Printer

Abstract

To solve the problem that wrinkles might be formed in a medium when the medium is bent after being elongated by heating.SOLUTION: A printer includes a guide member and a heating unit. The heating unit includes; a body case; a heating chamber; a fan and a heater housed in the heating chamber; a supply port and a recovery port; a blowing chamber; a blower fan; and an air outlet which is disposed further upstream in the conveyance direction than the supply port and the recovery port, and which blows air in the blowing chamber to the guide member. The guide member comprises a bending area in which a medium is bent with a bending part and guided, and a flat area which is arranged further downstream in the conveyance direction than the bending area and guides the medium on a flat surface. The outlet port is arranged facing the bending area, and at least one of the supply port and the recovery port is arranged facing the flat area. A downstream-most bending part, which is a bending part of the bending area that is located furthest downstream in the conveyance direction, is arranged closer to a position facing the air outlet rather than a position facing the supply port or the recovery port.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a printing device. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes an inkjet printer equipped with a drying device that blows hot air onto a recording medium. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2023-95350 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Patent Document 1 discloses an inkjet printer that forms an air curtain to prevent high-temperature air discharged from a drying device from rising above the drying area and flowing into the printing area when drying a medium printed with aqueous resin ink with hot air. When the curved portion of the front apron (a guide member that guides the medium) is located in the drying area, as in the inkjet printer described in Patent Document 1, the medium may bend after being stretched by heating, resulting in the formation of wrinkles in the medium. On the other hand, if the air curtain is positioned downstream of the curved portion in the transport direction, the formation of such wrinkles can be prevented. However, the further downstream the air curtain is positioned in the transport direction, the more wasteful the medium becomes, which is undesirable. In order to transport the medium transported on the horizontal platen along the tilted front apron, it is necessary to provide a bent portion between the platen and the front apron as a path change point to change the orientation of the medium, which makes it difficult to eliminate the bent portion in order to prevent wrinkles from forming. Thus, it is desirable to provide an air curtain that can suppress the occurrence of wrinkles while suppressing waste of media.

[0005] The present invention aims to provide an air curtain that can suppress the occurrence of wrinkles while suppressing waste of media. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The main invention to achieve the above object is: a guide member that is disposed downstream of the printing area in the transport direction and that guides the medium; a heating unit that supplies heated air to the medium guided by the guide member; Equipped with The heating unit comprises: a main body case disposed opposite the guide member; a heating chamber provided in the main body case; a fan housed in the heating chamber; a heater housed in the heating chamber and configured to heat the air blown by the fan; a supply port that supplies the heated air heated by the heater toward the guide member; a recovery port for recovering the heated air into the heating chamber; an air blowing chamber provided in the main body case separately from the heating chamber; a blower fan housed in the blower chamber; an air outlet provided upstream of the supply port and the recovery port in the conveying direction, through which the air in the air blowing chamber is blown toward the guide member by the air blowing fan; Equipped with The guide member is a bending region that bends the medium at a bending portion and guides the medium; a flat area that is disposed downstream of the curved area in the conveyance direction and guides the medium with a flat surface; Equipped with The air outlet is disposed opposite the bending region, At least one of the supply port and the recovery port is disposed opposite the flat area, a most downstream bent portion, which is the bent portion on the most downstream side in the conveying direction of the bent region, is disposed closer to a position facing the blow-out port than to a position facing the supply port or the recovery port; It is a printing device.

[0007] Other features of the present invention will become apparent from the description of this specification. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, an air curtain can be provided so as to suppress the occurrence of wrinkles while suppressing waste of media. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram of the appearance of a printing device 1. As shown in FIG. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the printing device 1 as seen from the right side. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the printing device 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional perspective view illustrating the configuration of the heating unit 50. As shown in FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the heating unit 50 as seen from the right side. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the positional relationship between the bent portion 34 and the air outlet 612. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is another explanatory diagram of the positional relationship between the bent portion 34 and the air outlet 612. In FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a heating unit 50 according to a modified example. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of the positional relationship between the bent portion 34 and the air outlet 612 in the modified example. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of the first reference example. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of the second reference example. [Figure 12] 12A to 12C are explanatory diagrams of the mechanism by which wrinkles are formed on the medium M. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] <Overall structure> As an example of a printing device, a printing device 1 that prints images using an inkjet method will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram of the exterior of the printing device 1. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the printing device 1 as seen from the right side. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the printing device 1.

[0011] In the following explanation, each direction is defined as shown in Figure 1. The direction parallel to the vertical direction is referred to as the "up-down direction." The movement direction of the carriage 21 of the printing device 1 is referred to as the "left-right direction," with the right side as seen from the operator operating the printing device 1 being referred to as the "right" and the opposite side being referred to as the "left." The movement direction of the carriage 21 is sometimes referred to as the "scanning direction." The direction perpendicular to the up-down and left-right directions is referred to as the "front-rear direction," with the operator's side as seen from the printing device 1 being referred to as the "front" and the opposite side being referred to as the "rear." The movement direction of the medium M is referred to as the "transport direction," with the supply source side of the medium M being referred to as the "upstream transport direction (upstream side in the transport direction)" and the discharge side of the medium M being referred to as the "downstream transport direction (downstream side in the transport direction)."

[0012] The printing device 1 is a device that prints an image on a medium M (printing paper, printing film, etc.). In this example, the printing device 1 is an inkjet printer. The printing device 1 includes a controller 10, a carriage unit 20, a transport unit 30, a head 41, and a heating unit 50.

[0013] The controller 10 is a control unit that controls the printing device 1. The controller 10 controls each part of the printing device 1 (such as the carriage unit 20, the transport unit 30, the head 41, and the heating unit 50). For example, the controller 10 controls each part of the printing device 1 based on commands from a computer (not shown), such as a personal computer, operated by a user.

[0014] The carriage unit 20 is a unit for moving the carriage 21 back and forth in the left and right direction. The carriage unit 20 has a carriage 21 and a carriage motor 22. The carriage 21 is a member that moves back and forth in the left and right direction. A head 41 is mounted on the carriage 21, and the carriage 21 moves back and forth in the left and right direction, thereby causing the head 41 to move back and forth in the left and right direction. The carriage motor 22 is a drive source for moving the carriage 21. The carriage motor 22 is controlled by the controller 10.

[0015] The transport unit 30 is a unit for transporting the medium M. The transport unit 30 has a transport member 31 and a transport motor 32. The transport member 31 is a member for transporting the medium M, and in this case, is composed of a transport roller 31A and a pinch roller 31B. The transport roller 31A rotates with the medium M sandwiched between the transport roller 31A and the pinch roller 31B, thereby transporting the medium M in the transport direction. The transport motor 32 is a drive source for rotating the transport member 31 (here, the transport roller 31A). The transport motor 32 is controlled by the controller 10.

