JP2006110840A - Drawing device - Google Patents

Abstract

A drawing apparatus for drawing a line on a medium with high productivity and high productivity is provided. An ultraviolet curing type is applied to a medium 80 adsorbed on a table by a print head of a head portion. Ink is ejected to print on the medium 80, and at the same time, the printed portion immediately after printing is irradiated with ultraviolet rays to cure the ink. While the ultraviolet irradiation device 16 moves past the printing area and returns to the head standby position, the operation of closing the irradiation port 24 of the ultraviolet irradiation device 16 with the shutter 28 is started, and the media suction operation of the table 36 is released. Further, before the movement of the head unit 10 is started and the ultraviolet irradiation device 16 enters the printing region, the irradiation port 24 is opened by the shutter.
[Selection] Figure 13

Description

  The present invention relates to a drawing apparatus for printing on a medium such as a light guide used in an edge light type surface light source device constituting a liquid crystal display device used as a display unit in a notebook personal computer, a liquid crystal television or the like. The present invention relates to a drawing apparatus suitable for use in manufacturing a surface light source device intended to prevent generation of bright lines appearing in a region near a primary light source on a light emitting surface. More particularly, the present invention relates to a drawing apparatus particularly suitable for creating a light guide for a surface light source device intended to prevent generation of bright lines appearing in a light exit surface area near a light incident end face facing a primary light source.

In recent years, liquid crystal display devices have been widely used as monitors for portable notebook personal computers or the like, as display units for liquid crystal televisions and video-type liquid crystal televisions, and in various other fields.
A liquid crystal display device basically includes a backlight and a liquid crystal display element. As a backlight, an edge light type as shown in FIG. 53 is frequently used from the viewpoint of making the liquid crystal display device compact (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Conventionally, as a backlight, at least one end face of a rectangular plate-shaped light guide 172 is used as a light incident end face, and a linear or rod-like primary light source 174 such as a straight tube fluorescent lamp is provided along the light incident end face. And the light emitted from the primary light source is introduced from the light incident end surface of the light guide 172 into the light guide, and the light exit surface is one of the two main surfaces of the light guide 172. What is emitted from the projector is widely used.

Incidentally, based on recent demands for reducing the weight and thickness of various devices such as liquid crystal display devices, the backlight is also being made thinner. In this case, in the light emitting surface region close to the light incident end surface of the light guide (that is, the light emitting surface region near the light incident portion of the light guide), the light incident on the light guide from the light incident end surface is the light guide. When light is repeatedly reflected and propagated between the light exit surface, which is one main surface of the body, and the back surface, which is the opposite main surface, the light exits from the light exit surface without sufficiently averaging the light distribution. Thus, the bright line and the dark line as the high luminance part and the low luminance part arranged so as to form a linear or belt-like repetitive pattern along the light incident end face appear.

If the region corresponding to the light emission surface region where the bright line and dark line of the backlight are generated is also used as an effective display surface, the quality of the display image of the liquid crystal display device is significantly lowered due to the influence of the bright line and dark line.
For this reason, conventionally, a primary light source device or a liquid crystal display device case is used so that both light guide body light emitting portions in the vicinity of the primary light source where such bright and dark lines are generated are separated from the effective display surface of the liquid crystal display device. The surface light source device has been used in a state of covering the area near the light source. However, in recent years, it has been required to reduce the external dimensions of the liquid crystal display device as much as possible while maintaining the effective display screen size as large as possible. Therefore, the light guide light near the primary light source of the edge light type surface light source device is required. It is necessary to use the exit surface area as an effective display surface.

Therefore, the brightness in the light exit surface area near the light incident end face of the light guide was increased and the defect in this area was made inconspicuous. Since the brightness in the surface area (bright line) is conspicuous, further improvement as a product has been awaited.
Therefore, in order to improve the defect, there is a technique in which a light absorbing member is provided in a linear shape parallel to the end face for the purpose of absorbing light (not reflecting or not transmitting) in the vicinity of the light incident end face (0 to 100 μm) of the light guide. It has been developed.
JP 2004-87309 A

What is most desired for an apparatus that accurately draws lines to prevent the occurrence of bright lines on a light guide, etc. is to reduce the accuracy of line drawing and the tact time required for printing on each medium such as a light guide. And increase productivity.
The present invention has been invented in view of the above problems, and has as its main object to provide a drawing apparatus with improved productivity.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a head unit having an ink ejection type print head mounted thereon, an ultraviolet irradiation device having a shutter disposed on the side of the head unit for opening and closing an irradiation port, and a table having a media adsorption function. The print head of the head portion ejects ultraviolet curable ink onto the medium on the table to perform printing on the medium, and the ink is cured by irradiating the print portion immediately after printing with ultraviolet rays from the irradiation port. The drawing apparatus is configured to start an operation of closing the irradiation port of the ultraviolet irradiation device with the shutter while the ultraviolet irradiation device moves past the print region and returns to the head standby position.
The present invention also includes a head portion having an ink ejection type print head mounted thereon, an ultraviolet irradiation device having a shutter disposed on the side of the head portion for opening and closing an irradiation port, and a table having a media adsorption function. In this drawing apparatus, ultraviolet curable ink is ejected onto a medium adsorbed on a table by the print head to print on the medium, and the printed part immediately after printing is irradiated with ultraviolet rays to cure the ink. Further, the medium suction operation of the table is canceled while the head portion moves past the print area and returns to the head standby position.
The present invention also includes a head portion having an ink ejection type print head mounted thereon, an ultraviolet irradiation device having a shutter disposed on the side of the head portion for opening and closing an irradiation port, and a table having a media adsorption function. A drawing apparatus that discharges ultraviolet curable ink onto a medium adsorbed on a table by the print head and prints on the medium, and irradiates the printed part immediately after printing with ultraviolet rays to cure the ink. The operation of closing the irradiation port of the ultraviolet irradiation device with the shutter during the movement of the ultraviolet irradiation device past the print area and returning to the head standby position is started, and the medium suction operation of the table is canceled. It is.
The present invention also includes a head portion having an ink ejection type print head mounted thereon, an ultraviolet irradiation device having a shutter disposed on the side of the head portion for opening and closing an irradiation port, and a table having a media adsorption function. A drawing apparatus that discharges ultraviolet curable ink onto a medium on a table by a print head and prints on the medium, and irradiates ultraviolet rays from an irradiation port to a print portion immediately after printing to cure the ink. The irradiation port is opened with a shutter before the ultraviolet irradiation device starts moving and enters the printing area.

