JP5899929B2 - Printing apparatus and printing apparatus control method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus that performs printing on both front and back surfaces of a recording medium with high work efficiency and a control method for the printing apparatus.

Conventionally, while drawing (printing) on a workpiece in one half of the apparatus, a droplet that performs drawing on the workpiece (recording medium) with a work supply material while performing drawing on the workpiece (recording medium). Discharge devices are known.
This droplet discharge device is fixedly arranged side by side in the main scanning direction, a head unit equipped with a plurality of functional droplet discharge heads, a head moving mechanism for moving the head unit in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction. A pair of work stages on which workpieces are respectively set; a transfer robot that removes material from the workpieces with respect to the pair of work stages; a robot moving mechanism that moves the transfer robot in the main scanning direction; And a control means (control computer) for controlling.
The control means causes the transfer unit to face the other work stage while the head unit faces the one work stage and the drawing is performed on the work, and causes the workpiece to be discharged. By repeating this alternately, a series of drawing processes on the workpiece is continuously performed, and the cycle time in the drawing process is shortened.

JP 2008-225246 A

In such a conventional droplet discharge device, if the work (recording medium) is turned upside down by the transfer robot, printing (drawing) can be performed on both sides of the recording medium. Specifically, assuming that the transfer robot is configured so as to be able to perform the removal process and the reversal process, the transfer robot is configured in the order of the discharge material-moving-removable material-moving-reversing-moving-reversing-moving. On the other hand, the head unit (functional droplet discharge head) is controlled in the order of front surface printing-movement-front surface printing-movement-back surface printing-movement-back surface printing-movement.
However, in such a droplet discharge device, since it is necessary to arrange a pair of work stages side by side in the main scanning direction, the size of the device increases, and along with this increase in size, it takes time to move the transfer robot. It will be. Also, the head unit reciprocates after reaching one work stage, and reciprocates after reaching the other work stage. Therefore, when printing is performed in one direction, the head unit moves in the reverse direction. Movement is a time loss. Therefore, it is assumed that the cycle time cannot be substantially reduced.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus and a control method for the printing apparatus that can reduce the cycle time in a series of printing processes with a simple structure.

  The printing apparatus according to the present invention performs printing on the front and back surfaces of the recording medium while moving the recording medium, and performs printing on the other surface of the recording medium while moving the recording medium backward. A reciprocating printing unit that performs the second printing operation; and a reciprocating printing unit that transfers the recording medium to and from the reciprocating printing unit. And a medium reversing unit for reversing the recording medium, and in the reciprocating feed direction, the supply member is disposed on one end side of the reciprocating printing unit, and the medium reversing unit is reciprocated. It is arrange | positioned at the other edge part side of the printing part, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  According to this configuration, in the reciprocating feed direction, the discharging material portion is disposed on one end side of the reciprocating printing portion, and the medium reversing portion is disposed on the other end side of the reciprocating printing portion. Therefore, for example, the front side printing (first printing operation) can be performed when the recording medium moves forward by the reciprocating printing unit, and the back side printing (second printing operation) can be performed when returning. That is, it is possible to perform printing in any of the reciprocating movements of the recording medium while continuing the discharge medium and the reversing process of the recording medium. Accordingly, there is no time loss in the printing operation, and the cycle time in a series of printing processes can be shortened with a simple structure.

  In this case, a control unit that controls the reciprocating printing unit, the discharge material unit, and the medium reversing unit is further provided, and the control unit performs the first printing operation on any one recording medium. In addition, the front / back reversing operation of the preceding recording medium on which the first printing operation has been performed prior to the recording medium is performed, and when the first printing operation on any one recording medium is completed, the arbitrary 1 Preferably, the recording medium and the preceding recording medium are exchanged between the reciprocating printing unit and the medium reversing unit, and the second printing operation is performed on the preceding recording medium.

