Printing device

Abstract

To provide a printing device configured to enable droplet jetted from a head to impact on proper positions.SOLUTION: A printing device comprises: a table having a placement surface on which media are placed; a head having a planar nozzle surface on which a plurality of nozzles are formed to oppose the placement surface, and discharging droplets from the plurality of nozzles toward the placement surface; and a head moving mechanism, supported on the table, and moving the head in a main scanning direction and in a sub scanning direction along the placement surface. The table is configured so that when a plurality of rectangular top plate members are connected in the sub scanning direction, the sub scanning direction becomes a longitudinal direction. In the table, the top plate members respectively have support parts which support at least four corner parts and positions along both end sides in the main scanning direction and between two corner parts in the sub scanning direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a printing device. [Background technology]

[0002] As a printing device that prints on a medium, for example, an inkjet printing device that ejects droplets from a head onto the medium is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Such a printing device includes, for example, a table on which the medium can be placed, and a head that ejects droplets toward the surface of the medium while moving back and forth in the main scanning direction above the table. This printing device ejects droplets while moving the head in the main scanning direction, then moves the head a predetermined distance in the sub-scanning direction that intersects the main scanning direction, and again moves back and forth in the main scanning direction and ejects droplets. By repeating this operation, an image is formed over the entire medium, one row or multiple rows at a time. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2017-109360 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the printing device described above, the head is supported on a table. When the head is moved in the sub-scanning direction, depending on the position of the head in the sub-scanning direction, the table supporting the weight of the head may deform downward, causing the distance between the head and the table (head gap) to change in the sub-scanning direction. In this case, there is a possibility that the droplets ejected from the head will not land in the appropriate position.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above, and has an object to provide a printing device that is capable of causing droplets ejected from a head to land in appropriate positions. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The printing device of the present invention comprises a table having a mounting surface on which a medium is placed, a head having a planar nozzle surface facing the mounting surface and on which a plurality of nozzles are formed, the head ejecting droplets from the plurality of nozzles toward the mounting surface, and a head moving mechanism supported by the table for moving the head in a main scanning direction and a sub-scanning direction along the mounting surface, the table being configured such that the sub-scanning direction is the longitudinal direction by connecting a plurality of rectangular top plate members in the sub-scanning direction, and the table having support portions for supporting at least four corners of each of the top plate members and portions along both end sides in the main scanning direction that are located between the two corners in the sub-scanning direction. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a printing device capable of causing droplets ejected from a head to land at appropriate positions. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of a printing device according to this embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of a printing apparatus according to this embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of a printing apparatus according to the present embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of a printing apparatus according to the present embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a plan view showing an example of the internal configuration of the top plate member. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a plan view showing an example of the surface of the top plate member. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a setting operation of the suction area of ​​the table. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a setting operation of the suction area of ​​the table. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a printing device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. In addition, the components in the following embodiments include those that are replaceable and easy for a person skilled in the art, or those that are substantially the same.

[0010] In this embodiment, the directions in the figure are described using an XYZ coordinate system. In this XYZ coordinate system, a plane parallel to the floor surface on which the printing device 100 is placed is defined as the XY plane. In this XY plane, the main scanning direction, which is the movement direction of the head, is written as the Y direction, and the direction perpendicular to the X direction on the XY plane is written as the X direction. In addition, the direction perpendicular to the XY plane (height direction) is written as the Z direction. The X, Y, and Z directions are described assuming that the direction of the arrow in the figure is the + direction, and the direction opposite to the arrow direction is the - direction. In this embodiment, the +X direction may be written as the front direction (front side), the -X direction as the rear direction (rear side), the +Y direction as the left (left side), the -Y direction as the right (right side), the +Z direction as the up (upper side), and the -Z direction as the down (lower side).

[0011] 1 to 4 are diagrams showing an example of a schematic configuration of a printing device 100 according to this embodiment. FIG. 1 is a perspective view, FIG. 2 is a plan view, FIG. 3 is a view seen from the +Y side, and FIG. 4 is a view seen from the +X side. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, in this embodiment, the printing device 100 will be described by taking as an example an image forming device that forms an image on a medium M such as a film or plate material. As shown in FIG. 1, the printing device 100 includes a table 10, a head 20, a head moving mechanism 30, and a control unit 40.