  According to the present invention, the time required for printing can be shortened as compared with a device that closes the shutter of the ultraviolet irradiation port after the ultraviolet irradiation device returns to the head standby position, and at that time, the suction of the media suction device is also released. Therefore, it is possible to shorten the time required for media exchange. Also, when starting the printing, if the shutter of the ultraviolet irradiation port is opened before the head portion starts moving and before entering the printing area, the printing work time can be shortened accordingly.

Hereinafter, the configuration of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
1, 2 and 3 are schematic views of the entire drawing apparatus according to the present invention. The body of the drawing apparatus 2 supports a rail-shaped head guide member 4 extending in the Y-axis direction horizontally with respect to the floor surface. A carriage 6 is movably attached to the head guide member 4 via a Y-axis drive mechanism (Y-axis drive robot) 8 (see FIG. 19), and a plurality of ink discharge type print heads 10a are mounted on the carriage 6. The head unit 10 is connected. At both ends of the head guide member 4, a standby position of the head unit 10 is set outside the print region, and one head standby position is used to block the ink discharge unit of the print head 10a. The capping member 12 is arranged to be movable up and down.

An ink receiving member 14 that receives waste liquid such as ink and cleaning liquid discharged from the ink discharge portion of the print head 10a is disposed at the other head standby position. The capping member 12 and the ink receiving member 14 each constitute a head maintenance member. Reference numeral 16 denotes an ultraviolet irradiation device, which is located on the side of the head unit 10 and attached to the carriage 6. As shown in FIG. 7, the ultraviolet irradiation device 16 is provided with a light reflection plate 20 in a casing 18, and a bar-shaped ultraviolet lamp 22 is disposed adjacent to the light reflection plate 20. The light of the ultraviolet lamp 22 is configured to be irradiated downward through the opening 24, that is, the irradiation port.

A shutter 28 driven by a motor 26 is disposed immediately above the opening 24, and the shutter 8 is configured to open the opening 24 and close the opening 24 as shown in FIG. 9. 26. As the shutter mechanism for opening and closing the opening 24, various configurations other than the pendulum type configuration shown in FIG. 9 can be used. FIG. 11 shows a shutter that can be bent and has a rack formed on both sides thereof, and is controlled by opening and closing gears 32 and 34, and the shutter plate 30 is rotated by the rotation of gears 32 and 34 driven by a motor. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, 30 is configured to be driven between a direction in which the opening 24 is opened and a direction in which the opening 24 is closed.

The bar-shaped ultraviolet lamp 22 of the ultraviolet irradiation device 16 is disposed in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the head guide member 4, that is, the Y-axis direction, and the opening 24 corresponds to the longitudinal direction of the ultraviolet lamp 22. Are formed in an elongated shape extending in the Y-axis direction and constitute an ultraviolet irradiation port. The ultraviolet lamp used in the ultraviolet irradiation device 16 is not particularly limited to the rod-shaped lamp shown in FIG. 7, and is arranged in the Y-axis direction along the elongated openings 24 in a line as shown in FIG. A plurality of spherical lamps 38 may be used. As shown in FIG. 19, the drawing apparatus 2 has a control circuit unit 40 made of a substrate built in the storage unit of the machine body, and an operation panel 42 disposed on the front surface of the drawing apparatus 2 is connected to the control circuit unit 40. ing.

The ROM of the control circuit unit 40 stores a printing program and other required drawing device control programs. Reference numeral 36 denotes a table for supporting a medium such as a light guide, and as shown in FIG. 31, a machine base 44, a Y-axis adjusting lower layer plate 46, an X-axis adjusting upper layer plate 48, and a rotation direction. The rotating plate 50 for adjustment and the mounting table 52 having a vacuum suction surface on the upper surface are configured. The machine base 44 is fixed to the machine body of the drawing apparatus 2, and a lower layer plate 46 is supported on the upper surface of the machine base 44 via a slide ball bearing 54 so as to be slidable in the Y-axis direction. The lower layer plate 46 is urged by a spring 56 in a predetermined return direction along the Y-axis, and by the urging force, the end surface of the lower layer plate 46 is attached to the shaft portion of the micrometer 58 attached to the machine base 44 side. It is in pressure contact with the tip.

The position of the lower layer plate 46 is accurately adjusted in the Y-axis direction on the machine base 44 by rotating the rotating part of the micrometer 58 and displacing the tip of the shaft part in the forward / backward direction along the Y-axis direction. It is configured to be able to. An upper layer plate 48 is supported on the upper surface of the lower layer plate 46 via a slide ball bearing 54 so as to be slidable in the X-axis direction. The upper layer plate 48 is urged by a spring in a predetermined return direction along the X axis, and the urging force causes the end surface of the upper layer plate 48 to come to the tip of the shaft portion of the micrometer 60 attached to the lower layer plate 46. It is in pressure contact. The position of the upper layer plate 48 is precisely adjusted in the X-axis direction on the lower layer plate 46 by rotating the rotating portion of the micrometer 60 and displacing the tip of the shaft portion in the advance / retreat direction along the X-axis direction. It is configured to be able to.

