Printing apparatus and printing method

Abstract

The invention relates to a printing apparatus and a printing method. When double-sided printing is performed on a fabric, an image is printed at a desired position relative to an image on the back surface. A printing device (1) is provided with: a conveyor belt (5) that conveys a fabric (M) in a conveyance direction (A) in a state in which a first surface (M1) of the fabric (M) faces an adhesive layer (5a), printing units (101, 102) that print an image on a second surface (M2) on the opposite side of the first surface (M1) on the fabric (M) conveyed by the conveyor belt (5); and an infrared imaging unit (30) for imaging, using infrared rays, an imaging target (I) provided on the first surface (M1) of the fabric (M) conveyed by the conveyor belt (5), the printing unit (101) having: a first head (101) capable of discharging image-forming ink for forming an image; and a second head (102) capable of discharging an imaging object forming ink for forming the imaging object (I).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a printing device and a printing method. Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, various printing devices are used. Among them, there are printing devices that print on cloth. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a double-sided printing system that can print on both sides of a cloth.

[0003] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-502291

[0004] In a printing device that prints on both sides of a cloth, such as the double-sided printing system of Patent Document 1, it is often desired to align the position of the image printed on the front side with the image printed on the back side. Therefore, a detection unit that detects the position of the image printed first is provided on one side of the cloth. In the double-sided printing system of Patent Document 1, a scanning device is provided that can read the first printed image on the first side. However, in the scanning device of the double-sided printing system of Patent Document 1, the position of the image is detected using visible light, and the detection capability of the image on the back side is low, and it is sometimes difficult to print the image at the desired position relative to the image on the back side. Summary of the invention

[0005] The printing device of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned technical problems is characterized in that it comprises: a conveyor belt having an adhesive layer for supporting a cloth as a medium, and conveying the cloth in a conveying direction in a state where the first surface of the cloth is opposite to the adhesive layer; a printing unit for printing an image on a second surface opposite to the first surface of the cloth conveyed by the conveyor belt; and an infrared imaging unit for using infrared rays to photograph a photographing object set on the first surface of the cloth conveyed by the conveyor belt, the printing unit comprising: a first head capable of ejecting image forming ink for forming the image; and a second head capable of ejecting object forming ink for forming the photographing object.

[0006] In addition, the printing method of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned technical problem is a printing method of a printing device, characterized in that the printing device comprises: a conveyor belt having an adhesive layer supporting a cloth as a medium, and conveying the cloth in a conveying direction in a state where the first side of the cloth is opposite to the adhesive layer; and a printing unit for printing an image on a second side of the cloth conveyed by the conveyor belt, which is opposite to the first side, the printing unit comprising: a first head capable of ejecting image forming ink for forming the image; and a second head capable of ejecting object forming ink for forming a photographic object, the printing method The invention comprises: a photographed object printing step, in which the photographed object is printed by ejecting the photographed object forming ink from the second head; an infrared photographing step, in which the photographed object located on the first side of the cloth conveyed by the conveyor belt is photographed using infrared rays; a correction step, in which at least one of the image and the printing position of the image is corrected based on the photographing data captured in the infrared photographing step; and a second side printing step, in which the image is printed on the second side by ejecting the image forming ink from the first head to the cloth conveyed by the conveyor belt based on the correction result in the correction step. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] Figure 1 It is a schematic side view of a printing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0008] Figure 2 It means by Figure 1 The schematic diagram of the photographed object composed of grid lines that can be formed by the printing device is a diagram showing a case where the medium is not deformed and a case where the medium is deformed.

[0009] Figure 3 It means by Figure 1 The schematic diagram of the photographed object composed of dots that can be formed by the printing device is a diagram showing a case where the medium is not deformed and a case where the medium is deformed.

[0010] Figure 4 It means by Figure 1 The printing device can form Figure 3 The schematic diagram of the photographed object composed of different points is a diagram showing a case where the medium is not deformed and a case where the medium is deformed.

[0011] Figure 5 It is used Figure 1 A flowchart of an example of a printing method of a printing device.

[0012] Figure 6 It is used Figure 1 Printing device and printing method thereof Figure 5 Flowchart of a different example.

[0013] Description of Reference Numerals

[0014] 1: printing device (conveying device); 2: feeding section; 3: driven roller; 4: driving roller; 5: conveyor belt; 5a: adhesive layer; 6: pressure roller; 9: cleaning section; 10: cleaning roller; 11: scraper; 14: storage tank; 16: absorption roller; 20: conveying section; 30: infrared imaging section; 31: light emitting section; 32: light receiving section; 40: driving section; 41: control section; 80: holding section; 100: carriage; 101: first head (printing section); 102: second head (printing section); I: photographing object; I1: grid line; I2: point; I3: point; Ia: point; Ib: point; M: medium (cloth); M1: first side; M2: second side; R: roll body. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] First, the present invention will be briefly described.

