JP2006035688A - Ink-jet recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ink-jet recording device capable of realizing the same finishing as when laminating the surface of an image without executing lamination processing, and also, capable of adjusting the glossy feeling of an image corresponding to use purposes of the image and user's preference. <P>SOLUTION: The ink-jet recording device is provided with a color ink head 6, which discharges color ink to a recording medium 5, a transparent ink head 7, which discharges transparent ink, a ROM 19 for storing a plurality of patterns of the total number of discharge liquid droplets, in which the total number of liquid droplets for each dot of the ink discharged from the color ink head 6 and the transparent ink head 7 is specified as a pattern, and a control part 13 to control the transparent ink head so as to discharge the transparent ink of the number of the liquid droplets, in which the number of the liquid droplets of the color ink discharged from the color ink head is subtracted from the total number of the liquid droplets of the ink of each dot specified by the pattern of the total number of the discharge liquid droplets. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus, and more particularly to an ink jet recording apparatus using a transparent ink for coating an image recorded with color ink.

  In recent years, inkjet recording apparatuses have come to be used more frequently because images can be formed easily and inexpensively compared to methods that require plate making, such as gravure printing methods and flexographic printing methods. Yes.

  However, in general, an image recorded by the inkjet method has a rough surface and no glossiness, and lacks the weather resistance and scratch resistance of the image surface.

  Further, recently, an inkjet inkjet recording apparatus using a photocurable ink is known as an inkjet recording apparatus that can be used for various recording media. This is because a photocurable ink containing a photoinitiator having a predetermined sensitivity to light such as ultraviolet rays is used, and the ink is cured by irradiating the ink landed on the recording medium with light. It is to fix on top. An ink jet recording apparatus using such a photo-curable ink, which is cured instantaneously by irradiating light after landing on the ink, does not have an ink image-receiving layer as well as plain paper, and has an ink absorptivity. It is possible to record an image on a recording medium such as plastic or metal that has no material.

  When photocurable ink is used in this way, the weather resistance is excellent, but when image recording is performed on a recording medium having no ink image-receiving layer, the ink is not absorbed by the recording medium, and the ink landing portion Is hardened and fixed by light irradiation in a state of being raised on the surface of the recording medium, and irregular irregularities are generated on the surface of the recording medium, thereby degrading the image quality. In particular, when pigment ink is used, the unevenness generated on the surface of the recording medium becomes noticeable, and a sense of incongruity in image quality is generated due to the difference in glossiness due to the difference in density in the image.

For this reason, after image recording, laminating is performed on the image recording surface as post-processing. As such a laminating technique, for example, a technique for coating an image recording surface by laminating a laminate paper to a recording medium and press-bonding the recording medium (see, for example, Patent Document 1), or a laminate material in advance on the image recording surface of the recording medium A technique for applying a coating on the surface by melting the laminate material by applying heat and pressure treatment after image recording is performed (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
Japanese Patent Publication No. 2-14912 JP-A-9-70960

  However, when laminating is performed as in the prior art, after image recording, a laminating paper is laminated on the recording medium and a laminating process is applied, or a laminating material previously applied to the image recording surface of the recording medium is heated and applied. Since it is necessary to separately provide a mechanism for pressure treatment, there is a problem that labor, space, and cost are required.

  In particular, in the case of a photo-curable ink jet type ink jet recording apparatus, from the viewpoint of improving weather resistance, a laminating process must be performed even though the laminating process is not required, and a recording process capable of laminating is also possible. There is a problem that it is necessary to use a medium, and the advantage of the ink-jet recording apparatus of the photo-curing ink-jet system that an image can be recorded on a wide variety of recording media is impaired.

  Here, in addition to the color ink head for discharging the color ink of each color, a transparent ink head for discharging the transparent ink is provided, and irregular irregularities generated on the surface of the recording medium on the image recorded by the color ink It is conceivable to coat the surface of the recording medium by discharging a transparent ink so as to smooth the surface.

  In this way, the image has a high image quality, a high gloss and a glossy finish, and an image like a photograph can be obtained.

  On the other hand, there is a case where a matte finish is desired in order to improve the visibility by suppressing the reflection of light due to illumination on the surface of the recording medium, for example, when viewing a recorded image indoors.

  Therefore, the present invention realizes a finish similar to that obtained by laminating the image surface without laminating, and also adjusts the glossiness of the image according to the purpose of use of the image and the user's preference. An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus capable of performing the above.

