JP5676220B2 - Inkjet printer - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink jet printer. More specifically, the present invention relates to an ink that cures when irradiated with ultraviolet rays on a medium such as recording paper as a printing material (in this specification, “ink that cures when irradiated with ultraviolet rays” is simply referred to as “ink that cures when irradiated with ultraviolet rays”). The present invention relates to an ink jet printer that performs printing by ejecting “ultraviolet curable ink” as appropriate.

  In this specification, the term “medium” refers to various recording media made of paper such as plain paper, various materials such as resin materials such as PVC and polyester, and materials such as aluminum, iron, and wood. Material shall be included.

  In addition, in the present specification, the inkjet method refers to various conventionally known methods including various continuous methods such as a binary deflection method or a continuous deflection method, and various on-demand methods such as a thermal method or a piezoelectric element method. This means a printing method using inkjet technology.

  Conventionally, UV curable ink that is cured when irradiated with ultraviolet rays is used as the ink to be ejected onto the medium, and the ultraviolet curable ink is ejected onto the medium by a light source capable of generating ultraviolet rays such as an ultraviolet irradiation lamp mounted inside. There is known an ultraviolet curable ink jet printer that performs printing by irradiating an ultraviolet ray onto the medium to cure the ultraviolet curable ink discharged onto the medium.

  That is, such an ultraviolet curable ink jet printer performs printing by ejecting ultraviolet curable ink from an ink head onto a medium to be printed. Printing of a medium to which ultraviolet curable ink is ejected using an ultraviolet irradiation lamp is performed. By irradiating the surface with ultraviolet rays, the ultraviolet curable ink discharged onto the medium is cured and fixed to the printing surface.

  Conventional ink jet printers using such UV curable inks have the advantage that printing on various media other than paper is also possible, and ink jet printers using UV curable inks are now widely used.

  For this reason, it is also used for a medium whose shape is not a sheet. For example, when printing is performed on a medium such as a cylinder, a cylinder, or a sphere, the medium is a cylinder, a cylinder, or a sphere. Inkjet printers that perform printing (hereinafter, “inkjet printers that perform printing on a medium having a shape such as a cylinder, a cylinder, or a sphere” are referred to as “cylindrical inkjet printers”) are used.

The cylindrical printing ink jet printer will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of a cylindrical printing ink jet printer, FIG. 2 is a view taken in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1, and FIG. A schematic configuration perspective view of the unit is shown.

  In this cylindrical printing inkjet printer 100, a rotating unit 114, which will be described later, causes a cylindrical printed material 200 having a predetermined length in the scanning direction which is a width direction as a medium to be a predetermined centering on a central axis O parallel to the scanning direction. It is designed to be rotated in the direction.

  The cylindrical printing ink jet printer 100 includes a fixed base member 102 extending in the scanning direction, side members 104L and 104R disposed at right and left ends of the base member 102 and orthogonal to the base member 102, and two left and right members. A frame 106 that connects the side members 104L and 104R on the upper side, a guide rail 108 that extends in the scanning direction on the front surface 106a of the frame 106, and a fixed left side of the ink head 112 described later. An ink head unit 140 composed of an ultraviolet irradiation lamp 110 disposed on the guide rail 108 and an ink head 112 slidably disposed on the guide rail 108, and a cylindrical printed material disposed on the base member 102. Rotating unit 114 that holds 200 and rotates printed substrate 200, and side member 104 It is constructed and a maintenance unit 116 which is arranged on the side.

The ink head unit 140 is fixedly disposed on the driving belt 142, and slides on the guide rail 108 by the driving of the driving belt to reciprocate in the scanning direction and the return direction.

  The rotation unit 114 includes a vertical drive unit 120 disposed on the base member 102, a rotary shaft drive unit 122 disposed on the left side of the upper surface 120a of the vertical drive unit 120, and the vertical drive unit 120. The support unit 124 disposed on the right side of the rotary shaft drive unit 122 on the upper surface 120a of the rotary shaft, the holding member 126 provided on the right side surface 122a of the rotary shaft drive unit 122, and the holding member 126 are supported in pairs. And a holding member 128 provided on the left side surface 124 a of the unit 124.

  The support unit 124 is slidably provided on a groove 120b provided in parallel with the scanning direction on the upper surface 120a of the vertical drive unit 120. The support unit 124 is moved in the scanning direction to move the left side surface 124a. The substrate 200 is held by a holding member 128 provided on the right side and a holding member 126 provided on the right side surface 122 a of the rotary shaft drive unit 122.

  Further, the support unit 124 is provided with a support unit fixing portion 124-1, and the support unit 124 is placed at an arbitrary position on the groove 120b provided in the vertical drive unit 120 by the support unit fixing portion 124-1. Can be fixed.

  The holding member 128 provided on the left side surface 124 a of the support unit 124 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and has a shape in which the side surface 128 a that contacts the substrate 200 is recessed.

  The holding member 128 is rotatably supported by a support member 124aa provided on the left side surface 124a of the support unit 124 at the center of the side surface 128b facing the side surface 128a.

  The support member 124aa is provided coaxially with a rotation shaft 122aa provided on the rotation shaft drive unit 122 (described later) (shown as the central axis O in FIG. 2).

  The holding member 128 rotatably provided on the support member 124aa rotates about the central axis O as a rotation axis.

  The rotary shaft drive unit 122 is fixedly disposed on the left side of the upper surface 120a of the vertical drive unit 120, and a holding member 126 is provided on the right side surface 122a.

  The holding member 126 has a shape similar to that of the holding member 128 and is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and the side surface 126a with which the printing material 200 abuts is recessed.

  The holding member 126 is connected to a rotation shaft 122aa provided so as to protrude from the right side surface 122a of the rotation shaft drive unit 122 at the center portion of the side surface 126b facing the side surface 126a.

