JP2011050837A - Liquid body heating device, and liquid body discharge device with the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently and stably discharge high viscous liquid body. <P>SOLUTION: The liquid body heating device 50 includes: a liquid droplet discharge head 60 having a liquid body introducing part 61 and discharging the liquid body introduced from the liquid body introducing part 61 as liquid droplets; a carriage 40 loaded with the liquid droplet discharge head 60; a cover member 51 fixed to the carriage 40 and forming a closed space M surrounding the liquid body introducing part 61 of the liquid droplet discharge head 60; and a heating means 52 heating the carriage 40 and cover member 51. A flow path 54 feeding the liquid body to the liquid body introducing part 61 of the liquid droplet discharge head 60 is disposed in the closed space M heated by the heating means 52. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid material heating apparatus that heats a high-viscosity liquid material, and a liquid material discharge apparatus including the same.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a liquid material ejecting apparatus is known as an apparatus that draws an image pattern by ejecting a liquid material as droplets onto a recording medium. A liquid material ejecting apparatus includes a table on which a recording medium is mounted and the recording medium is moved in one direction, and a carriage that moves along a guide rail disposed in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the table at a position above the table. And. A droplet discharge head in which a plurality of nozzles are regularly formed is mounted on the carriage. Then, while relatively moving the recording medium placed on the table and the carriage, droplets are ejected from a droplet ejection head mounted on the carriage on the recording medium to form an image pattern.

  In recent years, there is a desire to form an image pattern on a recording medium that does not allow ink to penetrate, such as resin, metal, and glass. Therefore, a photocurable ink having a property of being cured by ultraviolet rays is ejected from a droplet ejection head (recording head), landed on a recording medium, and irradiated and irradiated with ultraviolet rays to form an image pattern. However, since this type of photocurable ink generally has a high viscosity, it cannot be ejected from a droplet ejection head at room temperature, and even if ejected, ejection characteristics become unstable. For this reason, there has been proposed a liquid material ejection device (inkjet recording device) in which a droplet ejection head is provided with a heater to adjust the temperature of the droplet ejection head or ink (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2004-338176 A

  In the above-described liquid material discharge apparatus, a heater is provided in the droplet discharge head, and the temperature of the droplet discharge head is increased to adjust the temperature of the ink. However, in this method, the temperature of the ink in the droplet discharge head becomes a predetermined temperature, but the temperature of the ink in the flow path before reaching the droplet discharge head is low. Therefore, in order to stably discharge the liquid material from the droplet discharge head, it is necessary to heat the ink supplied into the droplet discharge head until the temperature reaches a predetermined temperature. As a result, work efficiency may be reduced.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to solve at least a part of the problems described above, and the invention can be implemented as the following forms or application examples.

  (Application Example 1) A liquid droplet introducing head that has a liquid material introducing portion and discharges the liquid material introduced from the liquid material introducing portion as droplets, a carriage on which the liquid droplet discharging head is mounted, and the carriage A cover member fixed to form a closed space surrounding the liquid material introduction part side of the droplet discharge head, and a heating means for heating the carriage and the cover member, and the liquid of the droplet discharge head A liquid material heating apparatus, wherein a flow path for supplying the liquid material to a body introduction portion is disposed in the closed space heated by the heating means.

  According to this configuration, the liquid material flowing through the flow path can be heated by disposing the flow path for supplying the liquid material to the droplet discharge head in the heated closed space. Therefore, the viscosity of the liquid can be reduced, and the liquid can be stably discharged from the droplet discharge head. In addition, since the temperature of the liquid material can be increased before being supplied to the droplet discharge head, the heating time in the droplet discharge head can be shortened. Therefore, work efficiency can be improved. The closed space does not mean a completely sealed state, but may be a space that can heat the inner region.

  (Application Example 2) The liquid material warming apparatus described above, wherein the heating unit is provided in the vicinity of the droplet discharge head of the carriage.

  According to this configuration, the heating unit can heat the closed space formed by the carriage and the cover member, and can also heat the droplet discharge head itself.

  (Application Example 3) The liquid material warming device described above, wherein the flow path is a flexible tube, and has a portion in contact with the carriage and the inner surface of the cover member forming the closed space .

