JP2025032433A - How to assemble and install the printer - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a method of assembling and installing a printer in which a main body frame skeleton of the printer is formed of two side plates and a connection member joining the two side plates, rigidity of the main body frame is not high, and, even when distortion occurs between the two side plates upon installation of the printer assembled on a manufacturing plant, adjustment of the printer for suppressing deterioration of assembly precision of the printer can be easily permitted.SOLUTION: A method of assembling and installing a printer to be performed In a manufacturing plant of printers, comprises: an assembly-time adjustment step of adjusting a plurality of adjusters to adjust an inclination with respect to a horizontal face of a reference plane BP1 as a plane regulated by an upper end of conveyance roller 29 and an upper end of a guide roller 16; a subsequent attachment step of attaching while adjusting a retention frame, a carriage and a platen; and an installation-time adjustment step of, when the printer shipped from the manufacturing plant is installed onto a predetermined installation place, adjusting a plurality of adjusters to adjust the inclination of the reference flat plane BP1.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

The present invention relates to a printer assembly and installation method for assembling and installing a printer that prints on long media.

Conventionally, printers (inkjet printers) for printing on long media are known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The printer described in Patent Document 1 includes an inkjet head that ejects ink onto the medium, a platen on which the medium is placed during printing, a transport roller that transports the medium, and a driven roller that defines the transport path of the medium.

JP 2023-27999 A

The inventors of the present application are developing a printer for printing on long media. The printer under development includes an inkjet head that ejects ink onto the medium, a carriage on which the inkjet head is mounted, a carriage drive mechanism that moves the carriage back and forth in the main scanning direction perpendicular to the up-down direction, a holding frame that movably holds the carriage, and a platen that is disposed below the carriage and on which the medium is placed during printing. The printer also includes a transport roller that contacts the medium and transports the medium in the longitudinal direction of the medium, and a guide roller that contacts the medium and guides the transported medium. If the direction perpendicular to the up-down direction and the main scanning direction is defined as the front-rear direction, the transport roller, platen, and guide roller are disposed in this order in the front-rear direction. The medium contacts the transport roller and guide roller at least from above.

In order to reduce the weight and cost of a printer currently under development, the inventors decided to form the skeleton of the printer's main frame with two side panels arranged on either side of the holding frame, platen, transport roller, and guide roller in the main scanning direction, and a simple connecting member connecting the two side panels. In this case, the holding frame, platen, transport roller, and guide roller are indirectly supported by the two side panels via a specified member, or are directly supported by the two side panels. In this case, the two side panels rest on the installation surface (floor) of the printer.

However, in the printer under development, the skeleton of the printer's main frame is formed by two side panels and a simple connecting member connecting the two side panels, which may reduce the rigidity of the printer's main frame. Therefore, even if the printer is assembled with high precision at the manufacturing factory, when the printer shipped from the manufacturing factory is installed in a specified installation location, depending on the condition of the installation surface, twisting may occur between the two side panels, reducing the assembly precision of the printer. Since a reduction in the printer's assembly precision may reduce the functionality of the printer, if twisting occurs between the two side panels when the printer is installed, adjustments must be made at the installation location to prevent a reduction in the assembly precision of the printer. It is preferable that the printer can be easily adjusted to prevent this reduction in assembly precision.

The object of the present invention is to provide a method for assembling and installing a printer that allows easy adjustment of the printer to prevent a decrease in the printer's assembly accuracy, even if the printer's main frame is not very rigid because the skeleton of the printer's main frame is formed by two side panels and a simple connecting member connecting the two side panels, and the printer is assembled at a manufacturing factory and transported to a designated installation location for installation, and twisting occurs between the two side panels.

In order to solve the above problems, the printer assembly and installation method of the present invention is a printer that prints on long media, and includes an inkjet head that ejects ink onto the media, a carriage on which the inkjet head is mounted, a carriage drive mechanism that moves the carriage back and forth in a main scanning direction perpendicular to the up-down direction, a holding frame that movably holds the carriage, a platen that is disposed below the carriage and on which the media is placed during printing, a transport roller that contacts the media and transports the media in the longitudinal direction of the media, a guide roller that contacts the media and guides the transported media, two side plates that are disposed on both sides of the holding frame, platen, transport roller, and guide roller in the main scanning direction and support the holding frame, platen, transport roller, and guide roller, a connecting member that connects the two side plates, and a plurality of adjusters that are attached to the lower ends of the two side plates and that adjust the inclination of the side plates relative to the installation surface of the printer. The printer includes an assembly process in which the printer is assembled at a printer manufacturing plant, and an installation adjustment process in which the printer assembled in the assembly process is transported to a specified installation location and installed at the installation location. If the direction perpendicular to the up-down direction and the main scanning direction is defined as the front-rear direction, the transport roller, platen, and guide roller are arranged in this order in the front-rear direction, and the medium contacts at least the upper side of the transport roller and guide roller. If the plane defined by the upper end of the transport roller supported by two side plates to which adjusters are attached and the upper end of the guide roller supported by two side plates to which adjusters are attached is defined as the reference plane, the assembly process includes an assembly adjustment process in which the inclination of the reference plane relative to the horizontal plane is adjusted by adjusting the multiple adjusters, and an installation process in which the holding frame, carriage, and platen are installed while being adjusted after the assembly adjustment process. In the installation adjustment process, the inclination of the reference plane relative to the horizontal plane is adjusted by adjusting the multiple adjusters at the installation location.

