Recording device

Abstract

If recording is performed on a media that is wrinkled, it may result in a decrease in the image quality of the recorded image or a malfunction of the recording head. [Solution] The system comprises a transport roller pair 10 having a main roller 14 that transports the medium M in the transport direction F, and a plurality of sub-rollers 16 that are spaced apart along the width direction H intersecting the transport direction F and that sandwich the medium M between themselves and the main roller 14; a recording head 5A that records on the medium M; a guide roller 11 that is positioned downstream of the transport roller pair 10 in the transport direction F and applies tension to the medium M; and a light source unit 20 that can irradiate the surface area SA of the medium M, which is transported through the air between the transport roller pair 10 and the guide roller 11, with the luminous intensity of the visible light L irradiated from the light source unit 20 to the surface area SA in the width direction H being higher than the luminous intensity in the transport direction F.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to a recording apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an inkjet recording apparatus including a recording head that discharges liquid onto a medium, a medium conveyance mechanism that sandwiches and conveys the medium, and a tension roller that applies tension to the medium. In this inkjet recording apparatus, recording is performed by discharging liquid from the recording head onto the medium being conveyed in the air between the medium conveyance mechanism and the tension roller.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the inkjet recording apparatus described in Patent Document 1, since the medium is conveyed in the air by pulling the medium between the medium conveyance mechanism and the tension roller, when the medium is soft like cloth, wrinkles may occur on the medium. If recording is performed on the medium with wrinkles, there is a possibility of deterioration in the image quality of the image recorded on the medium and failure of the recording head.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The recording device comprises a pair of transport rollers having a main roller for transporting a medium in the transport direction and a plurality of sub-rollers arranged at intervals along a width direction intersecting the transport direction, which sandwich the medium between the main roller and the sub-rollers; a recording head for recording on the medium; a guide roller arranged downstream of the pair of transport rollers in the transport direction for applying tension to the medium; and a light source unit capable of irradiating visible light onto the surface area of ​​the medium being transported through the air between the pair of transport rollers and the guide roller, wherein the luminous intensity of the visible light irradiated onto the surface area from the light source unit in the width direction is higher than the luminous intensity in the transport direction. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0006] [Figure 1] A perspective view showing the schematic of the recording device. [Figure 2] A schematic diagram showing the internal structure of the recording device. [Figure 3] A plan view showing a schematic representation of the illumination state of the light source. [Figure 4] A diagram illustrating the concept of the illumination state of the light source. [Figure 5] A plan view showing a schematic representation of the irradiation state of the light source in the second embodiment. [Figure 6] A diagram illustrating the concept of the irradiation state of the light source in the second embodiment. [Figure 7] A plan view showing a schematic representation of the irradiation state of the light source in the third embodiment. [Figure 8] A diagram illustrating the concept of the irradiation state of the light source in the third embodiment. [Figure 9] A plan view illustrating the illumination state of the light source in another embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0007] 1. First Embodiment The recording device 1 of this embodiment will now be described with reference to the drawings. The recording device 1 shown in Figure 1 is an inkjet printer that records images such as characters and photographs on a medium M (see Figure 2) by ejecting ink, which is an example of a "liquid," onto the transported medium M.

[0008] In the following drawings, the scale of each component is shown differently from the actual scale in order to make each component recognizable. Furthermore, identical components are denoted by the same reference numeral in each drawing, and redundant explanations are omitted. Additionally, the X, Y, and Z axes are shown as mutually orthogonal coordinate axes where necessary. Arrows are attached to the X, Y, and Z axes. For each of the X, Y, and Z axes, the direction of the arrow is positive, and the opposite direction is negative.

[0009] For the sake of explanation, the positive direction of the X-axis will be referred to as the right direction or simply as right, and the negative direction as the left direction or simply as left. Similarly, the positive direction of the Y-axis will be referred to as the forward direction or simply as forward, and the negative direction as the backward direction or simply as backward. Furthermore, the positive direction of the Z-axis will be referred to as the upward direction or simply as up, and the negative direction as the downward direction or simply as down.

[0010] The direction parallel to the X-axis corresponds to the width direction of the recording device 1, and to the width direction of the medium M on which the image is recorded. The direction parallel to the Y-axis corresponds to the depth direction of the recording device 1. Viewing from the +Z direction or -Z direction is referred to as a plan view.

[0011] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the recording device 1 includes a feeding unit 2 for feeding out the medium M, a transport unit 3 for transporting the medium M, a recording head 5A for recording an image on the medium M, a heating unit 6 for drying the recorded medium M, and a winding unit 7 for winding up the recorded medium M.

