Recording device

Abstract

This suppresses the adhesion of mist to the linear encoder scale. [Solution] A recording device 1 comprising: a transport unit 29 for transporting a medium M; a recording head 27 for ejecting ink onto the medium M for recording; a carriage 26 on which the recording head 27 is mounted and which moves back and forth in the scanning direction; a blower unit 101 for blowing air toward the recording head 27; a detection unit 110 located upstream of the carriage 26 in the transport direction A and between the blower unit 101 and the recording head 27 in the air blowing direction F by the blower unit 101 for detecting the position of the carriage 26 in the scanning direction; a housing 12; and a cover 100 that covers the linear encoder scale 111 of the detection unit 110 so as to block the air blown by the blower unit 101.

Description

【Technical Field】 【0001】 The present invention relates to a recording apparatus. 【Background Art】 【0002】 Conventionally, various recording apparatuses have been used, which include a conveyance unit that conveys a medium, and a carriage that mounts a recording head for discharging and recording ink and reciprocates in a scanning direction. Among these, there is a recording apparatus provided with a linear encoder scale and a linear encoder sensor for detecting the position of the carriage. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an image forming apparatus including a conveyance roller that conveys a medium, a carriage that mounts a recording head and reciprocates in a scanning direction, a linear encoder scale and a linear encoder sensor, and further including an air flow path capable of circulating air from a communication port to a ventilation port, and a fan that forms an air flow. 【Prior Art Documents】 【Patent Documents】 【0003】 【Patent Document 1】 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-237172 【Summary of the Invention】 【Problems to be Solved by the Invention】 【0004】 In conventional recording devices equipped with a linear encoder scale, such as those described in Patent Document 1, if the linear encoder scale becomes contaminated with ink mist, it becomes difficult to accurately detect the position of the carriage. If the carriage position cannot be accurately detected, the quality of the image formed on the medium may deteriorate. Therefore, the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1 attempts to suppress the adhesion of mist to the linear encoder scale by providing an air passage and a fan. However, in configurations where the transport section is provided across the entire width (scanning direction), it is difficult to form a communication opening at the desired position. For this reason, it has been difficult to suppress the adhesion of mist to the linear encoder scale, especially in large devices. It is also conceivable to isolate the recording head and the linear encoder scale by providing them in separate rooms, but such a configuration would increase the size and complexity of the device, making it impractical in many cases. [Means for solving the problem] 【0005】 The present invention, which solves the above problems, is characterized by comprising: a transport unit that transports a medium in a transport direction; a recording head that records an image by ejecting ink onto the medium transported by the transport unit; a carriage on which the recording head is mounted and which moves back and forth in a scanning direction intersecting the transport direction; a blower unit that blows air toward the recording head; a linear encoder scale and a linear encoder sensor located upstream of the carriage in the transport direction and between the blower unit and the recording head in the direction of air blowing by the blower unit, for detecting the position of the carriage in the scanning direction; a housing that houses the carriage, the linear encoder and the linear encoder sensor; and a cover that covers the linear encoder scale so as to block the air blowing by the blower unit. [Brief explanation of the drawing] 【0006】 [Figure 1] A schematic side view showing a recording device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. [Figure 2]Figure 1 is a side cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of the recording device, illustrating the flow of air. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view corresponding to area S in Figure 2, representing the area around the cover. [Figure 4] A perspective view showing the area around the cover, which is part of the internal configuration of the recording device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention] 【0007】 First, the present invention will be described in general terms. A recording apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention for solving the above problems is characterized by comprising: a transport unit for transporting a medium in a transport direction; a recording head for recording an image by ejecting ink onto the medium transported by the transport unit; a carriage on which the recording head is mounted and which moves back and forth in a scanning direction intersecting the transport direction; a blower unit for blowing air toward the recording head; a linear encoder scale and a linear encoder sensor located upstream of the carriage in the transport direction and between the blower unit and the recording head in the direction of air blowing by the blower unit for detecting the position of the carriage in the scanning direction; a housing for housing the carriage, the linear encoder and the linear encoder sensor; and a cover that covers the linear encoder scale so as to block the air blowing by the blower unit. 