Support member and carriage device

Abstract

To suppress a free end of a substrate unit provided in a cantilever shape in a carriage from being displaced downward.SOLUTION: A support member according to the disclosure can be detachably attached to a carriage device. The carriage device comprises a frame that supports a guide rail, a carriage that can move along the guide rail, and a substrate unit provided in a cantilever-shape in the carriage. The support member has a contact part that contacts the frame and a support part provided at the opposite side of a side that contacts the frame in the contact part. When the contact part is contacted with the frame, the support part faces a bottom surface of the substrate unit to support a free end of the substrate unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a support member and a carriage device. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes an inkjet printer equipped with a carriage that scans in a scanning direction. Patent Document 1 describes that a guide rail is provided on the front surface of a guide frame, and a carriage arranged on the front side of the guide frame moves along the guide rail. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2022-119541 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When a board unit having a board for driving a head is mounted in a cantilevered manner on a carriage, a problem occurs in that when force is applied to the board, such as when attaching or detaching a connector on the board, the free end of the board unit is easily displaced downward.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to suppress downward displacement of a free end of a board unit that is cantilevered on a carriage. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The main invention for achieving the above-mentioned object is a support member that can be attached to and detached from a carriage device having a frame that supports a guide rail, a carriage that can move along the guide rail, and a substrate unit that is cantilevered on the carriage, the support member having a contact portion that contacts the frame and a support portion that is provided on the opposite side of the contact portion that contacts the frame, and when the contact portion is brought into contact with the frame, the support portion faces the bottom surface of the substrate unit to support the free end of the substrate unit.

[0007] Other features of the present invention will become apparent from the description of this specification. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, downward displacement of the free end of the board unit that is cantilevered on the carriage can be suppressed. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a carriage device 100 according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the board unit 40 as seen from the rear. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the substrate unit 40 as viewed from the side. [Figure 4] Fig. 4A is an explanatory diagram of a state in which the support member 60 is placed on the frame 20. Fig. 4B is an explanatory diagram of a state in which the support member 60 is fixed to the frame 20. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of how the supporting member 60 supports the board unit 40. As shown in FIG. [Figure 6] 6A to 6C are explanatory diagrams of the support member 60. FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the support member 60 is accommodated in the accommodation portion 12 of the base portion 10. As shown in FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a carriage device 100 according to the second embodiment. [Figure 9]Fig. 9A is an explanatory diagram of the table mechanism 50. Fig. 9B is an explanatory diagram of the table mechanism 50 in a state in which the support member 60 is fixed to the base 51. [Figure 10] Fig. 10A is an explanatory diagram of the vicinity of a connecting member 52B of the table mechanism 50. Fig. 10B is an explanatory diagram of the vicinity of the connecting member 52B in a state in which the support member 60 is fixed to the base 51. [Figure 11] Fig. 11A is an explanatory diagram of the state before the support member 60 of the second embodiment is placed. Fig. 11B is an explanatory diagram of the state in which the support member 60 of the second embodiment supports the substrate unit 40. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing the supporting member 60 and the board unit 40 of the second embodiment as viewed from the side. [Figure 13] 13A to 13C are explanatory diagrams of a support member 60 according to the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] === Implementation form === First Embodiment FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a carriage device 100 according to the first embodiment.

[0011] The carriage device 100 is a device that includes a moving carriage 31. Here, the carriage device 100 is an inkjet printer that moves the carriage 31 that is equipped with a head (not shown) that ejects ink. The carriage device 100 of the first embodiment is a so-called serial printer that repeats an operation of ejecting ink from a moving head and an operation of transporting recording paper in a transport direction (a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the head; here, the front-rear direction). It should be noted that the carriage device 100 is not limited to a serial printer or an inkjet printer. The carriage device 100 is also not limited to a printer.

[0012] In the following description, directions are defined as shown in Fig. 1. The direction in which the carriage 31 moves is referred to as the "left-right direction". The left-right direction is also called the "scanning direction", "movement direction" or "width direction". The vertical direction is referred to as the "up-down direction". The direction perpendicular to the left-right and up-down directions is referred to as the "front-rear direction". The side of the carriage 31 as viewed from the guide rail 23 is referred to as the "front", and the opposite side is referred to as the "rear".

[0013] The carriage device 100 includes a base portion 10, a frame 20, a carriage mechanism 30, and a board unit 40.

[0014] The base 10 is a member that constitutes the base of the carriage device 100. The base 10 is a member that supports the main body such as the frame 20 and the carriage mechanism 30. A side cover 11 is provided on the base 10. The side cover 11 is a member that constitutes a storage space for the carriage 31, and is provided at the left-right end (here, the right side) of the carriage device 100. When the carriage 31 is in the home position (see the carriage 31 shown by the dotted line in FIG. 1), the side cover 11 covers the upper side of the carriage 31 (and the board unit 40). An operation panel may be provided on the outer surface of the side cover 11. The base 10 is provided with a storage section 12 for storing a support member 60 (see the dotted circle in FIG. 1). Furthermore, since the support member 60 is stored in the storage section 12, it is possible to prevent the support member 60 from being lost, and when the support member 60 is needed, such as during maintenance or when transporting the carriage device 100 (described later), the support member 60 stored in the storage section 12 can be removed and used.

