JP6988265B2 - Inkjet printing equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an inkjet printing apparatus.

The inkjet printing apparatus described in Patent Document 1 includes an ink ejection head, a first pretreatment liquid ejection head, and a second pretreatment liquid ejection head. The ink ejection head ejects ink to the printed material. The first pretreatment liquid discharge head discharges the coating liquid to the printed material. The second pretreatment liquid discharge head discharges the penetrating liquid to the printed material.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-197532

However, when the penetrant is adhered to the printing material and the ink is adhered on the penetrant, bleeding of the ink occurs. Further, when the coating liquid is adhered to the printing material and the ink is adhered on the coating liquid, it is possible to suppress the ink from penetrating into the printing material. However, the ink wets and spreads on the coating liquid, causing ink bleeding. However, when forming an image with ink on a printing material, there is a desire not only to form ink bleeding but also to form ink edges to increase the variation of image design. At the edge of the ink, bleeding of the ink is suppressed at the boundary between the area where the ink is attached and the area where the ink is not attached, and the boundary is conspicuous.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an inkjet printing apparatus capable of increasing variations in the design of an image formed on a printing material.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the inkjet printing apparatus includes an ink ejection unit, a penetrant ejection unit, and a water repellent ejection unit. The ink ejection unit ejects ink to the printed material. The penetrant discharge unit discharges the penetrant to the printed material. The water repellent discharge unit discharges the water repellent agent to the printed material.

According to the present invention, it is possible to increase the variation in the design of the image formed on the printing material.

It is a schematic sectional drawing of the inkjet printing apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the inkjet printing apparatus. (A) is a first plan view of the printed material. (B) is a diagram showing the relationship between the amount of ink adhering to the printed material and the position of the printed material in the transport direction in a predetermined first portion of the printed material. (C) is a diagram showing the relationship between the amount of ink adhering to the printed material and the position of the printed material in the transport direction in a predetermined second portion of the printed material. (A) is a second plan view of the printed material. (B) is a diagram showing the relationship between the amount of ink adhering to the printed material and the position of the printed material in the transport direction in a predetermined third portion of the printed material. (A) is a third plan view of the printed material. (B) is a diagram showing the relationship between the amount of ink adhering to the printed material and the position of the printed material in the transport direction in a predetermined fourth portion of the printed material. (C) is a diagram showing the relationship between the amount of ink adhering to the printed material and the position of the printed material in the transport direction in a predetermined fifth portion of the printed material. It is a flowchart which shows the operation of a control part. (A) is a fourth plan view of the printed material. (B) is a diagram showing the relationship between the amount of ink adhering to the printed material and the position of the printed material in the transport direction in a predetermined sixth portion of the printed material.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the figure, the same or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals and the description is not repeated.

The inkjet printing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of the inkjet printing apparatus 100.

As shown in FIG. 1, the inkjet printing apparatus 100 ejects ink to the printing material M and forms an image on the printing material M. The printed material M is, for example, cotton, silk, wool, chemical fiber, or a blended material. The ink is, for example, a pigment ink or a dye ink.

Specifically, the inkjet printing apparatus 100 includes a supply unit 10, a first transfer unit 20, an image forming unit 30, a second transfer unit 40, a third transfer unit 50, a recovery unit 60, and a cleaning unit. 70 and.

The supply unit 10 supplies the printing material M to the image forming unit 30. The supply section 10 has a first shaft section 11 and a first bearing section 12. A strip-shaped printing material M is wound around the first shaft portion 11. The first bearing portion 12 rotatably supports the first shaft portion 11. When the first shaft portion 11 rotates, the printed material M is sent out from the first shaft portion 11.

The first transport unit 20 has a plurality of first transport rollers 21. The first transport unit 20 transports the printed material M sent out from the supply unit 10 to the image forming unit 30.

The image forming unit 30 has a plurality of heads H. In the present embodiment, the plurality of heads H include a first head 31, a second head 32, and an ink head group Z. The ink head group Z includes a third head 33, a fourth head 34, a fifth head 35, and a sixth head 36.

The plurality of heads H are arranged along the transport direction X of the printing material M. The transport direction X of the printed material M indicates the moving direction of the printed material M when the image forming unit 30 forms an image on the printed material M.

Each of the plurality of heads H has a plurality of head portions HB. In each of the plurality of heads H, the plurality of head portions HB are arranged in a staggered manner along a predetermined direction. The predetermined direction indicates a direction perpendicular to the transport direction X. In the present embodiment, the predetermined direction indicates the paper depth direction of FIG. A plurality of nozzles are provided in each of the plurality of head portions HB.

The printing liquid is supplied to the plurality of heads H. Printing liquid is a general term for water repellents, penetrants, and inks.

A water repellent agent is supplied to the first head (water repellent agent discharging portion) 31. The first head 31 discharges a water repellent agent. Specifically, the plurality of nozzles provided in the first head 31 discharge the water repellent agent. The water repellent agent contains, for example, a fluorine-based surfactant or a silicon-based surfactant. Specifically, the water repellent agent contains, for example, Surflon S-243 (trade name, manufactured by AGC Seimi Chemical Co., Ltd.) or BYK-378 (trade name, manufactured by Big Chemie Japan Co., Ltd.).

