Inkjet printer

Abstract

To prevent dew condensation generated on an extension wall of a drying device from damaging a recording medium.SOLUTION: An inkjet printer 10 is provided with: a platen 16; a guide member 14 arranged closer to a front side than the platen 16; a drying device 50 which blows hot air to a recording medium 5 while opposing the guide member 14; and an air curtain device 160 that generates air for blocking the hot air generated by the drying device 50. The drying device 50 comprises: a main body case 51; a heating fan 132 and a heater 135 which are provided in the main body case 51; an air exhaust port 102b, formed penetratingly in a rear wall 51B of the main body case 51, through which the hot air is ejected toward the guide member 14; and an extension wall 119 extended from a lower end of the rear wall 51B of the main body case 51. The air curtain device 160 comprises a nozzle 103b opening toward the extension wall 119 and a blowing fan 133 that makes the nozzle 103b blow air. A water retaining mechanism 150 that can retain water therein is provided at least at a lower end part of the extension wall 119.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to inkjet printers. [Background technology]

[0002] Inkjet printers that print on a recording medium using an inkjet method have been known for some time. This type of inkjet printer includes, for example, a platen on which the recording medium is placed, and an ink head that ejects ink onto the recording medium placed on the platen. Depending on the type of ink used, some inkjet printers also include a drying device that dries the ink ejected onto the recording medium.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an inkjet printer including a platen, a guide member disposed in front of the platen and extending forward and downward, and a drying device facing the guide member and blowing hot air toward a recording medium. In the inkjet printer described in Patent Document 1, the drying device includes an extension wall extending forward and downward from a lower end of a main body case that houses a blower fan, a heater, and the like. The inkjet printer described in Patent Document 1 uses the extension wall to prevent the hot air from wrapping around to the front of the main body case. The printer described in Patent Document 1 also includes a non-heating chamber exhaust port disposed in front of and above the extension wall and opening downward, and a non-heating chamber fan that takes in air at room temperature and blows it out from the non-heating chamber exhaust port. The inkjet printer described in Patent Document 1 also prevents the hot air from wrapping around to the front of the main body case by blocking the hot air with air blown out from the non-heating chamber exhaust port. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2023-095350 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the inkjet printer described in Patent Document 1, when air is blown out from the non-heating chamber exhaust port, the blown air is also blown onto the extension wall. This cools the extension wall. When air is blown out from the non-heating chamber exhaust port while hot air is being sent from the drying device, the hot air near the cooled extension wall is also cooled. This may cause condensation on the extension wall. If water droplets caused by the condensation fall onto the recording medium on the guide member, the water droplets will damage the printed recording medium.

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVETION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an inkjet printer that prevents damage to a recording medium caused by condensation on an extension wall of a drying device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The inkjet printer according to the present invention includes a platen on which a recording medium is placed, a conveying device that conveys the recording medium placed on the platen forward, an ink head that is disposed above the platen and ejects ink onto the recording medium placed on the platen, a guide member that is disposed forward of the platen and guides the movement of the recording medium, a drying device that faces the guide member and sends hot air toward the recording medium, and an air curtain device that generates air to block the hot air generated by the drying device. The drying device includes a box-shaped main body case having a rear wall that faces the guide member, a heating fan provided within the main body case, a heater provided within the main body case and heating the air blown by the heating fan, an exhaust port that is formed through the rear wall of the main body case and discharges the air heated by the heater toward the guide member, and an extension wall that extends from a lower end of the rear wall of the main body case. The air curtain device includes a nozzle that opens toward the extension wall, and a blower fan that is configured to generate air and blows the air from the nozzle. At least the lower end of the extension wall is provided with a water retention mechanism capable of retaining water.

[0008] According to the inkjet printer, the water retention mechanism provided at the lower end of the extension wall and capable of retaining water can prevent water droplets formed on the extension wall due to condensation from falling onto the guide member or onto the printed recording medium on the extension line of the guide member, thereby preventing damage to the recording medium due to condensation on the extension wall of the drying device. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a printer according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a front view of a printer according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the air flow in the drying device. [Figure 10] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an extension wall according to a second embodiment, as viewed from the rear side. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a rear view of the drying device according to the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] An inkjet printer (hereinafter simply referred to as a "printer") according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiment described here is, of course, not intended to limit the present invention in any particular way. Furthermore, the same reference numerals are used for members and parts that perform the same functions, and duplicate descriptions will be omitted or simplified as appropriate.

[0011] [First embodiment] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a printer 10 according to an embodiment. Fig. 2 is a front view of the printer 10. Note that a non-heating chamber intake port 103a and a non-heating chamber exhaust port 103b, which will be described later, are omitted in Fig. 2. The printer 10 prints on a recording medium 5.

