Recording device

Abstract

To reduce operation sound and suppress enlarging in the device size.SOLUTION: The recording device is provided with: a carriage loaded with a recording head that performs recording on a recording medium, which moves in a main scanning direction; a guide member that guides the carriage moving in the main scanning direction; a sliding member that slides in the scanning direction together with the carriage; and a switching member, arranged between the carriage and the sliding member, which switches a gap between the recording medium and the recording head, by relatively moving with the carriage. The switching member is configured so that an inclination angle with respect to a horizontal surface of a first slope face that contacts the sliding member when making the gap large is larger than an inclination angle with respect to a horizontal surface of a third slope face that contacts the sliding member when making the gap small.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Conventionally, the accuracy of printing on a printing medium is affected by the distance (hereinafter referred to as the gap) between the liquid ejection surface of the print head and the printing surface of the printing medium. To maintain a certain level of printing accuracy, the printing device needs to adjust the gap depending on the thickness of the printing medium. To adjust the gap, an adjustment mechanism is sometimes used that changes the distance between a guide rail with a fixed height and a carriage that scans on the guide rail. Patent Document 1 discloses the configuration of an adjustment mechanism that has a stepped cam member. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2018-16029 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, mechanisms with cam members can generate loud noises when the cam members move relative to the carriage. To prevent this, it is possible to configure the cams so that their slopes are gentler, but this increases the length of the cam members, which can lead to larger device sizes.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has an object to provide a recording device that reduces operating noise while preventing an increase in the size of the device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problem, the recording device of the present invention comprises a carriage that carries a recording head that records on a recording medium and moves in a main scanning direction, a guide member that guides the carriage that moves in the main scanning direction, a sliding member that slides in the main scanning direction together with the carriage, and a switching member that is disposed between the carriage and the sliding member and moves relative to the carriage to switch the gap between the recording medium and the recording head, wherein the inclination angle of the switching member with respect to the horizontal plane of a first inclined surface that abuts against the sliding member when widening the gap is greater than the inclination angle with respect to the horizontal plane of a third inclined surface that abuts against the sliding member when narrowing the gap. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, a recording device is provided that reduces operating noise while preventing an increase in the size of the device. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a partial configuration of a recording apparatus according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration for switching the gap of the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of a configuration for switching the gap in the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 3 is a front view of a first cam member of the recording device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 4 is a front view of a second cam member of the recording device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a schematic front view illustrating the operation of narrowing the gap of the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is a schematic front view illustrating the operation of increasing the gap of the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the following embodiments do not limit the present invention, and not all of the combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the solution of the present invention. Furthermore, the relative arrangements, shapes, etc. of the components described in the embodiments are merely examples, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention to those alone.

[0010] "Recording" not only includes the formation of meaningful information such as characters and figures, but also the formation of images, patterns, designs, etc. on a recording medium, whether meaningful or insignificant, or the processing of the medium, regardless of whether it is manifested in a way that can be perceived visually by humans. In addition, although paper is assumed as the "original" and "recording medium" in this embodiment, they may also be cloth, plastic film (transparency), metal plate, glass, ceramics, wood, leather, etc.

[0011] Furthermore, "ink" (sometimes called "liquid") should be interpreted broadly in the same way as the definition of "recording" above. Therefore, it refers to a liquid that can be applied to a recording medium to form an image, design, pattern, etc., to process the recording medium, or to process ink (for example, to solidify or insolubilize coloring materials in ink applied to the recording medium).

[0012] [First embodiment] 1 is a perspective view of a portion of the configuration of an inkjet recording apparatus 1 (hereinafter referred to as recording apparatus 1) according to the first embodiment. The recording apparatus 1 comprises a recording head 12 that ejects ink onto a recording medium, and an ink tank 13 that stores ink to be supplied to the recording head 12. The recording apparatus 1 also has a carriage 20 that mounts the recording head 12 and also detachably mounts the ink tank 13.

[0013] The recording device 1 also has a plurality of rollers (conveying means, not shown) that feed the recording medium, and these rollers transport the recording medium in a sub-scanning direction (Y direction) that intersects (orthogonal in this embodiment) with the movement direction (main scanning direction, X direction) of the carriage 20. A platen (not shown) that supports the recording medium is provided at a position opposite the recording head 12.

[0014] The carriage 20 moves along a guide rail 112, which serves as a guide member that guides movement in the main scanning direction. A power source 111, such as a motor, is used to move the carriage 20. A switching means 60 is provided on the guide rail 112 to switch a switching member (described in detail below) of the carriage 20. This switching means 60 is retracted during normal scanning of the carriage 20 (for example, during a recording operation), but protrudes to come into contact with the switching member when switching the distance (hereinafter referred to as the gap) between the recording head 12 (or the ejection surface of the recording head 12) and the recording medium.

