JP4697848B2 - Inkjet printer and printing method using the same - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an inkjet printer that prints a picture or / and a character at a desired position on the surface of a print medium mounted on a table, and a picture or / or image at a desired position on the surface of the print medium mounted on the table using the printer. And a printing method for printing characters.

  Recently, using an ink jet printer, pictures or / and characters are printed on the surface of a print medium (print medium) such as a T-shirt. According to the printing method using the ink jet printer, various digitally processed drawings or / and characters can be printed on the surface of a print medium such as a T-shirt without using a screen printing plate or the like. You can print easily.

  An inkjet printer that prints pictures such as marks or / and characters on the surface of a print medium such as a T-shirt is mounted on a table on which the print medium such as a T-shirt is spread in a flat state and mounted on the table. A carriage that moves above the print medium in an XY (front-rear-left-right) direction parallel to the table surface, and an inkjet head that ejects ink droplets held by the carriage. According to this printer, it is possible to mount a print medium such as a T-shirt in a state where the print medium is flatly developed on the table. Then, while moving the carriage above the print medium in the XY directions, ink droplets can be ejected from the inkjet head held by the carriage toward the print medium surface. Then, the ink droplet can be landed in a dot shape on a desired portion of the surface of the print medium mounted on the table. Then, a picture or / and a character in which a plurality of ink dots are arranged in a predetermined shape on the surface of the print medium can be printed.

  When printing a picture or / and characters at a desired position on the surface of a print medium such as a T-shirt using this printer, for example, a test print sheet on which the shape of the print medium such as a T-shirt is printed, A test print sheet having the same shape as a print medium such as a T-shirt was mounted on the table. Then, the carriage is moved in the XY direction above the sheet, and ink droplets are ejected from the inkjet head held by the carriage toward the sheet surface. Then, the figure or / and the characters were repeatedly printed on the surface of the sheet over a plurality of times. At that time, the position of the sheet mounted on the table for trial printing of the picture or / and the character is repeatedly moved and adjusted in the left-right direction and the front-rear direction. Then, the position of the sheet mounted on the table is repeatedly moved and adjusted so that a picture or / and a character is accurately printed on the desired position on the surface of the sheet. Next, after confirming that pictures or / and characters are properly printed at a desired position on the surface of the sheet mounted on the table, a print medium such as a T-shirt is placed on the table instead of the test print sheet. It was mounted again at the same position where the upper seat was mounted. Then, a picture or a character such as a mark or the like at a desired position on the surface of the print medium by ink droplets ejected from the inkjet head held by the carriage moving in the X-Y direction above the print medium toward the surface of the print medium. Was printed.

In addition, when printing pictures or / and characters on plastic products other than T-Shats, metal products, etc., a hot stamp printing method is used to display pictorial figures such as marks or the like at desired positions on those plastic products, metal products, etc. / And characters were printed.
JP-A-11-138768

However, as described above, when a picture such as a mark or / and a character is printed at a desired position on the surface of a print medium such as a T-shirt, the print medium shape such as a T-shirt is printed on the surface. Sheet, or a test print sheet cut in advance in the shape of a print medium such as a T-shirt, and the procurement of the sheet required a great deal of labor and expense.
In addition, the position of the sheet mounted on the table is determined in the horizontal direction on the table with reference to the positions of the pictures or / and characters repeatedly printed on the surface of the test print sheet mounted on the table. It was necessary to adjust the movement repeatedly in the front-rear direction. Then, the position of the sheet mounted on the table is repeatedly moved and adjusted over a plurality of times so that a picture or / and a character is accurately printed at a desired position on the surface of the sheet mounted on the table. There was a need. Next, after confirming that the pictures or / and characters have been accurately printed at a desired position on the surface of the test print sheet, a sheet on the table is mounted on the table instead of the test print sheet. It was necessary to spend a lot of time and time to re-install it at the same position.

  In addition, when printing pictures and / or characters on plastic products, metal products, etc. by the hot stamp printing method, it is necessary to produce plates as in the case of the screen printing method. For these plastic products, metal products, etc. In order to print a wide variety of pictures and / or characters, it was necessary to make various kinds of plates for hot stamp printing by taking time and effort.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem. A test print sheet is mounted on a table, and a test drawing is printed on the surface of the sheet over a plurality of times. T-shirts mounted on the table without having to repeatedly move and adjust the position of the sheet mounted on the table, or produce various types of plates for screen printing or hot stamp printing, To provide an inkjet printer capable of easily and accurately directly printing various pictures or / and characters of a desired size at a desired position on the surface of a print medium such as a plastic product or a metal product, and a printing method using the printer It is an object.

In order to achieve such an object, the first ink jet printer of the present invention includes an ink jet head held by a carriage above a print medium mounted on a table, and a pictorial diagram and / or character stored in a storage means. In a printer that prints a picture or / and characters on the surface of the print medium by ink droplets ejected from the inkjet head, moved relative to the XY direction in accordance with print data,
Instructing means for indicating a desired coordinate position on the surface of the print medium mounted on the table is provided, and a distance X1-Y1 is separated from each other in the XY direction of the surface of the print medium on the table indicated by the indicating means. A coordinate reading means for reading a reference coordinate position associated with the print medium and a print coordinate position indicating a position of an area for printing a picture or / and a character; and a reference coordinate on the surface of the print medium read by the coordinate position reading means The position and the print coordinate position are displayed as marks on the display by means of coordinate display means for displaying the position and the print coordinate position as a mark on the display at a distance X1 / N-Y1 / N apart from each other in the XY direction. The print stored in the storage means at the position of the area indicated by the print coordinate position The reference coordinate position and the mark of the print coordinate position are displayed on the image or / and the character image that has been reduced or enlarged by 1 / N times in the XY direction to the image or / and character to be printed on the surface of the media. Image display means for displaying the image superimposed on the display, and a picture or / and / or a picture of a size obtained by enlarging or reducing the image of the picture or / and the character displayed on the display by the image display means N times in the XY direction A print coordinate position that is a distance X1-Y1 away from the reference coordinate position on the surface of the print medium in the XY direction indicates the character in accordance with the reference coordinate position and the print coordinate position of the print medium surface read by the coordinate reading means. The area is placed on the table according to the picture or / and character print data stored in the storage means. It is characterized in that a printing means for printing is provided by the ink droplets ejected from the ink jet head held by the carriage for relatively moving been printed media above an X-Y-direction.