[0012] The recording medium 5 is, for example, recording paper. However, the recording medium 5 is not limited to recording paper. The recording medium 5 includes, in addition to paper such as plain paper and inkjet printing paper, those formed from resin materials such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyester, metal plates formed from aluminum, iron, etc., glass plates, wooden plates, cardboard, etc.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 3, the printer 10 includes a platen 16 on which the recording medium 5 is placed, and an ink head 35 located directly above the platen 16. In this specification, when printing is performed on the recording medium 5 on the platen 16, the direction in which the recording medium 5 is transported on the platen 16 is defined as the front, and the opposite direction is defined as the rear. The terms left, right, top, and bottom refer to the left, right, top, and bottom, respectively, as viewed from an operator standing in front of the printer 10. When the operator is facing the front of the printer 10, the direction from the rear of the printer 10 toward the operator is defined as the front, and the direction from the operator toward the rear of the printer 10 is defined as the rear. The symbols F, Rr, L, R, U, and D in the drawings represent the front, rear, left, right, top, and bottom, respectively.

[0014] A carriage 30 (see FIG. 2), which will be described later, is provided so as to be movable left and right. When the rear side of the printer 10 is referred to as the upstream side and the front side of the printer 10 is referred to as the downstream side, the recording medium 5 is transported from the upstream side to the downstream side. The front side corresponds to the downstream side in the transport direction of the recording medium 5. The rear side corresponds to the upstream side in the transport direction of the recording medium 5. In this embodiment, the movement direction of the carriage 30 is referred to as the main scanning direction Y, and the transport direction of the recording medium 5 is referred to as the sub-scanning direction X. Here, the main scanning direction Y corresponds to the left-right direction, and the sub-scanning direction X corresponds to the front-rear direction. The main scanning direction Y and the sub-scanning direction X are orthogonal to each other. However, the main scanning direction Y and the sub-scanning direction X are not particularly limited and can be set appropriately according to the form of the printer 10, etc.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 10 includes a main body 10a, legs 11, an operation panel 12, and a front cover 13. The main body 10a has a casing extending in the primary scanning direction Y. The legs 11 support the main body 10a and are provided on the lower surface of the main body 10a. The operation panel 12 is provided, for example, on the front right side of the main body 10a. However, the position of the operation panel 12 is not particularly limited. The operation panel 12 is used by a user to perform operations related to printing. The front cover 13 is provided rotatably on the main body 10a. The front cover 13 is disposed forward of the carriage 30. The front cover 13 is formed of, for example, a transparent acrylic resin. Note that the front cover 13 is not illustrated in FIG. 2.

[0016] 3, the printer 10 includes a platen 16. The recording medium 5 is placed on the platen 16. Printing onto the recording medium 5 is performed on the platen 16. The platen 16 extends in the main scanning direction Y. An upper surface 16A of the platen 16 is formed flat.

[0017] The printer 10 includes an upstream guide member 17 and a downstream guide member 14. The upstream guide member 17 is disposed behind the platen 16. The upstream guide member 17 guides the movement of the recording medium 5 to the platen 16. The downstream guide member 14 is disposed in front of the platen 16. The downstream guide member 14 guides the movement of the recording medium 5 from the platen 16. The downstream guide member 14 has an upper wall 14U that extends forward and downward. After ink has landed on the recording medium 5, the recording medium 5 is transported on the upper wall 14U. The recording medium 5 is transported forward and downward along the upper wall 14U by a transport device 32, which will be described later.

[0018] As shown in Fig. 2, the printer 10 includes an ink head 35 that ejects ink. The ink head 35 is disposed above the platen 16. The ink head 35 ejects ink onto the recording medium 5 placed on the platen 16. Here, the ink head 35 ejects water-based ink onto the recording medium 5. The ink head 35 is provided so as to be movable in the main scanning direction Y. In this embodiment, the ink head 35 is connected to an ink cartridge 37 by an ink supply path (not shown).

[0019] As the aqueous ink, for example, latex ink can be preferably used. The latex ink contains a solvent, a coloring material, and a binder resin. In the latex ink, the binder resin is dispersed or emulsified in the solvent. As the solvent, for example, one or more water-soluble organic solvents (lower alcohols, lower ketones, etc.) that can be uniformly mixed with water can be appropriately selected and used. The latex ink contains a solvent of 50% by mass or more and 90% by mass or less with respect to the total mass of the latex ink. As the coloring material, conventional coloring materials contained in latex ink can be appropriately selected. As the coloring material, for example, dyes such as water-soluble dyes and pigments can be mentioned. As the binder resin, conventional binder resins contained in latex ink can be appropriately selected.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 2, the printer 10 includes a head moving device 31. The head moving device 31 moves the ink head 35 in the main scanning direction Y. Here, the head moving device 31 includes a guide rail 20, a first pulley 21, a second pulley 22, an endless belt 23, a first drive motor 24, and a carriage 30. The guide rail 20 guides the movement of the carriage 30 in the main scanning direction Y. As shown in FIG. 3, the guide rail 20 is disposed above the platen 16. As shown in FIG. 2, the guide rail 20 extends in the main scanning direction Y. The first pulley 21 is provided at the left end portion of the guide rail 20. The second pulley 22 is provided at the right end portion of the guide rail 20. The belt 23 is wound around the first pulley 21 and the second pulley 22. In this embodiment, the first drive motor 24 is connected to the second pulley 22. However, the first drive motor 24 may be connected to the first pulley 21. When the first drive motor 24 is driven, the second pulley 22 rotates, and the belt 23 runs between the first pulley 21 and the second pulley 22.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 2, the carriage 30 is attached to the belt 23. The carriage 30 is disposed above the platen 16. As shown in FIG. 3, the carriage 30 engages with the guide rail 20 and is slidably mounted on the guide rail 20. An ink head 35 is mounted on the carriage 30. In this embodiment, the head moving device 31 moves the ink head 35 mounted on the carriage 30 in the main scanning direction Y as the belt 23 runs due to the drive of the first drive motor 24 and the carriage 30 moves in the main scanning direction Y.