The water-repellent agent has a property of suppressing the wetting and spreading of the ink and making the degree of bleeding of the ink close to zero. The water repellent agent repels the ink and suppresses the ink from getting wet and spreading. The fact that the ink is wet and spread means that the ink travels on the printed material M while bleeding, and the area where the ink adheres to the printed material M is expanded. Further, the degree of ink bleeding indicates the ease of ink bleeding. That is, the smaller the degree of ink bleeding, the more the ink is prevented from getting wet and spreading. On the other hand, the greater the degree of ink bleeding, the more the ink is promoted to get wet and spread. Therefore, on the printing material M, the degree of ink bleeding is smaller in the region where the water repellent agent is attached than in the region where the water repellent agent is not attached, and the ink is suppressed from getting wet and spreading. ..

For example, when the water repellent agent adheres to the region αx1 of the printing material M, the degree of ink bleeding in the region αx1 approaches zero. Therefore, when the ink is ejected to the region αx2 adjacent to the region αx1, the water repellent agent suppresses the ink from getting wet and spreading from the region αx2 to the region αx1. As a result, it becomes possible to form the edge of the ink at the boundary between the region αx1 and the region αx2. At the edge of the ink, bleeding of ink is suppressed at the boundary between the area where the ink is attached and the area where the ink is not attached, and the boundary is conspicuous.

A penetrant is supplied to the second head (penetrating agent discharging portion) 32. The second head 32 discharges the penetrant. Specifically, the plurality of nozzles provided in the second head 32 discharge the penetrant. Penetrants include, for example, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, propylene glycol, butylene glycol, 1,2,6-hexanetriol, thioglycol, hexylene glycol, glycerin, trimethylol ethane, and tri. Polyhydric alcohols such as methylolpropane, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether, diethylene glycol monobutyl ether, diethylene glycol monoisobutyl ether, diethylene glycol monohexyl ether, triethylene glycol monomethyl ether, tri Multivalent such as ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, triethylene glycol monobutyl ether, hexaethylene glycol monoethyl hexyl ether (manufactured by Nippon Emulsor Co., Ltd .: Newcol 1006), tetraethylene glycol monoethyl hexyl ether (manufactured by Japan Embroidery Co., Ltd .: Newcol 1004). Alkyl ethers of alcohols, urea, 2-pyrrolidone, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, or 1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone.

The penetrant has the property of promoting the penetration of the ink into the printing material M and increasing the degree of bleeding of the ink. Therefore, on the printed material M, the degree of ink bleeding is larger in the region where the penetrant is attached than in the region where the penetrant is not attached, and the ink is easily wetted and spread.

For example, when the penetrant adheres to the region αy1 of the printing material M, the degree of ink bleeding in the region αy1 increases. Therefore, when the ink is ejected to the region αy2 adjacent to the region αy1, the penetrant promotes the ink to wet and spread from the region αy2 to the region αy1. As a result, the amount of ink bleeding can be increased. The amount of ink bleeding is represented by the size of the area where ink bleeding occurs.

Ink is supplied to the ink head group (ink ejection unit) Z. The ink head group Z ejects ink. Specifically, the plurality of nozzles provided in the ink head group Z eject ink. In this embodiment, black ink is supplied to the third head 33. Therefore, the third head 33 ejects black ink. Further, cyan ink is supplied to the fourth head 34. Therefore, the fourth head 34 ejects cyan ink. Further, magenta ink is supplied to the fifth head 35. Therefore, the fifth head 35 ejects magenta ink. Further, yellow ink is supplied to the sixth head 36. Therefore, the sixth head 36 ejects yellow ink. The number of heads H included in the ink head group Z is not particularly limited. The ink head group Z may have a single head H or may have a plurality of heads H. Further, the color of the ink ejected by the ink head group Z is not particularly limited.

Each of the plurality of heads H transmits, for example, the pressure due to the deformation of the piezoelectric element to the printing liquid in each nozzle to swing the meniscus and generate droplets of the printing liquid. As a result, each of the plurality of heads H ejects a droplet. In the present embodiment, the first head 31 ejects droplets of the water repellent agent. The second head 32 ejects a droplet of the penetrant. Each of the third head 33 to the sixth head 36, which is the ink head group Z, ejects a droplet of ink.

The first head 31 and the second head 32 are arranged upstream of the ink head group Z in the transport direction X. Further, the first head 31 is arranged upstream of the second head 32 in the transport direction X.

The second transport unit 40 has a transport belt 41 and a plurality of second transport rollers 42. The transport belt 41 is an endless belt. The transport belt 41 faces a plurality of heads H. The transport belt 41 is hung on a plurality of second transport rollers 42. At least one of the plurality of second transport rollers 42 is a drive roller. The transport belt 41 rotates together with the drive roller.

When the drive roller rotates with the printed material M placed on the transport belt 41, the printed material M is transported in the transport direction X. Then, the printing material M passes below the plurality of heads H. The plurality of heads H discharge the printing liquid to the printing material M at the timing when the printing material M passes below the plurality of heads H.

The first head 31 discharges a water repellent agent to the printed material M. Specifically, the first head 31 discharges the water repellent agent to the printed material M transported in the transport direction X. The second head 32 discharges the penetrant to the printed material M. Specifically, the second head 32 discharges the penetrant to the printed material M transported in the transport direction X. The ink head group Z ejects ink to the printing material M. Specifically, the ink head group Z ejects ink to the printed material M transported in the transport direction X.

