Printing apparatus and

Abstract

To provide a printing device capable of reducing printing failure by spreading a curl generated at a side end of a printing medium during conveyance.SOLUTION: A printer includes a head and a guide 61. The head prints an image on the print media conveyed in the F1 direction. The guide 61 is provided upstream in the F1 direction. The guide 61 guides the print media toward the F1. The guide 61 includes a side guide surface 651 and a vertical guide surface 661. The side guide surface 651 covers the left end portion 15A of the print media 15 from the left side. The vertical guide surface 661 covers the 15A of the left end portion from a direction perpendicular to the print surface of the print media 15. The vertical guide surface 661 is provided with protrusions 711 to 714. The protruding portions 711 to 714 protrude toward the print medium 15. When viewed from the direction perpendicular to the vertical guide surface 661, the protruding portions 711 to 714 extend to be inclined outward in the direction orthogonal to the F1 direction toward the downstream side in the F1 direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] The web position control device disclosed in Patent Document 1 transports a web via guide rollers and rollers. When the web position control device detects deviation of the web from the transport path, it aligns the edge of the web uniformly. The web is a long strip of paper, film, fabric, thin metal plate, or the like. A web guide unit with a roughly U-shaped cross section is installed between the guide rollers and rollers. The web guide unit guides the edge of the web along the transport path. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 3-56750 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Let us assume that the web guide unit described in Patent Document 1 is applied to a printing device equipped with a head that prints an image on fabric transported in the transport direction. In this configuration, if a side edge of the fabric is rolled up while the fabric is being transported, the rolled up side edge may come into contact with the head, resulting in poor printing.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a printing device that can reduce printing defects by spreading out curls that occur at the side edges of a print medium during transport. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The printing device of claim 1 includes a head that prints an image on a print medium transported in a transport direction and a guide that guides the print medium in the transport direction. The guide includes a side guide surface that covers the side edge of the print medium from the side and a vertical guide surface that covers the side edge from a direction perpendicular to the surface of the print medium. The vertical guide surface has a protrusion that protrudes toward the print medium, and when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the vertical guide surface, the protrusion extends at an outward angle in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction as it moves downstream in the transport direction. The print medium comes into contact with the protrusion. When transport of the print medium begins with a side edge that is curled up, the curled side edge slides over the protrusion and spreads outward. This eliminates the curled side edge, preventing the printing device from having the curled side edge come into contact with the head, resulting in poor printing. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a side view of the printing device 1. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a top view of the periphery of a platen 21 on which guides 61 to 64 are provided. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a plan view of the guide 61 (63). [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a front view of the guide 61 (63). [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a right side view of the guide 61 (63). [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the guide 61 (63). [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the guide 61 (63) turned upside down. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a plan view of the guide 62 (64). [Figure 9] FIG. 1 is a top view of the periphery of a platen 21 on which rollers 51 to 54 are provided. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] An embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the following description, various directions such as front / rear, up / down, left / right, as indicated by arrows in the drawings, will be used. The right side, left side, top side, bottom side, front side of the paper, and back side of the paper in Figure 1 correspond to the back side, front side, top side, bottom side, right side, and left side of the printing device 1.

[0009] The configuration of the printing device 1 will be described with reference to Figure 1. The printing device 1 shown in Figure 1 is a printing device that is long in the left-right direction. The printing device 1 prints characters, figures, etc. on the printing surface 151 of the printing medium 15. The printing device 1 is, for example, a textile printing machine. The printing medium 15 is, for example, a sheet-like medium such as fabric, woven fabric, paper, PVC sheet, tarpaulin, polyester film, etc. The printing device 1 includes a printing section 2, a master winding unit 3, and a winding unit 4.

[0010] The printing unit 2 is provided at the top of the printing device 1 and includes a platen 21, a carriage 22, and a head 23. The platen 21 extends in the front-to-back and left-to-right directions and supports the printing medium 15 from below. The carriage 22 is supported above the platen 21 and moves in the main scanning direction S (see Figure 2), which is the left-to-right direction. The head 23 is provided on the carriage 22. The head 23 faces the printing surface 151 of the printing medium 15 supported on the upper surface of the platen 21 across a predetermined gap. The head 23 is a piezo type. The printing medium 15 is transported in the F1 direction along a transport path on the upper surface of the platen 21. The head 23 ejects ink onto the printing surface 151 of the printing medium 15 to perform the printing process. The F1 direction is the transport direction. The transport path extends from the master winding unit 3, via the printing unit 2, to the winding unit 4. The transport path is roughly U-shaped and opens downward when viewed from the side. The F1 direction is the sub-scanning direction, which is the direction from the master winding unit 3 to the winding unit 4 via the printing unit 2. The sub-scanning direction is perpendicular to the main scanning direction S.

