JP2016068514A - Liquid discharge device, tension applying method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid discharge device which can stabilize an attitude of a tension adjustment part which applies a tension to a medium.SOLUTION: A liquid discharge device 1 is equipped with a discharge part 3 which can discharge a liquid, and a tension adjustment part 5 which can rotate around a rotating axle 53 and can apply a tension onto a medium M by being brought into contact with the medium M from which the liquid is discharged. The tension adjustment part 5 can apply a tension onto the medium M at a balanced position at which a balance of a self-weight of the tension adjustment part 5 is maintained.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid ejecting apparatus and a tension applying method.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a recording apparatus is known that transports a medium wound in a roll shape and prints an image on the transported medium with a recording head. In the recording apparatus, a tension roller that applies tension to the medium is provided (for example, see Patent Document 1).

JP 2004-314565 A

  However, the tension roller of the above apparatus adjusts the tension by the weight attached to the tension roller, but the posture of the tension roller becomes unstable when the tension roller is retracted, for example, when replacing the roll. There was a problem that it would end up.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to solve at least a part of the problems described above, and the invention can be implemented as the following forms or application examples.

  Application Example 1 A liquid discharge apparatus according to this application example is rotatable about a discharge unit capable of discharging a liquid and a rotation axis, and contacts the medium from which the liquid is discharged. A tension adjusting unit capable of applying tension, wherein the tension adjusting unit is capable of applying tension to the medium at an equilibrium position where the balance of the weight of the tension adjusting unit is maintained.

  According to this configuration, since the tension adjusting unit applies tension to the medium at the equilibrium position, the posture of the tension adjusting unit can be stabilized.

  Application Example 2 In the liquid ejection device according to the application example described above, the rotation shaft and the center of gravity of the tension adjustment unit are substantially coincident with each other.

  According to this configuration, even when the tension adjustment unit deviates from the equilibrium position, the tension adjustment unit is biased so as to return to the equilibrium position. Therefore, the posture of the tension adjustment unit can be further stabilized.

  Application Example 3 The tension adjusting unit of the liquid ejection apparatus according to the application example described above includes a weight part.

  According to this configuration, the position of the center of gravity of the tension adjustment unit can be adjusted, and the equilibrium position can be easily set to a suitable position.

  Application Example 4 In the liquid ejection device according to the application example described above, the liquid ejecting apparatus includes a fixing unit that can fix the tension adjusting unit, and the fixing unit is a position when the tension adjusting unit does not apply tension to the medium. The tension adjusting portion is fixed when the retracted position is in the position.

  According to this configuration, when no tension is applied to the medium, the tension adjusting unit can be fixed at the retracted position.

  Application Example 5 In the liquid ejection device according to the application example, the fixing unit includes a magnet, and the tension adjusting unit is fixed by the magnet.

  According to this configuration, the tension adjusting unit can be reliably fixed by the magnetic force.

  Application Example 6 In the liquid ejection device according to the application example, the fixing unit includes an arm unit, and the tension adjusting unit is fixed by the arm unit.

  According to this configuration, the tension adjusting unit can be reliably fixed by the arm unit.

  Application Example 7 A tension application method according to this application example includes a tension adjustment unit that can rotate about a rotation axis and can apply tension to the medium by contacting the medium from which the liquid is discharged. In the liquid ejecting apparatus, the tension is applied to the medium, wherein the tension is applied to the medium by the tension adjusting unit positioned at an equilibrium position where the balance of the weight of the tension adjusting unit is maintained. Features.

  According to this configuration, since the tension adjusting unit applies tension to the medium at the equilibrium position, the posture of the tension adjusting unit can be stabilized.

Schematic which shows the structure of a liquid discharge apparatus. Schematic which shows the structure of a liquid discharge apparatus. The perspective view which shows the structure of a tension adjustment part. Schematic which shows the structure of the liquid discharge apparatus concerning a modification.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following drawings, the scale of each member or the like is shown differently from the actual scale so as to make each member or the like recognizable.

  First, the configuration of the liquid ejection device will be described. The liquid ejection device is, for example, an ink jet printer. In this embodiment, a large format printer (LFP) that handles a relatively large medium (medium) will be described as a configuration example of the liquid ejection apparatus.

  1 and 2 are schematic views showing the configuration of the liquid ejection apparatus. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the liquid ejection apparatus 1 ejects ink as an example of a liquid to a predetermined area of the medium M and a transport unit 2 that transports the medium M by a roll-to-roll method ( A discharge unit 3 that records images, characters, and the like, a medium support unit 4 that supports the medium M, and a tension adjustment unit 5. Each of these components is supported by the main body frame 10. The medium M is, for example, a vinyl chloride film having a width of about 64 inches (Inch).