[0015] 2 is a perspective view illustrating the configuration for switching the gap. The carriage 20 is supported on the guide rail 112 by a first cam member 30, a second cam member 40, and a sliding member 50. The carriage 20 changes the gap by moving the first cam member 30 as the first cam member 30 comes into contact with the switching means 60. The second cam member 40 moves in conjunction with the first cam member 30, sliding against the sliding member 50 to change the gap. The sliding member 50 moves in the X direction (main scanning direction) together with the carriage 20.

[0016] 2, the first cam member 30, the second cam member 40, and the sliding member 50 are arranged side by side in the Y direction (sub-scanning direction). From upstream in the Y direction, they are arranged in the following order: first cam member 30, second cam member 40, sliding member 50, and carriage 20. In this embodiment, the first cam member 30 and the second cam member 40 correspond to switching members that come into contact with switching means 60 to switch the gap.

[0017] FIG. 3 is a schematic front view of the gap switching configuration as viewed from downstream in the Y direction. As described in FIG. 2, the carriage 20 is supported on the guide rail 112 by the second cam member 40 and the sliding member 50. The second cam member 40 is supported by the cam support surface 510 of the sliding member 50. The first cam member 30 has an engaging portion 301 that engages with the second cam member 40 and a lever 340 that can abut against the switching means 60. As shown in FIG. 3, the first cam member 30 is moved by moving the carriage 20 in the X direction with the switching means 60 abutting against the lever 340. The movement of the first cam member 30 also moves the second cam member 40 via the engaging portion 301.

[0018] FIG. 4 is a front view of the first cam member 30 as seen from downstream in the Y direction. As shown in FIG. 3, movement of the carriage 20 causes a lever 340 to abut against the switching means 60, thereby moving the first cam member 30 and the second cam member 40. The first cam member 30 and the second cam member 40 engage with each other at an engaging portion 301 and move relative to each other. The first cam member 30 further has a first support surface 320, a second support surface 321, and a third support surface 322. The number of support surfaces is not limited to three, and may be one or more. The gap can be switched between three levels by abutting each of the first to third support surfaces against the cam support surface 510 of the sliding member 50.

[0019] The first cam member 30 further has a first inclined surface 330 between the first support surface 320 and the second support surface 321, and a second inclined surface 331 between the second support surface 321 and the third support surface 322. The upper surface of the first cam member 30 forms a carriage support surface 310 that supports the carriage 20.

[0020] 5 is a front view of the second cam member 40 as seen from downstream in the Y direction. The second cam member 40 has a hole-shaped engaging portion 401 that engages with the engaging portion 301. The second cam member 40 has a fourth support surface 420 and a fifth support surface 421. The number of support surfaces is not limited to two, and may be one or more. The upper surface of the second cam member 40 forms a carriage support surface 410 that supports the carriage 20.

[0021] The fourth support surface 420 is configured to be able to switch with the first support surface 320 of the first cam member 30 without changing the gap. That is, the distance between the carriage support surface 410 and the fourth support surface 420 of the second cam member 40 and the distance between the carriage support surface 310 and the first support surface 320 of the first cam member 30 are configured to be substantially the same. A third inclined surface 430 is configured between the fourth support surface 420 and the fifth support surface 421, connecting them. The third inclined surface 430 is configured to have a gentler slope than the first inclined surface 330 and the second inclined surface 331. That is, the inclination angle of the third inclined surface 430 with respect to the horizontal plane is smaller than the inclination angles of the first inclined surface 330 and the second inclined surface 331 with respect to the horizontal plane.

[0022] 6A and 6B are schematic front views illustrating the operation of narrowing the gap. Fig. 6A shows the state in which the gap is at its largest. At this time, the carriage 20 is supported by the fifth support surface 421 of the second cam member 40 abutting against the cam support surface 510.

[0023] The recording device 1 causes the switching means 60 to protrude into the movement area of ​​the carriage 20. Thereafter, the carriage 20 is moved in the X direction (the direction of the arrow in FIG. 6(a)) and the lever 340 is brought into contact with the switching means 60 from the -X direction side (right side), thereby moving the first cam member 30 in the -X direction relative to the carriage 20. In this state, the carriage 20 is not in contact with the first cam member 30, but is in contact with the second cam member 40. As a result, the height of the carriage 20 remains unchanged, and the engaging portion 301 of the first cam member 30 moves in the -X direction until it abuts against the right end of the engaging portion 401 (see FIG. 6(b)).

[0024] At this time, the second support surface 321 and the third support surface 322 are configured to be within the area of ​​the third inclined surface 430. Therefore, the first cam member 30 and the second cam member 40 can slide and move on the third inclined surface 430 as the carriage 20 moves in the X direction. This prevents the carriage 20 from suddenly dropping, and reduces the operating noise caused by the gap switching operation. Furthermore, with this configuration, the carriage 20 can move to the state shown in FIG. 6C at the same movement speed as during normal recording operation without reducing the movement speed.

[0025] 6(c) shows a state in which the gap has been switched and is smaller than that shown in FIG. 6(a). When the gap switching operation is completed, the switching means 60 retreats from the carriage 20 movement area.

