Medium processing device

Abstract

To provide a medium processing device that is provided with a carriage that can move in a width direction of a medium and pinch rollers that can move in the width direction of the medium, which can properly sense positions of the pinch rollers in the width direction of the medium and an origin position of the carriage in the width direction of the medium and yet can reduce costs by reducing the number of components.SOLUTION: The medium processing device is provided with: a plurality of pinch rollers 13 that are energized toward a conveying roller 11 and can move in a width direction of a medium; a first sensing member 18 for sensing positions of the pinch rollers 13 in the width direction of the medium; a second sensing member 19 for sensing an origin position of a carriage in the width direction of the medium; and a sensor for sensing the first sensing member 18 and the second sensing member 19. In the medium processing device, a shape of a first sensing part 18a of the first sensing member 18 is different from a shape of a second sensing part 19a of the second sensing member 19.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a media processing apparatus for performing a predetermined process on a media.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a printing apparatus that discharges ink to print on a media has been known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The printing apparatus described in Patent Document 1 includes a print head that discharges ink, a carriage on which the print head is mounted, a carriage drive mechanism that moves the carriage in the main scanning direction, and a media conveyance mechanism that conveys the media. The media conveyance mechanism includes a feed roller for conveying the media, a roller drive mechanism for driving the feed roller, and a plurality of pinch rollers that are biased toward the feed roller and sandwich the media therebetween. The pinch rollers are movable in the main scanning direction. In the printing apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the pinch rollers are moved in the main scanning direction before printing according to the layout of the image printed on the media.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the printing apparatus described in Patent Document 1, since the pinch roller is moved in the main scanning direction according to the layout of the image printed on the medium, it is necessary to know the position where the pinch roller is located in the main scanning direction. Therefore, in this printing apparatus, it is necessary to appropriately detect the position of the pinch roller in the main scanning direction. Further, in the printing apparatus described in Patent Document 1, in order to perform appropriate printing on the medium, it is necessary to operate the carriage on which the print head is mounted with reference to the origin position in the main scanning direction. Therefore, in this printing apparatus, it is necessary to appropriately detect the origin position of the carriage in the main scanning direction.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a media processing apparatus including a carriage movable in the width direction of a medium and a pinch roller movable in the width direction of the medium, which can appropriately detect the position of the pinch roller in the width direction of the medium and the origin position of the carriage in the width direction of the medium, and can reduce the number of parts and the cost.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To solve the above problems, the media processing apparatus of the present invention includes a conveyance roller for conveying a media, a roller drive mechanism for driving the conveyance roller, a plurality of pinch rollers that are biased toward the conveyance roller and sandwich the media therebetween, a plurality of roller holding members to which each of the plurality of pinch rollers is rotatably attached, a carriage movable in the width direction of the media orthogonal to the thickness direction and the conveyance direction of the media, a carriage drive mechanism for moving the carriage in the width direction of the media, a holding frame that movably holds the carriage and to which the roller holding members are attached, a first detected member for detecting the position of the pinch roller in the width direction of the media, a second detected member for detecting the origin position of the carriage in the width direction of the media, and a sensor for detecting the first detected member and the second detected member. The roller holding member is movable in the width direction of the media with respect to the holding frame. The sensor is mounted on the carriage. The first detected member has a first detected portion detected by the sensor and is attached to each of the plurality of roller holding members or is integrally formed with each of the plurality of roller holding members. The second detected member has a second detected portion detected by the sensor and is attached to the holding frame. The shape of the first detected portion is different from the shape of the second detected portion.

[0007] In the media processing apparatus of the present invention, the shape of the first detected portion of the first detected member for detecting the position of the pinch roller in the width direction of the media is different from the shape of the second detected portion of the second detected member for detecting the origin position of the carriage in the width direction of the media. Therefore, in the present invention, even when the first detected portion and the second detected portion are detected by a common sensor mounted on the carriage, it is possible to distinguish and recognize the first detected portion and the second detected portion.

