tracing machine

Abstract

Make it easy to replace the print head. [Solution] The drawing machine 2 is equipped with a support mechanism that increases the external force acting from the outside when the print head 22's head-side ink port is approaching or in contact with the main unit-side ink port, and converts the direction in which the external force acts to the print head 22 to the mounting direction, thereby moving the print head 22 in a substantially linear fashion in the mounting direction and supporting the connection between the head-side ink port and the main unit-side ink port.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a drawing machine equipped with a cartridge for replenishing ink.

Background Art

[0002] For example, a drop-on-demand (DOD) type inkjet printing apparatus that ejects ink onto a packaging material such as cardboard to perform printing is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the inkjet printing apparatus of Patent Document 1, a large reservoir for storing ink is provided on the side of a print head that ejects ink.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, it is conceivable that the print head may fail. When the print head of the inkjet printing apparatus of Patent Document 1 fails, since the print head is integrated with the reservoir, it is necessary to remove the inkjet printing apparatus from the line and install a new inkjet printing apparatus. However, when installing a new inkjet printing apparatus, adjustment work such as position adjustment is required, which is complicated.

[0005] Therefore, a method of removing only the print head and replacing it with another print head is conceivable. However, in the case of a DOD type inkjet printing apparatus, the pipe diameter is often set large in order to reduce the flow path resistance of the ink from the reservoir to the print head. When a user tries to remove only the print head, a considerably large force is required, which is not easy.

[0006] In this regard, it is conceivable to remove the print head using a special jig, but this requires the effort of preparing the special jig, and it is difficult if the special jig is not available. The same applies when installing the print head.

[0007] This disclosure is made in view of the above, and its purpose is to enable easy replacement of the print head. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] To achieve the above objective, one aspect of this disclosure may be based on a drawing machine that ejects ink for drawing information onto an object to be drawn on, which is transported by a transporter. The drawing machine includes an ink tank for containing ink, a print head having a head-side ink port for receiving ink from the ink tank, and a group of nozzles for ejecting the ink supplied through the head-side ink port toward the object to be drawn on while being transported, a drawing machine body having the ink tank disposed inside and a body-side ink port connected to the head-side ink port, and detachably holding the print head, a guide portion provided on the drawing machine body for slidably guiding the print head in the detachment direction, and a support mechanism that, when the head-side ink port of the print head guided by the guide portion approaches or contacts the body-side ink port, increases an external force acting from the outside and converts the direction in which the external force acts toward the mounting direction and applies it to the print head, thereby moving the print head substantially linearly toward the mounting direction and supporting the connection between the head-side ink port and the body-side ink port.

[0009] Furthermore, the drawing machine may be equipped with a support mechanism that increases the external force acting from the outside and converts it into a force in the direction of separation, applying it to the print head while the print head's head-side ink port is connected to the main body-side ink port, thereby moving the print head linearly in the direction of separation and assisting in the separation of the head-side ink port and the main body-side ink port.

[0010] With this configuration, when replacing the print head, the user applies an external force to the support mechanism to remove it from the drawing machine body. This external force is amplified and converted into a force in the direction of separation, which is then applied to the print head. This eliminates the need for special jigs or other tools, allowing the print head to be separated from the main unit's ink port and detached from the drawing machine body.

[0011] Furthermore, when attaching the print head to the drawing machine body, the user inputs an external force to the support mechanism, which increases the magnitude of the external force and converts its direction of application to the attachment direction before applying it to the print head. This eliminates the need for special jigs and other equipment, allowing the print head to be attached to the drawing machine body by connecting the ink port on the head side with the ink port on the main unit side. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] As explained above, for example, if the print head malfunctions, it can be easily replaced without the need for special tools or fixtures. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] Figure 1 shows the overall configuration of an inkjet printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a block diagram of an inkjet printing device. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a plan view showing an example of the installation of the drawing machine and inspection machine. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a front view showing an example of the installation of the drawing machine and inspection machine. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a perspective view of the drawing machine from the front. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a perspective view of the drawing machine from above with the top cover removed. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a perspective view showing the absorbent material with the casing removed. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a perspective view showing the state where the ink receiving part is removed. [Figure 9] Figure 9 shows the positional relationship among the print head, the ink receiving part, and the ink tank, and is a view seen from above. [Figure 10] Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of the ink receiving part. [Figure 11] Figure 11 is a view of the drawing machine main body with the print head removed, seen from the front. [Figure 12] Figure 12 is a perspective view of the print head seen from the front. [Figure 13] Figure 13 is a perspective view of the print head seen from the rear. [Figure 14] Figure 14 is a perspective view showing the support structure of the print head. [Figure 15] Figure 15 is a perspective view showing the state where the operating force input part is pulled up. [Figure 16] Figure 16 is a cross-sectional view taken along XVI-XVI in FIG. 6. [Figure 17] Figure 17 is a view corresponding to FIG. 16 showing the state where the operating force input part is pulled up. [Figure 18] Figure 18 is a view corresponding to FIG. 16 showing the state where the operating force input part is at the intermediate position in the vertical direction. [Figure 19] Figure 19 is a view corresponding to FIG. 16 showing the state when the print head is being removed or attached. [Figure 20] Figure 20 is a perspective view of the support mechanism and the print head according to Modification Example 1 of the embodiment. [Figure 21] Figure 21 is a perspective view of the support mechanism and the print head according to Modification Example 2 of the embodiment.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0014] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. The following description of preferred embodiments is essentially illustrative and is not intended to limit the present invention, its applications, or its uses.

[0015] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of an inkjet printing apparatus 1 equipped with a drawing machine 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention during operation, and Figure 2 is a block diagram of the inkjet printing apparatus 1. The inkjet printing apparatus 1 includes, for example, a drawing machine 2, an inspection machine 3, a controller 4, and an operating terminal 5.

[0016] The drawing unit 2 is the part that performs the drawing process on the object to be drawn on, and is configured separately from the controller 4. The inspection unit 3 is the part that determines whether the drawing state performed on the object to be drawn by the drawing unit 2 is good or bad, and is configured separately from the controller 4. The inkjet printing apparatus 1 according to this embodiment is equipped with a drawing unit 2 and an inspection unit 3, and is an inkjet printing apparatus that ejects ink to draw information on an object and determines whether the drawing state is good or bad by imaging.

[0017] Controller 4 is the part that controls the drawing machine 2 and the inspection machine 3, and can also be called a control device, control unit, etc. The operating terminal 5 consists of a personal computer or the like, and is the part in which the user performs tasks such as inputting drawing information, making various settings, selections, and confirmations. The operating terminal 5 includes a terminal-side display unit 5a, which consists of, for example, a liquid crystal display, and a terminal-side operation unit 5b, which consists of a keyboard, mouse, pointing device, etc.

