WO2022091921A1

WO2022091921A1 - Printing device and printing method

Info

Publication number: WO2022091921A1
Application number: PCT/JP2021/038865
Authority: WO
Inventors: 浩二渋田
Original assignee: 株式会社Ｓｃｒｅｅｎホールディングス
Priority date: 2020-10-29
Filing date: 2021-10-21
Publication date: 2022-05-05
Also published as: TW202224961A; TWI795040B; JP2022072404A

Abstract

In this printing device that prints with a plurality of printing units, decrease in work efficiency and misalignment in a position of printing on a workpiece are minimized. The printing device comprises three or more printing units and a conveying mechanism that conveys a workpiece along a conveying path, the conveying mechanism is provided with a plurality of conveying sections that can move the workpiece along the conveying path while holding the workpiece and that are for receiving the workpiece between printing units at respective receiving positions, the conveying path spans three or more receiving positions, and the plurality of conveying sections move along the conveying path while keeping a constant distance from each other.

Description

Printing equipment and printing method

The technique disclosed in the specification of the present application relates to a printing technique.

There is an increasing demand for printing on workpieces with a rotationally symmetric shape used for cosmetic bottles and the like. Gravure offset printing via a flexible blanket is useful for printing on a curved surface shape of such a work.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2020-08265

In a printing device that transports a work between a plurality of printing units and enables printing in each printing unit, a transport mechanism for transporting the work between two adjacent printing units is provided. Therefore, when transporting the work to a printing unit other than the two printing units, it is necessary to transport the work by using a transport mechanism different from the above.

Then, it takes time to transfer the work between a plurality of transport mechanisms, which may reduce the work efficiency. In addition, when the work is transferred between the plurality of transport mechanisms, the position of the work may be displaced, and the printing position on the work may be displaced between the printing units.

The technique disclosed in the present specification has been made in view of the problems described above, and in a printing apparatus that prints with a plurality of printing units, the work efficiency is lowered and the printing position on the work is determined. This is a technique for suppressing deviation.

The printing apparatus according to the first aspect of the technique disclosed in the present specification is a printing apparatus for printing on at least one work, and the work is transferred at a corresponding transfer position. , Three or more printing units for printing on the work passed at the transfer position, and a transfer mechanism for transporting the work along a transfer path straddling the three or more transfer positions. The transport mechanism includes a plurality of transport units for transferring the work to and from the corresponding printing unit at each of the transfer positions, and the plurality of transport units hold the work. While being movable along the transport path, the plurality of transport portions move along the transport path while keeping a constant distance from each other.

The printing apparatus according to the second aspect of the technique disclosed in the present specification relates to the printing apparatus according to the first aspect, and the work is held in a holder and further to each of the transport units. Each of the transporting portions is held and transfers the work while being held by the holder at the corresponding transfer position.

The printing apparatus according to the third aspect of the technique disclosed in the present specification relates to the printing apparatus according to the first or second aspect, and the distance between the adjacent transport units is the distance between the adjacent transfer positions. It is an integral multiple of the distance, and the plurality of transport units simultaneously transfer and transfer the work at the corresponding transfer positions.

The printing apparatus according to the fourth aspect of the technique disclosed in the present specification relates to the printing apparatus according to any one of the first to the third aspects, and the transfer position includes three or more of the above. Corresponding to each printing unit, at least a first transfer position, a second transfer position and a third transfer position are included, and the plurality of transfer units include at least a first transfer unit and a second transfer unit. A first arrangement that includes a transport unit, in which the first transport unit is located at the first transfer position and the second transport unit is located at the second transfer position in the transport path. 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 are alternately formed.

The printing apparatus according to the fifth aspect of the technique disclosed in the present specification relates to the printing apparatus according to the fourth aspect, and in the second arrangement, the work is the first conveying section and the first. After being delivered to the corresponding printing unit from at least one of the two transport units, the first transport unit and the first transport unit and while the corresponding printing unit is printing on the delivered work. The second transport section moves to form the first arrangement.

The printing apparatus according to the sixth aspect of the technique disclosed in the present specification relates to the printing apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the conveying mechanism guides the guide along the conveying path. The rails are further provided, and each of the transport portions is movable along the guide rail.

The printing apparatus according to the seventh aspect of the technique disclosed in the present specification relates to the printing apparatus according to any one of the first to the sixth aspects, and is conveyed from the upstream to the downstream of the transport path. Of the three or more printing units that sequentially print on the work, a collection mechanism for collecting the work after printing is performed by the printing unit located on the downstream side of the transport path, and a collection mechanism. Further provided with a circulation mechanism for circulating the work collected in the above-mentioned manner to the upstream side of the transport path.

The printing apparatus according to the eighth aspect of the technique disclosed in the present specification is related to the printing apparatus according to the seventh aspect, and further includes an irradiation unit that irradiates the work collected by the collection mechanism with ultraviolet rays. The circulation mechanism circulates the work irradiated with ultraviolet rays by the irradiation unit to the upstream side of the transport path.

The printing apparatus according to the ninth aspect of the technique disclosed in the present specification relates to the printing apparatus according to any one of the first to eight aspects, and is related to the loading position of the work and the transport path. It has a carry-in path that straddles the most upstream transfer position, which is the transfer position located at the most upstream, and further includes a carry-in mechanism for carrying in the work through the carry-in path. Carry-in for carrying the work into the most upstream printing unit, which is the printing unit corresponding to the most upstream transfer position, while being able to move along the carry-in path while holding the work. It has a part.

The printing apparatus according to the tenth aspect of the technique disclosed in the present specification relates to the printing apparatus according to the ninth aspect, and the carrying-in portion is located at the most upstream transfer / receiving position in any of the conveying portions. The interval is not located at the most upstream transfer position.

The printing method according to the eleventh aspect of the technique disclosed in the present specification is a printing method for printing on at least one workpiece using three or more printing units, each of which has three printing methods. A step of transporting the work in a transport path straddling three or more transfer positions corresponding to the printing unit, and a step of the printing unit printing on the work passed in the corresponding transfer position. In the process of transporting the work, the work can be moved along the transport path while holding the work, and the work is transferred to and from the printing unit at each of the transfer positions. At least one of the transport units is a step of transporting the work, and in the step of transporting the work, a plurality of the transport portions are along the transport path while the distance between the plurality of transport portions is kept constant. At least one of the plurality of transporting portions is a step of transporting the work.

In addition, related to the printing method according to the eleventh aspect, the distance between the adjacent transfer units is an integral multiple of the distance between the adjacent transfer positions, and the plurality of transfer units have the corresponding transfer positions. In the above step, the work may be further provided and received at the same time.

Further, in relation to the printing method according to the eleventh aspect, at least the first transfer position, the second transfer position, and the third transfer position correspond to the three or more printing units in the transfer position. The transfer position may be included, and the plurality of transport units may include at least a first transport unit and a second transport unit. Further, in the step of transporting the work, in the transport path, the first transport unit is located at the first transfer position, and the second transport unit is located at the second transfer position. The first arrangement 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 alternate with each other. By being formed, at least one of the plurality of transporting portions may be a step of transporting the work.