Moreover, the 1st printing method of this invention using the 1st inkjet printer of this invention is characterized by including the following step.
a. A step of indicating the reference coordinate position and the position of the area where the picture or character is to be printed in the XY direction on the surface of the print medium mounted on the table by the instruction means;
b. A step of reading a reference coordinate position and a print coordinate position on the surface of the print medium pointed by the instruction means by the coordinate reading means, respectively;
c. Using the coordinate display means, the reference coordinate position and the print coordinate position read by the coordinate reading means are displayed as marks on the display at a distance X1 / N-Y1 / N apart from each other in the XY direction. Step.
d. Using the image display means, a picture to be printed on the print media surface stored in the storage means at the position of the area indicated by the print coordinate position displayed as a mark on the display by the coordinate display means or / and A step of displaying a picture or / and an image of a character obtained by reducing or enlarging a character by 1 / N times in the X-Y direction on a display on which a mark at a reference coordinate position and a print coordinate position is displayed.
e. Using the printing means, a picture or / and a character obtained by enlarging or reducing an image of a picture or / and a character displayed on the display by the image display means N times in the XY direction is obtained by the coordinate reading means. In accordance with the read reference coordinate position of the print medium surface and the print coordinate position, the storage means is located at the position of the area indicated by the print coordinate position that is a distance X1-Y1 away from the reference coordinate position of the print media surface in the XY direction. Printed by ink droplets ejected from an inkjet head held by a carriage that moves relative to the X and Y directions above the print media mounted on the table in accordance with the picture data and / or character print data stored in the table Step to do.

In the first printing method using the first inkjet printer having such a configuration,
In step a, by the instruction means, the reference coordinate position on the surface of the print medium mounted on the table, the distance X1-Y1 away from each other in the XY direction, and the area to print the picture or / and character The print coordinate position indicating the position of each can be indicated.
In step b, the reference coordinate position and the print coordinate position on the surface of the print medium on the table pointed to by the instruction means can be read by the coordinate reading means.
Next, in step c, using the coordinate display means, the reference coordinate position and the print coordinate position of the surface of the print medium read by the coordinate reading means are displayed on the display in the XY direction by a distance X1 / N- They can be displayed as marks separated by Y1 / N.
Next, in step d, an image display means is used to print on the surface of the print medium stored in the storage means at the position of the area indicated by the print coordinate position displayed as a mark on the display by the coordinate display means. The image or / and character image of the image or / and character to be reduced or enlarged by 1 / N times in the XY direction can be displayed on the display on which the mark of the reference coordinate position and the print coordinate position are displayed. .
Thereafter, in the step e, using the printing means, the picture or / and character image displayed on the display by the image display means is enlarged or reduced N times in the XY direction as a picture or / and character. The reference of the surface of the print medium is matched with the reference coordinate position and the print coordinate position of the surface of the print medium read by the coordinate reading means for the picture or / and the character in which a plurality of ink dots are arranged in a predetermined shape. In the area indicated by the print coordinate position that is a distance X1-Y1 away from the coordinate position in the XY direction, according to the picture data and / or character print data stored in the storage means, above the print medium mounted on the table While moving the carriage relative to the XY direction, the inkjet head held by the carriage is moved. The ink droplets to be ejected toward the print medium from the surface, can be printed.

The second ink jet printer according to the present invention includes an ink jet head held by a carriage above a print medium mounted on a table in an XY direction according to a picture or / and character print data stored in a storage means. In a printer that prints a picture or / and characters on the surface of the print medium by ink droplets that are relatively moved and ejected from the inkjet head,
Provided with indicating means indicating the desired coordinate position of the mounted printed media surface on said table, a predetermined distance from one another onto the X-Y direction of the printed media surface on the pointed table by said instructing means, said Coordinate reading means for reading a reference coordinate position associated with the print medium and a plurality of print coordinate positions separated from each other by a distance X2-Y2 in the XY direction indicating a range of an area for printing a picture or / and a character, and the coordinates A coordinate display means for displaying a plurality of print coordinate positions read by the position reading means as a mark on the display at a distance X2 / N-Y2 / N in the XY direction, and on the display by the coordinate display means Stored in the storage means within an area indicated by a plurality of print coordinate positions displayed as marks Marks at multiple print coordinate positions are displayed on the image or / and character image that has been reduced or enlarged by 1 / N times in the XY direction. An image display means for displaying the image superimposed on the display, and a picture or / and a character obtained by enlarging or reducing the image of the picture or / and the character displayed on the display by the image display means N times in the XY direction, An area indicated by a plurality of print coordinate positions separated from the reference coordinate position on the print medium surface by a predetermined distance in the XY direction in accordance with the reference coordinate position and the plurality of print coordinate positions read by the coordinate reading means. Within the range of the table according to the picture or / and character print data stored in the storage means. It is characterized in that a printing means for printing is provided by the ink droplets ejected from the ink jet head held by the carriage for relatively moving been printed media above an X-Y-direction.

Moreover, the second printing method of the present invention using the second ink jet printer of the present invention is characterized by including the following steps.
a. The reference coordinate positions separated from each other by a predetermined distance in the X and Y directions on the surface of the print medium mounted on the table by the instruction means, and the distance from each other in the X and Y directions indicating the range of the area where the picture or / or character is to be printed. X2-Y2 points to a plurality of print coordinate positions separated from each other.
b. A step of reading a reference coordinate position and a plurality of print coordinate positions on the surface of the print medium pointed by the instruction means by the coordinate reading means;
c. Using the coordinate display means, a plurality of print coordinate positions separated by a distance X2-Y2 in the XY direction read by the coordinate reading means are separated from each other in the XY direction by a distance X2 / N-Y2 / N. And displaying each as a mark on the display.
d. A picture to be printed on the surface of the print medium stored in the storage means within the area indicated by a plurality of print coordinate positions displayed as marks on the display by the coordinate display means using the image display means. Or / and displaying a picture or / and a character image obtained by reducing or enlarging a character by 1 / N times in the X-Y direction, superimposed on a display on which marks at a plurality of print coordinate positions are displayed.
e. Using the printing means, a picture or / and a character obtained by enlarging or reducing an image of a picture or / and a character displayed on the display by the image display means N times in the XY direction is obtained by the coordinate reading means. In accordance with the read reference coordinate position of the print medium surface and the plurality of print coordinate positions, within a range of an area indicated by a plurality of print coordinate positions separated from the reference coordinate position of the print media surface by a predetermined distance in the XY direction, Ink ejected from an inkjet head held by a carriage that moves relative to the X and Y directions above the print medium mounted on the table in accordance with picture or / and character print data stored in the storage means Printing with drops.

