INKJET PRINTING STRUCTURE

Abstract

An inkjet printing structure includes a crossbeam having a front guide rail and a rear guide rail provided on its bottom surface; a connecting block mounted with a first slider fitting with the front guide rail and the rear guide rail; a first linear motor arranged between the crossbeam and the connecting block; and a lifting device connected to the bottom surface of the connecting block, which includes an inner frame, an outer frame, a third drive mechanism, lifting mechanisms and a synchronizing mechanism. The inner frame moves relative to the outer frame through lifting mechanisms connected to the synchronizing mechanism. A left guide rail and a right guide rail are provided on the connecting block with a second slider installed on the outer frame to cooperate with the left and right guide rails, and a second drive mechanism is provided between the connecting block and the lifting device.

Claims

1. An inkjet printing structure comprising: a crossbeam having a front guide rail and a rear guide rail provided on a bottom surface thereof, with the front guide rail and the rear guide rail connected to the crossbeam; a connecting block mounted with a first slider fitting with the front guide rail and the rear guide rail; a first drive mechanism provided between the crossbeam and the connecting block, which includes a first linear motor for driving the connecting block to move along a first direction parallel to a length direction of the crossbeam, wherein the first linear motor is located between the front guide rail and the rear guide rail, with a first primary of the first linear motor fixedly connected to the bottom surface of the crossbeam, and a first secondary of the first linear motor fixedly connected to a top surface of the connecting block; and a lifting device connected to a bottom surface of the connecting block, which comprises an inner frame, an outer frame, a third drive mechanism, lifting mechanisms and a synchronizing mechanism, wherein the inner frame is configured to connect a printhead bracket, and is moveable relative to the outer frame through the lifting mechanisms located at both sides thereof, both ends of the synchronizing mechanism are respectively connected to the lifting mechanisms, the synchronizing mechanism is configured to synchronize the lifting mechanisms at both sides of the inner frame, and the third drive mechanism is configured to synchronously drive the lifting mechanisms at both sides of the inner frame through the synchronizing mechanism to drive the inner frame to move up and down along a third direction perpendicular to the length direction of the crossbeam; wherein a left guide rail and a right guide rail are further provided on the bottom surface of the connecting block, a second slider fitting with the left guide rail and the right guide rail is installed on the outer frame, and a second drive mechanism is provided between the connecting block and the lifting device for driving the connecting block to move back and forth along a second direction perpendicular to the length direction of the crossbeam.

2. The inkjet printing structure according to claim 1, wherein the connecting block comprises a suspension area and a motor mounting area located side by side along the length direction of the crossbeam, the first slider includes a plurality of spaced first unit sliders, and the number of the first unit sliders in the motor mounting area is greater than the number of the first unit sliders in the suspension area.

3. The inkjet printing structure according to claim 2, wherein the left guide rail and the right guide rail are symmetrical about a center axis of the suspension area running along the second direction.

4. The inkjet printing structure according to claim 3, wherein the second slider includes a plurality of equidistantly spaced second unit sliders.

5. The inkjet printing structure according to claim 3, wherein the second drive mechanism comprises a second linear motor disposed outside the left guide rail and the right guide rail, with a second primary of the second linear motor connected to the bottom surface of the connecting block, and a second secondary of the second linear motor connected to the outer frame.

6. The inkjet printing structure according to claim 5, wherein the second drive mechanism further comprises two sets of second screw assemblies disposed between the left guide rail and the right guide rail, each set of second screw assembly has a second motor, a second screw and a second nut mounted on the second screw, with an output end of each second motor connected to the respective second screw, and an extension block is provided on the second nut, through which the second nut is connected to the outer frame.

7. The inkjet printing structure according to claim 1, wherein the inner frame comprises four L-shaped vertical rods, first vertical plates fixedly connected to front and rear sides of the L-shaped vertical rods, and second vertical plates fixedly connected to left and right sides of the L-shaped vertical rods; the outer frame comprises an outer frame top panel, third vertical plates fixedly connected to front and rear sides of the outer frame top panel, and fourth vertical plates fixedly connected to left and right sides of the outer frame top panel, with the third vertical plates connected to the fourth vertical plates.

8. The inkjet printing structure according to claim 7, wherein the third drive mechanism includes a third motor or a hand crank, the lifting mechanisms comprise sliding components and third screw assemblies disposed bilaterally, each of the third screw assemblies comprises a third screw and a third nut mounted on the third screw, one end of the third screw is connected to the third motor or hand crank and the other end fixedly connected onto the fourth vertical plate, the third nut is connected to the second vertical plate; the sliding components comprise vertical guide rails and third sliders slidable along the vertical guide rails in contact way.

