Printing apparatus and method of moving medium support unit

A printing apparatus includes a base unit that can move in a moving direction and a medium support unit that supports a medium on which printing will be performed and moves in the moving direction along with the base unit by being attached to the base unit. When a position of the medium support unit with respect to the base unit during printing is defined as a base position, the medium support unit is slidable with respect to the base unit from the base position in the moving direction. By employing such a configuration, it is possible to suppress deterioration of work efficiency when setting a medium.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a method of moving a medium support unit.

2. Related Art

In related art, various printing apparatuses have been used. Among such printing apparatuses, many printing apparatuses are used which include a medium support unit that moves while supporting a medium on which printing will be performed.

For example, JP-A-2004-291399 discloses an ink jet cloth printing apparatus including a medium support unit (a first platen) that moves while supporting a medium (a T-shirt) on which printing will be performed.

However, in a related art printing apparatus including a medium support unit that moves while supporting a medium, when setting a medium to the medium support unit, work efficiency may deteriorate. This is because a moving range of the medium support unit with respect to a housing unit of the printing apparatus is limited and a part of the medium support unit may be located inside the housing unit when setting a medium. On the other hand, if the moving range of the medium support unit is increased in order to prevent a part of the medium support unit from being located inside the housing unit when setting a medium, the apparatus is enlarged in a related art configuration.

In the ink jet cloth printing apparatus of JP-A-2004-291399, a part of a first platen is located inside the housing unit when setting a medium, so that it is not possible to suppress deterioration of work efficiency when setting a medium to the medium support unit.

SUMMARY

An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to suppress deterioration of work efficiency when setting a medium.

A printing apparatus according to a first aspect of the invention includes a base unit that can move in a moving direction and a medium support unit that supports a medium on which printing will be performed and moves in the moving direction along with the base unit by being attached to the base unit. When a position of the medium support unit with respect to the base unit during printing is defined as a base position, the medium support unit is slidable with respect to the base unit from the base position in the moving direction.

According to this aspect, when a position of the medium support unit with respect to the base unit during printing is defined as a base position, the medium support unit is slidable with respect to the base unit from the base position in the moving direction. In other words, the medium support unit is moved with respect to the base unit in the moving direction, so that the medium support unit can be moved from the base position that is a position during printing to a setting position that is a position of when the medium is set. In other words, it is possible to move (draw out) the medium support unit to outside of a housing unit so that the medium support unit is not located inside the housing unit by moving the medium support unit with respect to the base unit in the moving direction when setting a medium. Therefore, it is possible to suppress deterioration of work efficiency when setting a medium.

In the first aspect, a printing apparatus according to a second aspect of the invention includes a printing unit that can print an image on the medium and a housing unit that houses the printing unit and has an opening portion through which the medium support unit can move forward and backward on one side of the moving direction. When the medium support unit is located at the base position in a state in which the base unit is moved most to the one side, at least a part of the medium support unit is located inside the housing unit with respect to the opening portion.

According to this aspect, when the medium support unit is located at the base position in a state in which the base unit is moved most to the one side, at least a part of the medium support unit is located inside the housing unit with respect to the opening portion. Specifically, it is possible to suppress enlargement of the apparatus by reducing the moving range of the base unit and further it is possible to move the medium support unit to the outside of the housing unit so that the medium support unit is not located inside the housing unit by moving the medium support unit with respect to the base unit in the moving direction in a state in which the base unit is moved most to the one side. Therefore, it is possible to suppress deterioration of work efficiency when setting a medium.

Here, “has an opening portion . . . on one side of the moving direction” has a meaning of having an opening portion at least on one side of the moving direction, and has a meaning of two cases including a case in which the opening portion is included only on one side of the moving direction and a case in which the opening portion is included on both sides of the moving direction.

In the second aspect, a printing apparatus according to a third aspect of the invention is characterized in that when the medium support unit is slid from the base position in a state in which the base unit is moved most to the one side, a part that is located inside the housing unit is exposed to the outside of the housing unit.

