Liquid ejecting device, control method for same, and program

Abstract

The present invention suppresses at least one of various problems that may occur when transport control in a first treatment liquid ejecting step and transport control in a second treatment liquid ejecting step are the same.　A transporting unit of a printer transports a platen 12 along a transport pathway that passes through a placement position P1, a treatment liquid ejection position P2, a recording position P3, and a standby position P4. A CPU of the printer executes: a first treatment liquid ejecting step for causing the transporting unit to transport the platen 12 by means of first transport control, and causing a treatment liquid to be ejected from a treatment liquid ejecting unit onto a recording medium that is supported by the platen 12; and a second treatment liquid ejecting step, after the first treatment liquid ejecting step, for causing the transporting unit to transport the platen 12 by means of second transport control, different from the first transport control, and causing the treatment liquid to be ejected from the treatment liquid ejecting unit onto the recording medium that is supported by the platen 12.

Description

Liquid ejection device, control method thereof, and program

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a liquid ejection apparatus including an ejection unit that ejects a treatment liquid, and a control method and program for the same.

[0002] The printing device described in Patent Document 1 includes a printing liquid ejection unit that ejects printing liquid onto a fabric, and a pretreatment agent application unit that applies a pretreatment agent to the fabric. When a tray carrying the fabric passes through the pretreatment agent application unit, the pretreatment agent is ejected toward the fabric. Then, when the tray passes the printing liquid ejection unit, the printing liquid is ejected toward the fabric, forming an image on the fabric.

[0003] JP 2015-193943 A

[0004] Patent Literature 1 describes a technique in which a pretreatment agent, which is a pretreatment liquid, is ejected onto a fabric, which is a recording medium, before a printing liquid, which is a recording liquid, is ejected, but a technique in which a posttreatment liquid is ejected onto the recording medium after the recording liquid has been ejected, is also known. Hereinafter, the pretreatment liquid and the posttreatment liquid will be collectively referred to as the treatment liquid.

[0005] It is conceivable that the treatment liquid may be ejected onto the recording medium in multiple batches. For example, after the recording medium is placed on a support unit that supports the recording medium at the loading position, the control unit of the liquid ejection device, in response to an instruction to start recording, transports the support unit from the loading position toward the treatment liquid ejection position, and ejects the treatment liquid from the treatment liquid ejection unit onto the recording medium at the treatment liquid ejection position. After the first ejection of the treatment liquid, a second ejection of the treatment liquid is performed.

[0006] Here, if the transport control in the first treatment liquid discharging step and the transport control in the second treatment liquid discharging step are the same, the following problems may occur. For example, if the transport path is the same in the first treatment liquid discharging step and the second treatment liquid discharging step, there is a possibility that the user may mistakenly believe that the recording process is complete and remove the recording medium from the support unit during execution of the second treatment liquid discharging step. Furthermore, if the error determination process is the same in the first treatment liquid discharging step and the second treatment liquid discharging step, if the transport of the support unit is interrupted due to an error determination during execution of the second treatment liquid discharging step, the treatment liquid discharged in the first treatment liquid discharging step will be wasted.

[0007] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a liquid ejection apparatus, a control method thereof, and a program that can alleviate at least one of the above-mentioned problems.

[0008] The liquid ejection device according to the present disclosure comprises a recording liquid ejection unit that ejects recording liquid, a treatment liquid ejection unit that ejects treatment liquid, a support unit that supports a recording medium, a transport unit that transports the support unit along a transport path that passes through a loading position where the recording medium is placed, a recording position facing the recording liquid ejection unit, and a treatment liquid ejection position facing the treatment liquid ejection unit, and a control unit, wherein the control unit executes a first treatment liquid ejection step of causing the transport unit to transport the support unit by first transport control and ejecting treatment liquid from the treatment liquid ejection unit onto the recording medium supported by the support unit, and a second treatment liquid ejection step of, after the first treatment liquid ejection step, causing the transport unit to transport the support unit by second transport control different from the first transport control and ejecting treatment liquid from the treatment liquid ejection unit onto the recording medium supported by the support unit.

[0009] The control method according to the present disclosure is a control method for a liquid ejection device including a recording liquid ejection unit that ejects recording liquid, a treatment liquid ejection unit that ejects treatment liquid, a support unit that supports a recording medium, and a transport unit that transports the support unit along a transport path that passes through a loading position where the recording medium is placed, a recording position facing the recording liquid ejection unit, and a treatment liquid ejection position facing the treatment liquid ejection unit, and is characterized by carrying out a first treatment liquid ejection step of causing the transport unit to transport the support unit by first transport control and ejecting treatment liquid from the treatment liquid ejection unit onto the recording medium supported by the support unit, and a second treatment liquid ejection step of, after the first treatment liquid ejection step, causing the transport unit to transport the support unit by second transport control different from the first transport control and ejecting treatment liquid from the treatment liquid ejection unit onto the recording medium supported by the support unit.

