Drier unit

Abstract

To provide a drier unit capable of efficiently collecting an atmosphere dispersed around a drier and containing a solvent.SOLUTION: A drier unit includes: a housing through which a printing object W extending in a band shape can pass in a drawing direction of the printing object, the housing being mounted with a drier for drying an ink attached to the printing object; and a suction duct which is provided in a state of being opened to an external space of the housing in a lower part of the housing, and is connected to an exhaust system provided in the outside of the housing.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a dryer unit.

Background Art

[0002] For example, in a gravure printing machine, a continuous belt-like printing object is passed between a plate cylinder having ink adhered to its outer peripheral surface from an ink pan and a pressure cylinder disposed opposite to the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder, so that the ink is transferred to the surface of the printing object by a printing pattern formed on the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder. The ink used in such a gravure printing machine contains a solvent (organic solvent). Therefore, in particular, the solvent volatilized from the ink diffuses into the atmosphere (air) around the ink pan. On the other hand, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration provided with a local exhaust structure for exhausting the air around the plate cylinder.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, as the printing object moves from the ink pan toward a dryer provided above the ink pan, the atmosphere containing the solvent diffused around the ink pan flows upward. Therefore, even if a local exhaust structure for exhausting the atmosphere (air) around the plate cylinder is provided, there is a possibility that the diffused solvent cannot be sufficiently recovered. In particular, it is necessary to effectively suppress the atmosphere containing the solvent flowing upward from the ink pan from reaching the vicinity of the face of an operator working around the gravure printing machine. An object of the present invention is to provide a dryer unit capable of efficiently recovering the atmosphere containing a solvent diffused around the dryer.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention adopts the following aspects. (1) A dryer unit according to an aspect of the present invention includes a housing on which a drying unit for drying ink attached to a print target is mounted, and the print target that extends in a strip shape can pass in the extending direction of the print target; and a suction duct that is provided in an open state to the external space of the housing at the lower part of the housing and is connected to an exhaust system provided outside the housing. According to this aspect, in the housing of the dryer unit, a strip-shaped print target passes in the extending direction of the print target. The ink attached to the print target is dried by the drying unit in the process of passing through the housing. By connecting the exhaust system to the suction duct provided at the lower part of the housing, the atmosphere (air) in the external space of the housing is sucked through the suction duct. When printing is performed on the print target below the housing, the solvent contained in the ink used for printing volatilizes. Therefore, the atmosphere in the external space of the housing contains the solvent. By sucking the atmosphere in the external space of the housing through the suction duct, the atmosphere containing the solvent diffused around the dryer can be efficiently recovered.

[0006] (2) In the dryer unit according to the aspect (1) above, it is preferable that the suction duct is provided inside the housing. According to this aspect, it is possible to suppress the suction duct from protruding below the housing. When equipment or the like is provided below the housing, it is possible to suppress the access to the equipment from being hindered.

[0007] (3) In the dryer unit according to the aspect (2) above, in the housing, there are formed an inlet for introducing the object to be printed into the housing from below the housing, and an outlet for leading out the object to be printed from the inside of the housing to the outside of the housing. The suction duct is provided on one side in the thickness direction of the object to be printed with respect to the inlet, and the suction duct preferably includes a suction portion that extends in the width direction of the object to be printed intersecting the thickness direction as viewed from the extending direction and opens downward. According to this aspect, the object to be printed conveyed in the extending direction is introduced into the housing from below the housing through the inlet. In the atmosphere below the housing, an air flow from bottom to top is generated along with the conveyed object to be printed. By providing the suction portion extending in the width direction of the object to be printed on one side in the thickness direction of the object to be printed with respect to the inlet of the housing, the atmosphere flowing from bottom to top can be efficiently recovered below the housing. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the atmosphere containing the solvent from reaching near the face of the operator and make the working environment good.

[0008] (4) In the dryer unit according to the aspect (3) above, the suction duct preferably has a duct body that forms a duct inner space extending in the width direction, and the suction portion has a suction port that communicates the outside of the duct body with the duct inner space and opens downward. According to this aspect, the atmosphere in the space below the housing can be efficiently sucked into the duct inner space formed by the duct body through the suction port that opens downward.

[0009] (5) In the dryer unit according to the aspect (4) above, the duct body opens toward one side in the width direction of the housing, has a connection port to the exhaust system, a plurality of the suction ports are provided in the width direction, and in the duct body, a partitioning member is preferably provided that partitions a flow path from each of the plurality of suction ports to the connection port between each of the plurality of suction ports and the connection port. According to this aspect, the atmosphere in the space below the housing is sucked into the duct inner space formed by the duct main body through each of a plurality of suction ports arranged in the width direction. Since a plurality of suction ports provided in the width direction open downward and the connection port opens on one side in the width direction, among the plurality of suction ports, more atmosphere is sucked at the suction port closer to the connection port, and it becomes difficult to suck the atmosphere at the suction port on the side separated from the connection port. On the other hand, by partitioning the duct inner space in the duct main body with a partitioning member, flow paths for the atmosphere from each of the plurality of suction ports to the connection port are independently provided. Thereby, even for the suction port far from the connection port, equalization of the suction force (negative pressure) reaching each flow path in the duct main body from the exhaust system through the connection port is achieved. Thereby, it is possible to equalize the flow rate of the atmosphere sucked from each suction port, and the atmosphere can be sucked well in balance from the plurality of suction ports. In addition, by equalizing the flow rate of the gas passing through each suction port with the partitioning member, the layout property of the suction duct can be improved, and the degree of freedom in design when providing the duct main body on the housing can also be improved.

