Chip manufacturing method and ink jet printer

Abstract

To provide a chip manufacturing method of forming a desired shaped flow channel inside a porous base material.SOLUTION: A chip 100 comprises a flow channel 110 and a hydrophobic part 140. The hydrophobic part 140 is formed of photo curable ink. The hydrophobic part 140 includes an edge 140a of the flow channel 110 and a non-edge 140b other than the edge. The photo curable ink is discharged separately twice to a filter paper 25a. This reduces a discharge quantity of the photo curable ink for each discharge. Thereby ink bleeding is suppressed on the edge 140a of the chip 100. The photo curable ink is discharged separately twice. Therefore, the filter paper 25a can be impregnated with photo curable ink discharged at first time before irradiated with light, thus the flow channel 110 can be formed deep inside the filter paper 25a.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a chip manufacturing method and an inkjet printer. [Background technology]

[0002] Inkjet printers that produce reaction chips by ejecting photocurable ink onto filter paper and curing the ink have been known for some time. A reaction chip is, for example, a chip that detects various components contained in a sample solution. Patent Document 1 discloses a method for manufacturing a reaction chip having a flow path and a reaction spot. The flow path has a sample deposition portion. A sample deposited on the sample deposition portion passes through the flow path and reaches the reaction spot. The reaction spot is coated with a reagent. Each major component contained in the sample can be detected based on whether or not the reagent reacts with the sample. In this manufacturing method, the outer edge of the flow path is printed on filter paper using an inkjet printer. Photocurable ink is ejected in the area where the outer edge of the flow path will be formed, and the photocurable ink is irradiated with light, causing the photocurable ink to cure. This allows the flow path to have a desired shape. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2012 / 160857 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] For example, when printing a flow path on filter paper, if the time between ejecting the photocurable ink and irradiating it with light is relatively long, the photocurable ink will bleed and the outer edge of the flow path will not be formed in the desired shape. On the other hand, if the time between ejecting the photocurable ink and irradiating it with light is relatively short, the photocurable ink will not penetrate the filter paper sufficiently, and a flow path will not be formed inside the filter paper.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and aims to provide a method for manufacturing a chip in which a flow path of a desired shape is formed inside a porous substrate. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a chip having a flow path formed inside a porous substrate using a photocurable ink, and includes a discharge step of discharging the photocurable ink toward the porous substrate and an irradiation step of irradiating the photocurable ink discharged onto the porous substrate with light. The discharge step involves discharging a predetermined amount of the photocurable ink multiple times onto predetermined positions on the porous substrate. The irradiation step is performed after the multiple discharges of the photocurable ink in the discharge step are completed.

[0007] According to the chip manufacturing method of the present invention, the photocurable ink is ejected onto the porous substrate in multiple steps. By ejecting the photocurable ink in multiple steps, the amount of photocurable ink ejected per ejection is reduced. This prevents the photocurable ink from spreading throughout the porous member. In other words, bleeding of the edges is prevented. Furthermore, by ejecting the photocurable ink in multiple steps, the photocurable ink ejected at a relatively early stage can penetrate into the porous member before the irradiation step is performed. This allows the flow path to be formed all the way into the porous member. Therefore, the flow path can be formed in a desired shape. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a method for manufacturing a chip in which a flow channel of a desired shape is formed inside a porous substrate. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a printing system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a front view of a printer according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a filter paper printed by a printer. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the bottom surface of the carriage. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control device according to an embodiment. [Figure 6] 1 is a flowchart illustrating a process for forming a chip. [Figure 7A] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an image of the cross section of the filter paper immediately after the first discharge. [Figure 7B] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an image of the cross section of the filter paper after a certain amount of time has passed since the first discharge. [Figure 7C] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an image of the cross section of the filter paper immediately after the second discharge. [Figure 7D] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an image of a cross section of a filter paper when light is irradiated by a light irradiation device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments described here are not intended to limit the present invention in any particular way. Furthermore, the same reference numerals are used to designate components and parts that perform the same functions, and redundant descriptions will be omitted or simplified as appropriate.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a printing system 1. The printing system 1 has an inkjet printer 10 (hereinafter referred to as the printer 10) and a light irradiation device 200. The printer 10 is a device that prints on a recording medium. In this embodiment, the printer 10 prints on filter paper 25a (see FIG. 2). The light irradiation device 200 is a device that irradiates light (typically ultraviolet light) onto the filter paper 25a that has been printed by the printer 10. The printer 10 and the light irradiation device 200 will be described below in that order.