  For this reason, the holding member 126 is rotated about the central axis O as a rotation axis by a rotation axis 122aa rotated by a drive motor (not shown) provided in the rotation axis drive unit 122.

  That is, the holding member 126 and the holding member 128 rotate about the central axis O as a rotation axis, and the substrate 200 to be printed held by the holding member 126 and the holding member 128 is provided in the rotary shaft drive unit 122. When the drive motor (not shown) is driven, the rotation shaft 122aa is rotated to rotate about the central axis O as the rotation axis.

  The vertical drive unit 120 is fixedly disposed on the base member 102 by a leg portion 130, and a base portion 131 provided with the leg portion 130 and extends in the scanning direction in the base portion 131. A plate-like member 135 movably disposed on the shaft (not shown), and a pedestal portion 137 that moves up and down as the plate-like member 135 moves on the shaft (not shown). Configured.

  Four bearings 133 are provided on the plate-like member 135, and four triangular members 139 are provided on the lower surface 137a of the pedestal portion 137 (see FIGS. 13A and 13B). The plate-like member 135 moves on the shaft as the four bearings 133 rotate, and the four triangular members 139 provided on the pedestal portion 137 come into contact with the four bearings 133, respectively. Thus, the pedestal portion 137 is disposed on the base portion 131.

  Therefore, when the plate-like member 135 moves to the right side, the pedestal portion 137 rises, and when the plate-like member 135 moves to the left side, the pedestal portion 137 descends (FIGS. 13C and 13D). To see.)

  The plate member 135 moves on a shaft (not shown) by a drive motor and a screw shaft (not shown) under the control of a microcomputer (not shown).

  The maintenance unit 116 is provided on the side member 104L side that is located when the ink head unit 140 is in a standby state, and includes a cap device 132, a wiper device (not shown), and a suction device 136. I have.

  The cap device 132 includes a nozzle cap portion, and covers an inkjet nozzle (not shown) provided on the lower surface of the ink head 112 when the ink head unit 140 is in a standby state and positioned on the maintenance unit 116. Is.

  The wiper device (not shown) includes a blade, and when the ink head unit 140 is in a standby state and is positioned on the maintenance unit 116, the blade is an ink jet nozzle (not shown) of the ink head 112. The ink abuts on the lower surface and removes ink remaining on the lower surface of the inkjet nozzle (not shown).

  The suction device 134 includes a suction pump, a drive motor that drives the suction pump, and the like. When the ink head unit 140 is positioned on the maintenance unit 116 after printing, ultraviolet curing is performed from an inkjet nozzle (not shown) of the ink head 112. The ink is sucked to remove the ultraviolet curable ink remaining in the ink jet nozzle (not shown).

  Note that the entire operation of the inkjet printer 100, that is, the entire operation including the movement of the ink head unit 140, the turning on and off of the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 110, the discharge of the ultraviolet curable ink in the ink head 112, and the like is not shown. Controlled by.

In the above configuration, when printing on the cylindrical substrate 200, first, the operator makes one side surface 200 a of the substrate 200 contact the side surface 126 a of the holding member 126.

  Then, the support unit 124 is moved according to the length of the substrate 200, and the other side surface 200b of the substrate 200 is in contact with the side surface 128a of the holding member 128, and is supported by the support unit fixing portion 124-1. The unit 124 is fixed, and the substrate 200 is held by the rotation unit 114.

  Next, when the operator gives an instruction to start printing on the substrate 200, the ink head unit 140 moves in the scanning direction on the substrate 200 held by the rotation unit 114 as the drive belt 142 is driven. Move back and forth in the direction and return direction.

  Further, the substrate 200 is rotated by the rotation of the rotation shaft 122aa of the rotation shaft drive unit 122 (rotated in the direction of arrow I in FIG. 1 and in the front direction in FIG. 2).

  In reciprocating movement of the ink head unit 140, in unidirectional printing in which UV curable ink is discharged in the scanning direction or in the return direction, or in bidirectional printing in which UV curable ink is discharged in the scanning direction or in the returning direction. The scanning area, which is the area for discharging the ultraviolet curable ink from the ink head 112 onto the printing surface 200c of the printing object 200 by a single movement in the going direction or the returning direction, is rotated by the rotation of the printing object 200 sequentially. It changes at intervals according to the amount of rotation in the direction.

  That is, as the ink head unit 140 reciprocates in the going direction and the returning direction in the scanning direction and the substrate 200 is sequentially rotated, the scanning area is sequentially changed at intervals corresponding to the moving distance in the rotating direction. It will be.

  In each scanning region, ultraviolet curable ink is ejected from the ink jet nozzles (not shown) of the ink head 112 in the ink head unit 140 toward the printing surface 200c of the substrate 200 under the control of the microcomputer.

  Thereby, the ultraviolet curable ink is applied to the printing surface 200c of the substrate 200. The applied ultraviolet curable ink is cured by irradiation with ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 110, whereby printing is performed on the printing object 200.

By the way, in such a cylindrical printing ink jet printer 100, when the ink head unit 140 moves on the scanning area on the printing surface 200c of the printing material 200, similarly to the ink jet printer that performs printing on the sheet-like printing material, When the ultraviolet curable ink discharged from the ink head 112 is irradiated with ultraviolet rays by the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 110, the ultraviolet curable ink is irradiated with ultraviolet rays a plurality of times by the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 110.

Here, a case where printing is performed on a sheet-like substrate 250 in the inkjet printer 150 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the following description, the same or equivalent configuration as that of the above-described cylindrical printing ink jet printer 100 is indicated by using the same reference numerals as those used above, so that the detailed configuration and operation will be described as appropriate. Will be omitted.

When printing on the sheet-like printed material 250 by the ink jet printer 150, first, the ink head unit 140 moves back and forth in the main scanning direction to move in a predetermined scanning region. The ultraviolet curable ink is ejected from the ink head 112 and the ultraviolet curable ink is irradiated with ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 110.

