JP2012192652A - Drawing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a drawing method by which an image surface state suitable to an image can be obtained for each image.SOLUTION: In the drawing method, a liquid body is ejected as a liquid droplet and landed on a drawing medium to draw the image formed of an image film obtained by curing the liquid body on the drawing medium. A plurality of kinds of liquid bodies are used and the order of landing respective liquid bodies in the plurality of kinds of liquid bodies to the drawing medium is decided according to wet characteristics of the liquid body to the drawing medium or to the landed and cured liquid body. As one embodiment, the liquid bodies are landed on the drawing medium in order of a high lipophilic property to the drawing medium or to the liquid body which is landed and at least the surface of which is cured. As The other embodiment, the liquid bodies are landed on the drawing medium in order of a high liquid-repellent property to the drawing medium or to the liquid body which is landed and at least the surface of which is cured.

Description

  The present invention relates to a drawing method in which a liquid material is arranged on a drawing medium by discharging the liquid material and landing on the drawing medium, and an image is drawn on the drawing medium by the arranged liquid material.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a method of forming an image using a sublimable ink (functional liquid) on a resin sheet that is a non-absorbing medium in addition to the paper surface that is an absorber. There is known a method of adding design properties by transferring an image to a three-dimensional object formed of a resin using a sheet prepared by such a method. As one of the printing methods for such an absorbent body, a printing method using an ultraviolet curable ink has attracted attention. This is a field where future market growth rate can be expected from the viewpoint of quick drying and low VOC (volatile organic compound) compared to methods using other solvent-based inks. Furthermore, it is possible to apply to a molded product having a large surface irregularity by applying the ink jet method.

  In the formation of an image using an ink jet device, it is necessary that a functional liquid such as ink discharged from the ink jet device is easily fixed, and a device such as an ink (functional liquid) receiving layer is formed on the non-absorbent surface. Has been made. In addition, for example, a so-called mat surface with minute irregularities formed on the drawing surface gives a texture, and makes it difficult to notice sudden scratches and bulges formed on the drawing surface. . In Patent Document 1, by attaching a first liquid containing a diffusion inhibitor, it is possible to prevent the liquid to be adhered from flowing after the first liquid, thereby preventing the displacement of the liquid. An image forming apparatus and an image forming method capable of preventing a deterioration of an image due to landing interference and forming a preferable image are disclosed.

JP 2007-21886 A

However, in the apparatus or method such as the image forming apparatus and the image forming method disclosed in Patent Document 1, there is a high possibility that the liquid that does not flow is cured in a swelled state. That is, there is a high possibility that an image having an image surface with minute unevenness is formed.
However, the image to be formed is not necessarily an image that preferably has an image surface with minute irregularities. Depending on the image to be formed, there is also an image in which a flat image surface is preferably formed by spreading the functional liquid for forming the image. Therefore, the apparatus or method such as the image forming apparatus and the image forming method disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a problem that an image surface state suitable for an image is not always obtained.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to solve at least a part of the problems described above, and the invention can be implemented as the following forms or application examples.

  [Application Example 1] In the drawing method according to this application example, a liquid is ejected as droplets, landed on a drawing medium, and an image made of an image film in which the liquid is cured is drawn on the drawing medium. A plurality of types of the liquid materials, and the order in which the liquid materials of the plurality of types of liquid materials are landed on the drawing medium is determined according to the drawing medium or the landing of the liquid material It is determined by the wettability with respect to the liquid material cured by the above process.

According to the drawing method according to this application example, the order in which the liquid material is landed on the drawing medium is determined by the wetting characteristic of the liquid material on the drawing medium or the liquid material that has landed and hardened. The liquid material discharged toward the drawing medium lands on the surface of the drawing medium or on the liquid material that has landed first. The shape of the liquid droplets that have landed differs depending on the wetting characteristics of the liquid material on the surface of the drawing medium or the surface of the liquid material that has landed first and the surface has started to harden. The more lyophilic the wetting property, the more wetting and spreading it becomes. The more wetting characteristics the liquid repellency, the more difficult it is to spread and the resulting shape will be higher.
When a liquid material that has a raised shape is placed on a liquid material that has become wet and spread, the surface of the image film formed by the liquid material that has been placed and cured is allowed to land later. The unevenness of the raised shape of the liquid material becomes a conspicuous surface. When a liquid material that easily spreads wet is placed on the liquid material having a raised shape, the recesses between the raised shapes are filled with the liquid material that has been landed later and is easy to spread. The surface of the image film formed by the placed and cured liquid is a surface with less unevenness. Accordingly, the surface state of the image film to be formed is adjusted by determining the order of landing of the liquid material on the drawing medium by the wettability characteristics of the liquid material on the drawing medium or the liquid material that has landed and cured. Can do.

  [Application Example 2] In the drawing method according to the application example, the liquid material is placed on the drawing medium in descending order of lyophilicity with respect to the drawing medium or the liquid material that has landed and at least the surface is cured. It is preferable to land.

  According to this drawing method, the liquid is landed on the drawing medium in descending order of lyophilicity with respect to the drawing medium or the liquid that has landed and at least the surface is cured. Accordingly, the liquid material having high lyophilicity with respect to the landing surface is landed first and spreads wet, and for example, the surface has a shape close to flat. Since the liquid material landed later has low lyophilicity, it has a shape that is at least higher than the liquid material landed first. The surface of the image film formed by curing a plurality of landed liquid materials is a surface with conspicuous unevenness due to the raised shape of the liquid material landed later. As a result, it is possible to form an image with conspicuous unevenness on the surface of the image film.

  [Application Example 3] In the drawing method according to the application example described above, the liquid material is placed on the drawing medium in the descending order of liquid repellency with respect to the drawing medium or the liquid material that has landed and at least the surface is cured. It is preferable to land.

  According to this drawing method, the liquid material is landed on the drawing medium in the descending order of liquid repellency with respect to the drawing medium or the liquid material that has landed and at least the surface is cured. Therefore, the liquid material having high liquid repellency with respect to the landing surface is landed first and has little wetting spread, for example, a state in which protruding droplets are connected. Since the liquid material landed later has low liquid repellency, the liquid material wets and spreads at least more than the liquid material landed first. The liquid that has landed on the state where the projection-like droplets are continuous and spreads out wet easily spreads into the concave portion where the projection-like droplets are continuous, and tends to fill the concave portion. Thereby, an image with a flat surface of the image film can be formed.

  Application Example 4 In the drawing method according to the application example, it is preferable that at least one of the plurality of types of liquid materials is the liquid material to which a diffusion inhibitor is added.

  According to this drawing method, a liquid material to which a diffusion inhibitor is added is used. By adding a diffusion inhibitor to the liquid, the wettability of the liquid can be made more liquid repellent than a liquid without the addition of a diffusion inhibitor. Thereby, the wetting characteristic of the liquid can be adjusted to a suitable wetting characteristic.

  Application Example 5 In the drawing method according to the application example, it is preferable that the liquid material is an ultraviolet curable liquid material.

According to this drawing method, the liquid material is an ultraviolet curable liquid material. The surface state of the image film formed by curing the ultraviolet curable liquid material is adjusted to a suitable state by deciding the order of landing the ultraviolet curable liquid material according to the wettability and landing. Can do.
Since the ultraviolet curable liquid can be cured by irradiating with ultraviolet rays, the degree of freedom of selection at the time of curing is higher than, for example, a naturally cured liquid. Using this property, the landed liquid can be cured in a short time. As a result, by curing before the liquid material flows, the liquid material for forming an image on the drawing medium such that the liquid material that has landed due to poor permeability can flow easily. Can be preferably used. In a drawing medium having poor permeability, a film for forming an image is placed on the drawing medium, so that the state of the film greatly affects the texture of the image. By adjusting the state of the film formed by curing the ultraviolet curable liquid material to a suitable state, the texture of the image can be suitably adjusted.

