JP2005014560A - Mechanism for removing ink volatile matter from undersurface of inkjet head of inkjet printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mechanism for removing ink volatile matter from an undersurface of an inkjet head of an inkjet printer, for use in the removal of the volatile matter evaporating from a solvent ink droplet reaching a surface of a medium, and condensing and adhering on the undersurface of the inkjet head. <P>SOLUTION: The volatile matter evaporating from the ink droplet jetted from nozzles 32 arranged on the undersurface of the inkjet head 30 and reaching the surface of the medium 10 mounted on a platen 20 and condensing and adhering on the undersurface of the inkjet head 30 is removed from the undersurface of the inkjet head 30, for example, by blowing air, through the use of a volatile matter removing means 100, when the inkjet head 30 is transferred outside from above a print area of the medium 10, mounted on the platen 20. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an ink volatile substance removing mechanism from the lower surface of an ink jet head of an ink jet printer for removing volatile substances that evaporate from the ink droplets that have landed on the surface of the medium and form condensation on the lower surface of the ink jet head. Hereinafter, it is simply referred to as an ink volatile substance removing mechanism).
[0002]
[Prior art]
As shown in FIG. 4, the ink from the nozzles 32 arranged on the lower surface of the inkjet head 30 that moves relatively above the platen 20 in the X-Y direction (the left-right direction and the front and back direction in FIG. 4) substantially parallel to the surface of the platen 20. 2. Description of the Related Art An ink jet printer that ejects droplets and causes the ink droplets to land in the form of dots on the surface of a medium 10 such as a sheet mounted on a platen 20 is well known. According to this printer, a picture or / and a character consisting of an array of a plurality of ink dots can be printed on the surface of the medium 10 mounted on the platen 20. In FIG. 4, 40 is a moving means for moving the medium 10 on the platen 20 in the X direction.
[0003]
Recently, an ink jet printer has been developed and used for this printer, which uses a solvent ink in which an ink pigment or an ink dye is dissolved in a highly volatile organic solvent as the ink supplied to the ink jet head 30.
In the printer using the solvent ink, a plurality of ink droplets are ejected from the nozzles 32 arranged on the lower surface of the inkjet head 30 and landed in a dot shape on the surface of the medium 10 mounted on the platen 20. It is possible to print a pictorial figure and / or characters having excellent weather resistance and water resistance, which are composed of an array of dots of solvent ink.
The media on which pictures and / or characters are printed by this printer using solvent ink is used for outdoor advertisements and the like that require weather resistance and water resistance.
[0004]
As shown in FIG. 4, the printer that ejects solvent ink droplets from the nozzles arranged on the lower surface of the inkjet head 30 has a medium mounted on the platen 20 inside the platen 20 below the traveling path of the inkjet head 30. A medium heating means 50 such as an electric heater that heats the medium through the platen 20 is provided.
According to the printer using the organic solvent ink provided with the medium heating means 50, the solvent is ejected from the nozzles 32 arranged on the lower surface of the ink jet head 30 and landed on the surface of the medium 10 mounted on the platen 20 below the ink jet head 30. The ink droplets can be forcibly heated together with the medium 10 by the medium heating means 50 inside the platen 20, and the organic solvent having high permeability contained in the ink droplets can be quickly evaporated. The solvent ink droplets that have landed on the surface of the medium 10 can be quickly dried to prevent the ink droplets from penetrating into the medium 10 around the landed portion. Then, it is possible to prevent the formation of blurred large-diameter ink dots on the surface of the medium 10 and to accurately form small-diameter ink dots on the surface of the medium 10. Then, it is possible to print a sharp and clear picture or / and character consisting of an array of a plurality of small-diameter solvent ink dots on the surface of the medium 10 without blurring spots and blurring.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the ink jet printer in which the medium heating means 50 is provided inside the platen 20 as described above, the ink is evaporated from the solvent ink droplets heated together with the medium 10 by the medium heating means 50, and the ink jet head 30 above it. Volatile substances such as organic solvents that float and stay in the vicinity in the form of mist are exposed to the air and contact with the lower surface of the inkjet head 30 in a low temperature state to cause condensation, and small particles are formed on the lower surface of the inkjet head 30. I became attached. The volatile substance adhering to the lower surface of the inkjet head 30 in the form of small particles hindered accurate ejection of ink droplets from the nozzles 32 arranged on the lower surface of the same inkjet head 30.