Further, in the above configuration, in the step of transporting the work, in the second arrangement, the work is connected to the printing unit corresponding to at least one of the first transport unit and the second transport unit. After being delivered, while the corresponding printing unit is printing on the delivered work, the first transport unit and the second transport unit move to form the first arrangement. The second arrangement is formed after the work is delivered from the printing unit corresponding to at least one of the first transport unit and the second transport unit in the first arrangement. By forming the above, at least one of the plurality of the conveying portions may be a step of conveying the work.

According to at least the first and eleventh aspects of the technique disclosed in the present specification, since the transport unit moves along the transport path straddling three or more printing units, printing is performed using a plurality of printing units. Even in this case, the time required to transfer the work between the plurality of transfer mechanisms and the misalignment that may occur due to the transfer are suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a decrease in work efficiency and a shift in the printing position on the work.

Further, the objectives, features, aspects, and advantages associated with the techniques disclosed herein will be further clarified by the detailed description and accompanying drawings shown below.

It is a figure which shows typically the example of the structure of the printing apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of the structure of the printing unit in a printing apparatus schematically. It is a figure which shows the example of the structure of the printing unit in a printing apparatus schematically. It is a side view which shows roughly the example of the structure of the holder in the state which holds a bottle. It is a figure which shows typically the control system which controls a printing apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the example of the operation of the printing apparatus which concerns on embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the attached drawings. In the following embodiments, detailed features and the like are also shown for illustration purposes, but they are exemplary and not all of them are essential features for the embodiments to be feasible.

It should be noted that the drawings are shown schematically, and for convenience of explanation, the configuration is omitted or the configuration is simplified as appropriate in the drawings. Further, the interrelationship between the sizes and positions of the configurations and the like shown in different drawings is not always accurately described and can be changed as appropriate. Further, even in a drawing such as a plan view which is not a sectional view, hatching may be added to facilitate understanding of the contents of the embodiment.

Further, in the explanation shown below, similar components are illustrated with the same reference numerals, and their names and functions are the same. Therefore, detailed description of them may be omitted to avoid duplication.

Further, in the description described below, when it is described that a certain component is "equipped", "included", or "has", the existence of another component is excluded unless otherwise specified. Not an expression.

Also, even if ordinal numbers such as "first" or "second" may be used in the description described below, these terms facilitate the understanding of the content of the embodiments. It is used for convenience, and is not limited to the order that can be generated by these ordinal numbers.

Further, in the description described below, expressions indicating equality, such as "same", "equal", "uniform" or "homogeneous", are strictly equal unless otherwise specified. It shall include the case where it indicates that there is, and the case where there is a difference within the range where tolerance or similar function can be obtained.

Also, in the description described below, it means a specific position or direction such as "top", "bottom", "left", "right", "side", "bottom", "front" or "back". Although terms may be used, these terms are used for convenience to facilitate understanding of the content of the embodiments, and are the positions or directions when they are actually implemented. It doesn't matter.

<Embodiment>
Hereinafter, the printing apparatus and the printing method according to the present 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 apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. As an example is shown in FIG. 1, the printing apparatus 100 corresponds to six printing units 101A, a printing unit 101B, a printing unit 101C, a printing unit 101D, a printing unit 101E, and a printing unit 101F, respectively. It is provided with a transfer mechanism 403 for transporting the bottle 8 which is a work across the transfer position 102A, the transfer position 102B, the transfer position 102C, the transfer position 102D, the transfer position 102E, and the transfer position 102F. The configurations of the print unit 101A, the print unit 101B, the print unit 101C, the print unit 101D, the print unit 101E, and the print unit 101F will be described later. Hereinafter, any one of the print unit 101A, the print unit 101B, the print unit 101C, the print unit 101D, the print unit 101E, and the print unit 101F may be referred to as a print unit 101. Similarly, any one of the transfer position 102A, the transfer position 102B, the transfer position 102C, the transfer position 102D, the transfer position 102E, and the transfer position 102F may be referred to as the transfer position 102.

The printing device 100 prints on the side surface of the bottle 8 which is a workpiece. Here, the work is an article having a side surface having a rotationally symmetric shape. In the printing apparatus 100, the work rotates about the axis of rotational symmetry of the side surface (hereinafter referred to as "rotational symmetry axis"), and printing is performed on the side surface.

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

Further, the printing apparatus 100 corresponds to six transfer positions 102A, transfer positions 102B, transfer positions 102C, transfer positions 102D, transfer positions 102E, and transfer positions 102 on the downstream side of the transport path 403A provided over the transfer positions 102F. The collection mechanism 405 that collects the bottle 8 after printing is performed by the printing unit 101 (the printing unit 101F located on the positive side of the X-axis in FIG. 1), and the collection mechanism 405 collects the bottle 8 on the upstream side. It can be equipped with a circulation mechanism 406 that circulates to.

Further, the printing device 100 can be provided with an irradiation unit 407 that irradiates the bottle 8 collected by the collection mechanism 405 with ultraviolet rays.

Further, the printing apparatus 100 has a carry-in mechanism 404 for carrying the bottle 8 into the printing unit 101 (printing unit 101A located on the negative side of the X-axis in FIG. 1) corresponding to the transfer position 102 on the upstream side of the transport path 403A. Can be prepared.

Further, the drive of the printing unit 101, the transport mechanism 403, the collection mechanism 405, the circulation mechanism 406, the irradiation unit 407, and the carry-in mechanism 404 in the printing device 100 is controlled by the control device 9.

Here, the control device 9 is, for example, a hard disk drive (Hard disk drive, that is, HDD), a random access memory (random access memory, that is, RAM), a read-only memory (read only memory, that is, ROM), and a flash memory. A storage device including a memory (storage medium) including a volatile or non-volatile semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, a flexible disk, an optical disk, a compact disk, a mini disk, a DVD, etc., and, for example, the storage device, an external CD-ROM. , A processing circuit such as a central processing unit (that is, a CPU) that executes a program stored in an external DVD-ROM or an external flash memory, and a mouse, keyboard, touch panel, or various types. It can include an input device such as a switch that can input information and an output device such as a display, a liquid crystal display device, or a lamp that can output information.

The transport mechanism 403 transports the bottle 8 in the transport path 403A provided across the three or more printing units 101. Although the transport path 403A in FIG. 1 is linear, the transport path 403A may include a curve at least in part. The transport path 403A is formed along a part of the guide rail 413, and the transport mechanism 403 transports the bottle 8 along the guide rail 413. Then, the transfer position 102A, the transfer position 102B, the transfer position 102C, the transfer position 102D, the transfer position 102E, and the transfer position 102E corresponding to each of the print unit 101A, the print unit 101B, the print unit 101C, the print unit 101D, the print unit 101E, and the print unit 101F. At position 102F, the delivery of the bottle 8 (that is, the receipt and delivery of the bottle 8) is performed.

The transport mechanism 403 has a plurality of transport sections (transport section 414A, transport section 414B, transport section 414C, transport section) that can move along the transport path 403A (along a part of the guide rail 413) while holding the bottle 8. 414D and transport unit 414E) are provided. Each transport portion slides on the guide rail 413 via a roller or the like. In the case shown in FIG. 1, the transport mechanism 403 includes five transport units, which is one less than the number of printing units 101, but the number of transport units is not limited to this, and two or more transport units are provided. It suffices if it is done.

