TWI654095B - Multiple-pass uv inkjet printer for outputting high glossy varnish and method using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

Multi-stroke UV inkjet printer for outputting high-brightness transparent ink and printing method thereof, comprising a side UV light projection device disposed on a side of the inkjet module and a front UV light projection device, the front portion The UV light projection device is disposed at a position in front of the inkjet module 10 that does not overlap the transparent ink inkjet head, so that when the output transparent ink is printed, the nth printing stroke on the substrate is made. The transparent ink is set by the UV inkjet printer at the n+1th printing stroke or after the n+1th printing stroke by the lower side of the UV light projection device with lower UV irradiation power or temporarily not. Curing, and then after the next printing stroke or after the next printing stroke, the UV light projection device is placed under the UV light projection device to be fully cured, thereby increasing the yield.

Description

Multi-stroke UV inkjet printer for outputting high-brightness transparent ink and printing method thereof

The invention relates to a multi-stroke UV inkjet printer for outputting high-brightness transparent ink and a printing method thereof, in particular to a delayed curing program which can complete a transparent ink in one process.

Because UV inkjet printers can print on many different materials or thicknesses to be printed, in addition to providing faster printing speeds and achieving consistent and consistent print quality, the reliable performance is also Users can quickly print out the work and time of producing color separation screens, making UV inkjet printers widely used in professional commercial output applications such as advertising, posters and high-quality art reproduction.

In the UV inkjet printers currently seen on the market, there is mainly a controllable and reciprocating inkjet module on the sliding platform of the machine, and a plurality of inks are arranged above the inkjet module. a plurality of inkjet heads corresponding to the respective ink cartridges are disposed under the inkjet module, and the ink is printed on the to-be-printed object to be printed through the nozzles at the bottom of the inkjet head, and then the inkjet module is used. The UV lamp provided on the side is projected onto the ink that has been printed on the object to be printed, so that the ink hardens and solidifies quickly. When printing the to-be-printed material, the conventional printing is performed by one-way single printing or two-way two-way printing in each of the areas to be printed to shorten the printing time. .

In order to make the printed product show a rich color gradation change, the UV inkjet printer uses the color separation software for color separation processing, according to the image size and resolution of the image to be printed. It is decomposed into multiple multi-passes, so that the inkjet head prints the data to be printed in stages. The printing method and apparatus provided in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,469,198 and 5,923,349 are incorporated herein by reference.

If the surface of the to-be-printed material has a transparent brightness effect after the printing is completed, generally a layer of transparent ink is printed on the pattern when printing the pattern of each area to be printed of the to-be-printed material, and The transparent ink is temporarily set (semi-cured) with a low-energy UV lamp, or even the transparent ink is not cured; after the full image is printed, the entire inkjet module is returned to the printing start point by 100%. The UV lamp energy lamp is completely cured to process the transparent ink sprayed on the area to be printed, so as to form a transparent color layer on the pattern of the area to be printed by the delayed curing process, so that the processed part is printed. The surface forms a solid color stereo effect.

However, the above-mentioned delayed curing process for clear inks takes more than twice as long to completely cure the clear ink, and the semi-cured or uncured transparent ink surface is easily adhered to by dust before waiting for the final full curing process. Surface defects are caused on the surface of the semi-cured or uncured transparent ink, and there is still room for improvement in printing technology.

Therefore, how to effectively improve the defects of the above-mentioned delayed curing process to improve the transparent brightness effect and quality of the surface of the print of the UV inkjet printer has been eagerly pursued by the inventors.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a multi-stroke UV inkjet printer capable of outputting high-brightness transparent ink and printing thereof while improving the printing quality of the transparent ink on the surface of the printed matter. method.

In order to achieve the above purpose, a multi-stroke UV inkjet printer for outputting high-brightness transparent ink according to the present invention comprises an inkjet module for performing printing operations in a manner of moving back and forth, and a side-mounted UV light. a projection device and a front UV light projection device; the inkjet module has a transparent ink inkjet head for outputting a transparent ink on a substrate; the side UV light projection device is disposed on a side of the inkjet module; and the front UV light projection device is disposed on the inkjet a position in front of the module that does not overlap the transparent ink inkjet head; thereby, the side UV light projection device and the front UV light projection device are simultaneously activated when the transparent ink is output, and the side UV light is emitted The UV illumination power of the projection device is smaller than the UV illumination power of the front UV light projection device, so that the transparent ink on the substrate is first shaped or temporarily not cured by the side UV light projection device during printing. And using the front UV light projection device to completely cure the transparent ink on the substrate.

