Inkjet recording device, inkjet recording method, and program

Abstract

The present invention provides an inkjet recording apparatus, an inkjet recording method, and a program capable of forming an image without margins from the leading edge of a fabric. [Solution] The inkjet recording device 1 includes a transport unit 3 that transports the fabric 200 in the transport direction, an image forming unit 4 that forms an image by ejecting ink onto the fabric 200 with an inkjet head 421, and a transport control unit 2 that functions as a transport control unit that controls the transport unit 3 so that the front end of the fabric 200 in the transport direction is transported to the image formation start position L1 on the inkjet head 421 during image formation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an inkjet recording apparatus, an inkjet recording method, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, for example, as in Patent Document 1, there is known an inkjet recording apparatus that forms an image on a continuous fabric conveyed in the sub-scanning direction by discharging ink from nozzles provided on a nozzle surface while conveying an inkjet head in the main scanning direction.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003] <00系列の数字を変えないでください。

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In such an inkjet recording apparatus, in order to stabilize the tension and flatness of the fabric, it is common for the user to place the fabric at the image forming position and then discharge ink from the inkjet head to form an image. Therefore, there is a problem that a large amount of blank space where no image is formed occurs at the leading end of the fabric.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in view of such circumstances. Its object is to provide an inkjet recording apparatus, an inkjet recording method, and a program capable of forming an image with less blank space from the leading end of a fabric.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, the present disclosure provides an inkjet recording apparatus, comprising: a conveyance unit that conveys a fabric placed on a conveyance belt coated with an adhesive in a conveyance direction; An image forming unit that forms an image by ejecting ink onto the fabric using an inkjet head, The image formed on the fabric Based on the position on the conveyor belt where the fabric is placed by the user, The system includes a transport control unit that controls the transport unit to transport the leading end in the transport direction to an image formation start position, which is a position where an image can be formed by ink ejected from the inkjet head.

[0007] Furthermore, in order to solve the above problems, this disclosure provides: A conveying unit that transports fabric placed on a conveyor belt coated with adhesive in the conveying direction, An inkjet recording method in an inkjet recording apparatus comprising an image forming unit that forms an image by ejecting ink onto the fabric using an inkjet head, The image formed on the fabric Based on the position on the conveyor belt where the fabric is placed by the user, The transport unit includes a transport control step that controls the transport unit to transport the leading end in the transport direction to an image formation start position, which is a position where an image can be formed by ink ejected from the inkjet head.

[0008] Furthermore, in order to solve the above problems, this disclosure provides a program, A conveying unit that transports fabric placed on a conveyor belt coated with adhesive in the conveying direction, A computer for an inkjet recording apparatus comprising an image forming unit that forms an image by ejecting ink onto the fabric using an inkjet head, The image formed on the fabric Based on the position on the conveyor belt where the fabric is placed by the user, The transport control unit functions as a transport control unit that transports the transport unit to the image formation start position, which is the position where an image can be formed by the ink ejected from the inkjet head, at the front end in the transport direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to this disclosure, an image can be formed with minimal margins from the leading edge of the fabric. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] It is a perspective view of an inkjet recording apparatus. [Figure 2] It is a block diagram of an inkjet recording apparatus. [Figure 3] It is a top cross-sectional view of the carriage. [Figure 4] It is an enlarged bottom view of the carriage. [Figure 5] It is a flowchart of an image forming process. [Figure 6] It is a top view showing a state of the inkjet recording apparatus in an image forming process. [Figure 7] It is a top view showing a state of the inkjet recording apparatus in an image forming process. [Figure 8] It is a top view showing a state of the inkjet recording apparatus in an image forming process. [Figure 9] It is a top view of an inkjet recording apparatus according to a modification.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the scope of the invention is not limited to the illustrated examples. In the following description, components having the same function and configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0012] [Overall Configuration of Inkjet Recording Apparatus] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an inkjet recording apparatus 1. Further, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the inkjet recording apparatus 1. The inkjet recording apparatus 1 includes a control unit 2, a conveyance unit 3, an image forming unit 4, a projection unit 5, and an operation input unit 6. The inkjet recording apparatus 1 is an apparatus that records an image on a fabric 200 conveyed by the conveyance unit 3 by the image forming unit 4.

