PRINTING APPARATUS

A printing apparatus includes a medium storage unit that stores a medium, a printing unit including a print head that forms an image on the medium, a medium conveyance unit that conveys the medium toward the print head, an ink storage unit that stores ink, a housing internally accommodating the medium storage unit, the printing unit, the medium conveyance unit, and the ink storage unit, and an operation panel configured to instruct formation of the image on the medium. The housing includes an opening/closing portion opened/closed when the medium is stored in the medium storage unit, an opening/closing portion opened/closed when the ink is stored in the ink storage unit, and an opening/closing portion opened/closed when the print head is accessed. Handhold portions at which a hand is put when the opening/closing portions are opened/closed, and the operation panel are disposed at the same surface of the housing.

The present application is based on, and claims priority from JP Application Serial Number 2023-052913, filed Mar. 29, 2023, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a printing apparatus configured to form an image on a medium.

2. Related Art

JP-A-2016-60555 describes a printer that performs, with a print head, printing on roll paper disposed in a housing and discharges the printed roll paper from a paper ejection port to the outside of the housing. The housing of this printer has a substantially cuboid shape, and an operation panel is disposed next to a paper ejection port on a front surface of the housing. The operation panel includes an operation button operated by the user and a display that provides the user with information.

However, in the printer described in JP-A-2016-60555, the roll paper is disposed at the rear of the housing, and roll paper replacement requires opening/closing of an opening/closing lid provided on a side surface different from the front surface. That is, upon recognizing the need of replacement of the roll paper based on the information displayed on the display of the operation panel, the user has to move from a position facing the front surface of the housing to a position facing another side surface in order to replace the roll paper. Therefore, it is necessary to improve work efficiency in replacing roll paper or the like.

SUMMARY

A printing apparatus includes: a medium storage unit configured to store a print medium, a printing unit including an image forming unit configured to form an image on the print medium, a medium conveyance unit configured to convey the print medium stored in the medium storage unit toward the image forming unit, an image forming member storage unit configured to accommodate an image forming member to be applied to the print medium by the image forming unit when the image is formed, a housing internally accommodating the medium storage unit, the printing unit, the medium conveyance unit, and the image forming member storage unit, and an operation unit including a display portion, provided integrally with or separately from the housing, and configured to instruct formation of the image on the print medium, in which the housing includes a first opening/closing portion opened/closed when the print medium is stored in the medium storage unit, a second opening/closing portion opened/closed when the image forming member is stored in the image forming member storage unit, and a third opening/closing portion opened/closed when the image forming unit is accessed from an outside of the housing, and a first handhold portion at which a hand is put when the first opening/closing portion is opened/closed, a second handhold portion at which a hand is put when the second opening/closing portion is opened/closed, a third handhold portion at which a hand is put when the third opening/closing portion is opened/closed, and the operation unit are disposed at the same surface of the housing.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, a printing apparatus1of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. The printing apparatus1of the present embodiment is, for example, an inkjet type printer configured to form a character or an image such as a photograph on a medium M by ejecting ink, which is an example of liquid, onto the medium M that is a print target. The type of the medium M is not particularly limited, but in the present embodiment, the medium M wound in a roll shape is used. Note that the medium M corresponds to the print medium. The ink applied to the medium M when an image is formed corresponds to the image forming member.

Each figure illustrates X-, Y-, and Z-axes that intersect with one another. Typically, the X-, Y-, and Z-axes are orthogonal to one another. The X-axis is parallel to the installation surface of the printing apparatus1, and corresponds to the width direction of the printing apparatus1. The Y-axis is parallel to the installation surface of the printing apparatus1, and corresponds to the depth direction of the printing apparatus1. The Z-axis is perpendicular to the installation surface of the printing apparatus1, and corresponds to the height direction of the printing apparatus1.

Hereinafter, a +X direction parallel to the X-axis is a leftward direction toward the front of the printing apparatus1, and a-X direction parallel to the X-axis is a direction opposite to the +X direction. The +Y direction parallel to the Y-axis is a direction from the back toward the front of the printing apparatus1, and a-Y direction parallel to the Y-axis is a direction opposite to the +Y direction. A+Z direction parallel to the Z-axis is an upward direction, and a-Z direction parallel to the Z-axis is a direction opposite to the +Z direction.

