Platen and printer

Abstract

To provide a platen that can suppress media in a wet state from being hardly detached, and a printer.SOLUTION: A platen 5A comprises a first member 57 and a second member 58. The first member 57 has a plate 57A and holes 57B. The second member 58 has a plate 58A and columnar parts 58B. The platen 5A can be switched between a first state and a second state. In the first state, an upper surface 57C of the first member 57 and a plurality of upper surfaces 58C of the second member 58a form a contact surface 56, at a position closer to inside than an outer edge of the plate 57A. In the second state, the upper surface 57C of the first member 57 forms the contact surface 56, at a position closer to inside than the outer edge R of the plate 57A but the plurality of upper surfaces 58C of the second member 58 do not form the contact surface 56.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a platen and a printer. [Background technology]

[0002] The printing device described in Patent Document 1 includes a medium support unit that supports a medium such as fabric from below, and a print head that ejects ink onto the medium to perform printing. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-138362 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the printing device, when a medium becomes wet with a liquid such as ink, the liquid may cause the medium to adhere to the medium support unit, making it difficult to remove.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a platen and a printer that can reduce the difficulty of removing wet media. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A platen according to a first aspect of the present invention is used in a printer that ejects ink onto media, and is a platen having a contact surface on which the media is placed, and comprises a first member having a first surface and a second member having a second surface, the first member having a plate having the first surface, and is switchable between a first state in which the contact surface is formed by the first surface and the second surface, and the size of the contact surface is a first area, and a second state in which the contact surface is formed by the first surface, and the size of the contact surface is a second area smaller than the first area, and in the first state, the first surface and the second surface form the contact surface on the inside of the outer edge of the plate in the direction in which the first surface extends, and in the second state, the first surface forms the contact surface on the inside of the outer edge of the plate, and the second surface does not form the contact surface.

[0007] The platen of the first aspect can be switched from a first state to a second state, reducing the size of the contact surface from a first area to a second area. By switching the state from the first state to the second state, the platen can reduce the difficulty of removing wet media.

[0008] The image forming apparatus may further include a switching unit that switches the state of the platen between the first state and the second state by moving the second member relatively to the first member.

[0009] In this case, the user switches the platen between the first state and the second state via the switching unit, so that the state of the platen can be switched by the switching unit.

[0010] At a central portion of the plate, the size of the contact surface in the second state may be smaller than the size of the contact surface in the first state.

[0011] Ink is more likely to be ejected onto the media placed on the contact surface that is placed in the center of the plate. At the center of the plate, the size of the contact surface in the second state is smaller than the size of the contact surface in the first state. Therefore, the platen in the second state can reduce the difficulty of removing media placed in the center of the plate.

[0012] The second area may be less than or equal to half of the first area.

[0013] In this case, because the second area is less than half of the first area, the contact surface of the platen in the second state is smaller than the contact surface of the platen in the first state, and therefore the platen in the second state can reduce the difficulty of removing wet media compared to the platen in the first state.

[0014] The second surface may be made up of a plurality of partial surfaces, and the plurality of partial surfaces may be arranged at intervals in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction on the second member.

[0015] In this case, the platen can stably support the media placed on it even in the second state, in which the contact surface is smaller than in the first state, because each of the multiple partial surfaces is arranged at intervals in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction.

[0016] Each of the plurality of partial surfaces may be at least one of circular and rectangular.

[0017] When each of the plurality of partial surfaces is at least one of a circle and a rectangle, the second member can be formed more easily than when each of the plurality of partial surfaces is an oval or a polygon other than a rectangle.

[0018] A locking mechanism may be provided to lock the state of the platen in either the first state or the second state.

[0019] In this case, the locking mechanism locks the state of the platen in either the first state or the second state, thereby preventing the state of the platen from switching from one state to the other.

[0020] The contact surface in the first state may be configured as a smooth surface by the first surface and the second surface.

[0021] In this case, the platen can stably support the media in the first state.

[0022] A printer according to a second aspect of the present invention is characterized by comprising the platen according to the first aspect and an ink ejection unit that ejects the ink onto the medium placed on the contact surface of the platen in the first state.

[0023] The printer of the second aspect can achieve the same effects as the printer of the first aspect.

[0024] The ink ejection unit may eject the ink in a state in which the medium is wetted with a pretreatment agent.

[0025] In this case, after the ink has been ejected, the media is wet with the pretreatment agent and ink and is placed on the contact surface of the platen. By switching the state from the first state to the second state, the platen can reduce the difficulty of removing the wet media. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0026] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the printer 1 as seen from the upper right front side. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the printer 1 with the top of the housing 2 removed, viewed from the upper right front. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the platen 5A in the first state as viewed from the upper right front side. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the platen 5A in the second state as viewed from the upper right front side. [Figure 5] 10 is a diagram showing the platen 5A in the second state, with the first member 57, the second member 58, and the connection boxes 64 and 65 removed. [Figure 6]1A and 1B are plan views of a contact surface 56 of a platen 5A in a first state and a second state, respectively. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a platen 5B in a first state as viewed from the upper right front in a modified example. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a platen 5B in a second state in a modified example, as viewed from the upper right front side. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] A printer 1 and a platen 5A according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The printer 1 shown in FIG. 1 is an inkjet printer that prints by ejecting ink onto a medium. The medium is, for example, fabric, paper, or the like, and in this embodiment, a T-shirt. The top, bottom, bottom left, top right, bottom right, and top left in FIG. 1 represent the top, bottom, front, back, right, and left of the printer 1 and the platen 5A, respectively. In this embodiment, the mechanical elements in the drawings are shown to actual scale.