[0016] The first mode of the printing device of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned technical problems is characterized in that it comprises: a conveyor belt having an adhesive layer supporting a cloth as a medium, and conveying the cloth in a conveying direction in a state where the first side of the cloth is opposite to the adhesive layer; a printing unit for printing an image on a second side opposite to the first side of the cloth conveyed by the conveyor belt; and an infrared imaging unit for using infrared rays to photograph a photographing object set on the first side of the cloth conveyed by the conveyor belt, the printing unit comprising: a first head capable of ejecting image forming ink for forming the image; and a second head capable of ejecting object forming ink for forming the photographing object.

[0017] According to this method, there is an infrared photographing unit that uses infrared rays to photograph a photographing object set on the first surface of a cloth conveyed by a conveyor belt. Since infrared rays can easily penetrate cloth compared to visible light, the photographing object can be properly photographed. In addition, the printing unit has a first head that can eject ink for image formation and a second head that can eject ink for forming the photographing object. Therefore, it is possible to properly form a photographing object with high photographing accuracy using the ink for forming the photographing object. Therefore, in the case of double-sided printing on cloth, etc., it is possible to print an image at a position on a desired surface relative to an image on the back, etc.

[0018] The printing device of the second mode of the present invention is characterized in that, in a mode subordinate to the first mode, the photographing object is at least one of a point and a grid line, a plurality of the points are arranged in the conveying direction and in a cross direction intersecting the conveying direction, and the grid lines are composed of a plurality of lines extending in the conveying direction and the cross direction.

[0019] According to this method, the photographing object is at least one of a point and a grid line, wherein a plurality of points are arranged in the conveying direction and the intersecting direction, and the grid line is composed of a plurality of lines extending in the conveying direction and the intersecting direction. By setting the photographing object to such a configuration, the position of the printed image can be appropriately determined in the conveying direction and the intersecting direction.

[0020] The third type of printing device of the present invention is characterized in that, in a method subordinate to the first or second method, the printing device is capable of ejecting the ink for forming the photographing object from the second head to form both the dots and the grid lines as the photographing object, and the printing device is configured to be able to select which of the dots and the grid lines to form as the photographing object.

[0021] According to this aspect, it is configured to be possible to select which of the formation points and the grid lines is to be taken as the imaging target. Therefore, it is possible to set the imaging target appropriately according to the type of fabric used, printing conditions, and the like.

[0022] The printing device of the fourth mode of the present invention is characterized in that, in a mode subordinate to the second mode, the printing device is capable of ejecting the ink for forming the photographing object from the second head to form the dot as the photographing object, and the shape or size of the dot is different in at least one of the conveying direction and the cross direction.

[0023] According to this method, the shape or size of the point to be photographed is different in at least one of the conveying direction and the cross direction. If the deformation of the cloth becomes larger, when photographing the point to be photographed, it is possible that the point to be photographed is mistakenly recognized as an adjacent point. By adopting such a structure, it is possible to suppress the mistaken recognition of adjacent points.

[0024] A fifth mode of the printing device of the present invention is characterized in that, in a mode subordinate to the first mode, the printing device includes a correction unit that corrects at least one of the image and the printing position of the image based on the imaging data captured by the infrared imaging unit.

[0025] According to this method, a correction unit is provided, which corrects at least one of an image and a printing position of the image based on the image data captured by the infrared image capturing unit. By adopting such a structure, in the case where double-sided printing of a cloth is automatically and simply performed based on the correction result of the correction unit, the image can be printed at a desired position relative to the image on the back side.

[0026] A printing device according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in an aspect belonging to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the infrared transmittance of the imaging object forming ink is lower than the infrared transmittance of the image forming ink.

[0027] According to this method, the infrared transmittance of the ink used to form the photographed object is lower than the infrared transmittance of the ink used to form the image. Therefore, the photographing accuracy of the ink used to form the photographed object is improved, and in particular, when double-sided printing is appropriately performed on a cloth, an image can be printed at a desired position on the surface relative to the image on the back.

