Auxiliary member

Abstract

To provide an auxiliary member contributing to suppression of deviation of a sheet from a platen.SOLUTION: An auxiliary member 5 includes: an underlay section 41 which extends in a planar shape crossing in a Z direction; a support member 50 which extends in a Y direction, is provided at an end in an X minus direction of the underlay section 41, and supports the underlay section 41; a support member 60 which extends in the Y direction, is provided at an end in an X plus direction of the underlay section 41, and supports the underlay section 41; and a support member 70 which extends towards each other in an X direction from each of the support members 50, 60, and supports the underlay section 41. Each of the support members 50, 60, and 70 has higher rigidity than that of the underlay section 41. The auxiliary member 5 is mounted in a platen in a state that the Z direction is along a vertical direction. In this state, the underlay section 41 is arranged between a mounting surface of the platen and a printing surface of a printing medium in the vertical direction. Each of the support members 50, 60, and 70 is positioned below the underlay section 41.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an auxiliary member. [Background technology]

[0002] The inkjet printing device described in Patent Document 1 includes a platen and a discharge head. A print medium is placed on the platen. The platen moves between a position where the print medium is placed on the platen and a position where the platen faces the discharge head. The discharge head discharges ink onto the print medium on the platen. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2013-22858 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the inkjet textile printing device, there is a possibility that the ink ejected from the ejection head may adhere to the platen. In order to prevent the ink from adhering to the platen, it is conceivable to place a sheet between the platen and the print medium. In this case, for example, the sheet may shift relative to the platen while the platen is moving, causing the print medium to shift relative to the sheet, and the position of the image actually printed on the print medium may shift from the intended position.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an auxiliary member that contributes to suppressing misalignment of a sheet with respect to a platen. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present specification discloses, for example, the following aspects.

[0007] An auxiliary member according to one aspect of the present invention is an auxiliary member attached to a platen that is transported between a set position where a printing surface of a print medium is placed on a placement surface that is the upper surface of a platen, and a printing position where the placement surface of the platen faces a nozzle surface of an inkjet head in a vertical direction with the printing surface of the print medium therebetween, the auxiliary member comprising a sheet extending in a planar shape intersecting a first direction, a support member that extends in a second direction intersecting with the first direction and is provided at an end of the sheet in a third specific direction that is one of a third directions intersecting with the first direction and the second direction, and supports the sheet, the support member having a rigidity higher than that of the sheet, and a support member that extends in the second direction and is provided at an end of the sheet in a third opposite direction that is opposite to the third specific direction in the third direction. a second support member having a rigidity higher than that of the sheet, and a third support member extending from each of the first support member and the second support member toward each other in the third direction and supporting the sheet, the third support member having a rigidity higher than that of the sheet, wherein the auxiliary member is attached to the platen with the first direction aligned with the up-down direction, and the sheet is disposed between the placement surface of the platen and the printing surface of the printing medium in the up-down direction when the auxiliary member is attached to the platen, and the first support member, the second support member, and the third support member are each positioned below the sheet when the auxiliary member is attached to the platen.

[0008] According to the above aspect, the first support member, the second support member, and the third support member are each positioned below the sheet when the auxiliary member is attached to the platen. Therefore, when the sheet tries to shift relative to the platen, the first support member, the second support member, or the third support member comes into contact with the platen. Since the rigidity of the first support member, the second support member, and the third support member is higher than the rigidity of the sheet, the contact of each support member with the platen makes it easier to prevent the sheet from shifting relative to the platen compared to a case in which the rigidity of the first support member, the second support member, and the third support member is lower than the rigidity of the sheet. Therefore, the auxiliary member contributes to suppressing the sheet from shifting relative to the platen.

[0009] In the auxiliary member, a coefficient of friction of a lower surface of the sheet when the auxiliary member is attached to the platen may be greater than a coefficient of friction of an upper surface of the sheet when the auxiliary member is attached to the platen.

[0010] In this case, when the auxiliary member is attached to the platen, friction between the lower surface of the sheet and the upper surface of the platen prevents the sheet from shifting relative to the platen. Thus, the auxiliary member contributes to preventing the sheet from shifting relative to the platen.

[0011] In the auxiliary member, the first support member and the second support member may each be switchable between a first state in which the length of each of the first support member and the second support member in the second direction is a first length, and a second state in which the length of each of the first support member and the second support member in the second direction is a second length that is shorter than the first length.

[0012] For example, when the area to be printed on the printing surface of the print medium is small, the first support member and the second support member may each be switched from the first state to the second state, thereby contributing to miniaturization as needed.

[0013] The auxiliary member may have a water-repellent upper surface of the sheet when the auxiliary member is attached to the platen.

[0014] In this case, the auxiliary member contributes to preventing the upper surface of the platen from becoming dirty.

[0015] In the auxiliary member, the sheet may be substantially non-water absorbent.

[0016] In this case, compared to when the sheet has water-absorbent properties, the auxiliary member contributes to suppressing the moisture absorbed by the sheet from affecting the print medium on which the next printing is performed.

[0017] In the auxiliary member, the third support member may have a first extension portion extending toward the second specific direction from an end of the first support member in a second specific direction, which is one of the second directions, toward the third opposite direction, and a second extension portion extending toward the second specific direction from an end of the second support member in the second specific direction toward the third specific direction.

[0018] In this case, if the print medium is, for example, clothing worn on the upper body, the first extension portion and the second extension portion are arranged so as to fit along both shoulders of the clothing worn on the upper body. Thus, the auxiliary member contributes to suppressing the misalignment of the print medium with respect to the sheet.

