JP2011156755A - Discharge device and liquid droplet discharge device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently remove a curable solution 16 adhered to a wiping member 52. <P>SOLUTION: After the curable solution 16 adhered to the wiping member 52 is cured by a curing device 60, the curable solution 16 is removed by a removing member 64. Compared to a case where the curable solution 16 is removed without being cured, the curable solution 16 is more easily peeled from the wiping member 52. Thus, compared to a case where the curable solution 16 adhered to the wiping member 52 is removed without being cured, the curable solution 16 is removed efficiently. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a discharge device and a droplet discharge device.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a cleaning device shown below. The cleaning device includes a cleaning member 4 whose surface is made of a polymer resin, a container 5 that holds the cleaning member 4, and a discharge pipe 6 that discharges the cleaned paint, and is supported by a support 12. The cleaning procedure is as follows. First, the cleaning member 4 and the container 5 stop and rise just below the lip portion 10 of the base 3. With this operation, the upper portion of the cleaning member 4 is in close contact with the lip portion 10 of the base 3. The cleaning member 4 moves along the lip portion 10 in the close contact state, and the paint adhering to the lip portion is removed by scraping or scraping, thereby completing the cleaning. After cleaning, the cleaning device 5 is lowered and application is started. The unnecessary paint cleaned from the lip portion 10 by the cleaning member 4 accumulates in the container 5 and is discharged from the discharge pipe 6.

  Further, in Patent Document 2, the coating liquid is applied to the material to be coated W by being moved while supplying the coating liquid from a slit provided in the die body 10 of the die coater that can be moved up and down, and then the supply of the coating liquid is stopped. At the same time, the die body is raised to separate the coating solution bead, and then the die body is lowered to bring the lip portion 13 of the die body into contact with the blade 16 that can advance and retreat in the longitudinal direction of the die body. A method of removing the coating liquid at the lip portion of the die coater that scrapes and removes the coating liquid SS held on the lip portion by moving the lip portion is disclosed.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-168015 (FIG. 1) Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-147062 (FIG. 2)

  An object of the present invention is to efficiently remove the curable material attached to the wiping member for wiping the curable material.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a discharge portion that discharges a curable material that is cured in response to a stimulus from a discharge hole formed along one direction, and a discharge surface on which the discharge hole of the discharge portion is formed. A wiping member for wiping off the curable material attached thereto, a curing means for curing the curable material attached to the wiping member by the stimulus, and a removing means for removing the curable material cured by the curing means from the wiping member. And a discharge device comprising:

  The invention according to claim 2 is a discharge device according to claim 1, further comprising a covering member that covers the discharge hole when the curable material is not discharged from the discharge portion.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the discharge device according to claim 1 or claim 2, a droplet discharge portion that discharges droplets, and the curable material is discharged from the discharge portion, and the cured is discharged A liquid droplet ejection apparatus comprising: an intermediate transfer body that ejects liquid droplets from the liquid droplet ejection unit onto a conductive material and transfers the curable material to which the liquid droplets have been applied to a recording medium.

  According to the configuration of the first aspect of the present invention, the curable material attached to the wiping member for wiping the curable material can be efficiently removed as compared with the case where the curable material attached to the wiping member is removed without being cured. .

  According to the configuration of the second aspect of the present invention, the curable material present in the discharge hole of the discharge portion can be harder to cure than when the discharge surface is not covered.

  According to the configuration of the third aspect of the present invention, the curable material attached to the wiping member for wiping the curable material can be efficiently removed as compared with the case where the curable material attached to the wiping member is removed without being cured. .

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the overall configuration of a droplet discharge device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which the ejection unit has moved to the separation position in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the configuration of the ejection device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is a side view showing the configuration and operation of the ejection device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 5 is a side view showing the configuration of the wiping mechanism according to the present embodiment. FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a removing device that removes the curable solution attached to the wiping member according to the present embodiment. FIG. 7 is a side view showing the covering mechanism according to the present embodiment. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a modification of the removal device shown in FIG.

  Below, an example of an embodiment concerning the present invention is described based on a drawing.

(Overall configuration of the droplet discharge device according to the present embodiment)
First, the overall configuration of the droplet discharge device according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the overall configuration of a droplet discharge device according to the present embodiment.