[0028] The schematic configuration of printer 1 will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. As shown in Figure 1, printer 1 includes a housing 2, a transport unit 6, and a platen 5A. Housing 2 is rectangular. An opening 21 is formed in housing 2. Opening 21 extends from the front to the rear of housing 2. An input unit 46 is provided on the front of housing 2 to the right of opening 21. A user operates input unit 46 to input various information to printer 1.

[0029] The transport unit 6 is provided below the opening 21 and transports the platen 5A in the front-to-rear direction. The transport unit 6 includes a pair of rails 12 shown in FIG. 2. The pair of rails 12 are aligned in the left-to-right direction and extend in the front-to-rear direction. The platen 5A is located above the transport unit 6 and is supported by the pair of rails 12.

[0030] A sub-scanning motor (not shown) is provided below the platen 5A. The platen 5A can move in the front-to-rear direction along a pair of rails 12 by being driven by the sub-scanning motor. In other words, the front-to-rear direction of the printer 1 is the sub-scanning direction. The structure of the platen 5A will be described in detail later.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 2, the printer 1 is equipped with a rail 11, a guide shaft 9, a carriage 20, and heads 100 and 200 in a housing 2 shown in FIG. 1. The rail 11 is provided at the top rear of the printer 1 and extends in the left-right direction. The guide shaft 9 is provided in front of the rail 11 and extends in the left-right direction. The carriage 20 is located between the rail 11 and the guide shaft 9 in the front-to-rear direction, and is supported by the rail 11 and the guide shaft 9. A main scanning motor 19 is provided to the right of the right end of the guide shaft 9. The carriage 20 can move left-to-right along the rail 11 and the guide shaft 9 by being driven by the main scanning motor 19.

[0032] The heads 100 and 200 are aligned in the front-to-rear direction and mounted on the carriage 20, and move left and right together with the carriage 20. In other words, the left and right direction of the printer 1 is the main scanning direction. Each of the heads 100 and 200 has a nozzle (not shown) at the bottom, and ejects ink downward from the nozzle.

[0033] Printer 1 can print color images on media using five colors of ink: white, black, yellow, cyan, and magenta. In the following, the white ink among the five colors of ink will be referred to as white ink, and the four colors of ink: black, cyan, yellow, and magenta will be collectively referred to as color ink. When referring to white ink and color ink collectively, or when not specifying one, the term "ink" will be used. White ink is used in printing to represent the white part of an image, or as a base for other colored inks. Color inks are ejected on top of the white ink base and are used to print color images.

[0034] The head 100 ejects white ink from its nozzles, and the head 200 ejects color ink from its nozzles.

[0035] The detailed structure of the platen 5A will be described with reference to Figures 3 to 6. A medium is placed on the platen 5A. As shown in Figure 3, the platen 5A includes a base 51, a support 52, a switching unit 53, a locking mechanism 55, a first member 57, and a second member 58. The base 51 is a flat plate extending in the front-rear and left-right directions. The support 52, lifting mechanisms 53R and 53L, and a locking mechanism 55 are provided on the top surface of the base 51.

[0036] The support portions 52 are provided on the front right, front left, rear right, and rear left portions of the upper surface of the base portion 51. Each of the four support portions 52 is a flat plate extending in the up-down and front-rear directions. The upper end of each support portion 52 is connected to a first member 57 (see FIG. 4).

[0037] 3 and 4, the switching unit 53 includes lifting mechanisms 53R and 53L, a handle 61, shafts 62 and 63, and connection boxes 64 and 65. The lifting mechanisms 53R and 53L are pantograph jacks. The lifting mechanism 53R is provided on the right side of the upper surface of the base 51. The lifting mechanism 53L is provided on the left side of the upper surface of the base 51.

[0038] As shown in Figure 5, the lifting mechanism 53R includes a base 71R, lower arms 72R and 73R, upper arms 74R and 75R, and a receiving seat 76R. The base 71R is provided on the upper surface of the base 51. The base 71R extends in the front-to-rear direction. The lower arms 72R and 73R are rotatably supported on the base 71R via pins 81R and 82R, respectively. The lower arm 72R extends forward and upward from the front of the base 71R. The lower arm 73R extends rearward and upward from the rear of the base 71R.

