Liquid discharge device, method of the same and program

Abstract

To prevent an ink layer from being peeled off.SOLUTION: A printer comprises a head that discharges ink I, and a transfer-solution discharge part that discharges a transfer solution A having adhesive constituents that make the ink I adhere to a recording medium. A CPU of the printer executes: an ink discharge step of making the head discharge the ink I to an image formation region R1 of a film 70; and a transfer-solution discharge step of making the transfer-solution discharge part discharge the transfer solution A to an expansion region R3 which includes the image formation region R1 and an adjacent region R2 set adjacent, in a longitudinal direction D1 and in a lateral direction D2, to the image formation region R1, of the film 70, after the ink discharge step.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a liquid ejection device including a head that ejects ink and a transfer liquid ejection unit that ejects transfer liquid, and a control method and program for the same. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an image forming method for forming an image on a transferee using an intermediate transfer recording medium. The method comprises an image forming step of forming a printed image on a receiving layer of the intermediate transfer recording medium by inkjet printing, a transfer step of superimposing a film-like adhesive layer and a transferee made of a fibrous material onto the receiving layer surface of the intermediate transfer recording medium on which the image has been formed, and then transferring the image from the surface of the intermediate transfer recording medium by applying heat and pressure with an iron, and a peeling step of peeling off and removing the base material of the intermediate transfer recording medium. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-066789 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In Patent Document 1, a film-like adhesive layer is used to transfer an image formed on an intermediate transfer recording medium to a transfer recipient, but it is conceivable to use a transfer liquid containing an adhesive component instead of a film-like adhesive layer. In this case, when the transfer liquid is ejected onto the image area formed on the intermediate transfer recording medium, a transfer liquid layer is formed on the surface of the ink layer formed in that area, but the side of the ink layer is left exposed. In this state, if an external force acts on the side, the ink layer may peel off.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid ejection apparatus that can prevent the ink layer from peeling off, and a control method and program therefor. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The liquid ejection device of the present invention comprises a head that ejects ink, a transfer liquid ejection unit that ejects transfer liquid having an adhesive component that adheres the ink to a recording medium, a transport unit that moves a film having an ink-receiving layer relative to the head and the transfer liquid ejection unit in a transport direction, and a control unit, and is characterized in that the control unit executes an ink ejection step of ejecting ink from the head onto an image formation area of ​​the film, and after the ink ejection step, a transfer liquid ejection step of ejecting transfer liquid from the transfer liquid ejection unit onto an extended area of ​​the film that includes the image formation area and an adjacent area adjacent to the image formation area in at least one of the transport direction and an orthogonal direction perpendicular to the transport direction.

[0007] The control method of the present invention is a control method for a liquid ejection device that includes a head that ejects ink, a transfer liquid ejection unit that ejects transfer liquid having an adhesive component that adheres the ink to a recording medium, and a transport unit that moves a film having an ink-receiving layer in a transport direction relative to the head and the transfer liquid ejection unit, and is characterized by carrying out an ink ejection step in which ink is ejected from the head onto an image formation area of ​​the film, and after the ink ejection step, a transfer liquid ejection step in which transfer liquid is ejected from the transfer liquid ejection unit onto an extended area of ​​the film that includes the image formation area and an adjacent area adjacent to the image formation area in at least one of the transport direction and an orthogonal direction perpendicular to the transport direction.

