JP5614015B2 - Recording device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording apparatus.

In the recording apparatus, when the recording paper floats from the platen in the printing area, the printing quality deteriorates, and therefore, a paper transport mechanism composed of rollers is arranged so as to sandwich the recording head. In particular, in an ink jet recording apparatus, for example, recording paper that has not been dried with ink immediately after completion of printing enters a roller disposed on the downstream side of the recording head. A thin roller formed with a thin film, that is, a roller called a star wheel is used (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
In this way, by suppressing the printing surface immediately after printing with the star wheel, it is possible to reduce the adhesion of undried ink as much as possible, and to prevent the printing surface from being stained or ink color mixture.

  By the way, since this type of recording apparatus uses various recording papers (recording media), the required transport force (the clamping force between the transport roller and the star wheel) varies depending on the type of the paper. This conveying force is applied by the elastic restoring force generated by the deflection of the bar spring according to the distance between the central axis of the paper discharge roller and the central axis of the bar spring that supports the star wheel. Since a large value is set so that even paper with a large force can be conveyed, a necessary load is applied to a paper with a small conveying force, and there is a problem in print quality with a paper with a noticeable star wheel mark such as glossy paper. Prone to occur.

  Therefore, Patent Document 2 discloses a technique of using a roller including a plurality of star wheels each having a different conveyance force and switching a roller that contributes to conveyance according to the conveyance force required for the paper.

JP 2001-316209 A JP 2005-169744 A

However, the following problems exist in the conventional technology as described above.
When a roller including a star wheel is prepared for each paper type, the number of star wheels and rollers is enormous, resulting in an increase in cost and an increase in the size of the apparatus.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and an object thereof is to provide a recording apparatus that can contribute to cost reduction and downsizing.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention employs the following configuration.
The recording apparatus of the present invention is a recording apparatus including a paper discharge mechanism that discharges paper while holding a recording medium between a paper discharge roller and a star wheel with a predetermined biasing force, and the biasing force is variable. It has the adjustment apparatus which adjusts, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.
Therefore, in the recording apparatus of the present invention, the adjusting device adjusts the urging force necessary for paper discharge according to the type of the recording medium, so that it is necessary to use a plurality of types of paper discharge rollers and star wheels according to the type of the recording medium. Disappears. Therefore, in the present invention, it is possible to avoid problems such as an increase in cost and an increase in the size of the apparatus that occur when a plurality of types of paper discharge rollers and star wheels are used.

In the recording apparatus, the star wheel is supported by an elastic shaft that is elastically deformable in a direction substantially orthogonal to the length direction, and the adjustment device supports an end of the elastic shaft, and A support device that is movable in a direction in which the wheel and the paper discharge roller are separated and approached, and abuts on the support device to switch a relative distance between the end position of the elastic shaft and the rotation axis of the paper discharge roller. A switching device, and when the switching device abuts on the support device, a first abutting portion whose relative distance is a first distance, and when the switching device abuts on the support device, the relative distance is A configuration having a second contact portion that is a second distance different from the first distance can be suitably employed.
Therefore, in the recording apparatus of the present invention, when the support device moves while the paper discharge roller and the star wheel are in contact with each other, it depends on the relative distance between the end position of the elastic shaft and the rotation axis of the paper discharge roller. By elastically deforming the elastic shaft in a direction substantially perpendicular to the length direction, the elastic restoring force of the elastic shaft according to the elastic deformation amount is applied when the recording medium is sandwiched between the paper discharge roller and the star wheel. Acts as a force. Therefore, the relative distance between the end position of the elastic shaft and the rotation axis of the paper discharge roller is changed to the first distance by switching the contact portion of the switching device with the support device to the first contact portion or the second contact portion. It is possible to switch to the urging force at the time of or the urging force at the second distance.

