Printing apparatus

Abstract

This prevents the contact heating plate from deforming due to heat, which would increase the transport load. [Solution] A printing apparatus 1 comprising a transport unit 6 that transports a medium P in the transport direction A, a printing unit 3 that performs printing by discharging liquid onto the transported medium P, and a drying unit 10 that dries the printed medium P, wherein the drying unit 10 has a contact heating plate 1311 that contacts the back surface P2 of the printed medium P on its first surface 1311A, a heating unit 1312 that heats the contact heating plate 1311 from the second surface 1311B side, and a heating plate holding unit 1313 to which the contact heating plate 1311 is attached, and reinforcing members 1316 extending in the width direction B are fixed to each of the upstream end 1311X and the downstream end 1311Y in the transport direction A on the second surface 1311B of the contact heating plate 1311.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a printing apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] Various printing apparatuses have been conventionally used. Among these printing apparatuses, there is a printing apparatus provided with a contact heating plate that brings a heating unit into contact with a back surface of a medium opposite to a printing surface thereof in a drying unit in order to dry liquid ejected onto the medium. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a printing apparatus having, in a drying unit, a first heater and a second heater that heat the medium while being in contact with the back surface of the medium.

Prior Art Literature

Patent Literature

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problem to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In a printing apparatus provided with a contact heating plate that brings a heating unit into contact with a back surface of a medium opposite to a printing surface thereof in a drying unit, the contact heating plate may be deformed, for example, by heat. Deformation of the contact heating plate increases conveyance load, which reduces medium conveyance accuracy, and there is a risk that print quality will be degraded.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0005] The present invention, for solving the above problems, comprises a transport unit for transporting a medium in the transport direction, a printing unit for printing by discharging liquid onto the medium transported by the transport unit, and a drying unit for drying the medium after printing by the printing unit, wherein the drying unit has a contact heating plate that contacts the back surface, which is the surface opposite to the printed surface of the medium after printing, with respect to a first surface, a heating unit for heating the contact heating plate, and a heating plate holding unit to which the contact heating plate is attached, and a reinforcing member extending in a width direction intersecting the transport direction is fixed to the second surface of the contact heating plate opposite to the first surface, with respect to the upstream end and the downstream end in the transport direction. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0006] [Figure 1] A side view of a printing apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. [Figure 2] A side view showing the area around the drying section of the printing apparatus shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a part of the drying section of the printing apparatus. [Figure 4] A conceptual diagram showing the state of the media being transported in the drying section of the printing apparatus shown in Figure 1. [Figure 5] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a part of the drying section of the printing apparatus, seen from a different angle than Figure 3. [Figure 6] An enlarged perspective cross-sectional view showing the mounting portion of the contact heating plate to the heating plate holding portion of the drying section of the printing apparatus shown in Figure 1. [Figure 7] An enlarged perspective view showing the mounting portion of the contact heating plate to the heating plate holding portion of the drying section of the printing apparatus shown in Figure 1. [Figure 8] This is a perspective view showing a part of the drying section of the printing apparatus in Figure 1, viewed from a different angle than Figures 3 and 5, and represents the upstream end of the contact heating plate. [Figure 9] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the area around the reinforcing member of the drying section of the printing apparatus, as seen from the second side, and shows either the upstream or downstream end of the contact heating plate. [Figure 10] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the area around the reinforcing member of the drying section of the printing apparatus, as seen from the first side, and shows either the upstream or downstream end of the contact heating plate. [Figure 11] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the reinforcing member of the drying section of the printing apparatus. [Figure 12] A schematic cross-sectional view showing the mounting state of the contact heating plate and reinforcing member in the drying section of the printing apparatus shown in Figure 1. [Figure 13] A perspective view showing a portion of the drying section of a reference printing apparatus. [Figure 14] Figure 13 is a conceptual diagram showing the state of the media being transported in the drying section of the printing apparatus. [Figure 15] A conceptual diagram representing the contact heating plate in the drying section of the printing apparatus shown in Figure 13. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0007] First, the present invention will be described in general terms. A printing apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention for solving the above problems comprises a transport unit for transporting a medium in a transport direction, a printing unit for performing printing by discharging liquid onto the medium transported by the transport unit, and a drying unit for drying the medium after printing by the printing unit, wherein the drying unit has a contact heating plate that contacts the back surface, which is the surface opposite to the printed surface of the medium after printing, with respect to a first surface, a heating unit for heating the contact heating plate, and a heating plate holding unit to which the contact heating plate is attached, and a reinforcing member extending in a width direction intersecting the transport direction is fixed to the second surface of the contact heating plate opposite to the first surface, with respect to the upstream end and the downstream end in the transport direction.