  In this case, when the second printing operation for the preceding recording medium is completed, the control unit performs the discharging material operation between the recording medium and the new recording medium between the reciprocating printing unit and the discharging material unit. It is preferable to further carry out.

  According to these configurations, the front / back reversing operation of the recording medium and the discharge material are performed during the printing operation including the first printing operation (for example, front surface printing) and the second printing operation (for example, back surface printing). Since the operation (exchange set) is performed in parallel, the cycle time can be further reduced.

  The medium reversing unit preferably includes a reversing mechanism that reverses the recording medium, and a transfer mechanism that transfers the recording medium between the set table and the reversing mechanism.

  According to this configuration, the recording medium can be turned over and the recording medium can be efficiently transferred. In particular, when the recording medium is a non-rigid medium such as paper or film, the medium reversing unit is configured separately from the reversing mechanism unit and the transfer mechanism unit. Can be reversed and transferred appropriately.

  In addition, the material removal unit includes a material supply unit that stocks a plurality of recording media before printing, a material removal unit that stocks a plurality of recording media after front and back printing, a space between the material supply unit and the set table, and a set table It is preferable that a discharger mechanism part for discharging the recording medium is provided between the storage member and the removaler part.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to efficiently perform the recording medium discharge material for the set table with a simple structure. In addition, you may make it comprise a material removal mechanism part by the material supply mechanism part and material removal mechanism part which become a different body. In such a case, it is possible to efficiently perform the discharge medium for the recording medium in a short time.

  Furthermore, the reciprocating printing unit includes a printing unit that performs printing on the recording medium by an inkjet method, a set table on which the recording medium is set, a medium feeding unit that reciprocates the recording medium via the set table, It is preferable to have.

  According to this configuration, printing can be performed on a recording medium by an inkjet method. In order to print on both the front and back sides of printing on a recording medium, it is preferable to use an ultraviolet curable ink (UV ink) that can cure the ink immediately after printing.

  The control method of the printing apparatus of the present invention includes a first printing operation for printing on one surface of the recording medium while moving the recording medium forward, and a method for controlling the other surface of the recording medium while moving the recording medium backward. A reciprocating printing unit that performs a second printing operation for performing printing, a discharge material unit that discharges a recording medium to the reciprocating printing unit, and a recording medium between the reciprocating printing unit And a medium reversing section for reversing the recording medium, and in the reciprocating feed direction, the discharge material section is disposed on one end side of the reciprocating printing section, and the medium reversing section Is a control method of a printing apparatus disposed on the other end side of the reciprocating printing unit, and is performed on the recording medium while the first printing operation is being performed on any one recording medium. An arbitrary recording medium is obtained by performing a front / back reversing operation of the preceding recording medium on which the first printing operation has been performed in advance. When the first printing operation is completed, any one recording medium and the preceding recording medium are exchanged and set between the reciprocating printing unit and the medium reversing unit. The second printing operation is performed.

  In this case, when the second printing operation for the preceding recording medium is completed, a discharge material operation for the recording medium and the new recording medium is further performed between the reciprocating printing unit and the discharge material unit. It is preferable to do.

  According to these configurations, while performing the printing operation including the first printing operation and the second printing operation, the front / back reversing operation of the recording medium and the discharge material operation (exchange set) are simultaneously performed in parallel. Can be implemented. Therefore, no time loss occurs in the printing operation, the front / back reversing operation, and the discharge material operation, and the cycle time in a series of printing processes can be shortened with a simple structure.

1 is a plan view of an ink jet recording apparatus according to an embodiment. It is a structural diagram of a reversing mechanism. It is a block diagram of the control system of an inkjet recording device. It is explanatory drawing which represented the control method of the inkjet recording apparatus in order, Comprising: The figure (a) of "initial state", the figure (b) of "feeding material", and the figure (c) of "material removal after surface printing" ). FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the control method of the ink jet recording apparatus in order, and is a diagram (d) of “second sheet supply”, a diagram (e) of “second sheet front surface printing”, and a “back surface printing medium”. It is a figure (f) of "material supply." It is explanatory drawing which represented the control method of the inkjet recording apparatus later on, Comprising: The figure (g) of "back side printing", and the figure (h) of "material removal".

