JP2014100880A - System of printing on three-dimensional object and program for printing on three-dimensional object - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system of printing on a three-dimensional object capable of facilitating user's setting print conditions as compared with a conventional technique.SOLUTION: A system of printing on a three-dimensional object includes: a recording head 25 having a nozzle surface 25c on which a plurality of nozzles 25a discharging ink are formed; and a shaft member rotatably supporting a cylindrical three-dimensional object 90 around a central axis parallel to a side surface 91 of the three-dimensional object 90 in a state in which a curved surface that is the side surface 91 is opposed to the nozzle surface 25c. The system of printing on the three-dimensional object 90 receives a diameter of a circle that is a cross-section in a case of cutting the three-dimensional object 90 in a direction orthogonal to the central axis; sets a used nozzle range 25d that is a range in a sub-scanning direction parallel to the nozzle surface 25c and indicated by arrow 20b orthogonal to the central axis in accordance with the received diameter; discharges the ink from the nozzles 25a within the used nozzle range 25d out of the plural nozzles 25a while controlling the shaft member to rotate the three-dimensional object 90; and prints images on the side surface 91 using the recording head 25.

Description

  The present invention relates to a three-dimensional object printing system for printing an image on a three-dimensional object.

  Conventionally, as a three-dimensional object printing system that prints an image on a three-dimensional object, a recording head having a nozzle surface on which a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink are formed, and a curved surface that is a side surface of the three-dimensional object are provided on the recording head. An ink jet printing apparatus that prints an image on a side surface of a three-dimensional object by a recording head while the three-dimensional object is rotated by the three-dimensional object support unit while rotating the three-dimensional object by the three-dimensional object support unit. A printer is known (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2006-335019 A

  An ink jet printer is a three-dimensional object that rotates three-dimensionally around a central axis parallel to a curved surface that is a side surface of a cylindrical three-dimensional object, while the three-dimensional object faces the nozzle surface of the recording head while the three-dimensional object is rotated. When printing an image on the side surface of an object, if ink is ejected from nozzles in the entire area in a direction that is parallel to the nozzle surface and orthogonal to the central axis of rotation of the three-dimensional object among a plurality of nozzles of the recording head, Ink ejected from nozzles arranged at a position where the distance from the printing surface of the three-dimensional object is large, or from nozzles arranged at a position where the inclination of the printing surface with respect to the nozzle surface is large is highly accurate on the printing surface of the three-dimensional object. May not be able to reach.

  For this reason, the ink jet printer rotates the solid object around the central axis parallel to the curved surface, which is the side surface of the cylindrical solid object, and the recording head with the side surface of the solid object facing the nozzle surface of the recording head. When printing an image on the side surface of a three-dimensional object, the nozzles are not parallel to the nozzle surface of the plurality of nozzles of the recording head, but are parallel to the nozzle surface instead of the nozzles in the whole area in the direction perpendicular to the central axis of rotation of the three-dimensional object. In some cases, ink is ejected from nozzles within a predetermined range in a direction perpendicular to the central axis of rotation of the three-dimensional object.

  This range needs to be set by the user for each three-dimensional object so that the quality of printing on the three-dimensional object is a predetermined quality or higher. Therefore, the user needs to repeat trial and error in order to set an appropriate range for each three-dimensional object.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a three-dimensional printing system that makes it easier for a user to set printing conditions than before.

  In the three-dimensional object printing system of the present invention, a recording head having a nozzle surface on which a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink are formed, and a curved surface that is a side surface of a cylindrical three-dimensional object are opposed to the nozzle surface. In this state, a three-dimensional object support unit that rotatably supports the three-dimensional object around a central axis parallel to the side surface, and an image on the side surface by the recording head while rotating the three-dimensional object by the three-dimensional object support unit. Print control means for printing, and when the print head prints the image on the side surface by the recording head, the print control means is parallel to the nozzle surface and the center axis among the plurality of nozzles. A three-dimensional object printing system that ejects the ink from nozzles within a predetermined range in a direction orthogonal to the three-dimensional object when cut in a direction orthogonal to the central axis Characterized in that it comprises means with 径受 for accepting diameter of the circle is a plane, and a range setting means for setting the range according to the diameter accepted by the 径受 with means.

  With this configuration, the printing system for a three-dimensional object according to the present invention receives a plurality of nozzles by inputting the diameter of a circle that is a cross section when cut in a direction orthogonal to the central axis of rotation of a cylindrical three-dimensional object. Among these, since the range of nozzles from which ink is ejected is automatically set, setting of printing conditions by the user can be made easier than before.

  In the three-dimensional object printing system of the present invention, the printing control unit causes the recording head to print the image on the side surface according to a nozzle ejection amount that is an amount of the ink ejected by the nozzle, and The three-dimensional object printing system includes a nozzle discharge amount setting unit that sets the nozzle discharge amount of the nozzle according to the diameter received by the diameter receiving unit and the position of the nozzle within the range. May be.

  With this configuration, the three-dimensional object printing system of the present invention can automatically increase the amount of ink ejected from the nozzles arranged at positions where the inclination of the printing surface with respect to the nozzle surface is large. The quality of the above printing can be improved.