[0015] The frame 20 is a member that supports a guide rail 23 that guides the carriage 31. The frame 20 is a member that supports the carriage mechanism 30, and has a shape that extends in the left-right direction to support the carriage 31 that moves in the left-right direction. The frame 20 is fixed to the base 10. The frame 20 has a front part 21 and a rear base part 22. The front part 21 is a part that constitutes the front surface of the frame 20. The front part 21 of the frame 20 is provided with a guide rail 23. As will be described later, when the carriage device 100 is transported, a support member 60 is fixed to the front part 21 of the frame 20 (see FIG. 4B). The rear base part 22 is a flat part that is vertical in the up-down direction, and is formed at the rear of the frame 20. As will be described later, the upper surface of the rear base part 22 becomes a mounting surface on which the support member 60 is placed (see FIG. 4A).

[0016] The carriage mechanism 30 is a mechanism for moving the carriage 31. The carriage mechanism 30 has the carriage 31 and a drive unit 32. The carriage 31 is a member that moves in the left-right direction (scanning direction). The carriage 31 is disposed on the front side of the frame 20, and moves along the guide rail 23. The carriage 31 is provided with a movable unit 31A. The movable unit 31A is a member that constitutes a linear motion mechanism together with the guide rail 23. In addition, a head (not shown) that ejects ink is mounted on the lower surface of the carriage 31. The drive unit 32 is a member that drives the carriage 31, and includes a motor 32A that serves as a drive source, a belt 32B that transmits the drive force of the motor 32A to the carriage 31, and the like.

[0017] The board unit 40 is a unit including a board 41 (see FIG. 2). The board unit 40 is cantilevered on the carriage 31. Here, a free end (rear end) of the board unit 40 protrudes rearward beyond the guide rail 23.

[0018] Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the board unit 40 as seen from the rear. Fig. 2 shows the carriage 31 in a state where it has left the home position (see the carriage 31 shown by the dotted line in Fig. 1). Fig. 2 also shows the board unit 40 with the top cover (not shown) removed.

[0019] The board unit 40 has a board 41, a mounting member 42, and an upper cover (not shown). The board 41 is a board on which electronic components are mounted. For example, a control unit that controls a head mounted on the carriage 31, an electric circuit, etc. are configured on the board 41. A connector 41A is provided on the upper surface of the board 41. The mounting member 42 is a member for mounting the board 41 on the carriage 31. Here, the mounting member 42 is configured in a plate shape, but may have other shapes. The front end of the mounting member 42 is fixed to the carriage 31. The board 41 is fixed to the upper side of the mounting member 42 via a spacer 43. Note that the method of arranging the board 41 in the board unit 40 does not have to use the mounting member 42 or the spacer 43. The upper cover (not shown) is a member that covers the upper side of the board 41. The mounting member 42 functioning as a lower cover and the upper cover configure a housing member that houses the board 41. The top cover is configured to be removable, and when an operator accesses the board 41, the top cover is removed as shown in Fig. 2. When the carriage 31 is in the home position (see the carriage 31 shown by the dotted line in Fig. 1), the top side of the board unit 40 is covered by the side cover 11, and therefore the top cover of the board unit 40 cannot be removed. When removing the top cover of the board unit 40, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the carriage 31 is moved to the left (inward in the left-right direction) from the home position, and the board unit 40 is moved outside the side cover 11. The board unit 40 may have a configuration different from that described above.

[0020] FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the substrate unit 40 as viewed from the side.

[0021] In order to prevent interference between the board unit 40 and the frame 20 when the board unit 40 moves together with the carriage 31, a gap is formed between the board unit 40 and the frame 20 in the vertical direction. On the other hand, a connector 41A is provided on the upper surface of the board 41, and when an operator attaches or detaches a terminal (not shown) to the connector 41A, a downward force may be applied to the board 41 (see the arrow in FIG. 3). The board unit 40 is cantilevered on the carriage 31, and the free end (rear end) protrudes rearward. Therefore, when a downward force is applied to the board 41, the free end of the board unit 40 may be displaced downward as shown by the dotted line in the figure. The downward displacement of the free end of the board unit 40 may be caused not only by the bending deformation of the board unit 40, but also by deformation of the connection between the carriage 31 and the board unit 40 to which a large bending moment is applied, deformation of the carriage 31, etc.

[0022] If such downward displacement of the free end of the board unit 40 becomes large, it may cause damage to the carriage 31 or the board unit 40. Furthermore, when an operator attaches or detaches a connector while supporting the board unit 40 with his or her fingers, the force applied to the board unit 40 becomes unstable due to poor workability, and in this case, too, there is a risk of causing damage to the carriage 31 or the board unit 40. Therefore, in this embodiment, when an operator attaches or detaches a terminal (not shown) to or from the connector 41A, the support member 60 housed in the housing portion 12 is removed from the housing portion 12 and used to suppress the downward displacement of the free end of the board unit 40 as indicated by the dotted line in the figure.

