JP2009285899A - Printer and position adjustment method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To carry out the position adjustment of ejection openings utilizing printing results while suppressing increases of sizes of a plurality of inkjet head units in a scan direction. <P>SOLUTION: In the printer, an inkjet head 32 is moved by an adjustment head unit 6 attached to a head unit attachment part 30 in place of one inkjet head unit 31 among the plurality of inkjet head units 31, whereby positions in an arrangement direction of a plurality of ejection openings of the inkjet head 32 and inclinations to the arrangement direction are adjusted. In comparison with the case that an adjusting mechanism for adjusting the inkjet head 32 is prepared to each inkjet head 32, the position adjustment and inclination adjustment of the ejection openings utilizing the printing results can be carried out while the increases of the sizes in the scan direction of the plurality of inkjet head units 31 are suppressed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an inkjet printing apparatus and a method for adjusting the positions of a plurality of ejection openings in the printing apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an ink jet printing apparatus that performs printing on a print medium by scanning a discharge mechanism in which a plurality of discharge ports for discharging minute ink droplets are arranged relative to the print medium has been used. ing. In such a discharge mechanism of the printing apparatus, a plurality of inkjet heads each having a plurality of discharge ports arranged approximately in parallel in a predetermined arrangement direction are attached to the head unit mounting portion, Appropriate printing is performed by adjusting the position of the inkjet head in the arrangement direction and the inclination with respect to the arrangement direction.

  For example, in the ink jet printer disclosed in Patent Document 1, an ink ejection unit to which a plurality of heads are attached includes a pressing member that contacts each head and an elastic member that faces the pressing member and contacts the opposite side of each head. The head is adjusted by pressing the head with the pressing member without removing the head from the ink discharge portion. In the ink jet printer of Patent Document 1, a mechanism for adjusting the position of each head in the arrangement direction is provided on both sides in the arrangement direction of the plurality of ejection nozzles of each head. Also, a mechanism for adjusting the inclination of each head is provided on both sides of each head in the transport direction (scanning direction) of the print medium in which a plurality of heads are arranged.

In the ink jet pattern forming apparatus of Patent Document 2, a plurality of ink jet heads of an array head unit are attached to a bar extending in the nozzle hole array direction via a plurality of head positioning mechanisms. The inclination of the inkjet head with respect to the bar is adjusted. In the pattern forming apparatus of Patent Document 2, a plurality of array head units are arrayed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the nozzle hole array direction, a slide mechanism that adjusts the distance between the plurality of array head units, and a plurality of array heads A rotation mechanism that rotates the head units together is attached to the plurality of array head units.
JP 2003-211638 A JP 2005-181472 A

  By the way, in an inkjet printing apparatus, normally, a plurality of ejection port arrays, each of which is a set of a plurality of ejection ports arranged in a predetermined arrangement direction, are arranged in a scanning direction substantially perpendicular to the arrangement direction. For this reason, if the size of the ejection mechanism in the scanning direction is large in a printing apparatus (so-called one-pass printing apparatus) that performs printing by a single scan of the ejection mechanism with respect to the printing medium, the meandering when the printing medium moves in the scanning direction Also, the displacement of the relative position of the discharge mechanism with respect to the base material due to feed unevenness or the like becomes large, and print quality may be deteriorated.

  Further, in a printing apparatus that performs printing by scanning the ejection mechanism a plurality of times on a print medium (so-called shuttle type printing apparatus), if the size of the ejection mechanism in the scanning direction is large, The moving distance becomes large and the productivity is lowered.

  Further, in a printing apparatus that uses ultraviolet curable ink, an ultraviolet lamp is usually provided behind the plurality of ejection openings (that is, the rear side in the scanning direction of the ejection mechanism), so that the size of the ejection mechanism in the scanning direction is large. If the thickness is large, the time from when the ink is ejected until it is irradiated with ultraviolet rays becomes long, and the print quality may be deteriorated due to ink bleeding.

  In the ink jet printer disclosed in Patent Literature 1, a mechanism for adjusting the arrangement of the heads is provided around the plurality of heads in the ink discharge unit to which the plurality of heads are attached, and the adjustment mechanism is arranged for the plurality of heads. Since the structure is provided, the size of the plurality of heads in the ink ejection unit in the transport direction (scanning direction) of the print medium (that is, the distance between two heads positioned at both ends in the transport direction) becomes large. Similarly, in the pattern forming apparatus of Patent Document 2, the size of the plurality of array head units in the scanning direction is increased by a head positioning mechanism provided in each inkjet head, a slide mechanism provided in each array head unit, and the like.

  In many cases, an inkjet printing apparatus is provided with a large number of inkjet heads. Therefore, as in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, if a plurality of arrangement adjustment mechanisms respectively corresponding to a plurality of inkjet heads are provided, printing is performed. The manufacturing cost of the device increases.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and mainly performs position adjustment of the ejection port using the printing result while suppressing an increase in the size of the plurality of inkjet head units in the scanning direction. It is aimed.

  The invention according to claim 1 is an ink jet type printing apparatus, each having a plurality of ejection openings arranged substantially parallel to a predetermined arrangement direction and arranged in a scanning direction intersecting the arrangement direction. A plurality of inkjet head units; a head unit mounting portion to which the plurality of inkjet head units are mounted; a scanning mechanism for moving a print medium relative to the head unit mounting portion in the scanning direction; and the plurality of inkjets An adjustment head unit that is attached to the head unit mounting portion instead of one of the head units and adjusts the position of the plurality of ejection ports of the adjacent ink jet head units in the scanning direction in the arrangement direction. .

  The invention according to claim 2 is an ink jet type printing apparatus, each having a plurality of ejection openings arranged approximately parallel to a predetermined arrangement direction and arranged in a scanning direction intersecting the arrangement direction. A plurality of inkjet head units; a curing head unit that is arranged in the scanning direction together with the plurality of inkjet head units; and that cures ink ejected from the plurality of inkjet head units onto a print medium; and the plurality of inkjet head units A head unit mounting portion to which the curing head unit is mounted; a scanning mechanism for moving the print medium relative to the head unit mounting portion in the scanning direction; and the head unit mounting instead of the curing head unit. In the scanning direction There and an adjustment head unit for adjusting the arrangement direction positions of the plurality of discharge ports of the ink jet head unit adjacent.

  A third aspect of the present invention is the printing apparatus according to the second aspect, wherein the ink is an ultraviolet curable ink, and the curing head unit is a lamp head unit that irradiates the ink with ultraviolet rays.

  A fourth aspect of the present invention is the printing apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein each of the plurality of ejection openings of the plurality of inkjet head units has the arrangement direction at a predetermined pitch. A plurality of first discharge ports arranged in parallel with each other, and arranged in parallel with the arrangement direction at the pitch on one side of the plurality of first discharge ports in the scanning direction, and in the arrangement direction A plurality of second discharge ports arranged at positions shifted by about half of the pitch with respect to the plurality of first discharge ports, and the plurality of first discharge ports and the plurality of second discharge ports are one The adjustment head unit is formed on the inkjet head, and the adjustment head unit moves the inkjet head to thereby arrange the plurality of first discharge ports and the plurality of second discharge ports. Direction position, and to adjust the inclination with respect to the arrangement direction.