  According to this configuration, the flow path can be freely routed in the closed space. Moreover, the flow path can be brought into contact with the cover member heated by the heating means, and the liquid material in the flow path can be efficiently heated.

  (Application Example 4) The liquid material warming apparatus described above, wherein the flow path is a flexible tube and has a portion covered with a tube cover made of a metal material.

  According to this configuration, the flow path can efficiently receive heat energy through the tube cover having good thermal conductivity. Therefore, the liquid material in the flow path can be efficiently heated.

  (Application Example 5) The liquid material warming apparatus described above, wherein a tank for storing the liquid material is provided on an outer surface of any one of the cover members heated by the heating unit.

  According to this configuration, the liquid material stored in the tank can also be heated by the same heating means. Therefore, the structure can be simplified and the liquid can be efficiently heated.

  (Application Example 6) The liquid material warming apparatus described above, wherein the liquid material is a photocurable ink that is cured by irradiation with light.

  According to this configuration, the viscosity of the photocurable ink can be reduced, and the photocurable ink can be stably discharged from the droplet discharge head.

  Application Example 7 The above-described liquid material heating apparatus, a liquid droplet ejection head that ejects a photocurable liquid material as liquid droplets onto a recording medium, and light irradiation that irradiates light onto the liquid droplets that have landed on the recording medium And a table on which the storage medium is placed, and the pattern made of the liquid material is formed on the recording medium while relatively moving the carriage and the table. Liquid material discharge device.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to provide a liquid material ejecting apparatus that can reduce the viscosity of the photocurable ink with a simple structure and can stably eject the photocurable ink from the droplet ejection head. Can do.

The schematic perspective view which shows the structure of a liquid discharger. The figure explaining a carriage. The figure which shows a droplet discharge head. The schematic sectional drawing explaining the liquid body heating apparatus of 1st Example. The schematic sectional drawing explaining the liquid body heating apparatus of 2nd Example. The schematic sectional drawing explaining the liquid body heating apparatus of 3rd Example. The schematic sectional drawing explaining the liquid body heating apparatus of a 1st modification.

  The liquid material discharge device in the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. For easy understanding, each member in each drawing is illustrated with a simplified structure and a different scale for each member.

(About the overall configuration of the liquid material discharge device)
The overall configuration of the liquid material discharge apparatus in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing the configuration of the liquid material discharge device. The X direction shown in FIG. 1 indicates the movement direction of the carriage on which the droplet discharge head is mounted, the Y direction indicates the movement direction of the table on which the recording medium is placed, and the Z direction is the X direction and the Y direction. The orthogonal direction is shown.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the liquid discharge device 100 includes a base 10, a table moving mechanism 20, a carriage moving mechanism 30, a carriage 40, and a control unit 15. The base 10 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and is installed on the installation surface so that the longitudinal direction is along the Y direction.

  The table moving mechanism 20 includes a pair of guide rails 22a and 22b, a table 24, and a linear motion mechanism (not shown). The guide rails 22a and 22b are disposed on the upper surface 10a of the base 10 over the entire width in the Y direction so as to extend in the Y direction. The table 24 is formed in a rectangular shape, and a mounting surface 24a is provided on the upper surface in the Z direction. A suction-type medium fixing mechanism (not shown) is provided on the mounting surface 24a. The recording medium W is fixed to the placement surface 24a by a medium fixing mechanism. The table 24 is attached to the upper part in the Z direction of the pair of guide rails 22a and 22b.

  The linear motion mechanism is provided below the table 24 and reciprocates the table 24 in the Y direction. Hereinafter, the direction in which the table 24 moves is referred to as the sub-scanning direction. The type of the linear motion mechanism is not particularly limited, but can be configured by combining a servo motor and a ball screw. In addition, a linear motor may be adopted.

