EP3698978B1 - Flüssigkeitsausstossvorrichtung, lichtemissionssteuerungsverfahren für flüssigkeitsausstossvorrichtung und lichtemissionssteuerungsprogramm - Google Patents

Flüssigkeitsausstossvorrichtung, lichtemissionssteuerungsverfahren für flüssigkeitsausstossvorrichtung und lichtemissionssteuerungsprogramm Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3698978B1
EP3698978B1 EP20154557.1A EP20154557A EP3698978B1 EP 3698978 B1 EP3698978 B1 EP 3698978B1 EP 20154557 A EP20154557 A EP 20154557A EP 3698978 B1 EP3698978 B1 EP 3698978B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
head
scan direction
sub scan
liquid
head unit
Prior art date
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Active
Application number
EP20154557.1A
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English (en)
French (fr)
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EP3698978A1 (de
Inventor
Daisuke Mezaki
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Ricoh Co Ltd
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Ricoh Co Ltd
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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J3/00—Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed
    • B41J3/28—Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed for printing downwardly on flat surfaces, e.g. of books, drawings, boxes, envelopes, e.g. flat-bed ink-jet printers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J11/00—Devices or arrangements  of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form
    • B41J11/0015—Devices or arrangements  of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form for treating before, during or after printing or for uniform coating or laminating the copy material before or after printing
    • B41J11/002—Curing or drying the ink on the copy materials, e.g. by heating or irradiating
    • B41J11/0021—Curing or drying the ink on the copy materials, e.g. by heating or irradiating using irradiation
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J11/00—Devices or arrangements  of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form
    • B41J11/0015—Devices or arrangements  of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form for treating before, during or after printing or for uniform coating or laminating the copy material before or after printing
    • B41J11/002—Curing or drying the ink on the copy materials, e.g. by heating or irradiating
    • B41J11/0021—Curing or drying the ink on the copy materials, e.g. by heating or irradiating using irradiation
    • B41J11/00212—Controlling the irradiation means, e.g. image-based controlling of the irradiation zone or control of the duration or intensity of the irradiation
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J11/00—Devices or arrangements  of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form
    • B41J11/0015—Devices or arrangements  of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form for treating before, during or after printing or for uniform coating or laminating the copy material before or after printing
    • B41J11/002—Curing or drying the ink on the copy materials, e.g. by heating or irradiating
    • B41J11/0021—Curing or drying the ink on the copy materials, e.g. by heating or irradiating using irradiation
    • B41J11/00214—Curing or drying the ink on the copy materials, e.g. by heating or irradiating using irradiation using UV radiation
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
    • B41M7/00—After-treatment of prints, e.g. heating, irradiating, setting of the ink, protection of the printed stock
    • B41M7/0081—After-treatment of prints, e.g. heating, irradiating, setting of the ink, protection of the printed stock using electromagnetic radiation or waves, e.g. ultraviolet radiation, electron beams

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a liquid discharge apparatus, a light emission control method for a liquid discharge apparatus, and a light emission control program.
  • an active energy ray-curing type inkjet printer forming an image by discharging ink curable by an active energy ray and emitting active energy ray to the ink
  • an active energy ray coating printing technique for overcoating printed images with clear ink for the purpose of giving gloss to printed images.
  • the overcoat layer wetly spreads in a different manner between the areas where the transparent ink is applied and the areas where the transparent ink is not applied, and this makes the gloss of the overcoat layer ununiform.
  • Patent Document 1 suggests a technique for uniformizing the wetly spread overcoat layer by applying a matte layer of clear coating to specific areas on the basis of inverted data of color ink in order to uniformize the luster of the overcoat layer.
  • Patent Document 1 Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2015-214133 US 9 290 014 B2 discloses an inkjet recording apparatus which is able to print high quality images by changing ultraviolet intensity in the sub-scanning direction.
  • an overcoat layer having a uniform luster can be formed without reducing productivity.
  • FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view illustrating an inkjet recording apparatus, which is an example of an image forming apparatus, according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
  • An inkjet recording apparatus 10 includes a carriage 200 and a stage 11 on which a recording medium 101 is placed.
  • the carriage 200 is provided with a head unit 300 which is an inkjet type image forming unit having a plurality of liquid discharge heads provided with a plurality of nozzles, and forms an image by discharging liquid from the nozzles of the recording head.
  • the nozzles are provided on the surface facing the stage 11.
  • the liquid is, for example, an ultraviolet curable ink.
  • a light emitting module 400 serving as a light source for emitting ultraviolet rays is provided on the surface of the carriage 200 facing the stage 11.
  • the light emitting module 400 emits light having a wavelength that cures the liquid discharged from the nozzles.
  • a guide rod 19 is supported between left and right side plates 18a, 18b, and the guide rod 19 holds the carriage 200 so as to allow the carriage 200 to be movable in the X direction (main scan direction).
  • the carriage 200, the guide rod 19, and the side plates 18a and 18b are configured to be movable together along a guide rail 29 provided at the lower part of the stage 11 in the Y direction (sub scan direction). Furthermore, the carriage 200 is held so as to be movable in the Z direction (vertical direction).
  • FIG. 1 the stage 11 on which the recording medium 101 is placed is fixed.
  • an image is formed by alternately repeating a main scan operation to discharge ink from the nozzles onto the recording medium 101 while moving the recording head in the main scan direction and a sub scan operation to move the recording head in the sub scan direction.
  • the carriage 200 and the guide rod 19 function as a scan unit in the main scan direction (X direction, second direction), and the carriage 200 and the guide rail 29 function as a scan unit in the sub scan direction (Y direction, first direction).
  • the head unit 300 in the center provided in the carriage 200 discharges ink.
  • the head unit 300 includes heads (color heads) 301CM and 301YK that discharge CMYK color inks.
  • Each head 301 is formed with four nozzle row groups each having a plurality of nozzle holes for discharging ink disposed in the sub scan direction, and the CM head 301 is filled with C and M inks each in two rows, and the YK head 301 is filled with Y and K inks each in two rows.
  • the head unit 300 also includes a head 301S discharging S ink, which is a special color ink (spot color) such as a specific color that is frequently used or a special color that cannot be generated by mixing YMCK inks.
  • the head unit 300 is also provided with a front clear head 301CL1 and a rear clear head 301CL2 for discharging clear ink (transparent ink) that forms matte and gloss coat layers.
  • the upper right head in the head unit 300 does not discharge the clear ink, but, for example, discharges a primer (Pr) serving as a foundation or a second special color.
  • Pr a primer
  • Each color head has three rows of heads in the sub scan direction, and the heads that discharge clear ink are arranged in two rows.
  • Each head 301 is an example of a liquid discharge head which, when a drive signal is applied to a piezoelectric material, the piezoelectric material causes contraction which results in a pressure change, thereby discharging ink.
  • the carriage 200 moves to a maintenance unit 500 illustrated in FIG. 1 to have the head maintained.
  • the carriage 200 has a pressurizing mechanism. Any given amount of ink is discharged from the head by the pressure mechanism. When the ink is discharged, the ink may remain attached to the surface of the nozzle surface of the head 301. Therefore, a wiper 501 moves up and moves in the sub scan direction to wipe off the ink attached to the surface of the head 301.
  • the carriage 200 is equipped with a height sensor 41. The height of the recording medium 101 is measured by the height sensor 41. Based on the measured value, the carriage 200 descends until the head gap between the head 301 and the recording medium 101 becomes 1 mm or a configured value.
  • the carriage 200 moves to a predetermined position in the sub scan direction, and an image is formed on the surface of the recording medium 101.
  • the ink is cured at a predetermined timing to form a gloss coating layer after a predetermined period of time elapses since the clear ink was applied to desired portions.
  • a time for smoothing clear ink (hereinafter referred to as a leveling time) after the application of the clear ink is adjusted and set. The setting of the leveling time from when the clear ink is discharged to when the UV light is emitted will be described in detail with FIG. 7 to FIG. 12 .
  • the coating referred to herein is not limited to the gloss coating. Color coating or clear ink may be directly applied to the entire surface of the base material, or the clear ink may be applied after printing with the color ink.
  • the light emitting module 400 is composed of an assembly of multiple LED-UV lamps that use LEDs as the light source, and includes a light emitting module 400L at a left-hand side and a light emitting module 400R at a right-hand side.
