JP2023174178A - Printing apparatus, printing method, and printing program - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a printing apparatus, a printing method, and a printing program in which damage or deformation due to ultraviolet irradiation is less likely to occur in a printing medium.SOLUTION: A printing apparatus includes: ejection heads which move in a movement direction and eject ultraviolet curable ink to a medium to be printed; light sources which move in the movement direction, are disposed at a position different from those of the ejection heads in the movement direction, and emit ultraviolet light for curing the ultraviolet curable ink; cooling devices which move in the movement direction, are disposed at a position different from those of the ejection heads and the light sources in the movement direction, and cool the medium to be printed by air cooling or water cooling; and a controller. The controller performs: an ejection process of causing the ejection heads to eject ink to the print medium; an irradiation process of causing the light sources to irradiate the ink on the print medium with ultraviolet light after the ejection process; a cooling process of causing the cooling devices to cool the medium to be printed before the irradiation process, during the irradiation process, or before and during the irradiation process.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

The present invention relates to a printing device such as an inkjet printer, a printing method using the printing device, and a printing program executed by a computer in the printing device.

In Patent Document 1, in order to solve the problem that changes in the shape of the printing medium such as wrinkles occur due to heating of the printing medium by irradiation of ultraviolet rays from a light source, It is disclosed that a cooling device is provided on the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the medium. The cooling device is tilted so that the direction in which the cool air is supplied forms an acute angle with respect to the upper surface of the platen, and supplies the cool air to the printing medium and the platen immediately after being irradiated with ultraviolet rays from the light source.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-264264

However, the cooling device is disposed downstream of the ejection head in the transport direction, and supplies cold air after printing. Therefore, there is a problem in that the printing medium is damaged or deformed by the heat generated by the ultraviolet rays during the period from the irradiation of the ultraviolet rays by the light source until the supply of cold air. In particular, the above problem becomes noticeable when the distance (gap) between the ejection surface of the ejection head and the platen is small, and when a resin-based printing medium with a small heat capacity and a relatively low glass transition point is used.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a printing device, a printing method, and a printing program in which damage or deformation due to ultraviolet irradiation is less likely to occur in a printing medium.

The printing device according to the present invention includes an ejection head that moves in a movement direction and ejects ultraviolet curable ink onto a print medium, and an ejection head that moves in the movement direction and is arranged at a different position from the ejection head in the movement direction. a light source that irradiates ultraviolet rays that cures the ultraviolet curable ink; The controller includes a cooling device that cools a medium, and a controller that performs an ejection process that causes the ejection head to eject ink onto the print medium, and after the ejection process, causes the light source to eject ink onto the print medium. Performing an irradiation process in which the ink is irradiated with ultraviolet rays, and a cooling process in which the printing medium is cooled by the cooling device before the irradiation process, during the irradiation process, or before the irradiation process and during the irradiation process. It is something that makes you

According to the present invention, by cooling the printing medium before the irradiation process, during the irradiation process, or before the irradiation process and during the irradiation process, the printing medium is heated due to the irradiation of ultraviolet rays onto the print medium. It is possible to prevent this from happening. This makes it difficult for the print medium to be damaged or deformed. In addition, by cooling the printing medium as described above, it is possible to increase the printing speed, which causes the printing medium to heat, compared to conventional methods, and it is also possible to irradiate ultraviolet rays to more distant areas. become.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a printing device, a printing method, and a printing program in which damage or deformation due to ultraviolet irradiation is unlikely to occur in a printing medium.

1 is a perspective view showing a printing device provided with a droplet ejection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a droplet ejection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the ejection head in FIG. 1. FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a light emitting diode chip in a light source. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the components of the printing device of FIG. 1. FIG. It is a figure showing the composition of the cooling device in a 1st embodiment. It is a figure showing the composition of the cooling device in a 2nd embodiment. 3 is a flowchart showing a printing method including a cooling process. It is a figure showing the composition of the cooling device in a 3rd embodiment.

