JP2007069474A - Inkjet apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an inkjet apparatus which enables downsizing of the whole apparatus in the apparatus constitution in which a maintenance mechanism for performing the maintenance of an inkjet head is provided. <P>SOLUTION: The inkjet apparatus 100 is provided with a platen 27 whose upper face is a supporting face for a recording medium S, a recording medium conveying means for conveying the recording medium S in one direction on the platen, a head moving means 29 for moving the inkjet head 25 in the direction intersecting at right angles the one direction and parallel to the supporting face, the maintenance mechanism for maintenance of the head stored in the platen 27 at an arbitrary position on a moving locus of the inkjet head 25, and an opening means for opening a part of the platen 27 and exposing the maintenance mechanism. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an industrial inkjet apparatus that records a wide drawing range, such as wide format, textile printing, large posters, and wallpaper printing, and more particularly to an apparatus provided with a maintenance mechanism that performs maintenance of an inkjet head.

  The ink jet recording apparatus has a plurality of piezoelectric elements, a vibration plate that transmits vibration generated by the piezoelectric elements, and a plurality of nozzle holes corresponding to the piezoelectric elements, and ejects ink droplets from the nozzle holes according to the vibration of the vibration plate. And a substrate to be configured. The substrate includes a nozzle plate having a plurality of nozzle holes and a flow path forming member that forms a flow path communicating with the nozzle holes. When a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element, the tip surface of the piezoelectric element is displaced in the thickness direction of the diaphragm. This displacement changes the volume in the flow path. Then, the pressure in the flow path increases and ink droplets are ejected from the nozzle holes corresponding to the flow path.

  By the way, recently, an active energy curable ink jet apparatus has been proposed in which ink that is cured by active energy such as ultraviolet rays and electron beams is ejected onto a recording medium using an ink jet head, and the ink is cured by irradiation with active energy to form an image. Has been. This active energy curable ink jet apparatus has features such as being environmentally friendly, capable of being recorded at high speed on various recording media, and capable of obtaining high-definition images that are difficult to bleed. Because of these advantages, the active energy curable ink jet apparatus is expected to be highly usable as an industrial ink jet apparatus for recording a wide drawing range such as wide format, textile printing, large posters, and wallpaper printing.

  On the other hand, some inkjet devices include a maintenance mechanism for removing dust from the inkjet head nozzle and preventing ink clogging in the nozzle. For example, in Patent Document 1, the recording medium S is moved in the front-rear direction (vertical direction in FIG. 7) on the inverted saddle-shaped platen 1, and the inkjet head 3 is recorded above the recording medium mounted on the platen 1. A paper moving type ink jet apparatus that ejects ink droplets from the nozzles 7 of the ink jet head 3 at a predetermined timing while moving along the guide rail 5 in the Y direction (left and right direction in FIG. 7) substantially parallel to the medium S. 10 is disclosed.

  In the ink jet apparatus 10, a maintenance mechanism 9 is provided on the side of the platen, and the ink jet head 3 is moved to the side of the platen provided with the maintenance mechanism 9 to enable maintenance of the ink jet head 3. The maintenance mechanism 9 includes a wiping means 13 for wiping the nozzles 7 arranged on the lower surface of the inkjet head with a wiper 11 made of a rubber plate, and a capping means 17 for covering the nozzles 7 arranged on the lower surface of the inkjet head with a cap 15. ing. In the figure, reference numeral 18 denotes a presser roller that sandwiches the recording medium S with a feed roller (not shown) and moves the platen 1 in the front-rear direction. A sponge for preventing ink clogging in a nozzle is shown.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-361881

However, since the above-described conventional inkjet apparatus has the maintenance position provided on the side of the platen, it is necessary to extend the maintenance position of the inkjet head in addition to the recording movement range of the inkjet head on the platen. Further, since the inkjet head must be moved outside the recording movement range, there is a disadvantage that the head movement range becomes large and the head moving means becomes large. Under these circumstances, the conventional inkjet apparatus having a maintenance mechanism has a problem that it is difficult to make it compact.
The present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and an object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet apparatus capable of making the entire apparatus compact in an apparatus configuration provided with a maintenance mechanism for performing maintenance of the ink jet head.