  The invention according to claim 5 is a method for adjusting the position of a plurality of ejection openings in an ink jet printing apparatus, wherein a) each has a plurality of ejection openings arranged approximately parallel to a predetermined arrangement direction, and A step of attaching an adjustment head unit instead of one of the plurality of ink jet head units in a head unit attaching portion to which a plurality of ink jet head units arranged in a scanning direction intersecting the arrangement direction are attached; b) In parallel with the ejection of ink from another inkjet head unit adjacent to the adjustment head unit in the scanning direction and the relative movement of the print medium with respect to the head unit mounting portion in the scanning direction. By the other inkjet head Ink from the other ink jet head unit is changed at least one of the position in the arrangement direction of the plurality of discharge ports of the unit and the inclination with respect to the arrangement direction, or in parallel with the relative movement of the print medium And alternately changing the at least one of the position of the plurality of discharge ports of the other inkjet head unit in the arrangement direction and the inclination with respect to the arrangement direction by the adjustment head unit, or the other Among the ejection of ink from the inkjet head unit, the relative movement of the print medium, and the position of the plurality of ejection ports of the other inkjet head unit by the adjustment head unit in the arrangement direction and the inclination with respect to the arrangement direction The at least one change is alternately repeated. C) returning the adjustment head unit to at least one of the position of the plurality of ejection openings of the other inkjet head unit in the arrangement direction and the inclination with respect to the arrangement direction based on a printing result on the print medium. And d) a step of attaching the one inkjet head unit replaced with the adjustment head unit to the head unit attachment portion instead of the adjustment head unit.

  The invention according to claim 6 is a method for adjusting the position of a plurality of ejection openings in an ink jet printing apparatus, wherein a) each has a plurality of ejection openings arranged approximately parallel to a predetermined arrangement direction, and A plurality of inkjet head units arranged in a scanning direction crossing the arrangement direction, and ink ejected onto the print medium from the plurality of inkjet head units together with the plurality of inkjet head units in the scanning direction. A step of attaching an adjustment head unit in place of the curing head unit in a head unit attachment portion to which a curing head unit to be cured is attached; and b) discharging ink from an inkjet head unit adjacent to the adjustment head unit in the scanning direction. And print media In parallel with the relative movement in the scanning direction with respect to the head unit mounting portion, the adjustment head unit changes at least one of the position in the arrangement direction of the plurality of ejection ports of the inkjet head unit and the inclination with respect to the arrangement direction. Or in parallel with the relative movement of the print medium, the ejection of ink from the inkjet head unit, the position in the arrangement direction of the plurality of ejection ports of the inkjet head unit by the adjustment head unit, and the arrangement The change of at least one of the inclinations with respect to the direction is alternately repeated, or the plurality of the inkjet head units by the ejection of ink from the inkjet head unit and the relative movement of the print medium and the adjustment head unit A step of alternately repeating the position of the discharge ports in the arrangement direction and the change of at least one of the inclinations with respect to the arrangement direction; c) the plurality of discharges of the inkjet head unit based on a print result on the print medium Adjusting the at least one of the position of the outlet in the arrangement direction and the inclination with respect to the arrangement direction by the adjustment head unit; and d) replacing the adjustment head unit with the curing head unit in the head unit mounting portion. Attaching.

  In the present invention, it is possible to adjust the position of the ejection port using the printing result while suppressing an increase in the size of the plurality of inkjet head units in the scanning direction. In the invention of claim 4, the inclination of the plurality of discharge ports can also be adjusted.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a printing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The printing apparatus 1 is an apparatus that performs color printing by an inkjet method on a substrate 9 that is a sheet-like printing medium having liquid repellency such as a film.

  The printing apparatus 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 includes a transport unit 27 that is a scanning mechanism that moves the sheet-like base material 9 in the Y direction (hereinafter, also referred to as “scan direction”) in FIG. A discharge mechanism 3 for discharging fine droplets of ink toward the substrate 9, and a control unit 4 for controlling the configuration thereof.

  In the transport unit 27, a plurality of rollers 271 that are each long in the X direction in FIG. 1 are arranged in the Y direction, and a roll-shaped substrate 9 (supply roll) is placed on the (+ Y) side of the plurality of rollers 271. A supply unit 272 for holding is provided, and a winding unit 273 for holding the roll-shaped base material 9 (winding roll) is provided on the (−Y) side of the plurality of rollers 271. Actually, the base material 9 is rolled in each of the supply unit 272 and the winding unit 273. In the following description, the term “base material 9” simply means the base material 9 that is being conveyed (that is, the base material 9 on the plurality of rollers 271).

  An encoder 29 that detects the moving speed of the base material 9 in the scanning direction is provided on one roller 271 a of the transport unit 27, and a movement control unit 42 (see FIG. 6) described later is based on the output of the encoder 29. By controlling the rotation of the motor 273, the base material 9 moves at a constant speed in the (-Y) direction. At this time, by applying a load (tension) in the direction opposite to the movement direction (that is, (+ Y) direction) to the base material 9 by the motor of the supply unit 272, the base material on the plurality of rollers 271 is provided. 9 moves smoothly without undulations. Note that the encoder 29 that detects the moving speed of the base material 9 can be regarded as detecting a change in the position in the scanning direction of one part on the base material 9 during conveyance.

  The ejection mechanism 3 is disposed above the plurality of rollers 271, and the ejection mechanism 3 is fixed to the frame 25 provided on the base 20 so as to straddle the plurality of rollers 271. A light source 39 for emitting ultraviolet rays is provided on the frame 25, and a plurality of optical fibers (actually, the plurality of optical fibers are bundled. In FIG. The light from the light source 39 is introduced into the inside of the discharge mechanism 3.

  2 and 3 are a bottom view and a plan view showing the discharge mechanism 3, respectively. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the ejection mechanism 3 includes an inkjet head unit 31 that is a plurality of (eight in the present embodiment) head units that eject ink, and the Y direction (that is, the scanning direction). The head unit attaching part 30 to which the plurality of ink jet head units 31 arranged in the above are attached is provided. In FIG. 3, in order to facilitate understanding of the drawing, the head unit mounting portion 30 is drawn with a broken line, and the internal configuration of the head unit mounting portion 30 is drawn with a solid line (FIGS. 9, 15 and 16). The same applies to

  The plurality of inkjet head units 31 have the same structure, and each has a slider 302 shown in FIG. 3 at the upper end (that is, the end on the (+ Z) side). Each inkjet head unit 31 is attached to a linear guide 301 extending in the X direction at the head unit attachment portion 30 via a slider 302. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the head unit mounting portion 30 includes eight linear guides 301 to which eight inkjet head units 31 are mounted, and the (+ Y) side of the eight linear guides 301 and ( Two linear guides 301 arranged on the −Y) side are provided. Stoppers 303 are attached to both sides of each linear guide 301 in the X direction.