FIG.1is a perspective view illustrating the printing apparatus1of the present embodiment.

As illustrated inFIG.1, the printing apparatus1includes a housing2having a substantially cuboid shape configured to accommodate an apparatus main body. The printing apparatus1further includes a printing unit10, a medium conveyance unit20, a maintenance unit30, an ink storage unit40, a medium storage unit50, and a control unit60inside the housing2. That is, the housing2constitutes an exterior of the printing apparatus1, and internally accommodates the printing unit10, the medium conveyance unit20, the maintenance unit30, the ink storage unit40, the medium storage unit50, and the control unit60.

An operation panel3is disposed on a front surface2ffacing the +Y direction among the surfaces of the housing2. In the present embodiment, the operation panel3is provided integrally with the housing2. The operation panel3includes a plurality of operation buttons3aconfigured to receive user operations, and a display portion3bconfigured to display various types of information. By using the operation panel3, the user can instruct the control unit60, for example, to form an image on the medium M and perform various settings. The operation panel3corresponds to the operation unit. Of the surfaces of the housing2, a side surface2sfacing the +X direction is provided with a paper ejection port4through which the medium M after the image is formed is discharged.

The housing2includes a plurality of opening/closing portions5,6,7, and8. Among them, the opening/closing portion5is disposed above the operation panel3, that is, in the +Z direction, and the opening/closing portion6is disposed below the operation panel3, that is, in the −Z direction. The opening/closing portion7is disposed on the right side of the opening/closing portion6, that is, in the −X direction, toward the front surface2f, and the opening/closing portion8is disposed above the opening/closing portion7. The opening/closing portion5and the opening/closing portion8constitute a top surface2tfacing the +Z direction among the surfaces of the housing2, and the opening/closing portion6and the opening/closing portion7constitute the front surface2fof the housing2.

Each of the opening/closing portions5,6,7, and8can be opened/closed in a door-like manner, and the inside of the housing2can be accessed by opening the opening/closing portions5,6,7, and8. The opening/closing portions5,6,7, and8are formed with handhold portions5a,6a,7a, and8a, respectively, to which a hand is put when the opening/closing portions5,6,7, or8, respectively, are opened/closed. The handhold portions5a,6a,7a, and8aare formed by cutting out a part of the opening/closing portions5,6,7, and8in a concave shape, and are configured to receive a hand of the user. In the present embodiment, the handhold portions5a,6a,7a, and8aare provided on the front surface2fof the housing2as with the operation panel3. In other words, the handhold portions5a,6a,7a, and8aand the operation panel3are disposed on the same surface of the housing2.

FIG.2is a perspective view illustrating the printing apparatus1in a state where the opening/closing portions5,6,7, and8are opened.

As illustrated inFIG.2, the opening/closing portion5can be opened by lifting the handhold portion5aupward and then moving the handhold portion5abackward. When the opening/closing portion5is opened, the medium conveyance unit20configured to convey the medium M toward the paper ejection port4is exposed. Thus, the medium conveyance unit20can be accessed by opening the opening/closing portion5. Opening the opening/closing portion5also enables access to the print head11described later. That is, the opening/closing portion5is opened/closed when the medium conveyance unit20or the print head11is accessed from the outside of the housing2. The opening/closing portion5corresponds to the third opening/closing portion, and the handhold portion5aof the opening/closing portion5corresponds to the third handhold portion.

The opening/closing portion6can be opened by pulling out the handhold portion6aforward and then moving the handhold portion6adownward. When the opening/closing portion6is opened, the ink storage unit40and a waste liquid tank42are exposed. The ink storage unit40stores an ink cartridge41accommodating ink, and the waste liquid tank42stores waste ink described later. Thus, the ink storage unit40and the waste liquid tank42can be accessed by opening the opening/closing portion6. For example, the opening/closing portion6is opened/closed when the ink cartridge41of the ink storage unit40is replaced. In other words, the opening/closing portion6is opened/closed when the ink is stored in the ink storage unit40. The opening/closing portion6is opened/closed when the waste liquid tank42is replaced, that is, when the waste ink stored in the waste liquid tank42is removed. The ink storage unit40corresponds to the image forming member storage unit, and the waste liquid tank42corresponds to the waste material storage unit. The opening/closing portion6corresponds to the second opening/closing portion, and the handhold portion6aof the opening/closing portion6corresponds to the second handhold portion.