[0012] FIG. 2 is a front view of the printer 10 with the front cover 13 open. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the filter paper 25a printed by the printer 10. In the following description, left, right, top, and bottom refer to the left, right, top, and bottom, respectively, as seen from the perspective of an operator (user of the printer 10) standing in front of the printer 10. The side of the printer 10 approaching the operator is referred to as the front, and the side away from the operator is referred to as the rear. Furthermore, the symbols F, Rr, L, R, U, and D in the drawings represent the front, rear, left, right, top, and bottom, respectively. The symbols X, Y, and Z in the drawings represent the front-to-back direction, left-to-right direction, and up-down direction, respectively. However, these directions are merely for the convenience of explanation and do not limit the installation form of the printer 10 in any way.

[0013] The printer 10 shown in FIG. 2 is a device that receives print data from an external device (not shown), such as a host computer, and prints an image based on the print data. The printer 10 of this embodiment prints on filter paper 25a to form a chip 100 (see FIG. 3). The filter paper 25a is an example of a porous substrate in the present invention. Here, a chip is used to detect various components contained in a sample. As shown in FIG. 3, the chip 100 includes a flow channel 110 and a hydrophobic portion 140. The flow channel 110 is an area through which the sample to be detected passes. The flow channel 110 includes a sample deposition portion 111, a straight portion 112, and a reaction spot 113. The sample deposition portion 111 has a substantially circular shape in a plan view. The straight portions 112 extend radially from the sample deposition portion 111. In this embodiment, eight straight portions 112 are formed in the flow channel 110. One end of the straight portion 112 is connected to the sample deposition portion 111. The other end of the straight section 112 is connected to the reaction spot 113. The reaction spot 113 is connected to the straight section 112. The reaction spot 113 has a substantially circular shape in a plan view. A reagent is applied to the reaction spot 113 to determine whether it reacts with the sample. The hydrophobic section 140 is the area of ​​the filter paper 25a onto which the photocurable ink is ejected. That is, the hydrophobic section 140 forms the area of ​​the chip 100 other than the sample deposition section 111, the straight section 112, and the reaction spot 113. The hydrophobic section 140 is hydrophobic due to the photocurable ink. Therefore, the sample is prevented from spreading in the hydrophobic section 140. The sample deposited on the sample deposition section 111 spreads toward the straight section 112. The sample that passes through the straight section 112 and reaches the reaction spot 113 comes into contact with the reagent at the reaction spot 113. At this time, the sample and the reagent either react or do not react. This allows various components contained in the sample to be detected. When the sample passes through the sample application section 111, the straight section 112, and the reaction spot 113, the sample does not spread in the hydrophobic section 140. The hydrophobic section 140 has an edge section 140a of the flow channel 110 and a non-edge section 140b, which is the area of ​​the hydrophobic section 140 other than the edge section 140a.

[0014] In this embodiment, the filter paper 25a is made of, for example, cellulose. In this embodiment, the thickness of the filter paper is 1.8 to 2.2 mm. The porous substrate is not limited to the filter paper 25a. The porous substrate may be, for example, a filter cloth (polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, etc.), a nonwoven fabric filter (polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, rayon, etc.), a fiber filter (resin, glass, ceramic, metal), or a sintered filter (made of powder or fiber of metal, ceramic, plastic, etc.). The filter paper 25a includes an edge region 25a1 where the edge 140a is formed and a non-edge region 25a2 where the non-edge 140b is formed. In this embodiment, the edge region 25a1 has a width equivalent to a width of 10 pixels in the RIP-processed print data. However, the width of the edge region 25a1 is not limited to this. The edge region 25a1 may be set by an operator, for example, on a case-by-case basis.

[0015] 2, the printer 10 includes a printer main body 10a, guide rails 18, a carriage movement mechanism 20, a carriage 19, an ink head 22, an ink cartridge 21, a light irradiation device 23, a table movement mechanism 26, a table 25, and a control device 90. Each component will be described below.

[0016] The printer body 10a is formed in a box shape that extends in the left-right direction Y. The printer body 10a includes a casing 12 having an opening 11, and a front cover 13 that covers the opening 11 in an openable and closable manner. The front cover 13 is supported on the top surface of the casing 12 so as to be rotatable around its rear end as an axis. When the front cover 13 is opened upward around its rear end as an axis, the interior space of the casing 12 is connected to the exterior space.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 2, the guide rail 18 is provided above the table 25. The guide rail 18 is fixed to the casing 12 and extends in the left-right direction Y. A carriage 19 is slidably provided on the guide rail 18. The guide rail 18 guides the movement of the carriage 19 in the left-right direction Y. The carriage 19 is configured to be movable in the left-right direction (main scanning direction) Y by a carriage movement mechanism 20. When printing is not being performed, the carriage 19 waits at a home position HP. The home position HP is, for example, the right end position of the guide rail 18.