  In order to solve the above problems, an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention includes a color ink head that discharges color ink onto a recording medium, and the recording medium on which the color ink is discharged from the color ink head. A transparent ink head that discharges transparent ink, and a plurality of discharge total droplet number patterns that define the total number of droplets for each dot of ink discharged from the color ink head and the transparent ink head as a pattern A storage unit for storing, and a transparent number of droplets obtained by subtracting the number of droplets of color ink ejected from the color ink head from the total number of droplets of ink of each dot defined in the total number of ejected droplets pattern And a control unit that controls the transparent ink head so as to eject ink.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the transparent ink is ejected onto the recording medium on which the image is recorded with the color ink, the image is coated. Furthermore, since transparent ink is ejected to each dot, the number of droplets obtained by subtracting the number of droplets of color ink from the total number of droplets of ink of each dot defined in the ejection total droplet number pattern, The recording medium surface is smoothed by storing multiple discharge total droplet number patterns that regularly define the total number of ink droplets discharged to each dot from the color ink head and the transparent ink head. In addition, regular irregularities with a fixed period are formed on the surface of the recording medium with various undulations, so that images with different glossiness can be obtained.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the ink jet recording apparatus according to the first aspect, the storage unit sets the total number of ink droplets discharged from the color ink head and the transparent ink head in all dots. A uniform discharge total droplet number pattern and a discharge total droplet number pattern in which the total droplet number of ink discharged from the color ink head and the transparent ink head is periodically changed at each dot. It is memorized.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, an image having a smooth recording medium surface and high gloss, and an image having low gloss due to regular irregularities having a constant period formed on the recording medium surface can be obtained.

  According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided the ink jet recording apparatus according to the first or second aspect, further comprising an input unit for inputting a user instruction relating to the selection of the total discharge droplet number pattern. The control unit controls the number of ink droplets ejected from the transparent ink head based on a total ejection droplet number pattern selected by inputting a user instruction to the input unit. To do.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, images with different glossiness are obtained according to the user's selection.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the color ink and the transparent ink are photocurable inks that are cured by irradiating light. And a light irradiating device for irradiating the ink ejected from the color ink head and the transparent ink head and landed on the recording medium.

  According to the invention described in claim 4, even when the photocurable ink is used, the image is coated with the transparent ink. Furthermore, the recording medium surface is smoothed by storing a plurality of discharge total droplet number patterns that regularly define the total number of ink droplets discharged to each dot from the color ink head and the transparent ink head. Or regular irregularities having a fixed period are formed on the surface of the recording medium with various undulations, so that images with different glossiness can be obtained.

  The invention according to claim 5 is the inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the color ink and the transparent ink are ultraviolet curable inks that are cured by irradiating with ultraviolet rays, and the light irradiation device includes: It is an ultraviolet irradiation device that irradiates ultraviolet rays.

  According to the invention described in claim 5, even when the ultraviolet curable ink is used, the image is coated with the transparent ink. Furthermore, the recording medium surface is smoothed by storing a plurality of discharge total droplet number patterns that regularly define the total number of ink droplets discharged to each dot from the color ink head and the transparent ink head. Or regular irregularities having a fixed period are formed on the surface of the recording medium with various undulations, so that images with different glossiness can be obtained.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the image is coated with the transparent ink, it is possible to achieve a finish similar to the case where the image surface is laminated without performing the laminating process. Furthermore, depending on the total number of ejected droplets, the surface of the recording medium is smoothed, or regular irregularities with a fixed period are formed on the surface of the recording medium with various undulations, thereby obtaining images with different glossiness. Therefore, the glossiness of the image can be adjusted according to the purpose of use of the image, the user's preference, and the like.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the recording medium surface is smoothed and a glossy image is obtained, and regular irregularities having a constant period are formed on the recording medium surface, and the glossy image is weak. The glossiness of the image can be adjusted according to the purpose of use or the user's preference.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, an image having a different glossiness can be obtained by the user's selection, so that the glossiness of the image can be adjusted according to the purpose of use of the image, the user's preference, and the like.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, even when the photocurable ink is used, the image is coated with the transparent ink, so that the same finish as that obtained by laminating the image surface is performed without performing the laminating process. Can be realized. Furthermore, depending on the total number of ejected droplets, the surface of the recording medium is smoothed, or regular irregularities with a fixed period are formed on the surface of the recording medium with various undulations, thereby obtaining images with different glossiness. Therefore, the glossiness of the image can be adjusted according to the purpose of use of the image, the user's preference, and the like.