  • Lamp groups 401L and 401R are divided into light emitting blocks 401L1 to 401L9 and 401R1 to 401R9, respectively, each composed of an independent lamp, and are configured to be able to control the outputs of the LEDs independently for each of the light emitting blocks.
  • the light emitting blocks 401L1 to 401L9 and 401R1 to 401R9 may also be referred to as lamps 401L1 to 401L9 and 401R1 to 401R9, respectively.
  • the light emitting module 400L and the light emitting module 400R are configured in a similar manner, the light emitting module 400R will be hereinafter explained as an example, and in such a case, the light emitting module 400R may be simply referred to as the light emitting module 400.
  • the lamp group 401R since the lamp groups 401L and 401R are configured in a similar manner, the lamp group 401R will be hereinafter explained as an example, and in such a case, the lamp group 401R may be simply referred to as the lamp group 401.
  • the lamp groups 401L and 401R are connected to a lamp moving mechanism 42.
  • the lamp moving mechanism 42 is connected to a lamp fixing mechanism 43 fixed to the head unit 300 of the carriage 200 and a guide rail 444.
  • a lamp fixing pin 45 is connected to the lamp fixing mechanism 43 through the lamp moving mechanism 42.
  • the lamp group 401 can be moved in the sub scan direction along the guide rail 44 by turning the lamp fixing pin 45 to release the fixing of the lamp group 401 and pushing or pulling the lamp group 401.
  • the lamp group 401 can be fixed with the lamp fixing pin 45 and printing can be performed at the desired lamp position.
  • FIG. 4 is an overall view (rear view) illustrating an inkjet recording apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
  • a conveying belt 71 i.e., conveying means on which a recording medium 101 is placed, is movable.
  • the recording medium 101 in the sub scan operation, is moved in the sub scan direction relative to a carriage 20 including a head unit 300 and light emitting modules 40L and 40R.
  • the conveying belt 71 and conveying rollers 72a and 72b for conveying the recording medium 101 are provided, and an attraction support plate 73 for maintaining the conveying state is provided.
  • Maintenance units 50a and 50b are provided at both sides of the conveying belt 71 in the main scan direction.
  • an image is formed by alternately repeating a main scan movement to discharge ink from the nozzles of multiple heads 301 onto the recording medium 101 while moving the carriage 20 in the main scan direction and a sub scan operation to move the recording medium 101 in the sub scan direction.
  • the carriage 20 and the guide rod 19 function as a scan unit in the main scan direction (X direction, second direction), and the conveying belt 71, the attraction support plate 73, and the conveying rollers 72a and 72b function as a scan unit in the sub scan direction (Y direction, first direction).
  • FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an entire configuration of a hardware configuration of an image forming system including the inkjet recording apparatuses 10 and 1 according to the first and second embodiments, respectively.
  • a PC 2 which is an external apparatus is connected to the image forming apparatus (inkjet recording apparatuses 10 and 1) forming an image with a mechanical structure as illustrated in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 , FIG. 4 , and the like, and the PC 2 executes image processing.
  • the functions of the image processing executed by the PC 2 may be provided in the inkjet recording apparatuses 10 and 1.
  • the PC 2 (computer) has a printer driver.
  • the printer driver converts image data to recording data.
  • the recording data converted by the printer driver is transmitted to the inkjet recording apparatus 10.
  • the recording data includes command data for operating a conveying unit 600 and the like, and pixel data of an image.
  • the pixel data is composed of 2-bit data for each pixel and is expressed with four levels of grayscale.
  • the image forming apparatus 30 (inkjet recording apparatuses 10 and 1) according to the present embodiment includes a controller unit 3, a detection group 4, a conveying unit 600, a carriage 200, a head unit 300, a light emitting module 400, and a maintenance unit 500.
  • the controller unit 3 includes a unit control circuit 31, a memory 32, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 33, and an interface (I/F) 34.
  • the controller unit 3 controls each unit based on the data received from the PC 2, i.e., a computer, and forms an image.
  • the controller unit 3 is also a computer that controls each unit based on detection data from the detection group 4 and the like.
  • the interface 34 is an interface for connecting the image forming apparatus 30 (10, 1) to the external PC (Personal Computer) 2.
  • the connection between the image forming apparatus 30 and the PC 2 can be any connection, including, for example, a connection via a network or a connection via a communication cable directly connecting the image forming apparatus 30 and the PC 2.
  • the detection group 4 includes, for example, various sensors provided in the inkjet recording apparatus 10 (1) such as the height sensor 41 illustrated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 .
  • the CPU 33 controls the operation of each unit of the inkjet recording apparatus 10 via the unit control circuit 31 using the memory 32 as a work area. More specifically, the CPU 33 controls the operation of each unit based on the recording data received from the PC 2 and the data detected by the detection group 4, and forms an image which is a liquid application surface 102 on the recording medium 101 (base material).
  • FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram illustrating image processing in an image forming system according to the present invention.
  • the image processing apparatus 12 includes a main control unit 13.
  • the main control unit 13 is a computer that includes a CPU and the like, and controls the entire image processing apparatus 12.
  • the main control unit 13 may be constituted by units other than a general-purpose CPU.
  • the main control unit 13 may be constituted by a circuit or the like.
  • the image processing apparatus 12 may be implemented by a PC 2 connected to the image forming apparatus 30, or may be provided in the image forming apparatus 30.
  • the main control unit 13 includes a data reception unit 12A, a data generation unit 12B, and a data output unit 12C.
  • a part or all of the data reception unit 12A, the data generation unit 12B, and the data output unit 12C may be implemented by causing a processing apparatus such as a CPU to execute a program, i.e., implemented by software, or may be implemented by hardware such as an IC (Integrated Circuit), or may be implemented using a combination of software and hardware.
  • the data reception unit 12A receives image data.
  • the image data is information such as the shape and color of the image to be formed.
  • the data reception unit 12A may acquire image data from an external apparatus via a communication unit, or may acquire image data from storage means provided in the image processing apparatus 12.
  • the data generation unit 12B performs predetermined data processing such as mask processing on the image data received by the data reception unit 12A.
  • predetermined data processing such as mask processing
  • color ink image data and clear ink image data are generated based on image data (for example, JPEG image data) and a desired glossiness.
  • the data output unit 12C outputs the image data generated by the data generation unit 12B to the image forming apparatus 30.
  • the image forming apparatus 30 (10, 1) includes a recording drive unit 26, a printing mode reception unit 21, a light emitting unit 22, first and second drive units 23, 24, a recording control unit 27, and a light-emission control unit 28.
  • the recording drive unit 26 is a head drive unit that drives the head units 300K to 300W to discharge droplets of ink based on the image data controlled by the recording control unit 27.
  • the light emitting unit 22 corresponds to the lamp groups 401R and 401L serving as light sources in the light emitting modules 400R and 400L provided in the carriage 200, and is a light emission drive unit that turns ON and OFF each light emitting block including one or more lamps obtained by dividing the lamp groups 401R and 401L in the sub scan direction.
  • the first and second drive units 23 and 24 drive the scan unit.
  • the first drive unit 23 drives the carriage 200 in the X direction during main scan (i.e., main scan movement, main scan operation).
  • the second drive unit 24 drives the carriage 200 (in the first embodiment) or the recording medium 101 (in the second embodiment) in the sub scan direction during sub scanning (i.e., sub scan movement, sub scan operation).
  • the recording control unit 27 receives print data from the image processing apparatus 12.
  • the recording control unit 27 controls the recording drive unit 26 so as to discharge droplets corresponding to each pixel from the head unit 300 in accordance with the received print data.
  • the recording control unit 27 calculates an interval between discharge of ink and emission of light, calculates glossiness of the image formed on the recording medium 101 from the amount of the discharged ink and the interval between discharge of ink and emission of light, and performs an operation to determine the amounts of color ink and clear ink to be discharged in order to uniformize the glossiness.
  • the light-emission control unit 28 controls the light emitting unit 22 so as to set the light emission timing and the light emission duration of each light emitting block of the light emitting module 400 according to instructions of a matte area (matte portion) and a gloss area (gloss portion).
  • the recording control unit 27 includes a color ink gradation setting unit 27A, a transparent ink discharge pattern selecting unit 27B, a transparent ink gradation setting unit 27C, a print rate adjusting unit 27D, and a droplet size adjusting unit 27E.