In the second printing method using the second inkjet printer having such a configuration,
In step a, by the instruction means, on the surface of the print medium mounted on the table, the reference coordinate positions separated from each other by a predetermined distance in the XY direction and the pictures separated from each other by a distance X2-Y2 in the XY direction Alternatively, and / or a plurality of print coordinate positions indicating the range of the area where the character is to be printed can be indicated.
In step b, the reference coordinate position and the plurality of print coordinate positions on the surface of the print medium on the table pointed to by the instruction means can be read by the coordinate reading means.
Next, in step c, using the coordinate display means, a plurality of print coordinate positions read by the coordinate reading means are separated from each other in the XY direction by a distance X2 / N-Y2 / N as marks on the display. Each can be displayed.
Next, in step d, using the image display means, the surface of the print medium stored in the storage means is within the area indicated by the plurality of print coordinate positions displayed as marks on the display by the coordinate display means. An image of a picture or / and character that has been reduced or enlarged by 1 / N times in the XY direction is overlaid on a display on which marks at multiple print coordinate positions are displayed. it can.
Thereafter, in the step e, using the printing means, the picture or / and character image displayed on the display by the image display means is enlarged or reduced N times in the XY direction as a picture or / and character. The surface of the print medium is matched with the reference coordinate position and the plurality of print coordinate positions on the surface of the print medium obtained by reading a picture or / and a character in which a plurality of ink dots are arranged in a predetermined shape by the coordinate reading means. Prints mounted on the table in accordance with the picture data and / or character print data stored in the storage means within the area indicated by a plurality of print coordinate positions separated by a predetermined distance from the reference coordinate position in the XY direction While moving the carriage relative to the XY direction above the media, the ink jet gripped by the carriage It can be printed by the ink droplets to be ejected toward a print media surface from Toheddo.

In the first and second ink jet printers of the present invention, there are provided moving means for relatively moving the carriage above the print medium mounted on the table in the XY direction by a predetermined pitch, and the indicating means In addition, it is preferable that an LED spotlight or the like as an irradiating means for irradiating the surface of the print medium mounted on the table is used, and the irradiating means is provided on the carriage.
In such a case, in step a of the first and second printing methods of the present invention, the carriage is moved relative to the upper portion of the print medium mounted on the table by a fixed pitch in the XY direction by the moving means. be able to. Then, the reference coordinates separated from each other in the XY direction of the surface of the print medium mounted on the table by the spotlights emitted from the LED spotlights of the irradiating means as the instruction means provided on the carriage are separated from each other by a distance X1-Y1. A print coordinate position indicating a position of the position and the picture or / and an area where the character is to be printed, or a reference coordinate position and the picture and / or the graphic coordinates separated from each other by a predetermined distance in the XY direction of the surface of the print medium mounted on the table A plurality of print coordinate positions indicating the range of the area where the character is to be printed can be sequentially applied.
Then, in step b of the first and second printing methods of the present invention, the coordinates of the reference coordinate position and the print coordinate position on the surface of the print medium where the spotlights irradiated from the irradiation unit as the instruction unit are sequentially applied are read. Each can be read sequentially by means.

In the first and second ink jet printers of the present invention, the indication means may be a needle-like support bar provided on the carriage and operable to move up and down.
In such a case, the lower end of the support bar can be lowered to the vicinity of the surface of the print medium mounted on the table, and the reference coordinate position and the print coordinate position on the surface of the print medium can be indicated by the lower end of the support bar. The support bar can be moved up and down either manually or automatically. The support bar preferably has a shape that allows the printer operator to accurately determine the lower end position of the support bar.

  As the instruction unit and the coordinate reading unit, a unit having a digitizer function loaded over the entire table on which the print medium is mounted can be used.

In the first and second ink jet printers of the present invention, it is preferable to use a jog key provided in the ink jet printer as the moving means for relatively moving the carriage by a fixed pitch in the XY direction. Then, it is preferable that the printer operator operates the jog key to indicate the reference coordinate position or the print coordinate position on the surface of the print medium by the instruction means provided on the carriage.
Jog keys are those mounted on the inkjet printer main unit, those equipped on the remote controller connected to the inkjet printer main unit by cable, those equipped on the wireless control type remote controller not connected to the inkjet printer main unit, etc. Either of these is acceptable.

  The print medium is not limited to a flat shape, but may be a cylindrical shape, a dish shape, a trumpet shape, or a semicircular arc shape. However, if the print media has a cylindrical shape, a dish shape, a trumpet shape, or a semicircular arc shape, various structures with a roller structure etc. that match the print media mounting table with the shape of the print media. It is necessary to change to. Then, either one of the moving means for moving the print medium mounted on the table in a cylindrical shape, a dish shape, a trumpet shape or a semicircular arc shape relative to each other at a constant pitch in the X direction or the Y direction is printed on the print medium. It is necessary to have a structure in which the medium is rotated in the X direction or the Y direction by a certain pitch.

  In the first and second ink jet printers of the present invention, it is preferable to include a heating means for heating the print medium mounted on the table. Then, it is preferable that the print medium mounted on the table is heated and the ink droplets ejected and landed on the surface of the print medium from the ink jet head are surely dried at an early stage. The ink dots formed on the surface of the print medium by the ink droplets are preferably adhered to the print medium with strong adhesion.