[0018] The above configuration example is just one example, and the present invention is not limited to the above configuration example. That is, the controller 4 may be incorporated into the operation terminal 5 or into the drawing machine 2. Alternatively, the operation terminal 5 may function as the controller 4. Figures 1 and 2 show an external device 6 consisting of a programmable logic controller (PLC) or the like, and this external device 6 is connected to the controller 4 in a communicative manner. Control signals output from the external device 6 are input to the controller 4. The external device 6 may be a device that constitutes part of the inkjet printing device 1, or it may be a device separate from the inkjet printing device 1.

[0019] The inkjet printing device 1 is a device for forming a drawing pattern on a workpiece W (an example of an object to be drawn on) that is conveyed horizontally by a conveyor (an example of a conveying device) 10, and is an in-line device used by being incorporated into a manufacturing line (also called a production line). The conveyor 10 is, for example, a belt conveyor, a roller conveyor, etc. The production line is made up of the conveyor 10. The production line is installed in various factories, warehouses, etc. The drawing machine 2 is fixed so that its relative position to the conveyor 10 is in a predetermined positional relationship.

[0020] During operation of the inkjet printing device 1, multiple workpieces W are placed on the transport surface 10a of the transporter 10 and transported sequentially in the direction of arrow A shown in Figure 1. Therefore, the upstream side in the transport direction is the left side of Figure 1, and the downstream side in the transport direction is the right side of Figure 1. The multiple workpieces W are placed on the transport surface 10a with spacing in the direction of arrow A, which is the transport direction. The direction perpendicular to arrow A and along the transport surface 10a is defined as the width direction.

[0021] Workpiece W is not particularly limited, but could include, for example, packaging materials for packing various products. A typical example of packaging material is cardboard. The inkjet printer 1 draws information on the workpiece W being transported by the conveyor 10, such as characters including numbers, symbols, barcodes, two-dimensional codes, images, marks, illustrations, or combinations thereof. When only characters are drawn, the inkjet printer 1 can be called a printing device, and the drawing device 2 can be called a printer. Furthermore, the drawing of information by the inkjet printer 1 also includes printing images, etc. In this case, the inkjet printer 1 can be called a printing device. In the following explanation, the term "drawing" will be used to include both printing and image printing.

[0022] Furthermore, the controller 4 is connected to an encoder 7 for detecting the position of the workpiece W, and a detection sensor 9, which will be described later. Based on the signals output from the encoder 7 and the detection sensor 9, the controller 4 detects the position of the workpiece W. The controller 4 controls the drawing machine 2 so that drawing begins when the workpiece W reaches a predetermined position.

[0023] (Configuration of drawing machine 2) The drawing machine 2 is a DOD (Drop On Demand) type drawing machine that ejects ink only when necessary for drawing operations. However, it may also be a CIJ (Continuous Ink Jet) type drawing machine that ejects ink even when not performing drawing operations. The following description will explain the case in which a DOD type drawing machine is used as drawing machine 2 in this embodiment.

[0024] As shown in Figure 2, the drawing machine 2 includes an ink supply unit 20, a print head drive unit 21, and a DOD print head (hereinafter referred to as the print head) 22. The drawing machine 2 also includes a drawing machine body 25 (shown in Figure 1) on which the print head 22 is installed. The drawing machine body 25 is fixed to a transporter 10 or the like.

[0025] The print head 22 is fixed inside the drawing machine body 25, and the positional relationship between the drawing machine body 25 and the print head 22 is fixed. The ink supply unit 20 and the print head drive unit 21 are also housed inside the drawing machine body 25.

[0026] The print head 22 of the DOD-type drawing machine 2 is, for example, a component corresponding to the ejection unit, and ejects ink supplied from a removable cartridge 300 toward the workpiece W being transported by the transporter 10. The nozzle group 22a provided on the front end surface of the print head 22 is arranged in the direction of gravity, i.e., vertically. A drawing pattern is formed on the workpiece W by the ink ejected from the nozzle group 22a of the print head 22. There are several types of print head structures, but it may be any of the following, for example, a thermal inkjet type, a valve jet type, or a piezo type. In this embodiment, a piezo type print head is used as the print head 22 because it is capable of drawing from low resolution to high resolution, has a wide drawing width, and has high durability. The ink ejected from the print head 22 flies out of the drawing machine body 25 and adheres to the workpiece W.

[0027] The ink supply unit 20 is the part that supplies ink to the print head 22, and includes an ink tank 20a that houses the ink to be supplied to the print head 22, and a cartridge 300 for replenishing the ink in the ink tank 20a.

[0028] The print head drive unit 21 is controlled by the control unit 40, which will be described later, when performing drawing operations. The print head drive unit 21 generates a drive electrical waveform for driving the print head 22 and outputs it to the print head 22. The drive electrical waveform is a waveform for individually driving the drive elements (piezo oscillators) provided at each ejection port of the print head 22 at timings based on the drawing command output from the control unit 40.

[0029] (Configuration of the inspection machine) Inspection machine 3 is a device that determines the quality of the drawing state of the drawing pattern drawn on the workpiece W based on the drawing data, using an image acquired by imaging the workpiece W, and corresponds to an image inspection unit. Inspection machine 3 can also be called an image inspection device. Inspection machine 3 is installed downstream of drawing machine 2, and is capable of inspecting the drawing state of the workpiece W drawn by drawing machine 2.

[0030] The inspection machine 3 comprises an illumination unit 30, an imaging unit 31, a control unit 32, and a storage unit 33. The illumination unit 30 is composed of, for example, light-emitting diodes, and is controlled by the control unit 32 to emit light at predetermined timings to illuminate the drawn portion of the workpiece W. The imaging unit 31 is a component for capturing images of the drawing pattern formed on the workpiece W and generating an image. This imaging unit 31 includes an optical system 31a that includes a lens that receives light irradiated from the illumination unit 30 and reflected from the surface of the workpiece W, an image sensor 31b that receives light emitted from the optical system 31a, and an AF motor 31c. The AF motor 31c is a component for automatically focusing on the drawn portion of the workpiece W by driving the focusing lens of the optical system 31a. The autofocus method is not particularly limited, and examples include a contrast method.

[0031] The image sensor 31b is composed of, for example, a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) sensor. The image sensor 31b captures an image of the workpiece W to be drawn and generates an image. For example, the light intensity signal of the light-receiving element of the image sensor 31b is output to an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) for processing (not shown in the diagram) and also output to a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) for processing.

[0032] The control unit 32 has an imaging setting unit 32a. The imaging setting unit 32a sets imaging setting parameters and reflects the set imaging setting parameters when imaging the workpiece W. The imaging setting parameters include multiple parameters such as the timing of illumination by the illumination unit 30, brightness (amount of light emitted), exposure time by the imaging unit 31, and focus (focal position) of the imaging unit 31. Although not shown, the GUI for setting imaging setting parameters has areas where the brightness of illumination, exposure time, focus, etc., can be set individually. When the user inputs each parameter on the GUI, the imaging setting unit 32a accepts the setting operation by the user and outputs each parameter to, for example, the storage unit 33 for storage. Each parameter can be read from the storage unit 33 as needed.

