JP2012106367A - Light irradiation apparatus and recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To irradiate a transport medium with light without causing unevenness of irradiation intensity.SOLUTION: A light irradiation apparatus for irradiating the transport medium transported in a first direction with light, includes: a plurality of point light sources aligned in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and radiating the light; and an uniformizing mechanism provided each of the plurality of point light sources and uniformizing the irradiation intensity in the second direction of the light radiated from the plurality of point light sources.

Description

  The present invention relates to a light irradiation apparatus and a recording apparatus.

  As a recording apparatus, a printing apparatus that forms an image by ejecting ink based on predetermined image data and forming a drawing pattern on a medium and then drying the ink is widely known. Also, those using ultraviolet curable ink are disclosed. A liquid ejecting apparatus that uses ultraviolet curable ink includes an ultraviolet irradiation device, and cures the ink by irradiating ultraviolet rays onto a drawing pattern formed on a medium (see, for example, Patent Document 1). As a configuration for irradiating the drawing pattern with ultraviolet rays, for example, Patent Document 1 describes a configuration in which a plurality of UVLED elements are arranged in a matrix.

JP 2008-87221 A

  However, in the configuration of Patent Document 1, unevenness may occur in the irradiation intensity of ultraviolet rays on the medium.

  In view of the circumstances as described above, an object of the present invention is to provide a light irradiation apparatus and a recording apparatus that can irradiate a transport medium with light so that there is no unevenness in irradiation intensity.

  The light irradiation apparatus according to the present invention is a light irradiation apparatus that irradiates light to a transport medium transported in a first direction, and is provided so as to be aligned in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, A plurality of point light sources that emit light; and a uniformizing mechanism that is provided in each of the plurality of point light sources and that uniformizes the irradiation intensity of the light emitted from the plurality of point light sources in the second direction. It is characterized by that.

  According to the present invention, a plurality of point light sources that are arranged in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction and emit light, and a light that is provided in each of the plurality of point light sources and emitted from the plurality of point light sources. Since the light emitted from a plurality of point light sources is in a state where the irradiation intensity in the second direction is made uniform by the uniformizing mechanism. The carrier medium is irradiated. Thereby, the light irradiation apparatus which can irradiate a conveyance medium with light so that irradiation intensity does not have nonuniformity can be obtained.

Said light irradiation apparatus, The said uniformization mechanism has a light reflection part which reflects the said light, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.
According to the present invention, since the uniformizing mechanism has the light reflecting part that reflects light, the irradiation intensity in the second direction is made uniform by reflecting the light emitted from the plurality of point light sources. become.

In the light irradiation apparatus, the uniformizing mechanism includes a lens portion that transmits the light.
According to the present invention, since the uniformizing mechanism has the lens portion that transmits light, the irradiation intensity in the second direction is made uniform by transmitting light emitted from a plurality of point light sources. Become.

In the light irradiation apparatus, the first direction is a direction that coincides with the direction of gravity, and a plurality of the rows of the point light sources are stacked in the first direction.
According to the present invention, the first direction is a direction that coincides with the direction of gravity, and the row of the plurality of point light sources is stacked in the first direction. Can be irradiated.

The recording apparatus according to the present invention includes an ejection head in which a plurality of nozzles that eject a liquid material that is cured by receiving light of a predetermined wavelength to a conveyance medium, and the liquid material among the conveyance medium is ejected. A light irradiating device for irradiating the region with the light, and the light irradiating device is used as the light irradiating device.
According to the present invention, since the light irradiation device capable of irradiating the transport medium with light so that the irradiation intensity is not uneven is provided, the liquid ejected to the transport medium is uniformly cured. As a result, a recording apparatus capable of performing high-quality recording can be obtained.

  In the recording apparatus, the second direction in which the plurality of point light sources provided in the light irradiation device are arranged is a direction that coincides with a direction in which the plurality of nozzles are arranged.

  According to the present invention, the second direction in which the plurality of point light sources provided in the light irradiation device are arranged is a direction that coincides with the direction in which the plurality of nozzles are arranged. It is possible to irradiate light so that there is no unevenness in the irradiation intensity over a region along the direction. Thereby, highly accurate recording can be performed.