  Hereinafter, an inkjet recording apparatus to which a printing apparatus and a control method thereof according to an embodiment of the present invention are applied will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. This inkjet recording apparatus prints a desired image or the like (decorative printing) on both the front and back surfaces of a thin film-like recording medium by discharging ultraviolet curable ink (UV ink) by an inkjet method. In the following description, the recording medium feeding direction is defined as the X-axis direction, and the direction orthogonal to the X-axis direction is defined as the Y-axis direction.

  FIG. 1 is a plan view of the ink jet recording apparatus. As shown in FIG. 1, the ink jet recording apparatus 1 performs printing on the surface of the recording medium W while moving it in the X-axis direction, and moves it backward. The recording medium W is transferred between the reciprocating printing unit 2 that performs printing on the back surface thereof, the discharger unit 3 that discharges the recording medium W to the reciprocating printing unit 2, and the reciprocating printing unit 2. And a medium reversing unit 4 for reversing the recording medium W and a control unit 5 (see FIG. 3) for overall control of the inkjet recording apparatus 1. With respect to the reciprocating printing unit 2, the discharge material unit 3 is disposed on one end side in the X-axis direction (the front side in the figure), and the medium reversing unit 4 is one end in the X-axis direction. It is arranged on the side (the back side in the figure).

  The recording medium W fed from the material removal unit 3 moves (forwards) toward the medium reversing unit 4 by the reciprocating printing unit 2 and prints on the surface side during that time (first printing operation: hereinafter, "Surface printing") is performed. When the surface printing is completed and the recording medium W reaches the medium reversing unit 4, the recording medium W is reversed from the front and back by the medium reversing unit 4. The reversed recording medium W is moved (returned) by the reciprocating printing unit 2 toward the discharge material unit 3 and printed on the back side (second printing operation: hereinafter referred to as “back side printing”). .) Is performed. When the printing on the back surface is completed and the recording medium W reaches the discharger unit 3, the discharger unit 3 removes the recording medium W that has been printed on the front and back sides. In addition, you may perform from a back surface printing previously.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the reciprocating printing unit 2 reciprocates the recording medium W in the X-axis direction via the work stage 11 (set table) that sucks and sets the supplied recording medium W and the work stage 11. The X-axis table 12 that moves (line feed: sub-scan), the carriage unit 13 that mounts the plurality of inkjet heads 14 that discharge UV ink, and the plurality of inkjet heads 14 in the Y-axis direction via the carriage unit 13 A feed (main scan) Y-axis table 15. The Y-axis table 15 is bridged in the Y-axis direction so as to straddle the X-axis table 12, and the carriage unit 13 supported by the Y-axis table 15 is placed on the recording medium W set on the work stage 11 from above. It comes to face. The “printing unit” referred to in the claims is composed of a carriage unit 13 (a plurality of inkjet heads 14) and a Y-axis table 15, and the “medium feeding unit” is composed of an X-axis table 12.

  The reciprocating printing unit 2 includes an ink supply device (not shown) for supplying UV ink to each inkjet head 14 and a maintenance device 17 for maintaining and recovering the function of each inkjet head 14. I have. The maintenance device 17 is disposed in a maintenance area that is deviated in the Y-axis direction from the area where the X-axis table 12 and the Y-axis table 15 intersect, and maintenance such as suction and wiping of the inkjet head 14 facing the maintenance area. I do. In addition, the code | symbol 18 in FIG. 1 is a cable bear (trademark) which accommodates the ink tube, various cables, etc. which are connected to each inkjet head 14. FIG.

