TWI795040B - Printing device and printing method - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to suppress a reduction in working efficiency and a printing position shift on a workpiece in a printing device that performs printing with a plurality of printing units. The printing device of the present invention has: more than 3 printing units; and a conveying mechanism for conveying workpieces on the conveying path; , and is used to transfer workpieces between each receiving position and the printing unit; the conveying path spans more than 3 receiving positions; a plurality of conveying parts move along the conveying path while maintaining a certain distance from each other.

Description

Printing device and printing method

The technology disclosed in the specification of this case relates to a printing technology.

There is an increasing demand for printing on rotationally symmetrical workpieces used in cosmetic bottles and the like. For printing on such a curved surface shape of a workpiece, gravure offset printing via a soft printing cloth, etc. is useful. [Prior technical literature] [Patent literature]

[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2020-082605

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

In a printing device that transfers a workpiece between a plurality of printing units and can perform printing on each printing unit, a transfer mechanism that transfers the workpiece between two adjacent printing units is provided. Therefore, when conveying the workpiece to other printing units other than the two printing units, it is necessary to convey the workpiece using a conveying mechanism different from the above.

If so, it is necessary to have time for transferring workpieces between a plurality of conveying mechanisms, and the working efficiency may be reduced. In addition, when the workpiece is transferred between a plurality of transfer mechanisms, the position of the workpiece may be shifted, and the printing position of the workpiece between the printing units may be shifted.

The technique disclosed in the specification of this application was completed in view of the problems described above, and it is used in a printing device that performs printing with a plurality of printing units to suppress the reduction in working efficiency and the deviation of the printing position from the workpiece . [Technical means to solve problems]

The printing device of the first aspect of the technology disclosed in the specification of this case is used to print at least one workpiece, and is equipped with: 3 or more printing units, which are used to transfer the aforementioned workpieces at the corresponding transfer positions , and print the aforementioned workpieces handed over at the aforementioned receiving positions; and a conveying mechanism, which is used to transport the aforementioned workpieces along a conveying path spanning three or more aforementioned receiving positions; the aforementioned conveying mechanism has a plurality of conveying parts, and the aforementioned plural A plurality of conveying parts are used to carry out the receiving and receiving of the aforementioned workpieces between each of the aforementioned receiving positions and the corresponding aforementioned printing units; a plurality of the aforementioned transferring parts can hold the aforementioned workpieces and move along the aforementioned conveying path; Move along the aforementioned conveying path in the state of distance.

The printing device of the second aspect of the technology disclosed in the specification of this application is related to the printing device of the first aspect, wherein the aforementioned workpiece is further held by each of the aforementioned conveying parts while being held by a holder, and each of the aforementioned conveying parts is Corresponding to the aforementioned giving and receiving position, the aforementioned workpiece is given and received in a state held by the aforementioned holder.

The printing device of the third aspect of the technology disclosed in the specification of this case is associated with the printing device of the first or second aspect, wherein the distance between the adjacent conveying parts is an integer multiple of the distance between the adjacent aforementioned receiving positions , a plurality of the above-mentioned conveying parts simultaneously carry out the delivery and reception of the aforementioned workpieces at the corresponding aforementioned delivery and receiving positions.

The printing device of the fourth aspect of the technology disclosed in the specification of this case is associated with the printing device of any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the aforementioned receiving position corresponds to each of the three or more aforementioned printing units and at least includes the first The transfer position, the second transfer position, and the third transfer position; the plurality of transfer units include at least the first transfer unit and the second transfer unit; alternately formed in the transfer path: the first transfer unit is located in the first transfer position , and the first configuration in which the second conveying unit is located at the second receiving position; and the second configuration in which the first transporting unit is located at the second receiving position and the second transporting unit is located at the third receiving position.

The printing device of the fifth aspect of the technology disclosed in the specification of this case is related to the printing device of the fourth aspect, wherein the workpiece is transferred from the first conveying part to the second conveying part under the second configuration After at least one of them is delivered to the corresponding printing unit, while the corresponding printing unit is printing the delivered workpiece, the first conveying part and the second conveying part move to form the first configuration.

The printing device of the sixth aspect of the technology disclosed in the specification of this case is associated with the printing device of any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the conveying mechanism is further equipped with guide rails along the conveying path, and each of the conveying parts can be moved along The aforementioned rails move.

The printing device of the seventh aspect of the technology disclosed in the specification of this case is associated with the printing device of any one of the first to sixth aspects, and it further includes: a recovery mechanism, which is recovered to transport from the upstream to the downstream of the aforementioned transport path The aforementioned workpieces are printed by the aforementioned printing unit located on the downstream side of the aforementioned conveying path among the three or more aforementioned printing units that are printed in sequence; The upstream side of the path loops.

The printing device of the eighth aspect of the technology disclosed in the specification of this case is associated with the printing device of the seventh aspect, and it further has an irradiation unit that irradiates ultraviolet rays to the aforementioned workpiece recovered by the aforementioned recycling mechanism; The workpiece irradiated with ultraviolet rays by the irradiation unit circulates upstream of the conveyance path.

The printing device of the ninth aspect of the technology disclosed in the specification of this case is associated with the printing device of any one of the first to eighth aspects, and it is further equipped with a carrying-in mechanism. The above-mentioned delivery and receiving position at the most upstream of the above-mentioned transportation path is the loading path of the most upstream delivery and receiving position, and is used to load the aforementioned workpiece through the aforementioned loading path; Move, and be used for carrying the aforementioned workpiece into the aforementioned printing unit corresponding to the aforementioned uppermost receiving position at the aforementioned uppermost receiving position, that is, the uppermost printing unit.

The printing device of the tenth aspect of the technology disclosed in the specification of this case is related to the printing device of the ninth aspect, wherein any of the conveying parts is not located at the uppermost upstream while the carrying-in part is at the uppermost receiving position. Grant position.

The printing method of the eleventh aspect of the technology disclosed in the specification of this case is to use three or more printing units to print at least one workpiece, and includes the following steps: each corresponding to three or more printing units The aforementioned workpieces are transported in the transport path of more than 3 delivery and receiving positions; and the aforementioned printing unit prints the aforementioned workpieces delivered at the corresponding aforementioned delivery and receiving positions; and the process of transporting the aforementioned workpieces is carried out by at least A process of transporting the aforementioned workpieces, the aforementioned plurality of transporting parts can hold the aforementioned workpieces and move along the aforementioned transport path, and perform the transfer of the aforementioned workpieces between each of the aforementioned receiving positions and the aforementioned printing unit; the process of transporting the aforementioned workpieces is carried out by A process in which a plurality of the conveying units move along the conveying path while keeping a certain distance from each other, and at least one of the plurality of conveying units transports the workpiece.

In addition, it is related to the printing method of the eleventh aspect, wherein the distance between the adjacent conveying parts is an integer multiple of the distance between the adjacent receiving positions; and the printing method further includes a plurality of the conveying parts corresponding to The aforesaid delivery and receiving position simultaneously carries out the procedure of aforesaid workpiece delivery and reception.

Also, in connection with the printing method of the eleventh aspect, wherein the aforementioned receiving and receiving positions may at least include a first receiving and receiving position, a second receiving and receiving position, and a third receiving and receiving position corresponding to each of the three or more aforementioned printing units, a plurality of the aforementioned The transport unit may include at least a first transport unit and a second transport unit. Also, the process of transporting the workpiece may be the following process, that is: by alternately forming in the transport path: the first transport part is located at the first receiving position, and the second transport part is located at the second receiving position. The first arrangement; and the second arrangement in which the first conveying unit is located at the second receiving position and the second conveying unit is located at the third receiving position, and at least one of the plurality of conveying units transports the workpiece.

Also, in the above configuration, the process of transporting the workpiece may be the following process, that is, when the workpiece is handed over from at least one of the first conveying part and the second conveying part under the second arrangement After reaching the corresponding printing unit, during the period when the corresponding printing unit prints the delivered workpiece, the first conveying part and the second conveying part move to form the first configuration. After the workpiece is handed over from the printing unit corresponding to at least one of the first conveying unit and the second conveying unit under the first arrangement, the second arrangement is formed, and at least one of the plurality of conveying units 1 conveys the aforementioned workpiece. [Effect of Invention]

According to at least the first and eleventh aspects of the technology disclosed in the specification of this case, since the conveying part moves along the conveying path spanning three or more printing units, even in the case of printing with a plurality of printing units, it is also suppressed. The time to transfer workpieces between multiple conveying mechanisms and the possible positional deviation caused by the transfer. Therefore, a reduction in working efficiency and a deviation of the printing position to the workpiece can be suppressed.