[0022] The printer 10 includes a conveying device 32 for the recording medium 5. The conveying device 32 moves the recording medium 5 placed on the platen 16 in the sub-scanning direction X. As shown in FIG. 3, in this embodiment, the conveying device 32 includes a grit roller 25, a pinch roller 26, and a second drive motor (not shown) that drives the grit roller 25. The grit roller 25 is provided on the platen 16. Here, at least a part of the grit roller 25 is embedded in the platen 16. The pinch roller 26 presses the recording medium 5 from above. The pinch roller 26 is disposed above the grit roller 25. The pinch roller 26 is disposed at a position facing the grit roller 25. The pinch roller 26 is configured to be movable in the vertical direction. When the second drive motor is driven to rotate the grit roller 25 while the recording medium 5 is sandwiched between the grit roller 25 and the pinch roller 26, the recording medium 5 is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction X. The locations and numbers of the grit rollers 25 and pinch rollers 26 are not particularly limited.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 10 is equipped with a drying device 50. The drying device 50 is a device that dries ink ejected onto the recording medium 5. The drying device 50 blows air toward the recording medium 5 placed on the platen 16. The drying device 50 also blows air toward the recording medium 5 guided by the guide member 14. Hereinafter, blowing air toward the recording medium 5 placed on the platen 16 is referred to as initial drying. Blowing air toward the recording medium 5 guided by the guide member 14 is referred to as complete drying.

[0024] As shown in Fig. 3, the drying device 50 is disposed forward of the platen 16. The drying device 50 faces the guide member 14. At least a portion of the drying device 50 overlaps with the guide member 14 in a plan view. As shown in Fig. 2, at least a portion of the drying device 50 overlaps with the guide member 14 in a front view. The drying device 50 is detachably provided on the main body 10a.

[0025] 3, the drying device 50 is provided with an air blowing chamber 101, a heating chamber 102, and a non-heating chamber 103 inside. The drying device 50 has a main body case 51 extending in the left-right direction, a partition wall 111 that divides the inside of the main body case 51 into the air blowing chamber 101 and the heating chamber 102, a partition wall 112 that divides the inside of the main body case 51 into the air blowing chamber 101 and the non-heating chamber 103, and a partition wall 113 that divides the inside of the main body case 51 into the heating chamber 102 and the non-heating chamber 103. The drying device 50 also has a partition wall 114 that divides the inside of the air blowing chamber 101 into a first air blowing chamber 121 and a second air blowing chamber 122. The drying device 50 has a partition wall 116 that divides the interior of the heating chamber 102 into an upstream chamber 102A and a downstream chamber 102B in which a heating chamber fan 132 described later is arranged, and a partition wall 117 and a straightening plate 127 that separate the downstream chamber 102B and the upstream chamber 102A from the outlet chamber 102C within the heating chamber 102.

[0026] The heating chamber 102 is formed by a partition wall 111, a partition wall 113, and a rear wall 51B. The partition walls 111 and 113 are formed in a curved plate shape. The upstream chamber 102A is formed by a partition wall 111, a partition wall 116, and a partition wall 117. The downstream chamber 102B is formed by a partition wall 111, a partition wall 113, a partition wall 116, a straightening plate 127, and a rear wall 51B. The outlet chamber 102C is formed by the partition wall 117, the straightening plate 127, and a rear wall 51B. The air flowing through heating chamber 102 flows into upstream chamber 102A from heating chamber intake port 102a, is sent from upstream chamber 102A to downstream chamber 102B by heating chamber fan 132 attached to partition wall 116, flows from downstream chamber 102B to outlet chamber 102C through numerous through-holes in straightening plate 127, and is exhausted from outlet chamber 102C to the outside of heating chamber 102 through heating chamber exhaust port 102b. Partition wall 117 is provided with guide plate 117A that directs the air flowing through downstream chamber 102B toward heating chamber exhaust port 102b.

[0027] The main body case 51 has a front wall 51F extending upward, an upper wall 51U extending rearward from an upper end 51Ft of the front wall 51F, a lower wall 51D extending rearward from a lower end 51Fd of the front wall 51F, and a rear wall 51B extending upward from a rear end 51Db of the lower wall 51D. The lower wall 51D is disposed lower than the upper wall 51U, and the rear wall 51B is disposed rearward than the front wall 51F. The main body case 51 also has a left wall 51L and a right wall 51R disposed to the left and right of the front wall 51F, the upper wall 51U, the lower wall 51D, and the rear wall 51B, respectively (see FIG. 4). The front wall 51F, the upper wall 51U, the lower wall 51D, the rear wall 51B, the left wall 51L, and the right wall 51R may be flat, curved, or bent. The front wall 51F, the upper wall 51U, the lower wall 51D, the rear wall 51B, the left wall 51L, and the right wall 51R may be formed of a single member or may be formed by combining a plurality of members. At least one of the front wall 51F, the upper wall 51U, the lower wall 51D, the rear wall 51B, the left wall 51L, and the right wall 51R may be partially or entirely integrated with at least one of the others.

