Auxiliary member

Abstract

Provided is an auxiliary member that contributes to suppressing misalignment of a sheet with respect to a platen.　An auxiliary member 5 comprises: an underlay part 41 extending in a plane intersecting the Z direction; a support member 50 extending in the Y direction, provided at an end of the underlay part 41 in the negative X direction, and supporting the underlay part 41; a support member 60 extending in the Y direction, provided at an end of the underlay part 41 in the positive X direction, and supporting the underlay part 41; and support members 70 respectively extending from the support members 50, 60 toward each other in the X direction and supporting the underlay part 41. Each of the support members 50, 60, 70 has a rigidity higher than the rigidity of the underlay part 41. The auxiliary member 5 is attached to a platen with the Z direction along the up-and-down direction. In this state, the underlay part 41 is located between a mounting surface of the platen and a printing surface of a printing medium in the up-down direction, and each of the support members 50, 60, 70 is located below the underlay part 41.

Description

Auxiliary parts

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an auxiliary member.

[0002] The inkjet printing device described in Patent Document 1 includes a platen and a discharge head. A print medium is placed on the platen. The platen moves between a position where the print medium is placed on the platen and a position where the platen faces the discharge head. The discharge head discharges ink onto the print medium placed on the platen.

[0003] JP 2013-22858 A

[0004] In the inkjet textile printing device, there is a possibility that ink ejected from the ejection head may adhere to the platen. To prevent ink from adhering to the platen, a sheet may be placed between the platen and the print medium. In this case, for example, if the sheet shifts relative to the platen while the platen is moving, the print medium may shift relative to the sheet, and the position of the image actually printed on the print medium may deviate from the intended position.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide an auxiliary member that contributes to suppressing displacement of a sheet relative to a platen.

[0006] The present specification discloses, for example, the following aspects.

[0007] An auxiliary member according to one aspect of the present disclosure is an auxiliary member attached to a platen that is transported between a set position where a printing surface of a print medium is placed on a placement surface that is the upper surface of the platen, and a printing position where the placement surface of the platen faces a nozzle surface of an inkjet head in a vertical direction with the printing surface of the print medium interposed therebetween, the auxiliary member comprising: a sheet extending in a planar shape that intersects with a first direction; a first support member that extends in a second direction that intersects with the first direction and is provided at an end of the sheet in a third specific direction that is one of a third direction intersecting with the first direction and the second direction, and that supports the sheet, the first support member having rigidity higher than that of the sheet; and a second support member that extends in the second direction and is provided at an end of the sheet in a third opposite direction that is opposite to the third specific direction in the third direction. a second support member that supports the sheet and has a rigidity higher than that of the sheet; and a third support member that extends from the first support member and the second support member toward each other in the third direction and supports the sheet, the third support member having a rigidity higher than that of the sheet, wherein the auxiliary members are attached to the platen with the first direction aligned with the up-down direction, and the sheet is positioned between the placement surface of the platen and the printing surface of the printing medium in the up-down direction when the auxiliary members are attached to the platen, and the first support member, the second support member, and the third support member are each positioned below the sheet when the auxiliary members are attached to the platen.

[0008] According to the above aspect, the first support member, the second support member, and the third support member are each positioned below the sheet when the auxiliary member is attached to the platen. Therefore, when the sheet attempts to shift relative to the platen, the first support member, the second support member, or the third support member comes into contact with the platen. Because the rigidity of the first support member, the second support member, and the third support member is greater than the rigidity of the sheet, the contact of each support member with the platen more effectively prevents the sheet from shifting relative to the platen compared to when the rigidity of the first support member, the second support member, and the third support member is less than the rigidity of the sheet. Therefore, the auxiliary member contributes to preventing the sheet from shifting relative to the platen.

[0009] In the auxiliary member, a coefficient of friction of a lower surface of the sheet when the auxiliary member is attached to the platen may be greater than a coefficient of friction of an upper surface of the sheet when the auxiliary member is attached to the platen.

[0010] In this case, when the auxiliary member is attached to the platen, friction between the lower surface of the sheet and the upper surface of the platen prevents the sheet from shifting relative to the platen. Thus, the auxiliary member contributes to preventing the sheet from shifting relative to the platen.

[0011] In the auxiliary member, the first support member and the second support member may each be switchable between a first state in which the length of each of the first support member and the second support member in the second direction is a first length, and a second state in which the length of each of the first support member and the second support member in the second direction is a second length that is shorter than the first length.

[0012] For example, when the printing area of ​​the printing surface of the print medium is small, the first support member and the second support member may each be switched from the first state to the second state. Thus, the auxiliary member contributes to miniaturization as needed.

[0013] The auxiliary member may have a water-repellent upper surface of the sheet when the auxiliary member is attached to the platen.

[0014] In this case, the auxiliary member contributes to preventing the upper surface of the platen from becoming dirty.

[0015] In the auxiliary member, the sheet may have substantially no water absorbency.

[0016] In this case, compared to when the sheet is water-absorbent, the auxiliary member contributes to suppressing the influence of moisture absorbed by the sheet on the print medium on which the next printing is performed.

[0017] In the auxiliary member, the third support member may have a first extension portion that extends toward the second specific direction, which is one of the second directions, from an end of the first support member in a second specific direction toward the third opposite direction, and a second extension portion that extends toward the second specific direction from an end of the second support member in the second specific direction toward the third specific direction.

[0018] In this case, if the print medium is, for example, clothing worn on the upper body, the first and second extension portions are arranged to fit along both shoulders of the clothing worn on the upper body, and the auxiliary member thus contributes to preventing the print medium from shifting relative to the sheet.

