JP2019018566A - Printer and printing method - Google Patents

Abstract

To efficiently perform plural processing for a medium.SOLUTION: A printer comprises: a loading table for supporting a medium; a first processing part having a first head which performs first processing of the medium, and a first guide member which guides the first head in a main scanning direction; a second processing part having a second head which is so located as to be arranged in a sub-scanning direction crossing the main scanning direction with respect to the first processing part, and performs second processing which is performed for the medium after the first processing, and a second guide member which guides the second head in the main scanning direction; a guide member drive part which moves the first guide member and the second guide member in the sub-scanning direction; a relative movement part which relatively moves the loading table and each of the first head and the second head; and a control part which causes the relative movement part to perform relative movement, causes the first head to perform the first processing, and causes the second head to perform the second processing in the state a distance between the first guide member and the second guide member in the sub-scanning direction is maintained by the guide member drive part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a printing method.

  As a printing apparatus that performs printing on a medium, for example, an ink jet type printing apparatus that ejects liquid droplets from a head onto the medium is known (for example, see Patent Document 1). Such a printing apparatus includes, for example, a mounting table on which a medium can be mounted, a head that ejects liquid droplets toward the surface of the medium while reciprocating on the mounting table in the main scanning direction, and the head in the main scanning direction. And a relative movement unit that relatively moves the head and the mounting table in the sub-scanning direction intersecting the main scanning direction.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2015-13455

  In the above printing device, when performing multiple processes on a predetermined area of media, such as when performing print processing after performing pre-processing on media, or when performing post-processing after performing print processing Each process needs to be performed by a different device. For this reason, it takes time to perform a plurality of processes on the medium.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a printing apparatus and a printing method capable of efficiently performing a plurality of processes on a medium.

  A printing apparatus according to the present invention includes a mounting table that supports a medium, a first head that performs a first process on the medium, and a first guide member that guides the first head in a main scanning direction. A first processing unit and a second processing which is arranged side by side in the sub-scanning direction intersecting the main scanning direction with respect to the first processing unit, and performs a second processing which is a processing performed on the medium after the first processing. A second processing unit having two heads and a second guide member for guiding the second head in the main scanning direction; and a guide member for moving the first guide member and the second guide member in the sub-scanning direction. A drive unit; a mounting table; a relative movement unit that relatively moves each of the first head and the second head; and the first guide member and the second guide member by the guide member drive unit. Distance in the sub-scanning direction between While maintaining carry out the relative movement in the relative movement unit, to perform the first process on the first head, and to perform the second process on the second head and a control unit.

  According to the present invention, while the distance between the two guide members of the first guide member and the second guide member is maintained, the mounting table, the first head, and the second head are moved relative to each other, and the first head is used. The first process and the second process by the second head can be continuously performed on the medium at an appropriate timing. Thereby, a plurality of processes can be efficiently performed on the medium. In addition, since the first head and the second head are guided in the main scanning direction by the first guide member and the second guide member, respectively, the first head performs the first process, and the second head performs the second process. It is possible to align with the direction of performing. This makes it easy to perform the second process by aligning the position with the area where the first process is performed on the medium.

  Moreover, the said control part may adjust the said distance according to the content of the said 1st process and the said 2nd process.

  According to the present invention, even when the contents of the first process and the second process are different for each image forming operation, such as when the media are different, the first process and the second process are continuously performed on the medium at an appropriate timing. Can be done.

  The first process may be a process for ejecting the first ink to the medium, and the second process may be a process for a position corresponding to the first ink ejected to the medium. .

  According to the present invention, after ejecting the first ink to the medium, it is possible to perform processing at an appropriate timing at a position corresponding to the ejected first ink.

  The second process may be a process of ejecting a second ink so as to overlap the first ink ejected onto the medium.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to perform the process of ejecting the second ink so as to overlap the ejected first ink after ejecting the first ink onto the medium.

  The medium may be a fabric, the first ink may be a base material, and the second ink may be an ink for forming an image.

  When the medium is a fabric, if ink for image formation is directly ejected onto the fabric, the ink for forming the image (image forming ink) may soak into the fabric and bleeding may occur. Therefore, it is possible to prevent bleeding by discharging a base agent in advance to a region of the fabric where the image forming ink is discharged, and discharging the image forming ink over the base agent.

  The second process may be a process for flattening the first ink ejected onto the medium.

  According to the present invention, after the first ink is ejected onto the medium, the process of flattening the ejected first ink can be performed at an appropriate timing.

  Further, at least one of the first guide member and the second guide member may include a plurality of the heads that are individually movable in the main scanning direction.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to efficiently process a medium with a plurality of heads. In addition, since each head can be individually moved in the main scanning direction, a head that is not used can be kept on standby. As a result, the weight of the carriage can be reduced, so that the power required for driving the carriage can be reduced.

