JP2013159056A - Ink jet recording device and method for controlling ink jet recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ink jet recording device and a method for controlling the ink jet recording device by which anti-blocking powder can be efficiently scattered on a recording medium by a simple construction without increasing the size of the device.SOLUTION: An ink jet recording device includes: a recording device body 2 which performs printing while moving ink jet heads 16 relative to a recording medium W; and a powder scattering unit 5 which is incorporated in a carriage unit 15 of the recording device body 2 and scatters anti-blocking powder on a part of the recording medium W on which printing has been performed by the recording device body 2.

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus that performs printing on a recording medium and sprays powder for preventing blocking on a printed portion of the recording medium, and a method for controlling the ink jet recording apparatus.

  Conventionally, a sheet-fed printing press provided with a powder spraying device is known (see Patent Document 1). In this sheet-fed printing press, a powder spray coating device is incorporated in a delivery unit that stocks printed sheets discharged from a printing unit in a stacked state. The delivery section includes a sheet pile section that stocks sheets, and an endless chain that spans between the transfer sprocket on the sheet pile section side and the impression cylinder of the printing unit. The endless chain constitutes a conveyance path for conveying the printed sheet from the impression cylinder to the sheet pile portion, and a powder spray application device is disposed in the forward path portion of the conveyance path. The powder mixed in the air is sprayed from a plurality of powder spray nozzles of the powder spray application device onto the printed sheet conveyed from the impression cylinder, and is laminated on the sheet pile portion. Thereby, the set-off (blocking) in the laminated sheet is prevented.

JP 2003-266635 A

  In such a conventional sheet-fed printing press, a powder spray spraying device (powder spraying unit) is provided in the delivery unit. Therefore, when this is applied to an ink jet recording apparatus, the amount of installation space for the powder spraying unit is equivalent to that of the ink jet recording device. It is necessary to configure the recording apparatus to be long in the feeding direction of the recording medium. Further, the recording medium discharge system is long and complicated.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus and an ink jet recording apparatus control method capable of efficiently spraying blocking powder on a recording medium with a simple structure while suppressing the enlargement of the apparatus. It is said.

  The inkjet recording apparatus of the present invention includes a printing unit that performs printing while relatively moving the inkjet head with respect to the recording medium, and is incorporated in the printing unit to prevent blocking on a printed portion of the recording medium by the printing unit. And a powder spraying unit for spraying powder.

  According to this configuration, since the powder spraying unit is incorporated in the printing unit, the printed part of the recording medium is used for preventing blocking in synchronization with or in conjunction with the printing operation on the recording medium by the printing unit. Powder can be sprayed. In addition, by incorporating the powder spraying unit into the printing unit, the powder spraying unit can be arranged in a space efficient manner. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently disperse the blocking-preventing powder onto the recording medium with a simple structure while suppressing the enlargement of the apparatus. As a result, even if a plurality of recording media are stacked or wound into a roll after printing, it is possible to effectively prevent set-off (blocking) by the powder.

  In this case, the printing unit includes a carriage unit in which the inkjet head is mounted on the carriage, a scanning mechanism unit that moves the carriage unit in the main scanning direction in synchronization with driving of the inkjet head, and a recording medium to the carriage unit. It is preferable that the powder distribution unit is mounted on the carriage.

  According to this configuration, printing for one pass on the recording medium is performed by driving the inkjet head while moving the carriage unit in the main scanning direction by the scanning mechanism unit. During the printing for one pass, the recording medium is fed by a line feed by the line feed mechanism. By repeating this, a series of printing on the recording medium is performed. In this case, since the powder spraying unit is mounted on the carriage, if the powder spraying unit is driven in response to the driving of the ink jet head moving in the main scanning direction, that is, the powder spraying is followed by the printing operation by the ink jet head. If the spraying operation by the part is performed, the powder can be sprayed efficiently on the printed part of the recording medium.

