Printing system

Abstract

The invention provides a printing system for temperature regulation of ink with low power consumption. A printing system (1) is provided with: a printing device (20) provided with a conveyance unit (29) for conveying a medium (M), a printing unit (27) for printing an image by discharging ink onto the medium (M) conveyed by the conveyance unit (29), and a housing (21) having a first space (22) in which the printing unit (27) is disposed; a drying device (10) provided with a drying furnace (14) into which the medium (M) on which the image has been printed by the printing unit (27) enters, and a heating unit (15) which is disposed in the drying furnace (14) and heats the medium (M); and a first flow path part (13A) which is a gas flow path part (13) for discharging gas in the drying furnace (14) to the outside of the drying furnace (14), and which connects the drying furnace (14) and the first space (22).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to a printing system. BACKGROUND

[0002] Conventionally, there has been used a variety of printing systems that print an image on a medium by ejecting ink. Among them, there is a printing system that has a temperature adjustment mechanism that adjusts the temperature of ink in order to stably eject the ink, and has a plurality of heating sections in the ink ejection direction in order to set the temperature of the ink to an appropriate range. For example, in Patent Literature 1, there is disclosed an inkjet recording apparatus that has a plurality of heating sections in the ink supply direction in order to set the temperature of the ink to an appropriate range. In addition, it is possible to simplify the waveform of the voltage applied to an element that ejects the ink, in addition to improving the ejection accuracy of the ink by adjusting the temperature of the ink. On the other hand, there is a printing system that has a drying device that dries the ink ejected onto a medium by a printing device in the latter stage of the printing device that prints an image on a medium by ejecting ink.

[0003] In the conventional printing system that has a temperature adjustment mechanism that adjusts the temperature of ink, since a dedicated heating section is provided in order to set the temperature of the ink to an appropriate range, power consumption occurs in such a dedicated heating section. Therefore, in such a printing system, there is a tendency that large power consumption occurs in the entire printing system.

[0004] Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-110588 SUMMARY

[0005] The printing system of the present application for solving the above problem is characterized by comprising: a printing device that has a conveyance section that conveys a medium, a printing section that prints an image by ejecting ink to the medium conveyed by the conveyance section, and a frame that has a first space in which the printing section is arranged; a drying device that has a drying furnace into which the medium on which the image is printed by the printing section enters, and a heating section that is arranged in the drying furnace and heats the medium; and a first flow passage section that is a flow passage section for discharging gas in the drying furnace to the outside of the drying furnace, and connects the drying furnace and the first space. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0006] Figure 1 is a schematic side view showing a printing system of Embodiment 1 of the present application.

[0007] Figure 2 is a schematic side view showing a printing system of Embodiment 2 of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0008] First, the present application is described in outline.

[0009] The printing system of the first aspect of the present application for solving the above problem is characterized by comprising: a printing device including a conveyance section that conveys a medium, a printing section that prints an image by ejecting ink onto the medium conveyed by the conveyance section, and a frame that has a first space in which the printing section is arranged; a drying device including a drying furnace into which the medium on which the image is printed by the printing section enters, and a heating section that is arranged in the drying furnace and heats the medium; and a first flow passage section that is a flow passage section for discharging gas in the drying furnace to the outside of the drying furnace, and connects the drying furnace and the first space.

[0010] According to the present aspect, the first flow passage section that is a flow passage section for discharging gas in the drying furnace to the outside of the drying furnace, and connects the drying furnace and the first space is provided. That is, the temperature of the ink can be adjusted using the heated gas generated by the drying device. Therefore, the necessity of providing a dedicated heating section can be eliminated, and the temperature of the ink can be adjusted with low power consumption when considered as a whole of the printing system.

[0011] The printing system of the second aspect of the present application is characterized in that, in the aspect depending on the first aspect, a supply fan is provided, the supply fan being arranged in the flow passage section and generating a gas flow for discharging gas in the drying furnace to the outside of the drying furnace.

[0012] According to the present aspect, the supply fan is provided, the supply fan being arranged in the flow passage section and generating a gas flow for discharging gas in the drying furnace to the outside of the drying furnace. By being configured in this way, for example, the heated gas generated by the drying device can be efficiently transported to the first space, and the temperature of the ink can be efficiently adjusted.

