Printing apparatus

Abstract

This printing device (1) comprises: a carrier member (31) that carries a medium (M); an ink head (421) that deposits ink onto the medium (M) on a carrying surface (311) of the carrier member (31); and a guide unit (5) that guides the medium (M) fed to the carrier member (31) to the carrying surface (311). The guide unit (5) includes a branching part (51) where the feeding path of the medium (M) to the carrying surface (311) branches into a first feeding path (5R1) and a second feeding path (5R2). The first feeding path (5R1) changes the feeding direction of the medium (M) that has passed through the branching part (51) at acute first angles of change (α11, α12). The second feeding path (5R2) changes the feeding direction of the medium (M) that has passed through the branching part (51) at a second angle of change (α2) that is greater than the first angles of change (α11, α12).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to a printing apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses applying an inkjet printing apparatus to transfer printing. The printing apparatus includes an endless conveyor belt that is a conveyor member for conveying a printing medium such as a cloth member, and an ink head for discharging ink onto the printing medium on the conveyor belt from above. In the printing apparatus, a support shaft for supporting a wound body of the printing medium is installed upstream in the conveying direction from the conveyor belt. The printing medium is fed to the conveyor belt by being drawn out from the wound body in accordance with the rotation of the support shaft.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

[0004] A printing apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a transport member having a transport surface capable of supporting and transporting a printing medium, and forming a transport path for the printing medium along the transport surface; an ink unit capable of adhering ink to the printing medium supported on the transport surface; and a guide unit capable of guiding the printing medium supplied to the transport member to the transport surface. The guide unit is located upstream of the transport path from the transport surface and includes a branching section capable of branching the supply path for the printing medium to the transport surface into a first supply path and a second supply path. The first supply path is capable of guiding the printing medium to the transport surface by changing the supply direction of the printing medium that has passed through the branching section by a first acute angle of change. The second supply path is capable of guiding the printing medium to the transport surface by changing the supply direction of the printing medium that has passed through the branching section by a second angle of change greater than the first angle of change. According to a printing apparatus relating to one aspect of this disclosure, it is possible to print high-quality images when supplying multiple types of printing media with different elasticity properties to a transport member. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0005] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] Figure 2 shows a modified example of a guide unit provided in a printing device. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0006] Generally, fabric materials have less rigidity than paper or film sheets. Therefore, fabric materials are prone to wrinkling while being fed onto a conveyor belt. Furthermore, there are several types of fabric materials with varying degrees of elasticity, such as woven and knitted fabrics. Fabric materials with high elasticity, such as knitted fabrics, are prone to deformation due to stretching while being fed onto a conveyor belt. If fabric materials are supplied to the conveyor belt in a wrinkled or deformed state, the quality of the image printed on the fabric material on the conveyor belt may deteriorate.

[0007] Therefore, when supplying multiple types of printing media with different elasticity properties to a transport component, a printing device capable of printing high-quality images is required.

[0008] The printing apparatus according to the embodiment of this disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, directional relationships will be explained using mutually orthogonal XY Cartesian coordinates on the horizontal plane. The vertical direction perpendicular to the X and Y directions will be defined as the Z direction.

[0009] The printing apparatus 1 shown in Figure 1 is equipped with an ink unit capable of adhering ink to a wide and long printing medium, media M. The printing apparatus 1 prints an image by adhering ink to media M using the ink unit. The printing apparatus 1 can be a screen printing apparatus or an inkjet apparatus. If the printing apparatus 1 is a screen printing apparatus, the ink unit includes a screen plate with multiple openings and a squeegee. In this case, the ink unit moves ink along the screen plate in accordance with the movement of the squeegee, thereby adhering the ink to media M through the openings in the screen plate. On the other hand, if the printing apparatus 1 is an inkjet apparatus, the ink unit adheres ink to media M by ejecting ink onto media M. The case where the printing apparatus 1 is an inkjet apparatus will be described in detail below.

