Printing system, printing method, transport system and transport method

Abstract

The present invention provides a printing system, a printing method, a transport system, and a transport method that can realize stable transport of a continuous base material. The present invention includes: a first processing apparatus (50) that performs first processing on a base material (1); a first tension applying device (51) that applies first tension to the base material that is transported in the first processing apparatus; a printing apparatus (80) that performs printing on the base material; and second tension applying devices (84, 86) that apply second tension to the base material that is transported in the printing apparatus, wherein the modulus of elasticity of the base material is obtained, first strain caused in the base material while being transported in the first processing apparatus and second strain caused in the base material while being transported in the printing apparatus are derived on the basis of the modulus of elasticity, and the second tension is controlled by using a second tension setting value derived on the basis of the first strain and the second strain.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a printing system, a printing method, a transport system, and a transport method. [Background technology]

[0002] There is known an inkjet printing system that uses an inkjet printing method to print a color image on a continuous substrate. The continuous substrate is transported using a roll-to-roll method in which a film-like substrate wound in a roll is fed and the substrate on which the color image is printed is wound into a roll.

[0003] Patent document 1 describes an inkjet printing device that feeds out a substrate wound in a roll, transports the substrate using a drive roller arranged in the substrate transport path, and prints on the substrate using an inkjet printing unit.

[0004] The device described in this document applies a transport tension to the substrate in accordance with the difference in rotational speed between two drive rollers that support the substrate, detects the transport tension applied to the substrate, and controls the rotational speed of the drive rollers so that the detected transport tension value becomes a target transport tension value. In addition, during the initial period when printing on the substrate is started and until the control of the transport tension becomes stable, the device predicts a decrease in the transport tension caused by the elongation of the substrate, and increases the rotational speed of the drive roller located downstream of the printing unit to suppress the decrease in the transport tension. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 5787447 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, the substrate transport conditions are affected by many factors, such as the specifications of the device and the substrate, etc. Therefore, a lot of work is required to set appropriate transport conditions that realize stable substrate transport.

[0007] For example, in a printing system having multiple sections, when a roll-to-roll method is applied to transport a continuous substrate, the transport path of the substrate becomes long throughout the system. In such a printing system, a drive roller is provided for each section, transport conditions are set for each section, and transport of the substrate is controlled for each section.

[0008] In a printing system that uses multiple types of substrates, appropriate transport conditions are set for each type of substrate, but setting the transport conditions for each type of substrate in each section requires a lot of work.

[0009] The invention described in Patent Document 1 can avoid a decrease in the transport tension applied to the substrate during the initial printing period, but the document does not describe stable transport of substrates in sections or stable transport of multiple types of substrates.

[0010] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has an object to provide a printing system, a printing method, a transport system, and a transport method that are capable of realizing stable transport of a continuous substrate. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] In order to achieve the above object, the following aspects of the invention are provided.

[0012] The printing system according to the present disclosure includes a conveying device that conveys a continuous substrate in a substrate conveying direction, a first processing device that applies a first treatment to the substrate conveyed using the conveying device, a first tension application device that applies a first tension to the substrate conveyed using the conveying device in the first processing device, a printing device that is arranged downstream of the first processing device in the substrate conveying direction and performs printing on the substrate, a second tension application device that applies a second tension to the substrate conveyed using the conveying device in the printing device, and one or more processors, wherein the processor acquires an elastic modulus of the substrate, derives a first strain that occurs in the substrate when the substrate is conveyed in the first processing device and a second strain that occurs in the substrate when the substrate is conveyed in the printing device based on the acquired elastic modulus, derives a second tension setting value to be applied to the second tension application device based on the derived first strain and second strain, applies the derived second tension setting value, and controls the second tension applied to the substrate using the second tension application device.

[0013] According to the printing system of the present disclosure, a second strain of the substrate in the printing device is derived based on the elastic modulus of the substrate, a second tension setting value to be applied to the second tension applying device is derived based on the second strain, and the second tension is controlled based on the second tension setting value. This makes it possible to realize stable transport of the substrate in the printing device regardless of the type of substrate.

[0014] In addition, a first strain of the substrate in a first processing device located upstream in the substrate transport direction of the printing device is derived based on the elastic modulus of the substrate, and a second tension setting value based on the first strain is derived. This makes it possible to realize stable transport of the substrate in the printing device regardless of the strain of the substrate in the first processing device located upstream in the substrate transport direction of the printing device.

[0015] Acquisition of the elastic modulus may include a mode in which an elastic modulus derived in advance based on substrate information is acquired, and a mode in which the elastic modulus is derived based on substrate information.

[0016] In a printing system according to another aspect, the processor derives a first tension setting value to be applied to a first tension application device based on the obtained elastic modulus of the substrate, and applies the derived first tension setting value to control a first tension applied to the substrate using the first tension application device.

[0017] According to this aspect, stable transport of the substrate in the first processing apparatus can be achieved regardless of the type of substrate.

[0018] In another aspect of the printing system, the transport device includes a first drum used to transport the substrate in the printing device, and a second drum used to transport the substrate in the printing device and positioned downstream of the first drum in the substrate transport direction, the second tension applying device applies a second tension to the substrate according to a rotational speed difference obtained by subtracting the rotational speed V1 of the first drum from a rotational speed V2 of the second drum, which exceeds the rotational speed V1 of the first drum, and the processor sets the rotational speed V1 of the first drum and the rotational speed V2 of the second drum as second tension setting values.

[0019] According to this embodiment, in an embodiment in which a second tension corresponding to the rotational speed difference V2-V1 obtained by subtracting the rotational speed V1 of the first drum from the rotational speed V2 of the second drum is applied to the substrate, a combination of the rotational speed V1 of the first drum and the rotational speed V2 of the second drum can be set that can achieve stable transport of the substrate.

[0020] In another aspect of the printing system, the processor defines the first distortion as ε a The target value of the second strain is ε b Then, the following equation ε b =ε a A combination of the rotation speed V1 of the first drum and the rotation speed V2 of the second drum that satisfies -{(V2-V1) / V1} is derived as the second tension setting value.

[0021] According to this embodiment, the target value ε of the second strain bIt is possible to set a combination of the rotation speed V1 of the first drum and the rotation speed V2 of the second drum based on the above.

[0022] In a printing system according to another aspect, the processor determines a target value ε b The range of values ​​is set to be greater than 0.09 percent and less than 0.72 percent.

[0023] According to this aspect, slippage and meandering of the substrate are suppressed, and the occurrence of wrinkles in the substrate is suppressed, thereby realizing stable transport of the substrate.

[0024] In a printing system according to another aspect, a first tension measuring device that measures a first tension and a second tension measuring device that measures a second tension are provided, and a processor is configured to measure first measurement data T measured using the first tension measuring device. a and obtain second measurement data T measured using the second tension measuring device. b Then, the thickness t of the substrate is obtained, and the width w of the substrate, which is the length of the substrate in the direction perpendicular to the substrate conveying direction, is obtained. When the strain ε generated in the substrate according to the difference between the rotation speed V1 of the first drum and the rotation speed V2 of the second drum is expressed as ε=(V2-V1) / V1, the following equation E=(T b -T a The Young's modulus E of the substrate, expressed as ε / (t×w×ε), is calculated as the elastic modulus.

[0025] According to this embodiment, the first measurement data T a , second measurement data T b Based on the thickness t of the substrate, the width w of the substrate, and the strain ε occurring in the substrate, the Young's modulus E of the substrate can be derived as the elastic modulus of the substrate.

[0026] In a printing system according to another aspect, a first tension measuring device that measures a first tension and a second tension measuring device that measures a second tension are provided, and a processor is configured to measure first measurement data T measured using the first tension measuring device. aand obtain second measurement data T measured using the second tension measuring device. b The width w of the substrate, which is the length of the substrate in the direction perpendicular to the substrate conveying direction, is obtained. The strain ε generated in the substrate according to the difference between the rotation speed V1 of the first drum and the rotation speed V2 of the second drum is expressed as ε=(V2-V1) / V1. The following equation E×t=(T b -T a The value expressed by the formula: ) / (w×ε) is calculated as the elastic modulus.

[0027] According to this embodiment, the first measurement data T a , second measurement data T b Based on the width w of the substrate and the strain ε occurring in the substrate, the elastic modulus of the substrate can be calculated by multiplying the Young's modulus E of the substrate by the thickness t of the substrate, ie, E×t.

[0028] In a printing system according to another embodiment, the processor receives second measurement data T b The second measurement data T b is used to feedback control the second tensioning device.

[0029] According to this embodiment, the second measurement data T b A feedback control of the second tension based on the above can be performed.

[0030] In a printing system according to another embodiment, a processor receives first measurement data T measured using a first tension measuring device. a The first measurement data T a is used to feedback control the first tensioning device.

[0031] According to this embodiment, the first measurement data T a A feedback control of the first tension based on the above can be performed.

[0032] In a printing system according to another aspect, the first drum and the second drum have a function of suppressing slippage between the surface supporting the substrate and the substrate.

[0033] According to this aspect, slippage between the first drum and the substrate and between the second drum and the substrate is suppressed, making it possible to apply appropriate tension to the substrate.

[0034] In a printing system according to another aspect, one of a plurality of drums supporting a substrate is fixed and the other drum is rotated to generate a distortion in the substrate, and the processor acquires a thickness t of the substrate, acquires a width w of the substrate which is the length of the substrate in a direction perpendicular to the substrate transport direction, acquires an initial tension T0 applied to the substrate at an initial rotation position of the other drum, acquires a rotation angle dθ from the initial rotation position of the other drum, acquires a tension T applied to the substrate at a rotation position obtained by rotating the other drum by the rotation angle dθ from the initial rotation position, acquires a radius r of the other drum, and acquires a length L of the substrate transport path between the one drum and the other drum, and when the distortion ε generated in the substrate is expressed as ε=r×dθ×L, derives the Young's modulus expressed using the following formula E=T / (t×w×ε) as the elastic modulus.

[0035] According to this aspect, one of a plurality of drums supporting the substrate is fixed while the other drum is rotated to induce distortion in the substrate, and the Young's modulus E of the substrate can be derived as the elastic modulus of the substrate based on the initial tension T0 applied to the substrate, the rotation angle dθ from the initial position of the other drum, and the tension T applied to the substrate at a rotational position rotated by the rotation angle dθ from the initial position.

[0036] The multiple drums may refer to a first drum and a second drum.

[0037] In a printing system according to another aspect, one of a plurality of drums supporting a substrate is fixed and the other drum is rotated to generate a distortion in the substrate, and the processor acquires a width w of the substrate, which is the length of the substrate in a direction perpendicular to the substrate transport direction, acquires an initial tension T0 applied to the substrate at the initial rotation position of the other drum, acquires a rotation angle dθ from the initial rotation position of the other drum, acquires a tension T applied to the substrate at a rotation position obtained by rotating the other drum by the rotation angle dθ from the initial rotation position, acquires a radius r of the other drum, and acquires a length L of the transport path of the substrate between the one drum and the other drum. When the distortion ε generated in the substrate is expressed as ε=r×dθ×L, a value expressed using the following formula E×t=T / (w×ε) is derives as the elastic modulus.

[0038] According to this aspect, one of a plurality of drums supporting the substrate is fixed while the other drum is rotated to induce distortion in the substrate, and based on the initial tension T0 applied to the substrate, the rotation angle dθ from the initial position of the other drum, and the tension T applied to the substrate at a rotational position rotated by the rotation angle dθ from the initial position, the value E×t obtained by multiplying the Young's modulus E of the substrate by the thickness t of the substrate can be derived as the elastic modulus of the substrate.

[0039] In a printing system according to another embodiment, a second tension measuring device for measuring a second tension is provided, and the processor measures second measurement data T b The second measurement data T b is used to feedback control the second tensioning device.

[0040] According to this embodiment, the second measurement data T b A feedback control of the second tension based on the above can be performed.

[0041] In a printing system according to another embodiment, a first tension measuring device for measuring a first tension is provided, and a processor is configured to measure first measurement data Ta The first measurement data T a is used to feedback control the first tensioning device.

[0042] According to this embodiment, the first measurement data T a A feedback control of the first tension based on the above can be performed.

[0043] In a printing system according to another embodiment, the processor calculates the Young's modulus E of the reference substrate as the elastic modulus of the reference substrate. r and the thickness of the reference substrate t r Obtain the width of the reference substrate w r The upper limit value T of the first tension in the reference substrate is obtained. ur The lower limit value T of the first tension on the reference substrate is obtained. Lr The Young's modulus E of the substrate to be used is obtained, the thickness t of the substrate to be used is obtained, and the width w of the substrate to be used, which is the length of the substrate to be used in the direction perpendicular to the substrate transport direction, is obtained, and the following formula T u =T ur ×(E / E r )×(t / t r ) 2 ×(w / w r The upper limit of the first tension in the substrate used is expressed by T u and the following equation T L =T Lr ×(w / w r The lower limit of the first tension in the substrate used is expressed by T L A value between these is set as the first tension setting value.

[0044] According to this embodiment, the upper limit value T of the first tension in the reference substrate ur and the lower limit of the first tension T Lr A first tension setting value based on the

[0045] In another aspect of the printing system, the processor calculates the following formula (T u +T L) / 2 or any coefficient greater than 0 and less than 1, the following formula (T u -T L )×x+T L The value derived using is set as the first tension setting value.

[0046] According to this aspect, the first tension setting value can be set to an intermediate value between the upper limit value of the first tension and the lower limit value of the first tension in the substrate being used, which is derived based on the upper limit value of the first tension and the lower limit value of the first tension in the reference substrate.

[0047] In a printing system according to another aspect, the transport device is not in contact with the printing surface of the substrate when transporting the substrate in the second tensioning device.

[0048] According to this aspect, it is possible to suppress deterioration in the image quality of the printed image printed on the printing surface of the base material that has been subjected to the first treatment.

[0049] In a printing system according to another embodiment, the first processing device is a precoat application device that applies a precoat liquid to the substrate, the precoat liquid reacting with the ink applied to the substrate using the printing device to aggregate the ink.

[0050] According to this aspect, it is possible to prevent the precoat liquid applied to the printing surface of the substrate from being chipped off.

[0051] In another aspect of the printing system, the printing system includes a third processing device arranged at a position downstream of the printing device in the substrate transport direction, which applies a third processing to the substrate being transported, and a third tension application device that applies a third tension to the substrate transported in the third processing device using the transport device, and the processor derives a third tension setting value to be applied to the third tension application device based on the acquired elastic modulus of the substrate, and applies the derived third tension setting value to control the third tension applied to the substrate using the third tension application device.

[0052] According to this aspect, a third tension setting value to be applied to the third tension applying device is derived based on the elastic modulus of the substrate, and the third tension is controlled based on the third tension setting value, thereby realizing stable transport of the substrate in the third processing device located downstream in the substrate transport direction of the printing device.

[0053] The printing method according to the present disclosure is a printing method that transports a continuous substrate in a substrate transport direction, applies a first tension to the transported substrate to perform a first treatment, and applies a second tension to the substrate that has been subjected to the first treatment to perform printing, and acquires an elastic modulus of the substrate, derives a first distortion that occurs in the substrate when the substrate is transported when the first treatment is performed based on the acquired elastic modulus, and derives a second distortion that occurs in the substrate when the substrate is transported when printing is performed based on the derived first distortion and second distortion, derives a second tension setting value that is set when the second tension is applied based on the derived first distortion and second distortion, and applies the derived second tension setting value to control the second tension applied to the substrate.