  A printing apparatus according to the present invention includes: a first stage having a mounting table that supports a medium; a printing head that performs a printing process on the medium; and a first guide member that guides the printing head in a main scanning direction. A first head that performs a first process different from the printing process on the medium, and is arranged side by side in a sub-scanning direction that intersects the main scanning direction with respect to the first processing unit; A second processing unit having a second head for performing a second process, which is a process performed after the first process, and a second guide member for guiding the first head and the second head in the main scanning direction; A guide member driving unit that moves the first guide member and the second guide member in the sub-scanning direction, the mounting table, and the print head, the first head, and the second head are relatively Relative moving part to move , To perform the first process on the first head, and a control unit to perform the second process on the second head.

  According to the present invention, the print head is disposed on the first guide member, and the first head and the second head that perform processing different from the print processing are disposed on the second guide member. On the other hand, the processing can be performed efficiently.

  The printing method according to the present invention includes a first guide member that guides a first head that performs a first process on a medium in a main scanning direction, and a sub-scan that intersects the first scanning member in the main scanning direction. In the sub-scanning direction between the second guide member arranged in the direction and guiding the second head for performing the second process on the medium after the first process in the main scanning direction. The medium and the first head are moved relative to each other while maintaining the distance, the first processing is performed by the first head, and the media and the second head are moved relative to each other after the first processing. And performing the second process by the second head.

  According to the present invention, while the distance between the two guide members of the first guide member and the second guide member is maintained, the mounting table, the first head, and the second head are moved relative to each other, and the first head is used. The first process and the second process by the second head can be continuously performed on the medium at an appropriate timing. Thereby, a plurality of processes can be efficiently performed on the medium. In addition, since the first head and the second head are guided in the main scanning direction by the first guide member and the second guide member, respectively, the first head performs the first process, and the second head performs the second process. It is possible to align with the direction of performing. This makes it easy to perform the second process by aligning the position with the area where the first process is performed on the medium.

  According to the aspects of the present invention, it is possible to efficiently perform a plurality of processes on media.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an example of a printing apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of the control unit. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the operation flow of the printing apparatus. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the printing apparatus. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the printing apparatus. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the printing apparatus. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the printing apparatus. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a printing apparatus according to a modification. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a printing apparatus according to a modification. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an operation of the printing apparatus according to the modification.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of a printing apparatus and a printing method according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, this invention is not limited by this embodiment. In addition, constituent elements in the following embodiments include those that can be easily replaced by those skilled in the art or those that are substantially the same. Furthermore, the constituent elements described below can be appropriately combined, and when there are a plurality of embodiments, the embodiments can be combined.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an example of a printing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the printing apparatus 100 is an apparatus that forms an image on the medium M by ejecting ink toward the medium M. Examples of the medium M include, but are not limited to, paper, fabric, film, and plate material. The printing apparatus 100 includes a mounting table 10, a first processing unit 20, a second processing unit 30, a driving unit 40, and a control unit 50.

  The mounting table 10 has, for example, a rectangular plate shape, and has a work surface 11 on which the medium M is mounted. The shape of the mounting table 10 is not limited to a rectangle, and may be another shape. The work surface 11 is planar. The mounting table 10 is arranged with the work surface 11 facing upward in the vertical direction. Therefore, the work surface 11 is parallel to the horizontal plane. The mounting table 10 is movable in the X direction.

  The first processing unit 20 performs a first process on the medium M. In the present embodiment, the first process is a process of forming a base layer on the medium M by, for example, discharging a base material of ultraviolet curable ink used for image formation onto the medium M. The base agent contains a material that becomes a base of the ultraviolet curable ink described later. For example, when a fabric is employed as the medium M, if ultraviolet curable ink is directly ejected onto the fabric, the ultraviolet curable ink may permeate into the fabric and bleeding may occur. Therefore, it is possible to prevent bleeding by discharging a base material in advance to a region of the fabric where the ultraviolet curable ink is discharged, and discharging the ultraviolet curable ink over the base material.

  The first processing unit 20 includes a first Y bar (first guide member) 21, a first carriage 22, a second carriage 23, a first dispenser (first head) 24, and a second dispenser (first head). 25. The first Y bar 21 is disposed at a predetermined interval above the mounting table 10 in the vertical direction. The first Y bar 21 is provided linearly along the main scanning direction parallel to the horizontal direction (Y axis). The first Y bar 21 guides the first carriage 22 that reciprocates along the main scanning direction.

  The first carriage 22 and the second carriage 23 are held by the first Y bar 21 and can reciprocate in the main scanning direction along the first Y bar 21. The first carriage 22 and the second carriage 23 are individually controlled to move in the main scanning direction. The first carriage 22 and the second carriage 23 stand by at a predetermined standby position when they are not moved in the main scanning direction. Accordingly, the first carriage 22 and the second carriage 23 start to move in the main scanning direction from the respective standby positions, and return to the standby position when the movement ends. The first carriage 22 holds the first dispenser 24 on a surface facing the work surface 11 of the mounting table 10 in the vertical direction. The second carriage 23 holds the second dispenser 25 on a surface facing the work surface 11 of the mounting table 10 in the vertical direction.

