Drying device, liquid application system, and printing system

Abstract

To provide a dryer whose enlargement in the direction of opposing a substrate transfer face can be suppressed, a liquid supply system, and a printing system.SOLUTION: The dryer blowing heated gas to a substrate transfer face in a substrate transfer route, comprises an air blowing unit (300) provided with a plurality of ejection ports (304) formed on a first face (302) opposing the substrate transfer face, a heat source (322), and a fan motor (324) blowing gas to the heat source to generate heated gas. The air blowing unit is provided with a heated gas inflow port formed on a second face (306) intersecting the first face to receive supply of the heated gas.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a drying device, a liquid application system, and a printing system.

Background Art

[0002] An inkjet printing apparatus including a drying device that performs a drying process on a paper on which a color image is printed, a film substrate, and the like is known. Patent Document 1 describes a drying device that dries ink adhering to a printing target such as continuous paper. The device described in the document blows air toward a heater disposed at a position facing the conveyance path of the continuous paper to dry the continuous paper to which the ink has adhered.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, the drying device described in Patent Document 1 has the following problems. The device blows air toward a heater disposed at a position facing the conveyance path of the continuous paper to reduce pressure loss and heat loss, and to achieve uniform supply of air volume and heat quantity. That is, the device is premised on a configuration in which a heater is incorporated in a hot air drying unit including a hot air blowing port.

[0005] Patent Document 1 describes that, as a configuration for uniformly blowing air in the width direction of the continuous paper in the drying device, a configuration in which a plurality of fans are arranged along the width direction of the continuous paper is preferable. Such a configuration requires a number of fan motors corresponding to the entire width of the continuous paper. For example, when the entire width of the continuous paper is 800 millimeters, a general-purpose size with a width of about 60 millimeters ofWhen a fan motor is used, 14 fan motors are required in the width direction of the continuous paper.

[0006] Then, in the direction facing the continuous paper, a placement space for the fan motor corresponding to the thickness of the fan motor is required, and there is concern about an increase in the size of the device in the same direction.

[0007] Also, Patent Document 1 describes a configuration in which a blower duct is provided between the inlet of the heater housing and the fan, and the air is blown from a location away from the inlet. In such a configuration, it is necessary to devise the blower duct so as to evenly apply the air blown by the fan to the heater.

[0008] For example, when devising the internal structure of the blower duct such as incorporating a rectifying plate inside the blower duct, there are concerns about an increase in the pressure loss in the blower duct and an increase in the size of the blower duct. Due to the increase in the size of the blower duct, the entire drying device may increase in size.

[0009] That is, the drying device described in Patent Document 1 has a problem that there is a concern about an increase in the size of the device in the direction facing the conveyance surface of the continuous paper due to the arrangement of the blowing structure of the heated gas at a position facing the conveyance surface of the continuous paper.

[0010] The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a drying device, a liquid application system, and a printing system in which an increase in size in the direction facing the substrate conveyance surface is suppressed.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0011] In order to achieve the above object, the following invention aspects are provided.

[0012] The drying device according to the present disclosure is a drying device that blows a heating gas against the substrate conveyance surface in the substrate conveyance path, and includes a blowing unit in which injection ports are formed on a first surface facing the substrate conveyance surface, a heat source, and a fan motor that blows a gas against the heat source to generate a heating gas. The blowing unit is a drying device in which a heating gas inlet for receiving the supply of the heating gas is formed on a second surface intersecting the first surface.

[0013] According to the drying device of the present disclosure, the heating gas flows into the blowing unit from the heating gas inlet formed on the second surface that is not opposed to the substrate conveyance surface, and the heating gas is jetted from the injection port formed on the first surface that is opposed to the substrate conveyance surface toward the substrate. As a result, the enlargement of the blowing unit is suppressed in the direction facing the substrate conveyance surface.

[0014] Further, the heat source and the fan motor are arranged at positions not opposed to the substrate conveyance surface, and the efficiency during maintenance such as replacement of the heat source and the fan motor can be improved.

[0015] An aspect in which a plurality of injection ports are provided and the plurality of injection ports are arranged based on a specified arrangement pattern in the substrate width direction orthogonal to the substrate conveyance direction is preferable.

[0016] The planar shape of the injection port can be any shape such as a circle and a square.

[0017] The injection port may be formed at the tip of a protrusion protruding from the first surface, or may be formed on the flat first surface.

[0018] In a drying device according to another aspect, the heat source and the fan motor are arranged inside, and a heating gas supply unit that supplies a heating gas to the blowing unit is provided. The heating gas supply unit includes a heating gas supply port communicating with the heating gas inlet formed in the blowing unit, and a first intake port that takes in outside air of the heating gas supply unit.

[0019] According to such an aspect, the thermal energy released from the heat source is recovered inside the heating gas supply unit, and the circulation of the thermal energy released from the heat source becomes possible.

[0020] In a drying apparatus according to another aspect, a drying unit in which a blowing unit is disposed inside is provided, and the heat source and the fan motor are disposed outside the drying unit.

[0021] According to such an aspect, it is possible to extend the life of the fan motor whose life depends on the environmental temperature. Further, the efficiency of maintenance such as replacement of the heat source and the fan motor can be improved.

[0022] In a drying apparatus according to another aspect, the heat source and the fan motor are disposed inside, and a heating gas supply unit that supplies heating gas to the blowing unit is provided. The heating gas supply unit includes a heating gas supply port that communicates with a heating gas inlet formed in the blowing unit, and a second intake port that takes in heating gas from the drying unit.

[0023] According to such an aspect, the circulation of the thermal energy from the blowing unit to the heating gas supply unit becomes possible.

[0024] In a drying apparatus according to another aspect, a heating gas recovery unit that is disposed inside the drying unit and recovers the heating gas blown from the blowing unit is provided. The heating gas recovery unit includes a heating gas recovery port that recovers the heating gas blown from the blowing unit, and a heating gas discharge port that discharges the heating gas recovered through the heating gas recovery port and communicates with the second intake port.

[0025] According to such an aspect, by applying the heating gas recovery unit, the circulation of the thermal energy from the blowing unit to the heating gas supply unit becomes possible.

[0026] In the drying device according to another aspect, the heated gas recovery port is partitioned into a plurality of intake regions in the longitudinal direction, the heated gas discharge port is partitioned into a plurality of exhaust regions corresponding to the plurality of intake regions in the heated gas recovery port, and the heated gas recovery unit includes a plurality of intake channels that communicate each of the plurality of intake regions with each of the plurality of exhaust regions.

[0027] According to such an aspect, generation of the distribution of the thermal energy recovered into the heated gas recovery unit is suppressed in the longitudinal direction of the heated gas recovery port, and the thermal energy can be recovered uniformly over the entire area of the heated gas recovery port.

[0028] In the drying device according to another aspect, the heated gas supply unit includes a third intake port that takes in outside air of the heated gas supply unit.

[0029] According to such an aspect, a certain range of humidity can be maintained inside the heated gas supply unit.

[0030] In the drying device according to another aspect, an adjustment mechanism is provided for adjusting the volume per unit period of the gas passing through the third intake port.

[0031] According to such an aspect, the humidity inside the heated gas supply unit can be adjusted.

[0032] In the drying device according to another aspect, one or more processors and a sensor for detecting at least one of the temperature and humidity of the gas passing through the third intake port are provided, and the processor controls the operation of the adjustment mechanism according to the detection result of the sensor.

[0033] According to such an aspect, the humidity inside the heated gas supply unit can be adjusted according to the detection result of the sensor.

[0034] The liquid application system according to the present disclosure includes a liquid application device that applies a liquid to a substrate, and a drying device that blows a heated gas against the substrate conveyance surface in the substrate conveyance path to dry the substrate to which the liquid has been applied. The drying device includes a blowing unit having an ejection port formed on a first surface facing the substrate conveyance surface, a heat source, and a fan motor that blows a gas against the heat source to generate a heated gas. The blowing unit is a liquid application system in which a heated gas inlet for receiving the supply of the heated gas is formed on a second surface intersecting the first surface.

[0035] According to the liquid application system of the present disclosure, it is possible to obtain the same operational effects as the drying device according to the present disclosure. The constituent elements of the drying device according to other aspects can be applied to the constituent elements of the liquid application system according to other aspects. of the It can be applied.

[0036] In the liquid application system according to another aspect, the blowing units are arranged on each of one side and the other side of the substrate conveyance surface.

[0037] According to such an aspect, the drying process can be performed from both sides of the substrate.

[0038] In the liquid application system according to another aspect, a plurality of blowing units are provided, and the plurality of blowing units are arranged along the substrate conveyance path.

[0039] According to such an aspect, the efficiency of the drying process can be improved.

[0040] In a liquid application system according to another aspect, comprising one or more processors, in the drying device, a heat source and a fan motor are disposed inside, and the drying device includes a plurality of heated gas supply units that supply heated gas to each of a plurality of air supply units. Each heated gas supply unit includes a third air intake port that takes in outside air of the heated gas supply unit, and an adjustment mechanism that adjusts the volume of gas passing through the third air intake port per unit period. The processor controls the operation of the adjustment mechanism so that the volume of gas passing through the third air intake port provided in the heated gas supply unit disposed at a position downstream in the substrate conveyance direction in the substrate conveyance path is less than the volume of gas passing through the third air intake port provided in the heated gas supply unit disposed at a position upstream in the substrate conveyance direction.

[0041] According to such an aspect, the efficiency of the drying process can be improved.

