Inkjet printer and printing method

An inkjet printer configured to perform printing using an inkjet scheme on a print object, the inkjet printer comprising:

• an inkjet head that discharges ink droplets;
• a Y direction extending member that retains the inkjet head by making the inkjet head face the print object and that extends in a Y direction predeterminedly set in the inkjet printer;
• and
• an X direction driving section that moves the Y direction extending member in an X direction orthogonal to the Y direction,
• wherein upon printing, the inkjet head moves along the Y direction extending member and discharges the ink droplets toward the print object, and
• the X direction driving section includes one ball screw and moves the Y direction extending member in the X direction in accordance with a rotation amount of the ball screw,
• the inkjet printer further comprising:
• a platform section being a platform-shaped member provided on a lower side in a direction of gravity than the inkjet head and the Y direction extending member;
• a guiding member that guides movement of the Y direction extending member in the X direction by a structure that extends in the X direction on the platform section;
• and
• a supporting member being a member that supports the Y direction extending member on the platform section and that includes a guided section movable in the X direction along the guiding member;
• the inkjet printer further comprising:
• a print object mounting section on which the print object is mounted,
• wherein each of the Y direction extending member and the guided section is arranged above and under each other by being apart in the direction of gravity, with a portion where the print object is mounted in the print object mounting section as a center.

An inkjet printer configured to perform printing using an inkjet scheme on a print object, the inkjet printer comprising:

• an inkjet head that discharges ink droplets;
• a Y direction extending member that retains the inkjet head by making the inkjet head face the print object and that extends in a Y direction predeterminedly set in the inkjet printer;
• and
• an X direction driving section that moves the Y direction extending member in an X direction orthogonal to the Y direction,
• wherein upon printing, the inkjet head moves along the Y direction extending member and discharges the ink droplets toward the print object, and
• the X direction driving section includes one ball screw and moves the Y direction extending member in the X direction in accordance with a rotation amount of the ball screw,
• wherein
• the inkjet printer is capable of performing printing on the print object having a height, in a direction along which the inkjet head discharges the ink droplets, of 10 cm or more.

A printing method configured to perform printing using an inkjet scheme on a print object, wherein the printing method uses:

• an inkjet head that discharges ink droplets,
• a Y direction extending member that retains the inkjet head by making the inkjet head face the print object and that extends in a Y direction predeterminedly set in the inkjet printer,
• an X direction driving section that moves the Y direction extending member in an X direction orthogonal to the Y direction,
• a platform section being a platform-shaped member provided on a lower side in a direction of gravity than the inkjet head and the Y direction extending member,
• a guiding member that guides movement of the Y direction extending member in the X direction by a structure that extends in the X direction on the platform section, and
• a guided section that is disposed at sides of the Y direction extending member, and the Y direction extending member is movable along the guiding member, and the Y direction extending member is movable in the X direction,
• upon printing, the inkjet head is moved along the Y direction extending member and is caused to discharge the ink droplets toward the print object;
• and
• the X direction driving section includes a ball screw and moves the Y direction extending member in the X direction in accordance with a rotation amount of the ball screw, and the ball screw is disposed at a central position in the Y direction of the Y direction extending member.