EP2682268B1 - Dispositif d'enregistrement à jet d'encre - Google Patents

Dispositif d'enregistrement à jet d'encre Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2682268B1
EP2682268B1 EP12754537.4A EP12754537A EP2682268B1 EP 2682268 B1 EP2682268 B1 EP 2682268B1 EP 12754537 A EP12754537 A EP 12754537A EP 2682268 B1 EP2682268 B1 EP 2682268B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
scanning direction
ultraviolet
sub
carriage
inks
Prior art date
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Active
Application number
EP12754537.4A
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP2682268A4 (fr
EP2682268A1 (fr
Inventor
Masakatsu Ohkawa
Akira Ikeda
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Mimaki Engineering Co Ltd
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Mimaki Engineering Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from JP2011047355A external-priority patent/JP5702191B2/ja
Application filed by Mimaki Engineering Co Ltd filed Critical Mimaki Engineering Co Ltd
Publication of EP2682268A1 publication Critical patent/EP2682268A1/fr
Publication of EP2682268A4 publication Critical patent/EP2682268A4/fr
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Publication of EP2682268B1 publication Critical patent/EP2682268B1/fr
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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J29/00—Details of, or accessories for, typewriters or selective printing mechanisms not otherwise provided for
    • B41J29/377—Cooling or ventilating arrangements
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/21—Ink jet for multi-colour printing
    • B41J2/2107—Ink jet for multi-colour printing characterised by the ink properties
    • B41J2/2114—Ejecting specialized liquids, e.g. transparent or processing liquids
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J11/00—Devices or arrangements  of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form
    • B41J11/0015—Devices or arrangements  of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form for treating before, during or after printing or for uniform coating or laminating the copy material before or after printing
    • B41J11/002—Curing or drying the ink on the copy materials, e.g. by heating or irradiating
    • B41J11/0021—Curing or drying the ink on the copy materials, e.g. by heating or irradiating using irradiation
    • B41J11/00214—Curing or drying the ink on the copy materials, e.g. by heating or irradiating using irradiation using UV radiation
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J11/00—Devices or arrangements  of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form
    • B41J11/0015—Devices or arrangements  of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form for treating before, during or after printing or for uniform coating or laminating the copy material before or after printing
    • B41J11/002—Curing or drying the ink on the copy materials, e.g. by heating or irradiating
    • B41J11/0022—Curing or drying the ink on the copy materials, e.g. by heating or irradiating using convection means, e.g. by using a fan for blowing or sucking air
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
    • B41M7/00—After-treatment of prints, e.g. heating, irradiating, setting of the ink, protection of the printed stock
    • B41M7/0081—After-treatment of prints, e.g. heating, irradiating, setting of the ink, protection of the printed stock using electromagnetic radiation or waves, e.g. ultraviolet radiation, electron beams

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus ejecting an ultraviolet-ray curable ink.
  • PTL 1 discloses an ink jet recording apparatus using an ultraviolet-ray curable ink.
  • a carriage mounted in this ink jet recording apparatus is provided with a color ink recording head, a clear ink recording head, and an ultraviolet-ray irradiation device, in which the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device is disposed further toward the downstream side in a transfer direction of a recording medium than the color ink recording head, and the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device is also disposed further toward the downstream side in the transfer direction of the recording medium than the clear ink recording head.
  • an amount of light to be applied by the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device is controlled depending on image quality, and the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device is located between a recording head which ejects an ink earlier of the color ink recording head and the clear ink recording head and a recording head which ejects an ink later.
  • PTL 2 discloses an ultraviolet irradiation device.
  • the present inventors have carried out earnest research into image quality of printed matters in an ink jet recording apparatus using an ultraviolet-ray curable ink, and have obtained findings in which there is a difference in image quality of printed matters depending on curing conditions of the ultraviolet-ray curable ink, and, particularly, in a case where image quality of an image is desired to be gloss in recording using a clear ink, the clear ink is not immediately cured after ink droplets are landed on a medium but the clear ink is required to be cured after a predetermined time has elapsed.
  • an object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus capable of performing recording with sufficient glossiness based on these findings.
  • An ink jet recording apparatus related to the present invention includes a carriage that can be reciprocated in a main scanning direction; ink ejection means mounted on the carriage and including a plurality of ink nozzles which eject ultraviolet-ray curable inks on a recording medium and are formed in a sub-scanning direction; ultraviolet-ray irradiation means mounted on the carriage, for irradiating the recording medium with ultraviolet rays; and a control unit that controls the ink ejection means and the ultraviolet-ray irradiation means, in which the carriage or the recording medium is moved in the sub-scanning direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction, in which the ink jet recording apparatus further includes air sucking means for sucking air on the recording medium side or blowing means for blowing a gas toward the recording medium side, in which the ink nozzles are provided with a plurality of pass areas which can record a plurality of bands, in which the ultraviolet-ray irradiation means includes a plurality of light sources applying ultraviolet rays
  • the light sources of the ultraviolet-ray irradiation means are provided so as to respectively correspond to a plurality of bands, it is possible to control whether or not to apply ultraviolet rays for each band. For this reason, a light source is turned off which irradiates the band where a pass area for ejecting ink droplets is located with ultraviolet rays, and thus ink droplets ejected from the corresponding pass area are not cured immediately after being landed on the recording medium but rather are smoothed. Thus, it is possible to perform recording with sufficient glossiness.
  • a light source is turned on which irradiates the band where a pass area for ejecting ink droplets is located with ultraviolet rays, and thus ink droplets ejected from the corresponding pass area are cured immediately after being landed on the recording medium, thereby forming an image with matte image quality.
  • the air sucking means is preferably disposed at a front end or a rear end of the carriage in the scanning direction.
  • the blowing means is disposed at a front end or a rear end of the carriage in the scanning direction and blows a gas in a direction perpendicular to the scanning direction.
  • the blowing means may be disposed at a front end of the carriage in the scanning direction and blow a gas toward a front side in the scanning direction.
  • ultraviolet-ray curable inks when ultraviolet-ray curable inks are ejected from a pass area located on a downstream side in the sub-scanning direction among a plurality of pass areas so as to record a band, a light source irradiating the band with ultraviolet rays is turned off, and ultraviolet-ray curable inks are not ejected from a pass area located on an upstream side in the sub-scanning direction among the plurality of pass areas but a light source which irradiates a band recorded by the pass area with ultraviolet rays is turned on; and the carriage is moved in the main scanning direction. Therefore, leveling of ultraviolet-ray curable inks is possible by turning off the light source immediately after the ultraviolet-ray curable inks are recorded.
  • the ultraviolet-ray curable inks are appropriately wettedly spread as compared with a case where the ultraviolet-ray curable inks are cured in a separate step after recording the ultraviolet-ray curable inks, and thus it is difficult for smearing or extrusion from a printing range to occur. Further, curing can be performed without wasting time, and thus it is possible to minimize influence of dust.
  • the control unit preferably turns on a light source which irradiates a band where a pass area for ejecting the colored ultraviolet-ray curable inks is located with ultraviolet rays, and turns off a light source which irradiates a band where a pass area for ejecting the light-transmissive ultraviolet-ray curable inks is located with ultraviolet rays.
  • the colored ultraviolet-ray curable inks are cured immediately after ink droplets ejected from the pass area are landed on the recording medium, and thus it is possible to form a clear color image without smearing of the inks.
  • the light-transmissive ultraviolet-ray curable inks are not cured immediately after ink droplets ejected from the pass area are landed on the recording medium but are smoothed, it is possible to give sufficient glossiness to an image or the like formed in the lower layer.
  • the control unit makes light-transmissive ultraviolet-ray curable inks ejected from a pass area disposed on a downstream side of the carriage or the recording medium in the sub-scanning direction, turns off a light source which irradiates a band where the pass area for ejecting the light-transmissive ultraviolet-ray curable inks is located with ultraviolet rays, and turns on a light source which irradiates a band disposed on an upstream side in the sub-scanning direction of the pass area for ejecting the light-transmissive ultraviolet-ray curable inks with ultraviolet rays.
  • an image may be formed using colored ultraviolet-ray curable inks in a first layer, and the image may be coated with light-transmissive ultraviolet-ray curable inks in a second layer so as to have glossiness.
  • the image may be coated with light-transmissive ultraviolet-ray curable inks as a first layer so as to have glossiness.
  • the ultraviolet-ray irradiation means has a plurality of light sources corresponding to a plurality of bands where respective pass areas are located.
  • the control unit turns on light sources which irradiate a band disposed on an upstream side in the sub-scanning direction of the pass area for ejecting the light-transmissive ultraviolet-ray curable inks with ultraviolet rays, and makes a light amount of the light sources on the downstream side in the sub-scanning direction smaller than a light amount of the light sources on the upstream side in the sub-scanning direction among the turned-on light sources.
  • control unit may make colored ultraviolet-ray curable inks ejected from a pass area disposed on a downstream side of the carriage or the recording medium in the sub-scanning direction, and turn on a light source which irradiates a band where the pass area for ejecting the colored ultraviolet-ray curable inks is located with ultraviolet rays so as to record the colored ultraviolet-ray curable inks on the recording medium; make light-transmissive ultraviolet-ray curable inks ejected from a pass area disposed on a downstream side of the carriage or the recording medium in the sub-scanning direction and turn on a light source which irradiates a band disposed on an upstream side in the sub-scanning direction of the pass area for ejecting the light-transmissive ultraviolet-ray curable inks with ultraviolet rays; and turn off a light source which irradiates a band where the pass area for ejecting the light-transmissive ultraviolet-ray curable inks is
  • the colored ultraviolet-ray curable inks are recorded on the recording medium, but the colored ultraviolet-ray curable inks are irradiated with ultraviolet rays immediately after being landed on the recording medium and are thus cured in a state in which granular feeling of ink droplets remains.
  • the light-transmissive ultraviolet-ray curable inks are recorded on the upper layer of the colored ultraviolet-ray curable inks which have been cured, the light-transmissive ultraviolet-ray curable inks are not immediately irradiated with ultraviolet rays even if the light-transmissive ultraviolet-ray curable inks are landed on the recording medium, and are thus gradually wettedly spread so as to decrease the thickness and to smooth out uneven surfaces without being cured. Thus, it is possible to secure the visibility of a recorded image and give sufficient glossiness thereto.
  • the control unit moves the carriage or the recording medium in the sub-scanning direction, makes colored ultraviolet-ray curable inks ejected from a pass area disposed on a front side in the sub-scanning direction, and turns on a light source which irradiates a band where the pass area for ejecting the colored ultraviolet-ray curable inks is located with ultraviolet rays so as to record the colored ultraviolet-ray curable inks on the recording medium; moves the carriage or the recording medium in the opposite direction to the sub-scanning direction, makes light-transmissive ultraviolet-ray curable inks ejected from a pass area disposed on a rear side in the sub-scanning direction, and turns on a light source which irradiates a band disposed on an upstream side in the sub-scanning direction of the pass area for ejecting the light-transmissive ultraviolet-ray curable inks with ultraviolet rays; and turns off a light source which irradiates
  • the colored ultraviolet-ray curable inks are ejected from the pass area disposed on the front side in the sub-scanning direction, and the light-transmissive ultraviolet-ray curable inks are ejected from the pass area disposed on the rear side in the sub-scanning direction. Therefore, when the carriage or the recording medium is moved in the sub-scanning direction, the colored ultraviolet-ray curable inks are recorded on the recording medium, and, when the carriage or the recording medium is moved in the opposite direction to the sub-scanning direction, the light-transmissive ultraviolet-ray curable inks are recorded on the upper layer of the colored ultraviolet-ray curable inks recorded on the recording medium.
  • an image can be formed and be given glossiness through a single reciprocation of the carriage or the recording medium, it is possible to efficiently perform recording an image with glossiness.
  • control unit may make colored ultraviolet-ray curable inks ejected from a pass area disposed on a downstream side of the carriage or the recording medium in the sub-scanning direction, make light-transmissive ultraviolet-ray curable inks ejected from a pass area disposed on an upstream side of the carriage or the recording medium in the sub-scanning direction, and turn on a light source which irradiates a band where the pass areas for ejecting the colored ultraviolet-ray curable inks and the light-transmissive ultraviolet-ray curable inks are located with ultraviolet rays so as to record the colored ultraviolet-ray curable inks on the recording medium and to record the light-transmissive ultraviolet-ray curable inks on the upper layer of the colored ultraviolet-ray curable inks; and make light-transmissive ultraviolet-ray curable inks ejected from a pass area disposed on a downstream side of the carriage or the recording medium in the sub-scanning direction, turn on a light
  • the colored ultraviolet-ray curable inks are recorded on the recording medium so as to form an image, and the light-transmissive ultraviolet-ray curable inks overlap the upper layer of the image in the recording medium.
  • the ultraviolet-ray curable inks are light-transmissive and are also cured immediately after ink droplets are landed. Therefore, visibility of the image recorded on the recording medium is maintained, and the thickness of the ultraviolet-ray curable inks increases.
  • the light-transmissive ultraviolet-ray curable inks are further recorded on the upper layer of the light-transmissive ultraviolet-ray curable inks
  • the light-transmissive ultraviolet-ray curable inks are not immediately irradiated with ultraviolet rays even if the light-transmissive ultraviolet-ray curable inks are landed on the recording medium, and are thus gradually wettedly spread so as to decrease the thickness and to smooth out uneven surfaces without being cured.
  • control unit preferably turns on a light source which irradiates a band where a pass area for ejecting ultraviolet-ray curable inks recorded in a lower layer is located with ultraviolet rays, and turns off a light source which irradiates a band where a pass area for ejecting ultraviolet-ray curable inks stored in an upper layer is located with ultraviolet rays.
  • the ultraviolet-ray curable inks recorded in the lower layer are granularly cured, the ultraviolet-ray curable inks recorded in the upper layer are pervaded between the granularly cured ultraviolet-ray curable inks in the lower layer, and are combined with the adjacent ink droplets, thereby promoting leveling. Therefore, it is possible to perform recording with more sufficient glossiness.