[0019] The auxiliary member may include a first connecting portion that passes through the connecting point between the first support member and the first extension portion and rotatably connects the first support member and the first extension portion around a first axis extending in the first direction, a second connecting portion that passes through the connecting point between the second support member and the second extension portion and rotatably connects the second support member and the second extension portion around a second axis extending in the first direction, and a third connecting portion that passes through the connecting point between the first extension portion and the second extension portion and rotatably connects the first extension portion and the second extension portion around a third axis extending in the first direction.

[0020] In this case, the distance between the first support member and the second support member changes in the third direction when the first support member and the first extension portion rotate about the first axis, the second support member and the second extension portion rotate about the second axis, and the first extension portion and the second extension portion rotate about the third axis. Thus, the auxiliary member contributes to adjusting the distance between the first support member and the second support member in the third direction to, for example, the size of the platen.

[0021] In the auxiliary member, the first support member and the second support member may each extend further in the second opposite direction than the end of the sheet in a second opposite direction that is opposite to a second specific direction, which is one of the second directions.

[0022] For example, if the printing surface of the print medium is larger than the sheet in the second direction, the printing surface of the print medium is supported by the portions of the first support member and the second support member that extend further in the second direction from the edge of the sheet in the second specific direction. This causes the printing surface of the print medium to hang down from the edge of the sheet in the second specific direction, preventing the print medium from shifting relative to the sheet due to its own weight. Therefore, the auxiliary member contributes to preventing the print medium from shifting relative to the sheet.

[0023] 7 is a perspective view of the printer 1 as seen from the upper front left. It is a schematic diagram of a cross section taken along the line A-A in FIG. 1. It is a view of the auxiliary member 5 as seen from the Z+ direction. It is a cross section of the sheet 40. It is a view of the auxiliary member 5 as seen from the Z+ direction before it is attached to the platen 3. It is a view of the auxiliary member 5 as seen from the Z+ direction after it is attached to the platen 3 and before the T-shirt 10 is set on the platen 3. It is a view of the T-shirt 10 set on the platen 3 with the auxiliary member 5 attached as seen from the Z+ direction. It is a cross section taken along the line B-B in FIG. 7 when the platen 3 is large size. It is a cross section taken along the line B-B in FIG. 7 when the platen 3 is small size.

[0024] A printer 1 and an auxiliary member 5 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, mechanical elements in the drawings are shown to actual scale. The printer 1 shown in FIG. 1 is an inkjet printer that prints on a T-shirt 10 shown in FIG. 2. The T-shirt 10 is a type of print medium. The print medium can be fabric, paper, or the like, and is not limited to the T-shirt 10.

[0025] For example, the printer 1 can perform so-called wet-on-wet printing, in which a pretreatment agent is applied to a T-shirt 10 placed on a platen 3 (described later) and ink is ejected onto the T-shirt 10 while it is wet due to the pretreatment agent. The printer 1 can also perform so-called wet-on-dry printing, in which ink is ejected onto a T-shirt 10 placed on the platen 3 while it is dry.

[0026] 3 is used as an underlay for the T-shirt 10 to prevent ink from adhering to the platen 3 when printing is performed by the printer 1. Furthermore, in wet-on-wet printing, the T-shirt 10 is in a wet state, and the surface tension of the liquid between the T-shirt 10 and the platen 3 makes it difficult to remove the printed T-shirt 10 from the platen 3. The auxiliary member 5 is used to make it easier to remove the wet T-shirt 10 from the platen 3.

[0027] 1 and 2, the schematic configuration of the printer 1 will be described. The top, bottom, lower left, upper right, lower right, and upper left in Fig. 1 respectively correspond to the top, bottom, left, right, front, and rear of the printer 1. The up-down direction of the printer 1 is the vertical direction.

[0028] 1 and 2, the printer 1 includes a housing 2, a platen 3, a shaft 14 (see FIG. 2), guide rails 11 and 12, a carriage 20, and a plurality of inkjet heads 9. The housing 2 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape and includes a front wall 21. An upper portion of the housing 2 is omitted in FIG. 1. A hole 22 is formed in the housing 2. The hole 22 extends rearward from the center of the front wall 21.

[0029] The platen 3 is placed in the hole 22 when viewed from the front, and is supported by the support base 13. The platen 3 is a rectangular plate that extends in the front-to-back and left-to-right directions. A placement surface 31 is formed on the upper surface of the platen 3. The T-shirt 10 is placed on the platen 3 so that the surface of the T-shirt 10 on which an image is to be printed (hereinafter referred to as the "print surface 10A") is placed on the placement surface 31 (see FIG. 2).

[0030] The platen 3 is detachable from the support base 13. In this embodiment, the platen 3 comes in two sizes: a large size (see FIG. 8) having a relatively large width W1 in the left-right direction, and a small size (see FIG. 9) having a smaller width W1 in the left-right direction than the large size. For example, depending on the size of the T-shirt 10, either the large size or the small size platen 3 is attached to the support base 13.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 1 , a support portion 32 is provided at the front end of the platen 3. The support portion 32 includes extension portions 321, 322, 323, and 324. The extension portions 321, 322, 323, and 324 are each rod-shaped. The extension portion 321 extends forward from the left end of the front end of the platen 3. The extension portion 322 extends forward from the right end of the front end of the platen 3. The extension portion 323 extends forward from the front end of the extension portion 321 toward the right. The extension portion 324 extends forward from the front end of the extension portion 322 toward the left. The extension portions 323 and 324 are connected to each other midway between the extension portions 321 and 322 in the left-right direction. The support portion 32 has a shape that follows the shape of the shoulders of the T-shirt 10 and supports a portion of the T-shirt 10 that is positioned forward of the front end of the platen 3.