[0028] 4 is a plan view of drying device 50. An air blowing chamber air intake 101a is formed in an upper wall 51U of main body case 51. Air blowing chamber air intake 101a communicates between the outside of main body case 51 and air blowing chamber 101. A plurality of air blowing chamber air intakes 101a are formed and are aligned in the left-right direction.

[0029] FIG. 5 is a front view of the drying device 50. A non-heating chamber intake port 103a is formed in the front wall 51F of the main body case 51. As shown in FIG. 3, the front wall 51F has a vertical wall 51FA and an inclined wall 51FB extending rearward and downward from the lower end of the vertical wall 51FA. In this embodiment, the non-heating chamber intake port 103a is formed in the inclined wall 51FB. A non-heating chamber exhaust port 103b is formed in the lower wall 51D of the main body case 51. In this embodiment, the lower wall 51D extends rearward and downward. Each of the non-heating chamber intake port 103a and the non-heating chamber exhaust port 103b communicates the outside of the main body case 51 with the non-heating chamber 103. The non-heating chamber intake port 103a is formed forward of the non-heating chamber exhaust port 103b. The non-heating chamber exhaust port 103b is disposed forward and above the extension wall 119 described later, and opens downward. The non-heating chamber exhaust port 103b is formed through the inclined wall 51FB extending rearward and downward, and is therefore open forward and downward.

[0030] FIG. 6 is a rear view of the drying device 50. FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of a part of the rear wall 51B of the main body case 51. The rear wall 51B is formed with the first air blowing chamber exhaust port 121b and the second air blowing chamber exhaust port 122b. The first air blowing chamber exhaust port 121b communicates the first air blowing chamber 121 with the outside of the main body case 51. The second air blowing chamber exhaust port 122b communicates the second air blowing chamber 122 with the outside of the main body case 51. The first air blowing chamber exhaust port 121b and the second air blowing chamber exhaust port 122b are formed in a slit shape and extend in the left-right direction. The first air blowing chamber exhaust port 121b and the second air blowing chamber exhaust port 122b are formed over the entire left-right area of ​​the main body case 51. The second air blowing chamber exhaust port 122b is disposed below the first air blowing chamber exhaust port 121b.

[0031] 3, the first blower chamber 121 is formed with an exhaust flow passage 121A whose vertical width decreases toward the rear. The first blower chamber exhaust port 121b is connected to the exhaust flow passage 121A. The first blower chamber exhaust port 121b opens toward the platen 16. Here, the first blower chamber exhaust port 121b opens toward the rear along the horizontal direction.

[0032] The rear wall 51B includes blowing walls 122B and 122C that extend rearward and downward. The blowing wall 122C is disposed above the blowing wall 122B, and a gap is formed between the blowing wall 122B and the blowing wall 122C. This gap forms a second blowing chamber exhaust port 122b. The second blowing chamber exhaust port 122b opens rearward and downward toward the upper wall 14U of the guide member 14.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of heating chamber intake ports 102a and a plurality of heating chamber exhaust ports 102b are formed penetrating the rear wall 51B. The heating chamber intake port 102a communicates between the outside of the main body case 51 and the upstream chamber 102A (see FIG. 3) of the heating chamber 102. The heating chamber exhaust port 102b communicates between the downstream chamber 102B of the heating chamber 102 and the outside of the main body case 51. As shown in FIG. 3, the heating chamber exhaust port 102b is an opening for discharging air heated by the heater 135 from the heating chamber 102 toward the guide member 14. As shown in FIG. 6, the heating chamber intake port 102a and the heating chamber exhaust port 102b are aligned in the left-right direction and are formed over the entire left-right area of ​​the main body case 51. The heating chamber intake port 102a is disposed below the second blowing chamber exhaust port 122b. The heating chamber exhaust port 102b is disposed below the heating chamber intake port 102a. The shapes of each heating chamber intake port 102a and each heating chamber exhaust port 102b are not particularly limited. Here, as shown in Fig. 7, each heating chamber intake port 102a is formed in a vertically long slit shape, and each heating chamber exhaust port 102b is formed in a horizontally long slit shape. As shown in Fig. 3, the heating chamber intake port 102a and the heating chamber exhaust port 102b open backward and downward toward the guide member 14. The first blower chamber exhaust port 121b and the second blower chamber exhaust port 122b are disposed rearward of the heating chamber exhaust port 102b.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 3, the drying device 50 has a mounting plate 115 disposed inside the main body case 51. The upper part of the mounting plate 115 divides the inside of the blowing chamber 101 into an intake chamber 123 and a first blowing chamber 121. The center part of the mounting plate 115 divides the inside of the blowing chamber 101 into an intake chamber 123 and a second blowing chamber 122. The lower part of the mounting plate 115 divides the inside of the non-heating chamber 103 into front and rear. As shown in FIG. 8, the mounting plate 115 is formed in a flat plate shape extending in the left-right direction and the up-down direction. The mounting plate 115 has a plurality of first openings 115a, a plurality of second openings 115b, and a plurality of third openings 115c, which are aligned left and right, respectively. The first opening 115a, the second opening 115b, and the third opening 115c are aligned up and down. Here, the second opening 115b is disposed directly below the first opening 115a. The third opening 115c is disposed directly below the second opening 115b. The first opening 115a, the second opening 115b, and the third opening 115c are open to the front and rear.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 3, the drying device 50 has a plurality of first blowing chamber fans 131A and a plurality of second blowing chamber fans 131B provided in the blowing chamber 101, a plurality of heating chamber fans 132 provided in the heating chamber 102, and a plurality of non-heating chamber fans 133 provided in the non-heating chamber 103. The first blowing chamber fan 131A and the second blowing chamber fan 131B are disposed in the intake chamber 123 of the blowing chamber 101. The heating chamber fan 132 is disposed in the upstream chamber 102A of the heating chamber 102. The first blowing chamber fan 131A, the second blowing chamber fan 131B, the non-heating chamber fan 133, and the heating chamber fan 132 generate wind by taking in and blowing air. The first blowing chamber fan 131A, the second blowing chamber fan 131B, the non-heating chamber fan 133, and the heating chamber fan 132 are each constituted by, for example, an axial flow fan. However, first ventilation chamber fan 131A, second ventilation chamber fan 131B, non-heating chamber fan 133, and heating chamber fan 132 are not limited to being axial fans.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 8, the first blowing chamber fan 131A, the second blowing chamber fan 131B, and the non-heating chamber fan 133 are attached to the mounting plate 115. The first blowing chamber fans 131A, the second blowing chamber fans 131B, and the non-heating chamber fans 133 are lined up on the left and right, respectively. The first blowing chamber fan 131A, the second blowing chamber fan 131B, and the non-heating chamber fan 133 are lined up in a straight line up and down. The second blowing chamber fan 131B is disposed directly below the first blowing chamber fan 131A, and the non-heating chamber fan 133 is disposed directly below the second blowing chamber fan 131B. The first blowing chamber fan 131A, the second blowing chamber fan 131B, and the non-heating chamber fan 133 are disposed parallel to each other so as to blow air horizontally backward.