[0008] According to this embodiment, reinforcing members extending in a width direction intersecting the conveying direction are fixed to the upstream and downstream ends of the second surface of the contact heating plate in the conveying direction. This configuration makes it possible to suppress deformation of the contact heating plate. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the increase in conveying load due to deformation of the contact heating plate.

[0009] A printing apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention is an aspect dependent on the first aspect, and is characterized in that the reinforcing member is fixed only to the second surface without contacting the heating plate holding portion.

[0010] According to this aspect, the reinforcing member is fixed only to the second surface and is not fixed to any portion other than the second surface. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the force applied to the reinforcing member via the contact heating plate from directly affecting members other than the reinforcing member.

[0011] A printing apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention is an aspect dependent on the first or second aspect, and is characterized in that a surface of the reinforcing member on a side attached to the contact heating plate is a concave surface.

[0012] According to this aspect, the surface of the reinforcing member on the side attached to the heating plate is a concave surface. With this configuration, friction between the conveyed medium and the first surface can be reduced, and an increase in conveyance load can be effectively suppressed.

[0013] A printing apparatus according to the fourth aspect of the present invention is an aspect dependent on any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the contact heating plate is provided with a plurality of first through holes arranged along the conveyance direction at both end portions in the width direction, is screwed to the heating plate holding portion at positions of the plurality of first through holes, and is movable relative to the heating plate holding portion in a direction intersecting the thickness direction of the contact heating plate in a state where the contact heating plate is screwed at the positions of the plurality of first through holes.

[0014] According to this aspect, the contact heating plate is movable relative to the heating plate holding portion in a direction intersecting the thickness direction of the contact heating plate in a state where it is screwed at the positions of the plurality of first through holes. With such a configuration, even if the contact heating plate expands due to heating, the expanded portion of the contact heating plate can be released in the direction intersecting the thickness direction of the contact heating plate, and bulging of the contact heating plate in the thickness direction of the contact heating plate can be suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to effectively suppress an increase in conveyance load caused by deformation of the contact heating plate due to heat.

[0015] A printing apparatus according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is an aspect dependent on the fourth aspect, characterized in that the drying section has a spacer thicker than the depth of the first through hole.

[0016] According to this aspect, the drying section has a spacer thicker than the depth of the first through hole. With such a configuration, even if the contact heating plate expands due to heating, the expanded portion of the contact heating plate can be particularly effectively released in the direction intersecting the thickness direction of the contact heating plate, and bulging of the contact heating plate in the thickness direction of the contact heating plate can be particularly effectively suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to particularly effectively suppress an increase in conveyance load caused by deformation of the contact heating plate due to heat.

[0017] A printing apparatus according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is an aspect dependent on the fourth aspect, characterized in that the screw is a stepped screw having a stepped portion, and the thickness of the stepped portion is thicker than the depth of the first through hole.

[0018] According to this aspect, the screw is a stepped screw having a stepped portion, and the thickness of the stepped portion is thicker than the depth of the first through hole. With such a configuration, even if the contact heating plate expands due to heating, the expanded portion of the contact heating plate can be particularly effectively released in the direction intersecting the thickness direction of the contact heating plate, and bulging of the contact heating plate in the thickness direction of the contact heating plate can be particularly effectively suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to particularly effectively suppress an increase in conveyance load caused by deformation of the contact heating plate due to heat.