[0013] In the following, the X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction are the directions shown in FIG. 1. And in the following, the X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction will be described as the width direction, the conveyance direction, and the height direction, respectively.

[0014] (Control Unit) The control unit 2 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 21, a RAM (Read Only Memory) 22, a ROM (Random Access Memory) 23, etc.

[0015] The CPU 21 reads out various programs, data, etc. according to the processing content from a storage device such as the ROM 22 and executes them. Also, the CPU 21 controls the operations of each part of the inkjet recording device 1 according to the executed processing content.

[0016] The ROM 22 is a non-volatile storage device such as a HDD (Hard Disk Drive), an SSD (Solid State Drive), or a flash memory, and stores various programs, data, etc. read by the CPU 21, etc.

[0017] The RAM 23 temporarily stores various programs, data, etc. processed by the CPU 21.

[0018] The control unit 2 functions as a reception unit and a conveyance control unit particularly when the CPU 21 executes a program.

[0019] {Reception Unit} The reception unit receives the content input by the user to the operation input unit 6. For example, the reception unit receives an instruction from the user on whether to perform image formation processing by the image formation unit 4 in any one of a plurality of image formation modes related to the accuracy of image formation. Note that the reception unit is not limited to a configuration that receives the content input to the operation input unit 6 provided in the inkjet recording device 1, and may receive the content input to a device separate from the inkjet recording device 1 that has a configuration corresponding to the operation input unit 6.

[0020] {Conveyance Control Unit} The transport control unit controls the operation of the transport unit 3 during the image forming process, thereby transporting the fabric 200 to a predetermined position in the transport direction. The details of the transport control unit's control of the transport unit 3 during the image forming process will be described later.

[0021] (Transportation section) As shown in Figure 1, the transport unit 3 is equipped with two transport rollers 3a and 3b that rotate in the transport direction around a rotation axis extending in the width direction. The transport unit 3 is also equipped with a ring-shaped transport belt 3c. In this way, the transport unit 3 of the inkjet recording device 1 according to this embodiment transports the fabric 200 using a belt transport method.

[0022] The conveyor belt 3c is supported on its inner side by conveyor rollers 3a and 3b. The fabric 200 is placed on the conveying surface of the conveyor belt 3c. The conveyor rollers 3a and 3b rotate in the conveying direction and move around in accordance with the operation of the roller's conveyor motor. As a result, the conveyor belt 3c conveys the fabric 200 in the conveying direction.

[0023] Furthermore, it is preferable that a predetermined adhesive (backing agent) is applied to the mounting surface of the conveyor belt 3c, which is the outer surface on which the fabric 200 is placed, and is different from the inner surface that comes into contact with the conveyor rollers 3a and 3b. Applying an adhesive to the mounting surface helps to suppress the deterioration of image quality caused by misalignment of the fabric 200.

[0024] The fabric 200 is cut to a certain size and supplied onto a conveyor belt 3c by a media supply unit (not shown). The fabric 200, on which an image has been recorded by ink ejection from the image forming unit 4, is discharged to a predetermined discharge unit.

[0025] (Image forming unit) The image forming unit 4 forms an image on the fabric 200 transported by the transport unit 3 by ejecting colored ink at an appropriate timing based on image data acquired from an external device or the like. The image forming unit 4 includes a carriage 41 on which a head unit 42 (see Figure 3) is mounted, which has multiple inkjet heads 421 (see Figure 4) that eject inks of each color, such as C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), and K (black).

[0026] {carriage} Figure 3 is a top cross-sectional view of the carriage 41. The carriage 41 has, for example, a belt stretched between two pulleys that are rotated by a motor (not shown). The carriage 41 causes the mounted head unit 42 to scan in the width direction (main scanning direction) by the rotational operation of the motor based on a drive signal output by the control unit 2.

[0027] Furthermore, the inkjet recording apparatus 1 according to this embodiment is a serial head type that forms an image by ejecting colored ink from the head unit 42 onto the fabric 200 while scanning the carriage 41 in the width direction. The number of scans of the carriage 41 required to complete image formation is appropriately set by the control unit 2 according to the image formation mode received by the reception unit.

