JP4892979B2 - Pattern forming method and droplet discharge apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a pattern forming method and a droplet discharge device.

  Conventionally, a method for forming a thick film pattern such as Braille for visually handicapped persons or a serial number of various electronic components is performed by ejecting droplets toward an object and curing the droplets that have landed on the object. A so-called ink-jet method for forming a film is known.

  In the ink jet method, a pattern can be formed in a self-aligned manner based on the shape of the landed droplet in order to cure the droplet and form a pattern. Therefore, the plate making process for forming a mask or the like can be omitted from the pattern forming process, and the productivity of the pattern can be easily improved.

  However, when using the inkjet method to increase the thickness of the pattern, the surface of the liquid or the surface of the object is affected by the wetting and spreading of the landed liquid droplets or the penetration of the liquid droplets into the object. It must be suppressed depending on the situation. As a result, there is a problem that the type of liquid and the surface state of the object are restricted, and the application range is remarkably narrowed.

In view of this, in such an ink jet method, a proposal has been made in the past in which it is easy to increase the thickness of a pattern and expand its application range (for example, Patent Document 1). In Patent Document 1, ink curing means for curing a liquid material is mounted on a droplet discharge device, and the landed droplets are cured immediately after the landing. Then, by repeatedly discharging and curing the droplets, wetting and spreading of the landed droplets and penetration of the droplets into the object are avoided, and the application range is expanded.
JP 2002-144555 A

  However, in Patent Document 1, in order to instantaneously cure the landed droplet, the following problem has been caused. That is, in Patent Document 1, the film thickness of a pattern that can be formed by one discharge / curing is limited to the volume of droplets that can be discharged at one time (for example, several tens of picoliters). Therefore, the film thickness of the pattern that can be formed by one discharge / curing is limited, and in order to form a thick film pattern (for example, a pattern having a thickness of 0.2 to 0.5 mm), several dozen to Several hundred discharges and curing must be repeated. As a result, there has been a problem that the productivity of the thick film pattern is remarkably impaired.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems, and its purpose is to increase the degree of freedom of design related to the material for forming the thick film pattern and the object, and to improve the productivity. A forming method and a droplet discharge device are provided.

The pattern forming method of the present invention, forms a pattern on the object by issuing ejection droplets wet and spread in the object in the pattern formation region of the object, to cure the liquid droplet landed on the pattern forming region in the pattern forming method so as to, after discharging a first droplet of several to form a hemispherical shape by the pattern forming region from a plurality of nozzles arranged in a first direction, the said plurality of 1 By irradiating light that extends in the first direction so as to overlap the liquid droplets, a fixed pattern in which the plurality of first liquid droplets are cured is formed, and the discharge of the first liquid droplets and the first liquid droplets are performed. A region in which a plurality of fixed patterns are arranged in a circle so as to surround the outer edge of the pattern forming region by repeating curing of one droplet in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and surrounded by the fixed pattern More than one Filling pattern of discharging droplets, filling the pattern formation region by curing the plurality of second droplets coalesced to form a semi-spherical circle of the same diameter connecting the plurality of fixed pattern To form.

  According to the pattern formation method of the present invention, wetting and spreading of the combined second droplets can be suppressed in the pattern formation region by the plurality of fixed patterns formed on the outer edge of the pattern formation region. Therefore, regardless of the wettability of the second droplet with respect to the object and the surface state of the object, a larger number of second droplets can be formed in the pattern as much as the fixed pattern suppresses the wetting and spreading of the second droplet. The coalesced second droplets can be cured at the same timing, and can be coalesced within the formation region. As a result, the degree of freedom in designing the thick film pattern forming material and the object can be increased, and the productivity of the thick film pattern can be improved.

  Further, in this pattern forming method, before discharging the second droplet, the plurality of third droplets discharged to the region surrounded by the fixed pattern are cured and surrounded by the fixed pattern. A ground pattern that suppresses penetration of the second droplet into the object may be formed on the surface of the object.

  According to this pattern forming method, the penetration of the second droplet into the object can be suppressed by the base pattern. Therefore, the degree of freedom in designing the thick film pattern forming material and the object can be further expanded. Further, the productivity of the thick film pattern can be further improved by the amount of suppressing the penetration of the second droplet.

Further, in the pattern formation method may be the light to the first droplet landed before Symbol object so as to form the fixed pattern by irradiating.
According to this pattern forming method, the landed first droplet can be cured in a shorter time, and wetting spread and positional deviation of the first droplet can be avoided. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the positional deviation of the fixed pattern, the variation in size, and the like. As a result, the positional consistency of the pattern (fixed pattern and filling pattern) with respect to the pattern formation region can be improved. As a result, the productivity of the thick film pattern can be further improved.

Further, in the pattern formation method, the first droplet, Ri Do from the ultraviolet curable ink, UV is irradiated with so as to form the fixed pattern in the first droplet landed on the object May be.

  According to this pattern formation method, a fixed pattern can be formed by irradiating ultraviolet curable ink with ultraviolet rays. Therefore, it is possible to more effectively suppress the positional deviation and the size variation of the fixed pattern.

In this pattern formation method, the filling pattern may be formed by irradiating light onto the plurality of second droplets that are combined.
According to this pattern forming method, the united second droplets can be cured in a shorter time, and the combined wetting and misalignment of the second droplets can be more reliably avoided. be able to. Accordingly, it is possible to improve the position matching of the pattern (filling pattern) with respect to the pattern formation region. As a result, the productivity of the thick film pattern can be further improved.

Further, in the pattern formation method, the second droplet Ri Do from the ultraviolet curable ink, as by irradiating ultraviolet rays to the plurality of second droplets coalesce to form the filling pattern Also good.
According to this pattern forming method, a filling pattern can be formed by irradiating ultraviolet curable ink with ultraviolet rays. Therefore, it is possible to more effectively suppress the positional deviation and size variation of the filling pattern.

