JP2012091133A - Liquid droplet discharge device, and liquid droplet discharge head unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid droplet discharge device for preventing a head unit from suffering damage.SOLUTION: The liquid droplet discharge device includes a head unit including a liquid droplet discharge head 9 for discharging a liquid droplet. The device is configured such that either of the head unit or a recording medium P is scanned relative to the other so that a liquid droplet is discharged onto the recording medium. The device is provided with: a support member 4 moving integrally with the head unit while supporting the head unit; and protrusion members 60 protruding, at both sides in the scan direction across the head unit, in the direction facing the recording medium rather than the head unit, and provided on the support member separately from the head unit.

Description

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

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an ink jet recording apparatus that is a droplet discharge apparatus is known as a recording apparatus that can print on various recording media. An ink jet recording apparatus uses ink (droplet) as a color material from an ejection port (hereinafter referred to as a nozzle) provided on a surface of a droplet ejection head facing a recording medium while relatively moving the droplet ejection head and a recording medium. ) Directly onto the recording medium and land on the recording medium to form an image on the recording medium. The process is simple, quiet in printing, printing, and print quality. It has very good characteristics.

  In the above-described droplet discharge device, since various kinds of recording media having different thicknesses such as a paper material, a printed board, and a glass substrate are used, for example, as described in Patent Document 1, the recording medium is held. By moving the stage in the vertical direction, the gap amount with the droplet discharge head is set to an appropriate value corresponding to the thickness of the recording medium.

JP 2008-201107 A

However, the following problems exist in the conventional technology as described above.
If a mistake occurs in the setting of at least one of the position of the recording medium and the position of the droplet discharge head, they interfere with each other when the droplet discharge head and the recording medium are moved relative to each other, resulting in expensive droplet discharge. The head may be damaged.

  Further, in recent years, there are cases in which image recording is performed using various materials that do not have ink absorptivity such as resin and metal using a droplet discharge device, and ink is applied to such a recording medium. In order to fix, photocurable ink may be used. Usually, an ink jet recording apparatus using this photocurable ink uses a droplet discharge head unit in which an ultraviolet irradiation device for curing ink is integrally disposed with a droplet discharge head as a head structure. When an image is recorded on a recording medium, immediately after the ink has landed on the recording medium, the ultraviolet ray is emitted from the light source provided in the ultraviolet irradiation device under the condition of a certain irradiation time and the number of irradiation times in which the ink can be cured. The ink is cured and fixed as described above. However, if the droplet discharge head unit and the recording medium are moved relative to each other in a state where the position of the recording medium is incorrect as described above, the ultraviolet irradiation apparatus is also damaged. there is a possibility.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a droplet discharge device and a droplet discharge head unit that can prevent damage to the head structure.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention employs the following configuration.
The droplet discharge device of the present invention has a head structure including a droplet discharge head for discharging droplets, and scans and moves one of the head structure and the recording medium relative to the other to the recording medium. A droplet discharge device that discharges droplets, the support member supporting the head structure and moving integrally with the head structure, and both sides of the scanning movement direction across the head structure And a protruding member provided on the support member so as to protrude from the head structure in a direction opposite to the recording medium and separated from the head structure.

  Therefore, in the liquid droplet ejection apparatus of the present invention, the protruding member contacts the recording medium before the head structural body and the recording medium come into contact with each other during the scanning movement of the head structural body such as the liquid droplet ejection head and the recording medium. The contact between the head structure and the recording medium can be avoided, and damage to the head structure can be prevented.

In the droplet discharge device of the present invention, the head is based on a detection device that detects that the protruding member has contacted an object that exists in a direction facing the recording medium, and a detection result of the detection device. A configuration including a drive control device that controls the scanning movement of the configuration body and the recording medium can be suitably employed.
Thus, in the present invention, when the detection device detects that the projecting member and the object are in contact, the drive control device stops the scanning movement between the head structure and the recording medium, for example, so that the projecting member and the object are stopped. It can be avoided that the object moves and contacts the head structure after the contact with the head.

The droplet discharge device of the present invention includes a first drive device that drives the head structure and a second drive device that drives the recording medium, and the detection device includes the protrusion member and the object. A configuration having a load detection unit that detects a change in the load of at least one of the first drive device and the second drive device that occurs in accordance with the contact can be suitably employed.
Accordingly, in the present invention, when the protruding member and the object (for example, the recording medium) come into contact with each other during the scanning movement of the head structure and the recording medium, the load on at least one of the first driving device and the second driving device increases. Therefore, when the load detection unit detects a change in the load, it is possible to easily detect the contact between the protruding member and the object.

