JP6780321B2 - Printing equipment and printing method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a printing method.

Printing devices that print on sheet-shaped recording media are known (see, for example, Patent Document 1, Patent Document 2, and Patent Document 3). The printing apparatus is configured such that ink is supplied from an ink cartridge filled with ink.

By the way, in recent years, the tendency of darkening ink has increased. Therefore, the ink contains a relatively high proportion of poorly soluble components. Depending on the conditions, this poorly soluble component may be deposited as a sediment in the ink cartridge. In this case, for example, there is a possibility that color unevenness may occur in printing, that is, a region where the color is light and a region where the color is dark even if the color is the same.

Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 disclose that a member for stirring ink is installed in an ink cartridge. In this case, the printing apparatus may not be able to use the conventional ink cartridge in which the member for stirring is not installed.

Patent Document 3 discloses that the ink cartridge is shaken in order to stir the ink. In this case, the printing apparatus needs to secure a large allowable swing range of the ink cartridge corresponding to the size of the ink cartridge in order to prevent interference between the swinging ink cartridge and surrounding devices. , The device configuration becomes large-scale.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2006-326929 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-240687 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-237219

An object of the present invention is a printing apparatus capable of using a conventional bag containing ink as it is, and reliably preventing sediment accumulation in the bag with the simplest possible configuration. To provide a printing method.

Such an object is achieved by the following invention.
The printing apparatus of the present invention includes a holding portion for holding a bag having a soft storage portion for storing ink used for printing and a discharge port for discharging the ink.
A stirring unit for stirring the ink is provided.
The holding portion is configured to hold the bag in a posture in which the storage portion is tilted in the horizontal direction and the discharge port is arranged below the storage portion in the tilting direction.
The stirring portion is characterized by having a pressing portion that deforms the storage portion by pressing the storage portion from the lower side to the upper side in the inclination direction in the posture.

As a result, even if sediment is generated in the storage portion, or before the sediment is generated, the storage portion is pressed from the outside by the pressing portion, so that the accumulation of sediment can be reliably prevented. it can. Further, since the pressing portion has a simple structure of pressing the storage portion from the outside, the conventional bag in which the ink is stored can be used as it is.

In the printing apparatus of the present invention, the pressing portion has a shaft portion that is rotatably supported and at least one rotational pressing portion that is arranged eccentrically from the rotation center of the shaft portion and rotates together with the shaft portion. ,
It is preferable that the rotary pressing portion deforms the storage portion a plurality of times by repeatedly approaching and separating from the storage portion.

As a result, the ink can be continuously agitated, which contributes to the elimination of sediment.

In the printing apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable that the rotation pressing portion stops rotating at a position separated from the storage portion.

As a result, when the bag is emptied, the replacement work can be easily performed when the empty bag is replaced with a new bag.

In the printing apparatus of the present invention, the pressing portion has two rotational pressing portions.
It is preferable that the two rotary pressing portions are arranged apart from each other in the axial direction.

As a result, the ink is agitated by receiving a force between the two rotary pressing portions in the accommodating portion, and thus the agitation efficiency is improved.

In the printing apparatus of the present invention, the pressing portion has two rotational pressing portions.
It is preferable that the two rotary pressing portions are arranged on opposite sides of each other via the rotation center of the shaft portion.

As a result, the storage portion is pressed twice from the lower side in the inclination direction toward the upper side while the shaft portion makes one rotation around the center of rotation, thereby improving the stirring efficiency.

In the printing apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable that the rotary pressing portion is composed of a roller.
As a result, the rotary pressing portion can smoothly push forward on the storage portion. As a result, the friction between the rotary pressing portion and the accommodating portion is reduced, and thus damage or damage to the accommodating portion during pressing can be prevented.

In the printing apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable that the pressing portion has a portion that expands due to the supply of the working fluid and contracts due to the discharge of the working fluid.

As a result, the ink can be agitated reliably, which contributes to the elimination of sediment.

In the printing apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable that the stirring unit is configured so that the stirring conditions for the ink differ depending on the type of the ink.
This makes it possible to perform stirring suitable for various inks (prone to form of sediment).

In the printing apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable that the stirring unit has a position changing unit that changes the position of the pressing unit with respect to the storage unit according to the remaining amount of the ink in the storage unit.
As a result, the ink can be reliably agitated regardless of the amount of the remaining amount of ink.

In the printing apparatus of the present invention, the inclination angle of the storage portion in the holding portion with respect to the horizontal direction is preferably 20 degrees or more and 70 degrees or less.

Thereby, for example, the ink can be reliably discharged from the discharge port, and thus the ink can be used up.

The printing method of the present invention includes a printing process for printing.
In the printing step, a holding portion for holding a bag having a soft storage portion for storing the ink used for printing, a discharge port for discharging the ink, and a stirring portion for stirring the ink are provided. The holding portion is configured to tilt the storage portion in the horizontal direction and hold the bag in a posture in which the discharge port is arranged below the storage portion in the tilting direction. The unit uses a printing device having a pressing unit that deforms the storage unit by pressing the storage unit from the lower side to the upper side in the tilting direction in the posture.
During the printing process, the pressing portion is operated to stir the ink.

