Air supply device, drying device, printing device

Abstract

To prevent conveyance stability from being damaged by air blow and exhaust.SOLUTION: A blowing device comprises: a conveyor belt 511 for conveying a sheet material P applied with a liquid; air blowing means 600 including first air flow generating means 620 for generating air flow for blowing the air to the sheet material P; second air flow generating means 710 for generating air flow for exhausting the air in a housing 503; and fan drive control means 509 for controlling air blowing amount by the first air flow generating means 620 and air exhausting amount by the second air flow generating means 710 according to the type of the sheet material P. The air blowing amount by the first air flow generating means 620 and the air exhausting amount by the second air flow generating means 710 are controlled so as to become substantially equal.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an air blowing device, a liquid ejecting device, and a printing device. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Printing devices that apply liquid to a printing target such as a sheet material to perform printing include those that are equipped with a drying means such as a heating means for drying the sheet material to which the liquid has been applied, thereby accelerating the drying of the applied liquid.

[0003] Conventionally, a sheet conveying device is known which includes a conveying section having a medium support surface that supports the medium and conveys the medium in the medium conveying direction, an air blowing section that blows air toward the medium conveying path in the conveying section, an exhaust section having an exhaust port arranged opposite the medium support surface and exhausting air through the exhaust port, and a straightening member that regulates the airflow to the exhaust port and is arranged in the exhaust space between the exhaust port and the medium support surface, and the straightening member is arranged in such a way that, in the exhaust space, a position of the medium passing area through which the medium passes is open corresponding to an outer media non-passing area in the media width direction perpendicular to the media conveying direction, or a position corresponding to the media non-passing area is open (Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-158271 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, when exhausting the steam generated when drying the sheet material with the drying means, air flows in through the device opening through which the sheet material passes, causing the sheet material to flutter due to the flowing in air, which reduces transport stability.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and has an object to prevent the transport stability from being impaired. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention Claim 1 The blower device according to a first airflow generating means for generating an airflow to be blown onto the sheet material to which the liquid has been applied and which is being transported; A second airflow generating means for generating an airflow for exhausting air from within the device; a means for controlling an amount of air blown by the first airflow generating means and an amount of air exhausted by the second airflow generating means according to a type of the sheet material. A blower device comprising: A means for partially narrowing a gap between the air blowing device and an adjacent device disposed adjacent to the air blowing device. Equipped with The composition was as follows.

[0008] According to the present invention, the transport stability is not impaired. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram of a printing apparatus as a liquid ejecting apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating a discharge unit of the printing apparatus. [Diagram 3] 1 is a side view illustrating a drying device including a blower according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. [Diagram 5] 4 is an explanatory diagram of air flow provided to explain the blowing and exhausting functions in the drying device. FIG. [Figure 6] 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the relationship between the air supply volume (synonymous with air supply flow rate) and the exhaust volume (synonymous with exhaust flow rate) in the embodiment having an indirect piping configuration and a second airflow generating means and Comparative Example 1 having a direct piping configuration. FIG. [Figure 7] 13 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the relationship between the balance between the exhaust flow rate and the blown air flow rate and the flow rate of the air flowing in from the opening (wind speed of the inflowing air flow) in the same embodiment and Comparative Example 1. FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a drying device including a blower according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 11 is an explanatory side view of a main part of a printing device for explaining a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is an explanatory view of a main part of a drying device for explaining a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[0010] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. A printing apparatus as a liquid ejecting apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. Figure 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram of the printing apparatus, and Figure 2 is a plan explanatory diagram of an ejection unit of the printing apparatus.

[0011] The printing device 1 includes an input section 10 for inputting the sheet material P, a pre-treatment section 20 which is an application section, a printing section 30, a first drying section 40, a second drying section 50, an inversion mechanism section 60, and an output section 70.

[0012] The printing device 1 applies (coats) a pretreatment liquid as a coating liquid to the sheet material P transported (supplied) from the transport section 10 in the pretreatment section 20 as necessary, and then applies the required liquid to the sheet material P in the printing section 30 to perform the required printing.

