Liquid dispensing device

Abstract

To provide a liquid discharge device with little loss of a processing time in a process of discharging a liquid onto an object.SOLUTION: A liquid discharge device comprises: a head for discharging a liquid onto an object; scanning means which scans the head in a prescribed scanning direction with respect to the object; maintenance means which performs maintenance processing for the head; and control means which changes a position of the maintenance means in the scanning direction on the basis of range information in the scanning direction in liquid discharge processing performed for the object.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an ejection unit that integrates a head having nozzles that eject liquid and a cleaning mechanism that includes a wiping member that wipes the nozzle surface of the head, thereby enabling the nozzle surface to be cleaned whenever necessary. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] In the prior art, the inclusion of a cleaning mechanism complicates the configuration of the discharge unit, and the weight of the discharge unit increases due to the inclusion of a cleaning mechanism, which increases the load on the drive unit for reciprocating the discharge unit. [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] The present invention provides a liquid ejection device comprising: a head that ejects liquid onto an object; a scanning means that scans the head in a predetermined scanning direction relative to the object; a maintenance means that performs a maintenance process on the head; and a control means that changes the position of the maintenance means in the scanning direction based on range information in the scanning direction in the liquid ejection process performed on the object. The head and the maintenance means are configured to be movable independently of each other in the scanning direction, and the control means, before the liquid ejection process is performed, performs scanning of the head in the scanning direction without ejecting liquid and changes the position of the maintenance means in the scanning direction based on range information in the scanning direction. It is characterized by: [Effects of the Invention]

[0005] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a liquid ejection device that reduces loss of processing time when ejecting liquid onto an object. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0006] [Figure 1] 1 is an overall perspective view of a liquid ejection device according to an embodiment of the present invention, seen from the rear side; [Figure 2] 1 is an overall perspective view of a liquid ejection device according to an embodiment of the present invention, seen from the front side; [Figure 3] FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment. [Figure 5] 5A to 5C are explanatory diagrams illustrating the operation of a carriage according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] 5A to 5C are explanatory diagrams illustrating the operation of a carriage according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] 10 is a flowchart of control for changing the position of the second cleaning device. [Figure 8] 10A and 10B are explanatory diagrams illustrating the operation of a carriage according to another embodiment. [Figure 9] 10 is a flowchart of control for changing the position of a second cleaning device in another embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same elements are given the same reference numerals, and duplicated explanations will be omitted.

[0008] <Outline of liquid ejection device> First, an outline of the liquid ejection device will be described using Figures 1 and 2. Figure 1 is an overall perspective view of a liquid ejection device according to an embodiment of the present invention, as seen from the rear side, and Figure 2 is an overall perspective view of the device as seen from the front side. The liquid ejection device exemplified in this embodiment is a printing device that forms an image on the side of a truck body or the like.

[0009] The printing device 1000 is installed facing an object 100, such as the side of a truck body. The printing device 1000 includes an X-axis rail 101, a Y-axis rail 102 that intersects with the X-axis rail 101, and a Z-axis rail 103 that intersects with the X-axis rail 101 and the Y-axis rail 102.

[0010] The Y-axis rail 102 holds the X-axis rail 101 so that the X-axis rail 101 can move in the Y direction (positive and negative sides). The X-axis rail 101 holds the Z-axis rail 103 so that the Z-axis rail 103 can move in the X direction (positive and negative sides). The Z-axis rail 103 holds the carriage 1 so that the carriage 1 can move in the Z direction (positive and negative sides).

[0011] The printing device 1000 includes a first Z-direction drive unit 92 that moves the carriage 1 in the Z direction along the Z-axis rail 103, and an X-direction drive unit 72 that moves the Z-axis rail 103 in the X direction along the X-axis rail 101. The printing device 1000 also includes a Y-direction drive unit 82 that moves the X-axis rail 101 in the Y direction along the Y-axis rail 102, and a second Z-direction drive unit 93 that moves the head holder 70 in the Z direction relative to the carriage 1.

