Drying device

Abstract

The invention provides a drying device. The drying device dries a medium in a high-temperature environment while conveying the medium on which an image is formed. The drying device is provided with a conveying unit, a heater unit, a shell, a lifting mechanism and a sealing component. The transport unit supports the medium and transports the medium in a predetermined transport direction. The heater unit is disposed above the conveyance unit and blows high-temperature air to the conveyed medium. The housing accommodates the heater unit. The lifting mechanism is provided in the housing and supports the heater unit in a liftable manner. The sealing member is brought into contact with the heater unit when the heater unit is lowered, thereby partitioning the heating space below the heater unit from the internal space of the housing. The closing member is capable of rising and falling within a prescribed range in response to rising and falling of the heater unit. Therefore, the heating space below the heater unit and the space in the shell can be reliably separated.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a drying apparatus for drying a recording medium having an image formed thereon in a high temperature environment while conveying the recording medium. Background Art

[0002] An image forming system including an inkjet image forming apparatus includes a drying device for drying an image formed on a recording medium by ink. The drying device includes a conveying unit and a heater unit, wherein the conveying unit conveys a medium on which an image is formed by inkjet, and the heater unit dries the medium conveyed by the conveying unit.

[0003] The heater unit generally includes: a plurality of infrared heaters; a reflector plate that reflects infrared rays emitted by each infrared heater; and a fan. The infrared heater and the reflector plate are housed in a casing with an opening on the lower surface. The infrared rays emitted by the infrared heater are reflected by the reflector plate and irradiated downward. The fan is supported on the top surface of the casing and is used to blow the sucked air downward.

[0004] In such a drying device, when a jam occurs in the recording medium being transported by the transport unit, the driving of the heating portion (corresponding to the heater unit) of the drying device is stopped.

[0005] In addition, in order to deal with a paper jam of the recording medium transported by the transport unit, the heater unit is sometimes set to be liftable. In this case, the heater unit is housed in a housing with an opening on the lower surface, and is lifted and lowered by a lifting mechanism supported by the housing. When dealing with a paper jam, the heater unit is lifted by the lifting mechanism, and a space for removing the jammed paper is formed between the heater unit and the transport unit.

[0006] Below the heater unit is a heating space whose temperature rises due to the heated air. When the heated air in the heating space enters the interior of the housing, the interior of the housing is also heated. As a result, the components constituting the lifting mechanism supported by the housing are exposed to high temperatures, and sometimes components with low heat resistance may be damaged.

[0007] Therefore, the following countermeasure is sometimes adopted: a sponge is provided to contact the heater unit when the heater unit is lowered, thereby isolating the heating space below the heater unit from the space in the housing. However, if the position of the heater unit is offset when it is lowered or the sponge is deformed, the effect of isolating the space is reduced. Summary of the invention

[0008] Therefore, in view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a drying device capable of reliably partitioning a heating space below a heater unit from a space within a casing.

[0009] The drying device of the present invention dries the medium formed with an image under a high temperature environment while conveying the medium. The drying device comprises a conveying unit, a heater unit, a shell, a lifting mechanism and a sealing component. The conveying unit is used to support the medium and convey it along a specified conveying direction. The heater unit is arranged above the conveying unit and is used to blow high-temperature air to the conveyed medium. The shell is used to accommodate the heater unit. The lifting mechanism is provided in the shell and supports the heater unit in a liftable manner. The sealing component abuts against the heater unit when the heater unit is lowered, thereby isolating the heating space below the heater unit from the internal space of the shell. The sealing component can be raised and lowered within a specified range in response to the raising and lowering of the heater unit. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Figure 1 This is a front view schematically showing the interior of a drying device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] Figure 2 It is a perspective view showing a conveying unit (illustration of the conveyor belt is omitted) in the drying device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] Figure 3 It is a perspective view showing a sealing member in a drying device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] Figure 4 It is a front view schematically showing a lifting mechanism in a drying device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] Figure 5A It is a front view showing a heater unit when drying is performed in the drying device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] Figure 5B Yes Figure 5A A diagram showing an enlarged portion of a part (enclosed part).

[0016] Fig. 6A It is a front view showing the heater unit in a standby state in the drying device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 6B Yes Fig. 6A A diagram showing an enlarged portion of a part (enclosed part).

[0018] Fig. 7A This is a front view showing the heater unit in contact with the sealing member when descending in the drying device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 7B Yes Fig. 7A A diagram showing an enlarged portion of a part (enclosed part). DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] Hereinafter, a drying device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0021] Reference Figure 1 , the overall structure of the drying device 1 is described. Figure 1 It is a front view schematically showing the inside of the drying device 1. Fr, Rr, L, and R shown in each figure respectively represent the front side, the rear side, the left side, and the right side of the drying device 1.