[0023] Fig. 4A is an explanatory diagram of a state in which the support member 60 is placed on the frame 20 (rear support portion 22). Fig. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a state in which the support member 60 supports the board unit 40.

[0024] The support member 60 is a member that supports the bottom of the board unit 40. The support member 60 is a member that is detachable from the frame 20. As shown in FIG. 4A, the support member 60 is placed on the upper surface of the rear platform 22 of the frame 20. The support member 60 is disposed so as to be able to face the bottom surface of the board unit 40, and supports the free end of the board unit 40 (the support member 60 comes into contact with the bottom surface of the board unit 40 when the free end of the board unit 40 is displaced downward). In this way, the support member 60 suppresses the downward displacement of the free end of the board unit 40. Note that "the free end is supported" means that the free end is supported in a state in which downward displacement is suppressed. For this reason, the term "the free end is supported" can be used to refer not only to a configuration in which the support member 60 directly contacts the free end to support it, but also to a configuration in which the support member 60 contacts the base end side (here, the front side) of the free end to suppress downward displacement of the free end, and a configuration in which there is no contact before the free end is displaced downward, but when the free end is displaced downward, the bottom surface of the substrate unit 40 contacts the support member 60 to suppress further displacement.

[0025] When accessing the board unit 40, the worker places the support member 60 on the frame 20 as shown in Fig. 4A. After placing the support member 60 on the frame 20, the worker moves the carriage 31 until the bottom surface of the board unit 40 faces the support member 60. When the carriage 31 moves and the bottom surface of the board unit 40 faces the support member 60, the board unit 40 is positioned outside the side cover 11, and the worker can remove the top cover of the board unit 40 to access the board 41.

[0026] 6A to 6C are explanatory diagrams of the support member 60. The directions in the drawings indicate the directions when the support member 60 is placed on the frame 20.

[0027] The support member 60 is an L-shaped member and has a first plate portion 60A and a second plate portion 60B. The plate surface of the second plate portion 60B is in a direction intersecting with the plate surface of the first plate portion 60A. Here, the plate surface of the first plate portion 60A and the plate surface of the second plate portion 60B are almost perpendicular. The second plate portion 60B is formed by bending the first plate portion 60A. However, the L-shaped support member 60 is not limited to a member formed by bending, and may be, for example, a member in which two plate-like members are joined together, or may be an integrally molded member. The support member 60 has a contact portion 61, a support portion 62, an insertion portion 63, and a fixing portion 64. The support member 60 does not have to have the insertion portion 63 and the fixing portion 64 (described later), but may have the contact portion 61 and the support portion 62.

[0028] The contact portion 61 is a portion that comes into contact with the upper surface of the frame 20 (rear base portion 22) when an operator attaches or detaches a terminal (not shown) to or from the connector 41A. The contact portion 61 is a portion (placement portion) for placing the support member 60 on the frame 20. Here, the contact portion 61 is composed of a first contact portion 61A and a second contact portion 61B. The first contact portion 61A is provided on the lower edge of the first plate portion 60A. The second contact portion 61B is provided on the lower edge of the second plate portion 60B. The first contact portion 61A is a lower edge along the front-rear direction, and the second contact portion 61B is a lower edge along the left-right direction. In this way, by providing contact portions 61 (first contact portion 61A and second contact portion 61B) on each of the first plate portion 60A and the second plate portion 60B having a plate surface intersecting the plate surface of the first plate portion 60A, the directions of the first contact portion 61A and the second contact portion 61B can be made different, and when the first contact portion 61A and the second contact portion 61B are brought into contact with the upper surface of the frame 20, the support member 60 can be stably placed on the frame 20.

[0029] The support portion 62 is a portion that faces the bottom surface of the substrate unit 40 and supports the free end of the substrate unit 40. In other words, the support portion 62 is a portion that suppresses downward displacement of the free end of the substrate unit 40. The support portion 62 is provided on the opposite side (upper side in FIG. 6A) of the contact portion 61 from the side that contacts the frame 20 (lower side in FIG. 6A). When the contact portion 61 is brought into contact with the frame 20 (when the support member 60 is placed on the frame 20), and the carriage 31 is moved to the position of the substrate unit 40, the support portion 62 faces the bottom surface of the substrate unit 40. When the support portion 62 comes into contact with the bottom surface of the substrate unit 40, further downward displacement of the free end of the substrate unit 40 is suppressed.