[0028] A seventh printing method of the present invention is a printing method of a printing device, characterized in that the printing device comprises: a conveyor belt having an adhesive layer for supporting a cloth as a medium, and conveying the cloth in a conveying direction in a state where a first surface of the cloth is opposed to the adhesive layer; and a printing unit for printing an image on a second surface of the cloth conveyed by the conveyor belt, the printing unit comprising: a first head capable of ejecting image forming ink for forming the image; and a second head capable of ejecting object forming ink for forming a photographing object, the printing method comprising: photographing An object printing process, in which the ink for forming the photographed object is ejected from the second head to print the photographed object; an infrared photographing process, in which the photographed object located on the first side of the cloth conveyed by the conveyor belt is photographed using infrared rays; a correction process, in which at least one of the image and the printing position of the image is corrected based on the photographing data captured in the infrared photographing process; and a second side printing process, in which the image is printed on the second side by ejecting the image forming ink from the first head to the cloth conveyed by the conveyor belt based on the correction result in the correction process.

[0029] According to this method, at least one of the image and the printing position of the image is corrected based on the image data captured by the infrared imaging unit for printing. By executing such a printing method, in the case of double-sided printing on a cloth, the image can be automatically and simply printed at a desired position based on the correction result in the correction process.

[0030] The eighth printing method of the present invention is characterized in that, in a method subordinate to the seventh method, before the infrared shooting process, another image printing process is performed to eject the image forming ink from the first head to print another image different from the image.

[0031] According to this method, before the infrared imaging step, an additional image printing step is performed to print an additional image by ejecting image forming ink from the first head. By performing such a printing method, appropriate double-sided printing including the additional image in the additional image printing step and the image printed in the second-side printing step can be performed on the cloth.

[0032] A printing method according to a ninth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in an aspect subordinate to the eighth aspect, another image printing step is performed together with the photographed object printing step.

[0033] According to this aspect, the other image printing process is performed together with the photographed object printing process. By performing such a printing method, the printing time can be shortened.

[0034] A printing method according to a tenth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in an aspect subordinate to the eighth aspect, another image printing step is performed separately from the photographed object printing step.

[0035] According to this embodiment, the other image printing process is performed separately from the photographed object printing process. By performing such a printing method, the photographed object can be formed at an accurate position relative to the other images, and the alignment accuracy of double-sided printing can be improved.

[0036] The eleventh aspect of the printing method of the present invention is characterized in that, in a method subordinate to the eighth aspect, the printing method has a flipping process of flipping the cloth after executing the other image printing process and before executing the second side printing process, and the image and the other image are printed on different sides of the cloth.

[0037] According to this method, there is a reversing step of reversing the cloth after executing the other image printing step and before executing the second side printing step, and the image of the second side printing step and the other image of the other image printing step are printed on different sides of the cloth. By executing such a printing method, appropriate double-sided printing can be performed.

[0038] Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 An overview of a printing device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0039] like Figure 1 As shown in FIG. 1 , the printing device 1 of the present embodiment includes: a holding unit 80 that can hold a roll body R formed by rolling a medium M in a rotatable manner; and a conveying unit 20 that includes a driving unit 40 as a motor, and conveys the medium M delivered from the holding unit 80 in a conveying direction A by the driving force of the driving unit 40. The driving unit 40 is driven by the control of a control unit 41. The control unit 41 includes a CPU and a storage unit, and performs drive control of each component of the printing device 1 of the present embodiment.

[0040] The holding unit 80 includes a holding shaft 2 for holding the roll R passing through a paper tube constituting a rotation axis of the roll R. The holding unit 80 can rotate the holding shaft 2 in a rotation direction C to feed the medium M from the roll R to the conveying unit 20. The printing device 1 of this embodiment includes a pressure roller 6 for pressing the medium M against the conveying belt 5 in a region facing the conveying belt 5 constituting the conveying unit 20. However, a configuration in which the pressure roller 6 is not provided may be adopted.

[0041] The conveying unit 20 includes a driven roller 3 located on the upstream side of the conveying direction A, a driving roller 4 located on the downstream side of the conveying direction A, and a conveying belt 5 as an endless belt stretched on the driven roller 3 and the driving roller 4. The conveying belt 5 is an adhesive belt having an adhesive layer 5a coated with an adhesive on the supporting surface of the medium M as the outer surface. When explained from another point of view, the conveying belt 5 has an adhesive layer 5a supporting the medium M, and is an adhesive belt that is conveyed in the conveying direction A in a state where the first surface M1 of the cloth is opposite to the adhesive layer 5a.

[0042] like Figure 1 As shown, in a state where the first surface M1 of the medium M is attached to the adhesive layer 5a, the medium M is supported and transported by the conveyor belt 5. In the printing device 1 of this embodiment, the medium supporting area of ​​the conveyor belt 5 that supports the medium M is an area on the upper side connected by the driven roller 3 and the driving roller 4. The driving roller 4 is a roller that rotates in the rotation direction C by the driving force of the driving unit 40 as a motor, and the driven roller 3 is a roller that rotates driven by the rotation of the conveyor belt 5 caused by the rotation of the driving roller 4.