[0033] When acquiring image data of the workpiece W, the imaging setting unit 32a outputs imaging setting parameters to the illumination unit 30 and the imaging unit 31. The illumination unit 30 and the imaging unit 31 operate according to the imaging setting parameters. When the illumination unit 30 receives the imaging setting parameters, it sets them within the imaging unit 31 so that the received imaging setting parameters are reflected during imaging. Similarly, when the imaging unit 31 receives the imaging setting parameters, it sets them within the imaging unit 31 so that the received imaging setting parameters are reflected during imaging. When the illumination unit 30 and the imaging unit 31 receive an imaging trigger, they illuminate the workpiece W according to the imaging setting parameters and take images to acquire image data of the workpiece W.

[0034] The control unit 32, for example, causes the imaging unit 31 to image the workpiece W, acquires image data of the workpiece W, and performs an inspection on the acquired image of the workpiece W based on a pre-configured inspection tool. The pass / fail determination unit 32b, located in the control unit 32 of the inspection machine 3, creates an inspection result using the inspection tool and compares it with the inspection conditions. The inspection conditions are obtained from the drawing data generation unit 40b of the controller 4.

[0035] (Integrated fittings) As shown in Figure 1, the inkjet printer 1 is equipped with an integrated fitting 90 for fixing the inspection machine 3 to the drawing machine body 25 which houses the print head 22. The integrated fitting 90 has a part to which the drawing machine body 25 is attached and a part to which the inspection machine 3 is attached. The integrated fitting 90 has a predetermined dimension in the direction of transport of the workpiece W, and when the inspection machine 3 is fixed to the drawing machine body 25 by the integrated fitting 90, the inspection machine 3 and the print head 22 can be positioned at a distance from each other in the direction of transport of the workpiece W, that is, in a fixed position relationship. By fixing the inspection machine 3 to the drawing machine body 25 with the integrated fitting 90, the relative fixed position relationship with the print head 22 is defined.

[0036] Figure 3 is a plan view showing an example of the installation of the drawing machine 2 and the inspection machine 3. When the workpiece W is being transported in the direction of arrow A, the inspection machine 3 can be installed downstream of the drawing machine 2 in the direction of workpiece W transport by providing the integrated fitting 90 as shown by the solid line. On the other hand, when the workpiece W is being transported in the direction of arrow B, opposite to the direction of arrow A, the inspection machine 3 can be installed downstream of the drawing machine 2 in the direction of workpiece W transport by providing the integrated fitting 90 as shown by the dashed line. In addition, by providing both the integrated fitting shown by the solid line and the integrated fitting 90 shown by the dashed line, it is possible to accommodate both the transport directions of arrow A and arrow B.

[0037] Figure 4 shows an example of the installation of the drawing machine 2 and the inspection machine 3, and is a view from the side from which the ink is ejected (front view). As shown in Figure 4, the inspection machine 3 is fixed to the drawing machine body 25 by an integrated fitting 90 such that the vertical center of the drawing area and the vertical center of the field of view of the imaging unit 31 of the inspection machine 3 are at the same height.

[0038] (Detection sensor) As shown in Figure 1, the inkjet printing apparatus 1 is equipped with a detection sensor 9 that detects the arrival of a workpiece W being transported by a transporter 10. The detection sensor 9 is installed upstream of the drawing machine 2 in the transport direction of the workpiece W. The detection sensor 9 is equipped with, for example, an optical motion measuring sensor or a distance sensor (not shown), and these sensors enable the detection of the arrival of the transported workpiece W. When the detection sensor 9 detects the arrival of the workpiece W, it transmits a detection signal to the controller 4. Based on the detection signal output from the detection sensor 9, the controller 4 determines that the workpiece W has arrived at a predetermined position and, after a predetermined drawing delay time has elapsed, causes the drawing machine 2 to start drawing.

[0039] (Controller 4 configuration) As shown in Figure 2, the controller 4 comprises a control unit 40, a storage unit 41, and an operation display unit 42. The control unit 40 is composed of a microcomputer including, for example, a central processing unit and various memories, and is capable of executing pre-stored software. The control unit 40 is provided with a drawing setting unit 40a, a drawing data generation unit 40b, an inspection setting unit 40c, a display screen generation unit 40d, and a mode switching unit 40e. The drawing setting unit 40a, drawing data generation unit 40b, inspection setting unit 40c, display screen generation unit 40d, and mode switching unit 40e of the control unit 40 are parts composed of hardware and software, and for convenience they are described separately as the drawing setting unit 40a, drawing data generation unit 40b, inspection setting unit 40c, display screen generation unit 40d, and mode switching unit 40e, but they may be integrated in hardware.

[0040] The operation display unit 42 includes a controller-side display unit 42a, which is, for example, a liquid crystal display, and a controller-side operation unit 42b, which is, for example, an operation key. The controller-side operation unit 42b is the part that accepts various operations such as drawing content and settings. Various screens generated by the display screen generation unit 40d are displayed on the controller-side display unit 42a, so that the user can operate the controller-side operation unit 42b while looking at the controller-side display unit 42a. The operation status of the controller-side operation unit 42b can be acquired by the control unit 40.

[0041] The controller-side operation unit 42b may be a touch panel. The touch panel is a component capable of detecting operations performed by the user's finger. The type of touch panel is not particularly limited and examples include capacitive touch panels and infrared touch panels. User operation information on the touch panel is transmitted to the control unit 40.

[0042] The drawing setting unit 40a is the part that sets the drawing content to be drawn on the workpiece W to be drawn on. The drawing data generation unit 40b is the part that defines the ejection of ink from the print head 22 and generates drawing data corresponding to the drawing content set in the drawing setting unit 40a. The control unit 40 outputs a control signal to the print head drive unit 21 based on the drawing data generated by the drawing data generation unit 40b, and controls the ejection of ink from the ejection port of the print head 22.

[0043] The inspection setting unit 40c is the part that performs inspection settings by the inspection machine 3. The storage unit 41 is the part that stores the relative fixed position relationship between the inspection machine 3 and the print head 22. Based on the drawing content set by the drawing setting unit 40a and the relative fixed position relationship stored in the storage unit 41, the inspection setting unit 40c assists the user in setting inspection settings.

[0044] (Detailed structure of the drawing machine) Figures 1 to 4 show the approximate shapes of the drawing machine 2, print head 22, drawing machine body 25, cartridge 300, etc. However, the specific shapes of the drawing machine 2, print head 22, drawing machine body 25, cartridge 300, etc. are shown in Figures 5 and onward. The shapes shown in Figures 5 and onward may differ slightly from those shown in Figures 1 to 4, because Figures 1 to 4 are conceptual diagrams.

