JP2013203035A - Printing device and printing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress the deterioration of the quality of an image.SOLUTION: A printing device includes a head which delivers color image forming ink and background image forming ink to a medium, a fan which sends air to the medium, and a controller which executes a color image printing treatment of printing a color image on the medium by causing the head to deliver the color image forming ink and a background image printing treatment of printing a background image as a background to the color image on the medium by causing the head to deliver the background image forming ink. When carrying out the color image printing treatment and the background image printing treatment, the controller controls the fan to send air to the medium such that the velocity of air sent at execution of the background image printing treatment is higher than the velocity of air sent at execution of the color image printing treatment.

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a printing method.

  Printing apparatuses having a head for ejecting ink onto a medium are already well known. An example of such a printing apparatus is an ink jet printer. Some printing apparatuses include a blower that blows air toward the medium in order to dry the ink discharged onto the medium.

JP 2009-34931 A

By the way, in the printing apparatus, color image printing for printing a color image and background image printing for printing a background image such as a white image as a background of the color image may be performed. That is, a color image printing process for printing a color image on a medium by causing the head to eject color image ink, and a background image printing process for printing a background image on the medium by causing the head to eject background image ink. Done. When the color image printing process and the background image printing process are performed, the blower is controlled to blow air toward the medium.
However, when an image is formed by executing the color image printing process and the background image printing process, the image quality of the image may deteriorate.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object thereof is to suppress deterioration in image quality of an image.

The main present invention is a head for ejecting color image ink and background image ink on a medium;
A blower for blowing air toward the medium;
A color image printing process for causing the head to eject color image ink and printing a color image on the medium; and a background image ink for causing the head to eject a background image ink to provide a background image as a background of the color image. A controller that performs a background image printing process for printing on a medium,
The controller is
When performing the color image printing process and the background image printing process, the fan is controlled to blow air toward the medium,
The printing apparatus is characterized in that control is performed so that the wind speed of the air during the background image printing process is faster than the wind speed of the air during the color image printing process.
Other features of the present invention will become apparent from the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an image recording apparatus 1. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image recording apparatus 1. FIG. It is the schematic diagram which showed the raster line formed in each pass in the case of printing by 8 passes. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of an image recording operation of the image recording apparatus 1; FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state of the image recording apparatus 1 when a head 31 is located at a retracted position. It is the figure which showed the wind speed of the ceiling fan 81. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining another example of the image recording operation of the image recording apparatus 1. FIG. It is the figure which showed the standby time in standby processing. 1 is a schematic external view of an ink jet printer. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an inkjet printer 501. FIG.

At least the following will be made clear by the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.
A head for ejecting color image ink and background image ink onto a medium;
A blower for blowing air toward the medium;
A color image printing process for causing the head to eject color image ink and printing a color image on the medium; and a background image ink for causing the head to eject a background image ink to provide a background image as a background of the color image. A controller that performs a background image printing process for printing on a medium,
The controller is
When performing the color image printing process and the background image printing process, the fan is controlled to blow air toward the medium,
A printing apparatus, characterized in that control is performed such that the wind speed of the air during the background image printing process is faster than the wind speed of the air during the color image printing process.
According to such a printing apparatus, it is possible to suppress deterioration in image quality.

The blower is a fixed blower fixed to the printing apparatus main body,
A moving blower for blowing air toward the medium while moving along with the movement of the head;
The controller is
When performing the color image printing process and the background image printing process, the moving blower is controlled to blow air toward the medium,
It is good also as controlling so that the wind speed of this ventilation in the said background image printing process may become faster than the wind speed of this ventilation in the said color image printing process.
According to such a printing apparatus, it is possible to more appropriately suppress deterioration in image quality.

Next, a color image printing process for printing a color image on the medium by causing the head for ejecting the color image ink and the background image ink onto the medium to eject the color image ink, and the background image ink on the head. Performing a background image printing process of printing a background image that is a background of the color image on the medium.
When performing the color image printing process and the background image printing process, the fan that blows air toward the medium is controlled to blow air toward the medium,
And controlling so that the wind speed of the air during the background image printing process is faster than the wind speed of the air during the color image printing process.
According to such a printing method, it is possible to suppress deterioration of the image quality of the image.

=== About Configuration Example of Image Recording Apparatus 1 ===
A configuration example of an image recording apparatus 1 (an ink jet printer, in particular, a lateral scan type label printing machine in this embodiment) as an example of a printing apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of the image recording apparatus 1. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the image recording apparatus 1.
In the following description, when referring to “up and down direction” and “left and right direction”, the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 1 is used as a reference. In addition, the “front-rear direction” refers to a direction orthogonal to the paper surface in FIG.
Also, in the present embodiment, as an example of a medium on which the image recording apparatus 1 records an image, a transparent medium wound in a roll shape (hereinafter referred to as a roll-shaped transparent medium 2) will be described.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the image recording apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a transport unit 20 and a transport path through which the transport unit 20 transports the roll-shaped transparent media 2 (in FIG. The path is represented by the portion where the roll-shaped transparent media 2 is located between the roll-shaped transparent media winding shaft 18 and the roll-shaped transparent media winding drive shaft 92). 29, a take-up unit 90, and a head unit 30 that performs image recording by discharging a plurality of types of ink in the image recording region R on the transport path, an ink supply unit 35, a carriage unit 40, A cleaning unit 43, a heater unit 70, a blower unit 80 that sends air to the roll-shaped transparent media 2 on the platen 29, and this A controller 60 that controls the operation of the image recording apparatus 1 controls et units, and has a detector group 50, a.

  The feeding unit 10 feeds the rolled transparent medium 2 to the transport unit 20. The feeding unit 10 winds a roll-shaped transparent media winding shaft 18 around which the roll-shaped transparent media 2 is wound and rotatably supported, and the roll-shaped transparent media 2 fed from the roll-shaped transparent media winding shaft 18. And a relay roller 19 for guiding to the transport unit 20.