[0012] The medium M is transported by the transport unit 3 along the transport path 4 in the transport direction F. The recording device 1 of this embodiment transports the medium M while applying appropriate tension to the medium M using a transport method called the Roll to Reel transport method. A recording head 5A, positioned in the middle of the transport path 4, records an image on the surface area SA (see Figure 3) of the medium M, which will be described later, by discharging liquid onto the medium M. The medium M on which the image has been recorded is dried by the heat of a heating unit 6 positioned along the transport path 4 and wound up by a winding unit 7. In this embodiment, the recording head 5A is mounted on a moving unit 5. The moving unit 5 is movable in the width direction H (see Figure 3) which intersects with the transport direction F. The recording head 5A of this embodiment records an image on the medium M using a serial head method.

[0013] The recording device 1 can perform textile printing on a medium M, such as a long piece of fabric. The fabric may include woven, knitted, or nonwoven fabrics made from natural fibers such as cotton, silk, or wool, or synthetic fibers such as nylon, or composite fibers that are mixtures of these.

[0014] As shown in Figure 2, a roll body R1 is rotatably supported on the feed shaft 2A of the feed unit 2. A medium M for recording images is wound around the roll body R1. The transport unit 3 has a pair of transport rollers 10 that apply a feeding force to the medium M in the transport direction F, and a guide roller 11 located downstream of the pair of transport rollers 10 in the transport direction F.

[0015] The transport roller pair 10 includes a main roller 14 that transports the medium M unwound from the roll body R1 in the transport direction F, and a plurality of sub-rollers 16 (see Figures 2 and 3) that sandwich the medium M between the main roller 14. The sub-rollers 16 are rotatably supported with the first shaft 15 as the axis of rotation. The transport direction F of the medium M unwound from the roll body R1 is changed from approximately downward to the +Y direction when the medium M is wrapped around the sub-rollers 16.

[0016] In this embodiment, the main roller 14 is a driving roller, and the sub-roller 16 is a driven roller. The driving roller is rotationally driven by power from a motor or the like. The driven roller is driven following the rotational drive of the driving roller. Note that the sub-roller 16 may be the driving roller and the main roller 14 may be the driven roller. Also, the arrangements of the main roller 14 and the sub-roller 16 may be swapped with each other. In this case, the conveyance direction F of the medium M is changed in direction from substantially downward to the +Y direction by being wound around the main roller 14.

[0017] The guide roller 11 is arranged downstream of the conveyance roller pair 10 in the conveyance direction F and applies tension to the medium M. The guide roller 11 is, for example, a driving roller that rotates by power from a motor or the like not shown. Note that the guide roller 11 may be a driven roller that rotates due to the frictional resistance received from the medium M and applies tension to the medium M together with the guide bar 12.

[0018] The medium M is conveyed in the air between the conveyance roller pair 10 and the guide roller 11. In this embodiment, a region of the surface of the medium M that is located between the portion contacting the conveyance roller pair 10 and the portion contacting the guide roller 11 and faces the +Z direction is referred to as the surface region SA. The surface region SA can face the recording head 5A and is a region along the XY plane including the X-axis and the Y-axis. The recording head 5A discharges liquid onto the surface region SA of the medium M at a position downstream of the conveyance roller pair 10 in the conveyance direction F and upstream of the guide roller 11 in the conveyance direction F to record an image.

[0019] The medium M on which an image is recorded is conveyed toward a heating unit 6 disposed between a guide roller 11 and a guide bar 12. The heating unit 6 has a heater, and when the heater generates heat, the liquid discharged onto the medium M is dried. The guide bar 12 is disposed between the guide roller 11 and a winding unit 7. The guide bar 12 contacts the medium M and applies tension to the medium M. The medium M that has passed through the guide bar 12 is wound around a roll body R2 that is pivotally supported by a winding shaft 7A of the winding unit 7. The winding shaft 7A rotates the roll body R2 by power from a motor (not shown) or the like.

[0020] The recording apparatus 1 includes a light source unit 20 that can irradiate visible light L (see FIG. 3) onto a surface area SA of the medium M. As the light source unit 20, a white LED is exemplified, but it is not limited thereto. For example, the light source unit 20 may be a light source composed of a light bulb, an electroluminescence light source, a semiconductor laser, or the like. Further, the color of the visible light L irradiated from the light source unit 20 may be a color other than white, but in this case, the luminance of the visible light L is preferably higher. Furthermore, it is more preferable that the visible light L irradiated from the light source unit 20 has a predetermined directivity characteristic centered on the optical axis.

[0021] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the recording apparatus 1 includes a housing 100 that defines a part of the outer contour of the recording apparatus 1. The housing 100 houses at least the conveyance roller pair 10, the guide roller 11, and the light source unit 20. A window portion 101 is disposed on the top surface, which is the +Z direction side surface of the housing 100. Further, a window portion 102 is disposed on the front surface, which is the +Y direction side surface of the housing 100. The window portions 101 and 102 allow visual recognition of the medium M conveyed in the air between the conveyance roller pair 10 and the guide roller 11. The window portions 101 and 102 are light transmissive and are arranged so as to allow visual recognition of the surface area SA of the medium M irradiated with the visible light L.