[0012] In the printing device 1000 configured as described above, the carriage 1 moves back and forth on the X-rail 101 from side to side (negative and positive sides in the X direction) every time the X-rail 101 moves down to the negative side in the Y direction at regular intervals. As the carriage 1 moves back and forth, the head provided on the head holder 70 ejects ink, which is an example of a liquid, while scanning the object 100, thereby forming an image, which is an example of a liquid ejection process, on the object 100.

[0013] Here, the movement of the carriage 1 and head holder 70 in the Z direction does not necessarily mean that it is parallel to the Z direction, but it may be an oblique movement as long as it includes at least a component in the Z direction. Note that although the surface shape of the object 100 is shown as a flat surface in the figure, the surface shape of the object 100 may also be a nearly vertical surface, a surface with a large radius of curvature, or a surface with some unevenness.

[0014] At both ends of the X-axis rail 101, i.e., on the upstream and downstream sides of the carriage 1 in the scanning direction, there are provided a first cleaning device 105 and a second cleaning device 106 for cleaning the nozzle surface on which the ink ejection nozzles of the head are provided each time the head scans the target object 100. Note that the first cleaning device 105 and the second cleaning device 106 are examples of maintenance means, and the function of the maintenance means is not limited to cleaning. For example, the maintenance means may be equipped with other functions necessary to maintain the ejection performance of the head, such as a blank ejection receiver function for receiving liquid generated during blank ejection operations of the head. Here, the X-axis rail 101 and the X-direction drive unit 72 are examples of a "scanning means."

[0015] <Carriage configuration> Next, the configuration of the carriage will be described with reference to Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is an overall perspective view of the carriage of the printing device shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, in which the carriage 1 is seen from the target object 100 side.

[0016] The carriage 1 includes a head holder 70. The carriage 1 is movable in the Z direction (positive and negative) along a Z-axis rail 103 by power from a first Z-direction drive unit 92 shown in FIG. 1. The head holder 70 is movable in the Z direction (positive and negative) relative to the carriage 1 by power from a second Z-direction drive unit 93 shown in FIG. 1. The head holder 70 includes a head fixing plate 70a for mounting the heads 300. In this embodiment, a configuration is illustrated in which six heads, each with eight nozzles 302, are mounted on the head fixing plate 70a, and the six heads 300a to 300f are arranged in a stacked configuration. In the following description, the heads 300a to 300f will be collectively referred to as "heads 300."

[0017] The types and number of ink colors used by the heads 300a-300f may be different for each head, or may all be the same color. For example, if the printing device 1000 is a coating device that uses a single color, the inks used by the heads 300a-300f may be the same color. Furthermore, the number of heads constituting the head 300 is not limited to six. It may be more or less than six.

[0018] As shown in the figure, the heads 300 are fixed to the head fixing plate 70a with the nozzle rows of each head intersecting the horizontal plane (XZ plane) and the arrangement direction of the multiple nozzles 302 tilted with respect to the X axis. In this state, the nozzles 302 eject ink in a direction intersecting the vertical direction (positive side of the Z direction).

[0019] <Hardware configuration> Next, the hardware configuration of the printing device 1000 will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of a printing device according to an embodiment. Note that components may be added or deleted from the hardware configuration shown in Fig. 4 as necessary.

[0020] The printing device 1000 includes a controller 901, a head drive control unit 902, etc. The controller 901 is also connected to a computer 903. The computer 903 includes a RIP (Routing Information Protocol) unit 9031 that performs image processing according to a color profile and user settings, and a rendering unit 9032 that breaks down image data of an image to be formed on the object 100 into image data for each scan (movement of the carriage 1 in the X-axis direction). The computer 903 is also connected to an input device 9033 that sets the image data and coordinate data of the image to be formed on the object 100, selects an image formation mode, sets the image formation (printing) range, etc. The input device 9033 includes a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel, etc., and receives input from the user.