[0019] A printing apparatus according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is an aspect dependent on the fourth aspect, characterized in that the depth of the screw hole that engages with the screw in the heating plate holding portion is such that when the screw is fastened at the position of the first through hole, the distance between the screw head of the screw and the forming surface of the screw hole is greater than the thickness of the contact heating plate.

[0020] According to this embodiment, the depth of the screw hole in the heating plate holder is such that when the plate is screwed in at the position of the first through hole, the distance between the screw head and the surface forming the screw hole is greater than the thickness of the contact heating plate. With this configuration, even if the contact heating plate expands due to heating, the amount of expansion of the contact heating plate can be particularly effectively released in a direction intersecting the thickness direction of the contact heating plate, and the expansion of the contact heating plate in the thickness direction of the contact heating plate can be particularly effectively suppressed. Therefore, the deformation of the contact heating plate due to heat and the resulting increase in the transport load can be particularly effectively suppressed.

[0021] An eighth aspect of the present invention is a printing apparatus that is dependent on any one of the fourth to seventh aspects, characterized in that the first through hole has a width that is spaced apart from the screw shaft of the screw.

[0022] According to this embodiment, the first through-hole has a width that is spaced apart from the screw shaft of the screw. With this configuration, a configuration can be easily formed in which the contact heating plate can move relative to the heating plate holding part in a direction intersecting the thickness direction of the contact heating plate when the contact heating plate is screwed in at the positions of the multiple first through-holes.

[0023] A printing apparatus according to the ninth aspect of the present invention is an aspect dependent on any one of the fourth to eighth aspects, characterized in that the contact heating plate has second through holes at both ends in the width direction and is fixed to the heating plate holding portion at the position of the second through holes by being screwed to the heating plate holding portion at the position of the second through holes.

[0024] According to this embodiment, the contact heating plate has second through holes at both ends in the width direction, and is fixed to the heating plate holder at the position of the second through holes by being screwed to the heating plate holder at the position of the second through holes. With this configuration, even if the contact heating plate expands due to heating, the expanded portion of the contact heating plate can be released on both sides of the position of the second through holes as a reference.

[0025] A printing apparatus according to a tenth aspect of the present invention is an aspect dependent on the ninth aspect, characterized in that the second through hole is provided at the center of the contact heating plate in the transport direction at each of the widthwise ends of the contact heating plate.

[0026] According to this embodiment, the second through-hole is provided at the center of the contact heating plate in the transport direction at both ends in the width direction of the contact heating plate. With this configuration, even if the contact heating plate expands due to heating, the expanded portion of the contact heating plate can be released to both sides of the center in the transport direction corresponding to the position of the second through-hole.

[0027] A printing apparatus according to an eleventh aspect of the present invention is an aspect dependent on any one of the first to tenth aspects, characterized in that, when the contact heating plate is held by the heating plate holding portion, the center is curved such that it is convex toward the side opposite to the side held by the heating plate holding portion when viewed from the width direction.

[0028] According to this embodiment, when the contact heating plate is held by the heating plate holder, it is curved such that the center is convex toward the side opposite to the side held by the heating plate holder when viewed from the width direction. With this configuration, the conveyed medium can be effectively heated by the contact heating plate.

[0029] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. First, an overview of a printing apparatus 1 as one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figure 1. As shown in Figure 1, the printing apparatus 1 of this embodiment includes a setting unit 2 for setting a roll-shaped medium P, a winding unit 5 for winding up the medium P conveyed from the setting unit 2, and a print head 3 as a printing unit that ejects liquid ink onto the printing surface P1 of the medium P conveyed in the conveying direction A along the conveying path from the setting unit 2 to the winding unit 5 to form an image. It also includes a platen 4 that supports the medium P in the image forming region where the image is formed by the print head 3, and a plurality of rollers 6 provided along the conveying path of the medium P. The printing apparatus 1 of this embodiment includes, as rollers 6, a drive roller that applies conveying force to the medium P as a conveying unit, and a driven roller that rotates in conjunction with the conveying of the medium P.