[0042] The printing system according to the present disclosure includes a printing device that prints an image on a substrate, and a drying device that blows heated gas against a substrate conveyance surface in a substrate conveyance path and dries the substrate on which the image is printed. The drying device includes an air supply unit having an ejection port formed on a first surface facing the substrate conveyance surface, a heat source, and a fan motor that blows gas against the heat source to generate heated gas. The air supply unit is a printing system in which a heated gas inlet for receiving the supply of heated gas is formed on a second surface intersecting the first surface.

[0043] According to the printing system of the present disclosure, it is possible to obtain the same operational effects as the drying device according to the present disclosure. The constituent elements of the drying device according to other aspects can be applied to the constituent elements of the printing system according to other aspects.

Advantages of the Invention

[0044] According to the present invention, the heated gas flows into the air supply unit from the heated gas inlet formed on the second surface that is not opposed to the substrate conveyance surface, and the heated gas is ejected from the ejection port formed on the first surface that is opposed to the substrate conveyance surface toward the substrate. Thereby, the enlargement of the air supply unit is suppressed in the direction facing the substrate conveyance surface.

[0045] Further, the heat source and the fan motor are arranged at positions not facing the substrate conveyance surface, which can improve the efficiency during maintenance such as the replacement of the heat source and the fan motor.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0046]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Figure 13

Figure 14

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0047] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this specification, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same components, and duplicate descriptions will be omitted as appropriate.

[0048] [Overall Configuration of Inkjet Printing System] FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an inkjet printing system according to an embodiment. The arrow lines shown in the figure indicate the substrate conveyance direction, which is the conveyance direction of the film substrate 1 in each device provided in the inkjet printing system 10. The substrate conveyance direction indicates the direction in which the film substrate 1 advances.

[0049] The inkjet printing system 10 is a printing system to which a single-pass method is applied, and uses aqueous color ink to print a color image on the film substrate 1. The film substrate 1 is a transparent medium used for flexible packaging and is a non-permeable medium.

[0050] Examples of the film substrate 1 include ONY (Oriented Nylon), OPP (Oriented PolyPropylene), and PET (PolyEthylene Terephthalate). The inkjet printing system 10 creates a reverse-printed product that is visible from the substrate support surface 1B on the side opposite to the printing surface 1A with respect to the film substrate 1. The inkjet printing system 10 can also create a front-printed product that is visible from the printing surface 1A.

[0051] Non-permeable means having non-permeability to the aqueous primer and aqueous ink described later. Flexible packaging means packaging with a material that deforms according to the shape of the item to be packaged. Transparent means that the transmittance of visible light is 30% or more and 100% or less, preferably 70% or more and 100% or less.

[0052] The inkjet printing system 10 includes a paper feeding device 12, a precoating device 14, a jetting device 16, a drying device 18, an inspection device 20, a recovery device 22, and a conveying device 24. Hereinafter, each part will be described in detail.

[0053] 〔Paper Feeding Device〕 The inkjet printing system 10 applies a roll-to-roll conveyance method. The paper feeding device 12 includes a feed roll around which the film base material 1 before printing an image is wound. The feed roll includes a reel rotatably supported.

[0054] The paper feeding device 12 may include a corona treatment device that performs a modification treatment on the printing surface 1A of the film base material 1. The printing surface 1A of the modified film base material 1 has a surface free energy suitable for an aqueous mixture of an aqueous primer and aqueous ink and can ensure wettability suitable for the aqueous mixture. The film base material 1 is conveyed to the precoating device 14.

[0055] 〔Precoating Device〕 The precoating device 14 is located downstream of the paper feeding device 12 in the substrate conveyance direction and upstream of the jetting device 16. The precoating device 14 applies a precoating liquid to the printing surface 1A of the film base material 1.

[0056] The precoating device 14 may include a precoating drying device. The precoating drying device dries the precoating liquid applied to the film base material 1. The precoating liquid may be a liquid containing a component that insolubilizes or thickens aqueous ink, such as an aqueous primer liquid. The film base material 1 to which the precoating liquid is applied and the precoating liquid is dried is conveyed to the jetting device 16. The precoating drying device may apply the same configuration as the drying device described later.

[0057] 〔Jetting Device〕 The jetting device 16 includes an inkjet head 30K, an inkjet head 30C, an inkjet head 30M, an inkjet head 30Y, and an inkjet head 30W.

[0058] Each of the inkjet heads 30K, 30C, 30M, 30Y, and 30W discharges black ink, cyan ink, magenta ink, yellow ink, and white ink. Hereinafter, when it is not necessary to distinguish the inkjet heads 30K and the like, they are described as the inkjet head 30.

[0059] The aqueous ink discharged from the inkjet head 30 refers to an ink in which coloring materials such as pigments are dissolved or dispersed in a solvent soluble in water. As the pigment of the aqueous ink, an organic pigment is used. The viscosity of the aqueous ink is 0.5 centipoise or more and 5.0 centipoise or less.

[0060] The inkjet head 30 discharges color ink onto the printing surface 1A of the film substrate 1 conveyed by the conveying device 24 to print a color image on the film substrate 1. The white ink forms a white background image on the film substrate 1. Note that a plurality of inkjet heads 30W for discharging aqueous white ink may be provided.

[0061] The inkjet head 30 is applied with an arrangement and posture such that the nozzle surface for discharging ink faces and is oriented to the substrate conveying surface of the substrate conveying path, which is the conveying path of the film substrate 1. The inkjet heads 30 are arranged at equal intervals along the substrate conveying direction.

[0062] The inkjet head 30 includes a plurality of nozzles. The nozzle may include a nozzle opening and an ink flow path. The inkjet head 30 includes an energy generating element for each nozzle. The nozzle surface of the inkjet head 30 has the nozzle openings arranged two-dimensionally. A water-repellent film is formed on the nozzle surface of the inkjet head 30.

[0063] The energy generating element can apply a piezoelectric element. The inkjet head 30 provided with the piezoelectric element discharges ink droplets from the nozzle openings by utilizing the deflection deformation of the piezoelectric element. The energy generating element can apply a heater. The inkjet head 30 provided with the heater discharges ink droplets from the nozzle openings by utilizing the film boiling phenomenon of the ink.

[0064] For the inkjet head 30, a line type head in which a plurality of nozzles are arranged over the entire length of the film base material 1 in the base material width direction is applied. Note that a serial type head may be applied to the inkjet head 30.

[0065] The line type inkjet head 30 can apply a structure in which a plurality of head modules are joined together in the base material width direction. The base material width direction is a direction orthogonal to the base material conveyance direction and is a direction parallel to the printing surface of the film base material 1.

[0066] Although FIG. 1 shows an aspect in which four-color aqueous ink is applied, the ink color is not limited to the four colors of black, cyan, magenta, and yellow. For example, aspects in which light color inks such as light magenta and light cyan are applied, and aspects in which special inks such as green, orange, violet, clear, and metallic are applied are applicable. Also, the arrangement order of the inkjet heads for each color is not limited to the example shown in FIG. 1.

[0067] The jetting device 16 includes a scanner 32. The scanner 32 includes an imaging device that images a test pattern image printed on the printing surface of the film base material 1 and converts the imaged image into an electrical signal.

[0068] Examples of the imaging device include a CCD image sensor and a color CMOS image sensor. Note that CCD is an abbreviation for Charge Coupled Device. Also, CMOS is an abbreviation for Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor.

[0069] The imaging data output from the scanner 32 is sent to the test pattern determination unit. The test pattern determination unit performs identification of defective nozzles and the like based on the imaging data of the test pattern. Note that the test pattern determination unit is illustrated in FIG. 2 with reference numeral 172.

[0070] The film base material 1 on which the test pattern image has been captured using the scanner 32 is conveyed to the drying device 18.

[0071] 〔Drying Device〕 The drying device 18 is located downstream of the jetting device 16 in the base material conveyance direction and upstream of the inspection device 20 in the base material conveyance direction. The drying device 18 includes a drying module that dries the aqueous ink adhering to the printing surface 1A of the film base material 1. The film base material 1 with the dried aqueous ink is conveyed to the inspection device 20. Details of the drying device will be described later.

[0072] 〔Inspection Device〕 The inspection device 20 is located downstream of the drying device 18 in the base material conveyance direction and upstream of the recovery device 22 in the base material conveyance direction. The inspection device 20 inspects whether there are defects in the image printed on the film base material 1.

[0073] The inspection device 20 includes an imaging device that captures an image of the image printed on the film base material 1 and an illumination device that irradiates illumination light onto the film base material 1. The imaging data of the printed image is sent to the printed image determination unit. The printed image determination unit determines whether there are defects in the printed image based on the imaging data of the printed image. Note that the printed image determination unit is illustrated in FIG. 2 with reference numeral 173.

[0074] The film base material 1 on which the inspection of the captured image has been performed using the inspection device 20 is conveyed to the recovery device 22.

[0075] 〔Recovery Device〕 The recovery device 22 recovers the film base material 1 on which the image has been printed. Specifically, the film base material 1 on which the image has been printed is wound around a take-up roll.

[0076] [Conveyor device] The conveyor device 24 applies the roll-to-roll method. The conveyor device 24 conveys the film base material 1 along the base material conveyance path in the base material conveyance direction from the paper feeding device 12 to the recovery device 22 in the order of the paper feeding device 12, the precoating device 14, the jetting device 16, the drying device 18, the inspection device 20, and the recovery device 22. The paper feeding device 12 and the recovery device 22 may be included in the conveyor device 24.