[0043] The printing device 1 of the present embodiment includes a carriage 100 that can reciprocate in the width direction B of the conveyor belt 5, and a first head 101 and a second head 102 mounted on the carriage 100. The first head 101 is a printing unit that can print an image by ejecting ink for forming an image on the second surface M2 of the medium M conveyed in the conveying direction A based on print data. The second head 102 is a printing unit that can eject ink for forming an image. Figure 2 and Figure 3 The photographic object I shown is formed by a printed portion of ink.

[0044] The printing device 1 of the present embodiment can eject the image forming ink from the first head 101 onto the medium M being transported to form an image while the carriage 100 is reciprocated in the width direction B intersecting the transport direction A, and can eject the photographic object forming ink from the second head 102 onto the medium M being transported to form the photographic object I. By including the carriage 100 configured in this way, the printing device 1 of the present embodiment repeats the following operations: transporting the medium M in the transport direction A at a predetermined transport amount; and ejecting at least one of the image forming ink and the photographic object forming ink while the carriage 100 is moved in the width direction B with the medium M stopped, thereby forming at least one of a desired image and the photographic object I on the medium M.

[0045] As described above, the printing device 1 of the present embodiment includes a so-called serial head type ejection head, in which the first head 101 and the second head 102 mounted on the carriage 100 reciprocate in the width direction B. However, it is not limited to such ejection heads. For example, the first head 101 and the second head 102 may be a line head type printing unit that extends and is fixed in the width direction B and has a plurality of nozzles arranged along the width direction B for ejecting ink. When the configuration of the line head type printing unit is provided, the medium M can be transported by so-called continuous transport in which the medium M is continuously transported, instead of the so-called intermittent transport in which the medium M is repeatedly transported at a predetermined transport amount and the medium M is stopped, as in the printing device 1 of the present embodiment.

[0046] When a medium M on which an image and at least one of a photographed object I are formed by ejecting ink from at least one of the first head 101 and the second head 102 is discharged from the printing device 1 of the present embodiment, it is transported to a drying device that volatilizes components of the ink ejected onto the medium M, a winding device that winds up the medium M on which an image is formed, or the like, which is arranged at a later stage than the printing device 1 of the present embodiment.

[0047] As the medium M, it is preferred to use a printed material such as cloth. The printed material refers to cloth, clothes, other clothing products, etc. that are the objects of printing and dyeing. The cloth includes fabrics, knitted fabrics, non-woven fabrics, etc. of natural fibers such as cotton, silk, wool, or chemical fibers such as nylon, or composite fibers mixed therewith. In addition, clothes and other clothing products include not only sewn T-shirts, handkerchiefs, scarves, towels, handbags, cloth bags, curtains, sheets, bedspreads and other furniture, but also fabrics before and after cutting that exist as accessories in the state before sewing. However, in addition to the above-mentioned printed materials, special papers for inkjet printing such as ordinary paper, high-quality paper, and glossy paper can also be used.

[0048] When a printed material is used as the medium M, the printed material is prone to ink penetration, that is, the ink ejected to the medium M penetrates to the back surface, so the conveyor belt 5 may be stained by ink. Therefore, in the printing device 1 of this embodiment, a cleaning unit 9 for cleaning the ink that is attached to the conveyor belt 5 due to penetration is provided. The cleaning unit 9 of this embodiment includes: a storage tank 14 for storing a cleaning liquid; a cleaning roller 10 that is impregnated with the cleaning liquid and contacts the conveyor belt 5; a scraper 11 that extends in the width direction B and wipes the cleaning liquid attached to the conveyor belt 5; and an absorption roller 16 that absorbs the residual cleaning liquid wiped by the scraper 11.

[0049] As described above, the printing device 1 of this embodiment comprises: a conveyor belt 5 for conveying a medium M such as a cloth in a conveying direction A with the first surface M1 facing the adhesive layer 5a; a first head 101 for printing an image on a second surface M2 on the opposite side of the medium M conveyed by the conveyor belt 5 and the first surface M1; and a second head 102 for printing a photographed object I. Figure 1 As shown, the printing device 1 of the present embodiment further includes an infrared imaging unit 30 that uses infrared rays to image an imaging object I provided on the first surface M1 of the medium M conveyed by the conveyor belt 5 .

[0050] In a configuration using visible light as a detection unit for detecting the photographic object I, when cloth is used as the medium M, the detection accuracy of the photographic object I is reduced. In particular, when thick felt or the like is used as the medium M, the detection accuracy of the photographic object I is particularly reduced. On the other hand, since infrared rays can easily pass through cloth or the like compared to visible light, the photographic object I can be properly photographed by adopting a configuration having an infrared photographing unit 30 that uses infrared rays to photograph the photographic object I set on the first surface M1. By photographing the photographic object I, an image can be formed at an appropriate position on the second surface M2 relative to the first surface M1 based on the photographing result. Therefore, the printing device 1 of this embodiment can print an image at a position on a desired surface relative to an image on the back side, for example, when double-sided printing is performed on a cloth.