In the present invention, for example, the mounting process includes a holding frame mounting process in which the holding frame is mounted while adjusting the height and position of the holding frame relative to the conveying roller, a carriage mounting process in which the carriage is mounted while adjusting the inclination of a predetermined reference surface of the carriage relative to the reference plane after the holding frame mounting process, and a platen mounting process in which the platen is mounted while adjusting the inclination of the top surface of the platen relative to the reference surface after the carriage mounting process.

In the printer assembly and installation method of the present invention, if the plane defined by the upper end of the transport roller supported by the two side plates to which adjusters are attached and the upper end of the guide roller supported by the two side plates to which adjusters are attached is taken as the reference plane, then in the printer manufacturing factory, in the assembly adjustment process, the multiple adjusters are adjusted to adjust the inclination of the reference plane relative to the horizontal plane, and then in the installation process, the holding frame, carriage, and platen are adjusted and installed. Also, in the present invention, in the installation adjustment process, which is performed when the printer assembled in the manufacturing factory is transported to the specified installation location and installed at the installation location, the multiple adjusters are adjusted to adjust the inclination of the reference plane relative to the horizontal plane.

Therefore, in this invention, even if twisting occurs between the two side panels when installing the printer at a specified installation location, by adjusting the adjuster in the installation adjustment process to adjust the inclination of the reference plane relative to the horizontal plane, it is possible to make the assembly precision of the transport rollers and guide rollers after the installation adjustment process closer to the assembly precision of the transport rollers and guide rollers after the assembly adjustment process, and it is also possible to make the assembly precision of the holding frame, carriage, and platen after the installation adjustment process closer to the assembly precision of the holding frame, carriage, and platen after the attachment process.

In other words, with this invention, even if twisting occurs between the two side panels when the printer is installed at the specified installation location, by adjusting the adjuster in the installation adjustment process to adjust the inclination of the reference plane relative to the horizontal plane, it is possible to adjust the printer to suppress a decrease in the printer's assembly precision. Therefore, with this invention, even if the printer's main body frame is not highly rigid and twisting occurs between the two side panels when the printer assembled at the manufacturing factory is transported to the specified installation location and installed, it is possible to easily adjust the printer to suppress a decrease in the printer's assembly precision.

If the pitch between the transport roller and the guide roller in the front-to-back direction is wide, the state of the transported medium may become unstable, which may result in an unstable state of the medium transported onto the platen. However, in the present invention, the inclination of the reference plane defined by the upper ends of the transport roller and the guide roller with respect to the horizontal plane is adjusted in the assembly adjustment process and the installation adjustment process. Therefore, even if the pitch between the transport roller and the guide roller in the front-to-back direction is wide, it is possible to stabilize the state of the transported medium and stabilize the state of the medium transported onto the platen. Therefore, the present invention makes it possible to stabilize the print quality of the medium.

In the present invention, for example, in the assembly adjustment process and the installation adjustment process, an adjustment jig placed on the conveyor rollers and guide rollers, and a spirit level placed on the adjustment jig are used.

In the present invention, it is preferable to use adjustment jigs of the same shape in the assembly adjustment process and the installation adjustment process. With this configuration, it becomes possible to adjust the inclination of the reference plane with respect to the horizontal plane under closer conditions in both the assembly adjustment process and the installation adjustment process. Therefore, it becomes possible to make the assembly precision of the conveying rollers and guide rollers after the installation adjustment process closer to the assembly precision of the conveying rollers and guide rollers after the assembly adjustment process, and it becomes possible to make the assembly precision of the holding frame, carriage, and platen after the installation adjustment process closer to the assembly precision of the holding frame, carriage, and platen after the attachment process.

In the present invention, for example, the adjusters are attached to two locations on both ends of the side plate in the front-to-rear direction, and in the assembly adjustment process and the installation adjustment process, adjustment jigs are placed on both ends of the transport roller and guide roller in the main scanning direction, and a spirit level is placed at a predetermined position on the adjustment jig in the front-to-rear direction. In this case, it becomes possible to more appropriately adjust the inclination of the reference plane relative to the horizontal plane in the assembly adjustment process and the installation adjustment process.

In the present invention, the adjustment jig preferably comprises a flat jig body that is disposed above the transport roller and the guide roller and on which the spirit level is placed, a transport roller contact portion that protrudes downward from the jig body and contacts the surface of the transport roller, and a guide roller contact portion that protrudes downward from the jig body and contacts the surface of the guide roller. With this configuration, when the adjustment jig is placed on the transport roller and the guide roller, it is possible to suppress the inclination of the jig body on which the spirit level is placed in the front-to-rear direction. Therefore, it is possible to more appropriately adjust the inclination of the reference plane relative to the horizontal plane in the assembly adjustment process and the installation adjustment process.

As described above, in the printer assembly and installation method of the present invention, the skeleton of the printer's main frame is formed by two side panels and a simple connecting member connecting the two side panels, and the printer's main frame does not have high rigidity. Even if twisting occurs between the two side panels when the printer assembled at the manufacturing factory is transported to the specified installation location and installed, it is possible to easily adjust the printer to prevent a decrease in the printer's assembly accuracy.