According to this aspect, when the medium support unit is slid from the base position in a state in which the base unit is moved most to the one side, a part that is located inside the housing unit is exposed to the outside of the housing unit. In other words, when the medium support unit is located at the setting position in a state in which the base unit is moved most to the one side, the medium support unit is located outside the housing unit with respect to the opening portion. Therefore, it is possible to suppress deterioration of work efficiency when setting a medium.

In the second and the third aspects, a printing apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the invention is characterized in that when the medium support unit is located at the base position in a state in which the base unit is moved most to the one side, at least a part of the medium support unit is located outside the housing unit with respect to the opening portion, and when the medium support unit is slid from the base position to the other side in a state in which the base unit is moved most to the one side, at least a part of the part that is located outside the housing unit is housed inside the housing unit.

According to this aspect, when the medium support unit is slid from the base position to the other side in a state in which the base unit is moved most to the one side, at least a part of the part that is located outside the housing unit is housed inside the housing unit. In other words, the medium support unit can move from the base position to a pushed-in position opposite to the setting position in the moving direction A. Therefore, by moving the medium support unit to the pushed-in position when the printing apparatus is not used, it is possible to prevent the medium support unit from being an obstacle. Further, by setting the pushed-in position so that the medium support unit is positioned inside the housing unit, it is possible to prevent the medium support unit from getting dirty.

In any one of the first to the fourth aspects, a printing apparatus according to a fifth aspect of the invention is characterized by including a fixing portion that fixes the medium support unit to the base unit at the base position.

According to this aspect, the fixing portion that fixes the medium support unit to the base unit at the base position is included. Therefore, it is possible to prevent printing precision from deteriorating due to movement (and vibration) of the medium support unit during printing.

In any one of the first to the fifth aspects, a printing apparatus according to a sixth aspect of the invention is characterized in that the medium support unit includes a holding portion that can be held when the medium support unit is moved with respect to the base unit in the moving direction.

According to this aspect, the medium support unit includes the holding portion that can be held when the medium support unit is moved with respect to the base unit in the moving direction. Therefore, it is possible to improve workability when moving the medium support unit with respect to the base unit in the moving direction.

A method of moving a medium support unit according to a seventh aspect of the invention is a method of moving a medium support unit in a printing apparatus including a base unit that can move in a moving direction and the medium support unit that supports a medium on which printing will be performed and moves in the moving direction along with the base unit by being attached to the base unit. The method causes the medium support unit to slide with respect to the base unit from a base position in the moving direction when a position of the medium support unit with respect to the base unit during printing is defined as the base position.

According to this aspect, when a position of the medium support unit with respect to the base unit during printing is defined as a base position, the medium support unit is slid with respect to the base unit from the base position in the moving direction. In other words, the medium support unit is moved with respect to the base unit in the moving direction, so that the medium support unit is moved from the base position which is a position during printing to a setting position that is a position of when the medium is set. In other words, it is possible to move (draw out) the medium support unit to outside of a housing unit so that the medium support unit is not located inside the housing unit by moving the medium support unit with respect to the base unit in the moving direction when setting a medium. Therefore, it is possible to suppress deterioration of work efficiency when setting a medium.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT

Hereinafter, a printing apparatus1according to an embodiment of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, an overview of the printing apparatus1of the embodiment will be described.

FIGS. 1 and 2are schematic perspective views of the printing apparatus1according to the embodiment.FIG. 1shows a state in which a tray4that is a support unit (a medium support unit) of a medium (a medium on which printing is performed) of the printing apparatus1of the embodiment is located at a print start position.FIG. 2shows a state in which the tray4is located at a print end position.

FIG. 3is a schematic front view of the printing apparatus1of the embodiment.FIG. 4is a schematic perspective view showing a slide mechanism of the medium support unit (the tray4) that is a main part of the printing apparatus1of the embodiment.