[0054] According to the printing method of the present disclosure, it is possible to obtain the same effects as the printing system of the present disclosure. The components of the printing system of the other aspects can be applied to the components of the printing method of the other aspects.

[0055] The conveying system according to the present disclosure is a conveying system that conveys a continuous substrate in a substrate conveying direction, and includes a first tension application device that applies a first tension to the substrate conveyed in a first processing device that applies a first treatment to the substrate, a second tension application device that is arranged at a position downstream of the first processing device in the substrate conveying direction and applies a second tension to the substrate conveyed in a second processing device that performs a second treatment on the substrate, and one or more processors, wherein the processor acquires an elastic modulus of the substrate, derives a first strain that occurs in the substrate when the substrate is conveyed in the first processing device and a second strain that occurs in the substrate when the substrate is conveyed in the second processing device based on the acquired elastic modulus, derives a second tension setting value to be applied to the second tension application device based on the derived first strain and second strain, applies the derived second tension setting value, and is a conveying device that controls the second tension applied to the substrate using the second tension application device.

[0056] According to the conveying system of the present disclosure, it is possible to obtain the same operational effects as the printing system of the present disclosure. The components of the printing system of the other aspects can be applied to the components of the conveying system of the other aspects.

[0057] The conveying method according to the present disclosure is a conveying method that conveys a continuous substrate in a substrate conveying direction, applies a first tension to the substrate being conveyed to perform a first treatment, and applies a second tension to the substrate that has been subjected to the first treatment to perform a second treatment, and acquires an elastic modulus of the substrate, derives a first strain that occurs in the substrate when the substrate is conveyed when the first treatment is performed and a second strain that occurs in the substrate when the substrate is conveyed when the second treatment is performed based on the acquired elastic modulus, derives a second tension setting value that is set when the second tension is applied based on the derived first strain and second strain, and applies the derived second tension setting value to control the second tension applied to the substrate.

[0058] According to the conveying method of the present disclosure, it is possible to obtain the same effects as those of the printing system of the present disclosure. The components of the printing system of the other aspects can be applied to the components of the conveying method of the other aspects. Effect of the Invention

[0059] According to the present invention, a second strain of the substrate in the printing device is derived based on the elastic modulus of the substrate, a second tension setting value to be applied to the second tension applying device is derived based on the second strain, and the second tension is controlled based on the second tension setting value. This makes it possible to realize stable transport of the substrate in the printing device regardless of the type of substrate.

[0060] In addition, a first strain of the substrate in a first processing device located upstream in the substrate transport direction of the printing device is derived based on the elastic modulus of the substrate, and a second tension setting value based on the first strain is derived. This makes it possible to realize stable transport of the substrate in the printing device regardless of the strain of the substrate in the first processing device located upstream in the substrate transport direction of the printing device. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0061] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing an example of the configuration of the precoat device and the printing device shown in FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the printing apparatus shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the printing system shown in FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the transport control unit shown in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the printing method according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a printing method according to a modified example. [Figure 8]FIG. 8 is a table showing the results of the evaluation test when the conveying tension is changed. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a table showing the relationship between flatness and positional deviation. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a table showing the calculation results of the upper limit value of the conveying tension in the second method. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a table showing the calculation results of the lower limit value of the conveying tension in the second method. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a table showing the calculation results of the conveying tension setting value in the third method. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a table showing the evaluation results of the transport stability of each method. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0062] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this specification, the same components are designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicated descriptions will be omitted as appropriate.

[0063] [Clarification of the issue] 2. Description of the Related Art A printing system that prints on film substrates such as flexible packaging materials includes multiple sections that perform various processes such as feeding, pre-processing, printing, drying, inspection, and winding up the film substrate.

[0064] An example of the film substrate is a continuous body. An example of the transport of the film substrate is transport by a roll-to-roll method. An example of the pretreatment is corona treatment, application of a precoat liquid, drying of the precoat liquid, etc. An example of the printing is inkjet printing.

[0065] In a printing system having multiple sections, the overall transport distance of the film substrate becomes long. For the purpose of stabilizing the transport of the film substrate, the printing system is provided with a transport mechanism for transporting the film substrate for each section, and the transport tension applied to the film substrate is controlled for each section.

[0066] Due to differences in processing in each section, each section has different components and a different transport path for the film substrate. As a result, the appropriate transport conditions for the film substrate differ for each section. In a printing system with multiple sections, it is necessary to perform a transport test for the film substrate for each section to establish the appropriate transport conditions for the film substrate for each section.

[0067] There are multiple types of flexible packaging materials that are applied to film substrates, differing in material, thickness, width, etc. To achieve stable transport of flexible packaging materials, it is necessary to conduct transport tests for each type of film substrate and establish appropriate transport conditions for each type of film substrate.

[0068] When transport conditions that deviate from the appropriate transport conditions are applied to a printing system, there is a concern that wrinkles may occur, scratches may occur due to slippage between the film substrate and the transport mechanism for the film substrate, and the film substrate may meander.

[0069] Examples of problems that may occur in printing systems that use the inkjet method include the following items (1) to (4).

[0070] (1) Image defects occur due to contact between the surface of the film substrate on which the precoat liquid is applied and an inkjet head or the like.

[0071] (2) Wrinkles occurring in the film substrate cause the film substrate to come into contact with the inkjet head, resulting in damage to the inkjet head.

[0072] (3) Wrinkles in the film substrate cause creases in the printed matter, known as folds.

[0073] (4) Misalignment of the printing position occurs, which is called misalignment of the printing position.

[0074] Stable transport of the film substrate is effective for quality assurance of the printed matter. The printed matter is a film substrate on which an image based on print data is printed. The printed matter may include a form in which post-processing is performed after printing.

[0075] On the other hand, the transport conditions in the printing system are affected by the specifications of each section and the specifications of the film substrate, etc. This makes it difficult to derive transport conditions that can realize stable transport of the film substrate. Examples of the specifications of the printing system include the physical properties of the pass rollers that guide the film substrate, the surface treatment of the pass rollers, the wrap angle that is the winding angle of the film substrate around the pass rollers, the distance between the pass rollers, the parallelism between the pass rollers, and the transport speed of the film substrate. Examples of the physical properties of the pass rollers include the material, rigidity, diameter, and inertia.

[0076] Examples of the film substrate specifications include the material, elastic modulus, thickness, and width of the film substrate. The film substrate may have variations in physical properties due to differences in lots. The printing system according to the embodiment described below solves at least one of the above problems and derives appropriate transport conditions for the film substrate.

[0077] That is, in the printing system according to the embodiment described below, transport conditions that impart a certain amount of distortion to the film substrate are derived in each section where various conditions differ.

[0078] In addition, the transport conditions that give a certain amount of distortion to the film substrate are derived regardless of the type of film substrate, such as its material, thickness, width, etc. Furthermore, appropriate transport conditions are derived for each section based on the measurement data of the transport tension in each section.

[0079] [Printing system configuration example] [Overall structure] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment. In the figure, the letter Y indicates the horizontal direction. Also, the letter Z indicates the vertically upward direction. The same applies to the letters Y and Z in Figs. 2 and 3.

[0080] The printing system 10 is a printing system that employs an inkjet method and a single pass method, and prints a color image on a film substrate 1. The film substrate 1 is a transparent, non-permeable medium used for flexible packaging. Examples of the film substrate 1 include ONY (Oriented Nylon), OPP (Oriented PolyPropylene), and PET (PolyEthylene Terephthalate). The printing system 10 creates a reverse-printed printed matter in which the printing target is visible from the side opposite the printed surface of the film substrate 1.

[0081] In addition, "non-permeable" means that the material is non-permeable to the water-based primer and water-based ink described below. "Flexible packaging" means packaging made of a material that deforms depending on the shape of the packaged item. "Transparent" means that the visible light transmittance is 30% or more and 100% or less, and preferably 70% or more and 100% or less.

[0082] The printing system 10 includes a conveying device 20, a supplying device 30, a pre-coating device 50, a jetting device 80, a main drying device 100, and a collecting device 120. The printing system 10 also includes a plurality of tension pickups. Each of the components will be described in detail below.

[0083] [Transportation device] A roll-to-roll system is applied to the conveying device 20. The conveying device 20 conveys the film substrate 1 along a conveying path from the supplying device 30 to the recovery device 120 in the conveying direction of the film substrate 1, in the order of the supplying device 30, the pre-coating device 50, the jetting device 80, the main drying device 100, and the recovery device 120.

[0084] The transport direction of the film substrate 1 refers to the direction in which the film substrate 1 travels along the transport path from the supply device 30 to the recovery device 120. Hereinafter, the transport direction of the film substrate 1 may be referred to as the substrate transport direction.

[0085] The conveying device 20 includes a plurality of pass rollers 22. One or more pass rollers 22 are disposed in each of the supply device 30, the precoat device 50, the jetting device 80, the main drying device 100, and the recovery device 120.

[0086] The conveying device 20 includes a first supply drive roller 34 and a second supply drive roller 36. The first supply drive roller 34 and the second supply drive roller 36 are disposed on a conveying path of the film substrate 1 in the supplying device 30. The first supply drive roller 34 and the second supply drive roller 36 each rotate in response to the rotation of a motor connected to a rotation shaft.

[0087] The first supply drive roller 34 and the second supply drive roller 36 apply a specified transport tension to the film substrate 1 supported on their outer circumferential surfaces, and transport the film substrate 1 in the rotation direction. Note that the rotation shafts of the first supply drive roller 34 and the second supply drive roller 36 and the motors connected to the respective rotation shafts are not shown in the drawings.

[0088] The conveying device 20 includes a precoat driving roller. The precoat driving roller is disposed on a conveying path of the film substrate 1 in the precoat device 50. The precoat driving roller is omitted in Fig. 1. The precoat driving roller is indicated by reference numeral 51 in Fig. 2.

[0089] The precoat drive roller rotates in response to the rotation of a motor connected to the rotating shaft. The precoat drive roller applies a specified transport tension to the film substrate 1 supported on the outer circumferential surface thereof, and transports the film substrate 1 in the direction of rotation. The rotating shaft of the precoat drive roller and the motor connected to the rotating shaft are not shown in the drawings. The precoat drive roller described in the embodiment is an example of a first tension applying device.

[0090] The conveying device 20 includes a first suction drum 84 and a second suction drum 86. The first suction drum 84 and the second suction drum 86 are disposed on a conveying path of the film substrate 1 in the jetting device 80.

[0091] The first suction drum 84 rotates in response to the rotation of a motor connected to a rotary shaft. A plurality of suction holes are formed in the outer circumferential surface of the first suction drum 84. The arrangement of the plurality of suction holes is based on a prescribed arrangement pattern.

[0092] Each of the suction holes is connected to a pump via an air flow path formed inside first suction drum 84. The pump generates negative pressure in each of the suction holes. First suction drum 84 applies negative pressure to film substrate 1, thereby supporting film substrate 1 by suction onto the outer circumferential surface.

[0093] The rotary shaft of the first suction drum 84, the motor connected to the rotary shaft, the air flow path, and the pump are not shown. The second suction drum 86 may have the same structure as the first suction drum 84.

[0094] The first suction drum 84 and the second suction drum 86 apply a transport tension to the film substrate 1 transported in the jetting device 80 according to the difference between the rotation speed of the first suction drum 84 and the rotation speed of the second suction drum 86. Here, the term "speed" in this specification may include the concept of speed indicating the magnitude of the speed.

[0095] The first suction drum 84 and the second suction drum 86 described in the embodiment are examples of components of a second tension applying device that applies the second tension. The first suction drum 84 described in the embodiment is an example of a first drum. The second suction drum 86 described in the embodiment is an example of a second drum.

[0096] The conveying device 20 includes a first non-contact turn device 60 and a second non-contact turn device 92. The first non-contact turn device 60 and the second non-contact turn device 92 are disposed on the conveying path of the film substrate 1 in the jetting device 80.

[0097] The first non-contact turn device 60 changes the direction of the transport path of the film substrate 1 from downward to upward without contacting the print surface of the film substrate 1. That is, the film substrate 1 guided downward by the path rollers 22 is guided upward by the first non-contact turn device 60.

[0098] In this specification, the term "downward" refers not only to the vertical downward direction but also to a direction that has a gravitational downward component and moves downward relative to the horizontal direction. Similarly, the term "upward" refers not only to the vertical upward direction but also to a direction that moves upward relative to the horizontal direction.

[0099] The first non-contact turn device 60 may apply a floating conveying method in which air is applied to the film substrate 1 to float the film substrate 1 from the conveying guide. Note that floating conveying is synonymous with floating conveying, non-contact conveying, and air float conveying.

[0100] The second non-contact turn device 92 changes the direction of the transport path of the film substrate 1 from downward to upward without contacting the print surface of the film substrate 1. That is, the film substrate 1 guided downward by the second suction drum 86 is guided upward by the second non-contact turn device 92.

[0101] The second non-contact turn device 92 may use a floating transport method, similar to the first non-contact turn device 60. The second non-contact turn device 92 may be provided with a drying function in which air is blown out. The second non-contact turn device 92 does not come into contact with the printing surface of the film substrate 1, and the drying process using the second non-contact turn device 92 has a reduced effect on image quality.

[0102] The conveying device 20 includes a main drying drive roller 106. The main drying drive roller 106 is disposed on a conveying path of the film substrate 1 in the main drying device 100. The main drying drive roller 106 rotates in response to the rotation of a motor connected to a rotating shaft. The main drying drive roller 106 applies a specified conveying tension to the film substrate 1 supported on its outer circumferential surface, and conveys the film substrate 1 along the rotation direction.

[0103] In addition, illustration of the rotation shaft of the main drying drive roller 106 and the motor connected to the rotation shaft is omitted. The main drying drive roller 106 described in the embodiment is an example of a third tension applying device.

[0104] The transport device 20 includes a first collecting drive roller 130, a second collecting drive roller 132, and a take-up roll 122. The first collecting drive roller 130, the second collecting drive roller 132, and the take-up roll 122 are disposed on a transport path of the film substrate 1 in the collecting device 120.

[0105] The transport device 20 rotates the first supply drive roller 34 to feed the film substrate 1 from the feed roll 32. The transport device 20 rotates the reel of the winding roll 122 to wind the printed film substrate 1 onto the winding roll 122.

[0106] The film substrate 1 is transported along a transport path from the delivery roll 32 to the take-up roll 122 by using the transport device 20. Furthermore, a specified transport tension is applied to the film substrate 1 in each section such as the precoat device 50.

[0107] Here, the length of the film substrate 1 in the direction parallel to the printed surface and perpendicular to the substrate transport direction is referred to as the width of the film substrate 1. The length of the film substrate 1 in the direction perpendicular to the printed surface is referred to as the thickness of the film substrate 1.

[0108] [Tension Pickup] The printing system 10 includes a first tension pickup 23, a second tension pickup 24, a third tension pickup 25, a fourth tension pickup 26, a fifth tension pickup 27, and a sixth tension pickup 28.

[0109] The first tension pickup 23 is disposed in the supply device 30 and measures the transport tension applied to the film substrate 1 in the supply device 30. The second tension pickup 24 is disposed in the precoat device 50 and measures the transport tension applied to the film substrate 1 in the precoat device 50.