As a result, the flying miracle of the ink droplets ejected from the nozzle 32 on the lower surface of the inkjet head 30 is bent in a direction deviated from the normal direction, or the ink droplets from the nozzle 32 on the lower surface of the inkjet head 30 are granular. Instead, the ink droplets ejected in the form of a fine mist are sprayed and dispersed widely on the surface of the medium 10 mounted on the platen 20 below the mist, The surface of the media 10 was soiled extensively. Furthermore, ink droplets are not accurately ejected from the nozzles 32 on the lower surface of the ink jet head 30, and ink dots are printed at locations where ink dots should be present on a part of a picture or / and character printed on the surface of the medium 10. A so-called dot dropout in which no dot is present occurs, and a striped pattern or the like is generated in the picture or / and the character.
In addition, as described above, the volatile substances adhering to the lower surface of the inkjet head 30 in a small particle form gather together to become a large particle, and are subjected to a gravitational action so that the platen below the traveling platen is lowered from the lower surface of the traveling inkjet head 30. 20 dropped on the surface of the media 10 on the top. The volatile material contaminated the surface of the medium 10.
[0006]
The same thing as this is an ink jet printer as shown in FIG. 5 in which the medium heating means 50 is not provided inside the platen 20, and a highly volatile solvent is discharged from the nozzles 32 arranged on the lower surface of the ink jet head 30. Also, when a highly volatile ink droplet in which an ink pigment or an ink dye is dissolved in a solution such as the above, is ejected, and the ink droplet is landed on the surface of the medium 10 mounted on the platen 20 below the inkjet head 30 ,occured. That is, even in such a case, a highly volatile solvent or the like evaporates from the highly volatile ink droplets that have landed on the surface of the medium 10, and the volatile material such as the solvent becomes a mist around the inkjet head 30. Stayed floating. Then, the volatile substance was exposed to the atmosphere and contacted with the lower surface of the inkjet head 30 in a low temperature state to cause condensation, and adhered to the lower surface of the inkjet head 30 in a small granular form. The volatile substance adhering to the lower surface of the inkjet head 30 in the form of small particles hindered accurate ejection of ink droplets from the nozzles 32 arranged on the lower surface of the same inkjet head 30.
In addition, the volatile substances adhering to the lower surface of the inkjet head 30 in a small granular form gather together to become a large granular form. Under the action of gravity, the medium 10 on the platen 20 below the lower surface of the traveling inkjet head 30 is received. I fell on the surface. The volatile material contaminated the surface of the medium 10.
[0007]
Therefore, as a result of earnest research, the present inventor is unable to smoothly and accurately eject ink droplets from the nozzles 32 arranged on the lower surface of the inkjet head 30 because of being disturbed by such volatile substances attached to the lower surface of the inkjet head 30. In order to prevent the volatile substance adhering to the lower surface of the inkjet head 30 from becoming large particles and dropping off, and soiling the surface of the medium 10 on the platen 20, the volatile substance adhering to the lower surface of the inkjet head 30 is used. In the middle of printing a picture or / and characters on the surface of the medium 10, the inkjet head 30 is carried out from above the print area of the medium 10 mounted on the platen 20 to the outside thereof, and printing is temporarily suspended. I came up with the idea of removing it by blowing or wiping it. For this purpose, a volatile substance removing mechanism for removing the volatile substance attached to the lower surface of the inkjet head 30 has been developed.