[0008] The program of the present invention is characterized in that it causes a control device used in a liquid ejection device comprising a head that ejects ink, a transfer liquid ejection unit that ejects transfer liquid having an adhesive component that adheres the ink to a recording medium, and a transport unit that moves a film having an ink-receiving layer in a transport direction relative to the head and the transfer liquid ejection unit to function as control means that can execute an ink ejection step of ejecting ink from the head onto an image formation area of ​​the film, and a transfer liquid ejection step of ejecting transfer liquid from the transfer liquid ejection unit onto an extended area of ​​the film that includes the image formation area and an adjacent area adjacent to the image formation area in at least one of the transport direction and an orthogonal direction perpendicular to the transport direction, after the ink ejection step. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, by discharging the transfer liquid onto an expanded area that is wider than the image formation area, the sides of the ink layer are covered with the transfer liquid layer, which makes it possible to prevent the ink layer from peeling off. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the internal structure of the printer in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the printer in FIG. [Figure 4] 2 is a flow chart showing a program A executed by the CPU of the printer of FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 5] 5 is a plan view showing an example of an image recorded based on the recording command of FIG. 4. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view A taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 5. [Figure 7] 1. FIG. 4 is a flow diagram showing a program B executed by the CPU of the printer of FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view B taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 5. [Figure 9]1. FIG. 4 is a flow diagram showing a program C executed by the CPU of the printer of FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view C taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The printer 1 shown in Figure 1 is one embodiment of a liquid ejection device according to the present invention. In the following description, the up-down direction, front-rear direction D1, and left-right direction D2 are defined based on the state of Figure 1 in which the printer 1 is installed and ready for use. The up-down direction, front-rear direction D1, and left-right direction D2 are perpendicular to one another. The front-rear direction D1 corresponds to the "transport direction" of the present invention, and the left-right direction D2 corresponds to the "orthogonal direction" of the present invention.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 1 includes a housing 8, a platen 12, and a transport unit 15.

[0013] The housing 8 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and has an opening 13 formed in the front surface thereof.

[0014] The platen 12 is made of a substantially rectangular plate member. The upper surface 12a of the platen 12 is a support surface that supports the film 70 (see FIGS. 5 and 6). As shown in FIG. 6, the film 70 has an ink-receiving layer 71 on its surface. The ink-receiving layer 71 has the function of receiving ink and fixing coloring materials (dyes, pigments, etc.) to prevent bleeding. There are no particular limitations on the material of the film 70, as long as it has the ink-receiving layer 71.

[0015] Conveyance unit 15 includes a conveyance motor 152 (see FIG. 3). Driven by conveyance motor 152, conveyance unit 15 conveys platen 12, which supports film 70, in front-to-rear direction D1 between the outside and the inside of housing 8 via opening 13.

[0016] The platen 12 can selectively take a loading position P1, a recording position P2, or a standby position P3 by being transported by the transport unit 15 (see FIG. 2). The loading position P1 is located in the front of the housing 8. The recording position P2 is located in the front of the housing 8. The standby position P3 is located in the rear of the housing 8. A user of the printer 1 supports the film 70 on the upper surface 12a of the platen 12 when it is in the loading position P1.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 2, the printer 1 further includes four heads 31 to 34, two transfer liquid discharge units 61 and 62, a carriage 4 that holds the heads 31 to 34 and the transfer liquid discharge units 61 and 62, and a scanning unit 50.

[0018] Of the four heads 31 to 34, the two heads 31 and 32 located at the rear eject white ink Iy (see FIG. 6), and the two heads 33 and 34 located at the front eject color ink Ix (see FIG. 6). The white ink Iy is used to record an image as the white portion of the image or as a base for the color ink Ix. The color ink Ix is formed on a base of white ink Iy and is used to record a color image. The color ink Ix and the white ink Iy may be collectively referred to as ink I. The color ink Ix corresponds to the "first ink" of the present invention, and the white ink Iy corresponds to the "second ink" of the present invention.

[0019] The transfer liquid ejection units 61 and 62 are located behind the heads 31 to 34. The transfer liquid ejection units 61 and 62 eject transfer liquid A (see FIG. 5). The transfer liquid A has an adhesive component that causes the ink I to adhere to the recording medium. The recording medium is fabric (for example, a T-shirt containing polyester fibers). The adhesive component includes, for example, a resin, and may further include an organic solvent, a crosslinking agent, a surfactant, etc. It is preferable that the transfer liquid A does not include a colorant and is transparent.

[0020] When the adhesive force between the recording medium and transfer liquid A is F1, the adhesive force between the film 70 and the ink receiving layer 71 is F2, the cohesive force inside the ink receiving layer 71 is F3, the adhesive force between the transfer liquid A and the ink receiving layer 71 is F4, and the cohesive force inside the transfer liquid A is F5, it is preferable to satisfy the relationships "F1>(F2+F3)", "F4>(F2+F3)", and "F5>(F2+F3)".