[0013] The printing system of the third aspect of the present application is characterized in that, in the aspect depending on the first aspect or the second aspect, a check valve is provided, the check valve being arranged in the flow passage section and suppressing the reverse flow of gas from the outside of the drying furnace to the inside of the drying furnace.

[0014] According to the present aspect, the check valve is provided, the check valve being arranged in the flow passage section and suppressing the reverse flow of gas from the outside of the drying furnace to the inside of the drying furnace. By being configured in this way, for example, the heated gas generated by the drying device can be efficiently transported to the first space, and the temperature of the ink can be efficiently adjusted.

[0015] The printing system of the fourth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the aspect depending on any one of the first to third aspects, an exhaust duct that exhausts gas in the first space is provided, and a second flow passage portion that constitutes the flow passage portion and connects the drying furnace and the exhaust duct is provided.

[0016] According to the present aspect, the exhaust duct that exhausts gas in the first space is provided, and the second flow passage portion that connects the drying furnace and the exhaust duct is provided. By being configured in this way, it is possible to not only transport the heated gas generated by the drying device to the first space, but also exhaust the gas without being transported to the first space via the second flow passage portion. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the case where the first space is excessively heated, and it is possible to adjust the temperature of the ink with high precision.

[0017] The printing system of the fifth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the aspect depending on the fourth aspect, an adjustment portion that adjusts the flow rate of gas flowing from the drying furnace to the first flow passage portion and the flow rate of gas flowing from the drying furnace to the second flow passage portion is provided.

[0018] According to the present aspect, the adjustment portion that adjusts the flow rate of gas flowing from the drying furnace to the first flow passage portion and the flow rate of gas flowing from the drying furnace to the second flow passage portion is provided. By being configured in this way, it is possible to eliminate the necessity for the user to manually adjust the flow rate of gas flowing to the first flow passage portion and the flow rate of gas flowing to the second flow passage portion, and thus it is possible to automatically adjust the flow rate of gas flowing to the first flow passage portion and the flow rate of gas flowing to the second flow passage portion. Therefore, it is possible to improve the usability.

[0019] The printing system of the sixth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the aspect depending on the fifth aspect, a first temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the first space is provided, and the adjustment portion adjusts the flow rate of gas flowing to the first flow passage portion and the flow rate of gas flowing to the second flow passage portion based on the detection result of the first temperature sensor.

[0020] According to the present aspect, the first temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the first space is provided, and the adjustment portion adjusts the flow rate of gas flowing to the first flow passage portion and the flow rate of gas flowing to the second flow passage portion based on the detection result of the first temperature sensor. By being configured in this way, it is possible to particularly precisely adjust the flow rate of gas flowing to the first flow passage portion and the flow rate of gas flowing to the second flow passage portion. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the case where the first space is excessively heated, and it is possible to particularly precisely adjust the temperature of the ink.

[0021] The printing system of the seventh aspect of the present application is characterized in that, in the aspect subordinated to the fifth aspect, a second temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the ink in the printing section is provided, and the adjustment section adjusts the flow rate of the gas flowing to the first flow passage section and the flow rate of the gas flowing to the second flow passage section based on the detection result of the second temperature sensor.

[0022] According to the present aspect, a second temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the ink in the printing section is provided, and the adjustment section adjusts the flow rate of the gas flowing to the first flow passage section and the flow rate of the gas flowing to the second flow passage section based on the detection result of the second temperature sensor. By being configured in this way, the flow rate of the gas flowing to the first flow passage section and the flow rate of the gas flowing to the second flow passage section can be adjusted with particularly high precision. Therefore, it is possible to suppress excessive heating of the first space, and the temperature of the ink can be adjusted with particularly high precision.

[0023] The printing system of the eighth aspect of the present application is characterized in that, in the aspect subordinated to any one of the first aspect to the seventh aspect, the conveying section has a conveying belt that is disposed in the first space and has an adhesive layer on which an adhesive is applied, and the gas discharged from the first flow passage section is blown toward the conveying belt in the first space.

[0024] According to the present aspect, the conveying section has a conveying belt that is disposed in the first space and has an adhesive layer on which an adhesive is applied. By being configured in this way, it is possible to stably convey a medium such as a large and soft cloth, for example. Also, the gas discharged from the first flow passage section is blown toward the conveying belt in the first space. By being configured in this way, it is also possible to warm the adhesive disposed on the conveying belt to increase the adhesiveness of the adhesive, and further increase the stability of the conveyance by the conveying belt.