  Next, the printed material 250 is transported in the sub-scanning direction by a paper feeding device (not shown), and the ink head unit 140 reciprocates in the forward and backward directions in the main scanning direction. Moves on the scanning area next to the predetermined scanning area, discharges the ultraviolet curable ink from the ink head 112 to the next scanning area, and irradiates the ultraviolet curable ink with ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 110. Is to do.

  Such an operation is repeated to print a desired image on the sheet-like substrate 250. For the ultraviolet curable ink ejected to such a scanning region, sufficient for curing is performed as follows. It is irradiated with ultraviolet rays.

  That is, after the ink head unit 140 ejects ultraviolet curable ink from the ink head 112 while moving on a predetermined scanning region, the first ultraviolet ray is emitted from the ultraviolet curable lamp 110 provided on the left side of the ink head 112. Irradiated (see FIG. 5 (a)).

  When the irradiation of the ultraviolet curable ink discharged to the predetermined scanning region is completed, the sheet-like printed material 250 is moved by a predetermined amount by a paper feeding device (not shown), and the ink head unit 140 performs the predetermined scanning. The next scanning area after the area is set in a movable state.

  When the ink head unit 140 moves on the next scanning area of the predetermined scanning area, the ultraviolet curable ink is ejected from the ink head 112 to the next scanning area and is ejected to the next scanning area by the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 110. The first ultraviolet ray is irradiated to the ultraviolet ray curable ink.

  At this time, the ultraviolet light irradiated from the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 110 is also irradiated to the ultraviolet curable ink ejected to the predetermined scanning region, and the ultraviolet curable ink ejected onto the predetermined scanning region is irradiated with the second ultraviolet light. (Refer to FIG. 5B).

  When the irradiation of the ultraviolet curable ink discharged to the next scanning region is completed, the sheet-like printed material 250 is moved by a predetermined amount by a sheet feeding device (not shown), and the ink head unit 140 performs the scanning. It is set in a movable state on the next scanning area after the area.

  When the ink head unit 140 moves on the next scanning area after the predetermined scanning area, the ultraviolet curable ink is ejected from the ink head 112 onto the moved scanning area, and the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 110 applies the ultraviolet light. The cured ink is irradiated with the first ultraviolet ray.

  At this time, the ultraviolet rays irradiated from the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 110 are also applied to the ultraviolet curable ink ejected to the predetermined scanning region and the ultraviolet curable ink ejected to the scanning region next to the predetermined scanning region. The UV curable ink ejected to the scanning region is irradiated with the third UV light, and the UV curable ink ejected to the scanning region next to the predetermined scanning region is irradiated with the second UV light. (See FIG. 5 (c)).

  By repeating such an operation, the ultraviolet curable ink discharged to each scanning region is irradiated with ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 110 a plurality of times.

  In such an ink jet printer 150, the maintenance unit 116 is provided in the base portion 102 in the vicinity of the side member 104L.

On the other hand, in the cylindrical printing inkjet printer 100, since the substrate 200 has a cylindrical shape, the ink head unit 140 moves on the printing surface 200c of the substrate 200 as the cylindrical outer diameter of the substrate 200 increases. The scanning area is a curved surface with a small curvature, that is, a state close to a flat surface.

  Therefore, in this case, similarly to the ink jet printer 150 that performs printing on the sheet-like substrate 250, the ultraviolet curable ink ejected to the predetermined scanning region is the scanning region subsequent to the predetermined scanning region. Even when the ink head unit 140 moves, the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 110 irradiates the ultraviolet rays, and the ultraviolet rays sufficient for curing can be irradiated.

However, the smaller the outer diameter of the cylindrical shape of the substrate 200, the more curved the scanning area in which the ink head unit 140 moves on the printing surface 200c of the substrate 200 is curved.

  Therefore, in this case, the ultraviolet curable ink discharged to the predetermined scanning area is irradiated by the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 110 when the ink head unit 140 moves on the scanning area next to the predetermined scanning area. It will be in the state which is not fully irradiated with ultraviolet rays.

  Then, in the next scanning region of the next scanning region, the ultraviolet curable ink is not irradiated with ultraviolet rays at all (refer to FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C).

  That is, in the scanning area after the predetermined scanning area, the ultraviolet curable ink is not sufficiently irradiated with ultraviolet rays, and problems such as poor curing of the ultraviolet curable ink occur.

For this reason, when the cylindrical printing inkjet printer 100 prints a printed material having a small cylindrical outer diameter, the ink head unit 140 is moved over the scanning region in order to cure the ultraviolet curable ink discharged to the scanning region. After the ultraviolet curable ink is ejected from the ink head 112 while moving, the ink head unit 140 that is irradiated with the ultraviolet rays by the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 110 is reciprocated on the scanning region to move the ultraviolet curable ink to the ultraviolet curable ink. Irradiation with ultraviolet rays sufficient for curing was performed.

However, in the cylindrical printing inkjet printer 100, after the ultraviolet curable ink is discharged to a predetermined scanning region, the ink head unit 140 in a state where the ultraviolet ray is irradiated by the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 110 is reciprocated a plurality of times on the predetermined scanning region. If the ultraviolet curable ink is irradiated with sufficient ultraviolet light for curing, the ultraviolet curable ink is dried in an inkjet nozzle (not shown) provided in the ink head 112 by the movement of the ink head unit 140. .

  Further, due to the movement of the ink head unit 140, the ultraviolet curable ink is cured at the inkjet nozzle (not shown) provided in the ink head 112 by the reflected light of the ultraviolet rays when the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 110 irradiates the ultraviolet rays. In some cases, it has been pointed out that the ink head 112 may fail to discharge ultraviolet curable ink.