[0008]
That is, according to the present invention, while printing an image or character on the surface of a medium using an ink jet printer, the ink jet head is carried out from above the print area of the medium mounted on the platen to temporarily suspend printing. The ink volatile material removal mechanism (hereinafter simply referred to as the ink volatile material removal mechanism) from the bottom surface of the ink jet head of the ink jet printer is used to remove volatile material that has condensed and adhered to the bottom surface of the ink jet head. It is intended to provide.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve such an object, the ink volatile substance removal mechanism of the present invention is
A volatile substance that evaporates from the ink droplets that are ejected from the nozzles arranged on the lower surface of the ink jet head of the ink jet printer and landed on the surface of the medium mounted on the platen, and is condensed and attached to the lower surface of the ink jet head. It is characterized in that it is provided with a volatile substance removing means for removing from the lower surface of the inkjet head when it is carried out from above the print area of the medium mounted thereon.
[0010]
According to the ink volatile substance removing mechanism having such a configuration, the inkjet head is mounted on the platen while printing a picture or / and characters on the surface of the medium mounted on the platen using the inkjet printer. When the media is transported from the upper part of the print area to the outside and printing is temporarily interrupted, the ink droplets that have landed on the surface of the medium evaporate and are exposed to the outside air. Then, volatile substances such as organic solvents adhering to the lower surface of the inkjet head in a small granular form can be removed by the volatile substance removing means. Then, when the inkjet head is returned to above the print area of the medium mounted on the platen and printing is resumed, the volatile material that had previously adhered to the bottom surface of the inkjet head is exposed to the bottom surface of the inkjet head. Prevents the precise ejection of ink droplets from the nozzles that line up, and prevents the volatile substances that have previously adhered to the bottom of the inkjet head from becoming large particles and dropping onto the media surface on the platen. be able to.
In addition, since the volatile substance removing unit is configured to operate when the ink jet head is carried out from above the print area of the medium mounted on the platen, the ink jet head is mounted on the platen. When moving the upper part of the printed area of the media relative to the X-Y direction and printing a picture or character consisting of an array of multiple ink dots on the surface of the media using the inkjet head, remove volatile substances. There is no possibility that the means obstructs the movement of the ink jet head above the print area of the medium or obstructs the ejection of ink droplets from the nozzles arranged on the lower surface of the ink jet head.
[0011]
In the ink volatile substance removing mechanism of the present invention, the volatile substance removing unit is configured to blow air to the lower surface of the ink jet head carried out from above the print area of the medium mounted on the platen. The volatile substance adhering to the lower surface may be constituted by air blowing means for removing the volatile material by blowing off air from the lower surface of the inkjet head.
In that case, while printing pictures and / or characters on the surface of the media using an inkjet printer, the inkjet head is carried out from above the print area of the media mounted on the platen, and printing is temporarily suspended. In such a case, a volatile substance such as an organic solvent adhering to the lower surface of the ink jet head can be removed by blowing off air from the lower surface of the ink jet head with air blowing means. Next, when the inkjet head is returned again above the print area of the medium mounted on the platen, and the printing is resumed by the inkjet head, the volatile substances previously attached to the lower surface of the inkjet head are removed. The ink droplets from the nozzles on the lower surface of the ink jet head are prevented from being accurately ejected, and the volatile substances that have previously adhered to the lower surface of the ink jet head become large particles and drop onto the media surface on the platen. Can be prevented.
[0012]
In the ink volatile substance removing mechanism of the present invention, the volatile substance removing unit is configured to remove the volatile substance attached to the lower surface of the inkjet head carried out from the upper print area of the medium mounted on the platen. It is also possible to comprise suction means that sucks and removes the air around the ink jet head at a location away from the ink jet head.
In that case, while printing pictures and / or characters on the surface of the media using an inkjet printer, the inkjet head is carried out from above the print area of the media mounted on the platen, and printing is temporarily suspended. In this case, a volatile substance such as an organic solvent adhering to the lower surface of the ink jet head can be sucked and removed together with air around the ink jet head by a suction means to a place away from the ink jet head. Next, when the inkjet head is returned again above the print area of the medium mounted on the platen, and the printing is resumed by the inkjet head, the volatile substances previously attached to the lower surface of the inkjet head are removed. The ink droplets from the nozzles on the lower surface of the ink jet head are prevented from being accurately ejected, and the volatile substances that have previously adhered to the lower surface of the ink jet head become large particles and drop onto the media surface on the platen. Can be prevented.
