JP2013216064A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a printing apparatus capable of preventing wrinkles of a water pressure transfer film even when printing is performed on the water pressure transfer film by inkjet.
SOLUTION: Air higher than room temperature is blown from an air outlet 521 of a blower mechanism 5 onto one surface 10a of a water pressure transfer film 10 on the ink receiving layer side, and on the water soluble film side of the water pressure transfer film 10. The ink ejected on one surface 10a is dried without spraying on the other surface 10b.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus for printing on a hydraulic transfer film.

  Conventionally, there is a printer disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-96722 (Patent Document 1). In this printing apparatus, ink is ejected from one side of a recording medium from an inkjet head, and then a heater is brought into contact with the other side of the recording medium, and the ink on the recording medium is dried by the heater. As this recording medium, paper was used.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-96722

  By the way, when printing is performed on a hydraulic transfer film instead of paper using the above conventional printing apparatus, wrinkles are generated on the hydraulic transfer film, and the hydraulic transfer film is deformed like a dry seaweed. was there. The applicant of the present application has found that the generation of this wrinkle is caused by drying the hydraulic transfer film using a heater.

  In particular, when the film for water pressure transfer is, for example, a film in which an ink receiving layer made of acrylic is laminated on a water-soluble film made of polyvinyl alcohol, wrinkles are more likely to occur.

  Furthermore, this wrinkle propagated to the printing area by the ink jet head, and the water pressure transfer film contacted the nozzle surface of the ink jet head, so that a desired image could not be printed on the water pressure transfer film.

  Then, the subject of this invention is providing the printing apparatus which can prevent generation | occurrence | production of the wrinkle of the film for hydraulic transfer, even if it prints on the film for hydraulic transfer with an inkjet.

In order to solve the above problems, a printing apparatus according to the present invention provides:
A feed-out mechanism for feeding out a hydraulic transfer film having a water-soluble film and a water-resistant ink-receiving layer laminated on the water-soluble film to a conveyance path;
An inkjet head disposed on the downstream side of the feeding mechanism and having a nozzle surface opposed to the conveying path and ejecting ink from the nozzle surface to one surface of the hydraulic transfer film on the ink receiving layer side; ,
A winding mechanism that is disposed on the downstream side of the inkjet head and winds up the hydraulic transfer film;
An air outlet is disposed so as to face the transport path between the inkjet head and the winding mechanism, and air having a temperature higher than room temperature is transferred from the air outlet to the hydraulic transfer. A blower mechanism for drying the ink discharged on the one surface without spraying the other surface on the water-soluble film side of the hydraulic transfer film.

  In this specification, the water-soluble film refers to a film having water solubility or water swellability.

  According to the printing apparatus of the present invention, air higher than room temperature is blown from the air outlet of the blower mechanism onto one surface of the ink-receiving layer side of the hydraulic transfer film, and the water-soluble film side of the hydraulic transfer film The ink ejected on the one surface is dried without spraying on the other surface.

  At this time, the ink receiving layer prevents air heat from being transferred to the water-soluble film. That is, the ink receiving layer serves as a heat shield. Further, unlike far infrared rays used for heaters, air does not have the property of transferring heat to the water-soluble film through the ink receiving layer.

  Therefore, heat is not transferred to the water-soluble film having a thermal expansion coefficient larger than that of the ink receiving layer, and the occurrence of wrinkles on the hydraulic transfer film due to expansion and contraction of the water-soluble film can be prevented. Furthermore, since wrinkles do not occur in the hydraulic transfer film, the hydraulic transfer film does not contact the nozzle surface of the inkjet head, and a desired pattern can be printed on the hydraulic transfer film.

In the printing apparatus according to the embodiment,
The air blowing mechanism is
The angle between the air blowing direction blown out from the air outlet and the one surface of the hydraulic transfer film is an acute angle.
The air is blown out from the air outlet.