Hereinafter, a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The printing device described below is only one embodiment of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments, and additions, deletions, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a printing apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, mutually orthogonal directions are defined as a first direction Ds, a second direction Df, and a third direction Dz. In this embodiment, for example, the first direction Ds is the moving direction of the carriage 3, which will be described later, the second direction Df is the transport direction of the printing medium W, which will be described later, and the third direction Dz is the vertical direction. In the following description, Ds will be referred to as a moving direction, Df will be referred to as a transport direction, and Dz will be referred to as an up-down direction.

As shown in FIG. 1, the printing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment includes a housing 2, an operation key 4, a display section 5, a platen 6 on which a printing medium W is placed, an upper cover 7, and an ejection head. 10 and a light source 40 (FIG. 2), and a controller unit 19 (FIG. 5) including a control device 20 (FIG. 5). The ejection head 10 is, for example, an inkjet head that ejects ultraviolet curing ink droplets. Note that in this embodiment, the control device 20 corresponds to a controller.

The housing 2 is formed into a box shape. The housing 2 has an opening 2a. The housing 2 is provided with operation keys 4. Further, a display section 5 is provided near the operation keys 4. The operation keys 4 accept operation inputs from the user. The display unit 5 is composed of, for example, a touch panel, and displays predetermined information. A part of the display section 5 also functions as an operation key. The controller unit 19 implements a printing function based on input from the operation keys 4 or external input via a communication interface (not shown), and also controls the display on the display unit 5 .

The platen 6 is configured to be able to place a printing medium W, which will be described later. The platen 6 has a predetermined thickness and is made of, for example, a rectangular plate whose longitudinal direction is the conveyance direction Df. The platen 6 is removably supported by a platen support stand (not shown). The platen support base is configured to be movable in the transport direction Df between a printing position where printing is performed on the printing medium W by driving the transport motor 33 (FIG. 5) and an attachment/detachment position where the printing medium W is removed from the platen 6. be done. As a result, the platen 6 moves the ejection surface of the print medium W relative to the ejection head 10 in the transport direction Df. During printing, the platen 6 moves in the transport direction Df, so the printing medium W placed on the platen 6 is transported along the transport direction Df.

The upper cover 7 is configured to rotate upward when the end thereof is lifted. This exposes the inside of the housing 2.

As shown in FIG. 2, the droplet discharge device 1a includes a storage tank 62, a carriage 3 on which, for example, two discharge heads 10 (10A, 10B) and two light sources 40 (40A, 40B) are mounted, and a pair of A guide rail 67 is provided. The ejection head 10 has a plurality of nozzle rows NL arranged in parallel in the moving direction Ds. Note that although two ejection heads 10 and two light sources 40 are provided, the present invention is not limited to this, and one ejection head 10 and one light source 40 may be provided.

The carriage 3 is supported by a pair of guide rails 67 extending in the moving direction Ds, and reciprocates in the moving direction Ds along the guide rails 67. Thereby, the two ejection heads 10 (10A, 10B) and the two light sources 40 (40A, 40B) can reciprocate in the moving direction Ds. Further, the discharge head 10 is connected to a storage tank 62 via a tube 62a.

In this embodiment, for example, the ejection head 10A ejects ink droplets of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K), which are sometimes collectively referred to as color ink. A color image is printed on the printing medium W by ejecting the ink droplets of the above four colors onto the printing medium W. On the other hand, the ejection head 10B ejects white (W) ink droplets and clear (Cr) ink droplets. For example, when printing a color image on fabric as the printing medium W, ink droplets of white ink are first ejected as base ink to reduce the effect on the color of the fabric and the material of the fabric. Color ink droplets are ejected onto the ink droplets. Further, ink droplets of clear ink are ejected when adding gloss or protecting a printed area.

Ink is stored in the storage tank 62. A storage tank 62 is provided for each type of ink. For example, six storage tanks 62 are provided, and each of the storage tanks 62 stores black, yellow, cyan, magenta, white, and clear ink.