As described above, according to the first and second printing methods of the present invention using the first and second ink jet printers of the present invention, the picture or / and character on the surface of the test sheet mounted on the table. Repeatedly test printing over multiple times, or repeatedly moving and adjusting the position of the sheet mounted on the table based on the position of the picture or character printed on the test sheet surface, In place of the sheet mounted on the table, various drawings having a desired size in a desired position or a desired area on the surface of the print medium mounted on the table without mounting the print medium on the table again. Or / and characters can be printed directly and easily without any trouble.
In addition, by changing the table on which the print media is mounted to a roller structure, etc., various sizes of desired sizes can be obtained in the desired position or desired area on the surface of the print media that has a cylindrical shape, a dish shape, a trumpet shape or a semicircular arc shape. It is possible to easily and accurately print the picture or / and characters of this without directing any effort.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
1 and 2 show a preferred embodiment of the first ink jet printer of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram thereof, and FIG. The first ink jet printer will be described below.

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are drawings in which an inkjet head 32 held by a carriage 30 above a print medium 20 mounted on a table 10 is stored in a storage means 44 built in a host computer 40 for driving a printer. Or / and mounted on the table 10 by ink droplets ejected from a plurality of nozzles (not shown) arranged on the lower surface of the inkjet head 32 by moving relatively in the XY direction according to the print data of characters. An ink jet printer that prints a picture or / and characters on the surface of the print medium 20 is displayed.
In this printer, the table 10 is moved in the X (front-rear) direction along the side edge of the guide table 12, or the carriage 30 is moved in the Y (left-right) direction along the periphery of the guide rail 34. The carriage 30 is relatively moved in the XY direction above the print medium 20 mounted thereon.
On the operation panel 54 on the right side of the printer body, the table 10 is manually moved in the X direction by a constant pitch along the side edge of the guide table 12, or the carriage 30 is manually moved by Y at a constant pitch along the periphery of the guide rail 34. A plurality of jog keys 52 that move in the direction are arranged side by side. The jog key 52 allows the carriage 30 to be moved relative to the X and Y directions by manual operation over the print medium 20 mounted on the table 10. The jog key 52 constitutes a moving means 50 that moves the carriage 30 relative to the XY direction above the print medium 20 mounted on the table 10.

The carriage 30 that holds the inkjet head 32 includes irradiation means 62 such as LED (Light Emitting Diode) spotlights that irradiate the surface of the print medium 20 mounted on the table 10 with spotlights such as dots and crosses. It has been. The irradiation unit 62 constitutes an instruction unit 60 that indicates a desired coordinate position on the surface of the print medium 20 mounted on the table 10.
Further, the reference coordinate position and the position of the area where the picture or character is printed are separated from each other in the XY direction on the surface of the print medium 20 on the table 10 to which the spotlight irradiated from the irradiation means 62 is applied. Coordinate reading means 70 for sequentially reading the print coordinate positions shown is provided. The coordinate reading means 70 is configured using an encoder (not shown) that reads the positions of the table 10 and the carriage 30, an electronic circuit built in the host computer 40, and the like.
Further, the reference coordinate position and the print coordinate position of the surface of the print medium 20 read by the coordinate position reading means 70 are separated from each other in the XY direction by a distance X1 / N-Y1 / N, and are displayed on the display 42 in a dot-like or cross shape. Coordinate display means 72 for displaying as a mark such as a shape is provided. The coordinate display means 72 is configured using an electronic control circuit built in the host computer 40 or the like.
Also, a picture or / or image to be printed on the surface of the print medium 20 stored in the storage means 44 built in the host computer 40 at the position of the area indicated by the print coordinate position displayed as a mark on the display 42 by the coordinate display means 72. And image display means for displaying a picture or character image obtained by reducing or enlarging the character in the XY direction by 1 / N times on the display 42 on which the mark of the reference coordinate position and the print coordinate position is displayed. 76 is provided. The image display means 76 is configured using an electronic control circuit or the like built in the host computer 40.
Further, a print medium obtained by reading a picture or / and a character obtained by enlarging or reducing an image of a picture or / and a character displayed on the display 42 by the image display means 76 N times in the XY direction by the coordinate reading means 70. In accordance with the reference coordinate position of the 20 surface and the print coordinate position, the storage means 44 stores the position of the area indicated by the print coordinate position that is a distance X1-Y1 away from the reference coordinate position of the surface of the print medium 20 in the XY direction. Ejected from nozzles arranged on the lower surface of the inkjet head 32 held by a carriage 30 that moves relative to the XY direction relative to the print medium 20 mounted on the table 10 in accordance with the printed picture or / and character print data. Printing means 78 for printing with ink droplets. The printing unit 78 includes a drive motor (not shown) for driving the table 10, a drive motor (not shown) for running the carriage 30, an electronic control circuit built in the host computer 40, and the like.

The first ink jet printer shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is configured as described above.
Next, a preferred embodiment of the first printing method of the present invention using this first printer will be described.

