JP5263427B2 - Recording apparatus and recording method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recording apparatus and method that can perform a good quality recording, while adjusting to a change of the execution order of each recording processing when individually carrying out different kinds of a plurality of recording processing at a plurality of conveyance path positions to the recording areas of the recording medium transported along the conveyance path. <P>SOLUTION: When carrying out a second recording processing which uses a second processing liquid that is different from a first processing liquid at a second position that is the downstream side from a first position in the conveyance path, while conveying a film 12 along the conveyance path, and carrying out a first recording processing using a first processing liquid at a first position on the conveyance path to the recording ares of the film 12, the recording apparatus changes the conveyance direction of the film 12 according to the execution order of the first recording processing and the second recording processing to the recording area of the film 12. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2012,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording apparatus such as an ink jet recording apparatus and a recording method.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, ink jet recording apparatuses (hereinafter referred to as “printers”) are widely known as recording apparatuses that perform recording on a recording medium. In this printer, for example, when image recording is performed on a transparent recording medium such as a resin film, an area in which the mark image is formed (recording area) for the purpose of making the mark image made up of characters, figures, etc. stand out. In some cases, a solid background color image using a white ink or the like that makes it difficult to transmit light is superimposed and printed (see, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).

  First, in the printer shown in Patent Document 1, a line head type recording head (first recording processing means) is disposed in the middle of the conveyance path of the recording medium, and further on the downstream side of the conveyance path from the recording head. Ink coater means (second recording processing means) is disposed at the position. The recording head on the upstream side discharges color ink (first processing liquid) to the recording area of the recording medium conveyed from the upstream side to the downstream side on the conveyance path to form a mark image. Thereafter, the ink coater on the downstream side applies white ink (second processing liquid) in a solid form to form a background color image on the recording area where the mark image is formed. ing.

  That is, in this printer, after a mark image is formed on the recording area of the recording medium as a background, a background color image is formed on the recording area on which the mark image is formed so as to be overlaid. Printing (hereinafter referred to as “back printing”) is performed. However, in this printer, after a solid background color image is formed as a background in a recording area of a recording medium, a mark image is formed so as to be overlaid on the recording area (hereinafter referred to as “printing”). , "Surface printing") cannot be applied.

  Also in the printer of Patent Document 1, when the ink coater means is provided at a position upstream of the transport path from the position where the recording head is disposed, it is possible to perform surface printing. However, in this case, the back printing cannot be performed. That is, the printer disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a problem that it cannot cope with both surface printing and back printing.

  On the other hand, in the printer shown in Patent Document 2, a recording head is mounted on a carriage that reciprocates along the conveyance direction of the recording medium, and color ink (first image) used for printing a mark image is mounted on the recording head. Color ink discharge nozzle (first recording processing means) for discharging processing liquid) and white ink discharge nozzle (second recording processing means) for discharging white ink (second processing liquid) used for printing a background color image ) Are juxtaposed. That is, two white ink discharge nozzles are arranged at both ends of the recording head in the recording medium conveyance direction, and a plurality of color ink discharge nozzles are arranged in parallel at a position between the two white ink discharge nozzles. Yes.

  At the time of surface printing, every time the recording head moves together with the carriage, the white ink discharge nozzle disposed at the front side in the movement direction of the carriage discharges white ink, and the background color image is grounded. In addition, the color ink discharge nozzle discharges the color ink so as to follow the discharge of the white ink, and the mark image is formed so as to be overlaid. In reverse printing, each time the recording head moves with the carriage, the color ink discharge nozzle discharges the color ink to form the mark image as the background, and follows the discharge of the color ink. As described above, the white ink discharge nozzles disposed at the position on the rear side in the carriage moving direction discharge the white ink and form the background color image so as to be overlaid.

JP 2007-50615 A JP 2006-328297 A

  By the way, in the printer of Patent Document 2, the color ink discharge nozzle and the white ink discharge nozzle are arranged side by side so as to be close to the same one recording head, and the recording head together with the carriage is used for front printing or back printing. When moving in the scanning direction, the color ink ejection (first recording process) and the white ink ejection (second recording process) to the recording medium are performed almost simultaneously. For this reason, ink discharged earlier (white ink for surface printing, color ink for back printing) before ink penetrates the recording medium before the ink discharged to the recording area of the recording medium (in front printing) Color ink and white ink in reverse printing) are mixed on the recording medium, which may cause problems such as a disordered recorded image.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to record a plurality of different types of recording at a plurality of positions on the transport path with respect to a recording area of a recording medium transported along the transport path. An object of the present invention is to provide a recording apparatus and a recording method capable of performing a high-quality recording process while adapting to a change in the execution order of each recording process when performing the processes individually.