The droplet discharge device 1a further includes a purge section 50 and a wipe section 54. The purge section 50 and the wipe section 54 are arranged on one end side of the pair of guide rails 67 in the moving direction Ds so as to overlap with the moving area of the carriage 3.

The purge section 50 has a cap 51, a suction pump 52, and a lifting mechanism 53. A suction pump 52 is connected to the cap 51. The lifting mechanism 53 lifts and lowers the cap 51 between the suction position and the standby position. In the standby position, the discharge surface NM (FIG. 3) is separated from the cap 51. On the other hand, at the suction position, the discharge surface NM is covered by the cap 51, forming a sealed space. When the suction pump 52 is driven while the cap 51 is in the suction position, the sealed space is suctioned, and a purge process is performed in which ink is discharged from the nozzle hole 121a (FIG. 3), which will be described later.

Further, the wipe section 54 includes two wipers 55 and 56 and a moving mechanism 57. The two wipers 55 and 56 are supported by a moving mechanism 57. The moving mechanism 57 moves in the transport direction Df with the discharge surface NM disposed at a position facing these wipers 55 and 56. As a result, the two wipers 55 and 56 perform a wiping operation (that is, wipe the discharge surface NM) while moving in the transport direction Df.

Next, the detailed structure of the ejection head 10 will be explained. As shown in FIG. 3, the ejection head 10 has a plurality of nozzles 121 that eject ink droplets using ink from the storage tank 62. The ejection head 10 has a stacked body of a flow path forming body and a volume changing part. An ink flow path is formed inside the flow path forming body, and a plurality of nozzle holes 121a are opened on the ejection surface NM, which is the lower surface. Further, the volume changing section described above is driven to change the volume of the ink flow path. At this time, the meniscus in the nozzle hole 121a vibrates and ink is ejected.

The above-mentioned flow path forming body of the ejection head 10 is a stacked body of a plurality of plates, and the volume changing section includes a diaphragm 155 and an actuator (piezoelectric element) 160. A common electrode 161, which will be described later, is connected to the top of the diaphragm 155.

The plurality of plates are, in order from the bottom, a nozzle plate 146, a spacer plate 147, a first flow path plate 148, a second flow path plate 149, a third flow path plate 150, a fourth flow path plate 151, and a fifth flow path plate. 152, a sixth flow path plate 153, and a seventh flow path plate 154.

Each plate has holes and grooves of various sizes formed therein. Inside the channel forming body in which the plates are laminated, holes and grooves are combined to form a plurality of nozzles 121, a plurality of individual channels 164, and a manifold 122 as ink channels.

The nozzle 121 is formed to penetrate the nozzle plate 146 in the stacking direction. On the ejection surface NM of the nozzle plate 146, a plurality of nozzle holes 121a, which are the tips of the nozzles 121, are lined up in the transport direction Df to form a nozzle row NL.

The manifold 122 supplies ink to a pressure chamber 128 to which ejection pressure is applied. The manifold 122 extends in the transport direction Df, and is connected to one end of each of the plurality of individual channels 164. That is, the manifold 122 functions as a common flow path for ink. The manifold 122 is formed by through holes penetrating the first to fourth flow path plates 148 to 151 in the stacking direction and depressions depressed from the lower surface of the fifth flow path plate 152, overlapping in the stacking direction.

Nozzle plate 146 is arranged below spacer plate 147. The spacer plate 147 is made of stainless steel, for example. The spacer plate 147 has a recess 145 that is recessed from the surface on the nozzle plate 146 side in the thickness direction of the spacer plate 147 by, for example, half etching, thereby forming a thin portion forming a damper portion 147a and a damper space 147b. As a result, a damper space 147b serving as a buffer space is formed between the manifold 122 and the nozzle plate 146.

