Patent Description:
In <CIT>, there is disclosed a recording head positioning structure of adjusting a position of a recording head to a recording head loading part of a printer main body.

This recording head positioning structure is provided with a tilted surface which is provided to the recording head loading part in a state of being tilted with respect to a loading surface of the recording head loading part, and which is tilted with respect to a surface provided to the recording head, and an adjusting member having contact with the surface of the recording head and the tilted surface.

In the positioning structure described above, since a positioning mechanism is disposed laterally to a liquid jet head, the area (a substantial footprint) necessary for an installation of the liquid jet head grows in size, and it is difficult to densely install the liquid jet head to an installation target. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure a large installation surface for the liquid jet head, and thus, there arises a problem of growth in size in particular in a printing width direction of the installation target.

The present disclosure is made in view of the problem described above, and has an object of reducing the area necessary for the installation of the liquid jet head to be positioned by the positioning mechanism.

<CIT> discloses a liquid jet head that includes a nozzle section having a jet hole for liquid, a support member configured to support the nozzle section, and a position adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a position of the jet hole with respect to a carriage. The position adjustment mechanism includes a reference member a position of which with respect to the carriage is fixable, a position adjustment member which is coupled to the support member, and is configured to push the reference member to change a relative distance with respect to the reference member to thereby displace the support member on the carriage, and an intermediary member intervening between the reference member and the position adjustment member. The intermediary member is attached to either one of the reference member and the position adjustment member to form a first pressure-receiving surface facing to a displacement direction of the support member, and the other of the reference member and the position adjustment member has contact with the first pressure-receiving surface.

A liquid jet head according to the invention is defined in claim <NUM>.

According to this configuration, since the positioning mechanism for positioning the liquid jet head with respect to the protruding part disposed on the installation surface of the installation target is supported by the base member together with the jet section, and at the same time, at least a part of the positioning mechanism is arranged inside the outer shape of the base member in the plan view of the installation surface viewed from the vertical direction, it is possible to arrange the positioning mechanism so as to overlap a footprint of the liquid jet head, and thus, it is possible to reduce the area necessary to install the liquid jet head. Thus, it is possible to suppress a length in a printing width direction of the liquid jet head to shorten a length in the printing width direction of the installation target necessary when installing a plurality of liquid jet heads.

In addition, by preloading the protruding part with the preloading mechanism to displace the contact member having contact with the protruding part in the preloading direction, it is possible to move the base member following the displacement of the contact member. Since it becomes unnecessary to dispose the contact members and the displacement mechanisms at both sides across the protruding part due to this preloading mechanism, it is possible to achieve simplification, reduction in weight, and reduction in space of the structure of the positioning mechanism.

Preferably, the base member may have a penetration part inside the outer shape of the base member, the protruding part being arranged in the penetration part.

In this case, by providing the penetration part to the base member, it is possible to arrange the protruding part inside the footprint of the liquid jet head, and thus, it is possible to further reduce the area necessary to install the liquid jet head.

Preferably, the positioning mechanism may be detachably attached to the base member.

In this case, since it is possible to detach the positioning mechanism from the base member after the positioning and the installation of the liquid jet head are completed, and then use the positioning mechanism thus detached for positioning another liquid jet head, the configuration can make a contribution to the reduction in cost.

Preferably, the positioning mechanism may include a first positioning mechanism configured to adjust a position of the base member in a first direction along the installation surface of the base member, and a pair of second positioning mechanisms which are arranged at a distance in the first direction to the base member, and which respectively adjust positions of the base member in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction along the installation surface of the base member.

In this case, it is possible to adjust the positions of the base member in the first direction and the second direction along the installation surface due to the first positioning mechanism and the second positioning mechanism. Further, by making the adjustment amount of the position in the second direction different between the pair of second positioning mechanisms, it is possible to adjust the rotational angle of the base member.

Preferably, the protruding part may include a first protruding part and a second protruding part arranged across the jet section in the first direction, one of the pair of second positioning mechanisms may adjust a position of the base member in the second direction with respect to one of the first protruding part and the second protruding part, and another of the pair of second positioning mechanisms may adjust a position of the base member in the second direction with respect to another of the first protruding part and the second protruding part.

In this case, since it is possible to position the liquid jet head with the two protruding parts without disposing three protruding parts so as to correspond respectively to the three positioning mechanisms, namely the first positioning mechanism and the pair of second positioning mechanisms, it is possible to decrease the number of the protruding parts to be arranged in the footprint of the liquid jet head to thereby further reduce the area necessary to install the liquid jet head.

Preferably, a pressing part protruding toward a side at which the preloading mechanism receives a reactive force from the protruding part in the direction in which the preloading mechanism applies the preload may be provided to the outer shape of the base member.

In this case, when the accuracy of the pressing part is high, it is possible to easily position the liquid jet head by pressing the pressing part against the installation target with the reactive force received by the preloading mechanism from the protruding part. Further, when the accuracy of the pressing part is insufficient, by displacing the contact member toward the opposite side to the pressing direction of the pressing part to adjust the position of the liquid jet head, it is possible to position the liquid jet head.

A liquid jet recording device according to an aspect of the invention includes the liquid jet head described above, and a carriage as the installation target on which the liquid jet head is installed.

According to the liquid jet recording device related to the present aspect, there can be obtained the liquid jet recording device which is capable of reducing the area necessary to install the liquid jet head, which is compact in size, and which is capable of performing accurate printing.

Preferably, the protruding part may be detachably attached to the carriage.

In this case, since it is possible to detach the protruding part from the carriage after the positioning and the installation of the liquid jet head are completed, and then use the protruding part thus detached for positioning another liquid jet head, it becomes possible to reuse the protruding part, and the configuration can make a contribution to the reduction in cost. Further, it is possible to fix the base member to the carriage using the places where the protruding part is detached.

According to the invention described above, it is possible to reduce the area necessary to install the liquid jet head to be positioned by the positioning mechanism.

(<NUM>) A liquid jet recording device according to a non claimed example includes a liquid jet head, and a carriage on which the liquid jet head is installed, wherein the liquid jet head includes a jet section configured to jet liquid, a base member which is configured to support the jet section, and which is installed on an installation surface of the carriage, and a protruding part protruding from the base member toward the carriage, the carriage is provided with a positioning mechanism configured to adjust a position of the base member in a direction along the installation surface with respect to the protruding part, and at least a part of the positioning mechanism is arranged inside an outer shape of the base member in a plan view of the installation surface viewed from a vertical direction of the installation surface.

According to the liquid jet recording device related to the present example, since the liquid jet head is provided with the protruding part, the carriage is provided with the positioning mechanism, and at least a part of the positioning mechanism is arranged inside the outer shape of the base member of the liquid jet head in the plan view of the installation surface viewed from the vertical direction, it is possible to arrange the positioning mechanism so as to overlap the footprint of the liquid jet head, and thus, it is possible to decrease the area necessary to install the liquid jet head. Thus, it is possible to suppress a length in a printing width direction of the liquid jet head to shorten a length in the printing width direction of the installation target necessary when installing a plurality of liquid jet heads.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure described above, it is possible to reduce the area necessary to install the liquid jet head to be positioned by the positioning mechanism.

An embodiment according to the present disclosure will hereinafter be described by way of example only with reference to the drawings.

In the embodiments and modified examples described hereinafter, constituents corresponding to each other are denoted by the same reference symbols to omit the description thereof in some cases. Further, in the following description, expressions representing relative or absolute arrangement such as "parallel," "perpendicular," "center," and "coaxial" not only represent strictly such arrangements, but also represent the state of being relatively displaced with a tolerance, or an angle or a distance to the extent that the same function can be obtained.

In the following embodiment, the description will be presented citing an inkjet printer (hereinafter simply referred to as a printer) for performing recording on a recording target medium using ink (liquid) as an example. It should be noted that the scale size of each member is arbitrarily modified so as to provide a recognizable size to the member in the drawings used in the following description.

