JP2012206086A - Inkjet printer and control method for inkjet printer - Google Patents

Abstract

An inkjet drawing apparatus capable of irradiating an appropriate position of a drawing medium on which a liquid material is disposed with an appropriate amount of curing light, and a method for controlling the inkjet drawing apparatus.
An inkjet drawing apparatus includes a discharge nozzle that discharges a photocurable liquid material, a discharge head that discharges the liquid material toward a drawing medium held by the medium holding means, and a curing light for the liquid material. Irradiating the drawing medium with the curing light irradiation means, the head holding means for holding the ejection head and the curing light irradiation means, the drawing medium and the ejection head are relatively moved, and the liquid material is ejected from the ejection head. The relative scanning means for relatively moving the head holding means and the medium holding means in the ejection scanning direction of the ejection scanning to be landed on the drawing medium, the ejection control means for controlling the ejection head, and the curing light irradiation means are controlled. Curing light irradiation control means, and the curing light irradiation control means controls the curing light irradiation means based on a discharge control signal transmitted from the discharge control means.
[Selection] Figure 4

Description

  In the present invention, the liquid material is ejected as droplets and landed on the drawing medium, the liquid material is arranged on the drawing medium, and the arranged liquid material is cured to form an image on the drawing medium. The present invention relates to an ink jet drawing apparatus for drawing, and a method for controlling the ink jet drawing apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known an ink jet apparatus in which an arbitrary amount of liquid material is disposed at an arbitrary position by discharging the liquid material as droplets from an ejection head and landing on the arbitrary position with high accuracy. Such an ink jet apparatus is used as a film forming apparatus capable of forming a functional film having a precise shape, a fine image, or the like by curing a liquid material disposed.
Patent Document 1 includes a step of discharging a viscosity-adjusted ink from a discharge port of an ink jet head and applying the ink to a printing material, and curing a part or all of the ink before the start of bleeding of the applied ink. An electronic component manufacturing method and an electronic component manufacturing apparatus capable of marking small characters and symbols by having such a device are disclosed.

However, in the method disclosed in Patent Document 1, curing light such as ultraviolet rays for curing a liquid material such as ink is applied to portions other than the portion that needs to be irradiated with the curing light. For example, when curing light is irradiated around the discharge port of the ink jet head, the liquid material in the discharge port is cured, and proper discharge may be impaired. Further, when the printing medium is irradiated, only the irradiated portion may be deformed due to thermal expansion caused by the thermal energy supplied by the irradiated curing light. For this reason, it is preferable that the region irradiated with the curing light can be limited to a necessary range.
Patent Document 2 discloses a linear encoder that acquires information on a printing unit, and a UV irradiation range of a UV irradiation unit based on position information of the printing unit acquired by the linear encoder, and a range in which UV ink is ejected from the printing unit. Disclosed is an inkjet printer that can prevent UV light from being irradiated to unnecessary portions by including UV irradiation range control means for controlling UV irradiation from the UV irradiation means so as to be inside, and a control method thereof Has been.

JP 2003-80687 A Japanese Patent No. 3855724

  However, in the apparatus or method as disclosed in Patent Document 2, when a malfunction occurs in the linear encoder, UV light irradiation is performed based on incorrect position information of the printing unit, which is inappropriate. There is a problem that the position is highly likely to be irradiated with UV light. In addition, when a malfunction occurs in the moving device of the UV light irradiation means, the irradiation time of the UV light with respect to the irradiation target position is caused by inappropriate movement speed of the UV light irradiation means with respect to the irradiation target. There has been a problem that the amount of UV light to be irradiated becomes inappropriate due to inappropriateness. In particular, when the same portion is continuously irradiated with the curing light, there is a problem that the drawing medium is likely to be damaged due to a temperature rise caused by the excessively irradiated curing light.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to solve at least a part of the problems described above, and the invention can be implemented as the following forms or application examples.

  Application Example 1 In an ink jet drawing apparatus according to this application example, a medium holding means for holding a drawing medium which is an object to be drawn by arranging a photo-curing liquid material, and ejecting liquid droplets of the liquid material A discharge head that discharges the liquid droplets from the discharge nozzles of the plurality of discharge nozzles toward the drawing medium held by the medium holding unit; Curing light irradiating means for injecting curing light for accelerating curing of the liquid material toward the drawing medium held by the medium holding means and irradiating the drawing light on the drawing medium; and the ejection A head holding means for holding the head, the curing light irradiation means, the drawing medium and the discharge head are relatively moved, and the liquid is discharged from the discharge head to land on the drawing medium. The A relative scanning unit that relatively moves the head holding unit and the medium holding unit in a discharge scanning direction that is a relative movement direction of the ejection head and the drawing medium in the ejection scanning. Discharge control means for discharging the liquid material, and curing light irradiation control means for controlling the curing light irradiation means to irradiate the curing light, wherein the curing light irradiation control means includes the discharge control means. Based on a discharge control signal transmitted to control the discharge of the liquid material from the discharge head, the curing light irradiation unit is controlled, and the curing light irradiation unit emits the curing light. Alternatively, an injection stop state in which the curing light is not emitted is set.

According to the ink jet drawing apparatus according to this application example, the curing light irradiation control unit controls the curing light irradiation unit based on the discharge control signal that the discharge control unit transmits to control the discharge of the liquid material from the discharge head. To the injection state or the injection stop state.
The curing light irradiation means emits curing light to irradiate the liquid that has been ejected from the ejection head and landed on the drawing medium. Therefore, it is necessary to set the curing light irradiation means to the injection state when the liquid material is discharged from the discharge head toward the drawing medium. Based on the discharge control signal transmitted to control the discharge of the liquid material from the discharge head, the curing light irradiation means is appropriately set in accordance with the necessity when it is in the injection state or the injection stop state. The curing light can be emitted to the curing light irradiation means. Moreover, although it is a case where it is unnecessary to inject the curing light, it is possible to suppress the curing light from being emitted to the curing light irradiation unit.

  Application Example 2 In the ink jet drawing apparatus according to the application example described above, the discharge control unit instructs the discharge control unit to discharge the liquid material from any one of the plurality of discharge nozzles provided in the discharge head. When the signal is transmitted, the curing light irradiation control means preferably places the curing light irradiation means in the injection state.

  According to this ink jet drawing apparatus, the curing light irradiation control means puts the curing light irradiation means into an injection state when the discharge control means transmits a discharge command signal for instructing discharge of the liquid material from the discharge nozzle. . The curing light irradiation means emits curing light to irradiate the liquid that has been ejected from the ejection head and landed on the drawing medium. Therefore, it is necessary to set the curing light irradiation means to the injection state when the liquid material is discharged from the discharge head toward the drawing medium. Based on the discharge command signal that commands the discharge of the liquid material from the discharge nozzle, the curing light irradiation means is brought into the injection state, so that the curing light is appropriately emitted to the curing light irradiation means as necessary. Can be made.

  Application Example 3 In the ink jet drawing apparatus according to the application example, the curing light irradiation control unit is configured to perform a predetermined operation from the time when the discharge command signal is transmitted in response to a discharge command signal that commands discharge of the liquid material. It is preferable that the curing light irradiation means is brought into the injection state when the first delay time has elapsed.

  According to this ink jet drawing apparatus, the curing light irradiation control unit puts the curing light irradiation unit into an injection state after a predetermined first delay time from the time when the ejection command signal is transmitted. Generally, it is preferable that the curing light is irradiated without a long time elapses after the liquid material has landed. However, it is very difficult to dispose the ejection head and the curing light irradiation means at a position where the droplets can land at a position where the curing light can be irradiated simultaneously with the landing. In addition, if it is possible to irradiate curing light simultaneously with landing at the spot where the droplets land, the possibility that the curing light will be irradiated also to the discharge nozzle increases, and the liquid before discharge in the discharge nozzle is irradiated with the curing light. As a result, the liquid in the discharge nozzle may be cured. Therefore, it is preferable that the curing light is irradiated after an appropriate time has elapsed after the liquid has landed. By setting the curing light irradiation means to the injection state after the first delay time has elapsed from the time when the discharge command signal is transmitted, the curing light is emitted after the first delay time has elapsed since the liquid material landed. Can be in a state of irradiation.

  Application Example 4 In the ink jet drawing apparatus according to the application example described above, the curing light irradiation control unit is configured to allow a predetermined elapsed time to elapse from when a discharge command signal for instructing discharge of the liquid material is transmitted. When the discharge command signal is not transmitted, it is preferable that the curing light irradiation unit is in the injection stop state.

According to this ink jet drawing apparatus, the curing light irradiation control means applies the curing light irradiation when the next discharge command signal is not transmitted before the predetermined elapsed time has elapsed since the discharge command signal was transmitted. The means is brought into the injection stop state. Therefore, when discharge is performed at a time interval shorter than the predetermined elapsed time, the curing light irradiation means is maintained in the injection state.
In general, the area where the curing light irradiating means simultaneously irradiates the curing light is much larger than the area where one droplet lands and spreads wet. Further, the irradiation time of the curing light necessary for curing the liquid material to a necessary level is longer than the time required for one droplet to be discharged and landed. For this reason, the functional liquid on which a plurality of droplets have landed is simultaneously irradiated with curing light, and the functional liquid on which the liquid droplets landed is cured for the curing light irradiation time required for curing. Irradiation with light is performed.
When the next discharge command signal is not transmitted until the predetermined elapsed time has elapsed from the time when the discharge command signal is transmitted, the curing light irradiation means is brought into the injection stop state so that the predetermined elapsed time is exceeded. When discharging is performed at a short time interval, the curing light irradiation means can be maintained in the injection state, and the curing light can be irradiated for the curing light irradiation time necessary for curing.
Since the droplets are ejected independently, the ejection command signal is transmitted for each droplet, and the ejection command signal transmitted to one ejection nozzle is predetermined even when ejecting continuously. It is sent at the time interval. The predetermined elapsed time is preferably set to be substantially the same as the discharge command signal transmission interval.

  Application Example 5 In the ink jet drawing apparatus according to the application example described above, the curing light irradiation control unit further includes a predetermined second delay time from the time when the elapsed time has elapsed from the time when the discharge command signal is transmitted. When the time has elapsed, it is preferable that the curing light irradiation means is in the injection stop state.