The liquid droplet ejection apparatus of the present invention further includes a stage device that moves while adsorbing and holding the recording medium, and the detection device applies the stage device to the stage device that is generated when the protruding member contacts the object. A configuration having an adsorption force detection unit that detects a change in the adsorption force of the recording medium can be suitably employed.
As a result, in the present invention, when the projecting member and the recording medium come into contact with each other during the scanning movement of the head structure and the recording medium, the recording medium is released from being adsorbed to the stage device. Since the attracting force to the medium changes, the attracting force detection unit detects the change in the attracting force, so that the contact between the protruding member and the recording medium can be easily detected.

In addition, as the detection device in the droplet discharge device of the present invention, a configuration having an electrostrictive element that is provided on the projecting member and generates a voltage according to the deformation of the projecting member can be suitably employed.
Thus, in the present invention, the projecting member and the object (for example, the recording medium) come into contact with each other during the scanning movement of the head structure and the recording medium, and the electrostrictive element is deformed as the projecting member is deformed. Produce voltage. Therefore, by detecting the voltage generated from the electrostrictive element, it is possible to easily detect the contact between the protruding member and the recording medium.

In the droplet discharge device of the present invention, a configuration including a moving device that moves the projecting member in a direction facing the recording medium can be suitably employed.
Accordingly, in the present invention, it is possible to adjust the protruding amount of the protruding member with respect to the head structure, that is, the gap amount between the recording medium and other objects to an arbitrary value.

In the droplet discharge device of the present invention, the head structure arranged adjacent to the protruding member is arranged to be separated from the protruding member by a distance larger than the length of the protruding member. Can be suitably employed.
Accordingly, in the present invention, even when the protruding member and an object (for example, a recording medium) come into contact with each other and the protruding member is bent or damaged during the scanning movement of the head structure and the recording medium, the protruding member is Can be avoided.

The projecting member having the above-described structure is provided at a level substantially flush with the head structure that protrudes most in the direction facing the recording medium among the head structures, and has a higher strength than the projecting member. The structure supported by the said supporting member via a base part can be employ | adopted suitably.
Accordingly, in the present invention, the length of the protruding member protruding beyond the head structure can be shortened, and as a result, the distance between the protruding member and the head structure can be shortened to reduce the size.

In the droplet discharge device of the present invention, the head structure is provided on both sides of the support member on both sides of the head structure in the non-scanning direction substantially orthogonal to the scanning movement direction and the direction facing the recording medium. It is possible to suitably adopt a configuration including a second projecting member that is provided separately from the head and projects in a direction opposite to the recording medium rather than the head structure.
Accordingly, in the present invention, in addition to the object existing in the scanning movement direction with respect to the head structure, the object existing in the non-scanning direction and the second protruding member come into contact with each other, Can be prevented from contacting.

  The head unit of the present invention is a head unit having a head structure including a droplet discharge head for discharging droplets, and supports the head structure and moves integrally in a predetermined direction. And projecting members that are provided separately from the head structure on both sides of the predetermined direction with the head structure sandwiched between the support members and project in the direction of ejecting the droplets from the head structure. It is characterized by comprising.

  Therefore, in the head unit of the present invention, the protruding member contacts the recording medium before the head structure and the recording medium come into contact with each other when the head structural body such as the droplet discharge head and the recording medium scan in a predetermined direction. Therefore, contact between the head structure and the recording medium can be avoided, and damage to the head structure can be prevented.

It is a schematic diagram which shows schematic structure of the droplet discharge apparatus 1 of 1st Embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram of the head structure which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the arrangement | sequence state of the nozzle 17 in 21 A of nozzle formation surfaces. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view showing an internal configuration of a droplet discharge head 9. FIG. It is a schematic block diagram of the head structure which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram of the head structure which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram of the head structure which concerns on other embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of a droplet discharge device and a droplet discharge head unit according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
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.

