Printer

Abstract

To provide a printer that is able to maintain the image quality of an image even when a condenser lens for condensing light for curing an ink is used.SOLUTION: A printer includes: a head capable of ejecting an ink which is cured by light to a printing object; a light source 71 capable of being moved in a predetermined main scanning direction with respect to the printing object and capable of emitting light to the printing object to which the ink ejected from the head adheres; a condenser lens 72 that condenses light emitted from the light source 71; a platen capable of holding the printing object and capable of moving in a sub-scanning direction with respect to the head; and a lamp cover 8 that is translucent and capable of transmitting light condensed by the condenser lens 72. On both sides in the sub-scanning direction, the lamp cover 8 has adjusting portions 84 for intercepting some of transmitted light or diffusing light.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a printer. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an image recording device that records an image on a recording medium using a photocurable ink. The image recording device includes an inkjet type recording head and a UV light irradiation unit. The UV light irradiation unit has a light emitting element and a condensing lens provided in a housing unit. A guide member is fitted to an irradiation surface of the housing unit that is irradiated with UV light condensed by the condensing lens. A slit is formed in the guide member to allow the UV light to pass through. The guide member is transparent and can be detached and replaced. The guide member prevents ink mist generated when the recording head ejects ink from entering the housing unit. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2012-20481 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The light intensity in the irradiated portion of the printing object is greater when the light is condensed by a condensing lens than when the light is not condensed. Therefore, the rate of change of the light intensity at the boundary between the irradiated portion and the non-irradiated portion is also greater when a condensing lens is used than when a condensing lens is not used. Here, the greater the rate of change of the light intensity at the boundary between the irradiated portion and the non-irradiated portion in the sub-scanning direction, which is the direction in which the printing object is transported, the more likely it is that streaks extending in the main scanning direction, which is the direction in which the lamp that emits the light moves, will occur in the image. Therefore, there is a problem that the use of a condensing lens may result in a deterioration in image quality.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT An object of the present invention is to provide a printer capable of maintaining image quality even when a condenser lens that condenses light for curing ink is used. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The printer of the present invention comprises a head capable of ejecting ink that hardens when exposed to light onto a printing object, a lamp movable in a predetermined main scanning direction relative to the printing object and capable of irradiating light onto the printing object onto which the ink ejected from the head is attached, a focusing lens that focuses the light emitted from the lamp, a platen capable of holding the printing object and movable in a sub-scanning direction that intersects the main scanning direction relative to the head, and a lamp cover that is translucent and can transmit the light focused by the focusing lens, and is characterized in that the lamp cover has adjustment sections on both sides in the sub-scanning direction for blocking a portion of the light that passes through or for diffusing the light.

[0007] The printer uses the adjustment unit to suppress the rate of change in light intensity at the boundary between the irradiated and non-irradiated areas of the printing object from increasing with the use of a focusing lens, thereby preventing the occurrence of streaks extending in the main scanning direction and maintaining the image quality.

[0008] In the present invention, the adjustment unit may have a first adjustment unit provided on one side of the sub-scanning direction and a second adjustment unit provided on the other side of the sub-scanning direction, the first adjustment unit having at least one first light-shielding line extending in the main scanning direction, and the second adjustment unit having at least one second light-shielding line extending in the main scanning direction. In this case, a part of the light passing through both sides of the lamp cover in the sub-scanning direction is blocked by the light-shielding line. This makes it possible to suppress an increase in the rate of change of light intensity at the boundary between the irradiated portion and the non-irradiated portion in the sub-scanning direction. Therefore, the printer can prevent the occurrence of streaks extending in the main scanning direction.

[0009] In the present invention, the adjustment unit may have a first adjustment portion provided on one side of the sub-scanning direction and a second adjustment portion provided on the other side of the sub-scanning direction, the first adjustment portion having a first prism or a first texture that diffuses the light that passes through, and the second adjustment portion having a second prism or a second texture that diffuses the light that passes through. In this case, the light that passes through both sides of the lamp cover in the sub-scanning direction is diffused by the prism or the texture. This makes it possible to suppress an increase in the rate of change of light intensity at the boundary between the light irradiated portion and the non-irradiated portion. Therefore, the printer can prevent the occurrence of streaks extending in the main scanning direction.

