JP2012066162A - Control method of recording device, and the recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the control method of a recording device surely curing photocuring type ink on a recording medium and preventing clogging of nozzles in the case of idle scanning.SOLUTION: The control method of a recording device includes: a main image forming process S2 of forming an uncured image 60 by selectively discharging and landing the photocuring type ink on a workpiece W from a plurality of effective nozzles 56a of an inkjet head 51 while relatively moving the inkjet head 51 and an ultraviolet irradiation device 45 with respect to the workpiece W, and photocuring the uncured image 60 by driving the ultraviolet irradiation device 45; a sub-image forming process S3 of supplementarily photocuring the uncured image 60 by driving the ultraviolet irradiation device 45 while relatively moving the inkjet head 51 and ultraviolet irradiation device 45 with respect to the workpiece W; and a preliminary discharge process S32 for preliminarily discharging of at least one droplet of the ink for each of the total effective nozzles 56a in the sub-image forming process 3.

Description

  The present invention relates to recording in which an ink jet recording head and light irradiation means are moved relative to a recording medium, and the recording head is driven to eject and land photocurable ink on the recording medium to form an image. The present invention relates to an apparatus control method and a recording apparatus.

Conventionally, a work stage on which a recording medium is set and a plurality of ink jet type recording heads arranged in the main scanning direction are arranged, and arranged near the recording heads at both ends of the main scanning direction so as to sandwich the plurality of recording heads. A carriage equipped with a pair of ultraviolet lamps, and a moving means for feeding a work stage (recording medium) to a line in the sub-scanning direction and reciprocatingly moving the carriage in the main scanning direction, while moving the carriage in the main scanning direction Each recording head and ultraviolet lamp are driven to discharge and land photocurable ink on the recording medium and photocured, and after drawing a predetermined image, a recording area (light quantity) with a short ultraviolet irradiation time in the image is drawn. Insufficient area) is not ejected, and only the carriage is scanned idle (scanning for ultraviolet irradiation), just like drawing, and ultraviolet rays are irradiated. The method of recording apparatus is known that (see Patent Document 1).
In this control method of the recording apparatus, the curing of the ink that has landed on the recording medium can be made uniform by averaging the ultraviolet irradiation time for the image drawn on the recording medium. .

JP 2002-292907 A

  However, in the control method of the conventional recording apparatus, since an ultraviolet lamp that irradiates ultraviolet rays is disposed in the vicinity of the recording head that discharges the photocurable ink, ultraviolet rays reflected and scattered on the surface of the recording medium are The nozzle surface of the recording head may be irradiated. In particular, during the idle scanning, the photocurable ink remaining in the vicinity of the nozzles of the recording head is cured, causing nozzle clogging.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording apparatus control method and a recording apparatus capable of reliably curing photo-curable ink on a recording medium and preventing nozzle clogging during idle scanning. To do.

  According to the control method of the recording apparatus of the present invention, photocurable ink is selected on the recording medium from a plurality of effective nozzles of the recording head while moving the inkjet recording head and the light irradiation means relative to the recording medium A main image forming step in which an uncured image is formed by ejecting and landing on the surface, and a light irradiation means is driven to photocur the uncured image, and after the main image forming step, the recording head and the light are applied to the recording medium. For each of the effective nozzles of the recording head in the sub-image forming process in which the light irradiating means is driven while the irradiating means is relatively moved to supplementally cure the uncured image. And a preliminary discharge step of preliminary discharging at least one ink droplet.

  The recording apparatus of the present invention includes a work stage on which a recording medium is set, a recording head that ejects photocurable ink by an inkjet method, and light that photocures the photocurable ink on the recording medium ejected and landed from the recording head. An irradiating means, a carriage mounted with a recording head and a light irradiating means, a moving means for moving the carriage relative to the work stage, and a control means for controlling the recording head, the light irradiating means and the moving means, The control means selectively unloads and lands the photocurable ink on the recording medium from a plurality of effective nozzles of the recording head while moving the recording head and the light irradiation means relative to the recording medium. After the main image forming operation for driving the light irradiating means and photocuring the uncured image, and the main image forming process, the recording medium is recorded. A sub-image forming operation in which the light irradiating unit is driven while the head and the light irradiating unit are relatively moved to supplementarily cure the uncured image, and the recording head is used in the sub-image forming operation. A preliminary ejection operation for preliminary ejection of at least one ink droplet is performed for each of all the effective nozzles.