The above object of the present invention is achieved by the following configuration.
(1) A platen whose upper surface serves as a support surface of the recording medium, recording medium conveying means for conveying the recording medium in one direction on the platen, and an inkjet head orthogonal to the one direction above the platen and the A head moving means for moving in a direction parallel to the support surface, a maintenance mechanism for head maintenance housed inside the platen at an arbitrary position on the movement locus of the inkjet head, and a part of the platen being opened. An ink jet apparatus comprising: opening means for exposing the maintenance mechanism.

  According to this ink jet apparatus, when the ink jet head is maintained, the ink jet head can be maintained in the same movement range on the platen as that during the recording operation. That is, when maintenance is required for the ink jet head, the ink jet head is moved to a maintenance position on the platen, and a part of the platen is moved to open the maintenance opening and expose the maintenance mechanism. As a result, the inkjet head can be maintained on the platen. That is, the inkjet head can be maintained without newly expanding the maintenance position.

(2) The inkjet apparatus according to (1), wherein the opening means moves a part of the platen in the one direction to open a maintenance opening.

  According to this ink jet apparatus, the moving direction (opening direction) of a part of the platen for opening the maintenance opening (hereinafter also referred to as “open / close lid”) coincides with the conveying direction of the recording medium. There is no need to secure a space for opening and closing the opening / closing lid in the direction orthogonal to the direction, that is, in the width direction of the recording medium. Thereby, it is possible to save the space for installing the apparatus in the recording medium width direction.

(3) A movement control signal for moving the inkjet head to the maintenance position is sent to the head moving means based on the counting signal input from the counting means, and a part of the platen is opened to the opening means. An ink jet apparatus according to item (1) or (2), further comprising a control means for sending an opening control signal for causing the aperture control signal.

  According to this ink jet apparatus, a count signal is sent from the counting means to the control means along with image recording, and when the value of the count signal reaches a predetermined value, the control means sends a movement control signal to the head moving means, The inkjet head is moved onto a platen that matches the maintenance mechanism. In addition, the control means sends an opening control signal to the opening means, and the maintenance opening is opened by the opening means, so that the inkjet head and the maintenance mechanism face each other on the platen, and the inkjet head can be maintained. Become.

(4) The ink jet apparatus according to (3), wherein the counting means is a medium number counting means for counting the number of the recording media.

  According to this ink jet apparatus, the number of recording media consumed in association with image recording is counted (counted) by the counting means, and the count signal is sent to the control means. Therefore, the ink jet head is moved to the maintenance position and maintained every predetermined number of recording media consumed. In this ink jet apparatus, it is possible to meet maintenance demands for an ink jet head that increases in accordance with the number of recording media consumed.

(5) The ink jet apparatus according to (3), wherein the counting means is nozzle operation time counting means for counting the nozzle operation time of the ink jet head.

  According to this ink jet apparatus, the nozzle operating time that increases with image recording is counted (counted) by the counting means, and the count signal is sent to the control means. Therefore, the inkjet head is moved to the maintenance position and maintained every predetermined nozzle operation time. In this ink jet apparatus, it is possible to respond to the maintenance demand of the ink jet head that increases in accordance with the nozzle operation time.

(6) The ink jet apparatus according to (3), wherein the counting means is nozzle operating time counting means for counting a nozzle non-operating time of the ink jet head.

  According to this ink jet apparatus, the nozzle non-operation time is counted (counted) by the counting means, and the count signal is sent to the control means. Therefore, the inkjet head is moved to the maintenance position and maintained every predetermined nozzle operation time. In this ink jet apparatus, it is possible to respond to the maintenance demand of the ink jet head that increases in accordance with the nozzle non-operation time.

(7) A movement control signal for moving the inkjet head to a maintenance position is sent to the head moving means by a manual signal, and an opening control signal for opening a part of the platen is opened to the opening means. The inkjet apparatus according to any one of (1) to (7), further comprising a control unit for sending out.