[0018] The carriage movement mechanism 20 is configured to move the carriage 19 relative to the table 25 in the left-right direction Y. The carriage movement mechanism 20 is an example of a movement mechanism defined in the present invention. The carriage movement mechanism 20 includes a pair of pulleys 20a disposed at the right and left ends of the guide rail 18, a belt 20b, and a carriage motor 20c (see FIG. 5) connected to the pulley 20a. The carriage 19 is fixed to the belt 20b. The belt 20b is wound around the pair of pulleys 20a. The carriage motor 20c is connected to one of the pair of pulleys 20a. The carriage motor 20c is electrically connected to and controlled by the control device 90. When the carriage motor 20c is driven, the pulley 20a rotates and the belt 20b moves. As a result, the carriage 19 moves in the left-right direction Y along the guide rail 18. However, the mechanism described here is merely an example, and the configuration of the carriage movement mechanism 20 is not particularly limited.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 2, the carriage 19 is equipped with an ink head 22 and two light irradiation devices 23. The ink heads 22 are aligned in the left-right direction Y. However, the arrangement of the ink heads 22 is not particularly limited. Driven by the carriage motor 20c (see FIG. 5), the belt 20b runs, and the carriage 19 moves in the left-right direction Y. Accordingly, the multiple ink heads 22 and multiple light irradiation devices 23 mounted on the carriage 19 move in the left-right direction Y.

[0020] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the bottom surface of the carriage 19. As shown in FIG. 4, the ink head 22 is formed so that its length in the front-rear direction X is longer than its length in the left-right direction Y. The multiple ink heads 22 are formed to have the same shape and size. Each ink head 22 includes multiple first nozzles 22a aligned in the front-rear direction X, multiple second nozzles 22b aligned in the front-rear direction X, and a nozzle surface 22c on which the first nozzles 22a and the second nozzles 22b are formed. Note that because the first nozzles 22a and the second nozzles 22b are very small, the multiple first nozzles 22a and the multiple second nozzles 22b are represented by straight lines in FIG. 4. The first nozzles 22a and the second nozzles 22b of the ink head 22 eject photocurable ink onto filter paper 25a (see FIG. 3). In this embodiment, the printer 10 includes three ink heads 22, but the number of ink heads 22 is not limited to three. Furthermore, the ink head 22 has two rows of nozzles, first nozzles 22a and second nozzles 22b, but may have one row of nozzles or three or more rows of nozzles. In the following description, the first nozzles 22a and second nozzles 22b will be referred to as nozzles 22a and 22b as appropriate. The ink head 22 is electrically connected to a control device 90 (see FIG. 2). The ejection of photocurable ink from the nozzles 22a and 22b is controlled by the control device 90. Each ink head 22 is connected to an ink cartridge 21 (see FIG. 2) by a flexible ink tube (not shown).