Further, the recording apparatus of the present invention provides a recording medium between a paper discharge roller that rotates around a predetermined axis and a star wheel that is supported by an elastic shaft that is elastically deformable in a direction substantially perpendicular to the length direction. A paper discharge mechanism that sandwiches and discharges the paper and a support device that supports an end portion of the elastic shaft so as to be relatively movable in the vertical direction with respect to the predetermined shaft.
Therefore, in the recording apparatus of the present invention, the elastic shaft is in the length direction according to the relative distance between the end position of the elastic shaft and the rotation axis of the paper discharge roller when the paper discharge roller and the star wheel are in contact with each other. The elastic restoring force of the elastic shaft corresponding to the amount of elastic deformation acts as an urging force when the recording medium is sandwiched between the paper discharge roller and the star wheel. Therefore, in the present invention, the biasing force when the recording medium is sandwiched is adjusted to the type of the recording medium by adjusting the relative distance between the end position of the elastic shaft and the rotation axis of the paper discharge roller by operating the support device. It is possible to make adjustments accordingly, and a single type of paper discharge roller and star wheel can be used for various types of recording media. Therefore, in the present invention, it is possible to avoid problems such as an increase in cost and an increase in the size of the apparatus that occur when a plurality of types of discharge rollers and star wheels are used.

The recording apparatus includes a switching device that contacts the support device and switches a relative distance between the end position of the elastic shaft and the predetermined shaft, and the switching device contacts the support device. A first abutting portion at which the relative distance is a first distance, and a second abutting portion at which the relative distance is a second distance different from the first distance when abutting on the support device. The structure which has can be employ | adopted suitably.
Therefore, in the recording apparatus of the present invention, the end position of the elastic shaft and the rotation axis of the paper discharge roller are changed by switching the contact portion of the switching device with the support device to the first contact portion or the second contact portion. It is possible to easily switch to the urging force when the relative distance is the first distance or the urging force when the relative distance is the second distance.

In the recording apparatus, when the switching device rotates around the first axis substantially parallel to the rotation axis of the paper discharge roller, the contact portion to the support device is the first contact portion and the second contact portion. A configuration that switches between the contact portion and the contact portion can be suitably employed.
Accordingly, in the present invention, it is possible to easily switch the urging force when sandwiching the recording medium by rotating the switching device around the first axis.

In this case, a configuration in which the rotation axis and the first axis are coaxial can be suitably employed.
Accordingly, in the present invention, the urging force when the recording medium is sandwiched can be adjusted according to the distance from the rotation axis of the first contact portion or the second contact portion.

In the recording apparatus, a configuration in which a grip portion is provided in the switching device can be suitably employed.
Accordingly, in the present invention, it is possible to manually switch the urging force when the recording medium is sandwiched by operating the grip portion and rotating the switching device around the first axis.

Further, in the above recording apparatus, the input unit for inputting information relating to the conveyance characteristics of the recording medium, and the switching device are rotationally driven around the first axis so that the contact portion to the support device is the first unit. A configuration having a drive device that switches to the first contact portion or the second contact portion and a control device that controls rotational driving of the drive device based on input information from the input portion can be suitably employed.
Accordingly, in the present invention, the control device controls the rotational drive of the drive device based on the information regarding the conveyance characteristics of the recording medium input from the input unit, and the contact portion to the support device is changed to the first contact portion or By switching to the second contact portion, the recording medium can be held and conveyed with an urging force suitable for the recording medium.

In the recording apparatus, a plurality of the star wheels may be provided along the width direction of the recording medium, and the support device may suitably employ a configuration that integrally supports the plurality of star wheels.
Therefore, in the recording apparatus of the present invention, the urging force for sandwiching the recording medium can be collectively switched in the width direction, and the work required for switching the urging force can be improved.

1 is a configuration diagram illustrating an inkjet printer 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is an external perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a color measuring device 9; It is a top view which shows a pressing member. It is AA sectional drawing in FIG. It is BB sectional drawing in FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating an operation in which a pressing member is in contact with the surface of roll paper R. FIG. (A) is a front view of a paper discharge device, (b) is a side view showing the main part. (A) is the elements on larger scale which looked at the -Y side end in paper discharge device 10 from the -X side, and (b) is a figure showing the star wheel and bar spring at this time. (A) is the elements on larger scale which looked at the -Y side end in paper discharge device 10 from the -X side, and (b) is a figure showing the star wheel and bar spring at this time. FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of the colorimetric device 9 and the paper discharge device 10 as viewed from the −Y side end. FIG. 6 is a front view of a star wheel 81 and a paper discharge roller 82 partially viewed from the −X side. It is an external appearance perspective view which shows the principal part of a rotation mechanism. It is a figure which shows operation | movement of a rotation mechanism. It is a figure which shows operation | movement of a rotation mechanism.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
In each drawing used for the following description, the scale of each member is appropriately changed to make each member a recognizable size. In the present embodiment, as a recording apparatus according to the present invention, a large-sized ink jet printer (large format) capable of recording on a relatively large recording paper (for example, JIS standard A1 size, B1 size, roll paper, etc.) as a recording medium. Printer: LFP).