【0008】 According to this embodiment, a cover is provided that covers the linear encoder scale so as to block the airflow from the blower. This configuration can be applied regardless of the configuration or size of the device, and by using this configuration, the adhesion of mist to the linear encoder scale can be suppressed. 【0009】 A recording device according to a second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in an embodiment dependent on the first aspect, the cover covers the linear encoder scale in a direction along the transport direction. 【0010】 In this embodiment, the cover covers the linear encoder scale in a direction along the transport direction. The air blower sends air toward the recording head, and the linear encoder scale is located between the air blower and the recording head in the air blowing direction, and upstream of the carriage in the transport direction. In such a configuration, mist can flow along the transport direction. However, by configuring the cover to cover the linear encoder scale in a direction along the transport direction, the cover can protect the linear encoder scale from mist that may flow in the transport direction. 【0011】 A recording device according to a third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in an embodiment dependent on the first or second aspect, the cover does not cover the linear encoder scale when viewed in the direction opposite to the airflow direction. 【0012】 In this embodiment, the cover does not cover the linear encoder scale when viewed in the direction opposite to the airflow direction. This configuration allows for a wider workspace downstream of the airflow direction, making it easy to access the linear encoder scale from the downstream side in the direction in which the mist may flow, and facilitating replacement of the linear encoder scale. 【0013】 A recording device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in an embodiment dependent on the first or second aspect, the cover has a U-shape with an opening facing upward when viewed in the scanning direction. 【0014】 According to this embodiment, the cover has a U-shape with the opening facing upwards when viewed in the scanning direction. This configuration allows the cover to serve multiple roles, such as a mist reservoir and a mist drainage channel. Note that the term "U-shape with the opening facing upwards" is not limited to a rounded bottom, but also includes shapes where the bottom is flat, such as a V-shape or a quarter-rotated U-shape. 【0015】 A recording device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in an embodiment dependent on any one of the first to fourth aspects, the housing is provided downstream of the carriage in the transport direction, and includes an outlet through which air sent by the blower is discharged to the outside of the housing. 【0016】 According to this embodiment, the housing is provided with an outlet located downstream of the carriage in the transport direction of the housing, through which air blown by the air blower is discharged outside the housing. With this configuration, the mist discharged from the outlet can be efficiently recovered. 【0017】 [Example 1] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, an overview of the recording device 1A of Embodiment 1, which is an example of the recording device 1 of the present invention, will be described with reference to Figure 1. As shown in Figure 1, the recording device 1A of this embodiment includes a holding unit 2 that can rotatably hold a roll body R1 in which a medium M such as cloth is wound in a roll shape. It also includes a transport unit 29 for transporting the medium M, and a recording head 27 that records an image by ejecting ink onto the medium M transported by the transport unit 29. It also includes a winding unit 3 that can form a roll body R2 by winding the recorded medium M into a roll shape. 【0018】 The holding unit 2 holds the paper tube that constitutes the rotation axis of the roll body R1, and can rotate in the rotation direction C to feed the medium M from the roll body R1 to the transport unit 29 of the recording device 1A. The holding unit 2 may be configured separately from the recording device 1A, or it may be part of the components of the recording device 1A. 【0019】 The recording apparatus 1A of this embodiment is an inkjet printer that can form an image on a medium M by ejecting ink, which is a liquid, in the form of droplets. The recording apparatus 1A includes, as a conveyance unit 29, a driven roller 23 located upstream in the conveyance direction A, which is the conveyance direction of the medium M, a driving roller 24 located downstream in the conveyance direction A, and a conveyance belt 25, which is an endless belt stretched between the driven roller 23 and the driving roller 24. Here, the conveyance belt 25 is an adhesive belt having an outer peripheral surface 25a coated with an adhesive on the support surface of the medium M, which is the outer surface. 