1 is a schematic side view illustrating a configuration of a printer to which a printer assembly and installation method according to an embodiment of the present invention can be applied. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main body frame of the printer shown in FIG. 1 . FIG. 3 is a plan view of the main body frame shown in FIG. 2 . 2A to 2C are process diagrams illustrating an assembly process of the printer shown in FIG. 1 . 5A and 5B are diagrams for explaining the assembly adjustment step shown in FIG. 4, in which (A) is a plan view and (B) is a side view.

The following describes an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings.

(Overall printer configuration)
Fig. 1 is a schematic side view for explaining the configuration of a printer 1 to which a printer assembly and installation method according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a main body frame 20 of the printer 1 shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the main body frame 20 shown in Fig. 2.

The printer 1 to which the printer assembly and installation method of this embodiment is applied is, for example, a commercial inkjet printer. The printer 1 prints on a long medium 2 (sheet-like medium 2) such as paper. The printer 1 includes a printing mechanism 3 that prints on the medium 2, a medium transport mechanism 4 that transports the medium 2, a pay-out roll holding section 6 that holds a pay-out roll 5 which is the medium 2 wound into a roll before printing, a take-up roll holding section 8 that holds a take-up roll 7 which is the medium 2 wound into a roll after printing, and a heater 9 for heating the medium 2 after printing.

The printer 1 also includes a tension applying mechanism 11 for applying tension to the medium 2 before printing, a tension applying mechanism 12 for applying tension to the medium 2 after printing, a number of guide rollers 13-19 for guiding the medium 2 being transported, and a main body frame 20 of the printer 1. If the Y direction in FIG. 1, which is perpendicular to the up-down direction (vertical direction), is defined as the "left-right direction", then the width direction of the medium 2 coincides with the left-right direction. In the following explanation, the X direction in FIG. 1, which is perpendicular to the up-down direction and left-right direction, is defined as the "front-rear direction". Also, the X1 direction side in FIG. 1, which is one side of the front-rear direction, is defined as the "front" side, and the opposite side, the X2 direction side in FIG. 1, is defined as the "rear" side.

The printing mechanism 3 includes an inkjet head 24 (hereinafter referred to as "head 24") that ejects ink onto the medium 2, a carriage 25 on which the head 24 is mounted, a carriage drive mechanism 26 that moves the carriage 25 back and forth in the main scanning direction (i.e., the left-right direction) which is the width direction of the medium 2, and a Y-bar 27 as a holding frame that movably holds the carriage 25. The Y-bar 27 is formed in an elongated shape that is long and narrow in the left-right direction. The Y-bar 27 holds the carriage 25 so that it can move in the left-right direction.

The head 24 ejects ink downward. A number of nozzles that eject ink are formed on the underside of the head 24. The head 24 is equipped with a piezoelectric element for ejecting ink from the nozzles. The carriage drive mechanism 26 is equipped, for example, with a belt that is partially fixed to the carriage 25, two pulleys around which the belt is stretched, and a motor for rotating the two pulleys.

The printing mechanism 3 also includes a platen 28 on which the medium 2 is placed during printing, and a suction mechanism for sucking and holding the medium 2 placed on the platen 28 to the platen 28. The platen 28 is disposed below the carriage 25. The platen 28 is formed in an elongated shape that is long in the left-right direction. The platen 28 is also formed in a hollow shape. In this embodiment, the rigidity of the platen 28 is relatively low. The upper surface of the platen 28 is formed with a plurality of suction holes for sucking the medium 2 placed on the platen 28. The thickness direction of the medium 2 when printing is performed by the printing mechanism 3 coincides with the up-down direction. The upper surface of the medium 2 when placed on the platen 28 is the printing surface on which printing is performed by the printing mechanism 3.

The medium transport mechanism 4 transports the long medium 2 in the longitudinal direction of the medium 2. The medium transport mechanism 4 includes a transport roller 29 that contacts the medium 2 and transports the medium 2 in the longitudinal direction of the medium 2. The transport roller 29 is arranged so that the axial direction of the transport roller 29 coincides with the left-right direction. The transport roller 29 includes a cylindrical roller body that contacts the medium 2, and a rotating shaft that is fixed to the inner periphery of the roller body. The surface of the roller body is made of rubber. In other words, the transport roller 29 is a rubber roller whose surface is made of rubber.

The transport roller 29 is connected to a drive mechanism that rotates the transport roller 29. The drive mechanism includes a motor as a drive source and a power transmission mechanism that transmits the power of the motor to the transport roller 29. The transport roller 29 is disposed behind the platen 28. The medium 2 contacts the transport roller 29 from above and from the rear. The medium 2 before printing is transported from the rear to the top surface of the platen 28. The medium 2 after printing is transported from the top surface of the platen 28 toward the front and then toward the bottom. In other words, the medium 2 printed by the printing mechanism 3 moves toward the front and then toward the bottom.