  In this case, the powder spraying unit has a spray nozzle array composed of a plurality of spray nozzles that spray powder mixed with air, and the spray nozzle array extends in the sub-scanning direction and corresponds to the line feed width in the sub-scanning direction. It is preferable to have the length to do.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to spray the powder uniformly and without waste on the recording medium, and it is not necessary to perform selective control of a plurality of spray nozzles constituting the spray nozzle row. Therefore, the powder can be efficiently sprayed on the printed portion of the recording medium using the printing operation.

  In this case, it is preferable that the powder spraying unit is mounted on the carriage so that the spray nozzle row is displaced in units of line feed width in the sub-scanning direction with respect to the ink jet head.

  According to this configuration, since the powder spraying portion can be appropriately separated from the inkjet head in the sub-scanning direction, the influence of the sprayed powder on the inkjet head or the like (nozzle clogging or ink ejection onto the powder) ) Can be eliminated as much as possible.

  Similarly, the powder spray unit is preferably mounted on the carriage so that the spray nozzle row is displaced in the main scanning direction with respect to the inkjet head.

  According to this configuration, the spraying operation can be performed immediately after the printing operation, and the powder spraying unit can be appropriately separated from the inkjet head in the main scanning direction. The influence on the head and the like can be eliminated as much as possible.

  In this case, the inkjet head ejects photocurable ink, and the carriage is further mounted with a light irradiation unit that is adjacent to the inkjet head in the main scanning direction and cures the photocurable ink immediately after ejection. The carriage is preferably arranged outside the light irradiation unit.

  According to this configuration, the curing operation of the photo-curing ink can be performed immediately after the printing operation, and the powder spreading operation can be performed immediately thereafter. Further, the powder spraying portion can be arranged sufficiently away from the ink jet head in the main scanning direction. Therefore, the powder can be efficiently dispersed on the printed portion of the recording medium. The photocurable ink is preferably an ultraviolet curable type, but may be an infrared curable type or a visible light curable type.

  On the other hand, the printing unit subscans the recording medium with respect to the carriage unit in which the inkjet head is mounted on the carriage, the scanning mechanism unit that moves the carriage unit in the main scanning direction in synchronization with the driving of the inkjet head, and the carriage unit. It is preferable that a line feed mechanism unit that relatively feeds a line feed in the direction is included, and the powder spreading unit is incorporated in the line feed mechanism unit.

  According to this configuration, printing for one pass on the recording medium is performed by driving the inkjet head while moving the carriage unit in the main scanning direction by the scanning mechanism unit. During the printing for one pass, the recording medium is fed by a line feed by the line feed mechanism. By repeating this, a series of printing on the recording medium is performed. In this case, since the powder spraying unit is incorporated in the line feed mechanism unit, if the powder spraying unit is driven in response to the line feed of the recording medium, that is, the spraying by the powder spraying unit is followed up for the printing operation by the inkjet head. If the operation is performed, the powder can be efficiently dispersed on the printed portion of the recording medium.

  In this case, the line feed mechanism unit includes a set stage on which the recording medium is set and a moving mechanism unit that moves the set stage to a line feed, and the powder spraying unit is disposed so as to straddle the set stage in the moving mechanism unit. It is preferable that

  According to this configuration, the powder can be efficiently sprayed on the printed portion of the recording medium in units of line feed, and the powder spraying portion can be disposed sufficiently away from the inkjet head.

  The control method of the inkjet recording apparatus of the present invention includes a printing mechanism unit that performs printing while moving the inkjet head relative to a recording medium, and a spray nozzle that sprays blocking prevention powder to the recording medium. A method for controlling an ink jet recording apparatus equipped with a powder dispersal unit that disperses powder while relatively moving, to a printed part of the recording medium, following the printing operation on the recording medium by the printing mechanism unit On the other hand, the powder spraying operation is performed by the powder spraying unit.

  According to this configuration, the spraying operation of the powder by the powder spraying unit is performed on the printed part of the recording medium, following the printing operation on the recording medium by the printing mechanism unit. The powder for preventing blocking can be efficiently sprayed on the recording medium with a simple structure. As a result, even if a plurality of recording media are stacked or wound into a roll after printing, it is possible to effectively prevent set-off (blocking) by the powder.