<FIG> is a schematic configuration diagram of a printer <NUM> according to the embodiment.

As shown in <FIG>, the printer <NUM> (a liquid jet recording device) according to the present embodiment is provided with a pair of conveying mechanisms <NUM>, <NUM>, ink tanks <NUM>, inkjet heads <NUM> (liquid jet heads), ink circulation mechanisms <NUM>, and a scanning mechanism <NUM>.

In the following explanation, the description is presented using an orthogonal coordinate system of X, Y, and Z as needed. An X direction is a conveying direction (a subscanning direction) of a recording target medium P (e.g., paper). A Y direction is a scanning direction (a main-scanning direction) of the scanning mechanism <NUM>. A Z direction is a height direction (a gravitational direction) perpendicular to the X direction and the Y direction. It should be noted that the X direction is a printing width direction of the inkjet head <NUM>.

Further, in the following explanation, the description will be presented defining an arrow side as a positive (+) side, and an opposite side to the arrow as a negative (-) side in the drawings in each of the X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction. In the present embodiment, the +Z side corresponds to an upper side in the gravitational direction, and the -Z side corresponds to a lower side in the gravitational direction.

The conveying mechanisms <NUM>, <NUM> convey the recording target medium P toward the +X side. The conveying mechanisms <NUM>, <NUM> each include a pair of rollers <NUM>, <NUM> extending in, for example, the Y direction. There is disposed a plurality of ink tanks <NUM> which respectively house ink of four colors such as yellow, magenta, cyan, and black.

There is disposed a plurality of inkjet heads <NUM> which are configured so as to be able to respectively eject the four colors of ink, namely the yellow ink, the magenta ink, the cyan ink, and the black ink in accordance with the ink tanks <NUM> coupled thereto.

<FIG> is a schematic configuration diagram of the inkjet head <NUM> and the ink circulation mechanism <NUM> according to the embodiment.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the ink circulation mechanism <NUM> circulates the ink between the ink tank <NUM> and the inkjet head <NUM>. Specifically, the ink circulation mechanism <NUM> is provided with a circulation flow channel <NUM> having an ink supply tube <NUM> and an ink discharge tube <NUM>, a pressure pump <NUM> coupled to the ink supply tube <NUM>, and a suction pump <NUM> coupled to the ink discharge tube <NUM>.

The pressure pump <NUM> pressurizes the inside of the ink supply tube <NUM> to deliver the ink to the inkjet head <NUM> through the ink supply tube <NUM>. Thus, the ink supply tube <NUM> is provided with positive pressure with respect to the inkjet head <NUM>.

The suction pump <NUM> depressurizes the inside of the ink discharge tube <NUM> to suction the ink from the inkjet head <NUM> through the ink discharge tube <NUM>. Thus, the ink discharge tube <NUM> is provided with negative pressure with respect to the inkjet head <NUM>. The ink circulates between the inkjet head <NUM> and the ink tank <NUM> through the circulation flow channel <NUM> by driving the pressure pump <NUM> and the suction pump <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the scanning mechanism <NUM> reciprocates the inkjet heads <NUM> in the Y direction. The scanning mechanism <NUM> is provided with a guide rail <NUM> extending in the Y direction, a carriage <NUM> (an installation target) movably supported by the guide rail <NUM>, and a drive device for moving the carriage <NUM>. The drive device is constituted by, for example, a motor, a pulley, and a belt.

The inkjet heads <NUM> are mounted on the carriage <NUM>. The inkjet heads <NUM> according to the present embodiment are each an inkjet head of an electromechanical transduction type in which ink is ejected from a head chip including an actuator plate formed of a piezoelectric element made of PZT (lead zirconate titanate) or the like.

In this inkjet head <NUM>, in order to eject the ink, a voltage is applied between electrodes on drive walls of an ejection channel provided to the actuator plate to cause the drive wall to make a thickness-shear deformation. Thus, due to a change in volume of the ejection channel, the ink in the ejection channel is ejected through a nozzle hole. It should be noted that an ejection method of the liquid is not limited to an electromechanical transduction type described above, and it is possible to adopt a charge control method, a pressure vibration method, an electrothermal transduction method, an electrostatic suction method, and so on.

The charge control method is for providing a charge to a material with a charge electrode to eject the material from a nozzle while controlling a flight direction of the material with a deflection electrode. Further, the pressure vibration method is for applying super high pressure to the material to eject the material toward a nozzle tip, and when a control voltage is not applied, the material goes straight to be ejected from the nozzle, and when the control voltage is applied, an electrostatic repelling force is generated between the materials, and the material flies in all directions to be prevented from being ejected from the nozzle.

Further, the electrothermal transduction method is for rapidly vaporizing the material with a heater provided in a space containing the material to generate a bubble, to eject the material in the space with the pressure of the bubble. The electrostatic suction method is for applying minute pressure to a space retaining the material to form a meniscus in the nozzle, and then pulling the material out after applying an electrostatic attractive force in this state. Further, besides the above, it is possible to adopt technologies such as a method using a viscosity alteration of a fluid due to an electric field, or a method of flying the material with a discharge spark.

<FIG> is a plan view showing an arrangement of the inkjet heads <NUM> installed in the carriage <NUM> according to the embodiment.

As shown in <FIG>, the plurality of inkjet heads <NUM> is mounted on an installation surface 29a of the carriage <NUM>. The inkjet heads <NUM> each have a substantially rectangular shape extending in the X direction in the plan view, wherein one side (the +X side) in the X direction thereof, there is disposed an entrance port 5a to which the ink supply tube <NUM> described above is coupled, and on the other side (the -X side) in the X direction thereof, there is disposed an exit port 5b to which the ink discharge tube <NUM> described above is coupled.

The inkjet heads <NUM> are each installed on the installation surface 29a of the carriage <NUM> in an orientation in which a long side extends in the X direction, and a short side extends in the Y direction. The inkjet heads <NUM> are installed at a predetermined pitch in the X direction on the installation surface 29a. On an upper surface of each of the inkjet heads <NUM>, there is disposed a coupling connector not shown to thereby electrically be coupled to the printer <NUM> via a cable not shown.

The carriage <NUM> is provided with insertion holes 29b into which a lower end portion of the inkjet head <NUM> is inserted. The insertion holes 29b are each an elongated hole having a rectangular shape extending in the X direction in the plan view, and each penetrate the installation surface 29a of the carriage <NUM> in a thickness direction (the Z direction). The insertion holes 29b are each formed to be one-size larger than the lower end portion of the inkjet head <NUM> to ensure a clearance for positioning of the inkjet head <NUM>. Each of the inkjet heads <NUM> are fixed to the carriage <NUM> while being adjusted in a position in the X direction, a position in the Y direction, and a rotational angle on the X-Y plane by a positioning structure <NUM> described below.

<FIG> is a perspective view of the positioning structure <NUM> of the inkjet head <NUM> according to the embodiment. <FIG> is an exploded perspective view of the positioning structure <NUM> of the inkjet head <NUM> according to the embodiment. <FIG> is a plan view of the positioning structure <NUM> of the inkjet head <NUM> according to the embodiment.

As shown in these drawings, the inkjet head <NUM> is provided with a head main body 5A (a jet section) for jetting the ink, and a base member <NUM> which supports the head main body 5A, and is installed on the installation surface 29a of the carriage <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the head main body 5A has a rectangular box-like shape, and is provided with a nozzle array not shown for jetting the ink on a lower surface thereof. The base member <NUM> is coupled to the lower end portion of the head main body 5A. The base member <NUM> is provided with a plate part <NUM> to be mounted on the installation surface 29a of the carriage <NUM>, and a base part <NUM> which surrounds the lower end portion of the head main body 5A.