[0039] An upper arm 74R is rotatably supported on the front end of the lower arm 72R via a connecting portion 77R. The front end of the upper arm 74R is supported on the front end of the lower arm 72R, and the upper arm 74R extends rearward and upward from the front end of the lower arm 72R. An upper arm 75R is rotatably supported on the rear end of the lower arm 73R via a connecting portion 78R. The rear end of the upper arm 75R is supported on the rear end of the lower arm 73R, and the upper arm 75R extends frontward and upward from the rear end of the lower arm 73R. A receiving seat 76R is provided above the base 71R. The receiving seat 76R extends in the front-to-rear direction. The rear end of the upper arm 74R and the front end of the upper arm 75R are rotatably supported on the receiving seat 76R via pins 83R and 84R, respectively.

[0040] A shaft 61A is inserted through the connecting portions 77R and 78R. The shaft 61A extends in the front-rear direction and is rotatable around its axis. A thread groove is formed on the side of the shaft 61A. The connecting portion 77R is screwed onto the shaft 61A. The connecting portion 78R rotatably supports the shaft 61A. When the shaft 61A rotates in one direction around its axis, the connecting portions 77R and 78R move toward each other, causing the rear end of the lower arm 72R to rotate clockwise around the connecting portion 77R as viewed from the right side, and the rear end of the upper arm 74R to rotate counterclockwise around the connecting portion 77R as viewed from the right side. The front end of the lower arm 73R rotates counterclockwise around the connecting portion 78R as viewed from the right side, and the front end of the upper arm 75R rotates clockwise around the connecting portion 78R as viewed from the right side. This causes the receiving seat 76R to rise relative to the base 71R (see FIG. 3). When the shaft 61A rotates in the opposite direction to one of the directions around the axis, the connectors 77R and 78R move away from each other, causing the rear end of the lower arm 72R to rotate counterclockwise around the connector 77R as viewed from the right side, and the rear end of the upper arm 74R to rotate clockwise around the connector 77R as viewed from the right side. The front end of the lower arm 73R rotates clockwise around the connector 78R as viewed from the right side, and the front end of the upper arm 75R rotates counterclockwise around the connector 78R as viewed from the right side. This causes the receiving seat 76R to descend relative to the base 71R (see FIG. 4).

[0041] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the lifting mechanism 53R is connected to a handle 61. The handle 61 has shafts 61A, 61B, and 61C. The shaft 61A is inserted through the locking mechanism 55, the lifting mechanism 53R, and the connecting box 64. The rear end of the shaft 61A is connected to a bevel gear 61G (see Figure 5) housed in the connecting box 64. The shaft 61B extends from the front end of the shaft 61A in a direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction. The shaft 61C extends in the front-rear direction and is connected to the shaft 61A via the shaft 61B.

[0042] As shown in Figure 5, shaft 63 extends in the left-right direction. The right end of shaft 63 is inserted into connection box 64 (see Figure 3) and connected to bevel gear 63A housed in connection box 64. Bevel gear 63A meshes with bevel gear 61G. The left end of shaft 63 is inserted into connection box 65 (see Figure 3) and connected to bevel gear 63B housed in connection box 65. Bevel gear 63B meshes with bevel gear 62G housed in connection box 65, which will be described later.

[0043] The lifting mechanism 53L has the same structure as the lifting mechanism 53R. As shown in FIG. 5, the lifting mechanism 53L includes a base 71L, lower arms 72L and 73L, upper arms 74L and 75L, a receiving base 76L, connecting portions 77L and 78L, and pins 81L, 82L, 83L, and 84L. The base 71L, lower arms 72L and 73L, upper arms 74L and 75L, a receiving base 76L, connecting portions 77L and 78L, and pins 81L, 82L, 83L, and 84L have the same structure as the base 71R, lower arms 72R and 73R, upper arms 74R and 75R, a receiving base 76R, connecting portions 77R and 78R, and pins 81R, 82R, 83R, and 84R of the lifting mechanism 53R. The connecting portion 77L is located behind the base 71L. The connecting portion 78L is located on the front side of the base 71L. A shaft 62 is inserted through the connecting portions 77L and 78L. The shaft 62 extends in the front-to-rear direction and is rotatable around its axis. A thread groove is formed on the side of the shaft 62. The connecting portion 77L is screwed onto the shaft 62. The connecting portion 78L supports the shaft 62 rotatably.

[0044] The rear end of shaft 62 is inserted into connecting box 65 (see Figure 3) and connected to bevel gear 62G housed in connecting box 65. When shaft 61A rotates, shafts 63 and 62 also rotate. When shaft 61A rotates in one direction around its axis, connecting portions 77L and 78L move toward each other, and receiving seat 76L rises relative to base 71L. When shaft 61A rotates in the opposite direction around its axis, connecting portions 77L and 78L move away from each other, and receiving seat 76L descends relative to base 71L.

[0045] The user grips the shaft 61C and rotates the shaft 61A around its axis. As a result, the receiving seat 76R of the lifting mechanism 53R and the receiving seat 76L of the lifting mechanism 53L each move up and down relative to the base 51 (see FIGS. 3 and 4). In this embodiment, the upper ends of the receiving seats 76R and 76L are located at the same height, and they move up and down together. When the receiving seat 76R rises, the shaft 61A passing through the connecting portions 77R and 78R rises in conjunction with the receiving seat 76R. When the receiving seat 76R descends, the shaft 61A descends in conjunction with the receiving seat 76R. When the receiving seats 76R and 76L move up and down, the vertical position of the shaft 61A that has moved to the highest position is referred to as the first axis position. The vertical position of the shaft 61A that has moved to the lowest position is referred to as the second axis position.