  According to the printing apparatus of this embodiment, the angle between the blowing direction of the air blown from the air blower outlet and the one surface of the hydraulic pressure transfer film is an acute angle. Thereby, the blown air can be made to flow along one surface of the hydraulic transfer film, and the ink can be dried quickly. In addition, when flowing air from the downstream of a conveyance path to upstream, if the distance of an air blower outlet and a nozzle surface is fully separated, the contact with a nozzle surface and air can be prevented.

  Moreover, in the printing apparatus of one Embodiment, the said air blower outlet is orient | assigned to the downstream of the said conveyance path.

  According to the printing apparatus of this embodiment, since the air outlet is directed to the downstream side of the transport path, air is blown to the opposite side of the inkjet head. Accordingly, air does not hit the nozzle surface of the ink jet head, and the nozzle surface is prevented from drying, so that non-ejection of ink from the nozzle surface can be prevented.

  Moreover, in the printing apparatus of one Embodiment, it has an intake mechanism in the downstream of the said conveyance path rather than the said air blower outlet.

  According to the printing apparatus of this embodiment, since the intake mechanism is provided on the downstream side of the conveyance path from the air outlet, the air from the air outlet can be sucked by the intake mechanism, and the air contacts the nozzle surface. Can be prevented.

In the printing apparatus according to the embodiment,
The transport path is bent at one or more places to form a plane different from the plane for ejecting ink from the inkjet head to the hydraulic transfer film,
The air blowing mechanism blows air onto the hydraulic transfer film on the different planes.

  According to the printing apparatus of this embodiment, the blowing mechanism blows air onto the hydraulic transfer film on a plane different from the plane from which ink is ejected from the inkjet head to the hydraulic transfer film. As a result, air does not strike the nozzle surface of the inkjet head more reliably, preventing the nozzle surface from drying and preventing ink from being ejected from the nozzle surface.

  According to the printing apparatus of the present invention, air higher than room temperature is blown from the air outlet of the blower mechanism onto one surface of the ink-receiving layer side of the hydraulic transfer film, and the water-soluble film side of the hydraulic transfer film Since the ink discharged on the one surface is dried without being sprayed on the other surface, generation of wrinkles on the hydraulic transfer film can be prevented even if printing is performed on the hydraulic transfer film by inkjet.

1 is a simplified configuration diagram illustrating a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is an enlarged view of a printing apparatus. It is sectional drawing of the film for hydraulic transfer.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the illustrated embodiments.

  FIG. 1 is a simplified configuration diagram showing a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the printing apparatus includes a feeding mechanism 1, an inkjet head 2, and a winding mechanism 4 that are sequentially arranged in a line shape. And this printing apparatus prints on this hydraulic transfer film 10 conveying the hydraulic transfer film 10 continuous with a substantially constant width | variety in the arrow A direction along this line.

  The feeding mechanism 1 is configured, for example, in a roller shape and is attached with a water pressure transfer film 10 wound in a roll shape, and feeds the water pressure transfer film 10 to the conveyance path P in a sheet shape.

  The inkjet head 2 is disposed on the downstream side of the feeding mechanism 1. The ink-jet head 2 has a nozzle surface 21 disposed to face the transport path P, and ejects ink 13 from the nozzle surface 21 onto one surface 10 a of the hydraulic transfer film 10.

  The inkjet head 2 has a configuration similar to that generally known. For example, the ink 13 is ejected by an electromechanical transducer such as a piezo element or an electrical element such as a heating element having a heating resistor. The ink 13 is heated and discharged by the heat converter.

  The winding mechanism 4 is disposed on the downstream side of the inkjet head 2. The winding mechanism 4 is configured in a roller shape, for example, and winds up the hydraulic transfer film 10 in a roll shape.

  The printing apparatus includes a blower mechanism 5 that blows air onto the conveyance path P between the inkjet head 2 and the winding mechanism 4. The blower mechanism 5 blows air onto one surface 10a of the water pressure transfer film 10 traveling on the transport path P, and dries the ink 13 discharged onto the one surface 10a. This air is warm air having a temperature higher than room temperature.

