JP5811828B2 - Drawing method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a drawing method, and more particularly to a drawing method in which drawing is performed by discharging an ultraviolet curable liquid material onto a recording medium using a droplet discharge device.

  There is known a liquid droplet ejection apparatus that applies a liquid material that is cured by being irradiated with ultraviolet rays by ejecting the liquid material toward a recording medium, and performs drawing by irradiating the applied liquid material with ultraviolet rays to be cured. . Such a droplet discharge device is, for example, a discharge head including a plurality of nozzles that discharge a liquid material as droplets, a head holding member that holds the discharge head, and a main moving member that moves the head holding member in the main scanning direction. A scanning direction displacement device, a sub-scanning direction displacement device that moves the recording medium in a sub-scanning direction intersecting the main scanning direction, and an ultraviolet irradiation device that irradiates the liquid material applied to the recording medium with ultraviolet rays. Yes. An ultraviolet irradiation device is disposed on both side surfaces of the head holding member holding the discharge head in the main scanning direction, and the liquid material discharged to the recording medium is irradiated with ultraviolet rays while the discharge head is scanned in the main scanning direction. The thing of the structure which can do is known (for example, refer patent document 1).

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-313445

  In recent years, the droplet ejection apparatus having the above-described configuration has a tendency to increase the number of nozzles, the number of nozzle rows, or the number of ejection heads of the ejection head in order to increase the drawing performance. Is required. Thus, when the ultraviolet irradiation device is increased in size, it is difficult to take measures for heat radiation of the ultraviolet irradiation device, and the ultraviolet irradiation device becomes expensive, resulting in an increase in the cost of the droplet discharge device.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to solve at least a part of the problems described above, and the invention can be implemented as the following forms or application examples.

  Application Example 1 A drawing method according to this application example includes a discharge head having a plurality of nozzles for discharging a liquid material having a property of being cured by irradiation of ultraviolet rays toward a recording medium, and holding the discharge head And a main scanning direction in which the position of the head holding member with respect to the recording medium is reciprocated in a first direction along the main scanning direction and in a second direction opposite to the first direction. A displacement device, a sub-scanning direction displacement device that intermittently changes the position of the recording medium relative to the head holding member in a sub-scanning direction intersecting the main scanning direction, and ultraviolet rays applied to the liquid material ejected to the recording medium A first ultraviolet irradiation device and a second ultraviolet irradiation device that irradiate the head holding member, the first ultraviolet irradiation device provided on a side surface of the head holding member on the first direction side in the main scanning direction, and a front A second ultraviolet irradiation device provided on a side surface of the head holding member on the second direction side, and the first ultraviolet irradiation device and the second ultraviolet irradiation device do not overlap in the main scanning direction. A plurality of nozzles arranged in a first region overlapping the first ultraviolet irradiation device in the main scanning direction, and the second ultraviolet irradiation device in the main scanning direction. A drawing method using a droplet discharge device arranged separately from a second nozzle group arranged in a second region overlapping with the nozzle, wherein the discharge is performed while the head holding member is scanned in the main scanning direction In a drawing operation in which the liquid material is ejected from the head toward the recording medium, the first droplet amount of the liquid material to be ejected from the first nozzle group and before being ejected from the second nozzle group And characterized in that different a second droplet of the liquid material.

When performing drawing using the droplet discharge device of this application example, when drawing while scanning the head holding member in the first direction, the liquid discharged from the second nozzle group onto the recording medium Ultraviolet irradiation is immediately performed by the second ultraviolet irradiation device arranged on the side surface of the head holding member on the second direction side. At this time, the liquid material discharged from the first nozzle group of the head holding member to the recording medium is not irradiated with ultraviolet rays within the same scan. Further, when drawing while scanning the head holding member in the second direction, the liquid is discharged from the first nozzle group onto the recording medium, and the head holding member is disposed on the side surface on the first direction side of the head holding member. The first ultraviolet irradiation device immediately irradiates ultraviolet rays, and at this time, the liquid material discharged from the second nozzle group to the recording medium is not irradiated with ultraviolet rays within the same scan.
In this droplet discharge device, in this application example, the first droplet amount of the liquid droplets discharged from the first nozzle group to the recording medium and the liquid droplet discharged from the second nozzle group to the recording medium. The body droplet is different from the second droplet amount. That is, according to the scanning direction (first direction or second direction) of the head holding member at the time of drawing, the first ultraviolet irradiation device or the second is applied to the liquid droplet landed on the recording medium. The amount of droplets (first droplet amount or second droplet amount) from the nozzle group (first nozzle group or second nozzle group) that is immediately irradiated with ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet irradiation device, and immediately By differentiating the droplet amount (first droplet amount or second droplet amount) from the nozzle group (first nozzle group or second nozzle group) that is not irradiated with ultraviolet rays, The amount of wetting and spreading until the liquid material landed on the recording medium is cured can be controlled.
In the liquid droplet ejection device of this application example, the first ultraviolet irradiation device and the second ultraviolet irradiation device do not overlap the main scanning direction on both side surfaces of the head holding member in the first direction and the second direction. Since it is provided, one ultraviolet irradiation device can be made smaller than before, and the cost of the device can be reduced. Therefore, wetting and spreading the liquid material ejected from a plurality of nozzles and landed on a recording medium by using a droplet ejection device whose cost is reduced by the miniaturized first ultraviolet radiation device and the second ultraviolet radiation device. A drawing method capable of controlling the amount and performing desired drawing can be provided.

  Application Example 2 In the drawing method according to the application example described above, when drawing is performed while the head holding member is scanned in the first direction, the second droplet amount is set to be greater than the first droplet amount. The first droplet amount is made larger than the second droplet amount when drawing is performed while scanning the head holding member in the second direction.

In the drawing method of this application example, when drawing is performed while scanning in the first direction, the second of the droplets ejected from the second nozzle group that is immediately irradiated with ultraviolet rays from the second ultraviolet irradiation device. The droplet amount is set larger than the first droplet amount of the droplets ejected from the first nozzle group that is not irradiated with ultraviolet rays from the second ultraviolet irradiation device. Further, when the drawing is performed while scanning in the second direction, the first droplet amount of the droplets discharged from the first nozzle group that is immediately irradiated with the ultraviolet rays from the first ultraviolet irradiation device is set to the first droplet amount. (1) The second droplet amount of the droplets discharged from the second nozzle group that is not irradiated with ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet irradiation device is larger than the second droplet amount. Most UV-curable liquids require more UV irradiation as the amount of droplets landed on the recording medium increases. In this application example, since the liquid droplet amount on the recording medium to be cured immediately is larger than the droplet amount that is not immediately cured, recording is performed by the first droplet amount and the second droplet amount. It is possible to perform well-balanced drawing by suppressing the wetting and spreading of each droplet landed on the medium.
Therefore, on both side surfaces of the head holding member in the first direction and the second direction, the relatively small first ultraviolet irradiation device and the second ultraviolet irradiation device provided so as not to overlap with the main scanning direction, Liquid droplets ejected from a plurality of nozzles and landed on a recording medium can be cured sufficiently and in a well-balanced manner while reducing the cost of the droplet ejection device, so that high-definition drawing is performed. It becomes possible.

  Application Example 3 In the drawing method according to the application example described above, the first ultraviolet irradiation device and the second ultraviolet irradiation device have different ultraviolet illuminances.

