JP2012166454A - Ink jet recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ink jet recording device enabling application of an appropriate amount of an active energy ray even when amounts of line feed of a recording medium or types of ink vary.SOLUTION: The ink jet recording device includes: a drawing part discharging ultraviolet curable ink from an ink jet head 9 to the recording medium W while relatively displacing the ink jet head 9 mounted to a carriage 8 in a main scanning direction and an auxiliary scanning direction for drawing on the recording medium W; a main irradiation part 32 mounted to the carriage 8 and curing the ultraviolet curable ink on the recording medium W by application of ultraviolet rays; an auxiliary irradiation part 33 mounted to the carriage 8 and supplementarily curing the ultraviolet curable ink cured by the main irradiation part 32 by application of ultraviolet rays; and an auxiliary irradiation control part 45 controlling application light amount of an active energy ray of the auxiliary irradiation part 33, separately from the main irradiation part 32.

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus that performs drawing on a recording medium by discharging an active energy ray curable ink.

Conventionally, as this type of inkjet recording apparatus, a printing medium (recording medium) that scans in the sub-scanning direction and an inkjet recording head that scans in the main scanning direction and discharges ultraviolet curable ink (active energy ray-curable ink) to the recording medium (Inkjet head) and an ultraviolet irradiation device having a UV lamp provided on both sides of the inkjet recording head in the main scanning direction are known (see Patent Document 1).
This ultraviolet irradiation device extends on the downstream side in the print medium feeding direction (sub-scanning direction) longer than the ink jet recording head. When the ink jet recording head is main-scanned, printing and ultraviolet light are applied to the print medium. Irradiation takes place. That is, the ink that has landed immediately after printing is cured by ultraviolet rays. In parallel with this operation, the printed region after the line feed (main scan) is also irradiated with ultraviolet rays. That is, the ultraviolet curable ink is reliably cured by performing the ultraviolet irradiation twice in accordance with the main scanning.

JP 2004-1326 A

By the way, in this type of ink jet recording apparatus, a special printing method such as so-called overprinting or microweave may be performed, and the feed amount (line feed amount) in the sub-scanning direction can be varied.
In such a case, in the above-described conventional ink jet recording apparatus, when the recording medium feed amount (line feed amount) is small, the ultraviolet rays are substantially irradiated twice or more, and the active energy rays (ultraviolet rays) are excessive. Will be irradiated. On the other hand, in order to perform ultraviolet irradiation twice, it is necessary to perform a blank scan (main scan without printing) for the print area of the last line. Further, when inks having different curing characteristics are used, the amount of irradiation is excessive or insufficient.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus capable of performing an appropriate amount of active energy ray irradiation even when the line feed amount and ink type of a recording medium are different.

  The inkjet recording apparatus of the present invention ejects active energy ray-curable ink from the inkjet head while moving the inkjet head mounted on the carriage relative to the recording medium in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction, thereby recording the recording medium. A drawing unit that performs drawing, a main irradiation unit that is mounted on the carriage and that irradiates active energy rays to cure the active energy ray-curable ink on the recording medium, and a main irradiation unit that is mounted on the carriage and that is irradiated with active energy rays A sub-irradiation unit that replenishes and cures the active energy ray-curable ink cured by the irradiation unit, and an irradiation control unit that controls the amount of irradiation of the active energy rays of the sub-irradiation unit separately from the main irradiation unit. Features.

  According to this configuration, the amount of irradiation of the active energy ray of the sub-irradiation unit can be controlled. For example, corresponding to the recording medium having a different feed amount depending on the recording mode, Energy rays can be irradiated. Thereby, it can prevent that an active energy ray is irradiated excessively, and can cure an active energy ray hardening ink appropriately. In addition, the amount of light that can be properly cured varies depending on the type of active energy ray curable ink, but the irradiation control unit can control the amount of irradiation of the active energy ray of the sub-irradiation unit according to the active energy ray curable ink. The active energy ray-curable ink can be appropriately cured. Furthermore, the above-mentioned empty scan can be omitted by increasing the amount of irradiation with active energy rays.