A plurality of shafts 63 project vertically from the upper surface of the upper layer plate 48, and the rotating plate 50 is horizontally mounted on the shaft body 63, and the support shafts 64 project from the corners of the upper layer plate 48. In addition, it is rotatably connected around this. The rotating plate 50 is urged by a spring in a direction rotating around a support shaft 64 in a predetermined direction, and the end surface of the rotating plate 50 is rotated by a shaft of a micrometer 62 attached to the upper layer plate 48 by the urging force. It is in pressure contact with the tip of the part. By rotating the rotating portion of the micrometer 62 and displacing the tip of the shaft portion in the forward / backward direction, the rotating plate 50 is moved in the XY coordinate plane around the support shaft 64 on the upper layer plate 48. It is configured so that the position can be precisely adjusted in the reverse rotation direction.

A mounting table 52 is horizontally arranged on the upper surface of the rotating plate 50 with a predetermined interval in the vertical direction, and the lower surface of the mounting table 52 projects from the upper layer plate 48 as shown in FIG. And fixed to the upper ends of a plurality of pillars 66 that are loosely fitted in holes formed in the rotary plate 50, and are supported thereby. As shown in FIG. 18, the mounting table 52 is configured in a box shape, and an intake box 68 is fixed to the bottom plate, and an opening formed in the opening of the intake box 68 and a bottom plate of the mounting table 52 is formed. And the inside of the intake box 68 communicates with the intake chamber 70 in the hollow portion of the mounting table 52 through the hole.

The intake box 68 is loosely disposed in a hole 82 formed in the rotary plate 50. The upper surface plate of the mounting table 52 is provided with a number of air intake holes for adsorbing media. Each of the intake boxes 68 is connected to a suction device 72 including a vacuum device via a tube. As shown in FIG. 19, the suction device 72 is connected to the power source and the control circuit unit 40 via a relay. The relay is configured to be able to be turned on / off by a foot switch 74 connected to the control circuit unit 40. When the foot switch 74 is stepped on, the relay is activated and the relay switch is turned on to supply power to the suction device 72 from the power source. In addition, a medium adsorption force due to an intake force acts on the upper surface of the mounting table 52, and the adsorption force is released when the foot switch 74 is turned off.

Reference numeral 76 denotes a positioning body constituted by an L-shaped plate member, and a regulating surface extending in the X and Y axes and perpendicular to each other is formed on the inner side, which is perpendicular to the media mounting vacuum suction surface of the mounting table 52. Has been. The restriction surface has a line portion with a larger contact area than the media. Almost half of the lower surface of the positioning body 76 is horizontally abutted on the upper surface of the edge of the mounting table 52, and the other part of the lower surface of the positioning body 76 is attached to the rotating plate 50 via the table 78. It is fixed. A printing object (medium) 80 of the present apparatus is a light guide used in the surface light source device, and is constituted by an acrylic resin plate. The shape is a flat plate or a tapered plate shown in FIG. 53 (a shape closer to the surface light source is thicker and thinner toward the front). If the medium 80 is placed on the upper surface of the mounting table 52, and the edges in the two directions are brought into line contact with the regulating surface of the positioning body 76, the media 80 is accurately positioned at a predetermined position on the mounting table 52. it can. The position adjustment of the positioning body 76 in the Y-axis direction is performed by operating the micrometer 58 and moving the lower layer plate 46 in the Y-axis direction, and the position adjustment in the X-axis direction is performed by operating the micrometer 60 and adjusting the upper layer. The plate 48 is moved in the X-axis direction, and the position adjustment in the rotation direction is performed by operating the micrometer 62 and rotating the rotation plate 50 around the shaft 64 in the rotation direction.

In FIG. 3, 84 and 86 are print start switches, which are connected to the control circuit section. The print start switch is set so that printing can be started by pressing the two switches 84 and 86, and the two switches 84 and 86 are arranged at positions where the operator cannot operate them simultaneously with one hand.
20 and 21 show an embodiment for easily exchanging the medium 80 with respect to the mounting table 52, and a sheet having a suction hole narrower than the medium 80 between the medium 80 and the mounting table 52. A gap G is formed between the upper surface of the mounting table 52 and the lower surface of the medium 80 so that the operator can easily replace the medium by manual operation, depending on the thickness of the sheet-like member 88. It is provided.

The medium exchange operation may be automatically performed by a work robot. As a means for easily exchanging the media, in addition to the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 22, a groove (notch) 90 is provided in the mounting table 52, and a part of the lower surface of the media 80 is provided. A gap may be provided by the groove 90 so that the finger can easily enter the lower side of the medium 80. Further, as shown in FIG. 23, the width of the upper surface of the mounting table 52 may be narrower than the width of the medium 80 and a part of the lower surface of the medium 80 may be opened. Since the medium used in this apparatus is a plate-like member and has a certain degree of hardness, it does not fall into a groove or a gap, so there is no problem with such a structure. 24 to 26 show a configuration for arbitrarily changing the irradiation range of the ultraviolet lamp of the ultraviolet irradiation device 16.