[0022] Furthermore, in order to reduce the influence of transmitted light incident from outside the housing 100 through the windows 101 and 102 on the shadow LS (see Figure 3), the windows 101 and 102 are made of a material that does not have excessively high light transmittance, that is, a material that attenuates transmitted light. In addition, the windows 101 and 102 may be treated with a non-glare finish or other processing that causes light attempting to enter the windows 101 and 102 from outside the housing 100 to be diffusely reflected by fine irregularities.

[0023] As shown in Figure 3, a plurality of sub-rollers 16, which are rotatably supported with the first axis 15 as the axis of rotation, are arranged at intervals along the width direction H that intersects the conveying direction F. The medium M is held between the main roller 14 and the sub-rollers 16. On the other hand, parts of the medium M located between adjacent sub-rollers 16 are not held between the main roller 14 and the sub-rollers 16, and may lift up more than the parts that are held. The lifted parts of the medium M may develop convex wrinkles WR. In particular, if the conveyed medium M has a soft structure such as fabric, the presence or absence of gripping by the main roller 14 and the sub-rollers 16 can easily cause expansion and contraction or deformation of the medium M, which can result in wrinkles WR on the medium M.

[0024] Thus, the spaces between each of the multiple sub-rollers 16, which are spaced apart along the width direction H, can become starting points for wrinkle WR to occur. As the medium M is conveyed toward the guide roller 11, the wrinkle WR generated in the medium M may extend downstream in the conveying direction F from the sub-rollers 16. In this way, wrinkle WR may occur in the surface region SA of the medium M.

[0025] The recording device 1 is equipped with a configuration for visually inspecting wrinkles WR that have occurred on the surface area SA of the medium M. The configuration for visually inspecting wrinkles WR that have occurred on the surface area SA of the medium M will be described below with reference to Figures 3 and 4. Note that in Figure 3, the moving unit 5 and the recording head 5A are shown in standby at the home position located in the +X direction of the recording device 1, so the illustration of the moving unit 5 and the recording head 5A is omitted.

[0026] As shown in Figure 3, the recording device 1 includes a light source unit 20 located outside the -X-direction edge of the medium M. The light source unit 20 includes a first light source 21. In this embodiment, the first light source 21 is exemplified by a light source consisting of at least one white LED having predetermined directional characteristics. The first light source 21 is positioned outside the -X-direction edge of the surface area SA of the medium M in the width direction H.

[0027] The first light source 21 can irradiate visible light L onto the sub-roller 16 and the area located downstream of the sub-roller 16 in the transport direction F, within the surface area SA of the medium M.

[0028] The visible light L emitted from the first light source 21 contains a large amount of light emitted in the direction along the optical axis, as well as light that diffuses in other directions. In this embodiment, the optical axis of the first light source 21 is directed toward the surface region SA of the medium M located in the +X direction from the first light source 21 in the width direction H. That is, the luminous intensity of the visible light L emitted from the first light source 21 toward the surface region SA in the width direction H is configured to be higher than the luminous intensity in the transport direction F. Hereafter, the visible light L emitted from the first light source 21 that is emitted in the direction along the optical axis will be referred to as the first emitted light L1. The first emitted light L1 is emitted toward the surface region SA of the medium M located in the +X direction from the first light source 21 in the width direction H.

[0029] As a result, if there are wrinkles WR extending in the transport direction F on the surface region SA of the medium M, the first irradiation light L1 emitted from the first light source 21 creates a shadow LS of the wrinkles WR on the surface region SA of the medium M. In Figure 3, the shadow LS is hatched. The shadow LS is a dark area that is darker than the surrounding area. In this embodiment, the shadow LS is created on the +X side of the edge of the wrinkle WR. In addition, when the first irradiation light L1 is emitted, a bright area LL is created on the -X side of the edge of the wrinkle WR that is brighter than the surrounding area.

[0030] As shown in Figure 4, the first light source 21 is positioned outside the -X edge of the surface region SA of the medium M, and on the +Z side of the medium M. The visible light L irradiated from the first light source 21 onto the wrinkle WR is directed diagonally downward from the upper left to the lower right in the view shown in Figure 4. This creates a shadow LS and a bright area LL on the wrinkle WR that has occurred in the surface region SA of the medium M. As shown in Figure 3, the difference in brightness between the shadow LS and the bright area LL created on the wrinkle WR is large, so the presence or absence of wrinkle WR that has occurred in the surface region SA of the medium M can be easily confirmed.