[0016] The transport unit 30 has guide members 33 that guide the medium M, including a platen 33A, a rear apron 33R, and a front apron 33F (see FIG. 2). The platen 33A is a member that guides the medium M in the printing area (the area where printing is performed on the medium M; the area facing the head 41). The platen 33A has a guide surface that is perpendicular to the up-down direction. The rear apron 33R is a guide member 33 that guides the medium M upstream of the printing area in the transport direction. The rear apron 33R is disposed upstream of the platen 33A in the transport direction, and has a guide surface that extends forward and upward toward the downstream side in the transport direction (the side closer to the platen 33A). The front apron 33F is a guide member 33 that guides the medium M downstream of the printing area in the transport direction. The front apron 33F is disposed downstream of the platen 33A in the conveying direction and has a guide surface that extends forward and downward toward the downstream side in the conveying direction (away from the platen 33A). The guide surface of the front apron 33F is disposed opposite the heating unit 50.

[0017] The head 41 has nozzles that eject ink onto the medium M. The head 41 is mounted on the carriage 21 and moves back and forth in the left and right direction together with the carriage 21. The head 41 is controlled by the controller 10 to eject or not eject ink from the nozzles.

[0018] The heating unit 50 is a unit for supplying heated air to the medium M. As shown in FIG. 1, the heating unit 50 is provided in front of the printing device 1. Also as shown in FIG. 1, the heating unit 50 has a structure that extends in the left-right direction. Also as shown in FIG. 2, the heating unit 50 is disposed opposite the front apron 33F (the guide member 33 disposed downstream in the transport direction from the printing area), and is configured to supply heated air to the medium M guided by the front apron 33F. As shown in FIG. 2, a heating passage 52 through which heated air flows is formed between the heating unit 50 and the front apron 33F.

[0019] Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional perspective view for explaining the configuration of the heating unit 50. Fig. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the heating unit 50 as seen from the right side. In Fig. 5, the flow of air is indicated by arrows. Note that the arrows indicated by thick lines indicate the flow of heated air.

[0020] Heating unit 50 has heating chambers 51 (51A, 51B) and air blowing chambers 60 (61A, 61B, 62A, 62B). Heating unit 50 also has a main body case 70 that partitions spaces such as heating chamber 51 and air blowing chamber 60.

[0021] The heating chamber 51 (51A, 51B) is a space for generating heated air. The heating chamber 51 houses a fan 511A and a heater 511B for generating heated air. The fan 511A sends air to the heater 511B, which heats the air. The fan 511A and the heater 511B generate heated air, and therefore are sometimes called "hot air generators 511." The heating chamber 51 is configured as a space extending in the left-right direction. The heating chamber 51 is a portion that supplies heated air to the medium M to heat the medium M, and therefore is sometimes called a "heating unit." In the heating chamber 51, multiple hot air generators 511 (fans 511A and heaters 511B) are arranged at intervals in the left-right direction.

[0022] The heating chamber 51 is provided with a supply port 512 and a recovery port 513. The supply port 512 is an opening for supplying heated air from the heating chamber 51 (more specifically, the downstream chamber 51B of the heating chamber 51) to the heating passage 52. The supply port 512 connects the heating chamber 51 and the heating passage 52. The recovery port 513 is an opening for recovering the heated air flowing through the heating passage 52. The recovery port 513 connects the heating chamber 51 (more specifically, the upstream chamber 51A of the heating chamber 51) and the heating passage 52. The supply port 512 is arranged upstream of the recovery port 513 in the transport direction. The supply port 512 is also arranged above the recovery port 513. However, the supply port 512 may be arranged downstream of the recovery port 513 in the transport direction and below the recovery port 513 (described later; see FIG. 8).

[0023] The heating chamber 51 is composed of an upstream chamber 51A and a downstream chamber 51B. The upstream chamber 51A is a space (chamber) that supplies air to the fan 511A and the heater 511B (hot air generator 511). The downstream chamber 51B is a space to which air (heated air) is supplied from the fan 511A and the heater 511B. The heated air supplied to the downstream chamber 51B from the fan 511A and the heater 511B is supplied to the heating passage 52 from a supply port 512. As a result, the medium M is heated by the heated air. The heating passage 52 through which the heated air flows is sometimes referred to as the "heating region." The medium M is heated in the heating region. A portion of the heated air that has flowed through the heating passage 52 is recovered to the upstream chamber 51A from a recovery port 513 and supplied again to the fan 511A and the heater 511B. Circulating the heated air makes it possible to quickly increase the temperature of the heated air.

[0024] A rectifying plate 77 is provided in the upstream chamber 51A and the downstream chamber 51B of the heating chamber 51. The rectifying plate 77 is a plate-shaped member that rectifies the flow of air. The rectifying plate 77 has a large number of through-holes, and the air is rectified by passing through the rectifying plate 77 having a large number of through-holes. The rectifying plate 77 is made of, for example, punched metal. Note that the rectifying plate 77 does not necessarily have to be provided in both the upstream chamber 51A and the downstream chamber 51B, and the rectifying plate 77 may be provided in either the upstream chamber 51A or the downstream chamber 51B, or the rectifying plate 77 may not be provided in either the upstream chamber 51A or the downstream chamber 51B.

[0025] The air blowing chamber 60 (61A, 61B, 62A, 62B) is a space (chamber) for blowing out the taken-in air (outside air). The air blowing chamber 60 is provided with an upper air blowing chamber 61 (61A, 61B) and a lower air blowing chamber 62 (62A, 62B). The air blowing chamber 60 is divided into two spaces by a partition wall portion 76, thereby forming the upper air blowing chamber 61 and the lower air blowing chamber 62. The air blowing chamber 60 (upper air blowing chamber 61 and lower air blowing chamber 62) is formed as a space extending in the left-right direction. The air blowing chamber 60 is the part that blows out the taken-in air, and is therefore sometimes called the "air injection section" (or "air blowing section" or "blow-out section").

[0026] The upper air blowing chamber 61 (61A, 61B) is an air blowing chamber provided above the heating unit 50. The upper air blowing chamber 61 is a space (chamber) for generating an air curtain above the heating area. The upper air blowing chamber 61 houses an upper air blowing fan 611. In the upper air blowing chamber 61, multiple upper air blowing fans 611 are arranged at intervals in the left-right direction.