In order to solve such problems, a maintenance unit provided at a standby position of the ink head unit 140 that is located when the ink head unit 140 is not in use every time the ink head unit 140 moves on each scanning region. A method is used in which a small amount of ultraviolet curable ink is discharged at 116 so that the inkjet nozzle (not shown) is not blocked by the ultraviolet curable ink.

However, in such a method, drying and curing of the ultraviolet curable ink can be prevented in the inkjet nozzle (not shown), but the ultraviolet curable ink is dried or dried in the vicinity of the inkjet nozzle (not shown). It will be cured.

  The ultraviolet curable ink dried or cured in the vicinity of such an ink jet nozzle (not shown) cannot be removed by a wiper device (not shown) provided in the maintenance unit 116 and causes a discharge failure.

  For this reason, the discharge failure of the ultraviolet curable ink cannot be sufficiently suppressed.

  Further, in this method, each time the ink head unit 140 moves on the scanning region, the ultraviolet curable ink is discharged from the maintenance unit 116, so that the loss of the ultraviolet curable ink is increased and the printing time is increased, resulting in an increase in cost. A new problem has occurred.

Since the prior art that the applicant of the present application knows at the time of filing a patent is not an invention related to a known literature, there is no prior art document information to be described in the present specification.

  The present invention has been made in view of the various problems of the conventional techniques as described above, and the object of the present invention is to suppress ink ejection defects without incurring high costs. An ink jet printer is to be provided.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, an ultraviolet irradiation lamp that irradiates ultraviolet rays can be separated from an ink head that discharges ultraviolet curable ink, and only the ultraviolet irradiation lamp can be driven.

That is, according to the present invention, the ink head unit reciprocates in a predetermined direction, and the cylindrical medium is sequentially rotated around a rotation axis extending in the predetermined direction, whereby the ink head unit transmits light to the medium. In an inkjet printer that prints a predetermined image on the medium while sequentially changing the scanning area for ejecting the curable ink at intervals corresponding to the moving distance of the medium in the rotation direction , the cylindrical medium is held. rotating means for rotating, together with the ejecting photocurable ink onto the medium to be rotated by said rotation means, and the ink head that is slidably disposed in guide rails extending in the predetermined direction, the in the guide rail is disposed on one side of the predetermined direction of the ink head, back and forth along the guide rails by the drive means A rotatably, a light irradiating means for irradiating light to the photocurable ink ejected on the medium from the ink head, and an ink head unit connected detachably by a connecting means, the ink head unit The ink head in which the ink head and the light irradiating means are connected by a connecting means, and the ink head and the light irradiating means are connected to each other at the other end in the predetermined direction in which the ink head is movable. While moving the unit in the predetermined direction, the ink head discharges the light curable ink to the medium and controls the light irradiation means to emit light to the light curable ink to perform printing in the scanning region. When the predetermined image is printed on the medium, the ink head unit is moved to the other side in the predetermined direction to move the ink. After the head is locked to the locking means, the light irradiating means is detached from the ink head, and light is applied to the predetermined image while moving the light irradiating means at a predetermined speed while irradiating the light. And a control means for controlling to irradiate .

Further, according to the present invention, the ink head unit reciprocates in a predetermined direction, and the cylindrical medium is sequentially rotated around a rotation axis extending in the predetermined direction, so that light is transmitted from the ink head unit to the medium. In an inkjet printer that prints a predetermined image on the medium while sequentially changing the scanning area for ejecting the curable ink at intervals corresponding to the moving distance of the medium in the rotation direction, the cylindrical medium is held. A rotating means that rotates; an ink head that ejects photocurable ink to the medium rotated by the rotating means; and is slidably disposed on a guide rail that extends in the predetermined direction; and The guide rail is disposed on one side of the ink head in the predetermined direction, and reciprocates along the guide rail by driving of the driving means. A light irradiating means for irradiating light to the photo-curable ink ejected from the ink head onto the medium, and an ink head unit that is detachably connected by a connecting means; and the ink head unit The ink head in which the ink head and the light irradiating means are connected by a connecting means, and the ink head and the light irradiating means are connected to each other at the other end in the predetermined direction in which the ink head is movable. While the unit is moved in the predetermined direction, the photocurable ink is ejected from the ink head onto the medium, and printing in the scanning region is performed without irradiating the photocurable ink with light from the light irradiation unit. When a predetermined image is printed on the medium, the ink head unit is moved to the other side in the predetermined direction to After the head is locked to the locking means, the light irradiating means is detached from the ink head, and the predetermined image is irradiated with light while moving the light irradiating means at a predetermined speed while being irradiated with light. And a control means for controlling to do so .

Further, the present invention is the above-described invention, wherein the control means irradiates the ultraviolet ray optimal for the photocurable ink with the moving speed of the light irradiation means when the light irradiation means is separated from the ink head. It is intended to be controlled .