  In this case, the sub-irradiation unit has a curing diode array in which a plurality of curing light-emitting diodes are arranged in the sub-scanning direction, and the irradiation control unit is configured to be capable of individually controlling the plurality of curing light-emitting diodes. Preferably it is.

  According to this configuration, part or all of the plurality of curing light emitting diodes can be controlled to be turned on / off. For example, the active energy ray can be irradiated with an irradiation width that matches the line feed amount (line feed width). . Moreover, the irradiation light quantity of an active energy ray can be freely controlled by adjusting the illuminance of each curing light emitting diode or by thinning the plurality of curing light emitting diodes.

  In this case, the main irradiation unit has a curing diode array in which a plurality of curing light emitting diodes are arranged in the sub-scanning direction, and the main irradiation unit and the sub-irradiation unit are a single extending in the sub-scanning direction. It is preferable that it is composed of an irradiation unit.

  According to this configuration, curing of the active energy ray-curable ink by the main irradiation unit and curing by the sub-irradiation unit can be performed with one apparatus, so that the apparatus configuration can be simplified and the cost can be reduced.

  In this case, it is preferable that the irradiation control unit controls the sub-irradiation unit so that the integrated light amount received by each unit of the recording medium is uniform.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to appropriately cure the active energy ray curable ink discharged to the recording medium while suppressing wasteful power consumption.

  In this case, it is preferable that the drawing unit is configured to be able to change the line feed distance in the sub-scanning direction, and the irradiation control unit lights a part of the plurality of curing light emitting diodes according to the variable line feed distance.

  In this case, the irradiation controller preferably adjusts the illuminance of the plurality of curing light emitting diodes according to the type of the active energy ray curable ink ejected from the inkjet head.

  According to these configurations, it is possible to appropriately cure the active energy ray-curable ink discharged onto the recording medium without excess or deficiency while suppressing wasteful power consumption.

  In this case, it is preferable that the light irradiation unit further includes a preheating unit that extends in the sub-scanning direction so as to sandwich the main irradiation unit between the sub irradiation unit and preheats the recording medium.

  According to this configuration, for example, by heating so that the temperature difference with the recording medium heated by irradiation of the activation energy ray is reduced, the temperature conditions before drawing and at the time of drawing become substantially equal. The medium hardly expands during drawing, and stable drawing can be performed. Therefore, even if the recording medium is heated for ink curing, good print quality can be maintained.

  In this case, the preheating unit has a heating diode array in which a plurality of heating light emitting diodes for preheating the recording medium by irradiating active energy rays are arranged in the sub-scanning direction, and the irradiation control unit includes a plurality of heating light emitting diodes. It is preferable that the heating light emitting diodes are individually controllable.

  In this case, it is preferable that the drawing unit is configured to be able to change the line feed distance in the sub-scanning direction, and the irradiation control unit lights a part of the plurality of heating light emitting diodes according to the variable line feed distance.

  According to these configurations, the recording medium can be preheated without excess or deficiency.

  In this case, the active energy rays are preferably ultraviolet rays having a predetermined center wavelength.

(A) of the inkjet recording device which concerns on 1st Embodiment is a top view, (b) is a side view. It is explanatory drawing which showed typically the drawing operation which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which showed typically the control method of the inkjet recording device which concerns on 1st Embodiment. (A) of the inkjet recording device which concerns on 2nd Embodiment is a top view, (b) is a side view. It is explanatory drawing which showed typically the drawing operation which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing (1) which showed typically the control method of the inkjet recording device which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing (2) which showed typically the control method of the inkjet recording device which concerns on 2nd Embodiment.