[0010] (6) In the dryer unit according to the aspect of (5) above, it is preferable that the suction part includes a flow rate adjustment mechanism for adjusting the flow rate of the atmosphere passing through each of the suction ports at each of the suction ports. According to this aspect, by adjusting the flow rate of the atmosphere passing through each of the plurality of suction ports with the flow rate adjustment mechanism, the balance of the flow rate of the atmosphere passing through the plurality of suction ports can be adjusted.

[0011] (7) In the dryer unit according to any one of the aspects from (4) to (6) above, the suction part further includes a guide part provided so as to be recessed upward from the bottom surface of the housing, and the guide part has an inclined wall on one side in the thickness direction, which extends upward as it goes from one side to the other side in the thickness direction, and it is preferable that the suction port is provided through the inclined wall. According to this aspect, the guide part is provided so as to be recessed upward from the bottom surface of the housing, thereby capturing the atmosphere rising from below the housing and efficiently guiding it to the suction port. Further, since the suction port is formed in the inclined wall, the suction port will face the inlet disposed on the other side in the thickness direction. Thereby, it becomes easier to take in the atmosphere into the suction duct through the suction port, and the atmosphere containing the solvent can be efficiently sucked into the suction duct.

[0012] (8) In the dryer unit according to the aspect of (7) above, it is preferable that the suction part further includes guide fins protruding downward from a portion of the housing located on one side in the thickness direction with respect to the guide part. According to this aspect, by providing guide fins protruding downward from the bottom surface of the housing, the atmosphere rising from below the housing can be efficiently guided to the suction part.

[0013] (9) In the dryer unit according to any one of the aspects of (1) to (8) above, the housing has a first housing having a roller support part that supports a plurality of guide rollers for conveying the object to be printed in the stretching direction, and a second housing provided so as to be separable in the thickness direction of the object to be printed with respect to the first housing, and it is preferable that the suction duct is detachably provided in the second housing. According to this aspect, since the suction duct is provided in the second housing that can be separated from and attached to the first housing, maintenance of the suction duct and the like can be easily performed in a state where the second housing is separated from the first housing. Further, since the suction duct is detachable, the maintainability of the suction duct is improved.

Effect of the Invention

[0014] According to one aspect of the present invention, the atmosphere containing the solvent diffused around the dryer can be efficiently recovered.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0015]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0016] Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, embodiments for carrying out the dryer unit according to the present invention will be described. However, the present invention is not limited to only this embodiment.

[0017] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a gravure printing machine 1 equipped with a dryer unit 30 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the gravure printing machine 1 performs printing on the surface of a printing object W by transferring ink onto the surface of the printing object W that extends in a strip shape. When performing printing on the printing object W using a plurality of colors of ink, a gravure printing system is configured by arranging a plurality of gravure printing machines 1 side by side. In this case, the strip-shaped printing object W is sequentially passed through a plurality of gravure printing machines 1, and each gravure printing machine 1 performs printing using one color of ink at a time, thereby performing so-called multicolor printing on the printing object W using a plurality of colors of ink.

[0018] In the following description, the direction orthogonal to the floor surface F is the vertical direction Dv, the direction orthogonal to the surface of the printing object W conveyed in the vertical direction Dv inside the dryer 3 (the direction connecting the front and back surfaces of the printing object W) is the thickness direction Dt, the extending direction of the printing object W, and the direction orthogonal to the thickness direction Dt is referred to as the width direction Dw of the printing object W.

[0019] The gravure printing machine 1 is installed on the floor surface F. The gravure printing machine 1 includes a printing unit 2 and a dryer 3. The printing unit 2 mainly includes an ink pan 21, a finisher roll 22, a plate cylinder 23, and a pressure cylinder 24.

[0020] The ink pan 21 stores ink. The ink pan 21 is provided on the floor surface F via a support base (not shown). The ink pan 21 is a bottomed container that opens upward. The ink pan 21 has a rectangular shape in plan view with the width direction Dw of the printing object W as the long side direction and the thickness direction Dt as the short side direction. The ink stored in the ink pan 21 contains, for example, a solvent. Near the ink pan 21, for example, on the floor surface F below the ink pan 21, an intake part 29 of a local exhaust device is provided. The intake part 29 intakes the surrounding atmosphere containing the solvent. The atmosphere intake by the intake part 29 is discharged to the outside of the facility by being sucked by an exhaust system (not shown) provided outside the dryer 3. The intake part 29 extends along the width direction Dw over the entire length of the printing unit 2 (ink pan 21).

[0021] The finisher roll 22 is formed in a columnar shape extending in the width direction Dw. The finisher roll 22 is rotatably supported around a central axis extending in the width direction Dw by a support member (not shown). The lower part of the finisher roll 22 is immersed in the ink stored in the ink pan 21. The upper part of the finisher roll 22 is exposed upward from the ink in the ink pan 21. The finisher roll 22 is connected to a drive source such as a motor (not shown) and is rotationally driven around its central axis at a predetermined rotational speed.

[0022] The plate cylinder 23 is formed in a cylindrical shape extending in the width direction Dw. An intaglio plate (not shown) for forming a predetermined printing pattern is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 23. The plate cylinder 23 is supported by a support member (not shown) so as to be rotatable about a central axis extending in the width direction Dw. A drive source such as a motor (not shown) is connected to the plate cylinder 23, and the plate cylinder 23 is driven to rotate at a predetermined rotation speed about the central axis. The plate cylinder 23 is exposed above the ink in the ink pan 21. The plate cylinder 23 is arranged so as to abut against the outer peripheral surface of the upper part of the furnisher roll 22 above the ink stored in the ink pan 21 during printing.