9. The inkjet printing structure according to claim 8, wherein the synchronizing mechanism comprises a transmission shaft and a gearbox having a first output port connected to the transmission shaft, a second output port connected to the third motor or hand crank, and a third output port connected to the third screw.

10. The inkjet printing structure according to claim 1, wherein at least two gantry frames are fixed on the crossbeam, with inner sides thereof extending to 40?60% of a side surface height of the crossbeam from top to bottom.

11. The inkjet printing structure according to claim 10, wherein three inner sides of each gantry frame are connected to the crossbeam.

12. The inkjet printing structure according to claim 10, wherein each gantry frame has a horizontal rod and two longitudinal rods, both ends of each horizontal rod individually have an extending portion forming an L shape with respective longitudinal rods.

13. The inkjet printing structure according to claim 1, wherein a drag chain carrier and a drag chain disposed above the drag chain carrier are connected to one side of the crossbeam, the drag chain carrier is arranged along the length direction of the crossbeam, and a fixed end of the drag chain is located at midsection of the crossbeam and a moving end thereof is connected to the connecting block.

14. The inkjet printing structure according to claim 13, wherein supporting rollers are arranged between the midsection and a right end of the crossbeam and fixed to sides thereof, a height of the support rollers relative to the drag chain carrier is 20%?30% of a height of the crossbeam.

15. The inkjet printing structure according to claim 13, wherein the moving end of the drag chain is connected to the connecting block through a suspension in a C shape with two horizontal portions perpendicularly connecting to a vertical portion, and the moving end of the drag chain is connected to the horizontal portion, distal from the connecting block, of the suspension, which horizontal portion is higher than and longer than the supporting rollers.

16. The inkjet printing structure according to claim 1, wherein the crossbeam has an internal cavity divided by a partition plate into two cavities, a reinforcing rib is connected to the inner wall of each cavity.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0062] FIG. 1 is an overall schematic view of the inkjet printing structure according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0063] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the crossbeam and the connecting block of FIG. 1;

[0064] FIG. 3 is a front view of the crossbeam and the connecting block of FIG. 1;

[0065] FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the crossbeam of FIG. 1;

[0066] FIG. 5 is a left view of the crossbeam and the connecting block of FIG. 1;

[0067] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the connecting block of FIG. 1;

[0068] FIG. 7 is a top view of the connecting block of FIG. 1;

[0069] FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing the structure of the inner frame according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0070] FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing the structure of the extending block according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0071] FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing the structure of the outer frame of according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0072] FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing the structure of the third vertical plate of FIG. 10;

[0073] FIG. 12 is a schematic view showing the structure of the third drive mechanism, synchronizing mechanism and third screw assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0074] FIG. 13 is a schematic view showing the structure of the lifting device with printhead bracket according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0075] FIG. 14 is a schematic view showing the structure of the protective plate according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0076] FIG. 15 is a bottom view of the lifting device with printhead bracket of FIG. 13;

[0077] FIG. 16 is a bottom view of the connecting block according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0078] FIG. 17 is a bottom view of the outer frame top panel according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0079] FIG. 18 is a schematic view showing the structure of the extending block according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0080] FIG. 19 is a top view of the connecting block according to another embodiment of the present invention; and

[0081] FIG. 20 is a top view of the outer frame top panel according to another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0082] The drawings of the present invention are only used for exemplary illustration and should not be construed as limiting the invention. In order to better illustrate the following embodiments, some parts of the drawings may be omitted, enlarged or reduced, and do not represent the actual size of the product. For those skilled in the art, certain known structures and descriptions in the drawings may be omitted.

[0083] FIG. 1 depicts an inkjet printing structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0084] First, referring to FIGS. 2 to 7, the structure of motion along the first direction will be described.

[0085] The inkjet printing structure according to the present embodiment includes a crossbeam 1, a connecting block 2, and a first driving mechanism. Underneath the crossbeam 1 a front guide rail 11 and a rear guide rail 12 along the length direction of the crossbeam 1 are provided, which are connected to the crossbeam 1 (specifically shown in FIG. 4). The connecting block 2 is mounted with a first slider 21 cooperating with the front guide rail 11 and the rear guide rail 12 (specifically shown in FIG. 7). The first driving mechanism is disposed between the crossbeam 1 and the connecting block 2, and includes a first linear motor for driving the connecting block 2 to reciprocate left and right, namely moving along the length direction of the crossbeam 1. The first linear motor is disposed between the front guide rail 11 and the rear guide rail 12, a first primary of the first linear motor is fixedly connected to the bottom surface of the crossbeam 1, and a first secondary 3 of the first linear motor is fixedly connected to the top surface of the connecting block 2.

