JP2013216063A - Printer and printing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer capable of preventing generation of wrinkles on a water pressure transfer printing film even when performing printing on the water pressure transfer printing film by an inkjet.SOLUTION: Ink 13 on one surface 10a of a water pressure transfer printing film 10 is dried with air from an air blowing mechanism 5. Thus, generation of wrinkles on the dried water pressure transfer printing film 10 can be prevented.

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a printing method for printing on a hydraulic transfer film.

  Conventionally, there is a printer disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-187264 (Patent Document 1). In this printing apparatus, ink is ejected from an inkjet head onto a recording medium, and then the ink on the recording medium is dried by a heater on the same plane as the plane on which ink is ejected onto the recording medium. As the recording medium, a water-resistant film was used.

JP 2002-187264 A

  By the way, when printing is performed on a hydraulic transfer film instead of a water-resistant film using the conventional printing device, wrinkles are generated on the hydraulic transfer film, and the hydraulic transfer film is deformed like a dry seaweed. There was a problem to do. The applicant of the present application has found that the generation of this wrinkle is caused by drying the hydraulic transfer film using a heater.

  In particular, when the film for water pressure transfer is, for example, a film in which an ink receiving layer made of acrylic is laminated on a water-soluble film made of polyvinyl alcohol, wrinkles are more likely to occur.

  Furthermore, this wrinkle propagated to the printing area by the ink jet head, and the water pressure transfer film contacted the nozzle surface of the ink jet head, so that a desired image could not be printed on the water pressure transfer film.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus and a printing method capable of preventing wrinkling of a hydraulic transfer film even when printing is performed on the hydraulic transfer film by inkjet.

In order to solve the above problems, a printing apparatus according to the present invention provides:
A feeding mechanism for feeding out the hydraulic transfer film on one plane;
An inkjet head that is disposed on the downstream side of the feeding mechanism and that has a nozzle surface facing the one plane and that discharges ink from the nozzle surface to one surface of the hydraulic transfer film;
A travel direction changing mechanism that is disposed on the downstream side of the inkjet head and changes the travel direction of the water pressure transfer film so as to travel on another plane different from the one plane;
A winding mechanism that is disposed on the downstream side of the traveling direction changing mechanism and winds up the hydraulic transfer film;
A blower mechanism that blows air onto the one surface of the hydraulic transfer film that travels on the transfer conveyance path between the traveling direction changing mechanism and the winding mechanism, and that dries the ink discharged on the one surface. It is characterized by.

  According to the printing apparatus of the present invention, the ink on the one surface of the hydraulic transfer film is dried by the air from the blower mechanism. As a result, wrinkles can be prevented from occurring in the dried hydraulic transfer film. Furthermore, since wrinkles do not occur in the hydraulic transfer film, the hydraulic transfer film does not contact the nozzle surface of the inkjet head, and a desired pattern can be printed on the hydraulic transfer film.

  The air blowing mechanism blows air onto one surface of the hydraulic transfer film in the conversion conveyance path that is not flush with the one plane of the printing area. Thus, air is prevented from being blown onto one plane, and the air does not hit the nozzle surface of the ink jet head facing the one plane. Therefore, drying of the nozzle surface can be prevented, and non-ejection of ink from the nozzle surface can be prevented.

  In the printing apparatus according to an embodiment, the conversion transport path includes a tension member that constantly applies tension to the water pressure transfer film traveling on the conversion transport path.

  According to the printing apparatus of this embodiment, the conversion transport path is provided with a tension member that constantly applies tension to the hydraulic transfer film that travels on the conversion transport path, so that the tension member always applies tension. It is possible to blow air on the hydraulic transfer film.

  This suppresses flapping of the water pressure transfer film due to blowing, and prevents printing failure and conveyance failure of the water pressure transfer film due to this flapping.

In the printing apparatus according to the embodiment,
The air blowing mechanism is
A first air outlet;
A second air outlet located on the downstream side of the conversion transport path from the first air outlet,
The temperature of the air blown out from the first air outlet is lower than the temperature of the air blown out from the second air outlet.

  According to the printing apparatus of this embodiment, the temperature of the air blown from the first air outlet of the blower mechanism is higher than the temperature of the air blown from the second air outlet of the blower mechanism. Low. This makes it possible to provide a gradient in the temperature to be sprayed onto the hydraulic transfer film, to avoid a rapid temperature rise of the hydraulic transfer film, and to more reliably prevent wrinkling of the hydraulic transfer film.