  In the printing apparatus 1, during normal printing, each inkjet head unit 31 is fixed to the linear guide 301 at the positions shown in FIGS. When the inkjet head unit 31 is adjusted, the fixing of the inkjet head unit 31 (for example, the (−Y) -side inkjet head unit 31) of the plurality of inkjet head units 31 to the linear guide 301 is released, The inkjet head 32 is fixed to the linear guide 301 again after moving in the (+ X) direction along the linear guide 301 to the position indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. An adjustment head unit 6 (see FIGS. 7 and 8), which will be described later, is attached from the (−X) side to the linear guide 301 to which the retracted inkjet head unit 31 is attached, and along the linear guide 301 (+ X ), And instead of the inkjet head unit 31, a plurality of inkjet head units 31 are arranged at unit arrangement positions arranged in the Y direction. Further, the adjustment head unit 6 may be attached to the linear guide 301 on the most (+ Y) side or the most (−Y) side.

  The most (+ Y) side ink jet head unit 31 and the second (+ Y) side ink jet head unit 31 in FIGS. 2 and 3 eject ink of K (black) color from the (+ Y) side. The third and fourth inkjet head units 31 (that is, the two inkjet head units 31 on the (−Y) side of the two K inkjet head units 31) eject C (cyan) ink. Further, the fifth and sixth inkjet head units 31 from the (+ Y) side discharge M (magenta) ink, and are seventh and eighth from the (+ Y) side (that is, the (−Y) side most). The inkjet head unit 31 discharges Y (yellow) ink. Each color ink is an ultraviolet curable ink containing an ultraviolet curing agent.

  In the ejection mechanism 3, the common lamp head unit 38, which is a head unit connected to the light source 39 (see FIG. 1), is disposed on the (−Y) side of the eight inkjet head units 31. At the same time, they are arranged in the Y direction (that is, the scanning direction) and attached to the head unit attaching portion 30. Here, when a plurality of head units attached to the head unit attachment portion 30 are collectively referred to as a head unit group, the head unit group includes the above-described inkjet head units 31 of K, C, M, and Y, and In addition to the common lamp head unit 38, for example, inkjet head units for other colors such as light cyan, light magenta, and white may be included.

  In the common lamp head unit 38, a plurality of optical fibers are arranged along the X direction, and the common lamp head unit 38 extends linearly on the base material 9 in the X direction (that is, a direction perpendicular to the scanning direction). The irradiation region is irradiated with ultraviolet rays. In the printing apparatus 1, the ultraviolet curable ink discharged from the plurality of inkjet head units 31 onto the substrate 9 is irradiated with ultraviolet rays from the common lamp head unit 38 that passes over the inks, thereby The ink is cured on the substrate 9. That is, the common lamp head unit 38 is an ultraviolet irradiation unit that irradiates the ink ejected onto the substrate 9 with ultraviolet rays.

  In the printing apparatus 1, each inkjet head unit 31 and the common lamp head unit 38 extend over the entire printing area on the base material 9 (here, the whole X direction of the base material 9 is related to the X direction perpendicular to the scanning direction). And the printing of the image on the substrate 9 is completed only once the substrate 9 passes under the discharge mechanism 3 (so-called one-pass printing is performed).

  FIG. 4 is an enlarged bottom view showing one inkjet head unit 31. As shown in FIG. 4, the inkjet head unit 31 includes a plurality (six in this embodiment) of inkjet heads 32, and these inkjet heads 32 have the same structure. Each inkjet head 32 has a plurality of discharge ports 331 arranged in two rows approximately parallel to the X direction in FIG. 4 on the lower surface (that is, the (−Z) side surface), and the plurality of discharge ports 331. Ink droplets are discharged toward the substrate 9. In the following description, the X direction in FIG. 4 is referred to as “array direction”. In FIG. 4, for convenience of illustration, the size of each discharge port 331 and the distance in the arrangement direction between adjacent discharge ports 331 are drawn larger than actual. Note that the actual inkjet head unit 31 is provided with a larger number of ejection ports 331 than shown in FIG.

  The inkjet head unit 31 further includes a center rib 311 that is an attachment member to which a plurality of inkjet heads 32 are attached. The center rib 311 has a T-shaped outer shape when viewed along the X direction, a plate-shaped rib upper portion 3111 having a main surface substantially perpendicular to the Z direction, and a main rib substantially perpendicular to the Y direction. A plate-like rib lower portion 3112 having a surface is provided.

  The plurality of inkjet heads 32 are arranged in the X direction so as to be alternately located on the (−Y) side and the (+ Y) side of the rib lower part 3112 of the center rib 311 (arranged in a so-called zigzag pattern). Each inkjet head 32 is arranged so that at least a part thereof overlaps with the inkjet head 32 adjacent in the X direction in the Y direction. For example, the inkjet head 32 positioned closest to the (−X) side on the (−Y) side of the rib lower portion 3112 is in the X direction with the inkjet head 32 positioned closest to the (−X) side of the (+ Y) side of the rib lower portion 3112. (Ie, in the arrangement direction), the former (+ X) side end of the two inkjet heads 32 and the latter (−X) side end overlap in the Y direction.

  FIG. 5 is an enlarged bottom view showing one inkjet head 32. As shown in FIG. 5, the inkjet head 32 includes two print heads arranged in the Y direction (hereinafter, the (+ Y) side print head is referred to as a “first print head 33a”, and the (−Y) side print head. Is called a “second print head 33b”), and a plate-like plate disposed between the first print head 33a and the second print head 33b to which the first print head 33a and the second print head 33b are attached. An intermediate support member 34 is provided. The second print head 33b has substantially the same structure as the first print head 33a, and is attached to the intermediate support member 34 in the direction opposite to the first print head 33a in the Y direction.

  The first print head 33a includes a plurality of discharge ports (hereinafter referred to as “first discharge ports 331a”) arranged at a predetermined pitch approximately parallel to the X direction (that is, the arrangement direction) in FIG. . Similarly to the first print head 33a, the second print head 33b also has a plurality of discharge ports (hereinafter referred to as “second discharge ports 331b”) arranged approximately parallel to the X direction at the same pitch as the first discharge ports 331a. Is provided.) In FIG. 5, seven first discharge ports 331a and two second discharge ports 331b are drawn, respectively. However, the number of discharge ports actually provided in the first print head 33a and the second print head 33b is shown in FIG. More than shown in.

  In one inkjet head 32 in which a plurality of first discharge ports 331a and a plurality of second discharge ports 331b are formed, the plurality of second discharge ports 331b are on the (−Y) side of the plurality of first discharge ports 331a (that is, , One side in the scanning direction). In addition, the plurality of second discharge ports 331b are arranged at positions shifted to the (+ X) side by about half the pitch with respect to the plurality of first discharge ports 331a in the X direction.

  In the first print head 33a and the second print head 33b, there are provided a plurality of discharge channels for guiding ink toward the plurality of discharge ports, and piezoelectric elements (piezo elements) are provided in the vicinity of the discharge ports of the respective discharge channels. A drive unit is provided. When a discharge signal is applied to the drive unit, the drive unit is deformed, and the volume of the discharge channel near the discharge port (more specifically, the volume of the chamber provided near the discharge port of the discharge channel) decreases. To do. As a result, pressure is applied to the ink in the vicinity of the ejection port (that is, the ink in the chamber of the ejection flow path that guides the ink to the ejection port), and micro droplets of ink are ejected from the ejection port. Then, when the shape of the drive unit is restored, the volume of the ejection channel returns to the original in the vicinity of the ejection port, and an amount of ink equal to the minute droplets of the ejected ink is supplied to the ejection channel.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating functions of the control unit 4 shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 6 also shows the configuration of the printing apparatus 1 connected to the control unit 4. The control unit 4 includes a drawing control unit 41 that performs control related to ejection of ink from each of the inkjet heads 32 (see FIG. 4) of the eight inkjet head units 31, a movement control unit 42 that performs movement control with respect to the transport unit 27, and The adjustment control unit 43 controls the adjustment head unit 6 to be described later.