[0013] Then, the printing device 1 dries the liquid adhering to the sheet material P in the first drying section 40 and the second drying section 50, and then discharges the sheet material P to the discharge section 70 via the inversion mechanism section 60, either as is or after printing on both sides of the sheet material P.

[0014] The loading section 10 includes an input tray 11 (lower input tray 11A, upper input tray 11B) that stores multiple sheet materials P, and a feeding device 12 (12A, 12B) that separates and sends out the sheet materials P one by one from the input tray 11, and supplies the sheet materials P to the pre-processing section 20.

[0015] The pre-treatment section 20 includes, for example, an application section 21 which is a treatment liquid application section that applies a treatment liquid having an effect of agglomerating ink and preventing show-through to the printing surface of the sheet material P.

[0016] The printing unit 30 includes a drum 31 which is a support member (rotating member) that supports the sheet material P on its circumferential surface and rotates, and a liquid ejection unit 32 which ejects liquid toward the sheet material P supported by the drum 31.

[0017] The printing section 30 includes a transfer cylinder 34 which receives the sheet material P sent from the pre-treatment section 20 and transfers the sheet material P between the drum 31, and a transfer cylinder 35 which receives the sheet material P transported by the drum 31 and transfers it to the first drying section 40.

[0018] The sheet material P transported from the pre-processing section 20 to the printing section 30 has its leading edge gripped by a gripping means (sheet gripper) provided on the transfer cylinder 34, and is transported as the transfer cylinder 34 rotates. The sheet material P transported by the transfer cylinder 34 is delivered to the drum 31 at a position opposite to the drum 31.

[0019] A gripping means (sheet gripper) is also provided on the surface of the drum 31, and the leading end of the sheet material P is gripped by the gripping means (sheet gripper). A plurality of suction holes are formed in a dispersed manner on the surface of the drum 31, and the suction means generates a suction airflow that flows inward from the required suction holes of the drum 31.

[0020] Then, the sheet material P transferred from the transfer cylinder 34 to the drum 31 has its leading edge gripped by the sheet gripper, and is adsorbed and supported on the drum 31 by the suction airflow of the suction means, and is transported as the drum 31 rotates.

[0021] The liquid discharge section 32 includes discharge units 33 (33A to 33D) which are liquid discharge means serving as liquid application means. For example, the discharge unit 33A discharges cyan (C) liquid, the discharge unit 33B discharges magenta (M) liquid, the discharge unit 33C discharges yellow (Y) liquid, and the discharge unit 33D discharges black (K) liquid. In addition, discharge units that discharge special liquids such as white, gold (silver), etc. can also be used.

[0022] The ejection unit 33 has a head module 100 including a full-line head in which a plurality of liquid ejection heads (hereinafter simply referred to as "heads") 101, each having a plurality of nozzle rows in which a plurality of nozzles 111 are arranged, are arranged in a staggered pattern on a base member 103, as shown in FIG.

[0023] The discharge operation of each discharge unit 33 of the liquid discharge section 32 is controlled by a drive signal corresponding to the printing information. When the sheet material P supported on the drum 31 passes through an area facing the liquid discharge section 32, liquid of each color is discharged from the discharge unit 33, and an image corresponding to the printing information is printed.

[0024] The first drying section 40 includes a heating means 42 such as an IR heater, and irradiates infrared rays to heat and dry the sheet material P to which the liquid has been applied and which is being transported by the transport section 41. The second drying section 50 includes a heating means 52 such as an ultraviolet ray irradiator, and irradiates ultraviolet rays to heat and dry the sheet material P to which the liquid has been applied and which is being transported by the transport section 51 after passing through the first drying section 40. The transport section 41 and the transport section 51 are configured as part of the same transport section.

[0025] The reversing mechanism 60 includes a reversing section 61 that reverses the sheet material P using a switchback method when performing double-sided printing on the sheet material P that has passed through the first drying section 40 and the second drying section 50 and has had liquid applied to one side and been dried, and a double-sided conveying section 62 that sends the reversed sheet material P back upstream of the transfer drum 34 of the printing section 30.

[0026] The discharge section 70 includes a discharge tray 71 on which a plurality of sheet materials P are stacked. The sheet materials P conveyed from the reversing mechanism section 60 are successively stacked and held on the discharge tray 71.