[0010] The program according to the present disclosure is characterized in that it causes a control device used in a liquid ejection device including a recording liquid ejection unit that ejects recording liquid, a treatment liquid ejection unit that ejects treatment liquid, a support unit that supports a recording medium, and a transport unit that transports the support unit along a transport path that passes through a loading position where the recording medium is placed, a recording position facing the recording liquid ejection unit, and a treatment liquid ejection position facing the treatment liquid ejection unit to function as control means that can execute a first treatment liquid ejection step of causing the transport unit to transport the support unit by first transport control and ejecting treatment liquid from the treatment liquid ejection unit onto the recording medium supported by the support unit, and a second treatment liquid ejection step of, after the first treatment liquid ejection step, causing the transport unit to transport the support unit by second transport control different from the first transport control and ejecting treatment liquid from the treatment liquid ejection unit onto the recording medium supported by the support unit.

[0011] According to the present disclosure, the transport control in the first treatment liquid discharging step and the transport control in the second treatment liquid discharging step are different, so that at least one of the above-mentioned various problems can be suppressed.

[0012] 1 is a perspective view of a printer according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the internal structure of the printer of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the printer of FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing program A executed by a CPU of the printer of FIG. 1; FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing a subroutine of the first treatment liquid ejection step of FIG. 4; FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing subroutine A of the second treatment liquid ejection step of FIG. 4; FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing platen transport mode A in the program of FIG. 4; FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing subroutine B of the second treatment liquid ejection step of FIG. 4; FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing platen transport mode B in the program of FIG. 4; FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing program B executed by the CPU of the printer of FIG. 1;

[0013] The printer 1 shown in Fig. 1 is one embodiment of a liquid ejection device according to the present disclosure. In the following description, the up-down direction, the front-rear direction, and the left-right direction are defined based on the state of the printer 1 in Fig. 1, where the printer 1 is installed and ready for use. The up-down direction, the front-rear direction, and the left-right direction are perpendicular to one another.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 1 , the printer 1 includes a housing 8 , a platen 12 , and a transport unit 15 .

[0015] The housing 8 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and has an opening 13 formed in the front surface thereof.

[0016] The platen 12 is made of a substantially rectangular plate member. An upper surface 12a of the platen 12 is a support surface that supports a recording medium. The recording medium may be fabric (for example, a T-shirt containing polyester fiber), paper, leather, film, or the like. The platen 12 corresponds to the "support portion" in this disclosure.

[0017] The transport unit 15 includes a transport motor 152 (see FIG. 3). Driven by the transport motor 152, the transport unit 15 transports the platen 12, which supports the recording medium, in the front-to-rear direction between the outside and inside of the housing 8 through the opening 13. That is, the transport path of the platen 12 by the transport unit 15 passes through the inside and outside of the housing 8. The inside of the housing 8 is maintained at a higher humidity than the outside of the housing 8 by a humidifier (not shown).

[0018] 2, the printer 1 further includes four heads 31 to 34, a carriage 4 that holds the heads 31 to 34, a scanning unit 50, a treatment liquid ejection unit 40, and a sensor 70. The heads 31 to 34, the carriage 4, the scanning unit 50, the treatment liquid ejection unit 40, and the sensor 70 are housed in a housing 8.

[0019] Of the four heads 31 to 34, the two heads 31 and 32 located at the rear eject white ink, while the two heads 33 and 34 located at the front eject color inks. The white ink is used to record an image as the white portion of the image or as a base for the color inks. The color inks are ejected onto the white ink base and are used to record a color image. The four heads 31 to 34 have the same structure. The inks (white ink and color inks) are liquids for recording an image on a recording medium, and correspond to the "recording liquid" in this disclosure. The heads 31 to 34 correspond to the "recording liquid ejection unit" in this disclosure.

[0020] The carriage 4 is supported by a front shaft 41 and a rear shaft 42. The front shaft 41 and the rear shaft 42 each extend in the left-right direction.