Further, in the case shown in FIG. 1, adjacent transport units in the transport path 403A are connected to each other by a connecting portion 416, and the plurality of connected transport units are driven by a control device 9. By 415, they are simultaneously moved along the guide rail 413. In other words, the plurality of transport units are moved while maintaining the distance between the adjacent transport units. The movement of the plurality of transport units may be controlled by the control device 9 so as to maintain the distance between the adjacent transport units without being connected to each other. Further, the number of connected transport units is not limited to one less than the number of transfer positions as shown in FIG. 1, and two or more transport units may be provided.

Here, the transport drive unit 415 is, for example, a linear motion mechanism including a ball screw and a motor. When the transport drive unit 415 for moving the transport unit is a linear motion mechanism, even when the transport unit is moved by a relatively long transport path 403A straddling three or more printing units 101, a chain conveyor, a belt conveyor, etc. Since the rigidity is higher than that of the above, the tolerance of the moving speed of the transport portion is high. Therefore, the transport unit can be moved at high speed, and the work efficiency of the printing apparatus 100 as a whole is improved.

Each transfer position is located, for example, in the front (Y-axis negative direction) of the corresponding printing unit 101, and the bottle 8 delivered from the transport unit to the corresponding printing unit 101 at the transfer position is in the printing unit 101. Printing is performed on the side surface. Further, the bottle 8 printed in each printing unit 101 is handed over again from each printing unit 101 to the transport unit arranged at the position at the corresponding transfer position.

The resolution and collection mechanism 405 includes a hand portion 405A and an arm portion 405B. The hand portion 405A is configured so that the bottle 8 (or the holder 300 described later) can be placed on the hand portion 405A. The arm portion 405B is configured to be expandable and contractible in the longitudinal direction. The arm portion 405B has a hand portion 405A attached to an end portion thereof, and is configured to be rotatable in an XY plane around a fulcrum X on the side opposite to the end portion to which the hand portion 405A is attached. In the collection mechanism 405, for example, the bottle 8 after printing is performed by the printing unit 101F located on the positive side of the X-axis in FIG. 1 is held by the hand portion 405A. Specifically, the hand portion 405A moves to the transfer position 102F by extending the arm portion 405B while the hand portion 405A faces the transport path 403A. Then, after the bottle B (holder 300) is placed on the hand portion 405A, the arm portion 405B contracts. After that, the arm portion 405B rotates about the fulcrum X in the XY plane, so that the collected bottle 8 is delivered to the circulation mechanism 406. The location where the collection mechanism 405 collects the bottle 8 does not have to be the transfer position located at the most downstream position in the transport path 403A (corresponding to the transfer position 102F in the present embodiment), and transfer at another position. It may be a position. Further, the recovery mechanism 405 may be capable of adjusting its position 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 collection mechanism 405 to the upstream side of the transport path 403A. Specifically, the circulation mechanism 406 conveys the bottle 8 by a belt conveyor or the like traveling from the positive direction of the X axis to the negative direction of the X axis. Then, the circulation mechanism 406 returns the bottle 8 after printing to the vicinity of the carry-in mechanism 404 (that is, the vicinity of the worker who carries in the bottle 8 in the carry-in mechanism 404).

The irradiation unit 407 is located, for example, on the upstream side of the circulation mechanism 406 (the X-axis positive direction side in FIG. 1), and irradiates the bottle 8 recovered by the recovery mechanism 405 with ultraviolet rays. By doing so, for example, the ink pattern in the bottle 8 formed by the photocurable ink is cured and fixed. A shutter 408 may be provided on the downstream side (the negative direction side of the X-axis in FIG. 1) of the irradiation unit 407, and the shutter 408 is closed at the timing when the irradiation unit 407 is irradiated with ultraviolet rays, and the bottle 8 is closed. The opening / closing timing may be controlled by the control device 9 so as to open at the timing of flowing from the irradiation unit 407 to the downstream side of the circulation mechanism 406.

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

The carry-in mechanism 404 includes a carry-in portion 424 that can move along the carry-in path 404A (along a part of the guide rail 413) while holding the bottle 8. The carry-in portion 424 slides on the guide rail 413 via a roller or the like. At the carry-in position 423, the bottle 8 is set in the carry-in section 424 by the operator. Then, the carry-in unit 424 in which the bottle 8 is set is moved by the carry-in drive unit 425 whose drive is controlled by the control device 9, and reaches the transfer position 102A. The carry-in drive unit 425 is, for example, a linear motion mechanism including a ball screw and a motor.

When the bottle 8 after printing is moved to the vicinity of the carry-in mechanism 404 by the circulation mechanism 406, the worker in the carry-in mechanism 404 collects the printed bottle 8 and then prints. The bottle 8 to be printed in the device 100 can be set in the carry-in unit 424. That is, the work efficiency is improved by performing the collection work and the set work at the same place.

The carry-in section 424 and the plurality of transport sections (connected in FIG. 1) move along a common guide rail 413, but the carry-in section 424 and the plurality of transport sections (connected in FIG. 1) It can move independently of the department. That is, the moving speed and the moving timing may be different between the carrying-in unit 424 and the plurality of carrying units. The moving speed of the carrying-in unit 424 may be slower than that of the carrying-in unit.

The movement of the plurality of transport units (particularly, the transport unit 414A located most upstream in the transport path 403A) is restricted according to the position of the carry-in unit 424 by the control of the control device 9. Specifically, while the carry-in unit 424 is located at the transfer position 102A, the movement of the plurality of transfer units is restricted so that the transfer unit 414A is not located at the transfer position 102A.

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

It is desirable that the bottle 8 carried in by the carrying-in unit 424 and carried by each carrying-in unit is detachably held in the holder 300. Then, the holder 300 is arranged on the upper part of each transport section or carry-in section 424, and the holder 300 is further fixed to each transport section or carry-in section 424 by sandwiching or the like.

That is, the bottle 8 is transported by the respective transport unit or the carry-in unit 424 while being held in the holder 300. The bottle 8 is held in the holder 300 when it is collected by the collection mechanism 405, when it is irradiated with ultraviolet rays in the irradiation unit 407, and when it is carried into the transfer position 102A by the carry-in mechanism 404. Is desirable. Further, the form of the holder 300 is not limited to that shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, which will be described later, and may be any form that can hold the bottle 8.

The printing device 100 includes three or more printing units 101. Each printing unit 101 prints, for example, a single color on the side surface 80 of the bottle 8. A plurality of printing units 101 are provided in the printing apparatus 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 configurations are arranged side by side in the above order from the Y-axis positive direction side to the Y-axis negative direction side.

The bottle 8 at the transfer position corresponding to each printing unit 101 is close to or separated from the transfer unit 3 and the curing unit 4 while being held by the holder 300. FIG. 2 shows a state in which 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 the bottle 8 is held in the holder 300 and is in close proximity to the transfer unit 3 and the curing unit 4.

In addition to the above-mentioned proximity and separation in each printing unit 101, the bottle 8 held by the holder 300 is conveyed along the transport path 403A straddling 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.

Then, the ink pattern is transferred to the transfer unit 3. Further, 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 the light irradiation from the curing unit 4. The method in which the curing unit 4 cures the ink on the side surface 80 of the bottle 8 is not limited to light irradiation such as ultraviolet irradiation, and may be, for example, a method of curing the ink by heat treatment or the like.

The bottle 8 in the holder 300 is rotatably held around the axis of rotational symmetry of the side surface 80. Any of the above steps in the printing unit 101 is executed with the bottle 8 held in the holder 300.

