JP7042110B2 - Printing equipment and printing method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention uses an inkjet head that ejects UV-curable ink that is cured by being irradiated with ultraviolet rays (UV), and is continuously applied to a plurality of printing sections adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction of a printing object (media) extending in a strip shape. The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a printing method for printing the printed image. The object to be printed includes a thin-film resin film or the like. Further, in the present invention, the "printing area" refers to a range in the longitudinal direction of a print object that can be printed by a series of scans by the inkjet head of the printing apparatus.

Inkjet printers using inkjet heads enable high-quality printing and are widely used in various fields. In particular, sheet-fed printing, which handles sheet-shaped print objects, is capable of quality-oriented printing due to its structure, and is suitable for small-quantity, high-mix production. On the other hand, in industrial applications, there is a great demand for printing on roll films, roll papers, etc., which can be mass-produced, and improvement of print quality is desired in this field.

In printing on a strip-shaped printing object such as roll film or roll paper, in order to improve the printing quality, the printing object is conveyed with high accuracy and the printing area is changed together with the high-precision scanning technology by the inkjet head. Transport technology becomes a problem. Conventionally, in order to accurately feed continuous paper, for example, a mark indicating the position of an image is printed along with the image on the surface of the continuous paper. Patent Document 1 describes a technique for printing an image and a mark at high speed without impairing the print quality when printing an image on continuous paper and printing a mark indicating the position of the image using an inkjet head. It has been disclosed.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2010-280220

In recent years, in various industrial fields, there is an increasing demand for printing on thin-film resin films and the like using UV-curable inks that are cured by being irradiated with ultraviolet rays. When printing with UV curable ink, a UV light that generates ultraviolet rays is moved together with a print head equipped with an inkjet head that ejects UV curable ink, and the ultraviolet rays generated from the UV light are printed immediately after printing. When an object is irradiated and the UV curable ink is cured immediately after printing, the UV curable ink has fluidity before curing as compared with the case where the UV light is arranged after the print head in the longitudinal direction of the printing object. The spread on the print target is reduced, and the print quality in each print area is improved. In that case, the temperature of the object to be printed such as a resin film rises due to the irradiation of ultraviolet rays during printing of each printing area, and the temperature of the object to be printed decreases due to heat dissipation when the printing area is changed. Therefore, when a print object such as a resin film expands and contracts due to a temperature change and a continuous image is printed on a plurality of print areas adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction of the print object, streaks, unevenness, etc. are formed at the boundary portion of the print area. There was a problem that banding occurred. The technique described in Patent Document 1 relates to a printing device such as a label to be affixed on a wrap film of fresh food, and can also use UV curable ink to print continuous images in a plurality of printing sections. Was also not considered.

An object of the present invention is to perform high-quality printing when printing a continuous image on a plurality of printing sections adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction of a printing object extending in a strip shape by using a UV curable ink.

The printing apparatus of the present invention includes a table that supports the back surface of a printing section of a part of a printing object extending in a strip shape, and a printing head equipped with an inkjet head that ejects UV curable ink that is cured by being irradiated with ultraviolet rays. , A UV light source that generates ultraviolet rays, a temperature control light source that generates light that raises the temperature of the object to be printed, a first moving mechanism that moves the table in the longitudinal direction of the object to be printed, a print head, and a UV light source. , And a second moving mechanism that moves the temperature control light source in the width direction of the object to be printed, and the print head, the first moving mechanism, and the second moving mechanism are controlled and supported by the print head on the table. A control device that cures UV curable ink by irradiating the print object with ultraviolet rays generated from a UV light source while printing an image and a positioning mark on the printed area of the printed object, and a positioning mark. When the control device changes the print area of the print object supported on the table by the first movement mechanism after the printing of one print area is completed, the second movement is provided. After controlling the mechanism and moving the temperature control light source in the width direction of the print object to irradiate the print object with the light generated from the temperature control light source, it corresponds to the position of the positioning mark detected by the detection device. , The print head and the first moving mechanism are controlled to adjust the position of the image and the positioning mark to be printed on the new print area after the change adjacent to the print area before the change.

Further, in the printing method of the present invention, the back surface of a part of the printing section of the printing object extending in a strip shape is supported by the table, and the table is moved in the longitudinal direction of the printing object by the first moving mechanism, and the second A print head equipped with an inkjet head that ejects UV-curable ink that is cured by being irradiated with ultraviolet rays, and a UV light source that generates ultraviolet rays are moved in the width direction of the object to be printed by the movement mechanism of the print head. The UV curable ink is cured by irradiating the print object with ultraviolet rays generated from a UV light source while printing an image and a positioning mark on the print area of the print object supported by the table. After printing of the print area is completed, the first movement mechanism changes the print area of the print object supported by the table, and the second movement mechanism generates a temperature control that raises the temperature of the print object. After moving the light source for printing in the width direction of the object to be printed and irradiating the object to be printed with the light generated from the light source for temperature control, the detection device detects the position of the positioning mark and the detected positioning mark. The feature is that the print head and the first movement mechanism are controlled according to the position of the image to be printed on the new print area after the change adjacent to the print area before the change, and the position of the positioning mark is adjusted. do.