[0021] The scanning unit 50 includes a belt 51 and a scanning motor 52. The belt 51 is connected to the rear end of the carriage 4 and extends in the left-right direction on the rear shaft 42. The scanning unit 50 moves the carriage 4 in the left-right direction along the front shaft 41 and the rear shaft 42 by driving the scanning motor 52.

[0022] The carriage 4 and the heads 31 to 34 held thereby can be driven by the scanning unit 50 to selectively take a first maintenance position B1, a discharge position B2, and a second maintenance position B3.

[0023] The first maintenance position B1 is a position where the heads 31 to 34 are maintained by maintenance units such as wipers and caps, and is located on the left side within the housing 8. The second maintenance position B3 is a position where the user can clean the heads 31 to 34, and is located on the right side within the housing 8. The first maintenance position B1 is located at the left end of the movement range of the carriage 4, and the second maintenance position B3 is located at the right end of the movement range of the carriage 4. The ejection position B2 is located between the first maintenance position B1 and the second maintenance position B3 in the left-right direction, and is located approximately in the center of the housing 8 in the left-right direction.

[0024] The treatment liquid ejection unit 40 has a plurality of spray nozzles 45, and ejects a pretreatment liquid (treatment liquid for forming a base for ink) from the spray nozzles 45. The pretreatment liquid reacts with the ink ejected onto the base to aggregate the ink components and prevent bleeding. The pretreatment liquid contains a volatile component including an organic acid such as formic acid.

[0025] The treatment liquid discharge part 40 is covered by a protruding part 8A that is a part of the housing 8. The protruding part 8A is a part that protrudes from the front surface of the housing 8.

[0026] The transport unit 15 transports the platen 12 along a transport path that passes through a placement position P1, a treatment liquid ejection position P2, a recording position P3, and a standby position P4. The placement position P1 is a position where a recording medium is placed and is located in the front of the housing 8. A user of the printer 1 supports the recording medium on the platen 12 at the placement position P1. The treatment liquid ejection position P2 is a position that faces (i.e., overlaps vertically with) the treatment liquid ejection unit 40 and is located in the front of the housing 8. The recording position P3 is a position that faces (i.e., overlaps vertically with) the ejection positions B2 of the heads 31 to 34 and is located approximately in the center of the housing 8 in the front-to-rear direction. The standby position P4 is located behind the recording position P3 and in the rear of the housing 8. The treatment liquid ejection position P2 is located between the placement position P1 and the recording position P3 on the transport path.

[0027] The sensor 70 detects the height of either the platen 12 or the recording medium supported by the platen 12. The sensor 70 performs the above detection between the placement position P1 and the treatment liquid ejection position P2 on the transport path.

[0028] 3, the printer 1 further includes a control device 80. The control device 80 is electrically connected to each of the heads 31 to 34, the treatment liquid ejection unit 40, the scanning motor 52, the transport motor 152, and the sensor 70, and is also connected to an external device (such as a personal computer) 90 so as to be able to communicate with it.

[0029] The control device 80 includes a CPU 81, a ROM 82, and a RAM 83. The ROM 82 stores programs and data for the CPU 81 to perform various controls. The RAM 83 temporarily stores data (image data, etc.) used when the CPU 81 executes the programs. The CPU 81 executes various controls based on data input from the external device 90 or the input unit of the printer 1, data stored in the ROM 82 and RAM 83, etc. The CPU 81 corresponds to the "control unit" in this disclosure.

[0030] Next, the programs executed by the CPU 81 will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0031] 4, the CPU 81 first determines (S1) whether or not a recording command has been received from the external device 90 or the input unit of the printer 1. If it determines that a recording command has not been received (S1: NO), the CPU 81 repeats the process of S1.

[0032] If it is determined that a recording command has been received (S1: YES), the CPU 81 causes the conveying unit 15 to convey the platen 12 using the first conveying control, and causes the treatment liquid ejection unit 40 to eject treatment liquid onto the recording medium supported by the platen 12 (S2: first treatment liquid ejection step).

[0033] In S2, as shown in FIG. 5, the CPU 81 first uses the first transport control to transport the platen 12 in the transport direction (rearward) from the placement position P1 toward the processing liquid ejection position P2 (S21: see FIG. 7(a)).

[0034] After S21, the CPU 81 determines whether or not an error has occurred (S22) based on the detection signal from the sensor 70. The error occurs when the height of the platen 12 or the recording medium supported by the platen 12 is outside a predetermined range (i.e., too high or too low).