[0027] The upper blower chamber 61 is provided with an upper air intake 741U and an air outlet 612. The upper blower fan 611 takes in air (outside air) through the upper air intake 741U, and the taken-in air is blown out through the air outlet 612. The upper air intake 741U is an opening for taking in outside air into the upper blower chamber 61. The upper air intake 741U connects the outside of the heating unit 50 with the upper blower chamber 61. The air outlet 612 is a slit-shaped opening extending in the left-right direction. As will be described later, the slit-shaped air outlet 612 extending in the left-right direction is formed by arranging two plate-shaped members (a first plate portion 612A and a second plate portion 612B in FIG. 6) facing each other. The air outlet 612 is configured to blow air toward the guide member 33 (or the medium M). An air curtain is formed by blowing air out of the air outlet 612. The air outlet 612 is positioned above the supply port 512. The air curtain blown out from the air outlet 612 suppresses the rise of the heated air supplied from the supply port 512 to the heating passage 52 and prevents the heated air from flowing into the printing area. The upper air blowing chamber 61 constitutes an air injection unit for blowing air (air curtain) toward the medium M. The air (outside air) taken in from the upper air intake 741U is at a lower temperature than the air inside the heating passage 52. Therefore, the air outlet 612 blows out low-temperature air, forming a low-temperature air curtain.

[0028] The upper blower chamber 61 is composed of an upstream chamber 61A and a downstream chamber 61B. The upstream chamber 61A is a space (chamber) that supplies air to the upper blower fan 611. The downstream chamber 61B is a space to which air is supplied from the upper blower fan 611. The downstream chamber 61B is configured to taper so that the space gradually decreases toward the air outlet 612. The air supplied from the upper blower fan 611 to the downstream chamber 61B is blown out from the air outlet 612 to form an air curtain. A rectifying plate 77 is provided in the downstream chamber 61B of the upper blower chamber 61. This allows a uniform air curtain to be formed in the left-right direction. However, the rectifying plate 77 does not have to be provided in the upper blower chamber 61.

[0029] The lower ventilation chamber 62 (62A, 62B) is a ventilation chamber provided below the heating unit 50. The lower ventilation chamber 62 accommodates a lower ventilation fan 621. In the lower ventilation chamber 62, a plurality of lower ventilation fans 621 are arranged at intervals in the left-right direction (see dotted lines in FIG. 4).

[0030] The lower air blowing chamber 62 is provided with a lower air intake port 741D and a lower air outlet 622. The lower air blowing fan 621 takes in air through the lower air intake port 741D and sends the taken-in air out through the lower air outlet 622. The lower air intake port 741D is an opening for taking outside air into the lower air blowing chamber 62. The lower air intake port 741D connects the outside of the heating unit 50 to the lower air blowing chamber 62. The lower air outlet 622 is configured to send air downward from the heating unit 50. An air curtain is formed by the air sent out from the lower air outlet 622. This air curtain prevents the heated air discharged from the underside of the heating unit 50 from rising and prevents the heated air from re-entering the lower air intake port 741D (or the upper air intake port 741U). A large number of lower air outlets 622 are uniformly arranged along the left-right direction. This allows for the formation of a uniform air curtain in the left-right direction. The lower blowing chamber 62 constitutes an air injection section for blowing air (air curtain) downward in front of the heated air outlet.

[0031] The lower air blowing chamber 62 is composed of an upstream chamber 62A and a downstream chamber 62B. The upstream chamber 62A is a space (chamber) that supplies air to the lower air blowing fan 621. The downstream chamber 62B is a space to which air is supplied from the lower air blowing fan 621. The air supplied from the lower air blowing fan 621 to the downstream chamber 62B is sent out from the lower air blowing port 622 to form an air curtain.

[0032] An inlet 721 is provided in the lower air blowing chamber 62. The inlet 721 is an opening for supplying air (outside air) from the air blowing chamber 60 (here, the lower air blowing chamber 62) to the heating chamber 51. The inlet 721 connects the lower air blowing chamber 62 and the heating chamber 51. Air from the lower air blowing chamber 62 is taken into the upstream chamber 51A of the heating chamber 51 via the inlet 721. This makes it possible to lower the temperature of the air supplied to the fan 511A and the heater 511B (hot air generating unit 511), and to prevent the temperatures of the fan 511A and the heater 511B (hot air generating unit 511) from rising excessively. The inlet 721 does not have to be provided in the lower air blowing chamber 62.

[0033] The main body case 70 (71 to 76) is a member (wall) that forms the interior and exterior spaces of the heating unit 50. The main body case 70 has a shape that extends in the left-right direction. Spaces such as the heating chamber 51, the upper air blowing chamber 61, and the lower air blowing chamber 62 are partitioned by the main body case 70. Therefore, the heating chamber 51, the upper air blowing chamber 61, and the lower air blowing chamber 62 are also configured to extend in the left-right direction. The main body case 70 has a first wall portion 71 and a second wall portion 72 that form the heating chamber 51, an outer wall portion 74, a fan mounting wall portion 75, and a partition wall portion 76.

[0034] The first wall portion 71 is a wall-like portion disposed opposite the front apron 33F (the guide member 33 disposed downstream in the transport direction from the printing area). The first wall portion 71 constitutes the rear outer wall (rear wall) of the heating unit 50. The first wall portion 71 has a shape extending in the left-right direction. The first wall portion 71 is also a wall-like portion that extends forward and downward toward the downstream side in the transport direction. The first wall portion 71 is disposed forward of the front apron 33F and is spaced apart from the front apron 33F. The space between the first wall portion 71 and the front apron 33F forms the heating passage 52 for heated air. That is, by disposing the first wall portion 71 opposite the front apron 33F, the heating passage 52 for heated air is formed along the surface of the medium M guided by the front apron 33F. The first wall portion 71 separates the heating chamber 51 from the heating passage 52 for heated air. The first wall portion 71 is provided with a supply port 512 and a recovery port 513 .

[0035] The second wall portion 72 is a wall-like portion that, together with the first wall portion 71, forms the heating chamber 51. The second wall portion 72 is a wall-like portion shaped like an inverted C. The space between the second wall portion 72 and the first wall portion 71 forms the heating chamber 51, and the fan 511A and the heater 511B (hot air generating unit 511) are housed in the space between the second wall portion 72 and the first wall portion 71. The second wall portion 72 has a shape that extends in the left-right direction. The second wall portion 72 separates the heating chamber 51 from the air blowing chamber 60 (the upper air blowing chamber 61 and the lower air blowing chamber 62). The second wall portion 72 forms the inner wall surface (rear wall surface) of the air blowing chamber 60.