[0037] The first opening 115a of the mounting plate 115 connects the intake chamber 123 and the first blower chamber 121. The first blower chamber fan 131A is attached to the first opening 115a of the mounting plate 115. The first blower chamber fan 131A takes in air from the blower chamber intake port 101a into the intake chamber 123, sends the air in the intake chamber 123 to the first blower chamber 121 through the first opening 115a, and exhausts the air in the second blower chamber 121 from the first blower chamber exhaust port 121b.

[0038] The second opening 115b of the mounting plate 115 connects the intake chamber 123 and the second blower chamber 122. The second blower chamber fan 131B is attached to the second opening 115b of the mounting plate 115. The second blower chamber fan 131B takes in air from the blower chamber intake port 101a into the intake chamber 123, sends the air in the intake chamber 123 to the second blower chamber 122 through the second opening 115b, and exhausts the air in the second blower chamber 122 from the second blower chamber exhaust port 122b.

[0039] The non-heating chamber fan 133 is attached to the third opening 115c of the mounting plate 115. The non-heating chamber fan 133 blows out air from the non-heating chamber exhaust port 103b. The non-heating chamber fan 133 takes in air from the non-heating chamber intake port 103a into the non-heating chamber 103, sends the air in the non-heating chamber 103 from the front to the rear of the mounting plate 115 through the third opening 115c, and exhausts the air from the non-heating chamber exhaust port 103b.

[0040] As shown in Fig. 3, the heating chamber fan 132 is attached to the partition wall 116. A fourth opening 116a is formed in the partition wall 116. The fourth opening 116a connects the upstream chamber 102A and the downstream chamber 102B of the heating chamber 102. The heating chamber fan 132 is attached to the fourth opening 116a of the partition wall 116. The heating chamber fan 132 takes in air from the heating chamber intake port 102a into the heating chamber 102, sends the air in the upstream chamber 102A to the downstream chamber 102B through the fourth opening 116a, and exhausts the air in the downstream chamber 102B from the heating chamber exhaust port 102b.

[0041] The drying device 50 has a heater 135 arranged in the heating chamber 102. The heater 135 heats the air blown by the heating chamber fan 132. The configuration of the heater 135 is not limited in any way. Here, the heater 135 has a tube 135A and an electric heating wire (not shown) arranged inside the tube 135A. The air is heated by the electric heating wire when passing through the inside of the tube 135A. The heating chamber 102 is configured to heat the air.

