximately 20 pinch rollers 17. The conveying rollers 16 and the pinch rollers 17 are rotatable with the left and right directions being the axial direction of rotation. The conveying roller 16 is arranged on the rear side of the platen 8. The pinch rollers 17 are arranged above the conveying roller 16 and face the conveying roller 16 from above. The rotational drive mechanism includes a motor and a power transmission mechanism for transmitting the power of the motor to the conveying roller 16.

[0068] The medium 2 is conveyed while being sandwiched vertically between the transport rollers 16 and the pinch rollers 17. Furthermore, the medium transport mechanism 7 includes a pinch roller moving mechanism 18 that moves the pinch rollers 17 between a medium holding position in which a portion of the medium 2 is sandwiched between the plurality of pinch rollers 17 and the transport rollers 16, and a retracted position in which the plurality of pinch rollers 17 are separated from the transport rollers 16. The specific structure of the pinch roller moving mechanism 18 will be described later.

[0069] The printer 1 also includes a maintenance unit 19, which is used to prevent clogging of the multiple nozzles formed on the lower surface of the printhead 3. The maintenance unit 19 cleans the printhead 3 to prevent clogging of the multiple nozzles of the printhead 3. For example, the maintenance unit 19 performs ink extraction (forcibly sucking ink from the nozzles of the printhead 3), flushing (forcibly ejecting ink from the nozzles of the printhead 3), and scraping (wiping the lower surface of the printhead 3 with a predetermined scraper member). The maintenance unit 19 is mounted on the right end of the main frame 9.

[0070] (Structure of the main frame and its surrounding parts)

[0071] Figure 5 yes Figure 2 Magnified view of section G. Figure 6 yes Figure 2 Cross-sectional view of the HH section.

[0072] The main frame 9 includes a first frame 21 and a second frame 22, each of which is formed into an elongated shape that is elongated in the left-right direction. The first frame 21 and the second frame 22 are formed of a metal material. Furthermore, the first frame 21 and the second frame 22 are formed by bending a thin flat metal plate formed into a predetermined shape into the predetermined shape.

[0073] The first frame 21 includes a flat plate-shaped fixed portion 21a that is mounted and fixed to the two support legs 10. The fixed portion 21a is formed into a flat plate shape that is elongated in the left-right direction. Specifically, the fixed portion 21a is formed into a rectangular flat plate shape that is elongated in the left-right direction. The thickness direction of the fixed portion 21a is aligned with the vertical direction. Furthermore, the long sides of the rectangular fixed portion 21a are aligned with the left-right direction, and the short sides of the fixed portion 21a are aligned with the front-back direction.

[0074] In addition to the fixed portion 21a, the first frame 21 further includes side portions 21b extending upward from both ends of the fixed portion 21a in the front-to-back direction, and an upper surface portion 21c extending inward in the front-to-back direction from the upper ends of the side portions 21b. The side portions 21b and the upper surface portion 21c are formed into flat rectangular plates that are elongated in the left-right direction. The thickness of the side portions 21b is aligned with the front-to-back direction, while the thickness of the upper surface portion 21c is aligned with the top-to-bottom direction.

[0075] The first frame 21 of this embodiment is composed of a fixed portion 21a, two side portions 21b, and two upper surface portions 21c, and is formed into a C-shaped steel shape with both sides in the left-right direction and the upper side open (see Figure 6 ). The cross-sectional shape of the first frame 21 is roughly in the shape of the Japanese character "コ" (roughly in the shape of the letter U) with an upper side open. The fixed portion 21a is fixed to the upper surface of the support leg 10. The two end portions of the fixed portion 21a in the left-right direction are fixed to the support leg 10. The left-right length of the first frame 21 is longer than the left-right distance between the two support legs 10. The two end faces of the first frame 21 in the left-right direction are arranged at a position further outward in the left-right direction than the two support legs 10.

[0076] The second frame 22 includes a main frame portion 22a, which is formed into a slender shape in the left-right direction and is formed into a channel-shaped steel shape with both sides and the lower side open in the left-right direction. The main frame portion 22a is composed of two side portions 22b constituting the side surfaces in the front-back direction of the main frame portion 22a and an upper surface portion 22c connecting the upper ends of the two side portions 22b, and the cross-sectional shape of the main frame portion 22a is a Japanese kana U-shape (letter U shape) with the lower side open. The side portions 22b and the upper surface portion 22c are formed into a flat rectangular plate shape that is slender in the left-right direction. The thickness direction of the side portion 22b is consistent with the front-back direction, and the thickness direction of the upper surface portion 22c is consistent with the up-down direction. The height of the side portion 22b is higher than the height of the side portion 21b.

[0077] The second frame 22 also includes a bottom portion 22d extending outward in the front-to-back direction from the lower end of the side portion 22b, and an outer portion 22e rising upward from the outer end of the bottom portion 22d in the front-to-back direction. The bottom portion 22d and the outer portion 22e are formed into flat rectangular plates that are elongated in the left-to-right direction. The thickness of the bottom portion 22d is aligned with the vertical direction, while the thickness of the outer portion 22e is aligned with the front-to-back direction. The second frame 22 also includes a reinforcement portion 22f extending outward in the left-to-right direction from the main frame portion 22a.

[0078] The reinforcement portion 22f is formed at two locations in the front-to-back direction on the right side of the main frame portion 22a, and at two locations in the front-to-back direction on the left side of the main frame portion 22a. That is, the second frame 22 has four reinforcement portions 22f. The reinforcement portion 22f is composed of a bottom portion 22g connected to the bottom portion 22d, an outer side portion 22h connected to the outer end of the bottom portion 22g in the front-to-back direction and connected to the outer side portion 22e, and an inner side portion 22j connected to the inner end of the bottom portion 22g in the front-to-back direction and connected to the lower end of the side portion 22b. The reinforcement portion 22f is formed in a channel steel shape with an upper side opening (see FIG. 2 ). Figure 5 ).

[0079] The left-right length of the first frame 21 is longer than the left-right length of the second frame 22. That is, the left-right length of the first frame 21 is longer than the left-right length of the main frame portion 22a. Furthermore, the left-right length of the fixed portion 21a is longer than the left-right length of the main frame portion 22a. The front-to-back width of the first frame 21 is wider than the front-to-back width of the second frame 22. That is, the front-to-back width of the fixed portion 21a is wider than the front-to-back width of the main frame portion 22a.