[0019] The auxiliary member may include a first connecting portion that rotatably connects the first support member and the first extension portion around a first axis that passes through a connection point between the first support member and the first extension portion and extends in the first direction, a second connecting portion that rotatably connects the second support member and the second extension portion around a connection point between the second support member and the second extension portion and extends in the first direction, and a third connecting portion that rotatably connects the first extension portion and the second extension portion around a third axis that passes through a connection point between the first extension portion and the second extension portion and extends in the first direction.

[0020] In this case, the first support member and the first extension portion rotate about the first axis, the second support member and the second extension portion rotate about the second axis, and the first extension portion and the second extension portion rotate about the third axis, thereby changing the distance between the first support member and the second support member in the third direction. Thus, the auxiliary member contributes to adjusting the distance between the first support member and the second support member in the third direction to, for example, the size of the platen.

[0021] In the auxiliary member, the first support member and the second support member may each extend further in the second opposite direction than the end of the sheet in a second opposite direction that is opposite to a second specific direction, which is one of the second directions.

[0022] For example, when the printing surface of the print medium is larger than the sheet in the second direction, the printing surface of the print medium is supported by the portions of the first support member and the second support member that extend further in the second specific direction from the end of the sheet in the second specific direction. This causes the printing surface of the print medium to hang down from the end of the sheet in the second specific direction, preventing the print medium from shifting relative to the sheet due to its own weight. Thus, the auxiliary member contributes to preventing the print medium from shifting relative to the sheet. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the printer 1 as seen from the upper front left. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. [Diagram 3] 13 is a view of the auxiliary member 5 as seen from the Z plus direction. [Figure 4] FIG. [Diagram 5] 13 is a view showing a state before the auxiliary member 5 is attached to the platen 3, as viewed from the Z positive direction. [Figure 6] 1 is a view from the Z positive direction showing a state in which the auxiliary member 5 is attached to the platen 3 and before the T-shirt 10 is set on the platen 3. FIG. [Figure 7]1 is a view showing a state in which a T-shirt 10 is set on a platen 3 to which an auxiliary member 5 is attached, as viewed from the Z plus direction. [Figure 8] 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 7 when the platen 3 is large size. [Figure 9] 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 7 when the platen 3 is small size. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] A printer 1 and an auxiliary member 5 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, the mechanical elements in the drawings are shown to actual scale. The printer 1 shown in FIG. 1 is an inkjet printer, and performs printing on a T-shirt 10 shown in FIG. 2. The T-shirt 10 is a type of printing medium. The printing medium can be fabric, paper, etc., and is not limited to the T-shirt 10.

[0025] For example, the printer 1 can perform so-called wet-on-wet printing, in which a pretreatment agent is applied to a T-shirt 10 placed on a platen 3 (described below) and ink is ejected onto the T-shirt 10 while it is wet due to the pretreatment agent. The printer 1 can also perform so-called wet-on-dry printing, in which ink is ejected onto a T-shirt 10 placed on the platen 3 while it is dry.

[0026] 3 is used as an underlay for the T-shirt 10 to prevent ink from adhering to the platen 3 when printing is performed by the printer 1. Furthermore, in wet-on-wet printing, the T-shirt 10 is in a wet state, and the surface tension of the liquid between the T-shirt 10 and the platen 3 makes it difficult to remove the printed T-shirt 10 from the platen 3. The auxiliary member 5 is used to make it easier to remove the wet T-shirt 10 from the platen 3.

[0027] The schematic configuration of the printer 1 will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. The top, bottom, bottom left, top right, bottom right, and top left in Figure 1 respectively correspond to the top, bottom, left, right, front, and rear of the printer 1. The up-down direction of the printer 1 is the vertical direction.

[0028] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the printer 1 includes a housing 2, a platen 3, a shaft 14 (see Figure 2), guide rails 11 and 12, a carriage 20, and a plurality of inkjet heads 9. The housing 2 is rectangular and includes a front wall 21. An upper portion of the housing 2 is omitted in Figure 1. A hole 22 is formed in the housing 2. The hole 22 extends rearward from the center of the front wall 21.

[0029] Platen 3 is placed in hole 22 when viewed from the front, and is supported by support stand 13. Platen 3 is a rectangular plate that extends in the front-rear and left-right directions. A placement surface 31 is formed on the upper surface of platen 3. T-shirt 10 is set on platen 3 so that the surface of T-shirt 10 on which an image is to be printed (hereinafter referred to as "print surface 10A") is placed on placement surface 31 (see FIG. 2).

[0030] The platen 3 is detachable from the support base 13. In this embodiment, the platen 3 comes in two sizes: a large size (see FIG. 8) having a relatively large width W1 in the left-right direction, and a small size (see FIG. 9) having a width W1 in the left-right direction smaller than the large size. For example, depending on the size of the T-shirt 10, either the large size or the small size platen 3 is attached to the support base 13.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 1, a support portion 32 is provided at the front end of the platen 3. The support portion 32 includes extension portions 321, 322, 323, and 324. The extension portions 321, 322, 323, and 324 are each rod-shaped. The extension portion 321 extends forward from the left end of the front end of the platen 3. The extension portion 322 extends forward from the right end of the front end of the platen 3. The extension portion 323 extends forward from the front end of the extension portion 321 toward the right. The extension portion 324 extends forward from the front end of the extension portion 322 toward the left. The extension portions 323 and 324 are connected to each other at the middle of the extension portions 321 and 322 in the left-right direction. The support portion 32 has a shape that follows the shape of the shoulder portion of the T-shirt 10, and supports a portion of the T-shirt 10 that is located forward of the front end of the platen 3.

