JP5119871B2 - Printer - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printer that performs printing by transporting a recording paper in a state where the recording paper is sucked onto the surface of a platen that defines a printing position, and more specifically, an improvement in the surface shape of the platen that sucks the recording paper About.

In printers that transport recording paper through the printing position and perform printing, in order to prevent the recording paper from floating from the surface of the platen that defines the printing position, the recording paper is placed on the platen. There is known one that conveys and prints recording paper in a state of being sucked by the printer. The platen of this type of printer has a number of suction holes for sucking recording paper on the surface, and air is sucked by a suction fan through the suction holes. Such a printer is described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, for example.
JP 2001-221946 A Japanese Patent No. 3864791

  Since the suction force of the recording paper by each suction hole formed on the surface of the platen is weak, a plurality of sections that can be sealed by the recording paper transported by surrounding the suction holes by forming ribs around them It is necessary to efficiently suck the recording paper by forming the chamber. In this case, if the opening area of each compartment is too large, a part of the recording paper is sucked into the compartment and the recording paper undulates. In addition, when a recording paper having a narrow width is conveyed, an edge portion in the width direction of the recording paper may fall into the compartment. In this case, the flatness of the recording paper at the printing position cannot be maintained, and the printing quality is deteriorated. Further, the attachment of the ribs may cause the recording paper to be caught and prevent smooth conveyance.

  An object of the present invention is to secure the flatness of the recording paper at the printing position, so that each part of the recording paper can be sucked to the platen with a uniform force, and the surface of the platen can be smoothly conveyed. It is to propose a printer having an improved shape.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is a printer that conveys a recording sheet while sucking the recording sheet on the surface of a platen that defines a printing position, and performs printing.
The surface of the platen is partitioned into a plurality of groove-shaped compartments by a plurality of first ribs extending in the recording paper conveyance direction,
At least one suction hole is formed in each bottom surface of the compartment;
The compartment includes a plurality of first compartments and a plurality of second compartments wider than the first compartment,
The second compartment is partitioned into small compartments before and after the recording paper conveyance direction by a second rib extending in the platen width direction ,
The opening area of the second compartment is twice the opening area of the first compartment,
The second rib is characterized in that the second compartment is divided into two small compartments having the same opening area as that of the first compartment at the center in the recording paper conveyance direction . .

  According to the present invention, even when the recording paper is sucked with a strong force by the second rib arranged in the wide second compartment, a part of the recording paper is sucked into the compartment and undulates, or the width direction of the recording paper It is possible to prevent the end portion of the body from falling into the compartment. Accordingly, it is possible to ensure the flatness of the recording paper at the printing position.

  Further, it is preferable that the upstream side of the second rib in the recording paper conveyance direction is an inclined surface toward the bottom surface.

  Even if the end portion of the recording sheet falls into each compartment, it is not caught by the second rib by being conveyed while being squeezed by the inclined surface.

  In addition, two suction holes are formed in the first partition chamber at positions away from each other in the recording paper conveyance direction, and one suction hole is formed in the small partition chamber, which is formed in the small partition chamber. It is preferable that an opening area of the suction hole formed is larger than an opening area of the suction hole formed in the first compartment.

  By forming a suction hole smaller than that of the first compartment, the second compartment can be narrowed. In the case of a small suction hole, the resistance of the air flow in the hole is increased, but by using two suction holes, the total resistance of the air flow can be reduced and a uniform suction force can be obtained.

  In this case, it is desirable that the opening area of the suction hole formed in the small compartment is equal to the sum of the opening areas of the two suction holes formed in the first compartment. In this way, the suction force of the recording paper at each part on the platen can be made more uniform.

  Further, in the platen portion where the edge portion in the width direction of the recording paper is conveyed, the first compartment with a relatively narrow width and the second compartment with a wide width are alternately arranged in the printer width direction. Since the second rib is formed in the wide second compartment, the edge portion in the width direction of the recording paper may fall into each compartment when the narrow paper is conveyed. I'm not sorry.

  Here, the opening area of the second compartment is twice as large as the opening area of the first compartment, and the second rib separates the second compartment from the first compartment in the center in the recording paper transport direction. It is desirable to partition into two small compartments having the same opening area as the opening area of the chamber. In this way, the recording paper can be sucked with a uniform suction force at each portion on the platen, and the flatness of the recording paper can be ensured.