[0080] The second frame 22 is fixed to the upper surface of the fixed portion 21a. Specifically, the bottom portions 22d and 22g that contact the upper surface of the fixed portion 21a are fixed to the upper surface of the fixed portion 21a using a plurality of screws. In other words, the main frame portion 22a is fixed to the upper surface of the fixed portion 21a via the bottom portions 22d and 22g, and the reinforcement portion 22f is fixed to the upper surface of the fixed portion 21a. The left and right end surfaces of the second frame 22 are positioned inward of the left and right end surfaces of the first frame 21. The height of the outer surface portions 22e and 22h is lower than that of the side portion 21b.

[0081] The left-right length of the main frame portion 22a is shorter than the left-right spacing between the two support legs 10. The two support legs 10 are positioned outside the main frame portion 22a in the left-right direction. That is, the main frame portion 22a is positioned between the two support legs 10 in the left-right direction. Furthermore, the left-right length of the second frame 22 is longer than the left-right spacing between the two support legs 10. Both end surfaces of the second frame 22 in the left-right direction are positioned further outward than the two support legs 10 in the left-right direction. That is, the reinforcement portion 22f extends outward from the main frame portion 22a in the left-right direction and extends to a position further outward than the upper side of the support legs 10 in the left-right direction.

[0082] The main frame portion 22a is provided with a roller support portion 25 (see FIG. Figure 6 ). That is, the printer 1 includes a roller support portion 25 that supports the conveying roller 16 so that it can rotate. The roller support portion 25 is fixed to the rear surface of the side portion 22b arranged on the rear side. A plurality of roller support portions 25 are mounted on the main frame portion 22a, and the plurality of roller support portions 25 are arranged at regular intervals in the left-right direction (see Figure 2 The roller support portion 25 includes a bearing that rotatably supports the conveying roller 16 .

[0083] The roller support portion 25 is formed with a platen support portion 25a for fixing the platen 8 (see Figure 6 ). That is, the printer 1 includes a platen support portion 25a that is fixed to the second frame 22 and is used to fix the platen 8. Furthermore, a platen support portion 22k is formed on the second frame 22 to fix the platen 8. That is, the printer 1 includes a platen support portion 22k that is formed on the second frame 22 and is used to fix the platen 8.

[0084] The second frame 22 is formed with a plurality of platen support portions 22k, which are arranged at regular intervals in the left-right direction (see Figure 2The table support portion 22k is formed by cutting and raising a portion of the front end side of the upper surface portion 22c of the main frame portion 22a upward. The upper end surfaces of the table support portions 22k and 25a are planes perpendicular to the up-down direction. The front end portion of the table 8 is mounted and fixed on the upper end surface of the table support portion 22k, and the rear end portion of the table 8 is mounted and fixed on the upper end surface of the table support portion 25a (see Figure 6 ).

[0085] The width of the platen 8 in the left-right direction is substantially equal to the width of the main frame portion 22a in the left-right direction. The platen 8 is arranged on the upper side of the main frame portion 22a. As described above, the platen 8 is formed with a plurality of suction holes 8a for sucking the medium 2 during printing. A space S (see FIG. 1 ) communicating with the plurality of suction holes 8a is formed between the upper surface of the main frame portion 22a (i.e., the upper surface of the upper surface portion 22c) and the lower surface of the platen 8. Figure 6 ). The space S is a relatively airtight space.

[0086] The main frame portion 22a is provided with a fan 23 for exhausting air from the space S. Specifically, the fan 23 is provided on the lower surface of the upper surface portion 22c. Figure 6 As shown, an opening 22p is formed on the upper surface portion 22c for allowing air exhausted from the space S to pass through. In the printer 1, when the fan 23 operates to exhaust air from the space S, the medium 2 is sucked into the plurality of suction holes 8a. The space S becomes an air chamber for sucking the medium 2. In addition, a sponge 24 is arranged on the lower side of the front end and the rear end of the platen 8 to improve the sealing property of the space S (see FIG. Figure 6 ).

[0087] As described above, the maintenance unit 19 is mounted on the right end of the main frame 9. The maintenance unit 19 is arranged on the right side of the main frame portion 22a. That is, the maintenance unit 19 is arranged on one side of the main frame portion 22a in the left-right direction. The maintenance unit 19 is mounted on the upper surface side of the first frame 21. Specifically, as Figure 3 As shown, the maintenance unit 19 is fixed to the upper surfaces of the two upper surface portions 21 c.

[0088] (Structure of Y-rod and side plate)

[0089] Figure 7 yes Figure 4 Magnified view of the J part.

[0090] The Y-bar 6 is constructed from an extruded aluminum alloy. As described above, the Y-bar 6 has an elongated shape that is elongated in the horizontal direction. Guide rails 6a and 6b are formed on the front surface of the Y-bar 6 to guide the carriage 4 in the horizontal direction (main scanning direction). The specific structure of the guide rails 6a and 6b will be described later.

[0091] The side panels 11 and 12 are formed by bending a thin, flat metal plate formed into a predetermined shape into a predetermined shape. As described above, the side panels 11 are fixed to both ends of the main frame 9 in the left-right direction. The side panels 11 are attached to the upper surface of the first frame 21 at both ends of the main frame 9 in the left-right direction. Specifically, the side panels 11 are fixed to the upper surfaces of the two upper surface portions 21c at both ends of the main frame 9 in the left-right direction. The two end portions of the Y-bar 6 in the left-right direction are fixed to the side panels 11.

[0092] As described above, the side panels 12 are fixed to the left-right ends of the main frame 9. Furthermore, the two side panels 12 are positioned inwardly of the two side panels 11 in the left-right direction. The left-right spacing between the two side panels 12 is slightly wider than the left-right length of the tabletop 8 and the main frame portion 22a. The side panels 12 are positioned on either side of the tabletop 8 and the main frame portion 22a in the left-right direction. In other words, the tabletop 8 and the main frame portion 22a are positioned in the left-right direction between the two side panels 12.

[0093] The side panels 12 are attached to the upper surface of the first frame 21 at both ends in the left-right direction of the main frame 9. Specifically, the side panels 12 are fixed to the upper surfaces of the two upper surface portions 21c. In other words, the side panels 12 are fixed to the upper ends of the two side surface portions 21b at both ends in the left-right direction of the main frame 9. The maintenance unit 19 is positioned between the side panels 11 and 12 at the right end of the printer 1.

[0094] The two ends of the Y rod 6 in the left and right directions are fixed to the side plates 12. That is, the Y rod 6 is fixed to the two side plates 12. The side plates 12 are formed with fixing surfaces 12a and 12b for fixing the Y rod 6 (see Figure 5 、 Figure 7 ). The fixing surface 12a is a plane perpendicular to the vertical direction. The fixing surface 12b is a plane perpendicular to the front-back direction. The fixing surface 12b is arranged at a position rearward and above the fixing surface 12a. In this embodiment, the fixing surface 12a is the first fixing surface, and the fixing surface 12b is the second fixing surface.