[0032] As shown in Fig. 2, shaft 14 is disposed below hole 22 and extends in the front-rear direction. Shaft 14 supports platen 3 via support stand 13. Driven by a sub-scanning motor (not shown), platen 3 is transported in the front-rear direction along shaft 14 between set position P1 and print position P2. Fig. 2 shows the platen 3 and support stand 13 located at set position P1 with solid lines, and shows the platen 3 and support stand 13 located at print position P2 with imaginary lines.

[0033] The set position P1 is the position of the platen 3 when the printing surface 10A of the T-shirt 10 is placed on the placement surface 31 of the platen 3 and the T-shirt 10 is set on the platen 3. In this embodiment, when the platen 3 is located at the set position P1, the platen 3 is positioned forward of the front wall 21. The printing position P2 is the position of the platen 3 when the placement surface 31 of the platen 3 faces a nozzle surface 90 of the inkjet head 9, which will be described later, in the vertical direction, with the printing surface 10A of the T-shirt 10 therebetween. In this embodiment, when the platen 3 is located at the printing position P2, the platen 3 is positioned rearward of the front wall 21.

[0034] 1 and 2, guide rail 11 is provided above hole 22 behind front wall 21 and extends in the left-right direction. Guide rail 12 is provided behind guide rail 11 and extends in the left-right direction. Carriage 20 is a plate and is located between guide rails 11, 12 in the front-rear direction. Carriage 20 is supported by guide rails 11, 12. Carriage 20 moves in the left-right direction along guide rails 11, 12 by being driven by a main scanning motor (not shown).

[0035] Each of the inkjet heads 9 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape and is mounted on a carriage 20. The enlarged view shown in Fig. 1 is a bottom view of the inkjet head 9. A nozzle surface 90 is formed on the lower surface of the inkjet head 9. The nozzle surface 90 is located above the mounting surface 31 of the platen 3 and is exposed downward from an opening (not shown) provided in the carriage 20. The nozzle surface 90 is provided with a plurality of nozzles 911.

[0036] The multiple inkjet heads 9 include a white head 9W, a color head 9C, and a pre-treatment head 9S. The positional relationship between the white head 9W, the color head 9C, and the pre-treatment head 9S is not limited to a specific relationship, but in this embodiment, they are lined up in a row from front to rear in the order of the color head 9C, the pre-treatment head 9S, and the white head 9W.

[0037] The white head 9W ejects white ink from multiple nozzles 911. The white ink is used as a base for the image to be printed, or is used for printing color images. The color head 9C ejects color ink (cyan, magenta, yellow, or black) from multiple nozzles 911. The color ink is used for printing color images. The pretreatment head 9S ejects a pretreatment agent from multiple nozzles 911. The pretreatment agent is a base coat liquid for improving the fixation of the ink to the T-shirt 10 or the color development of the ink, and is, for example, an aqueous solution containing formic acid and acetic acid.

[0038] The inkjet heads 9 move in the left-right direction together with the carriage 20. In the following, a region where the inkjet heads 9 move and which overlaps with the movement region of the platen 3 in a plan view is referred to as a "printing region R" (see FIG. 1).

[0039] Printing by the printer 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 2. For example, if the T-shirt 10 contains polyester, the printer 1 performs pretreatment and then printing, thereby performing wet-on-wet printing. For example, if the T-shirt 10 contains cotton, the printer 1 performs printing without performing pretreatment, thereby performing wet-on-dry printing. In the case of wet-on-dry printing, for example, the T-shirt 10 may be dried after pretreatment by a pretreatment device (not shown), and the printer 1 may print on the dry T-shirt 10.

[0040] Printing by the printer 1 is performed with the multiple inkjet heads 9 positioned in the printing region R and the platen 3 positioned at the printing position P2. In this state, the placement surface 31 of the platen 3 faces at least one nozzle surface 90 of the multiple inkjet heads 9 in the vertical direction, with the printing surface 10A of the T-shirt 10 between them.

[0041] In pretreatment, the pretreatment head 9S ejects pretreatment agent from the nozzles 911 while the carriage 20 moves left and right. The pretreatment agent ejected from the nozzles 911 of the pretreatment head 9S lands on the print surface 10A of the T-shirt 10 placed on the placement surface 31. The platen 3 moves in the front-rear direction. The carriage 20 moves left and right while ejecting the pretreatment agent from the pretreatment head 9S, and the platen 3 moves back and forth, repeatedly, so that the pretreatment agent is applied to the print surface 10A of the T-shirt 10. This completes the pretreatment.

[0042] In the printing process, while the carriage 20 moves left and right, one or both of the white head 9W and the color head 9C eject ink from the nozzles 911. The ink ejected from the nozzles 911 of the white head 9W and one or both of the color heads 9C lands on the printing surface 10A of the T-shirt 10 placed on the placement surface 31. The platen 3 moves in the front and back directions. By repeating the left and right movement of the carriage 20 while ejecting ink from the white head 9W and the color heads 9C and the front and back movement of the platen 3, an image is printed on the printing surface 10A of the T-shirt 10. This completes the printing process.

[0043] The auxiliary member 5 will be described with reference to Figures 3 and 4. The left, right, bottom, top, front side of the page, and back side of the page in Figure 3 are the negative X direction, positive X direction, negative Y direction, positive Y direction, negative Z direction, and positive Z direction of the auxiliary member 5, respectively.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 3, the auxiliary member 5 includes a sheet 40 and support members 50, 60, and 70. The sheet 40 is flexible and includes an underlay portion 41 and a pair of excess portions 42, 43. The underlay portion 41 extends in a plane perpendicular to the Z direction and is rectangular when viewed from the Z direction. The pair of excess portions 42, 43 are portions of the sheet 40 other than the underlay portion 41. The excess portion 42 extends in the negative Z direction from the end of the underlay portion 41 in the negative X direction (see FIGS. 8 and 9). The excess portion 43 extends in the negative Z direction from the end of the underlay portion 41 in the positive X direction (see FIGS. 8 and 9).