[0036] The second wall portion 72 is covered with a heat insulating material 73 to insulate the heating chamber 51. In the drawing, the second wall portion 72 is covered with the heat insulating material 73 on both the rear surface (the wall surface on the heating chamber 51 side) and the front surface (the wall surface on the air blower chamber 60 side). However, one surface may be covered with the heat insulating material 73. Furthermore, the second wall portion 72 does not have to be covered with the heat insulating material 73. The second wall portion 72 is provided with an air inlet 721. The air inlet 721 is provided near the lower edge of the second wall portion 72, and a recess 73B is provided in the lower edge 73A of the heat insulating material 73 that covers the second wall portion 72. The recess 73B is a concave portion provided on the edge of the heat insulating material 73. The recess 73B exposes the air inlet 721 and ensures air flow.

[0037] The outer wall portion 74 is a wall-shaped portion that constitutes the outer wall surface of the heating unit 50. The outer wall portion 74 has a shape that extends in the left-right direction. The outer wall portion 74 is disposed so as to surround the outside of the second wall portion 72 with a gap between it and the second wall portion 72. The space between the outer wall portion 74 and the second wall portion 72 forms the air blowing chamber 60 (upper air blowing chamber 61 and lower air blowing chamber 62). In other words, the outer wall portion 74, together with the second wall portion 72, constitutes the air blowing chamber 60 (upper air blowing chamber 61 and lower air blowing chamber 62). The outer wall portion 74 constitutes the outer wall surface of the air blowing chamber 60 (upper air blowing chamber 61 and lower air blowing chamber 62).

[0038] The outer wall portion 74 has an upper wall portion 74U, a front wall portion 74F, and a lower wall portion 74D. The upper wall portion 74U is a portion that forms the upper surface of the heating unit 50. The front wall portion 74F is a portion that forms the front surface of the heating unit 50. An upper air intake port 741U and a lower air intake port 741D are provided in the front wall portion 74F. The lower wall portion 74D is a portion that forms the lower surface of the heating unit 50. A lower air outlet 622 is provided in the lower wall portion 74D.

[0039] An extension cover 78 and an outer cover 79 are provided on the lower surface of the lower wall portion 74D, and the lower air outlet 622 discharges air into the space between the extension cover 78 and the outer cover 79. A slit-shaped air outlet 623 extending in the left-right direction is formed by the lower ends of the extension cover 78 and the outer cover 79, and an air curtain is formed by air being blown out from the air outlet 623. The air curtain blown out from the air outlet 623 suppresses the rise of the heated air discharged from the heating passage 52. The extension cover 78 and the outer cover 79 do not necessarily have to be provided on the lower surface of the lower wall portion 74D.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of air intake areas 742 are provided on the front wall 74F. A large number of lower air intake ports 741D (or upper air intake ports 741U) are arranged in each air intake area 742. The plurality of air intake areas 742 are arranged at intervals in the left-right direction on the front wall 74F. Non-air intake areas 743, which are not provided with lower air intake ports 741D, are provided between the air intake areas 742 lined up in the left-right direction. The plurality of non-air intake areas 743 are arranged at intervals in the left-right direction on the front wall 74F.

[0041] The lower blowing fan 621 (see the dotted line in FIG. 4) is arranged at the same left-right position as the non-air-intake area 743. In other words, the lower blowing fan 621 is arranged so as to overlap with the left-right position of the non-air-intake area 743, and is arranged offset from the left-right position of the air-intake area 742. This makes it possible to prevent foreign matter (for example, the worker's hair) that has entered through the lower air intake port 741D of the air-intake area 742 from being caught in the lower blowing fan 621.

[0042] The fan mounting wall portions 75 (75A to 75C) are wall-shaped portions for mounting fans. Here, the fan mounting wall portions 75 include a fan mounting wall portion 75A to which the fan 511A (and heater 511B) of the heating chamber 51 is mounted, a fan mounting wall portion 75B to which the upper blower fan 611 of the upper blower chamber 61 is mounted, and a fan mounting wall portion 75C to which the lower blower fan 621 of the lower blower chamber 62 is mounted. The fan mounting wall portions 75 separate the upstream chambers (51A, 61A, 62A) from the downstream chambers (51B, 61B, 62B). The fan mounting wall portions 75 are provided with through holes (not shown) that communicate between the upstream chambers (51A, 61A, 62A) and the downstream chambers (51B, 61B, 62B), and the fans (511A, 611, 621) are mounted at the positions of the through holes.

[0043] The partition wall portion 76 is a wall-like portion for dividing the air blowing chamber 60. Here, the partition wall portion 76 divides the air blowing chamber 60 into two spaces, thereby forming an upper air blowing chamber 61 and a lower air blowing chamber 62. Note that the partition wall portion 76 does not have to be provided, and the air blowing chamber 60 does not have to be divided into two spaces.

[0044] <Regarding the positional relationship between the bend and the air outlet> FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of the first reference example.

[0045] In the first reference example, the heating unit 50 is positioned further downstream in the transport direction than in the present embodiment, and the air outlet 612 is positioned opposite a flat area of ​​the front apron 33F (a flat member 331 and a flat area 332C, described below). In order to perform a predetermined heating on the medium M after printing, the area to which heated air is supplied must be set to a predetermined length Lh, and there is a limit to how much the length of the heating unit 50 in the transport direction can be shortened. For this reason, when the heating unit 50 is positioned downstream in the transport direction as in the first reference example, the length L1 from the print area to the point where the medium M passes through the heating unit 50 becomes longer. If the length L1 from the print area to the point where the medium M passes through the heating unit 50 becomes longer, more medium M will be wasted. For this reason, it is desirable that the length L1 from the print area to the point where the medium M passes through the heating unit 50 be short.

[0046] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of the second reference example.

[0047] In the second reference example, the heating unit 50 is arranged so that the length L2 from the printing area to the area passing through the heating unit 50 is shorter than the length L1 in the first reference example. However, in the second reference example, the bent portion 34 of the front apron 33F is arranged in the heating area (area through which heated air flows) of the heating unit 50. If the bent portion 34 of the guide member 33 is arranged in the heating area in this way, there is a risk of wrinkles being formed in the medium M, as will be explained next.

[0048] 12A to 12C are explanatory diagrams of the mechanism by which wrinkles are formed on the medium M. FIG.

[0049] The figure shows a guide member 33 (for example, a front apron 33F) having two guide surfaces. The guide surface on the upstream side in the conveying direction and the guide surface on the downstream side in the conveying direction are not flush with each other, and a bent portion 34 (fold line) is provided between the guide surface on the upstream side in the conveying direction and the guide surface on the downstream side in the conveying direction. The bent portion 34 (fold line) is a bent line that runs along the left-right direction (a direction intersecting the conveying direction; the width direction of the medium M). The medium M curves when passing through the bent portion 34.