As a result, even if sediment is generated in the storage portion, or before the sediment is generated, the storage portion is pressed from the outside by the pressing portion, so that the accumulation of sediment can be reliably prevented. it can. Further, since the pressing portion has a simple structure of pressing the storage portion from the outside, the conventional bag in which the ink is stored can be used as it is.

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing a first embodiment of the printing apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a main part of the printing apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the relationship between the inkjet head of the printing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 and the ink cartridge. FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing the relationship between the ink cartridge and the stirring unit. FIG. 5 is a vertical partial cross-sectional view showing the operating states of the stirring unit shown in FIG. 4 in order. FIG. 6 is a vertical partial cross-sectional view showing the operating states of the stirring unit shown in FIG. 4 in order. FIG. 7 is a vertical partial cross-sectional view showing the operating states of the stirring unit shown in FIG. 4 in order. FIG. 8 is a vertical partial cross-sectional view showing the operating states of the stirring unit shown in FIG. 4 in order. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a control program stored in the printing apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 10 is a graph showing a change over time in the rotation speed of the rotation pressing portion in the stirring portion shown in FIG. FIG. 11 is a graph showing a change over time in the rotation speed of the rotation pressing portion in the stirring portion provided in the printing apparatus (second embodiment) of the present invention. FIG. 12 is a schematic view showing a stirring unit included in the printing apparatus (third embodiment) of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a schematic view showing a stirring unit included in the printing apparatus (fourth embodiment) of the present invention. FIG. 14 is a schematic view showing a stirring unit included in the printing apparatus (fifth embodiment) of the present invention. FIG. 15 is a vertical partial cross-sectional view showing in order the operating states of the stirring unit included in the printing apparatus (sixth embodiment) of the present invention. FIG. 16 is a vertical partial cross-sectional view showing in order the operating states of the stirring unit included in the printing apparatus (sixth embodiment) of the present invention. FIG. 17 is a vertical partial cross-sectional view showing in order the operating states of the stirring unit included in the printing apparatus (sixth embodiment) of the present invention. FIG. 18 is a vertical partial cross-sectional view showing in order the operating states of the stirring unit included in the printing apparatus (sixth embodiment) of the present invention. FIG. 19 is a schematic perspective view showing the relationship between the ink cartridge and the stirring unit in the printing apparatus (7th embodiment) of the present invention.

Hereinafter, the printing apparatus and printing method of the present invention will be described in detail based on the preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing a first embodiment of the printing apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a main part of the printing apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the relationship between the inkjet head of the printing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 and the ink cartridge. FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing the relationship between the ink cartridge and the stirring unit. 5 to 8 are vertical partial cross-sectional views showing the operating states of the stirring unit shown in FIG. 4, respectively. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a control program stored in the printing apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 10 is a graph showing a change over time in the rotation speed of the rotation pressing portion in the stirring portion shown in FIG. In the following, for convenience of explanation, the depth direction of the paper surface in FIG. 1 is referred to as "X direction", the left-right direction is referred to as "Y direction", and the vertical direction is referred to as "Z direction". Further, the coordinate axes in FIGS. 3 to 8 and 12 to 19 correspond to the coordinate axes in FIG. 1, respectively. Further, the upper side in FIGS. 1, 4 to 8 and 12 to 19 may be referred to as "upper" or "upper", and the lower side may be referred to as "lower" or "lower".

The printing apparatus 1 of the present invention includes a holding unit 6 for holding a bag, which is an ink cartridge 19, and a stirring unit 7 for stirring the ink IK in the ink cartridge 19. The ink cartridge 19 is a bag having a soft storage portion 191 in which ink IK used for printing is stored and an discharge port 192 in which ink IK is discharged. The holding portion 6 tilts the storage portion 191 of the ink cartridge 19 with respect to the horizontal direction (XY plane), and arranges the ink cartridge 19 (bag) in a posture in which the discharge port 192 is arranged below the storage portion 191 in the tilt direction. It is configured to hold. Further, the stirring unit 7 has a pressing unit 8 that deforms the storage unit 191 by pressing the storage unit 191 from the lower side to the upper side in the inclination direction in the above posture.

The printing method of the present invention includes a printing step of performing printing. In this printing step, the printing apparatus 1 of the present invention is used. Further, during the printing process, the pressing unit 8 of the printing device 1 (stirring unit 7) is operated to stir the ink IK.

According to the present invention, as will be described later, even if a sediment is generated in the storage portion 191 of the ink cartridge 19, or before the sediment is generated, the storage portion 191 is pressed from the outside by the pressing portion 8. With a simple structure of pressing, the accumulation of sediment can be reliably prevented. Further, since the pressing portion 8 has a simple structure of pressing the storage portion 191 from the outside, the conventional ink cartridge 19 in which the ink IK is stored can be used as it is.

The configuration of each part will be described below.
The printing device 1 is a printing device that prints on the work W while conveying the work W as a recording medium. In the present embodiment, the direction orthogonal to the transport direction for transporting the work W is the X direction, the direction parallel to the transport direction is the Y direction, and the directions orthogonal to the X direction and the Y direction are the Z directions.