[0030] The print head 3 is located on the side of the medium P that is transported in the transport direction A, facing the printing surface P1. With the back surface P2 of the medium P, opposite to the printing surface P1, supported by the platen 4, ink is ejected onto the printing surface P1 to form an image. More specifically, the printing apparatus 1 of this embodiment prints by moving the print head 3 back and forth in the scanning direction C along the transport direction A. More specifically, the printing apparatus 1 of this embodiment intermittently drives the medium P in the transport direction A (intermittent transport) and moves the print head 3 back and forth in the scanning direction C, ejecting ink from the print head 3 to print.

[0031] In this embodiment, the print head 3 can complete image formation across the entire image-forming region supported by the platen 4 on the print surface P1 in a single scan (1 pass), and can also complete image formation by performing multiple scans (multiple passes) across the entire image-forming region. Compared to completing image formation in a single pass, completing image formation in multiple passes naturally increases the transport stop time of the medium P due to intermittent transport.

[0032] The print head 3 in this embodiment is configured to print by reciprocating in a scanning direction C along the transport direction A. However, there are no particular limitations on the configuration of the print head 3. Instead of a print head 3 that prints by reciprocating in a scanning direction C along the transport direction A, a print head 3 that prints by reciprocating in a width direction B intersecting the transport direction A may be provided, or a so-called line head may be provided in which nozzles that eject ink over the entire width direction B of the medium P are arranged along the width direction B and print while the print head is stopped.

[0033] As shown in Figure 1, in the transport path of the medium P, downstream of the print head 3 in the transport direction A, there is a drying section 10 for drying the ink discharged onto the medium P. Multiple rollers 6 are provided in the transport path of the medium P from the print head 3 to the drying section 10, and in the transport path of the medium P from the drying section 10 to the winding section 5. In this embodiment, the printing apparatus 1 includes a first drying section 10A to which the medium P first reaches from the print head 3, and a second drying section 10B capable of further drying the medium P after it has been dried in the first drying section 10A. As shown in Figure 1, in this embodiment, the first drying section 10A and the second drying section 10B are provided one above the other. However, the configuration is not limited to this.

[0034] The drying section 10 will be described in more detail below with reference to Figures 2 to 12. As shown in Figure 2, the drying section 10 is equipped with multiple fans 11. As described above, the drying section 10 is divided into a first drying section 10A and a second drying section 10B. In the first drying section 10A, the airflow generated by the fans 11 can be sprayed from the first airflow injection section 12A on the lower side toward the printed surface P1 of the medium P. In the second drying section 10B, the airflow generated by the fans 11 can be sprayed from the second airflow injection section 12B on the upper side toward the printed surface P1 of the medium P. The first airflow injection section 12A and the second airflow injection section 12B have similar configurations.

[0035] As shown in Figure 2, the first drying section 10A is equipped with a first contact heating section 131A in the region facing the first airflow injection section 12A in the transport path of the medium P. The first contact heating section 131A is equipped with a contact heating plate 1311 that contacts and heats the back surface P2 of the medium P. On the other hand, the second drying section 10B is equipped with a second contact heating section 131B in the region facing the second airflow injection section 12B in the transport path of the medium P. The second contact heating section 131B is equipped with a contact heating plate 1311 that contacts and heats the back surface P2 of the medium P. The first contact heating section 131A and the second contact heating section 131B have similar configurations. The contact heating plate 1311 can be configured to include, for example, a rubber heater 1312, as described in this embodiment later.

[0036] As described above, the printing apparatus 1 of this embodiment includes a roller 6 as a transport unit that transports the medium P in the transport direction A, a print head 3 as a printing unit that discharges liquid onto the medium P transported by the roller 6 to perform printing, and a drying unit 10 that dries the medium P after printing by the print head 3. Below, the details of the contact heating unit 131 in the second drying unit 10B of the drying unit 10, which is the main part of the printing apparatus 1 of this embodiment, will be described with reference to Figures 3 to 13. Note that the first drying unit 10A and the second drying unit 10B have similar configurations, so the description of the contact heating unit 131 of the first drying unit 10A will be omitted.