【0020】 As shown in FIG. 1, in the conveyance unit 29, the medium M is supported by the conveyance belt 25 and conveyed in a state where the medium M is attached to the outer peripheral surface 25a. In the recording apparatus 1A of this embodiment, the medium support area of the conveyance belt 25 for supporting the medium M is the upper area bridged by the driven roller 23 and the driving roller 24. The driving roller 24 is a roller that rotates in the rotation direction C by the driving force of a motor (not shown), and the driven roller 23 is a roller that rotates by being driven by the rotation of the conveyance belt 25 accompanying the rotation of the driving roller 24. 【0021】 That is, the moving direction of the conveyance belt 25 when conveying the medium M is the moving direction D corresponding to the rotation direction C, and the moving direction of the conveyance belt 25 in the medium support area is the conveyance direction A. However, it is also possible to rotate the driving roller 24 in the direction opposite to the rotation direction C and move the conveyance belt 25 in the direction opposite to the moving direction D outside the conveyance of the medium M. 【0022】 [[ID=1l]] Further, the recording apparatus 1A of this embodiment includes a carriage 26 that can reciprocate in the width direction B of the conveyance belt 25, and a recording head 27 attached to the carriage 26. The recording head 27 is a recording unit that can form an image by ejecting liquid ink onto the medium M conveyed in the conveyance direction A based on recording data. Further, the recording apparatus 1A of this embodiment has a cleaning unit 28 that cleans the conveyance belt 25 downstream of the recording head 27 in the moving direction D of the conveyance belt 25. 【0023】 Furthermore, the recording device 1A of this embodiment is capable of forming an image by ejecting ink from the recording head 27 onto the transported medium M while reciprocating the carriage 26 in the width direction B which intersects the transport direction A. By having a carriage 26 configured in this way, the recording device 1A of this embodiment can form a desired image on the medium M by repeatedly transporting the medium M in the transport direction A at a predetermined transport amount, and ejecting ink while moving the carriage 26 in the width direction B with the medium M stopped. 【0024】 Furthermore, as described above, the recording device 1A of this embodiment includes a winding unit 3. The medium M, on which an image is formed by ejecting ink from the recording head 27, is wound up as a roll R2 in the winding unit 3. The winding unit 3 holds a paper tube as a rotation axis for forming the roll R2, and can form the roll R2 by rotating in the rotation direction C and winding the medium M onto the paper tube. Note that the winding unit 3 may be configured separately from the recording device 1A, or it may be part of the components of the recording device 1A. In addition, a drying device or the like for drying the ink ejected onto the medium M may be provided between the winding unit 3 and the recording device 1A. 【0025】 Here, the medium M can preferably be a material to be printed. A material to be printed refers to fabrics, clothing, or other fashion products that are to be printed. Fabrics include woven, knitted, and nonwoven fabrics made of natural fibers such as cotton, silk, and wool, or synthetic fibers such as nylon, or composite fibers made by mixing these. Clothing and other fashion products include T-shirts, handkerchiefs, scarves, towels, tote bags, cloth bags, curtains, sheets, bedspreads, and other furniture after sewing, as well as fabrics before and after cutting that exist as parts before sewing. However, in addition to the above-mentioned materials to be printed, inkjet-specific papers such as plain paper, fine paper, and glossy paper can also be used. 【0026】 As described above, the recording device 1A of this embodiment includes a transport unit 29 that transports the medium M in the transport direction A, a recording head 27 that records an image by ejecting ink onto the medium M transported by the transport unit 29, and a carriage 26 on which the recording head 27 is mounted and which moves back and forth in a scanning direction corresponding to the width direction B that intersects the transport direction A. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 1, the recording device 1A of this embodiment includes a blower unit 101 that blows air toward the recording head 27. In addition, it includes a detection unit 110 located upstream of the carriage 26 in the transport direction A, and between the blower unit 101 and the recording head 27 in the air blowing direction F by the blower unit 101, and includes a linear encoder scale 111 and a linear encoder sensor 112 for detecting the position of the carriage 26 in the scanning direction (width direction B) of the carriage 26. 【0027】 As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the airflow direction F is downward on the upstream side of the carriage 26 in the transport direction A, in the same direction as the transport direction A within the scanning area of ​​the carriage 26 in the transport direction A, and upward on the downstream side of the carriage 26 in the transport direction A. Therefore, the airflow direction F in the area where the detection unit 110, including the linear encoder scale 111 and the linear encoder sensor 112, is located is downward. 