According to this ink jet drawing apparatus, the curing light irradiation means is stopped from being ejected when a predetermined second delay time has elapsed from when the elapsed time has elapsed since the ejection command signal was transmitted.
Generally, it is preferable that the curing light is irradiated without a long time elapses after the liquid material has landed. However, it is very difficult to dispose the ejection head and the curing light irradiation means at a position where the droplets can land at a position where the curing light can be irradiated simultaneously with the landing. In addition, if it is possible to irradiate curing light simultaneously with landing at the spot where the droplets land, the possibility that the curing light will be irradiated also to the discharge nozzle increases, and the liquid before discharge in the discharge nozzle is irradiated with the curing light. As a result, the liquid in the discharge nozzle may be cured. Therefore, it is preferable that the curing light is irradiated after an appropriate time has elapsed after the liquid has landed. In other words, it is preferable that the curing light is continuously irradiated even after an appropriate time has elapsed after the liquid material has landed. Appropriately determine the second delay time by stopping the injection of the curing light irradiation means from the time when the elapsed time has elapsed from the time when the discharge command signal is transmitted to the time when the second delay time has elapsed. Then, after the liquid has landed, the curing light can be irradiated for a necessary time.

  Application Example 6 In the ink jet drawing apparatus according to the application example, the curing light irradiation control unit causes the curing light irradiation unit to be in the ejection state in the ejection scanning, and the ejection state is changed in the ejection scanning. It is preferable to maintain.

  According to this ink jet drawing apparatus, the curing light irradiation means brought into the ejection state is maintained in the ejection state during the ejection scanning. Thereby, it can suppress that the hardening light irradiation means is made into an injection | pouring state or an injection | pouring stop state frequently.

  Application Example 7 In the ink jet drawing apparatus according to the application example, the curing light irradiation control unit sets the curing light irradiation unit to the ejection state in response to a discharge command signal that commands discharge of the liquid material. It is preferable that the curing light irradiation unit is in the injection stop state when a predetermined set injection time has elapsed from the time when the discharge command signal is transmitted.

  According to this ink jet drawing apparatus, the curing light irradiating means is brought into the injection state in response to the discharge command signal, and enters the injection stop state when a predetermined set injection time elapses from the time when the discharge command signal is transmitted. Is done. Thereby, it can suppress that the hardening light irradiation means is frequently in the injection state or the injection stop state by appropriately setting the predetermined set injection time. Further, by appropriately setting a predetermined set ejection time with respect to the time required for ejection scanning, it is possible to suppress irradiation of curing light to unnecessary portions.

  Application Example 8 A method for controlling an ink jet drawing apparatus according to this application example includes a medium holding unit for holding a drawing medium, which is an object to be drawn by arranging a photocurable liquid material, and a liquid of the liquid material. A plurality of discharge nozzles for discharging droplets, and discharging the droplets of the liquid material from the discharge nozzles of the plurality of discharge nozzles toward the drawing medium held by the medium holding unit; A head, and curing light irradiation means for injecting curing light for promoting curing of the liquid material toward the drawing medium held by the medium holding means, and irradiating the drawing medium with the curing light; , The head holding means for holding the discharge head and the curing light irradiation means, the drawing medium and the discharge head are relatively moved, and the liquid is discharged from the discharge head to draw the drawing. Medium Ink jet drawing comprising: a relative scanning unit that relatively moves the head holding unit and the medium holding unit in a discharge scanning direction that is a relative movement direction of the ejection head and the drawing medium in the ejection scanning to land on An apparatus control method, comprising: an ejection control step for transmitting an ejection control signal for controlling ejection of the liquid material from the ejection head to the ejection head; and the curing light irradiation means based on the ejection control signal And a curing light irradiation control step of setting the curing light irradiation means to an injection state in which the curing light is emitted or an injection stop state in which the curing light is not emitted.

According to the control method of the ink jet drawing apparatus according to this application example, in the curing light irradiation control process, the curing is performed based on the ejection control signal transmitted to control the ejection of the liquid material from the ejection head in the ejection control process. The light irradiation means is set to the injection state or the injection stop state.
The curing light irradiation means emits curing light to irradiate the liquid that has been ejected from the ejection head and landed on the drawing medium. Therefore, it is necessary to set the curing light irradiation means to the injection state when the liquid material is discharged from the discharge head toward the drawing medium. Based on the discharge control signal transmitted to control the discharge of the liquid material from the discharge head, the curing light irradiation means is appropriately set in accordance with the necessity when it is in the injection state or the injection stop state. The curing light can be emitted to the curing light irradiation means. Moreover, although it is a case where it is unnecessary to inject the curing light, it is possible to suppress the curing light from being emitted to the curing light irradiation unit.

(A) is a perspective view showing the outline of the whole composition of a droplet discharge device. (B) is a top view which shows the outline of the whole structure of a droplet discharge apparatus. FIG. 3A is an external perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a droplet discharge head. (B) is a perspective sectional view showing the structure of a droplet discharge head. FIG. 6C is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the discharge nozzle portion of the droplet discharge head. The top view which shows schematic structure of a carriage unit. FIG. 3 is a functional configuration block diagram showing an electrical configuration and a signal flow related to control of ultraviolet irradiation in a droplet discharge device. Explanatory drawing which shows the electrical structure and signal flow of a droplet discharge head. (A) is explanatory drawing which shows the arrangement position of a discharge nozzle. (B) is explanatory drawing which shows the state which made the droplet land linearly in the extension direction of a nozzle row. (C) is explanatory drawing which shows the state which made the droplet land linearly in the main scanning direction. (D) is explanatory drawing which shows the state which made the droplet land in surface shape. FIG. 4A is a timing chart showing the transmission timing of a discharge control signal (discharge command signal) for each discharge nozzle included in a droplet discharge head provided in the head unit. (B) is a timing chart showing a lighting time point when the UVLED is brought into an ultraviolet emission state and a light extinguishing time point when the UVLED is stopped. (A) is explanatory drawing which shows the positional relationship of the side view shape which looked at the carriage unit from the direction parallel to an X-axis direction, and a carriage unit and a drawing medium. (B) is explanatory drawing which shows the positional relationship of the head opposing area | region on a drawing medium, and an irradiation part opposing area | region. (C) is explanatory drawing which shows the positional relationship of the start end and termination | terminus of a landing object area | region in one discharge scanning, and the start end and termination | terminus of a UV light irradiation area | region. (A) is a timing chart showing the transmission timing of the discharge command signal for each discharge nozzle of the droplet discharge head provided in the head unit. (B) is a timing chart showing a lighting time point when the UVLED is brought into an ultraviolet emission state and a light extinguishing time point when the UVLED is stopped. (C) is explanatory drawing which shows the positional relationship of a head opposing area | region (landing object area | region) and an irradiation part opposing area | region (UV light irradiation area | region). (A) is a timing chart showing the transmission timing of the discharge command signal for each discharge nozzle of the droplet discharge head provided in the head unit. (B) is a timing chart showing a lighting time point when the UVLED is brought into an ultraviolet emission state and a light extinguishing time point when the UVLED is stopped. (C) is explanatory drawing which shows the positional relationship of a head opposing area | region (landing object area | region) and an irradiation part opposing area | region (UV light irradiation area | region).

Hereinafter, an embodiment of an inkjet drawing apparatus and a method for controlling the inkjet drawing apparatus will be described with reference to the drawings. This embodiment will be described by taking as an example a droplet discharge device that includes an inkjet droplet discharge head and draws an image on a drawing medium using the droplet discharge head. The droplet discharge device relatively moves the droplet discharge head and the drawing medium, and discharges a droplet of the functional liquid from the discharge nozzle of the droplet discharge head to land on a predetermined position on the drawing medium. Thus, the apparatus forms a predetermined image. As the functional liquid, a photo-curing functional liquid that cures when irradiated with curing light is used. The curing light is, for example, ultraviolet rays, and the functional liquid is an ultraviolet curing functional liquid.
In the drawings referred to in the following description, the vertical and horizontal scales of members or portions may be shown differently from actual ones for convenience of illustration.
The droplet discharge device corresponds to an ink jet drawing device. The functional liquid corresponds to a liquid material.

<Droplet ejection method>
First, a droplet discharge method for discharging a liquid material as droplets will be described. Examples of the discharge technique of the droplet discharge method include a charge control method, a pressure vibration method, an electromechanical conversion method, an electrothermal conversion method, and an electrostatic suction method.
In the charge control method, a charge is applied to a liquid material by a charging electrode, and the flying direction of the liquid material is controlled by a deflection electrode and discharged from a discharge nozzle. In addition, the pressurized vibration method is a method in which an ultra-high pressure of about 30 kg / cm ² is applied to the liquid material and the liquid material is discharged to the tip side of the discharge nozzle. When no control voltage is applied, the liquid material goes straight. When the control voltage is applied, electrostatic repulsion occurs between the liquid materials, and the liquid material is scattered and is not discharged from the discharge nozzles. In addition, the electromechanical conversion method utilizes the property that a piezoelectric element (piezoelectric element) deforms in response to a pulsed electric signal, and a flexible substance is placed in a space where a liquid material is stored by deformation of the piezoelectric element. The pressure is applied through the liquid, and the liquid material is pushed out from the space and discharged from the discharge nozzle.

  In addition, the electrothermal conversion method is a method in which the liquid material is rapidly vaporized by a heater provided in the space in which the liquid material is stored, and bubbles are generated, and the liquid material in the space is discharged by the pressure of the bubbles. It is. In the electrostatic suction method, a minute pressure is applied to the space in which the liquid material is stored, a meniscus of the liquid material is formed on the discharge nozzle, and the liquid material is drawn out after applying an electrostatic attractive force in this state. In addition to this, it is also possible to apply a technique such as a system that uses a change in the viscosity of a fluid caused by an electric field or a system that uses a discharge spark.

  The droplet discharge method has an advantage that a liquid material is less wasted and a desired amount of the liquid material can be accurately disposed at a desired position. Among these, the piezo method has the advantage that it does not affect the composition or the like of the liquid material because heat is not applied to the liquid material. In the present embodiment, the above-described piezo method is used from the viewpoint of a high degree of freedom in selecting a liquid material and good controllability of droplets.

<Droplet ejection device>
Next, the overall configuration of the droplet discharge device 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of the overall configuration of the droplet discharge device. FIG. 1A is a perspective view illustrating an outline of the overall configuration of the droplet discharge device, and FIG. 1B is a plan view illustrating an overview of the overall configuration of the droplet discharge device.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the droplet discharge device 1 includes a head mechanism unit 2, a medium mechanism unit 3, a maintenance device unit 5, and a discharge device control unit 7. The head mechanism unit 2 includes a droplet discharge head 20 that discharges a functional liquid as droplets. The droplet discharge device 1 also includes a functional liquid supply unit and a discharge inspection device unit (not shown). The functional liquid discharged from the droplet discharge head 20 is supplied to the droplet discharge head 20 from the functional liquid supply unit. The discharge device control unit 7 comprehensively controls each mechanism unit described above. The droplet discharge head 20 corresponds to the discharge head.

  The head mechanism unit 2 includes a carriage unit 22 and a carriage scanning mechanism 62. The carriage unit 22 includes a head unit 21 having a droplet discharge head 20 and an ultraviolet irradiation unit 95 that irradiates ultraviolet rays. The carriage scanning mechanism 62 includes a carriage frame 65 on which the carriage unit 22 is suspended, and moves the carriage unit 65 in the Y-axis direction by moving the carriage frame 65 in the Y-axis direction.