[0022] The drying device 1 comprises: a conveying unit 3, which is arranged along a conveying direction X1 ( Figure 1 a heating unit 5 that dries the medium conveyed by the conveying unit 3; and a heating unit 5 that conveys a medium (a cut sheet, a long sheet, etc.) on which an image is formed by an inkjet method.

[0023] First, refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 The transport unit 3 will be described. Figure 2 2 is a perspective view showing the conveying unit 3 (the conveying belt 11 is omitted). Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the conveying unit 3 includes: a conveying belt 11 for conveying a medium; a conveying plate 13 for supporting the conveying belt 11 ; and a suction device 15 for sucking the medium onto the conveying belt 11 .

[0024] The conveyor belt 11 is an endless belt, and a plurality of through holes are formed on the entire surface thereof so as to penetrate the conveyor belt 11 in the thickness direction. The conveyor belt 11 is wound around a driving roller 17 and a driven roller 19. The driving roller 17 is driven to rotate by a motor (not shown), and the conveyor belt 11 is thereby moved along the conveyor belt 11. Figure 1 The surface of the conveyor belt 11 along the outer side of the upper track is a conveying surface for conveying recording media.

[0025] The conveyor plate 13 is described below. The conveyor plate 13 is in contact with the inner peripheral surface (the surface on the inner side of the conveyor surface) of the conveyor belt 11 running on the upper track, and is used to support the conveyor belt 11. When the conveyor belt 11 runs, the inner peripheral surface of the conveyor belt 11 slides along the upper surface of the conveyor plate 13. A plurality of through holes penetrating in the thickness direction are formed on the entire surface of the conveyor plate 13.

[0026] The suction device 15 is disposed in the hollow portion of the conveyor belt 11. By driving the suction device 15, air is sucked into the through holes of the conveyor belt 11 and the through holes of the conveyor plate 13, so that the medium is adsorbed onto the conveying surface of the conveyor belt 11.

[0027] Next, refer to Figure 1 , Figures 3 to 7B The heating unit 5 will be described. Figure 3 is a three-dimensional diagram showing a closed part, Figure 4 This is the main view showing the lifting mechanism. FIG. 5A to FIG. 7B It is a front view showing the heater unit.

[0028] like Figure 1 As shown in FIG. 1 , the heating unit 5 is disposed above a portion of the conveying unit 3 slightly downstream of the central portion in the conveying direction X1. The heating unit 5 includes: two heater units 21; a housing 23 for accommodating the two heater units 21; and a lifting mechanism 25 (see FIG. 1 ). Figure 4 ) which supports two heater units 21 on a housing 23 in a liftable manner.

[0029] First, refer to Figure 1 , Figure 5A Figure 6 Fig. 7A The heater unit 21 will be described. The heater unit 21 includes a plurality of infrared heaters 31, a reflector 33 for reflecting infrared rays emitted from the infrared heaters 31, two fans 35, and a heater case 37 for supporting them.

[0030] The heater housing 37 is a box-shaped body with an open bottom surface, and has left and right side plates facing each other in the conveying direction X1, front and rear side plates facing each other in the width direction X2 intersecting the conveying direction X1, and a top plate. The lower edges of the left and right side plates are formed with lower edge portions bent inwardly at a substantially right angle.

[0031] The plurality of infrared heaters 31 and the reflective plates 33 are arranged side by side along the conveying direction X1 and housed in a heater case 37. Infrared rays emitted from the infrared heaters 31 are reflected by the reflective plates 33 and irradiated downward.

[0032] Two fans 35 are provided on the upper surface of the top plate of the heater case 37. The fans 35 suck air from the outside of the heater case 37 and blow it toward the inside of the heater case 37 below.

[0033] The two heater units 21 are arranged side by side along the conveying direction X1 . A predetermined gap is provided between the heater units 21 .

[0034] Next, the housing 23 will be described. Figure 1As shown, the housing 23 has an internal space S1 capable of accommodating two heater units 21 and is formed in a box shape with an open bottom surface. A heating space S2 of a predetermined height is formed between the lower opening surface 23a of the housing 23 and the conveying surface of the conveyor belt 11 of the conveyor unit 3.

