JP2021094823A - Ink jet printer - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an inkjet printer capable of forming an image of more stable quality even with device configuration of warming ink in an inkjet head.SOLUTION: An inkjet printer relatively moves at least one of a plurality of inkjet heads for discharging ink and a recording medium, and performs printing on the recording medium. The inkjet head has an ink supply port 24 in which a plurality of nozzles 20 are formed in the same direction as nozzle arrays 22a to 22n and are formed so as to be deviated to one end side of the nozzle arrays, and an ink warming heater for warming the ink. A pair of inkjet heads 3A and 3B are adjacently arranged in a direction of the nozzle arrays so that one ends of the nozzle arrays or the other ends of the nozzle arrays are brought into close contact with each other.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

The present invention relates to an inkjet printer.

Conventionally, inkjet printers that eject ink onto a recording medium to form an image have become widespread. As disclosed in Patent Document 1, a general inkjet printer includes an inkjet head that ejects ink, a carriage on which the inkjet head is mounted, and a carriage drive mechanism that moves the carriage in the main scanning direction.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-232595

Here, as shown in FIG. 7A, the nozzle rows 105 of the inkjet heads 100A and 100B on which the nozzles 104 for ejecting ink are formed are one nozzle row 105 with respect to the sub-scanning direction (X direction). There is a configuration in which a plurality of inkjet heads 100A and 100B are arranged in the main scanning direction (Y direction) so as to be regarded. 7 is a schematic top view of the inkjet heads 100A and 100B, reference numeral 102 in FIG. 7 is an ink supply port for supplying ink to the inkjet heads 100A and 100B, and reference numeral 104 is a lower surface of the inkjet heads 100A and 100B. It is a nozzle provided in.

Further, FIG. 7B is a schematic view showing the frequency of use of the nozzle 104, and the nozzle row 105 regarded as one in the plurality of inkjet heads 100A and 100B is in the central region with respect to the sub-scanning direction. The nozzle 104 is used more frequently, and the nozzle 104 in the end region with respect to the sub-scanning direction is used less frequently. The region where the inkjet head 100A and the inkjet head 100B are close to each other is referred to as a joint portion 106. In the example of FIG. 7, the joint portion 106 includes a side of the inkjet head 100A where the ink supply port 102 is provided and a side of the inkjet head 100B where the ink supply port 102 is not provided.

Here, when the ink to be ejected is, for example, an ultraviolet curable ink having a high viscosity, the ink is heated in each of the inkjet heads 100A and 100B. However, the heated ink may have a variation in ink temperature depending on the region even within the same inkjet heads 100A and 100B. Specifically, for example, when the ambient temperature at which the inkjet printer is installed is low, the temperature of the ink in the region near the ink supply port 102 tends to be low, and the temperature of the ink in the region far from the ink supply port 102 is high. There is a tendency.

Since the viscosity of the ink is different at different temperatures, the ejection speed from the nozzle 104 is different. That is, the image quality at the joint portion 106 where the frequently used nozzle 104 exists may not be stable, and a striped pattern with different shades, so-called bounding, may occur in the image.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an inkjet printer capable of forming an image of more stable quality even with an apparatus configuration for heating ink in an inkjet head.

The inkjet printer of the present invention is an inkjet printer that prints on the recording medium by relatively moving at least one of a plurality of inkjet heads for ejecting ink and a recording medium. The inkjet head has a plurality of nozzles as nozzle rows. The pair of inkjet heads has an ink supply port formed in the same direction and unevenly formed on one end side of the nozzle row, and an ink heater for heating the ink, and the pair of inkjet heads has the nozzle. The one end of the row or the other end of the nozzle row is arranged adjacent to each other in the direction of the nozzle row so as to be close to each other.

According to this configuration, the pair of inkjet heads are arranged so that the temperatures of the inks in the inkjet heads are close to each other in the same region. An image of stable quality can be formed.

According to the inkjet printer of the present invention, when the pair of inkjet heads are driven at the same time, the one end of the nozzle row is regarded as a continuous nozzle row of each of the pair of inkjet heads. The portions or the other ends are close to each other. According to this configuration, the nozzle rows of a pair of inkjet heads form a continuous long nozzle row, and printing can be performed on a recording medium.