In this first printing method, as shown in FIG. 2, for example, a T-shirt of the print medium 20 is placed on the table 10 together with the template 80 so as to cover the T-shirt-shaped template 80. ing. Then, the T-shirt of the print medium 20 is mounted on the table 10 in a state of being developed in a planar shape.
In step a, the carriage 30 is relatively moved in the XY direction by manual operation using the jog key 52 of the moving means 50 above the table 10. Then, a spotlight such as a dot shape or a cross shape irradiated from the irradiation means 62 of the instruction means 60 provided in the carriage 30 is developed on the table 10 in a planar shape and is mounted on the surface of the print medium 20 mounted on the surface. The surface of the print medium 20 indicating the position of the base portion 22 of the neck of the T-shirt, for example, and the area where the pictorial drawing such as ABC or the like and / or the character is to be printed, which are reference coordinate positions separated from each other by the distance X1-Y1 , For example, the upper center 24 of the left chest of the T-shirt.
In step b, the base coordinate position 22 of the neck of the T-shirt, for example, which is the reference coordinate position on the surface of the print medium 20 on the table 10 to which spotlights such as dots and crosses irradiated from the irradiation means 62 are sequentially applied. And the coordinate position of the upper center 24 of the left chest of the T-shirt, for example, of the print coordinate position on the surface of the print medium 20 indicating the position of the area where the picture or / and the character is to be printed are respectively read by the coordinate reading means 70. Reading in order.
Then, in step c, the coordinate display means 72 is used to print the reference coordinate position and the picture or / and the character which are separated from each other by the distance X1-Y1 in the XY direction on the surface of the print medium 20 read by the coordinate reading means 70. The print coordinate position indicating the position of the area to be printed is displayed on the display 42 as a dot-like, cross-like mark, etc., separated from each other in the XY direction by a distance X1 / N-Y1 / N.
Next, in step d, using the image display means 76, the print stored in the storage means 44 of the host computer at the position of the area indicated by the print coordinate position displayed as a mark on the display 42 by the coordinate display means 72. An image of ABC or the like to be printed on the surface of the media 20 or / and a character image that has been reduced or enlarged by 1 / N times in the XY direction, and a mark at the reference coordinate position and the print coordinate position are displayed. The image is displayed on the displayed display 42 in an overlapping manner.
Thereafter, in step e, using the printing means 78, the picture displayed on the display 42 by the image display means 76 and / or the picture of ABC or the like enlarged or reduced N times in the XY direction. Or / and the character is separated by a distance X1-Y1 in the XY direction from the reference coordinate position on the surface of the print medium 20 in accordance with the reference coordinate position on the surface of the print medium 20 read by the coordinate reading means 70 and the print coordinate position. In the area of the area indicated by the print coordinate position, for example, on the upper left center 22 of the T-shirt, X above the print medium 20 mounted on the table 10 in accordance with the picture or / and character print data stored in the storage means 44. -Injected from a plurality of nozzles arranged on the lower surface of the inkjet head 32 moved relatively in the Y direction. It has been printed by the ink droplets.
The first printing method using the first ink jet printer shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes the above steps a to e.

  1 and 3 show a preferred embodiment of the second ink jet printer of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram thereof, and FIG. The second ink jet printer will be described below.

In the second printer, the reference coordinate position and the picture or / and / or the surface of the print medium 20 on the table 10 to which the spotlight irradiated from the irradiation unit 62 of the instruction unit 60 is applied are separated from each other by a predetermined distance in the XY direction. Coordinate reading means 70 is provided for sequentially reading a plurality of print coordinate positions separated by a distance X2-Y2 in the XY direction indicating the range of the area for printing characters. The coordinate reading means 70 is configured using an encoder (not shown) that reads the positions of the table 10 and the carriage 30, an electronic circuit built in the host computer 40, and the like.
In addition, a plurality of print coordinate positions on the surface of the print medium 20 read by the coordinate position reading means 70 are separated from each other in the XY direction by a distance X2 / NYY / N, and are displayed on the display 42 as dots, crosses, or the like. Coordinate display means 72 for displaying as a mark is provided. The coordinate display means 72 is configured using an electronic control circuit built in the host computer 40 or the like.
In addition, printing is to be performed on the surface of the print medium 20 stored in the storage means 44 built in the host computer 40 within the area indicated by the plurality of print coordinate positions displayed as marks on the display 42 by the coordinate display means 72. An image display in which an image of a picture or / and a character obtained by reducing or enlarging the picture or / and a character in the XY direction by 1 / N times is superimposed on the display 42 on which marks at a plurality of print coordinate positions are displayed. Means 76 are provided. The image display means 76 is configured using an electronic control circuit or the like built in the host computer 40.
Further, a print medium obtained by reading a picture or / and a character obtained by enlarging or reducing an image of a picture or / and a character displayed on the display 42 by the image display means 76 N times in the XY direction by the coordinate reading means 70. Storage means within the area indicated by a plurality of print coordinate positions separated by a predetermined distance in the XY direction from the reference coordinate position on the surface of the print medium 20 in accordance with the reference coordinate position of the surface 20 and the plurality of print coordinate positions Nozzles arranged on the lower surface of the ink jet head 32 held by the carriage 30 that moves relative to the X and Y directions on the print medium 20 mounted on the table 10 in accordance with the picture data and / or character print data stored in 44. A printing means 78 for printing with ink droplets ejected from the printer is provided. The printing unit 78 includes a drive motor (not shown) for driving the table 10, a drive motor (not shown) for running the carriage 30, an electronic control circuit built in the host computer 40, and the like.

Other configurations of the second inkjet printer shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 are the same as those of the first inkjet printer shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
Next, a preferred embodiment of the second printing method of the present invention using this second printer will be described.

In the second printing method, as shown in FIG. 3, for example, a T-shirt of the print medium 20 is placed around the template 80 having a T-shirt shape and mounted on the table 10 together with the template 80. ing. Then, the T-shirt of the print medium 20 is mounted on the table 10 in a state of being developed in a planar shape.
In step a, the carriage 30 is relatively moved in the XY direction by manual operation using the jog key 52 of the moving means 50 above the table 10. Then, a spotlight such as a dot shape or a cross shape irradiated from the irradiation means 62 of the instruction means 60 provided in the carriage 30 is developed on the table 10 in a planar shape and is mounted on the surface of the print medium 20 mounted on the surface. -A reference coordinate position that is a predetermined distance away from each other in the Y direction, for example, the base portion 22 of the neck of the T-shirt, and the surface of the print medium 20 that indicates the range of a picture or / and a character print area such as ABC A plurality of print coordinate positions separated from each other in the X-Y direction by a distance X2-Y2, for example, the left upper center 26 and the right lower right center 28 of the right chest of the T-shirt, respectively.
Then, in step b, for example, the root portion of the neck of the T-shirt, which is the reference coordinate position on the surface of the print medium 20 on the table 10 to which spotlights such as dots and crosses irradiated from the irradiation means 62 are sequentially applied. 22 coordinate positions and a plurality of print coordinate positions indicating the range of an area where a picture or / and a character is to be printed, for example, the coordinate positions of the upper left portion 26 and the lower left portion 28 of the left chest center of the T-shirt, The coordinates are read by the coordinate reading means 70 in order.
Then, in step c, using the coordinate display means 72, a distance X2 from each other in the XY direction indicating the range of the area on which the image or / and the character on the surface of the print medium 20 read by the coordinate reading means 70 is to be printed. A plurality of print coordinate positions separated by -Y2 are displayed on the display 42 as marks such as dots and crosses, separated from each other by a distance X2 / N-Y2 / N in the XY direction.
Next, in step d, the image display means 76 is used to store in the storage means 44 of the host computer within the area indicated by the plurality of print coordinate positions displayed as marks on the display 42 by the coordinate display means 72. Marks at plural print coordinate positions are displayed on the image or / and the character image that has been reduced or enlarged by 1 / N times in the XY direction. It is displayed on the display 42 in an overlapping manner.
Thereafter, in step e, using the printing means 78, the picture or / and the character image displayed on the display 42 by the image display means 76 is enlarged or reduced N times in the XY direction, and / or In accordance with the reference coordinate position on the surface of the print medium 20 and the plurality of print coordinate positions read by the coordinate reading means 70, a plurality of prints separated from the reference coordinate position on the surface of the print medium 20 by a predetermined distance in the XY direction. Within the area indicated by the coordinate position, for example, a picture or / or picture stored in the storage means 44 in a rectangular frame with the coordinate positions of the left chest center right upper portion 26 and left chest center left lower portion 28 of the T-shirt as diagonal ends. In addition, according to the print data of characters, the upper part of the print medium 20 mounted on the table 10 is moved relative to the XY direction. Are printed by ink droplets ejected from a plurality of nozzles arranged in the inkjet head 32 lower surface.
The second printing method using the second ink jet printer shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 includes the above steps a to e.

