JP3701805B2 - Printing method using inkjet printer - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a printing method for printing on a recording medium with an aqueous ink (dye, pigment) using an ink jet printer, and in particular, a recording medium having a water-absorbing surface such as a wooden board, and a plastic plate or metal The present invention relates to a printing method capable of forming a printed image having excellent durability and the like on a recording medium having a water repellent surface such as a plate.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As an object to be printed by an ink jet printer, various objects such as a surface of a compact disk can be considered in addition to general recording paper. In order to perform printing on the surface of a CD or the like using an ink jet printer, the applicant also places a recording medium such as a CD on a medium transport tray and transports the medium transport tray via a print position by an ink jet head. A printer with a configuration is proposed.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Since ink used in an ink jet printer is generally water-based ink, there is a problem that a material that is not compatible with water-based ink cannot be used as a recording medium. For example, when printing is performed on the surface of wood or the like having high water absorption by an ink jet printer, the ink solution is absorbed into the interior of the wood, so that the printed image cannot be fixed on the wood surface. On the other hand, in the case of a water-repellent recording medium such as a plastic plate, since the ink solution is not absorbed at all by the surface tension, the fixing force of the formed printed image to the recording medium surface is still weak and easily peels off. .
[0004]
An object of the present invention is to propose a printing method using an ink jet printer capable of forming a printed image having high fixability and durability on wood having high water absorption.
[0005]
Another object of the present invention is to propose a printing method using an ink jet printer capable of forming a print image having high fixability and durability on a recording medium having high water repellency such as a plastic plate. It is in.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an image receiving layer is formed on the printing surface by applying an emulsion adhesive to the printing surface of the recording medium, the aqueous ink using an ink jet head to the surface of the image receiving layer In the printing method of a recording medium using an ink jet printer that performs printing by the above method, the ink jet printer transports a medium transport tray carrying the recording medium via a print position of the ink jet head, and the surface of the recording medium The medium transport tray is transported by a sprocket that meshes with and engages with the medium transport tray, a rotating shaft on which the sprocket gears are fixed in a coaxial state, and the rotating shaft. To a tray transport unit comprising an attached driven gear and a driving gear meshing with the driven gear. The drive side gear is provided with an arc guide for sliding the rotation shaft, and the driven side gear is kept engaged, for adjusting the interval for moving the tray transport unit toward and away from the inkjet head. It is characterized in that it is performed by an interval adjusting mechanism that moves around the center .
[0007]
The image-receiving layer formed by the emulsion adhesive is optimal as a printing surface with aqueous ink, and the fixability of the obtained printed image is extremely high. Therefore, it is possible to print on a recording medium having high water absorption such as wood.
[0008]
Here, in the case of printed matter such as an outdoor signboard, in order to improve the weather resistance of the printed image, a UV cut agent such as a xylene-based solvent is applied to the surface of the image receiving surface after forming the printed image. Thus, it is desirable to form an ultraviolet shielding layer.
[0009]
In order to increase the durability of the printed image, it is desirable to form a protective layer with a resin paint on the surface of the printed image or on the surface of the ultraviolet shielding layer after the printed image is formed.
[0010]
On the other hand, the present invention is characterized in that the image receiving surface is formed using an emulsion adhesive mixed with a water-resistant water-based paint. Instead, the image receiving surface is formed using an emulsion adhesive mixed with a surfactant.
[0011]
Such an image receiving layer has excellent adhesion or fixing power to a water repellent surface such as a plastic plate or a metal plate. Therefore, if a print image with water-based ink is formed on this image receiving layer, a print image having excellent fixability can be formed on the surface of a material having high water repellency.
[0012]
Next, the present invention is characterized in that the image receiving layer is formed using an emulsion adhesive in which coloring components such as pigments, dyes, and gold powder are mixed. In addition, the image receiving layer is formed using an emulsion adhesive mixed with a fragrance.
