Table moving mechanism and ink jet printer provided with the same

Abstract

To provide a compact table moving mechanism and an ink jet printer provided with the same.SOLUTION: A table moving mechanism 60 comprises: a slide mechanism 80 for conveying a table 70 in a horizontal first direction S1; and a lifting unit 120 that adjusts the height of the table 70. The slide mechanism 80 is provided with a slide rail 81 that supports the table 70 to extend in the first direction S1, a first base member 90 provided with the slide rail 81, a conveyance mechanism 100 that moves the table 70 along the slide rail 81, and a conveyance motor 110 that drives the conveyance mechanism 100. The conveyance motor 110 is disposed on an upper surface 91a of the first base member 90. The lifting unit 120 is provided with a lifting mechanism 130 for lifting the first base member 90.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a table moving mechanism and an inkjet printer including the same.

Background Art

[0002] Some inkjet printers include a table moving mechanism for moving a table unit on which a recording medium is placed. Such an inkjet printer equipped with a table moving mechanism is known, for example, from Patent Document 1.

[0003] The table moving mechanism shown in Patent Document 1 includes a slide mechanism for moving the table unit in the front-rear direction with respect to the base member, and a lifting mechanism for moving the table unit in the vertical direction with respect to the base member. The table unit includes a table on which a recording medium (media) is placed, a lifting case that supports the table, and a table carriage that accommodates the lifting case so as to be movable in the vertical direction. The slide mechanism includes a rail that slidably supports the table carriage, and a base member on which the rail is provided, and moves the table carriage in the front-rear direction with respect to the base member by a motor. The lifting case is configured to be movable in the vertical direction with respect to the table carriage. The lifting mechanism is housed inside the table carriage and moves the lifting case in the vertical direction with respect to the table carriage. Thereby, the table on which the recording medium is placed can be moved in the front-rear direction and the vertical direction.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In the table moving mechanism of the printer disclosed in Patent Document 1, a lifting mechanism is mounted on the base member. By the lifting case that supports the table protruding upward from the table carriage, the height of the table with respect to the table carriage can be adjusted. The table carriage is formed in a box shape that can accommodate a slide shaft or the like. The lifting case is formed in a box shape to secure the movement of the table. Therefore, the table moving mechanism is configured in a double box shape by the table carriage and the lifting case, and thus is relatively large. For this reason, an inkjet printer equipped with a large table moving mechanism also becomes large.

[0006] Furthermore, in the table moving mechanism of the printer disclosed in Patent Document 1, since the motor of the slide mechanism has a height, in order to utilize the height of the relatively large table carriage and the lifting case, the motor of the slide mechanism is arranged on the base member. In order to reduce the size of the inkjet printer, it is necessary to reduce the size of the table unit. However, when the size of the table unit is reduced, the effective utilization of the arrangement space caused by the height of the table carriage and the lifting case cannot be achieved. In particular, when a high-output motor is adopted for improving the printing speed or the like, the height of the motor becomes higher, and thus it becomes difficult to arrange the motor by utilizing the height of the table carriage and the lifting case.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a table moving mechanism capable of arranging a motor of a slide mechanism while reducing the size of a table unit and without increasing the size of the reduced table unit, and an inkjet printer equipped with the same.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] According to the present disclosure, a table moving mechanism includes a table on which a recording medium is placed, a slide mechanism that conveys the table in a horizontal first direction, and a lifting unit that adjusts the vertical height of the table. The slide mechanism includes a slide rail that supports the table and extends in the first direction, a first base member provided with the slide rail, a conveying mechanism that moves the table along the slide rail in the first direction with respect to the first base member, and a conveying motor that drives the conveying mechanism. The lifting unit includes a lifting shaft that engages with the first base member and extends in the vertical direction, a second base member on which the lifting shaft is erected, and a lifting mechanism that moves the first base member along the lifting shaft in the vertical direction with respect to the second base member. The conveying motor is disposed on the upper surface of the first base member.