[0086] In combination with FIG. 3, FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the connecting block 2 includes a suspension area 22 and a motor mounting area 23 arranged side by side along the length direction of the crossbeam 1. The first slider 21 includes multiple spaced first unit sliders 211. The density of the first unit sliders 211 in the motor mounting area 23 is greater than the density of the first unit sliders 211 in the suspension area 22. For example, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the suspension area 22 is installed with four first unit sliders 211, and the front guide rail 11 and rear guide rail 12 each are distributed two first unit sliders 211 respectively; while the motor mounting area 23 has eight first unit sliders 211, and the front guide rail 11 and rear guide rail 12 each are distributed four first unit sliders 211 respectively.

[0087] The connecting block 2 is also provided with several recesses 24 to achieve weight reduction and material saving. The recesses 24 maybe square, circular, triangular, or any other suitable shape.

[0088] At least two gantry frames 13 are fixed on the crossbeam 1, and the inner side surfaces of the gantry frames 13 extend to 40-60% of the side surface height of the crossbeam 1 from top to bottom. Preferably, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, there is one gantry frame 13 on each side of the printer's printing work area, and the inner side surfaces of the gantry frames 13 extend to 30% of the side surface height of the crossbeam 1 from top to bottom. As FIG. 5 shown, both ends of the horizontal rods 131 of each of the gantry frames 13 have extending portions 1311 forming L shapes with longitudinal rods 132 of the gantry frames 13. Three inner sides of each gantry frame 13 are connected to the crossbeam 1.

[0089] In combination with FIGS. 1-3, a drag chain carrier 14 and a drag chain 15 disposed above the drag chain carrier 14 are further connected to a side of the crossbeam 1. The drag chain carrier 14 is arranged along the length direction of the crossbeam 1. A fixed end 151 of the drag chain 15 is located at a middle part of the crossbeam 1 and a moving end 152 of the drag chain 15 is connected to the connecting block 2. Preferably, the fixed end 151 of the drag chain 15 is fixed onto the drag chain carrier 14 which is in a rectangular plate. A supporting roller 17 is arranged between a middle part and a right end (end close to the connecting block 2) of the crossbeam 1 and fixed to sides thereof, the height of the supporting rollers 17 relative to the drag chain carrier 14 accounts for 20%?30% of the height of the crossbeam 1. Preferably, there are two supporting rollers 17 with heights accounting for 20% of the height of the crossbeam 1 relative to the drag chain carrier 14. The moving end 152 of the drag chain 15 is connected to the connecting block 2 through a suspension 16 in a C shape, which has two horizontal portions and a vertical portion perpendicularly connected to the horizontal portions, the moving end 152 of the drag chain 15 connected to the horizontal portion, distal from the connecting block 2, of the suspension 16, which horizontal side is higher than and longer than the supporting rollers 17.

[0090] FIG. 5 depicts that the crossbeam 1 has an internal cavity divided by a partition plate into two cavities 18, inner walls of each cavity 18 are connected with strengthening ribs 181 in transverse and longitudinal spacings forming a + shaped structure in left or right view. The ends of the crossbeam 1 have end plates (not shown), a dust shield cover (not shown) is provided below the crossbeam 1 with one end connected to the end plates and the other end connected to the connecting block 2 for covering at least the first primary and the guide rails. Preferably, two dust shield covers are connected bilaterally to the connecting block 2, so that as the connecting block 2 moves left, the left dust shield cover shrinks while the right one stretches, and vice versa when moving right.

[0091] In operation, the first linear motor drives lateral reciprocal motions of the connecting block 2 with its first primary fixed to the bottom surface of the crossbeam 1, spanning the same length as the crossbeam 1, the first secondary 3 fixed to the top surface of the connecting block 2 moving linearly along the first primary under electromagnetic forces, thereby driving lateral motions of the connecting block 2 along the length direction of the crossbeam 1.

[0092] Next, referring to FIG.s 8 to 15, the structure for movement along the third direction will be described.