This irradiation range is defined by the opening 24 of the ultraviolet irradiation device 16. Bolt mounting holes 92, 94, 96, and 98 are provided at two positions on the casing 18 of the ultraviolet irradiation device 16, and bolt mounting holes are provided on the carriage 6 side corresponding to these bolt mounting holes. By connecting the bolt mounting holes 92 and 94 to the bolt mounting holes on the carriage 6 side with bolts, the longitudinal direction of the ultraviolet irradiation range formed by the opening 24 is set to the transport direction of the head unit 10, that is, the Y-axis direction. Can be parallel. Further, by connecting the bolt mounting holes 96 and 98 to the bolt mounting holes on the carriage 6 side by bolts, as shown in FIG. 26, the longitudinal direction of the ultraviolet irradiation range can be made perpendicular to the head conveying direction. .

In addition, as shown in FIG. 27, a shaft body 100 perpendicular to the upper surface of the mounting table is rotated by a motor 102 with the carriage 6 side as a fulcrum, and a gear 104 fixed to the shaft body 100 and ultraviolet light meshing with the gear 104 are fixed. Even if the ultraviolet irradiation device 16 rotates around the shaft body 100 by meshing with the gear 106 fixed to the casing side of the irradiation device 16, the longitudinal direction of the ultraviolet irradiation range is parallel to the right angle with respect to the head conveyance direction. It can be arbitrarily changed between.

  FIG. 32 shows a configuration in which a plurality of media support units are arranged in the drawing apparatus. The mounting table 52 is formed wide in the Y-axis direction, the mounting table 52 is divided into ½ regions, and positioning bodies 76 and 76 are provided in each region. Other configurations are the same as those shown in FIG. With this configuration, the two media 80 and 80 can be set on the mounting table 52, and printing can be performed simultaneously.

FIG. 33 is a diagram in which two independent tables 36 are provided on the machine body, and there are two mounting tables 52, 52. The independent mounting tables 52, 52 each include a positioning body 76. Yes. The configuration of the two independent tables is the same as that shown in FIG.
FIG. 34 shows a configuration in which when the medium 80 is placed on the placing table 52, the medium automatically contacts the positioning body 76, and the medium 80 is accurately positioned on the placing table 52. The mounting table 52 is provided with guide holes extending in the X-axis and Y-axis directions, and sliders 108 and 110 are slidably attached along the guide holes, respectively. Each of the sliders 108 and 110 can be moved with a weak force by a motor (not shown) or the like in a direction approaching the regulating surface of the opposing positioning body 76.

The medium 80 mounted on the mounting table 52 is pressed in two directions by the sliders 108 and 110 in a direction in close contact with the regulating surface of the positioning body 76, and is accurately positioned on the mounting table 52.
In FIG. 35, in order to accurately position the medium 80 on the mounting table 52, the mounting table 52 is formed with an inclination inclined toward the regulating surface of the positioning body 76. When the medium 80 is mounted on the mounting table 52, the medium 80 moves along the inclined surface of the mounting table 52 in the direction of the regulation surface of the positioning body 76, and comes into close contact with the medium 80.

  FIG. 44 shows an ink supply and cleaning system of the present apparatus. Each of the four sub tanks 112 mounted on the carriage 6 is connected to a negative pressure pump 114 disposed on the machine body via an air chamber 116 so that the inside of the sub tank 112 does not leak from the print head 10a. Negative pressure is maintained. In the figure, 3WB is a three-way solenoid valve, which has a common port COM, a branch port ON, and a branch port OFF. The branch port ON is electrically connected to COM when the electromagnetic valve 3WD is on, and is disconnected from COM when the solenoid valve 3WD is off. The branch port OFF is configured to be electrically connected to COM when the electromagnetic valve 3WD is off and to be disconnected from COM when the solenoid valve 3WD is on.

  2WD is a two-way solenoid valve, 118, 120, 122, and 124 are filters, 126 is a positive pressure air pump, and 128 and 130 are diaphragm pumps. Reference numeral 132 denotes a main tank that stores ultraviolet curable ink, 134 denotes a main tank that stores ultraviolet curable ink, and 136 denotes a washing tank. These main tanks are stored in a cabinet disposed in the machine body. . The main tanks 132 and 134 and the cleaning liquid tank 136 are connected to the sub tank 112 via a main transport path 138 formed of a tube. Reference numeral 14 denotes an ink receiving member provided at the standby position so as to be positioned below the print head 10a when the print head 10a moves to one standby position away from the print area. A waste liquid tank 141 is connected via a pipe.

  In the configuration described above, when the main power supply is turned on, the negative pressure pump 114 is activated and the two-way solenoid valve 140 is in a conducting state. At the time when this switch is turned on, there is a possibility that the ink in the sub tank 112 has settled, so that the ink in the sub tank 112 is once collected in the main tanks 132 and 134 and then supplied to the sub tank 112 again. By doing so, the ink in the sub tank 112 is also stirred to some extent, and the problem of ink settling in the sub tank 112 is also solved. In the main tanks 132 and 134, the stirring process is automatically performed every several hours. All devices are turned off when the main power switch is turned off.

  Even if the main power switch is turned off, the sub tank 112 is maintained in a negative pressure state, so that ink does not leak from the print head 10a during non-printing. When supplying ink from the main tank 132 to the corresponding sub tank 112a, the electromagnetic valve 142 is turned on and the electromagnetic valves 144, 146, 148, 150, 152, and 154 are turned off. When supplying ink to the sub tank 112b, the electromagnetic valve 150 is turned on. When the pump 128 is driven in this state, ink is supplied from the main tank 132 to the sub tank 112a through the ink supply unit including the tubes, the solenoid valves 146 and 144, the pump 128 and the solenoid valve 150, and the main transport path 138. Done.