[0025] The printing system of the ninth aspect of the present application is characterized in that, in the aspect subordinated to the eighth aspect, a cleaning section that cleans the conveying belt is provided downstream of the printing section in the moving direction of the conveying belt, and the position at which the gas discharged from the first flow passage section is blown is located between the printing section and the cleaning section in the moving direction of the conveying belt.

[0026] According to this method, a cleaning section for cleaning the conveyor belt is located downstream of the printing section in the direction of conveyor belt movement. The gas discharged from the first flow channel is blown between the printing section and the cleaning section in the direction of conveyor belt movement. By configuring it in this way, gas moistened by the volatile components of the ink transported from the drying oven to the first space can be blown onto the conveyor belt between the printing section and the cleaning section, that is, before cleaning is performed using the cleaning section, thereby improving the cleaning effect in the cleaning section.

[0027] Example 1

[0028] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, referring to... Figure 1 The outline of a printing system 1A, which is an example of a printing system 1 of the present invention and includes a printing apparatus 20 and a drying apparatus 10, will be described below.

[0029] like Figure 1 As shown, the printing system 1A of this embodiment includes a holding part 2, which can rotatably hold a roll body R1 in which a medium such as cloth is wound into a cylindrical shape. Furthermore, the printing system 1A of this embodiment includes a printing apparatus 20, which includes a conveying part 29 for conveying the medium M, a head 27 for printing an image by spraying ink onto the medium M conveyed by the conveying part 29, and a frame 21 having a first space 22 in which the head 27 is disposed. Furthermore, the printing system 1A of this embodiment includes a drying apparatus 10, which includes a drying oven 14 into which the medium M, whose image has been printed using the head 27, enters, and a heating part 15 disposed in the drying oven 14 for heating the medium M. Moreover, the printing system 1A of this embodiment includes a winding part 3, which can wind the medium M, which has been printed using the printing apparatus 20 and whose ink has been dried using the drying apparatus 10, into a cylindrical shape to form a roll body R2.

[0030] The holding part 2 holds the paper tube that forms the rotating shaft of the roll body R1, and can rotate in the rotation direction C to unwind the medium M from the roll body R1 to the transport part 29 of the printing apparatus 20. In addition, although the holding part 2 can be configured separately from the printing apparatus 20, it can also be part of the components of the printing apparatus 20.

[0031] The printing apparatus 20 of this embodiment is an inkjet printer capable of ejecting liquid ink in droplet form to form an image on a medium M. Within a first space 22 inside a frame 21, the printing apparatus 20 includes a conveying section 29 comprising a driven roller 23 located upstream of a conveying direction A (the conveying direction of the medium M), a drive roller 24 located downstream of conveying direction A, and a seamless conveyor belt 25 mounted on the driven roller 23 and the drive roller 24. Here, the conveyor belt 25 is an adhesive belt with an outer peripheral surface 25a, wherein the outer peripheral surface 25a is coated with adhesive on the supporting surface of the medium M, which is the outer surface. Furthermore, an exhaust pipe 9 is connected to the frame 21 to discharge gas from the first space 22.

[0032] like Figure 1 As shown, in the conveying section 29, the medium M is supported and conveyed by the conveyor belt 25 in a state where it is adhered to the outer peripheral surface 25a. In the printing apparatus 20 of this embodiment, the medium-supporting region of the conveyor belt 25 that supports the medium M is the upper region that is bridged by the driven roller 23 and the drive roller 24. Furthermore, the drive roller 24 is a roller that rotates in the rotational direction C by the driving force of a motor (not shown), and the driven roller 23 is a roller that rotates by being driven by the rotation of the conveyor belt 25 that causes the drive roller 24 to rotate.

[0033] That is, when conveying medium M, the direction of movement of the conveyor belt 25 is the rotation direction C, and the direction of movement of the conveyor belt 25 in the medium support area is the conveying direction A. However, in cases other than when conveying medium M, the drive roller 24 can also be rotated in the opposite direction to the rotation direction C, thereby causing the conveyor belt 25 to move in the opposite direction to the rotation direction C.