  • the color ink gradation setting unit 27A is set to apply a gradation mask, for each head, to the image data to be formed in color, so that both ends of the color head in the sub scan direction become gradually thinner.
  • the transparent ink discharge pattern selecting unit 27B selects any one of the transparent ink gradation setting unit 27C, the print rate adjusting unit 27D, and the droplet size adjusting unit 27E for each of the matte area and gloss area, so that the matte area and gloss area are painted in a different manner with transparent ink. Details for painting the matte area and gloss area in a different manner will be described later with FIG. 10 .
  • the transparent ink discharge pattern selecting unit 27B, the transparent ink gradation setting unit 27C, the print rate adjusting unit 27D, and the droplet size adjusting unit 27E function as a liquid discharge amount adjusting unit for adjusting the discharge amount of the transparent ink.
  • the light-emission control unit 28 includes a light emission area setting unit 28A and a light emission time setting unit 28B.
  • the light emission area setting unit 28A sets the area to be irradiated by the light emitting unit 22.
  • the light emission time setting unit 28B sets an emission start timing and a light emission duration of a lamp for the light emitting unit 22.
  • the detailed control of the lamp groups (light emitting modules) 401L and 401R will be described in detail with FIG. 7 .
  • the function of adjusting discharge of the transparent ink and adjusting the light emitting module 400 is provided in the image forming apparatus.
  • the function of adjusting discharge of the transparent ink and adjusting the light emitting module 400 may be provided in the data generation unit 12B in the PC 2.
  • a program may be prepared, and an operation file in, for example, a CSV (Comma Separated Value) file format or an Excel file format is stored in advance, and by loading the program to the PC 2, a discharge adjustment program for the clear ink may be executed.
  • a CSV Common Separated Value
  • FIG. 7 is a drawing for explaining the positions of the heads and the light emission states of the lamp group 401R in the carriage 200 of FIG. 3 . Since the lamp groups 401R and 401L (light emitting modules 400R and 400L) are configured in similar manners, only the lamp group 401R (light emitting module 400R) will be hereinafter explained as an example.
  • the head unit 300 is provided with, in the sub scan direction, two clear heads 301CL1 and 301CL2 for discharging UV curing-type clear ink.
  • color printing is performed with the four color heads 301C1, 301M1, 301Y1, and 301K1 disposed relatively close to a front end of the head unit 300 in the travelling direction, and then clear coating is applied by the clear heads 301CL1 and 301CL2.
  • the front clear head 301CL1 and the rear clear head 301CL2 described below mean heads discharging the clear ink at positions relatively close to a front end and a rear end, respectively, of the head unit 300 in the travelling direction (moving direction) of the carriage 200 in the sub scan direction.
  • the light emitting module 400 is composed of multiple lamps, arranged side by side, each having a light emission region arranged in the sub scan direction, and the multiple lamps can be independently controlled to be turned on and off.
  • the lamps emit light of active energy ray that cures ink (liquid).
  • the light emitting module 400 is in a state of discharge operation.
  • the lamps 401R5 to 401R8 are turned off, and lamps 401R1 to 401R4 and 401R9 are turned on. That is, a portion corresponding to the rear clear head 301CL2 is turned off, and at least a portion corresponding to the front clear head 301CL1 is turned on.
  • a part of the front clear head 301CL1 is irradiated by the lamps 401R3, 401R4 in the "ON" state, so that at least a part of the ink discharged from the front clear head 301CL1 is cured immediately after the discharge to become matte (becomes a matte area).
  • the rear clear head 301CL2 and a part of the front clear head 301CL1 are located at the positions corresponding to the lamps 401R5, 401R6, 401R7, 401R8 in the "OFF" state, and the ink discharged from the rear clear head 301CL2 is not irradiated immediately after the discharge, but is leveled and is then irradiated by the lamp 401R9 in the "ON" state to become gloss (to become a gloss area).
  • an area to which the clear ink is discharged from some of the nozzles of the front clear head 301CL1 relatively close to the front end of the head unit 300 in the travelling direction is configured to be the matte area
  • an area to which the clear ink is discharged from the nozzles of the rear clear head 301CL2 and the remaining nozzles of the front clear head 301CL1 relatively close to the rear end of the head unit 300 in the travelling direction is configured to be the gloss area, but the allocation of the areas may be configured in other ways.
  • nozzles that discharge the clear ink that becomes the matte area can be considered to be “front nozzles” in the travelling direction
  • nozzles that discharge the clear ink that becomes the gloss area can be considered to be “rear nozzles” in the travelling direction.
  • the "front nozzles” correspond to some of the nozzles of the front clear head 301CL1 relatively close to the front end of the head unit 300.
  • the “rear nozzles” correspond to the nozzles of the rear clear head 301CL2 and the remaining nozzles of the front clear head 301CL1 relatively close to the rear end of the head unit 300 in the travelling direction.
  • the "front nozzles” correspond to the nozzles of the entire area of the front clear head
  • the "rear nozzles” correspond to the nozzles of the entire area of the rear clear head.
  • the "front nozzles" correspond to some of the nozzles of the clear head relatively close to the front end of the head unit 300 in the travelling direction
  • the "rear nozzles” correspond to the remaining nozzles of the clear head relatively close to the rear end of the head unit 300 in the travelling direction.
  • ink landing areas and states of landed droplets as a result of scanning performed multiple times in a case where the lamps as illustrated in FIG. 7 are controlled to be turned on and off will be explained with reference to FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 .
  • FIG. 8 is a schematic drawing for explaining positions of scan areas by the head unit 300 on the recording medium 101 according to the first embodiment.
  • FIG. 9 is a schematic drawing illustrating states of landed droplets in respective layers for each scan on a recording medium 101 corresponding to the positions of the scan areas on the recording medium 101 illustrated in FIG. 8 according to the first embodiment.
  • FIG. 8 the drawings (a), (b), (c), and (d) illustrate the positions of the scan areas in the first, second, third, and fourth scans, respectively, in a state where the position of the recording medium 101 is fixed and the carriage 200 moves in the sub scan direction by a linefeed width.
  • FIG. 8 a bidirectional printing sequence will be explained.
  • an image is formed on a recording medium 101 by alternately repeating an operation in which the carriage scans in the main scan direction and an operation in which the carriage moves in the sub scan direction.
  • the operation in which the carriage moves in the sub scan direction during the reciprocal operation of the carriage in the main scan direction is also referred to as a moving operation for a linefeed width.
  • the linefeed width in the sub scan direction is the same as the width of the gloss area.
  • FIG. 9 the drawings (a), (b), (c), and (d) are schematic drawings illustrating the states of the dots (ink droplets) landed as a result of the first, second, third, and fourth scans as illustrated in the drawings (a), (b), (c), and (d), respectively, of FIG. 8 .
  • FIG. 9 corresponds to drawings as seen from the right-hand side of FIG. 8 .
  • the light emitting module 400 is configured such that, as illustrated in FIG. 7 , the lamps 401R1, 401R2, 401R3, 401R4, 401R5, and 401R9 are turned on at all times, and the lamps 401R6, 401R7, 401R8 are turned off at all times.
  • color ink droplets are discharged, and clear ink droplets are discharged from the front clear heads. Then, the color ink droplets and clear ink are irradiated by the front lamps 401R1 and 401R2, whereby the color ink droplets are cured, and the clear ink droplets become matte.
  • color ink droplets are discharged, and clear ink droplets are discharged from the front clear head 301CL1 and the rear clear head 301CL2. Then, the area of the color ink droplets and the front side area of the clear ink droplets are irradiated by the front lamps 401R1 to 401R4, so that the color ink droplets are cured and the clear ink droplets become matte. In the area of the clear ink droplets discharged by the rear clear head 301CL2, the light is not emitted in the same scan, and the clear ink droplets are not cured.
  • color ink droplets are discharged, and clear ink droplets are discharged from the front clear head 301CL1 and the rear clear head 301CL2.
  • the lamps 301R1 and 301R2 emit light to the color ink droplets and a part of the clear ink droplets at the front side discharged from the front clear head 301CL1, so that the color ink droplets and the part of the clear ink droplets are cured to become matte.
  • the clear ink droplets applied from the rear clear head 301CL2 are not irradiated with light and are therefore not cured.
  • the lamp 401R9 disposed close to the rear end of the head unit 300 emits light to the previously discharged clear ink droplets.