A supply port 122a communicates with the manifold 122. The supply port 122a is formed into a cylindrical shape, for example, and is provided at one end in the conveyance direction Df. Note that the manifold 122 and the supply port 122a are connected through a flow path (not shown).

Each individual flow path 164 is connected to the manifold 122, respectively. The individual flow path 164 has an upstream end connected to the manifold 122 and a downstream end connected to the base end of the nozzle 121. The individual flow path 164 is composed of a first communication hole 125, a supply restriction path 126 which is an individual restriction path, a second communication hole 127, a pressure chamber 128, and a descender 129, and these components are arranged in this order. be done.

The first communication hole 125 has its lower end connected to the upper end of the manifold 122, extends upward from the manifold 122 in the stacking direction, and penetrates the upper portion of the fifth channel plate 152 in the stacking direction.

The upstream end of the supply throttle passage 126 is connected to the upper end of the first communication hole 125. The supply restricting passage 126 is formed by, for example, half etching, and is constituted by a groove recessed from the lower surface of the sixth flow passage plate 153. The second communication hole 127 has an upstream end connected to the downstream end of the supply constriction path 126, extends upward from the supply constriction path 126 in the stacking direction, and is formed by penetrating the sixth flow path plate 153 in the stacking direction. has been done.

The pressure chamber 128 has its upstream end connected to the downstream end of the second communication hole 127 . The pressure chamber 128 is formed to penetrate the seventh passage plate 154 in the stacking direction.

The descender 129 includes a spacer plate 147, a first passage plate 148, a second passage plate 149, a third passage plate 150, a fourth passage plate 151, a fifth passage plate 152, and a sixth passage plate 153. It is formed to penetrate in the stacking direction. The descender 129 has its upstream end connected to the downstream end of the pressure chamber 128 and its downstream end connected to the base end of the nozzle 121. For example, the nozzle 121 overlaps the descender 129 in the stacking direction and is arranged at the center of the descender 129 in the width direction.

The diaphragm 155 is stacked on the seventh flow path plate 154 and covers the upper end opening of the pressure chamber 128.

Actuator 160 includes a common electrode 161, a piezoelectric layer 162, and individual electrodes 163, which are arranged in this order. The common electrode 161 covers the entire surface of the diaphragm 155. The piezoelectric layer 162 covers the entire surface of the common electrode 161. An individual electrode 163 is provided for each pressure chamber 128 and arranged on the piezoelectric layer 162. One actuator 160 is constituted by one individual electrode 163, one common electrode 161, and a piezoelectric layer 162 sandwiched between the two electrodes.

Individual electrodes 163 are electrically connected to the driver IC. This driver IC receives a control signal from the control device 20, generates a drive signal (voltage signal), and applies it to the individual electrodes 163. In contrast, the common electrode 161 is always held at the ground potential. In such a configuration, the active portion of the piezoelectric layer 162 expands and contracts in the plane direction together with the common electrode 161 and the individual electrodes 163 in response to a drive signal. In response to this, the diaphragm 155 cooperates to deform, changing in a direction that increases or decreases the volume of the pressure chamber 128. As a result, the ejection pressure that causes ink droplets to be ejected from the nozzle 121 is applied to the pressure chamber 128 .

In the ejection head 10, when ink flows into the manifold 122 via the supply port 122a, it flows from the manifold 122 into the supply constriction path 126 via the first communication hole 125, and from the supply constriction path 126 to the second communication hole 127. Flows into the pressure chamber 128 via. The ink then flows through descender 129 and into nozzle 121. Here, when ejection pressure is applied to the pressure chamber 128 by the actuator 160, ink droplets are ejected from the nozzle hole 121a.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a light emitting diode chip DT in the light source 40. As shown in FIG. 4, the light source 40 includes a support substrate 41 and a plurality of light emitting diode chips DT arranged on the support substrate 41 and emitting ultraviolet rays. Each light emitting diode chip DT irradiates ultraviolet rays for curing the ink ejected by the ejection head 10. The light emitting diode chip DT is a semiconductor element that generates ultraviolet light. The light emitting diode chips DT are regularly arranged, for example, at predetermined intervals in the movement direction Ds and the conveyance direction Df, respectively. The light emitting diode chips DT are arranged, for example, in a matrix.