[0031] Furthermore, the angle of incidence of the first illumination light L1 incident on the medium M from the first light source 21 with respect to the normal of the surface region SA of the medium M is greater than 0°. If this angle is 0°, it is not possible to create shadows LS on multiple wrinkles WR. Also, the angle of incidence of the first illumination light L1 incident on the medium M from the first light source 21 with respect to the normal of the surface region SA of the medium M is less than 90°. If this angle is 90°, the shadows LS created on tall wrinkles WR will cover shorter wrinkles WR located in the +X direction more than the tall wrinkles WR, making it impossible to create bright areas LL on shorter wrinkles WR.

[0032] Furthermore, when the type of fabric changes, the height of the wrinkles WR generated in the surface region SA of the medium M and the length of stretching in the transport direction F also change. Even when the type of fabric changes, in order to check for the presence or absence of wrinkles WR generated in the surface region SA of the medium M, it is preferable that the angle of incidence of the first irradiation light L1 incident on the medium M from the first light source 21 with respect to the normal to the surface region SA of the medium M is within the range of 20° to 70°.

[0033] As described above, the recording device 1 of the first embodiment provides the following advantages. The recording device 1 of this embodiment includes a transport roller pair 10 having a main roller 14 that transports the medium M in the transport direction F, and a plurality of sub-rollers 16 that are spaced apart along the width direction H intersecting the transport direction F and that sandwich the medium M between the main roller 14 and the sub-rollers 16. Furthermore, the recording device 1 includes a recording head 5A that performs recording on the medium M, and a guide roller 11 that is positioned downstream of the transport roller pair 10 in the transport direction F and applies tension to the medium M. Furthermore, the recording device 1 includes a light source unit 20 that can irradiate the surface area SA of the medium M, which is transported through the air between the transport roller pair 10 and the guide roller 11, with visible light L. The luminous intensity of the visible light L irradiated from the light source unit 20 to the surface area SA in the width direction H is higher than the luminous intensity in the transport direction F.

[0034] According to this embodiment, the luminous intensity of the visible light L irradiated from the light source 20 onto the surface region SA in the width direction H is higher than the luminous intensity in the transport direction F. Therefore, if there are wrinkles WR extending in the transport direction F on the surface region SA of the medium M, a shadow LS of the wrinkles WR can be created on the surface region SA of the medium M. This makes it possible to check whether or not wrinkles WR have occurred on the surface region SA of the medium M, thus preventing recording operations from being performed without noticing wrinkles WR on the medium M. As a result, the possibility of a decrease in the image quality of the image recorded on the medium M or a failure of the recording head 5A can be suppressed.

[0035] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, since the light source unit 20 is positioned outside the surface region SA in the width direction H, the visible light L irradiated from the light source unit 20 can create shadows LS for wrinkles WR formed within the surface region SA of the medium M.

[0036] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the light source unit 20 can irradiate visible light L to the area of ​​the surface region SA downstream of the sub-roller 16 in the transport direction F, so that it can create a shadow LS for wrinkles WR that extend downstream of the sub-roller 16 in the transport direction F.

[0037] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the light source unit 20 can irradiate visible light L toward the sub-roller 16. The spaces between each of the multiple sub-rollers 16, which are arranged at intervals, can be the starting points for wrinkle WR to occur. In this embodiment, a shadow LS can be created toward the starting points for wrinkle WR, so wrinkle WR can be identified quickly.

[0038] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the recording device 1 includes a housing 100 that houses a transport roller pair 10, a guide roller 11, and a light source unit 20, and the housing 100 is provided with windows 101 and 102 that allow the surface area SA irradiated with visible light L to be viewed. This allows the user to easily see the presence or absence of wrinkles WR that have occurred on the surface area SA of the medium M through the windows 101 and 102.

[0039] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, since the window portions 101 and 102 are made of a material that attenuates transmitted light, the shadow LS created by the light source 20 is less affected by transmitted light incident from outside the housing 100. As a result, the user can more easily visually check for the presence or absence of wrinkles WR that have occurred on the surface area SA of the medium M through the window portions 101 and 102.

[0040] 2. Second Embodiment The configuration for visualizing wrinkles WR generated on the surface region SA of the medium M in the second embodiment will be described below with reference to Figures 5 and 6. In Figures 5 and 6, components identical to those shown in previous figures are denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed explanations are omitted.

[0041] As shown in Figure 5, the light source unit 20 includes a first light source 21 positioned outside one side of the surface region SA in the width direction H, and a second light source 22 positioned outside the other side of the surface region SA in the width direction H. In Figure 5, the moving unit 5 and the recording head 5A are shown having moved from their home position, located in the +X direction of the recording device 1, to a position facing the surface region SA of the medium M, and are positioned in the +Z direction of the surface region SA. That is, when the moving unit 5 moves to a position facing the surface region SA, in a plan view from the +Z direction, the first light source 21 and the second light source 22 are positioned with the moving unit 5 in between.