[0027] In this embodiment, an example is described in which the sheet material is cut sheet material, but the present invention can also be applied to devices that use continuous bodies (webs) such as continuous paper or rolled paper, and devices that use sheet materials such as wallpaper.

[0028] Next, a drying device including a blower according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 3 and 4. Figure 3 is a side view of the drying device, and Figure 4 is a front view of the same.

[0029] The drying apparatus 500 has a conveying mechanism section 501 which is a conveying means, an ultraviolet ray irradiation section 502 which is a heating means 52, a blower section 506, an exhaust section 507, and a fan drive control means 509. The drying apparatus 500 constitutes the second drying section 50. The blower section 506, the exhaust section 507, and the fan drive control means 509 constitute a blower device 505 according to the present invention.

[0030] The conveying mechanism 501 has a conveying belt 511 that carries and conveys the sheet material P. The conveying belt 511 is looped around a driving roller 512 and a driven roller 513 and moves in a circular motion. In this embodiment, the conveying mechanism 501 is a mechanism that conveys the sheet material P from the printing unit 30 to the reversing mechanism 60 as shown in FIG.

[0031] The conveyor belt 511 is a belt having a plurality of openings that are sucked by a suction chamber 514 disposed inside. For example, a mesh belt or a flat belt having suction holes is used. The suction chamber 514 performs suction using a suction blower, a fan, or the like. The conveyor is not limited to a conveyor using a suction method, and may be a conveyor that conveys the sheet material P using, for example, an electrostatic adsorption method or a gripper gripping method.

[0032] The ultraviolet ray irradiation section 502 includes a plurality of ultraviolet ray irradiation means 521 arranged along the conveying direction in a housing 503. The ultraviolet ray irradiation means 521 irradiates the sheet material P conveyed by the conveying mechanism section 501 with ultraviolet rays to heat it.

[0033] A flow path plate 523 is disposed between a transport belt 511 of a transport mechanism 501 serving as a transport means and an irradiation surface 522 of an ultraviolet ray irradiation means 521 serving as a heating means.

[0034] The flow path plate 523 may be, for example, a general metal plate, or may be a reflector for returning the reflected light from the sheet material P back to the sheet material P. The flow path plate 523 is located close to the irradiation surface 522 of the ultraviolet ray irradiation means 521 to a position where it does not block the ultraviolet ray light (UV light) emitted from the irradiation surface 522. In addition, an airflow generating means 524 is disposed downstream of the ultraviolet ray irradiation means 521, and generates an airflow 525 along the irradiation surface 522.

[0035] The housing 503 is an exterior cover (unit exterior cover) of the drying device 500, and is disposed with a gap (opening) 531 between it and the conveyor belt 511 in the direction along the conveying direction, as shown in Fig. 3. In addition, the housing 503 has a portion 503a that extends below the conveyor belt 511 in the height direction in the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, as shown in Fig. 4.

[0036] The air blowing section 506 includes a plurality of air blowing means 600 that blow air toward the transported sheet material P. The air blowing means 600 includes a flow path member 630 having an air blowing port 610 for blowing out air, and a first airflow generating means 620 configured with a fan that generates an airflow of air to be blown (blowed) from the air blowing port 610.

[0037] Exhaust section 507 includes exhaust duct 700 arranged above multiple blowing means 600, and second airflow generating means 710 configured with a fan arranged on the outlet side of exhaust duct 700. Exhaust duct 700 has top surface 700a that is inclined so as to rise in the exhaust direction, and air intake 700b on the bottom surface.

[0038] Then, downstream of the second airflow generating means 710, an exhaust duct 720 is disposed, which serves as a first exhaust path through which air exhausted through the exhaust duct 700 passes, and the exhaust duct 720 is connected to equipment piping (equipment duct) 800, which serves as a second exhaust path. This piping configuration is referred to as an "indirect piping configuration."

[0039] The facility piping 800 connects the printing device 1 in the building in which the printing device 1 is installed to an outdoor air conditioning duct. The facility piping 800 has an intake port 800a that takes in air outside the printing device 1, and forms a path for merging the air that has passed through the exhaust duct 720 and the air outside the printing device 1 to exhaust the air. The facility piping 800 exhausts a constant amount of air using exhaust equipment.