The third transport unit 50 has a plurality of third transport rollers 51. The third transport unit 50 transports the printed material M sent out from the image forming unit 30 to the collection unit 60.

The collection unit 60 collects the printed material M sent from the third transport unit 50. The recovery unit 60 has a second shaft unit 61 and a second bearing unit 62. A printing material M is connected to the second shaft portion 61. The second bearing portion 62 rotatably supports the second shaft portion 61. When the second shaft portion 61 rotates, the printing material M is wound around the second shaft portion 61.

The cleaning unit 70 is arranged below the transport belt 41. The cleaning unit 70 performs maintenance on the transport belt 41. Specifically, the cleaning unit 70 includes a removing portion such as a brush. The cleaning unit 70 removes foreign substances such as ink, dust, and lint adhering to the transport belt 41 at the removing unit.

As described above with reference to FIG. 1, the inkjet printing apparatus 100 includes an ink head group Z, a second head 32, and a first head 31. The ink head group Z ejects ink to the printing material M. The second head 32 discharges the penetrant to the printed material M. The first head 31 discharges a water repellent agent to the printed material M. Therefore, when an image is formed on the printing material M with ink, ink bleeding can be formed on the printing material M by the penetrant, and further, the edge of the ink on the printing material M by the water repellent agent. Can be formed. As a result, it is possible to increase the variation in the design of the image formed on the printing material M.

Further, the first head 31 is arranged upstream of the ink head group Z in the transport direction X of the printed material M. That is, the water repellent agent adheres to the printed material M before the ink. Therefore, the water repellent can effectively prevent the ink from spreading on the printing material M. As a result, the water repellent can effectively form the edges of the ink.

Next, the inkjet printing apparatus 100 will be further described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an inkjet printing apparatus 100.

As shown in FIG. 2, the inkjet printing apparatus 100 further includes an input unit 80, a storage unit 81, and a control unit 82.

The input unit 80 receives an instruction from the user to the inkjet printing apparatus 100. That is, the user inputs a job to the inkjet printing apparatus 100 via the input unit 80. The input unit 80 is composed of, for example, a touch panel and / or a group of operation keys. The input unit 80 is arranged, for example, in the housing of the inkjet printing apparatus 100. The input unit 80 may be, for example, a PC (Personal Computer) separate from the housing of the inkjet printing apparatus 100.

The storage unit 81 includes a storage device. The storage device includes a main storage device (for example, a semiconductor memory) such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory), and may further include an auxiliary storage device (for example, a hard disk drive). The main storage device and / or the auxiliary storage device stores various computer programs executed by the control unit 82.

The control unit 82 includes a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and an MPU (Micro Processing Unit). The control unit 82 controls each element of the inkjet printing apparatus 100. Specifically, the processor of the control unit 82 executes the computer program stored in the storage device to execute the supply unit 10, the first transfer unit 20, the image forming unit 30, and the second transfer unit 40. , The third transport unit 50, the recovery unit 60, the cleaning unit 70, the input unit 80, and the storage unit 81 are controlled.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 3A to 3C, a principle of controlling the direction in which ink bleeding occurs on the printed material M will be described. FIG. 3A is a first plan view of the printed material M.

In FIG. 3A, a single ink droplet R1 represents a single ink droplet. The single ink droplet R1 is ejected from a single nozzle among the plurality of nozzles provided in the ink head group Z. Also, the single penetrant droplet R2 represents a single penetrant droplet. The single penetrant droplet R2 is discharged from a single nozzle among the plurality of nozzles provided on the second head 32.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the printed material M includes an ink region E1, a first adjacent region E2, a penetrant region E3, and a non-ejection region EX. The ink region E1 indicates an region where ink is ejected. A plurality of ink droplets R1 adhere to the ink region E1. Further, the first adjacent region E2 indicates an region adjacent to the ink region E1. Further, the penetrant region E3 indicates a region where the penetrant is discharged. A plurality of penetrant droplets R2 adhere to the penetrant region E3. Further, the non-discharge region EX indicates a region to which the printing liquid does not adhere.

In this embodiment, the penetrant region E3 is adjacent to the ink region E1. Further, the penetrant region E3 is a partial region of the first adjacent region E2. Therefore, the control unit 82 controls the second head 32 so that the second head 32 discharges the penetrant into a part of the first adjacent region E2.

The penetrant region E3 may be the entire region of the first adjacent region E2. In this case, the control unit 82 controls the second head 32 so that the second head 32 discharges the penetrant over the entire first adjacent region E2.

FIG. 3B is a diagram showing the relationship between the amount of ink adhering to the printed material M and the position of the printed material M in the transport direction X in the predetermined first portion of the printed material M. The predetermined first portion shows a portion where the cross section of the printed material M shown in FIG. 3 (a) is cut along the line IIIB-IIIB. In FIG. 3B, the smaller the amount of ink, the lighter the color of the ink.

As shown in FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b), in the cross section of the printed material M cut along the line IIIB-IIIB, the printed material M has a region α11, a region α12, and a region α14. , And the region α10.

The region α11 is included in the ink region E1. Therefore, ink is ejected to the region α11. The ink ejected to the region α11 wets and spreads on the printing material M. Further, the farther away from the region α11, the smaller the amount of ink adhering to the printed material M. Therefore, the farther away from the region α11, the lighter the color of the ink. As a result, ink bleeding occurs in the region adjacent to the region α11.