The pay-out roll holding unit 6 is disposed below the platen 28. The pay-out roll holding unit 6 is also disposed behind the printing mechanism 3. The pay-out roll 5 is disposed so that its axial direction coincides with the left-right direction. The pay-out roll holding unit 6 includes a rotating shaft 30 that is inserted into the inner periphery of the pay-out roll 5, and a drive mechanism that rotates the rotating shaft 30. The drive mechanism includes a motor as a drive source, and a power transmission mechanism that transmits the power of the motor to the rotating shaft 30.

The winding roll holding unit 8 is disposed, for example, below the unwinding roll holding unit 6 and behind the printing mechanism 3. The winding roll 7 is disposed so that the axial direction of the winding roll 7 coincides with the left-right direction. The winding roll holding unit 8 includes a rotating shaft 31 that is inserted into the inner periphery of the winding roll 7 and a drive mechanism that rotates the rotating shaft 31. The drive mechanism includes a motor as a drive source and a power transmission mechanism that transmits the power of the motor to the rotating shaft 31.

The tension applying mechanism 11 includes a tension bar 33 that contacts the medium 2 before printing between the printing mechanism 3 and the pay-out roll holding unit 6 to apply tension to the medium 2, and a guide unit that linearly guides the tension bar 33 in the vertical direction. The tension bar 33 is arranged so that its axial direction coincides with the left-right direction. The tension bar 33 is arranged between the printing mechanism 3 and the pay-out roll 5 in the front-rear direction. The tension bar 33 is also arranged below the printing mechanism 3 and the pay-out roll 5. The tension bar 33 contacts the medium 2 from above as it moves forward from the pay-out roll holding unit 6 toward the printing mechanism 3. The tension bar 33 applies tension to the medium 2 by gravity acting on the tension bar 33. When printing the medium 2, the tension bar 33 moves linearly in the vertical direction in accordance with the movement of the medium 2.

The tension applying mechanism 12 is equipped with a tension bar 34 that contacts the printed medium 2 between the printing mechanism 3 and the winding roll holding unit 8 to apply tension to the medium 2. The tension bar 34 is arranged so that its axial direction coincides with the left-right direction. The tension bar 34 is arranged forward and below the printing mechanism 3. The tension bar 34 is capable of moving linearly in a downward forward direction, as shown by the arrow in FIG. 1. The tension applying mechanism 12 also includes a guide unit that guides the tension bar 34 linearly in the downward forward direction, and a tension coil spring that biases the tension bar 34 diagonally toward the upper rear.

The tension bar 34 contacts the printed medium 2 from the diagonally upper rear side as the medium 2 moves from the platen 28 toward the front and then toward the bottom. The tension bar 34 applies tension to the medium 2 by gravity acting on the tension bar 34. When printing on the medium 2, the tension bar 34 moves linearly in a downward direction toward the front in accordance with the movement of the medium 2. The inclination θ of the movement direction of the tension bar 34 relative to the front-to-back direction when viewed from the left-to-right direction (see Figure 1) is 30° to 60°. In this embodiment, the inclination θ is 45°.

The heater 9 is disposed below the printing mechanism 3. The heater 9 is disposed below the tension bar 33. The heater 9 is also disposed below and to the rear of the tension bar 34. The heater 9 is also disposed below and in front of the pay-out roll 5 and the take-up roll 7. As described above, the medium 2 printed by the printing mechanism 3 moves toward the front and then moves toward the bottom. The medium 2 that moves toward the bottom passes under the tension bar 34 and then moves toward the rear. The medium 2 that moves toward the rear passes above the heater 9.

The guide rollers 13-19 come into contact with the medium 2 to guide the medium 2 as it is transported. The guide rollers 13-19 are driven rollers that can rotate as the medium 2 moves. In other words, the guide rollers 13-19 are not connected to a drive mechanism having a drive source such as a motor. The guide rollers 13-19 are arranged so that the axial direction of the guide rollers 13-19 coincides with the left-right direction. The guide rollers 13-19 have a cylindrical roller body that comes into contact with the medium 2 and a rotating shaft that is fixed to the inner periphery of the roller body.

The guide rollers 13 to 15 are disposed between the pay-out roll holder 6 and the transport roller 29 in the movement path of the medium 2 (the transport path of the medium 2), and guide the medium 2 moving toward the transport roller 29. The guide rollers 13 and 14 are disposed on both sides of the tension bar 33 in the front-to-rear direction. The guide rollers 13 and 14 are also disposed above the tension bar 33.

The guide roller 16 is disposed between the printing mechanism 3 and the tension bar 34 in the movement path of the medium 2, and guides the medium 2 moving toward the tension bar 34. The guide roller 16 is disposed in front of the platen 28. As described above, the transport roller 29 is disposed behind the platen 28. That is, the transport roller 29, the platen 28, and the guide roller 16 are disposed in this order in the front-to-rear direction. In this embodiment, the pitch between the transport roller 29 and the guide roller 16 in the front-to-rear direction is relatively wide. The medium 2 contacts the guide roller 16 from above and from the front. The guide roller 16 serves the function of changing the movement direction of the medium 2 moving from the platen 28 toward the front side to a direction toward the bottom side.