[0030] The upper end of the support portion 62 is set at a position slightly lower than the height of the bottom surface of the board unit 40 (the height of the bottom surface when the free end is not displaced downward) when the contact portion 61 is brought into contact with the frame 20 (when the support member 60 is placed on the frame 20). In other words, the distance (vertical dimension) between the support portion 62 and the contact portion 61 is set shorter than the distance (vertical dimension) between the upper surface of the frame 20 and the bottom surface of the board unit 40. This forms a minute gap between the support portion 62 and the bottom surface of the board unit 40, and interference between the support portion 62 and the board unit 40 can be suppressed when the carriage 31 is moved until the support portion 62 and the bottom surface of the board unit 40 face each other. When an operator attaches or detaches a terminal (not shown) to connector 41A, a downward force is applied to board 41 and the free end of board unit 40 is displaced downward, so that support portion 62 comes into contact with the bottom surface of board unit 40, thereby preventing further downward displacement of the free end of board unit 40.

[0031] The height of the support portion 62 may be the same as the bottom surface of the board unit 40. In this case, in order to prevent interference between the support portion 62 and the board unit 40, it is desirable for the worker to move the carriage 31 until the support portion 62 faces the bottom surface of the board unit 40 while lifting the free end of the board unit 40. Also, in this case, when the support portion 62 faces the bottom surface of the board unit 40, the support portion 62 comes into contact with the bottom surface of the board unit 40, and downward displacement of the free end of the board unit 40 is suppressed.

[0032] Here, the support portion 62 is configured to protrude from the upper edge of the first plate portion 60A. The support portion 62 may be provided on the second plate portion 60B. The support portion 62 may be provided on both the first plate portion 60A and the second plate portion 60B. The support portion 62 does not have to protrude, and may be configured, for example, from a flat upper edge of the first plate portion 60A (or the second plate portion 60B).

[0033] The support portion 62 also has a function of restricting the movement of the carriage 31 when the carriage device 100 is transported (see FIG. 4B). This will be described later.

[0034] The insertion portion 63 is a portion that is inserted into a hole 22A (see FIG. 4B) provided in the frame 20 (rear base portion 22). The insertion portion 63 is a portion that protrudes downward from the contact portion 61 (the opposite side of the support portion 62 when viewed from the contact portion 61). When an operator attaches or detaches a terminal (not shown) to or from the connector 41A, the support member 60 can be fixed at a predetermined position on the frame 20 by inserting the insertion portion 63 into the hole 22A of the frame 20.

[0035] Here, the insertion portion 63 is configured to protrude from the lower edge of the first plate portion 60A. The insertion portion 63 may be provided on the second plate portion 60B. The insertion portion 63 may be provided on both the first plate portion 60A and the second plate portion 60B. The insertion portion 63 does not have to be provided. If the insertion portion 63 is not provided, the worker can place the support member 60 at any position on the frame 20. If the insertion portion 63 is not provided, the hole 22A does not have to be provided in the frame 20.

[0036] The fixing portion 64 is a portion for fixing the support member 60 when the carriage device 100 is transported. In the first embodiment, the fixing portion 64 is a portion fixed to the frame 20. Here, the fixing portion 64 is configured with a hole through which a fixing screw is inserted. As long as the supporting member 60 can be fixed, the fixing portion 64 is not limited to one having a hole. For example, the fixing portion 64 may be configured with a latch mechanism such as a clasp. Here, the fixing portion 64 is provided on the second plate portion 60B, but the fixing portion 64 may be provided on the first plate portion 60A. Also, the fixing portion 64 may not be provided.

[0037] 4B is an explanatory diagram of a state in which the support member 60 is fixed to the frame 20 when the carriage device 100 is transported. In the figure, a state in which the support member 60 restricts the movement of the carriage 31 is shown.

[0038] A screw hole 21A is provided in the front surface 21 of the frame 20 (see FIG. 4A). As shown in FIG. 4B, the support member 60 can be fixed to the frame 20 by the fixing portion 64 by fastening the support member 60 to the frame 20 with a fixing screw inserted through the fixing portion 64.

[0039] When the support member 60 is fixed to the frame 20 (front surface 21) by the fixing portion 64, the support member 60 comes into contact with the carriage 31 (movable portion 31A), thereby restricting the movement of the carriage 31. For example, when the carriage device 100 is shipped, the support member 60 is fixed to the frame 20 (front surface 21) by the fixing portion 64, and the support member 60 comes into contact with the carriage 31 at the home position, thereby restricting the movement of the carriage 31 during transportation of the carriage device 100. Note that the fixing portion 64 is not limited to the above configuration, as long as the support member 60 is configured to be fixable to a position that restricts the movement of the carriage 31.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 4B, when the support member 60 is fixed to the frame 20 (front surface 21) by the fixing portion 64, the support portion 62 of the support member 60 comes into contact with the carriage 31, and the support portion 62 restricts the movement of the carriage 31. Therefore, the support portion 62 serves as a restricting portion that restricts the movement of the carriage 31. In other words, the support portion 62 has a function of supporting the board unit 40 and a function of restricting the movement of the carriage 31. By the support portion 62 having both of these functions, the shape of the support member 60 can be simplified. Note that the portion that comes into contact with the carriage 31 (restricting portion) is not limited to the support portion 62, and may be formed of a portion other than the support portion 62 that supports the board unit 40. For example, the movement of the carriage 31 may be restricted by an edge of the first plate portion 60A (or the second plate portion 60B) other than the support portion 62 coming into contact with the carriage 31.