[0046] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the locking mechanism 55 is provided at the right front end of the top surface of the base 51. The locking mechanism 55 has a box 55K and a shaft 55F. The box 55K is rectangular parallelepiped-shaped. Holes 55A are provided on the front and rear surfaces of the box 55K. The hole 55A penetrates the box 55K in the front-to-rear direction. The hole 55A extends in the up-down direction. The shaft 61A is inserted into the hole 55A. When the shaft 61A is located at the first shaft position, the shaft 61A is inserted above the center of the hole 55A in the up-down direction. When the shaft 61A is located at the second shaft position, the shaft 61A is inserted below the center of the hole 55A in the up-down direction.

[0047] The right surface of box 55K has screw holes 55B and 55C. The upper end of hole 55B is located above the vertical center of hole 55A. The lower end of hole 55C is located below the vertical center of hole 55A.

[0048] The shaft 55F extends in the left-right direction. An elastic member (not shown) is provided at the left end of the shaft 55F. A thread groove is formed on the side of the shaft 55F. The user rotates the shaft 55F relative to either the threaded holes 55B or 55C. As a result, the shaft 55F is inserted into either the threaded holes 55B or 55C and moves in the left-right direction. Note that because the threaded holes 55B and 55C are threadedly engaged with the shaft 55F, the shaft 55F does not move in the left-right direction unless the user rotates the shaft 55F. Because the upper end of the hole 55B is located above the center of the hole 55A in the up-down direction, when the shaft 55F is inserted through the hole 55B and moves leftward, the elastic member provided at the left end of the shaft 55F abuts against the right end of the shaft 61A, which is located at the first axis position. Because the vertical position of the lower end of hole 55C is lower than the vertical center of hole 55A, when shaft 55F passes through hole 55C and moves leftward, the elastic member provided at the left end of shaft 55F abuts against the right end of shaft 61A, which is positioned at the second axis position. When the elastic member abuts against the right end of shaft 61A, frictional force acting between the elastic member and shaft 61A prevents the user from rotating shaft 61A around its axis.

[0049] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the first member 57 has a plate 57A and holes 57B. The plate 57A is flat and extends in the front-rear and left-right directions. The plate 57A is made of, for example, metal. The plate 57A is connected to the upper ends of the four support parts 52 and is supported by the four support parts 52. The holes 57B are circular holes that penetrate in the up-down direction. A plurality of holes 57B are provided in the plate 57A. The holes 57B are arranged at intervals in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction across the entire plate 57A.

[0050] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the second member 58 has a plate 58A and a cylindrical portion 58B. The plate 58A is flat and extends in the front-rear and left-right directions. The plate 58A is made of, for example, metal. The plate 58A is located below the plate 57A. The plate 58A is located inside the multiple support portions 52 in the left-right direction. The plate 58A is connected to the upper end of the receiving seat 76R of the lifting mechanism 53R and the upper end of the receiving seat 76L of the lifting mechanism 53L, respectively, and is supported by the lifting mechanisms 53R and 53L. The plate 58A moves up and down relative to the plate 57A in response to the up and down movement of the receiving seat 76R and the receiving seat 76L. Because the plate 58A is located inside the multiple support portions 52 in the left-right direction, it does not interfere with the multiple support portions 52.

[0051] A plurality of cylindrical portions 58B are provided on the upper surface of plate 58A. The axial direction of cylindrical portions 58B coincides with the vertical direction. The vertical length of cylindrical portions 58B is equal to the vertical length of plate 57A (the thickness of plate 57A). Upper surfaces 58C of cylindrical portions 58B are circular and have the same shape as holes 57B. Each of the plurality of cylindrical portions 58B is provided at the same position as hole 57B in a plan view. Each of upper surfaces 58C is arranged at intervals in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction across plate 58A.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 3, when the shaft 61A is located at the first axis position, the plate 58A is located at the upper end of its movement range. Each of the multiple cylindrical portions 58B of the second member 58 is inserted into a hole 57B of the first member 57. The top surface 57C of the plate 57A and the top surfaces 58C of the multiple cylindrical portions 58B are aligned in the vertical direction. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6A, the top surface 57C of the first member 57 and the multiple top surfaces 58C of the second member 58 form a contact surface 56 on the platen 5A. The contact surface 56 is formed inside the outer edge R of the plate 57A in the front-to-rear and left-to-right directions, and a medium is placed on the contact surface 56. In FIG. 6, the contact surface 56 is indicated by diagonal lines. Hereinafter, the state of the platen 5A in which the top surface 57C and the multiple top surfaces 58C are arranged on the same plane and the contact surface 56 is formed by the top surface 57C and the multiple top surfaces 58C inside the outer edge R of the plate 57A is referred to as the first state. The size (area) of the contact surface 56 in the first state is referred to as a first area.