[0011] The master winding unit 3 is provided at the rear of the printing apparatus 1. The master winding unit 3 includes a shaft 31A, a pair of left and right holders 31 (only the right holder 31 is shown in FIG. 1), and a master winding motor (not shown). The shaft 31A extends in the left-right direction and supports the master winding roll 100. The master winding roll 100 is a roll of printing medium 15 in an unprocessed state (before printing processing) wound around a cardboard tube (not shown). The printing medium 15 is wound around the cardboard tube with the printing surface 151 facing outward. The pair of left and right holders 31 are attached to the shaft 31A and support both ends of the cardboard tube inserted into the shaft 31A, thereby supporting the master winding roll 100. Therefore, the master winding roll 100 rotates integrally with the shaft 31A. The master winding motor drives and rotates the shaft 31A. The master winding motor rotates the master winding roll 100 together with the shaft 31A in the A1 direction, thereby unwinding the printing medium 15 from the master winding roll 100 supported by the shaft 31A toward the printing unit 2.

[0012] The winding unit 4 is provided at the front of the printing device 1. The winding unit 4 comprises a shaft 41A, a pair of left and right holders 41, and a winding motor (not shown). The shaft 41A extends in the left-right direction. The shaft 41A supports a paper tube (not shown). The pair of left and right holders 41 are attached to the shaft 41A and support the paper tube from both the left and right sides. Therefore, the paper tube rotates integrally with the shaft 41A. The winding motor drives the shaft 41A to rotate in the D1 direction. Therefore, after printing by the head 23 is completed, the winding unit 4 winds the printing medium 15, which has been transported in the F1 direction, onto the paper tube so that the printed surface 151 faces outward.

[0013] Arranged on the transport path from the master winding unit 3 to the printing unit 2 are, in order from upstream, an upstream tension bar 5, an upstream intermediate roller 6, and a support roller 7. Arranged on the transport path from the printing unit 2 to the winding unit 4 are, in order from upstream, a transport roller 8, a downstream intermediate roller 9, and a downstream tension bar 10.

[0014] The upstream tension bar 5 is positioned diagonally above and behind the shaft 31A of the master winding unit 3. The upstream tension bar 5 extends in the left-right direction. The upstream tension bar 5 comes into contact with the back surface 152 of the printing medium 15. The upstream tension bar 5 is supported by a swing arm 25, and swings under its own weight around the rotation shaft 26 along an arc-shaped trajectory Q1 in response to the tension applied to the printing medium 15.

[0015] The upstream intermediate roller 6 is positioned diagonally above and in front of the upstream tension bar 5. The upstream intermediate roller 6 extends in the left-right direction and comes into contact with the printing surface 151 of the print medium 15. The upstream intermediate roller 6 rotates together with the print medium 15 with a predetermined torque in the B1 direction. The support roller 7 is positioned above the upstream intermediate roller 6 and behind the platen 21. The support roller 7 extends in the left-right direction and comes into contact with the back surface 152 of the print medium 15.

[0016] The transport roller 8 is provided in front of the platen 21, at the upper front end of the printing device 1. The transport roller 8 extends in the left-right direction and is driven to rotate by a feed motor (not shown). The transport roller 8 comes into contact with the back surface 152 of the printing medium 15 and rotates forward in the direction C1, thereby transporting the printing medium 15 in the direction F1 and guiding it downward toward the winding unit 4.

[0017] The downstream intermediate rollers 9 are disposed in a middle position of the printing device 1 and below the transport rollers 8. The downstream intermediate rollers 9 extend in the left-right direction and come into contact with the printing surface 151 of the print medium 15. The downstream intermediate rollers 9 guide the print medium 15 downward from the transport rollers 8.

[0018] The downstream tension bar 10 is positioned diagonally above and in front of the shaft 41A of the winding unit 4. The downstream tension bar 10 extends in the left-right direction. The downstream tension bar 10 comes into contact with the back surface 152 of the printing medium 15. The downstream tension bar 10 is supported by a swing arm 27, and swings around the rotation shaft 28 along an arc-shaped trajectory Q2 under its own weight in response to the tension applied to the printing medium 15.

[0019] In the transport path downstream of the printing unit 2, a heater 13 is disposed between the transport roller 8 and the downstream intermediate roller 9. The heater 13 faces the printing surface 151 of the print medium 15 transported from the transport roller 8 toward the downstream intermediate roller 9. The heater 13 dries the printing surface 151 after printing.

[0020] The configuration provided on the upper surface of the platen 21 will be described with reference to Figure 2. A transport path for the print medium 15 and a passing area P for the head 23 are provided on the upper surface of the platen 21. The passing area P extends in the main scanning direction S. When the platen 21 is viewed from above, the passing area P is perpendicular to the transport path. The length of the platen 21 in the width direction is longer than the length of the print medium 15 in the width direction. Four guides 61 to 64 are provided on both sides (left and right end sides) of the platen 21 in the width direction.