Of the above steps, the formation of the ink pattern and the transfer of the ink pattern to the transfer unit 3 are shown in, for example, a state in which the bottle 8 is separated from the transfer unit 3 and the curing unit 4 (that is, FIG. 2). State), or while the bottle 8 is moving between the plurality of printing units 101.

Further, in the above steps, the transfer of the ink pattern to the side surface 80 of the bottle 8 and the curing of the ink are performed in a state where the bottle 8 is close to the transfer unit 3 and the curing unit 4 (that is, shown in FIG. 3). Is executed.

In the printing apparatus 100, the bottle 8 is held in the holder 300 after the above steps are executed in all the printing units 101A, the printing unit 101B, the printing unit 101C, the printing unit 101D, the printing unit 101E, and the printing unit 101F. A process (main curing process) of further curing the ink conveyed from the printing unit 101 in this state and transferred to the side surface 80 of the bottle 8 is performed in the irradiation unit 407. In this case, the curing of the ink in each printing unit 101 is executed as a temporary curing for each monochrome printing.

The bottle 8 that has been completely cured is removed from the holder 300 downstream of the circulation mechanism 406 or in the vicinity of the carry-in mechanism 404. On the other hand, in the carry-in mechanism 404, the bottle 8 to be printed by the printing device 100 is mounted on the holder 300 from which the bottle 8 has been removed.

The attachment and detachment of the bottle 8 to the holder 300 is performed at a position away from the printing unit 101 (for example, the carry-in position 423 of the carry-in mechanism 404).

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

The stage 11 is movable in the negative direction of the Y axis from the position on the positive side of the Y axis when viewed from the ink filling unit 2 and the transfer unit 3, and is accessible to the transfer unit 3 via the ink filling unit 2. The stage 11 is also movable 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 nozzle 21.

Photocurable inks include, for example, a pigment as a color developer, a polymer material (including at least one of a monomer and an oligomer) that constitutes a strong polymer layer by polymerization, and a chemical change upon irradiation with light. It contains a photopolymerization initiator that accelerates the polymerization reaction of the polymer material depending on the active species produced.

When the stage 11 moves in the negative Y-axis direction and the nozzle 21 faces the plate 12 in the Z-axis direction, the ink supplied to the nozzle 21 is ejected from the ejection port provided at the lower end of the nozzle 21 and further. It is applied to the surface of the plate 12 on the positive direction side of the Z axis (hereinafter, also referred to as “upper surface”).

For example, when the plate 12 is an intaglio, the upper surface of the plate 12 is rubbed by a doctor blade (not shown). As a result, the concave portion of the plate 12 is filled with ink and the ink other than the concave portion is removed, so that an ink pattern is formed on the plate 12.

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

The transfer unit 3 includes a blanket roll 30 and a motor 33. The motor 33 rotates the blanket roll 30.

The blanket roll 30 includes a blanket body 31 and a blanket 32. The blanket body 31 is, for example, a metal cylinder. The blanket 32 is wrapped around the surface of the blanket body 31. The blanket 32 has a cylindrical shape.

The blanket roll 30 is rotatably supported around the rotation axis shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The surface of the blanket 32 can be adhered and fixed with ink. When the stage 11 moves in the negative Y-axis direction and the blanket roll 30 faces the plate 12 in the Z-axis direction, the surface of the blanket 32 comes into contact with the upper surface of the plate 12. Then, the ink pattern formed on the plate 12 is transferred (transferred) to the surface of the blanket 32.

The bottle 8 is close to the transfer unit 3, the side surface 80 of the bottle 8 is in contact with the blanket 32, and the blanket 32 and the side surface 80 are in contact with each other and rotate in opposite directions.

As a result, the ink pattern transferred to the blanket 32 is further transferred to the side surface 80. It is desirable from the viewpoint of such transfer that the height of the unevenness that may occur on the side surface 80 of the bottle 8 is smaller than the thickness of the blanket 32.

The blanket 32 functions as an intermediate transfer body that temporarily adheres and fixes the ink pattern transferred to the side surface 80 of the bottle 8. The blanket 32 is made of an elastic resin material, for example, a silicone resin.

When the bottle 8 rotates one or more turns in such transfer, it is assumed that the ink pattern on the side surface 80 of the bottle 8 is transferred to the blanket 32 (hereinafter, also referred to as “reverse transfer”). Reverse transfer disturbs the ink pattern on the side surface 80 of the bottle 8. The viscosity of the ink transferred to the side surface 80 is increased, for example, as follows so that reverse transfer is reduced.

Light (ultraviolet rays) is irradiated from the curing unit 4 toward the side surface 80 of the bottle 8 immediately after receiving the transfer of the ink pattern from the blanket 32. When a plurality of printing units 101 are provided in the printing apparatus 100, a part of the polymer material contained in the ink is polymerized to increase the viscosity of the ink, but the curing unit 4 is used under the condition that the entire ink is not cured. Light (ultraviolet) is applied. Such conditions are set, for example, by the intensity of the light.

As the viscosity of the ink increases, the adhesiveness from the side surface 80 of the bottle 8 to the blanket 32 decreases, and the reverse transfer is reduced. Such a decrease in adhesiveness 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 configuration of the holder 300 in a state where the bottle 8 is held.

The holder 300 rotatably holds the bottle 8 around the rotation axis 309 along the X-axis direction. The bottle 8 is held by the holder 300 in a lateral position in which the rotation symmetry axis 800 is along the rotation axis 309. Hereinafter, the circumferential direction and the radial direction of the rotation axis 309 are also simply referred to as a circumferential direction and a radial direction, respectively.

As an example is shown in FIG. 4, the holder 300 includes a holding mechanism 310 and a holding main body portion 330.

The holding mechanism 310 rotatably holds one end of the bottle 8 around the rotation axis 309. One end of the bottle 8 held by the holding mechanism 310 is one end of the bottle 8 on the axis of rotational symmetry 800.

The holding mechanism 310 includes a rotation holding portion 311. The rotation holding portion 311 includes a shaft portion 312 rotatably supported around the rotation axis 309, and a holding member 313 connected to an end portion of the shaft portion 312.

The holding member 313 holds one end of the bottle 8 detachably. With the holding member 313 holding one end of the bottle 8, the rotation holding portion 311 rotates around the rotation axis 309, so that the bottle 8 held by the rotation holding portion 311 also rotates around the rotation axis 309. do.

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 for rotating the rotation holding portion 311 around the rotation axis 309 to the rotation holding portion 311. The rotation drive mechanism 500 includes a motor 501, and the rotational force of the motor 501 is transmitted to the rotation holding portion 311 so that the rotation holding portion 311 rotates around the rotation axis 309.

In the example shown in FIG. 4, the rotation drive mechanism 500 transmits the rotational 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 or belts, and transmits the rotational force from the rotation drive mechanism 500 to the rotation holding unit 311. The power transmission mechanism 380 may include, for example, a clutch, and the connection state in which the rotational force from the rotation drive mechanism 500 is transmitted to the rotation holding portion 311 and the rotational force from the rotation drive mechanism 500 are transmitted to the rotation holding portion 311. It may be switched to the cutoff state which does not transmit.