[0021] The ink cartridge 21 shown in Fig. 2 is a container for storing photocurable ink. The ink cartridge 21 stores photocurable ink containing a polymerizable compound and a polymerization initiator. The photocurable ink contains a coloring material such as a pigment.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 2, the light irradiation device 23 is mounted on the carriage 19. The light irradiation device 23 is disposed above the table 25. The light irradiation device 23 irradiates light (typically ultraviolet light) toward the photo-curable ink ejected onto the filter paper 25a. This forms an ink layer on the filter paper 25a. In this embodiment, the light irradiation devices 23 are disposed on the right and left sides of the carriage 19, one on each side. However, the number of light irradiation devices 23 is not particularly limited. The carriage 19 may be equipped with one or three or more light irradiation devices 23. Furthermore, the light irradiation device 23 does not have to be mounted on the carriage 19. For example, the light irradiation device 23 may be mounted on a carriage separate from the carriage 19, or may be provided directly or indirectly on a wall surface of the casing 12, etc. Here, as shown in FIG. 4, each light irradiation device 23 includes a plurality of ultraviolet lamps 23a. The ultraviolet lamps 23a are configured by, for example, LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes), fluorescent lamps (low-pressure mercury lamps), high-pressure mercury lamps, etc. The multiple ultraviolet lamps 23a are arranged side by side in the left-right direction Y and the front-rear direction X. However, the arrangement of the ultraviolet lamps 23a is not limited to this. The ultraviolet lamps 23a may be arranged side by side in only one of the left-right direction Y and the front-rear direction X, or only one ultraviolet lamp 23a may be arranged. The light irradiation device 23 is electrically connected to and controlled by the control device 90.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 2, the table moving mechanism 26 is configured to move the table 25 relative to the carriage 19 in the front-rear direction X. The table moving mechanism 26 is an example of a moving mechanism defined in the present invention. The table moving mechanism 26 includes two slide rails 26a and 26b, a transport member 26c, and a transport motor 26d (see FIG. 5). The slide rails 26a and 26b extend parallel to each other in the front-rear direction X. The transport member 26c is slidably mounted on the slide rails 26a and 26b. The table 25 is supported above the transport member 26c. The transport motor 26d is electrically connected to and controlled by a control device 90. When the transport motor 26d is driven, the transport member 26c moves along the slide rails 26a and 26b. This moves the table 25 in the front-rear direction X. However, the mechanism described here is merely an example, and the configuration of the table moving mechanism 26 is not particularly limited.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 2, the table 25 is a platform on which the filter paper 25a is placed during printing. The table 25 is an example of a platform in the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the table 25 is disposed below the carriage 19. The table 25 is a flat-plate-shaped member, and has a flat surface when viewed from the front. The printer 10 is a so-called flatbed type printer. The table 25 is configured to be movable in the forward and backward directions X by a table movement mechanism 26.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 2, the printer 10 includes a control device 90. The control device 90 controls the ink head 22, the carriage movement mechanism 20, and the table movement mechanism 26. The configuration of the control device 90 is not particularly limited. The control device 90 is, for example, a microcomputer. The hardware configuration of the microcomputer is not particularly limited, but may include, for example, an interface (I / F) that receives print data and other data from an external device such as a host computer, a central processing unit (CPU) that executes control program instructions, a read-only memory (ROM) that stores the program executed by the CPU, a random access memory (RAM) used as a working area for expanding the program, and a storage device such as a memory that stores the program and various data. In this embodiment, the control device 90 is provided inside the printer main body 10a. However, the control device 90 does not necessarily have to be provided inside the printer main body 10a. For example, the control device 90 may be a computer or the like installed outside the printer main body 10a. In this case, the control device 90 is communicably connected to the printer main body 10a via wired or wireless communication.

[0026] Fig. 5 is a block diagram of a control device 90 according to this embodiment. As shown in Fig. 5, the control device 90 is electrically connected to the ink head 22, the light irradiation device 23, the carriage motor 20c, and the transport motor 26d. The control device 90 includes an ejection control unit 91 and an irradiation control unit 92.

[0027] The ejection control unit 91 ejects a predetermined amount of photocurable ink onto predetermined positions (e.g., predetermined pixels) of the filter paper 25a (see FIG. 3) in multiple batches. Here, the predetermined amount is determined based on the water absorption (water absorption speed, water absorption rate, water absorption degree, etc.) of the filter paper 25a. The higher the water absorption (faster water absorption speed, higher water absorption rate, higher water absorption degree), the smaller the predetermined amount is preferably. The ejection control unit 91 controls the carriage motor 20c to move the carriage 19 (see FIG. 2) and the ink head 22 in the left-right direction Y and controls the ink head 22 to eject the photocurable ink. In this embodiment, the ejection control unit 91 ejects the photocurable ink onto the edge region 25a1 (see FIG. 3) and the non-edge region 25a2 (see FIG. 3). In this embodiment, the ejection control unit 91 ejects the photocurable ink in two batches. The discharge control unit 91 discharges half of the total amount of photocurable ink to be discharged onto the edge region 25a1 and the non-edge region 25a2 in the first discharge, and the remaining half in the second discharge. The discharge control unit 91 also discharges the photocurable ink onto the edge region 25a1 and the non-edge region 25a2 at a predetermined time interval. In this embodiment, the discharge control unit 91 discharges the photocurable ink a second time onto the same position within 10 minutes after the first discharge. The time interval between the first and second discharges is determined based on the water absorbency of the filter paper 25a. The higher the water absorbency (faster water absorption rate, higher water absorption rate, higher water absorbency), the shorter the time interval between the first and second discharges. The discharge amount per unit area when the discharge control unit 91 discharges the photocurable ink onto the edge region 25a1 is smaller than the discharge amount per unit area when the discharge control unit 91 discharges the photocurable ink onto the non-edge region 25a2. The ejection amount per unit area can also be rephrased as the ejection amount per pixel, for example. The ejection amount per unit area can be reduced by reducing the dot size of the photo-curable ink or by reducing the density at which the dots of the photo-curable ink are arranged. In this embodiment, the ejection amount per unit area of ​​the photo-curable ink when the ejection control unit 91 ejects the photo-curable ink onto the edge region 25a1 is less than 1 picoliter.The amount of light-curable ink ejected per unit area when the ejection control unit 91 ejects the light-curable ink onto the edge region 25a1 and the non-edge region 25a2 is determined based on the water absorbency of the filter paper 25a. The higher the water absorbency (faster water absorption speed, higher water absorption rate, higher water absorbency), the smaller the amount of light-curable ink ejected per unit area.