  The droplet discharge device 10 according to the present embodiment is a device that discharges ink droplets as an example of droplets, and specifically, image formation that forms an image by transferring ink droplets to a recording medium P. Device.

  As the recording medium P on which an image is formed, for example, a penetrating medium (for example, plain paper or ink jet coated paper) or a non-penetrating medium (for example, art paper or resin film) is used. The recording medium P is not limited to these, and may be an industrial product such as a semiconductor substrate.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the droplet discharge device 10 includes an intermediate transfer belt 12 as an example of an intermediate transfer member that transfers a curable solution 16 to which ink droplets have been applied to the surface of a recording medium P, and an intermediate transfer belt 12. A conveying belt 40 as an example of a conveying unit that conveys the recording medium P onto which the curable solution 16 is transferred.

  The conveyance belt 40 is formed in an annular shape and is an endless belt without a seam (seam). The transport belt 40 may be a belt with a seam.

  A plurality of winding rolls 42 </ b> A, 42 </ b> B, 42 </ b> C as an example of a winding member around which the conveyance belt 40 is wound are provided on the inner peripheral side of the conveyance belt 40. The winding roll 42A is arranged on the upstream side (left side in FIG. 1) in the conveyance direction of the recording medium P when viewed from the intermediate transfer belt 12, and the winding roll 42B is viewed from the winding roll 42A and the intermediate transfer belt 12. The recording medium P is disposed on the downstream side (the right side in FIG. 1) in the conveyance direction. The winding roll 42 </ b> C is disposed on the opposite side (lower side in FIG. 1) from the side on which the intermediate transfer belt 12 is disposed as viewed from a flat plate 44 described later.

  The plurality of winding rolls 42 </ b> A, 42 </ b> B, and 42 </ b> C apply tension to the conveyor belt 40 by pushing the conveyor belt 40 toward the outer peripheral side. Further, any one of the plurality of winding rolls 42A, 42B, 42C is configured to rotate (circulate and move) in one direction (clockwise direction in FIG. 1) by being driven to rotate. Yes.

  On the outer peripheral side (upper side in FIG. 1) of the conveyance belt 40, a pressing roll 46 that presses the recording medium P against the surface (outer peripheral surface) of the conveyance belt 40 faces the winding roll 42A with the conveyance belt 40 in between. In the position. The conveyance belt 40 is attached to the surface of the conveyance belt 40 by the electrostatic force or the like by the recording medium P pressed by the pressing roll 46, and from the recording medium accommodation unit (not shown) for accommodating the recording medium P. The recording medium P is transported toward a recording medium discharge unit (not shown) from which P is discharged.

  A flat plate (platen) 44 for keeping the recording medium P transported by the transport belt 40 smooth is provided on the inner peripheral side of the transport belt 40. The flat plate 44 is disposed between the winding roll 42A and the winding roll 42B and at a position facing the intermediate transfer belt 12 with the conveying belt 40 interposed therebetween (below the intermediate transfer belt 12 in FIG. 1). .

  The flat plate 44 is provided with a transfer roll 48 that constitutes a part of a transfer member 22 described later.

  The transport means for transporting the recording medium P is not limited to the transport belt 40, and includes, for example, a pair of transport rolls that transport the recording medium P with the recording medium P in between, or a transport drum that transports the recording medium P attached to the surface. May be.

  The intermediate transfer belt 12 is formed in an annular shape and is an endless belt having no seam. The intermediate transfer belt 12 may be a belt with a seam.

  A plurality of winding rolls 13A, 13B, 13C, and 13D as an example of a winding member around which the intermediate transfer belt 12 is wound are provided on the inner peripheral side of the intermediate transfer belt 12. The winding roll 13A is arranged on the upstream side (left side in FIG. 1) in the conveyance direction of the recording medium P as viewed from the curing device 23 described later, and the winding roll 13B is viewed from the winding roll 13A and the curing device 23. The recording medium P is disposed on the downstream side (the right side in FIG. 1) in the conveyance direction. The winding roll 13C is on the downstream side (right side in FIG. 1) in the conveyance direction of the recording medium P as viewed from the winding roll 13B and on the opposite side (upper side in FIG. 1) from the arrangement side of the conveyance belt 40. Is arranged. The intermediate transfer belt 12 is configured to sandwich the recording medium P between the winding roll 13 </ b> A and the winding roll 13 </ b> B with the conveyance belt 40.