[0077] The conveyor device 24 includes a plurality of pass rollers 34. One or more pass rollers 34 are arranged in each of the paper feeding device 12, the precoating device 14, the jetting device 16, the drying device 18, the inspection device 20, and the recovery device 22.

[0078] The conveyor device 24 includes a tension pickup 36 arranged one or more in each of the paper feeding device 12, the precoating device 14, the jetting device 16, the drying device 18, the inspection device 20, and the recovery device 22. The tension pickup 36 detects the tension applied to the film base material 1. The detection signal of the tension pickup 36 is sent to the conveyance control unit. Note that the conveyance control unit is illustrated in FIG. 2 using the reference numeral 162. In FIG. 1, the tension pickup 36 provided in the jetting device 16 is illustrated, and the illustration of the tension pickup 36 provided in the paper feeding device 12 and the like is omitted.

[0079] [Electrical configuration of inkjet printing system] FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the inkjet printing system shown in FIG. 1. The inkjet printing system 10 includes a system control unit 160, a conveyance control unit 162, a precoating control unit 164, a jetting control unit 166, a drying control unit 168, an inspection control unit 170, a test pattern determination unit 172, and a printed image determination unit 173.

[0080] The system control unit 160 comprehensively controls the overall operation of the inkjet printing system 10. The system control unit 160 transmits command signals to various control units. The system control unit 160 functions as a memory controller that controls the storage of data in the memory 174 and the reading of data from the memory 174.

[0081] The system control unit 160 acquires the sensor signals transmitted from the sensor 176 and transmits command signals based on the sensor signals to various control units. The sensor 176 shown in FIG. 2 includes the tension pickup 36 shown in FIG. 1. Further, the sensor 176 includes position detection sensors, temperature sensors, etc. provided in each part of the inkjet printing system 10.

[0082] Based on the command signal transmitted from the system control unit 160, the conveyance control unit 162 sets conveyance conditions and controls the operation of the conveyance device 24 based on the set conveyance conditions. For example, the conveyance control unit 162 applies the conveyance conditions applied to the conveyance device 24 and controls the operation of the motor connected to the drive roller etc. provided in the conveyance device 24.

[0083] Also, the conveyance control unit 162 individually controls the conveyance tension applied to the film base material 1 in each section of each section such as the precoat device 14 and the jetting device 16 provided in the inkjet printing system 10. That is, the conveyance control unit 162 controls the conveyance tension of the film base material 1 in each section from the paper feeding device 12 to the recovery device 22.

[0084] Based on the command signal transmitted from the system control unit 160, the precoat control unit 164 sets the processing conditions for the precoat process and controls the operation of the precoat device 14 based on the set processing conditions.

[0085] Based on the command signal transmitted from the system control unit 160, the jetting control unit 166 sets printing conditions and controls the operation of the jetting device 16 based on the set printing conditions.

[0086] The jetting control unit 166 includes an image processing unit that performs color separation processing, color conversion processing, correction processing for each process, and halftone processing on the print data to generate halftone data based on the print data.

[0087] The jetting control unit 166 includes a drive voltage generation unit that generates a drive voltage to be supplied to the inkjet head 30. The jetting control unit 166 includes a drive voltage output unit that supplies the drive voltage to the inkjet head 30.

[0088] Based on a command signal transmitted from the system control unit 160, the drying control unit 168 sets the processing conditions for the drying process applied to the drying device 18, and controls the operation of the drying device 18 based on the set processing conditions.

[0089] Based on a command signal transmitted from the system control unit 160, the inspection control unit 170 sets the inspection conditions applied to the inspection device 20, and controls the operation of the inspection device 20 based on the set inspection conditions.

[0090] The test pattern determination unit 172 acquires imaging data of the test pattern and analyzes the imaging data of the test pattern. The test pattern determination unit 172 determines the presence or absence of ejection abnormalities of the inkjet head 30 based on the analysis result.

[0091] The printed image determination unit 173 acquires imaging data of the printed image and analyzes the imaging data of the printed image. The printed image determination unit 173 determines the presence or absence of image defects in the printed image based on the analysis result.

[0092] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the hardware of the electrical configuration shown in FIG. 2. The control device 200 included in the inkjet printing system 10 includes a processor 202, a computer-readable medium 204 that is a non-temporary tangible object, a communication interface 206, and an input / output interface 208.

[0093] The control device 200 is implemented by a computer. The form of the computer may be a server, a personal computer, a workstation, or a tablet terminal, etc.

[0094] The processor 202 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The processor 202 may also include a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit). The processor 202 is connected to a computer-readable medium 204, a communication interface 206, and an input / output interface 208 via a bus 210. An input device 214 and a display device 216 are connected to the bus 210 via the input / output interface 208.

[0095] The computer-readable medium 204 includes a memory which is a main storage device and a storage which is an auxiliary storage device. The computer-readable medium 204 may employ a semiconductor memory, a hard disk drive device, a solid state drive device, etc. The computer-readable medium 204 may employ any combination of a plurality of devices.

[0096] Note that the hard disk drive device may be referred to as an HDD, which is an abbreviation of Hard Disk Drive in English. The solid state drive device may be referred to as an SSD, which is an abbreviation of Solid State Drive in English.

[0097] The control device 200 is connected to a network via the communication interface 206 and is communicably connected to an external device. The network may employ a LAN (Local Area Network), etc. Note that the illustration of the network is omitted.

[0098] The computer-readable medium 204 stores a conveyance control program 220, a precoat control program 222, a jetting control program 224, a drying control program 226, an inspection control program 228, and a test pattern determination program 230.

[0099] The transport control program 220 corresponds to the transport control applied to the transport device 24 shown in FIG. 2. The precoat control program 222 corresponds to the precoat control applied to the precoat device 14.

[0100] The jetting control program 224 corresponds to the printing control applied to the jetting device 16. The drying control program 226 corresponds to the drying control applied to the drying device 18.

[0101] The inspection control program 228 corresponds to the inspection of the printed image applied to the inspection device 20. The test pattern determination program 230 is applied to the determination of ejection abnormality based on the imaging data of the test pattern.

[0102] The various programs stored in the computer-readable medium 204 include one or more instructions. The computer-readable medium 204 stores various data and various parameters, etc. Note that the memory 174 shown in FIG. 2 is included in the computer-readable medium 204 shown in FIG. 3.

[0103] The inkjet printing system 10 realizes various functions in the inkjet printing system 10 by the processor 202 executing various programs stored in the computer-readable medium 204. Note that the term "program" is synonymous with the term "software".

[0104] The control device 200 performs data communication with an external device via the communication interface 206. The communication interface 206 can apply various standards such as USB (Universal Serial Bus). The communication mode of the communication interface 206 may apply either wired communication or wireless communication.

[0105] The control device 200 is connected to an input device 214 and a display device 216 via an input / output interface 208. As the input device 214, input devices such as a keyboard and a mouse are applicable. The display device 216 displays various types of information applied to the control device 200.

[0106] As the display device 216, a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, a projector, or the like can be applied. The display device 216 can apply any combination of a plurality of devices. Note that EL in the organic EL display is an abbreviation of Electro-Luminescence.

[0107] Here, examples of the hardware structure of the processor 202 include a CPU, a GPU, a PLD (Programmable Logic Device), and an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit). The CPU is a general-purpose processor that executes a program and acts as various functional units. The GPU is a processor specialized for image processing.

[0108] The PLD is a processor whose electrical circuit configuration can be changed after the device is manufactured. As an example of the PLD, an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) can be mentioned. The ASIC is a processor provided with a dedicated electrical circuit designed specifically to execute a specific process.

[0109] One processing unit may be composed of one of these various processors, or may be composed of two or more processors of the same type or different types. Examples of combinations of various processors include combinations of one or more FPGAs and one or more CPUs, combinations of one or more FPGAs and one or more GPUs. Other examples of combinations of various processors include combinations of one or more CPUs and one or more GPUs.

[0110] A single processor may be used to form a plurality of functional units. As an example of forming a plurality of functional units using a single processor, a combination of one or more CPUs such as an SoC (System On a Chip) and software, represented by a computer such as a client or a server, is applied to configure a single processor, and this processor is made to act as a plurality of functional units.

[0111] As another example of forming a plurality of functional units using a single processor, there is an aspect of using a single IC chip to use a processor that realizes the functions of an entire system including a plurality of functional units. Note that IC is an abbreviation for Integrated Circuit.

[0112] Thus, various functional units are configured as a hardware structure using one or more of the various processors described above. Further, the hardware structure of the various processors described above is more specifically an electrical circuit (circuitry) formed by combining circuit elements such as semiconductor elements.

[0113] The computer-readable medium 204 may include semiconductor elements such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory). The computer-readable medium 204 may include a magnetic storage medium such as a hard disk. The computer-readable medium 204 may include a plurality of types of storage media.

[0114] Note that the inkjet printing system 10 described in the embodiment is an example of a liquid application system. The precoat device 14 and the jetting device 16 described in the embodiment are examples of liquid application devices.

[0115] [Detailed Description of Drying Device] [First Embodiment] FIG. 4 is a front view showing a configuration example of a drying module according to the first embodiment. Reference symbol X shown in FIG. 4 indicates the substrate width direction. Further, reference symbol Z indicates the vertically upward direction. The same applies to reference symbols X and Z shown in FIGS. 5 to 9.