[0010] In the present invention, the lamp cover may include a light-transmitting portion that transmits light, a first support portion that supports one side of the light-transmitting portion in the main scanning direction, and a second support portion that supports the other side of the light-transmitting portion in the main scanning direction, and an opening may be provided in the first support portion or the second support portion. In this case, the lamp cover can exhaust air in an area surrounded by the light-transmitting portion and the first and second support portions through the opening. Therefore, the printer can suppress a temperature rise of the lamp cover by exhausting air through the opening. Therefore, the printer can prevent deterioration of the lamp cover due to a temperature rise.

[0011] In the present invention, the second support portion may be located on the opposite side of the head with respect to the first support portion in the main scanning direction, and the opening may be provided in the first support portion. In this case, the printer can cool the head by blowing air discharged through the opening onto the head.

[0012] In the present invention, the second support portion may be located on the opposite side of the head to the first support portion in the main scanning direction, and the opening may be provided in the second support portion. In this case, the printer can prevent air discharged through the opening from acting on ink ejected from the head.

[0013] In the present invention, the area of ​​a cross section of the opening perpendicular to the main scanning direction may become smaller toward the opposite side of the light-transmitting portion in the main scanning direction. In this case, the cross-sectional area of ​​a region through which air discharged through the opening passes becomes smaller toward the downstream side in the passing direction of the air passing through the opening. In this case, the printer can increase the flow speed of the air passing through the opening, and therefore can efficiently discharge the air through the opening.

[0014] In the present invention, the light transmitting portion may be made of a light transmitting film or polycarbonate, in which case the light transmitting portion having light transmitting properties can be easily produced.

[0015] In the present invention, the lamp cover may be detachably provided on a light source including at least the lamp and the condenser lens, in which case the lamp cover can be replaced with another lamp cover when it becomes worn out.

[0016] In the present invention, the head may be capable of ejecting the ink that is cured by ultraviolet light, and the lamp may be capable of irradiating ultraviolet light. In this case, the printer can form an image by curing the ink by concentrating the ultraviolet light emitted from the lamp using a concentrating lens and irradiating the ink with the ultraviolet light. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a printer 1. [Diagram 2] 2 is a plan view of the carriage 20 including the head 10 and the light source unit 50. FIG. [Diagram 3] 1 is a front view of a carriage 20 including a head 10 and a light source unit 50, a platen 5, and a printing object M. FIG. [Figure 4] 2 is a cross-sectional view of the light source unit 50 taken along line AA in FIG. 1, viewed from the direction of the arrow. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the light source unit 50. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a front view of the light source unit 50. [Figure 7] 1 is a graph showing the illuminance of ultraviolet light. [Figure 8] FIG. [Figure 9] 13 is a bottom view of a light source unit 50 in a modified example. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] A printer 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The upper, lower, lower left, upper right, lower right, and upper left in Fig. 1 correspond to the upper, lower, front, rear, right, and left of the printer 1, respectively.

[0019] <Outline of Printer 1 Configuration> The schematic configuration of the printer 1 will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 3. As shown in Figure 1, the printer 1 includes a transport mechanism 6A, a lifting mechanism 6B, and a platen 5. The transport mechanism 6A is provided at the bottom of the printer 1, and includes a pair of rails 12. The pair of rails 12 extend in the front-rear direction and are aligned with each other in the left-right direction.

[0020] The lifting mechanism 6B is provided above the transport mechanism 6A and is supported by a pair of rails 12. The lifting mechanism 6B moves in the front-rear direction along the pair of rails 12 by driving a sub-scanning motor (not shown). The lifting mechanism 6B expands and contracts in the up-down direction by driving a lifting motor (not shown).

[0021] The platen 5 is provided above the lifting mechanism 6B. The platen 5 is a plate, and is supported by the lifting mechanism 6B. The platen 5 moves up and down as the lifting mechanism 6B expands and contracts in the up and down direction. The platen 5 moves back and forth as the lifting mechanism 6B moves in the front and back direction.