  Hereinafter, an ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. This ink jet recording apparatus discharges an ultraviolet curable ink (active energy ray curable ink) to a thin film-like recording medium to be discharged in a so-called reel-to-reel format by an ink jet head. It prints images and the like. In the following description, the recording medium conveyance direction is defined as the X-axis direction, and the direction orthogonal to the X-axis direction is defined as the Y-axis direction.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an inkjet recording apparatus 1 includes a machine base 2, a feeding device 3 that feeds out a long recording medium W wound in a roll shape, and a winding device that winds up a printed recording medium W. 4 and a work stage 5 disposed on the machine base 2 for sucking and setting the supplied recording medium W, and extending in the X-axis direction, and passing the recording medium W in the X-axis direction via the work stage 5 The X-axis table 6 that is intermittently fed, the Y-axis table 7 spanned in the Y-axis direction so as to straddle the X-axis table 6, the carriage 8 that is movably mounted on the Y-axis table 7, and the carriage 8 The inkjet head 9 for drawing on the recording medium W by discharging the ultraviolet curable ink and the carriage 8 are mounted on the carriage 8 to irradiate the recording medium W after drawing with the ultraviolet ray to cure the ultraviolet curable ink and to irradiate the ultraviolet ray. Let it harden The ultraviolet curing ink, and a ultraviolet irradiation device 10 to replenish cure, the. The drawing unit described in the claims includes an X-axis table 6, a Y-axis table 7, a carriage 8, and an inkjet head 9.

  The ink jet recording apparatus 1 includes an ink supply device (not shown) for supplying ultraviolet curable ink to the ink jet head 9, a maintenance device (not shown) for maintaining and recovering the functions of the ink jet head 9, and the ink jet recording device 1. And a control device 11 for overall control.

  In the ink jet recording apparatus 1, the recording medium W fed out by the feeding apparatus 3 is sucked and set by the work stage 5, and then the recording medium W is intermittently fed in the X-axis direction via the work stage 5 by the X-axis table 6 (sub-direction). Scanning), and drawing is performed by ejecting ultraviolet curable ink from the inkjet head 9 while reciprocating (main scanning) the carriage 8 with respect to the drawable area of the recording medium W set by suction. In addition, the ultraviolet irradiating device 10 mounted on the carriage 8 irradiates ultraviolet rays immediately after drawing to cure the ultraviolet curable ink, and adjusts the irradiation width or illuminance corresponding to the line feed amount d of the recording medium W to adjust the ultraviolet rays. The cured ink is replenished and cured. The recording medium W is not limited to a roll that can be continuously supplied, and a single-sheet recording medium W may be used.

  The feeding device 3 and the winding device 4 are respectively arranged on the upstream side and the downstream side in the X-axis direction so as to sandwich the machine base 2 and the work stage 5. The recording medium W is fed out from the feeding device 3 in a state where a light tension is applied, and is taken up by the winding device 4.

  The work stage 5 sucks and sets the recording medium W sent from the feeding device 3 through a plurality of holes (not shown) formed on the surface thereof. A feed roller 12 and a feed roller 13 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 feed roller 12 and the feed roller 13 are free-rotating nip rollers provided so as to be movable up and down, arranged side by side in the X-axis direction, sandwiching the recording medium W, and placed on the upper surface of the work stage 5 Let W come. The work stage 5 is intermittently fed by a line feed amount d in the X-axis direction (from the upstream side to the downstream side) by the X-axis table 6 with the recording medium W being sucked and set.

  The X-axis table 6 is disposed on the machine base 2 and has a pair of X-axis guide rails 14 extending in the X-axis direction, and an X-axis for slidably moving the work stage 5 along the X-axis guide rails 14. And a moving mechanism 15. The X-axis table 6 moves the carriage 8 stopped at the time of forward movement (or backward movement) to the recording medium W by the drawing width (line feed amount d) until the next backward movement (or forward movement). Send to the downstream side (scanning direction) (line feed). Note that. The X-axis table 6 is configured so that the line feed amount d in the sub-scanning direction can be changed according to the recording mode.

  The Y-axis table 7 includes a Y-axis guide rail 16 that spans the machine base 2 so as to straddle the Y-axis direction, and a Y-axis movement mechanism 17 that slidably moves the carriage 8 along the Y-axis guide rail 16. ,have. The Y-axis table 7 reciprocates the inkjet head 9 and the ultraviolet irradiation device 10 in the Y-axis direction (main scanning direction) via the carriage 8.