[0040] The fan drive control means 509 inputs type information of the sheet material P. Then, the fan drive control means 509 controls the drive of the first airflow generating means 620 of the blowing means 600 to control the amount of air blown by the first airflow generating means 620, and controls the drive of the second airflow generating means 710 to control the amount of exhaust by the second airflow generating means 710, according to the type of the sheet material P.

[0041] Next, the blowing and exhausting operations in the drying device 500 will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the air flow to be used in explaining the operations.

[0042] In the printing device 1, the sheet material P to which the liquid has been applied in the printing section 30 is transported in sequence to the first drying section 40 and the second drying section 50 by the transport belt 511. At this time, the sheet material P is heated by the ultraviolet ray irradiation means 521 of the first drying section 40 and the second drying section 50, so that steam floats on the surface of the sheet material P.

[0043] At this time, a blowing airflow is generated by the first airflow generating means 620 of the blowing means 600, and air is blown out from the blowing port 610 and sprayed onto the sheet material P. As a result, steam floating near the surface of the sheet material P is blown away.

[0044] Meanwhile, the second airflow generating means 710 of the exhaust section 507 is rotated to generate an exhaust airflow, and air inside the housing 503 (inside the device) is taken into the exhaust duct 700 through the intake port 700b of the exhaust duct 700, as shown by the arrow in Figure 5.

[0045] That is, air A1 blown by the blowing means 600 onto the sheet material P and rising is taken into the exhaust duct 700. Air A2 sucked into the apparatus (inside the housing 503) from the opening (gap) 531 between the housing 503 and the conveyor belt 511 through which the sheet material P passes is also taken into the exhaust duct 700.

[0046] The air taken in by the exhaust duct 700 flows through the exhaust duct 720 to the equipment piping 800 by the exhaust airflow generated by the second airflow generating means 710, where it merges with the outside air and is discharged outside the installation location.

[0047] At this time, in the indirect piping configuration, the equipment piping 800 joins and exhausts the air from the exhaust duct 720 and the air outside the printing device 1. Therefore, when the exhaust volume of the exhaust equipment through which the equipment piping 800 connects is constant, when the exhaust volume from the exhaust duct 720 increases, the amount of outside air taken in decreases, and when the exhaust volume from the exhaust duct 720 decreases, the amount of outside air taken in increases.

[0048] In this way, even if the amount of exhaust air by the second airflow generating means 710 increases or decreases, it does not affect the amount of exhaust air by the equipment piping 800, so the amount of exhaust air can be changed by controlling the second airflow generating means 710 on the printing device 1 side.

[0049] Next, the floating of the sheet material P caused by the exhaust of the inside of the housing 503 of the drying device 500 will be described.

[0050] In the printing apparatus 1, the first drying section 40, the second drying section 50, and the reversing mechanism section 60 are partitioned by separate housings (exterior covers) and connected to each other. In order to enable the movement of the sheet material P conveyed by the conveyor belt 511 as a conveying means, an opening (gap) 531 is formed between the housing 503 of the drying device 500 constituting the second drying section 50 and the conveyor belt 511.

[0051] On the other hand, the amount of air blown to the sheet material P by each blowing means 600 of the blowing section 506 is made to differ depending on the type of the sheet material P.

[0052] Here, a configuration may be considered in which the second airflow generating means is not provided, and the exhaust duct 700 is directly connected to the exhaust equipment, and the exhaust equipment is used to exhaust air (this is called a "direct piping configuration"). In this case, the exhaust volume of the exhaust equipment is set to a flow rate greater than the maximum airflow so that exhaust can be performed even when air is blown by the first airflow generating means 620 of all the blowing means 600.

[0053] Therefore, when the amount of air blown by the blowing means 600 is set to be less than the maximum amount depending on the type of sheet material P, the amount of exhaust air from the exhaust facility becomes greater than the amount of air blown by the blowing means 600 .