In the printing method of one embodiment,
A first step of feeding the hydraulic transfer film on a plane;
A second step of ejecting ink from the nozzle surface of the inkjet head onto one surface of the hydraulic transfer film fed out on the one plane;
A third step of changing the traveling direction of the water pressure transfer film so that the water pressure transfer film on which ink has been ejected travels on another plane different from the one plane;
A fourth step of blowing air to the one surface of the hydraulic transfer film whose traveling direction has been changed, and drying the ink ejected on the one surface;
And a fifth step of winding up the hydraulic transfer film from which the ink has been dried.

  According to the printing method of this embodiment, the ink on the one surface of the hydraulic transfer film is dried with air. As a result, wrinkles can be prevented from occurring in the dried hydraulic transfer film.

  Further, air is blown onto one surface of the hydraulic transfer film on the other plane that is not flush with the one plane of the printing area. Thus, air is prevented from being blown onto one plane, and the air does not hit the nozzle surface of the ink jet head facing the one plane. Therefore, drying of the nozzle surface can be prevented, and non-ejection of ink from the nozzle surface due to drying can be prevented.

In the printing method of one embodiment,
The hydraulic transfer film is
A water-soluble film made of polyvinyl alcohol;
A water-resistant ink receiving layer made of acrylic and ejected with the ink is laminated on the water-soluble film.

  According to the printing method of this embodiment, the hydraulic transfer film includes a water-soluble film made of polyvinyl alcohol and an ink receiving layer made of acrylic. Since polyvinyl alcohol and acrylic have different thermal expansion coefficients, wrinkles are more likely to occur when this hydraulic transfer film is dried using a heater. In this invention, since it dries with air, generation | occurrence | production of a wrinkle can be prevented reliably also in such a film for hydraulic transfer.

  According to the printing apparatus of the present invention, since the ink on the one surface of the hydraulic transfer film is dried by the air from the blower mechanism, even if printing is performed on the hydraulic transfer film by inkjet, the hydraulic transfer is performed. Generation of wrinkles on the film can be prevented.

  According to the printing method of the present invention, since the ink on the one surface of the hydraulic transfer film is dried by air, even if printing is performed on the hydraulic transfer film by inkjet, Occurrence can be prevented.

1 is a simplified configuration diagram illustrating a printing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing of the film for hydraulic transfer. It is a simplified block diagram which shows the printing apparatus of 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the illustrated embodiments.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a simplified configuration diagram showing a printing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the printing apparatus includes a feeding mechanism 1, an inkjet head 2, a travel direction changing mechanism 3, and a winding mechanism 4 that are sequentially arranged in a line shape. And this printing apparatus prints on this hydraulic transfer film 10 conveying the hydraulic transfer film 10 continuous with a substantially constant width | variety in the arrow A direction along this line.

  For example, the feeding mechanism 1 is configured in a roller shape, and a water pressure transfer film 10 wound in a roll shape is attached, and the water pressure transfer film 10 is formed into a sheet shape (as one plane) on a first plane S1. Pull out.

  The inkjet head 2 is disposed on the downstream side of the feeding mechanism 1. The ink-jet head 2 has a nozzle surface 21 that is disposed opposite to the first plane S1, and ejects ink 13 from the nozzle surface 21 onto one surface 10a of the hydraulic transfer film 10.

  The inkjet head 2 has a configuration similar to that generally known. For example, the ink 13 is ejected by an electromechanical transducer such as a piezo element or an electrical element such as a heating element having a heating resistor. The ink 13 is heated and discharged by the heat converter.

  The traveling direction changing mechanism 3 is disposed on the downstream side of the inkjet head 2. The traveling direction changing mechanism 3 changes the traveling direction of the water pressure transfer film 10 so as to travel on a second plane S2 that is different (as another plane) from the first plane S1.

  The traveling direction changing mechanism 3 is, for example, a roller, and changes the traveling direction of the hydraulic transfer film 10 from the first plane S1 to a second plane S2 orthogonal to the first plane S1.

  The winding mechanism 4 is arranged on the downstream side of the traveling direction changing mechanism 3. The winding mechanism 4 is configured in a roller shape, for example, and winds up the hydraulic transfer film 10 in a roll shape.

  A tension member 6 is disposed on the transfer conveyance path P1 between the traveling direction changing mechanism 3 and the winding mechanism 4. The tension member 6 constantly applies tension in the direction of arrow B to the hydraulic transfer film 10 traveling on the conversion transport path P1.

  The tension member 6 is configured in a roller shape, for example, and the shaft portion of the tension member 6 is swingably attached to the printing apparatus main body so that the tension member 6 is always in contact with the hydraulic transfer film 10. . Then, tension is applied to the hydraulic transfer film 10 by the weight of the tension member 6. Note that a spring may be provided on the tension member 6 so that tension is applied to the hydraulic transfer film 10 by this spring force.