  The first dispenser 24 and the second dispenser 25 discharge, as the first ink, for example, ink in which a base agent is dispersed in a dispersion medium toward the work surface 11. Note that the liquid base agent may be discharged directly toward the work surface 11. In addition, although the 1st dispenser 24 and the 2nd dispenser 25 discharge the same kind of ink, for example, it is not limited to this, The structure which discharges a different kind of ink may be sufficient.

  The first dispenser 24 is mounted on the first carriage 22 and is capable of reciprocating in the main scanning direction as the first carriage 22 moves along the main scanning direction. The first dispenser 24 is connected to an ink tank (not shown) mounted on the first carriage 22 via, for example, various ink flow paths, a regulator, a pump, and the like. The first dispenser 24 is electrically connected to the control unit 50, and its driving is controlled by the control unit 50.

  The second dispenser 25 is mounted on the second carriage 23 and can reciprocate in the main scanning direction as the second carriage 23 moves along the main scanning direction. The second dispenser 25 is connected to an ink tank (not shown) mounted on the second carriage 23 via various ink flow paths, regulators, pumps, and the like, for example. The second dispenser 25 is electrically connected to the control unit 50, and its driving is controlled by the control unit 50.

  The second processing unit 30 performs a second process on the medium M. The second process is a process performed after the first process. Therefore, the second process may be a post process of the first process. The first process may be a pre-process for the second process. The second process may be a process performed on the area of the medium M where the first process is performed. The second process may be a process performed on a formation (for example, a base layer) formed on the medium M by the first process. In the present embodiment, the second process is, for example, a process of forming an image by ejecting an ultraviolet curable ink on the base layer formed on the medium M so as to overlap the base layer.

  The second processing unit 30 includes a second Y bar (second guide member) 31, a carriage 32, and an inkjet head (second head) 33. The second Y bar 31 is arranged at a predetermined interval above the mounting table 10 in the vertical direction. Further, the second Y bar 31 is arranged side by side with respect to the first Y bar 21 in the sub-scanning direction. The second Y bar 31 is provided linearly along the main scanning direction parallel to the horizontal direction (Y axis). The second Y bar 31 guides the carriage 32 that reciprocates along the main scanning direction.

  The carriage 32 is held by the second Y bar 31 and can reciprocate in the main scanning direction along the second Y bar 31. The carriage 32 is controlled to move in the main scanning direction. When the carriage 32 does not move in the main scanning direction, the carriage 32 stands by at a predetermined standby position. Accordingly, the carriage 32 starts to move in the main scanning direction from each standby position, and returns to the standby position when the movement ends. The standby position of the carriage 32 can be set to a position (Y coordinate) corresponding to the standby position of the first carriage 22 or the standby position of the second carriage 23 in the main scanning direction (Y direction). For example, the standby position of the carriage 32 may be set to the same position (Y coordinate) as the standby position of the first carriage 22 or the standby position of the second carriage 23 in the main scanning direction (Y direction). As for the standby position of the carriage 32, the carriage 32 holds an inkjet head 33 and an ultraviolet irradiator (not shown) on a surface facing the work surface 11 of the mounting table 10 in the vertical direction.

  The ink jet head 33 ejects ultraviolet curable ink as the second ink toward the work surface 11. The ink-jet head 33 is mounted on the carriage 32 and can reciprocate in the main scanning direction as the carriage 32 moves along the main scanning direction. The inkjet head 33 is connected to an ink tank (not shown) mounted on the carriage 32 via various ink flow paths, a regulator, a pump, and the like, for example. A plurality of inkjet heads 33 are provided in accordance with the type of ultraviolet curable ink used for image formation on the medium M. The inkjet head 33 ejects ultraviolet curable ink in the ink tank toward the work surface 11 by an inkjet method.

  Examples of the ultraviolet curable ink include white ink, colored ink such as cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K) according to the color of the image formed on the medium M, and the like. Transparent ink or the like can be used as appropriate. The ink jet head 33 is electrically connected to the control unit 50, and its driving is controlled by the control unit 50.

  The ultraviolet irradiator irradiates the ultraviolet curable ink discharged onto the work surface 11 with ultraviolet rays. An ultraviolet irradiator is comprised by the LED module etc. which can irradiate an ultraviolet-ray, for example. The ultraviolet irradiator is mounted on the carriage 32 and can reciprocate in the main scanning direction as the carriage 32 moves along the main scanning direction. The ultraviolet irradiator is electrically connected to the control unit 50, and its driving is controlled by the control unit 50.

