Liquid coating device

Abstract

To provide a liquid coating device capable of reducing drying time of a liquid discharged onto a coated surface from a discharge head without causing a discharge failure in the discharge head.SOLUTION: A liquid coating device for forming an image by discharging a liquid onto a coated surface comprises a discharge head that discharges the liquid onto the coated surface, and a spray unit that sprays powder, serving as a moisture removal agent, onto the coated surface before the discharge head discharges the liquid.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a liquid application device. [Background technology]

[0002] In the field of road painting, painting has traditionally been done by hand, but recently, technology has been proposed for automatic road painting using an inkjet system without the need for manual labor. In this case, since the organic solvent ink used in the inkjet system has a large environmental impact, it is possible to use water-based ink for road painting as an environmentally friendly ink. However, water-based ink has a problem in that it takes a long time to dry due to its high water content, which reduces painting productivity.

[0003] As a technique using such aqueous ink, a method has been disclosed in which the ink components are converted into a drying aqueous coating composition in order to shorten the drying time of the aqueous ink (for example, Patent Document 1). Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the conventional method of converting ink components into a drying aqueous coating composition, when coating using an inkjet system, the ink dries quickly in the nozzles of the ejection head, causing clogging and resulting in ejection failure.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above, and aims to provide a liquid application device that can shorten the drying time of liquid ejected from an ejection head onto an application surface without causing ejection defects in the ejection head. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, the present invention is a liquid application device that forms an image by ejecting liquid onto an application surface, characterized in that it comprises an ejection head that ejects liquid onto the application surface, and a spraying device that sprays a powder that is a moisture remover onto the application surface before the ejection head ejects the liquid. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to shorten the drying time of the liquid ejected from the ejection head onto the application surface without causing ejection defects in the ejection head. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the appearance of the entire configuration of a liquid application apparatus according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a printing device of the liquid application device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a carriage movement mechanism of the liquid application apparatus according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an outline of the operation of the liquid application device according to the first embodiment when printing outside the scanning range of the carriage. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the powder sprinkling device of the liquid application device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the liquid application apparatus according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the surface shape of asphalt. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the state when ink is applied directly to the depressions in the asphalt. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the liquid application device according to the first embodiment applies ink after scattering powder of the water absorbing agent. [Figure 10]FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the liquid application device according to the first embodiment applies ink after scattering heat generating agent powder. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a printing device of a liquid application apparatus according to the second embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a powder sprinkling device of a liquid application apparatus according to the second embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a liquid application apparatus according to the second embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a powder sprinkling device of a liquid application apparatus according to the third embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a bottom view of the powder sprinkling device of the liquid application device according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a printing device of a liquid application apparatus according to the fifth embodiment. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a liquid application apparatus according to the fifth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, an embodiment of a liquid application device according to the present invention will be described in detail. Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiment, and the components in the following embodiment include those that can be easily conceived by a person skilled in the art, those that are substantially the same, and those that are within the scope of what is called equivalent. Furthermore, various omissions, substitutions, modifications, and combinations of the components can be made without departing from the spirit of the following embodiment.

[0010] [First embodiment] (Overall configuration and operation of the liquid application device) FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the appearance of the overall configuration of a liquid application device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a printing device of the liquid application device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a carriage movement mechanism of the liquid application device according to the first embodiment. The overall configuration and operation outline of a liquid application device 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0011] The liquid application device 1 shown in FIG. 1 divides a wide liquid application area, such as a road or a building wall, into multiple printing areas, moves sequentially to each printing area, divides print data for printing in each printing area into multiple print images, and ejects ink (an example of liquid) to print. Hereinafter, road surfaces, such as roads, or building walls, will be referred to simply as "printing surfaces." The printing surfaces correspond to the "application surfaces" of the present invention. "Printing" refers to the act of forming an image by applying or spraying ink onto a mounting surface. In addition, in FIG. 2, the front panel of the printing device 10 of the liquid application device 1 is removed to show the internal structure of the printing device 10. As shown in FIG. 1, the liquid application device 1 includes the printing device 10 and a carriage 20.

[0012] The printing device 10 is transportable on a dolly 20 and prints on a printing surface by scanning a carriage 16 carrying an ink ejection head 16a. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the printing device 10 includes a printing device main body 11, a control device 12, an ink supply device 13, a stand 14, a carriage 16, an ink ejection head 16a (ejection head), a powder supply device 19, and a powder spraying device 37 (spraying device). As shown in FIG. 3, the printing device 10 also includes a frame 11a, a main scanning guide 17, a main scanning motor 17a, a sub-scanning guide 18, a sub-scanning motor 18a, and a timing belt 18b as a movement mechanism for scanning the carriage 16. The movement mechanism is supported by four stands 14 attached to the frame 11a that forms the periphery of the bottom surface of the printing device main body 11.

[0013] The printing device main body 11 is the main body of the printing device 10, and inside it, a carriage 16 scans in the main scanning direction (X direction in Figure 2) and the sub-scanning direction (Y direction in Figure 2), and various parts such as a control device 12, an ink supply device 13, and a powder supply device 19 are mounted on its upper surface.

[0014] The control device 12 is a controller that controls the printing operation of the printing device 10. Specifically, the control device 12 controls the scanning of the carriage 16 in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction, the ink ejection operation of the ink ejection head 16a mounted on the carriage 16, the ink supply operation from the ink supply device 13 to the ink ejection head 16a, and the spraying operation of the powder spraying device 37 of powder such as a water absorbing agent (described later) supplied from the powder supply device 19.

[0015] The ink supply device 13 is installed on the top surface of the printing device main body 11 and is a mechanism for supplying ink to the ink ejection head 16a of the carriage 16. Specifically, the ink supply device 13 includes a tank for storing ink, and supplies ink from the tank to the ink ejection head 16a of the carriage 16 via a supply path such as a tube.

[0016] The stands 14 are installed at the four corners of the bottom surface of the printer body 11, which has an overall rectangular parallelepiped shape, and are support members that contact the printing surface to support the printer 10. The number of stands 14 is not limited to four, and may be three or five or more.