  • ink droplets of the ultraviolet-ray curable inks ejected from the pass area are not cured immediately after being landed on the recording medium but are smoothed, and are irradiated with ultraviolet rays so as to be cured in subsequent scannings. Therefore, it is possible to perform recording with sufficient glossiness. Further, since movement directions of the carriage or the recording medium are not required to be changed, it is possible to efficiently perform glossy recording.
  • the light source is turned on which irradiates the band where a pass area disposed on an upstream side in the sub-scanning direction so as to be adjacent to the pass area for ejecting the light-transmissive ultraviolet-ray curable inks is located with ultraviolet rays such that the ultraviolet-ray curable inks are irradiated with ultraviolet rays, and a light amount of ultraviolet rays applied from the light source disposed on a downstream side in the sub-scanning direction is smaller than a light amount of ultraviolet rays applied from the light source disposed on an upstream side in the sub-scanning direction.
  • the ink jet recording apparatus is an ink jet printer which performs printing using an ultraviolet-ray curable ink, and records an image through multi-pass printing in which an image of one band is formed in a plurality of passes.
  • similar or corresponding parts are given the same reference numerals throughout all the drawings.
  • Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the ink jet recording apparatus according to the embodiment
  • Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the carriage shown in Fig. 1
  • the ink jet recording apparatus 1 includes a flat bed 2 on which a medium M which is a recording medium is placed, a Y bar 3 which is disposed over the flat bed 2 and can move in a sub-scanning direction F, a carriage 4 which is mounted on the Y bar 3 and can move in a main scanning direction S perpendicular to the sub-scanning direction F, a plurality of ink jet heads 5 (5a to 5f) which are mounted on the carriage 4 and eject ink droplets, a pair of ultraviolet-ray irradiation devices 6 (6a and 6b) which are disposed on the front side (the left side in Fig.
  • the main scanning direction S is a direction in which a band of an image is recorded on the medium M by reciprocating the carriage 4
  • the sub-scanning direction F is a direction in which a position of a band recorded on the medium M is shifted by relatively moving the Y bar 3 with respect to the medium M.
  • the ultraviolet-ray curable ink is ejected from the ink jet heads 5 and the ultraviolet-ray irradiation devices 6 irradiate ultraviolet rays, thereby recording an image on the medium.
  • the front side in the main scanning direction S is a direction (the left side in Fig. 1 ) in which the carriage 4 moves in the main scanning direction S
  • the rear side in the main scanning direction S is a direction (the right side in Fig. 1 ) in which the carriage 4 moves in the opposite direction to the main scanning direction S.
  • the front side in the sub-scanning direction F is a direction (the upper side in Fig. 1 ) in which the Y bar 3 moves in the sub-scanning direction F
  • the rear side in the sub-scanning direction F is a direction (the lower side in Fig. 1 ) in which the Y bar 3 moves in the opposite direction to the sub-scanning direction F.
  • the Y bar 3 transports the carriage 4 in the sub-scanning direction F with respect to the flat bed 2.
  • the Y bar 3 is placed on, for example, guide rails (not shown) extending in the sub-scanning direction F so as to be movable, and can be reciprocated in the sub-scanning direction F along the guide rails by being driven by a driving mechanism (not shown) such as a driving motor.
  • a driving mechanism such as a driving motor.
  • the rear side in the sub-scanning direction F is an upstream side in the sub-scanning direction F of the Y bar 3
  • the front side in the sub-scanning direction F is a downstream side in the sub-scanning direction F of the Y bar 3.
  • the front side in the sub-scanning direction F is an upstream side in the sub-scanning direction F of the Y bar 3
  • the rear side in the sub-scanning direction F is a downstream side in the sub-scanning direction F of the Y bar 3.
  • the carriage 4 transports the ink jet heads 5, the ultraviolet-ray irradiation devices 6, and the like in the main scanning direction S with respect to the flat bed 2.
  • the carriage 4 is held in, for example, a guide rail 9 extending in the main scanning direction S so as to be movable, and can be reciprocated in the main scanning direction S along the guide rail 9 by being driven by a driving mechanism (not shown) such as a driving motor.
  • a driving mechanism such as a driving motor.
  • the rear side in the main scanning direction S is an upstream side in the main scanning direction S of the carriage 4
  • the front side in the main scanning direction S is a downstream side in the main scanning direction S of the carriage 4.
  • the front side in the main scanning direction S is an upstream side in the main scanning direction S of the carriage 4
  • the rear side in the main scanning direction S is a downstream side in the main scanning direction S of the carriage 4.
  • the ink jet heads 5a to 5f are arranged in parallel in the main scanning direction S, and the ink jet head 5a, the ink jet head 5b, the ink jet head 5c, the ink jet head 5d, the ink jet head 5e, and the ink jet head 5f are arranged in this order from the front side in the main scanning direction S.
  • each of the ink jet heads 5 is mounted on the carriage 4, and thus can eject the ultraviolet-ray curable ink while moving in the main scanning direction S according to scanning of the carriage 4.
  • a plurality of ink nozzles 8 which eject the ultraviolet-ray curable ink as ink droplets are formed in each of the ink jet heads 5.
  • the plurality of ink nozzles 8 are arranged so as to extend in the sub-scanning direction F and form a nozzle string.
  • Colored ultraviolet-ray curable inks (hereinafter, also referred to as “color inks”) are ejected from the respective ink nozzles 8 of the ink jet heads 5a to 5d disposed on the front side in the main scanning direction S, and light-transmissive ultraviolet-ray curable inks (hereinafter, also referred to as “clear inks”) are ejected from the respective ink nozzles 8 of the ink jet heads 5e and 5f disposed on the rear side in the main scanning direction S.
  • color inks of black (K) are ejected from the respective ink nozzles 8 of the ink jet head 5a
  • color inks of cyan (C) are ejected from the respective ink nozzles 8 of the ink jet head 5b
  • color inks of magenta (M) are ejected from the respective ink nozzles 8 of the ink jet head 5c
  • color inks of yellow (Y) are ejected from the respective ink nozzles 8 of the ink jet head 5d.
  • clear inks (CL) are ejected from the respective ink nozzles 8 of the ink jet heads 5e and 5f.
  • the color inks are ejected only from the ink nozzles 8 of a first ejection area A1 disposed in the first half in the sub-scanning direction F, and the color inks are not ejected from the ink nozzles 8 disposed in the second half in the sub-scanning direction F.
  • the clear inks are ejected only from the ink nozzles 8 of a second ejection area A2 disposed in the second half in the sub-scanning direction F, and the clear inks are not ejected from the ink nozzles 8 disposed in the first half in the sub-scanning direction F.
  • the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6a is disposed on the front side in the main scanning direction S of the ink jet heads 5, and the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6b is disposed on the rear side in the main scanning direction S of the ink jet heads 5.
  • the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6a and the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6b have the same configuration, and irradiate the ultraviolet-ray curable inks recorded on the medium with ultraviolet rays so as to cure the ultraviolet-ray curable inks. Therefore, hereinafter, the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6a and the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6b will be collectively described as the ultraviolet-ray irradiation devices 6.
  • the ultraviolet-ray irradiation devices 6 are mounted on the carriage 4, and thus can emit ultraviolet rays while moving in the main scanning direction S according to scanning of the carriage 4.
  • Fig. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device
  • Fig. 4 is a bottom perspective view of the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device from which partition plates are removed.
  • Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line V-V shown in Fig. 2
  • Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI shown in Fig. 2 .
  • the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6 includes a main body 61, a recess 62 formed on the bottom which is a side opposite to the medium M of the main body 61 facing the flat bed 2, a plurality of UVLEDs 63 (ultraviolet-ray light emitting diodes) disposed in the recess 62, and a plurality of partition plates 64 disposed in the recess 62.
  • a plurality of UVLEDs 63 ultraviolet-ray light emitting diodes
  • the recess 62 reflects ultraviolet rays, which are emitted from the UVLEDs 63 and are spread in the main scanning direction S, vertically downward toward the flat bed 2, and has a mirror surface.
  • the recess 62 is formed in an elongated mortar shape in the sub-scanning direction F.
  • the recess 62 is a truncated square pyramid of which the bottom is small and the opening side is large, and is formed in an umbrella shape in which each inner surface is spread at an angle of about 60° with respect to the vertical lower side.
  • the recess 62 is a trapezoid of which the width of the cross-section in the main scanning direction S is small (refer to Fig. 5 ) and the width of the cross-section in the sub-scanning direction F is large (refer to Fig. 6 ).
  • an ultraviolet-ray transmissive and transparent cover 65 (for example, quartz glass) is fitted into a rectangular opening formed in the lower end surface of the recess 62 from the vertical lower side.
  • an ultraviolet-ray transmissive and transparent cover 65 for example, quartz glass
  • the opening of the recess 62 can be closed and ultraviolet rays emitted from the UVLEDs 63 can be transmitted.
  • the respective UVLEDs 63 are disposed at the most depressed positions of the central bottom of the recess 62, and are arranged in a line at the same interval in the sub-scanning direction F.
  • the plurality of UVLEDs 63 are respectively disposed at positions corresponding to the first ejection area A1 of the ink jet heads 5a to 5d and the second ejection area A2 of the ink jet heads 5e and 5f in the main scanning direction S.
  • the ink jet recording apparatus 1 in a case where multi-pass printing is performed by the ink jet recording apparatus 1, it is possible to record a plurality of bands in a plurality of passes by using ink droplets ejected from the first ejection area A1 and the second ejection area A2, respectively. For this reason, the first ejection area A1 and the second ejection area A2 are pass areas.
  • UVLEDs 63 are mounted in the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6, and four UVLEDs 63 are disposed at positions corresponding to each of the first ejection area A1 and the second ejection area A2 in the main scanning direction S.
  • UVLEDs 63 at the positions corresponding to the first ejection area A1 is in a disposition relationship in which ink droplets ejected from the first ejection area A1 and landed on the medium M can be cured by the four UVLEDs 63, that is, the UVLEDs 63a, 63b, 63c and 63d, and indicates that the UVLEDs 63a, 63b, 63c and 63d are disposed at positions where a band recorded by the first ejection area A1 can be cured through irradiation with ultraviolet rays when the band is recorded by ejecting ink droplets from the first ejection area A1 while moving the carriage 4 in the main scanning direction S.
  • UVLEDs 63 At the positions corresponding to the second ejection area A2 is in a disposition relationship in which ink droplets ejected from the second ejection area A2 and landed on the medium M can be cured by the four UVLEDs 63, that is, the UVLEDs 63e, 63f, 63g and 63h, and indicates that the UVLEDs 63e, 63f, 63g and 63h are disposed at positions where a band recorded by the second ejection area A2 can be cured through irradiation with ultraviolet rays when the band is recorded by ejecting ink droplets from the second ejection area A2 while moving the carriage 4 in the main scanning direction S.
  • the UVLEDs 63 disposed at the positions corresponding to the first ejection area A1 are arranged in an order of the UVLEDs 63a, the UVLED 63b, the UVLED 63c, and the UVLED 63d from the front side in the sub-scanning direction F, and the UVLEDs 63 disposed at the positions corresponding to the second ejection area A2 are arranged in an order of the UVLEDs 63e, the UVLED 63f, the UVLED 63g, and the UVLED 63h from the front side in the sub-scanning direction F.
  • one UVLED 63 is correlated with one band in a case where multi-pass printing of eight passes is performed, two UVLEDs 63 are correlated with one band in a case where multi-pass printing of four passes is performed, and four UVLEDs 63 are correlated with one band in a case where multi-pass printing of two passes is performed.
  • illuminance in a direction tilted by 60° from the vertical direction is about 50% of vertical illuminance.
  • Each of the partition plates 64 controls irradiation of ultraviolet rays in the sub-scanning direction F and is formed in a plate shape which stands vertically and extends in the main scanning direction S.
  • the partition plate 64 is formed in a trapezoidal shape with the approximately same dimension as the cross-section of the recess 62 in the main scanning direction S, and has a shape which reaches the vicinity of the opening from the bottom of the recess 62 in a state of adhering to the inner surface of the recess 62.
  • the partition plates 64 are preferably maximally extended to the opening side of the recess 62 in a range without impeding fitting the cover 65 into the opening of the recess 62, and, for example, there may be a dimension in which the partition plates 64 exactly comes into contact with the cover 65 when the cover 65 is fitted into the opening of the recess 62.
  • the partition plates 64 are disposed between the adjacent UVLEDs 63 and are installed so as to be individually inserted into and removed from the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6. For this reason, a maximum of seven partition plates 64 are installed in the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6 in which eight UVLEDs 63 are mounted (refer to Fig. 3 ), and all the partition plates 64 can be removed (refer to Fig. 4 ).
  • Fig. 7 is a diagram illustrating irradiation directions of ultraviolet rays when the partition plates are installed in all the UVLEDs. As shown in Fig. 7 , when the partition plates 64 are installed between all the UVLEDs 63, ultraviolet rays emitted from the respective UVLEDs 63 travel only vertically downward, and thus are hindered from penetrating into the vertical lower sides of the adjacent UVLEDs 63 on the front and rear sides in the sub-scanning direction F.
  • the medium M is irradiated with ultraviolet rays only by the UVLEDs 63 disposed vertically upward and is not irradiated with the ultraviolet rays by the UVLEDs 63 disposed so as to be adjacent on the front and rear sides in the sub-scanning direction F.
  • the control unit 7 controls the Y bar 3, the carriage 4, the ink jet heads 5, the ultraviolet-ray irradiation devices 6, and the like, so as to perform printing control for recording an image or the like on the medium M placed on the flat bed 2.
  • the control unit 7 performs recording of image quality of matte, gloss, and thickness heaping through this control.
  • a mode in which a matte image is formed is referred to as a matte quality mode
  • a mode in which a gloss image is formed is referred to as a gloss quality mode
  • a single layer gloss quality mode in which only glass image quality is recorded without forming an image
  • a mode in which a thickness heaping image is formed is referred to as a thickness heaping quality mode.