Guide rollers 17-19 are positioned between the tension bar 34 and the winding roll holding section 8 on the movement path of the medium 2, and guide the medium 2 as it moves toward the winding roll holding section 8. Guide roller 17 is positioned below the tension bar 34 and on the front side of the printer 1. Guide roller 17 serves to change the movement direction of the medium 2 moving downward to a direction toward the rear. Guide rollers 18 and 19 are positioned below the tension bar 34 and between the heater 9 and the winding roll 7 in the front-to-rear direction. Guide roller 18 is positioned forward of guide roller 19.

The main frame 20 includes two side plates 37 arranged on both sides of the Y-bar 27, the platen 28, the transport roller 29, and the guide rollers 13 to 18 in the left-right direction, and connecting members 38, 39 connecting the two side plates 37. The side plates 37 are flat metal plates. The side plates 37 are arranged so that the thickness direction of the side plates 37 coincides with the left-right direction. The connecting member 38 includes two metal square pipes 40 that are elongated in the left-right direction. The two square pipes 40 are arranged with a gap between them in the up-down direction. The two square pipes 40 are connected by two metal square pipes 41. The two square pipes 41 are arranged with a gap between them in the left-right direction. The connecting member 38 is arranged between the two side plates 37. The connecting member 38 connects the front parts of the two side plates 37.

The connecting member 39 is a rectangular metal pipe that is elongated in the left-right direction. The connecting member 39 is disposed between the two side plates 37. The connecting member 39 connects the rear ends of the two side plates 37. Specifically, two connecting members 39 that are disposed with a gap in the vertical direction are disposed between the two side plates 37, and the two connecting members 39 connect the rear ends of the two side plates 37. In this embodiment, the skeleton of the main frame 20 is formed by the two side plates 37 and the connecting members 38 and 39. In addition, in this embodiment, the rigidity of the main frame 20 is not high because the two side plates 37 are connected by the connecting member 38 having two rectangular pipes 40 that are elongated in the left-right direction and the two connecting members 39 that are rectangular pipes that are elongated in the left-right direction.

The two side plates 37 support the Y bar 27, the platen 28, the transport roller 29, and the guide rollers 13 to 18. Specifically, the two side plates 37 support the Y bar 27, the platen 28, the transport roller 29, and the guide rollers 13 to 18 on both the left and right sides. The two side plates 37 also support the Y bar 27, the platen 28, the transport roller 29, and the guide rollers 13 to 18 via a specified member. The two side plates 37 also support the transport roller 29 and the guide rollers 13 to 18 so that they can rotate. The two side plates 37 may also directly support the Y bar 27, the platen 28, the transport roller 29, and the guide rollers 13 to 18.

The main frame 20 also includes a number of adjusters 42 and casters 43 attached to the lower ends of the two side panels 37. In this embodiment, the adjusters 42 and casters 43 are attached to two locations on both ends of each of the two side panels 37 in the front-rear direction (see FIG. 3). That is, the main frame 20 in this embodiment includes four adjusters 42 and four casters 43. The adjusters 42 are used to adjust the height and inclination of the side panels 37 relative to the installation surface (floor surface) of the printer 1. That is, the adjusters 42 are provided to adjust the height and inclination of the side panels 37 relative to the installation surface of the printer 1. The casters 43 are used to move the printer 1 on the installation surface of the printer 1.

(How to assemble and install the printer)
Fig. 4 is a process diagram for explaining the assembly process of the printer 1 shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a diagram for explaining the assembly adjustment process ST11 shown in Fig. 4, (A) being a plan view and (B) being a side view.

The following describes a printer assembly and installation method for assembling the printer 1 at a manufacturing factory and installing it at a specified installation location. This printer assembly and installation method includes an assembly process ST1 for assembling the printer 1 at the printer 1 manufacturing factory, and an installation adjustment process ST2, which is carried out when the printer 1 assembled in the assembly process ST1 is transported to the specified installation location and installed at the installation location.

If the plane defined by the upper end of the conveyor roller 29 supported by the two side plates 37 to which the adjusters 42 are attached and the upper end of the guide roller 16 supported by the two side plates 37 to which the adjusters 42 are attached is taken as the reference plane BP1 (see FIG. 5(B)), the assembly process ST1 includes an assembly adjustment process ST11 in which the inclination of the reference plane BP1 relative to the horizontal plane is adjusted by adjusting the four adjusters 42, and an installation process ST12 in which the Y-bar 27, carriage 25, and platen 28 are installed while being adjusted after the assembly adjustment process ST11 (see FIG. 4).

The assembly adjustment process ST11 is performed with the transport rollers 29 and guide rollers 16 attached to the main body frame 20. That is, the assembly adjustment process ST11 is performed with the transport rollers 29 and guide rollers 16 supported by two side plates 37 to which the adjusters 42 and casters 43 are attached. The assembly adjustment process ST11 uses an adjustment jig 50 that is placed on the transport rollers 29 and guide rollers 16, and a spirit level 51 that is placed on the adjustment jig 50. The assembly adjustment process ST11 also uses the spirit level 51 that is placed on the transport rollers 29.