[0013]
In the ink volatile substance removing mechanism of the present invention, the volatile substance removing means wipes the lower surface of the inkjet head carried out from above the print area of the medium mounted on the platen, and the lower surface of the inkjet head. You may comprise from the wiping means which wipes off and removes the volatile substance adhering to the inkjet head lower surface.
In that case, while printing pictures and / or characters on the surface of the media using an inkjet printer, the inkjet head is carried out from above the print area of the media mounted on the platen, and printing is temporarily suspended. In this case, a volatile substance such as an organic solvent adhering to the lower surface of the inkjet head can be wiped off from the lower surface of the inkjet head by a wiping means. Next, when the inkjet head is returned again above the print area of the medium mounted on the platen, and the printing is resumed by the inkjet head, the volatile substances previously attached to the lower surface of the inkjet head are removed. The ink droplets from the nozzles on the lower surface of the ink jet head are prevented from being accurately ejected, and the volatile substances that have previously adhered to the lower surface of the ink jet head become large particles and drop onto the media surface on the platen. Can be prevented.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
1 to 3 show a preferred embodiment of the ink volatile substance removing mechanism of the present invention, and FIGS. 1 to 3 are schematic structural explanatory views thereof. Hereinafter, these ink volatile substance removing mechanisms will be described.
[0015]
In the ink volatile substance removing mechanism shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, in the ink jet printer having the structure shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. 5, the platen is ejected from the nozzles 32 arranged on the lower surface of the ink jet head 30. 20 evaporates from solvent ink droplets or highly volatile ink droplets landed on the surface of the medium 10 mounted on the surface 20, and is exposed to the outside air to condense on the lower surface 34 of the inkjet head in a low temperature state and adhere to small particles or the like. A volatile substance removing unit 100 that removes a volatile substance such as an organic solvent from the lower surface of the inkjet head 30 when the inkjet head 30 is carried out from above the print area of the medium 10 mounted on the platen 20. , On a print area for printing a picture or / and characters of the medium 10 mounted on the platen 20 It is provided to the print area External deviated from. Specifically, the volatile substance removing means 100 is provided on the side of the platen 20 on which the medium 10 is mounted.
[0016]
In the middle of printing a picture or / and characters on the surface of the medium 10 mounted on the platen 20 using an ink jet printer, the ink jet head 30 is moved from above the print area of the medium 10 mounted on the platen 20 to the outside. When the printing is temporarily suspended and printing is temporarily suspended, the ink jet head lower surface 34 is evaporated from the solvent ink droplets or highly volatile ink droplets landed on the surface of the medium 10 and is exposed to the outside air to be in a low temperature state. The volatile substance such as an organic solvent that has condensed and adhered to the lower surface 34 of the inkjet head can be removed by the volatile substance removing means 100 provided on the side of the platen 20. Then, when the printing is resumed after that, the volatile substance previously adhered to the lower surface 34 of the inkjet head obstructs the accurate ejection of ink droplets from the nozzles 32 arranged on the same lower surface 34 of the inkjet head, It is possible to prevent the volatile material previously attached to the lower surface of the inkjet head 34 from becoming large particles and dropping onto the surface of the medium 10 on the platen 20.
[0017]
Among them, in the ink volatile substance removing mechanism shown in FIG. 1, the volatile substance removing means 100 is carried out from the upper side of the print area of the medium 10 mounted on the platen 20 to the side of the platen 20 outside thereof. The air jetting unit 110 is configured to blow air to the ink jet head lower surface 34 and to remove the volatile substances attached to the ink jet head lower surface 34 by blowing off the ink jet head lower surface 34. A blower fan 112 is used as the air blowing means 110.