  [Application Example 6] In the drawing method according to the application example described above, the plurality of types of liquid materials have wet characteristics with respect to the drawing medium or the liquid material that has landed and at least the surface has been cured, for each of the liquid materials. Are preferably different from each other.

  According to this drawing method, the wettability is different for each liquid material. Thereby, it can be easily applied to determine the order of landing based on the wetting characteristics of the liquid to be drawn medium or the liquid that has landed and hardened.

  Application Example 7 In the drawing method according to the application example described above, the plurality of types of liquid materials include the liquid materials having different color tones, and the liquid materials having different color tones are applied to the drawing medium or at least after landing. It is preferable that the wetting characteristics with respect to the liquid bodies whose surfaces are cured are different from each other.

  According to this drawing method, a plurality of types of liquid materials include liquid materials having different color tones, and liquid materials having different color tones have different wetting characteristics. Thus, by arranging liquid materials with different color tones close to each other, when forming an image film with a color tone different from the color tone of the original liquid material, the order of landing of the liquid materials of the respective colors is determined by the wetting characteristics. By doing so, the surface state of the image film can be adjusted to a suitable state.

  Application Example 8 In the drawing method according to the application example, the plurality of types of liquid materials have substantially the same color tone, and have wet characteristics with respect to the drawing medium or the liquid material that has landed and at least the surface is cured. It is preferable that the liquid bodies differ from each other.

  According to this drawing method, the plurality of types of liquid materials include liquid materials having substantially the same color tone and different wetting characteristics. As a result, even for image films of the same color tone, it is possible to select liquid materials having different wetting characteristics as liquid materials to be used, and it is also possible to select a plurality of liquid materials having different wetting characteristics. . By selecting a plurality of liquid materials having different wetting characteristics and selecting the order of landing, the surface state of the image film to be formed can be adjusted to a suitable state.

FIG. 3 is an external perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a droplet discharge device. FIG. 3A is an external perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a droplet discharge head. (B) is a perspective sectional view showing the structure of a droplet discharge head. FIG. 6C is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the discharge nozzle portion of the droplet discharge head. The top view which shows schematic structure of a head unit and a primary hardening unit. (A) is explanatory drawing which shows the arrangement position of a discharge nozzle. (B) is explanatory drawing which shows the state which made the droplet land linearly in the extension direction of a nozzle row. (C) is explanatory drawing which shows the state which made the droplet land linearly in the discharge scanning direction. (D) is explanatory drawing which shows the state which made the droplet land in surface shape. (A) is explanatory drawing which shows the side view shape of a landing liquid film. (B) is explanatory drawing which shows the planar view shape of a landing liquid film. (C) is explanatory drawing which shows an example of an image. (D) is explanatory drawing which shows the planar shape of the image film comprised with the landing liquid film. (E) is explanatory drawing which shows the cross-sectional shape of the image film comprised with the landing liquid film. (A) is explanatory drawing which shows the side view shape of a landing liquid film. (B) to (e) is an explanatory view showing a process in which a landing liquid film is arranged. (F) is explanatory drawing which shows the cross-sectional shape of the image film comprised with the landing liquid film. (A) is explanatory drawing which shows the side view shape of a landing liquid film. (B) to (e) is an explanatory view showing a process in which a landing liquid film is arranged. (F) is explanatory drawing which shows the cross-sectional shape of the image film comprised with the landing liquid film.

  Hereinafter, a drawing method will be described with reference to the drawings. The present embodiment relates to a droplet discharge device and a drawing method using the droplet discharge device that draw an image on a drawing medium by discharging an ultraviolet curable functional liquid and landing on the drawing medium. An example will be described. In the drawings referred to in the following description, the vertical and horizontal scales of members or portions may be shown differently from actual ones for convenience of illustration. The functional liquid corresponds to a liquid material.

<Droplet ejection device>
First, the droplet discharge device 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a droplet discharge device.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the droplet discharge device 1 includes a head mechanism unit 2, a work mechanism unit 3, a functional liquid supply unit 4, a maintenance device unit 5, and a curing unit 10. The head mechanism unit 2 has a droplet discharge head 20. The droplet discharge head 20 discharges a functional liquid having ultraviolet curable properties as droplets. The work mechanism unit 3 includes a work mounting table 33 on which a work W that is a discharge target of liquid droplets discharged from the liquid droplet discharge head 20 is mounted. The functional liquid supply unit 4 includes a relay tank and a liquid supply tube. The liquid supply tube is connected to the droplet discharge head 20, and the functional liquid is discharged to the droplet discharge head 20 through the liquid supply tube. To be supplied. The maintenance device unit 5 includes devices that perform inspection or maintenance of the droplet discharge head 20. The droplet discharge device 1 also includes a discharge device control unit 6 that comprehensively controls these mechanism units. Furthermore, a plurality of support legs 8 installed on the floor and a surface plate 9 supported by the support legs 8 and having a flat, substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape are provided. The surface of the surface plate 9 on which the head mechanism unit 2 and the work mechanism unit 3 are disposed has a substantially rectangular planar shape. The extending direction of one side of the substantially rectangular shape is the X-axis direction, the direction substantially parallel to the other side substantially orthogonal to the one side and orthogonal to the X-axis direction is orthogonal to the Y-axis direction, the X-axis direction, and the Y-axis direction. The direction to do is denoted as the Z-axis direction.

  The head mechanism unit 2 includes a head carriage 22, a Y-axis moving mechanism 26, and a moving frame 27. The head carriage 22 includes a head unit 21 having a droplet discharge head 20 and a primary curing unit 95 (see FIG. 3). The moving frame 27 is slidable in the Y-axis direction by the Y-axis moving mechanism 26 and supported so as to be held at an arbitrary position. The head carriage 22 is suspended from the moving frame 27. The droplet discharge head 20 included in the head unit 21 included in the head carriage 22 is held with the nozzle substrate 25 (see FIG. 2) facing downward. By moving the moving frame 27 in the Y-axis direction by the Y-axis moving mechanism 26, the droplet discharge head 20 can be freely moved in the Y-axis direction. Further, it can be held at the moved position.

  The work mechanism unit 3 includes a work mounting table 33 and an X-axis moving mechanism 36. The workpiece mounting table 33 is slidable in the X-axis direction by the X-axis moving mechanism 36 and supported so as to be held at an arbitrary position. By moving the workpiece mounting table 33 in the X-axis direction by the X-axis moving mechanism 36, the workpiece W mounted on the workpiece mounting table 33 can be freely moved in the X-axis direction. Further, it can be held at the moved position.

  The curing unit 10 includes a UV (Ultraviolet) lamp 15 that emits ultraviolet rays. The UV lamp 15 is disposed facing the X-axis moving mechanism 36. The UV lamp 15 can irradiate the work W placed on the work placing table 33 moved to the position facing the UV lamp 15 by the X-axis moving mechanism 36 with ultraviolet rays.