  • the control unit 7 is configured, for example, by using a computer including a CPU, ROM, and RAM as a main body, and each control described above of the control unit 7 is realized by reading predetermined computer software on the CPU or the RAM and operating the software under the control of the CPU.
  • the dust removal means is a mechanism which removes dust from a recording medium (here, the medium M) or prevents dust from entering the medium M so as to cause a dust removal operation on the medium M, thereby preventing dust from being attached to ink droplets.
  • a recording medium here, the medium M
  • the dust removal means is a mechanism which removes dust from a recording medium (here, the medium M) or prevents dust from entering the medium M so as to cause a dust removal operation on the medium M, thereby preventing dust from being attached to ink droplets.
  • Fig. 24 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a case where the ink jet recording apparatus 1 includes air sucking means 12 for sucking air on the medium M side as a first example of the dust removal means.
  • the air sucking means 12 is provided in the carriage 4.
  • the air sucking means 12 is preferably disposed at a front end or a rear end of the carriage 4 in the scanning direction (here, the main scanning direction S).
  • the air sucking means 12 (12a) corresponds to an example of a case of being provided at the front end
  • the air sucking means 12 (12b) corresponds to an example of a case of being provided at the rear end, but, for convenience of description, both of the two are shown in a single figure (in Fig. 24 ).
  • the air sucking means 12 well-known sucking mechanisms and decompression mechanisms such as fans and pumps may be employed.
  • the air sucking means 12 is operated so as to suck air on the medium M, thereby sucking dust present in air, before, when, and after ink droplets of clear inks are ejected from the carriage 4. Therefore, it is possible to suppress dust from being attached before ink droplets of clear inks ejected on the medium M are cured by the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6.
  • Figs. 25A and 25B are schematic diagrams illustrating an example of a case where the ink jet recording apparatus 1 includes blowing means 14 for blowing a gas (for example, air) toward the medium M side as a second example of the dust removal means.
  • the blowing means 14 (14a and 14b) is provided in the carriage 4.
  • the blowing means 14 is preferably disposed at a front end or a rear end of the carriage 4 in the scanning direction (here, the main scanning direction S).
  • the blowing means 14 (14a) corresponds to an example of a case of being provided at the front end
  • the blowing means 14 (14b) corresponds to an example of a case of being provided at the rear end, but, for convenience of description, both of the two are shown in a single figure (in Fig. 25A ).
  • blowing means 14 well-known blowing mechanisms such as fans may be employed.
  • the blowing means 14 is operated so as to blow air on the medium M, thereby removing dust present in air, before, when, and after ink droplets of clear inks are ejected from the carriage 4. Therefore, it is possible to suppress dust from being attached before ink droplets of clear inks ejected on the medium M are cured by the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6.
  • the blowing means 14 is preferably configured to blow a gas in a direction perpendicular to the scanning direction (here, the main scanning direction S) as shown in Figs. 25A and 25B . According thereto, since a gas is blown in a direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction S, and thus the blown gas does not directly contact with ink droplets which are ejected and are not landed, it is possible to suppress curved flying of the ink droplets.
  • the blowing means 14 (14c) may be disposed at the front end of the carriage 4 in the scanning direction (here, the sub-scanning direction F) as shown in Fig. 26 . According thereto, a gas is blown toward the front side in the sub-scanning direction F, and thereby it is possible to remove dust present in air on the medium M.
  • Fig. 27 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a case where the ink jet recording apparatus 1 includes blowing means 16 for blowing a gas (for example, air) toward the medium M side as a third example of the dust removal means. As shown in Fig. 27 , the blowing means 16 is provided in the Y bar 3.
  • a gas for example, air
  • the blowing means 16 may employ well-known blowing mechanisms such as fans in the same manner as the above-described blowing means 14. In relation to an operation thereof, the blowing means 16 is operated so as to blow air on the medium M, thereby removing dust present in air, before, when, and after ink droplets of clear inks are ejected from the carriage 4. Therefore, it is possible to suppress dust from being attached before ink droplets of clear inks ejected on the medium M are cured by the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6.
  • the blowing means 16 may be disposed in locations (for example, the flat bed 2 and the like) other than the Y bar 3 and the carriage 4 of the ink jet recording apparatus 1 (not shown).
  • Fig. 28 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a case where the ink jet recording apparatus 1 includes air sucking means 18 for sucking air on the medium M side as a fourth example of the dust removal means. As shown in Fig. 28 , the air sucking means 18 is provided in the Y bar 3.
  • the air sucking means 18 may employ well-known sucking mechanisms and decompression mechanisms such as fans and pumps in the same manner as the above-described air sucking means 12.
  • the air sucking means 18 is operated so as to suck air on the medium M, thereby sucking dust present in air, before, when, and after ink droplets of clear inks are ejected from the carriage 4. Therefore, it is possible to suppress dust from being attached before ink droplets of clear inks ejected on the medium M are cured by the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6.
  • the air sucking means 18 may be disposed in locations (for example, the flat bed 2 and the like) other than the Y bar 3 and the carriage 4 of the ink jet recording apparatus 1 (not shown).
  • the following effects are achieved. That is, even in a case where a predetermined time is required to elapse after ink droplets of clear inks are landed on the medium M until the clear inks are cured, it is possible to prevent deterioration in image quality of glossy printing due to attachment of dust to surfaces of ink droplets during the predetermined time. As a result, it is possible to realize recording with sufficient glossiness by maintaining image quality of glossy printing in high image quality.
  • a printing method using the ink jet recording apparatus 1 will be described.
  • Fig. 8 it is assumed that three partition plates 64 are installed in the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6 at the same interval, and multi-pass printing of four passes is performed in which an image is recorded using color inks in two passes and the image is coated using clear inks in two passes.
  • the first ejection area A1 and the second ejection area A2 in Fig. 2 respectively perform recording corresponding to two bands. Therefore, as shown in Fig.
  • the first half of the first ejection area A1 in the sub-scanning direction F is a "first ejection area A1-a”
  • the second half of the first ejection area A1 in the sub-scanning direction F is a "first ejection area A1-b”
  • the first half of the second ejection area A2 in the sub-scanning direction F is a "second ejection area A2-a”
  • the second half of the second ejection area A2 in the sub-scanning direction F is a "second ejection area A2-b”.
  • the recess 62 is divided into four areas including an area B1 where the UVLED 63a and the UVLED 63b are disposed, an area B2 where the UVLED 63c and the UVLED 63d are disposed, an area B3 where the UVLED 63e and the UVLED 63f are disposed, and an area B4 where the UVLED 63g and the UVLED 63h are disposed, by the respective partition plates 64. For this reason, as shown in Fig.
  • the area B1 corresponds to one band of the first ejection area A1-a
  • the area B2 corresponds to one band of the first ejection area A1-b
  • the area B3 corresponds to one band of the second ejection area A2-a
  • the area B4 corresponds to one band of the second ejection area A2-b.
  • the correspondence of the area B1 to one band of the first ejection area A1-a is in a disposition relationship in which ink droplets ejected from the first ejection area A1-a and landed on the medium M can be cured by two UVLEDs, that is, the UVLEDs 63a and 63b;
  • the correspondence of the area B2 to one band of the first ejection area A1-b is in a disposition relationship in which ink droplets ejected from the first ejection area A1-b and landed on the medium M can be cured by two UVLEDs, that is, the UVLEDs 63c and 63d;
  • the correspondence of the area B3 to one band of the second ejection area A2-a is in a disposition relationship in which ink droplets ejected from the second ejection area A2-a and landed on the medium M can be cured by two UVLEDs, that is, the UVLEDs 63e and 63f; and the correspondence of the area B4 to one band of
  • the UVLEDs 63a and 63b of the area B1 are disposed at positions where a band recorded by the first ejection area A1-a can be cured through irradiation with ultraviolet rays
  • the UVLEDs 63c and 63d of the area B2 are disposed at positions where a band recorded by the first ejection area A1-b can be cured through irradiation with ultraviolet rays
  • the UVLEDs 63e and 63f of the area B3 are disposed at positions where a band recorded by the second ejection area A2-a can be cured through irradiation with ultraviolet rays
  • the UVLEDs 63g and 63h of the area B4 are disposed at positions where a band recorded by the second ejection area A2-b can be cured through irradiation with ultraviolet ray
  • a printing operation of the ink jet recording apparatus 1 described below is performed under the control of the control unit 7 as shown in Fig. 2 .
  • a processor (not shown) formed by a CPU and the like collectively controls the Y bar 3, the carriage 4, the ink jet heads 5, the ultraviolet-ray irradiation devices 6, and the like, according to a program recorded in a storage device such as a ROM, so as to perform the following processes.
  • Fig. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a printing process method in the matte quality mode.
  • Fig. 11 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an operation aspect example of the carriage in the matte quality mode.
  • the thick arrow indicates a movement direction of the Y bar 3 in the sub-scanning direction F. That is, Fig. 11 shows that the Y bar 3 moves in the sub-scanning direction F.
  • the medium M is placed on the flat bed 2, and the Y bar 3 is set at a rear end part (printing start position) in the sub-scanning direction F in a recording area of the medium M.
  • ink droplets of color inks are ejected from the first ejection area A1-a, and the UVLEDs 63a and 63b disposed in the area B1 of the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6b are turned on in the first scanning during forward movement of the carriage 4 in the main scanning direction S (step S1).
  • UVLEDs 63 which irradiate the band recorded in step S1 with ultraviolet rays are turned on (step S2).
  • the UVLEDs 63 of both the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6a and the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6b may be turned on, or the UVLEDs 63 of either one may be turned on. Then, the first pass recording is performed using the color inks ejected from the first ejection area A1-a, and the color inks are irradiated with ultraviolet rays immediately after being landed on the medium M and are granularly cured.
  • step S3 When the reciprocation of the carriage 4 in the main scanning direction S finishes, it is determined whether or not the Y bar 3 has been transported a predetermined number of times in the sub-scanning direction F (step S3) .
  • printing data is divided into a plurality of bands and is recorded while the Y bar 3 is sequentially transported in the sub-scanning direction F.
  • recording of two passes is performed using the color inks through initial two scannings and recording of two passes is performed using the clear inks through subsequent two scannings in each band, recording in each band is completed through four scannings.
  • the determination that the Y bar 3 has been transported a predetermined number of times in the sub-scanning direction F in step S3 is performed after the fourth scanning, and, in the matte quality mode, a predetermined number of times for which the Y bar 3 is transported in the sub-scanning direction F is the division number of printing data + 3.
  • step S3 NO
  • step S4 the Y bar 3 is transported by one band (pass width) in the sub-scanning direction F (step S4), and the flow returns to step S1.
  • the carriage 4 mounted on the Y bar 3 is also moved by one band in the sub-scanning direction F, the ink jet heads 5 and the ultraviolet-ray irradiation devices 6 can be correlated with the next pass line, and a recording position for the medium proceeds to the front side in the sub-scanning direction F.
  • ink droplets of color inks are ejected from the first ejection area A1-a, and the UVLEDs 63a and 63b disposed in the area B1 of the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6b are turned on, and ink droplets of color inks are ejected from the first ejection area A1-b, and the UVLEDs 63c and 63d disposed in the area B2 of the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6b are turned on (step S1).
  • UVLEDs 63 which irradiate the band recorded in step S1 with ultraviolet rays are turned on (step S2). Further, during the return movement of the carriage 4 in the opposite direction to the main scanning direction S, the UVLEDs 63 of both the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6a and the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6b may be turned on, or the UVLEDs 63 of either one may be turned on.
  • the second pass recording is performed using the color inks ejected from the first ejection area A1-b in the band in which the first pass recording has been performed using the color inks ejected from the first ejection area A1-a in the first scanning, and the color inks are irradiated with ultraviolet rays immediately after being landed on the medium M and are granularly cured.
  • the first pass recording is performed using the color inks ejected from the first ejection area A1-a.
  • step S4 NO
  • the Y bar 3 is transported by one band (pass width) in the sub-scanning direction F (step S4), and the flow returns to step S1.
  • the carriage 4 mounted on the Y bar 3 is also moved by one band in the sub-scanning direction F
  • the ink jet heads 5 and the ultraviolet-ray irradiation devices 6 can be correlated with the next pass line, and a recording position for the medium proceeds to the front side in the sub-scanning direction F.
  • ink droplets of color inks are ejected from the first ejection areas A1-a and A1-b, and the UVLEDs 63a to 63d disposed in the areas B1 and B2 of the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6b are turned on; and ink droplets of clear inks are ejected from the second ejection area A2-a, and the UVLEDs 63e and 63f disposed in the area B3 of the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6b are turned on (step S1).
  • UVLEDs 63 which irradiate the band recorded in step S1 with ultraviolet rays are turned on (step S2). Further, during the return movement of the carriage 4 in the opposite direction to the main scanning direction S, the UVLEDs 63 of both the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6a and the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6b may be turned on, or the UVLEDs 63 of either one may be turned on.
  • the third pass recording is performed using the clear inks ejected from the second ejection area A2-a in the band in which the second pass recording has been performed using the color inks ejected from the first ejection area A1-b in the second scanning, and the clear inks are irradiated with ultraviolet rays immediately after being landed on the medium M and are granularly cured.
  • coating of the first layer is performed on the image using the clear inks.
  • the first pass recording is performed using the color inks ejected from the first ejection area A1-a
  • the second pass recording is performed using the color inks ejected from the first ejection area A1-b.
  • step S4 NO
  • the Y bar 3 is transported by one band (pass width) in the sub-scanning direction F (step S4), and the flow returns to step S1.
  • the carriage 4 mounted on the Y bar 3 is also moved by one band (pass width) in the sub-scanning direction F
  • the ink jet heads 5 and the ultraviolet-ray irradiation devices 6 can be correlated with the next pass line, and a recording position for the medium proceeds to the front side in the sub-scanning direction F.