  The carriage moving mechanism 30 includes a guide member 32, a carriage mounting portion 33, and a linear motion mechanism (not shown). The guide member 32 is constructed so as to extend in the X direction on a pair of support bases 31 a and 31 b erected on both sides in the X direction of the base 10. The guide member 32 is formed so that its longitudinal width is longer than the width of the table 24 in the X direction, and one end of the guide member 32 protrudes toward the support base 31a. Under the guide member 32, a guide rail 34 extending in the X direction is disposed over the entire width in the X direction. A carriage mounting portion 33 is disposed along the guide rail 34. The carriage mounting portion 33 includes a linear motion mechanism (not shown) and can reciprocate in the X direction. Although the kind of this linear motion mechanism is not specifically limited, For example, a linear motor is employable. The X direction in which the carriage mounting portion 33 moves is referred to as the main scanning direction.

  The carriage 40 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape, includes a head unit 41, a liquid material heating device 50, and a pair of light irradiation devices 42, and is attached to the carriage attachment portion 33 described above. The head unit 41 is equipped with a plurality of droplet discharge heads. A pair of light irradiation apparatus 42 is provided with the lamp | ramp and LED (Light Emitting Diode) which irradiate an ultraviolet-ray. The liquid material heating device 50 is a device that heats a droplet discharge head, a flow path for supplying a liquid material to the droplet discharge head, and the like.

The head unit 41 is provided at a substantially central portion of the carriage 40. At this time, the nozzle for ejecting droplets of the droplet ejection head mounted on the head unit 41 faces the recording medium W placed on the table 24 downward, that is, on the table 24. The pair of light irradiation devices 42 are disposed on the lower surface in the Z direction of the carriage 40 so as to sandwich the head unit 41 along the X direction in FIG. The liquid material heating device 50 is disposed at the upper part of the carriage 40 in the Z direction so as to surround the upper part of the head unit 41.
Details of the carriage 40 and the liquid material heating device 50 will be described later.

  A main tank 45 is disposed above the guide member 32 of the carriage moving mechanism 30. The main tank 45 contains a liquid material containing a functional material. The liquid material in the main tank 45 is supplied to the droplet discharge head of the head unit 41 via a tube as a flow path (not shown).

  The control unit 15 is provided on the side surface of the base 10 and plays a role of comprehensively controlling the liquid material discharge device 100. The control unit 15 includes various drivers (not shown), a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a memory unit, an image processing unit, and the like. The driver drives the droplet discharge head, the table moving mechanism 20, the carriage moving mechanism 30, and the like. The CPU executes various processes such as drawing, discharge state inspection, and drying. The memory unit has a configuration including a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read-Only Memory), and the like. The RAM stores drawing data, temporarily develops programs such as various processes executed by the CPU, and temporarily stores various data.

  The liquid material discharge device 100 includes a maintenance unit (not shown) in addition to the above configuration. The maintenance unit has a suction unit, a wiping unit, and the like (not shown). The suction unit seals the nozzle surface of the droplet discharge head to prevent drying of the nozzle when the liquid discharge device 100 is not in operation, and sucks and removes the thickened liquid from the nozzle of the droplet discharge head. Play a role. The wiping unit plays a role of wiping off dirt adhering to the nozzle surface of the droplet discharge head.

  The liquid material ejecting apparatus 100 having the above-described configuration is configured to move a plurality of liquid discharge heads while relatively moving a plurality of liquid droplet ejection heads mounted on the carriage 40 and a recording medium W placed on the table 24 in a substantially orthogonal direction. The liquid material can be discharged as droplets from the droplet discharge head, and a desired pattern can be drawn on the recording medium W mounted on the table 24 with the liquid material. In the present embodiment, the liquid used is a photocurable ink that is cured by ultraviolet rays as described below. Therefore, the liquid material of the pattern can be cured and fixed by irradiating the drawn pattern with ultraviolet rays by the light irradiation device 42 described above.

(About photo-curable ink)
Here, an outline of the photocurable ink used in the present embodiment will be described.
The photo-curable ink is generally called UV ink, and is an ink that undergoes a photochemical reaction with ultraviolet energy and cures from liquid to solid to form a film. The ink is mainly composed of a photopolymerizable resin, a photopolymerization initiator, a colorant and an auxiliary agent. By adding functional materials such as pigments or dyes such as pigments or dyes, surface modifying materials such as lyophilic or liquid repellency to the main material, a functional liquid having an inherent function can be formed. it can.