[0042] Similar to the first embodiment, the recording device 1 includes a first light source 21 outside the -X direction end of the medium M. The recording device 1 also includes a second light source 22 outside the +X direction end of the medium M. In the second embodiment, the second light source 22 is exemplified as a light source consisting of at least one white LED having predetermined directional characteristics. The second light source 22 is positioned outside the surface region SA of the medium M in the width direction H.

[0043] The second light source 22 can irradiate visible light L onto the sub-roller 16 and the area located downstream of the sub-roller 16 in the transport direction F, within the surface area SA of the medium M.

[0044] The visible light L emitted from the second light source 22 contains a large amount of light emitted in the direction along the optical axis, as well as light that diffuses in other directions. In this embodiment, the optical axis of the second light source 22 is directed toward the surface region SA of the medium M located in the -X direction from the second light source 22 in the width direction H. That is, the luminous intensity of the visible light L emitted from the second light source 22 toward the surface region SA in the width direction H is configured to be higher than the luminous intensity in the transport direction F. Hereafter, the visible light L emitted from the second light source 22 that is emitted in the direction along the optical axis will be referred to as the second emitted light L2. The second emitted light L2 is emitted toward the surface region SA of the medium M located in the -X direction from the second light source 22 in the width direction H.

[0045] As a result, if there are wrinkles WR extending in the transport direction F on the surface region SA of the medium M, the second irradiation light L2 irradiated from the second light source 22 creates a shadow LS of the wrinkles WR on the surface region SA of the medium M. In Figure 5, the shadow LS is hatched.

[0046] The shadow LS is a dark area that is darker than the surrounding area other than the shadow LS. In the second embodiment, the shadow LS created by irradiating with the second illumination light L2 is created on the -X side of the ridge of the wrinkle WR. On the +X side of the ridge of the wrinkle WR, a bright area LL is created that is brighter than the surrounding area by irradiating with the second illumination light L2.

[0047] As shown in Figure 6, the first light source 21 and the second light source 22 are positioned in the +Z direction relative to the moving unit 5. This ensures that, for example, even when the moving unit 5 moves in the width direction H beyond the first light source 21 or the second light source 22, the first light source 21 and the second light source 22 do not interfere with the moving unit 5.

[0048] The second irradiation light L2, which is irradiated onto the wrinkle WR from the second light source 22, is directed diagonally downward from the upper right to the lower left in the view shown in Figure 6. This creates shadows LS and bright areas LL on the wrinkle WR that has formed on the surface region SA of the medium M.

[0049] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 5, in a plan view from the +Z direction, the movable part 5 is sandwiched between the first light source 21 and the second light source 22. Therefore, as shown in Figure 6, a portion of the visible light L irradiated from the first light source 21 toward the surface region SA of the medium M located on the +X side is blocked by the movable part 5. Similarly, a portion of the visible light L irradiated from the second light source 22 toward the surface region SA of the medium M located on the -X side is blocked by the movable part 5. In other words, the first light source 21, the second light source 22, and the movable part 5 are arranged such that a portion of the visible light L irradiated from the first light source 21 and a portion of the visible light L irradiated from the second light source 22 are blocked by the movable part 5, respectively. In addition, the first light source 21, the second light source 22, and the movable part 5 are arranged such that the first irradiation light L1 irradiated from the first light source 21 and the second irradiation light L2 irradiated from the second light source 22 do not overlap with each other in the surface region SA of the medium M.

[0050] Furthermore, the moving part 5 blocks the first illumination light L1 emitted from the first light source 21 and the second illumination light L2 emitted from the second light source 22, which may prevent a shadow LS from being cast on the wrinkles WR that occur on the surface area SA of the medium M facing the moving part 5. Alternatively, when viewing the surface area SA of the medium M from the windows 101 and 102 of the housing 100, the surface area SA of the medium M may be obscured by the moving part 5, making it impossible to see the wrinkles WR that occur on the surface area SA of the medium M. However, since the moving part 5 moves in the width direction H, the user can easily see the wrinkles WR that have been temporarily obscured by the moving part 5.

[0051] In the second embodiment, the range of incident angles of the second irradiation light L2 incident on the medium M from the second light source 22 with respect to the normal of the surface region SA of the medium M is the same as the range of incident angles of the first irradiation light L1 incident on the medium M from the first light source 21 with respect to the normal of the surface region SA of the medium M.