[0032] As shown in Fig. 2, the shaft 14 is disposed below the hole 22 and extends in the front-to-rear direction. The shaft 14 supports the platen 3 via a support base 13. The platen 3 is transported in the front-to-rear direction along the shaft 14 between the set position P1 and the printing position P2 by driving a sub-scanning motor (not shown). In Fig. 2, the platen 3 and support base 13 positioned at the set position P1 are shown by solid lines, and the platen 3 and support base 13 positioned at the printing position P2 are shown by imaginary lines.

[0033] Set position P1 is the position of the platen 3 when the printing surface 10A of the T-shirt 10 is placed on the placement surface 31 of the platen 3 and the T-shirt 10 is placed on the platen 3. In this embodiment, when the platen 3 is located at set position P1, the platen 3 is positioned forward of the front wall 21. Print position P2 is the position of the platen 3 when the placement surface 31 of the platen 3 faces the nozzle surface 90 of the inkjet head 9 (described below) in the vertical direction, with the printing surface 10A of the T-shirt 10 between them. In this embodiment, when the platen 3 is located at print position P2, the platen 3 is positioned rearward of the front wall 21.

[0034] 1 and 2, the guide rail 11 is provided above the hole 22 behind the front wall 21 and extends in the left-right direction. The guide rail 12 is provided behind the guide rail 11 and extends in the left-right direction. The carriage 20 is a plate and is located between the guide rails 11 and 12 in the front-to-rear direction. The carriage 20 is supported by the guide rails 11 and 12. The carriage 20 moves in the left-to-right direction along the guide rails 11 and 12 by being driven by a main scanning motor (not shown).

[0035] Each of the inkjet heads 9 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape and is mounted on a carriage 20. The enlarged view shown in Fig. 1 is a bottom view of the inkjet head 9. A nozzle surface 90 is formed on the lower surface of the inkjet head 9. The nozzle surface 90 is located above the mounting surface 31 of the platen 3 and is exposed downward from an opening (not shown) provided in the carriage 20. A plurality of nozzles 911 are provided on the nozzle surface 90.

[0036] The multiple inkjet heads 9 include a white head 9W, a color head 9C, and a pre-treatment head 9S. The relative positions of the white head 9W, color head 9C, and pre-treatment head 9S are not limited to any particular relationship, but in this embodiment, they are lined up in a row from front to rear in the order of color head 9C, pre-treatment head 9S, and white head 9W.

[0037] The white head 9W ejects white ink from multiple nozzles 911. The white ink is used as a base for the image to be printed, or is used to print color images. The color head 9C ejects color ink (cyan, magenta, yellow, or black) from multiple nozzles 911. The color ink is used to print color images. The pretreatment head 9S ejects a pretreatment agent from multiple nozzles 911. The pretreatment agent is a base coat liquid that improves the fixation of the ink to the T-shirt 10 or the color development of the ink, and is, for example, an aqueous solution containing formic acid and acetic acid.

[0038] The inkjet heads 9 move left and right together with the carriage 20. In the following description, the area of ​​the inkjet heads 9 that overlaps with the platen 3 in plan view is referred to as a "printing area R" (see FIG. 1).

[0039] Printing by the printer 1 will be described with reference to Figure 2. For example, if the T-shirt 10 contains polyester, wet-on-wet printing is performed by the printer 1 performing pretreatment and then printing. For example, if the T-shirt 10 contains cotton, wet-on-dry printing is performed by the printer 1 performing printing without pretreatment. In the case of wet-on-dry printing, for example, the T-shirt 10 may be pretreated by a pretreatment device (not shown) and then dried, and printing may be performed on the dry T-shirt 10 by the printer 1.

[0040] Printing by the printer 1 is performed with the inkjet heads 9 positioned in the printing region R and the platen 3 positioned at the printing position P2. In this state, the mounting surface 31 of the platen 3 faces the nozzle surface 90 of at least one of the inkjet heads 9 in the vertical direction, with the printing surface 10A of the T-shirt 10 between them.

[0041] During pretreatment, the carriage 20 moves left and right while the pretreatment head 9S ejects pretreatment agent from the nozzles 911. The pretreatment agent ejected from the nozzles 911 of the pretreatment head 9S lands on the printing surface 10A of the T-shirt 10 placed on the mounting surface 31. The platen 3 moves back and forth. The carriage 20 moves left and right while the pretreatment head 9S ejects pretreatment agent, and the platen 3 moves back and forth repeatedly, thereby applying the pretreatment agent to the printing surface 10A of the T-shirt 10. This completes the pretreatment.

[0042] During the printing process, the carriage 20 moves left and right while one or both of the white head 9W and color heads 9C eject ink from their nozzles 911. The ink ejected from the nozzles 911 of one or both of the white head 9W and color heads 9C lands on the printing surface 10A of the T-shirt 10 placed on the mounting surface 31. The platen 3 moves back and forth. By repeating the left and right movement of the carriage 20 while ejecting ink from the white head 9W and color heads 9C and the front and back movement of the platen 3, an image is printed on the printing surface 10A of the T-shirt 10. This completes the printing process.

[0043] The auxiliary member 5 will be described with reference to Figures 3 and 4. The left, right, bottom, top, front side, and back side of Figure 3 are the negative X direction, positive X direction, negative Y direction, positive Y direction, negative Z direction, and positive Z direction of the auxiliary member 5, respectively.

[0044] As shown in Figure 3, the auxiliary member 5 includes a sheet 40 and support members 50, 60, and 70. The sheet 40 is flexible and includes an underlay portion 41 and a pair of excess portions 42 and 43. The underlay portion 41 extends in a plane perpendicular to the Z direction and is rectangular when viewed from the Z direction. The pair of excess portions 42 and 43 are portions of the sheet 40 other than the underlay portion 41. The excess portion 42 extends in the negative Z direction from the end of the underlay portion 41 in the negative X direction (see Figures 8 and 9). The excess portion 43 extends in the negative Z direction from the end of the underlay portion 41 in the positive X direction (see Figures 8 and 9).