  The three-dimensional object printing system of the present invention includes a display unit that displays information, and a preview display unit that displays the image printed on the three-dimensional object on the display unit in a pseudo manner. The display means calculates a length of one side of the printable area, which is an area where the image can be printed, of the side surface according to the diameter received by the diameter receiving means, and according to the calculated length. The printable area may be displayed in a pseudo manner on the display unit together with the image.

  With this configuration, the printing system for a three-dimensional object according to the present invention can change the size and position of an image printed on the side surface of a cylindrical three-dimensional object according to the printable area. The user can intuitively edit the image printed on the side surface of the three-dimensional object.

  In the three-dimensional object printing system according to the present invention, when the image is printed on the three-dimensional object, the print control unit is configured to make the relative relationship between the recording head and the three-dimensional object support unit in a direction orthogonal to the nozzle surface. The orthogonal direction position is changed to the orthogonal direction setting position that is the orthogonal direction position set in advance, and the three-dimensional object printing system is configured to change the position according to the diameter received by the diameter reception unit. You may provide the orthogonal direction position setting means which sets an orthogonal direction setting position.

  With this configuration, the three-dimensional object printing system of the present invention is configured so that the relative positions of the recording head and the three-dimensional object support portion in the direction orthogonal to the nozzle surface are in the direction orthogonal to the central axis of rotation of the cylindrical three-dimensional object. Since it automatically changes to an appropriate position according to the diameter of the circle that is the cross section when cut, the user must input the relative position of the recording head and the three-dimensional object support in the direction perpendicular to the nozzle surface. Compared with the configuration that must be performed, it is possible to facilitate the printing of the image on the side surface of the cylindrical three-dimensional object.

  The program for printing on a three-dimensional object of the present invention has a recording head having a nozzle surface on which a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink are formed, and a curved surface that is a side surface of a cylindrical three-dimensional object is opposed to the nozzle surface. A three-dimensional object support unit that rotatably supports the three-dimensional object around a central axis parallel to the side surface, and an image on the side surface by the recording head while the three-dimensional object is rotated by the three-dimensional object support unit. Print control means for printing the image, and the print control means, when printing the image on the side surface by the recording head, is parallel to the nozzle surface of the plurality of nozzles and the central axis. Printing on a three-dimensional object executed by a computer that controls an ink jet printer that discharges the ink from a nozzle within a predetermined range in a direction orthogonal to A diameter receiving unit that receives a diameter of a circle that is a cross-section when the three-dimensional object is cut in a direction orthogonal to the central axis, and the diameter received by the diameter receiving unit Accordingly, it functions as range setting means for setting the range.

  With this configuration, the computer that executes the program for printing on a three-dimensional object according to the present invention receives the input of the diameter of a circle that is a cross section when cut in a direction orthogonal to the central axis of rotation of the cylindrical three-dimensional object. Since the range of nozzles from which ink is ejected among a plurality of nozzles is automatically set, setting of printing conditions by the user can be made easier than before.

  The three-dimensional object printing system of the present invention can make setting of printing conditions by a user easier than before.

1 is a block diagram of a three-dimensional object printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. It is an external appearance perspective view of the solid thing by which an image is printed by the inkjet printer shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the ink jet printer shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 4A is a side view of the recording head shown in FIG. 3 in a state where a nozzle surface is opposed to a side surface of a three-dimensional object. FIG. 4B is a bottom view of the recording head shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is an external perspective view of the three-dimensional object support device shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the ink jet printer shown in FIG. 3. It is a block diagram of the computer shown in FIG. It is a flowchart of operation | movement of the computer shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the printing condition reception screen displayed on the display part shown in FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a method of setting the orthogonal direction setting position by the orthogonal direction position setting unit shown in FIG. 7 and a side view in the vicinity of the recording head. FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a method of setting a use nozzle range by a range setting unit shown in FIG. 7, and is a side view in the vicinity of a recording head. FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a method of setting a nozzle discharge amount by a nozzle discharge amount setting unit shown in FIG. 7, and is a side view in the vicinity of a recording head. FIG. 4A shows the vicinity of the recording head when ink is being ejected from the nozzle of the recording head toward the side of the three-dimensional object when the angle of the side surface of the three-dimensional object is small with respect to the nozzle surface of the recording head shown in FIG. It is a side view. (B) is a figure which shows an example of the dot produced | generated when the ink shown to Fig.13 (a) reaches | attains the side surface of a solid object, Comprising: It is a partial expanded view of the side surface of a solid object. FIG. 4A shows the vicinity of the recording head when ink is being ejected from the nozzle of the recording head toward the side of the three-dimensional object when the angle of the side surface of the three-dimensional object is large with respect to the nozzle surface of the recording head shown in FIG. It is a side view. (B) is a figure which shows an example of the dot produced | generated when the ink shown to Fig.14 (a) reaches | attains the side surface of a solid object, Comprising: It is a partial expanded view of the side surface of a solid object. FIG. 4A is a side view of the three-dimensional object from the nozzle of the recording head by enlarging the ink particles when the angle of the side surface of the three-dimensional object with respect to the nozzle surface of the recording head shown in FIG. 4 is the angle shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the dot produced | generated when the ink reached | attained toward the side surface of the solid object, and is a development view of a part of the side surface of the solid object. FIG. 14B shows a three-dimensional object that is displaced from the nozzles of the recording head by shifting a plurality of ink grains when the angle of the side surface of the three-dimensional object with respect to the nozzle surface of the recording head shown in FIG. 4 is the angle shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the dot produced | generated when ink was discharged toward the side surface of the solid object, and was a development view of a part of the side surface of the solid object.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  First, the configuration of the three-dimensional object printing system according to the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a three-dimensional object printing system 10 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the three-dimensional object printing system 10 prints an image on a curved surface that is a side surface 91 (see FIG. 2) of a cylindrical three-dimensional object 90 (see FIG. 2) such as a cylindrical can. An inkjet printer 20 that performs printing, and a computer 60 that inputs print data to the inkjet printer 20. The inkjet printer 20 and the computer 60 are communicably connected to each other via a cable 11 such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable. The inkjet printer 20 and the computer 60 may be connected to each other via a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or the Internet instead of the cable 11.

  FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of a three-dimensional object 90 on which an image is printed by the inkjet printer 20.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the three-dimensional object 90 is a cylindrical object. The three-dimensional object 90 has a side surface 91 on which an image is printed by the inkjet printer 20. A cross section when the three-dimensional object 90 is cut in a direction perpendicular to the central axis 92 parallel to the side surface 91 is a circle having a diameter 93.

  FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of the ink jet printer 20.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the inkjet printer 20 includes a table 21 having an installation portion 21 a installed at an installation location such as a floor, a main body 22 extending in the main scanning direction indicated by an arrow 20 a, and a table 21. And a three-dimensional object support device 30 that is attached and rotatably supports the three-dimensional object 90.

  The table 21 extends in the sub-scanning direction indicated by the arrow 20b orthogonal to the main scanning direction indicated by the arrow 20a and supports the main body 22 so as to be movable in the sub-scanning direction indicated by the arrow 20b. It is provided on both sides in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrow 20a. The table 21 includes a support device mounting base 21c on which the three-dimensional object support device 30 is mounted. The support device mounting base 21c is movable with respect to the installation portion 21a in a direction indicated by an arrow 20c orthogonal to both the main scanning direction indicated by the arrow 20a and the sub-scanning direction indicated by the arrow 20b.

  The main body 22 includes a guide rail 23 extending in the main scanning direction indicated by an arrow 20a and a carriage 24 supported by the guide rail 23 so as to be movable in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrow 20a. . The carriage 24 has a plurality of recording heads 25 for ejecting ultraviolet curable ink toward the table 21 in the direction indicated by the arrow 20c, and ultraviolet rays for curing the ultraviolet curable ink ejected by the recording head 25. And an ultraviolet irradiation device 26 such as an LED (Light Emitting Diode) for irradiating the light toward the table 21.

  FIG. 4A is a side view of the recording head 25 in a state where the nozzle surface 25 c is opposed to the side surface 91 of the three-dimensional object 90. FIG. 4B is a bottom view of the recording head 25.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the recording head 25 includes a nozzle surface 25c on which a nozzle row 25b, which is a row of nozzles 25a that eject ink, is formed. The nozzle row 25b extends in the sub-scanning direction indicated by the arrow 20b.

  FIG. 5 is an external perspective view of the three-dimensional object support device 30.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the three-dimensional object support device 30 is mounted on a support device mounting base 21 c (see FIG. 3) of a table 21 (see FIG. 3), and is rotatably supported by the housing 31. Shaft member 32 and shaft member 33, pulley 34 fixed to one end of shaft member 32, stepping motor 35 for generating a driving force for rotating shaft member 32, and driving force of stepping motor 35 And a timing belt 36 for transmitting to the pulley 34.

  The shaft member 32 and the shaft member 33 are arranged in parallel so that the positions in the direction indicated by the arrow 20c are the same and extend in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrow 20a. The shaft member 32 includes a plurality of rubber rings 32a for preventing the three-dimensional object 90 from slipping when supporting the three-dimensional object 90 (see FIG. 3). Similarly, the shaft member 33 includes a plurality of rubber rings 33a for preventing the three-dimensional object 90 from slipping when the three-dimensional object 90 is supported. The shaft member 32 and the shaft member 33 are configured so that the side surface 91 (see FIG. 3) of the cylindrical solid object 90 faces the nozzle surface 25c of the recording head 25, and the central shaft 92 (see FIG. 2) of the solid object 90. The three-dimensional object 90 is rotatably supported with the center of the three-dimensional object support portion of the present invention.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the inkjet printer 20.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the inkjet printer 20 is a table that moves the support device mounting base 21 c (see FIG. 3) relative to the recording head 25 and the stepping motor 35 described above and the installation portion 21 a (see FIG. 3). A main body drive section 42 for moving the main body 22 (see FIG. 3) in the sub-scanning direction indicated by an arrow 20b (see FIG. 3) with respect to the drive section 41 and the table 21 (see FIG. 3), and the guide rail 23 Carriage 24 (see FIG. 3) is moved in the main scanning direction indicated by an arrow 20a (see FIG. 3) and cable 11 (see FIG. 1) or network. And a communication unit 44 that is a communication device that communicates with an external device such as a computer 60 (see FIG. 1), and an EEPROM (Elect that stores various data). And rically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) storing unit 45 is a storage device such as, and a control unit 46 that controls the entire inkjet printer 20.