In addition, the multi-stroke UV inkjet printer printing method for outputting high-brightness transparent ink according to the present invention comprises the steps of: providing a side-side UV light projection device on the side of the inkjet module, and a front UV light projection device is provided at a position in front of the ink module that does not overlap the transparent ink inkjet head; when the UV inkjet printer outputs transparent ink for printing, a data to be printed is to be printed Each of the printing areas is decomposed into a plurality of printing strokes, and simultaneously activates the side UV light projection device and the front UV light projection device, wherein the UV radiation power of the side UV light projection device is smaller than the front UV The UV irradiation power of the light projection device, when the substrate is forwardly conveyed, the transparent ink of the nth printing stroke on the substrate is subjected to the n+1th printing stroke of the UV inkjet printer Or after the n+1th printing stroke, the lower side of the side UV light projection device is shaped or temporarily not cured, and then passes through the front UV light after the next printing stroke or the next printing stroke. The underside of the projection device is fully cured.

In implementation, the width of the illumination area of the front UV light projection device is greater than the width of one printing stroke.

In implementation, the width of the side UV light projection device in a direction parallel to the transparent ink inkjet head is less than or equal to the width of the transparent ink inkjet head, and the side UV light projection device is perpendicular to the transparent The direction of the ink jet head is overlapped with the transparent ink jet head Set.

In implementation, when the width of the side UV light projection device is less than the width of the transparent ink inkjet head, the side UV light projection device and the transparent ink inkjet head are perpendicular to the transparent ink inkjet head The unoverlapping width is greater than or equal to the width of one printing stroke.

In practice, the side UV light projection device can be activated with a UV illumination power greater than or equal to 0%, and the front UV light projection device can be activated with less than or equal to 100% UV illumination power to cause the substrate to be on The transparent ink is cured.

In implementation, the side UV light projection device and the front UV light projection device are simultaneously activated to shape or cure the clear ink of the different printing strokes on the material.

The effect of the present invention can provide a multi-stroke UV inkjet printer with a shorter time delaying the curing process and a greatly improved throughput, and a printing method thereof.

In order to further understand the present invention, the specific embodiments of the present invention and the effects achieved thereby are described in detail below with reference to the drawings and drawings.

1‧‧‧Multi-stroke UV inkjet printer

10‧‧‧Inkjet Module

11‧‧‧ Side UV light projection device

12, 13, 14‧‧‧ front UV light projection device

101‧‧‧Transparent inkjet head

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a schematic view showing the appearance of an embodiment of a multi-stroke UV ink jet printer according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the ink jet module portion a of the embodiment of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a schematic view showing the arrangement of the ink jet module, the side UV light projection device, and the front UV light projection device of the embodiment of Fig. 1.

Figure 4 is a schematic view showing the arrangement of the side UV light projection device and the front UV light projection device of the second embodiment of the multi-stroke UV ink jet printer of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a partially enlarged view of the ink jet module of the embodiment of Fig. 4.

Figure 6 is a schematic view showing the arrangement of a side UV light projection device and a front UV light projection device of a third embodiment of the multi-stroke UV ink jet printer of the present invention.

Figure 7 is a schematic view showing the arrangement of a side UV light projection device and a front UV light projection device of a fourth embodiment of the multi-stroke UV ink jet printer of the present invention.

Figure 8 is a flow chart showing an embodiment of a multi-stroke UV inkjet printer printing method of the present invention.

Please refer to FIGS. 1 to 3, which are the first embodiment of the multi-stroke UV inkjet printer 1 for outputting high-brightness transparent ink according to the present invention, which comprises a spray for performing printing operations by moving left and right back and forth. An ink module 10, a side UV light projection device 11 disposed on a side of the inkjet module 10, and a front UV light projection device 12, wherein the inkjet module 10 has a different color ink output on a substrate ( a plurality of color ink inkjet heads (not shown) and a transparent ink inkjet head 101 for outputting transparent ink on the substrate, and the side UV light projection device 11 and the front UV light projection device 12 is roughly a rectangular structure.