[0017] The carriage 16 is a member that carries an ink ejection head 16a that ejects ink and is scanned in the main scanning direction and sub-scanning direction by the above-mentioned movement mechanism. The scanning of the carriage 16 is controlled by the control device 12. The ink ejection head 16a ejects ink supplied from the ink supply device 13 toward the printing surface.

[0018] The powder supply device 19 is installed on the top surface of the printing device main body 11 and is a mechanism for supplying powder (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as "powder") such as a water absorbent to remove moisture contained in the ink to the powder spraying device 37 via a tube not shown.

[0019] The powder sprinkling device 37 is a device that sprinkles the powder supplied from the powder supplying device 19 onto the print before the ink is ejected by the ink ejection head 16a. The configuration of the powder sprinkling device 37 will be described later with reference to FIG.

[0020] The frame 11a is a frame member that forms the four sides of the bottom surface of the printing device main body 11. In the frame 11a that forms the four sides of the bottom surface of the printing device main body 11 in this way, stands 14 are installed at the four corners of the bottom surface, as shown in FIG.

[0021] The main scanning guide 17 is a guide member that extends in the main scanning direction shown in FIG. 3 and supports the carriage 16 so that it can slide in the main scanning direction.

[0022] The main scanning motor 17 a is a motor for moving the carriage 16 back and forth in the main scanning direction along the main scanning guide 17 .

[0023] The sub-scanning guide 18 is a guide member that is installed on a frame 11a extending in the sub-scanning direction shown in Fig. 3 and supports the main scanning guide 17 so that it can slide in the sub-scanning direction. As shown in Fig. 3, the sub-scanning guide 18 is provided on each of two opposing frames 11a extending in the sub-scanning direction so as to support the vicinity of the end of the main scanning guide 17 extending in the main scanning direction.

[0024] The sub-scanning motor 18a is a motor for reciprocating the main scanning guide 17 in the sub-scanning direction along the sub-scanning guide 18. In this case, a pulley rotated by the sub-scanning motor 18a and a timing belt 18b stretched around a pulley driven by the sub-scanning motor 18a are driven by the rotation of the sub-scanning motor 18a, thereby causing the main scanning guide 17 to reciprocate in the sub-scanning direction.

[0025] In this way, the carriage 16 carrying the ink ejection head 16a can move freely in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction on the surface surrounded by the four frames 11a.

[0026] The dolly 20 is a transport device for lifting up (raising) the printing device 10 from the bottom, thereby transporting it to a printing area where the printing device 10 will print. As shown in FIG. 1 , the dolly 20 includes a dolly frame 21, an elevating device 22, an elevating device 23, rear wheels 24, front wheels 25, and a handle portion 26.

[0027] The carriage frame 21 is a frame member having a rectangular shape, and supports the printing device 10 from the bottom when the printing device 10 is raised or lowered.

[0028] The lifting device 22 is a device that supports the handle portion 26 side (front side) of the printing device main body 11 and lifts and lowers the printing device 10.

[0029] The lifting device 23 is a device that supports the printing device main body 11 on the side opposite to the handle portion 26 side (rear side) and lifts and lowers the printing device 10.

[0030] The rear wheels 24 and the front wheels 25 are wheels for moving the carriage 20 back and forth and left and right.

[0031] The handle portion 26 is attached to the front side of the cart 20 and is a handle member that is gripped by a user (operator). The user can grip the handle portion 26 to freely move the cart 20 forward, backward, left and right.

[0032] (Overview of overall operation of liquid application device) 4 is a diagram illustrating an overview of the operation of the liquid application device according to the first embodiment when printing outside the scanning range of the carriage. An overview of the overall operation of the liquid application device 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

[0033] As described above, the liquid applicator 1 is movable in four directions: front, back, left, and right. That is, the carriage 16 carrying the ink ejection head 16a can move freely in four directions: front, back, left, and right on the plane enclosed by the frame 11a of the liquid applicator 1. As a result, when the liquid applicator 1 causes the ink ejection head 16a to print on a printing surface outside the scanning range, as shown in FIG. 4 , it divides the liquid application area, which is the entire printing area on the printing surface, into multiple printing areas, divides the entire printing data to be printed in the liquid application area into multiple printing images corresponding to each printing area, and moves the liquid application area back and forth and left and right to each printing area, printing the individual printing images while joining them together so that the seams are less noticeable, thereby completing printing of the entire image based on the printing data. Furthermore, the liquid applicator 1 ejects ink from the ink ejection head 16a in each printing area while spraying powder from the powder spraying device 37. Furthermore, when the liquid application device 1 moves to a printing area corresponding to each print image, the brush 41, which will be described later, moves upward so that the tip of the brush 41 is separated from the printing surface.

[0034] (Configuration and operation of powder spraying device) Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the powder sprinkling device of the liquid coating apparatus 1 according to Embodiment 1. The configuration and operation of the powder sprinkling device 37 of the liquid coating apparatus 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 5.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 5, the powder sprinkling device 37 sprinkles powder, supplied from the powder supply device 19 shown in FIG. 2 via a tube 19a, onto the printing surface RS. The powder sprinkling device 37 is fixed to the surface of the carriage 16, for example, downstream in the direction of movement of the carriage 16 when the ink ejection head 16a ejects ink (the X direction (main scanning direction) shown in FIG. 5). This allows the powder sprinkling device 37 to move together with the movement of the carriage 16 in the main scanning direction and sub-scanning direction, and to sprinkle powder onto the printing surface RS immediately before the ink ejection head 16a ejects ink. As shown in FIG. 5, the powder sprinkling device 37 includes an opening 37a, an opening adjustment plate 37b (adjustment plate), and a brush 41.

[0036] Opening 37a is an opening in the bottom surface of powder sprinkling device 37 so that powder supplied from powder supply device 19 and accumulated inside powder sprinkling device 37 can be scattered by gravity onto printing surface RS below powder sprinkling device 37. Opening 37a is a hole with a diameter of, for example, about 5 mm.

[0037] The opening adjustment plate 37b is a plate member for adjusting the degree of opening of the opening 37a. For example, the opening adjustment plate 37b adjusts the degree of opening of the opening 37a by sliding parallel to the opening surface of the opening 37a. The opening adjustment plate 37b adjusts the amount of powder to be scattered onto the printing surface RS. The adjustment of the opening degree of the opening 37a by the opening adjustment plate 37b is performed by an actuator 38a, which will be described later.