[0013]
The ink jet printer used in the printing method of the present invention includes an ink jet head that performs printing with aqueous ink and a recording medium in a recording medium printing apparatus that performs printing on the surface of an image receiving layer formed on the printing surface of the recording medium. A medium transport tray for carrying and transporting, a tray transport unit for transporting the medium transport tray via the printing position of the inkjet head, and moving the tray transport unit toward and away from the inkjet head The tray transport unit is attached to the rotary shaft, a sprocket that meshes with and engages with the medium transport tray, a rotary shaft on which the sprocket gear is fixed in a coaxial state, and A driven side gear and a driving side gear meshing with the driven side gear. Ri, the gap adjustment mechanism, the rotary shaft comprises a circular arc guide that slides and is movable about said driving side gear while the driven gear is kept meshing. Use of such an ink jet printer is convenient because a printing operation can be performed on a thick plate or the like in the same manner as a general recording paper.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a printing method using an ink jet printer according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0015]
(Printing method on water-absorbing recording medium)
FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing a printing method for forming a print image with water-based ink on the surface of a water-absorbing recording medium such as a wooden board using an ink jet printer. Referring to this figure, first, a water-absorbing recording medium 8 is prepared as shown in FIG. 7 (a), and a vinyl acetate elgeon or the like is provided on the printing surface 81 as shown in FIG. 7 (b). Apply the resin. This resin is the same component as the adhesive marketed as a woodwork bond, and changes to a transparent resin layer when dried. An image receiving layer 82 is formed on the printing surface 81 by the applied adhesive. The emulsion adhesive used may be other than the vinyl acetate emulsion system.
[0016]
After the image receiving layer 82 is dried, as shown in FIG. 7C, a desired print image 83 is formed on the surface of the image receiving layer 82 with an aqueous ink using an ink jet printer.
[0017]
After printing, as shown in FIG. 7 (d), the ultraviolet shielding layer 84 is formed by applying a UV cut agent such as a xylene-based solvent on the surface of the formed printed image 83. Further, as shown in FIG. 7E, a protective layer 85 made of a resin paint is formed on the surface of the ultraviolet shielding layer 84.
[0018]
In this way, in the printing method of this example, it is possible to perform printing with durability and weather resistance by using water-based ink on the surface of wood or the like. Therefore, it is possible to print an outdoor signboard etc. easily and inexpensively.
[0019]
Here, if the image receiving layer 82 is formed using an Eljon adhesive in which coloring components such as pigments, dyes, and gold powder are mixed, the underlying color of the printing surface can be freely selected. Moreover, if gold powder and silver powder are mixed, a printing surface rich in design can be formed. Furthermore, if an image receiving layer is formed using an emulsion adhesive mixed with a fragrance, it is possible to realize a printed matter that can appeal to both sight and smell.
[0020]
(Printing method on water-repellent recording media)
On the other hand, in order to suitably perform printing on a water-repellent surface such as a metal surface, a plastic surface, or a glass surface, the image receiving surface 82 is formed using an emulsion adhesive mixed with a water-resistant water-based paint. What is necessary is just to form.
[0021]
In addition to this, or alternatively, the image receiving surface 82 can be formed using an emulsion adhesive mixed with a surfactant.
[0022]
Even in this case, if the image receiving layer 82 is formed using an Eljon adhesive in which coloring components such as pigments, dyes, and gold powder are mixed, the color of the base of the printed surface can be freely selected. If silver powder is mixed, it is possible to form a printed surface that is varied in design. Furthermore, if an image receiving layer is formed using an emulsion adhesive mixed with a fragrance, it is possible to realize a printed matter that can appeal to the sense of smell as well as vision.
[0023]
(Inkjet printer suitable for the printing method of the present invention)
Next, an example of an ink jet printer suitable for use in the above printing method will be described. 1 is a plan view of the inkjet printer of this example, FIG. 2 is a side view of the ink jet printer when viewed in the direction of II-II in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a section taken along the line III-III in FIG. FIG.
[0024]
Referring to these drawings, the ink jet printer 1 of the present example is arranged on the frame frame 2, the ink jet head unit 3 arranged at the substantially center of the upper surface, and the paper feeding side with respect to the head unit 3. The sheet feeding side flat bed (tray guide) 4, the sheet discharge side flat bed (tray guide) 5 disposed on the sheet discharge side of the head unit 3, and the head unit 3 and the sheet feeding side flat bed 5 are disposed. And a tray transport unit 6. Further, the tray transport unit 6 includes a medium transport tray 7 that reciprocates along a transport path passing through the print position 31 by the head unit 3.
[0025]
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the medium transport tray. As shown in FIG. 4, the medium transport tray 7 is arranged in a row along a rectangular plate 71 having a certain thickness and both side edges in the transport direction. Are provided with sprocket holes 72 and 73. A region surrounded by a dotted line on the flat surface of the rectangular plate 71 is a recording medium carrying surface 74. A recording medium 8 such as a thick wooden board is placed on the carrying surface 74.