The side UV light projection device 11 is disposed in parallel with the transparent ink inkjet head 101 in a longitudinal advancement conveying direction along the substrate, and the side UV light projection device 11 is parallel to the transparent ink inkjet head. The width W _{UVA in the} direction is less than or equal to the width W _{phnzl of} the transparent ink jet head (ie, W _UVA < W _phnzl ), such that the translational region of the side UV light projection device 11 and the translation of the transparent ink inkjet head The overlap ratio of the regions is less than or equal to 100%.

The front UV light projection device 12 is disposed at a position that does not overlap the transparent ink inkjet head 101 in front of the inkjet module 10 (ie, in front of the longitudinal advancement direction of the substrate), that is, The translational region of the front UV light projection device 12 does not overlap the translational region of the clear ink inkjet head 101 during printing. Further, the UV light power of the front UV light projection device 12 is the same as that of the side UV light projection device 11.

As shown in FIG. 8, when the UV inkjet printer 1 performs the output printing of the transparent ink, it includes the following printing step: S11: the substrate is to be listed according to the longitudinal direction of the substrate. Print each column in the data The printing area is decomposed into a plurality of printing strokes; S12: controlling the transparent ink inkjet head 101 to output transparent ink above the printing area of the nth printing stroke (n≧1), and simultaneously outputting the side UV light projection The device 11 and the front UV light projection device 12, wherein the UV illumination power of the side UV light projection device is less than the UV illumination power of the front UV light projection device; S13: when the substrate is transported forward, The transparent ink outputted by the nth printing stroke on the substrate is projected by the side UV light after the n+1th printing stroke or the n+1th printing stroke of the UV inkjet printer The lower portion of the device 10 is used for setting curing or not curing; S14: then the transparent ink outputted by the nth printing stroke is used for the next printing stroke (for example, the n+2 printing stroke) or the next The printing stroke (for example, the n+2th printing stroke) is completely cured by the lower side of the front UV light projection device.

In the above printing step S11, the irradiation area width W _{UVB of} the front UV light projection device 12 is made larger than the width of one printing stroke. In addition, when the width of the side UV light projection device 11 is smaller than the width of the transparent ink inkjet head 101, the side UV light projection device 11 and the transparent ink inkjet head 101 are perpendicular to the transparent ink inkjet head. The unoverlapping width in the direction of 101 is greater than or equal to the width of one printing stroke.

In the above printing step S12, the UV illumination power of the side UV light projection device 11 is smaller than the UV illumination power of the front UV light projection device 12, for example, the UV light output by the side UV light projection device 11. The power can be 0 (no curing) or less than 100% (for setting curing only) to delay curing the output transparent ink, and the front UV light projection device 12 outputs 100% of the UV light power. The output clear ink is completely cured.

Please refer to FIG. 4, which is a second embodiment of the multi-stroke UV inkjet printer 1 of the present invention, wherein the front UV light projection device 13 can be disposed under the side UV light projection device 11. The squares are combined as shown in Fig. 5, and the arrangement positions of the side UV light projection device 11 and the front UV light projection device 13 are the same as those of the first embodiment described above.

In addition, as shown in the third embodiment of FIG. 6, the one-side side UV light projection device 11 and the front UV of the second embodiment are respectively disposed on the left and right sides of the inkjet module 10. The light projection device 13 and the arrangement position of the side UV light projection device 11 and the front UV light projection device 13 are the same as those of the first embodiment described above.

In addition, as shown in the fourth embodiment of FIG. 7, the front UV light projection device 13 can be disposed at a position below the side UV light projection device 11 and disposed separately from the side UV light projection device 11. .

In other embodiments, the UV light power of the front UV light projection device 12 can be different from the UV light power of the side UV light projection device 11, but the side UV light projection is performed when the transparent ink is output for printing. The UV illumination power used by the device 11 still needs to be less than the UV illumination power used by the pre-UV light projection device 12.

Therefore, the present invention has the following advantages:

(1) The present invention can make the delayed curing effect of the transparent ink larger, and can greatly reduce the possibility of finding dust when it is affected by the falling dust, so as to further improve the surface brightness effect of the printed matter.

