US 11,752,778 B2
Three-dimensional object printing apparatus and three-dimensional object printing method
Tomonaga Hasegawa, Matsumoto (JP)
Assigned to Seiko Epson Corporation, Tokyo (JP)
Filed by SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Jul. 27, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/443,467.
Claims priority of application No. 2020-128001 (JP), filed on Jul. 29, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0032651 A1, Feb. 3, 2022
Int. Cl. B41J 3/407 (2006.01); B41J 2/045 (2006.01); B25J 11/00 (2006.01); B25J 9/16 (2006.01); B25J 15/00 (2006.01)
CPC B41J 3/4073 (2013.01) [B25J 9/1661 (2013.01); B25J 9/1697 (2013.01); B25J 11/0075 (2013.01); B25J 15/0019 (2013.01); B41J 2/04541 (2013.01); B41J 2203/011 (2020.08)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A three-dimensional object printing apparatus comprising:
a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid toward a three-dimensional work having a curved surface; and
a moving mechanism that changes a relative position and posture of the liquid ejecting head with respect to a workpiece,
wherein a printing operation for the workpiece includes:
a first step of performing a first pass in which the liquid ejecting head ejects the liquid toward a first region of the workpiece while the moving mechanism moves the liquid ejecting head relative to the first region along a scanning direction;
a second step of performing a second pass in which the liquid ejecting head ejects the liquid toward a second region that partially overlaps the first region of the workpiece while the moving mechanism moves the liquid ejecting head relative to the second region;
a third step of performing a third pass in which the liquid ejecting head ejects the liquid toward a third region of the workpiece while the moving mechanism moves the liquid ejecting head relative to the third region; and
a fourth step of performing a fourth pass in which the liquid ejecting head ejects the liquid toward a fourth region that partially overlaps the third region of the workpiece while the moving mechanism moves the liquid ejecting head relative to the fourth region,
an angle formed by a direction in which the liquid is ejected from the liquid ejecting head in the first step and a direction in which the liquid is ejected from the liquid ejecting head in the second step when viewed in a cross section perpendicular to the scanning direction as a first angle, and an angle formed by a direction in which the liquid is ejected from the liquid ejecting head in the third step and a direction in which the liquid is ejected from the liquid ejecting head in the fourth step when viewed in the cross section as a second angle, the first angle is larger than the second angle, and
an overlapping width between the first region and the second region is smaller than an overlapping width between the third region and the fourth region.