[0028] The irradiation control unit 92 irradiates light onto the photocurable ink ejected onto the filter paper 25a (see FIG. 3). The irradiation control unit 92 controls the carriage motor 20c to move the carriage 19 (see FIG. 2) and the light irradiation device 23 in the left-right direction Y, and also controls the light irradiation device 23 to irradiate the photocurable ink with light. The irradiation control unit 92 irradiates light a predetermined time after the ejection control unit 91 completes ejection. In this embodiment, the irradiation control unit 92 is configured to irradiate light onto the photocurable ink 5 to 20 seconds after the ejection control unit 91 completes two ejections. The time interval between the completion of the two ejections by the ejection control unit 91 and the irradiation control unit 92 irradiating the photocurable ink with light is determined based on the water absorbency of the filter paper 25a. The higher the water absorption (the faster the water absorption speed, the higher the water absorption rate, or the higher the water absorption degree), the shorter the time interval between the completion of two ejections by the ejection control unit 91 and the irradiation control unit 92 irradiating the photo-curable ink with light is preferably.

[0029] The configuration of the printer 10 according to this embodiment has been described above. Next, the light irradiation device 200 shown in FIG.

[0030] The light irradiation device 200 is a device that irradiates light onto the photocurable ink, and further irradiates light onto the photocurable ink that has been ejected onto the filter paper 25a and irradiated by the light irradiation device 23. In this embodiment, the light irradiation device 200 is used to irradiate light onto the photocurable ink to further promote curing of the photocurable ink. The average irradiation intensity of the light irradiated by the light irradiation device 200 is set to be stronger than the average irradiation intensity of the light irradiated by the light irradiation device 23. A plurality of ultraviolet lamps (not shown) are provided inside the light irradiation device 200. The light irradiation device 200 according to this embodiment has an average irradiation intensity of ultraviolet light emitted by the ultraviolet lamps of 1258 mW / cm. 2 The intensity and number of the ultraviolet lamps are determined so that the light irradiation device 200 satisfies the above condition. The light irradiation device 200 is equipped with a conveyor belt 210. The conveyor belt 210 is arranged from the rear side to the front side of the light irradiation device 200. The conveyor belt 210 runs from the rear side to the front side of the light irradiation device 200, for example, by being driven by a motor (not shown). At this time, an object placed on the conveyor belt 210 is conveyed from the rear side to the front side of the light irradiation device 200. The object placed on the conveyor belt 210 passes through the inside of the light irradiation device 200 as it is conveyed by the conveyor belt 210. At this time, light is irradiated onto the object placed on the conveyor belt 210 by the ultraviolet lamps provided in the light irradiation device 200. The conveying speed of the conveyor belt 210 is proportional to the rotation speed of the motor that drives the conveyor belt 210. The light irradiation device 200 may be configured integrally with the printer 10.

[0031] The configuration of the printing system 1 according to this embodiment has been described above. Next, the process of ejecting photocurable ink onto the filter paper 25a to form the chip 100 will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the process of forming the chip 100. The process of forming the chip 100 according to this embodiment includes an acquisition step S10 of acquiring print data, an ejection step S20 of ejecting photocurable ink toward the filter paper 25a, an irradiation step S30 of irradiating the photocurable ink ejected onto the filter paper 25a with light, and a heating step S40 of heating the photocurable ink ejected onto the filter paper 25a. The ejection step S20 includes steps S201 and S202.