[0038] The brush 41 is a brush member installed via an actuator 43a (described later) on the underside of the powder sprinkling device 37, upstream of the opening 37a in the main scanning direction. As shown in FIG. 5 , the brush 41 sweeps the powder sprinkled from the opening 37a onto the printing surface RS, smoothing the powder and moving it into the recesses RC formed on the printing surface RS. If powder is present in areas of the printing surface RS other than the recesses RC, ink will be applied over the powder. This will create unevenness due to the powder after the ink dries, degrading the appearance of the printed image. Furthermore, when a vehicle passes over the printing surface RS with a printed image, the powder will be removed by the tires, causing defects in the paint. In response to this problem, by smoothing the powder and moving it into the recesses RC using the brush 41 as described above, it is possible to prevent deterioration of the printed image and the occurrence of defects in the paint.

[0039] As described above, the powder sprinkler 37 first opens the opening 37a using the opening adjustment plate 37b to sprinkle powder onto the printing surface RS just before ink is ejected from the ink ejection head 16a while the carriage 16 moves in the main scanning direction. As the carriage 16 moves in the main scanning direction, the brush 41 sweeps the powder sprinkled from the opening 37a, smoothing the powder and moving it into the recesses RC formed on the printing surface RS. Then, ink is ejected from the ink ejection head 16a toward the printing surface RS to coat the surface. The powder that has moved to the recesses RC removes moisture from the ink, thereby speeding up the drying time of the ink. The moisture removal function of the powder in the ink will be described later with reference to Figures 7 to 10. The powder sprinkler 37 then closes the opening 37a using the opening adjustment plate 37b. The powder sprinkler 37 then moves the brush 41 upward using the actuator 43a to move the tip of the brush 41 away from the printing surface. Then, as the carriage 16 moves back in the main scanning direction, the ink ejection head 16a ejects ink. Because the tip of the brush 41 is away from the printing surface, the brush 41 does not disturb the ink applied on the outgoing path during its return movement. After the carriage 16 has completed one round trip of coating in the main scanning direction, it moves in the sub-scanning direction. The powder spraying device 37 then uses the actuator 43a to lower the brush 41 to its original position so that the tip of the brush 41 contacts the printing surface, and performs another round trip of coating in the same manner.

[0040] 5 shows a configuration in which the powder sprinkling device 37 is fixed to the carriage 16, but this is not limiting and the powder sprinkling device 37 may be fixed separately from the carriage 16. Furthermore, although the powder sprinkling device 37 sprinkles powder immediately before the ink ejection head 16a applies ink, this is not limiting and when the liquid application device 1 moves to a predetermined printing area, the powder sprinkling device 37 may sprinkle powder over the entire printing area in advance, and then the ink ejection head 16a may apply ink.

[0041] (Hardware configuration of liquid application device) 6 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the liquid application apparatus according to the first embodiment. The hardware configuration of the liquid application apparatus 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

[0042] As shown in Figure 6, the liquid application device 1 includes a control device 12, a carriage 16, a head moving mechanism 31, a rail moving mechanism 32, a two-dimensional camera 34, a GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) receiver 35, an operation panel 36, an opening driving circuit 38, an actuator 38a, an opening adjustment plate 37b, a brush driving circuit 43, an actuator 43a, and a brush 41.

[0043] The control device 12 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 61, a memory 62, an I / F 63, and a unit control circuit 64.

[0044] The CPU 61 is a computing device that performs overall control of the operation of the liquid application device 1. The CPU 61 performs data communication with the memory 62, the I / F 63, and the unit control circuit 64 via the bus. The CPU 61 also performs drive control of the head movement mechanism 31, the rail movement mechanism 32, the ink ejection head 16a, and the aperture drive circuit 38 via the unit control circuit 64, and estimates the self-position of the liquid application device 1 from the positioning signal received by the GNSS receiver 35.

[0045] The memory 62 is a storage medium such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) or a RAM (Random Access Memory) that stores programs used to drive the CPU 61. The memory 62 is also used as a work area for the CPU 61.

[0046] The I / F 63 is a communication interface for connecting various external devices 40 such as a tablet terminal, a smartphone, a PC (Personal Computer), a server, a notebook PC, and the like.

[0047] The unit control circuit 64 is a control circuit that controls the operations of the head moving mechanism 31, the rail moving mechanism 32, and the ink ejection head 16a under the control of the CPU 61.

[0048] The carriage 16 is equipped with an ink ejection head 16a that ejects ink onto the road surface, and moves in the main scanning direction along the main scanning guide 17 shown in Figure 3, and moves in the sub-scanning direction as the main scanning guide 17 moves in the sub-scanning direction.

[0049] The two-dimensional camera 34 is an imaging device that captures an image of the printing surface and the vicinity of the printed image printed on the printing surface. Therefore, the imaging direction of the two-dimensional camera 34 is downward. The two-dimensional camera 34 transmits the captured image to the CPU 61 of the control device 12.

[0050] The GNSS receiver 35 is a receiving device that receives positioning signals from positioning satellites based on GNSS (for example, GPS (Global Positioning System)) to measure the current position on Earth. The GNSS receiver 35 transmits the received positioning signals to the control device 12.

[0051] The operation panel 36 is a device that receives operations for the liquid application device 1 and displays the processing results of the liquid application device 1, etc.

[0052] The opening drive circuit 38 is a drive circuit that controls the movement of the opening adjustment plate 37b by driving the actuator 38a under the control of the CPU 61. The actuator 38a is a motor, air cylinder, solenoid valve, or the like that is driven by the opening drive circuit 38 and controls the degree to which the opening 37a is opened by the opening adjustment plate 37b.

[0053] The brush driving circuit 43 is a driving circuit that drives the actuator 43a under the control of the CPU 61 to control the up and down movement of the brush 41. The actuator 43a is a motor, an air cylinder, a solenoid valve, or the like that is driven by the brush driving circuit 43 to move the brush 41 up and down.

[0054] The head moving mechanism 31 is made up of the main scanning guide 17, the main scanning motor 17a, etc., and is a mechanism that moves the carriage 16 back and forth in the main scanning direction along the main scanning guide 17 under the control of the unit control circuit 64.