[0010] The inkjet printing apparatus 1 is suitable for digital textile printing, which prints images such as characters and patterns onto a fabric medium M. Of course, the printing apparatus 1 can also be used to print various images onto printing media such as paper sheets and resin sheets. The medium M includes a first medium M1, which is a first fabric material, and a second medium M2, which is a second fabric material that is more elastic than the first fabric material. The first medium M1 is, for example, a woven fabric made by combining warp and weft threads. The second medium M2 is, for example, a knitted fabric made by knitting threads. Knitted fabrics are more elastic than woven fabrics.

[0011] The printing apparatus 1 comprises a transport unit 3, a printing unit 4, a guide unit 5, and a feeding unit 6. In the printing apparatus 1, media M is supplied from the feeding unit 6 to the transport unit 3 via the guide unit 5, and while being transported by the transport unit 3, an image is printed by the printing unit 4.

[0012] The transport unit 3 is a unit for transporting the media M supplied via the guide unit 5 in the Y direction. The transport unit 3 includes a transport member 31, a first transport roller 32, and a second transport roller 33.

[0013] The transport member 31 is a member capable of transporting the media M in a transport direction H1 along the Y direction. In this embodiment, the transport member 31 is an endless belt having a width in the X direction and extending in the Y direction. The transport member 31, which is an endless belt, has a transport surface 311 on its surface 31S that faces upward and is capable of supporting and transporting the media M, and is capable of circumferential movement. The transport member 31 forms a transport path 3R for the media M along the transport surface 311. The transport path 3R has a width in the X direction and extends linearly in the Y direction. By circumferential movement along the Y direction, the transport member 31 can transport the media M that has come into contact with the transport surface 311 facing upward on its surface 31S along the transport path 3R in a transport direction H1 which is a linear direction from one side to the other in the Y direction. An adhesive layer 31S1 made of an adhesive is formed on the surface 31S of the transport member 31, which adheres the media M that comes into contact with the surface 31S of the transport member 31.

[0014] The first conveyor roller 32 is a cylindrical roller extending in the X direction, around which the conveying member 31 is wound at the downstream position of the conveying path 3R. The first conveyor roller 32 rotates in response to the circumferential movement of the conveying member 31. The second conveyor roller 33 is a cylindrical roller extending in the X direction, around which the conveying member 31 is wound at the upstream position of the conveying path 3R. The conveying member 31 is stretched by the first conveyor roller 32 and the second conveyor roller 33 such that the conveying surface 311, formed by the upward-facing region and the non-conveying surface 312, formed by the downward-facing region, on its surface 31S, are horizontal and extend in the X and Y directions.

[0015] The printing unit 4 is a unit for printing an image onto media M supported on the transport surface 311 of the transport member 31. The printing unit 4 is a unit in which an inkjet head 42 having an ink head 421, a pre-treatment liquid head 422, and a post-treatment liquid head 423 is mounted on a carriage 41. The printing unit 4 is located above the transport member 31 in the Z direction. Specifically, the printing unit 4 is located above the transport member 31 so as to face the transport surface 311, which faces upward on the surface 31S of the transport member 31, from above. The printing device 1 is a so-called serial printer that performs printing on media M in a serial printing method. In the serial printing device 1, the carriage 41 is moved back and forth in the X direction, which is perpendicular to the Y direction, which is the transport direction H1 of the media M, while the ejection operation of ejecting various liquids from the inkjet head 42 and the transport operation of the media M by the transport member 31 are repeatedly performed. Another embodiment of the printing apparatus 1 is a so-called line printer in which the position of the inkjet head 42 is fixed with respect to the media M that is transported in the Y direction by the transport member 31.

[0016] A flat carriage guide 21 having a guide rail 211 extending in the X direction is installed above the conveying member 31. The carriage 41 is fixed to a timing belt 212 which is assembled to the carriage guide 21 so as to be able to move around it. The timing belt 212 is an endless belt and, when assembled to the carriage guide 21, is driven to move around it in the X direction. As the timing belt 212 moves around it in the X direction, the carriage 41 is guided by the guide rail 211 and can move back and forth along the carriage guide 21 in the X direction.

[0017] Each of the ink heads 421, pre-treatment liquid head 422, and post-treatment liquid head 423 included in the inkjet head 42 mounted on the carriage 41 can move relative to the media M in the X and Y directions as the media M is transported in the Y direction by the transport member 31 and the carriage 41 moves back and forth in the X direction.