  Since the present invention is configured as described above, it has an excellent effect that ink ejection defects can be suppressed without incurring high costs.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a conventional cylindrical ink jet printer. FIG. 2 is a view taken in the direction of arrow A in FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory perspective view of a schematic configuration showing the rotary shaft drive unit. FIG. 4 is an explanatory perspective view schematically illustrating a configuration of an inkjet printer that performs printing on a sheet-like printed material according to a conventional technique. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an ink head unit and a printing material for explaining irradiation of ultraviolet rays to ultraviolet curable ink in an inkjet printer that performs printing on a sheet-shaped printing material according to a conventional technique. FIG. 5A is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the ink ejected to the predetermined scanning region is irradiated with ultraviolet rays, and FIG. 5B shows the next scanning of the predetermined scanning region. FIG. 5C is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which ultraviolet rays are irradiated to the ink ejected to the region, and FIG. 5C illustrates the ink ejected to the scanning region next to the scanning region next to the predetermined scanning region. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which irradiated the ultraviolet-ray with respect to it. FIG. 6 illustrates an ink head unit and a substrate for explaining irradiation of ultraviolet rays to the ultraviolet curable ink in a conventional cylindrical printing inkjet printer when the outer diameter of the cylindrical substrate is small. FIG. 6A is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which ultraviolet rays are irradiated to the ink ejected to the predetermined scanning region, and FIG. 6B is a diagram illustrating the predetermined scanning region. FIG. 6C is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which ultraviolet rays are irradiated to the ink ejected to the next scanning region, and FIG. 6C is ejected to the scanning region next to the scanning region next to the predetermined scanning region. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which irradiated the ultraviolet-ray with respect to the ink. FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a cylindrical printing inkjet printer according to the present invention. FIG. 8 is a view taken in the direction of arrow B in FIG. FIG. 9A is an explanatory view showing a connection state of the ink head and the ultraviolet irradiation lamp in the cylindrical printing ink jet printer according to the present invention, and FIG. 9B is an ink in the cylindrical printing ink jet printer according to the present invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the isolation | separation state of a head and an ultraviolet irradiation lamp. FIG. 10 is an explanatory perspective view schematically illustrating a configuration of an ink jet printer that performs printing on a sheet-like printed material according to the present invention. FIG. 11 is a C arrow view of FIG. FIG. 12 is an explanatory view showing a modification of the connecting portion. FIG. 13A is a schematic configuration perspective view illustrating the pedestal portion in the vertical direction drive unit, and FIG. 13B is a schematic configuration perspective view illustrating the plate member in the vertical direction drive unit. FIGS. 13C and 13D are explanatory diagrams for explaining the operation when the pedestal is raised in the vertical drive unit.

  Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of an inkjet printer according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  In the following description, the same or equivalent components as those of the conventional inkjet printer described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 are indicated by using the same reference numerals as those used above. Detailed explanation and explanation of the action will be omitted as appropriate.

Here, FIG. 7 shows a schematic perspective view of the cylindrical printing ink jet printer according to the present invention, and FIG. 8 shows a view taken in the direction of arrow B in FIG. FIG. 9 (a) shows an explanatory view showing the connection state of the ink head and the ultraviolet irradiation lamp in the cylindrical printing ink jet printer according to the present invention, and FIG. 9 (b) shows the cylindrical printing according to the present invention. An explanatory view showing a separated state of an ink head and an ultraviolet irradiation lamp in an ink jet printer is shown.

7 is replaced with an ultraviolet irradiation lamp 110 and an ink head 112 provided in an ink head unit 140, and is fixedly disposed on a drive belt 142 and is used for an ink head 14 described later. The ultraviolet irradiation lamp 12 is slidably disposed on the guide rail 108 on the left side, and the ink head 14 is provided with a hook 20 on the right side wall 14b and slidably disposed on the guide rail 108. Further, it differs from the conventional cylindrical printing inkjet printer 100 in that it includes an engagement hook 22 fixedly disposed on the side member 104R.

  More specifically, the ink heads 14 are arranged side by side on the guide rail 108 so as to be located on the right side of the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 12, and the magnet 18 provided on the left side wall 14 a of the ink head 14 and the ultraviolet light are provided. The magnet 16 provided on the right side wall 12a of the irradiation lamp 12 can be appropriately connected or disconnected.

  The magnet 16 and the magnet 18 constitute a connecting portion 24.

Further, a hook 20 is provided on the right side wall 14b of the ink head 14, and the hook 20 is engaged with and disengaged from an engagement hook 22 provided on the side member 104R.

  The engagement / disengagement between the hook 20 and the engagement hook 22 is controlled by a microcomputer (not shown), and the hook 20 and the engagement hook 22 are engaged (in the state shown in FIG. 9B). The holding force is set so as to be stronger than the attracting force between the magnet 16 and the magnet 18 connecting the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 12 and the ink head 14.

  The hook 20 and the engagement hook 22 constitute a locking portion 26.

Further, the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 12 and the ink head 14 cause the magnet 16 and the magnet 18 to be adsorbed under the control of a microcomputer (not shown) when the ink head 14 discharges ultraviolet curable ink to a predetermined scanning region. As a result, the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 12 and the ink head 14 move integrally.

  On the other hand, when the discharge of the ultraviolet curable ink to the predetermined scanning region is finished and the ultraviolet curable ink is to be irradiated with further ultraviolet rays, the hook provided on the ink head 14 is controlled by a microcomputer (not shown). After 20 is engaged with the engagement hook 22 provided on the side member 104R, the magnet 16 and the magnet 18 are separated to move only the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 12.

In the above configuration, a case where printing is performed on the printing surface 200c of the cylindrical substrate 200 by the cylindrical printing inkjet printer 10 will be described.

  For example, when a predetermined image is formed by irradiating the ultraviolet curable ink with ultraviolet rays while discharging the ultraviolet curable ink, and then further irradiating the ultraviolet curable ink with ultraviolet rays, the printed material 200 is first rotated. The unit 114 holds it.

  Specifically, first, an operator causes one side surface 200 a of the substrate 200 to abut on the side surface 126 a of the holding member 126.

  Then, the support unit 124 is moved according to the length of the substrate 200, and the other side surface 200b of the substrate 200 is in contact with the side surface 128a of the holding member 128, and is supported by the support unit fixing portion 124-1. The unit 124 is fixed, and the substrate 200 is held by the rotation unit 114.

  Next, when the start of printing on the printing material is instructed by the operator, the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 12 in the standby state (that is, the state positioned above the maintenance unit 116) and the ink connected to the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 12 are used. As the driving belt 142 is driven, the head 14 moves in a scanning direction on a predetermined scanning region on the printing surface 200c of the substrate 200.

  At this time, the ink head 14 discharges ultraviolet curable ink to a predetermined scanning region, and the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 12 irradiates the discharged ultraviolet curable ink with ultraviolet rays.

