Printing apparatus and method for producing printed item

A printing apparatus comprising:

• a printing pad having a printing surface configured to be deformed to conform to a shape of a surface to be printed of an item to be printed;
• a printing original plate stage on which a printing original plate is placed, the printing original plate having a placement surface on which ink is placed;
• a printing stage provided for placing the item to be printed;
• a blower configured to send air toward the printing surface of the printing pad;
• and
• a controller configured to control an action of the printing pad, wherein
• the printing pad is configured to be movable between the printing original plate stage and the printing stage, and is configured to be vertically movable from and to the printing original plate stage or the printing stage,
• the blower is configured to send air toward the printing surface of the printing pad in a state where the ink on the placement surface of the printing original plate is transferred to the printing surface,
• the controller includes a pad control unit configured to be capable of controlling the printing pad, when the printing pad is caused to move toward the item to be printed placed on the printing stage, into at least two states, being a movement state at a first speed and a movement state at a second speed, the printing pad being changed into the movement state at the second speed after the movement state at the first speed is brought about and before the printing pad is brought into contact with the surface to be printed, and
• the second speed is lower than the first speed.

A method for producing a printed item using a printing pad that is deformed to conform to a shape of a surface to be printed, the method comprising:

• placing ink on a placement surface of a printing original plate;
• pushing a printing surface of the printing pad against the placement surface on which the ink is placed;
• blowing air toward the printing surface with a blower, the ink being transferred to the printing surface;
• and
• pushing the printing surface against the surface to be printed after the air is blown toward the printing surface, wherein
• the printing pad is stopped before coming into contact with the surface to be printed, and
• the blower is operated at least during a period that the printing pad is stopped.

A method for producing a printed item using a printing pad that is deformed to conform to a shape of a surface to be printed, the method comprising:

• placing ink on a placement surface of a printing original plate;
• pushing a printing surface of the printing pad against the placement surface on which the ink is placed;
• blowing air toward the printing surface with a blower, the ink being transferred to the printing surface;
• and
• pushing the printing surface against the surface to be printed after the air is blown toward the printing surface, wherein
• the printing pad is moved to an area above the surface to be printed after being pushed against the placement surface,
• the printing pad moves downward toward the surface to be printed at a first speed,
• the printing pad is stopped before coming into contact with the surface to be printed,
• the printing pad moves downward toward the surface to be printed at a second speed after a lapse of a predetermined time period from when the printing pad is stopped, and
• the second speed is lower than the first speed.