In the first and second printing methods using the first and second ink jet printers, in step a, above the print medium 20 such as a T-shirt mounted on the table 10 in a flat shape. The carriage 30 can be relatively moved by a fixed pitch in the XY direction by manual operation using the jog key 52 of the moving means 50.
In the first printing method using the first inkjet printer, the spotlight irradiated from the irradiation means 62 such as the LED spotlight of the instruction means 60 provided in the carriage 30 is mounted on the table 10. A reference coordinate position that is a distance X1-Y1 away from each other in the XY direction on the surface of the print medium 20, and one print coordinate position that indicates the position of an area on the surface of the print medium 20 on which a picture or / and character is to be printed And can be applied in turn.
On the other hand, in the second printing method using the second inkjet printer, the spotlight irradiated from the irradiation means 62 such as the LED spotlight of the instruction means 60 provided in the carriage 30 is mounted on the table 10. A distance X2 between the reference coordinate position and the area of the surface of the print medium 20 on which the drawing or / and characters are to be printed, which are separated from each other by a predetermined distance in the XY direction on the surface of the print medium 20 It can be applied to a plurality of print coordinate positions such as two separated by Y2.
Then, in both the first and second printing methods using the first and second ink jet printers, the print medium 20 on the table 10 in which the spotlights irradiated from the irradiation means 62 are sequentially applied in step b). The coordinate reading means 70 sequentially reads the reference coordinate position on the surface and one or a plurality of print coordinate positions indicating the position of the area or the area range on the surface of the print medium 20 on which a picture or / and character is to be printed. Can do.
Next, in the first printing method using the first ink jet printer, in step c, using the coordinate display unit 72, the surface of the print medium 20 read by the coordinate reading unit 70 is separated from each other in the XY direction. The reference coordinate position separated by X1-Y1 is separated from the print coordinate position indicating the position of the area of the surface of the print medium 20 on which a picture or character is to be printed by a distance X1 / N-Y1 / N from each other in the XY direction. Thus, they can be displayed as marks on the display 42, respectively.
On the other hand, in the second printing method using the second ink jet printer, in the step c, using the coordinate display means 72, a picture or / and character on the surface of the print medium 20 read by the coordinate reading means 70 is printed. A plurality of print coordinate positions separated by a distance X2-Y2 in the XY direction indicating the range of the surface area of the print medium 20 to be printed are separated from each other in the XY direction by a distance X2 / N-Y2 / N. 42 can be displayed as marks.
Next, in the first printing method using the first inkjet printer, the print coordinate position displayed as a mark on the display 42 by the coordinate display means 72 is indicated by using the image display means 76 in step d. At the position of the area, a picture or / and character image obtained by reducing or enlarging the picture or / and character to be printed on the surface of the print medium 20 stored in the storage means 44 by 1 / N times in the XY direction, The reference coordinate position and the print coordinate position mark can be displayed in an overlapping manner on the display 42 on which the mark is displayed.
On the other hand, in the second printing method using the second inkjet printer, a plurality of print coordinate positions displayed as marks on the display 42 by the coordinate display means 72 using the image display means 76 in step d). Within the area indicated by, the picture or / and character of the picture or / and character to be printed on the surface of the print medium 20 stored in the storage means 44 is reduced or enlarged by 1 / N times in the XY direction. The image can be displayed in an overlapping manner on the display 42 on which marks at a plurality of print coordinate positions are displayed.
Thereafter, in the first printing method using the first ink jet printer, the printing stored in the storage means 44 displayed on the display 42 by the image display means 76 using the printing means 78 in the step e. A picture or / and character obtained by enlarging or reducing an image of the picture or / and character to be multiplied by N times is printed in accordance with the reference coordinate position and the print coordinate position on the surface of the print medium 20 read by the coordinate reading means 70. Storage means 44 in the area of the area indicated by the print coordinate position that is a distance X1-Y1 away from the reference coordinate position on the surface of the medium 20 in the X-Y direction, for example, the upper center of the left chest center 24 of the T-shirt. In accordance with the picture data and / or character print data stored in the While the cement media 20 upwardly moved relatively carriage 30 onto the X-Y direction, the ink droplets to be jetted from the inkjet head 32 which is gripped on the carriage 30 to the print media 20 surface, it can be printed.
On the other hand, in the second printing method using the second ink jet printer, in step e, the image is stored in the storage means 44 displayed on the display 42 by the image display means 76 using the printing means 78. A picture or character obtained by enlarging or reducing an image of a picture or / and character to be printed by N times is matched with a reference coordinate position on the surface of the print medium 20 read by the coordinate reading means 70 and a plurality of print coordinate positions. For example, within the area indicated by a plurality of print coordinate positions separated from each other by a predetermined distance in the XY direction from the reference coordinate position on the surface of the print medium 20, for example, the left upper left center 28 and the left upper left center 28 of the T-shirt Of the picture or / and character stored in the storage means 44 in the rectangular frame part with the line connecting In accordance with the lint data, the ink jet head 32 held by the carriage 30 is ejected toward the surface of the print medium 20 while the carriage 30 is relatively moved in the X and Y directions above the print medium 20 mounted on the table 10. Printing can be performed by using the ink droplets.