  In the reciprocating printing unit 2, after the recording medium W is sucked and set on the work stage 11, the X-axis table 12 feeds the recording medium W through the work stage 11 on the basis of the print data in the X-axis direction. Scanning) and ejecting ink from the inkjet head 14 while reciprocating (main scanning) the carriage unit 13 with the Y-axis table 15 on the recording medium W, thereby performing desired printing.

  Further, the X-axis table 12 includes a discharge material standby position where the work stage 11 faces the discharge material unit 3 for discharge material of the recording medium W, and a medium reversing unit 4 for reversing the recording medium W. Move to and from the reverse standby position to face. In actual operation, the X-axis table 12 first moves the work stage 11 to the discharge material standby position, and when it receives the supply of the recording medium W, it moves the print stage W to the print start position at high speed. Subsequently, the work stage 11 is fed to a new line in actual printing from the printing start position to the printing end position. Next, the work stage 11 is fed at high speed from the printing end position to the reverse standby position. Further, in reverse order, the X-axis table 12 moves the work stage 11 to the reverse standby position, the print end position (in this case, the print start position), the print start position (in this case, the print end position), and the discharge material standby position. Move (send) in this order.

  The carriage unit 13 includes a carriage 21 suspended and supported by the bridge plate 19 of the Y-axis table 15, a plurality of inkjet heads 14 mounted on the carriage 21, and a pair of ultraviolet rays mounted on both ends of the carriage 21 in the Y-axis direction. And an irradiation device 22. The ink used in the present embodiment is a so-called UV ink, and recording is performed in advance by turning on each pair of ultraviolet irradiation devices 22 mounted on the carriage 21 in synchronization with the main scanning (although it can be always turned on). The UV ink discharged and landed on the medium W is cured and fixed.

  Each inkjet head 14 is driven to be ejected by a piezoelectric element, and has a plurality of nozzle rows (not shown) for each color extending in the X-axis direction. For example, cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), black (K), orange (Or), green (Gr), light magenta (LM), light cyan (LC), UV ink such as white (W) or clear (CL) is ejected.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the material removal unit 3 includes an X-axis table 12 corresponding to the supply unit 31 disposed so as to be attached to the left side of the X-axis table 12 and the supply unit 31. A material removal part 32 arranged so as to be attached to the right side of the front side, and a material removal material mechanism part 33 arranged so as to pass over the X-axis table 12 to the material supply part 31 and the material removal part 32, have. A plurality of recording media W before printing are stored in the material supply unit 31 so as to overlap each other, and the material supply mechanism unit 33 supplies material to the work stage 11 one by one from the uppermost recording medium W. To do. On the other hand, the material removal unit 32 stocks a plurality of recording media W printed on the front and back sides, and the material removal mechanism unit 33 stocks the recording media W removed from the work stage 11 so as to overlap.

  The discharge material mechanism unit 33 includes a suction head 35 that sucks the recording medium W from the upper side, a support arm 36 that supports the suction head 35 from the upper side, and the support head 36 through the suction arm 35. It has a removal material moving mechanism 37 that moves between the work stage 11 and the material removal portion 32. The basic operation of the discharge material mechanism unit 33 is to suck the printed recording medium W from the work stage 11 by the suction head 35 (at this time, the work stage 11 is sucked OFF) and move it to the material removal unit 32. It is transferred to the material removal unit 32. Next, the suction head 35 is moved to the material supply unit 31, and the recording medium W before printing is suctioned by the material supply unit 31. Next, the recording medium W is moved to the work stage 11, and the recording medium W is moved to the workpiece. It is transferred to the stage 11 (the work stage 11 is sucked ON). Although not shown in the drawing, it is preferable to incorporate an elevating mechanism that elevates and lowers the suction head 35 into the supply material mechanism unit 33. Instead of this, an elevating mechanism may be incorporated in the material supply unit 31, the material removal unit 32, and the work stage 11.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the medium reversing unit 4 is disposed so as to pass to the reversing mechanism unit 41 disposed so as to be attached to the rear end of the X-axis table 12, and to the reversing mechanism unit 41 and the X-axis table 12. The transfer mechanism unit 42 is provided.