[0052] As described above, the recording device 1 of the second embodiment provides the same effects as the first embodiment, plus the following additional effects. According to this embodiment, the recording device 1 includes a movable part 5 that is movable in the width direction H, and the light source unit 20 includes a first light source 21 positioned outside one side of the surface region SA in the width direction H, with the movable part 5 in between, and a second light source 22 positioned outside the other side of the surface region SA in the width direction H, in a plan view. As a result, the first illumination light L1 emitted from the first light source 21 and the second illumination light L2 emitted from the second light source 22 are both shielded by the movable part 5, so that the shadows LS created by the first light source 21 and the second light source 22 do not cancel each other out.

[0053] 3. Third Embodiment The configuration for visualizing wrinkles WR generated on the surface area SA of the medium M in the third embodiment will now be described with reference to Figures 7 and 8. In the third embodiment, unlike the embodiments described above, the light source unit 20 is located in the moving unit 5. In Figures 7 and 8, components identical to those shown in previous figures are denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed explanations are omitted. In Figure 7, the moving unit 5 and the recording head 5A have moved from their home position, located in the +X direction of the recording device 1, to a position facing the surface area SA of the medium M, and are located in the +Z direction of the surface area SA.

[0054] As shown in Figure 7, the light source unit 20 includes a first light source 21 that irradiates a surface area SA on one side of the width direction H relative to the moving unit 5, and a second light source 22 that irradiates a surface area SA on the other side of the width direction H relative to the moving unit 5.

[0055] The first light source 21 is positioned on the -X side of the moving unit 5. The second light source 22 is positioned on the +X side of the moving unit 5. The light source unit 20, including the first light source 21 and the second light source 22, can move together with the moving unit 5 as the moving unit 5 moves. The first light source 21 can irradiate visible light L onto the sub-roller 16 and the area located downstream of the sub-roller 16 in the transport direction F, within the surface area SA of the medium M. The second light source 22 can irradiate visible light L onto the sub-roller 16 and the area located downstream of the sub-roller 16 in the transport direction F, within the surface area SA of the medium M.

[0056] The visible light L emitted from the first light source 21 and the second light source 22 contains a large amount of light emitted in the direction along the optical axis, as well as light that diffuses in other directions. In this embodiment, the optical axis of the first light source 21 is directed towards the surface region SA of the medium M located on the -X side of the width direction H relative to the first light source 21. The optical axis of the second light source 22 is directed towards the surface region SA of the medium M located on the +X side of the width direction H relative to the second light source 22. In other words, the luminous intensity of the visible light L emitted from the first light source 21 and the second light source 22 to the surface region SA in the width direction H is configured to be higher than the luminous intensity in the transport direction F.

[0057] In the third embodiment, the first irradiation light L1 is visible light L irradiated toward the surface region SA of the medium M located in the width direction H on the -X side of the first light source 21. The second irradiation light L2 is visible light L irradiated toward the surface region SA of the medium M located in the width direction H on the +X side of the second light source 22. That is, the first irradiation light L1 and the second irradiation light L2 are visible light L irradiated in opposite directions without facing each other.

[0058] As a result, if there are wrinkles WR extending in the transport direction F on the surface region SA of the medium M, the visible light L irradiated from the first light source 21 and the second light source 22 creates a shadow LS of the wrinkles WR on the surface region SA of the medium M. In Figure 7, the shadow LS is hatched. The shadow LS is a dark area that is darker than the surrounding area.

[0059] In the third embodiment, the shadow LS created by irradiating with the first irradiation light L1 is created on the -X side of the ridge of the wrinkle WR. Also, on the +X side of the ridge of the wrinkle WR, a bright area LL is created that is brighter than the surrounding area when irradiated with the first irradiation light L1. Also, the shadow LS created by irradiating with the second irradiation light L2 is created on the +X side of the ridge of the wrinkle WR. Also, on the -X side of the ridge of the wrinkle WR, a bright area LL is created that is brighter than the surrounding area when irradiated with the second irradiation light L2.

[0060] As shown in Figure 8, the first light source 21 and the second light source 22 are positioned at both ends in the width direction H of the moving part 5 and at the -Z direction end of the moving part 5, but are not limited to this. For example, the first light source 21 and the second light source 22 may be positioned at both ends in the direction along the Y axis of the moving part 5, or they may be positioned on the +Z direction side rather than the -Z direction end of the moving part 5. In the third embodiment, the first light source 21 and the second light source 22 move together with the moving part 5. Since the first light source 21 and the second light source 22 do not interfere with the moving part 5, the positioning of the first light source 21 and the second light source 22 can be brought closer to the surface area SA of the medium M compared to the second embodiment.

[0061] This allows the incidence angle of the first and second illumination lights L1 and L2 irradiated from the light source 20 toward the surface region SA of the medium M to be increased, so that long shadows LS are created on the wrinkles WR that occur on the surface region SA of the medium M. In addition, since visible light L with less illuminance attenuation can be irradiated toward the surface region SA of the medium M, shadows LS with a large difference in brightness and bright areas LL are created on the wrinkles WR that occur on the surface region SA of the medium M.