  According to the invention described in claim 5, even when the ultraviolet curable ink is used, since the image is coated with the transparent ink, a finish similar to that obtained by laminating the image surface is performed without performing the laminating process. Can be realized. Furthermore, depending on the total number of ejected droplets, the surface of the recording medium is smoothed, or regular irregularities with a fixed period are formed on the surface of the recording medium with various undulations, thereby obtaining images with different glossiness. Therefore, the glossiness of the image can be adjusted according to the purpose of use of the image, the user's preference, and the like.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

  FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention, which is a serial head type ink jet recording apparatus 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the inkjet recording apparatus 1 has a rod-shaped guide rail 2, and a carriage 3 is supported on the guide rail 2. The carriage 3 reciprocates along the guide rail 2 in the main scanning direction X by a carriage drive mechanism 4 (see FIG. 3).

  In the central portion of the carriage 3, for example, a nozzle (not shown) that discharges color inks of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) to the recording medium 5 is formed. Two color ink heads 6 are mounted so as to be shifted from each other in the main scanning direction X along the sub-scanning direction Y, which is perpendicular to the main scanning direction X and conveys the recording medium 5. In addition, a transparent ink that coats the surface of the recording medium 5 on which an image is recorded with the color ink at a position corresponding to each color ink head 6 downstream of the color ink head 6 in the sub-scanning direction Y. A transparent ink head 7 formed with nozzles for discharging the ink is mounted.

  The ink used in this embodiment is an ultraviolet curable ink that is cured by irradiation with ultraviolet rays. As the ultraviolet curable ink, a radical polymerization ink containing a radical polymerizable compound, a cationic polymerization ink containing a cationic polymerizable compound, and a radical polymerization ink and a cationic polymerization ink were combined as a polymerizable compound. Hybrid ink is applicable. The ink includes a polymerizable compound that is polymerized and cured with light other than ultraviolet light, and a photoinitiator that initiates a polymerization reaction between the polymerizable compounds with light other than ultraviolet light, such as electron beams, X-rays, and infrared light. May be applied.

  The recording medium 5 used in the ink jet recording apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is a recording medium made of various paper such as plain paper, recycled paper, glossy paper, various fabrics, various non-woven fabrics, resin, metal, glass and the like. Although the medium 5 is applicable, in the present embodiment, a transparent non-absorbent resin film used for so-called soft packaging is particularly preferably used.

  On both sides of the carriage 3 in the main scanning direction X, an ultraviolet irradiation device 8 as a light irradiation device for irradiating the ink ejected from the nozzles to the recording medium 5 with ultraviolet rays is provided in the sub-scanning direction Y of the heads 6 and 7. Are provided from the upstream end to the downstream end.

  The central part of the movable range of the carriage 3 is a recording area for recording on the recording medium 5, and a platen 9 for horizontally supporting the recording medium 5 from the non-recording surface is provided in this recording area. .

  Further, the inkjet recording apparatus 1 includes a transport mechanism 11 (see FIG. 3) that includes a plurality of transport rollers 10 and the like, and that feeds the recording medium 5 in the sub-scanning direction Y. The conveyance mechanism 11 intermittently conveys the recording medium 5 by repeating the conveyance and stopping of the recording medium 5 in accordance with the operation of the carriage 3 during image recording.

  In addition, the upper surface of the casing of the inkjet printer 1 is configured by, for example, a touch panel, and displays a gloss mode related to a plurality of discharge total droplet number patterns described later, and the gloss selected by the user from the displayed gloss modes. An input unit 12 for inputting a mode is provided. The input unit 12 is connected to the control unit 13 described later, and sends a selection signal to the control unit 13 for selecting a discharge total droplet number pattern corresponding to the gloss mode input based on a predetermined operation by the user. It is designed to output.

  Here, the gloss mode is for adjusting the glossiness of the image by the coating performed by ejecting the transparent ink onto the recording medium on which the image is recorded with the color ink. For example, the input unit 12 can select a gloss mode with a glossy and glossy finish, a matte mode with no gloss and a matte finish, and a normal mode with moderate gloss. Has been.

  In each gloss mode, in order to realize each gloss feeling, the total number of droplets for each dot of ink discharged from the color ink head 6 and the transparent ink head 7 is defined as a pattern. Several patterns are associated with each other.