The base part <NUM> has a rectangular box-like shape opening on an upper side. On a bottom surface of the base part <NUM>, there is formed an elongated hole not shown for exposing the nozzle array of the head main body 5A. The plate part <NUM> has a plate shape extending from an upper opening edge of the base part <NUM> toward both sides in the X direction. The plate part <NUM> is fixed to the installation surface 29a of the carriage <NUM> with screw members <NUM> each attached to the installation surface 29a via a spring washer 101a. The installation surface 29a of the carriage <NUM> is provided with fixation holes 29d to which the screw members <NUM> are screwed.

The plate part <NUM> of the base member <NUM> is provided with first penetration parts <NUM> in which positioning pins <NUM> (protruding parts) are arranged, and second penetration parts <NUM> in which the screw members <NUM> are arranged. The first penetration parts <NUM> each have an elongated hole shape extending in the X direction, and at the same time, are formed to be one-size larger than the positioning pins <NUM>. Further, the second penetration parts <NUM> each have an elongated hole shape extending in the X direction, and at the same time, are each formed to be one-size larger than a shaft portion of the screw member <NUM>.

The base member <NUM> is arranged to be able to be adjusted in the fixation position in a direction (an X-Y plane direction) along the installation surface 29a of the carriage <NUM> due to these gaps. Further, between the first penetration part <NUM> and the second penetration part <NUM> in the plate part <NUM>, there is a plurality of fixation holes <NUM> for fixing a positioning unit <NUM> described later. On an inner wall surface of the fixation hole <NUM>, there is formed an internal thread to which each of screw members <NUM> for fixing the positioning unit <NUM> is screwed.

The positioning structure <NUM> is provided with the positioning pins <NUM> provided to the carriage <NUM>, and the positioning units <NUM> which are provided to the inkjet head <NUM>, and which adjust a position of the base member <NUM> with respect to the positioning pins <NUM> in a direction along the installation surface 29a of the carriage <NUM>. As the positioning pins <NUM>, the positioning structure <NUM> is provided with a first positioning pin 40A and a second positioning pin 40B arranged in the X direction across the head main body 5A.

The first positioning pin 40A is arranged at the +X side of the head main body 5A. The second positioning pin 40B is arranged at the -X side of the head main body 5A. Further, as the positioning units <NUM>, the positioning structure <NUM> is provided with a first positioning unit 50A for adjusting a position of the base member <NUM> with respect to the first positioning pin 40A, and a second positioning unit 50B for adjusting a position of the base member <NUM> with respect to the second positioning pin 40B.

<FIG> is a perspective view of the first positioning unit 50A according to the embodiment. <FIG> is a perspective view of the second positioning unit 50B according to the embodiment. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view along an arrow IX-IX shown in <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG>, the first positioning unit 50A is provided with a frame member <NUM>, and two positioning mechanisms <NUM> respectively in the X direction and the Y direction supported by the frame member <NUM>. In the following description, first, a basic structure of the positioning mechanisms <NUM> will be described based on the positioning mechanism <NUM> in the Y direction (hereinafter referred to as a second positioning mechanism 60B).

The second positioning mechanism 60B adjusts the position of the base member <NUM> in the Y direction along the installation surface 29a with respect to the positioning pin <NUM> disposed on the installation surface 29a of the carriage <NUM> described above. The second positioning mechanism 60B is provided with a preloading mechanism <NUM> for preloading the positioning pin <NUM> in the Y direction along the installation surface 29a, a contact member <NUM> making contact with the positioning pin <NUM> from an opposite side (the +Y side) to a side (the - Y side) at which the preloading mechanism <NUM> is arranged in the Y direction in which the preloading mechanism <NUM> applies the preload, and a displacement mechanism <NUM> for displacing the contact member <NUM> in the Y direction in which the preloading mechanism <NUM> applies the preload.

As shown in <FIG>, the preloading mechanism <NUM> is provided with two plate springs <NUM>, <NUM>. The plate spring <NUM> is cranked, and a tip portion of the plate spring <NUM> has contact with the -Y side of the positioning pin <NUM>. The plate spring <NUM> bends to form an L shape, and overlaps a back side of the plate spring <NUM> to thereby adjust a biasing force of the preloading mechanism <NUM>. It should be noted that it is possible to make two or more plate springs <NUM> overlap the plate spring <NUM>. Further, when the biasing force of the plate spring <NUM> is sufficient, it is not required to dispose the plate spring <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the plate springs <NUM>, <NUM> are fixed to a bottom part <NUM> of the frame member <NUM> with screw members <NUM>. In the vicinity of the screw members <NUM>, there is formed a plurality of third penetrating parts 52a penetrating the plate springs <NUM>, <NUM> and the bottom part <NUM> of the frame member <NUM> in the Z direction. As shown in <FIG>, in the third penetrating parts 52a, there are arranged the screw members <NUM> for fixing the second positioning unit 50B. The screw members <NUM> are screwed respectively to the fixation holes <NUM> provided to the plate part <NUM> of the base member <NUM>. In other words, the second positioning unit 50B (the two positioning mechanisms <NUM>) is detachably attached to the base member <NUM> with the screw members <NUM>.

The displacement mechanism <NUM> displaces the contact member <NUM> having contact with the +Y side of the positioning pin <NUM> along a displacement axis O2 extending in an oblique direction crossing a direction (the Z direction) perpendicular to the installation surface 29a. The frame member <NUM> is provided with an attachment part <NUM> to which the displacement mechanism <NUM> is attached. The attachment part <NUM> bends at a right angle with the bottom part <NUM>, and further bends at a substantially middle position in the height direction (the Z direction) at the same angle as that of the displacement axis O2 toward the bottom part <NUM> (toward the positioning pin <NUM>). The attachment part <NUM> is provided with an opening part <NUM> for avoiding an interference with a lower end portion of the guide part <NUM> of the displacement mechanism <NUM>. A back side of the guide part <NUM> is fixed to the attachment part <NUM> via screw members <NUM>.

The guide part <NUM> is an orbital member which extends in an oblique direction along the displacement axis O2 to guide the contact member <NUM>. The guide part <NUM> has a tilted surface having contact with the back side (the +Y side) of the contact member <NUM>. The contact member <NUM> has a clamping part <NUM> for clamping the guide part <NUM> in a direction (the X direction) perpendicular to the displacement axis O2. In other words, the contact member <NUM> is arranged to be able to be displaced in the oblique direction along the guide part <NUM> while sliding on three surfaces, namely the tilted surface and both side surfaces, of the guide part <NUM>.

The displacement mechanism <NUM> is provided with the guide part <NUM> described above, a bolt <NUM>, a compression spring <NUM>, a first support part <NUM>, and a second support part <NUM>. The contact member <NUM> is threadably mounted on the bolt <NUM> so that screw feeding of the contact member <NUM> can be achieved. The bolt <NUM> extends along the displacement axis O2, and screw-feeds the contact member <NUM> with the rotation around the displacement axis O2. The first support part <NUM> is disposed in an upper end portion (one end portion) of the guide part <NUM> to support a head part of the bolt <NUM>. The first support part <NUM> is provided with a first insertion hole 94a through which a shaft part of the bolt <NUM> is inserted. The first insertion hole 94a shaft-supports a portion (a neck portion) which is not provided with the thread in a shaft part of the bolt <NUM>.

The compression spring <NUM> is, for example, a coil spring arranged around the bolt <NUM>, and intervenes between the first support part <NUM> and the contact member <NUM>. The compression spring <NUM> extends and contracts so as to fill a gap between the contact member <NUM> and the first support part <NUM> which varies due to the screw-feeding with the bolt <NUM>. The second support part <NUM> is disposed in a lower end portion (the other end portion) of the guide part <NUM>. The second support part <NUM> is provided with a second insertion hole 95a through which the shaft part of the bolt <NUM> is inserted. The second insertion hole 95a shaft-supports a tip portion which is not provided with the thread in the shaft part of the bolt <NUM>. The guide part <NUM> described above, the first support part <NUM>, and the second support part <NUM> are integrally formed to have a substantially C shape as a whole.

