Printing apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11383540-B2
Application number	US-202016952141-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 19, 2020
Priority date	Dec 4, 2019
Publication date	Jul 12, 2022
Grant date	Jul 12, 2022

Abstract

A printing unit includes a plurality of ink jet parts and an X-axis linear motion mechanism that moves each of the plurality of ink jet parts in the same main scanning direction. The X-axis linear motion mechanism moves the ink jet part involved in printing the workpiece among the plurality of ink jet parts so as to face the surface of the workpiece and moves the remaining ink jet part on the one X-axis linear motion mechanism so as to retreat from the surface of the workpiece. As a result, a printing apparatus that is capable of printing accurately onto the workpiece having a three-dimensional curved surface is provided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A printing apparatus for printing a predetermined image by discharging ink onto a workpiece having a curved surface, the printing apparatus comprising:
a printing unit that discharges the ink onto a surface of the workpiece; and
a workpiece drive unit that adjusts a position of the workpiece,
wherein the printing unit includes
a plurality of ink jet parts that discharge the ink,
a main scanning linear motion mechanism that moves each of the plurality of ink jet parts in the same main scanning direction; and

wherein the main scanning linear motion mechanism of the printing unit:
moves an ink jet part involved in printing the workpiece among the plurality of ink jet parts so as to face the surface of the workpiece, and
moves the one or more remaining ink jet parts on the main scanning linear motion mechanism among the plurality of ink jet parts to retreat from the surface of the workpiece.

2. The printing apparatus of claim 1 ,
wherein one of the ink jet parts discharges the ink with a plurality of colors.

3. The printing apparatus of claim 2 ,
wherein the plurality of colors are four colors of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black.

4. The printing apparatus of claim 1 ,
wherein the ink jet part includes a curing part that cures the ink.

5. The printing apparatus of claim 1 ,
wherein the ink jet part includes a part for applying ink for a base or a part for applying ink to an upper portion.

6. The printing apparatus of claim 1 ,
wherein the ink jet part includes
a plurality of curing parts that cures the ink and
a head part that discharges the ink, and

the curing parts are disposed on both sides of the head part.

7. The printing apparatus of claim 1 ,
wherein the ink jet part includes a distance measurement part.

8. The printing apparatus of claim 1 ,
wherein the plurality of ink jet parts are moved on the main scanning linear motion mechanism.

9. The printing apparatus of claim 1 ,
wherein the printing unit includes a sub scanning linear motion mechanism that moves at least one of the plurality of ink jet parts in a sub scanning direction intersecting with the main scanning direction.

10. The printing apparatus of claim 1 ,
wherein the printing unit includes a forward and backward linear motion mechanism that moves at least one of the plurality of ink jet parts forward and backward with respect to the workpiece.

11. The printing apparatus of claim 1 ,
wherein the printing unit includes a rotation mechanism that rotates at least one of the plurality of ink jet parts.

12. The printing apparatus of claim 1 ,
wherein the workpiece drive unit includes drive mechanisms of at least four axes, and
at least two axes of the drive mechanisms of four axes are configured by a rotation mechanism.

13. The printing apparatus of claim 1 ,
wherein the main scanning linear motion mechanism includes a first main scanning linear motion mechanism and a second main scanning linear motion mechanism arranged in parallel to each other.

14. The printing apparatus of claim 13 ,
wherein the first main scanning linear motion mechanism includes a first supporting member that holds a head part of the ink jet part, and
the first supporting member includes a horizontal part extending along the first main scanning linear motion mechanism in a horizontal direction and a vertical part extending downward from an end portion of the horizontal part.

15. A printing apparatus for printing a predetermined image by discharging ink onto a workpiece having a curved surface, the printing apparatus comprising:
a printing unit that discharges the ink onto a surface of the workpiece; and
a workpiece drive unit that adjusts a position of the workpiece,
wherein the printing unit includes
a plurality of ink jet parts that discharge the ink,
a main scanning linear motion mechanism that moves each of the plurality of ink jet parts in the same main scanning direction;

wherein the main scanning linear motion mechanism includes a first main scanning linear motion mechanism and a second main scanning linear motion mechanism arranged in parallel to each other; and
wherein the plurality of ink jet parts are arranged in a row along the main scanning direction and are alternately attached to the first main scanning linear motion mechanism and the second main scanning linear motion mechanism.

16. A printing apparatus for printing a predetermined image by discharging ink onto a workpiece having a curved surface, the printing apparatus comprising:
a printing unit that discharges the ink onto a surface of the workpiece; and
a workpiece drive unit that adjusts a position of the workpiece,
wherein the printing unit includes
a plurality of ink jet parts that discharge the ink,
a main scanning linear motion mechanism that moves each of the plurality of ink jet parts in the same main scanning direction;

wherein the main scanning linear motion mechanism includes a first main scanning linear motion mechanism and a second main scanning linear motion mechanism arranged in parallel to each other; and
wherein the first main scanning linear motion mechanism and the second main scanning linear motion mechanism are arranged in a vertical direction.

Assignees

• Panasonic Ip Man Co Ltd

Inventors

• Hyuga Ryoji
• Abe Takayuki
• Yoshida Hidehiro
• Nakagawa Tohru
• Okazaki Makoto

Classifications

• B41J2/2114

  Ejecting specialized liquids, e.g. transparent or processing liquids (B41J2/211 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B41J2/2117

  Ejecting white liquids · CPC title

• B41J25/003

  for changing the angle between a print element array axis and the printing line, e.g. for dot density changes · CPC title

• B41J29/38 Primary

  Drives, motors, controls or automatic cut-off devices for the entire printing mechanism · CPC title

• B41J3/4073

  Printing on three-dimensional objects not being in sheet or web form, e.g. spherical or cubic objects (B41J3/283, B41J3/286 take precedence; building up a 3D object using individual droplets from jetting heads B29C64/112) · CPC title