[0023] The impression cylinder 24 is formed into a cylindrical shape extending in the width direction Dw. The impression cylinder 24 is disposed above the plate cylinder 23. The impression cylinder 24 is supported by a support member (not shown) so as to be rotatable about a central axis extending in the width direction Dw. The outer peripheral surface of the impression cylinder 24 is arranged to abut against the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 23 with the printing object W sandwiched therebetween during printing.

[0024] When printing is performed on the printing object W in the printing unit 2, the printing object W, which is sent from the upstream stage of the gravure printing machine 1 via multiple transport rollers 8, passes between the plate cylinder 23 and the impression cylinder 24. During printing, the plate cylinder 23 is rotated at a predetermined rotation speed by a drive source (not shown). Then, the plate cylinder 23 and the impression cylinder 24, which is pressed against the plate cylinder 23, rotate in conjunction with each other, and the printing object W passing between the plate cylinder 23 and the impression cylinder 24 is transported in the extension direction of the printing object W at a predetermined transport speed.

[0025] Due to the rotation of the finisher roll 22, the ink in the ink pan 21 adheres to the outer peripheral surface of the finisher roll 22 and is scraped up. The ink adhering to the outer peripheral surface of the finisher roll 22 is pushed into the recesses of the intaglio on the plate cylinder 23 that abuts against the outer peripheral surface of the finisher roll 22. A doctor 25 is provided on the radially outer side of the plate cylinder 23. The doctor 25 is plate-shaped and extends in the width direction Dw. During printing, its tip is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 23 by an air cylinder or the like (not shown) over the entire width direction Dw of the plate cylinder 23. By this doctor 25, the excess ink adhering to the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 23 other than the ink in the intaglio of the plate cylinder 23 is scraped off onto the ink pan 21. After passing through the doctor 25, the ink in the intaglio of the plate cylinder 23 is transferred to the surface of the printing object W in a pattern corresponding to the intaglio formed on the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 23 at the portion where the plate cylinder 23 and the impression cylinder 24 are in pressure contact. In this way, the printing object W printed on the surface passes through the printing unit 2 and is sent to the upper dryer 3 via the conveying roller 8.

[0026] The dryer 3 is provided above the printing unit 2. In FIG. 1, the dryer 3 shows a state where the side plate 36 on the other side in the width direction Dw (the front side of the paper surface in FIG. 1) is removed. The dryer 3 includes a dryer unit 30, a plurality of guide rollers 40, and a drying unit 50.

[0027] The dryer unit 30 includes a housing 31 and a suction duct 60. The housing 31 forms the outer shell of the dryer 3. The housing 31 is in the shape of a hollow box and houses a plurality of guide rollers 40 and a drying unit 50 inside. The housing 31 has a bottom plate 32, a top plate 33, a front plate 34, a back plate 35, and a pair of side plates 36. In the illustrated example, the housing 31 gradually decreases in dimension in the thickness direction Dt as it goes downward in a side view.

[0028] The bottom plate 32 is rectangular in plan view and extends along a plane intersecting the vertical direction Dv. The bottom plate 32 is provided, for example, parallel to the floor surface F. The top plate 33 is rectangular in plan view and is provided spaced above the bottom plate 32. The top plate 33 is provided parallel to the bottom plate 32 (floor surface F). The end portion on the other side Dt2 of the thickness direction Dt of the top plate 33 protrudes and extends toward the other side Dt2 of the thickness direction Dt with respect to the end portion on the other side Dt2 of the thickness direction Dt of the bottom plate 32.

[0029] The front plate 34 is provided so as to connect the end portion on one side Dt1 of the thickness direction Dt of the bottom plate 32 and the end portion on one side Dt1 of the thickness direction Dt of the top plate 33. The front plate 34 extends along a plane intersecting the thickness direction Dt. The back plate 35 is provided so as to connect the end portion on the other side Dt2 of the thickness direction Dt of the bottom plate 32 and the end portion on the other side Dt2 of the thickness direction Dt of the top plate 33. The back plate 35 extends along a plane intersecting the thickness direction Dt. The upper portion of the back plate 35 extends obliquely upward toward the other side Dt2 of the thickness direction Dt.

[0030] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a part of the lower portion of the dryer unit 30 as viewed from one side Dt1 in the thickness direction Dt. In FIG. 2, the lower portion of the dryer unit 30 shows a state where the front plate 34 is removed. As shown in FIG. 2, a pair of side plates 36 are provided on both sides in the width direction Dw of the housing 31. Each of the side plates 36 is provided so as to close the space surrounded by the bottom plate 32, the top plate 33, the front plate 34, and the back plate 35 shown in FIG. 1 from the outside in the width direction Dw.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 1, an introduction port 37 for introducing the printing object W into the housing 31 from below the housing 31 is formed in the bottom plate 32. The introduction port 37 is formed at the end portion on the other side Dt2 of the thickness direction Dt of the bottom plate 32 as viewed from the width direction Dw. The introduction port 37 is formed to penetrate the bottom plate 32 in the vertical direction Dv. The introduction port 37 is formed in a rectangular shape extending in the width direction Dw.

[0032] On the top plate 33, a lead-out port 38 for leading out the object to be printed W from the inside of the housing 31 to the outside of the housing 31 is formed. The lead-out port 38 is formed at the end on the other side Dt2 in the thickness direction Dt of the top plate 33 when viewed in the width direction Dw. The lead-out port 38 is provided at a position shifted to the other side Dt2 in the thickness direction Dt with respect to the lead-in port 37. The lead-out port 38 is formed so as to penetrate the top plate 33 in the vertical direction Dv. The lead-out port 38 is formed in a rectangular shape extending in the width direction Dw.