  In order to achieve the above object, the recording apparatus of the present invention is capable of transporting a recording medium by switching between a forward direction from the upstream side to the downstream side and a reverse direction from the downstream side to the upstream side along the transport path. And a first recording processing unit that is arranged corresponding to a first position of the conveyance path and that performs a first recording process using a first processing liquid on a recording area of the recording medium; A second processing liquid different from the first processing liquid is used for the recording area of the recording medium, which is disposed corresponding to the second position of the transport path on the downstream side of the first position. Second recording processing means for performing the second recording process, and the first recording process is performed after the first recording process is performed while the recording medium is conveyed in the forward direction. Under the recording mode and the conveyance of the recording medium in the reverse direction, the second recording process is performed. And a second recording mode for performing the first recording process and after.

  According to the above configuration, when the execution order of the first recording process and the second recording process with respect to the recording area of the recording medium is changed, the recording medium is forwarded so as to conform to the execution order of the recording processes. Or it is conveyed in the reverse direction. That is, the recording medium is first transported so that the recording area moves to the position of the one recording processing means that performs the preceding recording processing in the execution order. The recording process is performed on the recording area of the recording medium by the one recording processing unit at the position where the one recording processing unit is provided. Thereafter, the recording medium is transported so that the recording area subjected to the recording process moves to the arrangement position of the other recording processing means that performs the recording process in the later execution order. Therefore, the processing liquid used in the previous recording process permeates the recording medium during the movement from the position where the one recording processing means is disposed to the position where the other recording processing means is disposed. . Then, at the position where the other recording processing means is disposed, the processing order used in the previous recording processing is already sufficiently permeated by the other recording processing means to the recording area of the recording medium. On the other hand, the other recording process after the execution order is subsequently performed. Therefore, when individually performing a plurality of different types of recording processing at a plurality of positions on the transport path for the recording area of the recording medium transported along the transport path, it is also applicable to changing the execution order of each recording process. High-quality recording processing can be performed.

  In the recording apparatus of the present invention, the second recording mode may be configured such that after the recording medium is transported to the downstream side of the second position in the forward direction without the recording process, the recording medium is moved in the reverse direction. This is a mode in which the first recording process is performed after the second recording process is performed under conveyance.

  According to the above configuration, in the second recording mode, the recording medium first passes through the first position where the first recording processing means is disposed by being conveyed in the forward direction. In contrast, the first recording processing means does not execute the first recording processing. Therefore, when the recording medium is conveyed in the forward direction to the downstream side of the second position and then conveyed in the reverse direction and passes the second position, the second recording process is performed on the recording area of the recording medium. The second recording process by the means is executed first.

  In the recording apparatus of the present invention, the first recording processing unit performs the first recording processing on the recording area of the recording medium by a liquid jet method, and the second recording processing unit includes: The second recording process is performed on the recording area of the recording medium by a liquid application method or a liquid pressing method.

  According to the above configuration, the delicate first recording process can be performed by the first recording processing unit of the liquid jet method. On the other hand, since the second recording processing means is a liquid application method or a liquid pressing method capable of forming a solid image more quickly than the liquid ejecting method, the second recording processing is quickly performed. As a result, the throughput of the recording process in the recording apparatus can be improved.

  In the recording apparatus of the present invention, the first processing liquid and the second recording processing unit may be disposed between the first recording processing unit and the second recording processing unit in the transport path. Fixing means is provided for fixing, in the recording area of the recording medium, at least the processing liquid used in the previous recording process in the execution order of the second processing liquid.

According to the above configuration, the recording area of the recording medium that has been subjected to the recording process whose execution order has been performed earlier by one of the recording processing units is being moved in order to be subjected to the recording process by the other recording processing unit. Since it passes through the position where the fixing means is disposed, the processing liquid used in the previous recording process in the execution order is forcibly fixed to the recording medium. Therefore, even when the arrangement position of the first recording processing unit and the arrangement position of the second recording processing unit are close, the execution order is the processing liquid used in the previous recording process and the execution order is the later recording process. It is possible to reduce the possibility that the processing liquid used is mixed on the recording medium.
Furthermore, the recording apparatus of the present invention includes a first recording processing unit that performs a first recording process on a recording medium, a second recording processing unit that performs a second recording process on the recording medium, A fixing unit that is a heating device or an ultraviolet irradiation device; and a transport unit that can transport the recording medium in both forward and reverse directions, the first recording processing unit, the second recording processing unit, The fixing unit is arranged in the order of the first recording processing unit, the fixing unit, and the second recording processing unit along the forward direction. By carrying the recording medium, the first recording process is performed after the second recording process is performed on the recording medium, and the first recording process and the second recording process are performed. By transporting the recording medium in the forward direction, Heating by the heating device to the medium, or a recording apparatus characterized by having a recording mode for performing ultraviolet irradiation by the ultraviolet irradiation device.
Furthermore, the recording apparatus performs the first process on the recording medium by transporting the recording medium in the forward direction by the transport unit, and the recording medium subjected to the first recording process. May be further conveyed in the forward direction to have another recording mode in which the recording medium is heated by the heating device or irradiated with ultraviolet rays by the ultraviolet irradiation device.
Further, the recording apparatus includes a supply unit that supplies the recording medium, and the first recording processing unit, the second recording processing unit, and the fixing unit include the supply unit along the forward direction. The supply unit, the first recording processing unit, the fixing unit, and the second recording processing unit may be arranged in this order.
Further, the second recording processing means may be a line head.
According to the above configuration, when performing a plurality of different types of recording processes at a plurality of positions on the conveyance path for the recording area of the recording medium conveyed along the conveyance path, the execution order of each recording process is changed. It is possible to perform high-quality recording processing while adapting to the above.