[0021] The controller 901 includes a system control unit 9011, a data storage unit 9012, a memory control unit 9013, a discharge period signal generation unit 9014, a carriage control unit 9015, and a maintenance control unit 9016. The system control unit 9011 receives image data and commands from the computer 903 and controls the overall operation of the printing apparatus 1000. The data storage unit 9012 includes memory such as a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), and stores image data, print range data, etc. received from the computer 903. The memory control unit 9013 controls the data storage unit 9012.

[0022] The printing apparatus 1000 includes a linear encoder installed, for example, along the X-axis rail 101. An encoder sensor 109 that optically detects each slit of this linear encoder is installed on a member that can move on the X-axis rail 101, such as the carriage 1 or cleaning devices 105 and 106, thereby making it possible to obtain positional information of that member on the X-axis. An ejection period signal generation unit 9014 generates an ink ejection period signal from the output signal of the encoder sensor 109 on the carriage 1 and information indicating the resolution of the image data received from the computer 903.

[0023] The carriage control unit 9015 calculates position information of the carriage 1 based on the output signal of the encoder sensor 109, and controls the driving of the X-direction drive unit 72, the Y-direction drive unit 82, the first Z-direction drive unit 92, and the second Z-direction drive unit 93. The maintenance control unit 9016 calculates position information of the second cleaning device 106 based on the output signal of the encoder sensor 109 in the second cleaning device 106, and controls the operation of the first cleaning device 105 and the second cleaning device 106.

[0024] As described above, the controller 901 includes a system control unit 9011, a data storage unit 9012, a memory control unit 9013, a discharge period signal generation unit 9014, a carriage control unit 9015, and a maintenance control unit 9016. The controller 901 has an arithmetic processing unit and a storage device, and realizes each of these functional units by the arithmetic processing unit executing a program pre-recorded in the storage device. Here, the controller 901 is an example of a "control means."

[0025] The head drive control unit 902 receives a discharge period signal from a discharge period signal generation unit 9014 of the controller 901, and controls the ink discharge operation from the head 300 based on the discharge period signal. The RIP unit 9031 and the rendering unit 9032 may be configured to be provided in the system control unit 9011 of the controller 901, rather than in the computer 903. Also, in this embodiment, an encoder sensor is used as an example of a sensor that detects the positions of the carriage 1 and the second cleaning device 106, but the sensor is not limited to this. Instead of an encoder sensor, a mechanical sensor such as a push sensor or an optical sensor using laser light may be used.

[0026] <Operation of the embodiment> Next, an example of the operation of the carriage 1 in the printing device 1000 will be described with reference to Figures 5 and 6. Figure 5 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the carriage according to this embodiment, in which the printing range 100a is set to cover almost the entire area of ​​the target object 100 in the X direction.

[0027] In this case, the X-axis rail 101 rises toward the positive side in the Y direction so that the carriage 1 is positioned opposite the print start position P1 within the print range 100a. When printing begins, the carriage 1 moves on the X-axis rail 101 from the print start position P1 toward the positive side in the X direction, and the head 300 mounted on the carriage 1 ejects ink to form a desired image in the print range 100a. After the first scan of the carriage 1 toward the positive side in the X direction is completed, the carriage 1 moves further toward the positive side in the X direction and stops at a position opposite the second cleaning device 106. At this time, the second cleaning device 106 performs a cleaning process on the nozzle surface of the head 300.

[0028] When the cleaning process is completed, the X-rail 101 moves (starts a new line) a fixed distance to the negative side in the Y direction, which causes the carriage 1, first cleaning device 105, and second cleaning device 106, which are provided on the X-rail 101, to also move a fixed distance to the negative side in the Y direction.

[0029] The carriage 1 then moves on the X-axis rail 101 toward the negative side in the X direction, and a desired image is formed in the printing range 100a with ink ejected by the head 300. After the second scan of the carriage 1 toward the negative side in the X direction is completed, the carriage 1 moves further toward the negative side in the X direction and stops at a position opposite the first cleaning device 105. At this time, the first cleaning device 105 performs a cleaning process on the nozzle surface of the head 300.

