JP2011178101A - Fluid ejecting apparatus and image forming method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming method that achieves overlay printing with high accuracy. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming method includes the steps of: obtaining information on expansion/contraction of a recording medium for at least one of temperature, humidity and tension; measuring at least one of the temperature, humidity and tension; ejecting a fluid that includes a material cured when irradiated with predetermined light from an ejecting head, toward the recording medium, on the basis of the result obtained in the measuring step and the above information; and emitting the predetermined light toward the recording medium. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a fluid ejecting apparatus and an image forming method.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an ink jet recording apparatus is known as a recording apparatus capable of printing on various recording media represented by plain paper. An ink jet recording apparatus ejects ink, which is a coloring material, directly onto a recording medium from an ejection port (hereinafter referred to as a nozzle) provided on the surface of the recording head that faces the recording medium, and then landed, penetrates or This is a recording apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium by fixing, and has very excellent characteristics in terms of process simplicity, quietness during printing, printing, and print quality.

  In recent years, an ink jet recording apparatus may be used to perform image recording using various materials having no ink absorbability such as resin and metal as a recording medium. In order to fix ink on such a recording medium, In many cases, photocurable ink is used. Usually, the inkjet recording apparatus using the photo-curable ink is provided with an ultraviolet irradiation device for curing the ink. When an image is recorded on the recording medium, the ink is landed on the recording medium. Immediately after that, the ink is cured and fixed by irradiating ultraviolet rays from a light source provided in the ultraviolet irradiating device under the conditions of a certain irradiation time and number of irradiation times in which the ink can be cured.

  On the other hand, in the above-described recording apparatus, one that performs continuous printing on a recording medium such as continuous paper wound in a roll shape by performing a printing operation and intermittent paper feeding is known (for example, Patent Document 1). In this case, a suction table for horizontally sucking and setting the continuous paper is disposed in the continuous paper feed path, and printing is performed on the portion of the continuous paper that is suction set on the suction table (set surface). At the same time, the paper-drawn portion is sent out from the suction table.

In this type of recording medium, when ultraviolet light is applied to the photocurable ink, heat is applied to the recording medium and the recording medium expands and contracts (expands). For example, in multiple scans (scanning). In the case of forming an image, an error occurs in the overlay of the image printed earlier and the image printed later, resulting in color shift and image distortion.
Therefore, Patent Documents 1 to 3 disclose a technique for forming an image with high accuracy even when the recording medium expands and contracts due to heat or the like.

JP 2007-190780 A JP 2000-290882 A JP 7-137238 A

However, the following problems exist in the conventional technology as described above.
In the above technology, it is necessary to obtain information about expansion and contraction in advance, so if the situation when the information was obtained in advance and the situation when the ink is actually ejected are different, obtain in advance. Even if the information is used, high-precision overlay printing may not be realized.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a fluid ejecting apparatus and an image forming method capable of realizing high-precision overlay printing.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention employs the following configuration.
The image forming method of the present invention includes a step of obtaining information relating to expansion and contraction of a recording medium with respect to at least one of temperature, humidity, and tension, a step of measuring at least one of the temperature, humidity, and tension, and the measurement step. And a step of ejecting a fluid containing a material that is cured by irradiation with predetermined light from the ejection head toward the recording medium, and the predetermined direction toward the recording medium. And a step of irradiating light.

  Therefore, in the image forming method of the present invention, information relating to the expansion and contraction of the recording medium with respect to at least one of temperature, humidity, and tension is measured before image formation, and the measurement result and the measurement result obtained in advance are measured. Information relating to the expansion and contraction of the recording medium can be obtained based on the information relating to the expansion and contraction of the corresponding recording medium. For this reason, in the present invention, by adjusting the printing conditions when ejecting the fluid toward the recording medium so that the size of the printed image after being released from the printing situation becomes a predetermined value, the recording is performed. Print data (image data) having a predetermined size can be formed on the medium. That is, when superimposing a plurality of image data, each print image can be formed in a predetermined size on a recording medium in accordance with environmental characteristics and can be superimposed with high accuracy.