[0042] The drying device 50 has an extension wall 119 extending forward and downward (diagonally forward) from a lower end of the rear wall 51B of the main body case 51 (also the rear end of the bottom wall 51D in this embodiment). The extension wall 119 extends from the lower end of the rear wall 51B of the main body case 51. Here, the extension wall 119 is formed integrally with the bottom wall 51D. However, the extension wall 119 may be formed separately from the bottom wall 51D and attached to the bottom wall 51D or the rear wall 51B.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 6, a water retention mechanism 150 capable of retaining water is provided at the lower end of the extension wall 119. The water retention mechanism 150 retains water droplets that condense on the extension wall 119 so that they do not fall from the extension wall 119 for reasons described below. In this embodiment, the water retention mechanism 150 includes a water absorbing member 151 having water absorption properties. As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 6, the water absorbing member 151 is held on the rear surface 119B of the extension wall 119. Here, the water absorbing member 151 is attached to the lower end of the rear surface 119B of the extension wall 119. The rear surface 119B of the extension wall 119 is a wall surface through which air that is heated by the heater 135 and discharged from the heating chamber exhaust port 102b flows. By disposing the water absorbing member 151 at the lower end of the rear surface 119B of the extension wall 119, water droplets that are generated at each part of the rear surface 119B of the extension wall 119 and drip down the rear surface 119B can be absorbed. 6, the water absorbing member 151 is attached across the entire width of the extension wall 119 in the main scanning direction Y. The water absorbing member 151 is formed in the shape of a long, flat plate in the main scanning direction Y.

[0044] The material of the water-absorbent member 151 is not particularly limited, but here, the water-absorbent member 151 is a porous body. Here, the water-absorbent member 151 is a sponge. A porous body has a large surface area and quickly evaporates absorbed moisture. Since the amount of water droplets due to condensation is not large, the water-absorbent member 151 can be saturated and the absorbed water can be prevented from leaking out of the water-absorbent member 151 by quickly evaporating the moisture absorbed by the water-absorbent member 151.

[0045] Next, the operation of the drying device 50 will be described. The drying device 50 promotes the initial drying of the ink by blowing air at room temperature onto the recording medium 5 on the platen 16. In addition, the drying device 50 promotes complete drying of the ink by blowing air at high temperature onto the recording medium 5 on the guide member 14. Among the components of the drying device 50, the non-heating chamber 103, the non-heating chamber intake port 103a, the non-heating chamber exhaust port 103b, and the non-heating chamber fan 133 do not function as a drying device that promotes drying of the ink, but function as an air curtain device that suppresses the hot air discharged from the heating chamber exhaust port 102b of the drying device 50 from wrapping around the front surface of the main body case 51. Hereinafter, the configuration that includes the non-heating chamber 103, the non-heating chamber intake port 103a, the non-heating chamber exhaust port 103b, and the non-heating chamber fan 133 and suppresses the hot air discharged from the heating chamber exhaust port 102b of the drying device 50 from wrapping around the front surface of the main body case 51 may be referred to as the air curtain device 160. In this embodiment, the air curtain device 160 is incorporated in the drying device 50 for convenience of layout, etc. However, the air curtain device 160 may be provided separately from the drying device 50. The air curtain device 160 is disposed forward and above the extension wall 119, and is provided with a nozzle that opens downward. In this embodiment, the nozzle is the non-heating chamber exhaust port 103b. The air curtain device 160 is also configured to generate wind, and is provided with a blower fan that blows wind from the nozzle (here, the non-heating chamber exhaust port 103b). In this embodiment, the blower fan is the non-heating chamber fan 133.

[0046] 9 is a diagram showing the air flow in the drying device 50 (and the air curtain device 160). As shown in FIG. 9, air outside the main body case 51 is sucked into the air intake chamber 123 from the air intake chamber port 101a by the first air blowing chamber fan 131A and the second air blowing chamber fan 131B (see arrow A123). As shown by arrow A121, the first air blowing chamber fan 131A sends air from the air intake chamber 123 to the first air blowing chamber 121, and exhausts the air from the first air blowing chamber exhaust port 121b toward the platen 16. The room temperature air A121b exhausted from the first air blowing chamber exhaust port 121b is blown onto the recording medium 5 on the platen 16, accelerating the drying of the ink on the recording medium 5.

[0047] As shown by arrow A102a, heating chamber fan 132 draws in air from outside main body case 51 through heating chamber intake port 102a and sends it from upstream chamber 102A to downstream chamber 102B. The air in downstream chamber 102B is heated by heater 135. The temperature of the air after heating is not particularly limited, but can be, for example, 50°C to 110°C. The heated and high-temperature air is discharged from heating chamber exhaust port 102b as shown by arrow A102b. The high-temperature air discharged from heating chamber exhaust port 102b is blown onto recording medium 5 on guide member 14, accelerating the drying of the ink on recording medium 5.

[0048] The second blower chamber exhaust port 122b is disposed below the first blower chamber exhaust port 121b and above the heating chamber intake port 102a. The second blower chamber exhaust port 122b is disposed between the first blower chamber exhaust port 121b and the heating chamber intake port 102a. This prevents high-temperature air from rising to the first blower chamber exhaust port 121b between the rear wall 51B of the main body case 51 and the guide member 14. The second blower chamber exhaust port 122b opens rearward and downward. The air discharged from the second blower chamber exhaust port 122b flows downward along the rear wall 51B and the guide member 14 (see arrow AH). This prevents high-temperature air from mixing with the room-temperature air discharged from the first blower chamber exhaust port 121b. This prevents the temperature of the air blown to the recording medium 5 on the platen 16 from rising.