[0035] If it is determined that an error has occurred (S22: YES), the CPU 81 suspends the transport of the platen 12 (S23). The process of S22: YES → S23 corresponds to the "first error determination process" of the present disclosure. For example, in S23, the CPU 81 may stop the transport of the platen 12 or return the platen 12 to the loading position P1. Furthermore, after S23, the CPU 81 may cause a notification unit (not shown) of the printer 1 to notify the error. In response to the notification, the user may change the height of the platen 12 or the recording medium to within a predetermined range, and if it is determined that the height is within the predetermined range, the CPU 81 may resume the transport of the platen 12.

[0036] If it is determined that no error has occurred (S22: NO), the CPU 81 causes the treatment liquid discharge unit 40 to discharge the treatment liquid onto the recording medium supported by the platen 12 located at the treatment liquid discharge position P2 (S24). In S24, the CPU 81 may cause the treatment liquid discharge unit 40 to discharge the treatment liquid while moving the platen 12 backward by the transport unit 15, or may cause the treatment liquid discharge unit 40 to discharge the treatment liquid while moving the platen 12 forward by the transport unit 15.

[0037] After S23 or S24, the CPU 81 ends the routine.

[0038] After S2, the CPU 81 causes the heads 31 to 34 to eject ink onto the recording medium supported by the platen 12, as shown in FIG. 4 (S3: ink ejection step).

[0039] 7B, the CPU 81 causes the transport unit 15 to transport the platen 12 from the treatment liquid ejection position P2 to the standby position P4 and then to the recording position P3. At this time, the transport unit 15 first transports the platen 12 backward from the treatment liquid ejection position P2 to the standby position P4, and then transports the platen 12 forward from the standby position P4 to the recording position P3. The CPU 81 then repeatedly executes an ejection operation in which the heads 31 and 32 eject white ink while moving the carriage 4 left and right toward the recording medium on the platen 12 at the recording position P3, and a transport operation in which the transport unit 15 transports the platen 12 forward a predetermined distance. This causes an image to be recorded on the recording medium.

[0040] After S3, the CPU 81 stops the platen 12 with the front end of the platen 12 positioned at the treatment liquid discharge position P2 (S4), as shown in Fig. 7C. As shown in Fig. 2, the treatment liquid discharge unit 40 is located inside the housing 8. Therefore, in S4, the platen 12 is stopped with the front end of the platen 12 positioned inside the housing 8.

[0041] After S4, the CPU 81 determines whether a predetermined time has elapsed since the platen 12 was stopped in S4 (S5). The predetermined time is, for example, the time until the preparatory operations for ejection by the treatment liquid ejection unit 40 (such as the operation of circulating the treatment liquid within the treatment liquid ejection unit 40 and the operation of capping the nozzle surfaces of the heads 31 to 34) are completed. If it is determined that the predetermined time has not elapsed (S5: NO), the CPU 81 repeats the processing of S5.

[0042] 7D, the CPU 81 causes the conveying unit 15 to convey the platen 12 to the turning position P5 (S6). The turning position P5 is located in front of the processing liquid ejection position P2 (upstream in the conveyance direction of the platen 12 in S21) and behind the placement position P1 (downstream in the conveyance direction of the platen 12 in S21).

[0043] After S6, the CPU 81 causes the conveying section 15 to convey the platen 12 using a second conveying control that is different from the first conveying control, and causes the treatment liquid ejection section 40 to eject treatment liquid onto the recording medium supported by the platen 12 (S7: second treatment liquid ejection step).

[0044] In S7, as shown in Figure 6, the CPU 81 first uses the second transport control to transport the platen 12 in the transport direction (rearward) from the turning position P5 toward the processing liquid ejection position P2 (S41: see Figure 7 (d)).

[0045] After S41, the CPU 81 determines whether or not an error has occurred (S42) based on the detection signal from the sensor 70. As in S22, an error occurs when the height of the platen 12 or the recording medium supported by the platen 12 is outside the predetermined range (i.e., too high or too low).

[0046] If it is determined that an error has occurred (S42: YES), the CPU 81 continues conveying the platen 12 (S43). The process of S42: YES → S43 corresponds to the "second error determination process" of the present disclosure. For example, in S43, the CPU 81 may adjust the height of the platen 12 to be within a predetermined range, or may continue conveying the platen 12 even if the height is outside the predetermined range.

[0047] If it is determined that no error has occurred (S42: NO), or after S43, the CPU 81 ejects processing liquid from the processing liquid ejection section 40 onto the recording medium supported by the platen 12 located at the processing liquid ejection position P2 (S44).

[0048] After S44, the CPU 81 ends the routine.