[0008] That is, in the present invention, even if the sensor for detecting the first detected part and the sensor for detecting the second detected part are not provided separately, the common sensor can appropriately detect the position of the pinch roller in the width direction of the medium and the origin position of the carriage in the width direction of the medium. Therefore, in the present invention, even if it is possible to appropriately detect the position of the pinch roller in the width direction of the medium and the origin position of the carriage in the width direction of the medium, it is possible to reduce the number of parts of the medium processing apparatus and reduce the cost of the medium processing apparatus.

[0009] In the present invention, it is preferable that the second detected part is formed in a flat plate shape with a hole, and the first detected part is formed in a flat plate shape without a hole. With this configuration, it becomes possible to relatively easily make the shape of the first detected part different from the shape of the second detected part.

[0010] In the present invention, for example, the sensor is a transmissive optical sensor having a light emitting part and a light receiving part facing each other at an interval. Also, in the present invention, for example, the medium processing apparatus includes an inkjet head that is mounted on the carriage and discharges ink toward the medium. That is, the medium processing apparatus is, for example, an inkjet printer.

Advantages of the Invention

[0011] As described above, in the present invention, in a medium processing apparatus including a carriage movable in the width direction of the medium and a pinch roller movable in the width direction of the medium, even if it is possible to appropriately detect the position of the pinch roller in the width direction of the medium and the origin position of the carriage in the width direction of the medium, it is possible to reduce the number of parts of the medium processing apparatus and reduce the cost of the medium processing apparatus.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0012]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0013] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0014] (Overall Configuration of the Media Processing Apparatus) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a media processing apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a rear view of the media processing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining the configuration of the media processing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view for explaining the configuration of part E in FIG. 1 from the front side.

[0015] The media processing apparatus 1 of this embodiment is an industrial inkjet printer that discharges ink to perform printing on a medium 2 (see FIG. 3). Therefore, in the description of this embodiment, the media processing apparatus 1 is referred to as "printer 1". The medium 2 is, for example, printing paper, cloth, or a resin film. Further, the medium 2 is formed in a long shape (elongated strip shape). The printer 1 includes an inkjet head 3 (hereinafter referred to as "head 3") that discharges ink toward the medium 2, a carriage 4 on which the head 3 is mounted, a carriage drive mechanism 5 that moves the carriage 4 in the main scanning direction (Y direction in FIGS. 1 etc.), a Y bar 6 as a holding frame that movably holds the carriage 4, a medium conveyance mechanism 7 that conveys the medium 2, and a platen 8 on which the medium 2 is placed.

[0016] The head 3 discharges ink downward. A plurality of nozzles for discharging ink are formed on the lower surface of the head 3. The head 3 includes a piezoelectric element (piezo element) for discharging ink from the nozzles. The carriage 4 is movable in the main scanning direction. The carriage drive mechanism 5 includes, for example, two pulleys, a belt that is stretched between the two pulleys and partially fixed to the carriage 4, and a motor for rotating the pulleys. The platen 8 is disposed below the carriage 4. The medium 2 at the time of printing is placed on the platen 8. The Y bar 6 is formed in an elongated shape that is elongated in the main scanning direction. Note that the Y bar 6 may be constituted by one member or may be constituted by a plurality of members.

[0017] In the following description, the main scanning direction (Y direction) is referred to as the "left-right direction", and the X direction in FIG. 1 and the like that is orthogonal to the up-down direction (vertical direction, Z direction) and the left-right direction is referred to as the "front-back direction". Also, the Y1 direction side in FIG. 1 and the like, which is one side in the left-right direction, is defined as the "right" side, the Y2 direction side in FIG. 1 and the like, which is the opposite side of the right side, is defined as the "left" side, the X1 direction side in FIG. 1 and the like, which is one side in the front-back direction, is defined as the "front" side, and the X2 direction side in FIG. 1 and the like, which is the opposite side of the front side, is defined as the "rear" side. The left-right direction coincides with the width direction of the medium 2 that is orthogonal to the thickness direction of the medium 2 and the conveyance direction of the medium 2. That is, the left-right direction (Y direction) in this embodiment is the width direction of the medium 2. Also, the up-down direction (Z direction) is the thickness direction of the medium 2 at the time of printing placed on the platen 8, and the front-back direction (X direction) is the conveyance direction of the medium 2 that moves on the platen 8 and is also the sub-scanning direction.