  • the third scan illustrated in the drawing (c) of FIG. 8 is an example of a first main scan movement
  • the fourth scan illustrated in the drawing (d) of FIG. 8 is an example of a second main scan movement.
  • the clear ink droplets applied to the recording medium 101 by the rear clear head 301CL2 are not immediately irradiated with light by the lamp groups 401R, and are irradiated with light by a corresponding light emitting block after a time corresponding to a single scan has elapsed.
  • the clear ink droplets which are discharged from the rear clear head 301CL2 and which are not irradiated with light in the third scan in the drawing (c) of FIG. 9 , are irradiated with UV light in the fourth scan in the drawing (d) of FIG. 9 . Therefore, since the ink droplets in the area are left for at least a time corresponding to a single scan as a time prior to lamp emission, the landed droplets in the second layer flow into the recessed portions in the uneven first layer in which the color ink is cured in an upright position, so that the surface is further smoothed (leveled).
  • the clear ink is not discharged by the rear clear head 301CL2 in the first scan, which starts the print operation. Therefore, the formation of the matte layer by the clear ink is achieved in the second scan and subsequent scans.
  • the liquid is discharged from the rear clear head 301CL2 for the first time in the third scan, and the area to which the liquid is discharged by the rear clear head 301CL2 becomes the gloss area in a subsequent scan (i.e., the fourth scan).
  • the head unit 300 has y heads in the sub scan direction, at least two of which are clear heads. Accordingly, the (y-1)-th head from the front end of the head unit 300 is a front clear head and the y-th head is a rear clear head. Therefore, the formation of the matte layer by the clear ink discharged from the front clear head is achieved in the (y-1)-th scan and subsequent scans, and the formation of the gloss layer by the clear ink discharged from the rear clear head is achieved in the (y+1)-th scan and subsequent scans.
  • the ink droplets are discharged to the front side (i.e., a right-hand side area in each drawing of FIG. 9 ) in the travelling direction.
  • the gloss area is formed closer to the rear end of the head unit 300 than a rear end of an area where the ink droplets are discharged.
  • the gloss area is formed closest to the rear end of the head unit 300 (i.e., a left-hand side area in the drawing (d) of FIG. 9 ) in the area where the ink droplets are landed on the recording medium 101. Therefore, the ink droplets are not overlaid on the gloss layer.
  • multiple heads 301R1 and 301R2 discharging the clear ink are provided in the sub scan direction, and the light emission start timing is differentiated between the front and rear clear head 301R1 and 301R2 in the travelling direction of the carriage in the sub scan direction, so that in at least the fourth and subsequent scans, the gloss layer is formed on the matte layer for every linefeed width, and as a result, the produced uppermost layer at the rear side is the gloss layer at all times. Since the matte layer is formed at all times, the matte layer can reduce unevenness even in a significantly uneven portion such as a thin portion and the like of the color layer, thus allowing the gloss layer to easily wetly spread in a beautiful manner. Therefore, an overcoat layer having uniform luster can be formed without generating special discharging data.
  • the discharge area (scan area) to which the clear ink was discharged by the rear clear head 301CL2 in the previous scan is irradiated with light in a scan subsequent to the scan in which the clear ink was discharged, so that the gloss layer is formed.
  • the gloss layer may be formed by irradiating the discharge area with light in a scan still after the scan subsequent to the scan in which the clear ink was discharged.
  • the light emission area protruding to the rear end from the area to which the liquid is discharged by the discharge heads is further moved to the rear end, or the number of scans is increased by reducing the linefeed amount, so that in a scan at least two scans after the scan in which the clear ink was discharged, the clear ink discharge area to which the clear ink was discharged by the rear clear head 301CL2 is irradiated with light. Therefore, the clear ink discharge area is left for a longer period of time before it is irradiated with light, resulting in a gloss in which the leveling has further more progressed.
  • the clear ink discharge area to which the clear ink was discharged by the rear clear head 301CL2 disposed closer to the rear end of the head unit 300 in the sub scan direction is irradiated with light after one or more scans since the clear ink was discharged, and a result, the surface thereof becomes glossy.
  • the ink discharged from the nozzles in the non-lighting portion corresponding to the lamps 401R6 to 401R8 is not immediately cured, and as a result, the ink is leveled (smoothed), and thereafter, the ink is irradiated by the lamp 401R9 to become a coating film.
  • the front side is made as a matte area
  • the rear side is made as a gloss area (overcoat layer). Therefore, an additional operation for discharging the clear ink with a time difference is not necessary, and the matte and the gloss overcoat layers can be formed in a series of operations.
  • a gradation mask is used for the matte area
  • a uniform mask is used for the gloss area.
  • the front clear head 301CL1 it is preferable to set an adjusted discharge pattern so that the application amount of the liquid at both end portions in the sub scan direction is less than that in the central portion.
  • a banding is likely to be seen due to a linefeed error in a manner similar to color areas. Accordingly, a print rate at ends is lowered in a manner similar to the color areas.
  • the rear clear head 301CL2 adjusts the discharge amount of the clear ink so as to uniformly discharge the liquid. Even in the gloss area, when the clear ink is discharged with a large dot interval in a manner of gradation, ink droplets are less likely to be unified, and do not easily wetly spread. Therefore, the gradation is not used. Moreover, in the gloss area, it is not necessary to use the gradation since a banding due to a line feed does not occur because the ink droplets wetly spread to become smooth.
  • the color heads 301C1, 301M1, 301Y1, and 301K1 and the front clear head 301CL1 have an application amount in a form of gradation in which an application amount (print rate) is lower at both ends.
  • the print rate is substantially uniform.
  • the lamps 401R3 to 401R5 corresponding to the discharge area to which the clear ink is discharged by the nozzles of the front clear head 301CL1
  • the lamps 401R3 and 401R4 are turned on, and the lamp 401R5 is turned off.
  • the ink discharged from the nozzles in the portion of the lamps 401R3 and 401R4 is irradiated immediately after the application, and therefore becomes a matte texture.
  • a banding is likely to be seen due to a linefeed error and the like in a manner similar to color areas. Accordingly, the banding is concealed by reducing a print rate at both ends in a manner similar to the color areas.
  • the mater layer is formed on the color layer.
  • the matte layer formed by the front clear head 301CL1 flows into the uneven portion to reduce the unevenness.
  • the ink coating by the rear clear head 301CL2 in the layer on or above the matte layer spreads in a beautiful manner. Therefore, when the ink coating by the rear clear head 301CL2 is cured by the lamp 401R9, a beautiful coating film is completed.
  • the rear clear head 301CL2 preferably has a uniform print rate to enable droplets to easily unify with adjacent droplets.
  • the adjusted discharge pattern applied to the front clear head 301CL1 is not limited to the gradation.
  • Other examples e.g., interleaving and reduction in the sizes of droplets that reduce the application amount at both ends will be hereinafter explained with FIG. 10 .
  • the print rate of the clear ink by the front clear head 301CL1 is set to 300 for the entire head
  • the print rate of the rear clear head 301CL2 is set to 90% for the entire head.
  • an adjusted pattern for at least both end portions such as the gradation pattern as described above is applied to the front clear head 301CL1 that discharges less ink amount.
  • FIG. 10 a drawing (a) is a bottom view illustrating an example of a discharge head, and drawings (b) to (e) are drawings for explaining various types of discharge patterns.
  • FIG. 10 illustrates an example in which the length in the sub scan direction of any of discharge patterns illustrated in the drawings (b) to (e) in FIG. 10 corresponds to the length of a nozzle row N of the head illustrated in the drawing (a) in FIG. 10 .
  • the matte area is painted using, as illustrated in the drawings (b) to (d) in FIG. 10 , an adjusted discharge mask (i.e., a mask having an adjusted discharge pattern) in which the discharge state changes in the sub scan direction, and the gloss area is painted using, as illustrated in the drawing (e) in FIG. 10 , a uniform mask (i.e., a mask having a uniform pattern).
  • an adjusted discharge mask i.e., a mask having an adjusted discharge pattern
  • a uniform mask i.e., a mask having a uniform pattern
  • the drawing (b) in FIG. 10 illustrates a gradation mask as an example of an adjusted discharge mask.
  • the gradation is a process to, for image data printed by a single head, darken around the center and reduce the number of dots discharged from the nozzles (i.e., reduce the print rate) toward the ends.