  Similar to the above-described supply / removal material mechanism unit 33, the transfer mechanism unit 42 includes a suction head 45 that sucks the recording medium W from above, a support arm 46 that supports the suction head 45 from above, and a support arm 46. And a transfer moving mechanism 47 that moves the suction head 45 between the work stage 11 and the reversing mechanism unit 41. The basic operation of the transfer mechanism unit 42 is that the surface side is printed by the suction head 45 and the recording medium W is sucked from the work stage 11 (at this time, the suction is turned off to the work stage 11) and moved to the reversing mechanism unit 41. While being transferred to the reversing mechanism unit 41, the recording medium W reversed by the reversing mechanism unit 41 is moved to the work stage 11, and is transferred to the work stage 11 (the work stage 11 is sucked ON). Also in this case, it is preferable to incorporate an elevating mechanism for elevating and lowering the suction head 45 in the supply material mechanism unit 33. Instead of this, an elevating mechanism may be incorporated in the reversing mechanism 41 and the work stage 11.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the reversing mechanism unit 41 includes a machine base 51, a reversing unit 52 disposed on the machine base 51 and reversing the recording medium W, and the machine base 51 and the reversing unit 52. And a unit moving mechanism 53 interposed therebetween.
The unit moving mechanism 53 is provided on the machine base 51, and is disposed in a gap between the pair of guide rails 55, 55 that supports the reversing unit 52 so as to be slidable in the Y-axis direction, and the pair of guide rails 55, 55. The lead screw mechanism 56 includes a motor 58 that is coupled to the end of the ball screw 57 of the lead screw mechanism 56 and rotates the ball screw 57 forward and backward. A female screw member 59 that is screwed into the ball screw 57 is fixed to the lower surface of the reversing unit 52.

  When the motor 58 is driven forward / reversely, the reversing unit 52 causes a medium supply position where a movable plate 64 described below is positioned directly below the suction head 45 and a medium removal material where a fixed plate 63 described below is positioned directly below the suction head 45. Move between the positions. At the medium supply position, the transfer mechanism unit 42 transfers the surface-printed recording medium W from the work stage 11 to the reversing unit 52 (movable plate 64). At the medium removal position, the transfer mechanism unit 42 transfers the reversed recording medium W from the reversing unit 52 (fixed plate 63) to the work stage 11. The reversing operation of the recording medium W by the reversing unit 52 is performed at the medium supply position.

  The reversing unit 52 includes a base plate 61 slidably supported by a pair of guide rails 55, 55, a fixed plate 63 and a movable plate 64 that are disposed on the base plate 61 and connected in the Y-axis direction via a hinge 62. And a reverse rotation mechanism 65 that rotates the movable plate 64 around the hinge 62 in the manner of turning the page with respect to the fixed plate 63. The reverse rotation mechanism 65 is constituted by, for example, a rotary actuator, and rotates at an angle of 180 ° between a deployment position where the movable plate 64 is deployed horizontally with respect to the fixed plate 63 and a superimposed position overlapping the fixed plate 63. Let

  The fixed plate 63 and the movable plate 64 are constituted by a porous suction plate that is slightly larger than the recording medium W, for example. When the recording medium W is fed (transferred) onto the movable plate 64 by the transfer mechanism unit 42 at the unfolded position where the fixed plate 63 and the movable plate 64 are horizontally aligned, the movable plate 64 adsorbs the recording medium W (transfer). At this time, the suction head 45 releases suction OFF). Next, the reverse rotation mechanism 65 is driven to rotate the movable plate 64 that has attracted the recording medium W to the overlapping position in the manner of turning pages. When the movable plate 64 rotates to the overlapping position, the suction of the movable plate 64 is turned off, and at the same time, the suction of the fixed plate 63 is turned on, and the recording medium W is delivered from the movable plate 64 to the fixed plate 63. Thereafter, the movable plate 64 is rotated and returned from the superimposed position to the deployed position by the reverse procedure. By such an operation, the recording medium W on which the front surface has been printed is reversed.