[0021] The heads 31 to 34 and the transfer liquid ejection units 61 and 62 have the same structure.

[0022] The carriage 4 is supported by a front shaft 41 and a rear shaft 42. The front shaft 41 and the rear shaft 42 each extend in the left-right direction D2.

[0023] The scanning unit 50 includes a belt 51 and a scanning motor 52. The belt 51 is connected to the rear end of the carriage 4 and extends in the left-right direction D2 on the rear shaft 42. The scanning unit 50 moves the carriage 4 in the left-right direction D2 along the front shaft 41 and the rear shaft 42 by driving the scanning motor 52.

[0024] The carriage 4, the heads 31 to 34 held thereby, and the transfer liquid discharge units 61 and 62 can be driven by the scanning unit 50 to selectively take a first maintenance position B1, a discharge position B2, and a second maintenance position B3 (see FIG. 2).

[0025] The first maintenance position B1 is a position where the heads 31 to 34 and the transfer liquid discharge units 61 and 62 are maintained by maintenance units such as wipers and caps, and is located on the left side within the housing 8. The second maintenance position B3 is a position where the user can clean the heads 31 to 34 and the transfer liquid discharge units 61 and 62, and is located on the right side within the housing 8. The first maintenance position B1 is located at the left end of the movement range of the carriage 4, and the second maintenance position B3 is located at the right end of the movement range of the carriage 4. The discharge position B2 is located between the first maintenance position B1 and the second maintenance position B3 in the left-right direction D2, and is located approximately in the center of the housing 8 in the left-right direction D2. The discharge position B2 overlaps with the recording position P2 in the vertical direction.

[0026] 3, the printer 1 further includes a control device 80. The control device 80 is electrically connected to the heads 31 to 34, the transfer liquid discharge units 61 and 62, the scanning motor 52, and the transport motor 152, and is also connected to an external device (such as a personal computer) 90 so as to be able to communicate with it.

[0027] The control device 80 includes a CPU 81, a ROM 82, and a RAM 83. The ROM 82 stores programs and data for the CPU 81 to perform various controls. The RAM 83 temporarily stores data (image data, etc.) used when the CPU 81 executes the programs. The CPU 81 executes various controls based on data input from the external device 90 or the input unit of the printer 1, data stored in the ROM 82 and RAM 83, etc. The CPU 81 corresponds to the "control unit" of the present invention.

[0028] Next, the programs executed by the CPU 81 will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0029] 4, the CPU 81 first determines whether or not a recording command has been received from the external device 90 or the input unit of the printer 1 (S1). If it determines that a recording command has not been received (S1: NO), the CPU 81 repeats the processing of S1.

[0030] When it is determined that a recording command has been received (S1: YES), the CPU 81 causes the conveying unit 15 to convey the platen 12 backward from the placement position P1 to the recording position P2 (see FIG. 2) (S2). At this time, the film 70 on the platen 12 is conveyed by the conveying unit 15 and moves relative to the heads 31 to 34 and the transfer liquid discharge units 61 and 62 in the front-to-rear direction D1.

[0031] After S2, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the CPU 81 causes the heads 31 to 34 to eject ink I (color ink Ix and white ink Iy) onto the image formation area R1 on the ink receiving layer 71 of the film 70 (S3: ink ejection step).

[0032] In S3, the CPU 81 repeatedly executes a discharge operation in which ink is discharged from the heads 31-34 while moving the carriage 4 in the left-right direction D2 toward the film 70 on the platen 12, which is stationary at the recording position P2, and a transport operation in which the transport unit 15 transports the platen 12 backward by a predetermined distance. As a result, an image based on the recording command (the letter "B" in the example of FIG. 5) is recorded on the film 70.

[0033] In S3, the film 70 is transported backward, so that the color inks Ix ejected from the heads 33 and 34 located in the front first land on the ink receiving layer 71, and then the white ink Iy ejected from the heads 31 and 32 located in the rear land on top of the color inks Ix. As a result, a layer of color inks Ix and a layer of white ink Iy are formed sequentially in the image formation region R1 on the ink receiving layer 71, as shown in FIG.