Advantages of the Invention

[0009] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a table moving mechanism capable of arranging a motor of a slide mechanism without increasing the size of a miniaturized table unit while miniaturizing the table unit, and an inkjet printer including the same.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] <Example> Fig. 1 shows a printer 10 according to an embodiment. When the printer 10 is viewed from the front, the direction away from the printer 10 is defined as the front, and the direction approaching the printer 10 is defined as the rear. Left, right, up, and down mean left, right, up, and down when the printer 10 is viewed from the front, respectively. In the figure, Fr indicates the front, Rr indicates the rear, Le indicates the left, Ri indicates the right, Up indicates the up, and Dn indicates the down.

[0012] (Regarding the printer 10) Referring to Figs. 1 and 2. The printer 10 is an inkjet printer capable of forming a color image on a medium Me (recording medium Me). This printer 10 can print an image on the recording medium Me by moving the recording medium Me in the front-rear direction and ejecting ink from a plurality of ink heads 41 mounted on an ink head unit 40 that moves in the left-right direction.

[0013] The recording medium Me to be printed may be paper such as plain paper, a sheet formed of a resin material such as polyvinyl chloride resin or polyester resin, a metal plate formed of aluminum or iron, a glass plate, or a wood plate, and can be composed of various materials.

[0014] Refer to FIGS. 1 and 2. When looking at the printer 10 from directly above, the conveyance direction S1 of the recording medium Me is referred to as the "first direction S1, sub-scanning direction S1", and the moving direction S2 of the ink head 41 is referred to as the "second direction S2, main scanning direction S2". The sub-scanning direction S1 corresponds to the front-rear direction, and the main scanning direction S2 corresponds to the left-right direction. The main scanning direction S2 is orthogonal to the sub-scanning direction S1.

[0015] The printer 10 includes a main body case 20, a main body frame 30, an ink head unit 40, a carriage moving mechanism 50, and a table moving mechanism 60.

[0016] (Regarding the main body case 20) The main body case 20 forms an accommodation space for accommodating the main body frame 30, the ink head unit 40, the carriage moving mechanism 50, and the table moving mechanism 60. A front cover 21 is provided at the center of the front part of the main body case 20. A window 22 is provided on the front cover 21.

[0017] (Regarding the main body frame 30) Refer to FIG. 2. The main body frame 30 includes a flat plate-shaped second base member 31 whose plate surface faces the vertical direction S3, and a carriage base member 32 that stands up from this second base member 31.

[0018] (Regarding the ink head unit 40) Refer to FIG. 2. The ink head unit 40 is disposed inside the main body case 20 and above the table 70. This ink head unit 40 includes a plurality of ink heads 41 and a head carriage 42 on which these ink heads 41 are mounted. The ink head 41 has a nozzle (not shown) capable of discharging ink.

[0019] (Regarding the carriage base member 32) Refer to FIG. 2. The carriage base member 32 is a structural member that extends upward and in the main scanning direction S2 from the second base member 31. An opening 33 that penetrates in the sub-scanning direction S1 is formed in the carriage base member 32. The slide mechanism 80 described later can pass through the opening 33. A guide rail 34 and a carriage movement mechanism 50 for guiding the head carriage 42 to move in the main scanning direction S2 are provided on the carriage base member 32.

[0020] (Regarding the carriage movement mechanism 50) Refer to FIG. 2. The carriage movement mechanism 50 relatively moves the head carriage 42 in the main scanning direction S2 with respect to the recording medium Me placed on the table 70, and is constituted by, for example, a belt transmission mechanism 51 and a head carriage motor 52. When the head carriage 42 moves in the main scanning direction S2, the ink head 41 moves in the main scanning direction S2.

[0021] (Regarding the table movement mechanism 60) Refer to FIGS. 2 and 3. The table movement mechanism 60 includes a table 70, a slide mechanism 80, and a lifting unit 120.

[0022] (Regarding the table 70) Refer to FIGS. 3 and 4. The table 70 includes a table main body 71 that is rectangular in plan view and flat plate-shaped on which the recording medium Me (refer to FIG. 2) can be placed, four legs 72 and one connecting portion 73 that extend downward from the lower surface 71a of the table main body 71, and cylindrical sliders 74 provided at the lower end portions of the respective legs 72. When looking at the table main body 71 from above, the respective legs 72 and the respective sliders 74 are arranged at four locations in the front, rear, left, and right parts, and the connecting portion 73 is arranged between the respective legs 72.