The region α12 is included in the penetrant region E3. The region α12 is adjacent to the region α11 and is located upstream of the region α11 in the transport direction X. Ink wets and spreads from the region α11 in the region α12. A penetrant is attached to the region α12. Therefore, the ink ejected to the region α11 can be effectively wetted and spread on the region α12. Further, in the region α12, the amount of ink adhering to the printed material M decreases as the distance from the region α11 increases. Therefore, ink bleeding occurs in the region α12.

The region α14 is included in the non-discharge region EX. The region α14 is adjacent to the region α12 and is located upstream of the region α12 in the transport direction X. Ink wets and spreads from the region α12 in the region α14. Therefore, ink bleeding occurs in the region α14. No penetrant adhered to the region α14. On the other hand, a penetrant is attached to the region α12. Therefore, the degree of ink bleeding in the region α14 (1 / tanθ2) is smaller than the degree of ink bleeding in the region α12 (1 / tanθ1) ((1 / tanθ2) <(1 / tanθ1)). As a result, the region α14 to which the penetrant does not adhere is less likely to wet and spread the ink than the region α12 to which the penetrant is attached, and rapid ink bleeding occurs (θ2> θ1). Rapid ink bleeding indicates that the color of the ink is rapidly faded.

The degree of ink bleeding indicates the ease with which the ink is wet and spread on the printing material M. The greater the degree of ink bleeding, the easier it is for the ink to wet and spread on the printing material M, and it becomes possible to expand the area where ink bleeding occurs. Further, by adhering the penetrant to the printing material M, it is possible to increase the degree of ink bleeding. In the present embodiment, the degree of ink bleeding indicates the reciprocal of the rate of change in the amount of ink adhering to the printed material M with respect to the distance at which the ink wets and spreads on the printed material M.

The region α10 is included in the non-discharge region EX. The region α10 is adjacent to the region α11 and is located downstream of the region α11 in the transport direction X. Ink wets and spreads from the region α11 in the region α10. Therefore, ink bleeding occurs in the region α10. Further, no penetrant is attached to the region α10. Therefore, the degree of ink bleeding in the region α10 is the degree of bleeding (1 / tan θ2).

In FIG. 3B, the bleeding amount L1 indicates the dimension of the transport direction X of the region where ink bleeding occurs from the region α11 toward the upstream of the transport direction X. The bleeding amount L2 indicates the dimension of the region where ink bleeding occurs from the region α11 toward the downstream in the transport direction X. As shown in FIG. 3B, the amount of bleeding L1 is larger than the amount of bleeding L2 (L1> L2). Therefore, it is possible to increase the amount of ink bleeding by adhering the penetrant to the region adjacent to the ink region E1.

FIG. 3C is a diagram showing the relationship between the amount of ink adhering to the printed material M and the position of the printed material M in the transport direction X in a predetermined second portion of the printed material M. The predetermined second portion shows a portion where the cross section of the printed material M shown in FIG. 3 (a) is cut along the line IIIC-IIIC.

As shown in FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (c), in the cross section of the printed material M cut along the line IIIC-IIIC, the printed material M has a region α11, a region α12, and a region α13. , Region α15 and region α10.

The region α11 is included in the ink region E1. Therefore, ink is ejected to the region α11.

The region α12 and the region α13 are included in the penetrant region E3. The region α12 is adjacent to the region α11 and is located upstream of the region α11 in the transport direction X. The region α13 is adjacent to the region α12 and is located upstream of the region α12 in the transport direction X. The ink ejected to the region α11 gets wet and spreads in the order of the region α12 and the region α13. Therefore, ink bleeding occurs in the region α12 and the region α13. Further, the degree of ink bleeding in the region α12 and the degree of ink bleeding in the region α13 are the degree of bleeding (1 / tan θ1).

The region α15 is included in the non-discharge region EX. The region α15 is adjacent to the region α13 and is located upstream of the region α13 in the transport direction X. Ink wets and spreads from the region α13 in the region α15. Therefore, ink bleeding occurs in the region α15. Further, no penetrant adhered to the region α15. Therefore, the degree of ink bleeding in the region α15 is the degree of bleeding (1 / tan θ2).

In FIG. 3C, the bleeding amount L3 indicates the dimension of the region where ink bleeding occurs from the region α11 toward the upstream of the transport direction X. As shown in FIGS. 3 (b) and 3 (c), the amount of bleeding L3 is larger than the amount of bleeding L1 (L3> L1). That is, when the penetrant is adhered to the region adjacent to the ink region E1 and the region to which the penetrant is adhered is further increased, the ink oozes out along the region to which the penetrant adheres, and the amount of ink bleeding increases. .. Therefore, when the penetrant is attached to the printing material M from the region adjacent to the ink region E1 along a desired path, the ink can be smeared on the printing material M along the desired path. can. As a result, it becomes possible to control the direction in which ink bleeding occurs on the printing material M.

As described above, as described with reference to FIGS. 3A to 3C, the control unit 82 is such that the second head 32 discharges the penetrant to a part or all of the first adjacent region E2. Controls the second head 32. Therefore, the ink can be wetted and spread along the region on the printed material M to which the penetrant adheres. As a result, it becomes possible to control the direction in which ink bleeding occurs on the printing material M.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 4 (a) to 4 (b), a principle for controlling the range in which ink bleeding occurs on the printed material M will be described. FIG. 4A is a second plan view of the printed material M.