  The transport unit 20 transports the rolled transparent media 2 sent by the feeding unit 10 along a preset transport path. As shown in FIG. 1, the transport unit 20 includes a relay roller 21 that is positioned horizontally to the right of the relay roller 19, a relay roller 22 that is positioned obliquely downward to the right when viewed from the relay roller 21, and the relay roller 22. A first transport roller 23 located diagonally right above (left side in the transport direction as viewed from the platen 29), and a steering unit (steering unit) 20a positioned between the relay roller 22 and the first transport roller 23, A second transport roller 24 located on the right side as viewed from the first transport roller 23 (right side in the transport direction as viewed from the platen 29), a reversing roller 25 positioned vertically downward as viewed from the second transport roller 24, A relay roller 26 located on the right side when viewed from the reversing roller 25, and a delivery line located above when viewed from the relay roller 26. It has a over 27.

The relay roller 21 is a roller that winds the roll-shaped transparent medium 2 sent from the relay roller 19 from the left side and loosens it downward.
The relay roller 22 is a roller that winds the roll-shaped transparent medium 2 sent from the relay roller 21 from the left side and conveys it diagonally upward to the right.

  The first transport roller 23 is a first driven roller 23a that is driven by a motor (not shown), and a first driven roller that is disposed so as to face the first drive roller 23a with the roll-shaped transparent medium 2 interposed therebetween. 23b. The first transport roller 23 is a roller that pulls the rolled transparent medium 2 slacked downward and transports it to the image recording region R facing the platen 29. The first conveyance roller 23 temporarily stops conveyance during a period in which image printing is performed on a portion of the roll-shaped transparent medium 2 on the image recording region R (that is, as described later). The head 31 moves in the left-right direction and the front-rear direction, and ejects ink to the corresponding part of the roll-shaped transparent media 2 that is stopped, whereby image recording for one page is performed on the part. Become). The transport amount of the roll-shaped transparent media 2 positioned on the platen 29 is adjusted by the rotation of the first driven roller 23b as the first drive roller 23a is rotated by the drive control of the controller 60.

  As described above, the transport unit 20 has a mechanism for transporting the roll-shaped transparent media 2 wound between the relay rollers 21 and 22 and the first transport roller 23 by slackening it downward. The looseness of the roll-shaped transparent medium 2 is monitored by the controller 60 based on a detection signal from a loosening detection sensor (not shown). Specifically, when the loose detection sensor detects a portion of the roll-shaped transparent media 2 that has been loosened between the relay rollers 21 and 22 and the first transport roller 23, an appropriate size for the portion. Therefore, the transport unit 20 can transport the rolled transparent media 2 in a relaxed state. On the other hand, when the portion of the roll-shaped transparent media 2 that has been loosened is not detected by the slack detection sensor, an excessive amount of tension is applied to the portion. 2 is temporarily stopped, and the tension is adjusted to an appropriate magnitude.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the steering unit 20a is positioned on the transport path in an inclined state, and is rotated in the width direction position (width direction (front-rear direction shown in FIG. 1)) of the roll-shaped transparent medium 2 by rotating. The position at which the transparent medium 2 is located) is changed. That is, when the roll-shaped transparent media 2 is transported along the transport path, the roll-shaped transparent media 2 is caused by fluctuations in the tension acting on the roll-shaped transparent media 2 due to misalignment or an assembly error of a relay roller or the like. The position in the width direction of the transparent medium 2 may be displaced. The steering unit 20a is for adjusting the position in the width direction of the roll-shaped transparent medium 2.

  The second transport roller 24 is a second drive roller 24a driven by a motor (not shown), and a second driven roller disposed so as to face the second drive roller 24a with the roll-shaped transparent medium 2 interposed therebetween. 24b. The second transport roller 24 is a roller that transports the portion of the roll-shaped transparent media 2 after the image is recorded by the head unit 30, transported in the horizontal right direction along the support surface of the platen 29 and then transported vertically downward. is there. Thereby, the direction of the roll-shaped transparent media 2 is changed. The second driven roller 24b rotates as the second drive roller 24a is driven to rotate by the drive control of the controller 60, so that the roll transparent media 2 is positioned on the platen 29. A predetermined tension is adjusted.

The reversing roller 25 is a roller that winds the roll-shaped transparent medium 2 sent from the second transport roller 24 from the upper left side and transports it diagonally upward to the right.
The relay roller 26 is a roller that winds the roll-shaped transparent medium 2 sent from the reversing roller 25 from the lower left side and conveys it upward.
The delivery roller 27 is configured to wind the roll-shaped transparent media 2 sent from the relay roller 26 from the lower left side and send it to the take-up unit 90.

  As described above, when the roll-shaped transparent medium 2 moves sequentially through the rollers, a transport path for transporting the roll-shaped transparent medium 2 is formed. The roll-shaped transparent medium 2 is intermittently conveyed along the conveyance path in units of areas corresponding to the image recording area R by the conveyance unit 20 (that is, the roll-shaped transparent medium 2 on the image recording area R). Each time one page of image recording is performed on the part, the conveyance is intermittently performed).

  The head unit 30 is for recording an image on a portion of the roll-shaped transparent medium 2 located in the image recording region R on the transport path. In other words, the head unit 30 forms an image by ejecting ink from the ink ejection nozzles onto the portion of the roll-shaped transparent medium 2 that has been fed into the image recording region R (on the platen 29) on the transport path by the transport unit 20. To do. The head unit 30 has a head 31.

  The head 31 has an ink discharge nozzle row in which ink discharge nozzles are arranged in the row direction on the lower surface (that is, the nozzle surface 32). In the present embodiment, ink ejection comprising a plurality of ink ejection nozzles # 1 to #N for each of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), black (K), and white (W) colors. It has a nozzle row. The ink discharge nozzles # 1 to #N of each ink discharge nozzle row are linearly arranged in a crossing direction that intersects the transport direction of the roll-shaped transparent medium 2 (that is, the crossing direction is the above-described row direction). ing. The respective ink discharge nozzle rows are arranged in parallel with a space therebetween along the transport direction.

  Each of the ink discharge nozzles # 1 to #N is provided with a piezo element (not shown) as a drive element for discharging ink droplets. When a voltage having a predetermined time width is applied between the electrodes provided at both ends of the piezoelectric element, the piezoelectric element expands according to the voltage application time and deforms the side wall of the ink flow path. As a result, the volume of the ink flow path contracts according to the expansion and contraction of the piezo element, and the ink corresponding to the contraction is ejected from the ink ejection nozzles # 1 to #N of the respective colors as ink droplets.