Droplet ejection apparatus of the present invention, a droplet discharge means for exiting ejection droplets wet and spread in the object on the object, and the droplet curing means for curing said droplets landed on the object, wherein A droplet ejection apparatus comprising: a droplet ejection unit; and a control unit configured to drive and control the droplet curing unit to form a pattern in which the droplet is cured on the object . A plurality of droplets are ejected from a plurality of nozzles arranged in a first direction so as to form a hemispherical shape in a pattern formation region of the object, and the liquid is scanned in a direction perpendicular to the first direction. droplet curing unit is configured to irradiate light extending in the first direction, such as to overlap with the plurality of first droplets being scanned in the second direction, wherein, prior Kipa turn-forming regions outer edge, from said plurality of nozzles first of the plurality of Thereby ejecting droplets, and fixed pattern data generating means for generating a fixed pattern data for a plurality of fixed patterns are arranged in a circle, such as by irradiating the light on the object to define the outer edges of the pattern forming region , Ejecting a plurality of second droplets from the plurality of nozzles to a region surrounded by the fixed pattern, and irradiating the object with the light to form a filling pattern in the region surrounded by the fixed pattern And filling pattern data generating means for generating filling pattern data for the purpose.

  According to the droplet discharge device of the present invention, a plurality of fixed patterns can be formed on the outer edge of the pattern formation region before discharging the second droplet. Therefore, wetting and spreading of the combined second droplets can be suppressed within the pattern formation region. As a result, regardless of the wettability of the second droplet with respect to the object and the surface state of the object, a larger number of second droplets can be obtained as much as the fixed pattern suppresses the wetting and spreading of the second droplet. The coalesced second droplets can be cured at the same timing. As a result, the degree of freedom in designing the thick film pattern forming material and the object can be increased, and the productivity of the thick film pattern can be improved.

  Further, in this droplet discharge device, the control unit discharges a plurality of third droplets to a region surrounded by the fixed pattern to suppress the penetration of the second droplets into the object. You may make it provide the base pattern data generation means which produces | generates the base pattern data for forming a pattern.

  According to this droplet discharge device, the penetration of the second droplet into the object can be suppressed by the base pattern. Therefore, the degree of freedom in designing the thick film pattern forming material and the object can be further expanded. Further, the productivity of the thick film pattern can be further improved by the amount of suppressing the penetration of the second droplet.

Further, in this droplet discharge device, the droplet discharge unit discharges a plurality of first droplets made of ultraviolet curable ink, and the droplet cure unit includes a light source that emits ultraviolet rays, and the control It means a pre-Symbol droplet curing means controls and drives, in the region of the first droplet landed on the object, may be irradiated with ultraviolet rays from the light source.

  According to this droplet discharge device, the landed first droplet can be cured in a shorter time by irradiation with ultraviolet rays. Accordingly, it is possible to avoid wetting and spreading of the first droplet, positional deviation, and the like, and it is possible to suppress positional deviation of the fixed pattern, variation in size, and the like. As a result, the positional consistency of the pattern (fixed pattern and filling pattern) with respect to the pattern formation region can be improved. As a result, the productivity of the thick film pattern can be further improved.

  Further, in this liquid droplet ejection apparatus, the liquid droplet ejection unit ejects a plurality of second liquid droplets made of ultraviolet curable ink, and the control unit is arranged in a region of the combined second liquid droplets. You may make it irradiate the ultraviolet-ray from the said light source.

According to this droplet discharge device, the united second droplet can be cured in a shorter time by irradiation with ultraviolet rays. Therefore, wetting spread and positional deviation of the combined second droplets can be avoided more reliably, and the positional alignment of the pattern (filling pattern) with respect to the pattern formation region can be improved. As a result, the productivity of the thick film pattern can be further improved.

Hereinafter, an embodiment embodying the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The Braille guide plate 10 formed using the pattern forming method of the present invention will be described.
In FIG. 1, a Braille guide plate 10 is provided with a square plate-like resin substrate 11, and three-character Braille 12 is formed on one side surface (surface 11 a) of the resin substrate 11. The braille 12 is provided with six cells C1 that are virtually divided into 3 rows × 2 columns and spaced apart from each other, and dots D as a pattern protruding from the surface 11a are formed in each selected cell C1. Has been. The dot D is a pattern formed in a substantially hemispherical shape having an outer diameter corresponding to the width of the corresponding cell C1, and the thickness is a readable thickness (in the present embodiment, about 0.00 mm). 5 mm). Each Braille 12 gives predetermined character information that can be read to the Braille guide plate 10 depending on whether or not the dot D is formed in the corresponding region of each cell C1.

  In FIG. 2, each cell C <b> 1 is a square region in which one side is formed with a predetermined width (hereinafter simply referred to as a filling width Rf). Each cell C1 is virtually divided into 28 rows × 28 columns, and includes a large number of square subcells C2 each having a predetermined width (hereinafter simply referred to as a fixed width Rp). The filling width Rf and the fixed width Rp in the present embodiment are about 1 mm and about 35 μm, respectively, but are not limited thereto.

  In FIG. 2, the dots D formed in the cell C <b> 1 are formed in a plurality of fixed dots Dp as fixed patterns formed along the outer edge of each dot D, and in a region surrounded by each fixed dot Dp. A filling dot Df as a filling pattern is provided.

  More specifically, each fixed dot Dp is a hemispherical pattern protruding from the surface 11a, and its outer diameter is formed in a size corresponding to the width of the subcell C2, that is, the fixed width Rp, and the thickness thereof is The fixed width Rp is approximately half the size (in this embodiment, 0.175 μm). Each of these fixed dots Dp is formed in each subcell C2 in the subcell C2 facing the inscribed circle 13 (see the thick line in FIG. 2) of the cell C1.