[0045] As shown in Figure 4, the sheet 40 is constructed by laminating multiple layers, and includes a back layer 40A and a front layer 40B. Hereinafter, the surface of the sheet 40 including the surface of the underlay portion 41 facing in the negative Z direction will be referred to as the "back surface of the sheet 40," and the surface of the sheet 40 including the surface of the underlay portion 41 facing in the positive Z direction will be referred to as the "front surface of the sheet 40." The back layer 40A forms the back surface of the sheet 40. The front surface layer 40B is laminated on the back layer 40A and forms the front surface of the sheet 40.

[0046] The back layer 40A is not limited to a specific material, but in this embodiment it is a polyurethane cloth. The front layer 40B is not limited to a specific material, but in this embodiment it is a water-repellent cloth, specifically a polyester cloth. The coefficient of friction of the back layer 40A (polyurethane cloth) is greater than the coefficient of friction of the front layer 40B (polyethylene cloth).

[0047] The surface of the sheet 40 (water-repellent cloth) is water-repellent. That is, the contact angle between the surface of the sheet 40 and water is 90° or more. Therefore, the sheet 40 has substantially no water absorption, and moisture does not easily permeate the sheet 40 from the front surface to the back surface in the Z direction. A plastic film or the like may be used for the sheet 40 as a material that has water-repellent properties but has substantially no water absorption.

[0048] As shown in Figure 3, the support member 50 is disposed at the end of the underlay 41 in the negative X direction and supports the underlay 41 from the negative Z direction. The support member 50 is rod-shaped extending in the Y direction and extends further in the positive Y direction than the positive Y end of the underlay 41. The support member 50 includes extensions 51 and 52. The extension 51 is shaped like a square tube extending in the Y direction and is disposed in the negative Y direction portion of the support member 50. The extension 52 is shaped like a square pillar extending in the Y direction and is inserted inside the extension 51. The lengths of the extensions 51 and 52 in the Z direction are greater than the thickness of the sheet 40.

[0049] The two enlarged views in Fig. 3 each show a cross-section of the connecting portion of the extension portions 51, 52 cut along a plane perpendicular to the Z direction. The upper of the two enlarged views in Fig. 3 shows the long state S1, which will be described later. The lower of the two enlarged views in Fig. 3 shows the short state, which will be described later. Hereinafter, the line that passes through the intersection of the diagonals of the cross-section (rectangle) of the extension portions 51, 52 cut along a plane perpendicular to the Y direction and extends in the Y direction will be referred to as center line C.

[0050] An engagement portion 511 is provided at the end of the extension portion 51 in the positive Y direction. The engagement portion 511 protrudes from the end of the extension portion 51 in the positive Y direction in a direction approaching the center line C. Stoppers 521, 522 are provided at both ends of the extension portion 52 in the Y direction. The stoppers 521, 522 protrude from both ends of the extension portion 52 in the Y direction in a direction away from the center line C. Therefore, when the extension portion 52 tries to come out of the extension portion 51, the stopper 521 gets caught on the engagement portion 511. When the entire extension portion 52 tries to enter the extension portion 51, the stopper 522 gets caught on the engagement portion 511. As described above, the extension portion 52 is connected to the extension portion 51 so as to be extendable and contractible in the Y direction.

[0051] The support member 50 can be switched between a long state S1 and a short state S2. The long state S1 is a state in which the stopper 521 is caught on the engaging portion 511. The short state S2 is a state in which the stopper 522 is caught on the engaging portion 511.

[0052] Hereinafter, the length in the Y direction from the negative Y end to the positive Y end of the support member 50 will be referred to as the "length L of the support member 50." In this embodiment, the negative Y end of the support member 50 is the negative Y end of the extension portion 51 in either the long state S1 or the short state S2, and the positive Y end of the support member 50 is the positive Y end of the extension portion 52 in either the long state S1 or the short state S2. In the long state S1, the length L of the support member 50 is a first length. In the short state S2, the length L of the support member 50 is a second length that is shorter than the first length.

[0053] The sheet 40 is fixed to the support member 50 by one or more (two in this embodiment) fasteners 91. In this embodiment, the fasteners 91 are rivets, and are inserted into the extension portion 51 via the excess portion 42 from the minus X direction.

[0054] The support member 60 is disposed at the end of the underlay portion 41 in the positive X direction, and supports the underlay portion 41 from the negative Z direction. The structure of the support member 60 is the same as that of the support member 50. Therefore, the description of the structure of the support member 60 will be simplified. The support member 60 includes extension portions 61 and 62. The extension portion 61 corresponds to the extension portion 51, and the extension portion 62 corresponds to the extension portion 52. Like the support member 50, the support member 60 can be switched between a long state S1 and a short state S2.

[0055] The sheet 40 is fixed to the support member 60 by one or more fasteners 92. In this embodiment, the fasteners 92 are rivets, and are inserted into the extensions 61 from the positive X direction via the excess portions 43.

[0056] Support member 70 is provided only at the negative Y-direction ends of each of support members 50, 60 and at the positive Y-direction ends of each of support members 50, 60. Support member 70 is V-shaped with an opening in the positive Y-direction when viewed from the Z direction, and includes extensions 71, 72. Extension portion 71 extends from the negative Y-direction end of support member 50 toward the positive X-direction, and then in the negative Y-direction to the center in the X-direction between support member 50 and support member 60.

[0057] The extension 71 has a bent plate shape. In this embodiment, the end of the extension 71 in the negative Y direction protrudes in the negative Z direction. The length of the extension 71 in the Z direction is greater than the thickness of the sheet 40.