As shown in FIG. 1, the printing apparatus 1 includes a machine base 11, a transport unit 12 for transporting the work W, a printing unit 13 for applying ink IK on the work W to perform printing, and ink on the work W. A drying unit 16 for drying the IK and a control unit 15 for controlling the operation of each of these units are provided. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the printing apparatus 1 includes a moving unit 14 for moving the printing unit 13, a stirring unit 7 for stirring the ink IK, and an input operation for inputting and setting various conditions at the time of printing. It further includes a unit 18. Further, in the printing device 1, the control unit 15 is electrically connected to the external power supply source 200.

The transport unit 12 is arranged on a machine base 11 and is arranged on a feeding device 3 for feeding out a long work W wound in a roll shape, a winding device 4 for winding a printed work W, and at the time of printing. A support device 5 for supporting the work W is provided.

The feeding device 3 is arranged on the upstream side of the work W in the feeding direction (Y direction) of the machine base 11. In the feeding device 3, the work W is wound in a roll shape, and the delivery roller (feeding reel) 31 that feeds the work W, and the tensioner 32 that applies tension to the work W between the delivery roller 31 and the support device 5. And have. A motor (not shown) is connected to the delivery roller 31, and the delivery roller 31 can be rotated by the operation of the motor.

Further, as the work W, a printing material can be used. The printing material refers to the fabric, clothes, and other clothing products to be printed. The fabric includes natural fibers such as cotton, silk and wool, chemical fibers such as nylon, and composite fiber woven fabrics, knitted fabrics and non-woven fabrics mixed thereto. In addition, clothing and other clothing products include furniture such as T-shirts, handkerchiefs, scarves, towels, handbags, cloth bags, curtains, sheets, bedspreads, etc. after sewing, as well as parts in the state before sewing. It also includes the fabrics before and after cutting that exist as.

As the work W, in addition to the above-mentioned printing material, plain paper, high-quality paper, glossy paper, or other special paper for inkjet recording can be used. The work W includes, for example, a plastic film that has not been surface-treated for inkjet printing, that is, has not formed an ink absorbing layer, and a base material such as paper coated with plastic and plastic. Those to which a film is adhered can also be used. The plastic is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polystyrene, polyurethane, polyethylene, and polypropylene.

The take-up device 4 is arranged on the downstream side of the work W in the feed direction (Y direction) with respect to the take-out device 3. The winding device 4 includes a winding roller (winding reel) 41 that winds the work W in a roll shape, and a tensioner 42, a tensioner 43, and a tensioner that apply tension to the work W between the winding roller 41 and the support device 5. It has 44 and. A motor (not shown) is connected to the take-up roller 41, and the take-up roller 41 can be rotated by the operation of the motor. The tensioners 42 to 44 are arranged at intervals in this order in the direction away from the take-up roller 41, respectively.

The support device 5 is arranged between the feeding device 3 and the winding device 4. The support device 5 includes a driving roller 51 and a driven roller 52 arranged apart from each other in the Y direction, an endless belt 53 spanned between the driving roller 51 and the driven roller 52, and a driving roller 51 and a driven roller 52. It has a tensioner 54 and a tensioner 55 that apply tension to the work W between them.

A motor (not shown) is connected to the main roller 51, and the main roller 51 can be rotated by the operation of the motor. Further, the driven roller 52 can rotate in conjunction with the driven roller 51 by transmitting the rotational force of the driven roller 51 via the endless belt 53.

The endless belt 53 is a glue belt on which an adhesive layer having adhesiveness is formed on the front surface thereof. A part of the work W is adhesively fixed to this adhesive layer and conveyed in the Y direction. Then, during this transfer, the work W is printed. Further, after printing is performed, the work W is peeled off from the endless belt 53.

The tensioner 54 and the tensioner 55 are also arranged apart from each other in the Y direction, like the main roller 51 and the driven roller 52.

The tensioner 54 can sandwich the work W with the driven roller 51 together with the endless belt 53, and the tensioner 55 can sandwich the work W with the driven roller 52 together with the endless belt 53. As a result, the work W tensioned by the tensioner 54 and the tensioner 55 is fixed to the endless belt 53 and conveyed while the tension is applied. In such a state, the work W is prevented from being wrinkled, for example, during transportation, and therefore, when printing is performed, the printing is accurate and of high quality.

The printing unit 13 includes a carriage unit 131 equipped with an inkjet head 2 that ejects ink IK onto the work W and draws (records) by printing.

Ink IK contains and disperses a pigment as a colorant in water as a solvent, and in the present embodiment, it is yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), or black (K). Four colors are used. As a result, the printing device 1 is capable of color printing.