In the present invention, the first image is formed by the ejection step and the irradiation step, and then the second image is formed by overlapping the first image by the ejection step and the irradiation step. Procedures for performing the measurement step and the adjustment step before forming an image and before forming the second image can also be suitably employed.
Accordingly, in the present invention, each image is recorded in order to adjust the printing conditions when the fluid is ejected in response to the information about the expansion and contraction with respect to the recording medium when the first image is printed and when the second image is printed. It can be formed with high accuracy corresponding to the information about expansion and contraction with respect to the medium, and as a result, the first image and the second image can be superimposed with high accuracy.

In the present invention described above, a procedure for obtaining the information for each manufacturing unit of the recording medium can be suitably employed.
Thus, in the present invention, by setting information on expansion / contraction of the recording medium for each manufacturing unit having a large difference in information on expansion / contraction, more accurate information on expansion / contraction can be obtained at the time of printing. It becomes possible to print with accuracy.

  On the other hand, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a holding device that holds information about expansion and contraction of a recording medium with respect to at least one of temperature, humidity, and tension, and a measuring device that measures at least one of the temperature, humidity, and tension. And an adjustment device that adjusts image forming conditions based on the result obtained in the measurement step and the information, and a fluid containing a material that is cured by irradiation with predetermined light is ejected toward the recording medium. An ejection head and an irradiation device that irradiates the predetermined light toward the recording medium.

  Therefore, in the fluid ejecting apparatus of the present invention, information relating to the expansion and contraction of the recording medium with respect to at least one of temperature, humidity and tension is measured before image formation, and the measurement result and the measurement result obtained in advance are measured. Information relating to the expansion and contraction of the recording medium can be obtained based on the information relating to the expansion and contraction of the corresponding recording medium. Therefore, in the present invention, the recording medium is adjusted by ejecting the fluid toward the recording medium so that the size of the image after being released from the printing situation becomes a predetermined value. An image having a predetermined size can be formed thereon. That is, when superimposing a plurality of image data, each image can be formed in a predetermined size on a recording medium in accordance with environmental characteristics and can be superimposed with high accuracy.

  In the fluid ejecting apparatus having the above-described configuration, after the light irradiation by the irradiation device, and before the ejection by the ejection head, the information is retained by the holding device, the measurement by the measurement device, and the adjustment. A configuration that further includes a control device that adjusts the image forming conditions by the apparatus can be suitably employed.

  Accordingly, in the present invention, each image is recorded in order to adjust the printing conditions when the fluid is ejected in response to the information about the expansion and contraction with respect to the recording medium when the first image is printed and when the second image is printed. It can be formed with high accuracy corresponding to the information about expansion and contraction with respect to the medium, and as a result, the first image and the second image can be superimposed with high accuracy.

In the fluid ejecting apparatus having the above-described configuration, a confirmation device for confirming a production unit of the recording medium, and retention of information by the retention device, measurement by the measurement device, and adjustment based on a confirmation result of the confirmation device A configuration that further includes a control device that adjusts the image forming conditions by the apparatus can be suitably employed.
As a result, in the present invention, by setting information on expansion / contraction of the recording medium for each manufacturing unit having a large difference in information on expansion / contraction, it is possible to obtain more accurate information on expansion / contraction at the time of printing, resulting in high-precision It becomes possible to print on.

1 is a schematic plan view of a fluid ejection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a side view in which a head unit is mounted on a carriage. It is an external appearance perspective view of a functional droplet discharge head. It is a figure explaining the feeding operation | movement of a workpiece | work. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the information regarding expansion / contraction and elongation rate.

Embodiments of a fluid ejecting apparatus and an image forming method according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
In the present embodiment, as a liquid ejecting apparatus according to the present invention, a serial type ink jet printer in which a recording head reciprocates on a recording medium surface to record print data (image) is exemplified.
The following embodiment shows one aspect of the present invention and does not limit the present invention, and can be arbitrarily changed within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention. Moreover, in the following drawings, in order to make each configuration easy to understand, the actual structure is different from the scale and number of each structure.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an ink jet printer (fluid ejecting apparatus) 301 includes a drawing apparatus 302 that performs drawing / printing with functional liquid droplets (fluid, ink) on a strip-shaped work (recording medium) W, and a roll-like winding. A feeding device 303 that feeds the rotated long workpiece W; a feeding device 304 that feeds the fed workpiece W along a predetermined feeding path; and a winding device 305 that winds the workpiece W. ing.