[0049] The extension wall 119 prevents the high-temperature air Ah from going around from the rear wall 51B to the lower wall 51D. The non-heating chamber fan 133 takes in room-temperature air from the non-heating chamber intake port 103a into the non-heating chamber 103 and blows the room-temperature air out of the non-heating chamber exhaust port 103b. Even if the high-temperature air Ah goes around to the lower wall 51D, the air curtain effect of the room-temperature air A103 blown out of the non-heating chamber exhaust port 103b prevents the high-temperature air Ah from going around from the lower wall 51D to the front wall 51F. The room-temperature air A103 blown out of the non-heating chamber exhaust port 103b plays a role in blocking the rise of the high-temperature air Ah. As a result, the temperature of the front wall 51F is prevented from rising. The non-heating chamber exhaust port 103b opens forward and downward. In this embodiment, the direction of the non-heating chamber exhaust port 103b is parallel to the direction of the rear wall 51B. This allows the high-temperature air Ah flowing downward along the rear wall 51B to continue to diffuse downward over a greater distance.

[0050] In this embodiment, the high-temperature air Ah is prevented from rising along the front wall 51F, and therefore the high-temperature air Ah is prevented from being taken in through the air blowing chamber intake port 101a. This also makes it possible to suppress an increase in the temperature of the air exhausted from the first air blowing chamber exhaust port 121b and the second air blowing chamber exhaust port 122b. This makes it possible to more effectively suppress an increase in the temperature of the air blown onto the recording medium 5 on the platen 16.

[0051] [Effects of water retention mechanism] The reason why condensation occurs on the extension wall 119 and the effects that the water retention mechanism 150 can achieve will be described below.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 9, a part A103a of the room temperature air A103 blown out from the non-heating chamber exhaust port 103b of the air curtain device 160 is blown onto the extension wall 119. This cools the extension wall 119. Behind the extension wall 119, hot air AH flows between the rear wall 51B of the main body case 51 and the guide member 14. The cooling of the extension wall 119 also cools the hot air AH near the rear surface 119B of the extension wall 119. This may cause condensation on the rear surface 119B of the extension wall 119. If water droplets W1 generated by the condensation fall on the guide member 14 or on the recording medium 5 on the extension line of the guide member 14, the water droplets W1 will damage the printed recording medium 5.

[0053] The printer 10 according to the present embodiment is configured to prevent the water droplets W1 from falling from the extension wall 119. In the printer 10, a water retention mechanism 150 capable of retaining water is provided at the lower end of the extension wall 119. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the water droplets W1 generated on the extension wall 119 due to condensation from falling onto the printed recording medium 5 on the guide member 14 or on the extension line of the guide member 14. This makes it possible to prevent the recording medium 5 from being damaged by condensation on the extension wall 119. The water droplets W1 run down the extension wall 119 and gather at the lower end of the extension wall 119. Therefore, it is sufficient that the water retention mechanism 150 is provided at least at the lower end of the extension wall 119. However, the water retention mechanism 150 may also be provided at other parts of the extension wall 119.

[0054] In this embodiment, the water retention mechanism 150 includes a water absorption member 151 held on a wall surface (here, rear surface 119B) of the extension wall 119 that is heated by the heater 135 and through which air discharged from the heating chamber exhaust port 102b flows. The water absorption member 151 has water absorption properties. With this configuration, the water absorption member 151 absorbs water droplets W1, so that the water retention mechanism 150 can retain water. As will be described in the second embodiment, a water retention mechanism 150 that does not include the water absorption member 151 is also possible.

[0055] In this embodiment, the water-absorbent member 151 is a porous body. The water-absorbent member 151 has a large surface area, and thus the water absorbed by the water-absorbent member 151 can be quickly evaporated due to the porous body. Since the amount of water droplets W1 due to condensation is not large, the water absorbed by the water-absorbent member 151 can be quickly evaporated, thereby preventing the water-absorbent member 151 from becoming saturated and the absorbed water from leaking out of the water-absorbent member 151.

[0056] [Second embodiment] In the second embodiment, the water retention mechanism 150 retains water not by a water-absorbing material but by another mechanism. In the following description of the second embodiment, the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment are used for the same members. Also, duplicate descriptions will be omitted or simplified as appropriate.

[0057] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the extension wall 119 according to the second embodiment as seen from the rear side. FIG. 11 is a rear view of the drying device 50 according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 10, in this embodiment, the water retention mechanism 150 includes a bottom wall 152D extending rearward from the lower end of the extension wall 119 and a rear wall 152B extending upward from the rear end of the bottom wall 152D, and includes a water receiver 152 capable of receiving water. The shape of the bottom wall 152D is not limited, but here, as shown in FIG. 10, the bottom wall 152D is formed in a circular arc shape convex downward. The shape of the rear wall 152B is also not limited, but here, the rear wall 152B extends diagonally rearward and upward approximately parallel to the extension wall 119. As shown in FIG. 11, the bottom wall 152D and the rear wall 152B are provided over the entire width of the extension wall 119 in the main scanning direction Y.

[0058] In this embodiment, the water receiver 152 is formed by bending the lower end of the extension wall 119. Therefore, by forming the bottom wall 152D in an arc shape, the bending process becomes easier. However, the water receiver 152 may be configured such that the bottom wall 152D is in a straight U-shape, for example. The water receiver 152 may also be made by joining a plurality of members.

