JP2019142129A - Printer and printing method - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide high-quality printing, in printing a continuous image in plural printing sections adjacent to each other in a longitudinal direction of a printing object that extends like a belt, using UV-curable ink.SOLUTION: A printing head 10 performs printing of an image 2 and a positioning mark 3, in printing sections of a printing object 1 supported on a table 16, while the printing head 10, a first moving mechanism, and a second moving mechanism are controlled. When the printing sections of the printing object 1 supported on the table 16 are changed by the first moving mechanism, after completing printing in one printing section, the second moving mechanism is controlled to move a temperature adjusting light source in a width direction of the printing object 1 so that the printing object 1 is irradiated with light generated from the temperature adjusting light source (step 105), and then, in accordance with a position of the positioning mark 3 detected by a detector 30, the printing head 10 and the first moving mechanism are controlled to adjust the position of an image and a positioning mark to be printed in a new printing section after the change, adjacent to the printing section before the change.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  In the present invention, an inkjet head that discharges UV curable ink that is cured by being irradiated with ultraviolet rays (UV) is used to continuously connect a plurality of print sections adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction of a print object (media) extending in a belt shape. The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a printing method for printing a printed image. The printing object includes a thin film resin film and the like. In the present invention, the “printing section” refers to a range in the longitudinal direction of an object to be printed that can be printed by a series of scans by an inkjet head of a printing apparatus.

  An ink jet printer using an ink jet head enables high-quality printing and is widely used in various fields. In particular, sheet-fed printing that handles a sheet-like printing object is capable of quality-oriented printing due to its configuration, and is suitable for the production of a small variety of products. On the other hand, in industrial applications, there is a great demand for printing on roll films, roll papers, and the like that can be mass-produced. In this field, improvement in print quality is desired.

  In printing on a strip-shaped print object such as roll film or roll paper, the print quality can be improved with high-precision scanning technology using an inkjet head, and the print object is transported with high precision to change the print section. Conveying technology becomes a problem. Conventionally, in order to accurately feed the continuous paper, for example, a mark for displaying the image position along with the image has been printed on the surface of the continuous paper. Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for printing an image and a mark at high speed without impairing the print quality when an image is printed on a continuous paper and a mark for displaying the position of the image using an inkjet head. It is disclosed.

JP 2010-280220 A

  In recent years, in various industrial fields, there is an increasing demand for printing on a thin resin film or the like using a UV curable ink that is cured by being irradiated with ultraviolet rays. When printing using UV curable ink, UV light that generates ultraviolet light is moved with a print head equipped with an inkjet head that discharges UV curable ink, and the ultraviolet light generated from UV light is printed immediately after printing. When UV curable ink is cured immediately after printing by irradiating the object, the UV curable ink has fluidity before curing compared to the case where the UV light is disposed at the subsequent stage of the print head in the longitudinal direction of the printing object. Diffusion on the print object is reduced, and the print quality in each print section is improved. In that case, during printing in each printing section, the temperature of the printing object such as a resin film increases due to irradiation of ultraviolet rays, and when the printing section is changed, the temperature of the printing object decreases due to heat dissipation. Therefore, when a printing object such as a resin film expands or contracts due to a temperature change and a continuous image is printed on a plurality of printing sections adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction of the printing object, streaks, unevenness, etc. There was a problem that banding occurred. The technology described in Patent Document 1 relates to a printing apparatus such as a label attached to a wrap film of fresh food, and uses a UV curable ink or prints a continuous image in a plurality of printing sections. Doing was not considered.

  An object of the present invention is to perform high-quality printing when printing a continuous image on a plurality of printing sections adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction of a print object extending in a strip shape using UV curable ink.

  A printing apparatus according to the present invention includes a table that supports the back surface of a part of a printing section of a print object that extends in a strip shape, and a print head that includes an inkjet head that discharges UV curable ink that is cured by irradiation with ultraviolet rays. A UV light source that generates ultraviolet light, a temperature adjusting light source that generates light that raises the temperature of the print object, a first moving mechanism that moves the table in the longitudinal direction of the print object, a print head, and a UV light source And a second moving mechanism for moving the light source for temperature adjustment in the width direction of the print object, and the print head, the first moving mechanism, and the second moving mechanism are controlled and supported by the print head on the table. Control device that cures UV curable ink by irradiating the printing object with ultraviolet rays generated from a UV light source while printing an image and a positioning mark on the printed section of the printed object A detection device that detects the position of the positioning mark, and the control device changes the print section of the print object supported by the table by the first moving mechanism after the printing of one print section is completed. A positioning mark detected by the detection device after controlling the second moving mechanism, moving the temperature adjusting light source in the width direction of the printing object, and irradiating the printing object with light generated from the temperature adjusting light source The print head and the first moving mechanism are controlled in accordance with the position of the image to adjust the position of the image and the positioning mark to be printed in the new print section after the change adjacent to the print section before the change. To do.

  In the printing method of the present invention, the back surface of a part of the printing object extending in a strip shape is supported by the table, the table is moved in the longitudinal direction of the printing object by the first moving mechanism, and the second The moving mechanism moves the print head equipped with an inkjet head that discharges UV curable ink that is cured by being irradiated with ultraviolet rays, and the UV light source that generates ultraviolet rays in the width direction of the printing object. The UV curable ink is cured by irradiating the print object with ultraviolet rays generated from the UV light source while printing the image and the positioning mark on the print section of the print object supported by the table. After the printing of the print section is completed, the print section of the print object supported by the table is changed by the first movement mechanism, and the temperature of the print object is raised by the second movement mechanism. The light source for temperature adjustment that generates light is moved in the width direction of the object to be printed, the light generated from the light source for temperature adjustment is irradiated to the object to be printed, and then the position of the positioning mark is detected by the detection device Then, according to the detected position of the positioning mark, the print head and the first moving mechanism are controlled, and the image to be printed in the new printing section after the change adjacent to the printing section before the change and the position of the positioning mark It is characterized by adjusting.