It is the top view (a) and side view (b) of the inkjet recording device which concern on embodiment. It is a plane schematic diagram of a carriage unit. It is a block diagram of the control system of an inkjet recording device. It is explanatory drawing which represented the control method of the inkjet recording device typically. It is explanatory drawing of the recording device main body which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the recording device main body which concerns on 3rd Embodiment.

  Hereinafter, an inkjet recording apparatus and a control method thereof according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. This inkjet recording apparatus discharges a desired image by, for example, ejecting ultraviolet curable ink (UV ink) from an inkjet head onto a thin film-like recording medium to be discharged in a so-called reel-to-reel format. Etc. are printed. In addition, this inkjet recording apparatus has a function of spraying blocking prevention powder on the printed portion of the recording medium in consideration of the fact that the recording medium after printing is wound. In the following description, the recording medium feeding 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, the inkjet recording apparatus 1 includes a recording apparatus main body 2 (printing unit) that performs printing on a recording medium W, and a long recording medium W wound in a roll shape, and the recording apparatus main body 2. Are fed into the recording device main body 2, the winding device 4 that winds up the printed recording medium W fed out from the recording device main body 2, and the recording device main body 2, and powder for preventing blocking is applied to the recording medium W 2. A powder spraying unit 5 (powder spraying unit: see FIG. 2).

  The recording apparatus main body 2 includes a machine base 11, a set stage 12 that is disposed on the machine base 11 and sucks and sets the supplied recording medium W, and extends in the X-axis direction via the set stage 12. An X-axis table 13 (moving mechanism unit) that intermittently feeds the recording medium W in the X-axis direction, a Y-axis table 14 (scanning mechanism unit) spanned in the Y-axis direction so as to straddle the X-axis table 13, and ink And a carriage unit 15 that is movably mounted on the Y-axis table 14. Although the details will be described later, the powder spraying unit 5 is mounted on the carriage unit 15. The set stage 12 and the X-axis table 13 constitute a “line feed mechanism” in the claims.

  The recording apparatus main body 2 includes an ink supply device (not shown) for supplying UV ink to each inkjet head 16, a maintenance device 17 for maintaining and recovering the function of each inkjet head 16, and inkjet recording. And a control unit 18 (see FIG. 3) that performs overall control of the apparatus 1. The maintenance device 17 is disposed in a maintenance area that is deviated in the Y-axis direction from the printing area where the X-axis table 13 and the Y-axis table 14 intersect, and ink suction and wiping of the inkjet head 16 facing the maintenance area is performed. Perform maintenance.

  In the ink jet recording apparatus 1, the recording medium W fed by the feeding apparatus 3 is sucked by the set stage 12, and then the recording medium W is fed to the X axis direction by the X-axis table 13 through the set stage 12 (sub scanning). In addition, UV ink is ejected from the inkjet head 16 while the carriage unit 15 is reciprocatingly moved (main scanning) by the Y-axis table 14 with respect to the recording medium W held by suction. Note that the recording medium W provided for the printing process is not limited to a roll-like one that can be continuously supplied, and a single-sheet recording medium W may be used.

The feeding device 3 includes a feeding motor 22 that feeds and rotates the feeding reel 21 around which the recording medium W is wound, and bends the fed recording medium W in a “V” shape in the vertical direction, and a light back to the recording medium W. A feeding-side buffer mechanism 23 for applying tension. The feeding device 3 is disposed upstream of the recording medium main body 2 in the feeding direction (X-axis direction) of the recording medium W.
The winding device 4 includes a winding motor 25 that winds and rotates a winding reel 24 that winds the recording medium W, and bends the wound recording medium W in a “V” shape in the vertical direction. And a winding-side buffer mechanism 26 that applies a light forward tension to W. The winding device 4 is disposed downstream of the recording medium main body 2 in the feeding direction (X-axis direction) of the recording medium W.