  When the ink sensor of the sub tank 112a outputs a Hi level signal to the control circuit unit, the driving of the pump 128 is stopped and the ink supply to the sub tank 112a is completed. At this time, the negative pressure pump 114 is on and the positive pressure pump 126 is off. In addition, the heaters provided in the print head 10a and the sub tank 112 are turned on, and the control circuit unit also performs ink temperature control. The ink supply to the other sub tanks 112 is performed according to the same principle.

  Next, when collecting ink from the sub tank 112a to the main tank 132, the electromagnetic valve 144 is turned on and the electromagnetic valves 142, 146, 148, 150, 152, and 154 are turned off. When the pump 128 is driven in this state, the ink in the sub tank 112a is recovered to the corresponding main tank 132 through the main transport path 138, the electromagnetic valve 144, the pump 128, the electromagnetic valve 142, and the ink recovery unit including the tube. The At this time, even if the sensor S of the sub tank 112a becomes LOW level, the ink collecting operation is continued for several seconds, and the ink collecting operation is stopped when the ink level becomes lower than the lower end of the ink supply pipe P in the sub tank 112a. .

As a result, all the ink remaining in the main transport path 138 and the tube of the ink recovery section between the sub tank 112 and the main tank 132 is recovered. At the time of ink collection, the negative pressure pump 114 is on and the positive pressure pump 126 is off.
In the present invention, the transport mechanism is not provided on the side of the table 36, the structure does not move during printing, and the head unit 10 moves in one axis direction (Y-axis direction) along the head guide member 4. However, the head unit 10 side may be fixed and the table 36 side may move in the X-axis direction. It is also possible to use a printing mechanism that moves the print head and the table relative to each other in the XY biaxial directions.

This case is dealt with by setting a mode in which the X-axis drive robot 156 for driving the table is not driven or a mode in which the head unit is not moved in the control circuit unit. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in which the table is not provided with a transport mechanism, the control circuit unit 40 is not provided with the X-axis drive robot 156 shown in FIG. In the above embodiment, the serial head method is adopted, but a line head method can be used. The present invention is not particularly limited to the ink jet type drawing apparatus, and can be applied to other drawing apparatuses such as a thermal printer and a pen plotter.
In addition, static electricity generated on the media may have an adverse effect on printing, so as a countermeasure against static elimination and dust removal, contact type and non-contact type static elimination devices should be provided to neutralize the media before printing. It is good to make it. It should be noted that the neutralization device may be provided on the axis of the print line, the head carriage, the table surface, or the like. However, any location may be provided as long as the media before printing is neutralized.

Next, the operation of the present invention will be described.
Refer to the flowchart of FIG. 6 for the operation of designating the length, width, and point of the line to be printed on the medium 80 to the control circuit unit by operating the keys on the operation panel 42 shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. I will explain.
The power switch of the operation panel 42 is turned on and the control circuit unit 40 is activated. When the data generation mode is selected by operating the keys on the operation panel 42, input item selection screens for the Y-axis position, line width, and length are individually displayed on the operation panel 42. When the input of the Y-axis position is selected, the numerical value (b) is input in the range of 0 to 100 mm. The control circuit unit determines whether or not the numerical value (b) is within the numerical value range, and when an affirmative determination is made, the input of the Y-axis position is terminated.

When the input of the line width is selected, the numerical value (a) is input in the range of 0.01 to 20 mm. The control circuit unit determines whether or not the numerical value (a) is within the numerical value range, and when the determination is affirmative, the input of the line width is terminated. When the input of length is selected, a numerical value (c) is input within a range of 1 to 1000 mm. The control circuit unit determines whether or not the numerical value (c) is within the numerical value range, and when an affirmative determination is made, ends the input of the length. Next, the operator determines whether or not there are other input items. If it is determined that there is no other input item, the operator checks the registered contents, determines whether or not it is OK, and determines that affirmation results in termination of data generation. . The above is input by operating the keys on the operation panel 42 to select and determine. However, if a liquid crystal display type touch panel or the like is used, it is possible to input easily on the screen. . Next, or before data input, the operator operates the micrometers 58, 60, and 62 in advance to adjust the positioning body 76 to the correct position.

Next, the medium 80 made of a light guide or the like is positioned on the mounting table 52, the edges of the medium 80 are brought into contact with the two-direction regulating surfaces of the positioning body 76, and then the foot switch 74 is stepped on to suck the suction device. 72 is driven to fix the medium 80 to the mounting table 52 by suction. Next, when the print start switches 84 and 86 are turned on, the carriage 6 starts to move from one head standby position to the other head standby position under the control of the control circuit unit 40. Since the print start switches 84 and 86 need to be pressed two times and cannot be reached with one hand, the operator does not move the device by mistake, and the media is not damaged or wasted. Can do. Further, in the configuration of the present apparatus, since a cover is not provided in the area where the print head moves so that the medium can be exchanged quickly, it is possible to prevent a state where a hand is put in by simultaneously pressing two with both hands. Note that the print start switches 84 and 86 do not have to be pressed completely at the same time, and there may be a slight (comma several seconds) shift.

On the other hand, after the ultraviolet lamp 22 of the ultraviolet irradiation device 16 is turned on and the state is stabilized, the motor 26 is driven, the shutter 28 is separated from the opening, and the opening 24 is opened. The print head 10 a scans the medium 80 by moving the carriage 6, discharges ultraviolet curable ink from the nozzles, and performs printing on the medium 80 based on the print data set on the operation panel 42. The printing portion of the medium 80 is irradiated with ultraviolet rays from the opening 24 of the ultraviolet irradiation device 16, and ink curing processing is performed on the printing portion. When the head unit 10 reaches the other head standby position, the printing operation for the medium 80 is completed. Then, only the irradiation is performed when returning to the right standby position, whereby the curing process is completely completed.

