JP2013249559A - Textile printing device and textile printing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a textile printing device and a textile printing method which can improve productivity.SOLUTION: A textile printing device comprises: a head having several nozzles discharging liquid to a textile; a move unit moving at least one among the textile and the head so that the textile and the head relatively shift in an appointed direction; and a control unit adjusting discharge rate of the liquid discharged to the textile from every nozzle and correcting the discharge rate depending on color information of the textile.

Description

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

  Conventionally, screen printing equipment using a dyeing die has been used for printing on cotton, silk, wool, chemical fiber, blended fabric, etc. In recent years, due to improvements in the technology of inkjet printers, printing by the inkjet method has been used. Inkjet textile printing apparatuses that perform printing have attracted attention (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  Ink-jet printing does not require the dye used in screen printing, and a digitized design can be used. Therefore, it is possible to quickly respond to a fine design change according to the customer's request, and to greatly reduce the production time. In addition, there is an advantage that the degree of freedom in design is large, such as being able to express color gradation.

  On the other hand, depending on the color of the underlying fabric, the underlying color may be seen through from the printed image, and the texture of the design may be different. On the other hand, a technique for ensuring the texture of the design by creating printing data for each color of the fabric in advance and using the optimal printing data according to the color of the fabric to be printed has been studied. .

JP 2000-345463 A

  However, the above method has a problem in productivity because it is necessary to create printing data for each color of the fabric.

  In view of the circumstances as described above, an object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus and a printing method capable of improving productivity.

  The textile printing apparatus according to the present invention includes a head having a plurality of nozzles that discharge liquid toward the fabric, and at least one of the fabric and the head so that the fabric and the head relatively move in a predetermined direction. And a controller that adjusts the discharge amount of the liquid discharged to the fabric for each nozzle and corrects the discharge amount according to color information of the fabric.

  According to the present invention, since the discharge amount of the liquid discharged to the fabric can be adjusted for each nozzle and the discharge amount can be corrected according to the color information of the fabric, an image corresponding to the color information of the fabric can be displayed. Can be formed. As a result, even when an image is formed on a fabric of a different color, an image can be efficiently formed, so that productivity can be improved.

The textile printing apparatus preferably further includes a measurement unit that measures the color information.
According to the present invention, since the measurement unit that measures the color information is further provided, the color information of the fabric can be obtained in real time.

In the textile printing apparatus, it is preferable that the control unit corrects the ejection quantity by adjusting the ejection quantity based on predetermined textile printing information and correcting the textile printing information according to the color information.
According to the present invention, the control unit adjusts the discharge amount based on predetermined printing information, and corrects the discharge amount by correcting the printing information according to the color information. An image can be formed.

In the textile printing apparatus, the head has a drive element for driving the nozzle for each nozzle, and the control unit controls the drive element by supplying a predetermined drive signal to the drive element. In addition, it is preferable to correct the ejection amount by correcting the drive signal in accordance with the color information.
According to the present invention, the head has a driving element for driving the nozzle for each nozzle, and the control unit controls the driving element by supplying a predetermined driving signal to the driving element, and according to the color information. Since the ejection amount is corrected by correcting the drive signal, an image can be efficiently formed on different color fabrics.

  The textile printing method according to the present invention includes a head having a plurality of nozzles that discharge liquid toward the fabric, and at least one of the fabric and the head so that the fabric and the head relatively move in a predetermined direction. A moving unit that moves the liquid, and an adjustment step for adjusting the discharge amount of the liquid discharged to the fabric for each nozzle, and the discharge amount is corrected according to color information of the fabric Correction step.

  According to the present invention, the discharge amount of the liquid discharged to the fabric is adjusted for each nozzle, and the discharge amount is corrected according to the color information of the fabric, so that an image corresponding to the color information of the fabric is formed on the fabric. Can do. As a result, even when an image is formed on a fabric of a different color, an image can be efficiently formed, so that productivity can be improved.