  According to this application example, each of the first ultraviolet irradiation device and the second ultraviolet irradiation device is configured such that the amount of liquid droplets from the ejection head in drawing in one scanning direction, the wetting and spreading characteristics of the liquid material used for drawing, and the like. In accordance with these characteristics, it is possible to control the liquid material ejected as droplets from the nozzles of the ejection head and landed thereon to be cured in a desired state. Therefore, there is provided a drawing method capable of performing desired drawing by changing the amount of liquid droplets discharged in drawing in one scanning direction or using various liquid materials having different characteristics such as curing characteristics. be able to.

1 is a perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of a droplet discharge device according to a first embodiment. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The carriage in 1st Embodiment is demonstrated, (a) is a front view when it sees to A view direction in FIG. 1, (b) is a top view when it sees from the bottom face side. FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the ejection head in the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a front sectional view of the ejection head in the first embodiment. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a droplet discharge device according to a first embodiment. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a drawing operation of the droplet discharge device according to the first embodiment when viewed in the A viewing direction in FIG. 1. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of a drawing process in the first embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following drawings, the scale of each layer and each member may be different from the actual scale in order to make each layer and each member recognizable.

(First embodiment)
[Droplet discharge device]
First, the droplet discharge device used in this embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of a droplet discharge device according to the first embodiment. 2A and 2B illustrate a carriage as a head holding member in the present embodiment. FIG. 2A is a front view when viewed in the direction A in FIG. 1, and FIG. 2B is a bottom side. It is a top view when it sees. FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the ejection head in the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is a front sectional view of the ejection head.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the droplet discharge device in the present embodiment.
In FIG. 1, a droplet discharge device 1 according to the present embodiment includes a work transport device 3 as a sub-scanning direction displacement device, a carriage 7 as a head holding member, and a carriage transport device 11 as a main scanning direction displacement device, have.

The carriage 7 is provided with a head unit 13 and a first ultraviolet irradiation device 15a and a second ultraviolet irradiation device 15b.
In the droplet discharge device 1, the liquid material is discharged onto the workpiece W by discharging the liquid material from the head unit 13 as droplets while changing the relative position of the head unit 13 and the workpiece W as a recording medium in plan view. With this, a desired pattern can be drawn. In the figure, the Y direction indicates the moving direction (sub-scanning direction) of the workpiece W, and the X direction indicates a direction (main scanning direction) perpendicular to the Y direction in plan view. A direction orthogonal to the XY plane defined by the X direction and the Y direction is defined as the Z direction.

Such a droplet discharge device 1 can be applied to drawing on a non-absorbable recording medium, such as a resin film, which is difficult for a liquid to penetrate.
The droplet discharge device 1 can also be applied to, for example, the manufacture of a color filter used for a liquid crystal display panel or the like, or the manufacture of an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) device.
In the case of a color filter having three color filter elements of red, green, and blue, the droplet discharge device 1 can be suitably used, for example, in a process of forming red, green, and blue colored layers on a substrate. In this case, each liquid material corresponding to each colored layer is ejected from the head unit 13 as droplets onto the work W, whereby the patterns of the red, green, and blue filter elements are drawn on the work W.
Further, in the manufacture of an organic EL device, for example, it can be suitably used in a step of forming a functional layer (organic layer) corresponding to each color for each of red, green and blue pixels. In this case, each liquid material corresponding to the functional layer of each color is ejected from the head unit 13 as droplets onto the work W, whereby the patterns of the red, green, and blue functional layers are drawn on the work W.

Here, the details of each component of the droplet discharge device 1 will be described.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the work transfer device 3 includes a surface plate 21, a guide rail 23 a, a guide rail 23 b, and a work table 25.
The surface plate 21 is made of a material having a small coefficient of thermal expansion, such as stone, and is placed so as to extend along the Y direction. The guide rail 23 a and the guide rail 23 b are disposed on the upper surface 21 a of the surface plate 21. Each of the guide rail 23a and the guide rail 23b extends along the Y direction. The guide rail 23a and the guide rail 23b are arranged in a state where there is a gap in the X direction.

The work table 25 is provided in a state facing the upper surface 21a of the surface plate 21 with the guide rail 23a and the guide rail 23b interposed therebetween. The work table 25 is placed on the guide rail 23a and the guide rail 23b in a state of floating from the surface plate 21. The work table 25 has a placement surface 25a that is a surface on which the workpiece W is placed. The placement surface 25a is directed to the side (upper side) opposite to the surface plate 21 side. The work table 25 is guided along the Y direction by the guide rail 23a and the guide rail 23b, and is configured to be able to reciprocate on the surface plate 21 along the Y direction.
The work table 25 is configured to reciprocate in the Y direction by a moving mechanism and a power source (not shown). As the moving mechanism, for example, a mechanism using a ball screw or a linear guide may be employed. In the present embodiment, a work conveyance motor (not shown) is employed as a power source for moving the work table 25 along the Y direction. As the work transfer motor, various motors such as a stepping motor, a servo motor, and a linear motor can be adopted.
The power from the work transport motor is transmitted to the work table 25 through the moving mechanism. Thereby, the work table 25 can reciprocate along the guide rail 23a and the guide rail 23b, that is, along the Y direction. That is, the workpiece transfer device 3 can reciprocate the workpiece W placed on the placement surface 25a of the workpiece table 25 along the Y direction. In the following, the direction of the Y (−) side is the upstream side of the head unit 13, and the direction of the Y (+) side is the downstream side of the head unit 13.

As shown in FIG. 2, the head unit 13 includes a head plate 31 and a plurality of ejection heads 33 </ b> A to 33 </ b> D. In the present embodiment, there are four ejection heads 33A to 33D.
Each of the ejection heads 33A to 33D has a nozzle surface 35 as shown in FIG. 3 which is a bottom view. A plurality of nozzles 37 are formed on the nozzle surface 35. In FIG. 3, the nozzles 37 are exaggerated and the number of the nozzles 37 is reduced in order to easily show the nozzles 37.
In the ejection head 33, the plurality of nozzles 37 constitute four nozzle rows 39 arranged along the Y direction. The four nozzle rows 39 are arranged in a state where there is a gap in the X direction. In each nozzle row 39, the plurality of nozzles 37 are formed at a predetermined nozzle interval P along the Y direction.
Hereinafter, when each of the four nozzle rows 39 is identified, the notation of the nozzle row 39a, the nozzle row 39b, the nozzle row 39c, and the nozzle row 39d is used.
In the ejection heads 33A to 33D, the nozzle row 39a and the nozzle row 39b are shifted from each other by a distance of P / 2 in the Y direction. The nozzle row 39c and the nozzle row 39d are also shifted from each other by a distance of P / 2 in the Y direction.

  The carriage 7 includes a head unit 13 and a first ultraviolet irradiation device 15a and a second ultraviolet irradiation device 15b attached to both side surfaces of the head unit 13 in the main scanning direction (X direction). The first ultraviolet irradiation device 15a and the second ultraviolet irradiation device 15b have light sources 45a and 45b that emit ultraviolet light 41a and 41b, respectively. The ultraviolet lights 41a and 41b from the light sources 45a and 45b promote curing of the liquid 53 discharged from the discharge head 33 to the workpiece W. When the liquid 53 is irradiated with the ultraviolet light 41a and 41b, curing is promoted.