A print head equipped with an inkjet head that moves the table in the longitudinal direction of the object to be printed by the first movement mechanism and ejects UV curable ink that is cured by being irradiated with ultraviolet rays by the second movement mechanism, and a print head. A UV light source that generates ultraviolet rays is moved in the width direction of the object to be printed, and is generated from the UV light source while printing an image and a positioning mark on the print area of the object to be printed supported by the print head. Since the UV curable ink is cured by irradiating the printed object with the resulting ultraviolet rays, the print quality in each print area is improved. Further, after the printing of one print area is completed, the print area of the print object supported by the table is changed by the first movement mechanism, and the second movement mechanism generates light that raises the temperature of the print object. Since the temperature control light source to be printed is moved in the width direction of the print target and the light generated from the temperature control light source is applied to the print target, the print target is irradiated with ultraviolet rays from the UV light source during printing. The temperature rises due to this, and after the printing area is changed, the temperature rises due to the irradiation of light from the temperature control light source, and the influence of expansion and contraction due to the temperature change of the printed object is suppressed. Then, the detection device detects the position of the positioning mark, controls the print head and the first moving mechanism according to the detected position of the positioning mark, and controls the new printing section after the change adjacent to the print area before the change. Since the positions of the image to be printed on the printed area and the positioning mark are adjusted, the occurrence of banding at the boundary portion of the printed area is suppressed, and high-quality printing is performed.

Further, the printing apparatus of the present invention prints the light generated from the temperature control light source before the detection device changes the print area of the print object supported on the table and by changing the print area of the print object. After irradiating the object, the position of the positioning mark is detected, and the control device generates it from the temperature control light source before changing the print area of the print object and after changing the print area of the print object. The correction amount of the print start position in the width direction of the print target is determined from the difference in the position of the positioning mark in the width direction of the print target after irradiating the print target with the light. Based on the above, the print head is controlled to change the print start position in the width direction of the print target.

Further, in the printing method of the present invention, the detection device prints the light generated from the temperature control light source before changing the print area of the print object supported on the table and by changing the print area of the print object. After irradiating the object, the position of the positioning mark is detected, and before changing the print area of the print object, and after changing the print area of the print object, the light generated from the temperature control light source is printed. The correction amount of the print start position in the width direction of the print target is determined from the difference in the position of the positioning mark in the width direction of the print target after the object is irradiated, and printing is performed based on the determined correction amount. The head is controlled to change the printing start position in the width direction of the object to be printed.

The width of the print object of the positioning mark before changing the print area of the print object and after changing the print area of the print object and irradiating the print object with the light generated from the temperature control light source. The correction amount of the print start position in the width direction of the print target is determined from the difference in the position of the direction, and the print head is controlled based on the determined correction amount to change the print start position in the width direction of the print target. Therefore, with a simple process, the influence of expansion and contraction in the width direction due to the temperature change of the print object is suppressed.

Further, in the printing apparatus of the present invention, the control device irradiates the print object with the light generated from the temperature control light source before the control device changes the print area of the print object and by changing the print area of the print object. The correction amount of the position in the longitudinal direction of the print target is determined from the difference in the position of the positioning mark in the longitudinal direction of the print target, and the table is moved by the first moving mechanism based on the determined correction amount. It is characterized in that it is moved to correct the longitudinal position of the print object supported by the table.

Further, in the printing method of the present invention, before changing the print area of the print object and after changing the print area of the print object and irradiating the print object with the light generated from the temperature control light source. The correction amount of the position in the longitudinal direction of the print target is determined from the difference in the position of the position mark in the longitudinal direction of the print target, and the table is moved by the first movement mechanism based on the determined correction amount. It is characterized by correcting the position in the longitudinal direction of a print object supported by a table.

As described above, the present invention describes in Patent Document 1 that when printing an image and a positioning mark, the table supporting the print target is moved in the longitudinal direction of the print target by the first movement mechanism. It is different from the device that moves the inkjet head in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction as described above. Then, the print object of the positioning mark before changing the print area of the print object and after changing the print area of the print object and irradiating the print object with the light generated from the temperature control light source. The correction amount of the position in the longitudinal direction of the print object is determined from the difference in the position in the longitudinal direction of the print object, and the table is moved by the first moving mechanism based on the determined correction amount, and the print object supported by the table is supported. Since the position of the object in the longitudinal direction is corrected, the influence of expansion and contraction in the longitudinal direction due to the temperature change of the object to be printed is suppressed. No complicated image processing is required to correct the expansion and contraction of the print object in the longitudinal direction.

Further, in the printing apparatus of the present invention, the control device controls the second moving mechanism according to the material or thickness of the printed object, and the temperature control light source is moved a plurality of times in the width direction of the printed object. It is characterized in that the light generated from the temperature control light source is applied to the print object a plurality of times. Further, in the printing method of the present invention, the second moving mechanism is controlled according to the material or thickness of the object to be printed, and the temperature control light source is moved a plurality of times in the width direction of the object to be printed to control the temperature. It is characterized by irradiating a print object with light generated from a light source multiple times. The temperature rise of the printed object due to the irradiation of ultraviolet rays from the UV light source varies depending on the material or thickness of the printed object. The second movement mechanism is controlled according to the material or thickness of the print target, the temperature control light source is moved multiple times in the width direction of the print target, and the light generated from the temperature control light source is printed. Since the object is irradiated multiple times, the temperature change of the object to be printed is effectively suppressed during printing and after the printing area is changed.

Further, the printing apparatus of the present invention is characterized in that the UV light source also serves as a temperature control light source. Further, the printing method of the present invention is characterized in that a UV light source is used as a temperature control light source. By using a UV light source as the temperature control light source, the configuration of the device becomes simple.