  Each fixed dot Dp includes a first droplet discharge step for discharging the droplet Fb (see FIG. 5A) of the ultraviolet curable ink F (see FIG. 5A) to the corresponding subcell C2, and the subcell C2. It is formed by a first droplet curing process in which the landed droplet Fb is irradiated with ultraviolet LA or ultraviolet LB (see FIG. 5A). In the present embodiment, the position on the surface 11a and the center position of the subcell C2 where each fixed dot Dp is formed is referred to as a target discharge position P.

  Each filling dot Df is a hemispherical pattern protruding from the surface 11a, and its outer diameter is formed with a size corresponding to the width of the cell C1, that is, the filling width Rf, and its thickness is the filling It is formed with a size approximately half of the width Rf (in this embodiment, about 0.5 mm). Each filling dot Df is formed so as to fill a region surrounded by each corresponding fixed dot Dp, that is, a region in the inscribed circle 13 (hereinafter simply referred to as a dot formation region S as a pattern formation region). ing.

  Each filled dot Df includes a plurality of droplets Fb (see FIG. 5A) of the ultraviolet curable ink F (see FIG. 5A) in the dot formation region S surrounded by the fixed dots Dp. It is formed by a second droplet discharging step for discharging and a second droplet curing step for irradiating the droplets Fb united in the dot formation region S with ultraviolet rays LA or ultraviolet rays LB (see FIG. 5A). Yes.

Next, the droplet discharge device 20 for forming the Braille guide plate 10 (dot D) will be described.
In FIG. 3, the droplet discharge device 20 is provided with a base 21 formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and a pair of guides extending along the longitudinal direction (X arrow direction) on the upper surface of the base 21. A groove 22 is formed. Above the base 21, a stage 23 that is drivingly connected to the output shaft of an X-axis motor MX (see the upper left in FIG. 8) provided on the base 21 is along the guide groove 22 in the direction of the X arrow. And reciprocates in the direction of the anti-X arrow (scanned along the direction of the X arrow). On the upper side of the stage 23, a mounting surface 24 on which the resin substrate 11 can be mounted is formed, and the mounted resin substrate 11 is positioned and fixed at a predetermined position.

  A guide member 25 formed in a gate shape is disposed on both sides in the Y arrow direction of the base 21, and a pair of upper and lower guide rails 26 extending in the Y arrow direction are formed on the guide member 25. . The guide member 25 includes a carriage 27 that is drivingly connected to an output shaft of a Y-axis motor MY (see the lower left in FIG. 8) provided on the guide member 25 along the guide rail 26 in the direction of the arrow Y. And reciprocates in the direction of the anti-Y arrow (scanned along the direction of the Y arrow).

  Inside the carriage 27 is disposed an ink tank 28 that accommodates the ultraviolet curable ink F (see FIG. 5A) so as to be able to be led out, and with respect to the head unit 30 mounted below the carriage 27. Thus, the ultraviolet curable ink F stored in the ink tank 28 is led out.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the head unit 30 as viewed from below (on the stage 23 side). FIG. 5A is a schematic side view of the head unit 30 viewed from the side opposite to the arrow X, and FIG. 5B is a plan view of the head unit 30 viewed from below (the surface 11a of the resin substrate 11). FIG.

  In FIG. 4, the head unit 30 is provided with a droplet discharge head (hereinafter simply referred to as a discharge head) 31 formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape extending along the X arrow direction at a substantially central position in the Y arrow direction. Yes. A nozzle plate 32 is provided on the lower side (upper side in FIG. 4) of the ejection head 31, and the lower surface (nozzle formation surface 32a) of the nozzle plate 32 is formed at an equal pitch along the X arrow direction. A plurality of through holes (nozzles N) are formed through the resin substrate 11 along the normal direction (Z arrow direction).

  In the present embodiment, the formation pitch of each nozzle N is the width of the subcell C2, that is, the fixed width Rp. When each nozzle N is scanned in the Y arrow direction, the center position (the target discharge position P) of the corresponding subcell C2 is directly opposite to each nozzle N.

  In FIG. 5A, cavities 33 communicating with the ink tanks 28 are formed in the direction of the Z arrow of each nozzle N, and the cavities 33 receive the ultraviolet curable ink F led out from the ink tanks 28. The nozzles N are supplied to the corresponding nozzles N. A vibration plate 34 that can vibrate in the Z arrow direction and the anti-Z arrow direction (vertical direction) is attached to the upper side of each cavity 33. A plurality of vibration plates 34 corresponding to the nozzles N are disposed on the upper side of the vibration plate 34. A piezoelectric element PZ is provided. Each piezoelectric element PZ receives a signal for controlling the driving of the piezoelectric element PZ (piezoelectric element driving voltage COM1: refer to the lower side in FIG. 8) and contracts and expands in the vertical direction, and moves the corresponding diaphragm 34 in the vertical direction. The volume in the cavity 33 is enlarged / reduced.

Then, at the timing when each target discharge position P (or the dot formation region S) is located immediately below the corresponding nozzle N, the piezoelectric element drive voltage COM1 is applied to the selected piezoelectric element PZ.
Supply. Then, the volume of the cavity 33 corresponding to the piezoelectric element PZ is expanded / reduced, the ultraviolet curable ink F in the cavity 33 is pressure-vibrated, and the ultraviolet curable ink F in the nozzle N corresponding to the piezoelectric element PZ is changed. , Discharged as a droplet Fb. The ejected droplet Fb flies in the direction opposite to the Z arrow and lands on the opposite target ejection position P (or in the dot formation region S).

  The droplet Fb that has landed on the target discharge position P spreads wet along the surface 11a, and after an elapse of a predetermined time (hereinafter simply referred to as a standby time) from the start of the discharge operation, the outer diameter of the droplet Fb is changed to the subcell. The width is C2, that is, the fixed width Rp. In the present embodiment, the position on the resin substrate 11 and immediately below each nozzle N is referred to as a landing position PF.