[0021] Guide 61 is provided upstream of the passing area P in the F1 direction and on the left edge side of the upper surface of the platen 21. Guide 62 is provided upstream of the passing area P in the F1 direction and on the right edge side of the upper surface of the platen 21. Guides 61 and 62 are arranged at the same position in the F1 direction. Guide 63 is provided downstream of the passing area P in the F1 direction and on the left edge side of the upper surface of the platen 21. Guide 64 is provided downstream of the passing area P in the F1 direction and on the right edge side of the upper surface of the platen 21. Guides 63 and 64 are arranged at the same position in the F1 direction. Guides 61 and 63 guide the left edge 15A of the printing medium 15 in the F1 direction. Guides 62 and 64 guide the right edge 15B of the printing medium 15 in the F1 direction.

[0022] The structure of the guides 61 and 63 will be described with reference to Figures 3 to 7. The guides 61 and 63 are identical components and are provided on the left end side of the upper surface of the platen 21. In this embodiment, the structure of the guide 61 will be specifically described.

[0023] As shown in Fig. 3, the guide 61 has a rectangular shape that is long in the front-rear direction in a plan view, and is generally L-shaped when viewed from the front (see Fig. 4). The guide 61 is made of metal, but may also be made of resin. As an example of the size of the guide 61, the length in the front-rear direction is 10 to 20 cm, and the length in the width direction (left and right direction) is 5 to 10 cm.

[0024] As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the guide 61 includes a vertical wall 65 and a cover plate 66. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the vertical wall 65 is substantially linear and extends in the front-to-rear direction in a plan view. The cross section of the vertical wall 65 perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is rectangular. A side guide surface 651 is formed on the right surface of the vertical wall 65. The side guide surface 651 covers the left end 15A of the printing medium 15 from the left (see Figure 3).

[0025] As shown in Figures 3 and 6, the cover plate 66 extends rightward from the upper end of the vertical wall 65 and has a rectangular shape that is long in the front-to-rear direction in a plan view. A vertical guide surface 661 is formed on the underside of the cover plate 66 (see Figures 4 and 7). The vertical guide surface 661 covers the left end 15A from above. The direction from top to bottom is perpendicular to the printing surface 151 of the print medium 15. A predetermined gap is provided between the vertical guide surface 661 and the upper surface of the platen 21. The predetermined gap is, for example, a gap that allows the left end 15A of the print medium 15 to pass through in the F1 direction.

[0026] As shown in Figures 3 and 6, four slits 71 to 74 are provided in the cover plate 66. When the guide 61 is viewed from above, the slits 71 to 74 are provided in order at intervals in the F1 direction (see Figure 3). Each of the slits 71 to 74 extends at an inclination outward in the width direction as it approaches the F1 direction. The inclination angle θ (see Figure 3) of the slits 71 to 74 with respect to the F1 direction is, for example, approximately 30°. The slits 71 to 74 are parallel to each other. The slit 71 is located near the left rear corner of the cover plate 66 and is the shortest of the slits 71 to 74. The slits 72 and 73 are located near the center of the cover plate 66 and are longer than the slit 71. The lengths of the slits 72 and 73 are approximately the same. The slit 74 is located near the right front corner of the cover plate 66 and is shorter than the slit 72 and longer than the slit 71.

[0027] A protrusion 711 is provided on the right long side 71A of the inner edge of the slit 71 so as to protrude diagonally downward toward the vertical wall 65 (see FIGS. 5 to 7). The protrusion 711 is an elongated rectangular plate. When the cover plate 66 is viewed from above, the protrusion 711 extends at an angle outward in the width direction of the platen 21 as it moves downstream in the F1 direction. Note that the outward side in the width direction of the platen 21 refers to the outward side in a direction perpendicular to the F1 direction. Such a protrusion 711 is formed by bending the cover plate 66 downward. The slit 71 is an opening formed by bending the protrusion 711 downward from the cover plate 66. Therefore, the slit 71 has the same shape as the protrusion 711.

[0028] Similar to slit 71, slit 72 has a protrusion 712 on the right long side 72A of its inner edge that protrudes diagonally downward toward vertical wall 65. Slit 73 has a protrusion 713 on the right long side 73A of its inner edge that protrudes diagonally downward toward vertical wall 65. Slit 74 has a protrusion 714 on the right long side 74A of its inner edge that protrudes diagonally downward toward vertical wall 65. Protrusions 712 to 714 are also elongated rectangular plates. Slits 71 to 74 are parallel to one another.

[0029] Like the protrusion 711, the protrusions 712-714 are formed by bending downward the vertical guide surface 661 of the cover plate 66. The slits 72-74 are openings formed by bending downward the protrusions 712-714 from the cover plate 66. Therefore, the slits 72-74 have the same shape as the protrusions 712-714. The lower surface of the vertical wall 65 of the guide 61 having the above structure is fixed to the left end side of the upper surface of the platen 21.