[0033] The object to be printed W sent from the printing unit 2 to the upper dryer 3 via the conveying roller 8 is introduced into the housing 31 from below the housing 31 through the lead-in port 37 and led out from the inside of the housing 31 to the outside (upper side) of the housing 31 through the lead-out port 38. That is, the housing 31 allows the object to be printed W to pass through in the stretching direction of the object to be printed W.

[0034] A plurality of guide rollers 40 are accommodated in the housing 31. The plurality of guide rollers 40 guide the object to be printed W conveyed from the lead-in port 37 toward the lead-out port 38 in the housing 31. The plurality of guide rollers 40 are provided at intervals in the direction connecting the lead-in port 37 and the lead-out port 38. Each guide roller 40 is formed in a columnar shape extending in the width direction Dw. Each guide roller 40 is rotatably supported around a central axis extending in the width direction Dw in roller support holes (roller support portions) 36h formed in a pair of side plates 36. In the housing 31, the object to be printed W is guided from the lead-in port 37 to the lead-out port 38 while contacting the outer peripheral surfaces of the plurality of guide rollers 40.

[0035] The drying unit 50 dries the ink adhering to the object to be printed W within the housing 31. As the drying unit 50, for example, a so-called hot air (warm air) drying type is used. The drying unit 50 utilizes hot air generated by a hot air generation source (not shown) provided outside the dryer 3 to dry the ink adhering to the object to be printed W. The hot air generation source generates hot air, for example, by burning fuels such as LNG (liquefied natural gas) and LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) to heat the air, or by heating the air through heat exchange with steam and then pumping it with a fan, compressor, etc. The temperature of the hot air sent from the hot air generation valve to the drying unit 50 is, for example, about 40°C to 60°C.

[0036] The hot air generated by the hot air generation source is introduced from outside the housing 31 into the inside of the housing 31 through a hot air introduction opening 51 formed at the upper part of one side plate 36A in the width direction Dw. The drying unit 50 is provided with an appropriate nozzle (not shown) for blowing the hot air introduced into the inside of the housing 31 onto the surface of the object to be printed W conveyed upward from below in the housing 31 by a plurality of guide rollers 40. When hot air is blown from the nozzle onto the object to be printed W, volatile components such as solvents contained in the ink adhering to the object to be printed W volatilize, and the ink dries. The hot air blown onto the object to be printed W is discharged to an exhaust system (not shown) provided outside the dryer 3 through hot air discharge openings 52A and 52B provided at intervals above and below one side plate 36 in the width direction Dw.

[0037] The above housing 31 is separable into a first housing 31A on the other side Dt2 in the thickness direction Dt and a second housing 31B on one side Dt1 in the thickness direction Dt. The first housing 31A and the second housing 31B are formed by each of the bottom plate 32, the top plate 33, and the pair of side plates 36 being bisected in the thickness direction Dt along a split surface P located in the middle of the pair of side plates 36 in the thickness direction Dt. The first housing 31A has roller support holes 36h for supporting a plurality of guide rollers 40. The drying unit 50 is provided in the second housing 31B.

[0038] The second housing 31B is provided so as to be separable from the first housing 31A in the thickness direction Dt. Thereby, when performing maintenance on the plurality of guide rollers 40, the drying unit 50, etc., the maintenance work can be easily performed by separating the first housing 31A and the second housing 31B in the thickness direction Dt.

[0039] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the arrow III-III in FIG. 2. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the suction duct 60 is provided at the lower part of the housing 31. In the present embodiment, the suction duct 60 is provided inside the housing 31. As shown in FIG. 1, the suction duct 60 is provided on one side Dt1 in the thickness direction Dt of the printing object W with respect to the inlet 37 inside the housing 31. As shown in FIG. 2, the suction duct 60 extends in the width direction Dw. The suction duct 60 extends over the entire width direction Dw inside the housing 31. As shown in FIG. 3, the suction duct 60 has a duct main body 61. The duct main body 61 has a first wall portion 611 and a second wall portion 612.

[0040] The first wall portion 611 is provided at a distance from the front plate 34 on the other side Dt2 in the thickness direction Dt. The first wall portion 611 rises upward from the bottom plate 32 inside the housing 31. The first wall portion 611 extends in the width direction Dw, and both end portions in the width direction Dw are respectively connected to a pair of side plates 36.

[0041] The second wall portion 612 is provided at a distance above the bottom plate 32. The second wall portion 612 extends along a plane intersecting the vertical direction Dv, and is provided so as to block the space between the upper end of the first wall portion 611 and the front plate 34 from above. The second wall portion 612 extends in the width direction Dw, and both end portions in the width direction Dw are respectively connected to a pair of side plates 36.

[0042] The duct main body 61 forms a duct inner space S extending in the width direction Dw. The duct inner space S is defined by being surrounded by the first wall portion 611, the second wall portion 612, a part of the front plate 34, a part of the bottom plate 32, and the guide portion 68 between a pair of side plates 36, and is substantially rectangular parallelepiped-shaped.