  A print head equipped with an inkjet head that moves a table in the longitudinal direction of the object to be printed by the first moving mechanism and discharges a UV curable ink that is cured by being irradiated with ultraviolet rays by the second moving mechanism; and A UV light source that generates ultraviolet rays is moved in the width direction of the print object, and is generated from the UV light source while printing images and positioning marks on the print area of the print object supported by the table by the print head. Since the UV curable ink is cured by irradiating the printing object with the ultraviolet rays, the printing quality in each printing section is improved. In addition, after the printing of one printing section is completed, the printing section of the printing object supported by the table is changed by the first moving mechanism, and light that raises the temperature of the printing object is generated by the second moving mechanism. The temperature adjustment light source is moved in the width direction of the printing object, and the light generated from the temperature adjustment light source is irradiated to the printing object. Therefore, the printing object is irradiated with ultraviolet rays from the UV light source during printing. The temperature rises due to the temperature, and after the change of the printing section, the temperature rises due to light irradiation from the temperature adjusting light source, and the influence of expansion and contraction due to the temperature change of the printing object is suppressed. Then, the position of the positioning mark is detected by the detection device, the print head and the first moving mechanism are controlled according to the detected position of the positioning mark, and a new post-change adjacent to the pre-change print section is made. Since the position of the image to be printed in the correct print section and the position of the positioning mark is adjusted, the occurrence of banding at the boundary of the print section is suppressed, and high-quality printing is performed.

  Furthermore, the printing apparatus according to the present invention prints the light generated from the temperature adjustment light source before the detection device changes the print section of the print object supported by the table and before changing the print section of the print object. After the object is irradiated, the position of the positioning mark is detected, and before the control device changes the print section of the print object, the control section changes the print section of the print object and is generated from the temperature adjustment light source. The correction amount of the print start position in the width direction of the print object is determined from the difference in the position in the width direction of the print object of the positioning mark after the irradiated light is irradiated to the print object, and the determined correction amount Based on the above, the print head is controlled to change the print start position in the width direction of the print object.

  Further, the printing method of the present invention prints the light generated from the temperature adjusting light source by changing the printing section of the printing object before changing the printing section of the printing object supported by the table by the detection device. After irradiating the object, the position of the positioning mark is detected, before the print section of the print object is changed, and after the print section of the print object is changed, the light generated from the temperature control light source is printed. Determine the correction amount of the print start position in the width direction of the print object from the difference in the position in the width direction of the print object of the positioning mark after irradiating the object, and print based on the determined correction amount The head is controlled to change the print start position in the width direction of the print object.

  The width of the print object of the positioning mark before changing the print area of the print object and after changing the print area of the print object and irradiating the print object with light generated from the temperature adjusting light source Determine the correction amount of the print start position in the width direction of the print object from the difference in the position of the direction, and control the print head based on the determined correction amount to change the print start position in the width direction of the print object Therefore, the influence of expansion and contraction in the width direction due to the temperature change of the printing object is suppressed by a simple process.

  Furthermore, in the printing apparatus of the present invention, the control device irradiates the print object with light generated from the temperature adjusting light source before changing the print section of the print object and after changing the print section of the print object. The correction amount of the position of the printing object in the longitudinal direction is determined from the difference in the position of the positioning mark in the longitudinal direction of the printing object, and the table is moved by the first moving mechanism based on the determined correction amount. It is moved, and the position of the printing object supported by the table is corrected in the longitudinal direction.

  Further, the printing method of the present invention is before changing the print section of the print object and after irradiating the print object with the light generated from the temperature adjusting light source by changing the print section of the print object. From the difference in the longitudinal position of the printing object of the positioning mark, the correction amount of the longitudinal position of the printing object is determined, and the table is moved by the first moving mechanism based on the determined correction amount, It is characterized in that the position in the longitudinal direction of the printing object supported by the table is corrected.

  As described above, Patent Document 1 describes that the present invention moves the table supporting the print object in the longitudinal direction of the print object by the first moving mechanism when printing the image and the positioning mark. This is different from the apparatus that moves the inkjet head in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction. And the printing object of the positioning mark before changing the printing section of the printing object and after changing the printing section of the printing object and irradiating the printing object with the light generated from the temperature adjusting light source The correction amount of the longitudinal position of the printing object is determined from the difference in the longitudinal position of the printing object, the table is moved by the first moving mechanism based on the determined correction amount, and the printing object supported by the table Since the position in the longitudinal direction of the object is corrected, the influence of the expansion and contraction in the longitudinal direction due to the temperature change of the printing object is suppressed. Complex image processing for correcting expansion and contraction in the longitudinal direction of the print object is not necessary.