The carriage scanning mechanism 62 includes a support column 63, a support beam 64, a guide portion 66, a drive motor 67, a drive pulley 67a, a driven pulley 67b, a belt 62a, a carriage frame 65, and an encoder 68. I have.
The support beam 64 is provided so as to span between the two support columns 63 and extends in the Y-axis direction. The guide part 66 is fixed to the support beam 64 and extends in the Y-axis direction. The drive motor 67 is fixed to the support beam 64 near one end of the support beam 64 in the Y-axis direction. A drive pulley 67 a is fixed to the output shaft of the drive motor 67, and the drive pulley 67 a is rotationally driven by the drive motor 67. The driven pulley 67b is rotatably fixed to the support beam 64 near the end opposite to the end to which the drive motor 67 is fixed in the Y-axis direction of the support beam 64. The axial direction of the rotation shaft of the driven pulley 67b is substantially parallel to the axial direction of the rotation shaft of the drive pulley 67a (the output shaft of the drive motor 67). The belt 62a is stretched between the drive pulley 67a and the driven pulley 67b, and is driven by the rotation of the drive pulley 67a. The belt 62a extends in the Y-axis direction in parallel with the guide portion 66. The encoder 68 is a so-called linear encoder. The encoder 68 is fixed to the support beam 64, and extends in the Y-axis direction substantially parallel to the guide portion 66.

A carriage frame 65 is fixed to the belt 62a. The carriage frame 65 is engaged with the guide portion 66 so as to be slidable in the Y-axis direction. The carriage frame 65 is driven in the Y-axis direction along the guide portion 66 when the belt 62 a is driven by the drive motor 67. The position of the carriage frame 65 in the Y-axis direction is detected by the encoder 68.
By moving the carriage frame 65 in the Y-axis direction by the carriage scanning mechanism 62, the droplet discharge head 20 of the head unit 21 suspended from the carriage frame 65 can be freely moved in the Y-axis direction. . Moreover, it can hold | maintain in the moved arbitrary positions.
The carriage scanning mechanism 62 corresponds to a relative scanning unit. The carriage frame 65 corresponds to a head holding unit.

The medium mechanism unit 3 includes a medium mounting table 31, a slide table 31a, and a medium moving mechanism 33.
The medium moving mechanism 33 includes an X-axis guide 35 and an X-axis linear motor (not shown). The X-axis guide 35 is disposed below the support beam 64 between the two support columns 63 and extends substantially parallel to the X-axis direction orthogonal to the Y-axis direction.
The slide table 31a is supported by the X-axis guide 35 so as to be slidable in the X-axis direction. The X-axis linear motor is disposed substantially parallel to the X-axis guide 35, and the slide base 31a is moved in the X-axis direction by the X-axis linear motor. Moreover, it is held at the moved arbitrary position. The medium mounting table 31 is fixed on the slide table 31a by a medium rotation mechanism (not shown) so as to be rotatable in a direction around an axis parallel to the Z-axis direction orthogonal to the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. Is supported.

By moving the slide table 31a in the X-axis direction by the medium moving mechanism 33, the medium mounting table 31 fixed and supported by the slide table 31a can be freely moved in the X-axis direction. Moreover, it can hold | maintain in the moved arbitrary positions. That is, the drawing medium held on the medium mounting table 31 can be freely moved in the X-axis direction. Moreover, it can hold | maintain in the moved arbitrary positions.
The medium mounting table 31 corresponds to a medium holding unit.

In the head mechanism unit 2, the droplet discharge head 20 of the head unit 21 suspended from the carriage frame 65 is held with the nozzle substrate 25 (see FIG. 2) facing downward. The drawing medium held on the medium mounting table 31 is stopped by moving to a position where the droplet discharge head 20 in the X-axis direction can face the Y-axis of the droplet discharge head 20 (head unit 21) located above. In synchronization with the movement of the direction, the functional liquid is discharged as droplets from the discharge nozzle 24 (see FIG. 2) of the droplet discharge head 20. By controlling the drawing medium moving in the X-axis direction and the droplet discharge head 20 moving in the Y-axis direction relatively, the liquid droplets are landed at an arbitrary position on the drawing medium. It is possible to draw a planar shape.
In the carriage unit 22, one ultraviolet irradiation unit 95 for curing the ultraviolet curable functional liquid is disposed on each side of the head unit 21 in the Y-axis direction. An image drawn using an ultraviolet curable functional liquid can be cured using the ultraviolet irradiation unit 95.
The ultraviolet irradiation unit 95 corresponds to a curing light irradiation unit. The step of discharging the functional liquid as droplets in synchronization with the movement of the droplet discharge head 20 (head unit 21) in the Y-axis direction corresponds to discharge scanning. The Y-axis direction corresponds to the ejection scanning direction.

  The discharge device control unit 7 is electrically connected to the droplet discharge head 20, the ultraviolet irradiation unit 95, the drive motor 67 of the carriage scanning mechanism 62, the X-axis linear motor of the medium moving mechanism 33, and the like. A control signal is sent from a control unit included in the discharge device control unit 7 to operate the droplet discharge head 20, the ultraviolet irradiation unit 95, the drive motor 67, the X-axis linear motor, and the like.

  The maintenance device unit 5 includes various maintenance devices. The maintenance device is a device that performs various types of maintenance of the droplet discharge head 20. When performing maintenance of the droplet discharge head 20, the head unit 21 (droplet discharge head 20) is moved to a position facing the maintenance device unit 5 using the carriage scanning mechanism 62, and maintenance work is performed. The

<Droplet ejection head>
Next, the droplet discharge head 20 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the droplet discharge head. 2A is an external perspective view showing a schematic configuration of the droplet discharge head, FIG. 2B is a perspective sectional view showing the structure of the droplet discharge head, and FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the part of the discharge nozzle of a droplet discharge head. The X axis and the Z axis shown in FIG. 2 coincide with the X axis or the Z axis shown in FIG. 1 when the droplet discharge head 20 is mounted on the droplet discharge device 1.

  As illustrated in FIG. 2A, the droplet discharge head 20 includes a nozzle substrate 25. In the nozzle substrate 25, two rows of nozzle rows 24A in which a large number of discharge nozzles 24 are arranged in a substantially straight line are formed. The functional liquid is ejected as droplets from the ejection nozzle 24 and landed on a drawing object or the like at an opposing position, thereby arranging the functional liquid at the position. The nozzle row 24 </ b> A extends in the X-axis direction shown in FIG. 1 in a state where the droplet discharge head 20 is mounted on the droplet discharge device 1. In the nozzle row 24A, the discharge nozzles 24 are arranged at equal nozzle pitches, and the position of the discharge nozzle 24 is shifted by a half nozzle pitch in the X-axis direction between the two nozzle rows 24A. Therefore, as the liquid droplet ejection head 20, functional liquid droplets can be arranged at half nozzle pitch intervals in the X-axis direction. The nozzle pitch is, for example, 140 μm, and the half nozzle pitch is 70 μm.

As shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C, in the droplet discharge head 20, the pressure chamber plate 51 is stacked on the nozzle substrate 25, and the vibration plate 52 is stacked on the pressure chamber plate 51.
The pressure chamber plate 51 is formed with a liquid pool 55 in which the functional liquid supplied to the droplet discharge head 20 is always filled. The liquid pool 55 is a space surrounded by the diaphragm 52, the nozzle substrate 25, and the wall of the pressure chamber plate 51. The functional liquid is supplied from the functional liquid supply unit to the droplet discharge head 20 and is supplied to the liquid pool 55 via the liquid supply hole 53 of the vibration plate 52. Further, the pressure chamber plate 51 is formed with a pressure chamber 58 partitioned by a plurality of head partition walls 57. A space surrounded by the diaphragm 52, the nozzle substrate 25, and the two head partition walls 57 is a pressure chamber 58.

  The pressure chambers 58 are provided corresponding to the respective discharge nozzles 24, and the number of the pressure chambers 58 and the number of the discharge nozzles 24 are the same. The functional fluid is supplied from the liquid pool 55 to the pressure chamber 58 via the supply port 56 positioned between the two head partition walls 57. A set of the head partition wall 57, the pressure chamber 58, the discharge nozzle 24, and the supply port 56 is arranged in a line along the liquid pool 55, and the discharge nozzles 24 arranged in a line form a nozzle line 24A. . Although not shown in FIG. 2B, another row of discharge nozzles 24 arranged in a row at a position that is substantially symmetrical with respect to the liquid pool 55 with respect to the nozzle row 24A including the discharge nozzle 24 shown in the figure. Nozzle row 24A is formed. A set of a head partition wall 57, a pressure chamber 58, and a supply port 56 corresponding to the nozzle row 24A is arranged in one row.

One end of each piezoelectric element 59 is fixed to the portion of the diaphragm 52 that constitutes the pressure chamber 58. The other end of the piezoelectric element 59 is fixed to a base (not shown) that supports the entire droplet discharge head 20 via a fixing plate (not shown).
The piezoelectric element 59 has an active part in which an electrode layer and a piezoelectric material are stacked. In the piezoelectric element 59, by applying a driving voltage to the electrode layer, the active portion contracts in the longitudinal direction (the thickness direction of the diaphragm 52 in FIG. 2B or 2C). When the drive voltage applied to the electrode layer is released, the active portion returns to its original length.

  When the driving voltage is applied to the electrode layer and the active portion of the piezoelectric element 59 is contracted, the vibration plate 52 to which one end of the piezoelectric element 59 is fixed receives a force that is pulled to the side opposite to the pressure chamber 58. When the diaphragm 52 is pulled to the opposite side of the pressure chamber 58, the diaphragm 52 is bent to the opposite side of the pressure chamber 58. Thereby, since the volume of the pressure chamber 58 increases, the functional liquid is supplied from the liquid pool 55 to the pressure chamber 58 through the supply port 56. Next, when the driving voltage applied to the electrode layer is released, the active portion returns to the original length, and the piezoelectric element 59 presses the diaphragm 52. When the diaphragm 52 is pressed, it returns to the pressure chamber 58 side. As a result, the volume of the pressure chamber 58 is rapidly restored. That is, since the increased volume is reduced, pressure is applied to the functional liquid filled in the pressure chamber 58, and the functional liquid becomes droplets from the discharge nozzle 24 formed in communication with the pressure chamber 58. Discharged.

<Carriage unit>
Next, a schematic configuration of the carriage unit 22 provided in the head mechanism unit 2 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of the carriage unit. The X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction shown in FIG. 3 coincide with the X-axis direction or the Y-axis direction shown in FIG. 1 when the carriage unit 22 is attached to the droplet discharge device 1.