  In the following description, the XYZ rectangular coordinate system shown in FIG. 1 is set, and each member will be described with reference to this XYZ rectangular coordinate system. In the XYZ orthogonal coordinate system, the X axis and the Y axis are set in a direction parallel to the stage (stage apparatus) 6, and the Z axis is set in a direction orthogonal to the stage 6. In the XYZ coordinate system in FIG. 1, the XY plane is actually set to a plane parallel to the horizontal plane, and the Z axis is set to the vertically upward direction. The scanning movement direction of the droplet discharge head 9 is defined as the Y direction, and the movement direction of the stage 6 is defined as the X direction.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of a droplet discharge device 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The droplet discharge device 1 discharges ultraviolet curable ink onto a recording medium P made of a sheet-like member such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polycarbonate (PC), or a plate-like member such as a printed circuit board. The ultraviolet curable ink landed on the recording medium is irradiated with ultraviolet rays to cure the ultraviolet curable ink, and patterns such as images and various patterns are drawn on the recording medium P. In the following description, the “ultraviolet curable ink” may be simply referred to as “ink” for convenience.

  The droplet discharge device 1 includes a base 2 on which a recording medium P is placed, a transport device 3 that transports the recording medium P on the base 2 in the X direction in FIG. A droplet discharge head 9 that discharges curable ink, a carriage 4 that includes a plurality of droplet discharge heads 9, a feeding device (first drive device) 5 that moves the carriage 4 in the Y direction, and an ultraviolet irradiation unit 12 and a control unit 8 that controls various components. The conveying device 3 and the feeding device 5 constitute moving means for moving the recording medium P and the carriage 4 (droplet ejection head 9) relative to each other in the X direction and the Y direction.

  The transfer device 3 includes a stage 6 and a stage moving device (second drive device) 7 provided on the base 2. The stage 6 is provided so as to be movable in the X direction on the base 2 by the stage moving device 7, and the recording medium P conveyed from the upstream conveying device (not shown) is, for example, by a vacuum suction mechanism. It is held on the XY plane.

  The stage moving device 7 includes a bearing mechanism such as a ball screw or a linear guide, and moves the stage 6 in the X direction based on a stage position control signal indicating the X coordinate of the stage 6 input from the control unit 8. It is comprised so that it may make it.

  The carriage (support member) 4 has a rectangular plate shape that is movably attached to the feeding device 5. As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of liquids are provided on the bottom surface side (−Z side) via a holding member 50. The droplet discharge heads 9 are held in a state of being arranged along the Y direction. Further, ultraviolet irradiation units 12 are provided on both sides of the carriage 4 in the Y direction across the droplet discharge head 9 so as to be movable integrally with the droplet discharge head 9. Further, the carriage 4 is integrally provided with a protective member (protruding member) 60 on the outside of each ultraviolet irradiation unit 12. The droplet discharge head 9 and the ultraviolet irradiation unit 12 provided so as to be integrally movable constitute a head structure.

  The plurality of droplet discharge heads 9 (9Y, 9C, 9M, 9K) are provided with a plurality of nozzles 17 as will be described later, and based on drawing data and drive control signals input from the control unit 8, ultraviolet rays are provided. It discharges droplets of curable ink. The plurality of droplet discharge heads 9 (9Y, 9C, 9M, 9K) discharge ultraviolet curable inks corresponding to Y (yellow), C (cyan), M (magenta), and K (black), respectively. Therefore, a tube (piping) 10 is connected to each droplet discharge head 9 via a carriage 4 as shown in FIG.

  A droplet discharge head 9Y corresponding to Y (yellow) is connected to a first tank (ink storage chamber) 11Y filled and stored with ultraviolet curing ink for Y (yellow) via a tube 10. Thus, the Y (yellow) ultraviolet curable ink is supplied from the first tank 11Y to the droplet discharge head 9Y. Similarly, a second tank 11C filled with ultraviolet curing ink for C (cyan) is connected to the droplet discharge head 9C corresponding to C (cyan), and the droplet discharge head 9M corresponding to M (magenta). Is connected to the third tank 11M filled with M (magenta) UV curable ink, and the droplet discharge head 9K corresponding to K (black) is filled with K (black) UV curable ink. A fourth tank 11K is connected. With this configuration, the C (cyan) ultraviolet curable ink is supplied from the second tank 11C to the droplet discharge head 9C, and the third tank 11M is supplied to the droplet discharge head 9M. M (magenta) UV curable ink is supplied to the droplet discharge head 9K, and K (black) UV curable ink is supplied from the fourth tank 11K to the droplet discharge head 9K. It has become.