[0035] The housing 23 includes left and right side plates 41L and 41R facing each other in the conveying direction X1, front and rear side plates 41Fr and 41Rr facing each other in the width direction X2, and a top plate 41U. Figure 3 As shown in FIG. 1 , front and rear beam members 45Fr and 45Rr are provided between the lower ends of the left and right side plates 41L and 41R. A vertically extending partition 47 is provided between the central portions of the front and rear beam members 45Fr and 45Rr. The partition 47 is provided in parallel with the heater units 21 arranged along the conveying direction X1 (see FIG. 1 ). Figure 1 ) corresponds to the gap.

[0036] like Figure 3 As shown, four closing members 51A, 51B, 51C, and 51D (collectively referred to as closing members 51) are supported on the housing 23. The closing member 51 is a member having the same length as the interval between the front and rear beam members 45Fr and 45Rr of the housing 23, and is L-shaped when viewed from the front, and has a vertical piece 53 and a horizontal piece 55, and the horizontal piece 55 is bent at a substantially right angle from the lower end of the vertical piece 53. The four closing members 51A, 51B, 51C, and 51D are supported at the lower end of the inner surface of the left side plate 41L, the lower end of the two side surfaces of the partition plate 47, and the lower end of the inner surface of the right side plate 41R in a manner that they can move in the up-down direction.

[0037] Specifically, the vertical pieces 53 of the four sealing members 51A, 51B, 51C, and 51D are supported so as to be movable in the up-down direction along the lower end of the inner surface of the left side plate 41L, the lower end of the two side surfaces of the partition 47, and the lower end of the inner surface of the right side plate 41R. Accordingly, the horizontal piece 55 of the sealing member 51A supported on the left side plate 41L and the horizontal piece 55 of the sealing member 51B supported on the surface on the downstream side of the partition 47 extend in directions facing each other. In addition, the horizontal piece 55 of the sealing member 51C supported on the surface on the upstream side of the partition 47 and the horizontal piece 55 of the sealing member 51D supported on the right side plate 41R extend in directions facing each other.

[0038] The four closing members 51 are urged upward by coil springs 57, respectively. The coil portion of the coil spring 57 is accommodated in an opening formed in the left side plate 41L, the partition plate 47, the right side plate 41R, and the closing member 51. The upper end of the coil spring 57 is fixed to the left side plate 41L, the partition plate 47, and the right side plate 41R above the opening. The lower end of the coil spring 57 is fixed to the vertical piece 53 of the closing member 51. When the coil spring 57 is in a state of natural length, the horizontal piece 55 of the closing member 51 is located above the lower opening surface 23a of the housing 23. The coil spring 57 is an example of a urging member that supports the closing member 51 on the housing 23 in a manner that allows it to move in the up-down direction.

[0039] Next, the lifting mechanism 25 will be described. As described above, the lifting mechanism 25 supports the two heater units 21 on the housing 23 in a manner that allows them to be lifted and lowered. The lifting mechanism 25 allows the two heater units 21 to be lifted and lowered on the lower opening surface 37a (see FIG. 34 ) of the heater housing 37. Figure 1 ) is at the same height as the lower opening surface 23a of the housing 23 (refer to Figure 1 ) and a retreat position higher than the heating position. In the retreat position, a space capable of handling paper jams is formed between the two heater units 21 and the conveying surface of the conveyor belt 11.

[0040] As the lifting mechanism 25, for example, a ball screw mechanism can be used. Figure 4 As shown in FIG. 1 , the ball screw mechanism includes: a nut 61 fixed to the front and rear side plates of the heater housing 37 of each heater unit 21; and a screw shaft 63 supported by the housing 23 for screwing with the nut 61. The upper and lower ends of the screw shaft 63 are rotatably supported by a base plate 65 through bearings, and the base plate 65 is fixed to the front and rear side plates 41Fr, 41Rr of the housing 23 (see FIG. 1 ). Figure 1 ) on the inner surface of the base plate 65. In addition, a guide rail 67 engaging with the nut 61 is formed in the up-down direction on the base plate 65. A motor 69 is connected to the upper end of the lead screw shaft 63. The lead screw shaft 63 is rotated by driving the motor 69 to rotate, and the nut 61 is raised and lowered along the guide rail 67. Accordingly, the heater unit 21 fixed to the nut 61 is raised and lowered.