In the recording method of the present invention, the recording medium is transported along the transport path, and the first treatment liquid is used at the first position of the recording medium transport path with respect to the recording area of the recording medium. And a second recording process using a second processing liquid different from the first processing liquid at the second position of the transport path downstream of the first position. The conveyance direction of the recording medium is changed according to the execution order of the first recording process and the second recording process for the recording area of the recording medium. According to the above configuration, it is possible to obtain the same effect as that of the invention of the recording apparatus.
Furthermore, the recording method of the present invention is a recording method for performing a first recording process and a second recording process on a recording medium, and transporting the recording medium in both forward and reverse directions. The first recording process is performed after the second recording process is performed on the recording medium, and the recording medium subjected to the first recording process and the second recording process is moved in the forward direction. The recording method may be characterized in that the recording medium is heated or irradiated with ultraviolet rays.
According to the above configuration, it is possible to obtain the same effect as that of the invention of the recording apparatus.

1 is a schematic front view of an ink jet printer according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control configuration in the ink jet printer according to the present embodiment. The order of execution of each recording process at the time of reverse printing is shown, (a) is a schematic front view of the state in which the ink coater means forms a background color image as a base, and (b) is a recording. FIG. 3 is a schematic front view of a state in which the head forms a mark image so as to be an upper surface. FIG. 2A shows the order of execution of each recording process during surface printing, where (a) is a schematic front view showing a state where a recording head forms a mark image as a base, and (b) is an ink coater. The schematic front view of the state which the means forms so that a background color image may become a top.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is embodied in an ink jet recording apparatus (hereinafter referred to as “printer”) which is a kind of recording apparatus and a recording method in the printer will be described with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 11 includes a supply unit 13 that supplies a long transparent resin film (hereinafter referred to as “film”) 12 as a recording medium onto a conveyance path, and the supply unit 13. A recording unit 14 that performs a plurality of types (two types in the present embodiment) of recording processing in the middle of the conveyance path on the recording area of the film 12 supplied from the recording unit 14 and the recording unit 14 performed the recording processing. And a winding unit 15 for winding the film 12.

  The supply unit 13 is rotatably provided with a feeding shaft 16 as a conveying unit capable of conveying the film 12 in both the forward direction from the upstream side to the downstream side of the conveyance path and the reverse direction from the downstream side to the upstream side. The film 12 previously wound in a roll shape is supported on the supply shaft 16 so as to be rotatable together with the supply shaft 16. Then, the feeding shaft 16 moves the film 12 supported by the feeding shaft 16 in the forward direction when the drive motor 16a of the feeding shaft 16 rotates forward or backward based on the control signal of the control device 17 (see FIG. 2). It is configured such that it is conveyed and fed out or conveyed in the reverse direction and fed back.

  That is, the feeding shaft 16 serving as a transport means transports the film 12 toward the downstream side in the forward direction when the drive motor 16a is driven in the forward direction, and reverses when the drive motor 16a is driven in the reverse direction. The film 12 is conveyed toward the upstream side as a direction. In addition, a relay roller 18 is rotatably provided at a position obliquely above and to the right of the feeding shaft 16 in the supply unit 13 so as to wind the film 12 fed from the feeding shaft 16 and guide it toward the recording unit 14. Yes. The film 12 fed from the feed shaft 16 is wound around the relay roller 18 from the lower left side, and the film 12 is conveyed horizontally toward the right side which is the recording unit 14 side.

  The recording unit 14 includes a first processing liquid with respect to the surface of the film 12 at an intermediate position (first position) on the upstream side (the delivery shaft 16 side and the left side in FIG. 1) in the conveyance path of the film 12. Ink coater means 19 is provided as a first recording processing means for applying white ink as a first recording process. The ink coater 19 applies an anix roller 20 for forming a background color image by applying white ink in a solid form to the surface of the film 12, and appropriately supplies the white ink to the anix roller 20. A belt-like blade 21 is provided.