[0037] As shown in Figures 3 to 13, the contact heating section 131 of the drying section 10 has a contact heating plate 1311 that contacts the back surface P2, which is the surface opposite to the printed surface P1 of the printed medium P, with the first surface 1311A. The contact heating section 131 also has a rubber heater 1312 that is attached to the second surface 1311B, which is opposite to the first surface 1311A, and heats from the second surface 1311B side, as a heating section, and a heating plate holding section 1313 to which the contact heating plate 1311 is attached.

[0038] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 8 to 10, the contact heating section 131 has reinforcing members 1316 that extend in the width direction B intersecting the conveying direction A, fixed to the upstream end 1311X and the downstream end 1311Y of the second surface 1311B of the contact heating plate 1311 in the conveying direction A. This configuration suppresses deformation of the contact heating plate 1311 so that it becomes convex towards the first surface 1311A when viewed from the conveying direction A. Therefore, the printing apparatus 1 of this embodiment can suppress deformation of the contact heating plate 1311 so that it becomes convex towards the first surface 1311A due to the manufacturing process of the drying section or the influence of heat during drying, which would increase the conveying load.

[0039] The above will be explained in more detail. In a reference example printing apparatus in which the contact heating plate 1311 does not have a reinforcing member 1316, as shown in Figure 13, deformation of the contact heating plate 1311 may occur at the upstream end 1311X and the downstream end 1311Y, as shown by the dashed lines in Figure 13. As a result, as shown in Figure 14, the contact heating plate 1311 forms creases at the upstream end 1311X and the downstream end 1311Y with respect to the conveyed medium P, and the frictional force against the conveyed medium P at the upstream end 1311X and the downstream end 1311Y of the contact heating plate 1311 becomes stronger.

[0040] If the frictional force at the upstream end 1311X and downstream end 1311Y of the contact heating plate 1311 becomes strong with respect to the conveyed medium P, the conveying load will increase, which may lead to a decrease in conveying accuracy. In particular, as shown by the dashed line in Figure 13, when the contact heating plate 1311 is curved so that the center is convex toward the opposite side from the side held by the heating plate holding part 1313 when viewed from the conveying direction A, the frictional force at the upstream end 1311X and downstream end 1311Y of the contact heating plate 1311 tends to become stronger.

[0041] On the other hand, in the printing apparatus 1 of this embodiment, no deformation of the contact heating plate 1311 occurs at the upstream end 1311X and the downstream end 1311Y of the contact heating plate 1311. Therefore, as shown in Figure 4, the contact heating plate 1311 does not form creases at the upstream end 1311X and the downstream end 1311Y with respect to the conveyed medium P. As a result, the frictional force on the conveyed medium P does not increase at the upstream end 1311X and the downstream end 1311Y of the contact heating plate 1311, and the conveying load does not increase, which does not lead to a decrease in conveying accuracy.

[0042] Furthermore, in the printing apparatus 1 of this embodiment, as shown in Figure 5 and other figures, the contact heating plate 1311 has a plurality of first through holes H1 and second through holes H2 arranged along the transport direction A at both ends of the width direction B, and is screwed to the heating plate holder 1313 with screws 1314 at the positions of the plurality of first through holes H1 and second through holes H2. Here, the contact heating plate 1311 is movable relative to the heating plate holder 1313 in the thickness direction D (see Figures 6 and 7), which is the direction corresponding to the thickness direction intersecting the surface direction of the contact heating plate 1311, and in the direction intersecting the thickness direction D (the surface direction of the first surface 1311A and the second surface 1311B) while screwed to the positions of the plurality of first through holes H1 and second through holes H2.

[0043] With this configuration, the printing apparatus 1 of this embodiment can release the expansion of the contact heating plate 1311 even if it expands due to heating, in the thickness direction D and in the direction intersecting the thickness direction D, thereby suppressing the contact heating plate 1311 from expanding in the thickness direction of the screw. Therefore, the printing apparatus 1 of this embodiment can effectively suppress the deformation of the contact heating plate 1311 due to heat, which would increase the transport load.

