JP2002361855A - Device for removing medium wrinkle of ink jet printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a device for removing medium wrinkles of an ink jet printer which removes wrinkles generated to the medium carried in onto a platen. SOLUTION: A supporting rod 50 is set to a transfer path for the medium 20 in the rear of the platen 10, which traverses a lower face of the medium 20 and supports the medium 20. A first cord-like member 62 and a second cord- like member 64 comprising coil springs having inner ends coupled to each other are wound spirally to the periphery of the left side and the right side of the supporting rod 50. The members 62 and 64 are inclined leftward and rightward to be mutually opposite slantwise outward to a transfer direction of the medium 20 when the supporting rod 50 is seen from the upper side where the medium 20 is supported. The medium 20 is transferred while slipping in a direction of the platen 10 on the supporting rod 50 to which the first cord-like member 62 and the second cord-like member 64 are wound.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a media wrinkle removing device for an ink jet printer for removing wrinkles of a medium such as a fabric which is carried on a platen to print a printed pattern or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, when printing a printed pattern on a medium such as a cloth, an ink jet printer which does not require a complicated plate or the like is often used.

As shown in FIG. 5, an ink jet printer is a medium for printing a printed pattern or the like on a medium 2 such as cloth.
0 has a platen 10 in the shape of a semicylindrical shape and the like. Then, a medium 20 such as a band-shaped cloth is sequentially loaded onto the platen 10 from behind the platen 10.
Then, at predetermined timing, ink droplets are ejected from the nozzles 32 on the lower surface of the ink jet head 30 that travels over the medium 20 toward the surface of the medium 20 carried on the platen 10. Then, on the surface of the medium 20, a printed pattern composed of an array of a large number of ink dots is printed.

[0004] When a print pattern is printed on the surface of the medium 20 using an ink jet printer in this manner, if the medium 20 such as a cloth carried on the platen 10 has wrinkles, the wrinkled medium is used. On the surface of No. 20, a printed pattern cannot be applied accurately.

For this purpose, an apparatus for removing wrinkles of a medium 20 such as a cloth carried into the platen 10 has been developed and used.

[0006] This wrinkle removing device, as shown in FIG.
A cylindrical support rod 50 provided on the conveyance path of the medium 20 behind the platen 10, and includes a support rod 50 that supports the medium 20 across the lower surface of the medium 20. As shown in FIG.
As shown in (1), concave grooves 52 facing in opposite directions are spirally engraved at a predetermined pitch in a bilaterally symmetrical manner with a plane traversing the center of the support rod 50 as a plane of symmetry. A string-like projection 54 is formed between the adjacent concave grooves 52 so that a plane crossing the central portion of the support rod 50 is a symmetrical plane, and the support rod 5
The left and right sides of 0 are helically formed symmetrically in opposite directions toward each other.

[0007] A string-like projection 54 formed in a symmetrical spiral around the left and right sides of the support rod 50 is provided.
When viewed from above supporting the medium 20, the support rod 50 is inclined leftward and rightward so as to face diagonally outward in opposite directions toward the transport direction of the medium 20 (the direction of the arrow in FIG. 6). It is formed symmetrically around 50.

According to this wrinkle removing device, a plane traversing the central portion of the support bar 50 is a symmetrical surface, and a string is formed in a symmetrical spiral around the left and right sides of the support bar 50. When the support rod 50 is viewed from above that supports the medium 20, the support rod 50 is inclined leftward and rightward so as to face diagonally outward in opposite directions toward the transport direction of the medium 20. The media 20 is slipped on the support bar 50 so as to cross over the support bar 50 in a state where the string-shaped protrusion 54 formed symmetrically around the support bar 50 is pressed against the lower surface of the media 20. And can be fed in the direction of the platen 10.