[0051] In particular, the printing device 1 of the present embodiment has, as a printing unit, a second head 102 that can eject the image forming ink for forming the photographic object I in addition to the first head 101 that can eject the image forming ink for forming the image. Therefore, the printing device 1 of the present embodiment can appropriately form the photographic object I with high photographing accuracy using the photographic object forming ink. Furthermore, the printing device 1 of the present embodiment can form the photographic object I on one side of the medium M and form an image, turn the medium M over and place it on the printing device 1 again, photograph the photographic object I, and eject the image forming ink from the first head 101 to the other side of the medium M based on the photographing result to form an image. Therefore, in the case of double-sided printing on a cloth as the medium M, for example, the printing device 1 of the present embodiment can print an image at a position on a desired surface relative to an image on the back side.

[0052] As described above, the printing device 1 of the present embodiment includes the control unit 41, but the control unit 41 can function as a correction unit that corrects at least one of the image printed by the first head 101 and the printing position of the image based on the imaging data of the imaging object I captured by the infrared imaging unit 30. By adopting such a configuration, the printing device 1 of the present embodiment can print a new image (second image) at a desired position of the second surface M2 such as the image (first image) on the back surface (first surface M1) based on the correction result of the control unit 41 as the correction unit, when the medium M is automatically and simply printed on both sides.

[0053] Correction of the printing position of the image is equivalent to, for example, correcting the formation position of the image printed on the second surface M2 in correspondence with the printed image on the first surface M1 when the same image matching the positions of both is formed on the first surface M1 and the second surface M2. Correction of the image is equivalent to, for example, correcting the image data corresponding to the state of the expansion and contraction when the medium M is attached to the adhesive layer 5a in a stretched state when the first surface M1 and the second surface M2 are formed with the same image matching the positions of both, so that when the medium M is removed from the adhesive layer 5a and the expansion and contraction is eliminated, correction is performed in such a manner that the images on the first surface M1 and the second surface M2 are the same and become aligned images.

[0054] The printing device 1 of this embodiment can form Figure 2 As shown in FIG. 1 , a grid line I1 composed of a plurality of lines extending in the conveying direction A and the width direction B intersecting the conveying direction A is used as the photographing object I. The printing device 1 of this embodiment can form a grid line I1 as shown in FIG. Figure 3 As shown in FIG. 1 , a plurality of circular dots I2 arranged in the conveying direction A and the width direction B are used as the imaging object I. Furthermore, the printing device 1 of this embodiment can form Figure 4As shown, a plurality of star-shaped, circular and triangular points I3 arranged in the conveying direction A and the width direction B are used as the imaging object I.

[0055] Therefore, the photographed object I is preferably at least one of a plurality of points I2 or I3 arranged in the conveying direction A and the width direction B, and a grid line I1 composed of a plurality of lines extending in the conveying direction A and the width direction B. This is because by setting the photographed object I to such a structure, the position of the printed image in the conveying direction A and the width direction B can be appropriately determined.

[0056] As described above, the printing device 1 of the present embodiment can eject the ink for forming the photographic object from the second head 102 to form both the dots I2 or I3 and the grid lines I1 as the photographic object I, but is configured to be able to select which of the dots I2 or I3 and the grid lines I1 is to be formed as the photographic object I via a PC (not shown) or the like. Therefore, the printing device 1 of the present embodiment can set the appropriate photographic object I according to the type of medium M such as cloth used, printing conditions, and the like.

[0057] like Figures 2 to 4 As shown, as the medium M is attached to the conveyor belt 5, etc., in addition to Figures 2 to 4 In addition to the case where the medium M is not deformed as shown in the state diagram on the left side of Figures 2 to 4 When the medium M is deformed as shown in the state diagram on the right side of FIG. Figure 2 As shown in the state diagram on the left, the lines of the grid line I1 become straight lines, such as Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown in the state diagram on the left, points I2 or I3 are arranged in a straight line. On the other hand, when the medium M is deformed, as shown in Figure 2 As shown in the state diagram on the right side of , a part of the grid line I1 is curved, such as Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown in the state diagram on the right, a part of the points I2 or I3 are arranged in a deformed manner.