[0022] The printer 1 includes a pair of rails 11 and a carriage 20. The pair of rails 11 are provided above the platen 5. The pair of rails 11 extend in the left-right direction and are aligned with each other in the front-rear direction. The carriage 20 is provided between the pair of rails 11 in the front-rear direction. The carriage 20 is a plate, and is supported by the pair of rails 11. The carriage 20 moves in the left-right direction along the pair of rails 11 by being driven by a main scanning motor (not shown).

[0023] The carriage 20 supports the heads 10W, 10C and the light source units 50W, 50C. The heads 10W, 10C and the light source units 50W, 50C are each rectangular parallelepiped. Hereinafter, when the heads 10W and 10C are not distinguished from each other, they will be collectively referred to as the "head 10." When the light source units 50W and 50C are not distinguished from each other, they will be collectively referred to as the "light source unit 50." As the carriage 20 moves, the head 10 and the light source unit 50 move left and right relative to the printing target M held by the platen 5.

[0024] As shown in Fig. 2, the heads 10W and 10C are aligned in the front-to-rear direction. The rear head 10W ejects clear ink. The front head 10C ejects color ink. A light source unit 50W is provided to the right of the head 10W. A light source unit 50C is provided to the right of the head 10C. The light source units 50W and 50C are aligned in the front-to-rear direction.

[0025] 3, a nozzle surface 101 is formed on the bottom surface of the head 10. The nozzle surface 101 is located above the platen 5 and faces the platen 5 from above. A plurality of nozzle holes 101a are formed in the nozzle surface 101. The head 10 ejects ink downward from the plurality of nozzle holes 101a. As an example, the ink is a so-called ultraviolet light curable ink that is cured by irradiation with ultraviolet light.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 3, the light source unit 50 is located to the right of the head 10. In FIG. 3, in a partially enlarged view (surrounded by a dashed-dotted frame Z) of the light source unit 50, the carriage 20 is omitted. The light source unit 50 includes a lamp 7, a condenser lens 72, and a lamp cover 8. The lamp 7 emits ultraviolet light downward. The lamp cover 8 is provided at the lower end of the lamp 7. The light source unit 50 irradiates ultraviolet light downward. A print object M is placed on the upper surface of the platen 5. The print object M is, for example, plate-shaped or sheet-shaped, and is made of, for example, cloth, paper, plastic, or metal. Ultraviolet light-curable ink is ejected from the head 10 onto the print object M placed on the platen 5. Ultraviolet light is irradiated from the light source unit 50 onto the print object M to which the ink is attached. The printer 1 in this embodiment executes printing in this manner.

[0027] The lamp cover 8 is provided at the lower end of the housing 70 of the lamp 7. The lamp cover 8 includes a support 80 and a light-transmitting portion 81. The support 80 has support portions 801 and 802. As shown in Fig. 3, the support portion 801 is located to the right of the head 10 and faces the head 10 from the right. The support portion 802 is located on the opposite side of the head 10 to the support portion 801 in the left-right direction.

[0028] <Lamp 7> 4, the lamp 7 includes a housing 70, a light source 71, a fan 73, and a control board 74. The housing 70 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape. An opening 70A is formed in an upper wall 705 of the housing 70. Openings 70B, 70C, and 70D are formed in a lower wall 706 of the housing 70.

[0029] The fan 73 is provided inside the housing 70 and below the opening 70A. The fan 73 can draw air from outside the housing 70 into the inside through the opening 70A as indicated by arrow Y21. The air drawn into the housing 70 by the fan 73 cools the light source 71 and is discharged to the outside of the housing 70 through the openings 70C and 70D as indicated by arrows Y22 and Y23. The control board 74 includes a CPU that controls the driving of the light source 71 and the fan 73.