  As will be described later, the head 31 can reciprocate in the transport direction (that is, the left-right direction) and the row direction (that is, the front-rear direction).

  The ink replenishment unit 35 is for replenishing ink to the head 31 when the amount of ink in the head 31 is reduced due to the ejection of ink by the head 31.

  The ink supply unit 35 is provided for each ink color. That is, a yellow ink supply unit for supplying yellow ink, a magenta ink supply unit for supplying magenta ink, a cyan ink supply unit for supplying cyan ink, and a black ink supply A black ink supply unit for supplying white ink and a white ink supply unit for supplying white ink.

  The ink supply unit 35 includes an ink cartridge, a large number of tubes serving as ink flow paths (passages), a large number of valves for opening and closing the tubes, and the like. The place where the ink cartridge is installed is indicated by reference numeral 35 in FIG.

  The carriage unit 40 is for moving the head 31. The carriage unit 40 is supported by a carriage guide rail 41 (indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 1) extending in the transport direction (left-right direction) and reciprocally movable along the carriage guide rail 41 in the transport direction (left-right direction). A carriage 42 and a motor (not shown).

  The carriage 42 is configured to move in the transport direction (left-right direction) together with the head 31 by driving a motor (not shown). That is, the carriage 42 supports the head 31 and moves as the head 31 moves. The carriage 42 is provided with a head guide rail (not shown) extending in the row direction (front-rear direction). The head 31 is driven in the row direction (front-rear direction) along the head guide rail by driving the motor. Configured to move to.

  The cleaning unit 43 is for cleaning the head 31. The cleaning unit 43 is provided at a home position (hereinafter referred to as HP, see FIG. 1), and includes a cap, a suction pump, and the like. When the head 31 (carriage 42) moves in the transport direction (left-right direction) and is positioned on the HP, a cap (not shown) comes into close contact with the lower surface (nozzle surface 32) of the head 31. When the suction pump operates in such a state that the cap is in close contact, the ink in the head 31 is sucked together with the thickened ink and paper dust. In this way, cleaning of the head 31 is completed when the clogged ink discharge nozzle recovers from the non-discharge state.

  A flushing unit 44 is provided between the HP and the platen 29 in the transport direction (left-right direction), and the head 31 (carriage 42) moves in the transport direction (left-right direction) to face the flushing unit 44. When the head 31 is positioned, the head 31 performs a flushing operation for performing flushing by ejecting ink from each ink ejection nozzle belonging to the ink ejection nozzle row.

  The platen 29 is for supporting and heating the roll-shaped transparent medium 2. That is, the platen 29 supports the portion of the roll-shaped transparent medium 2 located in the image recording region R on the conveyance path and heats the portion. As shown in FIG. 1, the platen 29 is provided corresponding to the image recording area R on the conveyance path, and is an area along the conveyance path between the first conveyance roller 23 and the second conveyance roller 24. Is arranged. The platen 29 can heat the portion of the roll-shaped transparent media 2 by receiving supply of heat generated by the heater unit 70.

  The heater unit 70 is for heating the roll-shaped transparent medium 2 and has a heater (not shown). This heater has a nichrome wire, and the nichrome wire is arranged inside the platen 29 so as to be at a fixed distance from the support surface of the platen 29. For this reason, when the heater is energized, the nichrome wire itself generates heat, and heat can be conducted to the portion of the roll-shaped transparent media 2 located on the support surface of the platen 29. Since this heater is constructed by incorporating a nichrome wire in the entire area of the platen 29, heat can be uniformly conducted to the portion of the roll-shaped transparent media 2 on the platen 29. In this Embodiment, the site | part of the roll-shaped transparent media 2 is heated uniformly so that the temperature of the site | part of the roll-shaped transparent media 2 on a platen may be 45 degreeC. Thereby, the ink landed on the roll-shaped transparent media 2 can be dried.

  The blower unit 80 is used to dry the ink discharged onto the platen 29 (heater unit 70) in cooperation with the platen 29 (heater unit 70) by sending air to the roll-shaped transparent media 2 on the platen 29. It is. The blower unit 80 is provided on a ceiling fan 81 as an example of a fixed blower fixed to the image recording apparatus main body and the carriage 42, and moves toward the roll-shaped transparent medium 2 while moving as the head 31 moves. And an on-carriage fan 82 as an example of a moving blower that blows air.

  The ceiling fan 81 rotates to send air to the part of the roll-shaped transparent media 2 on the platen 29 (blow), and dry the ink landed on the part. The ceiling fan 81 is an axial fan, and as shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of ceiling fans 81 are provided on an image recording apparatus main body (specifically, an openable / closable cover provided on the image recording apparatus main body). Yes. Then, as shown in FIG. 1, each of the ceiling fans 81 is positioned above the platen 29 when the cover is closed, and supports the support surface of the platen 29 (the roll-shaped transparent media 2 on the platen 29). ). The ceiling fan 81 blows downward while facing the platen 29 (the direction of the wind is indicated by an arrow attached to the ceiling fan 81 in FIG. 1).

  Similarly to the ceiling fan 81, the on-carriage fan 82 rotates to send air (blow) toward the portion of the roll-shaped transparent media 2 on the platen 29 and dry the ink landed on the portion. Let The on-carriage fans 82 are also axial fans, and a plurality (two in the present embodiment) are provided on the carriage 42. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, one on-carriage fan 82 is provided on the left side of the head 31 in the transport direction, and the other on-carriage fan 82 is provided on the right side of the head 31 in the transport direction. . In the present embodiment, the two on-carriage fans 82 always operate simultaneously (only one does not operate).

  Since the on-carriage fan 82 is provided on the carriage 42 together with the head 31, the on-carriage fan 82 blows toward the roll-shaped transparent medium 2 while moving with the movement of the head 31 (carriage 42). However, it is different from the ceiling fan 81 that does not blow air). In the present embodiment, the on-carriage fan 82 is positioned above the platen 29, faces the support surface of the platen 29 (the roll-shaped transparent medium 2 on the platen 29), and blows air downward (wind Is indicated by an arrow attached to the on-carriage fan 82 in FIG. 1).