[0018] The carriage 41 is equipped with multiple ink heads 421. Each of the multiple ink heads 421 is an ink unit capable of adhering ink containing a coloring material such as a pigment to the media M supported on the transport surface 311 of the transport member 31 by ejecting ink. The multiple ink heads 421 are mounted on the carriage 41 in two rows in the X direction. Two ink heads 421 that eject pigment ink of the same color are mounted on the carriage 41 in positions offset from each other in the X and Y directions. Another embodiment is a configuration in which a single ink head 421 is mounted on the carriage 41.

[0019] The pretreatment liquid head 422 is mounted on the carriage 41 so as to be located upstream of the ink head 421 in the transport direction H1 of the media M by the transport member 31. The pretreatment liquid head 422 is a pretreatment liquid unit that can adhere the pretreatment liquid to the media M supported on the transport surface 311 of the transport member 31 before the ink by discharging the pretreatment liquid. The pretreatment liquid is a treatment liquid that comes into contact with the ink on the media M while it is still wet, and is a non-coloring treatment liquid that does not develop color even when it adheres to the media M. The pretreatment liquid is a treatment liquid containing an aqueous solvent mainly composed of water and a positively charged cationic resin. The ink discharged from the ink head 421 is a pigment ink containing a pigment as a colorant. The pigment ink is an ink containing an aqueous medium mainly composed of water, a pigment and a binder resin. The pigment may be an anionic pigment. Anionic pigments undergo an electrical reaction and agglomeration with the cationic resin contained in the pretreatment liquid on the media M, so that the binder resin contained in the pigment ink does not penetrate the media M. This reduces the likelihood of the binding resin penetrating into the gaps between fibers and binding them together when media M is a fabric material. As a result, the texture and feel of the fabric material can be improved.

[0020] The post-treatment liquid head 423 is mounted on the carriage 41 so as to be located downstream of the ink head 421 in the transport direction H1 of the media M by the transport member 31. The post-treatment liquid head 423 is a post-treatment liquid unit that can adhere the post-treatment liquid to the media M supported on the transport surface 311 of the transport member 31 after the ink by discharging the post-treatment liquid. The post-treatment liquid is a treatment liquid that comes into contact with the ink while it is still wet on the media M, and is a non-coloring treatment liquid that does not develop color even when it adheres to the media M. The post-treatment liquid has the function of improving the fixation of the ink on the media M. As such a post-treatment liquid, a treatment liquid containing silicone oil can be used.

[0021] In the printing unit 4, a liquid ejection operation is performed on the media M supported on the transport surface 311 of the transport member 31. This operation involves ejecting pre-treatment liquid from the pre-treatment liquid head 422, ink from the ink head 421, and, if necessary, post-treatment liquid from the post-treatment liquid head 423. This prints an image onto the media M. Specifically, on the media M on the transport member 31, the pre-treatment liquid ejected from the pre-treatment liquid head 422 adheres first, then the ink ejected from the ink head 421 adheres, and then, if necessary, the post-treatment liquid ejected from the post-treatment liquid head 423 adheres.

[0022] The feeding unit 6 is located upstream of the transport member 31 in the transport direction H1 along the transport path 3R, and is a unit capable of feeding media M to the transport member 31. The feeding unit 6 has a support shaft 61 extending in the X direction. The support shaft 61 is capable of supporting a winding MR of media M. The feeding unit 6 feeds media M to the transport member 31 by unwinding media M from the winding MR in accordance with the rotation of the support shaft 61. When the winding MR of the first media M1 is supported on the support shaft 61, the feeding unit 6 feeds the first media M1 to the transport member 31. On the other hand, when the winding MR of the second media M2 is supported on the support shaft 61, the feeding unit 6 feeds the second media M2 to the transport member 31.

[0023] The guide unit 5 is a unit capable of guiding the medium M fed to the conveying member 31 by the feeding unit 6 onto the conveying surface 311. The guide unit 5 includes a branching portion 51, a first feeding guide portion 52, a second feeding guide portion 53, and a pressing portion 54.