[0050] The medium M shown in FIG. 12A is guided by a guide surface (one flat guide surface) on the upstream side in the transport direction, and the surface (paper surface) of the medium M is flat. However, when the medium M is heated and stretches in the left-right direction (scanning direction; width direction of the medium M), the medium M may lift off the guide surface, as shown in FIG. 12B. Note that in FIG. 12B, one location of the medium M is lifted in the left-right direction, but in the case of a medium M that is wide in the left-right direction, the medium M may lift off the guide surface at multiple locations in the left-right direction.

[0051] When the medium M expands in the left-right direction and rises from the guide surface, the medium M is deformed so that a ridge line is formed in the transport direction (a direction intersecting the left-right direction) as shown in Fig. 12B. If the medium M that has been deformed so that a ridge line is formed in the transport direction (a direction intersecting the left-right direction) is curved at a bending portion 34 along the left-right direction, the portion that rises from the guide surface may be crushed, and wrinkles may be formed in the medium M along the transport direction as shown in Fig. 12C.

[0052] 12C, it is desirable to prevent the medium M from being curved at the bent portion 34 after the medium M is heated (after the medium M is stretched). However, as shown in the first reference example in FIG. 10, if the heating unit 50 is disposed downstream in the transport direction from the bent portion 34 of the guide member 33, the problem of wrinkles being formed in the medium M can be solved, but the length L1 from the printing area to passing through the heating unit 50 becomes longer, resulting in a problem of a large amount of wasted medium M. In this embodiment, as will be described next, the length from the printing area to passing through the heating unit 50 is reduced while preventing wrinkles from being formed in the medium M.

[0053] FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the positional relationship between the bent portion 34 and the air outlet 612.

[0054] The front apron 33F (guide member 33 arranged downstream in the transport direction from the printing region) is made up of a flat member 331 and a bending member 332. The flat member 331 is a flat, plate-like member that guides the medium M with its flat guide surface. The flat member 331 is arranged opposite the heating unit 50. The bending member 332 is a curved, plate-like member that guides the medium M with its curved guide surface. The bending member 332 is arranged upstream in the transport direction from the flat member 331. An upstream portion of the bending region 332B in the transport direction is arranged upstream in the transport direction from the heating unit 50. A downstream portion of the bending region 332B in the transport direction is arranged opposite the heating unit 50. Note that, although the front apron 33F is made up of two members (the flat member 331 and the bending member 332) in this example, the front apron 33F may be made up of a single member. However, when forming a curved guide surface by bending sheet metal, forming it from two members (flat member 331 and bending member 332) makes it easier to process the front apron 33F because the member to be bent can be made smaller.

[0055] The front apron 33F has an upstream region 332A, a curved region 332B, and a flat region 332C. When the front apron 33F is composed of two members, a flat member 331 and a curved member 332, the curved member 332 has the upstream region 332A, the curved region 332B, and the flat region 332C.

[0056] The upstream region 332A is the region on the most upstream side in the conveying direction of the front apron 33F (bending member 332). The upstream region 332A has a flat guide surface that is parallel to the guide surface of the platen 33A. The upstream region 332A is the region that takes over the medium M being conveyed from the platen 33A.

[0057] The curved region 332B is a region that curves the medium M to guide it. The curved region 332B is a region downstream of the upstream region 332A in the transport direction, and is a region between the upstream region 332A and the flat region 332C. The guide surface of the curved region 332B has a guide surface that is inclined with respect to the guide surface of the upstream region 332A (and the guide surface of the flat region 332C). The guide surface of the curved region 332B is not limited to a flat surface, and may be a curved surface. The medium M is transported while being curved by the guide surface of the curved region 332B.

[0058] The bending region 332B is a region having bending portions 34 (34F, 34E). The bending portions 34 are folded lines along the left-right direction (a direction intersecting the conveying direction; the width direction of the medium M). Here, the bending region 332B is formed by bending a metal plate, and the bending portions 34 are formed by a single folded line. Note that the bending portion 34 is not limited to being formed by a single folded line (ridge line) along the left-right direction, but may also be formed by a continuous ridge line. When the bending portion 34 is formed by a continuous ridge line, the guide surface is formed by a curved surface. The medium M will bend at the bending portion 34.

[0059] The bending region 332B in the figure is provided with an upstream-most bending portion 34F and a downstream-most bending portion 34E as bending portions 34. The upstream-most bending portion 34F is the bending portion 34 located most upstream in the conveying direction (most upstream in the conveying direction). The upstream-most bending portion 34F is provided between the upstream region 332A and is the bending portion 34 to which the printed medium M is first bent (first bending portion 34). The downstream-most bending portion 34E is the bending portion 34 located most downstream in the conveying direction (most downstream in the conveying direction). The downstream-most bending portion 34E is provided between the flat region 332C and is the bending portion 34 to which the medium M is last bent (last bending portion 34) before being guided into the flat region 332C. Although two bending portions 34 (the upstream-most bending portion 34F and the downstream-most bending portion 34E) are shown in FIG. 6, another bending portion 34 may be provided between the two bending portions 34 in the figure.

[0060] The flat region 332C is a region that has a flat guide surface. The flat region 332C is a region on the most downstream side of the bending member 332 in the conveying direction. The flat region 332C has a guide surface that is parallel to the guide surface of the flat member 331. The flat region 332C is a region that transfers the medium M being conveyed to the flat member 331. Note that the flat region 332C may be configured integrally with the flat member 331, so that the front apron 33F is configured as a single member.

[0061] As already explained, the air outlet 612 is configured to blow air from the downstream chamber 61B of the upper blowing chamber 61 toward the front apron 33F (or the medium M). As shown in FIG. 6, the air outlet 612 is configured by a first plate portion 612A and a second plate portion 612B. The first plate portion 612A is the upstream portion in the conveying direction of the two plate-shaped portions that make up the air outlet 612. The second plate portion 612B is the downstream portion in the conveying direction of the two plate-shaped portions that make up the air outlet 612. The first plate portion 612A and the second plate portion 612B are arranged opposite each other with a gap between them, and form a slit-shaped air outlet 612 that extends in the left-right direction. The gap between the first plate portion 612A and the second plate portion 612B serves as a passage for air sent out from the downstream chamber 61B of the upper air blowing chamber 61, and an air curtain is formed by air being blown out from the lower ends (air outlets 612) of the first plate portion 612A and the second plate portion 612B toward the front apron 33F (or medium M).