[0058] The extension portion 72 extends from the negative Y-direction end of the support member 60 toward the negative X-direction, then toward the negative Y-direction, to the center in the X-direction between the support members 50 and 60. The extension portion 72 is in the shape of a bent plate. The negative Y-direction end of the extension portion 72 protrudes in the negative Z-direction. The length of the extension portion 72 in the Z-direction is greater than the thickness of the sheet 40.

[0059] The connecting mechanism of the support members 50, 60, and 70 will now be described. The extension 71 and the support member 50 are connected to each other by a connector 81. The extension 72 and the support member 60 are connected to each other by a connector 82. The extensions 71 and 72 are connected to each other by a connector 83.

[0060] Each of the connectors 81, 82, and 83 is an axis and extends in the Z direction. Axes AX1, AX2, and AX3 pass through the centers of the connectors 81, 82, and 83, respectively, and extend in the Z direction. The support member 50 and the extension 71 are rotatable relative to each other about the axis AX1. The support member 60 and the extension 72 are rotatable relative to each other about the axis AX2. The extension 71 and the extension 72 are rotatable relative to each other about the axis AX3.

[0061] In this embodiment, the rigidity of the support members 50, 60, and 70 is higher than the rigidity of the sheet 40. The material of the support members 50, 60, and 70 is not limited to a particular material as long as it is higher in rigidity than the sheet 40, but may be, for example, plastic, metal, or wood.

[0062] 5 to 9, a method of using the auxiliary member 5 will be described. As shown in FIG. 5, the user uses the auxiliary member 5 in, for example, the long state S1. With the sheet 40 removed from the support members 50 and 60 (not shown), the user rotates the extension portions 71 and 72 relative to each other about the axis AX3. The user rotates the support member 50 and the extension portion 71 relative to each other about the axis AX1, and rotates the support member 60 and the extension portion 72 relative to each other about the axis AX2 so that the support members 50 and 60 are parallel to each other. In this way, the user adjusts the distance W2 between the support members 50 and 60 in the X direction so that it is approximately the same as the width W1 of the platen 3.

[0063] For example, when decreasing the distance W2 between the support members 50 and 60, the user decreases the angle θ3 between the extensions 71 and 72, and increases the angle θ1 between the support member 50 and the extension 71 and the angle θ2 between the support member 60 and the extension 72. When increasing the distance W2 between the support members 50 and 60, the user increases the angle θ3 between the extensions 71 and 72, and decreases the angle θ1 between the support member 50 and the extension 71 and the angle θ2 between the support member 60 and the extension 72.

[0064] The user secures the sheet 40 to the support members 50 and 60 with fasteners 91 and 92. For example, if the platen 3 is small in size, the excess portions 42 and 43 will be large (see FIG. 9 ). In this case, the user may secure the sheet 40 to the support member 50 with fastener 91 while wrapping the excess portion 42 around the support member 50, and may secure the sheet 40 to the support member 60 with fastener 92 while wrapping the excess portion 43 around the support member 60.

[0065] 5 and 6, the user attaches the auxiliary member 5 to the platen 3 from the front (see arrow A1 in FIG. 5) with the platen 3 in the set position P1 shown in FIG. 2. Specifically, the auxiliary member 5 is attached to the platen 3 with the positive Z direction of the auxiliary member 5 facing upward from the platen 3 and the positive Y direction of the auxiliary member 5 facing rearward from the platen 3.

[0066] For example, the user pushes the auxiliary member 5 rearward relative to the platen 3 until the support member 70 contacts the support portion 32. As a result, the auxiliary member 5 is positioned relative to the platen 3 in the front-rear direction.

[0067] 8 and 9 , when the auxiliary member 5 is attached to the platen 3, the underlay portion 41 is placed on the support surface 31 of the platen 3. The back layer 40A forms the lower surface of the underlay portion 41 and is in contact with the support surface 31 of the platen 3. The front layer 40B forms the upper surface of the underlay portion 41. Because the sheet 40 is flexible, the entire underlay portion 41 fits snugly against the support surface 31 of the platen 3.

[0068] The support member 50 is disposed to the left of the platen 3, near the left end of the platen 3, and is located below the underlay portion 41. Therefore, the lower end of the support member 50 is located below the mounting surface 31 of the platen 3. The support member 60 is disposed to the right of the platen 3, near the right end of the platen 3, and is located below the underlay portion 41. Therefore, the lower end of the support member 60 is located below the mounting surface 31 of the platen 3.

[0069] 6 and 7, with the auxiliary member 5 attached to the platen 3, the user places the T-shirt 10 on the platen 3 from the front (see arrow A2 in FIG. 6). Specifically, the T-shirt 10 is placed on the platen 3 with the print surface 10A of the T-shirt 10 facing upward and the neck portion of the T-shirt 10 facing forward.

[0070] 8 and 9 , when the T-shirt 10 is set on the platen 3, the platen 3 is placed inside the T-shirt 10, and the printing surface 10A of the T-shirt 10 is placed on the underlay 41. Therefore, the underlay 41 is positioned between the placement surface 31 of the platen 3 and the printing surface 10A of the T-shirt 10 in the vertical direction. The surface layer 40B comes into contact with the T-shirt 10.

[0071] 7, when the T-shirt 10 is set on the platen 3, the extensions 71, 72 are positioned so as to fit along both shoulders of the T-shirt 10. The connecting portions of the extensions 71, 72 protrude forward from the neck portion of the T-shirt 10. The end of the torso portion of the T-shirt 10 opposite the neck portion is supported by the portions of the support members 50, 60 that are in the positive Y direction rather than the end of the sheet 40 in the positive Y direction.