  The winding unit 90 is for winding the roll-shaped transparent medium 2 (roll-shaped transparent medium on which an image has been recorded) sent by the transport unit 20. The take-up unit 90 includes a relay roller 91 for winding the roll-shaped transparent medium 2 sent from the feed roller 27 from the upper left side and transporting it obliquely downward to the right, and a feed roller 90 that is rotatably supported and fed from the relay roller 91. A rolled transparent media take-up drive shaft 92 for taking up the rolled transparent media 2 formed.

  The controller 60 is a control unit for controlling the image recording apparatus 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the controller 60 includes an interface unit 61, a CPU 62, a memory 63, and a unit control circuit 64. The interface unit 61 is for transmitting and receiving data between the host computer 110 as an external device and the image recording apparatus 1. The CPU 62 is an arithmetic processing device for controlling the entire image recording apparatus 1. The memory 63 is for securing an area for storing a program of the CPU 62, a work area, and the like. The CPU 62 controls each unit by a unit control circuit 64 according to a program stored in the memory 63.

  The detector group 50 monitors the situation in the image recording apparatus 1. For example, the detector group 50 is a rotary attached to the aforementioned slack detection sensor and transport roller and used for controlling the transport of the roll-shaped transparent medium 2. Encoder, a sheet detection sensor for detecting the presence or absence of the rolled transparent medium 2 to be conveyed, a linear encoder for detecting the position of the carriage 42 (or head 31) in the conveying direction (left and right direction), and the rolled transparent medium 2 There is a paper edge position detection sensor for detecting the paper edge (edge) position in the width direction.

=== Example of Operation of Image Recording Apparatus 1 ===
As described above, the image recording apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is provided with the head 31 having the ink discharge nozzle row in which the ink discharge nozzles are arranged in the row direction (front-rear direction). Then, the controller 60 ejects ink from the ink ejection nozzles while moving the head 31 in the transport direction (left-right direction) to form a raster line along the transport direction (left-right direction) (that is, This operation is called an image recording pass or simply a pass), and image recording for one page is performed on the portion of the roll-shaped transparent medium 2 on the image recording region R.

  Here, the controller 60 according to the present embodiment executes printing by a plurality of passes (4 passes, 6 passes, 8 passes, etc.). That is, in order to increase the resolution of the image in the column direction, printing is performed by changing the position of the head 31 in the column direction little by little for each pass. As an image forming method, for example, known interlace (microweave) printing is executed.

  This will be described more specifically with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing raster lines formed in each pass in a case of printing in 8 passes.

  The left side of FIG. 3 shows an ink discharge nozzle row (ink discharge nozzle) of the head 31. Ink is discharged from the ink discharge nozzle while the head 31 (ink discharge nozzle row) moves in the transport direction. Thus, a raster line is formed. The position in the column direction of the head 31 (ink discharge nozzle column) shown in the figure is the position in the first pass, and the head 31 (ink discharge nozzle column) moves in the transport direction while maintaining this position. Then, the first pass printing is executed, and three raster lines (raster line L1 written with pass 1 at the right end) shown in the figure are formed. In FIG. 3, for the sake of easy understanding, a straight raster line without a broken portion is shown. However, as a matter of course, when there is no print data, a broken portion in the raster line is shown. Can occur.

  Next, when the head 31 (ink ejection nozzle row) moves in the row direction and the head 31 (ink ejection nozzle row) moves in the transport direction while maintaining the position after the movement, the second pass printing is performed. As a result, two raster lines shown in the figure (raster line L2 written with path 2 at the right end) are formed. Since interlace (microweave) printing is employed, the raster line L2 adjacent to the raster line L1 is ejected from an ink ejection nozzle different from the ink ejection nozzle from which the ink forming the raster line L1 is ejected. It will be formed by the ink. Therefore, the moving distance of the head 31 (ink discharge nozzle row) in the row direction is 1/8 minutes (1/180 × 1/8 = 1/1440 inch) of the inter-nozzle distance (for example, 1/180 inch). However, the distance is larger than this (hereinafter, this distance is referred to as distance d).

  Thereafter, by performing the same operation, the third to eighth pass printing is executed, and the remaining raster lines shown in the figure (raster lines L3 to L8 written as passes 3 to 8 on the right end) Is formed. In this way, by forming raster lines in 8 passes, the resolution of the image in the column direction can be increased to 8 times (= 1440 ÷ 180).

  In the present embodiment, so-called bidirectional printing is performed. That is, when the first pass, the third pass, the fifth pass, and the seventh pass are printed, the direction in which the head 31 (ink discharge nozzle array) moves and the second pass, the fourth pass, the sixth pass, and the eighth pass are printed. The directions in which the heads 31 (ink discharge nozzle rows) move when the inks are moved in opposite directions.

  By the way, in the present embodiment, color image printing for printing a color image (here, a label image) and background image printing for printing a background image as a background of the color image are performed. In such a case, the image recording for one page (that is, the image recording by executing the image recording pass a plurality of times) is performed twice (that is, the color image recording and the background image recording). The color image layer (hereinafter also referred to as a layer) and the background image layer are overlaid.

  In the following, as an example of the operation of the image recording apparatus 1, a background image recording process for executing the background image recording pass eight times to print the background image on the roll-shaped transparent medium 2 is performed. An example will be described in which a color image printing process for printing a color image on the roll-shaped transparent medium 2 by executing the recording pass eight times is performed.

<<< Example of Image Recording Operation of Image Recording Apparatus 1 >>>
Here, an example of the image recording operation of the image recording apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 4 based on the case. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of an image recording operation of the image recording apparatus 1. Note that the image recording operation is realized mainly by the controller 60. In particular, this embodiment is realized by the CPU 62 processing the program stored in the memory 63. And this program is comprised from the code | cord | chord for performing the various operation | movement demonstrated below.

  When the above-described intermittent roll-shaped transparent medium 2 is transported and the roll-shaped transparent medium 2 is stopped, a background image for one page is recorded on the portion of the roll-shaped transparent medium 2 on the image recording area R. The background image printing process is started by the controller 60.