[0116] The drying module 1801 includes a nozzle unit 300 and a heater unit 320. In the heater unit 320 which is a component separate from the nozzle unit 300, a heating gas within a predefined temperature range is generated and supplied to the nozzle unit 300. The heating gas can apply air.

[0117] The heater unit 320 is disposed at a non-facing position of the substrate conveyance path that does not face the substrate conveyance path. Also, the heater unit 320 is disposed at a position close to the nozzle unit 300. Thereby, reduction of the pressure loss of the heating gas and reduction of the heat loss of the heating gas are realized. The heater unit 320 shown in FIG. 4 is joined to a side surface 306 which is one end 301 in the substrate width direction of the nozzle unit 300.

[0118] FIG. 4 illustrates a mode in which the side surface 306 of the nozzle unit 300 and a gas supply port arrangement surface 327 which is one end in the substrate width direction of the heater unit 320 are joined, but the nozzle unit 300 and the heater unit 320 may be joined via a duct or the like having a length that does not affect the flow of the heating gas.

[0119] The nozzle unit 300 has a structure that realizes uniform supply of the heating gas to the plurality of nozzles 304, and uniform supply of the heat quantity to the plurality of nozzles 304 is automatically achieved. Here, the term "uniform" may include variations within a specified error calculation range.

[0120] The nozzle unit 300 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape and has a length exceeding the entire length of the film substrate 1 in the substrate width direction. A plurality of nozzles 304 are arranged on a nozzle arrangement surface 302 facing the substrate conveyance surface. The plurality of nozzles 304 are arranged over a length exceeding the entire length of the film substrate 1 in the substrate width direction. As an example of the arrangement of the plurality of nozzles 304 on the nozzle arrangement surface 302, a two-dimensional arrangement can be cited. An example of the two-dimensional arrangement of the plurality of nozzles 304 is shown in FIG. 7.

[0121] The nozzle 304 has a convex shape protruding from the nozzle arrangement surface 302, and a nozzle opening is formed at the tip. The nozzle 304 blows a heated gas, which is a gas heated through the nozzle opening, onto the printing surface 1A of the film base material 1. The downward arrow line attached to the nozzle 304 indicates the blowing direction of the heated gas. Note that the blowing of the heated gas is a concept common to the injection, spraying, and radiation of the heated gas, etc.

[0122] FIG. 4 illustrates the nozzle 304 having a convex shape protruding from the nozzle arrangement surface 302, but the nozzle 304 may apply an opening formed in the flat nozzle arrangement surface 302. Any shape such as a circle and a square may be applied to the planar shape of the nozzle opening.

[0123] The nozzle unit 300 is a surface orthogonal to the nozzle arrangement surface 302, and a through hole serving as a heated gas inlet 308 for receiving the supply of the heated gas is formed in a side surface 306 parallel to the base material conveyance direction. The nozzle unit 300 allows the heated gas generated in the heater unit 320 to flow in through the heated gas inlet 308.

[0124] Note that the nozzle arrangement surface 302 described in the embodiment is an example of a first surface. The side surface 306 described in the embodiment is an example of a second surface intersecting the first surface. The nozzle 304 described in the embodiment is an example of an injection port.

[0125] The heater unit 320 includes a heater 322 and an axial flow fan 324. The heater 322 and the axial flow fan 324 are arranged in the order of the heater 322 and the axial flow fan 324 in a direction away from the heated gas inlet 308.

[0126] The heater 322 heats air, which is a gas around the heater 322, based on a specified set temperature. The heater 322 may apply an infrared heater or the like. The axial flow fan 324 blows air toward the heater 322 based on specified blowing conditions to generate a heated gas. The rightward arrow line shown in FIG. 4 indicates the blowing direction of the axial flow fan 324.

[0127] The heater unit 320 includes a heating gas supply port 326 at a position corresponding to the heating gas inlet 308 of the nozzle unit 300. The heating gas supply port 326 is formed on a gas supply port arrangement surface 327 in a heater case 323 provided with a heater 322. The heating gas supply port 326 has an opening shape and an opening area corresponding to the heating gas inlet 308. For example, the heating gas supply port 326 may have the same shape and the same size as the heating gas inlet 308.

[0128] The drying module 1801 has a structure in which the side surface 306 of the nozzle unit 300 is brought into contact with the gas supply port arrangement surface 327 of the heater unit 320, and the heating gas inlet 308 of the nozzle unit 300 is joined to the heating gas supply port 326 of the heater unit 320.

[0129] The drying module 1801 including the nozzle unit 300 and the heater unit 320 is disposed inside the drying furnace 330. The drying furnace 330 includes a conveyance path of the film base material 1 to be subjected to a drying process using the drying module 1801.

[0130] According to such an aspect, it is possible to reduce heat loss in the entire drying module 1801. For example, when a relatively low heating temperature is applied in consideration of the influence on the life of the axial flow fan 324 or the like, the drying module 1801 can be disposed inside the drying furnace 330.

[0131] Note that the drying furnace 330 described in the embodiment is an example of a drying unit. The nozzle unit 300 described in the embodiment is an example of a blowing unit. The heater unit 320 described in the embodiment is an example of a heating gas supply unit. Also, the heater 322 described in the embodiment is an example of a heat source. The axial flow fan 324 described in the embodiment is an example of a fan motor.

[0132] FIG. 5 is a front view showing a modification of the drying module shown in FIG. 4. In the drying module 1801A according to the modification, the nozzle unit 300 is disposed inside the drying furnace 330A, and the heater unit 320 is disposed outside the drying furnace 330A.

[0133] That is, the drying furnace 330A has a size corresponding to the heating gas inlet 308, and an opening 332 having an arrangement corresponding to the heating gas inlet 308 is formed. One end 331 in the substrate width direction of the drying furnace 330A has the positions of the opening 332 and the heating gas supply port 326 aligned, and the heater unit 320 is connected thereto.

[0134] According to the drying module 1801A according to the modification, maintenance such as replacement of the heater unit 320 can be efficiently performed. Note that the drying furnace 330A described in the embodiment is an example of a drying unit.

[0135] 〔Second Embodiment〕 FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a configuration example of a drying module according to the second embodiment. The drying module 1802 according to the second embodiment has a circulation structure for recycling the heating gas generated in the heater unit 320.

[0136] The heater unit 320 shown in FIG. 6 is disposed outside the drying furnace 330A. The heater 322 and the axial flow fan 324 constituting the heater unit 320 are housed inside the heating gas generation box 360. Thereby, the heat energy generated by the heater 322 is not released to the outside of the heating gas generation box 360, and the axial flow fan 324 can blow the heating gas inside the heating gas generation box 360 to the nozzle unit 300.

[0137] The heating gas generation box 360 includes a first intake port 362 for taking in outside air. The first intake port 362 can be disposed on any surface constituting the heating gas generation box 360. FIG. 6 shows a mode in which the first intake port 362 is disposed on a surface facing the intake surface of the axial flow fan 324.

[0138] 〔Third Embodiment〕 FIG. 7 is a bottom view showing a configuration example of a drying module according to the third embodiment. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an internal structure example of the drying module shown in FIG. 7. FIGS. 7 and 8 are views of the drying module 1803 as seen from the lower side in the vertical direction to the upper side.

[0139] In addition, in FIGS. 7 and 8, illustration of the drying furnace in which the nozzle unit 300 is incorporated is omitted. Each of the reference signs X, Y, and Z shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 indicates the substrate width direction, the substrate conveyance direction in the drying module 1803, and the vertically upward direction, respectively.

[0140] The heating gas recovery unit 370 is disposed at a position downstream of the nozzle unit 300 in the substrate conveyance direction. The heating gas recovery unit 370 has a heating gas discharge port 372 for discharging the heating gas formed at one end 371 in the substrate width direction. Note that illustration of the heating gas discharge port 372 is omitted in FIG. 8. surface A heating gas recovery port 376 is formed in the substrate facing surface 374 of the heating gas recovery unit 370 facing the substrate conveyance surface. The heating gas recovery port 376 has a rectangular planar shape, and the length in the substrate width direction corresponds to the length where the nozzles 304 are disposed.

[0141] A second intake port 364 is formed in the other end face 361 of the heating gas generation box 360A in the substrate width direction. The second intake port 364 is disposed at a position corresponding to the heating gas discharge port 372 and has an opening shape and size corresponding to the heating gas discharge port 372. For example, the second intake port 364 may have the same shape and size as the heating gas discharge port 372.

[0142] When the one end face 371 of the heating gas recovery unit 370 and the other end face 361 of the heating gas generation box 360 are brought into contact with and joined to each other, the positions of the second intake port 364 and the heating gas discharge port 372 are aligned.

[0143]

[0144] The heating gas blown from the nozzle unit 300 in the drying module 1803 having such a structure is recovered into the heating gas recovery unit 370 through the heating gas recovery port 376. The heating gas recovered into the heating gas recovery unit 370 is recovered into the heating gas generation box 360A through the heating gas discharge port 372 and the second intake port 364.​

[0145] As a result, a circulation of thermal energy is realized to take in the high-temperature heating gas existing inside the drying furnace in which the nozzle unit 300 and the heating gas recovery unit 370 are incorporated into the heating gas generation box 360A, and the drying module 1803 can obtain an energy-saving effect.

[0146] The axial flow fan 324 functions as a source of air flow when circulating the heating gas from the heating gas generation box 360A through the nozzle unit 300 and the heating gas recovery unit 370 back to the heating gas generation box 360A.