[0012] The table 10 supports the medium M and the head moving mechanism 30. The table 10 has a placement surface 10a on which the medium M is placed. The table 10 has a plurality of top plate members 11 and a support portion 12.

[0013] The top plate member 11 is a rectangular plate. The top plate members 11 are arranged in a state where multiple top plate members 11 are connected in the X direction. The table 10 has a configuration in which the multiple top plate members 11 are connected in the X direction, and thus the table 10 has a longitudinal direction in the X direction. The multiple top plate members 11 are arranged such that the placement surfaces 11a of each are flush with each other.

[0014] The top plate members 11 have a positioning portion 13 on opposing surfaces 11f facing each other in the X direction. The positioning portion 13 has, for example, a recess 13a provided on one top plate member 11 and a protrusion 13b provided on the other top plate member 11. The positioning portion 13 positions the top plate members 11 in the Y direction and the Z direction by inserting the protrusion 13b into the recess 13a. In addition, by positioning the top plate members 11 with the positioning portion 13, members provided across multiple top plate members 11, such as X guide portions 36a and 36b (described later) provided on the top plate member 11, are also positioned with respect to each other.

[0015] Fig. 5 is a plan view showing an example of the internal configuration of the top plate member 11. Fig. 5 shows a state in which the metal plate on the upper surface side is omitted so that the inside of the top plate member 11 can be seen. As shown in Fig. 5, the top plate member 11 has a frame member 16 inside. The top plate member 11 has a configuration in which the frame member 16 and the frame member 17 are sandwiched in the vertical direction by metal plates made of a metal such as aluminum. This configuration makes it possible to ensure strength while suppressing weight increase.

[0016] The frame member 16 is, for example, rod-shaped or plate-shaped, and reinforces the tabletop member 11. A plurality of frame members 16 are provided along the X direction and the Y direction. The plurality of frame members 16 are arranged, for example, in a lattice pattern. The frame members 16 are arranged so that the support portion 12, which will be described later, is located at the intersection between the X direction and the Y direction. This arrangement increases the rigidity of the tabletop member 11 at the support portion 12, and the tabletop member 11 is stably supported. As an example, the frame members 16 are provided so as to intersect with the four corners 11c of the tabletop member 11 and an intermediate portion 11d that is a portion along both ends of the tabletop member 11 in the Y direction and is located midway between the two corners 11c in the X direction.

[0017] Fig. 6 is a plan view showing an example of the surface of the top plate member 11. As shown in Fig. 6, the top plate member 11 has an adsorption area AR set on the mounting surface 11a. The top plate member 11 has a plurality of openings 11b on the mounting surface 11a that form the adsorption area AR. A suction device 15 such as a pump (see Figs. 3, 4, etc.) is connected to the plurality of openings 11b. The suction device 15 is disposed below the table 10, for example.

[0018] The suction area AR has a plurality of unit areas AR1 to AR7 that can perform suction operations independently of each other. The suction device 15 sucks the plurality of openings 11b so as to perform suction operations for each of the unit areas AR1 to AR7. The unit areas AR1 and AR2 are arranged side by side in the Y direction. The unit areas AR3 and AR4 are arranged side by side in the Y direction. The unit areas AR5 and AR6 are arranged side by side in the Y direction. In this way, since the table 10 has unit areas arranged side by side in the Y direction, the range for suctioning the media M can be set compactly in the Y direction. In addition, the top board member 11 is provided with a plurality of combinations of unit areas arranged side by side in the Y direction in the X direction. Therefore, in the table 10, a portion in which a suction range can be set compactly in the Y direction can be set across a plurality of stages in the X direction.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, the support portion 12 supports the tabletop member 11. The support portion 12 has a plurality of legs 12a, 12b. The plurality of legs 12a, 12b are arranged in a state of being lined up in the X direction along both ends of the tabletop member 11 in the Y direction. The plurality of legs 12a are arranged at positions to support the four corners 11c of the tabletop member 11. The plurality of legs 12a are supported by the floor portion F. The plurality of legs 12b are arranged at positions to support the middle portion 11d of the tabletop member 11. The plurality of legs 12b may be configured to be supported by the floor portion F, or may be configured to be supported by a connecting member 12c that connects the plurality of legs 12a to each other. When the plurality of legs 12b are connected to the connecting member 12c, they may be configured to be fixed by welding, or may be configured to be fastened by a fastening member such as a bolt.