As shown in FIG. 4, the ejection heads 33 </ b> A to 33 </ b> D have a nozzle plate 46, a cavity plate 47, a vibration plate 48, and a plurality of piezoelectric elements 49.
The nozzle plate 46 has a nozzle surface 35. The plurality of nozzles 37 are provided on the nozzle plate 46.
The cavity plate 47 is provided on the surface opposite to the nozzle surface 35 of the nozzle plate 46. A plurality of cavities 51 are formed in the cavity plate 47. Each cavity 51 is provided corresponding to each nozzle 37 and communicates with each corresponding nozzle 37. A liquid 53 is supplied to each cavity 51 from a tank (not shown).

The diaphragm 48 is provided on the surface of the cavity plate 47 opposite to the nozzle plate 46 side. The vibration plate 48 vibrates in the Z direction (longitudinal vibration), thereby enlarging or reducing the volume in the cavity 51.
The plurality of piezoelectric elements 49 are respectively provided on the surface of the diaphragm 48 opposite to the cavity plate 47 side. Each piezoelectric element 49 is provided corresponding to each cavity 51 and faces each cavity 51 with the diaphragm 48 interposed therebetween. Each piezoelectric element 49 expands based on the drive signal. Thereby, the diaphragm 48 reduces the volume in the cavity 51. At this time, pressure is applied to the liquid 53 in the cavity 51. As a result, the liquid 53 is discharged as the droplet 55 from the nozzle 37. A method of discharging the droplets 55 by the discharge heads 33A to 33D is one of ink jet methods. The ink jet method is one of coating methods.

As shown in FIG. 2, each of the ejection heads 33 </ b> A to 33 </ b> D having the above-described configuration is supported by the head plate 31 with the nozzle surface 35 protruding from the head plate 31. As shown in FIG. 2, the carriage 7 supports the head unit 13. Here, the head unit 13 is supported by the carriage 7 with the nozzle surface 35 facing downward in the Z direction.
Here, the arrangement of the plurality of ejection heads 33A to 33D will be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 2B, in this embodiment, the discharge head holding surface 31a of the head plate 31 held by the carriage 7 overlaps the first ultraviolet irradiation device 15a in the main scanning direction (X direction). The ejection heads 33A to 33D are intentionally divided and arranged in one region 32a and a second region 32b that overlaps the second ultraviolet irradiation device 15b in the main scanning direction (X direction). In the present embodiment, the ejection heads 33A and 33B are disposed in the first area 32a, and the ejection heads 33C and 33D are disposed in the second area 32b. Here, a plurality of nozzles provided on the nozzle surface 35 of the ejection heads 33A and 33B arranged in the first area 32a are defined as a first nozzle group, and the ejection head 33C arranged in the second area 32b. , 33D are defined as a second nozzle group.

With the configuration described above, the liquid 53 can be applied to the workpiece W from each of the first nozzle group of the ejection heads 33A and 33B and the second nozzle group of the ejection heads 33C and 33D.
As shown in FIG. 4, in the present embodiment, the longitudinal vibration type piezoelectric element 49 is employed, but the pressurizing means for applying pressure to the liquid 53 is not limited to this, for example, Also, a bending deformation type piezoelectric element in which a lower electrode, a piezoelectric layer, and an upper electrode are laminated may be employed. Further, as the pressurizing means, a so-called electrostatic actuator that generates static electricity between the diaphragm and the electrode, deforms the diaphragm by electrostatic force, and ejects droplets from the nozzles can be employed. Furthermore, the structure which generates a bubble in a nozzle using a heat generating body, and gives a pressure to a liquid material by the bubble may be employ | adopted.

As the liquid 53 shown in the present embodiment, a liquid 53 that is cured by being irradiated with light is employed. In the present embodiment, ultraviolet light 41 a and ultraviolet light 41 b are employed as light that promotes curing of the liquid material 53.
The liquid 53 includes a resin material, a photopolymerization initiator, and a solvent as components. By adding functional materials such as pigments and dyes such as pigments and surface modifying materials such as lyophilic and liquid repellent properties to these components, a liquid 53 having a specific function can be generated. . The liquid 53 containing a pigment such as a pigment or a dye can be employed as the liquid 53 for forming an image to be drawn on the workpiece W, for example. Hereinafter, the liquid 53 for forming an image to be drawn on the workpiece W is referred to as image paint.

Further, by adopting a light-transmitting resin material such as an acrylic resin material as the resin material as a component of the liquid 53, the light-transmitting liquid 53 can be configured. Such a light-transmitting liquid 53 can be used as a clear ink, for example. Hereinafter, the light-transmitting liquid 53 is referred to as a light-transmitting paint.
As the use of the clear ink, for example, a use as an overcoat layer for covering an image, a use as a base layer before forming an image, and the like can be considered. Hereinafter, the liquid 53 applied as a base layer is referred to as a base paint.
As the base paint, not only the light-transmitting paint but also a liquid 53 obtained by adding various pigments to the light-transmitting paint can be used. For example, a liquid 53 exhibiting white color, a liquid 53 exhibiting metallic luster (metallic), and the like can also be employed as the base paint.

The resin material in the liquid 53 is a material for forming a resin film. Such a resin material is not particularly limited as long as it is a liquid material at room temperature and becomes a polymer by being polymerized. The resin material preferably has a low viscosity, and is preferably in the form of an oligomer. Furthermore, the resin material is more preferably in the form of a monomer.
The photopolymerization initiator is an additive that acts on the crosslinkable group of the polymer to advance the crosslinking reaction. As the photopolymerization initiator, for example, benzyldimethyl ketal can be employed. In this embodiment, a radical photopolymerization initiator is employed as the photopolymerization initiator. As the radical type photopolymerization initiator, for example, Irgacure 819 manufactured by Ciba Japan Co., Ltd. may be employed.
The solvent is for adjusting the viscosity of the resin material.

As shown in FIG. 1, the carriage transport device 11 includes a gantry 101 and a guide rail 103.
The gantry 101 extends in the X direction and straddles the workpiece transfer device 3 in the X direction. The gantry 101 faces the work transfer device 3 on the side opposite to the surface plate 21 side of the work table 25. The gantry 101 is supported by a pair of support columns 107. The pair of support columns 107 are provided at positions facing each other in the X direction with the surface plate 21 interposed therebetween.
In the following, when identifying each of the pair of columns 107, the notation of columns 107a and columns 107b is used. The support column 107a and the support column 107b protrude above the work table 25 in the Z direction. Thereby, a gap is maintained between the gantry 101 and the work table 25.

The guide rail 103 is provided on the surface plate 21 side of the gantry 101. The guide rail 103 extends along the X direction and is provided across the width of the gantry 101 in the X direction.
The carriage 7 described above is supported by the guide rail 103. In a state where the carriage 7 is supported by the guide rail 103, the nozzle surfaces 35 of the ejection heads 33A to 33D face the work table 25 side in the Z direction (see FIGS. 2 to 4). The carriage 7 is guided along the X direction by the guide rail 103 and is supported by the guide rail 103 so as to be capable of reciprocating in the X direction. In a plan view, in a state where the carriage 7 overlaps the work table 25, the nozzle surface 35 and the mounting surface 25a of the work table 25 face each other with a gap therebetween.