[0147] FIG. 7 illustrates, as an example of the shape and structure of the heating gas recovery unit 370, a rectangular parallelepiped shape and a hollow structure. The heating gas recovery unit 370 may be disposed at a position upstream of the nozzle unit 300 in the substrate conveyance direction.

[0148] As shown in FIG. 7, the heating gas recovery port 376 is divided into three parts in the substrate width direction which is the longitudinal direction of the heating gas recovery unit 370. That is, the heating gas recovery port 376 is divided into a first intake region 376A, a second intake region 376B, and a third intake region 376C.

[0149] The heating gas recovery unit 370 includes a first intake passage 378A communicating with the first intake region 376A, a second intake passage 378B communicating with the second intake region 376B, and a third intake passage 378C communicating with the third intake region 376C.

[0150] That is, the heating gas recovery unit 370 includes a first partition wall 379A separating the first intake passage 378A and the second intake passage 378B, and a second partition wall 379B separating the second intake passage 378B and the third intake region 376C.

[0151] The heating gas discharge port 372 is divided into a first exhaust region 372A connected to the first intake passage 378A, a second exhaust region 372B connected to the second intake passage 378B, and a third exhaust region 372C connected to the third intake passage 378C.

[0152] The heated gas sucked from the first intake region 376A is recovered into the heated gas generation box 360A via the first intake passage 378A and the first exhaust region 372A. Further, the heated gas sucked from the second intake region 376B is recovered into the heated gas generation box 360A via the second intake passage 378B and the second exhaust region 372B.

[0153] Furthermore, the heated gas sucked from the third intake region 376C is recovered into the heated gas generation box 360A via the third intake passage 378C and the third exhaust region 372C. The axial flow fan 324 functions as a source of the air flow when circulating the heated gas from the heated gas generation box 360A through the nozzle unit 300 and the heated gas recovery unit 370.

[0154] In addition, in FIG. 7, the arrow lines shown in the first intake passage 378A, the second intake passage 378B, and the third intake passage 378C schematically represent the heated gas recovered into the heated gas generation box 360A through the heated gas recovery port 376. Also, in FIG. 8, the flow of the heated gas is schematically illustrated using a plurality of curves, and the flow direction of the heated gas as a whole is represented using arrow lines.

[0155] When sucking air into the heated gas recovery unit 370 through the heated gas recovery port 376, the side of the first intake region 376A, which is closer to the axial flow fan 324, tends to have a relatively larger suction amount per unit period compared to the side of the second intake region 376B, which is farther from the axial flow fan 324. Therefore, the heated gas discharge port 372 is divided into a plurality of regions, and the first intake passage 378A and the like, which are the flow paths of the heated gas, are provided for each region.

[0156] Thereby, when sucking air from the heated gas recovery port 376, variations in the air suction amount per unit period in the substrate width direction are suppressed, and uniform air suction in the same direction is realized. The number of divisions of the heated gas recovery port 376 and the heated gas discharge port 372 is not limited to the example shown in FIG. 7, and any number of divisions can be applied.

[0157] Note that each of the first intake region 376A, the second intake region 376B, and the third intake region 376C described in the embodiment is an example of a plurality of intake regions partitioned in the longitudinal direction of the heated gas recovery port.

[0158] In addition, each of the first exhaust region 372A, the second exhaust region 372B, and the third exhaust region 372C described in the embodiment is an example of a plurality of exhaust regions in which the heated gas discharge ports are partitioned corresponding to the plurality of intake regions.

[0159] Furthermore, each of the first intake passage 378A, the second intake passage 378B, and the third intake passage 378C described in the embodiment is an example of an intake passage constituting a plurality of intake passages.

[0160] 〔Fourth Embodiment〕 FIG. 9 is a bottom view showing a configuration example of a drying module according to the fourth embodiment. In the drying module 1804 according to the fourth embodiment, the volume of the heated gas circulated from the heated gas recovery unit 370 to the heated gas generation box 360B per unit period is controlled.

[0161] For the heated gas recovery unit 370, a complete circulation is applied in which all the heated gas sprayed from the nozzle 304 to the film base material 1 is recovered through the heated gas recovery port 376. When a plurality of drying modules 1804 are provided and the plurality of drying modules 1804 are arranged along the base material conveyance direction, in the drying module 1804 arranged at the upstream position in the base material conveyance direction, compared with the drying module 1804 arranged at the downstream position in the same direction, the amount of moisture to be evaporated is relatively large, and the humidity may relatively increase. The increase in humidity may reduce the efficiency of the drying process.

[0162] The drying module 1804 is provided with a third intake port 380 in the heated gas generation box 360B. The heated gas generation box 360B takes in fresh gas from the outside of the drying module 1804 through the third intake port 380, and the internal humidity is adjusted.

[0163] The third intake port 380 is provided with an opening area adjustment mechanism 382 for adjusting the opening area. The opening area adjustment mechanism 382 may include a shutter and a shutter drive mechanism for driving the shutter.

[0164] The third intake port 380 may adopt an embodiment having a plurality of openings. In the embodiment where the third intake port 380 has a plurality of openings, the opening area adjustment mechanism 382 may adopt a shielding mechanism that selectively shields one or more of the plurality of openings.

[0165] Instead of or in combination with the opening area adjustment mechanism 382, the third intake port 380 may be provided with a pressure loss adjustment mechanism at the third intake port. Note that the illustration of the pressure loss adjustment mechanism is omitted. The drying control unit 168 shown in FIG. 2 performs drive control and the like on the opening area adjustment mechanism 382 and the pressure loss adjustment mechanism.

[0166] The drying module 1804 may include at least one of a temperature sensor and a humidity sensor, detect at least one of the temperature and humidity inside the heating gas generation box 360B, and control the operation of the opening area adjustment mechanism 382 and the like based on the detection result.

[0167] The temperature sensor and the like are preferably arranged at a position near the second intake port 364. An example of a position near the second intake port 364 is the inner surface 366 of the end face 361 where the second intake port 364 is formed. The sensor 176 shown in FIG. 2 includes a temperature sensor and the like provided in the heating gas generation box 360B.

[0168] Note that the opening area adjustment mechanism 382 described in the embodiment is an example of an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the volume of gas passing through the third intake port per unit period.

[0169] 〔Fifth Embodiment〕 FIG. 10 is a side view of a drying apparatus showing a configuration example of a drying apparatus according to the fifth embodiment. In the figure, an example of the internal structure of a drying furnace 330A provided in the drying apparatus 18 is schematically illustrated. Also, in the figure, a nozzle unit 300 disposed inside the drying furnace 330A is illustrated, and illustration of a heater unit 320 disposed outside the drying furnace 330A is omitted. The arrow line shown in the figure indicates the substrate conveyance direction.

[0170] In the drying apparatus 18 shown in FIG. 10, a circular substrate conveyance path for circulating the film substrate 1 inside the drying furnace 330A is defined. Inside the drying furnace 330A, a plurality of pass rollers 34 are arranged along the substrate conveyance path.

[0171] Also, a drive roller 38 is disposed inside the drying furnace 330A. The substrate conveyance path is folded back at the position of the drive roller 38. Thereby, the length of the substrate conveyance path necessary for drying the film substrate 1 is ensured, and the size of the drying furnace 330A is made compact.

[0172] FIG. 10 exemplifies a mode in which 32 nozzle units 300 are dispersedly arranged inside the drying furnace 330A. Note that the number of nozzle units 300 disposed inside the drying furnace 330A can be appropriately defined according to the length of the conveyance path, the size of the nozzle unit 300, and the like.

[0173] The drying apparatus 18 having such a structure performs a drying process on a printed image printed on the film substrate 1 to which a non-permeable medium is applied, and a color image printed using four-color aqueous color ink is superimposed on a background image printed using aqueous white ink.

[0174] When compared with the case where only a color image is printed, when a background image using white ink is printed, the amount of ink applied to the film substrate 1 becomes enormous, and there are problems such as reduction of power consumption and exhaust gas treatment in the drying apparatus 18.

[0175] When a structure in which a heater is opposed to the substrate conveyance path described in Patent Document 1 is applied to the drying device 18 having the structure shown in FIG. 10, the drying module 1800 may be enlarged in the direction orthogonal to the substrate conveyance surface, and the size of the drying furnace 330A may be enlarged.

[0176] On the other hand, in the drying device 18 according to the present embodiment, the heater unit 320 is disposed at a position non-opposed to the substrate conveyance surface. Thereby, enlargement of the drying furnace 330A in the direction orthogonal to the substrate conveyance surface is avoided.

[0177] Further, in the drying module 1800 shown in FIG. 10, enlargement of the drying module 1800 is also avoided in the substrate conveyance direction. That is, the heater unit 320 is not disposed at an adjacent position in the substrate conveyance direction of the nozzle unit 300, the distance between adjacent drying modules 1804 can be relatively shortened, and enlargement of the drying furnace 330A in the substrate conveyance direction is avoided.

[0178] The drying module 1800 shown in FIG. 10 may apply any one of the drying module 1802 shown in FIG. 6, the drying module 1803 shown in FIG. 7, and the drying module 1804 shown in FIG. 9.

[0179] FIG. 11 is a side view of a drying device showing another arrangement example of the drying module. In the figure, a part of the substrate conveyance path inside the drying furnace 330A shown in FIG. 10 is illustrated. The arrow line shown in the figure indicates the substrate conveyance direction.

[0180] The drying module 1800 shown in FIG. 11 is disposed on each of the side of the printing surface 1A of the film substrate 1 and the side of the substrate support surface 1B. Thereby, the drying process can be collectively performed on the printing surface 1A and the substrate support surface 1B of the film substrate 1.