The positioning pin <NUM> erects vertically to the installation surface 29a of the carriage <NUM>. The positioning pin <NUM> is provided with a contact part <NUM>, a chamfered part <NUM> (see <FIG>), and a screw part <NUM> (see <FIG>). The screw part <NUM> is disposed in a lower end portion of the positioning pin <NUM>, and is screwed to a fixation hole 29c provided to the installation surface 29a of the carriage <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the chamfered part <NUM> is obtained by chamfering a part of a circumferential surface of the positioning pin <NUM> to form at least two surfaces parallel to each other to make it possible to screw the positioning pin <NUM>. In other words, the positioning pin <NUM> is detachably attached to the carriage <NUM>. It should be noted that it is possible for the chamfered part <NUM> to be what is obtained by performing the chamfering to form four surfaces or six surfaces.

As shown in <FIG>, the positioning pin <NUM> has the contact part <NUM> shaped like a curved surface having contact with the contact member <NUM>. Further, the contact member <NUM> has a contact part <NUM> shaped like a curved surface having contact with the positioning pin <NUM>. A relationship between the curved surface shapes of the contact parts <NUM>, <NUM> of the positioning pin <NUM> and the contact member <NUM> will hereinafter be described with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> is a conceptual diagram for explaining the curved surface shapes of the contact parts <NUM>, <NUM> according to the embodiment.

As shown in <FIG>, the contact part <NUM> of the positioning pin <NUM> is formed to have the curved surface shape taking a first intersecting axis O1 crossing the installation surface 29a as a central axis. The first intersecting axis O1 in the present embodiment crosses perpendicularly to (at a right angle with) the installation surface 29a, but can obliquely cross the installation surface 29a.

The contact part <NUM> in the present embodiment includes a first cylindrical surface taking the first intersecting axis O1 as a central axis. It should be noted that the "first cylindrical surface" means a surface formed to have a constant radius with respect to the first intersecting axis O1. Further, "including the first cylindrical surface" only requires that at least a portion having contact with the contact member <NUM> is the first cylindrical surface, and can include that a plane (e.g., the chamfered part <NUM> shown in <FIG>) or the like exists in other portions than the portion having contact with the contact member <NUM>.

In contrast, the contact part <NUM> of the contact member <NUM> is formed to have a curved surface shape taking the second intersecting axis O3, which is nonparallel to the first intersecting axis O1, as a central axis. The second intersecting axis O3 crosses an imaginary plane <NUM> which includes the displacement axis O2 of the contact member <NUM> and a vertical axis O4 extending in a direction perpendicular to the installation surface 29a (or the first intersecting axis O1 in the present embodiment). The second intersecting axis O3 in the present embodiment extends in parallel to the installation surface 29a, and crosses perpendicularly to (at a right angle with) the imaginary plane <NUM>, but can obliquely cross the imaginary plane <NUM>.

The contact part <NUM> in the present embodiment includes a second cylindrical surface taking the second intersecting axis O3 as a central axis. It should be noted that the "second cylindrical surface" means a surface formed to have a constant radius with respect to the second intersecting axis O3. Further, "including the second cylindrical surface" only requires that at least a portion having contact with the positioning pin <NUM> is the second cylindrical surface, and can include that planes (e.g., upper and lower parallel surfaces and left and right tilted surfaces of the contact part <NUM> shown in <FIG>) or the like exist in other portions than the portion having contact with the positioning pin <NUM>.

Incidentally, when it is supposed that the positioning pin <NUM> is a square protruding part, the contact part <NUM> of the contact member <NUM> is a tilted surface, and the tilted surface is made to have contact with a corner part of the protruding part, the corner part and the tilted surface make line contact with each other. However, since minute asperity caused by processing accuracy or the like exists on the corner part and the tilted surface, the corner part and the tilted surface have contact with each other at a number of points in a precise sense. In the state of the multipoint contact described above, since errors at respective contact points are apt to accumulate, there is a possibility that it becomes difficult to accurately position the inkjet head <NUM> to the carriage <NUM>.

In contrast, according to the configuration described above, since the central axes (the first intersecting axis O1 and the second intersecting axis O3) of the respective curved surface shapes of the contact parts <NUM>, <NUM> are in a skew positional relationship, the positioning pin <NUM> and the contact member <NUM> have contact with each other at a single point. Since the positioning pin <NUM> and the contact member <NUM> have contact with each other at the single point, it is possible to avoid the error due to the multipoint contact between the positioning pin <NUM> and the contact member <NUM>, and thus, it is possible to accurately position the inkjet head <NUM> to the carriage <NUM>. Further, since the displacement axis O2 extends in the oblique direction crossing the installation surface 29a, the displacement of the contact member <NUM> in a direction along the installation surface 29a per revolution of the bolt <NUM> decreases, and thus, it is possible to make a microscopic displacement of the contact member <NUM> with high accuracy.

The basic structure of the positioning mechanism <NUM> is hereinabove described.

The second positioning unit 50B shown in <FIG> is also provided with the same configuration as the positioning mechanism <NUM> (the second positioning mechanism 60B) in the Y direction of the first positioning unit 50A. It should be noted that a configuration of the positioning mechanism (the first positioning mechanism 60A) in the X direction is disposed in the first positioning unit 50A and the second positioning unit 50B in a separate manner. Although described later in detail, in the first positioning unit 50A shown in <FIG>, there are disposed the contact member <NUM> and the displacement mechanism <NUM> of the first positioning mechanism 60A, and in the second positioning unit 50B shown in <FIG>, there is disposed the preloading mechanism <NUM> of the first positioning mechanism 60A. The preloading mechanism <NUM> of the first positioning mechanism 60A is formed of a single plate spring 70A, and is fixed to a sidewall part <NUM> erected at the -X side of the frame member <NUM> via screw members <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the positioning structure <NUM> is provided with the first positioning mechanism 60A for adjusting the position in the X direction (a first direction) along the installation surface 29a of the base member <NUM>, and the pair of second positioning mechanisms 60B which are arranged at a distance in the X direction to the base member <NUM>, and which respectively adjust the positions in the Y direction (a second direction) perpendicular to the X direction along the installation surface 29a of the base member <NUM>.

Further, the positioning structure <NUM> is provided with the first positioning pin 40A (a first protruding part) and the second positioning pin 40B (a second protruding part) arranged in the X direction across the head main body 5A. One (the second positioning mechanism 60B at the first positioning unit 50A side) of the pair of second positioning mechanisms 60B adjusts the position in the Y direction of the base member <NUM> to the first positioning pin 40A. Further, the other (the second positioning mechanism 60B at the second positioning unit 50B side) of the pair of second positioning mechanisms 60B adjusts the position in the Y direction of the base member <NUM> to the second positioning pin 40B.

The preloading mechanism <NUM> (the plate spring 70A) of the first positioning mechanism 60A is disposed at the second positioning unit 50B side to apply the preload in the X direction to the second positioning pin 40B. Further, the contact member <NUM> and the displacement mechanism <NUM> of the first positioning mechanism 60A are disposed at the first positioning unit 50A side, and the contact member <NUM> makes contact with the first positioning pin 40A from an opposite side (the +X side) to the side (the -X side) at which the preloading mechanism <NUM> (the plate spring 70A) is arranged in the X direction, and at the same time, is displaced in the X direction.

Each of the positioning mechanisms <NUM> is supported by the base member <NUM>, and at the same time, at least a part of the positioning mechanism <NUM> is arranged inside the outer shape of the base member <NUM> in the plan view of the installation surface 29a viewed from the vertical direction (the Z direction). It should be noted that the "inside of the outer shape of the base member <NUM>" means an inside of an outline of the plate part <NUM> forming the outermost shape of the base member <NUM> in the plan view of the installation surface 29a viewed from the vertical direction (the Z direction).