  The blade 21 is inclined so that its lower end edge contacts the outer peripheral surface of the anix roller 20. With this arrangement, white ink supplied from a white ink supply unit (not shown) is stored in a gap formed between the outer peripheral surface of the anix roller 20 and the oblique upper surface of the blade 21. Yes. The ink coater means 19 includes an elevating device 19a (see FIG. 2) that is driven and controlled based on a control signal from the control device 17, and the anix roller 20 abuts against the film 12 by driving the elevating device 19a. It is configured to reciprocate up and down between the position and the non-contact position.

  That is, when the ink coater unit 19 forms a solid background color image using white ink on the recording area on the surface of the film 12, the anix roller 20 moves to a contact position with the film 12, White ink is applied in the process of rolling along the transport direction on the surface of the film 12. That is, in this embodiment, a liquid application method in which the anix roller 20 applies white ink to the film 12 is employed as a recording processing method for forming a background color image. On the other hand, when the white ink is not applied to the film 12, the ink coater means 19 moves to the non-contact position where the anix roller 20 is spaced upward from the surface of the film 12, and waits at that position. It has become.

  At a midway position (second position) on the downstream side (right side in FIG. 1) of the recording unit 14 with respect to the transport path from the ink coater means 19, the second color ink as the second processing liquid is applied to the film 12. A line head type recording head 22 is provided as a second recording processing means for discharging (jetting) as the recording processing. On the lower surface of the recording head 22, a plurality of nozzles 23 that eject inks of different colors (four colors in the present embodiment) are provided so that a plurality of nozzle rows are arranged along the transport direction of the film 12. Ink is ejected from each nozzle 23 by driving a piezoelectric element 23a (see FIG. 2) arranged for each nozzle based on a control signal from the control device 17.

  A mark image made up of characters, figures, symbols, etc. is formed in a part of the recording area on the surface of the film 12 by such ink ejection from each nozzle 23. The nozzle rows of the nozzles 23 that discharge ink of each color are arranged along the width direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the film 12 so that ink can be discharged over the entire width of the recording area of the film 12. ing. In addition, the printer 11 is provided with a plurality of ink cartridges (not shown) each containing ink of each color in a detachable state, and each ink cartridge has a corresponding nozzle array via an ink supply tube (not shown). Each nozzle 23 is connected in a state where ink can be supplied.

  A first heating device 25 as a fixing unit is disposed at an intermediate position between the position where the ink coater unit 19 is disposed and the position where the recording head 22 is disposed in the recording unit 14. The first heating device 25 includes, for example, a halogen heater and the like, and a mark image or background formed by applying or discharging ink by evaporating an ink solvent from ink applied or discharged onto the surface of the film 12. The color image is fixed on the film 12. Further, a second heating device 26 as a fixing unit including a halogen heater similar to the first heating device 25 is provided at a position adjacent to the right side (downstream side) of the recording head 22 in the recording unit 14. Yes. Each heating device 25, 26 is on / off controlled based on a control signal transmitted from the control device 17.

  A relay roller 27 is rotatably provided at a position on the right side (downstream side) of the second heating device 26 in the recording unit 14 so as to face the upstream relay roller 18 in the horizontal direction. . Then, the film 12 transported in the horizontal right direction from the upstream relay roller 18 is wound around the relay roller 27 from the upper left side, and the transport direction of the film 12 is shifted from the horizontal right direction to the diagonally lower right. It is supposed to be converted.

  The winding unit 15 is rotatably provided with a winding shaft 28 serving as the conveying means at a position that is obliquely downward to the right of the relay roller 27, and the winding shaft 28 is disposed obliquely downward to the right from the relay roller 27. The film 12 conveyed toward is supported by winding. Then, the take-up shaft 28 is supported by being wound around the take-up shaft 28 when the drive motor 28a (see FIG. 2) of the take-up shaft 28 is driven forward or backward based on the control signal of the control device 17. 12 is conveyed in the forward direction and wound up, or conveyed in the reverse direction and rewound. That is, the take-up shaft 28 serving as a conveying means conveys the film 12 toward the downstream side in the forward direction when the drive motor 28a is driven forward, and when the drive motor 28a is driven reversely, The film 12 is transported toward the upstream side in the opposite direction.

  Next, the operation of the printer 11 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. In particular, a first recording process in which a color image is ejected from the recording head 22 to form a mark image on the recording area of the film 12, and a white background is applied by the ink coater means 19 to form a solid background color. The following description will focus on the recording method for performing the second recording process for forming an image.