  • the print rate is a value indicating a ratio of a number of pixels in which ink is output through discharge operation according to the values of the pixel data, with respect to a total number of pixels in the pixel data corresponding to the nozzles in a head of the head unit 300.
  • the print rate becomes 100% in a case where all of any given nozzles execute discharge operation at respective positions to discharge X droplets of ink where the nozzles are capable of discharging X droplets of ink (X is an integer).
  • X is an integer
  • the print rate (%) is a ratio of a number of times output data (drive data) for actually performing discharge operation is applied to the nozzles, with respect to a denominator of X droplets.
  • the drawing (c) of FIG. 10 illustrates an end portion interleaved mask as an example of an adjusted discharge mask.
  • the print rate gradually decreases in areas having a predetermined width E at both ends of a head in the sub scan direction. More specifically, the number of dots decreases while the sizes of the dots stay the same, so that the amount of ink attached per area is reduced.
  • the gradation mask and the end portion interleaved mask are the same in that the dots are interleaved in a stepwise manner toward the end portion in the areas at both end portions.
  • the gradation mask and the end portion interleaved mask are different in that, in the gradation mask, a central portion is darkened in a stepwise manner to compensate for the interleaving at both end portions, whereas, in the end portion interleaved mask, the adjustment processing of dots is not performed in the central portion which is not interleaved.
  • the drawing (d) of FIG. 10 illustrates a droplet size adjusted mask as an example of an adjusted discharge mask.
  • the droplet size gradually decreases in areas having the predetermined width E at both ends of a head in the sub scan direction. More specifically, the sizes of dots to which the discharged droplets are attached are reduced (i.e. the sizes of the droplets are reduced), so that the amount of ink attached per area decreases.
  • a droplet amount may be selected from stepwise discharge amounts including a discharge amount for a large droplet, a discharge amount for a medium droplet, and a discharge amount for a small droplet that are set in advance.
  • a droplet size may be adjusted and set by finely adjusting a regulation size to a predetermined size.
  • FIG. 11 is an enlarged view for explaining positions of lamps 401R1 to 401R9 in the light emitting module 400.
  • a range in which the front clear head 301CL1 makes a matte area is preferably extremely short, i.e., 1/4 or less, or extremely long, i.e., 3/4 or more. This is because when the matte area is extremely short, the thin matte area is unnoticeable, and when the matte area is extremely long, the print rate in a portion that does not become the matte area is extremely low, and the matte area is almost completed, which makes the banding be less likely to be noticed.
  • the border is preferably configured to be located at a position of a low print rate.
  • the border between a lamp in the "ON” state and a lamp in the "OFF” state among the plurality of lamps is set in areas, at both end portions of the front clear head 301CL1 in the sub scan direction, having the predetermined width E (see FIG. 10 ) at both ends where the print rate is lower than other portions.
  • the single rear clear head 301CL2 is set for gloss
  • the single front clear head 301CL1 is set for matte
  • the ranges of the gloss area and the matte area can be set such that, as long as the gloss area has at least a linefeed width, the gloss area may be set as a portion of the single rear clear head 301CL2, a range slightly longer than the single rear clear head 301CL2, a plurality of rear clear heads, or the like.
  • the nozzles may be divided and set for a block of the gloss area and a block for the matte area.
  • a position at a border between a lamp in the "ON" state and a lamp in the "OFF” state is also to be changed, but the position at the border between these lamps may not coincide with the position of the border in the head between the gloss area and the matte area at which the range of the matte area becomes 1/4 or less or the range of the matte area becomes 3/4 or more.
  • the switching position (the border between a lamp in the "ON” state and a lamp in the "OFF” state) may be adjusted to a desired position by adjusting the position of an area L of the light emitting module 400 with respect to an area H of the nozzle row in the head unit 300 of the carriage 200.
  • the lamp fixing pin 45 is turned to release the fixing of the lamp group 401, and the lamp group 401 is pushed or pulled, so that the lamp group 401 can be moved in the sub scan direction along the guide rail 44.
  • the lamp group 401 moves to a desired position, the lamp group 401 is fixed with the lamp fixing pin 45 to complete the movement.
  • Such a movement of the lamp groups 401L and 401R of the light emitting module 400 is manually performed after the linefeed width is determined but before printing is executed. Note that the light emitting module 400 may be moved automatically according to a control in the apparatus.
  • an area that can be irradiated by the lamp groups 401L and 401R is preferably set so as to extend longer by at least a linefeed width toward the rear end of the head unit 300 in the sub scan direction than an area in which the clear ink is discharged to the recording medium 101 from the plurality of clear heads 301CL1 and 301CL2.
  • the linefeed width is set to B or less.
  • the two rear lamps 401R8 and 401R9 may be set as the lamps for forming the gloss area.
  • FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 explain an example in which the head width is equal to the linefeed width, and an image for the head width is formed with a single scan, so that the ink is applied to the area of the head unit 300 in the sub scan direction with three scans, but the setting for allocating the matte and the gloss according to the present invention can also be applied to a multi-pass printing sequence.
  • a linefeed occurs with a linefeed width shorter than the length of the head in the sub scan direction.
  • the area to which the color ink is discharged is 1/3 of the head unit 300. Therefore, the number of scans per each head area is eight (the number of linefeeds is seven).
  • the number of scans per each head area is eight (the number of linefeeds is seven).
  • the front clear head 301CL1 starts to discharge clear ink from the ninth (i.e., (n+1)-th) scan
  • the rear clear head 301CL2 starts to discharge clear ink from the seventeenth (i.e., (2n+1)-th) scan.
  • FIG. 12 is a control flow of discharge and light emission adjustment according to the first embodiment.
  • step S1 a print sequence and a linefeed width are set.
  • step S2 widths of a matte area and a gloss area are set.
  • the width of the gloss area is set to be the same as the linefeed width or larger than the linefeed width that is set in step S1.
  • the width of the gloss area is set to be the same as a scan area excluding an overlapped area between scans, or larger than the scan area.
  • step S3 the position of the lamp groups 401L and 401R of the light emitting module 400 are moved. In a case where this step is unnecessary because, e.g., the linefeed width is the same as that in the previous scan, this step may be omitted.
  • step S3 the lamp groups 401L and 401R are set so that an area that can be irradiated by the lamp groups 401L and 401R in a single scan movement is set so as to extend longer by at least the linefeed width toward the rear end of the head unit 300 in the sub scan direction than an area in which the clear ink is discharged to the recording medium 101 from the plurality of heads.
  • step S4 an adjusted discharge pattern is selected for the front clear head 301CL1. More specifically, any one of adjusted discharge patterns is selected and set for the front clear head 301CL1.
  • the adjusted discharge patterns include gradation, interleaving, and droplet size adjustment as illustrated in the drawings (b) to (d) in FIG. 10 , in which the application amounts of the liquid at both end portions in the sub scan direction are less than the application amount of the liquid in the central portion.
  • step S5 the lamps are turned on and off in the light emitting module 400 according to configured control information so as to be in conformity with the lengths of the matte area and the gloss area in the sub scan direction that are set in step S2.
  • the lamps 401R1, 401R2, 401R3, 401R4, and 401R9 are turned on, and the lamps 401R5, 401R6, 401R7, and 401R8 are turned off.
  • step S6 at a position closer to the front end of the head unit 300 relative to the area where the clear ink is discharged by the clear heads 301CL1 and 301CL2 while the head unit 300 moves in the main scan direction, the color head (e.g., 301K1, 301Y1, 301M1, and 301C1) for discharging color ink discharges the color ink through the gradation mask for each head.
  • the color head e.g., 301K1, 301Y1, 301M1, and 301C1
  • the front clear head 301CL1 for discharging clear ink discharges the clear ink through a mask of the adjusted discharge pattern which has been set, and the rear clear head 301CL2 discharges the clear ink with a uniform pattern.
  • the clear ink is discharged only by the front clear head 301CL1, and is not discharged by the rear clear head 301CL2.
  • step S8 at the end of the movement in the main scan direction, predetermined blocks of the lamp group 401 of the light emitting module 400 emit light to the area in which the liquid is applied to the recording medium 101 by the front clear head 301CL1.
  • the area to which the liquid is applied by the front clear head 301CL1 to the recording medium 101 is irradiated with the light and cured to become matte, immediately after the liquid is discharged.
  • steps S6 to S8 are executed in a single scan in the main scan direction (see the drawing (c) of FIG. 9 ).