  The set stage 12 sucks the recording medium W sent from the feeding device 3 through a plurality of small holes (not shown) formed on the surface thereof. A feeding roller 28 and a feeding roller 29 are respectively attached to the upstream end portion and the downstream end portion in the conveyance (X-axis) direction of the set stage 12. The feeding roller 28 and the feeding roller 29 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 set stage 12 Let W come. The set stage 12 feeds a line feed (intermittent feed) in the X-axis direction (from upstream to downstream) by the X-axis table 13 with the recording medium W adsorbed.

  The X-axis table 13 is disposed on the machine base 11 and has a pair of X-axis guide rails 31 extending in the X-axis direction, and a plurality of sets that support the set stage 12 slidably along the X-axis guide rails 31. An X-axis slider 32 and a motor-driven X-axis moving mechanism 33 that moves the set stage 12 along the X-axis guide rail 31 are provided. The X-axis moving mechanism 33 includes, for example, a linear motor, a motor-driven lead screw mechanism, a motor-driven belt transmission mechanism, and the like. The X-axis table 13 configured in this manner is stopped when the carriage unit 15 moves forward (or backward), and the recording medium W is printed by the print width (row) until the next backward movement (or forward movement). Send to the downstream side in the X-axis direction (line feed).

  The Y-axis table 14 includes a pair of Y-axis guide rails 35 laid across the machine base 11 in the Y-axis direction, a bridge plate 36 on which the carriage unit 15 is suspended, and the bridge plate 36 in the Y-axis direction. A plurality of Y-axis sliders 37 that are slidably supported, and a motor-driven Y-axis moving mechanism 38 (scanning mechanism unit) that moves the carriage unit 15 along the Y-axis guide rail 35 via the bridge plate 36. Have. The Y-axis moving mechanism 38 includes, for example, a linear motor, a motor-driven lead screw mechanism, a motor-driven belt transmission mechanism, and the like. The Y-axis table 14 configured in this manner causes each inkjet head 16 to reciprocate in the Y-axis direction during printing via the carriage unit 15 and causes each inkjet head 16 to face the maintenance device 17.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the carriage unit 15. As shown in the figure, the carriage unit 15 is attached to the carriage 42 via a suspended frame 41 suspended from the bridge plate 36, a carriage 42 supported from below by the suspended frame 41, and a sub plate 43. And a plurality of inkjet heads 16 mounted thereon. The carriage 42 is mounted with a pair of ultraviolet irradiation units 44 (light irradiation units) located at both ends in the Y-axis direction, and adjacent to the one ultraviolet irradiation unit 44, the powder spraying unit 5 described above. Is installed.

  Each ultraviolet irradiation unit 44 includes, for example, a diode array 45 in which a plurality of ultraviolet light emitting diodes are arranged, and this diode array 45 is disposed so as to extend in the X-axis direction. The pair of ultraviolet irradiation units 44 are disposed on both sides of the sub plate 43 (inkjet head 16) so as to sandwich the sub plate 43, are formed substantially the same length as the sub plate 43, and are arranged substantially the same in the X-axis direction. It is installed. When the inkjet head 16 is driven by main scanning and UV ink is ejected and landed on the recording medium W (printing), the UV ink ejected and landed to follow the UV ink is irradiated with ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet irradiation unit 44. The Thereby, the discharged and landed UV ink is cured and fixed on the recording medium W. When printing is performed by both of the main scanning reciprocating movements, the ultraviolet irradiation unit 44 on the side subsequent to the inkjet head 16 is turned on. However, both ultraviolet irradiation units 44 may be always lit regardless of the printing mode.