Next, the control system of the inkjet recording apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The control system basically includes a drive unit 6 having various drivers for driving the inkjet head 14, the X-axis table 12, the Y-axis table 15, the maintenance device 17, the discharge material unit 3, the medium reversing unit 4, and the like. And a control unit 5 that comprehensively controls the entire inkjet recording apparatus 1 including the drive unit 6.
The drive unit 6 is a head driver 71 that controls the ejection drive of the inkjet head 14, a print movement driver 72 that controls the drive of the X-axis table 12 and the Y-axis table 15, and a maintenance driver that controls the drive of the maintenance device 17. A driver 73, a discharger driver 74 that controls driving of the discharger unit 3, and a reversing driver 75 that controls driving of the medium reversing unit 4 are provided.

  The control unit 5 includes a CPU 81, a ROM 82, a RAM 83, and a P-CON 84, which are connected to each other via a bus 85. The ROM 82 has a control program area for storing a control program to be processed by the CPU 81 and a control data area for storing control data for performing a printing process, a maintenance process, a discharge material process, a reversal process, and the like. .

In the RAM 83, in addition to various register groups, a print data storage unit that stores print data for discharging UV ink to the recording medium W, a position data storage unit that stores position data of the recording medium and the inkjet head 14, and the like Are used as various work areas for control processing.
Various drivers of the drive unit 6 are connected to the P-CON 84, and a logic circuit for supplementing the function of the CPU 81 and handling interface signals with peripheral circuits is incorporated.

  The CPU 81 inputs various detection signals, various commands, various data, etc. via the P-CON 84 in accordance with the control program in the ROM 82, processes the various data, etc. in the RAM 83, and then drives via the P-CON 84. The entire inkjet recording apparatus 1 is controlled by outputting various control signals to the unit 6 and the like. For example, the CPU 81 controls the inkjet head 14, the X-axis table 12, and the Y-axis table 15 to perform printing on the recording medium W under predetermined ink discharge conditions and predetermined movement conditions. Further, the CPU 81 controls the supply material unit 3 to perform the supply material processing of the recording medium W, and controls the medium reversing unit 4 to execute the reversal processing of the recording medium W.

Here, with reference to FIG. 4 thru | or FIG. 6, the control method of the inkjet recording device 1 by said control part 5 is demonstrated.
FIG. 4A shows the “initial state”. In the initial state, the work stage 11 is moved to the discharge material standby position. Further, in the discharge material section 3, the suction head 35 is at the home position, and in the medium reversing section 4, the reversing unit 52 is at the medium supply position, and the suction head 45 is at the home position. Furthermore, the carriage unit 13 is at the home position and is in a print standby state.

  FIG. 4B shows the “feeding” process. In the supply of the recording medium W, the suction head 35 of the discharge material mechanism unit 33 moves directly above the supply unit 31 and sucks the recording medium W from the supply unit 31. Subsequently, the suction head 35 moves directly above the work stage 11 and feeds the recording medium W to the work stage 11. In the work stage 11, after the recording medium W is adsorbed, the recording medium W is aligned. After the alignment, the work stage 11 moves from the supply material standby position to the print start position.

  FIG. 4C shows the process of “removal after surface printing”. In this process, the X-axis table 12 feeds the recording medium W (work stage 11) from the printing start position to the printing end position, and the Y-axis table 15 and the plurality of inkjet heads 14 cooperate to record the recording medium. Surface printing on W is performed. When the front surface printing is completed, the work stage 11 is sent from the printing end position to the reverse standby position. Here, the transfer mechanism unit 42 is driven, and the suction head transfers the recording medium W on the work stage 11 to the reversing mechanism unit 41.