  Here, the ultraviolet curable ink is a type that is cured by receiving light of a predetermined wavelength, such as an ultraviolet curable ink, and contains a monomer, a photopolymerization initiator, and a pigment corresponding to each color, and further required. Depending on the conditions, various additives such as surfactants and thermal radical polymerization inhibitors are blended. In addition, since such ultraviolet curable ink usually has different wavelength ranges of light (ultraviolet rays) to be absorbed depending on its components (formulations), the optimum value of the curing wavelength, that is, the optimum curing wavelength is also different for each ink. Is different.

  Next, the configuration of the droplet discharge head 9 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an arrangement state of the nozzles 17 on the nozzle formation surface 21 </ b> A of the droplet discharge head 9. FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of the droplet discharge head 9.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of nozzles 17 are provided along the conveyance direction (X direction) of the recording medium P on the nozzle formation surface 21 </ b> A to form a nozzle row 16. A total of five nozzle rows 16 are provided along the scanning direction (Y direction) of the droplet discharge head 9. Note that the number of nozzles and the number of nozzle rows provided in the droplet discharge head 9 can be arbitrarily changed. Further, the droplet discharge heads 9 may be arranged so as to be shifted in the left-right direction by half the pitch between the nozzles 17. Thereby, the resolution which prints with respect to the recording medium P can be improved.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the droplet discharge head 9 includes a head main body 18 and a flow path forming unit 22 connected to the head main body 18. The flow path forming unit 22 includes a vibration plate 19, a flow path substrate 20, and a nozzle substrate 21, and forms a common ink chamber 29, an ink supply port 30, and a pressure chamber 31. Further, the flow path forming unit 22 includes an island portion 32 that functions as a diaphragm portion, and a compliance portion 33 that absorbs pressure fluctuation in the common ink chamber 29. The head main body 18 is formed with an accommodation space 23 for accommodating the drive unit 24 together with the fixing member 26, and an internal flow path 28 for guiding ink to the flow path forming unit 22.

  According to the droplet discharge head 9 configured as described above, when a drive signal is input to the drive unit 24 via the cable 27, the piezoelectric element 25 expands and contracts. Thereby, the diaphragm 19 is deformed (moved) in a direction approaching the pressure chamber 31 (−Z direction) and a direction away from the pressure chamber 31 (+ Z direction). For this reason, the volume of the pressure chamber 31 changes and the pressure of the pressure chamber 31 containing ink fluctuates. Ink is ejected from the nozzles 17 due to this pressure fluctuation.

  The ultraviolet irradiation unit 12 is for curing the ultraviolet curable ink discharged onto the recording medium P. In the present embodiment, the ultraviolet irradiation unit 12 includes, for example, a plurality of LEDs (light emitting diodes). However, the present invention is not limited to the LED, and other than this, for example, a laser diode (LD), a mercury lamp, a metal halide lamp, a xenon lamp, an excimer lamp, or the like can be used as the ultraviolet irradiation unit 12. .

In the ultraviolet irradiation unit 12 composed of the LED of this embodiment, the irradiated light has a wavelength corresponding to the optimum curing wavelength of the ultraviolet curable ink ejected by the corresponding droplet ejection heads 9Y, 9C, 9M, 9K. is doing.
1 and 2 show a configuration in which the carriage 4 is typically provided with a single droplet discharge head 9 and a set of ultraviolet irradiation units 12, but the droplet discharge heads 9Y, 9Y, 9C, 9M, and 9K may be provided. Moreover, the structure which provides the ultraviolet irradiation part which irradiates the light which has the wavelength corresponding to each color on the both sides of the Y direction on both sides of each droplet discharge head 9Y, 9C, 9M, 9K may be sufficient.

The protective member 60 prevents the droplet discharge head 9 from coming into contact with another object (for example, the recording medium P). The protective member 60 sandwiches the droplet discharge head 9 and the ultraviolet irradiation unit 12 in the carriage 4. It is provided on both sides in the direction. The protection member 60 has a length that protrudes toward the −Z side, which is the direction facing the recording medium P, from the droplet discharge head 9 and the ultraviolet irradiation unit 12. In other words, assuming that the distances between the droplet discharge head 9, the ultraviolet irradiation unit 12, the protection member 60 and the recording medium P at a predetermined position are L9, L12, and L60, these distances are set as follows. .
L60 <L9 and L60 <L12
(L9, L12, and L60 are all positive values)
In the present embodiment, L9 <L12, and the droplet discharge head 9 has a configuration T that protrudes further to the −Z side than the ultraviolet irradiation unit 12.