[0032] In the acquisition step S10, the printer 10 acquires print data for printing on the filter paper 25a. The printer 10 ejects photocurable ink based on the print data. The print data is data having the shape of the hydrophobic portion 140 shown in FIG. 3. The print data is generated, for example, by a processing device (not shown) connected to the printer 10. The processing device performs RIP (Raster Image Processor) processing on image data having the desired shape to generate the print data. The print data is input to the printer 10, for example, via communication.

[0033] In the ejection step S20, the ejection control unit 91 ejects the photocurable ink onto the filter paper 25a. In this embodiment, the ejection step S20 includes steps S201 and S202. In step S201, the ejection control unit 91 performs a first ejection. FIG. 7A is a diagram showing an image of a cross section of the filter paper 25a immediately after the first ejection. As shown in FIG. 7A, the photocurable ink K is ejected onto the filter paper 25a. The ejection control unit 91 performs printing on the filter paper 25a by repeatedly ejecting the photocurable ink from the ink head 22 (see FIG. 2) while moving the carriage 19 (see FIG. 2) in the left-right direction Y and driving the transport motor 26d (see FIG. 5) to transport the table 25 (see FIG. 2) forward in the front-rear direction X. The ejection control unit 91 ejects half of the total amount of photocurable ink to be ejected onto the edge region 25a1 and the non-edge region 25a2 in the first ejection. In step S201, no irradiation is performed by the light irradiation device 23 (see FIG. 2). As described above, the amount of light-curable ink ejected per unit area onto the edge region 25a1 is smaller than the amount of light-curable ink ejected per unit area onto the non-edge region 25a2. In this embodiment, it takes approximately 2 minutes and 30 seconds from the start of ejection by the ink head 22 to the completion of the first ejection onto the entire area of ​​the filter paper 25a. FIG. 7B is a diagram showing an image of a cross section of the filter paper 25a after a certain amount of time has passed since the first ejection. As shown in FIG. 7B, the light-curable ink K ejected onto the edge region 25a1 and non-edge region 25a2 has soaked into the underside of the filter paper 25a. After the first ejection is completed, the ejection control unit 91 drives the transport motor 26d to move the table 25 backward.

[0034] In step S202, the discharge control unit 91 performs a second discharge. FIG. 7C is a diagram showing an image of a cross section of the filter paper 25a immediately after the second discharge. For example, in step S202, the light-curable ink K is discharged as the ink head 22 moves from right to left. The discharge control unit 91 discharges the light-curable ink K onto the edge region 25a1 and the non-edge region 25a2, as in the first discharge. In the second discharge, the discharge control unit 91 discharges the remaining half of the total amount of light-curable ink to be discharged onto the edge region 25a1 and the non-edge region 25a2.

[0035] In the irradiation step S30, irradiation is performed by the light irradiation device 23. In this embodiment, the irradiation control unit 92 irradiates light after a time period of 5 to 20 seconds has elapsed since the photo-curable ink was ejected. For example, as described above, the ejection of the photo-curable ink K in step S202 is performed when the carriage 19 moves from right to left. Thereafter, the irradiation control unit 92 drives the carriage motor 20c again at the same position in the front-rear direction X to move the carriage 19 from left to right. At this time, light is irradiated from the light irradiation device 23. FIG. 7D is a diagram showing an image of a cross section of the filter paper 25a when light is irradiated by the light irradiation device 23. In this embodiment, the time period from the ejection of the photo-curable ink K in step S202 to the irradiation of light in the irradiation step S30 is 5 to 20 seconds. That is, the rotation speed of the carriage motor 20c is set so that after the carriage 19 moves from right to left in the left-right direction Y and passes a certain position on the filter paper 25a, the carriage 19 moves from left to right in the left-right direction Y without changing its position in the front-rear direction X and passes that position again in 5 to 20 seconds. Alternatively, the photo-curable ink K may be ejected as the carriage 19 moves from left to right, and light may be irradiated as the carriage 19 moves from right to left. Alternatively, the photo-curable ink K may be irradiated with light after the second ejection onto the entire area of ​​the filter paper 25a is completed. The photo-curable ink K ejected in step S202 (see FIG. 7C) has soaked into the filter paper 25a. In this state, the hydrophobic portion 140 is cured by light irradiation from the light irradiation device 23, and a flow path 110 is formed in the filter paper 25a. Note that the above-described step S202 and irradiation step S30 describe the procedure at a certain position in the front-rear direction X. The printer 10 changes the position of the table 25 in the front-rear direction X and repeats step S202 and the irradiation step S30. This results in a second discharge onto the entire filter paper 25a and irradiation by the light irradiation device 23. Note that after irradiation by the light irradiation device 23 is completed, irradiation by the light irradiation device 200 may be additionally performed.An operator places the filter paper 25a, on which the flow path 110 has been formed in the irradiation step S30, on the conveyor belt 210 of the light irradiation device 200. The filter paper 25a is irradiated with light while being conveyed by the conveyor belt 210. In this embodiment, the light irradiation device 200 irradiates the upper and lower surfaces of the filter paper 25a for 60 seconds each. This further promotes hardening of the hydrophobic portion 140.