[0045] As shown in Figure 5, the drawing machine body 25 is equipped with a box-shaped housing 200 that extends in the longitudinal direction. The ink tank 20a shown in Figure 2 is located inside the housing 200 and is not visible from the outside. In the installed state of the drawing machine 2, the longitudinal direction of the housing 200 coincides with the width direction of the conveyor 10. In this specification, the longitudinal direction of the housing 200 is defined as the front-to-back direction, and the side facing the workpiece W during installation is defined as the front. Also, the side located to the right when viewing the drawing machine 2 from the front is defined as the right side, the side located to the left when viewing the drawing machine 2 from the front is defined as the left side, and the left-to-right direction of the drawing machine 2 is defined as the width direction. This definition of direction is for the convenience of explanation and does not limit the directions according to the present invention.

[0046] As shown in Figure 5, the housing 200 has a shape that is close to a rectangular parallelepiped, with a long front-to-back orientation. Therefore, the front-to-back dimension of the housing 200 is longer than the left-to-right dimension and the up-to-down dimension of the housing 200.

[0047] Because the housing 200 has a shape close to a rectangular parallelepiped, the outer surface of the housing 200 includes six surfaces. Specifically, the outer surface of the housing 200 includes a front surface 201 positioned facing the workpiece W, a rear surface 202 located opposite the front surface 201, a right side surface 203 located to the right when viewed from the direction facing the front surface 201, a left side surface 204 located to the left when viewed from the direction facing the front surface 201, a top surface 205, and a bottom surface 206. The front surface 201, rear surface 202, right side surface 203, and left side surface 204 are surfaces that constitute the outer surface of the housing 200. One end surface in the longitudinal direction of the outer surface of the housing 200 is the front surface 201, and the other end surface in the longitudinal direction of the outer surface of the housing 200 is the rear surface 202. A print head 22 for ejecting ink toward the workpiece W being transported is provided on the front surface 201. The front surface 201 may also be called the front, or the rear surface 202 may be called the back.

[0048] As shown in Figure 5, the drawing machine 2 is equipped with a removable upper cover 230 attached to the drawing machine body 25. Figure 6 shows the state with the upper cover 230 removed. The drawing machine 2 is equipped with an absorbent 240 (shown only in Figure 6) for absorbing ink leaked from the print head 22, and a casing 241 that houses the absorbent 240. The absorbent 240 is made of sponge, fiber, or the like.

[0049] The casing 241 has a vertically elongated shape and is detachably mounted on the front surface 201 of the housing 200 to the left of the print head 22. Figure 7 shows the casing 241 removed from the drawing machine body 25 and moved forward. As shown in Figure 7, the casing 241 alone can be removed from the drawing machine body 25 and replaced without removing the upper cover 230. In other words, the casing 241 that houses the absorber 240 is a replaceable part.

[0050] The absorber 240 is provided on only one side of the drawing machine body 25, either the left or the right. In this example, the casing 241 housing the absorber 240 is provided on the left side of the drawing machine body 25, so the absorber 240 is not provided on the right side of the drawing machine body 25. For this reason, a box-shaped member 242 that does not house the absorber 240 is detachably provided on the right side of the drawing machine body 25. The shape of the box-shaped member 242 is symmetrical to that of the casing 241. If the absorber 240 is to be provided on the left side of the drawing machine body 25, the casing 241 housing the absorber 240 should be detachably provided on the left side of the drawing machine body 25, and the box-shaped member 242 should be detachably provided on the right side.

[0051] Below the print head 22 in the drawing machine body 25, there is an ink receiving section 245 having a liquid delivery structure for guiding ink leaked from the print head 22 to an absorber 240. The ink receiving section 245 is detachably provided at the bottom of the front surface 201 of the drawing machine body 25. Figure 8 shows the state in which the casing 241 and box-shaped member 242 and the ink receiving section 245 have been removed from the drawing machine body 25, and the ink receiving section 245 has been moved forward.

[0052] As shown in Figure 9, the ink receiving section 245 is formed to extend to the left and right below the print head 22, and as a whole, it has a concave shape that opens upward. Above the left side of the ink receiving section 245 is a casing 241 that houses the absorber 240, while above the right side of the ink receiving section 245 is a box-shaped member 242. As shown in Figure 10, the bottom surface 245a of the ink receiving section 245 slopes downward from the center in the left-right direction toward the left. This allows ink leaking from the print head 22 to be received by the bottom surface 245a of the ink receiving section 245 and then flow to the left side, i.e., the side where the absorber 240 is located, so that the ink can be reliably absorbed by the absorber 240. If the absorber 240 is located on the right side, an ink receiving section 245 with a bottom surface 245a that slopes in the opposite direction can be installed.

[0053] Figure 9 shows the positional relationship between the ink tank 20a and the print head 22. The ink tank 20a is installed at the bottom of the drawing machine body 25. As shown in Figure 9, in a plan view, the ink tank 20a is positioned behind the print head 22, and to the left and right of the print head 22, but not in front of the print head 22. In other words, in a plan view, the ink tank 20a is provided to surround the portion of the print head 22 other than the side with the nozzle group 22a. To put it another way, it is provided to surround at least two of the three sides of the print head 22 other than the side with the nozzle group 22a.

[0054] As shown in Figure 6, the drawing machine 2 is equipped with an operation button 250. The operation button 250 is a component that receives user instructions for controlling the drawing machine 2. There may be one operation button 250 or two or more. The operation button 250 is located on the upper part of the rear surface 202 of the housing 200, on the opposite side from the print head 22. This allows the user to operate the operation button 250 from the opposite side of the transport machine 10, resulting in good operability. Examples of operation buttons 250 include a test button operated when performing a test drawing, and a cleaning button operated when cleaning the drawing machine 2, but they may be buttons that perform any function.

[0055] The drawing machine 2 is equipped with a waste liquid bottle 251. The waste liquid bottle 251 is located on the rear surface 202 of the housing 200, on the opposite side from the print head 22. The waste liquid bottle 251 is a container for storing ink supplied from the ink tank 20a to the print head 22 that was not discharged toward the workpiece W. The ink inlet (not shown), which is the opening of the waste liquid bottle 251, is located at the top of the waste liquid bottle 251 and is formed at a position higher than the liquid level of the ink contained in the ink tank 20a (shown in Figure 9). The ink supplied to the print head 22 that was not discharged toward the workpiece W is supplied to the opening of the waste liquid bottle 251 by the supply unit, and then flows into the interior of the waste liquid bottle 251 from the opening. The waste liquid bottle 251 is configured to be detachable from the drawing machine body 25, so that the ink inside the waste liquid bottle 251 can be discharged as needed.

[0056] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 6 with the top cover 230 removed, the upper side of the drawing machine body 25 is equipped with an air filter 260 for filtering the air drawn into the drawing machine body 25, a spirit level 261, and a hand valve 262 for manually opening and closing the internal piping. The air filter 260, spirit level 261, and hand valve 262 are arranged in a front-to-back direction. When the top cover 230 is attached to the drawing machine body 25, the air filter 260, spirit level 261, and hand valve 262 are covered by the top cover 230 and become invisible from the outside.