  When printing is performed by the printing apparatus 1 illustrated in FIG. 1, the transport unit 27 is controlled by the movement control unit 42 (see FIG. 6) of the control unit 4, so that the base material 9 moves in the scanning direction (that is, each The plurality of ejection openings of the inkjet head unit 31 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) are moved in a direction perpendicular to the X direction, which is an arrangement direction in which the plurality of ejection openings are arranged in parallel. Further, a plurality of ink jet heads 32 of each ink jet head unit 31 based on image data to be printed on the base material 9 in parallel with the movement of the base material 9 by the drawing control unit 41 (see FIG. 6). By controlling the driving section, every time the base material 9 moves by a predetermined distance in the printing direction, fine droplets of ink are ejected from the ejection openings and applied onto the base material 9. Then, the ink on the substrate 9 is irradiated with ultraviolet rays from the common lamp head unit 38 (see FIGS. 2 and 3), and the ink is cured, whereby an image is printed on the substrate 9.

  Next, an adjustment head unit used for adjustment of the inkjet head unit 31 in the ejection mechanism 3 of the printing apparatus 1 will be described. 7 and 8 are a plan view and a front view showing the adjustment head unit 6, respectively. 7 and 8, the drawing of the upper part of the frame 60 of the adjustment head unit 6 is omitted. The adjustment head unit 6 adjusts at least one of the position in the X direction of the inkjet head 32 of the inkjet head unit 31 and the inclination of the inkjet head unit 31 with respect to the X direction, whereby a plurality of ejection openings (that is, FIG. 5). The head unit adjusts at least one of the position in the X direction (that is, the arrangement direction) of the first discharge port 331a and the second discharge port 331b) and the inclination with respect to the X direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the adjustment head unit 6 has a hexagonal cross section and a wrench portion 61 that faces the Y direction, a wrench rotation motor 62 that rotates the wrench portion 61, a wrench portion 61, and a wrench rotation motor 62. Is provided with a wrench moving part 63 that moves the frame in the Y direction, and a frame 60 to which these components are attached. In the adjustment head unit 6, the wrench unit 61 and the wrench rotation motor 62 advance and retreat in the Y direction along the guide rail 632 by driving the motor 631 of the wrench moving unit 63.

  FIG. 9 is a plan view showing the discharge mechanism 3 to which the adjustment head unit 6 is attached. In FIG. 9, a plurality of inkjet heads 32 of some inkjet head units 31 are drawn with thin lines. As shown in FIG. 9, two sliders 601 are provided on the upper portion of the frame 60 of the adjustment head unit 6, and the adjustment head unit 6 is attached to the linear guide 301 of the head unit attachment portion 30 via the slider 601. . Then, instead of the inkjet head unit 31 retracted to the (+ X) side, the adjustment head unit 6 is disposed at the unit array position where the plurality of inkjet head units 31 and the common lamp head unit 38 are arrayed in the Y direction. The inkjet head unit 31 on the (+ Y) side of the inkjet head unit 31 (that is, the inkjet head unit 31 adjacent to the retracted inkjet head unit 31 in the scanning direction) faces the inkjet head 32 on the most (+ X) side.

  FIG. 10 is an enlarged plan view showing the vicinity of one inkjet head 32 of the inkjet head unit 31. As shown in FIG. 10, on the (+ X) side and the (−X) side of the inkjet head 32, mounting blocks 351 and 352 that hold the inkjet head 32 and are fixed to the rib lower portion 3112 of the center rib 311 are provided. . In FIG. 10, in order to facilitate understanding of the drawing, the mounting blocks 351 and 352 are drawn in cross section, and the upper portion of the inkjet head 32 is not shown.

  The attachment block 352 on the (−X) side is provided with a spring plunger 361 that contacts the end portion on the (−X) side of the intermediate support member 34 of the inkjet head 32, and the attachment block 351 on the (+ X) side includes A pressing member 362 that comes into contact with the end portion on the (+ X) side of the intermediate support member 34 is provided. A first adjustment screw 363 that is a male screw is rotatably fixed to the mounting block 351. A moving block 364 having a female screw portion is attached to the first adjustment screw 363, and the first adjustment screw 363 rotates. As a result, the moving block 364 moves in the Y direction. A hexagonal hole that can be fitted to the wrench portion 61 (see FIGS. 7 and 8) of the adjustment head unit 6 is formed on the (−Y) side head of the first adjustment screw 363.

  An inclined surface 3641 formed on the moving block 364 and inclined with respect to the X direction and the Y direction is in contact with the end of the pressing member 362 on the (+ X) side. It is pressed toward. When the moving block 364 moves in the (+ Y) direction due to the rotation of the first adjusting screw 363, the pressing member 362 moves in the (+ X) direction, and the inkjet head 32 also moves in the (+ X) direction. When the moving block 364 moves in the (−Y) direction, the pressing member 362 moves in the (−X) direction, and the inkjet head 32 also moves in the (−X) direction. In the printing apparatus 1, the spring plunger 361, the pressing member 362, the first adjustment screw 363, and the moving block 364 include the plurality of first discharge ports 331 a of the first print head 33 a of the inkjet head 32 and the second print head 33 b. This is a mechanism for adjusting the position in the X direction (that is, the arrangement direction) of the plurality of second discharge ports 331b. In FIG. 10, for convenience of illustration, the first discharge port 331a and the second discharge port 331b are drawn with thin lines (the same applies to FIG. 11).

  In the inkjet head 32, a female thread portion is formed in the intermediate support member 34 on the (−X) side of the first print head 33 a and the second print head 33 b, and the second adjustment screw 365 that faces the female thread portion in the Y direction. Is attached. A hexagonal hole that can be fitted to the wrench portion 61 (see FIGS. 7 and 8) of the adjustment head unit 6 is formed on the (−Y) side head of the second adjustment screw 365.

  A pressing spring 366 that contacts the (−Y) side of the intermediate support member 34 is provided in the vicinity of the second adjustment screw 365, and the intermediate support member 34 is pressed toward the (+ Y) side by the pressing spring 366. Thus, the second adjustment screw 365 is pressed toward the (+ Y) side portion of the second adjustment screw 365 of the mounting block 352. Then, the rotation of the second adjustment screw 365 causes the inkjet head 32 to rotate in the circumferential direction around the rotation shaft 367 facing the Z direction, thereby causing the plurality of first discharge ports 331a of the first print head 33a, and The inclination with respect to the arrangement direction of the plurality of second ejection ports 331b of the second print head 33b is changed. In the printing apparatus 1, the second adjustment screw 365, the pressing spring 366, and the rotation shaft 367 serve as a mechanism for adjusting the inclination of the plurality of first discharge ports 331a and the plurality of second discharge ports 331b with respect to the arrangement direction.