Next, each component of the printing apparatus 1 of this embodiment will be explained with reference to a block diagram. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the components of the printing apparatus 1 of FIG. 1. As shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 5, the printing apparatus 1 includes, in addition to the above-mentioned components, a controller unit 19, a reading device 26, motor driver ICs 30 and 31, head driver ICs 32 and 35, a conveyance motor 33, a carriage motor 34, and an irradiation device driver. It includes ICs 36 and 37, a purge driver IC 38, a wipe driver IC 39, a cooling driver IC 29, and a cooling device 70.

The controller unit 19 includes a control device 20 including a CPU, a storage section (ROM 21, RAM 22, EEPROM 23, HDD 24), and ASIC 25. The control device 20 is connected to each of the above-mentioned storage sections and controls each of the driver ICs 29, 30 to 32, 35 to 39 and the display section 5. In this embodiment, the control device 20 corresponds to a computer, discharge control means, irradiation control means, and cooling control means.

The control device 20 executes various functions by executing predetermined processing programs stored in the ROM 21. The control device 20 may be implemented in the controller unit 19 as one processor, or may be implemented as a plurality of processors that cooperate with each other. The processing program is read by the reading device 26 from a recording medium KB such as a computer-readable magneto-optical disk or a USB flash memory, and is stored in the ROM 21 . The RAM 22 stores image data received from the outside, calculation results of the control device 20, and the like. The EEPROM 23 stores various kinds of initial setting information input by the user. Specific information and the like are stored in the HDD 24.

Connected to the ASIC 25 are motor driver ICs 30 and 31, head driver ICs 32 and 35, irradiation device driver ICs 36 and 37, purge driver IC 38, wipe driver IC 39, and cooling driver IC 29. When the control device 20 receives a print job from a user, it outputs a processing command to the ASIC 25 based on the processing program. The ASIC 25 drives each driver IC 29, 30 to 32, and 35 to 39 based on the processing command. The control device 20 moves the platen 6 in the transport direction Df by driving the transport motor 33 using the motor driver IC 30. The control device 20 moves the carriage 3 in the movement direction Ds by driving the carriage motor 34 with the motor driver IC 31.

The control device 20 converts image data acquired from an external device or the like into ejection data for ejecting ink droplets onto a surface to be ejected. The control device 20 causes the head driver ICs 32 and 35 to eject ink droplets from the ejection head 10 based on the converted ejection data. Further, the control device 20 causes the irradiation device driver ICs 36 and 37 to irradiate ultraviolet rays from the light emitting diode chips of the light sources 40A and 40B. The control device 20 drives the suction pump 52 and the lifting mechanism 53 of the purge section 50 using the purge driver IC 38. The control device 20 drives the moving mechanism 57 of the wipe section 54 using the wipe driver IC 39 . Furthermore, the control device 20 drives the cooling device 70 using the cooling driver IC 29.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the configuration of the cooling device 70 in the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, the cooling device 70 of the first embodiment includes a flow path forming member 65 and a fan 66 that form a flow path AP through which air flows. The flow path forming member 65 and the fan 66 are provided on the platen 6, for example, in parallel in the moving direction Ds.

The flow path forming member 65 includes a pair of side wall portions 65a extending in the moving direction Ds on the platen 6, and a top plate 65b. One and the other of the pair of side walls 65a are spaced apart from each other in a direction intersecting the moving direction Ds (that is, the conveying direction Df). The top plate 65b is provided at the upper end portions of the pair of side wall portions 65a. The top plate 65b is provided with an opening 65e that exposes a portion of the printing medium W. The printing medium W is positioned on the platen 6 with a part of the printing medium W exposed and the other part covered by the top plate 65b. That is, the top plate 65b of the flow path forming member 65 has the function of a jig that contacts the printing medium W and positions the printing medium W. In such a configuration, an opening 65c is provided on one side of the flow path forming member 65 in the moving direction Ds, and an opening 65d is provided on the other side. Although FIG. 6 illustrates a bowl-shaped printing medium W, the shape of the printing medium W is not limited to this, and the printing medium W may have other shapes such as a cylindrical shape. It's okay.