[0024] The branching portion 51 is located on the upstream side in the conveying direction H1 along the conveying path 3R from the conveying surface 311 of the conveying member 31. The branching portion 51 is composed of a cylindrical member extending in the X direction and having an outer peripheral surface with a curved surface shape that contacts the medium M fed by the feeding unit 6 from below. The branching portion 51 is rotatable about an axis extending in the X direction. The branching portion 51 can branch the feeding path of the medium M fed to the conveying surface 311 of the conveying member 31 by the feeding unit 6 into a first feeding path 5R1 and a second feeding path 5R2.

[0025] The first feeding path 5R1 is a feeding path between the branching portion 51 and the conveying surface 311 of the conveying member 31 and is used when feeding the first medium M1 to the conveying surface 311. When the first medium M1 is fed by the feeding unit 6, the first medium M1 passes through the branching portion 51 and is supplied to the conveying surface 311 of the conveying member 31 through the first feeding path 5R1.

[0026] The second feeding path 5R2 is a feeding path between the branching portion 51 and the conveying surface 311 of the conveying member 31 and is used when feeding the second medium M2 to the conveying surface 311. When the second medium M2 is fed by the feeding unit 6, the second medium M2 passes through the branching portion 51 and is supplied to the conveying surface 311 of the conveying member 31 through the second feeding path 5R2.

[0027] The first feeding guide section 52 forms a first feeding path 5R1 through which the first media M1 is fed between the branching section 51 and the conveying surface 311 of the conveying member 31. The first feeding guide section 52 can guide the first media M1 to the conveying surface 311 by curving the first media M1 after it has passed through the branching section 51, thereby changing the feeding direction of the first media M1 by acute first changing angles α11 and α12 just before it reaches the conveying surface 311. In the example shown in Figure 1, the first feeding guide section 52 can guide the first media M1 to the conveying surface 311 by curving the first media M1 after it has passed through the branching section 51 in two stages, thereby changing the feeding direction of the first media M1 by acute first changing angles α11 and α12 in the order of feeding direction D11, feeding direction D12, and feeding direction D13. In this case, the angle between the feeding direction D11 and the feeding direction D12 is an acute first change angle α11, and the angle between the feeding direction D12 and the feeding direction D13 is an acute first change angle α12.

[0028] The first media M1, having passed through the first feeding guide section 52, is supplied to the transport surface 311 of the transport member 31. The first media M1 supplied to the transport surface 311 is pressed downward by a pressing section 54 positioned opposite the transport surface 311 from above. As a result, the first media M1 adheres to the adhesive layer 31S1 on the transport surface 311.

[0029] As previously described, the first media M1 is a fabric material such as a woven fabric with relatively little elasticity. After passing through the branching section 51, the first media M1 is sharply curved in the first feeding guide section 52 so that the feeding direction is changed by acute first changing angles α11 and α12. This sharp curvature imparts a relatively large tension to the first media M1. This removes wrinkles from the first media M1. Since the wrinkle-free first media M1 is supplied to the conveying surface 311 of the conveying member 31, it becomes possible to print a high-quality image on the first media M1 supported by the conveying surface 311.

[0030] As shown in Figure 1, the first feeding guide section 52 has a first wrinkle-removing member 52A and a second wrinkle-removing member 52B. The first wrinkle-removing member 52A and the second wrinkle-removing member 52B can remove wrinkles from the first media M1 by spreading the first media M1 in the X direction after it has passed through the branching section 51. The first feeding guide section 52 removes wrinkles from the first media M1 with the first wrinkle-removing member 52A and the second wrinkle-removing member 52B, and then changes the feeding direction of the first media M1 by acute first changing angles α11 and α12. As a result, the first feeding guide section 52 can more reliably supply the first media M1, which has been wrinkle-removed, to the conveying surface 311 of the conveying member 31.

[0031] The first feeding guide section 52 is located above the conveying surface 311 of the conveying member 31. The first feeding guide section 52 has an upper guide member 521 and a lower guide member 522. The first media M1 that has passed through the branching section 51 is supplied via the upper guide member 521 and the lower guide member 522 to a position on the conveying surface 311 of the conveying member 31 that faces the pressing section 54.