In the middle of printing a picture or / and characters on the surface of the medium 10 using the ink jet printer, the ink jet head 30 is carried out from above the print area of the medium 10 mounted on the platen 20 to the side of the platen 20 outside the medium. Then, when printing is temporarily interrupted, volatile substances such as organic solvents adhering to the ink jet head lower surface 34 are removed by blowing the air from the ink jet head lower surface 34 by rotating the air blowing fan 112 of the air blowing means. I can do it. Next, when the inkjet head 30 is returned again above the print area of the medium 10 mounted on the platen 20 and printing is resumed by the inkjet head 30, the inkjet head lower surface 34 is attached before. The volatile substance obstructs the accurate ejection of ink droplets from the nozzles 32 arranged on the lower surface 34 of the inkjet head, or the volatile substance previously adhered to the lower surface of the inkjet head 30 becomes large particles and becomes platen. It is possible to prevent the surface of the medium 10 on the 20 from falling down.
[0018]
Further, in the ink volatile substance removing mechanism shown in FIG. 2, the volatile substance removing means 100 is an ink jet carried out from the upper side of the print area of the medium 10 mounted on the platen 20 to the side of the platen 20 outside thereof. The volatile substance adhering to the head lower surface 34 is constituted by a suction means 120 that sucks and removes the volatile substance together with the air around the ink jet head 30 with a strong suction force at a place away from the ink jet head 30. The suction means 120 is composed of a duct 122 provided on the side of the platen 20 with its suction port directed in the carry-out direction of the inkjet head 30, and a suction fan 124 disposed in the duct. Then, by rotating the suction fan 124, volatile substances attached to the lower surface 34 of the inkjet head carried out near the suction port of the duct 122 can be sucked into the duct 122 and removed with a strong suction force. Yes.
In the middle of printing a picture or / and characters on the surface of the medium 10 using the ink jet printer, the ink jet head 30 is carried out from above the print area of the medium 10 mounted on the platen 20 to the side of the platen 20 outside the medium. When the printing is temporarily interrupted, volatile substances such as an organic solvent adhering to the lower surface 34 of the ink jet head are strongly applied to a place away from the ink jet head 30 by the suction means 120 together with the air around the ink jet head 30. It can be removed by suction with a sufficient suction force. Next, when the inkjet head 30 is returned again above the print area of the medium 10 mounted on the platen 20 and printing is resumed by the inkjet head 30, the inkjet head lower surface 34 is attached before. The volatile substance obstructs the accurate ejection of ink droplets from the nozzles 32 arranged on the lower surface 34 of the inkjet head, or the volatile substance previously adhered to the lower surface of the inkjet head 30 becomes large particles and becomes platen. It is possible to prevent the surface of the medium 10 on the 20 from falling down.
[0019]
Further, in the ink volatile substance removing mechanism shown in FIG. 3, the volatile substance removing means 100 is an ink jet carried out from the upper side of the print area of the medium 10 mounted on the platen 20 to the side of the platen 20 outside thereof. The wiping means 130 is configured to wipe the head lower surface 34 and wipe away the volatile substances attached to the ink jet head lower surface 34 from the ink jet head lower surface 34. The wiping means 130 is composed of a rubber plate 134, and the tip of the rubber plate 134 can wipe the lower surface 34 of the inkjet head carried out to the side of the platen 20.
In the middle of printing a picture or / and characters on the surface of the medium 10 using the ink jet printer, the ink jet head 30 is carried out from above the print area of the medium 10 mounted on the platen 20 to the side of the platen 20 outside the medium. Thus, when printing is temporarily interrupted, volatile substances such as an organic solvent adhering to the lower surface 34 of the inkjet head can be wiped off from the lower surface of the inkjet head 30 by the wiping means 130. Next, when the inkjet head 30 is returned again above the print area of the medium 10 mounted on the platen 20 and printing is resumed by the inkjet head 30, the inkjet head lower surface 34 is attached before. The volatile substance obstructs the accurate ejection of ink droplets from the nozzles 32 arranged on the lower surface 34 of the inkjet head, or the volatile substance previously adhered to the lower surface of the inkjet head 30 becomes large particles and becomes platen. It is possible to prevent the surface of the medium 10 on the 20 from falling down.