  Further, in the printing apparatus of the present invention, the control device controls the second moving mechanism according to the material or thickness of the printing object, and moves the temperature adjusting light source a plurality of times in the width direction of the printing object. Then, the light generated from the temperature adjusting light source is irradiated to the printing object a plurality of times. In the printing method of the present invention, the second moving mechanism is controlled according to the material or thickness of the printing object, and the temperature adjustment light source is moved a plurality of times in the width direction of the printing object to adjust the temperature. The light emitted from the light source is irradiated to the print object a plurality of times. The rising temperature of the printing object due to the irradiation of ultraviolet rays from the UV light source varies depending on the material or thickness of the printing object. The second moving mechanism is controlled in accordance with the material or thickness of the print object, and the light generated from the temperature adjustment light source is printed by moving the temperature adjustment light source multiple times in the width direction of the print object. Since the object is irradiated a plurality of times, the temperature change of the printing object during printing and after the change of the printing section is effectively suppressed.

  Furthermore, the printing apparatus of the present invention is characterized in that the UV light source also serves as a temperature adjusting light source. The printing method of the present invention is characterized in that a UV light source is used as the temperature adjusting light source. By using a UV light source as the temperature adjusting light source, the configuration of the apparatus is simplified.

  According to the present invention, when a continuous image is printed using a UV curable ink on a plurality of print sections adjacent in the longitudinal direction of a print object extending in a band shape, the occurrence of banding is suppressed and high quality is achieved. Printing can be performed.

  Further, before the print section of the print object is changed, and after the print section of the print object is changed and the light generated from the temperature adjusting light source is irradiated to the print object, the print object of the positioning mark is printed. The correction amount of the print start position in the width direction of the print object is determined from the difference in the width direction position of the print object, and the print head is controlled based on the determined correction amount to control the print start position in the width direction of the print object. By changing, it is possible to suppress the influence of expansion and contraction in the width direction due to the temperature change of the printing object with a simple process.

  Further, before the print section of the print object is changed, and after the print section of the print object is changed and the light generated from the temperature adjusting light source is irradiated to the print object, the print object of the positioning mark is printed. The correction amount of the longitudinal position of the printing object is determined from the difference in the longitudinal position of the printing object, the table is moved by the first moving mechanism based on the determined correction amount, and the printing object supported by the table By correcting the position of the object in the longitudinal direction, it is possible to suppress the influence of expansion and contraction in the longitudinal direction due to a temperature change of the printing object without performing complicated image processing.

  Furthermore, the second moving mechanism is controlled according to the material or thickness of the print object, and the light generated from the temperature adjustment light source is moved by moving the temperature adjustment light source a plurality of times in the width direction of the print object. By irradiating the print target object a plurality of times, it is possible to effectively suppress the temperature change of the print target during printing and after the change of the print section.

  Furthermore, the configuration of the apparatus can be simplified by using a UV light source as the temperature adjusting light source.

1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating a schematic configuration of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1A is a top view and FIG. 1B is a side view. It is the front view which looked at the movement stage and the gate from the collection reel side. 1 is a block diagram of a detection device and a control device of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the printing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure explaining printing operation of one printing section. It is a figure which shows the printed image and the positioning mark for one printing section. It is a figure explaining the detection operation of the position of the mark for positioning. It is a figure explaining the detection operation of the position of the mark for positioning It is a figure explaining the change operation of a printing section. It is a figure explaining the change operation of a printing section. It is a figure explaining the irradiation operation | movement of an ultraviolet-ray. It is a figure explaining the irradiation operation | movement of an ultraviolet-ray. It is a figure which shows the image and positioning mark which were printed for two printing sections.

[Embodiment]
Hereinafter, a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the embodiment described below, the printing object 1 is made of a resin film such as PBT (polybutylene terephthalate) or PET (polyethylene terephthalate). In the drawings used below, in order to facilitate understanding of the operation of the printing apparatus, the distance between the surface of the table 16 and the print head 10 is made larger than that of the actual apparatus.

(Configuration of printing device)
1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating a schematic configuration of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1A is a top view and FIG. 1B is a side view. The printing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment includes a print head 10, a base 11, a gate 12, a guide 13, a moving stage 14, a θ stage 15, a table 16, a first moving mechanism, a second moving mechanism, a UV light 20, A supply reel 21, dancer rollers 22 and 25, guide rollers 23 and 24, a recovery reel 26, an upper roller 27, and a detection device 30 and a control device 40 described later are configured.

  In the present embodiment, a supply reel 21 is used as a supply mechanism for supplying the printing object 1 before printing. However, the supply mechanism of the printing object 1 is not limited to a reel, and any mechanism that supports the printing object 1 wound in a roll shape so as to be rotatable can be used. In the present embodiment, the collection reel 26 is used as a collection mechanism for collecting the printed object 1 after printing. However, the collection mechanism for the print target 1 is not limited to a reel, and any mechanism that can store the print target 1 in a space-saving manner may be used.

  A drive motor (not shown) is attached to the supply reel 21 and the recovery reel 26. The print target 1 extending in a belt shape is fed out from the supply reel 21, and is wound around the collection reel 26 via the dancer roller 22, the guide rollers 23 and 24, and the dancer roller 25. In FIG. 1A, the width direction of the print object 1 is the X direction, and the longitudinal direction of the print object 1 is the Y direction. The supply reel 21 may be configured to rotate according to the movement of the print target 1 without attaching a driving motor.

  Each of the dancer roller 22 and the dancer roller 25 is configured to be movable up and down, and is urged downward in the drawing of FIG. Thereby, tension is applied to the printing object 1 in the longitudinal direction, and unnecessary positional deviation of the printing object 1 is suppressed.

  The print head 10 is equipped with a plurality of inkjet heads. In the case of a color printing apparatus, for example, an inkjet head for each color of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K) is mounted, or a plurality of sets of inkjet heads for each color are installed. It is installed. Each inkjet head discharges a UV curable ink that is cured by being irradiated with ultraviolet rays.