[0093] Turning to FIG. 1, the inkjet printing structure further provides a lifting device 4, including an inner frame 41, an outer frame 42, a third drive mechanism, lifting mechanisms 7 and a synchronizing mechanism 8, wherein the third drive mechanism is a third motor 5 or a hand crank 6 (shown in FIG. 12). The inner frame 41 is used to connect a printhead bracket 414, and the lower end face of the printhead bracket 414 is provided with a plurality of lamp bases 4141 along the direction of the fourth vertical plate 423 (shown in FIG. 15). The inner frame 41 moves relative to the outer frame 42 via the lifting mechanisms 7 at bilateral sides. With reference to FIG. 12, the synchronizing mechanism 8 synchronizes the lifting mechanisms 7 at both sides. The third motor 5 is connected to one end of the synchronizing mechanism 8, and the hand crank 6 is connected to the other end of the synchronizing mechanism 8. The third motor 5 or the hand crank 6 drives the lifting mechanisms 7 at both sides in synchronization through the synchronizing mechanism 8.

[0094] Specifically, the inner frame 41 has four L-shaped vertical rods 411 fixedly connected with first vertical plates 412 at front and rear sides thereof and second vertical plates 413 at left and right sides thereof, as shown in FIG. 8. The outer frame 42 has an outer frame top panel 421, third vertical plates 422 fixed to front and rear sides of the outer frame top panel 421, and fourth vertical plates 423 fixed to left and right sides of the outer frame top panel 421, as shown in FIG. 10. The third vertical plates 422 and fourth vertical plates 423 are connected. The L-shaped rods 411 have an L-shaped cross section. The first vertical plates 412 includes two connecting plates spaced apart from top to bottom. The second vertical plates 413 include three spaced connecting plates. The third vertical plates 422 are two square frames. The fourth vertical plates 423 are hollow vertical plates, such hollow design provides space for protruding portions of components inside the outer frame 42, while also saving material and reducing weight.

[0095] Further in combination with FIG. 11 and FIG. 14, the third vertical plates 422 are totally provided with four mutually parallel vertical grooves 4221. The fourth vertical plates 423 are embedded in the grooves 4221. Each third vertical plate 422 is provided with an extending plate 4222 to the outside of the groove 4221, and the extending plate 4222 is fixedly connected to the protective plate 426 further connected to the outer frame top panel 421.

[0096] Referring now to FIG. 12, the lifting mechanisms 7 particularly includes sliding components and third screw assemblies bilaterally disposed, each of the third screw assemblies includes a third screw 73 and a third nut 74 sleeved on the third screw 73, wherein one end of each third screw 73 is connected to the third motor 5 or hand crank 6 and the other end is fixed onto the fourth vertical plate 423, each of the third nuts 74 is connected to the second vertical plates 413.

[0097] In combination with FIGS. 8 and 9, the second vertical plates 413 extend laterally outwards with bases 4131 formed with circular grooves, and the third nut 74 is embedded in the circular groove, each of the third nuts 74 are provided with limit rings 741 around the outer periphery thereof, the limit rings 741 abut against lower end surfaces of the bases 4131.

[0098] The fourth vertical plates 423 extend laterally outwards with fixing plates 4231 for connection between the third screws 73 and the fourth vertical plates 423. The fixing plates 4231 are T-shaped plates arranged along the fourth vertical plates 423.

[0099] Limit switches are provided outside the fourth vertical plates 423 for limiting positions of the third nuts 74, and the lifting devices 4 stop moving up and down when the connecting block 2 touches the limit switches.

[0100] The third screw assemblies are also provided with displacement sensors for measuring motion distances of the third nuts 74, wherein the displacement sensors includes rotary encoders and an optical grating detecting device, the rotary encoder includes an encoder disk connected to each of the third screws 73 and encoding sensors connected to outer sides of the fourth vertical plates 423; the optical grating detecting device includes grating rulers connected to the connecting block and optical grating sensors. The rotary encoders are provided on the third screws 73 on both sides for measuring motion distances of both sides of the inner frame 41 so as to determine whether both sides are lifting synchronously based on consistency of the measurements, otherwise adjustment for synchronization is needed before printing operations.