  • ink droplets of color inks are ejected from the first ejection areas A1-a and A1-b, and the UVLEDs 63a to 63d disposed in the areas B1 and B2 of the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6b are turned on; ink droplets of clear inks are ejected from the second ejection area A2-a, and the UVLEDs 63e and 63f disposed in the area B3 of the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6b are turned on; and ink droplets of clear inks are ejected from the second ejection area A2-b, and the UVLEDs 63g and 63h disposed in the area B4 of the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6b are turned on (step S1).
  • UVLEDs 63 which irradiate the band recorded in step S1 with ultraviolet rays are turned on (step S2). Further, during the return movement of the carriage 4 in the opposite direction to the main scanning direction S, the UVLEDs 63 of both the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6a and the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6b may be turned on, or the UVLEDs 63 of either one may be turned on.
  • the fourth pass recording is performed using the clear inks ejected from the second ejection area A2-b in the band in which the third pass recording has been performed using the clear inks ejected from the second ejection area A2-a in the previous scanning, and the clear inks are irradiated with ultraviolet rays immediately after being landed on the medium M and are granularly cured.
  • coating of the second layer is performed on the image using the clear inks, and the overall recording (ejection of the ultraviolet-ray curable inks and curing of the ultraviolet-ray curable inks through irradiation with ultraviolet rays) finishes in the corresponding band.
  • the first pass recording is performed using the color inks ejected from the first ejection area A1-a; in the same manner as in the second scanning, the second pass recording is performed using the color inks ejected from the first ejection area A1-b; and, in the same manner as in the third scanning, the third pass recording is performed using the clear inks ejected from the second ejection area A2-a.
  • step S3 When the reciprocation of the carriage 4 in the main scanning direction S finishes, since the current scanning is the fourth scanning, it is then determined whether or not the Y bar 3 is transported a predetermined number of times in the sub-scanning direction F (step S3).
  • step S3 NO
  • step S4 the Y bar 3 is transported by one band (pass width) in the sub-scanning direction F (step S4), and the flow returns to step S1.
  • the carriage 4 is moved by one band in the sub-scanning direction F
  • the ink jet heads 5 and the ultraviolet-ray irradiation devices 6 can be correlated with the next pass line, and a recording position for the medium proceeds to the front side in the sub-scanning direction F.
  • steps S1 to S3 are repeatedly performed until it is determined that the Y bar 3 has been transported a predetermined number of times in the sub-scanning direction F in step S3.
  • step S3 YES
  • the image can be matted while securing visibility of the image.
  • Fig. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a printing process method in the gloss quality mode.
  • Figs. 13A and 13B are conceptual diagrams illustrating an operation aspect example of the carriage in the gloss quality mode.
  • the thick arrow indicates a movement direction of the Y bar 3 in the sub-scanning direction F.
  • Fig. 13A shows that the Y bar 3 moves in the sub-scanning direction F
  • Fig. 13B shows that the Y bar 3 moves in the opposite direction to the sub-scanning direction F.
  • the Y bar 3 in the gloss quality mode, first, in steps S11 to S14, the Y bar 3 is sequentially transported in the sub-scanning direction F so as to record an image using color inks, and, then, in steps S15 to S18, the Y bar 3 is sequentially transported in the opposite direction to the sub-scanning direction F so as to coat the image using clear inks.
  • the gloss quality mode an image is recorded using color inks in a forward path of the Y bar 3 transported in the sub-scanning direction F, and the image is coated using clear inks in a return path of the Y bar 3 transported in the opposite direction to the sub-scanning direction F.
  • steps S11 to S14 are referred to as image recording steps ⁇ 1, and an operation aspect example of the carriage in the image recording steps ⁇ 1 is shown in Fig. 13A .
  • steps S15 to S18 are referred to as coating steps ⁇ 2, and an operation aspect example of the carriage in the coating steps ⁇ 2 is shown in Fig. 13B .
  • the medium M is placed on the flat bed 2, and the Y bar 3 is set at a rear end part (printing start position) in the sub-scanning direction F in a recording area of the medium M, and the image recording steps ⁇ 1 are performed while sequentially transporting the Y bar 3 in the sub-scanning direction F.
  • step S11 ink droplets of color inks are ejected from the first ejection area A1-a, and the UVLEDs 63a and 63b disposed in the area B1 of the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6b are turned on during forward movement of the carriage 4 in the main scanning direction S (step S11).
  • step S12 UVLEDs 63 which irradiate the band recorded in step S11 with ultraviolet rays are turned on (step S12).
  • the UVLEDs 63 of both the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6a and the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6b may be turned on, or the UVLEDs 63 of either one may be turned on. Then, the first pass recording is performed using the color inks ejected from the first ejection area A1-a, and the color inks are irradiated with ultraviolet rays immediately after being landed on the medium M and are granularly cured.
  • step S13 When the reciprocation of the carriage 4 in the main scanning direction S finishes, it is determined whether or not the Y bar 3 has been transported a predetermined number of times in the sub-scanning direction F (step S13).
  • printing data is divided into a plurality of bands and is recorded while the Y bar 3 is sequentially transported in the sub-scanning direction F.
  • recording of two passes using the color inks and irradiation of ultraviolet rays are performed through initial two scannings and irradiation of ultraviolet rays is also performed through subsequent two scannings in each band, recording in each band is completed through four scannings (four passes).
  • the determination that the Y bar 3 has been transported a predetermined number of times in the sub-scanning direction F in step S13 is performed after the fourth scanning, and a predetermined number of times for which the Y bar 3 is transported in the sub-scanning direction F in the image recording steps ⁇ 1 is the division number of printing data + 3.
  • step S13 NO
  • step S14 the Y bar 3 is transported by one band (pass width) in the sub-scanning direction F (step S14), and the flow returns to step S11.
  • step S11 the carriage 4 mounted on the Y bar 3 is also moved by one band in the sub-scanning direction F
  • the ink jet heads 5 and the ultraviolet-ray irradiation devices 6 can be correlated with the next pass line, and a recording position for the medium proceeds to the front side in the sub-scanning direction F.
  • ink droplets of color inks are ejected from the first ejection area A1-a, and the UVLEDs 63a and 63b disposed in the area B1 of the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6b are turned on, and ink droplets of color inks are ejected from the first ejection area A1-b, and the UVLEDs 63c and 63d disposed in the area B2 of the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6b are turned on (step S11).
  • UVLEDs 63 which irradiate the band recorded in step S11 with ultraviolet rays are turned on (step S12). Further, during the return movement of the carriage 4 in the opposite direction to the main scanning direction S, the UVLEDs 63 of both the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6a and the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6b may be turned on, or the UVLEDs 63 of either one may be turned on.
  • the second pass recording is performed using the color inks ejected from the first ejection area A1-b in the band in which the first pass recording has been performed using the color inks ejected from the first ejection area A1-a in the previous scanning, and the color inks are irradiated with ultraviolet rays immediately after being landed on the medium M and are granularly cured.
  • the overall recording ejection of the color inks and curing of the color inks through irradiation with ultraviolet rays
  • the first pass recording is performed using the color inks ejected from the first ejection area A1-a.
  • step S13 NO
  • step S14 the Y bar 3 is transported by one band (pass width) in the sub-scanning direction F (step S14), and the flow returns to step S11.
  • the carriage 4 mounted on the Y bar 3 is also moved by one band in the sub-scanning direction F, the ink jet heads 5 and the ultraviolet-ray irradiation devices 6 can be correlated with the next pass line, and a recording position for the medium proceeds to the front side in the sub-scanning direction F.
  • ink droplets of color inks are ejected from the first ejection areas A1-a and A1-b, and the UVLEDs 63a to 63d disposed in the areas B1 and B2 of the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6b are turned on; and the UVLEDs 63e and 63f disposed in the area B3 are turned on (step S11).
  • UVLEDs 63 which irradiate the band recorded in step S11 with ultraviolet rays and the UVLEDs 63e and 63f disposed in the area B3 are turned on (step S12). Then, in the third pass, ultraviolet rays are applied from the UVLEDs 63e and 63f disposed in the area B3 to the band in which the second pass recording has been performed using the color inks ejected from the first ejection area A1-b in the previous scanning, and thus the color inks recorded in the corresponding band are further cured.
  • the first pass recording is performed using the color inks ejected from the first ejection area A1-a
  • the second pass recording is performed using the color inks ejected from the first ejection area A1-b.
  • step S13 NO
  • step S14 the Y bar 3 is transported by one band (pass width) in the sub-scanning direction F (step S14), and the flow returns to step S11.
  • the carriage 4 mounted on the Y bar 3 is also moved by one band in the sub-scanning direction F, the ink jet heads 5 and the ultraviolet-ray irradiation devices 6 can be correlated with the next pass line, and a recording position for the medium proceeds to the front side in the sub-scanning direction F.
  • ink droplets of color inks are ejected from the first ejection areas A1-a and A1-b, and the UVLEDs 63a to 63d disposed in the areas B1 and B2 of the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6b are turned on; the UVLEDs 63e and 63f disposed in the area B3 are turned on; and the UVLEDs 63g and 63h disposed in the area B4 are turned on (step S11).
  • UVLEDs 63 which irradiate the band recorded in step S11 with ultraviolet rays and the UVLEDs 63e to 63h disposed in the areas B3 and B4 are turned on (step S12). Then, in the fourth pass, ultraviolet rays are applied from the UVLEDs 63g and 63h disposed in the area B4 to the band in which has been irradiated with ultraviolet rays by the UVLEDs 63e and 63f disposed in the area B3 in the previous scanning, and thus the color inks recorded in the corresponding band are further cured.
  • the fourth scanning in the same manner as in the first scanning, the first pass recording is performed using the color inks ejected from the first ejection area A1-a; in the same manner as in the second scanning, the second pass recording is performed using the color inks ejected from the first ejection area A1-b; and, in the same manner as in the third scanning, ultraviolet rays are applied from the UVLEDs 63e and 63f disposed in the area B4 to the band in which the second pass recording has been performed.
  • step S13 When the reciprocation of the carriage 4 in the main scanning direction S finishes, since the current scanning is the fourth scanning of the image recording steps ⁇ 1, it is then determined whether or not the Y bar 3 has been transported a predetermined number of times in the sub-scanning direction F (step S13).
  • step S13 NO
  • step S14 the Y bar 3 is transported by one band (pass width) in the sub-scanning direction F (step S14), and the flow returns to step S11.
  • the carriage 4 is moved by one band in the sub-scanning direction F
  • the ink jet heads 5 and the ultraviolet-ray irradiation devices 6 can be correlated with the next pass line, and a recording position for the medium proceeds to the front side in the sub-scanning direction F.
  • steps S11 to S13 are repeatedly performed until it is determined that the Y bar 3 has been transported a predetermined number of times in the sub-scanning direction F in step S13.
  • UVLEDs 63 which irradiate the band recorded in step S11 with ultraviolet rays and the UVLEDs 63e to 63h disposed in the areas B3 and B4 are turned on (step S12). Then, the second pass recording is performed using the color inks ejected from the first ejection area A1-a in the final band in which the first pass recording has been performed using the color inks ejected from the first ejection area A1-a in the previous scanning.
  • ultraviolet rays are applied from the UVLEDs 63e and 63f disposed in the area B3 to the band in which the second pass recording has been performed using the color inks ejected from the first ejection area A1-b in the previous scanning, and ultraviolet rays are applied from the UVLEDs 63g and 63h disposed in the area B4 to the band which has been irradiated with ultraviolet rays by the UVLEDs 63e and 63f disposed in the area B3.
  • step S11 In addition, during the return movement of the carriage 4 in the opposite direction to the main scanning direction S, the UVLEDs 63e to 63h disposed in the areas B3 and B4 are turned on (step S12).
  • ultraviolet rays are applied from the UVLEDs 63e and 63f disposed in the area B3 to the band in which the second pass recording has been performed using the color inks ejected from the first ejection area A1-b in the previous scanning.
  • ultraviolet rays are applied from the UVLEDs 63g and 63h disposed in the area B4 to the band which has been irradiated with ultraviolet rays by the UVLEDs 63e and 63f disposed in the area B3 in the previous scanning.
  • the UVLEDs 63e and 63f disposed in the area B3 are turned off, and only the UVLEDs 63g and 63h disposed in the area B4 are turned on (step S11).
  • the UVLEDs 63g and 63h disposed in the area B4 are turned on (step S12).
  • ultraviolet rays are applied from the UVLEDs 63g and 63h disposed in the area B4 to the final band which has been irradiated with ultraviolet rays by the UVLEDs 63e and 63f disposed in the area B3 in the previous scanning.
  • the image recording steps ⁇ 1 finish in a state in which the second ejection area A2-b is disposed in the pass line of the final band.
  • step S13 YES
  • the coating steps ⁇ 2 are then performed while sequentially transporting the Y bar 3 in the opposite direction to the sub-scanning direction F.
  • step S15 the UVLEDs 63g and 63h disposed in the band in which the clear inks are recorded in step S15 are turned off.
  • the second ejection area A2-b is disposed in the pass line of the final band in the image recording steps ⁇ 1.
  • the fifth pass recording is performed using clear inks ejected from the second ejection area A2-b in the band which is the final band in the image recording steps ⁇ 1 and is disposed on the frontmost side in the sub-scanning direction F.
  • the UVLEDs 63g and 63h are turned off which are disposed in the area B4 and irradiate the band in which clear inks ejected from the second ejection area A2-b are recorded with ultraviolet rays, the clear inks in the fifth pass which have been landed on the medium M are not cured but gradually wettedly spread so as to decrease the thickness, and therefore the uneven surfaces thereof are smoothed out.
  • the UVLEDs 63a to 63d disposed in the areas B1 and B2 may be turned on or off.
  • step S17 When the reciprocation of the carriage 4 in the main scanning direction S finishes, it is determined whether or not the Y bar 3 has been transported a predetermined number of times in the opposite direction to the sub-scanning direction F (step S17).
  • printing data is divided into a plurality of bands and is recorded while the Y bar 3 is sequentially transported in the opposite direction to the sub-scanning direction F.
  • recording of two passes is performed using the clear inks through initial two scannings and the clear inks recorded in each band are irradiated with ultraviolet rays through subsequent two scannings in each band, recording in each band is completed through four scannings (four passes).