  As the photopolymerizable resin, an unsaturated polyester, acrylate, or methacrylate can be suitably applied, but it is not particularly limited as long as it is a material that is liquid at room temperature and becomes a polymer by polymerization. As the photopolymerization initiator, a benzophenone series, a benzoin series, an acetophenone series, or a thioxanthone series can be suitably applied, but it is not particularly limited as long as it is an additive that acts on a crosslinkable group of a polymer to advance a crosslinking reaction. The auxiliary agent has a function of promoting the initiation reaction of the photopolymerization initiator. Also included are thermal polymerization inhibitors that do not undergo a polymerization reaction upon heating. A pigment is often used as the colorant. Since the ultraviolet absorption characteristics and storage stability vary depending on the type of pigment, an appropriate type is selected.

  The photocurable ink having the above-described configuration receives ultraviolet energy, and particularly the photopolymerizable resin is cured by causing a photochemical reaction. The reaction process of the photopolymerizable resin starts from the start of the reaction and ends with a termination reaction while repeating the growth reaction and the chain transfer reaction in a chain. Finally, a cured film having a three-dimensional network structure is formed.

  Moreover, since the photocurable ink has the above-described configuration, the viscosity is generally high. For example, when the ink temperature is about 20 ° C., the viscosity is about 28 mPa / s. With this viscosity, it is difficult to stably eject the photocurable ink from the droplet ejection head. This photocurable ink has the property that the viscosity decreases as the ink temperature increases. For example, when the ink temperature is about 40 ° C., the viscosity decreases to about 11 mPa / s, and when the ink temperature is about 50 ° C., the viscosity decreases to about 8 mPa / s. Therefore, in order to stably eject the photocurable ink from the droplet ejection head, it is important to heat the ink.

(About carriage configuration)
Next, the configuration of the carriage will be described with reference to FIG. 2A and 2B are diagrams illustrating the carriage. FIG. 2A is a schematic side view of the carriage, and FIG. 2B is a schematic plan view of the carriage as viewed from the bottom side. The X direction, Y direction, and Z direction shown in FIG. 2 indicate the same directions as the X direction, Y direction, and Z direction shown in FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the carriage 40 includes a head unit 41, a liquid material heating device 50, and a pair of light irradiation devices 42.
The head unit 41 is attached to a substantially central portion on the lower surface of the carriage 40. In the head unit 41, for example, three droplet discharge heads 60 are arranged on the surface 41a on the recording medium W side at a predetermined interval in the X direction (main scanning direction). The droplet discharge head 60 has a plurality of nozzles 67 arranged in a row in the Y direction (sub-scanning direction) on a nozzle plate 64 on the lower surface side. The number of droplet discharge heads 60 is not particularly limited, and can be set according to the type of work.

  As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the pair of light irradiation devices 42 are disposed so as to sandwich the head unit 41 from both sides along the X direction in the drawing. The pair of light irradiation devices 42 have the same structure, and an irradiation window 43 is formed on the recording medium W side. The light irradiation device 42 has a light emitting unit (not shown) inside. In the light emitting unit, for example, a large number of LED elements are arranged, and the LED elements emit ultraviolet light that is ultraviolet light when supplied with electric power. The emitted ultraviolet light is irradiated from the irradiation window 43 of the light irradiation device 42 to the recording medium W side.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, the liquid material heating device 50 is formed in a box shape and is disposed at the upper portion of the carriage 40 in the Z direction so as to surround the upper portion of the head unit 41. The details of the liquid material heating device 50 will be described later.

(Regarding the configuration of the droplet discharge head)
Next, the droplet discharge head will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the droplet discharge head, and more specifically, a perspective view seen from the bottom side. The X direction, Y direction, and Z direction shown in FIG. 3 are the same directions as the X direction, Y direction, and Z direction shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, the droplet discharge head 60 includes a liquid material introducing portion 61, a head substrate 62, a head body 65, and a connector 66.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the liquid material introducing portion 61 is formed in a square shape, has two connection needles 68, and is provided on one surface of the head substrate 62. The head substrate 62 is formed in a rectangular plate shape whose length in the longitudinal direction is longer than the length in the longitudinal direction of the liquid material introducing portion 61, and two connectors 66 are provided on the surface on which the liquid material introducing portion 61 is provided. Is provided. The head main body 65 is formed in a square shape, and is provided on the surface of the head substrate 62 opposite to the surface on which the liquid material introducing portion 61 is provided so as to face the liquid material introducing portion 61.