According to the present invention, when a continuous image is printed on a plurality of printing sections adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction of a printing object extending in a strip shape by using a UV curable ink, the occurrence of banding is suppressed and high quality is achieved. You can print.

Further, the printing object of the positioning mark before changing the printing area of the printing object and after changing the printing area of the printing object and irradiating the printing object with the light generated from the temperature control light source. The correction amount of the print start position in the width direction of the print target is determined from the difference in the position in the width direction, and the print head is controlled based on the determined correction amount to print the print start position in the width direction of the print target. By changing the above, it is possible to suppress the influence of expansion and contraction in the width direction due to a temperature change of the printed object by a simple process.

Further, the printing object of the positioning mark before changing the printing area of the printing object and after changing the printing area of the printing object and irradiating the printing object with the light generated from the temperature control light source. The correction amount of the position in the longitudinal direction of the print object is determined from the difference in the position in the longitudinal direction of the print object, and the table is moved by the first moving mechanism based on the determined correction amount, and the print object supported by the table is supported. By correcting the position of the object in the longitudinal direction, it is possible to suppress the influence of expansion and contraction in the longitudinal direction due to a temperature change of the object to be printed without performing complicated image processing.

Further, the second moving mechanism is controlled according to the material or thickness of the print object, and the temperature control light source is moved a plurality of times in the width direction of the print target to emit the light generated from the temperature control light source. By irradiating the print object a plurality of times, it is possible to effectively suppress the temperature change of the print object during printing and after the print area is changed.

Further, by using a UV light source as the temperature control light source, the configuration of the device can be simplified.

It is a figure which shows the schematic structure of the printing apparatus by one Embodiment of this invention, FIG. 1 (a) is a top view, and FIG. 1 (b) is a side view. It is a front view which looked at the moving stage and the gate from the recovery reel side. It is a block diagram of the detection device and the control device of the printing device according to one embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation of the printing apparatus by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining the printing operation of one printing area. It is a figure which shows the printed image and the positioning mark for one print section. It is a figure explaining the detection operation of the position of the positioning mark. It is a figure explaining the detection operation of the position of the positioning mark. It is a figure explaining the change operation of a print area. It is a figure explaining the change operation of a print area. It is a figure explaining the irradiation operation of ultraviolet rays. It is a figure explaining the irradiation operation of ultraviolet rays. (Ii) It is a figure which shows the printed image and the positioning mark for the print section.

[Embodiment]
Hereinafter, the printing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the embodiment described below, the print object 1 is made of a resin film such as PBT (polybutylene terephthalate) or PET (polyethylene terephthalate). Further, in the drawings used below, in order to facilitate understanding of the operation of the printing apparatus, the distance between the surface of the table 16 and the printing head 10 is made larger than that of the actual apparatus.

(Configuration of printing equipment)
1A and 1B are views showing a schematic configuration of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1A is a top view and FIG. 1B is a side view. The printing apparatus 100 of the present embodiment includes a print head 10, a base 11, a gate 12, a guide 13, a moving stage 14, a θ stage 15, a table 16, a first moving mechanism, a second moving mechanism, a UV light 20, and the like. It includes a supply reel 21, dancer rollers 22, 25, guide rollers 23, 24, a recovery reel 26, an upper roller 27, and a detection device 30 and a control device 40, which will be described later.

In the present embodiment, the supply reel 21 is used as a supply mechanism for supplying the print object 1 before printing. However, the supply mechanism of the print object 1 is not limited to the reel, and may be any one that rotatably supports the print object 1 wound in a roll shape. Further, in the present embodiment, the collection reel 26 is used as a collection mechanism for collecting the printed object 1 after printing. However, the collection mechanism of the print object 1 is not limited to the reel, and may be any one that can store the print object 1 in a small space.

A drive motor (not shown) is attached to the supply reel 21 and the recovery reel 26. The print object 1 extending in a strip shape is sent out from the supply reel 21 and wound up on the recovery reel 26 via the dancer roller 22, the guide rollers 23, 24, and the dancer roller 25. In FIG. 1A, the width direction of the print object 1 is the X direction, and the longitudinal direction of the print object 1 is the Y direction. The supply reel 21 may be configured to rotate according to the movement of the print object 1 without attaching a drive motor.

The dancer roller 22 and the dancer roller 25 are configured to be movable up and down, respectively, and are urged downward in the drawing of FIG. 1 (b). As a result, tension is applied to the print object 1 in the longitudinal direction, and unnecessary misalignment of the print object 1 is suppressed.

A plurality of inkjet heads are mounted on the print head 10. In the case of a color printing device, for example, an inkjet head for each color of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K) is mounted, or a plurality of sets of inkjet heads for each of these colors are mounted. It is installed. Each inkjet head ejects UV curable ink that is cured by being irradiated with ultraviolet rays.

In FIG. 1B, a guide 13 is installed on the upper surface of the base 11, and a moving stage 14 is mounted on the guide 13. The moving stage 14 moves in the Y direction along the guide 13. The θ stage 15 is mounted on the moving stage 14, and the table 16 is mounted on the θ stage 15. The θ stage 15 rotates the table 16 in the θ direction. The table 16 supports the back surface of a part of the print section of the print object 1 extending in a strip shape. A suction hole (not shown) is provided on the surface of the table 16, and the table 16 vacuum sucks the back surface of the print section of the print object 1 by the suction hole at the time of printing, so that the print object 1 is placed on the table 16. To fix.