  According to this ink jet apparatus, the control means sends a movement control signal to the head moving means, the ink jet head moves to the maintenance position, and the opening control signal is sent to the opening means so that a part of the platen is opened. Is done.

  According to the ink jet device of the present invention, a maintenance mechanism for head maintenance is accommodated inside the platen at an arbitrary position on the movement trajectory of the ink jet head, and a part of the platen is opened by the opening means. Therefore, during the maintenance of the inkjet head, the inkjet head can be maintained in the same movement range on the platen as during the printing operation, and there is no need to newly expand the maintenance position of the inkjet head. As a result, it is not necessary to provide a maintenance position on the side of the platen as in the conventional apparatus, the apparatus can be made compact, and the head moving range can be reduced, so that the head moving means can be reduced in size.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of an ink jet apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an ink jet apparatus according to the present invention.
An active energy curable ink jet apparatus (hereinafter simply referred to as “inkjet apparatus”) 100 includes an apparatus main body 21 and support legs 23 that support the apparatus main body 21. The apparatus main body 21 includes a multi-channel type inkjet head (head unit) 25 and a fixed platen 27. The head unit 25 is moved in a direction (scanning direction Y) orthogonal to one direction (recording medium conveyance direction X) along a guide mechanism 29 that is a head moving means.

2 is an enlarged perspective view of an image recording unit of the ink jet apparatus shown in FIG.
The platen 27 is formed in an inverted bowl shape, and the upper surface becomes the support surface 27 a of the recording medium S. Two pairs of scanning conveyance rollers 31A and 31B, which are recording medium conveyance means, are disposed in the vicinity of the platen 27 in the recording medium conveyance direction. The scanning conveyance roller pairs 31A and 31B transfer the recording medium S to the platen 27. The recording medium is moved in the recording medium conveyance direction X. The scanning conveyance roller pair 31B holds only the end portion in the width direction of the recording medium S and reduces the diameter of the central portion of the recording medium S, thereby preventing interference with the opening / closing lid 53 of the platen 27 described later. . The head unit 25 is moved by the guide mechanism 29 in the scanning direction Y perpendicular to the recording medium conveyance direction X and parallel to the support surface 27 a of the platen 27.

  In the apparatus main body 21, a replaceable cartridge 33 for storing active energy curable ink is used for Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), and K (black) UV inks used in the inkjet apparatus 100. It is provided corresponding to. Each cartridge 33 is connected to the head unit 25 by an ink supply path (not shown) formed independently.

  The head unit 25 has ultraviolet irradiation units 35a and 35b which are active energy irradiation means on both the left and right sides in the scanning direction Y. The ultraviolet irradiation units 35 a and 35 b can be moved together by the reciprocating movement of the head unit 25. The color ink ejected from each nozzle and landed on the recording medium S is irradiated with ultraviolet rays by one of the ultraviolet irradiation units 35a and 35b passing therethrough immediately thereafter.

  A maintenance mechanism 37 for head maintenance is provided inside the platen 27. The maintenance mechanism 37 is accommodated inside the platen 27 at an arbitrary position on the movement trajectory of the head unit 25. In the present embodiment, the guide mechanism 29 is accommodated below the right side. The maintenance mechanism 37 cleans the ejection surface of the head unit 25. Further, a capping unit that covers the ejection surface may be provided during standby.