[0018] The medium conveyance mechanism 7 includes a conveyance roller (grid roller) 11 for conveying the medium 2 and a roller drive mechanism 12 for driving the conveyance roller 11. The medium conveyance mechanism 7 of this embodiment includes one conveyance roller 11. Further, the medium conveyance mechanism 7 includes a plurality of pinch rollers 13 that are biased toward the conveyance roller 11 and sandwich the medium 2 therebetween, and a plurality of roller holding members 14 to which each of the plurality of pinch rollers 13 is rotatably attached. The medium conveyance mechanism 7 includes, for example, seven pinch rollers 13 and seven roller holding members 14.

[0019] The conveyance roller 11 and the pinch rollers 13 are rotatable with the left-right direction as the axial direction of rotation. The width of the conveyance roller 11 in the left-right direction is wider than the width of the pinch rollers 13 in the left-right direction. The conveyance roller 11 and the pinch rollers 13 are disposed on the rear side of the platen 8. The pinch rollers 13 are disposed directly above the conveyance roller 11 and face the conveyance roller 11 from above. Further, the plurality of pinch rollers 13 are disposed at intervals in the left-right direction. The medium 2 conveyed by the medium conveyance mechanism 7 is sandwiched between the conveyance roller 11 and the pinch rollers 13. The roller drive mechanism 12 includes a motor and a power transmission mechanism such as a belt or a pulley that transmits the power of the motor to the conveyance roller 11.

[0020] The roller holding member 14 is made of resin. The roller holding member 14 is attached to the Y bar 6. Further, the roller holding member 14 is movable in the left - right direction with respect to the Y bar 6. In this embodiment, according to the width of the medium 2 to be printed, etc., the operator of the printer 1 manually moves the roller holding member 14 in the left - right direction with respect to the Y bar 6 before printing the medium 2. A clamp mechanism for fixing the roller holding member 14 to the Y bar 6 is attached to the roller holding member 14. This clamp mechanism can be switched between a clamped state in which the roller holding member 14 is fixed to the Y bar 6 and an unclamped state in which the roller holding member 14 is movable in the left - right direction with respect to the Y bar 6. During printing of the medium 2, the clamp mechanism is in the clamped state. When the operator manually moves the roller holding member 14 in the left - right direction, the clamp mechanism is put into the unclamped state.

[0021] Note that the medium conveyance mechanism 7 includes a pinch roller moving mechanism that moves the pinch roller 13 between a medium holding position where a part of the medium 2 is sandwiched between a plurality of pinch rollers 13 and a conveyance roller 11, and a retracted position where the plurality of pinch rollers 13 are separated from the conveyance roller 11. When the medium 2 is set in the printer 1, the pinch roller 13 moves to the retracted position, and when the medium 2 is set in the printer 1, the pinch roller 13 moves to the medium holding position.

[0022] Also, the printer 1 includes a maintenance unit 15 for preventing clogging of a plurality of nozzles formed on the lower surface of the head 3. In the maintenance unit 15, the head 3 is cleaned so that clogging does not occur in the plurality of nozzles of the head 3. For example, in the maintenance unit 15, purging that forcibly sucks the ink in the nozzles of the head 3, flushing that forcibly discharges the ink from the nozzles of the head 3, and wiping the lower surface of the head 3 with a predetermined wiper member are performed. The maintenance unit 15 is arranged at the right end of the printer 1.

[0023] Further, the printer 1 includes a first detected member 18 for detecting the position of the pinch roller 13 in the left - right direction, a second detected member 19 for detecting the origin position of the carriage 4 in the left - right direction, and a sensor 20 for detecting the first detected member 18 and the second detected member 19. Hereinafter, the configurations of the first detected member 18, the second detected member 19, and the sensor 20 will be described.

[0024] (Configurations of the first detected member, the second detected member, and the sensor) FIG. 5(A) is a plan view of the first detected member 18 and the like shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 5(B) is a plan view of the second detected member 19 and the like shown in FIG. 4, and FIG. 5(C) is a side view showing the second detected portion 19a and the sensor 20 in the F - F direction of FIG. 5(B).