As shown in FIG. 3, the inkjet head 2 is a ejection unit having a large number of nozzles 21 that eject ink IK as droplets. In the inkjet head 2, these nozzles 21 are divided into nozzle rows 22 according to the color of the ink IK to be ejected. In the configuration shown in FIG. 3, there are a nozzle row 22Y, a nozzle row 22M, a nozzle row 22C, and a nozzle row 22K. The nozzle row 22Y is composed of a large number of nozzles 21 for ejecting yellow (Y) ink IK, and these nozzles 21 are arranged in the Y direction. The nozzle row 22Y is composed of a large number of nozzles 21 for ejecting magenta (M) ink IK, and these nozzles 21 are arranged in the Y direction. The nozzle row 22C is composed of a large number of nozzles 21 for ejecting cyan (C) ink IK, and these nozzles 21 are arranged in the Y direction. The nozzle row 22K is composed of a large number of nozzles 21 for ejecting black (K) ink IK, and these nozzles 21 are arranged in the Y direction. Then, ink IK is independently ejected from each nozzle 21.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the printing apparatus 1, ink IKs of each color are stored and prepared in advance in an ink cartridge 19 which is a storage unit. In the configuration shown in FIG. 3, an ink cartridge 19Y in which yellow (Y) ink IK is stored, an ink cartridge 19M in which magenta (M) ink IK is stored, and an ink cartridge 19C in which cyan (C) ink IK is stored are used. And an ink cartridge 19K in which black (K) ink IK is stored. When the ink IK is emptied, these ink cartridges 19 are replaced with new ones, that is, those in which the ink IK is sufficiently stored. Further, these ink cartridges 19 are fixedly installed at positions separated from the printing unit 13.

As shown in FIG. 4, the ink cartridge 19 has a storage unit 191 in which the ink IK is stored and a discharge port 192 in which the ink IK in the storage unit 191 is discharged.

The storage portion 191 is a hollow body having a flat shape. The volume of the storage unit 191 is not particularly limited, and for example, it is preferable that ink IK of 1 L or more and 5 L or less can be stored, and it is more preferable that ink IK of 2 L or more and 4 L or less can be stored. Further, the storage portion 191 is made of a soft resin material such as polyethylene.

A discharge port 192 is provided at the edge of the storage portion 191. The discharge port 192 is liquidtightly sealed by a sealing member such as a cap or a film when the ink cartridge 19 is unopened. Then, when the ink cartridge 19 is used, the sealing member can be removed and the ink IK can flow out to the flow path 20 through the discharge port 192.

Further, each ink cartridge 19 and the nozzle row 22 corresponding to the ink cartridge 19 are liquid-tightly connected by a flow path 20. That is, the ink cartridge 19Y and the nozzle row 22Y are connected via the flow path 20, the ink cartridge 19M and the nozzle row 22M are connected via the flow path 20, and the ink cartridge 19C and the nozzle row 22C are connected. Is connected via the flow path 20, and the ink cartridge 19K and the nozzle row 22K are connected via the flow path 20. As a result, the ink IK can pass through the flow path 20 and go from the ink cartridge 19 to the nozzle row 22. The flow path 20 is composed of, for example, a tube or a joint that connects the tubes in a liquid-tight manner.

In the printing device 1, the work W unwound by the feeding device 3 is intermittently fed (secondary scanning) in the Y direction in a fixed state of being adhesively fixed by the endless belt 53, and the carriage unit 131 is moved with respect to the fixed work W. Ink IK is ejected from the inkjet head 2 while reciprocating (main scanning) in the X direction by 14. This can be done until printing is completed and an image is formed on the work W.

The moving unit 14 supports the printing unit 13 so as to be movable along the X direction. As a result, the printing unit 13 can reciprocate so as to straddle the work W. It is preferable that the moving portion 14 has, for example, a ball screw and a linear guide.

The drying unit 16 is located downstream of the printing unit 13 in the transport direction of the work W, and is arranged between the support device 5 and the take-up roller 41 of the take-up device 4. The drying unit 16 has a chamber 161 having a built-in heater. As a result, when the work W passes through the chamber 161, the undried ink IK on the work W can be dried by the heat of the heater.

The tensioner 42 and the tensioner 43 are arranged on both sides in the Y direction via the drying portion 16. As a result, the work W can pass through the chamber 161 in a tensioned state. In such a state, the work W is prevented from wrinkling, for example, during passing, so that the ink IK can be reliably dried.

The input operation unit 18 is composed of, for example, a touch panel or the like. The operator who is the operator of the printing device 1 can input various conditions at the time of printing via the input operation unit 18. The conditions are not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a printing program, a transfer speed of the work W, a thickness, and the like. The input operation unit 18 can also serve as a notification unit that notifies various information on the printing device 1 by display.

The control unit 15 is electrically connected to the transport unit 12, the printing unit 13, the moving unit 14, the drying unit 16, the stirring unit 7, and the input operation unit 18, and has a function of controlling each of these operations. There is. As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 15 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 151 and a storage unit 152.

The CPU 151 executes programs for various processes such as the print process described above.

The storage unit 152 has, for example, an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), which is a kind of non-volatile semiconductor memory, and can store various programs and the like.

An external power supply source 200 for applying a voltage of, for example, 200 V is electrically connected to the control unit 15. As a result, electric power is supplied to each part of the printing apparatus 1.

By the way, in recent years, the tendency of darkening ink IK has been increasing. Therefore, the ink IK contains a relatively high proportion of poorly soluble components such as pigments. A part of this poorly soluble component settles over time in the ink cartridge 19 installed in the printing apparatus 1 and in a used state. Then, this sediment may be deposited as a sediment near the discharge port 192. In this case, for example, depending on the amount of sediment deposited, color unevenness may occur in printing on the work W, that is, a light-colored region and a dark-colored region may occur even if the colors are the same. In addition, the discharge port 192 of the ink cartridge 19 may be clogged.

Therefore, the printing device 1 is configured to prevent such a problem. This configuration will be described below.