[0023] (Regarding the slide mechanism 80) Refer to FIGS. 3 and 4. The slide mechanism 80 moves the table 70 in the sub-scanning direction S1. This slide mechanism 80 includes two slide rails 81, 81 that support the table 70, a first base member 90 provided with these slide rails 81, 81, a transport mechanism 100 that moves the table 70 along the slide rails 81, 81 in the sub-scanning direction S1 with respect to the first base member 90, and a transport motor 110 that drives this transport mechanism 100.

[0024] The first base member 90 is composed of a rectangular and flat plate-like main body portion 91 in plan view and side wall portions 92 that extend downward from the periphery of the main body portion 91 over substantially the entire circumference.

[0025] The two slide rails 81, 81 are round bar-shaped members, are located below the table main body 71, and extend in the sub-scanning direction S1. Each of the slide rails 81, 81 is arranged in parallel with a space in the main scanning direction S2 from each other, and extends parallel to the upper surface 71b (see FIG. 3) of the table main body 71. Further, both ends of each of the slide rails 81, 81 are supported by support pieces 82 protruding from the main body portion 91 of the first base member 90 and the side wall portions 92, and the table 70 is slidably supported by the slide rails 81 via the legs 72.

[0026] The main body portion 91 of the first base member 90 has three long holes 93 to 95 through which each leg 72 and the connecting portion 73 of the table 70 can penetrate vertically. Each of the long holes 93 to 95 is parallel to each other and long in the sub-scanning direction S1. Among the three long holes 93 to 95, each leg 72 of the table 70 penetrates through the left long hole 93 and the right long hole 94, and the connecting portion 73 penetrates through the central long hole 95. Each slider 74 provided at the lower end portion of each leg 72 of the table 70 is slidably fitted to each of the slide rails 81, 81. Note that the connecting portion 73 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is omitted in FIGS. 5 to 7.

[0027] (Regarding the transport mechanism 100) Refer to FIG. 4. The transport mechanism 100 is disposed below the first base member 90 and between the two slide rails 81, 81, and is attached to the first base member 90. This transport mechanism 100 includes a belt transmission mechanism 101 and a transmission gear mechanism 106.

[0028] The belt transmission mechanism 101 includes a drive pulley 102 located on the rear side of the first base member 90, a driven pulley 103 located on the front side of the first base member 90, and a belt 104 wound around the drive pulley 102 and the driven pulley 103. The drive pulley 102 and the driven pulley 103 are arranged front and rear along the axial direction of each slide rail 81, 81, and are rotatable about axes 105, 105 perpendicular to the upper surface 71b (see FIG. 3) of the first base member 90. The connecting portion 73 of the table 70 is connected to the belt 104.

[0029] The transmission gear mechanism 106 includes a drive gear 107 provided on the output shaft 111 of the transport motor 110, and a driven gear 108 provided on the drive pulley 102 and meshing with the drive gear 107.

[0030] Refer to FIG. 4. When the transmission gear mechanism 106 is driven by the transport motor 110, the belt 104 of the belt transmission mechanism 101 is driven. For this reason, the connecting portion 73 connected to the belt 104 moves in the sub-scanning direction S1. As a result, the table 70 moves in the sub-scanning direction S1 along each slide rail 81, 81.

[0031] Refer to FIG. 3. The table 70 moves in the sub-scanning direction S1, that is, in the front-rear direction, along each slide rail 81, 81. The front end position of the table 70 when the table 70 moves to the most forward position Fr is Pf, and the rear end position of the table 70 when the table 70 moves to the most rearward position Rr is Pr. Therefore, the moving range Mr of the table 70 in the front-rear direction is from the front end position Pf to the rear end position Pr.