  In the above printing operation, as shown in FIG. 13, when the head unit 10 starts moving from the right head standby position in the left direction in the figure, before the ultraviolet irradiation device 16 enters the media placement range (printing area). In addition, the operation of opening the opening 24 by the shutter 28 is started. Further, as shown in FIG. 14, when the head unit 10 moves rightward from the left head standby position and returns to the right head standby position after passing the print area, a preset shutter closing is performed. The operation of closing the opening 24 of the ultraviolet irradiation device 16, that is, the irradiation port is started at the start position, and the suction by the suction device 72 is released at the suction off timing position.

In this way, during the movement of the head section that passes the irradiation area and returns to the head standby position, the shutter opening / closing control is performed at the timing of starting and ending the operation of closing the shutter of the ultraviolet irradiation port, and the head section is also in the printing area. When the control for releasing the suction device 72 is performed during the movement of the print head that passes through the head standby position, the time required for the next media replacement can be shortened.

As shown in FIG. 29, if the ultraviolet irradiation device 16 is arranged on both sides of the head unit 10, that is, both the upper side and the lower side, the head unit 10 can stand by at either the left or right head standby position. The ink immediately after irradiation can be irradiated with ultraviolet rays. That is, on the forward path of the head unit 10, the ultraviolet irradiation device 16 on one side rearward in the traveling direction is responsible for irradiating the printed part immediately after printing, and on the return path, the other ultraviolet irradiation device 16 on the other side rearward in the traveling direction of the head unit 10 Responsible for irradiation of the printed part immediately after printing. By doing so, if the medium 80 is exchanged once in the forward path and in the backward path, printing can be performed twice in a reciprocal manner, thereby improving work efficiency.

  As shown in FIG. 29, the ultraviolet irradiation device 16 on both sides of the head unit 10 or the longitudinal direction of the irradiation port (opening 24) of the ultraviolet irradiation device 16 arranged on one side of the head unit 10 as shown in FIG. In the configuration in which the axes are arranged in parallel to the head conveyance direction, the axis of the irradiation port of the ultraviolet irradiation device 16 is coaxial with the line drawing portion even when the carriage speed of the print head 10a is increased during line printing. In order to move up, sufficient ultraviolet rays are irradiated to the line drawing part by the print head 10a. Further, the ultraviolet irradiation device 16 is vertically (that is, perpendicular to the direction of relative movement of the head unit 10 with respect to the table 36 as in the ultraviolet irradiation device 16 on the left side in FIG. 30) and lateral (that is, on the right side in FIG. 30). As in the case of the ultraviolet irradiation device 16, the head portion 10 can be rotated or attached in parallel to the relative movement direction of the head 36 relative to the table 36. For printing (printing using all nozzles in the nozzle array along the X axis of the print head), it can be used depending on the purpose, such as portrait orientation.

In addition, if the configuration is such that one side is vertical and the other side is horizontal, it is possible to selectively use depending on the print direction of the head unit 10. That is, for example, in FIG. 30, in the movement of the head part 10 in the forward path (leftward movement in the figure), a line is printed, and the printing part is irradiated by the ultraviolet irradiation device 16 placed on one side. Further, in the movement of the head unit 10 in the return path, printing of the head width is performed, and in this case, irradiation of the printing unit is performed by the ultraviolet irradiation device 16 which is vertically arranged on the other side.

  In the drawing apparatus according to the present invention, the control circuit unit 40 is provided with a control unit that can arbitrarily adjust the carriage speed of the head unit 10. Thus, the leveling property (smoothness) of the ink can be controlled by controlling the time from when the ink falls to the medium 80 until the ultraviolet ray hits, and the ink landed on the medium 80 shown in FIG. The smoothness of the drop 156 can be any desired state desired. In addition, the adhesion can be increased by increasing the contact area between the ink and the medium. As shown in FIG. 36, at the time of printing, the head unit 10 moves at a constant velocity V, and ultraviolet rays are emitted from the irradiation port of the ultraviolet irradiation device 16 on the lower side of the head unit 10 (the rear side in the traveling direction). Irradiated towards. In the figure, the irradiation range is shortened for easy understanding, but the irradiation range may be wide as shown in FIG.

At this time, the irradiation port of the front ultraviolet irradiation device 16 is closed. As shown in FIG. 37, when the head unit 10 moves at a constant speed V1 during printing, the ink droplets that have fallen on the medium 80 are irradiated with ultraviolet rays after the elapse of time t1. As shown in FIG. 38, when the velocity V2 of the head unit 10 is increased, the ink droplets that have fallen on the medium 80 are irradiated with ultraviolet rays earlier than at the velocity V1 after the elapse of time t2 (t2 <t1). FIG. 39 shows a state in which the distance between the print head and the ultraviolet irradiation position is shortened to 12 by changing the ink droplet ejection port, that is, the print head 10a arranged in the Y-axis direction.

In this case, even if the carriage speed is V and the state shown in FIG. 36 is the same, the selected print head 10a is different, and thus the distance l2 is different, so that the ink droplet is irradiated quickly. FIG. 40 shows a state in which the distance in the Y-axis direction between the print head 10a and the ultraviolet irradiation device 16 is mechanically changed. The casing of the ultraviolet irradiation device 16 is supported on the carriage 6 by a guide 160 so as to be slidable in the Y-axis direction, and a rack 158 is provided. When the driving of the motor 162 is transmitted to the rack 158 via a gear, the ultraviolet irradiation device 16 moves in the Y-axis direction, and the distance between the print head 10a and the irradiation port of the ultraviolet irradiation device 16 changes.