[0020] The legs 12b may be configured to support a portion other than the intermediate portion 11d as long as it is between the two corners 11c in the X direction. The support portion 12 is not limited to the legs 12a and 12b, and may have other shapes such as a plate or block shape. For example, the support portion 12 may be configured to be a plate or block shape that supports the portion along both ends of the table top member 11 in the Y direction over the entire X direction. In the table 10, the support portion 12 is not provided in the portion along both ends of the table top member 11 in the X direction between the two corners 11c in the Y direction.

[0021] The head 20 has a nozzle surface 21 facing the mounting surface 11a. The nozzle surface 21 is, for example, planar. The nozzle surface 21 is provided with a plurality of nozzles (not shown) that eject ink. For example, ultraviolet curable ink can be used. For example, white ink, colored inks such as cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y) and black (K), transparent ink, etc. can be used as the type of ultraviolet curable ink depending on the color of the image to be formed on the medium M. The head 20 is electrically connected to the control unit 40, and the control unit 40 controls the driving of the head 20. The head 20 is connected to an ink supply device (not shown) and receives the supply of ink from the ink supply device. The head 20 can move in the main scanning direction together with the carriage 22. The head 20 ejects ink toward the mounting surface 11a while moving back and forth along the main scanning direction. In the case where the head 20 is configured to eject ultraviolet curable ink, the carriage 22 is equipped with an ultraviolet irradiating device (not shown) that irradiates the ultraviolet curable ink with ultraviolet rays.

[0022] 2 to 4, the head moving mechanism 30 is supported by the table 10, and moves the head 20 in the X and Y directions along the mounting surface 10a of the table 10. The head moving mechanism 30 has a main scanning moving unit 31 and a sub-scanning moving unit 32.

[0023] The main scanning movement unit 31 has a Y bar 33, a Y slider 34, and a Y drive unit 35. The Y bar 33 is arranged parallel to the Y direction. The Y bar 33 guides the carriage 22 in the Y direction. The Y bar 33 is supported by the sub-scanning movement unit 32. The Y slider 34 is provided on the carriage 22 and slides in the Y direction along the Y bar 33. The Y drive unit 35 moves the Y slider 34 along the Y direction. The Y drive unit 35 has a drive source such as a motor, and a transmission mechanism such as a belt that transmits the drive force of the drive source to the Y slider 34.

[0024] The sub-scanning movement unit 32 has an X guide 36, an X slider 37, and an X drive unit 38. The X guide 36 is provided on both side surfaces 11e of the tabletop member 11 in the Y direction. The X guide 36 extends in the X direction and is arranged to straddle both sides of the multiple tabletop members 11 in the X direction. Specifically, an X guide portion 36a arranged on both side surfaces 11e of one tabletop member 11 and an X guide portion 36b arranged on both side surfaces 11e of another tabletop member 11 are connected in the X direction. The X slider 37 is provided on the carriage 22 and slides in the X direction along the X guide 36. The X drive unit 38 moves the X slider 37 along the X direction. The X drive unit 38 has a drive source such as a motor and a transmission mechanism such as a belt that transmits the drive force of the drive source to the X slider 37.

[0025] The control unit 40 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that functions as a controller for executing various processes, a RAM (Random Access Memory) and a ROM (Read Only Memory) that function as memories for storing various information, and the like.

[0026] The control unit 40 controls the operation of the head 20. Under the control of the control unit 40, ink is ejected from the nozzles of the head 20. Also, under the control of the control unit 40, ultraviolet light is emitted from the ultraviolet light irradiation device.

[0027] The control unit 40 controls the operation of the table 10. Figures 7 and 8 are diagrams that diagrammatically show an example of the setting operation of the suction area AR of the table 10.

[0028] 7, when medium M1 has dimensions that span two unit areas (here, unit areas AR1 and AR2) that are aligned in the Y direction within the attraction area AR, the control unit 40 sets the attraction operation to be performed in the two unit areas AR1 and AR2 that are aligned in the Y direction, and not to be performed in unit areas AR3 to AR7. This control ensures that the entire medium M1 is attracted to the table 10.