[0030] The structure of the guides 62 and 64 will be described with reference to Figure 8. The guides 62 and 64 are provided on the right end side of the platen 21 and are identical parts. The guides 62 and 64 have a bilaterally symmetrical shape to the above-mentioned guides 61 and 63. Therefore, in this embodiment, the structure of the guide 62 will be simply described.

[0031] The guide 62 includes a vertical wall 67 and a cover plate 68. The vertical wall 67 is substantially linear and extends in the front-to-rear direction in a plan view. The cross section of the vertical wall 67 perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is rectangular. A side guide surface 671 is formed on the left surface of the vertical wall 67. The side guide surface 671 covers the right end 15B of the printing medium 15 from the right. The cover plate 68 extends leftward from the upper end of the vertical wall 67 and has a rectangular shape that is long in the front-to-rear direction in a plan view. A vertical guide surface 681 is formed on the lower surface of the cover plate 68. The vertical guide surface 681 covers the right end 15B from above. A predetermined gap is provided between the vertical guide surface 681 and the upper surface of the platen 21. The predetermined gap is, for example, a gap that allows the right end 15B of the printing medium 15 to pass in the F1 direction.

[0032] Four slits 81 to 84 are provided in the cover plate 68. The four slits 81 to 84 are symmetrical to the four slits 71 to 74 provided in the cover plate 66 of the guide 61. A protrusion 811 is provided on the left long side 81A of the inner edge of the slit 81 so as to protrude diagonally downward toward the vertical wall 67. A protrusion 812 is provided on the left long side 82A of the inner edge of the slit 82 so as to protrude diagonally downward toward the vertical wall 67. A protrusion 813 is provided on the left long side 83A of the inner edge of the slit 83 so as to protrude diagonally downward toward the vertical wall 67. A protrusion 814 is provided on the left long side 84A of the inner edge of the slit 84 so as to protrude diagonally downward toward the vertical wall 67. These four protrusions 811 to 814 are symmetrical in shape to the four protrusions 711 to 714 provided on the cover plate 66 of the guide 61 .

[0033] As shown in Fig. 2, the guides 61 to 64 are arranged so as to sandwich the passing area P on both the upstream and downstream sides in the F1 direction. Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 3, the side guide surface 651 of each of the guides 61 and 63 covers the left end 15A of the printing medium 15 from the left. As shown in Fig. 8, the side guide surface 671 of each of the guides 62 and 64 covers the right end 15B of the printing medium 15 from the left. In this way, the guides 61 to 64 can prevent the printing medium 15 from deviating left and right (widthwise) from the transport path on the top surface of the platen 21 in the passing area P.

[0034] Next, the effect of guides 61-64 in suppressing curling of print medium 15 will be described. For example, if print medium 15 is fabric, left end 15A and right end 15B are prone to curling due to its rigidity, thickness, etc. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, on the upper surface of platen 21, curling T1 occurs at left end 15A and curling T2 occurs at right end 15B before print medium 15 is transported toward head 23. Curling T1 is a roughly arc-shaped portion of left end 15A that has curled up from the upper surface of platen 21 to the right. Curling T2 is a roughly arc-shaped portion of right end 15B that has curled up from the upper surface of platen 21 to the left.

[0035] The user sets the print medium 15 on the transport path of the printing device 1 (see Figure 1). The user inputs a command to start printing into the printing device 1. When the printing device 1 receives the command to start printing, it drives the feed motor (not shown) to rotate the transport roller 8 forward in the direction C1 (see Figure 1). This causes the print medium 15 to be transported in the direction F1 along the transport path.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 3, when the left guides 61, 63 are viewed from above, the left end 15A moves so as to traverse the protrusions 712-714 in the front-to-rear direction. Therefore, the lower ends of the protrusions 712-714 come into contact with the left end 15A from above (see FIG. 5). On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8, when the right guides 62, 64 are viewed from above, the right end 15B moves so as to traverse the protrusions 812-814 in the front-to-rear direction. Therefore, the lower ends of the protrusions 812-814 come into contact with the right end 15B from above.

[0037] In this way, the combination of protrusions that contact the left end 15A and the right end 15B from above varies depending on the width of the printing medium 15. As shown in FIG. 3, when the left end 15A first contacts the bottom end of the second-most-upstream protrusion 712 in the guides 61 and 63, the left end 15A also contacts the bottom ends of the protrusions 713 and 714, but does not contact the bottom end of the most-upstream protrusion 711. Also, when the width of the printing medium 15 is greater than the width shown in FIG. 3 and the left end 15A contacts the bottom end of the most-upstream protrusion 711, the left end 15A also contacts the bottom ends of the protrusions 712 and 713, but does not contact the bottom end of the most-downstream protrusion 714. In this way, the printing device 1 can bring the bottom ends of three of the four protrusions 711 to 714 into contact with the left end 15A from above depending on the width of the printing medium 15.

[0038] The same applies to guides 62 and 64. As a result, the printer 1 can bring the lower ends of three of the four protrusions 811-814 into contact with the right end 15B from above, depending on the width of the print medium 15. Therefore, within the area surrounded by guides 61-64, the printer 1 can press down from above to prevent the left end 15A and the right end 15B from floating above the platen 21.