In FIG. 41, a shutter mechanism having a flexible shutter plate 164 that slides along the irradiation port 24 is provided in the irradiation port 24 of the ultraviolet irradiation device 16. When the opening / closing gear 166 is driven by a motor (not shown), the shutter plate 164 slides to change the opening position of the irradiation port 24. Due to this change, the left print head (not shown) and the ultraviolet irradiation device in FIG. The distance to the 16 irradiation ports 24 changes. In FIG. 42, the longitudinal direction of the irradiation port 24 is parallel to the Y-axis direction to secure the irradiation amount, the one-way printing method is adopted, the ultraviolet irradiation device 16 is provided on one side of the head unit 10, and the velocity V is constant. It shows the printing status. FIG. 43 shows a state in which the head unit 10 returns to the head standby position in the right direction while irradiating without ejecting ink. If this return speed is slow, the amount of ultraviolet irradiation to the print portion of the media increases accordingly.

This apparatus controls the irradiation amount for the printed portion by controlling the return speed. In FIG. 42, the moving speed of the head unit 10 is used based on a data table that is stored in the memory of the control circuit unit 40 and includes the ink types and the head speed values corresponding to these ink types. Set by ink. In another embodiment, the ink temperature variable mechanism is configured by the heater of the sub tank 112, the heater of the print head 10a, and the like, and the carriage speed (head speed) of the print head 10a is stored in the memory of the control circuit unit 40. Based on the data table including the ink type, the ink temperature, and the head speed value corresponding to the ink type and the ink temperature, the ink is used and the temperature of the ink is set.

In FIG. 43, the moving speed of the head unit 10 returning to the head standby position after printing is similarly determined from the ink types stored in the memory of the control circuit unit 40 and the head speed values corresponding to these ink types. Is set according to the ink to be used. In another embodiment, the carriage speed of the head unit returning to the head standby position corresponds to the ink type, the ink temperature, and the ink type and ink temperature stored in the memory of the control circuit unit 40. Based on the data table composed of the head speed values to be set, the ink is used and the temperature of the ink is set.

In carrying out the present invention, ink viscosity, ink surface tension, head speed, UV irradiation speed (return speed), distance between the print head and the UV irradiation device, head temperature, subtank temperature, general value of UV lamp output, and preferred values Further preferred values are as shown in Table 1 below. In printing under the conditions of more preferable values listed in Table 1, particularly good results are obtained with respect to leveling and adhesion to the acrylic resin plate.

Next, the operation of irradiating the medium with ultraviolet rays before printing on the medium to activate the surface of the medium and improving the adhesion after printing will be described.
FIG. 45 shows the operation when the ultraviolet irradiation devices 16 and 16 are arranged on both sides of the head unit 10, and in this case, both the forward and backward paths of the head unit 10 in the forward direction of the head unit 10. The medium 80 is irradiated with ultraviolet rays by the ultraviolet irradiation device 16, the ink is ejected, and the ultraviolet rays are irradiated to the printing portion of the medium 80 by the rear ultraviolet irradiation device 16.
46 and 47 show an operation in which the ultraviolet irradiation device 16 is provided on the side of the head portion 10 in front of the traveling direction of the forward path, without ejecting ink in the forward path of the head section 10. The medium 80 is irradiated with ultraviolet rays, and in the return path, the ink is discharged after the ink is ejected.

48, 49, and 50, the medium 80 is irradiated with ultraviolet rays without ink ejection in the forward path, and the return path is returned while irradiating the medium 80 with ultraviolet rays without ink ejection, or without irradiation. Indicates the return action. In this operation, ink is ejected in the second outward path, and ultraviolet rays are irradiated to the print portion immediately after the ejection by the ultraviolet irradiation device 16 behind the head unit 10. In the pre-irradiation operation, if the carriage speed in the forward path and the return path of the head unit 10 is arbitrarily changed by the carriage speed changing means configured by the control circuit unit 40, an arbitrary value can be irradiated regarding the irradiation amount.

FIG. 51 shows a configuration in which the table 36 can be moved by a guide 168, and an ultraviolet irradiation area 170 having an ultraviolet irradiation device is provided within the moving range of the table 36.
In the configuration described above, before printing, the table 36 moves along the guide 168 directly below the ultraviolet irradiation area 170 and irradiates the medium 80 on the table 36 with ultraviolet rays. Next, the table 36 is moved to the original position, and printing by the head unit 10 is performed. After this printing is completed, the medium 80 may be moved again to the ultraviolet irradiation area 170 and irradiated with ultraviolet rays. The pre-irradiation before printing is not particularly limited to ultraviolet rays, and light rays having a printing surface activating effect such as corona, plasma, infrared rays, and halogen can be used.