  When the mark image and the background color image are formed on the film 12 so as to overlap each other, as a recording mode for the film 12 in the preceding stage, the surface printing is performed to form the mark image after forming the background color image. Either one of the first recording mode and the second recording mode of back printing that forms the background color image after forming the mark image is selected. Then, the selected recording mode is input to the input unit 29 of the control device 17.

  Here, when the first recording mode of surface printing is selected as the recording mode, first, the control device 17 drives the feeding shaft 16 and the winding shaft 28 to rotate forward. Then, the film 12 is transported from the upstream side to the downstream side in the forward direction, and the recording area of the film 12 is also transported downstream along the transport path. Then, in this forward conveyance process, a background color image forming step of forming a background color image using white ink in the recording area of the film 12 at the position where the ink coater means 19 is disposed (that is, the first position) is performed. After that, a mark image forming step for forming a mark image using color ink in the recording area at the position where the recording head 22 is disposed (that is, the second position) is executed.

  First, in the background color image forming step, the recording area of the film 12 is conveyed from the state wound around the feeding shaft 16 toward the downstream side along the conveyance path. Then, when the recording area of the film 12 reaches the arrangement position of the ink coater means 19, the control device 17 controls the control device 17 to lower the anix roller 20 of the ink coater means 19 to the contact position with respect to the film 12. Is transmitted to the lifting device 19a.

  Then, the anix roller 20 is in a state in which the lower end of the outer peripheral surface thereof is in contact with a position that is the downstream end in the recording area of the film 12, and in this state, the film 12 is further conveyed to the downstream side. The surface of the recording area is rolled. Then, in this rolling process, the anix roller 20 applies white ink to almost the entire recording area of the film 12, so that a white background color image 30 is formed as a background in the recording area of the film 12 (FIG. 3 (a)). FIG. 3A shows a process in the middle of forming the background color image 30, and a portion indicated by a solid line on the right side in the drawing is a portion of the background color image 30 that has already been applied and formed by the anix roller 20. The portion indicated by the two-dot chain line on the left side in the drawing is the portion of the background color image 30 that has not yet been applied and formed by the anix roller 20.

  When the background color image 30 is formed in the recording area of the film 12, the control device 17 sends a control signal for raising the anix roller 20 to a non-contact position spaced apart upward from the surface of the film 12. Send to. Then, the lower end of the outer peripheral surface of the anix roller 20 is separated upward from the surface of the film 12, and the background color image forming step ends.

  Then, the control device 17 drives the first heating device 25 on to start heating the film 12 by the first heating device 25 disposed between the ink coater means 19 and the recording head 22. To do. Then, the recording area of the film 12 on which the background color image 30 is formed is conveyed further downstream along the conveyance path as shown by an arrow in FIG. It passes under the heating device 25 (that is, in the heating region). Therefore, the white ink of the background color image 30 adhering to the recording area of the film 12 penetrates and diffuses into the film 12 in the middle of its conveyance, and the ink solvent evaporates with heating in the heating area. 12 is fixed.

  Subsequently, the process proceeds to a mark image forming step, and the control device 17 at the time when the recording area of the film 12 conveyed further downstream along the conveyance path reaches the arrangement position of the recording head 22. The corresponding piezoelectric element 23 a is driven so that the corresponding color ink is ejected from each nozzle 23. Then, as the piezoelectric element 23a is driven, ink is ejected from the corresponding nozzle 23 so that the mark image 31 overlaps the recording area of the film 12 on which the background color image 30 is already formed as the ground. Then, the mark image forming step is completed. In this case, the control device 17 individually controls the timing at which each nozzle 23 ejects ink in accordance with the conveyance speed when the recording area of the film 12 passes below the recording head 22, so that the film 12. It is possible to form a desired mark image 31 in the recording area.

  When the mark image forming step is completed, the control device 17 performs the second heating so as to start heating the film 12 by the second heating device 26 disposed adjacent to the right side (downstream side) of the recording head 22. The device 26 is turned on. Then, the recording area of the film 12 in which the mark image 31 is superimposed on the background color image 30 is transported further downstream along the transport path, and at the same time the second heating device 26 in the on drive state. It passes under (that is, in the heating region). Therefore, the ink of the mark image 31 attached on the background color image 30 in the recording area of the film 12 is fixed to the film 12 as the ink solvent evaporates with heating in the heating area. Then, the recording area of the film 12 on which surface printing has been performed as described above is sequentially wound around the winding shaft 28 as the film 12 is further transported downstream along the transport path.

  On the other hand, when the second recording mode of reverse printing is selected as the recording mode, the control device 17 first drives the feeding shaft 16 and the take-up shaft 28 to rotate in the forward direction so that the recording area of the film 12 becomes the transport path. Along the downstream side. That is, the recording area of the film 12 is downstream of the position (second position) where the recording head 22 is disposed without performing any recording processing from both the ink coater means 19 and the recording head 22 on the recording area. Transport forward to the side. Specifically, the anix roller 20 is conveyed so as to pass through both the arrangement position of the ink coater means 19 and the arrangement position of the recording head 22 in a state where the anix roller 20 is raised to the non-contact position.