[0036] In the heating step S40, the photocurable ink is heated using a heating device such as an iron (not shown). The photocurable ink may be heated after being cured to further improve its hydrophobicity. The heating step S40 may also be performed using heat generated by irradiating the filter paper 25a with light from the light irradiation device 23, 200. This heats the hydrophobic portion 140 of the filter paper 25a. Heating the hydrophobic portion 140 further promotes curing of the hydrophobic portion 140. Once the heating of the hydrophobic portion 140 is complete, the chip 100 is completed.

[0037] As described above, according to this embodiment, the photocurable ink is ejected onto the filter paper 25a in two separate ejections. By ejecting the photocurable ink in two separate ejections, the amount of photocurable ink ejected per ejection is relatively small. This prevents the photocurable ink from spreading too much into the filter paper 25a. Therefore, bleeding of the edge portion 140a in the chip 100 is prevented. Furthermore, by ejecting the photocurable ink in two separate ejections, the photocurable ink ejected the first time can penetrate into the filter paper 25a before the irradiation step S30 is performed. This allows the flow path 110 to be formed all the way into the filter paper 25a. Therefore, the flow path 110 can be formed in a desired shape.

[0038] According to this embodiment, in the ejection step S20, the photocurable ink is ejected in two separate steps. Here, even if the photocurable ink is ejected in three or more separate steps in the ejection step S20, the photocurable ink is prevented from spreading too much in the filter paper 25a. However, the more ejections in the ejection step S20, the more times the carriage 19 is moved in the left-right direction Y. In other words, the time required for the ejection step S20 becomes longer. This reduces the efficiency of manufacturing the chip 100. Therefore, by ejecting the photocurable ink two times in the ejection step S20, the photocurable ink is prevented from spreading too much in the filter paper 25a, and the reduction in the efficiency of manufacturing the chip 100 can be minimized.

[0039] According to this embodiment, the irradiation step S30 is performed 5 to 20 seconds after the completion of the ejection in step S202 of the ejection step S20. If the irradiation step S30 were performed immediately after the completion of the ejection of the light-curable ink in step S20, the light-curable ink ejected in step S202 would be irradiated with light before it soaked into the filter paper 25a. At this time, the light-curable ink ejected in step S202 would be cured on the filter paper 25a. Therefore, the desired flow path 110 may not be formed inside the filter paper 25a. In this embodiment, the irradiation step S30 is performed 5 to 20 seconds after the completion of the ejection in step S202 of the ejection step S20, so that the light-curable ink ejected in step S202 is cured inside the filter paper 25a. This allows the desired flow path 110 to be formed inside the filter paper 25a. Furthermore, according to this embodiment, for example, ink ejection in step S202 is performed when the carriage 19 moves from right to left, and the irradiation step S30 is performed when the carriage 19 moves from left to right. This allows step S202 and the irradiation step S30 to be performed without stopping the reciprocating movement of the carriage 19. Therefore, it is a preferred aspect of the present invention that the time interval between the ejection in step S202 and the irradiation step S30 is 5 seconds or more and 20 seconds or less.

[0040] According to this embodiment, the ejection control unit 91 is controlled to perform a second ejection on the same position within 10 minutes after the first ejection. In the ejection process S20, the ejection control unit 91 performs the first ejection in step S201 and then the second ejection in step S202 approximately 2 minutes and 30 seconds later. If the time interval between the first and second ejections is relatively long, the photo-curable ink ejected in the first ejection may spread too much within the filter paper 25a. Therefore, the flow path 110 may not be formed in the desired shape. However, by setting the time interval between the first and second ejections as in this embodiment, the photo-curable ink ejected in the first ejection is prevented from spreading too much within the filter paper 25a. The inventors of the present application have confirmed that the edge 140a begins to bleed if more than 10 minutes have passed since the first ejection. Therefore, a time interval of 10 minutes or less between the first and second ejections is a preferred aspect of the present invention.