  The powder spraying unit 5 includes, for example, a powder tank for storing powder, a mixing chamber for mixing powder and air supplied from the powder tank, a distribution chamber connected to the mixing chamber (both not shown), and a distribution chamber. A plurality of spray nozzles 47 connected to each other. The mixing chamber is supplied with compressed air from a blower (not shown), and the powder is sprayed from a plurality of spray nozzles 47 while being mixed in the compressed air. The plurality of spray nozzles 47 form a spray nozzle array 48 arranged in a straight line, and the spray nozzle arrays 48 are arranged so as to extend in the X-axis direction. Note that only the distribution chamber of the powder distribution unit 5 and the distribution nozzle 47 may be incorporated in the carriage unit 15 so that the mixing chamber and the distribution chamber are connected by a tube.

  Further, the length of the spray nozzle row 48 corresponds to the line feed width of the recording medium W by the Y-axis table 14. The powder spraying unit 5 is disposed on the carriage 42 so as to be displaced with respect to the inkjet head 16 in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. Specifically, the spray nozzle array 48 of the powder spray unit 5 is separated from the nozzle array 49 of the inkjet head 16 described later by a line feed width in the X-axis direction, and one ultraviolet irradiation unit in the Y-axis direction. 44 and substantially the same position. As a result, as will be described in detail later, when printing and ultraviolet irradiation have progressed to the third line, spraying of powder is started in the first line.

  On the other hand, a plurality of (six in the embodiment) inkjet heads 16 mounted on the carriage 42 (sub-plate 43) are arranged in a staggered pattern with a predetermined pattern in two rows. Note that the number and arrangement pattern of the inkjet heads 16 are arbitrary.

  Each inkjet head 16 is driven to be ejected by a piezoelectric element, and has a plurality of nozzle rows 49 for each color extending in the X-axis direction. For example, cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), black (K), orange (Or), green (Gr), light magenta (LM), and light cyan (LC). , White (W), clear (CL) and other UV inks are ejected. In this case, a plurality of inkjet heads 16 are arranged in a staggered manner so that the nozzle rows 49 for each color are connected in the X-axis direction to form one print line for each color.

Next, the control system of the recording apparatus main body 2 will be briefly described with reference to FIG. The control system basically includes a drive unit 19 having various drivers for driving the inkjet head 16, the X-axis table 13, the Y-axis table 14, the maintenance device 17, the ultraviolet irradiation unit 44, the powder spraying unit 5, and the like. And a control unit 18 that performs overall control of the entire inkjet recording apparatus 1 including the drive unit 19.
The drive unit 19 is a head driver 51 that controls the ejection drive of the inkjet head 16, a print movement driver 52 that controls the drive of the X-axis table 13 and the Y-axis table 14, and a maintenance device that controls the drive of the maintenance device 17. A driver 53, an irradiation driver 54 that controls driving of the ultraviolet irradiation unit 44, and a spraying driver 55 that controls driving of the powder spraying unit 5 are provided.

  The control unit 18 includes a CPU 61, a ROM 62, a RAM 63, and a P-CON 64, which are connected to each other via a bus 65. The ROM 62 has a control program area for storing a control program to be processed by the CPU 61, and a control data area for storing control data for performing a printing process, a maintenance process, an ultraviolet lighting process, a powder spraying process, and the like. Yes.

In the RAM 63, in addition to various register groups, a print data storage unit that stores print data for discharging UV ink to the recording medium W, the recording medium W and the inkjet head 16, the ultraviolet irradiation unit 44, and the powder distribution unit 5. And various storage units such as a position data storage unit that stores position data, etc., and used as various work areas for control processing.
Various drivers of the drive unit 19 are connected to the P-CON 64, and a logic circuit for supplementing the function of the CPU 61 and handling interface signals with peripheral circuits is incorporated.

  The CPU 61 inputs various detection signals, various commands, various data, etc. via the P-CON 64 in accordance with the control program in the ROM 62, processes various data, etc. in the RAM 63, and then drives via the P-CON 64. The entire recording apparatus body 2 is controlled by outputting various control signals to the unit 19 and the like. For example, the CPU 61 controls the inkjet head 16, the X-axis table 13, and the Y-axis table 14 to perform printing on the recording medium W under predetermined ink discharge conditions and predetermined movement conditions, and the recording medium W has been printed. Perform UV irradiation and powder spraying on the part.