[0028] {Head Unit} Figure 4 is an enlarged view of the bottom of the carriage 41. As shown in Figure 3, the carriage 41 is equipped with multiple head units 42 in the width direction. As shown in Figure 4, the multiple head units 42 are equipped with multiple inkjet heads 421 in the transport direction. The multiple inkjet heads 421 are arranged in a staggered pattern to form a line head, such that the range in which ink can be ejected from the nozzles 421a is continuously connected in the transport direction.

[0029] As shown in Figure 4, among the lines parallel to the width direction and where all the nozzles 421a of the head unit 42 are located, the positions that are parallel in the vertical direction to the line at the upstream end in the transport direction are stored in the ROM 23 of the control unit 2 as the image formation start position L1. The input setting of the image formation start position L1 to the control unit 2 may be performed, for example, by the user operating the operation input unit 6, but is not limited to this. For example, the control unit 2 may eject ink from all nozzles 421a onto the fabric, acquire reading data of the fabric from a known reading device, and automatically set the image formation start position L1 based on the reading data.

[0030] Each inkjet head 421 includes a tank for colored ink, a flow path, an actuator, and multiple nozzles. The actuator is, for example, a piezoelectric element. The actuator dispenses colored ink onto the fabric 200 by applying pressure fluctuations to the ink in the nozzle in response to a voltage signal of a predetermined drive waveform applied from the control unit 2, in order to eject ink from the nozzle.

[0031] The ink ejected by the head unit 42 is not limited to colored ink; known pre-treated inks may also be ejected. Furthermore, the colored ink ejected by the head unit 42 may include pigment ink containing a pigment dispersion, resin ink containing a resin, or disperse dye ink in which dyes are dispersed.

[0032] (projection section) The projection unit 5 performs a desired projection onto the transport unit 3. The projection unit 5 includes a first projection unit 51, as shown in Figure 1, for example. The first projection unit 51 projects the image formation start position L1 onto the transport unit 3 (transport belt 3c). The first projection unit 51 includes, for example, a semiconductor laser which is a laser light source, and a drive unit which moves the semiconductor laser to an arbitrary position. The control unit 2 controls the drive unit to move the semiconductor laser along a straight line parallel to the set image formation start position L1, and drives the semiconductor laser to project the image formation start position L1 onto the transport belt 3c.

[0033] (Operation input section) The operation input unit 6 receives various inputs related to the operation of the inkjet recording device 1 in response to user operations. The operation input unit 6 includes, for example, a touch panel type input display device, up / down / left / right movement keys and various function keys for data selection and advancement operations. The operation input unit 6 outputs key press signals and operation signals from a mouse or other device pressed by the user to the CPU 21 of the control unit 2.

[0034] [Image Forming Processing] The image formation process in this inkjet recording device 1 will be explained based on the flowchart shown in Figure 5 and the top views shown in Figures 6 to 8.

[0035] First, the user places the fabric 200 on the conveyor belt 3c (step S101). The user also gives an image formation instruction to the operation input unit 6, including input of the image formation mode (step S102). When the control unit 2 receives the image formation instruction, the control unit 2 detects the position of the front end of the placed fabric 200 in the conveying direction using a known method as appropriate. Then, the control unit 2 drives the conveying unit 3 to convey the placed fabric 200 so that its front end in the conveying direction coincides with the image formation start position L1, as shown in Figure 6 (step S103; conveying control step).

[0036] When the fabric 200 is transported so that its leading edge in the transport direction coincides with the image formation start position L1, the control unit 2 further transports the fabric 200 in the transport direction by a distance corresponding to the image formation mode, as shown in Figure 7 (step S104). Then, the control unit 2 controls the image formation unit 4 to scan the carriage 41 in the width direction and eject ink from the head unit 42, as shown in Figure 8, thereby forming an image according to the image formation mode (step S105).

[0037] The control unit 2 determines whether all image formation included in the image formation instruction received in step S102 has been completed (step S106). If image formation is not completely completed (step S106; No), the control unit 2 repeats steps S104 and S105. If image formation is completely completed (step S106; Yes), the control unit 2 terminates the image formation process.