  In the printing apparatus 1, the mechanism for adjusting the position in the arrangement direction of the plurality of first discharge ports 331 a and the plurality of second discharge ports 331 b of the inkjet head 32, and the plurality of first discharge ports 331 a of the inkjet head 32 and A mechanism for adjusting the inclination of the plurality of second ejection ports 331b with respect to the arrangement direction is provided in each of the plurality of inkjet heads 32 of each inkjet head unit 31, and these mechanisms are provided in the adjustment head unit 6 (see FIGS. 7 and 8). ).

  FIG. 11 is an enlarged plan view showing the vicinity of the adjustment head unit 6 shown in FIG. In FIG. 11, the upper portions of the adjustment head unit 6 and the ink jet head unit 31 are omitted for easy understanding of the drawing. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a flow of adjusting the positions and inclinations of the plurality of ejection openings of the inkjet head 32 in the printing apparatus 1. Hereinafter, regarding the adjustment method of the inkjet head 32, the inkjet head 32 positioned closest to the (+ X) side is adjusted in the second inkjet head unit 31 from the (−Y) side in FIGS. 3 and 9. explain.

  In the printing apparatus 1, first, in the head unit mounting portion 30 of the ejection mechanism 3, the most (−Y) side inkjet head unit 31 moves from the position indicated by the solid line in FIG. 3 to the position indicated by the two-dot chain line. The adjustment head unit 6 shown in FIG. 9 is attached to the unit arrangement position in place of the ink-jet head unit 31 (step S11). The adjustment head unit 6 is disposed at a position facing the inkjet head 32 positioned closest to the (+ X) side of the second inkjet head unit 31 from the (−Y) side in FIG. 9.

  Subsequently, in the adjustment head unit 6 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the motor 631 of the wrench moving unit 63 is driven by the adjustment control unit 43 (see FIG. 6) of the control unit 4, and the wrench unit 61 and the wrench rotation motor 62 are moved. As shown in FIG. 11, the tip of the wrench portion 61 is fitted in the hole of the head of the second adjustment screw 365 attached to the intermediate support member 34 of the inkjet head 32 (step Y). S12). In other words, the inkjet head 32 and the adjustment head unit 6 are connected. Then, the wrench rotation motor 62 is driven by the adjustment control unit 43 to rotate the wrench unit 61, and the inclination of the inkjet head 32 with respect to the arrangement direction is returned to the initial value (step S13). At this time, the inclination of the inkjet head 32 is as shown in FIG. As shown in A, the end on the (−X) side is located on the (+ Y) side than the end on the (+ X) side. FIG. FIG. 13A is a plan view of the inkjet head 32, and FIG. In A, the plurality of ejection openings of the inkjet head 32 are drawn with thin lines (the same applies to FIG. 13B).

  Next, movement of the base material 9 in the scanning direction by the transport unit 27 (see FIG. 1) is started, and at the same time, the inkjet head 32 to be adjusted (that is, the inkjet head 32 to which the adjustment head unit 6 is connected). Ink ejection is started from all the ejection ports.

  Further, in parallel with the start of movement of the base material 9 and the start of ink discharge, the wrench rotation motor 62 of the adjustment head unit 6 is driven to start the rotation of the wrench unit 61, whereby the adjustment of the inkjet head 32 to be adjusted. The change of the inclination with respect to the arrangement direction (that is, the inclination with respect to the arrangement direction of the plurality of first discharge ports 331a and the plurality of second discharge ports 331b) of the inkjet head 32 is started. In the printing apparatus 1, ink is discharged and the base material 9 is moved in the scanning direction while changing the inclination of the inkjet head 32 to be adjusted until the inclination of the inkjet head 32 becomes equal to the end value. 9 is printed (step S14). In the inkjet head 32 in which the inclination is the end value, FIG. As shown in B, the end portion on the (−X) side is positioned on the (−Y) side than the end portion on the (+ X) side.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating minute droplets (so-called dots) of ink ejected from the inkjet head 32 to be adjusted onto the base material 9 in step S14, and the arrangement direction (X) on the most (−Y) side. The dot group arranged in the direction) corresponds to the ink from the inkjet head 32 (see FIG. 13A) whose inclination with respect to the arrangement direction is the initial value, and is arranged in the arrangement direction on the most (+ Y) side. Corresponds to ink from the inkjet head 32 (see FIG. 13B) whose inclination with respect to the arrangement direction is the end value. The numbers drawn on the (−X) side of the plurality of dot groups are printed by other inkjet heads 32 that are not adjustment targets, and the numbers of the wrench rotation motor 62 (see FIGS. 7 and 8). Corresponding to the output from the encoder. Hereinafter, this number is referred to as “inclination number”.

  In each dot group in FIG. 14, the most (+ X) side dot and the second (+ X) side dot are the second (+ X) side second ejection port 331b of the second print head 33b, and This corresponds to the first discharge port 331a on the most (+ X) side of the first print head 33a. In FIG. 14, the dot having the inclination number “1” and the dot having the inclination number “n” corresponding to the dot are connected by a thin line (however, the dot having the inclination number “m” is excluded). Actually, dots positioned on the fine line are drawn instead of the fine line. As shown in FIG. 14, the two dots on the (+ X) side that are close to each other in the dot group with the inclination number “1” are largely separated in the dot group with the inclination number “n”.

  When printing is completed, a dot group having the most uniform pitch (for example, a dot group having an inclination number “m” surrounded by a broken line in FIG. 14) from the plurality of dot groups in FIG. The inclination number of the selected dot group is input to the adjustment control unit 43 (see FIG. 6) of the control unit 4. In the adjustment head unit 6 shown in FIG. 11, the wrench rotation motor 62 is driven so that the output from the encoder of the wrench rotation motor 62 corresponds to the inclination number input to the adjustment control unit 43. Thereby, the inclination with respect to the arrangement direction of the plurality of ejection ports (that is, the plurality of first ejection ports 331a and the plurality of second ejection ports 331b) of the inkjet head 32 is adjusted based on the printing result on the substrate 9 ( Step S15).

  Subsequently, the motor 631 of the wrench moving unit 63 is driven to move the wrench unit 61 and the wrench rotating motor 62 in the (−Y) direction, and the connection between the inkjet head 32 and the adjustment head unit 6 is released (step). S16). Next, the adjustment head unit 6 moves in the (+ X) direction along the linear guide 301 (see FIG. 9), and the position where the wrench portion 61 faces the first adjustment screw 363 (see FIG. 10) of the mounting block 351. Then, the adjustment head unit 6 is fixed to the linear guide 301. And the wrench part 61 and the wrench rotation motor 62 are moved to the (+ Y) direction by the wrench moving part 63, and the tip of the wrench part 61 is fitted in the hole of the head of the first adjustment screw 363 (step S17).

  When the wrench unit 61 is connected to the inkjet head 32, the dot on the most (−X) side of the dot group with the inclination number “m” and the (−X) side of the dot from the printing result obtained in step S14. To other dots (that is, dots by ink from the second discharge port 331b on the most (+ X) side of the inkjet head 32 adjacent on the (−X) side of the inkjet head 32 to be adjusted). Distance (hereinafter referred to as “head-to-head distance”). Then, the wrench rotation motor 62 is driven by the adjustment control unit 43 based on the distance between the heads, and a plurality of ejection openings (in the inkjet head 32 (so that the distance between the heads becomes equal to the pitch of the dot group having the inclination number “m”). That is, the positions in the arrangement direction of the plurality of first discharge ports 331a and the plurality of second discharge ports 331b are adjusted (step S18).