  That is, the maintenance mechanism 37 includes a wiping means 43 for wiping the nozzles 39 (see FIG. 6) arranged on the lower surface of the head unit 25 with a wiper 41 made of a rubber plate or the like, and a cap around the nozzles 39 arranged on the lower surface of the head unit 25. Capping means 47 for covering 45 is provided. According to the wiping means 43, the nozzle 39 of the head unit 25 can be wiped by the wiper 41, and dust adhering to the nozzle 39 can be removed. According to the capping means 47, the cap 45 is put around the nozzles 39 arranged on the lower surface of the head unit 25 to prevent the ink in the nozzles 39 from being dried, or the ink is trial ejected (flushed) from the nozzles 39. Ink clogging in the nozzle 39 can be prevented. In FIG. 6, reference numeral 49 denotes a sponge that ejects ink from the nozzle 39 to prevent ink clogging in the nozzle.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing the opening means provided in the platen in (a) and the maintenance opening opened by the opening means in (b).
A maintenance opening 51 for exposing the maintenance mechanism 37 is formed in the platen 27. The maintenance opening 51 is opened and closed by moving a part (opening / closing lid) 53 of the platen 27. The opening / closing lid 53 is driven to open / close by the opening means 55. That is, the maintenance mechanism 37 is exposed when the opening / closing lid 53 is opened by the opening means 55.

  A ball nut 57 is fixed to the back surface of the opening / closing lid 53 by a bracket. A ball screw shaft 59 that passes through the ball nut 57 is arranged with its longitudinal direction parallel to the conveyance direction of the recording medium S. The ball nut 57 meshes with the ball screw shaft 59 and is driven by the rotation R of the ball screw shaft 59 to be controlled to move back and forth in the recording medium conveyance direction X. A driven timing pulley 61 is disposed at the downstream end of the ball screw shaft 59 in the transport direction. A drive motor 63 is disposed below the driven timing pulley 61. A timing belt 67 is stretched between the drive timing pulley 65 and the driven timing pulley 61 that are rotationally driven by the drive motor 63 to transmit the rotational drive. The rotation by the driving motor 63 rotates the driven timing pulley 61 and rotates the ball screw shaft 59. This rotation is finally converted into a linear movement in the recording medium conveyance direction by the ball nut 57. The open / close lid 53 is configured to reciprocate between a closed position shown in FIG. 3A and an open position shown in FIG.

  Thus, in the present embodiment, the opening means 55 moves the opening / closing lid 53 in the recording medium transport direction X to open the maintenance opening 51. The movement direction (opening direction) of the opening / closing lid 53 coincides with the conveyance direction of the recording medium S, and a space for opening / closing the opening / closing lid 53 in the direction orthogonal to the recording medium conveyance direction X, that is, in the width direction of the recording medium. There is no need to secure it. Thereby, it is possible to save the space for installing the apparatus in the recording medium width direction.

Next, the control system of the inkjet apparatus 100 will be described.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the control means.
The ink jet apparatus 100 is provided with a control device 71 which is a control means. As the control device 71, for example, a computer provided with a CPU can be used. An input unit 73 such as an operation panel and a power switch 75 are connected to the control device 71. The input unit 73 can input a manual operation signal manually to the control device 71. The power switch 75 supplies power to the control device 71. ·Cut off.

  The control device 71 is connected to the head unit 25, the opening means 55, the scanning conveyance roller pairs 31 </ b> A and 31 </ b> B, the guide mechanism 29, the ultraviolet irradiation units 35 a and 35 b, and the maintenance mechanism 37. The operation is controlled by the transmitted operation control signal.

  Further, a counting means 77 is connected to the control device 71. Based on the counting signal input from the counting means 77, the control device 71 sends a movement control signal for moving the head unit 25 to the maintenance position to the guide mechanism 29, and the opening / closing lid 53 to the opening means 55. An opening control signal for opening is opened.

FIG. 5 is an operation explanatory view showing the ink jet head arranged at the maintenance position (a), and the ink jet head whose opening / closing lid is moved and facing the maintenance mechanism is shown in FIG. 5 (b). 6 is a cross-sectional view of the maintenance position as viewed from the Y direction orthogonal to FIG.
That is, as the image is recorded by the head unit 25, a counting signal is sent from the counting means 77 to the control device 71. When the value of the counting signal becomes a predetermined value, the control device 71 sends a movement control signal to the guide mechanism 29. As shown in FIG. 5A, the head unit 25 is moved onto the platen that matches the maintenance mechanism 37. Further, an opening control signal is also sent to the opening means 55 by the control device 71, and the maintenance opening 51 is opened by the opening means 55 as shown in FIG. The maintenance mechanism 37 is in a face-to-face state so that the head unit 25 can be maintained.