  In this case, the control device 17 raises the anix roller 20 to the non-contact position before the film 12 is conveyed in the forward direction to the downstream side of the position where the recording head 22 is disposed. A control signal to that effect is transmitted to the lifting device 19a. Therefore, the recording area of the film 12 passes through the arrangement position of the ink coater means 19 without being coated with white ink by the anix roller 20. At the same time, the control device 17 performs control so that the heating is turned off when the first heating device 25 is turned on. Therefore, unnecessary heating is not performed on the recording area of the film 12 before the mark image forming step, and it is possible to prevent the film 12 from being overheated.

  Next, the conveyance direction of the film 12 is changed to the reverse direction from the downstream side toward the upstream side. In the conveyance process in the reverse direction, first, the mark image described above at the position where the recording head 22 is disposed. The formation step is executed, and then the background color image formation step described above is also executed at the position where the ink coater means 19 is disposed.

  First, in the mark image forming step, the control device 17 drives the feeding shaft 16 and the winding shaft 28 in the reverse direction. Then, as shown by the arrow in FIG. 4A, the film 12 is reversely conveyed from the downstream side to the upstream side in the reverse direction along the conveyance path. Then, when the recording area of the film 12 reaches the arrangement position of the recording head 22, the control device 17 drives the corresponding piezoelectric element 23 a to discharge the corresponding color ink from each nozzle 23. Then, ink is ejected from the corresponding nozzles 23 as the piezoelectric elements 23a are driven, and a mark image 31 is formed as a background in the recording area of the film 12 (see FIG. 4A), thereby the mark image. The forming step ends.

  In this case, the control device 17 simultaneously changes the transport direction of the film 12 in accordance with the change of the recording mode (change from the first recording mode of front printing to the second recording mode of back printing). The setting of ink ejection control from the recording head 22 is changed as follows. That is, in the ink ejection control, the reference coordinates of the recording start (ejection start) position with respect to the recording area of the film 12 and the set values of the relative coordinates (raster data) with respect to the reference coordinates of each recording dot constituting the mark image 31 are set to the film 12 is changed corresponding to the change of the transport direction from the forward direction to the reverse direction. As a result, a mark image 31 similar to the mark image 31 formed in the process in which the film 12 is conveyed in the forward direction according to the first recording mode of the surface printing is formed in the recording area of the film 12.

  When the mark image forming step is completed, the control device 17 further drives the feeding shaft 16 and the winding shaft 28 in the reverse direction. At the same time, the control device 17 turns on the first heating device 25 so that heating of the film 12 by the first heating device 25 is started. Then, the recording area of the film 12 on which the mark image 31 is formed is reversely conveyed further upstream, so that it passes through the heating area of the first heating device 25 in the ON drive state in the reverse direction. It becomes. Therefore, the ink of the mark image 31 adhering to the recording area of the film 12 penetrates and diffuses into the film 12 in the middle of the conveyance, and the ink solvent evaporates with heating in the heating area, whereby the film 12 Is established against.

  Subsequently, the process proceeds to the background color image forming step, and the control device 17 is a point in time when the recording area of the film 12 that is reversed and conveyed further upstream along the conveyance path reaches the arrangement position of the ink coater means 19. Then, a control signal for lowering the anix roller 20 of the ink coater means 19 to the contact position with respect to the film 12 is transmitted to the lifting device 19a. Then, the anix roller 20 is in a state where the lower end of the outer peripheral surface thereof is in contact with the position that becomes the upstream end in the recording region of the film 12, and in this state, when the film 12 is further conveyed upstream, The surface of the recording area rolls.

  In this rolling process, the anix roller 20 applies white ink to almost the entire recording area of the film 12. As a result, a background color image 30 of white ink that forms a solid shape with respect to almost the entire recording area in which the mark image 31 has already been partially formed with the color ink as a background by the mark image forming step is used as the upper background. In this way, the background color image forming step is completed. FIG. 4B shows a process in the middle of forming the background color image 30, and the portion indicated by the solid line on the left side of the drawing is the portion of the background color image 30 that has already been applied and formed by the anix roller 20. The portion indicated by the two-dot chain line on the right side in the figure is the portion of the background color image 30 that has not been applied and formed by the anix roller 20 yet.