  The head main body 65 includes a pump part 63 that is continuous with the liquid material introducing part 61 and a nozzle plate 64 that is continuous with the pump part 63. A plurality of nozzles 67 are formed on the nozzle surface 64 a of the nozzle plate 64. The plurality of nozzles 67 form a nozzle row 67a on the nozzle surface 64a with a predetermined pitch interval along the Y direction.

  The pump unit 63 is provided with a piezoelectric element (not shown). By driving the piezoelectric element, the liquid material supplied from the liquid material introducing unit 61 is ejected as droplets from the nozzle 67. One piezoelectric element is provided corresponding to one nozzle 67, and droplets can be ejected independently for each nozzle 67.

  When the droplet discharge head 60 is attached to the carriage 40 shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B and the liquid material discharge device 100 shown in FIG. 1, the nozzle 67 corresponds to FIGS. 1 and 2A. Lower in the middle Z direction, that is, opposed to the recording medium W placed on the table 24, the liquid material introducing portion 61 and the two connecting needles 68 face upward in the Z direction in FIGS. 1 and 2A.

(About liquid heating device)
(First embodiment)
Here, the configuration of the liquid material heating apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the liquid material heating apparatus of the first embodiment. In order to simplify the description, a case where there is one droplet discharge head will be described. Moreover, the X direction, Y direction, and Z direction shown in FIG. 4 show the same directions as the X direction, Y direction, and Z direction shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 4, the liquid material warming device 50 of the first embodiment includes a cover 51 as a cover member, a heater 52 as a heating means, and a temperature detector 53.
The cover 51 is formed in a box shape using a material having high thermal conductivity, and is fixed with the opening facing the carriage 40 side. In addition, as a highly heat conductive material, materials, such as copper and aluminum, are applied suitably, for example. The closed space M formed by the cover 51 and the carriage 40 accommodates at least the liquid material introducing portion 61 and the connection needle 68 of the droplet discharge head 60. In addition, a hole 51a through which a supply tube 54 for supplying a liquid material from the main tank 45 shown in FIG. The supply tube 54 is drawn into the closed space M, is drawn around the closed space M, and is connected to the connection needle 68 of the droplet discharge head 60.

  For example, a rod-shaped cartridge heater is used as the heater 52 and is embedded in the vicinity of the droplet discharge head 60 of the carriage 40 where it is fixed. In the present embodiment, two are embedded on both sides along the longitudinal direction of the droplet discharge head 60. The kind of heater 52 is not specifically limited. In this embodiment, a rod-shaped cartridge heater is applied. However, for example, a plate heater may be attached to the attachment direction of the cover 51 of the carriage 40 or the inner wall of the cover 51. Further, the linear heater may be attached to the direction of attaching the cover 51 of the carriage 40 or to the inner wall of the cover 51.

  Three temperature detectors 53 are provided on the inner wall surface of the closed space M formed by the cover 51 and the carriage 40, for example, near the heater 52 of the carriage 40 and the top surface of the cover 51. The number and position are not particularly limited. It can be set according to the type of liquid used, the type of heater 52, and the required temperature accuracy. The method of the temperature detector 53 is not particularly limited. In this embodiment, a thermocouple method is applied, but a resistance temperature measurement method or other temperature measuring devices may be used.

  The temperature detector 53 detects the ambient temperature of the closed space M formed by the cover 51 and the carriage 40. The detected temperature data is sent to the control unit 15 shown in FIG. 1, and based on the temperature data, predetermined power is supplied to or stopped from the heater 52 to adjust the ambient temperature of the closed space M to a desired temperature. .