[0062] Position A in FIG. 6 indicates a position on the bending member 332 that faces the air outlet 612. Position A is the intersection of an extension of the inner wall surface of the first plate portion 612A (a line parallel to the air blowing direction of the air outlet 612) and the guide surface of the bending member 332. Position B in the figure indicates a position on the bending member 332 that faces the supply port 512U on the most upstream side in the conveying direction of the heating unit 50 (the most upstream port in the conveying direction among the heated air ports). Position B is the intersection of a line that passes through the most upstream port in the conveying direction (here, the supply port 512U) and is perpendicular to the first wall portion 71 (a line parallel to the direction of the heated air at the port), and the guide surface of the front apron 33F (the flat member 331 or the bending member 332).

[0063] As already explained, the air curtain blown out from the air outlet 612 prevents the heated air from rising and flowing into the printing area. For this reason, the medium M is not heated upstream of position A in the transport direction. Furthermore, it is believed that heated air is present downstream of position A in the transport direction, and the medium M is heated. As already explained, heated air is supplied from the supply port 512 of the heating unit 50 and recovered from the recovery port 513. For this reason, it is considered that the heated air supplied to the heating passage 52 continues to flow stably in the first heating passage 52A between the supply port 512 and the recovery port 513 of the heating passage 52, and that relatively high-temperature heated air is present. In other words, in the first heating passage 52A downstream in the transport direction from position B in FIG. 6, the medium M is heated by relatively high-temperature heated air.

[0064] In the second heating passage 52B from position B to position A in FIG. 6, rising heated air from the heated air supplied to the first heating passage 52A enters. Unlike the first heating passage 52A, heated air is not stably supplied to the second heating passage 52B, and room temperature air blown out from the air outlet 612 flows in. As a result, in the second heating passage 52B, the medium M is heated to a lower temperature than in the first heating passage 52A. In addition, in the second heating passage 52B, the temperature is considered to be lower toward the upstream side in the transport direction (closer to position A) and higher toward the downstream side in the transport direction (closer to position B). In other words, in the second heating passage 52B from position A to position B in FIG. 6, the medium M is more difficult to heat toward the upstream side in the transport direction and more easily heated toward the downstream side in the transport direction. In other words, the medium M starts to be heated from position A and is gradually heated as it is transported from position A to position B.

[0065] In this embodiment, the air outlet 612 faces the curved region 332B. That is, the slit-shaped gap (air outlet 612) between the first plate portion 612A and the second plate portion 612B faces the curved region 332B. As a result, in this embodiment, the length from the print region to the heating unit 50 can be shortened compared to when the air outlet 612 faces the flat region 332C as in the first reference example of FIG. 10 . Note that the guide surface of the curved region 332B is inclined with respect to the guide surface of the platen 33A. Therefore, when the air outlet 612 faces the curved region 332B as in this embodiment, there is an advantage that the air blown out from the air outlet 612 can be prevented from flowing into the print region, compared to when the air outlet 612 faces the upstream region 332A.

[0066] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the most downstream bending portion 34E is positioned closer to position A than to position B. In other words, the most downstream bending portion 34E is positioned closer to the position (position A) facing the air outlet 612 than to the position (position B) facing the heated air supply port 512U. As already explained, in the second heating passage 52B, the temperature is lower the further upstream in the transport direction (the closer to position A). Therefore, by positioning the most downstream bending portion 34E near position A, the medium M can be curved and transported before it is heated and stretched in the left-right direction (scanning direction; width direction of the medium M). Therefore, in this embodiment, even if the medium M is curved and transported in the bending region 332B (the most downstream bending portion 34E), it is possible to prevent wrinkles from forming in the medium M.

[0067] In the configuration shown in FIG. 6, the most downstream bent portion 34E is located opposite the air outlet 612. In other words, at least a portion of the ridge line (a bent line extending in the left-right direction) on the surface of the most downstream bent portion 34E is located between an extension line of the inner wall surface of the first plate portion 612A (see the dotted line in the figure) and an extension line of the inner wall surface of the second plate portion 612B. Because the air curtain blown out from the air outlet 612 is low-temperature (room-temperature) air, it can curve and transport the medium M that is not heated to a great extent, thereby preventing wrinkles from forming on the medium M. Furthermore, because the air curtain presses the medium M that curves on the most downstream bent portion 34E against the guide surface, it is possible to prevent the medium M from lifting off the guide surface as shown in FIG. 12B. As a result, it is possible to further prevent wrinkles from forming on the medium M. Note that the most downstream bent portion 34E does not have to be located almost opposite the air outlet 612, as long as it is located closer to position A than position B.

[0068] FIG. 7 is another explanatory diagram of the positional relationship between the bent portion 34 and the air outlet 612. In FIG.

[0069] 7, the air outlet 612 is disposed above the guide surface of the platen 33A and the guide surface of the upstream region 332A. As a result, when the end of the medium M is transported from the printing region toward the downstream side in the transport direction at the start of printing, even if the end of the medium M rushes toward the heating unit 50 before the medium M is bent at the bending portion 34, the end of the medium M can be prevented from coming into contact with the air outlet 612, thereby preventing damage to the air outlet 612.

[0070] FIG. 7 shows that the angle of the downstream guide surface in the conveying direction relative to the upstream guide surface in the conveying direction (the guide surface in the upstream region 332A) in the most upstream bending portion 34F is θf. FIG. 7 also shows that the angle of the downstream guide surface in the conveying direction (the guide surface in the flat region 332C) relative to the upstream guide surface in the conveying direction in the most downstream bending portion 34E is θe. However, if the angle θf in the most upstream bending portion 34F is set too large, there is a risk that the medium M, which is stiff, may lift off the platen 33A in the printing region when it is bent at the most upstream bending portion 34F. For this reason, it is desirable to set the angle of the bending portion 34 (the most upstream bending portion 34F) close to the printing region small. Meanwhile, the most downstream bending portion 34E is the bending portion 34 farthest from the printing region, and at the position of the most downstream bending portion 34E, the medium M has not yet stretched due to heating, so the medium M is allowed to bend at the position of the most downstream bending portion 34E. Therefore, in this embodiment, the bending member 332 is configured so that the angle θf at the most upstream bending portion 34F is smaller than the angle θe at the most downstream bending portion 34E (θf<θe). This makes it possible to prevent wrinkles from forming on the medium M and also to prevent the medium M from lifting up from the platen 33A in the printing area.

[0071] In a situation where air outlet 612 is positioned above the guide surfaces of platen 33A and upstream region 332A, if angle θf at most upstream bent portion 34F is set large, the distance between air outlet 612 and bending member 332 increases, making it difficult to obtain the effect of the air curtain. For this reason, in a configuration where air outlet 612 is positioned above the guide surfaces of platen 33A and upstream region 332A, it is particularly effective for angle θf at most upstream bent portion 34F to be smaller than angle θe at most downstream bent portion 34E.