It is a schematic front view of the drawing apparatus which concerns on this invention. 1 is a schematic side view of a drawing apparatus according to the present invention. 1 is a schematic plan view of a drawing apparatus according to the present invention. It is explanatory drawing of an operation panel. It is explanatory drawing of an operation panel. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of an operation panel. It is a schematic sectional drawing of an ultraviolet irradiation device. It is a schematic sectional drawing of an ultraviolet irradiation device. It is a schematic sectional drawing of an ultraviolet irradiation device. It is a schematic sectional drawing of an ultraviolet irradiation device. It is a schematic sectional drawing of an ultraviolet irradiation device. It is a schematic sectional drawing of an ultraviolet irradiation device. It is a schematic front view of the drawing apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a front view of a part of drawing apparatus. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of a drawing apparatus. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of a drawing apparatus. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of a drawing apparatus. It is a schematic explanatory drawing of a table. It is a functional block circuit diagram of the drawing apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is explanatory drawing of a mounting base. It is explanatory drawing of a mounting base. It is explanatory drawing of a mounting base. It is explanatory drawing of a mounting base. It is a schematic plan view of a drawing apparatus. It is a plane explanatory view of a part of the drawing apparatus. It is a plane explanatory view of a part of the drawing apparatus. It is a plane explanatory view of a part of the drawing apparatus. It is a schematic plan view of a drawing apparatus. It is a schematic plan view of a drawing apparatus. It is a schematic plan view of a drawing apparatus. It is a disassembled perspective view of a table. It is a schematic plan view of a drawing apparatus. It is a schematic plan view of a drawing apparatus. It is an external view of a mounting base. It is an external view of a mounting base. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of a drawing apparatus. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of a drawing apparatus. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of a drawing apparatus. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of a drawing apparatus. It is a front view of a part of drawing apparatus. It is sectional explanatory drawing of an ultraviolet irradiation device. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of a drawing apparatus. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of a drawing apparatus. It is a piping diagram of an ink supply system. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of a drawing apparatus. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of a drawing apparatus. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of a drawing apparatus. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of a drawing apparatus. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of a drawing apparatus. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of a drawing apparatus. It is a top view of a drawing apparatus. It is explanatory drawing of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of a prior art.

Explanation of symbols

2 Drawing device 4 Head guide member 6 Head carriage 8 Y-axis drive robot 10 Head portion 10a Print head 12 Capping member 14 Ink receiving member 16 Ultraviolet irradiation device 18 Casing 20 Light reflection plate 22 Ultraviolet lamp 24 Opening 26 Motor 28 Shutter 30 Shutter Plate 32 Gear 34 Gear 36 Table 38 UV lamp 40 Control circuit section 42 Operation panel 44 Machine base 46 Lower layer board 48 Upper layer board 50 Rotating board 52 Mounting stage 54 Slide ball bearing 56 Spring 58 Micrometer 60 Micrometer 62 Micrometer 64 Support shaft 66 Column 68 Intake box 70 Intake chamber 72 Suction device 74 Foot switch 76 Positioning body 78 Stand 80 Media 82 Hole 84 Printing start switch 86 Printing start switch 88 Vacuum sheet 90 Groove 92 Bolt mounting hole 4 Bolt mounting hole 96 Bolt mounting hole 98 Bolt mounting hole 100 Shaft body 102 Motor 104 Gear 106 Gear 108 Slider 110 Slider 112 Sub tank 114 Negative pressure pump 116 Air chamber 118 Filter 120 Filter 122 Filter 124 Filter 126 Pump 128 Diaphragm pump 130 Diaphragm pump 132 Main tank 134 Main tank 136 Cleaning tank 138 Main transport path 140 Two-way solenoid valve 142 Solenoid valve 144 Solenoid valve 146 Solenoid valve 150 Solenoid valve 152 Solenoid valve 154 Solenoid valve 156 Ink droplet 158 Rack 160 Guide 162 Motor 164 Shutter Plate 166 Opening / closing gear 168 Guide 170 Ultraviolet irradiation area 172 Light guide 174 Primary light source

Claims (4)

A head portion having an ink ejection type print head mounted thereon, an ultraviolet irradiation device having a shutter disposed on the side of the head portion for opening and closing an irradiation port, and a table having a media adsorption function. A drawing apparatus that discharges ultraviolet curable ink onto an upper medium to perform printing on the medium, and irradiates ultraviolet rays from an irradiation port to a print portion immediately after printing to cure the ink, the ultraviolet irradiation apparatus The drawing apparatus is characterized in that the operation of closing the irradiation port of the ultraviolet irradiation device with the shutter is started during the movement of the lens past the print area and returning to the head standby position. A head portion having an ink ejection type print head mounted thereon, an ultraviolet irradiation device having a shutter disposed on the side of the head portion for opening and closing an irradiation port, and a table having a media adsorption function. A drawing apparatus that discharges ultraviolet curable ink onto a medium adsorbed on the medium to perform printing on the medium, and irradiates ultraviolet rays onto a printed portion immediately after printing to cure the ink, wherein the head unit is A drawing apparatus characterized in that the medium suction operation of the table is canceled during the movement past the print area and returning to the head standby position. A head portion having an ink ejection type print head mounted thereon, an ultraviolet irradiation device having a shutter disposed on the side of the head portion for opening and closing an irradiation port, and a table having a media adsorption function. An ultraviolet ray irradiating ink is ejected onto a medium adsorbed on the medium to perform printing on the medium, and an ultraviolet ray is irradiated on a printed part immediately after printing to cure the ink, the ultraviolet ray irradiating apparatus The drawing is characterized in that the operation of closing the irradiation port of the ultraviolet irradiation device with the shutter is started and the medium suction operation of the table is canceled during the movement past the print area and back to the head standby position. apparatus. A head portion having an ink ejection type print head mounted thereon, an ultraviolet irradiation device having a shutter disposed on the side of the head portion for opening and closing an irradiation port, and a table having a media adsorption function. A drawing apparatus that discharges ultraviolet curable ink onto an upper medium to perform printing on the medium, and irradiates the printed part immediately after printing with ultraviolet rays from an irradiation port to cure the ink. The drawing apparatus is characterized in that the irradiation port is opened with a shutter before the movement starts and before entering the printing area.

Images