[0034] After S3, the CPU 81 causes the transfer liquid ejection units 61, 62 to eject the transfer liquid A onto an extended region R3 on the ink receiving layer 71 of the film 70 (S4: transfer liquid ejection step), as shown in Figures 5 and 6. The extended region R3 includes an image forming region R1 and an adjacent region R2 adjacent to the image forming region R1 in the front-rear direction D1 and the left-right direction D2. In Figure 5, the adjacent region R2 is an area having a certain width that follows the outer edge of the image forming region R1.

[0035] S4 is executed together with the ejection and transport operations executed in S3. That is, while the carriage 4 is moved in the left-right direction D2 toward the film 70 on the platen 12 that is stationary at the recording position P2, ink is ejected from the heads 31 to 34 and the transfer liquid A is ejected from the transfer liquid ejection units 61 and 62.

[0036] As the film 70 is transported backward, the ink I ejected from the heads 31 to 34 located at the front lands on the ink receiving layer 71 first, and then the transfer liquid A ejected from the transfer liquid ejection units 61 and 62 located at the rear lands on top of the ink I. As a result, as shown in Figure 6, a layer of ink I and a layer of transfer liquid A are formed sequentially in the image formation region R1 on the ink receiving layer 71. In the adjacent region R2 on the ink receiving layer 71, no layer of ink I is formed, and only a layer of transfer liquid A is formed.

[0037] In S4, the amount of transfer liquid A ejected per unit area onto the adjacent region R2 (second amount) is greater than the amount of transfer liquid A ejected per unit area onto the image forming region R1 (first amount) (see FIG. 6). The second amount is, for example, greater than the first amount but not greater than twice the first amount. From the viewpoint of suppressing defects in the appearance of the image, it is preferable that the thickness of the layer of transfer liquid A formed in the adjacent region R2 does not exceed the thickness of the layer formed in the image forming region R1 (in FIG. 6, a laminate of a layer of color ink Ix, a layer of white ink Iy, and a layer of transfer liquid A).

[0038] After S4, the CPU 81 ends the program. The platen 12 is transported from the recording position P2 to the standby position P3, and then transported forward from the standby position P3 to the placement position P1 via the recording position P2, and is stopped at the placement position P1.

[0039] The film 70 on which the image is recorded by the program is placed on the recording medium so that the layer of transfer liquid A contacts the recording medium, and then heated and pressed together with the recording medium by a heating and pressing device such as a heat press machine provided in the printer 1 or provided separately from the printer 1. In this way, the ink I is transferred to the recording medium.

[0040] As described above, according to this embodiment, the transfer liquid A is ejected onto the expanded region R3 that is expanded relative to the image forming region R1 (see FIG. 6). As a result, the sides of the layer of ink I are covered with the layer of transfer liquid A, which prevents the layer of ink I from peeling off.

[0041] The amount of transfer liquid A ejected per unit area onto the adjacent region R2 is greater than the amount of transfer liquid A ejected per unit area onto the image forming region R1 (see FIG. 6). This further reinforces the sides of the ink I layer, making it possible to more reliably prevent the ink I layer from peeling off.

[0042] The ink I and the transfer liquid A are each ejected onto the ink receiving layer 71 (see FIG. 6). The ink receiving layer 71 has a capacity that can accommodate the ink. If the capacity of the ink receiving layer 71 is exceeded in the image forming area, the ink will overflow and a fine image cannot be obtained. In this regard, in this embodiment, the amount of transfer liquid A ejected per unit area onto the image forming area R1 is relatively small, so the capacity of the ink receiving layer 71 in the image forming area R1 is not exceeded and a fine image can be obtained.

[0043] Next, the program B executed by the CPU 81 will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0044] In program A shown in Fig. 4, the CPU 81 ejects the color ink Ix and the white ink Iy in S3. In contrast, in program B shown in Fig. 7, the CPU 81 executes either a first step of ejecting the color ink Ix and the white ink Iy in S3, or a second step of ejecting the color ink Ix without ejecting the white ink Iy in S3.