[0030] Once the cleaning process is complete, the X-rail 101 moves a fixed distance toward the negative side in the Y direction. As a result, the carriage 1, first cleaning device 105, and second cleaning device 106, which are mounted on the X-rail 101, move further toward the negative side in the Y direction by a fixed distance. The carriage 1 moves along the movement trajectory indicated by the arrow while repeating the above operations until printing is completed. Note that, although the above embodiment is configured to lower the X-rail 101 after the cleaning process is completed, the order may be reversed. In other words, once the scanning of the carriage 1 is completed, the X-rail 101 may be moved a fixed distance toward the negative side in the Y direction, and the cleaning process may be performed before the start of the next scanning.

[0031] When printing (image formation) is performed over the entire printing range 100a as described above, the carriage 1 finishes scanning at a position close to the first cleaning device 105 and the second cleaning device 106. Therefore, after completing scanning, the carriage 1 quickly reaches a position opposite the first cleaning device 105 and the second cleaning device 106 and can proceed to the cleaning process. This reduces loss of printing time and allows printing to be completed with appropriate operation. In addition, because the carriage 1 is configured as a separate entity from the first cleaning device 105 and the second cleaning device 106, the configuration of the carriage 1 can be simplified. Furthermore, by configuring them as separate entities, the weight of the carriage 1 can be reduced, which makes it possible to reduce the load on the carriage 1's drive unit.

[0032] FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the carriage according to the embodiment, in which a print range 100b is set to approximately half the area of ​​the target object 100 in the X direction.

[0033] In this case, the printing operation is the same as in FIG. 5, with the carriage 1 starting at the print start position P1 within the printing range 100b, and moving along the movement locus indicated by the arrow until printing is completed.

[0034] However, in the cleaning process of the head 300, which is performed for each scan, even though the carriage 1 has reached the left end of the print range 100b (the end on the positive side in the X direction), the carriage 1 must be moved to the second cleaning device 106 as shown in Figure 6(a). As a result, even if the print range 100b is set to cover approximately half of the area of ​​the object 100 in the X direction, the printing time will be the same as if the print range 100a was set to cover almost the entire area of ​​the object 100 in the X direction.

[0035] Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6B, the position of the second cleaning device 106 in the X direction (the scanning direction of the carriage 1) is made changeable. The controller 901 controls the change in the position of the second cleaning device 106 based on range information in the scanning direction in the image formation process performed on the object 100. In this way, the second cleaning device 106 is moved before printing to match the printing area. As a result, even if the printing area 100b is set to approximately half the area of ​​the object 100 in the X direction, the carriage 1 completes scanning at a position close to the first cleaning device 105 and the second cleaning device 106. Therefore, after completing scanning, the carriage 1 quickly reaches a position opposite the first cleaning device 105 and the second cleaning device 106 and can proceed to the cleaning process. As a result, loss of printing time is reduced, and printing can be completed appropriately.

[0036] <Position control of the second cleaning device> Next, an example of position change control of the second cleaning device 106 will be described with reference to Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is a flowchart of position change control of the second cleaning device, and describes the process from setting the print range to the start of printing.

[0037] First, the user inputs the print range for the object 100 using the input device 9033 and sets the print range (step S1). The print range is, for example, coordinate information indicating the print start position and print end position, and the print range information is stored in the data storage unit 9012. Then, range information in the scanning direction (X direction) in the image formation process can be obtained from the X coordinate of the coordinate information indicating the print start position and print end position.

[0038] Once the setting of the printing range is complete, the second cleaning device 106 moves on the X-axis rail 101 (step S2). Here, the maintenance control unit 9016 determines the destination position of the second cleaning device 106 from the printing range information stored in the data storage unit 9012, and moves the second cleaning device 106 on the X-axis rail 101 toward the destination position.

[0039] Once the movement of the second cleaning device 106 is complete, the process proceeds to a test scan of the carriage 1 (step S3). In the test scan, the carriage 1 is moved along the movement trajectory during printing without ejecting ink.