  In FIG. 4, the head unit 30 includes a pair of laser heads 35 </ b> A and 35 </ b> B as irradiation means on both sides of the ejection head 31 in the Y arrow direction. Each of the pair of laser heads 35A and 35B is provided with a substantially rectangular parallelepiped case 36 extending along the X arrow direction, and each case 36 has a case on the side opposite to the Z arrow direction (resin substrate 11). Irradiation ports 36 </ b> A and 36 </ b> B penetrating to the inside of 36 are formed over substantially the entire width of the case 36 in the X arrow direction.

  In FIG. 5A, semiconductor lasers 37A and 37B are disposed inside the pair of laser heads 35A and 35B, respectively. The semiconductor lasers 37A and 37B receive a signal (laser driving voltage COM2: see the upper side of FIG. 8) for driving and controlling the semiconductor lasers 37A and 37B, respectively, and the curing reaction of the ultraviolet curable ink F (the droplet Fb). The laser beam in the ultraviolet region (ultraviolet rays LA and LB) having an intensity capable of starting the laser beam is emitted. Between each of the semiconductor lasers 37A and 37B and the corresponding irradiation port 36A and 36B, a collimator that makes the ultraviolet rays LA and LB from the semiconductor lasers 37A and 37B parallel light, or a curvature in the YZ plane and X Optical units 38A and 38B such as cylindrical lenses extending in the direction of the arrow are disposed. The optical units 38A and 38B focus the ultraviolet rays LA and LB from the corresponding semiconductor lasers 37A and 37B on the surface 11a of the resin substrate 11, respectively. Further, the optical units 38A and 38B extend in the X arrow direction in common with the respective landing positions PF as shown by the thick lines in FIG. 5B by the ultraviolet rays LA and LB focused on the surface 11a of the resin substrate 11. Band-shaped beam spots Ba and Bb are formed.

  In the present embodiment, the positions on the surface 11a of the resin substrate 11 where the beam spot Ba and the beam spot Bb are formed are referred to as an irradiation position PTa and an irradiation position PTb, respectively. Incidentally, the irradiation position PTa and the irradiation position PTb of the present embodiment are moved by the carriage 27 (beam spot Ba and beam spot Bb) that are scanned during the standby time with respect to the respective landing positions PF. Set to distance. That is, the beam spot Ba (or beam spot Bb) at the irradiation position PTa (or irradiation position PTb) is a droplet Fb landed on the landing position PF by scanning the carriage 27 along the Y arrow direction (or anti-Y arrow direction). At the timing when the outer diameter of the liquid drops reaches the fixed width Rp, it passes through the region of the droplet Fb.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 6, the head unit 30 (carriage 27) is scanned in the Y-arrow direction (counter-Y-arrow direction), and a laser drive voltage COM2 is supplied to each of the semiconductor lasers 37A and 37B. Ultraviolet rays LA and LB from 37A and 37B are emitted. Then, the ultraviolet rays LA and LB from the semiconductor lasers 37A and 37B form beam spots Ba and Bb at the irradiation positions PTa and PTb on the surface 11a, respectively, and the formed beam spots Ba and Bb are formed on the resin substrate. 11 is scanned in the Y arrow direction (counter Y arrow direction).

  Then, the piezoelectric element drive voltage COM1 is supplied to the selected piezoelectric element PZ at the timing when the target discharge position P is located immediately below each nozzle N (landing position PF). Then, the droplet Fb is discharged from each nozzle N corresponding to the target discharge position P, and each discharged droplet Fb lands on the corresponding target discharge position P. The droplets Fb that have landed on each target discharge position P have their outer diameters set to a fixed width Rp after the elapse of the waiting time, and the laser head is scanned with the beam spot Ba (or beam spot Bb). It receives ultraviolet light LA (or ultraviolet light LB) from 35A (or laser head 35B). Then, the droplets Fb that have landed on the respective subcells C2 start the curing reaction of the ultraviolet curable ink F, and eventually adhere to the corresponding subcells C2 as fixed dots Dp having an outer diameter of a fixed width Rp. As a result, fixed dots Dp can be formed at each target discharge position P.

  When each fixed dot Dp is formed, as shown in FIG. 7, the emission of the ultraviolet rays LA and LB from the semiconductor lasers 37A and 37B is stopped, and the head unit 30 is scanned in the anti-Y arrow direction (Y arrow direction). .

  Then, the piezoelectric element driving voltage COM1 is supplied to the selected piezoelectric element PZ at the timing when the dot formation region S is located immediately below each nozzle N. Then, droplets Fb are ejected from each nozzle N corresponding to the dot formation region S, and each ejected droplet Fb lands in the dot formation region S. Each droplet Fb that has landed in the dot formation region S wets and spreads in the dot formation region S, and sequentially merges with the adjacent droplets Fb.

  At this time, the spreading of the droplets Fb to be united is suppressed in the dot formation region S by the fixed dots Dp formed in advance. The droplet Fb whose wetting and spreading is suppressed does not leak from the dot formation region S, and the outer edge thereof is made to face the shape along the fixed dot Dp, that is, the inscribed circle 13 of the cell C1. As a result, the droplets Fb having a combined capacity relative to the filling dots Df can be held in each dot formation region S.