[0181] In such an aspect, it is preferable that the drying module 1800 disposed on the side of the printing surface 1A of the film base material 1 and the drying module 1800 disposed on the side of the base material support surface 1B of the film base material 1 are arranged such that the arrangements of the nozzle unit 300 and the heater unit 320 are interchanged. Thereby, the heater unit 320 can be arranged on the same side in the base material width direction of the drying furnace 330A.

[0182] FIG. 12 is a side view of a drying apparatus showing a modified example of the drying module. The arrow line shown in FIG. 12 indicates the base material conveyance direction.

[0183] The nozzle unit 3001 provided in the drying module 1805 shown in FIG. 12 includes a first nozzle arrangement surface 302A and a second nozzle arrangement surface 302B. A plurality of nozzles 304 are arranged on the first nozzle arrangement surface 302A and the second nozzle arrangement surface 302B.

[0184] In the nozzle unit 3001 shown in FIG. 12, the upper surface of the nozzle unit 3001 having a rectangular parallelepiped shape is the first nozzle arrangement surface 302A, and the bottom surface is the second nozzle arrangement surface 302B. That is, in the nozzle unit 3001 shown in FIG. 12, one of the two parallel surfaces is the first nozzle arrangement surface 302A, and the other surface is the second nozzle arrangement surface 302B.

[0185] The first nozzle arrangement surface 302A and the second nozzle arrangement surface 302B are not limited to surfaces parallel to each other, and surfaces perpendicular to each other may be applied. As an example in which surfaces perpendicular to each other are applied, an aspect in which the first nozzle arrangement surface 302A is the upper surface of a rectangular parallelepiped and the second nozzle arrangement surface 302B is the side surface of the rectangular parallelepiped can be cited.

[0186] According to such a modified example, the heating gas can be blown from one nozzle unit 3001 in a plurality of directions. Note that the nozzle arrangement surface is not limited to two surfaces, and three or more surfaces of a polyhedron may be used as the nozzle arrangement surface.

[0187] Returning to FIG. 10, when a plurality of drying modules 1800 are arranged in the substrate conveyance direction, the upstream region in the substrate conveyance direction is a constant rate drying section where the amount of moisture evaporation is relatively large and the humidity is likely to increase. Therefore, the volume of outside air taken into the inside of the heating gas generation box 360B from the third air inlet 380 shown in FIG. 9 is relatively increased.

[0188] On the other hand, the downstream region in the substrate conveyance direction is a falling rate drying section where the amount of moisture evaporation is relatively small and the humidity is unlikely to increase. Therefore, the volume of outside air taken into the inside of the heating gas generation box 360B from the third air inlet 380 is relatively decreased.

[0189] That is, the volume per unit period of the gas passing through the third air inlet 380 in the drying module 1800 arranged at the downstream position in the substrate conveyance direction is less than the volume per unit period of the gas passing through the third air inlet 380 in the drying module 1800 arranged at the upstream position in the substrate conveyance direction.

[0190] As an example of the upstream region in the substrate conveyance direction, a region from the conveyance start position of the film substrate 1 in the drying apparatus 18 as a starting point to a position where the distance from the starting point is 15% or more and 20% or less of the total length of the substrate conveyance path can be cited.

[0191] As an example of the downstream region in the substrate conveyance direction, a region from a position where the distance from the starting point is 15% or more and 20% or less of the total length of the substrate conveyance path to the conveyance end position of the film substrate 1 in the drying apparatus 18 can be cited.

[0192] [Operating Effects of the Drying Apparatus According to the Embodiment] The drying apparatus according to the embodiment can obtain the following operating effects.

[0193] [1] The nozzle unit 300 that blows the heating gas onto the film base material 1 is arranged at a position facing the base material conveyance surface. The heater unit 320 that supplies the heating gas to the nozzle unit 300 is arranged at a position not facing the base material conveyance surface. Thereby, the enlargement of the drying module in the direction facing the base material conveyance surface is suppressed.

[0194] 〔2〕 The drying module 1801 is arranged inside the drying furnace 330. Thereby, reduction of heat loss can be realized.

[0195] 〔3〕 The nozzle unit 300 is arranged inside the drying furnace 330A, and the heater unit 320 is arranged outside the drying furnace 330A. Thereby, it becomes easy to perform maintenance of the axial flow fan 324 etc. provided in the heater unit 320.

[0196] 〔4〕 The heater unit 320 is arranged inside the heating gas generation box 360. Thereby, without allowing the heat energy generated by the heater unit 320 to escape to the outside of the heating gas generation box 360, the axial flow fan 324 can blow the heating gas inside the heating gas generation box 360 to the nozzle unit 300.

[0197] 〔5〕 The heating gas generation box 360 is provided with a first air intake port 362 for taking in outside air. Thereby, the heater unit 320 can generate the heating gas using the outside air of the heating gas generation box 360.

[0198] 〔6〕 A heating gas recovery unit 370 for recovering the heating gas discharged from the nozzle unit 300 is provided. The heating gas recovered into the heating gas recovery unit 370 is recovered into the heating gas generation box 360A through the heating gas discharge port 372 and the second air intake port 364. and add Thereby, the circulation of the heat energy for recovering the high-temperature heating gas inside the drying furnace 330A into the heating gas generation box 360A is realized, and the drying module 1803 can obtain an energy saving effect.

[0199] 〔7〕 The heated gas recovery port 376 is divided into a plurality of intake regions in the medium width direction. The heated gas recovery unit 370 includes a plurality of intake channels connected to each of the plurality of intake regions. Each of the plurality of intake channels is connected to each of the plurality of exhaust regions into which the heated gas discharge port 372 is divided. Thereby, the heated gas recovery unit 370 can intake the heated gas uniformly in the substrate width direction.

[0200] 〔8〕 The heated gas generation box 360B includes a third intake port 380 for taking in outside air. Thereby, the drying module 1804 can suppress a decrease in drying efficiency due to an increase in humidity inside the heated gas generation box 360B.

[0201] 〔9〕 The heated gas generation box 360B includes an opening area adjustment mechanism 382 for adjusting the opening area of the third intake port 380. Thereby, the heated gas generation box 360B can adjust the suction volume of the outside air.

[0202] 〔10〕 The heated gas generation box 360B includes at least one of a temperature sensor and a humidity sensor near the second intake port 364. Thereby, the opening area of the third intake port 380 can be adjusted according to at least either the temperature or the humidity of the gas flowing into the inside of the heated gas generation box 360B through the second intake port 364.

[0203] 〔11〕 When a plurality of drying modules 1800 are arranged in the substrate conveyance direction, the drying module 1800 arranged at the upstream position in the substrate conveyance direction has a relatively larger volume of outside air taken in from the third intake port 380 than the drying module 1800 arranged at the downstream position in the same direction. Thereby, the drying efficiency of the entire drying apparatus 18 can be improved.

[0204] 〔12〕 A drying module 1800 is arranged on the side of the base material support surface 1B of the film base material 1. Thereby, a drying process can be performed on the film base material 1 from the side of the base material support surface 1B of the film base material 1.

[0205]

[13] The nozzle unit 3001 configured as a polyhedron has nozzles 304 arranged on a plurality of surfaces such as a first nozzle arrangement surface 302A and a second nozzle arrangement surface 302B. Thereby, it becomes possible to blow the heating gas in a plurality of directions.

[0206] [Specific examples of materials applied to the nozzle unit] The drying device 18 changes the drying process temperature according to the material of the film base material 1, the thickness of the film base material 1, and the image printed on the film base material 1. In the nozzle unit 300 illustrated in FIG. 4 and the like, when the thickness of the applied material is relatively increased and when the heat capacity of the applied material is relatively large, there is a concern about a decrease in thermal responsiveness.

[0207] In the nozzle unit 300 illustrated in FIG. 4 and the like, a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped metal housing having a hollow structure is applied. Thereby, a certain thermal responsiveness in the nozzle unit 300 when the drying process temperature is changed can be ensured, and the waiting time when the drying process temperature is changed can be reduced.

[0208] That is, from the viewpoint of ensuring a certain thermal responsiveness, the material applied to the nozzle unit 300 is preferably a metal material having a smaller heat capacity. Examples of the metal material applied to the nozzle unit 300 include iron and stainless steel.

[0209] The nozzle unit 300 is preferably formed using one type of metal material, and the forming is preferably performed by applying bending processing and welding of a metal plate as processing methods. From the viewpoint that a plurality of nozzles 304 are two-dimensionally dispersed and arranged on the nozzle arrangement surface 302, the nozzle unit 300 preferably has a certain thickness and applies a material that achieves both workability and rigidity.

[0210] The nozzle unit 300 focuses on minimizing the volume of the housing from the perspective of reducing the heat capacity. On the other hand, in the rectangular parallelepiped-shaped nozzle unit 300, when the heating gas flows in from a surface parallel to the nozzle arrangement surface 302, for the nozzle 304 at a position facing the heating gas inlet, compared to the nozzle 304 at a position farther from the heating gas inlet, the volume of the heating gas supplied per unit period decreases, making it difficult to achieve uniform blowing of the heating gas. The longitudinal direction of the nozzle unit 300 is more affected by the blowing distribution than the short side direction.

[0211] To suppress the blowing distribution of the heating gas, the distance between the heating gas inlet surface, which is the height of the housing, and the nozzle arrangement surface 302 can be relatively increased. However, the overall heat capacity of the nozzle unit 300 will relatively increase.