[0049] 4, the CPU 81 causes the heads 31 to 34 to eject ink onto the recording medium supported by the platen 12 (S8: ink ejection step). S3 and S8 correspond to the "recording liquid ejection step" of this disclosure.

[0050] In S8, the CPU 81 causes the transport unit 15 to transport the platen 12 from the treatment liquid ejection position P2 to the recording position P3 via the standby position P4, as shown in FIG. 7E. At this time, the transport unit 15 first transports the platen 12 backward from the treatment liquid ejection position P2 to the standby position P4, and then transports the platen 12 forward from the standby position P4 to the recording position P3. The CPU 81 then repeatedly executes a discharge operation in which ink is discharged from the heads 31 to 34 while moving the carriage 4 left and right toward the recording medium on the platen 12 at the recording position P3, and a transport operation in which the transport unit 15 transports the platen 12 forward a predetermined distance. This results in an image being recorded on the recording medium. Note that the discharge operation in S8 may involve ejecting white ink from the heads 31 and 32 without ejecting color ink from the heads 33 and 34, or may involve ejecting color ink from the heads 33 and 34 and ejecting white ink from the heads 31 and 32.

[0051] After S8, the CPU 81 causes the conveying unit 15 to convey the platen 12 from the recording position P3 to the placement position P1, as shown in FIG. 7(f) (S9).

[0052] After S9, the CPU 81 ends the program.

[0053] As described above, according to this embodiment, the first transport control (see FIG. 5) in the first treatment liquid ejection step (S2) and the second transport control (see FIG. 6) in the second treatment liquid ejection step (S7) are different from each other, which makes it possible to suppress at least one of the above-mentioned problems.

[0054] The first transport control transports the platen 12 in the transport direction (rearward) from the placement position P1 toward the treatment liquid ejection position P2 (see FIG. 7A). The second transport control transports the platen 12 in the transport direction from the turn-back position P5 toward the treatment liquid ejection position P2 (see FIG. 7D). That is, the starting point of transport in the first transport control is the placement position P1, while the starting point of transport in the second transport control is the turn-back position P5. Because the starting points of transport are different in this way, it is possible to prevent a user from mistakenly believing that the recording process (a series of processes including treatment liquid ejection and ink ejection) is complete and removing the recording medium from the platen 12 while the second treatment liquid ejection step is being performed. Furthermore, the turning position P5 is located upstream in the transport direction from the treatment liquid discharge position P2 and downstream in the transport direction from the placement position P1, and compared to a case in which the platen 12 is transported to the placement position P1 after the first treatment liquid discharge step and then starts transporting the platen 12 from the placement position P1 in the second transport control, the transport distance in the series of processes from the first treatment liquid discharge step (S2) to the second treatment liquid discharge step (S7) is shorter, and the time required for transport can be shortened, thereby improving productivity.

[0055] If the height detected by the sensor 70 is outside the predetermined range, the transport of the platen 12 is interrupted in the first treatment liquid ejection step (S23), whereas the transport of the platen 12 continues in the second treatment liquid ejection step (S43). As a result, the transport of the platen 12 is not interrupted due to an error determination during the execution of the second treatment liquid ejection step, and therefore, the treatment liquid ejected in the first treatment liquid ejection step can be prevented from being wasted.

[0056] After the first treatment liquid ejection step (S2) and before the second treatment liquid ejection step (S7), the CPU 81 stops the platen 12 for a predetermined time (S4, S5) while the platen 12 is positioned inside the housing 8 (see treatment liquid ejection position P2 in FIG. 2 ), as shown in FIG. 7C. This prevents the treatment liquid ejected onto the recording medium in the first treatment liquid ejection step (S2) from volatilizing, and allows the effects of the treatment liquid (such as bleeding suppression effect) to be fully exerted.

[0057] Next, the subroutine B of the second treatment liquid discharge step will be described with reference to FIG.

[0058] In the subroutine A of the second treatment liquid discharging step shown in Fig. 6, the second transport control includes a second error determination process that is different from the first error determination process of the first transport control. In contrast, in the subroutine B of the second treatment liquid discharging step shown in Fig. 8, the second transport control does not include the error determination process.

[0059] Specifically, the second processing liquid ejection step shown in Figure 8 differs from the second processing liquid ejection step shown in Figure 6 in that it does not include a determination of whether an error has occurred (S42) and processing if an error has occurred (S43).

[0060] As described above, the first transport control includes an error determination process, while the second transport control does not include an error determination process. This prevents the transport of the platen 12 from being interrupted due to an error determination during the execution of the second treatment liquid discharge step, thereby preventing the treatment liquid discharged in the first treatment liquid discharge step (S2) from being wasted.