[0095] The left-right ends of the Y-rod 6 are placed on the rear end of the side plate 12. The front lower end of the Y-rod 6 is placed on the fixing surface 12a. The front lower end of the Y-rod 6 is fixed to the fixing surface 12a. Specifically, the front lower end of the Y-rod 6 is fixed to the fixing surface 12a with a screw. The rear lower end of the Y-rod 6 contacts the fixing surface 12b from the front. The rear lower end of the Y-rod 6 is fixed to the fixing surface 12b. Specifically, the rear lower end of the Y-rod 6 is fixed to the fixing surface 12b with a screw.

[0096] (Pinch roller moving mechanism)

[0097] Figure 8 yes Figure 4 This is an enlarged view of the K portion with the side plate 12 removed.

[0098] The pinch roller moving mechanism 18 includes: a pinch roller holding portion 28 that rotatably holds the pinch roller 17; a rotating shaft 29 to which the pinch roller holding portion 28 is fixed; and a drive mechanism that rotates the rotating shaft 29. The pinch roller 17 is rotatably held at the front end of the pinch roller holding portion 28. The rear end of the pinch roller holding portion 28 is fixed to the rotating shaft 29. A plurality of pinch roller holding portions 28 are fixed to the rotating shaft 29. The rotating shaft 29 can rotate axially, with the left and right directions being the rotational direction. Both ends of the rotating shaft 29 are rotatably supported by the two side plates 12.

[0099] The drive mechanism includes a drive source such as a motor and a power transmission mechanism that transmits the power of the drive source to the rotating shaft 29. The drive mechanism rotates the rotating shaft 29 to move the pinch rollers 17 to the medium holding position (where a portion of the medium 2 is clamped between the plurality of pinch rollers 17 and the transport rollers 16). Figure 8 The plurality of pinch rollers 17 move between the position shown in FIG. 1 and a retracted position where the plurality of pinch rollers 17 are away from the transport roller 16. When the medium 2 is placed in the printer 1, the pinch rollers 17 move to the retracted position, and when the medium 2 is placed in the printer 1, the pinch rollers 17 move to the medium holding position.

[0100] The pinch roller holding portion 28 can be manually moved in the left-right direction relative to the rotation shaft 29. The pinch roller holding portion 28 is attached to the clamp mechanism 30 (see Figure 8 The clamping mechanism 30 is switchable between a clamped state in which the pinch roller holder 28 is fixed to the rotation shaft 29 and an unclamped state in which the pinch roller holder 28 is movable in the left-right direction relative to the rotation shaft 29. The clamping mechanism 30 is retained at the lower end of the Y-bar 6 so as to be movable in the left-right direction.

[0101] (Structure of carriage and guide rail)

[0102] Figure 9 It will Figure 1 The spray head 3, the carriage 4 and the Y-rod 6 are shown in a side view. Figure 10 It will Figure 9 The guide rollers 33 to 36 and the roller holding member 37 are shown in a rear perspective view as shown in raised form. Figure 11 It will Figure 9 The guide rails 6a, 6b and the guide rollers 33 to 36 are shown in a side view.

[0103] The carriage 4 includes a carriage body 32 to which the nozzle head 3 is mounted, and a plurality of guide rollers 33 to 36 for guiding the carriage 4 in the left-right direction (main scanning direction). The carriage body 32 is arranged in front of the Y-bar 6. That is, the nozzle head 3, which is mounted on the carriage body 32 and carried by the carriage 4, is arranged in front of the Y-bar 6. The carriage body 32 includes a roller retaining member 37 that rotatably retains the plurality of guide rollers 33 to 36. In other words, the plurality of guide rollers 33 to 36 are rotatably mounted on the carriage body 32. The roller retaining member 37 is formed of a resin material. The roller retaining member 37 constitutes the rear end portion of the carriage body 32.

[0104] The guide rollers 33 to 36 are bearings. For example, the guide rollers 33 to 36 are ball bearings or roller bearings. In this embodiment, Figure 10 As shown, the carriage 4 includes four guide rollers 33 to 36 attached to the right end of the roller holding member 37, and four guide rollers 33 to 36 attached to the left end of the roller holding member 37. That is, in this embodiment, the carriage 4 includes two guide rollers 33, two guide rollers 34, two guide rollers 35, and two guide rollers 36, for a total of eight guide rollers 33 to 36.

[0105] In addition, in this embodiment, the carriage 4 includes: a guide roller group 38 including four guide rollers 33 to 36 mounted on the right end side of the roller holding member 37; and a guide roller group 39 including four guide rollers 33 to 36 mounted on the left end side of the roller holding member 37 (see Figure 10 That is, the guide roller groups 38 and 39 are respectively attached to both end sides in the left-right direction of the carriage body 32. In addition, the guide roller groups 38 and 39 are attached to the rear end portion of the carriage body 32.

[0106] The guide rollers 33 and 34 are attached to the upper end of the roller holding member 37 (i.e., the upper end of the carriage body 32). The two guide rollers 33 are positioned laterally inward of the two guide rollers 34. The guide rollers 33 can rotate relative to the roller holding member 37, with the vertical direction being the axis of rotation. The guide roller 34 can rotate relative to the roller holding member 37, with the obliquely rearward and downward direction being the axis of rotation. A fixed shaft serving as the rotation center of the guide rollers 33 and 34 is fixed to the roller holding member 37.

[0107] The guide rollers 35 and 36 are attached to the lower end of the roller holding member 37 (i.e., the lower end of the carriage body 32). The two guide rollers 35 are positioned laterally inward of the two guide rollers 36. The guide rollers 35 can rotate relative to the roller holding member 37, with the vertical direction being the axis of rotation. The guide roller 36 can rotate relative to the roller holding member 37, with the obliquely upward and rearward axis being the axis of rotation. A fixed shaft serving as the rotation center of the guide rollers 35 and 36 is fixed to the roller holding member 37.

[0108] In this embodiment, the guide roller 33 is the first guide roller, the guide roller 34 is the second guide roller, the guide roller 35 is the third guide roller, and the guide roller 34 is the fourth guide roller. That is, the guide roller groups 38 and 39 include the first guide roller, the second guide roller, the third guide roller, and the fourth guide roller.

[0109] The outer diameter D1 of the guide roller 33 (see Figure 11 ) and the outer diameters D2 to D4 of the guide rollers 34 to 36 (see Figure 11 ). That is, the outer diameter D1 of two guide rollers 33 among the eight guide rollers 33 to 36 is different from the outer diameters D2 to D4 of the remaining six guide rollers 34 to 36 excluding guide roller 33. Specifically, the outer diameter D1 of guide roller 33 is larger than the outer diameters D2 to D4 of the remaining guide rollers 34 to 36.