  The drive unit 40 includes a Y bar drive unit (guide member drive unit) 41 and a relative movement unit 42. The Y bar drive unit 41 moves the first Y bar 21 and the second Y bar 31 in the sub scanning direction (X direction) orthogonal to the main scanning direction. The Y bar drive unit 41 is configured to include a transmission mechanism such as a conveyor belt individually connected to the first Y bar 21 and the second Y bar 31, and a drive source such as an electric motor that drives the conveyor belt. The Y bar drive unit 41 transmits the power generated by each drive source to the first Y bar 21 and the second Y bar 31, and moves the first Y bar 21 and the second Y bar 31 individually. The Y bar drive unit 41 moves the first Y bar 21 and the second Y bar 31 individually in the sub-scanning direction to thereby move the distance in the sub-scanning direction between the first Y bar 21 and the second Y bar 31 (hereinafter referred to as Y). Can be adjusted). The Y bar drive unit 41 includes a regulating unit that regulates the movement of the first Y bar 21 and the second Y bar 31 in the sub-scanning direction so as to maintain the Y bar distance when the Y bar distance is adjusted. May be. The Y bar drive unit 41 is electrically connected to the control unit 50, and the drive is controlled by the control unit 50.

  The relative movement unit 42 relatively moves between the mounting table 10, the first dispenser 24, the second dispenser 25, and the inkjet head 33. The relative movement unit 42 includes a carriage driving unit 43 and a mounting table driving unit 44.

  The carriage drive unit 43 causes the first Y bar 21 to reciprocate (scan) the first carriage 22 and the second carriage 23 individually in the main scanning direction (Y direction). The carriage driving unit 43 can move the first dispenser 24 and the second dispenser 25 in the main scanning direction by moving the first carriage 22 and the second carriage 23 in the main scanning direction.

  Further, the carriage drive unit 43 causes the carriage 32 to reciprocate (scan) in the main scanning direction (Y direction) with respect to the second Y bar 31. The carriage drive unit 43 can move the inkjet head 33 in the main scanning direction by moving the carriage 32 in the main scanning direction.

  The carriage drive unit 43 includes, for example, a transmission mechanism such as a conveyance belt individually connected to the first carriage 22, the second carriage 23, and the carriage 32, and a drive source such as an electric motor that drives the conveyance belt. . The carriage drive unit 43 individually moves the first carriage 22, the second carriage 23, and the carriage 32 along the main scanning direction via the transmission mechanism using the power generated by each drive source. The carriage drive unit 43 is electrically connected to the control unit 50, and the drive is controlled by the control unit 50.

  The mounting table drive unit 44 moves the mounting table 10 in the sub-scanning direction (X direction) orthogonal to the main scanning direction. The mounting table driving unit 44 moves the work surface 11 formed on the mounting table 10 relative to the first dispenser 24, the second dispenser 25, the inkjet head 33, and the ultraviolet irradiator in the sub-scanning direction.

  The control unit 50 comprehensively controls each unit of the mounting table 10, the first processing unit 20, the second processing unit 30, and the driving unit 40. The control unit 50 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that functions as a controller that executes various processes, a RAM (Random Access Memory) that functions as a memory that stores various types of information, a ROM (Read Only Memory), and the like. . The control unit 50 is connected to the storage unit 60. The storage unit 60 may be provided inside the control unit 50.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of the control unit 50. As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 50 includes a head control unit 51, a mounting table control unit 52, a Y bar control unit 53, and a carriage control unit 54. The head controller 51 controls the ejection operations of the first dispenser 24, the second dispenser 25, and the inkjet head 33.

  The mounting table control unit 52 controls the operation of the mounting table driving unit 44. The mounting table control unit 52 controls the movement of the mounting table 10 by controlling the operation of the mounting table driving unit 44. For example, a program that defines the moving speed, moving direction, moving timing, and the like of the mounting table 10 is created in advance and stored in the storage unit 60, and the mounting table control unit 52 executes the program so that the mounting table is executed. Ten movements can be controlled.

  The Y bar control unit 53 controls the operation of the Y bar drive unit 41. The Y bar control unit 53 adjusts the distance between the Y bars by controlling the operation of the Y bar driving unit 41. The Y bar control unit 53 sets the distance between the Y bars according to the contents of the first process and the second process. The Y bar control unit 53 is based on the moving time when the mounting table 10 moves from the position below the first Y bar 21 to the position below the second Y bar 31 and the moving speed of the mounting table 10 in the movement. , Set the distance between Y bars.

  In the present embodiment, the first process is a process of forming a base layer by discharging a base agent to the medium M using at least one of the first dispenser 24 and the second dispenser 25, for example. In the present embodiment, the second process is a process of forming an image by ejecting the ultraviolet curable ink on the underlayer using, for example, the inkjet head 33. In this case, the Y bar control unit 53 sets the mounting table according to the time from when the underlayer is discharged until it is dried so that the second process is performed in a state where the underlayer formed in the first process is dried. Set 10 travel times. For this movement time, for example, an experiment or simulation is performed in advance, and the result is stored in the storage unit 60 as a data table, and the Y bar control unit 53 selects a value of the movement time from the data table. Can do.