In the droplet discharge device 1, first, the workpiece mounting table 33 is moved in the X-axis direction by the X-axis moving mechanism 36, so that the workpiece W mounted on the workpiece mounting table 33 is transferred to the droplet discharge head 20. It is located below. Next, while moving the droplet discharge head 20 in the Y-axis direction, discharge scanning for discharging the functional liquid as droplets is performed in synchronization with the movement of the droplet discharge head 20 in the Y-axis direction. Thereby, the droplet of the functional liquid is landed at an arbitrary position within the range of the length of the unit nozzle row 240A (see FIG. 3). In the ejection scan, the landed droplets are irradiated with ultraviolet rays by the primary curing unit 95, whereby the landed functional liquid is temporarily cured. By repeating the movement (line feed) of the workpiece W in the X-axis direction by the X-axis movement mechanism 36 and the discharge scanning, it is possible to draw a desired planar shape.
The workpiece W in which the functional liquid is arranged in a desired planar shape is moved to a position facing the UV lamp 15 of the curing unit 10 by moving the workpiece mounting table 33 in the X-axis direction by the X-axis moving mechanism 36. At this position, the functional liquid disposed on the workpiece W is irradiated with ultraviolet rays by the UV lamp 15 to cure the functional liquid at the disposed position.

<Droplet ejection head>
Next, the droplet discharge head 20 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the droplet discharge head. 2A is an external perspective view showing a schematic configuration of the droplet discharge head, FIG. 2B is a perspective sectional view showing the structure of the droplet discharge head, and FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the part of the discharge nozzle of a droplet discharge head. The X-axis direction and the Z-axis direction shown in FIG. 2 coincide with the X-axis direction or the Z-axis direction shown in FIG. 1 when the droplet discharge head 20 is mounted on the droplet discharge device 1. Yes.

  As illustrated in FIG. 2A, the droplet discharge head 20 includes a nozzle substrate 25. In the nozzle substrate 25, two rows of nozzle rows 24A in which a large number of discharge nozzles 24 are arranged in a substantially straight line are formed. The functional liquid is ejected as droplets from the ejection nozzle 24 and landed on a drawing object or the like at an opposing position, thereby arranging the functional liquid at the position. The nozzle row 24 </ b> A extends in the X-axis direction shown in FIG. 1 in a state where the droplet discharge head 20 is mounted on the droplet discharge device 1. In the nozzle row 24A, the discharge nozzles 24 are arranged at equal nozzle pitches, and the position of the discharge nozzle 24 is shifted by a half nozzle pitch in the X-axis direction between the two nozzle rows 24A. Therefore, as the liquid droplet ejection head 20, functional liquid droplets can be arranged at half nozzle pitch intervals in the X-axis direction. The nozzle pitch is, for example, 140 μm, and the half nozzle pitch is 70 μm.

As shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C, in the droplet discharge head 20, the pressure chamber plate 51 is stacked on the nozzle substrate 25, and the vibration plate 52 is stacked on the pressure chamber plate 51.
The pressure chamber plate 51 is formed with a liquid pool 55 in which the functional liquid supplied to the droplet discharge head 20 is always filled. The liquid pool 55 is a space surrounded by the diaphragm 52, the nozzle substrate 25, and the wall of the pressure chamber plate 51. The functional liquid is supplied from the functional liquid supply unit 4 to the droplet discharge head 20 and is supplied to the liquid pool 55 via the liquid supply hole 53 of the vibration plate 52. Further, the pressure chamber plate 51 is formed with a pressure chamber 58 partitioned by a plurality of head partition walls 57. A space surrounded by the diaphragm 52, the nozzle substrate 25, and the two head partition walls 57 is a pressure chamber 58.

  The pressure chambers 58 are provided corresponding to the respective discharge nozzles 24, and the number of the pressure chambers 58 and the number of the discharge nozzles 24 are the same. The functional fluid is supplied from the liquid pool 55 to the pressure chamber 58 via the supply port 56 positioned between the two head partition walls 57. A set of the head partition wall 57, the pressure chamber 58, the discharge nozzle 24, and the supply port 56 is arranged in a line along the liquid pool 55, and the discharge nozzles 24 arranged in a line form a nozzle line 24A. . Although not shown in FIG. 2B, the discharge nozzles 24 arranged in one row are arranged in a substantially symmetrical position with respect to the liquid pool 55 with respect to the nozzle row 24A including the discharge nozzle 24 shown in the figure. A nozzle row 24A is formed. A set of a head partition wall 57, a pressure chamber 58, and a supply port 56 corresponding to the nozzle row 24A is arranged in one row.

One end of each piezoelectric element 59 is fixed to the portion of the diaphragm 52 that constitutes the pressure chamber 58. The other end of the piezoelectric element 59 is fixed to a base (not shown) that supports the entire droplet discharge head 20 via a fixing plate (not shown).
The piezoelectric element 59 has an active part in which an electrode layer and a piezoelectric material are stacked. In the piezoelectric element 59, by applying a driving voltage to the electrode layer, the active portion contracts in the longitudinal direction (the thickness direction of the diaphragm 52 in FIG. 2B or 2C). When the drive voltage applied to the electrode layer is released, the active portion returns to its original length.

  When the driving voltage is applied to the electrode layer and the active portion of the piezoelectric element 59 is contracted, the vibration plate 52 to which one end of the piezoelectric element 59 is fixed receives a force that is pulled to the side opposite to the pressure chamber 58. When the diaphragm 52 is pulled to the opposite side of the pressure chamber 58, the diaphragm 52 is bent to the opposite side of the pressure chamber 58. Thereby, since the volume of the pressure chamber 58 increases, the functional liquid is supplied from the liquid pool 55 to the pressure chamber 58 through the supply port 56. Next, when the driving voltage applied to the electrode layer is released, the active portion returns to the original length, and the piezoelectric element 59 presses the diaphragm 52. When the diaphragm 52 is pressed, it returns to the pressure chamber 58 side. As a result, the volume of the pressure chamber 58 is rapidly restored. That is, since the increased volume is reduced, pressure is applied to the functional liquid filled in the pressure chamber 58, and the functional liquid becomes droplets from the discharge nozzle 24 formed in communication with the pressure chamber 58. Discharged.

<Head unit and primary curing unit>
Next, schematic configurations of the head unit 21 and the primary curing unit 95 included in the head carriage 22 of the head mechanism unit 2 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of the head unit and the primary curing unit. The X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction shown in FIG. 3 coincide with the X-axis direction or the Y-axis direction shown in FIG. 1 when the head unit 21 and the primary curing unit 95 are attached to the droplet discharge device 1. ing.

As shown in FIG. 3, the head unit 21 includes a unit plate 23 and nine droplet discharge heads 20 mounted on the unit plate 23. Two primary curing units 95 are arranged on each side of the head unit 21 in the Y-axis direction.
The droplet discharge head 20 is fixed to the unit plate 23 via a head holding member (not shown). In the fixed droplet discharge head 20, the head body is loosely fitted in a hole (not shown) formed in the unit plate 23, and the nozzle substrate 25 is located at a position protruding from the surface of the unit plate 23. . FIG. 3 is a view as seen from the nozzle substrate 25 side. The nine droplet ejection heads 20 are divided in the X-axis direction to form three groups of head groups 20A each having three droplet ejection heads 20 each. The nozzle row 24 </ b> A of each droplet discharge head 20 extends in the X-axis direction when the head unit 21 is attached to the droplet discharge device 1.