[0110] Furthermore, the outer diameters D2 of the guide roller 34, D3 of the guide roller 35, and D4 of the guide roller 36 are equal. That is, the carriage 4 includes two types of guide rollers 33 to 36 with different outer diameters. For example, the outer diameter D1 of the guide roller 33 is 13 mm, and the outer diameters D2 to D4 of the guide rollers 34 to 36 are 12 mm. In other words, the outer diameter D1 of the guide roller 33 is 1 mm larger than the outer diameters D2 to D4 of the guide rollers 34 to 36. Furthermore, the difference between the outer diameter D1 of the guide roller 33 and the outer diameters D2 to D4 of the guide rollers 34 to 36 can be less than 1 mm or greater than 1 mm.

[0111] As described above, guide rails 6a and 6b are formed on the front surface side of the Y rod 6. Figure 11 As shown, the guide rail 6a has a contact surface 6c with which the guide roller 33 contacts from the front, and a contact surface 6d with which the guide roller 34 contacts from the upper and rearward sides. Specifically, the guide rail 6a has contact surfaces 6c and 6d with which the guide rollers 33 and 34 contact. The guide rail 6b has a contact surface 6e with which the guide roller 35 contacts from the front, and a contact surface 6f with which the guide roller 36 contacts from the lower and rearward sides. Specifically, the guide rail 6b has contact surfaces 6e and 6f with which the guide rollers 35 and 36 contact.

[0112] The contact surfaces 6c and 6e are planes that are perpendicular to the front-to-back direction. The contact surfaces 6c and 6e are planes that are elongated in the left-right direction. The contact surface 6d is a plane that is perpendicular to the upper and rear sides. The contact surface 6f is a plane that is perpendicular to the lower and rear sides. The contact surfaces 6d and 6f are planes that are elongated in the left-right direction. However, the contact surfaces 6d and 6f may also be curved surfaces with a larger radius of curvature. In this embodiment, the contact surface 6c is the first contact surface, the contact surface 6d is the second contact surface, the contact surface 6e is the third contact surface, and the contact surface 6f is the fourth contact surface. In addition, the guide rail 6a in this embodiment is the first guide rail, and the guide rail 6b is the second guide rail.

[0113] Furthermore, the guide rollers 36 are biased toward the contact surfaces 6f by spring members such as torsion coil springs (not shown). Therefore, in this embodiment, even if there are variations in the dimensions of the guide rails 6a, 6b, the guide rollers 33-36, and the roller retaining member 37, all of the guide rollers 33-36 can be brought into contact with the contact surfaces 6c-6f.

[0114] (Main Effects of the Present Embodiment)

[0115] As described above, in this embodiment, the main frame 9 includes: a fixed portion 21a, which is formed into a flat plate shape elongated in the horizontal direction and is placed and fixed to the two support legs 10; and a main frame portion 22a, which is formed into a channel-shaped steel shape elongated in the horizontal direction and has open sides and a lower side in the horizontal direction. In this embodiment, the width of the fixed portion 21a in the front-to-back direction is wider than the width of the main frame portion 22a in the front-to-back direction, and the main frame portion 22a is fixed to the upper surface of the fixed portion 21a.

[0116] That is, in this embodiment, a rectangular cylindrical (square tube-shaped) structural portion elongated in the left-right direction is formed in the main frame 9 using the fixed portion 21a and the main frame portion 22a fixed to the upper surface of the fixed portion 21a. The rectangular cylindrical structural portion elongated in the left-right direction becomes the main portion of the main frame 9. Therefore, in this embodiment, the strength of the main frame 9 can be improved and the weight of the main frame 9 can be reduced.

[0117] In this embodiment, the first frame 21 includes flat side portions 21b that rise upward from both ends of the fixed portion 21a in the front-to-back direction. Therefore, in this embodiment, the strength of the first frame 21 can be improved compared to a case where the first frame 21 consists solely of the flat fixed portion 21a. In particular, in this embodiment, the upper surface portion 21c is connected to the upper ends of the side portions 21b, forming the first frame 21 in a C-shaped steel shape. This further increases the strength of the first frame 21. Consequently, in this embodiment, the strength of the main frame 9 can be further enhanced.

[0118] In this embodiment, the second frame 22 includes a reinforcement portion 22f extending outward in the left-right direction from the main frame portion 22a. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the reinforcement portion 22f, which is fixed to the upper surface of the fixed portion 21a, extends to a position further outward in the left-right direction than the upper side of the support leg 10. Therefore, in this embodiment, even if the fixed portion 21a is fixed to the two support legs 10 on the left-right outer side of the main frame portion 22a, the strength of the upper portion of the support leg 10, which serves as the fulcrum of the main frame 9 supported by the two support legs 10, can be increased. Therefore, in this embodiment, deformation of the main frame 9 when a load acts on the main frame 9 can be suppressed.

[0119] In this embodiment, the roller support portion 25 that rotatably supports the transport roller 16 is attached to the main frame portion 22a. In this embodiment, the strength of the main frame 9 can be increased. Therefore, even if the roller support portion 25 that supports the transport roller 16 that receives the reaction force from the medium 2 during transport is fixed to the main frame portion 22a, the transport roller 16 can still be appropriately supported by the main frame 9 via the roller support portion 25.

[0120] In this embodiment, the platen 8 is formed with multiple suction holes 8a for sucking the medium 2 during printing. Furthermore, in this embodiment, a space S communicating with the multiple suction holes 8a is formed between the upper surface of the main frame portion 22a and the lower surface of the platen 8. A fan 23 is mounted on the main frame portion 22a to exhaust air from the space S. Therefore, in this embodiment, the fan 23 mounted on the main frame portion 22a can be used to exhaust air from the space S toward the interior of the channel-shaped main frame portion 22a. Consequently, in this embodiment, the medium 2 during printing can be suctioned and secured to the platen 8 using a relatively simple structure.

[0121] In the present embodiment, the maintenance unit 19 is arranged on the right side of the main frame portion 22a and is mounted on the upper surface side of the first frame 21. Therefore, in the present embodiment, even if the height of the maintenance unit 19 is relatively high, by adjusting the height of the main frame portion 22a, the upper surface of the maintenance unit 19 can be arranged at an appropriate position relative to the upper surface of the table 8 arranged on the upper side of the main frame portion 22a. In addition, the position of the upper surface of the table 8 is set to a position where a predetermined gap is formed between the upper surface of the table 8 and the lower surface of the nozzle 3. Therefore, in the present embodiment, even if the height of the maintenance unit 19 is relatively high, the upper surface of the maintenance unit 19 can be arranged at an appropriate position relative to the lower surface of the nozzle 3.