  Specifically, in the gloss mode, as shown in FIG. 2A, the gross total number of ink droplets ejected from the color ink head 6 and the transparent ink head 7 is uniform in all dots. A droplet number pattern 14 is associated, and in the normal mode, as shown in FIG. 2B, the total number of droplets of ink ejected from the color ink head 6 and the transparent ink head 7 is large. A normal total droplet number pattern 15 in which a multi-droplet dot and a small number of small-droplet dots are alternately repeated is associated with the matte mode. As shown in FIG. And a mat total liquid droplet number pattern 16 in which the number of ink droplets discharged from the transparent ink head 7 is extremely small, the number of liquid droplet dots, and the number of small liquid droplet dots are repeated at a constant cycle. Attached .

  FIG. 3 shows a control device for controlling the ink jet recording apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment. This control device includes, for example, a CPU 17, a RAM 18, and a ROM 19, and a processing program recorded in the ROM 19 is stored in the RAM 18. And a control unit 13 that executes the processing program by the CPU 17.

  The control unit 13 performs inkjet based on the status of the carriage drive mechanism 4, the color ink head 6, the transparent ink head 7, the transport mechanism 11, the ultraviolet irradiation device 8, and the like according to the processing program described above. The operation of each component constituting the recording apparatus 1 is controlled.

  In particular, in the present embodiment, the control unit 13 causes an image to be recorded by a so-called multi-drop method that can eject a plurality of ink droplets each having a small droplet amount per dot. Thus, the color ink head 6 and the transparent ink head 7 are controlled.

  Further, the number of ink droplets ejected from the transparent ink head 7 is controlled based on the total ejection droplet number pattern input from the input unit 12.

  Specifically, the ROM 19 as a storage unit stores a gross total droplet number pattern 14, a mat total droplet number pattern 16, and a normal total droplet number pattern 15 as a plurality of discharge total droplet number patterns. Then, the control unit 13 reads the discharge total droplet number pattern related to the selection signal output from the input unit 12 in response to the input of the gloss mode by the user from the ROM 19 and is defined in the discharge total droplet number pattern. From the total number of ink droplets of each dot, the transparent ink having the number of droplets obtained by subtracting the number of color ink droplets ejected by the color ink head 6 based on the image data is ejected from the transparent ink head 7. Thus, the transparent ink head 7 is controlled.

  Here, the number of droplets of color ink is the number obtained by adding the number of droplets of ink per dot ejected from the color ink head 6 for each color. In this embodiment, Y, M, C , K is the total number of droplets of ink ejected from each color head 6.

  For a dot, if the total number of droplets specified in each discharge total droplet number pattern is less than the total number of droplets of color ink and becomes negative when subtracted, transparent ink is discharged for that dot. In order to prevent the occurrence of irregular irregularities on the surface of the recording medium, the control unit 13 may control the transparent ink head 7. The total number of droplets of each dot in each discharge total droplet number pattern may be set so that the total number of droplets defined in the number pattern is equal to or greater than the total number of droplets of color ink.

  For example, when a maximum of 3 ink droplets can be ejected per transparent dot and for each color per dot, the total number of ink droplets ejected from all heads 6 of each color Y, M, C, K Is a maximum of 12 drops, for example, the total number of ink droplets ejected to multiple droplet dots in each pattern is, for example, 24 drops, the total number of ink droplets ejected to small droplet dots is, for example, 18 drops, For example, the total number of ink droplets ejected onto the droplet dots may be 12 droplets.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

  When an image is recorded on the recording medium 5, the gloss mode is selected by the user and input from the input unit 12. Then, a selection signal for selecting a discharge total droplet number pattern corresponding to the selected gloss mode is input to the control unit 13, and the control unit 13 reads the discharge total droplet number pattern from the ROM 19.

  Then, the control unit 13 subtracts the number of color ink droplets to be ejected by the color ink head 6 based on the image data from the total number of ink droplets of each dot specified in the total ejection droplet number pattern. The number of droplets thus calculated is calculated as the number of droplets of transparent ink ejected from the transparent ink head 7.

  Hereinafter, regarding the calculation of the number of droplets of the transparent ink, a maximum of 3 ink droplets are ejected for each color described above, and the total number of ink droplets ejected to the multi-droplet dots in each pattern is 24 droplets. An example will be described in which the total number of ink droplets ejected to dots is 18 and the total number of ink droplets ejected to extremely small droplet dots is 12.