At this time, the support rod 50 is formed in a symmetrical spiral shape by inclining around the left and right sides of the support bar 50 so as to face diagonally outward in opposite directions toward the transport direction of the medium 20. Of the frictional force F acting between the string-shaped projection 54 and the lower surface of the medium 20 pressed against the same, the support rod 5 is separated by a plane crossing the center of the support rod 50.
The media 20 that slips on the support bar 50 in the direction of the platen 10 by the component force f acting in the end direction of the left and right sides of the support rod 50 with the plane crossing the center of the support bar 50 as a boundary. The rod 50 can be pulled toward the left and right ends. Then, wrinkles generated on the medium 20 that slips on the support bar 50 can be removed. Then, the medium 20 in a state where the wrinkles are removed and the sheet is unfolded in a planar shape can be sent onto the platen 10.

[0010]

However, in the wrinkle removing device, the concave groove 52 is formed around the left and right sides of the columnar support rod 50 by cutting so as to face left and right in opposite directions. A symmetrically spirally engraved one or a symmetrically spirally provided groove 52 around the left and right sides of the support rod 50 in opposite directions are cast using a mold. , And it required a great deal of work and time to manufacture it.

Further, when wrinkles of the medium 20 having different widths are to be removed by the above-described wrinkle removing device, supporting rods 50 having different lengths corresponding to the width of the medium 20 must be used. A number of different lengths of short and long replacement support rods 50 were required.

The reason for this is that, as shown in FIG. 7, if the support bar 50 is too long compared to the width of the medium 20, the center of the support bar 50 will be placed on either the left or right side of the lower surface of the medium 20 ( This is because it is in a state of being pressed to one side (in the right side in the figure). Then, with the plane crossing the central portion of the support rod 50 as the plane of symmetry, the media is formed from the cord-like projections 54 formed in a symmetrical spiral around the left and right sides of the support rod 50 in opposite directions to each other. Of the frictional force F applied to the lower surface of the support 20, the component force f acting in the end direction between the left and right sides of the support bar 50 acts largely on the left or right side (left side in the figure) of the medium 20. Because. This is because the media 20 that slips on the support bar 50 in the direction of the platen 10 is strongly pulled to the left or right side (left side in the figure) of the support bar 50. Then, wrinkles generated on the medium 20 that slips on the support bar 50 cannot be accurately removed, or the medium 20 that slips on the support bar 50 is located on the left or right side of the support bar 50 (the left side in the figure). ), The sheet is transported in the direction of the platen 10.

Conversely, as shown in FIG. 8, even if the support bar 50 is too short compared to the width of the medium 20, either the left side or the right side of the support bar 50 (the right side in the figure).
This is because the side of the lower surface of the medium 20 supported on the support bar 50 protrudes from the end of the medium to the outside thereof.
Then, on the side of the lower surface of the media 20 that protrudes outside the one end of the support rod 50, a plane traversing the center of the support rod 50 is set as a symmetry plane, and the left and right sides of the support rod 50 are This is because the frictional force F is no longer applied from the string-shaped projection 54 spirally formed symmetrically in the opposite direction. Then, the wrinkles generated on the side of the medium 20 that slips on the support bar 50 cannot be accurately removed.

The present invention can solve such a problem.
An object of the present invention is to provide a media wrinkle removing device (hereinafter, referred to as a media wrinkling device) of an ink jet printer which is easy to manufacture. It is another object of the present invention to provide a media wrinkle removing device capable of reliably removing wrinkles generated on a medium having a wide and narrow width.

[0015]

In order to achieve the above object, a media wrinkle removing apparatus according to the present invention is used in an ink jet printer for carrying a medium from behind the platen onto a platen on which a print medium is mounted. A media wrinkle removing device, comprising: a support bar provided in a media transport path behind the platen for supporting the media across the lower surface of the media; and a support bar opposite to the left and right sides of the support bar. A first string-shaped member and a second string-shaped member formed of a coil spring wound helically symmetrically in the direction toward the direction, the inner ends of which are connected to each other, and the first string-shaped member and The second string-shaped member supports the support rod by tilting the support rod to the left and right sides so as to face diagonally outward in opposite directions toward the transport direction of the media when viewed from above the media support direction. Is characterized first cord-like member wound around and that consisting of the second cord-like member.