[0026] 7A and 7B are schematic front views illustrating the operation of widening the gap. Fig. 7A is a front view illustrating the state in which the paper gap is at its smallest. At this time, the carriage 20 is supported by the fourth support surface 420 of the second cam member 40 abutting against the cam support surface 510. When widening the gap, the switching means 60 first protrudes into the movement area of ​​the carriage 20.

[0027] Thereafter, the carriage 20 is moved in the -X direction (the direction of the arrow in FIG. 7(a)) to bring the lever 340 into contact with the switching means. In FIG. 7(a), unlike FIG. 6(a), the lever 340 is brought into contact with the switching means 60 from the X direction side (left side). This contact moves the first cam member 30 relative to the carriage 20 in the X direction.

[0028] The power that moves the carriage 20 in the -X direction causes the first cam member 30 to gradually protrude from the third inclined surface 430. Then, as the first inclined surface 330 abuts against the cam support surface 510, the height of the carriage 20 gradually rises, and the carriage 20 is changed to a gap where it is supported by the second support surface 321 (FIG. 7(b)). When the carriage 20 climbs the first inclined surface 330, even if the inclination angle of the inclined surface is greater than that of the third inclined surface 430, the carriage 20 will not fall, etc. As a result, the length of the first inclined surface 330 in the X direction can be shorter than that of the third inclined surface 430, which contributes to the miniaturization of the device.

[0029] When the power to move the carriage 20 in the -X direction is further applied, the second inclined surface 331 comes into contact with the cam support surface 510, gradually raising the height of the carriage 20. Then, the carriage 20 is changed to a gap where it is supported by the third support surface 322. After that, the carriage 20 climbs the third inclined surface 430 again, and the gap is changed to a gap where it is supported by the fifth support surface 421 (FIG. 7(c)). The above operation makes it possible to increase the gap.

[0030] As shown in Fig. 6, when the height of the carriage 20 is lowered to narrow the gap, the slope with a small incline is moved, thereby reducing the impact caused by the carriage 20 being dropped and thereby reducing the operating noise. On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 7, when the height of the carriage 20 is raised to widen the gap, the slope with a large incline is moved, thereby reducing the length of the first cam member 30 in the direction of movement of the carriage 20. Therefore, the operating noise caused by switching the gap can be reduced while preventing the device size from increasing.

[0031] In the above-described configuration, the first cam member 30 and the second cam member 40 are separate members, but the present invention is not limited to this and they may be integrally formed.

[0032] (Configuration 1) a carriage that carries a print head that prints on a print medium and moves in a main scanning direction; a guide member that guides the carriage moving in the main scanning direction; a sliding member that slides together with the carriage in the main scanning direction; a switching member disposed between the carriage and the sliding member, and configured to switch a gap between the recording medium and the recording head by moving relative to the carriage; a first inclined surface of the switching member that comes into contact with the sliding member when the gap is increased, the inclination angle of the first inclined surface with respect to the horizontal plane being larger than a third inclined surface of the switching member that comes into contact with the sliding member when the gap is decreased, the recording device;

[0033] (Configuration 2) 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the switching member includes a first cam member having the first inclined surface and a second cam member having the third inclined surface.

[0034] (Configuration 3) 3. The recording device according to configuration 2, wherein the first cam member and the second cam member are engaged with each other.

[0035] (Configuration 4) 4. The recording apparatus according to configuration 2 or 3, wherein the first cam member and the second cam member are arranged side by side in a sub-scanning direction that intersects with the main scanning direction.

[0036] (Configuration 5) a switching means protruding from the guide member into a moving area of ​​the carriage; The recording device according to any one of configurations 2 to 4, wherein the switching means protruding into the movement area abuts against the first cam member, causing the first cam member to move relative to the carriage. [Explanation of symbols]

[0037] 1. Inkjet recording device 12 recording head 20 carriages 30 first cam member 40 second cam member 50 Sliding member 122 guide rail 320 First Slope 430 Third Slope

Claims

1. a carriage that carries a print head that prints on a print medium and moves in a main scanning direction; a guide member that guides the carriage moving in the main scanning direction; a sliding member that slides together with the carriage in the main scanning direction; a switching member disposed between the carriage and the sliding member, and configured to switch a gap between the recording medium and the recording head by moving relative to the carriage; a first inclined surface of the switching member that contacts the sliding member when the gap is increased and a third inclined surface of the switching member that contacts the sliding member when the gap is decreased, the inclination angle of the first inclined surface with respect to the horizontal plane being greater than the inclination angle of the third inclined surface with respect to the horizontal plane.

2. 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the switching member includes a first cam member having the first inclined surface and a second cam member having the third inclined surface.

3. 3. The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first cam member and the second cam member are engaged with each other.

4. 3. The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first cam member and the second cam member are arranged side by side in a sub-scanning direction that intersects with a main scanning direction.

5. a switching means protruding from the guide member into a moving area of ​​the carriage; 3. The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first cam member moves relative to the carriage when the switching means protruding into the movement area comes into contact with the first cam member.

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