  Further, the protective member 60 is sufficient to prevent deformation and contact with the droplet discharge head 9 and the ultraviolet irradiation unit 12 even when an unexpected situation occurs and contacts an object such as the recording medium P during scanning movement or the like. It is formed with strength.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the feeding device 5 that moves the carriage 4 has, for example, a bridge structure straddling the base 2, and a bearing mechanism such as a ball screw or a linear guide with respect to the Y direction and the Z direction orthogonal to the XY plane. It is equipped with. Based on such a configuration, the feeding device 5 moves the carriage 4 in the Y direction based on the carriage position control signal indicating the Y coordinate and the Z coordinate of the carriage 4 input from the control unit 8, and It is also designed to move in the direction.

  The control unit 8 outputs a stage position control signal to the stage moving device 7, outputs a carriage position control signal to the feeding device 5, and further draws data and drawing data on a drive circuit board (not shown) of the droplet discharge head 9. A drive control signal is output. Accordingly, the control unit 8 performs synchronous control of the positioning operation of the recording medium P by the movement of the stage 6 and the positioning operation of the droplet discharge head 9 by the movement of the carriage 4 in order to move the recording medium P and the carriage 4 relative to each other. In addition, by causing the droplet discharge head 9 to perform a droplet discharge operation, the droplets of the ultraviolet curable ink are arranged at predetermined positions on the recording medium P. Further, the control unit 8 causes the ultraviolet irradiation unit 12 to perform the light irradiation operation separately from causing the droplet discharge head 9 to perform the droplet discharge operation.

  In the droplet discharge device 1 configured as described above, after adjusting the relative positions of the droplet discharge head 9, the ultraviolet irradiation unit 12, the protection member 60, and the recording medium P in the Z direction, the control unit 8 moves the stage moving device 7. By controlling, the stage 6 is moved in the X direction to position the recording medium P at a predetermined recording position, and the feeding device 5 is controlled to scan and move the carriage 4 in the Y direction while the droplet discharge head 9 is moved. Then, ultraviolet curable ink is ejected from the recording medium P and adhered to the recording medium P.

  More specifically, for example, when the carriage 4 moves to the −Y side, the droplet discharge head 9 discharges the ultraviolet curable ink, and the ultraviolet irradiation is located on the rear side (+ Y side) in the moving direction following the ink. The unit 12 irradiates ultraviolet rays toward the recording medium P (ultraviolet curable ink ejected onto the recording medium P). On the other hand, when the carriage 4 moves to the + Y side, the droplet discharge head 9 discharges the ultraviolet curable ink, and the ultraviolet irradiation unit 12 located on the rear side (−Y side) in the moving direction follows the ink. The recording medium P (ultraviolet curable ink ejected onto the recording medium P) is irradiated with ultraviolet rays. Thereby, the ultraviolet curable ink on the recording medium P irradiated with ultraviolet rays is cured, and the image on the recording medium P is fixed and produced as a recorded matter.

  In the above-described droplet discharge operation, if the relative positional relationship between the head structure such as the droplet discharge head 9 and the recording medium P in the Z direction is a predetermined value, the head structure is Z between the recording medium P and the recording medium P. Scanning is performed with a predetermined amount of gap in the direction, and the recording process is smoothly performed on the recording medium P. However, an unexpected situation occurs and a gap is formed between the head structure and the recording medium P. There is a possibility that the scanning movement of the droplet discharge head 9 is started in a state in which the head structure and the recording medium P are in contact with each other when the scanning movement is not performed.

In such a case, as indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 2, for example, when the stage 6 moves to the −Y side, the recording medium P faces the head structure of the droplet discharge head 9 and the ultraviolet irradiation unit 12. Before moving to the area and contacting these, the protection member 60 located on the + Y side is contacted.
As a result, the driving resistance (load) of the stage moving device 7 for moving the stage 6 and the feeding device 5 for moving the head structure increases, and the control unit 8 serves as the load detecting unit as the stage moving device 7 and the feeding device. 5 detects a load increase at 5 and detects that an unexpected situation has occurred, and controls the driving of the feeding device 5 and the stage moving device 7 as a drive control device to scan the head structure and the recording medium P. Stops moving and generates an error sound such as an error display on the monitor screen or a buzzer.