The printing apparatus1of the embodiment includes a medium support unit2that moves in a moving direction A in a state in which a support surface8of the tray4supports a medium. The medium support unit2has a tray4that is a support unit of a medium. The printing apparatus1includes a medium transport unit3that transports the medium supported by the tray4in the moving direction A. The moving direction A is directions including a direction A1and a direction A2opposite to the direction A1. Specifically, the tray4moves in the moving direction A by receiving a drive force of the medium transport unit3through a base unit17described later, so that the tray4can move forward and backward with respect to an opening portion13(seeFIG. 3) provided in a housing unit29.

As shown inFIGS. 3 and 4, the tray4is installed in a state of being fixed to an installation table11including upper rails10aand the installation table11is mounted on a stage5including lower rails10b. In other words, the tray4is mounted on the stage5through the installation table11and slide rails10including the upper rail10aand the lower rail10b. In this configuration, by sliding the upper rail10awith respect to the lower rail10b, it is possible to slide a moving unit16including the tray4, the installation table11, and the upper rail10aalong with the moving direction A with respect to the base unit17which has the stage5and the lower rail10band can move in the moving direction A by receiving the drive force of the medium transport unit3.

In other words, the tray4(the moving unit16) can move in the moving direction A along with the base unit17by the drive force of the medium transport unit3and also a user can move the tray4in the moving direction A with respect to the base unit17by holding the tray4and applying a force in the moving direction A. It is possible to represent that the medium support unit2is formed from the moving unit16and the base unit17.

The base unit17further includes a rotating lever9. When the rotating lever9is rotated, the tray4moves in the height direction C along with the stager5. The rotating lever9is provided to an arm portion that is a member included in the base unit17. As a medium, it is possible to use various materials such as textile (fabric, cloth, and the like), paper, and vinyl chloride resin.

Although omitted inFIG. 4, as shown inFIG. 3, leg portions12that come into contact with a floor surface when the tray4is removed from the installation table11are provided on a surface of the tray4opposite to the support surface8.

A print head7that can discharge ink and perform printing on the medium is provided inside a main body of the printing apparatus1. The printing apparatus1of the embodiment causes the print head7to discharge ink to the medium supported by the tray4and forms a desired image while reciprocating the print head7in a scanning direction B crossing the moving direction A by reciprocating a carriage6where the print head7is provided in the scanning direction B. In the embodiment, the carriage6including the print head7can move in the scanning direction B and corresponds to a printing unit that can print an image on the medium.

In the printing apparatus1of the embodiment, a position from which the medium is set into the tray4is located on the front side (lower left) ofFIGS. 1 and 2. The tray4on which the medium is set is moved in the direction A1of the moving direction A to a print start position located on the rear side (upper right) ofFIGS. 1 and 2, and thereafter, printing is performed while the tray4is being moved in the direction A2of the moving direction A.FIG. 1corresponds to a position of the base unit17immediately before starting the print operation andFIG. 2corresponds to a position of the base unit17immediately after completing the print operation.

As described above, a user can move the tray4(the moving unit16) of the embodiment in the moving direction A with respect to the base unit17by applying a force to the tray4. Here, the position (a movable range) of the tray4in a state in which the base unit17is moved to a front most position (in the direction A2: one of the moving directions A) in the printing apparatus1of the embodiment will be described.

FIGS. 5 to 7are schematic side views of the printing apparatus1of the embodiment, which show different positions of the tray4(FIG. 5: base position,FIG. 6: setting position,FIG. 7: pushed-in position) in a state in which the base unit17is moved to the front most position.

On the other hand,FIG. 10is a schematic side view of an ordinary printing apparatus1of a related art, in which the tray4cannot move with respect to the base unit17.

In the ordinary printing apparatus1of a related art, in which the tray4cannot move with respect to the base unit17, as shown inFIG. 10, when setting a medium on the tray4, if the tray4is located inside the housing unit29of the printing apparatus1, workability decreases, so that the tray4is not located inside the housing unit29of the printing apparatus1. Therefore, it is necessary to secure a long moving range of the tray4on the front side (in the direction A2), so that the depth length L2of the printing apparatus1becomes long. Therefore, as an installation area of the printing apparatus1, an installation area whose depth length is long corresponding to the depth length L2of the printing apparatus1is required.