[0025] The sensor 20 is a transmissive optical sensor having a light - emitting portion 21 and a light - receiving portion 22 facing each other with a gap therebetween. The sensor 20 is mounted on the carriage 4. Specifically, in the printer 1 of this embodiment, a cutter unit 23 for cutting the medium 2 is attached to the carriage 4, and the sensor 20 is mounted on the cutter unit 23. That is, the sensor 20 is mounted on the carriage 4 via the cutter unit 23. Also, the sensor 20 is disposed on the rear surface side of the carriage 4. The light - emitting portion 21 and the light - receiving portion 22 face each other in the up - down direction. Note that the sensor 20 may be directly mounted on the carriage 4.

[0026] The first detected member 18 is integrally formed with each of the plurality of roller holding members 14. That is, the printer 1 includes the pinch roller 13 and the same number of first detection members 18 as the roller holding members 14. The first detected member 18 includes a first detected portion 18a that is detected by the sensor 20. The first detected portion 18a is formed in a rectangular flat plate shape. Also, the first detected portion 18a is formed in a flat plate shape without holes. The first detected portion 18a is arranged such that the thickness direction and the vertical direction of the first detected portion 18a coincide. The first detected portion 18a is arranged on the front side of the roller holding member 14. Also, the first detected portion 18a is arranged at a position where it can block between the light emitting portion 21 and the light receiving portion 22 of the sensor 20 that moves in the left - right direction together with the carriage 4.

[0027] The second detected member 19 is formed, for example, by bending a flat plate made of metal formed in a predetermined shape into a predetermined shape. The second detected member 19 is attached to the Y - bar 6. In this embodiment, the right - end side of the printer 1 is the origin position of the carriage 4, and the second detected member 19 is attached to the right - end portion of the Y - bar 6. Also, the second detected member 19 is fixed to the front side of the Y - bar 6 by screws. The second detected member 19 includes a second detected portion 19a that is detected by the sensor 20. The second detected portion 19a is formed in a rectangular flat plate shape. A through - hole 19b that penetrates the second detected portion 19a is formed in the second detected portion 19a. That is, the second detected portion 19a is formed in a flat plate shape with a hole.

[0028] The second detected part 19a is arranged such that its thickness direction coincides with the vertical direction. The second detected part 19a is arranged on the front side of the Y bar 6. Also, the second detected part 19a is arranged at a position where it can block the space between the light emitting part 21 and the light receiving part 22 of the sensor 20 that moves in the left - right direction together with the carriage 4. Further, the second detected part 19a is arranged at a position where the optical axis from the light emitting part 21 to the light receiving part 22 can pass through the through - hole 19b. As described above, while the first detected part 18a is formed in a flat plate shape without a hole, the second detected part 19a is formed in a flat plate shape with a hole. That is, the shape of the first detected part 18a and the shape of the second detected part 19a are different.

[0029] When detecting the origin position of the carriage 4 in the left - right direction, the carriage 4 arranged on the left side of the origin position is moved to the right side, and the position where the second detected part 19a is detected by the sensor 20 is set as the origin position of the carriage 4 in the left - right direction. The detection of the position of the pinch roller 13 in the left - right direction is performed by moving the carriage 4 with reference to the origin position of the carriage 4 in the left - right direction. The position where the first detected part 18a is detected by the sensor 20 becomes the position of the pinch roller 13 in the left - right direction.

[0030] (Main effects of this embodiment) As described above, in this embodiment, the shape of the first detected part 18a of the first detected member 18 for detecting the position of the pinch roller 13 in the left - right direction (main scanning direction) is different from the shape of the second detected part 19a of the second detected member 19 for detecting the origin position of the carriage 4 in the left - right direction. Specifically, while the through - hole 19b is formed in the second detected part 19a, no through - hole is formed in the first detected part 18a. Therefore, in this embodiment, even if the first detected part 18a and the second detected part 19a are detected by the common sensor 20 mounted on the carriage 4, it is possible to distinguish and recognize the first detected part 18a and the second detected part 19a based on the presence or absence of the through - hole.