  First, the controller 60 executes the first background image recording pass. That is, the controller 60 moves the head 31 relative to the roll-shaped transparent medium 2 in the transport direction (in the present embodiment, moves the head 31 in the transport direction), and moves the head 31 to the background image. Ink is ejected to execute background image printing for the first pass (formation of the raster line L1 shown in FIG. 3) (step S1). In the present embodiment, a white image (so-called white solid image) is printed as a background image. Therefore, white ink is used as the background image ink.

  Next, the controller 60 executes the second background image recording pass. That is, the controller 60 moves the heads 31 in the row direction by the distance d, and then moves the heads 31 in the transport direction, while discharging the white ink to the heads 31 to print the second pass background image (FIG. 3). (Formation of the raster line L2 shown in FIG. 4) is executed (step S3).

  Thereafter, the same operation as the second background image recording pass is repeated six times, whereby the background image printing (formation of the raster lines L3 to L8 shown in FIG. 3) is performed by the controller. 60 (steps S5, S7, S9, S11, S13, S15).

  As described above, the controller 60 performs the background image recording pass for causing the head 31 to eject the background image ink while moving the head 31 relative to the roll-shaped transparent medium 2 in the transport direction (corresponding to the movement direction). The head 31 is moved a plurality of times (eight times) while changing the relative position of the head 31 with respect to the roll-shaped transparent medium 2 in the column direction (corresponding to the cross direction) intersecting the direction, and the background image serving as the background of the color image is rolled 2. A background image printing process for printing on 2 is executed. Then, by executing the background image printing process, a white solid image for one page is formed on the roll-shaped transparent medium 2.

  Next, while maintaining the stopped state of the roll-shaped transparent medium 2 from the background image printing process, 1 is applied to the part of the roll-shaped transparent medium 2 on the image recording region R (that is, the part where the white solid image is formed). The controller 60 starts a color image printing process for recording color images for pages (in this embodiment, label image recording).

  First, the controller 60 executes the first color image recording pass. That is, the controller 60 moves the head 31 relative to the roll-shaped transparent medium 2 in the transport direction (in the present embodiment, moves the head 31 in the transport direction), and moves the head 31 for color images. Ink is ejected and color image printing for the first pass (formation of the raster line L1 shown in FIG. 3) is executed (step S17). In the present embodiment, four color inks, that is, yellow ink, magenta ink, cyan ink, and black ink are used as the color image ink.

  Next, the controller 60 executes the second color image recording pass. That is, the controller 60 moves the head 31 in the column direction by the distance d, and then causes the head 31 to eject yellow ink, magenta ink, cyan ink, and black ink while moving the head 31 in the transport direction. Second-color image printing (formation of raster line L2 shown in FIG. 3) is executed (step S19).

  Thereafter, the same operation as the second color image recording pass is repeated six times, whereby the color image printing of the third to eighth passes (formation of raster lines L3 to L8 shown in FIG. 3) is performed by the controller. 60 (steps S21, S23, S25, S27, S29, S31).

  As described above, the controller 60 moves the head 31 in the transport direction (corresponding to the moving direction) relative to the roll-shaped transparent medium 2 while discharging the color image ink to the head 31 while transporting the color image recording path. A color image for printing a color image on the roll-shaped transparent medium 2 by changing the relative position of the head 31 with respect to the roll-shaped transparent medium 2 in the row direction (corresponding to the cross direction) intersecting with the direction, and executing a plurality of times (8 times) Execute print processing. As a result of the color image printing process, a color image (label image) for one page is formed on the roll-shaped transparent medium 2. In other words, the color image for one page is overlaid on the background image (solid white image) for one page (the color image layer is overlaid on the background image layer).

  When the color image printing process ends, the controller 60 carries the intermittent roll-shaped transparent media 2 described above. Then, following the conveyance, a background image printing process for recording a background image for one page of the next page is started (see FIG. 4).

  In FIG. 4, the symbol PW or LW is written between each step, which means that a wait process described later is executed. PW is an inter-pass weight process executed between two consecutive passes, and LW is between the formation of two layers (ie, a background image layer and a color image layer) (in other words, a background image). This is a wait process between layers executed between the printing process and the color image printing process. Also, among the wait processing between passes, the processing executed between two successive background image recording passes is referred to as background image recording pass waiting processing (BPW), and is executed between two successive color image recording passes. This processing is referred to as color image recording pass wait processing (CPW). Hereinafter, the weight process will be described in detail.

<About wait processing>
Here, the weight process will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 1, and is a schematic diagram illustrating a state of the image recording apparatus 1 when the head 31 is located at the retracted position.

  In the wait process, the head 31 is moved from the platen 29 to the retreat position where the ink is landed on the roll-shaped transparent medium 2 between passes or layers in order to secure a time for the ink to be sufficiently dried by the heat of the platen 29. This is a process of moving the head 31 to wait for a predetermined waiting time at the retracted position. As described above, the wait process between passes and the wait process between layers are executed as the wait process. In the following, the inter-pass wait process will be described first, and subsequently, the inter-layer wait process will be described.

  The inter-pass wait processing is processing (hereinafter also referred to as standby processing) in which the head 31 is moved from the platen 29 to the retracted position and the head 31 waits for a predetermined waiting time at the retracted position between passes. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, during the image recording for one page, the waiting process between background image recording passes (BPW) is performed seven times, and the waiting process between color image recording passes (CPW). Are executed seven times, but the inter-pass wait process is the same, and therefore, the inter-pass wait process between the first background image recording pass and the second background image recording pass will be described as an example. explain.

  As described above, after executing the first background image recording pass (first pass background image printing) in step S1, the controller 60 executes the second background image recording pass (second pass background image printing) in step S3. ). However, instead of executing the second background image recording pass immediately after the first background image recording pass, the head 31 is moved to the retracted position after the first background image recording pass. After waiting for the waiting time, the second background image recording pass is executed.