[0110] The third tension pickup 25 is disposed in the jetting device 80 and measures the transport tension applied to the film substrate 1 in the jetting device 80. The fourth tension pickup 26 is disposed in the main drying device 100 and measures the transport tension applied to the film substrate 1 in the main drying device 100. The fifth tension pickup 27 is disposed in the collecting device 120 and measures the transport tension applied to the film substrate 1 in the collecting device 120.

[0111] The second tension pickup 24 described in the embodiments is an example of a first tension measuring device. The measurement data of the second tension pickup 24 described in the embodiments is an example of first measurement data. The third tension pickup 25 described in the embodiments is an example of a second tension measuring device. The measurement data of the third tension pickup 25 described in the embodiments is an example of second measurement data.

[0112] [Feeding device] The supply device 30 includes a feed roll 32. The feed roll 32 includes a rotatably supported reel. The film substrate 1 before an image is printed is wound in a roll shape around the reel. The reel is not shown in the figure.

[0113] The supply device 30 includes a corona treatment device 38. The corona treatment device 38 is disposed at a position downstream of the second supply drive roller 36 and upstream of the first tension pickup 23 in the base material conveying direction.

[0114] The corona treatment device 38 performs a corona discharge treatment on the printed surface of the film substrate 1, improving the adhesion between the water-repellent printed surface and the water-based primer and water-based ink. That is, the corona treatment device 38 modifies the surface of the printed surface of the film substrate 1. The surface-modified printed surface of the film substrate 1 has a surface free energy suitable for the aqueous mixture of the water-based primer and the water-based ink.

[0115] An example of the surface free energy of the printing surface of the surface-modified film substrate 1 is in the range of 40 to 60 millinewtons per square meter. In this way, by applying the corona treatment device 38, the wettability of the printing surface of the film substrate 1 can be ensured to be suitable for aqueous mixtures.

[0116] The film substrate 1 that has been subjected to the corona discharge treatment using the corona treatment device 38 is transported to a precoat device 50 .

[0117] [Precoat device] The precoat device 50 is disposed downstream of the supply device 30 in the substrate transport direction and upstream of the jetting device 80. The precoat device 50 applies a precoat liquid to the printing surface of the film substrate 1. An example of the precoat liquid is a water-based primer.

[0118] The aqueous primer is a liquid containing a component that aggregates, insolubilizes, or thickens the coloring material components in the aqueous ink, and reacts with the aqueous color ink and the aqueous white ink. The amount of the aqueous primer applied is about one-tenth of the amount of the aqueous ink applied droplets ejected by the jetting device 80. The viscosity of the aqueous primer may be 0.5 centipoise or more and 5.0 centipoise or less. 1 centipoise is 0.001 Pascal second.

[0119] The precoat device 50 includes a coater 52 and a precoat drying device 58. A plurality of pass rollers 22 are arranged on the transport path of the film substrate 1 in the precoat device 50. The film substrate 1 transported from the supply device 30 is guided by the plurality of pass rollers 22 and transported to a position facing the coater 52.

[0120] A chamber doctor type may be applied to the coater 52. The chamber doctor type coater 52 includes a coating roller 54, a chamber 55, and an opposing roller 56. The coating roller 54 rotates in response to the rotation of a motor connected to the rotating shaft.

[0121] The water-based primer stored in the chamber 55 is supplied to the outer circumferential surface of the application roller 54. The excess water-based primer supplied to the outer circumferential surface of the application roller 54 is removed using a blade.

[0122] The application roller 54 sandwiches the film substrate 1 between itself and the opposing roller 56, and applies a specified amount of the water-based primer to the printing surface of the film substrate 1. The film substrate 1 coated with the water-based primer is guided by a plurality of pass rollers 22 and transported to a position facing the precoat drying device 58. Note that the motor and blade connected to the rotating shaft of the application roller 54 are not shown in the figure.

[0123] The precoat drying device 58 includes a hot air heater. The hot air heater includes a slit nozzle having a length corresponding to the overall length across the entire width of the film substrate 1. The precoat drying device 58 may include a plurality of slit nozzles.

[0124] The precoat drying device 58 blows hot air from a slit nozzle of a hot air heater toward the printed surface of the film substrate 1 to dry the water-based primer. Note that the hot air heater and the slit are not shown in the drawings.

[0125] The film substrate 1 to which the aqueous primer has been applied using the precoat device 50 and from which the aqueous primer has been dried is transported from the precoat device 50 to the jetting device 80. The precoat device 50 described in the embodiment is an example of a first processing device and an example of a precoat application device. The application of the precoat described in the embodiment is an example of the first processing.

[0126] [Jetting Device] The jetting device 80 includes a color printing device 88, a white printing device 90, and an inspection device 97. The film substrate 1 transported from the precoat device 50 is transported via a plurality of pass rollers 22, a first non-contact turn device 60, a first suction drum 84, a third tension pickup 25, a second suction drum 86, and a second non-contact turn device 92.

[0127] In the transport path of the film substrate 1 between the first suction drum 84 and the second suction drum 86, a color printing device 88, a white printing device 90, and an inspection device 97 are arranged in this order from the upstream side in the substrate transport direction.

[0128] The color printing device 88 prints a color image by depositing droplets of water-based color ink onto the printing surface of the film substrate 1. The color printing device 88 is equipped with an inkjet head 96K, an inkjet head 96C, an inkjet head 96M, and an inkjet head 96Y.

[0129] The inkjet head 96K, the inkjet head 96C, the inkjet head 96M, and the inkjet head 96Y eject black, cyan, magenta, and yellow water-based inks, respectively.

[0130] Water-based ink is an ink in which pigments and other coloring materials are dissolved or dispersed in a water-soluble solvent. Organic pigments are used as the pigments in water-based inks. The viscosity of water-based inks is between 0.5 centipoise and 5.0 centipoise.

[0131] Water-based ink is supplied from ink tanks of the corresponding colors to each of the inkjet heads 96K, 96C, 96M, and 96Y through piping paths. The ink tanks and piping paths are not shown.

[0132] Hereinafter, the inkjet head 96K, the inkjet head 96C, the inkjet head 96M, and the inkjet head 96Y may be collectively referred to as the inkjet head 96.

[0133] The inkjet head 96 is a line-type head that can print over the entire printing area of ​​the film substrate 1 by performing a single scan on the film substrate 1 transported by the transport device 20. The position and orientation of the inkjet head 96 are such that the nozzle surface faces the path roller 22. The inkjet head 96K, the inkjet head 96C, the inkjet head 96M, and the inkjet head 96Y are arranged at regular intervals along the transport path of the film substrate 1.

[0134] The inkjet head 96 has a plurality of nozzles. The nozzles include nozzle openings, ink flow paths, and energy generating elements. The nozzle openings are arranged two-dimensionally on the nozzle surface of the inkjet head 96. A water-repellent film is formed on the nozzle surface of the inkjet head 96.

[0135] The energy generating element may be a piezoelectric element. The inkjet head 96 equipped with a piezoelectric element ejects ink droplets from the nozzle opening by utilizing the flexural deformation of the piezoelectric element. The energy generating element may be a heater. The inkjet head 96 equipped with a heater ejects ink droplets from the nozzle opening by utilizing the film boiling phenomenon of ink. Note that illustrations of the nozzle, nozzle opening, ink flow path, and energy generating element are omitted.

[0136] The inkjet head 96 may have a structure in which a plurality of head modules are joined together in the width direction of the film substrate 1. In the following description, the width direction of the film substrate 1 may be referred to as the substrate width direction.

[0137] 1 shows an embodiment in which four water-based inks of different colors are applied, but the ink colors are not limited to black, cyan, magenta, and yellow. For example, an embodiment in which light-colored inks such as light magenta and light cyan are applied, and an embodiment in which special color inks such as green, orange, violet, clear, and metallic are applied are also applicable. Furthermore, the arrangement order of the inkjet heads of each color is not limited to the example shown in FIG. 1.

[0138] The white printing device 90 is disposed at a position downstream in the substrate transport direction from the color printing device 88. The white printing device 90 prints a white background image by depositing droplets of water-based white ink onto the printing surface of the film substrate 1.

[0139] Titanium oxide is used as the pigment for the water-based white ink. The specific gravity of the water-based white ink is relatively higher than that of the organic pigments of the color inks, and the ink liquid as a whole is relatively heavy. The white printing device 90 includes an inkjet head 96W1 and an inkjet head 96W2 that eject the water-based white ink.

[0140] The white printing device 90 may have a similar configuration to that of the color printing device 88. The inkjet head 96W1 and the inkjet head 96W2 may have a similar configuration to that of the inkjet head 96K and the like.

[0141] The inspection device 97 inspects a test pattern image, such as a nozzle check pattern, printed on the film substrate 1. The inspection device 97 includes a first scanner 98 and a second scanner 99. The first scanner 98 and the second scanner 99 each include an imaging device that captures an image of the test pattern image printed on the printing surface of the film substrate 1 and converts the captured image into an electrical signal.

[0142] Examples of imaging devices include CCD image sensors and color CMOS image sensors. CCD is an abbreviation for Charge Coupled Device. CMOS is an abbreviation for Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor.

[0143] The image data output from the first scanner 98 and the second scanner 99 is sent to a test pattern determination unit. The test pattern determination unit identifies defective nozzles based on the image data of the test pattern. The test pattern determination unit is not shown in the figure.

[0144] The film substrate 1 on which the test pattern image has been captured using the inspection device 97 is transported to the main drying device 100.

[0145] The jetting device 80 described in the embodiment is an example of a second processing device. Printing using the jetting device 80 described in the embodiment is an example of a second processing.

[0146] [Main drying device] The main drying device 100 is disposed at a position downstream of the jetting device 80 in the substrate transport direction. The main drying device 100 dries the water-based ink adhering to the printing surface of the film substrate 1.

[0147] The main drying device 100 includes a plurality of hot air heaters 104. A fourth tension pickup 26, a plurality of pass rollers 22, and a main drying drive roller 106 are arranged on the transport path of the film substrate 1 in the main drying device 100. The film substrate 1 transported from the jetting device 80 is guided and transported using the pass rollers 22 and the main drying drive roller 106.

[0148] The hot air heaters 104 are disposed with their air-blowing surfaces facing the printed surface of the film substrate 1. The hot air heaters 104 blow hot air from round nozzles toward the printed surface of the film substrate 1 to dry the water-based ink. Note that the air-blowing surfaces and round nozzles of the hot air heaters 104 are omitted from the illustration.

[0149] The film substrate 1 from which the water-based ink has been dried using the hot air heater 104 is transported to a recovery device 120 via a plurality of path rollers 22 and a main drying drive roller 106 .

[0150] The main drying device 100 described in the embodiment is an example of the third processing device, and the drying process using the main drying device 100 described in the embodiment is an example of the third process.

[0151] [Recovery device] The recovery device 120 includes a take-up roll 122 and an inspection device 124. The inspection device 124 inspects the printed image printed on the printing surface of the film substrate 1. The inspection device 124 includes a third scanner 126 and a fourth scanner 128. The third scanner 126 and the fourth scanner 128 may have the same configuration as the first scanner 98.

[0152] The third scanner 126 and the fourth scanner 128 are disposed on opposite sides of the printing surface of the film substrate 1, and read the printed image printed on the printing surface of the film substrate 1 from the opposite side of the printing surface.

[0153] The captured image data of the print image output from the third scanner 126 and the fourth scanner 128 is sent to a print image determination unit. The print image determination unit determines the quality of the print image based on the captured image data of the print image. The print image determination unit is not shown in the figure.

[0154] In the conveying path of the film substrate 1 in the recovery device 120, a plurality of pass rollers 22, a fifth tension pickup 27, a first recovery drive roller 130, a second recovery drive roller 132, a sixth tension pickup 28, and a pressure roller 136 are arranged.

[0155] The film substrate 1 transported from the main drying device 100 is guided and transported using a plurality of pass rollers 22, a first collecting drive roller 130, a second collecting drive roller 132, and a pressure roller 136.

[0156] The film substrate 1, whose printed image has been inspected using the inspection device 124, is wound onto the winding roll 122. A pressure roller 136 is disposed in a position facing the winding roll 122. The pressure roller 136 is provided at the tip of a swing arm 138. The swing arm 138 uses a pressing member to press the pressure roller 136 against the film substrate 1 wound onto the winding roll 122.

[0157] Detailed Description of Precoat Apparatus and Printing Apparatus Fig. 2 is a configuration diagram showing an example of the configuration of the precoat device and printing device shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a configuration diagram showing an example of the configuration of the printing device shown in Fig. 2. Note that some of the components provided in the printing system 10 shown in Fig. 1 are omitted in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3. Also, components provided in the jetting device 80 are omitted in Fig. 2.

[0158] 2, a precoat drive roller 51 applies a specified transport tension to the film substrate 1, and transports the film substrate 1 along a transport path. A precoat liquid is applied to the film substrate 1 using a coater 52, and a drying process is performed using a precoat drying device 58.

[0159] The second tension pickup 24 measures the transport tension applied to the film substrate 1 in the precoat device 50. The measurement data of the second tension pickup 24 is applied to feedback control of the transport tension in the precoat device 50. The measurement data of the second tension pickup 24 is also applied to derive a transport tension setting value in the jetting device 80.

[0160] In the jetting device 80 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a first suction drum 84 and a second suction drum 86 apply a specified transport tension to the film substrate 1, and transport the film substrate 1 along its transport path.

[0161] The first suction drum 84 is adapted for one-sided contact, that is, contact with the surface of the film substrate 1 opposite to the printed surface, but not with the printed surface. The first suction drum 84 exerts a high holding force on the film substrate 1 without allowing the film substrate 1 to slip against the outer circumferential surface. The first suction drum 84 may be a grooved roller having a plurality of fine grooves formed on its outer circumferential surface. The second suction drum 86 may be configured similarly to the first suction drum 84.

[0162] In addition, in a printing system that does not include a precoat device 50 and does not apply precoat liquid to the film substrate 1, of the first suction drum 84 and the second suction drum 86 shown in Figure 3, only the second suction drum 86 may be in one-sided contact with the film substrate 1.

[0163] The third tension pickup 25 is disposed at a position between the first suction drum 84 and the second suction drum 86 on the transport path of the film substrate 1, and at a position downstream in the substrate transport direction of the multiple inkjet heads 96. The third tension pickup 25 measures the transport tension of the film substrate 1 according to the difference in rotational speed between the first suction drum 84 and the second suction drum 86.

[0164] The measurement data of the third tension pickup 25 is applied to feedback control of the conveying tension in the jetting device 80. In addition, the measurement data of the third tension pickup 25 is applied to derive a conveying tension setting value in the jetting device 80.

[0165] The jetting device 80 provided in the printing system 10 shown in this embodiment incorporates a mechanism for generating a transport tension applied to the film substrate 1 and a measuring device for measuring the transport tension. This makes it possible to derive the elastic modulus of the film substrate 1.

[0166] As a result, other sections of the printing system 10 do not need to be equipped with a measuring device for measuring the elastic modulus of the film substrate 1 described above, and the configuration of the printing system 10 can be made compact and inexpensive.

[0167] Furthermore, a conveying tension that realizes a specified distortion of the film substrate 1 is derived and set based on the elastic modulus of the film substrate 1. This makes it possible to control the distortion of the film substrate 1 that occurs in the jetting device 80, regardless of differences in the film substrate 1 such as the type of film substrate 1 and individual differences.