[0212] Regulating members such as a rectifying plate can be arranged inside the nozzle unit 300 to suppress the blowing distribution of the heating gas. However, there are concerns about the complication of the internal structure of the nozzle unit 300 and the increase in the flow path resistance inside the nozzle unit 300.

[0213] In contrast, as shown in FIG. 4 and the like, the heating gas inlet 308 is arranged on the side surface 306 of the nozzle unit 300 that is orthogonal to the nozzle arrangement surface 302. As a result, the height of the nozzle unit 300 is kept low, and the blowing distribution of the heating gas is suppressed in the longitudinal direction of the nozzle unit 300.

[0214] FIG. 13 is a table showing the evaluation results of the thickness of the metal plate applied to the nozzle unit. FIG. 13 shows the evaluation results of evaluating the workability, pressure loss, and thermal responsiveness with the thickness of the metal plate as a parameter.

[0215] In the table shown in FIG. 13, the evaluation result A represents the optimum. The evaluation result B represents the appropriate. The evaluation result C represents the conditional appropriate. The evaluation result D represents the inappropriate. The same applies to the table shown in FIG. 14.

[0216] Regarding workability, when the thickness is less than 1.5 millimeters, the machining accuracy may decrease due to insufficient rigidity of the metal plate itself. Therefore, from the perspective of workability, the thickness of the metal plate is preferably 1.5 millimeters or more.

[0217] Also, when the thickness of the metal plate exceeds 3.5 millimeters, the difficulty of processing may relatively increase in order to ensure a certain machining accuracy when forming the nozzle 304 having a diameter of less than 100 micrometers. Therefore, the thickness of the metal plate is preferably 3.5 millimeters or less.

[0218] The pressure loss is determined based on the volume of the heated gas blown from the nozzle 304 per unit period. As an index value of the pressure loss, the measured value of an anemometer arranged at a position at a certain distance from the position of the nozzle 304 can be applied. When the thickness of the metal plate is relatively large, the flow path resistance at each nozzle 304 relatively increases, and the pressure loss inside the nozzle unit 300 relatively increases.

[0219] For example, with the output such as the duty of the axial flow fan 324 being constant, the wind speed is measured at a plurality of positions on the nozzle arrangement surface 302, and the arithmetic mean value of the measured values at each position can be used as the index value of the pressure loss. As examples of the plurality of positions, the four corners of the nozzle arrangement surface 302 and the center of the nozzle arrangement surface can be adopted.

[0220] That is, regarding the pressure loss, when the thickness of the metal plate is 3.5 millimeters or more, there is concern about a decrease in the blowing pressure of the heated gas due to an increase in the flow path resistance at the nozzle 304, and it is considered appropriate under certain drying conditions. On the other hand, when the thickness of the metal plate is less than 3.5 millimeters, it is optimal or appropriate.

[0221] The thermal responsiveness is such that when the temperature setting of the heater unit 320 is changed, the heated gas blown from the nozzle 304 bodyIt is determined based on the period until the specified temperature is reached. When the thickness of the metal plate is relatively thick, the heat capacity of the nozzle unit 300 increases relatively, and there is concern about a relative decrease in thermal responsiveness. That is, regarding thermal responsiveness, when the thickness is 3.5 millimeters or more, there is concern about a decrease in thermal responsiveness due to an increase in the heat capacity at the nozzle 304, and it is considered appropriate under certain drying conditions. On the other hand, when the thickness of the metal plate is less than 3.5 millimeters, it is considered optimal or appropriate.

[0222] The comprehensive judgment in the table shown in FIG. 13 indicates the evaluation results obtained by comprehensively considering workability, pressure loss, and thermal responsiveness. The comprehensive judgment when the thickness is less than 1.5 millimeters is inappropriate, and the comprehensive judgment when the thickness is 1.5 millimeters or more and less than 2.0 millimeters is optimal.

[0223] Also, the comprehensive judgment when the thickness is 2.0 millimeters or more and less than 3.5 millimeters is appropriate, and the comprehensive judgment when the thickness is 3.5 millimeters or more is conditionally appropriate.

[0224] That is, the thickness of the metal plate applied to the nozzle unit 300 is preferably 1.5 millimeters or more, and more preferably 1.5 millimeters or more and less than 3.5 millimeters. A more preferable thickness of the metal plate is 1.5 millimeters or more and less than 2.5 millimeters.

[0225] [Specific Examples of Structures Applied to Nozzle Units] In order to inject the heating gas uniformly from all the nozzles 304, it is necessary to store the heating gas inside the nozzle unit 300. That is, the nozzle unit 300 has a structure in which the opening area of the heating gas inlet 308 is one time or less with respect to the total nozzle area calculated as the sum of the opening areas of all the nozzles 304.

[0226] FIG. 14 is a table showing the evaluation results of the structure applied to the nozzle unit. FIG. 14 shows the evaluation results regarding the pressure loss and the air velocity unevenness. Note that the area ratio in the table shown in FIG. 14 represents the ratio of the opening area of the heating gas inlet 308 to the total nozzle area.

[0227] The pressure loss is determined based on the volume of the heating gas blown from the nozzle 304 per unit period, similar to the evaluation of the thickness of the metal plate. As an index value of the pressure loss, the measured value of an anemometer arranged at a position separated by a certain distance from the position of the nozzle 304 can be applied. As the position separated by a certain distance from the position of the nozzle 304, the position of the substrate conveyance surface can be applied.

[0228] Regarding the pressure loss, when the area ratio is less than 0.1, the opening area per nozzle 304 becomes relatively small, and the pressure loss increases due to the increase in the flow path resistance per nozzle 304, which is unsuitable. Also, when the area ratio is 0.1 or more and less than 0.4, it is conditionally appropriate. Further, regarding the pressure loss, when the area ratio is 0.4 or more and less than 0.7, it is appropriate, and when the area ratio is 0.7 or more, it is optimal.

[0229] The air velocity unevenness is determined based on whether the heating gas blown from all the nozzles 304 has an air velocity within a specified range. For example, as an index value of the air velocity unevenness, the air velocities at a plurality of positions in the longitudinal direction of the nozzle unit 300 can be used as the index values. As the plurality of positions, the plurality of positions used when deriving the index value of the pressure loss can be adopted.

[0230] Regarding the air velocity unevenness, when the area ratio is less than 0.1, it is optimal, and when the area ratio is 0.1 or more and less than 0.7, it is appropriate. Also, regarding the air velocity unevenness, when the area ratio is 0.7 or more and 1.0 or less, it is conditionally appropriate. On the other hand, when the area ratio exceeds 1.0, it is inappropriate.

[0231] The comprehensive judgment shown in Fig. 14 indicates the evaluation results obtained by comprehensively considering the pressure loss and the unevenness of the wind speed. When the area ratio is less than 0.1 and when the area ratio exceeds 1.0, it is inappropriate, and when the area ratio is 0.1 or more and less than 0.4 and when the area ratio is 0.7 or more and 1.0 or less, it is appropriate. Further, when the area ratio is 0.4 or more and less than 0.7, it is optimal.

[0232] That is, the ratio of the opening area of the heating gas inlet 308 to the total nozzle area in the nozzle unit 300 is preferably 0.1 or more and 1.0 or less, and more preferably 0.4 or more and less than 0.7.

[0233] [Regarding Terms] The term "precoat liquid" is synonymous with terms such as pretreatment liquid and treatment liquid, and is a general term for liquids applied before printing. The precoat liquid is an example of a coating liquid.

[0234] The term "printing apparatus" is synonymous with terms such as printing machine, printer, printing device, image recording device, image forming device, image output device, and drawing device. The image is interpreted in a broad sense and includes color images, black-and-white images, single-color images, gradation images, and uniform density images, etc.

[0235] The term "printing" includes concepts of terms such as image recording, image formation, printing, drawing, and printing. The term "apparatus" may include the concept of a system.

[0236] The image is used as a comprehensive term that includes not only photographic images but also patterns, characters, symbols, line drawings, mosaic patterns, color painting patterns, and other various patterns, as well as appropriate combinations thereof. Further, the term "image" may include the meaning of an image signal and image data representing the image.