  That is, when the controller 60 finishes executing the first background image recording pass, the head 31 is positioned above the platen 29, but the controller 60 is positioned at this position (hereinafter referred to as the upper position). The moving head 31 is moved from the platen 29 to the retracted position. Here, the retracted position retracted from above the platen 29 is a position where the platen 29 does not exist vertically below the head 31 when the head 31 is positioned at this position. 5 is the position shown in FIG. 5, that is, the position between the cleaning unit 43 and the flushing unit 44 described above. Then, the controller 60 causes the head 31 to wait for a predetermined waiting time at the retracted position. When the predetermined waiting time has elapsed, the controller 60 moves the head 31 to position (return) it to the upper position. Then, when the head 31 is positioned in the upper position, the controller 60 starts executing the second background image recording pass.

  Further, the controller 60 according to the present embodiment executes the following two controls on the blower unit 80 in addition to the standby process as the inter-pass wait process.

  First, the controller 60 increases the wind speed of the ceiling fan 81 (hereinafter also referred to as a ceiling fan speed increasing process). When the controller 60 executes the first background image recording pass, the controller 60 controls the ceiling fan 81 to blow air toward the roll-shaped transparent medium 2, but the wind speed of the ceiling fan 81 at this time is low. Wind). This is because, when executing the pass, if the wind speed is set to a strong wind speed (strong wind), the ink ejected by the head 31 may be bent in flight and the landing deviation of the ink may occur (see FIG. 1, it seems that the carriage 42 blocks the wind from the ceiling fan 81, but in reality, if there is a gap in the carriage 42 and the wind speed is strong, depending on the relative positional relationship between the gap and the ceiling fan 81 The wind from the gap may cause a flight curve, and if the wind speed is strong, a phenomenon may occur in which the wind wraps around the head 31 from the lateral direction).

  When the controller 60 finishes executing the first background image recording pass and moves the head 31 to the retracted position, the controller 60 waits for the head 31 and sets the ceiling fan 81 to a strong wind speed (strong wind). To do. That is, the controller 60 blows at a wind speed faster than the wind speed of the ceiling fan 81 when executing the background image recording pass because the ink is not ejected and the possibility of the occurrence of the flight curve is eliminated. The controller 60 returns the wind speed of the ceiling fan 81 to a weak wind when the predetermined standby time described above has elapsed. Then, the controller 60 starts executing the second background image recording pass.

  Although the reason will be described later, the controller 60 determines the wind speed of the ceiling fan 81 during the color image printing process (that is, when executing the color image recording pass), during the background image printing process (that is, the background image). It is different from the wind speed of the ceiling fan 81 during the recording pass (specifically, the wind speed of the ceiling fan 81 during the background image printing process is higher than the wind speed of the ceiling fan 81 during the color image printing process). Is controlled to be faster). In the present embodiment, the controller 60 determines the wind speed and color image recording path when executing the background image recording pass, both of the wind speed in the background image recording bus wait process and the wind speed in the color image recording bus wait process. It controls so that it will become faster than any of the wind speeds at the time of execution.

  Second, the controller 60 stops the blowing by the on-carriage fan 82 (hereinafter also referred to as on-carriage fan stop process). When executing the first background image recording pass, the controller 60 controls the on-carriage fan 82 and blows air toward the roll-shaped transparent medium 2, similarly to the ceiling fan 81. This is because the on-carriage fan 82 compensates for the drop in ink drying capacity caused by making the ceiling fan 81 light. Since the on-carriage fan 82 moves integrally with the head 31, the on-carriage fan 82 blows air while maintaining a constant distance (see FIG. 5) slightly away from the head 31 from the head 31. For this reason, the flight curve by the on-carriage fan 82 hardly occurs.

  Then, when the controller 60 finishes executing the first background image recording pass and moves the head 31 to the retracted position, the controller 60 waits for the head 31 and stops blowing by the on-carriage fan 82. That is, the controller 60 stops the blowing because the wind from the on-carriage fan 82 does not hit the background image recording portion of the roll-shaped transparent medium 2 due to the movement of the head 31 to the retracted position. The controller 60 resumes air blowing when the above-described predetermined waiting time has elapsed. Then, the controller 60 starts executing the second background image recording pass.

  As described above, the inter-pass wait process according to the present embodiment is a process including a standby process, a ceiling fan acceleration process, and an on-carriage fan stop process.

  As described above, the inter-pass wait processing includes the background image recording pass wait processing and the color image recording pass wait processing, and the color image recording pass wait processing is the same as the background image recording pass wait processing. Is performed. However, the waiting time of the waiting process is different between the two. That is, the controller 60 executes the wait process both during a plurality of color image recording passes and during a plurality of background image recording passes, but the waiting time for waiting the head 31 is less than the former. The wait process is executed so as to be longer at. As a result, the waiting time in the color image recording pass waiting process is shorter than the waiting time in the background image recording pass waiting process.

  Next, inter-layer wait processing will be described. In the inter-layer wait process, the head 31 is moved from the platen 29 to the retracted position between the layers (that is, between the background image printing process and the color image printing process), and the head 31 is kept at the retracted position for a predetermined waiting time. This is a process for waiting. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, this is executed only once during the image recording for one page.

  As described above, the controller 60 executes the eighth background image recording pass (eighth background image printing) in step S15, and then performs the first color image recording pass (first pass color image printing) in step S17. ). However, immediately after execution of the eighth background image recording pass, instead of executing the first color image recording pass, after executing the above-described wait processing after executing the eighth background image recording pass, The first color image recording pass is executed.

  In the inter-layer wait process, the same process as the inter-pass wait process (that is, in addition to the standby process, the ceiling fan acceleration process and the on-carriage fan stop process) is performed. However, the waiting time of the waiting process is different between the two. That is, the controller 60 performs the wait process both between the passes and between the layers, but the waiting time for waiting the head 31 is longer than the former (specifically, between the background image recording passes and between the color image recording passes). The wait process is executed so that the latter is longer than the latter. As a result, the standby time in the inter-layer wait process is longer than the standby time in the inter-pass wait process.

  Also, the wind speed of the ceiling fan 81 after the ceiling fan speed increasing process is different between the two. That is, the controller 60 controls the ceiling fan 81 to blow air toward the roll-shaped transparent medium 2 between the passes (that is, between the color image recording pass and the background image recording pass) and between the layers. The air blowing is executed so that the wind speed between layers is faster than the wind speed between paths.