  The tension member 6 changes the traveling direction of the hydraulic transfer film 10 so as to travel on a third plane S3 (as another plane) different from the first and second planes S1 and S2. The third plane S3 is parallel to the first plane S1 and orthogonal to the second plane S2.

  Thus, the conversion transport path P1 is configured by the second plane S2 and the third plane S3. That is, the water pressure transfer film 10 is reversed from the direction of feeding from the feeding mechanism 1 and wound up by the winding mechanism 4.

  The printing apparatus includes a blowing mechanism 5 that blows air onto the conversion conveyance path P1. The blower mechanism 5 blows air onto one surface 10a of the hydraulic transfer film 10 traveling on the conversion transport path P1, and dries the ink 13 discharged onto the one surface 10a. This air is warm air having a temperature higher than room temperature.

  The air blowing mechanism 5 includes a hot air generator 51 and a duct 52 connected to the hot air generator 51. The duct 52 includes a first air outlet 521 and a second air outlet 522 located on the downstream side of the transfer conveyance path P1 with respect to the first air outlet 521.

  Specifically, the first air outlet 521 is opposed to the second plane S2 and blows air toward the second plane S2. The second air outlet 522 faces the third plane S3 and blows air toward the third plane S3.

  The temperature of the air blown out from the first air outlet 521 is lower than the temperature of the air blown out from the second air outlet 522. For example, the air temperature from the first air outlet 521 is 50 ° C., and the air temperature from the second air outlet 522 is 60 ° C.

  This difference in air temperature is caused by a difference in flow path length from the hot air generator 51. That is, since the air blown out from the first air outlet 521 passes through a long flow path length from the hot air generator 51 as indicated by a dotted arrow C, the air temperature becomes low. On the other hand, since the air blown out from the second air outlet 522 passes through a short flow path length from the hot air generator 51 as indicated by a solid arrow D, the air temperature becomes high.

  Next, a method for printing using the printing apparatus having the above configuration will be described.

  First, the hydraulic transfer film 10 is fed out on the first plane S1 (as one plane) by the feeding mechanism 1. Then, the ink 13 is ejected from the nozzle surface 21a of the inkjet head 21 onto the one surface 10a of the hydraulic transfer film 10 fed out on the first plane S1.

  Thereafter, the hydraulic transfer film 10 on which the ink 13 has been ejected by the travel direction changing mechanism 3 travels on a second plane S2 that is different (as another plane) from the first plane S1. The traveling direction of the film 10 is changed.

  Further, the hydraulic transfer film 10 can be changed in traveling direction so as to travel on the third plane S <b> 3 while being tensioned by the tension member 6.

  Then, air is blown onto one surface 10a of the hydraulic transfer film 10 whose traveling direction has been changed by the air blowing mechanism 5, and the ink 13 ejected on the one surface 10a is dried.

  Thereafter, the hydraulic transfer film 10 from which the ink 13 has been dried is taken up by the take-up mechanism 4.

  Next, the hydraulic transfer film 10 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the hydraulic transfer film 10 includes a water-soluble film 11 and an ink receiving layer 12 laminated on the water-soluble film 11. The surface on the ink receiving layer 12 side corresponds to the one surface 10a. Ink 13 is ejected onto the ink receiving layer 12 to form a pattern.

  The water-soluble film 11 has a strip shape having water solubility or water swellability, and is made of, for example, a resin such as polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, dextrin, gelatin, glue, sodium alginate, hydroxyethyl cellulose, acetylbutyl cellulose. The thickness of the water-soluble film 11 is preferably 10 to 100 μm. In this embodiment, the water-soluble film 11 made of a polyvinyl alcohol resin having a thickness of 30 μm is used.

  The ink receiving layer 12 has water resistance, and a coating solution obtained by dissolving an acrylic resin in a non-aqueous solvent is applied on one side of the water-soluble film 11 and the non-aqueous solvent is evaporated by a drying means such as an oven. Let it form.

  Examples of the acrylic resin used in the ink receiving layer 12 include poly (meth) acrylate, poly (meth) butyl acrylate, (meth) methyl acrylate- (meth) butyl acrylate copolymer, (meth ) One kind alone or a mixture of two or more kinds such as methyl acrylate- (meth) acrylate 2-hydroxyethyl copolymer is used. In this embodiment, a copolymer of butyl acrylate and methyl (meth) acrylate is used.

