Printing device

• US 9,656,458 B2
• Filed: 08/23/2013
• Issued: 05/23/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mimaki Engineering Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Mimaki Engineering Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Ikeda, Akira
• Primary Examiner(s): Thies, Bradley
• Application Number:
  US14/421,842
• Publication Number:
  US 20150217563A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,369 Days
• Field of Search: 347101, 347104
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/06 Flat page-size platens or smaller flat platens having a greater size than line-size platens B41J11/0085 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 13/10 Sheet holders, retainers , movable guides, or stationary guides
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/0057 where an intermediate transfer member receives the ink before transferring it on the printing material
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 1/06 for separation from bottom of pile
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2404/23 with auxiliary handling means
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2404/242 Timing belts
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2405/332 Superposed compartments
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2405/36 Multiple support
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2701/174 Textile; fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 29/38 by movable piling or advancing arms, frames, plates, or like members with which the articles are maintained in face contact
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 3/24 by pushers engaging the edges of the articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 5/021 by belts

Abstract

A printing device that can continuously print on a plurality of recording media even if a user is not beside the printing device over a long period of time is provided. The printing device includes a tray storing container (10) that installs a plurality of trays (20) on which mount media (100) are mounted, and a transfer section (30) that takes out one tray (20) among the plurality of trays (20) from the tray storing container (10), and transfers the same to a printing region (R1) facing a surface for discharging ink in a head (40).

Claims

1. A printing device comprising:

a recording medium installing section that installs a plurality of mounting equipment on which recording media are mounted; and

a transfer means that takes out one mounting equipment among the plurality of mounting equipment from the recording medium installing section, transfers the one mounting equipment to a printing region that faces a surface for discharging ink in a head for discharging the ink relative to a recording medium, and transfers the mounting equipment, on which a printed recording medium is mounted, to a printed recording medium storage that stores the mounting equipment,

wherein the mounting equipment is mounted on a mounting stand which is disposed on the transfer means,

wherein when the mounting equipment is transferred to the printing region which is disposed on a way of the transfer means, the recording media are arranged at a position suitable for printing by moving the mounting equipment up and down relative to the transfer means, and after printing, the recording media are returned to the transfer means and transferred again.

2. The printing device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a hand-over region that is at a position in a course of transfer from the recording medium installing section to the printing region by the transfer means, and that is a place to hand over the mounting equipment so as to mount the same on the mounting stand for mounting the mounting equipment.

3. The printing device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a preprocessing means that is at a position in the course of transfer from the recording medium installing section to the printing region by the transfer means, and that performs a pre-print processing on the recording medium.

4. The printing device according to claim 3, wherein

the preprocessing means includes a vertical position adjusting section that adjusts a position of the recording medium in a vertical direction.

5. The printing device according to claim 3, further comprising:

a post processing means that is at a position on a downstream side of the printing region as transferred by the transfer means, and that performs a post-print processing on the recording medium.

6. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein

the transfer means includes a toothed belt, and a gear that meshes with teeth of the toothed belt.

7. The printing device according to claim 6, wherein

the transfer means further includes a mounting equipment moving section that moves the mounting equipment from inside to outside of the recording medium installing section.

8. The printing device according to claim 7, further comprising:

a positioning section that is on a downstream side in a transfer direction of the mounting equipment by the mounting equipment moving section, and that is for restricting a moving distance in the transfer direction.

9. The printing device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a post processing means that is at a position on a downstream side of the printing region as transferred by the transfer means, and that performs a post-print processing on the recording medium.

10. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein positions of upper surfaces of the recording media are detected by an optical sensor and the recording media are arranged at the position suitable for printing.