In FIG. 1A, a gate 12 is provided above the table 16 over a length equal to or larger than the width of the print object 1. FIG. 2 is a front view of the moving stage and the gate as viewed from the recovery reel side. In the present embodiment, the first moving mechanism for moving the table 16 in the longitudinal direction of the object 1 to be printed is configured by a linear motion motor, and the linear motion motor of the first moving mechanism has a built-in magnet. It is composed of a plate-shaped stator 17a and a plate-shaped mover 17b having a built-in coil. The stator 17a extends in the depth direction of the drawing of FIG. 2 and is embedded in the upper surface of the base 11. The mover 17b is attached to the lower surface of the moving stage 14. The stator 17a and the mover 17b are installed so as not to come into contact with each other with a slight gap. When a current is passed through the coil of the mover 17b, the current of the coil and the magnetic field of the magnet of the stator 17a cause framing. According to the left-hand rule, a propulsion force (Lorentz force) acts on the mover 17b, and the moving stage 14 is moved toward the front side of the drawing or the depth direction of the drawing of FIG.

Similarly, the second moving mechanism for moving the print head 10 in the width direction of the print object 1 is composed of a linear motion motor 18. The linear motor 18 is attached to the side surface of the gate 12. In the case of the linear motion motor 18, a guide in the X direction, a stator made of a magnet, and a mover made of a coil are housed. The operating principle of the linear motion motor 18 is the same as that of the linear motion motor of the first moving mechanism, and the print head 10 is moved in the X direction by the linear motion motor 18.

A camera unit 31 constituting a detection device 30 described later is attached to one side surface of the print head 10. The camera unit 31 includes a light source 32, a lens 33, and a camera 34. The illumination light generated from the light source 32 is reflected by the half mirror in the lens 33 and is applied to the surface of the print object 1 supported by the table 16. The camera 34 has a two-dimensional image sensor such as a CCD, acquires a mark image of a positioning mark 3 described later via a lens 33, and outputs an image signal.

A UV light 20 that generates ultraviolet rays is attached to the other side surface of the print head 10. The UV light 20 is composed of an ultraviolet lamp, a light emitting diode (LED), or the like, and irradiates the surface of the print object 1 supported by the table 16 with ultraviolet rays, and the surface of the print object 1 is irradiated from each inkjet head of the print head 10. The UV curable ink ejected to is cured. Further, in the present embodiment, as will be described later, the UV light 20 also serves as a temperature control light source for raising the temperature of the print object 1 after changing the print area of the print object 1.

(Configuration of detection device and control device)
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a detection device and a control device of a printing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The detection device 30 includes a camera unit 31 and an image processing device 35 that processes an image signal of a mark image output from the camera unit 31. The control device 40 includes a CPU 41, a main scanning control unit 42, a sub-scanning control unit 43, a print control unit 44, a θ stage drive control unit 45, a supply reel drive control unit 47, and a recovery reel drive control unit 48. ing. The CPU 41 commands the operations of the main scanning control unit 42, the sub-scanning control unit 43, the θ stage drive control unit 45, the supply reel drive control unit 47, and the recovery reel drive control unit 48.

The main scanning control unit 42 controls the drive of the print head 10 via the print control unit 44, and also controls the drive of the linear motion motor 18 constituting the second moving mechanism to control the print head for the print object 1. 10 main scans are controlled. The sub-scanning control unit 43 controls the drive of the mover 17b of the linear motor that constitutes the first moving mechanism, and controls the sub-scanning of the print head 10 with respect to the print target 1. The θ stage drive control unit 45 controls the drive of the θ stage 15. The supply reel drive control unit 47 controls the drive of the drive motor of the supply reel 21 to send out the print target 1 from the supply reel 21. The recovery reel drive control unit 48 controls the drive of the drive motor of the recovery reel 26 to wind the print object 1 onto the recovery reel 26.

(Printing operation of one print area)
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the printing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. The printing apparatus 100 first prints one print area (step 101). FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a printing operation of one printing area. In the printing apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, the width direction (X direction) of the print object 1 is the main scanning direction, and the longitudinal direction (Y direction) of the print object 1 is the sub-scanning direction. First, the main scanning control unit 42 of FIG. 3 controls the drive of the linear motion motor 18 to move the print head 10 to the movement start position in the width direction (X direction) of the print object 1.

Next, the main scanning control unit 42 controls the drive of the linear motion motor 18 to move the print head 10 in the depth direction of the drawing of FIG. 5A, and the print head 10 is moved via the print control unit 44. Drive control is performed, and printing for one scanning width is performed on the print target object 1. At this time, the UV curable ink ejected from each inkjet head of the print head 10 to the surface of the print object 1 is cured immediately after printing by the ultraviolet rays emitted from the UV light 20. Subsequently, the sub-scanning control unit 43 of FIG. 3 controls the drive of the mover 17b of the linear motion motor, moves the moving stage 14 in the Y direction, and sucks and fixes the print object 1 on the table 16. Is moved in the Y direction by one scanning width. Meanwhile, the main scanning control unit 42 controls the drive of the linear motion motor 18 to return the print head 10 to the movement start position. Then, these operations are repeated to print the entire print area. FIG. 5A shows the position of the moving stage 14 in the Y direction at the start of printing, and FIG. 5B shows the position of the moving stage 14 in the Y direction when printing for one print section is completed. ing.