  Non-aqueous solvents for dissolving acrylic resins include monohydric alcohols such as methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, propyl alcohol, and butyl alcohol, polyhydric alcohols such as ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, and glycerin, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl Ketones such as isobutyl ketone and cyclohexanone, ethyl ether, isopropyl ether, ethylene glycol mono-methyl ether, ethylene glycol mono-ethyl ether, ethylene glycol mono-butyl ether, diethylene glycol mono-methyl ether, diethylene glycol mono-ethyl Ethers, ethers such as diethylene glycol mono-butyl ether, ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, ethylene glycol mono-ethyl -Acetate acetate, ethylene glycol mono-butyl ether acetate, diethylene glycol mono-methyl ether acetate, diethylene glycol mono-ethyl ether acetate, diethylene glycol mono-butyl ether acetate acetates, pentane, hexane, heptane, Aromatic hydrocarbons such as octane, benzene, toluene, xylene, cyclohexane and ethylbenzene are used alone or as a mixed solvent. In this embodiment, ethyl acetate is used as the main component (main solvent) of the non-aqueous solvent. In addition, in order to adjust a glass transition point, you may add trace amount dioctyl phthalate mentioned later.

  The thickness of the ink receiving layer 12 is desirably 2 to 7 μm, and in the present embodiment, the thickness is 3 to 4 μm. When the thickness of the ink receiving layer 12 is 2 μm or less, if the amount of ink is large, the ink receiving layer 12 is cracked over the entire thickness of the layer, and the transfer quality is deteriorated, while the thickness of the ink receiving layer 12 is decreased. If the thickness is 7 μm or more, there is a high possibility that wrinkles will occur during transfer.

  As the ink 13, an inkjet ink including at least a pigment, a dispersant, an acrylic resin, and an organic solvent is used. The organic solvent uses a mixed solvent of glycol ester and glycol ether, or glycol ester or glycol ether as a main solvent.

  According to the printing apparatus configured as described above, the ink 13 on the one surface 10 a of the hydraulic transfer film 10 is dried by the air from the blower mechanism 5. As a result, wrinkles can be prevented from occurring in the dried hydraulic transfer film 10. Furthermore, since wrinkles do not occur in the hydraulic transfer film 10, the hydraulic transfer film 10 does not contact the nozzle surface 21 of the inkjet head 2, and a desired pattern can be printed on the hydraulic transfer film 10.

  On the other hand, wrinkles are generated in the hydraulic transfer film 10 in the conventional drying by the heater. The present applicant has discovered that this cause is due to the unique properties of the hydraulic transfer film 10. In short, the hydraulic transfer film 10 has the property of being highly flexible and having a high degree of expansion and contraction due to temperature and humidity. For example, when the change in humidity is 10% and the change in temperature is 2 to 3 ° C., the change in expansion and contraction of the hydraulic transfer film 10 is several percent. For this reason, heating with the heater increases the temperature and the humidity is not kept constant, so that wrinkles occur in the hydraulic transfer film 10.

  Further, the blower mechanism 5 blows air onto the one surface 10a of the hydraulic transfer film 10 through the conversion transport path P1 that is not flush with the first plane S1 of the printing area. Thus, air is prevented from being blown onto the first plane S1, and the air does not hit the nozzle surface 21 of the inkjet head 2 facing the first plane S1. Therefore, drying of the nozzle surface 21 can be prevented, and non-ejection of the ink 13 from the nozzle surface 21 due to drying can be prevented.

  Further, since the transfer conveyance path P1 is provided with the tension member 6 that constantly applies tension to the water pressure transfer film 10 traveling on the conversion transfer path P1, the water pressure transfer in a state where the tension is always applied by the tension member 6. The film 10 can be blown.

  Thereby, fluttering of the water pressure transfer film 10 due to blowing can be suppressed, and printing failure and conveyance failure of the water pressure transfer film 10 due to this flapping can be prevented.

  Further, the temperature of air blown from the first air outlet 521 of the blower mechanism 5 is lower than the temperature of air blown from the second air outlet 522 of the blower mechanism 5. Thus, a gradient is given to the temperature to be sprayed on the hydraulic transfer film 10 to avoid a rapid temperature rise of the hydraulic transfer film 10 and the generation of wrinkles in the hydraulic transfer film 10 can be more reliably prevented.

  According to the printing method of the said structure, the ink 13 of the said one surface 10a of the said hydraulic transfer film 10 is dried with air. As a result, wrinkles can be prevented from occurring in the dried hydraulic transfer film 10.

  Further, air is blown onto one surface 10a of the hydraulic transfer film 10 on the other plane that is not the same plane as the first plane S1 in the printing area. Thus, air is prevented from being blown onto the first plane S1, and the air does not hit the nozzle surface 21 of the inkjet head 2 facing the first plane S1. Therefore, drying of the nozzle surface 21 can be prevented, and non-ejection of the ink 13 from the nozzle surface 21 due to drying can be prevented.