[0057] The drawing machine body 25 detachably holds the print head 22. Figure 11 is a front perspective view of the drawing machine body 25 with the print head 22, the casing 241 housing the absorber 240, the box-shaped member 242, and the ink receiving section 245 removed. As shown in Figure 11, a head housing section 400 is formed in the middle of the drawing machine body 25 in the left-right direction, where the installed print head 22 is housed. The front end of the head housing section 400 has a mounting opening 400a for inserting and attaching the print head 22. This mounting opening 400a is located on the front surface of the drawing machine body 25, between the part where the casing 241 housing the absorber 240 is attached and the part where the box-shaped member 242 is attached. The print head 22 may be housed in the head housing 400, with the entire print head 22 contained within the head housing 400, or the front portion of the print head 22 may be exposed to the outside of the head housing 400 through the mounting opening 400a.

[0058] The vertical dimension of the head housing 400 is set to be longer than the horizontal dimension; therefore, the head housing 400 has a vertically elongated shape. To correspond to this shape of the head housing 400, the mounting opening 400a also has a vertically elongated shape.

[0059] Figures 12 and 13 show the print head 22. The print head 22 is box-shaped and housed in the head housing 400. The relationship between the vertical dimension and the horizontal dimension of the print head 22 is similar to the relationship between the vertical dimension and the horizontal dimension of the head housing 400, with the vertical dimension being set to be relatively longer.

[0060] The print head 22 is inserted into the mounting opening 400a from its rear end. On the front side of the print head 22, opposite to the insertion direction, a flange portion 22A is formed to protrude upward, downward, to the right, and to the left. The flange portion 22A of the print head 22 is located outside the mounting opening 400a. Since the nozzle group 22a is provided on the front end surface of the print head 22, the nozzle group 22a is located outside the mounting opening 400a of the drawing machine body 25 when the print head 22 is attached to the drawing machine body 25.

[0061] A head-side ink port 22c is provided on the rear end surface 22b of the print head 22, that is, on the side opposite to the side where the nozzle group 22a is provided. The head-side ink port 22c protrudes from the rear end surface 22b of the print head 22. There may be one head-side ink port 22c or two or more. In this embodiment, the case in which three head-side ink ports 22c are provided will be described. The head-side ink ports 22c are arranged in a single row with spacing between them in the vertical direction of the print head 22. One of the head-side ink ports 22c is a port for receiving ink from an ink tank 20a provided in the drawing machine body 25.

[0062] The rear end surface 22b of the print head 22 is provided with a head-side electrical connection part 22d, which is connected to the main unit-side electrical connection part (described later) of the drawing machine body 25. The head-side electrical connection part 22d is composed of, for example, conductive electrical terminals or connectors, and protrudes toward the rear, similar to the head-side ink port 22c.

[0063] The head-side electrical connection section 22d is located to the side of the head-side ink port 22c. Specifically, the head-side ink port 22c is arranged vertically on the left side of the rear end surface 22b of the print head 22, while the head-side electrical connection section 22d is located on the right side of the rear end surface 22b of the print head 22. By arranging the head-side electrical connection section 22d and the head-side ink port 22c separately on the left and right sides, even if ink leaks from the head-side ink port 22c, it is less likely to adhere to the head-side electrical connection section 22d. Alternatively, the head-side ink port 22c may be located on the right side of the rear end surface 22b of the print head 22, and the head-side electrical connection section 22d may be located on the left side of the rear end surface 22b of the print head 22.

[0064] Furthermore, although not shown in the diagram, the head-side electrical connection part 22d may be positioned above the head-side ink port 22c. This makes it less likely for ink to adhere to the head-side electrical connection part 22d even if it leaks from the head-side ink port 22c.

[0065] A wall portion 22e is provided on the rear end surface 22b of the print head 22, between the head-side electrical connection portion 22d and the head-side ink port 22c. The wall portion 22e is a portion that separates the area on the rear end surface 22b of the print head 22 where the head-side electrical connection portion 22d is located from the area where the head-side ink port 22c is located. As a result, even if ink leaks from the head-side ink port 22c, the wall portion 22e prevents that ink from flowing toward the head-side electrical connection portion 22d. Note that the wall portion 22e may be provided only if necessary.

[0066] As shown in Figure 11, the rear side surface 401 located at the back of the head housing 400 is provided with a main body side ink port 401c that connects to the head side ink port 22c. In this embodiment, since the head side ink port 22c is located on the left side, the main body side ink port 401c is also located on the left side of the rear side surface 401. The head side ink port 22c and the main body side ink port 401c are connected by one being inserted into the other by a predetermined distance. In this embodiment, since the head side ink port 22c protrudes from the rear end surface 22b of the print head 22, when connecting, the head side ink port 22c is inserted into the main body side ink port 401c by a predetermined distance. By inserting the head side ink port 22c into the main body side ink port 401c by a predetermined distance, the head side ink port 22c and the main body side ink port 401c are connected, and ink leakage from both ports 22c and 401c is suppressed. Furthermore, the main unit's ink port 401c may be made to protrude from the rear side 401, and when connecting, the main unit's ink port 401c may be inserted into the print head's ink port 22c by a predetermined distance.

[0067] An electrical connection part 401d for the main body is provided on the rear side surface 401 of the head housing section 400. In this embodiment, since the head-side electrical connection part 22d is provided on the right side, the main body-side electrical connection part 401d is also provided on the right side of the rear side surface 401. The main body-side electrical connection part 401d is composed of, for example, conductive electrical terminals or connectors, similar to the head-side electrical connection part 22d. For example, one of the main body-side electrical connection part 401d and the head-side electrical connection part 22d may be composed of a male connector and the other of a female connector. In this case, similar to the connection between the main body-side ink port 401c and the head-side ink port 22c, an electrical connection can be made by inserting one into the other by a predetermined distance.

[0068] The print head drive unit 21 shown in Figure 2 is a power supply unit that supplies power to the print head 22 for ejecting ink. The print head drive unit 21 and the print head 22 are connected by the main unit side electrical connection part 401d and the head side electrical connection part 22d, and the power output from the print head drive unit 21 is supplied to the print head 22 via the main unit side electrical connection part 401d and the head side electrical connection part 22d. In other words, when the print head 22 is housed in the head housing part 400 and attached to the drawing machine main unit 25, the electrical connection for supplying power from the print head drive unit 21 to the print head 22 is formed.

[0069] The control unit 40 of the controller 4 is equipped with a reception unit 40f that receives various instructions from the user. When the print head 22 needs to be replaced due to a malfunction or maintenance, the user executes a maintenance instruction to replace the print head 22 by operating, for example, the controller-side operation unit 42b. The user's maintenance instruction is received by the reception unit 40f. When the reception unit 40f receives the user's maintenance instruction, the control unit 40 cuts off the power supply from the print head drive unit 21 to the print head 22 via the electrical connection. This allows the print head 22 to be removed safely.

[0070] Figure 14 is a perspective view showing the support structure of the print head 22. Specifically, a support frame 410 is provided inside the head housing 400. Although Figure 14 shows the support frame 410 removed from the head housing 400, in reality, the support frame 410 is housed inside the head housing 400 and fixed inside the drawing machine body 25. When the print head 22 is housed in the head housing 400, the rear portion of the print head 22 is inserted into the support frame 410.