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating an inkjet printer 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, the inkjet printer 1 performs a recording process on a spindle 2 that holds a roll paper (recording medium) R, a conveyance path 3 that conveys the roll paper R, and the roll paper R that is conveyed. The recording unit 4 to be implemented, the discharge unit 5 that discharges the roll paper R that has undergone the recording process, the cutter device 6 that shears the roll paper R discharged from the discharge unit 5, and the ink ejected onto the roll paper R A drying device 8 for drying, a color measurement device 9 for measuring color information recorded on the roll paper R, and a paper discharge device for discharging the roll paper R toward the stacker 7 on which the sheared roll paper R is loaded. (Paper discharge mechanism) 10. Further, the ink jet printer 1 includes a control unit (not shown) that comprehensively controls the operation of each component device.

  In the following description, the conveyance direction (discharge direction) of the roll paper R is the X-axis direction, the width direction of the conveyance path 3 perpendicular to the X-axis direction (the vertical direction in FIG. 1) is the Y-axis direction, and X A vertical direction orthogonal to the axial direction and the Y-axis direction may be referred to as a Z-axis direction.

The roll paper R is held by a spindle 2 that can rotate about an axis extending in the Y-axis direction. The spindle 2 is provided at a predetermined height on the −X side of the inkjet printer 1.
The conveyance path 3 includes a conveyance path capable of conveying the roll paper R along the XY plane (horizontal plane). A platen 31 that horizontally supports the roll paper R is provided in the transport path at a position facing the recording head 41 of the recording unit 4. Further, the transport path 3 includes a plurality of transport rollers that nip the roll paper R and rotationally drive the roll paper R to transport the roll paper R.

  The recording unit 4 includes a recording head 41 that ejects ink onto the roll paper R conveyed along the conveyance path 3. The recording head 41 is mounted on a carriage that is movable in the width direction of the transport path 3. The recording head 41 includes a plurality of nozzle rows, and is configured to eject ink of a predetermined color (for example, yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K)) from each nozzle row. It has become. The recording head 41 performs a recording process for recording information such as a predetermined image and characters by ejecting ink onto the recording surface of the roll paper R supported by the platen 31.

  The roll paper R that has undergone the recording process in the recording unit 4 is discharged from a discharge unit 5 that constitutes a terminal portion of the transport path 3. The discharge unit 5 includes a plurality of discharge rollers 51 that nip the roll paper R and rotate it to discharge the roll paper R. The discharge roller 51 includes a mechanism for switching a roller that nips depending on the paper type to a star wheel 51a or a roller roller 51b. The discharge roller 51 is configured to switch to the star wheel 51a having a small contact area because the roll paper R is likely to stick to the discharge roller 51 due to static electricity or the like when the discharge target is a thin roll paper R. Yes. Further, the discharge roller 51 is configured to be switched to a roller roller 51b that has a large contact area and performs stable conveyance because it is difficult to stick to the discharge roller 51 in the case of thick plain paper.

  A cutter device 6 that shears the discharged roll paper R to a predetermined size is provided on the downstream side of the discharge unit 5. The cutter device 6 includes a cutter unit 62 that moves in the width direction (Y-axis direction) orthogonal to the discharge direction (X-axis direction) of the roll paper R to shear the roll paper R. The drying device 8 dries the ink by supplying a gas from the air supply port 8 a to the ink ejected onto the roll paper R conveyed through the cutter device 6.

  2 is an external perspective view showing a schematic configuration of the color measuring device 9, FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a pressing member, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 3, and FIG. 6 is a state (a) when the pressing member is in contact with the surface of the roll paper R, and a state during colorimetry that is in close contact with the surface of the roll paper R. FIG.

  The color measuring device 9 basically includes a color measuring device holder 32 for holding the color measuring device 131, a carriage reciprocating means 33, a pressing member 34, and a rotation shifting means 35 as an integrated unit. It is configured. On the lower surface of the colorimeter holder 32, for example, four traveling wheels 47 constituted by bearings are attached so as to be freely rotatable around an axis parallel to the X-axis direction, that is, freely rotatable in the Y-direction. .