[0053] As shown in FIG. 4, when the shaft 61A is positioned at the second axis position, the plate 58A is positioned at the lower end of its movement range. At this time, the upper surfaces 58C of the plurality of cylindrical portions 58B are positioned below the plate 57A in the vertical direction. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6B, the upper surface 57C forms the contact surface 56, and the plurality of upper surfaces 58C (see FIG. 6A) do not form the contact surface 56. Hereinafter, the state of the platen 5A in which the upper surface 57C and the plurality of upper surfaces 58C are not arranged on the same plane, the upper surface 57C forms the contact surface 56 inside the outer edge R of the plate 57A, and the plurality of upper surfaces 58C do not form the contact surface 56, is referred to as the second state. In the second state, the platen 5A supports the media on the upper surface 57C, which is the contact surface 56. Meanwhile, in the second state, the plurality of upper surfaces 58C positioned below the plate 57A do not support the media. The size (area) of the contact surface 56 in the second state is referred to as the second area. As shown in FIGS. 6(A) and 6(B), the second area is smaller than the first area by the area of ​​the plurality of upper surfaces 58C.

[0054] In the platen 5A, the central portion of the upper surface 57C of the plate 57A is referred to as the central portion A. For example, as shown in Figure 6(A), the central portion A is the portion inside an imaginary frame S that is 2 / 3L away from the center of the upper surface 57C, where L is the distance from the center of the upper surface 57C to the left edge of the plate 57A. Of the media placed on the platen 5A, the portion placed in the central portion A is more likely to have ink ejected than the portions placed outside the central portion A.

[0055] The contact surface 56 of the platen 5A in the first state includes the upper surface 57C of the plate 57A and the multiple upper surfaces 58C. The contact surface 56 of the platen 5A in the second state includes the upper surface 57C of the plate 57A, but does not include the multiple upper surfaces 58C inside the outer edge R of the plate 57A. As shown in FIG. 6A, the contact surface 56 in the central portion A of the platen 5A in the first state includes the portion of the upper surface 57C of the plate 57A that is inside the imaginary frame S, and the portions of the multiple upper surfaces 58C that are inside the imaginary frame S. As shown in FIG. 6B, the contact surface 56 in the central portion A of the platen 5A in the second state includes the portion of the upper surface 57C of the plate 57A that is inside the imaginary frame S, but does not include the portions of the multiple upper surfaces 58C that are inside the imaginary frame S. In both the first state and the second state, the contact surface 56 in the central portion A of the platen 5A corresponds to a portion from which ink is relatively easily ejected. In the central portion A, the size (area) of the contact surface 56 in the second state is smaller than the size of the contact surface 56 in the first state.

[0056] An overview of printing in printer 1 will be explained with reference to Figures 1, 3, and 4. The media is wetted with a pretreatment agent. The pretreatment agent is a base coat agent that is applied to the media before ink is applied. For example, the pretreatment agent contains a divalent metal salt (such as CaCl2 or Ca(NO3)2) and makes the ink color more vivid.

[0057] The user operates the input unit 46 to move the platen 5A forward to the position shown in FIG. 1. The user then rotates the shaft 61A. This causes the switching unit 53 to raise the receiving seat 76R of the lifting mechanism 53R and the receiving seat 76L of the lifting mechanism 53L, thereby raising the second member 58 relative to the first member 57. The upper surface 57C of the first member 57 and the multiple upper surfaces 58C of the second member 58 are positioned on the same plane. In this way, the switching unit 53 switches the platen 5A to the first state.

[0058] The user inserts shaft 55F into hole 55B and rotates shaft 55F relative to hole 55B. This causes shaft 55F to move leftward. An elastic member provided at the left end of shaft 55F abuts against shaft 61A located at the first axis position, and the frictional force acting between the elastic member and shaft 61A prevents shaft 61A from rotating around its axis. This causes locking mechanism 55 to lock platen 5A in the first state (see FIG. 3). The user places media on contact surface 56 of platen 5A in the first state. The user operates input unit 46 to move platen 5A rearward from the position shown in FIG. 1 to a position facing heads 100 and 200.

[0059] The printer 1 ejects white ink from the head 100 and color ink from the head 200 while scanning the carriage 20 left and right. When the printer 1 finishes ejecting ink in one scan, it moves the platen 5A forward and ejects ink from the heads 100 and 200 while scanning the carriage 20 left and right again. The color ink is ejected on top of the white ink. In other words, the white ink is used as a base for the color inks.

[0060] When printing on the media is completed, the printer 1 moves the platen 5A to the position shown in FIG. 1. The user rotates the shaft 55F relative to the hole 55B. This causes the shaft 55F to move to the right. The elastic member attached to the left end of the shaft 55F moves away from the shaft 61A, which is positioned at the first axis position, allowing the shaft 61A to rotate about its axis. This releases the platen 5A from the first state locked by the locking mechanism 55. The user rotates the shaft 61A. This causes the switching unit 53 to lower the receiving seat 76R of the lifting mechanism 53R and the receiving seat 76L of the lifting mechanism 53L, lowering the second member 58 relative to the first member 57. The upper surfaces 58C of the respective cylindrical portions 58B are positioned below the plate 57A in the vertical direction. In this way, the switching unit 53 switches the platen 5A to the second state.