[0058] As described above, the printing device 1 of the present embodiment includes the control unit 41 as a correction unit, and thus can judge the degree of deformation of the medium M based on the bending mode of the grid lines I1 and the deformation method of the arrangement of the points I2 or I3, and correct at least one of the image printed by the first head 101 and the printing position of the image. Therefore, for example, when an image (first image) is formed on the surface (first surface M1) of the medium M on which the photographic object I is formed, and images are formed on both sides of the medium M together with the first image, a second image corresponding to the first image on the first surface M1 can be formed on the surface (second surface M2) on the opposite side of the surface of the medium M on which the photographic object I is formed, that is, double-sided printing can be performed.

[0059] When grid lines I1 are used as the photographic object I, the photographic object I tends to be more conspicuous than when points I2 or I3 are used as the photographic object I, and the amount of ink used to form the photographic object tends to be larger. However, even if the deformation of the medium M is large, the deformation amount of the medium M can be accurately recognized. On the other hand, when points I2 are used as the photographic object I, if the deformation of the medium M is large and the deformation amount of the arrangement of points I2 is large, it is possible that, for example, Figure 3 Point Ia in the state diagram on the right side of point I2 is mistakenly identified as Figure 3 The state diagram on the left is shown as point Ib.

[0060] Therefore, as described above, the printing device 1 of this embodiment can form Figure 4 As shown, a plurality of star-shaped, circular, and triangular points I3 are arranged in the conveying direction A and the width direction B as the photographing object I. By using points having different shapes or sizes in at least one direction of the conveying direction A and the width direction B, such as the points I3, even if the deformation of the medium M becomes large, it is possible to suppress the points as the photographing object I from being mistakenly recognized as adjacent points when photographing.

[0061] According to the above situation, it is preferable to determine whether to use the grid line I1 as the photographing object I or to use the point I2 or I3 according to the Young's modulus of the medium M used. It is preferable to use the grid line I1 or the point I3 as the photographing object I when the medium M is likely to be greatly deformed from the Young's modulus, and to use the point I2 as the photographing object I when the medium M is not likely to be greatly deformed from the Young's modulus.

[0062] The infrared transmittance of the ink for forming the photographic object is preferably lower than the infrared transmittance of the ink for forming the image. This is because the photographing accuracy of the ink for forming the photographic object is improved, and in particular, when the medium M is properly printed on both sides, the image can be printed at a desired position on the surface relative to the image on the back side.

[0063] As the ink for image formation, for example, color ink for general inkjet printers can be used. As the ink for photographing object formation, for example, ink having a near infrared absorbing material manufactured by Oguchi Electronics Co., Ltd., ink having a near infrared absorbing material manufactured by Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd., ink having an infrared cutting agent manufactured by Fujifilm can be used.

[0064] like Figure 1As shown, in the printing device 1 of the present embodiment, the infrared shooting unit 30 has a light emitting unit 31 that emits infrared rays and a light receiving unit 32 that receives infrared rays, and the light emitting unit 31 and the light receiving unit 32 are provided on the side opposite to the second surface M2. It should be noted that, in the printing device 1 of the present embodiment, the conveyor belt 5 is formed of a material that reflects infrared rays. However, it is not limited to such a structure. For example, the light emitting unit 31 and the light receiving unit 32 may both be provided on the side opposite to the first surface M1, and one of the light emitting unit 31 and the light receiving unit 32 may both be provided on the first surface M1, and the other may both be provided on the second surface M2. However, in the case of these structures, the conveyor belt 5 needs to be formed of a material that transmits infrared rays.

[0065] In order to properly photograph the photographic object I, the light emitting unit 31 is preferably configured such that the light emitting elements are arranged linearly along the width direction B or the conveying direction A, or the light emitting elements are arranged in a plane along the width direction B and the conveying direction A. Accordingly, the light receiving unit 32 is preferably configured such that the light receiving elements are arranged linearly along the width direction B or the conveying direction A, or the light receiving elements are arranged in a plane along the width direction B and the conveying direction A.

[0066] As described above, the printing device 1 of this embodiment can preferably perform double-sided printing. The medium M used at this time basically does not have printed images or the like formed on both sides. A first image and a photographed object I are formed on one side of such a medium M, the medium M is turned over and reset on the printing device 1, the first image and the position are aligned, and a second image is formed on the other side of the medium M. Explaining from another point of view, before the second image is formed, the medium M that can be used in this embodiment can be set to a medium M in which a printed image is formed on the first side M1 and no image is printed on the second side M2. However, a medium in which an image or the like is pre-formed on a part of the medium M can also be used.

[0067] When forming a double-sided printed matter, the same image can be formed on the first surface M1 and the second surface M2 by aligning the positions of both sides. However, in addition to such a double-sided printed matter, different images can be formed on the first surface M1 and the second surface M2 by aligning the positions of both sides, or the same or different images can be formed on the first surface M1 and the second surface M2 by making the positions of both sides different by a predetermined amount.