According to the inkjet printer of the present invention, the inkjet head prints on the recording medium by a multi-pass method in which the main scanning operation is performed a plurality of times for a plurality of printing passes at each position of the recording medium. In addition, in each of the plurality of print passes performed for each position of the recording medium, mask data, which is data for designating pixels to eject ink droplets, is used to ink the pixels designated by the mask data. Drops are ejected, and the mask data is obtained by increasing the frequency of use of the nozzles on one end side of the pair of inkjet heads that are close to each other in the nozzle row and the other end side that is separated from each other in the nozzle row. The frequency of use of the nozzle is reduced. According to this configuration, the temperature of the ink ejected from the nozzles having the same frequency of use is the same, so that a more stable quality image can be formed.

According to the inkjet printer of the present invention, in the pair of inkjet heads, regions in which the temperature of the ink in the inkjet head is relatively low or regions in which the temperature of the ink in the inkjet head is relatively high are close to each other. Arranged to do. According to this configuration, when the ink is heated in the inkjet head, a more stable quality image can be formed.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can form an image of more stable quality even with a device configuration for heating ink in an inkjet head.

It is a perspective view of the inkjet printer of an embodiment. It is the schematic for demonstrating the structure of the inkjet printer shown in FIG. It is a perspective view of the peripheral part of the carriage shown in FIG. It is a schematic block diagram of the inkjet head of an embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the arrangement example of the pair of inkjet heads of an embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the arrangement example of the pair of inkjet heads of another embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the arrangement example of an inkjet head.

Hereinafter, the modeling method and the modeling apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the inkjet printer 1 of the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic view for explaining the configuration of the inkjet printer 1 shown in FIG.

The inkjet printer 1 of the present embodiment is, for example, an inkjet printer for business use, and prints on a recording medium 2. The recording medium 2 is, for example, printing paper, cloth, a resin film, or the like.

The inkjet printer 1 is a carriage drive that moves the inkjet head 3 that ejects ink toward the recording medium 2, the carriage 4 on which the inkjet head 3 is mounted, and the carriage 4 in the main scanning direction (Y direction in FIG. 1 and the like). It includes a mechanism 5, a guide rail 6 for guiding the carriage 4 in the main operation direction, and a plurality of ink tanks 7 for accommodating ink supplied to the inkjet head 3.

As an example, the inkjet head 3 ejects ultraviolet curable ink (UV ink) downward. The ink ejected by the inkjet head 3 is not limited to UV ink, and may be any other ink as long as the ink has a viscosity that changes with temperature.

A nozzle surface (ink ejection surface) on which a plurality of nozzles are arranged is formed on the lower surface of the inkjet head 3, and a piezoelectric element (piezo element) for ejecting ink from the nozzles is provided. A platen 8 on which the recording medium 2 is placed at the time of printing is arranged under the inkjet head 3. The carriage drive mechanism 5 includes, for example, two pulleys, a belt that is bridged over the two pulleys and a part of which is fixed to the carriage 4, and a motor that rotates the pulleys.

In the following description, the main scanning direction (Y direction) is defined as the "left-right direction", and the sub-scanning direction (X direction in FIG. 1 etc.) orthogonal to the vertical direction (Z direction in FIG. In the front-back direction. " Further, the Y1 direction side of FIG. 1, which is one side in the left-right direction, is the "right" side, and the Y2 direction side of FIG. 1, which is the opposite side of the right side, is the "left" side, which is one side in the front-rear direction. The X1 direction side of FIG. 1 and the like is the "front" side city, and the X2 direction side of FIG. 1 and the like, which is the opposite side of the front side, is the "rear" side.

Further, the control unit 9 included in the inkjet printer 1 is provided with, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or the like, and performs ink ejection control and heating control by the inkjet head 3, and is mainly used by the carriage drive mechanism 5. Movement control is performed according to the scanning direction.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the peripheral portion of the carriage 4 shown in FIG.

The inkjet printer 1 includes a pressure adjusting unit 11 that accommodates the ink supplied to the inkjet head 3 and adjusts the pressure of the ink supplied to the inkjet head 3, and preheating to heat the ink supplied to the inkjet head 3. It is provided with a unit 12. The preliminary heating unit 12 is arranged between the pressure adjusting unit 11 and the inkjet head 3 in the ink supply path to the inkjet head 3. That is, the preheating unit 12 is arranged on the upstream side of the inkjet head 3 and preheats the ink supplied to the inkjet head 3. The pressure adjusting unit 11 and the preliminary heating unit 12 are mounted on the carriage 4.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, two inkjet heads 3 (inkjet heads 3A and 3B in FIG. 5) are mounted on the carriage 4. The two inkjet heads 3 are mounted on the carriage 4 with a gap in the left-right direction. Further, the carriage 4 is equipped with a preliminary heating unit 12 corresponding to each inkjet head 3, and the pressure adjusting unit 11 is mounted on the preliminary heating unit 12. Specifically, two pressure adjusting units 11 are placed on the upper surface of one preheating unit 12 so as to correspond to the two ink flow paths formed inside the preheating unit 12. As an example, the two inkjet heads 3 are mounted on the carriage 4 in opposite directions in the front-rear direction.