  That is, the printer 301 performs processing in a roll-to-roll system. First, the feeding device 304 sends the work W fed by the feeding device 303 to the drawing device 302 along the feeding path. . Then, after the drawing device 302 performs the drawing process on the workpiece W, the feeding device 304 sends out the processed portion of the workpiece W from the drawing device 302 and sequentially sends the processed workpiece W that has been sent out by the winding device 305. It is designed to wind up. Although not shown, the printer 301 is provided with a control device 306 that performs overall control of each device, and the series of operations described above is performed based on control by the control device 306.

  The drawing device 302 is widely placed on the machine base 311, the entire area on the machine base 311, the drawing means 12 having the recording head (jetting head) 42, and the machine base 311 so as to be attached to the drawing means 12. And a head maintenance means 331 placed thereon.

  The drawing means 12 is provided with a set table 316 for setting the workpiece W introduced by the feeding device 304, a head unit 322 having a plurality of recording heads 42 (only one is shown in FIG. 2), and a head unit 322. And a XY movement mechanism 312 that moves the head unit 322 in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction on the machine base 311 via the carriage 321. Here, the conveyance direction of the workpiece W (longitudinal direction of the workpiece W) is the X axis direction, the X axis direction is orthogonal, and the horizontal direction is the Y axis direction, and the X axis direction and the Y axis direction are orthogonal. The vertical direction is described as the Z-axis direction.

  The XY movement mechanism 312 is disposed in a drawing space on the machine base 311, and an X-axis table 313 for moving the workpiece W in the X-axis direction in the drawing space, and a pair of columns 318 erected on the machine base. And a Y-axis table 314 that is disposed across the X-axis table 313 perpendicularly and moves the head unit 322 in the Y-axis direction via the carriage 321. The X-axis table 313 is configured by mounting a set table 316 movably in the X-axis direction on an X-axis slider 315 driven by an X-axis motor (not shown) that is a drive system in the X-axis direction. Similarly, the Y-axis table 314 includes a Y-axis slider (317) for driving a Y-axis motor (not shown) which is a drive system in the Y-axis direction, and a carriage 321 is mounted on the Y-axis table 314 so as to be movable in the Y-axis direction. Has been.

As shown in FIG. 2, the head unit 322 is provided with a recording head 42, an ultraviolet irradiation unit (irradiation device) 20, and an environment measurement device (measurement device) 21 so as to face the workpiece W. As shown in FIG. 3, the recording head 42 is a so-called two-series recording head 42, and includes a functional liquid introduction part 51 having two connection needles 52 and two series of functional liquid introduction parts 51 connected to the functional liquid introduction part 51. A head substrate 53 and a head main body 54 which is connected to the lower side of the functional liquid introduction part 51 and has an in-head flow path filled with the functional liquid therein are provided. The connection needle 52 is connected to a functional liquid tank (not shown) and supplies the functional liquid to the functional liquid introduction unit 51. The head main body 54 includes a cavity 55 (piezo piezoelectric element) and a nozzle plate 56 having a nozzle surface 57 in which a large number of ejection nozzles 58 are opened. When the recording head 42 is driven to discharge, a functional liquid droplet is ejected from the ejection nozzle 58 by the pump action of the cavity 55 (a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element). A plurality of recording heads 42 are held by the head unit 322 via a head plate (not shown), and are arranged so that each nozzle row is continuous (partially overlaps) in the X-axis direction. One drawing line is formed by the columns. The length of one drawing line corresponds to the width of the actual drawing area of the workpiece W in the X-axis direction.
The recording head 42 in FIG. 2 is illustrated in a simplified manner.

The ultraviolet irradiation unit 20 irradiates ultraviolet rays (predetermined light) toward the workpiece under the control of the control device 306, and is provided on both sides in the Y-axis direction with the recording head 42 interposed therebetween.
The environment measuring device 21 measures the surrounding environment state of the recording head 42 and the work W, and here is constituted by a temperature sensor and a humidity sensor, and is on the −Y side of the ultraviolet irradiation unit 20 located on the −Y side. Is arranged. Environmental measurement processing by the environmental measurement device 21 is controlled by the control device 306, and the measurement result is output to the control device 306 and processed.
The recording head 42, the ultraviolet irradiation unit 20, and the environment measuring device 21 are held by the carriage 321 and integrally move in the Y-axis direction.

  The drawing process by the drawing unit 12 includes main scanning including movement of the workpiece W in the X-axis direction by driving of the X-axis table 313 and ejection of the functional liquid droplet ejection head 323 in synchronization with the movement, and the head unit 322. By alternately repeating sub-scanning, which is movement in the Y-axis direction, a drawing operation for one tact is performed.