The opening/closing portion7can be opened by pulling out the handhold portion7aforward and then moving the handhold portion7arightward. When the opening/closing portion7is opened, the medium storage unit50configured to be mounted with the medium M is exposed. The medium storage unit50stores a roll body51that is the medium M wound in a roll shape. Specifically, a rotation shaft52configured to rotate with respect to the housing2is disposed in the medium storage unit50, and the roll body51is mounted to the rotation shaft52. That is, the opening/closing portion7is opened/closed when the roll body51, that is, the medium M is stored in the medium storage unit50. The opening/closing portion7corresponds to the first opening/closing portion, and the handhold portion7aof the opening/closing portion7corresponds to the first handhold portion.

The opening/closing portion8can be opened by lifting the handhold portion8aupward and then moving the handhold portion8abackward. When the opening/closing portion8is opened, a conveyance path through which the medium M pulled out from the roll body51is conveyed is exposed. The opening/closing portion8is opened/closed, for example, when the medium M pulled out from the roll body51is inserted into the medium conveyance unit20.

FIG.3is a configuration diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the printing apparatus1, and is a view of the inside of the housing2viewed from the front.

As illustrated inFIG.3, the printing unit10includes a print head11, a carriage12, and a carriage driving unit13. The print head11is replaceably attached to the carriage12. The print head11is an inkjet head configured to form an image on the medium M by ejecting ink. Specifically, the print head11includes a piezo actuator, and ejects ink downward from a nozzle formed on a lower surface by driving the piezo actuator under the control of the control unit60. The print head11of the present embodiment is a line head in which a large number of nozzles are formed over the entire region in a width direction of the medium M, that is, the +Y direction. The print head11corresponds to the image forming unit.

The print head11is supplied with a control signal from the control unit60via a flexible flat cable (FFC) (not illustrated) or the like. The print head11is supplied with the ink accommodated in the ink cartridge41through a flexible ink tube (not illustrated) or the like.

The carriage12supports the print head11and is movable in a front-rear direction, that is, the +Y direction. Specifically, both left and right sides of the carriage12, that is, both sides in the +X direction are provided with a pair of guide shafts14extending in the +Y direction, and the carriage12is guided by the guide shaft14to move in the +Y direction. The guide shaft14is fixed with respect to the housing2.

The carriage12is coupled to the carriage driving unit13and moves in the +Y direction by driving of the carriage driving unit13. The carriage driving unit13includes a pair of timing pulleys (not illustrated), a timing belt having an annular shape (not illustrated), and a carriage driving motor15that operates under the control of the control unit60. The pair of timing pulleys is disposed in the vicinity of both ends in the +Y direction of the guide shaft14on the −X side. The timing belt is stretched over the pair of timing pulleys, and a part thereof is coupled to the carriage12. Torque from an output shaft of the carriage driving motor15is transmitted to one of the timing pulleys via a transmission. When the control unit60drives the carriage driving motor15, one of the timing pulleys rotates, and the timing belt is circularly driven. Due to this, the carriage12coupled to the timing belt moves in the +Y direction along the guide shaft14.

Thus, since the carriage12is movable in the +Y direction, the carriage12can switch, inside the housing2, between a state of being positioned at a home position on the −Y side and a state of being positioned at a printing position on the +Y side. When the carriage12is in the printing position, the print head11overlaps the medium conveyance unit20in plan view viewed from the +Z direction. Printing on the medium M is performed when the carriage12is in the printing position. Note that as described above, since the print head11of the present embodiment is a line head in which a large number of nozzles are formed over the entire region in the width direction of the medium M, it is not necessary to move the print head11in the +Y direction during printing.