  In the reversing mechanism unit 41, the reversing unit 52 is at the medium supply position, and in the reversing mechanism unit 41 that has received the recording medium W, the reversing rotation mechanism 65 is driven to reverse the recording medium W upside down. In other words, the movable plate 64 that has received the transfer of the recording medium W rotates after the suction of the recording medium W, and delivers the recording medium W to the fixed plate 63 in an inverted state. On the other hand, while performing a series of reversal operations in this way, the material supply unit 3 supplies a second recording medium W, which will be described later, and then the second recording medium. W surface printing is performed.

  FIG. 5D shows the process of “second sheet supply”. In this process, immediately after the first recording medium W is transferred from the work stage 11 to the reversing mechanism unit 41, the work stage 11 is moved (returned) from the reversal standby position to the discharge material standby position. Here, similarly to the above-described “feeding” step, the second recording medium W is fed from the feeding unit 31 to the work stage 11.

  FIG. 5E shows a process of “second sheet front printing”. In this step, similarly to the above, after the second recording medium W is moved from the discharger standby position to the printing start position, the recording medium W (work stage 11) is fed to a plurality of ink jets while feeding the line feed. Surface printing on the recording medium W is performed by the head 14.

  As described above, the “second sheet feeding” and “second sheet front printing” and the reversing operation of the first recording medium W are performed in parallel. Therefore, at this time, the first recording medium W is reversed and transferred from the movable plate 64 to the fixed plate 63, and the reversing unit 52 on which these are mounted is at the medium supply position. On the other hand, the second recording medium W has moved to the reverse standby position via the work stage 11 after surface printing.

  FIG. 5F shows the process of “backside printing medium supply”. In this step, first, the transfer mechanism unit 42 is driven, and the suction head transfers the second recording medium W on the work stage 11 onto the movable plate 64 of the reversing mechanism unit 41. Subsequently, the unit moving mechanism 53 is driven to move the reversing unit 52 from the medium supply position to the medium removal position. Here, the transfer mechanism unit 42 is driven again, and the first recording medium W on the fixed plate 63 is transferred to the work stage 11. In the work stage 11, the alignment of the first recording medium W is performed.

  FIG. 6G shows the process of “back side printing”. In this step, the first recording medium W is moved from the reverse standby position to the printing start position in the backward movement, and then the first recording medium W (work stage 11) is fed to the plurality of ink jets while feeding the line feed. Back printing on the recording medium W is performed by the head 14. Then, when the back side printing is completed, the first recording medium W (work stage 11) is moved to the discharged material standby position. During this period, the medium reversing unit 4 performs the reversing operation of the second recording medium W.

  FIG. 6 (h) shows the “material removal” step. In this step, material removal from the first recording medium W and subsequent feeding of the third recording medium W are performed. That is, the material removal mechanism unit 33 is driven, and the first recording medium W on the work stage 11 is removed from the material removal unit 32. Subsequently, the third recording medium W is sucked from the material supply unit 31 and supplied to the work stage 11.

  As described above, the work process has been described focusing on the feeding, front surface printing, front / back reversal, back surface printing, and material removal on the first recording medium W from the initial state. During the surface printing on the nth recording medium W, the front and back of the (n-1) th recording medium W was reversed, and the surface printing on the nth recording medium W was completed. Incidentally, the nth recording medium W and the (n−1) th recording medium W are exchanged and set between the work stage 11 and the medium reversing unit 4. Furthermore, while the back side printing of the (n−1) th recording medium W is performed, the removal of the (n−1) th recording medium W and the feeding of the (n + 1) th recording medium W are performed. In addition, the front / back inversion of the previous nth recording medium W is performed. That is, the steps from FIG. 5D to FIG. 5H are continuously repeated.

  As described above, the work stage 11 is involved in the printing operation as well as the discharge material operation and the replacement setting operation during both the forward movement (front surface printing) and the backward movement (back surface printing). Therefore, no time loss occurs in the printing operation, the front / back reversing operation, and the discharge material operation, and the cycle time in a series of printing processes can be shortened with a simple structure.