  In the X-axis direction, the droplet discharge head 20 is located at the end of the other droplet discharge head 20 with respect to the discharge nozzle 24 at the end of one droplet discharge head 20 of the droplet discharge heads 20 adjacent to each other. The discharge nozzle 24 is disposed at a position where it is shifted by a half nozzle pitch. If the nine droplet discharge heads 20 provided in one head unit 21 have the same position in the Y-axis direction, the discharge nozzles 24 are arranged at equal intervals of a half nozzle pitch in the X-axis direction. In other words, at the same position in the Y-axis direction, the droplets ejected from the ejection nozzles 24 constituting each nozzle row 24A of each droplet ejection head 20 have a half nozzle pitch in the X-axis direction in design. Land on a straight line at equal intervals.

  The nozzle row 24 </ b> A has, for example, 180 ejection nozzles 24, and the droplet ejection head 20 has 360 ejection nozzles 24. The head unit 21 having nine droplet discharge heads 20 has 3240 discharge nozzles 24. The 18 nozzle rows 24A included in the nine liquid droplet ejection heads 20 provided in one head unit 21 can be handled as one nozzle row. The nozzle row is referred to as “unit nozzle row 240A”. The unit nozzle row 240A has 3240 discharge nozzles 24. When one drop is discharged from each discharge nozzle 24 of the unit nozzle row 240A and landed so that the Y-axis direction is the same position, a straight line is formed in which 3240 points are connected at a pitch interval of a half nozzle pitch.

The primary curing unit 95 includes a support frame (not shown), a UVLED (Ultraviolet Light Emitting Diode) 96, and an LED casing 97. The UVLED 96 is an LED that emits ultraviolet rays.
The LED housing 97 is fixed to the side surface of the unit plate 23 in the Y-axis direction via a support frame. The LED casing 97 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped outer shape, and a casing chamber having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and having one open surface is formed therein. The housing chamber is open on the side facing the workpiece mounting table 33. A UVLED 96 is fixed in the housing chamber in a state of emitting ultraviolet rays to the opening side. A plurality of UVLEDs 96 are arranged side by side in the X-axis direction. The plurality of UV LEDs 96 can irradiate ultraviolet rays in a range including a width in which the droplet discharge head 20 of the head unit 21 can arrange the functional liquid in the X-axis direction.

As described above, the primary curing unit 95 is substantially symmetrical with respect to the nine droplet ejection heads 20 on both sides of the nine droplet ejection heads 20 in the Y-axis direction (ejection scanning direction). It is arranged.
When the head unit 21 is scanned in the Y-axis direction and discharges the functional liquid, the UV LED 96 disposed alongside the droplet discharge head 20 is irradiated with ultraviolet rays substantially in parallel.
In the scanning direction, by irradiating UV light from the UV LED 96 positioned on the rear side of the head unit 21, it is possible to irradiate the discharged functional liquid immediately after landing. The functional liquid can be cured by irradiating the functional liquid with ultraviolet rays. Factors affecting the curing rate of the functional liquid are the scanning speed, the width of the irradiation region of the UVLED 96 in the Y-axis direction, the irradiation intensity of the UVLED 96, and the like. By setting these factors to appropriate values, the landed functional liquid can be cured to an appropriate curing rate. By irradiating ultraviolet rays from the primary curing unit 95, for example, the landed functional liquid is temporarily cured. Temporary curing is curing for suppressing the landing of the functional liquid before the main curing that is sufficiently cured using the curing unit 10.

<Landing position>
Next, the relationship between the discharge nozzles 24 of the droplet discharge head 20 and the landing positions of the droplets discharged from the respective discharge nozzles 24 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the discharge nozzles and the landing positions of the droplets discharged from the respective discharge nozzles. FIG. 4A is an explanatory diagram showing the arrangement position of the discharge nozzles, and FIG. 4B is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which droplets are landed linearly in the extending direction of the nozzle rows, FIG. 4C is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which droplets are landed linearly in the ejection scanning direction, and FIG. 4D is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which droplets are landed in a planar shape. is there. The X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction shown in FIG. 4 coincide with the X-axis direction or the Y-axis direction shown in FIG. 1 when the head unit 21 is attached to the droplet discharge device 1. The Y-axis direction is the ejection scanning direction, and the functional liquid droplets are ejected at an arbitrary position while the ejection nozzle 24 (droplet ejection head 20) is relatively moved in the direction of the arrow a shown in FIG. Thus, the droplet can be landed at an arbitrary position in the Y-axis direction.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, the discharge nozzles 24 constituting the nozzle row 24A are arranged at the center distance of the nozzle pitch P in the X-axis direction. As described above, the positions of the discharge nozzles 24 constituting the two nozzle rows 24A are shifted from each other by ½ of the nozzle pitch P in the X-axis direction.

  As shown in FIG. 4B, the landing point 91 indicating the landing position and the landing circle 91A indicating the wet and spreading state of the landed droplet indicate the state of one landed droplet. By discharging droplets from all the discharge nozzles 24 of the two nozzle rows 24A on the virtual line L indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. A straight line formed by landing circles 91 </ b> A is formed at a center-to-center spacing of / 2.

  As shown in FIG. 4C, by continuously ejecting droplets from one ejection nozzle 24, a straight line is formed in which landing circles 91A are continuous in the Y-axis direction. The minimum value of the center-to-center distance between the landing points 91 in the Y-axis direction is denoted as the minimum landing distance d. The minimum landing distance d is the product of the relative movement speed in the discharge scanning direction and the minimum discharge interval of the discharge nozzle 24.

  As shown in FIG. 4 (d), by ejecting droplets at the timing of landing on virtual lines L1, L2, and L3 indicated by two-dot chain lines, the center-to-center spacing of 1/2 of the nozzle pitch P is obtained. Thus, a landing surface is formed in which straight lines connecting the landing circles 91A are arranged in parallel in the Y-axis direction. Each landing point 91 when the distance between the imaginary lines L1, L2, and L3 shown in FIG. 4D is the minimum landing distance d is a position at which the droplet of the functional liquid can be disposed by the droplet discharge device 1. is there.

  At the time of drawing an image, the positions where the droplets are to be arranged are determined for the positions of the respective landing points 91 shown in FIG. For example, an arrangement table specifying the arrangement position and the discharge nozzles 24 that discharge droplets at the arrangement position is formed, and the functional liquid is landed according to the arrangement table, thereby drawing an image defined by the image information. In the example shown in FIG. 4 (d), there is a gap between the landing circles 91A, but the discharge weight per one droplet to be discharged is appropriate for the nozzle pitch P and the minimum landing distance d. It is possible to arrange the functional liquid without gaps.

<Landing liquid film and image film>
Next, a landing liquid film in which the functional liquid discharged as droplets has landed on the drawing medium and cured, and an image film composed of the landing liquid film will be described with reference to FIG. 5A is an explanatory view showing a side view shape of the landing liquid film, FIG. 5B is an explanatory view showing a plan view shape of the landing liquid film, and FIG. 5C is an image. FIG. 5D is an explanatory view showing a planar shape of an image film composed of a landing liquid film, and FIG. 5E is an image composed of a landing liquid film. It is explanatory drawing which shows the cross-sectional shape of a film | membrane.

  The functional liquid 41a, the functional liquid 42a, the functional liquid 43a, the functional liquid 44a, and the liquid droplets of the functional liquid 45a that have landed on the drawing medium 100 or the like are used as the landing liquid film 41, the landing liquid film 42, the landing liquid film 43, The landing liquid film 44 or the landing liquid film 45 is indicated. The liquid droplets of the functional liquid 41a, the functional liquid 42a, the functional liquid 43a, the functional liquid 44a, and the functional liquid 45a are liquid droplets ejected from the ejection nozzle 24 of the liquid droplet ejection head 20. The functional liquid 41a, the functional liquid 42a, the functional liquid 43a, the functional liquid 44a, and the functional liquid 45a immediately after landing on the drawing medium 100 are also temporarily cured by the primary curing unit 95. Those in the fully cured state are also referred to as a landing liquid film 41, a landing liquid film 42, a landing liquid film 43, a landing liquid film 44, or a landing liquid film 45. The functional liquid 41a, the functional liquid 42a, the functional liquid 43a, the functional liquid 44a, and the functional liquid 45a correspond to a liquid material.