[0061] Next, referring to FIG. 9, a description will be given of a conveyance mode B of the platen 12 in the program of FIG.

[0062] In the transport mode A of Fig. 7, the direction in which the platen 12 is transported in the first transport control (rearward as shown in Fig. 7(a)) is the same as the direction in which the platen 12 is transported in the second transport control (rearward as shown in Fig. 7(d)). In contrast, in the transport mode B of Fig. 9, the direction in which the platen 12 is transported in the first transport control (rearward as shown in Fig. 9(a)) is different from the direction in which the platen 12 is transported in the second transport control (forward as shown in Fig. 9(c)).

[0063] The CPU 81 first executes S1 to S3 in Fig. 4. The first transport control in the first treatment liquid discharge step (S2) transports the platen 12 rearward from the placement position P1 toward the recording position P3, as shown in Fig. 9A. In the first treatment liquid discharge step (S2), the CPU 81 causes the treatment liquid discharge unit 40 to discharge the treatment liquid onto the platen 12 that is transported from the placement position P1 toward the recording position P3 by the first transport control.

[0064] Thereafter, the CPU 81 executes the second processing liquid ejection step (S7) without performing the process of stopping the platen 12 for a predetermined time (S4, S5) and the process of transporting the platen 12 to the turning position P5 (S6) in FIG.

[0065] 9C, the CPU 81 uses the second transport control to transport the platen 12 forward from the printing position P3 toward the placement position P1. Then, when the platen 12 is positioned at the treatment liquid discharge position P2, which is between the printing position P3 and the placement position P1 on the transport path, the CPU 81 causes the treatment liquid discharge unit 40 to discharge treatment liquid onto the recording medium supported by the platen 12. In a second treatment liquid discharge step (S7), the CPU 81 causes the treatment liquid discharge unit 40 to discharge treatment liquid onto the platen 12, which is transported from the printing position P3 toward the placement position P1 by the second transport control. Note that the sensor 70 may perform detection between the printing position P3 and the treatment liquid discharge position P2 on the transport path.

[0066] After S7, the CPU 81 causes the transport unit 15 to transport the platen 12 forward to the turning-back position P5, as shown in FIG. 9D, and then causes the transport unit 15 to transport the platen 12 backward from the turning-back position P5, and executes S8. That is, in S8, the CPU 81 causes the transport unit 15 to transport the platen 12 to the recording position P3 via the standby position P4, as shown in FIG. 9E. At this time, the transport unit 15 first transports the platen 12 backward to the standby position P4, and then transports the platen 12 forward from the standby position P4 to the recording position P3. The CPU 81 then repeatedly executes an ejection operation in which ink is ejected from the heads 31 to 34 while moving the carriage 4 left and right toward the recording medium on the platen 12 at the recording position P3, and a transport operation in which the transport unit 15 transports the platen 12 forward a predetermined distance. In this way, an image is recorded on the recording medium.

[0067] After S8, the CPU 81 executes S9 as shown in FIG. 9(f) and ends the program.

[0068] As described above, the first transport control and the second transport control have different transport directions, which prevents the user from mistakenly believing that the recording process (a series of processes including the discharge of treatment liquid and ink) is complete and removing the recording medium from the platen 12 while the second treatment liquid ejection step is being performed.

[0069] In a configuration in which the second transport control transports the platen 12 forward from the printing position P3 toward the placement position P1, the CPU 81 executes the ink ejection step (S3) after the first treatment liquid ejection step (S2) and before the second treatment liquid ejection step (S7). In this case, the second treatment liquid ejection step (S7) shown in FIG. 9C can be smoothly executed after the ink ejection step (S3) shown in FIG. 9B. Furthermore, the transport distance is short throughout the first treatment liquid ejection step (S2), the ink ejection step (S3), and the second treatment liquid ejection step (S7), and the transport time can be shortened. In other words, productivity can be improved.

[0070] Next, the program B executed by the CPU 81 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0071] 10, the direction in which the platen 12 is transported in the first transport control (rearward as shown in FIG. 9A) is different from the direction in which the platen 12 is transported in the second transport control (forward as shown in FIG. 9C). In this configuration, the ink ejection step (S3) is not executed.

[0072] That is, the CPU 81 does not execute the ink step after the first treatment liquid ejection step (S2) and before the second treatment liquid ejection step (S7), but executes the ink ejection step (S8) after the second treatment liquid ejection step (S7).