As shown in FIG. 3, the carriage unit 22 includes a head unit 21 and two ultraviolet irradiation units 95.
The head unit 21 has a unit plate 23 and nine droplet discharge heads 20 mounted on the unit plate 23.
The droplet discharge head 20 is fixed to the unit plate 23 via a head holding member (not shown). In the fixed droplet discharge head 20, the head body is loosely fitted in a hole (not shown) formed in the unit plate 23, and the nozzle substrate 25 is located at a position protruding from the surface of the unit plate 23. . FIG. 3 is a view as seen from the nozzle substrate 25 side. The nine droplet ejection heads 20 are divided in the X-axis direction to form three groups of head groups 20A each having three droplet ejection heads 20 each. The nozzle row 24 </ b> A of each droplet discharge head 20 extends in the X-axis direction when the head unit 21 is attached to the droplet discharge device 1.

  In the X-axis direction, the droplet discharge head 20 is located at the end of the other droplet discharge head 20 with respect to the discharge nozzle 24 at the end of one droplet discharge head 20 of the droplet discharge heads 20 adjacent to each other. The discharge nozzle 24 is disposed at a position where it is shifted by a half nozzle pitch. If the nine droplet discharge heads 20 provided in one head unit 21 have the same position in the Y-axis direction, the discharge nozzles 24 are arranged at equal intervals of a half nozzle pitch in the X-axis direction. In other words, at the same position in the Y-axis direction, the droplets ejected from the ejection nozzles 24 constituting each nozzle row 24A of each droplet ejection head 20 have a half nozzle pitch in the X-axis direction in design. Land on a straight line at equal intervals.

  The nozzle row 24 </ b> A has, for example, 180 ejection nozzles 24, and the droplet ejection head 20 has 360 ejection nozzles 24. The head unit 21 having nine droplet discharge heads 20 has 3240 discharge nozzles 24. The 18 nozzle rows 24A included in the nine liquid droplet ejection heads 20 provided in one head unit 21 can be handled as one nozzle row. The nozzle row is referred to as “unit nozzle row 240A”. The unit nozzle row 240A has 3240 discharge nozzles 24. When one drop is discharged from each discharge nozzle 24 of the unit nozzle row 240A and landed so that the Y-axis direction is the same position, a straight line is formed in which 3240 points are connected at a pitch interval of a half nozzle pitch.

The ultraviolet irradiation unit 95 includes a support frame (not shown), a UVLED (Ultraviolet Light Emitting Diode) 96, and an LED housing 97. The UVLED 96 is an LED that emits ultraviolet rays.
The LED housing 97 is fixed to the side surface of the unit plate 23 in the Y-axis direction via a support frame. The LED casing 97 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped outer shape, and a casing chamber having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and having one open surface is formed therein. The housing chamber is open on the side facing the medium mounting table 31. A UVLED 96 is fixed in the housing chamber in a state of emitting ultraviolet rays to the opening side. A plurality of UVLEDs 96 are arranged side by side in the X-axis direction. The plurality of UV LEDs 96 can irradiate ultraviolet rays in a range including a width in which the droplet discharge head 20 of the head unit 21 can arrange the functional liquid in the X-axis direction.
The droplet discharge head 20 corresponds to the discharge head. The ultraviolet irradiation unit 95 or the UVLED 96 corresponds to a curing light emitting unit.

As described above, the ultraviolet irradiation unit 95 is substantially symmetrical with respect to the nine droplet ejection heads 20 on both sides of the nine droplet ejection heads 20 in the Y-axis direction (ejection scanning direction). It is arranged.
When the head unit 21 is scanned in the Y-axis direction and discharges the functional liquid, the UV LED 96 disposed alongside the droplet discharge head 20 is irradiated with ultraviolet rays substantially in parallel.
In the scanning direction, ultraviolet rays are emitted from the UVLED 96 located on the rear side of the head unit 21, so that the discharged and landed functional liquid can be irradiated with ultraviolet rays immediately after landing. The functional liquid can be cured by irradiating the functional liquid with ultraviolet rays. Factors affecting the curing rate of the functional liquid are the scanning speed, the width of the irradiation area of the UVLED 96 in the Y-axis direction, the emission intensity of the UVLED 96, and the like. By setting these factors to appropriate values, the landed functional liquid can be cured to an appropriate curing rate.

<Control of UV irradiation>
Next, a configuration related to the control of ultraviolet irradiation in the droplet discharge device 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a functional configuration block diagram showing an electrical configuration and a signal flow related to control of ultraviolet irradiation in the droplet discharge device.

  As described above, the head mechanism unit 2 included in the droplet discharge device 1 includes the carriage unit 22 and the carriage scanning mechanism 62. The carriage unit 22 includes a head unit 21 having a droplet discharge head 20 and an ultraviolet irradiation unit 95 that irradiates ultraviolet rays. The carriage scanning mechanism 62 includes a drive motor 67 as a drive source that scans the carriage unit 22 and an encoder 68 that detects the position of the carriage unit 22.

As shown in FIG. 4, the ejection device control unit 7 includes a data processing unit 71, an ejection control unit 72, a carriage scanning control unit 73, and an ultraviolet irradiation control unit 74. The carriage scanning mechanism 62 includes the drive motor 67 and the encoder 68 described above.
The discharge controller 72 is electrically connected to the droplet discharge head 20 of the head unit 21 and controls the droplet discharge head 20 to discharge a functional liquid. The carriage scanning control unit 73 is electrically connected to a drive motor 67 of the carriage scanning mechanism 62 and controls the drive motor 67 to move the carriage unit 22. The ultraviolet irradiation control unit 74 is electrically connected to the UVLED 96 of the ultraviolet irradiation unit 95 and controls the UVLED 96 to emit ultraviolet rays.
The encoder 68 is electrically connected to the ejection control unit 72 and the carriage scanning control unit 73 and transmits position information of the carriage unit 22.

Image data of an image to be drawn is input to the droplet discharge device 1 via the input device, stored in a storage device included in the droplet discharge device 1, and transmitted to the data processing unit 71. The data processing unit 71 develops the image data into drawing data and transmits the data to the ejection control unit 72 and the carriage scanning control unit 73.
The carriage scanning control unit 73 acquires carriage scanning data obtained by expanding image data at the position of the carriage unit 22 from the data processing unit 71. The carriage scanning control unit 73 also acquires position information of the carriage unit 22 from the encoder 68. The carriage scan control unit 73 controls the drive motor 67 based on the carriage scan data and the position information of the carriage unit 22 to scan the carriage unit 22. That is, the droplet discharge head 20 and the UVLED 96 are scanned in the Y-axis direction that is the discharge scanning direction. The encoder 68 feeds back the position information of the scanned carriage unit 22 to the carriage scanning control unit 73.

  The ejection control unit 72 acquires droplet ejection data obtained by developing the image data at the functional liquid droplet ejection position from the data processing unit 71. The discharge controller 72 also acquires position information of the carriage unit 22 from the encoder 68. The position information of the carriage unit 22 is the position information of the droplet discharge head 20, and the position information of each discharge nozzle 24 of the droplet discharge head 20 is obtained from this information. The discharge controller 72 transmits a discharge control signal for controlling the discharge of the functional liquid from the discharge nozzle 24 to the droplet discharge head 20 based on the discharge data and the position information of the carriage unit 22. The discharge control unit 72 transmits a discharge control signal to the droplet discharge head 20 to discharge a droplet of the functional liquid from the discharge nozzle 24 located at the discharge position specified by the discharge data. The ejection control unit 72 also transmits the same ejection control signal as the ejection control signal transmitted to the droplet ejection head 20 to the ultraviolet irradiation control unit 74.

The ultraviolet irradiation control unit 74 acquires a discharge command signal from the discharge control unit 72. The ultraviolet irradiation control unit 74 controls the UVLED 96 based on the ejection command signal, and at the time specified by the ejection control signal, causes the UVLED 96 to be in an ultraviolet emission state where ultraviolet rays are emitted. Further, the UV LED 96 in the ultraviolet emission state is brought into an ultraviolet emission stop state where ultraviolet rays are not emitted.
The discharge controller 72 corresponds to a discharge control unit. The ultraviolet irradiation control unit 74 corresponds to curing light irradiation control means.

<Discharge of functional liquid>
Next, an ejection control method from the droplet ejection head 20 in the droplet ejection apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an electrical configuration of the droplet discharge head and a signal flow.

As described above, the droplet discharge device 1 includes the discharge device control unit 7 that controls the operation of each unit of the droplet discharge device 1. The discharge device control unit 7 includes a data processing unit 71 that develops and transmits image data into drawing data, and a discharge control unit 72 that outputs a control signal. The ejection control unit 72 includes a head driver 20 d that performs electrical drive control of the droplet ejection head 20.
As shown in FIG. 5, the head driver 20d is electrically connected to each droplet discharge head 20 via an FFC cable. The droplet discharge head 20 corresponds to the piezoelectric element 59 provided for each discharge nozzle 24 (see FIG. 2), and includes a shift register (SL) 85, a latch circuit (LAT) 86, and a level shifter (LS). ) 87 and a switch (SW) 88.

  The ejection control in the droplet ejection apparatus 1 is performed as follows. First, the data processing unit 71 converts the functional liquid arrangement pattern on the drawing medium into data and develops it into dot pattern data. The data processing unit 71 transmits the dot pattern data to the head driver 20 d of the ejection control unit 72. The head driver 20d decodes the dot pattern data to generate nozzle data that is ON / OFF (discharge / non-discharge) information for each discharge nozzle 24. The nozzle data is converted into a serial signal (SI) and transmitted to each shift register 85 in synchronization with the clock signal (CK).

The nozzle data transmitted to the shift register 85 is latched at the timing when the latch signal (LAT) is input to the latch circuit 86, and further converted into a gate signal for the switch 88 by the level shifter 87. That is, when the nozzle data is “ON”, the switch 88 is opened and the drive signal (COM) is supplied to the piezoelectric element 59, and when the nozzle data is “OFF”, the switch 88 is closed and the piezoelectric element 59 is closed. No drive signal (COM) is supplied to 59. Then, the functional liquid is ejected as droplets from the ejection nozzle 24 corresponding to “ON”, and the ejected functional liquid droplets land on the drawing medium and function on the drawing object. Liquid is placed.
The nozzle data corresponds to the discharge control signal. “ON” nozzle data corresponds to a discharge command signal.