  As a result, according to the first and second printing methods using the first and second ink jet printers shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 or FIG. 3, print media such as T-shirts mounted on the table 10 20 The upper left chest center of the desired position indicated by the print coordinate positions X1-Y1 away from the reference coordinate position on the surface in the XY direction, the surface of the print medium 20 such as a T-shirt mounted on the table 10, etc. Directly draw various figures and / or characters of the desired size on the upper left chest center in the desired area indicated by multiple print coordinate positions that are separated from each other in the XY direction by the reference coordinate position. Can be printed easily and accurately.

FIG. 4 shows a preferred embodiment of the first and second ink jet printers of the present invention for printing a picture or / and a character at a desired position on the surface of a cylindrical print medium. A preferred embodiment of the first and second ink jet printers of the present invention for printing a picture or / and a character at a desired position on the surface of a plate-like print medium is shown in FIG. A preferred embodiment of the first and second ink jet printers of the present invention for printing a picture or / and a character at a desired position on the arcuate print media surface is shown.
The first and second ink jet printers will be described below.

The printer shown in FIG. 4 is a printer for printing pictures or / and characters on the surface of a cylindrical print medium 20, and the cylindrical print medium 20 is rotated in the Y direction by a plurality of rollers 90. The structure is supported as possible. A plurality of rollers 90 that support the print medium 20 constitute a part of the table 10 and the moving means 50. Reference numeral 92 denotes an electric motor that rotates the roller 90 in the Y direction.
In this printer, when the radius of the cylindrical print medium 20 is small and the curvature of the surface of the print medium 20 is large, the distance between the surface of the print medium 20 and the inkjet head 32 is greatly separated. There is a possibility that a good print image cannot be obtained. In such a case, if the discharge color of ink droplets ejected from the inkjet head 32 is limited, a good image can be printed on the surface of the cylindrical print medium 20 having a large curvature.
In addition, when the print medium 20 having a cylindrical shape is rotated in the Y direction, the print medium 20 may be lifted from the periphery of the roller 90 and the print medium 20 may be unevenly rotated. It is preferable to apply pressure from above to prevent the print media 20 from floating around the roller 90.

The printer shown in FIG. 5 is a printer for printing a picture or / and characters on the surface of a plate-shaped print medium 20, and the plate-shaped print medium 20 is moved in the Y direction (see FIG. 5 in the direction of the front and back surfaces). A plurality of rollers 90 that support the print medium 20 constitute a part of the table 10 and the moving means 50. Reference numeral 92 denotes an electric motor that rotates the roller 90 in the Y direction.
In this inkjet printer, if the carriage 30 that holds the inkjet head 32 moves in the X direction only in a predetermined direction, the inkjet head 32 and the like may collide with the print medium 20. For this purpose, the inkjet head 32 is provided with means for changing the movement direction in the X direction of the carriage 30 holding the inkjet head 32 in accordance with the surface shape of the print medium 20 or provided with means for lowering the table 10 downward. It is necessary to avoid such a collision with the print medium 20 or the like.
When the curvature of the dish-shaped print medium 20 is large, the distance between the surface of the print medium 20 and the inkjet head 32 may be greatly separated, and a good print image may not be obtained. In such a case as well, as described above, if the discharge color of the ink droplets ejected from the inkjet head 32 is limited, a good image can be printed on the surface of the print medium 20 having a large curvature.
Further, when the print medium 20 is lifted from the periphery of the roller 90 when the dish-shaped print medium 20 is moved in the Y direction, the print medium 20 may be unevenly moved. It is preferable to press the print medium 20 from above to prevent the print medium 20 from floating around the roller 90.

The printer shown in FIG. 6 is a printer for printing pictures or / and characters on the surface of a print medium 20 having a trumpet shape or a semicircular arc shape such as a helmet or a flower pot, and has a trumpet shape or a semicircular arc shape. The print medium 20 is crowned around a plurality of support rods 110 arranged radially around the rotation shaft 100, and is supported around the plurality of support rods 110 so as to be rotatable around the rotation shaft 100 in the Y direction. Has a structure. A plurality of support rods 110 arranged radially around the rotating shaft 100 constitute a part of the table 10 and the moving means 50. Reference numeral 102 denotes an electric motor that rotates the rotary shaft 100.
The plurality of support bars 110 have a structure in which their lengths expand and contract. When the print medium 20 is removed from the periphery of the plurality of support bars 110, the plurality of support bars 110 are contracted to support the plurality of support bars 110. The print media can be removed without resistance from the periphery of the bar 110. When the print media 20 is supported around the plurality of support rods 110, the plurality of support rods 110 are extended so that the print media 20 does not move around the plurality of support rods 110. It has a structure that can be reliably supported.
Further, a vacuum pad 112 is attached to the tip of the support rod 110, and the print medium 20 can be reliably adsorbed to the tip of the support rod 110 via the vacuum pad 112 so as not to fall. ing.

  In the first and second printing methods using the first and second ink jet printers, the image quality of pictures or characters printed on the surface of the print medium 20 is deteriorated due to the difference in the material of the print medium 20. There is a fear. In such a case, the ink droplets ejected from the inkjet head 20 may be solvent ink, UV ink, or surface treatment may be performed on the print medium 20 that may reduce image quality. It is preferable to improve the image quality of pictures or characters printed on the surface of the print medium 20 made of different materials.