[0073] In this case, the time from when the treatment liquid is ejected in the first treatment liquid ejection step (S2) to when the ink is ejected in the ink ejection step (S8) is long, which allows the treatment liquid ejected in the first treatment liquid ejection step (S2) to fully penetrate into the recording medium before the ink is ejected onto the recording medium, thereby fully exerting the effects of the treatment liquid (such as the effect of suppressing bleeding).

[0074] In the above-described embodiment, there is no difference between the first treatment liquid ejection step (S2) and the second treatment liquid ejection step (S7) in the amount of treatment liquid ejected per unit time, the conveyance speed of the platen 12, and the ejection range of the treatment liquid onto the recording medium. However, at least one of the amount of treatment liquid ejected per unit time, the conveyance speed of the platen 12, and the ejection range of the treatment liquid onto the recording medium may be different between the first treatment liquid ejection step (S2) and the second treatment liquid ejection step (S7). For example, the first treatment liquid ejection step may eject the treatment liquid onto the entire area of ​​the recording medium, while the second treatment liquid ejection step may eject the treatment liquid onto only a partial area of ​​the recording medium (an area where image quality or washing fastness should be improved).

[0075] By making the first treatment liquid ejection step and the second treatment liquid ejection step different in at least one of the amount of treatment liquid ejected per unit time, the conveying speed of the platen 12, and the ejection range of the treatment liquid onto the recording medium, image quality and washing durability can be improved.

[0076] <Modifications> The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments.

[0077] For example, the treatment liquid is not limited to the pre-treatment liquid according to the above-described embodiment, but may be a post-treatment liquid (a treatment liquid for forming an ink top layer). In this case, for example, in the program shown in FIG. 4, when the CPU determines that a recording command has been received (S1: YES), the CPU may execute the ink ejection step (S3) before executing the first treatment liquid ejection step (S2). Furthermore, the CPU may execute the ink ejection step (S8) after the first treatment liquid ejection step (S2) and before the second treatment liquid ejection step (S7). The treatment liquid is not limited to containing a volatile component.

[0078] In the above-described embodiment, in the ink ejection step (S3), the platen 12 is transported from the treatment liquid ejection position P2 to the recording position P3 via the standby position P4, but this is not limiting. For example, in the ink ejection step (S3), the platen 12 may be transported directly from the treatment liquid ejection position P2 to the recording position P3 without passing through the standby position P4.

[0079] In the above embodiment, the treatment liquid ejection section is a spray type injector, but it may have the same configuration as the recording liquid ejection section.

[0080] The recording liquid ejection unit is not limited to the serial type as in the above-described embodiment, but may be a line type (a type in which liquid is ejected while being fixed at a predetermined position).

[0081] The present disclosure is not limited to printers, but can also be applied to facsimiles, copiers, multifunction peripherals, etc. The present disclosure can also be applied to liquid ejection devices used for purposes other than image recording (for example, liquid ejection devices that eject a conductive liquid onto a substrate to form a conductive pattern).

[0082] The program according to the present disclosure can be distributed by recording it on a removable recording medium such as a flexible disk or a fixed recording medium such as a hard disk, or can be distributed via a communication line.

[0083] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Printer (liquid ejection device) 8 Housing 12 Platen (supporting section) 15 Conveying section 31 to 34 Head (recording liquid ejection section) 40 Treatment liquid ejection section 70 Sensor 81 CPU (control section) P1 Placement position P2 Treatment liquid ejection position P3 Recording position P4 Standby position P5 Return position

Claims

1. A liquid ejection device comprising: a recording liquid ejection unit that ejects recording liquid; a treatment liquid ejection unit that ejects treatment liquid; a support unit that supports a recording medium; a transport unit that transports the support unit along a transport path that passes through a loading position where the recording medium is placed, a recording position facing the recording liquid ejection unit, and a treatment liquid ejection position facing the treatment liquid ejection unit; and a control unit, wherein the control unit executes: a first treatment liquid ejection step in which the transport unit transports the support unit by first transport control and ejects treatment liquid from the treatment liquid ejection unit onto the recording medium supported by the support unit; and a second treatment liquid ejection step in which, after the first treatment liquid ejection step, the transport unit transports the support unit by second transport control different from the first transport control and ejects treatment liquid from the treatment liquid ejection unit onto the recording medium supported by the support unit.

2. The liquid ejection device described in claim 1, characterized in that the first transport control transports the support part in a transport direction from the placement position toward the treatment liquid ejection position, and the second transport control transports the support part in the transport direction from a turning back position that is upstream in the transport direction from the treatment liquid ejection position and downstream in the transport direction from the placement position toward the treatment liquid ejection position.