A heat radiating member (heat sink) 13 for dissipating the heat generated by the inkjet head 3 (specifically, the heat generated by the piezo element) is attached to the upper surface of the inkjet head 3. A fan 14 for heat dissipation for dissipating heat transmitted from the inkjet head 3 to the heat dissipation member 13 is attached to the upper surface of the heat dissipation member 13.

The pressure adjusting unit 11 is formed in a flat rectangular parallelepiped shape, and ink is supplied from the ink tank 7. Specifically, the ink tank 7 is arranged above the pressure adjusting unit 11, and ink is supplied from the ink tank 7 to the pressure adjusting unit 11 due to the head difference. The pressure adjusting unit 11 is, for example, a mechanical pressure damper (pressure damper).

An ink flow path through which ink flows is formed inside the pressure adjusting unit 11. The pressure adjusting unit 11 includes, for example, a thin film arranged so as to be in contact with the ink flow path, a spring for urging the thin film, and the like. The pressure adjusting unit 11 mechanically adjusts the pressure of the ink supplied to the inkjet head 3 without using a pressure adjusting pump. Further, the pressure adjusting unit 11 adjusts the pressure of the ink supplied to the inkjet head 3 so that the ink chamber formed inside the inkjet head 3 has a negative pressure.

The preliminary heating unit 12 is an ink heating device outside the head arranged outside the inkjet head 3. The preliminary heating unit 12 includes a heating unit main body 16 formed in a block shape and a heater (not shown) attached to the heating unit main body 16. The heating portion main body 16 is formed of, for example, a metal material having high thermal conductivity such as an aluminum alloy. Further, the heating portion main body 16 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The heater is, for example, a print heater formed in the form of a film, and is attached to the surface of the heating unit main body 16 to heat the heating unit main body 16. When the heater rises to a predetermined temperature, the heater is maintained at this predetermined temperature.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a side surface of the inkjet head 3 of the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the inkjet head 3, a plurality of nozzles 20 are formed in the same direction as the nozzle row 22, and the ink supply port 24 and the ink supply port 24 are formed unevenly toward one end side of the nozzle row 22. An ink heater 26 for heating the ink is provided. The same direction referred to here is the X direction (sub-scanning direction).

Further, the inkjet head 3 of the present embodiment includes an ink front chamber 28 and an ink ejection chamber 30. An ink supply port 24 is provided in the upper part of the ink front chamber 28, and ink from the preliminary heating unit 12 flows into the ink front chamber 28 through the ink supply port 24. An ink heater 26 is provided in the ink front chamber 28.

The ink ejection chamber 30 is provided with a piezo element corresponding to the nozzle 20, and when the piezo element is driven, ink is ejected from the nozzle 20.

Here, the ink flows in from the ink supply port 24 formed at the end of the inkjet head 3 and is heated by the ink heating heater 26. However, for example, when the environmental temperature of the place where the inkjet printer 1 is installed is low, the ink in the vicinity of the ink supply port 24 may be ejected from the nozzle 20 without being sufficiently heated. On the other hand, the ink in the vicinity of the end opposite to the end on which the ink supply port 24 is formed is easily sufficiently heated up to the end regardless of the environmental temperature, and is ejected from the nozzle 20. To.

That is, the ink in the ink front chamber 28 may have a temperature gradient in which the temperature in the X2 direction in FIG. 4 is lower than that in the X1 direction. Inks such as UV inks, which have different viscosities depending on the temperature, have too high viscosities if they are ejected without being sufficiently heated, which may affect print quality. Therefore, if inks having different temperatures are mixed as the ink ejected from the inkjet head 3, the quality of the formed image may not be stable.

Therefore, in the inkjet printer 1 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5A, the pair of inkjet heads 3A and 3B have one end of the nozzle row 22 or the other end of the nozzle row 22. They are arranged adjacent to each other in the direction of the nozzle row 22 so that they are close to each other.