[0072] As already explained, the bending member 332 has two bending portions 34 (the most upstream bending portion 34F and the most downstream bending portion 34E), and another bending portion 34 may be provided between the two bending portions 34. In this way, when multiple bending portions 34 are provided in the bending member 332, it is desirable that the most downstream bending portion 34E is positioned closer to position A (the position facing the air outlet 612) than the other bending portions 34. This allows the medium M to be curved and transported before it is heated and stretched, resulting in a structure that makes it less likely for wrinkles to form in the medium M. Furthermore, when the most downstream bending portion 34E is located closer to position A than the other bending portions 34, it is desirable that the angle θe at the most downstream bending portion 34E be larger than the angles at the other bending portions 34 (the angles of the guide surface downstream in the conveying direction relative to the guide surface upstream in the conveying direction). This allows the angle at the bending portion 34 upstream in the conveying direction to be set smaller than the most downstream bending portion 34E, resulting in a structure that makes it easier to prevent the medium M from lifting up from the platen 33A when the medium M is curved. Note that in order to prevent the medium M from lifting up from the platen 33A, it is even more desirable that the angle θf at the most upstream bending portion 34F be smaller than the angles at the other bending portions 34.

[0073] <Modification> FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a heating unit 50 according to a modified example.

[0074] In the modified example, the heating chamber 51 is also provided with a supply port 512 and a recovery port 513 as inlets and outlets for heated air. In the modified example, the supply port 512 is disposed downstream of the recovery port 513 in the transport direction and is disposed below the recovery port 513. In addition, in the modified example, the hot air generator 511 (fan 511A and heater 511B) is disposed facing in the opposite direction, and the upstream chamber 51A of the heating chamber 51 is disposed above the downstream chamber 51B.

[0075] 9 is an explanatory diagram of the positional relationship between the bending portion 34 and the air outlet 612 in the modified example. "Position A" in the figure indicates the position on the bending member 332 that faces the air outlet 612. Position B in the figure indicates the position on the bending member 332 that faces the recovery port 513U on the most upstream side in the conveying direction of the heating unit 50 (the most upstream port in the conveying direction among the heated air ports).

[0076] Even in the modified example, it is considered that the heated air supplied to the heating passage 52 continues to flow stably in the first heating passage 52A between the supply port 512 and the recovery port 513 of the heating passage 52, and that heated air of a relatively high temperature is present. Therefore, even in the modified example, in the first heating passage 52A downstream in the transport direction from the position B, the medium M is heated by the heated air of a relatively high temperature. On the other hand, in the second heating passage 52B from position B to position A, the medium M is heated to a lower temperature than in the first heating passage 52A. Furthermore, in the second heating passage 52B, it is considered that the temperature is lower on the upstream side in the transport direction (closer to position A) and higher on the downstream side in the transport direction (closer to position B). In other words, even in the modified example, in the second heating passage 52B from position A to position B, the medium M is less likely to be heated on the upstream side in the transport direction and more likely to be heated on the downstream side in the transport direction.

[0077] In this modified example, the air outlet 612 also faces the bent region 332B. This shortens the length from the printing region through the heating unit 50. In addition, in this modified example, the most downstream bent section 34E is positioned closer to position A, which faces the air outlet 612, than to position B, which faces the heated air inlet / outlet (the recovery port 513U in this modified example). As already explained, in the second heating passage 52B, the temperature is lower the further upstream in the transport direction (the closer to position A). Therefore, by positioning the most downstream bent section 34E closer to position A, the medium M can be curved and transported before it is heated and stretched in the left-right direction (scanning direction; width direction of the medium M). Therefore, even in this modified example, it is possible to prevent wrinkles from forming in the medium M.

[0078] <Summary> The printing device 1 includes a front apron 33F (a guide member 33 arranged downstream of the printing area in the transport direction and guiding the medium M), and a heating unit 50 that supplies heated air to the medium M guided by the front apron 33F. The heating unit 50 includes a main body case 70 arranged opposite the front apron 33F, a heating chamber 51 provided in the main body case 70, a fan 511A and a heater 511B housed in the heating chamber 51, a supply port 512 that supplies heated air to the heating passage 52, and a recovery port 513 that recovers the heated air into the heating chamber 51. The heating unit 50 also includes an upper air blowing chamber 61 provided in the main body case 70 separately from the heating chamber 51, an upper air blowing fan 611 housed in the upper air blowing chamber 61, and an air outlet 612 provided upstream in the transport direction from the supply port 512 and the recovery port 513, through which the upper air blowing fan 611 blows air from the upper air blowing chamber 61 toward the front apron 33F. The air outlet 612 is provided upstream in the transport direction from the supply port 512 and the recovery port 513 to form an air curtain that prevents heated air from flowing into the printing area. The front apron 33F includes a curved region 332B that guides the medium M by bending it at a bending portion 34, and a flat region 332C that is located downstream in the transport direction from the curved region 332B and guides the medium M with a flat surface. In addition, in order to transport the medium M transported on the horizontal platen 33A along the inclined guide surface of the front apron 33F, it is necessary to curve the medium M at the bending portion 34 (it is necessary to change the direction of transport of the medium M). In this embodiment, the air outlet 612 is disposed opposite the curved region 332B (see FIGS. 6 and 9). This shortens the length from the printing region to the heating unit 50. In this embodiment, at least one of the supply port 512 and the recovery port 513 is disposed opposite the flat region 332C, and the most downstream curved portion 34E (the curved portion 34 on the most downstream side of the curved region 332B in the conveying direction) is disposed closer to position A opposite the air outlet 612 than position B opposite the supply port 512 and the recovery port 513 (for example, the supply port 512U in FIG. 6 and the recovery port 513U in FIG. 9). This allows the medium M to be curved and conveyed before it stretches due to heating, thereby preventing wrinkles from forming in the medium M. In other words, according to this embodiment, an air curtain can be provided that can prevent wrinkles from forming while reducing medium waste.

[0079] The air outlet 612 is disposed opposite the most downstream bent portion 34E (see FIGS. 6 and 9). This allows the air curtain to press the medium M bending over the most downstream bent portion 34E against the guide surface, further preventing wrinkles from forming in the medium M. However, the air outlet 612 does not have to be disposed opposite the most downstream bent portion 34E; as long as the most downstream bent portion 34E is disposed closer to position A than position B, it is possible to prevent wrinkles from forming in the medium M.