[0101] Further in combination with FIGS. 8 and 10, the sliding components especially includes vertical guide rails 71 and third sliders 72 sliding along the vertical guide rails 71 in contact way. The vertical guide rails 71 and third sliders 72 are provided between the inner frame 41 and outer frame 42, wherein the vertical guide rails 71 are vertical guide tracks matching the third sliders 72. The vertical guide rails 71 and third sliders 72 can be connected to outer sides of the first vertical plates 412, second vertical plates 413 and the L-shaped vertical rods 411, as well as inner sides of the third vertical plates 422 and fourth vertical plates 423. For example, the vertical guide rails 71 are connected to inner sides of the fourth vertical plates 423, shown in FIG. 8, and the third sliders 72 are disposed at outer sides of the L-shaped vertical rods 411, shown in FIG. 10.

[0102] Referring back to FIG. 12, the synchronizing mechanism 8 includes a transmission shaft 81 and a gearbox 82 connected through a coupling 83, the gearbox 82 has a first output port, a second output port and a third output port, wherein the first output port is connected to the driveshaft 81, the second output port is connected to the third motor 5 or hand crank 6, and the third output port is connected to the third screws 73. The coupling 83 is a rotating member connecting the driveshaft 81 and the gearbox 82. In such configuration, when the third screw assemblies at both sides are not synchronized, the coupling 83 can be removed for adjustment of the third screw assemblies until the inner frame 41 becomes horizontal before printing.

[0103] In operation, the motor drives the components of the lifting mechanism 7 on the same side during normal powered operations of the printer, the driven lifting mechanism 7 in turn drives the lifting mechanism 7 on the other side through the synchronizing mechanism 8, so that the lifting mechanisms 7 at both sides operate simultaneously to drive vertical movements of the inner frame 41 relative to outer frame 42, thereby driving the printhead bracket 414 connected to the inner frame 41 in the z-axis direction. In addition, when malfunctions or other emergency situations occur, the components of the lifting mechanism 7 can be driven by the user via the hand crank 6 on the same side to operate the lifting device 4.

[0104] Next, referring to FIGS. 16-18, the structure for movement along the second direction will be described.

[0105] A left guide rail 25 and a right guide rail 26 are provided at the bottom surface of the connecting block, and second sliders 424 fitting with the left and right guide rails 25, 26 are installed on the outer frame 42, wherein the second sliders 424 includes multiple second unit sliders 4241 equidistantly spaced. As shown in FIG. 17, three second unit sliders 4241 are distributed for the left guide rail 25 and another three second unit sliders 4241 are distributed for the right guide rail 26 in this embodiment;

[0106] A second drive mechanism is provided between the connecting block 2 and the lifting device 4 for driving the connecting block 2 to move back and forth along the second direction perpendicular to the length of the crossbeam 1. The second drive mechanism includes a second linear motor located outside the left guide rail 25 and right guide rail 26, with a second primary of the second linear motor connected to the bottom surface of the connecting block, and a second secondary 425 of the second linear motor connected to the outer frame 42.

[0107] Further in combination with FIG. 16 and FIG. 18, the second drive mechanism further includes two sets of second screw assemblies disposed between the left guide rail 25 and right guide rail 26, each set of the second screw assemblies comprises a second motor, a second screw 271 and a second nut 272 sleeved on the second screw 271, an output end of each second motor is connected to respective second screw 271, and an extension block 273 is sleeved on the second nut 272, and the second nut 272 is connected to the outer frame 42 through the extension block 273.

[0108] In operation, if the second linear motor is selected for driving, the second linear motor drives back and forth movement of the lifting device 4 along the second direction perpendicular to length of the crossbeam 1, and the second secondary 425 moves linearly along the second primary under electromagnetic forces to drive front and rear motions of the inner frame 41 and movements of the printhead bracket 414 along the second direction; if the second screw assemblies are selected for driving, the second motors drive rotations of second screws 271, the second nuts 272 then drive movements of the extension blocks 273 along the second direction, the extension blocks 273 connected to the outer frame 42 in turn drive movements of the lifting device 4 and printhead bracket 414 along the second direction.

[0109] Referring now to FIG. 19, in another embodiment, two first sliders 21 of the same length are mounted on the connecting block 2, matching the front guide rail 11 and the rear guide rail 12, respectively.

[0110] Referring now to FIG. 20, similarly, two second sliders 424 of the same length are mounted on the outer frame 42 according to another embodiment, matching the left guide rail 25 and the right guide rail 26, respectively.

[0111] Obviously, the above embodiments of the invention are merely examples for clearly explaining the technical solutions of the invention, and are not intended to limit the specific implementations of the invention. Any modifications, equivalent replacements, and improvements made within the spirit and principle of the invention claims shall fall within the protection scope of the invention claims.