Further, the positioning pins <NUM> are also arranged inside the outer shape of the base member <NUM>. In other words, as shown in <FIG>, the plate part <NUM> of the base member <NUM> is provided with the first penetration parts <NUM> in which the positioning pins <NUM> are arranged, and which are formed inside the outer shape of the base member <NUM>. In other words, since the positioning pins <NUM> are arranged so as to penetrate the base member <NUM>, and the base member <NUM> supports the positioning mechanisms <NUM>, the positioning structure <NUM> is arranged so that a large portion of the positioning structure <NUM> overlaps the footprint of the inkjet head <NUM>.

The plate part <NUM> of the base member <NUM> is provided with pressing parts <NUM>, <NUM> (protrusions) each protruding toward a side at which the preloading mechanism <NUM> receives a reactive force from the positioning pin <NUM> in a direction in which the preloading mechanism <NUM> applies the preload. The pressing parts <NUM> are each disposed so as to protrude toward a side (the -Y side) at which the preloading mechanism <NUM> receives the reactive force from the positioning pin <NUM> in the Y direction in which the preloading mechanism <NUM> of the second positioning mechanism 60B applies the preload. Further, the pressing part <NUM> is disposed so as to protrude toward a side (the -X side) at which the preloading mechanism <NUM> receives the reactive force from the positioning pin <NUM> in the X direction in which the preloading mechanism <NUM> of the first positioning mechanism 60A applies the preload.

In contrast, the carriage <NUM> is provided with receiving parts 36A, 37A which the pressing parts <NUM>, <NUM> are pressed against, respectively. The receiving parts 36A, 37A are for substantially positioning the inkjet head <NUM> to the carriage <NUM> in a state in which the pressing parts <NUM>, <NUM> are pressed. It should be noted that it is desirable to complete the positioning of the inkjet head <NUM> in the state in which the pressing parts <NUM>, <NUM> are pressed against the receiving parts 36A, 37A, respectively, but it is necessary to process the pressing parts <NUM>, <NUM> and the receiving parts 36A, 37A with high accuracy, which is high in cost, and therefore, a fine adjustment of the inkjet head <NUM> becomes necessary in most cases. Therefore, it is necessary to adjust the position of the inkjet head <NUM> in a direction along the installation surface 29a using the positioning structure <NUM> described above.

For example, when translating the inkjet head <NUM> shown in <FIG> toward the +X side with respect to the carriage <NUM>, the bolt <NUM> of the displacement mechanism <NUM> of the first positioning mechanism 60A is rotated to displace the contact member <NUM> toward the -X side with respect to the displacement mechanism <NUM>. Then, the base member <NUM> to which the displacement mechanism <NUM> is fixed receives the reactive force from the first positioning pin 40A, and is translated toward the +X side along the installation surface 29a of the carriage <NUM> against the biasing force by the preloading mechanism <NUM>. According to the above, it is possible to translate the inkjet head <NUM> toward the +X side with respect to the carriage <NUM>.

When translating the inkjet head <NUM> toward the -X side with respect to the carriage <NUM>, the bolt <NUM> of the displacement mechanism <NUM> of the first positioning mechanism 60A is rotated to displace the contact member <NUM> toward the +X side with respect to the displacement mechanism <NUM>. Then, the base member <NUM> to which the displacement mechanism <NUM> is fixed receives the reactive force due to the biasing force by the preloading mechanism <NUM> from the second positioning pin 40B, and is translated toward the -X side along the installation surface 29a of the carriage <NUM>. According to the above, it is possible to translate the inkjet head <NUM> toward the -X side with respect to the carriage <NUM>.

When translating the inkjet head <NUM> toward the +Y side with respect to the carriage <NUM>, the bolt <NUM> of the displacement mechanism <NUM> of each of the pair of second positioning mechanisms 60B is rotated to displace the contact member <NUM> toward the -Y side with respect to the displacement mechanism <NUM>. Then, the base member <NUM> to which the displacement mechanism <NUM> is fixed receives the reactive force from each of the positioning pins <NUM>, and is translated toward the +Y side along the installation surface 29a of the carriage <NUM> against the biasing force by the preloading mechanism <NUM>. According to the above, it is possible to translate the inkjet head <NUM> toward the +Y side with respect to the carriage <NUM>.

When translating the inkjet head <NUM> toward the -Y side with respect to the carriage <NUM>, the bolt <NUM> of the displacement mechanism <NUM> of each of the pair of second positioning mechanisms 60B is rotated to displace the contact member <NUM> toward the +Y side with respect to the displacement mechanism <NUM>. Then, the base member <NUM> to which the displacement mechanism <NUM> is fixed receives the reactive force due to the biasing force by the preloading mechanism <NUM> from each of the positioning pins <NUM>, and is translated toward the -Y side along the installation surface 29a of the carriage <NUM>. According to the above, it is possible to translate the inkjet head <NUM> toward the -Y side with respect to the carriage <NUM>.

When rotating the inkjet head <NUM> on the X-Y plane with respect to the carriage <NUM>, the bolt <NUM> of the displacement mechanism <NUM> of each of the pair of second positioning mechanisms 60B is rotated to make the displacements (adjustment amounts) in the Y direction of the respective contact members <NUM> different from each other. Then, the base member <NUM> to which the displacement mechanism <NUM> is fixed receives the reactive forces different from each other from the respective positioning pins <NUM>, and rotates along the installation surface 29a of the carriage <NUM>. According to the above, it is possible to rotate the inkjet head <NUM> on the X-Y plane with respect to the carriage <NUM>.

As a procedure of positioning the inkjet head <NUM> to the carriage <NUM>, first, the spring washers 101a each intervening between the screw member <NUM> and the base member <NUM> are clamped with the screw members <NUM> to some extent to create a state in which the inkjet head <NUM> is temporarily fixed to the carriage <NUM> with the biasing force by the spring washers 101a (a temporary fixation step). Then, a rotational angle of the inkjet head <NUM> is adjusted using the pair of second positioning mechanisms 60B, and then, the inkjet head <NUM> is translated in the X direction and the Y direction using the first positioning mechanism 60A and the pair of second positioning mechanisms 60B. After the positioning of the inkjet head <NUM> to the carriage <NUM> is completed, the two screw members <NUM> at both sides in the X direction of the inkjet head <NUM> are completely tightened to fix the base member <NUM> to the carriage <NUM>. According to the above, the installation of the inkjet head <NUM> to the carriage <NUM> is completed.

It should be noted that the positioning in the Y direction of the inkjet head <NUM> can be adjusted by an ink ejection timing. Therefore, when the positioning in the Y direction of the inkjet head <NUM> is unnecessary, the positioning is completed by two steps, namely the rotation of the inkjet head <NUM> and the translation in the X direction of the inkjet head <NUM>. When the positioning in the Y direction of the inkjet head <NUM> is necessary, the positioning is completed by three steps, namely the rotation of the inkjet head <NUM>, the translation in the Y direction of the inkjet head <NUM>, and the translation in the X direction of the inkjet head <NUM>.

<FIG> is an explanatory diagram showing a step subsequent to the positioning of the inkjet head <NUM> according to the embodiment.

After the positioning of the inkjet head <NUM> to the carriage <NUM> is completed, it is possible to detach the positioning structure <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. Specifically, the screw members <NUM> shown in <FIG> are detached to detach the positioning unit <NUM> from the base member <NUM>. Then, the positioning pin <NUM> provided with the chamfered part <NUM> is screwed with a tool such as a driver bit to detach the positioning pin <NUM> from the carriage <NUM>. Lastly, another screw member <NUM> is screwed into the fixation hole 29c to which the positioning pin <NUM> has once been fixed, to thereby fix the base member <NUM> to the carriage <NUM>. The positioning structure <NUM> detached here can be used again for positioning another inkjet head <NUM>.

The positioning structure <NUM> described above can also adopt a modified example described hereinafter. It should be noted that in the following description, the constituents the same as or substantially the same as the constituents described above are denoted by the same reference symbols, and the explanation thereof will be simplified or omitted.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view showing the modified example of the positioning structure <NUM> according to the embodiment.