[0039] <Effect of eliminating the curl T1 at the left end 15A> As shown in FIG. 2, a curl T1 occurs in the left end 15A upstream of the passing area P. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, in the guide 61, the printing medium 15 is transported in the direction F1 with the left end 15A pressed against the lower end of the protrusion 712 by a curling force. Here, the slope on the vertical guide surface 661 side (lower side) of the protrusion 712 is provided downstream in the direction F1 (see FIGS. 5 to 7). Therefore, the lower end of the protrusion 712 faces upstream in the direction F1. This allows the guide 61 to actively bring the lower end of the protrusion 712 into contact with the left end 15A of the printing medium 15 being transported from upstream.

[0040] Since the lower end of the protrusion 712 functions like a rail, the left end 15A tries to move along the lower end of the protrusion 712. As described above, the protrusion 712 extends at an incline outward in the width direction as it moves toward the F1 direction. As a result, the curl T1 that has occurred at the left end 15A is spread outward as it moves downstream. This eliminates the curl T1.

[0041] As printing medium 15 is transported in the F1 direction, left end 15A slides in the F1 direction over the lower end of protrusion 712, followed by the lower ends of protrusions 713 and 714. As a result, even if left end 15A rolls up again after passing the lower end of protrusion 712, it will be spread outward again by sliding over the lower ends of protrusions 713 and 714.

[0042] Then, left end portion 15A passes through passing region P in a state where it is spread outward, and passes through guide 63 in the direction F1. As when left end portion 15A passed through guide 61, left end portion 15A slides in the direction F1 over the lower ends of protrusions 712 to 714 of guide 63. As a result, left end portion 15A is also spread outward in guide 63. Guides 61 and 63 spread curl T1 of left end portion 15A outward upstream and downstream of passing region P, thereby eliminating curl T1 that has occurred in left end portion 15A at least in passing region P.

[0043] <Effect of eliminating the curl T2 of the right end portion 15B> As shown in FIG. 2, a curl T2 occurs in the right end 15B upstream of the passing area P. As shown in FIG. 8, in the guide 62, the printing medium 15 is transported in the direction F1 with the right end 15B pressed against the lower end of the protrusion 812 by a curling force. Here, the slope of the protrusion 812 on the vertical guide surface 681 side is provided downstream in the direction F1. Therefore, the lower end of the protrusion 812 faces upstream in the direction F1. This allows the guide 62 to actively bring the lower end of the protrusion 812 into contact with the right end 15B of the printing medium 15 being transported from upstream.

[0044] Since the lower end of the protruding portion 812 also functions as a rail, the right end portion 15B tends to move along the lower end of the protruding portion 812. As described above, the protruding portion 812 also extends at an incline outward in the width direction as it moves toward the F1 direction. As a result, the curling T2 that has occurred in the right end portion 15B also spreads outward as it moves downstream. This eliminates the curling T2.

[0045] As printing medium 15 is transported in the F1 direction, right end 15B slides in the F1 direction over the lower end of protrusions 813-814, following the lower end of protrusion 812. As a result, even if right end 15B rolls up again after passing the lower end of protrusion 812, it will be spread outward again by sliding over the lower ends of protrusions 813 and 814.

[0046] Then, the right end portion 15B passes through the passing region P in a state where it is spread outward, and passes through the guide 64 in the direction F1. As when it passed through the guide 62, the right end portion 15B slides in the direction F1 over the lower ends of the protrusions 812 to 813 of the guide 64. As a result, the right end portion 15B is also spread outward in the guide 64. The guides 62 and 64 spread the curl T2 of the right end portion 15B outward upstream and downstream of the passing region P, thereby eliminating the curl T2 that has occurred in the right end portion 15B at least in the passing region P.

[0047] In this way, in the passing area P, the curl T1 that occurred at the left end 15A and the curl T2 that occurred at the right end 15B are spread outward. This allows the printing device 1 to prevent the head 23 from getting caught on the curls T1 and T2 when it moves through the passing area P in the main scanning direction. Furthermore, the left end 15A is pressed from above by the protrusions 711-713 of the guides 61 and 63, respectively. The right end 15B is pressed from above by the protrusions 811-813 of the guides 62 and 64, respectively. This allows the printing device 1 to prevent the left end 15A and the right end 15B from lifting off the top surface of the platen 21 by the guides 61-64. This allows the printing device 1 to perform good printing on the printing surface 151 of the print medium 15 using the head 23.