The figure which shows the whole structure of the textile printing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the structure of the color measurement part which concerns on this embodiment. The flowchart which shows the flow of operation | movement of the textile printing apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. The figure which shows the structure of a part of textile printing apparatus which concerns on the modification of this embodiment.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a textile printing apparatus according to the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 1, a textile printing apparatus (liquid ejection apparatus) 100 includes a recording medium supply unit 10, a recording medium transport unit 20, a recording medium collection unit 30, an inkjet unit 40, a maintenance unit 50, a floating prevention unit 60, and a color measurement. Part 70 and control part CONT. Each part of the textile printing apparatus 100 is attached to the frame part FR.

The textile printing apparatus 100 prints the recording medium M by forming an image on the recording medium M.
As the recording medium M, for example, a cloth such as cotton, silk, wool, chemical fiber, and mixed spinning is used. In the present embodiment, a configuration in which an image is formed on a strip-shaped recording medium M by a roll method will be described as an example. It does not matter.

  The recording medium supply unit 10 supplies the recording medium M on which no image is formed. The recording medium supply unit 10 includes a shaft part 11 and a bearing part 12.

  The shaft portion 11 is formed in a cylindrical shape or a columnar shape, and is provided to be rotatable in the circumferential direction. A belt-like recording medium M is wound around the shaft portion 11 in a roll shape. The shaft portion 11 is detachably attached to the bearing portion 12. For this reason, for example, the shaft portion 11 around which the recording medium M is wound can be attached to the bearing portion 12.

  The bearing portion 12 rotatably supports both ends of the shaft portion 11 in the axial direction. The bearing unit 12 has a rotation drive unit (not shown) that drives the shaft unit 11 to rotate. The rotation drive unit rotates the shaft unit 11 in the direction in which the recording medium M is sent out. The operation of the rotation drive unit is controlled by, for example, the control unit CONT.

  The recording medium transport unit 20 transports the recording medium M from the recording medium supply unit 10 to the recording medium collection unit 30. The recording medium transport unit 20 includes a transport roller 21, a transport roller 22, a transport belt 23, a belt rotation roller 24, a belt driving roller 25, a transport roller 26, a drying unit 27, and a transport roller 28.

  The conveyance roller 21 relays the recording medium M between the recording medium supply unit 10 and the conveyance roller 22. The conveyance roller 22 is provided so as to be able to sandwich the recording medium M with the conveyance belt 23, for example. The conveyance roller 22 supports the recording medium M on the conveyance belt 23.

  The conveyor belt 23 is formed in an endless shape, and is hung on a belt rotating roller 24 and a belt driving roller 25. The conveyor belt 23 is held in a state where a predetermined tension is applied so that a portion between the belt rotating roller 24 and the belt driving roller 25 is parallel to the floor surface. An adhesive layer (not shown) that adheres the recording medium M is provided on the surface (support surface 23 a) of the transport belt 23. The conveyance belt 23 supports the recording medium M on the support surface 23a on which the adhesive layer is provided.

  The belt rotation roller 24 and the belt drive roller 25 support the inner peripheral surface 23 b of the transport belt 23. Note that a configuration in which a support portion that supports the conveyance belt 23 is provided between the belt rotation roller 24 and the belt driving roller 25 may be employed. The belt rotation roller 24 rotates as the conveyance belt 23 rotates.

The conveyance belt 23 is rotated by the rotation of the belt driving roller 25, and the belt rotation roller 24 is rotated by the rotation of the conveyance belt 23. The recording medium M supported by the conveyance belt 23 is conveyed in a predetermined conveyance direction by the rotation of the conveyance belt 23. In the present embodiment, the direction from the belt rotation roller 24 toward the belt drive roller 25 is the transport direction. Therefore, for example, when the belt rotation roller 24 and the belt drive roller 25 are compared, the belt rotation roller 24 is disposed on the upstream side in the transport direction, and the belt drive roller 25 is disposed on the downstream side in the transport direction.
The transport roller 26 relays the recording medium M transported by the transport belt 23. The drying unit 27 is provided between the transport roller 26 and the transport roller 28 and guides the recording medium M. The conveyance roller 28 relays the recording medium M guided by the drying unit 27 to the recording medium collection unit 30.