[0040] Then, it is determined whether the second cleaning device 106 is in an appropriate position relative to the carriage 1 moving during the test scan (step S4). The determination of whether the second cleaning device 106 is in an appropriate position may be made by visual confirmation by the user or may be made automatically.

[0041] In the case of visual confirmation by the user, the positional relationship between the carriage 1 and the second cleaning device 106 is checked when scanning in the positive X direction within the printing range is completed and paused. If the carriage 1 and the second cleaning device 106 are within a predetermined distance, it is determined to be appropriate (YES). If the carriage 1 and the second cleaning device 106 are not within the predetermined distance (are far apart), it is determined to be inappropriate (NO).

[0042] Furthermore, when determining whether the carriage 1 is in an appropriate position by automatic detection, the output of the encoder sensor 109 described above is used, for example. That is, the encoder output value indicating the position of the carriage 1 is compared with the encoder output value indicating the position of the second cleaning device 106, and if the comparison result is within a predetermined value, it is determined to be appropriate (YES), and if it is not within the predetermined value, it is determined to be inappropriate (NO). Then, the controller 901 displays the result of the automatic detection determination on a display unit provided in the computer 903 or the like, and notifies the user of the result.

[0043] If the result of the determination in step S4 is "inappropriate (NO)", the print range is set again (step S1). If the result of the determination in step S4 is "appropriate (YES)", the carriage 1 returns to the predetermined home position and waits there until printing starts (step S5).

[0044] Next, the user issues a print start instruction via the input device 9033 (step S6). When the print start instruction is received in step S6, the computer 903 sends a print start instruction to the controller 901, and the controller 901 starts the printing operation (step S7).

[0045] As described above, this embodiment includes the head 300 that ejects ink onto the object 100, and the X-axis rail 101 and X-direction drive unit 72 that scan the head 300 in a predetermined scanning direction (positive side in the X direction and negative side in the X direction) relative to the object 100. Also included are the cleaning device 106 that performs a cleaning process on the head 300, and the controller 901 that changes the position of the cleaning device 106 in the X direction based on range information in the X direction in the image formation process performed on the object 100.

[0046] As described above, the head 300 has a nozzle surface 302a on which nozzles 302 that eject ink are provided, and the cleaning device 106 cleans the nozzle surface 302a.

[0047] As a result, after scanning is completed, the carriage 1 quickly reaches a position opposite the cleaning device 106 and can proceed to cleaning processing. As a result, loss of printing time is reduced and printing can be completed with appropriate operations.

[0048] <Operation of another embodiment> Next, an example of the operation of the carriage 1 in another embodiment of the printing device 1000 will be described with reference to Fig. 8. Fig. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the carriage in another embodiment, in which a printing range 100c is set for the target object 100.

[0049] As shown in the figure, the upper half of the printing range 100c is almost the entire area of ​​the object 100 in the X direction, but the lower half is approximately half of the area of ​​the object 100 in the X direction, and the printing range changes halfway through.

[0050] In this embodiment, if the position of the second cleaning device 106 is set to match the upper half of the area with a wide range in the X direction as shown in FIG. 8(a), there may be a large loss of printing time in the printing operation for the lower half of the area with a narrow range in the X direction, as in the case of FIG. 6(a).

[0051] Therefore, in this embodiment, when the area changes from a wide area to a narrow area, the second cleaning device 106 is moved to the negative side in the X direction, making it possible to reset the second cleaning device 106 to an appropriate position for the narrow area. An example of the position change control of the second cleaning device 106 in this embodiment will be described below.

[0052] <Position Control of Second Cleaning Device in Another Embodiment> FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the position change control of the second cleaning device in the embodiment of FIG. 8, and explains the process from setting the print range to the start of printing.

[0053] The flow from step S1 (setting the print range) to step S7 (start of printing) is the same as in FIG. 7. First, the user inputs the print range for the object 100 using the input device 9033 and sets the print range (step S1). In this embodiment, the print range is, for example, coordinate information indicating the print start position, print end position, and area switching position, and the print range information is stored in the data storage unit 9012. Then, range information in the scanning direction (X direction) in the image formation process for each area of ​​the print range can be obtained from the X coordinate of the coordinate information indicating the print start position, print end position, and area switching position.