  Here, the counting means 77 can be a medium number counting means for counting the number of recording media S. In this case, the number of recording media S consumed in association with image recording is counted (counted) by the counting means 77, and the count signal is sent to the control device 71. Therefore, the head unit 25 is moved to the maintenance position and maintained every predetermined number of recording media S consumed. According to this configuration, it is possible to respond to maintenance requests for the head unit 25 that increase in accordance with the number of recording media S consumed.

  The counting unit 77 may be a nozzle operating time counting unit that counts the nozzle operating time of the head unit 25. In this case, the nozzle operating time that increases with image recording is counted (counted) by the counting means 77, and the count signal is sent to the control device 71. Therefore, the head unit 25 is moved to the maintenance position and maintained every predetermined nozzle operation time. According to this configuration, it is possible to respond to the maintenance request of the head unit 25 that increases in accordance with the nozzle operation time. Further, the counting means 77 may be a nozzle non-operation time counting time for counting the nozzle non-operation time of the head unit 25. In this case, the nozzle non-operation time is counted (counted) by the counting means, and the count signal is sent to the control means. Accordingly, the inkjet head 25 is moved to the maintenance position and maintained as described above. According to this configuration, it is possible to meet the maintenance request for the inkjet head 25 that increases in accordance with the nozzle non-operation time.

  As described above, in the inkjet apparatus 100, during the maintenance of the head unit 25, the head unit 25 can be maintained in the same movement range on the platen as that during the recording operation. That is, when the head unit 25 needs to be maintained, the head unit 25 is moved to a maintenance position on the platen, and a part of the platen 27 (open / close lid 53) is moved. As a result, the maintenance opening 51 is opened and the maintenance mechanism 37 is exposed, so that the head unit 25 can be maintained on the platen. That is, the head unit 25 can be maintained without newly expanding the maintenance position.

  Further, the control device 71 can perform maintenance of the head unit 25 at an arbitrary timing. In this case, the control device 71 performs movement control for moving the inkjet head 25 to the maintenance position with respect to the head moving means that is a maintenance mechanism, based on a manual signal based on an input from the input unit 73 such as pressing a maintenance switch. While sending a signal, the drive motor 63 which is one of the opening means is sent a drive signal based on an opening control signal for opening a part of the platen. As a result, the maintenance mechanism is exposed as described above, and maintenance can be performed.

  According to the inkjet apparatus 100 described above, the maintenance mechanism 37 for head maintenance is accommodated inside the platen 27 at an arbitrary position on the movement locus of the head unit 25, and a part of the platen 27 is opened by the opening means 55. Since the maintenance mechanism 37 is exposed, the head unit 25 can be maintained in the same range of movement on the platen as that during the printing operation during the maintenance of the head unit 25, and the maintenance position of the head unit 25 can be newly set. There is no need to expand. As a result, unlike the conventional apparatus, it is not necessary to provide a maintenance position on the side of the platen, and the apparatus can be made compact and the head moving range can be reduced. Therefore, the head moving means (guide mechanism 29) can be reduced in size. it can.

  The ink jet device 100 is provided with lifting means including a screw mechanism that moves the head unit 25 up and down with respect to the platen 27 in accordance with the thickness of the recording medium S mounted on the platen 27. May be. According to the ink jet apparatus 100 provided with the lifting / lowering means, the head unit 25 can be moved up and down with respect to the platen 27 in accordance with the thickness of the recording medium S mounted on the platen 27.

  In this case, it is preferable to provide a maintenance mechanism raising / lowering means (not shown) for raising and lowering the maintenance mechanism 37 up and down according to the height of the head unit 25 raised and lowered. The maintenance mechanism raising / lowering means includes an urging means including a coil spring for applying an urging force that lowers the maintenance mechanism 37 downward, and an eccentric cam that raises the maintenance mechanism 37 against the urging force of the urging means. And an electric motor that rotates the eccentric cam, an electronic circuit that rotates the electric motor at a predetermined angle in accordance with the height of the head unit 25, and the like.