  The traveling wheel 47 straddles a slot-like long hole 49 formed so as to extend in a row direction (Y direction) formed by a colorimetric pattern that is a longitudinal direction with respect to a pressing plate 48 in a pressing member 34 described later. In this way, it comes into contact with a part of the surface (upper surface) of the pressing plate 48 and makes rolling contact.

  The colorimeter 31 irradiates light to a colorimetric pattern B (hereinafter also referred to as color patch B) recorded on the roll paper R and reflects the color reflected on the color patch B based on the color returned. This is a measuring device for obtaining correction values by measuring color information for calibration, and has a rectangular box-like appearance. Note that the colorimeter 31 of the present embodiment is provided with a socket 39 for connecting the connector wiring 38.

  As the color information, color information based on the Lab color mode in which color values are defined by white balance, chromaticity, and brightness can be used as an example. Since the RGB color mode is used on the monitor side and the CMYK color mode is used on the inkjet printer 1, the color information based on the Lab color mode measured by the colorimeter 31 is converted into the RGB color mode or the CMYK color mode, respectively. Thus, the correction value on the monitor side or the ink jet printer 1 side can be calculated and applied.

  The carriage reciprocating means 33 is means for reciprocally moving the colorimeter 31 held by the colorimeter holder 32 in the Y direction, which is the column direction in which the colorimetric pattern is formed. Specifically, a colorimeter carriage 151 that is connected to the colorimeter holder 32 via a follow-up mechanism 44 that always travels while grounding a traveling wheel 47 on a pressing plate 48 described later, and reciprocates together with the colorimeter 31. And two guide shafts constituted by a main shaft 52 and a sub shaft 53 for guiding the colorimeter carriage 151, and a return position side as a drive source when the colorimeter carriage 151 is reciprocated. Carriage drive motor 54 disposed, pinion gear 55 attached to the output shaft of carriage drive motor 54, transmission gear 56 meshing with pinion gear 55, drive pulley 57 integral with transmission gear 56, and home position side A driven pulley 58 provided between the driving pulley 57 and the driven pulley 58, and a part of the driven pulley 58 is measured by the colorimetry described above. The carriage reciprocating means 33 by providing an endless belt-like timing belt 59 which in use the carriage 151 is engaged is constituted.

  The pressing member 34 takes a pressing posture (solid line position in FIG. 2) for pressing the surface of the roll paper R at the time of color measurement, and jumps upward at the time of non-colorimetry to allow the roll paper R to be conveyed (in FIG. 2). It is a member that rotates around an axis parallel to the Y axis so as to take the imaginary line position. Specifically, with respect to a pivot lever 162 that pivots over a range of about 90 ° around a pivot shaft 162 that extends in the Y direction, and a pivot free end of the pivot lever 63. 3 and 5 and the holding plate support provided between the turning lever 63 and the holding plate 48 as shown in FIGS. The pressing member 34 is configured by including the spring 65 and the pressing plate pressing spring 66.

  The turning lever 63 is a curved plate-like lever extending in the Y direction, and the turning shaft 162 is integrally formed so as to protrude leftward and rightward on the turning base end side. The left and right pivot shafts 162 are provided with sector gears 67 having teeth formed over a range of about 90 °. The presser plate 48 is a flat plate-like member that is long in the Y direction created by the colorimetric pattern, and the above-described long hole 49 extending in the Y direction created by the colorimetric pattern is formed in the center of the upper surface of the presser plate 48. It is formed so as to penetrate through the lower surface.

  Further, on the lower surface of the pressing plate 48, there are provided pressing ridges 68 in which only the periphery of the long hole 49 and only the periphery of the pressing plate 48 protrude downward in a rib shape. By providing the pressing ridges 68 at such positions, a plurality of color patches B arranged in parallel in the Y direction created by the colorimetric pattern are multi-staged in the transport direction via the blank portions D that are spaced apart from each other. It is possible to press the surface of the roll paper R without coming into contact with the color patches B in each row for profile creation arranged in a row.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the pressing plate support spring 65 is constituted by a torsion coil spring that biases and supports the tip portion 69 (see FIG. 3) of the pressing plate 48 so as not to lower. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4, the pressing plate pressing spring 66 is constituted by a torsion coil spring that biases and supports the tip portion 69 of the pressing plate 48 so as not to lift up.