In addition, when a solvent ink or UV ink having excellent weather resistance and water resistance is used as the ink droplets ejected from the inkjet head 32, the ink droplets ejected from the inkjet head 32 and landed on the surface of the print medium 20 are used. In order to increase the ink adhesion to the surface of the print medium 20, it is preferable to heat the print medium 20 on which the ink droplets are landed to increase the temperature of the print medium 20.
As a heating means for heating the print medium 20, for example, a method of heating the print medium 20 of the printer shown in FIG. 2 or 3 by heating the template 80 and covering the periphery of the template 80. Can be considered. As a heating means for the template 80, the template 80 itself may be composed of a ceramic heater. Further, the printing medium 20 may be heated by applying a hot air from the mesh of the template 80 to the printing medium 20 such as a T-shirt that covers the periphery of the template 80.

  The first and second printing methods of the present invention using the first and second ink jet printers of the present invention have various desired sizes within a desired position and a desired area such as the left chest central portion of the T-shirt surface. Various illustrations and / or various sizes of desired size within the desired position and desired area on the surface of print media such as leather, plastic, glass, ceramics etc. It can be used effectively for printing characters directly.

It is a schematic block diagram of the 1st, 2nd inkjet printer of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the 1st printing method using the 1st inkjet printer of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the 2nd printing method using the 2nd inkjet printer of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram of the 1st, 2nd inkjet printer of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram of the 1st, 2nd inkjet printer of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram of the 1st, 2nd inkjet printer of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

10 Table 12 Guide table 20 Print media 22 T-shirt neck base 24 T-shirt upper left chest upper part 26 T-shirt left breast central upper right part 28 T-shirt left breast central lower left part 30 Carriage 32 Inkjet head 34 Guide rail 40 Host computer 42 Display 44 Storage means 50 Moving means 52 Jog key 60 Instruction means 62 Irradiation means 70 Coordinate reading means 72 Coordinate display means 76 Image display means 78 Printing means 80 Template 90 Roller 92 Electric motor 100 Rotating shaft 102 Electric motor 110 Support Stick 112 vacuum pad

Claims (6)

The inkjet head held by the carriage above the print medium mounted on the table is moved relative to the X and Y directions according to the picture data and / or character print data stored in the storage means and ejected from the inkjet head. In a printer that prints a picture or / and characters on the surface of the print media by ink droplets that are made,
Instructing means for indicating a desired coordinate position on the surface of the print medium mounted on the table is provided, and a distance X1-Y1 is separated from each other in the XY direction of the surface of the print medium on the table indicated by the indicating means. A coordinate reading means for reading a reference coordinate position associated with the print medium and a print coordinate position indicating a position of an area for printing a picture or / and a character; and a reference coordinate on the surface of the print medium read by the coordinate position reading means The position and the print coordinate position are displayed as marks on the display by means of coordinate display means for displaying the position and the print coordinate position as a mark on the display at a distance X1 / N-Y1 / N apart from each other in the XY direction. The print stored in the storage means at the position of the area indicated by the print coordinate position The reference coordinate position and the mark of the print coordinate position are displayed on the image or / and the character image that has been reduced or enlarged by 1 / N times in the XY direction to the image or / and character to be printed on the surface of the media. Image display means for displaying the image superimposed on the display, and a picture or / and / or a picture of a size obtained by enlarging or reducing the image of the picture or / and the character displayed on the display by the image display means N times in the XY direction A print coordinate position that is a distance X1-Y1 away from the reference coordinate position on the surface of the print medium in the XY direction indicates the character in accordance with the reference coordinate position and the print coordinate position of the print medium surface read by the coordinate reading means. The area is placed on the table according to the picture or / and character print data stored in the storage means. Jet printer, characterized in that the print means are provided for printing by ink drops ejected from the ink jet head held by the carriage for relatively moving been printed media above an X-Y-direction. A printing method using the ink jet printer according to claim 1, comprising the following steps.
a step of indicating a reference coordinate position and a position of an area on which a picture or character is to be printed in the XY direction on the surface of the print medium mounted on the table by the instruction means;
b. A step of reading a reference coordinate position and a print coordinate position of the surface of the print medium indicated by the instruction means by the coordinate reading means, respectively;
c. Using the coordinate display means, the reference coordinate position and the print coordinate position read by the coordinate reading means are displayed as marks on the display at a distance X1 / N-Y1 / N apart from each other in the XY direction. Step.
d. Using the image display means, a picture to be printed on the print media surface stored in the storage means at the position of the area indicated by the print coordinate position displayed as a mark on the display by the coordinate display means or / and A step of displaying a picture or / and an image of a character obtained by reducing or enlarging a character by 1 / N times in the X-Y direction on a display on which a mark at a reference coordinate position and a print coordinate position is displayed.
e. Using the printing means, a picture or / and a character obtained by enlarging or reducing an image of a picture or / and a character displayed on the display by the image display means N times in the XY direction is obtained by the coordinate reading means. In accordance with the read reference coordinate position of the print medium surface and the print coordinate position, the storage means is located at the position of the area indicated by the print coordinate position that is a distance X1-Y1 away from the reference coordinate position of the print media surface in the XY direction. Printed by ink droplets ejected from an inkjet head held by a carriage that moves relative to the X and Y directions above the print media mounted on the table in accordance with the picture data and / or character print data stored in the table Step to do. A moving means for moving the carriage relatively above the print medium mounted on the table by a certain pitch in the XY direction is provided, and a spotlight is provided on the surface of the print medium mounted on the table as the instruction means. irradiating means for irradiating is used, an ink jet printer according to claim 1, wherein the irradiation means is provided in the carriage. The inkjet printer according to claim 3 , wherein an LED spotlight is used as the irradiation unit. The table has a structure capable of mounting a print medium having a cylindrical shape, a dish shape, a trumpet shape, or a semicircular arc shape, and has a cylindrical shape, a dish shape, a trumpet shape, or a semicircular arc shape mounted on the table. 4. The structure according to claim 3, wherein either one of the moving means for relatively moving the printed medium in the X direction or Y direction by a fixed pitch rotates the print medium in the X direction or Y direction by a fixed pitch. Or the inkjet printer of 4 . The ink jet printer according to claim 1, 3 , 4 or 5 , further comprising heating means for heating a print medium mounted on the table.

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