[0168] Controlling the distortion of the film substrate 1 makes it possible to prevent the occurrence of wrinkles in the film substrate 1, regardless of the type of film substrate 1, and to obtain uniform quality of the printed image printed on the film substrate 1.

[0169] [Electrical configuration of the printing system] [Overall structure] Fig. 4 is a functional block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the printing system shown in Fig. 1. The printing system 10 includes one or more processors 160 and one or more memories 162. The printing system 10 includes a communication interface 170, a sensor 171, a display device 172, and an input device 173.

[0170] The printing system 10 performs data communication with an external device via the communication interface 170. The communication interface 170 may be compliant with a standard such as USB (Universal Serial Bus). The communication interface 170 may be compatible with a plurality of different standards. The communication interface 170 may be compatible with wireless data communication.

[0171] The sensor 171 includes sensors applied to each part of the printing system 10. The sensor 171 includes tension sensors such as the second tension pickup 24 and the third tension pickup 25 shown in Fig. 1 etc. The sensor 171 can include various sensors provided in the printing system 10, such as a temperature sensor and a position sensor.

[0172] The display device 172 displays various types of information applied to the printing system 10. The display device 172 performs display control based on a display control signal transmitted from the processor 160.

[0173] The input device 173 generates signals representing various types of information to be transmitted to the processor 160 in response to a user's operation, and transmits the signals representing various types of information to the processor 160. The input device 173 may include a keyboard and a mouse.

[0174] The processor 160 includes a general control unit 174, a transport control unit 176, a corona treatment control unit 178, a precoat control unit 180, a jetting control unit 182, a main drying control unit 184, and an information acquisition unit 186. Each unit included in the processor 160 corresponds to a function of the printing system 10 that is realized using the processor 160.

[0175] The overall control unit 174 executes programs applied to the printing system 10 and centrally controls the overall operation of the printing system 10. The overall control unit 174 transmits command signals to various control units. The overall control unit 174 functions as a memory controller that controls the storage of data in the memory 162 and the reading of data from the memory 162.

[0176] The overall control unit 174 controls data communication to which the communication interface 170 is applied. The overall control unit 174 acquires a sensor signal transmitted from the sensor 171, and transmits a command signal based on the sensor signal to various control units. The overall control unit 174 acquires an input signal transmitted from the input device 173, and transmits a command signal based on the input signal to various control units.

[0177] The transport control unit 176 transmits a command signal to the transport device 20 to control the operation of the transport device 20. The transport control unit 176 applies transport conditions to the transport device 20 to control the operation of a motor connected to the precoat drive roller 51 and the like provided in the transport device 20.

[0178] The transport control unit 176 also individually controls the transport tension applied to the film substrate 1 in each section, such as the precoat device 50 and the jetting device 80, provided in the printing system 10. In other words, the transport control unit 176 controls the transport tension of the film substrate 1 in each section from the supply device 30 to the recovery device 120.

[0179] The corona treatment control unit 178 sets the treatment conditions for the corona discharge treatment based on a command signal sent from the general control unit 174, and controls the operation of the corona treatment device 38 based on the set treatment conditions.

[0180] The precoat control unit 180 sets the processing conditions for the precoat process based on a command signal sent from the general control unit 174, and controls the operation of the precoat device 50 based on the set processing conditions.

[0181] The jetting control unit 182 sets processing conditions for the printing process based on a command signal sent from the overall control unit 174, and controls the operation of the jetting device 80 based on the set processing conditions. The jetting control unit 182 may include a color printing control unit that controls the color printing device 88 and a white printing control unit that controls the white printing device 90.

[0182] The jetting control unit 182 includes an image processing unit that performs color separation processing, color conversion processing, correction processing for each processing, and halftone processing on the print data to generate halftone data based on the print data.

[0183] The jetting control unit 182 includes a drive voltage generation unit that generates a drive voltage to be supplied to the inkjet head 96. The jetting control unit 182 includes a drive voltage output unit that supplies a drive voltage to the inkjet head 96.

[0184] The main drying control unit 184 sets processing conditions for the main drying process based on a command signal sent from the general control unit 174, and controls the operation of the main drying device 100 based on the set processing conditions.

[0185] The information acquisition unit 186 acquires various pieces of information that are applied to the control of the printing system 10. The information acquisition unit 186 stores the acquired various pieces of information. The general control unit 174 transmits command signals to various control units based on the various pieces of information acquired using the information acquisition unit 186.

[0186] The memory 162 stores various data applied to the control of the printing system 10. The memory 162 also stores various programs applied to the control of the printing system 10.

[0187] Furthermore, the memory 162 stores various parameters as various processing conditions applied to control the printing system 10. Furthermore, the memory 162 may be applied to the domain of calculations executed by the processor 160.

[0188] That is, the processor 160 reads a program stored in the memory 162 and executes the read program to realize various controls of the printing system 10. The processor 160 can read data and programs stored in the memory 162 when executing a program.

[0189] The memory 162 may be a semiconductor storage device, a magnetic storage device, an optical storage device, or the like. Examples of the semiconductor storage device include a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory). Examples of the magnetic storage device include a hard disk device, or the like. Examples of the optical storage device include an optical disk device, or the like. The memory 162 may include a plurality of types of storage devices.

[0190] [Example of the configuration of the transport control unit] Fig. 5 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration example of the transport control unit shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 5 illustrates components of the transport control unit 176 that are applied to control the components of the transport device 20 provided in the jetting device 80.

[0191] The non-contact turn devices labeled 60 and 92 represent the first non-contact turn device 60 and the second non-contact turn device 92 shown in Fig. 1. The suction drums labeled 84 and 86 represent the first suction drum 84 and the second suction drum 86. The tension pickups labeled 24 and 25 represent the second tension pickup 24 and the third tension pickup 25.

[0192] The conveyance control unit 176 includes a conveyance condition setting unit 190, a drive control unit 191, and a non-contact turn control unit 192. The conveyance condition setting unit 190 sets the rotation speeds applied to the first suction drum 84 and the second suction drum 86. The conveyance condition setting unit 190 sets the air volume applied to the first non-contact turn device 60 and the second non-contact turn device 92.

[0193] The drive control unit 191 controls the rotation speed of the first suction drum 84 based on the setting value of the rotation speed of the first suction drum 84 that is set using the transport condition setting unit 190. The drive control unit 191 acquires measurement data of the third tension pickup 25, and performs feedback control of the first suction drum 84 based on the measurement data of the third tension pickup 25.

[0194] The drive control unit 191 controls the rotation speed of the second suction drum 86 based on a set value of the rotation speed of the second suction drum 86 that is set using the transport condition setting unit 190. The drive control unit 191 performs feedback control of the second suction drum 86 based on the measurement data of the third tension pickup 25.

[0195] The non-contact turn control unit 192 controls the air volume of the first non-contact turn device 60 based on the setting value of the air volume applied to the first non-contact turn device 60 set using the transport condition setting unit 190.

[0196] The non-contact turn control unit 192 controls the air volume of the second non-contact turn device 92 based on the setting value of the air volume applied to the second non-contact turn device 92 set using the transport condition setting unit 190.

[0197] The conveying control unit 176 applies a configuration similar to that shown in FIG. 5 to control the operation of the first supply drive roller 34 and the like, and controls the conveying speed and conveying tension of the film substrate 1 on the conveying path from the delivery roll 32 to the take-up roll 122.

[0198] [Detailed Description of the Transport Condition Setting Unit] The transport condition setting unit 190 calculates the elastic modulus of the film substrate 1 based on information about the film substrate 1 and measurement data of the transport tension applied to the film substrate 1, and sets transport conditions under which a specified distortion of the film substrate 1 is achieved.

[0199] The transport condition setting unit 190 includes a substrate information acquisition unit 193 , a transport tension measurement data acquisition unit 194 , an elasticity calculation unit 195 , and a transport tension calculation unit 196 .

[0200] The substrate information acquiring unit 193 acquires information on the size of the film substrate 1, including the thickness and width of the film substrate 1. The substrate information acquiring unit 193 may acquire substrate information input using the input device 173 shown in FIG. 4, or may acquire measurement data obtained by measuring the film substrate 1.

[0201] The thickness of the film substrate 1 can be measured using a thickness meter. The width of the film substrate 1 can be measured using edge sensor measurement that uses a sensor to detect the edge of the film substrate 1 in the substrate width direction, and original web position detection that uses a sensor to detect the position of the film substrate 1.

[0202] The conveying tension measurement data acquisition unit 194 acquires the measurement data of the second tension pickup 24 and the measurement data of the third tension pickup 25. That is, the conveying tension measurement data acquisition unit 194 acquires the measurement data of the conveying tension in each section, and also acquires the measurement data of the conveying tension in an upstream section of each section.

[0203] The elastic modulus calculation unit 195 calculates the elastic modulus of the film substrate 1 using the information on the film substrate 1 and the measurement data of the transport tension. The elastic modulus calculation unit 195 stores the calculated elastic modulus of the film substrate 1 in association with the type of the film substrate 1. When the stress generated in the film substrate 1 is σ and the strain generated in the film substrate 1 is ε, Young's modulus E expressed by Equation 1 can be applied. The calculation of the elastic modulus will be described in detail later. E=σ / ε …Equation 1

[0204] The transport tension calculation unit 196 calculates a transport tension set value that is a target transport tension that is applied to transport control of the film substrate 1 in the jetting device 80. The transport condition setting unit 190 calculates a transport tension set value for each section based on the elastic modulus of the film substrate 1, and sets the calculated transport tension set value as the transport condition.

[0205] Figure 5 illustrates the components applied to the transport control of the film substrate 1 in the jetting device 80, but the components applied to the transport control of the film substrate 1 in each section of the printing system 10 shown in Figure 1 are similar to the components shown in Figure 5.

[0206] For example, the transport control of the film substrate 1 in the precoat device 50 shown in FIG. 2 may include a transport condition setting unit that sets the transport of the film substrate 1 in the precoat device 50 and a precoat drive roller control unit that controls the operation of the precoat drive roller 51.

[0207] The transport condition setting unit calculates a transport tension setting value for the film substrate 1 in the precoat device 50 using the elastic modulus of the film substrate 1, the measurement data of the first tension pickup 23, and the measurement data of the second tension pickup 24. The transport condition setting unit sets the calculated transport tension setting value as the transport condition. The elastic modulus of the film substrate 1 may be the elastic modulus of the film substrate 1 calculated by the elastic modulus calculation unit 195.

[0208] The precoat drive roller control unit controls the operation of the precoat drive roller 51 based on the set transport conditions. The precoat drive roller control unit is capable of feedback control of the transport tension applied to the film substrate 1 using the precoat drive roller 51 based on the measurement data of the second tension pickup 24. Similar transport control of the film substrate 1 is also possible for the supply device 30, the processor 160, and the recovery device 120 shown in FIG.

[0209] [Hardware configuration of various processing units and various control units] The hardware of the processing unit that performs various processes may be implemented using various processors. The processing unit may be called a processing unit. The various processors include a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a PLD (Programmable Logic Device), and an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit).

[0210] A CPU is a general-purpose processor that executes programs and functions as various processing units. A PLD is a processor whose circuit configuration can be changed after manufacturing. An example of a PLD is the Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). An ASIC is a dedicated electrical circuit with a circuit configuration designed specifically to perform a specific process.

[0211] A single processing unit may be configured with one of these various processors, or may be configured with two or more processors of the same or different types. For example, a single processing unit may be configured using multiple FPGAs, etc. A single processing unit may be configured by combining one or more FPGAs and one or more CPUs.

[0212] In addition, multiple processing units may be configured using one processor. As an example of using one processor to configure multiple processing units, one processor may be configured by combining one or more CPUs and software, and the single processor may function as multiple processing units. This type of configuration is typified by computers such as client terminal devices and server devices.

[0213] Another example of the configuration is a form that uses a processor that realizes the functions of the entire system including multiple processing units using a single IC chip. This form is typified by system on chip. Note that IC is an abbreviation for integrated circuit. Also, system on chip is sometimes written as SoC, which is an abbreviation for system on chip.

[0214] In this way, the various processing units are configured as a hardware structure using one or more of the various processors described above. More specifically, the hardware structure of the various processors is an electric circuit (circuitry) that combines circuit elements such as semiconductor elements.

[0215] [Procedure of the printing method according to the embodiment] 6 is a flowchart showing the steps of a printing method according to an embodiment of the present invention. The printing method described below is carried out when an unregistered film substrate 1 is used, when the transport conditions of a registered film substrate 1 are changed, and so on.

[0216] In the advance preparation step S10, the transport condition setting unit 190 shown in Fig. 5 sets provisional transport conditions for the reference substrate for each section. The provisional transport conditions include a provisional transport speed and a provisional transport tension. After the advance preparation step S10, the process proceeds to a substrate setting step S12.

[0217] One or more provisional transport conditions corresponding to a specified reference substrate are stored in the printing system 10. The reference substrate can be selected from any of the film substrates 1 applied to the printing system 10.

[0218] In the substrate setting step S12, the film substrate 1 to be used for printing is set on the conveying device 20. The substrate setting step S12 may include a substrate determination step of determining whether or not the conveying conditions for the film substrate 1 set on the conveying device 20 have been derived.

[0219] In the substrate setting step S12, the substrate information acquisition unit 193 may perform a substrate information acquisition step of acquiring substrate information of the film substrate 1 set on the conveying device 20. That is, the substrate setting step S12 may include a substrate information acquisition step of acquiring substrate information. After the substrate setting step S12, the process proceeds to a temporary conveying step S14.

[0220] In the provisional transport step S14, the transport control unit 176 transports the film substrate 1 set in the transport device 20 based on the provisional transport conditions. During the transport of the film substrate 1, a tension measurement step S16 is performed to measure the transport tension applied to the film substrate 1.

[0221] In the tension measurement step S16, the conveyance tension measurement data acquisition unit 194 acquires the measurement data of the second tension pickup 24 and the measurement data of the third tension pickup 25. After the tension measurement step S16, the process proceeds to the elastic modulus calculation step S18.

[0222] In the elastic modulus calculation step S18, the elastic modulus calculation unit 195 calculates the elastic modulus of the film base material 1 using the base material information and the measurement data of the conveyance tension. The elastic modulus calculation unit 195 can calculate the elastic modulus of the film base material 1 by applying the following procedure.

[0223] Let the rotational speed of the first suction drum 84 be V1 and the rotational speed of the second suction drum 86 be V2. When V1 < V2, a strain ε represented by Equation 2 occurs in the film base material 1. ε = (V2 - V1) / V1… Equation 2

[0224] A rotational speed difference may be generated between the first suction drum 84 and the second suction drum 86 with respect to the rotational speed V2 of the second suction drum 86. Note that the strain generated in the film base material 1 according to the rotational speed difference between the rotational speed V1 of the first suction drum 84 and the rotational speed V2 of the second suction drum 86 described in the embodiment is an example of the second strain.