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

The holding main body portion 330 includes a flat plate-shaped 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 support portion 331 is provided on the X-axis positive direction side from the base 333 in the Z-axis positive direction. The support portion 332 is provided at a position separated from the support portion 331 in the negative direction of the X axis in the positive direction of the Z axis from the base 333.

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

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 body portion 82 has a cylindrical shape, and the side surface 80, which is the outer surface thereof, is rotationally symmetric with respect to the rotational symmetry axis 800. The bottom portion 83 closes the opening on the negative side of the X-axis of the body portion 82. The mouth portion 81 is connected to the opening on the X-axis positive direction side of the body portion 82, and has a tapered cylindrical shape whose diameter decreases as the distance from the body portion 82 increases. A male screw portion is formed on the outer surface of the tip of the mouth portion 81. The holding member 313 has the same shape as the bottle cap.

In a state where the mouth portion 81 and the holding member 313 are not connected, the operator holds the bottle 8 and restricts the rotation of the bottle 8 while screwing the mouth portion 81 and the holding member 313 to each other. The picking member 319 is rotated. The rotation causes the mouth portion 81 and the holding member 313 to be screwed together. Then, the mouth portion 81 and the holding member 313 are connected by the screwing. By this connection, the shaft 314 and the bottle 8 are connected in the X-axis direction.

In a state where the holding member 313 and the bottle 8 are connected, the operator rotates the picking member 319 in the direction of releasing the screwing between the mouth portion 81 and the holding member 313 while restricting the rotation of the bottle 8. By such rotation, the holding member 313 is removed 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 includes 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 fixed through the inner ring of the self-aligning bearing 315, and the outer ring of the self-aligning bearing 315 is fixed to the holding main body portion 330 (support portion 331). The fixing of the outer ring of the self-aligning bearing 315 to the support portion 331 is not shown in FIG. The inner ring of the self-aligning bearing 315 is rotatable and tiltable with respect to the outer ring. Therefore, even if the shaft 314 is bent with respect to the rotation axis 309, the inner ring of the self-aligning bearing 315 is inclined and displaced with respect to the outer ring according to the bending of the shaft 314, so that the shaft 314 can rotate while being bent. can.

By the way, the shape of the mouth portion 81 of the bottle 8 may differ individually due to product variations. Due to this shape variation, for example, the central axis of the mouth portion 81 may deviate from the rotational symmetry axis 800 of the body portion 82. In this case, when the mouth portion 81 of the bottle 8 is attached to the holding member 313, the rotation symmetry axis 800 of the body portion 82 of the bottle 8 shifts with respect to the rotation axis 309. That is, the bottle 8 is displaced in the radial direction.

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

The backup roller 370 is arranged radially outside the bottle 8 and comes into contact with the side surface 80 of the bottle 8. In the example shown in FIG. 4, only one backup roller 370 is shown, but a plurality of backup rollers may be provided. The plurality of backup rollers come into 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 portion 321 rotatably urges the other end of the bottle 8 (here, the bottom portion 83) around the rotation axis 309 toward the positive direction of the X axis.

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

The shaft 322 is provided along the rotation axis 309, and is arranged so as to coincide with the axis of the shaft portion 312 (that is, the axis of the shaft 314). The shaft 322 is rotatably supported by the support portion 332 around the rotation axis 309, and is movably supported by the support portion 332 along the X-axis direction.

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

The size of the contact member 323 when viewed along the rotation axis 309 is larger than that of the shaft 322. The urging member 324 is provided between the contact member 323 and the wall surface of the support portion 332 on the positive direction side of the X-axis. The urging member 324 urges the contact member 323 to the bottom 83 side of the bottle 8. For example, the urging member 324 includes a spring, which is inserted into the shaft 322. When the urging member 324 urges the contact member 323 toward the bottom 83, the urging force is transmitted to the bottom 83 of the bottle 8 via the contact member 323. That is, the contact member 323 urges the bottom portion 83 of the bottle 8 toward the mouth portion 81. As a result, the bottle 8 is sandwiched by the holding mechanism 310 and the holding mechanism 320 in the X-axis direction.

The operator can move the picking member 325 in the negative direction of the X-axis while resisting the urging force of the urging member 324, and separate the contact member 323 from the bottom 83. Separating the contact member 323 from the bottom 83 facilitates the process of removing the holding member 313 from the mouth 81.

FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing a control system that controls the printing apparatus 100. As an example is shown in FIG. 5, the control device 9 in the printing device 100 controls the driving of each driving unit in the printing device 100.

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

Further, the control device 9 drives the transport drive unit 415 in the transport mechanism 403, expands and contracts the arm portion 405B in the recovery mechanism 405, drives the belt conveyor in the circulation mechanism 406, irradiates ultraviolet rays in the irradiation unit 407, and carries in. It controls the drive of the carry-in drive unit 425 in 404.

<About the operation of the printing device>
Next, the operation of the printing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the printing apparatus according to the present embodiment.

As an example is shown in FIG. 6, in step ST101, the operator attaches the bottle 8 to the holder 300 in the carry-in mechanism 404 of the printing apparatus 100. At this time, if the bottle 8 after printing is attached to the holder 300, after removing the bottle 8, the bottle 8 which has not been printed is attached to the holder 300. Further, the operator fixes the bottle 8 held in the holder 300 to the carry-in portion 424 located at the carry-in position 423. Then, the process proceeds to step ST102, for which an example is shown in FIG.

Next, in step ST102, the carry-in unit 424 located at the carry-in position 423 moves to the transfer position 102A located at the most upstream position in the transport path 403A under the control of the control device 9. At this time, it is assumed that the transport unit 414A located at the most upstream of the transport path 403A is not located at the transfer position 102A. Then, the process proceeds to step ST103, for which an example is shown in FIG.

Next, in step ST103, the bottle 8 held in the holder 300 is delivered from the carry-in unit 424 located at the transfer position 102A to the corresponding printing unit 101A under the control of the control device 9. Then, the process proceeds to step ST104, for which an example is shown in FIG.

Next, in step ST104, printing is performed on the side surface 80 of the bottle 8 held by the holder 300 in the printing unit 101A under the control of the control device 9. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, an ink pattern using a 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. Further, 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 the light irradiation from the curing unit 4. Then, the process proceeds to step ST105 in which an example is shown in FIG.

Next, in step ST105, the carry-in unit 424 located at the transfer position 102A moves to the carry-in position 423 under the control of the control device 9. Further, under the control of the control device 9, a plurality of connected transport units (that is, transport unit 414A, transport unit 414B, transport unit 414C, transport unit 414D and transport unit 414E) are located at the transfer unit 414A at the transfer position 102A. Move to do. Here, the timing at which the transport unit 414A is located at the transfer position 102A may be the timing after the transfer unit 424 has moved from the transfer position 102A (including immediately after). Further, the distance between 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) connected by the connecting unit 416 is a plurality of transfer positions (that is, transfer / transfer positions). When it is an integral multiple of the interval between the position 102A, the transfer position 102B, the transfer position 102C, the transfer position 102D, the transfer position 102E and the transfer position 102F) (in the case shown in FIG. 1, both intervals are the same). At the same time that the transfer unit 414A is located at the transfer unit 102A, the other transfer units (at least one of the transfer unit 414B, the transfer unit 414C, the transfer unit 414D, and the transfer unit 414E) also correspond to the transfer unit (that is, the transfer unit 414B). The transfer position 102B corresponding to the transfer unit 414C, the transfer position 102C corresponding to the transfer unit 414C, the transfer position 102D corresponding to the transfer unit 414D, and the transfer position 102E corresponding to the transfer unit 414E). Such an arrangement of transport units (at least two correspondences out of the correspondences of the five transport units) is referred to as a first arrangement. Then, the process proceeds to step ST106, for which an example is shown in FIG.