[0032] (Regarding the transport motor 110) Incidentally, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5A, the conveyance motor 110 is a vertically-mounted motor with its output shaft 111 facing downward, and is disposed and attached to the upper surface 91a (the upper surface 91a of the main body portion 91) of the first base member 90. The output shaft 111 is inserted into a through hole (not shown) of the first base member 90 downward. When the conveyance motor 110 is disposed on the lower surface of the first base member 90 or the second base member 31 shown in FIG. 3, it is necessary to secure a space corresponding to the height of the conveyance motor 110 between the first base member 90 and the second base member 31. Therefore, the table moving mechanism 60 becomes larger in size compared to the case where it is disposed on the upper surface 91a of the first base member 90. On the other hand, when the conveyance motor 110 is disposed on the upper surface 91a of the first base member 90, it is not necessary to secure a space corresponding to the height of the conveyance motor 110 between the first base member 90 and the second base member 31, so that it can be downsized accordingly.

[0033] Refer to FIG. 6. This conveyance motor 110 is disposed behind the rear end position Pr, which is outside the movement range Mr in the front-rear direction of the table 70, that is, the position where the table 70 has moved to the most rear side. Therefore, the conveyance motor 110 does not affect the movement of the table 70 in the front-rear direction.

[0034] Refer to FIG. 7. The lifting range of the conveyance motor 110 that moves up and down together with the first base member 90 is Hr. When the conveyance motor 110 rises to the uppermost position shown by the imaginary line in FIG. 7, it protrudes upward from the lifting unit 120. On the other hand, the connecting member 125 connecting the upper ends of the left and right side wall members 121, 121 has a notch portion 125a so as not to interfere with the conveyance motor 110. In this way, the position of the conveyance motor 110 with respect to the first base member 90 is set to a position where it does not interfere with other surrounding members when the conveyance motor 110 moves up and down together with the first base member 90.

[0035] (Regarding the heat insulating material 112 of the conveyance motor 110) Refer to FIG. 5B. The conveyance motor 110 is covered by a heat insulating material 112 at least around the heat generating portion. Examples of the heat insulating material 112 include heat insulating sheets such as foamed sheets of ethylene propylene diene rubber. As the foamed sheet of ethylene propylene diene rubber, for example, Epot Sealer (trademark) of Nitto Denko Corporation is known. It is preferable to wind the heat insulating material 112 made of such a heat insulating sheet around the outer surface of the portion of the conveyance motor 110 that can become hot and fix it with a fixing member 113 such as a binding band. By adopting such a configuration, for example, when the conveyance motor 110 is used in a usage environment, even if the outer surface of the motor becomes hot due to heat generation, the heat insulating material 112 insulates the heat and does not affect the surroundings of the conveyance motor 110.

[0036] (Regarding the lifting unit 120) Refer to FIGS. 3, 8, and 9. The lifting unit 120 adjusts the height of the table 70 in the vertical direction S3. The height of the table 70 in the vertical direction S3 is adjusted by the first base member 90 moving in the vertical direction S3 with respect to the second base member 31. Note that the first base member 90 and the second base member 31 are formed to be approximately the same size. The lifting unit 120 includes left and right side wall members 121, 121 standing from the second base member 31 of the main body frame 30, two guide rods 122 and four lifting shafts 123 provided on the left and right side wall members 121, 121, a lifting mechanism 130 that drives each lifting shaft 123, and a lifting motor 140 that drives the lifting mechanism 130.

[0037] (Regarding the left and right side wall members 121, 121) Refer to FIG. 9. The left and right side wall members 121, 121 are structural members that are located at the center in the width direction of the second base member 31 and extend upward and in the sub-scanning direction S1 from this second base member 31. These side wall members 121, 121 are configured as vertical plate-like members facing each other with an interval in the sub-scanning direction S1. At the upper ends of the respective side wall members 121, 121, horizontal plate-like flanges 121a, 121a (horizontal portions 121a, 121a) that extend with their tips facing each other are provided.

[0038] (Regarding the guide rod 122) The two guide rods 122 are erected from the second base member 31 to the flanges 121a, 121a of the respective side wall members 121, 121, and it is possible to guide the lifting and lowering operation of the first base member 90. Note that the presence or absence of the guide rod 122 is arbitrary.