[0032] The upper guide member 521 is located above the conveying surface 311 of the conveying member 31. The upper guide member 521 is a cylindrical member extending in the X direction, having a curved outer surface that contacts the first media M1 that has passed through the branching section 51 from the upstream side of the conveying path 3R. The upper guide member 521 is rotatable about an axis extending in the X direction. The upper guide member 521 can change the feeding direction of the first media M1 from feeding direction D11 to feeding direction D12 by curving the first media M1 that has passed through the branching section 51 along its outer surface. The first change angle α11 when the upper guide member 521 changes the feeding direction of the first media M1 is the angle between feeding direction D11 and feeding direction D12. The feeding direction D11 indicates the feeding direction of the first media M1 located between the branching section 51 and the upper guide member 521, and is the same direction as the transport direction H1 of the first media M1 along the transport path 3R on the transport surface 311 of the transport member 31. The feeding direction D12 indicates the feeding direction of the first media M1 located between the upper guide member 521 and the lower guide member 522, and is a direction that is diagonally downward from the upper guide member 521 towards the upstream side of the transport direction H1 along the transport path 3R.

[0033] The lower guide member 522 is located above the conveying surface 311 of the conveying member 31, upstream and below the upper guide member 521 in the conveying direction H1 along the conveying path 3R. The lower guide member 522 is a cylindrical member extending in the X direction, having a curved outer circumferential surface that contacts the first media M1 that has passed through the upper guide member 521 from the downstream side in the conveying direction H1 along the conveying path 3R. The lower guide member 522 is rotatable about an axis extending in the X direction. The lower guide member 522 can change the feeding direction of the first media M1 from feeding direction D12 to feeding direction D13 by curving the first media M1 that has passed through the upper guide member 521 along its outer circumferential surface. The first change angle α12 when the lower guide member 522 changes the feeding direction of the first media M1 is the angle between feeding direction D12 and feeding direction D13. The feeding direction D13 indicates the feeding direction of the first media M1 located between the lower guide member 522 and the conveying surface 311 of the conveying member 31, and is a direction that is diagonally downward from the lower guide member 522 to the downstream side of the conveying direction H1 along the conveying path 3R.

[0034] The first feeding guide section 52 changes the feeding direction of the first media M1 by acute first changing angles α11 and α12 by curving the first media M1 that has passed through the branching section 51 in multiple stages using multiple guide members, including the upper guide member 521 and the lower guide member 522. As a result, the first feeding guide section 52 can more reliably supply the first media M1, which is wrinkle-free, to the conveying surface 311 of the conveying member 31.

[0035] The second feeding guide section 53 forms a second feeding path 5R2 through which the second media M2 is fed between the branching section 51 and the conveying surface 311 of the conveying member 31. The second feeding guide section 53 guides the second media M2 to the conveying surface 311 by curving the second media M2 that has passed through the branching section 51 more gently than the first feeding guide section 52, thereby changing the feeding direction of the second media M2 by a second changing angle α2 that is larger than the first changing angles α11 and α12 just before reaching the conveying surface 311. The second changing angle α2 is an obtuse angle. In the example shown in Figure 1, the second feeding guide section 53 can change the feeding direction of the second media M2 that has passed through the branching section 51 from feeding direction D21 to feeding direction D22 by an obtuse second changing angle α2. In this case, the angle between feeding direction D21 and feeding direction D22 is the second changing angle α2.

[0036] The second media M2, having passed through the second feeding guide section 53, is supplied to the transport surface 311 of the transport member 31. As a result, the second media M2 adheres to the adhesive layer 31S1 on the transport surface 311.

[0037] As previously described, the second media M2 is a fabric material such as a knitted fabric with relatively high elasticity. After passing through the branching section 51, the second media M2 is gently curved in the second feeding guide section 53 so that the feeding direction is changed by a second changing angle α2, which is an obtuse angle larger than the first changing angles α11 and α12. By gently curving the second media M2, it is possible to suppress the application of excessive tension to the second media M2. This suppresses deformation caused by the stretching of the second media M2, which has higher elasticity than the first media M1. Since the second media M2 in a state where deformation accompanied by stretching is suppressed is supplied to the conveying surface 311 of the conveying member 31, it becomes possible to print a high-quality image on the second media M2 supported on the conveying surface 311.