[0043] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a part of the lower portion of the dryer unit 30 as viewed obliquely from below. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the duct main body 61 includes a connection port 63 and a suction portion 62. As shown in FIG. 2, the connection port 63 is formed in one of the pair of side plates 36, for example, the side plate 36A on one side in the width direction Dw. The connection port 63 is formed to penetrate the side plate 36A in the width direction Dw. The connection port 63 is rectangular when viewed from the width direction Dw, and communicates the duct inner space S surrounded by the first wall portion 611, the second wall portion 612, a part of the front plate 34, and a part of the bottom plate 32 with the outside of the housing 31. The connection port 63 opens toward one side in the width direction Dw of the housing 31. An exhaust system (not shown) provided outside the dryer 3 is connected to the connection port 63. The external exhaust system sucks the atmosphere (air) in the duct inner space S of the duct main body 61 to the outside of the housing 31 through the connection port 63 by a negative pressure source such as a vacuum pump or a fan. Thereby, the duct inner space S is brought into a negative pressure state with respect to the atmospheric pressure.

[0044] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the suction portion 62 is provided in the lower portion of the housing 31 in a state of opening to the external space of the housing 31. In the present embodiment, the suction portion 62 includes a suction port 64 that opens downward of the housing 31 in the lower portion of the housing 31. The suction port 64 extends in the width direction Dw and communicates the outside of the duct main body 61 with the duct inner space S. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, in the present embodiment, a plurality of suction ports 64 are provided at intervals in the width direction Dw. For example, three suction ports 64 are provided at intervals in the width direction Dw. The number of suction ports 64 is not limited to three, and may be only one, two, or four or more.

[0045] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the suction portion 62 includes a guide portion 68 provided so as to be recessed upward from the bottom surface of the housing 31. A rectangular bottom opening 325 extending in the width direction Dw as viewed from below is formed in the bottom plate 32 of the housing 31. The guide portion 68 has a recess 68s that is recessed upward from the bottom surface of the housing 31 and has a triangular cross-section as viewed from the width direction Dw inside the bottom opening 325. The guide portion 68 includes a first inclined wall 681 and a second inclined wall 682. As shown in FIG. 3, the first inclined wall 681 extends obliquely upward from the peripheral edge 325a on the other side Dt2 in the thickness direction Dt of the bottom opening 325 toward the one side Dt1. The second inclined wall 682 is provided on the one side Dt1 in the thickness direction Dt with respect to the first inclined wall 681. The second inclined wall 682 extends obliquely upward as it goes from the peripheral edge 325b on the one side Dt1 in the thickness direction Dt of the bottom opening 325 toward the other side Dt2. The upper edge of the second inclined wall 682 is connected to the upper edge of the first inclined wall 681. The inclination angle of the second inclined wall 682 with respect to the thickness direction Dt is larger than the inclination angle of the first inclined wall 681 with respect to the thickness direction Dt.

[0046] A plurality of suction ports 64 are formed in the second inclined wall 682. Each suction port 64 is in the shape of a slit extending in the width direction Dw. Each suction port 64 penetrates the second inclined wall 682 and is formed so as to communicate the external space of the housing 31 with the inner space S of the duct. The suction port 64 formed in the second inclined wall 682 opens obliquely downward toward the other side Dt2 in the thickness direction Dt.

[0047] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the suction port 64 of the dryer unit 30 as viewed obliquely from below. As shown in FIG. 5, each suction port 64 includes a flow rate adjustment mechanism 66 that adjusts the flow rate of the atmosphere passing through the suction port 64. In the present embodiment, as the flow rate adjustment mechanism 66, a closing member 661 that can increase or decrease the opening area of the suction port 64 by closing at least a part of the suction port 64 is provided.

[0048] The blocking member 661 is formed in a plate shape extending in the width direction Dw. The blocking member 661 is provided above the suction port 64. The blocking member 661 extends in the width direction Dw along the upper edge 641t of the suction port 64. Both end portions of the blocking member 661 in the width direction Dw are fixed by bolts 663 to portions of the second inclined wall 682 located on both outer sides of the suction port 64 in the width direction Dw. Long holes 662 extending in a direction intersecting the width direction Dw along the second inclined wall 682 are formed at both end portions of the blocking member 661 in the width direction Dw. The bolts 663 are fastened to the second inclined wall 682 through the long holes 662. Therefore, the blocking member 661 can change its position in the direction (vertical direction) intersecting the width direction Dw along the second inclined wall 682 (the opening surface of the suction port 64) within the range of the long holes 662 by loosening the bolts 663.

[0049] By moving the blocking member 661 in the direction intersecting the width direction Dw along the second inclined wall 682, at least a part of the suction port 64 can be blocked by the blocking member 661, and the opening area of the suction port 64 can be increased or decreased. After adjusting the position of the blocking member 661, the position of the blocking member 661 with respect to the suction port 64 is fixed by tightening the bolts 663, and the opening area of the suction port 64 is fixed. During the installation of the dryer unit 30 or the like, by adjusting the flow rate of the atmosphere passing through each suction port 64 with such a flow rate adjustment mechanism 66, the balance of the flow rate of the atmosphere sucked from the outside of the housing 31 can be adjusted among the plurality of suction ports 64. Note that the flow rate adjustment mechanism 66 is not limited to the configuration using the blocking member 661 as long as it can adjust the flow rate of the atmosphere passing through each suction port 64. For example, other appropriate configurations such as a flap provided swingably so as to open and close the suction port 64 can be adopted.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 3, the suction duct 60 further includes guide fins 69. The guide fins 69 are provided so as to protrude downward from a portion of the housing 31 that is located on one side Dt1 in the thickness direction Dt with respect to the guide portion 68. The guide fins 69 extend obliquely downward from the periphery 325b of the bottom opening 325 toward the other side Dt2 in the thickness direction Dt. The guide fins 69 extend parallel to the first inclined wall 681. The guide fins 69 can guide the atmosphere flowing from the other side Dt2 to the one side Dt1 in the thickness direction Dt along the bottom surface of the housing 31 into the recess 68s of the guide portion 68.