[0030] <Lamp cover 8> The lamp cover 8 is provided at the lower end of the housing 70 of the lamp 7. The lamp cover 8 includes a support 80 and a light-transmitting portion 81. The support 80 is cylindrical. The support 80 has a hole that penetrates in the vertical direction. When the support 80 is cut in a plane perpendicular to the vertical direction, the cross-sectional shape is a rectangle that is long in the front-rear direction. The light-transmitting portion 81 is supported by the support 80. The light-transmitting portion 81 is a rectangular plate.

[0031] As shown in Fig. 4, the support 80 has support portions 801, 802, 803 (see Figs. 5 and 6), and 804. The support portion 801 extends downward from the lower end of the left wall 701 of the housing 70. The support portion 804 extends downward from the lower end of the rear wall 704 of the housing 70. The support portion 802 extends downward from the lower end of the right wall 702 of the housing 70. The upper ends of the support portions 801 to 804 are detachable from the housing 70.

[0032] As shown in Fig. 4, the support portion 801 has an opening 80A. The opening 80A is rectangular and elongated in the left-right direction. Air discharged by the fan 73 to the outside of the housing 70 is discharged to the left side of the lamp cover 8 through the opening 80A, as shown by arrows Y22 and Y24. An inner surface 800 of the opening 80A is inclined with respect to a direction parallel to the left-right direction. The area of ​​a cross section of the opening 80A perpendicular to the left-right direction becomes smaller toward the opposite side of the support portion 801 from the light-transmitting portion 81.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 4, the light source 71 is provided inside the housing 70 and above the bottom wall 706. The light source 71 has a plurality of light-emitting diodes 71A capable of emitting ultraviolet light. The plurality of light-emitting diodes 71A emit ultraviolet light downward. The ultraviolet light passes through the opening 70B as shown by the arrow Y11. The condenser lens 72 is provided below the bottom wall 706. The type of the condenser lens 72 is not limited to a specific type, but a spherical lens is used in this embodiment. The optical axis of the condenser lens 72 extends in the vertical direction. The condenser lens 72 condenses the ultraviolet light emitted from the light source 71 and passing through the opening 70B.

[0034] 5, the left end, right end, front end, and rear end of the light-transmitting portion 81 are connected to the lower ends of the support portions 801, 802, 803, and 804 of the support body 80, respectively. The light-transmitting portion 81 is made of a light-transmitting film or polycarbonate. The light-transmitting portion 81 has light-transmitting properties and can transmit ultraviolet light.

[0035] The light-transmitting portion 81 has a first adjustment portion 85 at the front end and a second adjustment portion 86 at the rear end. The first adjustment portion 85 has a plurality of lines extending linearly in the left-right direction. Hereinafter, these lines are referred to as "plurality of first light-shielding lines 850". The plurality of first light-shielding lines 850 are arranged at equal intervals in the front-rear direction. The second adjustment portion 86 has a plurality of lines extending linearly in the left-right direction. Hereinafter, these lines are referred to as "plurality of second light-shielding lines 860". The plurality of second light-shielding lines 860 are arranged at equal intervals in the front-rear direction. Hereinafter, when the first adjustment portion 85 and the second adjustment portion 86 are not distinguished from each other, they are collectively referred to as "adjustment portion 84". When the plurality of first light-shielding lines 850 and the plurality of second light-shielding lines 860 are not distinguished from each other, they are collectively referred to as "plurality of light-shielding lines 840". The plurality of light-shielding lines 840 are formed by printing on the lower surface of the light-transmitting portion 81 using light-shielding paint.

[0036] As indicated by an arrow Y11 in Fig. 6, the light-transmitting portion 81 transmits downward the ultraviolet light emitted from the light source 71 of the lamp 7 and condensed by the condenser lens 72. The multiple light-shielding lines 840 shown in Fig. 5 shield a portion of the ultraviolet light that transmits through the light-transmitting portion 81. Furthermore, the ultraviolet light that passes through gaps between the multiple light-shielding lines 840 is diffused by diffraction as indicated by an arrow Y11 in Fig. 6.