  By adopting such a configuration, if the eccentric cam is rotated by a predetermined angle by the electric motor, the entire maintenance mechanism 37 can be moved up and down with respect to the platen 27. The maintenance mechanism lifting / lowering means can also be used as positioning lifting / lowering means when the head unit 25 is maintained by the maintenance mechanism 37.

  Here, the “active energy” referred to in the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it can impart energy capable of generating a starting species in the ink composition by the irradiation, and broadly includes α rays, Including gamma rays, X-rays, ultraviolet rays, visible rays, electron beams, and the like. Among these, from the viewpoints of curing sensitivity and device availability, ultraviolet rays and electron beams are preferable, and ultraviolet rays are particularly preferable. Therefore, the ink composition of the present invention is preferably an ink composition that can be cured by irradiation with ultraviolet rays.

In the inkjet recording apparatus of the present invention, the peak wavelength of the active energy depends on the absorption characteristics of the sensitizing dye in the ink composition, but is, for example, 200 to 600 nm, preferably 300 to 450 nm, and more preferably 350 to It is suitable that it is 450 nm. In addition, the (a) electron transfer type initiation system of the ink composition of the present invention has sufficient sensitivity even with low output active energy. Therefore, the output of active energy is, for example, 2,000 mJ / cm ² or less, preferably 10 to 2,000 mJ / cm ² , more preferably 20 to 1,000 mJ / cm ² , and still more preferably 50 to 800 mJ. An irradiation energy of / cm ² is appropriate. The active energy exposure surface illuminance (the maximum illuminance of the surface of the recording medium) is, for example, 10 to 2,000 mW / cm ^2, preferably, suitably be irradiated at 20 to 1,000 mW / cm ² is there.
In particular, in the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, irradiation with active energy generates ultraviolet rays having an emission wavelength peak of 390 to 420 nm and a maximum illuminance of 10 to 1,000 mW / cm ^{2 on the} surface of the recording medium. The light emitting diode is preferably irradiated.

In the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, it is appropriate that the active energy is applied to the ink composition ejected on the recording medium, for example, 0.01 to 120 seconds, preferably 0.1 to 90 seconds. It is.
Further, in the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, the ink composition is heated to a constant temperature, and the time from the landing of the ink composition to the recording medium to the irradiation of the active energy is 0.01 to 0.5 seconds. Preferably, the time is 0.01 to 0.3 seconds, more preferably 0.01 to 0.15 seconds. Thus, by controlling the time from the landing of the ink composition to the recording medium to the irradiation of the active energy to an extremely short time, it is possible to prevent the landed ink composition from bleeding before curing. .

  In order to obtain a color image using the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable to superimpose in order from the color with the lowest brightness. By overlapping in this way, the active energy can easily reach the lower ink, and good curing sensitivity, reduction of residual monomers, reduction of odor, and improvement of adhesion can be expected. In addition, although irradiation with active energy can be performed by injecting all the colors and exposing them together, exposure for each color is preferable from the viewpoint of promoting curing.

  Further, as described above, since the active energy curable ink such as the ink composition of the present invention desirably has a constant temperature for the discharged ink composition, from the ink supply tank to the inkjet head portion, It is preferable to perform temperature control by heat insulation and heating. Moreover, it is preferable that the head unit to be heated is thermally shielded or insulated so that the apparatus main body is not affected by the temperature from the outside air. In order to shorten the printer start-up time required for heating or to reduce the loss of heat energy, it is preferable to insulate from other parts and reduce the heat capacity of the entire heating unit.

  As other active energy sources, mercury lamps, gas / solid lasers, and the like can be used. Mercury lamps and metal halide lamps are widely known as ultraviolet light curable ink jets. Furthermore, replacement with a GaN-based semiconductor ultraviolet light emitting device is very useful industrially and environmentally. Furthermore, LED (UV-LED) and LD (UV-LD) are small, have a long lifetime, high efficiency, and low cost, and are expected as radiation sources for active energy curable ink jets.