  The recording medium collection unit 30 collects the recording medium M conveyed by the recording medium conveyance unit 20. The recording medium recovery unit 30 includes a shaft portion 31 and a bearing portion 32.

  The shaft portion 31 is formed in a cylindrical shape or a columnar shape, and is provided to be rotatable in the circumferential direction. A belt-like recording medium M is wound around the shaft portion 31 in a roll shape. The shaft portion 31 is detachably attached to the bearing portion 32. For this reason, for example, in a state where the recording medium M is wound around the shaft portion 31, the recording medium M can be removed together with the shaft portion 31 by removing the shaft portion 31 from the bearing portion 32.

  The bearing portion 32 rotatably supports both ends of the shaft portion 31 in the axial direction. The bearing portion 32 has a rotation drive unit (not shown) that rotates the shaft portion 31. The rotation drive unit rotates the shaft unit 31 in the direction in which the recording medium M is wound up. The operation of the rotation drive unit is controlled by, for example, the control unit CONT.

  The ink jet unit 40 ejects ink onto the recording medium M. The ink jet unit 40 includes a head H and a head moving unit 41. The head H has an ejection surface Ha that ejects ink. A plurality of nozzles NZ that eject ink are formed on the ejection surface Ha. The discharge surface Ha is directed to the recording medium M conveyed by the conveyance belt 23. The head moving unit 41 moves the head H in a direction that intersects the transport direction (for example, the width direction of the recording medium M).

  Each of the plurality of heads H is formed with four nozzle rows. In the head H, inks of different colors (for example, cyan: C, magenta: M, yellow: Y, black: K) are ejected for each nozzle row. In each nozzle row, a plurality of nozzles NZ are arranged in the transport direction.

  The maintenance unit 50 performs maintenance of the conveyor belt 23. The maintenance unit 50 includes a processing unit 51, a base 52, and a moving unit 53. The processing unit 51 includes, for example, a removing unit that removes foreign matters such as dust and lint attached to the conveyor belt 23, an adhesive layer repair unit that repairs the adhesive layer when the adhesive layer of the conveyor belt 23 deteriorates, and the like. A mechanism for performing various types of processing on the conveyor belt 23 is provided. The base 52 supports the processing unit 51. The base 52 may have an elevating unit that moves the processing unit 51 up and down. The moving unit 53 integrally moves the processing unit 51 and the base 52 along the floor surface.

  The floating prevention unit 60 prevents the recording medium M from separating (floating) from the conveyance belt 23. The floating prevention unit 60 is disposed on the upstream side in the transport direction from the inkjet unit 40 (head H).

  The color measurement unit 70 acquires the color information of the recording medium M by separating it into hues. As the color measuring unit 70, for example, an imaging device such as a CCD camera is used. In addition, the color measuring unit 70 includes a light source that emits light of three types of hues, for example, red (R), green (G), and blue (B), and reflected light when light is emitted from the light source to the fabric. A detector for detecting the hue of the color may be used.

  For example, the color measuring unit 70 is disposed on the upstream side in the transport direction of the recording medium M with respect to the head H. For this reason, the color measuring unit 70 can measure the portion of the recording medium M before the image is formed. The recording medium M is preferably flat when measured by the color measuring unit 70. For this reason, the color measuring unit 70 is arranged at a position where the recording medium M on the transport belt 23 can be measured. In addition, the color measurement unit 70 includes an output unit (not shown) that outputs measurement results. The measurement result output from the output unit is transmitted to, for example, the control unit CONT or an external control device.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the configuration of the color measurement unit 70.
As shown in FIG. 2, the color measuring unit 70 is arranged so as to cover the entire width direction of the recording medium M. The color measurement unit 70 can acquire color information over the entire width direction of the recording medium M. The color measuring unit 70 can also measure a region that protrudes from both ends of the recording medium M in the width direction. With this configuration, color information can be acquired even when the conveyance path of the recording medium M is shifted in the width direction.