The carriage 7 is configured to reciprocate in the X direction by a moving mechanism and a power source (not shown). As the moving mechanism, for example, a mechanism using a ball screw or a linear guide may be employed. In the present embodiment, a carriage transport motor (not shown) is employed as a power source for moving the carriage 7 along the X direction. As the carriage conveyance motor, various motors such as a stepping motor, a servo motor, and a linear motor can be employed.
The power from the carriage transport motor is transmitted to the carriage 7 through the moving mechanism. Thus, the carriage 7 can reciprocate along the guide rail 103, that is, along the X direction. That is, the carriage conveyance device 11 can reciprocate the head unit 13 supported by the carriage 7 along the X direction. In the following description, movement in the X (+) side direction is referred to as forward movement, and movement in the X (−) side direction is referred to as backward movement.
In the droplet discharge device 1 having the above-described configuration, the droplet 55 is discharged from the discharge head 33 while the discharge head 33 and the workpiece W are relatively reciprocated while the discharge head 33 is opposed to the workpiece W. By doing so, the pattern is drawn on the workpiece W.

As shown in FIG. 5, the droplet discharge device 1 includes a control unit 111 that controls the operation of each of the above-described configurations. The control unit 111 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 113, a drive control unit 115, and a memory unit 117. The drive control unit 115 and the memory unit 117 are connected to the CPU 113 via the bus 119.
The droplet discharge device 1 includes a carriage transport motor 121, a work transport motor 123, an input device 129, and a display device 131.
The carriage transport motor 121 and the work transport motor 123 are connected to the control unit 111 via the input / output interface 133 and the bus 119, respectively. The input device 129 and the display device 131 are also connected to the control unit 111 via the input / output interface 133 and the bus 119, respectively.

The carriage transport motor 121 generates power for driving the carriage 7. The work conveyance motor 123 generates power for driving the work table 25.
The input device 129 is a device for inputting various processing conditions. The display device 131 is a device that displays processing conditions and work status. An operator who operates the droplet discharge device 1 can input various information via the input device 129 while confirming information displayed on the display device 131.
The ejection head 33, the first ultraviolet irradiation device 15a, and the second ultraviolet irradiation device 15b are connected to the control unit 111 via the input / output interface 133 and the bus 119, respectively.

The CPU 113 performs various arithmetic processes as a processor. The drive control unit 115 controls driving of each component. The memory unit 117 includes a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and the like. In the memory unit 117, an area for storing the program software 135 in which the operation control procedure in the droplet discharge device 1 is described, a data development unit 137 that is an area for temporarily developing various data, and the like are set. Yes. Examples of data developed in the data development unit 137 include drawing data indicating a pattern to be drawn, program data such as drawing processing, and the like.
The drive control unit 115 includes a motor control unit 141, a discharge control unit 145, a first irradiation control unit 147 and a second irradiation control unit 149, and a display control unit 151.

The motor control unit 141 individually controls the drive of the carriage transport motor 121 and the drive of the work transport motor 123 based on a command from the CPU 113.
The discharge controller 145 controls the driving of the discharge head 33 based on a command from the CPU 113.
The 1st irradiation control part 147 and the 2nd irradiation control part 149 control the light emission state of the light sources 45a and 45b in the 1st ultraviolet irradiation device 15a and the 2nd ultraviolet irradiation device 15b based on the command from CPU113.
The display control unit 151 controls driving of the display device 131 based on a command from the CPU 113.

In FIG. 2, the second ultraviolet irradiation device 15b is provided so as to be positioned behind the head unit 13 when the head unit 13 moves in the forward direction (X (+) direction) as the first direction in the main scanning direction. It has been.
The first ultraviolet irradiation device 15a is provided so as to be positioned behind the head unit 13 when the head unit 13 moves in the backward direction (X (−) direction) as the second direction in the main scanning direction. Yes.
The 1st ultraviolet irradiation device 15a and the 2nd ultraviolet irradiation device 15b have light sources 45a and 45b which emit ultraviolet light 41a and 41b, respectively. The ultraviolet lights 41a and 41b from the light sources 45a and 45b promote curing of the liquid 53 (53a and 53b) ejected from the first and second nozzle groups of the ejection heads 33A to 33D. When the liquid 53 is irradiated with the ultraviolet light 41a and 41b, curing is promoted.
As the light sources 45a and 45b, various light sources 45a and 45b such as LEDs, LDs, mercury lamps, metal halide lamps, xenon lamps, and excimer lamps can be employed.

[Drawing method]
Next, a drawing method in the droplet discharge device 1 will be described. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the drawing operation of the droplet discharge device according to the first embodiment when viewed in the direction of A in FIG. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of the drawing process in the first embodiment.
First, the drawing process in the droplet discharge device 1 will be described with reference to FIG.
5, in the droplet discharge device 1, when the control unit 111 receives drawing data from the input device 129 via the input / output interface 133 and the bus 119, the CPU 113 starts the drawing process shown in FIG.
Here, the drawing data indicates a pattern to be drawn on the work W by the liquid 53, and the pattern to be drawn is expressed in a bitmap form. The pattern is drawn on the workpiece W by relatively reciprocally moving the carriage 7 holding the head unit 13 provided with the ejection heads 33A to 33D and the workpiece W in a state where the ejection head 33 faces the workpiece W. However, the liquid droplets are discharged from the discharge heads 33A to 33D at a predetermined cycle.

In the drawing process, the CPU 113 first outputs a carriage conveyance command to the motor control unit 141 in step S1 of FIG. At this time, the motor control unit 141 controls the drive of the carriage transport motor 121 to move the carriage 7 to the forward path start position.
Here, in the droplet discharge device 1, a drawing area is set. The drawing area is an area where the locus drawn along the Y direction as the sub-scanning direction by the work table 25 shown in FIG. 1 and the locus drawn along the X direction as the main scanning direction by the ejection heads 33A to 33D overlap. It is.
The forward path start position is a position where the forward path starts when the carriage 7 is reciprocated along the X direction. In the present embodiment, the forward path start position is located outside the drawing area in plan view. In the present embodiment, the forward path start position is located on the column 107a side of the drawing area in plan view.

  Next, in step S2 of FIG. 7, the CPU 113 outputs a workpiece conveyance command to the motor control unit 141 (FIG. 5). At this time, the motor control unit 141 controls the drive of the work transport motor 123 to move the work W to the drawing area.

Next, in step S3, the CPU 113 outputs a carriage scanning command to the motor control unit 141 (FIG. 5). At this time, the motor control unit 141 controls the drive of the carriage transport motor 121 to start the reciprocation of the carriage 7.
Here, in the reciprocating movement of the carriage 7, the carriage 7 reciprocates between the forward path start position and the backward path start position described above. That is, the path that returns from the forward path start position to the forward path start position and returns to the forward path start position is one round trip of the carriage 7. For this reason, in this embodiment, the path from the forward path start position to the return path start position is the forward path of the carriage 7. On the other hand, the path from the return path start position to the forward path start position is the return path of the carriage 7.
The return path start position is a position facing the forward path start position across the drawing area in the X direction. The return path start position is located outside the drawing area in plan view. For this reason, the forward path start position and the backward path start position are opposed to each other across the drawing area in the X direction in plan view. In the present embodiment, the return path start position is located on the column 107b side of the drawing area in plan view.