[0045] In program B shown in FIG. 7, the CPU 81 executes steps S1 to S3 similar to those of program A shown in FIG. 4, and then determines whether or not only the color ink Ix has been ejected in S3 (the second step has been executed) (S20).

[0046] If it is determined in S3 that only the color ink Ix has not been ejected (i.e., the first step of ejecting the color ink Ix and the white ink Iy has been executed) (S20: NO), the CPU 81 executes S4, which is the same as program A shown in Figure 4, and terminates the program.

[0047] If it is determined in S3 that only color ink Ix has been ejected (S20: YES), the CPU 81 ejects transfer liquid A (S40) so that the amount of transfer liquid A ejected per unit area onto the adjacent region R2 is less than S4 (see Figure 6) (see Figure 8), and then terminates the program.

[0048] That is, in program B shown in Figure 7, in the transfer liquid ejection step (S4) executed after the first step, a third amount of transfer liquid A per unit area is ejected onto the adjacent region R2, and in the transfer liquid ejection step (S40) executed after the second step, a fourth amount of transfer liquid A, which is less than the third amount per unit area, is ejected onto the adjacent region R2.

[0049] When the second step is performed (see FIG. 8), the thickness of the layer of ink I formed in the image formation region R1 tends to be smaller, and the exposed area of ​​the sides of the layer of ink I also tends to be smaller, compared to when the first step is performed (see FIG. 6). Therefore, in the transfer liquid ejection step (S40) performed after the second step, the amount of transfer liquid A ejected into the adjacent region R2 is made smaller than in the transfer liquid ejection step (S4) performed after the first step. This makes it possible to reduce the consumption of transfer liquid A.

[0050] 7, after S1 to S3, a determination (S20) is made as to whether or not only the color ink Ix was ejected in S3 (the second step was executed), but this is not limiting. For example, after receiving a recording command (S1: YES), the CPU 81 may determine (S20) whether or not only the color ink Ix was ejected in S3 based on the recording command, and then execute S2 and S3, and then execute S4 or S40 based on the determination (S20).

[0051] Next, the program C executed by the CPU 81 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0052] Program C shown in FIG. 9 is the same as program B shown in FIG. 7 except for the determination step after S3.

[0053] 4, the CPU 81 ejects a fixed amount of ink I per unit area onto the image forming region R1 in S3. In contrast, in program C shown in Fig. 9, the CPU 81 executes either a normal mode ink ejection step (a third step in which a fifth amount of ink I per unit area is ejected onto the image forming region R1) or an eco mode ink ejection step (a fourth step in which a sixth amount of ink I, which is less than the fifth amount per unit area, is ejected onto the image forming region R1) in S3.

[0054] In program C shown in FIG. 9, the CPU 81 executes steps S1 to S3 similar to those in program B shown in FIG. 7, and then determines whether or not the ink ejection step (fourth step) in eco mode has been executed in S3 (S30).

[0055] If it is determined in S3 that the ink ejection step in eco mode has not been executed (i.e., the ink ejection step (third step) in normal mode has been executed) (S30: NO), the CPU 81 executes S4, which is the same as program A shown in Figure 4, and terminates the program.

[0056] If it is determined in S3 that the eco mode ink ejection step has been executed (S30: YES), the CPU 81 ejects the transfer liquid A (S40) so that the ejection amount per unit area of ​​the transfer liquid A onto the adjacent region R2 is less than S4 (see Figure 6) (see Figure 8), and then terminates the program.

[0057] That is, in program C shown in Figure 9, in the transfer liquid ejection step (S4) executed after the third step, a seventh amount of transfer liquid A per unit area is ejected onto the adjacent region R2, and in the transfer liquid ejection step (S40) executed after the fourth step, an eighth amount of transfer liquid A, which is less than the seventh amount per unit area, is ejected onto the adjacent region R2.