【0028】 Furthermore, as shown in Figure 1, the recording device 1A of this embodiment includes a housing 12 that houses a detection unit 110 including a carriage 26, a linear encoder scale 111, and a linear encoder sensor 112. The recording device 1A of this embodiment also includes an opening 102 located upstream of the carriage 26 in the transport direction A of the housing 12, which allows air to be taken into the inside of the device. Herein, the recording device 1A of this embodiment is further provided with a cover 100 in a position that blocks the airflow from the air blower 101. The details of the cover 100A of this embodiment, which serves as the cover 100, will be described below with reference to Figures 2 and 3. 【0029】 As shown in Figure 3, which represents region S in Figure 2, the cover 100A of the recording device 1A in this embodiment is configured to cover the linear encoder scale 111 in such a way as to block the airflow from the air blower 101. This configuration can be applied regardless of the configuration or size of the device, and by using this configuration, the adhesion of mist to the linear encoder scale 111 can be suppressed. 【0030】 In particular, in the recording device 1A of this embodiment, the airflow direction F from the air blower 101 mostly flows from the air blower 101 towards the outlet 103, but some circulating airflow is also generated inside the device, as shown by the airflow direction F1. The circulating airflow contains mist, but this configuration effectively suppresses the adhesion of the mist from the circulating airflow to the linear encoder scale 111. As shown in Figure 2, in the recording device 1A of this embodiment, a fan 104 is provided at the inlet of the outlet 103 in order to reduce the circulating airflow inside the device. 【0031】 In this embodiment, the recording device 1A stops blowing air from the blower unit 101 after recording is complete, in order to reduce power consumption. Therefore, after recording is complete, the blower unit 101 stops blowing air and the mist inside the device falls downward due to gravity. At that time, there is also mist from the circulating airflow above the linear encoder scale 111, but the recording device 1A in this embodiment is equipped with a cover 100A, which prevents the mist from adhering to the linear encoder scale 111. Furthermore, by providing a cover 100A with such a configuration, it is also possible to prevent the linear encoder scale 111 from vibrating due to a strong airflow hitting it during recording. 【0032】 Here, as shown in Figure 3, the cover 100A of this embodiment includes a lower surface portion 100a that extends over the entire width B to block the airflow from the air blower 101, a wall portion 100b connected to the sheet metal portion 13 and extending upward over the entire width B on the upstream side of the lower surface portion 100a in the transport direction A, and a wall portion 100c extending downward over the entire width B on the downstream side of the lower surface portion 100a in the transport direction A. In other words, the cover 100A of this embodiment covers the linear encoder scale 111 with the sheet metal portion 13 and the wall portion 100c in the direction along the transport direction A, or in other words, in the direction intersecting the airflow direction F in the area where the linear encoder scale 111 is provided. 【0033】 As described above, in the recording device 1A of this embodiment, the blower unit 101 blows air toward the recording head 27, and the linear encoder scale 111 is located between the blower unit 101 and the recording head 27 in the blower direction F, and upstream of the carriage 26 in the transport direction A. In this configuration, in the recording device 1A of this embodiment, mist can flow in a direction along the transport direction A, such as near the carriage 26. 【0034】 However, if we consider the sheet metal portion 13 to also constitute part of the cover 100A, then the recording device 1A of this embodiment can be described as having a configuration that includes such a sheet metal portion 13 and a wall portion 100c, thereby protecting the linear encoder scale 111 from mist that may flow in the direction along the transport direction A by the sheet metal portion 13 and the wall portion 100c. In the recording device 1A of this embodiment, the wall portion 100c covers only a portion of the upper part of the linear encoder scale 111 in the direction along the transport direction A, but it may be made to extend further downwards to cover the entire linear encoder scale 111 in the direction along the transport direction A. 【0035】 On the other hand, as shown in Figure 3, the cover 100A of this embodiment does not have a wall below the linear encoder scale 111, in other words, further downstream in the airflow direction F than the linear encoder scale 111. To put it another way, the cover 100A of this embodiment does not cover the linear encoder scale 111 when viewed in the opposite direction to the airflow direction F in the area where the linear encoder scale 111 is installed. With this configuration, the recording device 1A of this embodiment can have a wide workspace downstream in the airflow direction F of the lower surface portion 100a, allowing the operator to easily access the linear encoder scale 111 from the downstream side in the direction in which the mist may flow, and making it easy to replace the linear encoder scale 111. 