Printing apparatus

Abstract

To suppress the occurrence of stray light.SOLUTION: A printer comprises: a head which discharges ink that is cured with irradiation of light toward a placement surface where a medium is placed; a light irradiation device which is arranged side by side with the head and emits the light for curing the ink toward the placement surface from a light emitting region arranged on an irradiation surface opposed to the placement surface; and an electro-deposition bristle-implanted part which is arranged in at least a portion of an opposing portion opposed to the placement surface between the light emitting region and the head.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a printing apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] As a printing apparatus that performs printing on a medium to be printed, for example, there is known a printing apparatus that injects ultraviolet-curable ink from a head onto a medium and cures the ink by irradiating ultraviolet rays from a light irradiation device (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the printing apparatus as described above, part of the ultraviolet rays irradiated from the light irradiation device may become stray light. For example, part of the irradiated ultraviolet rays is reflected by the medium, and the ultraviolet rays reflected by the medium are reflected by the surface of the light irradiation device facing the medium, and by repeating such reflections, it may reach the head and irradiate the head. Such stray light causes problems such as clogging of the ink in the head.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object thereof is to provide a printing apparatus capable of suppressing the generation of stray light.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The printing apparatus according to the present invention comprises a head that ejects ink that hardens when irradiated with light toward a mounting surface on which a media is placed; a light irradiation device arranged alongside the head and irradiating light that hardens the ink toward the mounting surface from a light-emitting region located on an irradiation surface facing the mounting surface; and an electrodeposited flocking section located between the light-emitting region and the head, on at least a part of the opposing portion facing the mounting surface.

[0007] In the above-described printing apparatus, the electrodeposited flocking section is provided over the entire area of ​​the light-emitting region on the head side of the irradiation surface.

[0008] In the above-described printing apparatus, the irradiation surface is planar and is positioned at an angle such that the end on the head side is located lower than the end on the opposite side of the head.

[0009] The above-described printing apparatus further comprises a duct positioned between the head and the light irradiation device, having a suction port for sucking up mist generated from the head.

[0010] In the above-described printing apparatus, the light irradiation device includes a light source that emits light and a cooling fan that cools the light source, and the duct is connected to the negative pressure side of the cooling fan.

[0011] In the above-described printing apparatus, the electrodeposited flocking section is arranged in the portion of the duct that faces the surface described above. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the present invention, the generation of stray light can be suppressed. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a printing apparatus according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 shows an example of the arrangement of the head, duct, and light irradiation device. [Figure 3]Figure 3 shows an example of the arrangement of the head, duct, and light irradiation device. [Figure 4] Figure 4 shows an example of the operation of a printing apparatus related to a comparative example. [Figure 5] Figure 5 shows an example of the operation of the printing apparatus according to this embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0014] Embodiments of the joint and printing apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited by these embodiments. Furthermore, the components in the following embodiments include those that are easily substituted or substantially identical to those that are easily substituted by those skilled in the art.

[0015] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a printing apparatus 100 according to this embodiment. As shown in Figure 1, the printing apparatus 100 is an inkjet type printing apparatus and comprises a main body 10, an ink supply unit 20, a head 30, a duct 40, and a light irradiation device 50. Various types of such printing apparatus 100 can be cited, such as vertical type and flatbed type.

[0016] The main body 10 includes a media support section 11 and a media drive section 12. The media support section 11 supports the media M on the mounting surface 11a. The media drive section 12 moves the media M in a direction (media transport direction) D2 perpendicular to the main scanning direction D1.

[0017] The ink supply unit 20 has, for example, an ink container (not shown). The ink contained in the ink container is supplied to the head 30 via a supply path (not shown) and ejected from the head 30 as droplets.

[0018] FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are diagrams showing an arrangement example of the head 30, the duct 40, and the light irradiation device 50. FIG. 2 is a view seen from the side, and FIG. 3 is a view seen from below. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the head 30, the duct 40, and the light irradiation device 50 are mounted on the carriage 60 and arranged side by side in the main scanning direction D1. The head 30, the duct 40, and the light irradiation device 50 move integrally with the carriage 60 in the main scanning direction D1.