When the moving stage 14 is moved in the Y direction, the dancer roller 22 moves in the upward direction of the drawing shown by the arrow in FIG. 5A against the urging force, and the dancer roller 25 is attached to the moving stage 14. Depending on the force, it moves downward in the drawing shown by the arrow in FIG. 5 (a). Therefore, it is not necessary to drive the supply reel 21 and the recovery reel 26 each time the moving stage 14 is moved in the Y direction, and the dancer rollers 22 and 25 can move the dancer rollers 22 and 25 up and down to drive the supply reel 21 and the recovery reel 26. This should be done when the limit of the range is approached.

The print control unit 44 stores image data to be printed on the print target object 1 and positioning mark data, and the print head 10 prints the image and the positioning mark on the print section of the print target object 1. do. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a printed image and a positioning mark for one print section. The positioning mark 3 has a shape that facilitates image recognition, such as a cross shape, and two or more positioning marks 3 are printed in the widthwise corners of the print object 1 for each print section. ..

In the printing apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, printing is performed when the print head 10 is moved in the same direction, but printing may be performed while the print head 10 is moved in the direction opposite to the immediately preceding scan. good. In that case, UV light sources that generate ultraviolet rays are provided on both sides of the print head 10 in the scanning direction.

(Detection operation of the position of the positioning mark)
In FIG. 4, when the printing of one print area is completed, the CPU 41 of FIG. 3 determines whether or not the printing of all the print areas is completed (step 102). When the printing of all the print areas is not completed, the printing apparatus 100 detects the position of the positioning mark (step 103). 7 and 8 are views for explaining the operation of detecting the position of the positioning mark. First, the main scanning control unit 42 of FIG. 3 controls the drive of the linear motion motor 18 to move the camera unit 31 attached to the print head 10 out of the two positioning marks 3 as shown in FIG. Move to one sky. The camera unit 31 acquires the mark image of the positioning mark 3, and the image processing device 35 of FIG. 3 processes the image signal of the mark image output from the camera unit 31 to process the image signal of the mark image to be printed on the positioning mark 3. The position in the longitudinal direction and the position in the width direction of 1 are detected. Subsequently, the main scanning control unit 42 controls the drive of the linear motion motor 18 to move the camera unit 31 attached to the print head 10 among the two positioning marks 3 as shown in FIG. Move to one sky. The camera unit 31 acquires the mark image of the positioning mark 3, and the image processing device 35 processes the image signal of the mark image output from the camera unit 31 to process the length of the print object 1 of the positioning mark 3. Detects the position in the direction and the position in the width direction.

(Print area change operation)
In FIG. 4, the printing apparatus 100 next changes the print area (step 104). 9 and 10 are diagrams illustrating the operation of changing the print area. In the present embodiment, the linear motors (stator 17a and mover 17b), which are the first moving mechanisms, also serve as a printing area changing mechanism for changing the printing area of the print object 1 supported by the table 16. There is. Further, the guide rollers 23 and 24 and the upper roller 27 form a holding mechanism for holding the print object 1 and lifting it from the table 16.

FIG. 9A shows a state in which printing for one print section is completed. First, the printing apparatus 100 lowers the upper roller 27 located above the guide rollers 23 and 24 from the state shown in FIG. 9A, and as shown in FIG. 9B, the upper roller 27 and the guide The print object 1 is sandwiched and held by the rollers 23 and 24. Then, after releasing the vacuum suction of the print object 1 by the table 16, the printing apparatus 100 raises the upper roller 27 and the guide roller 23 sandwiching the print object 1 together, and also raises the print object 1 together. The sandwiched upper roller 27 and the guide roller 24 are raised together, and the print object 1 is lifted from the table 16 as shown in FIG. 9 (c). Then, the sub-scanning control unit 43 of FIG. 3 controls the drive of the mover 17b of the linear motor, moves the moving stage 14 in the direction opposite to that at the time of printing, and prints the table 16 in the printed area where printing is completed. Return to where it was at the start.

FIG. 10A shows a state in which the table 16 is returned to its original position. From the state shown in FIG. 10A, the printing apparatus 100 lowers the upper roller 27 and the guide roller 23 sandwiching the print object 1 together, and also causes the upper roller 27 sandwiching the print object 1 to be lowered. The guide roller 24 and the guide roller 24 are lowered together, and the print object 1 is mounted on the table 16 as shown in FIG. 10 (b). Then, the printing apparatus 100 vacuum-sucks the object 1 to be printed by the table 16 and then raises the upper roller 27 to the original position as shown in FIG. 10 (c). By the above series of operations, the print area of the print object 1 supported by the table 16 is changed.

The first moving mechanism also serves as a print area changing mechanism, and while the holding mechanism holds the print target object 1, the table 16 is returned to the place where printing of the printed area was completed at the start of printing, and the table is displayed. Since the print area of the print object 1 supported by 16 is changed, it is not necessary to separately provide a print area change mechanism, and the configuration is simple. Further, since it is not necessary to separately perform the operation of returning the table 16 to the original place, the takt time is shortened.

Further, since the printing object 1 is held and lifted from the table 16 by the holding mechanism, the table 16 is returned to the place where the printing target was at the start of printing in the print area where printing was completed, and the printing object 1 supported by the table 16 is returned. When the print area is changed, the print object 1 does not shift in position due to friction with the table 16.