  The winding roll 13D is on the upstream side (left side in FIG. 1) in the conveyance direction of the recording medium P as viewed from the winding roll 13A and on the opposite side (upper side in FIG. 1) to the arrangement side of the conveyance belt 40. Is arranged.

  One or more of the plurality of winding rolls 13A, 13B, 13C, and 13D push the intermediate transfer belt 12 to the outer peripheral side to apply tension to the intermediate transfer belt 12. Further, the intermediate transfer belt 12 is configured to rotate (circulate) in one direction (counterclockwise direction in FIG. 1) when any of the plurality of winding rolls 13A, 13B, and 13C is rotationally driven. Has been.

  The intermediate transfer member is not limited to the intermediate transfer belt 12, and may be an intermediate transfer drum. Further, a release layer may be provided on the surface (outer peripheral surface) of the intermediate transfer belt 12 so that the curable solution 16 can be easily peeled off. Examples of the material used for the release layer include a fluorine-based resin material.

  On the outer peripheral side of the intermediate transfer belt 12 (upper side in FIG. 1), a discharge device 19 including a discharge portion 18 that discharges a curable solution 16 as an example of a curable material that cures in response to a stimulus is wound around a roll It is provided between 13C and the winding roll 13D. The discharge unit 18 of the discharge device 19 discharges the curable solution 16 onto the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 12, whereby a curable solution layer 16 </ b> A is formed on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 12. The specific configurations of the curable solution 16 and the discharge device 19 will be described later.

  On the downstream side in the rotation direction of the intermediate transfer belt 12 as viewed from the discharge device 19, as an example of a droplet discharge portion that discharges droplets, the curable solution 16 (curable solution layer 16A) discharged by the discharge device 19 is used. An ink jet recording head 20 that forms an image by ejecting ink droplets is provided on the outer peripheral side of the intermediate transfer belt 12.

  The inkjet recording head 20 includes, for example, an inkjet recording head 20K that ejects black ink droplets from the nozzles in order from the upstream side in the rotation direction of the intermediate transfer belt 12, an inkjet recording head 20C that ejects cyan ink droplets from the nozzles, and nozzles. The inkjet recording head 20M ejects magenta ink droplets from the nozzles, and the inkjet recording head 20Y ejects yellow ink droplets from the nozzles. These ink jet recording heads 20 are configured to record images by ejecting ink droplets onto the curable solution 16 on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 12 that is driven by a piezoelectric method, a thermal method, or the like and moves relatively. ing.

  The inkjet recording head 20 has a length along the width direction of the intermediate transfer belt 12 (a direction orthogonal to the rotation direction of the intermediate transfer belt 12), and the recording width along the width direction is equal to or larger than the recording area. It is said that.

  Examples of the ink ejected by the inkjet recording head 20 include an aqueous ink containing an aqueous solvent as a solvent, an oil ink containing an oily solvent as a solvent, an ultraviolet curable ink, and a phase change wax ink. There are no particular restrictions on the configuration of these inks, and known configurations are applied.

  A transfer member that transfers the curable solution 16 (curable solution layer 16A) to which ink droplets have been applied from the intermediate transfer belt 12 to the recording medium P on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the intermediate transfer belt 12 as viewed from the inkjet recording head 20. 22 is provided so as to sandwich the intermediate transfer belt 12 from the inner peripheral side and the outer peripheral side.

  The transfer member 22 includes a winding roll 13A around which the intermediate transfer belt 12 is wound, and a transfer roll 48 disposed on the inner peripheral side of the transport belt 40. In the transfer member 22, the recording medium P is sandwiched and transported between the intermediate transfer belt 12 and the transport belt 40 with the transfer roll 48 applying pressure to the winding roll 13 </ b> A side. Thereby, the curable solution 16 (curable solution layer 16 </ b> A) on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 12 is pressed against the recording medium P.