[0045] As shown in Fig. 4, the sheet 40 is formed by laminating a plurality of layers, and includes a back surface layer 40A and a front surface layer 40B. Hereinafter, the surface of the sheet 40 including the surface of the underlay portion 41 in the negative Z direction will be referred to as the "back surface of the sheet 40", and the surface of the sheet 40 including the surface of the underlay portion 41 in the positive Z direction will be referred to as the "front surface of the sheet 40". The back surface layer 40A forms the back surface of the sheet 40. The front surface layer 40B is laminated on the back surface layer 40A and forms the front surface of the sheet 40.

[0046] The back layer 40A is not limited to a specific material, but in this embodiment, it is a polyurethane cloth. The front layer 40B is not limited to a specific material, but in this embodiment, it is a water-repellent cloth, specifically, made of polyester. The friction coefficient of the back layer 40A (polyurethane cloth) is greater than that of the front layer 40B (polyethylene cloth).

[0047] The surface of sheet 40 (water-repellent cloth) is water-repellent. That is, the contact angle between the surface of sheet 40 and water is 90° or more. Therefore, sheet 40 is substantially non-water-absorbent, and moisture is unlikely to permeate sheet 40 from the surface to the back in the Z direction. Sheet 40 may employ a plastic film or the like as a material that is water-repellent and substantially non-water-absorbent.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 3, the support member 50 is disposed at the end of the underlay portion 41 in the negative X direction, and supports the underlay portion 41 from the negative Z direction. The support member 50 is rod-shaped extending in the Y direction, and extends further in the positive Y direction than the end of the underlay portion 41 in the positive Y direction. The support member 50 includes extensions 51, 52. The extension 51 is shaped like a square tube extending in the Y direction, and is disposed in the portion of the support member 50 in the negative Y direction. The extension 52 is shaped like a square column extending in the Y direction, and is inserted inside the extension 51. The length in the Z direction of the extensions 51, 52 is greater than the thickness of the sheet 40.

[0049] The two enlarged views in Fig. 3 each show a cross-section of the connecting portion of extension portions 51, 52 cut in a plane perpendicular to the Z direction. The upper of the two enlarged views in Fig. 3 shows the long state S1 described below. The lower of the two enlarged views in Fig. 3 shows the short state described below. Hereinafter, the line that passes through the intersection of the diagonals of the cross-section (rectangle) of extension portions 51, 52 cut in a plane perpendicular to the Y direction and extends in the Y direction is referred to as center line C.

[0050] An engagement portion 511 is provided at the end of the extension portion 51 in the positive Y direction. The engagement portion 511 protrudes from the end of the extension portion 51 in the positive Y direction in a direction approaching the center line C. Stoppers 521 and 522 are provided at both ends of the extension portion 52 in the Y direction. The stoppers 521 and 522 protrude from both ends of the extension portion 52 in the Y direction in a direction away from the center line C. Therefore, when the extension portion 52 tries to come out of the extension portion 51, the stopper 521 gets caught by the engagement portion 511. When the entire extension portion 52 tries to enter the extension portion 51, the stopper 522 gets caught by the engagement portion 511. As described above, the extension portion 52 is connected to the extension portion 51 so as to be expandable and contractible in the Y direction.

[0051] The support member 50 is switchable between a long state S1 and a short state S2. The long state S1 is a state in which the stopper 521 is caught by the engagement portion 511. The short state S2 is a state in which the stopper 522 is caught by the engagement portion 511.

[0052] Hereinafter, the length in the Y direction from the end of the support member 50 in the negative Y direction to the end in the positive Y direction is referred to as the "length L of the support member 50." In this embodiment, the end of the support member 50 in the negative Y direction is the end of the extension portion 51 in the negative Y direction in either the long state S1 or the short state S2, and the end of the support member 50 in the positive Y direction is the end of the extension portion 52 in the positive Y direction in either the long state S1 or the short state S2. In the long state S1, the length L of the support member 50 is a first length. In the short state S2, the length L of the support member 50 is a second length that is shorter than the first length.

[0053] The sheet 40 is fixed to the support member 50 by one or more (two in this embodiment) fasteners 91. In this embodiment, the fasteners 91 are rivets, and are inserted into the extension portion 51 via the excess portion 42 from the negative X direction.

[0054] The support member 60 is disposed at the end of the underlay portion 41 in the positive X direction, and supports the underlay portion 41 from the negative Z direction. The structure of the support member 60 is the same as that of the support member 50. Therefore, the description of the structure of the support member 60 will be simplified. The support member 60 includes extension portions 61 and 62. The extension portion 61 corresponds to the extension portion 51, and the extension portion 62 corresponds to the extension portion 52. Like the support member 50, the support member 60 is also switchable between a long state S1 and a short state S2.

[0055] The sheet 40 is fixed to the support member 60 by one or more fasteners 92. In this embodiment, the fasteners 92 are rivets, which are inserted into the extensions 61 via the excess portions 43 from the positive X direction.

[0056] Support member 70 is provided only at the negative Y direction ends of each of support members 50, 60 and the positive Y direction ends of each of support members 50, 60. Support member 70 is V-shaped opening in the positive Y direction when viewed from the Z direction, and includes extensions 71, 72. Extension portion 71 extends from the negative Y direction end of support member 50 toward the positive X direction, and then extends in the negative Y direction to the center in the X direction between support member 50 and support member 60.

[0057] The extension 71 is in the form of a bent plate. In this embodiment, the end of the extension 71 in the negative Y direction protrudes in the negative Z direction. The length of the extension 71 in the Z direction is greater than the thickness of the sheet 40.