  The air blowing mechanism 5 includes a hot air generator 51 and a duct 52 connected to the hot air generator 51. The duct 52 has an air outlet 521 that faces the conveyance path P between the inkjet head 2 and the winding mechanism 4.

  That is, air having a temperature higher than room temperature is blown from the air outlet 521 to the one surface 10a of the hydraulic transfer film 10 and is not blown to the other surface 10b of the hydraulic transfer film 10. The discharged ink 13 is dried.

  The temperature of the air blown out from the air outlet 521 is, for example, room temperature or higher and 50 ° C. or lower. At this time, the wind speed of the air blown out from the air outlet 521 is 5 m / sec or less directly below in view of the generation of wrinkles in the hydraulic transfer film 10 and the solidification of ink on the nozzle surface 21 (ink non-ejection). It is desirable.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the air blowing mechanism 5 has an angle θ between the air blowing direction B blown from the air outlet 521 and the one surface 10 a of the hydraulic transfer film 10. The air is blown out from the air outlet 521 so as to have an acute angle. The air outlet 521 is directed downstream of the conveyance path P.

  More specifically, the air blowing direction B coincides with the center line of the duct 52, for example. And the duct 52 is arrange | positioned so that the centerline of the duct 52 may cross | intersect the said conveyance path P at an acute angle.

  Next, a method for printing using the printing apparatus having the above configuration will be described.

  First, the hydraulic transfer film 10 is fed out to the transport path P by the feeding mechanism 1. Then, the ink 13 is ejected from the nozzle surface 21 a of the inkjet head 21 onto the one surface 10 a of the hydraulic transfer film 10 fed out to the transport path P.

  Thereafter, the air 13 is dried on the one surface 10a of the water pressure transfer film 10 by the air blowing mechanism 5 and is not blown on the other surface 10b of the water pressure transfer film 10.

  At this time, from the air outlet 521, the angle θ between the air blowing direction B blown out from the air outlet 521 and the one surface 10a of the hydraulic transfer film 10 is an acute angle. The air is blown out downstream in the conveyance direction A of the hydraulic transfer film 10.

  Then, the hydraulic transfer film 10 from which the ink 13 has been dried is taken up by the take-up mechanism 4.

  Next, the hydraulic transfer film 10 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the hydraulic transfer film 10 includes a water-soluble film 11 and an ink receiving layer 12 laminated on the water-soluble film 11. The surface on the ink receiving layer 12 side corresponds to the one surface 10a, and the surface on the water-soluble film 11 side corresponds to the other surface 10b. Ink 13 is ejected onto the ink receiving layer 12 to form a pattern.

  The water-soluble film 11 has a strip shape having water solubility or water swellability, and is made of, for example, a resin such as polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, dextrin, gelatin, glue, sodium alginate, hydroxyethyl cellulose, acetylbutyl cellulose. The thickness of the water-soluble film 11 is preferably 10 to 100 μm. In this embodiment, the water-soluble film 11 made of a polyvinyl alcohol resin having a thickness of 30 μm is used.

  The ink receiving layer 12 has water resistance, and a coating solution obtained by dissolving an acrylic resin in a non-aqueous solvent is applied on one side of the water-soluble film 11 and the non-aqueous solvent is evaporated by a drying means such as an oven. Let it form.

  Examples of the acrylic resin used in the ink receiving layer 12 include poly (meth) acrylate, poly (meth) butyl acrylate, (meth) methyl acrylate- (meth) butyl acrylate copolymer, (meth ) One kind alone or a mixture of two or more kinds such as methyl acrylate- (meth) acrylate 2-hydroxyethyl copolymer is used. In this embodiment, a copolymer of butyl acrylate and methyl (meth) acrylate is used.