The effects of this example will be described below.
(1) The liquid material heating device 50 having the above-described configuration heats the carriage 40 with a heater 52 to heat the carriage 40 and the entire highly heat-conductive cover 51 fixed to the carriage 40. By heating the carriage 40 and the cover 51, the ambient temperature of the closed space M formed by the cover 51 and the carriage 40 can be heated to a constant temperature. The high-viscosity photocurable ink discharged by the droplet discharge head 60 flows through the inside of the supply tube 54 and reaches the droplet discharge head 60. The supply tube 54 is drawn around the closed space M heated to a certain temperature. Therefore, the photocurable ink in the supply tube 54 is heated.

  The droplet discharge head 60 fixed to the carriage 40 is also heated by transferring the heat of the carriage 40, so that the photocurable ink in the droplet discharge head 60 is also heated. As described above, the viscosity of the photocurable ink decreases as the ink temperature increases. As a result, the photocurable ink can be stably discharged from the droplet discharge head 60. In addition, the temperature of the photocurable ink can be raised before the photocurable ink is supplied to the droplet discharge head 60. Therefore, the heating time in the droplet discharge head can be shortened, and the working efficiency can be improved.

  (2) The liquid material heating device 50 having the above-described configuration arranges the supply tube 54 through which the photocurable ink flows in the heated closed space M, and gradually heats the photocurable ink. . That is, it is possible to reduce the rapid increase in the ink temperature of the photocurable ink and to heat the ink to a predetermined temperature. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the generation of minute bubbles or the like in the ink and the change of the ink component. As a result, the photocurable ink can be stably discharged from the droplet discharge head 60.

  (3) The liquid material warming device 50 having the above-described configuration effectively uses the heat conduction of the heater 52 as a heating means, and has a simple structure and photocurability in the supply tube 54 and the droplet discharge head 60. Ink can be heated. Therefore, the apparatus can be made simple and compact, and the apparatus cost can be reduced.

(Second embodiment)
Here, the liquid material heating apparatus of 2nd Example is demonstrated with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the liquid material heating apparatus in the second embodiment. In addition, about the structure and content similar to 1st Example, a code | symbol is made equal and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the liquid material warming device 50 a according to the second embodiment partially or entirely with respect to the connection needle 68 of the droplet discharge head 60 and the supply tube 54 connected to the connection needle 68. It is covered with a tube cover 55. The tube cover 55 is made of a highly heat conductive material. For example, a copper foil or an aluminum foil is preferably used as the high thermal conductivity material. The supply tube 54 covered with the tube cover 55 is composed of the cover 51 and the carriage 40, and is drawn around the closed space M where the temperature has risen by the heater 52. Note that the tube cover 55 is preferably in partial contact with the surface of the carriage 40 and the inner wall of the cover 51.

  The liquid heating apparatus 50a having the above-described configuration is arranged so as to cover the supply tube 54 with a tube cover 55 formed of a highly heat conductive material and to draw around the heated closed space M. Therefore, the thermal energy of the closed space M is easily transmitted to the supply tube 54 and the photocurable ink flowing through the supply tube 54, and the photocurable ink can be efficiently heated. As a result, the viscosity of the photocurable ink can be reduced, and the photocurable ink can be stably discharged from the droplet discharge head 60.

(Third embodiment)
Here, the liquid material heating apparatus of the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the liquid material heating apparatus in the third embodiment. In addition, about the structure and content similar to 1st Example, a code | symbol is made equal and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the liquid material warming device 50 b of the third embodiment has a closed space M in which a supply tube 54 connected to a connection needle 68 of a droplet discharge head 60 is constituted by a carriage 40 and a cover 51. Along the inner wall. That is, a considerable portion of the supply tube 54 is in contact with the surface of the carriage 40 whose temperature has been raised by the heater 52 and the inner wall portion of the cover 51. Therefore, the supply tube 54 receives the heat energy from the heated closed space M and the heated carriage 40 and the inner wall of the cover 51, and efficiently heats the photocurable ink flowing therethrough. can do. As a result, the viscosity of the photocurable ink can be reduced, and the photocurable ink can be stably discharged from the droplet discharge head 60.

  As mentioned above, although the Example of this invention was described, various deformation | transformation can be added with respect to the said Example in the range which does not deviate from the meaning of this invention. For example, modifications other than the above embodiment are as follows.