In FIG. 4A, the single water repellent droplet R3 represents a single water repellent droplet. The single droplet of the water repellent agent is ejected from a single nozzle among the plurality of nozzles provided on the first head 31.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the printed material M includes an ink region E1, a first adjacent region E2, a penetrant region E3, a second adjacent region E4, a water repellent region E5, and non-ejection. Includes region EX. A single ink droplet R1 adheres to the ink region E1. A single penetrant droplet R2 adheres to the penetrant region E3. The second adjacent region E4 indicates a region adjacent to the penetrant region E3 and not included in the ink region E1. The water repellent region E5 indicates a region where the water repellent agent is discharged. In FIG. 4A, two water repellent regions E5 are formed. A single water repellent droplet R3 adheres to one water repellent region E5.

In this embodiment, the water repellent region E5 is adjacent to the penetrant region E3. Further, the water repellent region E5 is a part of the second adjacent region E4. Therefore, the control unit 82 controls the first head 31 so that the first head 31 discharges the water repellent agent to a part of the second adjacent region E4. In other words, the control unit 82 controls the first head 31 so that the first head 31 discharges the water repellent to the water repellent region E5.

The water repellent region E5 may be the entire region of the second adjacent region E4. In this case, the control unit 82 controls the first head 31 so that the first head 31 discharges the water repellent agent over the entire second adjacent region E4.

Further, in the present embodiment, the other water repellent region E5 is adjacent to the ink region E1.
Further, the other water repellent region E5 is a partial region of the first adjacent region E2. Therefore, the control unit 82 controls the first head 31 so that the first head 31 discharges the water repellent agent to a part of the first adjacent region E2.

The water repellent region E5 may be the entire region of the first adjacent region E2. In this case, the control unit 82 controls the first head 31 so that the first head 31 discharges the water repellent agent over the entire first adjacent region E2.

FIG. 4B is a diagram showing the relationship between the amount of ink adhering to the printed material M and the position of the printed material M in the transport direction X in a predetermined third portion of the printed material M. The predetermined third portion shows a portion where the cross section of the printed material M shown in FIG. 4 (a) is cut along the IVB-IVB line.

As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, in the cross section of the printed material M cut along the IVB-IVB line, the printed material M has a region α21, a region α22, and a region α23. , Includes region α20.

The region α21 is included in the ink region E1. Therefore, ink is ejected to the region α21.

The region α22 is included in the penetrant region E3. The region α22 is adjacent to the region α21 and is located upstream of the region α21 in the transport direction X. The ink ejected to the region α21 gets wet and spreads over the region α22. As a result, ink bleeding occurs in the region α22. Further, the degree of ink bleeding in the region α22 is the degree of bleeding (1 / tan θ1).

The region α23 is included in the water repellent region E5. The region α23 is adjacent to the region 22 and is located upstream of the region 22 in the transport direction X. A water repellent is attached to the region α23. Therefore, the degree of bleeding of the ink in the region α23 becomes substantially 0 (degree of bleeding ≈ 0), and the ink is prevented from spreading from the region α22 to the region α23. As a result, the edge D1 of the ink is formed at the boundary between the region α22 and the region α23.

The region α20 is included in one other water repellent region E5. The region α20 is adjacent to the region α21 and is located downstream of the region α21 in the transport direction X. A water repellent is attached to the region α20. Therefore, the degree of ink bleeding in the region α20 becomes substantially 0, and the ink is prevented from spreading from the region α21 to the region α20. As a result, the edge D2 of the ink is formed at the boundary between the region α21 and the region α20.

As described above with reference to FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b), the control unit so that the first head 31 discharges the water repellent agent to a part or all of the first adjacent region E2. 82 controls the first head 31. Further, the control unit 82 controls the first head 31 so that the first head 31 discharges the water repellent agent to a part or all of the second adjacent region E4. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the ink from spreading in the region on the printing material M to which the water repellent agent is attached. As a result, it becomes possible to control the range in which the ink spreads on the printed material M.

Next, the principle of controlling the degree of ink bleeding will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b). FIG. 5A is a third plan view of the printed material M.

As shown in FIG. 5A, the printed material M includes an ink region E1 and a penetrant region E3. The penetrant region E3 includes a first penetrant region E31 and a second penetrant region E32. A plurality of penetrant droplets R2 adhere to the penetrant region E3. The plurality of penetrant drops R2 include a first penetrant drop R21 and a second penetrant drop R22. The first penetrant droplet R21 adheres to the first penetrant region E31. The second penetrant droplet R22 adheres to the second penetrant region E32. The amount of the penetrant is larger in the second penetrant drop R22 than in the first penetrant drop R21.

FIG. 5B is a diagram showing the relationship between the amount of ink adhering to the printed material M and the position of the printed material M in the transport direction X in the predetermined fourth portion of the printed material M. The predetermined fourth portion shows a portion where the cross section of the printed material M shown in FIG. 5A is cut along the VB-VB line.

As shown in FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b), in a cross section of the printed material M cut along the VB-VB line, the printed material M includes a region α31 and a region α32.