[0054] Once the setting of the printing range is complete, the second cleaning device 106 moves on the X-axis rail 101 (step S2). Here, the maintenance control unit 9016 determines the destination position of the second cleaning device 106 from the printing range information stored in the data storage unit 9012, and moves the second cleaning device 106 on the X-axis rail 101 toward the destination position.

[0055] Once the movement of the second cleaning device 106 is complete, the process then proceeds to a test scan of the carriage 1 (step S3). In the test scan, the carriage 1 is moved along the movement trajectory during printing without ejecting ink. Then, it is determined whether the second cleaning device 106 is in an appropriate position relative to the carriage 1 moving during the test scan (step S4). The determination of whether the second cleaning device 106 is in an appropriate position may be made by visual confirmation by the user as described above, or by automatic detection.

[0056] If the determination result in step S4 is "inappropriate (NO)", the print range is set again (step S1). If the determination result in step S4 is "appropriate (YES)", the carriage 1 returns to a predetermined home position and waits at the home position until printing starts (step S5). Next, the user issues a command to start printing via the input device 9033 (step S6). When the command to start printing is issued in step S6, the computer 903 sends a command to start printing to the controller 901, and the controller 901 starts the printing operation (step S7).

[0057] Once printing has started, it is determined whether there has been any change in the X-direction area of ​​the printing range in accordance with the scanning of the carriage 1 (step S8). For example, if the information about the printing range set in step S1 includes coordinate information indicating the position where the area changes, step S8 is performed. Then, each time the carriage 1 completes one scan in the positive X-direction, the system control unit 9011 compares the coordinate information indicating the current position of the carriage 1 with the coordinate information indicating the printing range stored in the data storage unit 9012.

[0058] If the determination result in step S8 is "no area change (YES)", printing continues as is. If the determination result in step S8 is "area change (NO)", printing is temporarily stopped (step S9). When the printing is temporarily stopped, the Y-direction drive unit 82 holds the X-axis rail 101 at its current position (height), and the carriage 1 temporarily returns to a predetermined home position (for example, the end of the X-axis rail 101 on the negative side in the X direction).

[0059] Then, the process proceeds to step S2 (moving the second cleaning device), where the second cleaning device 106 moves on the X-axis rail 101 to the negative side in the X direction so as to be in an appropriate position for the carriage 1 that prints in a narrow area. After that, the above-mentioned steps S3 to S5 are executed again, and if an instruction to start printing is received (step S6), the controller 901 starts (resumes) the printing operation (step S7). With the above configuration, even in the case of a printing range where the area changes midway, loss of printing time is minimized and printing can be completed with appropriate operation.

[0060] <Modification> Figure 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a modified example in which a print range 100d is set for the object 100. The print range 100d is the opposite of that in Figure 8, with the upper half being the print range covering roughly half of the area of ​​the object 100 in the X direction, and the lower half being the print range covering almost the entire area of ​​the object 100 in the X direction. Furthermore, the head of the print range 100d is aligned on the positive side of the X direction (left-justified in the figure).

[0061] In this modified example, if the positions of the first cleaning device 105 and the second cleaning device 106 are set to match the wide area in the lower half as shown in Figure 10(b), there may be a large loss of printing time when printing in the narrow area in the upper half, as in the case of Figure 6(a).

[0062] Therefore, in this modified example, the position of the first cleaning device 105 is made changeable. Then, as printing switches from a narrow area of ​​the print range 100d (FIG. 10(a)) to a wide area (FIG. 10(b)), the first cleaning device 105 is moved to the negative side in the X direction, making it possible to reset the first cleaning device 105 to an appropriate position. Even in this modified example, there is little loss of printing time for print ranges where the area switches midway, and printing can be completed with appropriate operation.

[0063] As described above, in this embodiment, the first cleaning device 105 is provided upstream of the head 300 in the scanning direction, and the second cleaning device 106 is provided downstream. The position of at least one of these cleaning devices is changed. This reduces loss of printing time even for printing ranges where the area changes midway, and allows printing to be completed with appropriate operations.