[0031] That is, in this embodiment, even if sensors for detecting the first detected portion 18a and sensors for detecting the second detected portion 19a are not provided separately, the common sensor 20 can appropriately detect the position of the pinch roller 13 in the left-right direction and the origin position of the carriage 4 in the left-right direction. Therefore, in this embodiment, even if it is possible to appropriately detect the position of the pinch roller 13 in the left-right direction and the origin position of the carriage 4 in the left-right direction, it is possible to reduce the number of parts of the printer 1 and reduce the cost of the printer 1.

[0032] In this embodiment, the second detected portion 19a is formed in a flat plate shape with a hole, and the first detected portion 18a is formed in a flat plate shape without a hole. Therefore, in this embodiment, it is possible to relatively easily make the shape of the first detected portion 18a different from the shape of the second detected portion 19a.

[0033] (Other embodiments) The above-described embodiment is an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but it is not limited thereto, and various modifications can be made without changing the gist of the present invention.

[0034] In the above-described embodiment, if the shape of the first detected portion 18a is different from the shape of the second detected portion 19a, the through hole 19b does not have to be formed in the second detected portion 19a, or a through hole may be formed in the first detected portion 18a. Further, in the above-described embodiment, if the shape of the first detected portion 18a is different from the shape of the second detected portion 19a, the first detected portion 18a and the second detected portion 19a may be formed in any shape other than a rectangular shape.

[0035] In the above-described embodiment, the first detected member 18 may be formed separately from the roller holding member 14. In this case, the first detected member 18 is attached to each of the plurality of roller holding members 14. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the sensor 20 may be a reflective optical sensor or a sensor other than an optical sensor. Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the medium 2 does not have to be formed in a long shape. Also, the medium processing apparatus 1 to which the present invention is applied may be a printer other than an inkjet printer, or may be an apparatus other than a printer that performs predetermined processing on the medium 2. For example, the medium processing apparatus 1 may be a cutting plotter that cuts the medium 2 into a predetermined shape.

Explanation of Signs

[0036] 1 Printer (Inkjet Printer, Medium Processing Apparatus) 2 Medium 3 Head (Inkjet Head) 4 Carriage 5 Carriage Driving Mechanism 6 Y Bar (Holding Frame) 11 Conveyor Roller 12 Roller Driving Mechanism 13 Pinch Roller 14 Roller Holding Member 18 First Detected Member 18a First Detected Portion 19 Second Detected Member 19a Second Detected Portion 20 Sensor 21 Light Emitting Portion 22 Light Receiving Portion Y Width Direction of Medium

Claims

1. A conveying roller for conveying a medium, a roller driving mechanism for driving the conveying roller, a plurality of pinch rollers that are biased toward the conveying roller and sandwich the medium between the conveying roller and the pinch rollers, a plurality of roller holding members to which each of the plurality of pinch rollers is rotatably attached, a carriage movable in a width direction of the medium that is orthogonal to a thickness direction and a conveying direction of the medium, a carriage driving mechanism for moving the carriage in the width direction of the medium, a holding frame that movably holds the carriage and to which the roller holding members are attached, a first detected member for detecting a position of the pinch roller in the width direction of the medium, a second detected member for detecting an origin position of the carriage in the width direction of the medium, and a sensor for detecting the first detected member and the second detected member, the roller holding member is movable in the width direction of the medium with respect to the holding frame, the sensor is mounted on the carriage, the first detected member has a first detected portion detected by the sensor and is attached to each of the plurality of roller holding members or is integrally formed with each of the plurality of roller holding members, the second detected member has a second detected portion detected by the sensor and is attached to the holding frame, A medium processing apparatus, characterized in that a shape of the first detected portion is different from a shape of the second detected portion.

2. The second detected member is formed in a flat plate shape with a hole. The medium processing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the first detected member is formed in a flat plate shape without a hole.

3. The medium processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sensor is a transmissive optical sensor having a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion that face each other with a gap therebetween.

4. The medium processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by further comprising an inkjet head mounted on the carriage and ejecting ink toward the medium.

Images