[0019] A plurality of heads 30 are arranged, for example, in the main scanning direction D1. Each head 30 has a nozzle surface 31 facing the mounting surface 11a. The nozzle surface 31 is, for example, planar. A plurality of nozzles (not shown) for discharging ink are provided on the nozzle surface 31. Examples of the ink include ultraviolet curable ink. As the type of ultraviolet curable ink, for example, depending on the color of the image formed on the medium M, white ink, cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), black (K), and other colored inks, transparent ink, etc. can be appropriately used. The head 30 is electrically connected to the control unit CONT, and its driving is controlled by the control unit CONT. The head 30 discharges ink toward the mounting surface 11a while reciprocating along the main scanning direction D1 due to the movement of the carriage 60.

[0020] The light irradiation device 50 irradiates ultraviolet light onto the ultraviolet curable ink discharged onto the mounting surface 11a. The light irradiation device 50 is composed of, for example, an LED module capable of irradiating ultraviolet light. The light irradiation device 50 is mounted on the carriage 60 and can reciprocate in the main scanning direction D1 as the carriage 60 moves along the main scanning direction D1. The light irradiation device 50 is electrically connected to the control unit CONT, and its driving is controlled by the control unit CONT.

[0021] The light irradiation device 50 has a housing 51. An irradiation surface 51a facing the mounting surface 11a is provided on the housing 51. The irradiation surface 51a is, for example, planar. The irradiation surface 51a is inclined such that the end on the head 30 side is located below the end on the opposite side of the head 30 in the main scanning direction D1. That is, the irradiation surface 51a is inclined so as to face the side opposite to the head 30.

[0022] On the irradiation surface 51a, a light-emitting region 51b is provided. The light-emitting region 51b is an opening region provided in a part of the irradiation surface 51a. The light-emitting region 51b irradiates ultraviolet rays toward the placement surface 11a. Inside the housing 51, a plurality of light sources 52 are arranged in a matrix on a substrate 53. The plurality of light sources 52 are, for example, LED chips, and are arranged in a state where the light-emitting surface faces the light-emitting region 51b side.

[0023] Inside the housing 51, a cooling fan 54 for cooling the plurality of light sources 52 and the substrate 53 is provided. The cooling fan 54 is arranged above the substrate 53. The cooling fan 54 injects air toward the substrate 53 side. When the cooling fan 54 operates, the space 51K above the cooling fan 54 inside the housing 51, that is, the space on the opposite side of the substrate 53, becomes a negative pressure.

[0024] An electrodeposited flocking part 55 is arranged in an outer region 51c outside the light-emitting region 51b. The electrodeposited flocking part 55 is provided over the entire outer region 51c. The electrodeposited flocking part 55 is formed using a material such as nylon, for example. The electrodeposited flocking part 55 is formed, for example, by applying an adhesive to the entire outer region 51c and attaching short fibrous flocking materials by means of a DC voltage or the like. The dimension in the longitudinal direction of the flocking material is, for example, 0.1 mm to 3.0 mm, and preferably about 0.2 mm to 1.0 mm.

[0025] The duct 40 is arranged between the head 30 and the light irradiation device 50 in the main scanning direction D1. The duct 40 has a pipe member 41. The upper first end 41a in the vertical direction of the pipe member 41 is connected to the space on the negative pressure side of the cooling fan 54 inside the housing 51 of the light irradiation device 50. The pipe member 41 has a suction port 41c directed toward the head 30 side at the lower second end 41b in the vertical direction. The duct 40 sucks mist-like ink (ink mist) from the suction port 41c. The pipe member 41 has a bottom surface 41d below the second end 41b. The bottom surface 41d faces the placement surface 11a.