  The control unit 46 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores programs and various data in advance, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) that is used as a work area of the CPU. ing. The CPU is configured to execute a program stored in the ROM or the storage unit 45.

  The control unit 46 executes the program stored in the storage unit 45, thereby causing the three-dimensional object 90 (see FIG. 3) by the shaft member 32 (see FIG. 3) and the shaft member 33 (see FIG. 3). It functions as a printing control means 46a for printing an image on the side surface 91 (see FIG. 3) of the three-dimensional object 90 by the recording head 25 while rotating. When the recording head 25 causes the recording head 25 to print an image on the side surface 91 of the three-dimensional object 90, the printing control unit 46a has a nozzle surface 25c (see FIG. 4) among the plurality of nozzles 25a (see FIG. 4) of the recording head 25. A predetermined range (hereinafter referred to as “used nozzle range”) 25d (FIG. 4) in a direction that is parallel and orthogonal to the central axis 92 (see FIG. 2) of the three-dimensional object 90, that is, the sub-scanning direction indicated by the arrow 20b. (Refer to the above.) Nozzle 25a has a function of ejecting ink.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the computer 60.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the computer 60 includes an operation unit 61 that is an input device such as a mouse and a keyboard to which various operations are input, a display unit 62 that is a display device such as an LCD that displays various information, A communication unit 63 that is a communication device that communicates with an external device such as the inkjet printer 20 (see FIG. 1) via the cable 11 (see FIG. 1) or a network, and stores a program and various data. A storage unit 64 that is a storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) and a control unit 65 that controls the entire computer 60 are provided. The computer 60 is configured by a computer such as a PC (Personal Computer).

  The storage unit 64 stores a three-dimensional object printing program 64a that is a program for causing the inkjet printer 20 to print an image on the three-dimensional object 90 (see FIG. 3). The three-dimensional object printing program 64a may be installed in the computer 60 at the manufacturing stage of the computer 60, or may be additionally installed in the computer 60 from a storage medium such as a CD (Compact Disk) or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk). Alternatively, it may be additionally installed on the computer 60 from the network.

  The control unit 65 includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM that stores programs and various data in advance, and a RAM that is used as a work area of the CPU. The CPU executes a program stored in the ROM or the storage unit 64.

  The control unit 65 executes a three-dimensional object printing program 64a stored in the storage unit 64 to thereby receive a diameter 93 (see FIG. 2) of the cylindrical three-dimensional object 90, and a diameter reception unit 65a. It is ejected by range setting means 65b for setting the used nozzle range 25d (see FIG. 4) according to the diameter 93 received by the means 65a and the nozzle 25a (see FIG. 4) of the recording head 25 (see FIG. 4). A nozzle discharge amount setting means 65c for setting a nozzle discharge amount that is the amount of ink to be printed, a preview display means 65d that pseudo-displays a print image that is an image printed on the three-dimensional object 90, and a nozzle surface The recording head 25 and the shaft members 32 and 33 (see FIG. 3) in the direction orthogonal to 25c (see FIG. 3), that is, in the direction indicated by the arrow 20c (see FIG. 3). ) A perpendicular direction position is a relative position of, and functions as an orthogonal direction position setting means 65e for setting an orthogonal direction setting position set in advance.

  Next, the operation of the three-dimensional object printing system 10 will be described.

  First, an outline of a flow until print data is transmitted to the inkjet printer 20 by the computer 60 will be described.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the operation of the computer 60.

  In response to an instruction via the operation unit 61, the control unit 65 of the computer 60 activates the three-dimensional object printing program 64a and performs the operation as shown in FIG.

  As illustrated in FIG. 8, the control unit 65 receives an image in response to an instruction via the operation unit 61 (S201). For example, the control unit 65 can accept an image stored in the storage unit 64 or an image received from an external device via the communication unit 63 according to an instruction via the operation unit 61.

  Next, the control unit 65 accepts various printing conditions such as the print range of the image accepted in the diameter 93 of the three-dimensional object 90 and S201 in accordance with an instruction via the operation unit 61 (S202).

  Next, the control unit 65 generates print data in response to an instruction via the operation unit 61 based on the image received in S201 and the printing condition received in S202 (S203).

  Finally, the control unit 65 transmits the print data generated in S203 to the inkjet printer 20 via the communication unit 63 (S204), and ends the operation illustrated in FIG.

  Note that the control unit 65 may store the printing conditions received in S202 in the storage unit 64 so that the printing conditions can be reused in subsequent printings.

  Next, reception of printing conditions in S202 will be described in detail.

  The control unit 65 of the computer 60 displays the print condition reception screen 100 shown in FIG. 9 on the display unit 62 in response to an instruction via the operation unit 61.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of the print condition reception screen 100 displayed on the display unit 62.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the printing condition reception screen 100 includes a three-dimensional object width spin box 101 a for designating the length of the three-dimensional object 90 in the extending direction of the central axis 92 of the three-dimensional object 90, and the diameter of the three-dimensional object 90. And a three-dimensional object diameter spin box 101b for designating 93. That is, the diameter receiving means 65a of the control unit 65 receives the diameter 93 of the three-dimensional object 90 by the three-dimensional object diameter spin box 101b.