[0058] The extension portion 72 extends from the end of the support member 60 in the negative Y direction toward the negative X direction, and then extends in the negative Y direction to the center in the X direction between the support members 50 and 60. The extension portion 72 is in the shape of a bent plate. The end of the extension portion 72 in the negative Y direction protrudes in the negative Z direction. The length of the extension portion 72 in the Z direction is greater than the thickness of the sheet 40.

[0059] The connecting mechanism of the support members 50, 60, 70 will be described. The extension 71 and the support member 50 are connected to each other by a connector 81. The extension 72 and the support member 60 are connected to each other by a connector 82. The extensions 71 and 72 are connected to each other by a connector 83.

[0060] The connectors 81, 82, and 83 are each an axis and extend in the Z direction. The axes AX1, AX2, and AX3 pass through the centers of the connectors 81, 82, and 83, respectively, and extend in the Z direction. The support member 50 and the extension 71 are rotatable relative to each other about the axis AX1. The support member 60 and the extension 72 are rotatable relative to each other about the axis AX2. The extension 71 and the extension 72 are rotatable relative to each other about the axis AX3.

[0061] In this embodiment, the rigidity of the support members 50, 60, 70 is higher than the rigidity of the sheet 40. The material of the support members 50, 60, 70 is not limited to a specific material as long as it is higher in rigidity than the sheet 40, and may be, for example, plastic, metal, or wood.

[0062] A method of using the auxiliary member 5 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 9. As shown in FIG. 5, the user uses the auxiliary member 5 in, for example, the long state S1. With the sheet 40 removed from the support members 50 and 60 (not shown), the user rotates the extensions 71 and 72 relative to each other about the axis AX3. The user rotates the support member 50 and the extension 71 relative to each other about the axis AX1, and rotates the support member 60 and the extension 72 relative to each other about the axis AX2 so that the support members 50 and 60 are parallel to each other. In this way, the user adjusts the distance W2 between the support members 50 and 60 in the X direction to be approximately the same as the width W1 of the platen 3.

[0063] For example, when decreasing the distance W2 between the support members 50, 60, the user decreases the angle θ3 between the extensions 71, 72, and increases the angle θ1 between the support member 50 and the extension 71 and the angle θ2 between the support member 60 and the extension 72. When increasing the distance W2 between the support members 50, 60, the user increases the angle θ3 between the extensions 71, 72, and decreases the angle θ1 between the support member 50 and the extension 71 and the angle θ2 between the support member 60 and the extension 72.

[0064] The user fastens the sheet 40 to the support members 50 and 60 with fasteners 91 and 92. For example, when the platen 3 is small in size, the surplus portions 42 and 43 are large (see FIG. 9 ). In this case, the user may fasten the sheet 40 to the support member 50 with fastener 91 in a state where the surplus portion 42 is wrapped around the support member 50, and fasten the sheet 40 to the support member 60 with fastener 92 in a state where the surplus portion 43 is wrapped around the support member 60.

[0065] 5 and 6, the user attaches the auxiliary member 5 to the platen 3 from the front (see arrow A1 in FIG. 5) with the platen 3 located at the set position P1 shown in FIG. 2. In detail, the auxiliary member 5 is attached to the platen 3 with the Z plus direction of the auxiliary member 5 facing upwards of the platen 3 and the Y plus direction of the auxiliary member 5 facing backwards of the platen 3.

[0066] For example, the user pushes the auxiliary member 5 rearward relative to the platen 3 until the support member 70 comes into contact with the support portion 32. As a result, the auxiliary member 5 is positioned relative to the platen 3 in the front-rear direction.

[0067] 8 and 9, when the auxiliary member 5 is attached to the platen 3, the underlay portion 41 is disposed on the support surface 31 of the platen 3. The back layer 40A forms the lower surface of the underlay portion 41, and is in contact with the support surface 31 of the platen 3. The front layer 40B forms the upper surface of the underlay portion 41. Since the sheet 40 is flexible, the underlay portion 41 fits generally along the support surface 31 of the platen 3.

[0068] The support member 50 is disposed to the left of the platen 3, near the left end of the platen 3, and is located below the underlay portion 41. Therefore, the lower end of the support member 50 is located below the mounting surface 31 of the platen 3. The support member 60 is disposed to the right of the platen 3, near the right end of the platen 3, and is located below the underlay portion 41. Therefore, the lower end of the support member 60 is located below the mounting surface 31 of the platen 3.

[0069] 6 and 7, with the auxiliary member 5 attached to the platen 3, the user places the T-shirt 10 on the platen 3 from the front (see arrow A2 in FIG. 6). In detail, the T-shirt 10 is placed on the platen 3 with the print surface 10A of the T-shirt 10 facing upward and the neck portion of the T-shirt 10 facing forward.

[0070] 8 and 9, when the T-shirt 10 is set on the platen 3, the platen 3 is placed inside the T-shirt 10, and the printing surface 10A of the T-shirt 10 is placed on the underlay 41. Therefore, the underlay 41 is placed between the placement surface 31 of the platen 3 and the printing surface 10A of the T-shirt 10 in the vertical direction. The surface layer 40B comes into contact with the T-shirt 10.

[0071] 7, when the T-shirt 10 is set on the platen 3, the stretched portions 71, 72 are disposed so as to respectively follow the shoulder portions of the T-shirt 10. The connecting portions of the stretched portions 71, 72 protrude forward from the neck portion of the T-shirt 10. The end of the torso portion of the T-shirt 10 opposite the neck portion is supported by the portions of the support members 50, 60 that are closer to the Y-positive direction than the end of the sheet 40 in the Y-positive direction.