(Irradiation operation of light from the temperature control light source)
In FIG. 4, when the change of the print area is completed, the printing apparatus 100 irradiates the print object 1 with light for raising the temperature of the print object 1 generated from the temperature control light source (step 105). .. In the present embodiment, the UV light 20 also serves as a temperature control light source, and irradiates the print object 1 with ultraviolet rays generated from the UV light 20. 11 and 12 are diagrams illustrating the irradiation operation of ultraviolet rays. The main scanning control unit 42 in FIG. 3 controls the drive of the linear motion motor 18 to move the UV light 20 attached to the print head 10 in the width direction of the print object 1 as shown in FIG. Then, the ultraviolet rays generated from the UV light 20 are applied to the print object 1. FIG. 11 shows a state in which irradiation with ultraviolet rays has started, and FIG. 12 shows a state in which irradiation with ultraviolet rays has ended once.

The temperature rise of the print object 1 due to the irradiation of ultraviolet rays from the UV light 20 varies depending on the material or thickness of the print object 1. In the present embodiment, the main scanning control unit 42 controls the linear motion motor 18 constituting the second moving mechanism according to the material or thickness of the print target object 1, and the UV light 20 is printed on the print target object 1. The printed object 1 is irradiated with the ultraviolet rays generated from the UV light 20 multiple times by moving the print object 1 a plurality of times in the width direction of the print object 1. As a result, the temperature change of the printing object 1 during printing and after the printing area is changed is effectively suppressed.

Further, in the present embodiment, the UV light 20 also serves as a temperature control light source, and by using the UV light 20 as the temperature control light source, the configuration of the device can be simplified. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a light source for temperature control may be provided separately from the UV light 20. In that case, the temperature control light source may be a light source that generates white light, infrared rays, or the like.

It should be noted that the irradiation of the light from the temperature control light source can be performed not only when the print area is changed but also before the printing of the first print area is started in step 101 of FIG. Further, when the time interval between one scan of the print head 10 and the next scan becomes longer than that during normal printing, such as when cleaning the inkjet head mounted on the print head 10 in the middle of printing. Can also be done.

(Re-detection operation of the position of the positioning mark)
In FIG. 4, the printing apparatus 100 then rediscovers the position of the positioning mark (step 106). The operation of re-detecting the position of the positioning mark is the same as the operation of detecting the position of the positioning mark (step 103) described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8.

(Correction amount determination operation)
In FIG. 4, after rediscovering the position of the positioning mark, the printing apparatus 100 determines the correction amount of the position of the print object 1 in the longitudinal direction and the correction amount of the print start position in the width direction (step 107). .. At this time, the sub-scanning control unit 43 of FIG. 3 determines the position of each positioning mark 3 detected in step 103 in the longitudinal direction of the printing object 1 and the printing target before changing the printing area of the printing object 1. After changing the print area of the object 1 and irradiating the print object 1 with the light generated from the temperature control light source, the position of each positioning mark 3 detected in step 106 in the longitudinal direction of the print object 1. From the difference, the correction amount of the position of the print object 1 in the longitudinal direction is determined. Further, the print control unit 44 of FIG. 3 determines the position of each positioning mark 3 detected in step 103 in the width direction and the print target object 1 before changing the print area of the print target object 1. From the difference between the position of each positioning mark 3 detected in step 106 in the width direction of the printing object 1 after changing the printing area of the printing area and irradiating the printing object 1 with the light generated from the temperature control light source. , The correction amount of the print start position in the width direction of the print object 1 is determined.

(Correction operation of position in the longitudinal direction)
In FIG. 4, the printing apparatus 100 next corrects the position of the object to be printed 1 in the longitudinal direction (step 108). The sub-scanning control unit 43 of FIG. 3 controls the drive of the mover 17b of the linear motor constituting the first moving mechanism based on the correction amount of the position in the longitudinal direction of the print object 1 determined in step 107. Then, the moving stage 14 is moved in the Y direction to correct the position of the print object 1 supported by the table 16 in the longitudinal direction.

The positioning mark 3 before changing the print area of the print object 1 and after changing the print area of the print object 1 and irradiating the print object 1 with the light generated from the temperature control light source. The correction amount of the longitudinal position of the print object 1 is determined from the difference in the position of the print object 1 in the longitudinal direction (step 107), and the table 16 is moved by the first moving mechanism based on the determined correction amount. Since the position of the print object 1 supported by the table 16 in the longitudinal direction is corrected (step 108), the influence of expansion and contraction in the longitudinal direction due to the temperature change of the print object 1 is suppressed. No complicated image processing is required to correct the expansion and contraction of the print object 1 in the longitudinal direction.

(Correction operation of positional deviation in the θ direction)
In FIG. 4, the printing apparatus 100 further corrects the positional deviation of the print object 1 in the θ direction (step 109). The image processing device 35 of FIG. 3 has a positional deviation amount of the print target 1 in the θ direction from the position in the longitudinal direction and the position in the width direction of the print target 1 of each positioning mark 3 detected in step 103 or step 106. Is detected. Then, the θ stage drive control unit 45 in FIG. 3 rotates the table 16 in the θ direction by the θ stage 15 based on the amount of positional deviation of the print object 1 detected by the image processing device 35 in the θ direction, and the table 16 Correct the misalignment in the θ direction of the print object 1 supported by.

A plurality of positioning marks 3 are printed for each print section of the print target object 1, and the detection device 30 detects the positions of the plurality of positioning marks 3 to determine the amount of misalignment of the print target object 1 in the θ direction. Can be detected. Then, based on the detection result, the table 16 is rotated in the θ direction by the θ stage 15 to correct the positional deviation of the print object 1 supported by the table 16 in the θ direction. The misalignment is eliminated, and the image 2 is printed with higher accuracy.