  According to these configurations, even if the light irradiated from the light irradiation means is reflected / scattered on the recording medium and hits each nozzle in the sub-image forming step (operation), the sub-image formation is performed. Since one or more drops of photocurable ink are preliminarily ejected from all effective nozzles during the process (operation), it is possible to prevent the photocurable ink from being cured in or near each nozzle. Thereby, clogging of each nozzle can be prevented and appropriate image formation can be ensured. Further, cleaning related to nozzle clogging can be omitted. Note that this preliminary discharge corresponds to so-called flushing that is performed to prevent clogging of each nozzle and / or to stably discharge droplets from each nozzle.

  In this case, in the preliminary ejection step, it is preferable to perform preliminary ejection based on a part of image data in the main image forming step so that an uncured image is completed by preliminary ejection.

  According to this configuration, by performing preliminary ejection in the preliminary ejection step, it is possible to prevent thickening of ink in the nozzles, complete an uncured image, and obtain a cured image. Accordingly, preliminary ejection can be performed without affecting the recording quality of the image formed on the recording medium, and nozzle clogging prevention and image formation can be performed appropriately and efficiently.

  Further, in this case, in the preliminary discharge step, it is preferable to perform preliminary discharge in a deceleration region in relative movement.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to ensure a long irradiation time of light from the light irradiation unit for the ink droplets that have been preliminarily ejected and landed on the recording medium. As a result, the pre-discharged ink droplets can be reliably photocured.

  In this case, in the preliminary ejection step, it is preferable to perform preliminary ejection on the discarded area of the recording medium.

  In this case, in the preliminary ejection step, it is preferable to perform preliminary ejection so as to overlap the uncured image at the end of the uncured image.

  According to these configurations, the discard area of the recording medium, that is, the edge portion outside the recording area of the recording medium, or the edge of the recording area (uncured image) is moved to the recording area. Preliminary ejection can be performed before or after drawing. Thereby, clogging of the nozzle can be prevented. In addition, it is preferable to perform preliminary discharge to the uncured image edge part in a post-process or a part that is not noticeable by processing.

  In this case, it is preferable that the relative movement speed in the main image forming process is different from the relative movement speed in the sub-image forming process.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to set an optimum moving speed for drawing in the main image forming process, and to set an optimum moving speed for supplementary photocuring of the uncured image in the sub-image forming process. be able to. For example, by increasing the moving speed in the sub-image forming process as compared with the moving speed in the main image forming process, the time required for supplementary photocuring of the uncured image can be shortened. On the other hand, by reducing the moving speed in the sub-image forming step, the uncured image can be reliably photocured.

  In this case, the relative movement includes a reciprocating movement of the recording head and the light irradiation means in the main scanning direction and an intermittent movement of the recording medium in the sub-scanning direction. Sometimes, it is preferable that the main image forming process is performed, and the sub-image forming process and the preliminary ejection process are performed when the recording head and the light irradiation unit are moved back.

According to this configuration, after the main image forming step, the sub image forming step can be performed without providing a time interval. As a result, ink droplets that have landed on the recording medium can be mixed (mixed color), and the surface state of the formed image (such as presence or absence of gloss) can be easily adjusted.
The main image forming process is performed at the time of forward movement and backward movement, and after forming an uncured image by a plurality of scans on the recording medium, the sub image forming process and the preliminary ejection process are performed at the time of forward movement and / or backward movement. Sometimes you can go.

(A) of a recording device is a top view, (b) is a side view. (A) is a top view of a head unit, (b) is a perspective view of an inkjet head. 3 is a flowchart of a control method of the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram schematically illustrating a procedure of a control method for the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment. 6 is a flowchart of a control method of a recording apparatus according to a second embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which showed typically the procedure of the control method of the recording device which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which showed typically the procedure of the control method of the recording device which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which showed typically the procedure of the control method of the recording device which concerns on 4th Embodiment.