[0034] Furthermore, the printing apparatus 20 of this embodiment includes a carriage 26 capable of reciprocating in the width direction B of the conveyor belt 25, and a head 27 mounted on the carriage 26. The head 27 is a printing unit capable of spraying liquid ink onto the medium M being conveyed along the conveying direction A based on printing data to form an image.

[0035] Furthermore, the printing apparatus 20 of this embodiment can eject ink from the head 27 onto the conveyed medium M to form an image while the carriage 26 reciprocates in the width direction B, which intersects the transport direction A. By providing this structure for the carriage 26, the printing apparatus 20 of this embodiment can form the desired image on the medium M by repeatedly performing the action of conveying the medium M in the transport direction A with a predetermined transport amount, and the action of ejecting ink while moving the carriage 26 in the width direction B when the medium M is stopped. However, the structure of the printing unit is not particularly limited. For example, a so-called line head, in which the ink ejection nozzle is provided to span the entire width direction B of the medium M, can also be used as the printing unit.

[0036] When the medium M on which an image is formed by ink ejected from head 27 is discharged from the printing apparatus 20 of this embodiment, it is transported to the drying apparatus 10, which is positioned further downstream of the printing apparatus 20 in the transport direction A, and causes the components of the ink ejected onto the medium M to evaporate. In this way, the drying apparatus 10 of this embodiment, together with the printing apparatus 20, constitutes the printing system 1.

[0037] Here, the medium M can preferably be the material to be printed on. The material to be printed on refers to fabrics, clothing, and other apparel items that are the objects of printing. Fabrics include woven fabrics, knitted fabrics, and non-woven fabrics made from natural fibers such as cotton, silk, and wool, chemical fibers such as nylon, or composite fibers made from these blends. Furthermore, in clothing and other apparel items, in addition to sewn T-shirts, handkerchiefs, scarves, towels, tote bags, cloth bags, curtains, sheets, bedspreads, and other household items, it also includes fabrics before and after cutting, which exist as accessories in their pre-sewing state. However, besides the aforementioned materials to be printed on, ordinary paper, high-quality paper, and glossy paper, as well as special inkjet recording paper, can also be used.

[0038] like Figure 1 As shown, the drying apparatus 10 of this embodiment includes a heating unit 15 for heating the medium M and a drying oven 14 on which the heating unit 15 is disposed and for drying the medium M. Two heating units 15 are provided along the transport path of the medium M. Specifically, a first heating unit 15A is provided opposite to the surface of the medium M, which is the side from which ink is ejected from the nozzle 27, and a second heating unit 15B is provided opposite to the back side of the medium M, which is the opposite side of the surface. In this embodiment, both the first heating unit 15A and the second heating unit 15B are configured to blow heated airflow onto the medium M. However, the structure of the heating unit 15 is not particularly limited; it can also be a structure that irradiates infrared light onto the medium M, or a heater made of heating wire, etc.

[0039] Furthermore, two blower fans 16 are provided in the drying oven 14, which generate airflow to exhaust the gas inside the drying oven 14 to the outside. The first blower fan 16A is located at the inlet of the first flow channel section 13A on the drying device 10 side, which is a gas flow channel section 13 connecting the drying oven 14 of the drying device 10 and the first space 22 of the printing device 20. Here, the outlet of the first flow channel section 13A on the printing device 20 side is located opposite the conveyor belt 25. By driving the first blower fan 16A, air is flowed from the drying device 10 in direction F1 to the printing device 20 in the first flow channel section 13A.

[0040] The second air supply fan 16B of the air supply fan 16 is installed at the inlet of the second flow channel section 13B on the side of the drying device 10. The second flow channel section 13B is a flow channel section 13 for gas that connects the drying oven 14 of the drying device 10 and the exhaust pipe 9 connected to the printing device 20. By driving the second air supply fan 16B, air is made to flow from the drying device 10 in the direction F2 to the exhaust pipe 9 in the second flow channel section 13B. In addition, in the exhaust pipe 9, air flows in the direction F0 toward the outside of the printing device 20 or the drying device 10.

[0041] The printing system 1A of this embodiment is configured such that a one-way valve 12 is provided on the flow channel section 13 to prevent airflow from flowing backward. Specifically, a first one-way valve 12A is provided on the first flow channel section 13A, and a second one-way valve 12B is provided on the second flow channel section 13B.