  In FIG. 1B, a guide 13 is installed on the upper surface of the base 11, and a moving stage 14 is mounted on the guide 13. The moving stage 14 moves in the Y direction along the guide 13. A θ stage 15 is mounted on the moving stage 14, and a table 16 is mounted on the θ stage 15. The θ stage 15 rotates the table 16 in the θ direction. The table 16 supports the back surface of a part of the printing section of the printing object 1 extending in a strip shape. A suction hole (not shown) is provided on the surface of the table 16, and the table 16 vacuum-sucks the back surface of the printing section of the print object 1 with the suction hole during printing, so that the print object 1 is placed on the table 16. Secure to.

  In FIG. 1A, a gate 12 is provided above the table 16 over a length that is equal to or greater than the width of the print target 1. FIG. 2 is a front view of the moving stage and the gate as viewed from the collection reel side. In the present embodiment, the first moving mechanism that moves the table 16 in the longitudinal direction of the printing object 1 is constituted by a linear motor, and the linear motor of the first moving mechanism has a built-in magnet. It consists of a plate-like stator 17a and a plate-like mover 17b with a built-in coil. The stator 17 a extends in the depth direction of FIG. 2 and is embedded in the upper surface of the base 11. The mover 17 b is attached to the lower surface of the moving stage 14. The stator 17a and the mover 17b are installed so as not to contact each other with a slight gap. When a current is passed through the coil of the mover 17b, the framing is determined from the coil current and the magnetic field of the magnet of the stator 17a. In accordance with the left hand rule, a propulsive force (Lorentz force) acts on the mover 17b, and the moving stage 14 is moved in the drawing front direction or the drawing depth direction in FIG.

  Similarly, the second moving mechanism that moves the print head 10 in the width direction of the print object 1 is configured by a linear motor 18. The linear motor 18 is attached to the side surface of the gate 12. In the case of the linear motion motor 18, a guide in the X direction, a stator made of a magnet, and a mover made of a coil are housed. The operating principle of the linear motion motor 18 is the same as that of the linear motion motor of the first moving mechanism, and the print head 10 is moved in the X direction by the linear motion motor 18.

  A camera unit 31 constituting a detection device 30 described later is attached to one side surface of the print head 10. The camera unit 31 includes a light source 32, a lens 33, and a camera 34. The illumination light generated from the light source 32 is reflected by the half mirror in the lens 33 and is irradiated onto the surface of the printing object 1 supported by the table 16. The camera 34 has a two-dimensional image sensor such as a CCD, acquires a mark image of a positioning mark 3 to be described later via a lens 33, and outputs an image signal.

  A UV light 20 that generates ultraviolet rays is attached to the other side surface of the print head 10. The UV light 20 is composed of an ultraviolet lamp, a light emitting diode (LED), or the like, and irradiates the surface of the printing object 1 supported by the table 16 with ultraviolet rays, so that the surface of the printing object 1 from each inkjet head of the printing head 10. The UV curable ink discharged to is cured. In the present embodiment, the UV light 20 also serves as a temperature adjusting light source for increasing the temperature of the printing object 1 after changing the printing section of the printing object 1 as described later.

(Configuration of detection device and control device)
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the detection apparatus and control apparatus of the printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The detection device 30 includes a camera unit 31 and an image processing device 35 that processes an image signal of a mark image output from the camera unit 31. The control device 40 includes a CPU 41, a main scanning control unit 42, a sub-scanning control unit 43, a printing control unit 44, a θ stage drive control unit 45, a supply reel drive control unit 47, and a collection reel drive control unit 48. ing. The CPU 41 commands the operations of the main scanning control unit 42, the sub scanning control unit 43, the θ stage drive control unit 45, the supply reel drive control unit 47, and the collection reel drive control unit 48.

  The main scanning control unit 42 performs drive control of the print head 10 via the print control unit 44, and also performs drive control of the linear motion motor 18 that constitutes the second moving mechanism, so that the print head for the print target 1 is printed. 10 main scans are controlled. The sub-scanning control unit 43 controls the sub-scanning of the print head 10 with respect to the print target 1 by performing drive control of the mover 17b of the linear motion motor constituting the first moving mechanism. The θ stage drive control unit 45 performs drive control of the θ stage 15. The supply reel drive control unit 47 controls the drive motor of the supply reel 21 to send out the print target 1 from the supply reel 21. The collection reel drive control unit 48 controls the drive of the drive motor for the collection reel 26 to wind the print target 1 around the collection reel 26.

(Printing operation of one printing section)
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the printing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. The printing apparatus 100 first prints one printing section (step 101). FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a printing operation in one printing section. In the printing apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, the width direction (X direction) of the print object 1 is the main scanning direction, and the longitudinal direction (Y direction) of the print object 1 is the sub-scanning direction. The main scanning control unit 42 in FIG. 3 first controls the drive of the linear motor 18 to move the print head 10 to the movement start position in the width direction (X direction) of the print target 1.

