Printing device including light radiation device with independently controlled radiation portions

A printing device, comprising:

• a support table to support a medium;
• a recording head provided above the support table and including a nozzle array that includes a plurality of nozzles from which ink is capable of being ejected onto the medium supported by the support table, the nozzles being lined up in a transportation direction;
• a light radiation device provided above the support table and including a light source and a case with a radiation opening through which light emitted from the light source passes, the case accommodating the light source;
• a moving mechanism to move the recording head and the light radiation device integrally in a scanning direction crossing the transportation direction as seen in a plan view;
• and
• a controller;
• wherein
• where the light radiation device is divided in the transportation direction into three portions including an upstream radiation portion, a middle radiation portion and a downstream radiation portion from an upstream side to a downstream side, the upstream radiation portion, the middle radiation portion and the downstream radiation portion are capable of being turned on or off independently;
• the upstream radiation portion overlaps the nozzle array in the transportation direction;
• the middle radiation portion does not overlap the nozzle array in the transportation direction;
• and
• the controller is configured or programmed to include:
• a path controller to control a path operation of ejecting ink from the nozzle array of the recording head onto the medium supported by the support table while moving the recoding head and the light radiation device in the scanning direction;
• and
• a first light radiation controller to control the light radiation device, during the path operation, to provide an on/off pattern of turning on the upstream radiation portion, turning off the middle radiation portion, and turning on the downstream radiation portion.

A printing device, comprising:

• a support table to support a medium;
• a recording head provided above the support table and including a nozzle array that includes a plurality of nozzles from which ink is capable of being ejected onto the medium supported by the support table, the nozzles being lined up in a transportation direction;
• a light radiation device provided above the support table and including a light source and a case with a radiation opening through which light emitted from the light source passes, the case accommodating the light source;
• a moving mechanism to move the recording head and the light radiation device integrally in a scanning direction crossing the transportation direction as seen in a plan view;
• and
• a controller;
• wherein
• where the light radiation device is divided in the transportation direction into three portions including an upstream radiation portion, a middle radiation portion and a downstream radiation portion from an upstream side to a downstream side, the upstream radiation portion, the middle radiation portion and the downstream radiation portion are capable of being turned on or off independently;
• the upstream radiation portion overlaps the nozzle array in the transportation direction;
• no light-blocking component is provided at a border between the upstream radiation portion and the middle radiation portion or a border between the middle radiation portion and the downstream radiation portion;
• and
• the controller is configured or programmed to include:
• a path controller to control a path operation of ejecting ink from the nozzle array of the recording head onto the medium supported by the support table while moving the recoding head and the light radiation device in the scanning direction;
• and
• a first light radiation controller to control the light radiation device, during the path operation, to provide an on/off pattern of turning on the upstream radiation portion, turning off the middle radiation portion, and turning on the downstream radiation portion.