  The biasing force of both the presser plate support spring 65 and the presser plate pressure spring 66 is set so that the presser plate pressurization spring 66 is larger than the presser plate support spring 65. Then, due to the action of the presser plate support spring 65 and the presser plate pressurizing spring 66, the urging force is applied in directions opposite to each other in an unloaded state where the tip end portion 69 of the presser plate 48 does not contact the surface of the roll paper R. As a result, the presser plate 48 maintains an extended state parallel to the rotation lever 63.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6A, when the front end portion 69 of the pressing plate 48 comes into contact with the surface of the roll paper R, a force acts in the direction in which the pressing plate pressing spring 66 (see FIG. 4) is expanded. become. In this way, the presser plate pressure spring 66 is elastically deformed in the direction to expand, and the presser plate 48 is rotated in the clockwise direction in FIG. 6, and the entire lower surface of the presser plate 48 is shown in FIG. 6B. Is firmly attached to the surface of the roll paper R. At this time, a reaction force is applied to the pressing plate 48 so that the pressing plate pressing spring 66 returns to its original shape, so that the surface of the roll paper R is reliably held by a strong pressing force.

  The rotation shift means 35 is a means for switching between the pressing posture and the retracting posture of the pressing member 34. Specifically, the rotation shift means 35 includes a pressing member driving motor 70 which is a driving source, and a gear wheel train 71 for transmitting the rotation of the pressing member driving motor 70 to the sector gear 67. Is structured.

  As shown in FIG. 7A, the paper discharge device 10 includes a star wheel 81 and a paper discharge roller 82 that sandwich and discharge the roll paper R, a support plate 83 that supports the star wheel 81, and a support plate 83. And a rotating mechanism 85 that rotates the support shaft 84 extending in the Y direction, and an adjusting device 86 that variably adjusts the urging force between the star wheel 81 and the paper discharge roller 82.

8A and 9A are partially enlarged views of the −Y side end portion of the paper discharge device 10 as viewed from the −X side, and FIG. 10 shows the colorimetry device 9 and the paper discharge device 10. It is the external appearance perspective view which looked at -Y side edge part.
As shown in FIG. 8, the paper discharge roller 82 is provided at a predetermined interval on a rotation shaft 87 extending in the Y direction. As shown in FIG. By being transmitted to the rotary shaft 87 via 71, the rotary shaft 87 rotates together with the rotary shaft 87 to act as a driving roller.

  FIG. 11 is a front view of the star wheel 81 and the paper discharge roller 82 partially viewed from the −X side. As shown in FIGS. 8B, 9B, and 11, the star wheel 81 is rotatably supported by a pair of rod springs (elastic shafts) 88 that extend in the Y direction. The bar spring 88 is elastically deformable in a direction substantially orthogonal to the length direction, and is a space that is supported by the support plate 83 and that allows the star wheel 81 to move when elastically deformed in a direction substantially orthogonal to the length direction. Both ends are held by a support portion 89b of a holding frame 89 having 89a. A plurality of these two sets of star wheels 81, bar springs 88, and holding frames 89 are provided at intervals in the Y direction, and are integrally supported by a support plate 83.

  The rotation mechanism 85 extends in the Y direction and rotatably supports a support plate 83. As shown in FIG. 12, the rotation mechanism 85 is provided at a −Y side end portion of the support shaft 84 and a cam portion (cam member) 91. And a lever member 92 that swings around an axis 93 parallel to the Y axis. The rotating gear 90 forms a part of the gear train 71 described above, and rotates according to the rotational drive of the driving motor 70 driven under the control of the control unit.

  As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the cam portion 91 is formed on the outer peripheral surface 91a formed around the axis of the support shaft 84 and on the outer peripheral surface 91a toward the center (support shaft 84). A concave portion 91b, a circumferential surface 91e formed in a slightly smaller diameter than the outer peripheral surface 91a on the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 7A than the concave portion 91b, and a lever member 92 that forms a standby state to be described later, and a concave portion 7a is formed in 91b and connected to the peripheral surface 91e on the counterclockwise side in FIG. 7a, and formed in the recess 91b in FIG. 7a on the outer peripheral surface 91a on the clockwise side. 91d to be connected. The cross-sectional contour of the peripheral surface 91c is formed so that the angle formed with the tangent at the intersection with the peripheral surface 91e is an obtuse angle on the counterclockwise side in FIG. The cross-sectional outline of the peripheral surface 91d is formed so that the angle formed by the tangent at the intersection with the outer peripheral surface 91a is an acute angle on the clockwise side in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 7A, the lever member 92 is formed in a substantially V shape in a front view in which a shaft 93 is disposed at the center and both end portions are located above (+ Z side) the shaft 93. As shown in FIG. 7B, the + X side end portion 92a is provided with a sliding contact portion 94 that protrudes toward the cam portion 91 and is in sliding contact with the outer peripheral surface 91a and the peripheral surfaces 91c, 91d, and 91e. Yes. Further, the lever member 92 has the other end portion 92b separated from the support plate 83 (the state shown in FIG. 7A) when the sliding contact portion 94 is immersed and fitted in the concave portion 91b of the cam portion 91, and the sliding portion 94b slides. When the contact portion 94 is in contact with the outer peripheral surface 91a or the peripheral surface 91e of the cam portion 91, the other end portion 92b presses the support plate 83 from the lower side (−Z side) to rotate and move around the support shaft 84. (State shown in FIG. 13 to be described later). The lever member 92 is urged clockwise about a shaft 93 by an urging member (not shown).