[0062] The first illumination light L1, irradiated onto the wrinkled WR from the first light source 21, is directed diagonally downward from the upper right to the lower left in the view shown in Figure 8. This creates shadows LS and bright areas LL on the wrinkled WR that has formed on the surface region SA of the medium M. The second illumination light L2, irradiated onto the wrinkled WR from the second light source 22, is directed diagonally downward from the upper left to the lower right in the view shown in Figure 8. This also creates shadows LS and bright areas LL on the wrinkled WR that has formed on the surface region SA of the medium M.

[0063] In the third embodiment, the range of incident angles of the first irradiation light L1 incident on the medium M from the first light source 21 with respect to the normal of the surface region SA of the medium M is the same as the range of incident angles in the second embodiment. Similarly, the range of incident angles of the second irradiation light L2 incident on the medium M from the second light source 22 with respect to the normal of the surface region SA of the medium M is the same as the range of incident angles in the second embodiment.

[0064] As described above, the recording device 1 of the third embodiment provides the same effects as the first embodiment, plus the following additional effects. According to this embodiment, the recording device 1 includes a movable part 5 that can move in the width direction H, and the light source unit 20 moves together with the movable part 5. Therefore, regardless of the location on the surface of the medium M, visible light L can be irradiated at a predetermined illuminance as the movable part 5 moves. As a result, regardless of the location on the surface of the medium M, shadows LS with a large difference in brightness can be created on the wrinkles WR that have occurred on the medium M, making it easy to confirm the wrinkles WR that have occurred in the surface area SA of the medium M.

[0065] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the light source unit 20 can irradiate visible light L to the area of ​​the surface region SA downstream of the sub-roller 16 in the transport direction F, so that it can create a shadow LS for wrinkles WR that extend downstream of the sub-roller 16 in the transport direction F.

[0066] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the light source unit 20 can irradiate visible light L toward the sub-roller 16. The spaces between each of the multiple sub-rollers 16, which are arranged at intervals, can be the starting points for wrinkle WR to occur. In this embodiment, a shadow LS can be created toward the starting points for wrinkle WR, so wrinkle WR can be identified quickly.

[0067] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the light source unit 20 includes a first light source 21 that irradiates a surface area SA on one side of the width direction H relative to the moving unit 5, and a second light source 22 that irradiates a surface area SA on the other side of the width direction H relative to the moving unit 5. As a result, the first light source 21 and the second light source 22 can irradiate visible light L toward opposite sides of each other, so that the shadows LS created by the first light source 21 and the second light source 22 do not cancel each other out. In addition, as the moving unit 5 moves, the shape of the shadow LS can be changed and the direction of the shadow LS can be reversed. This makes it easy to check wrinkles WR that have occurred on the surface area SA of the medium M.

[0068] Although each embodiment has been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to each embodiment and may be modified, substituted, or deleted as long as it does not depart from the gist of this invention. Furthermore, other embodiments described below may also be used. Similar effects to each embodiment can be obtained with other embodiments as well.

[0069] In the embodiments described above, a recording device 1 equipped with a serial head recording head 5A mounted on a moving unit 5 has been illustrated, but the device is not limited to this and may also use a line head system. For example, as shown in Figure 9, the recording device 1 may include a moving unit 5 and a line head 5B. The moving unit 5 is equipped with a light source unit 20, similar to the third embodiment, but does not have a recording head 5A. The moving unit 5 is movable in the width direction H independently of the printing operation. In Figure 9, the line head 5B is positioned downstream of the moving unit 5 in the transport direction F, but the line head 5B may be positioned upstream of the moving unit 5 in the transport direction F. The line head 5B covers the width direction H of the surface area SA of the medium M and is positioned opposite the surface area SA of the medium M. The line head 5B records an image on the surface area SA of the medium M by discharging liquid onto the medium M. The configuration other than the moving unit 5 and the line head 5B is the same as in the third embodiment.

[0070] In the embodiments described above, the first and second illumination lights L1 and L2 emitted from the light source unit 20 are directed along the X-axis, but this is not limited to this. For example, the first and second illumination lights L1 and L2 emitted from the light source unit 20 may be directed in a direction other than along the X-axis. The first and second illumination lights L1 and L2 emitted in a direction other than along the X-axis may, for example, be directed along the X-axis after the illumination angle is changed by a reflector provided in the recording device 1.

[0071] In each of the embodiments described above, the visible light L emitted from the light source 20 may contain more light directed in the transport direction F than light directed in the width direction H. The light directed in the transport direction F may, for example, be directed in a direction along the X axis after the irradiation angle is changed by a reflector, or a cover that shields the light directed in the transport direction F may be used to prevent the light directed in the transport direction F from irradiating the surface area SA of the medium M.