[0044] The above will be explained in more detail. In the reference example printing apparatus shown in Figure 13, the contact heating plate 1311 is fixed to the heating plate holder 1313 and is not configured to be movable relative to the heating plate holder 1313. As a result, as shown in Figure 15, the contact heating plate 1311 deforms from the state shown by the solid line to the state shown by the dashed line, and the frictional force also increases due to such deformation. When the frictional force of the contact heating plate 1311 with respect to the conveyed medium P increases, the conveying load increases, which can lead to a decrease in conveying accuracy. On the other hand, the printing apparatus 1 of this embodiment can suppress the deformation of the contact heating plate 1311 as shown in Figure 15, so the conveying load does not increase and a decrease in conveying accuracy does not occur.

[0045] In the state shown by the dashed line in Figure 15, the entire contact heating plate 1311 is depicted as being significantly curved, with the center convex toward the opposite side from the side held by the heating plate holder 1313 when viewed from the width direction B. However, this is a conceptual representation. In reality, the portion corresponding to the spacing between the screwed-in parts 1314 curves convexly by about 1 mm to 2 mm toward the opposite side from the side held by the heating plate holder 1313. This phenomenon is more likely to appear immediately after the contact heating plate 1311 is heated, and may improve after some time as the heating plate holder 1313 and other parts expand.

[0046] In this embodiment, the drying section 10 of the printing apparatus 1 has a spacer 1315 that fits into the first through hole H1 at the bottom of the screw head 1314A of the screw 1314, as shown in Figures 6 and 7. More specifically, as shown in Figure 6, the drying section 10 has a spacer 1315 with a thickness L2 greater than the depth L1 of the first through hole H1.

[0047] With this configuration, the printing apparatus 1 of this embodiment can particularly effectively release the expansion of the contact heating plate 1311 in the thickness direction D and in the direction intersecting the thickness direction D (the surface direction of the first surface 1311A and the second surface 1311B), even if the contact heating plate 1311 expands due to heating, and can particularly effectively suppress the expansion of the contact heating plate 1311 in the thickness direction D and in the thickness direction D. Therefore, the printing apparatus 1 of this embodiment can particularly effectively suppress the deformation of the contact heating plate 1311 due to heat, which would increase the transport load.

[0048] In this embodiment, the screw 1314 has a separate spacer 1315, but the screw 1314 and spacer 1315 may be integrally formed, such as a stepped screw. In this case, the stepped portion of the stepped screw performs the function of the spacer 1315. Also, in this embodiment, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, there is a washer 1318 between the screw head 1314A and the first surface 1311A, but the washer 1318 is not necessary if the screw head 1314A is not large enough to fit into the first through hole H1. If the washer 1318 is present, the washer 1318 can be considered as part of the screw head 1314A.

[0049] Alternatively, instead of providing such a spacer 1315, the depth L3 of the screw hole 1313A that engages with the screw of the heating plate holder 1313 may be set so that when the screw is fastened at the position of the first through hole H1, the gap L4 between the screw head 1314A of the screw 1314 and the forming surface 1313B of the screw hole 1313A is greater than the depth L1 of the first through hole H1, which is the thickness of the contact heating plate 1311. Even with this configuration, even if the contact heating plate 1311 expands due to heating, the amount of expansion of the contact heating plate 1311 can be particularly effectively released in the thickness direction D and in the direction intersecting the thickness direction D, and the expansion of the contact heating plate 1311 in the thickness direction D and the thickness direction D can be particularly effectively suppressed.

[0050] Here, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, the first through-hole H1 is an elongated hole that is long in one direction (conveying direction A) when viewed from the first surface 1311A. In other words, as shown in Figure 6, the first through-hole H1 has a width that is spaced G apart from the screw shaft 1314B of the screw 1314 in the surface direction of the first surface 1311A and the second surface 1311B. With this configuration, a configuration can be easily formed in which the contact heating plate 1311 can move relative to the heating plate holding part 1313 in a direction intersecting the thickness direction D when the contact heating plate 1311 is screwed at the positions of multiple first through-holes H1. Note that the width of the first through-hole H1 having a width that is spaced G apart from the screw shaft 1314B of the screw 1314 means that, in the case of a spacer 1315 as in this embodiment, the spacer 1315 is also considered as part of the screw shaft, and the first through-hole H1 has a width that is spaced apart from the spacer 1315.