<Landing position>
Next, the relationship between the arrangement of the discharge nozzles 24 of the droplet discharge head 20 and the landing positions of the droplets discharged from the respective discharge nozzles 24 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the discharge nozzles and the landing positions of the liquid droplets discharged from the respective discharge nozzles. FIG. 6A is an explanatory diagram showing the arrangement positions of the discharge nozzles, and FIG. 6B is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which droplets are landed linearly in the extending direction of the nozzle rows, FIG. 6C is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which droplets are landed linearly in the ejection scanning direction, and FIG. 6D is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which droplets are landed in a planar shape. is there. The X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction shown in FIG. 6 coincide with the X-axis direction or the Y-axis direction shown in FIG. 1 when the head unit 21 is attached to the droplet discharge device 1. The Y-axis direction is the ejection scanning direction, and the functional liquid droplets are ejected at an arbitrary position while the ejection nozzle 24 (droplet ejection head 20) is relatively moved in the direction of the arrow a shown in FIG. Thus, the droplet can be landed at an arbitrary position in the Y-axis direction.

  As shown in FIG. 6A, the discharge nozzles 24 constituting the nozzle row 24A are arranged at the center-to-center distance of the nozzle pitch P in the X-axis direction. As described above, the positions of the discharge nozzles 24 constituting the two nozzle rows 24A are shifted from each other by ½ of the nozzle pitch P in the X-axis direction.

  As shown in FIG. 6 (b), the landing point 91 indicating the landing position and the landing circle 91A indicating the wet and spreading state of the landed droplets indicate the state of one landed droplet. By ejecting droplets from all the ejection nozzles 24 of the two nozzle rows 24A on the virtual line L indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. A straight line formed by landing circles 91 </ b> A is formed at a center-to-center spacing of / 2.

  As shown in FIG. 6C, by continuously ejecting liquid droplets from one ejection nozzle 24, a straight line in which landing circles 91A are continuous in the Y-axis direction is formed. The minimum value of the center-to-center distance between the landing points 91 in the Y-axis direction is denoted as the minimum landing distance d. The minimum landing distance d is the product of the relative movement speed (mm / sec) in the discharge scanning direction and the minimum discharge interval (sec) of the discharge nozzle 24.

  As shown in FIG. 6 (d), by ejecting liquid droplets at the timing of landing on virtual lines L1, L2, and L3 indicated by two-dot chain lines, the center-to-center spacing of 1/2 of the nozzle pitch P is obtained. Thus, a landing surface is formed in which straight lines connecting the landing circles 91A are arranged in parallel in the Y-axis direction. Each landing point 91 in the case where the distance between the virtual lines L1, L2, and L3 shown in FIG. 6D is the minimum landing distance d is a position at which the droplet of the functional liquid can be disposed by the droplet discharge device 1. is there.

  At the time of drawing an image, a position where a droplet is arranged is determined for each position of the landing point 91 shown in FIG. For example, an arrangement table specifying the arrangement position and the discharge nozzles 24 that discharge droplets at the arrangement position is formed, and the functional liquid is landed according to the arrangement table, thereby drawing an image defined by the image information. In the example shown in FIG. 6 (d), there is a gap between the landing circles 91A, but the discharge weight per one droplet to be discharged is appropriate for the nozzle pitch P and the minimum landing distance d. It is possible to arrange the functional liquid without gaps.

<UV emission time>
Next, the injection time for controlling the UVLED 96 to emit ultraviolet rays based on the discharge control signal (discharge command signal) will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a timing chart showing the transmission timing of the discharge control signal (discharge command signal) and the injection time for emitting ultraviolet rays. FIG. 7 (a) is a timing chart showing the transmission timing of a discharge control signal (discharge command signal) for each discharge nozzle of the droplet discharge head provided in the head unit, and FIG. 7 (b) is a UV LED emitting UV light. It is a timing diagram which shows the lighting time to make into a state, and the light extinction time to make into an ultraviolet-ray emission stop state.

  As described above, each discharge nozzle 24 can discharge a droplet at every minimum discharge interval. A discharge control signal for instructing the discharge nozzle 24 to discharge droplets is a discharge command signal. As described with reference to FIG. 6C, when droplets are continuously discharged from one discharge nozzle 24, a discharge command signal is sent at every minimum discharge interval. In Fig.7 (a), the discharge control signal is shown by the binary value of an ON state and an OFF state. The ON state is a state in which a discharge command signal is transmitted and a discharge command signal is transmitted at every minimum discharge interval. The OFF state is a state in which the discharge command signal is not sent, and the nozzle data latched at the timing when the latch signal (LAT) is input to the latch circuit 86 is “OFF” as described above. . Whether or not the discharge nozzle 24 is in the OFF state can be determined by not transmitting the discharge command signal when the minimum discharge interval has elapsed since the discharge command signal was transmitted. The minimum discharge interval in this case corresponds to the elapsed time.

As shown in FIG. 7A, the ejection control signal for controlling the ejection of the functional liquid to each ejection nozzle 24 is “ON” or “OFF” depending on the image data. When the ejection control signal is “ON”, the nozzle data is “ON”, that is, when the ejection command signal is sent, and the droplet ejection head 20 receives the ejection command signal. At a timing, the functional liquid is discharged from the discharge nozzle 24 corresponding to the discharge command signal.
The ultraviolet irradiation control unit 74 controls the UVLED 96 according to ejection control signals for the 3240 ejection nozzles 24 included in the head unit 21. However, in the example shown in FIG. 7, in order to simplify the description, the discharge nozzle 24n and the discharge control signal of the discharge nozzle 24m will be representatively described.

  As shown in FIG. 7B, the ultraviolet irradiation control unit 74 turns on the UVLED 96 at the time point T11 to place the UVLED 96 in the ultraviolet emission stopped state into the ultraviolet emission state. The time point T11 is a time point after the switching delay time t1 from the time point T1. The time point T1 is a time point when the discharge nozzle 24m, which has been in the OFF state, is turned on by transmitting a discharge command signal from the discharge control unit 72. At time T1, in the discharge scanning, all of the discharge nozzles 24 of the head unit 21 are in an OFF state at the start of discharge scanning, and at least one of the discharge nozzles 24 of the head unit 21 has This is the point when it becomes ON. The switching delay time t1 will be described later.

  The ultraviolet irradiation control unit 74 turns off the UVLED 96 at time T21 and puts the UVLED 96 in the ultraviolet emission state into the ultraviolet emission stop state. The time point T21 is a time point after the switching delay time t1 from the time point T2. The time point T2 is a time point when the discharge nozzle 24m is changed from the ON state to the OFF state in the state where the discharge nozzle 24n is changed from the ON state to the OFF state. Time T2 is a time when all of the discharge nozzles 24 of the head unit 21 are turned off.

  The ultraviolet irradiation control unit 74 turns on the UVLED 96 at the time T31 and the time T51 to place the UVLED 96 in the ultraviolet emission stopped state into the ultraviolet emission state. The time point T31 and the time point T51 are time points after the switching delay time t1 from the time point T3 or the time point T5. Time T3 and time T5 are the time when the discharge nozzle 24n or the discharge nozzle 24m, which was in the OFF state, is turned on. At time T3 and time T5, at the time of discharge scanning, at least one of the discharge nozzles 24 of the head unit 21 is in an ON state from a state in which all of the discharge nozzles 24 of the head unit 21 are in an OFF state. It is time when it became.

The ultraviolet irradiation control unit 74 turns off the UVLED 96 at the time T41 and the time T61, and puts the UVLED 96 in the ultraviolet emission state into the ultraviolet emission stop state. Time T41 and time T61 are time points after the switching delay time t1 from time point T4 or time point T6. Time T4 and time T6 are times when the discharge nozzle 24n is turned from the ON state to the OFF state in the state where the discharge nozzle 24m is turned from the ON state to the OFF state first. Time T4 and time T6 are times when all of the ejection nozzles 24 of the head unit 21 are turned off.
The time between the time T11 and the time T21, the time between the time T31 and the time T41, and the time between the time T51 and the time T61 are emission times for the UVLED 96 to emit ultraviolet light.

<Head facing area and irradiation part facing area>
Next, the head facing region and the irradiation unit facing region will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the positional relationship between the head facing region (landing target region) and the irradiation unit facing region (UV light irradiation region) in comparison with the carriage unit. FIG. 8A is an explanatory diagram showing a side shape of the carriage unit viewed from a direction parallel to the X-axis direction, and the positional relationship between the carriage unit and the drawing medium, and FIG. FIG. 8C is a diagram illustrating the positional relationship between the head facing area and the irradiation section facing area on the medium, and FIG. 8C illustrates the start and end of the landing target area and the UV light irradiation area in one ejection scan. It is explanatory drawing which shows the positional relationship with a start end and a termination | terminus. The X-axis direction, Y-axis direction, and Z-axis direction shown in FIG. 8 are the X-axis direction, Y-axis direction, or Z-axis shown in FIG. 1 when the carriage unit 22 is attached to the droplet discharge device 1. It matches the axial direction.

As shown in FIG. 8A, the head unit 21 included in the carriage unit 22 and the two ultraviolet irradiation units 95 are opposed to the drawing medium 100 side by side.
As shown in FIG. 8B, a region of the drawing medium 100 facing the head unit 21 is referred to as a head facing region 120, and a region facing the ultraviolet irradiation unit 95 is referred to as an irradiation unit facing region 190.
The head facing region 120 is a region represented by a rectangle in the drawing medium 100 supported by the medium mounting table 31 in a range in which the nine droplet discharge heads 20 included in the head unit 21 are opposed. The functional liquid discharged and landed from the unit nozzle row 240A is located in the range of the width of the head facing region 120 in the X-axis direction. The irradiation unit facing region 190 is a region in the drawing medium 100 supported by the medium mounting table 31 that can be irradiated with ultraviolet rays simultaneously by the ultraviolet irradiation unit 95.

  As shown in FIG. 8C, a region of a locus in which the carriage unit 22 is scanned and the head facing region 120 is scanned in the Y-axis direction is referred to as a landing target region 220. A region of a locus in which the irradiation unit facing region 190 is scanned in the Y-axis direction is referred to as a UV light irradiation region 290. Of the ultraviolet irradiation units 95 respectively disposed on both sides of the head unit 21, the ultraviolet irradiation unit 95 that is activated during the ejection scanning is the ultraviolet irradiation unit 95 on the rear side in the traveling direction with respect to the head unit 21. When the scanning direction is the direction indicated by the arrow c1 in FIG. 8A, the ultraviolet irradiation unit 95 on the rear side of the arrow c1 is operated.

The droplet discharge head 20 of the head unit 21 performs the discharge from the time point T1 to the time point T2, and the droplet of the functional liquid is landed on the landing target region 220a between the landing region start end 221 and the landing region end 222. Let An image body 40a constituting the image 40 is formed in the landing target area 220a by the landed functional liquid.
Further, the droplet discharge head 20 of the head unit 21 performs discharge between the time T3 and the time T4, and between the time T5 and the time T6, and the landing target between the landing area start end 223 and the landing area end 224. The droplet of the functional liquid is landed on the area 220b and the landing target area 220c between the landing area start end 225 and the landing area end 226. By the landed functional liquid, the image body 40b constituting the image 40 is formed in the landing target area 220b, and the image body 40c forming the image 40 is formed in the landing target area 220c. The time point T1, the time point T2, the time point T3, the time point T4, the time point T5, and the time point T6 are the time point T1, the time point T2, the time point T3, the time point T4, the time point T5, or the time point T6 described with reference to FIG.