  The adjustment device 86 has adjustment members (switching devices) 95 provided at both ends of the rotation shaft 87 so as to be swingable around the rotation axis (first axis) of the rotation shaft 87. As shown in FIGS. 8A and 9A, the adjustment member 95 includes a stepped portion (first contact portion) 95a that contacts and engages the support plate 83 from below (−Z side), and A step portion (second contact portion) 95b and a lever portion (gripping portion) 96 extending upward (+ Z side) from the step portions 95a and 95b are provided.

  The step portions 95a and 95b are arranged adjacent to each other in the direction around the rotation axis 87, and the distances from the axis center of the rotation axis 87 are set to different values. More specifically, the distance (first distance) Ra from the axis center of the rotation shaft 87 of the step portion 95a shown in FIG. 9A is the axis center of the rotation shaft 87 of the step portion 95b shown in FIG. Is set to be smaller than the distance (second distance) Rb (Ra <Rb), and when the step portion 95a is engaged with the support plate 83, than when the step portion 95b is engaged with the support plate 83, In accordance with the amount of rotation of the support plate 83 around the support shaft 84, the inter-axis distance JL between the shaft center at both ends of the bar spring 88 supported by the support portion 89b and the shaft center of the rotation shaft 87 becomes small (see FIG. 11). This inter-axis distance JL is set to a value at which the outer periphery of the star wheel 81 and the outer periphery of the paper discharge roller 82 are in contact with each other regardless of which of the step portions 95a and 95b is engaged with the support plate 83. Yes.

  A protrusion 96a is provided on the outside of the lever portion 96 (on the side facing the side plate SP). Then, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 9A, the projecting portion 96a is fitted to the side plate SP at a position facing the projecting portion 96a when the stepped portion 95a is engaged with the support plate 83. A hole 97a to be joined and a hole 97b into which the protrusion 96a is fitted are formed at a position facing the protrusion 96a when the step 95b is engaged with the support plate 83.

  In the ink jet printer 1 having the above-described configuration, the roll paper R subjected to the recording process by the recording unit 4 and sheared to a predetermined length by the cutter device 6 is measured after the surface ink is dried by the drying device 8. It is transported to the color device 9 and stops when it reaches a predetermined colorimetric position.

  In this state, the pressing member 34 in the retracted position that has jumped upward indicated by the phantom line in FIG. 2 is rotated in the forward rotation direction by the pressing member drive motor 70 to the pressing position indicated by the solid line in FIG. To do. In this state, the color patch B is recorded between the pressing plate 48 and the backing (underlay) BK as shown in FIG. 6 by the action of the pressing plate supporting spring 65 and the pressing plate pressing spring 66 described above. It is in contact with and pressed against the surface of the roll paper R that has not been pressed. A color patch B for color measurement is located below the long hole 49.

When the pressing member 34 enters the pressing posture, the rotation gear 90 and the cam portion 91 are rotated clockwise in FIG. 7A and FIG. 12 through the gear wheel train 71 by the rotation of the pressing member drive motor 70. To do. As a result, the lever member 92 whose other end 92b is separated from the support plate 83 in a state where the sliding contact portion 94 is immersed in the recess 91b is accompanied by the rotation of the cam 91 as shown in FIG. Thus, the sliding contact portion 94 sequentially rotates from the peripheral surface 91c to the peripheral surface 91e and the outer peripheral surface 91a to rotate counterclockwise around the shaft 93, and the other end portion 92b moves the support plate 83 around the support shaft 84. In FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, it is rotated in the counterclockwise direction.
Accordingly, since the star wheel 81 and the paper discharge roller 82 are separated from each other, it is possible to prevent the roll paper R from being discharged before the color measurement process or during the color measurement process.
FIG. 13 shows a retracted posture in which the pressing member 34 jumps upward indicated by a virtual line in FIG. 2 before the pressing member 34 enters the pressing posture. A standby state in which the star wheel 81 and the paper discharge roller 82 are separated from each other by rotating is shown. FIG. 14 shows a state where the sliding contact portion 94 slides on the outer peripheral surface 91a to rotate the support plate 83 and the pressing member 34 enters the pressing posture.