  Further, the Y bar control unit 53 acquires the set value of the moving speed of the mounting table 10 from the mounting table control unit 52 and the like, and based on the acquired setting value and the set moving time of the mounting table 10, Calculate the distance. Based on the calculation result, the Y bar control unit 53 moves at least one of the first Y bar 21 and the second Y bar 31 in the sub-scanning direction, and adjusts the distance between the Y bars. For example, the distance between Y bars corresponding to each combination of the first process and the second process is stored in advance in the storage unit 60 as a data table, and the Y bar control unit 53 selects a target value from the data table. It may be configured to. In this case, the mounting table controller 52 may set the moving speed of the mounting table 10 based on the selected distance and the moving time set by the Y bar controller 53.

  The carriage control unit 54 controls the operation of the carriage drive unit 43. The carriage control unit 54 controls the movement of the first carriage 22, the second carriage 23, and the carriage 32 by controlling the operation of the carriage drive unit 43.

  Next, the operation of the printing apparatus 100 will be described. In this embodiment, an operation example in the case of forming an image on the fabric medium M will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation flow of the printing apparatus 100. 4 to 7 are diagrams illustrating the operation of the printing apparatus 100. FIG. First, the control unit 50 determines whether image data of an image to be formed on the medium M is input from an external device or the like (step S10). When the input of image data is not detected, the control unit 50 determines that no image data is input (No in step S10). In this case, the control unit 50 repeatedly performs the determination in step S10 until the input of image data is detected. Further, when detecting the input of the image data, the control unit 50 determines that the image data has been input (Yes in step S10). In this case, the control unit 50 causes the mounting table 10, the first processing unit 20, the second processing unit 30 and the driving unit 40 to perform an image forming operation based on the input image data.

  First, the control unit 50 adjusts the distance between Y bars (step S20). In step S20, the Y bar control unit 53 sets the moving time of the mounting table 10 based on the contents of the first process and the second process in the image forming operation. Further, the Y bar control unit 53 acquires a set value of the moving speed of the mounting table 10. Then, the Y bar control unit 53 calculates a distance based on the set moving time and the acquired moving speed, and sets the calculation result as a Y bar distance D1 (see FIG. 4 and the like). The control unit 50 performs the subsequent processing while maintaining the Y-bar distance D1.

  Next, the control unit 50 causes the first processing unit 20 to perform the first process on the medium M (step S30). In step S30, as shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 50 moves the first carriage 22 in the forward direction (−Y direction) of the main scanning direction to perform scanning in the forward direction. As the first carriage 22 moves, the first dispenser 24 moves in the forward direction together with the first carriage 22. Note that the control unit 50 waits without moving the second carriage 23. When the first dispenser 24 passes above the image forming area of the medium M, the control unit 50 causes the first dispenser 24 to eject ink containing a base agent to form the base layer S on the medium M. In the present embodiment, the shape of the base layer S is, for example, a strip shape extending in the main scanning direction (Y direction).

  In addition, when the backward scanning is performed after the forward scanning is completed, the control unit 50 moves the mounting table 10 by a predetermined distance in the sub scanning direction (+ X direction). Then, the controller 50 moves the first carriage 22 in the backward direction (+ Y direction) in the main scanning direction to perform backward scanning. When the first dispenser 24 passes above the image forming area of the medium M, the control unit 50 causes the first dispenser 24 to eject ink containing a base agent to form the base layer S on the medium M. Note that the control unit 50 may not perform backward scanning depending on image data.

  After forming the base layer S, the control unit 50 returns the first carriage 22 to the standby position and moves the mounting table 10 toward the second processing unit 30 at a preset moving speed, as shown in FIG. Let While the mounting table 10 moves, the drying of the base layer S proceeds. When the mounting table 10 reaches below the second processing unit 30, the base layer S is sufficiently dried. In addition, the control unit 50 moves the carriage 32 arranged in the second processing unit 30 in the forward direction of the main scanning direction and waits at the start position of the second processing.

  When the mounting table 10 reaches below the second processing unit 30, the control unit 50 causes the second processing unit 30 to perform the second process on the medium M (step S40). In step S40, as shown in FIG. 6, the control unit 50 moves the carriage 32 in the forward direction (−Y direction) in the main scanning direction to perform scanning in the forward direction. As the carriage 32 moves, the inkjet head 33 moves in the forward direction together with the carriage 32. When the ink jet head 33 passes above the base layer S of the medium M, the control unit 50 discharges ultraviolet curable ink from the ink jet head 33 and forms the ink layer P on the base layer S. Then, the ink layer P is solidified on the base layer S by irradiating the ink layer P with ultraviolet rays by an ultraviolet irradiator.