  • the area to which the rear clear head 301CL2 discharges the clear ink in the ⁇ (m+1) ⁇ n+1 ⁇ -th scan e.g., in the example of the drawing (c) of FIG. 9 , the ⁇ (m+1) ⁇ n+1 ⁇ -th scan is the third scan
  • subsequent scans starts to be irradiated to form the gloss area in the ⁇ (m+2)n+1 ⁇ -th scan (e.g., in the example of the drawing (d) of FIG. 9 , the ⁇ (m+2)n+1 ⁇ -th scan is the fourth scan).
  • step S9 the carriage 200 is moved for the linefeed width in the sub scan direction.
  • step S10 The above operation is repeated until the print stops in step S10.
  • the color heads 301K1, 301Y1, 301M1, 301C1, and 301S1 and the like disposed closest to the front end of the head unit 300 reach a position facing the end of the discharge area on the recording medium 101 defined based on the image data before the clear heads 301CL1 and 301CL2 reach the position facing the end of the discharge area. For this reason, when the color heads 301K1, 301Y1, 301M1, 301C1, and 301S1 reach a position facing the end of the discharge area on the recording medium 101, the nozzles are stopped from discharging the color ink in an order from the nozzles located at the more upstream side.
  • the clear heads 301CL1 and 301CL2 continue to discharge the clear ink so as to cover the entire area in which the color ink droplets are landed on the recording medium 101 by the color heads 301K1, 301Y1, 301M1, 301C1, and 301S1. Further, the light is emitted with a time difference to the clear ink droplets discharged from the rear clear head 301CL2 so that the entire uppermost layer of all the discharge area becomes the gloss area.
  • the lamps 401R1, 401R2, 401R3, 401R4, and 401R9 which are the blocks in the "ON" state are turned off in the light emitting module 400.
  • the matte layer and the overcoat layer are formed in a single job without generating data of the matte layer, and therefore, the productivity of the overcoat layer without any unevenness in luster can be enhanced.
  • the overcoat layer without unevenness in luster can be formed while the productivity is enhanced.
  • the front clear head 301CL1 is set as matte
  • the rear clear head 301CL2 is set as gloss
  • at least a part of the front side of the front clear head 301CL1 may be set as matte
  • the rear clear head 301CL2 and a remaining portion at a rear side of the front clear head 301CL1 may be set as gloss.
  • step S8 at the end of the movement in the main scan direction, predetermined blocks of the lamp group 401 of the light emitting module 400 emit light to the area in which the liquid is applied to the recording medium 101 by the front clear head 301CL1.
  • the area to which the liquid is applied to the recording medium 101 is irradiated with the light by at least a part of a front side of the front clear head 301CL1 and cured to become matte, immediately after the liquid is discharged.
  • step S9 The area in which the liquid is applied to the recording medium 101 by the rear clear head 301CL2 and the remaining portion of the front clear head 301CL1 relatively close to the rear end of the head unit 300 in the sub scan direction is not irradiated in step S8 immediately after step S7, and then, a linefeed occurs (step S9), and in a scan after the area is left for multiple scans (i.e., n scans) to level the area, the area is irradiated by the lamp 401R9 in the "ON" state to become the gloss area.
  • the above control of the overcoat layer can also be performed in a print mode for forming a primer layer as a foundation between the recording medium 101 and the color ink droplets.
  • control for the layers above the color ink droplets are similar to the above-explained FIG.
  • the front clear head 301CL1 is explained as “front nozzles”
  • the rear clear head 301CL2 is explained as “rear nozzles”
  • the "front nozzles” may be “some of nozzles of the front clear head relatively close to the front end of the head unit”
  • the "rear nozzles” may be “nozzles of the rear clear head and the remaining nozzles of the front clear head”.
  • the "front nozzles” are “some of the nozzles of the head relatively close to the front end of the head unit”
  • the “rear nozzles” are “nozzles in a remaining portion of the head relatively close to the rear end of the head unit”.
  • the adjusted discharge pattern is preferably configured in a different manner between the front side and the rear side. Alternatively, a uniform discharge pattern may be set.
  • FIG. 7 to FIG. 12 a light emission and discharge control example has been explained in a configuration for relatively moving the carriage 200 having the head unit 300 and the light emitting module 400 relative to the recording medium 101 in the sub scan operation according to the first embodiment.
  • the above control can also be applied to the second embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5 .
  • the matte area is formed by an upstream clear head disposed relatively close to the upstream side in the conveying direction of the recording medium 101, and the gloss area is formed by a downstream clear head disposed relatively close to the downstream side in the conveying direction of the recording medium 101.
  • the "front clear head" in steps S4, S7, and S8 is assumed to be a "an upstream clear head in a conveying direction of a recording medium", and the “rear clear head” is assumed to be “a downstream clear head in the conveying direction of the recording medium”.
  • the recording medium 101 is moved for a number of linefeeds in the sub scan direction by the conveying belt 71.
  • the second embodiment is similar to the first embodiment.
  • a plurality of heads discharging clear ink are provided in the conveying direction of the recording medium 101, and the light emission start timing is differentiated between the upstream clear head and the downstream clear head in the conveying direction, so that the gloss layer is formed on the matte layer for each linefeed width in at least the second and subsequent scans, and therefore, the completed uppermost layer at the downstream-most side becomes the gloss layer at all times.
  • the matte area at the upstream side of the clear area is smoothed by removing unevenness caused by the color area, and the gloss area at the downstream side of the clear area attains a uniformly leveled state, and a beautiful gloss can be obtained in a series of operations (at a high speed). Therefore, without generating data of the matte layer, the matte layer and the overcoat layer are formed in a single job, and therefore, the productivity of the overcoat layer without unevenness in luster can be enhanced. In other words, the overcoat layer without unevenness in luster is formed while a high productivity is maintained.
  • the upstream clear head is assumed to include “upstream nozzles”, and the downstream clear head is assumed to include “downstream nozzles”, but in the second embodiment, the "upstream nozzles” may be some of the nozzles of the upstream clear head relatively close to the upstream side, and the “downstream nozzles” may be nozzles of the downstream clear head and remaining nozzles of the upstream clear head relatively close to the downstream side.
  • the upstream nozzles are some of the nozzles of the single clear head relatively close to the upstream side, and “the downstream nozzles” are remaining nozzles of the single clear head relatively close to the downstream side.
  • the adjusted discharge pattern is preferably configured differently between the upstream side and the downstream side.
  • a uniform discharge pattern may be set for the single clear head.
  • the inkjet recording apparatus having the recording head according to the present invention has been explained, but the liquid discharge head and the control thereof according to the present invention can be widely applied to apparatuses for discharging liquid including inkjet recording apparatuses.
  • the "liquid discharge apparatus” is an apparatus having a liquid discharge head or a liquid discharge unit and discharging liquid by driving the liquid discharge head.
  • the recording media on which the liquid discharge apparatus can print include things to which the liquid can be attached at least temporarily, and include those to which the liquid is attached and fixed and those to which the liquid is attached and permeates.
  • Specific examples of recording media include: media in which an image is recorded such as a sheet, a recording sheet, recording paper, a film, and cloth; electronic components such as an electronic circuit board and a piezoelectric device; and media such as a powder bed, an organ model, and a test cell.
  • the recording media on which the liquid discharge apparatus can print include all those to which the liquid can be attached.
  • the recording media on which the liquid discharge apparatus can print may be things to which the liquid can be attached even temporarily, such as paper, thread, fiber, fabric, leather, metal, plastic, glass, wood, ceramics, and the like.
  • the liquid discharge head may use a piezoelectric actuator (which may be an actuator using a laminated piezoelectric element), a thermal actuator using an electrothermal conversion element such as a heating resistor, and an electrostatic actuator composed of a vibration plate, a counter electrode, and the like.
  • a piezoelectric actuator which may be an actuator using a laminated piezoelectric element
  • a thermal actuator using an electrothermal conversion element such as a heating resistor
  • an electrostatic actuator composed of a vibration plate, a counter electrode, and the like.