[0072] With the T-shirt 10 set on the platen 3, the user inputs a command to start printing to the printer 1. The printer 1 transports the platen 3 from the set position P1 to the print position P2 shown in FIG. 2, and performs wet-on-wet printing or wet-on-dry printing. When the wet-on-wet printing or wet-on-dry printing is completed, the printer 1 transports the platen 3 from the print position P2 to the set position P1. The user removes the printed T-shirt 10 together with the auxiliary member 5 from the platen 3.

[0073] For example, a user carries the T-shirt 10 attached to the auxiliary member 5 to a post-processing device (not shown). In the post-processing device, the T-shirt 10 is placed together with the auxiliary member 5 with the Z plus direction of the auxiliary member 5 facing upward (i.e., with the printed surface 10A of the T-shirt 10 facing upward). The post-processing device is, for example, an oven, which dries the printed surface 10A of the T-shirt 10 by heat to improve the fixation of the ink.

[0074] For example, if the image printed on the T-shirt 10 is small, the user may switch the support members 50, 60 from the long state S1 to the short state S2, and then place the T-shirt 10 together with the auxiliary member 5 in the post-processing device. For example, if the image printed on the T-shirt 10 is large, the user may place the T-shirt 10 together with the auxiliary member 5 in the post-processing device while keeping the support members 50, 60 in the long state S1.

[0075] As described above, according to the above embodiment, the support members 50, 60, and 70 are each located below the underlay portion 41 of the sheet 40 when the auxiliary member 5 is attached to the platen 3. Therefore, when the underlay portion 41 tries to shift relative to the platen 3, the support member 50, the support member 60, or the support member 70 comes into contact with the periphery of the platen 3. Since the rigidity of the support members 50, 60, and 70 is higher than the rigidity of the sheet 40, the contact of each support member with the platen 3 makes it easier to prevent the underlay portion 41 from shifting relative to the platen 3, compared to a case in which the rigidity of each support member is lower than the rigidity of the sheet 40. Therefore, the auxiliary member 5 contributes to suppressing the shifting of the underlay portion 41 relative to the platen 3.

[0076] In the above embodiment, the coefficient of friction of the lower surface (back surface layer 40A) of the underlay portion 41 when the auxiliary member 5 is attached to the platen 3 is greater than the coefficient of friction of the upper surface (surface layer 40B) of the underlay portion 41 when the auxiliary member 5 is attached to the platen 3. Therefore, when the auxiliary member 5 is attached to the platen 3, the friction between the lower surface of the underlay portion 41 and the placement surface 31 of the platen 3 prevents the underlay portion 41 from shifting relative to the platen 3. Thus, the auxiliary member 5 contributes to preventing the underlay portion 41 from shifting relative to the platen 3. Furthermore, since the coefficient of friction of the upper surface (surface layer 40B) of the underlay portion 41 when the auxiliary member 5 is attached to the platen 3 is relatively small, when the T-shirt 10 is set on the auxiliary member 5, the T-shirt 10 is less likely to get caught on the upper surface of the underlay portion 41. Therefore, it is easy for the user to set the T-shirt 10 on the auxiliary member 5.

[0077] In the above embodiment, the support members 50, 60 can be switched between a long state S1 and a short state S2. For example, when the area to be printed on the print surface 10A of the T-shirt 10 is small, the support members 50, 60 can be switched from the long state S1 to the short state S2. Thus, the auxiliary member 5 contributes to downsizing as needed. For example, the auxiliary member 5 contributes to placing a larger number of T-shirts 10 together with the auxiliary member 5 in the post-processing device.

[0078] In the above embodiment, the upper surface of the underlay 41 has water repellency when the auxiliary member 5 is attached to the platen 3. Therefore, the auxiliary member 5 contributes to preventing the placement surface 31 of the platen 3 from becoming dirty, compared to when the upper surface of the underlay 41 does not have water repellency. Furthermore, because, for example, a pretreatment agent or water vapor for humidifying the printing region R is unlikely to permeate the underlay 41, the amount of pretreatment agent or water vapor present above the upper surface of the underlay 41 tends to be constant. Therefore, the auxiliary member 5 contributes to preventing deterioration in the image quality printed on the printing surface 10A of the T-shirt 10.

[0079] In the above embodiment, the sheet 40 does not substantially have water absorption properties. Therefore, compared to a case where the sheet 40 has water absorption properties, the auxiliary member 5 contributes to suppressing the moisture absorbed by the sheet 40 from affecting the T-shirt 10 on which the next printing is performed. The moisture is, for example, a pretreatment agent, water vapor for humidifying the printing area R, or a mist accompanying ink ejection from the inkjet head 9. Furthermore, the amount of pretreatment agent or water vapor present above the upper surface of the underlay part 41 tends to be constant when the auxiliary member 5 is attached to the platen 3. Therefore, the auxiliary member 5 contributes to suppressing deterioration of the image quality printed on the printing surface 10A of the T-shirt 10.

[0080] In the above embodiment, the extension portion 71 extends in the negative Y direction as it moves from the negative Y end of the support member 50 toward the positive X direction. The extension portion 72 extends in the negative Y direction as it moves from the negative Y end of the support member 60 toward the negative X direction. Therefore, the extension portions 71 and 72 are arranged so as to fit along both shoulder portions of the T-shirt 10. Therefore, the auxiliary member 5 contributes to suppressing the slippage of the T-shirt 10 with respect to the underlay portion 41.