As shown in FIG. 4, the ink cartridge 19 is used in a state of being loaded in the ink supply unit 10. The ink supply unit 10 supplies the ink IK in the ink cartridge 19 to the inkjet head 2 via the flow path 20. In the printing apparatus 1, the ink cartridge 19Y, the ink cartridge 19M, the ink cartridge 19C, and the ink cartridge 19K are each loaded into the ink supply unit 10 and used. Here, one ink supply unit 10 will be described as a representative.

The ink supply unit 10 is composed of a holding unit 6 as an ink cartridge holder for holding the ink cartridge 19 (bag) and a stirring unit 7 for stirring the ink IK in the ink cartridge 19 held by the holding unit 6. There is.

As shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, the holding portion 6 has a support plate 61 that supports the storage portion 191 from the lower surface 193 side thereof in a state where the ink cartridge 19 is tilted. The support plate 61 is inclined with respect to the Y direction. As a result, the ink cartridge 19 is in a posture in which the storage portion 191 is tilted with respect to the Y direction (horizontal direction) and the discharge port 192 is arranged below the storage portion 191 in the tilt direction on the support plate 61 (hereinafter referred to as the posture). This posture is called "tilted posture").

The inclination angle θ ₁₉₁ of the storage portion 191 on the support plate 61 (holding portion 6) with respect to the Y direction (horizontal direction) is preferably 20 degrees or more and 70 degrees or less, and is 20 degrees or more and 50 degrees or less. Is more preferable. Thereby, for example, the ink IK can be reliably discharged from the discharge port 192, and thus the ink IK can be used up. The holding portion 6 may be configured such that the support plate 61 can adjust the inclination angle θ ₁₉₁ within the above range according to the remaining amount of ink IK in the ink cartridge 19.

Further, below the support plate 61 in the inclined direction, a contact plate 62 with which the edge portion of the storage portion 191 comes into contact is provided. As a result, it is possible to prevent the ink cartridge 19 from slipping off from the support plate 61, and thus the tilted posture can be maintained.

As shown in FIG. 4, the stirring unit 7 has a pressing unit 8 that presses the storage unit 191 of the ink cartridge 19 from the upper surface 194 side thereof, and a driving unit 71 that drives the pressing unit 8. The drive unit 71 can be composed of, for example, a motor, a speed reducer, or the like.

As shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, the pressing portion 8 presses the storage portion 191 from the lower side to the upper side in the tilting direction in an inclined posture (the posture) to deform the storage portion 191. The pressing portion 8 has a rotatably supported shaft portion 81 and at least one (one in the present embodiment) rotary pressing portion 82 that rotates together with the shaft portion 81.

The shaft portion 81 shown in FIG. 4 is supported by both sides in the X direction, and one end side is connected to the drive portion 71. As a result, the shaft portion 81 can rotate in the direction of arrow α ₈₁ around the axis O ₈₁ which is parallel to the X direction and orthogonal to the inclination direction of the ink cartridge 19 (support plate 61).

Further, the shaft portion 81 has a crank shape. A rotation pressing portion 82 is arranged eccentrically from the shaft O _81, which is the rotation center of the shaft portion 81, at the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the shaft portion 81. The rotary pressing portion 82 is preferably made of, for example, a resin material.

As shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, the rotary pressing portion 82 has a cylindrical shape and is composed of a roller through which the shaft portion 81 is inserted. Thus, the rotation pressing part 82, while rotating together with the shaft portion 81 in the axial _{O 81} around the axial _{O 82} about eccentric from the axis _{O 81} can be rotated in the arrow alpha ₈₂ direction. By such rotation, the rotation pressing portion 82 can press the upper surface 194 of the storage portion 191 from the lower side in the inclination direction toward the upper side, and the upper surface 194 can be reliably deformed. Then, the ink IK is agitated in the deformed storage portion 191.

As described above, even if sediment is generated in the storage unit 191 (ink cartridge 19), or before the sediment is generated, the storage unit 191 is pressed from the outside to ensure the accumulation of sediment. Can be prevented. Thereby, for example, it is possible to prevent color unevenness from occurring in printing on the work W and prevent clogging at the discharge port 192. It is preferable that the pressing portion against the storage portion 191 is as close to the discharge port 192 as possible. This is because the sediment is likely to accumulate on the discharge port 192 side in the storage portion 191.

Further, the direction of pressing the storage portion 191 is a direction from the lower side to the upper side in the inclination direction. On the other hand, the flow direction of the ink IK in the storage unit 191 is a direction from the upper side to the lower side in the inclination direction, which is the direction opposite to the direction in which the storage unit 191 is pressed. As a result, the stirring efficiency per pressing can be improved.

Further, since the stirring unit 7 has a simple structure of pressing the storage unit 191 from the outside, the conventional ink cartridge 19 in which the ink IK is stored can be used as it is.

Further, since the rotary pressing portion 82 is composed of rollers, the rotary pressing portion 82 can smoothly push forward on the storage portion 191. As a result, the friction between the rotary pressing portion 82 and the accommodating portion 191 is reduced, and thus damage or damage to the accommodating portion 191 during pressing can be prevented.