  The functional liquid 41a, the functional liquid 42a, the functional liquid 43a, the functional liquid 44a, and the functional liquid 45a have substantially the same color tone in a cured state, and have different wetting characteristics with respect to the drawing medium 100. The functional liquid 41a, the functional liquid 42a, the functional liquid 43a, the functional liquid 44a, and the functional liquid 45a are more lyophilic with respect to the drawing medium 100 in this order. In other words, the functional liquid 45a, the functional liquid 44a, the functional liquid 43a, the functional liquid 42a, and the functional liquid 41a are more liquid repellent with respect to the drawing medium 100 in this order.

  Wetting characteristics such as the functional liquid 41a, the functional liquid 42a, the functional liquid 43a, the functional liquid 44a, and the functional liquid 45a can be adjusted by adding a diffusion inhibitor to the liquid. Examples of the diffusion inhibitor include polymers and metal compounds having an amino group, polymers and metal compounds having an onium group, and polymers and metal compounds having a nitrogen-containing heterocycle. One of these diffusion inhibitors may be added, or a plurality of diffusion inhibitors may be added in combination.

  As shown in FIG. 5 (a), the landing liquid film 45, the landing liquid film 44, the landing liquid film 43, the landing liquid film 42, and the landing liquid film 41 increased in this order with a large contact angle. Shape. As shown in FIG. 5B, the landing liquid film 45, the landing liquid film 44, the landing liquid film 43, the landing liquid film 42, and the landing liquid film 41 are planar in this order when the volume of the droplets is the same. The visual area is small. The shapes of the landing liquid film 45, the landing liquid film 44, the landing liquid film 43, the landing liquid film 42, and the landing liquid film 41 shown in FIG. 5B are functional liquid 45a, functional liquid 44a, functional liquid 43a, This is the shape of the landing circle 91A of the functional liquid 42a or the functional liquid 41a described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 5C, the landing liquid film 45, the landing liquid film 44, the landing liquid film 43, the landing liquid film 42, and the landing liquid film 41 are included in the range of the image section 60A surrounded by the two-dot chain line. An image 60 is formed by forming an image film 61 having The image 60 is a part of a character string indicating, for example, a product model number drawn on a bare chip of a semiconductor device. The bare chip of the semiconductor device in this case is the drawing medium 100 shown in FIG. 5A and corresponds to the drawing medium.

As shown in FIG. 5D and FIG. 5E, the image film 61 includes a part of the landing liquid film 45, the landing liquid film 44, the landing liquid film 43, the landing liquid film 42, and the landing liquid film 41. Are formed side by side in an overlapping state. The X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction shown in FIG. 5D coincide with the X-axis direction or the Y-axis direction shown in FIG. The X-axis direction shown in FIG. 5 (e) coincides with the X-axis direction shown in FIG. 4, and the Z-axis direction is orthogonal to the X-axis direction and Y-axis direction shown in FIG. 5 (d). Direction.
Similar to the row in which the landing circles 91A shown in FIG. 4C are continuous in the Y-axis direction, the rows of the landing liquid films 41 are within the range of the image section 60A, and the plurality of rows are spaced apart in the X-axis direction. Is formed. The landing liquid film 44, the landing liquid film 43, and the landing liquid film 42 are formed in the same manner, and fill the space between the landing liquid films 41. The row of the landing liquid films 45 is formed such that the landing liquid films 45 are arranged at intervals in the Y-axis direction.

<Image film forming process>
Next, a process of forming the image film 61 shown in FIGS. 5D and 5E will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the landing order and landing positions of the landing liquid film in the step of forming the image film. 6 (a) is an explanatory view showing a side view shape of the landing liquid film, and FIGS. 6 (b) to 6 (e) are explanatory views showing a process in which the landing liquid film is arranged. 6 (f) is an explanatory view showing a cross-sectional shape of an image film made of a landing liquid film. The X-axis direction and the Z-axis direction shown in FIG. 6 coincide with the X-axis direction or the Z-axis direction shown in FIG.

  As described with reference to FIG. 5, the landing liquid film 45, the landing liquid film 44, the landing liquid film 43, the landing liquid film 42, and the landing liquid film 41 shown in FIG. The functional liquid 42a, the functional liquid 43a, the functional liquid 44a, or the functional liquid 45a is discharged and landed on the drawing medium 100. As described above, the landing liquid film 45, the landing liquid film 44, the landing liquid film 43, the landing liquid film 42, and the landing liquid film 41 have a large contact angle and a raised shape in this order.

  The functional liquid 41a, the functional liquid 42a, the functional liquid 43a, the functional liquid 44a, and the functional liquid 45a are supplied to and discharged from any one of the nine droplet discharge heads 20 provided in the head unit 21. Among the nine droplet discharge heads 20 included in the head unit 21, the droplet discharge head 20 to which the functional liquid 41a, the functional liquid 42a, the functional liquid 43a, the functional liquid 44a, or the functional liquid 45a is not supplied includes Functional liquid is supplied and discharged.

  First, as shown in FIG. 6B, the functional liquid 41 a is landed on the drawing medium 100 to form the landing liquid film 41. When the functional liquid 41a is discharged toward the drawing medium 100 from the discharge nozzle 24 of the droplet discharge head 20 to which the functional liquid 41a is supplied, the landing liquid film 41 shown in FIG. Similarly to the rows, the landing liquid films 41 are formed in a row in which the landing liquid films 41 are continuous in the Y-axis direction. In the nozzle row 24 </ b> A, the functional liquid 41 a is discharged from the discharge nozzles 24 with a predetermined interval, thereby forming a plurality of rows with a predetermined interval in the X-axis direction. The functional liquid 41a is the most lyophilic with respect to the drawing medium 100 among the functional liquid 41a, the functional liquid 42a, the functional liquid 43a, the functional liquid 44a, and the functional liquid 45a, and the landing liquid film 41 is flat. Shape.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 6C, the functional liquid 42 a is landed on the drawing medium 100 to form the landing liquid film 42. When the functional liquid 42a is discharged from the discharge nozzle 24 of the droplet discharge head 20 to which the functional liquid 42a is supplied toward the drawing medium 100, the landing liquid film 41 shown in FIG. Similar to the rows, the landing liquid films 42 form a row in which the landing liquid films 42 are continuous in the Y-axis direction. In the nozzle row 24A, the functional liquid 42a is discharged from the discharge nozzles 24 with a predetermined interval, thereby forming a plurality of rows with a predetermined interval in the X-axis direction. In the image film 61, a line of the landing liquid film 42 is formed next to the line of the landing liquid film 41 in the X-axis direction, and a part of the landing liquid film 42 is formed so as to overlap the landing liquid film 41. The functional liquid 42a has lyophilicity after the functional liquid 41a with respect to the drawing medium 100 among the functional liquid 41a, the functional liquid 42a, the functional liquid 43a, the functional liquid 44a, and the functional liquid 45a. The liquid film 42 has a shape swollen more than the landing liquid film 41. Since the landing liquid film 42 shown in FIG. 6C partially overlaps the landing liquid film 41, the shape is slightly different from the landing liquid film 42 shown in FIG. The shape is similar.