1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment. The figure which shows the structure of the ultraviolet irradiation mechanism which concerns on this embodiment. The figure which shows the other structure of the light emission apparatus which concerns on this invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating another configuration of the recording apparatus according to the invention. The figure which shows the other structure of the light emission apparatus which concerns on this invention. The figure which shows the other structure of the light emission apparatus which concerns on this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
1 and 2 are schematic diagrams illustrating the configuration of a printing apparatus PRT according to the present embodiment.
The printing apparatus PRT shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is an apparatus that performs a printing process while conveying the recording medium K. In the present embodiment, as the recording medium K, for example, paper that is formed in a band shape and wound in a roll shape is used.

  The printing apparatus PRT includes a transport mechanism CV that transports the recording medium K, an ink jet mechanism IJ that ejects ink to the recording medium K, an ink supply mechanism SP that supplies ink to the ink jet mechanism IJ, and a recording in which ink is ejected. An ultraviolet irradiation mechanism IR that irradiates the medium K with ultraviolet rays and a control device CONT that controls these mechanisms are provided.

  In the present embodiment, an XYZ orthogonal coordinate system may be set, and the positional relationship of each member may be described with reference to the XYZ orthogonal coordinate system. In this case, the conveyance direction of the recording medium K is the X direction, the ink ejection direction is the -Z direction, and the direction orthogonal to the XZ plane formed by the X direction axis and the Z direction axis is the Y direction. And

  The transport mechanism CV includes rollers 41 and 42 around which the recording medium K formed in a roll shape is wound, and a drive mechanism (not shown) that drives the rollers 41 and 42. The roller 41 is provided at the upstream end of the conveyance path of the recording medium K. The roller 42 is provided at the downstream end of the conveyance path of the recording medium K. Accordingly, the recording medium K is sent out by the roller 41 and the recording medium K is wound up by the roller 42.

  The inkjet mechanism IJ has a plurality of heads H that eject ink. The plurality of heads H are provided at positions along the conveyance path of the recording medium K. Each head H is provided with a plurality of nozzles NZ that eject ink. The nozzles NZ are arranged so as to form a nozzle row NR for each head H. The nozzle row NR is formed in a state where a plurality of nozzles NZ are arranged at equal intervals in the Y direction. Each head H has, for example, two such nozzle rows NR parallel to the X direction.

  The plurality of heads H have the surfaces having the nozzles NZ directed to the conveyance path of the recording medium K. Therefore, the ink L ejected from the plurality of heads H is scattered in the −Z direction toward the recording medium K and adheres to the recording medium K. The plurality of heads H are arranged in the Y direction. In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, for example, two heads H are arranged in the Y direction on the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the recording medium K, and three heads H are arranged in the Y direction at equal intervals on the downstream side in the conveyance direction. The five heads are arranged at equal intervals in the Y direction. For this reason, the heads H on the upstream side in the transport direction are arranged at intermediate positions in the Y direction between the head H at the center in the Y direction on the downstream side in the transport direction and the heads H at both ends in the Y direction. With such an arrangement of the plurality of heads H, the nozzles NZ are arranged over the entire Y direction of the recording medium K. In this way, ink is ejected over the entire area of the recording medium K in the width direction.

  The ink supply mechanism SP supplies ink to the head H. The ink supply mechanism SP has an ink tank TK and an ink supply tube TB. The ink tank TK contains ink that is cured by being irradiated with, for example, ultraviolet rays. The ink supply tube TB connects the ink tank TK and each head H. The ink supply mechanism SP has an ink drive mechanism (not shown) such as a pump for circulating the ink stored in the ink tank TK.

  The ultraviolet irradiation mechanism IR is disposed on the downstream side of the ink jet mechanism IJ in the conveyance direction of the recording medium K. The ultraviolet irradiation mechanism IR irradiates the recording medium K on which the ink has been ejected with ultraviolet rays to cure the ink. The ultraviolet irradiation mechanism IR includes a light source 31 that emits ultraviolet light, a reflector 32 that directs ultraviolet light emitted from the light source 31 in the −Z direction, and a light reflecting member 33 that equalizes ultraviolet light traveling in the −Z direction in the Y direction. ,have.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of the ultraviolet irradiation mechanism IR.
As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of light sources 31 are arranged in a direction (Y direction) orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the recording medium K. Therefore, the plurality of light sources 31 are arranged in the same direction as the arrangement direction (Y direction) of the nozzles NZ of the head H. The light sources 31 are arranged at equal intervals in the Y direction. As each light source 31, for example, an ultraviolet lamp or the like is used. When distinguishing the four light sources 31 provided in the Y direction, they are denoted as light source 31A, light source 31B, light source 31C, and light source 31D from the -Y side to the + Y side.