As described above, the pressing portion 8 is eccentrically arranged from the rotatably supported shaft portion 81 and the rotation center (shaft O ₈₁ ) of the shaft portion 81, and at least one rotational pressing portion that rotates together with the shaft portion 81. It has 82 and. Then, as long as the rotation pressing unit 82 continues to rotate around the shaft O ₈₁ , the rotation pressing unit 82 can repeatedly approach and separate from the storage unit 191. As a result, the storage unit 191 can be deformed a plurality of times. Due to such deformation, the ink IK can be continuously agitated, which contributes to the elimination of sediment.

It is preferable that the rotation speed of the rotary pressing unit 82 around the axis O ₈₁ during the period from the start to the stop of the rotation of the rotary pressing unit 82 is in the state shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 10, the number of rotations of the rotary pressing unit 82 gradually increases with time for a predetermined time after the rotation of the rotary pressing unit 82 is started. Further, when the rotation of the rotation pressing unit 82 is stopped, the rotation speed of the rotation pressing unit 82 gradually decreases. As a result, the stirring of the ink IK can be gradually weakened, which is preferable for the ink IK.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, it is preferable that the rotation pressing portion 82 stops rotating around the shaft O ₈₁ at a position separated from the accommodating portion 191. As a result, when the ink cartridge 19 is emptied, the replacement work can be easily performed when the empty ink cartridge 19 and the new ink cartridge 19 are replaced.

The stirring unit 7 is preferably configured so that the stirring conditions for the ink IK differ depending on the type of ink IK (for example, the size and color of the pigment). The stirring conditions are not particularly limited, and for example, the stirring frequency until the ink cartridge 19 is emptied, the rotation time of the rotary pressing unit 82 per operation of the stirring unit 7, and the operation of the stirring unit 7 once. Examples thereof include the average number of rotations of the hit rotation pressing portion 82. With such a configuration, stirring suitable for various ink IKs (proneness of sedimentation) can be performed. For example, when the ink IK is a sublimation transfer ink (dispersion system), it is preferable that the black ink IK is stirred at a higher frequency than the other color inks IK (about once every two weeks).

Next, the timing at which the stirring unit 7 operates, that is, the stirring timing will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

Printing is started (step S101), and it is determined whether or not the condition for "starting stirring" is satisfied (step S102). This condition is determined based on the stirring conditions according to the type of ink IK described above, and is stored in advance in the control unit 15.

When it is determined in step S102 that the condition for "starting stirring" is satisfied, stirring is started (step S103) and then ended (step S104).
Then, when the end of printing is determined (step S105), printing ends (step S106).

If it is not determined in step S102 that the condition for "starting stirring" is satisfied, the process proceeds to step S105, and steps lower than that are sequentially executed.

With such a control program, the ink IK can be agitated during printing. As a result, it is possible to omit separately providing a time only for stirring the ink IK, and thus the operating rate of the printing operation in the printing apparatus 1 is improved. In this embodiment, steps S101 to S106 are printing steps for printing.

<Second Embodiment>
FIG. 11 is a graph showing a change over time in the rotation speed of the rotation pressing portion in the stirring portion provided in the printing apparatus (second embodiment) of the present invention.

Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the printing apparatus and printing method of the present invention will be described with reference to this figure, but the differences from the above-described embodiments will be mainly described, and the same matters will be omitted.

The present embodiment is the same as the first embodiment except that the state of change in the rotation speed of the rotation pressing portion is different.

In the present embodiment, the number of rotations of the rotary pressing unit 82 around the axis O ₈₁ during the period from the start to the stop of the rotation of the rotary pressing unit 82 is in the state shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 11, the rotation speed of the rotation pressing unit 82 sharply increases immediately after the start of rotation. As a result, rapid stirring can be started. Further, as in the first embodiment, when the rotation of the rotation pressing unit 82 is stopped, the rotation speed of the rotation pressing unit 82 gradually decreases.

<Third Embodiment>
FIG. 12 is a schematic view showing a stirring unit included in the printing apparatus (third embodiment) of the present invention.

Hereinafter, a third embodiment of the printing apparatus and printing method of the present invention will be described with reference to this figure, but the differences from the above-described embodiments will be mainly described, and the same matters will be omitted.

The present embodiment is the same as the first embodiment except that the number of rotational pressing portions is different.

As shown in FIG. 12, in the present embodiment, the pressing portion 8 has two rotary pressing portions 82. These two rotary pressing portions 82 are arranged apart from each other in the direction of the axis O ₈₁ . The separation distance is not particularly limited, and is preferably, for example, the length of one rotation pressing portion 82 or less.

With such a configuration, the ink IK is agitated by receiving a force even between the two rotary pressing portions 82 in the accommodating portion 191 of the ink cartridge 19, and thus the agitation efficiency is improved.

<Fourth Embodiment>
FIG. 13 is a schematic view showing a stirring unit included in the printing apparatus (fourth embodiment) of the present invention.

Hereinafter, a fourth embodiment of the printing apparatus and printing method of the present invention will be described with reference to this figure, but the differences from the above-described embodiments will be mainly described, and the same matters will be omitted.

The present embodiment is the same as the third embodiment except that the arrangement location of the rotary pressing portion is different.

As shown in FIG. 13, in the present embodiment, the pressing portion 8 has two rotary pressing portions 82. These two rotary pressing portions 82 are arranged on opposite sides of each other via a shaft O ₈₁ (rotation center of the shaft portion 81).