Similarly, as shown in FIG. 6D, the functional liquid 43a is landed on the drawing medium 100 to form the landing liquid film 43. In the image film 61, a line of the landing liquid film 43 is formed next to the line of the landing liquid film 42 in the X-axis direction, and a part of the landing liquid film 43 is formed so as to overlap the landing liquid film 42.
Further, as shown in FIG. 6 (e), the functional liquid 44 a is landed on the drawing medium 100 to form a landing liquid film 44. In the image film 61, a line of the landing liquid film 44 is formed between the line of the landing liquid film 43 and the line of the landing liquid film 41 in the X-axis direction, and a part of the landing liquid film 44 is applied to the landing liquid film 43. Alternatively, it is formed so as to overlap the landing liquid film 41.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 6 (f), the functional liquid 45 a is landed on the drawing medium 100 to form a landing liquid film 45. When the functional liquid 45a is ejected from the ejection nozzle 24 of the droplet ejection head 20 supplied with the functional liquid 45a toward the drawing medium 100, the row of the landing liquid films 45 shown in FIG. In the same manner as described above, an array of landing liquid films 45 in which the landing liquid films 45 are scattered in the Y-axis direction is formed. In the nozzle row 24A, the functional liquid 45a is discharged from the discharge nozzles 24 with a predetermined interval, thereby forming a plurality of columns with a predetermined interval in the X-axis direction. In the image film 61, a line of the landing liquid film 45 is formed between the line of the landing liquid film 44 and the line of the landing liquid film 41 in the X-axis direction, and a part or all of the landing liquid film 45 is applied to the landing liquid. It is formed so as to overlap the film 44 or the landing liquid film 41. The landing liquid film 45 is formed at a position that covers at least the gap between the landing liquid film 44 and the landing liquid film 41.

  The functional liquid 45a has the most liquid repellency with respect to the drawing medium 100 among the functional liquid 41a, the functional liquid 42a, the functional liquid 43a, the functional liquid 44a, and the functional liquid 45a. The most swollen shape. Since the swollen landing liquid film 45 is formed so as to overlap the landing liquid film 44 or the landing liquid film 41, the landing liquid film 45 substantially protrudes from the surface of the image film 61. The landing liquid film 44 also protrudes compared to the landing liquid film 43. The image film 61 is a film having a rough surface.

<Other image film forming steps>
Next, a process of forming an image film 63 having a configuration different from that of the image film 61 shown in FIGS. 5D and 5E will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the landing order and landing positions of the landing liquid film in the step of forming the image film. FIG. 7A is an explanatory view showing a side view shape of the landing liquid film, and FIG. 7B to FIG. 7E are explanatory views showing a process in which the landing liquid film is arranged. 7 (f) is an explanatory view showing a cross-sectional shape of an image film composed of a landing liquid film. The X-axis direction and the Z-axis direction shown in FIG. 7 coincide with the X-axis direction or the Z-axis direction shown in FIG.

  Similar to the image film 61, the image film 63 is formed using the functional liquid 41a, the functional liquid 42a, the functional liquid 43a, the functional liquid 44a, and the functional liquid 45a. The positions corresponding to the landing points 91 of the functional liquid 41a, the functional liquid 42a, the functional liquid 43a, the functional liquid 44a, and the functional liquid 45a that are landed to form the image film 63 are described with reference to FIG. It is substantially the same as the position corresponding to the landing point 91 on the film 61. The image film 63 is different from the image film 61 in the order of landing the functional liquid 41a, the functional liquid 42a, the functional liquid 43a, the functional liquid 44a, and the functional liquid 45a.

  As described with reference to FIG. 5, the landing liquid film 45, the landing liquid film 44, the landing liquid film 43, the landing liquid film 42, and the landing liquid film 41 shown in FIG. The functional liquid 42a, the functional liquid 43a, the functional liquid 44a, or the functional liquid 45a is discharged and landed on the drawing medium 100. As described above, the landing liquid film 45, the landing liquid film 44, the landing liquid film 43, the landing liquid film 42, and the landing liquid film 41 have a large contact angle and a raised shape in this order.

  As described above, the functional liquid 41a, the functional liquid 42a, the functional liquid 43a, the functional liquid 44a, and the functional liquid 45a are supplied to any one of the nine droplet discharge heads 20 included in the head unit 21, Discharged. Among the nine droplet discharge heads 20 included in the head unit 21, the droplet discharge head 20 to which the functional liquid 41a, the functional liquid 42a, the functional liquid 43a, the functional liquid 44a, or the functional liquid 45a is not supplied includes Functional liquid is supplied and discharged.

  First, as shown in FIG. 7B, the functional liquid 45 a is landed on the drawing medium 100 to form the landing liquid film 45. When the functional liquid 45a is ejected from the ejection nozzle 24 of the droplet ejection head 20 supplied with the functional liquid 45a toward the drawing medium 100, the row of the landing liquid films 45 shown in FIG. In the same manner as described above, an array of landing liquid films 45 is formed in which the landing liquid films 45 are continuous in the Y-axis direction at a predetermined interval. In the nozzle row 24A, the functional liquid 45a is discharged from the discharge nozzles 24 with a predetermined interval, thereby forming a plurality of columns with a predetermined interval in the X-axis direction. The functional liquid 45a is the most liquid repellent with respect to the drawing medium 100 among the functional liquid 41a, the functional liquid 42a, the functional liquid 43a, the functional liquid 44a, and the functional liquid 45a, and the landing liquid film 45 is a hemisphere. The shape is like a protrusion.

  Next, as illustrated in FIG. 7C, the functional liquid 44 a is landed on the drawing medium 100 to form the landing liquid film 44. When the functional liquid 44a is discharged toward the drawing medium 100 from the discharge nozzle 24 of the droplet discharge head 20 to which the functional liquid 44a is supplied, the landing liquid film 41 and the like shown in FIG. Similarly to the rows, the landing liquid films 44 are formed in a row in which the landing liquid films 44 are continuous in the Y-axis direction. In the nozzle row 24A, the functional liquid 44a is discharged from the discharge nozzles 24 with a predetermined interval, thereby forming a plurality of rows with a predetermined interval in the X-axis direction. In the image film 63, a line of the landing liquid film 44 is formed next to the line of the landing liquid film 45 in the X-axis direction, and a part of the landing liquid film 44 is formed so as to overlap the landing liquid film 45. The functional liquid 44a has liquid repellency after the functional liquid 45a among the functional liquid 41a, the functional liquid 42a, the functional liquid 43a, the functional liquid 44a, and the functional liquid 45a. The liquid film 44 has a flattened hemispherical shape than the landing liquid film 45. Since the landing liquid film 44 shown in FIG. 7C partially overlaps the landing liquid film 45, the landing liquid film 44 slightly different in shape from the landing liquid film 44 shown in FIG. 7A. 45 exists. The landing liquid film 44 shown in FIG. 7 (c) is qualitatively the same as the landing liquid film 44 shown in FIG. 7 (a), and a part of the landing liquid film 44 rides on the landing liquid film 45. As a result, the difference in thickness from the landing liquid film 45 tends to be small.