  The transport unit 2 includes a roll 21 that feeds the roll-shaped medium M in the transport direction (the arrow direction in the drawing), and a roll 22 that winds the sent medium M. The transport unit 2 includes transport roller pairs 23 and 24 that transport the medium M in the transport path between the rolls 21 and 22.

  The ejection unit 3 includes a recording head (inkjet head) 31 capable of ejecting ink as an example of liquid to the medium M, and a carriage 32 that is mounted with the recording head 31 and can reciprocate in the width direction of the medium M. Have. The recording head 31 includes a plurality of nozzles, and is configured to be able to eject ink that is selected in relation to the medium M and requires permeation drying or evaporation drying. Then, by ejecting ink from the recording head 31 while reciprocating the carriage 32, an image, characters, or the like can be recorded on the medium M. In summary, the liquid ejection apparatus 1 includes an ejection unit 3 that can eject liquid.

  The medium support unit 4 is capable of supporting the medium M in the conveyance path of the medium M, and includes an upstream support unit 27 provided between the roll 21 and the conveyance roller pair 23 and the conveyance roller pairs 23 and 24. It has a platen 28 disposed therebetween, and a downstream support portion 29 provided between the conveying roller pair 24 and the roll 22.

  In addition, the liquid ejection apparatus 1 includes a heating unit that can heat the medium M. In this embodiment, a first heater (preheater) 71, a second heater (platen heater) 72, and a third heater (afterheater) 73 are provided. The first heater 71 preheats the medium M on the upstream side in the transport direction from the position where the discharge unit 3 is provided. The first heater 71 is provided between the roll 21 and the transport roller pair 23, and is disposed on the surface (back surface) side opposite to the surface that supports the medium M in the upstream support portion 27 that supports the medium M. ing. The second heater 72 heats the medium M in the discharge region E of the discharge unit 3. The second heater 72 is disposed on the surface (back surface) opposite to the surface that supports the medium M in the platen 28. The third heater 73 is configured to quickly dry and fix the ink on the medium M by heating the medium M, prevent bleeding and blurring, and improve the image quality. The third heater 73 is disposed on the surface (back surface) opposite to the surface that supports the medium M in the downstream support portion 29. The first, second, and third heaters 71, 72, 73 are, for example, tube heaters, and are attached to the back surfaces of the upstream side support portion 27, the platen 28, and the downstream side support portion 29 via aluminum tape or the like. Has been. Then, by driving the first, second and third heaters 71, 72 and 73, the surface supporting the medium M in the medium support unit 4 is heated by heat conduction, and the medium M is heated from the back side of the medium M. be able to.

  For example, the heating temperature of the first heater 71 is set to 40 ° C., and the heating temperature of the second heater 72 is set to 40 ° C. (target temperature). Further, the heating temperature of the third heater 73 is set to 50 ° C., which is higher than that of the first heater 71 and the second heater 72.

  The first heater 71 has a configuration in which the medium M is gradually heated from the normal temperature toward the target temperature (the temperature in the second heater 72), thereby promptly drying the ink after landing. In addition, the second heater 72 is configured to cause the medium M to receive ink landing while maintaining the target temperature, and to promptly dry the ink from landing. Then, in the third heater 73, the temperature of the medium M is raised to a temperature higher than the target temperature, and the ink that has landed on the medium M is quickly dried, and at least before being wound by the roll 22. In this configuration, the landed ink is completely dried and fixed on the medium M.

  The tension adjusting unit 5 can apply tension (tension) to the medium M. The tension adjusting unit 5 according to the present embodiment is arranged so that tension (tension) can be applied to the medium M between the downstream support unit 29 and the roll 22. Hereinafter, a detailed configuration of the tension adjusting unit will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. 1 shows a case where the tension adjustment unit is located at the first position P1, and FIG. 2 shows a case where the tension adjustment unit is located at the second position P2. 3 shows the configuration of the tension adjusting unit, FIG. 3 (a) is an external perspective view, and FIG. 3 (b) is a side sectional view.