On the other hand, as shown inFIG. 5, the depth length L1of the printing apparatus1of the embodiment is shorter than the depth length L2of the printing apparatus1shown inFIG. 10. This is because, in the printing apparatus1of the embodiment, the tray4can be moved in the moving direction A with respect to the base unit17, and when setting a medium, the tray4is moved from the base position shown inFIG. 5to the setting position shown inFIG. 6, so that the tray4can be located not inside the housing unit29of the printing apparatus1while the depth length L1is shortened.

Here, the position (the base position) of the tray4shown inFIG. 5is a position with respect to the base unit17during printing. The position (the setting position) of the tray4shown inFIG. 6is a position of when a medium is set (a position to which the tray4is slid from the base position in the direction A2).

The printing apparatus1of the embodiment has a configuration in which the tray4can be housed inside the housing unit29by moving the tray4from the base position shown inFIG. 5to the pushed-in position shown inFIG. 7(the tray4is slid from the base position to a position in the direction A1).

The printing apparatus1has a design in which suppression of enlargement of the printing apparatus1is prioritized by increasing the moving range of the tray4with respect to the base unit17. However, the moving range of the tray4with respect to the base unit17may be set to, for example, a range in which the tray4does not move with respect to the base unit17beyond an area where the end of the tray4and the end of the stage4become flush with each other, and thereby it may be designed so that a medium is difficult to be drawn between the tray4and the stage5when the tray4is moved with respect to the base unit17. A receiving unit that receives a medium that runs off the tray4may be provided below the tray4(between the tray4and the stage5) so that the medium is difficult to be drawn between the tray4and the stage5. A gap between the tray4and the stage5may be adjusted according to a medium to be used so that the medium is difficult to be drawn between the tray4and the stage5.

As shown inFIG. 8that is a schematic bottom view of the tray4that is a main part of the printing apparatus1of the embodiment, the printing apparatus1of the embodiment is provided with a protrusion portion14on a surface of the tray4opposite to the support surface8. In the base unit17, a hook portion15is formed that suppresses the movement of the tray4with respect to the base unit17(fixes the tray4with respect to the base unit17) by hooking the protrusion portion14when the protrusion portion14comes to a predetermined position. Although omitted inFIG. 8, a plurality of protrusion portions14and a plurality of hook portions15are provided, and a configuration is formed in which the tray4can be fixed with respect to the base unit17when the tray4is moved to each of the base position, the setting position, and the pushed-in position with respect to the base position17.

As shown inFIG. 8, the hook portion15can move in the direction B by an elastic body (a spring). A force that fixes the tray4with respect to the base unit17by the spring is set so that the tray4slides with respect to the base unit17when a user applies a strong force in the moving direction A but the tray4does not slide with respect to the base unit17when the user applies only a small force in the moving direction A. A contact angle of a contact surface of the hook portion15with respect to the protrusion portion14is set to an angle where the tray4is moved by applying only a small force when fixing the tray4at a fixed position (when the tray4is moved from a position between the base position and the setting position to the base position or the setting position and when the tray4is moved from a position between the base position and the pushed-in position to the base position or the pushed-in position) and tray4is not moved from the fixed position unless a strong force is applied.

Next, an electrical configuration of the printing apparatus1of the embodiment will be described.

FIG. 9is a block diagram of the printing apparatus1of the embodiment.

A control unit19is provided with a CPU20that controls the entire printing apparatus1. The CPU20is connected to a ROM22that stores various control programs executed by the CPU20and a RAM23that can temporarily store data through a system bus21.

The CPU20is also connected to a head drive unit24for driving a print head7(for causing the print head7to discharge ink) through the system bus21.