  In the present embodiment, one reflector 32 is provided for each light source 31. When distinguishing the four reflectors 32 provided in the Y direction, they are denoted as reflector 32A, reflector 32B, reflector 32C, and reflector 32D from the -Y side to the + Y side. The reflectors 32A to 33D are formed in the same shape and size.

  As with the reflector 32, one light reflecting member 33 is provided for each light source 31. When distinguishing the four light reflecting members 33 provided in the Y direction, the light reflecting member 33A, the light reflecting member 33B, the light reflecting member 33C, and the light reflecting member 33D are denoted from the −Y side to the + Y side. To do. The light reflecting members 33A to 33D are formed in the same shape and size.

  The light reflecting member 33 is disposed on the −Z side with respect to the light source 31 and the reflector 32. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the light reflecting member 33 is formed in a rectangular tube shape so as to surround the light source 31 when viewed in the Z direction. The light reflection member 33 has a light reflection surface on the entire inner surface. The light reflecting member 33 reflects the ultraviolet rays directed toward the + Z side by the reflector 32 on the entire inner surface.

  By providing the light reflecting member 33, the irradiation intensity of the ultraviolet ray UV (see FIG. 2 and the like) emitted to the −Z side of the light reflecting member 33 is made uniform in the Y direction. In addition, in order to make the irradiation intensity | strength of an ultraviolet-ray more uniform, you may be the structure formed so that the inner surface (light reflection surface) of the light reflection member 33 might become a rough surface, for example.

The operation of the printing apparatus PRT having the above configuration will be described.
First, the control device CONT rotates the roller 41 of the transport mechanism CV to feed out the recording medium K, and drives the roller 42 to wind up the recording medium K. By this operation, the recording medium K is transported along the transport path in the + X-axis direction.

  The control device CONT causes the plurality of heads H to perform a printing operation when the scheduled print area of the recording medium K passes through the −Z side of the plurality of heads H. Specifically, the control device CONT forms a drawing pattern with the ink L on the recording medium K by selectively ejecting the ink L from the plurality of nozzles NZ based on the image data input from the external device. Let

  The control device CONT uses the ultraviolet irradiation mechanism IR when the pattern formation region PTN (see FIG. 2) on which the drawing pattern is formed of the ink L in the recording medium K passes through the −Z side of the ultraviolet irradiation mechanism IR. Then, the pattern forming region PTN is irradiated with ultraviolet rays. By this operation, the ink L in the pattern formation region PTN is cured by being irradiated with ultraviolet rays, and the pattern is fixed on the recording medium K.

  In this embodiment, since the irradiation intensity of the ultraviolet rays emitted from the ultraviolet irradiation mechanism IR is uniform in the Y direction, the ultraviolet rays are irradiated so that there is no unevenness in the irradiation intensity in the Y direction with respect to the pattern formation region. It will be. Thereafter, the recording medium K is wound up by the roller 42. In this way, the printing operation for the recording medium K is completed.

  As described above, the ultraviolet irradiation mechanism IR according to the present embodiment has the pattern of the recording medium K in a state where the ultraviolet rays emitted from the plurality of light sources 31A to 31D are uniformed in the Y direction by the light reflecting member 33. The formation area is irradiated. Thereby, it is possible to irradiate the recording medium K with ultraviolet rays so that the irradiation intensity is not uneven.

  In addition, since the printing apparatus PRT according to the present embodiment includes the ultraviolet irradiation mechanism IR that can irradiate the recording medium K with ultraviolet rays so that the irradiation intensity is uniform, high-precision recording is performed. Can do.