[0038] [Effects of the Embodiment] As described above, the inkjet recording device 1 includes a transport unit 3 that transports the fabric 200 in the transport direction, and an image forming unit 4 that forms an image by ejecting ink onto the fabric 200 using an inkjet head 421. The inkjet recording device 1 also includes a control unit 2 that functions as a transport control unit that controls the transport unit 3 to transport the leading end of the fabric 200 in the transport direction to the image formation start position L1 on the inkjet head 421 during image formation. With this configuration, by transporting the fabric 200 to the image formation start position L1, an image can be formed with minimal margin from the leading edge of the fabric 200.

[0039] Furthermore, the image forming unit 4 of the inkjet recording device 1 includes a plurality of head units 42, each composed of a plurality of inkjet heads 421 arranged in the transport direction. The control unit 2 controls the transport unit 3, setting the image forming start position L1 as a position parallel to the line at the upstream end in the transport direction, among the lines that are parallel to the width direction and where the nozzles 421a of all the head units 42 are located. With this configuration, an image can be formed from the leading edge of the fabric 200 without any margins by all the head units 42.

[0040] Furthermore, the inkjet recording device 1 includes a first projection unit 51 that projects the image formation start position L1 onto the transport unit 3. With this configuration, the user can visually confirm whether there are any errors in the control by the control unit 2.

[0041] Furthermore, the control unit 2 of the inkjet recording device 1 moves the fabric 200 to the image formation start position L1, and then transports the fabric 200 by a distance corresponding to the image formation mode that has been received as input. With this configuration, an image can be formed with any desired precision.

[0042] [Other configurations] The above description has been based on embodiments relating to this disclosure, but this disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above. Naturally, various modifications are possible, including the scope of the invention as described in the claims and its equivalents.

[0043] For example, in the above example, when an image forming instruction is received in step S102, the transport unit 3 is driven in step S103 to transport the fabric 200 so that the front end of the fabric 200 in the transport direction coincides with the image forming start position L1, but the system is not limited to this. For example, when the control unit 2 receives an image forming instruction in step S102, it may obtain the length of the transport direction of the recording medium to be used from the image forming instruction and determine whether to transport the fabric as before or proceed to step S103 depending on whether the length is greater than or equal to a predetermined value.

[0044] Furthermore, in the above example, in step S103, the control unit 2 detects the position of the front end of the fabric 200 in the transport direction and drives the transport unit 3 to transport the fabric 200 so that the front end of the fabric 200 in the transport direction coincides with the image formation start position L1, but the system is not limited to this. In this configuration, it is necessary to obtain the position of the front end of the fabric 200 in the transport direction, calculate the difference between that position and the image formation start position L1, and drive the transport unit 3 by the amount of that difference, which may complicate the processing of the control unit 2.

[0045] For example, as shown in Figure 9, a predetermined position of the transport unit 3 (transport belt 3c) may be set in advance as a reference position L2. Then, the fabric 200 may be placed on the transport belt 3c so that its front end in the transport direction is located at the reference position L2, and the transport unit 3 may be driven by the amount of the difference between the preset image formation start position L1 and the reference position L2.

[0046] In this configuration, as shown in Figure 9, the projection unit 5 may be configured to include a second projection unit 52 that projects the reference position L2 onto the transport unit 3 (transport belt 3c). The second projection unit 52, like the first projection unit 51, includes, for example, a semiconductor laser which is a laser light source, and a drive unit that moves the semiconductor laser to an arbitrary position. With this configuration, the placement location of the fabric 200 on the transport unit 3 becomes clear, and the occurrence of a shift in the position where image formation starts due to incorrect placement can be suppressed.

[0047] Furthermore, although the above example illustrates a configuration in which the control unit 2 transports the fabric 200, which is placed at a position different from the image formation start position L1, to the image formation start position L1, the system is not limited to this. The user may manually place the fabric 200 so that its front end in the transport direction is positioned at the image formation start position L1, based on the projection content of the first projection unit 51.

[0048] Furthermore, although the above example illustrates a conveying unit 3 with a belt conveying system equipped with a conveying belt 3c, the system is not limited to this. The conveying unit 3 may also be configured to convey in a roll-to-roll manner in the vertical direction.