  That is, when the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 12 and the ink head 14 move in the scanning direction, the ultraviolet curable ink is ejected and the curing of the ultraviolet curable ink immediately after ejection is started.

  When the discharge of the ultraviolet curable ink to the predetermined scanning region and the curing of the ultraviolet curable ink are finished, the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 12 and the ink head 14 are moved to the left side (return direction in the scanning direction) by driving the drive belt 142. The ink head 14 moves from the left end of the printed material 200 to a position where ultraviolet curable ink can be discharged, and the printed material 200 rotates by a predetermined amount in the rotation unit 114. As a result, the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 12 and the ink head 14 become movable on the next scanning area after the predetermined scanning area.

  In the same manner, the discharge of the ultraviolet curable ink and the curing of the ultraviolet curable ink are performed in the scanning region next to the predetermined scanning region.

  When the discharge of the ultraviolet curable ink and the temporary curing of the ultraviolet curable ink are completed in the next scanning region, the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 12 and the ink head 14 move to the left side, and the left end portion of the printing material 200 is moved by the ink head 14. To the position where the ultraviolet curable ink can be discharged, and the substrate 200 is rotated by a predetermined amount in the rotating unit 114.

  As a result, the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 12 and the ink head 14 can move on the next scanning area after the predetermined scanning area.

In this manner, the ultraviolet curable ink is discharged and the ultraviolet curable ink is cured in each scanning region, and when the ultraviolet curable ink is discharged and the ultraviolet curable ink is cured, the ultraviolet curable ink is discharged in the next scanning region. A predetermined image is formed on the printing surface 200c of the substrate 200 by performing temporary curing of the ultraviolet curable ink.

  Thus, when a predetermined image is formed on the printing surface 200c of the substrate 200 by discharging the ultraviolet curable ink and curing the ultraviolet curable ink, the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 12 and the ink head 14 move to the side member 104R.

  Then, the hook 20 provided on the right side wall 14b of the ink head 14 is engaged with the engagement hook 22 provided on the side member 104R, and the ink head 14 is fixed to the side member 104R.

  Thereafter, the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 12 is moved leftward by the drive belt 142, and the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 12 is pulled away from the ink head 14.

Next, the substrate 200 is rotated in the rotating unit 114 so that the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 12 can move on a predetermined scanning region.

  Then, the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 12 separated from the ink head 14 reciprocates on a predetermined scanning area by driving the drive belt 142 in a state of irradiating the ultraviolet light, and is cured on the predetermined scanning area. The ink is irradiated with ultraviolet rays for sufficiently curing the ink.

  That is, a process for reliably curing the temporarily cured ultraviolet curable ink is performed while only the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 12 is reciprocated in the scanning direction.

Then, when further curing of the ultraviolet curable ink is completed in the predetermined scanning region, the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 12 is moved to the left side and moved from the left end portion of the printed material 200 to a position where ultraviolet irradiation can be performed and rotated. In the unit 114, the printing material 200 is rotated by a predetermined amount, and the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 12 becomes movable on the scanning area next to the predetermined scanning area.

Thereafter, the cured UV curable ink is further cured in the same manner in the next scanning region, and when the further curing of the cured UV curable ink in the next scanning region is completed, the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 12 is used. Is moved to the left side to move to the position where the ultraviolet light can be irradiated from the left end portion of the printed material 200, and the printed material 200 is rotated by the rotating unit 114, and the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 12 is moved to the next scanning region. It is possible to move on the scanning area.

  In this way, the UV curable ink in each scanning region is further cured, and when the UV curable ink is further cured, the UV curable ink in the next scanning region is further cured, so that The predetermined image formed on the printing surface 200c is securely fixed, and the image printing is completed.

  When the image printing is completed, the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 12 is connected to the ink head 14 fixed to the side member 104R under the control of a microcomputer (not shown), and then the engagement hook 22 is operated and the ink head 14 is operated. And the side member 104R are released from the locked state.

  When the locked state between the ink head 14 and the side member 104R is released, the UV irradiation lamp 12 and the ink head 14 are moved to the left side by the drive belt 142 and moved to the standby position. The process ends.

  In such a printing method, the ultraviolet curing ink is discharged and the initial curing is performed, and then the cured ultraviolet curing ink is further cured, thereby improving the image quality of the printed image and the ultraviolet curing ink. The adhesion of the substrate 200 to the printing surface 200c is improved.

As described above, the cylindrical printing inkjet printer 10 according to the present invention has a configuration in which the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 12 can be driven separately from the ink head 14, and therefore, the ultraviolet curable ink discharged onto the scanning region. However, even when further ultraviolet rays are irradiated, only the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 12 can be driven.

  For this reason, the ultraviolet curable ink becomes difficult to dry or harden in the ink jet nozzle 14 (not shown) in the ink head 14 or in the vicinity of the ink jet nozzle.

  Therefore, in the cylindrical printing inkjet printer 10 according to the present invention, ink ejection defects due to drying or curing of the ultraviolet curable ink near the inkjet nozzle (not shown) and the inkjet nozzle are less likely to occur.

  Further, in the cylindrical printing inkjet printer 10 according to the present invention, since the ultraviolet curable ink is difficult to dry or harden in the vicinity of the inkjet nozzle (not shown) and the inkjet nozzle, the discharge of the ultraviolet curable ink can be suppressed. Compared to the conventional cylindrical printing inkjet printer 100, the printing time can be shortened and the cost can be reduced.

  Furthermore, in the cylindrical printing ink jet printer 10 according to the present invention, only the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 12 can be driven, so that the optimum ultraviolet light for the ultraviolet curable ink to be used is adjusted by adjusting the moving speed of the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 12 in the scanning direction. Can be performed.