  In addition, when the backward scanning is performed after the forward scanning is completed, the control unit 50 moves the mounting table 10 by a predetermined distance in the sub scanning direction (+ X direction). Then, the control unit 50 moves the carriage 32 in the backward direction (+ Y direction) in the main scanning direction to perform backward scanning. When the ink jet head 33 passes over the base layer S, the control unit 50 ejects ultraviolet curable ink from the ink jet head 33 and forms the ink layer P on the base layer S. Then, the ink layer P is solidified on the base layer S by irradiating the ink layer P with ultraviolet rays by an ultraviolet irradiator. Note that the control unit 50 may not perform backward scanning depending on image data.

  The control unit 50 causes the second processing unit 30 to repeatedly scan in the forward direction (−Y direction) and the backward direction (+ Y direction) in the main scanning direction. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 7, an image Q by the ink layer P is formed on the medium M. After the image Q is formed on the medium M, the control unit 50 returns the carriage 32 to the standby position and moves the mounting table 10 in the sub-scanning direction.

  As described above, the printing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment moves the mounting table 10, the first dispenser 24, and the inkjet head 33 relative to each other while maintaining the Y-bar distance D <b> 1. It is possible to cause the medium M to continuously perform the first process by the above and the second process by the inkjet head 33 at an appropriate timing. Thereby, a plurality of processes can be efficiently performed on the medium M. Further, since the first dispenser 24 and the inkjet head 33 are guided in the main scanning direction (Y direction) by the first Y bar 21 and the second Y bar 31, respectively, the direction in which the first dispenser 24 performs the first process, and the inkjet The direction in which the head 33 performs the second process can be aligned. This makes it easy to perform the second process by aligning the position of the medium M on which the first process has been performed (the base layer S).

  In the printing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, the control unit 50 causes the first dispenser 24 that is the first head and the inkjet head 33 that is the second head to be parallel to each other by the first Y bar 21 and the second Y bar 31. The first process and the second process are performed by moving in the direction. For this reason, the first dispenser 24 and the inkjet head 33 can each eject ink in the same direction (main scanning direction, Y direction). Thereby, the operation | movement which performs a 2nd process on the area | region in which the 1st process was performed can be performed easily. For example, when a band-like region (underlayer S) along the main scanning direction is formed by the first processing, the inkjet head 33 may complete the second processing by one or several scans in the main scanning direction. Therefore, image formation can be performed efficiently.

  In addition, for example, when the first dispenser 24 or the inkjet head 33 is moved using a robot, teaching by an operator or the like is required for each movement, but the printing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment has such a technique. Teaching is unnecessary. Thereby, the burden on the operator can be reduced and the time can be shortened.

  In the printing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, the first processing unit 20 includes a plurality of heads (for example, the first dispenser 24 and the second dispenser 25) that are individually movable in the main scanning direction. Thus, it is possible to efficiently process the medium M. In addition, by making each head individually movable in the main scanning direction, a head that is not used (second dispenser 25 in the present embodiment) can be kept on standby. As a result, the weight of the carriage can be reduced, so that the power required for driving the carriage can be reduced.

  In the printing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, the control unit 50 adjusts the Y-bar distance D1 according to the contents of the first process and the second process. Even when the contents of the second process are different for each image forming operation, the first process and the second process can be continuously performed on the medium M at an appropriate timing.

  In the printing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, the first process is a process of ejecting the first ink (ink containing a base material in the present embodiment) to the medium M, and the second process is ejected to the medium M. Since the process is performed on the applied base material (the base layer S), after the first ink is ejected onto the medium M, the process on the ejected first ink can be performed at an appropriate timing.

  Further, in the printing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, the second process is a process of ejecting the second ink (ultraviolet curable ink in the present embodiment) on the first ink ejected onto the medium M, so that the base layer The process of discharging the ultraviolet curable ink over S can be performed at an appropriate timing.

  The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and appropriate modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, in the above embodiment, the first process is a process for ejecting the first ink to the medium M, and the second process is a process for ejecting the second ink so as to overlap the first ink ejected to the medium M. Although a case has been described as an example, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the first process may be a process of ejecting the first ink to the medium M, and the second process may be a process of flattening the first ink ejected to the medium M.

  In this case, in the first process, for example, an ultraviolet curable ink is ejected onto a predetermined region of the medium M to form an ink layer. In the second process, a head including a flattening unit such as a flattening roller and an ink recovery unit is scanned in the main scanning direction, and the ink layer is flattened by the flattening roller. A part of the ink layer removed by the flattening roller is collected by the ink collecting unit. Thereby, the formation of the ink layer as the first process and the flattening process as the second process can be performed continuously at appropriate timing.