[0048] In the above embodiment, the left end 15A and right end 15B of the printing medium 15 are an example of the "side end" of the present invention. The platen 21 is an example of the "support plate" of the present invention. The protrusion 711 of the guide 61 is an example of the "protrusion" of the present invention. The side guide surface 651 is an example of the "side guide surface" of the present invention. The vertical guide surface 661 is an example of the "vertical guide surface" of the present invention. The protrusions 712 to 714 are an example of the "second protrusion" of the present invention. The guides 61 and 63 are an example of the "guide" of the present invention. The guides 62 and 64 are an example of the "second guide" of the present invention. The side guide surface 671 is an example of the "second side guide surface" of the present invention. The vertical guide surface 681 is an example of the "second vertical guide surface" of the present invention.

[0049] As described above, the printing device 1 of this embodiment includes a head 23 and a guide 61. The head 23 prints an image on the printing medium 15 transported in the F1 direction. The guide 61 is provided upstream in the F1 direction. The guide 61 guides the printing medium 15 in the F1 direction. The guide 61 includes a side guide surface 651 and a vertical guide surface 661. The side guide surface 651 covers the left end 15A of the printing medium 15 from the left. The vertical guide surface 661 covers the left end 15A from a direction perpendicular to the printing surface 151 of the printing medium 15. The vertical guide surface 661 is provided with a protrusion 711. The protrusion 711 protrudes toward the printing medium 15. When viewed from a direction perpendicular to the vertical guide surface 661, the protrusion 711 extends at an angle outward in a direction perpendicular to the F1 direction as it moves downstream in the F1 direction.

[0050] Since the printing device 1 has the above configuration, the left end 15A of the printing medium 15 comes into contact with the lower end of the protrusion 711 in an unfolded state. When transportation of the printing medium 15 begins with the left end 15A of the printing medium 15 in a curled-up state, the curled-up left end 15A slides over the lower end of the protrusion 711 and is spread outward. This eliminates the curled-up T1 of the left end 15A, and the printing device 1 can prevent the curled-up T1 of the left end 15A from coming into contact with the head 23 and causing printing defects.

[0051] In the above embodiment, guide 61 is provided upstream of head 23 in the F1 direction, and guide 63 is provided downstream of head 23. Guide 63 is the same component as guide 61. This effectively prevents curling T1 of left end 15A of print medium 15 at a position facing head 23, i.e., in passage area P of head 23. This allows the printing device 1 to effectively prevent curling T1 of left end 15A from coming into contact with head 23 and causing printing defects.

[0052] In the above embodiment, the protrusion 711 is formed by bending and raising the vertical guide surface 661 toward the print medium 15. This makes it easier to form the protrusion 711 compared to a configuration in which the protrusion 711 is manufactured as a separate part from the vertical guide surface 661. Furthermore, because the protrusion 711 is integral with the vertical guide surface 661, the strength of the connecting portion between the vertical guide surface 661 and the protrusion 711 can be improved compared to a configuration in which the protrusion 711, which is a separate part, is fixed to the vertical guide surface 661.

[0053] In the above embodiment, the vertical guide surface 661 further includes three protrusions 712-714 spaced apart from the protrusion 711 in the F1 direction. The protrusions 712-714 protrude toward the print medium 15. Even if the left end 15A rolls up again after sliding over the first protrusion 711 and being spread outward, it will slide over the next protrusions 712-714. This allows the printing device 1 to spread the left end 15A that has rolled up again outward again. In this way, the printing device 1 can repeatedly spread the left end 15A of the print medium 15 while it passes through the guide 61, thereby more effectively spreading the rolled-up left end 15A.

[0054] In the above embodiment, when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the vertical guide surface 661, the protrusion 711 extends linearly and inclines outward in a direction perpendicular to the F1 direction as it moves downstream in the F1 direction. This allows the protrusion 711 to spread the curled left end 15A of the printing medium 15 outward in the shortest possible time.

[0055] The printing device 1 of the above embodiment further includes a guide 62. The guide 62 is located upstream of the head 23 in the F1 direction and on the opposite side (right side) of the guide 61 relative to the printing medium 15 in the width direction of the printing medium 15. Together with the guide 61, the guide 62 guides the printing medium 15 in the F1 direction. The guide 62 includes a side guide surface 671 and a vertical guide surface 681. The side guide surface 671 covers the right end 15B of the printing medium 15 from the right. The vertical guide surface 681 covers the right end 15B from a direction perpendicular to the printing surface 151 of the printing medium 15. The printing device 1 guides both widthwise ends of the printing medium 15 in the F1 direction using the guides 61 and 62, thereby simultaneously suppressing curling T1 and T2 that occurs at the left end 15A and right end 15B of the printing medium 15.

[0056] The printing device 1 of the above embodiment includes a platen 21. The platen 21 supports the print medium 15 from below. The head 23 is supported above the platen 21 and prints an image on the print surface 151 of the print medium 15 as it is transported in the F1 direction over the top surface of the platen 21. The guide 61 is provided upstream of the head 23 in the F1 direction on the top surface of the platen 21. The vertical guide surface 661 covers the left end 15A from above. The protrusion 711 protrudes downward from the vertical guide surface 661. This allows the left end 15A of the print medium 15 to slide over the protrusion 711 as the print medium 15 is transported in the F1 direction over the top surface of the platen 21.