The adjustment jig 50 includes a flat jig body 52 arranged above the conveying roller 29 and the guide roller 16, a conveying roller contact portion 53 that contacts the surface of the conveying roller 29, a guide roller contact portion 54 that contacts the surface of the guide roller 16, and a Y-bar adjustment portion 55 used in the Y-bar attachment process ST13 described below. The jig body 52 is formed in a long, narrow rectangular flat plate. The adjustment jig 50 is placed on the conveying roller 29 and the guide roller 16 so that the longitudinal direction (direction of the long side) of the jig body 52 coincides with the front-to-rear direction. A spirit level 51 is placed on the upper surface of the jig body 52.

The conveying roller contact portion 53 and the guide roller contact portion 54 are formed in a rectangular flat plate shape. The conveying roller contact portion 53 and the guide roller contact portion 54 protrude downward from the jig body 52. The conveying roller contact portion 53 and the guide roller contact portion 54 are arranged with a gap in the longitudinal direction of the jig body 52. When the adjustment jig 50 is placed on the conveying roller 29 and the guide roller 16, the thickness direction of the conveying roller contact portion 53 and the thickness direction of the guide roller contact portion 54 coincide with the front-rear direction. When the adjustment jig 50 is placed on the conveying roller 29 and the guide roller 16, the conveying roller contact portion 53 contacts the conveying roller 29 from the front side, and the guide roller contact portion 54 contacts the guide roller 16 from the rear side.

The Y-bar adjustment section 55 is formed in a rectangular flat plate shape. The Y-bar adjustment section 55 protrudes upward from the rear end of the jig body 52 when the adjustment jig 50 is placed on the transport roller 29 and the guide roller 16. When the adjustment jig 50 is placed on the transport roller 29 and the guide roller 16, the thickness direction of the Y-bar adjustment section 55 coincides with the front-rear direction.

In the assembly adjustment process ST11, as shown in FIG. 5(A), an adjustment tool 50 is placed on each of the left and right ends of the conveying roller 29 and the guide roller 16. That is, in the assembly adjustment process ST11, two adjustment tools 50 are placed on the conveying roller 29 and the guide roller 16. In addition, in the assembly adjustment process ST11, a level 51 is placed at a predetermined position in the front-to-back direction of the adjustment tool 50. For example, one level 51 is placed on one adjustment tool 50. The level 51 is placed, for example, at the center position between the conveying roller 29 and the guide roller 16 in the front-to-back direction. In addition, in the assembly adjustment process ST11, one level 51 is placed on the conveying roller 29. This level 51 is placed, for example, at the center position of the conveying roller 29 in the left-to-right direction.

If the plane defined by the upper surfaces of the two adjustment jigs 50 (specifically, the upper surfaces of the two jig bodies 52) placed on the conveying roller 29 and the guide roller 16 is taken as the second reference plane BP2 (see FIG. 5B), the reference plane BP1 and the second reference plane BP2 are parallel to each other by design. In the assembly adjustment process ST11 of this embodiment, the inclination of the reference plane BP1 relative to the horizontal plane is adjusted by adjusting the four adjusters 42 while checking a total of three spirit levels 51: two spirit levels 51 placed on the adjustment jigs 50 and one spirit level 51 placed on the conveying roller 29.

The installation process ST12, which is performed after the assembly adjustment process ST11, includes a Y-bar installation process ST13 as a holding frame installation process in which the Y-bar 27 is installed while being adjusted, a carriage installation process ST14 in which the carriage 25 is installed while being adjusted after the Y-bar installation process ST13, and a platen installation process ST15 in which the platen 28 is installed while being adjusted after the carriage installation process ST14 (see Figure 4).

In the Y-bar attachment process ST13, the Y-bar 27 is attached to the main frame 20 via a specified member while adjusting the height and position (specifically, the position in the front-rear direction) of the Y-bar 27 relative to the transport roller 29. In the Y-bar attachment process ST13, the height and position of the Y-bar 27 relative to the transport roller 29 is adjusted using the Y-bar adjustment part 55 of the adjustment jig 50 placed on the transport roller 29 and the guide roller 16. In the Y-bar attachment process ST13, the inclination of the Y-bar 27 relative to the left-right direction is also adjusted. In the carriage attachment process ST14, the carriage 25 is attached to the Y-bar 27 while adjusting the inclination of a specified reference surface of the carriage 25 relative to the reference plane BP1. In the platen attachment process ST15, the platen 28 is attached to the main frame 20 via a specified member while adjusting the inclination of the upper surface of the platen 28 relative to the reference surface of the carriage 25.

The printer 1 assembled at the manufacturing factory is transported to a specified installation location in the assembled state without being disassembled, and installed there. In the installation adjustment process ST2, which is performed when installing the printer 1 at the installation location, an adjustment jig 50 placed on the transport rollers 29 and guide rollers 16, a spirit level 51 placed on the adjustment jig 50, and a spirit level 51 placed on the transport rollers 29 are used, similar to the assembly adjustment process ST11. That is, in the installation adjustment process ST2, an adjustment jig 50 having the same shape as the adjustment jig 50 used in the assembly adjustment process ST11 (a common adjustment jig 50) is used.