The region α31 is included in the ink region E1. Therefore, ink is ejected to the region α31.

Region α32 indicates the first penetrant region E31. The region α32 is adjacent to the region α31 and is located upstream of the region α31 in the transport direction X. The ink ejected to the region α31 gets wet and spreads over the region α32. As a result, ink bleeding occurs in the region α32. Further, the degree of ink bleeding in the region α22 is the first degree of bleeding (1 / tan θ3).

FIG. 5C is a diagram showing the relationship between the amount of ink adhering to the printed material M and the position of the printed material M in the transport direction X in a predetermined fifth portion of the printed material M. The predetermined fifth portion shows a portion where the cross section of the printed material M shown in FIG. 5 (a) is cut along the VC-VC line.

As shown in FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (c), in a cross section obtained by cutting the printed material M along a VC-VC line, the printed material M includes a region α31 and a region α32.

The region α31 is included in the ink region E1. Therefore, ink is ejected to the region α31.

Region α32 indicates the second penetrant region E32. The region α32 is adjacent to the region α31 and is located upstream of the region α31 in the transport direction X. The ink ejected to the region α31 gets wet and spreads over the region α32. As a result, ink bleeding occurs in the region α32. Further, the degree of ink bleeding in the region α22 is the second degree of bleeding (1 / tan θ4).

As shown in FIGS. 5B and 5C, the first degree of bleeding (1 / tanθ3) has a different magnitude from the second degree of bleeding (1 / tanθ4) ((1 / tanθ3) ≠. (1 / tan θ4)). The reason is that the magnitude of the degree of bleeding changes according to the unit discharge amount. Specifically, the larger the unit discharge amount, the larger the degree of bleeding. The unit discharge amount indicates the amount of the penetrant discharged per unit area of the printed material M.

As shown in FIGS. 5 (a) to 5 (c), in the present embodiment, the amount of the penetrant is larger in the second penetrant drop R22 than in the first penetrant drop R21. That is, the unit discharge amount for the second penetrant region E32 is larger than the unit discharge amount for the first penetrant region E31. Therefore, the degree of bleeding (1 / tanθ4) is larger than that of the first degree of bleeding (1 / tanθ3) ((1 / tanθ4)> (1 / tanθ3)). The first degree of bleeding (1 / tan θ3) indicates the degree of ink bleeding in the first penetrant region E31. The second degree of bleeding (1 / tan θ4) indicates the degree of ink bleeding in the second penetrant region E32. As a result, the ink in the second penetrant region E32 is more likely to get wet and spread than in the first penetrant region E31, and gentle ink bleeding occurs (θ4 <θ3). That is, when the second head 32 ejects the penetrant, the larger the unit ejection amount, the easier it is for the ink to get wet and spread, and the gentle bleeding of the ink occurs. The gentle ink bleeding indicates that the color of the ink gradually fades.

As described above with reference to FIGS. 5A to 5C, when the second head 32 ejects the penetrant, the larger the unit ejection amount, the more gradual ink bleeding occurs. Therefore, it is possible to adjust the strength of ink bleeding by changing the unit ejection amount of the penetrant with respect to the printed material M.

Next, the operation of the control unit 82 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 7 (a). FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control unit 82. FIG. 7A is a fourth plan view of the printed material M.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7A, in step S10, the input unit 80 accepts input of information indicating an ink image. The information indicating the ink image is information indicating a region for ejecting ink on the printing material M. Specifically, the information indicating the ink image is information indicating the position of the ink region E1 on the printing material M. The information indicating the ink image also includes information indicating the color of the ink.

In step S20, the input unit 80 receives the input of the first bleeding information. The first bleeding information is information indicating a region (penetrating agent region E3) that causes ink bleeding on the printing material M. Specifically, the first bleeding information is information indicating the position of the penetrant region E3 on the printed material M.

In step S30, the input unit 80 receives the input of the second bleeding information. The second bleeding information is information indicating the unit discharge amount of the penetrant. Specifically, the second bleeding information is information indicating the unit discharge amount of the penetrant on the penetrant region E3.

In step S40, the input unit 80 receives the input of range information. The range information is information indicating a region forming an edge of the ink on the penetrant region E3. In detail, the range information is information indicating the position of the water repellent region E5 on the printed material M.

In step S50, the control unit 82 transfers the supply unit 10, the first transfer unit 20, the second transfer unit 40, and the third transfer unit 50 so that the first transfer unit 20 transfers the printed material M to the image forming unit 30. And the collection unit 60 are controlled. As a result, the printed material M wound around the first shaft portion 11 of the supply portion 10 is conveyed toward the image forming unit 30.

In step S60, the control unit 82 controls the first head 31 based on the range information. Specifically, the control unit 82 controls the first head 31 so that the first head 31 discharges the water repellent region with respect to the water repellent region E5 shown in the range information.

In step S70, the control unit 82 controls the second head 32 based on the first bleeding information. Specifically, the control unit 82 controls the second head 32 so that the second head 32 discharges the penetrant with respect to the penetrant region E3 shown in the first bleeding information.

Further, the control unit 82 controls the second head 32 based on the second bleeding information. Specifically, the control unit 82 uses the second head to discharge the penetrant having a unit discharge amount shown in the second bleeding information to the penetrant region E3 shown in the first bleeding information. 32 is controlled.