  When the united droplet Fb is formed in each dot formation region S, the head unit 30 is again scanned in the Y arrow direction (counter Y arrow direction), and the laser drive voltage COM2 is supplied to each of the semiconductor lasers 37A and 37B. Then, ultraviolet rays LA and LB from the respective semiconductor lasers 37A and 37B are emitted. Then, the ultraviolet rays LA and LB from the semiconductor lasers 37A and 37B form beam spots Ba and Bb at the irradiation positions PTa and PTb on the surface 11a, respectively, and the formed beam spots Ba and Bb The formation region S, that is, the region of the combined droplets Fb is scanned. Then, the united droplets Fb start the curing reaction of the ultraviolet curable ink F, and eventually adhere to the corresponding cell C1 as the filling dots Df whose outer diameter is the filling width Rf. As a result, regardless of the wettability of the droplet Fb with respect to the surface 11a and the surface state of the surface 11a, a larger number of droplets Fb are accommodated in the dot formation region S as much as the fixed dots Dp suppress the wetting and spreading of the droplet Fb. And coalesced droplets Fb can be cured at once.

Next, the electrical configuration of the droplet discharge device 20 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG.
In FIG. 8, the control device 41 constituting the control means includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, etc., and scans the stage 23 and the carriage 27 in accordance with various data and various programs stored in the ROM etc. The head 31 and the laser heads 35A and 35B are driven and controlled.

  More specifically, the ROM of the control device 41 stores fixed dot data PD as fixed pattern data for forming fixed dots Dp and filled dot data FD as filled pattern data for forming filled dots Df. Has been.

  The fixed dot data PD is bitmap data in which each bit value (0 or 1) is associated with each grid point obtained by dividing the area of the cell C1 based on a predetermined discharge pitch, and the value of each bit. The data defines whether the piezoelectric element PZ is turned on or off. That is, the fixed dot data PD is data defining whether or not the droplets Fb are ejected from each nozzle N when each nozzle N is located immediately above the cell C1 (the lattice point). When N is positioned immediately above the target discharge position P, it is defined that the droplet Fb is discharged from the corresponding nozzle N.

  The filled dot data FD is bitmap data in which each bit value (0 or 1) is associated with each grid point obtained by dividing the area of the cell C1 based on a predetermined discharge pitch, and the value of each bit. The data defines whether the piezoelectric element PZ is turned on or off. That is, the filling dot data FD is data defining whether or not the droplet Fb is ejected from each nozzle N when each nozzle N is positioned immediately above the cell C1 (the lattice point). When N is located immediately above the dot formation region S, it is defined that the droplet Fb is ejected from the corresponding nozzle N.

An input device 42, an X-axis motor drive circuit 43, a Y-axis motor drive circuit 44, an ejection head drive circuit 45 and a laser drive circuit 46 are connected to the control device 41.
The input device 42 has operation switches such as a start switch and a stop switch, and inputs various operation signals to the control device 41, and each braille 12 (each fixed dot Dp and each filling dot Df) formed on the resin substrate 11. Is input to the control device 41 as braille data Ia in a predetermined format. Then, the control device 41 receives the braille data Ia from the input device 42 and generates the fixed dot data PD, the filling dot data FD, the piezoelectric element driving voltage COM1, and the laser driving voltage COM2. It has become. In the present embodiment, the control device 41 constitutes a fixed pattern data generation unit and a filling pattern data generation unit.

  In response to a drive control signal corresponding to the X-axis motor drive circuit 43 from the control device 41, the X-axis motor drive circuit 43 rotates the X-axis motor MX that moves the stage 23 back and forth. Yes. An X-axis motor rotation detector MEX is connected to the X-axis motor drive circuit 43, and a detection signal is input from the X-axis motor rotation detector MEX. The X-axis motor drive circuit 43 calculates the moving direction and moving amount of the stage 23 (resin substrate 11) based on the detection signal from the X-axis motor rotation detector MEX, and also provides information on the current position of the stage 23. It is generated as position information SPI. The control device 41 receives the stage position information SPI from the X-axis motor drive circuit 43 and outputs various signals.

  In response to a drive control signal corresponding to the Y-axis motor drive circuit 44 from the control device 41, the Y-axis motor drive circuit 44 rotates the Y-axis motor MY that reciprocates the carriage 27 forward or backward. Yes. The Y-axis motor drive circuit 44 is connected to a Y-axis motor rotation detector MEY that constitutes position detection means, and a detection signal is input from the Y-axis motor rotation detector MEY. The Y-axis motor drive circuit 44 calculates the movement direction and amount of movement of the carriage 27 (head unit 30) based on the detection signal from the Y-axis motor rotation detector MEY, and also transmits information on the current position of the carriage 27 to the carriage. It is generated as position information CPI. The control device 41 receives the carriage position information CPI from the Y-axis motor drive circuit 44 and outputs various drive signals.

Specifically, the control device 41 generates the fixed dot control signal SIp by synchronizing the fixed dot data PD with a predetermined clock signal. The control device 41 sequentially serially transfers the generated fixed dot control signal SIp to the ejection head drive circuit 45 before scanning the carriage 27 in the Y arrow direction or the counter-Y arrow direction.

  The control device 41 generates the filling dot data FD as a filling dot control signal SIf in synchronization with a predetermined clock signal. Then, the control device 41 serially transfers the generated filling dot control signal SIf to the ejection head drive circuit 45 before scanning the carriage 27 in the Y arrow direction or the counter-Y arrow direction.

  When each nozzle N to be scanned passes immediately above the cell C1, the control device 41 sequentially outputs the ejection timing signal LP at a timing corresponding to the ejection pitch (each nozzle N is opposed to the lattice point). It is designed to generate. The control device 41 sequentially outputs the generated ejection timing signal LP to the ejection head drive circuit 45.

  The control device 41 drives and controls the semiconductor lasers 37A and 37B to emit the ultraviolet rays LA and LB, and drives and controls the semiconductor lasers 37A and 37B to emit the ultraviolet rays LA and LB. A laser emission stop signal EP for stopping is generated. The control device 41 outputs a laser emission start signal SP to the laser drive circuit 46 when outputting the fixed dot control signal SIp. Further, the control device 41 outputs a laser emission stop signal EP after finishing the ejection operation of the droplet Fb based on the fixed dot control signal SIp.