  • the determination that the Y bar 3 has been transported a predetermined number of times in the opposite direction to the sub-scanning direction F in step S17 is performed after the fourth scanning, and a predetermined number of times for which the Y bar 3 is transported in the opposite direction to the sub-scanning direction F in the coating steps ⁇ 2 is the division number of printing data + 3.
  • step S17 NO
  • step S18 the Y bar 3 is transported by one band (pass width) in the opposite direction to the sub-scanning direction F (step S18), and the flow returns to step S15.
  • the carriage 4 mounted on the Y bar 3 is also moved by one band in the opposite direction to the sub-scanning direction F, the ink jet heads 5 and the ultraviolet-ray irradiation devices 6 can be correlated with the next pass line, and a recording position for the medium proceeds in the opposite direction to the sub-scanning direction F.
  • ink droplets of clear inks are ejected from the second ejection area A2-b, and the UVLEDs 63g and 63h disposed in the area B4 of the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6a and the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6b are turned off; and ink droplets of clear inks are ejected from the second ejection area A2-a, and the UVLEDs 63e and 63f disposed in the area B3 of the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6a and the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6b are turned off (step S15).
  • step S15 the UVLEDs 63e to 63h disposed in the band in which the clear inks are recorded in step S15 are turned off (step S16). Then, the sixth pass recording is performed using the clear inks ejected from the second ejection area A2-a in the band in which the fifth pass recording has been performed using clear inks ejected from the second ejection area A2-b in the first scanning.
  • the UVLEDs 63e and 63f are turned off which are disposed in the area B3 and irradiate the band in which clear inks ejected from the second ejection area A2-a are recorded with ultraviolet rays, the clear inks in the sixth pass which have been landed on the medium M are not cured but gradually wettedly spread so as to decrease the thickness along with the clear inks in the fifth pass, and therefore the uneven surfaces thereof are smoothed out.
  • the fifth pass recording is performed using the clear inks ejected from the second ejection area A2-b.
  • the UVLEDs 63a to 63d disposed in the areas B1 and B2 may be turned on or off.
  • step S17 NO
  • step S18 the Y bar 3 is transported by one band (pass width) in the opposite direction to the sub-scanning direction F (step S18), and the flow returns to step S15.
  • the carriage 4 mounted on the Y bar 3 is also moved by one band in the opposite direction to the sub-scanning direction F, the ink jet heads 5 and the ultraviolet-ray irradiation devices 6 can be correlated with the next pass line, and a recording position for the medium proceeds in the opposite direction to the sub-scanning direction F.
  • step S15 the UVLEDs 63c and 63d disposed in the area B2 are turned on (step S16).
  • the UVLEDs 63c and 63d to be turned on may be those of both of the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6a and the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6b, or may be those of either one.
  • ultraviolet rays are applied from the UVLEDs 63c and 63d disposed in the area B2 to the band in which the sixth pass recording was performed using the clear inks ejected from the second ejection area A2-a in the second scanning one scanning ago, and thus the clear inks in the fifth and sixth passes start to be cured in a state of being sufficiently smoothed.
  • the fifth pass recording is performed using the clear inks ejected from the second ejection area A2-b
  • the sixth pass recording is performed using the clear inks ejected from the second ejection area A2-a.
  • step S17 NO
  • step S18 the Y bar 3 is transported by one band (pass width) in the opposite direction to the sub-scanning direction F (step S18), and the flow returns to step S15.
  • the carriage 4 mounted on the Y bar 3 is also moved by one band in the opposite direction to the sub-scanning direction F, the ink jet heads 5 and the ultraviolet-ray irradiation devices 6 can be correlated with the next pass line, and a recording position for the medium proceeds in the opposite direction to the sub-scanning direction F.
  • ink droplets of clear inks are ejected from the second ejection areas A2-a and A2-b, and the UVLEDs 63e to 63h disposed in the areas B3 and B4 of the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6a and the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6b are turned off; the UVLEDs 63c and 63d disposed in the area B2 are turned on; and the UVLEDs 63a and 63b disposed in the area B1 are turned on (step S15).
  • the UVLEDs 63a to 63d disposed in the areas B1 and B2 are turned on (step S16). Further, the UVLEDs 63a to 63d to be turned on may be those of both of the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6a and the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6b, or may be those of either one.
  • ultraviolet rays are applied from the UVLEDs 63a and 63b disposed in the area B1 to the band which was irradiated with ultraviolet rays by the UVLEDs 63c and 63d disposed in the area B2 in the third scanning one scanning ago, such that curing of the clear inks is sufficiently promoted.
  • the fifth pass recording is performed using the clear inks ejected from the second ejection area A2-b; in the same manner as in the second scanning, the sixth pass recording is performed using the clear inks ejected from the second ejection area A2-a; and, in the same manner as in the third scanning, ultraviolet rays are applied to the band in which the sixth pass recording was performed one scanning ago.
  • step S17 NO
  • the Y bar 3 is transported by one band (pass width) in the opposite direction to the sub-scanning direction F (step S18), and the flow returns to step S15.
  • the carriage 4 mounted is moved by one band in the opposite direction to the sub-scanning direction F
  • the ink jet heads 5 and the ultraviolet-ray irradiation devices 6 can be correlated with the next pass line, and a recording position for the medium proceeds in the opposite direction to the sub-scanning direction F.
  • steps S15 to S17 are repeatedly performed until it is determined that the Y bar 3 has been transported a predetermined number of times in the opposite direction to the sub-scanning direction F in step S17.
  • step S17 YES
  • an amount of light emitted from the UVLEDs 63 (the UVLEDs 63c and 63d) disposed in the area B2 is preferably smaller than an amount of light emitted from the UVLEDs (the UVLEDs 63a and 63b) disposed in the area B1.
  • This light amount control of ultraviolet rays can be realized by individually controlling turning-on of each UVLED 63. For example, as shown in Fig. 14A , the control may be realized by decreasing a current applied to the UVLEDs 63c and 63d so as to reduce a light amount itself of the UVLEDs 63c and 63d.
  • Fig. 14A the control may be realized by decreasing a current applied to the UVLEDs 63c and 63d so as to reduce a light amount itself of the UVLEDs 63c and 63d.
  • the control may be realized by turning on the UVLED 63c in the same manner as the UVLEDs 63a and 63b and by turning off the UVLED 63d.
  • the UVLEDs 63a and 63b may be turned on.
  • Figs. 15A to 15C are diagrams illustrating states of ink droplets landed on a medium.
  • ink droplets of color inks are cured immediately after being landed on the medium M, and, thus, as shown in Fig. 15A , the color inks Ink1 are granularly cured.
  • the coating steps ⁇ 2 since ink droplets of clear inks are not immediately cured even if the ink droplets are landed on the medium M, as shown in Figs.
  • the clear inks Ink2 are pervaded between the granularly cured color inks Ink1, are combined with the adjacent ink droplets, and wettedly spread so as to decrease the thickness, thereby smoothing out the uneven surface.
  • the underlying color inks have a planar shape, movement of the overlying clear inks are not activated, and thus speed at which the clear inks are smoothed is reduced; however, as above, since the underlying color inks are granularly cured, movement of the overlying clear inks are activated, and thus it is possible to increase speed at which the clear inks are smoothed.
  • the clear inks Ink2 are cured after being sufficiently smoothed, and thus it is possible to obtain an image with gloss image quality.
  • a dust removal step is preferably performed using the above-described dust removal means (the dust removal means and the dust removal operation have been described). According thereto, it is possible to prevent dust from being attached to surfaces of ink droplets of clear inks until the clear inks are irradiated with ultraviolet rays and are cured after the clear inks are ejected onto the medium M. In other words, since image quality of glossy printing is prevented from deteriorating, it is possible to realize high gloss image quality with sufficient glossiness.
  • Fig. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a printing process method in the single layer gloss quality mode.
  • Fig. 17 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an operation aspect example of the carriage in the single layer gloss quality mode.
  • the thick arrow indicates a movement direction of the Y bar 3 in the sub-scanning direction F.
  • Fig. 17 shows that the Y bar 3 moves in the opposite direction to the sub-scanning direction F.
  • the Y bar 3 is transported in the opposite direction to the sub-scanning direction F so as to perform only gloss quality recording, first, the medium M on which an image is formed is placed on the flat bed 2, and the Y bar 3 is set at a front end part (printing start position) in the sub-scanning direction F in a recording area of the medium M.
  • ink droplets of clear inks are ejected from the second ejection area A2-b, and the UVLEDs 63g and 63h disposed in the area B4 of the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6a and the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6b are turned off in the first scanning of the single layer gloss quality mode during forward movement of the carriage 4 in the main scanning direction S (step S21).
  • UVLEDs 63g and 63h disposed in the band in which the clear inks are recorded in step S21 are turned off (step S22).
  • the first pass recording is performed using the clear inks ejected from the second ejection area A2-b in the band disposed on the frontmost side in the sub-scanning direction F.
  • the UVLEDs 63g and 63h are turned off which are disposed in the area B4 and irradiate the band in which clear inks ejected from the second ejection area A2-b are recorded with ultraviolet rays, the clear inks in the first pass which have been landed on the medium M are not cured but gradually wettedly spread so as to decrease the thickness, and therefore the uneven surfaces thereof are smoothed out.
  • the UVLEDs 63a to 63d disposed in the areas B1 and B2 may be turned on or off.
  • step S23 When the reciprocation of the carriage 4 in the main scanning direction S finishes, it is determined whether or not the Y bar 3 has been transported a predetermined number of times in the opposite direction to the sub-scanning direction F (step S23).
  • printing data is divided into a plurality of bands and is recorded while the Y bar 3 is sequentially transported in the opposite direction to the sub-scanning direction F.
  • recording of two passes using the clear inks is performed through initial two scannings and the clear inks recorded in each band are irradiated with ultraviolet rays through subsequent two scannings in each band, recording in each band is completed through four scannings (four passes).
  • the determination that the Y bar 3 has been transported a predetermined number of times in the opposite direction to the sub-scanning direction F in step S23 is performed after the fourth scanning, and a predetermined number of times for which the Y bar 3 is transported in the opposite direction to the sub-scanning direction F in the single layer gloss quality mode is the division number of printing data + 3.
  • step S23 NO
  • step S24 the Y bar 3 is transported by one band (pass width) in the opposite direction to the sub-scanning direction F (step S24), and the flow returns to step S21.
  • step S24 since the carriage 4 mounted on the Y bar 3 is also moved by one band in the opposite direction to the sub-scanning direction F, the ink jet heads 5 and the ultraviolet-ray irradiation devices 6 can be correlated with the next pass line, and a recording position for the medium proceeds in the opposite direction to the sub-scanning direction F.
  • ink droplets of clear inks are ejected from the second ejection area A2-b, and the UVLEDs 63g and 63h disposed in the area B4 of the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6a and the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6b are turned off; and ink droplets of clear inks are ejected from the second ejection area A2-a, and the UVLEDs 63e and 63f disposed in the area B3 of the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6a and the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6b are turned off (stepS21).
  • step S21 the UVLEDs 63e to 63h disposed in the band in which the clear inks has been recorded in step S21 are turned off (step S22). Then, the second pass recording is performed using the clear inks ejected from the second ejection area A2-a in the band in which the first pass recording has been performed using clear inks ejected from the second ejection area A2-b in the first scanning.
  • the UVLEDs 63e and 63f are turned off which are disposed in the area B3 and irradiate the band in which clear inks ejected from the second ejection area A2-b are recorded with ultraviolet rays, the clear inks in the second pass which have been landed on the medium M are not cured but gradually wettedly spread so as to decrease the thickness along with the clear inks in the first pass, and therefore the uneven surfaces thereof are smoothed out.
  • the first pass recording is performed using the clear inks ejected from the second ejection area A2-b.
  • the UVLEDs 63 disposed in the areas B1 and B2 may be turned on or off.
  • step S23 NO
  • step S24 the Y bar 3 is transported by one band (pass width) in the opposite direction to the sub-scanning direction F (step S24), and the flow returns to step S21.
  • the carriage 4 mounted on the Y bar 3 is also moved by one band in the opposite direction to the sub-scanning direction F, the ink jet heads 5 and the ultraviolet-ray irradiation devices 6 can be correlated with the next pass line, and a recording position for the medium proceeds in the opposite direction to the sub-scanning direction F.
  • ink droplets of clear inks are ejected from the second ejection areas A2-a and A2-b, and the UVLEDs 63e to 63h disposed in the areas B3 and B4 of the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6a and the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6b are turned off; and the UVLEDs 63c and 63d disposed in the area B2 are turned on (step S21).
  • the UVLEDs 63c and 63d disposed in the area B2 are turned on (step S22).
  • the UVLEDs 63c and 63d to be turned on may be those of both of the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6a and the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6b, or may be those of either one.
  • ultraviolet rays are applied from the UVLEDs 63c and 63d disposed in the area B2 to the band in which the second pass recording was performed using the clear inks ejected from the second ejection area A2-a in the second scanning one scanning ago, and thus the clear inks in the first and second passes start to be cured in a state of being sufficiently smoothed.
  • the first pass recording is performed using the clear inks ejected from the second ejection area A2-b
  • the second pass recording is performed using the clear inks ejected from the second ejection area A2-a.
  • step S23 NO
  • step S24 the Y bar 3 is transported by one band (pass width) in the opposite direction to the sub-scanning direction F (step S24), and the flow returns to step S21.
  • the carriage 4 mounted on the Y bar 3 is also moved by one band in the opposite direction to the sub-scanning direction F, the ink jet heads 5 and the ultraviolet-ray irradiation devices 6 can be correlated with the next pass line, and a recording position for the medium proceeds in the opposite direction to the sub-scanning direction F.
  • ink droplets of clear inks are ejected from the second ejection areas A2-a and A2-b, and the UVLEDs 63e to 63h disposed in the areas B3 and B4 of the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6a and the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6b are turned off; the UVLEDs 63c and 63d disposed in the area B2 are turned on; and the UVLEDs 63a and 63b disposed in the area B1 are turned on (step S21).