In step S80, the control unit 82 controls the ink head group Z based on the information indicating the image. Specifically, the control unit 82 controls the ink head group Z so that the ink head group Z ejects ink to the ink region E1 shown in the information indicating the image. Further, the control unit 82 controls the ink head group Z so that the ink head group Z ejects the ink of the color specified in step S10 to the ink region E1. As a result, an image is formed on the printed material. Then, the printed material M that has passed through the image forming unit 30 is wound around the second shaft portion 61 of the collecting portion 60.

An image formed on the printed material M will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 (a) and 7 (b). FIG. 7B is a diagram showing the relationship between the amount of ink adhering to the printed material M and the position of the printed material M in the transport direction X in the predetermined sixth portion of the printed material M. The predetermined sixth portion shows a portion where the cross section of the printed material M shown in FIG. 7 (a) is cut along the VIIB-VIIB line.

As shown in FIGS. 7 (a) and 7 (b), in the cross section of the printed material M cut along the VIIB-VIIB line, the regions β3 to β6 of the printed material M are included in the ink region E1. Ink is ejected. Therefore, the amount of ink adhering from the region β3 to the region β6 becomes substantially constant. As a result, ink bleeding is less likely to occur in the regions β3 to β6, and a color having a substantially constant darkness appears.

Further, the region β7 is located upstream of the transport direction X with respect to the region β6. The region β7 is included in the non-discharge region EX. Therefore, the degree of ink bleeding in the region β7 is the degree of bleeding (1 / tan θ2). As a result, sudden ink bleeding occurs in the region β7.

Further, the region β1 and the region β2 are located downstream of the region β3 in the transport direction X. The region β1 and the region β2 are included in the penetrant region E3. Therefore, the degree of ink bleeding in the region β1 and the degree of ink bleeding in the region β2 are the degree of bleeding (1 / tan θ1). As a result, more gradual ink bleeding occurs in the region β1 and the region β2 as compared with the region β7 (θ1 <θ2).

Further, the region β0 is located downstream of the transport direction X with respect to the region β1. The region β0 is included in the water repellent region E5. As a result, the edge D3 of the ink is formed at the boundary between the region β0 and the region β1.

As described above, as described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 7 (b), after the first head 31 discharges the water repellent agent to the printed material M, the second head 32 applies the penetrant to the printed material M. After the second head 32 ejects the penetrant to the printed material M, the control unit 82 ejects the ink to the printed material M so that the ink head group Z ejects the ink to the first head 31 and the second head 32. And the ink head group Z are controlled. Therefore, the penetrant can form the bleeding of the ink, and the water repellent can form the edge of the ink. As a result, it is possible to increase the variation in the design of the image formed on the printing material M.

Further, the input unit 80 receives the input of the first bleeding information. Then, the control unit 82 controls the second head 32 based on the first bleeding information. Therefore, it becomes possible to cause ink bleeding in a desired region on the printing material M.

Further, the input unit 80 receives the input of the second bleeding information. Then, the control unit 82 controls the second head 32 based on the second bleeding information. Therefore, it is possible to adjust the strength of the ink bleeding so that the ink bleeds on the printing material M with a desired strength.

Further, the input unit 80 accepts input of range information. Then, the control unit 82 controls the first head 31 based on the range information. Therefore, it becomes possible to form the edge of the ink at a desired position on the printing material M.

The embodiment of the present invention has been described above with reference to the drawings (FIGS. 1 to 7 (b)). However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and can be implemented in various embodiments without departing from the gist thereof (for example, (1) to (3)). In addition, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining the plurality of components disclosed in the above embodiments. For example, some components may be removed from all the components shown in the embodiments. In order to make the drawings easier to understand, each component is schematically shown, and the number of each component shown may differ from the actual one due to the convenience of drawing. Further, each component shown in the above embodiment is an example, and is not particularly limited, and various changes can be made without substantially deviating from the effect of the present invention.

(1) In the present embodiment, the printing liquid is discharged to the printing material M in the order of the water repellent agent, the penetrant, and the ink. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The printing liquid may be discharged to the printing material M in the order of the penetrant, the water repellent agent, and the ink. In this case, the second head 32 is arranged upstream of the first head 31 in the transport direction X, and the first head 31 is arranged upstream of the ink head group Z in the transport direction X. Further, the printing liquid may be discharged to the printing material M in the order of the water repellent agent, the ink, and the penetrant. In this case, the second head group 32 is arranged upstream of the ink head group Z in the transport direction X, and the ink head group Z is arranged upstream of the first head 31 in the transport direction X. That is, at least the water repellent agent may be ejected to the printed material M before the ink. As a result, it becomes possible to effectively form the edge of the ink with respect to the printed material M.

(2) In the present embodiment, the first head 31, the second head 32, and the ink head group Z discharge the printing liquid on the same surface of the front surface and the back surface of the printing material M. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Each of the first head 31, the second head 32, and the ink head group Z may discharge the printing liquid on any one of the front surface and the back surface of the printing material M. For example, while the ink head group Z ejects ink to the surface of the printed material M, the first head 31 ejects water-repellent time to the back surface of the printed material M, and the second head 32 ejects the printed material. The penetrant may be ejected to the back surface of M. As in the present embodiment, it is better for the first head 31, the second head 32, and the ink head group Z to discharge the printing liquid on the same surface of the front surface and the back surface of the printing material M. It is advantageous in that ink bleeding and ink edges can be effectively formed on the printing material M, and the device configuration of the inkjet printing device 100 can be simplified.