[0029] On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 8, if the size of medium M2 is such that it spans two unit areas (here, AR1 and AR3) of the suction area AR that are adjacent in the X direction, the control unit 40 sets the suction operation to be performed in unit areas AR1 and AR3 of the suction area AR, and not to be performed in unit areas AR2, AR4 to AR7. This control ensures that the entire medium M1 is suctioned to the table 10. Note that when the suction operation is performed only in unit areas on one side in the Y direction, the movement distance of head 20 in the Y direction can be shortened by operating unit areas AR1, AR3, and AR5 on the side where head 20 is waiting (for example, the +Y side).

[0030] The control unit 40 also controls the operation of the head moving mechanism 30. The head 20 starts the ejection operation from a standby state, for example, at one side (for example, +Y side) in the Y direction with respect to the table 10. Under the control of the control unit 40, the Y slider 34 is driven by the Y drive unit 35, and the carriage 22 moves in the Y direction, which is the main scanning direction. Under the control of the control unit 40, the X slider 37 is driven by the X drive unit 38, and the main scanning moving unit 31 and the carriage 22 move in the X direction, which is the sub-scanning direction. For example, a program or the like that specifies the moving speed, moving direction, moving timing, etc. of the Y slider 34 and the X slider 37 is created in advance and stored in a storage unit (not shown), and the head moving mechanism 30 executes the program, thereby controlling the movement of the Y slider 34 and the X slider 37. At this time, since the support parts 12 support at least the four corner parts 11c and the middle part 11d of each top plate member 11 of the table 10, the load is distributed over the entire X direction when the head 20 is moved, so that deformation of the table 10 can be suppressed. Therefore, the change in the gap G (head gap: see FIG. 3) between the nozzle surface 21 of the head 20 and the mounting surface 10a of the table 10 can be suppressed.

[0031] As described above, the printing device 100 according to this embodiment includes a table 10 having a mounting surface 10a on which a medium M is placed, a head 20 having a planar nozzle surface 21 facing the mounting surface 10a and on which a plurality of nozzles are formed, and ejecting droplets from the plurality of nozzles toward the mounting surface 10a, and a head moving mechanism 30 supported by the table 10 for moving the head 20 in the Y and X directions along the mounting surface 10a. The table 10 is configured such that a plurality of rectangular top plate members 11 are connected in the X direction, such that the X direction is the longitudinal direction, and the table 10 has support portions 12 for supporting at least the four corners 11c of each top plate member 11 and the intermediate portion 11d between the two corners 11c in the X direction which is a portion along both ends in the Y direction.

[0032] According to this configuration, the support parts 12 support at least the four corners 11c and the middle part 11d of each top plate member 11 of the table 10, so that deformation of the table 10 can be suppressed when the head 20 is moved. Since the change in the head gap can be suppressed, the droplets ejected from the head can be landed at appropriate positions.

[0033] In the printing device 100 according to this embodiment, the support portion 12 has legs 12a and 12b that support the four corners 11c and an intermediate portion 11d between the two corners 11c in the X direction, which is located along both end sides in the Y direction.

[0034] According to this configuration, the top panel members 11 can be supported in a well-balanced manner in the X direction.

[0035] In the printing device 100 according to this embodiment, the table 10 is configured such that, for each top plate member 11, no support portion 12 is provided in the portion along both end sides in the X direction and between the two corners 11c in the Y direction.

[0036] According to this configuration, by not providing the support portion 12 in the portion along both end sides in the X direction and between the two corner portions 11c in the Y direction, the weight of the printing device 100 can be reduced, and manufacturing costs can be reduced.

[0037] In printing device 100 according to this embodiment, head movement mechanism 30 has a Y bar 33 that is arranged along the Y direction and guides head 20 in the Y direction, and an X guide 36 that is arranged along the X direction, supports the Y bar 33, and guides head 20 in the X direction, and X guides 36 are provided on both sides of the multiple top plate members 11 in the Y direction so as to straddle the multiple top plate members 11 in the X direction.

[0038] According to this configuration, in a configuration in which X guides 36 are provided on both sides of multiple tabletop members 11 in the Y direction so as to straddle multiple tabletop members 11 in the X direction, it is possible to suppress deformation of table 10 when moving head 20. Since it is possible to suppress change in the head gap, it is possible to make droplets ejected from the head land at appropriate positions.