[0020]
The ink volatile substance removing mechanism of the present invention is mounted in a state where a medium is fixed on a flat bed-shaped platen, and the inkjet head is moved in the XY direction substantially parallel to the platen surface above the medium. It can also be used for so-called flatbed type printers.
[0021]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the ink volatile substance removal mechanism of the present invention, the ink jet head is used to print the drawing or / and the character on the surface of the medium while the ink jet head is mounted on the platen. Volatile substances adhering to the lower surface of the inkjet head can be removed by the volatile substance removing means when the printing area is carried out from above the printing area and printing is temporarily interrupted. Then, when the ink jet head is returned to above the print area of the medium mounted on the platen and printing is resumed by the ink jet head, accurate ejection of ink from the nozzles arranged on the lower surface of the ink jet head is performed. It is obstructed by the volatile substances previously attached to the lower surface of the inkjet head, or the volatile substances previously attached to the lower surface of the inkjet head become large particles and drops onto the media surface on the platen. Can be surely prevented.
As a result, using the ink jet printer, it is possible to print an orderly and beautiful picture or / and character with no dot omission, stripe pattern, dirt or distortion on the surface of the medium mounted on the platen.
Also, the volatile substances adhering to the lower surface of the inkjet head in a small granular form gather together to become a large granular shape, which drops from the lower surface of the running inkjet head onto the media surface on the platen below it, and the media surface It is possible to accurately prevent contamination.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic structural explanatory diagram of an ink volatile substance removing mechanism of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic structural explanatory diagram of an ink volatile substance removal mechanism of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a schematic structural explanatory diagram of an ink volatile substance removal mechanism of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a side sectional view showing a schematic structure of an ink jet printer using solvent ink.
FIG. 5 is a side sectional view showing a schematic structure of an ink jet printer using a highly volatile ink.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Media 20 Platen 30 Inkjet head 32 Nozzle 34 arranged in lower surface of inkjet head Inkjet head lower surface 50 Media heating means 100 Volatile substance removing means 110 Air blowing means 120 Suction means 130 Wiping means

Claims (4)

A plurality of ink dots are formed by ink droplets that are ejected from nozzles arranged on the lower surface of an ink jet head that moves relative to the platen surface in the X and Y directions, which are substantially parallel to the platen surface, and land on the media surface mounted on the platen. In an ink jet printer for printing a picture or / and a character consisting of
Volatile substances that evaporate from the ink droplets that are ejected from the nozzles arranged on the lower surface of the inkjet head and land on the surface of the medium mounted on the platen, and are condensed and attached to the lower surface of the inkjet head. Volatile substance removing means for removing from the lower surface of the ink jet head when it is carried out from above the print area of the mounted media is provided with ink volatility from the lower surface of the ink jet head of the ink jet printer Substance removal mechanism. The volatile substance removing means blows air to the lower surface of the inkjet head carried out from above the print area of the medium mounted on the platen, and removes the volatile substance adhering to the lower surface of the inkjet head. 2. The ink volatile substance removing mechanism from the lower surface of the ink jet head of the ink jet printer according to claim 1, further comprising air blowing means for removing the air by blowing it from the air. The volatile substance removing means separates the volatile substance attached to the lower surface of the inkjet head carried out from the upper print area of the medium mounted on the platen, together with the air around the inkjet head, away from the inkjet head. The ink volatile substance removing mechanism from the lower surface of the ink jet head of the ink jet printer according to claim 1, comprising suction means for sucking and removing at a location. The volatile substance removing unit wipes the lower surface of the inkjet head carried out from above the print area of the medium mounted on the platen, and removes the volatile substance attached to the lower surface of the inkjet head from the lower surface of the inkjet head. The ink volatile substance removing mechanism from the lower surface of the ink jet head of the ink jet printer according to claim 1, comprising wiping means for wiping and removing.

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