  Further, the control device 41 outputs a laser emission start signal SP to the laser drive circuit 46 after completing the ejection operation of the droplet Fb based on the filling dot control signal SIf. Further, the control device 41 outputs a laser emission stop signal EP after irradiating the droplets Fb ejected based on the filling dot control signal SIf with the ultraviolet rays LA and LB.

  The ejection head drive circuit 45 is connected to the ejection head 31 and is supplied with a piezoelectric element drive voltage COM1 synchronized with a predetermined clock signal from the control device 41. Further, the ejection head drive circuit 45 receives the fixed dot control signal SIp and the filling dot control signal SIf from the control device 41, and each of the fixed dot control signal SIp and the filling dot control signal SIf corresponds to each piezoelectric element PZ. Thus, serial / parallel conversion is performed sequentially.

  Each time the ejection head drive circuit 45 receives the ejection timing signal LP from the control device 41, the ejection head drive circuit 45 drives the selected piezoelectric element PZ based on the fixed dot control signal SIp (or the filling dot control signal SIf). The voltage COM1 is supplied.

  The laser drive circuit 46 is connected to the laser heads 35A and 35B, and receives the laser emission start signal SP from the control device 41, and supplies the laser drive voltage COM2 to the semiconductor lasers 37A and 37B, respectively. It is like that. Further, the laser drive circuit 46 receives the laser emission stop signal EP from the control device 41, and stops the supply of the laser drive voltage COM2 to each of the semiconductor lasers 37A and 37B.

Next, a method for forming the Braille guide plate 10 (dot D) using the droplet discharge device 20 described above will be described.
First, as shown in FIG. 3, the resin substrate 11 is arranged and fixed on the stage 23. At this time, the stage 23 is disposed on the side opposite to the X arrow from the carriage 27, and the carriage 27 is disposed on the most anti-Y arrow direction of the guide member 25.

  From this state, the input device 42 is operated to input the braille data Ia to the control device 41. Then, the control device 41 generates and stores the fixed dot data PD and the filling dot data FD based on the Braille data Ia, and generates the piezoelectric element drive voltage COM1 and the laser drive voltage COM2 based on the Braille data Ia.

  When the piezoelectric element drive voltage COM1 and the laser drive voltage COM2 are generated, the control device 41 controls the drive of the X-axis motor MX and the Y-axis motor MY to form the first droplet discharge process and the first droplet discharge process for forming the fixed dot Dp. A one-drop curing process is started.

  That is, the control device 41 drives and controls the X-axis motor MX via the X-axis motor drive circuit 43, and the resin substrate 11 is placed on the scanning path (in the Y arrow direction) of each nozzle N as shown in FIG. The stage 23 (resin substrate 11) is set so that each target discharge position P is located. Subsequently, the control device 41 drives and controls the Y-axis motor MY via the Y-axis motor drive circuit 44, and scans the carriage 27 (head unit 30) along the Y arrow direction.

  At this time, the control device 41 synchronizes the piezoelectric element drive voltage COM <b> 1 with a predetermined clock signal and outputs it to the ejection head drive circuit 45 and outputs the laser drive voltage COM <b> 2 to the laser drive circuit 46.

  Further, the control device 41 generates the laser emission start signal SP and outputs the generated laser emission start signal SP to the laser drive circuit 46. When the laser drive circuit 46 receives the laser emission start signal SP from the control device 41, the laser drive circuit 46 supplies the laser drive voltage COM2 to each of the laser heads 35A and 35B, and receives the ultraviolet rays LA and LB from both of the laser heads 35A and 35B. Let it emit.

  Further, the control device 41 generates the fixed dot control signal SIp and serially transfers the generated fixed dot control signal SIp to the ejection head drive circuit 45. And the control apparatus 41 waits for the timing which outputs the discharge timing signal LP.

  Eventually, when each nozzle N scanned in the Y-arrow direction enters directly above the cell C1, the control device 41 causes the ejection head drive circuit 45 to correspond to the ejection pitch based on the stage position information SPI and the carriage position information CPI. The discharge timing signal LP to be output is sequentially output.

  Then, the ejection head drive circuit 45 supplies the piezoelectric element drive voltage COM1 to the selected piezoelectric element PZ at the timing at which each nozzle N is positioned immediately above the target ejection position P based on the fixed dot control signal SIp. The droplets Fb of the ultraviolet curable ink F are ejected from the corresponding nozzles N all at once. Each discharged droplet Fb lands on the corresponding target discharge position P, and after the standby time has elapsed, the outer diameter is set to a fixed width Rp. Each droplet Fb having an outer diameter of a fixed width Rp receives ultraviolet light LA (or ultraviolet light LB) from the laser head 35A by scanning the beam spot Ba.

  As a result, the droplets Fb that have landed at each target discharge position P start the curing reaction sequentially at the timing when the outer diameter is set to the fixed width Rp, and eventually correspond as fixed dots Dp whose outer diameter is set to the fixed width Rp. It adheres to the subcell C2. That is, a plurality of fixed dots Dp surrounding the dot formation region S can be formed on the outer edge of the dot formation region S.

When the fixed dot Dp is formed and the head unit 30 is separated from immediately above the resin substrate 11, the control device 41 generates the laser emission stop signal EP and outputs the generated laser emission stop signal EP to the laser drive circuit 46. To do. The laser drive circuit 46 receives the laser emission stop signal EP from the control device 41, stops the supply of the laser drive voltage COM2 to the laser heads 35A and 35B, and supplies the ultraviolet rays LA and LB to both the laser heads 35A and 35B. Is stopped.