[0037] The horizontal axis of the graph shown in Fig. 7 indicates the front-rear position of the printing object M held on the platen 5, and the vertical axis indicates the illuminance of the ultraviolet light irradiated onto the printing object M. As shown in Fig. 7, the irradiated portion of the printing object M irradiated with the ultraviolet light spreads in the front-rear direction compared to the irradiated portion when the adjustment unit 84 is not provided. Furthermore, the illuminance becomes weaker toward the outside in the front-rear direction at both ends of the irradiated portion in the front-rear direction. For this reason, the rate of change in illuminance at the boundary between the irradiated portion and the non-irradiated portion that is not irradiated with ultraviolet light is smaller when the adjustment unit 84 is provided than when the adjustment unit 84 is not provided.

[0038] <Printer 1 printing operation overview> An example of a printing operation in which an image W is printed using clear ink will be described with reference to Figure 8. In the following description, the left-right direction will be referred to as the "main scanning direction." The left side will be referred to as "one side of the main scanning direction," and the right side will be referred to as "the other side of the main scanning direction." The front-to-back direction will be referred to as the "sub-scanning direction." The front will be referred to as "one side of the sub-scanning direction," and the rear will be referred to as "the other side of the sub-scanning direction."

[0039] As shown in FIG. 8(A), the printer 1 moves the carriage 20 to one side in the main scanning direction (arrow Y31) while discharging clear ink from the head 10W. As a result, as shown in FIG. 8(B), a line image W1 of clear ink extending in the main scanning direction is formed on the printing object M. Next, the printer 1 moves the platen 5 to one side in the sub-scanning direction by a length equal to the width of the line image W1 in the sub-scanning direction. Next, the printer 1 moves the carriage 20 to the other side in the main scanning direction while discharging clear ink from the head 10W. As a result, as shown in FIG. 8(C), a line image W2 of clear ink extending in the main scanning direction is formed on the printing object M. The line image W2 is adjacent to the line image W1 on the other side in the sub-scanning direction.

[0040] Next, the printer 1 moves the platen 5 to one side in the sub-scanning direction so that the positions of the light source unit 50C and the line image W1 in the sub-scanning direction match (arrow Y32). Next, the printer 1 moves the carriage 20 to one side in the main scanning direction (arrow Y33) while emitting ultraviolet light from the lamp 7 of the light source unit 50C. This causes the line image W1 to be irradiated with ultraviolet light, and the clear ink forming the line image W1 is cured. Thereafter, the ejection of the clear ink of the image W and curing by ultraviolet light are repeated.

[0041] <Actions and Effects of the Present Embodiment> In the printer 1, the condenser lens 72 that condenses the ultraviolet light emitted from the light source 71 is used, so that the rate of change in illuminance at the boundary between the ultraviolet light irradiated portion and the non-irradiated portion of the printing object M becomes large. In this case, for example, stripes extending in the main scanning direction may occur at the boundary Wb between the line images W1 and W2, and the image quality of the image W may deteriorate. In contrast, in the printer 1, the adjustment unit 84 can suppress the increase in the rate of change in illuminance at the boundary between the ultraviolet light irradiated portion and the non-irradiated portion. Therefore, the printer 1 can prevent the occurrence of stripes extending in the main scanning direction, and therefore can maintain the image quality of the image W.

[0042] Of the light-transmitting portion 81 of the lamp cover 8, a portion of the ultraviolet light that transmits through both sides in the sub-scanning direction is blocked by the multiple light-shielding lines 840. Furthermore, the ultraviolet light that passes between the multiple light-shielding lines 840 is diffused by diffraction. This allows the printer 1 to suppress an increase in the rate of change in illuminance at the boundary between the irradiated and non-irradiated portions of the ultraviolet light. Therefore, the printer 1 can prevent the occurrence of streaks that extend in the main scanning direction.

[0043] The lamp cover 8 can exhaust air from the area surrounded by the light-transmitting portion 81 and the support body 80 through the opening 80A. Therefore, the printer 1 can suppress a temperature rise inside the lamp cover 8 caused by heat generation from the light source 71 by exhausting air through the opening 80A. Therefore, the printer 1 can prevent the lamp cover 8 from deteriorating due to a temperature rise.