  Here, with reference to FIG. 4, a method of controlling the recording apparatus main body 2 by the control unit 18 will be described with a simple example. In this example, one print line for each color constituted by six (plural) inkjet heads 16 has a length three times the line feed width (strictly, three times the line feed width minus 3 nozzles). The spray nozzle row 48 of the powder spray unit 5 has the same length as the line feed width (strictly, the line feed width minus 1 nozzle pitch length), and one print line for each color. On the other hand, it is assumed that they are separated by the line feed width in the X-axis direction. Therefore, printing of the first line (one pass) is started by driving the two inkjet heads 16 on the upstream side in the feed direction of the recording medium W, and a printed image is completed by three times (three passes) of overprinting. To do. Note that the pair of ultraviolet irradiation units 44 is always turned on during the printing operation.

  In this control method, first, printing of the first line is performed by main scanning of the two inkjet heads 16 on the upstream side ((a) in the figure). Next, after performing line feed (sub-scan), the second line printing by the two upstream inkjet heads 16, the first line overlapping printing (second time) by the two middle inkjet heads 16, (Fig. 2B). Next, after a line feed is performed, printing on the third line by the two upstream inkjet heads 16, overlap printing (second time) on the second line by the two intermediate inkjet heads 16, and downstream 2 Overprinting (third time) in the first row by two inkjet heads 16 is performed ((c) in the figure). Here, the print image of the first line on which three times of overlap printing is performed is completed. In this example, the print area of the recording medium W is three lines.

  Subsequently, after carrying out line feed, the third line of overprinting (second time) by the two intermediate inkjet heads 16 and the second line of overprinting (third time) by the two downstream ink jet heads 16 Are carried out ((d) in the figure). Here, the print image of the second line in addition to the first line is completed. Next, after the line feed is performed, the third line overprinting (third time) by the two downstream inkjet heads 16 and the first line powder spraying by the powder spraying unit 5 are performed (FIG. e)). Here, the printed image for three lines is completed and the powder dispersion is started. Next, after the line feed is performed, the second line of powder is sprayed by the powder spraying unit 5 ((f) in the figure), and after the line feed is further fed, the third line of powder is sprayed (same as above). (G).

  In this way, printing of a print image by the six (plural) ink jet heads 16 and powder spraying on the printed portion by the powder spraying unit 5 are performed. Note that printing and powder spraying may be performed in both main scans of the carriage unit 15 reciprocating across the line feed.

  In the present embodiment, at least the distribution chamber of the powder spraying unit 5 and the plurality of spraying nozzles 47 are mounted on the carriage unit 15. For this reason, it is possible to spray the powder using the main scanning and the sub-operation in the printing operation and following the printing operation. Therefore, the powder spraying unit 5 can be arranged in a space efficient manner, and the powder can be sprayed efficiently with a simple structure. In addition, the powder spraying unit 5 and the inkjet head 16 can be arranged as far apart as possible on the carriage unit 15, and the adverse effect of powder spraying on printing can be eliminated as much as possible. Note that the number of the inkjet heads 16 is arbitrary, and the separation dimension between one printing line of each color and the powder spraying unit 5 (spraying nozzle array 48) may be an integer multiple of the line feed width.

  Next, a second embodiment of the recording apparatus main body 2 will be described with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, the powder spraying unit 5 is mounted on the carriage 42 while being displaced only in the X-axis direction with respect to the plurality of inkjet heads 16. As described above, the carriage unit 15 includes a plurality of inkjet heads 16 and a pair of ultraviolet irradiation units 44 mounted on a carriage 42 that serves as a main body. The powder spraying unit 5 is disposed outside the one ultraviolet irradiation unit 44. More specifically, the powder spraying unit 5 is disposed adjacent to the outside of the one ultraviolet irradiation unit 44 farther from the X-axis table 13 in the X-axis direction, and 2 on the downstream side in the Y-axis direction. The two inkjet heads 16 are disposed at the same position. That is, the partial printing line constituted by the nozzle rows 49 of the two downstream inkjet heads 16 and the spray nozzle row 48 of the powder spray unit 5 are arranged at the same position in the Y-axis direction.