The ultraviolet irradiation unit 95 on the rear side of the arrow c1 emits ultraviolet rays between the time T11 and the time T21, and irradiates the UV light irradiation region 290a between the irradiation region start end 291 and the irradiation region end 292.
Further, the ultraviolet irradiation unit 95 on the rear side of the arrow c1 emits ultraviolet rays from the time T31 to the time T41, and irradiates the UV light irradiation region 290b between the irradiation region start end 293 and the irradiation region end 294. Then, ultraviolet rays are emitted between time T51 and time T61 to irradiate the UV light irradiation region 290c between the irradiation region start end 295 and the irradiation region end 296. Time T11, time T21, time T31, time T41, time T51, and time T61 are time T11, time T21, time T31, time T41, time T51, or time T61 described with reference to FIG.

  When one of the discharge nozzles 24 of the head unit 21 is positioned at an appropriate discharge position, the functional liquid is landed on one point of the drawing medium 100 by discharging a droplet from the discharge nozzle 24. . In the example described above, the head unit 21 has 3240 ejection nozzles 24. In the range of one head facing region 120, the functional liquid can be landed on 3240 points of the drawing medium 100 corresponding to the position of the discharge nozzle 24 described with reference to FIG.

  In order to land the liquid droplets of the functional liquid on the entire landing target area 220, the head facing areas 120 are connected at an interval of the minimum landing distance d, and all the ejections of the head unit 21 in each head facing area 120 are performed. Discharge is performed from the nozzle 24. When the ejection from the ejection nozzle 24 is started at the time T1, the time T3, and the time T5, at the time T1, the time T3, and the time T5, the tip in the scanning direction of the head facing region 120 is the landing region start end 221 and the landing. This is the time when 1/2 of the minimum discharge interval (sec) of the discharge nozzle 24 has elapsed from the time when it coincides with the area start end 223 or the landing area start end 225. At time point T1, time point T3, or time point T5, by discharging from the discharge nozzle 24, the droplet of the functional liquid is landed at a position where the landing region start end 221, the landing region start end 223, or the landing region start end 225 is formed. .

  When the ejection from the ejection nozzle 24 is stopped at the time T2, the time T4, and the time T6, at the time T2, the time T4, and the time T6, the rear end in the scanning direction of the head facing region 120 is the landing region end 222, This is a time point that coincides with the landing area end 224 or the landing area end 226. At the time point T2, the time point T4, or the time point T6, the liquid droplets of the functional liquid are not provided at the positions that are out of the landing target region 220a, the landing target region 220b, or the landing target region 220c by not performing the discharge from the discharge nozzle 24. Do not land.

The ultraviolet irradiation unit 95 faces one point of the drawing medium 100 and is irradiated with ultraviolet rays while being positioned in the irradiation unit opposing region 190. The product of the irradiation time and the intensity of the ultraviolet light emitted from the UVLED 96 is the amount of light to be irradiated, and the irradiation time is necessary to irradiate a sufficient amount of light. Time point T11, time point T31, and time point T51 are times when the tip of the irradiation unit facing region 190 in the scanning direction coincides with the irradiation region start end 291, the irradiation region start end 293, or the irradiation region start end 295. Time T21, time T41, and time T61 are times when the rear end of the irradiation unit facing region 190 in the scanning direction coincides with the irradiation region end 292, the irradiation region end 294, or the irradiation region end 296.
In the UV light irradiation region 290a, the UV light irradiation region 290b, and the UV light irradiation region 290c, the landed functional liquid is cured to an appropriate curing rate by turning on and off the UVLED 96 at the above-described time. The amount of UV light that can be produced is irradiated. Before and after the UV light irradiation region 290a, the UV light irradiation region 290b, and the UV light irradiation region 290c in the Y-axis direction (ejection scanning direction), the amount of light that can cure the landed functional liquid to an appropriate curing rate There is a region where an ultraviolet ray with a light quantity less than is irradiated.

  The head facing region 120 and the irradiation unit facing region 190 are shifted in the ejection scanning direction (Y-axis direction). For this reason, when the ultraviolet irradiation by the ultraviolet irradiation unit 95 is performed at the same time as when the ejection is performed by the head unit 21, a portion of the UV light irradiation region 290 that is outside the landing target region 220 is generated. By delaying the time point T11, the time point T31, or the time point T51 with respect to the time point T1, the time point T3, and the time point T5 by the switching delay time t1, the irradiation region start end 291, the irradiation region start end 293, and the irradiation region start end 295, The distance from the landing area start end 221, the landing area start end 223, or the landing area start end 225 is reduced. The switching delay time t1 corresponds to the first delay time. The switching delay time t1 is set according to the position of each ultraviolet irradiation unit 95 in the carriage unit 22, the scanning speed, and the like.

Further, if the irradiation of ultraviolet rays by the ultraviolet irradiation unit 95 is stopped at the same time as when the ejection by the head unit 21 is stopped, there is a possibility that a portion outside the UV light irradiation region 290 may occur in the landing target region 220. The positions of the irradiation region end 292, the irradiation region end 294, and the irradiation region end 296 are delayed by the switching delay time t1 from the time T21, the time T41, or the time T61 with respect to the time T2, the time T4, and the time T6. Is positioned on the traveling direction side in the ejection scanning direction from the landing region end 222, the landing region end 224, or the landing region end 226.
Thereby, the UV light irradiation region 290a, the UV light irradiation region 290b, and the UV light irradiation region 290c are in a range including the landing target region 220a, the landing target region 220b, or the landing target region 220c.

<Other example 1 of ultraviolet emission time>
Next, an example of the ultraviolet emission time in which the region irradiated with ultraviolet rays is a UV light irradiation region 390 different from the above-described UV light irradiation region 290 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a timing chart showing the discharge command signal transmission timing and the emission time for emitting ultraviolet rays, and the positional relationship between the head facing area (landing target area) and the irradiation section facing area (UV light irradiation area). It is explanatory drawing shown. FIG. 9A is a timing chart showing the transmission timing of the discharge command signal for each discharge nozzle of the liquid droplet discharge head provided in the head unit, and FIG. 9B is a lighting time point at which the UVLED is brought into the ultraviolet emission state. FIG. 9C is a timing chart showing the time point when the ultraviolet light emission is stopped and FIG. 9C shows the positional relationship between the head facing area (landing target area) and the irradiation section facing area (UV light irradiation area). It is explanatory drawing. The X-axis direction and Y-axis direction shown in FIG. 9C coincide with the X-axis direction or Y-axis direction shown in FIG. 1 when the carriage unit 22 is attached to the droplet discharge device 1. ing.

  The transmission timing of the discharge command signal for each discharge nozzle 24 of the droplet discharge head 20 included in the head unit 21 shown in FIG. 9A is the transmission of the discharge command signal described with reference to FIG. It is the same as the timing.

  As shown in FIG. 9B, the ultraviolet irradiation control unit 74 turns on the UVLED 96 at time T11 to place the UVLED 96 in the ultraviolet emission stopped state into the ultraviolet emission state. The time point T11 is the time point T11 described with reference to FIG. 7A and is the time point after the switching delay time t1 from the time point T1. Time point T1 is a time point when the discharge nozzle 24m, which was in the OFF state, is turned on. At time T1, in the discharge scanning, all of the discharge nozzles 24 of the head unit 21 are in an OFF state at the start of discharge scanning, and at least one of the discharge nozzles 24 of the head unit 21 has This is the point when it becomes ON. The switching delay time t1 is the switching delay time t1 described with reference to FIG.

  The UV irradiation control unit 74 corresponds to the fact that all of the discharge nozzles 24 of the head unit 21 are turned off at the time T2, the time T4, and the time T6, and the UVLED 96 at the time T22, the time T42, and the time T62. Is turned off, and the UV LED 96 in the ultraviolet emission state is brought into the ultraviolet emission stop state. The time point T22, the time point T42, and the time point T62 are times after the turn-off delay time t2 from the time point T2, the time point T4, or the time point T6. The turn-off delay time t2 is longer than the switching delay time t1.

Here, the time point T22 is past the time point T3 because the turn-off delay time t2 has elapsed from the time point T2. Time T3 is a time when at least one of the discharge nozzles 24 of the head unit 21 is turned on. The ultraviolet irradiation control unit 74 maintains the UVLED 96 in the ultraviolet emission state in response to the discharge nozzle 24 being in the ON state from time T3. Therefore, the UVLED 96 is not turned off at time T22. Similarly, the time point T42 is past the time point T5 because the turn-off delay time t2 has elapsed from the time point T4. The UVLED 96 is not turned off at the time T42.
The UVLED 96 is turned off at time T62.

  As shown in FIG. 9C, the ultraviolet irradiation control unit 74 emits ultraviolet rays to the UV LED 96 between the time T11 and the time T62, and the UV light irradiation between the irradiation region start end 391 and the irradiation region end 392 is performed. The region 390 is irradiated with ultraviolet rays. Since the UVLED 96 is not turned off corresponding to the fact that all of the ejection nozzles 24 of the head unit 21 are turned off at time T2 and time T4, the UV light irradiation region 390 is a continuous region. Thereby, the UV light irradiation region 390 is a range including the landing target region 220a, the landing target region 220b, and the landing target region 220c.

When the UV light irradiation region 290a, the UV light irradiation region 290b, and the UV light irradiation region 290c described with reference to FIG. 8 are irradiated with ultraviolet rays, the time T21, the time T4, and the time T6, The time point T41 or the time point T61 is delayed by the switching delay time t1. Accordingly, the positions of the irradiation region end 292, the irradiation region end 294, and the irradiation region end 296 are positioned closer to the traveling direction in the ejection scanning direction than the landing region end 222, the landing region end 224, or the landing region end 226. It was.
Since the time point T62 is a time point after the turn-off delay time t2 longer than the switching delay time t1 from the time point T6, the irradiation region end 392 can be surely positioned closer to the traveling direction side in the ejection scanning direction than the landing region end 226. it can. The turn-off delay time t2 corresponds to the second delay time. The switching delay time t1 corresponds to the first delay time.