  Further, the print condition reception screen 100 is referred to as a length in the main scanning direction indicated by an arrow 20a of a printable area that is an area in which an image can be printed on the side surface 91 of the three-dimensional object 90 (hereinafter referred to as “printable area width”). ) For displaying the printable area width text box 102a for displaying the printable area and the expanded length in the sub-scanning direction indicated by the arrow 20b (hereinafter referred to as “printable area height”). And a possible area height text box 102b. Note that the value displayed in the printable area width text box 102a is the same as the value specified in the three-dimensional object width spin box 101a. That is, the preview display means 65d of the control unit 65 sets the value specified in the three-dimensional object width spin box 101a as the value to be displayed in the printable area width text box 102a. The value displayed in the printable area height text box 102 b is the circumference of a circle that is a cross section when the three-dimensional object 90 is cut in a direction orthogonal to the central axis 92. Therefore, the preview display means 65d of the control unit 65 calculates a value to be displayed in the printable area height text box 102b by multiplying the diameter 93 specified in the three-dimensional object diameter spin box 101b by the circumference ratio. The size of the printable area is the same as the size of the side surface 91 of the three-dimensional object 90 in the present embodiment, but may be set by the user below the size of the side surface 91 of the three-dimensional object 90.

  The print condition reception screen 100 includes a preview area 103 that displays the print contents in a pseudo manner. The preview area 103 is input by the user in the printable area frame 103a representing the printable area displayed in the printable area width text box 102a and the printable area height text box 102b, and in S201 shown in FIG. Image 103b. The user can change the position and size of the image 103b in the preview area 103 via the operation unit 61 so as to change the portion of the image 103b that falls within the printable area frame 103a. A portion of the image 103b that falls within the printable area frame 103a is a portion that is accepted as a print image when print data is generated in S203 illustrated in FIG.

  Next, generation of print data in S203 will be described.

  In the generation of print data in S203, the orthogonal direction position setting unit 65e of the control unit 65 sets the orthogonal direction setting position.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a method of setting the orthogonal direction setting position by the orthogonal direction position setting means 65e, and is a side view in the vicinity of the recording head 25. FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the distance 111 in the direction indicated by the arrow 20c of the nozzle surface 25c of the recording head 25 and the central axis 32b of the shaft member 32 is the arrow of the central axis 32b of the shaft member 32 and the central axis 92 of the three-dimensional object 90. The distance 112 in the direction indicated by 20c, the distance 90 in the direction indicated by the arrow 20c of the central axis 92 of the three-dimensional object 90 and the vertex 90a in the direction indicated by the arrow 20c of the three-dimensional object 90, the nozzle surface 25c of the recording head 25, and the three-dimensional object It is the sum of the distance 114 in the direction indicated by the arrow 20c of the 90 apexes 90a.

  When the midpoint of the central axis 32b of the shaft member 32 and the central axis 33b of the shaft member 33 is a point 115, the distance 112 is a point on the central axis 32b of the shaft member 32 and a point on the central axis 92 of the three-dimensional object 90. And a point 115, which is one side of a right triangle whose hypotenuse is a line segment whose end points are a point on the central axis 32b of the shaft member 32 and a point on the central axis 92 of the three-dimensional object 90. Therefore, according to the Pythagorean theorem, the distance 112 is the square of the distance 112a of the central axis 32b of the shaft member 32 and the central axis 92 of the three-dimensional object 90 and the square of the distance 112b of the central axis 32b of the shaft member 32 and the point 115. The square root of the difference. Here, the distance 112a is the sum of a certain value called the radius of the ring 32a of the shaft member 32 and the radius of the three-dimensional object 90, that is, half of the diameter 93. The distance 112b is a constant value according to the positional relationship between the shaft member 32 and the shaft member 33. Therefore, the distance 112 is a value that changes according to the diameter 93 of the three-dimensional object 90.

  Here, the distance 111 is a value that is changed according to the setting of the orthogonal direction setting position. The distance 113 is a half of the radius of the three-dimensional object 90, that is, the diameter 93, and is a value that changes according to the diameter 93 of the three-dimensional object 90.

  Accordingly, the orthogonal direction position setting unit 65e is configured such that the distance 114 in the direction indicated by the arrow 20c from the vertex 90a of the three-dimensional object 90 to the nozzle surface 25c of the recording head 25 is an appropriate distance (for example, 2 mm) for the ink flight in the inkjet printer 20. The orthogonal direction setting position can be appropriately set based on the diameter 93 which is one parameter of the size of the three-dimensional object 90 input from the outside.

  In the generation of print data in S203 shown in FIG. 8, the range setting unit 65b of the control unit 65 sets the used nozzle range 25d of the recording head 25.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a method of setting the used nozzle range 25d (see FIG. 4) by the range setting means 65b, and is a side view in the vicinity of the recording head 25. FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 11, when the recording head 25 faces the three-dimensional object 90 at a predetermined position, the positions of the plurality of nozzles 25a in the recording head 25 in the sub-scanning direction indicated by the arrows 20b are the nozzles 25a. And the distance 116 in the sub-scanning direction indicated by the arrow 20b with the vertex 90a of the three-dimensional object 90. The distance 117 between the nozzle 25a at the position corresponding to the distance 116 and the landing point 90b that is the position on the side surface 91 of the three-dimensional object 90 to which the ink discharged from the nozzle 25a arrives is the distance 113 described above (FIG. 10). And the distance 114 (see FIG. 10) and the distance 118 in the direction indicated by the landing point 90b of the three-dimensional object 90 and the arrow 20c of the central axis 92.