  When the background color image forming step is completed, the control device 17 drives the feeding shaft 16 and the winding shaft 28 to rotate forward again. Then, the film 12 is transported to the downstream side along the transport path so that the recording region formed by superimposing the mark image 31 on the background and the background color image 30 on the top moves to the downstream side. In this case, the control device 17 transmits a control signal to the lifting device 19a to raise the anix roller 20 to the non-contact position before the film 12 starts to be conveyed downstream. doing. For this reason, the recording area of the film 12 passes through the position where the ink coater means 19 is disposed without applying the white ink again.

  The recording area of the film 12 passes through the heating area of the first heating device 25 that is in the ON drive state while being conveyed downstream along the conveyance path color. Then, the white ink of the background color image 30 adhered in a solid shape on the mark image 31 in the recording area of the film 12 is evaporated with respect to the film 12 due to the evaporation of the ink solvent accompanying the heating in the heating area. It is fixed. Then, the recording area of the film 12 is conveyed further downstream along the conveying path, so that the recording area passes through the heating area of the second heating device 26 and is sequentially wound around the winding shaft 28.

According to the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) When the execution order of the recording process by the ink coater means 19 disposed on the upstream side of the transport path and the recording process by the recording head 22 disposed on the downstream side are changed in the recording unit 14 The transport direction of the film 12 is appropriately switched and changed under the control of the control device 17 so as to conform to the execution order of the recording processing. During the movement from the position where one of the recording processing means (one of the ink coater means 19 and the recording head 22) is arranged to the position where the other recording processing means (the other of the ink coater means 19 and the recording head 22) is arranged. The ink adhered to the recording area of the film 12 in the previous recording process permeates and diffuses into the film 12. Therefore, when individually performing a plurality of different types of recording processes at a plurality of positions on the transport path on the recording area of the film 12 transported along the transport path, it is also applicable to changing the execution order of each recording process. High-quality recording processing can be performed.

  (2) In the second recording mode of back printing, the film 12 first passes through the arrangement position of the upstream ink coater means 19 by being conveyed in the forward direction. Thus, the ink coater means 19 that is executed later does not apply white ink. Accordingly, when the film 12 is transported in the forward direction to the downstream side of the position where the recording head 22 is disposed and then reversely transported in the reverse direction and passes through the position where the recording head 22 is disposed, the recording of the film 12 is performed. The mark image 31 can be formed by ink ejection in which the execution order is first with respect to the region.

  (3) The recording head 22 serving as the first recording processing means can form a delicate mark image 31 because the recording processing method is a liquid ejecting method in which ink is ejected (ejected) from the nozzles 23. . On the other hand, the ink coater unit 19 as the second recording processing unit is a liquid coating method in which the recording processing method applies white ink by the anix roller 20, so that the solid background color image 30 is quickly formed. As a result, the throughput of the recording process in the printer 11 can be improved.

  (4) Of the ink coater unit 19 and the recording head 22, the recording area of the film 12 that has been subjected to the recording process whose execution order is first performed by one recording processing unit is then subjected to the recording process by the other recording processing unit. Therefore, it passes through the heating area of the first heating device 25 as fixing means on the way of movement. Therefore, during the passage, the white ink or the color ink (processing liquid) used in the previous recording process is forcibly fixed to the film 12. For this reason, even when the arrangement positions of the ink coater 19 and the recording head 22 are close, the processing liquid used in the previous recording process and the processing liquid used in the subsequent recording process on the film 12 are executed. This can reduce the possibility of being mixed with each other and contribute to the downsizing of the printer 11.

  (5) When the recording mode for the film 12 is set to the second recording mode (back printing), the mark image 31 is formed by the downstream recording head 22 and then the upstream ink coater means 19. When the background color image 30 is formed, the recording area of the film 12 is not reversed and conveyed to the position of the relay roller 18 at the most upstream position in the recording unit 14. That is, it is only necessary to convey the distance where the downstream end of the recording area returns to the position of the anix roller 20. Therefore, in this respect, it is possible to contribute to the improvement of the throughput of the recording process in the printer 11 by shortening the reverse conveyance distance of the film 12.

In addition, you may change the said embodiment as follows.
In the above embodiment, the second recording processing unit for applying the background color image 30 is configured by a liquid pressing type recording processing unit (for example, a printing processing type recording processing unit such as an offset printing method or a flexographic printing method). May be.

In the above embodiment, the second recording processing unit that applies the background color image 30 may be configured by a liquid jet recording processing unit (such as an ink jet recording head).
In the above embodiment, the first recording processing unit that applies the mark image 31 may be configured by a liquid processing method or a liquid pressing method recording processing unit.

  In the above embodiment, the first heating device 25 as the fixing unit does not necessarily have to be disposed on the conveyance path. Further, only the first heating device 25 may be provided, and the second heating device 26 may be omitted.