The CPU20is also connected to a motor drive unit25through the system bus21. The motor drive unit25is connected to a carriage motor18that moves the carriage6and a transport motor26provided in the medium transport unit3to transport a medium (that is, to move the medium support unit2).

The CPU20is further connected to an input/output unit27through the system bus21. The input/output unit27is connected to a PC28for transmitting and receiving data such as print data and a signal.

As described above, the printing apparatus1of the embodiment includes the base unit17that can move in the moving direction A and the tray4that supports a medium on which printing will be performed and moves in the moving direction A along with the base unit17by being attached to the base unit17. When the position of the tray4with respect to the base unit17during printing is defined as the base position, as shown inFIGS. 5 and 6, the tray4is slidable with respect to the base unit17from the base position in the moving direction A. In other words, the tray4moves with respect to the base unit17in the moving direction A, so that the tray4can move from the base position which is a position during printing to the setting position that is a position of when the medium is set. Specifically, it is possible to move (draw out) the tray4to the outside of the housing unit29so that the tray4is not located inside the housing unit29by moving the tray4with respect to the base unit17in the moving direction A when setting a medium. Therefore, the printing apparatus1of the embodiment can suppress deterioration of work efficiency when setting a medium.

Although the configuration of the “base unit” is not particularly limited, when considering that the base unit includes the medium support unit such as the tray4of the embodiment, a configuration may be formed which cannot produce an effect that the medium support unit is moved to the outside of the housing unit29by moving the medium support unit with respect to the base unit in the moving direction when setting a medium. Therefore, it may be defined that the base unit does not include the medium support unit.

Although the configuration of the “slidable” is not particularly limited, for example, when considering a configuration in which the medium support unit is attached to any position with respect to the base unit or the like, a configuration may be formed which cannot produce an effect that the medium support unit is moved to the outside of the housing unit29by moving the medium support unit with respect to the base unit in the moving direction when setting a medium. Therefore, the configuration in which the medium support unit is attached to any position with respect to the base unit or the like may be excluded from a slidable configuration of the invention.

As shown inFIG. 4, the slide mechanism of the embodiment is configured by the slide rails10including the upper rails10aand the lower rails10b. However, the slide mechanism is not limited to such a configuration. For example, the slide mechanism may be configured by a groove portion that extends in the moving direction A and a protrusion portion that fits into the groove portion.

In another expression, the invention is a method of moving the medium support unit (the tray4) in the printing apparatus1including the base unit17that can move in the moving direction A and the tray4that supports a medium on which printing will be performed and moves in the moving direction A along with the base unit17by being attached to the base unit17. When the position of the tray4with respect to the base unit17during printing is defined as the base position, the tray4is slid with respect to the base unit17from the base position in the moving direction A. In other words, the tray4is moved with respect to the base unit17in the moving direction A, so that the tray4is moved from the base position which is a position during printing to the setting position that is a position of when a medium is set. Specifically, it is possible to move (draw out) the tray4to the outside of the housing unit29so that the tray4is not located inside the housing unit29by moving the tray4with respect to the base unit17in the moving direction A when setting a medium. Therefore, it is possible to suppress deterioration of work efficiency when setting a medium.

Here, as described above, the printing apparatus1of the embodiment includes the carriage6that can print an image on a medium and the housing unit29that houses the carriage6and has the opening portion13through which the tray4can move forward and backward on one side (in the direction A2) of the moving direction A. As shown inFIG. 5, when the tray4is located at the base position in a state in which the base unit17is moved most to one side, a part of the tray4is located inside the housing unit29and the remaining part is located outside the housing unit29. In other words, at least a part of the tray4is located inside the housing unit29with respect to the opening portion13. Specifically, as shown inFIG. 6, while the enlargement of the apparatus is suppressed by reducing the moving range of the base unit17, the tray4is moved with respect to the base unit17in the moving direction A in a state in which the base unit17is moved most to the one side, and thereby it is possible to move the tray4to the outside of the housing unit29so that the tray4is not located inside the housing unit29. Therefore, it is possible to suppress deterioration of work efficiency when setting a medium.