  If the point where the landing point 90b and the position in the direction indicated by the arrow 20c are the same in the line segment having the vertex 90a of the three-dimensional object 90 and the point on the central axis 92 as the end point is the point 119, the distance 116 is 90 landing points 90b, points on the central axis 92 of the three-dimensional object 90, and points 119 are apexes, and landing points 90b of the three-dimensional object 90 and points on the central axis 92 of the three-dimensional object 90 are end points. One side of a right triangle with the line segment as the hypotenuse. Therefore, the distance 118 between the center axis 92 of the three-dimensional object 90 and the point 119 in the direction indicated by the arrow 20c is the distance 120 between the landing point 90b of the three-dimensional object 90 and the center axis 92 of the three-dimensional object 90 according to Pythagorean theorem. Is the square root of the difference between the square of and the square of the distance 116. Here, the distance 120 is a radius of the three-dimensional object 90, that is, a half of the diameter 93. Therefore, the distance 118 is a value that changes according to the distance 116 and the diameter 93 of the three-dimensional object 90.

  Here, the distance 113 (see FIG. 10) is a radius of the three-dimensional object 90, that is, a half of the diameter 93, and is a value that changes in accordance with the diameter 93 of the three-dimensional object 90. The distance 114 (see FIG. 10) is a value that is changed according to the setting of the orthogonal direction setting position by the orthogonal direction position setting means 65e. The distance 117 is a difference between the distance 118 and the sum of the distance 113 and the distance 114 as described above.

  Accordingly, the range setting unit 65b is configured such that the distance 117 between the nozzle 25a at the position corresponding to the distance 116 and the landing point 90b which is the position on the side surface 91 of the three-dimensional object 90 to which the ink discharged from the nozzle 25a arrives is an inkjet printer. Based on the diameter 93 which is one parameter of the size of the three-dimensional object 90 input from the outside so as to be within the range of the distance suitable for the ink flight at 20, the range of the distance 116, that is, the nozzle used The range 25d (see FIG. 4) can be set appropriately.

  In the generation of print data in S203 illustrated in FIG. 8, the nozzle discharge amount setting unit 65c of the control unit 65 sets the nozzle discharge amount for each nozzle 25a in the use nozzle range 25d of the recording head 25.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining a method of setting the nozzle discharge amount by the nozzle discharge amount setting means 65c, and is a side view in the vicinity of the recording head 25. FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 12, when the recording head 25 faces the three-dimensional object 90 at a predetermined position, the nozzles of the recording head 25 at the landing points 90b of the ink ejected from the nozzles 25a at the positions corresponding to the distance 116. The angle 121 of the side surface 91 of the three-dimensional object 90 with respect to the surface 25c indicates that the triangle having the vertexes of the landing point 90b of the three-dimensional object 90, the point on the central axis 92 of the three-dimensional object 90, and the point 119 is Since it is a right triangle whose hypotenuse is a line segment having the point 90b and a point on the central axis 92 of the three-dimensional object 90 as an end point, it is an internal angle at a point on the central axis 92 of the three-dimensional object 90 in this right triangle. Equal to angle 122. The angle 122 is the value of the inverse sine function of the quotient obtained by dividing the distance 116 by the distance 120 described above. Here, the distance 120 is a radius of the three-dimensional object 90, that is, a half of the diameter 93. Therefore, the angle 121 of the side surface 91 of the three-dimensional object 90 with respect to the nozzle surface 25c of the recording head 25 at the landing point 90b is a value that changes according to the distance 116 and the diameter 93 of the three-dimensional object 90.

  Here, the angle 121 of the side surface 91 of the three-dimensional object 90 with respect to the nozzle surface 25 c of the recording head 25 at the landing point 90 b affects the quality of printing on the three-dimensional object 90.

  FIG. 13A is a side view of the vicinity of the recording head 25 when the ink 25e is being ejected from the nozzle 25a of the recording head 25 toward the side surface 91 of the three-dimensional object 90 when the angle 121 is small. FIG. 13B is a diagram showing an example of the dots 94 generated when the ink 25e shown in FIG. 13A reaches the side surface 91 of the three-dimensional object 90, and is a part of the side surface 91 of the three-dimensional object 90. FIG. FIG. 14A is a side view of the vicinity of the recording head 25 when the ink 25e is ejected from the nozzle 25a of the recording head 25 toward the side surface 91 of the three-dimensional object 90 when the angle 121 is large. FIG. 14B is a diagram illustrating an example of the dots 94 generated when the ink 25e illustrated in FIG. 14A reaches the side surface 91 of the three-dimensional object 90, and is a part of the side surface 91 of the three-dimensional object 90. FIG. FIG. 15A shows a state in which the particles of the ink 25e are enlarged and discharged from the nozzle 25a of the recording head 25 toward the side surface 91 of the three-dimensional object 90 when the angle 121 is the angle shown in FIG. The ink 25e is a diagram illustrating an example of the dots 94 generated by reaching the side surface 91 of the three-dimensional object 90, and is a development view of a part of the side surface 91 of the three-dimensional object 90. 15B, when the angle 121 is the angle shown in FIG. 14A, the plurality of ink 25e particles are displaced and discharged from the nozzle 25a of the recording head 25 toward the side surface 91 of the three-dimensional object 90. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of dots 94 generated when the ink 25e reaches the side surface 91 of the three-dimensional object 90, and is a development view of a part of the side surface 91 of the three-dimensional object 90.