[0071] The support frame 410 is shaped to surround the rear portion of the print head 22 and has an upper plate portion 411, a lower plate portion 412, and left and right side plate portions 413 (only the left side is shown). The upper plate portion 411 is provided with an upper pressing member 415 that protrudes into the support frame 410 and abuts against the upper surface of the print head 22 inserted into the support frame 410, pressing the upper surface of the print head 22 downward. The left side plate portion 413 is provided with a left pressing member 416 that protrudes into the support frame 410 and abuts against the left side of the print head 22 inserted into the support frame 410, pressing the left side of the print head 22 to the right. Although not shown, the lower plate portion 412 is provided with a lower pressing member that protrudes into the support frame 410 and abuts against the lower surface of the print head 22 inserted into the support frame 410, pressing the lower surface of the print head 22 upward. Furthermore, the right side plate is provided with a right-side pressing member that protrudes into the support frame 410 and contacts the right side surface of the print head 22 inserted into the support frame 410, pressing the right side surface of the print head 22 to the left. The upper pressing member 415, the left-side pressing member 416, the lower pressing member, and the right-side pressing member are made of elastic material such as a leaf spring. Although not shown, a pressing member that presses the rear surface (rear end surface 22d) of the print head 22 is also provided inside the head housing 400.

[0072] As the print head 22 is inserted into the support frame 410 in this manner, it is pressed from at least four directions (up, down, left, and right), eliminating any wobbling of the print head 22. Therefore, it is possible to prevent ink shaft wobble caused by the wobbling of the print head 22 and improve drawing accuracy.

[0073] Furthermore, the support frame 410, which includes the upper pressing member 415, the left pressing member 416, the lower pressing member, and the right pressing member, functions as a guide that guides the print head 22 so that it can slide in the attachment / detachment direction. For example, when the print head 22 is moved in the attachment direction, the print head 22 slides relative to the upper pressing member 415, the left pressing member 416, the lower pressing member, and the right pressing member, and is guided towards the back of the head housing 400. On the other hand, when the print head 22 is moved in the removal direction, the print head 22 slides relative to the upper pressing member 415, the left pressing member 416, the lower pressing member, and the right pressing member, and can be removed from the head housing 400. The guiding direction of the support frame 410 is such that the head-side ink port 22c of the print head 22 inserted from the mounting opening 401a approaches the main body-side ink port 401c, and the head-side electrical connection part 22d approaches the main body-side electrical connection part 401d. The guide part may be composed of members other than the support frame 410, or another guide part may be provided in addition to the support frame 410.

[0074] Since the drawing machine 2 in this embodiment is a drop-on-demand type drawing machine, the diameters of the ink ports 22c on the head side and 401c on the main unit side are set to be large in order to reduce the flow resistance of the ink from the drawing machine body 25 to the print head 22. Therefore, when a user tries to remove the print head 22 from the drawing machine body 25, a large amount of force is required. Similarly, when a user tries to attach the print head 22 to the drawing machine body 25, a large amount of force is also required. Furthermore, even in drawing machines that are not drop-on-demand type, there is a demand to minimize the force required when removing or attaching the print head 22.

[0075] As shown in Figures 15 to 19, the drawing machine 2 of this embodiment is equipped with a support mechanism 450 that assists the user in attaching and detaching the print head 22. When the print head 22 is attached, the support mechanism 450 increases the external force acting from the outside and converts it into a force in the mounting direction, applying it to the print head 22 while the head-side ink port 22c of the print head 22, guided by the support frame 410, is approaching or in contact with the main unit-side ink port 401c. This assists in linearly moving the print head 22 in the mounting direction and in connecting the head-side ink port 22c and the main unit-side ink port 401c.

[0076] On the other hand, when removing the print head 22, the support mechanism 450 increases the magnitude of the external force acting from the outside and changes the direction of the external force to the detachment direction while the print head 22's head-side ink port 22c is connected to the main unit-side ink port 401c, and applies this force to the print head 22, thereby moving the print head 22 linearly in the detachment direction and separating the head-side ink port 22c from the main unit-side ink port 401c.

[0077] Furthermore, while the support mechanism 450 moves the print head 22 in a straight line, this movement does not have to be strictly linear; it is sufficient if it is roughly linear along the mounting or detachment direction. For example, a circular arc movement that is close to a straight line is also acceptable.

[0078] The support mechanism 450 moves the print head 22 linearly independently of the casing 241 housing the absorber 240, the box-shaped member 242, and the ink receiving section 245 when moving the print head 22 linearly. In other words, the support mechanism 450 is a mechanism for moving only the print head 22 linearly, and does not move other replaceable parts (such as the casing 241), so other replaceable parts can remain attached to the drawing machine body 25, making it easy to replace the print head 22. In other words, the print head 22 that needs replacing can be selectively replaced without replacing other replaceable parts that are provided on the front end surface of the drawing machine body 25 and which need to be replaced at different frequencies than the print head 22.

[0079] The following describes a specific example of the support mechanism 450. The support mechanism 450 uses locking pins 22h provided on the print head 22 to move the print head 22 in a straight line. As shown in Figure 12, the left locking pin 22h of the print head 22 protrudes to the left from the middle of the left side in the vertical direction and is positioned in front of the support frame 410, as shown in Figure 14. Also, as shown in Figure 13, the right locking pin 22h of the print head 22 protrudes to the right from the middle of the right side in the vertical direction and is positioned in front of the support frame 410, similar to the left locking pin 22h. The height and front-to-back position of the left and right locking pins 22h are set to be the same.

[0080] Figure 6 shows the support mechanism 450 with the print head 22 fully installed. On the other hand, Figure 15 shows the support mechanism 450 with the head-side ink port 22c and the main unit-side ink port 401c separated. As shown in Figure 15, the support mechanism 450 includes an operating force input section 451 for inputting operating force, and a left plate member 452 and a right plate member 453 that extend in the vertical direction. The left plate member 452 and the right plate member 453 are provided separately from the drawing machine body 25. The left plate member 452 and the right plate member 453 are supported by the drawing machine body 25 so that they can move only in the vertical direction, and do not move in the front-back direction relative to the drawing machine body 25. Note that only one of the left plate member 452 and the right plate member 453 may be provided.

[0081] The operating force input section 451 connects the upper part of the left plate 452 and the upper part of the right plate 453, integrating the left plate 452 and the right plate 453. A knob 451a for the user to grasp is provided on the upper part of the operating force input section 451, protruding upward. As shown in Figure 5, when the upper cover 230 is attached, the operating force input section 451 is covered by the upper cover 230. Therefore, the user cannot touch the operating force input section 451 during normal operation. The operating force input section 451 may also be exposed to the outside of the upper cover 230.