  • the UVLEDs 63a to 63d disposed in the areas B1 and B2 are turned on (step S22). Further, the UVLEDs 63a to 63d to be turned on may be those of both of the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6a and the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6b, or may be those of either one.
  • ultraviolet rays are applied from the UVLEDs 63a and 63b disposed in the area B1 to the band which was irradiated with ultraviolet rays by the UVLEDs 63c and 63d disposed in the area B2 in the third scanning one scanning ago, such that curing of the clear inks is sufficiently promoted.
  • the first pass recording is performed using the clear inks ejected from the second ejection area A2-b; in the same manner as in the second scanning, the second pass recording is performed using the clear inks ejected from the second ejection area A2-a; and, in the same manner as in the third scanning, ultraviolet rays are applied to the band in which the second pass recording was performed one scanning ago.
  • step S23 NO
  • the Y bar 3 is transported by one band (pass width) in the opposite direction to the sub-scanning direction F (step S24), and the flow returns to step S21.
  • the carriage 4 is moved by one band in the opposite direction to the sub-scanning direction F
  • the ink jet heads 5 and the ultraviolet-ray irradiation devices 6 can be correlated with the next pass line, and a recording position for the medium proceeds in the opposite direction to the sub-scanning direction F.
  • steps S21 to S23 are repeatedly performed until it is determined that the Y bar 3 has been transported a predetermined number of times in the opposite direction to the sub-scanning direction F in step S23.
  • step S23 YES
  • the smoothed clear inks are recorded on the medium M on which an image is formed, it is possible to secure visibility of the image formed on the medium M and to give glossiness to the image.
  • a dust removal step is preferably performed using the above-described dust removal means (the dust removal means and the dust removal operation have been described). According thereto, it is possible to prevent dust from being attached to surfaces of ink droplets of clear inks until the clear inks are irradiated with ultraviolet rays and are cured after the clear inks are ejected onto the medium M. In other words, since image quality of glossy printing is prevented from deteriorating, it is possible to realize high gloss image quality with sufficient glossiness.
  • Fig. 18 is a flowchart illustrating a printing process method in the thickness heaping quality mode.
  • Figs. 19A to 19C are conceptual diagrams illustrating an operation aspect example of the carriage in the thickness heaping quality mode.
  • the thick arrow indicates a movement direction of the Y bar 3 in the sub-scanning direction F.
  • Fig. 19A shows that the Y bar 3 moves in the sub-scanning direction F
  • Fig. 19B shows that the Y bar 3 moves in the sub-scanning direction F
  • Fig. 19A shows that the Y bar 3 moves in the sub-scanning direction F
  • Fig. 19B shows that the Y bar 3 moves in the sub-scanning direction F
  • Fig. 19A shows that the Y bar 3 moves in the sub-scanning direction F
  • Fig. 19B shows that the Y bar 3 moves in the sub-scanning direction F
  • Fig. 19A shows that the Y bar 3 moves in the sub-scanning direction F
  • 19C shows that the Y bar 3 moves in the opposite direction to the sub-scanning direction F.
  • the thickness heaping quality mode it is assumed that ultraviolet-ray curable inks are ejected only during forward movement of the carriage 4 in the main scanning direction S, and the ultraviolet-ray curable inks are not ejected during the return movement of the carriage 4 in an opposite direction to the main scanning direction S.
  • steps S31 to S34 the Y bar 3 is sequentially transported in the sub-scanning direction F so as to record an image using color inks and to coat the image using clear inks; next, in steps S35 to S40, the Y bar 3 is sequentially transported in the sub-scanning direction F so as to perform thickness heaping using clear inks; and, next, in steps S41 to S44, the Y bar 3 is sequentially transported in the opposite direction to the sub-scanning direction F so as to perform a gloss process using clear inks.
  • steps S31 to S34 are referred to as image recording and coating steps ⁇ 1, and Fig.
  • steps S35 to S40 are referred to as thickness heaping steps ⁇ 2
  • Fig. 19B shows an operation aspect example of the carriage in the thickness heaping steps ⁇ 2.
  • steps S41 to S44 are referred to as gloss process steps
  • Fig. 19C shows an operation aspect example of the carriage in the gloss process steps ⁇ 3.
  • the medium M is placed on the flat bed 2, and the Y bar 3 is set at a rear end part (printing start position) in the sub-scanning direction F in a recording area of the medium M, and the image recording and the coating steps ⁇ 1 are performed while sequentially transporting the Y bar 3 in the sub-scanning direction F.
  • step S31 ink droplets of color inks are ejected from the first ejection area A1-a, and the UVLEDs 63a and 63b disposed in the area B1 of the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6b are turned on during forward movement of the carriage 4 in the main scanning direction S (step S31).
  • UVLEDs 63 which irradiate the band recorded in step S31 with ultraviolet rays are turned on (step S32).
  • the UVLEDs 63 of both the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6a and the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6b may be turned on, or the UVLEDs 63 of either one may be turned on. Then, the first pass recording is performed using the color inks ejected from the first ejection area A1-a, and the color inks are irradiated with ultraviolet rays immediately after being landed on the medium M and are granularly cured.
  • step S33 When the reciprocation of the carriage 4 in the main scanning direction S finishes, it is determined whether or not the Y bar 3 has been transported a predetermined number of times in the sub-scanning direction F (step S33).
  • printing data is divided into a plurality of bands and is recorded while the Y bar 3 is sequentially transported in the sub-scanning direction F.
  • recording of two passes using the color inks is performed through initial two scannings and recording of two passes is performed using the clear inks through subsequent two scannings in each band, recording in each band is completed through a total of four scannings.
  • the determination that the Y bar 3 has been transported a predetermined number of times in the sub-scanning direction F in step S33 is performed after the fourth scanning, and a predetermined number of times for which the Y bar 3 is transported in the sub-scanning direction F in the image recording and the coating steps ⁇ 1 is the division number of printing data + 3.
  • step S33 NO
  • step S34 the Y bar 3 is transported by one band (pass width) in the sub-scanning direction F (step S34), and the flow returns to step S31.
  • step S34 since the carriage 4 mounted on the Y bar 3 is also moved by one band in the sub-scanning direction F, the ink jet heads 5 and the ultraviolet-ray irradiation devices 6 can be correlated with the next pass line, and a recording position for the medium proceeds to the front side in the sub-scanning direction F.
  • ink droplets of color inks are ejected from the first ejection area A1-a, and the UVLEDs 63a and 63b disposed in the area B1 of the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6b are turned on, and ink droplets of color inks are ejected from the first ejection area A1-b, and the UVLEDs 63c and 63d disposed in the area B2 of the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6b are turned on (step S31).
  • UVLEDs 63 which irradiate the band recorded in step S31 with ultraviolet rays are turned on (step S32). Further, during the return movement of the carriage 4 in the opposite direction to the main scanning direction S, the UVLEDs 63 of both the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6a and the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6b may be turned on, or the UVLEDs 63 of either one may be turned on.
  • the second pass recording is performed using the color inks ejected from the first ejection area A1-b in the band in which the first pass recording has been performed using the color inks ejected from the first ejection area A1-a in the first scanning, and the color inks are irradiated with ultraviolet rays immediately after being landed on the medium M and are granularly cured.
  • the overall recording ejection of the color inks and curing of the color inks through irradiation with ultraviolet rays
  • the first pass recording is performed using the color inks ejected from the first ejection area A1-a.
  • step S34 the Y bar 3 is transported by one band (pass width) in the sub-scanning direction F (step S34), and the flow returns to step S31. Then, since the carriage 4 mounted on the Y bar 3 is also moved by one band in the sub-scanning direction F, the ink jet heads 5 and the ultraviolet-ray irradiation devices 6 can be correlated with the next pass line, and a recording position for the medium proceeds to the front side in the sub-scanning direction F.
  • ink droplets of color inks are ejected from the first ejection areas A1-a and A1-b, and the UVLEDs 63a to 63d disposed in the areas B1 and B2 of the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6b are turned on; and ink droplets of clear inks are ejected from the second ejection area A2-a, and the UVLEDs 63e and 63f disposed in the area B3 of the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6b are turned on (step S31).
  • UVLEDs 63 which irradiate the band recorded in step S31 with ultraviolet rays are turned on (step S32). Further, during the return movement of the carriage 4 in the opposite direction to the main scanning direction S, the UVLEDs 63 of both the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6a and the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6b may be turned on, or the UVLEDs 63 of either one may be turned on.
  • the third pass recording is performed using the clear inks ejected from the second ejection area A2-a in the band in which the second pass recording has been performed using the color inks ejected from the first ejection area A1-b in the second scanning, and the clear inks are irradiated with ultraviolet rays immediately after being landed on the medium M and are granularly cured.
  • coating of the first layer is performed on the image using the clear inks.
  • the first pass recording is performed using the color inks ejected from the first ejection area A1-a
  • the second pass recording is performed using the color inks ejected from the first ejection area A1-b.
  • step S34 the Y bar 3 is transported by one band (pass width) in the sub-scanning direction F (step S34), and the flow returns to step S31. Then, since the carriage 4 mounted on the Y bar 3 is also moved by one band in the sub-scanning direction F, the ink jet heads 5 and the ultraviolet-ray irradiation devices 6 can be correlated with the next pass line, and a recording position for the medium proceeds to the front side in the sub-scanning direction F.
  • ink droplets of color inks are ejected from the first ejection areas A1-a and A1-b, and the UVLEDs 63a to 63d disposed in the areas B1 and B2 of the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6b are turned on; ink droplets of clear inks are ejected from the second ejection area A2-a, and the UVLEDs 63e and 63f disposed in the area B3 of the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6b are turned on; and ink droplets of clear inks are ejected from the second ejection area A2-b, and the UVLEDs 63g and 63h disposed in the area B4 of the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6b are turned on (step S31).
  • UVLEDs 63 which irradiate the band recorded in step S31 with ultraviolet rays are turned on (step S32). Further, during the return movement of the carriage 4 in the opposite direction to the main scanning direction S, the UVLEDs 63 of both the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6a and the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6b may be turned on, or the UVLEDs 63 of either one may be turned on.
  • the fourth pass recording is performed using the clear inks ejected from the second ejection area A2-b in the band in which the third pass recording has been performed using the clear inks ejected from the second ejection area A2-a in the previous scanning, and the clear inks are irradiated with ultraviolet rays immediately after being landed on the medium M and are granularly cured.
  • the coating of the second layer is performed on the image using the clear inks.
  • the first pass recording is performed using the color inks ejected from the first ejection area A1-a; in the same manner as in the second scanning, the second pass recording is performed using the color inks ejected from the first ejection area A1-b; and, in the same manner as in the third scanning, the third pass recording is performed using the clear inks ejected from the second ejection area A2-a.
  • step S33 When the reciprocation of the carriage 4 in the main scanning direction S finishes, since the current scanning is the fourth scanning of the image recording and coating steps ⁇ 1, it is then determined whether or not the Y bar 3 is transported a predetermined number of times in the sub-scanning direction F (step S33).
  • step S33 NO
  • the Y bar 3 is transported by one band (pass width) in the sub-scanning direction F (step S34), and the flow returns to step S31.
  • the carriage 4 is moved by one band in the sub-scanning direction F
  • the ink jet heads 5 and the ultraviolet-ray irradiation devices 6 can be correlated with the next pass line, and a recording position for the medium proceeds to the front side in the sub-scanning direction F.
  • steps S31 to S33 are repeatedly performed until it is determined that the Y bar 3 has been transported a predetermined number of times in the sub-scanning direction F in step S33.
  • step S33 YES
  • the Y bar 3 is transported in the opposite direction to the sub-scanning direction F so as to return to the original position (the position in step S31 which is a printing start position) (step S35), and then the thickness heaping steps ⁇ 2 is performed while sequentially transporting the Y bar 3 in the sub-scanning direction F.
  • the carriage 4 in the first scanning of the thickness heaping steps ⁇ 2, the carriage 4 is reciprocated in the main scanning direction S and in the opposite direction to the main scanning direction S without performing ejection of inks and irradiation of ultraviolet rays (steps S36 and S37) . Then, blank printing is performed in the band disposed on the rearmost side in the sub-scanning direction F in the fifth pass.
  • the blank printing indicates that the carriage 4 is reciprocated in the main scanning direction S and in the opposite direction to the main scanning direction S without performing ejection of inks and irradiation of ultraviolet rays.
  • step S38 When the reciprocation of the carriage 4 in the main scanning direction S finishes, it is determined whether or not the Y bar 3 has been transported a predetermined number of times in the sub-scanning direction F (step S38).
  • printing data is divided into a plurality of bands and is recorded while the Y bar 3 is sequentially transported in the sub-scanning direction F.
  • blank printing of two passes is performed through initial two scannings and recording of two passes is performed through subsequent two scannings using the clear inks, recording in each band is completed through four scannings (four passes).
  • the determination that the Y bar 3 has been transported a predetermined number of times in the sub-scanning direction F in step S38 is performed after the fourth scanning, and a predetermined number of times for which the Y bar 3 is transported in the sub-scanning direction F in the thickness heaping steps ⁇ 2 is the division number of printing data + 3.
  • step S38 NO
  • step S39 the Y bar 3 is transported by one band (pass width) in the sub-scanning direction F (step S39), and the flow returns to step S36.
  • the carriage 4 mounted on the Y bar 3 is also moved by one band in the sub-scanning direction F, the ink jet heads 5 and the ultraviolet-ray irradiation devices 6 can be correlated with the next pass line, and a recording position for the medium proceeds to the front side in the sub-scanning direction F.
  • the carriage 4 is reciprocated in the main scanning direction S and in the opposite direction to the main scanning direction S without performing ejection of inks and irradiation of ultraviolet rays (steps S36 and S37). Then, blank printing is performed in the band disposed on the rearmost side in the sub-scanning direction F in the sixth pass, and blank printing is performed in a band adjacent to the band on the front side in the sub-scanning direction F in the fifth pass.
  • step S38 NO
  • step S39 the Y bar 3 is transported by one band (pass width) in the sub-scanning direction F (step S39), and the flow returns to step S36.