[0041] 7 is an explanatory diagram of a state in which the support member 60 is accommodated in the accommodation portion 12 of the base portion 10. In the drawing, a state in which the support member 60 is accommodated in the carriage device 100 is shown.

[0042] The fixing portion 64 is a portion for fixing the support member 60 to the storage portion 12 (see FIG. 1). The storage portion 12 is not limited to the base portion 10, and may be located elsewhere. In this manner, the fixing portion 64 has a function of fixing the support member 60 to the frame 20 in order to restrict the movement of the carriage 31, and a function of fixing the support member 60 to the storage portion 12 when the support member 60 is stored. The fixing portion 64 having both of these functions can simplify the shape of the support member 60. However, the support member 60 may have a fixing portion (first fixing portion) for fixing the support member 60 to the frame 20 and a fixing portion (second fixing portion) for fixing the support member 60 to the storage portion 12 separately. In this case, the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion may be provided separately on different plate portions of the first plate portion 60A and the second plate portion 60B, or may be provided on the same plate portion of the first plate portion 60A and the second plate portion 60B.

[0043] By fixing the support member 60 to a specific storage location (storage section 12), it is possible to prevent the support member 60 from being lost. For this reason, it is desirable for the carriage device 100 to be provided with a storage section 12 that stores the support member 60. Note that when an operator accesses the board unit 40 during maintenance, the operator removes the support member 60 stored in the storage section 12 and places the support member 60 on the rear platform section 22.

[0044] <Second embodiment> FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a carriage device 100 according to the second embodiment.

[0045] In the second embodiment, the carriage device 100 also includes a moving carriage 31. The carriage device 100 of the second embodiment is a so-called flatbed type printer, and repeats an operation of ejecting ink from a head (a head mounted on the carriage 31, not shown) that moves in the left-right direction, and an operation of moving a table 52 to which a medium is fixed in the front-back direction. The carriage device 100 of the second embodiment includes a base portion 10, a frame 20, a carriage mechanism 30, a board unit 40 (not shown in FIG. 8; see FIG. 11A and FIG. 12), and a table mechanism 50. Note that the base portion 10, the frame 20, the carriage mechanism 30, and the board unit 40 of the second embodiment are substantially the same as those of the first embodiment, and therefore description thereof will be omitted here.

[0046] Fig. 9A is an explanatory diagram of the table mechanism 50. Fig. 10A is an explanatory diagram of the vicinity of a connecting member 52B of the table mechanism 50. In Fig. 10A, the state of the vicinity of the connecting member 52B is shown through a top plate 52A.

[0047] The table mechanism 50 is a device equipped with a moving table 52. The table mechanism 50 has a base 51, a table 52, and a feed mechanism 53.

[0048] The table 52 is a member that moves relative to the base 51. The table 52 has a top plate 52A and a connecting member 52B. The top plate 52A is a plate-shaped member on which an object (for example, printing paper, etc.) is placed. The connecting member 52B is a member that connects the top plate 52A to a movable part (nut 53B described later) of the feed mechanism 53. The top plate 52A is disposed on the upper side of the base 51, and the movable part (nut 53B) of the feed mechanism 53 is disposed on the lower side of the base 51, so that the connecting member 52B is disposed so as to penetrate the base 51. Since the connecting member 52B moves in the front-rear direction together with the top plate 52A, the base 51 is formed with a groove 51A (see also FIG. 8) along the front-rear direction so as not to impede the movement of the connecting member 52B. The groove 51A of the base 51 becomes a passage for the connecting member 52B. A recess 51B is formed on the edge of the groove 51A. The recess 51B has a function of aligning the support member 60 to a predetermined position (described later; see FIG. 10B).

[0049] The feed mechanism 53 is a moving mechanism that moves the table 52 in the front-rear direction. Here, the feed mechanism 53 is configured with a feed screw mechanism (ball screw mechanism or slide screw mechanism), and has a feed shaft 53A (feed screw; screw shaft) and a nut 53B. The nut 53B can be moved in the front-rear direction by rotating the feed shaft 53A with a motor (not shown). Note that the feed mechanism 53 is not limited to the feed screw mechanism, and may be, for example, a mechanism using a belt (and pulley). The nut 53B is connected to the table 52 via a connecting member 52B. The feed mechanism 53 is disposed below the base 51.

[0050] Fig. 11A is an explanatory diagram of the state before the support member 60 of the second embodiment is placed. Fig. 11B is an explanatory diagram of the state in which the support member 60 of the second embodiment supports the board unit 40. That is, Fig. 11B illustrates a state in which the support member 60 is attached to the rear base portion 22 when an operator works on the board unit 40 (for example, when attaching or detaching a terminal (not shown) to the connector 41A). Fig. 12 is an explanatory diagram of the support member 60 and the board unit 40 of the second embodiment as viewed from the side.