[0041] The drying operation of the drying device 1 having the above-mentioned structure is described. In the conveying unit 3, the motor is driven to rotate the driving roller 17, and the conveying belt 11 circulates. Then, the recording medium on which the image is formed by the inkjet method is conveyed to the conveying surface of the conveying belt 11. In addition, the suction device 15 is driven. Accordingly, as described above, the air in the through holes of the conveying belt 11 and the through holes of the conveying plate 13 is sucked, and the upper part of the conveying surface of the conveying belt 11 becomes negative pressure. As a result, the recording medium is adsorbed on the conveying surface. In this way, the recording medium is conveyed along the conveying direction X1 while being adsorbed on the conveying surface.

[0042] like Figure 5A and Figure 5B As shown, the two heater units 21 are moved by a lifting mechanism 25 (see Figure 4 ) is lowered to the heating position. That is, the lower opening surface 37a of the heater housing 37 of the heater unit 21 is located at substantially the same height as the lower opening surface 23a of the housing 23. The heater unit 21 is driven to heat the heating space S2. Accordingly, the image of the recording medium transported on the transport surface of the transport belt 11 is dried.

[0043] Here, the operation of the sealing member 51 when the heater unit 21 is lowered will be described. When the two heater units 21 are lowered from the retreat position to the heating position, as shown in FIG. Fig. 7A and Figure 7B As shown in FIG. 1 , the lower edges of the side plates of the heater housings 37 of the two heater units 21 finally abut against the horizontal pieces 55 of the four closing members 51. When the two heater units 21 are further lowered, as shown in FIG. Figure 5A and Figure 5B As shown, the horizontal pieces 55 of the four closing members 51 are pressed down by the heater housing 37, and the four closing members 51 respectively overcome the force of the coil springs 57 and fall down (refer to Figure 5B As a result, the gap between the two heater units 21 and the housing 23, and the gap between the two heater units 21 are blocked by the horizontal pieces 55 of the four sealing members 51. Thus, during the drying operation, the heating space S2 is isolated from the internal space S1 of the housing 23.

[0044] On the other hand, in the case where a jam occurs in the recording medium conveyed by the conveying belt 11, the conveying unit 3 is stopped and the heating of the heating unit 5 is stopped. Fig. 6A As shown in FIG. 1 , the heating unit 5 is moved to the retracted position by the lifting mechanism 25. As a result, a space is formed between the heating unit 5 and the conveyor belt 11, so that the jammed recording medium can be removed. In addition, since the two heater units 21 are separated from the four sealing members 51, as shown in FIG. Figure 6B As shown, the four closing members 51 are urged upward by the coil springs 57 .

[0045] As can be seen from the above description, according to the drying device 1 of the present invention, during the heating operation performed by the heating unit 5, the internal space S1 of the housing 23 and the heating space S2 are separated by the sealing member 51, so the internal space S1 of the housing 23 is not heated. Therefore, the components (in this example, nuts, bearings, etc.) constituting the lifting mechanism 25 (in this example, the ball screw mechanism) supported by the housing 23 are not easily affected by the heating.

[0046] In addition, the sealing member 51 can be within a predetermined height ( Fig. 7A and Figure 7B The height shown is Figure 5A and Figure 5B Therefore, even if the heating positions of the two heater units 21 are offset in the vertical direction, the sealing member 51 and the heater housing 37 can be brought into contact with each other, thereby isolating the internal space S1 of the housing 23 from the heating space S2. Furthermore, since the sealing member 51 is not easily deformed, unlike a sponge, the isolation function can be maintained.

[0047] In addition, as the lifting mechanism 25 of the two heater units 21, a rack and pinion mechanism may be adopted instead of the ball screw mechanism.

[0048] The present invention describes specific embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. The above embodiments can be variously changed, replaced, and deformed without departing from the scope and gist of the present invention, and the technical solution includes all embodiments that can be included in the scope of the technical idea.

Claims

1. A drying device for drying a medium having an image formed thereon under a high temperature environment while conveying the medium. It is characterized in that It has a conveying unit, a heater unit, a shell, a lifting mechanism and a closing component, wherein: The conveying unit is used to support the medium and convey it along a specified conveying direction; The heater unit is arranged above the conveying unit and is used to blow high-temperature air to the conveyed medium; The housing is used to accommodate the heater unit; The lifting mechanism is provided on the housing to support the heater unit in a liftable manner; The sealing member contacts the heater unit when the heater unit is lowered, thereby isolating the heating space below the heater unit from the internal space of the housing. The sealing member can be raised and lowered within a prescribed range in response to the raising and lowering of the heater unit.

2. The drying device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The sealing member is supported by the housing so as to be movable in the up-down direction by a biasing member.

3. The drying device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The heater units are arranged in plurality adjacent to each other. The sealing member is arranged between the heater unit and the housing, and between adjacent heater units.

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