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Claims (12)

  1. Flüssigkeitsausstoßvorrichtung (10), Folgendes umfassend:
    eine Kopfeinheit (300) mit einer Vielzahl von Düsen, die in einer Unterabtastrichtung ausgerichtet sind, wobei die Düsen dazu konfiguriert sind, durch Licht aushärtbare Flüssigkeit auf ein Aufzeichnungsmedium auszustoßen;
    ein lichtemittierendes Modul (400), das an die Kopfeinheit gekoppelt ist und eine Vielzahl von lichtemittierenden Elementen aufweist, die in der Unterabtastrichtung ausgerichtet sind, wobei die lichtemittierenden Elemente dazu konfiguriert sind, Licht zu emittieren, um die Flüssigkeit auf dem Aufzeichnungsmedium zu bestrahlen, um die Flüssigkeit auszuhärten;
    eine Abtasteinheit (71, 19), die dazu konfiguriert ist, eine Hauptabtastbewegung und eine Unterabtastbewegung durchzuführen, wobei die Hauptabtastbewegung die Kopfeinheit und das lichtemittierende Modul dazu veranlasst, sich in einer Hauptabtastrichtung senkrecht zur Unterabtastrichtung zu bewegen, und die Unterabtastbewegung die Kopfeinheit und das lichtemittierende Modul dazu veranlasst, sich in der Unterabtastrichtung zu bewegen, oder durch ein Förderband (71) und Förderrollen (72a, 72b) zum Fördern des Aufzeichnungsmediums (101) und eine Anziehungsstützplatte (73) zum Aufrechterhalten eines Förderzustands veranlasst, dass sich das Aufzeichnungsmedium in der Unterabtastrichtung bewegt; und
    eine Lichtemissionssteuereinheit (28), die dazu konfiguriert ist, Ein- und Aus-Zustände von mindestens einem der lichtemittierenden Elemente unabhängig zu steuern,
    wobei:
    die Düsen die Flüssigkeit ausstoßen und das lichtemittierende Modul während mindestens eines Teils der Abtastbewegungen Licht emittiert;
    ein Zeitintervall zwischen einem Ausstoß und einem Beginn der Bestrahlung der Flüssigkeit, die durch die Düsen ausgestoßen wird, die sich relativ nahe an einem hinteren Ende der Kopfeinheit in der Unterabtastrichtung befinden, länger ist als ein Zeitintervall zwischen einem Ausstoß und einem Beginn der Bestrahlung der Flüssigkeit, die durch die Düsen ausgestoßen wird, die sich relativ nahe an einem vorderen Ende der Kopfeinheit in der Unterabtastrichtung befinden;
    die Flüssigkeit, die in einer ersten Hauptabtastbewegung durch die Düsen, die sich relativ nahe am vorderen Ende der Kopfeinheit in der Unterabtastrichtung befinden, auf das Aufzeichnungsmedium ausgestoßen wird, in der ersten Hauptabtastbewegung bestrahlt wird, und die Flüssigkeit, die in der ersten Hauptabtastbewegung durch die Düsen, die sich relativ nahe am hinteren Ende der Kopfeinheit in der Unterabtastrichtung befinden, auf das Aufzeichnungsmedium ausgestoßen wird, in einer zweiten Hauptabtastbewegung bestrahlt wird, die durchgeführt wird, nachdem die Unterabtastbewegung ein oder mehrere Male seit der ersten Hauptabtastbewegung durchgeführt wurde;
    ein Bestrahlungsbereich auf dem Aufzeichnungsmedium, zu dem das lichtemittierende Modul (400) in der Lage ist, Licht in der Hauptabtastbewegung zu emittieren, dazu konfiguriert ist, sich länger zu einem hinteren Ende in der Unterabtastrichtung zu erstrecken als ein Flüssigkeitsausstoßbereich auf dem Aufzeichnungsmedium, zu dem die Vielzahl von Düsen in der Lage ist, Flüssigkeit in der Hauptabtastbewegung auszustoßen; und
    in der Hauptabtastbewegung die Lichtemissionssteuereinheit dazu konfiguriert ist, mindestens eines der Vielzahl von lichtemittierenden Elementen (401R1 bis 401R4), das in der Unterabtastrichtung einer Position der Düsen entspricht, die sich relativ nahe an dem vorderen Ende der Kopfeinheit in der Unterabtastrichtung befinden, und mindestens eines der Vielzahl von lichtemittierenden Elementen (401R9), das in der Unterabtastrichtung näher an dem hinteren Ende der Kopfeinheit als die hinteren Düsen angeordnet ist, einzuschalten, und dazu konfiguriert ist, mindestens eines der Vielzahl von lichtemittierenden Elementen (401R5 bis 401R8) auszuschalten, das in der Unterabtastrichtung einer Position der Düsen entspricht, die sich relativ nahe an dem hinteren Ende der Kopfeinheit in der Unterabtastrichtung befinden.
  2. Flüssigkeitsausstoßvorrichtung (10) nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Kopfeinheit (300) eine Vielzahl von Köpfen einschließt, die mit der Vielzahl von Düsen bereitgestellt sind, wobei die Vielzahl von Köpfen einen vorderen klaren Kopf (301CL1) und einen hinteren klaren Kopf (301CL2) einschließt, wobei der vordere klare Kopf relativ nahe an dem vorderen Ende der Kopfeinheit in der Unterabtastrichtung ist, und der hintere klare Kopf relativ nahe an dem hinteren Ende der Kopfeinheit in der Unterabtastrichtung ist,
    wobei die Düsen, die sich relativ nahe am vorderen Ende der Kopfeinheit in der Unterabtastrichtung befinden, den vorderen klaren Kopf bilden, und
    die Düsen, die sich relativ nahe am hinteren Ende der Kopfeinheit in der Unterabtastrichtung befinden, den hinteren klaren Kopf bilden.
  3. Flüssigkeitsausstoßvorrichtung (10) nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Kopfeinheit (300) eine Vielzahl von Köpfen einschließt, die mit der Vielzahl von Düsen bereitgestellt sind, wobei die Vielzahl von Köpfen einen vorderen klaren Kopf (301CL1) und einen hinteren klaren Kopf (301CL2) einschließt, wobei der vordere klare Kopf relativ nahe an dem vorderen Ende der Kopfeinheit in der Unterabtastrichtung ist, und der hintere klare Kopf relativ nahe an dem hinteren Ende der Kopfeinheit in der Unterabtastrichtung ist,
    die Düsen, die sich relativ nahe am vorderen Ende der Kopfeinheit in der Unterabtastrichtung befinden, einige Düsen des vorderen klaren Kopfs relativ nahe am vorderen Ende der Kopfeinheit in der Unterabtastrichtung einschließen, und
    die Düsen, die sich relativ nahe an dem hinteren Ende der Kopfeinheit in der Unterabtastrichtung befinden, Düsen in einem gesamten Bereich des hinteren klaren Kopfs und verbleibende Düsen des vorderen klaren Kopfs relativ nahe an dem hinteren Ende der Kopfeinheit in der Unterabtastrichtung einschließen.
  4. Flüssigkeitsausstoßvorrichtung (10) nach Anspruch 2 oder 3, ferner umfassend eine Flüssigkeitsausstoßmengen-Einstelleinheit (27B, 27C, 27D, 27E) zum Einstellen einer Auftragsmenge von Flüssigkeit auf das Aufzeichnungsmedium durch den vorderen klaren Kopf, sodass sie geringer ist als eine Auftragsmenge von Flüssigkeit auf das Aufzeichnungsmedium durch den hinteren klaren Kopf.
  5. Flüssigkeitsausstoßvorrichtung (10) nach Anspruch 4, wobei die Flüssigkeitsausstoßmengen-Einstelleinheit (27B, 27C, 27D, 27E) den vorderen klaren Kopf dazu veranlasst, Flüssigkeit auszustoßen, sodass Auftragsmengen von Flüssigkeit an beiden Endabschnitten geringer sind als eine Auftragsmenge in einem zentralen Abschnitt in der Unterabtastrichtung, und
    die Flüssigkeitsausstoßmengen-Einstelleinheit den hinteren klaren Kopf dazu veranlasst, die Flüssigkeit gleichmäßig auszustoßen.
  6. Flüssigkeitsausstoßvorrichtung (10) nach Anspruch 5, wobei die Flüssigkeitsausstoßmengen-Einstelleinheit (27B, 27C, 27D, 27E) eine Ausstoßmenge der Flüssigkeit durch den vorderen klaren Kopf in einer Abstufung einstellt, in der eine Auftragsmenge allmählich in Richtung beider Endabschnitte in der Unterabtastrichtung abnimmt.