[0055] The rail movement mechanism 32 is made up of the sub-scanning guide 18, a sub-scanning motor 18a, a timing belt 18b, etc., and is a mechanism that moves the main scanning guide 17 back and forth on the sub-scanning guide 18 in the sub-scanning direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction under the control of the unit control circuit 64. This causes the carriage 16 supported by the main scanning guide 17 to move back and forth in the sub-scanning direction.

[0056] The hardware configuration of the liquid application apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 6 is an example, and the liquid application apparatus 1 may be equipped with other components.

[0057] (The powder removes moisture from the ink) FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the surface shape of asphalt. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a state where ink is applied directly to recesses in asphalt. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a state where ink is applied after the liquid application device according to the first embodiment has dispersed powder of a water-absorbing agent. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a state where ink is applied after the liquid application device according to the first embodiment has dispersed powder of a heat-generating agent. The action of removing moisture from ink by the powder dispersed from powder dispersion device 37 will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 10.

[0058] FIG. 7 shows the surface shape of asphalt with irregularities as an example of a printing surface RS. As shown in FIG. 7, there are gaps between the asphalt particles, forming recesses RC. FIG. 8 schematically shows the state in which ink has been applied to the asphalt printing surface RS. The ink is a water-based ink in which water W is mixed with resin and pigment. Because water-based ink contains a large amount of water W, conventional methods require a long drying time for the ink. In this embodiment, as described above in FIG. 5, powder is sprayed from the opening 37a immediately before the ink is ejected and is smoothed by the brush 41, causing the powder to accumulate in the recesses RC.

[0059] Here, the effect of the powder when it is a water-absorbing agent will be explained with reference to FIG. 9. FIG. 9(a) shows the state immediately after ink is ejected onto the printing surface RS, with the water-absorbing powder (shown here as moisture removing agent WR) accumulated in the recesses RC. As shown in FIG. 9(b), the moisture removing agent WR absorbs the moisture W in the ink, thereby reducing (i.e., removing) the moisture W in the ink, thereby shortening the drying time of the ink. Furthermore, the moisture removing agent WR, which is a water-absorbing agent that has absorbed the moisture W, solidifies as the ink dries. Here, the water-absorbing agent can be a super absorbent resin (highly water-absorbent polymer), diatomaceous earth, cellulose powder, or the like.

[0060] Superabsorbent polymers can absorb hundreds of times their own weight in water and are used in disposable diapers, etc. Diatomaceous earth is highly absorbent and can absorb water instantly, making it a material used in foot mats, etc. Cellulose powder is a fine particle made up of fine cellulose fibers, and is a material made from waste paper, etc., whose main raw material is cellulose fiber from wood. This cellulose powder is also highly absorbent and can absorb water instantly.

[0061] Next, the effect of the powder when it is a heat generating agent will be described with reference to FIG. 10. FIG. 10(a) shows the state immediately after ink is ejected onto the printing surface RS, with the heat generating powder (shown here as moisture removing agent WRa) accumulated in the recesses RC. As shown in FIG. 10(b), the moisture removing agent WRa reacts with the moisture W in the ink to generate heat and evaporate the moisture W, thereby reducing (i.e., removing) the moisture W in the ink, thereby speeding up the drying time of the ink. The moisture removing agent WRa, which is also a heat generating agent, solidifies as the ink dries. Here, quicklime or the like can be used as the heat generating agent.

[0062] 9 and 10, a water-absorbing agent and a heat-generating agent are described as moisture removal agents, respectively, but either a water-absorbing agent or a heat-generating agent may be used as the moisture removal agent, or both may be used in combination. Furthermore, the printing surface RS is not limited to asphalt road surfaces, and uneven surfaces, including building walls, are also contemplated.

[0063] As described above, in the liquid application device 1 according to this embodiment, the ink ejection head 16a ejects ink onto the printing surface, and the powder sprinkler 37 sprinkles powder, which is a moisture remover, onto the printing surface before the ink ejection head 16a ejects the ink. This makes it possible to shorten the drying time of the ink ejected onto the printing surface from the ink ejection head 16a without causing ejection problems at the ink ejection head 16a.

[0064] Furthermore, in the liquid application device 1 according to this embodiment, the carriage 16 is equipped with an ink ejection head 16a, which moves in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction, and the powder sprinkling device 37 is fixed to the carriage 16 at a position downstream of the movement of the carriage 16 in the main scanning direction when the ink ejection head 16a ejects ink. This makes it possible to apply paint by ejecting ink from the ink ejection head 16a while the powder sprinkling device 37 sprinkles powder when the carriage 16 moves in the main scanning direction.

[0065] Furthermore, in the liquid application device 1 according to this embodiment, the brush 41 is installed at a position upstream in the main scanning direction of the opening 37a for scattering powder in the powder scattering device 37, and sweeps up the powder scattered on the printing surface by the powder scattering device 37. This makes it possible to level the powder and move it into the recesses formed on the printing surface.

[0066] Furthermore, in the liquid application device 1 according to this embodiment, the opening adjustment plate 37b adjusts the degree of opening of the opening 37a for scattering powder in the powder scattering device 37. By adjusting the degree of opening of the opening 37a in this way, it is possible to adjust the amount of powder scattered onto the printing surface.

[0067] [Second embodiment] The liquid application device according to the second embodiment will be described, focusing on the differences from the liquid application device 1 according to the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the operation of blowing off and diffusing powder that has fallen from opening 37a by its own weight with compressed air blown out from an air nozzle using a compressor will be described.

[0068] (Overall configuration of liquid application device) Fig. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a printing device of a liquid application device according to Embodiment 2. The overall configuration of a liquid application device according to this embodiment (referred to as liquid application device 1a) will be described with reference to Fig. 11.

[0069] 11, the printing device 10a of the liquid application device 1a includes a control device 12, an ink supply device 13, a stand 14, a carriage 16, an ink ejection head 16a, a powder supply device 19, a powder sprinkling device 37, a compressor 39, an air nozzle 39a (first nozzle), a tube 39b, and a camera 33. The configurations of the control device 12, the ink supply device 13, the stand 14, the carriage 16, the ink ejection head 16a, the powder supply device 19, and the powder sprinkling device 37 are the same as those described in the first embodiment above.