  Hereinafter, a recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this recording apparatus, for example, an ultraviolet curable ink (UV ink) is ejected by an inkjet head onto a thin film workpiece to be discharged in a so-called reel-to-reel format, thereby obtaining a desired image or the like. It is something to print. In the following description, the workpiece feed direction is the X-axis direction, the direction orthogonal to the X-axis direction is the Y-axis direction, the direction orthogonal to the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction is the Z-axis direction, and the workpiece The direction of rotation in the parallel plane is defined as the θ direction.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the recording apparatus 1 includes a machine base 2, a feeding device 3 that feeds out a long workpiece W wound in a roll shape, a winding device 4 that winds up a printed workpiece W, A work stage 5 disposed on the machine base 2 for sucking and setting the supplied work W, and an X axis extending in the X-axis direction and intermittently feeding the work W in the X-axis direction via the work stage 5 The Y-axis table 8 includes a table 7, a Y-axis table 8 spanned in the Y-axis direction so as to straddle the X-axis table 7, and a plurality of inkjet heads 51 that perform drawing on the workpiece W by discharging ink. The carriage unit 9 is movably mounted on the vehicle.

  The recording apparatus 1 includes an ink supply apparatus (not shown) for supplying ink to each inkjet head 51, a maintenance apparatus 11 for maintaining and recovering the function of each inkjet head 51, and the recording apparatus 1. And a control device 13 that performs overall control. The maintenance device 11 is disposed in a maintenance area that is out of the area where the X-axis table 7 and the Y-axis table 8 intersect in the Y-axis direction, and performs maintenance of the inkjet head 51 that faces the maintenance area.

  In this recording apparatus 1, after the work W fed by the feeding apparatus 3 is attracted by the work stage 5, the work W is intermittently fed (sub-scanned) in the X-axis direction via the work stage 5 by the X-axis table 7. Then, drawing is performed by ejecting ink from the inkjet head 51 while reciprocating (main scanning) the carriage unit 9 with respect to the drawable area of the work W held by suction. In addition, the workpiece | work W provided to a printing process is not limited to the roll-shaped thing which can be supplied continuously, You may use the workpiece | work W of a sheet | seat.

  The feeding device 3 includes a feeding motor 22 that feeds and rotates a feeding reel 21 around which the workpiece W is wound, and bends the fed workpiece W in a “V” shape in the Z-axis direction, and applies a light back tension to the workpiece W. A feeding-side buffer mechanism 23 to be applied, and is disposed upstream in the feed direction (X-axis direction) of the workpiece W.

  The winding device 4 includes a winding motor 25 that winds and rotates a winding reel 24 that winds the workpiece W, and bends the wound workpiece W into a “V” shape in the Z-axis direction. A winding-side buffer mechanism 26 that applies a light forward tension, and is disposed downstream of the workpiece W in the feeding direction (X-axis direction).

  The work stage 5 sucks the work W sent from the feeding device 3 through a plurality of holes (not shown) formed on the surface thereof. A feeding roller 28 and a feeding roller 29 are respectively attached to the upstream end and the downstream end of the work stage 5 in the conveyance (X-axis) direction. In addition, although detailed description is abbreviate | omitted, the some hole formed in the work stage 5 is each connected with the vacuum suction equipment and compressed air supply equipment which are not shown in figure.

  The feeding roller 28 and the feeding roller 29 are free-rotating nip rollers provided so as to be movable up and down, and are arranged side by side in the X-axis direction, sandwiching the workpiece W and facing the workpiece W on the upper surface of the workpiece stage 5. I will. Then, the work stage 5 is intermittently fed in the X-axis direction (from the upstream side to the downstream side) by the X-axis table 7 in a state where the work W is attracted.

  The X-axis table 7 is disposed on the machine base 2 and has a pair of X-axis guide rails 31 extending in the X-axis direction, and a motor drive that supports the work stage 5 slidably along the X-axis guide rails 31. X-axis slider 32. The X-axis table 7 stops when the carriage unit 9 moves forward (or backward), and sends the workpiece W to the downstream side in the X-axis direction by the drawing width until the next backward movement (or forward movement) (line feed). Feed).