[0068] like Figure 1As shown in FIG. 1 , the printing device 1 of the present embodiment includes a pressing portion 6 for pressing the medium M against the adhesive layer 5a. Therefore, the medium M can be reliably supported on the adhesive layer 5a. On the other hand, in the configuration including the pressing portion 6 for pressing the medium M against the adhesive layer 5a, the medium M is easily deformed when the medium M is pressed against the adhesive layer 5a, and when double-sided printing is performed on soft cloth or the like, it is difficult to align the positions of the images on both sides. However, by including the infrared imaging portion 30 for imaging the imaging object I provided on the first surface M1, the positions of the images on both sides can be appropriately aligned.

[0069] In the printing device 1 of this embodiment, the infrared imaging unit 30 is detachable. By making the infrared imaging unit 30 detachable, the infrared imaging unit 30 can be easily replaced when it is damaged, and can be easily cleaned when it is contaminated.

[0070] Reference Figure 5 and Figure 6 The flowchart of FIG. 1 is described from the perspective of a printing method using the printing device 1 of this embodiment. Figure 5 and Figure 6 In the printing method shown in the flowchart of FIG. 1 , the printing device 1 of the present embodiment is used to perform the following steps. Figure 5 In the printing method shown in the flowchart of , first, in the first image and photographic object printing process of step S110, the first head 101 ejects the image forming ink to print the first image, and the second head 102 ejects the photographic object forming ink to print the photographic object I. On the other hand, Figure 6 In the printing method shown in the flowchart, first, in the first image printing process of step S120, image forming ink is ejected from the first head 101 to print the first image, and then the medium M is temporarily rewound in the direction opposite to the conveying direction A, and in step S130, the photographing object forming ink is ejected from the second head 102 to print the photographing object I. Figure 5 Step S110 of the flowchart of Figure 6 Step S130 of the flowchart corresponds to a photographic object printing process in which the photographic object forming ink is ejected from the second head 102 to print the photographic object I. The photographic object I may be printed overlapping with the first image or may be printed at a position different from the first image. The size of the photographic object I is not particularly limited, but the length is set to 100 μm or less so that it is not particularly conspicuous.

[0071] The subsequent process is Figure 5 The printing method shown in the flowchart and Figure 6The above-mentioned steps are common to the printing method shown in the flowchart of . After step S110 or step S130 is completed, in the re-placing process of step S140, the medium M is reset to the printing device 1 once so that the surface of the medium M on which the first image and the photographing object I are formed becomes the side opposite to the side facing the first head 101 and the second head 102. Then, in the infrared shooting process of step S150, the photographing object located on the first surface M1 of the medium M transported by the conveyor belt 5 is photographed using infrared rays. Then, in the correction process of step S160, based on the photographing data photographed in the infrared shooting process of step S150, at least one of the second image formed on the second surface M2 and the printing position of the second image is corrected. Then, in the second image printing process of step S170, a printing method having a second image printing process is executed, and the second image printing process is a second surface printing process in which the image forming ink is ejected from the first head 101 to the medium M transported by the conveyor belt 5 and the second image is printed on the second surface M2 based on the correction result in the correction process of step S160. By executing such a printing method, when double-sided printing is performed on a cloth, for example, an image can be automatically and easily printed at a desired position based on the correction result in the correction step.

[0072] Figure 5 The printing method shown in the flowchart of FIG. 10 performs, in step S110, a first image and a photographing object printing step as an other image printing step in which the image forming ink is ejected from the first head 101 to print a first image as another image different from the second image before the infrared photographing step in step S150. Figure 6 In the printing method shown in the flowchart of , in step S120, before the infrared imaging step of step S150, the first image printing step, which is an other image printing step of ejecting the image forming ink from the first head 101 to print the first image which is another image different from the second image, is executed. By executing such a printing method, it is possible to perform appropriate double-sided printing on a medium M such as cloth, which is composed of another image in the other image printing step and an image printed in the second side printing step.

[0073] As mentioned above, in Figure 5 In the printing method shown in the flowchart of FIG. 1 , in step S110 , other image printing steps are performed together with the photographed object printing step. By performing such a printing method, the printing time can be shortened.

[0074] On the other hand, Figure 6In the printing method shown in the flowchart of , the other image printing process (step S120) and the photographed object printing process (step S130) are performed separately. By performing such a printing method, the photographed object I can be formed at an accurate position relative to the other image (first image), and the registration accuracy of double-sided printing can be improved.