[0026]
5 and 6 are a perspective view and a side view showing a schematic configuration of the tray transport unit 6. Referring to these drawings, the tray transport unit 6 includes a pair of sprockets 61 and 62 that can mesh with the sprocket holes 72 and 73 on both sides of the medium transport tray 7, and these sprockets 61 and 62 are connected to the head unit 3. The distance adjusting mechanism 10 moves the nozzle surface 33 (see FIG. 2) of the inkjet head 32 in the direction of approaching and leaving, and the driving force transmission mechanism 9 that rotationally drives the pair of sprockets 61 and 62. .
[0027]
The sprocket 61 of this example includes two gears 63 and 64, a toothed belt 65 spanning the two gears 63, and a meshing protrusion 66 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the toothed belt 65 at a constant interval. It has a configuration. The toothed belt 65 is stretched so as to draw a long oval loop in the conveyance direction of the medium conveyance tray. The other sprocket 62 has the same structure, and includes two gears 67 and 68, a toothed belt 69, and a meshing protrusion 70 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the toothed belt 69. The height of the medium tray conveying surface is defined by the horizontal outer peripheral surface located above the pair of toothed belts 65 and 69.
[0028]
(Spacing adjustment mechanism)
The spacing adjusting mechanism 10 includes a common rotating shaft 11 in which gears 63 and 67 of the sprockets 61 and 62 are fixed in a coaxial state, and the other gears 64 and 68 of the sprockets 61 and 62 in a coaxial state. And a common rotating shaft 12. These rotating shafts 11 and 12 are rotatably supported by a support plate 13. The support plate 13 includes a bottom plate portion 131 and side plate portions 132 and 133 standing upright from both ends of the bottom plate portion 131. The rotating shafts 11 and 12 are transported between the side plate portions 132 and 133 in the conveying direction. It is bridged horizontally and parallel to the direction perpendicular to.
[0029]
The central portion of the bottom plate portion 131 of the support plate 13 is supported by the elevating member 14. The elevating member 14 includes side plate portions 143 and 144 in which horizontal grooves 141 and 142 capable of receiving the bottom plate portion 131 from the horizontal direction are formed, and a horizontal bottom plate portion connecting the lower ends of these side plate portions 143 and 144. 145.
[0030]
Further, between the side plate portions 143 and 144, a single rotating shaft 145 is bridged above the horizontal grooves 141 and 142, and upper pressing rollers 146 and 147 are rotatably supported at both ends of the rotating shaft 145. Is mounted rotatably. On the other hand, between the side plate portions 143 and 144, two rotary shafts 148 and 149 are horizontally spanned below the horizontal grooves 141 and 142, and are rotatable at both end portions of the rotary shafts 148 and 149. Lower pressing rollers 151, 152 and 153, 154 are rotatably mounted, respectively.
[0031]
The bottom plate portion 131 of the support plate inserted in the horizontal grooves 141 and 142 formed in the side plate portions 143 and 144 from the horizontal direction includes the upper pressing rollers 146 and 147 and the lower pressing rollers 151, 152 and 153 and 154. It is sandwiched from above and below. Therefore, the support plate 13 can be moved up and down while being slidable in the horizontal direction.
[0032]
One side plate portion 143 of the elevating member 14 includes an extended portion 155 extending downward, and a rack 16 is fixed to this portion vertically. A pinion 17 is engaged with the rack 16, and the pinion 17 is fixed to an output shaft 181 of a stepping motor 18 for raising and lowering.
[0033]
Therefore, when the stepping motor 18 is driven, the motor rotational force is converted into the lifting motion of the lifting member 14. When the elevating member 14 moves up and down, the support member 13 supported by the elevating member 14 also moves up and down together, and the sprockets 61 and 62 attached to the rotary shafts 11 and 12 spanned over the support member 13 also move up and down. As a result, the distance between the transport surface of the medium transport tray defined by the sprockets 61 and 62 and the inkjet head 32 of the head unit 3 increases or decreases.
[0034]
(Driving force transmission mechanism)
Next, a drive force transmission mechanism for rotating the sprockets 61 and 62 will be described. A driven gear 19 is coaxially attached and fixed to one end of the rotating shaft 11 of the sprockets 61 and 62. The driven gear 19 meshes with a drive gear 20 attached to the gantry frame 2 side. The driving gear 20 is connected to a conveying motor (not shown) via a reduction gear train 21. Accordingly, when the drive motor is driven, the rotary shaft 11 rotates via the drive side gear 20 and the driven side gear 19, so that the sprockets 61 and 62 also rotate together and ride on the sprockets 61 and 62. The medium transport tray 7 that is present is transported.