  According to the printer of the present invention, a compartment having a relatively narrow width and a compartment having a wide width are formed on the surface of the platen, and an inclined surface is formed on the upstream side of the compartment having a wide width. The second rib is arranged to form a small compartment, and a suction hole is formed in each compartment.

  Therefore, the recording paper can be sucked with a uniform suction force at each portion on the platen, and the recording paper can be sucked in a flat state without undulation. In addition, since narrow compartments and wide compartments are alternately formed and the wide compartment is divided into two in the recording paper transport direction, when transporting recording papers having different widths, It is possible to effectively prevent the end portion of the recording paper in the width direction from falling into the compartment. Further, the inclined surface can prevent the end of the recording paper from being caught by the second rib.

  Embodiments of a printer to which the present invention is applied will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(overall structure)
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an ink jet type roll paper printer according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of a state in which the opening / closing lid is fully opened.

  The roll paper printer 1 has a printer body 2 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole, and an opening / closing lid 3 attached to the front surface of the printer body 2. A recording paper discharge port 4 having a predetermined width is formed on the front surface of the outer case 2 a of the printer main body 2. A paper discharge guide 5 protrudes forward below the recording paper discharge port 4, and a lid opening / closing lever 6 is disposed on the side of the paper discharge guide 5. A rectangular opening 2b for inserting and removing roll paper is formed below the paper discharge guide 5 and the lid opening / closing lever 6 in the outer case 2a. The opening 2b is sealed by the opening / closing lid 3.

  When the lid opening / closing lever 6 is operated, the opening / closing lid 3 is unlocked. When the paper discharge guide 5 is pulled forward, as shown in FIG. 2, the opening / closing lid 3 opens until it is substantially horizontal forward with the lower end as a center. When the opening / closing lid 3 is opened, the roll paper storage unit 7 formed inside the printer body 2 is opened. At the same time, the platen 8 for defining the printing position moves together with the opening / closing lid 3, and the recording paper transport path from the roll paper storage unit 7 to the recording paper discharge port 4 is opened. Replacement work can be performed easily.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the internal configuration of the roll paper printer. Inside the roll paper printer 1, a roll paper storage unit 7 is formed at the center in the width direction of the printer main body frame 11. The roll paper 12 is stored in the roll paper storage unit 7 in a horizontally placed state facing the printer width direction.

  A head unit frame 13 is horizontally attached to the upper end of the printer main body frame 11 above the roll paper storage unit 7. The head unit frame 13 includes an inkjet head 14, a carriage 17 on which the inkjet head 14 is mounted, and a carriage guide shaft 18 that guides the movement of the carriage 17 in the printer width direction. The inkjet head 14 is mounted on the carriage 17 so that the ink nozzle surface 14a faces downward. The carriage guide shaft 18 is stretched horizontally in the printer width direction. The head unit frame 13 is provided with a carriage transport mechanism including a carriage motor 19 and a timing belt 20 for reciprocating the carriage 17 along the carriage guide shaft 18.

  A platen 8 extending horizontally in the printer width direction with a certain gap is disposed below the inkjet head 14. The platen 8 defines the printing position by the inkjet head 14. A tension guide 22 curved downward is attached to the rear end of the platen 8. The tension guide 22 is biased upward by a spring force, and the recording paper 12 a drawn from the roll paper 12 stored in the roll paper storage unit 7 is in a state where a predetermined tension is applied by the tension guide 22. It is pulled out along the recording paper conveyance path passing through the printing position.

  On the rear side of the platen 8, a rear paper feed roller 23 is stretched horizontally in the printer width direction. A rear paper pressing roller 24 having a predetermined width is pressed against the rear paper feeding roller 23 with a predetermined pressing force via the recording paper 12a. A front paper feed roller 25 is disposed at the front end portion of the platen 8. A front paper pressing roller 26 is pressed against the front paper feeding roller 25 from above via the recording paper 12a. The rear paper feed roller 23 and the front paper feed roller 25 are driven by a paper feed motor 27 mounted on the printer main body frame 11. The platen 8, the tension guide 22, the rear paper feed roller 23, and the front paper feed roller 25 move together with the open / close lid 3 when the open / close lid 3 is opened and closed.