  Non-aqueous solvents for dissolving acrylic resins include monohydric alcohols such as methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, propyl alcohol, and butyl alcohol, polyhydric alcohols such as ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, and glycerin, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl Ketones such as isobutyl ketone and cyclohexanone, ethyl ether, isopropyl ether, ethylene glycol mono-methyl ether, ethylene glycol mono-ethyl ether, ethylene glycol mono-butyl ether, diethylene glycol mono-methyl ether, diethylene glycol mono-ethyl Ethers, ethers such as diethylene glycol mono-butyl ether, ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, ethylene glycol mono-ethyl -Acetate acetate, ethylene glycol mono-butyl ether acetate, diethylene glycol mono-methyl ether acetate, diethylene glycol mono-ethyl ether acetate, diethylene glycol mono-butyl ether acetate acetates, pentane, hexane, heptane, Aromatic hydrocarbons such as octane, benzene, toluene, xylene, cyclohexane and ethylbenzene are used alone or as a mixed solvent. In this embodiment, ethyl acetate is used as the main component (main solvent) of the non-aqueous solvent. In addition, in order to adjust a glass transition point, you may add trace amount dioctyl phthalate mentioned later.

  The thickness of the ink receiving layer 12 is desirably 2 to 7 μm, and in the present embodiment, the thickness is 3 to 4 μm. When the thickness of the ink receiving layer 12 is 2 μm or less, if the amount of ink is large, the ink receiving layer 12 is cracked over the entire thickness of the layer, and the transfer quality is deteriorated, while the thickness of the ink receiving layer 12 is decreased. If the thickness is 7 μm or more, there is a high possibility that wrinkles will occur during transfer.

  As the ink 13, an inkjet ink including at least a pigment, a dispersant, an acrylic resin, and an organic solvent is used. The organic solvent uses a mixed solvent of glycol ester and glycol ether, or glycol ester or glycol ether as a main solvent.

  According to the printing apparatus having the above-described configuration, air higher than room temperature is blown from the air outlet 521 of the blower mechanism 5 to the surface 10a on the ink receiving layer 12 side of the hydraulic transfer film 10, and the hydraulic transfer film. The ink ejected on the one surface 10a is dried without spraying on the other surface 10b of the 10 water-soluble film 11 side.

  At this time, the ink receiving layer 12 prevents air heat from being transmitted to the water-soluble film 11. That is, the ink receiving layer 12 serves as a heat shield. Further, unlike far infrared rays used for heaters, air does not have the property of transferring heat to the water-soluble film 11 through the ink receiving layer 12.

  Therefore, heat is not transmitted to the water-soluble film 11 having a thermal expansion coefficient larger than that of the ink receiving layer 12, and generation of wrinkles of the hydraulic transfer film 10 due to expansion and contraction of the water-soluble film 11 can be prevented. Furthermore, since wrinkles do not occur in the hydraulic transfer film 10, the hydraulic transfer film 10 does not contact the nozzle surface 21 of the inkjet head 2, and a desired pattern can be printed on the hydraulic transfer film 10.

  On the other hand, when the hydraulic transfer film 10 is heated by a heater from the water-soluble film 11 side using a conventional printing apparatus, wrinkles are formed on the hydraulic transfer film 10 due to the extension of the water-soluble film 11 having a high degree of elasticity. Occur. If the water pressure transfer film 10 is heated from the ink receiving layer 12 side by a heater, far infrared rays used for the heater pass through the ink receiving layer 12 and transmit heat to the water-soluble film 11. As a result, wrinkles occur in the hydraulic transfer film 10 due to the elongation of the water-soluble film 11 having a high degree of elasticity.

  Moreover, the angle between the blowing direction B of the air blown out from the air outlet 521 and the one surface 10a of the hydraulic transfer film 10 is an acute angle. As a result, the blown air can flow along the one surface 10a of the hydraulic transfer film 10, and the ink can be dried quickly.