  When the positions of the ejection ports in the arrangement direction are adjusted, the connection between the adjustment head unit 6 and the inkjet head 32 is released (step S19), and the adjustment head unit 6 is moved in the (−X) direction to be linear guide 301. Removed from. Then, the inkjet head unit 31 (that is, the most (−Y) side inkjet head unit 31) replaced with the adjustment head unit 6 in step S11 is moved in the (−X) direction, and is replaced with the adjustment head unit 6. The unit is arranged at the unit arrangement position and fixed (attached) to the linear guide 301 (step S20).

  As described above, in the printing apparatus 1, the inkjet head 32 is moved by the adjustment head unit 6 attached to the head unit attachment portion 30 instead of one inkjet head unit 31 among the plurality of inkjet head units 31. As a result, the positions of the plurality of first ejection ports 331a of the first print head 33a and the plurality of second ejection ports 331b of the second print head 33b in the arrangement direction and the inclination with respect to the arrangement direction are adjusted. Thereby, compared with the case where the adjustment mechanism for adjusting the inkjet head 32 is provided for each inkjet head 32, the size of the plurality of inkjet head units 31 in the scanning direction (that is, the (+ Y) side inkjet head unit 31 on the most side). And the most (−Y) side inkjet head unit 31 in the Y direction) can be suppressed, and the position and inclination of the ejection port can be adjusted using the printing result. As a result, the pitch of dots printed on the substrate 9 can be adjusted with high accuracy, and the occurrence of printing unevenness can be suppressed. In the printing apparatus 1, the manufacturing cost can also be reduced compared to the case where an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the inkjet head 32 is provided for each inkjet head 32.

  In the adjustment of the inclination of the inkjet head 32, the inclination of the inkjet head 32 with respect to the arrangement direction is returned to the initial value in step S13. This prevents the occurrence of backlash when the inclination of the inkjet head 32 is changed in step S14. In addition, between step S12 and step S13, printing is performed without changing the inclination of the inkjet head 32 to be adjusted, and after the inclination with respect to the arrangement direction of the inkjet head 32 is obtained based on the print result, Step S13 may be performed based on the difference between the inclination and the initial value of the inclination.

  In the printing apparatus 1, when maintenance of one inkjet head unit 31 is performed, the positions of all the inkjet heads 32 of the inkjet head unit 31 in the arrangement direction and the inclination with respect to the arrangement direction may be adjusted. . In this case, the inclination with respect to the arrangement direction of the three inkjet heads 32 arranged on the (−Y) side of the inkjet head unit 31 to be adjusted is changed as described above while changing the position of the adjustment head unit 6 in the X direction. After the adjustment is sequentially performed by the same adjustment method, the adjustment head unit 6 is temporarily removed from the head unit attachment portion 30.

  Then, the (+ Y) side inkjet head unit 31 of the inkjet head unit 31 to be adjusted is retracted to the (+ X) side along the linear guide 301, the adjustment head unit 6 is attached to the linear guide 301, and the inkjet head unit The inclination with respect to the arrangement direction of the three inkjet heads 32 arranged on the (+ Y) side of 31 is sequentially adjusted. At this time, the adjustment head unit 6 is attached to the linear guide 301 in the direction opposite to the direction shown in FIG. 7 (that is, with the wrench portion 61 positioned on the (−Y) side of the wrench rotation motor 62). Thereafter, printing is performed again, and the positions of the inkjet heads 32 in the arrangement direction are sequentially adjusted by the same adjustment method as described above based on the printing result.

  FIG. 15 is a plan view showing a discharge mechanism 3a of another preferred printing apparatus. In the discharge mechanism 3 a, a scanner 37 is provided on the (−Y) side of the plurality of inkjet head units 31 and the common lamp head unit 38 over the entire X direction of the printing region on the substrate 9. The printing result for the substrate 9 is read. The output from the scanner 37 is used for shading correction and nozzle missing check, which is an inspection for the presence or absence of clogging of the discharge port.

  In the printing apparatus provided with the ejection mechanism 3a, in the above-described adjustment of the inkjet head 32, the dots printed on the substrate 9 in step S14 are read by the scanner 37, and the output from the scanner 37 is adjusted by the control unit 4. It is sent to the control unit 43 (see FIG. 6). In step S15, the adjustment control unit 43 selects the dot group having the most uniform pitch based on the output from the scanner 37 (that is, the printing result for the substrate 9), and corresponds to the selected dot group. The inclination of the plurality of discharge ports (that is, the plurality of first discharge ports 331a and the plurality of second discharge ports 331b) of the inkjet head 32 with respect to the arrangement direction is adjusted so as to achieve the inclination. In step S18, the distance between the heads is obtained by the adjustment control unit 43 from the printing result for the base material 9 acquired by the scanner 37 in step S14, and the plurality of ejection openings of the inkjet head 32 are determined based on the distance between the heads. The position in the arrangement direction is adjusted.

  In the printing apparatus having the ejection mechanism 3a, as in the printing apparatus 1, the position adjustment and the inclination of the ejection port using the printing result are suppressed while suppressing the increase in the size of the plurality of inkjet head units 31 in the scanning direction. Adjustments can be made. As a result, the pitch of dots printed on the substrate 9 can be adjusted with high accuracy, and the occurrence of printing unevenness can be suppressed. In addition, the manufacturing cost can be reduced. Furthermore, by using the scanner 37, the position adjustment and the inclination adjustment of the ejection port can be automatically performed.

  Next, a printing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 16 is a plan view showing the ejection mechanism 3b of the printing apparatus according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 16, in addition to the configuration of the discharge mechanism 3 (see FIG. 3) of the printing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment, two discharge mechanisms 3b for each color (K, C, M, and Y) are provided. The four lamp head units 38a are provided on the (−Y) side of the inkjet head unit 31. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, and corresponding components are denoted by the same reference numerals in the following description.

  The lamp head unit 38a is attached to the linear guide 301 of the head unit attachment portion 30 in the same manner as the ink jet head unit 31, and ultraviolet rays are applied to the ink ejected from the two ink jet head units 31 of each color onto the substrate 9. Is a curing head unit that temporarily cures the ink. In the printing apparatus according to the second embodiment, the ink on the base material 9 that has been temporarily cured by the irradiation of ultraviolet rays from the lamp head unit 38 a is cured by the irradiation of ultraviolet rays from the common lamp head unit 38. Here, when a plurality of head units attached to the head unit attachment portion 30 are collectively referred to as a head unit group, the head unit group includes the above-described inkjet head units 31 of K, C, M, and Y, and In addition to the plurality of lamp head units 38a, inkjet head units and lamp head units for other colors may be included.

  In the printing apparatus according to the second embodiment, when adjustment of the position and inclination of the inkjet head 32 (see FIG. 4) of the inkjet head unit 31 is performed, as in the first embodiment, The inkjet head unit 31 is retracted to the (+ X) side, and the adjustment head unit 6 (see FIGS. 7 and 8) is attached to the head unit attachment portion 30 instead of the inkjet head unit 31. Further, depending on the inkjet head 32 to be adjusted, the inkjet head unit 31 is not retracted, and the lamp head unit 38a is retracted to the (+ X) side, and the adjustment head unit 6 is replaced with the lamp head unit 38a. It is attached to the head unit attachment part 30.