With such a configuration, the storage portion 191 of the ink cartridge 19 is pressed twice from the lower side in the tilting direction toward the upper side while the shaft portion 81 makes one rotation around the shaft O ₈₁ . As a result, the stirring efficiency is improved.

<Fifth Embodiment>
FIG. 14 is a schematic view showing a stirring unit included in the printing apparatus (fifth embodiment) of the present invention.

Hereinafter, a fifth embodiment of the printing apparatus and printing method of the present invention will be described with reference to this figure, but the differences from the above-described embodiments will be mainly described, and the same matters will be omitted.

The present embodiment is the same as the third embodiment except that the arrangement location of the rotary pressing portion is different.

As shown in FIG. 14, in the present embodiment, the pressing portion 8 has two rotary pressing portions 82. These two rotation pressing portions 82 are arranged apart from each other in the direction of the shaft O ₈₁ , and are arranged on opposite sides of each other via the shaft O ₈₁ (rotation center of the shaft portion 81).

With such a configuration, while the shaft portion 81 makes one rotation around the shaft O ₈₁ , the storage portion 191 of the ink cartridge 19 is pressed twice from the lower side to the upper side in the inclination direction, and the ink cartridge 19 is pressed. The ink IK is also agitated by receiving a force between the two rotary pressing portions 82 in the storage portion 191 of the As a result, the stirring efficiency is improved. Further, such a configuration is suitable for an ink cartridge 19 having a relatively large size in the X direction.

<Sixth Embodiment>
15 to 18 are vertical partial cross-sectional views showing in order the operating states of the stirring unit included in the printing apparatus (sixth embodiment) of the present invention, respectively.

Hereinafter, a sixth embodiment of the printing apparatus and printing method of the present invention will be described with reference to these figures, but the differences from the above-described embodiments will be mainly described, and the same matters will be omitted. ..

The present embodiment is the same as the first embodiment except that the configuration of the pressing portion is different.
As shown in FIGS. 15 to 18, in the present embodiment, the pressing portion 8 is supported by the plate-shaped base portion 83 and the lower surface of the base portion 83, and the balloon portion 84 is arranged along the inclination direction of the holding portion 6. , A balloon portion 85 and a balloon portion 86. The balloon portion 84 to the balloon portion 86 are connected to a flow path 87 formed of a tube via a base portion 83. As a result, the balloon portions 84 to 86 are portions that expand due to the supply of the working fluid WF and contract due to the discharge of the working fluid WF. Further, the supply and discharge of the working fluid WF to the balloon portions 84 to 86 are independently performed, for example, by operating a switching valve (not shown) provided in the middle of the flow path 87 or in the base portion 83. .. The working fluid WF is not particularly limited, and for example, air can be used.

Then, when the working fluid WF is supplied to the balloon portion 84 from the state in which the balloon portions 84 to 86 shown in FIG. 15 are contracted, the balloon portion 84 expands as shown in FIG. Next, when the working fluid WF is discharged from the balloon part 84 and the working fluid WF is supplied to the balloon part 85, the balloon part 84 contracts again and the balloon part 85 expands as shown in FIG. Next, when the working fluid WF is discharged from the balloon part 85 and the working fluid WF is supplied to the balloon part 86, as shown in FIG. 18, the balloon part 85 contracts again and the balloon part 86 expands. After that, FIGS. 15 to 18 can be repeated, or FIGS. 16 to 18 can be repeated. As a result, the upper surface 194 of the storage portion 191 can be pressed from the lower side in the inclination direction toward the upper side, and the upper surface 194 can be reliably deformed. Then, the ink IK is agitated in the deformed storage portion 191.

The balloon portions 84 to 86 may also be arranged on the lower surface 193 side of the storage portion 191 of the ink cartridge 19.

<7th Embodiment>
FIG. 19 is a schematic perspective view showing the relationship between the ink cartridge and the stirring unit in the printing apparatus (7th embodiment) of the present invention.

Hereinafter, a seventh embodiment of the printing apparatus and printing method of the present invention will be described with reference to this figure, but the differences from the above-described embodiments will be mainly described, and the same matters will be omitted.

The present embodiment is the same as the first embodiment except that it has a position changing portion.
As shown in FIG. 19, in the present embodiment, the stirring unit 7 has a position changing unit 72 that changes the position of the pressing unit 8 with respect to the storage unit 191 of the ink cartridge 19 in the direction of the arrow α ₈₃ along the inclination direction. .. As a result, the position of the arrow α ₈₃ of the pressing unit 8 with respect to the storage unit 191 can be changed according to the remaining amount of ink IK in the storage unit 191. Therefore, the ink can be changed regardless of the amount of ink remaining in the storage unit 191. IK can be reliably agitated.

The position changing portion 72 can be composed of, for example, a motor, a linear guide, or other ball screw. Further, the position changing portion 72 may be configured so that the position of the pressing portion 8 can be changed in the Z direction as well.

The remaining amount of ink IK is detected based on, for example, the amount of ink IK ejected or the weight of the ink cartridge 19.

Although the printing apparatus and printing method of the present invention have been described above with respect to the illustrated embodiments, the present invention is not limited thereto. Further, each part constituting the printing apparatus can be replaced with an arbitrary configuration capable of exhibiting the same function. Moreover, an arbitrary composition may be added.