[0042] Furthermore, as described above, the printing system 1A of this embodiment includes a winding section 3. The winding section 3 serves as a rotation axis for forming the roll body R2, holding the paper tube and winding the medium M onto the paper tube by rotating in the rotation direction C, thereby forming the roll body R2. In addition, although the winding section 3 can be configured separately from the drying device 10, it can also be part of the structural components of the drying device 10.

[0043] As described above, the printing system 1A of this embodiment includes the printing apparatus 20 and the drying apparatus 10 described above, and includes a first flow channel 13A. The first flow channel 13A is a flow channel 13 for discharging gas from the drying oven 14 of the drying apparatus 10 to the outside of the drying oven 14, and connects the drying oven 14 and the first space 22 of the printing apparatus 20. With this structure, the heated gas in the drying oven 14 can be transported to the first space 22, where the ink supply head 27 is provided, via the first flow channel 13A.

[0044] Therefore, the printing system 1A of this embodiment is structured such that the temperature of the ink in the printing apparatus 20 can be adjusted using the gas inside the drying oven 14, i.e., the heated gas generated by the drying device 10. Thus, the printing system 1A of this embodiment eliminates the need for a dedicated heating unit, and, considering the printing system 1A as a whole, achieves a structure capable of adjusting the ink temperature with low power consumption. For example, the ink temperature can be adjusted to approximately 32°C ± 3°C. By adjusting the ink temperature, the waveform of the voltage applied to the ink ejection element provided in the head 27 can be simplified.

[0045] Furthermore, by adopting such a structure, the interior of the first space 22 can be maintained at a constant temperature, thereby suppressing the expansion and contraction of structural components such as the head 27 or frame of the printing apparatus 20 inside the first space 22, and improving the ink ejection accuracy. Alternatively, although the printing apparatus 20 of this embodiment is not included, a cooling device or heating device or other mechanism capable of adjusting the temperature of the head 27 and the like can be provided separately.

[0046] Furthermore, in a typical printing system 1, if the drying device 10 and the printing device 20 are arranged close together, the heat generated in the drying device 10 will heat the entire printing device 20, potentially causing thermal expansion and deformation of its components. Therefore, conventionally, the drying device 10 and the printing device 20 are arranged with a predetermined interval between them. However, by adopting the structure of the printing system 1A of this embodiment, the heat generated in the drying device 10 can heat only the interior of the first space 22, rather than heating the entire printing device 20. Therefore, the drying device 10 and the printing device 20 can be arranged close together, thereby saving space in the printing system 1.

[0047] Furthermore, as described above, the printing system 1A of this embodiment includes a blower fan 16, which is disposed in the flow channel section 13 and generates an airflow for discharging gas inside the drying oven 14 to the outside of the drying oven 14. More specifically, the printing system 1A of this embodiment includes a first blower fan 16A disposed in the first flow channel section 13A and generating an airflow for discharging gas inside the drying oven 14 to the outside of the drying oven 14, and a second blower fan 16B disposed in the second flow channel section 13B and generating an airflow for discharging gas inside the drying oven 14 to the outside of the drying oven 14.

[0048] The printing system 1A of this embodiment is configured in such a way that the heated gas generated by the drying device 10 can be efficiently transported to the first space 22, thereby enabling efficient temperature regulation of the ink. Furthermore, the gas can be efficiently discharged out of the drying oven 14 via the second flow channel 13B, preventing the temperature inside the drying oven 14 from becoming excessively high.

[0049] Furthermore, as described above, the printing system 1A of this embodiment includes a one-way valve 12, which is disposed in the flow channel portion 13 and suppresses the backflow of gas from the outside of the drying oven 14 to the inside of the drying oven 14. Specifically, the printing system 1A of this embodiment includes a first one-way valve 12A disposed in the first flow channel portion 13A to suppress the backflow of gas from the outside of the drying oven 14 to the inside of the drying oven 14, and a second one-way valve 12B disposed in the second flow channel portion 13B to suppress the backflow of gas from the outside of the drying oven 14 to the inside of the drying oven 14.