The control device 20 drives the fan 66 before the irradiation process by the light source 40, during the irradiation process by the light source 40, or before and during the irradiation process by the light source 40. Thereby, the cold air generated by the fan 66 flows in from the opening 65c of the flow path forming member 65, and is then supplied to the printing medium W. The cold air supplied to the printing medium W flows out from the opening 65d. In this case, the cool air generated by the fan 66 is blocked from rising by the top plate 65b, so that it is suppressed or prevented from hitting the ejection head 10. This suppresses or prevents the ink droplets ejected by the ejection head 10 from landing irregularly. Further, as the cold air flows through the flow path AP of the flow path forming member 65, a negative pressure is created in the flow path AP, thereby making it possible to firmly fix the printing medium W to the platen 6.

Whether or not to supply cold air to the printing medium W may be determined depending on the material of the printing medium W. In this case, the user may be required to input information on the material of the printing medium W before starting printing. When the material of the printing medium W is, for example, resin-based, the glass transition temperature Tg of the printing medium W is low, so cold air is supplied. In some cases, no cold air may be provided due to the risk of thermal damage.

As described above, according to the printing apparatus 1, by cooling the printing medium W before the irradiation process, during the irradiation process, or before the irradiation process and during the irradiation process, the irradiation of the print medium W with ultraviolet rays can be prevented. It is possible to prevent the printing medium W from being heated due to this. This makes it difficult for the printing medium W to be damaged or deformed. In addition, by cooling the printing medium W, it is possible to increase the printing speed, which causes the printing medium W to heat, compared to the conventional method, and by cooling the printing medium W, it is possible to increase the printing speed to a more distant area. It is also possible to irradiate the area with ultraviolet light.

Further, in this embodiment, the flow path AP for supplying cold air to the printing medium W is formed by the flow path forming member 65 having a pair of side wall portions 65a and a top plate 65b. Thereby, while suppressing or preventing the cold air from hitting the ejection head 10, the cold air can be supplied only to the printing medium W to which the cold air should be supplied. As a result, the printing medium W can be sufficiently cooled, and it is possible to prevent the ink droplets ejected from the ejection head 10 from landing irregularly due to the cold air hitting the ejection head 10. can.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the top plate 65b of the flow path forming member 65 has the function of a jig that contacts the printing medium W and positions the printing medium W, so that the printing medium W is placed on the platen 6. The accuracy of positioning can be improved.

(Second embodiment)
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the configuration of a cooling device 70A in the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 7, in this embodiment, in addition to mounting the ejection head 10 and the light source 40 on the carriage 3, a fan 71 is mounted as a cooling device 70A that supplies cold air to the printing medium W. An ionizer 72 is installed.

In the carriage 3, the light source 40, the ejection head 10, and the fan 71 of the cooling device 70A are arranged so that the light source 40, the ejection head 10, and the fan 71 are positioned in this order from the upstream side on the outgoing path Ds1 in the moving direction Ds. That is, the fan 71 is arranged downstream of the ejection head 10 on the outgoing path Ds1 in the moving direction Ds.

The ionizer 72 is provided in the cooling device 70A and generates ions. By supplying ions generated by the ionizer 72 to the printing medium W together with cold air from the cooling device 70A before printing, foreign matter on the surface of the printing medium W can be removed. In FIG. 7, the ionizer 72 is positioned upstream of the cooling device 70A (between the cooling device 70A and the ejection head 10) on the outgoing path Ds1 in the moving direction Ds. However, the ionizer 72 may be positioned downstream of the cooling device 70A in the outgoing path Ds1 in the moving direction Ds.