Next, in step S4, the CPU 113 outputs a first irradiation command for the ultraviolet irradiation device to the first irradiation control unit 147 (FIG. 5). In the present embodiment, a first irradiation command for the second ultraviolet irradiation device 15b is output to the first irradiation control unit 147. The 1st irradiation control part 147 controls the drive of the light source 45b of the 2nd ultraviolet irradiation device 15b, and makes the light source 45b of the 2nd ultraviolet irradiation device 15b light.
Next, in step S5, the CPU 113 determines whether or not the position of the ejection head 33 has reached the drawing start position in the forward path.
Here, the drawing start position is a position where the discharge of the liquid droplets from the discharge heads 33A to 33D is started in the drawing area.
At this time, if it is determined that the positions of the ejection heads 33A to 33D have reached the drawing start position (Yes), the process proceeds to step S6. On the other hand, if it is determined that the position of the ejection head 33 has not reached the drawing start position (No), whether or not the drawing start position has been reached until the positions of the ejection heads 33A to 33D have reached the drawing start position. Repeat the determination.

  Next, in step S6, the CPU 113 outputs a discharge command to the discharge control unit 145 (FIG. 5). At this time, the ejection control unit 145 controls the driving of the ejection heads 33A to 33D and ejects liquid droplets from the nozzles 37 based on the drawing data. Thereby, drawing in the forward path is started.

Next, in step S7, the CPU 113 determines whether or not the positions of the ejection heads 33A to 33D have reached the drawing stop position in the forward path.
Here, the drawing stop position is a position where the discharge of droplets from the discharge heads 33A to 33D is stopped in the drawing area.
At this time, if it is determined that the positions of the ejection heads 33A to 33D have reached the drawing stop position (Yes), the process proceeds to step S8. On the other hand, if it is determined that the positions of the ejection heads 33A to 33D have not reached the drawing stop position (No), has the drawing stop position been reached until the positions of the ejection heads 33A to 33D have reached the drawing stop position? Repeat the determination of NO.

Next, in step S8, the CPU 113 outputs a discharge stop command to the discharge control unit 145 (FIG. 5). At this time, the ejection control unit 145 stops driving the ejection heads 33A to 33D and stops ejection of droplets from the nozzles 37. Thereby, the drawing in the forward path is completed.
Next, in step S9, the CPU 113 outputs a first irradiation stop command for the second ultraviolet irradiation device 15b to the first irradiation control unit 147 (FIG. 5). At this time, the first irradiation control unit 147 controls the driving of the light source 45b of the second ultraviolet irradiation device 15b to turn off the light source 45b of the second ultraviolet irradiation device 15b.

  Next, in step S10, the CPU 113 determines whether or not the position of the carriage 7 has reached the return path start position. At this time, if it is determined that the position of the carriage 7 has reached the return path start position (Yes), the process proceeds to step S11. On the other hand, if it is determined that the position of the carriage 7 has not reached the return path start position (No), it is repeatedly determined whether the carriage 7 has reached the return path start position until the position of the carriage 7 reaches the return path start position. .

  Next, in step S11, the CPU 113 outputs a line feed command to the motor control unit 141 (FIG. 5). At this time, the motor control unit 141 that has received the line feed command controls the drive of the work transfer motor 123 to move the work W to the Y (+) side (new line), and to draw a new pattern on the work W. Move the area to the drawing area.

  Next, in step S12, the CPU 113 outputs a second irradiation command for the first ultraviolet irradiation device 15a to the second irradiation control unit 149 (FIG. 5). At this time, the 2nd irradiation control part 149 controls the drive of the light source 45a of the 1st ultraviolet irradiation device 15a, and makes the light source 45a of the 1st ultraviolet irradiation device 15a light.

Next, in step S13, the CPU 113 determines whether or not the position of the ejection head 33 has reached the drawing start position on the return path.
Here, the drawing start position is a position where the discharge of the liquid droplets from the discharge heads 33A to 33D is started in the drawing area.
At this time, if it is determined that the positions of the ejection heads 33A to 33D have reached the drawing start position (Yes), the process proceeds to step S14. On the other hand, if it is determined that the position of the ejection head 33 has not reached the drawing start position (No), the process waits until the positions of the ejection heads 33A to 33D reach the drawing start position.

  Next, in step S14, the CPU 113 outputs a discharge command to the discharge control unit 145 (FIG. 5). At this time, the ejection control unit 145 controls the driving of the ejection heads 33A to 33D and ejects droplets from the nozzles 37 based on the drawing data. Thereby, drawing on the return path is started.

  Next, in step S15, the CPU 113 determines whether or not the positions of the ejection heads 33A to 33D have reached the drawing stop position on the return path. At this time, if it is determined that the positions of the ejection heads 33A to 33D have reached the drawing stop position (Yes), the process proceeds to step S20. On the other hand, if it is determined that the positions of the ejection heads 33A to 33D have not reached the drawing stop position (No), the process waits until the positions of the ejection heads 33A to 33D reach the drawing stop position.

  Next, in step S16, the CPU 113 outputs a discharge stop command to the discharge control unit 145 (FIG. 5). At this time, the ejection control unit 145 stops driving the ejection heads 33A to 33D and stops ejection of droplets from the nozzles 37. Thereby, drawing on the return path is completed.

  Next, in step S17, the CPU 113 outputs a second irradiation stop command for the first ultraviolet irradiation device 15a to the second irradiation control unit 149 (FIG. 5). The second irradiation control unit 149 controls driving of the light source 45a of the first ultraviolet irradiation device 15a to turn off the light source 45a of the first ultraviolet irradiation device 15a.

In step S18, the CPU 113 determines whether or not the drawing data has been completed. At this time, if it is determined that the drawing data has been completed (Yes), the process proceeds to step S19. On the other hand, if it is determined that the drawing data has not ended (No), the process proceeds to step S4.
In step S19, the CPU 113 determines whether or not the position of the carriage 7 has reached the forward path start position. At this time, if it is determined that the position of the carriage 7 has reached the drawing start position (Yes), the process proceeds to step S20. On the other hand, if it is determined that the position of the carriage 7 has not reached the drawing start position (No), whether or not the position of the carriage 7 has reached the forward path start position until the position of the carriage 7 reaches the forward path start position. Repeat the determination.

  Next, in step S20, the CPU 113 outputs a line feed command to the motor control unit 141 (FIG. 5). At this time, the motor control unit 141 that has received the line feed command controls the drive of the work transfer motor 123 to move the work W to the Y (+) side (new line), and to draw a new pattern on the work W. Move the area to the drawing area.

Next, in step S21, the CPU 113 outputs a first irradiation command for the second ultraviolet irradiation device 15b to the first irradiation control unit 147 (FIG. 5). At this time, the 1st irradiation control part 147 controls the drive of the light source 45b of the 2nd ultraviolet irradiation device 15b, and turns on the light source 45b of the 2nd ultraviolet irradiation device 15b.
Next, in step S22, the CPU 113 determines whether or not the position of the carriage 7 has reached the return path start position. At this time, if it is determined that the position of the carriage 7 has reached the return path start position (Yes), the process proceeds to step S23. On the other hand, if it is determined that the position of the carriage 7 has not reached the return path start position (No), the process waits until the position of the carriage 7 reaches the return path start position.

Next, in step S23, the CPU 113 outputs a first irradiation stop command for the second ultraviolet irradiation device 15b to the first irradiation control unit 147 (FIG. 5). At this time, the first irradiation control unit 147 controls the driving of the light source 45b of the second ultraviolet irradiation device 15b to turn off the light source 45b of the second ultraviolet irradiation device 15b.
In the present embodiment, in steps S20 to S23, only the ultraviolet irradiation is performed on the region that has not been irradiated with the ultraviolet rays irradiated by the first ultraviolet irradiation device 15a and the second ultraviolet irradiation device 15b until the previous step. It is a process.