  The hydraulic transfer film 10 includes a water-soluble film 11 made of polyvinyl alcohol and an ink receiving layer 12 made of acrylic. Since polyvinyl alcohol and acrylic have different thermal expansion coefficients, wrinkles are more likely to occur when the hydraulic transfer film 10 is dried using a heater. In this invention, since it dries with air, generation | occurrence | production of a wrinkle can be prevented reliably also in such a film 10 for hydraulic transfer.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 3 is a simplified configuration diagram showing a printing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. If the point which is different from the said 1st Embodiment is demonstrated, in this 2nd Embodiment, the structure of a conversion conveyance path is different. In the second embodiment, the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the printing apparatus does not have the tension member 6 of the first embodiment, and the conversion conveyance path P <b> 2 between the traveling direction changing mechanism 3 and the winding mechanism 4 is one fourth plane. Consists of S4. That is, the traveling direction changing mechanism 3 changes the traveling direction of the water pressure transfer film 10 so as to travel on a fourth plane S4 that is different (as another plane) from the first plane S1.

  The first and second air outlets 521 and 522 of the air blowing mechanism 5 face the fourth plane S4 and blow air toward the fourth plane S4.

  According to the printing apparatus having the above-described configuration, the effects of the first embodiment can be achieved, and the conversion transport path P2 can be configured with a single plane, thereby reducing the size of the apparatus.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment. For example, the feature points of the first and second embodiments may be variously combined.

  Further, the first plane S1 (as one plane) and the second plane S2 (as another plane) may intersect at an angle other than orthogonal. Moreover, you may provide three or more other planes different from one plane.

  Moreover, it is good also considering the quantity of the air blower outlet of a ventilation mechanism as 1 or 3 or more. When the number of air outlets is three or more, the air temperature blown out from these air outlets is set so as to increase in order from the upstream side to the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the hydraulic transfer film. Preferably, generation of wrinkles in the hydraulic transfer film can be reliably prevented.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Feeding mechanism 2 Inkjet head 21 Nozzle surface 3 Traveling direction change mechanism 4 Winding mechanism 5 Blower mechanism 51 Hot air generator 52 Duct 521 1st air blower 522 2nd air blower 6 Tension member 10 Hydraulic transfer film 10a one side 11 water-soluble film 12 ink receiving layer 13 ink S1 first plane (one plane)
S2 Second plane (other plane)
S3 3rd plane (other plane)
S4 4th plane (other plane)
P1, P2 conversion conveyance path

Claims (5)

A feeding mechanism for feeding out the hydraulic transfer film on one plane;
An inkjet head that is disposed on the downstream side of the feeding mechanism and that has a nozzle surface facing the one plane and that discharges ink from the nozzle surface to one surface of the hydraulic transfer film;
A travel direction changing mechanism that is disposed on the downstream side of the inkjet head and changes the travel direction of the water pressure transfer film so as to travel on another plane different from the one plane;
A winding mechanism that is disposed on the downstream side of the traveling direction changing mechanism and winds up the hydraulic transfer film;
A blower mechanism that blows air onto the one surface of the hydraulic transfer film that travels on the transfer conveyance path between the traveling direction changing mechanism and the winding mechanism, and that dries the ink discharged on the one surface. A printing apparatus characterized by the above. The printing apparatus according to claim 1,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conversion conveyance path includes a tension member that constantly applies tension to the hydraulic transfer film that travels along the conversion conveyance path. The printing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
The air blowing mechanism is
A first air outlet;
A second air outlet located on the downstream side of the conversion transport path from the first air outlet,
The temperature of the air which blows off from the said 1st air blower outlet is lower than the temperature of the air which blows off from the said 2nd air blower outlet, The printing apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. A first step of feeding the hydraulic transfer film on a plane;
A second step of ejecting ink from the nozzle surface of the inkjet head onto one surface of the hydraulic transfer film fed out on the one plane;
A third step of changing the traveling direction of the water pressure transfer film so that the water pressure transfer film on which ink has been ejected travels on another plane different from the one plane;
A fourth step of blowing air to the one surface of the hydraulic transfer film whose traveling direction has been changed, and drying the ink ejected on the one surface;
And a fifth step of winding up the hydraulic transfer film from which the ink has been dried. The printing method according to claim 4,
The hydraulic transfer film is
A water-soluble film made of polyvinyl alcohol;
A printing method comprising: a water-resistant ink-receiving layer which is laminated on the water-soluble film and made of acrylic and from which the ink is ejected.

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