When the emission of the ultraviolet rays LA and LB is stopped, the control device 41 starts a second droplet discharge process for forming the filling dots Df.
That is, the control device 41 drives and controls the Y-axis motor MY via the Y-axis motor drive circuit 44, and scans the carriage 27 along the anti-Y arrow direction as shown in FIG. At this time, the control device 41 outputs the piezoelectric element drive voltage COM1 to the ejection head drive circuit 45 in synchronization with a predetermined clock signal. Further, the control device 41 generates the filling dot control signal SIf and serially transfers the generated filling dot control signal SIf to the ejection head drive circuit 45. And the control apparatus 41 waits for the timing which outputs the discharge timing signal LP.

  Eventually, when each nozzle N scanned in the direction of the anti-Y arrow enters directly above the cell C1, the control device 41 sends an ejection pitch to the ejection head drive circuit 45 based on the stage position information SPI and the carriage position information CPI. Corresponding ejection timing signals LP are sequentially output.

  Then, the ejection head drive circuit 45 drives the selected piezoelectric element PZ at the timing at which each nozzle N is positioned immediately above each lattice point in the dot formation area S based on the filling dot control signal SIf. The voltage COM1 is supplied, and droplets Fb of the ultraviolet curable ink F are ejected from the corresponding nozzles N all at once. Each discharged droplet Fb lands on the dot formation region S, spreads, and merges with the adjacent droplet Fb. Each of the droplets Fb to be joined is prevented from spreading by the fixed dots Dp formed in advance, and without leaking from the dot formation region S, the outer edge thereof has a shape along the fixed dots Dp, that is, the cell C1. Relative to the inscribed circle 13.

  When the united droplets Fb are formed in the respective dot formation regions S and the head unit 30 is separated from immediately above the resin substrate 11, the control device 41 performs the second droplet curing step for forming the filling dots Df. To start.

  That is, the control device 41 drives and controls the Y-axis motor MY via the Y-axis motor drive circuit 44, and scans the carriage 27 again along the Y arrow direction. At this time, the control device 41 supplies the laser drive voltage COM2 to the semiconductor lasers 37A and 37B to emit the ultraviolet rays LA and LB from the semiconductor lasers 37A and 37B, and the beam spots Ba, Bb is formed.

  Then, the control device 41 scans the beam spots Ba and Bb in the Y arrow direction, and irradiates each dot formation region S, that is, the region of the combined droplet Fb with ultraviolet rays LA and LB. Then, the united droplets Fb start the curing reaction of the ultraviolet curable ink F, and eventually adhere to the corresponding cell C1 as the filling dots Df whose outer diameter is the filling width Rf. That is, the filling dot Df that fills the dot formation region S can be formed in the dot formation region S.

Next, effects of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described below.
(1) According to the above embodiment, the droplet Fb is discharged to the subcell C2 facing the outer edge of the dot formation region S, and the fixed droplet Dp is formed by irradiating the landed droplet Fb with the ultraviolet LA (or ultraviolet LB). It was made to form. Then, a plurality of droplets Fb are ejected to a region surrounded by the fixed dots Dp (dot formation region S), and the filled droplets Df are formed by irradiating the combined droplets Fb with ultraviolet rays LA and LB. I made it.

Accordingly, wetting and spreading of the combined droplets Fb can be suppressed in the dot formation region S by the plurality of fixed dots Dp formed on the outer edge of the dot formation region S. As a result, regardless of the wettability of the droplet Fb with respect to the surface 11a and the surface state of the surface 11a, a larger number of droplets Fb are contained in the dot formation region S as much as the fixed dots Dp suppress the wetting and spreading of the droplet Fb. The combined droplets Fb can be cured at the same timing. Therefore, the degree of freedom in designing the material for forming the dot D and the surface 11a can be increased, and the productivity of the dot D (braille guide plate 10) can be improved.
(2) In the above embodiment, the fixed dots Dp are formed by irradiating the droplets Fb with the ultraviolet rays LA and LB at the timing when the outer diameter of the droplets Fb landed on the target discharge position P becomes the fixed width Rp. I did it.

Therefore, the droplet Fb that has landed on the target discharge position P can be cured in a shorter time, and its wetting spread and positional deviation can be avoided. As a result, it is possible to suppress the positional deviation of the fixed dots Dp, the size variation, and the like. Therefore, the positional consistency of the dots D (fixed dots Dp and filling dots Df) with respect to the dot formation region S can be improved. As a result, the productivity of the dot D (braille guide plate 10) can be further improved.
(3) According to the above embodiment, the filled dots Df are formed by irradiating the combined droplets Fb with the ultraviolet rays LA and LB.

  Therefore, the coalesced droplets Fb can be cured in a shorter time, and the wetting spread and positional deviation of the coalesced droplets Fb can be avoided more reliably. As a result, the positional consistency of the dot D (filled dot Df) with respect to the dot formation region S can be improved. As a result, the productivity of the dot D (braille guide plate 10) can be further improved.

In addition, you may change the said embodiment as follows.
In the above embodiment, the united droplet Fb is directly formed on the surface 11 a of the resin substrate 11. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, a plurality of adjacent droplets Fb are ejected over substantially the entire region (dot formation region S) surrounded by the fixed dots Dp, as shown in FIG. Alternatively, a thin layer (base layer Du as a base pattern) may be formed, and a united droplet Fb may be formed above the base layer Du. According to this, even if the united droplet Fb penetrates into the resin substrate 11, the united droplet Fb can be prevented from penetrating as much as the base layer Du is formed. As a result, the productivity of the filling dots Df can be further improved.
In the above embodiment, the fixed dot data PD and the filling dot data FD are generated based on the Braille data Ia. For example, based on Braille data Ia, background dot data as background pattern data for causing the control device 41 constituting the background pattern data generation means to discharge the droplets Fb for forming the background layer Du. May be configured to generate .
In the above embodiment, the light source is embodied in the semiconductor lasers 37A and 37B. For example, the light source may be embodied as an ultraviolet lamp or a light emitting diode that emits ultraviolet rays LA and LB. That is, any light source that emits light capable of curing the landed droplet Fb may be used. In the above embodiment, the droplet Fb is embodied as a droplet made of the ultraviolet curable ink F, and the light is embodied as the ultraviolet rays LA and LB. For example, the droplet Fb may be embodied as a droplet made of a thermosetting resin, and the light may be embodied as infrared rays. In other words, any structure that irradiates the landed droplets with light that can cure the droplets may be used.
In the above embodiment, the object is embodied on the resin substrate 11. For example, the object may be embodied on a recording paper, a raster paper, a metal substrate, or the like. That is, the object may be an object that forms a pattern with the droplets Fb.