[0051] Furthermore, in the printing apparatus 1 of this embodiment, as shown in Figure 5, the contact heating plate 1311 has second through holes H2 at both ends in the width direction B. In the printing apparatus 1 of this embodiment, the contact heating plate 1311 is fixed to the heating plate holder 1313 at the position of the second through holes H2 by screws, so that it cannot move in the thickness direction D and in the direction intersecting the thickness direction D. With this configuration, even if the contact heating plate 1311 expands due to heating, the expanded portion of the contact heating plate 1311 can be released on both sides (both sides along the transport direction A) with respect to the position of the second through holes H2.

[0052] More specifically, as shown in Figure 5, the second through-hole H2 is located at the center of the contact heating plate 1311 in the transport direction A at both ends of the contact heating plate 1311 in the width direction B. With this configuration, even if the contact heating plate 1311 expands due to heating, the expanded portion of the contact heating plate 1311 can be released to both sides of the center in the transport direction A corresponding to the position of the second through-hole H2. Note that "center" here does not require to be in the exact center, but rather approximately in the center is sufficient.

[0053] Here, the reinforcing member 1316 will be described in more detail. In the printing apparatus 1 of this embodiment, as shown in Figure 10, the contact heating plate 1311 is provided with a screw hole H3 as a through hole H, and as shown in Figure 9, the reinforcing member 1316 is provided with a screw hole H4 as a through hole H. The reinforcing member 1316 is fixed to the contact heating plate 1311 by fitting a screw 1317 into the screw hole H3 via the screw hole H4 from the second surface 1311B side of the contact heating plate 1311.

[0054] In this case, as shown in Figure 12, the shaft of the screw 1317 that fixes the reinforcing member 1316 to the contact heating plate 1311 does not protrude onto the first surface 1311A. That is, the reinforcing member 1316, including its fixing member (screw 1317), is fixed to the contact heating plate 1311 only on the second surface 1311B and does not protrude onto the first surface 1311A. By configuring the reinforcing member 1316 so that it is not fixed anywhere other than the second surface 1311B, it is possible to prevent the reinforcing member 1316 or its fixing part from protruding onto the first surface 1311A and coming into contact with the transported medium P. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent the force applied to the reinforcing member 1316 via the contact heating plate 1311 from directly affecting other members.

[0055] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 11 and 12, the reinforcing member 1316 has a concave surface 1316A in the thickness direction D, which intersects the surface direction of the contact heating plate 1311, where the thickness gradually decreases from the outside in the width direction B towards the center. The step of the concave surface 1316A can be, for example, 0.25 mm. As shown in Figure 12, the contact heating plate 1311 is fixed with screws 1317 along the concave surface 1316A. That is, the side of the reinforcing member 1316 that is attached to the contact heating plate 1311 is concave. With this configuration, when the reinforcing member 1316 is fixed to the contact heating plate 1311, the contact heating plate 1311 is curved such that the center is concave when viewed from the transport direction A toward the side to which the contact heating plate 1311 is fixed. Therefore, the contact heating plate 1311 is prevented from curving so that its center is convex toward the side opposite to the side held by the heating plate holding part 1313 when viewed from the transport direction A, thereby reducing friction between the transported medium P and the first surface 1311A, and effectively suppressing an increase in transport load.

[0056] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 3 and 5, when the contact heating plate 1311 is held by the heating plate holder 1313, it is curved such that the center is convex toward the side opposite to the side held by the heating plate holder 1313 when viewed from the width direction B. With this configuration, the conveyed medium P can be effectively heated by the contact heating plate 1311.