[0070] The compressor 39 is a compression device that generates compressed air and blows the compressed air from an air nozzle 39a provided on the powder scattering device 37 via a tube 39b.

[0071] The air nozzle 39a is connected to the compressor 39 via a tube 39b, and is a nozzle for blowing out compressed air compressed by the compressor 39. This allows the powder sprayed from the powder spraying device 37 to be uniformly dispersed on the printing surface.

[0072] Camera 33 is an imaging device that captures an image of the printing surface to determine whether the powder is uniformly dispersed on the printing surface as a result of powder being sprayed onto the printing surface from powder spraying device 37 and compressed air being blown out from air nozzle 39a. Camera 33 is installed, for example, on top of printing device 10a, as shown in FIG.

[0073] (Configuration and operation of powder spraying device) Fig. 12 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a powder sprinkling device of a liquid coating apparatus according to Embodiment 2. The configuration and operation of powder sprinkling device 37 of liquid coating apparatus 1a according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 12.

[0074] 12, the powder sprinkling device 37 includes an opening 37a, an opening adjustment plate 37b, a brush 41, an air nozzle 39a, and a tube 39b. The opening 37a, the opening adjustment plate 37b, and the brush 41 are as described above in the first embodiment.

[0075] Air nozzle 39a is a nozzle for blowing compressed air sent from compressor 39 via tube 39b toward printing surface RS on which powder has been sprayed from powder spraying device 37. Tube 39b connects compressor 39 and air nozzle 39a and is a tube for sending compressed air compressed by compressor 39 to air nozzle 39a.

[0076] However, simply letting the powder from the powder sprinkler 37 fall onto the printing surface under its own weight makes it difficult to scatter the powder over a wide area. As a result, there are areas where the powder does not accumulate in the recesses of the printing surface, and the ink moisture does not decrease in those areas, which results in a longer drying time for the ink. Therefore, the powder sprinkler 37 sprinkles the powder onto the printing surface by blowing it away with compressed air from the air nozzle 39a. This reduces the number of areas where the powder does not accumulate in the recesses, allowing the ink to dry more quickly and uniformly.

[0077] The air nozzle 39a and the tube 39b may be attached separately from the powder scattering device 37.

[0078] As described above, the powder sprinkler 37 first opens the opening 37a with the opening adjustment plate 37b to sprinkle powder onto the printing surface RS just before ink is ejected from the ink ejection head 16a while the carriage 16 moves in the main scanning direction. The compressor 39 then blows compressed air from the air nozzle 39a toward the printing surface RS, uniformly spreading the powder across the printing surface RS. As the carriage 16 moves in the main scanning direction, the brush 41 sweeps the powder sprinkled from the opening 37a, smoothing it and moving it into the recesses RC formed on the printing surface RS. The camera 33 then captures an image to determine whether the powder has been uniformly spread across the printing surface RS. Then, ink is ejected from the ink ejection head 16a toward the printing surface RS, thereby coating the surface. The powder that has moved to the recesses RC removes moisture from the ink, shortening the drying time of the ink. The powder sprinkler 37 then closes the opening 37a with the opening adjustment plate 37b. The powder sprinkling device 37 then uses the actuator 43a to move the brush 41 upward, separating the tip of the brush 41 from the printing surface. Then, while the carriage 16 moves back in the main scanning direction, the ink ejection head 16a ejects ink. After the carriage 16 has completed one round trip of coating in the main scanning direction, the carriage 16 moves in the sub-scanning direction. The powder sprinkling device 37 then uses the actuator 43a to lower the brush 41 to its original position so that the tip of the brush 41 contacts the printing surface, and performs another round trip of coating in the same manner.

[0079] If the CPU 61 determines, based on the captured image of the powder on the printing surface RS captured by the camera 33, that the powder is not uniformly dispersed, the CPU 61 changes the drive control of the compressor 39 by the compressor drive circuit 39c (described later) to change the strength of the compressed air blown from the air nozzle 39a so that the powder is uniformly dispersed. For example, if the CPU 61 determines, based on the captured image captured by the camera 33, that the powder is concentrated in a specific location on the printing surface, the CPU 61 increases the strength of the compressed air blown from the air nozzle 39a to diffuse the powder. If the CPU 61 determines, based on the captured image captured by the camera 33, that the amount of powder on the path through which the powder sprinkler 37 passes is small, the CPU 61 decreases the strength of the compressed air blown from the air nozzle 39a to prevent the powder from scattering far.

[0080] In addition, the camera 33 that takes images to determine whether the powder is uniformly dispersed as described above may be provided in the liquid application device 1 according to the first embodiment described above, or in the liquid application devices according to the third to fifth embodiments described below.

[0081] (Hardware configuration of liquid application device) 13 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of a liquid application apparatus according to the second embodiment, with reference to which the hardware configuration of a liquid application apparatus 1a according to this embodiment will be described.

[0082] 13, the liquid application device 1a includes a control device 12, a carriage 16, a head movement mechanism 31, a rail movement mechanism 32, a two-dimensional camera 34, a GNSS receiver 35, an operation panel 36, an aperture drive circuit 38, an actuator 38a, an aperture adjustment plate 37b, a brush drive circuit 43, an actuator 43a, a brush 41, a compressor drive circuit 39c, a compressor 39, and a camera 33. The control device 12, the carriage 16, the head movement mechanism 31, the rail movement mechanism 32, the two-dimensional camera 34, the GNSS receiver 35, the operation panel 36, the aperture drive circuit 38, the actuator 38a, the aperture adjustment plate 37b, the brush drive circuit 43, the actuator 43a, and the brush 41 are as described above in the first embodiment.

[0083] The compressor driving circuit 39c is a driving circuit that drives the compressor 39 to compress air under the control of the CPU 61.

[0084] The camera 33 is an imaging device that, under the control of the CPU 61, takes an image to determine whether the powder is uniformly spread on the printing surface.

[0085] The hardware configuration of the liquid application apparatus 1a shown in FIG. 13 is an example, and the liquid application apparatus 1a may be equipped with other components.