(First modification)
As shown in FIG. The liquid material warming device 50 according to the first modification is provided so that the sub tank 58 in which the liquid material is temporarily stored is in close contact with the outer wall of the cover 51. The sub tank 58 is preferably an ink pack whose main material is a material such as an aluminum foil having good thermal conductivity, for example. The photocurable ink is sent from the main tank 45 shown in FIG. 1 to the sub tank 58 via the second supply tube 59. The second supply tube 59 may be a flexible tube that has a relatively large diameter and allows a relatively high viscosity photocurable ink to flow therethrough. The sub-tank 58 stores an amount of photo-curable ink necessary for the current discharge operation. As described above, the cover 51 is heated.

  Therefore, the sub tank 58 receives the heat energy from the cover 51 and is heated. The photocurable ink stored in the sub tank 58 is similarly heated by receiving thermal energy. That is, the photocurable ink is heated by receiving heat energy from the outer wall of the cover 51 heated by the heater 52, the closed space M formed by the carriage 40 and the cover 51, and the droplet discharge head 60. Can do. That is, the photocurable ink can be efficiently heated. As a result, the viscosity of the photocurable ink can be reduced, and the photocurable ink can be stably discharged from the droplet discharge head 60. The attachment position of the sub tank 58 is not limited to the outer wall of the cover 51, and may be the outer surface of the light irradiation device 42 that generates heat by the light emitting unit or the outer surface of the carriage 40.

(Other variations)
In the above-described embodiments, the case where the liquid material ejected from the droplet ejection head is the photocurable ink has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. Any liquid material may be used as long as it has a characteristic that the viscosity is lowered by heating. Moreover, although the case where the heater 52 was provided in the carriage 40 was demonstrated, it is not limited to this. The heater 52 may be provided on the cover 51. Any position where the closed space M formed by the carriage and the cover 51 can be heated may be used.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Base, 15 ... Control part, 24 ... Table, 30 ... Carriage moving mechanism, 32 ... Guide member, 40 ... Carriage, 41 ... Head unit, 42 ... Light irradiation apparatus, 45 ... Main tank, 50 ... Liquid substance addition Temperature device, 51 ... Cover as cover member, 52 ... Heater as heating means, 53 ... Temperature detector, 54 ... Supply tube as flow path, 55 ... Tube cover, 58 ... Sub tank as tank, 59 ... Second Supply tube, 60 ... droplet discharge head, 61 ... liquid material introduction part, 64 ... nozzle plate, 67 ... nozzle, 68 ... connection needle, 100 ... liquid material discharge device, M ... closed space composed of carriage and cover, W: Recording medium.

Claims (7)

A liquid droplet introduction head having a liquid material introduction portion, and ejecting the liquid material introduced from the liquid material introduction portion as droplets;
A carriage on which the droplet discharge head is mounted;
A cover member fixed to the carriage and forming a closed space surrounding the liquid material introduction part side of the droplet discharge head;
Heating means for heating the carriage and the cover member,
A liquid material heating apparatus, wherein a flow path for supplying the liquid material to the liquid material introduction portion of the droplet discharge head is disposed in the closed space heated by the heating means.   The liquid heating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heating unit is provided in the vicinity of the droplet discharge head of the carriage.   3. The liquid material heating according to claim 1, wherein the flow path is a flexible tube, and includes a portion that is in contact with an inner surface of the carriage and the cover member that form the closed space. apparatus.   4. The liquid material heating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the flow path is a flexible tube and has a portion covered with a tube cover made of a metal material. 5.   5. The liquid material heating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a tank that stores the liquid material is provided on an outer surface of any one of the cover members heated by the heating unit. .   The liquid material heating device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid material is a photocurable ink that is cured by irradiation with light. The liquid material heating apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, a liquid droplet discharge head that discharges a photocurable liquid material as a liquid droplet onto a recording medium, and the liquid droplet that has landed on the recording medium. A carriage on which a light irradiation unit for irradiating light is mounted; and a table on which the storage medium is placed.
A liquid material ejecting apparatus, wherein the liquid material pattern is formed on the recording medium while relatively moving the carriage and the table.

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