  The tension adjusting unit 5 can be rotated around the rotation shaft 53. Further, the tension adjusting unit 5 is configured to be able to apply tension to the medium M by contacting the medium M from which the liquid is discharged by the discharge unit 3. The tension adjusting unit 5 can be displaced to a first position P1 that is an example of an equilibrium position where the balance of the weight of the tension adjusting unit 5 is maintained. At this time, the tension adjusting unit 5 is configured to be able to apply tension to the medium M at the first position P1. That is, the tension adjustment unit 5 can apply tension to the medium M at an equilibrium position where the balance of the weight of the tension adjustment unit 5 is maintained. Since the tension adjusting unit 5 applies tension to the medium M at the equilibrium position, the posture of the tension adjusting unit 5 can be stabilized. By stabilizing the posture of the tension adjusting unit 5, it is possible to reduce variations in tension with respect to the medium M of the tension adjusting unit 5. However, the tension adjusting unit 5 does not necessarily apply tension to the medium M at a position other than the equilibrium position. When tension is applied to the medium M, the tension adjusting unit 5 may rotate due to contact with the medium M. In this way, it is possible to apply tension to the medium M even at a position deviated from the equilibrium position. In the present embodiment, the rotation shaft 53 and the center of gravity of the tension adjusting unit 5 are set so as to substantially match. Thereby, even when the tension adjusting unit 5 is deviated from the equilibrium position, the tension adjusting unit 5 is urged to return to the equilibrium position. That is, when the tension adjusting unit 5 is deviated from the equilibrium position, a force in a direction to return the tension adjusting unit 5 to the equilibrium position is applied. Therefore, the posture of the tension adjustment unit 5 can be further stabilized. Note that the rotation shaft 53 and the center of gravity of the tension adjusting unit 5 do not have to coincide completely. Even if the tension adjusting unit 5 is deviated from the equilibrium position by about plus or minus 30 degrees, if the tension adjusting unit 5 is biased so as to return to the equilibrium position, the rotation shaft 53 and the tension adjusting unit 5 It can be said that the center of gravity is substantially coincident.

  As a detailed configuration of the tension adjusting unit 5, the tension adjusting unit 5 includes a weight unit 50 as illustrated in FIG. Specifically, the tension adjustment unit 5 includes a pair of frame portions 54, and a first weight portion 51 and a second weight portion 52 that constitute the weight portion 50 are provided between the pair of frame portions 54. It has been. However, the weight part 50 may be one and may be three or more. By adjusting the weight and position of the weight part 50, the position of the center of gravity of the tension adjustment part 5 can be adjusted, and the equilibrium position can be easily set to a suitable position. Further, the tension adjusting unit 5 includes a tension bar 55 having a cylindrical shape, and the tension bar 55 is disposed on one side of the frame unit 54. The tension bar 55 is formed longer in the width direction than the width of the medium M. A part of the tension bar 55 comes into contact with the medium M to apply tension to the medium M. In the present embodiment, the tension bar 55 has the function of the first weight portion 51. Thereby, the structure of the tension adjustment part 5 can be simplified. A plate-like second weight portion 52 is disposed on the other side of the frame portion 54. The weights of the first weight part 51 and the second weight part 52 can be set as appropriate. Thereby, a desired equilibrium position of the tension adjusting unit 5 can be set.

  The tension adjusting unit 5 can be displaced by rotating around a rotating shaft 53 provided in the main body frame 10. As shown in FIG. 3B, the rotation shaft 53 is located between the first weight portion 51 (tension bar 55) and the second weight portion 52 in a side view of the tension adjusting portion 5. . The distance L1 between the first weight 51 and the rotation shaft 53 is different from the distance L2 between the second weight 52 and the rotation shaft 53. Further, the weight of the first weight portion 51 and the weight of the second weight portion 52 are configured to be different. Furthermore, of the first weight part 51 and the second weight part 52, the weight of one weight part is heavier, and the distance between one weight part and the rotation shaft 53 is the same as that of the other weight part. It is comprised so that it may become shorter than the distance with the moving shaft 53. FIG. In the present embodiment, the second weight portion 52 is configured to be heavier than the first weight portion 51. The distance L2 between the second weight portion 52 and the rotation shaft 53, which is relatively heavier than the first weight portion 51, is relatively lighter than the second weight portion 52. The distance from the rotation shaft 53 is shorter. Thereby, it becomes possible to displace to the equilibrium position where the equilibrium is maintained by the weight of the tension adjusting unit 5. The equilibrium position means a position where the urging force by the first weight part 51 and the urging force by the second weight part 52 are balanced. In the present embodiment, the biasing force by the first weight portion 51 is a biasing force that acts counterclockwise in FIG. Further, the urging force by the second weight portion 52 is an urging force acting clockwise in FIG.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 1, the tension adjusting unit 5 is displaced to the first position P1, which is the position where the balance of the weight of the tension adjusting unit 5 is maintained, and tension is applied to the medium M at the first position P1. At this time, since the tension adjusting unit 5 applies tension to the medium M in a balanced state, the posture of the tension adjusting unit 5 becomes stable. In addition, variations in tension on the medium M are reduced.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, the tension adjusting unit 5 can be displaced to a second position P2 as an example of a retreat position that is a position where no tension is applied to the medium M by rotating the tension adjusting unit 5 about the rotation shaft 53. It is. In the tension adjusting unit 5 according to the present embodiment, the position where the rotation shaft 53 is provided is almost the center of gravity, so that the posture of the tension adjusting unit 5 is changed when the tension adjusting unit 5 is displaced to the second position P2. May become unstable. This is because when the tension adjusting unit 5 is deviated from the equilibrium position, the tension adjusting unit 5 is biased to return to the equilibrium position. Therefore, the liquid ejection apparatus 1 includes a fixing unit 90 that can fix the tension adjusting unit 5. The fixing unit 90 fixes the tension adjusting unit 5 when the tension adjusting unit 5 is in the second position P2 (retracted position) that is a position when no tension is applied to the medium M. For this reason, when tension is not applied to the medium M, the tension adjusting unit 5 can be fixed at the retracted position. In the present embodiment, the fixing portion 90 is installed on the main body frame 10. The fixing unit 90 includes a magnet (for example, a permanent magnet), and fixes the tension adjusting unit 5 with the magnet. Thereby, the tension adjustment part 5 can be reliably fixed with magnetic force. At this time, the tension adjusting unit 5 includes a portion made of iron. Specifically, the frame part 54 of the tension adjusting part 5 includes a part made of iron. When the tension adjusting unit 5 is displaced to the second position P2, when the part of the frame portion 54 of the tension adjusting unit 5 comes into contact with the fixing unit 90, the tension adjusting unit 5 is fixed by the magnetic force. The frame portion 54 may be a magnetic material. In addition to iron, nickel or the like may be used. Further, it may be an alloy or a mixture having a magnetic material. The main body frame 10 may include a portion made of iron, and the tension adjusting unit 5 may be provided with a magnet.