[0044] The opening 80A is provided in the support part 801, which faces the head 10 from the right side, of the support parts 801 and 802. In this case, the air discharged through the opening 80A is blown onto the head 10. Therefore, the printer 1 can cool the head 10 by the air discharged through the opening 80A.

[0045] An inner surface 800 of the opening 80A is inclined with respect to a direction parallel to the left-right direction. Therefore, the cross-sectional area of ​​the area through which the air discharged through the opening 80A passes becomes smaller toward the downstream side in the passing direction of the air passing through the opening 80A. In this case, the printer 1 can increase the flow speed of the air passing through the opening 80A, and therefore can efficiently discharge the air through the opening 80A.

[0046] In the printer 1, the light-transmitting portion 81 is made of a light-transmitting film or polycarbonate, so that the light-transmitting portion 81 having light-transmitting properties can be easily produced.

[0047] The lamp cover 8 is detachably provided on the housing 70 of the lamp 7. In this case, the user of the printer 1 can replace the lamp cover 8 with another lamp cover 8 when the lamp cover 8 becomes worn out.

[0048] The printer 1 condenses ultraviolet light emitted from the light source 71 using the condenser lens 72 and irradiates the ultraviolet light curable ink with the condensed light. In this way, the printer 1 can form an image by curing the ink through irradiation with ultraviolet light.

[0049] <Modification> The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible. The various modifications described below can be combined with each other as long as no contradiction occurs.

[0050] The head 10 and the light source unit 50 may be independently movable in the main scanning direction. The head 10 may be a line head extending in the main scanning direction. In this case, the head 10 does not need to move in the main scanning direction. The condenser lens 72 is not limited to a spherical lens, and may be other types of lenses. For example, the condenser lens 72 may be an aspheric lens or a rod lens. The condenser lens 72 may also be a lens array including a plurality of spherical lenses.

[0051] The spacing between the multiple light-shielding lines 840 may be narrower as it moves outward in the front-to-rear direction. In this case, the ultraviolet light passing through the gaps between the multiple light-shielding lines 840 may be emitted straight downward from the light-transmitting section 81 toward the printing target M without being diffused by diffraction. Alternatively, the adjustment section 84 may have only one light-shielding line 840. Even in these cases, the illuminance at both ends in the front-to-rear direction of the ultraviolet light irradiated portion can be weakened as it moves outward in the front-to-rear direction. Therefore, the occurrence of streaks extending in the main scanning direction can be suppressed.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 9, the light-transmitting portion 81 of the lamp cover 8 may have a first prism 91 as the first adjustment portion 85 and a second prism 92 as the second adjustment portion 86. The first prism 91 and the second prism 92 disperse the ultraviolet light passing through them, thereby diffusing the ultraviolet light. Alternatively, the light-transmitting portion 81 of the lamp cover 8 may have a first embossment 93 as the first adjustment portion 85 and a second embossment 94 as the second adjustment portion 86. The first embossment 93 and the second embossment 94 have a wrinkle pattern formed on the surface of the light-transmitting portion 81. The first embossment 93 and the second embossment 94 randomly change the direction of the ultraviolet light when it passes through, thereby diffusing the ultraviolet light. This makes it possible to suppress an increase in the rate of change in illuminance at the boundary between the irradiated portion and the non-irradiated portion of the ultraviolet light. Therefore, the printer 1 can prevent the occurrence of streaks extending in the main scanning direction.

[0053] In the above, the printer 1 may have a first prism 91 as the first adjustment unit 85 and a second embossment 94 as the second adjustment unit 86. Or, the printer 1 may have a first embossment 93 as the first adjustment unit 85 and a second prism 92 as the second adjustment unit 86. Furthermore, the printer 1 may have something other than a light-shielding line, a prism, and embossment as the adjustment unit 84. For example, the printer 1 may form the adjustment unit 84 by applying a drug that absorbs ultraviolet light to the light-transmitting portion 81. At this time, the density of the applied drug may be adjusted so that it becomes thinner toward the outside in the front-rear direction.