  When the gloss mode is selected by the user, the gross total droplet number pattern 14 is read out. In the gross gross droplet number pattern 14, the total number of droplets of ink ejected for all dots is 24. Therefore, the total number of droplets of color ink to be ejected to a certain dot based on image data is, for example, If there are 12 droplets, 12 droplets obtained by subtracting 12 droplets of color ink from the total number of droplets of 24 droplets are set as the number of droplets of transparent ink in the dot. If the total number of droplets of color ink to be ejected to a certain dot is 24, the number of droplets of transparent ink at that dot is 0, and the number of droplets of color ink to be ejected to a certain dot is 0. If so, the number of droplets of transparent ink in the dot is 24.

  When the normal mode is selected by the user, the normal total droplet number pattern 15 is read out. If a dot is a multi-droplet and the total number of droplets of color ink to be ejected to the dot based on the image data is 12, for example, a total of 24 droplets from the total number of droplets 12 drops obtained by subtracting several 12 drops are set as the number of drops of the transparent ink in the dots. Further, if a certain dot is a small droplet dot and the total number of droplets of color ink to be ejected to the dot based on the image data is 12, for example, the total number of droplets is 18 to the droplets of color ink. Six drops obtained by subtracting several 12 drops are set as the number of transparent ink drops in the dots.

  When the mat mode is selected by the user, the mat total droplet number pattern 16 is read out. If a dot is a multi-droplet dot and the total number of droplets of color ink to be ejected to the dot based on image data is 12, for example, 12 droplets are the number of transparent ink droplets in the dot. If a certain dot is a small droplet dot and the total number of droplets of color ink to be ejected to the dot based on the image data is 12 droplets, for example, 6 droplets are the number of transparent ink droplets in the dot. Is done. Further, if a dot is a very small droplet dot and the total number of droplets of color ink to be ejected to the dot based on the image data is 12, for example, the total number of droplets is 12 to the number of droplets of color ink. Twelve drops are subtracted, and 0 drop is taken as the number of drops of transparent ink in the dot.

  Thereafter, under the control of the control unit 13, the carriage driving mechanism 4 is activated to cause the carriage 3 to reciprocate in the main scanning direction X above the recording medium 5, and from the color ink heads 6 for each color based on the image data. Each color ink of a predetermined number of droplets is ejected for each dot. The ejected color inks sequentially land on the recording medium 5, and the color inks landed on the recording medium 5 are sequentially irradiated with ultraviolet rays by an ultraviolet irradiation device 8 that reciprocates with the carriage 3, and the color inks are recorded on the recording medium 5. Cured on the top surface.

  Then, after the recording medium is transported by a predetermined amount in the transport direction Y, the predetermined droplet calculated by the control unit 13 based on the discharge total droplet number pattern selected for each dot from the transparent ink head 7. A number of transparent inks are ejected. The discharged transparent ink is sequentially landed on the recording medium 5. The transparent ink landed on the recording medium 5 is sequentially irradiated with ultraviolet rays by the ultraviolet irradiation device 8, and the transparent ink is cured on the upper surface of the recording medium 5.

  Accordingly, when the user selects the gloss mode, the total number of droplets of the color ink and the transparent ink ejected at all the dots becomes uniform based on the gross total droplet number pattern 14, and the recording medium surface is smoothed. Therefore, an image having a high gloss and a glossy feeling can be obtained.

  Further, when the user selects the mat mode, based on the mat total droplet number pattern 16, the total number of droplets of the color ink and the transparent ink to be ejected is a dot having a large number of droplets and a dot having a small number of droplets. Since dots with a very small number of droplets are repeated at a constant cycle, regular irregularities are formed on the surface of the recording medium, so that an image with a sense of matte without any sense of discomfort in image quality can be obtained.

  In addition, when the user selects the normal mode, the total number of droplets of the color ink and the transparent ink to be ejected is a dot with a large number of droplets and a dot with a small number of droplets based on the normal total droplet number pattern 15. Are repeated, irregularities having less undulations than in the mat total droplet number pattern 16 are regularly formed on the surface of the recording medium, so that an image with moderate glossiness can be obtained without a sense of incongruity in image quality.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the image is coated with the transparent ink, it is possible to realize a finish similar to the case where the image surface is laminated without performing the lamination process. Furthermore, when the user selects the gloss mode, the recording medium surface is smoothed and the gloss is strong and glossy based on the discharge total droplet number pattern corresponding to the gloss mode, and the recording medium surface has a certain period. Images with a regular ruggedness and an image with a matte feeling, and irregularities with few undulations are regularly formed on the surface of the recording medium, resulting in a moderately glossy image. The glossiness of the image can be adjusted according to the above.