  The control part CONT controls each part of the textile printing apparatus 100 in an integrated manner. For example, the control unit CONT can adjust the measurement start timing and the measurement end timing of the color measurement unit 70. Further, the control unit CONT receives the color information obtained by the measurement of the color measurement unit 70, and performs predetermined processing (described later) based on the color information.

Next, the operation of the textile printing apparatus 100 configured as described above will be described.
When image data is input to the textile printing apparatus 100 from the outside, the control unit CONT uses each color (cyan: C, magenta: M, yellow: Y, black) necessary for printing the input image data as an image. : Printing data such as the amount of ink (K) and the timing at which the plurality of nozzles are caused to perform ejection operations (adjustment step). Here, the amount of ink is the volume or weight of the ink. The control unit CONT causes an image to be formed on the recording medium M based on the textile printing data. First, an operation flow for forming an image on the recording medium M will be described.

  The control part CONT rotates the shaft part 11 and sends out the recording medium M from the recording medium supply part 10. The recording medium M sent out from the recording medium supply unit 10 is supported by the conveyance belt 23 via the conveyance roller 21 and the conveyance roller 22. The controller CONT rotates the belt driving roller 25 to move the transport belt 23 in the transport direction. With this operation, the recording medium M is transported in the transport direction by the transport belt 23.

  After the recording medium M reaches a predetermined position on the conveyance belt 23, the control unit CONT ejects ink from the nozzles NZ while moving the head H in the width direction of the recording medium M. The control unit CONT moves the recording medium M by a predetermined distance in the transport direction every time the head H scans the recording medium M once in the width direction. The controller CONT rotates the belt driving roller 25 by a predetermined angle in one movement. As described above, the control unit CONT intermittently moves the recording medium M in the transport direction, scans the head H, and ejects ink from the nozzles NZ, whereby a predetermined image is formed on the recording medium M. The

  The control unit CONT moves the recording medium M on which an image is formed to the downstream side of the transport belt 23. The recording medium M that has moved to the downstream side of the conveyance belt 23 reaches the recording medium collection unit 30 via the conveyance roller 26, the drying unit 27, and the conveyance roller 28. The control part CONT rotates the shaft part 31 to wind the recording medium M around the shaft part 31. In this way, the recording medium M on which the image is formed is collected.

  When the above operation is performed, depending on the color of the recording medium M serving as a base, the color of the recording medium M may be seen through the printed image, and the design texture may be different. On the other hand, there is a method of ensuring the texture of the design by creating printing data for each color of the recording medium M in advance and using the optimum printing data according to the color of the recording medium M to be printed. It was done. On the other hand, in this case, there is a problem in productivity because it is necessary to create printing data for each color of the recording medium M.

  On the other hand, in the present embodiment, before the ink is ejected from the nozzle NZ of the head H, the color information of the ejection area of the ink in the recording medium M is acquired by the color measurement unit 70, and according to the color information. An operation of correcting the ink discharge amount is performed. Here, the ejection amount of ink is the volume or weight of the ejected ink. As a result, it is not necessary to create a plurality of printing data, which contributes to an improvement in productivity. Hereinafter, specific description will be given with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, the control unit CONT causes the head H to acquire the entire color information in the width direction of the recording medium M using the color measuring unit 70 arranged on the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the recording medium M (ST01). . When the above CCD camera or light source detector is used as the color measuring unit 70, the color information is acquired as information including, for example, three types of hues of red (R), green (G), and blue (B). .

  Next, the control unit CONT creates an RGB color histogram of the recording medium M based on the acquired color information (ST02). Thereafter, the control unit CONT converts the created RGB color histogram into a CMYK color histogram corresponding to the ink colors (cyan: C, magenta: M, yellow: Y, black: K) used in the textile printing apparatus 100. Conversion is performed (ST03).