  Next, the main scanning control unit 42 performs drive control of the linear motion motor 18 and moves the print head 10 in the drawing depth direction of FIG. Drive control is performed, and printing for one scanning width is performed on the printing object 1. At this time, the UV curable ink ejected from each inkjet head of the print head 10 to the surface of the printing object 1 is cured immediately after printing by the ultraviolet rays irradiated from the UV light 20. Subsequently, the sub-scanning control unit 43 in FIG. 3 performs drive control of the movable element 17b of the linear motion motor, moves the moving stage 14 in the Y direction, and print object 1 that is suction-fixed on the table 16. Is moved in the Y direction by one scanning width. In the meantime, the main scanning control unit 42 controls the drive of the linear motor 18 and returns the print head 10 to the movement start position. These operations are repeated to print the entire print section. FIG. 5A shows the position in the Y direction of the moving stage 14 at the start of printing, and FIG. 5B shows the position in the Y direction of the moving stage 14 when printing for one printing section is completed. ing.

  When the moving stage 14 is moved in the Y direction, the dancer roller 22 moves upward in the drawing shown by the arrow in FIG. 5A against the biasing force, and the dancer roller 25 is attached thereto. It moves downward in the figure as indicated by the arrow in FIG. Therefore, it is not necessary to drive the supply reel 21 and the recovery reel 26 every time the moving stage 14 is moved in the Y direction. The drive reels 22 and 25 can move up and down by driving the supply reel 21 and the recovery reel 26. You can do this when you are approaching the limits of the range.

  The print control unit 44 stores image data to be printed on the print object 1 and positioning mark data. The print head 10 prints an image and a positioning mark on the print section of the print object 1. To do. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a printed image and positioning marks for one printing section. The positioning mark 3 has a shape that allows easy image recognition, such as a cross shape, for example, and two or more positioning marks 3 are printed at the corners in the width direction of the print object 1 for each printing section. .

  In the printing apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, printing is performed when the print head 10 is moved in the same direction. However, printing may be performed while the print head 10 is moved in the direction opposite to the previous scan. Good. In that case, UV light sources that generate ultraviolet rays are provided on both sides of the print head 10 in the scanning direction.

(Detection operation of positioning mark position)
In FIG. 4, when printing for one printing section is completed, the CPU 41 in FIG. 3 determines whether printing of all printing sections has been completed (step 102). If printing of all the print sections has not been completed, the printing apparatus 100 detects the position of the positioning mark (step 103). 7 and 8 are diagrams for explaining the operation of detecting the position of the positioning mark. The main scanning control unit 42 in FIG. 3 first performs drive control of the linear motion motor 18 to move the camera unit 31 attached to the print head 10 to the position of the two positioning marks 3 as shown in FIG. Move one of the above to the sky. The camera unit 31 acquires a mark image of the positioning mark 3, and the image processing device 35 in FIG. 3 processes the image signal of the mark image output from the camera unit 31 to print the positioning mark 3 print object. The position in the longitudinal direction of 1 and the position in the width direction are detected. Subsequently, the main scanning control unit 42 performs drive control of the linear motion motor 18 so that the camera unit 31 attached to the print head 10 is moved to the other of the two positioning marks 3 as shown in FIG. Move to one sky. The camera unit 31 acquires the mark image of the positioning mark 3, and the image processing device 35 processes the image signal of the mark image output from the camera unit 31, and the length of the printing object 1 of the positioning mark 3 The position in the direction and the position in the width direction are detected.

(Print section change operation)
In FIG. 4, the printing apparatus 100 next changes the print section (step 104). 9 and 10 are diagrams for explaining the operation of changing the print section. In the present embodiment, the linear motion motors (stator 17a and mover 17b) as the first moving mechanism also serve as a printing section changing mechanism that changes the printing section of the printing object 1 supported by the table 16. Yes. Further, the guide rollers 23 and 24 and the upper roller 27 constitute a holding mechanism that holds the printing object 1 and lifts it from the table 16.

  FIG. 9A shows a state where printing for one printing section is completed. First, the printing apparatus 100 lowers the upper roller 27 located above the guide rollers 23 and 24 from the state shown in FIG. 9A, and as shown in FIG. The printing object 1 is held between the rollers 23 and 24. Then, after releasing the vacuum suction of the printing object 1 by the table 16, the printing apparatus 100 raises the upper roller 27 and the guide roller 23 sandwiching the printing object 1 together, and also moves the printing object 1 The upper roller 27 and the guide roller 24 sandwiched are raised together, and the printing object 1 is lifted from the table 16 as shown in FIG. Then, the sub-scan control unit 43 in FIG. 3 performs drive control of the movable element 17b of the linear motion motor, moves the moving stage 14 in the direction opposite to that during printing, and prints the printing section where the table 16 has been printed. Return to where it was at the start.

  FIG. 10A shows a state where the table 16 is returned to the original location. From the state shown in FIG. 10A, the printing apparatus 100 lowers the upper roller 27 and the guide roller 23 that sandwich the printing object 1 together, and the upper roller 27 that sandwiches the printing object 1 and The guide roller 24 is lowered together, and the printing object 1 is mounted on the table 16 as shown in FIG. Then, the printing apparatus 100 lifts the upper roller 27 to the original position as shown in FIG. Through the above series of operations, the printing section of the printing object 1 supported by the table 16 is changed.

  While the first moving mechanism also serves as the print section changing mechanism and the holding mechanism holds the print target 1, the table 16 is returned to the place where the printing started in the print section where printing was completed, and the table Since the printing section of the printing object 1 supported by the printer 16 is changed, it is not necessary to separately provide a printing section changing mechanism, and the configuration is simple. Further, since it is not necessary to separately perform the operation of returning the table 16 to the original place, the tact time is shortened.

  Further, since the printing object 1 is held by the holding mechanism and lifted from the table 16, the table 16 is returned to the place where the printing started in the printing section where printing was completed, and the printing object 1 supported by the table 16. When the printing section is changed, the printing object 1 is not displaced due to friction with the table 16.