[0122] In this embodiment, the Y-rod 6 is fixed to both side panels 12 in addition to the two side panels 11. Therefore, in this embodiment, deformation such as bending of the Y-rod 6 when a load acts on the Y-rod 6, which is formed into a slender shape in the left-right direction. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the side panels 12 are fixed to the upper surfaces of the two upper surface portions 21c at both ends of the main frame 9 in the left-right direction. Therefore, the side panels 12 can prevent the two side surface portions 21b from opening outward in the front-back direction. Therefore, in this embodiment, the strength of the first frame 12 can be increased.

[0123] As described above, in this embodiment, the outer diameter D1 of two guide rollers 33 among the eight guide rollers 33 to 36 differs from the outer diameters D2 to D4 of the remaining six guide rollers 34 to 36 excluding guide roller 33. In other words, in this embodiment, the plurality of guide rollers 33 to 36 included in the carriage 4 include guide rollers 33 having different outer diameters. Therefore, according to the inventors' research, this embodiment can suppress periodic vibrations of the carriage 4 moving in the main scanning direction.

[0124] In addition, according to the research of the inventors of the present application, for the slide 4 moving in the main scanning direction, the vibration of the upper end side of the slide 4 tends to become larger than the vibration of the lower end side of the slide 4, but as shown in the present embodiment, if the outer diameter D1 of the guide roller 33 installed on the upper end side of the slide body 32 is larger than the outer diameters D2 to D4 of the remaining guide rollers 34 to 36, the periodic vibration of the slide 4 moving in the main scanning direction can be effectively suppressed.

[0125] (Example of changes to the main frame)

[0126] Figure 12 It is a perspective view for explaining the structure of the main body frame 9 according to another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 13 yes Figure 12 Enlarged view of the N part. Figure 14 Is used to illustrate Figure 12The cross-sectional view of the structure of the main frame 9 is shown. Figures 12 to 14 In the embodiment, the same structures as those in the above embodiment are marked with the same reference numerals. Figure 14 In the figure, the Figure 2 The cross-sectional view of the cross section is equivalent to the cross section of the HH cross section.

[0127] The structure of the main frame 9 is not limited to the structure of the main frame 9 of the above-mentioned embodiment (see Figures 12 to 14 ).exist Figures 12 to 14 In the main frame 9 shown, the shape of the second frame 22 is different from the shape of the second frame 22 of the above-mentioned embodiment. In addition, in this modification, reinforcement members 45 are fixed to both ends of the first frame 21 in the left-right direction, and component fixing members 46 for fixing predetermined components are fixed to both ends of the second frame 22 in the left-right direction. In other words, in this modification, the printer 1 includes reinforcement members 45 and component fixing members 46. The following description focuses on the differences from the main frame 9 of the above-mentioned embodiment. Figures 12 to 14 The structure of the modified example of the main frame 9 shown in FIG. Figure 13 In the figure, the reinforcing member 45 and the component fixing member 46 are omitted.

[0128] Similar to the above-described embodiment, the main frame 9 includes a first frame 21 and a second frame 22, each of which is formed into an elongated shape that is elongated in the left-right direction. The first frame 21 is formed in the same manner as described above. Specifically, the first frame 21 is composed of a fixed portion 21a, two side portions 21b, and two upper surface portions 21c, and is formed into a C-shaped steel shape with both sides in the left-right direction and the upper side open.

[0129] In this modified example, the fixed portion 21a and the two side portions 21b constitute the second main frame portion 21e. The second main frame portion 21e is formed into a slender shape in the horizontal direction and is formed into a channel-shaped steel shape with both sides and the top open in the horizontal direction. Reinforcement members 45 are fixed to the left and right ends of the first frame 21 so as to block the openings formed on both sides of the first frame 21 in the horizontal direction. In other words, the reinforcement members 45 block the openings formed on both sides of the second main frame portion 21e in the horizontal direction.

[0130] Similar to the above, the second frame 22 includes a main frame portion 22a consisting of two side portions 22b and an upper surface portion 22c. The main frame portion 22a is formed into a slender shape in the left-right direction and is formed into a channel-shaped steel shape with both sides and the lower side open in the left-right direction. Furthermore, the second frame 22 includes a bottom portion 22d extending outward in the front-to-back direction from the lower end of the side portion 22b. In other words, the second frame 22 includes two bottom portions 22d extending outward in the front-to-back direction from the lower end of the main frame portion 22a.

[0131] In this modified example, the width of the bottom surface portion 22d located on the rear side in the front-to-back direction is wider than the width of the bottom surface portion 22d located on the front side in the front-to-back direction. Furthermore, in this modified example, the outer surface portion 22e and the reinforcement portion 22f are not formed on the second frame 22. The component fixing members 46 are fixed to the two side surface portions 22b at both end portions in the left-right direction of the second frame 22 (i.e., both end portions in the left-right direction of the main frame portion 22a) so as to connect the two side surface portions 22b arranged with a gap in the front-to-back direction.

[0132] As in the above embodiment, the left-right length of the first frame 21 is longer than the left-right length of the main frame portion 22a. Specifically, the left-right length of the second main frame portion 21e is longer than the left-right length of the main frame portion 22a. Furthermore, the front-to-back width of the first frame 21 (i.e., the front-to-back width of the second main frame portion 21e) is wider than the front-to-back width of the main frame portion 22a. On the other hand, in this modified example, the front-to-back width of the first frame 21 is equal to the front-to-back width of the second frame 22.

[0133] The second frame 22 is arranged above the first frame 21. Furthermore, the second frame 22 is fixed to the first frame 21. Specifically, the bottom portion 22d of the second frame 22 is fixed to the upper surface portion 21c while being placed on the upper surface portion 21c of the first frame 21. In other words, the bottom portion 22d is fixed to the upper end of the side portion 21b. The lower surface of the front portion of the bottom portion 22d arranged on the front side contacts the upper surface of the upper surface portion 21c arranged on the front side, and the lower surface of the rear portion of the bottom portion 22d arranged on the rear side contacts the upper surface of the upper surface portion 21c arranged on the rear side.

[0134] The front side surface of the first frame 21 (i.e., the front surface of the side surface portion 21b arranged on the front side) and the front end surface of the second frame 22 (i.e., the front end surface of the bottom surface portion 22d arranged on the front side) are arranged at the same position in the front-to-back direction. The rear side surface of the first frame 21 (i.e., the rear surface of the side surface portion 21b arranged on the rear side) and the rear end surface of the second frame 22 (i.e., the rear end surface of the bottom surface portion 22d arranged on the rear side) are arranged at the same position in the front-to-back direction.