[0050] The printing system 1A of this embodiment, by having such a structure, can efficiently transport the heated gas generated by the drying device 10 to the first space 22, thereby enabling efficient temperature regulation of the ink. Furthermore, the gas can be efficiently discharged out of the drying oven 14 via the second flow channel 13B, preventing the temperature inside the drying oven 14 from becoming excessively high. Moreover, this structure prevents lower-temperature gas from flowing into the drying oven 14 from the first space 22 or the exhaust pipe 9. In other words, it prevents a decrease in drying efficiency caused by a drop in temperature inside the drying oven 14.

[0051] Furthermore, as described above, the printing system 1A of this embodiment includes an exhaust pipe 9 for discharging gas from the first space 22, and a second flow channel section 13B that forms the flow channel section 13 and connects the drying oven 14 and the exhaust pipe 9. By configuring the printing system 1A of this embodiment in this way, it is possible not only to transport the heated gas generated by the drying device 10 to the first space 22, but also to discharge it without transporting it to the first space 22 via the second flow channel section 13B. Therefore, it is possible to suppress excessive heating of the first space 22 and to precisely regulate the temperature of the ink.

[0052] Here, as Figure 1As shown, the printing system 1A of this embodiment includes a control unit 11 capable of performing overall control of the printing system 1A. The control unit 11 functions as an adjustment unit, which adjusts the driving of the first air supply fan 16A and the second air supply fan 16B, and adjusts the flow rate of gas flowing from the drying oven 14 to the first flow channel section 13A and the flow rate of gas flowing from the drying oven 14 to the second flow channel section 13B.

[0053] The printing system 1A of this embodiment, by including a control unit 11 that functions as an adjustment unit, eliminates the need for the user to manually adjust the flow rate of gas flowing to the first flow channel 13A and the flow rate of gas flowing to the second flow channel 13B. This allows for automatic adjustment of the flow rates of gas to the first flow channel 13A and the second flow channel 13B. Therefore, the printing system 1A of this embodiment improves usability.

[0054] In addition, such as Figure 1 As shown, the printing system 1A of this embodiment includes an air supply fan drive unit 17, which is electrically connected to the control unit 11 and can adjust the drive of the air supply fan 16. The air supply fan drive unit 17 can adjust the drive of the first air supply fan 16A and the second air supply fan 16B respectively.

[0055] In addition, such as Figure 1 As shown, the printing system 1A of this embodiment includes a temperature sensor 18, which is electrically connected to the control unit 11 and is capable of detecting temperature. Specifically, the temperature sensor 18 includes a first temperature sensor 18A that detects the temperature of the first space 22. The control unit 11 can adjust the flow rate of gas flowing to the first flow channel 13A and the flow rate of gas flowing to the second flow channel 13B based on the detection result of the first temperature sensor 18A.

[0056] The printing system 1A of this embodiment is configured in such a way that the flow rate of gas flowing to the first flow channel 13A and the flow rate of gas flowing to the second flow channel 13B can be adjusted with particularly high precision. Therefore, the printing system 1A of this embodiment can suppress excessive heating of the first space 22 and can adjust the temperature of the ink with particularly high precision.

[0057] Furthermore, the method for adjusting the flow rate of the gas flowing to the first flow channel 13A and the flow rate of the gas flowing to the second flow channel 13B is not particularly limited. Although the adjustment of the flow rate of the gas flowing to the first flow channel 13A and the flow rate of the gas flowing to the second flow channel 13B can be achieved by changing the driving amount of the first blower fan 16A and the second blower fan 16B as in this embodiment, it is also possible to configure the structure such as by providing baffles or the like on the first flow channel 13A and the second flow channel 13B, thereby adjusting the opening and closing amount of the baffles or the like.

[0058] Furthermore, the printing system 1A of this embodiment includes a second temperature sensor 18B, which functions as a temperature sensor 18, to detect the temperature of the ink in the printhead 27. The control unit 11 can adjust the flow rate of the gas flowing to the first flow channel section 13A and the flow rate of the gas flowing to the second flow channel section 13B based on the detection result of the second temperature sensor 18B.

[0059] The printing system 1A of this embodiment is configured in such a way that the flow rate of the gas flowing to the first flow channel 13A and the flow rate of the gas flowing to the second flow channel 13B can be adjusted with particularly high precision. Therefore, from this point of view, the printing system 1A of this embodiment can also suppress excessive heating of the first space 22 and can adjust the temperature of the ink with particularly high precision.