  A curing device 23 as an example of a curing unit that cures the curable solution 16 is provided on the inner peripheral side of the intermediate transfer belt 12 on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the intermediate transfer belt 12 when viewed from the transfer member 22. The curing device 23 cures the curable solution 16 (curable solution layer 16A) on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 12 pressed against the recording medium P by the transfer member 22, so that the curable solution 16 (curable solution layer). 16A) is transferred from the intermediate transfer belt 12 to the recording medium P. The specific configuration of the curing device 23 will be described later.

  A removal device 24 for removing the curable solution 16 remaining on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 12 is provided on the outer peripheral side of the intermediate transfer belt 12 on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the intermediate transfer belt 12 as viewed from the curing device 23. It has been.

  The removing device 24 includes a removing member 24 </ b> A that contacts the intermediate transfer belt 12 and scrapes the curable solution 16 remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 12. The removing member 24A is configured by a plate-like blade made of a rubber material such as polyurethane, for example. Further, the removing device 24 includes an accommodating portion 24B that accommodates the curable solution 16 scraped off by the removing member 24A. The accommodating portion 24B is configured by a box body whose upper portion is opened, and serves as a receiving portion that receives the curable solution 16 that has been scraped and dropped by the removing member 24A.

(Curing solution 16)
Next, the curable solution 16 will be described.

  The curable solution 16 includes at least a curable material that is cured by an external stimulus (energy). Here, the “curable material that is cured by external stimulus (energy)” contained in the curable solution 16 means a material that is cured by an external stimulus and becomes a “curable resin”. Specific examples include curable monomers, curable macromers, curable oligomers, and curable prepolymers.

  Examples of the curable material include an ultraviolet curable material, an electron beam curable material, and a thermosetting material. UV curable materials are most desirable because they are easy to cure, have a faster cure speed and are easier to handle than others. The electron beam curable material does not require a polymerization initiator, and it is easy to control the coloration of the cured layer. Thermoset materials are cured without the need for extensive equipment. The curable material is not limited to these, and a curable material that is cured by moisture, oxygen, or the like may be applied. In addition, the curable material said here is irreversible after hardening.

  Examples of the “ultraviolet curable resin” obtained by curing the ultraviolet curable material include acrylic resin, methacrylic resin, urethane resin, polyester resin, maleimide resin, epoxy resin, oxetane resin, polyether resin, and polyvinyl ether resin. Etc. The curable solution 16 contains at least one of an ultraviolet curable monomer, an ultraviolet curable macromer, an ultraviolet curable oligomer, and an ultraviolet curable prepolymer. The curable solution 16 preferably contains an ultraviolet polymerization initiator for causing the ultraviolet curing reaction to proceed. Furthermore, the curable solution 16 may contain a reaction aid, a polymerization accelerator, and the like for further proceeding the polymerization reaction as necessary.

  Here, examples of the ultraviolet curable monomer include alcohol / polyhydric alcohol / amino alcohol acrylic ester, alcohol / polyhydric alcohol methacrylate, acrylic aliphatic amide, acrylic alicyclic amide, acrylic aromatic Radical curable materials such as aromatic amides; and cationic curable materials such as epoxy monomers, oxetane monomers, and vinyl ether monomers. The UV curable macromer, UV curable oligomer, and UV curable prepolymer include those obtained by polymerizing these monomers, acryloyl groups and methacryloyl groups added to epoxy, urethane, polyester, and polyether skeletons. , Radical curable materials such as epoxy acrylate, urethane acrylate, polyester acrylate, polyether acrylate, urethane methacrylate, and polyester methacrylate.

  Examples of the “electron beam curable resin” obtained by curing the electron beam curable material include acrylic resin, methacrylic resin, urethane resin, polyester resin, polyether resin, and silicone resin. The curable solution 16 contains at least one of an electron beam curable monomer, an electron beam curable macromer, an electron beam curable oligomer, and an electron beam curable prepolymer.

  Here, examples of the electron beam curable monomer, the electron beam curable macromer, the electron beam curable oligomer, and the electron beam curable prepolymer include the same materials as the ultraviolet curable material.