  In the present embodiment, various gloss modes are displayed on the input unit 12 in a selectable manner, and when the user selects and inputs the gloss mode, a total discharge droplet number pattern corresponding to the gloss mode is selected. However, the user may directly select and input the discharge total droplet number pattern from the input unit 12. In addition, the number of the total discharge droplet number pattern and the total discharge droplet number pattern are not limited to those described in the present embodiment.

  In this embodiment, yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) color inks are used as color inks. However, the color of the ink used is not limited to this. Instead, for example, eight colors including light yellow (LY), light magenta (LM), light cyan (LC), and light black (LK) may be used as the color ink.

  In the present embodiment, two color ink heads 6 for discharging the color inks of each color are arranged along the sub-scanning direction Y, and the transparent ink heads 7 are sub-scanned by the color ink heads 6. Although one is arranged at a position corresponding to each color ink head 6 on the downstream side in the direction Y, the arrangement position and the number of the heads 6 and 7 are not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the transparent ink head 7 is positioned downstream of each color ink head 6 in the sub-scanning direction Y and corresponding to each color ink head 6 along the sub-scanning direction Y. Alternatively, two of them may be mounted on the carriage 3 while being shifted from each other in the main scanning direction X.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, only when the carriage 3 moves in the forward direction Z, ink is ejected from each head, and the downstream side portion of each color ink head 6 in the forward direction Z. Alternatively, the four transparent ink heads 7 may be shifted from each other in the main scanning direction X and mounted two by two along the sub-scanning direction Y. In the case where ink is ejected in both the reciprocating directions, for example, two transparent ink heads are shifted in the main scanning direction X along the sub-scanning direction Y on both sides in the main scanning direction X of the color ink head 6. 7 may be mounted respectively.

It is a top view which shows the structure of one Embodiment of the inkjet recording device by this invention. 4A and 4B are schematic diagrams for explaining a discharge total droplet number pattern of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present embodiment, in which FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating a multiple droplet number pattern, and FIG. (C) is a figure which shows an extremely few droplet number pattern. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the inkjet recording device which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the modification of arrangement | positioning of the head for color inks and the head for transparent inks of the inkjet recording device which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the other modification of arrangement | positioning of the head for color inks and the head for transparent inks of the inkjet recording device which concerns on this embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Inkjet recording device 3 Carriage 5 Recording medium 6 Color ink head 7 Transparent ink head 8 Ultraviolet irradiation device 12 Input unit 13 Control unit 14 Gross total droplet number pattern 15 Normal total droplet number pattern 16 Matte total droplet number pattern

Claims (5)

A color ink head for discharging color ink to a recording medium;
A transparent ink head for discharging transparent ink to the recording medium from which the color ink has been discharged from the color ink head;
A storage unit for storing a plurality of discharge total droplet number patterns that define the total number of droplets for each dot of ink discharged from the color ink head and the transparent ink head as a pattern;
Transparent ink having the number of droplets is ejected by subtracting the number of droplets of color ink ejected from the color ink head from the total number of droplets of ink of each dot defined in the ejection pattern An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: a control unit that controls the transparent ink head.   The storage unit includes a discharge total droplet number pattern in which the total number of ink droplets discharged from the color ink head and the transparent ink head is uniform in all dots, the color ink head, and the transparent ink. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a discharge total droplet number pattern in which the total droplet number of ink discharged from the recording head is periodically changed in each dot. An input unit for inputting a user instruction relating to the selection of the total discharge droplet number pattern;
The control unit controls the number of ink droplets ejected from the transparent ink head based on a total ejection droplet number pattern selected by inputting a user instruction to the input unit. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1.   The color ink and the transparent ink are photo-curing inks that are cured by irradiating light, and emit light to the ink ejected from the color ink head and the transparent ink head and landed on the recording medium. The inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a light irradiation device for irradiating.   The said color ink and the said transparent ink are ultraviolet curable inks hardened | cured by irradiating an ultraviolet-ray, and the said light irradiation apparatus is an ultraviolet irradiation device which irradiates an ultraviolet-ray. Inkjet recording device.

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