[0060] Furthermore, in the printing system 1A of this embodiment, the internal temperature of the drying oven 14 can be arbitrarily set by the user. Therefore, if the detection results of the first temperature sensor 18A and the second temperature sensor 18B exceed the threshold, the system automatically adjusts the flow rate of gas flowing to the first flow channel 13A and the flow rate of gas flowing to the second flow channel 13B. When the flow rate of gas flowing to the first flow channel 13A is increased, the temperature of the first space 22 increases; when the flow rate of gas flowing to the first flow channel 13A is decreased, the temperature of the first space 22 decreases.

[0061] Furthermore, as described above, in the printing system 1A of this embodiment, the conveying section 29 has a conveyor belt 25, which is disposed within the first space 22 and has an adhesive layer coated with an adhesive. Moreover, it is structured such that gas discharged from the first flow channel section 13A in the first space 22 is blown toward the outer peripheral surface 25a of the conveyor belt 25.

[0062] The printing system 1A of this embodiment is configured to have a conveyor belt 25 as a conveying section 29, thereby enabling stable conveying of media M such as large and soft fabrics, for example. The conveyor belt 25 has an adhesive layer coated with adhesive on its outer peripheral surface 25a. Furthermore, by configuring a structure in which gas discharged from the first flow channel section 13A in the first space 22 is blown toward the outer peripheral surface 25a of the conveyor belt 25, the adhesive disposed on the conveyor belt 25 can also be heated, and the adhesiveness of the adhesive can be improved, thereby improving the conveying stability achieved by the conveyor belt 25.

[0063] In addition, such as Figure 1 As shown, in this embodiment, the printing system 1A has a cleaning section 28 for cleaning the conveyor belt 25 downstream of the head 27 in the rotational direction C, which is the direction of movement of the conveyor belt 25. Furthermore, the gas discharged from the first flow channel section 13A is blown at a position between the head 27 and the cleaning section 28 in the direction of movement of the conveyor belt 25.

[0064] The printing system 1A of this embodiment is configured such that a gas moistened by the volatile components of the ink transported from the drying oven 14 to the first space is blown onto the conveyor belt 25 between the head 27 and the cleaning section 28, that is, before the cleaning is performed using the cleaning section 28, thereby improving the cleaning effect in the cleaning section 28.

[0065] Furthermore, the cleaning unit 28 of this embodiment includes a container containing cleaning fluid, a rotating brush that is partially immersed in the cleaning fluid and partially in contact with the outer peripheral surface 25a, and a wiper for wiping the cleaning fluid adhering to the outer peripheral surface 25a. The printing system 1A of this embodiment is configured such that, by having a cleaning unit 28 with this structure, and by blowing gas moistened with the volatile components of the ink transported from the drying oven 14 to the first space 22 onto the conveyor belt 25 before cleaning using the cleaning unit 28, the volatile components of the ink are efficiently recovered, preventing condensation in unwanted locations. However, the structure of the cleaning unit 28 is not particularly limited. However, by improving the cleaning effect of the cleaning unit 28, for example, the number of rotating brushes can be reduced, thereby achieving cost reduction.

[0066] Example 2

[0067] Next, use Figure 2 The printing system 1B of Example 2 will now be described. Additionally, Figure 2 For the printing system 1A of Example 1, and Figure 1 The corresponding diagram. In Figure 2In this document, the same symbols are used to represent structural components common to Embodiment 1 described above, and detailed descriptions are omitted. Here, the printing system 1B of this embodiment is configured to have the same structure as the printing system 1A of Embodiment 1, except for the parts described below. Therefore, regarding the parts not described below, the printing system 1B of this embodiment has the same features as the printing system 1A of Embodiment 1.

[0068] like Figure 2 As shown, in the printing system 1B of this embodiment, the printing apparatus 20 and the drying apparatus 10 are integrally formed. With this structure, the gas heated by the drying apparatus 10 can be efficiently transported to the first space 22 without being released to the outside. Therefore, for example, the structure of the gas flow channel section 13 can be simplified by omitting the one-way valve 12, thus achieving not only miniaturization of the printing system 1 but also cost reduction.