[0038] The second feeding guide section 53 is located below the conveying surface 311 between the branching section 51 and the conveying member 31. This allows for easy installation of the second feeding guide section 53, which forms the second feeding path 5R2 for the feeding of the second media M2, separate from the first feeding guide section 52, which forms the first feeding path 5R1 for the feeding of the first media M1.

[0039] The second feeding guide section 53 includes a tensioning member 53A and a feeding guide member 531. The second media M2 that has passed through the branching section 51 is supplied to the conveying surface 311 of the conveying member 31 via the tensioning member 53A and the feeding guide member 531.

[0040] The tension-applying member 53A is placed on the region of the second media M2 located between the branching section 51 and the conveying surface 311 of the conveying member 31. In this case, the second media M2 is subjected to a predetermined, weak tension corresponding to the weight of the tension-applying member 53A, such that excessive deformation does not occur.

[0041] The feeding guide member 531 is located upstream and below the conveying surface 311 of the conveying member 31 in the conveying direction H1 along the conveying path 3R. Specifically, the feeding guide member 531 faces the winding region 313 that is wrapped around the second conveying roller 33 on the surface 31S of the conveying member 31 from the upstream side in the conveying direction H1 along the conveying path 3R, and is located below the conveying surface 311 of the conveying member 31.

[0042] The feeding guide member 531 is a cylindrical member extending in the X direction, having a curved outer surface that contacts the second media M2 from below after it has passed through the branching section 51 and further through the tensioning member 53A. The feeding guide member 531 is rotatable about an axis extending in the X direction.

[0043] The feeding guide member 531 can change the feeding direction of the second media M2 from feeding direction D21 to feeding direction D22 by curving the second media M2, which has passed through the branching section 51 and the tensioning member 53A, along its outer surface. The second change angle α2 when the feeding guide member 531 changes the feeding direction of the second media M2 is the angle between feeding direction D21 and feeding direction D22. Feeding direction D21 indicates the feeding direction of the second media M2 located between the tensioning member 53A and the feeding guide member 531, and is a direction that goes diagonally upward from the tensioning member 53A toward the downstream side of the transport direction H1 along the transport path 3R. Feeding direction D22 indicates the feeding direction of the second media M2 located between the feeding guide member 531 and the transport surface 311 of the transport member 31, and is a direction that goes diagonally upward from the feeding guide member 531 toward the downstream side of the transport direction H1 along the transport path 3R.

[0044] The second feeding guide section 53 changes the feeding direction of the second media M2, which is subjected to a weak tension by the tension-applying member 53A, by an obtuse second changing angle α2 at the feeding guide member 531. As a result, the second feeding guide section 53 can supply the second media M2, which is wrinkle-free and whose deformation accompanied by elongation is suppressed, to the conveying surface 311 of the conveying member 31.

[0045] Furthermore, in the second feeding guide section 53 located below the conveying surface 311 of the conveying member 31, the position of the feeding guide member 531 relative to the conveying surface 311 is set such that the angle β between the tangent line TL connecting the outer surface of the feeding guide member 531 and the upstream end of the conveying surface 311 of the conveying member 31 is greater than 0 degrees and less than or equal to 30 degrees. The upstream end of the conveying surface 311 is located at the boundary between the conveying surface 311 and the winding region 313 on the surface 31S of the conveying member 31. This suppresses the supply of the second media M2 from the feeding guide member 531 to the winding region 313 of the conveying member 31, and allows the second media M2 to be supplied to the upstream end of the conveying surface 311.

[0046] In the printing apparatus 1, the structure of the guide unit 5 is not limited to a structure in which the first feeding guide section 52 is positioned above the conveying surface 311 of the conveying member 31 and the second feeding guide section 53 is positioned below it. As shown in Figure 2, both the first feeding guide section 52 and the second feeding guide section 53 may be positioned above the conveying surface 311 of the conveying member 31.

[0047] In the modified example shown in Figure 2, the first feeding guide section 52, located above the conveying surface 311 of the conveying member 31, changes the feeding direction of the first media M1 by acute first changing angles α11 and α12 by curving the first media M1 that has passed through the branching section 51 in multiple stages using multiple guide members, including the upper guide member 521 and the lower guide member 522. As a result, the first feeding guide section 52 can supply the wrinkle-free first media M1 to the conveying surface 311 of the conveying member 31.