In addition, in the installation adjustment process ST2, similar to the assembly adjustment process ST11, an adjustment jig 50 is placed on each of the left and right ends of the conveyor roller 29 and the guide roller 16, and a level 51 is placed at a predetermined position in the front-to-rear direction of the adjustment jig 50, and the level 51 is placed on the conveyor roller 29. The level 51 is placed in the same position as in the assembly adjustment process ST11. In the installation adjustment process ST2, the inclination of the reference plane BP1 relative to the horizontal plane is adjusted by adjusting the four adjusters 42 at the installation location of the printer 1. Specifically, in the installation adjustment process ST2, similar to the assembly adjustment process ST11, the inclination of the reference plane BP1 relative to the horizontal plane is adjusted by adjusting the four adjusters 42 at the installation location while checking the three level 51.

(Main effects of this embodiment)
As described above, in this embodiment, in the assembly adjustment process ST11 performed at the printer 1 manufacturing factory, the inclination of the reference plane BP1 with respect to the horizontal plane is adjusted by adjusting the four adjusters 42, and then in the installation process ST12, the Y bar 27, the carriage 25, and the platen 28 are adjusted and installed. Also, in this embodiment, in the installation adjustment process ST2 performed when the printer 1 assembled at the manufacturing factory is transported to a predetermined installation site and installed at the installation site, the inclination of the reference plane BP1 with respect to the horizontal plane is adjusted by adjusting the four adjusters 42.

Therefore, in this embodiment, even if twisting occurs between the two side panels 37 when the printer 1 is installed at a specified installation location, by adjusting the adjuster 42 in the installation adjustment process ST2 to adjust the inclination of the reference plane BP1 relative to the horizontal plane, it is possible to bring the assembly precision of the transport roller 29 and guide roller 16 after the installation adjustment process ST2 closer to the assembly precision of the transport roller 29 and guide roller 16 after the assembly adjustment process ST11, and it is also possible to bring the assembly precision of the Y bar 27, carriage 25, and platen 28 after the installation adjustment process ST2 closer to the assembly precision of the Y bar 27, carriage 25, and platen 28 after the attachment process ST2.

In other words, in this embodiment, even if twisting occurs between the two side plates 37 when the printer 1 is installed at a specified installation location, by adjusting the adjuster 42 in the installation adjustment process ST2 to adjust the inclination of the reference plane BP1 relative to the horizontal plane, it is possible to adjust the printer 1 to suppress a decrease in the assembly accuracy of the printer 1. Therefore, in this embodiment, even if the rigidity of the main body frame 20 is not high and twisting occurs between the two side plates 37 when the printer 1 assembled at a manufacturing factory is transported to and installed at a specified installation location, it is possible to easily adjust the printer 1 to suppress a decrease in the assembly accuracy of the printer 1.

In this embodiment, the pitch between the transport roller 29 and the guide roller 16 in the front-to-rear direction is relatively wide, so the state of the transported medium 2 may become unstable, and the state of the medium 2 transported onto the platen 28 may become unstable. However, in this embodiment, the inclination of the reference plane BP1 defined by the upper end of the transport roller 29 and the upper end of the guide roller 16 with respect to the horizontal plane is adjusted in the assembly adjustment process ST11 and the installation adjustment process ST2. Therefore, in this embodiment, even if the pitch between the transport roller 29 and the guide roller 16 in the front-to-rear direction is relatively wide, it is possible to stabilize the state of the transported medium 2 and stabilize the state of the medium 2 transported onto the platen 28. Therefore, in this embodiment, it is possible to stabilize the print quality of the medium 2.

In this embodiment, the same shaped adjustment jig 50 is used in the assembly adjustment process ST11 and the installation adjustment process ST2. Therefore, in this embodiment, it is possible to adjust the inclination of the reference plane BP1 with respect to the horizontal plane under similar conditions in both the assembly adjustment process ST11 and the installation adjustment process ST2. Therefore, in this embodiment, it is possible to make the assembly accuracy of the conveying roller 29 and the guide roller 16 after the installation adjustment process ST2 closer to the assembly accuracy of the conveying roller 29 and the guide roller 16 after the assembly adjustment process ST11, and it is possible to make the assembly accuracy of the Y bar 27, the carriage 25, and the platen 28 after the installation adjustment process ST2 closer to the assembly accuracy of the Y bar 27, the carriage 25, and the platen 28 after the attachment process ST12.

In this embodiment, in the assembly adjustment process ST11 and the installation adjustment process ST2, an adjustment jig 50 is placed on each of the left and right ends of the conveyor roller 29 and the guide roller 16, and a spirit level 51 is placed at a predetermined position in the front-rear direction of the adjustment jig 50. Therefore, in this embodiment, in the assembly adjustment process ST11 and the installation adjustment process ST2, it is possible to more appropriately adjust the inclination of the second reference plane BP1 with respect to the horizontal plane.

In this embodiment, the adjustment jig 50 includes a jig body 52 that is disposed above the conveying roller 29 and the guide roller 16 and on which the level 51 is placed, a conveying roller contact portion 53 that protrudes downward from the jig body 52 and contacts the surface of the conveying roller 29, and a guide roller contact portion 54 that protrudes downward from the jig body 52 and contacts the surface of the guide roller 16. Therefore, in this embodiment, when the adjustment jig 50 is placed on the conveying roller 29 and the guide roller 16, it is possible to suppress the inclination of the jig body 52 on which the level 51 is placed in the front-to-rear direction. Therefore, in this embodiment, it is possible to more appropriately adjust the inclination of the reference plane BP1 with respect to the horizontal plane in the assembly adjustment process ST11 and the installation adjustment process ST2.