[0057] A modified example of this embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 9. In the above embodiment, four guides 61-64 are provided on the upper surface of the platen 21, and are arranged so as to sandwich the passing area P on the upstream and downstream sides in the F1 direction (see Figure 2). This modified example differs from the above embodiment in that four rollers 51-54 are provided instead of the four guides 61-64. Therefore, this modified example will be described mainly with reference to the configuration and effects of the rollers 51-54. The configuration other than the rollers 51-54 is the same as in the above embodiment, so the same reference numerals are used and description thereof will be omitted.

[0058] As shown in Figure 9, roller 51 is located on the left edge side of the upper surface of platen 21 and presses down from above on the left end 15A of print medium 15 as it is transported toward head 23. Roller 51 has a rotation axis R1. When platen 21 is viewed from above, rotation axis R1 is supported at an inclination relative to the left-right direction so that the right end is downstream in the direction F1 from the left end. Therefore, roller 51 is positioned at an inclination so that it faces outward (left side) in the width direction of platen 21 in the direction F1.

[0059] Roller 52 is disposed on the right edge of the upper surface of platen 21 and presses down from above on the right edge 15B of the print medium 15 transported across the upper surface of platen 21. Roller 52 has a rotation axis R2. When platen 21 is viewed from above, rotation axis R2 is supported at an angle relative to the left-right direction so that the left edge is downstream in the direction F1 from the right edge. Therefore, roller 52 is disposed at an angle so that it faces outward (to the right) in the width direction of platen 21 in the direction F1.

[0060] Like roller 51, roller 53 is disposed on the left edge side of the upper surface of platen 21 and presses down from above on the left edge 15A of print medium 15 that has been printed by head 23 and is transported downstream in the direction F1. Roller 53 has a rotation axis R3. When platen 21 is viewed from above, rotation axis R3 is supported at an inclination relative to the left-right direction so that the right edge is downstream in the direction F1 from the left edge. Therefore, like roller 51, roller 53 is disposed at an inclination so that it faces outward (left side) in the width direction of platen 21 in the direction F1.

[0061] Like roller 52, roller 54 is disposed on the right edge side of the upper surface of platen 21 and presses down from above on the right edge 15B of print medium 15 that has been printed by head 23 and is transported downstream in the direction F1. Roller 53 has a rotation axis R4. When platen 21 is viewed from above, rotation axis R4 is supported at an angle relative to the left-right direction so that the left edge is downstream in the direction F1 from the right edge. Therefore, like roller 52, roller 54 is disposed at an angle so that it faces outward (to the right) in the width direction of platen 21 in the direction F1.

[0062] Next, we will explain how rollers 51-54 prevent the print medium 15 from curling up. The user sets the print medium 15 on the transport path of the printer 1. The user inputs a command to start printing into the printer 1. When the printer 1 receives the command to start printing, it drives the feed motor to rotate the transport roller 8 forward in the direction C1. This causes the print medium 15 to be transported in the direction F1 along the transport path.

[0063] Printing device 1 can bring rollers 51 and 53 into contact with left end 15A from above, and rollers 52 and 54 into contact with right end 15B from above, regardless of the width of print medium 15. Therefore, within the area surrounded by rollers 51 to 54, printing device 1 can press down from above to prevent left end 15A and right end 15B from floating above platen 21, with the left end 15A and right end 15B spread outward.

[0064] For example, assume that a curl T1 occurs at the left end 15A and a curl T2 occurs at the right end 15B of the printing medium 15 on the upper surface of the platen 21 before the printing medium 15 is transported toward the head 23. In the passing area P, rollers 51-54, which are located upstream and downstream of the passing area P, come into contact with the left end 15A and the right end 15B of the printing medium 15, respectively.

[0065] In this state, the print medium 15 is transported in the direction F1 on the top surface of the platen 21. Upstream of the passing area P, roller 51 is tilted to the left as it moves in the direction F1. Therefore, it rotates while pushing and spreading the curl T1 of the left end 15A to the left, and rolls on the print surface 151. On the other hand, roller 52 is tilted to the right as it moves in the direction F1. Therefore, it rotates while pushing and spreading the curl T2 of the right end 15B to the right, and rolls on the print surface 151.

[0066] Further, downstream of the passing area P, roller 53 is tilted to the left as it moves in the direction F1. Therefore, roller 53 rotates while spreading left end 15A to the left and rolls on printing surface 151. On the other hand, roller 54 is tilted to the right as it moves in the direction F1. Therefore, roller 54 rotates while spreading right end 15B and rolls on printing surface 151. In other words, rollers 51 to 54 can spread left end 15A and right end 15B of printing medium 15 outward at positions that sandwich passing area P upstream and downstream in the direction F1.