In addition, the purpose, features, aspects, and advantages related to the technology disclosed in the specification of this application will be clarified by the detailed description and drawings shown below.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, detailed features and the like are shown for technical description, but these are examples, and not all of them are essential features in order to enable the embodiments to be implemented.

In addition, the drawings are schematically shown, and for the convenience of explanation, omission of components or simplification of structures are appropriately performed in the drawings. In addition, the mutual relationship of the size and the position of the structure etc. which are shown in different drawings is not necessarily described exactly, but may be suitably changed. In addition, even in drawings such as plan views that are not cross-sectional views, hatching may be added for easy understanding of the contents of the embodiments.

In addition, in the following description, the same components are given the same symbols and shown in the drawings, and the names and functions thereof are also assumed to be the same. Therefore, in order to avoid repetition, a detailed description thereof may be omitted.

In addition, the descriptions described below are not exclusive expressions excluding the existence of other constituent elements in the case where it is described as "having", "including" or "having" a certain constituent element, etc., unless there is a special objection .

In addition, in the description described below, even if there are cases where ordinal numbers such as "first" or "second" are used, these terms are used for convenience in order to facilitate understanding of the content of the embodiment, and are not limited to Sequences etc. that may arise from these ordinal numbers.

In addition, in the explanations described below, expressions indicating the state of equality, such as "identical", "equal", "uniform" or "homogeneous", etc., include the state of being strictly equal unless there is any particular objection situations, and situations where there are differences within the scope of tolerance or obtaining the same degree of function.

In addition, in the explanations described below, specific positions or directions such as "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "side", "bottom", "front" or "back" are also used. In the case of the terminology, these terms are used for convenience to understand the content of the embodiment, and have nothing to do with the position or direction of the actual implementation.

<Embodiment> Hereinafter, a printing device and a printing method related to this embodiment will be described.

<About the configuration of the printing device> Fig. 1 is a diagram schematically showing an example of the configuration of the printing device 100 related to this embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 1 , the printing device 100 has: 6 printing units 101A, 101B, 101C, 101D, 101E, and 101F, and 6 receivers corresponding to each printing unit. The conveyance mechanism 403 which conveys the bottle 8 which is a workpiece|work is conveyed by the position 102A, the transfer position 102B, the transfer position 102C, the transfer position 102D, the transfer position 102E, and the transfer position 102F. The configuration of the printing unit 101A, the printing unit 101B, the printing unit 101C, the printing unit 101D, the printing unit 101E, and the printing unit 101F will be described later. Hereinafter, any one of the printing unit 101A, the printing unit 101B, the printing unit 101C, the printing unit 101D, the printing unit 101E, and the printing unit 101F is referred to as the printing unit 101 . Similarly, any one of the granting and receiving position 102A, the granting and receiving position 102B, the granting and receiving position 102C, the granting and receiving position 102D, the granting and receiving position 102E, and the granting and receiving position 102F may be referred to as the granting and receiving position 102 .

The printing device 100 prints toward the side of the bottle 8 as a workpiece. Here, the workpiece is an article having a rotationally symmetrical side surface. In the printing device 100 , the workpiece is rotated around the axis of rotational symmetry of the side surface (hereinafter referred to as “rotational symmetry axis”), and printing is applied to the side surface.

The workpiece is, for example, a resin container made of glass or polyethylene terephthalate (PET) as the main material.

In addition, the printing apparatus 100 may be provided with a collection mechanism 405 that is used to collect the transport path 403A provided across the six transfer positions 102A, 102B, 102C, 102D, 102E, and 102F. The printing unit 101 corresponding to the delivery and receiving position 102 on the downstream side (the printing unit 101F positioned at the most X-axis positive direction side in FIG. 1 ) prints the bottle 8 after printing; Circulate to the upstream side.

In addition, the printing apparatus 100 may include an irradiation unit 407 for irradiating ultraviolet rays to the bottle 8 recovered by the recovery mechanism 405 .

In addition, the printing apparatus 100 may include a carrying-in mechanism 404 for carrying in the printing unit 101 corresponding to the receiving position 102 on the upstream side of the conveyance path 403A (the printing unit 101A located on the most negative X-axis side in FIG. 1 ). bottle 8.

In addition, the printing unit 101 , the transport mechanism 403 , the collection mechanism 405 , the circulation mechanism 406 , the irradiation unit 407 and the loading mechanism 404 of the printing apparatus 100 are driven by the control device 9 .

Here, the control device 9 may include, for example: a memory device including a memory (memory medium), wherein the memory (memory medium) includes a hard disk drive (Hard disk drive, namely HDD), random access memory (random access memory, that is RAM), read only memory (read only memory, that is ROM), flash memory, volatile or non-volatile semiconductor memory, magnetic disk, floppy disk, optical disk, CD (compact disc), mini-disk or DVD, etc.; a central processing unit (central processing unit, Processing circuits such as a central processing unit (CPU); input devices such as touch panels, mice, keyboards, or various switches that can input information; and output devices such as monitors, liquid crystal display devices, or lights that can output information.

The conveyance mechanism 403 conveys the bottle 8 in the conveyance path 403A provided over the printing unit 101 of 3 or more. Although the conveyance path 403A in FIG. 1 is linear, the conveyance path 403A may include a curve at least in part. The conveyance path 403A is formed along a part of the guide rail 413 , and the conveyance mechanism 403 conveys the bottle 8 along the guide rail 413 . Furthermore, at the receiving position 102A, the receiving position 102B, the receiving position 102C, the receiving position 102D, and the receiving position 102E corresponding to each of the printing unit 101A, the printing unit 101B, the printing unit 101C, the printing unit 101D, the printing unit 101E, and the printing unit 101F And the giving and receiving position 102F, carries out the giving and receiving of the bottle 8 (that is, the receiving and delivery of the bottle 8).

The transport mechanism 403 has a plurality of transport units (a transport unit 414A, a transport unit 414B, a transport unit 414C, a transport unit 414D, and a transport unit 414E), which can hold the bottle 8 and move along the transport path 403A (along a part of the guide rail 413). Each conveying unit slides with respect to the guide rail 413 via rollers or the like. Although in the situation shown in FIG. 1 , the conveying mechanism 403 has five conveying sections one less than the number of printing units 101, the number of conveying sections is not limited thereto, as long as two or more are provided.

Also, in the situation shown in FIG. 1 , the adjacent conveying parts in the conveying path 403A are connected by the connecting part 416, and the connected conveying parts are driven by the conveying driving part 415 controlled by the control device 9. And move along the guide rail 413 simultaneously. In other words, the plurality of conveyance units move while maintaining the distance between adjacent conveyance units. In addition, the movement of the plurality of conveying units may be controlled by the control device 9 so that the distance between adjacent conveying units is maintained and the distance between them is not connected to each other. Also, the number of connected conveying sections is not limited to one less than the number of receiving positions as shown in FIG. 1 , as long as two or more conveying sections are provided.

Here, the conveyance drive part 415 is, for example, a linear motion mechanism provided with a ball screw and a motor. In the case where the conveyance driving part 415 that moves the conveyance part is a direct-motion mechanism, even if the conveyance part is moved on the long conveyance path 403A that straddles three or more printing units 101, due to the chain conveyance Compared with conveyors or belt conveyors, etc., the rigidity is higher, so the tolerance of the moving speed of the conveying part becomes higher. Therefore, high-speed movement of the conveyance unit can also be realized, and the work efficiency of the printing apparatus 100 as a whole is improved.

Each receiving position is located on the front side (Y-axis negative direction) of the corresponding printing unit 101, for example, the bottle 8 handed over from the conveying part to each corresponding printing unit 101 at the receiving position is printed on its side in the printing unit 101. Moreover, the bottle 8 printed by each printing unit 101 is delivered again from each printing unit 101 to the conveyance part arrange|positioned at the corresponding receiving position.