  The flushing unit 332 of the head maintenance unit 331 is supported by the set table 316. On the other hand, the suction unit 333, the wiping unit 334, and the ejection failure inspection unit 335 of the head maintenance means 331 are provided by a unit moving table 336 disposed at a position deviated from the drawing space and the feed path of the workpiece W in the Y axis direction. It is supported so as to be movable in the X-axis direction. The Y-axis table 314 is configured to be able to move the head unit 322 to a position deviating from the drawing space in the Y-axis direction, and an area where the unit moving table 336 and the Y-axis table 314 intersect is maintained in the recording head 42. It is a maintenance space to perform. When the head unit 322 facing the maintenance space is to be maintained using the suction unit 333, the wiping unit 334, and the ejection failure inspection unit 335, the unit moving table 336 is driven to maintain each unit. The space (head unit 322) can be appropriately faced.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the feeding device 304 is disposed on the feeding machine base 351, and is provided with a feeding-side feed roller 341 that feeds the work W fed from the feeding reel 352 to the set table 316, and a winder table 361. A take-up side feed roller 342 that feeds the processed workpiece W from the set table 316, a feed-side feed motor 343 that rotates the feed-side feed roller 341 in the forward and reverse directions, and a wind-up side feed roller 342 that rotates forward and backward. A take-up side feed motor 344 to be provided. The feeding side feed motor 343 and the take-up side feed motor 344 are constituted by a servo motor or a stepping motor with an encoder, and the feed amount of the workpiece W is controlled by the control device 306 based on the rotation amount.

  Further, the control device 306 controls the force in the conveying direction (X direction) applied to the workpiece W, that is, the tension, by adjusting the rotation amounts of the feeding side feeding motor 343 and the winding side feeding motor 344 in the feeding device 304. Is possible.

  Reference numeral 381 in FIG. 4 is a feeding-side first limit sensor that detects a shortage of feeding of the workpiece W, and reference numeral 382 is a feeding-side that detects a limit position at which a chip part or the like previously formed in the workpiece W is not destroyed. A second limit sensor. These two sensors 381 and 382 constitute a feeding limit sensor.

  The feeding device 303 is configured to feed the work W for one tact to the feeding device 304 (the feeding-side feeding roller 341) during the drawing process. The printer 301 of the present embodiment is configured to move the set table 316 in the X-axis direction during the drawing process, and allows the set table 316 to move by feeding the workpiece W from the feeding reel 352 during the drawing process. To do.

  The winding device 305 is installed on a winding machine base 361 attached downstream of the machine base 311, is rotatably supported by a winding support frame (not shown), and is sent from the feeding device 304. A take-up reel 362 for taking up the drawn workpiece W and a take-up motor 363 for rotating the take-up reel 362 forward and backward are provided. When the take-up motor 363 is driven forward to rotate the take-up reel 362 in the normal direction, the workpiece W from the take-up side feed roller 342 is taken up by the take-up reel 362.

  The control device 306 comprehensively controls the operation of various devices constituting the printer 1, such as the drawing device 302, the feeding device 303, the feeding device 304, the winding device 305, the recording head 42, the ultraviolet irradiation unit 20, and the imaging device 21. Control. The control device 306 holds print data such as the number of scans (scanning times) when drawing on the workpiece W, position information for ejecting fluid in each scanning operation, and the like when performing drawing processing (fluid ejection processing). First, the operation of various devices constituting the printer 1 is controlled based on the print image data. Further, as will be described later, the control device 306 stores and holds the elongation rate (information about expansion and contraction) of the workpiece W as a storage device in association with each of temperature, humidity, and tension. Further, the printer 1 is provided with a confirmation device (not shown) for confirming the production lot (production unit) of the workpiece W, and the control device 306 performs the above operation based on the confirmed production lot of the workpiece W. It controls the operation of various devices constituting the printer 1.

Next, the printing operation in the printer 1 will be described.
Here, a description will be given using an example in which the scanning operation for the workpiece W is performed twice.
First, as information relating to the expansion and contraction of the workpiece W, as shown in FIGS. 5A to 5C, the correlation with the elongation rate is obtained for each of temperature, humidity, and tension, and held in the control device 306. . These correlations related to the elongation rate are obtained and held for each production lot (production unit) of the workpiece W.