  The carriage 8 carries the inkjet head 9 and the ultraviolet irradiation device 10 and is slidably engaged with the Y-axis guide rail 16 on the upstream side in the X-axis direction. As will be described in detail later, the ultraviolet irradiation device 10 has a pair of light irradiation lamps 31 and 31 (irradiation units), and the pair of light irradiation lamps 31 and 31 are arranged on both sides of the inkjet head 9 in the Y-axis direction. In the installed state, it is mounted on the carriage 8.

  The inkjet head 9 has a nozzle surface 22 in which a plurality of discharge nozzles 21 are opened, and a plurality of nozzle rows 23 each having a plurality of discharge nozzles 21 arranged at equal intervals are mutually connected to the nozzle surface 22. They are arranged in parallel. In the inkjet head 9, different types (colors) of ultraviolet curable ink are ejected for each nozzle row 23.

  In this embodiment, so-called ultraviolet curable ink is used, and the nozzle surface 22 has a plurality of clear (CL), yellow (Y), cyan (C), magenta (M), and black (K). The nozzle rows 23 are sequentially arranged in the main scanning direction (Y-axis direction). The color, the number of colors, and the arrangement of each color of the ultraviolet curable ink may be arbitrarily set depending on the application. Further, the ink is not limited to the ultraviolet curable ink, and may be an infrared curable ink or a visible light curable ink.

  The ultraviolet irradiation device 10 has a pair of light irradiation lamps 31 and 31 mounted on the carriage 8 with the inkjet head 9 interposed therebetween. Each light irradiation lamp 31 is configured by an LED array in which a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) are arranged at equal intervals in the X-axis direction, and the irradiation surface is disposed at a position higher than the nozzle surface 22 of the inkjet head 9. Yes. Each light irradiation lamp 31 faces the recording medium W immediately after the discharge of the ultraviolet curable ink, irradiates the ultraviolet ray having a predetermined center wavelength to cure the ultraviolet curable ink, and irradiates the ultraviolet ray to the main irradiation. A sub-irradiation unit 33 for supplementing and curing the ultraviolet curable ink cured by the unit 32 is connected to the X-axis direction (in the sub-scanning direction). In the present embodiment, each ultraviolet irradiation device 10 includes a plurality of light emitting diodes having a predetermined center wavelength, but a mercury lamp, a metal halide lamp, or the like may be used. Further, when printing is performed only in the forward path or only in the backward path in the movement of the inkjet head 9 in the main scanning direction, the ultraviolet irradiation device 10 may be configured by only the light irradiation lamp 31 on one side.

  The main irradiation unit 32 is provided on both sides of the inkjet head 9 in the Y-axis direction, and the effective irradiation width in the sub-scanning direction by the main irradiation unit 32 is designed to correspond to the length of the nozzle row 23 of the inkjet head 9. ing. In this case, the main irradiating unit 32 performs main scanning (forward or backward movement) together with the ink jet head 9 so as to face the recording medium W immediately after the ultraviolet curable ink is discharged, and an area where drawing is performed in one main scanning. Are irradiated with ultraviolet rays to cure the ultraviolet curable ink discharged onto the recording medium W. That is, in the embodiment, ink curing is performed with the pair of main irradiating units 32 always turned on, and a light amount (integrated light amount) necessary for ink curing can be obtained by a plurality of main scans. .