The recovery mechanism 405 includes a hand 405A and an arm 405B. The hand 405A is configured to place the bottle 8 (or the holder 300 described later). The arm portion 405B is configured to be stretchable in the longitudinal direction. The arm 405B is attached to the end with the hand 405A, and is configured to be rotatable in the XY plane around a fulcrum X on the opposite side to the end to which the hand 405A is attached. The recovery mechanism 405 holds, for example, the bottle 8 printed by the printing unit 101F located on the positive side of the X-axis in FIG. 1 with the hand 405A. Specifically, the hand 405A is extended toward the conveyance path 403A side by the arm 405B, and the hand 405A moves to the transfer position 102F. Then, after placing the bottle B (holder 300 ) on the hand 405A, the arm 405B shrinks. Thereafter, the recovered bottle 8 is delivered to the circulation mechanism 406 by the arm 405B rotating on the XY plane around the fulcrum X. In addition, the place where the recovery mechanism 405 recovers the bottle 8 may not be the receiving position (corresponding to the receiving position 102F in this embodiment) located at the most downstream of the conveyance path 403A, but may be a receiving position at another position. Also, it is feasible that the recovery mechanism 405 can be adjusted in the X-axis direction, the Y-axis direction and the Z-axis direction.

The circulation mechanism 406 circulates the bottle 8 delivered from the recovery mechanism 405 to the upstream side of the conveyance path 403A. Specifically, the circulation mechanism 406 conveys the bottles 8 by a belt conveyor or the like advancing from the X-axis positive direction to the X-axis negative direction. And the circulation mechanism 406 returns the bottle 8 after printing to the vicinity of the carrying-in mechanism 404 (that is, the vicinity of the operator who carries out the carrying-in operation of the bottle 8 in the carrying-in mechanism 404).

The irradiation unit 407 is located, for example, on the upstream side of the circulation mechanism 406 (the side in the positive direction of the X-axis in FIG. 1 ), and irradiates the bottles 8 recovered by the recovery mechanism 405 with ultraviolet rays. Thereby, for example, the ink pattern in the bottle 8 formed by photocuring the ink is cured and fixed. In addition, a shutter 408 can be provided on the downstream side of the irradiation unit 407 (the negative side of the X-axis in FIG. 1 ). The timing of opening and closing of the flow on the downstream side is controlled by the control device 9 .

The carry-in mechanism 404 carries in the bottle 8 toward the transfer position 102A located on the most upstream side of the conveyance path 403A (the X-axis negative direction side in FIG. 1 ). A carry-in path 404A connecting the carry-in position 423 and the receiving position 102A is formed along a part of the guide rail 413, and the carry-in mechanism 404 conveys the bottle 8 through the carry-in path 404A. Although the carrying-in path 404A in FIG. 1 is linear, the carrying-in path 404A may include a curve at least in part. The bottle 8 conveyed to the transfer position 102A is carried into the printing unit 101A by the conveyance mechanism 403 .

The carrying-in mechanism 404 is provided with the carrying-in part 424 which holds the bottle 8 and is movable along the carrying-in path 404A (along part of the guide rail 413). The carrying-in unit 424 slides with respect to the guide rail 413 via rollers or the like. At the carrying-in position 423, the bottle 8 is set in the carrying-in part 424 by an operator. And the carrying-in part 424 provided with the bottle 8 moves by driving the carrying-in driving part 425 controlled by the control apparatus 9, and reaches 102 A of receiving positions. The loading drive unit 425 is, for example, a linear motion mechanism including a ball screw and a motor.

Under the situation that the bottle 8 after printing is moved to the vicinity of the carrying-in mechanism 404 by the circulation mechanism 406, the operator of the carrying-in mechanism 404 can recycle the bottle 8 that has been printed, and should be printed in the printing device 100 next. The bottle 8 is installed in the loading part 424 . That is, work efficiency is improved by performing collection work and installation work at the same location.

Although the carrying-in part 424 and (connected in FIG. 1) a plurality of conveying parts move along the common guide rail 413, the carrying-in part 424 and (connected in FIG. 1) a plurality of conveying parts can move independently. That is, the moving speed and moving timing of the carrying-in part 424 and the plurality of conveying parts may be different. In addition, the moving speed of the carrying-in part 424 may be slower than a conveyance part.

In addition, the movement of the plurality of conveyance units (especially the conveyance unit 414A located at the most upstream of the conveyance path 403A) is restricted by the control of the control device 9 according to the position of the carry-in unit 424 . Specifically, while the carry-in unit 424 is located at the transfer position 102A, the transport unit 414A restricts the movement of the plurality of transport units so as not to be located at the transfer position 102A.

2 and 3 are diagrams schematically showing an example of the configuration of the printing unit 101 of the printing device 100 . In FIGS. 2 and 3 , the bottle 8 is shown as an example of the workpiece, and the side surface 80 of the bottle 8 is shown as an example of the side surface of the workpiece.

The bottle 8 carried in by the carrying part 424 and conveyed by each conveying part is desirably held by the holder 300 detachably. And the holder 300 is arrange|positioned at the upper part of each conveyance part or carrying-in part 424, and the holder 300 is fixed to each conveyance part or carrying-in part 424 by clamping etc. further.

That is, the bottle 8 is conveyed by each conveyance part or the carrying-in part 424 in the state held by the holder 300. As shown in FIG. In addition, it is preferable that the bottle 8 is held by the holder 300 when it is recovered by the recovery mechanism 405 , when it is irradiated with ultraviolet rays in the irradiation unit 407 , and when it is carried into the receiving position 102A by the carrying mechanism 404 . Moreover, the form of the holder 300 is not limited to what is shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG.

The printing device 100 includes three or more printing units 101 . The individual printing units 101 print, for example, in one color towards the side 80 of the bottle 8 . A plurality of printing units 101 are provided in the printing device 100 , and each printing unit 101 performs single-color printing of different colors to realize multi-color printing (including two-color printing).

Each printing unit 101 includes a plate stage unit 1 , an ink filling unit 2 , a transfer unit 3 , and a curing unit 4 . These structures are aligned and arranged in the above order from the Y-axis positive direction side toward the Y-axis negative direction side.

The bottle 8 at the receiving position corresponding to each printing unit 101 approaches or separates from the transfer unit 3 and the curing unit 4 while being held by the holder 300 . FIG. 2 shows a state where the bottle 8 is separated from the transfer unit 3 and the curing unit 4 while being held by the holder 300 . On the other hand, FIG. 3 shows a state in which bottle 8 approaches transfer unit 3 and curing unit 4 in a state held by holder 300 .

In addition to the above-mentioned approaching and separating in each printing unit 101 , the bottle 8 held by the holder 300 is also transported along the transport path 403A spanning between the plurality of printing units 101 .

In one printing unit 101 , first, an ink pattern using photocurable ink is formed by the plate stage unit 1 and the ink filling unit 2 .

Furthermore, the ink pattern is transferred to the transfer unit 3 . Furthermore, the ink pattern is transferred from the transfer unit 3 to the side surface 80 of the bottle 8 .

Then, the ink transferred to the side surface 80 of the bottle 8 is cured by irradiation with light from the curing unit 4 . In addition, the method of curing the ink on the side surface 80 of the bottle 8 by the curing unit 4 is not limited to light irradiation such as ultraviolet radiation, and may be a method of curing the ink by heat treatment or the like, for example.

The bottle 8 of the holder 300 is held rotatably around the axis of rotational symmetry of the side surface 80 . Any one of the above-mentioned processes of the printing unit 101 is performed in a state where the bottle 8 is held by the holder 300 .

The formation of the ink pattern in the above-mentioned process and the transfer of the ink pattern to the transfer unit 3 can be in, for example, a state where the bottle 8 is separated from the transfer unit 3 and the curing unit 4 (that is, the state shown in FIG. 2 ), or This is performed while the bottles 8 are moving between the printing units 101 .

Also, the transfer of the ink pattern to the side 80 of the bottle 8 and the solidification of the ink in the above-mentioned process are carried out in a state where the bottle 8 is close to the transfer unit 3 and the solidification unit 4 (that is, the state shown in FIG. 3 ). .

In the printing apparatus 100, after the above-mentioned processes are performed in all the printing units 101A, 101B, 101C, 101D, 101E, and 101F, the bottle 8 is held by the holder 300. The bottom is conveyed from the printing unit 101, and the ink transferred to the side surface 80 of the bottle 8 is further cured in the irradiation unit 407 (main curing process). In this case, the ink curing performed in each printing unit 101 is temporary curing for each single-color printing.

The bottle 8 that has been processed until the end of the formal curing process is unloaded from the holder 300 downstream of the circulation mechanism 406 or near the carrying mechanism 404 . On the other hand, in the carrying-in mechanism 404 , the next bottle 8 to be printed on the printing device 100 is attached to the holder 300 from which the bottle 8 has been removed.

Mounting and detaching of the bottle 8 from the holder 300 is performed at a position away from the printing unit 101 (for example, the loading position 423 of the loading mechanism 404).