  Next, a tension applying method will be described. In this embodiment, the liquid ejecting apparatus 1 includes the tension adjusting unit 5 that can be rotated about the rotating shaft 53 and that can apply tension to the medium M by contacting the medium M on which the liquid is ejected. A method for applying tension to the medium M will be described.

  The tension applying method according to the present embodiment applies tension to the medium M by the tension adjusting unit 5 positioned at an equilibrium position where the balance of the weight of the tension adjusting unit 5 is maintained.

  Specifically, first, when tension is applied to the medium M, that is, when an image, characters, or the like is recorded (printed) on the medium M by driving the ejection unit 3 and the medium M is conveyed, FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the tension adjusting unit 5 is displaced to the first position P1. The first position P1 is a position in a state where the balance of the weight of the tension adjusting unit 5 is maintained. As a result, the tension bar 55 of the tension adjusting unit 5 comes into contact with the medium M, and a tension is applied to the medium M.

  On the other hand, when tension is not applied to the medium M, that is, when printing is not performed, for example, when the roll 22 around which the medium M is wound is removed, as shown in FIG. To the second position P2. Therefore, the posture of the tension adjustment unit 5 may become unstable. Therefore, the tension adjusting unit 5 is fixed by the fixing unit 90 at the second position P2. In this case, for example, the tension adjusting unit 5 is fixed by magnetic force by using the fixing unit 90 as a magnet and the frame unit 54 of the tension adjusting unit 5 as iron.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

  Tension is applied to the medium M at the first position P1 which is a balanced position due to the weight of the tension adjusting unit 5. For this reason, the attitude | position of the tension adjustment part 5 can be stabilized. Furthermore, tension variation with respect to the medium M can be reduced. When no tension is applied to the medium M, the medium M can be displaced to the second position P2 (retracted position) retracted from the medium M. And since it can fix reliably by the fixing | fixed part 90, the attitude | position of the tension adjustment part 5 can be stabilized and workability | operativity can be improved.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and improvements can be added to the above-described embodiment. A modification will be described below.