[0051] The suction duct 60 is provided with a protruding piece 665 on the side opposite to the guide fins 69 with the bottom opening 325 interposed therebetween. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the protruding piece 665 intersects the second inclined wall 682 at a portion along the upper edge 641t of the suction port 64 in the closing member 661 and is provided so as to protrude obliquely downward from the one side Dt1 to the other side Dt2 in the thickness direction Dt. The protruding piece 665 is formed integrally with the closing member 661. The protruding piece 665 extends in the width direction Dw and is formed over the entire width direction Dw of the suction port 64. The protruding piece 665 can guide the atmosphere that has flowed into the recess 68s to the suction port 64. The protruding piece 665 is provided parallel to the guide fins 69. The protruding piece 665 has a smaller protruding dimension obliquely downward than the guide fins 69.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 2, the suction duct 60 includes partition members 65A and 65B in the duct body 61. The partition members 65A and 65B partition the flow paths from the plurality of suction ports 64 to the connection port 63 between each of the plurality of suction ports 64 and the connection port 63 in the duct body 61.

[0053] The partition member 65A has an L shape when viewed from the thickness direction Dt and has a first partition wall 651A and a second partition wall 652A. The first partition wall 651A is provided between the first suction port 64A closest to the connection port 63 in the width direction Dw and the second suction port 64B adjacent to the first suction port 64A on the side spaced apart from the connection port 63 with respect to the first suction port 64A. The first partition wall 651A rises upward from the bottom plate 32 and the guide portion 68 between the first wall portion 611 and the front plate 34.

[0054] The second partition wall 652A extends from the upper end of the first partition wall 651A between the first wall portion 611 and the front plate 34 in one side Dw1 of the width direction Dw and is connected to the side plate 36A on one side Dw1 of the width direction Dw.

[0055] The partition member 65B has an L shape when viewed from the thickness direction Dt and has a first partition wall 651B and a second partition wall 652B. The first partition wall 651B is provided between the third suction port 64C on the side most spaced apart from the connection port 63 and the second suction port 64B in the width direction Dw. The first partition wall 651B rises upward from the bottom plate 32 and the guide portion 68 between the first wall portion 611 and the front plate 34. The first partition wall 651B extends upward more than the first partition wall 651A.

[0056] The second partition wall 652B extends from the upper end of the first partition wall 651B between the first wall portion 611 and the front plate 34 in one side Dw1 of the width direction Dw and is connected to the side plate 36A on one side Dw1 of the width direction Dw. The second partition wall 652B is provided spaced apart upward with respect to the second partition wall 652A.

[0057] The connection port 63 is vertically divided into three by the second partition walls 652A and 652B. The connection port 63 has a first connection port 63A that opens below the second partition wall 652A, a second connection port 63B that opens between the second partition wall 652A and the second partition wall 652B, and a third connection port 63C that opens above the second partition wall 652B. Each of the first connection port 63A, the second connection port 63B, and the third connection port 63C is formed in a slit shape (rectangular shape) extending in the thickness direction Dt.

[0058] In this way, the partition member 65A provided in the duct main body 61 forms a first flow path R1 that extends from the first suction port 64A to the first connection port 63A. In the first flow path R1, the atmosphere that has flowed into the duct internal space S (the first flow path R1) from the first suction port 64A passes between the second partition wall 652A and the bottom plate 32 and reaches the first connection port 63A. Also, the partition member 65A and the partition member 65B provided in the duct main body 61 form a second flow path R2 that extends from the second suction port 64B to the second connection port 63B. In the second flow path R2, the atmosphere that has been sucked into the duct internal space S (the second flow path R2) from the second suction port 64B passes between the second partition wall 652A and the second partition wall 652B and reaches the second connection port 63B. Further, the partition member 65B provided in the duct main body 61 forms a third flow path R3 that extends from the third suction port 64C to the third connection port 63C. In the third flow path R3, the atmosphere that has been sucked into the duct internal space S (the third flow path R3) from the third suction port 64C passes between the second partition wall 652B and the second wall portion 612 and reaches the third connection port 63C. The atmosphere that has reached the first connection port 63A, the second connection port 63B, and the third connection port 63C merges within an exhaust system (not shown) outside the housing 31 and is then discharged to the outside of the facility where the gravure printing machine 1 is installed.

[0059] Each of the members (the first wall portion 611, the second wall portion 612, the guide portion 68, the closing member 661, the guide fins 69, the partition members 65A, 65B) that constitute the suction duct 60 as described above are assembled into a predetermined shape by a plurality of bolts (not shown). The suction duct 60 is provided in the second housing 31B, and can be disassembled by separating the second housing 31B from the first housing 31A.

[0060] Thus, in this embodiment, the dryer unit 30 includes a housing 31 through which a strip-shaped object to be printed W can pass in the stretching direction of the object to be printed W, and on which a drying unit 50 for drying the ink adhering to the object to be printed W is mounted, and a suction duct 60 that is provided in an open state in the external space of the housing 31 at the lower part of the housing 31 and is connected to an exhaust system provided outside the housing 31. According to this configuration, in the housing 31 of the dryer unit 30, the strip-shaped object to be printed W passes in the stretching direction of the object to be printed W. The ink adhering to the object to be printed W is dried by the drying unit 50 in the process of passing through the housing 31. By connecting the exhaust system to the suction duct 60 provided at the lower part of the housing 31, the atmosphere in the external space of the housing 31 is sucked through the suction duct 60. When printing is performed on the object to be printed W below the housing 31, the solvent contained in the ink used for printing volatilizes. Therefore, the atmosphere in the external space of the housing 31 contains the solvent. By sucking the atmosphere in the external space of the housing 31 through the suction duct 60, the atmosphere containing the solvent can be recovered, and it is possible to suppress the atmosphere containing the solvent from floating (diffusing) around the housing 31. Thus, by sucking the atmosphere in the external space of the housing 31 through the suction duct 60, the atmosphere containing the solvent diffused around the dryer 3 can be efficiently recovered.