The plate stage unit 1 includes a stage 11 and a plate 12 . The plate 12 is disposed on the surface of the stage 11 on the positive side of the Z-axis. The plate 12 is a plate (such as an intaglio plate) for forming ink patterns. The stage 11 can move in any direction of XYZ direction, and can also further move in the direction of rotation around the Z axis. For such a movement, for example, a crossed roller bearing mechanism is used.

Viewed from the ink filling unit 2 and the transfer unit 3 , the stage 11 can move from a position on the positive side of the Y axis toward the negative direction of the Y axis, and can approach the transfer unit 3 through the ink filling unit 2 . The stage 11 can also move in the positive direction of the Y axis, and can be separated from the transfer unit 3 .

The ink filling unit 2 includes a nozzle 21 and an ink supply unit 22 . The ink supply unit 22 supplies photocurable ink (hereinafter also simply referred to as “ink”) to the nozzles 21 .

Photocurable inks include, for example, pigments as color developers, polymer materials (including at least one of monomers and oligomers) that form a strong polymer layer by polymerization, and chemical changes by accepting light irradiation. A photopolymerization initiator that promotes the polymerization reaction of polymer materials by the generated active species.

When the stage 11 moves in the negative direction of the Y-axis so that the nozzle 21 and the plate 12 face each other in the Z-axis direction, the ink supplied to the nozzle 21 is ejected from the outlet provided at the lower end of the nozzle 21, and then coated on the plate 12 The surface on the positive side of the Z-axis (hereinafter also referred to as the "upper surface").

For example, when the plate 12 is a gravure plate, the upper surface of the plate 12 is scraped with a scraper (not shown). Thereby, since the ink is filled in the recesses of the plate 12 and the ink other than the recesses is removed, an ink pattern is formed on the plate 12 .

The plate 12 formed with the ink pattern is further moved in the negative direction of the Y axis and approaches the transfer unit 3 .

The transfer unit 3 includes a cloth roller 30 and a motor 33 . The motor 33 rotates the cloth roller 30 .

The printing cloth roll 30 includes a printing cloth main body 31 and a printing cloth 32 . The printing cloth main body 31 is, for example, a metal cylinder. Printing Cloth 32 The surface printing cloth 32 wound around the printing cloth main body 31 has a cylindrical shape.

The printing cloth roll 30 is supported rotatably about a rotation axis indicated by chain lines in FIGS. 2 and 3 .

The surface of the printing cloth 32 allows ink to adhere and be fixed. When the stage 11 moves in the negative direction of the Y-axis and the printing cloth roller 30 faces the plate 12 in the Z-axis direction, the surface of the printing cloth 32 abuts against the upper surface of the plate 12 . Also, the ink pattern formed on the plate 12 is transferred (transferred) to the surface of the printing cloth 32 .

The bottle 8 approaches the transfer unit 3 , and the side surface 80 of the bottle 8 abuts against the printing cloth 32 , and the printing cloth 32 contacts the side surface 80 and rotates in opposite directions.

Thereby, the ink pattern transferred to the printing cloth 32 is further transferred to the side surface 80 . Based on the above-mentioned viewpoint of transfer printing, it is desirable that the height of the unevenness that may be generated on the side surface 80 of the bottle 8 be smaller than the thickness of the printing cloth 32 .

The printing cloth 32 functions as an intermediate transfer body for temporarily adhering and fixing the ink pattern transferred to the side surface 80 of the bottle 8 . The printing cloth 32 is formed of elastic resin material, such as silicone resin.

In the above transfer, when the bottle 8 rotates more than one revolution, it is assumed that the ink pattern on the side surface 80 of the bottle 8 is transferred to the printing cloth 32 (hereinafter also referred to as "reverse printing"). Reverse printing disrupts the ink pattern on the side 80 of the bottle 8 . The viscosity of the ink transferred to side 80 is increased as follows, for example, to reduce reverse printing.

Light (ultraviolet rays) is irradiated from the curing unit 4 toward the side 80 of the bottle 8 that has just received the transfer of the ink pattern from the printing cloth 32 . In the case where a plurality of printing units 101 are provided in the printing device 100, a part of the polymer material contained in the ink is polymerized to increase the viscosity of the ink, but under the condition that the entire ink does not solidify, the self-curing unit 4 irradiates light (ultraviolet). The above-mentioned conditions are set according to the intensity of the light, for example.

As the viscosity of the ink increases, the adhesion from the side surface 80 of the bottle 8 to the printing cloth 32 decreases, reducing reverse printing. The aforementioned reduction in adhesion is also desirable from the viewpoint of avoiding contamination of the holder 300 .

FIG. 4 is a side view schematically showing an example of the structure of the holder 300 holding the bottle 8 .

The holder 300 holds the bottle 8 rotatably around a rotation axis 309 along the X-axis direction. The bottle 8 is held by the holder 300 with the axis of rotational symmetry 800 transverse to the axis of rotation 309 . Hereinafter, the circumferential direction and the radial direction with respect to the rotation axis 309 are simply referred to as the circumferential direction and the radial direction, respectively.

As illustrated in FIG. 4 , the holder 300 includes a holding mechanism 310 and a holding body portion 330 .

The holding mechanism 310 holds one end of the bottle 8 rotatably. One end of the bottle 8 held by the holding portion 310 is the end of one side of the bottle 8 on the axis of rotational symmetry 800 .

The holding mechanism 310 includes a rotation holding portion 311 . The rotation holding part 311 is equipped with the shaft part 312 supported rotatably around the rotation axis 309, and the holding member 313 connected to the end part of the shaft part 312. As shown in FIG.

The holding member 313 holds one end of the bottle 8 detachably. In a state where the holding member 313 holds one end of the bottle 8 , the rotation holding portion 311 rotates around the rotation axis 309 , and the bottle 8 held by the rotation holding portion 311 also rotates around the rotation axis 309 .

In the example of FIG. 4 , the holder 300 also includes a rotation drive mechanism 500 . The rotation drive mechanism 500 applies a driving force to the rotation holding portion 311 to rotate the rotation holding portion 311 around the rotation axis 309 . The rotation drive mechanism 500 includes a motor 501 , and the rotational force of the motor 501 is transmitted to the rotation holding part 311 so that the rotation holding part 311 rotates around the rotation axis 309 .

In the example shown in FIG. 4 , the rotation drive mechanism 500 transmits the rotation force to the rotation holding portion 311 via the power transmission mechanism 380 . The power transmission mechanism 380 includes various mechanical elements such as gears, pulleys, and belts, and transmits the rotational force from the rotational driving mechanism 500 to the rotational holding unit 311 . The power transmission mechanism 380 may include, for example, a clutch, which can switch between a connected state in which the rotational force from the rotational driving mechanism 500 is transmitted to the rotational holding portion 311, and a disconnected state in which the rotational force from the rotational driving mechanism 500 is not transmitted to the rotational holding portion 311. .

The shaft portion 312 includes a shaft 314 . The shaft 314 is provided along the rotation axis 309 and is rotatably supported about the rotation axis 309 with respect to the holding body part 330 .

The holding body portion 330 includes a flat base 333 , a support portion 331 , and a support portion 332 . The base 333 has a flat plate shape perpendicular to the Z-axis direction. The supporting portion 331 is disposed on the positive side of the X-axis from the base 333 toward the positive direction of the Z-axis. The support part 332 is provided from the base 333 in the positive direction of the Z axis at a position separated from the support part 331 in the negative direction of the X axis.

A holding member 313 is provided at the end of the shaft 314 on the X-axis negative direction side, and a knob member 319 is provided at the end of the shaft 314 on the X-axis positive direction side.

The holding member 313 detachably holds the mouth portion 81 which is one end of the bottle 8 . The bottle 8 includes a mouth portion 81 , a body portion 82 , and a bottom portion 83 . The main body portion 82 has a cylindrical shape, and the side surface 80 as an outer surface thereof is rotationally symmetrical with respect to the axis of rotational symmetry 800 . The bottom 83 covers the opening of the main body 82 on the X-axis negative direction side. The mouth portion 81 is connected to the opening of the main body portion 82 in the positive direction of the X axis, and has a tapered cylindrical shape whose diameter becomes smaller as the distance from the main body portion 82 increases. A male thread portion is formed on the outer side of the front end of the mouth portion 81 . The holding member 313 has the same shape as the bottle cap.