[0054] In this way, when the exhaust volume of the exhaust equipment becomes larger than the volume of air blown to the sheet material P, the amount of air (outside air) A2 sucked in from outside the housing 503 of the drying device 500 through the opening 531 increases. Then, the leading end of the sheet material P is lifted up or the like by the suction airflow sucked in from the opening 531, and conveyance stability is impaired.

[0055] Therefore, in this embodiment, the exhaust duct 700 is provided with a second airflow generating means 710, and the amount of exhaust air by the second airflow generating means 710 is also controlled by the fan drive control means 509 depending on the type of sheet material P.

[0056] Therefore, the airflow rate by the first airflow generating means 620 of each air blowing means 600 in the air blowing section 506 and the exhaust rate by the second airflow generating means 710 can be controlled to be approximately the same (including the same), or the exhaust rate can be controlled to be slightly greater than the airflow rate.

[0057] This makes it possible to suppress the airflow flowing into the housing 503 from the opening 531 of the heating device 500, thereby suppressing flapping of the sheet material P. As a result, the conveying stability is not impaired due to flapping of the sheet material P.

[0058] Next, the relationship between the airflow rate (synonymous with airflow flow rate) and the exhaust rate (synonymous with exhaust flow rate) in the present embodiment including the indirect piping configuration and the second airflow generating means 710 and Comparative Example 1 having the direct piping configuration will be described with reference to Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining this relationship.

[0059] 6, the horizontal axis indicates the flow rate of air (inflow flow rate) blown into the drying device 500 by the first airflow generating means 620, and the vertical axis indicates the flow rate of exhaust air passing through the second airflow generating means 710.

[0060] When the air flow rate (inflow flow rate) by the first airflow generating means 620 is changed as shown by the virtual line, it can be seen that by using an indirect piping configuration and controlling the second airflow generating means 710, the inflow flow rate and outflow flow rate of the drying device 500 become the same, as shown by the solid line.

[0061] In contrast, in a direct piping configuration, when the exhaust flow rate of the exhaust equipment is kept constant, the outflow flow rate cannot be controlled in relation to the flow rate into the drying device 500. As a result, as shown by the dashed line, the outflow flow rate is constant regardless of the inflow flow rate, and it can be seen that the exhaust is greater than the inflow flow rate.

[0062] In this case, since the exhaust flow rate is greater than the air supply flow rate, a large amount of air is sucked in through the opening 531 of the drying device 500, causing the sheet material P to flutter as described above.

[0063] Next, the relationship between the balance between the exhaust flow rate and the blown air flow rate and the flow rate of the air flowing in from opening 531 (wind speed of the inflowing air flow) in this embodiment and Comparative Example 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is an explanatory diagram for explaining this relationship.

[0064] The horizontal axis of FIG. 7 indicates the balance between the exhaust flow rate and the air flow rate inside the drying device, and the vertical axis indicates the wind speed of the inflow airflow at that time.

[0065] In the configuration of this embodiment in which the second airflow generating means 710 is controlled in an indirect piping configuration, the maximum wind speed is about 2 m / s, as shown by the solid line. In contrast, in the direct piping configuration, the wind speed of the inflow airflow is high, about 8 m / s.

[0066] From this, it can be seen that the configuration of the embodiment suppresses flapping of the sheet material P.

[0067] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 8. Fig. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a drying device including a blower according to the second embodiment.

[0068] In this embodiment, an exhaust duct 740 that is connected to something other than the equipment piping 800 is provided downstream of the second airflow generating means 710 .

[0069] In this embodiment as well, the drive control means 509 controls the amount of air blown by the first air current generating means 620 and the amount of air exhausted by the second air current generating means 710 of the air blowing means 600 depending on the type of sheet material.

[0070] Therefore, the airflow rate by the first airflow generating means 620 of each air blowing means 600 in the air blowing section 506 and the exhaust rate by the second airflow generating means 710 can be controlled to be approximately the same (including the same), or the exhaust rate can be controlled to be slightly greater than the airflow rate.

[0071] This makes it possible to suppress the airflow flowing into the housing 503 from the opening 531 of the heating device 500, thereby suppressing flapping of the sheet material P. As a result, the conveying stability is not impaired due to flapping of the sheet material.