[0086] As described above, in the liquid application device 1a according to this embodiment, the compressor 39 generates compressed air, and the air nozzle 39a blows the compressed air toward the printing surface onto which powder has been sprayed by the powder spraying device 37. This allows the powder sprayed by the powder spraying device 37 to be uniformly dispersed on the printing surface.

[0087] [Third embodiment] The liquid application device according to the third embodiment will be described, focusing on the differences from the liquid application device 1 according to the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the operation of spraying powder by injecting it from a nozzle using compressed air supplied from a compressor will be described.

[0088] (Configuration and operation of powder spraying device) 14 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a powder sprinkling device of a liquid coating apparatus according to the third embodiment. The configuration and operation of powder sprinkling device 37 of liquid coating apparatus 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 14. Note that liquid coating apparatus 1 according to this embodiment also includes compressor 39, which is included in liquid coating apparatus 1a according to the second embodiment described above.

[0089] 14, the powder sprinkling device 37 includes a nozzle 37c (second nozzle), a path 37d, and a brush 41. The brush 41 is as described above in the first embodiment.

[0090] The path 37d is a connecting pipe that connects the compressor 39 to the inside of the powder scattering device 37 and sends compressed air compressed by the compressor 39 to the powder inside.

[0091] Nozzle 37c is attached to an opening on the bottom of powder sprinkling device 37 and sprays powder onto printing surface RS by the pressure acting on the powder stored inside powder sprinkling device 37 by compressed air supplied from compressor 39 via path 37d. Nozzle 37c sprays the powder in a flat pattern, for example. This allows the powder to be uniformly sprayed onto printing surface RS. Furthermore, unlike powder sprinkling device 37 according to the second embodiment, there is no need to use air nozzle 39a to disperse the powder with compressed air, so there is no need to install air nozzle 39a. The liquid application device 1 according to this embodiment includes a drive circuit similar to compressor drive circuit 39c shown in FIG. 13 to drive compressor 39 for spraying powder from nozzle 37c.

[0092] As described above, the powder sprinkler 37 first sprays powder onto the printing surface RS from the nozzle 37c using compressed air supplied from the compressor 39 via the path 37d, just before ink is ejected from the ink ejection head 16a while the carriage 16 is moving in the main scanning direction. As the carriage 16 moves in the main scanning direction, the brush 41 sweeps the powder sprinkled from the nozzle 37c, smoothing it and moving it into the recesses RC formed on the printing surface RS. Then, ink is ejected from the ink ejection head 16a toward the printing surface RS, coating the surface. The powder that has moved to the recesses RC removes moisture from the ink, shortening the drying time of the ink. The powder sprinkler 37 then uses the actuator 43a to move the brush 41 upward, separating the tip of the brush 41 from the printing surface. As the carriage 16 moves backward in the main scanning direction, the ink ejection head 16a ejects ink. After the carriage 16 has completed one round trip of coating in the main scanning direction, the carriage 16 moves in the sub-scanning direction, and the powder spraying device 37 is then lowered by the actuator 43a to its original position so that the tip of the brush 41 contacts the printing surface, and another round trip of coating is performed in the same manner.

[0093] As described above, in the liquid application device 1 according to this embodiment, the compressor 39 generates compressed air, and the nozzle 37c sprays the powder stored in the powder spraying device 37 onto the printing surface using the compressed air sent from the compressor 39. This allows the powder to be uniformly sprayed onto the printing surface.

[0094] [Fourth embodiment] The liquid application device according to the fourth embodiment will be described, focusing on the differences from the liquid application device 1 according to the first embodiment. In this embodiment, a configuration will be described in which the length of the nozzle row formed by the multiple nozzles formed in the ink ejection head 16a is the same as the length of the opening 37a of the powder sprinkling device 37 in the direction in which the nozzles are lined up.

[0095] (Configuration of powder spraying device) 15 is a bottom view of the powder sprinkling device of the liquid application apparatus 1 according to the fourth embodiment. The configuration of the powder sprinkling device 37 of the liquid application apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

[0096] As shown in Fig. 15, the ink ejection head 16a has a plurality of ink nozzles 16b (third nozzles) for ejecting ink. The ink nozzles 16b are formed, for example, in a line in a direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction (X direction), i.e., in the sub-scanning direction (Y direction). Note that in the example shown in Fig. 15, the plurality of ink nozzles 16b are arranged in a line in the sub-scanning direction, but this is not limiting, and a plurality of lines may be formed.

[0097] As shown in FIG. 15, the opening 37a formed in the bottom surface of the powder sprinkling device 37 is formed so that its length in the direction in which the multiple ink nozzles 16b are lined up (i.e., the sub-scanning direction) is the same as the length of the nozzle row of the ink nozzles 16b. Note that "same length" in this case does not only mean being strictly the same, but also includes a state where they are approximately the same to the extent that they can be considered identical. Also, as shown in FIG. 15, the position of the opening 37a in the sub-scanning direction is the same as the position of the nozzle row of the ink nozzles 16b in the sub-scanning direction. Note that "same position" in this case does not only mean being strictly the same, but also includes a state where they are approximately the same to the extent that they can be considered identical.

[0098] This allows the powder to be dispersed from the openings 37a without waste across the coating width of the printing surface when ink is ejected from the multiple ink nozzles 16b. Also, unlike the powder dispersion device 37 according to the second embodiment, there is no need to use compressed air to disperse the powder with the air nozzle 39a, so there is no need to install the air nozzle 39a.

[0099] [Fifth embodiment] The liquid application device according to the fifth embodiment will be described, focusing on the differences from the liquid application device 1 according to the first embodiment. In this embodiment, a configuration will be described in which the printing surface is heated by a heating device to further shorten the drying time.

[0100] (Overall configuration of liquid application device) 16 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a printing device of a liquid application apparatus according to Embodiment 5. The overall configuration of the liquid application apparatus according to this embodiment (referred to as liquid application apparatus 1b) will be described with reference to FIG.