[0061] In this embodiment, the suction duct 60 is configured to be provided inside the housing 31. According to this configuration, it is possible to suppress the suction duct 60 from protruding below the housing 31. As shown in FIG. 1, when equipment 200 or the like is provided below the housing 31, it is possible to suppress the access to the equipment 200 or the like from being obstructed.

[0062] In this embodiment, the housing 31 is formed with an inlet 37 for introducing the printing object W into the housing 31 from below the housing 31 and an outlet 38 for discharging the printing object W from inside the housing 31 to the outside of the housing 31. The suction duct 60 is provided on one side Dt1 in the thickness direction Dt of the printing object W with respect to the inlet 37. The suction duct 60 is configured to extend in the width direction Dw of the printing object W that intersects the thickness direction Dt when viewed from the extending direction and to include a suction portion 62 that opens downward. According to this configuration, the printing object W conveyed in the extending direction is introduced into the housing 31 from below the housing 31 through the inlet 37. In the atmosphere below the housing 31, an air flow that goes from below to above is generated along with the conveyed printing object W. Since the suction portion 62 extending in the width direction Dw of the printing object W is provided on one side Dt1 in the thickness direction Dt of the printing object W with respect to the inlet 37 of the housing 31, the atmosphere flowing from below to above can be efficiently recovered below the housing 31, and it is possible to prevent the atmosphere containing the solvent from reaching the vicinity of the face Mf of the operator M.

[0063] In this embodiment, the suction duct 60 has a duct body 61 that forms a duct inner space S extending in the width direction Dw, and the suction portion 62 is configured to communicate the outside of the duct body 61 with the duct inner space S and to have a suction port 64 that opens downward. According to this configuration, the atmosphere in the space below the housing 31 can be efficiently sucked into the duct inner space S formed by the duct body 61 through the suction port 64 that opens downward.

[0064] In this embodiment, the duct body 61 opens toward one side in the width direction Dw of the housing 31 and has a connection port 63 to an exhaust system provided outside. A plurality of suction ports 64 are provided at intervals in the width direction Dw. In the duct body 61, partition members 65A and 65B are provided to partition flow paths from the plurality of suction ports 64 to the connection port 63 between each of the plurality of suction ports 64 and the connection port 63. According to this configuration, the atmosphere in the space below the housing 31 is sucked into the duct internal space S formed by the duct main body 61 through each of the plurality of suction ports 64 arranged in the width direction Dw. Since a plurality of suction ports 64 provided in the width direction Dw open downward and the connection port 63 opens on one side in the width direction Dw, among the plurality of suction ports 64, more atmosphere is sucked at the suction port 64 closer to the connection port 63, and it becomes difficult to suck the atmosphere at the suction port 64 on the side separated from the connection port 63. On the other hand, by partitioning the duct internal space S in the duct main body 61 with the partitioning members 65A and 65B, the flow paths of the atmosphere from each of the plurality of suction ports 64 to the connection port 63 are provided independently. Thereby, even for the suction port 64 on the side separated from the connection port 63, the equalization of the suction force (negative pressure) reaching each flow path in the duct main body 61 from the exhaust system through the connection port 63 is achieved. Thereby, the uniformity of the flow rate of the atmosphere sucked from each suction port 64 can be achieved, and the atmosphere can be sucked well in balance from the plurality of suction ports 64. In addition, by equalizing the flow rate of the gas passing through each suction port 64 with the partitioning members 65A and 65B, the layout property of the suction duct 60 can be improved, and the degree of freedom in design when providing the duct main body 61 in the housing 31 as in the present application can also be improved.

[0065] In the present embodiment, the suction unit 62 is configured to include a flow rate adjustment mechanism 66 that adjusts the flow rate of the atmosphere passing through the suction port 64 at each of the suction ports 64. According to this configuration, the balance of the flow rates of the atmosphere passing through each of the plurality of suction ports 64 can be adjusted by adjusting the flow rate of the atmosphere passing through each of the plurality of suction ports 64 with the flow rate adjustment mechanism 66.

[0066] In the present embodiment, the suction unit 62 further includes a guide portion 68 provided so as to be recessed upward from the bottom surface of the housing 31. The guide portion 68 includes a second inclined wall 682 that extends upward from one side Dt1 in the thickness direction Dt toward the other side Dt2 in the thickness direction Dt on one side Dt1 in the thickness direction Dt, and the suction port 64 is configured to penetrate the second inclined wall 682. According to this configuration, the guide portion 68 is provided so as to be recessed upward from the bottom surface of the housing 31, thereby capturing the atmosphere rising from below the housing 31 and efficiently guiding it to the suction port 64. As a result, the atmosphere containing the solvent can be efficiently sucked into the suction duct 60. Since the suction port 64 is formed in the second inclined wall 682, the suction port 64 faces the inlet 37 disposed on the other side Dt2 in the thickness direction Dt. Thereby, it becomes easier to take in the gas into the suction duct 60 through the suction port 64.