In this media wrinkle removing device, a support rod provided on a media transport path behind the platen is provided with
The media to be carried on the platen can be supported across the lower surface of the media. And the inner ends of the first and second string-shaped members, each of which is formed of a coil spring spirally wound symmetrically around the left and right sides of the support rod in opposite directions to each other, are connected to each other. Can be positioned substantially at the center of the lower surface of the medium supported on the support bar. Then, the left side and the right side of the lower surface of the medium, which slips on the support bar in the platen direction, can be pressed against the first string-like member and the second string-like member with substantially equal width. Then, the support rod is wound symmetrically around the left and right sides of the support rod so as to face diagonally outward in opposite directions toward the transport direction of the medium when viewed from the upper side supporting the medium. From the first string-shaped member and the second string-shaped member, a substantially equal frictional force is applied to the left side and the right side of the lower surface of the medium, in the diagonal right direction and the diagonal left direction, which are opposite to the medium conveyance direction. Can be added. And
Of the frictional force, the component force toward the end direction of the left and right sides of the support bar is pulled almost equally to the left and right sides of the media that slips on the support bar,
Wrinkles occurring on the media can be removed.
Then, the media from which the wrinkles have been removed can be sent onto the platen.

In manufacturing the media wrinkle removing device, a first string-shaped member and a second string-shaped member, each of which is composed of a telescopic coil spring whose inner ends are connected to each other, are connected to the left and right sides of the support rod. Can be easily formed without any trouble by simply tensioning in the opposite directions and wrapping in a symmetrical spiral.

In the media wrinkle removing device of the present invention,
It is preferable that the support rod is provided with a rotating means for rotating the support rod in a direction opposite to a transport direction of the medium when viewed from above the medium supporting the medium.

In this medium wrinkle removing device, the support rod can be rotated in the direction opposite to the medium transport direction when the support rod is viewed from the upper side supporting the medium by the rotating means. Then, as compared with a case where the support rod is not rotated, the first spirally wound around the left and right sides of the support rod with respect to the lower surface of the media that slips on the support rod in the platen direction. The slip speed between the string material and the second string member can be increased. And the frictional force applied to the left side and the right side of the lower surface of the media from the first string-like member and the second string-like member can be increased. And of those increased frictional forces,
The component force applied to the left and right end portions of the support rod can be increased. Then, by the increased component force, the lower surface of the medium that slips on the support rod is strongly pulled left and right, and wrinkles generated on the medium can be reliably removed.

In the media wrinkle removing device of the present invention,
An outer end of the first string-shaped member is fixed to a support rod,
An outer end of the second string-shaped member is fixed to a sliding member slidable left and right around the supporting rod, and the sliding member is temporarily fixed to be releasably fixed at an arbitrary position in the middle of the supporting rod. It is preferable to adopt a structure provided with the means.

In this media wrinkle removing device, the temporary fixing means for temporarily fixing the sliding member to the support rod can be released. Then, after the sliding member is slid left and right around the support rod, the sliding member can be temporarily fixed again to an arbitrary position in the middle of the support rod by the temporary fixing means. A first cord-like member made of a telescopic coil spring whose inner ends are spirally wound symmetrically around the left and right sides of the support rod and connected to each other, and a second cord-like member.
The string-shaped member can be freely expanded and contracted symmetrically around the left and right sides of the support rod, and the winding pitch between the first string-shaped member and the second string-shaped member can be changed symmetrically in a wide and narrow manner. . Then, the first string-shaped member and the second string-shaped member made of the coil spring are lengthened symmetrically around the left and right sides of the support bar in accordance with the width of the wide and narrow media supported on the support bar. Can be re-wound. Then, an inner end of the first string-like member and the second string-like member, which are re-wound long and short according to the width of the medium, are located at substantially the center of the lower surface of the medium having the wide and narrow width. be able to. Then, the first string-shaped member and the second string-shaped member can be pressed to the left and right sides of the lower surface of the medium with substantially equal widths. Then, the first and second string-shaped members pressed against the left and right sides of the lower surface of the media with substantially equal widths, and the inner ends connected to each other substantially at the center of the lower surface of the media are With the first string-shaped member and the second string-shaped member positioned, a substantially equal frictional force can be applied to the left and right sides of the lower surface of the media that slips on the support bar in the platen direction. Then, of these frictional forces, the media to be slipped on the support rod is pulled almost equally to the left and right sides by the substantially equal component force facing the end direction of the left and right sides of the support rod, and the Wrinkles occurring on the media can be accurately removed.