On the other hand, when the carriage12is in the home position, the print head11does not overlap the medium conveyance unit20but overlaps the maintenance unit30in plan view. The maintenance unit30includes a cap configured to cover the nozzle of the print head11, and protects and performs maintenance of the print head11under the control of the control unit60. For example, the control unit60executes flushing for forcibly ejecting ink from the print head11regardless of printing, thereby removing foreign matters, air bubbles, deteriorated ink, or the like in the nozzle. In this case, the maintenance unit30receives the ink ejected from the print head11and discharges the ink to the waste liquid tank42as waste ink. Note that the waste ink is, of the ink accommodated in the ink cartridge41, ink having not been used for formation of an image, and corresponds to the waste material. The carriage driving unit13moves the print head11together with the carriage12between the medium conveyance unit20and the maintenance unit30, and thus corresponds to the moving unit.

The roll body51around which the medium M is wound is stored in the medium storage unit50. The medium storage unit50is positioned on the −X side relative to the carriage12in the printing position. The medium M is pulled out from the roll body51and delivered to the medium conveyance unit20positioned in the +X direction.

The medium conveyance unit20includes a conveyance roller pair21, a conveyance motor22, and a medium support portion23. The medium conveyance unit20conveys, toward the print head11, the medium M pulled out from the roll body51stored in the medium storage unit50. The conveyance roller pair21includes a driving roller21apositioned on the −Z side and a driven roller21bpositioned on the +Z side. The conveyance motor22rotates the driving roller21aunder the control of the control unit60. The driven roller21bis biased toward the driving roller21a, and the medium M is sandwiched between the driving roller21aand the driven roller21band fed in the +X direction by the driving of the conveyance motor22.

The medium support portion23supports the medium M conveyed in the +X direction by the conveyance roller pair21. When the carriage12is in the printing position, the medium support portion23faces the print head11across the medium M. The medium M is supported by the medium support portion23, and receives ejection of ink from the print head11while being conveyed in the +X direction that is the conveyance direction by the conveyance roller pair21. The medium M on which an image is formed by ejection of ink is discharged from the paper ejection port4to the outside of the housing2.

The ink storage unit40in which a plurality of ink cartridges41are stored and the waste liquid tank42are disposed below the medium conveyance unit20. The ink cartridge41of the present embodiment includes four ink cartridges41accommodating inks of four colors of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. The waste ink discharged from the maintenance unit30is stored in the waste liquid tank42.

FIG.4is a perspective view illustrating a frame70disposed inside the housing2.

The printing apparatus1includes the frame70supporting the apparatus main body inside the housing2. As illustrated inFIG.4, the frame70is formed of a plurality of metal plate-like members. The frame70partitions areas where the above-described components are disposed, such as the printing unit10, the medium conveyance unit20, the maintenance unit30, the ink storage unit40, the medium storage unit50, and the control unit60, and supports the disposed components. Specifically, the frame70partitions the space inside the housing2into a plurality of areas including a first area A1, a second area A2, a third area A3, and a fourth area A4.

The first area A1is an area positioned on the +X side and the +Z side in the housing2, and extends in the +Y direction. The first area A1stores the printing unit10, the medium conveyance unit20, and the maintenance unit30. The printing unit10, the medium conveyance unit20, and the maintenance unit30are unitized in advance, and disposed in the first area A1as one unit. That is, the printing unit10, the medium conveyance unit20, and the maintenance unit30are attached to the frame70in a state of being assembled in advance with an appropriate positional relationship with one another. Therefore, as compared with the configuration in which the printing unit10, the medium conveyance unit20, and the maintenance unit30are individually attached to the frame70, the printing accuracy is improved, and the rigidity of the printing apparatus1is improved.

The second area A2is an area positioned on the +X side and the −Z side in the housing2, and extends in the +Y direction. That is, the second area A2is positioned below the first area A1. The ink storage unit40and the waste liquid tank42are disposed in the second area A2. That is, the ink storage unit40and the waste liquid tank42are disposed in the second area A2different from the first area A1. Since the ink storage unit40and the waste liquid tank42are disposed in the lower portion in the housing2, even if the ink leaks from the ink storage unit40and the waste liquid tank42, damage to the other components and the medium M by the leaked ink is suppressed.