The positioning structure <NUM> shown in <FIG> is different from the positioning structure <NUM> described above in the point that the positioning pin <NUM> is disposed at the base member <NUM> side of the inkjet head <NUM>, and the positioning mechanism <NUM> (the positioning unit <NUM>) is disposed at the carriage <NUM> side.

The base member <NUM> shown in <FIG> is fixed to an installation surface 29e facing below the carriage <NUM> with the screw members <NUM> each attached via the spring washer 101a. The carriage <NUM> is provided with a fourth penetration part <NUM> in which the positioning pin <NUM> provided to the base member <NUM> is arranged so as to penetrate in the Z direction, and a groove part <NUM> which is communicated with the -Z side of the fourth penetration part <NUM> and avoids interference with a flange part <NUM> of the positioning pin <NUM> and screw members <NUM>.

The positioning pin <NUM> has the flange part <NUM> in an lower end portion, and the flange part <NUM> is fixed to an upper surface of the base member <NUM> via the screw members <NUM>. The base member <NUM> is provided with fixation holes <NUM> to which the screw members <NUM> are respectively screwed. On the installation surface 29a (an upper surface) of the carriage <NUM>, there are formed fixation holes 29f for fixing the positioning unit <NUM>. The positioning unit <NUM> is detachably attached to the installation surface 29a of the carriage <NUM> with the screw members <NUM> respectively screwed into the fixation holes 29f.

Also in the configuration described above, by displacing the contact member <NUM> along the displacement axis O2, it is possible to adjust the position of the base member <NUM> in a direction along the installation surface 29a.

According to the present embodiment described above, the following functions and advantages can be obtained.

As shown in <FIG>, the inkjet head <NUM> according to the present embodiment is provided with the head main body 5A for jetting the ink, the base member <NUM> which supports the head main body 5A, and is installed on the installation surface 29a of the carriage <NUM>, and the positioning mechanisms <NUM> each of which adjusts the position of the base member <NUM> in the direction along the installation surface 29a with respect to the positioning pin <NUM> disposed on the installation surface 29a, wherein the positioning mechanisms <NUM> are supported by the base member <NUM>, and at least a part of the positioning mechanisms <NUM> is arranged inside the outer shape of the base member <NUM> in the plan view of the installation surface 29a viewed from the vertical direction.

According to this configuration, since the positioning mechanisms <NUM> for positioning the inkjet head <NUM> with respect to the positioning pin <NUM> disposed on the installation surface 29a of the carriage <NUM> are supported by the base member <NUM> together with the head main body 5A, and at the same time, at least a part of the positioning mechanisms <NUM> is arranged inside the outer shape of the base member <NUM> in the plan view of the installation surface 29a viewed from the vertical direction, it is possible to arrange the positioning mechanisms <NUM> so as to overlap the footprint of the inkjet head <NUM>, and thus, it is possible to reduce the area necessary to install the inkjet head <NUM>. Thus, it is possible to suppress the length in the printing width direction (the X direction) of the inkjet head <NUM> to shorten the length in the printing width direction (the X direction) of the carriage <NUM> necessary when installing the plurality of inkjet heads <NUM>.

Further, in the inkjet head <NUM> according to the present embodiment, as shown in <FIG>, the base member <NUM> has the first penetration parts <NUM> inside the outer shape of the base member <NUM>, wherein the positioning pins <NUM> are respectively arranged in the first penetration parts <NUM>. According to this configuration, by providing the first penetration parts <NUM> to the base member <NUM>, it is possible to arrange the positioning pins <NUM> inside the footprint of the inkjet head <NUM>, and thus, it is possible to further reduce the area necessary to install the inkjet head <NUM>.

Further, in the inkjet head <NUM> according to the present embodiment, as shown in <FIG>, the positioning mechanism <NUM> is provided with the preloading mechanism <NUM> for preloading the positioning pin <NUM> in the direction along the installation surface 29a, the contact member <NUM> making contact with the positioning pin <NUM> from the opposite side to the side at which the preloading mechanism <NUM> is arranged in the direction in which the preloading mechanism <NUM> applies the preload, and the displacement mechanism <NUM> for displacing the contact member <NUM> in the direction in which the preloading mechanism <NUM> applies the preload. According to this configuration, by preloading the positioning pin <NUM> with the preloading mechanism <NUM> to displace the contact member <NUM> having contact with the positioning pin <NUM> in the preloading direction, it is possible to move the base member <NUM> following the displacement of the contact member <NUM>. Since it becomes unnecessary to dispose the contact members <NUM> and the displacement mechanisms <NUM> at both sides across the positioning pin <NUM> due to the preloading mechanism <NUM>, it is possible to achieve simplification, reduction in weight, and reduction in space of the structure of the positioning mechanism <NUM>.

Further, in the inkjet head <NUM> according to the present embodiment, the positioning mechanism <NUM> (the positioning unit <NUM>) is detachably attached to the base member <NUM>. According to this configuration, since it is possible to detach the positioning mechanism <NUM> (the positioning unit <NUM>) from the base member <NUM> after the positioning and the installation of the inkjet head <NUM> are completed, and then use the positioning mechanism <NUM> thus detached for positioning another inkjet head <NUM>, this configuration can make a contribution to the reduction in cost.

Further, in the inkjet head <NUM> according to the present embodiment, as shown in <FIG>, the positioning mechanisms <NUM> include the first positioning mechanism 60A for adjusting the position in the X direction (the first direction) along the installation surface 29a of the base member <NUM>, and the pair of second positioning mechanisms 60B which are arranged at a distance in the X direction to the base member <NUM>, and which respectively adjust the positions in the Y direction (the second direction) perpendicular to the X direction along the installation surface 29a of the base member <NUM>. According to this configuration, it is possible to adjust the positions in the X direction and the Y direction along the installation surface 29a of the base member <NUM> using the first positioning mechanism 60A and the second positioning mechanisms 60B. Further, by making the adjustment amount of the position in the Y direction different between the pair of second positioning mechanisms 60B, it is possible to adjust the rotational angle of the base member <NUM>.

Further, in the inkjet head <NUM> according to the present embodiment, the positioning pins <NUM> include the first positioning pin 40A and the second positioning pin 40B arranged across the head main body 5A in the X direction, wherein one (the second positioning mechanism 60B at the first positioning unit 50A side) of the pair of second positioning mechanisms 60B adjusts the position of the base member <NUM> in the Y direction with respect to one (the first positioning pin 40A) of the first positioning pin 40A and the second positioning pin 40B, and the other (the second positioning mechanism 60B at the second positing unit 50B side) of the pair of second positioning mechanisms 60B adjusts the position of the base member <NUM> in the Y direction with respect to the other (the second positioning pin 40B) of the first positioning pin 40A and the second positioning pin 40B. According to this configuration, since it is possible to position the inkjet head <NUM> with the two positioning pins <NUM> without disposing three positioning pins <NUM> so as to correspond respectively to the three positioning mechanisms <NUM>, namely the first positioning mechanism 60A and the pair of second positioning mechanisms 60B, it is possible to decrease the number of the positioning pins <NUM> to be arranged in the footprint of the inkjet head <NUM> to thereby further reduce the area necessary to install the inkjet head <NUM>.

Further, in the inkjet head <NUM> according to the present embodiment, the first positioning mechanism 60A is provided with the preloading mechanism <NUM> for applying the preload in the X direction to one (the second positioning pin 40B) of the first positioning pin 40A and the second positioning pin 40B, The contact member <NUM> makes contact with the other (the first positioning pin 40A) of the first positioning pin 40A and the second positioning pin 40B from the opposite side to the side at which the preloading mechanism <NUM> is arranged in the X direction. The displacement mechanism <NUM> for displacing the contact member <NUM> in the X direction is also on the opposite side to the side at which the preloading mechanism <NUM> is arranged in the X direction. According to this configuration, by arranging the preloading mechanism <NUM> at the opposite side across the head main body 5A from the contact member <NUM> and the displacement mechanism <NUM>, it is possible to suppress the length in the printing width direction (the X direction) of the base member <NUM> compared to when arranging all of the preloading mechanism <NUM>, the contact member <NUM>, and the displacement mechanism <NUM> at one side of the head main body 5A. Thus, it is possible to ensure the degree of freedom of the installation space of the inkjet head <NUM>.