  For example, when the (−Y) side inkjet head 32 is adjusted in the most (−Y) side inkjet head unit 31, the most (−Y) side lamp head unit 38a is indicated by a solid line in FIG. The adjustment head unit 6 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is attached to the unit arrangement position in place of the lamp head unit 38a from the position shown by the two-dot chain line (FIG. 17: step S31).

  Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 11, the wrench portion 61 of the adjustment head unit 6 is one inkjet head 32 of the inkjet head unit 31 adjacent to the retracted lamp head unit 38a in the scanning direction (on the (+ Y) side). The second adjustment screw 365 is fitted (step S32). As in the first embodiment, the inclination of the inkjet head 32 with respect to the arrangement direction is returned to the initial value, printing is performed while the inclination of the inkjet head 32 is changed, and a plurality of inkjet heads 32 are based on the printing result. The inclination of the discharge ports (that is, the plurality of first discharge ports 331a and the plurality of second discharge ports 331b) with respect to the arrangement direction is adjusted (steps S33 to S35).

  Next, the connection between the inkjet head 32 and the adjustment head unit 6 is released (step S36), and the adjustment head unit 6 is moved in the X direction. And the wrench part 61 fits in the 1st adjustment screw 363 of the inkjet head 32, and the position of the sequence direction of the some discharge port of the inkjet head 32 is adjusted based on the printing result in step S34 (step S37, S38). ).

  When the position of the ejection ports in the arrangement direction is adjusted, the connection between the adjustment head unit 6 and the ink jet head 32 is released (step S39), and the adjustment head unit 6 is moved in the (−X) direction to be linear guide 301. Removed from. Then, the lamp head unit 38a (that is, the lamp head unit 38a closest to the (−Y) side) replaced with the adjustment head unit 6 in step S31 is moved in the (−X) direction, and is replaced with the adjustment head unit 6. The unit is arranged at the unit arrangement position and fixed (attached) to the linear guide 301 (step S40).

  In the printing apparatus according to the second embodiment, the ink jet head 32 is moved by the adjustment head unit 6 attached to the head unit attachment portion 30 instead of the one lamp head unit 38a, so that the first print head 33a is moved. The positions of the plurality of first ejection ports 331a and the plurality of second ejection ports 331b of the second print head 33b in the arrangement direction and the inclination with respect to the arrangement direction are adjusted. Thereby, as in the first embodiment, the position adjustment and the inclination adjustment of the ejection port using the printing result are performed while suppressing the increase in the size of the plurality of inkjet head units 31 in the scanning direction. Can do. In addition, the manufacturing cost of the printing apparatus can be reduced.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention has been described, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, A various change is possible.

  In the printing apparatus according to the above-described embodiment, one inkjet head unit 31 is removed from the linear guide 301 of the head unit attachment portion 30, and the adjustment head unit 6 is attached to the head unit attachment portion 30 instead of the inkjet head unit 31. May be. In the printing apparatus according to the second embodiment, the lamp head unit 38a may be detached from the linear guide 301, and the adjustment head unit 6 may be attached to the head unit attachment portion 30 instead of the lamp head unit 38a. .

  In the printing apparatus, for example, the adjustment head unit 6 is always attached at a position other than the unit arrangement position in the head unit attachment portion 30, and the adjustment head unit 6 is Y as necessary when adjusting the inkjet head unit 31. It may be attached to the linear guide 301 that is moved in the direction and adjacent to the inkjet head unit 31 to be adjusted.

  In the printing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment, when adjusting the positions and inclinations of the plurality of ejection ports of the inkjet head 32, the ink ejection from the inkjet head 32 to be adjusted is performed in step S14 in FIG. In parallel with the continuous movement of the base material 9 in the scanning direction (that is, printing on the base material 9), the adjustment head unit 6 changes the inclination of the inkjet head 32 with respect to the arrangement direction. Instead, in parallel with the continuous movement of the base material 9 in the scanning direction, the ejection of ink from the inkjet head 32 and the change of the inclination with respect to the arrangement direction of the inkjet head 32 by the adjustment head unit 6 are repeated alternately. A process may be performed. Alternatively, in place of step S14, the process of alternately repeating the ejection of ink from the inkjet head 32 and the movement of the base material 9 in the scanning direction and the change in the inclination of the inkjet head 32 with respect to the arrangement direction of the inkjet head 32 by the adjustment head unit 6 May be performed.

  Similarly, in the printing apparatus according to the second embodiment, instead of step S34 in FIG. 17, ink is ejected from the inkjet head 32 in parallel with the continuous movement of the base material 9 in the scanning direction. And a step of alternately repeating the change of the inclination with respect to the arrangement direction of the inkjet head 32 by the adjustment head unit 6 may be performed. Alternatively, instead of step S34, a process of alternately repeating printing on the base material 9 and changing the inclination with respect to the arrangement direction of the inkjet heads 32 to be adjusted may be performed.

  In the printing apparatus, when each inkjet head 32 of the inkjet head unit 31 is provided with only one row of ejection openings approximately parallel to the arrangement direction, the adjustment of the inclination with respect to the arrangement direction of the inkjet head 32 in the adjustment of the inkjet head 32 is performed. May be omitted, and only the positions in the arrangement direction of the plurality of ejection openings of the inkjet head 32 may be adjusted. In this case, steps S12 to S16 in FIG. 12 are omitted, and printing is performed on the substrate 9 while changing the positions in the arrangement direction of the plurality of ejection openings of the inkjet head 32 between step S17 and step S18. Is inserted. In step S19, the positions of the plurality of ejection openings in the arrangement direction are adjusted based on the printing result.

  In the printing apparatus according to the above embodiment, only the inclination of the plurality of ejection ports 331 of the inkjet head 32 with respect to the arrangement direction may be adjusted. In this case, steps S17 to S19 in FIG. 12 are omitted. Alternatively, in the printing apparatus, the adjustment head unit 6 is provided with two sets of wrench portions 61 and a wrench rotation motor 62, and printing is performed while changing the position of the inkjet head 32 in the arrangement direction and the inclination with respect to the arrangement direction in parallel. The position in the arrangement direction of the plurality of ejection openings and the inclination with respect to the arrangement direction may be adjusted based on the printing result. In other words, in the printing apparatus, printing is performed while changing at least one of the position in the arrangement direction of the plurality of ejection openings of the inkjet head 32 and the inclination with respect to the arrangement direction, and at least one of them is adjusted.

  For example, in the printing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 (so-called roll-to-roll printing apparatus), the base material 9 is moved in the scanning direction intersecting the arrangement direction of the plurality of ejection openings by the transport unit 27 that moves the base material 9 in the scanning direction. 9 moves at a constant speed with respect to the ejection mechanism 3, but the printing apparatus 1 may be provided with a mechanism for moving the ejection mechanism 3 in the scanning direction. Further, as in the printing apparatus 1a shown in FIG. 18 (so-called sheet-fed printing apparatus), the stage 21 that holds the rectangular base material 9 and the stage 21 in the scanning direction (Y direction in FIG. 18). A moving stage moving mechanism 22 may be provided. As described above, the scanning mechanism that moves the base material 9 in the scanning direction relative to the ejection mechanism 3 can be realized in various configurations.