[0039] (Regarding the lifting and lowering shaft 123) The four lifting and lowering shafts 123 (jack shafts 123) are erected from the second base member 31 to the flanges 121a, 121a of the respective side wall members 121, 121 (extending in the vertical direction), and are arranged at four positions in the front, rear, left, and right with respect to the guide rod 122. These lifting and lowering shafts 123 drive the first base member 90 to move up and down, and are restricted from moving in the axial direction with respect to the second base member 31 and the flanges 121a, 121a, and are rotatably supported. Furthermore, these lifting and lowering shafts 123 are configured as screw shafts having male threads over substantially the entire length.

[0040] Referring also to FIG. 5A, female screw members 124 having female threads that are screwed onto the male threads of the lifting and lowering shafts 123 are respectively fixed to the four corner portions in the plan view of the first base member 90. These female screw members 124 are constituted by, for example, nuts. By rotating the lifting and lowering shafts 123, the female screw members 124 can move in the axial direction of the lifting and lowering shafts 123. That is, the lifting and lowering shafts 123 are engaged with the first base member 90 via the female screw members 124.

[0041] (Regarding the lifting mechanism 130) Refer to FIG. 8. The elevating mechanism 130 has a belt transmission mechanism disposed at the lower end of each elevating shaft 123. This elevating mechanism 130 includes each driven pulley 131 attached to each elevating shaft 123 and a belt 132 wound around all the driven pulleys 131.

[0042] (Regarding the elevating motor 140) Refer to FIG. 8. The elevating motor 140 is a vertically-mounted motor with its output shaft (not shown) facing downward, and is disposed and attached to the back surface (lower surface) of the second base member 31. By driving the belt 132 with a drive pulley (not shown) provided on the output shaft of the elevating motor 140, each elevating shaft 123 can be rotationally driven via all the driven pulleys 131. As a result, the first base member 90 moves up and down.

[0043] (Regarding the flexible cable 153) Refer to FIG. 10. The first electrical connection terminal 151 provided on the first base member 90 and the second electrical connection terminal 152 provided on the second base member 31 are electrically connected by a flexible cable 153. The first electrical connection terminal 151 is connected to a first electrical unit 154 provided on the first base member 90. The second electrical connection terminal 152 is connected to a second electrical unit 155 provided on the second base member 31.

[0044] Refer to FIG. 10. The flexible cable 153, also called a flexible flat cable (FFC), is an electric wire in which thin plate-like conductors are sandwiched by insulators and has flexibility. This flexible cable 153 is curved to the central side (for example, the central side in the sub-scanning direction S1) of the first base member 90 and the second base member 31 rather than at the connection portions 151, 152 (electrical connection terminals 151, 152) of the first base member 90 and the second base member 31, and is arranged between the first base member 90 and the second base member 31.

[0045] FIG. 11A shows that when the first base member 90 is in the uppermost position with respect to the second base member 31, the radius of curvature of the curved portion 153a of the flexible cable 153 is large. FIG. 11B shows that when the first base member 90 is in the lowermost position with respect to the second base member 31, the radius of curvature of the curved portion 153a of the flexible cable 153 is small. Thus, by changing the curvature of the curved portion 153a of the flexible cable 153 as the first base member 90 moves up and down, the required cable length can be made to correspond to changes in the vertical position of the first base member 90.

[0046] Referring to FIG. 6. The flexible cable 153 is disposed outside the moving range Mr of the table 70 in the front-rear direction, that is, behind the rear end position Pr of the table 70. For this reason, the flexible cable 153 does not affect the movement of the table 70 in the front-rear direction.

[0047] Summarizing the above description, it is as follows.

[0048] Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4. First, the table moving mechanism 60 includes a table 70 on which the recording medium Me is placed, a slide mechanism 80 that conveys the table 70 in a horizontal first direction S1 (sub-scanning direction S1), and a lifting unit 120 that adjusts the vertical height of the table 70.

[0049] The slide mechanism 80 includes slide rails 81, 81 that support the table 70 and extend in the first direction S1 (sub-scanning direction S1), a first base member 90 on which the slide rails 81, 81 are provided, a conveyance mechanism 100 that moves the table 70 along the slide rails 81, 81 in the first direction S1 with respect to the first base member 90, and a conveyance motor 110 that drives the conveyance mechanism 100.