  Next, in step S24, the CPU 113 determines whether or not the position of the carriage 7 has reached the forward path start position. At this time, if it is determined that the position of the carriage 7 has reached the drawing start position (Yes), the process proceeds to step S25. On the other hand, if it is determined that the position of the carriage 7 has not reached the drawing start position (No), whether or not the position of the carriage 7 has reached the forward path start position until the position of the carriage 7 reaches the forward path start position. Repeat the determination.

  Next, in step S25, the CPU 113 outputs a carriage scanning stop command to the motor control unit 141 (FIG. 5), and then ends the process. At this time, the motor control unit 141 that has received the carriage scanning stop command controls the drive of the carriage transport motor 121 to stop the reciprocating movement of the carriage 7.

  In the drawing method of the present embodiment described above, when the head unit 13 (carriage 7) scans in the forward direction (X (+) direction) and when it scans in the backward direction (X (−) direction). Thus, the ejection heads 33A and 33B which are arranged in the first area 32a of the head unit 13 shown in FIG. 2B and constitute the first nozzle group, and the second area 32b of the head unit 13 are arranged second. It is a feature of the present invention that the discharge heads 33 </ b> C and 33 </ b> D constituting the nozzle group have different amounts of liquid droplets to be discharged.

  To describe the embodiment in detail, as shown in FIG. 6A, when drawing is performed while the head unit 13 (carriage 7) is scanned in the forward direction (X (+) direction) as the first direction. The first droplet 55a of the head unit 13 is ejected from the ejection heads 33A and 33B (see FIG. 2B) that are arranged in the first region of the head unit 13 and constitute the first nozzle group. The second droplet 55b ejected from the ejection heads 33C and 33D (see FIG. 2B) that are arranged in the second region 32b and constitute the second nozzle group has a larger droplet amount. In drawing while scanning in the forward direction, the second region of the head unit 13 is formed by the second ultraviolet irradiation device 15b located on the side surface on the rear (second direction) side with respect to the traveling direction of the head unit 13. The second light droplet 55b discharged to the workpiece W from the second nozzle group (see FIG. 2B) of the discharge heads 33C and 33D arranged at 32b is immediately irradiated with the ultraviolet light 41b. At this time, with respect to the first droplet 55a discharged to the work W from the first nozzle group (see FIG. 2B) of the discharge heads 33A and 33B arranged in the first region 32a of the head unit 13. Therefore, ultraviolet irradiation is not performed within the same scan. For this reason, when drawing is performed while scanning in the forward direction (X (+) direction), the amount of the second droplet 55b irradiated with the ultraviolet light 41b immediately from the second ultraviolet irradiation device 15b (the second amount) Even if the droplet amount of the first droplet 55a is larger than the droplet amount of the first droplet 55a (first droplet amount), the amount of wetting and spreading can be suppressed and cured.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6B, when drawing is performed while the head unit 13 (carriage 7) is scanned in the backward direction (X (−) direction) as the second direction, the second of the head unit 13 is displayed. Is disposed in the first region 32a of the head unit 13 rather than the second droplet 55b ejected from the ejection heads 33C and 33D (see FIG. 2B) constituting the second nozzle group. The first droplet 55a ejected from the ejection heads 33A and 33B (see FIG. 2B) constituting the first nozzle group has a larger droplet amount. In drawing while scanning in the backward direction, the first region of the head unit 13 is formed by the first ultraviolet irradiation device 15 a located on the side surface on the rear (first direction) side with respect to the traveling direction of the head unit 13. The first light droplet 55a discharged to the workpiece W from the first nozzle group (see FIG. 2B) of the discharge heads 33A and 33B arranged at 32a is immediately irradiated with the ultraviolet light 41a. At the same time, the first ejected from the ejection heads 33A and 33B (first nozzle group) and landed on the work W when drawing is performed while scanning in the first forward direction (X (+) direction). The droplets 55a are also irradiated with the ultraviolet light 41a by the first ultraviolet irradiation device 15a. At this time, with respect to the second droplet 55b discharged to the workpiece W from the second nozzle group (see FIG. 2B) of the discharge heads 33C and 33D arranged in the second region 32b of the head unit 13. Therefore, ultraviolet irradiation is not performed within the same scan. For this reason, when drawing is performed while scanning in the backward direction (X (−) direction), the amount of the first droplet 55a to be irradiated with the ultraviolet light 41a immediately from the first ultraviolet irradiation device 15a (the first amount) Even if the droplet amount of the second droplet 55b is larger than the droplet amount (second droplet amount) of the second droplet 55b, the amount of wetting and spreading can be suppressed and cured. Further, the first droplet discharged from the discharge heads 33A and 33B (first nozzle group) and landed on the work W when drawing is performed while scanning in the first forward direction (X (+) direction). 55a has a smaller droplet volume than the second droplet 55b ejected from the second nozzle group of the ejection heads 33C and 33D and landed on the work W in the same scan, so that wetting and spreading after landing is suppressed. Can be cured in a wet state.

FIG. 6C shows a state in which drawing is performed while the head unit 13 (carriage 7) is again scanned in the forward direction (X (+) direction) as the first direction. Here, as in the case of performing drawing while scanning in the first forward direction (see FIG. 6A), the first nozzle group (ejection heads 33A and 33B) ejected from the first nozzle group of the head unit 13 is used. The droplet amount (second droplet amount) of the second droplet 55b ejected from the second nozzle group (ejection heads 33C and 33D) is larger than that of the first droplet 55a. Accordingly, the second ultraviolet irradiation device 15b positioned rearward with respect to the traveling direction of the head unit 13 is discharged from the second nozzle group (discharge heads 33C and 33D) and landed on the work W, and the first liquid Irradiation of the ultraviolet light 41b is immediately performed on the second droplet 55b having a larger droplet amount than the droplet 55a. At the same time, when drawing is performed while scanning in the previous backward direction (X (−) direction) (see FIG. 6B), the work is discharged from the discharge heads 33C and 33D (second nozzle group). The second droplet 55b that has landed on W is also irradiated with the ultraviolet light 41b by the second ultraviolet irradiation device 15b. At this time, the first droplet 55a ejected from the first nozzle group (ejection heads 33A and 33B) onto the workpiece W is not irradiated with ultraviolet rays within the same scan.
As a result, the second nozzle group (ejection heads 33C, 33D) is ejected from the second nozzle group (ejection heads 33C, 33D) with a larger droplet amount than the first droplet 55a ejected from the first nozzle group (ejection heads 33A, 33B). The landed second droplet 55b is immediately irradiated with the ultraviolet light 41b from the second ultraviolet irradiation device 15b, and can be cured at a stage where there is little wetting and spreading. Further, when drawing is performed while scanning in the previous backward direction (X (−) direction), the liquid is smaller than the first droplet 55a ejected from the first nozzle group (ejection heads 33A, 33B). Also from the second ultraviolet ray irradiation device 15b, the second droplet 55b (see FIG. 6B) discharged from the second nozzle group (discharge heads 33C and 33D) in droplet amount and landed on the work W is also supplied. Since the ultraviolet light 41b is irradiated, it can be cured in a state where wetting and spreading after landing is suppressed.