In the state where the mouth 81 and the holding member 313 are not connected, the operator holds the bottle 8 and regulates the rotation of the bottle 8, and rotates the knob member 319 in a direction in which the mouth 81 and the holding member 313 are screwed together. By this rotation, the mouth portion 81 is screwed into the holding member 313 . And by this screwing, the mouth part 81 and the holding member 313 are connected. By this connection, the shaft 314 and the bottle 8 are connected in the X-axis direction.

In the state where the holding member 313 and the bottle 8 are connected, the operator rotates the knob member 319 in a direction to release the screwing between the mouth portion 81 and the holding member 313 while regulating the rotation of the bottle 8 . By such rotation, the holding member 313 is detached from the mouth portion 81, and the connection between the shaft 314 and the bottle 8 is released.

In the example shown in FIG. 4 , the shaft portion 312 is equipped with a self-aligning bearing 315 . The self-aligning bearing 315 rotatably supports the shaft 314 on the holding body portion 330 . Specifically, the shaft 314 is penetrated and fixed to the inner ring of the self-aligning bearing 315 , and the outer ring of the self-aligning bearing 315 is fixed to the holding body part 330 (support part 331 ). In addition, the fixing of the outer ring of the self-aligning bearing 315 and the supporting part 331 is omitted in FIG. 4 . The inner ring of the self-aligning bearing 315 can rotate freely and tilt freely relative to the outer ring. Therefore, even if the shaft 314 is deflected relative to the rotation axis 309, the inner ring of the self-aligning bearing 315 is obliquely displaced relative to the outer ring according to the deflection of the shaft 314, so the shaft 314 can rotate while maintaining the deflected state.

Moreover, the shape of the mouth 81 of the bottle 8 can vary according to product differences. Due to the difference in shape, for example, the central axis of the mouth portion 81 may deviate from the axis of rotational symmetry 800 of the main body portion 82 . In this case, when the mouth portion 81 of the bottle 8 is attached to the holding member 313 , the axis of rotational symmetry 800 of the body portion 82 of the bottle 8 is shifted from the rotation axis 309 . That is, the displacement of the radial direction of the bottle 8 is incurred.

Such a displacement of the bottle 8 causes a bad situation of printing. In order to suppress this displacement, in the example shown in FIG. 4 , a backup roller 370 is provided on the holder 300 .

The support roller 370 is disposed radially outward of the bottle 8 and is in contact with the side surface 80 of the bottle 8 . In the example shown in FIG. 4, although only one backup roll 370 is shown, a plurality of backup rolls may be provided. A plurality of supporting rollers are in contact with the side surface 80 of the bottle 8 at different positions in the circumferential direction.

In the example of FIG. 4 , the holder 300 also includes a holding mechanism 320 . The holding mechanism 320 includes a rotation holding portion 321 . The rotation holding part 321 pushes the other end of the bottle 8 (here, the bottom 83 ) around the rotation axis 309 toward the positive side of the X-axis freely.

The rotation holding unit 321 includes a shaft 322 , a contact member 323 , and an urging member 324 .

The shaft 322 is arranged along the rotation axis 309 and arranged to coincide with the axis of the shaft portion 312 (ie, the axis of the shaft 314 ). The shaft 322 is rotatably supported about the rotation axis 309 with respect to the support part 332, and is also supported so that it can move in the X-axis direction with respect to the support part 332. As shown in FIG.

A contact member 323 that contacts the bottom 83 of the bottle 8 is provided at the end of the shaft 322 on the positive X-axis side. A knob member 325 is provided at the end of the shaft 322 on the X-axis negative direction side.

The dimension of the contact member 323 when viewed along the axis of rotation 309 is larger than that of the shaft 322 . The spring pushing member 324 is disposed between the contact member 323 and the wall surface of the support portion 332 on the positive side of the X-axis. The push member 324 pushes the contact member 323 toward the bottom 83 of the bottle 8 . For example, the urging member 324 includes a spring, which is inserted into the shaft 322 . The contact member 323 is pushed toward the bottom 83 side by the push member 324 , and the push force is transmitted to the bottom 83 of the bottle 8 through the contact member 323 . That is, the contact member 323 springs and pushes the bottom 83 of the bottle 8 toward the mouth 81 side. Thereby, the bottle 8 is held by the holding mechanism 310 and the holding mechanism 320 in the X-axis direction.

The operator can move the knob member 325 in the negative direction of the X-axis against the push force exerted by the push member 324 to separate the contact member 323 from the bottom 83 . Disengaging the contact member 323 from the bottom 83 facilitates the handling of detaching the retaining member 313 from the mouth 81 .

FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing a control system for controlling the printing device 100 . As illustrated in FIG. 5 , the control device 9 of the printing device 100 controls the driving of each driving unit of the printing device 100 .

Specifically, the control device 9 controls the movement of the stage 11 of each printing unit 101 , the ink supply operation from the ink supply unit 22 , the driving of the motor 33 for rotating the printing cloth roller 30 , and the like.

In addition, the control device 9 controls the driving of the transport driving part 415 of the transport mechanism 403, the expansion and contraction of the arm part 405B of the recovery mechanism 405, the driving of the belt conveyor of the circulation mechanism 406, the ultraviolet irradiation operation of the irradiation part 407, and the loading mechanism. 404, the drive of the loading drive unit 425, etc.

<About the operation of the printing device> Next, referring to FIG. 6 , the operation of the printing device 100 related to this embodiment will be described. Fig. 6 is a flow chart showing an example of the operation of the printing device related to this embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 6 , in step ST101 , in the carrying-in mechanism 404 of the printing apparatus 100 , the operator attaches the bottle 8 to the holder 300 . At this time, when the printed bottle 8 is attached to the holder 300 , after the bottle 8 is removed, the unprinted bottle 8 is attached to the holder 300 . Furthermore, the operator fixes the bottle 8 held by the holder 300 to the carrying-in part 424 located at the carrying-in position 423 . Then, it progresses to step ST102 illustrated in FIG. 6 .

Next, in step ST102 , under the control of the control device 9 , the carrying-in unit 424 located at the carrying-in position 423 moves to the delivery and receiving position 102A located at the most upstream of the transport path 403A. At this time, the conveyance part 414A located in the uppermost stream of the conveyance path 403A is set not to be located in the receiving position 102A. Then, it progresses to step ST103 illustrated in FIG. 6 .

Next, in step ST103 , under the control of the control device 9 , the bottle 8 held by the holder 300 is delivered to the corresponding printing unit 101A from the carrying-in portion 424 at the receiving position 102A. Then, it progresses to step ST104 illustrated in FIG. 6 .

Next, in step ST104 , under the control of the control device 9 , printing is performed on the side surface 80 of the bottle 8 held by the holder 300 in the printing unit 101A. Specifically, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 , an ink pattern using photocurable ink is formed by the plate stage unit 1 and the ink filling unit 2 . Then, the ink pattern is transferred to the transfer unit 3 . Furthermore, the ink pattern is transferred from the transfer unit 3 to the side surface 80 of the bottle 8 . Then, the ink transferred to the side surface 80 of the bottle 8 is cured by irradiation with light from the curing unit 4 . Then, it progresses to step ST105 illustrated in FIG. 6 .

Next, in step ST105 , under the control of the control device 9 , the carrying-in unit 424 located at the receiving position 102A moves to the carrying-in position 423 . Furthermore, by the control of the control device 9, the plurality of connected transport units (that is, the transport unit 414A, the transport unit 414B, the transport unit 414C, the transport unit 414D, and the transport unit 414E) are located between the transfer unit 414A and the receiving position 102A. way to move. Here, the timing at which the transport unit 414A is positioned at the receiving position 102A may be the timing after the carrying-in unit 424 moves from the receiving position 102A (including immediately after the movement). Also, a plurality of receiving positions (that is, receiving and receiving positions) are spaced between a plurality of conveying parts connected by the connecting part 416 (that is, the conveying part 414A, the conveying part 414B, the conveying part 414C, the conveying part 414D, and the conveying part 414E). In the case of an integer multiple of the interval between the position 102A, the granting position 102B, the granting position 102C, the granting position 102D, the granting position 102E, and the granting position 102F (in the case shown in FIG. While the transfer unit 414A is located at the receiving position 102A, other transfer units (at least one of the transfer unit 414B, the transfer unit 414C, the transfer unit 414D, and the transfer unit 414E) are also located at the corresponding transfer position (that is, the transfer unit corresponding to the transfer unit 414B). position 102B, delivery and receiving position 102C corresponding to the conveyance unit 414C, delivery and reception position 102D corresponding to the conveyance unit 414D, and delivery and reception position 102E corresponding to the conveyance unit 414E). Such an arrangement of conveyance units (correspondence relationship of at least two among five conveyance unit correspondences) is referred to as a first arrangement. Then, it progresses to step ST106 illustrated in FIG. 6 .