  The printing medium in the above-described printing apparatus may be a plate-like member or printing paper formed of plastic in addition to the sheet-like base material 9. In the printing apparatus, ink other than ultraviolet curable ink may be used for printing.

1 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of a printing apparatus according to a first embodiment. It is a bottom view of a discharge mechanism. It is a top view of a discharge mechanism. It is a bottom view of an inkjet head unit. It is a bottom view of an inkjet head. It is a block diagram which shows the function of a control unit. It is a top view which shows an adjustment head unit. It is a front view which shows an adjustment head unit. It is a top view which shows the discharge mechanism to which the adjustment head unit was attached. It is a top view which shows the inkjet head vicinity. It is a top view which shows the adjustment head unit vicinity. It is a figure which shows the flow of adjustment of the position and inclination of a some discharge outlet. It is a top view of an inkjet head. It is a top view of an inkjet head. It is a figure which shows the dot on the base material 9. FIG. It is a top view which shows the other example of a discharge mechanism. It is a top view which shows the discharge mechanism of the printing apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the flow of adjustment of the position and inclination of a some discharge outlet. It is a perspective view which shows the other example of a printing apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,1a Printing apparatus 6 Adjustment head unit 9 Base material 27 Conveyance part 30 Head unit attachment part 31 Inkjet head unit 32 Inkjet head 38a Lamp head unit 331 Discharge port 331a 1st discharge port 331b 2nd discharge port S11-S20, S31- S40 step

Claims (6)

An inkjet printing apparatus,
A plurality of inkjet head units each having a plurality of ejection openings arranged substantially parallel to a predetermined arrangement direction and arranged in a scanning direction intersecting the arrangement direction;
A head unit mounting portion to which the plurality of inkjet head units are mounted;
A scanning mechanism for moving the print medium relative to the head unit mounting portion in the scanning direction;
An adjustment head that is attached to the head unit attachment portion instead of one of the plurality of ink jet head units, and adjusts the positions of the plurality of ejection openings of the ink jet head units adjacent in the scanning direction in the arrangement direction. Unit,
A printing apparatus comprising: An inkjet printing apparatus,
A plurality of inkjet head units each having a plurality of ejection openings arranged substantially parallel to a predetermined arrangement direction and arranged in a scanning direction intersecting the arrangement direction;
A curing head unit that is arranged in the scanning direction together with the plurality of inkjet head units and cures ink ejected from the plurality of inkjet head units onto a print medium; and
A head unit mounting portion to which the plurality of inkjet head units and the curing head unit are mounted;
A scanning mechanism for moving the print medium relative to the head unit mounting portion in the scanning direction;
An adjustment head unit that is attached to the head unit attachment portion instead of the curing head unit and adjusts the position in the arrangement direction of the plurality of ejection ports of the inkjet head unit adjacent in the scanning direction;
A printing apparatus comprising: The printing apparatus according to claim 2,
The ink is an ultraviolet curable ink;
The printing apparatus, wherein the curing head unit is a lamp head unit that irradiates the ink with ultraviolet rays. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The plurality of discharge ports of each of the plurality of inkjet head units are
A plurality of first discharge ports arranged approximately parallel to the arrangement direction at a predetermined pitch;
The plurality of first ejection ports are arranged at approximately one half of the pitch with respect to the plurality of first ejection ports in the arrangement direction and arranged in parallel with the arrangement direction at the pitch on one side in the scanning direction. A plurality of second discharge ports arranged at shifted positions;
With
The plurality of first discharge ports and the plurality of second discharge ports are formed in one inkjet head,
The adjustment head unit adjusts the position of the plurality of first discharge ports and the plurality of second discharge ports in the arrangement direction and the inclination with respect to the arrangement direction by moving the inkjet head. A printing device. A method for adjusting the position of a plurality of ejection openings in an inkjet printing apparatus,
a) In a head unit mounting portion to which a plurality of ink jet head units, each having a plurality of discharge ports arranged in parallel with a predetermined arrangement direction and arranged in a scanning direction intersecting the arrangement direction, are attached. A step of attaching an adjustment head unit instead of one of the plurality of inkjet head units; and
b) In parallel with the ejection of ink from another inkjet head unit adjacent to the adjustment head unit in the scanning direction and the relative movement of the print medium with respect to the head unit mounting portion in the scanning direction. Changing at least one of the position in the arrangement direction and the inclination with respect to the arrangement direction of the plurality of ejection ports of the other ink jet head unit according to or in parallel with the relative movement of the print medium Alternately discharging ink from the inkjet head unit and changing the at least one of the position of the plurality of ejection ports of the other inkjet head unit in the arrangement direction and the inclination with respect to the arrangement direction by the adjustment head unit Repeat or other ink jet At least of the positions of the plurality of discharge ports of the other inkjet head unit in the arrangement direction and the inclination with respect to the arrangement direction of the ink jet from the head unit and the relative movement of the print medium and the adjustment head unit A process of alternately repeating one change,
c) adjusting the at least one of the position of the plurality of ejection openings of the other inkjet head unit in the arrangement direction and the inclination with respect to the arrangement direction by the adjustment head unit based on a printing result on the print medium. When,
d) attaching the one inkjet head unit replaced with the adjustment head unit in place of the adjustment head unit to the head unit attachment portion;
A position adjustment method comprising: A method for adjusting the position of a plurality of ejection openings in an inkjet printing apparatus,
a) a plurality of ink jet head units each having a plurality of ejection openings arranged substantially parallel to a predetermined arrangement direction and arranged in a scanning direction intersecting the arrangement direction; and the plurality of ink jet head units together with the plurality of ink jet head units. A step of attaching an adjustment head unit in place of the curing head unit in a head unit mounting portion to which a curing head unit that cures ink ejected on the print medium from the plurality of inkjet head units arranged in the scanning direction is attached. When,
b) In parallel with the ejection of ink from the inkjet head unit adjacent to the adjustment head unit in the scanning direction and the relative movement of the print medium with respect to the head unit mounting portion in the scanning direction, the adjustment head unit Ink from the inkjet head unit is changed at least one of the position of the plurality of ejection ports of the inkjet head unit in the arrangement direction and the inclination with respect to the arrangement direction, or in parallel with the relative movement of the print medium And the change of at least one of the position of the plurality of discharge ports of the ink jet head unit in the arrangement direction and the inclination with respect to the arrangement direction by the adjustment head unit, or the ink jet head unit Or Discharge of the ink and the relative movement of the print medium, and the adjustment head unit changing the at least one of the positions of the plurality of discharge ports of the inkjet head unit in the arrangement direction and the inclination with respect to the arrangement direction. Alternating steps,
c) adjusting the at least one of the positions of the plurality of ejection ports of the inkjet head unit in the arrangement direction and the inclination with respect to the arrangement direction by the adjustment head unit based on a printing result on the print medium;
d) a step of attaching the curing head unit to the head unit attachment portion instead of the adjustment head unit;
A position adjustment method comprising:

Images