[0081] In the above embodiment, the auxiliary member 5 includes connectors 81, 82, and 83. Therefore, the support member 50 and the extension portion 71 rotate about the axis AX1, the support member 60 and the extension portion 72 rotate about the axis AX2, and the extension portion 71 and the extension portion 72 rotate about the axis AX3, thereby changing the distance W2 between the support members 50 and 60 in the X direction. Therefore, the auxiliary member 5 contributes to adjusting the distance W2 between the support members 50 and 60 in the X direction to, for example, the size of the platen 3.

[0082] In the above embodiment, the support members 50 and 60 each extend further in the Y-positive direction than the Y-positive end of the underlay 41. For this reason, for example, when the printing surface 10A of the T-shirt 10 is larger than the underlay 41 in the Y-direction, the printing surface 10A of the T-shirt 10 is supported by the portion of the support members 50 and 60 that extends further in the Y-negative direction from the Y-negative end of the underlay 41. This causes the printing surface 10A of the T-shirt 10 to hang down from the Y-negative end of the underlay 41, suppressing the T-shirt 10 from shifting relative to the underlay 41 due to its own weight. Therefore, the auxiliary member 5 contributes to suppressing the T-shirt 10 from shifting relative to the underlay 41.

[0083] In the above embodiment, the T-shirt 10 corresponds to the "printing medium" of the present invention. The printing surface 10A corresponds to the "printing surface" of the present invention. The platen 3 corresponds to the "platen" of the present invention. The placement surface 31 corresponds to the "placement surface" of the present invention. The set position P1 corresponds to the "set position" of the present invention. The inkjet head 9 corresponds to the "inkjet head" of the present invention. The nozzle surface 90 corresponds to the "nozzle surface" of the present invention. The up-down direction of the printer 1 corresponds to the "up-down direction" of the present invention. The printing position P2 corresponds to the "printing position" of the present invention. The auxiliary member 5 corresponds to the "auxiliary member" of the present invention. The Z direction of the auxiliary member 5 corresponds to the "first direction" of the present invention. The underlay portion 41 of the sheet 40 corresponds to the "sheet" of the present invention. The Y direction of the auxiliary member 5 corresponds to the "second direction" of the present invention. The X direction of the auxiliary member 5 corresponds to the "third direction" of the present invention. The negative X direction of the auxiliary member 5 corresponds to the "third specific direction" of the present invention. The support member 50 corresponds to the "first support member" of the present invention. The X-positive direction of the auxiliary member 5 corresponds to the "third opposite direction" of the present invention. The support member 60 corresponds to the "second support member" of the present invention. The support member 70 corresponds to the "third support member" of the present invention.

[0084] The long state S1 corresponds to the "first state" of the present invention. The short state S2 corresponds to the "second state" of the present invention. The negative Y direction of the auxiliary member 5 corresponds to the "second specific direction" of the present invention. The extension portion 71 corresponds to the "first extension portion" of the present invention. The extension portion 72 corresponds to the "second extension portion" of the present invention. The axis AX1 corresponds to the "first axis" of the present invention. The connector 81 corresponds to the "first connecting portion" of the present invention. The axis AX2 corresponds to the "second axis" of the present invention. The connector 82 corresponds to the "second connecting portion" of the present invention. The axis AX3 corresponds to the "third axis" of the present invention. The connector 83 corresponds to the "third connecting portion" of the present invention. The positive Y direction of the auxiliary member 5 corresponds to the "second opposite direction" of the present invention.

[0085] The present invention may be modified in various ways from the above embodiment. The following modified examples may be combined with each other as long as no contradiction occurs. The auxiliary member 5 may be used in a printer different from the above embodiment, as long as the printer is an inkjet printer capable of transporting the platen 3 between the set position P1 and the printing position P2. For example, the auxiliary member 5 may be used in a printer 1 that can perform only one of wet-on-wet printing and wet-on-dry printing. The auxiliary member 5 may be used in a printer 1 that has a single inkjet head 9.

[0086] The method of using the auxiliary member 5 is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the user may set the T-shirt 10 on the auxiliary member 5, and then attach the auxiliary member 5 on which the T-shirt 10 is set to the platen 3.

[0087] The shapes of the support members 50 and 60 are not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the support member 50 may be a plate extending in the Y direction and the Z direction. The shape of the support member 70 is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the support member 70 may be rod-shaped. The support member 70 may extend in a straight line in the X direction between the end of the support member 50 in the negative Y direction and the end of the support member 60 in the negative Y direction.

[0088] In the above embodiment, the support members 70 are provided only at the Y minus ends of the support members 50, 60 and the Y plus ends of the support members 50, 60. In contrast, the support members 70 may be provided only at the Y minus ends of the support members 50, 60 and the Y plus ends of the support members 50, 60. The support members 70 may be provided at both the Y minus ends of the support members 50, 60 and the Y plus ends of the support members 50, 60.

[0089] The connector 81 may connect (i.e., fix) the extension portion 71 and the support member 50 so that they cannot rotate relative to each other. In this case, the connector 81 is not limited to an axis, and may be a fixed plate, adhesive, etc. The extension portion 71 and the support member 50 may be integrally molded with each other. The connectors 82, 83 may also be modified in the same manner as the connector 81. The relationship between the extension portion 72 and the support member 60, and the relationship between the extension portions 71, 72 may also be modified in the same manner as the relationship between the extension portion 71 and the support member 50.

[0090] The positive X-direction end of extension portion 71 and the negative X-direction end of extension portion 72 may be separated from each other in the X-direction. In this case, extension portions 71 and 72 may be connected via another extension portion. For example, the other extension portion extends in the X-direction. Furthermore, the negative X-direction end of the other extension portion is rotatably connected to extension portion 71 by a connector, and the positive X-direction end of the other extension portion is rotatably connected to extension portion 72 by a connector. In this case, the other extension portion and the two connectors correspond to the "third connector" of the present invention.