  Examples of the “thermosetting resin” obtained by curing the thermosetting material include an epoxy resin, a polyester resin, a phenol resin, a melamine resin, a urea resin, and an alkyd resin. The curable solution 16 contains at least one of a thermosetting monomer, a thermosetting macromer, a thermosetting oligomer, and a thermosetting prepolymer. Further, a curing agent may be added during the polymerization. Further, the curable solution 16 may include a thermal polymerization initiator for causing a thermosetting reaction to proceed.

  Here, examples of the thermosetting monomer include polyalcohols such as phenol, formaldehyde, bisphenol A, epichlorohydrin, cyanuric amide, urea and glycerin, acids such as phthalic anhydride, maleic anhydride, and adipic acid. It is done. Examples of the thermosetting macromer, thermosetting oligomer, and thermosetting prepolymer include those obtained by polymerizing these monomers, epoxy prepolymers, polyester prepolymers, and the like.

  As described above, the curable material may be anything as long as it is cured (for example, cured by the progress of the polymerization reaction) by external energy such as ultraviolet rays, electron beams, and heat.

  Among the curable materials, a material having a high curing speed (for example, a material having a high polymerization reaction speed) is desirable in view of speeding up image recording. Examples of such a curable material include a radiation curable curable material (the above-described ultraviolet curable material, electron beam curable material, and the like).

  The curable material may be modified with Si or fluorine in consideration of wettability with the intermediate transfer belt 12 or the like. Moreover, it is desirable that the curable material contains a polyfunctional prepolymer in consideration of the curing speed and the degree of curing.

  In addition, as these materials, materials having a liquid absorbing property to ink (liquid absorbing material) are preferable. The liquid-absorbing material means that after the liquid-absorbing material and the ink are mixed at a mass ratio of 30: 100 for 24 hours, the liquid-absorbing material is mixed with the ink when the liquid-absorbing material is taken out from the mixed solution with a filter. This is an increase of 5% or more.

  As described above, since the curable solution 16 contains the ink absorbing material, the ink liquid component (for example, water, aqueous solvent) is quickly taken into the resin layer and the image is fixed. Color mixing at the boundary is suppressed, image unevenness is suppressed, and ink transfer unevenness due to pressure during transfer is reduced.

  Examples of the liquid-absorbing material include a resin (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a liquid-absorbing resin) and inorganic particles (for example, silica, alumina, zeolite, etc.) having surface ink affinity. Is selected accordingly.

  Specifically, when water-based ink is used as the ink, it is desirable to use a water-absorbing material as the liquid-absorbing material. When oil-based ink is used as the ink, it is desirable to use an oil-absorbing material as the liquid-absorbing material.

  In addition, other additives may be appropriately added to the curable solution 16.

(Curing device 23)
Next, the configuration of the curing device 23 will be described.

  The curing device 23 is configured to supply a stimulus via the intermediate transfer belt 12 to the curable solution 16 (curable solution layer 16A) in contact with the recording medium P. Accordingly, the intermediate transfer belt 12 has a function of propagating the stimulus to the recording medium P. For example, as described below, when ultraviolet rays or electron beams are used as stimuli, it has a function of transmitting ultraviolet rays or electron beams, and when heat is used as stimuli, it has a function of transmitting heat.

  Further, the curing device 23 is provided with a blocking member 26 for blocking stimulation of the curing device 23. The blocking member 26 is formed, for example, in a box shape in which the stimulus supply side (the lower side in FIG. 1) is opened. For example, as described below, the blocking member 26 has a function of shielding ultraviolet rays or electron beams when used as a stimulus, and has a function of insulating when heat is used as a stimulus. .

  The arrangement position of the curing device 23 is not limited to the inner peripheral side of the intermediate transfer belt 12, and may be arranged, for example, on the inner peripheral side of the transport belt 40.

  The type of the curing device 23 is selected according to the type of the curable material contained in the curable solution to be applied. Specifically, for example, when an ultraviolet curable material that is cured by irradiation with ultraviolet rays is applied, an ultraviolet irradiation device that irradiates the curable solution 16 (curable solution layer 16A) with ultraviolet rays is applied as the curing device 23.

