US 9,527,306 B2 · Inkjet printer and printing method

Abstract

The effect of air resistance acting on ink drops discharged from nozzles of an ink-jet head is appropriately controlled, for example, by means of a method suitable for a breathable medium, such as a cloth and the like. In this way, for example, high-resolution printing, printing with a great gap distance, and the like is properly implemented. An ink-jet printer 10, for printing on a breathable medium 50 through which air passes from a printing surface to a rear surface, includes an ink-jet head 12 for discharging ink drops toward the medium 50, and a rear side component 14, having a hollow portion that opens its space toward the rear surface of the medium 50; and then ink-jet head 12 includes nozzles for discharging ink drops to the medium 50, and an airflow blowing section for blowing airflow, at least a part of the airflow going through a travel path of the ink drops, and the airflow moving toward the medium 50 together with the ink drops; and the rear side component 14 receives the airflow, passing through from the printing surface of the medium 50 to the rear surface of the same, with the hollow portion.

Claims15

Dependent claims

An ink-jet printer for printing on a breathable medium having a printing surface and a back surface, comprising:

an ink-jet head for discharging ink drops to the medium;
and
a back side component provided at a side of the back surface of the medium, wherein the back side component has a hollow portion with an opening that opens towards the back surface of the medium;
wherein the ink-jet head includes:
nozzles for discharging the ink drops to the medium along respective travel paths;
and
an airflow blowing section for providing airflow to the medium with the ink drops, wherein at least a part of the airflow passes through at least one of the travel paths of the ink drops;
wherein the hollow portion of the back side component is configured to receive the airflow passing through from the printing surface of the medium to the back surface of the medium;
wherein the airflow blowing section includes a main airflow blowing port for blowing a main airflow and at least one sub airflow blowing port for blowing a sub airflow, the sub airflow blowing port being adjacent to the main airflow blowing port, the sub airflow being configured to stream along the main airflow and keep the main airflow as a laminar flow;
and
wherein each travel path of the ink drops passes through the main airflow blowing port.

8 more elements

An ink jet printing method for printing on a breathable medium having a printing surface and a back surface, comprising:

discharging ink drops from nozzles to the medium along respective travel paths;
providing airflow to the medium with the ink drops;
passing at least a part of the airflow through at least one of the travel paths of the ink drops;
and
receiving the airflow passing through from the printing surface of the medium to the back surface of the medium;
wherein a back side component is provided at a side of the back surface of the medium and includes a hollow portion with an opening that opens towards the back surface of the medium;
wherein providing airflow to the medium with the ink drops includes providing airflow through a main airflow blowing port for blowing a main airflow and at least one sub airflow blowing port for blowing a sub airflow, the sub airflow blowing port being adjacent to the main airflow blowing port, the sub airflow being configured to stream along the main airflow and keep the main airflow as a laminar flow;
and
wherein each travel path of the ink drops passes through the main airflow blowing port.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Inkjet printer and printing method

Life of this patent

Inkjet printer and printing method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15