  In the control method in this case, in the above-described FIG. 4C, when the first row of overprinting (third time) is performed by the two inkjet heads 16 on the downstream side, the powder spraying unit 5 performs the following. The powder is sprayed on the first line. Specifically, by moving the carriage unit 15 in the Y-axis direction (main scanning), the two inkjet heads 16 on the downstream side, the one ultraviolet irradiation unit 44, and the powder spraying unit 5 face the recording medium W in order, For the first line on the recording medium W, ultraviolet irradiation is performed following the printing operation, and powder spraying is performed following the ultraviolet irradiation. That is, UV ink is ejected onto the recording medium W, UV ink is cured and fixed immediately thereafter, and powder is sprayed onto the cured and fixed printing portion immediately thereafter.

  Similarly, in FIG. 4D, when the second line is overprinted by the two inkjet heads 16 on the downstream side (third time), the powder is sprayed on the second line by the powder spraying unit 5 later. Is done. Further, in the case of the overlap printing (third time) of the third row by the two downstream inkjet heads 16 in FIG. 4 (e), this is followed by powder spraying to the third row, and a series of Printing and powder application are completed.

  Even in such a configuration, since the powder spraying unit 5 is mounted on the carriage unit 15, the powder is sprayed by using the main scanning and sub-operations in the printing operation and following the printing operation. Can do. Therefore, the powder spraying unit 5 can be arranged in a space efficient manner, and the powder can be sprayed efficiently with a simple structure. Further, on the carriage unit 15, the powder spraying unit 5 and the ink jet head 16 can be arranged as far apart as possible, and the adverse effect of powder spraying on printing can be eliminated as much as possible.

  It should be noted that the spray nozzle row 48 of the powder spray unit 5 may have the same length and be disposed at the same position in the Y-axis direction with respect to the print line constituted by the nozzle rows 49 of the plurality of inkjet heads 16. . However, in this case, the length of one print line is set as the line feed width, and overprinting is not performed. Further, in order to reduce the load weight of the carriage unit 15, the powder spraying unit 5 is mounted on the carriage unit 15 only with its distribution chamber and the plurality of spraying nozzles 47.

  Next, a third embodiment of the recording apparatus main body 2 will be described with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, the powder spraying unit 5 is incorporated in the X-axis table 13. Specifically, the powder spraying unit 5 straddles the set stage 12 at a position slightly deviated downstream from the printing area where the X-axis table 13 and the Y-axis table 14 intersect in the feed direction of the recording medium W. It is arranged. In this case, the spray nozzle row 48 of the powder spray unit 5 corresponds to the width of the set stage 12. That is, the row length of the spray nozzle row 48 corresponds to the width (printable area) of the maximum width recording medium W set on the set stage 12.

  In this embodiment, similarly to the above-described embodiment, it is possible to perform printing with the line feed width of the print line in addition to the case of performing overprinting with the line feed width of 1/3 of the print line. Regardless of the printing method, in this embodiment, powder spraying by the powder spraying unit 5 is performed at the time of line feed (sub scanning). In the actual control operation by the control unit 18 described above, while the recording medium W passes just below the powder spray unit 5 (spray nozzle array 48) by the X-axis table 13, the powder spray unit 5 is synchronized with the line feed. To drive. As a result, printing by main scanning is performed on the recording medium W in line feed width units, and then powder is sprayed on the printed portion in line feed width units. Thereafter, the recording medium W on which printing and powder spraying have been performed is separated from the set stage 12 (adsorption release) and sent out toward the winding device 4.

  In such a configuration, since the powder spraying unit 5 is incorporated in the X-axis table 13 on the downstream side of the printing area, the powder spraying is performed using the sub-operation in the printing operation and following the printing operation. It can be carried out. Therefore, the powder spraying unit 5 can be arranged in a space efficient manner, and the powder can be sprayed efficiently with a simple structure. In addition, the powder spraying unit 5 and the inkjet head 16 can be arranged sufficiently apart from each other, and the adverse effect of powder spraying on printing can be eliminated as much as possible.