  Moreover, when applying the electron beam curable material hardened | cured by electron beam irradiation, the electron beam irradiation apparatus which irradiates an electron beam to the curable solution 16 (curable solution layer 16A) is applied as the hardening apparatus 23. FIG.

  Moreover, when applying the thermosetting material hardened | cured by provision of heat, the heat provision apparatus which provides heat to the curable solution 16 (curable solution layer 16A) is applied as the hardening apparatus 23. FIG.

  Here, examples of the ultraviolet irradiation device include metal halide lamps, high-pressure mercury lamps, ultra-high pressure mercury lamps, deep ultraviolet lamps, lamps that excite mercury lamps from the outside using microwaves, ultraviolet lasers, xenon lamps, UV-LEDs, etc. Applies.

  Further, as an electron beam irradiation device, for example, there are a scanning type / curtain type, etc. The curtain type draws thermoelectrons generated in a filament by a grid in a vacuum chamber, and further, by a high voltage (for example, 70 to 300 kV), It is a device that accelerates at once, becomes an electron flow, passes through the window foil, and is released to the atmosphere side.

  Moreover, as a heat provision apparatus, a halogen lamp, a ceramic heater, a nichrome wire heater, a microwave heating, an infrared lamp etc. are applied, for example. An electromagnetic induction heating device is also used as the heat application device.

(Configuration of discharge device 19)
Next, the configuration of the discharge device 19 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 3 which is a plan view, the discharge unit 18 of the discharge device 19 is configured by a slit die and is formed along one direction (specifically, the width direction of the intermediate transfer belt 12). The curable solution 16 is discharged onto the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 12 from the discharge hole (slit) 18A. The discharge unit 18 has a length along the width direction of the intermediate transfer belt 12 (a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the intermediate transfer belt 12), and the discharge width along the width direction is a recording area. That's it.

  Further, the discharge unit 18 is separated from the intermediate transfer belt 12 along the outer circumferential direction (upward in FIG. 1) and the opposite direction (downward in FIG. 1) of the intermediate transfer belt 12 (FIGS. 2 and 4). B) (see (C)) and an approach position (see FIGS. 1 and 4A) approaching the intermediate transfer belt 12 so as to be movable.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the discharge device 19 further includes a wiping mechanism 54 having a wiping member 52 for wiping the curable solution 16 attached to the discharge surface 18 </ b> B in which the discharge holes 18 </ b> A are formed, and a wiping member 52. A curing device 60 as an example of a curing unit that cures the curable solution 16 attached to the surface by stimulation, a removing device 62 as a removing unit that removes the curable solution 16 cured by the curing device 60 from the wiping member 52, and discharge. And a covering mechanism 70 having a covering member 72 that covers the discharge surface 18B (specifically, the discharge hole 18A) when the curable solution 16 is not discharged from the section 18.

  Thus, in the discharge device 19, the wiping mechanism 54, the curing device 60, the removal device 62, and the covering mechanism 70 constitute a maintenance device for maintaining the discharge portion 18.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the wiping mechanism 54 includes the wiping member 52 described above, a shaft portion 56 extending along the longitudinal direction of the discharge portion 18 (the width direction of the intermediate transfer belt 12), and a base end on the shaft portion 56. And an arm member 58 to which the portion is attached.

  The shaft portion 56 is fixed to a support member (support frame) (not shown). Further, the shaft portion 56 is on the outer peripheral side (the upper side in FIG. 2) of the intermediate transfer belt 12 and is closer to the intermediate transfer belt 12 (the lower side in FIG. 2) than the discharge portion 18 when located at the separated position. Thus, the intermediate transfer belt 12 is disposed downstream of the discharge surface 18B of the discharge unit 18 in the moving direction (left side in FIG. 2).

  The arm member 58 has a distal end portion extending from the shaft portion 56 to the discharge portion 18 side (the right side in FIG. 5 and the upper side in FIG. 3). Further, the arm member 58 is retracted to the outside in the longitudinal direction from one end in the longitudinal direction of the discharge unit 18 along the axial direction of the shaft portion 56 (width direction of the intermediate transfer belt 12) (FIG. 4A). )) And a second retracted position (FIGS. 4B and 4C) retracted to the outside in the longitudinal direction from the other longitudinal end of the discharge section 18. A wiping member 52 is disposed on the surface (upper surface in FIG. 2) opposite to the intermediate transfer belt 12 on the distal end side of the arm member 58.