(Change operation of print start position)
In FIG. 4, when the correction of the positional deviation of the print object 1 in the θ direction is completed, the printing apparatus 100 returns to step 101 and prints the image 2 and the positioning mark 3 on the new print section. At the time of printing, the print control unit 44 of FIG. 3 controls the print head 10 based on the correction amount of the print start position in the width direction of the print object 1 determined in step 107, and controls the print head 10 in the width direction of the print object 1. Change the print start position.

The positioning mark 3 before changing the print area of the print object 1 and after changing the print area of the print object 1 and irradiating the print object 1 with the light generated from the temperature control light source. From the difference in the position of the print target 1 in the width direction, the correction amount of the print start position in the width direction of the print target 1 is determined (step 107), and the print head 10 is controlled based on the determined correction amount. Since the print start position in the width direction of the print target object 1 is changed, the influence of expansion and contraction in the width direction due to the temperature change of the print target object 1 can be suppressed by a simple process. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing printed images and positioning marks for two print sections.

A print head equipped with an inkjet head that moves the table 16 in the longitudinal direction of the object 1 to be printed by the first moving mechanism and ejects UV curable ink that is cured by being irradiated with ultraviolet rays by the second moving mechanism. 10 and the UV light 20 that generates ultraviolet rays are moved in the width direction of the print object 1, and the image 2 and the positioning mark 3 are placed in the print section of the print object 1 supported by the table 16 by the print head 10. The UV curable ink is cured by irradiating the printing object 1 with the ultraviolet rays generated from the UV light 20 while printing the above, so that the printing quality in each printing area is improved. Further, after the printing of one print area is completed, the print area of the print object 1 supported by the table 16 is changed by the first movement mechanism, and the temperature of the print object 1 is raised by the second movement mechanism. The temperature control light source that generates light (in the present embodiment, the UV light 20 also serves as the UV light 20) is moved in the width direction of the print object 1, and the light generated from the temperature control light source is applied to the print object 1. Therefore, the influence of expansion and contraction due to the temperature change of the print object 1 is suppressed. Then, the detection device 30 detects the position of the positioning mark 3, controls the print head 10 and the first moving mechanism according to the detected position of the positioning mark 3, and is adjacent to the print area before the change. Since the positions of the image to be printed on the new print area after the change and the positioning mark are adjusted, the occurrence of banding at the boundary portion of the print area is suppressed, and high-quality printing is performed.

[Effect of embodiment]
According to the embodiment described above, the following effects are obtained.
(1) When printing a continuous image on a plurality of printing sections adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction of the printing object 1 extending in a strip shape using UV curable ink, the occurrence of banding is suppressed and high-quality printing is performed. It can be carried out.

(2) Further, positioning before changing the print area of the print object 1 and after changing the print area of the print object 1 and irradiating the print object 1 with the light generated from the temperature control light source. The correction amount of the print start position in the width direction of the print target object 1 is determined from the difference in the position of the print target object 1 in the width direction of the mark 3, and the print head 10 is controlled based on the determined correction amount. By changing the print start position in the width direction of the print target object 1, it is possible to suppress the influence of expansion and contraction in the width direction due to the temperature change of the print target object 1 by a simple process.

(3) Further, positioning before changing the print area of the print object 1 and after changing the print area of the print object 1 and irradiating the print object 1 with the light generated from the temperature control light source. The correction amount of the longitudinal position of the print target 1 is determined from the difference in the longitudinal position of the print target 1 of the mark 3, and the table 16 is moved by the first movement mechanism based on the determined correction amount. By correcting the position of the print object 1 supported by the table 16 in the longitudinal direction, the influence of expansion and contraction in the longitudinal direction due to the temperature change of the print object 1 is suppressed without performing complicated image processing. be able to.

(4) Further, the second moving mechanism is controlled according to the material or thickness of the print object 1, and the temperature control light source is moved a plurality of times in the width direction of the print object 1 to move the temperature control light source. By irradiating the print object 1 with the light generated from the above multiple times, it is possible to effectively suppress the temperature change of the print object 1 during printing and after the print area is changed.

(5) Further, by using the UV light 20 as the temperature control light source, the configuration of the apparatus can be simplified.

In the embodiment described above, the linear motor is used as the first moving mechanism and the second moving mechanism, but other moving mechanisms such as a ball screw may be used.

Further, in the embodiment described above, the holding mechanism for holding the print object 1 is composed of the guide rollers 23 and 24 and the upper roller 27, but the upper roller 27 is not limited to the roller and is not limited to the roller. Any structure may be used as long as it can clamp the print object 1 with 23 or 24.

Further, in the embodiment described above, two positioning marks 3 are printed for each print area, but three or more positioning marks 3 may be printed for each print area.

Further, in the embodiment described above, the camera unit 31 is attached to the print head 10 and the camera unit 31 is moved together with the print head 10, but the camera unit 31 may be fixedly installed.

Further, in the embodiment described above, the camera unit 31 is composed of the light source 32, the lens 33, and the camera 34, and the illumination light generated from the light source 32 is reflected by the half mirror in the lens 33 to be printed on the object 1 to be printed. However, ring illumination or another illumination method may be used as long as the illumination light can be applied to the surface of the object to be printed.