In addition, step ST105 may be performed during the printing operation of the printing unit 101A in step ST104 (that is, before the printing operation of the printing unit 101A ends). If step ST105 is performed during the printing operation of printing unit 101A in step ST104, step ST106 described later can be performed immediately after the printing operation of printing unit 101A is completed, so the overall operation efficiency of printing device 100 can be improved.

Next, in step ST106, under the control of the control device 9, the bottle 8 held by the holder 300 is delivered from the printing unit 101A to the conveying unit 414A located at the receiving position 102A. Then, it progresses to step ST107 illustrated in FIG. 6 .

Next, in step ST107, by the control of the control device 9, the transport unit 414A is connected to the transport unit 414A via the connected plurality of transport units (that is, the transport unit 414A, the transport unit 414B, the transport unit 414C, the transport unit 414D, and the transport unit 414E). Move in the way of receiving position 102B. Also, a plurality of receiving positions (that is, receiving and receiving positions) are spaced between a plurality of conveying parts connected by the connecting part 416 (that is, the conveying part 414A, the conveying part 414B, the conveying part 414C, the conveying part 414D, and the conveying part 414E). In the case of an integer multiple of the interval between the position 102A, the granting position 102B, the granting position 102C, the granting position 102D, the granting position 102E, and the granting position 102F (in the case shown in FIG. While the transfer unit 414A is located at the receiving position 102B, other transfer units (at least one of the transfer unit 414B, the transfer unit 414C, the transfer unit 414D, and the transfer unit 414E) are also located at the corresponding transfer position (that is, the transfer unit corresponding to the transfer unit 414B). position 102C, transfer position 102D corresponding to the transport unit 414C, transfer position 102E corresponding to the transport unit 414D, transfer position 102F corresponding to the transport unit 414E). Such an arrangement of conveyance units (a correspondence relationship in which a plurality of conveyance units are shifted in the same manner as in the first arrangement) is referred to as a second arrangement. The arrangement shown in Fig. 1 is the second arrangement.

At this time, in order to simultaneously perform printing operations in each of the plurality of printing units 101A, 101B, 101C, 101D, 101E, and 101F, the loading position 423 can be fixed to the loading portion 424. The bottles 8 are moved to the receiving position 102A in sequence. In this way, printing operations are performed simultaneously in the plurality of printing units 101A, 101B, 101C, 101D, 101E, and 101F, and the overall working efficiency of the printing apparatus 100 is improved. Then, it progresses to step ST108 illustrated in FIG. 6 .

Next, in step ST108 , under the control of the control device 9 , the bottle 8 held by the holder 300 is handed over from the conveying portion 414A at the receiving position 102B to the corresponding printing unit 101B. In addition, when the bottle 8 held by the holder 300 is fixed to a transfer unit located at another receiving position, the bottle 8 held by the holder 300 is delivered to the corresponding printing unit 101 from the transfer unit. Here, if the distance between adjacent transfer units is an integer multiple of the distance between adjacent transfer positions, then a plurality of transfer units can transfer and receive bottles 8 at the corresponding transfer positions at the same time. Then, it progresses to step ST109 illustrated in FIG. 6 .

Next, in step ST109 , under the control of the control device 9 , printing is performed on the side surface 80 of the bottle 8 held by the holder 300 in the printing unit 101B. Also, when the bottle 8 held by the holder 300 is delivered to another printing unit 101 in step ST108, printing is also performed on the side surface 80 of the bottle 8 delivered in step ST108 in the printing unit 101. In addition, in the case that the bottle 8 is a bottle 8 that has already been printed by the printing unit 101 located on the upstream side of the conveyance path 403A, in step ST109, by performing printing of a color different from the previously completed printing, the bottle 8 is printed. Bottle 8 was printed in multiple colors. Then, it progresses to step ST110 illustrated in FIG. 6 .

Next, in step ST110, under the control of the control device 9, the transport unit 414A is connected to the transport unit 414A through the plurality of transport units (that is, the transport unit 414A, the transport unit 414B, the transport unit 414C, the transport unit 414D, and the transport unit 414E). Move in the way of receiving position 102A. Here, when the carrying-in part 424 is located at the receiving position 102A, the carrying-in part 424 moves the conveyance part 414A to the receiving position 102A after moving from the receiving position 102A (including immediately after moving). Also, when the interval between the plurality of conveying sections linked by the linking section 416 is an integral multiple of the interval between the plural receiving positions, the other conveying sections can be located at the corresponding position at the same time as the conveying section 414A is located at the accepting position 102A. (that is, the receiving position 102B corresponding to the conveying unit 414B, the receiving position 102C corresponding to the transporting unit 414C, the receiving position 102D corresponding to the transporting unit 414D, and the receiving position 102E corresponding to the transporting unit 414E). That is, it can be set as the 1st arrangement|positioning. Then, it progresses to step ST111 illustrated in FIG. 6 .

In addition, step ST110 can be performed during the printing operation of the printing unit 101 in step ST109.

Next, in step ST111, whether or not the conveyance unit is located at the receiving position corresponding to each printing unit 101 is determined for each of the receiving positions. And, when the transfer unit is located at the transfer position corresponding to the printing unit 101, that is, in the case of "Yes" corresponding to the branch from step ST111 of FIG. 6, the process proceeds to step ST112 illustrated in FIG. 6 . On the other hand, in the case where the conveying unit is not located at the receiving position corresponding to the printing unit 101, that is, in the case of "No" corresponding to the branch from step ST111 in FIG. 6, proceed to step ST113 illustrated in FIG. 6 .

In step ST112 , under the control of the control device 9 , the bottle 8 held by the holder 300 is delivered to the transfer unit located at the receiving position corresponding to each printing unit 101 . Then, return to step ST107 illustrated in FIG. 6 .

In step ST113, for example, as in the case of the receiving position 102F located at the most downstream of the conveying path 403A, the conveying unit is not located at the receiving position corresponding to the printing unit 101F, so the collecting mechanism 405 collects the printed card by the control device 9 under the control of the control device 9. The bottle 8 in the state held by the holder 300. Then, it progresses to step ST114 illustrated in FIG. 6 .

Next, in step ST114, the irradiation unit 407 irradiates ultraviolet rays to the bottle 8 recovered by the recovery mechanism 405 under the control of the control device 9 . Thereby, the ink pattern of the bottle 8 is cured and fixed. Then, it progresses to step ST115 illustrated in FIG. 6 .

Next, in step ST115 , the circulation mechanism 406 conveys the bottle 8 held by the holder 300 so as to return to the upstream side of the conveyance path 403A under the control of the control device 9 . And the circulation mechanism 406 returns the bottle 8 after printing to the vicinity of the carrying-in mechanism 404 (that is, the vicinity of the operator who carries out the carrying-in operation of the bottle 8 in the carrying-in mechanism 404). Then, if necessary, the bottle 8 is detached from the holder 300 to complete the operation.

<About the effects produced by the embodiments described above> Next, an example of the effects produced by the embodiments described above will be shown. In addition, in the following description, the effect is described based on the specific configuration exemplified in the embodiment described above, but it can be replaced with other specific configurations exemplified in this specification within the range of producing the same effect. That is, in the following, it may be convenient to representatively describe only any one of the specific configurations that establish a corresponding relationship, but the specific configurations that are typically described may be replaced with other specific configurations that establish a corresponding relationship.

According to the embodiment described above, the printing device includes three or more printing units 101 and the transport mechanism 403 . The printing unit 101 accepts and accepts workpieces (including both receiving and handing over) at the corresponding accepting and accepting positions. Here, the workpiece corresponds to the bottle 8, for example. Also, the printing unit 101 prints on the bottle 8 delivered at the corresponding delivery and receiving position. The transport mechanism 403 has a transport path 403A spanning three or more receiving positions. Moreover, the conveyance mechanism 403 conveys the bottle 8 in the conveyance path 403A. Furthermore, the conveyance mechanism 403 is provided with a some conveyance part (For example, the conveyance part 414A, the conveyance part 414B, the conveyance part 414C, the conveyance part 414D, and the conveyance part 414E). Each conveyance unit holds the bottle 8 and is movable along the conveyance path 403A. Moreover, each conveyance part performs delivery and reception of the bottle 8 at the corresponding delivery position. In addition, the plurality of conveyance units move along the conveyance path 403A while keeping a certain distance from each other.