  Here, the platen 8 is a so-called suction platen that can suck the recording paper 12a to the surface 8a. The platen 8 and the printer main body 2 are configured with a recording paper suction mechanism for sucking the recording paper 12 a to the surface 8 a of the platen 8. Details of the recording paper suction mechanism will be described later.

  The portion of the recording paper 12a fed out from the roll paper 12 is conveyed while being sucked by the surface of the platen 8, and passes through the printing position. In the printing position, printing is performed by the inkjet head 14 mounted on the carriage 17 while reciprocating the carriage 17 along the carriage guide shaft 18. After a series of line printing in the width direction of the recording paper 12a is completed, the rear paper feeding roller 23 and the front paper feeding roller 25 are rotationally driven to feed the recording paper 12a by a predetermined pitch. After this, the next line printing is performed. Thus, the recording paper 12a is printed by the ink jet head 14 while being intermittently sent out at a predetermined pitch. A recording paper cutting device, for example, a scissors-type recording paper cutting device 28 is arranged at the recording paper discharge port 4 from which the recording paper 12a after printing is discharged. The recording paper cutting device 28 cuts the recording paper 12a positioned between them in the width direction.

(Recording paper suction mechanism)
4 is a side view showing a state in which the outer case 2a is removed from the printer main body 2. FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view showing the platen 8 and the recording paper suction mechanism.

  The platen 8 has a flat rectangular parallelepiped shape that is long in the printer width direction. An ink mist collection unit 30 that collects ink mist generated due to ink droplets ejected from the inkjet head 14 is formed integrally with the platen 8 on the side of the platen 8. The surface 8 a of the platen 8 is partitioned into a plurality of groove-shaped compartments 32 by a plurality of vertical ribs 31. The recording paper suction mechanism includes a plurality of compartments 32, suction holes 33 formed in the bottom surfaces 32 a of the plurality of compartments 32, and a suction fan 34 attached to the back plate 11 a of the printer main body frame 11. And an air passage 36 communicating with each compartment 32 via each suction hole 33 and communicating with an exhaust port 35 formed on the back side of the printer body 2 via a suction fan 34. Has been.

(Platen surface shape)
FIG. 6A is a plan view for explaining the compartments partitioned by the ribs 31 on the surface of the platen 8, and FIG. 6B is a partial sectional view thereof.

  The surface 8a of the platen 8 is partitioned into a plurality of elongate compartments 32 arranged in the platen width direction orthogonal to the recording paper transport direction by a plurality of vertical ribs 31 extending along the recording paper transport direction. .

  The plurality of compartments 32 include a plurality of first compartments 51 having a narrow width and a plurality of second compartments 52 having a wider width. The opening area of the second compartment 52 is twice the opening area of the first compartment 51. The first compartment 51 and the second compartment 52 are alternately arranged in a portion where the edge portion in the width direction of the recording paper 12a is conveyed. A third compartment 53 having a width smaller than that of the first compartment 51 is disposed at both ends in the platen width direction, and a fourth compartment having a width wider than that of the second compartment 52 is provided at the center in the platen width direction. A chamber 54 is arranged. The second compartment 52 is divided into two small compartments 52a and 52b having the same opening area as the first compartment 51 by a lateral rib (second rib) 55 disposed in the center in the recording paper conveyance direction. An inclined surface 61 is formed on the upstream side of the horizontal rib 55 in the conveyance direction of the recording paper 12a. The inclined surface 61 is inclined smoothly toward the bottom surface 32a with the lateral rib 55 as an apex. An inclined surface 62 that is smoothly inclined toward the bottom surface 32 a is also formed at the downstream end of the platen 8. These inclined surfaces guide the end of the recording paper 12a so that it smoothly crawls even if it falls into the small compartments 52a and 52b. Since the end portion of the recording paper 12a does not fall into the second compartment 52 at the narrow portion like the second compartment 52, such an inclined surface is not necessarily required. .

  One suction hole 33 is formed in each of the small compartments 52a and 52b. In each of the first, third, and fourth compartments 51, 53, and 54, two suction holes 33 are formed at positions separated in the recording paper conveyance direction. The opening area of the suction holes 33 formed in the small compartments 52 a and 52 b is twice as large as that of the suction holes 33 formed in the first compartment 51.