[0049] Furthermore, although the above describes image formation starting from the front end of the fabric 200, it is not limited to this. For example, in step S102, the user may input a margin setting via the operation input unit 6, and between steps S103 and S104, the fabric 200 may be transported further in the transport direction from the image formation start position L1 by the amount of the accepted margin setting.

[0050] Furthermore, while the above example illustrates an inkjet recording apparatus 1 equipped with a serial head type image forming unit 4 that forms an image by ejecting ink while scanning a carriage 41 on which a head unit 42 is mounted in the width direction, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the present disclosure is also applicable to an inkjet recording apparatus 1 equipped with a line head type image forming unit 4 that forms an image by ejecting ink from a head unit 42 fixed above the transported recording medium.

[0051] Furthermore, while examples of using hard disks and semiconductor non-volatile memory as computer-readable media for the program related to this disclosure have been disclosed above, the disclosure is not limited to these examples. Portable recording media such as CD-ROMs can also be used as other computer-readable media. In addition, carrier waves can be used as a medium for providing the data of the program related to this disclosure via a communication line. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0052] 1. Inkjet recording device 2. Control Unit (Reception Unit, Transport Control Unit) 3. Conveying section 4 Image forming unit 42 Head Units 421 Inkjet Head 51 First projection section 52 Second projection section 200 Fabric L1 Image formation start position L2 reference position

Claims

1. A conveying unit that transports fabric placed on a conveyor belt coated with adhesive in the conveying direction, An image forming unit that forms an image by ejecting ink onto the fabric using an inkjet head, Based on the position of the fabric on the conveyor belt where it is placed by the user, the image is formed. An inkjet recording apparatus comprising: a transport control unit that controls the transport unit to transport the front end of the fabric in the transport direction to an image formation start position, which is a position where an image can be formed by ink ejected from the inkjet head.

2. The image forming unit comprises a plurality of head units, each consisting of a plurality of inkjet heads arranged in the transport direction. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transport control unit controls the transport unit with the transport unit at a position parallel to the line at the upstream end in the transport direction among the lines on which all the nozzles of the head unit are located, which is parallel to the line at the upstream end in the transport direction, as the image formation start position.

3. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a first projection unit that projects the image formation start position onto the transport unit.

4. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first projection unit comprises a laser light source.

5. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transport control unit controls the transport unit so that a predetermined reference position on the transport unit coincides with the image formation start position.

6. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a second projection unit for projecting the aforementioned reference position onto the transport unit.

7. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the second projection unit comprises a laser light source.

8. It is equipped with a reception unit that accepts input for the image formation mode, The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transport control unit moves the fabric to the image formation start position and then transports the fabric by a distance corresponding to the image formation mode.

9. The image forming unit forms an image by scanning the carriage equipped with the inkjet head in the width direction. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the image forming mode includes setting the number of scans of the carriage required to complete image formation.

10. It has a reception desk that accepts margin settings, The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transport control unit moves the fabric to the image formation start position and then transports the fabric by a distance equal to the length of the margin.

11. A conveying unit that transports fabric placed on a conveyor belt coated with adhesive in the conveying direction, An inkjet recording method in an inkjet recording apparatus comprising an image forming unit that forms an image by ejecting ink onto the fabric using an inkjet head, Based on the position of the fabric on the conveyor belt where it is placed by the user, the image is formed. The front end of the fabric in the transport direction is then covered by the ink ejected from the inkjet head. The transport unit is controlled to transport the image to the image formation start position, which is the position where an image can be formed. An inkjet recording method comprising a transport control step.

12. A conveying unit that transports fabric placed on a conveyor belt coated with adhesive in the conveying direction, A computer for an inkjet recording apparatus, comprising an image forming unit that forms an image by ejecting ink onto the fabric using an inkjet head, Based on the position of the fabric on the conveyor belt where it is placed by the user, the image is formed. The front end of the fabric in the transport direction is then covered by the ink ejected from the inkjet head. The transport unit is controlled to transport the image to the image formation start position, which is the position where an image can be formed. A program that functions as a transport control unit.

Images