[0026] An electrodeposited flocked section 45 is positioned on the bottom surface 41d. The electrodeposited flocked section 45 is provided over the entire surface of the bottom surface 41d. The electrodeposited flocked section 45 is formed using a material such as nylon, similar to the electrodeposited flocked section 55 described above. The electrodeposited flocked section 45 is formed, for example, by applying an adhesive to the entire surface of the bottom surface 41d and attaching short fibrous flocking material using a DC voltage or the like. The longitudinal dimension of the flocking material can be, for example, 0.1 mm to 3.0 mm, preferably about 0.2 to 1.0 mm.

[0027] The duct 40 has a tilt adjustment section 42. The tilt adjustment section 42 allows the tilt of the second end 41b of the duct 40 in the vertical direction to be adjusted. By adjusting the tilt of the second end 41b of the duct 40, the opening direction of the suction port 41c can be changed. Also, by adjusting the tilt of the second end 41b, the tilt of the bottom surface 41d with respect to the mounting surface 11a is changed.

[0028] For example, the duct 40 can be configured to adjust the inclination of its second end 41b so that the opening of the suction port 41c faces diagonally downward toward the head 30. In this case, ink mist from the head 30 can be efficiently sucked in. Also, in this case, the bottom surface 41d is inclined so that in the main scanning direction D1, the end on the head 30 side is positioned lower than the end on the opposite side of the head 30. In other words, the bottom surface 41d is inclined to face away from the head 30.

[0029] Next, an example of the operation of the printing device 100 configured as described above will be explained. The user of the printing device 100 will have the media M placed on the mounting surface 11a of the media support section 11 in advance.

[0030] In this state, for example, if an instruction to perform a print operation is received from an external device, the control unit CONT moves the carriage 60 in the main scanning direction D1. The control unit CONT ejects ink from the head 30 and irradiates ultraviolet light from the light irradiation device 50 in conjunction with the movement of the carriage 60. The control unit CONT also activates the cooling fan 54 of the light irradiation device 50. As a result of this operation, ink adheres to the media M, and ultraviolet light is irradiated onto the adhered ink. In addition, ink mist floating between the head 30 and the media M or the mounting surface 11a is sucked in from the suction port 41c of the duct 40. The control unit CONT repeats the above operation while moving the media M in the media movement direction D2. Through this control, an image is formed on the media M.

[0031] Figure 4 shows an example of the operation of a printing apparatus according to a comparative example. In the printing apparatus 100A according to the comparative example, as shown in Figure 4, the media M is placed on the mounting surface 16a of the media support section 16.

[0032] In this state, ultraviolet light irradiated from the light irradiation device 50A may have some of its components LA reflected by the media M, which are intended to travel toward the head 30A, and the reflected ultraviolet light LA ​​may reach the outer region 56c of the light irradiation device. The ultraviolet light LA ​​that reaches the outer region 56c is reflected by the outer region 56c, and this reflected ultraviolet light LA ​​may be reflected again by the media M and travel toward the head 30A.

[0033] In this way, the ultraviolet LA irradiated onto the media M repeatedly reflects between the media M and the outer region 56c, causing the ultraviolet LA to travel toward the head 30A. Similarly, the ultraviolet LA repeatedly reflects between the media M and the bottom surface 46d of the duct 40, causing the ultraviolet LA to travel toward the head 30A. In this manner, the ultraviolet LA irradiated from the light irradiation device 50A travels toward the head 30A and may reach the nozzle surface 31A of the head 30A as stray light.

[0034] Figure 5 shows an example of the operation of the printing apparatus according to this embodiment. In the printing apparatus 100 according to this embodiment, the media M is placed on the mounting surface 11a of the media support section 11.

[0035] In this state, as shown in Figure 5, by providing the electrodeposited flocking section 55 in the outer region 51c, at least a portion of the ultraviolet light L that is reflected by the media M and reaches the outer region 51c of the housing 51 is absorbed by the electrodeposited flocking section 55. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the reflection of ultraviolet light L that reaches the outer region 51c. Thus, for example, when ultraviolet light L that is irradiated onto the media M and reflected by the media M repeatedly reflects between the outer region 51c of the housing 51 and the media M, the electrodeposited flocking section 55 can attenuate the ultraviolet light L, thereby suppressing the ultraviolet light L from reaching the nozzle surface 31 of the head 30.