3. A liquid ejection device as described in claim 1, further comprising a sensor that detects the height of either the support part or the recording medium supported by the support part, wherein the first transport control includes a first error determination process, and the second transport control includes a second error determination process different from the first error determination process, wherein the first error determination process suspends transport of the support part when the height detected by the sensor is outside a predetermined range, and wherein the second error determination process continues transport of the support part when the height detected by the sensor is outside the predetermined range.

4. A liquid ejection device as described in claim 1, further comprising a sensor that detects the height of either the support portion or the recording medium supported by the support portion, wherein the first transport control includes an error determination process that interrupts the transport of the support portion if the height detected by the sensor is outside a predetermined range, and the second transport control does not include the error determination process.

5. The liquid ejection device described in claim 1, characterized in that, in the first treatment liquid ejection step, the control unit ejects the treatment liquid from the treatment liquid ejection unit onto the support unit that is transported from the placement position toward the recording position by the first transport control, and in the second treatment liquid ejection step, the control unit ejects the treatment liquid from the treatment liquid ejection unit onto the support unit that is transported from the recording position toward the placement position by the second transport control.

6. The liquid ejection device described in claim 5, characterized in that the treatment liquid ejection position is located between the placement position and the recording position on the transport path, and the control unit executes a recording liquid ejection step of ejecting recording liquid from the recording liquid ejection unit onto the recording medium supported by the support unit after the first treatment liquid ejection step and before the second treatment liquid ejection step.

7. The liquid ejection device described in claim 5, characterized in that the treatment liquid ejection position is located between the placement position and the recording position on the transport path, and the control unit does not execute a recording liquid ejection step of ejecting recording liquid from the recording liquid ejection unit onto the recording medium supported by the support unit after the first treatment liquid ejection step and before the second treatment liquid ejection step, but executes the recording liquid ejection step after the second treatment liquid ejection step.

8. The liquid ejection device described in claim 1, characterized in that the first treatment liquid ejection step ejects treatment liquid at a first ejection amount per unit time onto a first range of the recording medium supported by the support section and transported at a first transport speed, and the second treatment liquid ejection step ejects treatment liquid at a second ejection amount per unit time onto a second range of the recording medium supported by the support section and transported at a second transport speed, and at least one of the following is true: the first ejection amount and the second ejection amount are different from each other; the first transport speed and the second transport speed are different from each other; and the first range and the second range are different from each other.

9. A liquid ejection device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising a housing that houses the recording liquid ejection unit and the treatment liquid ejection unit, wherein the transport path passes through the inside of the housing and the outside of the housing, and wherein the control unit stops the support unit for a predetermined time with the support unit positioned inside the housing after the first treatment liquid ejection step and before the second treatment liquid ejection step.

10. A control method for a liquid ejection device comprising a recording liquid ejection unit that ejects recording liquid, a treatment liquid ejection unit that ejects treatment liquid, a support unit that supports a recording medium, and a transport unit that transports the support unit along a transport path that passes through a loading position where the recording medium is placed, a recording position facing the recording liquid ejection unit, and a treatment liquid ejection position facing the treatment liquid ejection unit, the control method comprising: a first treatment liquid ejection step of causing the transport unit to transport the support unit by first transport control and ejecting treatment liquid from the treatment liquid ejection unit onto the recording medium supported by the support unit; and a second treatment liquid ejection step of, after the first treatment liquid ejection step, causing the transport unit to transport the support unit by second transport control different from the first transport control and ejecting treatment liquid from the treatment liquid ejection unit onto the recording medium supported by the support unit.

11. A program that causes a control device used in a liquid ejection device comprising a recording liquid ejection unit that ejects recording liquid, a treatment liquid ejection unit that ejects treatment liquid, a support unit that supports a recording medium, and a transport unit that transports the support unit along a transport path that passes through a loading position where the recording medium is placed, a recording position facing the recording liquid ejection unit, and a treatment liquid ejection position facing the treatment liquid ejection unit, to function as control means that can execute the following steps: a first treatment liquid ejection step in which the transport unit transports the support unit by first transport control and ejects treatment liquid from the treatment liquid ejection unit onto the recording medium supported by the support unit; and a second treatment liquid ejection step in which, after the first treatment liquid ejection step, the transport unit transports the support unit by second transport control different from the first transport control and ejects treatment liquid from the treatment liquid ejection unit onto the recording medium supported by the support unit.

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