On the outward path Ds1 in the moving direction Ds, the control device 20 performs a cooling process of supplying cold air to the printing medium W by the cooling device 70A, a process of ejecting ink droplets by the ejection head 10, and a process of ejecting ultraviolet rays to the printing medium W by the light source 40. irradiation processing is performed. Thereby, in the outward path Ds1, cold air can be supplied to the printing medium W before the printing process.

Further, the control device 20 executes the irradiation process and the cooling process on the return path Ds2 in the moving direction Ds. By performing the irradiation process on both the outbound path Ds1 and the return path Ds2 in this way, the ink droplets on the printing medium W can be sufficiently cured, and immediately after the irradiation process in the return path Ds2, the printing medium W can be sufficiently cured with cold air. can be cooled to

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a printing method including a cooling process. As shown in FIG. 8, the control device 20 executes a cooling process, a discharge process, and an irradiation process on the outgoing path Ds1 in the moving direction Ds of the carriage 3 (step S1).

Next, the control device 20 executes the irradiation process and the cooling process on the return path Ds2 in the moving direction Ds of the carriage 3 (step S2). Then, the control device 20 determines whether printing should be continued based on the ejection data (step S3). If printing is to be continued (YES in step S3), the control device 20 returns to the process in step S1, and if printing is to be completed (NO in step S3), the control device 20 ends the process.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, it is possible to suppress heating of the printing medium W due to irradiation of the printing medium W with ultraviolet rays. This makes it difficult for the printing medium W to be damaged or deformed. Further, as in the first embodiment, by cooling the printing medium W, it becomes possible to increase the printing speed, which is a factor in heating the printing medium W, compared to the conventional method, and also to cool the printing medium W. This makes it possible to irradiate ultraviolet light to more distant areas.

In addition, in this embodiment, by mounting the cooling device 70A on the carriage 3 on which the ejection head 10 and the light source 40 are mounted, cold air can be supplied immediately before and after the ejection process by the ejection head 10 and before and after the irradiation process by the light source 40. It can be supplied to a printing medium W.

Further, in this embodiment, in the outward path Ds1, cold air is supplied to the printing medium W before the printing process. As a result, the printing medium W can be cooled in advance before the irradiation process, and by performing a cooling process using cold air before the printing process, landing disturbances of ink droplets ejected from the ejection head 10 due to the cooling process can be avoided. does not occur.

Further, in this embodiment, the ions generated by the ionizer 72 are supplied to the printing medium W together with cold air from the cooling device 70A before printing, thereby making it possible to remove foreign substances on the surface of the printing medium W. . Thereby, printing can be performed appropriately on the printing medium W.

Further, in the present embodiment, the control device 20 executes a cooling process, a discharge process, and an irradiation process on the outward path Ds1 in the moving direction Ds. Thereby, cold air can be supplied to the printing medium W before the printing process on the outward path Ds1. This can prevent the influence of cold air on the ink droplets ejected from the ejection head 10, thereby preventing the ink droplets from landing irregularly. Further, the control device 20 executes the irradiation process and the cooling process on the return path Ds2 in the moving direction Ds. Thereby, the print medium W can be sufficiently cooled with cold air immediately after the irradiation process in the return path Ds2, and thereby damage to the print medium W due to heat can be suppressed or prevented.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, in the carriage 3, the light source 40, the ejection head 10, and the fan 71 of the cooling device 70A are positioned in the order of the light source 40, the ejection head 10, and the fan 71 from the upstream side on the outgoing path Ds1 in the moving direction Ds. Placed. As a result, sufficient cold air can be supplied to the printing medium W before the printing process in the outward path Ds1, and sufficient cold air can be used to cool the printing medium W immediately after the irradiation process in the returning path Ds2. I can do it.