[0041] According to this embodiment, in the ejection step S20, the amount of photo-curable ink ejected per unit area onto the edge region 25a1 is smaller than the amount of photo-curable ink ejected per unit area onto the non-edge region 25a2. Because the amount of photo-curable ink ejected onto the edge region 25a1 is relatively small, the photo-curable ink ejected onto the edge region 25a1 is less likely to spread into the filter paper 25a. In other words, the edge 140a is less likely to bleed. This makes it easier to form the flow path 110 into the desired shape.

[0042] According to this embodiment, the filter paper 25a on which the flow path 110 and the hydrophobic portion 140 are printed by the printer 10 is heated in the heating step S40. The hydrophobicity of the photocurable ink may be further improved by heating it after it has been cured. Therefore, by performing the heating step S40, the hydrophobicity of the hydrophobic portion 140 can be improved.

[0043] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the above-described embodiments are merely examples, and the present invention can be embodied in various forms.

[0044] In the above-described embodiment, the ejection step S20 is divided into two steps, but the ejection step S20 may be divided into three or more steps. The amount of light-curable ink ejected in each ejection decreases depending on the number of times the ejection step S20 is divided. Also, in the above-described embodiment, the same amount of light-curable ink (half of the total amount of light-curable ink to be ejected) is ejected in the first and second ejections, but the amount of light-curable ink ejected in each ejection may be different. The amount of light-curable ink ejected in each ejection may be determined based on the water absorbency of the filter paper 25a. The higher the water absorbency (faster the water absorption rate, higher the water absorption rate, higher the water absorbency), the smaller the amount of light-curable ink ejected in each ejection.

[0045] The technology disclosed herein can be applied to various types of printers. In addition to the so-called flatbed type printers described in the above-described embodiments, the technology can also be applied to so-called roll-to-roll type printers that transport and print on a roll-shaped recording medium. It can also be applied to so-called gantry type printers that print by placing the recording medium on a table and moving a carriage in the left-right direction Y and the front-back direction X relative to the table. [Explanation of symbols]

[0046] 25a Filter paper (porous substrate) 100 chips 110 Flow path S20 Discharge process S30 irradiation process

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing a chip in which a flow path is formed inside a porous substrate using a photocurable ink, comprising: a discharge step of discharging the photocurable ink toward the porous substrate; an irradiation step of irradiating the photocurable ink ejected onto the porous substrate with light, The ejection step includes ejecting a predetermined amount of the photocurable ink onto a predetermined position of the porous substrate in multiple batches, The method for manufacturing a chip, wherein the irradiation step is performed after the multiple ejection of the photocurable ink in the ejection step is completed.

2. The method for manufacturing a chip according to claim 1 , wherein the ejection step ejects the photocurable ink in two separate steps.

3. The method for manufacturing a chip according to claim 1 , wherein the irradiation step is performed after a predetermined time has elapsed since the multiple ejections of the photocurable ink in the ejection step are completed.

4. The method for manufacturing a chip according to claim 3 , wherein the predetermined time is between 5 seconds and 20 seconds.

5. The method for manufacturing a chip according to claim 1 , wherein the ejection step comprises ejecting the photocurable ink onto a predetermined position on the porous substrate a plurality of times at predetermined time intervals.

6. The method for manufacturing a chip according to claim 5 , wherein the predetermined time interval is 10 minutes or less.

7. The ejection step ejects the photocurable ink onto an area where an edge portion of the flow path is to be formed and an area where a non-edge portion, which is a portion other than the edge portion, is to be formed; 2. The method for manufacturing a chip according to claim 1, wherein in the ejection process, the amount of photocurable ink ejected per unit area when ejecting the photocurable ink onto the region where the edge portion is formed is less than the amount of photocurable ink ejected per unit area when ejecting the photocurable ink onto the region where the non-edge portion is formed.

8. The method for producing a chip according to claim 1 , further comprising a heating step of heating the photocurable ink ejected onto the porous substrate.

9. an ink head that ejects photocurable ink toward the porous substrate; a movement mechanism that moves the ink head and the porous substrate relative to each other; a light irradiation device that irradiates light onto the photocurable ink ejected onto the porous substrate; a control device that controls the ink head and the light irradiation device, The control device an ejection control unit that ejects a predetermined amount of the photocurable ink onto a predetermined position of the porous substrate in multiple batches; an irradiation control unit that causes the light irradiation device to irradiate light after the photocurable ink has been ejected a plurality of times by the ejection control unit.

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