  Furthermore, in the cylindrical printing ink jet printer 10 according to the present invention, the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 12 can be separated from the ink head 14 as necessary. Therefore, the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 12 is used except when ink is ejected by the ink head 14. Only the inertial force generated in the drive belt 142 is reduced, the load generated in the drive belt 142 is reduced, and the life of the drive belt 142 is extended.

The above-described embodiment can be modified as shown in the following (1) to (6).

  (1) In the above-described embodiment, in the cylindrical printing inkjet printer 10 that performs printing on the cylindrical substrate 200, the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 12 is configured to be driven separately from the ink head 14. However, it is needless to say that such an arrangement may be provided in an ink jet printer that performs printing on a sheet-like printed material 250 (see FIGS. 10 and 11).

  (2) In the above-described embodiment, the printed material 200 is rotated by the rotating unit 114 after the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 12 is separated from the ink head 14. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The ultraviolet irradiation lamp 12 may be separated from the ink head 14 after the substrate 200 is rotated in the rotation unit 114.

  Alternatively, the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 12 may be pulled away from the ink head 14 while rotating the substrate 200 in the rotation unit 114.

  (3) In the above-described embodiment, in the case where printing is performed on the printing object 200 by the cylindrical printing inkjet printer 10, ultraviolet rays are applied to the ultraviolet curable ink while discharging the ultraviolet curable ink onto the printing surface 200 c of the printing object 200. Although the case where the ultraviolet curing ink is irradiated and irradiated with the ultraviolet curable ink and then the main curing is performed is described as an example, the present invention is not limited to this.

  For example, when a desired image is formed by ejecting ultraviolet curable ink onto the printing surface 200c of the substrate 200, and then irradiating the ultraviolet curable ink with ultraviolet rays, first, the rotating unit 114 is as described above. The substrate 200 is held.

  Thereafter, when the operator instructs to start printing on the printed material 200, the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 12 in the standby state and the ink head 14 connected to the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 12 are driven along with the driving of the driving belt 142. It moves in a scanning direction on a predetermined scanning area on the printing surface 200c.

  At this time, the ink head 14 discharges ultraviolet curable ink to a predetermined scanning area, but the discharged ultraviolet curable ink is not irradiated with ultraviolet rays by the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 12.

  Next, when the ejection of ink to a predetermined scanning region is completed, the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 12 and the ink head 14 are moved to the left side (returning direction in the scanning direction) by driving the driving belt 142, and the ink head 14. As a result, the printing material 200 is moved from the left end portion of the printing material 200 to a position where ultraviolet curable ink can be discharged, and the printing material 200 is rotated by a predetermined amount in the rotation unit 114.

  As a result, the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 12 and the ink head 14 become movable on the next scanning area after the predetermined scanning area.

  Similarly, the ultraviolet curable ink is ejected in the scanning area next to the predetermined scanning area.

  When the discharge of the ultraviolet curable ink is completed in the next scanning region, the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 12 and the ink head 14 move to the left side, and the ink head 14 can discharge the ultraviolet curable ink from the left end portion of the printed material 200. And the substrate 200 is rotated by a predetermined amount in the rotation unit 114.

  As a result, the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 12 and the ink head 14 become movable on the next scanning area of the next scanning area.

  In this manner, the ultraviolet curable ink is discharged in each scanning region, and after the ultraviolet curable ink is discharged, the ultraviolet curable ink is discharged in the next scanning region, whereby the printing surface 200c of the substrate 200 is printed. A predetermined image is formed.

  Thus, when a predetermined image is formed by discharging ultraviolet curable ink on the printing surface 200c of the substrate 200, the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 12 and the ink head 14 move to the side member 104R.

  Then, the hook 20 provided on the right side wall 14b of the ink head 14 is engaged with the engagement hook 22 provided on the side member 104R, and the ink head 14 is fixed to the side member 104R.

  Thereafter, the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 12 is moved leftward by the drive belt 142, and the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 12 is pulled away from the ink head 14.

  Next, the substrate 200 is rotated in the rotation unit 114 so that the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 12 and the ink head 14 can move on a predetermined scanning region.

  Then, the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 12 separated from the ink head 14 reciprocates on a predetermined scanning area by driving the drive belt 142 in a state of irradiating the ultraviolet light, and the ultraviolet curing discharged on the predetermined scanning area. Irradiate the ink with sufficient UV light for curing.

  That is, the ultraviolet curable ink discharged onto the predetermined scanning region is cured while only the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 12 is reciprocated in the scanning direction.

  Then, when curing of the discharged ultraviolet curable ink is completed in a predetermined scanning region, the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 12 is moved to the left side and moved from the left end portion of the printed material 200 to a position where ultraviolet irradiation can be performed. Then, the substrate 200 is rotated by a predetermined amount in the rotating unit 114 so that the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 12 can move on the scanning area next to the predetermined scanning area.

  Thereafter, in the next scanning region, the discharged ultraviolet curable ink is cured in the same manner, and when the curing of the ultraviolet curable ink in the next scanning region is completed, the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 12 is moved to the left side. The print object 200 moves from the left end of the print object 200 to a position where it can be irradiated with ultraviolet rays, and the rotation object 114 rotates the print object 200 so that the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 12 can move on the next scan area of the next scan area. State.

  In this way, the ultraviolet curable ink is cured in each scanning region, and when the curing of the ultraviolet curable ink is completed, the ultraviolet curable ink in the next scanning region is cured, so that the printing surface 200c of the substrate 200 is printed. The predetermined image formed on is fixed and image printing is completed.

  When the image printing is completed, the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 12 is connected to the ink head 14 fixed to the side member 104R under the control of a microcomputer (not shown), and then the engagement hook 22 is operated and the ink head 14 is operated. And the side member 104R are released from the locked state.

  When the locked state between the ink head 14 and the side member 104R is released, the UV irradiation lamp 12 and the ink head 14 are moved to the left side by the drive belt 142 and moved to the standby position. The process ends.