Note that step ST105 may be performed while the printing operation in the printing unit 101A of step ST104 is being performed (that is, before the printing operation in the printing unit 101A is completed). If step ST105 is performed while the printing operation in the printing unit 101A of step ST104 is being performed, the printing operation described in step ST106 can be performed immediately after the printing operation in the printing unit 101A is completed, so that printing can be performed. The work efficiency of the entire device 100 can be improved.

Next, in step ST106, the bottle 8 held in the holder 300 is delivered from the printing unit 101A to the transport unit 414A located at the transfer position 102A under the control of the control device 9. Then, the process proceeds to step ST107, for which an example is shown in FIG.

Next, in step ST107, a plurality of connected transport units (that is, transport unit 414A, transport unit 414B, transport unit 414C, transport unit 414D, and transport unit 414E) are connected by the control of the control device 9. Move so that it is located at the transfer position 102B. Further, the distance between 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) connected by the connecting unit 416 is a plurality of transfer positions (that is, transfer / transfer positions). When it is an integral multiple of the interval between the position 102A, the transfer position 102B, the transfer position 102C, the transfer position 102D, the transfer position 102E and the transfer position 102F) (in the case shown in FIG. 1, both intervals are the same). At the same time that the transfer unit 414A is located at the transfer unit 102B, the other transfer units (at least one of the transfer unit 414B, the transfer unit 414C, the transfer unit 414D, and the transfer unit 414E) also have a corresponding transfer position (that is, the transfer unit 414B). The transfer position 102C corresponding to the transfer unit 414C, the transfer position 102D corresponding to the transfer unit 414C, the transfer position 102E corresponding to the transfer unit 414D, and the transfer position 102F corresponding to the transfer unit 414E). Such an arrangement of transport units (correspondence relationship in which the correspondence relationship of a plurality of transport units is similarly deviated from 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, printing unit 101B, printing unit 101C, printing unit 101D, printing unit 101E, and printing unit 101F, the bottle fixed to the carrying-in unit 424 at the carrying-in position 423. 8 may be sequentially moved to the transfer position 102A. By doing so, the printing operation is simultaneously performed in the plurality of printing units 101A, printing unit 101B, printing unit 101C, printing unit 101D, printing unit 101E, and printing unit 101F, and the work efficiency of the entire printing apparatus 100 is improved. do. Then, the process proceeds to step ST108, for which an example is shown in FIG.

Next, in step ST108, the bottle 8 held in the holder 300 is delivered from the transport unit 414A located at the transfer position 102B to the corresponding printing unit 101B under the control of the control device 9. When the bottle 8 held in the holder 300 is fixed to the transport unit located at another transfer position, the bottle 8 is also held in the holder 300 by the transport unit to the corresponding printing unit 101. Bottle 8 is delivered. Here, if the distance between the adjacent transport units is an integral multiple of the distance between the adjacent transfer positions, the plurality of transport units can simultaneously transfer the bottle 8 at the corresponding transfer positions. Then, the process proceeds to step ST109, for which an example is shown in FIG.

Next, in step ST109, printing is performed on the side surface 80 of the bottle 8 held in the holder 300 in the printing unit 101B under the control of the control device 9. If the bottle 8 held in the holder 300 is delivered to another printing unit 101 in step ST108, the printing unit 101 also prints on the side surface 80 of the bottle 8 delivered in step ST108. Is done. If the bottle 8 is a bottle 8 that has already been printed in the printing unit 101 located on the upstream side of the transport path 403A, in step ST109, printing in a color different from the printing performed earlier is performed. By doing so, multicolor printing is performed on the bottle 8. Then, the process proceeds to step ST110 in which an example is shown in FIG.

Next, in step ST110, a plurality of connected transport units (that is, transport unit 414A, transport unit 414B, transport unit 414C, transport unit 414D, and transport unit 414E) are connected by the control of the control device 9. Move so that it is located at the transfer position 102A. Here, when the carry-in unit 424 is located at the transfer position 102A, the transfer unit 414A is moved to the transfer position 102A after the carry-in unit 424 has moved from the transfer position 102A (including immediately after). Further, when the distance between the plurality of transport units connected by the connecting portion 416 is an integral multiple of the distance between the plurality of transfer positions, the transport unit 414A is located at the transfer position 102A and at the same time, another The transfer position corresponding to the transfer unit (that is, the transfer position 102B corresponding to the transfer unit 414B, the transfer position 102C corresponding to the transfer unit 414C, the transfer position 102D corresponding to the transfer unit 414D, and the transfer position 102E corresponding to the transfer unit 414E). Can be located in. That is, it can be the first arrangement. Then, the process proceeds to step ST111, for which an example is shown in FIG.

Note that step ST110 may be performed while the printing operation in the printing unit 101 of step ST109 is being performed.

Next, in step ST111, it is determined for each transfer position whether or not the transfer unit is located at the transfer position corresponding to each print unit 101. Then, when the transfer unit is located at the transfer / transfer position corresponding to the printing unit 101, that is, when it corresponds to "YES" branching from step ST111 in FIG. 6, the process goes to step ST112 shown in FIG. move on. On the other hand, when the transfer unit is not located at the transfer / transfer position corresponding to the printing unit 101, that is, when it corresponds to "NO" branching from step ST111 in FIG. 6, step ST113 shown in FIG. 6 is an example. Proceed to.

In step ST112, the bottle 8 held in the holder 300 is delivered to the transport unit located at the transfer position corresponding to each printing unit 101 under the control of the control device 9. Then, the process returns to step ST107, for which an example is shown in FIG.

In step ST113, since the transfer unit is not located at the transfer position corresponding to the printing unit 101F, as in the case of the transfer position 102F located at the most downstream of the transfer path 403A, the transfer unit is not located at the transfer position, so that the transfer unit is collected by the control of the control device 9. The mechanism 405 collects the bottle 8 held in the holder 300. Then, the process proceeds to step ST114, for which an example is shown in FIG.

Next, in step ST114, the irradiation unit 407 irradiates the bottle 8 recovered by the recovery mechanism 405 with ultraviolet rays under the control of the control device 9. By doing so, the ink pattern in the bottle 8 is cured and fixed. Then, the process proceeds to step ST115 in which an example is shown in FIG.

Next, in step ST115, under the control of the control device 9, the circulation mechanism 406 transports the bottle 8 held in the holder 300 so as to return it to the upstream side of the transport path 403A. Then, the circulation mechanism 406 returns the bottle 8 after printing to the vicinity of the carry-in mechanism 404 (that is, the vicinity of the worker who carries in the bottle 8 in the carry-in mechanism 404). Then, if necessary, the bottle 8 is removed from the holder 300 to end the operation.

<Effects caused by the above-described embodiments>
Next, an example of the effect caused by the above-described embodiment will be shown. In the following description, the effect is described based on the specific configuration shown in the embodiment described above, but to the extent that the same effect occurs, the examples are described in the present specification. May be replaced with other specific configurations indicated by. That is, in the following, for convenience, only one of the specific configurations to be associated may be described as a representative, but other specific configurations to which the concrete configuration described as a representative is associated may be represented. It may be replaced with a typical configuration.