  Thus, in this embodiment, since the protective member 60 that protrudes in the direction facing the recording medium P rather than the head constituent body of the droplet discharge head 9 or the ultraviolet irradiation unit 12 is provided, the head constituent body and the recording medium Even when the distance to P is equal to or less than the predetermined value, it is possible to prevent the expensive head structure from coming into contact with the recording medium P and being damaged. In particular, in the present embodiment, it is possible to easily detect that an unexpected situation has occurred with a simple configuration of detecting an increase in load in the stage device 7 and the feeding device 5, which increases the size and cost of the device. Can be avoided.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the droplet discharge device 1 will be described with reference to FIG.
In this figure, the same components as those of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.
In the first embodiment, the protection member 60 is supported by the carriage 4. In the present embodiment, a structure that is supported by the carriage 4 via a pedestal portion will be described.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the droplet discharge device 1 according to the present embodiment, the protection member 60 is supported by the carriage 4 via a pedestal portion 60A. The pedestal portion 60 </ b> A has a strength greater than that of the protective member 60, and the front end surface thereof is positioned substantially flush with the front end surface of the droplet discharge head 9. Further, the distance L60b between the protection member 60 and the ultraviolet irradiation unit 12 in the Y direction is set to be larger than the protruding amount L60a of the protection member 60 from the pedestal 60A.
Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

  In the present embodiment, even when the protective member 60 and the recording medium P come into contact with each other and the protective member 60 is deformed or damaged, the possibility that the protective member 60 contacts the ultraviolet irradiation unit 12 may be greatly reduced. it can. Therefore, in this embodiment, in addition to obtaining the same operation and effect as in the first embodiment, it is possible to more reliably prevent the expensive head structure from being damaged due to contact with the recording medium P. .

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment of the droplet discharge device 1 will be described with reference to FIG.
In this figure, the same components as those of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.
In the first embodiment, the contact between the protection member 60 and the recording medium P is detected based on the increase in driving resistance of the stage moving device 7 and the feeding device 5. However, in the third embodiment, the protection member 60 is detected. A case of detection based on the deformation of will be described.

As shown in FIG. 6, the protection member 60 of the present embodiment is composed of a long member made of an elastic material such as synthetic resin. For example, an electrostrictive element 61 such as a piezo element is attached to each protective member 60. Each electrostrictive element 61 is connected to the control unit 8, and a voltage output according to the deformation of each electrostrictive element 61 is detected by the control unit 8.
Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

  In the droplet discharge device 1 configured as described above, when the protective member 60 and the recording medium P come into contact with each other and the protective member 60 is elastically deformed, the electrostrictive element 61 is deformed together with the protective member 60. A voltage having a magnitude corresponding to the amount of deformation is output from 61. When a voltage is output from the electrostrictive element 61, the control unit 8 detects that the protection member 60 and the recording medium P are in contact with each other. Then, the control unit 8 controls the driving of the feeding device 5 and the stage moving device 7 to stop the scanning movement between the head structure and the recording medium P, and displays an error display on the monitor screen or an error sound such as a buzzer. Is generated.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, in addition to obtaining the same operation and effect as the first embodiment, since the protective member 60 is formed of an elastic material, the recording medium P in contact with the protective member 60 or the like It is possible to prevent the stage 6 from being damaged.

  When the protective member 60 is formed of an elastic material, the electrostrictive element 61 is formed even when the protective member 60 is elastically deformed by an inertial force during scanning movement and the protective member 60 and the recording medium P are not in contact with each other. May output a voltage having a magnitude corresponding to the amount of deformation. Therefore, the voltage output from the electrostrictive element 61 due to the inertial force at the time of scanning movement is stored in advance as a threshold value, and when the voltage exceeding this threshold is output from the electrostrictive element 61 In addition, it is preferable to detect that the protective member 60 and the recording medium P are in contact with each other.

  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 first and second embodiments, the contact between the protection member 60 and the recording medium P is detected based on the increase in the drive resistance of the stage moving device 7 and the feeding device 5. 6 monitors the adsorbing force for adsorbing and holding the recording medium P, and when the adsorbing force changes, the control unit 8 serves as an adsorbing force detection unit to detect contact between the protective member 60 and the recording medium P. It is good also as a structure to detect.