[0225] In the precoat device 50 which is the upstream section of the jetting device 80, let the first measurement data which is the measurement data of the conveyance tension applied to the film base material 1 be T a And. In the jetting device 80, let the second measurement data which is the measurement data of the conveyance tension applied to the film base material 1 be T b And. In the jetting device 80, the tension T applied to the film base material 1 according to the difference V2 - V1 between the rotational speed V1 of the first suction drum 84 and the rotational speed V2 of the second suction drum 86 is represented by Equation 3. T = T b - T a … Equation 3

[0226] Note that the first measurement data Ta The measurement data of the second tension pickup 24 is applied to the second measurement data T b The measurement data of the third tension pickup 25 is applied.

[0227] The thickness of the film substrate 1 is t, and the width of the film substrate 1 is w. The Young's modulus E of the film substrate 1 is expressed by the following equation 4. E = (T a -T b ) / (t×w×ε) …Formula 4

[0228] In this manner, the Young's modulus E of the film base 1 is derived as the elastic modulus of the film base 1. With this configuration, the Young's modulus E can be derived for each film base 1, and the influence of lot variation of the film base 1, individual variation of the film base 1, and the like, on the transport tension control of the film base 1 can be suppressed.

[0229] The elastic modulus of the film substrate 1 calculated in the jetting device 80 can be applied to the calculation of the target value of the transport tension in each section. After the elastic modulus calculation step S18, the process proceeds to a transport tension calculation step S20.

[0230] In the conveying tension calculation process S20, the conveying tension calculation unit 196 calculates the conveying tension setting value in the jetting device 80. Also, in the conveying tension calculation process S20, the conveying tension setting values ​​in each of the other sections of the jetting device 80 are calculated.

[0231] The conveying tension calculation unit 196 may calculate the conveying tension setting value by applying the following method. The distortion of the film substrate 1 in the precoat device 50, which is an upstream section of the jetting device 80, is calculated. The distortion ε of the film substrate 1 in the precoat device 50 is calculated. a is expressed using Equation 5. ε a =T a / t×w×E…Formula 5

[0232] In addition, the distortion ε of the film substrate 1 in the precoat device 50 described in the embodiment a is an example of a first distortion. The conveying tension setting value in the jetting device 80 described in the embodiment is an example of a second tension setting value. The conveying tension setting values ​​in the other sections of the jetting device 80 described in the embodiment are an example of a first tension setting value and a third tension setting value.

[0233] The thickness t and width w of the film substrate 1 are obtained in the substrate setting step S12. The Young's modulus E of the film substrate 1 is derived in the elastic modulus calculation step S18. The target value ε of the strain generated in the film substrate 1 by the jetting device 80 is b is expressed using Equation 6. ε b =ε a +{(V2-V1) / V1}…Equation 6

[0234] The conveying tension calculation unit 196 calculates a combination of the rotation speed V1 of the first suction drum 84 and the rotation speed V2 of the second suction drum 86 that satisfies Expression 7 as a conveying condition applied to the jetting device 80. ε b -ε a =(V2-V1) / V1…Equation 7

[0235] Here, the target value ε of the distortion caused in the film substrate 1 by the jetting device 80 is b can be specified based on the substrate conditions such as the characteristics of the film substrate 1. b can be determined based on the quality conditions of the printed matter, such as the acceptable range of the image quality of the printed image, and the conditions of the printed matter, such as the conveying speed of the printed matter. b Details of the provisions will be described later.

[0236] The rotation speed V1 of the first suction drum 84 may be determined based on the transport speed of the film substrate 1 in the jetting device 80. The rotation speed V2 of the second suction drum 86 may be determined based on the transport speed of the film substrate 1 in the jetting device 80.

[0237] In each of the other sections of the jetting device 80 provided in the printing system 10, transport conditions are derived that realize the difference in distortion obtained by subtracting the distortion of the film substrate 1 in the upstream section from the distortion of the film substrate 1 in the section subject to transport control.

[0238] This makes it possible to keep constant the distortion of the film substrate 1 in the section subject to transport control, regardless of the type of film substrate 1 and regardless of the transport tension applied to the film substrate 1 in the upstream section, thereby enabling uniform processing of the film substrate 1, such as printing, to be performed.

[0239] Each of the steps from the substrate setting step S12 to the transport tension calculation step S20 can be performed before a print job. That is, each of the steps from the substrate setting step S12 to the transport tension calculation step S20 can be understood as each step of the transport condition deriving method.

[0240] Through each process from the substrate setting process S12 to the transport tension calculation process S20, the transport tension for each section that is to be applied to the film substrate 1 to be used is set, and the transport process S22 is carried out.

[0241] In the conveying step S22, the conveying control unit 176 controls the conveying of the film substrate 1 for each section based on the conveying conditions set for each section. That is, the conveying device 20 conveys the film substrate 1 by applying a conveying tension that generates a certain distortion in the film substrate 1 in each section.

[0242] In the conveying step S22, a feedback control may be performed based on the measurement data of the third tension pickup 25. In the conveying step S22, a conveying tension setting value may be changed based on the measurement data of the third tension pickup 25.

[0243] In the printing step S24, in response to a print start command, a specified image is printed on the film substrate 1 using the jetting device 80. The specified image here includes both an image with specified content and a specified number of images.

[0244] In the printing step S24, if a prescribed printing end condition is met, the printing step S24 is ended. An example of the printing end condition is the end of a prescribed number of prints. After the printing step S24, a prescribed end process is performed, and the printing method is ended.

[0245] [Procedure of printing method according to modified example] 7 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a printing method according to a modified example, in which a loading step S15 and a tension measurement step S17 are performed instead of the provisional transport step S14 and the tension measurement step S16 shown in FIG.

[0246] In the substrate setting step S12, the film substrate 1 to be measured is set, and the thickness t and width w of the film substrate 1 are obtained as substrate information. After the substrate setting step S12, the process proceeds to a loading step S15.

[0247] In the loading step S15, the first suction drum 84 on which the film substrate 1 is set is fixed, and the second suction drum 86 is rotated so that the film substrate 1 is in a taut state and an initial distortion is generated in the film substrate 1.

[0248] In a state where an initial strain is generated in the film substrate 1, the second suction drum 86 is stopped and the position of the second suction drum 86 is fixed. In a state where the position of the second suction drum 86 is fixed, an initial tension T0 corresponding to the initial strain in the film substrate 1 is measured using the third tension pickup 25. After the loading step S15, the process proceeds to a tension measurement step S17.

[0249] In the tension measurement process S17, the second suction drum 86 is further rotated from the state in which the initial strain is generated in the film substrate 1 to a state in which a measured strain is generated in the film substrate 1. In the state in which the measured strain is generated in the film substrate 1, the second suction drum 86 is stopped, and the position of the second suction drum 86 is fixed.

[0250] With the position of the second suction drum 86 fixed, the third tension pickup 25 is used to measure a measured tension T1 corresponding to the measured strain of the film substrate 1. After the tension measurement step S17, the process proceeds to an elastic modulus calculation step S18.

[0251] The initial strain and the measured strain to be induced in the film substrate 1 may be arbitrary, but should be within a range in which the film substrate 1 does not break when the initial strain and the measured strain are induced in the film substrate 1 .

[0252] In the elastic modulus calculation step S18, the elastic modulus calculation unit 195 calculates the Young's modulus E of the film substrate 1 using the measurement data measured in the loading step S15 and the tension measurement step S17.

[0253] The initial strain is ε0 and the measured strain is ε1. Using the thickness t of the film substrate 1, the width w of the film substrate 1, the initial tension T0, the measured tension T1, the initial strain ε0, and the measured strain ε1, the Young's modulus E of the film substrate 1 is expressed using Equation 8. E=(T1-T0) / {t×w×(ε1-ε0)} …Equation 8

[0254] The radius of the second suction drum 86 is r, the rotation angle of the second suction drum 86 in the tension measurement step S17 is dθ, and the path length of the film substrate 1 between the first suction drum 84 and the second suction drum 86 is L. The above ε1-ε0 is expressed using Equation 9. ε1-ε0=r×dθ×L …Equation 9

[0255] The path length L may be the shortest distance in the conveying path between the rotation axis of the first suction drum 84 and the rotation axis of the second suction drum 86. In addition, the initial strain ε0 may be any value between zero and ε1.

[0256] After the tension measurement step S17, a conveying tension set value is calculated through an elasticity calculation step S18 and a conveying tension calculation step S20. In a conveying step S22, conveying of the film substrate 1 to which the calculated conveying tension set value is applied is performed. In addition, printing on the film substrate 1 is performed in a printing step S24.

[0257] The loading process S15 and the tension measurement process S17 are performed using an external device of the printing system 10 that has a device configuration similar to that of the conveying device 20, and parameters used to calculate the elastic modulus are obtained, and the elastic modulus of the film substrate 1 can be calculated in the elastic modulus calculation process S18.

[0258] The first suction drum 84 described in the embodiment is an example of one drum. The second suction drum 86 described in the embodiment is an example of the other drum. The position of the second suction drum 86 at which the initial strain is generated in the substrate described in the embodiment is an example of an initial rotation position. The rotation position of the second suction drum 86 at which the measured strain is generated in the substrate described in the embodiment is an example of a rotation position rotated by a rotation angle dθ from the initial rotation position.

[0259] [Evaluation of transport conditions] Next, the results of the evaluation test of the conveying conditions in the jetting device 80 shown in Fig. 3 will be described in detail. Fig. 8 is a table showing the results of the evaluation test on the evaluation viewpoints at each conveying tension setting value when the conveying tension setting value is changed. The evaluation viewpoints were the flatness of the film substrate 1, the running state of the film substrate 1, and the occurrence of wrinkles in the film substrate 1.

[0260] The running state of the film substrate 1 and the occurrence of wrinkles in the film substrate 1 were visually confirmed. In addition, the same evaluation test was carried out for four types of film substrate 1 with different substrate thicknesses, substrate widths, and materials. The running state of the film substrate 1 was evaluated by judging the presence or absence of slippage and meandering.

[0261] In the meandering and slip evaluation columns shown in Fig. 8, "-" indicates the occurrence of at least one of meandering and slip. "+" in the same column indicates the absence of meandering and slip. Similarly, "-" in the wrinkle evaluation column indicates the occurrence of wrinkles. "+" in the same column indicates the absence of wrinkles.

[0262] The numerical values ​​in the tension column in the table shown in Fig. 8 are the transport tensions applied to the film substrate 1, and represent the measurement data of the third tension pickup 25 shown in Fig. 3. The unit of the transport tension is Newton. The film substrate 1 was transported by applying the rotational speeds of the first suction drum 84 and the second suction drum 86 that correspond to the values ​​in each column of the transport tension shown in Fig. 3.

[0263] 8, the numerical value in the column "substrate thickness" is the thickness t of the film substrate 1, and is expressed in micrometers. The numerical value in the column "substrate width" is the width of the film substrate 1, and is expressed in millimeters. The numerical value in the column "stress" is the calculated value of tension / (substrate thickness x substrate width), and is expressed in gigapascals.

[0264] The values ​​in the Young's modulus column are values ​​calculated in advance for each film substrate 1, and are expressed in gigapascals. The values ​​in the substrate strain column represent the strain occurring in the film substrate 1, and are expressed as a percentage by multiplying the stress / Young's modulus value by 100. The values ​​in the substrate strain column are values ​​rounded off to two decimal places.

[0265] The numerical values ​​in the column "elongation per 1000 millimeters" are values ​​obtained by converting the numerical values ​​in the column "substrate distortion" into elongation per 1000 millimeters of the film substrate 1, and the unit is millimeters.

[0266] Evaluation tests were conducted on the four types of film substrate 1 shown in Figure 8. The four types of film substrate 1 shown in Figure 8 are representative ones used in printing systems, and it is expected that evaluation results similar to those shown in Figure 8 will be obtained for various types of film substrate 1 that can be used in printing systems.

[0267] [Considerations on substrate distortion] When the substrate distortion is relatively small, an appropriate amount of frictional force cannot be obtained between the pass roller 22 and the film substrate 1 as shown in FIG.

[0268] Slippage between the film substrate 1 and the pass roller 22 can cause scratches on the film substrate 1. Furthermore, if an appropriate amount of frictional force is not obtained between the pass roller 22 and the film substrate 1, the film substrate 1 can meander. The meandering of the film substrate 1 can cause misalignment of the printing position on the film substrate 1.

[0269] 8, when the substrate strain is 0.09 percent or less, at least one of meandering and slipping may occur in the film substrate 1. On the other hand, when the substrate strain exceeds 0.09 percent, neither meandering nor slipping occurs in the film substrate 1. In other words, it is preferable to set the substrate strain to a value exceeding 0.09 percent.

[0270] When the substrate distortion is relatively large, the amount of deformation of the film substrate 1 becomes relatively large, causing misregistration due to misalignment of the printing position. A printed matter in which misregistration occurs cannot provide an appropriate image quality.

[0271] Furthermore, when the substrate distortion is relatively large, wrinkles and folds may occur in the film substrate 1. The occurrence of wrinkles and the like in the film substrate 1 raises concerns about damage to the inkjet head 96 caused by contact between the film substrate 1 and the inkjet head 96. Such damage to the inkjet head 96 may cause ink ejection abnormalities and may cause image defects due to the ink ejection abnormalities.

[0272] 8, when the substrate distortion is 0.72 percent or more, wrinkles, etc. may occur in the film substrate 1. On the other hand, when the substrate distortion is less than 0.72 percent, wrinkles, etc. do not occur in the film substrate 1. In other words, it is preferable to set the substrate distortion to less than 0.72 percent.

[0273] In summary, printing can be performed with appropriate image quality when a transport tension that results in substrate distortion of more than 0.09 percent and less than 0.72 percent is applied as a transport condition for the film substrate 1. The substrate distortion referred to here is the target value ε b Corresponds to.

[0274] [Considerations on flatness] Next, consider the flatness applied to the film substrate 1. The flatness of the film substrate 1 was evaluated from the perspective of the positional deviation in the substrate transport direction when it is assumed that the film substrate 1 is deformed in a sinusoidal shape.

[0275] Fig. 9 is a table showing the relationship between flatness and positional deviation. The numerical value in the pitch column in the table shown in Fig. 9 is the length of one period in the film substrate 1 deformed in a sinusoidal shape. The flatness was evaluated when the pitch was 10 mm and when the pitch was 20 mm.

[0276] The flatness was set to three levels: 0.05 mm, 0.1 mm, and 0.15 mm. The arc length was the length of one pitch of the film substrate 1 deformed into a sinusoidal shape. The positional deviation difference was calculated by subtracting the pitch from the arc length.

[0277] According to the table shown in FIG. 9, when a deformation of 0.15 mm occurs in the film substrate 1, the misregistration of the printing position caused by the deformation of the film substrate 1 is about 4.5 micrometers when the pitch is 10 mm.

[0278] On the other hand, the allowable range of printing position deviation caused by deformation of the film substrate 1 in the printing system 10 is 5.0 micrometers or less. That is, as a transport condition for the film substrate 1, a flatness of the film substrate 1 of 0.15 millimeters or less can be applied.

[0279] [How to set the conveyor tension in each section] Next, a method for setting the transport tension in each section of the printing system 10 shown in Fig. 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 10 to Fig. 13. The first to seventh sections in Fig. 10 to Fig. 12 correspond to the feeding of the film substrate 1 by the supply device 30, the corona treatment device 38, the precoat device 50, the jetting device 80, the main drying device 100, the inspection device 124, and the winding of the film substrate 1 by the recovery device 120, respectively, shown in Fig. 1.