<Other example 2 of ultraviolet emission time>
Next, an example of an ultraviolet emission time in which a region irradiated with ultraviolet light is a UV light irradiation region 490 different from the above-described UV light irradiation region 290 and UV light irradiation region 390 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is a timing chart showing the emission timing of the ejection command signal and the emission time for emitting ultraviolet rays, and the positional relationship between the head facing area (landing target area) and the irradiation section facing area (UV light irradiation area). It is explanatory drawing shown. FIG. 10A is a timing chart showing the transmission timing of the discharge command signal for each discharge nozzle included in the droplet discharge head provided in the head unit, and FIG. 10B is a lighting time point at which the UVLED is brought into the ultraviolet emission state. FIG. 10C is a timing chart showing the time point when the ultraviolet light emission is stopped and FIG. 10C shows the positional relationship between the head facing region (landing target region) and the irradiation unit facing region (UV light irradiation region). It is explanatory drawing. The X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction shown in FIG. 10C coincide with the X-axis direction or the Y-axis direction shown in FIG. 1 when the carriage unit 22 is attached to the droplet discharge device 1. ing.

  The discharge command signal transmission timing for each discharge nozzle 24 of the droplet discharge head 20 provided in the head unit 21 shown in FIG. 10A is the discharge command signal transmission described with reference to FIG. It is the same as the timing.

  As shown in FIG. 10B, the ultraviolet irradiation control unit 74 turns on the UVLED 96 at the time point T1, and puts the UVLED 96 in the ultraviolet emission stop state into the ultraviolet emission state. As described above, the time point T1 is a time point when the discharge nozzle 24m that is in the OFF state is turned on. At time T1, in the discharge scanning, all of the discharge nozzles 24 of the head unit 21 are in an OFF state at the start of discharge scanning, and at least one of the discharge nozzles 24 of the head unit 21 has This is the point when it becomes ON.

The ultraviolet irradiation control unit 74 turns off the UVLED 96 at time T63 after the set ejection time t3 from time T1.
As shown in FIG. 10C, the ultraviolet irradiation control unit 74 causes the UV LED 96 to emit ultraviolet light between time T1 and time T63, and UV light irradiation between the irradiation area start end 491 and the irradiation area end 492 is performed. The region 490 is irradiated with ultraviolet rays. Since the UVLED 96 is in the ultraviolet emission state from the time point T1 to the set emission time t3, the UV light irradiation region 490 is a continuous region.
A time point T63 is a time point when the rear end of the irradiation unit facing region 190 in the scanning direction is located on the traveling direction side in the ejection scanning direction from the landing region end 226. Thereby, the UV light irradiation region 490 is a range including the landing target region 220a, the landing target region 220b, and the landing target region 220c.

Hereinafter, the effect by embodiment is described. According to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) The ultraviolet irradiation control unit 74 controls the UVLED 96 according to the same ejection control signal as the ejection control signal that the ejection control unit 72 transmits to the droplet ejection head 20 in order to control the ejection of the functional liquid from the ejection nozzle 24. And emit ultraviolet rays.
The UVLED 96 emits ultraviolet rays to irradiate the functional liquid discharged from the droplet discharge head 20 and landed on the drawing medium. Therefore, it is necessary to put the UVLED 96 in the ejection state when the functional liquid is ejected from the ejection nozzle 24 of the droplet ejection head 20 toward the drawing medium.
Based on the discharge control signal transmitted to control the discharge of the functional liquid from the discharge nozzle 24, the UVLED 96 is controlled to emit the ultraviolet rays, so that the UVLED 96 is appropriately irradiated with ultraviolet rays according to the necessity. Can be injected. Moreover, although it is a case where it is unnecessary to inject ultraviolet rays, it is possible to suppress the UVLED 96 from emitting ultraviolet rays.

  (2) The ultraviolet irradiation control unit 74 causes the UVLED 96 to emit ultraviolet light when a discharge command signal is transmitted from the discharge control unit 72. The UV LED 96 needs to be brought into the ejection state when the functional liquid is ejected from the ejection nozzle 24 of the droplet ejection head 20 toward the drawing medium. By causing the UVLED 96 to emit ultraviolet light according to the discharge command signal, it is possible to appropriately cause the UVLED 96 to emit ultraviolet light according to the necessity.

  (3) When the discharge command signal is not transmitted from the discharge control unit 72, the ultraviolet irradiation control unit 74 turns off the UV LED 96 to stop the ultraviolet emission. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the UVLED 96 from being brought into the ultraviolet emission state when it is unnecessary to place the UVLED 96 in the ultraviolet emission state as compared with the case where the UVLED 96 is brought into the ultraviolet emission state in all the time during which the ejection scanning is performed. Can do.

(4) The ultraviolet emission time in which the ultraviolet irradiation region becomes the UV light irradiation region 290 or the UV light irradiation region 390 is started by turning on the UVLED 96 at time T11 after the switching delay time t1 from time T1. . The time point T1 is a time point after the minimum discharge interval (sec) of the discharge nozzle 24 from the time point when the tip of the head facing region 120 in the scanning direction coincides with the landing region start end 221. The time point T11 is a time point when the tip of the irradiation unit facing region 190 in the scanning direction coincides with the irradiation region start end 291.
By delaying the time point T11 from the time point T1 by the switching delay time t1, the irradiation region start end 291 or the irradiation region start end 391 and the landing are compared with the distance between the tip of the head facing region 120 and the tip of the irradiation unit facing region 190. The distance from the area start edge 221 can be reduced. In other words, it is possible to suppress the irradiation of ultraviolet light onto a region not included in the landing target region 220.

  (5) The ultraviolet emission time when the region irradiated with ultraviolet rays becomes the UV light irradiation region 390 starts by turning on the UVLED 96 at time T11 and ends by turning off the UVLED 96 at time T62. The time point T62 is a time point after the turn-off delay time t2 from the time point T6. By delaying the time point when the UV LED 96 exits the ultraviolet emission state by the turn-off delay time t2, the irradiation region end 392 can be reliably positioned on the traveling direction side in the ejection scanning direction from the landing region end 226. That is, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of a portion that is not irradiated with ultraviolet light on the landing region end 226 side of the landing target region 220.

(6) The ultraviolet emission time in which the ultraviolet irradiation region becomes the UV light irradiation region 390 starts by turning on the UVLED 96 at time T11 and is interrupted by turning off the UVLED 96 at time T22 and time T42. At time T2 or time T4, the UVLED 96 is turned off at time T22 and time T42 in response to the state where the discharge command signal is not transmitted from the discharge control unit 72. The time point T22 and the time point T42 are time points after the turn-off delay time t2 from the time point T2 or the time point T4.
However, since the discharge command signal is transmitted at the time T3 or the time T5 during the turn-off delay time t2, the UVLED 96 is not turned off at the time T22 later than the time T3 and the time T42 later than the time T5. That is, the operation of turning off the UVLED 96 at the time T21 or the time T41 and turning on the UVLED 96 at the time T3 or the time T5 is omitted. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the UVLED 96 from being turned off or turned on in a short time.

(7) The ultraviolet emission time in which the ultraviolet irradiation region becomes the UV light irradiation region 490 starts by turning on the UVLED 96 at time T1. The time point T1 is a time point after the minimum discharge interval (sec) of the discharge nozzle 24 from the time point when the tip of the head facing region 120 in the scanning direction coincides with the landing region start end 221.
At time T1, the UVLED 96 is turned on so that the distance between the irradiation region start end 491 and the landing region start end 221 is substantially the same as the distance between the tip of the head facing region 120 and the tip of the irradiation unit facing region 190. Can do. Thereby, it can suppress that the area | region where sufficient ultraviolet-rays are not irradiated generate | occur | produces in the edge by the side of the landing area | region start end 221 of the landing object area | region 220a.

(8) The ultraviolet ray emission time when the ultraviolet ray irradiation region becomes the UV light irradiation region 490 starts by turning on the UVLED 96 at the time point T1, and the UVLED 96 is turned on at the time point T63 after the set injection time t3 from the time point T1. It ends by turning it off.
By setting the set ejection time t3 to an appropriate length, the position of the irradiation region end 492 can be reliably set to the traveling side in the ejection scanning direction from the landing region end 226. That is, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of a portion that is not irradiated with ultraviolet light on the landing region end 226 side of the landing target region 220. Further, the position of the irradiation region end 492 can be brought close to the position of the landing region end 226. In other words, it is possible to suppress the irradiation of ultraviolet light onto a region not included in the landing target region 220.

  As mentioned above, although preferred embodiment was described referring an accompanying drawing, suitable embodiment is not restricted to the said embodiment. The embodiment can of course be modified in various ways without departing from the scope, and can also be implemented as follows.

  (Modification 1) In the above-described embodiment, the UV emission time when the UV irradiation region becomes the UV light irradiation region 390 is started by turning on the UVLED 96 at time T11, and at time T22, time T42, and time It was set to turn off the UVLED 96 at T62. The time point T22, the time point T42, and the time point T62 are times after the turn-off delay time t2 from the time point T2, the time point T4, or the time point T6. However, it is not indispensable to set the time when the curing light irradiation means is in the injection stop state to the time when the second delay time has passed since the time when the elapsed time has elapsed since the time when the discharge command signal was transmitted. For example, it may be delayed by the second delay time from the time when the elapsed time has elapsed from the time when the ejection command signal is transmitted, only at the time of extinction when the ultraviolet emission time ends, corresponding to time T62.

  (Modification 2) In the above-described embodiment, the ultraviolet irradiation time in which the ultraviolet irradiation region becomes the UV light irradiation region 490 starts by turning on the UVLED 96 at the time T1 when the discharge is started, and from the time T1. At time T63 after the set injection time t3, the UVLED 96 is turned off to end the process. However, when the curing light irradiation means is set to the injection stop state when the set injection time has elapsed, the time when the curing light irradiation means is set to the injection state is the time when the discharge command signal corresponding to time T1 is transmitted. It is not essential to be. The curing light irradiation means may be in the injection state when the discharge command signal is transmitted and delayed by the first delay time, and when the set injection time has elapsed, the curing light irradiation means may be in the injection stop state.

  (Modification 3) In the above-described embodiment, the ultraviolet emission time when the region irradiated with ultraviolet rays becomes the UV light irradiation region 390 is started by turning on the UVLED 96 at time T11, and time T22, time T42, and time It was set to turn off the UVLED 96 at T62. The time point T22, the time point T42, and the time point T62 are times after the turn-off delay time t2 from the time point T2, the time point T4, or the time point T6. However, when the curing light irradiation means is set to the injection stop state when the second delay time has elapsed from the time when the elapsed time has elapsed since the discharge command signal was transmitted, the curing light irradiation means is set to the injection state. It is not essential that the time to perform is a time delayed by the first delay time from the time when the discharge command signal is transmitted. At the time when the discharge command signal corresponding to the time T1 is transmitted, the curing light irradiating means is brought into the injection state, and when the second delay time has further elapsed from the time when the elapsed time has elapsed from the time when the discharge command signal was transmitted. The curing light irradiation means may be in an injection stopped state.