[0080] The front apron 33F has an upstream region 332A, located upstream of the curved region 332B in the transport direction, that guides the medium M parallel to the guide surface for the medium M in the printing region (see FIGS. 6 and 9). The air outlet 612 is disposed above (vertically above) the guide surface for the medium M in the upstream region 332A (see FIG. 7). This prevents the end of the medium M from contacting the air outlet 612, thereby preventing damage to the air outlet 612. However, the air outlet 612 may be disposed at approximately the same height as the guide surface for the medium M in the upstream region 332A, or may be disposed below the guide surface for the medium M in the upstream region 332A.

[0081] Furthermore, the angle θf between the downstream guide surface in the transport direction and the upstream guide surface in the transport direction at the most upstream bending portion 34F is smaller than the angle θe between the downstream guide surface in the transport direction and the upstream guide surface in the transport direction at the most downstream bending portion 34E (see FIG. 7). This makes it possible to prevent wrinkles from forming in the medium M while also preventing the medium M from lifting up from the platen 33A in the printing area. However, the angle θf may be approximately the same as the angle θe, or the angle θf may be greater than the angle θe.

[0082] It is desirable that the most downstream bending portion 34E be positioned closer to position A facing the air outlet 612 than the other bending portions 34. This allows the medium M to be curved and transported before it is heated and stretched, resulting in a structure that is less likely to cause wrinkles to form in the medium M. Furthermore, when the most downstream bending portion 34E is positioned closer to position A facing the air outlet 612 than the other bending portions 34, it is desirable that the angle θe at the most downstream bending portion 34E be larger than the angles at the other bending portions 34 (the angle of the guide surface downstream in the transport direction relative to the guide surface upstream in the transport direction). This allows the angle at the bending portion 34 upstream in the transport direction to be set smaller than the most downstream bending portion 34E, resulting in a structure that makes it easier to prevent the medium M from lifting up from the platen 33A when the medium M is curved.

[0083] Furthermore, the front apron 33F (the guide member 33 that is disposed downstream of the printing area in the transport direction and that guides the medium M) is preferably composed of a bending member 332 and a flat member 331 that is disposed downstream of the bending member 332 in the transport direction and that guides the medium with a flat guide surface. This makes it easier to process the front apron 33F. However, the front apron 33F may be composed of one member, or may be composed of three or more members including the bending member 332 and the flat member 331.

[0084] ===Other embodiments=== The above-described embodiments are presented as examples and do not limit the scope of the invention. The above configurations can be implemented in appropriate combinations, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. The above-described embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as in the inventions described in the claims and their equivalents. [Explanation of symbols]

[0085] 1 printer, 10 controllers, 20 carriage unit, 21 carriage, 22 carriage motor, 30 conveying unit, 31 conveying member, 31A Conveyor roller, 31B Pinch roller, 32 conveying motor, 33 guide member, 33A Platen, 33R Rear Apron, 33F Front Apron, 331 Flat members, 332 Bent members, 332A upstream region, 332B bend region, 332C flat region, 34 bend, 34F most upstream bend, 34E most downstream bend, 41 heads, 50 heating unit, 51 heating chamber, 51A upstream room, 51B downstream room, 511 hot air generating unit, 511A fan, 511B heater, 512 supply port, 512U supply port, 513 collection port, 513U collection port, 52 heating passage, 52A first heating passage, 52B second heating passage, 60 ventilation chamber, 61 upper ventilation chamber, 61A upstream room, 61B downstream room, 611 upper blower fan, 612 air outlet, 612A first plate portion, 612B second plate portion, 62 Lower ventilation room, 62A Upstream room, 62B Downstream room, 621 lower ventilation fan, 622 lower ventilation port (vent), 623 air outlet, 70 main body case, 71 first wall portion, 72 second wall portion, 721 intake port, 73 insulation, 73A lower edge, 73B recess, 74 outer wall, 74U upper wall, 74F front wall, 74D lower wall, 741 intake, 741U upper intake, 741D lower intake, 742 intake area, 743 non-intake area, 75 (75A~75C) Fan mounting wall, 76 Partition wall portion, 77 Straightening plate, 78 Extension cover, 79 Outer cover

Claims

1. a guide member that is disposed downstream of the printing area in the transport direction and that guides the medium; a heating unit that supplies heated air to the medium guided by the guide member; Equipped with The heating unit comprises: a main body case disposed opposite the guide member; a heating chamber provided in the main body case; a fan housed in the heating chamber; a heater housed in the heating chamber and configured to heat the air blown by the fan; a supply port that supplies the heated air heated by the heater toward the guide member; a recovery port for recovering the heated air into the heating chamber; an air blowing chamber provided in the main body case separately from the heating chamber; a blower fan housed in the blower chamber; an air outlet provided upstream of the supply port and the recovery port in the conveying direction, through which the air in the air blowing chamber is blown toward the guide member by the air blowing fan; Equipped with The guide member is a bending region that bends the medium at a bending portion to guide the medium; a flat area that is disposed downstream of the curved area in the conveyance direction and guides the medium with a flat surface; Equipped with The air outlet is disposed opposite the bending region, At least one of the supply port and the recovery port is disposed opposite the flat area, a most downstream bent portion, which is the bent portion on the most downstream side in the conveying direction of the bent region, is disposed closer to a position facing the blow-out port than to a position facing the supply port or the recovery port; Printing device.

2. 2. The printing device according to claim 1, The printing device is characterized in that the air outlet faces the most downstream bent portion.

3. 3. The printing device according to claim 1, the guide member has an upstream region, located upstream of the curved region in the transport direction, that guides the medium parallel to a guide surface of the medium in the printing region; The printing device, wherein the air outlet is disposed vertically above a guide surface for the medium in the upstream region.

4. 3. The printing device according to claim 1, the guide member has an upstream bent portion that is the bent portion on the upstream side of the bent region in the conveying direction, a guide surface on the downstream side in the conveying direction relative to a guide surface on the upstream side in the conveying direction at the most upstream bending portion, the guide surface being angled smaller than an angle of the guide surface on the downstream side in the conveying direction relative to a guide surface on the upstream side in the conveying direction at the most downstream bending portion.

5. 3. The printing device according to claim 1, the guide member has a plurality of the bent portions, The printing device, wherein the most downstream bent portion is disposed closer to a position facing the air outlet than the other bent portions.

6. 6. The printing device according to claim 5, a printing device characterized in that an angle of the guide surface downstream in the conveying direction relative to the guide surface upstream in the conveying direction at the most downstream bent portion is larger than an angle of the guide surface downstream in the conveying direction relative to the guide surface upstream in the conveying direction at other bent portions.

7. 3. The printing device according to claim 1, The guide member is a bending member having the bending region; a flat member that is disposed downstream of the bending member in the conveying direction and that guides the medium with a flat guide surface; A printing device comprising:

Images