  In addition, the correlation shown to Fig.5 (a)-(c) is calculated | required for every some condition regarding the information regarding another expansion / contraction. For example, the correlation between temperature and elongation shown in FIG. 5A is a relationship when the workpiece W is under a specific humidity and tension, and is different when the workpiece W is under other humidity and tension. Since there is a possibility, the above correlation is preferably obtained and held for each assumed condition.

  Before the functional liquid droplet is ejected onto the workpiece W by the first scanning operation, the control device 306 takes in the tension applied to the workpiece W, and causes the environment measurement device 21 to measure the temperature and humidity, and the measurement. The result is taken in as information about expansion and contraction (measurement process).

  And the control apparatus 306 calculates | requires the elongation rate E of the workpiece | work W assumed using the information regarding these measured expansion-contraction and the correlation regarding the elongation rate of the workpiece | work W currently hold | maintained. At this time, if there is no correlation that matches the information about each measured expansion and contraction, for example, two correlations having values close to the information about the expansion and contraction are selected, and the elongation obtained by these correlations is selected. Then, the elongation rate may be calculated by performing arithmetic processing such as difference averaging.

  When the elongation rate E of the workpiece W corresponding to the environment before printing is obtained, the control device 306 uses the elongation rate E of the workpiece W as the functional liquid arrangement information for the first image corresponding to the first scanning operation. The adjusted arrangement information is adjusted (adjustment process), and the adjusted arrangement information is held as the first image.

  As a specific adjustment method, the sizes LY1 and LX1 on the design values in the Y direction and X direction of the first image may be adjusted to LY1 × E and LX1 × E, respectively. In addition, the correlation with respect to the information about the expansion and contraction is held in both the Y direction and the X direction, and the elongation rates EY and EX are obtained for each direction according to the measured information about the expansion and contraction, and these elongation rates EY and EX May be used to adjust the printing conditions of the first image.

  Thereafter, after the workpiece W is moved in the X-axis direction by driving the X-axis table 313 and the workpiece W is attracted by the set table 316, the carriage 321 is moved in the Y-axis direction and driven to eject the recording head 42. Then, functional liquid droplets are ejected onto the workpiece W by the first scanning operation based on the first image.

  In the above scanning operation, the landing position of the functional liquid, the moving speed of the carriage 321 (that is, the movement of the recording head 42) based on the first image corresponding to the first scanning operation in the image data held by the control device 306. Speed) and printing conditions such as the ejection frequency of the functional liquid from the recording head 42 are selected and executed (first step).

  The workpiece W on which the functional fluid has been ejected is irradiated with ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet irradiation unit 20 to cure the functional fluid on the workpiece (second step). In the ultraviolet irradiation process, the ultraviolet irradiation may be performed by the ultraviolet irradiation unit 20 located behind the recording head 42 in the scanning direction simultaneously with the functional liquid ejecting process of the recording head 42, or the functional liquid based on the first image. It may be performed after the injection is completed.

  When the first image is formed, before forming the second image, the control device 306 takes in the tension applied to the workpiece W again, causes the environment measurement device 21 to measure the temperature and humidity, and relates the measurement results to expansion and contraction. The estimated elongation rate E ′ of the workpiece W is obtained using the information related to the measured expansion and contraction and the correlation regarding the elongation rate of the workpiece W held in the same procedure as described above.

  Here, when the elongation rate E ′ is the same as the elongation rate E before the first image formation or the difference between the elongation rate E is very small, the elongation rate E may be selected. The elongation rate E ′ is selected (here, the elongation rate E ′ is selected).

  When the elongation rate E ′ before forming the second image is obtained, the control device 306 uses the elongation rate E ′ of the workpiece W as the functional liquid arrangement information for the second image corresponding to the second scanning operation. The adjusted arrangement information is adjusted (adjustment process), and the adjusted arrangement information is held as the second image.

  Thereafter, the functional liquid is ejected onto the work W on which the first image is formed, and a second image is formed by performing an ultraviolet irradiation process in the same procedure as in the first image formation.

In addition, after forming the second image, when forming the third image or the third image and thereafter, thereafter, measurement of information related to expansion and contraction of the work W, calculation of the elongation rate of the work W according to the measurement result, Functional liquid arrangement information adjustment process The functional liquid ejection process and the ultraviolet irradiation process are sequentially repeated.
As a result, it is possible to obtain a work W printed with the second image superimposed on the first image.