[0067] This allows the printing device 1 to prevent the head 23 from getting caught on the curls T1 and T2 when it moves through the passing area P in the main scanning direction. Furthermore, the left end 15A is pressed down from above by the rollers 51 and 53. The right end 15B is pressed down from above by the rollers 52 and 54. This allows the printing device 1 to prevent the left end 15A and the right end 15B from lifting up from the top surface of the platen 21 by the rollers 51 to 54. Therefore, the printing device 1 can print well on the printing surface 151 of the print medium 15 using the head 23.

[0068] The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and various modifications are possible. In this embodiment, the printing device 1 is a printing device equipped with a head 23 that mainly ejects ink, but it may also be a printing device equipped with a head that ejects liquid other than ink, such as a pretreatment liquid for double printing (overprinting). The printing device 1 is a textile printing machine, but it may also be other printing devices equipped with a head. The configuration of the printing device 1 shown in FIG. 1 may be modified as appropriate, for example, the number of upstream intermediate rollers 6 and the number of downstream intermediate rollers 9 may be increased.

[0069] The head 23 is a piezoelectric print head, but may be of another type, such as a thermal head.

[0070] In the above embodiment, the four guides 61 to 64 are provided on the top surface of the platen 21, but they do not have to be on the top surface of the platen 21 as long as they are located along the transport path.

[0071] In the above embodiment, four guides 61 to 64 are provided on the upper surface of the platen 21, but the number of guides provided on the upper surface of the platen 21 may be changed. For example, the number of guides may be one, or two or more. Only guides 61 and 62 located upstream of the passing region P may be provided, or only guides 63 and 64 located downstream may be provided. Also, only guides 61 and 63 located on the right side of the upper surface of the platen 21 may be provided, or only guides 62 and 64 located on the left side may be provided. Furthermore, the guides may be provided only upstream or only downstream of the passing region P, or they may be provided in the passing region P. Furthermore, when the guides are provided in the passing region P, the distance between the print medium and the head may be made larger, or the guides may be made thinner, compared to when the guides are provided upstream or downstream of the passing region P.

[0072] The cover plate 66 of the guide 61 is provided with four protrusions 711 to 714, but the number of protrusions may be one or more. The protrusions 711 to 714 are formed by bending and raising the vertical guide surface 661, but they may also be separate from the cover plate 66 and fixed to the vertical guide surface 661 with an adhesive or the like.

[0073] The protrusions 711 to 714 are provided to protrude diagonally downward from the vertical guide surface 661 toward the vertical wall 67, but may also be provided to protrude directly downward. Furthermore, the protrusions 711 to 714 extend in a substantially straight line when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the vertical guide surface 661, but may also be curved.

[0074] Furthermore, if a curl T1 that rotates once occurs at the left end 15A before starting to transport the printing medium 15, the user should spread the curl T1 outward and bring the left end 15A into contact with the lower end of the protrusion 711 of the guide 61. [Explanation of symbols]

[0075] 1 Printing device 15 Print media 15A Left end 15B Right end 21 Platen 23 head 61~64 Guide 65 Vertical Wall 66 Cover plate 67 Vertical Wall 68 Cover Plate 151 Printing surface 651 Side guide surface 661 Vertical guide surface 671 Side guide surface 681 Vertical guide surface 711~714 Projection 811~814 Projection

Claims

1. a head that prints an image on a print medium that is transported in a transport direction; a guide that guides the print medium in the transport direction; Equipped with The guide is a side guide surface that covers the side edge of the print medium from the side; a vertical guide surface that covers the side edge from a direction perpendicular to the surface of the printing medium; Equipped with The vertical guide surface is provided with a protrusion that protrudes toward the print medium, When viewed from a direction perpendicular to the vertical guide surface, the protrusion extends at an incline outward in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction as it moves downstream in the conveying direction. A printing device comprising:

2. The guides are provided upstream and downstream of the head in the transport direction.

2. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein:

3. The protrusion is formed by bending the vertical guide surface toward the print medium.

2. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein:

4. The vertical guide surface further includes one or more second protrusions that protrude toward the print medium and are spaced apart from the protrusions in the transport direction.

2. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein:

5. When viewed from a direction perpendicular to the vertical guide surface, the protrusion extends linearly and inclined outward in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction as it moves downstream in the conveying direction.

2. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein:

6. a second guide that is provided upstream or downstream of the head in the transport direction, and that is provided opposite the guide with respect to the print medium in the width direction of the print medium, and that guides the print medium in the transport direction; The second guide is a second side guide surface that covers the side edge of the print medium from the side; a second vertical guide surface that covers the side edge from a direction perpendicular to the surface of the printing medium; To be prepared 2. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein:

7. a support plate that supports the printing medium from below; The head is supported above the support plate and prints the image on the print medium transported on the support plate in the transport direction, the guide is provided on the support plate upstream or downstream of the head in the transport direction, the vertical guide surface covers the side end portion from above, The protrusion protrudes downward from the vertical guide surface.

2. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein:

Images