  • the carriage 4 mounted on the Y bar 3 is also moved by one band in the sub-scanning direction F, the ink jet heads 5 and the ultraviolet-ray irradiation devices 6 can be correlated with the next pass line, and a recording position for the medium proceeds to the front side in the sub-scanning direction F.
  • step S35 In the third scanning of the thickness heaping steps ⁇ 2, during forward movement of the carriage 4 in the main scanning direction S, ink droplets of clear inks are ejected from the second ejection area A2-a, and the UVLEDs 63e and 63f disposed in the area B3 of the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6b are turned on (step S35). In addition, during the return movement of the carriage 4 in the opposite direction to the main scanning direction S, UVLEDs 63 which irradiate the band recorded in step S35 with ultraviolet rays are turned on (step S36).
  • the UVLEDs 63 of both the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6a and the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6b may be turned on, or the UVLEDs 63 of either one may be turned on.
  • the seventh pass recording is performed using the clear inks ejected from the second ejection area A2-a in the band disposed on the rearmost side in the sub-scanning direction F, and the clear inks are irradiated with ultraviolet rays immediately after being landed on the medium M and are granularly cured.
  • the thickness of one layer is heaped up on the image formed through the image recording and coating steps ⁇ 1.
  • step S38 NO
  • step S39 the Y bar 3 is transported by one band (pass width) in the sub-scanning direction F (step S39), and the flow returns to step S36.
  • the carriage 4 mounted on the Y bar 3 is also moved by one band in the sub-scanning direction F, the ink jet heads 5 and the ultraviolet-ray irradiation devices 6 can be correlated with the next pass line, and a recording position for the medium proceeds to the front side in the sub-scanning direction F.
  • ink droplets of clear inks are ejected from the second ejection area A2-a, and the UVLEDs 63e and 63f disposed in the area B3 of the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6b are turned on; and ink droplets of clear inks are ejected from the second ejection area A2-b, and the UVLEDs 63g and 63h disposed in the area B4 of the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6b are turned on (step S35).
  • UVLEDs 63 which irradiate the band recorded in step S35 with ultraviolet rays are turned on (step S36). Further, during the return movement of the carriage 4 in the opposite direction to the main scanning direction S, the UVLEDs 63 of both the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6a and the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6b may be turned on, or the UVLEDs 63 of either one may be turned on.
  • the eighth pass recording is performed using clear inks ejected from the second ejection area A2-b in the band in which the seventh pass recording was performed using the clear inks ejected from the second ejection area A2-a one scanning ago, and the clear inks are irradiated with ultraviolet rays immediately after being landed on the medium M and are granularly cured.
  • the thickness of two layers is heaped up on the image formed through the image recording and the coating steps ⁇ 1.
  • the seventh pass recording is performed using the clear inks ejected from the second ejection area A2-a.
  • step S38 determines that the Y bar 3 has not been transported a predetermined number of times in the sub-scanning direction F (step S38: NO)
  • the Y bar 3 is transported by one band (pass width) in the sub-scanning direction F (step S39), and the flow returns to step S36.
  • the carriage 4 mounted on the Y bar 3 is also moved by one band in the sub-scanning direction F
  • the ink jet heads 5 and the ultraviolet-ray irradiation devices 6 can be correlated with the next pass line, and a recording position for the medium proceeds to the front side in the sub-scanning direction F.
  • the above-described steps S36 to S38 are repeatedly performed until it is determined that the Y bar 3 has been transported a predetermined number of times in the sub-scanning direction F in step S38.
  • step S36 clear inks ejected from only the second ejection area A2-b are ejected, and only the UVLEDs 63g and 63h disposed in the area B4 of the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6b are turned on.
  • step S37 only the UVLEDs 63g and 63h disposed in the area B4 are turned on.
  • the eighth pass recording is performed using the clear inks ejected from the second ejection area A2-b in the final band recorded using the clear inks ejected from the second ejection area A2-a in the previous scanning, and ultraviolet rays are applied from the UVLEDs 63g and 63h disposed in the area B4 thereto.
  • one image recording step ⁇ 1 in the thickness heaping steps ⁇ 2 finishes in a state in which the second ejection area A2-b is disposed in the pass line of the final band.
  • step S40 it is then determined whether or not the thickness heaping steps ⁇ 2 have been performed a predetermined number of times.
  • the thickness heaping steps ⁇ 2 are repeatedly performed a necessary number of times so as to heap the clear inks to a predetermined thickness.
  • a predetermined number of times for which the thickness heaping steps ⁇ 2 are repeatedly performed is specified using a predetermined set value, a value designated in printing data, or the like.
  • step S40 it is determined that a number of times of the current thickness heaping steps ⁇ 2 does not arrive at a predetermined number of times when a number of times of the current thickness heaping steps does not arrive at a predetermined number of times, and it is determined that a number of times of the current thickness heaping steps ⁇ 2 arrives at a predetermined number of times when a number of times of the current thickness heaping steps arrives at a predetermined number of times.
  • step S40 NO
  • the flow returns to step S35, and the above-described steps S35 to S40 are repeatedly performed again.
  • step S40 YES
  • the gloss process steps ⁇ 3 is then performed while the Y bar 3 is sequentially transported in the opposite direction to the sub-scanning direction F.
  • step S41 the UVLEDs 63g and 63h disposed in the band in which the clear inks are recorded in step S41 are turned off.
  • the second ejection area A2-b is disposed in the pass line of the final band in the thickness heaping steps ⁇ 2. For this reason, if the number of all passes in the thickness heaping quality mode is n, the (n-3)-th pass recording is performed using clear inks ejected from the second ejection area A2-b in the band which is the final band of the thickness heaping steps ⁇ 2 and is disposed on the frontmost side in the sub-scanning direction F.
  • the UVLEDs 63g and 63h are turned off which are disposed in the area B4 and irradiate the band in which clear inks ejected from the second ejection area A2-b are recorded with ultraviolet rays, the clear inks in the (n-3)-th pass which have been landed on the medium M are not cured but gradually wettedly spread so as to decrease the thickness, and therefore the uneven surfaces thereof are smoothed out.
  • the UVLEDs 63a to 63d disposed in the areas B1 and B2 may be turned on or off.
  • step S43 When the reciprocation of the carriage 4 in the main scanning direction S finishes, it is determined whether or not the Y bar 3 has been transported a predetermined number of times in the opposite direction to the sub-scanning direction F (step S43).
  • printing data is divided into a plurality of bands and is recorded while the Y bar 3 is sequentially transported in the opposite direction to the sub-scanning direction F.
  • recording of two passes using the clear inks is performed through initial two scannings and the clear inks recorded in each band are irradiated with ultraviolet rays through subsequent two scannings in each band, recording in each band is completed through four scannings (four passes).
  • the determination that the Y bar 3 has been transported a predetermined number of times in the opposite direction to the sub-scanning direction F in step S43 is performed after the fourth scanning, and a predetermined number of times for which the Y bar 3 is transported in the opposite direction to the sub-scanning direction F in the gloss process steps ⁇ 3 is the division number of printing data + 3.
  • step S43 NO
  • step S44 the Y bar 3 is transported by one band (pass width) in the opposite direction to the sub-scanning direction F
  • step S44 the flow returns to step S41.
  • step S44 since the carriage 4 mounted on the Y bar 3 is also moved by one band in the opposite direction to the sub-scanning direction F, the ink jet heads 5 and the ultraviolet-ray irradiation devices 6 can be correlated with the next pass line, and a recording position for the medium proceeds in the opposite direction to the sub-scanning direction F.
  • ink droplets of clear inks are ejected from the second ejection area A2-b, and the UVLEDs 63g and 63h disposed in the area B4 of the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6a and the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6b are turned off; and ink droplets of clear inks are ejected from the second ejection area A2-a, and the UVLEDs 63e and 63f disposed in the area B3 of the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6a and the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6b are turned off (step S41).
  • step S42 the UVLEDs 63e to 63h disposed in the band in which the clear inks are recorded in step S41 are turned off. Then, the (n-2)-th pass recording is performed using the clear inks ejected from the second ejection area A2-a in the band in which the (n-3) -th pass recording has been performed using clear inks ejected from the second ejection area A2-b in the first scanning.
  • the UVLEDs 63e and 63f are turned off which are disposed in the area B3 and irradiate the band in which clear inks ejected from the second ejection area A2-b are recorded with ultraviolet rays, the clear inks in the (n-2)-th pass which have been landed on the medium M are not cured but gradually wettedly spread so as to decrease the thickness along with the clear inks in the (n-3)-th pass, and therefore the uneven surfaces thereof are smoothed out.
  • the (n-3)-th pass recording is performed using the clear inks ejected from the second ejection area A2-b.
  • the UVLEDs 63a to 63d disposed in the areas B1 and B2 may be turned on or off.
  • step S43 NO
  • step S44 the Y bar 3 is transported by one band (pass width) in the opposite direction to the sub-scanning direction F (step S44), and the flow returns to step S41.
  • the carriage 4 mounted on the Y bar 3 is also moved by one band in the opposite direction to the sub-scanning direction F, the ink jet heads 5 and the ultraviolet-ray irradiation devices 6 can be correlated with the next pass line, and a recording position for the medium proceeds in the opposite direction to the sub-scanning direction F.
  • step S4 In the third scanning of the gloss process steps ⁇ 3, during forward movement of the carriage 4 in the main scanning direction S, ink droplets of clear inks are ejected from the second ejection areas A2-a and A2-b, and the UVLEDs 63e to 63h disposed in the areas B3 and B4 of the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6a and the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6b are turned off; and the UVLEDs 63c and 63d disposed in the area B2 are turned on (step S41). In addition, during the return movement of the carriage 4 in the opposite direction to the main scanning direction S, the UVLEDs 63c and 63d disposed in the area B2 are turned on (step S42).
  • the UVLEDs 63c and 63d to be turned on may be those of both of the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6a and the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6b, or may be those of either one.
  • ultraviolet rays are applied from the UVLEDs 63c and 63d disposed in the area B2 to the band in which the (n-2)-th pass recording was performed using the clear inks ejected from the second ejection area A2-a in the second scanning one scanning ago, and thus the clear inks in the (n-3)-th and (n-2)-th passes start to be cured in a state of being sufficiently smoothed.
  • the (n-3)-th pass recording is performed using the clear inks ejected from the second ejection area A2-b
  • the (n-2)-th pass recording is performed using the clear inks ejected from the second ejection area A2-a.
  • step S43 NO
  • step S44 the Y bar 3 is transported by one band (pass width) in the opposite direction to the sub-scanning direction F (step S44), and the flow returns to step S41.
  • the carriage 4 mounted on the Y bar 3 is also moved by one band in the opposite direction to the sub-scanning direction F, the ink jet heads 5 and the ultraviolet-ray irradiation devices 6 can be correlated with the next pass line, and a recording position for the medium proceeds in the opposite direction to the sub-scanning direction F.
  • step S4 In the fourth scanning of the gloss process steps ⁇ 3, during forward movement of the carriage 4 in the main scanning direction S, ink droplets of clear inks are ejected from the second ejection areas A2-a and A2-b, and the UVLEDs 63e to 63h disposed in the areas B3 and B4 of the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6a and the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6b are turned off; the UVLEDs 63c and 63d disposed in the area B2 are turned on; and the UVLEDs 63a and 63b disposed in the area B1 are turned on (step S41). In addition, during the return movement of the carriage 4 in the opposite direction to the main scanning direction S, the UVLEDs 63a to 63d disposed in the areas B1 and B2 are turned on (step S42).
  • the UVLEDs 63a to 63d to be turned on may be those of both of the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6a and the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6b, or may be those of either one. Then, in the n-th pass which is a final pass, ultraviolet rays are applied from the UVLEDs 63a and 63b disposed in the area B1 to the band which was irradiated with ultraviolet rays by the UVLEDs 63c and 63d disposed in the area B2 in the third scanning one scanning ago, such that curing of the clear inks is sufficiently promoted.
  • the (n-3)-th pass recording is performed using the clear inks ejected from the second ejection area A2-b; in the same manner as in the second scanning, the (n-2)-th pass recording is performed using the clear inks ejected from the second ejection area A2-a; and, in the same manner as in the third scanning, ultraviolet rays are applied to the band in which the (n-2)-th pass recording was performed one scanning ago.
  • step S43 NO
  • the Y bar 3 is transported by one band (pass width) in the opposite direction to the sub-scanning direction F (step S44), and the flow returns to step S41.
  • the carriage 4 is moved by one band in the opposite direction to the sub-scanning direction F
  • the ink jet heads 5 and the ultraviolet-ray irradiation devices 6 can be correlated with the next pass line, and a recording position for the medium proceeds in the opposite direction to the sub-scanning direction F.
  • the above-described steps S41 to S43 are repeatedly performed until it is determined that the Y bar 3 has been transported a predetermined number of times in the opposite direction to the sub-scanning direction F in step S43.
  • step S43 YES
  • the thickness-heaping layers of the clear inks having thickness are laminated on the upper layer of an image recorded on the medium M, and the smoothed clear inks are recorded thereon, it is possible to secure visibility of the image, to make the clear inks have thickness, and to give glossiness to the image.
  • an amount of light emitted from the UVLEDs 63 (the UVLEDs 63c and 63d) disposed in the area B2 is preferably smaller than an amount of light emitted from the UVLEDs (the UVLEDs 63a and 63b) disposed in the area B1.
  • the underlying clear inks are granularly cured in the thickness heaping steps ⁇ 2 preceding the gloss process steps ⁇ 3, movement of the overlying clear inks are activated, and thus it is possible to increase speed at which the clear inks are smoothed.
  • a dust removal step is preferably performed using the above-described dust removal means (the dust removal means and the dust removal operation have been described). According thereto, it is possible to prevent dust from being attached to surfaces of ink droplets of clear inks until the clear inks are irradiated with ultraviolet rays and are cured after the clear inks are ejected onto the medium M. In other words, since image quality of glossy printing is prevented from deteriorating, it is possible to realize high gloss image quality with sufficient glossiness.