In the media wrinkle removing device of the present invention,
It is preferable that the cross-sectional shape of the wire rod of the coil spring forming the first string-shaped member and the second string-shaped member is rectangular.

In this media wrinkle removing device, the first
The lower surface of the media pressed against the string-shaped member and the second string-shaped member faces the wire rod of the coil spring having a rectangular cross-section that forms the first string-shaped member and the second string-shaped member. Can be contacted widely. Then, the frictional force acting between the first string-shaped member, the second string-shaped member, and the lower surface of the medium pressed against the member can be increased. And, by a component force of the frictional force facing the end direction of the left side and the right side of the support rod, the medium that slips on the support rod in the platen direction is strongly pulled to the left side and the right side,
Wrinkles occurring on the medium can be reliably removed.

[0024]

FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a media wrinkle removing device according to the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a schematic structural explanatory view of the device. Hereinafter, the media wrinkle removing device will be described.

The media wrinkle removing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 includes a platen 1 on which a printing medium 20 such as a cloth or a sheet is mounted.
0 is a media wrinkle removing device used for an ink jet printer which carries in the media 20 from behind the platen, similar to the above-described wrinkling device shown in FIG. , Platen 1
It has a structure in which a support bar 50 is provided to support the medium 20 to be carried on the lower side of the medium 20 across the lower surface of the medium 20. Around the left and right sides of the support rod 50, a first string-like member 62 and a second string-like member 64 are spirally wound symmetrically in opposite directions toward each other. The first cord-like member 62 and the second cord-like member 64 are formed of a telescopic coil spring made of a metal wire or the like. First string member 62
The inner ends of the and the second string-shaped member 64 are connected to each other. The first string-like member 62 and the second string-like member 64 support the support rod 50 so as to face diagonally outward in opposite directions toward the transport direction of the medium 20 when viewed from above the media 20 is supported. The rod 50 is wound spirally symmetrically on the left and right sides of the rod 50 in opposite directions to each other.

The media wrinkle removing device shown in FIG. 1 is configured as described above. In this media wrinkle removing device, as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG.
The media 20 to be loaded onto the platen 10 is placed on a support rod 50 provided in the conveyance path of the media 20 at the rear.
Can be supported across the lower surface of the media 20. And
A first coil spring, which is helically wound symmetrically around the left and right sides of the support rod 50 in opposite directions in the opposite direction.
The mutually connected inner ends of the string-shaped member 62 and the second string-shaped member 64 can be located substantially at the center of the lower surface of the medium 20. Then, the platen 10 is placed on the support rod 50.
The left and right sides of the lower surface of the medium 20 to be slipped in the direction can be pressed against the first cord-like member 62 and the second cord-like member 64 with substantially equal widths. And the support rod 5
0 from the upper side supporting the media 20,
The first string-like member 62 and the second string-like member helically wound around the left and right sides of the support bar 50 so as to face diagonally outward in opposite directions toward the transport direction 0.
From the string-shaped member 64, substantially equal frictional force F in the diagonally right direction and the diagonally left direction opposite to the transport direction of the medium 20 can be applied to the left and right sides of the lower surface of the medium 20. And, of those frictional forces F, the support rod 50
The media 20 that slips on the support rod 50 is almost equally pulled to the left and right sides by the component force f toward the end portions of the left and right sides of the Can be removed. Then, the media 20 from which the wrinkles have been removed can be sent onto the platen 10.