In the above embodiment, the protective member 60 protrudes from the head structure by a certain amount. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, as shown in FIG. 7, the protective member 60 is moved in the Z direction. The moving device 70 to be moved may be provided.
In this configuration, for example, when the distance between the droplet discharge head 9 and the recording medium P is adjusted according to the type of liquid to be discharged, the moving device 70 is protected by the control of the control unit 8 according to this distance. The protrusion amount with respect to the head structure can be easily changed by moving the member 60.

  Further, the protection member 60 can be configured to hold, for example, an electrostatic adsorption function. In this configuration, mist, dust, and the like floating between the droplet discharge head 9 and the recording medium P can be adsorbed and removed during scanning movement, and a clean environment can be maintained.

Moreover, in the said embodiment, although it was set as the structure which provides the protection member 60 on both sides of a Y direction, it is not restricted to this, The structure which provides a 2nd protection member (2nd protrusion member) also on both sides of a X direction It is good.
This configuration not only prevents the recording medium P from contacting and damaging the head structure when scanning in the Y direction for droplet discharge processing on the recording medium P, but also for maintenance processing, for example. When the carriage 4 is moved in the X direction, the head structure can be prevented from being damaged by coming into contact with an object of the maintenance device, for example.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Droplet discharge device, 3 ... Conveyance device, 4 ... Carriage (support member), 5 ... Feeding device (1st drive device), 6 ... Stage (stage device), 7 ... Stage moving device (2nd drive device) 8 ... Control unit (load detection unit, drive control device), 9 ... Droplet ejection head, 12 ... Ultraviolet irradiation unit, 60 ... Protection member (protruding member), 60A ... Base part, 61 ... Electrostrictive element (piezo element) ), P ... Recording medium

Claims (11)

A liquid droplet ejection apparatus having a head structure including a liquid droplet ejection head for ejecting liquid droplets, wherein one of the head structure and the recording medium is scanned with respect to the other to eject the liquid droplets onto the recording medium Because
A support member that supports the head structure and moves integrally with the head structure;
Projecting members projecting in a direction facing the recording medium rather than the head structure on both sides of the scanning movement direction across the head structure, and provided on the support member separately from the head structure A droplet discharge apparatus comprising: The droplet discharge device according to claim 1,
The droplet includes an ultraviolet curable material;
The droplet ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the head structure includes an ultraviolet irradiation unit that irradiates the discharged droplets with ultraviolet rays. The droplet discharge device according to claim 1 or 2,
A detection device that detects that the protruding member has come into contact with an object that exists in a direction facing the recording medium;
A droplet discharge device comprising: a drive control device that controls scanning movement of the head structure and the recording medium based on a detection result of the detection device. The droplet discharge device according to claim 3.
A first driving device for driving the head structure;
A second driving device for driving the recording medium,
The detection device includes a load detection unit that detects a change in a load of at least one of the first drive device and the second drive device that is caused by the contact between the protruding member and the object. Droplet discharge device. The droplet discharge device according to claim 3.
A stage device that moves by sucking and holding the recording medium;
The droplet discharge device according to claim 1, wherein the detection device includes an adsorption force detection unit that detects a change in the adsorption force of the recording medium to the stage device that is generated when the projecting member and the object are in contact with each other. The droplet discharge device according to claim 3.
The liquid droplet ejection apparatus, wherein the detection device includes an electrostrictive element that is provided on the projecting member and generates a voltage according to deformation of the projecting member. In the liquid droplet ejection device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
A droplet discharge device comprising: a moving device that moves the protruding member in a direction facing the recording medium. In the droplet discharge device according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
The liquid droplet ejection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the head structure disposed adjacent to the protruding member is spaced apart from the protruding member by a distance larger than the length of the protruding member. The droplet discharge device according to claim 8.
The projecting member is provided through a pedestal that is provided at substantially the same height as the head structure that protrudes most in the direction facing the recording medium, and has a higher strength than the projecting member. The droplet discharge device is supported by the support member. In the droplet discharge device according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
The head component is provided on the support member separately from the head component on both sides of the head component in the non-scanning direction substantially orthogonal to the scanning movement direction and the direction facing the recording medium. And a second projecting member projecting in a direction opposite to the recording medium. A droplet discharge head unit having a head structure including a droplet discharge head for discharging droplets,
A support member that supports the head structure and moves integrally in a predetermined direction;
Provided separately on both sides in the predetermined direction with the head structure sandwiched between the support members and provided separately from the head structure and projecting in the direction of ejecting the droplets than the head structure. A droplet discharge head unit characterized by

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