  Further, for example, the first process may be a process of ejecting the first ink to the medium M to form the ink layer P, and the second process may be a post-process of ejecting the softening agent to the ink layer P. . Thereby, the texture of the image Q formed on the medium M can be improved.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the first process is a process for ejecting the first ink to the medium M, and the second process is a process for the first ink ejected to the medium M. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the second process may be a process different from the process for the first ink. For example, as a first process, a process of ejecting a first ink (ink containing a base material) is performed on the medium M, a print process is performed on the base material after the first process, and then an ink is used as a second process. You may perform the post-process which discharges a softening agent to the layer P. FIG. In this case, for example, the ink containing the base agent can be discharged from one of the first dispenser 24 and the second dispenser 25 and the softening agent can be discharged from the other. Thereby, it is possible to efficiently perform processing on the medium M by a plurality of heads.

  For example, the second process may be a process of cutting a part of the medium M on which the first ink is ejected. In this case, in the first process, for example, an ultraviolet curable ink is ejected onto a predetermined region of the medium M to form an ink layer. In the second process, the head having the cutting unit is scanned in the main scanning direction, and the medium M is cut in the main scanning direction by the cutting unit. Thereby, the formation of the ink layer as the first process and the cutting process of the medium M as the second process can be continuously performed at appropriate timing.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a printing apparatus 100A according to a modification. In the printing apparatus 100A shown in FIG. 8, a cutter 27 is arranged in addition to the first dispenser 24 and the second dispenser 25 in the first processing unit 20A. The cutter 27 is a unit capable of cutting the medium M, and is mounted on the third carriage 26.

  The third carriage 26 is held by the first Y bar 21 and can reciprocate in the main scanning direction (Y direction) along the first Y bar 21. The third carriage 26 is controlled to move in the main scanning direction separately from the first carriage 22 and the second carriage 23, respectively. The third carriage 26 stands by at a predetermined standby position when it does not move in the main scanning direction. Therefore, like the first carriage 22 and the second carriage 23, the third carriage 26 starts moving from the respective standby positions in the main scanning direction, and returns to the standby position when the movement is completed.

  When the cutter 27 is used, the raster control for cutting the medium M with the cutter 27 while controlling the movement of the third carriage 26 in the main scanning direction, the movement control of the third carriage 26 in the main scanning direction, and the first Y bar 21 Vector control for cutting the medium M with the cutter 27 can be performed while controlling movement in the sub-scanning direction (X direction). Therefore, by combining the raster control and the vector control, the cutter 27 can be freely moved in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction, so that a cutting line having a desired shape can be formed on the medium M.

  9 and 10 are diagrams illustrating an example of a printing apparatus 100B according to a modification. In the printing apparatus 100B shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, an inkjet head 29 is disposed in the first processing unit 20B in place of the first dispenser 24 and the second dispenser 25. The configuration can be the same as that of the inkjet head 33 described above.

  That is, the inkjet head 29 ejects ultraviolet curable ink toward the work surface 11 as the first ink. The ink-jet head 29 is mounted on the carriage 28 and can reciprocate in the main scanning direction as the carriage 28 moves along the main scanning direction. The inkjet head 29 is connected to an ink tank (not shown) mounted on the carriage 28 via various ink flow paths, regulators, pumps, and the like, for example.

  A plurality of inkjet heads 29 are provided in accordance with the type of ultraviolet curable ink used for image formation on the medium M. The inkjet head 29 ejects ultraviolet curable ink in the ink tank toward the work surface 11 by an inkjet method. Examples of the ultraviolet curable ink include white ink, colored ink such as cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K) according to the color of the image formed on the medium M, and the like. Transparent ink or the like can be used as appropriate. The inkjet head 29 is electrically connected to the control unit 50 (see FIG. 1), and the driving of the inkjet head 29 is controlled by the control unit 50.

  Next, when an image forming operation is performed on the medium M in the printing apparatus 100B, the control unit 50 adjusts the distance between Y bars. The Y bar control unit 53 acquires the set value of the moving speed of the mounting table 10, calculates the distance based on the set moving time and the acquired moving speed, and sets the calculation result as the Y-bar distance D2. . The control unit 50 performs the subsequent processing while maintaining the Y-bar distance D2.

  Next, the control unit 50 causes the first processing unit 20B to perform the first process on the medium M. The control unit 50 moves the carriage 28 in the forward direction (−Y direction) of the main scanning direction to perform scanning in the forward direction. As the carriage 28 moves, the inkjet head 29 moves in the forward direction together with the carriage 28. When the inkjet head 29 passes through a predetermined position of the medium M, the control unit 50 ejects ultraviolet curable ink from the inkjet head 29 to form an ink layer P2 having a predetermined shape. Then, the ink layer P2 is solidified on the surface of the medium M by irradiating the ink layer P2 with ultraviolet rays by an ultraviolet irradiator. The ink layer P2 has a shape (for example, a cross shape) in which linear portions protrude radially from the central portion. The shape of the ink layer P2 is not limited to the above shape.