  Although the so-called serial printer has been described in the present embodiment, it goes without saying that the present invention can also be applied to a line printer. Of course, it can also be applied to a thermal printer. Moreover, you may comprise the material removal mechanism part 33 with the material supply robot and material removal robot which were made into a different body. In such a case, the material supply operation and the material removal operation can be partially overlapped, and the cycle time can be further reduced.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Inkjet recording device, 2 Reciprocating printing part, 3 Discharge material part, 4 Medium inversion part, 5 Control part, 11 Work stage, 12 X-axis table, 13 Carriage unit, 14 Inkjet head, 1531 Feeding part, 32 Material removal section, 33 Material removal mechanism section, 41 Reverse mechanism section, 42 Transfer mechanism section, 81 CPU, W Recording medium

Claims (8)

A first printing operation for printing on one surface of the recording medium while moving the recording medium, and a second printing for performing printing on the other surface of the recording medium while moving the recording medium backward A reciprocating printing unit for performing the operation,
To the reciprocating printing unit, a discharging material unit for discharging the recording medium,
A medium reversing unit that transfers the recording medium to and from the reciprocating printing unit, and reverses the recording medium.
In the reciprocating feed direction, the discharging material portion is disposed on one end side of the reciprocating printing portion, and the medium reversing portion is disposed on the other end side of the reciprocating printing portion. The printing apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. A control unit for controlling the reciprocating printing unit, the discharging material unit, and the medium reversing unit;
The control unit performs the preceding recording in which the first printing operation is performed prior to the recording medium while the first printing operation is performed on any one of the recording media. Perform the media upside down operation,
When the first printing operation on any one of the recording media is completed, any one of the recording media and the preceding recording medium are connected to each other between the reciprocating printing unit and the medium reversing unit. Set in exchange,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising performing the second printing operation on the preceding recording medium.   The control unit, when the second printing operation for the preceding recording medium is completed, between the reciprocating printing unit and the discharge material unit, between the recording medium and the new recording medium. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a discharge material operation. The medium reversing unit is
A reversing mechanism for reversing the recording medium, and
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a transfer mechanism unit that transfers the recording medium between the movable plate and the reversing mechanism. The discharger part is
A material supply unit for stocking a plurality of the recording media before printing;
A material removal part for stocking a plurality of the recording media after front and back printing,
A discharger mechanism unit that discharges the recording medium between the supply unit and the reciprocating printing unit, and between the reciprocating printing unit and the removing unit. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus is a printer. The reciprocating printing unit is
A printing unit that prints on the recording medium by an inkjet method;
6. A medium feeding unit having a work stage for setting the recording medium and reciprocating the recording medium through the work stage. Printing device. A first printing operation for printing on one surface of the recording medium while moving the recording medium, and a second printing for performing printing on the other surface of the recording medium while moving the recording medium backward A reciprocating printing unit for performing the operation,
To the reciprocating printing unit, a discharging material unit for discharging the recording medium,
A medium reversing unit that transfers the recording medium to and from the reciprocating printing unit, and reverses the recording medium.
In the reciprocating feed direction, the discharging material portion is disposed on one end side of the reciprocating printing portion, and the medium reversing portion is disposed on the other end side of the reciprocating printing portion. A control method for a printing apparatus,
While performing the first printing operation on any one of the recording media, the front-to-back reversing operation of the preceding recording medium in which the first printing operation was performed prior to the recording medium Carried out
When the first printing operation on any one of the recording media is completed, any one of the recording media and the preceding recording medium are connected to each other between the reciprocating printing unit and the medium reversing unit. Set in exchange,
Furthermore, the control method of a printing apparatus, wherein the second printing operation is performed on the preceding recording medium.   When the second printing operation for the preceding recording medium is completed, a discharging material operation between the recording medium and the new recording medium is performed between the reciprocating printing unit and the discharging material unit. The method according to claim 7, further implemented.

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