  According to the drawing method using the droplet discharge device 1 of the first embodiment, the first direction (X (+) direction) and the second direction (X) in the main scanning direction of the head unit 13 (carriage 7). Since the first ultraviolet irradiation device 15a and the second ultraviolet irradiation device 15b are provided on both side surfaces in the (−) direction) so as not to overlap the main scanning direction, the cost occupancy rate in the droplet discharge device 1 is increased. Each large ultraviolet irradiation device (the first ultraviolet irradiation device 15a and the second ultraviolet irradiation device 15b) can be made smaller than before, so that the cost of the droplet discharge device 1 can be reduced. Then, the first nozzle group (ejection heads 33A and 33B) and the second nozzle ejection device 1 are reduced in cost by the miniaturized first ultraviolet irradiation device and second ultraviolet irradiation device. It is possible to perform desired drawing by controlling the amount of wetting and spreading of the liquid material ejected from each nozzle of the nozzle group (ejection heads 33C and 33D) and landing on the workpiece W with different droplet amounts.

  In the present embodiment, one of the first ultraviolet irradiation device 15a and the second ultraviolet irradiation device 15b is positioned rearward with respect to the traveling direction of the head unit 13 according to the scanning direction of the head unit 13. The amount of liquid droplets discharged from the first nozzle group or the second nozzle group arranged in the region overlapping with the first ultraviolet irradiation device 15a or the second ultraviolet irradiation device 15b in the scanning direction is different from the nozzle group different from the first nozzle irradiation device 15a. Although it was decided to make it larger than the amount of droplets to be discharged, this is not restrictive. This is because the easiness of curing by ultraviolet irradiation (low intensity of ultraviolet irradiation) may not depend on the amount of droplets depending on the type of the ultraviolet curable liquid. Accordingly, when drawing is performed using a liquid material whose easiness of curing by ultraviolet irradiation does not depend on the amount of droplets, each nozzle region (first nozzle region and second nozzle region) is provided in the forward path and the return path of the head unit 13. The amount of liquid droplets (first droplet amount or second droplet amount) discharged from the nozzle region) is appropriately set by ultraviolet irradiation from the first ultraviolet irradiation device 15a or the second ultraviolet irradiation device 15b. Drawing is performed by adjusting the amount of droplets so that they can be cured.

  According to the drawing method using the droplet discharge device 1 of the first embodiment, the droplet discharge can be realized at low cost by employing the small first ultraviolet irradiation device 15a and the second ultraviolet irradiation device 15b. When drawing is performed using the apparatus 1 while scanning the head unit 13 (carriage 7) in the forward direction and the backward direction, it is possible to reliably cure the liquid material discharged to the workpiece W. It is possible to provide a drawing method capable of performing drawing.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, different embodiments of the drawing method using the droplet discharge device 1 of the first embodiment will be described. In the second embodiment, since the droplet discharge device 1 of the first embodiment can be used as it is, description will be made along the same drawings (FIGS. 1 to 6), and description of the same configuration will be omitted. To do.
In the drawing method shown in FIGS. 6A to 6C, in the second embodiment, when drawing is performed while scanning in the forward direction (X (+) direction) side shown in FIGS. 6A and 6C. The ultraviolet light 41b of the second ultraviolet irradiation device 15b and the ultraviolet illuminance of the ultraviolet light 41a of the first ultraviolet irradiation device 15a when drawing while scanning in the backward direction (X (−) direction) side shown in FIG. It is characterized by different.

More specifically, for example, in the drawing while the head unit 13 (carriage 7) shown in FIG. 6A is scanned in the forward direction (X (+) direction) side, the first nozzle group of the head unit 13 is configured. The ejection heads 33C and 33C constituting the second nozzle group are disposed in the second region 32b of the head unit 13 rather than the first droplet 55a ejected from the ejection heads 33A and 33B (see FIG. 2B). The second droplet 55b ejected from 33D (see FIG. 2B) has a larger droplet amount. In drawing in the forward direction, the second nozzle group of the head unit 13 is configured by the second ultraviolet irradiation device 15b positioned on the side surface on the rear (second direction) side with respect to the traveling direction of the head unit 13. Irradiation of the ultraviolet light 41b is performed to the second droplet 55b discharged to the workpiece W from the discharge heads 33C and 33D (see FIG. 2B).
Next, as shown in FIG. 6B, the second nozzle group of the head unit 13 is configured in the drawing while the head unit 13 (carriage 7) is scanned in the backward direction (X (−) direction). Discharge heads 33A and 33B (see FIG. 2B) constituting the first nozzle group of the head unit 13 rather than the second droplet 55b discharged from the discharge heads 33C and 33D (see FIG. 2B). The first droplet 55a discharged from the first droplet 55a has a larger droplet amount. In drawing in the backward direction, the first nozzle group of the head unit 13 is configured by the first ultraviolet irradiation device 15a located on the side surface on the rear (first direction) side with respect to the traveling direction of the head unit 13. In the drawing of the first droplet 55a discharged from the discharge heads 33A and 33B (see FIG. 2B) onto the workpiece W and the previous forward direction (X (+) direction), the discharge heads 33A and 33B (first) The first droplet 55a ejected from the first nozzle group) and landed on the workpiece W is irradiated with the ultraviolet light 41a by the first ultraviolet irradiation device 15a.

Here, curing is performed by irradiation of the ultraviolet light 41b by the second ultraviolet irradiation device 15b in the drawing while scanning in the forward direction and irradiation of the ultraviolet light 41a by the first ultraviolet irradiation device 15a in the drawing while scanning in the backward direction. The amount of the liquid material to be used is larger in the liquid material in the drawing while scanning in the backward direction. Therefore, the ultraviolet illuminance of the ultraviolet light 41a by the first ultraviolet irradiation device 15a in the drawing while scanning in the backward direction is higher than the ultraviolet illuminance of the ultraviolet light 41b by the second ultraviolet irradiation device 15b in the drawing while scanning in the forward direction. To make it bigger.
As means for changing the ultraviolet illuminance of the first ultraviolet irradiation device 15a and the second ultraviolet irradiation device 15b, a method of changing the type of the light sources 45a and 45b or changing the power value such as the current value in the LED or the like. Can be mentioned.
Accordingly, the second droplet 55b is cured by the second ultraviolet irradiation device 15b in the drawing while scanning in the forward direction, and the first droplet is cured by the first ultraviolet irradiation device 15a in the drawing while being scanned in the backward direction. Adjusting the ultraviolet illuminance of the ultraviolet light 41a by the first ultraviolet irradiation device 15a for the droplet 55a and the second droplet 55b in the drawing while being scanned in the previous forward direction according to different droplet amounts. Thus, it can be cured appropriately and in a balanced manner.

  In the present embodiment, the ultraviolet light depends on the amount of droplets to be irradiated with the ultraviolet light 41a or the ultraviolet light 41b by the first ultraviolet irradiation device 15a or the second ultraviolet irradiation device 15b in the drawing in one scanning direction. Although the structure which adjusts the illumination intensity of 41a or the ultraviolet light 41b was demonstrated, it is not restricted to this. This is because the easiness of curing by ultraviolet irradiation may not depend on the amount of droplets depending on the type of the ultraviolet curable liquid. For example, when drawing is performed using a liquid material that has different easiness of curing by ultraviolet irradiation in drawing in one scanning direction and drawing in the other scanning direction, the liquid material used for drawing in each scanning direction According to the ease of curing and the amount of droplets, the ultraviolet light 41a or the ultraviolet light 41b that can appropriately cure the liquid material to be irradiated by the first ultraviolet irradiation device 15a or the second ultraviolet irradiation device 15b in the scanning direction. Curing is carried out by adjusting to UV illuminance.