  As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the larger the angle 121 of the side surface 91 of the three-dimensional object 90 with respect to the nozzle surface 25c of the recording head 25 at the landing point 90b, the larger the interval between the dots 94 on the side surface 91 of the three-dimensional object 90. However, as shown in FIG. 15A, the nozzle discharge amount is increased by increasing the size of the particles of the ink 25e discharged by the nozzle 25a, or a plurality of nozzles 25a are used as shown in FIG. When the nozzle discharge amount is increased by shifting the particles of the individual inks 25e, the dots 94 on the side surface 91 of the three-dimensional object 90 increase, and as a result, the interval between the dots 94 can be reduced.

  Therefore, the nozzle discharge amount setting means 65c has an appropriate interval between the dots 94 generated when the ink 25e discharged by the nozzle 25a in the used nozzle range 25d of the recording head 25 reaches the side surface 91 of the three-dimensional object 90. In accordance with the angle 121 of the side surface 91 of the three-dimensional object 90 with respect to the nozzle surface 25c of the recording head 25 at the landing point 90b, that is, with one parameter of the size of the three-dimensional object 90 input from the outside. Depending on a certain diameter 93 and the distance 116 indicating the position of the nozzle 25a, the nozzle discharge amount can be appropriately set for each nozzle 25a.

  In the generation of the print data in S203 shown in FIG. 8, the control unit 65 receives the print image received by receiving the print conditions in S202 shown in FIG. 8, and the orthogonal direction setting position set by the orthogonal direction position setting unit 65e. The print data including the used nozzle range 25d set by the range setting unit 65b and the nozzle discharge amount set for each nozzle 25a by the nozzle discharge amount setting unit 65c is generated.

  Next, the operation of the inkjet printer 20 when printing on the three-dimensional object 90 based on the print data transmitted by the computer 60 will be described.

  The print control means 46 a of the control unit 46 of the inkjet printer 20 executes printing on the three-dimensional object 90 based on the print data received via the communication unit 44.

  First, the print control unit 46a appropriately changes the relative positions of the recording head 25 and the shaft members 32 and 33 by controlling the table driving unit 41 based on the orthogonal direction setting position included in the print data. Therefore, the distance 114 in the direction indicated by the arrow 20c from the three-dimensional object 90 previously mounted on the three-dimensional object support device 30 by the user to the nozzle surface 25c of the recording head 25 is suitable for the ink flight in the inkjet printer 20. Become a distance.

  Next, the print control unit 46a controls the recording head 25, the stepping motor 35, the main body drive unit 42, and the carriage drive unit 43 based on the print data, thereby the three-dimensional object 90 supported by the three-dimensional object support device 30. The print image included in the print data is printed. Here, the print control unit 46a controls the recording head 25 based on the used nozzle range 25d included in the print data, so that an appropriate one in the sub-scanning direction indicated by the arrow 20b among the plurality of nozzles 25a of the recording head 25 is selected. Ink is ejected only from the nozzles 25a within the range. Further, the print control means 46a controls the recording head 25 based on the nozzle discharge amount for each nozzle 25a included in the print data, so that the ink discharged by the nozzle 25a reaches the side surface 91 of the three-dimensional object 90. The amount of ink ejected by the nozzles 25a is adjusted so that the generated dot spacing is within an appropriate range. The print control unit 46a needs to rotate the three-dimensional object 90 to shift the ink landing point when adjusting the amount of ink to be discharged by the nozzle 25a by shifting and discharging the plurality of ink 25e particles. Therefore, not only the recording head 25 but also the stepping motor 35 is controlled based on the nozzle discharge amount for each nozzle 25a included in the print data.

  As described above, the three-dimensional object printing system 10 receives the input of the circle diameter 93 which is a cross section when cut in a direction orthogonal to the central axis 92 of the rotation of the cylindrical three-dimensional object 90. The use nozzle range 25d shown in FIG. 4, which is the range of the nozzles 25a from which the ink is ejected, among the plurality of nozzles 25a of the recording head 25 is automatically set, so that it is easier for the user to set printing conditions than before. be able to.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 15, the three-dimensional object printing system 10 is ejected from a nozzle 25 a that is disposed at a position where the inclination of the printing surface of the side surface 91 of the three-dimensional object 90 with respect to the nozzle surface 25 c of the recording head 25 is large. Since the amount of ink can be automatically increased, the printing quality on the three-dimensional object 90 can be improved.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the three-dimensional object printing system 10 can allow the user to change the size and position of the image printed on the side surface 91 of the cylindrical three-dimensional object 90 according to the printable area. Therefore, the user can intuitively edit the image printed on the side surface 91 of the cylindrical three-dimensional object 90.