The third area A3is an area positioned on the −X side and the +Y side in the housing2. That is, the third area A3is positioned on the −X side of the first area A1and the second area A2. The third area A3stores the roll body51. That is, the third area A3constitutes the medium storage unit50.

The fourth area A4is an area positioned on the −X side and the −Y side in the housing2. That is, the fourth area A4is positioned on the −X side of the first area A1and the second area A2and at the rear of the third area A3, that is, in the −Y direction. The control unit60, a power supply unit (not illustrated), and the like are disposed in the fourth area A4.

In the printing apparatus1configured as described above, when an error such as insufficient remaining amount of consumables such as the medium M or ink occurs, the user recognizes the occurrence of the error based on the information displayed on the display portion3bof the operation panel3. Then, when an error occurs, the user opens any of the opening/closing portions5,6,7, and8, accesses the inside of the housing2, and resolves the error.

For example, when the remaining amount of any ink becomes insufficient, the user opens the opening/closing portion6and replaces the corresponding ink cartridge41with a new one. Similarly, when the amount of waste ink stored in the waste liquid tank42reaches an upper limit value, the user opens the opening/closing portion6and replaces the waste liquid tank42.

When the medium M stored in the medium storage unit50runs out, the user opens the opening/closing portion7and stores a new roll body51in the medium storage unit50. Furthermore, the user opens the opening/closing portion8and inserts, into the medium conveyance unit20, the medium M pulled out from the roll body51.

When clogging of the medium M, that is, a jam of the medium M occurs in the medium conveyance unit20, the user opens the opening/closing portion5and removes the clogged medium M. The user opens the opening/closing portion8as necessary and reinserts the medium M into the medium conveyance unit20.

When a foreign matter, deteriorated ink, or the like is clogged in the nozzle of the print head11and the clogging is not resolved by flushing using the maintenance unit30, the print head11is replaced. In this case, the user can replace the print head11by opening the opening/closing portion5and moving the carriage12to the printing position, that is, above the medium conveyance unit20. Thus, in the present embodiment, since the print head11is accessible via the opening/closing portion5, replacement of the print head11does not require disassembly of the housing2or the frame70, and work can be efficiently performed.

When the print head11is replaced, the FFC, the ink tube, and the like is removed from the old print head11and re-attached to the new print head11. In the present embodiment, a plurality of members to be accessed when the print head11is replaced, such as the print head11, the FFC, and the ink tube, are disposed in the first area A1. Thus, replacement of the print head11can be more efficiently performed as compared with when such plurality of members are disposed in different areas, respectively. When the print head11is replaced, the opening/closing portion5may be opened after the carriage12is moved to the printing position under the control of the control unit60.

Upon finishing the error resolution work as described above, the user operates the operation button3aof the operation panel3to restart printing.

As described above, the handhold portions5a,6a,7a, and8aof the opening/closing portions5,6,7, and8are disposed on the front surface2fof the housing2as with the operation panel3. For this reason, the user can execute, on the front surface2fside of the housing2, almost all operations from recognition of an error by the display portion3bto error resolution work and restart of printing. This eliminates the need for movement to another side surface side of the housing2, and enables a series of work to be efficiently carried out.

As described above, according to the printing apparatus1of the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

According to the present embodiment, the printing apparatus1includes the opening/closing portion7opened/closed when the medium M, that is, the roll body51is stored, the opening/closing portion6opened/closed when the ink cartridge41is stored, and the opening/closing portion5opened/closed when the printing unit10is accessed. The handhold portions5a,6a, and7aof the respective opening/closing portions5,6, and7are provided on the same surface as that of the operation panel3. Therefore, the user that operates the operation panel3can open/close the opening/closing portions5,6, and7and access the inside while being in front of the surface provided with the operation panel3, and thus the work efficiency of the user is improved.

According to the present embodiment, since the medium conveyance unit20can be accessed by opening the opening/closing portion5, even when a defect such as a jam of the medium M occurs in the medium conveyance unit20, the defect can be easily resolved.