That is, the pair of inkjet heads 3A and 3B are arranged so that the regions in the inkjet head 3 where the ink temperature is relatively low or the regions in the inkjet head 3 where the ink temperature is relatively high are close to each other. To. According to such a configuration, since the pair of inkjet heads 3A and 3B are arranged so that the regions having the same ink temperature in the inkjet head 3 are close to each other, a device for heating the ink in the inkjet head 3. Even with the configuration, a more stable quality image can be formed.

In the example of FIG. 5A, the pair of inkjet heads 3A and 3B are adjacent to each other in the direction of the nozzle row 22 so that the ends of the nozzle row 22 on the side where the ink supply port 24 is provided are close to each other. Is arranged. The number of nozzles 20 and nozzle rows 22 shown in FIG. 5A is an example, and is not limited to this.

Further, in the inkjet printer 1 of the present embodiment, when the pair of inkjet heads 3A and 3B are driven at the same time, the nozzle rows 22 of the pair of inkjet heads 3A and 3B can be regarded as continuous nozzle rows 22. One end of row 22 or the other end is close to each other. In the example of FIG. 5A, the nozzle rows 22a and the nozzle rows 22b in the pair of inkjet heads 3A and 3B are regarded as the nozzle rows 22 in which the nozzle rows 22n are continuous in the sub-scanning direction.

According to such a configuration, the nozzle rows 22 of the pair of inkjet heads 3A and 3B form a continuous long nozzle row 22, and printing can be performed on the recording medium 2.

Next, with reference to FIG. 5B, ink ejection control by the inkjet printer 1 of the present embodiment will be described.

The inkjet printer 1 of the present embodiment prints by a multi-pass method in which each position of the recording medium 2 is subjected to a plurality of main scanning operations for a plurality of printing passes. The main scanning operation is an operation of ejecting ink droplets to the recording medium 2 while moving the inkjet head 3 in the main scanning direction (Y direction). On the other hand, the sub-scanning operation is an operation of transporting the recording medium 2 to the inkjet head 3 in the sub-scanning direction (X direction).

Specifically, the inkjet printer 1 prints by, for example, a multi-pass method in which the number of printing passes is N (N is an integer of 2 or more). The number of print passes N is, for example, 4 or more, preferably 8 or more. Further, in this case, the nozzles 20 in the nozzle row 22 of each inkjet head 3 are assigned according to the respective print passes of the first pass to the Nth pass.

For example, when the number of printing passes is N, each nozzle row 22 is divided into N regions in which a plurality of nozzles 20 arranged in the sub-scanning direction each have the same number. Then, in the nozzle row 22 divided into N regions, the first pass to the Nth pass are in order from the region that first overlaps the recording medium 2 in accordance with the transportation of the recording medium 2 in the sub-scanning operation. Each print path is assigned.

Then, the control unit 9 sets the movement amount in one sub-scanning operation to the pass width which is the width of the arrangement of the nozzles 20 (the width in the sub-scanning direction) for one printing pass. This path width is the width in the sub-scanning direction of each region divided into N pieces. Since the sub-scanning operation is performed between the main scanning operations by the inkjet head 3, the control unit 9 passes the region of the recording medium 2 facing the inkjet head 3 each time the main scanning operation is performed. Shift by the width. Then, in each main scanning operation, the nozzles 20 in each region in the nozzle row 22 print for the corresponding print pass.

Further, the control unit 9 selects ink droplets and pixels to be ejected in the printing control corresponding to each printing pass. More specifically, the control unit 9 uses mask data, which is data for designating the pixels to which ink droplets should be ejected, in each of the plurality of print passes performed for each position of the recording medium 2, for example, to mask. Ink droplets are ejected from the respective inkjet heads 3 to the pixels designated by the data. In this way, the control unit 9 prints in the multipath method using the mask data. That is, by using the mask data, the control unit 9 controls the ejection frequency of the ink ejected from the nozzle row 22 of the inkjet head 3 as the ejection control of the inkjet head 3 at the time of executing the main scanning operation. By controlling the ejection frequency of the ink in this way, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of bounding formed in the main scanning direction and to form an image having a smooth gradation. There is MAPS (Mimaki Advanced Pass System) as a control of such ink ejection frequency.