[0072] With the T-shirt 10 set on the platen 3, the user inputs a print start command to the printer 1. The printer 1 transports the platen 3 from the set position P1 to the print position P2 shown in FIG. 2 and performs wet-on-wet printing or wet-on-dry printing. Once the wet-on-wet printing or wet-on-dry printing is complete, the printer 1 transports the platen 3 from the print position P2 to the set position P1. The user removes the printed T-shirt 10 together with the auxiliary member 5 from the platen 3.

[0073] For example, a user carries the T-shirt 10 attached to the auxiliary member 5 to a post-processing device (not shown). In the post-processing device, the T-shirt 10 is placed together with the auxiliary member 5 with the Z plus direction of the auxiliary member 5 facing upward (i.e., with the printed surface 10A of the T-shirt 10 facing upward). The post-processing device is, for example, an oven, which dries the printed surface 10A of the T-shirt 10 by heat to improve ink fixation.

[0074] For example, if the image printed on the T-shirt 10 is small, the user may switch the support members 50, 60 from the long state S1 to the short state S2, and then place the T-shirt 10 together with the auxiliary members 5 in the post-processing device. For example, if the image printed on the T-shirt 10 is large, the user may place the T-shirt 10 together with the auxiliary members 5 in the post-processing device while keeping the support members 50, 60 in the long state S1.

[0075] As described above, according to the above embodiment, the support members 50, 60, and 70 are each positioned below the underlay portion 41 of the sheet 40 when the auxiliary member 5 is attached to the platen 3. Therefore, if the underlay portion 41 attempts to shift relative to the platen 3, the support member 50, support member 60, or support member 70 comes into contact with the periphery of the platen 3. Because the rigidity of the support members 50, 60, and 70 is greater than the rigidity of the sheet 40, the contact of each support member with the platen 3 more easily prevents the underlay portion 41 from shifting relative to the platen 3 compared to when the rigidity of each support member is lower than the rigidity of the sheet 40. Therefore, the auxiliary member 5 contributes to preventing the underlay portion 41 from shifting relative to the platen 3.

[0076] In the above embodiment, the coefficient of friction of the underlay portion 41's lower surface (back surface layer 40A) when the auxiliary member 5 is attached to the platen 3 is greater than the coefficient of friction of the underlay portion 41's upper surface (surface layer 40B) when the auxiliary member 5 is attached to the platen 3. Therefore, when the auxiliary member 5 is attached to the platen 3, friction between the underlay portion 41's lower surface and the support surface 31 of the platen 3 prevents the underlay portion 41 from shifting relative to the platen 3. Thus, the auxiliary member 5 contributes to preventing the underlay portion 41 from shifting relative to the platen 3. Furthermore, because the coefficient of friction of the underlay portion 41's upper surface (surface layer 40B) when the auxiliary member 5 is attached to the platen 3 is relatively small, when the T-shirt 10 is placed on the auxiliary member 5, the T-shirt 10 is less likely to get caught on the upper surface of the underlay portion 41. This makes it easier for the user to place the T-shirt 10 on the auxiliary member 5.

[0077] In the above embodiment, the support members 50, 60 can each be switched between a long state S1 and a short state S2. For example, if the printing area of ​​the printing surface 10A of the T-shirt 10 is small, the support members 50, 60 may each be switched from the long state S1 to the short state S2. Therefore, the auxiliary member 5 contributes to miniaturization as needed. For example, the auxiliary member 5 contributes to placing a larger number of T-shirts 10, each together with the auxiliary member 5, in the post-processing device.

[0078] In the above embodiment, the upper surface of the underlay 41 is water-repellent when the auxiliary member 5 is attached to the platen 3. Therefore, the auxiliary member 5 contributes to preventing the placement surface 31 of the platen 3 from becoming soiled, compared to when the upper surface of the underlay 41 is not water-repellent. Furthermore, because, for example, pretreatment agent and water vapor for humidifying the printing area R are less likely to permeate the underlay 41, the amount of pretreatment agent or water vapor present above the upper surface of the underlay 41 tends to be constant. Therefore, the auxiliary member 5 contributes to preventing deterioration in the image quality printed on the printing surface 10A of the T-shirt 10.

[0079] In the above embodiment, the sheet 40 is substantially non-absorbent. Therefore, compared to when the sheet 40 is absorbent, the auxiliary member 5 contributes to preventing moisture absorbed by the sheet 40 from affecting the T-shirt 10 on which the next printing is performed. The moisture may be, for example, a pretreatment agent, water vapor for humidifying the printing area R, or mist generated by ink ejection from the inkjet head 9. Furthermore, when the auxiliary member 5 is attached to the platen 3, the amount of pretreatment agent or water vapor present above the upper surface of the underlay portion 41 tends to be constant. Therefore, the auxiliary member 5 contributes to preventing deterioration in the image quality printed on the printing surface 10A of the T-shirt 10.

[0080] In the above embodiment, the extension portion 71 extends in the negative Y direction as it moves from the negative Y end of the support member 50 toward the positive X direction. The extension portion 72 extends in the negative Y direction as it moves from the negative Y end of the support member 60 toward the negative X direction. Therefore, the extension portions 71, 72 are arranged so as to fit along both shoulder portions of the T-shirt 10. Therefore, the auxiliary member 5 contributes to preventing the T-shirt 10 from slipping relative to the underlay portion 41.

[0081] In the above embodiment, the auxiliary member 5 includes the connectors 81, 82, and 83. Therefore, the support member 50 and the extension portion 71 rotate about the axis AX1, the support member 60 and the extension portion 72 rotate about the axis AX2, and the extension portion 71 and the extension portion 72 rotate about the axis AX3, thereby changing the distance W2 between the support members 50 and 60 in the X direction. Therefore, the auxiliary member 5 contributes to adjusting the distance W2 between the support members 50 and 60 in the X direction to, for example, the size of the platen 3.