[0072] Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 9 and 10. Figure 9 is a side view of a main part of a printing device used to explain the third embodiment, and Figure 10 is an explanatory view of the same used to explain the operation.

[0073] In this embodiment, the second drying section 50 composed of the drying device 500 and the inversion mechanism section 60, which is an adjacent device arranged adjacent to the second drying section 50, are arranged side by side with a gap 101 between the housing 503 of the drying device 500 and the housing 603 of the inversion mechanism section 60.

[0074] Therefore, the housing 503 of the drying device 500 and the housing 603 of the reversing mechanism 60 are each provided with a straightening member 102 (102A, 102B) for partially narrowing the gap 101. Note that it is acceptable to provide only one of the straightening members 102A and 102B.

[0075] This configuration can reduce the wind speed of the inflow airflow from opening 531 of heating device 500. For example, as shown in Fig. 10, the wind speed of the inflow airflow in Comparative Example 2 in which straightening member 102 is not provided is about 8 m / s, whereas in the embodiment in which straightening member 102 is provided, the wind speed of the inflow airflow is reduced to about 2 m / s.

[0076] This makes it possible to further suppress the flapping of the sheet material P.

[0077] Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 11. Fig. 11 is an explanatory view of a main part of a drying device for explaining the fourth embodiment.

[0078] In this embodiment, a cooling member 750 serving as a cooling means is attached to the outer surface of a top surface 700a which is an inclined surface of the exhaust duct 700. A receiving portion 760 for receiving condensation cooled by the cooling member 750 is provided inside the exhaust duct 700. The receiving portion 760 is located at the lowest point of the top surface 700a which is an inclined surface of the exhaust duct 700.

[0079] With this configuration, the condensation is cooled by the cooling member 750, slides down the inclined top surface 700a of the exhaust duct 700, and falls onto the receiving portion 760. The bottom surface of the receiving portion 760 is inclined so that the height gradually decreases toward the back. This allows the condensation that falls onto the receiving portion 760 to be discharged into the condensation collection tank.

[0080] A plurality of cooling members 750 may be provided on the inclined top surface 700a of the exhaust duct 700. Moreover, instead of the cooling members 750, a heating member may be provided as a heating means.

[0081] In the present application, the liquid to be ejected may have a viscosity and surface tension that allows it to be ejected from the head, and is not particularly limited, but it is preferable that the viscosity of the liquid is 30 mPa·s or less at room temperature and pressure, or by heating or cooling. More specifically, the liquid may be a solution, suspension, emulsion, etc., containing a solvent such as water or an organic solvent, a colorant such as a dye or pigment, a functionalizing material such as a polymerizable compound, a resin, or a surfactant, a biocompatible material such as DNA, amino acids, proteins, or calcium, an edible material such as a natural colorant, etc., and these can be used for applications such as inkjet ink, surface treatment liquid, a liquid for forming a component of an electronic element or a light-emitting element, an electronic circuit resist pattern, a material liquid for three-dimensional modeling, etc.

[0082] Energy sources for ejecting liquid include piezoelectric actuators (laminated piezoelectric elements and thin-film piezoelectric elements), thermal actuators that use electrothermal conversion elements such as heating resistors, and electrostatic actuators consisting of a vibration plate and an opposing electrode.

[0083] Furthermore, the term "device for ejecting liquid" includes not only devices capable of ejecting liquid onto objects to which the liquid can adhere, but also devices that eject liquid into air or liquid.

[0084] This "liquid ejecting device" can also include means for feeding, transporting, and discharging items onto which liquid can be attached, as well as pre-processing devices and post-processing devices.

[0085] For example, examples of "devices that eject liquid" include image forming devices that eject ink to form an image on paper, and three-dimensional modeling devices that eject modeling liquid onto a powder layer formed by layering powder in order to create a three-dimensional object (a three-dimensional model).

[0086] In addition, the term "liquid ejection device" is not limited to devices that use ejected liquid to visualize meaningful images such as letters and figures. For example, it also includes devices that form patterns that have no meaning in themselves and devices that create three-dimensional images.