  The Y-axis table 8 includes a pair of Y-axis guide rails 34 laid across the machine base 2 in the Y-axis direction, a bridge plate 35 in which the carriage unit 9 is suspended, and the bridge plate 35 in the Y-axis direction. And a motor-driven Y-axis slider 36 that is slidably supported. The Y-axis table 8 reciprocates each ink-jet head 51 in the Y-axis direction during drawing via the carriage unit 9 and causes each ink-jet head 51 to face the maintenance device 11.

  The carriage unit 9 includes a carriage body 43 that is suspended from the bridge plate 35 and a head unit 44 that is suspended from the carriage body 43 and includes a plurality of inkjet heads 51. As shown in FIG. 2A, the head unit 44 has a plurality of inkjet heads 51 arranged and fixed to the head plate 50 in a predetermined pattern, and at both ends of the head plate 50 in the Y-axis direction, A pair of ultraviolet irradiation devices 45 are mounted.

  As shown in FIG. 2B, the ink jet head 51 has a so-called double structure, an ink introduction part 52 having two connection needles 55, a double head substrate 53 connected to the ink introduction part 52, A pump unit 54 that is connected to the lower side of the ink introduction unit 52 and has an in-head flow path filled with ink therein, and a nozzle plate 58 having a nozzle surface 57 in which a plurality of ejection nozzles 56 are opened. . On the nozzle surface 57, two nozzle rows NL each having a plurality of discharge nozzles 56 arranged at equal intervals are arranged in parallel to each other. Note that ink is not ejected from several ejection nozzles 56 at both ends of each nozzle row NL with unstable ejection amount (ejection characteristics), and other ejection nozzles other than this are used for actual drawing. 56 (referred to as “effective nozzle 56a”) is used.

  The ink used in the present embodiment is a so-called ultraviolet curable ink, and a pair of ultraviolet irradiation devices 45 mounted on the head unit 44 are turned on to cure and fix the ultraviolet curable ink landed on the workpiece W. The ink is not limited to an ultraviolet curable ink, and may be an infrared curable ink or a visible light curable ink.

  Next, a method for controlling the recording apparatus 1 by the control apparatus 13 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. This control method includes a drawing data generation step S1 for generating data for drawing based on pre-input and stored original image data, and a carriage unit 9 (each inkjet head 51 and ultraviolet irradiation device 45) for the workpiece W. As the ink is moved in the X-axis direction, ink is selectively ejected and landed on the work W from the plurality of effective nozzles 56a of each inkjet head 51 to form an uncured image 60, and the ultraviolet irradiation device 45 is driven. After the main image forming step S2 for semi-curing the uncured image 60 and the main image forming step S2, the UV irradiation device 45 is driven to move the carriage W in the X-axis direction with respect to the workpiece W to be uncured. A sub-image forming step S3 for irradiating the image 60 with ultraviolet rays in a supplementary manner. Here, “semi-cured” refers to a state where ink droplets are partially cured but not completely cured. Adjacent ink droplets on the workpiece W are visually discolored. It refers to a state where it is hardened in such a state that it is not mixed to the extent that it is free and is smooth so as to have a certain level of gloss on the surface.

  Further, in the sub-image forming step S3, one or more drops from each of the main curing step S31 for driving the pair of ultraviolet irradiation devices 45 to fully cure the uncured image 60 and all the effective nozzles 56a of each inkjet head 51. The preliminary ejection step S32 for preliminary ejection of the ink droplets is performed in parallel. Note that “main curing” refers to a state in which the ink droplets are fully cured by satisfying the integrated light amount necessary for photocuring.

  In the drawing data generation step S1, main image data for drawing the uncured image 60 in the main image forming step S2 based on the original image data which is bitmap data to be drawn on the work W by the control device 13, Sub-image data drawn in the preliminary ejection step S32 performed in the sub-image forming step S3 is generated.

  The main image data is data in which pattern information corresponding to the sub image data is missing from the original image data. That is, the main image data is bitmap data that is in a worm-eaten state with the same pattern as the sub-image data pattern. Therefore, by drawing on the image drawn based on the main image data based on the sub-image data, a print result similar to the image drawn based on the original image data (uncured image 60) can be obtained.