Moreover, the printing apparatus and printing method of the present invention may be a combination of any two or more configurations (features) in each of the above-described embodiments.

Further, the color of the ink used in the printing apparatus is not limited to four colors in each of the above-described embodiments, and may be, for example, eight colors.

Further, the transport unit has an endless belt for fixing the work by adhesive in each of the above embodiments, but is not limited to this, and has, for example, a platen (stage) for fixing the work by suction. May be good.

Further, the number of rotational pressing portions arranged is one in the first embodiment and two in the third to fifth embodiments, but the number is not limited to this, and for example, three or more. There may be.

Further, in the pressing portion, a roller that functions as a rotary pressing portion may be omitted. In this case, the middle part of the shaft portion, that is, the central portion in the longitudinal direction directly functions as a rotary pressing portion, and the rotary pressing portion is subjected to low friction treatment such as Teflon (“Teflon” is a registered trademark) processing. Is preferable.

Further, the pressing portion may have an urging member such as a spring that urges the rotary pressing portion toward the ink cartridge.

1 ... Printing device, 2 ... Ink cartridge head, 21 ... Nozzle, 22 ... Nozzle row, 22Y ... Nozzle row, 22M ... Nozzle row, 22C ... Nozzle row, 22K ... Nozzle row, 3 ... Feeding device, 31 ... Sending roller ( Feeding reel), 32 ... Tensioner, 4 ... Winding device, 41 ... Winding roller (winding reel), 42 ... Tensioner, 43 ... Tensioner, 44 ... Tensioner, 5 ... Support device, 51 ... Main roller, 52 ... Driven Roller, 53 ... Endless belt, 54 ... Tensioner, 55 ... Tensioner, 6 ... Holding part, 61 ... Support plate, 62 ... Abutment plate, 7 ... Stirring part, 71 ... Drive part, 72 ... Position change part, 8 ... Pressing Part, 81 ... Shaft part, 82 ... Rotation pressing part, 83 ... Base part, 84 ... Balloon part, 85 ... Balloon part, 86 ... Balloon part, 87 ... Flow path, 10 ... Ink supply unit, 11 ... Machine stand, 12 ... Transport unit, 13 ... Printing unit, 131 ... Carriage unit, 14 ... Moving unit, 15 ... Control unit, 151 ... CPU, 152 ... Storage unit, 16 ... Drying unit, 161 ... Chamber, 18 ... Input operation unit, 19 ... Ink Cartridge, 19Y ... ink cartridge, 19M ... ink cartridge, 19C ... ink cartridge, 19K ... ink cartridge, 191 ... storage, 192 ... discharge port, 193 ... bottom surface, 194 ... top surface, 20 ... flow path, 200 ... external power supply Source, IK ... ink, O ₈₁ ... axis, O ₈₂ ... axis, W ... work, WF ... working fluid, S101-S106 ... step, α ₈₁ ... arrow, α ₈₂ ... arrow, α ₈₃ ... arrow, θ ₁₉₁ ... tilt angle

Claims (11)

A holding section for holding a bag having a soft storage section for storing ink used for printing and a discharge port for discharging the ink, and a holding section for holding the bag.
A stirring unit for stirring the ink is provided.
The holding portion is configured to hold the bag in a posture in which the storage portion is tilted with respect to the horizontal direction and the discharge port is arranged below the storage portion in the tilting direction.
The printing apparatus is characterized in that the stirring unit has a pressing unit that deforms the storage unit by pressing the storage unit in only one direction from the lower side to the upper side in the inclination direction in the posture. The pressing portion has a rotatably supported shaft portion and at least one rotational pressing portion that is eccentrically arranged from the rotation center of the shaft portion and rotates together with the shaft portion.
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rotary pressing portion deforms the storage portion a plurality of times by repeatedly approaching and separating from the storage portion. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the rotation pressing portion stops rotating at a position separated from the storage portion. The pressing portion has two rotational pressing portions.
The printing apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the two rotary pressing portions are arranged apart from each other in the axial direction. The pressing portion has two rotational pressing portions.
The printing apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the two rotary pressing portions are arranged on opposite sides of each other via the rotation center of the shaft portion. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the rotary pressing portion is composed of a roller. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressing portion has a portion that expands due to the supply of the working fluid and contracts due to the discharge of the working fluid. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the stirring unit is configured so that the stirring conditions for the ink differ depending on the type of ink. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the stirring unit has a position changing unit that changes the position of the pressing unit with respect to the storage unit according to the remaining amount of the ink in the storage unit. .. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the tilt angle of the storage portion in the holding portion with respect to the horizontal direction is 20 degrees or more and 70 degrees or less. Has a printing process to print
In the printing step, a holding portion for holding a bag having a soft storage portion for storing the ink to be used for printing, a discharge port for discharging the ink, and a stirring portion for stirring the ink are provided. The holding portion is configured to tilt the storage portion in the horizontal direction and hold the bag in a posture in which the discharge port is arranged below the storage portion in the tilting direction. The unit uses a printing device having a pressing unit that deforms the storage unit by pressing the storage unit in only one direction from the lower side to the upper side in the tilting direction in the posture.
A printing method characterized in that the pressing portion is operated to stir the ink during the printing step.

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