Here, when printing is performed by the multi-pass method using the two inkjet heads 3, as the mask data used for each of the plurality of print passes, for example, the mask data having the pattern shown in FIG. 5 (B) is used. Used. The mask data shown in FIG. 5B is a pattern in which the nozzle usage frequency continuously changes in the sub-scanning direction, in other words, a pattern in which the density of ink ejected to the recording medium 2 continuously changes. It is mask data.

The mask data shown in FIG. 5B shows the nozzle usage frequency (density) at the center of the sub-scanning direction and the nozzle usage frequency on both sides of the sub-scanning direction for the two nozzle rows 22 arranged in the sub-scanning direction. It is high against. In other words, in the mask data shown in FIG. 5B, the nozzles on one end side (the side close to the ink supply port 24) of the two inkjet heads 3 close to each other in the nozzle row 22 are frequently used. At the same time, the frequency of using the nozzles on the other end side of the nozzle row 22 (the side far from the ink supply port 24) is low. In the control of the ink ejection frequency in the present embodiment using the mask data shown in FIG. 5B, the nozzle usage frequency in the center of the sub-scanning direction is maximized (peak), and the nozzles on both sides in the sub-scanning direction are maximized. It has a triangular pattern in which the frequency of use is set to zero and the pattern gradually decreases from the center in the sub-scanning direction toward both sides.

In the present embodiment, the mask data has a triangular pattern, but it may have a trapezium shape, and the nozzle usage frequency at the center in the sub-scanning direction is higher than the nozzle usage frequency on both sides in the sub-scanning direction. Then, the shape of the pattern is not limited.

As described above, the inkjet head 3 of the present embodiment prints on the recording medium 2 by a multi-pass method in which each position of the recording medium 2 is subjected to a plurality of main scanning operations for a plurality of print passes. , In each of the plurality of print passes performed for each position of the recording medium 2, the mask data which is the data for designating the pixels to be ejected the ink droplets is used, and the ink droplets are ejected to the pixels designated by the mask data. ..

Then, in the mask data of the present embodiment, the nozzles 20 on one end side that are close to each other in the nozzle rows 22 of the pair of inkjet heads 3A and 3B are used more frequently, and the other ends that are separated from each other in the nozzle row 22 are used. The frequency of use of the nozzle 20 on the part side is reduced.

That is, in the ink ejection control using the mask data of the present embodiment, the nozzle usage frequency is set as described above. Therefore, in the example of FIG. 5A, the nozzle 20 having a high nozzle usage frequency is closer to the ink supply port 24. Nozzle 20 is used, and the nozzle 20 that is used less frequently becomes the nozzle 20 on the side farther from the ink supply port 24. Therefore, the temperature of the ink ejected from the nozzle 20 having a high nozzle usage frequency is relatively low, and the temperature of the ink ejected from the nozzle 20 having a low nozzle usage frequency is relatively high.

According to such a configuration, the temperature of the ink ejected from the nozzles 20 having the same frequency of use is the same, so that a more stable quality image can be formed.

Although the present invention has been described above using the above-described embodiment, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above-described embodiment. Various changes or improvements can be made to the above embodiments without departing from the gist of the invention, and the modified or improved forms are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

In FIG. 5A in the above embodiment, a mode in which the pair of inkjet heads 3A and 3B are arranged so that the ends of the nozzle row 22 on the side where the ink supply port 24 is provided is close to each other has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this.

FIG. 6 shows an arrangement example of a plurality of inkjet heads 3. In the example of FIG. 6A, the pair of inkjet heads 3A and 3B are arranged so that the ends of the nozzle row 22 on the side where the ink supply port 24 is not provided are close to each other.

Further, in the examples of FIGS. 6B and 6C, the inkjet printer 1 includes three inkjet heads 3A, 3B, and 3C. In the examples of FIGS. 6B and 6C, the inkjet heads 3A and 3B are paired, and the inkjet heads 3B and 3C are paired.

In the example of FIG. 6B, the paired inkjet heads 3A and 3B are arranged so that the ends of the nozzle row 22 on the side where the ink supply port 24 is provided are close to each other. Further, the paired inkjet heads 3B and 3C are arranged so that the ends of the nozzle row 22 on the side where the ink supply port 24 is not provided are close to each other.

In the example of FIG. 6C, the paired inkjet heads 3A and 3B and the paired inkjet heads 3B and 3C are both close to each other at the ends of the nozzle row 22 on the side where the ink supply port 24 is provided. Arranged to do.