[0051] In the second embodiment, the board unit 40 is also cantilevered on the carriage 31, and the free end (rear end) protrudes rearward beyond the guide rail 23. Therefore, in the second embodiment, when an operator attaches or detaches a terminal (not shown) to or from the connector 41A, if a downward force is applied to the board 41 without the support member 60, the free end of the board unit 40 may be displaced downward. However, in the second embodiment, the support member 60 supports the free end of the board unit 40 (the support member 60 contacts the bottom surface of the board unit 40), thereby suppressing the downward displacement of the free end of the board unit 40. In the second embodiment, the support member 60 is also detachable from the frame 20 (rear base 22), and is placed on the upper surface of the rear base 22 of the frame 20 so as to be opposed to the bottom surface of the board unit 40.

[0052] 13A to 13C are explanatory diagrams of a support member 60 according to the second embodiment.

[0053] In the second embodiment, the support member 60 is also an L-shaped member having a first plate portion 60A and a second plate portion 60B. The support member 60 in the second embodiment has a contact portion 61, a support portion 62, an insertion portion 63, a fixing portion 64, a protruding portion 65, and a limiting portion 66. It is sufficient that the support member 60 has the contact portion 61 and the support portion 62, and it is not necessary that the support member 60 has the fixing portion 64, the protruding portion 65, or the limiting portion 66.

[0054] The contact portion 61 is a portion that comes into contact with the upper surface of the frame 20 (rear base portion 22) when an operator attaches or detaches a terminal (not shown) to or from the connector 41A. In the second embodiment, the contact portion 61 also serves as a portion (placement portion) for placing the support member 60 on the frame 20. The contact portion 61 is composed of a first contact portion 61A and a second contact portion 61B. The first contact portion 61A is provided on the first plate portion 60A. Here, a step is formed in the center of the left edge of the first plate portion 60A, and the lower edge of this step serves as the first contact portion 61A. The second contact portion 61B is provided on the second plate portion 60B. Here, a step is formed in the center of the rear edge of the second plate portion 60B, and the lower edge of this step serves as the second contact portion 61B. As will be described later, the lower edge of the protruding portion 65 also functions as the contact portion 61 (third contact portion 61C; placement portion).

[0055] The support portion 62 is a portion that faces the bottom surface of the board unit 40 and supports the free end of the board unit 40. In the second embodiment, the support portion 62 is a portion that suppresses downward displacement of the free end of the board unit 40. In the second embodiment, the support portion 62 is provided on the opposite side (upper side of FIG. 13A) of the contact portion 61 from the side that contacts the frame 20 (lower side of FIG. 13A). When the contact portion 61 is brought into contact with the frame 20 (when the support member 60 is placed on the frame 20), the support portion 62 faces the bottom surface of the board unit 40 when the carriage 31 is moved to the position of the board unit 40. Here, the support portion 62 is formed by the upper edge of the first plate portion 60A. However, as in the first embodiment described above, the support portion 62 may be formed to protrude from the upper edge of the first plate portion 60A. The support portion 62 may also be provided on the second plate portion 60B.

[0056] The insertion portion 63 is a portion that is inserted into a hole 22A (see FIG. 11A) provided in the frame 20. The insertion portion 63 is a portion that protrudes downward from the contact portion 61. Here, the insertion portion 63 is provided on both the first plate portion 60A and the second plate portion 60B. However, the insertion portion 63 may be provided on one of the first plate portion 60A and the second plate portion 60B. Also, the insertion portion 63 may not be provided.

[0057] The fixing portion 64 is a portion for fixing the support member 60 when the carriage device 100 is transported. In the second embodiment, the fixing portion 64 is a portion that is fixed to the base 51. Here, the fixing portion 64 is provided on the first plate portion 60A, but the fixing portion 64 may be provided on the second plate portion 60B. As will be described later, the supporting member 60 is fixed to the base 51 by the fixing portion 64 (see FIG. 10B).

[0058] The protruding portion 65 is a portion protruding from a connecting portion (bent portion) between the first plate portion 60A and the second plate portion 60B. Here, the protruding portion 65 is provided on the second plate portion 60B and protrudes forward from a front edge (connecting portion with the first plate portion 60A) of the second plate portion 60B. The protruding portion 65 is provided on an edge (here, a front edge) opposite to an edge (here, a rear edge) on which the second contact portion 61B of the second plate portion 60B is provided. The protruding portion 65 is located on the opposite side to the main body of the second plate portion 60B when viewed from a direction parallel to the plate surface of the first plate portion 60A on which the fixing portion 64 is provided. The protruding portion 65 may be provided on the first plate portion 60A. Also, the protruding portion 65 may not be provided on the support member 60 as in the first embodiment.