[0057] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be realized in various configurations without departing from its spirit. For example, the technical features in the embodiments corresponding to the technical features in each embodiment described in the summary of the invention can be replaced or combined as appropriate in order to solve some or all of the above-described problems, or to achieve some or all of the above-described effects. Furthermore, if a technical feature is not described as essential in this specification, it can be deleted as appropriate. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0058] 1…Printing device, 2…Setting unit, 3…Print head (printing unit), 4…Platen, 5…Winding unit, 6…Roller (conveying unit), 10…Drying unit, 10A…First drying unit, 10B…Second drying unit, 11…Fan, 12…Airflow injection unit, 12A…First airflow injection unit, 12B…Second airflow injection unit, 131…Contact heating unit, 131A…First contact heating unit, 131B…Second contact heating unit, 1311…Contact heating plate, 1311A…First side, 1311B…Second side, 1311X…Upstream end, 1311Y…Downstream side End portion, 1312...Rubber heater (heating part), 1313...Heating plate holder, 1313A...Screw hole, 1313B...Forming surface, 1314...Screw, 1314A...Screw head, 1314B...Screw shaft, 1315...Spacer, 1316...Reinforcement member, 1316A...Concave surface, 1317...Screw, 1318...Washer, G...Spacing, H...Through hole, H1...First through hole, H2...Second through hole, H3...Screw hole, H4...Screw hole, L1...Depth, L2...Thickness, L3...Depth, P...Medium, P1...Printing surface, P2...Back surface

Claims

1. A conveying unit that conveys the medium in the conveying direction, A printing unit that performs printing by dispensing liquid onto the medium conveyed by the transport unit, A drying unit for drying the medium after printing by the printing unit, Equipped with, The drying unit includes a contact heating plate that contacts the back surface, which is the side of the printed medium opposite to the printed surface, with the first surface; a heating unit that heats the contact heating plate; and a heating plate holding unit to which the contact heating plate is attached. A printing apparatus characterized in that a reinforcing member extending in a width direction intersecting the conveying direction is fixed to the second surface of the contact heating plate opposite to the first surface, at both the upstream end and the downstream end in the conveying direction.

2. In the printing apparatus described in claim 1, The printing apparatus is characterized in that the reinforcing member is fixed only to the second surface without contacting the heating plate holding portion.

3. In the printing apparatus described in claim 1, The printing apparatus is characterized in that the reinforcing member has a concave surface on the side that is attached to the contact heating plate.

4. In the printing apparatus described in claim 1, The printing apparatus is characterized in that the contact heating plate has a plurality of first through holes arranged in line with the transport direction at both ends in the width direction, is screwed to the heating plate holding part at the positions of the plurality of first through holes, and is movable relative to the heating plate holding part in a direction intersecting the thickness direction of the contact heating plate while screwed to the positions of the plurality of first through holes.

5. In the printing apparatus described in claim 4, The printing apparatus is characterized in that the drying section has a spacer thicker than the depth of the first through hole between the surface forming the screw hole that engages with the screw of the heating plate holding section and the screw head of the screw.

6. In the printing apparatus described in claim 4, The printing apparatus is characterized in that the screw is a stepped screw having a stepped portion, and the thickness of the stepped portion is greater than the depth of the first through hole.

7. In the printing apparatus described in claim 4, The printing apparatus is characterized in that the depth of the screw hole that engages with the screw in the heating plate holding portion is such that when the screw is fastened at the position of the first through hole, the distance between the screw head of the screw and the forming surface of the screw hole is greater than the thickness of the contact heating plate.

8. In a printing apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 7, The printing apparatus is characterized in that the first through hole has a width that is spaced apart from the screw shaft of the screw.

9. In a printing apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 7, The printing apparatus is characterized in that the contact heating plate has second through holes at both ends in the width direction, and is fixed to the heating plate holding part at the position of the second through holes by being screwed to the heating plate holding part at the position of the second through holes.

10. In the printing apparatus described in claim 9, The printing apparatus is characterized in that the second through-hole is provided at the center of the contact heating plate in the transport direction at each of the widthwise ends of the contact heating plate.

11. In the printing apparatus described in claim 1, The printing apparatus is characterized in that, when the contact heating plate is held by the heating plate holding portion, it is curved such that, when viewed from the width direction, the center is convex toward the side opposite to the side held by the heating plate holding portion.

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