  In the third embodiment, the carriage unit 15 (ink jet head 16) can be in the form of a line head that straddles the X-axis table 13. In such a case, the powder dispersion unit 5 may be provided separately from the carriage unit 15 or may be incorporated in the carriage unit 15.

  As described above, according to these embodiments, the blocking-preventing powder can be sprayed on the printed portion of the recording medium W in parallel with the printing operation or partially overlapping the printing operation. For this reason, the printed recording medium W is sent from the recording device main body 2 to the winding device 4 and wound around the recording device W 2 in a state where powder is dispersed. Therefore, even if the recording medium is tightly wound in the winding device 4, settling can be reliably prevented by the adhered powder.

  In the above-described embodiment, an inkjet recording apparatus that introduces UV ink has been described. However, the present invention relates to an ink that may cause blocking regardless of the type of ink or the type of recording medium. In addition, the present invention can be applied to a combination of recording media.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Inkjet recording device, 2 Recording device main body, 3 Feeding device, 4 Winding device, 5 Powder distribution unit, 12 Set stage, 13 X-axis table, 14 Y-axis table, 15 Carriage unit, 16 Inkjet head, 18 Control part, 19 drive unit, 42 carriage, 44 UV irradiation unit, 47 spray nozzle, 48 spray nozzle, 49 nozzle array, 61 CPU, 62 ROM, 63 RAM, W recording medium

Claims (9)

A printing unit that performs printing while moving the inkjet head relative to the recording medium;
An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: a powder spraying unit that is incorporated in the printing unit and sprays anti-blocking powder onto a printed portion of the recording medium by the printing unit. The printing unit includes a carriage unit having the inkjet head mounted on a carriage;
A scanning mechanism that moves the carriage unit in the main scanning direction in synchronization with the driving of the inkjet head;
A line feed mechanism that relatively feeds the recording medium in the sub-scanning direction with respect to the carriage unit, and
The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the powder spraying unit is mounted on the carriage. The powder spraying unit has a spray nozzle row composed of a plurality of spray nozzles that mix and spray powder into the air,
The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the spray nozzle row extends in the sub-scanning direction and has a length corresponding to a line feed width in the sub-scanning direction.   4. The powder spray unit is mounted on the carriage so that the spray nozzle array is displaced in units of line feed width in the sub-scanning direction with respect to the inkjet head. Inkjet recording device.   5. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the powder spraying unit is mounted on the carriage so that the spray nozzle row is displaced in the main scanning direction with respect to the ink jet head. . The inkjet head ejects photocurable ink,
The carriage is further mounted with a light irradiation unit that is adjacent to the inkjet head in the main scanning direction and cures the photocurable ink immediately after ejection.
The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the powder spraying unit is disposed outside the light irradiation unit in the carriage. The printing unit includes a carriage unit having the inkjet head mounted on a carriage;
A scanning mechanism that moves the carriage unit in the main scanning direction in synchronization with the driving of the inkjet head;
A line feed mechanism that relatively feeds the recording medium in the sub-scanning direction with respect to the carriage unit, and
The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the powder spraying unit is incorporated in the line feed mechanism unit. The line feed mechanism section includes a set stage on which the recording medium is set,
A moving mechanism for moving the set stage to a line feed,
The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the powder spraying unit is disposed so as to straddle the set stage in the moving mechanism unit. A printing mechanism that performs printing while moving the inkjet head relative to the recording medium;
A method for controlling an ink jet recording apparatus comprising: a powder spraying unit that sprays the powder while relatively moving a spray nozzle that sprays powder for preventing blocking with respect to the recording medium;
A control method for an ink jet recording apparatus, wherein the powder spraying operation by the powder spraying unit is performed on a printed portion of the recording medium after the printing operation on the recording medium by the printing mechanism unit. .

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