  Further, since the air outlet 521 is directed downstream of the transport path P, air is blown out to the opposite side of the inkjet head 2. As a result, air does not hit the nozzle surface 21 of the inkjet head 2, preventing the nozzle surface 21 from drying and preventing ink from being ejected from the nozzle surface 21.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment. For example, when the conveyance path is long or the air volume from the air outlet is small, the angle between the air blowing direction and the one surface of the hydraulic transfer film may be a right angle. Good. The air outlet may be directed toward the ink jet head. At this time, air is allowed to flow from the downstream side to the upstream side of the conveyance path. However, since the distance between the air outlet and the nozzle surface is sufficiently large, contact between the nozzle surface and air can be prevented.

  Further, the conveyance path is bent at one or more places to form a plane different from the plane for ejecting ink from the inkjet head to the hydraulic transfer film, and air is supplied from the blower mechanism to the hydraulic transfer film on this different plane. You may make it spray. As a result, air does not strike the nozzle surface of the inkjet head more reliably, preventing the nozzle surface from drying and preventing ink from being ejected from the nozzle surface.

  Further, an intake mechanism may be provided on the downstream side of the transport path from the air outlet. Thereby, the air from the air outlet can be sucked by the intake mechanism, and the air can be prevented from contacting the nozzle surface. Further, the air flow can be controlled by the intake mechanism, and the ink drying area can be increased as compared with the case where there is no intake mechanism. Furthermore, by arranging the intake mechanism on the downstream side of the transport path from the air outlet, the intake mechanism does not affect the ink ejected from the nozzle surface. On the other hand, if an intake mechanism is provided in the vicinity of the nozzle surface, the ink moves in the suction direction of the intake mechanism, so that the landing accuracy of the ink is lowered and a desired pattern may not be obtained.

  Moreover, it is good also considering the quantity of the air blower outlet of a ventilation mechanism as multiple. In this case, it is preferable that the air temperature blown out from these air outlets is set with a gradient so as to increase in order from the upstream side to the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the hydraulic transfer film. Film wrinkles can be reliably prevented.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Feeding mechanism 2 Inkjet head 21 Nozzle surface 4 Winding mechanism 5 Blower mechanism 51 Hot air generator 52 Duct 521 Air outlet 10 Hydraulic transfer film 10a One side 10b Other side 11 Water-soluble film 12 Ink receiving layer 13 Ink P Transport path A Transport direction B Blowing direction θ angle

Claims (5)

A feed-out mechanism for feeding out a hydraulic transfer film having a water-soluble film and a water-resistant ink-receiving layer laminated on the water-soluble film to a conveyance path;
An inkjet head disposed on the downstream side of the feeding mechanism and having a nozzle surface opposed to the conveying path and ejecting ink from the nozzle surface to one surface of the hydraulic transfer film on the ink receiving layer side; ,
A winding mechanism that is disposed on the downstream side of the inkjet head and winds up the hydraulic transfer film;
An air outlet is disposed so as to face the transport path between the inkjet head and the winding mechanism, and air having a temperature higher than room temperature is transferred from the air outlet to the hydraulic transfer. A printing apparatus comprising: a blowing mechanism that dries the ink ejected to the one surface without spraying the other surface of the hydraulic transfer film on the one surface of the water pressure transfer film. . The printing apparatus according to claim 1,
The air blowing mechanism is
The angle between the air blowing direction blown out from the air outlet and the one surface of the hydraulic transfer film is an acute angle.
A printing apparatus that blows out the air from the air outlet. The printing apparatus according to claim 2,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the air outlet is directed downstream of the conveyance path. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A printing apparatus comprising an intake mechanism on a downstream side of the transport path from the air outlet. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The transport path is bent at one or more places to form a plane different from the plane for ejecting ink from the inkjet head to the hydraulic transfer film,
The air blowing mechanism blows air onto the hydraulic transfer film on the different planes.

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