  The sub-irradiation unit 33 protrudes on both sides of the inkjet head 9 in the Y-axis direction and on the downstream side in the transport direction of the recording medium W from the inkjet head 9 (substantially the nozzle row 23), and is integrated with the main irradiation unit 32. Is formed. In addition, the effective irradiation width in the sub-scanning direction by the sub-irradiating unit 33 is designed to correspond to at least the maximum intermittent feed amount (line feed amount d) of the recording medium W by the X-axis table 6. The sub-irradiation unit 33 includes a curing diode array in which a plurality of curing light emitting diodes are arranged in the sub-scanning direction, and is configured to be individually controllable. That is, the illuminance of ultraviolet rays to be irradiated and the curing light-emitting diode to be lit are adjustable. The sub-irradiation unit 33 scans the recording medium W after drawing in accordance with the main scanning (forward or backward movement) of the carriage 8 and supplements and cures the ultraviolet curable ink irradiated with ultraviolet rays by the main irradiation unit 32.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the control device 11 includes a memory unit 41 that stores a control program, data, and the like, an image memory unit 46 that stores predetermined drawing data, a memory unit 41, and an image memory unit 46. And a driver unit 43 that drives each device constituting the inkjet recording apparatus 1 according to a command from the controller unit 42. The light source driver of the driver unit 43 includes a main irradiation control unit 44 that controls the main irradiation unit 32 and a sub irradiation control unit 45 that controls the amount of ultraviolet light emitted from the sub irradiation unit 33. The sub-irradiation control unit 45 refers to the irradiation light amount of the main irradiation unit 32 so that the integrated light amount received by each unit of the recording medium W is uniform, and determines the lighting position and illuminance of the curing issue diode of the sub-irradiation unit 33. adjust. In addition, the sub-irradiation control unit 45 adjusts the voltage applied to each curing issue diode to adjust the illuminance of the ultraviolet rays to be irradiated, and at the same time, turns each curing light-emitting diode on and off for lighting. A light emitting diode is selected.

  Next, a series of drawing operations will be described with reference to FIG. Here, a case will be described in which the feed amount (line feed amount d) of the recording medium W is ½ of the carriage 8 width (substantially, the nozzle row 23). First, the carriage 8 at the home position is moved forward in the main scanning direction by the Y-axis table 7 with the light emitting diode turned on by driving the ultraviolet irradiation device 10 and immediately after the ultraviolet curable ink is discharged. The main irradiation unit 32 irradiates ultraviolet rays. (FIG. 3 (a) and (b)). Then, the recording medium W is sub-scanned by the line feed amount d in the X-axis direction by the X-axis table 6 (FIG. 3C).

  Then, when moving the carriage 8 forward (or backward), the above steps are repeated until the first drawn area passes through the inkjet head 9. In scanning after the first drawn area passes through the inkjet head 9, the drawing area is drawn by the inkjet head 9, and the sub-irradiation unit 33 applies ultraviolet rays to the drawn area after drawing. Irradiation is performed, and supplementary curing of the ultraviolet curable ink is performed (FIG. 3D). At this time, since the feed amount (line feed amount d) of the recording medium W is narrower than the carriage 8 width, the curing issue diode on the main irradiation unit 32 side corresponding to the feed amount of the recording medium W is turned on. Thereby, it can prevent that an ultraviolet-ray is irradiated excessively, and can cure an ultraviolet curing ink appropriately.

  Finally, the carriage 8 moves back and forth in the main scanning direction by the Y-axis table 7 and irradiates the drawing area after drawing with ultraviolet rays. That is, the n-th pass, which is the final pass, is performed only for replenishment curing, and the ultraviolet irradiation and drawing operation by the main irradiation unit 32 are not performed (empty scan). Drawing is performed on the recording medium W by repeating the above steps.

  If the feed amount (line feed amount d) of the recording medium W is the same as the width of the carriage 8, all of the curing issue diodes of the sub-irradiation unit 33 are turned on and the above drawing operation is performed (FIG. 4A). )). Also, the amount of integrated light required for curing differs depending on the type of UV curable ink, but the illuminance is adjusted by adjusting the applied voltage according to the UV curable ink (for example, referring to the control table). Thus, the ultraviolet curable ink can be appropriately cured (FIGS. 4B and 4C). Specifically, in the case of an ultraviolet curable ink that is easily cured by irradiation with ultraviolet rays, the illuminance is decreased, and in the case of an ultraviolet curable ink that is difficult to cure, the illuminance is increased.

  According to the above configuration, since the amount of ultraviolet light irradiated by the sub-irradiating unit 33 can be controlled, the ultraviolet light can be irradiated in consideration of the line feed amount d of the recording medium W. Thereby, it can prevent that an ultraviolet-ray is irradiated excessively, and can cure an ultraviolet curing ink appropriately. Also, different types of ultraviolet curable inks can be appropriately cured.