[0061] The user inserts shaft 55F into hole 55C and rotates shaft 55F relative to hole 55C. This causes shaft 55F to move leftward. The elastic member provided at the left end of shaft 55F abuts against shaft 61A located at the second axis position, and the frictional force acting between the elastic member and shaft 61A prevents shaft 61A from rotating around its axis. This causes locking mechanism 55 to lock platen 5A in the second state (see FIG. 4). The user removes the media, which is wet with pretreatment agent and ink, from contact surface 56 of platen 5A, which is now in the second state.

[0062] As described above, the platen 5A includes a first member 57 and a second member 58. The first member 57 includes a plate 57A and a hole 57B. The second member 58 includes a plate 58A and a cylindrical portion 58B. The platen 5A can be switched between a first state and a second state. In the first state, the contact surface 56 is formed by the top surface 57C and the plurality of top surfaces 58C inside the outer edge R of the plate 57A. In the second state, the top surface 57C forms the contact surface 56 inside the outer edge R of the plate 57A, and the plurality of top surfaces 58C do not form the contact surface 56. Switching the platen 5A from the first state to the second state reduces the size of the contact surface 56 from a first area to a second area. Switching the state from the first state to the second state reduces the difficulty of removing wet media from the platen 5A.

[0063] Platen 5A includes switching unit 53. When the user rotates shaft 61A around its axis, switching unit 53 moves receiving seat 76R of lifting mechanism 53R and receiving seat 76L of lifting mechanism 53L in the vertical direction, and moves second member 58 in the vertical direction relative to first member 57. In this way, switching unit 53 allows the user to switch the state of platen 5A by rotating shaft 61A around its axis.

[0064] On the top surface 57C of the plate 57A, the central portion A in the first state includes the portion of the top surface 57C inside the imaginary frame S and the portions of the multiple top surfaces 58C inside the imaginary frame S. On the other hand, the central portion A in the second state includes the portion of the top surface 57C inside the imaginary frame S, but does not include the portions of the multiple top surfaces 58C inside the imaginary frame S. Therefore, at the central portion A, the size of the contact surface 56 in the second state is smaller than the size of the contact surface 56 in the first state. A portion of the media is placed on the central portion A of the platen 57A. Ink is more easily ejected onto this portion than onto portions of the media placed outside the central portion A. Therefore, the platen 5A in the second state can reduce the difficulty of removing media placed on the central portion A of the plate 57A.

[0065] A plurality of cylindrical portions 58B are provided on the plate 58A. The upper surfaces 58C are aligned at intervals in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction. The plurality of holes 57B of the first member 57 are each provided at the same position as the cylindrical portions 58B in a plan view. Therefore, the holes 57B are also aligned at intervals in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction. This allows the platen 5A to stably support the media placed on it, even in the second state where the contact surface 56 is smaller than in the first state.

[0066] Each of the upper surfaces 58C is circular, which makes it easier to form the second member 58 compared to when each of the upper surfaces 58C is elliptical or polygonal except for a square.

[0067] The platen 5A is equipped with a locking mechanism 55 that locks the state of the platen 5A in a first state or a second state. The locking mechanism 55 locks the state of the platen 5A in the first state and prevents it from switching to the second state, allowing the platen 5A to stably support the media placed on it when the printer 1 is printing. The locking mechanism 55 locks the state of the platen 5A in the second state and prevents it from switching to the first state, allowing the user to remove media placed on the platen 5A in the second state. This makes it easier to remove wet media from the platen 5A.

[0068] In the first state, the contact surface 56 is configured such that the upper surface 57C and the plurality of upper surfaces 58C are arranged on the same plane. In this case, the platen 5A can stably support the media in the first state.

[0069] The printer 1 includes a platen 5A and heads 100 and 200 that eject ink onto a medium placed on a contact surface 56 of the platen 5A in the first state. The platen 5A makes it possible for the printer 1 to reduce the difficulty of removing media that has become wet after printing.

[0070] After printing, the medium is wet with the pretreatment agent and ink and placed on the contact surface 56. By switching the state from the first state to the second state, the platen 5A can reduce the difficulty in removing the wet medium.

[0071] In the above embodiment, the upper surface 57C corresponds to the "first surface" of the present invention. The multiple upper surfaces 58C correspond to the "second surface" of the present invention. The plate 57A corresponds to the "plate" of the present invention. The upper surface 58C corresponds to the "partial surface" of the present invention. The head 100 and the head 200 correspond to the "ink ejection section" of the present invention.

[0072] The present invention can be modified in various ways from the above-described embodiment. The various modifications described below can be combined with each other as long as no contradictions arise. For example, the present invention can also be applied to printers that use printing methods other than inkjet printing. Furthermore, the platen 5A is detachable from the printer 1 and may be replaced when using the printer 1.