[0082] As shown in Figure 16, the right plate material 453 is provided so as to follow the right side of the print head 22 when it is mounted. A groove 453a extending in the vertical direction is formed in the right plate material 453, and the right locking pin 22h of the print head 22 is positioned inside the groove 453a. The groove 453a is inclined so that it is positioned further forward towards the bottom. The lower part of the groove 453a is open to the front, and the right locking pin 22h of the print head 22 can be inserted into the groove 453a through this opening, and the locking pin 22h inside the groove 453a can be brought out to the outside. A slit or the like may be provided instead of the groove 453a.

[0083] As shown in Figure 17, when the user pulls the operating force input unit 451 up to the upper limit position, the right plate member 453 moves upward. Figure 18 shows the operating force input unit 451 stopped midway between the upper limit position and the lower limit position (shown in Figure 16). In this way, by moving the operating force input unit 451 in the vertical direction, the right plate member 453 can also be moved in the vertical direction.

[0084] The drawing machine body 25 is provided with a right side wall portion 25a positioned on the front side of the right plate material 453. The right side wall portion 25a has a notch 25b formed in the middle in the vertical direction. The notch 25b is elongated in the front-to-back direction and opens towards the front of the right side wall portion 25a and also towards the rear of the right side wall portion 25a. As shown in Figure 17, when the operating force input portion 451 is raised to the upper end position and the right plate material 453 moves upward, the height of the open portion of the groove 453a and the height of the notch 25b of the right side wall portion 25a coincide with the height of the locking pin 22h. As a result, as shown in Figure 19, the open portion of the groove 453a and the notch 25b of the right side wall 25a are continuous in the front-rear direction. For example, the locking pin 22h, which was inside the groove 453a, can be moved forward and inserted into the notch 25b of the right side wall 25a from the open portion of the groove 453a. After that, it can be brought out of the head housing 400 from the front of the notch 25b, so that the print head 22 can be removed from the head housing 400. Alternatively, when housing the print head 22 in the head housing 400, the locking pin 22h can be inserted into the notch 25b of the right side wall 25a from outside the head housing 400, and then inserted into the groove 453a through the open portion of the groove 453a. Although not shown, the left side is configured similarly to the right side, with a groove formed in the left plate material 452 and a notch formed in the left side wall.

[0085] As shown in Figure 17, when the print head 22 is housed in the head housing 400, the locking pin 22h passes through the notch 25b in the right side wall 25a and reaches the open portion of the groove 453a. In this state, the print head's ink port 22c is only approaching or in contact with the main body's ink port 401c, and the print head's ink port 22c and the main body's ink port 401c are not connected. Since the print head's ink port 22c and the main body's ink port 401c are not yet connected, the user can insert the print head 22 into the head housing 400 with little force until the locking pin 22h enters the open portion of the groove 453a.

[0086] From the state shown in Figure 17, the user pushes the operating force input unit 451 downwards. As a result, the right plate 453 moves only downwards and not in the front-to-back direction, and because the groove 453a is shaped to be further back as it goes higher, a force is applied to the locking pin 22h toward the rear. At this time, the shape of the groove 453a is set so that the amount of movement of the locking pin 22h toward the rear is less than the amount of movement of the right plate 453 toward the rear, so the force acting on the locking pin 22h is an amplified force from the force applied by the user. This allows the print head 22 to move linearly toward the rear, which is the mounting direction, and connect the head-side ink port 22c and the main body-side ink port 401c. The support mechanism 450 amplifies the force applied by the user and acts on the print head 22, so it can also be called, for example, a force amplification mechanism.

[0087] The support mechanism 450 is configured to move the print head 22 linearly backward by a predetermined dimension or more before the operating force input unit 451 is pushed down to its lowered end position. As described above, the predetermined dimension is the dimension required to insert one into the other when connecting the head-side ink port 22c and the main unit-side ink port 401c. By moving the print head 22 linearly by a predetermined dimension or more, the head-side ink port 22c and the main unit-side ink port 401c can be reliably connected. When connecting the head-side ink port 22c and the main unit-side ink port 401c, the user only needs to push down the operating force input unit 451, which can be easily done by, for example, applying body weight.

[0088] On the other hand, when removing the installed print head 22, the user performs an operation to pull up the operating force input unit 451 located in the position shown in Figure 16. Then, as shown in Figure 18, the right plate material 453 moves only upward, applying a forward force to the locking pin 22h located in the groove 453a. At this time, the force acting on the locking pin 22h becomes a force amplified by the force applied by the user, causing the print head 22 to move linearly forward in the direction of detachment, separating the head-side ink port 22c from the main body-side ink port 401c. The support mechanism 450 is configured to move the print head 22 linearly forward by a predetermined distance or more before the operating force input unit 451 is pulled up to the upper end position. This ensures that the head-side ink port 22c is reliably separated from the main body-side ink port 401c. After separating the print head ink port 22c from the main unit ink port 401c, the user can easily remove the print head 22 from the head housing 400 by moving the locking pin 22h forward with minimal force until it reaches the notch 25b from the open portion of the groove 453a.

[0089] The right plate material 453 constituting the support mechanism 450 has a groove 453a into which the locking pin 22h of the print head 22 engages. The relationship between the shape of the groove 453a and the direction of movement of the right plate material 453 is an example of a conversion member that converts an external force acting from the outside into a force in the direction of ink ejection by the nozzle group 22a and applies it to the print head 22. More specifically, the shape of the groove 453a allows a force in a direction substantially perpendicular to the attachment / detachment direction of the print head 22 (up and down direction) to be converted into a force in the attachment / detachment direction. Such a structure can be called a wedge structure, and the support mechanism 450 according to this embodiment is provided with a wedge structure. In this embodiment, the external force acting from the outside is an operating force by the user, but it is not limited to this, and may be an external force applied by various actuators.

[0090] Figure 20 is a perspective view of the support mechanism 460 and print head 22 according to Modification 1 of the embodiment. In this Modification 1, input sections 22f are provided on the left and right sides of the print head 22, respectively. The support mechanism 460 of Modification 1 comprises a swing lever 461, a support shaft 462, and a contact section 463. The swing lever 461 is shaped to correspond to the shape of the front surface of the print head 22 and has a vertically elongated frame shape. The support shaft 462 extends horizontally and is a member that swingably supports the upper part of the swing lever 461 relative to the drawing machine body 25 (not shown in Figure 20). The contact sections 463 are provided on both the left and right sides of the swing lever 461, in the middle of the vertical direction. The height of the contact sections 463 is set to match the height of the input section 22f of the print head 22.

[0091] When installing the print head 22, with the print head's ink port 22c approaching or in contact with the main unit's ink port 401c, the user swings the swing lever 461 from the position shown in Figure 20 in the direction of arrow 460A to press the contact portion 463 against the input portion 22f. This increases the external force acting on the print head 22 through the principle of leverage, and this force is then input to the input portion 22f. Furthermore, this external force is converted into a force in the direction of installation of the print head 22 and input to the input portion 22f. This allows the print head 22 to move linearly in the installation direction, supporting the connection between the print head's ink port 22c and the main unit's ink port 401c.