[0101] 16, the printing device 10b of the liquid application device 1b includes a control device 12, an ink supply device 13, a stand 14, a carriage 16, an ink ejection head 16a, a powder supply device 19, a powder sprinkling device 37, and a heating device 42. The configurations of the control device 12, the ink supply device 13, the stand 14, the carriage 16, the ink ejection head 16a, the powder supply device 19, and the powder sprinkling device 37 are the same as those described in the first embodiment above.

[0102] The heating device 42 is a device that heats the printing surface by blowing hot air onto the surface that has been coated by spraying powder from the powder spraying device 37 and discharging ink from the ink discharge head 16a. As shown in FIG. 16, the heating device 42 is extended in the main scanning direction so that it can spray hot air onto the entire printing area that has been coated by discharging ink from the ink discharge head 16a. This allows the moisture in the ink to be removed by the powder, and the moisture in the ink to evaporate through heating by the heating device 42, further shortening the drying time of the ink. The heating device 42 then stops its heating operation after a predetermined time has passed since it was determined that the ink had dried.

[0103] Note that, because blisters occur when the ink temperature exceeds 100°C, it is necessary to heat the ink so that its temperature does not exceed 100°C. Therefore, it is necessary to set the heating temperature of the heating device 42 in advance, depending on the temperature of the printing surface and the ambient temperature, so that the ink temperature does not exceed 100°C. This makes it possible to prevent blisters from occurring after coating.

[0104] The heating device 42 may be provided in the liquid application devices according to the first to fourth embodiments described above.

[0105] In the liquid application device 1b configured as described above, the powder sprinkler 37 first opens the opening 37a using the opening adjustment plate 37b while the carriage 16 moves in the main scanning direction, and sprinkles powder onto the printing surface RS immediately before ink is ejected from the ink ejection head 16a. As the carriage 16 moves in the main scanning direction, the brush 41 sweeps the powder sprinkled from the opening 37a, smoothing the powder and moving it into the recesses RC formed on the printing surface RS. Then, ink is ejected from the ink ejection head 16a toward the printing surface RS, thereby coating the surface. The powder that has moved to the recesses RC removes moisture from the ink, thereby speeding up the drying time of the ink. The powder sprinkler 37 then closes the opening 37a using the opening adjustment plate 37b. The powder sprinkler 37 then moves the brush 41 upward using the actuator 43a, moving the tip of the brush 41 away from the printing surface. Then, as the carriage 16 moves back in the main scanning direction, the ink ejection head 16a ejects ink. After the carriage 16 has completed one round trip of coating in the main scanning direction, it moves in the sub-scanning direction. The powder sprinkling device 37 is then lowered by the actuator 43a to its original position so that the tip of the brush 41 contacts the printing surface, and another round trip of coating is performed in the same manner. Thereafter, the heating device 42 heats the printing surface RS, which has been coated by the powder sprinkled by the powder sprinkling device 37 and the ink ejected from the ink ejection head 16a, by blowing hot air onto it. This allows the moisture in the ink to evaporate, further shortening the drying time of the ink.

[0106] (Hardware configuration of liquid application device) 17 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of a liquid application apparatus according to the fifth embodiment, with reference to which the hardware configuration of a liquid application apparatus 1b according to this embodiment will be described.

[0107] 17, liquid application device 1b includes control device 12, carriage 16, head movement mechanism 31, rail movement mechanism 32, two-dimensional camera 34, GNSS receiver 35, operation panel 36, aperture drive circuit 38, actuator 38a, aperture adjustment plate 37b, brush drive circuit 43, actuator 43a, brush 41, heating drive circuit 42a, and heating device 42. Note that control device 12, carriage 16, head movement mechanism 31, rail movement mechanism 32, two-dimensional camera 34, GNSS receiver 35, operation panel 36, aperture drive circuit 38, actuator 38a, aperture adjustment plate 37b, brush drive circuit 43, actuator 43a, and brush 41 are as described above in the first embodiment.

[0108] The heating drive circuit 42a is a drive circuit for causing the heating device 42 to perform a heating operation under the control of the CPU 61.

[0109] The hardware configuration of the liquid application apparatus 1b shown in FIG. 17 is an example, and the liquid application apparatus 1b may be equipped with other components.

[0110] As described above, in the liquid application device 1b according to this embodiment, the heating device 42 heats the printing area coated with the liquid ejected by the ink ejection head 16a. This allows the water content of the ink to evaporate, further shortening the drying time of the ink.

[0111] In each of the above-described embodiments, when at least one of the functions of the liquid application apparatuses 1, 1a, and 1b is realized by executing a program, the program is provided in advance in a ROM or the like. In each of the above-described embodiments, the program executed by the liquid application apparatuses 1, 1a, and 1b may be provided by being recorded in an installable or executable file format on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), a flexible disk (FD), a CD-R (Compact Disk-Recordable), or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc). In each of the above-described embodiments, the program executed by the liquid application apparatuses 1, 1a, and 1b may be stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and downloaded via the network. In each of the above-described embodiments, the program executed by the liquid application apparatuses 1, 1a, and 1b may be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet. Furthermore, in each of the above-mentioned embodiments, the program executed by the liquid application apparatus 1, 1a, 1b has a modular structure including at least one of the above-mentioned functional units, and in actual hardware, the CPU reads and executes the program from the above-mentioned storage device, thereby loading and generating each of the above-mentioned functional units onto the main storage device.