(Third embodiment)
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the configuration of a cooling device 70B in the third embodiment. As shown in FIG. 9, a cooling device 70B that combines the flow path forming member 65 in the first embodiment described above and the fan 71 in the second embodiment may be employed.

According to this embodiment, the fan 71 can also supply cold air to the portion of the printing medium W that is exposed from the opening 65e of the flow path forming member 65. Thereby, the entire print medium W can be cooled.

(Modified example)
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example:

In the second embodiment, in the carriage 3, the light source 40, the ejection head 10, and the fan 71 are positioned in this order from the upstream side on the outgoing path Ds1 in the moving direction Ds, but the present invention is not limited to this. In the carriage 3, the fan 71, the ejection head 10, and the light source 40 may be positioned in this order from the upstream side on the outgoing path Ds1 in the moving direction Ds.

Further, in each of the embodiments described above, the cooling method of the cooling devices 70, 70A, and 70B is air cooling, but the cooling method is not limited to this, and water cooling may be used.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, the carriage 3 is provided with the ionizer 72, but the ionizer 72 is not an essential component.

1 Printing device 3 Carriage 6 Platen 10, 10A, 10B Discharge head 20 Control device 40, 40A, 40B Light source 65 Flow path forming member 70, 70A, 70B Cooling device 71 Fan 72 Ionizer Ds Movement direction Ds1 Outward path Ds2 Return path W Printed medium

Claims (10)

an ejection head that moves in the movement direction and ejects ultraviolet curing ink onto the printing medium;
a light source that moves in the movement direction, is disposed at a position different from the ejection head in the movement direction, and irradiates ultraviolet light that cures the ultraviolet curable ink;
a cooling device that moves in the movement direction, is disposed at a position different from the ejection head and the light source in the movement direction, and cools the printing medium by air cooling or water cooling;
comprising a controller;
The controller includes:
an ejection process in which the ejection head ejects ink onto the printing medium;
After the ejection process, an irradiation process in which the light source irradiates the ink on the printing medium with ultraviolet rays;
A cooling process in which the printing medium is cooled by the cooling device before the irradiation process, during the irradiation process, or before the irradiation process and during the irradiation process;
A printing device that executes further comprising a carriage on which the ejection head, the light source, and the cooling device are mounted and moved in the movement direction,
The printing device according to claim 1, wherein the cooling device supplies cold air to the printing medium. The cooling device is arranged downstream of the ejection head in the moving direction,
The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the controller causes the cooling device to supply the cold air before the printing process in the cooling process. The printing device according to claim 1, further comprising an ionizer that is provided in the cooling device and generates ions. further comprising a platen that supports the printing medium,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cooling device includes a flow path forming member provided on the platen and forming a flow path through which air flows. The printing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the flow path forming member is a jig that positions the printing medium by contacting the printing medium. The controller includes:
performing the cooling process, the discharge process, and the irradiation process on the outward path in the moving direction;
The printing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the irradiation process and the cooling process are performed on a return trip in the moving direction. 8. The printing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the light source, the ejection head, and the cooling device are arranged in the order of the light source, the ejection head, and the cooling device from the upstream side on an outgoing path in the moving direction. While moving the ejection head, ejecting ultraviolet curable ink from the ejection head onto the printing medium;
irradiating the ink with ultraviolet light from a light source,
A printing method comprising cooling the printing medium by air cooling or water cooling before irradiating the ultraviolet rays, during the irradiation with the ultraviolet rays, or before and during the irradiation with the ultraviolet rays. A printing program that is executed by a computer in a printing device,
The computer,
ejection control means for ejecting ultraviolet curing ink from the ejection head onto a printing medium while moving the ejection head;
irradiation control means for irradiating ultraviolet rays from a light source to cure the ink, and
A printing program that causes a cooling device to function as a cooling control means for cooling the printing medium by air cooling or water cooling before irradiating the ultraviolet rays, during the irradiation with the ultraviolet rays, or before irradiating the ultraviolet rays and during the irradiation.

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