The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and appropriate modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the light reflecting member 33 is configured to surround the four directions of the light source 31 (± X side and ± Y side with respect to the light source 31) as viewed in the Z direction, but is not limited thereto. For example, the light reflecting member 33 may be configured to cover only the ± Y side with respect to the light source 31. Even in this case, the irradiation intensity of ultraviolet rays in the Y direction can be made uniform.

  Moreover, although the said embodiment gave and demonstrated as an example the structure provided with the light reflection member 33 (33A-33D) as a equalization mechanism which equalizes the irradiation intensity | strength of the ultraviolet direction inject | emitted from the light source 31 in the Y direction. It is not limited to this. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 4, a configuration in which lenses 34 </ b> A to 34 </ b> D are provided as a uniformizing mechanism may be used. Even in this case, it is possible to irradiate the recording medium K with ultraviolet rays so that the irradiation intensity is not uneven.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the conveyance direction of the recording medium K is the X direction has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the present invention can be applied even when the recording medium K sent out by the roller 41 is folded and conveyed to the −Z side by the roller 43 of the conveyance mechanism CV. .

  In the configuration shown in FIG. 5, the roller 43 is provided on the + X side of the inkjet mechanism IJ. The recording medium K is conveyed in the −Z direction on the downstream side of the roller 43.

  The ultraviolet irradiation mechanism IR is arranged so that ultraviolet UV is emitted to the −X side. In the ultraviolet irradiation mechanism IR, for example, a plurality of (for example, four) light sources 31 are provided in the Y direction as in the above embodiment. In the configuration shown in FIG. 5, such an ultraviolet irradiation mechanism IR is stacked in two layers in the Z direction. According to this configuration, it is possible to irradiate ultraviolet rays UV to a region wider than the region in the above embodiment, and thus it is possible to ensure a wide pattern formation region PTN. Note that the ultraviolet irradiation mechanism IR laminated in the Z direction is not limited to two layers, and may be three or more layers.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the structure where the shape and dimension of light reflection member 33A-33D are equal was mentioned as an example, it demonstrated and it was not restricted to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the -Y side end of the light reflecting member 33A and the + Y side end of the light reflecting member 33D may protrude in the -Z direction. Even in this case, it is possible to irradiate the recording medium K with ultraviolet rays so that the irradiation intensity is not uneven.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the structure provided with the reflector 32 (32A-32D) for every light source 31 was mentioned as an example, it demonstrated and it was not restricted to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, a configuration in which a reflector 32 common to the light sources 31 </ b> A to 31 </ b> D is provided may be used. Even in this case, it is possible to irradiate the recording medium K with ultraviolet rays so that the irradiation intensity is not uneven.

  PRT ... Printing device (recording device) K ... Recording medium (conveying medium) IR ... Ultraviolet irradiation mechanism (light irradiation device) CONT ... Control device H ... Head NZ ... Nozzle NR ... Nozzle array UV ... Ultraviolet light (light) PTN ... Pattern formation Area 31 (31A to 31D) ... Light source 32 (32A to 33D) ... Reflector 33 (33A to 33D) ... Light reflecting member (homogenizing mechanism) 34A to 34D ... Lens (homogenizing mechanism) 41 to 43 ... Roller

Claims (6)

A light irradiation device for irradiating light to a transport medium transported in a first direction,
A plurality of point light sources provided so as to be arranged in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and emitting the light;
A light irradiation apparatus comprising: a uniformizing mechanism that is provided in each of the plurality of point light sources and uniformizes the irradiation intensity of the light emitted from the plurality of point light sources in the second direction. The light irradiation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the uniformizing mechanism includes a light reflecting portion that reflects the light. The light irradiation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the uniformizing mechanism includes a lens unit that transmits the light. The first direction is a direction coinciding with the direction of gravity,
The light irradiation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of point light source rows are stacked in the first direction. An ejection head in which a plurality of nozzles that discharge a liquid material that is cured by receiving light of a predetermined wavelength to a transport medium are arranged;
A light irradiation device that irradiates the light onto a region of the transport medium where the liquid material is jetted, and
The light irradiation apparatus as described in any one of Claims 1-4 is used as the said light irradiation apparatus. Recording apparatus. The recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the second direction in which the plurality of point light sources provided in the light irradiation device are arranged is a direction that coincides with a direction in which the plurality of nozzles are arranged.

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