  The sub-image data is bitmap data of the above-mentioned worm-eating portion that is a part of the original image data. The sub image data ejects at least one ink droplet from all the effective nozzles 56a of each inkjet head 51 during scanning in the Y-axis direction of the carriage unit 9 with respect to the image drawn based on the main image data. Thus, the uncured image 60 is completed. The sub image data is calculated using the original image data, the ink type (color), the number of effective nozzles 56a, and the like as parameters. Further, the landing position of the ink droplets from each effective nozzle 56a in the drawing based on the sub-image data may be set to an arbitrary position on the uncured image 60, but the area where the carriage unit 9 can move at a constant speed. It is preferable to set so as to land (referred to as “constant velocity region”). Thereby, drawing quality can be improved.

  In the main image forming step S2, the X-axis table 7 is driven, the work stage 5 is moved, and the work W is moved to a drawable position. Thereafter, the control device 13 starts drawing based on the main image data. Specifically, while the carriage unit 9 is moved forward in the Y-axis direction, ink is ejected from the effective nozzles 56a of the inkjet heads 51 and ink droplets are landed on the workpiece W (see FIG. 4A). At this time, the carriage unit 9 is moved forward in a state in which the ultraviolet irradiation device 45 on the downstream side with respect to the moving direction is turned on. As a result, each landing ink drop is irradiated with ultraviolet rays on the workpiece W, and a first pass uncured image 60 (more accurately, a semi-cured image) in a state where each ink droplet is semi-cured is formed. .

  Next, the control device 13 drives the X-axis table 7 to move the work stage 5 (work W) downstream (feed feed) by the drawing width of the first pass. Then, drawing is performed based on the main image data while the carriage unit 9 is moved backward in the Y-axis direction (see FIG. 4B). Thereafter, the line feed to the downstream of the work stage 5 and the reciprocating movement of the carriage unit 9 are repeated, and the drawable area of the work W sucked and held on the work stage 5 (the range sucked on the work stage 5). Then, drawing is performed based on the main image data to obtain an uncured image 60 (see FIG. 4C). In FIG. 4, a plurality of white squares displayed on the drawn uncured image 60 (semi-cured image) are portions where ink has not landed (the same applies to FIGS. 6 and 7 described later). .) That is, it is a position where ink droplets land by drawing based on the sub drawing data in the next sub image forming step S3.

  In the sub image forming step S3, the uncured image 60 is driven by driving the pair of ultraviolet irradiation devices 45 while moving the carriage unit 9 in the Y-axis direction with respect to the uncured image 60 drawn in the drawable area of the work W. 60 is fully cured (main curing step S31). Further, at this time, the control device 13 drives each inkjet head 51 based on the sub drawing data generated in the previous drawing data generation step S1, and one or more ink drops from each of all the effective nozzles 56a. Are preliminarily discharged (preliminary discharge step S32). Specifically, a line feed to the upstream of the work stage 5 and a reciprocating movement of the carriage unit 9 are repeated so as to follow a path opposite to that in the main image forming step S2, and a drawing area of the work W is repeated. Then, drawing (ink droplet ejection) based on the sub-image data is performed to complete the uncured image 60. At the same time, the completed uncured image 60 is fully cured in the same pass (see FIG. 4D). That is, in the sub-image forming step S3, ultraviolet irradiation is performed so that the uncured image 60 (semi-cured image) is fully cured, and preliminary ejection is performed based on part of the original image data (sub-drawing data). .

  In the main curing step S31, since the pair of ultraviolet irradiation devices 45 are driven, the ultraviolet rays having twice the light amount (irradiance) are irradiated as compared with the temporary curing in the main image forming step S2. For this reason, the uncured image 60 can be definitely cured. Further, in the preliminary ejection step S32, the uncured image 60 can be completed by performing preliminary ejection based on the sub-image data for the worm-eaten portion where the ink droplets in the uncured image 60 have not landed. Thereby, prevention of clogging of each discharge nozzle 56 and formation of a cured image can be performed appropriately and efficiently.