[0087] The above-mentioned "object to which liquid can adhere" means an object to which liquid can adhere at least temporarily, and to which the liquid adheres and sticks, or to which the liquid adheres and penetrates, etc. Specific examples include media such as paper, recording paper, film, cloth, and other recording media, electronic boards, electronic components such as piezoelectric elements, powder layers, organ models, and test cells, and unless otherwise specified, includes all objects to which liquid can adhere.

[0088] The material of the above-mentioned "object to which liquid can adhere" may be any material to which liquid can adhere even temporarily, such as paper, thread, fiber, cloth, leather, metal, plastic, glass, wood, and ceramics.

[0089] Furthermore, the "liquid ejection device" may be a device in which a liquid ejection head and an object to which liquid can be attached move relatively, but is not limited to this. Specific examples include a serial type device in which a liquid ejection head moves, a line type device in which a liquid ejection head does not move, etc.

[0090] Other examples of "liquid ejecting devices" include a treatment liquid application device that ejects a treatment liquid onto paper to apply the treatment liquid to the surface of the paper for purposes such as modifying the surface of the paper, and an injection granulation device that ejects a composition liquid in which raw materials are dispersed through a nozzle to granulate fine particles of the raw materials.

[0091] In the present application, the terms image formation, recording, printing, imprinting, printing, modeling, and the like are all synonymous. [Explanation of symbols]

[0092] 1 Printing device 10 Loading section 20 Pretreatment section 30 Printing Department 40 1st drying section 50 2nd drying section 60 Reversing mechanism 70 Unloading section 102A, 102B Straightening member 500 Heating device 501 Transport mechanism 502 UV irradiation unit 503 Housing (exterior cover) 506 Blower 507 Exhaust section 509 Fan drive control means 511 Conveyor belt 514 Suction chamber 521 Ultraviolet irradiation means 600 Air Blowing Means 610 Ventilator 620 First airflow generating means 700 Exhaust Duct 710 Second airflow generating means 720 Exhaust duct (first exhaust route) 750 Cooling material 760 Receiving part 800 Equipment piping (second exhaust route)

Claims

1. a first airflow generating means for generating an airflow to be blown onto the sheet material to which the liquid has been applied and which is being transported; A second airflow generating means for generating an airflow for exhausting air from within the device; a means for controlling an amount of air blown by the first airflow generating means and an amount of exhaust air by the second airflow generating means according to a type of the sheet material, The air blowing device is provided with a means for partially narrowing a gap between the air blowing device and an adjacent device disposed adjacent to the air blowing device. A blower device characterized by:

2. A first airflow generating means for generating an airflow to be blown onto a sheet material to which liquid has been applied and which is being transported; A second airflow generating means for generating an airflow for exhausting air from within the device; a means for controlling an amount of air blown by the first airflow generating means and an amount of air exhausted by the second airflow generating means according to a type of the sheet material; a first exhaust path downstream of the second airflow generating means; a second exhaust path that is connected to the first exhaust path and that joins the air passing through the first exhaust path with outside air and exhausts the combined air. A blower device characterized by:

3. The device is provided with a means for partially narrowing a gap between the blower device and an adjacent device disposed adjacent to the blower device. The blower device according to claim 2 .

4. an exhaust duct in which the second airflow generating means is disposed; The top surface of the exhaust duct is inclined so as to become higher in the direction of the air flow.

4. The blower device according to claim 1, wherein the blower is a fan.

5. A first airflow generating means for generating an airflow to be blown onto a sheet material to which a liquid has been applied and which is being transported; A second airflow generating means for generating an airflow for exhausting air from within the device; a means for controlling an amount of air blown by the first airflow generating means and an amount of air exhausted by the second airflow generating means according to a type of the sheet material; an exhaust duct in which the second airflow generating means is disposed, The top surface of the exhaust duct is inclined so as to become higher in the direction of the air flow. A blower device characterized by:

6. The exhaust duct is provided with a heating means.

6. The blower device according to claim 4 or 5.

7. The exhaust duct is provided with a cooling means.

6. The blower device according to claim 4 or 5.

8. A conveying means for conveying a sheet material; The blower device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 is provided. A drying device characterized by:

9. A liquid applying means for applying a liquid to the sheet material; The present invention is provided with a blower device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 or a drying device according to claim 8. A printing device comprising:

Images