1 Image to be printed 2 Image 3 Positioning mark 10 Print head 11 Base 12 Gate 13 Guide 14 Moving stage 15 θ Stage 16 Table 17a Linear motor (stator), 17b Linear motor (movable element)
18 Linear motor 20 UV light 21 Supply reel 22,25 Dancer roller 23,24 Guide roller 26 Recovery reel 27 Upper roller 30 Detection device 31 Camera unit 32 Light source 33 Lens 34 Camera 35 Image processing device 40 Control device 41 CPU
42 Main scan control unit 43 Sub scan control unit 44 Print control unit 45 θ Stage drive control unit 47 Supply reel drive control unit 48 Recovery reel drive control unit 100 Printing device

Claims (10)

A table that supports the back side of a part of the print area of the print object that extends in a strip shape,
A print head equipped with an inkjet head that ejects UV-curable ink that cures when irradiated with ultraviolet rays.
A UV light source that generates ultraviolet rays and
A temperature control light source that generates light that raises the temperature of the object to be printed,
A first moving mechanism for moving the table in the longitudinal direction of the print object,
A second moving mechanism that moves the print head, the UV light source, and the temperature control light source in the width direction of the print object.
By controlling the print head, the first moving mechanism, and the second moving mechanism, the print head prints an image and a positioning mark on the print section of the print object supported by the table. A control device that irradiates the print object with ultraviolet rays generated from the UV light source to cure the UV curable ink.
A detection device for detecting the position of the positioning mark is provided.
The control device controls the second movement mechanism when the print area of the print object supported on the table by the first movement mechanism is changed after the printing of one print area is completed. After moving the temperature control light source in the width direction of the print object and irradiating the print object with the light generated from the temperature control light source, the position of the positioning mark detected by the detection device is adjusted. , The printing head and the first moving mechanism are controlled to adjust the position of the image to be printed and the positioning mark on the new printing area after the change adjacent to the printing area before the change. Device. The detection device transfers the light generated from the temperature control light source to the print object before changing the print area of the print object supported by the table and by changing the print area of the print object. After irradiating, the position of the positioning mark is detected,
The control device changes the print area of the print object before changing the print area of the print object, and after changing the print area of the print object and irradiating the print object with light generated from the temperature control light source. The correction amount of the print start position in the width direction of the print object is determined from the difference in the position of the positioning mark in the width direction of the print object, and the print head is controlled based on the determined correction amount. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing start position in the width direction of the printing object is changed. The control device changes the print area of the print object before changing the print area of the print object, and after changing the print area of the print object and irradiating the print object with light generated from the temperature control light source. The correction amount of the position in the longitudinal direction of the print object is determined from the difference in the position of the positioning mark in the longitudinal direction of the print object, and based on the determined correction amount, the table is operated by the first moving mechanism. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the printing apparatus is moved to correct the position of the printing object supported by the table in the longitudinal direction. The control device controls the second moving mechanism according to the material or thickness of the printing object, and moves the temperature control light source a plurality of times in the width direction of the printing object to obtain the temperature. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the printing object is irradiated with the light generated from the adjusting light source a plurality of times. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the UV light source also serves as the temperature control light source. The back side of a part of the printing area of the printing object extending in a strip shape is supported by a table,
The first moving mechanism moves the table in the longitudinal direction of the print object.
By the second moving mechanism, a print head equipped with an inkjet head that ejects UV curable ink that is cured by being irradiated with ultraviolet rays and a UV light source that generates ultraviolet rays are moved in the width direction of the object to be printed.
The print head irradiates the print object with ultraviolet rays generated from the UV light source while printing an image and a positioning mark on the print area of the print object supported by the table to obtain the UV. Cure the curable ink,
After the printing of one print area is completed, the print area of the print object supported by the table is changed by the first movement mechanism.
The temperature control light source that generates light that raises the temperature of the print object is moved in the width direction of the print object by the second movement mechanism, and the light generated from the temperature control light source is used. After irradiating the print object, the detection device detects the position of the positioning mark, and controls the print head and the first moving mechanism according to the detected position of the positioning mark before the change. A printing method comprising adjusting the position of an image and a positioning mark to be printed on a new printing area after a change adjacent to the printing area of. Before changing the print area of the print object supported by the table by the detection device, and by changing the print area of the print object, the light generated from the temperature control light source is transmitted to the print object. After irradiating, the position of the positioning mark is detected,
The positioning mark before changing the print area of the print object and after changing the print area of the print object and irradiating the print object with the light generated from the temperature control light source. The correction amount of the print start position in the width direction of the print target is determined from the difference in the position of the print target in the width direction, and the print head is controlled based on the determined correction amount to control the print target. The printing method according to claim 6, wherein the printing start position in the width direction of the above is changed. The positioning mark before changing the print area of the print object and after changing the print area of the print object and irradiating the print object with the light generated from the temperature control light source. The correction amount of the position in the longitudinal direction of the print object is determined from the difference in the position of the print object in the longitudinal direction, and the table is moved by the first movement mechanism based on the determined correction amount. The printing method according to claim 7, wherein the position of the printing object supported on the table in the longitudinal direction is corrected. The second moving mechanism is controlled according to the material or thickness of the print object, and the temperature control light source is moved a plurality of times in the width direction of the print object to be generated from the temperature control light source. The printing method according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the printed object is irradiated with the resulting light a plurality of times. The printing method according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the UV light source is used as the temperature control light source.

Images