In the above embodiment, the recording medium is not limited to the transparent film 12, and may be a paper medium such as continuous paper or a fiber medium.
In the above embodiment, the recording medium is not limited to a long one, and may be a single-sheet recording medium (for example, recording paper).

  In the above embodiment, when the second recording mode is selected as the recording mode, the control device 17 causes the feeding shaft 16 and the winding shaft when the recording area of the film 12 is conveyed in the forward direction to the position where the recording head 22 is disposed. The forward drive of the take-up shaft 28 may be stopped, and then the reverse drive of the feeding shaft 16 and the take-up shaft 28 may be started to reversely transport the recording area of the film toward the position where the ink coater means 19 is disposed. .

  In the above embodiment, the recording head 22 may be disposed on the upstream side of the transport path, and the ink coater unit 19 may be disposed on the downstream side of the transport path. In this case, the recording head 22 disposed on the upstream side functions as the first recording processing unit, and the ink coater unit 19 disposed on the downstream side functions as the second recording processing unit. Become.

  In the above embodiment, the recording processing contents of the first recording processing means and the recording processing contents of the second recording processing means are contents that record one recording processing content on top of the other recording processing content. The chapter image 31 and the background color image 30 are not limited. For example, the present invention may be embodied in a recording apparatus or a recording method that prints each color in multicolor printing in a shared manner.

  In the above embodiment, the recording process for the film 12 is not limited to the recording process using the white ink and the color ink. For example, after forming the mark image 31 with color ink in the recording area of the film 12, an overcoat layer may be formed in the recording area using an overcoat liquid as a processing liquid.

In the above embodiment, an ultraviolet curable ink may be applied as the ink. In this case, the fixing means for fixing the ink to the film 12 is an ultraviolet irradiation device.
In the above embodiment, the “conveying direction” is not limited to a linear direction from the upstream side to the downstream side, but is defined based on the path along which the recording medium is conveyed. For example, when a recording medium carried into the processing position of the recording processing unit from the upstream side is discharged in a direction perpendicular to the carrying-in direction, a bent conveyance path is defined as the conveyance direction of the recording medium. Further, “upstream side” and “downstream side” in the transport direction are not uniquely defined, but are defined according to the transport direction of the recording medium in each stage. For example, when the recording medium carried into the processing position of the recording processing means is discharged toward the carry-in side, the area defined as “upstream” in the carry-in stage is defined as “downstream” in the discharge stage. Is done.

  In the above embodiment, the recording apparatus is not limited to an ink jet printer. For example, the present invention can also be applied to printers of other printing styles such as a thermal transfer printer, a TA (Thermo Auto Chrome) printer, and a laser printer.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Printer as recording apparatus, 12 ... Film as recording medium, 16 ... Feeding shaft as conveying means, 19 ... Ink coater means as first recording processing means, 22 ... Recording as second recording processing means Head: 25 ... First heating device as fixing means, 26 ... Second heating device as fixing means, 28 ... Winding shaft as conveying means, 30 ... Background color image, 31 ... Mark image.

Claims (5)

First recording processing means for applying a first recording process to the recording medium;
Second recording processing means for applying a second recording process to the recording medium;
Fixing means which is a heating device or an ultraviolet irradiation device;
A transport unit capable of transporting the recording medium in both forward and reverse directions;
The first recording processing unit, the second recording processing unit, and the fixing unit are arranged in the order of the first recording processing unit, the fixing unit, and the second recording processing unit along the forward direction. Arranged,
By conveying the recording medium in the forward direction and the reverse direction by the conveying means, the first recording process is performed after the second recording process is performed on the recording medium,
The recording medium that has been subjected to the first recording process and the second recording process is transported in the forward direction so that the recording medium is heated by the heating device or irradiated with ultraviolet rays by the ultraviolet irradiation device. A recording apparatus having a recording mode for performing recording. The recording apparatus according to claim 1,
By conveying the recording medium in the forward direction by the conveying means, the recording medium is subjected to the first processing,
The recording medium that has been subjected to the first recording process is further transported in the forward direction, thereby having another recording mode in which the recording medium is heated by the heating device or irradiated with ultraviolet rays by the ultraviolet irradiation device. A recording apparatus. The recording apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
And a supply unit for supplying the recording medium,
The first recording processing unit, the second recording processing unit, the fixing unit, the supply unit, along the forward direction, the supply unit, the first recording processing unit, the fixing unit, A recording apparatus arranged in the order of second recording processing means. The recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The recording apparatus, wherein the second recording processing means is a line head. A recording method for performing a first recording process and a second recording process on a recording medium,
By conveying the recording medium in both forward and reverse directions, the first recording process is performed after the second recording process is performed on the recording medium,
A recording method, wherein the recording medium subjected to the first recording process and the second recording process is transported in the forward direction so that the recording medium is heated or irradiated with ultraviolet rays. .