Drawing apparatus

Abstract

A drawing apparatus includes a mounting section having a mounting surface for mounting thereon a drawing target object having a drawing target surface, a carriage for attaching thereto a drawing tool having a tip portion at one end, and a drawing tool pressing mechanism for bringing the tip portion of the drawing tool attached to the carriage into contact with the drawing target surface of the drawing target object mounted on the mounting surface. The carriage includes a fitting member to be fitted with the tip portion of the drawing tool, and configured to be movable with the drawing tool having the fitted tip portion, and a biasing member biasing the fitting member in a direction away from the mounting surface. The drawing tool pressing mechanism presses the drawing tool with the tip portion fitted with the fitting member in a direction where the tip portion approaches the mounting surface, and brings the tip portion into contact with the drawing target surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A drawing apparatus comprising:
 a mounting section including a mounting surface configured to mount thereon a drawing target object having a drawing target surface;   a carriage including
 a fitting member configured to be fitted with a tip portion of a drawing tool having the tip portion on one end side, and be movable together with the drawing tool whose tip portion is fitted therein, and 
 a biasing member biasing the fitting member in a first direction away from the mounting surface; and 
   a drawing tool pressing mechanism configured to press the drawing tool whose tip portion is fitted in the fitting member in a second direction where the tip portion approaches the mounting surface with a larger force than a biasing force of the biasing member, and bring the tip portion into contact with the drawing target surface of the drawing target object mounted on the mounting surface.   
     
     
         2 . The drawing apparatus according to  claim 1 , comprising an auxiliary shaft member fixed at one end to the fitting member and configured to be movable together with the drawing tool whose tip portion is fitted in the fitting member. 
     
     
         3 . The drawing apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the biasing member is an elastic member placed on an outer periphery of the auxiliary shaft member and compressed upon the drawing tool being pressed by the drawing tool pressing mechanism in the first direction, the elastic member having a restoring force attempting to return to the original state against an external force. 
     
     
         4 . The drawing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the drawing tool includes
 a shaft portion having the tip portion on one end side, and 
 a fitting portion at the tip portion, the fitting portion having a diameter smaller than that of the shaft portion, and 
   the fitting member includes a through hole in which the fitting portion is mounted and fitted.   
     
     
         5 . The drawing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the drawing tool includes, at the tip portion, a threaded portion having one of an external thread and an internal thread, and   the fitting member includes a through hole having an internal peripheral surface on which the other of an external thread and an internal thread to be fitted with the threaded portion is formed.   
     
     
         6 . The drawing apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the threaded portion has a diameter smaller than that of the shaft portion,   the drawing tool includes a tapered portion at the tip portion, the tapered portion gradually reducing in diameter toward the threaded portion, and   the fitting member includes a taper receiving portion formed into a bowl shape configured to receive the tapered portion.   
     
     
         7 . The drawing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the drawing tool pressing mechanism includes an elastically deformable press side elastic member configured to come into contact with the drawing tool and press the drawing tool in the second direction,   the press side elastic member is a flat spring, and   the flat spring elastically deforms upon pressing the drawing tool in the second direction, and bends and deforms upon the drawing tool being pressed up in accordance with the shape of the drawing target surface at the time of drawing.   
     
     
         8 . The drawing apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the drawing tool pressing mechanism further includes a flat spring moving mechanism connected to one end side of the flat spring and configured to selectively move the flat spring to a first position where the other end side of the flat spring comes into direct contact with the other end side of the drawing tool to press the drawing tool in the second direction, or a second position in no contact with the other end of the drawing tool.   
     
     
         9 . The drawing apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the drawing tool pressing mechanism further includes
 a slide pin having one end and the other end, the other end being able to come into contact with the other end side of the drawing tool, the other end being biased by a pin elastic member in a direction away from the other end side of the drawing tool, and   a flat spring moving mechanism connected to one end side of the flat spring and configured to selectively move the flat spring to
 a first position of bringing the other end side of the flat spring into contact with the one end of the slide pin, pressing the slide pin in a direction where the other end comes into contact with the other end side of the drawing tool, bringing the other end of the slide pin into contact with the other end side of the drawing tool, pressing the drawing tool in the second direction, and bringing the tip portion into contact with the drawing target surface, or 
 a second position of not pressing the slide pin. 
   
     
     
         10 . The drawing apparatus according to  claim 7 , comprising
 an auxiliary shaft member fixed at one end to the fitting member and configured to be movable together with the drawing tool whose tip portion is fitted in the fitting member, wherein   the auxiliary shaft member includes a protruding member protruding in a direction away from the axial center of the drawing tool,   the flat spring includes
 a through hole through which the drawing tool and the auxiliary shaft member are inserted, and 
 an engaging portion being able to come into contact with the protruding member, and 
   the drawing tool pressing mechanism includes a flat spring moving mechanism configured to selectively move the flat spring to a first position where the engaging portion of the flat spring comes into contact with the protruding member to press the drawing tool via the auxiliary shaft member in the second direction, or a second position where the protruding member does not come into contact with the engaging portion of the flat spring.   
     
     
         11 . The drawing apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a print head configured to eject ink reduced into smaller droplets onto the drawing target surface, and draw. 
     
     
         12 . The drawing apparatus according to  claim 11 , further comprising a moving mechanism configured to move the carriage and the print head simultaneously.