According to such a configuration, since the conveyance unit moves along the conveyance path 403A spanning three or more receiving positions, even in the case of printing with a plurality of printing units, the time for transferring workpieces between the plural conveyance mechanisms is suppressed. Time and possible positional shifts due to the handover. Therefore, a reduction in working efficiency and a deviation of the printing position to the workpiece can be suppressed. Also, since the plurality of conveying units move while keeping a certain distance from each other, the positional relationship in the case where the bottle 8 is fixed to one conveying unit is also easy to maintain for other conveying units. Therefore, positioning can be easily performed.

In addition, in the case where other configurations exemplified in the description of this case are appropriately added to the above-mentioned configuration, that is, when other configurations in the description of this case that are not mentioned as the above-mentioned configuration are appropriately added, the same situation may also arise. Effect.

Moreover, according to the embodiment described above, the bottle 8 is further held by each conveyance unit in the state held by the holder 300 . Moreover, each conveyance part performs delivery and reception of the bottle 8 in the state held by the holder 300 at the corresponding delivery position. According to such a structure, since the state held by the holder 300 is maintained also when the bottle 8 moves, positioning accuracy improves.

In addition, according to the embodiment described above, the distance between adjacent conveying parts is an integral multiple of the distance between adjacent receiving positions. Furthermore, a plurality of conveyance units simultaneously transfer and receive the bottles 8 at the corresponding transfer positions. According to such a structure, since the timing of delivery and reception of the bottle 8 is synchronized in a some conveyance part, it can shorten the time which stops the movement of a conveyance part in order to carry out delivery and reception of the bottle 8. That is, if the timing of giving and receiving the bottles 8 in a plurality of conveying sections is different, the movement of the plural conveying sections must be stopped at the timing of the giving and receiving of the bottles 8 in each conveying section, but if the bottles 8 in a plurality of conveying sections The synchronization of the timing of the receiving and receiving can shorten the time for stopping the movement of the conveying part.

Also, according to the embodiment described above, the receiving position includes at least the first receiving position (receiving position 102A), the second receiving position (receiving position 102B) and the third receiving position corresponding to each of the three or more printing units 101 (Grant position 102C). Moreover, a 1st conveyance part (conveyance part 414A) and a 2nd conveyance part (conveyance part 414B) are included at least in some conveyance part. In addition, in the conveyance path 403A, the first conveyance part (transfer part 414A) is located at the first transfer position (receive position 102A), and the second transfer part (transport part 414B) is located at the second transfer position (receive position 102B). The first arrangement; and the second arrangement in which the first conveying part (transferring part 414A) is located at the second receiving position (receiving position 102B), and the second conveying part (transferring part 414B) is located at the third receiving position (receiving position 102C) . According to such a structure, compared with the case where one conveyance part conveys the same bottle 8 from upstream to downstream of 403 A of conveyance paths, the moving distance of each conveyance part can be shortened. Therefore, the moving speed of the conveyance part can also be suppressed.

Also, according to the embodiment described above, when the bottle 8 is handed over to the corresponding printing unit 101 from at least one of the conveying part 414A and the conveying part 414B under the second configuration, the corresponding printing unit 101 will process the While the delivered bottle 8 is being printed, the transport unit 414A and the transport unit 414B move to form the first arrangement. According to such a configuration, since the delivery and transfer of the bottles 8 are performed immediately after the printing operation of the printing unit 101 is completed, the working efficiency of the printing apparatus 100 as a whole can be improved.

Moreover, according to the embodiment described above, the conveyance mechanism 403 is provided with the guide rail 413 along the conveyance path 403A. Furthermore, each conveying unit can move along the guide rail 413 . According to such a structure, a conveyance part moves by the linear motion mechanism driven along the guide rail 413. As shown in FIG. In this way, even when the conveyance part is moved on the long conveyance path 403A, since the rigidity is higher than that of a chain conveyor, a belt conveyor, etc., the tolerance of the moving speed of the conveyance part becomes high. Therefore, high-speed movement of the conveyance unit can also be realized, and the work efficiency of the printing apparatus 100 as a whole is improved.

Furthermore, according to the above-described embodiments, the printing apparatus 100 includes the collection mechanism 405 and the circulation mechanism 406 . The recovery mechanism 405 recovers the bottle 8 printed by the printing unit 101F located on the downstream side of the transport path 403A among the three or more printing units 101 sequentially printing the bottles 8 transported from the upstream to the downstream of the transport path 403A. The circulation mechanism 406 circulates the bottle 8 recovered by the recovery mechanism 405 toward the upstream side of the conveyance path 403A. According to such a configuration, since the collected bottles 8 are circulated upstream of the conveyance path 403A where the bottles 8 are loaded, operators do not need to wait downstream of the conveyance path 403A for collection, and the number of operators can be reduced. Also, since the bottle 8 is circulated through a circulation mechanism that is a different path from the conveyance path 403A, it is possible to prevent the bottle 8 conveyed from the upstream to the downstream of the conveyance path 403A for printing from the downstream side of the conveyance path 403A after printing. Bottles 8 conveyed to the upstream side are mixed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the conveyance from being stagnant due to mixing, and to improve the conveyance efficiency.

Moreover, according to the embodiment described above, the printing apparatus 100 is equipped with the irradiation part 407 which irradiates the bottle 8 collected by the collection mechanism 405 with ultraviolet rays. And the circulation mechanism 406 circulates the bottle 8 irradiated with ultraviolet rays by the irradiation part 407 to the upstream side of the conveyance path 403A. According to such a structure, since the circulation mechanism 406 is provided between the position of the carrying-in mechanism 404 which carries in the bottle 8, and the position of the irradiation part 407, the operator who carries in the bottle 8 can be kept away from the irradiation part 407. Therefore, the influence of the ultraviolet rays of the irradiation part 407 etc. can be suppressed, and an operator can perform a work safely.

Furthermore, according to the above-described embodiments, the printing apparatus 100 includes the carry-in mechanism 404 . Carry-in mechanism 404 has carry-in path 404A, and this carry-in path 404A straddles and bottle 8 carry-in position 423, and is positioned at the most upstream printing unit 101 of carrying path 403A, namely the most upstream printing unit (located in the most X-axis negative direction in Fig. 1 The receiving position corresponding to the printing unit 101A) is the most upstream receiving position (the receiving position 102A in FIG. 1 ). Moreover, the carrying-in mechanism 404 carries in the bottle 8 via the carrying-in path 404A. Furthermore, the carry-in mechanism 404 includes a carry-in unit 424 . The carrying-in unit 424 can hold the bottle 8 and move along the carrying-in path 404A. Moreover, the carrying-in unit 424 carries the bottle 8 into the most upstream printing unit (the printing unit 101A located in the most negative direction of the X-axis in FIG. 1 ) at the receiving position 102A. According to such a structure, in the carrying-in path 404A arrange|positioned close to an operator, the carrying-in part 424 and several conveying parts which are lighter can be moved independently compared with the several conveying parts connected. Therefore, since the weight of objects moving near the operator can be reduced, the operator can perform work safely.

In addition, according to the embodiment described above, none of the conveying units is located at the receiving position 102A while the carrying-in unit 424 is located at the receiving position 102A. According to such a structure, while an operator performs an operation with the carrying-in part 424 located in 102 A of receiving positions, the movement of a conveyance part to 102 A of receiving positions is restricted by control of the control apparatus 9. As shown in FIG. Therefore, the worker can concentrate on his work.

According to the embodiment described above, in the printing method, the bottle 8 is conveyed in the conveyance path 403A which straddles three or more printing units 101 . Furthermore, the printing unit 101 prints on the bottle 8 delivered at the corresponding receiving position. Here, the process of conveying the bottle 8 is a process of conveying the bottle 8 by at least one of a plurality of conveying parts. Moreover, the process of conveying the bottle 8 is the process of moving along the conveyance path 403A by several conveyance parts in the state which mutually kept the fixed distance.

According to such a configuration, since the conveyance part moves along the conveyance path 403A spanning three or more printing units 101, even in the case of printing with a plurality of printing units, it is also suppressed to transfer workpieces between a plurality of conveyance mechanisms. time and possible positional shifts due to the handover. Therefore, a reduction in working efficiency and a deviation of the printing position to the workpiece can be suppressed.

In addition, the order in which each process is performed can be changed unless there is a particular limitation.