[0237] In the embodiments of the present invention described above, the constituent elements can be appropriately changed, added, or deleted without departing from the gist of the present invention. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and many modifications are possible by those having ordinary knowledge in the art within the technical idea of the present invention. Also, the embodiments, modification examples, and application examples may be implemented in appropriate combinations.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0238] 1 Film substrate 1A Printing surface 1B Substrate support surface 10 Inkjet printing system 12 Paper feeding device 14 Precoating device 16 Jetting device 18 Drying device 20 Inspection device 22 Recovery device 24 Conveying device 30 Inkjet head 30C Inkjet head 30K Inkjet head 30M Inkjet head 30W Inkjet head 30Y Inkjet head 32 Scanner 34 Pass roller 36 Tension pickup 38 Driving roller 160 System control unit 162 Conveying control unit 164 Precoating control unit 166 Jetting control unit 168 Drying control unit 170 Inspection control unit 172 Test pattern determination unit 173 Printed image determination unit 174 Memory 176 Sensor 200 Control device 202 Processor 204 Computer-readable medium 206 Communication interface 208 Input / output interface 210 Bus 214 Input device 216 Display device 220 Conveyance control program 222 Precoat control program 224 Jetting control program 226 Drying control program 228 Inspection control program 230 Test pattern determination program 300 Nozzle unit 301 One end 302 Nozzle arrangement surface 302A First nozzle arrangement surface 302B Second nozzle arrangement surface 304 Nozzle 306 Side surface 308 Heating gas inlet 320 Heater unit 322 Heater 323 Heater case 324 Axial flow fan 326 Heating gas supply port 327 Gas supply port arrangement surface 330 Drying furnace 330A Drying furnace 331 End face 332 Opening 360 Heating gas generation box 360A Heating gas generation box 360B Heating gas generation box 361 The other end face 362 First air inlet 364 Second air inlet 366 Surface 370 Heating gas recovery unit 371 One end face 372 Heating gas discharge port 372A First exhaust region 372B Second exhaust region Third exhaust region of 372C Heated gas recovery port of 376 First intake region of 376A Second intake region of 376B Third intake region of 376C First intake flow path of 378A Second intake flow path of 378B Third intake flow path of 378C First partition wall of 379A Second partition wall of 379B Third intake port of 380 Opening area adjustment mechanism of 382 Drying module of 1801 Drying module of 1801A Drying module of 1802 Drying module of 1803 Drying module of 1804 Drying module of 1805 Nozzle unit of 3001

Claims

1. A drying device that blows heated gas onto a substrate transport surface in a substrate transport path, a blower unit having a first surface facing the substrate conveying surface and a blower port formed thereon; a heated gas supply unit having a heat source and a fan motor disposed therein for blowing gas toward the heat source to generate the heated gas, the heated gas supply unit supplying the heated gas to the blower unit, the heated gas supply unit including a second intake port for taking in the heated gas blown from the blower unit; a heated gas recovery unit including a heated gas recovery port that recovers the heated gas blown from the blowing unit, and a heated gas exhaust port that discharges the heated gas recovered via the heated gas recovery port and communicates with the second intake port; Equipped with The blower unit has a second surface intersecting with the first surface, and a heated gas inlet for receiving the heated gas is formed in the second surface. the heated gas recovery port is a plurality of air intake regions partitioned in a longitudinal direction, the longitudinal direction being a substrate width direction perpendicular to a substrate transport direction in the substrate transport path, and the heated gas recovery port includes a plurality of air intake regions arranged along the longitudinal direction, the heated gas exhaust port is partitioned into a plurality of exhaust regions corresponding to the plurality of intake regions of the heated gas recovery port, The heated gas recovery unit is a drying apparatus including a plurality of intake passages that connect each of the plurality of intake regions to each of the plurality of exhaust regions.

2. The heated gas supply unit comprises: a heated gas supply port communicating with the heated gas inlet formed in the blower unit; A first intake port for taking in outside air of the heated gas supply unit; The drying device according to claim 1 .

3. The drying apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the heated gas supply unit includes a third intake port for taking in outside air of the heated gas supply unit.

4. The drying device according to claim 3 , further comprising an adjustment mechanism for adjusting a volume per unit period of the gas passing through the third air inlet.

5. one or more processors; a sensor for detecting at least one of a temperature and a humidity of a gas passing through the third air inlet; Equipped with The drying device according to claim 4 , wherein the processor controls an operation of the adjustment mechanism in response to a detection result of the sensor.

6. A drying device that blows heated gas onto a substrate transport surface in a substrate transport path, a plurality of blowing units arranged along the substrate transport path, the blowing units having a first surface facing the substrate transport surface and a heated gas inlet for receiving the heated gas formed on a second surface intersecting the first surface; A heat source; a fan motor that blows gas toward the heat source to generate the heated gas; the heat source and the fan motor are disposed inside the heated gas supply unit, the heated gas supply unit being configured to supply the heated gas to each of the blower units, the heated gas supply unit including a third intake port that takes in outside air of the heated gas supply unit, and an adjustment mechanism that adjusts the volume of gas passing through the third intake port per unit time; one or more processors; Equipped with The processor controls the operation of the adjustment mechanism to make the volume per unit period of gas passing through the third air intake port provided in the heated gas supply unit located at a downstream position in the substrate transport direction on the substrate transport path less than the volume per unit period of gas passing through the third air intake port provided in the heated gas supply unit located at an upstream position in the substrate transport direction.

7. A drying apparatus described in any one of claims 1, 3 to 6, wherein the heated gas supply unit is provided with a heated gas supply port communicating with the heated gas inlet formed in the blower unit.

8. A liquid application device that applies a liquid to a substrate; a drying device that blows heated gas onto a substrate transport surface in a substrate transport path to dry the substrate to which the liquid has been applied; Equipped with The drying device is a blower unit having a first surface facing the substrate conveying surface and a blower port formed thereon; a heated gas supply unit having a heat source and a fan motor disposed therein for blowing gas toward the heat source to generate the heated gas, the heated gas supply unit supplying the heated gas to the blower unit, the heated gas supply unit including a second intake port for taking in the heated gas blown from the blower unit; a heated gas recovery unit including a heated gas recovery port that recovers the heated gas blown from the blowing unit, and a heated gas exhaust port that discharges the heated gas recovered via the heated gas recovery port and communicates with the second intake port; Equipped with The blower unit has a second surface intersecting with the first surface, and a heated gas inlet for receiving the heated gas is formed in the second surface. the heated gas recovery port is a plurality of air intake areas partitioned in a longitudinal direction, the longitudinal direction being a width direction of the substrate intersecting a transport direction of the substrate, and the heated gas recovery port includes a plurality of air intake areas arranged along the longitudinal direction, the heated gas exhaust port is partitioned into a plurality of exhaust regions corresponding to the plurality of intake regions of the heated gas recovery port, The heated gas recovery unit is a liquid dispensing system having a plurality of intake passages communicating with each of the plurality of intake regions and each of the plurality of exhaust regions.

9. A plurality of the blower units are provided, The liquid application system of claim 8 , wherein a plurality of the blower units are disposed along the substrate transport path.

10. A liquid application device that applies a liquid to a substrate; a drying device that blows heated gas onto a substrate transport surface in a substrate transport path to dry the substrate to which the liquid has been applied; one or more processors; A liquid dispensing system comprising: The drying device includes: a plurality of blowing units arranged along the substrate transport path, the blowing units having a first surface facing the substrate transport surface and a heated gas inlet for receiving the heated gas formed on a second surface intersecting the first surface; A heat source; a fan motor that blows gas toward the heat source to generate the heated gas; the heat source and the fan motor are disposed inside the heated gas supply unit, the heated gas supply unit being configured to supply the heated gas to each of the blower units, the heated gas supply unit including a third intake port that takes in outside air of the heated gas supply unit, and an adjustment mechanism that adjusts the volume of gas passing through the third intake port per unit time; Equipped with The processor controls the operation of the adjustment mechanism to make the volume per unit period of gas passing through the third intake port of the heated gas supply unit located at a downstream position in the substrate transport direction on the substrate transport path less than the volume per unit period of gas passing through the third intake port of the heated gas supply unit located at an upstream position in the substrate transport direction.

11. The liquid application system according to claim 8 , wherein the air blowing units are disposed on both sides of the substrate transport surface.

12. a printing device for printing an image onto a substrate; a drying device that blows heated gas against a substrate transport surface in a substrate transport path to dry the substrate on which the image is printed; Equipped with The drying device includes: a blower unit having a first surface facing the substrate conveying surface and a blower port formed thereon; a heated gas supply unit having a heat source and a fan motor disposed therein for blowing gas toward the heat source to generate the heated gas, the heated gas supply unit supplying the heated gas to the blower unit, the heated gas supply unit including a second intake port for taking in the heated gas blown from the blower unit; a heated gas recovery unit including a heated gas recovery port that recovers the heated gas blown from the blowing unit, and a heated gas exhaust port that discharges the heated gas recovered via the heated gas recovery port and communicates with the second intake port; Equipped with The blower unit has a second surface intersecting with the first surface, and a heated gas inlet for receiving the heated gas is formed in the second surface. the heated gas recovery port is a plurality of air intake regions partitioned in a longitudinal direction, the longitudinal direction being a substrate width direction perpendicular to a substrate transport direction in the substrate transport path, and the heated gas recovery port includes a plurality of air intake regions arranged along the longitudinal direction, the heated gas exhaust port is partitioned into a plurality of exhaust regions corresponding to the plurality of intake regions of the heated gas recovery port, A printing system, wherein the heated gas recovery unit has a plurality of intake flow paths that communicate each of the plurality of intake regions with each of the plurality of exhaust regions.

13. A printing device for printing an image on a substrate; Heated gas is blown against the substrate conveying surface in the substrate conveying path, and the substrate on which the image is printed is A drying device for drying the material; one or more processors; A printing system comprising: The drying device includes: a plurality of blowing units arranged along the substrate transport path, the blowing units having a first surface facing the substrate transport surface and a heated gas inlet for receiving the heated gas formed on a second surface intersecting the first surface; A heat source; a fan motor that blows gas toward the heat source to generate the heated gas; the heat source and the fan motor are disposed inside the heated gas supply unit, the heated gas supply unit being configured to supply the heated gas to each of the blower units, the heated gas supply unit including a third intake port that takes in outside air of the heated gas supply unit, and an adjustment mechanism that adjusts the volume of gas passing through the third intake port per unit time; Equipped with The processor controls the operation of the adjustment mechanism to make the volume per unit period of gas passing through the third air intake port provided in the heated gas supply unit located at a downstream position in the substrate transport direction on the substrate transport path less than the volume per unit period of gas passing through the third air intake port provided in the heated gas supply unit located at an upstream position in the substrate transport direction.

Images