According to the present embodiment, a plurality of members to be accessed when the print head11is replaced, such as the print head11, the FFC, and the ink tube, are all disposed in the first area A1. This enables replacement of the print head11to be efficiently performed as compared with when such plurality of members are disposed in different areas, respectively.

According to the present embodiment, since the ink storage unit40and the waste liquid tank42are disposed in the same second area A2and can be accessed by opening the opening/closing portion6, work such as replacement of the ink cartridge41and the waste liquid tank42can be easily performed.

According to the present embodiment, both the ink storage unit40that stores ink and the waste liquid tank42that stores waste ink are disposed below the first area A1in which the printing unit10and the medium conveyance unit20are disposed. Therefore, even if the ink leaks from the second area A2, damage to the print head11and the medium M can be suppressed.

According to the present embodiment, the printing unit10, the medium conveyance unit20, and the maintenance unit30are unitized and disposed in the first area A1. Therefore, the printing accuracy and the rigidity of the printing apparatus1can be improved as compared with when the printing unit10, the medium conveyance unit20, and the maintenance unit30are individually disposed.

The above embodiment may be changed as follows.

In the above embodiment, the liquid ejected by the print head11is not limited to ink. For example, the print head11may eject a liquid body containing, in a dispersed or dissolved state, a material such as an electrode material or a coloring material used for manufacturing various displays.

In the above embodiment, an aspect in which the ink cartridge41accommodating ink is stored in the printing apparatus1is described, but an aspect in which ink is poured into a tank included in the printing apparatus1may be adopted. In this case, the tank that accommodates the ink corresponds to the image forming member storage unit.

In the above embodiment, the print head11is constituted by a line head, but is not limited to this configuration. For example, the print head11may be a serial head, and may have a configuration of ejecting ink while moving the carriage12in the +Y direction.

In the above embodiment, the printing apparatus1is not limited to the inkjet type. For example, the printing apparatus1may be a thermal type in which the ink applied to an ink ribbon is transferred to the medium M by a thermal head. In this case, the ink applied to the ink ribbon corresponds to the image forming member, and the thermal head corresponds to the image forming unit. A portion configured to store the ink ribbon in the housing2corresponds to the image forming member storage unit. The printing apparatus1may be a laser type that transfers toner accommodated in a cartridge or the like to the medium M using a photoreceptor. In this case, the toner corresponds to the image forming member, and the photoreceptor corresponds to the image forming unit. In the housing2, a portion configured to store the cartridge accommodating the toner corresponds to the image forming member storage unit.

In the above embodiment, the operation panel3may be separable from the housing2. That is, the operation panel3may have a configuration in which the operation panel3is provided separately from the housing2and a state of being mounted at a predetermined position of the housing2and a state of being separated from the predetermined position can be selected as appropriate. In this case, among the surfaces of the housing2, a surface having the predetermined position at which the operation panel3is to be mounted corresponds to the surface on which the operation panel3is disposed.

In the above embodiment, a configuration in which the operation panel3includes the operation button3aand the display portion3bhas been described, but the present disclosure is not limited to this configuration. For example, the operation panel3may include a touchscreen in which a transparent touch sensor is superimposed on the display portion3b. The display portion3bmay be configured to display an image, such as a liquid crystal display device or an organic electroluminescence (EL) display device, or may be configured to notify an occurrence of an error by turning on or blinking a light-emitting body such as a light-emitting diode.

In the above embodiment, the handhold portions5a,6a,7a, and8aare not limited to have the configuration formed in a concave shape. For example, the handhold portions5a,6a,7a, and8amay have a configuration formed in a convex shape like a handle.

In the above embodiment, an aspect in which the medium M is supplied to the printing apparatus1as the roll body51is described, but the supply aspect of the medium M is not limited to the above. For example, an aspect in which a cassette on which the sheet-like medium M is loaded is supplied to the printing apparatus1or an aspect in which the sheet-like medium M is manually supplied may be adopted. The material of the medium M is not particularly limited, and various materials such as paper, textiles such as cloth and woven fabric, and vinyl chloride resin can be adopted.