Other Embodiments
The above-described embodiment is one example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to this embodiment and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, when the adjustment jig 50 is placed on the conveying roller 29 and the guide roller 16, the conveying roller contact portion 53 may be in contact with the conveying roller 29 from the rear side. Also, when the adjustment jig 50 is placed on the conveying roller 29 and the guide roller 16, the guide roller contact portion 54 may be in contact with the guide roller 16 from the front side. Also, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the adjustment jig 50 may not have the Y-bar adjustment portion 55. Also, the adjustment jig 50 may not have the conveying roller contact portion 53, and may not have the guide roller contact portion 54.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the number of adjusters 42 attached to one of the two side plates 37 may be one. In this case, the one adjuster 42 is attached, for example, to the center of the side plate 37 in the front-rear direction. In the above-mentioned embodiment, the shape of the adjustment jig 50 used in the assembly adjustment process ST11 may be different from the shape of the adjustment jig 50 used in the installation adjustment process ST2. Furthermore, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the tension bar 34 may be movable linearly in the vertical direction. In the above-mentioned embodiment, the heater 9 may be disposed in front of the printing mechanism 3.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Printer 2 Medium 16 Guide roller 24 Inkjet head 25 Carriage 26 Carriage drive mechanism 27 Y-bar (holding frame)
28 Platen 29 Conveyor roller 37 Side plate 38, 39 Connecting member 42 Adjuster 50 Adjustment jig 51 Level 52 Jig body 53 Conveyor roller contact portion 54 Guide roller contact portion BP1 Reference plane ST11 Assembly time adjustment process ST12 Mounting process ST13 Y-bar mounting process (holding frame mounting process)
ST14 Carriage installation process ST15 Platen installation process X Front-rear direction Y Main scanning direction

Claims (6)

a carriage on which the inkjet head is mounted, a carriage drive mechanism for reciprocating the carriage in a main scanning direction perpendicular to a vertical direction, a holding frame for movably holding the carriage, a platen disposed below the carriage on which the medium is placed during printing, a transport roller for contacting the medium and transporting the medium in the longitudinal direction of the medium, a guide roller for contacting the medium and guiding the medium as it is transported, two side plates disposed on either side of the holding frame, the platen, the transport roller, and the guide roller in the main scanning direction and supporting the holding frame, the platen, the transport roller, and the guide roller, a connecting member connecting the two side plates, and a plurality of adjusters attached to lower ends of the two side plates for adjusting the inclination of the side plates with respect to an installation surface of the printer,
an assembly process for assembling the printer in a manufacturing factory of the printer; and an installation adjustment process for carrying out an adjustment when the printer assembled in the assembly process is transported to a predetermined installation site and is installed in the installation site,
When a direction perpendicular to the up-down direction and the main scanning direction is defined as a front-rear direction, the conveying roller, the platen, and the guide roller are disposed in this order in the front-rear direction,
the medium contacts the conveying roller and the guide roller at least from above;
If a plane defined by an upper end of the conveying roller supported by the two side plates to which the adjusters are attached and an upper end of the guide roller supported by the two side plates to which the adjusters are attached is defined as a reference plane,
the assembly process includes an assembly time adjustment process of adjusting an inclination of the reference plane with respect to a horizontal plane by adjusting the plurality of adjusters, and an attachment process of attaching the holding frame, the carriage, and the platen while adjusting them after the assembly time adjustment process,
The printer assembly and installation method, wherein the installation adjustment step includes adjusting a plurality of the adjusters at the installation location to adjust an inclination of the reference plane relative to a horizontal plane. The printer assembly and installation method according to claim 1, characterized in that the mounting process includes a holding frame mounting process in which the holding frame is mounted while adjusting the height and position of the holding frame relative to the transport roller, a carriage mounting process in which the carriage is mounted while adjusting the inclination of a predetermined reference surface of the carriage relative to the reference plane after the holding frame mounting process, and a platen mounting process in which the platen is mounted while adjusting the inclination of the upper surface of the platen relative to the reference surface after the carriage mounting process. The printer assembly and installation method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that an adjustment jig placed on the conveying roller and the guide roller, and a spirit level placed on the adjustment jig are used in the assembly adjustment process and the installation adjustment process. The printer assembly and installation method according to claim 3, characterized in that the adjustment jigs used in the assembly adjustment process and the installation adjustment process are of the same shape. The adjuster is attached to two locations on both ends of the side plate in the front-rear direction,
4. The printer assembly and installation method according to claim 3, wherein in the assembly adjustment process and the installation adjustment process, the adjustment jigs are placed on both ends of the transport roller and the guide roller in the main scanning direction, and the spirit level is placed at a predetermined position on the adjustment jig in the front-to-rear direction. The printer assembly and installation method according to claim 3, characterized in that the adjustment jig comprises a flat jig body arranged above the transport roller and the guide roller and on which the level is placed, a transport roller contact portion that protrudes downward from the jig body and contacts the surface of the transport roller, and a guide roller contact portion that protrudes downward from the jig body and contacts the surface of the guide roller.

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