  7. Flüssigkeitsausstoßvorrichtung (10) nach Anspruch 5, wobei die Flüssigkeitsausstoßmengen-Einstelleinheit (27B, 27C, 27D, 27E) eine Ausstoßmenge der Flüssigkeit durch den vorderen klaren Kopf einstellt, sodass eine Anzahl von auszustoßenden Punkten verflochten und in vorbestimmten Bereichen an beiden Endabschnitten in der Unterabtastrichtung reduziert wird.
  8. Flüssigkeitsausstoßvorrichtung (10) nach Anspruch 5, wobei die Flüssigkeitsausstoßmengen-Einstelleinheit (27B, 27C, 27D, 27E) eine Ausstoßmenge der Flüssigkeit durch den vorderen klaren Kopf einstellt, sodass Tröpfchengrößen von auszustoßenden Punkten in vorbestimmten Bereichen an beiden Endabschnitten in der Unterabtastrichtung reduziert werden.
  9. Flüssigkeitsausstoßvorrichtung (10) nach einem der Ansprüche 2 bis 8, wobei in einem Fall, in dem ein Bild durch Mehrfachdurchlaufdrucken erzeugt wird, bei dem das Abtasten n-mal pro jedem Kopfbereich durchgeführt wird, eine Flüssigkeit, die in einem ersten Durchlauf des Mehrfachdurchlaufdrucks durch die Düsen, die sich relativ nahe am hinteren Ende der Kopfeinheit in der Unterabtastrichtung befinden, auf das Aufzeichnungsmedium ausgestoßen wird, in einer Hauptabtastbewegung bestrahlt wird, die durchgeführt wird, nachdem die Hauptabtastbewegung n-mal ab dem ersten Durchlauf des Mehrfachdurchlaufdrucks durchgeführt wird.
  10. Flüssigkeitsausstoßvorrichtung (10) nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 2, wobei die Kopfeinheit (300) einen Kopf einschließt, der mit der Vielzahl von Düsen bereitgestellt ist,
    die Düsen, die sich relativ nahe an dem vorderen Ende der Kopfeinheit in der Unterabtastrichtung befinden, einige der Düsen des Kopfes relativ nahe an dem vorderen Ende der Kopfeinheit in der Unterabtastrichtung einschließen, und
    die Düsen, die sich relativ nahe an dem hinteren Ende der Kopfeinheit in der Unterabtastrichtung befinden, verbleibende Düsen des Kopfs relativ nahe an dem hinteren Ende der Kopfeinheit in der Unterabtastrichtung einschließen.
  11. Lichtemissionssteuerverfahren, das durch eine Flüssigkeitsausstoßvorrichtung (10) durchgeführt wird,
    wobei die Flüssigkeitsausstoßvorrichtung Folgendes einschließt:
    eine Kopfeinheit (300) mit einer Vielzahl von Düsen, die in einer Unterabtastrichtung ausgerichtet sind, wobei die Düsen dazu konfiguriert sind, durch Licht aushärtbare Flüssigkeit auf ein Aufzeichnungsmedium auszustoßen;
    ein lichtemittierendes Modul (400), das an die Kopfeinheit gekoppelt ist und eine Vielzahl von lichtemittierenden Elementen aufweist, die in der Unterabtastrichtung ausgerichtet sind, wobei die lichtemittierenden Elemente dazu konfiguriert sind, Licht zu emittieren, um die Flüssigkeit auf dem Aufzeichnungsmedium zu bestrahlen, um die Flüssigkeit auszuhärten;
    ein Förderband (71) und Förderrollen (72a, 72b) zum Fördern des Aufzeichnungsmediums (101);
    eine Anziehungsstützplatte (73) zum Aufrechterhalten eines Förderzustands; und
    eine Abtasteinheit (71, 19), die dazu konfiguriert ist, eine Hauptabtastbewegung und eine Unterabtastbewegung durchzuführen, wobei die Hauptabtastbewegung die Kopfeinheit und das lichtemittierende Modul dazu veranlasst, sich in einer Hauptabtastrichtung senkrecht zur Unterabtastrichtung zu bewegen, und die Unterabtastbewegung die Kopfeinheit und das lichtemittierende Modul dazu veranlasst, sich in der Unterabtastrichtung zu bewegen, oder das Aufzeichnungsmedium dazu veranlasst, sich in der Unterabtastrichtung zu bewegen,
    wobei das Lichtemissionssteuerverfahren Folgendes umfasst:
    Ausstoßen von Flüssigkeiten auf das Aufzeichnungsmedium zu einem ersten Zeitpunkt;
    Bestrahlen der Flüssigkeit, die durch die Düsen, die sich relativ nahe an einem vorderen Ende der Kopfeinheit in der Unterabtastrichtung befinden, auf das Aufzeichnungsmedium ausgestoßen wird, zu einem zweiten Zeitpunkt; und
    Bestrahlen der Flüssigkeit, die durch die Düsen, die sich relativ nahe an einem hinteren Ende der Kopfeinheit in der Unterabtastrichtung befinden, auf das Aufzeichnungsmedium ausgestoßen wird, zu einem dritten Zeitpunkt,
    wobei ein Intervall zwischen dem ersten Zeitpunkt und dem dritten Zeitpunkt länger als ein Intervall zwischen dem ersten Zeitpunkt und dem zweiten Zeitpunkt ist.
  12. Lichtemissionssteuerprogramm für eine Flüssigkeitsausstoßvorrichtung (10), wobei die Flüssigkeitsausstoßvorrichtung Folgendes einschließt:
    eine Kopfeinheit (300) mit einer Vielzahl von Düsen, die in einer Unterabtastrichtung ausgerichtet sind, wobei die Düsen dazu konfiguriert sind, durch Licht aushärtbare Flüssigkeit auf ein Aufzeichnungsmedium auszustoßen;
    ein lichtemittierendes Modul (400), das an die Kopfeinheit gekoppelt ist und eine Vielzahl von lichtemittierenden Elementen aufweist, die in der Unterabtastrichtung ausgerichtet sind, wobei die lichtemittierenden Elemente dazu konfiguriert sind, Licht zu emittieren, um die Flüssigkeit auf dem Aufzeichnungsmedium zu bestrahlen, um die Flüssigkeit auszuhärten; und
    eine Abtasteinheit (71, 19), die dazu konfiguriert ist, eine Hauptabtastbewegung und eine Unterabtastbewegung durchzuführen, wobei die Hauptabtastbewegung die Kopfeinheit und das lichtemittierende Modul dazu veranlasst, sich in einer Hauptabtastrichtung senkrecht zur Unterabtastrichtung zu bewegen, und die Unterabtastbewegung die Kopfeinheit und das lichtemittierende Modul dazu veranlasst, sich in der Unterabtastrichtung zu bewegen, oder, durch ein Förderband (71) und Förderrollen (72a, 72b) zum Fördern des Aufzeichnungsmediums (101) und eine Anziehungsstützplatte (73) zum Aufrechterhalten eines Förderzustands, veranlasst, dass sich das Aufzeichnungsmedium in der Unterabtastrichtung bewegt,
    wobei das Lichtemissionssteuerprogramm die Flüssigkeitsausstoßvorrichtung veranlasst, Vorgänge durchzuführen, die Folgendes umfassen:
    Ausstoßen von Flüssigkeiten auf das Aufzeichnungsmedium zu einem ersten Zeitpunkt;
    Bestrahlen der Flüssigkeit, die durch die Düsen, die sich relativ nahe an einem vorderen Ende der Kopfeinheit in der Unterabtastrichtung befinden, auf das Aufzeichnungsmedium ausgestoßen wird, zu einem zweiten Zeitpunkt; und
    Bestrahlen der Flüssigkeit, die durch die Düsen, die sich relativ nahe an einem hinteren Ende der Kopfeinheit in der Unterabtastrichtung befinden, auf das Aufzeichnungsmedium ausgestoßen wird, zu einem dritten Zeitpunkt,
    wobei ein Intervall zwischen dem ersten Zeitpunkt und dem dritten Zeitpunkt länger als ein Intervall zwischen dem ersten Zeitpunkt und dem zweiten Zeitpunkt ist.
EP20154557.1A 2019-02-20 2020-01-30 Flüssigkeitsausstossvorrichtung, lichtemissionssteuerungsverfahren für flüssigkeitsausstossvorrichtung und lichtemissionssteuerungsprogramm Active EP3698978B1 (de)

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