  The three-dimensional object printing system 10 rotates the cylindrical three-dimensional object 90 with the relative positions of the recording head 25 and the shaft members 32 and 33 in the direction orthogonal to the nozzle surface 25c, that is, the direction indicated by the arrow 20c. Since the recording head 25 and the shaft members 32 and 33 in the direction indicated by the arrow 20c are automatically changed to an appropriate position according to the diameter 93 of the circle which is a cross section when cut in a direction perpendicular to the central axis 92 of the recording head 25. Compared with a configuration in which a user has to input a relative position, printing of an image on the side surface 91 of the cylindrical three-dimensional object 90 can be facilitated. The three-dimensional object printing system 10 may have a configuration in which the user must input the relative positions of the recording head 25 and the shaft members 32 and 33 in the direction indicated by the arrow 20c.

  In this embodiment, the three-dimensional object printing system 10 prints an image on the three-dimensional object 90 in cooperation with the control unit 46 of the inkjet printer 20 and the control unit 65 of the computer 60. However, at least a part of the function of the control unit 65 of the computer 60 in the present embodiment may be realized by the control unit 46 of the inkjet printer 20.

  In the present embodiment, the inkjet printer 20 supports the three-dimensional object with respect to the installation portion 21a by moving the support device mounting base 21c relative to the installation portion 21a with respect to the relative positions of the recording head 25 and the three-dimensional object 90 in the direction indicated by the arrow 20c. It is changed by the movement of the device 30. However, the inkjet printer 20 may change the relative positions of the recording head 25 and the three-dimensional object 90 in the direction indicated by the arrow 20c by the movement of the recording head 25 with respect to the installation portion 21a.

  The inkjet printer 20 is an apparatus that prints an image using ultraviolet curable ink in the present embodiment, but may be an apparatus that prints an image using ink other than ultraviolet curable ink, such as solvent ink.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Three-dimensional printing system 20 Inkjet printer 25 Recording head 25a Nozzle 25c Nozzle surface 25d Use nozzle range (predetermined range)
25e ink 32 shaft member (three-dimensional object support part)
33 Shaft member (three-dimensional object support part)
46a Print control means 60 Computer 62 Display unit 64a Three-dimensional object printing program 65a Diameter receiving means 65b Range setting means 65c Nozzle discharge amount setting means 65d Preview display means 65e Orthogonal direction position setting means 90 Three-dimensional object 91 Side surface 92 Central axis 93 Diameter 103a Printable area frame 103b Image

Claims (5)

A recording head having a nozzle surface on which a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink are formed, and a central axis parallel to the side surface with a curved surface that is a side surface of a cylindrical solid object facing the nozzle surface A three-dimensional object support unit that rotatably supports the three-dimensional object around the center, and a print control unit that prints an image on the side surface by the recording head while rotating the three-dimensional object by the three-dimensional object support unit. The printing control means, when printing the image on the side surface by the recording head, nozzles in a predetermined range in a direction parallel to the nozzle surface and perpendicular to the central axis among the plurality of nozzles. A three-dimensional printing system for discharging the ink from
Diameter accepting means for accepting a diameter of a circle that is a cross section when the three-dimensional object is cut in a direction orthogonal to the central axis, and range setting means for setting the range according to the diameter accepted by the diameter accepting means And a three-dimensional object printing system. The printing control unit causes the recording head to print the image on the side surface according to a nozzle ejection amount that is an amount of the ink ejected by the nozzle,
The three-dimensional object printing system includes a nozzle discharge amount setting unit that sets the nozzle discharge amount of the nozzle according to the diameter received by the diameter receiving unit and the position of the nozzle within the range. The three-dimensional object printing system according to claim 1, wherein: A display unit that displays information, and a preview display unit that displays the image printed on the three-dimensional object in a pseudo manner on the display unit,
The preview display means calculates the length of one side of the printable area, which is an area where the image can be printed, of the side surface according to the diameter received by the diameter receiving means, and calculates the calculated length. 3. The three-dimensional object printing system according to claim 1, wherein the printable area is displayed in a pseudo size on the display unit together with the image in a size corresponding to the size. When the image is printed on the three-dimensional object, the print control unit is preset with an orthogonal direction position that is a relative position of the recording head and the three-dimensional object support unit in a direction orthogonal to the nozzle surface. Change to the orthogonal direction setting position which is the orthogonal direction position,
4. The three-dimensional object printing system includes orthogonal direction position setting means for setting the orthogonal direction setting position in accordance with the diameter received by the diameter receiving means. The three-dimensional object printing system described in any of the above. A recording head having a nozzle surface on which a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink are formed, and a central axis parallel to the side surface with a curved surface that is a side surface of a cylindrical solid object facing the nozzle surface A three-dimensional object support unit that rotatably supports the three-dimensional object around the center, and a print control unit that prints an image on the side surface by the recording head while rotating the three-dimensional object by the three-dimensional object support unit. The printing control means, when printing the image on the side surface by the recording head, nozzles in a predetermined range in a direction parallel to the nozzle surface and perpendicular to the central axis among the plurality of nozzles. A program for printing on a three-dimensional object executed by a computer that controls an inkjet printer that discharges the ink from:
A diameter receiving means for receiving a diameter of a circle which is a cross section when the three-dimensional object is cut in a direction perpendicular to the central axis, and the range according to the diameter received by the diameter receiving means. A program for printing on a three-dimensional object, wherein the program functions as range setting means for setting.

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