  As described above, in this embodiment, before forming each image on the workpiece W, the temperature, humidity, and tension with respect to the workpiece W are measured, and the elongation rate of the workpiece W is obtained based on the correlation obtained in advance. Since the printing conditions for forming each image are adjusted, the functional liquid constituting each print data can be arranged at a position corresponding to the elongation of the workpiece W. Therefore, in this embodiment, each image can be formed in a predetermined size and position. Therefore, in the present embodiment, as a result, the first image and the second image can be formed with high accuracy.

  In this embodiment, since the recording head 42, the ultraviolet irradiation unit 20, and the environment measurement device 21 are mounted on the carriage 321, the functional liquid injection process and the ultraviolet irradiation process to the workpiece W can be performed simultaneously, and production is performed. In addition to contributing to the improvement of the property, the time from the landing of the functional liquid on the workpiece W to the irradiation of ultraviolet rays can be made constant, and the quality (state) of a plurality of functional liquids can also be made constant. . Furthermore, in this embodiment, since the temperature and humidity can be measured in the immediate vicinity of the workpiece W to which the functional liquid is ejected, the environmental state can be measured quickly and accurately even when a new environmental change occurs. This can contribute to further improvement of the overlay accuracy of the first and second images.

  As described above, the preferred embodiments according to the present invention have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the examples. Various shapes, combinations, and the like of the constituent members shown in the above-described examples are examples, and various modifications can be made based on design requirements and the like without departing from the gist of the present invention.

  For example, in the above embodiment, each of the items of temperature, humidity, and tension is measured as information about expansion / contraction with respect to the workpiece W, and information regarding expansion / contraction of the workpiece W is obtained based on the measurement result. It is not necessary to measure all of the information related to this, and it may be configured to measure at least one according to the required printing accuracy.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although temperature, humidity, and tension were illustrated as information regarding the expansion-contraction with respect to the workpiece | work W, it is not limited to this, Information regarding other expansion-contractions, such as a material, thickness, a magnitude | size, is also combined. It may be configured to be used.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the environment measurement device 21 is mounted on the carriage 321. However, the configuration is not limited to this, and the environment measurement device 21 may be disposed at a position separated from the carriage 321. In this case, the energy for driving the carriage 321 can be reduced.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although it was set as the structure which hold | maintains correlation for every information regarding each expansion / contraction, when the elongation rate of the workpiece | work W respond | corresponds linearly with respect to the information regarding each expansion / contraction, temperature T, humidity The function f1 (T), f2 (H), f3 (P) indicating the elongation rate is set for each H and tension P, and E = f1 (T) + f2 (H) + f3 (P) obtained by adding the elongation rates. The elongation percentage may be calculated using

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although it was set as the structure which calculates | requires beforehand the information regarding the expansion / contraction of the workpiece | work W for every manufacturing lot, it is not restricted to this, When it is assumed that the information regarding an expansion / contraction changes easily, the workpiece | work W is exchanged. It is good also as a structure calculated | required for every.

  In the above-described embodiment, the present invention is applied to the serial type printer 301. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the entire ejection of one fluid ejecting head mounted on a carriage or a plurality of fluid ejecting heads is performed. The present invention can also be applied to a so-called line printer in which a wide recording line that covers the recording target width in the Y direction of the workpiece W is configured by the nozzle.

  2 illustrates the configuration in which the head unit 322 has a plurality of recording heads 42 (only one is shown in FIG. 2), but the configuration has a single recording head. Also good. Further, in the case of using a plurality of recording heads, a recording head corresponding to a different color may be used in addition to the configuration for ejecting single color ink. For example, the second image described above has the same color as the first image. It may correspond, or may correspond to a color different from the first image. Different colors may be, for example, cyan, magenta, and yellow, and may include black, white, and clear.