  According to the drawing method of the second embodiment, each of the first ultraviolet irradiation device 15a and the second ultraviolet irradiation device 15b causes the amount of liquid droplets to be discharged in drawing in one scanning direction and the wettability of the liquid used for drawing. In accordance with various characteristics such as the curing characteristics and the like, the liquid material ejected and landed on the work W as a recording medium can be controlled to be cured in a desired state. Accordingly, the liquid liquid to be ejected in the drawing in one scanning direction using the droplet ejection device 1 which has been reduced in cost by employing the small first ultraviolet irradiation device 15a and the second ultraviolet irradiation device 15b. It is possible to provide a drawing method capable of performing a desired drawing by changing the amount of drops or using various liquid materials having different characteristics such as curing characteristics.

  The embodiment of the present invention made by the inventor has been specifically described above, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Is possible.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the first nozzle group is configured to discharge liquid droplets to a region that can be irradiated with ultraviolet rays by the first ultraviolet irradiation device 15a or the second ultraviolet irradiation device 15b in drawing in one scanning direction. A configuration has been described in which the discharge heads 33A and 33B and the discharge heads 33C and 33D constituting the second nozzle group respectively discharge the first droplet 55a and the second droplet 55b having different droplet amounts. (See FIG. 6).
The present invention is not limited to this, and a configuration may be adopted in which droplets are not discharged from either one of the first nozzle group and the second nozzle group of the head unit 13 according to the scanning direction. For example, when drawing while scanning in the forward direction (X (+) direction) side shown in FIG. 6A, the ultraviolet light 41b is emitted by the second ultraviolet irradiation device 15b positioned rearward with respect to the traveling direction of the head unit 13. The liquid droplets are discharged only from the discharge heads 33C and 33D constituting the second nozzle group that can be irradiated with the liquid, and are cured by the ultraviolet light 41b. Next, when drawing while scanning in the backward direction (X (−) direction) side shown in FIG. 6B, the first ultraviolet irradiation device 15 a positioned rearward with respect to the traveling direction of the head unit 13 causes ultraviolet rays to be drawn. Liquid droplets are discharged only from the discharge heads 33A and 33B constituting the first nozzle group that can be irradiated with the light 41a, and are cured by the ultraviolet light 41a.
Or, when drawing while scanning one side and when drawing while scanning the other, droplets are discharged only from one of the first nozzle group and the second nozzle group, Variations in which droplets are ejected from both nozzle groups are also possible. For example, when drawing while scanning in the forward direction (X (+) direction) side shown in FIG. 6A, the ultraviolet light 41b is emitted by the second ultraviolet irradiation device 15b positioned rearward with respect to the traveling direction of the head unit 13. Liquid droplets are ejected only from the ejection heads 33C and 33D constituting the second nozzle group that can be irradiated with the liquid, and a fine drawing pattern is applied and cured by the ultraviolet light 41b. Next, FIG. When drawing while scanning in the backward direction (X (−) direction) side shown in (b), the ejection heads 33A and 33B constituting the first nozzle group and the ejection head 33C constituting the second nozzle group, For example, a large amount of liquid droplets for forming an overcoat layer or the like is discharged from both of 33D, and the first nozzle group is scanned by the ultraviolet light 41a from the first ultraviolet irradiation device 15a during the scanning. The discharged liquid material is cured, and the liquid material discharged from the second nozzle group during the scanning is cured by the second ultraviolet irradiation device 15b in the subsequent scanning in the forward direction (X (+) direction). Do.

  In the second embodiment, the method of adjusting the curing speed of the liquid material discharged onto the work W as a recording medium by changing the ultraviolet illuminance of the first ultraviolet irradiation device 15a and the second ultraviolet irradiation device 15b. explained. The present invention is not limited to this, and the curing speed of the liquid material discharged onto the workpiece W can also be adjusted by adjusting the moving speed of the head unit 13 (carriage 7) during drawing. That is, the slower the moving speed of the head unit 13 (carriage 7), the longer the time during which the liquid is irradiated with ultraviolet light, and thus the curing of the liquid is further promoted.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Droplet discharge apparatus, 3 ... Work conveying apparatus, 7 ... Carriage as a head holding member, 11 ... Carriage conveying apparatus, 13 ... Head unit as a part of head holding member, 15a ... 1st ultraviolet irradiation device, 15b DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2nd ultraviolet irradiation device, 21 ... Surface plate, 21a ... Upper surface, 23a, 23b ... Guide rail, 25 ... Work table, 25a ... Mounting surface, 31 ... Head plate, 31a ... Discharge head holding surface, 32a ... 1st 32b ... second region, 33A to 33D ... discharge head, 35 ... nozzle surface, 37 ... nozzle, 39, 39a-39d ... nozzle row, 41a, 41b ... ultraviolet light, 45a, 45b ... light source, 46 ... Nozzle plate, 47 ... cavity plate, 48 ... vibrating plate, 49 ... piezoelectric element, 51 ... cavity, 53 ... liquid, 55 ... droplet, 55a ... first Drops, 55b ... second drop, 101 ... stand, 103 ... guide rail, 107a, 107a ... support, 111 ... control unit, 113 ... CPU, 115 ... drive control unit, 117 ... memory unit, 119 ... bus, 121 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS ... Carriage conveyance motor, 123 ... Work conveyance motor, 129 ... Input device, 131 ... Display device, 133 ... Input / output interface, 135 ... Program software, 137 ... Data development part, 141 ... Motor control part, 145 ... Discharge control part, 147: first irradiation control unit, 149: second irradiation control unit, 151: display control unit, W: work as a recording medium.

Claims (3)

An ejection head having a plurality of nozzles for ejecting a liquid material having a property of being cured by being irradiated with ultraviolet rays toward a recording medium;
A head holding member for holding the discharge head;
A main scanning direction displacement device for reciprocating the position of the head holding member with respect to the recording medium in a first direction along the main scanning direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction;
A sub-scanning direction displacement device that intermittently changes the position of the recording medium relative to the head holding member in a sub-scanning direction intersecting the main scanning direction;
A first ultraviolet irradiation device and a second ultraviolet irradiation device for irradiating the liquid material discharged to the recording medium with ultraviolet rays, provided on a side surface of the head holding member on the first direction side in the main scanning direction. The first ultraviolet irradiation device provided, and the second ultraviolet irradiation device provided on a side surface of the head holding member on the second direction side,
The first ultraviolet irradiation device and the second ultraviolet irradiation device are arranged so as not to overlap in the main scanning direction,
A plurality of nozzles arranged in a first region overlapping with the first ultraviolet irradiation device in the main scanning direction; and a second nozzle overlapping with the second ultraviolet irradiation device in the main scanning direction. A drawing method using a droplet discharge device arranged separately from a second nozzle group arranged in a region,
In a drawing operation in which the liquid material is discharged from the discharge head toward the recording medium while the head holding member is scanned in the main scanning direction, the first liquid of the liquid material discharged from the first nozzle group A drawing method, wherein a droplet amount is different from a second droplet amount of the liquid material ejected from the second nozzle group. When performing drawing while scanning the head holding member in the first direction, the second droplet amount is made larger than the first droplet amount,
2. The drawing according to claim 1, wherein when the drawing is performed while the head holding member is scanned in the second direction, the first droplet amount is made larger than the second droplet amount. Method.   The drawing method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein ultraviolet illuminance differs between the first ultraviolet irradiation device and the second ultraviolet irradiation device.

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