[0048] The second feeding guide section 53 is located above the conveying surface 311 of the conveying member 31 and has a feeding guide member 531. In this case, the feeding guide member 531 is located upstream of the conveying direction H1 along the conveying path 3R, below the upper guide member 521 and above the lower guide member 522, relative to the conveying surface 311 and the lower guide member 522 of the conveying member 31. The outer circumferential surface of the feeding guide member 531 makes surface contact with the second media M2 that has passed through the branching section 51 from below. The range of surface contact between the outer circumferential surface of the feeding guide member 531 and the second media M2 is preferably, for example, 1 / 4 or less of the entire circumference of the outer circumferential surface, and particularly preferably 1 / 3 or less of the entire circumference of the outer circumferential surface.

[0049] The second media M2, having passed through the branching section 51, is supplied to the conveying surface 311 of the conveying member 31 via the feeding guide member 531 and the lower guide member 522. In this case, the lower guide member 522 is used for both feeding the first media M1, which has passed through the upper guide member 521, and feeding the second media M2, which has passed through the feeding guide member 531.

[0050] The feeding guide member 531 can change the feeding direction of the second media M2 from feeding direction D21 to feeding direction D22 by contacting the second media M2 from below after it has passed through the branching section 51 and bending it. The second change angle α2 when the feeding guide member 531 changes the feeding direction of the second media M2 is the angle between feeding direction D21 and feeding direction D22. Feeding direction D21 indicates the feeding direction of the second media M2 located between the branching section 51 and the feeding guide member 531, and is a direction that goes diagonally upward from the branching section 51 to the downstream side of the transport direction H1 along the transport path 3R. Feeding direction D22 indicates the feeding direction of the second media M2 located between the feeding guide member 531 and the lower guide member 522, and is a direction that goes diagonally downward from the feeding guide member 531 to the downstream side of the transport direction H1 along the transport path 3R.

[0051] The lower guide member 522 can change the feeding direction of the second media M2 from feeding direction D22 to feeding direction D23 by contacting and curving the second media M2 that has passed through the feeding guide member 531 from the downstream side in the transport direction H1 along the transport path 3R. The second change angle α2 when the lower guide member 522 changes the feeding direction of the second media M2 is the angle between feeding direction D22 and feeding direction D23. Feeding direction D23 indicates the feeding direction of the second media M2 located between the lower guide member 522 and the transport surface 311 of the transport member 31, and is a direction that is diagonally downward from the lower guide member 522 to the downstream side in the transport direction H1 along the transport path 3R.

[0052] The feeding guide member 531 and the lower guide member 522 change the feeding direction of the second media M2 by an obtuse second modification angle α2, guiding the second media M2 to the conveying surface 311 of the conveying member 31. As a result, the second media M2 is supplied to the conveying surface 311 of the conveying member 31 in a state in which deformation accompanied by elongation is suppressed.

[0053] Furthermore, in a structure where both the first feeding guide section 52 and the second feeding guide section 53 are located above the conveying surface 311 of the conveying member 31, the installation of the feeding guide member 531 may be omitted, and the upper guide member 521 may be movable above the lower guide member 522 along the conveying direction H1 along the conveying path 3R. In this case, the upper guide member 521 is movable between a first position located above the lower guide member 522, downstream of the lower guide member 522 in the conveying direction H1 along the conveying path 3R, and a second position located upstream of the lower guide member 522 in the conveying direction H1 along the conveying path 3R.

[0054] A first supply passage 5R1 can be formed by the upper guide member 521 and the lower guide member 522 located in the first position, and a second supply passage 5R2 can be formed by the upper guide member 521 and the lower guide member 522 located in the second position.

[0055] When the first media M1 is fed to the transport member 31, the upper guide member 521 is positioned in a first position. In this case, the upper guide member 521 and the lower guide member 522, positioned in the first position, can guide the first media M1 to the transport surface 311 of the transport member 31 by curving the first media M1 that has passed through the branching section 51, thereby changing the feeding direction of the first media M1 by acute first changing angles α11 and α12. As a result, the wrinkle-free first media M1 is supplied to the transport surface 311 of the transport member 31.