[0036] Furthermore, the irradiation surface 51a is tilted so as to face away from the head 30. This configuration suppresses the reflection of ultraviolet light L towards the head 30 in the outer region 51c.

[0037] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the presence of the electrodeposited flocked section 45 allows at least a portion of the ultraviolet L that reaches the bottom surface 41d of the duct 40 to be absorbed by the electrodeposited flocked section 45. This suppresses the reflection of ultraviolet L that reaches the bottom surface 41d of the duct 40 at the bottom surface 41d. Consequently, when ultraviolet L that reaches the bottom surface 41d of the duct 40 repeatedly reflects between the bottom surface 41d and the media M, the ultraviolet L can be attenuated, thereby suppressing its reach to the head 30. Additionally, by adjusting the inclination of the second end 41b side of the pipe member 41, the bottom surface 41d can be positioned away from the head 30. This suppresses the reflection of ultraviolet L towards the head 30 at the bottom surface 41d.

[0038] As described above, the printing apparatus 100 according to this embodiment includes a head 30 that ejects ink that hardens when irradiated with light toward a mounting surface 11a on which media M is placed, a light irradiation device 50 arranged alongside the head 30 and irradiating light that hardens the ink toward the mounting surface 11a from a light-emitting region 51b located on an irradiation surface 51a facing the mounting surface 11a, and electrodeposited flocking sections 45, 55 arranged between the light-emitting region 51b and the head 30, on at least a part of the opposing portion facing the mounting surface 11a.

[0039] With this configuration, when ultraviolet light reflected by the media M reaches the opposing portion facing the mounting surface 11a, a portion of the ultraviolet light is absorbed by the electrodeposited flocked portions 45 and 55. Therefore, reflection of the ultraviolet light that reaches the opposing portion can be suppressed. Consequently, the ultraviolet light that reaches the opposing portion can be attenuated while it is repeatedly reflected between the opposing portion and the media M, thus suppressing the arrival of ultraviolet light as stray light at the head 30.

[0040] In the printing apparatus 100 according to this embodiment, the electrodeposited flocking section 55 is provided over the entire area of ​​the light-emitting region 51b on the head 30 side of the irradiation surface 51a. With this configuration, ultraviolet rays that reach the head 30 side of the light-emitting region 51b on the irradiation surface 51a can be reliably attenuated. Furthermore, since the electrodeposited flocking section 55 is formed over the entire area of ​​the light-emitting region 51b on the head 30 side of the irradiation surface 51a, the electrodeposited flocking section 55 can be formed in a small number of steps without the need for masks or the like.

[0041] In the printing apparatus 100 according to this embodiment, the irradiation surface 51a is planar and is inclined so that the end on the head 30 side is located lower than the end on the opposite side of the head 30. With this configuration, it is possible to reliably suppress the reflection of ultraviolet light that reaches the irradiation surface 51a towards the head 30 side.

[0042] In the printing apparatus 100 according to this embodiment, a duct 40 is further provided, which is positioned between the head 30 and the light irradiation device 50 and has a suction port for sucking up mist generated from the head 30. With this configuration, ink mist can be sucked up by the duct 40, so that the adhesion of ink mist to the electrodeposited flocked parts 45 and 55 can be suppressed. This can suppress a decrease in the ultraviolet light absorption rate of the electrodeposited flocked parts 45 and 55.

[0043] In the printing apparatus 100 according to this embodiment, the light irradiation device 50 has a light source 52 that emits light and a cooling fan 54 that cools the light source 52, and the duct 40 is connected to the negative pressure side of the cooling fan 54. With this configuration, ink mist can be efficiently sucked up by utilizing the negative pressure generated by the cooling fan 54.

[0044] In the printing apparatus 100 according to this embodiment, the electrodeposited flocking section 45 is positioned in the portion of the duct 40 facing the mounting surface 11a. With this configuration, a portion of the ultraviolet light that reaches the bottom surface 41d of the duct 40 can be absorbed.