  According to the above configuration, even if the ultraviolet light irradiated from the ultraviolet irradiation device 45 is reflected / scattered on the surface of the workpiece W and hits each discharge nozzle 56 in the sub-image forming step S3, the sub-image Since one or more drops of ink are preliminarily discharged from all the effective nozzles 56a during the formation step S3, it is possible to prevent the photocurable ink from being cured in or near each of the discharge nozzles 56. Thereby, clogging of each discharge nozzle 56 can be prevented, and proper image formation can be ensured. Further, cleaning related to clogging of each discharge nozzle 56 can be omitted. Note that not only the effective nozzle 56a but also all the discharge nozzles 56 including the effective nozzle 56a may be used to perform the operations relating to the main image forming step S2 and the sub image forming step S3.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a recording apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In the following description, only differences from the first embodiment are shown. In the control method of the recording apparatus 1 by the control apparatus 13 according to the second embodiment, the main image forming process S2 and the sub image forming process S3 are alternately performed for each pass (scan). That is, the control device 13 moves the carriage unit 9 forward to form the semi-cured first-cured uncured image 60 based on the main image data (see FIG. 6A), and then the carriage unit. 9 is moved backward, the uncured image 60 is completed based on the sub-image data, and the uncured image 60 is fully cured (see FIG. 6B).

  Thereafter, the X-axis table 7 is driven to feed the workpiece W to a downstream line, and the drawing and photocuring of the uncured image 60 in the second pass are performed by the reciprocating movement of the carriage unit 9 as in the first pass. To do. Thereafter, by repeating this operation procedure, a desired print result can be obtained in the drawable area of the work W (see FIG. 6C). With the above configuration, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a recording apparatus 1 according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the following description, only differences from the first embodiment are shown. In the control method according to the first embodiment described above, the landing position of the ink droplet ejected from each effective nozzle 56a based on the sub-image data is set to an arbitrary position on the uncured image 60. In the third embodiment, the main curing step S31 is performed in the deceleration region in the movement of the carriage unit 9 by driving the Y-axis table 8. That is, in the vicinity of both ends of the workpiece W in the Y-axis direction, an acceleration region at the start of movement of the carriage unit 9 and a deceleration region at the time of stopping movement are provided. This is done in the deceleration area where the movement stops.

  For this reason, in the drawing data generation step S1, in the sub-image forming step S3 (the main curing step S31 and the preliminary discharge step S32), the preliminary discharge can be performed in the constant speed region, and after all the preliminary discharges are completed, the carriage Sub-image data is generated so that the unit 9 starts to decelerate and the main curing step S31 can be performed. In addition, main image data corresponding to this is also generated. Then, as in the first embodiment, an uncured image 60 is formed based on the main image data (see FIG. 7A), and then the uncured image 60 is completed by preliminary ejection based on the sub image data. And is fully cured (see FIG. 7B).

  When processing such as excising the end of the workpiece W after printing (drawing) is completed, drawing based on the main image data and preliminary discharge based on the sub image data are both performed in the deceleration region. May be.

  According to the above configuration, it is possible to ensure a long irradiation time of the ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet irradiation device 45 on the downstream side in the movement direction of the carriage unit 9 with respect to the ink droplets that have been preliminarily ejected and landed on the workpiece W. As a result, the pre-discharged ink droplets can be reliably photocured. Note that the control method according to the third embodiment may be applied to the method according to the second embodiment (see FIG. 7C).

(Fourth embodiment)
Next, a recording apparatus 1 according to the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the following description, only differences from the first embodiment are shown. In the control method of the recording apparatus 1 according to the fourth embodiment, preliminary discharge is performed on the scraping areas 70 at both ends of the workpiece W in the Y-axis direction in the preliminary discharge step S32 (see FIG. 8A). As described above, the preliminary discharge is performed before or (and) after the drawing to the drawable area with respect to the discard area 70 of the work W, that is, the edge portion other than the drawable area of the work W, thereby the discharge nozzle 56. Can prevent clogging. The preliminary discharge step S32 according to the fourth embodiment may be performed in combination with the preliminary discharge step S32 according to the first to third embodiments, or the preliminary discharge step S32 according to the first to third embodiments. Instead of the discharge step S32, preliminary discharge may be performed only on the discard region 70.

  As a modification, the preliminary ejection may be performed so as to overlap the uncured image 60 in the end region of the uncured image 60. The work W after the completion of printing (drawing) is subjected to removal of unnecessary portions or predetermined processing in a subsequent process. For this reason, even within the drawable area of the workpiece W (on the uncured image 60), preliminary ejection can be performed before and after the drawing on a portion that is cut out in a later process or a portion that is not noticeable by processing (for example). (Refer FIG.8 (b)).