[0059] The lower edge of the protruding portion 65 functions as the contact portion 61. In the following description, the lower edge of the protruding portion 65 is referred to as the third contact portion 61C. When the first contact portion 61A and the second contact portion 61B are brought into contact with the frame 20 (when the support member 60 is placed on the frame 20), the third contact portion 61C also comes into contact with the upper surface of the frame 20 (rear base portion 22). As shown in FIG. 13C, when viewed from a direction parallel to the plate surface of the first plate portion 60A on which the first contact portion 61A is provided, the first plate portion 60A (first contact portion 61A) is located between the second contact portion 61B and the third contact portion 61C. That is, when viewed from a direction parallel to the plate surface of the first plate portion 60A on which the first contact portion 61A is provided, the second contact portion 61B is located on one side (rear side) of the plate surface of the first plate portion 60A, and the third contact portion 61C is located on the other side (front side) of the plate surface of the first plate portion 60A. The first contact portion 61A, the second contact portion 61B, and the third contact portion 61C are not arranged on a straight line, and the first contact portion 61A, the second contact portion 61B, and the third contact portion 61C can be brought into contact with the upper surface of the frame 20 at three points, so that the support member 60 can be stably placed on the frame 20. In addition, since the extension line of the first contact portion 61A is arranged between the second contact portion 61B and the third contact portion 61C, it is possible to suppress the support member 60 from moving in the rotation direction about the first contact portion 61A as an axis.

[0060] Fig. 9B is an explanatory diagram of the table mechanism 50 in a state where the support member 60 is fixed to the base 51 when the carriage device 100 is transported. Fig. 10B is an explanatory diagram of the vicinity of the connecting member 52B in a state where the support member 60 is fixed to the base 51. Fig. 10B shows the state where the support member 60 contacts the table 52 (connecting member 52B) (a state where the movement of the table 52 is restricted) through the top plate 52A. Also, in Fig. 10B, the front surface of the connecting member 52B is hatched.

[0061] The base 51 is provided with a screw hole 511 (see FIG. 10A). As shown in FIG. 10B, the support member 60 can be fixed to the base 51 by the fixing portion 64 by fastening the support member 60 to the base 51 with a fixing screw inserted through the fixing portion 64.

[0062] The limiting portion 66 is a portion that comes into contact with the table 52 (table contact portion). When the support member 60 is fixed to the base 51 by the fixing portion 64, the limiting portion 66 comes into contact with the table 52, thereby making it possible to limit the movement of the table 52. For example, the fixing portion 64 comes into contact with the front surface of the connecting member 52B (the hatched surface in FIG. 10B). For example, at the time of product shipment of the carriage device 100, the support member 60 is fixed to the base 51 by the fixing portion 64, and the limiting portion 66 comes into contact with the table 52 at the home position, thereby making it possible to suppress the movement of the table 52 during transportation of the carriage device 100.

[0063] Here, the limiting portion 66 contacts the connecting member 52B, but may be configured to contact the top plate 52A. However, having the limiting portion 66 contact the connecting member 52B allows the support member 60 to be more compact than having the limiting portion 66 contact the top plate 52A that is disposed above the connecting member 52B.

[0064] 13A, the limiting portion 66 is formed by the upper edge of the second plate portion 60B. However, the limiting portion 66 may be provided on the first plate portion 60A. When the fixing portion 64 is provided on the first plate portion 60A, the limiting portion 66 is provided on the second plate portion 60B.

[0065] 13A, the heights (vertical positions) of the limiting portion 66 and the supporting portion 62 are different from each other. In other words, the interval (vertical dimension) between the limiting portion 66 and the contact portion 61 is different from the interval (vertical dimension) between the supporting portion 62 and the contact portion 61. Here, the interval between the limiting portion 66 and the contact portion 61 is shorter than the interval between the supporting portion 62 and the contact portion 61. This is because, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, a step 51C is formed on the upper surface of the base 51, and the supporting member 60 is arranged in a narrow space between the step 51C and the connecting member 52B. In this way, when there is a restriction on the space in which the supporting member 60 is arranged, it is effective to make the heights of the limiting portion 66 and the supporting portion 62 different from each other. Furthermore, when making the heights of the limiting portion 66 and the supporting portion 62 different in this manner, it is desirable to place the supporting portion 62 on one of the first plate portion 60A and the second plate portion 60B, and to place the limiting portion 66 on the other of the first plate portion 60A and the second plate portion 60B.

[0066] 10B, when the support member 60 is fixed to the base 51 by the fixing portion 64, the protrusion 65 fits into the recess 51B provided on the edge of the groove 51A of the base 51. By fitting the protrusion 65 into the recess 51B, the support member 60 can be aligned to a predetermined position (position in the front-rear and left-right directions). The protrusion 65 has a function as the contact portion 61 described above and a function of aligning the support member 60 to a predetermined position with respect to the base 51. Since the protrusion 65 has these two functions, the shape of the support member 60 can be simplified.