[0092] Figure 21 is a perspective view of the support mechanism 470 and print head 22 according to a modified example 2 of the embodiment. The support mechanism 470 of this modified example 2 comprises a rack 471, a pinion gear 472, and a drive gear 473. The rack 471 extends long in the front-rear direction and is fixed to the left side of the print head 22. The multiple teeth of the rack 471 are arranged in the front-rear direction of the print head 22. The pinion gear 472 is positioned to mesh with the teeth of the rack 471 and is rotatably supported around an axis 471a that extends vertically relative to the drawing machine body 25 (not shown in Figure 20). The drive gear 473 is a gear for transmitting rotational force to the pinion gear 472, and is positioned to mesh with the pinion gear 472 and is rotatably supported around an input axis 473a that extends vertically relative to the drawing machine body 25. The input shaft 473a is configured to receive rotational force as an external force. This rotational force may be input by the user or by a motor or the like. Alternatively, the pinion gear 472 may be rotated directly by the external force.

[0093] The rotational force applied to the input shaft 473a is reduced in speed via the pinion gear 472 and then input to the rack 471. This increases the rotational force applied to the print head 22. By rotating the input shaft 473a in one direction, the print head 22 can be moved linearly in the mounting direction, assisting in the connection between the head-side ink port 22c and the main unit-side ink port 401c. On the other hand, by rotating the input shaft 473a in the other direction, the print head 22 can be moved linearly in the detachment direction, separating the head-side ink port 22c and the main unit-side ink port 401c.

[0094] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative in all respects and should not be interpreted restrictively. Furthermore, any modifications or changes within the equivalent scope of the claims are all within the scope of the present invention. In this embodiment, the print head 22 is configured to be inserted into the drawing machine body 25 from the front to the rear, but it is not limited to this. For example, the print head 22 may be moved from above to below the drawing machine body 25 for mounting, or moved from one side to the other in the left-right direction for mounting. The support mechanisms 450, 460, and 470 should be configured to match the mounting direction of the print head 22. For example, when the print head 22 is moved from above to below the drawing machine body 25 for mounting, the linear movement direction should be the up-down direction, and when the print head 22 is moved from one side to the other in the left-right direction of the drawing machine body 25 for mounting, the linear movement direction should be the left-right direction. [Industrial applicability]

[0095] As explained above, the drawing machine relating to this disclosure can be used, for example, to draw information on an object to be drawn on that is transported by a transporter. [Explanation of symbols]

[0096] 2 drawing machine 20a Ink Tank 22 printheads 22a Nozzle group 22c print head side ink port 22d Head-side electrical connection 22e wall 25 Drawing machine main unit 241 Casing (replacement part) 400 Head housing 401a Mounting port 401c main unit ink port 410 Support frame (guide section) 415 Pressing member 450 Support Organization

Claims

1. A drawing machine that ejects ink for drawing information onto an object to be drawn on, which is transported by a conveyor, An ink tank that holds the ink, A print head having a head-side ink port for receiving ink from the aforementioned ink tank, and a group of nozzles for ejecting the ink supplied through the head-side ink port toward an object being transported for printing, The drawing machine body has an ink tank located inside, a body-side ink port connected to the head-side ink port, and a print head that can be detachably held. A guide portion provided on the drawing machine body, which guides the print head so that it can slide in the attachment / detachment direction, A drawing machine comprising: an assisting mechanism that, when the print head guided by the guide portion is approaching or in contact with the main body ink port, increases the magnitude of an external force acting from the outside and converts the direction in which the external force acts to the print head to the mounting direction, thereby moving the print head substantially linearly in the mounting direction and assisting the connection between the print head ink port and the main body ink port.

2. A drawing machine that ejects ink for drawing information onto an object to be drawn on, which is transported by a conveyor, An ink tank that holds the ink, A print head having a head-side ink port for receiving ink from the aforementioned ink tank, and a group of nozzles for ejecting the ink supplied through the head-side ink port toward an object being transported for printing, The drawing machine body has an ink tank located inside, a body-side ink port connected to the head-side ink port, and a print head that can be detachably held. A guide portion provided on the drawing machine body, which guides the print head so that it can slide in the attachment / detachment direction, A drawing machine comprising: an assisting mechanism that, while the print head's head-side ink port is connected to the main body-side ink port, increases an external force acting from the outside and converts it into a force in the direction of separation, applying it to the print head, thereby moving the print head linearly in the direction of separation and assisting in the separation of the head-side ink port and the main body-side ink port.

3. In the drawing machine according to claim 1, The outer surface of the drawing machine body has an opening for inserting and mounting the print head. The guide portion guides the print head, which has been inserted through the mounting opening, so that the print head's ink port approaches the main body's ink port. The nozzle group provided on the front end surface of the print head is positioned outside the mounting opening of the drawing machine body when the print head is attached to the drawing machine body.

4. In the drawing machine described in claim 3, The system further includes a replacement member that is detachably provided on the outer surface having the aforementioned mounting opening, The support mechanism is a drawing machine that moves the print head independently of the replacement member.

5. In the drawing machine according to claim 1, The ink tank is provided so as to surround at least two of the three sides of the print head other than the side having the nozzle group, in a plan view, in a drawing machine.

6. In the drawing machine according to claim 1, The nozzle group is provided on the side of the print head opposite to the head-side ink port. The aforementioned support mechanism is provided separately from the drawing machine body and includes a conversion member that converts an external force acting from the outside into a force in the direction of ink ejection by the nozzle group and applies it to the print head.

7. In the drawing machine according to claim 6, The drawing machine is provided with a wedge structure in the support mechanism that converts a force in a direction substantially perpendicular to the attachment / detachment direction into a force in the attachment / detachment direction.

8. In the drawing machine according to claim 1, The power supply unit provides power for the print head to eject ink, A reception unit that receives maintenance instructions for replacing the print head, Equipped with, A drawing machine in which, with the print head attached to the drawing machine body, an electrical connection is formed to supply power from the power supply unit to the print head, and when the reception unit receives the maintenance instruction, the power supply from the power supply unit to the print head via the electrical connection is cut off.

9. In the drawing machine according to claim 1, The ink port on the print head and the ink port on the main body are connected by one being inserted into the other by a predetermined distance. The support mechanism is a drawing machine that moves the print head in a straight line by a predetermined distance or more.

10. In the drawing machine according to claim 1, The print head has a head-side electrical connection on the side with the head-side ink port, which is connected to the main unit-side electrical connection of the drawing machine body. The drawing machine wherein the head-side electrical connection part is located above or to the side of the head-side ink port.

11. In the drawing machine according to claim 10, A drawing machine in which a wall is provided between the head-side electrical connection part and the head-side ink port.

12. In the drawing machine according to claim 1, The drawing machine body is provided with a head housing section in which the print head is housed in its installed state. A drawing machine in which a pressing member is provided inside the head housing for pressing the outer surface of the print head.

Images