[0059] As shown in FIG. 11, the left end of the water receiver 152 extends further to the left than the guide member 14 (shown by a two-dot chain line), and the right end extends further to the right than the guide member 14. In this embodiment, the length of the extension wall 119 in the main scanning direction Y is longer than the guide member 14. Furthermore, the water receiver 152 is inclined so that one of the left and right ends is located lower than the other end. Here, the water receiver 152 is inclined so that the right end is located lower than the left end. However, the water receiver 152 may be inclined so that the left end is located lower than the right end. The right end (the end located lower) of the water receiver 152 extends further outward in the main scanning direction Y than the guide member 14, here to the right, and is open so that water falls. That is, the water receiver 152 does not have a side wall that blocks the right end. The left end (the upper end) of the water receiver 152 also extends outward in the main scanning direction Y, here to the left, beyond the guide member 14, and is open so that water can fall. The water receiver 152 does not have a side wall that closes the left end. However, the water receiver 152 may have a side wall that closes the upper end.

[0060] As described above, in this embodiment, the water retention mechanism 150 includes the bottom wall 152D extending rearward from the lower end of the extension wall 119, and the rear wall 152B extending upward from the rear end of the bottom wall 152D, and includes the water receiver 152 capable of receiving water. As in the first embodiment, with this configuration, the water retention mechanism 150 is also able to retain water.

[0061] In this embodiment, the left end of the water receiver 152 extends further to the left than the guide member 14, and the right end extends further to the right than the guide member 14. With this configuration, even if water falls from the left or right end of the water receiver 152, the water falls outward in the left-right direction from the guide member 14. Therefore, the recording medium 5 and the guide member 14 are not wetted with water. In this case, it is better for the water in the water receiver 152 to fall from the end rather than overflow. Therefore, at least one end of the water receiver 152 is preferably open to allow water to fall.

[0062] In this embodiment, one of the left and right ends is inclined so as to be located lower than the other end. Furthermore, the end located below the water receiver 152 extends further outward in the main scanning direction Y than the guide member 14, and is open so that water can fall. With this configuration, the water received by the water receiver 152 gathers at the end located below the water receiver 152, and falls from this end outward in the left-right direction from the guide member 14. In this embodiment, the place where the water falls is thus determined to be one place. Therefore, it is easy to install a container for storing water or a pipe through which the water flows in the place where the water falls.

[0063] The water absorbing member 151 may be disposed in the water receiver 152 or in a location other than the water receiver 152 on the extension wall 119. In the water retention mechanism 150, the water receiver 152 and the water absorbing member 151 may be used together.

[0064] [Other embodiments] A preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above. However, the above-described embodiment is merely an example, and the present invention can be embodied in various other forms. The configuration of the drying device is not limited as long as it faces the guide member and sends hot air toward the guide member and includes an extension wall. The configuration of the air curtain device is also not limited as long as it includes a nozzle that is disposed forward and above the extension wall and opens downward, and a blower fan that blows air from the nozzle. Other configurations of the printer are also not particularly limited. [Explanation of symbols]

[0065] 5 Recording media 10. Inkjet Printer 14 Guide member 16 Platen 32 Transport equipment 35 Ink head 50 Drying equipment 51 Main unit case 51B Back wall 102b Heating chamber exhaust port (exhaust port) 103b Non-heating chamber exhaust port (nozzle) 119 Extension wall 132 Heating chamber fan (heating fan) 133 Non-heated room fan (blower fan) 135 Heater 150 Water retention mechanism 151 Water-absorbing material 152 Water Receiver 152B Back wall 152D bottom wall 160 Air curtain device W1 Water drop

Claims

1. a platen on which a recording medium is placed; a conveying device that conveys the recording medium placed on the platen forward; an ink head disposed above the platen and configured to eject ink onto the recording medium placed on the platen; a guide member disposed forward of the platen and configured to guide the movement of the recording medium; a drying device that faces the guide member and blows hot air toward the recording medium; An air curtain device that generates air to block the hot air generated by the drying device, The drying device includes: a box-shaped main body case having a rear wall facing the guide member; A heating fan provided in the main body case; a heater provided in the main body case for heating air blown by the heating fan; an exhaust port formed through the rear wall of the main body case and configured to exhaust air heated by the heater toward the guide member; an extension wall extending from a lower end of the rear wall of the main body case, The air curtain device is A nozzle opening toward the extension wall; A blower fan configured to generate wind and blowing wind from the nozzle, At least a lower end of the extension wall is provided with a water retention mechanism capable of retaining water. Inkjet printer.

2. the water retention mechanism includes a water-absorbing member having water absorption properties and held on a wall surface of the extension wall through which the air heated by the heater and discharged from the exhaust port flows.

2. The inkjet printer according to claim 1.

3. The water-absorbing member is a porous body.

3. The inkjet printer according to claim 2.

4. The water retention mechanism includes a bottom wall extending rearward from a lower end of the extension wall, and a rear wall extending upward from a rear end of the bottom wall, and includes a water receiver capable of receiving water.

2. The inkjet printer according to claim 1.

5. The water receiver has a left end extending leftward beyond the guide member and a right end extending rightward beyond the guide member.

5. The inkjet printer according to claim 4.

6. the water receiver is inclined such that one of its left and right ends is located lower than the other end, The one end of the water receiver extends outward in the left-right direction beyond the guide member and is open so that water can fall.

5. The inkjet printer according to claim 4.

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