[0075] exist Figure 5 and Figure 6 The printing method shown in the flowchart of FIG. 1 includes a re-placing step (step S140), which corresponds to a reversing step of reversing and placing the medium M after executing the other image printing steps (steps S110 and S120) and before executing the second side printing step (step S170). Therefore, the second image and the first image are printed on different sides of the medium M. By executing such a printing method, appropriate double-sided printing can be performed.

[0076] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the invention described in the claims, and these modifications are of course also included in the scope of the present invention. As described above, the printing device 1 of this embodiment prints a first image on one side of the medium M using an image forming ink such as a general color ink that easily absorbs visible light, and prints a photographic object I using a photographic object forming ink that easily absorbs infrared rays but hardly absorbs visible light. Then, on the other side of the medium M, an image forming ink such as a general color ink that easily absorbs visible light is used to print, for example, a second image that is the same as the first image, in accordance with the position of the first image. Without being limited to such a configuration, the second image may be printed offset from the position of the first image, or the second image may be printed as an image different from the first image. The photographic object I may be printed overlapping with the first image, or the photographic object I may be printed at a position different from the first image.

[0077] Furthermore, the printing device 1 of this embodiment can also be used to print the photographed object I on one side of the medium M, and after the medium M is turned over and placed, a first image is printed on the other side of the medium M, and then a second image is printed on the side of the medium M on which the first image is formed. For example, a three-dimensional printed matter can be obtained by overlapping the first image and printing the second image once or multiple times based on the position of the photographed object I. In addition, for example, the control unit 41 determines the position of the first image based on the position of the photographed object I, and uses special inks such as metallic ink or ink that reacts with black light to obtain a special printed matter at a desired position relative to the position of the first image.

Claims

1. A printing device, characterized in that: have: A conveyor belt having an adhesive layer for supporting a cloth as a medium and conveying the cloth in a conveying direction in a state where a first surface of the cloth faces the adhesive layer; a printing unit for printing an image on a second surface of the cloth conveyed by the conveyor belt, the second surface being opposite to the first surface; as well as an infrared imaging unit that uses infrared rays to image an object provided on the first surface of the cloth conveyed by the conveyor belt, The printing unit includes a first head capable of ejecting image forming ink for forming the image, and a second head capable of ejecting imaging subject forming ink for forming the imaging subject.

2. The printing device according to claim 1, characterized in that The imaging object is at least one of points and grid lines, the points are arranged in plurality in the conveying direction and in a direction intersecting the conveying direction, and the grid lines are composed of a plurality of lines extending in the conveying direction and in the intersecting direction.

3. The printing device according to claim 2, characterized in that The printing device can eject the imaging object forming ink from the second head to form both the dots and the grid lines as the imaging object. The printing device is configured to be able to select which of the dots and the grid lines is to be formed as the imaging subject.

4. The printing device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The printing device is capable of ejecting the imaging object forming ink from the second head to form the dots as the imaging object. The shape or size of the dots is different in at least one of the conveying direction and the intersecting direction.

5. The printing device according to claim 1, characterized in that The printing device includes a correction unit that corrects at least one of the image and a printing position of the image based on imaging data captured by the infrared imaging unit.

6. The printing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The infrared transmittance of the imaging object forming ink is lower than the infrared transmittance of the image forming ink.

7. A printing method, characterized in that: A printing method of a printing device, wherein the printing device comprises: a conveyor belt having an adhesive layer for supporting a cloth as a medium and conveying the cloth in a conveying direction in a state where a first surface of the cloth faces the adhesive layer; and a printing unit for printing an image on a second surface of the cloth conveyed by the conveyor belt, which is opposite to the first surface; The printing unit includes: a first head capable of ejecting ink for forming an image to form the image; and a second head capable of ejecting ink for forming a photographic object to form a photographic object. The printing method has the following features: a photographing object printing step of ejecting the photographing object forming ink from the second head to print the photographing object; an infrared photographing step of photographing the photographing object located on the first surface of the cloth conveyed by the conveyor belt using infrared rays; a correction step of correcting at least one of the image and a printing position of the image based on the imaging data captured in the infrared imaging step; and The second-side printing step is to print the image on the second side by ejecting the image forming ink from the first head onto the cloth conveyed by the conveyor belt based on the calibration result in the calibration step.

8. The printing method according to claim 7, characterized in that: Prior to the infrared imaging step, an other image printing step is performed in which the image forming ink is ejected from the first head to print another image different from the image.

9. The printing method according to claim 8, characterized in that: Other image printing steps are performed together with the photographed object printing step.

10. The printing method according to claim 8, characterized in that: The other image printing process is performed separately from the photographed object printing process.

11. The printing method according to claim 8, characterized in that: The printing method includes a reversing step of reversing the cloth after executing the other image printing step and before executing the second-side printing step, and printing the image and the other image on different sides of the cloth.

Images