[0082] In the above embodiment, the support members 50, 60 each extend further in the Y-positive direction than the Y-positive end of the underlay 41. Therefore, for example, if the printing surface 10A of the T-shirt 10 is larger in the Y-direction than the underlay 41, the printing surface 10A of the T-shirt 10 is supported by the portions of the support members 50, 60 that extend further in the Y-negative direction from the Y-negative end of the underlay 41. This causes the printing surface 10A of the T-shirt 10 to hang down from the Y-negative end of the underlay 41, preventing the T-shirt 10 from shifting relative to the underlay 41 due to its own weight. Therefore, the auxiliary member 5 contributes to preventing the T-shirt 10 from shifting relative to the underlay 41.

[0083] In the above embodiment, the T-shirt 10 corresponds to the "printing medium" in this disclosure. The printing surface 10A corresponds to the "printing surface" in this disclosure. The platen 3 corresponds to the "platen" in this disclosure. The placing surface 31 corresponds to the "placing surface" in this disclosure. The set position P1 corresponds to the "set position" in this disclosure. The inkjet head 9 corresponds to the "inkjet head" in this disclosure. The nozzle surface 90 corresponds to the "nozzle surface" in this disclosure. The up-down direction of the printer 1 corresponds to the "up-down direction" in this disclosure. The printing position P2 corresponds to the "printing position" in this disclosure. The auxiliary member 5 corresponds to the "auxiliary member" in this disclosure. The Z direction of the auxiliary member 5 corresponds to the "first direction" in this disclosure. The underlay portion 41 of the sheet 40 corresponds to the "sheet" in this disclosure. The Y direction of the auxiliary member 5 corresponds to the "second direction" in this disclosure. The X direction of the auxiliary member 5 corresponds to the "third direction" in this disclosure. The negative X direction of the auxiliary member 5 corresponds to the "third specific direction" of the present disclosure. The support member 50 corresponds to the "first support member" of the present disclosure. The positive X direction of the auxiliary member 5 corresponds to the "third opposite direction" of the present disclosure. The support member 60 corresponds to the "second support member" of the present disclosure. The support member 70 corresponds to the "third support member" of the present disclosure.

[0084] The long state S1 corresponds to the "first state" of the present disclosure. The short state S2 corresponds to the "second state" of the present disclosure. The negative Y direction of the auxiliary member 5 corresponds to the "second specific direction" of the present disclosure. The extension portion 71 corresponds to the "first extension portion" of the present disclosure. The extension portion 72 corresponds to the "second extension portion" of the present disclosure. The axis AX1 corresponds to the "first axis" of the present disclosure. The connector 81 corresponds to the "first connecting portion" of the present disclosure. The axis AX2 corresponds to the "second axis" of the present disclosure. The connector 82 corresponds to the "second connecting portion" of the present disclosure. The axis AX3 corresponds to the "third axis" of the present disclosure. The connector 83 corresponds to the "third connecting portion" of the present disclosure. The positive Y direction of the auxiliary member 5 corresponds to the "second opposite direction" of the present disclosure.

[0085] The present disclosure may be modified in various ways from the above-described embodiment. The following modifications may be combined with each other as long as no contradictions arise. The auxiliary member 5 may be used in a printer different from the above-described embodiment, as long as the printer is an inkjet printer that can transport the platen 3 between the set position P1 and the printing position P2. For example, the auxiliary member 5 may be used in a printer 1 that can perform only one of wet-on-wet printing and wet-on-dry printing. The auxiliary member 5 may be used in a printer 1 that has a single inkjet head 9.

[0086] The method of using the auxiliary member 5 is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the user may place the T-shirt 10 on the auxiliary member 5 and then attach the auxiliary member 5 with the T-shirt 10 placed on it to the platen 3.

[0087] The shapes of the support members 50 and 60 are not limited to those of the above embodiment. For example, the support member 50 may be plate-shaped extending in the Y and Z directions. The shape of the support member 70 is not limited to those of the above embodiment. For example, the support member 70 may be rod-shaped. The support member 70 may extend in a straight line in the X direction between the negative Y end of the support member 50 and the negative Y end of the support member 60.

[0088] In the above embodiment, the support members 70 are provided only at the negative Y-direction ends of the support members 50, 60 and only at the positive Y-direction ends of the support members 50, 60. In contrast, the support members 70 may be provided only at the negative Y-direction ends of the support members 50, 60 and only at the positive Y-direction ends of the support members 50, 60. The support members 70 may be provided at both the negative Y-direction ends of the support members 50, 60 and only at the positive Y-direction ends of the support members 50, 60.

[0089] The connector 81 may connect (i.e., fix) the extension portion 71 and the support member 50 so that they cannot rotate relative to each other. In this case, the connector 81 is not limited to a shaft, and may be a fixing plate, adhesive, or the like. The extension portion 71 and the support member 50 may be integrally molded with each other. The connectors 82 and 83 may also be modified in the same way as the connector 81. The relationship between the extension portion 72 and the support member 60 and the relationship between the extension portions 71 and 72 may also be modified in the same way as the relationship between the extension portion 71 and the support member 50.

[0090] The positive X-direction end of extension portion 71 and the negative X-direction end of extension portion 72 may be separated from each other in the X direction. In this case, extension portions 71 and 72 may be connected via another extension portion. For example, the other extension portion extends in the X direction. Furthermore, the negative X-direction end of the other extension portion is rotatably connected to extension portion 71 by a connector, and the positive X-direction end of the other extension portion is rotatably connected to extension portion 72 by a connector. In this case, the other extension portion and the two connectors correspond to the "third connector" of the present disclosure.