  Furthermore, as a modification, a pair of discarding devices (not shown) for receiving the pre-discharged ink droplets may be provided at both ends of the work stage 5 in the Y-axis direction.

(Fifth embodiment)
Next, a recording apparatus 1 according to the fifth embodiment will be described. In the following description, only differences from the first embodiment are shown. In the control method of the recording apparatus 1 according to the fifth embodiment, the moving speed of the carriage unit 9 in the main image forming step S2 is different from the moving speed of the carriage unit 9 in the sub image forming step S3. Specifically, the time required for supplementary photocuring of the uncured image 60 can be shortened by increasing the moving speed in the sub-image forming step S3 as compared with the moving speed in the main image forming step S2. it can. On the other hand, by lowering the moving speed in the sub-image forming step S3, the irradiation time of the ultraviolet rays on the uncured image 60 can be made longer, and the uncured image 60 can be reliably photocured.

  According to this configuration, in the main image forming step S2, an optimal moving speed can be set, and in the sub image forming step S3, an optimal moving speed for supplementally photocuring the uncured image 60. Can be set. Note that the control method according to the fifth embodiment may be applied to those according to the first to fourth embodiments.

  1: Recording device, 5: Work stage, 7: X axis table, 8: Y axis table, 9: Carriage unit, 13: Control device, 45: Ultraviolet irradiation device, 51: Inkjet head, 56a: Effective nozzle, W: work

Claims (8)

While the inkjet recording head and the light irradiation means are moved relative to the recording medium, the photocurable ink is selectively ejected and landed on the recording medium from a plurality of effective nozzles of the recording head to be uncured. A main image forming step of forming an image and driving the light irradiation means to photocur the uncured image;
After the main image forming step, while the recording head and the light irradiation unit are moved relative to the recording medium, the light irradiation unit is driven to supplementarily cure the uncured image. An image forming process;
A recording apparatus control method comprising: a preliminary discharge step of preliminary discharging at least one ink droplet for each of all effective nozzles of the recording head in the sub-image forming step.   The preliminary ejection is performed in the preliminary ejection step based on a part of image data in the main image forming step so that the uncured image is completed by the preliminary ejection. Method for controlling the recording apparatus.   3. The control method for a recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in the preliminary ejection step, the preliminary ejection is performed in a deceleration region in the relative movement.   The method of controlling a recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in the preliminary ejection step, the preliminary ejection is performed on a discarded area of the recording medium.   2. The control method for a recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in the preliminary ejection step, the preliminary ejection is performed so as to overlap the uncured image at an end portion of the uncured image.   6. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the relative movement speed in the main image forming step is different from the relative movement speed in the sub image forming step. Control method. The relative movement includes a reciprocating movement of the recording head and the light irradiation means in the main scanning direction, and an intermittent movement of the recording medium in the sub-scanning direction,
During the forward movement of the recording head and the light irradiation means, the main image forming step is performed,
7. The method for controlling a recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sub-image forming step and the preliminary ejection step are performed when the recording head and the light irradiation unit are moved back. A work stage on which a recording medium is set; and
A recording head that ejects photocurable ink by an inkjet method;
A light irradiation means for photocuring the photocurable ink on the recording medium discharged and landed from the recording head;
A carriage on which the recording head and the light irradiation means are mounted;
Moving means for moving the carriage relative to the work stage;
Control means for controlling the recording head, the light irradiation means and the moving means,
The control means includes
While the recording head and the light irradiation means are moved relative to the recording medium, the photocurable ink is selectively ejected and landed on the recording medium from a plurality of effective nozzles of the recording head. A main image forming operation for forming an image and driving the light irradiation means to photocur the uncured image;
After the main image forming step, while the recording head and the light irradiation unit are moved relative to the recording medium, the light irradiation unit is driven to supplementarily cure the uncured image. With the image forming operation,
In the sub-image forming operation, a pre-ejection operation for pre-ejecting at least one ink droplet is performed for each of all effective nozzles of the recording head.

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