[0280] [First method] In the first method for setting the transport tension, an upper limit value and a lower limit value of the transport tension are derived for the film substrate 1 used, and the intermediate value between the two is set as the transport tension setting value. An example of the derivation of the transport tension setting value is shown below. Note that the film substrate 1 used in the embodiment is an example of the substrate used.

[0281] First, the conveying tension at which wrinkles occur in the film substrate 1 is derived as the upper limit of the conveying tension. Next, the conveying tension at which slippage of the film substrate 1 occurs is derived as the lower limit of the conveying tension.

[0282] The intermediate value between the upper limit and the lower limit of the conveying tension may be an average value. The average value may be an arithmetic average. The intermediate value may be a value calculated using an arbitrary weighting coefficient that is greater than 0 and less than 1.0.

[0283] The upper limit of the conveying tension is T u The lower limit of the conveying tension is T L The average value of the two is expressed using Equation 10. An arbitrary weighting coefficient greater than 0 and less than 1.0 is denoted as x. The intermediate value to which the weighting coefficient x is applied is expressed using Equation 11. Note that an arbitrary value can be applied to the weighting coefficient x for each section. (T u +T L ) / 2 …Equation 10 (T u -T L )×x+T L …Equation 11

[0284] The upper limit of the transport tension can be calculated based on the Young's modulus E of the film substrate 1, the thickness t of the film substrate 1, the width w of the film substrate 1, and the device specifications. The same applies to the lower limit of the transport tension.

[0285] The dynamic friction coefficient of the film substrate 1 is μ, and the Poisson's ratio of the film substrate 1 is ν. The Poisson's ratio of the film substrate 1 in the substrate width direction is ν. x The Poisson's ratio of the film substrate 1 in the substrate transport direction is ν y The Poisson's ratio ν is ν=ν x =ν y The Poisson's ratio ν may be set to 0.3.

[0286] The Young's modulus of the film substrate 1 in the substrate width direction is E x and the Young's modulus of the film substrate 1 in the substrate transport direction is E yThe Young's modulus E of the film substrate 1 is E = E x =E y Let us assume that.

[0287] Critical tension T per unit length for wrinkle occurrence, which applies to the upper limit of the conveying tension cr is expressed using Equation 12. The critical tension for wrinkle generation T cr ×w is expressed using Equation 13. T cr =2×t 2 / (w×μ)×[(E×E) / {3×(1-ν×ν)}] 1 / 2 …Formula 12 T cr ×w=2×t 2 / μ×[(E×E) / {3×(1-ν×ν)}] 1 / 2 …Formula 13

[0288] The viscous resistance of air is η, and the surface roughness of the film substrate 1 is R q The conveying speed of the film substrate 1 is u. The slip occurrence tension T per unit length, which is applied to the lower limit of the conveying tension, is s is expressed using Equation 14. In addition, the slip occurrence tension T s ×w is expressed using Equation 15. T s =η×(R q / r) -3 / 2 ×u…Formula 14 T s ×w=η×(R q / r) -3 / 2 ×u×w …Formula 15

[0289] The upper limit of the conveying tension is derived using formula 12 or formula 13, and the lower limit of the conveying tension is derived using formula 14 or formula 15. Furthermore, the conveying tension setting value is derived using formula 10 or formula 11.

[0290] [Second method] The transport tension setting method according to the second system derives a transport tension setting value for the film substrate 1 to be used based on an upper limit value and a lower limit value of the transport tension for a reference film substrate 1. An example of deriving the transport tension setting value for the film substrate 1 to be used is shown below.

[0291] First, the upper limit of the transport tension for the film substrate 1 to be used is derived using the upper limit of the transport tension for the reference film substrate 1. In addition, the lower limit of the transport tension for the film substrate 1 to be used is calculated using the lower limit of the transport tension.

[0292] The upper limit and lower limit of the transport tension for the reference film substrate 1 may be derived based on the results of a test using the printing system 10 or may be derived using a simulation, and are specified in advance.

[0293] The upper limit of the transport tension for the reference film substrate 1 is T ur and Young's modulus is E r Let the thickness be t r Let the width be w r The upper limit of the transport tension for the film substrate 1 used is T u The Young's modulus is E, the thickness is t, and the width is w. The upper limit T of the transport tension of the film substrate 1 used is u is expressed using Equation 16. T u =T ur ×(E / E r )×(t / t r ) 2 ×(w / w r ) …Equation 16

[0294] FIG. 10 is a table showing the calculation results of the upper limit of the conveying tension in the second method. ur is the upper limit of the transport tension for the standard film substrate 1. u1 , T u2 , T u3 and Tu4 is the film substrate 1 used, and is the upper limit of the transport tension for each of the different types of film substrate 1.

[0295] Applying Equation 16, the upper limit T of the transport tension for the standard film substrate 1 for each section is ur is corrected, and the upper limit T u is calculated.

[0296] The reference film substrate 1 is made of PET and has a thickness of t r is 12 micrometers, and the width w r The Young's modulus E of the standard film substrate 1 is 580 mm. r is 4.0 gigapascals.

[0297] Next, the upper limit of the conveying tension T u Similarly, the lower limit T of the transport tension of the reference film substrate 1 Lr Using the above, the lower limit T of the conveying tension in the film substrate 1 used is determined. L The lower limit value T of the transport tension for the film substrate 1 used is calculated. L is expressed using Equation 17. T L =T Lr ×(w / w r ) …Formula 17

[0298] FIG. 11 is a table showing the calculation results of the lower limit of the conveying tension in the second method. Lr is the lower limit of the transport tension for the reference film substrate 1. L1 , T L2 , T L3 and T L4 is the film substrate 1 used, and is the lower limit of the transport tension for each of the different types of film substrate 1.

[0299] Applying Equation 17, the lower limit T of the transport tension for the standard film substrate 1 for each section is calculated.Lr is corrected, and the lower limit T L is calculated.

[0300] The transport tension setting value for the film substrate 1 used is the upper limit T u and the lower limit of the conveying tension T L The intermediate value between the mean value (T u +T L ) / 2, or any weighting factor x greater than 0 and less than 1.0 may be used (T u -T L )×x+T L It should be noted that any value may be applied to the weight coefficient x for each section.

[0301] [Third method] The transport tension setting method according to the third system calculates the transport tension setting value for the film substrate 1 to be used by using the transport tension setting value for a reference film substrate 1. The transport tension setting value for the reference film substrate 1 may be derived based on the results of a test using the printing system 10, may be derived using a simulation, or is specified in advance.

[0302] FIG. 12 is a table showing the calculation results of the conveying tension setting value in the third method. r is the transport tension setting value for the reference film substrate 1. Furthermore, T1, T2, T3, and T4 are the film substrates 1 used, and are the transport tension setting values ​​for each of the different types of film substrates 1.

[0303] The transport tension setting value for the reference film substrate 1 is T r and the set value of the transport tension in the film base 1 used is T. Note that the symbol T is obtained by omitting the subscripts indicating the difference between the film base 1 in the symbols T1, T2, T3, and T4 shown in Fig. 12. The set value of the transport tension T in the film base 1 used shown in Fig. 12 is expressed using Equation 18. T=T r ×(E / E r )×(t / t r ) 2 ×(w / w r ) …Formula 18

[0304] Applying formula 18, the transport tension T r The value calculated based on the set value of can be applied as the set value of the transport tension T in the film substrate 1 used.

[0305] [Fourth method] The fourth method for setting the transport tension is applied when it is not possible to obtain the thickness t of the film substrate 1. E × t, which is the Young's modulus E of the film substrate 1 used multiplied by the thickness t of the film substrate 1, is expressed by Equation 19. E×t=(T b -T a ) / (w×ε) …Equation 19

[0306] The upper limit T of the transport tension for the film substrate 1 used u is expressed using Equation 20. The lower limit of the transport tension of the film substrate used, T L is expressed using Equation 21. T u =T ur ×{(E×t) / (E r ×t r )} …Formula 20 T L =T Lr ×(w / w r ) …Formula 21

[0307] The upper limit of the transport tension for the film substrate used, T, is given by Equation 20. u and the lower limit T of the conveying tension for the film substrate used, as shown in Equation 21. L The intermediate value may be the transport tension setting value for the film substrate used. The intermediate value is the same as in the first and second methods, and the explanation thereof will be omitted here.

[0308] [Fifth method] The fifth method of setting the transport tension derives a transport tension setting value by carrying out a transport test for each film substrate 1 to be used. Identification information of the film substrate 1 and the transport tension setting value are associated with each other and stored.

[0309] When a film substrate 1 for which transport conditions are stored is used, the transport tension setting value is read out using the identification information of the film substrate 1 as an index. On the other hand, when a film substrate 1 for which transport conditions are not stored is used, a transport test is performed and the transport tension setting value is derived. The identification information of the film substrate 1 may be the type, product name, model, etc. of the film substrate 1.

[0310] [Sixth method] In the transport tension setting method according to the sixth system, the transport tension set value is unified regardless of the type of film substrate 1. The transport tension set value may be a transport tension set value derived using a reference film substrate 1. The transport tension set value may be a transport tension set value derived using any film substrate 1.

[0311] [Evaluation of transport stability in each method] Next, a description will be given of the evaluation results of the transport tension setting methods according to the first to sixth methods from the viewpoint of transport stability of the film substrate 1. Fig. 13 is a table showing the evaluation results of the transport stability of each method.

[0312] The symbol + in the figure indicates an evaluation result within the acceptable range. The symbol ++ indicates an evaluation result that is within the acceptable range and is better than the evaluation result of the symbol +. For example, in the evaluation of wrinkle occurrence, the symbol + indicates the occurrence of wrinkles within the acceptable range, and the symbol ++ indicates that no wrinkles are visible.

[0313] The symbol - represents an evaluation result outside the acceptable range. The symbol -- represents an evaluation result that is outside the acceptable range and is inferior to the evaluation result represented by the symbol -. For example, in the evaluation of wrinkle occurrence, the symbol - represents the occurrence of wrinkles outside the acceptable range, and the symbol -- represents the occurrence of wrinkles that cause the transport of the film substrate 1 to be stopped.

[0314] The evaluation test from which the evaluation results shown in Fig. 13 were derived was carried out using the printing system 10 shown in Fig. 1. In this evaluation test, the transport tension setting values ​​for each section were derived by applying the transport tension setting methods related to each of the first method to the sixth method.

[0315] The film substrate 1 was transported using the derived transport tension setting value, and each section was evaluated from the viewpoints shown in Fig. 13. The occurrence of wrinkles, slippage, and meandering in the film substrate 1 was evaluated by visual inspection. Suitability for other sections indicates suitability for other sections of the jetting device 80.

[0316] The conveying tension setting method according to the first method is good in terms of wrinkle occurrence, conveying state, and suitability for other sections. On the other hand, the conveying tension setting method according to the first method requires verification of the conveying tension setting value, and the workload is greater than that of each of the conveying tension setting methods according to the second to fourth methods.

[0317] The conveying tension setting methods relating to the second to fourth methods each have good wrinkle prevention, conveying condition, and suitability for other sections, and furthermore, have a smaller workload than the conveying tension setting methods relating to the other methods.

[0318] The fifth method for setting the conveying tension is good in terms of wrinkle prevention, conveying condition, and suitability for other sections. On the other hand, the fifth method for setting the conveying tension requires the implementation of a conveying test, which imposes a larger workload than the first to fourth methods for setting the conveying tension.

[0319] The fifth method of setting the conveying tension is outside the allowable range for the occurrence of wrinkles, the conveying state, and suitability for other sections. On the other hand, the work load is smaller than that of each of the first to fifth methods of setting the conveying tension.

[0320] [Effects of the embodiment] The printing system 10 and printing method according to the embodiment can provide the following advantageous effects.

[0321] [1] In the jetting device 80, the film substrate 1 is transported under specified transport conditions using components of the transport device 20 that transports the film substrate 1, and measurement data of the transport tension applied to the film substrate 1 is obtained. The measured transport tension data and the transport conditions of the film substrate 1 are used to calculate the elastic modulus of the film substrate 1. The elastic modulus of the film substrate 1 is used to set a transport tension that keeps the distortion of the film substrate 1 constant. This allows stable transport of the film substrate 1 in the jetting device 80.

[0322] [2] The distortion of the film substrate 1 in the precoat device 50 is calculated based on measurement data of the transport tension in the precoat device 50, which is the upstream section of the jetting device 80. The transport tension in the jetting device 80 is set based on the distortion of the film substrate 1 in the jetting device 80 and the distortion of the film substrate 1 in the precoat device 50. This makes it possible to control the distortion of the film substrate 1 in the jetting device 80 regardless of the transport tension in the upstream section of the jetting device 80.

[0323] [3] The elastic modulus of the film substrate 1 is calculated by applying the loading operation of the transport device 20 that transports the film substrate 1 in the jetting device 80. This makes it possible to calculate the elastic modulus of the film substrate 1 without transporting the film substrate 1.

[0324] [4] A conveying tension is set so that the distortion of the film substrate 1 in the jetting device 80 falls within a range of 0.05% or more and less than 0.72%. This suppresses slippage and meandering of the film substrate 1, and suppresses the occurrence of creases in the film substrate 1. In addition, misalignment of the printing position in the conveying direction of the film substrate 1 is suppressed.

[0325] [5] The transport tension in the jetting device 80 is feedback-controlled based on the measurement data of the third tension pickup 25. This allows stable transport of the film substrate 1 to be achieved even when the transport of the film substrate 1 fluctuates.

[0326] [6] For each of the multiple sections included in the printing system 10, an upper limit of the transport tension defined from the viewpoint of wrinkles on the film substrate 1, and a lower limit and an intermediate value of the transport tension defined from the viewpoint of the transport state of the film substrate 1, such as slipping, are set as the transport tension in each section. This allows the transport tension to be easily and optimally set, capable of suppressing the occurrence of wrinkles on the film substrate 1 and transport abnormalities of the film substrate 1.

[0327] [7] Based on the transport tension of the reference film substrate 1, the transport tension of the film substrate 1 to be used is derived and set using the ratio of the elastic modulus, the thickness ratio, and the width ratio between the film substrate 1 to be used and the reference film substrate 1. This reduces the workload when deriving the transport tension of the film substrate 1 to be used.

[0328] [8] The elastic modulus of the film substrate 1 is calculated by multiplying the Young's modulus of the film substrate 1 by the thickness of the film substrate 1. This makes it possible to set a transport tension that can realize stable transport of the film substrate 1 even when information on the thickness of the film substrate 1 is not available.

[0329] [9] In the jetting device 80, components of the transport device 20, such as the first suction drum 84 that transports the film substrate 1, are not in contact with the surface of the film substrate 1 on which the precoat liquid is applied. This prevents the precoat liquid from being lost on the film substrate 1, making it possible to print images with good quality.

[0330] [Terminology] The term precoat liquid is synonymous with terms such as pretreatment liquid and treatment liquid, and is a general term for liquid that is applied before printing.

[0331] The term printing system is synonymous with terms such as printing device, printing press, printer, printing device, image recording device, image forming device, image output device, and drawing device. The term system does not need to be distinguished from the term device, and they can be treated as synonyms.

[0332] The term printing includes the concepts of terms such as image recording, image forming, marking, drawing, and printing, etc. The term apparatus may include the concept of a system.