[0067] The projection 65 aligns the support member 60 to a predetermined position on the base 51, which makes it easier to align the fixing portion 64 (hole for inserting the fixing screw) of the support member 60 with the screw hole 511 (see FIG. 10A) of the base 51, facilitating the work of fixing the support member 60 to the base 51 with the fixing screw. As shown in FIGS. 9B and 10B, in a situation where the contact point between the limiting portion 66 of the support member 60 and the connecting member 52B of the table 52 is hidden under the top plate 52A and difficult to see, it is particularly effective that the projection 65 can align the support member 60 to a predetermined position on the base 51.

[0068] <Summary> The above-mentioned carriage device 100 includes a frame 20 that supports the guide rail 23, a carriage 31 that is movable along the guide rail 23, and a board unit 40, and the board unit 40 is cantilevered on the carriage 31. In such a carriage device 100, when a downward force is applied to the board unit 40 (board 41), there is a risk that the free end of the board unit 40 will be displaced downward (see FIG. 3). In contrast, in this embodiment, a support member 60 that is detachable from the carriage device 100 is used to suppress displacement of the board unit 40. Specifically, the support member 60 has a contact portion 61 that contacts the frame 20, and a support portion 62 that is provided on the opposite side (upper side in FIG. 6A or FIG. 13) of the contact portion 61 that contacts the frame 20, and when the contact portion 61 is brought into contact with the upper surface of the frame 20, the support portion 62 faces the bottom surface of the board unit 40, and the free end of the board unit 40 is supported.

[0069] ===Other embodiments=== The above embodiment is presented as an example, and does not limit the scope of the invention. The above configurations can be implemented in appropriate combinations, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. The above embodiment and its modifications are included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents described in the claims, as well as the scope and gist of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0070] 10 base portion, 11 side cover, 12 storage portion, 20 Frame, 21 Front part, 21A Screw hole, 22 rear base, 22A hole, 23 guide rail, 30 carriage mechanism, 31 carriage, 31A movable part, 32 Drive unit, 32A Motor, 32B Belt, 40 board unit, 41 board, 41A connector, 42 mounting member, 43 spacer, 50 table mechanism, 51 base, 511 screw hole, 51A groove, 51B recess, 51C step, 52 table, 52A top plate, 52B connecting member, 53 Feed mechanism, 53A Feed shaft, 53B Nut, 60 Support member, 60A First plate portion, 60B Second plate portion, 61 Contact part, 61A 1st contact part, 61B 2nd contact part, 61C 3rd contact part, 62 support part, 63 insertion part, 64 fixing part, 65 protrusion, 66 restriction, 100 Carriage device

Claims

1. A frame supporting the guide rail; a carriage movable along the guide rail; a substrate unit that is cantilevered on the carriage; A support member detachable from a carriage device comprising: a contact portion that contacts the frame and a support portion that is provided on an opposite side of the contact portion that contacts the frame, When the contact portion is brought into contact with the frame, the support portion faces a bottom surface of the board unit and supports a free end of the board unit. Support member.

2. 2. The support member of claim 1, A support member, wherein an upper end of the support portion is set at a position lower than a bottom surface of the board unit when the contact portion is in contact with the frame.

3. 3. The support member according to claim 1 or 2, The support member has a first plate portion and a second plate portion having a plate surface intersecting a plate surface of the first plate portion, The contact portion is provided on each of the first plate portion and the second plate portion.

4. 3. The support member according to claim 1 or 2, The support member further comprises an insertion portion that is inserted into a hole provided in the frame.

5. 3. The support member according to claim 1 or 2, A support member configured to be securable in a position to limit movement of the carriage.

6. 6. The support member according to claim 5, A support member comprising: a fixing portion fixed to the frame; and a limiting portion that contacts the carriage to limit movement of the carriage when the support member is fixed to the frame by the fixing portion.

7. 3. The support member according to claim 1 or 2, the carriage device includes a table movable relative to a base; The support member further comprises a fixing portion fixed to a table, and a limiting portion that contacts the table to limit movement of the table when the support member is fixed to the base by the fixing portion.

8. 8. The support member of claim 7, The support member has a first plate portion and a second plate portion having a plate surface intersecting a plate surface of the first plate portion, The support portion is provided on one of the first plate portion and the second plate portion, The limiting portion is provided on the other of the first plate portion and the second plate portion, A support member, wherein a distance between the limiting portion and the contact portion is different from a distance between the support portion and the contact portion.

9. 8. The support member of claim 7, The second plate portion has a protruding portion protruding from a plate surface of the first plate portion, A support member, wherein an edge of the protrusion contacts the frame when the contact portion is brought into contact with the frame.

10. 10. The support member of claim 9, A support member, wherein when the support member is fixed to the base by the fixing portion, the protrusion fits into a recess provided in the base.

11. A frame supporting the guide rail; a carriage movable along the guide rail; a substrate unit that is cantilevered on the carriage; A support member that is detachable from the frame; Equipped with The support member is a contact portion that contacts the frame and a support portion that is provided on an opposite side of the contact portion that contacts the frame, When the contact portion is brought into contact with the frame, the support portion faces a bottom surface of the board unit and supports a free end of the board unit. Carriage device.

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