Next, the carriage drive motor 54 starts rotating, and the timing belt 59 is driven to move the colorimeter carriage 51 from the home position area to the color measurement area, so that the traveling wheel 47 is placed on the upper surface of the pressing plate 48 in the pressing posture. Set to ground. The timing belt 59 continues to drive as it is, and the colorimeter 31 held by the colorimeter carriage 51 together with the colorimeter carriage 51 starts moving in order from the color patch B located closer to the home position toward the return position. To do. In this embodiment, the color information measured by the colorimeter 31 is sent to a processing device (not shown), and compared with the color information of the image displayed on the monitor, a correction value is calculated, and the inkjet printer 1 is supplied to the printer driver 1 and reflected in the subsequent execution of recording.
Note that details of the color measurement processing are described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-281549 and the like, and are omitted here.

  When the colorimeter 31 measures the color information of all the color patches B, the carriage drive motor 54 rotates in the reverse direction, and the colorimeter 31 located at the return position moves toward the home position. Start. When the colorimeter 31 reaches the home position, the pressing member drive motor 70 rotates in the reverse direction, and the rotation is transmitted to the pressing member 34 via the gear wheel train 71 and the fan-shaped gear 67. The member 34 is rotated upward so that the retracted posture jumps upward as indicated by a virtual line in FIG.

  Due to the reverse rotation of the drive motor 70, the rotating gear 90 and the cam portion 91 rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 7A and FIG. Accordingly, as the cam portion 91 rotates, the sliding contact portion 94 sequentially slides from the outer peripheral surface 91a to the peripheral surfaces 91e and 91c so as to be immersed and fitted in the recess 91b. It rotates clockwise, and the other end 92 b is separated from the support plate 83. As a result, the star wheel 81 and the paper discharge roller 82 come into contact with each other, and the roll paper R is nipped and can be conveyed.

Here, the holding force for the roll paper R can be adjusted by the adjusting device 86.
That is, for example, for the roll paper R that requires a large clamping force (conveyance force), the lever portion 96 of the adjustment member 95 is operated, so that the protrusion 96a is formed in the hole 97a as shown in FIG. And the stepped portion 95a is engaged with the support plate 83. As a result, the support plate 83, the star wheel 81, and the bar spring 88 move downward to reduce the inter-axis distance JL, and as shown in FIG. 9B, the bar spring 88 is greatly elastically deformed. The large elastic restoring force acts as an urging force against the paper discharge roller 82, that is, a clamping force between the star wheel 81 and the paper discharge roller 82.

  On the other hand, for roll paper R that requires a small clamping force (conveyance force) such as glossy paper, the lever portion 96 of the adjustment member 95 is operated, and as shown in FIG. The step portion 95 b is engaged with the support plate 83 by being fitted into the hole portion 97 b. As a result, the support plate 83, the star wheel 81, and the bar spring 88 move upward to increase the inter-axis distance JL, and as shown in FIG. 8B, the amount of elastic deformation of the bar spring 88 decreases and decreases. The generated elastic restoring force acts as an urging force against the paper discharge roller 82, that is, a clamping force between the star wheel 81 and the paper discharge roller 82.

  Then, the roll paper R is discharged to the stacker 7 with the clamping force adjusted by the adjusting device 86.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, since the conveying force of the roll paper R can be adjusted by switching the urging force of the star wheel 81 against the paper discharge roller 82 by the adjusting device 86, the star wheel having a different urging force for each paper type. It is no longer necessary to prepare a roller containing, which can contribute to cost reduction and downsizing of the apparatus. In the present embodiment, since the urging force can be easily switched by operating the lever portion 96, the urging force adjustment work can be simplified, and the urging force can be quickly applied according to the characteristics of the roll paper R. By switching, the star wheel marks on the roll paper R such as glossy paper can be reduced.