Similarly, as shown in FIG. 7D, the functional liquid 43 a is landed on the drawing medium 100 to form the landing liquid film 43. In the image film 63, a line of the landing liquid film 43 is formed next to the line of the landing liquid film 44 in the X-axis direction, and a part of the landing liquid film 43 is formed so as to overlap the landing liquid film 44. The landing liquid film 43 shown in FIG. 7 (d) is qualitatively the same as the landing liquid film 43 shown in FIG. 7 (a), and a part of the landing liquid film 43 rides on the landing liquid film 44. As a result, the difference in thickness from the landing liquid film 44 tends to be small.
Further, as shown in FIG. 7E, the functional liquid 42 a is landed on the drawing medium 100 to form the landing liquid film 42. In the image film 63, a line of the landing liquid film 42 is formed between the line of the landing liquid film 43 and the line of the landing liquid film 45 in the X-axis direction, and a part of the landing liquid film 42 is applied to the landing liquid film 43. Overlapping and forming. The landing liquid film 42 shown in FIG. 7 (e) is qualitatively the same as the landing liquid film 42 shown in FIG. 7 (a), and a part of the landing liquid film 42 rides on the landing liquid film 43. As a result, the difference in thickness from the landing liquid film 43 tends to be small.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 7 (f), the functional liquid 41 a is landed on the drawing medium 100 to form a landing liquid film 411. When the functional liquid 41a is discharged toward the drawing medium 100 from the discharge nozzle 24 of the droplet discharge head 20 to which the functional liquid 41a is supplied, the landing liquid film 41 shown in FIG. Similarly to the rows, the landing liquid films 411 are arranged in a row in the Y-axis direction. In the nozzle row 24 </ b> A, the functional liquid 41 a is discharged from the discharge nozzles 24 with a predetermined interval, thereby forming a plurality of rows with a predetermined interval in the X-axis direction. In the image film 63, a line of the landing liquid film 411 is formed between the line of the landing liquid film 42 and the line of the landing liquid film 45 in the X-axis direction.

  The functional liquid 41a is most lyophilic with respect to the drawing medium 100 among the functional liquid 41a, the functional liquid 42a, the functional liquid 43a, the functional liquid 44a, and the functional liquid 45a, and is easily wetted and spread. The functional liquid 41a that has landed on the drawing medium 100 spreads in a shape like the landing liquid film 41 shown in FIG. However, the functional liquid 41 a that has landed between the row of the landing liquid film 42 and the row of the landing liquid film 45 is between the row of the landing liquid film 42 and the row of the landing liquid film 45 and the row of the landing liquid film 45. The landing liquid film 411 is formed by wetting and spreading so as to fill the space between the landing liquid film 45 and the landing liquid film 45. That is, the landing liquid film 411 fills a space between the landing liquid film 42, the landing liquid film 45, and the landing liquid film 44 adjacent to the row of the landing liquid films 45 on the opposite side of the landing liquid film 42. Formed.

  In the image film 63, the difference between the thickness of the landing liquid film 45 and the thickness of the landing liquid film 44, the difference between the thickness of the landing liquid film 44 and the thickness of the landing liquid film 43, and the thickness of the landing liquid film 43 and the landing liquid film. The difference between the thickness 42 and the thickness 42 tends to be smaller than when it is formed on the drawing medium 100 alone. Further, the landing liquid film 411 fills the space between the landing liquid film 42, the landing liquid film 45, and the landing liquid film 44. As a result, the image film 63 is a film whose surface is almost flat compared to the image film 61.

Hereinafter, the effect by embodiment is described. According to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) The image film 61 and the image film 63 are liquid droplets of the functional liquid 41a, the functional liquid 42a, the functional liquid 43a, the functional liquid 44a, and the functional liquid 45a that have different wetting characteristics with respect to the drawing medium 100. It is formed by landing on 100. Thereby, the state of the surface of the image film 61 or the image film 63 is adjusted by adjusting the order of landing of the liquid droplets of the functional liquid 41a, the functional liquid 42a, the functional liquid 43a, the functional liquid 44a, or the functional liquid 45a. can do.

  (2) In the image film 61, the functional liquid 41 a, the functional liquid 42 a, the functional liquid 43 a, the functional liquid 44 a, and the functional liquid 45 a having different wetting characteristics with respect to the drawing medium 100 are separated from those having higher lyophilicity. They are formed by landing on the drawing medium 100 in order. Since the landing liquid film 45 having the most liquid-repellent and swelled shape is landed last, and the landing liquid film 45 is overlapped with the landing liquid film 44 or the landing liquid film 41, the image film 61 is formed. The image film 61 can be formed into a film having a substantially uneven surface, with the landing liquid film 45 substantially protruding from the surface.

  (3) In the image film 63, the liquid droplets of the functional liquid 41a, the functional liquid 42a, the functional liquid 43a, the functional liquid 44a, and the functional liquid 45a, which have different wettability characteristics with respect to the drawing medium 100, are from the higher liquid repellency They are formed by landing on the drawing medium 100 in order. The landing liquid film 41 that is the most lyophilic and easily wet spreads is landed last, spreads in a state where the landing liquid film 42, the landing liquid film 45, and the landing liquid film 44 are filled and landed. A landing liquid film 411 that fills the space between the liquid film 42, the landing liquid film 45, and the landing liquid film 44 is formed. As a result, the image film 63 can be a film whose surface is almost flat compared to the image film 61 and the like.

  As mentioned above, although preferred embodiment was described referring an accompanying drawing, suitable embodiment is not restricted to the said embodiment. The embodiment can of course be modified in various ways without departing from the scope, and can also be implemented as follows.

(Modification 1) In the embodiment, the functional liquid 41a, the functional liquid 42a, the functional liquid 43a, the functional liquid 44a, and the functional liquid 45a used for forming the image film 61 and the image film 63 are in a cured state. It was a functional fluid with almost the same color tone. However, it is not essential that the plurality of liquid materials used to form the image film have substantially the same color tone when cured. The plurality of liquid materials used for forming the image film may be liquid materials having different colors in a cured state.
For example, it may be a three-color liquid of cyan, magenta, or yellow, a black liquid, a white liquid, and a colorless and transparent liquid. Among the liquid materials, the state of the surface of the image film to be formed is adjusted by adjusting the order of landing for the image film formed using any one of the liquid materials according to the wetting characteristics of the liquid material to be used. can do.

  (Modification 2) In the above-described embodiment, the image film 61 is composed of droplets of the functional liquid 41a, the functional liquid 42a, the functional liquid 43a, the functional liquid 44a, and the functional liquid 45a having different wetting characteristics with respect to the drawing medium 100. They are formed by landing on the drawing medium 100 in descending order of lyophilicity. The image film 63 applies droplets of the functional liquid 41a, the functional liquid 42a, the functional liquid 43a, the functional liquid 44a, and the functional liquid 45a, which have different wetting characteristics with respect to the drawing medium 100, in order from the higher liquid repellency. It is formed by landing on the drawing medium 100. However, it is not essential that the liquid material is landed in the order of high liquid repellency or in the order of high lyophilicity. The order of landing the liquids may be other orders.

  (Modification 3) In the above embodiment, the functional liquids used to form the image film 61 and the image film 63 are the functional liquid 41a, the functional liquid 42a, the functional liquid 43a, the functional liquid 44a, and the functional liquid 45a. Thus, an image film was formed using a functional liquid of 5 weeks. However, the type of liquid used for forming the image film is not limited to five. In order to adjust the state of the surface of the image film to be formed, there are two or more kinds of liquid materials used for forming the image film, and any number may be used. By using two or more types of liquid materials having different wetting characteristics and adjusting the order of landing of the liquid droplets, the state of the surface of the formed image film can be adjusted.