  FIG. 6 is a table summarizing the relationship between the wind speeds of the ceiling fan 81 described so far. In the table, V1 to V4 represent wind speeds, and V1 <V2 <V3 <V4. In this embodiment, as described above, a difference is provided between the wind speed V2 when executing the background image recording pass and the wind speed V1 when executing the color image recording pass. There is no difference between the wind speed in the inter-wait process and the wind speed in the inter-color image recording bus wait process (both are V3).

<About front printing and back printing>
In the example of the image recording operation described with reference to FIG. 4, the controller 60 first performs the background image printing process, and then performs the color image printing process subsequent to the background image printing process. However, as shown in FIG. 7, the controller 60 can also reverse both procedures, that is, first perform a color image printing process, and then perform a background image printing process subsequent to the color image printing process.

  In general, printing according to the procedure shown in FIG. 4 and printing according to the procedure shown in FIG. 7 are referred to as front printing and back printing, respectively. In the image recording apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, both printing can be performed. That is, the controller 60 according to the present embodiment performs a background image printing process, performs a surface printing process for performing a color image printing process subsequent to the background image printing process, and a color image printing process, and performs the color image printing process. Subsequent to the process, a back print process for performing a background image print process is selectively executed.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 7, in the reverse printing process, as in the front printing process, during the image recording for one page, seven color image recording pass wait processes and seven background images are performed. A wait process between recording passes and a single wait process between layers are executed, and in each wait process, a standby process, a ceiling fan acceleration process, and an on-carriage fan stop process are performed. However, the back printing process and the front printing process have the following differences in the standby time of the standby process.

  First, the controller 60 performs weight processing both during a plurality of background image recording passes in the front printing process and during a plurality of background image recording passes in the back printing process. The wait process is executed so that the waiting time for waiting the head 31 is longer in the former than in the latter. As a result, the waiting time in the waiting process between background image recording passes in the front printing process is longer than the waiting time in the waiting process between background image recording passes in the back printing process.

  Secondly, the controller 60 performs weight processing both in the background image printing process and the color image printing process in the front printing process and in the color image printing process and the background image printing process in the back printing process. The wait processing is executed so that the waiting time for waiting the head 31 is longer in the former than in the latter. As a result, the waiting time in the inter-layer wait process in the front printing process is longer than the waiting time in the inter-layer wait process in the back printing process.

  FIG. 8 summarizes the relationship of the standby time described so far in a table. In the table, T1 to T5 represent time, and T1 <T2 <T3 <T4 <T5. In the present embodiment, T1, T2, T3, T4, and T5 are set to 1 second, 1.3 seconds, 1.5 seconds, 3 seconds, and 4 seconds, respectively.

=== Effectiveness of Image Recording Apparatus 1 According to the Present Embodiment ===
As described above, the image recording apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes the head 31 that discharges color image ink and background image ink onto the roll-shaped transparent medium 2, and the ceiling fan that blows air toward the roll-shaped transparent medium 2. 81, a color image printing process in which a color image ink is ejected to the head 31 and the color image is printed on the roll-shaped transparent medium 2, and a background image ink is ejected to the head 31 to And a controller 60 that performs background image printing processing for printing the background image on the rolled transparent medium 2. Then, the controller 60 controls the ceiling fan 81 to blow air toward the roll-shaped transparent medium 2 when performing the color image printing process and the background image printing process, and during the color image printing process (this embodiment) In the embodiment, specifically, in the background image printing process (specifically, in the present embodiment, when the background image recording pass is executed) than the wind speed of the air blow when the color image recording pass is executed. ) Is controlled so as to increase the speed of the air flow. This makes it possible to suppress deterioration in image quality.

  In order to print the background image, in order to ensure its shielding properties (the background image covers the rolled transparent media 2 without gaps, that is, it does not show through when the background image is viewed), the color image It is necessary to eject a large amount of ink as compared to (that is, the amount of ink shot is large). For this reason, the background image ink tends to be more difficult to dry than the color image ink.

  Therefore, if control is performed so that the wind speed of the air during the background image printing process is faster than the air speed of the air during the color image printing process, the wind speed is increased to some extent for the background image that is relatively difficult to dry. Therefore, emphasis is placed on promoting drying (and hence suppressing deterioration in image quality). On the other hand, for color images that are relatively easy to dry, by slowing the wind speed, flight deflection will occur in the ink and ink landing deviation will not occur (as a result, deterioration in image quality will be suppressed). Will be emphasized. Therefore, the trade-off between speeding up the wind speed to promote ink drying and slowing down the wind speed to prevent ink landing deviation will be made appropriately, and it is possible to suppress deterioration in image quality. It becomes possible.

=== Other Embodiments ===
Although the above embodiments are mainly described with respect to a printing apparatus, disclosure of a printing method and the like is also included. The above-described embodiments are for facilitating understanding of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention. The present invention can be changed and improved without departing from the gist thereof, and it is needless to say that the present invention includes equivalents thereof. In particular, the embodiments described below are also included in the present invention.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the roll-shaped transparent medium 2 was mentioned as an example and demonstrated as a medium, it is not limited to this, For example, the cut medium may be sufficient and the medium which is not transparent It may be.

  Further, in the above description, the ceiling fan 81 is controlled so that the air speed of the air during the background image printing process is faster than the air speed of the air during the color image printing process. This may be done for 82. That is, when performing the color image printing process and the background image printing process, the controller 60 controls the on-carriage fan 82 and blows air toward the roll-shaped transparent medium 2. It is good also as controlling so that the wind speed of this ventilation in the case of a background image printing process may become quicker than a wind speed.

  In this way, it is possible to accelerate the drying of the background image that is relatively difficult to dry by increasing the wind speed of the on-carriage fan 82 to some extent. On the other hand, for the color image that is relatively easy to dry, the on-carriage By slowing down the wind speed of the fan 82, it is possible to reliably prevent the problem that the ink is bent in flight and the landing deviation of the ink occurs. Therefore, it is possible to more appropriately suppress the deterioration of the image quality of the image.