[0069] Here, "the printing apparatus 20 and the drying apparatus 10 are integrally constructed" means, in addition to cases where the boundary between the printing apparatus 20 and the drying apparatus 10 is indistinct, that the boundary between the printing apparatus 20 and the drying apparatus 10 is distinct and at least a portion of them is connected. Furthermore, the structure of the gas flow channel 13 is not particularly limited. The gas flow channel 13 can be a tubular structure such as a pipe, or it can be a simple perforated structure provided on the wall. Moreover, it can be constructed such that there is no clear boundary between the first space 22 and the drying oven 14, and the airflow flows from the drying apparatus 10 side to the printing apparatus 20 side, that is, from the drying oven 14 side to the first space 22 side.

[0070] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the invention described in the technical solution, and these modifications are naturally included within the scope of the present invention. For example, it is also possible to provide a mist generating mechanism that generates mist capable of cooling the head 27, or to provide a structure in which a wiper for wiping the head 27 can cool the head 27.

[0071] Symbol Explanation

[0072] 1…Printing system; 1A…Printing system; 1B…Printing system; 2…Holding section; 3…Rewinding section; 9…Exhaust duct; 10…Drying device; 11…Control section (adjustment section); 12…Check valve; 12A…First check valve; 12B…Second check valve; 13…Flow channel section; 13A…First flow channel section; 13B…Second flow channel section; 14…Drying oven; 15…Heating section; 15A…First heating section; 15B…Second heating section; 16…Air blower; 16A… 16B…Second air supply fan; 17…Air supply fan drive unit; 18…Temperature sensor; 18A…First temperature sensor; 18B…Second temperature sensor; 20…Printing device; 21…Frame; 22…First space; 23…Driven roller; 24…Drive roller; 25…Conveyor belt; 25a…Outer peripheral surface; 26…Carriage; 27…Head (printing unit); 28…Cleaning unit; 29…Conveying unit; M…Media; R1…Roll body; R2…Roll body.

Claims

1. A printing system, characterized by, Possessing: a printing device that possesses a conveyance section that conveys a medium, a printing section that prints an image by ejecting ink onto the medium that is conveyed by the conveyance section, and a frame that has a first space in which the printing section is disposed; a drying device that possesses a drying furnace into which the medium on which the image is printed by the printing section enters, and a heating section that is disposed in the drying furnace and heats the medium; a first flow passage section that is a flow passage section for discharging gas in the drying furnace to the outside of the drying furnace, and connects the drying furnace and the first space.

2. The printing system according to claim 1, characterized in that a supply fan is possessed that is disposed in the flow passage section and generates an air current for discharging gas in the drying furnace to the outside of the drying furnace.

3. The printing system according to claim 1, characterized in that a check valve is possessed that is disposed in the flow passage section and suppresses backflow of gas from the outside of the drying furnace to the inside of the drying furnace.

4. The printing system of claim 1, wherein, Possessing: an exhaust duct that discharges gas in the first space; a second flow passage section that constitutes the flow passage section and connects the drying furnace and the exhaust duct.

5. The printing system according to claim 4, characterized in that an adjustment section is possessed that adjusts the flow rate of gas flowing from the drying furnace to the first flow passage section and the flow rate of gas flowing from the drying furnace to the second flow passage section.

6. The printing system according to claim 5, characterized in that a first temperature sensor is possessed that detects the temperature of the first space, the adjustment section adjusts the flow rate of gas flowing to the first flow passage section and the flow rate of gas flowing to the second flow passage section based on the detection result of the first temperature sensor.

7. The printing system according to claim 5, characterized in that a second temperature sensor is possessed that detects the temperature of the ink in the printing section, the adjustment section adjusts the flow rate of gas flowing to the first flow passage section and the flow rate of gas flowing to the second flow passage section based on the detection result of the second temperature sensor.

8. The printing system according to claim 1, characterized in that the conveyance section has a conveyance belt that is disposed in the first space and has an adhesive layer on which an adhesive is applied, the gas discharged from the first flow passage section in the first space is blown toward the conveyance belt.

9. The printing system according to claim 8, characterized in that downstream of the printing section in the moving direction of the conveyance belt, a cleaning section that cleans the conveyance belt is possessed, the position at which the gas discharged from the first flow passage section is blown is between the printing section and the cleaning section in the moving direction of the conveyance belt.

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