[0073] In the above embodiment, the switching unit 53 switches the state of the platen 5A, but the configuration of the switching unit 53 is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the switching unit 53 may include an air cylinder that expands and contracts in the vertical direction instead of the lifting mechanisms 53R and 53L, and may extend and contract the air cylinder in response to input from the input unit 46. In this case, when the user operates the input unit 46, the switching unit 53 expands and contracts the air cylinder to move the second member 58 in the vertical direction relative to the first member 57, thereby switching the state of the platen 5A. In this way, the switching unit 53 may switch the state of the platen 5A using a drive source other than human power. Alternatively, the platen 5A may not include the switching unit 53, and the state may be switched by the user directly moving the second member 58 with their hands.

[0074] 7 and 8, the platen 5B will be described. The platen 5B does not have a switching unit 53, and the state is switched by the user directly moving the second member 58 with their hands. In the following description, components having the same functions as the platen 5A of the above embodiment are given the same reference numerals as the platen 5A, and their description will be omitted or simplified.

[0075] The platen 5B includes a base 51, four support members 52, a first member 57, a second member 58, and fasteners 60R and 60L. When viewed from the front, fastener 60R has a generally U-shape that opens to the left. When viewed from the front, fastener 60L has a generally U-shape that opens to the right. In other words, fasteners 60R and 60L can sandwich first member 57 and second member 58 from above and below when they are in contact with each other.

[0076] As shown in Fig. 7, when the platen 5B is in the first state, the first member 57 and the second member 58 are held by fasteners 60R and 60L. The user releases the fasteners 60R and 60L from the first member 57 and the second member 58. Next, the user holds the second member 58 directly with their hands and moves it downward relative to the first member 57. This switches the platen 5B to the second state, as shown in Fig. 8.

[0077] Meanwhile, the user directly holds the second member 58 of the platen 5B in the second state and moves it upward relative to the first member 57, bringing the first member 57 and the second member 58 into contact. This switches the platen 5B to the first state, as shown in FIG. 7. Next, the user engages the fasteners 60R and 60L with the first member 57 and the second member 58. The fasteners 60R and 60L hold the first member 57 and the second member 58 in place. The platen 5B is locked in the first state with the first member 57 and the second member 58 held by the fasteners 60R and 60L. The fasteners 60R and 60L correspond to the "locking mechanism" of the present invention.

[0078] In the above embodiment, the platens 5A and 5B are switched from the first state to the second state by the second member 58 moving downward relative to the first member 57, but this is not limiting. For example, the platens 5A and 5B may be switched from the first state to the second state by the second member 58 moving upward relative to the first member 57. In this case, when the platens 5A and 5B are in the first state, the upper surface 58C of the plate 58A is separated from the lower surface of the plate 57A. When the platens 5A and 5B are switched from the first state to the second state, the second member 58 moves upward relative to the first member 57. When the platens 5A and 5B are in the second state, the multiple upper surfaces 58C form the contact surface 56, and the upper surface 57C does not form the contact surface 56. The medium may be supported by this contact surface 56. Note that the second member 58 corresponds to the "first member" of the present invention. The first member 57 corresponds to the "second member" of the present invention. The upper surface 58C corresponds to the "first surface" of the present invention. The upper surface 57C corresponds to the "second surface" of the present invention.

[0079] In the above embodiment, the states of the platens 5A and 5B are switched by the second member 58 moving in the up-down direction relative to the first member 57, but this is not limiting. For example, the states of the platens 5A and 5B may be switched by the first member 57 moving in the up-down direction relative to the second member 58, or the states may be switched by the first member 57 and the second member 58 each moving in the up-down direction. When the states of the platens 5A and 5B are switched, the direction in which the second member 58 moves relative to the first member 57 may include the up-down direction. For example, the platens 5A and 5B may be switched from the first state to the second state by the second member 58 moving in a downward and right direction relative to the first member 57.

[0080] In the above embodiment, the holes 57B are arranged at intervals in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction across the entire plate 57A, but this is not limiting. The holes 57B may be arranged in either the main scanning direction or the sub-scanning direction.

[0081] Plate 57A may be provided with a plurality of holes of different sizes. A plurality of cylindrical portions 58B may also be arranged radially from the center of plate 58A, or may be provided in the central portion of plate 58A. Plate 58A may be provided with a plurality of cylindrical portions of different sizes.

[0082] In the above embodiment, the relationship between the second area and the first area is not particularly limited, but it is desirable that the second area be equal to or less than half of the first area. In this case, the size of the contact surface 56 in the second state is smaller than the size of the contact surface 56 in the first state. Therefore, the platens 5A and 5B in the second state can reduce the difficulty in removing the wet media compared to the platens 5A and 5B in the first state.

[0083] In the above embodiment, a plurality of holes 57B are provided in plate 57A, and a plurality of corresponding cylindrical portions 58B are also provided in plate 58A. In contrast, only one hole 57B may be provided in plate 57A, and only one corresponding cylindrical portion 58B may be provided in plate 58A.

[0084] In the above embodiment, hole 57B is a circular hole and columnar portion 58B is cylindrical, but this is not limiting. Hole 57B may be rectangular in plan view, or a rectangular prism may be provided on plate 58A instead of columnar portion 58B. When a rectangular prism is provided on plate 58A, top surface 58C has a rectangular shape. In this case, second member 58 can be formed more easily than when top surface 58C is elliptical or polygonal (excluding rectangles).