[0333] The term "image" is to be interpreted in a broad sense, and includes color images, black and white images, single color images, gradation images, uniform density images, etc. The term "image" is used as a comprehensive term that includes not only photographic images, but also designs, characters, symbols, line drawings, mosaic patterns, color-coded patterns, and various other patterns, as well as appropriate combinations of these. The term "image" may also include the meaning of image signals and image data that represent an image.

[0334] [Examples of application to programs] A program may be configured in the computer to realize various functions in the printing system 10. That is, a program may be configured in the computer to realize functions corresponding to the transport condition setting unit 190, the drive control unit 191, the non-contact turn control unit 192, the substrate information acquisition unit 193, the transport tension measurement data acquisition unit 194, the elastic modulus calculation unit 195, and the transport tension calculation unit 196 shown in FIG.

[0335] A program that causes a computer to realize the various functions described above can be stored in a computer-readable information storage medium, which is a tangible, non-transitory information storage medium, and the program can be provided through the information storage medium.

[0336] Further, instead of providing the program by storing it on a non-transitory information storage medium, a program signal may be provided via a communication network.

[0337] [Application to transport systems] The conveying device 20 shown in Fig. 1 is not limited to being provided in the printing system 10, and may be configured as a separate conveying system for conveying a continuous substrate. Such a conveying system is provided with the hardware configuration shown in Fig. 1 and the electrical configurations shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

[0338] Moreover, the printing method described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7 can be understood as a transport method including each of the steps from the advance preparation step S10 to the transport step S22.

[0339] The above-described embodiment of the present invention may be modified, added, or deleted as appropriate within the scope of the gist of the present invention. The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and many modifications may be made by a person having ordinary knowledge in the relevant field within the technical concept of the present invention. In addition, the embodiment, modified example, and application example may be implemented in combination as appropriate. [Explanation of symbols]

[0340] 1 Film substrate 10 Printing System 20. Conveyor 22 Pass Roller 24 Second tension pickup 26 Fourth Tension Pickup 27 Fifth Tension Pickup 28 6th Tension Pickup 30 Feeding device 32 Delivery roll 34 First supply drive roller 36 Second supply drive roller 38 Corona treatment device 50 Precoat device 51 Precoat drive roller 52 Coater 54 Application roller 55 Chamber 56 Counter Roller 58 Precoat drying device 60 First non-contact turn device 80 Jetting Device 84 First suction drum 86 Second suction drum 88 Color Printing Device 90 White Printing Device 92 Second non-contact turn device 96 Inkjet head 96C Inkjet Head 96K Inkjet Head 96M Inkjet Head 96W1 Inkjet Head 96W2 Inkjet Head 96Y Inkjet Head 97 Inspection Equipment 98 First Scanner 99 Second Scanner 100 Main Drying Device 104 Hot air heater 106 Main drying drive roller 120 Recovery Device 122 Winding roll 124 Inspection Equipment 126 Third Scanner 128 Fourth Scanner 130 First recovery drive roller 132 Second recovery drive roller 136 Presser roller 138 Swing Arm 160 processors 162 Memory 170 Communication Interface 171 Sensors 172 Display device 173 Input Devices 174 General Control Unit 176 Transport control section 178 Corona treatment control section 180 Precoat control unit 182 Jetting control section 184 Main drying control unit 186 Information Acquisition Department 190 Transport condition setting section 191 Drive control unit 192 Contactless turn control unit 193 Base material information acquisition section 194 Transport tension measurement data acquisition unit 195 Elasticity calculation section 196 Conveyor tension calculation section S10 to S24 Printing process steps

Claims

1. A conveying device that conveys a continuous substrate in a substrate conveying direction; a first processing device that performs a first processing on the base material transported by the transport device; a first tension applying device that applies a first tension to the base material transported by the transport device in the first processing device; A first tension measuring device for measuring the first tension; a printing device that is disposed downstream of the first processing device in a substrate transport direction and performs printing on the substrate; a second tension applying device that applies a second tension to the base material transported by the transport device in the printing device; A second tension measuring device for measuring the second tension; one or more processors; Equipped with The conveying device is a first drum used to transport the substrate in the printing device; a second drum used for transporting the substrate in the printing device, the second drum being disposed downstream of the first drum in the substrate transport direction; the second tension applying device applies to the substrate a second tension corresponding to a rotational speed difference obtained by subtracting the rotational speed V1 of the first drum from the rotational speed V2 of the second drum, the rotational speed V2 being greater than the rotational speed V1 of the first drum; The processor, Acquire first measurement data T a measured using the first tension measuring device; Obtaining second measurement data T b measured using the second tension measuring device; Obtain the thickness t of the substrate; A width w of the substrate, which is a length of the substrate in a direction perpendicular to the substrate transport direction, is obtained; When the strain generated in the substrate according to the difference between the rotation speed V 1 of the first drum and the rotation speed V 2 of the second drum is ε, the elastic modulus of the substrate is expressed by the following formula: E=(T b −T a ) / (t×w×ε) Obtain the Young's modulus E of the substrate, expressed using Based on the acquired elastic modulus, a strain ε corresponding to a first strain generated on the substrate during transport of the substrate in the first processing device and a second strain generated on the substrate during transport of the substrate in the printing device is derived; deriving a rotational speed V 1 of the first drum and a rotational speed V 2 of the second drum as a second tension set value to be applied to the second tension applying device when the derived strain ε is expressed as ε=(V 2 -V 1 ) / V 1 ; A printing system that applies the derived rotational speed V1 of the first drum and the rotational speed V2 of the second drum as the second tension setting values ​​and controls the second tension applied to the substrate using the second tension application device.

2. The processor, Deriving a first tension setting to be applied to the first tensioning device based on the elastic modulus of the substrate; 2. The printing system of claim 1, wherein the derived first tension setting is applied to control the first tension applied to the substrate using the first tensioning device.

3. The processor, The first strain is ε ａ and the target value of the second strain is ε ｂ As the following formula ε ｂ =ε ａ +{(V ２ -V １ ) / V １ } The rotation speed V of the first drum satisfies １ and the rotation speed V of the second drum ２ The printing system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a combination of the above is derived as the second tension setting value.

4. The processor The target value ε of the second strain ｂ 4. The printing system according to claim 3, wherein the value is set in the range of more than 0.09 percent and less than 0.72 percent.

5. The processor, The second measurement data T ｂ Get The acquired second measurement data T ｂ The printing system according to claim 1 , wherein the second tension applying device is feedback controlled using a feedback control.

6. The processor, The first measurement data T ａ Get The acquired first measurement data T ａ The printing system according to claim 1 , wherein the first tension applying device is feedback controlled using a tension adjusting device.

7. The printing system according to claim 1 , wherein the first drum and the second drum have a function of suppressing slippage between a surface supporting the substrate and the substrate.

8. A conveying device that conveys a continuous substrate in a substrate conveying direction; a first processing device that performs a first processing on the base material transported by the transport device; a first tension applying device that applies a first tension to the base material transported by the transport device in the first processing device; a printing device that is disposed downstream of the first processing device in a substrate transport direction and performs printing on the substrate; a second tension applying device that applies a second tension to the base material transported by the transport device in the printing device; one or more processors; Equipped with The processor, Obtaining the elastic modulus of the substrate; deriving a first strain generated on the substrate during transport of the substrate in the first processing device and a second strain generated on the substrate during transport of the substrate in the printing device based on the acquired elastic modulus; deriving a second tension setting to be applied to the second tensioning device based on the derived first strain and the derived second strain; applying the derived second tension setting value to control the second tension applied to the substrate using the second tension applying device, Among a plurality of drums supporting the substrate, one drum is fixed and the other drum is rotated to generate a distortion in the substrate; The processor, Obtain the thickness t of the substrate; A width w of the substrate, which is a length of the substrate in a direction perpendicular to the substrate transport direction, is obtained; The initial tension T applied to the substrate at the initial rotation position of the other drum ０ Get A rotation angle dθ from the initial rotation position of the other drum is obtained; At a rotation position where the other drum is rotated by a rotation angle dθ from the initial rotation position, a tension T applied to the substrate is obtained; Obtain the radius r of the other drum; Obtaining a length L of a transport path of the substrate between the one drum and the other drum; When the strain ε generated in the substrate is expressed as ε=r×dθ×L, the following formula is obtained. E=T / (t×w×ε) The printing system derives a Young's modulus expressed as:

9. A conveying device that conveys a continuous substrate in a substrate conveying direction; a first processing device that performs a first processing on the base material transported by the transport device; a first tension applying device that applies a first tension to the base material transported by the transport device in the first processing device; a printing device that is disposed downstream of the first processing device in a substrate transport direction and performs printing on the substrate; a second tension applying device that applies a second tension to the base material transported by the transport device in the printing device; one or more processors; Equipped with The processor, Obtaining the elastic modulus of the substrate; deriving a first strain generated on the substrate during transport of the substrate in the first processing device and a second strain generated on the substrate during transport of the substrate in the printing device based on the acquired elastic modulus; deriving a second tension setting to be applied to the second tensioning device based on the derived first strain and the derived second strain; applying the derived second tension setting value to control the second tension applied to the substrate using the second tension applying device, Among a plurality of drums supporting the substrate, one drum is fixed and the other drum is rotated to generate a distortion in the substrate; The processor, A width w of the substrate, which is a length of the substrate in a direction perpendicular to the substrate transport direction, is obtained; The initial tension T applied to the substrate at the initial rotation position of the other drum ０ Get A rotation angle dθ from the initial rotation position of the other drum is obtained; At a rotation position where the other drum is rotated by a rotation angle dθ from the initial rotation position, a tension T applied to the substrate is obtained; Obtain the radius r of the other drum; Obtaining a length L of a transport path of the substrate between the one drum and the other drum; When the strain ε generated in the substrate is expressed as ε=r×dθ×L, the following formula is obtained. E×t=T / (w×ε) The printing system derives a value expressed using the following formula as the elastic modulus.

10. a second tension measuring device for measuring the second tension, The processor, Second measurement data T measured using the second tension measuring device ｂ Get The acquired second measurement data T ｂ The printing system according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the second tension applying device is feedback controlled using a feedback control.

11. a first tension measuring device for measuring the first tension, The processor, First measurement data T measured using the first tension measuring device ａ Get The acquired first measurement data T ａ The printing system according to claim 8 , wherein the first tension applying device is feedback controlled using a tension adjusting unit.

12. A conveying device that conveys a continuous substrate in a substrate conveying direction; a first processing device that performs a first processing on the base material transported by the transport device; a first tension applying device that applies a first tension to the base material transported by the transport device in the first processing device; a printing device that is disposed downstream of the first processing device in a substrate transport direction and performs printing on the substrate; a second tension applying device that applies a second tension to the base material transported by the transport device in the printing device; one or more processors; Equipped with The processor, Obtaining the elastic modulus of the substrate; deriving a first strain generated on the substrate during transport of the substrate in the first processing device and a second strain generated on the substrate during transport of the substrate in the printing device based on the acquired elastic modulus; deriving a second tension setting to be applied to the second tensioning device based on the derived first strain and the derived second strain; applying the derived second tension setting value to control the second tension applied to the substrate using the second tension applying device, The processor, As the elastic modulus of the reference substrate, the Young's modulus E ｒ Get The thickness t of the reference substrate ｒ Get The width w of the reference substrate ｒ Get The upper limit value T of the first tension in the reference substrate ｕｒ Get The lower limit value T of the first tension on the reference substrate Ｌｒ Get Obtain the Young's modulus E of the substrate to be used, The thickness t of the substrate is obtained, The width w of the substrate used, which is the length of the substrate used in a direction perpendicular to the substrate transport direction, is obtained and expressed by the following formula: T ｕ =T ｕｒ ×(E / E ｒ )×(t / t ｒ ) ２ ×(w / w ｒ ) The upper limit value T u of the first tension in the substrate used is expressed by the following formula: T Ｌ =T Ｌｒ ×(w / w ｒ ) A printing system in which a value between a lower limit T L of the first tension for the substrate to be used, expressed using the formula:

13. The processor may include: (T ｕ +T Ｌ ) / 2 When x is a value derived using the following formula, or an arbitrary coefficient greater than 0 and less than 1, (T ｕ -T Ｌ )×x+T Ｌ The printing system according to claim 12 , wherein a value derived using

14. The printing system according to claim 1 , wherein the transport device is configured not to contact a printing surface of the substrate when transporting the substrate in the second tensioning device.

15. The printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the first processing device is a precoat application device that applies a precoat liquid to the substrate, the precoat liquid reacting with the ink applied to the substrate using the printing device to cause the ink to aggregate.

16. a third processing device disposed at a position downstream of the printing device in the substrate transport direction, the third processing device performing a third processing on the substrate being transported; a third tension applying device that applies a third tension to the base material transported by the transport device in the third processing device; Equipped with The processor, Deriving a third tension setting value to be applied to the third tensioning device based on the obtained elastic modulus of the substrate; 16. The printing system of claim 1, wherein the derived third tension setting value is applied to control the third tension applied to the substrate using the third tensioning device.

17. A continuous substrate is transported in a substrate transport direction by using a first drum and a second drum arranged downstream of the first drum in the substrate transport direction; applying a first tension to the transported substrate to perform a first treatment; a printing method for performing printing by applying a second tension to the substrate that has been subjected to the first treatment, the second tension corresponding to a rotational speed difference obtained by subtracting the rotational speed V1 of the first drum from a rotational speed V2 of the second drum that exceeds the rotational speed V1 of the first drum, First measurement data T a is obtained by measuring the first tension; Second measurement data T b is obtained by measuring the second tension; Obtain the thickness t of the substrate; A width w of the substrate, which is a length of the substrate in a direction perpendicular to the substrate transport direction, is obtained; When the strain generated in the substrate according to the difference between the rotation speed V 1 of the first drum and the rotation speed V 2 of the second drum is ε, the elastic modulus of the substrate is expressed by the following formula: E=(T b −T a ) / (t×w×ε) Obtain the Young's modulus E of the substrate, expressed using deriving the strain ε corresponding to a first strain generated on the substrate during transport of the substrate when the first treatment is performed and a second strain generated on the substrate during transport of the substrate when the printing is performed based on the acquired elastic modulus; deriving a rotational speed V 1 of the first drum and a rotational speed V 2 of the second drum as a second tension setting value that is set when applying the second tension when the derived strain ε is expressed as ε=(V 2 -V 1 ) / V 1 ; A printing method in which the derived rotational speed V 1 of the first drum and the derived rotational speed V 2 of the second drum are applied as the derived second tension set values ​​to control the second tension applied to the substrate.

18. A continuous substrate is transported in a substrate transport direction, applying a first tension to the transported substrate to perform a first treatment; A printing method in which printing is performed by applying a second tension to the base material that has been subjected to the first treatment, Among a plurality of drums supporting the substrate, one drum is fixed and the other drum is rotated to generate a distortion in the substrate; Obtain the thickness t of the substrate; A width w of the substrate, which is a length of the substrate in a direction perpendicular to the substrate transport direction, is obtained; Obtain an initial tension T 0 applied to the substrate at an initial rotation position of the other drum; A rotation angle dθ from the initial rotation position of the other drum is obtained; At a rotation position where the other drum is rotated by a rotation angle dθ from the initial rotation position, a tension T applied to the substrate is obtained; Obtain the radius r of the other drum; Obtaining a length L of a transport path of the substrate between the one drum and the other drum; When the strain ε generated in the substrate is expressed as ε=r×dθ×L, the following formula is obtained. E=T / (t×w×ε) The Young's modulus expressed by the following formula is obtained as the elastic modulus of the substrate; Deriving the strain ε based on the acquired elastic modulus; A second tension setting value that is set when applying the second tension is derived based on the derived strain ε; A printing method that applies the derived second tension setting value to control the second tension applied to the substrate.