[0045] The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and modifications can be made as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, in the above embodiments, the electrodeposited flocking portion 55 was described as being formed over the entire outer region 51c of the irradiation surface 51a in the light irradiation device 50, but the invention is not limited thereto. The electrodeposited flocking portion 55 may be provided only in the outer region 51 on the head 30 side with respect to the light emission region 51b in the main scanning direction D1.

[0046] Furthermore, although the above embodiment was described using as an example a configuration in which the duct 40 and the light irradiation device 50 are each provided with electrodeposited flocked sections 45 and 55, the embodiment is not limited to this. For example, a configuration in which one of the electrodeposited flocked sections 45 and 55 is not provided is also possible.

[0047] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the bottom surface 41d of the duct 40 and the outer region 51c of the light irradiation device 50 were described as examples of portions facing the mounting surface 11a between the light-emitting region 51b and the head 30, but the embodiment is not limited to these. Other components facing the mounting surface 11a may be arranged between the light-emitting region 51b and the head 30. In this case, the electrodeposited flocking portion can be arranged on at least a part of the portion of the other component facing the mounting surface 11a.

[0048] Furthermore, although the above embodiment was described using a configuration in which a duct 40 is arranged between the head 30 and the light irradiation device 50 as an example, the invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, even in a configuration in which a duct 40 is not arranged between the head 30 and the light irradiation device 50, the description in the above embodiment can be applied.

[0049] Furthermore, although the above embodiment described an example in which the light irradiation device 50 is positioned only on one side of the head 30 in the main scanning direction D1, the embodiment is not limited to this. The light irradiation device 50 may be positioned only on the other side of the head 30 in the main scanning direction D1, different from the embodiment described above, or the light irradiation devices 50 may be positioned on both sides of the head 30 in the main scanning direction D1.

[0050] Furthermore, although the above embodiment was described using a configuration in which the electrodeposited flocking portion is not arranged on the head 30 as an example, the invention is not limited to this. The electrodeposited flocking portion may be arranged between the end of the head 30 in the main scanning direction D1 and the nozzle surface 31. [Explanation of symbols]

[0051] D1 Main scanning direction D2 Media Movement Direction M Media CONT Control Unit 10 Main body 11 Media Support Department 11a Mounting surface 12 Media drive unit 20 Ink supply unit 30 heads 31 Nozzle surface 40 ducts 41 Pipe members 41a First end 41b Second end 41c Suction port 41d Bottom 45, 55 Electroplated flocked section 50 Light irradiation device 51 cabinets 51a Irradiation surface 51b Emitting region 51c outer area 52 Light source 53 circuit boards 54 Cooling fan 60 Carriage 100 Printing device

Claims

1. A head that dispenses ink that hardens when irradiated with ultraviolet light toward a mounting surface on which media is placed, A light irradiation device is positioned alongside the head and irradiates ultraviolet light that cures the ink toward the aforementioned surface from a light-emitting region located between the end on the head side and the end on the opposite side of the head on the irradiation surface facing the aforementioned surface, The electrodeposited flocked portion is arranged across the entire outer region of the irradiation surface located outside the light-emitting region and absorbs a portion of the ultraviolet light. Equipped with, The device further comprises a duct positioned between the head and the light irradiation device, having a suction port for drawing in the mist generated from the head, The duct has a pipe member extending in a direction perpendicular to the aforementioned mounting surface, the suction port is provided at the end of the pipe member on the mounting surface side facing the head side, and the pipe member has a bottom surface on the mounting surface side facing the aforementioned mounting surface. The electrodeposited flocking portion is further arranged on the entire bottom surface of the duct. The irradiation surface is a single planar surface, and the entire irradiation surface is positioned at an angle such that the end on the head side is located lower than the end on the opposite side of the head. The light-emitting region irradiates ultraviolet light in a direction tilted to the opposite side of the head, according to the inclination of the irradiation surface. Printing device.

2. The light irradiation device comprises a light source that emits ultraviolet light and a cooling fan that cools the light source. The duct is connected to the negative pressure side of the cooling fan. The printing apparatus according to claim 1.

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