(Light irradiation operation from temperature control light source)
In FIG. 4, when the change of the printing section is completed, the printing apparatus 100 irradiates the printing object 1 with light for increasing the temperature of the printing object 1 generated from the temperature adjusting light source (step 105). . In the present embodiment, the UV light 20 also serves as a temperature adjusting light source, and the print object 1 is irradiated with ultraviolet rays generated from the UV light 20. 11 and 12 are diagrams for explaining the ultraviolet irradiation operation. The main scanning control unit 42 in FIG. 3 performs drive control of the linear motor 18 to move the UV light 20 attached to the print head 10 in the width direction of the print object 1 as shown in FIG. Then, the ultraviolet light generated from the UV light 20 is irradiated to the printing object 1. FIG. 11 shows a state in which the irradiation with ultraviolet rays has started, and FIG. 12 shows a state in which the irradiation with ultraviolet rays has been completed once.

  The rising temperature of the printing object 1 due to the irradiation of ultraviolet rays from the UV light 20 varies depending on the material or thickness of the printing object 1. In the present embodiment, the main scanning control unit 42 controls the linear motion motor 18 that constitutes the second moving mechanism according to the material or thickness of the print object 1, and causes the UV light 20 to move to the print object 1. The ultraviolet ray generated from the UV light 20 is irradiated to the print object 1 a plurality of times. Thereby, the temperature change of the printing target 1 during printing and after the change of the printing section is effectively suppressed.

  In the present embodiment, the UV light 20 also serves as a temperature adjusting light source, and the configuration of the apparatus can be simplified by using the UV light 20 as the temperature adjusting light source. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a temperature adjusting light source may be provided separately from the UV light 20. In this case, the light source for temperature adjustment may be a light source that generates white light, infrared light, or the like.

  The light irradiation from the temperature adjusting light source can be performed not only when the printing section is changed, but also before starting the printing of the first printing section in step 101 of FIG. When the time interval between one scan and the next scan of the print head 10 becomes longer than that during normal printing, such as when the inkjet head mounted on the print head 10 is cleaned during printing. Can also be done.

(Re-detection operation of positioning mark position)
In FIG. 4, next, the printing apparatus 100 redetects the position of the positioning mark (step 106). The positioning mark position re-detection operation is the same as the positioning mark position detection (step 103) operation described with reference to FIGS.

(Determination of correction amount)
In FIG. 4, after re-detecting the position of the positioning mark, the printing apparatus 100 determines the correction amount of the position in the longitudinal direction of the print object 1 and the correction amount of the print start position in the width direction (step 107). . At this time, the sub-scanning control unit 43 in FIG. 3 determines the position in the longitudinal direction of the printing object 1 of each positioning mark 3 detected in step 103 and the printing object before changing the printing section of the printing object 1. After changing the printing section of the object 1 and irradiating the printing object 1 with the light generated from the temperature adjusting light source, the position of each positioning mark 3 detected in step 106 with the position in the longitudinal direction of the printing object 1 From the difference, the correction amount of the position in the longitudinal direction of the printing object 1 is determined. Further, the print control unit 44 in FIG. 3 determines the position of each positioning mark 3 detected in step 103 before changing the print section of the print object 1 in the width direction of the print object 1 and the print object 1. From the difference between the position of each positioning mark 3 detected in step 106 and the width direction of the printing object 1 after changing the printing section and irradiating the printing object 1 with the light generated from the temperature adjusting light source The correction amount of the print start position in the width direction of the print object 1 is determined.

(Longitudinal position correction operation)
In FIG. 4, next, the printing apparatus 100 corrects the position of the print object 1 in the longitudinal direction (step 108). 3 performs drive control of the mover 17b of the linear motion motor constituting the first moving mechanism based on the correction amount of the position in the longitudinal direction of the print target 1 determined in step 107. Thus, the moving stage 14 is moved in the Y direction, and the position in the longitudinal direction of the printing object 1 supported by the table 16 is corrected.

  Each of the positioning marks 3 before changing the printing section of the printing object 1 and after changing the printing section of the printing object 1 and irradiating the printing object 1 with light generated from the temperature adjusting light source. A correction amount for the longitudinal position of the printing object 1 is determined from the difference in the longitudinal position of the printing object 1 (step 107), and the table 16 is moved by the first moving mechanism based on the determined correction amount. Thus, since the position in the longitudinal direction of the printing object 1 supported by the table 16 is corrected (step 108), the influence of the expansion and contraction in the longitudinal direction due to the temperature change of the printing object 1 is suppressed. Complex image processing for correcting the expansion and contraction in the longitudinal direction of the printing object 1 is not necessary.

(Correction of misalignment in the θ direction)
In FIG. 4, the printing apparatus 100 further corrects the positional deviation of the print object 1 in the θ direction (step 109). The image processing apparatus 35 in FIG. 3 detects the positional deviation amount in the θ direction of the printing object 1 from the position in the longitudinal direction and the position in the width direction of the printing object 1 of each positioning mark 3 detected in Step 103 or Step 106. Is detected. Then, the θ stage drive control unit 45 in FIG. 3 rotates the table 16 in the θ direction by the θ stage 15 based on the positional deviation amount of the print target 1 detected by the image processing device 35 in the θ direction. The positional deviation in the θ direction of the printing object 1 supported on the head is corrected.