According to the embodiment described above, the printing apparatus includes three or more printing units 101 and a transport mechanism 403. The printing unit 101 transfers (including both receiving and delivering) the work at the corresponding transfer position. Here, the work corresponds to, for example, a bottle 8. Further, the printing unit 101 prints on the bottle 8 delivered at the corresponding transfer position. The transport mechanism 403 has a transport path 403A that straddles three or more transfer positions. Further, the transport mechanism 403 transports the bottle 8 in the transport path 403A. The transport mechanism 403 includes a plurality of transport units (for example, a transport unit 414A, a transport unit 414B, a transport unit 414C, a transport unit 414D, and a transport unit 414E). Each transport unit can move along the transport path 403A while holding the bottle 8. In addition, each transport unit transfers and transfers the bottle 8 at the corresponding transfer position. Further, the plurality of transport units move along the transport path 403A while keeping a constant distance from each other.

According to such a configuration, since the transport unit moves along the transport path 403A straddling three or more transfer positions, even when printing is performed using a plurality of printing units, the transport mechanism is between the plurality of transport mechanisms. The time required to deliver the work and the misalignment that may occur due to the delivery are suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a decrease in work efficiency and a shift in the printing position on the work. Further, since the plurality of transport units move while the distance between them is kept constant, the positional relationship when the bottle 8 is fixed to one transport unit is maintained with respect to the other transport units. Easy to do. Therefore, the alignment can be facilitated.

In addition, when other configurations shown in the present specification are appropriately added to the above configurations, that is, when other configurations in the present specification not mentioned as the above configurations are appropriately added. Even if there is, the same effect can be produced.

Further, according to the embodiment described above, the bottle 8 is further held in each transport unit in a state of being held in the holder 300. Further, each transport unit transfers and receives the bottle 8 held in the holder 300 at the corresponding transfer position. According to such a configuration, the state of being held by the holder 300 is maintained even when the bottle 8 is moved, so that the alignment accuracy is improved.

Further, according to the embodiment described above, the distance between adjacent transport units is an integral multiple of the distance between adjacent transfer positions. Then, the plurality of transport units simultaneously transfer and transfer the bottle 8 at the corresponding transfer positions. According to such a configuration, since the timing of the transfer of the bottle 8 is synchronized between the plurality of transport units, it is possible to shorten the time for stopping the movement of the transport unit for the transfer of the bottle 8. That is, if the transfer timing of the bottle 8 is different in the plurality of transport units, it is necessary to stop the movement of the plurality of transport units at the timing of the transfer of the bottle 8 in each transport unit. If the timing of the transfer of the bottle 8 is synchronized, the time for stopping the movement of the transport unit can be shortened.

Further, according to the embodiment described above, the transfer position corresponds to at least the first transfer position (transfer position 102A) and the second transfer position corresponding to each of the three or more printing units 101. (Transfer position 102B) and a third transfer position (transfer position 102C) are included. Further, the plurality of transport units include at least a first transport unit (transport unit 414A) and a second transport unit (transport unit 414B). Then, in the transport path 403A, the first transport unit (transport unit 414A) is located at the first transfer position (transfer position 102A), and the second transfer unit is located at the second transfer position (transfer position 102B). The first transfer unit (transfer unit 414A) is located at the first transfer position (transfer position 102B) and the first transfer position (transfer position 102B), and the third transfer position (transfer position 102C) is located. ), The second arrangement in which the second transport section (transport section 414B) is located is alternately formed. According to such a configuration, the moving distance of each transport unit can be shortened as compared with the case where one transport unit transports the same bottle 8 from the upstream to the downstream of the transport path 403A. Therefore, the moving speed of the transport unit can also be suppressed.

Further, according to the embodiment described above, in the second arrangement, after the bottle 8 is passed from at least one of the transport unit 414A and the transport unit 414B to the corresponding printing unit 101, the corresponding printing is performed. While the unit 101 is printing on the delivered bottle 8, the transport unit 414A and the transport unit 414B move to form the first arrangement. According to such a configuration, the bottle 8 can be transferred and conveyed immediately after the printing operation in the printing unit 101 is completed, so that the work efficiency of the printing apparatus 100 as a whole can be improved.

Further, according to the embodiment described above, the transport mechanism 403 includes a guide rail 413 along the transport path 403A. Then, each transport portion can move along the guide rail 413. According to such a configuration, the transport unit is moved by the linear motion mechanism driven along the guide rail 413. Then, even when the transport section is moved by the relatively long transport path 403A, the rigidity is higher than that of the chain conveyor or the belt conveyor, so that the tolerance of the moving speed of the transport section is high. Therefore, the transport unit can be moved at high speed, and the work efficiency of the printing apparatus 100 as a whole is improved.

Further, according to the embodiment described above, the printing apparatus 100 includes a collection mechanism 405 and a circulation mechanism 406. The collection mechanism 405 prints on the printing unit 101F located on the downstream side of the transport path 403A among the three or more printing units 101 that sequentially print on the bottles 8 transported from the upstream to the downstream of the transport path 403A. Collect the bottle 8 after it has been printed. The circulation mechanism 406 circulates the bottle 8 collected by the collection mechanism 405 to the upstream side of the transport path 403A. According to such a configuration, the collected bottle 8 is circulated to the upstream side of the transport path 403A into which the bottle 8 is carried, so that the operator does not have to wait for the recovery downstream of the transport path 403A. , The number of workers can be reduced. Further, since the bottle 8 is circulated through a circulation mechanism that is a different route from the transport path 403A, the bottle 8 is transported from the upstream to the downstream of the transport path 403A for printing, and after printing is performed. It is possible to prevent the bottles 8 transported from the downstream side to the upstream side of the transport path 403A from coexisting with each other. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the transportation from being delayed due to the mixture and improve the transportation efficiency.

Further, according to the embodiment described above, the printing apparatus 100 includes an irradiation unit 407 that irradiates the bottle 8 collected by the collection mechanism 405 with ultraviolet rays. Then, the circulation mechanism 406 circulates the bottle 8 irradiated with ultraviolet rays by the irradiation unit 407 to the upstream side of the transport path 403A. According to such a configuration, the circulation mechanism 406 is provided between the position of the carry-in mechanism 404 in which the bottle 8 is carried in and the position of the irradiation unit 407. Can be kept away from. Therefore, the operator can safely perform the work while suppressing the influence of the ultraviolet rays on the irradiation unit 407.

Further, according to the embodiment described above, the printing apparatus 100 includes a carry-in mechanism 404. The carry-in mechanism 404 is provided at the carry-in position 423 of the bottle 8 and the most upstream printing unit 101 (printing unit 101A located in the negative direction on the X-axis in FIG. 1), which is the printing unit 101 located most upstream of the transport path 403A. It has a carry-in path 404A that straddles the most upstream transfer position (transfer position 102A in FIG. 1), which is the corresponding transfer position. Further, the carry-in mechanism 404 carries in the bottle 8 via the carry-in path 404A. The carry-in mechanism 404 includes a carry-in unit 424. The carry-in unit 424 can move along the carry-in path 404A while holding the bottle 8. Further, the carry-in unit 424 carries the bottle 8 into the most upstream printing unit (printing unit 101A located in the negative direction of the X-axis in FIG. 1) at the transfer position 102A. According to such a configuration, in the carry-in path 404A arranged at a place close to the operator, the carry-in section 424, which is lighter than the plurality of connected transport sections, can be moved independently of the plurality of transport sections. .. Therefore, the weight of the object moving in the vicinity of the worker can be reduced, so that the worker can work safely.