In addition, the same situation can also arise when other constitutions exemplified in the description of this case are appropriately added to the above-mentioned constitutions, that is, other constitutions in the description of this case that are not mentioned as the above-mentioned constitutions are appropriately added. Effect.

Also, according to the embodiment described above, the process of conveying the bottle 8 is the following process, that is, when at least one of the conveying part 414A and the conveying part 414B is handed over to the corresponding printing unit 101 under the second configuration. , during the period when the corresponding printing unit 101 prints the delivered bottle 8, the conveying part 414A and the conveying part 414B move to form the first configuration, and then, when in the first configuration, the conveying part 414A and the conveying part 414B After the printing unit 101 corresponding to at least one of them delivers the bottle 8, the second configuration is formed. According to such a configuration, since the delivery and transfer of the bottles 8 are performed immediately after the printing operation of the printing unit 101 is completed, the working efficiency of the printing apparatus 100 as a whole can be improved.

<Modifications of the above-described embodiments> In the above-described embodiments, there may be cases where materials, materials, dimensions, shapes, relative arrangement relationships, or implementation conditions of each component are also described, but It means that it is an example in all aspects, and it is not a limitative one.

Therefore, innumerable modifications and equivalents that are not illustrated can be conceived within the technical scope disclosed in the present specification. For example, the case where at least one component is changed, the case where it is added, or the case where it is omitted is included.

In addition, in the embodiment described above, when the material name etc. are described and there is no particular designation, other additives, such as an alloy, etc. are contained in the said material, unless conflict arises.

1: plate stage unit 2: ink filling unit 3: transfer unit 4: curing unit 8: bottle 9: control device 11: stage 12: plate 21: nozzle 22: ink supply unit 30: printing cloth roller 31: printing Cloth main body 32: printing cloth 33, 501: motor 80: side 81: mouth 82: main body 83: bottom 100: printing device 101, 101A, 101B, 101C, 101D, 101E, 101F: printing unit 102, 102A, 102B, 102C, 102D , 102E, 102F: receiving position 300: holder 309: axis of rotation 310, 320: holding mechanism 311, 321: rotation holding part 312: shaft part 313: holding member 314, 322: shaft 315: self-aligning bearing 319, 325: knob member 323: contact member 324 : Bouncing member 330: Holding body part 331, 332: Support part 333: Base 370: Support roller 380: Power transmission mechanism 403: Transport mechanism 403A: Transport path 404: Carry-in mechanism 404A: Carry-in path 405: Recovery mechanism 405A: Hand 405B: arm section 406: circulation mechanism 407: irradiation section 408: shutter 413: guide rail 414A, 414B, 414C, 414D, 414E: transport section 415: transport drive section 416: connection section 423: loading position 424: loading section 425: Loading drive unit 500: Rotary drive mechanism 800: Rotational symmetry axis X, Y, Z: Axes

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing an example of the configuration of a printing device related to the embodiment. Fig. 2 is a diagram schematically showing an example of the configuration of a printing unit of a printing device. Fig. 3 is a diagram schematically showing an example of the configuration of a printing unit of a printing device. Fig. 4 is a side view schematically showing an example of the composition of the holder holding the bottle. Figure 5 is a diagram schematically showing a control system for controlling the printing device. Fig. 6 is a flow chart showing an example of the operation of the printing device related to the embodiment.

9: Control device

100: printing device

101A, 101B, 101C, 101D, 101E, 101F: printing unit

102A, 102B, 102C, 102D, 102E, 102F: granting and receiving positions

403: Transport mechanism

403A: Transport path

404: Moving into an institution

404A: Move-in path

405: Recycling Agency

405A: hand

405B: Arm

406: Loop Mechanism

407: Irradiation department

408: shutter

413: guide rail

414A, 414B, 414C, 414D, 414E: Conveying Department

415: Conveying drive unit

416: link

423: move into position

424: Moving in Department

425: Moving into the drive department

X, Y, Z: axes

Claims (10)

A printing device, which is used to print at least one workpiece, and is equipped with: three or more printing units, which are used to transfer and receive the aforementioned workpieces at the corresponding receiving and receiving positions, and to transfer the workpieces at the aforementioned receiving and receiving positions. printing on the aforementioned workpiece; and a conveying mechanism, which is used to convey the aforementioned workpiece along a conveying path spanning three or more aforementioned receiving positions; The transfer of the workpiece is carried out between the transfer position and the corresponding printing unit; the plurality of transfer parts can hold the workpiece and move along the transfer path; the plurality of transfer parts keep a certain distance from each other along the transfer path move; and the above-mentioned printing device is further equipped with: a carrying-in mechanism, which has a carrying-in path that straddles the carrying-in position of the aforementioned workpiece, and the aforementioned receiving position located at the most upstream of the aforementioned conveying path, that is, the most upstream receiving position, and is used for passing through the aforementioned carrying-in path to carry in the aforementioned workpiece; and the aforementioned carrying-in mechanism has a carrying-in portion, the aforementioned carrying-in portion can hold the aforementioned workpiece and move along the aforementioned carrying-in path, and is used to carry the aforementioned workpiece into the aforementioned position corresponding to the aforementioned most upstream receiving position at the aforementioned uppermost receiving position. The printing unit is the most upstream printing unit. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein the workpiece is further held by each of the conveying parts in a state held by a holder; and Each of the conveying parts transfers and receives the workpiece held by the holder at the corresponding receiving position. The printing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the distance between the adjacent aforementioned conveying parts is an integral multiple of the distance between the adjacent aforementioned receiving positions; The giving and receiving. The printing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the receiving positions at least include the first receiving position, the second receiving position, and the third receiving position corresponding to each of the three or more printing units; and a plurality of the conveying parts including at least the first conveying part and the second conveying part; alternately formed in the aforementioned conveying path: the first arrangement in which the aforementioned first conveying part is located at the aforementioned first receiving position, and the aforementioned second transporting part is located at the aforementioned second receiving position; And the second arrangement in which the first transfer unit is located at the second transfer position and the second transfer unit is located at the third transfer position. The printing device according to claim 4, wherein after the workpiece is handed over from at least one of the first conveying part and the second conveying part to the corresponding printing unit under the second configuration, in the corresponding said printing unit While the printing unit is printing the delivered workpiece, the first conveying unit and the second conveying unit move to form the first arrangement. The printing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the conveying mechanism further includes guide rails along the conveying path; and each of the conveying parts can move along the guide rails. The printing device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: a recovery mechanism, which is located in the transport path among the three or more printing units that recover and sequentially print the workpiece transported from the upstream to the downstream of the transport path The aforementioned workpiece printed by the aforementioned printing unit on the downstream side; and a circulation mechanism that circulates the aforementioned workpiece recovered by the aforementioned recovery mechanism to the upstream side of the aforementioned conveying path. The printing device according to claim 7, further comprising: an irradiation unit that irradiates ultraviolet rays to the workpiece recovered by the recovery mechanism; and the circulation mechanism circulates the workpiece that is irradiated with ultraviolet rays through the irradiation unit to the upstream side of the transport path . The printing device according to claim 1, wherein any one of the conveying units is not located at the uppermost receiving position while the carrying-in unit is located at the uppermost receiving position. A printing method that uses three or more printing units to print at least one workpiece, and includes the following steps: Conveying the aforementioned workpieces in a conveyance path spanning three or more receiving positions corresponding to three or more aforementioned printing units; and the aforementioned printing units printing the aforementioned workpieces delivered at the corresponding aforementioned receiving positions; The process of the aforementioned workpiece is the process of transporting the aforementioned workpiece by at least one of a plurality of transporting parts, and the aforementioned plurality of transporting parts can hold the aforementioned workpiece and move along the aforementioned transport path, and carry out between each of the aforementioned receiving positions and the aforementioned printing unit Handing and receiving of the aforementioned workpieces; the process of transporting the aforementioned workpieces is the process of transporting the aforementioned workpieces by at least one of the plurality of aforementioned transporting units by moving along the aforementioned transport path while maintaining a certain distance from each other; In addition, the above-mentioned printing method further includes the following steps: carrying in the workpiece through a carrying-in path that straddles the loading position of the aforementioned workpiece and the aforementioned transfer and receiving position located at the most upstream of the aforementioned transfer path, that is, the most upstream transfer and receiving position; and the process of loading the aforementioned workpiece It is a process of holding the workpiece and moving along the loading path, and at the uppermost receiving position, carrying the workpiece into the printing unit corresponding to the uppermost receiving position, that is, the uppermost printing unit.

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