[0035]
Here, both ends of the two rotary shafts 11 and 12 extend horizontally outward through the side plate portions 132 and 133 on both sides of the support plate 13. Outside the side plate portions 132 and 133, a guide plate 22 having arc-shaped slide grooves 221 and 222 and a guide plate 23 having arc-shaped slide grooves 231 and 232 are disposed. Both ends of the rotary shafts 11 and 12 penetrate the arc-shaped slide grooves 221, 231 and 222, 232 of the respective guide plates 22 and 23 in a slidable state.
[0036]
As can be clearly seen from FIG. 6, the driven gear 19 that moves up and down meshes with the drive gear 20 that is disposed at a fixed position. In order to keep the driven gear 19 in mesh with the driving gear 20, it is necessary to raise and lower the driven gear 19 along an arcuate locus 19a centering on the rotation center 20a of the driving gear 20. . Therefore, in this example, the rotary shafts 11 and 12 are slid along the arc-shaped slide grooves 221, 231 and 222, 232 along the arc-shaped locus 20b.
[0037]
Here, in order to raise and lower the rotating shafts 11 and 12 along the arc-shaped slide groove, it is necessary to move in the horizontal direction along with the slide. In this example, as described above, the upper pressing rollers 146 and 147 and the lower pressing rollers 151, 152, and 153 can be slid in the horizontal direction on the support plate 13 on which the rotary shafts 11 and 12 are spanned. And 154 are supported by the elevating member 14. Therefore, the driven gear 19 can be lifted and lowered while being engaged with the driving gear 20.
[0038]
(Structure of flat bed)
Next, in the inkjet printer 1 of the present example, the flat beds 4 and 5 are also moved up and down in conjunction with such up and down movement of the sprockets 61 and 62. As a result, the conveyance surface defined by the sprockets 61 and 62 and the conveyance surface of the medium conveyance tray 7 by the flat beds 4 and 5 are always located on the same plane.
[0039]
Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, each flat bed 4, 5 includes tray guides 41, 42 and 51, 52 that guide the side surface of the medium transport tray 7 on both sides. In addition, a plurality of rollers 43 and 53 that define the transport surface of the medium transport tray 7 are provided, and a horizontal support that supports rotating shafts 44 and 54 that rotatably support these rollers 43 and 53. The frames 45 and 55 are supported by vertical linear guides 46 and 56 so as to be movable up and down. Brackets 47 and 57 extending downward are attached to the horizontal support frames 45 and 55, and racks 48 and 58 are attached to the brackets 47 and 57 vertically. The racks 48 and 58 mesh with pinions 50 and 60 attached to the output shafts of the bed lifting motors 49 and 59, respectively.
[0040]
When the motors 49 and 59 are driven, the horizontal support frames 45 and 55 can be raised and lowered. In this example, by driving the motors 49 and 59 in conjunction with the lifting and lowering motor 18 of the tray transport unit 6, the tray transport surface defined by the sprockets 61 and 62 and the flat beds 4 and 5 are always used. The specified tray transport surface is the same height.
[0041]
As described above, in the inkjet printer 1 of this example, printing can be performed on the recording medium 8 carried on the medium transport tray 7 by reciprocating the medium transport tray 7 via the print position. it can. Since the medium transport tray 7 is transported by the sprockets 61 and 62, a heavy recording medium can be transported more reliably than a friction engagement transport mechanism using a general paper feed roller.
[0042]
Further, by moving the sprockets 61 and 62 up and down according to the thickness of the recording medium 8 placed on the medium conveying tray 7, the gap between the conveyed recording medium 8 and the nozzle surface 33 of the inkjet head 32 is always constant. Can be held in. Therefore, it is possible to print even on a thick recording medium.
[0043]
Furthermore, in this example, the flat beds 4 and 5 arrange | positioned before and behind the conveyance direction are provided, and these go up and down integrally with the sprockets 61 and 62. As shown in FIG. Therefore, by supporting the medium transport tray 7 also by these flat beds 4 and 5, the long medium transport tray 7 can be transported.
[0044]
Of course, ink jet printers used in the printing method of the present invention can also have general configurations other than those described above.