  Next, an inkjet recording apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, in order to avoid the duplicate description, a different part from 1st Embodiment is mainly demonstrated. In the ultraviolet irradiation device 10 of the ink jet recording apparatus 1, the light irradiation lamps 31 are arranged so that the main irradiation unit 32, the sub irradiation unit 33, and the main irradiation unit 32 are sandwiched between the sub irradiation unit 33. A preheating unit that preheats the recording medium W so as to reduce a temperature difference from the recording medium W that is extended in the scanning direction and heated by irradiation with ultraviolet rays. Also in this case, the light irradiation lamp 31 is composed of a series of LED arrays.

  The preheating unit 34 is disposed on both sides of the inkjet head 9 in the Y-axis direction and protrudes downstream in the conveyance direction of the recording medium W by the inkjet head 9 (substantially the nozzle row 23). Further, the effective irradiation width in the sub-scanning direction by the preheating unit 34 is designed to correspond to at least the maximum intermittent feed amount (line feed amount d) of the recording medium W by the X-axis table 6. That is, the preheating unit 34 irradiates the heating area for one main scan with ultraviolet rays, and after the subsequent line feed, the heating area faces the inkjet head 9 and the main irradiation unit 32 as a drawing area. ing. In addition, the preheating unit 34 includes a plurality of heating issue diodes, and each of the heating issue diodes can be individually controlled by the sub-irradiation control unit 45.

  The preheating unit 34 scans the recording medium W before drawing along with the main scanning (forward or backward movement) of the carriage 8, and the recording medium W is heated by the subsequent irradiation of ultraviolet rays from the main irradiation unit 32. The recording medium W is heated so as to reduce the temperature difference. That is, the preheating unit 34 preheats the area of the first main scan (for the line feed distance in the sub-scanning direction) before drawing so that the temperature is the same as the area at the time of drawing. Note that the preheating unit 34 may be formed sufficiently long in the Y-axis direction, and the number of light-emitting diodes to be lit may be adjusted according to the line feed amount d. Also in this case, the light irradiation lamp 31 is composed of a series of LED arrays.

  Next, a series of drawing operations will be described with reference to FIG. Here, a case where the line feed amount d of the recording medium W is ½ of the carriage 8 width (substantially, the nozzle row 23) will be described. First, the carriage 8 at the home position moves forward in the main scanning direction by the Y-axis table 7 and performs preheating on the heating region (FIGS. 6A and 6B). That is, in the first pass, only preheating is performed, and drawing operation is not performed (empty scan).

  Then, the recording medium W is sub-scanned by the line feed amount d in the X-axis direction by the X-axis table 6 (FIG. 6C). Next, the carriage 8 is moved backward by the Y-axis table 7 (second pass). At this time, immediately after the ultraviolet curable ink is discharged in the drawing region, the main irradiation unit 32 irradiates the ultraviolet rays. In parallel with this operation, preheating is performed by the preheating unit 34 in a new heating region (FIG. 6D).

Then, when moving the carriage 8 forward (or backward), the above process is repeated until the first preheated region passes through the inkjet head 9. In the scan after the first preheated region has passed through the inkjet head 9, the main irradiation unit 32 irradiates ultraviolet rays immediately after the ultraviolet curable ink is discharged in the drawing region. In parallel with this operation, preheating is performed by the preheating unit 34 in a new heating region. Further, the drawing region after drawing is irradiated with ultraviolet rays by the sub-irradiation unit 33, and complementary curing of the ultraviolet curable ink is performed (FIGS. 6E and 6F). Drawing is performed on the recording medium W by repeating the above steps.
Finally, the carriage 8 moves back and forth in the main scanning direction by the Y-axis table 7 and irradiates the drawing area after drawing with ultraviolet rays. That is, the n-th pass, which is the final pass, is performed only for supplementary curing, and preheating by the preheating unit 34, irradiation of ultraviolet rays by the main irradiation unit 32, and drawing operation are not performed (empty scan).