(2) Compared with the conventional delayed curing method, the present invention does not require an additional UV light source curing process after outputting the transparent ink, and only requires one procedure to enable the transparent ink to be shaped or cured in different printing strokes, and can be shortened. Approximately 50% of the delayed cure time can significantly increase the capacity while reducing the impact of dust and prolong the life of the machine, thereby increasing the competitiveness of multi-stroke UV inkjet printers.

(3) The side UV light projection device of the present invention and the front UV light projection device can be smaller in size than the ink jet head to reduce machine cost and maintenance cost.

In summary, the present invention can achieve the invention according to the above disclosure. The intended purpose is to provide a multi-stroke UV inkjet printer and a printing method for outputting high-brightness transparent ink with high output and low cost, which is of great industrial value, and proposes an invention patent according to law.

Claims (9)

A multi-stroke UV inkjet printer for outputting high-brightness transparent ink, comprising an inkjet module for performing a printing operation by moving back and forth, the inkjet module having a transparent ink for outputting a bottom a transparent ink inkjet head on the material, the multi-stroke UV inkjet printer comprising: a side UV light projection device disposed on a side of the inkjet module, wherein the side UV light projection device is parallel to The width of the transparent ink inkjet head is less than or equal to the width of the transparent ink inkjet head; and a front UV light projection device is disposed in front of the inkjet module and does not inkjet with the transparent ink Wherein the head overlaps; wherein the side UV light projection device and the front UV light projection device are simultaneously activated when the transparent ink is output, and the UV illumination power of the side UV light projection device is smaller than the front UV The UV illumination power of the light projection device. The multi-stroke UV inkjet printer according to claim 1, wherein each of the printing areas in the to-be-printed material is decomposed into a plurality of printing strokes, and the front UV light projection device is The width of the illumination area is greater than the width of one print stroke. The multi-stroke UV inkjet printer of claim 1, wherein the side UV light projection device and the side UV light projection device have a width smaller than a width of the transparent ink inkjet head The uncrossed width of the transparent ink jet head in a direction perpendicular to the clear ink jet head is greater than or equal to the width of one printing stroke. The multi-stroke UV inkjet printer of claim 1, wherein the side UV light projection device can be activated by a UV illumination power greater than or equal to 0%, and the front UV light projection device can be A UV illumination power of less than or equal to 100% is initiated to cure the clear ink on the substrate. The multi-stroke UV inkjet printer of claim 4, wherein the side UV light is The projection device and the front UV light projection device are simultaneously activated to respectively shape or cure the clear ink of the different printing strokes on the material. A multi-stroke UV inkjet printer printing method for outputting high-brightness transparent ink, the UV inkjet printer comprising an inkjet module for performing printing operation by moving back and forth, the inkjet module has a transparent ink inkjet head for outputting transparent ink on a substrate, the printing method comprising: providing a side UV light projection device on a side of the inkjet module, and in front of the inkjet module Providing a front-facing UV light projection device at a position that does not overlap the transparent ink inkjet head; and printing a transparent ink for printing on the UV inkjet printer to print each of the printed regions in the data to be printed Decomposing into a plurality of printing strokes, and simultaneously starting the side UV light projection device and the front UV light projection device, wherein the UV radiation power of the side UV light projection device is smaller than the UV of the front UV light projection device Irradiating power, when the substrate is forwardly conveyed, the transparent ink of the nth printing stroke on the substrate is subjected to the n+1th printing stroke or the n+1th of the UV inkjet printer After the printing stroke, the lower part of the UV light projection device is shaped; After the next printing stroke or a next print stroke to completely below the pre-cured by UV light projection device. The printing method of claim 6, wherein the front UV light projection device has an irradiation area width greater than a width of one printing stroke. The printing method of claim 6, wherein the side UV light projection device has a width in a direction parallel to the transparent ink inkjet head that is less than or equal to a width of the transparent ink inkjet head. The printing method of claim 6, wherein the side UV light projection device is The UV illumination power is greater than or equal to 0%, and the pre-UV light projection device can be activated with less than or equal to 100% UV illumination power to cure the clear ink on the substrate.