Here, “has the opening portion13. . . on one side of the moving direction A” has a meaning of having the opening portion13at least on one side of the moving direction A, and has a meaning of two cases including a case in which the opening portion13is included only on one side of the moving direction A (for example, in the direction A2) and a case in which the opening portion13is included on both sides of the moving direction A (in the direction A1and in the direction A2).

As described above, in the printing apparatus1of the embodiment, when the tray4is slid from the base position in a state in which the base unit17is moved most to one side (the tray4is moved from a state shown inFIG. 5to a state shown inFIG. 6), a part of the tray4located inside the housing unit29is exposed outside the housing unit29. In other words, when the tray4is located at the setting position in a state in which the base unit17is moved most to one side (the state shown inFIG. 6), the tray4is located outside the housing unit29with respect to the opening portion13. Therefore, it is possible to suppress deterioration of work efficiency when setting a medium.

As described above, in the printing apparatus1of the embodiment, when the tray4is located at the base position in a state in which the base unit17is moved most to one side (the state shown inFIG. 5), at least a part of the tray4is located outside the housing unit29with respect to the opening portion13. As shown inFIG. 5, when the tray4is slid from the base position to the other side (in the direction A1) in a state in which the base unit17is moved most to one side, as shown inFIG. 7, at least a part of the tray4that has been located outside the housing unit29is housed inside the housing unit29. In other words, the tray4can move from the base position to the pushed-in position opposite to the setting position in the moving direction A. Therefore, by moving the tray4to the pushed-in position when the printing apparatus1is not used, it is possible to prevent the tray4from being an obstacle. Further, by setting the pushed-in position so that the tray4is positioned inside the housing unit29, it is possible to prevent the tray4from getting dirty.

As shown inFIG. 8, the printing apparatus1of the embodiment includes a fixing portion (the protrusion portion14and the hook portion15) that fixes the tray4to the base unit17at the base position. Therefore, it is possible to prevent printing precision from deteriorating due to movement (and vibration) of the tray4during printing. As described above, in the printing apparatus1of the embodiment, the fixing portion including the protrusion portion14and the hook portion15can fix the tray4to the base unit17at the setting position and the pushed-in position in addition to the base position.

As shown inFIG. 8, the fixing portion of the embodiment is a fixing portion configured by the protrusion portion14and the hook portion15. However, the configuration of the fixing portion is not limited to the above configuration. For example, the fixing portion may fix the tray4by screwing.

A holding portion that can be held when the tray4is moved with respect to the base unit17in the moving direction A may be provided to the tray4. This is because it is possible to improve workability when moving the tray4with respect to the base unit17in the moving direction A.

Further, by forming a configuration in which the tray4is unfixed from the base unit17by holding the holding portion and the tray4is fixed to the base unit17by releasing hand from the holding portion (by stopping the holding), it is possible to improve workability particularly when moving the tray4with respect to the base unit17in the moving direction A.

The invention is not limited to the above embodiment and it is needless to say that the invention can be variously modified within the scope of the invention described in the claims and the various modifications are also included in the scope of the invention.

For example, it is possible to move the tray4with respect to the base unit by using a drive source such as a motor. When the tray4is moved with respect to the base unit by the drive source, it is possible to reduce the load of a user and it is possible to further suppress deterioration of work efficiency when setting a medium. In this configuration, the tray4may be moved with respect to the base unit17by the drive source while the tray4is moving along with the base unit17(while printing is being performed). By doing so, two types of movements are performed at the same time, so that it is possible to improve throughput. When the tray4is moved with respect to the base unit17by the drive source while the tray4is moving along with the base unit17(while printing is being performed), it is possible to set the moving range of the base unit1to be shorter, so that it is possible to further reduce the depth length L1of the printing apparatus1.

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-221210, filed Nov. 11, 2015. The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-221210 is hereby incorporated herein by reference.