[0039] In the printing device 100 of this embodiment, a plurality of rod-shaped or plate-shaped frame members 16 that reinforce the top plate member 11 are provided along the Y direction and the X direction inside the top plate member 11, and the plurality of frame members 16 are arranged so that the frame members 16 along the Y direction and the frame members 16 along the X direction intersect at the position where the support portion 12 is provided.

[0040] According to this configuration, the rigidity of the top board member 11 at the support portion 12 is increased, and the top board member 11 is supported stably.

[0041] In the printing device 100 according to this embodiment, an adsorption area AR for adsorbing media M is set on the support surface 10a of the table 10 for each top plate member 11, and the adsorption area AR has a combination of a plurality of unit areas AR1, AR2 which are set in a line in the X direction and capable of adsorption operations independently of each other, and multiple combinations of the plurality of unit areas AR1, AR2 are arranged in the Y direction.

[0042] According to this configuration, multiple combinations of unit areas AR1 and AR2 are arranged in the X direction of the tabletop member 11, so that on the table 10, portions in which a compact adsorption range can be set in the Y direction can be set across multiple stages in the X direction.

[0043] In the printing device 100 according to this embodiment, the multiple top panel members 11 have positioning portions 13 at portions facing each other in the X direction.

[0044] According to this configuration, when connecting a plurality of top panel members 11, they can be positioned with high accuracy.

[0045] The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and appropriate modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0046] AR...suction area, AR1 to AR7...unit area, F...floor portion, G...gap, M, M1, M2...media, 10...table, 10a, 11a...mounting surface, 11...top plate member, 11b...opening, 11c...corner portion, 11d...middle portion, 11e...side surface, 11f...opposing surface, 12...support portion, 12a, 12b...leg portion, 12c...connecting member, 13...positioning portion, 13a...recess, 13b... Protruding portion, 15... suction device, 16... frame member, 17... frame member, 20... head, 21... nozzle surface, 22... carriage, 30... head moving mechanism, 31... main scanning moving portion, 32... sub-scanning moving portion, 33... Y bar, 34... Y slider, 35... Y drive portion, 36... X guide, 36a, 36b... X guide portion, 37... X slider, 38... X drive portion, 40... control portion, 100... printing device

Claims

1. a table having a placement surface on which a medium is placed; a head having a planar nozzle surface facing the mounting surface and having a plurality of nozzles formed thereon, the head discharging droplets from the plurality of nozzles toward the mounting surface; a head moving mechanism supported by the table and configured to move the head in a main scanning direction and a sub-scanning direction along the placement surface; Equipped with the table has a configuration in which a plurality of rectangular top plate members are connected in the sub-scanning direction, so that the sub-scanning direction is a longitudinal direction of the table, The table has support portions for supporting at least four corners of each of the top plate members and portions along both end sides in the main scanning direction that are located between the two corners in the sub-scanning direction. Printing device.

2. The support portion has legs that support the four corners and portions along both end sides in the main scanning direction and intermediate positions of the two corners in the sub-scanning direction. The printing device of claim 1 .

3. The table has no support portion provided at a position along both end sides in the sub-scanning direction and between two corners in the main scanning direction for each of the top plate members. The printing device of claim 1 .

4. The head moving mechanism includes: a first guide member arranged along the main scanning direction and guiding the head in the main scanning direction; a second guide member that is disposed along the sub-scanning direction, supports the first guide member, and guides the head in the sub-scanning direction; having The second guide members are provided on both sides of the plurality of top plate members in the main scanning direction so as to straddle the plurality of top plate members in the sub-scanning direction. The printing device of claim 1 .

5. a plurality of rod-shaped or plate-shaped frame members for reinforcing the top plate member are provided inside the top plate member along the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction; The plurality of frame members are arranged such that the frame members aligned along the main scanning direction intersect with the frame members aligned along the sub-scanning direction at the positions where the support portions are provided. The printing device of claim 1 .

6. a suction area for suctioning the media is set for each of the top board members on the placement surface of the table, The suction area has a combination of a plurality of unit areas that are set in a line in the sub-scanning direction and can perform suction operations independently of each other, and a plurality of combinations of the plurality of unit areas are arranged in the main scanning direction. The printing device of claim 1 .

7. The plurality of top plate members have positioning portions at opposing portions. The printing device of claim 1 .

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