  (Modification 4) In the above embodiment, the landing liquid film 44, the landing liquid film 43, the landing liquid film 42, and the landing liquid film 41 constituting the image film 61 and the image film 63 are arranged in a row in the Y-axis direction. Was arranged. However, it is not essential that the portion made of one type of liquid constituting the image film is continuous. The image film may be formed by dispersing and landing each liquid material, like the landing liquid film 45 in the image film 61 and the image film 63.

  (Modification 5) In the embodiment, the landing liquid film 45, the landing liquid film 44, the landing liquid film 43, the landing liquid film 42, and the landing liquid film 41 constituting the image film 61 and the image film 63 are partially formed. The image film 61 and the image film 63 are composed of substantially one landing liquid film. However, it is not essential that the image film is composed of a substantially single landing liquid film. The image film may be formed by laminating the landing liquid films by landing droplets of the functional liquid at substantially the same position.

  (Modification 6) In the embodiment described above, the functional liquid 41a, the functional liquid 42a, the functional liquid 43a, the functional liquid 44a, and the functional liquid 45a used for forming the image film 61 and the image film 63 are the drawing medium 100. The wetting characteristics with respect to each other were different. However, it is not essential that the plurality of types of liquid materials for forming the image film have different wetting characteristics. The plurality of types of liquid materials for forming the image film may include two or more types of liquid materials having different wetting characteristics.

  (Modification 7) In the embodiment described above, the functional liquid 41a, the functional liquid 42a, the functional liquid 43a, the functional liquid 44a, and the functional liquid 45a used to configure the image film 61 and the image film 63 are irradiated with ultraviolet rays. This was an ultraviolet curable functional liquid that was cured by heating. However, it is not essential that the liquid used for forming the image film is of an ultraviolet curable type. If the liquid can be discharged with a droplet discharge device and placed with high accuracy and can be quickly cured by applying a curing means, a thermosetting functional liquid, etc. It may be a liquid that is cured by other curing accelerating means.

  (Modification 8) In the embodiment described above, the droplet discharge device 1 includes the primary curing unit 95 and the curing unit 10 as a device for irradiating ultraviolet rays for curing the functional liquid. However, it is not essential for the drawing apparatus to include a plurality of types of curing promoting means. A configuration including one type of apparatus such as the primary curing unit 95 or an apparatus such as the curing unit 10 may be used.

  (Modification 9) In the above embodiment, the droplet discharge device 1 includes one head carriage 22. However, it is not essential that the droplet discharge device has one head carriage. The drawing apparatus may have any number of head carriages.

  (Modification 10) In the above embodiment, the head unit 21 includes nine droplet discharge heads 20, but it is not essential that the head unit includes nine discharge heads. Any number of droplet discharge heads may be provided in the head unit.

  (Modification 11) In the above-described embodiment, the droplet discharge head 20 includes two nozzle rows 24A in which a large number of discharge nozzles 24 are arranged substantially in a straight line. Any number of rows may be used. The positions of the discharge nozzles 24 included in the droplet discharge head 20 are shifted in the extending direction of the nozzle row 24A. However, the droplet discharge heads are positioned at substantially the same position in the extending direction of the nozzle row. The structure provided with two or more discharge nozzles to perform may be sufficient.

  (Modification 12) In the above-described embodiment, the droplet discharge device 1 uses the functional liquid 41a, the functional liquid 42a, the functional liquid 43a, the functional liquid 44a, and the functional liquid 45a as one droplet discharge head 20, respectively. Used to discharge. However, it is not essential for one droplet discharge head to discharge one type of liquid. The type of the liquid material may be different for each head unit, each droplet unit having a plurality of head units, different for each head group, or different for each nozzle row. . A different liquid material may be discharged for each discharge nozzle using a droplet discharge head that can individually supply a liquid material for each discharge nozzle.

  (Modification 13) In the above embodiment, the workpiece mounting table 33 is moved in the X-axis direction by the X-axis moving mechanism 36 to move the workpiece W such as the drawing medium 100 in the X-axis direction, and the Y-axis moving mechanism. 26, the droplet discharge head 20 (head unit 21) is moved in the Y-axis direction, so that the workpiece W and the droplet discharge head 20 are relatively moved in the plane direction. It is not essential to move both the drawing medium and the droplet discharge head in order to move the drawing medium and the droplet discharge head relative to each other. A configuration may be adopted in which either the drawing medium or the droplet discharge head is moved in the planar direction to move the drawing medium and the discharge head relative to each other.

  (Modification 14) In the embodiment, the image 60 is a part of a character string indicating a product model number drawn on a bare chip of a semiconductor device, for example. However, an image for which the above-described drawing method functions properly in drawing is not limited to a character string or the like. It may be a figure like a logo mark or an image like a painting.

  (Modification 15) In the embodiment, the drawing medium 100 is, for example, a bare chip of a semiconductor device. However, the drawing target on which the above-described drawing method functions suitably is not limited to the bare chip of the semiconductor device. Any drawing medium may be used as long as it is necessary to form an image and the drawing medium can be drawn using a droplet discharge method.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Droplet discharge apparatus, 2 ... Head mechanism part, 3 ... Work mechanism part, 6 ... Discharge apparatus control part, 10 ... Curing unit, 15 ... UV lamp, 20 ... Droplet discharge head, 21 ... Head unit, 22 ... Head carriage, 24 ... discharge nozzle, 24A ... nozzle row, 26 ... Y-axis moving mechanism, 27 ... moving frame, 33 ... work mounting table, 36 ... X-axis moving mechanism, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45 ... landing liquid Membrane, 41a, 42a, 43a, 44a, 45a ... functional fluid, 60 ... image, 60A ... image section, 61 ... image membrane, 63 ... image membrane, 91 ... landing point, 91A ... landing circle, 95 ... primary curing unit, 96... UVLED, 97... LED housing, 100... Drawing medium, 411.

Claims (8)

A drawing method for discharging a liquid as droplets, landing on a drawing medium, and drawing an image made of an image film in which the liquid is cured on the drawing medium,
Using a plurality of types of the liquid materials, the order in which each of the liquid materials in the plurality of types of liquid materials is landed on the drawing medium is the liquid medium to be drawn or the liquid material that has been landed and cured. A drawing method characterized in that the drawing method is determined by a wettability characteristic with respect to.   2. The liquid material according to claim 1, wherein the liquid material is landed on the drawing medium in descending order of lyophilicity with respect to the drawing medium or the liquid material that has landed and at least the surface is cured. 3. Drawing method.   2. The liquid material according to claim 1, wherein the liquid material is landed on the drawing medium in descending order of liquid repellency with respect to the drawing medium or the liquid material that has landed and at least the surface is cured. 3. Drawing method.   The drawing method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least one of the plurality of types of liquids is the liquid to which a diffusion inhibitor is added.   The drawing method according to claim 1, wherein the liquid material is an ultraviolet curable liquid material.   The plurality of types of liquid materials have different wetting characteristics with respect to the drawing medium or the liquid material that has landed and at least the surface of the liquid material is different for each of the liquid materials. The drawing method according to claim 1.   The plurality of types of liquid materials include the liquid materials having different color tones, and the liquid materials having different color tones have mutually different wetting characteristics with respect to the drawing medium or the liquid materials that have landed and at least the surface has been cured. The drawing method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein:   The plurality of types of liquid materials include the liquid materials having substantially the same color tone and having different wetting characteristics with respect to the drawing medium or the liquid material that has landed and at least a surface is cured. Item 7. The drawing method according to any one of Items 1 to 6.

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