[0058] When the fourth step is performed (see FIG. 8), the thickness of the layer of ink I formed in the image formation region R1 tends to be smaller, and the exposed area of ​​the sides of the layer of ink I also tends to be smaller, compared to when the third step is performed (see FIG. 6). Therefore, in the transfer liquid ejection step (S40) performed after the fourth step, the amount of transfer liquid A ejected into the adjacent region R2 is made smaller than in the transfer liquid ejection step (S4) performed after the third step. This makes it possible to reduce the consumption of transfer liquid A.

[0059] 9, after S1 to S3, a determination is made (S30) as to whether or not the ink ejection step (fourth step) of the eco mode has been executed in S3. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, after receiving a recording command (S1: YES), the CPU 81 may determine (S30) as to whether or not the ink ejection step (fourth step) of the eco mode has been executed in S3 based on the recording command, and then execute S2 and S3, and then execute S4 or S40 based on the determination (S30).

[0060] Next, the amount of transfer liquid A ejected onto the adjacent region R2 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0061] 6, the amount of transfer liquid A ejected onto the adjacent region R2 is constant regardless of the distance from the image forming region R1. In contrast, in FIG. 10, the amount of transfer liquid A ejected onto the adjacent region R2 decreases with increasing distance from the image forming region R1.

[0062] If the amount of transfer liquid A ejected into the adjacent region R2 is constant regardless of the distance from the image forming region R1 as in Figure 6, the outer edge of the layer of transfer liquid A will be noticeable, which could result in poor appearance. In contrast, in Figure 10, the amount of transfer liquid A ejected into the adjacent region R2 decreases with increasing distance from the image forming region R1, so the outer edge of the layer of transfer liquid A is not noticeable and poor appearance of the image can be suppressed.

[0063] <Modification> Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various design modifications are possible within the scope of the claims.

[0064] For example, in the above-described embodiment, the head and the transfer liquid discharge unit are held by one carriage, but the head and the transfer liquid discharge unit may be supported individually by the housing.

[0065] The positional relationship between the head and the transfer liquid ejection unit in the transport direction is not particularly limited. For example, in the above-described embodiment (see FIG. 2), the heads that eject white ink may be arranged at the positions indicated by the reference numerals 61 and 62, the transfer liquid ejection units may be arranged at the positions indicated by the reference numerals 31 and 32, and the heads that eject color inks may be arranged at the positions indicated by the reference numerals 33 and 34.

[0066] In the above-described embodiment, a plurality of heads and transfer liquid ejection units are provided, but the number is not particularly limited, and for example, one of each may be provided. Also, in the above-described embodiment, the head and transfer liquid ejection unit are provided as separate components, but they may be provided as a single component. For example, the single component may be provided with a nozzle that ejects ink and a nozzle that ejects transfer liquid.

[0067] The head and transfer liquid ejection unit are not limited to the serial type as in the above-described embodiment, but may be a line type (a type in which liquid is ejected while being fixed at a predetermined position).

[0068] The transfer liquid ejection unit has the same configuration as the head in the above-described embodiment, but may also be a spray-type ejector or the like.

[0069] The adjacent region may be a region adjacent to the image forming region in the transport direction but not adjacent in the perpendicular direction, or a region adjacent to the image forming region in the perpendicular direction but not adjacent in the transport direction.

[0070] In the above embodiment, the second ink is a white ink, but it may also be a transparent ink. The second ink may also be a pre-treatment ink (a liquid that contains less coloring material than the color ink, and is used to form a base for the color ink, which is the first ink) or a post-treatment ink (a liquid that contains less coloring material than the color ink, and is used to form a top layer for the color ink, which is the first ink).

[0071] The recording medium is not limited to fabric, but may be paper, a resin material, or the like.