  In the above embodiment, the imaging device 21 is arranged only on one side in the Y direction with respect to the recording head 42. However, the present invention is not limited to this. It is good also as a structure which arrange | positions the imaging device 21 on both sides and compares the result imaged with each imaging device 21. FIG. In this case, the functional liquid sprayed onto the workpiece W can be imaged and compared before and after the ultraviolet irradiation, and an optimal ultraviolet irradiation amount can be easily set.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the configuration using ultraviolet rays as energy light for curing the functional liquid is exemplified, but the present invention is not limited to this, and laser light is used according to the curing characteristics of the fluid used for jetting, etc. It can be changed as appropriate.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the fluid ejecting apparatus is an ink jet printer has been described as an example. However, the fluid ejecting apparatus is not limited to the ink jet printer, and may be an apparatus such as a copying machine or a facsimile.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the fluid ejecting apparatus is a fluid ejecting apparatus that ejects a liquid such as ink as a fluid has been described as an example. However, the fluid ejecting apparatus of the present invention is not limited to ink. The present invention can be applied to a fluid ejecting apparatus that ejects or discharges fluid. The liquid that can be ejected by the fluid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid material in which particles of a functional material are dispersed or dissolved, and a gel-like fluid.

  In the above-described embodiment, as the liquid ejected from the fluid ejecting apparatus, not only ink but also a liquid corresponding to a specific application can be applied. By providing the fluid ejecting apparatus with an ejecting head capable of ejecting a liquid corresponding to the specific application, ejecting the liquid corresponding to the specific application from the ejecting head, and attaching the liquid to a predetermined object, A given device can be manufactured. For example, the fluid ejecting apparatus of the present invention uses, as a predetermined dispersion medium (solvent), materials such as electrode materials and color materials used for manufacturing liquid crystal displays, EL (electroluminescence) displays, and surface-emitting displays (FEDs). The present invention can be applied to a fluid ejecting apparatus that ejects a dispersed (dissolved) liquid (liquid material).

  Further, the fluid ejecting apparatus may be a fluid ejecting apparatus that ejects a bio-organic matter used for biochip manufacturing, or a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects a liquid that is used as a precision pipette and serves as a sample.

  In addition, transparent resin liquids such as UV curable resins to form fluid injection devices that inject lubricating oil onto precision machines such as watches and cameras, micro hemispherical lenses (optical lenses) used in optical communication elements, etc. May be a fluid ejecting apparatus that ejects a liquid onto a substrate, a fluid ejecting apparatus that ejects an etching solution such as acid or alkali to etch the substrate, and a fluid ejecting apparatus that ejects a gel. The present invention can be applied to any one of these fluid ejecting apparatuses.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 ... Ultraviolet irradiation part (irradiation apparatus), 21 ... Environmental measurement apparatus (measurement apparatus), 42 ... Recording head (ejection head), 301 ... Printer (fluid ejection apparatus), 306 ... Control apparatus (adjustment apparatus), 321 ... Carriage , W ... Work (recording medium)

Claims (6)

Obtaining information relating to expansion and contraction of the recording medium with respect to at least one of temperature, humidity and tension;
Measuring at least one of the temperature, humidity and tension;
Based on the result obtained in the measurement step and the information, a step of ejecting a fluid containing a material that is cured by irradiation with predetermined light from the ejection head toward the recording medium;
Irradiating the predetermined light toward the recording medium. The image forming method according to claim 1.
After forming the first image by the ejection step and the irradiation step, the step of forming a second image superimposed on the first image by the ejection step and the irradiation step,
An image forming method, wherein the measuring step and the adjusting step are performed before forming the first image and before forming the second image, respectively. The image forming method according to claim 1 or 2,
An image forming method, wherein the information is obtained for each manufacturing unit of the recording medium. A holding device that holds information about expansion and contraction of the recording medium with respect to at least one of temperature, humidity, and tension;
A measuring device for measuring at least one of the temperature, humidity and tension;
Based on the result obtained in the measurement step and the information, an adjustment device that adjusts image forming conditions;
An ejection head that ejects a fluid containing a material that is cured by irradiation with predetermined light toward the recording medium;
An irradiation device for irradiating the predetermined light toward the recording medium;
A fluid ejecting apparatus. The fluid ejection device according to claim 4, wherein
After the light irradiation by the irradiation device, before the next ejection by the ejection head, the holding device holds information, the measurement device measures, and the adjustment device adjusts the image forming conditions. A fluid ejection device further comprising a control device. The fluid ejection device according to claim 4 or 5,
A confirmation device for confirming the production unit of the recording medium;
A fluid ejecting apparatus, further comprising: a control device configured to perform holding of information by the holding device, measurement by the measuring device, and adjustment of the image forming condition by the adjusting device based on a confirmation result of the checking device.

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