[0112] The aspects of the present invention are as follows. <1> A liquid application device that forms an image by ejecting a liquid onto a surface, a discharge head that discharges a liquid onto the application surface; a spraying device that sprays a powder that is a moisture remover onto the application surface before the discharge head discharges the liquid; The liquid application device is provided with: <2> a carriage that carries the ejection head and moves the ejection head in a main scanning direction and a sub-scanning direction; The spraying device is fixed to the carriage at a downstream position in the main scanning direction of the carriage when the liquid is discharged by the discharge head. <1> 2. The liquid application device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid application device is a liquid application device. <3> The moisture removing agent is a water absorbing agent. <1> or <2> 2. The liquid application device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid application device is a liquid application device. <4> The moisture removing agent is a heat generating agent. <1> or <2> 2. The liquid application device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid application device is a liquid application device. <5> The spraying device further includes a brush member that is installed at a position upstream in the main scanning direction from an opening for spraying the powder, and that sweeps up the powder that has been sprayed on the application surface by the spraying device. <1> ~ <4> 10. The liquid application device according to claim 9, wherein the liquid application device is a liquid application device having a nozzle. <6> The spraying device further includes an adjustment plate for adjusting the degree of opening of the opening for spraying the powder. <1> ~ <5> 10. The liquid application device according to claim 9, wherein the liquid application device is a liquid application device having a nozzle. <7> The method further includes an imaging device that images the coating surface after the powder has been sprayed from the spraying device. <1> ~ <6> 10. The liquid application device according to claim 9, wherein the liquid application device is a liquid application device having a nozzle. <8> a compressor for generating compressed air; a first nozzle for blowing the compressed air toward the application surface onto which the powder has been sprayed by the spraying device; The said further comprising <1> ~ <7> 10. The liquid application device according to claim 9, wherein the liquid application device is a liquid application device having a nozzle. <9> a compressor for generating compressed air; a second nozzle that sprays the powder stored in the spraying device onto the application surface by the compressed air sent from the compression device; The said further comprising <1> ~ <7> 10. The liquid application device according to claim 9, wherein the liquid application device is a liquid application device having a nozzle. <10> The opening of the spraying device for spraying the powder is the length of the ejection head in the direction in which a plurality of third nozzles for ejecting liquid are arranged is the same as the length of the nozzle row of the third nozzles; The position in the sub-scanning direction is the same as the position in the sub-scanning direction of the nozzle row. <1> ~ <8> 10. The liquid application device according to claim 9, wherein the liquid application device is a liquid application device having a nozzle. <11> The ink jet printer further includes a heating device for heating a printing area coated by ejecting liquid from the ejection head. <1> ~ <10> 10. The liquid application device according to claim 9, wherein the liquid application device is a liquid application device having a nozzle. <12> The printing data is divided into a plurality of printing images, and while moving the printing data to printing areas corresponding to the respective printing images, the ejection head is scanned in the printing areas to eject the liquid from the ejection head onto the application surface. <1> ~ <11> 10. The liquid application device according to claim 9, wherein the liquid application device is a liquid application device having a nozzle. <13> a brush member that is installed in the spraying device at a position upstream in the main scanning direction from an opening for spraying the powder, and that sweeps up the powder sprayed on the application surface by the spraying device; When the liquid application device moves to the printing area corresponding to each of the printing images, the brush member moves upward to separate the tip of the brush member from the application surface. <12> 2. The liquid application device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid application device is a liquid application device. [Explanation of symbols]

[0113] 1, 1a, 1b Liquid application device 10, 10a, 10b printing device 11 Printing device body 11a frame 12 Control device 13 Ink supply device 14 Stand 16 Carriage 16a Ink ejection head 16b ink nozzle 17 Main scanning guide 17a Main scanning motor 18 Sub-scanning guide 18a Sub-scanning motor 18b timing belt 19 Powder feeding device 19a tube 20 carts 21 Bogie frame 22, 23 Lifting device 24 rear wheels 25 front wheel 26 Handle 31 Head movement mechanism 32 Rail movement mechanism 33 Camera 34 2D Camera 35 GNSS receiver 36 Operation Panel 37 Powder spreading equipment 37a opening 37b Aperture adjustment plate 37c nozzle 37d Route 38 Aperture drive circuit 38a Actuator 38b Aperture adjustment plate 39 Compressor 39a Air nozzle 39b tube 39c Compressor drive circuit 40 External equipment 41 Brush 42 Heating device 42a Heating drive circuit 43 Brush drive circuit 43a Actuator 61 CPU 62 memory 63 Interface 64 Unit control circuit RC recess RS printing surface W Moisture WR, WRa Water Remover [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0114] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 4023805

Claims

1. A liquid application device that forms an image by ejecting a liquid onto a surface, a discharge head that discharges a liquid onto the application surface; a spraying device that sprays a powder that is a moisture remover onto the application surface before the discharge head discharges the liquid; A liquid application device comprising:

2. a carriage that carries the ejection head and moves the ejection head in a main scanning direction and a sub-scanning direction; 2. The liquid application device according to claim 1, wherein the spray device is fixed to the carriage at a downstream position in the main scanning direction of the carriage when the liquid is discharged by the discharge head.

3. 3. The liquid application device according to claim 1, wherein the moisture remover is a water absorbing agent.

4. 3. The liquid application device according to claim 1, wherein the moisture removing agent is a heat generating agent.

5. A liquid application device as described in claim 1 or 2, further comprising a brush member installed at a position upstream in the main scanning direction from an opening in the spraying device for spraying the powder, and sweeping up the powder sprayed onto the application surface by the spraying device.

6. 3. The liquid application device according to claim 1, further comprising an adjustment plate for adjusting the degree of opening of the opening for scattering the powder in the spraying device.

7. The liquid application device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising an imaging device that images the application surface in a state where the powder has been sprayed from the spraying device.

8. a compressor for generating compressed air; a first nozzle for blowing the compressed air toward the coating surface onto which the powder has been sprayed by the spraying device; The liquid application device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising:

9. a compressor for generating compressed air; a second nozzle that sprays the powder stored in the spraying device onto the application surface by the compressed air sent from the compression device; The liquid application device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising:

10. The opening of the spraying device for spraying the powder is a length in a direction in which a plurality of third nozzles for ejecting liquid of the ejection head are arranged is the same as a length of a nozzle row of the third nozzles; 3. The liquid applying device according to claim 1, wherein the position in the sub-scanning direction is the same as the position of the nozzle row in the sub-scanning direction.

11. 3. The liquid application device according to claim 1, further comprising a heating device that heats a printing area coated with the liquid ejected by the ejection head.

12. The liquid application device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the printing data is divided into a plurality of printing images, and the printing data is moved to a printing area corresponding to each of the printing images, while the ejection head is scanned in the printing area to eject liquid from the ejection head onto the application surface.

13. a brush member that is installed in the spraying device at a position upstream in the main scanning direction from an opening for spraying the powder, and that sweeps up the powder sprayed on the application surface by the spraying device; The liquid application device according to claim 12 , wherein when the liquid application device moves to the printing area corresponding to each of the print images, the brush member moves upward to separate the tip of the brush member from the application surface.

Images