[0045]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, in the printing method using the ink jet printer of the present invention, an image receiving surface suitable for printing with water-based ink is formed by applying an emulsion adhesive on the surface of a water-absorbing recording medium. . Accordingly, it is possible to form a printed image having a fixing property and durability on the surface of a wooden board or the like by using an ink-jet printer with water-based ink.
[0046]
In the printing method of the present invention, an emulsion adhesive mixed with a water-resistant water-based paint or an emulsion adhesive mixed with a surfactant is applied to the surface of a water-repellent recording medium. In particular, an image receiving surface suitable for printing with water-based ink is formed. Therefore, it is possible to form a durable printed image with water-based ink that does not peel off even on the surface of plastic, metal, glass or the like using an ink jet printer.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view of an inkjet printer to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a side configuration diagram of the ink jet printer of FIG. 1 as viewed from the direction of II-II line.
3 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram of a portion cut along a line III-III of the ink jet printer of FIG. 1. FIG.
4 is a perspective view of a medium carrying tray of the ink jet printer of FIG. 1. FIG.
5 is a perspective view showing a medium carrying tray of the ink jet printer of FIG. 1. FIG.
6 is an explanatory view showing a side configuration of a medium carrying tray of the ink jet printer of FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a printing method on a water-absorbing recording medium such as wood according to the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Inkjet printer 2 Base frame 3 Head unit 31 Printing position 32 Inkjet head 33 Nozzle surface 4 Flat bed 5 Flat bed 6 Tray transport unit 7 Medium transport trays 72 and 73 Sprocket holes 8 Recording medium 81 Print surface 82 Image receiving layer 83 Print image 84 UV shielding layer 85 Protective layer 61, 62 Sprocket 11, 12 Rotating shaft 13 Support plate 14 Lift plate 16 Rack 17 Pinion 18 Lifting motors 221, 222, 231, 232 Arc-shaped slide grooves 146, 147 Upper pressing roller 151- 154 Lower side presser roller 19 Driven side gear 19a Movement locus 20 of driven side gear Drive side gear 20a Center of drive side gear

Claims (8)

Printing of a recording medium using an ink jet printer that forms an image receiving layer on the printing surface of the recording medium by applying an emulsion adhesive and performs printing with an aqueous ink using an ink jet head on the surface of the image receiving layer In the method
The inkjet printer is of a type that performs printing on the surface of the recording medium by transporting a medium transport tray carrying a recording medium via a printing position of the inkjet head,
A sprocket that meshes and engages with the medium transport tray for transporting the medium transport tray, a rotating shaft on which the sprocket gears are fixed in a coaxial state, a driven gear attached to the rotating shaft, and the driven side Performed by a tray transport unit having a driving side gear meshing with the gear,
An interval guide for moving the tray transport unit toward and away from the inkjet head is provided with an arc guide on which the rotary shaft slides, and the driven gear is kept in mesh with the driven gear being the center. A printing method characterized in that the printing is performed by an interval adjustment mechanism that moves the printing apparatus. In claim 1, further comprising:
A printing method, comprising: forming an ultraviolet shielding layer on the surface of the image receiving surface after printing. In claim 1 or 2,
A printing method comprising forming a protective layer of a resin paint after printing or on the surface of the ultraviolet shielding layer. In any one of claims 1 to 3,
A printing method comprising forming the image receiving surface using an emulsion adhesive mixed with a water-resistant water-based paint. In any one of claims 1 to 4,
A printing method comprising forming the image receiving surface by using an emulsion adhesive mixed with a surfactant. In any one of claims 1 to 5,
A printing method, wherein the image receiving layer is formed using an emulsion adhesive in which coloring components such as pigments, dyes, and gold powder are mixed. In any one of claims 1 to 6,
A printing method comprising forming the image receiving layer using an emulsion adhesive mixed with a fragrance. An inkjet head for printing with aqueous ink;
A medium carrying tray for carrying and carrying a recording medium;
A tray transport unit for transporting the medium transport tray via the printing position of the inkjet head;
An interval adjusting mechanism for moving the tray transport unit in a direction toward and away from the inkjet head;
The tray transport unit includes a sprocket that meshes with and engages with the medium transport tray, a rotary shaft on which a gear of the sprocket is fixed in a coaxial state, a driven gear attached to the rotary shaft, and a driven gear. The drive side gears meshing with each other,
The said space | interval adjustment mechanism is an inkjet printer provided with the circular arc guide which the said rotating shaft slides, and it can move centering | focusing on the said drive side gear, with the said driven side gear keeping meshing.

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