Further, in the inkjet head <NUM> according to the present embodiment, the outer shape of the base member <NUM> is provided with the pressing parts <NUM>, <NUM> each protruding toward the side at which the preloading mechanism <NUM> receives the reactive force from the positioning pin <NUM> in the direction in which the preloading mechanism <NUM> applies the preload. According to this configuration, when the accuracy of the pressing parts <NUM>, <NUM> is high, it is possible to easily position the inkjet head <NUM> by pressing the pressing parts <NUM>, <NUM> against the carriage <NUM> with the reactive force received by the preloading mechanism <NUM> from the positioning pin <NUM>. Further, when the accuracy of the pressing parts <NUM>, <NUM> is insufficient, by displacing the contact member <NUM> toward the opposite side to the pressing direction of the pressing parts <NUM>, <NUM> to adjust the position of the inkjet head <NUM>, it is possible to position the inkjet head <NUM>.

The printer <NUM> according to the present embodiment is provided with the inkjet heads <NUM> described above, and the carriage <NUM> as the installation target of the inkjet heads <NUM>. According to this printer <NUM>, there can be obtained the printer <NUM> which is capable of reducing the area necessary to install the inkjet heads <NUM>, which is compact in size, and which is capable of performing accurate printing.

Further, in the printer <NUM> according to the present embodiment, the positioning pins <NUM> are detachably attached to the carriage <NUM>. According to this configuration, since it is possible to detach the positioning pins <NUM> from the carriage <NUM> after the positioning and the installation of the inkjet head <NUM> are completed, and then use the positioning pins <NUM> thus detached for positioning another inkjet head <NUM>, it becomes possible to use the positioning pins <NUM> for many occasions, which can make a contribution to the reduction in cost. Further, it is possible to fix the base member <NUM> to the carriage <NUM> using the places where the positioning pins <NUM> are detached.

As shown in <FIG>, the printer <NUM> according to the modified example of the present embodiment is provided with the inkjet heads <NUM> and the carriage <NUM> on which the inkjet heads <NUM> are mounted, and the inkjet heads <NUM> are each provided with the head main body 5A for jetting the ink, the base member <NUM>, which supports the head main body 5A and is installed on the installation surface 29a of the carriage <NUM>, and the positioning pins <NUM> protruding from the base member <NUM> toward the carriage <NUM>. The carriage <NUM> is provided with the positioning mechanisms <NUM> each of which adjusts the position of the base member <NUM> in the direction along the installation surface 29e with respect to the positioning pins <NUM>, and at least a part of the positioning mechanisms <NUM> is arranged inside the outer shape of the base member <NUM> in the plan view of the installation surface 29a viewed from the vertical direction.

According to the printer <NUM>, since the inkjet head <NUM> is provided with the positioning pins <NUM>, the carriage <NUM> is provided with the positioning mechanisms <NUM>, and at least a part of the positioning mechanisms <NUM> is arranged inside the outer shape of the base member <NUM> of the inkjet head <NUM> in the plan view of the installation surface 29e viewed from the vertical direction, it is possible to arrange the positioning mechanisms <NUM> so as to overlap the footprint of the inkjet head <NUM>, and thus, it is possible to decrease the area necessary to install the inkjet head <NUM>. Thus, it is possible to suppress the length in the printing width direction of the inkjet head <NUM> to shorten the length in the printing width direction of the carriage <NUM> necessary when installing the plurality of inkjet heads <NUM>.

Further, according to the present embodiment described above, the following functions and advantages can be obtained.

The positioning structure <NUM> according to the present embodiment is the positioning structure <NUM> for positioning the inkjet head <NUM> to the carriage <NUM> of the printer <NUM>, and is provided with the positioning pins <NUM> provided to one of the carriage <NUM> and the inkjet head <NUM>, and the positioning mechanisms <NUM> which are provided to the other of the carriage <NUM> and the inkjet head <NUM>, and which adjust the positions in the direction along the installation surface 29a of the carriage <NUM> with respect to the positioning pins <NUM>, wherein the positioning mechanisms <NUM> each include the contact member <NUM> having contact with the positioning pin <NUM>, and the displacement mechanism <NUM> for displacing the contact member <NUM> along the displacement axis O2 extending in the oblique direction crossing the direction perpendicular to the installation surface 29a, one of the contact parts <NUM>, <NUM> of the positioning pin <NUM> and the contact member <NUM> is formed to have the curved surface shape taking the first intersecting axis O1 crossing the installation surface 29a as the central axis, and the other of the contact parts <NUM>, <NUM> is formed to have the curved surface shape taking the second intersecting axis O3 as the central axis, the second intersecting axis O3 crossing the imaginary plane <NUM> (see <FIG>) including the displacement axis O2 and the vertical axis O4 (the first intersecting axis O1) extending in the direction perpendicular to the installation surface 29a, and the second intersecting axis O3 being nonparallel to the first intersecting axis O1.

According to this configuration, when the contact member <NUM> is displaced in the oblique direction crossing the direction perpendicular to the installation surface 29a due to the displacement mechanism <NUM>, the positioning pin <NUM> having contact with the contact member <NUM> is pressed in the direction along the installation surface 29a, and thus, the inkjet head <NUM> is displaced with respect to the carriage <NUM>. Here, since one of the contact parts <NUM>, <NUM> is formed to have the curved surface shape taking the first intersecting axis O1 crossing the installation surface 29a as the central axis, and at the same time, the other of the contact parts <NUM>, <NUM> is formed to have the curved surface shape taking the second intersecting axis O3 as the central axis, the second intersecting axis O3 crossing the imaginary plane <NUM> including the displacement axis O2 and the vertical axis extending in the direction perpendicular to the installation surface 29a, and the second intersecting axis O3 being nonparallel to the first intersecting axis O1, and the central axes of the respective curved surface shapes of the contact parts <NUM>, <NUM> become in the skew positional relationship, the positioning pin <NUM> and the contact member <NUM> have contact with each other at a single point. Since the positioning pin <NUM> and the contact member <NUM> have contact with each other at the single point, it is possible to avoid the error due to the multipoint contact between the positioning pin <NUM> and the contact member <NUM>, and thus, it is possible to accurately position the inkjet head <NUM> to the carriage <NUM>.

Further, in the positioning structure <NUM> according to the present embodiment, one (the contact part <NUM>) of the contact parts <NUM>, <NUM> includes the first cylindrical surface taking the first intersecting axis O1 as the central axis, and the other (the contact part <NUM>) of the contact parts <NUM>, <NUM> includes the second cylindrical surface taking the second intersecting axis O3 as the central axis. According to this configuration, since the contact part <NUM> of the positioning pin <NUM> as the one of the contact parts has the first cylindrical surface taking the first intersecting axis O1 as the central axis, the contact part <NUM> of the contact member <NUM> has the second cylindrical surface taking the second intersecting axis O3 as the central axis, and the central axes (the first intersecting axis O1 and the second intersecting axis O3) of the both parties cross each other, it is possible to make the positioning pin <NUM> and the contact member <NUM> always have stable contact with each other at the single point.

Further, in the positioning structure <NUM> according to the present embodiment, the contact part <NUM> of the positioning pin <NUM> includes the first cylindrical surface extending in the direction perpendicular to the installation surface 29a, and the contact part <NUM> of the contact member <NUM> includes the second cylindrical surface extending in parallel to the installation surface 29a. According to this configuration, since the contact part <NUM> of the positioning pin <NUM> includes the first cylindrical surface extending in the direction perpendicular to the installation surface 29a, and the contact part <NUM> of the contact member <NUM> includes the second cylindrical surface extending in parallel to the installation surface 29a, the positioning pin <NUM> and the contact member <NUM> always make stable contact with each other at the single point, and at the same time, it is possible to prevent the contact member <NUM> having contact with the positioning pin <NUM> at the single point from being shifted in the direction (the X-Y plane direction) along the installation surface 29a with respect to the positioning pin <NUM>.