[0056] On the other hand, when the second media M2 is supplied to the transport member 31, the upper guide member 521 is positioned in the second position. In this case, the upper guide member 521 and the lower guide member 522, positioned in the second position, can guide the second media M2 to the transport surface 311 of the transport member 31 by curving the second media M2 that has passed through the branching section 51, thereby changing the feeding direction of the second media M2 by an obtuse second changing angle α2. As a result, the second media M2 is supplied to the transport surface 311 of the transport member 31 in a state in which deformation accompanied by elongation is suppressed. [Explanation of symbols]

[0057] 1 Printing device 3. Transport Unit 31 Conveying Member 311 Conveying surface 3R transport path 4 Printing Units 42 inkjet heads 421 Inkhead (Ink Unit) 5 Guide Units 51 Branching point 52 First Feeding Guide Section 521 Upper guide member 522 Lower guide member 53 Second Feeding Guide Section 531 Feeding guide member 5R1 1st feed route 5R2 2nd feed route

Claims

1. A transport member having a transport surface capable of supporting and transporting a printing medium, and forming a transport path for the printing medium along the transport surface, The system includes a guide unit capable of guiding the printing medium to the transport surface, The aforementioned guide unit is A branching section located upstream of the transport surface in the transport direction of the printing medium along the transport path, and capable of branching the transport path of the printing medium to the transport surface into a first transport path and a second transport path when multiple types of printing medium with different elasticity are supplied to the transport surface, A first feeding guide section that forms the first feeding path and can change the feeding direction of the printing medium that has passed through the branch section by a first acute angle of change, A printing apparatus comprising: a second feeding guide section that forms the second feeding path and is capable of changing the feeding direction of the printing medium that has passed through the branch section by a second changing angle greater than the first changing angle.

2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second angle of change is obtuse.

3. A transport member having a transport surface capable of supporting and transporting a printing medium, and forming a transport path for the printing medium along the transport surface, The system includes a guide unit capable of guiding the printing medium to the transport surface, The aforementioned guide unit is A branching section located upstream of the transport surface in the transport direction of the printing medium along the transport path, which is capable of branching the supply path of the printing medium relative to the transport surface into a first supply path and a second supply path, A first feeding guide section is located above the transport surface, forms the first feeding path, and is capable of changing the feeding direction of the printing medium that has passed through the branching section by a first acute angle of change. A printing apparatus comprising: a second feeding guide section located below the conveying surface between the branching section and the conveying surface, forming the second feeding path, and capable of changing the feeding direction of the printing medium that has passed through the branching section by a second changing angle greater than the first changing angle.

4. The first feeding guide section is, An upper guide member having a curved outer surface that is located above the transport surface and contacts the printing medium that has passed through the branching section from the upstream side of the transport path, The printing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising: a lower guide member located above the transport surface, upstream and below the upper guide member in the transport path, and having a curved outer surface that contacts the printing medium that has passed through the upper guide member from the downstream side of the transport path.

5. The printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the second feeding guide portion is located below the transport surface and has a curved outer surface that contacts the printing medium that has passed through the branching portion from below, and includes a rotatable feeding guide member.

6. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein an adhesive layer for adhering the printing medium is formed on the transport surface.

7. A transport member having a transport surface capable of supporting and transporting a printing medium, and forming a transport path for the printing medium along the transport surface, The system includes a guide unit capable of guiding the printing medium to the transport surface, The aforementioned guide unit is A branching section located upstream of the transport surface in the transport direction of the printing medium along the transport path, which is capable of branching the supply path of the printing medium relative to the transport surface into a first supply path and a second supply path, A first feeding guide section that forms the first feeding path and can change the feeding direction of the printing medium that has passed through the branch section by a first acute angle of change, The invention includes a second feeding guide section that forms the second feeding path and is capable of changing the feeding direction of the printing medium that has passed through the branch section by a second changing angle greater than the first changing angle, The printing medium includes a first fabric member and a second fabric member which is more elastic than the first fabric member. The first supply path is a supply path for supplying the first fabric member, The aforementioned second feeding path is a feeding path for feeding the aforementioned second fabric member, in a printing apparatus.

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