  Further, as described above, a light emitting diode (LED) and a laser diode (LD) can be used as the active energy source. In particular, when an ultraviolet light source is required, an ultraviolet LED and an ultraviolet LD can be used. For example, Nichia Corporation has introduced a purple LED whose main emission spectrum has a wavelength between 365 nm and 420 nm. Further, when shorter wavelengths are required, US Pat. No. 6,084,250 discloses an LED that can emit active energy centered between 300 nm and 370 nm. Other ultraviolet LEDs are also available and can emit radiation in different ultraviolet bands. A particularly preferable active energy source in the present invention is a UV-LED, and a UV-LED having a peak wavelength of 350 to 420 nm is particularly preferable.

[Recording medium]
The recording medium to which the ink composition of the present invention can be applied is not particularly limited, and various kinds of non-absorbing resin materials used for ordinary non-coated paper, coated paper, so-called soft packaging, or the like. A resin film formed into a film can be used, and examples of the various plastic films include PET film, OPS film, OPP film, ONy film, PVC film, PE film, and TAC film. In addition, examples of the plastic that can be used as the recording medium material include polycarbonate, acrylic resin, ABS, polyacetal, PVA, and rubbers. Metals and glasses can also be used as the recording medium.

  In the ink composition of the present invention, when a material with low thermal shrinkage at the time of curing is selected, the adhesive property between the cured ink composition and the recording medium is excellent. Films that tend to curl and deform, such as heat-shrinkable PET film, OPS film, OPP film, ONy film, PVC film, etc., have the advantage that a high-definition image can be formed.

1 is an external perspective view of an inkjet apparatus according to the present invention. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of an image recording unit of the ink jet apparatus shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which represented (a) the opening means provided in a platen, and (b) the maintenance opening opened by an opening means. It is a block diagram of a control means. FIG. 6 is an operation explanatory view showing the inkjet head arranged at the maintenance position in (a), and the inkjet head in which the opening / closing lid is moved and facing the maintenance mechanism in (b). It is sectional drawing which looked at the maintenance position from the Y direction orthogonal to FIG. It is a principal part enlarged front view of the conventional inkjet apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

25 Head unit (inkjet head)
27 Platen 27a Upper surface 29 Guide mechanism (head moving means)
31A, 31B Scanning conveying roller pair (recording medium conveying means)
37 Maintenance mechanism 51 Maintenance opening 53 Opening / closing lid (part of platen)
55 Opening means 71 Control device (control means)
77 Counting means 100 Inkjet device S Recording medium X Recording medium conveyance direction (one direction)
Y scanning direction (direction perpendicular to one direction and parallel to the support surface)

Claims (7)

A platen whose upper surface serves as a support surface of the recording medium;
Recording medium conveying means for conveying the recording medium in one direction on the platen;
Head moving means for moving the ink jet head above the platen in a direction perpendicular to the one direction and parallel to the support surface;
A maintenance mechanism for head maintenance that is housed inside the platen at an arbitrary position on the movement trajectory of the inkjet head;
Opening means for opening a part of the platen to expose the maintenance mechanism;
An inkjet apparatus comprising:   2. The ink jet apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the opening means opens a maintenance opening by moving a part of the platen in the one direction.   Based on the counting signal input from the counting means, a movement control signal for moving the inkjet head to the maintenance position is sent to the head moving means, and a part of the platen is opened at the opening means. 3. An ink jet apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising control means for sending an opening control signal.   4. The ink jet apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the counting means is a medium number counting means for counting the number of the recording media.   4. An ink jet apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the counting means is nozzle operating time counting means for counting the nozzle operating time of the ink jet head.   4. The ink jet apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the counting means is nozzle operating time counting means for counting a nozzle non-operating time of the ink jet head.   Control for sending a movement control signal for moving the inkjet head to a maintenance position to the head moving means by a manual signal and sending an opening control signal for opening a part of the platen to the opening means. The inkjet apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means.

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