[0135] The bottom portion 22d is fixed to the upper surface portion 21c by a plurality of screws. In this modification, a through hole for the screw to pass through is formed in the bottom portion 22d, and a threaded hole for the screw to engage is formed in the upper surface portion 21c. The screws are mounted on the bottom portion 22d and the upper surface portion 21c from the upper side of the bottom portion 22d. In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiment, a through hole for the screw to pass through is formed in the fixed portion 21a, and a threaded hole for the screw to engage is formed in the bottom portions 22d and 22g, so that the tip of the screw is not exposed to the outside of the main frame 9 at the lower side of the main frame 9. The screws are mounted on the fixed portion 21a and the bottom portions 22d and 22g from the lower side of the fixed portion 21a.

[0136] As in the above embodiment, the main frame portion 22a is provided with a roller support portion 25 that rotatably supports the conveyor roller 16. A platen support portion 25a is formed in the roller support portion 25. In this modified embodiment, a platen support member 47, which serves as a platen support portion equivalent to the platen support portion 22k in the above embodiment, is formed independently of the second frame 22. The platen support member 47 is fixed to the second frame 22.

[0137] The table support member 47 is formed by bending a metal plate of a prescribed shape into a prescribed shape. The table support member 47 includes a support member base 47a formed into a long strip slender in the left-right direction and a plurality of table fixing portions 47b for mounting and fixing the table 8. The shape of the support member base 47a when viewed from the left-right direction is roughly the shape of the letter L. The support member base 47a is fixed to the upper surface of the upper surface portion 22c. The table fixing portion 47b extends from the upper end of the support member base 47a toward the front side. The upper surface of the table fixing portion 47b is a plane perpendicular to the up-down direction. The plurality of table fixing portions 47b are arranged in a state with prescribed intervals in the left-right direction.

[0138] Similar to the above embodiment, in this modified example, a space S is formed between the upper surface of the main frame portion 22a and the lower surface of the platen 8. A fan 23 is mounted on the main frame portion 22a to exhaust air from the space S. An opening 22p is formed in the upper surface portion 22c for allowing the air exhausted from the space S to pass through. The maintenance unit 19 is positioned on the right side of the main frame portion 22a. The maintenance unit 19 is fixed to the upper surfaces of the two upper surface portions 21c.

[0139] In this modified example, the second frame 22 includes a main frame portion 22a, which is formed into a slender shape that is elongated in the horizontal direction and has a channel-shaped steel structure with open sides and a lower side in the horizontal direction; and a bottom portion 22d, which extends outward in the front-back direction from the lower end of the main frame portion 22a. Furthermore, the first frame 21 includes a second main frame portion 21e, which is formed into a slender shape that is elongated in the horizontal direction and has a channel-shaped steel structure with open sides and a upper side in the horizontal direction. Furthermore, the bottom portion 22d of the second frame 22 is fixed to the upper end of the side portion 21b of the second main frame portion 21e.

[0140] That is, in this modification, the first frame 21 and the second frame 22 are used to form a cylindrical structural portion on the main frame 9 that is convex in shape when viewed from the left and right directions and is elongated in the left and right directions. This cylindrical structural portion elongated in the left and right directions becomes the main portion of the main frame 9. Therefore, in this modification, the strength of the main frame 9 can be increased and the weight of the main frame 9 can be reduced.

[0141] In this modified example, the bottom portion 22d is fixed to the upper surface portion 21c while resting on the upper surface portion 21c of the first frame 21. This stabilizes the fixation of the bottom portion 22d to the upper end of the side portion 21b. This further enhances the strength of the main frame 9. Furthermore, since the bottom portion 22d can be fixed to the upper surface portion 21c while resting on the bottom portion 22d, securing the bottom portion 22d to the upper surface portion 21c is simplified.

[0142] In this modified example, the reinforcing members 45 are fixed to both ends of the first frame 21 in the left-right direction so as to close the openings formed on both sides of the first frame 21 in the left-right direction. Therefore, even if the reinforcing portions 22f are not formed on the second frame 22, the strength of the main frame 9 at both ends in the left-right direction can be improved.

[0143] In this modification, the table support member 47 is formed independently of the second frame 22 and fixed to the second frame 22. The second frame 22 is formed into an elongated shape that is slender in the left-right direction (for example, the left-right length of the second frame 22 is approximately 1600 mm). Therefore, when the second frame 22 is formed with the table support portion 22k, the processing of the second frame 22 when forming the table support portion 22k is relatively complicated, and the manufacturing cost of the second frame 22 with the table support portion 22k formed integrally therewith may increase. In contrast, even if the second frame 22 is formed into an elongated shape that is slender in the left-right direction, the processing of the second frame 22 when fixing the independently formed table support member 47 to the second frame 22 is relatively easy. Therefore, in this modification, the manufacturing cost of the second frame 22 in a state where the table support member 47 is fixed can be reduced.

[0144] (Other embodiments)

[0145] The above-described embodiment is an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited thereto. Various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0146] In the above embodiment, the reinforcement portion 22f extends from the main frame portion 22a to a position further outward in the left-right direction than the upper side of the support leg 10. However, the reinforcement portion 22f may also extend from the main frame portion 22a to the upper side of the support leg 10. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, if the strength of the upper side portion of the support leg 10 of the main frame 9 can be ensured, the second frame 22 may not include the reinforcement portion 22f. In this case, for example, the left-right distance between the two support legs 10 may be narrower than the left-right length of the main frame portion 22a, and the two support legs 10 may be arranged below the left-right ends of the main frame portion 22a.

[0147] In the above embodiment, a platen support portion corresponding to the platen support portion 25a can be integrally formed with the second frame 22. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the fan 23 can be mounted on the upper surface of the upper surface portion 22c of the main frame portion 22a. In other words, the fan 23 can be disposed in the space S. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the space S does not need to be formed between the upper surface of the main frame portion 22a and the lower surface of the platen 8.

[0148] In the above embodiment, the Y-rod 6 can be fixed only to the fixing surface 12a of the side plate 12. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, if the strength of the first frame 21 can be ensured, the first frame 21 can be composed solely of the fixed portion 21a. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the second frame 22 can be composed solely of the main frame portion 22a. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the Y-rod 6 can be fixed only to the two side plates 11 or only to the two side plates 12.

[0149] exist Figures 12 to 14 In the modified example shown, the upper surface portion 21c may not be formed on the first frame 21. In this case, for example, the second frame 22 has a flat outer surface portion extending downward from the outer end in the front-back direction of the bottom surface portion 22d, and the outer surface portion is fixed to the upper end of the side surface portion 21b of the first frame 21. Figures 12 to 14 In the illustrated modification, the reinforcing member 45 may not be fixed to the first frame 21 , and the component fixing member 46 may not be fixed to the second frame 22 .