[0072] In each of the embodiments described above, visible light L was irradiated from the light source 20 onto the convex wrinkles WR that occurred on the surface region SA of the medium M to create shadows LS and bright areas LL. However, even if concave wrinkles occur on the surface region SA of the medium M, shadows LS and bright areas LL are similarly created.

[0073] In each of the above embodiments, the timing of irradiating visible light L from the light source unit 20 may be when the medium M is set in the transport unit 3, before the image is recorded on the medium M, or while the image is being recorded on the medium M.

[0074] In each of the above embodiments, wrinkles WR generated in the medium M may be removed by setting the medium M in the transport unit 3 after rewinding the medium M onto the roll body R1 so that no wrinkles WR are generated. Alternatively, for example, the recording device 1 may be equipped with a release unit on the transport roller pair 10 for releasing the grip of the medium M, and wrinkles WR generated in the medium M may be removed after the grip of the medium M is released by the release unit. By providing a release unit, it becomes unnecessary to rewind the medium M onto the roll body R1 in order to remove wrinkles WR generated in the medium M.

[0075] In the second embodiment described above, the first irradiation light L1 emitted from the first light source 21 and the second irradiation light L2 emitted from the second light source 22 are shielded by the moving part 5, but the embodiment is not limited to this. For example, either the first light source 21 or the second light source 22 may be selectively used for irradiation.

[0076] In the third embodiment described above and the other embodiment shown in Figure 9, the first light source 21 and the second light source 22 are arranged on both sides of the width direction H of the movable unit 5, but the invention is not limited thereto. For example, either the first light source 21 or the second light source 22 may be arranged on the movable unit 5. Alternatively, if the first light source 21 and the second light source 22 are arranged on both sides of the width direction H, either the first light source 21 or the second light source 22 may selectively illuminate the area. [Explanation of symbols]

[0077] 1...Recording device, 2...Feeding unit, 2A...Feeding shaft, 3...Conveying unit, 4...Conveying path, 5...Moving unit, 5A...Recording head, 5B...Line head, 6...Heating unit, 7...Winding unit, 7A...Winding shaft, 10...Conveying roller pair, 11...Guide roller, 12...Guide bar, 14...Main roller, 15...First shaft, 16...Sub-roller, 20...Light source unit, 21...First light source, 22...Second light source, 100...Housing, 101,102...Window unit, F...Conveying direction, H...Width direction, L...Visible light, L1...First illumination light, L2...Second illumination light, LL...Bright area, LS...Shadow, M...Media, R1,R2...Roll body, SA...Surface area, WR...Wrinkle.

Claims

1. A pair of conveying rollers comprising a main roller for conveying the medium in the conveying direction, and a plurality of sub-rollers arranged at intervals along the width direction intersecting the conveying direction, which sandwich the medium between the main roller and the sub-rollers, A recording head that records to the aforementioned medium, A guide roller positioned downstream of the aforementioned pair of conveying rollers in the conveying direction, which applies tension to the medium, The system includes a light source capable of irradiating visible light onto the surface area of ​​the medium being conveyed through the air between the conveying roller pair and the guide roller, A recording device characterized in that the luminous intensity of the visible light irradiated onto the surface region from the light source is higher in the width direction than the luminous intensity in the transport direction.

2. The light source unit is positioned outside the surface region in the width direction. The recording device according to claim 1.

3. The light source unit is capable of irradiating the visible light onto the area of ​​the surface region downstream of the sub-roller in the transport direction. The recording device according to claim 2.

4. The light source unit is capable of irradiating the visible light toward the sub-roller. The recording device according to claim 2.

5. It includes a movable part that can move in the width direction, The light source unit includes, in a plan view, a first light source positioned outside one side of the surface region in the width direction, with the moving part in between, and a second light source positioned outside the other side of the surface region in the width direction. The recording device according to claim 2.

6. It includes a movable part that can move in the width direction, The light source unit moves together with the moving unit. The recording device according to claim 1.

7. The light source unit is capable of irradiating the visible light onto the area of ​​the surface region downstream of the sub-roller in the transport direction. The recording device according to claim 6.

8. The light source unit is capable of irradiating the visible light toward the sub-roller. The recording device according to claim 6.

9. The light source unit includes a first light source that illuminates the surface region on one side in the width direction relative to the moving unit, and a second light source that illuminates the surface region on the other side in the width direction relative to the moving unit. The recording device according to claim 6.

10. The system comprises the aforementioned pair of transport rollers, the aforementioned guide rollers, and a housing that accommodates the aforementioned light source unit. The housing is provided with a window portion that allows the surface area to be viewed when illuminated with visible light. The recording device according to claim 1.

11. The aforementioned window portion is composed of a member that attenuates transmitted light. The recording device according to claim 10.

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