  The wiping member 52 comes into contact with the discharge surface 18B of the discharge unit 18 by moving the arm member 58 from the first retracted position to the second retracted position when the discharge unit 18 is located at the separation position. 18B is wiped off.

  As the wiping member 52, for example, a conventional rubber such as silicon rubber, fluorine rubber, EPDM or the like, fluorine-treated, ETFE film, or the like is used.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the curing device 60 is disposed at the second retracted position, and is configured to cure the curable solution 16 attached to the wiping member 52 when positioned at the second retracted position. . The curing device 60 is configured in the same manner as the curing device 23. A blocking member 61 for blocking the stimulation of the curing device 60 is provided between the curing device 60 and the discharge unit 18. As shown in FIG. 4, the blocking member 61 is configured in an L shape having a side plate 61A and a bottom plate 61B, for example. The side plate 61A blocks the stimulation from the curing device 60 toward the discharge unit 18, and blocks the stimulation from the bottom plate 61B and the curing device 60 toward the intermediate transfer belt 12 (the lower side in FIG. 4). For example, as described above, the blocking member 61 has a function of shielding ultraviolet rays or electron beams when used as a stimulus, and has a function of insulating when heat is used as a stimulus. . The blocking member 61 may be formed integrally with the blocking member 26, and the blocking member 61 and the blocking member 26 may be configured as a single member.

  As shown in FIG. 4C, the removing device 62 is disposed at the second retracted position, and has a removing member 64 formed in a U-shaped cross section as shown in FIG. The removing member 64 comes into contact with a contact surface (upper surface in FIG. 6) 52A and both side surfaces 52B of the wiping member 52 with respect to the ejection surface 18B.

  The removal member 64 moves along the longitudinal direction of the arm member 58 so that the removal member 64 adheres to the wiping member 52 in the second retracted position, and rubs the curable solution 16 cured by the curing device 60. It has become.

  Similar to the wiping member 52, the removal member 64 may be, for example, a conventional rubber such as silicon rubber, fluororubber, EPDM, or the like, an ETFE film, or the like. As the removing member 64, it is desirable to use an adhesive material having adhesiveness such as silicon rubber so that the cured curable solution 16 can be easily attached.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the covering mechanism 70 includes the above-described covering member 72, a shaft portion 74 extending along the longitudinal direction of the discharge portion 18 (the width direction of the intermediate transfer belt 12), and a base end on the shaft portion 74. The arm member 76 to which the part is rotatably attached.

  The shaft portion 74 is on the outer peripheral side of the intermediate transfer belt 12 (upper side in FIG. 2), and is closer to the intermediate transfer belt 12 (lower side in FIG. 2) than the discharge unit 18 when located at the separated position. The intermediate transfer belt 12 is disposed upstream of the discharge surface 18B of the discharge unit 18 in the moving direction (right side in FIG. 2).

  As shown in FIG. 7, the arm member 76 has a distal end portion extending outward in the radial direction of the shaft portion 74. A covering member 72 is disposed at the tip of the arm member 76. The arm member 76 has a covering position (a position indicated by a solid line in FIG. 7) where the covering member 72 comes into contact with the discharge surface 18B and covers the discharge surface 18B, and a retracted position (shown by a broken line in FIG. 7). Position).

  Since the covering member 72 only needs to block external stimulation, a gap may be formed between the covering member 72 and the discharge surface 18B without contacting the discharge surface 18B.

(Operation of the droplet discharge device 10 according to the present embodiment)
Next, the operation of the droplet discharge device 10 according to this embodiment will be described.

  In the droplet discharge device 10 according to the present embodiment, first, the intermediate transfer belt 12 rotates, and the curable solution 16 is discharged from the discharge unit 18 onto the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 12. The curable solution 16 discharged onto the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 12 forms a curable solution layer 16A.