The top view which shows the braille guide plate which actualized this embodiment. Similarly, an explanatory view for explaining dots. Similarly, the schematic perspective view which shows a droplet discharge device. Similarly, the schematic perspective view which shows a head unit. Similarly, it is explanatory drawing explaining a head unit, Comprising: (a) And (b) is the side view and top view which show a head unit, respectively. Similarly, an explanatory view explaining a droplet discharge step. Similarly, an explanatory view explaining a droplet discharge step. Similarly, the electric block circuit diagram which shows the electric constitution of a droplet discharge apparatus. The sectional side view which shows the dot of the example of a change.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Resin board | substrate as a target object, 11a ... Surface, 20 ... Droplet discharge apparatus, 31 ... Droplet discharge head as droplet discharge means, 35A, 35B ... Laser head as droplet hardening means, 37A, 37B ... Semiconductor laser as light source, 41... Control device constituting control means, D... Dot as pattern, Dp... Fixed dot as fixed pattern, Df... Filling dot as filling pattern, Du. F: UV curable ink, Fb: Droplet, LA, LB: UV as light, S: Dot formation area as pattern formation area.

Claims (10)

Out ejection droplets wet and spread in the object in the pattern formation region of the object, in the pattern forming method so as to form a pattern on the object by curing the droplet landed on the pattern forming region ,
After discharging the first droplet of several to form a hemispherical shape by the pattern forming region from a plurality of nozzles arranged in a first direction, the like overlaps with the first droplet of the plurality of first Forming a cured fixed pattern of the plurality of first droplets by irradiating light extending in one direction ;
A plurality of fixed patterns in a circle surrounding the outer edge of the pattern formation region by repeating the discharge of the first droplet and the curing of the first droplet in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. the arranged,
A plurality of second droplets are ejected to a region surrounded by the fixed pattern, and the plurality of second droplets that are united in a hemisphere having the same diameter as a circle connecting the plurality of fixed patterns is cured. To form a filling pattern that fills the pattern forming region.
The pattern formation method characterized by the above-mentioned. In the pattern formation method of Claim 1,
Before discharging the second droplet, the plurality of third droplets discharged to the region surrounded by the fixed pattern is cured, and the surface of the object surrounded by the fixed pattern is A pattern forming method, wherein a base pattern for suppressing penetration of a second droplet into the object is formed. In the pattern formation method of Claim 1 or 2,
You form the fixed pattern by irradiating the light to the first droplet landed before Symbol object
Pattern forming method comprising the this. In the pattern formation method of Claim 3,
The first droplet is Ri Do from the ultraviolet curable ink,
You form the fixed pattern by irradiating ultraviolet rays to the first droplet landed before Symbol object
Pattern forming method comprising the this. In the pattern formation method as described in any one of Claims 1-4,
A pattern forming method, wherein the filling pattern is formed by irradiating light onto the plurality of second droplets that have been combined. In the pattern formation method of Claim 5,
Said second droplet Ri Do from the ultraviolet curable ink,
You form the filling pattern by irradiating ultraviolet rays to the plurality of second droplets coalesced
Pattern forming method comprising the this. A droplet discharge means for exiting discharge failure in the droplet spreads by the object the object, and the droplet curing means for curing said droplets landed on the object, the droplets hardened as the droplet discharging means A droplet ejection apparatus comprising: a control unit that drives and controls the unit to form a pattern in which the droplet is cured on the object.
The droplet discharge means includes
A plurality of droplets are ejected from a plurality of nozzles arranged in a first direction so as to form a hemisphere in a pattern formation region of the object, and scanned in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. ,
The droplet curing means includes
Irradiating light extending in the first direction so as to overlap the plurality of first droplets, and scanning in the second direction;
The control means includes
Before the outer edge of Kipa turn-forming regions, while discharging the plurality of first droplets from the plurality of nozzles, the circular shape by irradiating the light on the object to define the outer edges of the pattern forming region Fixed pattern data generating means for generating fixed pattern data for arranging a plurality of fixed patterns;
A plurality of second droplets are ejected from the plurality of nozzles in a region surrounded by the fixed pattern, and a filling pattern is formed in the region surrounded by the fixed pattern by irradiating the object with the light. And a filling pattern data generating means for generating filling pattern data for the liquid droplet ejection apparatus. In the droplet discharge device according to claim 7,
The control means includes
A ground pattern for generating ground pattern data for forming a ground pattern that suppresses penetration of the second liquid droplets into the object by discharging a plurality of third liquid droplets to a region surrounded by the fixed pattern A droplet discharge apparatus comprising a data generation means. In the droplet discharge device according to claim 7 or 8,
The droplet discharge means discharges a plurality of first droplets made of ultraviolet curable ink,
The droplet curing means includes a light source that emits ultraviolet rays,
The control means, the pre-Symbol droplet curing means drives and controls, in the region of the first droplet landed on the object, a droplet discharge apparatus characterized by irradiating ultraviolet rays from the light source . The droplet discharge device according to claim 9,
The droplet discharge means discharges a plurality of second droplets made of ultraviolet curable ink,
The droplet ejection apparatus, wherein the control unit irradiates ultraviolet rays from the light source onto a region of the combined second droplet.

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