[0067] In the present embodiment, the suction portion 62 is configured to further include a guide fin 69 that protrudes downward from a portion of the housing 31 located on one side Dt1 in the thickness direction Dt with respect to the guide portion 68. According to this configuration, by providing the guide fin 69 that protrudes downward from the bottom surface of the housing 31, the atmosphere containing the solvent rising from below the housing 31 can be efficiently guided to the suction portion 62.

[0068] In the present embodiment, the housing 31 includes a first housing 31A having roller support holes 36h for supporting a plurality of guide rollers 40 that convey the printing object W in the stretching direction, and a second housing 31B that is provided so as to be separable from and attachable to the first housing 31A in the thickness direction Dt of the printing object W. The suction duct 60 is configured to be detachably provided in the second housing 31B. According to this configuration, since the suction duct 60 is provided in the second housing 31B that can be opened and closed with respect to the first housing 31A, maintenance of the suction duct 60 and the like can be easily performed with the second housing 31B open. Since the suction duct 60 is detachable, the maintainability of the suction duct 60 is improved.

[0069] (Other Embodiments) As described above, the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, but the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. Additions, omissions, substitutions, and other modifications of the configuration are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention. The present invention is not limited by the above description and is limited only by the appended claims. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the suction duct 60 is provided inside the housing 31, but the present invention is not limited to this. The suction duct 60 may be provided outside the housing 31 at the lower part of the housing 31. Specifically, for example, the suction duct 60 may be provided below the bottom plate 32.

[0070] In the above-described embodiment, the suction unit 62 is configured to include a suction port 64 that opens downward of the housing 31 at the lower part of the housing 31, but the present invention is not limited to this. The suction unit 62 may, for example, be configured to include a suction port formed in the front plate 34 at the lower part of the housing 31 and opening toward one side Dt1 in the thickness direction Dt. Further, the suction unit 62 may be configured without the guide part 68, and a suction port that opens downward may be formed directly in the bottom plate 32.

[0071] In the above-described embodiment, the connection port 63 is formed in the side plate 36, but the present invention is not limited to this. The connection port 63 may be formed in, for example, the first wall part 611 or the like.

[0072] In the above-described embodiment, the partition members 65A and 65B, the flow rate adjustment mechanism 66, and the guide fins 69 are provided, but these configurations, positions, shapes, etc. can be changed as appropriate, and further, a configuration in which these are omitted may also be used.

[0073] In the above-described embodiment, in the drying unit 50, the ink is dried using hot air, but the ink may be dried by means other than hot air. In the above embodiment, the dryer 3 including the dryer unit 30 is provided in the gravure printing machine 1, but a dryer including the dryer unit 30 may be provided in a printing machine other than the gravure printing machine 1 or other various devices. In addition, within the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention, it is possible as appropriate to replace the components in the above-described embodiment with well-known components, and the above-described various modification examples may also be combined as appropriate.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0074] 3…Dryer 8…Conveyor roller 30…Dryer unit 31…Housing 31A…First housing 31B…Second housing 36h…Roller support hole (roller support part) 37…Inlet 38…Outlet 40…Guide roller 50…Drying section 60…Suction duct 61…Duct body 62…Suction part 63…Connection port 64…Suction port 65A, 65B…Partition member 66…Flow adjustment mechanism 68…Guide 69…Guide fin S…Space inside the duct W…Object to be printed

Claims

1. A housing on which a drying unit for drying the ink attached to the printing object is mounted, and a belt-shaped printing object can pass through in the stretching direction of the printing object; A suction duct provided in an open state in the external space of the housing at the lower part of the housing and connected to an exhaust system provided outside the housing. A dryer unit.

2. The suction duct is provided inside the housing. The dryer unit according to claim 1.

3. In the housing, An introduction port for introducing the printing object from below the housing into the housing, A discharge port for discharging the printing object from inside the housing to the outside of the housing are formed, The suction duct is provided on one side in the thickness direction with respect to the introduction port, The suction duct extends in the width direction of the printing object intersecting the thickness direction as viewed from the stretching direction, and has a suction part opening downward. The dryer unit according to claim 2.

4. The suction duct has a duct body forming a duct inner space extending in the width direction, The suction part communicates the outside of the duct body with the duct inner space and has a suction port opening downward. The dryer unit according to claim 3.

5. The duct body opens toward one side in the width direction of the housing, has a connection port to the exhaust system, and A plurality of the suction ports are provided in the width direction, In the duct body, a partitioning member for partitioning a flow path from the plurality of suction ports to the connection port is provided between each of the plurality of suction ports and the connection port. The dryer unit according to claim 4.

6. The suction part includes a flow rate adjustment mechanism for adjusting the flow rate of the atmosphere passing through the suction port at each of the suction ports. The dryer unit according to claim 5.

7. The suction part further includes a guide part provided so as to be recessed upward from the bottom surface of the housing, The guide part includes an inclined wall extending upward from one side in the thickness direction toward the other side in the thickness direction on one side in the thickness direction, The suction port is provided through the inclined wall. The dryer unit according to claim 4.

8. The suction part Further includes guide fins protruding downward from a portion of the housing located on one side in the thickness direction with respect to the guide part. The dryer unit according to claim 7.

9. The housing is A first housing having a roller support portion that supports a plurality of guide rollers for conveying the object to be printed in the stretching direction; A second housing provided so as to be separable in the thickness direction of the object to be printed with respect to the first housing; and The suction duct is detachably provided in the second housing. The dryer unit according to claim 1 or 2.

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