  (Modification 4) In the above-described embodiment, the UV emission time when the UV irradiation region becomes the UV light irradiation region 290 starts by turning on the UVLED 96 at time T11, and the UVLED 96 is also set at time T31 and time 51. The UVLED 96 was set to be turned on and the UVLED 96 was turned off at time T21, time T41, and time T61. The time point T21, the time point T41, and the time point T61 are times after the switching delay time t1 from the time point T2, the time point T4, or the time point T6. However, when setting the curing light irradiation means to the injection state when the curing light irradiation means is set to the injection stop state when the delay time has further elapsed from the time when the elapsed time has elapsed since the discharge command signal was transmitted. However, it is not indispensable that the time is delayed by the first delay time from the time when the discharge command signal is transmitted. When the ejection command signal corresponding to the time T1 is transmitted, the curing light irradiation unit is set in the injection state, and the curing light irradiation unit is stopped when the switching delay time t1 has elapsed from the time when the ejection command signal is transmitted. It may be in a state.

  (Modification 5) In the above-described embodiment, the UV emission time when the UV irradiation region becomes the UV light irradiation region 290 starts by turning on the UVLED 96 at time T11, and the UVLED 96 is also set at time T31 and time 51. The UVLED 96 was set to be turned on and the UVLED 96 was turned off at time T21, time T41, and time T61. The time point T11, the time point T31, and the time point T51 are times after the switching delay time t1 from the time point T1, the time point T3, or the time point T5. The time point T21, the time point T41, and the time point T61 are also time points after the switching delay time t1 from the time point T2, the time point T4, or the time point T6. However, the time when the curing light irradiation means is in the injection state is a time delayed by a first delay time from the time when the discharge command signal is transmitted, and from the time when the elapsed time has elapsed since the time when the discharge command signal was transmitted. Further, when the curing light irradiation means is brought into the injection stop state when the delay time has elapsed, it is not essential that the delay time is the same as the first delay time. The delay time and the first delay time may be set to different times.

  (Modification 6) In the above embodiment, a specific example of the drawing medium 100 is not particularly illustrated. However, as the drawing medium, a product that forms an image by forming a film, a filter film, or the like. Products that require the formation of such functional films.

  (Modification 7) In the above embodiment, in the ejection scanning, the carriage scanning mechanism 62 scans the carriage unit 22 in the Y-axis direction, so that the droplet ejection head 20 and the UVLED 96 and the drawing medium 100 (medium mounting table) And 31). However, it is not essential that the relative scanning unit that relatively moves the ejection head, the curing light emitting unit, and the medium holding unit in the ejection scanning direction is a unit that scans the ejection head and the curing light irradiation unit. The relative scanning unit may be a unit that scans the medium holding unit that holds the drawing medium.

  (Modification 8) In the embodiment described above, the droplet discharge device 1 includes the head unit 21, and the functional liquid discharged from the droplet discharge head 20 included in the head unit 21 is a single functional liquid. . However, it is not essential that the liquid materials discharged by the discharge heads included in the head unit are the same. In the drawing apparatus, a plurality of different liquid materials such as different colors may be ejected. Color drawing is also possible by discharging a plurality of types of liquids having different colors. The type of liquid material may be different for each head unit, each head unit having a plurality of head units, or different for each liquid droplet ejection head. Alternatively, it may be different for each nozzle row. A different liquid material may be discharged for each discharge nozzle using a droplet discharge head that can individually supply a liquid material for each discharge nozzle. When performing color drawing, a plurality of head units or droplet discharge heads configured to be able to land, for example, liquid materials having different colors at the same landing position, or a scanning method is used. As a result, finer drawing becomes possible.

  (Modification 9) In the above embodiment, the droplet discharge device 1 includes one head unit 21. However, it is not essential that the drawing apparatus has one head unit. Any number of head units may be provided in the drawing apparatus.

  (Modification 10) In the above embodiment, the head unit 21 includes nine droplet discharge heads 20, but it is not essential that the head unit includes nine discharge heads. Any number of ejection heads may be included in the head unit.

  (Modification 11) In the embodiment described above, the droplet discharge head 20 includes two nozzle rows 24A in which a large number of discharge nozzles 24 are arranged in a substantially straight line. However, how many nozzle rows the discharge head includes. It may be. The positions of the discharge nozzles 24 included in the droplet discharge head 20 are shifted in the extending direction of the nozzle row 24A. However, the discharge heads are discharged at substantially the same position in the extending direction of the nozzle row. The structure provided with two or more nozzles may be sufficient.

  (Modification 12) In the embodiment, the UVLED 96 is an LED that emits ultraviolet rays. However, it is not essential that the curing light emitting means is an LED. The curing light emitting means may be a lamp such as a metal halide lamp.

  (Modification 13) In the above embodiment, the nozzle pitch in the nozzle row 24A is 140 μm, and the discharge pitch in the nozzle row direction in the droplet discharge head 20 including the two nozzle rows 24A is about 70 μm. However, the arrangement of the nozzles in the droplet discharge head is not limited to the arrangement in the droplet discharge head 20. The nozzle pitch in the nozzle row may be a nozzle pitch different from 140 μm.

  (Modification 14) In the above embodiment, the functional liquid discharged from the droplet discharge head 20 is an ultraviolet curable functional liquid, and the ultraviolet irradiation unit 95 includes the UV LED 96 that emits ultraviolet light. However, it is not essential that the liquid used in the droplet discharge device described in the above-described embodiment is an ultraviolet curable liquid. It may be a liquid that is cured by treatment with other curing light, such as a thermosetting liquid.

  (Modification 15) In the embodiment described above, when it is detected that the discharge nozzle is turned off based on the discharge control signal, or when the curing light irradiation means is in the injection state, a predetermined injection time is set. At the point of time, the curing light irradiation means was in the injection stopped state. The curing light irradiation unit may be stopped based on other events. For example, the curing light irradiation unit may be in an injection stop state when one ejection scan is completed.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Droplet discharge apparatus, 2 ... Head mechanism part, 3 ... Medium mechanism part, 7 ... Discharge apparatus control part, 20 ... Droplet discharge head, 20d ... Head driver, 24 ... Discharge nozzle, 24A ... Nozzle row, 24m, 24n: discharge nozzle, 33: medium moving mechanism, 40: image, 40a, 40b, 40c ... image body, 62 ... carriage scanning mechanism, 65 ... carriage frame, 71 ... data processing unit, 72 ... discharge control unit, 73 ... carriage Scanning control unit, 74 ... UV irradiation control unit, 91 ... landing point, 91A ... landing circle, 95 ... UV irradiation unit, 96 ... UVLED, 100 ... medium to be drawn, 120 ... head facing region, 190 ... irradiation unit facing region, 220, 220a, 220b, 220c ... Landing target area, 221, 223, 225 ... Landing area start, 222, 224, 226 ... Landing area end, 240A ... Unit Slurry row, 290, 290a, 290b, 290c ... UV light irradiation region, 291, 293, 295 ... irradiation region start, 292, 294, 296 ... irradiation region end, 390 ... UV light irradiation region, 391 ... irradiation region start, 392 ... Irradiation area end, 490... UV light irradiation area, 491... Irradiation area start, 492.

Claims (8)

Medium holding means for holding a drawing medium which is an object to be drawn by placing a photocurable liquid material;
A plurality of discharge nozzles for discharging droplets of the liquid material, the liquid of the liquid material being directed from the discharge nozzles of the plurality of discharge nozzles toward the drawing medium held by the medium holding unit; An ejection head for ejecting drops;
Curing light irradiating means for injecting curing light for accelerating curing of the liquid material toward the drawing medium held by the medium holding means, and irradiating the drawing medium with the curing light;
Head holding means for holding the ejection head and the curing light irradiation means;
Relative movement direction between the ejection head and the drawing medium in ejection scanning in which the drawing medium and the ejection head are moved relative to each other and the liquid material is ejected from the ejection head and landed on the drawing medium. Relative scanning means for relatively moving the head holding means and the medium holding means in the ejection scanning direction,
Discharge control means for controlling the discharge head to discharge the liquid material;
Curing light irradiation control means for controlling the curing light irradiation means to irradiate the curing light, and
The curing light irradiation control unit controls the curing light irradiation unit based on a discharge control signal transmitted by the discharge control unit to control the discharge of the liquid material from the discharge head, and the curing light irradiation unit An inkjet drawing apparatus, wherein the irradiation unit is in an injection state in which the curing light is emitted or in an injection stop state in which the curing light is not emitted.   When the discharge control means transmits a discharge command signal for instructing discharge of the liquid material from any one of the plurality of discharge nozzles provided in the discharge head, the curing light irradiation control means The inkjet drawing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the curing light irradiation unit is in the injection state.   The curing light irradiation control means is responsive to a discharge command signal for instructing discharge of the liquid material, at a time when a predetermined first delay time has elapsed since the discharge command signal was transmitted. The ink jet drawing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink jet drawing apparatus is in the injection state.   The curing light irradiation control means is configured to provide the curing light when the ejection command signal is not transmitted before a predetermined elapsed time elapses from the time when the ejection command signal commanding ejection of the liquid material is transmitted. The inkjet drawing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the irradiation unit is set to the injection stop state.   The curing light irradiation control means moves the curing light irradiation means to the injection stopped state when a predetermined second delay time elapses from the time when the elapsed time has elapsed since the ejection command signal was transmitted. The inkjet drawing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein:   4. The curing light irradiation control unit causes the curing light irradiation unit to be in the ejection state in the ejection scanning, and maintains the ejection state in the ejection scanning. An ink jet drawing apparatus according to claim 1.   The curing light irradiation control means sets the curing light irradiation means in the injection state in response to a discharge command signal for instructing discharge of the liquid material, and a predetermined set injection time from the time when the discharge command signal is transmitted. The inkjet drawing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the curing light irradiation unit is set to the injection stop state when the time has elapsed. A medium holding means for holding a drawing medium, which is an object to be drawn by arranging a photocurable liquid material, and a plurality of discharge nozzles for discharging droplets of the liquid material, each of the plurality of discharge nozzles A discharge head that discharges the liquid droplets toward the drawing medium held by the medium holding unit, and a curing light that promotes hardening of the liquid. A head holding unit that holds a curing light irradiation unit that emits the curing light onto the drawing medium held by a unit, and irradiates the curing medium with the curing light, the ejection head, and the curing light irradiation unit. And the ejection head and the drawing medium in ejection scanning in which the drawing medium and the ejection head are relatively moved, and the liquid material is ejected from the ejection head and landed on the drawing medium. The discharge scan direction is a relative moving direction, and said medium holding means and the head holding means. A control method for an ink jet drawing apparatus comprising: a relative scanning means for relatively moving, and
A discharge control step of transmitting a discharge control signal for controlling discharge of the liquid material from the discharge head to the discharge head;
Curing light irradiation control for controlling the curing light irradiation means based on the discharge control signal so that the curing light irradiation means is in an injection state in which the curing light is emitted or in an injection stop state in which the curing light is not emitted. A method of controlling an ink jet drawing apparatus.

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