  (Modification 1) In the above embodiment, the magnet is applied as the fixing portion 90 of the liquid ejection apparatus 1, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. An arm may be used as the fixing portion. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of the liquid ejection apparatus according to the modification, and illustrates a case where the tension adjustment unit is located at the second position. As shown in FIG. 4, the liquid ejection apparatus 1a has a fixing portion 90a. The fixing portion 90 a has an arm portion 96. The fixing unit 90 fixes the tension adjusting unit 5 with the arm unit 96. Thereby, the tension adjusting part can be reliably fixed by the arm part 96. Furthermore, specifically, an arm portion 96 is provided on the side surface portion of the frame portion 54 of the tension adjusting portion 5. The arm portion 96 has a hook shape with a bent tip portion. Further, a shaft portion 97 is provided on a side surface portion of the frame portion 54 of the tension adjusting portion 5, and the arm portion 96 is configured to be rotatable about the shaft portion 97. A fixed shaft portion 91 is disposed on the main body frame 10. Then, the tension adjuster 5 is displaced to the second position P2 and the tip of the arm 96 is hooked on the fixed shaft 91 while the arm 96 is rotated about the shaft 97. Thereby, the tension adjusting unit 5 can be fixed at the second position P2. When tension is applied to the medium M, the arm portion 96 is rotated about the shaft portion 97, the tip end portion of the arm portion 96 is removed from the fixed shaft portion 91, and the tension adjusting portion 5 is moved to the first position P1. Displace to. As a result, the tension bar 55 of the tension adjusting unit 5 comes into contact with the medium M, and tension can be applied to the medium M. The arm portion 96 and the shaft portion 97 may be provided on the main body frame 10 and the fixed shaft portion 91 may be provided on the frame portion 54.

  (Modification 2) In the above embodiment, the first weight portion 51 is configured as the tension bar 55. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, the first weight part 51 and the tension bar 55 may be provided separately. For example, a configuration in which the first weight portion 51 is separately disposed around the tension bar 55 may be employed. Even if it does in this way, the same effect as the above can be acquired.

  (Modification 3) In the said embodiment, although the 3rd heater 73 was stuck on the back surface of the downstream support part 29, it is not limited to this structure. For example, a heating means (such as a heater) that can heat the medium M may be provided at a position facing the downstream support portion 29. In other words, the medium M may be heated from the surface side of the medium M on which ink is applied by the ejection unit 3. Even if it does in this way, the effect similar to the said effect can be acquired.

  (Modification 4) As the liquid ejecting apparatus, a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects or ejects fluid other than ink may be employed. For example, the present invention can be used for various recording apparatuses including a recording head that discharges a minute amount of liquid droplets. The droplet means a state of the liquid ejected from the recording apparatus, and includes a liquid having a granular shape, a tear shape, or a thread shape. Further, the liquid here may be any material that can be discharged (jetted) by the liquid discharge device. For example, it may be in a state in which the substance is in a liquid phase, such as a liquid with high or low viscosity, sol, gel water, other inorganic solvents, organic solvents, solutions, liquid resins, liquid metals (metal melts ) And a liquid as one state of a substance, as well as a material in which particles of a functional material made of a solid such as a pigment or metal particles are dissolved, dispersed or mixed in a solvent. A typical example of the liquid is ink as described in the above embodiment. Here, the ink includes general water-based inks and oil-based inks, and various liquid compositions such as gel inks and hot melt inks. In addition to the plastic film such as a vinyl chloride film, the recording medium includes functional paper that is thin and thermally stretched, textiles such as fabrics and cloths, substrates, metal plates, and the like.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 1a ... Liquid discharge apparatus, 2 ... Conveyance part, 3 ... Discharge part, 4 ... Medium support part, 5 ... Tension adjustment part, 31 ... Recording head, 32 ... Carriage, 50 ... Weight part, 51 ... 1st weight , 52 ... second weight part, 53 ... rotating shaft, 54 ... pair of frame parts, 55 ... tension bar, 90, 90a ... fixed part, 96 ... arm part, P1 ... first position (of the balanced position) Example), P2... Second position (an example of a retracted position).

Claims (7)

A discharge part capable of discharging liquid;
A tension adjustment unit that is rotatable about a rotation axis and that can apply tension to the medium by contacting the medium from which the liquid is discharged;
The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tension adjusting unit can apply tension to the medium at an equilibrium position where the balance of the weight of the tension adjusting unit is maintained. The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 1,
The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rotation shaft and the center of gravity of the tension adjusting unit substantially coincide with each other. The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tension adjusting section includes a weight section. In the liquid ejection device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A fixing portion capable of fixing the tension adjusting portion;
The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fixing unit fixes the tension adjusting unit when the tension adjusting unit is in a retracted position that is a position when no tension is applied to the medium. The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 4, wherein
The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fixing unit includes a magnet, and the tension adjusting unit is fixed by the magnet. The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 4, wherein
The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fixing portion includes an arm portion, and the tension adjusting portion is fixed by the arm portion. This is a method for applying tension to the medium in a liquid ejecting apparatus including a tension adjusting unit that is rotatable about a rotation axis and that can apply tension to the medium by contacting the medium from which the liquid is ejected. And
A tension applying method comprising applying tension to the medium by the tension adjusting unit positioned at an equilibrium position where the balance of the weight of the tension adjusting unit is maintained.

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