  A plurality of positioning marks 3 are printed for each printing section of the printing object 1, and the position of the positioning marks 3 is detected by the detection device 30. Can be detected. Then, based on the detection result, the table 16 is rotated in the θ direction by the θ stage 15 to correct the positional deviation in the θ direction of the print object 1 supported by the table 16, so that the print object 1 in the θ direction is corrected. The positional deviation is eliminated, and the image 2 is printed with higher accuracy.

(Change operation of print start position)
In FIG. 4, when the correction of the positional deviation of the print object 1 in the θ direction is completed, the printing apparatus 100 returns to Step 101 and prints the image 2 and the positioning mark 3 in a new print section. At the time of printing, the print control unit 44 in FIG. 3 controls the print head 10 based on the correction amount of the print start position in the width direction of the print object 1 determined in step 107, and controls the print object 1 in the width direction. Change the print start position.

  Each of the positioning marks 3 before changing the printing section of the printing object 1 and after changing the printing section of the printing object 1 and irradiating the printing object 1 with light generated from the temperature adjusting light source. From the difference in the position in the width direction of the print object 1, the correction amount of the print start position in the width direction of the print object 1 is determined (step 107), and the print head 10 is controlled based on the determined correction amount, Since the print start position in the width direction of the print object 1 is changed, the influence of expansion and contraction in the width direction due to the temperature change of the print object 1 is suppressed by simple processing. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a printed image and positioning marks for two printing sections.

  A print head equipped with an inkjet head that moves the table 16 in the longitudinal direction of the printing object 1 by the first moving mechanism and discharges UV curable ink that is cured by being irradiated with ultraviolet rays by the second moving mechanism. 10 and UV light 20 that generates ultraviolet rays are moved in the width direction of the print object 1, and the image 2 and the positioning mark 3 are placed on the print section of the print object 1 supported by the table 16 by the print head 10. While the printing is performed, the ultraviolet light generated from the UV light 20 is irradiated to the printing object 1 to cure the UV curable ink, so that the printing quality in each printing section is improved. Further, after the printing of one printing section is completed, the printing section of the printing object 1 supported by the table 16 is changed by the first moving mechanism, and the temperature of the printing object 1 is raised by the second moving mechanism. A temperature adjusting light source that generates light (in this embodiment, which is also used as the UV light 20) is moved in the width direction of the printing object 1, and the light generated from the temperature adjusting light source is irradiated onto the printing object 1. Therefore, the influence of expansion and contraction due to the temperature change of the printing object 1 is suppressed. Then, the position of the positioning mark 3 is detected by the detection device 30, and the print head 10 and the first moving mechanism are controlled according to the detected position of the positioning mark 3 to be adjacent to the print section before the change. Since the position of the image and the positioning mark to be printed in the new print section after the change is adjusted, the occurrence of banding at the boundary portion of the print section is suppressed, and high-quality printing is performed.

[Effect of the embodiment]
According to the embodiment described above, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) Using UV curable ink, when printing a continuous image on a plurality of print sections adjacent in the longitudinal direction of the print object 1 extending in a strip shape, banding is suppressed and high-quality printing is performed. It can be carried out.

(2) Further, positioning before changing the printing section of the printing object 1 and after changing the printing section of the printing object 1 and irradiating the printing object 1 with light generated from the temperature adjusting light source From the difference in the position in the width direction of the print object 1 of the mark 3, the correction amount of the print start position in the width direction of the print object 1 is determined, and the print head 10 is controlled based on the determined correction amount, By changing the print start position in the width direction of the print object 1, the influence of expansion and contraction in the width direction due to the temperature change of the print object 1 can be suppressed with a simple process.

(3) Further, positioning before changing the printing section of the printing object 1 and after changing the printing section of the printing object 1 and irradiating the printing object 1 with light generated from the temperature adjusting light source The correction amount of the position of the printing object 1 in the longitudinal direction is determined from the difference in the position of the printing object 1 in the longitudinal direction, and the table 16 is moved by the first moving mechanism based on the determined correction amount. Thus, by correcting the position in the longitudinal direction of the printing object 1 supported by the table 16, the influence of longitudinal expansion and contraction due to the temperature change of the printing object 1 is suppressed without performing complicated image processing. be able to.

(4) Furthermore, the second moving mechanism is controlled in accordance with the material or thickness of the printing object 1, and the temperature adjusting light source is moved a plurality of times in the width direction of the printing object 1. By irradiating the printing object 1 with the light generated from a plurality of times, the temperature change of the printing object 1 during printing and after the change of the printing section can be effectively suppressed.

(5) Furthermore, by using the UV light 20 as a temperature adjusting light source, the configuration of the apparatus can be simplified.

  In the embodiment described above, linear motion motors are used as the first movement mechanism and the second movement mechanism, but other movement mechanisms such as a ball screw may be used.

  In the embodiment described above, the holding mechanism for holding the printing object 1 is constituted by the guide rollers 23 and 24 and the upper roller 27. However, the upper roller 27 is not limited to the roller, and is a guide roller. Any structure that can clamp the printing object 1 with 23 or 24 is acceptable.

  Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, two positioning marks 3 are printed for each printing section. However, three or more positioning marks 3 may be printed for each printing section.

  In the embodiment described above, the camera unit 31 is attached to the print head 10 and the camera unit 31 is moved together with the print head 10, but the camera unit 31 may be fixedly installed.