  If the line feed amount d of the recording medium W is the same as the width of the carriage 8, all the heating issue diodes of the preheating unit 34 and the curing issue diode of the sub-irradiation unit 33 are turned on, and the above drawing operation is performed. Perform (FIG. 7A). The amount of accumulated light required for curing varies depending on the type of UV curable ink, but by adjusting the applied voltage according to the UV curable ink, the illuminance is adjusted and the UV curable ink is properly cured. (FIGS. 7B and 7C). Further, when the line feed amount d of the recording medium W is ½ of the width of the carriage 8, half of the heating light emitting diode of the preheating unit 34 on the main irradiation unit 32 side is turned on in the heating region, and the sub irradiation unit All 33 curing issue diodes may be lit. That is, the ultraviolet curable ink is cured by irradiating with ultraviolet rays twice as much as the preheating (FIG. 7D).

  According to the above configuration, since the temperature conditions before drawing and at the time of drawing become substantially equal, the recording medium W hardly expands at the time of drawing, and stable drawing can be performed.

  In addition, although this embodiment demonstrated the case where the main irradiation part 32 and the sub irradiation part 33 were formed integrally, the main irradiation part 32 and the sub irradiation part 33 may be formed separately. Further, although the case where the sub irradiation unit 33 is mounted on the carriage 8 common to the inkjet head 9 and the main irradiation unit 32 has been described, the sub irradiation unit 33 may be mounted on another carriage 8. In such a case, a sub irradiation unit moving mechanism that freely moves the sub irradiation unit 33 along the Y-axis guide rail 16 is provided (not shown).

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Inkjet recording device 6 ... X-axis table 7 ... Y-axis table 8 ... Carriage 9 ... Inkjet head 32 ... Main irradiation part 33 ... Sub irradiation part 34 ... Preheating part 45 ... Sub irradiation control part W ... Recording medium

Claims (10)

A drawing unit that draws on the recording medium by ejecting active energy ray-curable ink from the ink-jet head while moving the ink-jet head mounted on the carriage relative to the recording medium in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction. When,
A main irradiation unit mounted on the carriage and irradiating active energy rays to cure the active energy ray curable ink on the recording medium;
A sub-irradiation unit that is mounted on the carriage and replenishes and cures the active energy ray-curable ink that has been irradiated with active energy rays and cured by the main irradiation unit;
An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: an irradiation control unit that controls an irradiation light amount of the active energy ray of the sub irradiation unit separately from the main irradiation unit. The sub-irradiation unit has a curing diode array in which a plurality of curing light emitting diodes are arranged in the sub-scanning direction,
The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the irradiation control unit is configured to be capable of individually controlling the plurality of curing light emitting diodes. The main irradiation unit has a curing diode array in which a plurality of curing light emitting diodes are arranged in the sub-scanning direction,
The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the main irradiation unit and the sub irradiation unit are configured by a single irradiation unit extending in a sub scanning direction.   The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the irradiation control unit controls the sub-irradiation unit so that an integrated light amount received by each unit of the recording medium is uniform. The drawing unit is configured to be able to change the line feed distance in the sub-scanning direction,
5. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the irradiation controller turns on a part of the plurality of curing light emitting diodes according to the variable line feed distance.   The said irradiation control part adjusts the illumination intensity of these several light emitting diodes for hardening according to the classification of the said active energy ray hardening ink discharged from the said inkjet head, Any one of Claim 3 thru | or 5 characterized by the above-mentioned. The ink jet recording apparatus described.   The light irradiation unit further includes a preheating unit that extends in the sub scanning direction so as to sandwich the main irradiation unit between the sub irradiation unit and preheats the recording medium. An ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 6. The preheating unit has a heating diode array in which a plurality of heating light emitting diodes that preheat the recording medium by irradiating active energy rays are arranged in a sub-scanning direction,
The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the irradiation control unit is configured to be capable of individually controlling the plurality of heating light emitting diodes. The drawing unit is configured to be able to change the line feed distance in the sub-scanning direction,
9. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the irradiation control unit turns on a part of the plurality of heating light emitting diodes according to the variable line feed distance.   The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the active energy ray is an ultraviolet ray having a predetermined center wavelength.

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