In manufacturing the media wrinkle removing device, the first cord-like member 62 and the second cord-like member 64 made of a coil spring whose inner ends are connected to each other are connected to each other around the support rod 50. It can be easily formed without any trouble by simply tensioning the left side and the right side in opposite directions and wrapping it spirally symmetrically.

In the media wrinkle removing device shown in FIG. 1, a geared electric motor for rotating the support rod 50 in a direction opposite to the direction in which the medium 20 is transported when the support rod 50 is viewed from above supporting the medium 20. It is preferable to provide a rotating means (not shown) composed of the above.

In this case, the support rod 50 can be rotated in a direction opposite to the direction in which the medium 20 is conveyed by the rotating means when the support rod 50 is viewed from above that supports the medium 20. Then, as compared with the case where the support rod 50 is not rotated, the support rod 50 is spirally formed around the left and right sides of the support rod 50 with respect to the lower surface of the medium 20 which slips in the direction of the platen 10. The slip speed between the wound first string member 62 and second string member 64 can be increased. Then, the frictional force F applied to the left and right sides of the lower surface of the medium 20 from the first string-like member 62 and the second string-like member 64 can be increased. Then, of these increased frictional forces F, the component force f applied toward the left and right end portions of the support rod 50 can be increased. Then, the medium 2 that slips on the support rod 50 due to the increased component force f.
The wrinkle generated on the medium 20 can be reliably removed by strongly pulling the lower surface toward the left and right sides.

In the media wrinkle removing device shown in FIG. 1, the outer end of the first string-like member 62 is fixed to the support rod 50 by a ring-like fixing member 82 as shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. In addition, the outer end of the second string-shaped member 64 may be fixed to a ring-shaped sliding member 80 that can slide left and right around the support rod 50. The sliding member 80 may be provided with temporary fixing means 90 including a set screw for releasably temporarily fixing the sliding member at an arbitrary position in the middle of the support rod 50.

In that case, the sliding member 80 is
Can be released temporarily. After the sliding member 80 is slid left and right around the support rod 50 by an arbitrary distance, the sliding member 80 is temporarily fixed again to an arbitrary position in the middle of the support rod 50 by the temporary fixing means 90. be able to. A first cord-like member 62 and a second cord-like member 64 are formed of telescopic coil springs whose inner ends are spirally wound symmetrically around the left and right sides of the support rod 50 and connected to each other. The first string member 62 and the second string member 64 spirally wound around the left and right sides of the support rod 50
As shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2, the winding pitch with
It can be changed symmetrically to wide and narrow. Then, the first string-shaped member 62 and the second string-shaped member 64 made of the coil spring
Can be symmetrically wound on the left and right sides around the support rod 50 symmetrically in accordance with the width of the wide and narrow medium 20 supported on the support rod 50. A first cord-like member 62 and a second cord-like member, which are wound around the left and right sides of the support rod 50 in accordance with the lateral width of the medium 20, substantially in the center of the lower surface of the medium 20 having a wide and narrow lateral width.
The inner ends connected to each other with the string-shaped member 64 can be located. Then, the first cord-like member 62 and the second cord-like member 62 wrapped around the support bar 50 on the left and right sides in a short and long manner, respectively.
The string-shaped member 64 can be pressed to the left and right sides of the lower surface of the medium 20 with a substantially uniform width. The first string-like member 62 and the second string-like member 64 are pressed to the left and right sides of the lower surface of the medium 20 with substantially equal widths, and are connected to each other substantially at the center of the lower surface of the medium 20. With the first string-shaped member 62 and the second string-shaped member 64 whose inner ends are located, a substantially equal frictional force F is applied to the left and right sides of the lower surface of the medium 20 that slips on the support rod 50 in the direction of the platen 10. Can be added. Then, of the frictional forces F, the media 20 having a narrow width that slips on the support bar 50 is moved to the left side by the substantially equal component force f facing the left and right ends of the support bar 50. By pulling almost evenly to the right side, the wrinkles generated on the medium 20 can be accurately removed.