  Next, the curable solution 16 (curable solution layer 16A) discharged onto the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 12 is conveyed to a position facing the inkjet recording head 20 of each color, and the inkjet recording heads 20Y, 20M, 20C, and 20K. Ink droplets of each color based on the image information are ejected. Thereby, the curable solution 16 (curable solution layer 16 </ b> A) absorbs ink, and a color image is formed on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 12.

  Next, the curable solution 16 (curable solution layer 16 </ b> A) provided with ink droplets is pressed against the recording medium P by the transfer member 22. The curable solution 16 (curable solution layer 16A) pressed against the recording medium P is cured by the curing device 23 via the intermediate transfer belt 12, transferred to the recording medium P, and fixed.

  When the image formation on the recording medium P is completed, the ejection unit 18 moves to the separated position (see FIG. 4B). Next, the arm member 58 moves from the first retracted position to the second retracted position along the shaft portion 56. Thereby, the ejection surface 18B of the ejection unit 18 is wiped by the wiping member 52. After the discharge surface 18B is wiped off, the arm member 76 of the covering mechanism 70 rotates to the covering position around the shaft portion 74, and the discharge surface 18B of the discharge portion 18 is covered with the covering member 72. Thus, the covering member 72 covers the ejection surface 18B when the ejection unit 18 is not ejecting, and the ejection unit 18 is in a standby state. By covering the discharge surface 18 </ b> B of the discharge unit 18 with the covering member 72, the curable solution 16 present in the discharge hole 18 </ b> A is less likely to be stimulated by the curing device 60 and the curing device 23. Thereby, clogging of the discharge hole 18A caused by curing of the curable solution 16 present in the discharge hole 18A is suppressed.

  Next, the curable solution 16 attached to the wiping member 52 is cured by the curing device 60 at the second retracted position.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 4C, the removing member 64 scrapes off the curable solution 16 cured by the curing device 60.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, since the curable solution 16 attached to the wiping member 52 is removed after being cured, the curable solution 16 is less than when the curable solution 16 is removed without being cured. It becomes easy to peel from the wiping member 52. Therefore, according to the configuration of the present embodiment, the curable solution 16 is efficiently removed as compared with the case where the curable solution 16 attached to the wiping member 52 is removed without being cured.

  The droplet discharge device 10 does not have the intermediate transfer belt 12, and the discharge unit 18 directly discharges the curable solution 16 to the surface of the recording medium P, and the inkjet recording head 20 is discharged to the curable solution 16. The configuration may be such that the curing device 23 cures the curable solution 16 to which ink droplets have been applied by ejecting ink droplets.

  Moreover, as a removal apparatus, as shown in FIG. 8, the removal apparatus 86 provided with a pair of removal rolls 84 as a removal member may be sufficient. In this removing device 86, as shown in FIG. 8, the outer circumferences of the pair of removing rolls 84 come into contact with the corners (edges) 52 </ b> C of the wiping member 52, respectively, and the pair of removing rolls 84 are rotated. The curable solution 16 to which is attached is scraped off.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications, changes, and improvements can be made.

10 Liquid droplet ejection device 12 Intermediate transfer belt (an example of an intermediate transfer member)
16 Curable solution 18A Discharge hole 18 Discharge portion 18B Discharge surface 19 Discharge device 20 Inkjet recording head (an example of a droplet discharge portion)
52 Wiping member 60 Curing device (curing means)
62 Removal device (removal means)
72 Coating member P Recording medium

Claims (3)

A discharge part that discharges a curable material that cures in response to a stimulus from a discharge hole formed along one direction;
A wiping member for wiping the curable material attached to the ejection surface in which the ejection holes of the ejection part are formed;
Curing means for curing the curable material attached to the wiping member by the stimulus;
Removing means for removing the curable material cured by the curing means from the wiping member;
A discharge device comprising:   The discharge device according to claim 1, further comprising a covering member that covers the discharge hole when the curable material is not discharged from the discharge portion. The discharge device according to claim 1 or 2,
A droplet discharge section for discharging droplets;
The curable material is discharged from the discharge portion, the droplet is discharged from the droplet discharge portion to the discharged curable material, and the curable material to which the droplet is applied is transferred to a recording medium. An intermediate transfer member;
A droplet discharge device comprising:

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