(Effects of each compartment and suction hole)
In the platen 8 having the surface shape formed in this manner, the recording paper 12a can be sucked through the compartments 51, 53, 54 and the small compartments 52a, 52b having a larger opening area than the suction hole 33. The recording paper 12a can be sucked to the surface 8a of the platen 8 with a strong force. Further, since the lateral rib 55 is arranged in the second compartment 52 wider than the first compartment 51, a part of the recording paper 12a is sucked into the second compartment 52 and undulates. Can be prevented.

  Further, the first compartments 51 having a small opening area and the second compartments 52 having a larger opening area are alternately arranged along the platen width direction, and the second compartments 52 are arranged in the recording paper transport direction. Small compartments 52a and 52b are provided. Further, narrow first and third compartments 53 and 51 are formed at both end portions of the platen surface 8a in the width direction. Therefore, it is possible to effectively suppress or prevent the edge portion in the width direction of the recording paper 12a from falling into the compartment when the narrow recording paper 12a is conveyed.

  Furthermore, the suction holes 33 are recorded in each of the first, third, and fourth compartments 51, 53, and 54, which have substantially the same opening area in each compartment and are elongated in the recording paper conveyance direction. Two are formed at positions distant from each other in the paper conveyance direction to reduce the total resistance of the air flow. In addition, the opening area of the suction holes 33 formed in the small compartments 52 and 52 b is a size obtained by adding the opening areas of the two suction holes 33 formed in the first compartment 51. Therefore, the recording paper suction force of each compartment can be made uniform, and the recording paper 12a conveyed while being sucked on the platen can be maintained in a flat state.

1 is an external perspective view of a roll paper printer to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 3 is an external perspective view showing a state in which an opening / closing lid of the roll paper printer is opened. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the internal structure of a roll paper printer. It is a side view showing a state where an outer case of the roll paper printer is removed. It is a perspective view which takes out and shows a platen, an air passage, and a suction fan. It is a top view which shows the division currently formed in the surface of a platen.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Roll paper printer, 2 Printer main body, 2a Exterior case, 2b Opening part, 3 Opening / closing lid 3, 4 Recording paper discharge port, 5 Paper discharge guide, 6 Lid opening / closing lever, 7 Roll paper storage part, 8 Platen, 11 Printer main body Frame, 11a back plate, 12 roll paper, 12a recording paper, 13 head unit frame, 14 inkjet head, 17 carriage, 18 carriage guide shaft, 19 carriage motor, 20 timing belt, 22 tension guide, 23 rear paper feed roller, 24 rear paper pressing roller, 25 front paper feeding roller, 26 front paper pressing roller, 27 paper feeding motor, 28 recording paper cutting device, 30 ink mist collecting section, 30a mist suction hole, 31 vertical rib, 32, 51 to 54 Compartment, 52a, 52b small compartment, 55 horizontal ribs ( 2 ribs), 61, 62 inclined surfaces

Claims (6)

A printer that performs printing by transporting the recording paper while sucking the recording paper on the surface of the platen that defines the printing position;
The surface of the platen is partitioned into a plurality of groove-shaped compartments by a plurality of first ribs extending in the recording paper conveyance direction,
At least one suction hole is formed in each bottom surface of the compartment;
The compartment includes a plurality of first compartments and a plurality of second compartments wider than the first compartment,
The second compartment is partitioned into small compartments before and after the recording paper conveyance direction by a second rib extending in the platen width direction ,
The opening area of the second compartment is twice the opening area of the first compartment,
The second rib divides the second compartment into two small compartments having the same opening area as the opening area of the first compartment at the center in the recording paper conveyance direction. Printer. The printer according to claim 1.
The printer, wherein an upstream side of the second rib formed in the second compartment in the recording paper transport direction is an inclined surface toward the bottom surface. The printer according to claim 1 or 2,
2. The printer according to claim 1, wherein two suction holes are formed in the first compartment at positions separated in the recording paper conveyance direction, and one suction hole is formed in the small compartment. The printer according to claim 3.
The printer according to claim 1, wherein an opening area of the suction hole formed in the small compartment is larger than an opening area of the suction hole formed in the first compartment. The printer according to claim 3 or 4,
The printer, wherein an opening area of the suction hole formed in the small compartment is equal to a sum of opening areas of the two suction holes formed in the first compartment. The printer according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The printer according to claim 1, wherein the first compartment and the second compartment are alternately formed in a portion of the platen where the edge portion in the width direction of the recording paper is conveyed.

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