Further, according to the embodiment described above, none of the transport units is located at the transfer position 102A while the transfer unit 424 is located at the transfer position 102A. According to such a configuration, while the operator is working with the carry-in unit 424 positioned at the transfer position 102A, the transfer unit is restricted from moving to the transfer position 102A under the control of the control device 9. Will be done. Therefore, the worker can concentrate on the work.

According to the embodiment described above, in the printing method, the bottle 8 is conveyed in the transport path 403A straddling the three or more printing units 101. Then, the printing unit 101 prints on the bottle 8 delivered at the corresponding transfer position. Here, in the step of transporting the bottle 8, at least one of the plurality of transport units is a step of transporting the bottle 8. Further, the step of transporting the bottle 8 is a step of moving the plurality of transporting portions along the transport path 403A while keeping the distance between them constant.

According to such a configuration, since the transport unit moves along the transport path 403A straddling the three or more printing units 101, even when printing is performed using a plurality of printing units, a plurality of transport mechanisms are used. The time required to deliver the work between them and the misalignment that may occur due to the delivery are suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a decrease in work efficiency and a shift in the printing position on the work.

If there are no special restrictions, the order in which each process is performed can be changed.

Further, according to the embodiment described above, the step of transporting the bottle 8 is passed from at least one of the transport unit 414A and the transport unit 414B to the corresponding printing unit 101 in the second arrangement. Later, while the corresponding printing unit 101 is printing on the delivered bottle 8, the transport unit 414A and the transport unit 414B move to form the first arrangement, and further, in the first arrangement. , A step of forming a second arrangement after the bottle 8 is delivered from the printing unit 101 corresponding to at least one of the transport unit 414A and the transport unit 414B. According to such a configuration, the bottle 8 can be transferred and conveyed immediately after the printing operation in the printing unit 101 is completed, so that the work efficiency of the printing apparatus 100 as a whole can be improved.

<About the modified example of the embodiment described above>
In the embodiments described above, the materials, materials, dimensions, shapes, relative arrangement relationships, implementation conditions, etc. of each component may also be described, but these are one example in all aspects. However, it shall not be limited.

Therefore, innumerable variants and equivalents for which examples are not shown are envisioned within the scope of the art disclosed herein. For example, it may include transformations, additions, or omissions of at least one component.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, when the material name or the like is described without being specified, the material contains other additives, for example, an alloy or the like, as long as there is no contradiction. It shall be included.

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 Blanket roll 31 Blanket body 32 Blanket 33,501 Motor 80 Side 81 Mouth part 82 Body part 83 Bottom 100

Printing device

101, 101A, 101B, 101C, 101D, 101E,

101F Printing unit

102, 102A, 102B, 102C, 102D, 102E, 102F Transfer position 300 Holder 309

Rotational axis

310, 320 Holding mechanism 311,321 Rotating holding unit 312 Shaft part 313

Holding member

314, 322 Shaft 315 Self-aligning

bearing

319, 325 Picking member 323 Contact member 324 Bounce member 330

Holding body part

331, 332 Support part 333 Base 370 Backup roller 380 Power transmission mechanism 403 Transport mechanism 403A Transport path 404 Carry-in mechanism 404A Carry-in path 405 Recovery mechanism

405A Hand section

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 Carry-in part 425 Carry-in drive part 500 Rotational drive mechanism 800 Rotational symmetry axis

Claims

A printing device for printing on at least one workpiece.
Three or more printing units for performing transfer of the work at the corresponding transfer position and printing on the work passed at the transfer position.
A transport mechanism for transporting the work along a transport path straddling three or more transfer positions is provided.
The transfer mechanism includes a plurality of transfer units for transferring the work to and from the corresponding printing unit at each transfer position.
The plurality of transport units can move along the transport path while holding the work.
The plurality of transport units move along the transport path while keeping a constant distance from each other.
Printing equipment.
The printing apparatus according to claim 1.
The work is further held by the respective transporting portions while being held by the holder.
Each of the transport units transfers and receives the work while being held by the holder at the corresponding transfer position.
Printing equipment.
The printing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.
The distance between the adjacent transport units is an integral multiple of the distance between the adjacent transfer positions.
The plurality of transport units simultaneously transfer and transfer the work at the corresponding transfer positions.
Printing equipment.
The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
The transfer position includes at least a first transfer position, a second transfer position, and a third transfer position corresponding to each of the three or more printing units.
The plurality of transport units include at least a first transport unit and a second transport unit.
In the transport path, the first arrangement in which the first transport unit is located at the first transfer position and the second transport unit is located at the second transfer position, and the second arrangement. A second arrangement in which the first transfer unit is located at the transfer position and the second transfer unit is located at the third transfer position is alternately formed.
Printing equipment.
The printing apparatus according to claim 4.
In the second arrangement, the work is passed from at least one of the first transport unit and the second transport unit to the corresponding printing unit, and then the corresponding printing unit is delivered. While printing is being performed on the work, the first transport unit and the second transport unit move to form the first arrangement.
Printing equipment.
The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5.
The transport mechanism further comprises a guide rail along the transport path.
Each of the transport portions is movable along the guide rail.
Printing equipment.
The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6.
Of the three or more printing units that sequentially print on the work transported from the upstream to the downstream of the transport path, the printing unit located on the downstream side of the transport path is used for printing. A collection mechanism that collects workpieces and
Further provided with a circulation mechanism for circulating the work collected by the collection mechanism to the upstream side of the transport path.
Printing equipment.
The printing apparatus according to claim 7.
Further, an irradiation unit for irradiating the work collected by the collection mechanism with ultraviolet rays is provided.
The circulation mechanism circulates the work irradiated with ultraviolet rays by the irradiation unit to the upstream side of the transport path.
Printing equipment.
The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8.
It has a carry-in path that straddles the carry-in position of the work and the most upstream transfer position, which is the transfer position located at the most upstream of the transport path, and is a carry-in for carrying the work through the carry-in path. With more mechanisms,
The carry-in mechanism is a print unit that can move along the carry-in path while holding the work, and at the most upstream transfer position, the work corresponds to the most upstream transfer position. Equipped with a carry-in section for carrying in
Printing equipment.
The printing apparatus according to claim 9.
Neither of the transport units is located at the maximum flow transfer position while the carry-in unit is located at the maximum flow transfer position.
Printing equipment.
It is a printing method for printing on at least one workpiece using three or more printing units.
A step of transporting the work in a transport path straddling three or more transfer positions corresponding to three or more printing units, respectively.
The printing unit comprises a step of printing on the work passed at the corresponding transfer position.
In the step of transporting the work, a plurality of transport units that can move along the transport path while holding the work and that transfer the work to and from the printing unit at each transfer position. At least one of them is a process of transporting the work.
In the step of transporting the work, at least one of the plurality of transport portions moves along the transport path while the distance between the plurality of transport portions is kept constant, so that at least one of the plurality of transport portions is the work. Is the process of transporting
Printing method.