  In the embodiment described above, the camera unit 31 includes the light source 32, the lens 33, and the camera 34, and the illumination light generated from the light source 32 is reflected by the half mirror in the lens 33 to print the object 1. However, ring illumination or other illumination methods may be used as long as the illumination light can be irradiated onto the surface of the printing object.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Print target 2 Image 3 Positioning mark 10 Print head 11 Base 12 Gate 13 Guide 14 Moving stage 15 θ stage 16 Table 17a Linear motion motor (stator), 17b Linear motion motor (movable element)
18 Linear Motion Motor 20 UV Light 21 Supply Reel 22, 25 Dancer Roller 23, 24 Guide Roller 26 Collection Reel 27 Upper Roller 30 Detection Device 31 Camera Unit 32 Light Source 33 Lens 34 Camera 35 Image Processing Device 40 Control Device 41 CPU
42 main scanning control unit 43 sub-scanning control unit 44 print control unit 45 θ stage drive control unit 47 supply reel drive control unit 48 recovery reel drive control unit 100 printing apparatus

Claims (10)

A table that supports the back surface of a part of the printing section of the print object extending in a strip shape;
A print head equipped with an inkjet head that discharges UV curable ink that is cured by being irradiated with ultraviolet rays; and
A UV light source that generates ultraviolet light;
A temperature adjusting light source that generates light for increasing the temperature of the print object;
A first moving mechanism for moving the table in the longitudinal direction of the print object;
A second moving mechanism for moving the print head, the UV light source, and the temperature adjusting light source in the width direction of the print object;
By controlling the print head, the first moving mechanism, and the second moving mechanism, the print head prints an image and a positioning mark on a print section of the print object supported by the table. A control device for irradiating the printing object with ultraviolet rays generated from the UV light source and curing the UV curable ink;
A detection device for detecting the position of the positioning mark,
The control device controls the second moving mechanism when the printing section of the printing object supported by the table is changed by the first moving mechanism after the printing of one printing section is finished, Depending on the position of the positioning mark detected by the detection device after moving the temperature adjusting light source in the width direction of the printing object and irradiating the printing object with light generated from the temperature adjusting light source The printing head and the first moving mechanism are controlled to adjust the position of the image and the positioning mark to be printed in the new print section after the change adjacent to the print section before the change. apparatus. The detection device changes the print section of the print object supported by the table and changes the print section of the print object to generate light generated from the temperature adjusting light source to the print object. After the irradiation, the position of the positioning mark is detected,
The control device, before changing the printing section of the printing object, and after changing the printing section of the printing object and irradiating the printing object with light generated from the light source for temperature adjustment, A correction amount of the print start position in the width direction of the print object is determined from the difference in the position in the width direction of the print object of the positioning mark, and the print head is controlled based on the determined correction amount. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a printing start position in a width direction of the printing object is changed. The control device, before changing the printing section of the printing object, and after changing the printing section of the printing object and irradiating the printing object with light generated from the light source for temperature adjustment, A correction amount of the position of the printing object in the longitudinal direction is determined from the difference in position of the printing object in the longitudinal direction of the printing object, and the table is moved by the first moving mechanism based on the determined correction amount. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the position of the print object supported by the table is corrected in the longitudinal direction. The control device controls the second moving mechanism according to the material or thickness of the print object, moves the temperature adjusting light source a plurality of times in the width direction of the print object, and moves the temperature. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the print object is irradiated with light generated from an adjustment light source a plurality of times. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the UV light source also serves as the temperature adjusting light source. Supporting the back side of a part of the printing section of the print object extending in a band shape by a table,
The first moving mechanism moves the table in the longitudinal direction of the print object,
The second moving mechanism moves a print head equipped with an inkjet head that discharges UV curable ink that is cured by being irradiated with ultraviolet rays, and a UV light source that generates ultraviolet rays in the width direction of the print object,
The printing head irradiates the printing object with ultraviolet rays generated from the UV light source while printing an image and a positioning mark on a printing section of the printing object supported by the table. Curing the curable ink,
After the printing of one printing section is completed, the first moving mechanism changes the printing section of the printing object supported by the table,
The temperature adjusting light source that generates light that raises the temperature of the printing object is moved in the width direction of the printing object by the second moving mechanism, and the light generated from the temperature adjusting light source is After irradiating the object to be printed, the position of the positioning mark is detected by a detection device, and the print head and the first moving mechanism are controlled according to the detected position of the positioning mark, before the change. A printing method comprising adjusting an image to be printed in a new print section after change adjacent to the print section and a position of a positioning mark. Before the print section of the print object supported by the table is changed by the detection device, and the light generated from the temperature adjusting light source by changing the print section of the print object is sent to the print object. After the irradiation, the position of the positioning mark is detected,
Before the change of the printing section of the printing object, and after the irradiation of the light generated from the temperature adjusting light source by changing the printing section of the printing object, the positioning mark The correction amount of the print start position in the width direction of the print object is determined from the difference in the position in the width direction of the print object, and the print head is controlled based on the determined correction amount, and the print object The printing start position in the width direction is changed. The printing method according to claim 6. Before the change of the printing section of the printing object, and after the irradiation of the light generated from the temperature adjusting light source by changing the printing section of the printing object, the positioning mark From the difference in the longitudinal position of the print object, determine the correction amount of the longitudinal position of the print object, and based on the determined correction amount, move the table by the first movement mechanism, The printing method according to claim 7, wherein a position in a longitudinal direction of the printing object supported by the table is corrected. The second moving mechanism is controlled according to the material or thickness of the printing object, and the temperature adjusting light source is moved a plurality of times in the width direction of the printing object to be generated from the temperature adjusting light source. The printing method according to claim 6, wherein the printed object is irradiated a plurality of times. The printing method according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the UV light source is used as the temperature adjusting light source.

Images