[0091] In the above embodiment, for example, the sheet 40 may be water-absorbent. Paper or the like may be used as a water-absorbent material for the sheet 40. For example, the surface of the sheet 40 may not be water-repellent. For example, if the surface of the sheet 40 is not water-repellent and the sheet 40 as a whole is not water-absorbent, moisture will easily permeate the sheet 40 from the surface to the back surface in the Z direction.

[0092] The connection structure of the extension parts 51, 52 is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the extension parts 51, 52 may be connected by a hinge. In this case, the extension part 52 switches between a state in which it is arranged in a straight line with the extension part 51 and a state in which it is folded with respect to the extension part 51 around the hinge as an axis. The state in which the extension part 52 is arranged in a straight line with the extension part 51 is the long state S1. The state in which it is folded with respect to the extension part 51 around the hinge as an axis is the short state S2. The support member 50 may not be switchable between the long state S1 and the short state S2. In this case, the support member 50 may omit the extension part 52. The support member 60 may also be modified in the same manner as the support member 50.

[0093] In the above embodiment, the friction coefficient of the back surface of the sheet 40 may be the same as the friction coefficient of the front surface of the sheet 40, or may be smaller than the friction coefficient of the front surface of the sheet 40. The sheet 40 may be, for example, a single layer. That is, one of the back surface layer 40A and the front surface layer 40B may be omitted. In this case, the friction coefficient of the back surface of the sheet 40 is the same as the friction coefficient of the front surface of the sheet 40. For example, the back surface layer 40A and the front surface layer 40B are each made of the same material, and the friction coefficient of the back surface of the sheet 40 may be different from the friction coefficient of the front surface of the sheet 40 by different weaving methods of the fabric. The weaving method of the fabric is plain weave, pile, etc.

[0094] In the above embodiment, the excess portions 42, 43 of the sheet 40 may be omitted. The fasteners 91, 92 are not limited to rivets, and may be bolts and nuts, screws, etc. The sheet 40 may be adhered to the support members 50, 60 by, for example, an adhesive, instead of the fasteners 91, 92. The sheet 40 does not need to be flexible, and may be a thin plate, etc.

[0095] In the above embodiment, the support members 50, 60 extend parallel to each other. The support members 50, 60 may extend in the direction in which the left and right ends of the platen 3 extend. That is, for example, when the left and right ends of the platen 3 extend in directions that move away from each other in the left-right direction from the front to the rear, the support members 50, 60 may extend in directions that move away from each other in the X direction from the Y minus direction to the Y plus direction. [Explanation of symbols]

[0096] 3: Platen 5: Auxiliary parts 9: Inkjet head 40:Sheet 41: Underlay 50, 60, 70: Support members 71, 72: Stretching part 81, 82, 83: Connectors

Claims

1. an auxiliary member attached to a platen that is transported between a set position where a printing surface of a print medium is placed on a placement surface that is an upper surface of a platen, and a printing position where the placement surface of the platen faces a nozzle surface of an inkjet head in a vertical direction with the printing surface of the print medium therebetween, The auxiliary member is A sheet extending in a plane intersecting the first direction; a first support member extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction, provided at an end of the sheet in a third specific direction that is one of a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction, and supporting the sheet, the first support member having a rigidity higher than a rigidity of the sheet; a second support member extending in the second direction and provided at an end of the sheet in a third opposite direction that is opposite to the third specific direction in the third direction, the second support member having a rigidity higher than a rigidity of the sheet; a third support member extending from each of the first support member and the second support member toward each other in the third direction and supporting the seat, the third support member having a rigidity higher than a rigidity of the seat; Equipped with The auxiliary member is attached to the platen in a state in which the first direction is aligned with the up-down direction, the sheet is disposed between the placement surface of the platen and the printing surface of the print medium in the up-down direction in a state in which the auxiliary member is attached to the platen, The first support member, the second support member, and the third support member are each positioned below the sheet when the auxiliary member is attached to the platen. An auxiliary member characterized by:

2. The coefficient of friction of the lower surface of the sheet when the auxiliary member is attached to the platen is greater than the coefficient of friction of the upper surface of the sheet when the auxiliary member is attached to the platen. The auxiliary member according to claim 1 .

3. The first support member and the second support member are each switchable between a first state in which the length of each of the first support member and the second support member in the second direction is a first length and a second state in which the length of each of the first support member and the second support member in the second direction is a second length that is shorter than the first length. The auxiliary member according to claim 1 .

4. When the auxiliary member is attached to the platen, the upper surface of the sheet has water repellency. The auxiliary member according to claim 1 .

5. The sheet has substantially no water absorbency. The auxiliary member according to claim 1 .

6. The third support member is A first extension portion of the first support member extending in the second specific direction from an end of the first support member in a second specific direction, which is one of the second directions, toward the third opposite direction; a second extending portion that extends in the second specific direction from an end of the second support member in the second specific direction toward the third specific direction; The auxiliary member according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising:

7. a first connecting portion that connects the first support member and the first extension portion rotatably around a first axis that passes through a connecting portion between the first support member and the first extension portion and extends in the first direction; a second connecting portion that connects the second support member and the second extension portion rotatably around a second axis that passes through a connecting portion between the second support member and the second extension portion and extends in the first direction; a third connecting portion that connects the first extension portion and the second extension portion rotatably around a third axis that passes through a connecting portion between the first extension portion and the second extension portion and extends in the first direction; The auxiliary member according to claim 6, further comprising:

8. The first support member and the second support member each extend beyond an end of the sheet in a second opposite direction that is opposite to a second specific direction that is one of the second directions, to the second opposite direction.

6. An auxiliary member according to claim 1.

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