[0064] <Supplementary information> In the present invention, the liquid may be a solution, suspension, emulsion, or the like containing a solvent such as water or an organic solvent, a colorant such as a dye or pigment, a polymerizable compound, a resin, a surfactant, or the like, a functionalizing material, a biocompatible material such as DNA, amino acids, proteins, or calcium, an edible material such as a natural colorant, etc. These can be used, for example, as inkjet inks, coating materials, surface treatment solutions, liquids for forming components of electronic elements or light-emitting elements, or electronic circuit resist patterns, and material liquids for three-dimensional modeling.

[0065] The above description is merely an example, and the present invention provides unique effects for each of the following aspects.

[0066] [First aspect] The first aspect is characterized by comprising a head that ejects liquid onto an object, scanning means (e.g., X-axis rail 101, X-direction drive unit 72) that scans the head in a predetermined scanning direction (e.g., the positive X-direction and the negative X-direction) relative to the object, maintenance means (e.g., first cleaning device 105, second cleaning device 106) that performs maintenance processing (e.g., cleaning processing) on ​​the head, and control means (e.g., controller 901) that changes the position of the maintenance means in the scanning direction based on range information in the scanning direction in the liquid ejection processing performed on the object.

[0067] [Second mode] The second aspect is characterized in that, in the first aspect, the head has a nozzle surface provided with nozzles that eject the liquid, and the maintenance means (e.g., first cleaning device 105, second cleaning device 106) is a cleaning device that cleans the nozzle surface.

[0068] According to the first and second aspects, it is possible to provide a liquid ejection device that reduces loss of processing time in the liquid ejection process onto an object.

[0069] [Third aspect] The third aspect is characterized in that, in the first or second aspect, the maintenance means (e.g., the first cleaning device 105, the second cleaning device 106) are provided on the upstream side and downstream side of the head in the scanning direction, and the position of at least one of the maintenance means is changed.

[0070] According to the third aspect, even for a printing range where the area changes partway through, loss of printing time is small, and printing can be completed with appropriate operations. [Explanation of symbols]

[0071] 1000 printing devices 1 carriage 300 head 101 X-axis rail 105 First Cleaning Device 106 Second Cleaning Device 100 objects 100a, 100b, 100c, 100d Printing range [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0072] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-168786

Claims

1. a head that ejects liquid onto an object; a scanning means for scanning the head in a predetermined scanning direction relative to the object; a maintenance unit for performing maintenance on the head; a control unit that changes the position of the maintenance unit in the scanning direction based on range information in the scanning direction in a liquid ejection process performed on the target object; Equipped with the head and the maintenance means are configured to be movable independently of each other in the scanning direction; The liquid ejection device is characterized in that, before the liquid ejection process is performed, the control means scans the head in the scanning direction without ejecting liquid and changes the position of the maintenance means in the scanning direction based on range information in the scanning direction.

2. 2. The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the head has a nozzle surface provided with nozzles for ejecting the liquid, and the maintenance means is a cleaning device for cleaning the nozzle surface.

3. 3. The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the maintenance means is provided on the upstream side and downstream side of the head in the scanning direction, and the position of at least one of the maintenance means is changed.

4. A carriage that holds the head and is scanned in the scanning direction by the scanning means; a first sensor that detects the position of the maintenance unit in the scanning direction; a second sensor for detecting a position of the carriage in the scanning direction; Equipped with the control means, before the liquid ejection process is performed, performs scanning of the carriage in the scanning direction without ejecting liquid and changes the position of the maintenance means in the scanning direction based on range information in the scanning direction; A liquid ejection device described in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control means compares the position of the maintenance means in the scanning direction after the change detected by the first sensor before the liquid ejection process is performed with the position of the carriage in the scanning direction after scanning has stopped detected by the second sensor before the liquid ejection process is performed, and controls the head and the carriage to perform the liquid ejection process if the comparison result is within a predetermined value.

Images