Further, in the positioning structure <NUM> according to the present embodiment, the displacement mechanism <NUM> has the guide part <NUM> which extends in the oblique direction along the displacement axis O2 to guide the contact member <NUM>. According to this configuration, it is possible to accurately displace the contact member <NUM> in the oblique direction along the guide part <NUM>.

Further, in the positioning structure <NUM> according to the present embodiment, the contact member <NUM> has the clamping part <NUM> for clamping the guide part <NUM> in the direction perpendicular to the displacement axis O2. According to this configuration, by clamping the guide part <NUM> with the clamping part <NUM> provided to the contact member <NUM>, it is possible to prevent the contact member <NUM> from rotating around the displacement axis O2.

Further, in the positioning structure <NUM> according to the present embodiment, the displacement mechanism <NUM> includes the bolt <NUM> which extends along the displacement axis O2, and which screw-feeds the contact member <NUM>, the first support part <NUM> which is disposed in one end portion of the guide part <NUM>, which supports the head part of the bolt <NUM>, and which is provided with the first insertion hole 94a through which the shaft part of the bolt <NUM> is inserted, and the compression spring <NUM> arranged between the first support part <NUM> and the contact member <NUM>. According to this configuration, when rotating the bolt <NUM> forming the displacement axis O2, the contact member <NUM> which has the clamping part <NUM>, and which is restricted in the rotation with respect to the guide part <NUM> is screw-fed. On this occasion, a gap between the first support part <NUM> and the contact member <NUM> increases, but the compression spring <NUM> expands so as to fill the gap, and wherefore, it is possible to prevent the head part of the bolt <NUM> from lifting from the first support part <NUM>.

Further, in the positioning structure <NUM> according to the present embodiment, the displacement mechanism <NUM> has the second support part <NUM> which is disposed in the other end portion of the guide part <NUM>, and which is provided with the second insertion hole 95a through which the shaft part of the bolt <NUM> is inserted. According to this configuration, since it is possible to shaft-support the both ends of the bolt <NUM> with the first support part and the second support part <NUM> by inserting the shaft part of the bolt <NUM> into the second insertion hole 95a of the second support part <NUM>, it is possible to suppress the shaft wobbling of the bolt <NUM> to thereby displace the contact member <NUM> with high accuracy.

Further, in the positioning structure <NUM> according to the present embodiment, the positioning mechanism <NUM> is provided with the preloading mechanism <NUM> for applying the preload in the direction along the installation surface 29a to the positioning pin <NUM> from the opposite side to the side at which the contact member <NUM> is arranged. According to this configuration, by preloading the positioning pin <NUM> with the preloading mechanism <NUM> to displace the contact member <NUM> having contact with the positioning pin <NUM> in the preloading direction, it is possible to move the base member <NUM> following the displacement of the contact member <NUM>. Since it becomes unnecessary to dispose the contact members <NUM> and the displacement mechanisms <NUM> at both sides across the positioning pin <NUM> due to this preloading mechanism <NUM>, it is possible to achieve simplification, reduction in weight, and reduction in space of the structure of the positioning mechanism <NUM>.

The inkjet head <NUM> according to the present embodiment is provided with either one of the positioning mechanism <NUM> and the positioning pin <NUM> of the positioning structure <NUM> described above. According to this inkjet head <NUM>, it is possible to obtain the inkjet head <NUM> capable of performing accurate printing.

The printer <NUM> according to the present embodiment is provided with the positioning structure <NUM> described above. According to this printer <NUM>, it is possible to perform accurate printing.

The printer <NUM> according to the present embodiment is provided with the inkjet heads <NUM>, the carriage <NUM> on which the inkjet heads <NUM> are installed, and the positioning structure <NUM> described above for positioning the inkjet head <NUM> to the carriage <NUM>. According to this printer <NUM>, it is possible to accurately position the inkjet head <NUM> to the carriage <NUM> of the printer <NUM> to perform accurate printing.

Although the preferred embodiment of the present disclosure is hereinabove described, it should be understood that this is an illustrative description of the present disclosure, and the invention is defined by the appended claims.

For example, in the embodiment described above, there is illustrated the detachable positioning pin <NUM> as the protruding part of the positioning structure <NUM>, but this configuration is not a limitation. The protruding part of the positioning structure <NUM> can also be integrally provided to the inkjet head <NUM> or the carriage <NUM>, and can be not detachable.

Further, for example, in the embodiment described above, there is illustrated the positioning unit <NUM> in which a part of the first positioning mechanism 60A and the second positioning mechanism 60B are unitized, but this configuration is not a limitation. It is possible for the first positioning mechanism 60A and the second positioning mechanism 60B to individually be attached to the inkjet head <NUM> or the carriage <NUM>.

Further, for example, in the embodiment described above, there is illustrated an aspect in which the contact part <NUM> of the positioning pin <NUM> and the contact part <NUM> of the contact member <NUM> each have the cylindrical surface, but this configuration is not a limitation. The contact parts <NUM>, <NUM> can have any curved surface shapes providing the contact parts <NUM>, <NUM> have contact with each other at a single point. In other words, the "curved surface shape" is not only the curved surface which is formed with a constant radius from the central axis, and the cross-sectional shape of which is a true circle, but can be, for example, a curved surface the cross-sectional shape of which is an elliptical shape, or a curved surface which can be defined by a quadratic function.

Further, for example, in the embodiment described above, the description is presented citing the inkjet printer as an example of the liquid jet recording device, but the liquid jet recording device is not limited to the printer. For example, a facsimile machine, an on-demand printing machine, and so on can also be adopted.

In the embodiment described above, the description is presented citing the configuration (a so-called shuttle machine) in which the inkjet head moves with respect to the recording target medium when performing printing as an example, but this configuration is not a limitation. The configuration related to the present disclosure can be adopted as the configuration (a so-called stationary head machine) in which the recording target medium is moved with respect to the inkjet head in the state in which the inkjet head is fixed.

In the embodiment described above, there is described a case when the recording target medium P is paper, but this configuration is not a limitation. The recording target medium P is not limited to paper, but can also be a metal material or a resin material, and can also be food or the like.

In the embodiment described above, there is described the configuration in which the liquid jet head is installed in the liquid jet recording device, but this configuration is not a limitation. Specifically, the liquid to be jetted from the liquid jet head is not limited to what is landed on the recording target medium, but can also be, for example, a medical solution to be blended during a dispensing process, a food additive such as seasoning or a spice to be added to food, or fragrance to be sprayed in the air.

In the embodiment described above, there is described the configuration in which the Z direction coincides with the gravitational direction, but this configuration is not a limitation, and it is also possible to set the Z direction along the horizontal direction.

Claim 1:
A liquid jet head (<NUM>) comprising:
a jet section (5A) configured to jet liquid;
a base member (<NUM>) which is configured to support the jet section, and which is installed on an installation surface (29a) of an installation target; and
a positioning mechanism (<NUM>) configured to adjust a position of the base member in a direction (X, Y) along the installation surface with respect to a protruding part (<NUM>) disposed on the installation surface, wherein
the positioning mechanism is supported by the base member, and
at least a part of the positioning mechanism is arranged inside an outer shape of the base member in a plan view of the installation surface viewed from a vertical direction thereof,
characterized in that the positioning mechanism includes:
a preloading mechanism (<NUM>) configured to apply a preload to the protruding part (<NUM>) in a direction (X, Y) along the installation surface,
a contact member (<NUM>) having contact with the protruding part (<NUM>) from an opposite side to a side at which the preloading mechanism is arranged in a direction in which the preloading mechanism applies the preload, and
a displacement mechanism (<NUM>) configured to displace the contact member along a displacement axis (O2) extending in an oblique direction crossing a direction (Z) perpendicular to the installation surface (29a).