[0150] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the outer diameter D1 of only the guide roller 33 constituting the guide roller group 38 may be larger than the outer diameters D1 to D4 of the remaining seven guide rollers 33 to 36 excluding that guide roller 33. In this case, the outer diameter D1 of the guide roller 33 constituting the guide roller group 39 is equal to the outer diameters D2 to D4 of the guide rollers 34 to 36. Similarly, the outer diameter D1 of only the guide roller 33 constituting the guide roller group 39 may be larger than the outer diameters D1 to D4 of the remaining seven guide rollers 33 to 36 excluding that guide roller 33. In this case, the outer diameter D1 of the guide roller 33 constituting the guide roller group 38 is equal to the outer diameters D2 to D4 of the guide rollers 34 to 36. Even in these cases, periodic vibrations of the carriage 4 moving in the main scanning direction can be suppressed.

[0151] In the above embodiment, the outer diameter D2 of the guide roller 34 may be equal to the outer diameter D1 of the guide roller 33, and the outer diameters D1 and D2 of the guide rollers 33 and 34 may be larger than the outer diameters D3 and D4 of the guide rollers 35 and 36. In this case, the outer diameters D1 and D2 of the guide rollers 33 and 34 attached to the upper end of the carriage body 32 are larger than the outer diameters D3 and D4 of the guide rollers 35 and 36. Therefore, according to the research of the present inventors, it is possible to effectively suppress the periodic vibration of the carriage 4 moving in the main scanning direction.

[0152] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the outer diameter D1 of the guide roller 33 may be equal to the outer diameters D3 and D4 of the guide rollers 35 and 36, and the outer diameter D2 of the guide roller 34 may be larger than the outer diameters D1, D3, and D4 of the guide rollers 33, 35, and 36. In this case, the outer diameter D2 of the guide roller 34 attached to the upper end of the carriage body 32 is larger than the outer diameters D1, D3, and D4 of the remaining guide rollers 33, 35, and 36. Therefore, according to the research of the present inventors, it is possible to effectively suppress the periodic vibration of the carriage 4 moving in the main scanning direction.

[0153] In the above embodiment, the outer diameter D3 of the guide roller 35 may be larger than the outer diameters D1, D2, and D4 of the guide rollers 33, 34, and 36. In the above embodiment, the outer diameter D4 of the guide roller 36 may be larger than the outer diameters D1 to D3 of the guide rollers 33 to 35.

[0154] In the above embodiment, the carriage 4 includes two types of guide rollers 33 to 36 having different outer diameters. However, the carriage 4 may also include three or more types of guide rollers 33 to 36 having different outer diameters. For example, the carriage 4 may include three types of guide rollers 33 to 36 having different outer diameters. In this case, for example, the outer diameter D1 of the guide roller 33 may be larger than the outer diameter D2 of the guide roller 34, and the outer diameter D2 of the guide roller 34 may be larger than the outer diameters D3 and D4 of the guide rollers 35 and 36.

[0155] However, as shown in the above method, when the slide 4 has two types of guide rollers 33 to 36 with different outer diameters, it is easier to manage the components of the guide rollers 33 to 36 than when the slide 4 has three or more types of guide rollers 33 to 36 with different outer diameters, and errors in the installation of the guide rollers 33 to 36 when assembling the slide 4 can be suppressed.

[0156] In the above embodiment, the guide roller groups 38 and 39 may be composed of three guide rollers or five or more guide rollers. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the carriage 4 includes two guide roller groups 38 and 39, but the carriage 4 may also include only one guide roller group 38 or one guide roller group 39. In this case, for example, the guide roller group 38 or the guide roller group 39 is attached to the center portion of the carriage body 32 in the left-right direction.

[0157] Description of Reference Numerals

[0158] 1. Printer (inkjet printer); 2. Medium; 3. Printhead (inkjet head); 4. Carriage; 5. Carriage drive mechanism; 6. Y-bar (carriage holding member); 6a. Guide rail (first guide rail); 6b. Guide rail (second guide rail); 6c. Contact surface (first contact surface); 6d. Contact surface (second contact surface); 6e. Contact surface (third contact surface); 6f. Contact surface (fourth contact surface); 8. Platen; 8a. Suction hole; 9. Main frame; 10. Support leg; 11. Side panel; 12. Side panel (second side panel); 12a. Fixing surface (first fixing surface); 12b. Fixing surface (second fixing surface); 16. Transport roller; 19. Maintenance unit; 21. First frame; 21a. Fixed portion; 21b, side portion; 21c, upper surface portion; 21e, second main frame portion; 22, second frame; 22a, main frame portion; 22d, bottom portion; 22f, reinforcement portion; 22k, table support portion; 23, fan; 25, roller support portion; 25a, table support portion; 32, slide body; 33, guide roller (first guide roller); 34, guide roller (second guide roller); 35, guide roller (third guide roller); 36, guide roller (fourth guide roller); 45, reinforcement member; 47, table support member (table support portion); D1 to D4, outer diameter of guide roller; S, space; X, first direction, sub-scanning direction; X1, front side; X2, rear side; Y, width direction of medium, main scanning direction; Z, up and down direction.

Claims

1. An inkjet printer that ejects ink to print on a medium, characterized in that: The inkjet printer includes: an inkjet head that ejects ink toward the medium; a platen that places the medium during printing; a main frame that supports the platen from below; and a plurality of support legs, the main frame being fixed to upper ends of the plurality of support legs. When the reciprocating direction of the inkjet head is set as a main scanning direction, the main frame includes: a first frame having a fixed portion formed in a flat plate shape elongated in the main scanning direction and mounted and fixed on the plurality of support legs; and a second frame having a main frame portion formed in an elongated shape in the main scanning direction and formed in a channel steel shape with both sides and a lower side in the main scanning direction open, When a direction perpendicular to the up-down direction and the main scanning direction is defined as a first direction, The width of the fixed portion in the first direction is wider than the width of the main frame portion in the first direction, The main frame portion is fixed to the upper surface of the fixed portion, The base plate is arranged on the upper side of the main frame portion.

2. The inkjet printer according to claim 1, wherein The first frame includes a flat plate-shaped side surface portion that stands upward from both ends of the fixed portion in the first direction.

3. The inkjet printer according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The inkjet printer is provided with two supporting legs. The length of the fixed portion in the main scanning direction is longer than the length of the main frame portion in the main scanning direction. The two support legs are arranged at outer sides of the main frame portion in the main scanning direction. The second frame includes a reinforcement portion extending from the main frame portion toward the outside in the main scanning direction at least to the upper side of the support leg. The reinforcing portion is fixed to the upper surface of the fixed portion.