【0036】 Furthermore, the recording device 1A of this embodiment is provided with an outlet 103 located downstream of the carriage 26 in the transport direction A of the housing 12, through which air supplied by the blower 101 is discharged to the outside of the housing 12. With this configuration, the recording device 1A of this embodiment can efficiently recover the mist discharged from the outlet 103. Note that "downstream of the carriage 26 in the transport direction A" means that the area downstream of the carriage 26 is included. 【0037】 [Example 2] Next, the recording device 1B of Example 2 will be described using Figure 4. Figure 4 corresponds to Figure 3 of the recording device 1A of Example 1. In Figure 4, components common to Example 1 are indicated by the same reference numerals, and detailed explanations will be omitted. Here, the recording device 1B of this example has the same configuration as the recording device 1A of Example 1, except for the configuration of the cover 100 which will be described below. Therefore, with respect to parts other than those described below, the recording device 1 of this example has the same characteristics as the recording device 1A of Example 1. 【0038】 As shown in Figure 4, the recording device 1B of this embodiment is equipped with a cover 100B that has a different shape from the cover 100A of the recording device 1A of Embodiment 1. In detail, the cover 100B of this embodiment has a wall portion 100d on the downstream side of the lower surface portion 100a in the transport direction A, and the opening is in an upward U-shape when viewed in the width direction B corresponding to the scanning direction of the carriage 26. 【0039】 In this embodiment, the recording device 1B has the following configuration, allowing the cover 100B to serve as both a storage section for accumulating mist and a channel for directing the accumulated mist in a predetermined direction. Furthermore, a replaceable absorbent (not shown) is provided at the destination of the accumulated mist, and this absorbent can absorb the mist. 【0040】 In this embodiment, the cover 100B has a shape where the opening is facing upwards, achieved by rotating a U-shape by a quarter turn. Thus, a U-shape with an upward-facing opening is not limited to a shape where the bottom is rounded, but also includes shapes such as a V-shape, as well as a shape where the bottom is flat, like the cover 100B in this embodiment which is a U-shape rotated by a quarter turn. 【0041】 It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention described in the claims, and these modifications are also included within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols] 【0042】 1...Recording device, 1A...Recording device, 1B...Recording device, 2...Holding unit, 3...Winding unit, 11...Control unit, 12...Housing, 13...Sheet metal unit, 23...Driven roller, 24...Driven roller, 25...Conveyor belt, 25a...Outer surface, 26...Carriage, 27...Recording head, 28...Cleaning unit, 100...Cover, 100A...Cover, 100B...Cover, 100a...Bottom surface, 100b...Wall, 100c...Wall, 100d...Wall, 101...Air blowing unit, 102...Opening, 103...Discharge port, 104...Fan, 110...Detection unit, 111...Linear encoder scale, 112...Linear encoder sensor, M...Media, R1...Roll body, R2...Roll body, S...Area

Claims

[Claim 1] A transport unit that transports the medium in the transport direction, A recording head that records an image by ejecting ink onto the medium transported by the transport unit, A carriage on which the recording head is mounted and which moves back and forth in a scanning direction that intersects the transport direction, A blower unit that sends air toward the recording head, A linear encoder scale and a linear encoder sensor are located upstream of the carriage in the transport direction and between the air blower and the recording head in the direction of air blowing by the air blower, for detecting the position of the carriage in the scanning direction. A housing that houses the carriage, linear encoder, and linear encoder sensor, A cover that covers the linear encoder scale so as to block the airflow from the aforementioned air blower, A recording device characterized by comprising the following features. [Claim 2] In the recording device according to claim 1, The recording device is characterized in that the cover covers the linear encoder scale in a direction along the transport direction. [Claim 3] In the recording device according to claim 1, The recording device is characterized in that the cover does not cover the linear encoder scale when viewed in the direction opposite to the direction of airflow. [Claim 4] In the recording device according to claim 1, The recording device is characterized in that the cover has an upward-facing U-shaped opening when viewed in the scanning direction. [Claim 5] In the recording device according to claim 1, A recording device characterized by having an outlet provided downstream of the carriage in the transport direction of the housing, through which air sent by the blower is discharged to the outside of the housing.

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