[0085] The platens 5A and 5B do not necessarily have to be equipped with the locking mechanism 55. In the above embodiment, the locking mechanism 55 locked the platen 5A in both the first state and the second state. However, the locking mechanism 55 may lock the platen 5A in only one of the first state and the second state. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the locking mechanism 55 locked the platen 5A in both the first state and the second state by a frictional force acting between an elastic member provided at the left end of the shaft 55F and the right end of the shaft 61A. However, the locking mechanism 55 may lock the platen 5A in the first state by abutting the upper end of the shaft 55F, which passes through the box 55K, against the lower end of the shaft 61A, which is positioned at the first axis position, when the platen 5A is in the first state, so that the shaft 61A cannot move downward from the first axis position. In addition, the locking mechanism 55 may lock the platen 5A in the second state by abutting the lower end of the shaft 55F that passes through the box 55K against the upper end of the shaft 61A that is located at the second axis position when the platen 5A is in the second state, thereby preventing the shaft 61A from moving upward from the second axis position.

[0086] In the above embodiment, a pretreatment agent was applied to the media before printing, but the media may not be coated with a pretreatment agent. Alternatively, the media may be coated with a pretreatment agent, dried, and then ink may be ejected onto the media. In this case, the platens 5A and 5B can also prevent the media from becoming wet with ink from becoming difficult to remove.

[0087] For example, the platens 5A and 5B may have a plurality of holes 57B formed only in the central portion A, and may not have a plurality of holes 57B in the areas other than the central portion A.

[0088] For example, the printer 1 may be configured to move the platens 5A and 5B in the main scanning direction without moving the heads 100 and 200. In other words, the printer 1 may be configured to move the heads 100 and 200 and the platens 5A and 5B relatively.

[0089] The carriage 20 may be equipped with at least one of the heads 100 and 200. For example, the carriage 20 may be equipped with only the head 200. The inks ejected by the heads 100 and 200 may be changed as appropriate. [Explanation of symbols]

[0090] 1. Printer 5 Platen 53R, 53L lifting mechanism 55 Locking mechanism 56 Contact surface 57 First member 57A board 57C, 58C top surface 58 Second member 61 Handle 100, 200 heads A central part R outer edge S Virtual Frame

Claims

1. Used in a printer that ejects ink onto a medium, the contact surface on which the medium is placed is A platen having: a first member having a first surface and a second member having a second surface; the first member has a plate having the first surface; the first surface is disposed on a first direction side of the plate; a first state in which the first surface and the second surface form the contact surface, and the size of the contact surface has a first area; a second state that can be switched from the first state by moving the second surface relative to the first surface in a second direction opposite to the first direction, in which the contact surface is formed by the first surface and the size of the contact surface is a second area that is smaller than the first area; In the first state, the first surface and the second surface form the contact surface on the inner side of the outer edge of the plate in the direction in which the first surface extends, In the second state, the first surface forms the contact surface on the inner side of the outer edge of the plate, and the second surface does not form the contact surface; The ink is in the first state when the ink is ejected onto the medium, and the ink is switched from the first state to the second state after the ink is ejected onto the medium. A platen characterized by:

2. The platen according to claim 1 , further comprising a switching unit that switches the state of the platen between the first state and the second state by moving the second member relative to the first member.

3. At the central portion of the plate, the size of the contact surface in the second state is smaller than the size of the contact surface in the first state.

3. The platen according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that:

4. 4. The platen according to claim 1, wherein the second area is equal to or less than half of the first area.

5. the second surface is made up of a plurality of partial surfaces, 5. The platen according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of partial surfaces of the second member are arranged at intervals in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction.

6. 6. The platen of claim 5, wherein each of the plurality of partial surfaces is at least one of circular and rectangular.

7. 7. The platen according to claim 1, further comprising a locking mechanism that locks the state of the platen in either the first state or the second state.

8. 2. The platen according to claim 1, wherein the contact surface in the first state is formed as a smooth surface by the first surface and the second surface.

9. A platen according to any one of claims 1 to 8; an ink ejection unit that ejects the ink onto the medium placed on the contact surface of the platen in the first state.

10. 10. The printer according to claim 9, wherein the ink ejection unit ejects the ink while the medium is wet with a pretreatment agent.

11. A platen used in a printer that ejects ink onto a medium, the platen having a contact surface on which the medium is placed, a first member having a first surface and a second member having a second surface; the first member has a plate having the first surface; a first state in which the first surface and the second surface form the contact surface, and the size of the contact surface has a first area; a first state in which the contact surface is formed by the first surface, and a second state in which the size of the contact surface is a second area smaller than the first area; In the first state, the first surface and the second surface form the contact surface on the inner side of the outer edge of the plate in the direction in which the first surface extends, In the second state, the first surface forms the contact surface on the inner side of the outer edge of the plate, and the second surface does not form the contact surface; The ink is in the first state when the ink is ejected onto the medium, and the ink is switched from the first state to the second state after the ink is ejected onto the medium. A platen characterized by:

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