In the media wrinkle removing device shown in FIG. 1, the cross-sectional shape of the wire rod of the coil spring constituting the first string member 62 and the second string member 64 is as shown in FIG. Instead of a circular shape, a rectangular shape may be used as shown in FIG.

In that case, as shown in FIG.
The lower surface of the medium 20 pressed against the string member 62 and the second string member 64 is moved between the first string member 62 and the second string member 6.
4 and 4 can be brought into wide and planar contact with the wire rod of the coil spring having a rectangular cross section. Then, the frictional force F acting between the first string-like member 62 and the second string-like member 64 and the lower surface of the medium 20 pressed against the same.
Can be increased. Then, by the component f of the frictional force F, the medium 20 that slips on the support bar 50 in the direction of the platen 10 is strongly pulled to the left and right sides thereof, and the wrinkles generated in the medium 20 are reliably removed. Can be.

[0034]

As described above, according to the media wrinkle removing device of the present invention, a medium for printing, such as a sheet or a cloth having a wide and narrow width, is generated on a medium carried on a platen. Wrinkles can be reliably removed. Then, a printed pattern can be accurately printed on the surface of the medium from which the wrinkles sent on the platen have been removed, and a line diagram or characters can be accurately printed on the surface of the medium.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an enlarged structure of a media wrinkle removing device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the use of the media wrinkle removing device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a partially enlarged structure of the media wrinkle removing device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of a partially enlarged structure of the media wrinkle removing device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic structural explanatory view of an ink jet printer provided with a media wrinkle removing device.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an enlarged structure of a conventional media wrinkle removing device.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a use state of a conventional media wrinkle removing device.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a use state of a conventional media wrinkle removing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Platen 20 Media 30 Ink-jet head 32 Nozzle 50 Support rod 52 Depressed groove 54 Projection 62 First string member 64 Second string member 80 Sliding member 90 Temporary fixing means

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A media wrinkle removing device used for an ink jet printer that carries a medium from behind a platen onto a platen on which a print medium is mounted, provided in a medium transport path behind the platen. A support rod for supporting the media across the lower surface of the media,
A first string-shaped member and a second string-shaped member, each of which is formed of a coil spring spirally wound symmetrically around the left and right sides of the support bar in opposite directions to each other, the inner ends of which are formed. The first string member and the second string member are connected to each other, and the support rod is viewed from above supporting the medium,
It is characterized by comprising a first string-like member and a second string-like member wound around the support rod inclining left and right so as to face diagonally outward in opposite directions toward the transport direction of the medium. Media wrinkle removing device for an ink jet printer. 2. A media wrinkling device for an ink jet printer according to claim 1, further comprising a rotation unit configured to rotate the support bar in a direction opposite to a direction in which the medium is transported when the support bar is viewed from above the medium is supported. apparatus. 3. An outer end of the first string-shaped member is fixed to a support rod, and an outer end of the second string-shaped member is fixed to a sliding member slidable left and right around the support rod. A media wrinkle removing device provided with temporary fixing means for releasably temporarily fixing the sliding member at an arbitrary position in the middle of the support rod, wherein the temporary fixing means is released, By sliding the periphery of the support rod left and right, and temporarily re-fixing it to an arbitrary position in the middle of the support rod, the support rod was spirally wound around the left and right sides of the support rod in opposite directions to each other. A first one comprising an extendable coil spring whose inner ends are connected to each other;
By changing the winding pitch of the string-like member and the second string-like member to be wide and narrow symmetrically, the first string-like member and the second string-like member can be symmetrically re-wound around the support rod. The media wrinkle removing device for an ink jet printer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: 4. The ink jet printer according to claim 1, wherein a cross-sectional shape of a wire of the coil spring forming the first string-shaped member and the second string-shaped member is square. Media wrinkle removal device.