[0054] The opening 80A may be provided in the support portion 802. The support portion 802 is located on the opposite side of the support portion 801 from the head 10 in the main scanning direction. Therefore, the printer 1 can prevent air discharged through the opening 80A from acting on the ink ejected from the head 10.

[0055] An inner surface 800 of the opening 80A may be smooth or may have a step. A plurality of openings may be formed. For example, the opening 80A may be provided in both the support parts 801 and 802, or the opening 80A may also be provided in the support parts 803 and 804 extending downward from the lower end of the front wall 703 of the housing 70. The fan 73 may not be provided in the housing 70, and instead, a fan may be provided in the opening 80A.

[0056] The light-transmitting portion 81 is not limited to being made of a transparent film or polycarbonate, and may be made of other light-transmitting materials. The light-transmitting portion 81 may be formed integrally with the support 80. The lamp 7 and the lamp cover 8 may be formed integrally. The light emitted from the light source 71 is not limited to ultraviolet light, and may be light of another wavelength that can cure the ink.

[0057] <Other> The support portion 801 is an example of the "first support portion" of the present invention. The support portion 802 is an example of the "second support portion" of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0058] 1: Printer 5: Platen 7: Lamp 8: Lamp cover 10, 10C, 10W: Head 71 :Light source 72: Condenser lens 80A:Aperture 81:Transparent part 84: Adjustment section 85: 1st adjustment section 86:Second adjustment section 91: First prism 92: Second prism 93: First grain 94: 2nd grain 801, 802: Support part 840: Shading wire 850: First shading line 860: Second shading line

Claims

1. A head capable of ejecting ink that hardens when exposed to light onto a printing object; a lamp that is movable in a predetermined main scanning direction relative to the printing object and that is capable of irradiating light onto the printing object on which the ink ejected from the head is deposited; a condenser lens that condenses the light emitted from the lamp; a platen capable of holding the printing object and movable relative to the head in a sub-scanning direction intersecting the main scanning direction; a lamp cover having a light-transmitting property and capable of transmitting the light condensed by the condensing lens; Equipped with The lamp cover is The optical element has adjustment sections on both sides in the sub-scanning direction for blocking a part of the transmitted light or diffusing the light. A printer characterized by:

2. The adjustment unit is a first adjustment unit provided on one side in the sub-scanning direction and a second adjustment unit provided on the other side in the sub-scanning direction, The first adjustment unit is At least one first light-shielding line extending in the main scanning direction, The second adjustment unit is At least one second light-shielding line extending in the main scanning direction 2. The printer according to claim 1.

3. The adjustment unit is a first adjustment portion provided on one side in the sub-scanning direction and a second adjustment portion provided on the other side in the sub-scanning direction; The first adjustment portion is The optical element has a first prism or a first texture that diffuses light passing through the optical element, The second adjustment portion is A second prism or a second texture is provided to diffuse the transmitted light.

2. The printer according to claim 1.

4. The lamp cover is A light transmitting portion that transmits light; a first support portion supporting one side of the light transmitting portion in the main scanning direction, and a second support portion supporting the other side of the light transmitting portion in the main scanning direction; Equipped with 4. The printer according to claim 1, wherein an opening is provided in the first support portion or the second support portion.

5. the second support portion is located on an opposite side of the head with respect to the first support portion in the main scanning direction, The printer according to claim 4 , wherein the opening is provided in the first support portion.

6. the second support portion is located on an opposite side of the head with respect to the first support portion in the main scanning direction, The printer according to claim 4 , wherein the opening is provided in the second support portion.

7. 7. The printer according to claim 4, wherein the area of ​​the opening in a cross section perpendicular to the main scanning direction decreases toward a side opposite to the light transmitting portion in the main scanning direction.

8. The light transmitting portion is 8. The printer according to claim 4, wherein the light-transmitting film is made of polycarbonate.

9. The lamp cover is 9. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the light source is detachably provided on a light source including at least the lamp and the condenser lens.

10. the head is capable of ejecting the ink that is cured by ultraviolet light, The lamp is capable of emitting ultraviolet light.

10. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the first and second electrodes are arranged in a first direction.

Images