[0050] The elevating unit 120 includes an elevating shaft 123 that engages with the first base member 90 and extends in the vertical direction, a second base member 31 on which the elevating shaft 123 is erected, and an elevating mechanism 130 that moves the first base member 90 along the elevating shaft 123 in the vertical direction S3 with respect to the second base member 31. The conveyance motor 110 is disposed on the upper surface 91a of the first base member 90.

[0051] Thus, the table moving mechanism 60 of this embodiment moves the table 70 on which the recording medium Me is placed by the slide mechanism 80 and the elevating unit 120. The conveyance mechanism 100 of the slide mechanism 80 moves the table 70 in the first direction S1 along the slide rails 81, 81 with respect to the first base member 90. The elevating mechanism 130 moves the first base member 90 in the vertical direction S3 along the elevating shaft 123 with respect to the second base member 31. As a result, the table 70 moves in the vertical direction S3.

[0052] The first base member 90 that supports the table 70 is movable in the vertical direction S3 with respect to the second base member 31 by the elevating unit 120. Therefore, it is not necessary to form a double box shape as in the conventional structure. The table 70 can be moved without relatively increasing the force by which the conveyance mechanism 100 and the elevating mechanism 130 are driven.

[0053] Since the slide rails 81, 81 support the table 70, they bear the load of the table 70. The first base member 90 provided with the slide rails 81, 81 is moved in the vertical direction S3 by the elevating mechanism 130. With respect to the slide rails 81, 81, the load applied downward is only the load of the table 70. The load of the elevating unit 120 that moves the table 70 in the vertical direction S3 is not applied to the slide rails 81, 81. Therefore, the load acting on the slide rails 81, 81 can be small. Even when the weight of the table 70 becomes relatively large due to the table 70 being formed relatively large, the slide rails 81, 81 are less likely to bend downward. For this reason, the height of the table 70 engaged with the slide rails 81, 81 is less likely to change due to bending. The height of the recording medium Me placed on the table 70 does not change. The distance between the recording medium Me and the ink head unit 40 can be kept constant. As a result, the quality of the printed matter can be maintained.

[0054] As is clear from the above description, the table moving mechanism 60 does not need to be configured in a double box shape with a table carriage and a lifting case as in the prior art (Patent Document 1). Therefore, the table moving mechanism 60 can be downsized.

[0055] Moreover, as shown in FIG. 3, the conveyance motor 110 that drives the conveyance mechanism 100 is arranged on the upper surface 91a of the first base member 90 that can be lifted. For this reason, compared with the case where the conveyance motor 110 is arranged on the lower surface of the first base member 90 or the second base member 31, the table moving mechanism 60 can be downsized.

[0056] Referring to FIG. 3. Second, for the first table moving mechanism 60, the conveyance motor 110 is arranged outside the movement range Mr of the table 70 in the first direction S1.

[0057] For this reason, when the table 70 slides, interference with the conveyance motor 110 can be prevented. The conveyance motor 110 does not affect the movement of the table 70.

[0058] Refer to FIG. 5B. Thirdly, in the first and second table moving mechanisms 60, the conveying motor 110 has at least the periphery of the heat generating portion covered with a heat insulating material 112.

[0059] Therefore, even when the outer surface of the motor becomes high temperature due to the heat generation of the conveying motor 110, by heat insulation with the heat insulating material 112, it does not affect the periphery of the conveying motor 110.

[0060] Refer to FIG. 10. Thirdly, in the first to third table moving mechanisms 60, the first base member 90 and the second base member 31 are connected by a flexible cable 153. The flexible cable 153 is curved toward the central side of the first base member 90 and the second base member 31 rather than the connection portions 151, 152 (electrical connection terminals 151, 152) of the first base member 90 and the second base member 31 and is arranged between the first base member 90 and the second base member 31. By changing the curvature of the curved portion 153a of the flexible cable 153 as the first base member 90 moves up and down, the necessary cable length can be made to correspond to the change in the up and down position of the first base member 90.