4. An inkjet printer that prints on a medium by ejecting ink from an inkjet head, characterized in that: The inkjet printer comprises: a platen on which the medium to be printed is placed; a main frame for supporting the platen from below; and a plurality of support legs, the main frame being fixed to the upper ends of the plurality of support legs. When the reciprocating direction of the inkjet head is defined as a main scanning direction, the main frame includes a first frame and a second frame, and the first frame and the second frame are formed into an elongated shape elongated in the main scanning direction. When a direction perpendicular to the up-down direction and the main scanning direction is defined as a first direction, The second frame includes: a main frame portion formed in an elongated shape in the main scanning direction and formed in a channel steel shape with both sides and a lower side opened in the main scanning direction; and a flat bottom portion extending from the lower end of the main frame portion toward the outside in the first direction. The first frame includes a second main frame portion formed into an elongated shape in the main scanning direction and formed into a channel steel shape with both sides and an upper side in the main scanning direction open. The second main frame portion includes: a fixed portion formed in a flat plate shape elongated in the main scanning direction and mounted and fixed on the plurality of support legs; and a flat plate-shaped side portion rising upward from both ends of the fixed portion in the first direction. The width of the second main frame portion in the first direction is wider than the width of the main frame portion in the first direction. The bottom portion is fixed to the upper end side of the side portion, The base plate is arranged on the upper side of the main frame portion.

5. The inkjet printer according to claim 4, wherein The first frame includes a flat upper surface portion extending from an upper end of the side portion toward an inner side in the first direction. The bottom surface portion is fixed to the upper surface portion in a state of being placed on the upper surface portion.

6. The inkjet printer according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that: This inkjet printer includes a reinforcing member that closes openings formed on both sides of the second main frame portion in the main scanning direction.

7. The inkjet printer according to claim 1, 2, 4 or 5, characterized in that: The inkjet printer includes: a transport roller for transporting the medium in the first direction; and a roller support portion for rotatably supporting the transport roller. The roller support portion is mounted on the main frame portion.

8. The inkjet printer according to claim 1, 2, 4 or 5, characterized in that: The inkjet printer includes a platen support portion formed on or fixed to the second frame and used to fix the platen. The platen is provided with a plurality of suction holes for sucking the medium during printing. A space communicating with the plurality of suction holes is formed between the upper surface of the main frame portion and the lower surface of the platen. A fan for exhausting air from the space is mounted on the main frame portion.

9. The inkjet printer according to claim 8, wherein The platen support portion is formed independently of the second frame, and the platen support portion is fixed to the second frame.

10. The inkjet printer according to claim 1, 2, 4 or 5, characterized in that: The inkjet printer includes: a carriage carrying the inkjet head; a carriage driving mechanism that moves the carriage in the main scanning direction; and a maintenance unit for preventing clogging of a plurality of nozzles formed on the lower surface of the inkjet head. The length of the first frame in the main scanning direction is longer than the length of the main frame portion in the main scanning direction. The maintenance unit is arranged on one side of the main frame portion in the main scanning direction and is attached to the upper surface side of the first frame.

11. The inkjet printer according to claim 1, 2, 4 or 5, characterized in that: The inkjet printer comprises: a carriage carrying the inkjet head; a carriage driving mechanism that moves the carriage in the main scanning direction; a carriage holding member that is formed into an elongated shape that is elongated in the main scanning direction and holds the carriage so as to be movable in the main scanning direction; two side plates that respectively fix both end portions of the carriage holding member in the main scanning direction and are fixed to the main frame; and two second side plates that are respectively arranged on both sides of the main frame portion in the main scanning direction and are fixed to the main frame. The two second side plates are arranged on the inner sides of the two side plates in the main scanning direction. The carriage holding member is fixed to the two side plates and the two second side plates.

12. The inkjet printer according to claim 11, wherein When one side in the first direction is defined as the front side and the other side in the first direction is defined as the rear side, The inkjet head mounted on the carriage is arranged on the front side of the carriage holding member, The second side plate is formed with a first fixing surface and a second fixing surface for fixing the carriage holding member. The first fixing surface is a plane perpendicular to the vertical direction. The second fixing surface is a plane perpendicular to the first direction and is arranged at a rear side and an upper side of the first fixing surface. The front lower end portion of the carriage holding member is fixed to the first fixing surface. A rear lower end portion of the carriage holding member is fixed to the second fixing surface.

13. The inkjet printer according to claim 11, wherein The first frame includes flat plate-shaped side portions rising upward from both ends of the fixed portion in the first direction. The second side plate is fixed to the upper end sides of the two side surfaces.

14. An inkjet printer, characterized in that: The inkjet printer includes: an inkjet head that ejects ink toward a medium; a carriage that carries the inkjet head; a carriage drive mechanism that moves the carriage in a main scanning direction that is a reciprocating direction of the inkjet head; and a carriage holding member that is formed into an elongated shape that is elongated in the main scanning direction and holds the carriage so as to be movable in the main scanning direction. The carriage includes a carriage body on which the inkjet head is mounted and a plurality of guide rollers for guiding the carriage in a main scanning direction. The plurality of guide rollers are rotatably mounted on the carriage body. A guide rail is formed on the carriage holding member, and a contact surface for the guide roller to contact is formed on the guide rail. An outer diameter of at least one of the plurality of guide rollers is different from outer diameters of the remaining guide rollers excluding the guide roller.

15. The inkjet printer according to claim 14, wherein The carriage includes a guide roller group including a plurality of guide rollers. When one side in the sub-scanning direction perpendicular to the up-down direction and the main scanning direction is defined as the front side and the other side in the sub-scanning direction is defined as the rear side, The carriage body is arranged on the front side of the carriage holding member, The guide roller group includes a first guide roller and a second guide roller as the guide rollers mounted on the upper end side of the carriage body, and a third guide roller and a fourth guide roller as the guide rollers mounted on the lower end side of the carriage body, and the guide roller group is mounted on the rear end portions of both end sides of the carriage body in the main scanning direction. The slide holding member includes a first guide rail serving as the guide rail and a second guide rail serving as the guide rail, the first guide rail including a first contact surface serving as the contact surface for the first guide roller to contact from the front side and a second contact surface serving as the contact surface for the second guide roller to contact from the upper and rear sides, and the second guide rail including a third contact surface serving as the contact surface for the third guide roller to contact from the front side and a fourth contact surface serving as the contact surface for the fourth guide roller to contact from the lower and rear sides.

16. The inkjet printer according to claim 15, wherein: The outer diameter of at least one of the first guide roller and the second guide roller is larger than the outer diameter of the remaining guide roller.

17. The inkjet printer according to any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein: The carriage includes two types of guide rollers having different outer diameters.

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