  • the UVLED 63 is provided so as to correspond to each band, and thus it is possible to control whether or not to apply ultraviolet rays for each band. For this reason, UVLEDs 63 are turned off which irradiate a band in which a pass area for ejecting ink droplets is located with ultraviolet rays, and thus ink droplets ejected from the pass area are not cured immediately after being landed on the medium M but are smoothed. Therefore, it is possible to perform recording with sufficient glossiness.
  • UVLEDs 63 are turned on which irradiate a band in which a pass area for ejecting ink droplets is located with ultraviolet rays, and thus ink droplets ejected from the pass area are cured immediately after being landed on the medium M, thereby forming an image with matte image quality.
  • UVLEDs 63 of the areas B1 and B2 are turned on, color inks ejected from the first ejection area A1 are cured immediately after being landed on the medium M, and thus it is possible to form a clear color image without smearing of inks.
  • the UVLEDs 63 of the areas B2 and B3 are turned off, clear inks ejected from the second ejection area A2 are not cured immediately after being landed on the medium M but are smoothed, and thus it is possible to give sufficient glossiness to an image or the like formed in the lower layer.
  • smoothed clear inks are recorded on the upper layer of an image recorded on the medium M, and thus it is possible to secure visibility of the image and to give glossiness to the image.
  • the thickness heaping quality mode since the thickness-heaping layers of the clear inks having thickness are laminated on the upper layer of an image recorded on the medium M, and the smoothed clear inks are recorded thereon, it is possible to secure visibility of the image, to make the clear inks have thickness, and to give glossiness to the image.
  • the ultraviolet-ray irradiation devices 6 are disposed on the front side and the rear side of the first ejection area A1 and the second ejection area A2 in the main scanning direction S, it is possible to cure all ink droplets ejected from ink nozzles through a single scanning in which the carriage is reciprocated in the main scanning direction.
  • the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment.
  • the number or an arrangement of the UVLEDs 63 installed in the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6, the number or an arrangement of the partition plates 64 installed in the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6, turning-on control of each UVLED 63, and the like are appropriately set depending on a desired illuminance distribution, a desired image quality of an image, or the like.
  • any number of partition plates 64 may be installed, and seven partition plates 64 may be installed as shown in Fig. 20 .
  • the UVLEDs 63a to 63c are turned on, and the UVLEDs 63d to 63h are turned off, thereby achieving an effect equivalent to a case of reducing an amount of light emitted from the UVLEDs 63 disposed in the area B2.
  • ink droplets are ejected only in the forward path of the carriage 4 moving in the main scanning direction S in the description of the printing control method
  • ink droplets may be ejected in both of forward path and return path of the carriage 4 moving in the main scanning direction S.
  • the UVLEDs 63 disposed in the area B3 and the area B4 may be turned off in order to suppress color inks from being excessively cured.
  • the color inks are not irradiated with ultraviolet rays until the coating steps ⁇ 2 after being irradiated with the ultraviolet rays during the second pass recording, the color inks are suppressed from being much cured, thereby increasing adhesiveness of the color inks and the clear inks.
  • the thickness heaping steps ⁇ 2 are not necessarily required to be performed, and, for example, two kinds of steps including the image recording and the coating steps ⁇ 1 and the gloss process steps ⁇ 3 may be performed as the thickness heaping quality mode.
  • the partition plates 64 may be inserted and removed into and from the opening of the recess 62 after detaching the cover 65, and, as shown in Fig. 21 , the partition plates 64 are configured to be withdrawn to inside of the main body 61, and the partition plates 64 may be moved between the main body 61 and the recess 62.
  • movement of each of the partition plates 64 may be performed through control using an actuator, a lead screw, or the like, or may be performed by projecting a knob physically fixed to each of the partition plates 64 from the main body 61 and operating this knob.
  • the partition plate 64 is formed in a trapezoidal plate shape, any shape may be employed as long as ultraviolet rays in the sub-scanning direction F can be shielded.
  • the partition plates 64 are provided in the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6 so as to control proceeding of ultraviolet rays emitted from the UVLEDs 63 in the sub-scanning direction F
  • the partition plates 64 are not essential constituent elements, and irradiation illuminance of ultraviolet rays applied to ultraviolet-ray curable inks may be changed in the sub-scanning direction F by individually controlling turning-on of each UVLED 63.
  • shield means 66a to 66h may be provided on the vertical lower sides of the respective UVLEDs 63a to 63h, and ultraviolet rays emitted from the adjacent UVLEDs 63 may be suppressed from being applied to the vertical lower sides of the turned-on UVLEDs 63, thereby changing irradiation illuminance of the ultraviolet rays in the sub-scanning direction F.
  • respective UVLEDs 63a to 63h may be disposed at the bottom of the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6B without forming a recess, and ultraviolet rays emitted from the adjacent UVLEDs 63 may be suppressed from being applied to the vertical lower sides of the turned-on UVLEDs 63, thereby changing irradiation illuminance of the ultraviolet rays in the sub-scanning direction F.
  • the ultraviolet-ray irradiation devices 6 are disposed on both the front side and the rear side of the ink jet heads 5 in the main scanning direction S
  • the ultraviolet-ray irradiation devices may be disposed on either the front side or the rear side of the ink jet heads 5 in the main scanning direction S.
  • the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6a has the same configuration as the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6b, both of the two do not necessarily have the same configuration, and may appropriately have different configurations within the scope without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
  • an ink jet head ejecting color inks and an ink jet head ejecting clear inks may be physically shifted in the sub-scanning direction F such that a band in which color inks are recorded and a band in which clear inks are recorded are shifted in the sub-scanning direction F.
  • a nozzle string of the ink nozzles 8 forming each band is arranged in a line in the sub-scanning direction F
  • a nozzle string of the ink nozzles 8 may be shifted in the main scanning direction S for each band or a plurality of bands by arranging a plurality of ink jet heads 5 in the main scanning direction S, or the like.
  • ink nozzles 8 ejecting color inks and the ink nozzles 8 ejecting clear inks are shifted in the main scanning direction S and are arranged, these ink nozzles may be arranged in a line in the sub-scanning direction F.
  • ink nozzles ejecting color inks and ink nozzles ejecting clear inks may be formed in different ink jet heads, or may be formed in the same ink jet head.
  • the UVLED 63 is used as a light source of the ultraviolet-ray irradiation device 6, any means such as a UV lamp may be used as long as it can emit ultraviolet rays.
  • the ink jet heads 5 and the medium M are relatively moved in the sub-scanning direction F by moving the ink jet heads 5 through transport of the Y bar 3
  • either of the ink jet heads 5 and the medium M may be practically moved, or both of the two may be moved.
  • a grid rolling type may be used in which the ink jet heads 5 and the medium M are relatively moved in the sub-scanning direction F by transporting the medium M.

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Toxicology (AREA)
  • Ink Jet (AREA)
  • Ink Jet Recording Methods And Recording Media Thereof (AREA)

Claims (8)

  1. Dispositif d'enregistrement à jet d'encre (1) comprenant :
    un chariot (4) qui peut se déplacer avec un mouvement alternatif suivant une direction de balayage principale (S) ;
    des moyens d'éjection d'encre (5a à 5f) montés sur le chariot et comportant une pluralité d'injecteurs d'encre (8) qui éjectent des encres pouvant durcir sous rayonnement ultra-violet sur un support d'enregistrement (M) et sont agencés de manière à s'étendre dans une direction de balayage secondaire ;
    un moyen d'application de rayonnement ultra-violet (6) monté sur le chariot et agencé de manière à s'étendre dans une direction de balayage secondaire, afin d'appliquer un rayonnement ultra-violet sur le support d'enregistrement, le moyen d'application de rayonnement ultra-violet (6) est disposé sur l'un ou l'autre ou les deux côtés arrière des moyens d'éjection d'encre (5a à 5f) dans la direction de balayage principale (S), et
    une unité de commande (7) qui commande les moyens d'éjection d'encre et le moyen d'application de rayonnement ultra-violet, dans lequel
    le chariot ou le support d'enregistrement est déplacé dans la direction de balayage secondaire (F) perpendiculairement à la direction de balayage principale (S),
    le dispositif d'enregistrement à jet d'encre comporte, en outre, un moyen d'aspiration d'air (12) destiné à aspirer de l'air du côté de support d'enregistrement ou un moyen de soufflage destiné à souffler un gaz vers le côté de support d'enregistrement,
    caractérisé en ce que :
    les injecteurs d'encre (8) sont divisés en une pluralité de zones de passage (A1, A2), chacune d'elle étant encore divisée en une pluralité de zones d'éjection (A1-a à A2-b), chacune desdites zones d'éjection peut enregistrer une bande sur le support d'enregistrement,
    le moyen d'application de rayonnement ultra-violet comporte une pluralité de source de lumière (63) appliquant des rayons ultra-violets, le moyen d'application de rayonnement ultra-violet étant divisé en une pluralité de zones de telle sorte que chaque zone correspond respectivement à chaque zone d'éjection de l'injecteur d'encre dans la direction de balayage secondaire, et
    l'unité de commande (7) commande la mise en service et hors service de la source de lumière pour chaque zone du moyen d'application de rayonnement ultra-violet.
  2. Dispositif d'enregistrement à jet d'encre selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le moyen d'aspiration d'air est disposé au niveau d'une extrémité avant ou d'une extrémité arrière du chariot dans la direction du balayage.
  3. Dispositif d'enregistrement à jet d'encre selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans lequel le moyen de soufflage est disposé au niveau d'une extrémité avant ou d'une extrémité arrière du chariot dans la direction de balayage et souffle un gaz dans une direction perpendiculaire à la direction du balayage.
  4. Dispositif d'enregistrement à jet d'encre selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, dans lequel le moyen de soufflage est disposé au niveau d'une extrémité avant du chariot dans la direction de balayage et souffle un gaz vers un côté avant dans la direction de balayage.
  5. Dispositif d'enregistrement à jet d'encre selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 4, dans lequel le moyen d'application de rayonnement ultra-violet (6) est disposé sur les deux côtés arrière des moyens d'éjection d'encre (5a à 5f) dans la direction de balayage principale (S).
  6. Dispositif d'enregistrement à jet d'encre selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 5,
    le moyen d'application de rayonnement ultra-violet comprenant une pluralité de plaques de séparation (64) qui sont réalisées en une forme de plaque qui se dressent verticalement et s'étendent dans la direction de balayage principale (S) d'une manière à commander l'application de rayonnement ultra-violet dans la direction de balayage secondaire (F).
  7. Procédé d'impression utilisant le dispositif d'enregistrement à jet d'encre selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 6, dans lequel la source de lumière appliquant un rayonnement ultra-violet sur la bande à l'endroit où est située la zone d'éjection destinée à éjecter des encres pouvant durcir sous rayonnement ultra-violet transmettant la lumière est mise hors service, et les encres pouvant durcir sous rayonnement ultra-violet transmettant la lumière sont enregistrées sur un support d'enregistrement, le procédé comprenant :
    une étape d'activation de la source de lumière appliquant un rayonnement ultraviolet sur la bande à l'endroit où est située une zone d'éjection disposée davantage vers un côté amont du chariot ou du support d'enregistrement dans la direction de balayage secondaire que la zone d'éjection destinée à éjecter les encres pouvant durcir sous rayonnement ultra-violet transmettant la lumière, de manière à durcir les encres pouvant durcir sous rayonnement ultra-violet enregistrées sur le support d'enregistrement au cours de balayages consécutifs ; et
    une étape d'aspiration d'air du côté support d'enregistrement en activant le moyen d'aspiration d'air ou une étape de soufflage d'un gaz vers le côté de support d'enregistrement par activation du moyen de soufflage avant, pendant, ou après éjection des encres pouvant durcir sous rayonnement ultra-violet.
  8. Procédé d'impression selon la revendication 7, dans lequel la source de lumière est activée ce qui applique un rayonnement ultra-violet sur la bande à l'endroit où est située une zone d'éjection disposée sur un côté amont dans la direction de balayage secondaire de manière à être adjacente à la zone d'éjection destinée à éjecter les encres pouvant durcir sous rayonnement ultra-violet transmettant la lumière, de telle sorte qu'un rayonnement ultra-violet est appliqué sur les encres pouvant durcir sous rayonnement ultra-violet, et une quantité de rayonnement ultra-violet appliquée à partir de la source de lumière disposée sur un côté aval dans la direction de balayage secondaire est inférieure à une quantité de rayonnement ultra-violet appliquée à partir de la source de lumière disposée sur un côté amont dans la direction de balayage secondaire.
EP12754537.4A 2011-03-04 2012-03-05 Dispositif d'enregistrement à jet d'encre Active EP2682268B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2011047355A JP5702191B2 (ja) 2010-10-22 2011-03-04 インクジェット記録装置、及び印刷方法
PCT/JP2012/055585 WO2012121218A1 (fr) 2011-03-04 2012-03-05 Dispositif d'enregistrement à jet d'encre

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EP2682268A1 EP2682268A1 (fr) 2014-01-08
EP2682268A4 EP2682268A4 (fr) 2015-01-28
EP2682268B1 true EP2682268B1 (fr) 2017-02-15

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JP7115157B2 (ja) 2017-10-06 2022-08-09 株式会社リコー 吐出装置、画像形成装置、硬化方法およびプログラム
JP2019072914A (ja) * 2017-10-16 2019-05-16 株式会社ミマキエンジニアリング 立体模様印刷物の製造方法
KR101878223B1 (ko) * 2017-10-23 2018-07-13 니레코프로세스한국(주) 분진 회수 수단을 갖는 금속재료용 마킹 장치
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CN103596762B (zh) 2016-05-25
KR101549564B1 (ko) 2015-09-03
EP2682268A4 (fr) 2015-01-28
CN103596762A (zh) 2014-02-19
KR20130135900A (ko) 2013-12-11
WO2012121218A1 (fr) 2012-09-13
EP2682268A1 (fr) 2014-01-08

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