  After the ink layer P2 is solidified, the control unit 50 returns the carriage 28 to the standby position and moves the mounting table 10 toward the second processing unit 30 at a preset moving speed. The control unit 50 moves the carriage 32 disposed in the second processing unit 30 in the forward direction of the main scanning direction and waits at the start position of the second processing.

  When the mounting table 10 reaches below the second processing unit 30, the control unit 50 causes the second processing unit 30 to perform the second process on the medium M. As shown in FIG. 10, the control unit 50 moves the carriage 32 in the forward direction (−Y direction) in the main scanning direction to perform scanning in the forward direction. As the carriage 32 moves, the inkjet head 33 moves in the forward direction together with the carriage 32.

  When the inkjet head 33 passes above the ink layer P2 of the medium M, the control unit 50 ejects ultraviolet curable ink from the inkjet head 33, and the ink is placed at a position between adjacent linear portions of the ink layer P2. Layer P3 is formed. The ink layer P3 is formed at a position spaced from the straight line portion of the ink layer P2. Then, the ink layer P3 is solidified by irradiating the ink layer P3 with ultraviolet rays by an ultraviolet irradiator. By solidifying the ink layer P3, an image QB including the ink layer P2 and the ink layer P3 is formed.

  As described above, the area where the second ink is formed in the second process is not limited to the area overlapping the first ink formed in the first process, and the position corresponding to the ink layer P2 formed in the first process. If so, the ink layer P3 may be formed at a position that does not overlap the ink layer P2.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Mounting base 11 Work surface 20, 20A, 20B 1st process part 21 1st Y bar 22 1st carriage 23 2nd carriage 24 1st dispenser 25 2nd dispenser 26 3rd carriage 27 Cutter 28, 32 Carriage 29, 33 Inkjet head 30 Second processing unit 31 Second Y bar 40 Drive unit 41 Y bar drive unit 42 Relative movement unit 43 Carriage drive unit 44 Mounting table driving unit 50 Control unit 51 Head control unit 52 Mounting table control unit 53 Y bar control unit 54 Carriage control Section 60 Storage section 100, 100A, 100B Printing device D1, D2 Y-bar distance M Media P, P2, P3 Ink layer Q, QB Image S Underlayer

Claims (9)

A mounting table for supporting the media;
A first processing unit having a first head that performs a first process on the medium, and a first guide member that guides the first head in a main scanning direction;
A second head that is arranged side by side in the sub-scanning direction intersecting the main scanning direction with respect to the first processing unit, and that performs a second process that is a process performed after the first process on the medium; A second processing unit having a second guide member for guiding the second head in the main scanning direction;
A guide member drive unit that moves the first guide member and the second guide member in the sub-scanning direction;
A relative movement unit that relatively moves the mounting table and each of the first head and the second head;
The relative movement unit performs the relative movement while maintaining the distance in the sub-scanning direction between the first guide member and the second guide member by the guide member driving unit, and the first head causes the first head to perform the relative movement. And a control unit that causes the second head to perform the second process.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit adjusts the distance according to contents of the first process and the second process. The first process is a process of ejecting a first ink to the medium;
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second process is a process for a position corresponding to the first ink ejected onto the medium.   The printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the second process is a process of ejecting a second ink so as to overlap the first ink ejected onto the medium. The media is a fabric,
The first ink is a base material;
The printing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the second ink is an ink for forming an image.   The printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the second process is a process of flattening the first ink ejected onto the medium.   The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein at least one of the first processing unit and the second processing unit includes a plurality of the heads that are individually movable in the main scanning direction. A mounting table for supporting the media;
A first processing unit having a printing head that performs a printing process on the medium, and a first guide member that guides the printing head in a main scanning direction;
A first head that is arranged side by side in the sub-scanning direction intersecting the main scanning direction with respect to the first processing unit and that performs a first process different from the print process on the medium; A second processing unit having a second head for performing a second process, which is a process performed later, and a second guide member for guiding the first head and the second head in the main scanning direction;
A guide member drive unit that moves the first guide member and the second guide member in the sub-scanning direction;
A relative movement unit that relatively moves the mounting table and the respective heads of the printing head, the first head, and the second head;
A control unit that causes the first head to perform the first process and causes the second head to perform the second process. A first guide member for guiding a first head for performing a first process on the medium in a main scanning direction; and the medium arranged side by side in a sub-scanning direction intersecting the main scanning direction with respect to the first guide member. A state in which the distance in the sub-scanning direction is maintained between the second head that performs the second process and the second process that is performed after the first process and the second guide member that guides the second head in the main scanning direction. The medium and the first head are moved relative to each other, and the first processing is performed by the first head;
A printing method comprising: relatively moving the medium and the second head after the first processing, and performing the second processing by the second head.

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