[0072] The program according to the present invention can be distributed by recording it on a removable recording medium such as a flexible disk or a fixed recording medium such as a hard disk, or can be distributed via a communication line. [Explanation of symbols]

[0073] 1. Printer (liquid ejection device) 15 Conveying section 31~34 heads 61, 62 Transfer liquid discharge section 70 Film 71 Ink receiving layer 81 CPU (control unit) A Transfer liquid D1 Front-to-rear direction (transport direction) D2 Left-right direction (orthogonal direction) I Ink 1x Color Ink (1st Ink) Iy White Ink (2nd Ink) R1 Image forming area R2 adjacent region R3 Extension Area

Claims

1. a head that ejects ink; a transfer liquid ejection unit that ejects a transfer liquid having an adhesive component that causes the ink to adhere to a recording medium; a conveying unit that moves a film having an ink receiving layer in a conveying direction relative to the head and the transfer liquid ejecting unit; a control unit, The control unit an ink ejection step of ejecting ink from the head onto an image forming area of ​​the film; a transfer liquid ejection step of ejecting transfer liquid from the transfer liquid ejection unit onto an extended region of the film, the extended region including the image formation region and an adjacent region adjacent to the image formation region in at least one of the transport direction and an orthogonal direction perpendicular to the transport direction, after the ink ejection step; A liquid ejection device characterized by performing the above.

2. 2. The liquid ejection device according to claim 1, characterized in that, in the transfer liquid ejection step, the control unit ejects a first amount of transfer liquid per unit area onto the image formation region, and ejects a second amount of transfer liquid per unit area that is greater than the first amount onto the adjacent region.

3. The control unit In the ink ejection step, ink is ejected onto the image forming area on the ink receiving layer, 3. The liquid ejection device according to claim 2, wherein the transfer liquid is ejected onto the extended region on the ink receiving layer in the transfer liquid ejection step.

4. the ink includes a first ink and a second ink that forms a base or a top layer of the first ink; The control unit as the ink ejection step, either a first step of ejecting the first ink and the second ink onto the image forming area, or a second step of ejecting the first ink onto the image forming area without ejecting the second ink, In the transfer liquid ejection step, which is performed after the first step, a third amount of transfer liquid per unit area is ejected onto the adjacent region; 2. The liquid ejection device according to claim 1, wherein in the transfer liquid ejection step executed after the second step, a fourth amount of transfer liquid per unit area that is less than the third amount is ejected onto the adjacent region.

5. The control unit as the ink ejection step, a third step of ejecting a fifth amount of ink per unit area onto the image formation region, or a fourth step of ejecting a sixth amount of ink per unit area, the sixth amount being less than the fifth amount, onto the image formation region, is executed; In the transfer liquid ejection step that is performed after the third step, a seventh amount of transfer liquid per unit area is ejected onto the adjacent region; 2. The liquid ejection device according to claim 1, wherein in the transfer liquid ejection step executed after the fourth step, an eighth amount of transfer liquid per unit area, which is less than the seventh amount, is ejected onto the adjacent region.

6. The liquid ejection device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the control unit reduces the amount of transfer liquid ejected onto the adjacent region in the transfer liquid ejection step as the amount of transfer liquid increases with increasing distance from the image forming region.

7. A method for controlling a liquid ejection device including a head that ejects ink, a transfer liquid ejection unit that ejects transfer liquid having an adhesive component that causes the ink to adhere to a recording medium, and a transport unit that moves a film having an ink receiving layer in a transport direction relative to the head and the transfer liquid ejection unit, an ink ejection step of ejecting ink from the head onto an image forming area of ​​the film; a transfer liquid ejection step of ejecting transfer liquid from the transfer liquid ejection unit onto an extended region of the film, the extended region including the image formation region and an adjacent region adjacent to the image formation region in at least one of the transport direction and an orthogonal direction perpendicular to the transport direction, after the ink ejection step; A control method comprising:

8. A control device used in a liquid ejection device including a head that ejects ink, a transfer liquid ejection unit that ejects transfer liquid having an adhesive component that causes the ink to adhere to a recording medium, and a transport unit that moves a film having an ink receiving layer relative to the head and the transfer liquid ejection unit in a transport direction, an ink ejection step of ejecting ink from the head onto an image forming area of ​​the film; a transfer liquid ejection step of ejecting transfer liquid from the transfer liquid ejection unit onto an extended region of the film, the extended region including the image formation region and an adjacent region adjacent to the image formation region in at least one of the transport direction and an orthogonal direction perpendicular to the transport direction, after the ink ejection step; A program characterized by causing the above to function as an executable control means.

Images