[0061] Therefore, when the first base member 90 moves up and down with respect to the second base member 31, the flexible cable 153 follows smoothly over a wide range from the uppermost position to the lowermost position. Excessive loads are not applied to the connection portions 151, 152 between the first base member 90 and the second base member 31 and the flexible cable 153 due to the up and down movement of the first base member 90, and sufficient durability can be ensured.

[0062] Refer to FIG. 6. Fifthly, in the first to fourth table moving mechanisms 60, the flexible cable 153 is arranged outside the moving range Mr of the table 70.

[0063] Therefore, when the table 70 slides, interference with the flexible cable 153 can be prevented. When the table 70 slides, there is no risk of the flexible cable 153 being caught. Durability can be sufficiently ensured without excessive loads being applied to the connection parts 151, 152 between the first base member 90 and the second base member 31 and the flexible cable 153.

[0064] Refer to FIG. 2. The inkjet printer 10 includes first to fifth table moving mechanisms 60, a guide rail 34 extending in a second direction S2 (main scanning direction S2) orthogonal to a first direction S1 (sub-scanning direction S1) in a plan view above the table 70, a head carriage 42 slidably provided on the guide rail 34 and movable in the second direction S2, and an ink head 41 mounted on the head carriage 42 and having a plurality of nozzles (not shown) for discharging ink onto a recording medium Me placed on the table 70.

[0065] In this way, by miniaturizing the table moving mechanism, miniaturization of the inkjet printer can be promoted.

[0066] Note that the printer 10 according to the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments as long as the actions and effects of the present invention are achieved. For example, the technology disclosed here can be applied to various types of printers. In addition to the flatbed type printer 10 shown in the above-described embodiment, for example, it can be similarly applied to a so-called gantry type printer that places a medium (recording medium) on a table and moves an ink head in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction with respect to the table for printing.

Industrial Applicability

[0067] The printer 10 of the present invention is suitable for an inkjet printer.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0068] 10 Printer 31 Second base member 34 Guide rail 41 Ink head 42 Head carriage 60 Table moving mechanism 70 Table 80 Slide mechanism 81 Slide rail 90 First base member 91a Upper surface 100 Conveying mechanism 110 Conveying motor 112 Heat insulating material 120 Lifting unit 123 Lifting shaft 130 Lifting mechanism 153 Flexible cable 153a Curved portion Me Recording medium Mr Moving range of the table S1 First direction (sub-scanning direction) S2 Second direction (main scanning direction) S3 Vertical direction

Claims

1. a table on which a recording medium is placed; a slide mechanism that transports the table in a horizontal first direction; a lifting unit for adjusting the height of the table in the vertical direction, The slide mechanism includes: a slide rail supporting the table and extending in the first direction; A first base member on which the slide rail is provided; a transport mechanism that moves the table along the slide rail in the first direction relative to the first base member; a conveying motor that drives the conveying mechanism, The lifting unit is a lift shaft that engages with the first base member and extends in a vertical direction; a second base member on which the lift shaft is erected; a lifting mechanism that moves the first base member along the lifting shaft in a vertical direction relative to the second base member, The conveying motor is disposed on an upper surface of the first base member.

2. The table moving mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the transport motor is disposed outside a movement range of the table in the first direction.

3. 2. The table moving mechanism according to claim 1, wherein at least a heat generating portion of the conveyor motor is covered with a heat insulating material.

4. The first base member and the second base member are connected by a flexible cable, the flexible cable is curved toward a center of the first base member and the second base member relative to a connection portion between the first base member and the second base member and is arranged between the first base member and the second base member, The table movement mechanism of claim 1, wherein the curvature of the curved portion of the flexible cable is changed as the first base member is raised and lowered, thereby enabling the required cable length to change depending on the raised and lowered position of the first base member.

5. The table movement mechanism according to claim 4 , wherein the flexible cable is disposed outside a movement range of the table.

6. The table moving mechanism according to claim 1 ; A guide rail extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction in a plan view above the table; a head carriage slidably mounted on the guide rail and movable in the second direction; an ink head mounted on the head carriage, the ink head having a plurality of nozzles that eject ink onto the recording medium placed on the table;

Images