  In such a printing method, after the ultraviolet curable ink is ejected to form a predetermined image, the ejected ultraviolet curable ink is cured to irradiate the ejected ultraviolet curable ink with ultraviolet rays after a predetermined time has elapsed. It will be.

  For this reason, the ultraviolet curable ink discharged to the printing surface 200c of the substrate 200 is cured after the surface state becomes smooth, and the printed result printed on the printing surface 200c of the substrate 200 is glossy. Will be obtained.

  (4) In the above-described embodiment, the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 12 that irradiates ultraviolet rays on the printing surface 200c of the substrate 200 and the ultraviolet curable ink are used. However, the present invention is not limited to this. It is.

  That is, various inks having a property of solidifying or thickening by light irradiated on the printing surface 200c of the substrate 200 using light irradiation means for irradiating visible light, electron beam or other light of radiation different from ultraviolet rays. May be used.

  (5) In the above-described embodiment, the connecting portion 24 is configured by the magnet 16 and the magnet 18, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the right side wall 12 a of the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 12 is not limited thereto. The connecting portion 24 may be configured by providing a sheet metal member 30 that is attracted to the magnet 18 (see FIG. 12A).

  Further, the connecting portion 24 may be configured by providing a sheet metal member 30 that is attracted to the magnet 16 on the left side wall 14b of the ink head 14 (see FIG. 12B).

  Such magnets 16 and 18 may be constituted by permanent magnets or may be constituted by electromagnets.

  In addition, a first member 32 having a convex portion movable along the height direction is provided on the right side wall 12 a of the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 12, and the convex portion of the first member 32 is provided on the left side wall 14 b of the ink head 14. The connecting member 24 may be configured by providing a second member 34 having a hole part into which the connecting member 24 can be inserted (see FIG. 12C).

  Or, conversely, the first member 32 having a convex portion that is movable along the height direction is provided on the left side wall 14b of the ink head 14, and the first member 32 is provided on the right side wall 12a of the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 12. A connecting portion may be configured by providing a second member 34 having a hole portion into which the convex portion can be inserted (see FIG. 12D).

  (6) You may make it combine suitably the embodiment shown above and the modification shown in said (1) thru | or (5).

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used for an ink jet printer using a photocurable ink having a property of solidifying or aging by light irradiated on a printing material such as an ultraviolet curable ink.

  10, 100, 150 Inkjet printer, 12, 110 UV irradiation lamp, 14, 112 Ink head 14 16, 18 Magnet, 20 hook, 22 Engagement hook, 104L, 104R Side member, 108 Guide rail, 114 Rotation unit, 142 Drive belt, 200, 250 substrate,

Claims (3)

The ink head unit reciprocates in a predetermined direction and sequentially scans a cylindrical medium around a rotation axis extending in the predetermined direction, thereby discharging photocurable ink from the ink head unit to the medium. In an inkjet printer that prints a predetermined image on the medium while sequentially changing the region at intervals according to the moving distance in the rotation direction of the medium ,
Rotating means for holding and rotating a cylindrical medium;
An ink head that discharges photocurable ink to the medium rotated by the rotating means and is slidably disposed on a guide rail extending in the predetermined direction; and the ink head in the guide rail Is arranged on one side of the predetermined direction , and can be reciprocated along the guide rail by driving of the driving means, and irradiates light to the photocurable ink ejected from the ink head onto the medium. An ink head unit that is detachably connected to the light irradiation means by the connection means ;
A locking means for locking the ink head so that the ink head can be engaged and disengaged at the other end in the predetermined direction in which the ink head unit is movable ;
While the ink head unit, in which the ink head and the light irradiation means are connected by a connection means, is moved in the predetermined direction, photocurable ink is ejected from the ink head to the medium and the light irradiation means emits the light. Control is performed to irradiate light to the curable ink to perform printing in the scanning region, and when a predetermined image is printed on the medium, the ink head unit is moved to the other side in the predetermined direction to move the ink head. After being locked by the locking means, the light irradiation means is detached from the ink head, and the predetermined image is irradiated with light while moving the light irradiation means in the predetermined direction while being irradiated with light. And an ink jet printer having control means for controlling in such a manner. The ink head unit reciprocates in a predetermined direction and sequentially scans a cylindrical medium around a rotation axis extending in the predetermined direction, thereby discharging photocurable ink from the ink head unit to the medium. In an inkjet printer that prints a predetermined image on the medium while sequentially changing the region at intervals according to the moving distance in the rotation direction of the medium,
Rotating means for holding and rotating a cylindrical medium;
An ink head that discharges photocurable ink to the medium rotated by the rotating means and is slidably disposed on a guide rail extending in the predetermined direction; and the ink head in the guide rail Is arranged on one side of the predetermined direction, and can be reciprocated along the guide rail by driving of the driving means, and irradiates light to the photocurable ink ejected from the ink head onto the medium. An ink head unit that is detachably connected to the light irradiation means by the connection means;
A locking means for locking the ink head so that the ink head can be engaged and disengaged at the other end in the predetermined direction in which the ink head unit is movable;
While the ink head unit, in which the ink head and the light irradiation means are connected by a connection means, is moved in the predetermined direction, photocurable ink is ejected from the ink head to the medium and the light irradiation means emits the light. When the cured ink is controlled to perform printing in the scanning region without irradiating light and a predetermined image is printed on the medium, the ink head unit is moved to the other side in the predetermined direction to move the ink head. The light irradiating means is detached from the ink head, and the predetermined image is irradiated with light while moving the light irradiating means in the predetermined direction. And an ink jet printer having control means for controlling the operation . The inkjet printer according to claim 1 or 2,
The ink jet printer according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the moving speed of the light irradiation unit so as to irradiate the ultraviolet ray optimal for the photocurable ink when the light irradiation unit is separated from the ink head .

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