(3) The region α10 and the region α14 shown in FIG. 3 (b), the region α10, the region α12, the region α13, and the region α15 shown in FIG. 3 (c), and the region α22 shown in FIG. 4 (b). A region α32 shown in each of FIGS. 5B and 5C, a region adjacent to the region α31 downstream of the transport direction X, and a region adjacent to the region α32 upstream in the transport direction X, and FIG. The region β1, the region β2, and the region β7 shown in (b) are collectively referred to as a reduction region. In the reduction region of the present embodiment, the amount of ink is reduced in proportion to the distance from the ink region E1. That is, in the reduction region, the graph showing the relationship between the position of the transport direction X and the amount of ink becomes a straight line graph having a constant slope. In this embodiment, for convenience of explanation, the reduction region is configured as described above.

However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the amount of ink may be reduced in proportion to the (1/2) power of the distance from the ink region E1. That is, in the reduction region, the graph showing the relationship between the position of the transport direction X and the amount of ink may be a curved graph.

In the reduction region, the shape of the graph showing the relationship between the position of the transport direction X and the amount of ink reflects the material of the printing material M and the type of printing liquid discharged to the printing material M. Is formed in. That is, the degree of ink bleeding in the reduced region has a size that reflects the material of the printing material M and the type of printing liquid discharged to the printing material M. Therefore, the degree of ink bleeding in the reduced region is not limited to the configuration in which the value becomes a constant value regardless of the position of the transport direction X as in the present embodiment, and the degree of ink bleeding changes when the position of the transport direction X changes. It may be a variable configuration.

The present invention can be used in the field of inkjet printing equipment.

31 First head (water repellent discharge part)
32 Second head (penetrating agent discharge part)
80 Input unit 82 Control unit 100 Inkjet printing device E1 Ink area E2 First adjacent area E3 Penetrant area E4 Second adjacent area E5 Water repellent area M Printing material X Transport direction Z Ink head group (ink ejection unit)

Claims (8)

An ink ejection part that ejects ink to the material to be printed,
A penetrant ejection part that ejects a penetrant into the printed material,
A water repellent discharge portion that discharges a water repellent agent to the printed material, and a water repellent discharge portion .
A control unit for controlling the penetrant discharge unit and the water repellent discharge unit is provided .
The printed material includes an ink region and a water repellent region, and includes an ink region and a water repellent region.
The ink region indicates a region where the ink is ejected.
The water repellent region indicates a region where the water repellent agent is discharged.
The control unit controls the water repellent discharge unit so that the water repellent discharge unit discharges the water repellent agent into the water repellent region.
The penetrant ejection portion ejects the penetrant into a part or all of a region between the ink region and the water repellent region, which is not included in the ink region and the water repellent region. as to the control unit that controls the penetrant discharge portion, ink-jet printing apparatus. An ink ejection part that ejects ink to the material to be printed,
A penetrant ejection part that ejects a penetrant into the printed material,
A water repellent discharge portion that discharges a water repellent agent to the printed material, and a water repellent discharge portion.
The ink ejection section, the penetrant ejection section, and the penetrant ejection section for each section of the printed material divided into sections corresponding to one pixel formed by the ink droplets ejected from the ink ejection section. A control unit that controls the ejection of the ink, the penetrant, and the water repellent from the water repellent ejection unit.
Equipped with
Before SL material to be printed comprises an ink area and a first neighboring region,
The ink region indicates a region where the ink is ejected.
The first adjacent region indicates a region adjacent to the ink region.
The control unit controls the penetrant ejection unit so that the penetrant ejection unit ejects the penetrant to a part or all of the first adjacent region including the compartment adjacent to the ink region. Louis ink jet printing apparatus. Before SL material to be printed may include a penetrant region, and a second adjacent region,
The penetrant region indicates a region where the penetrant is discharged.
The second adjacent region indicates a region adjacent to the penetrant region and not included in the ink region.
The control unit discharges the water-repellent agent so that the water-repellent discharge unit discharges the water-repellent agent to a part or all of the second adjacent region including the section adjacent to the penetrant region. The inkjet printing apparatus according to claim 2 , which controls a unit. The inkjet printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the water repellent agent contains a fluorine-based surfactant or a silicon-based surfactant. The inkjet printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the water-repellent agent ejection portion is arranged upstream of the ink ejection portion in the transport direction of the printed material. First, it is equipped with an input unit that accepts input of bleeding information.
The first bleeding information is information indicating the position of the penetrant region on the printed material.
The penetrant region indicates a region where the penetrant is discharged.
The inkjet printing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control unit controls the penetrant ejection unit based on the first bleeding information. The input unit further accepts the input of the second bleeding information,
The second bleeding information is information indicating the unit discharge amount of the penetrant.
The unit discharge amount of the penetrant indicates the amount of the penetrant discharged per unit area of the printed material.
The control unit controls the penetrant discharge unit based on the second bleeding information.
The inkjet printing apparatus according to claim 6. Further comprising an input unit that receives an input of a range information,
The range information is information indicating the position of the water repellent region on the printed material.
Before SL control part, based on the range information, to control the water repellent discharging unit, ink-jet printing apparatus according to claim 1.

Images