  Next, the control unit CONT calculates the amount of ink of each color (cyan: C, magenta: M, yellow: Y, black: K) necessary for printing the converted color histogram (ST04). Thereafter, the control unit CONT corrects the printing data by subtracting the ink amount obtained in ST04 from the amount of ink included in the printing data generated based on the image data (ST05: correction step).

  After correcting the printing data, the control unit CONT performs the above-described printing operation using the corrected printing data (ST06). The image formed on the recording medium M in this way is a case where the color of the recording medium M, which is the background, is used as part of the image, so that the color of the recording medium M can be seen through. There is no loss of the texture of the original design.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the ejection amount of ink ejected to the recording medium M can be adjusted for each nozzle NZ, and the ejection amount can be corrected according to the color information of the recording medium M. An image corresponding to the color information of the recording medium M can be formed on the recording medium M. As a result, even when an image is formed on the recording medium M of a different color, the image can be efficiently formed, so that productivity can be improved.

The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and appropriate modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the color measurement unit 70 has been described as an example of the configuration in which the entire width of the recording medium M is covered. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the color measurement unit 70 may detect a part of the recording medium M. Further, the color measuring unit 70 can be configured to be movable in the width direction of the recording medium M. In this case, it is possible to obtain color information about the entire width of the recording medium M by performing measurement while moving the color measuring unit 70.

  In the above-described embodiment, the color measurement unit 70 and the data processing system of the measurement result by the color measurement unit 70 have been described as an example in the textile printing apparatus 100. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. There is no. For example, the color measurement unit and the measurement result processing system may be provided outside the printing apparatus 100.

  In the above embodiment, the color measurement unit 70 is described as an example of the configuration in which the color measurement unit 70 is arranged on the upstream side in the transport direction of the recording medium M with respect to the head H. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the color measurement unit 70 may be arranged downstream of the head H in the conveyance direction of the recording medium M. Further, the color measuring unit 70 may be configured to be attached to the head H or to be movable integrally with the head H.

In the above embodiment, the configuration in which the head H moves in the width direction of the recording medium M has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a plurality of heads H are provided in the width direction of the recording medium M. The head H may be fixed.

  In the case of using the recording medium M having translucency, the color information obtained by the color measuring unit 70 is obtained by measuring the translucency of the recording medium M (or by obtaining the translucency in advance). May be corrected according to the translucency. Further, the recording medium M having translucency may be measured at a position off the conveying belt 23. Furthermore, for example, a recording medium M having translucency may be placed on a white support base, and color information may be obtained in a state where white is translucent. In this case, the influence of the white color of the support base may be subtracted from the obtained color information.

  CONT ... Control unit M ... Recording medium H ... Head NZ ... Nozzle 40 ... Inkjet unit 70 ... Color measuring unit 100 ... Printing apparatus

Claims (5)

A head having a plurality of nozzles for discharging liquid toward the fabric;
A moving unit that moves at least one of the fabric and the head so that the fabric and the head relatively move in a predetermined direction;
A textile printing apparatus comprising: a controller that adjusts a discharge amount of the liquid discharged to the fabric for each nozzle and corrects the discharge amount according to color information of the fabric. The textile printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a measurement unit that measures the color information. The said control part adjusts the said discharge amount based on predetermined | prescribed textile printing information, and correct | amends the said ejection quantity by correct | amending the said textile printing information according to the said color information. Textile printing equipment. The head has a drive element for driving the nozzle for each nozzle,
The control unit controls the drive element by supplying a predetermined drive signal to the drive element, and corrects the ejection amount by correcting the drive signal according to the color information. The textile printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3. A head having a plurality of nozzles for discharging liquid toward the fabric;
A textile printing method using a moving unit that moves at least one of the cloth and the head so that the cloth and the head move relatively in a predetermined direction,
An adjustment step of adjusting the discharge amount of the liquid discharged to the fabric for each nozzle;
And a correction step of correcting the discharge amount in accordance with color information of the fabric.

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