Although the inkjet printer 1 in the above embodiment has described a mode in which printing is performed on the recording medium 2 by moving the inkjet head 3 with respect to the recording medium 2, the present invention is not limited to this, and the inkjet head 3 and recording are not limited to this. Printing may be performed on the recording medium 2 by moving at least one of the media 2 relative to each other.

(Effect of embodiment)
(1) The inkjet printer 1 of the present embodiment is an inkjet printer 1 that prints on a recording medium 2 by relatively moving at least one of a plurality of ink jet heads 3 and a recording medium 2 that eject ink. , A plurality of nozzles 20 are formed in the same direction as the nozzle row 22, an ink supply port 24 formed unevenly toward one end side of the nozzle row 22, and an ink heating heater 26 for heating ink. The pair of inkjet heads 3A and 3B are arranged adjacent to each other in the direction of the nozzle row 22 so that one end of the nozzle row 22 or the other end of the nozzle row 22 is close to each other.

According to the present embodiment, since the pair of inkjet heads 3A and 3B are arranged so that the temperatures of the inks in the inkjet heads 3 are close to each other in the same region, the apparatus configuration for heating the inks in the inkjet heads 3 Even so, a more stable quality image can be formed.

(2) In the inkjet printer 1 of the present embodiment, when the pair of inkjet heads 3A and 3B are driven at the same time, the nozzle rows 22 of the pair of inkjet heads 3A and 3B can be regarded as continuous nozzle rows 22. One end of the nozzle row 22 or the other end is close to each other. According to this embodiment, the nozzle rows 22 of the pair of inkjet heads 3A and 3B form a continuous long nozzle row 22, and printing can be performed on the recording medium 2.

(3) In the inkjet printer 1 of the present embodiment, the inkjet head 3 transfers to the recording medium 2 by a multi-pass method in which the inkjet head 3 performs a plurality of main scanning operations for a plurality of print passes at each position of the recording medium 2. Using mask data, which is data that specifies the pixels to which ink droplets should be ejected, in each of the plurality of print passes that print and perform for each position of the recording medium 2, to the pixels specified by the mask data. The ink droplets are ejected, and the mask data is obtained by using the nozzle 20 on one end side that is close to each other in the nozzle row 22 of the pair of inkjet heads 3A and 3B, and the other end that is separated from each other in the nozzle row 22. The frequency of use of the nozzle 20 on the part side is reduced. According to this embodiment, since the temperature of the ink ejected from the nozzles 20 having the same frequency of use is the same, a more stable quality image can be formed.

(4) In the inkjet printer 1 of the present embodiment, in the pair of inkjet heads 3A and 3B, the regions where the temperature of the ink in the inkjet head 3 is relatively low are relatively low, or the temperature of the ink in the inkjet head 3 is relatively high. The high areas are arranged so that they are close to each other. According to this embodiment, when the ink is heated in the inkjet head 3, a more stable quality image can be formed.

The present invention relates to an inkjet printer that ejects ink to form an image.

1 Inkjet printer 2 Recording medium 3 Inkjet head 20 Nozzle 22 Nozzle row 24 Ink supply port 26 Ink heater

Claims (4)

In an inkjet printer that prints on the recording medium by relatively moving at least one of a plurality of inkjet heads for ejecting ink and a recording medium.
The inkjet head includes an ink supply port in which a plurality of nozzles are formed in the same direction as a nozzle row, and an ink supply port formed unevenly toward one end side of the nozzle row, and an ink heater for heating ink. Have and
An inkjet printer in which the pair of inkjet heads are arranged adjacent to each other in the direction of the nozzle row so that one end of the nozzle row or the other end of the nozzle row is close to each other. When the pair of inkjet heads are driven at the same time, the one end of the nozzle row or the other end of the nozzle row is regarded as a continuous nozzle row of each of the pair of inkjet heads. The inkjet printer according to claim 1, wherein the inkjet printers are in close proximity to each other. The inkjet head prints on the recording medium by a multi-pass method that performs a plurality of main scanning operations for each position of the recording medium for a plurality of print passes, and prints on the recording medium at each position of the recording medium. In each of the plurality of printing passes performed on
The mask data shows that the nozzles on one end side that are close to each other in the nozzle row of the pair of inkjet heads are used more frequently, and the nozzles on the other end side that are separated from each other in the nozzle row are used. The inkjet printer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the frequency is reduced. A claim that the pair of inkjet heads are arranged so that regions in which the temperature of ink in the inkjet head is relatively low or regions in which the temperature of ink in the inkjet head is relatively high are close to each other. The inkjet printer according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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