19. A continuous substrate is transported in a substrate transport direction, applying a first tension to the transported substrate to perform a first treatment; A printing method in which printing is performed by applying a second tension to the base material that has been subjected to the first treatment, Among a plurality of drums supporting the substrate, one drum is fixed and the other drum is rotated to generate a distortion in the substrate; A width w of the substrate, which is a length of the substrate in a direction perpendicular to the substrate transport direction, is obtained; Obtain an initial tension T 0 applied to the substrate at an initial rotation position of the other drum; A rotation angle dθ from the initial rotation position of the other drum is obtained; At a rotation position where the other drum is rotated by a rotation angle dθ from the initial rotation position, a tension T applied to the substrate is obtained; Obtain the radius r of the other drum; Obtaining a length L of a transport path of the substrate between the one drum and the other drum; When the strain ε generated in the substrate is expressed as ε=r×dθ×L, the following formula is obtained. E×t=T / (w×ε) The elastic modulus of the substrate is obtained by using the following formula: Deriving the strain based on the acquired elastic modulus; deriving a second tension setting value that is set when applying the second tension based on the derived strain; A printing method that applies the derived second tension setting value to control the second tension applied to the substrate.

20. A continuous substrate is transported in a substrate transport direction, applying a first tension to the transported substrate to perform a first treatment; A printing method in which printing is performed by applying a second tension to the base material that has been subjected to the first treatment, The Young's modulus E r of the reference substrate is obtained as the elastic modulus of the reference substrate; Obtain the thickness t r of the reference substrate; Obtain the width w r of the reference substrate; An upper limit value T ur of the first tension in the reference substrate is obtained; A lower limit value T Lr of the first tension in the reference substrate is obtained; Obtain the Young's modulus E of the substrate to be used, The thickness t of the substrate is obtained, The width w of the substrate used, which is the length of the substrate used in a direction perpendicular to the substrate transport direction, is obtained and expressed by the following formula: T u = T ur × (E / E r ) × (t / t r ) 2 × (w / w r ) and the upper limit value T u of the first tension in the substrate used, which is expressed using the following formula: T L = T Lr × (w / w r ) A value between the lower limit value T L of the first tension in the used base material, which is expressed by: Based on the Young's modulus E of the used substrate obtained as the elastic modulus, a first strain that occurs in the substrate when the substrate is transported when the first treatment is performed and a second strain that occurs in the substrate when the substrate is transported when the printing is performed are derived; deriving a second tension setting value that is set when applying the second tension based on the derived first strain and the derived second strain; A printing method that applies the derived second tension setting value to control the second tension applied to the substrate.

21. A conveying system for conveying a continuous substrate in a substrate conveying direction, comprising: A first drum used to transport the substrate; a second drum used for transporting the substrate, the second drum being disposed downstream of the first drum in the substrate transport direction; a first tension applying device that applies a first tension to the substrate transported in a first processing device that applies a first processing to the substrate; A first tension measuring device for measuring the first tension; a second tension applying device that is disposed at a position downstream of the first processing device in a substrate transport direction and applies a second tension to the substrate transported in the second processing device that performs a second process on the substrate; A second tension measuring device for measuring the second tension; one or more processors; Equipped with the second tension applying device applies to the substrate a second tension corresponding to a rotational speed difference obtained by subtracting the rotational speed V1 of the first drum from the rotational speed V2 of the second drum, the rotational speed V2 being greater than the rotational speed V1 of the first drum; The processor, Acquire first measurement data T a measured using the first tension measuring device; Obtaining second measurement data T b measured using the second tension measuring device; Obtain the thickness t of the substrate; A width w of the substrate, which is a length of the substrate in a direction perpendicular to the substrate transport direction, is obtained; When the strain generated in the substrate according to the difference between the rotation speed V 1 of the first drum and the rotation speed V 2 of the second drum is ε, the elastic modulus of the substrate is expressed by the following formula: E=(T b −T a ) / (t×w×ε) Obtain the Young's modulus E of the substrate, expressed using deriving the strain ε corresponding to a first strain generated in the substrate during transport of the substrate in the first processing device and a second strain generated in the substrate during transport of the substrate in the second processing device based on the acquired elastic modulus; When the derived strain ε is expressed as ε=(V 2 −V 1 ) / V 1 using the rotational speed V 1 of the first drum and the rotational speed V 2 of the second drum, deriving the rotational speed V 1 of the first drum and the rotational speed V 2 of the second drum as a second tension setting value to be applied to the second tension application device; a conveying system that applies the derived rotational speed V1 of the first drum and the derived rotational speed V2 of the second drum as the derived second tension set value, and controls the second tension applied to the substrate using the second tension application device.

22. A conveying system for conveying a continuous substrate in a substrate conveying direction, comprising: a plurality of drums supporting the substrate; a first tension applying device that applies a first tension to the substrate transported in a first processing device that applies a first processing to the substrate; a second tension applying device that is disposed at a position downstream of the first processing device in a substrate transport direction and applies a second tension to the substrate transported in the second processing device that performs a second process on the substrate; one or more processors; Equipped with Among the plurality of drums, one drum is fixed and the other drum is rotated to generate a distortion in the substrate; The processor, Obtain the thickness t of the substrate; A width w of the substrate, which is a length of the substrate in a direction perpendicular to the substrate transport direction, is obtained; Obtain an initial tension T 0 applied to the substrate at an initial rotation position of the other drum; A rotation angle dθ from the initial rotation position of the other drum is obtained; At a rotation position where the other drum is rotated by a rotation angle dθ from the initial rotation position, a tension T applied to the substrate is obtained; Obtain the radius r of the other drum; Obtaining a length L of a transport path of the substrate between the one drum and the other drum; When the strain ε generated in the substrate is expressed as ε=r×dθ×L, the following formula is obtained. E=T / (t×w×ε) The Young's modulus expressed by the following formula is obtained as the elastic modulus of the substrate; Deriving the strain ε based on the acquired elastic modulus; Deriving a second tension setting to be applied to the second tensioning device based on the derived strain ε; A conveying system that applies the derived second tension set point to control the second tension applied to the substrate using the second tensioning device.

23. A conveying system for conveying a continuous substrate in a substrate conveying direction, comprising: a plurality of drums supporting the substrate; a first tension applying device that applies a first tension to the substrate transported in a first processing device that applies a first processing to the substrate; a second tension applying device that is disposed at a position downstream of the first processing device in a substrate transport direction and applies a second tension to the substrate transported in the second processing device that performs a second process on the substrate; one or more processors; Equipped with Among the plurality of drums, one drum is fixed and the other drum is rotated to generate a distortion in the substrate; The processor, A width w of the substrate, which is a length of the substrate in a direction perpendicular to the substrate transport direction, is obtained; Obtain an initial tension T 0 applied to the substrate at an initial rotation position of the other drum; A rotation angle dθ from the initial rotation position of the other drum is obtained; At a rotation position where the other drum is rotated by a rotation angle dθ from the initial rotation position, a tension T applied to the substrate is obtained; Obtain the radius r of the other drum; Obtaining a length L of a transport path of the substrate between the one drum and the other drum; When the strain ε generated in the substrate is expressed as ε=r×dθ×L, the following formula is obtained. E×t=T / (w×ε) The value expressed by the formula: is obtained as the elastic modulus of the substrate; Deriving the strain ε based on the acquired elastic modulus; Deriving a second tension setting to be applied to the second tensioning device based on the derived strain ε; A conveying system that applies the derived second tension set point to control the second tension applied to the substrate using the second tensioning device.

24. A conveying system for conveying a continuous substrate in a substrate conveying direction, a first tension applying device that applies a first tension to the substrate transported in a first processing device that applies a first processing to the substrate; a second tension applying device that is disposed at a position downstream of the first processing device in a substrate transport direction and applies a second tension to the substrate transported in the second processing device that performs a second process on the substrate; one or more processors; Equipped with The processor, Obtaining the elastic modulus of the substrate; deriving a first strain generated in the substrate during transport of the substrate in the first processing device and a second strain generated in the substrate during transport of the substrate in the second processing device based on the acquired elastic modulus; deriving a second tension setting to be applied to the second tensioning device based on the derived first strain and the derived second strain; a conveying system that applies the derived second tension set value to control the second tension applied to the substrate using the second tension applying device, The processor, The Young's modulus E r of the reference substrate is obtained as the elastic modulus of the reference substrate; Obtain the thickness t r of the reference substrate; Obtain the width w r of the reference substrate; An upper limit value T ur of the first tension in the reference substrate is obtained; A lower limit value T Lr of the first tension in the reference substrate is obtained; Obtain the Young's modulus E of the substrate to be used, The thickness t of the substrate is obtained, The width w of the substrate used, which is the length of the substrate used in a direction perpendicular to the substrate transport direction, is obtained and expressed by the following formula: T u = T ur × (E / E r ) × (t / t r ) 2 × (w / w r ) and the upper limit value T u of the first tension in the substrate used, which is expressed using the following formula: T L = T Lr × (w / w r ) and a lower limit value T L of the first tension for the substrate to be used, the lower limit value being between T L and the ... first tension setting value being applied to the first tension applying device.

25. A continuous substrate is transported in a substrate transport direction by using a first drum and a second drum arranged downstream of the first drum in the substrate transport direction; applying a first tension to the substrate being transported to perform a first treatment; a conveying method for performing a second treatment by applying a second tension to the substrate that has been subjected to the first treatment, the second tension corresponding to a rotational speed difference obtained by subtracting the rotational speed V1 of the first drum from a rotational speed V2 of the second drum that exceeds the rotational speed V1 of the first drum, First measurement data T a is obtained by measuring the first tension; Second measurement data T b is obtained by measuring the second tension; Obtain the thickness t of the substrate; A width w of the substrate, which is a length of the substrate in a direction perpendicular to the substrate transport direction, is obtained; When the strain generated in the substrate according to the difference between the rotation speed V 1 of the first drum and the rotation speed V 2 of the second drum is ε, the elastic modulus of the substrate is expressed by the following formula: E=(T b −T a ) / (t×w×ε) Obtain the Young's modulus E of the substrate, expressed using deriving the strain ε corresponding to a first strain generated in the substrate during transport of the substrate when the first treatment is performed and a second strain generated in the substrate during transport of the substrate when the second treatment is performed based on the acquired elastic modulus; When the derived strain ε is expressed as ε=(V 2 -V 1 ) / V 1 using the rotation speed V 1 of the first drum and the rotation speed V 2 of the second drum, deriving the rotation speed V 1 of the first drum and the rotation speed V 2 of the second drum as a second tension setting value that is set when applying the second tension; The conveying method includes applying the derived rotational speed V 1 of the first drum and the derived rotational speed V 2 of the second drum as the derived second tension set value, and controlling the second tension applied to the substrate.

26. A continuous substrate is transported in a substrate transport direction, applying a first tension to the substrate being transported to perform a first treatment; a conveying method for applying a second tension to the base material that has been subjected to the first treatment, thereby carrying out a second treatment, Obtaining the elastic modulus of the substrate; deriving a first strain generated on the substrate during transport of the substrate when the first treatment is performed and a second strain generated on the substrate during transport of the substrate when the second treatment is performed based on the acquired elastic modulus; deriving a second tension setting value that is set when applying the second tension based on the derived first strain and the derived second strain; A conveying method in which the derived second tension set value is applied to control the second tension applied to the substrate, Among a plurality of drums supporting a substrate, one drum is fixed and the other drum is rotated to generate a distortion in the substrate; Obtain the thickness t of the substrate; A width w of the substrate, which is a length of the substrate in a direction perpendicular to the substrate transport direction, is obtained; Obtain an initial tension T 0 applied to the substrate at an initial rotation position of the other drum; A rotation angle dθ from the initial rotation position of the other drum is obtained; At a rotation position where the other drum is rotated by a rotation angle dθ from the initial rotation position, a tension T applied to the substrate is obtained; Obtain the radius r of the other drum; Obtaining a length L of a transport path of the substrate between the one drum and the other drum; When the strain ε generated in the substrate is expressed as ε=r×dθ×L, the following formula is obtained. E=T / (t×w×ε) The conveying method derives a Young's modulus expressed by the following formula as the elastic modulus.

27. ​​A continuous substrate is transported in a substrate transport direction, applying a first tension to the substrate being transported to perform a first treatment; a conveying method for applying a second tension to the base material that has been subjected to the first treatment, thereby carrying out a second treatment, Obtaining the elastic modulus of the substrate; deriving a first strain generated on the substrate during transport of the substrate when the first treatment is performed and a second strain generated on the substrate during transport of the substrate when the second treatment is performed based on the acquired elastic modulus; deriving a second tension setting value that is set when applying the second tension based on the derived first strain and the derived second strain; A conveying method in which the derived second tension set value is applied to control the second tension applied to the substrate, Among a plurality of drums supporting a substrate, one drum is fixed and the other drum is rotated to generate a distortion in the substrate; A width w of the substrate, which is a length of the substrate in a direction perpendicular to the substrate transport direction, is obtained; Obtain an initial tension T 0 applied to the substrate at an initial rotation position of the other drum; A rotation angle dθ from the initial rotation position of the other drum is obtained; At a rotation position where the other drum is rotated by a rotation angle dθ from the initial rotation position, a tension T applied to the substrate is obtained; Obtain the radius r of the other drum; Obtaining a length L of a transport path of the substrate between the one drum and the other drum; When the strain ε generated in the substrate is expressed as ε=r×dθ×L, the following formula is obtained. E×t=T / (w×ε) Using A conveying method in which the value represented by the formula (1) is derived as the elastic modulus.

28. A continuous substrate is transported in a substrate transport direction, applying a first tension to the substrate being transported to perform a first treatment; a conveying method for applying a second tension to the base material that has been subjected to the first treatment, thereby carrying out a second treatment, Obtaining the elastic modulus of the substrate; deriving a first strain generated on the substrate during transport of the substrate when the first treatment is performed and a second strain generated on the substrate during transport of the substrate when the second treatment is performed based on the acquired elastic modulus; deriving a second tension setting value that is set when applying the second tension based on the derived first strain and the derived second strain; A conveying method in which the derived second tension set value is applied to control the second tension applied to the substrate, The Young's modulus E r of the reference substrate is obtained as the elastic modulus of the reference substrate; Obtain the thickness t r of the reference substrate; Obtain the width w r of the reference substrate; An upper limit value T ur of the first tension in the reference substrate is obtained; A lower limit value T Lr of the first tension in the reference substrate is obtained; Obtain the Young's modulus E of the substrate to be used, The thickness t of the substrate is obtained, The width w of the substrate used, which is the length of the substrate used in a direction perpendicular to the substrate transport direction, is obtained and expressed by the following formula: T u = T ur × (E / E r ) × (t / t r ) 2 × (w / w r ) and the upper limit value T u of the first tension in the substrate used, which is expressed using the following formula: T L = T Lr × (w / w r ) and a lower limit value T L of the first tension for the substrate to be used, the lower limit value being between T L and the first tension set value.

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