[0091] In the above embodiment, for example, the sheet 40 may be water-absorbent. Paper or the like may be used as a water-absorbent material for the sheet 40. For example, the surface of the sheet 40 may not be water-repellent. For example, if the surface of the sheet 40 is not water-repellent and the sheet 40 as a whole is not water-absorbent, moisture will easily permeate the sheet 40 from the front surface to the back surface in the Z direction.

[0092] The connection structure of the extension portions 51, 52 is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the extension portions 51, 52 may be connected by a hinge. In this case, the extension portion 52 switches between a state in which it is arranged in a straight line with the extension portion 51 and a state in which it is folded relative to the extension portion 51 around the hinge as an axis. The state in which the extension portion 52 is arranged in a straight line with the extension portion 51 is the long state S1. The state in which it is folded relative to the extension portion 51 around the hinge as an axis is the short state S2. The support member 50 may not be switchable between the long state S1 and the short state S2. In this case, the support member 50 may omit the extension portion 52. The support member 60 may also be modified in the same way as the support member 50.

[0093] In the above embodiment, the coefficient of friction of the back surface of sheet 40 may be the same as or smaller than the coefficient of friction of the front surface of sheet 40. Sheet 40 may be, for example, a single layer. That is, one of back surface layer 40A and front surface layer 40B may be omitted. In this case, the coefficient of friction of the back surface of sheet 40 is the same as the coefficient of friction of the front surface of sheet 40. For example, back surface layer 40A and front surface layer 40B may be made of the same material, and the fabric may be woven in different ways, so that the coefficient of friction of the back surface of sheet 40 is different from the coefficient of friction of the front surface of sheet 40. The fabric may be woven in a plain weave, pile weave, or the like.

[0094] In the above embodiment, the excess portions 42, 43 of the sheet 40 may be omitted. The fasteners 91, 92 are not limited to rivets, and may be bolts and nuts, screws, etc. The sheet 40 may be adhered to the support members 50, 60 by, for example, an adhesive, instead of the fasteners 91, 92. The sheet 40 does not have to be flexible, and may be a thin plate, etc.

[0095] In the above embodiment, the support members 50, 60 extend parallel to each other. The support members 50, 60 may extend in the same direction as the left and right ends of the platen 3. That is, for example, if the left and right ends of the platen 3 extend in directions that move away from each other in the left-right direction as they move from the front to the rear, the support members 50, 60 may extend in directions that move away from each other in the X direction as they move from the Y-minus direction to the Y-plus direction.

[0096] 3: Platen 5: Auxiliary member 9: Inkjet head 40: Sheet 41: Underlay portion 50, 60, 70: Support member 71, 72: Extension portion 81, 82, 83: Connector

Claims

1. An auxiliary member attached to a platen that is transported between a set position where a printing surface of a print medium is placed on a placement surface that is the upper surface of a platen, and a printing position where the placement surface of the platen faces a nozzle surface of an inkjet head in a vertical direction with the printing surface of the print medium between them, the auxiliary member comprising: a sheet extending in a planar shape that intersects with a first direction; a first support member extending in a second direction that intersects with the first direction and is provided at an end of the sheet in a third specific direction that is one of a third direction that intersects with the first direction and the second direction, the first support member having a rigidity higher than that of the sheet; a second support member extending in the second direction and is provided at an end of the sheet in a third opposite direction that is opposite to the third specific direction in the third direction, the second support member having a rigidity higher than that of the sheet; and a third support member extending from each of the first support member and the second support member toward each other in the third direction and supporting the sheet, the third support member having a rigidity higher than that of the sheet, an auxiliary member, characterized in that the auxiliary member is attached to the platen with the first direction aligned with the vertical direction; the sheet is disposed between the placement surface of the platen and the printing surface of the printing medium in the vertical direction when the auxiliary member is attached to the platen; and the first support member, the second support member, and the third support member are each positioned lower than the sheet when the auxiliary member is attached to the platen.

2. The auxiliary member according to claim 1, characterized in that the coefficient of friction of the lower surface of the sheet when the auxiliary member is attached to the platen is greater than the coefficient of friction of the upper surface of the sheet when the auxiliary member is attached to the platen.

3. The auxiliary member described in claim 1, characterized in that the first support member and the second support member are each switchable between a first state in which the length of each of the first support member and the second support member in the second direction is a first length, and a second state in which the length of each of the first support member and the second support member in the second direction is a second length that is shorter than the first length.

4. The auxiliary member according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper surface of the sheet has water repellency when the auxiliary member is attached to the platen.

5. The auxiliary member according to claim 1, characterized in that the sheet has substantially no water absorbency.

6. An auxiliary member as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the third support member has a first extension portion that extends toward the second specific direction from an end of the first support member in a second specific direction, which is one of the second directions, toward the third opposite direction, and a second extension portion that extends toward the second specific direction from an end of the second support member in the second specific direction toward the third specific direction.

7. An auxiliary member as described in claim 6, characterized in that it comprises: a first connecting portion that connects the first support member and the first extension portion to be rotatable about a first axis that passes through a connecting point between the first support member and the first extension portion and extends in the first direction; a second connecting portion that connects the second support member and the second extension portion to be rotatable about a second axis that passes through a connecting point between the second support member and the second extension portion and extends in the first direction; and a third connecting portion that connects the first extension portion and the second extension portion to be rotatable about a third axis that passes through a connecting point between the first extension portion and the second extension portion and extends in the first direction.

8. An auxiliary member as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the first support member and the second support member each extend beyond an end of the sheet in a second opposite direction that is opposite to a second specific direction, which is one of the second directions, into the second opposite direction.

Images