  In addition, in this embodiment, since the rotation shaft of the adjustment member 95 is the rotation shaft 87 of the paper discharge roller 82, it is not necessary to provide a separate rotation shaft for the adjustment member, thereby further reducing cost and downsizing the apparatus. Can contribute. Further, in this embodiment, the support plate 83 integrally supports the star wheel 81 and the spring bar 88 provided in a plurality along the width direction of the roll paper R, so that the support plate 83 is operated by operating the adjustment member 85. Thus, the urging force can be collectively adjusted, and the work can be further simplified.

  As described above, the preferred embodiments according to the present invention have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the examples. Various shapes, combinations, and the like of the constituent members shown in the above-described examples are examples, and various modifications can be made based on design requirements and the like without departing from the gist of the present invention.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the urging force of the star wheel 81 with respect to the paper discharge roller 82 can be switched in two stages is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the configuration can be switched in three or more stages. Good. Further, the biasing force is not adjusted stepwise, but, for example, the biasing force is reduced by engaging the support plate 83 with a surface having a cross-sectional contour in which the distance from the center of the rotating shaft 87 gradually changes. It is also possible to adjust continuously.

  In the above-described embodiment, the urging force is switched by manually operating the adjustment member 95. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, information regarding conveyance characteristics such as a clamping force required for conveyance of the roll paper R is input. An input unit, a drive device that rotates the adjustment member 95 around the rotation shaft 87, and a control device that controls the rotational drive of the drive device based on input information from the input unit may be provided. In particular, when the above-described configuration of continuously adjusting the urging force is employed, a desired urging force (clamping force) can be easily and quickly obtained arbitrarily according to the type of roll paper.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the recording apparatus is the ink jet printer 1 has been described as an example. However, the recording apparatus is not limited to the ink jet printer, and may be an apparatus such as a copying machine or a facsimile.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Inkjet printer (recording device), 10 ... Paper discharge device (paper discharge mechanism), 81 ... Star wheel, 82 ... Paper discharge roller, 83 ... Support plate (support device), 86 ... Adjustment device, 88 ... Bar spring ( Elastic shaft), 91 ... Cam part (cam member), 92 ... Lever member, 95 ... Adjustment member (switching device), 95a ... Step part (first contact part), 95b ... Step part (second contact part) 96 ... Lever part (gripping part), R ... Roll paper (recording medium)

Claims (7)

A paper discharge mechanism for holding and discharging a recording medium with a predetermined urging force between a paper discharge roller and a star wheel supported on an elastic shaft that can be elastically deformed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the length direction. A recording device comprising:
An adjusting device for variably adjusting the biasing force;
And a mechanism that changes the contact state between the star wheel and the discharge roller,
The adjustment device includes a support device that supports an end of the elastic shaft,
The changing mechanism includes a cam member having a concave portion formed on an outer peripheral surface, and a lever member in which a sliding contact portion protruding toward the cam member contacts the outer peripheral surface, and the sliding member is rotated by the rotation of the cam member. A recording apparatus, wherein a contact portion moves to the concave portion to move the support device to change a contact state between the paper discharge roller and the star wheel. The recording apparatus according to claim 1,
The adjustment device includes a switching device that contacts the support device and switches a relative distance between an end position of the elastic shaft and a rotation axis of the paper discharge roller,
The switching device includes a first contact portion having a first relative distance when contacted with the support device, and a relative distance different from the first distance when contacted with the support device. A recording apparatus comprising: a second contact portion having a second distance. The recording apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein
When the switching device rotates around a first axis substantially parallel to the rotation axis of the paper discharge roller, the contact portion with the support device is switched between the first contact portion and the second contact portion. A recording apparatus. The recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein
The recording apparatus, wherein the rotation axis and the first axis are coaxial. The recording apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4 ,
A recording apparatus, wherein the switching device is provided with a grip portion. The recording apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 5 ,
An input unit for inputting information on the conveyance characteristics of the recording medium;
A driving device that rotationally drives the switching device around the first axis and switches the contact portion to the support device to the first contact portion or the second contact portion;
A recording apparatus comprising: a control device that controls rotational driving of the driving device based on input information from the input unit. The recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6 ,
A plurality of the star wheels are provided along the width direction of the recording medium,
The recording apparatus, wherein the support device integrally supports the plurality of star wheels.

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