  When the on-carriage fan is not used, in order to obtain the effects of the invention, a method of blowing air from the ceiling fan 81 toward the roll-shaped transparent medium 2 on which ink is ejected, and the ceiling fan 81 in the opposite direction to the method. The method of rotating the air and blowing the atmosphere on the printing surface side of the roll-shaped transparent media 2 on which the ink has been discharged to the outside of the printing apparatus can be considered, but the former promotes drying at a lower wind speed than the latter. There is an advantage that it is easy to obtain the effect.

  In the above-described embodiment, the lateral scanning type label printing machine has been described as an example of the printing apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a serial scanning type large format printer may be used. Good.

  Hereinafter, the serial scan type large format printer (hereinafter referred to as an ink jet printer 501) will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 9 is a schematic external view of the ink jet printer 501. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of the inkjet printer 501.

  As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the inkjet printer 501 includes a printer main body 502 and a support stand 503 that supports the printer main body 502. The inkjet printer 501 supports a roll-shaped transparent medium 521 and heats a platen (not shown), and is supported by the platen and heated on the roll-shaped transparent medium 521 for color image ink and background image. An ink jet head 541 that ejects ink and a controller are provided. In the inkjet printer 501, the background image printing process and the color image printing process described above are executed by the controller.

  The surface printing process will be described as an example. First, the controller performs inkjet while moving the inkjet head 541 relative to the roll-shaped transparent medium 521 in the movement direction (the direction indicated by the thick arrow in FIG. 10). The relative position of the inkjet head 541 with respect to the roll-shaped transparent medium 521 in the crossing direction (direction indicated by the white arrow in FIG. 10) intersecting the moving direction in the background image recording path for causing the head 541 to discharge the background image ink. And a background image printing process for printing a background image as a background of a color image on the roll-shaped transparent medium 521.

  Here, as in the above-described label printing machine, the controller causes the inkjet head 541 to eject the background image ink while moving the inkjet head 541 in the movement direction with respect to the roll-shaped transparent medium 521, and the background image recording pass. Execute. However, in the label printing machine, when the background image recording path is executed a plurality of times by changing the relative position of the inkjet head 541 with respect to the roll-shaped transparent medium 521 in the intersecting direction, the inkjet head 541 is moved in the intersecting direction. Whereas the relative position is changed, the inkjet printer 501 changes the relative position by moving the roll-shaped transparent medium 521 in the crossing direction. That is, in the inkjet printer 501, unlike the level printing machine, the controller executes the background image printing process while feeding the roll-shaped transparent medium 521 in the transport direction (that is, the intersecting direction).

  When the controller finishes executing the background image printing process, the controller subsequently executes the color image printing process. Before executing the color image printing process, the controller rolls only the amount transported in the background image printing process. The transparent medium 521 is back fed.

  Next, the controller causes the inkjet head 541 to eject color image ink while moving the inkjet head 541 relative to the roll-shaped transparent medium 521 in the movement direction (the direction indicated by the thick black arrow in FIG. 10). The image recording pass is executed a plurality of times by changing the relative position of the ink-jet head 541 with respect to the roll-shaped transparent medium 521 in the crossing direction (direction shown by the white thick arrow in FIG. 10) crossing the moving direction. A color image printing process for printing the image on the roll-shaped transparent medium 521 is executed.

  Even in such a case, the controller causes the inkjet head 541 to eject color image ink while moving the inkjet head 541 in the moving direction with respect to the roll-shaped transparent medium 521, and executes a color image recording pass. When the color image recording path is executed a plurality of times by changing the relative position of the inkjet head 541 with respect to the roll-shaped transparent medium 521 in the intersecting direction, the relative position is determined by moving the roll-shaped transparent medium 521 in the intersecting direction. Change.

  Such an inkjet printer 501 is provided with a ceiling fan or an on-carriage fan, and the wind speed of these fans during the background image printing process is faster than the wind speed of these fans during the color image printing process. You may make it control so that it may become.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image recording apparatus, 2 roll-shaped transparent media 10 Feed unit, 18 roll-shaped transparent media winding axis, 19 relay roller 20 transport unit, 20a Steering unit 21 relay roller, 22 relay roller 23 1st transport roller, 23a 1st drive Roller, 23b First driven roller 24 Second transport roller, 24a Second drive roller, 24b Second driven roller 25 Reverse roller, 26 Relay roller, 27 Delivery roller 29 Platen 30 Head unit, 31 head, 32 Nozzle surface 35 Ink supply Unit 40 Carriage unit, 41 Guide rail, 42 Carriage 43 Cleaning unit, 44 Flushing unit 50 Detector group 60 Controller, 61 Interface unit, 62 CPU
63 Memory, 64 Unit control circuit 70 Heater unit, 80 Blow unit 81 Ceiling fan, 82 On-carriage fan 90 Winding unit, 91 Relay roller 92 Rolled transparent media winding drive shaft 110 Host computer 501 Inkjet printer, 502 Printer body, 503 Support stand 521 Roll-shaped transparent media, 541 Inkjet head

Claims (3)

A head for ejecting color image ink and background image ink onto a medium;
A blower for blowing air toward the medium;
A color image printing process for causing the head to eject color image ink and printing a color image on the medium; and a background image ink for causing the head to eject a background image ink to provide a background image as a background of the color image. A controller that performs a background image printing process for printing on a medium,
The controller is
When performing the color image printing process and the background image printing process, the fan is controlled to blow air toward the medium,
A printing apparatus, characterized in that control is performed such that the wind speed of the air during the background image printing process is faster than the wind speed of the air during the color image printing process. The printing apparatus according to claim 1,
The blower is a fixed blower fixed to the printing apparatus main body,
A moving blower for blowing air toward the medium while moving along with the movement of the head;
The controller is
When performing the color image printing process and the background image printing process, the moving blower is controlled to blow air toward the medium,
A printing apparatus, characterized in that control is performed such that the wind speed of the air during the background image printing process is faster than the wind speed of the air during the color image printing process. A color image printing process for printing a color image on the medium by ejecting the color image ink to a head for ejecting the color image ink and the background image ink onto the medium, and causing the head to eject the background image ink. Performing a background image printing process for printing a background image serving as a background of the color image on the medium;
When performing the color image printing process and the background image printing process, the fan that blows air toward the medium is controlled to blow air toward the medium,
And controlling so that the wind speed of the air during the background image printing process is faster than the wind speed of the air during the color image printing process.