Conveying device, liquid ejecting device, image forming device

Abstract

To suppress curling or flapping of a sheet by air blowing and improve the conveyance property.SOLUTION: An air blowing device 50 comprises: a conveyance member 42 which conveys a sheet P; and an air blowing member 51 which blows the air in a prescribed region A to the sheet P conveyed by the conveyance member 42. The device changes the air volume of the air blowing member 51 between a case where the conveyance direction front end of the sheet P is located in the prescribed region A and a case where the conveyance direction front end of the sheet P goes beyond the prescribed region A.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a conveying device, a liquid ejection device, an image forming device, and a Place Regarding. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Inkjet image forming apparatuses are known that form images by ejecting liquid ink onto a sheet such as paper.

[0003] Patent Document 1 (JP 2019-64169 A) proposes an inkjet image forming apparatus that includes a device that blows hot air onto a sheet or ink on the sheet. In this image forming apparatus, the drying of the ink on the sheet can be accelerated by blowing hot air onto the sheet or ink on the sheet while moving a table on which the sheet is placed. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the configuration described above in which warm air is blown onto the sheet while the table on which the sheet is placed is moved, the blown warm air may cause the front end of the sheet (the front end in the direction of movement) to curl up or the sheet to flutter, which may result in poor sheet transport. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a sheet conveying device, comprising: a conveying member for conveying a sheet; the liquid ejection unit is disposed upstream in a sheet conveyance direction from the liquid ejection unit that ejects liquid onto the sheet; A sheet conveyed by the conveying member is blown with air within a predetermined area. Has an upstream blower A blower member; and when the leading end of the sheet in the conveying direction is located within the predetermined area and when the leading end of the sheet in the conveying direction has passed beyond the predetermined area, Upstream air blower We propose a conveying device that is characterized by changing the air volume. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress the rolling up or flapping of the sheet due to the blown air, and improve the conveyance property. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a transport device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a timing chart of the air blowing operation according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an air blowing operation according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a timing chart of the air blowing operation according to the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an air blowing operation according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a timing chart of the air blowing operation according to the third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an air blowing operation according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the configuration of a transport device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a modified example of the fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the configuration of a transport device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the configuration of a transport device according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the configuration of a transport device according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] 4 is an enlarged view showing the configuration of the periphery of a contact portion between a wall member and a conveyor belt; FIG. [Figure 15] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a modified example of the seventh embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 16] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the configuration of a transport device according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 17] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the configuration of a transport device according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 18] FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a control system according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 19] FIG. 19 is a diagram showing the configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 20] FIG. 22 is a diagram showing the configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an eleventh embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 21] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a drying device. [Figure 22] FIG. 23 is a diagram showing the configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a twelfth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 23] FIG. 23 is a diagram showing the configuration of a transport device according to a thirteenth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 24] FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a modified example of a duct according to the thirteenth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 25] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the configuration of another image forming apparatus to which the present invention can be applied. [Figure 26] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the configuration of yet another image forming apparatus to which the present invention can be applied. [Figure 27] 1 is a diagram showing an example of a transport unit to which the present invention can be applied; [Figure 28] 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating an example of a liquid ejection apparatus to which the present invention can be applied. [Figure 29] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a post-processing device to which the present invention can be applied; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In each drawing for explaining the present invention, components such as members and components having the same function or shape are designated by the same reference numerals as far as they can be distinguished, and descriptions thereof will be omitted once they have been described.

[0009] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0010] 1, an image forming apparatus 100 according to this embodiment includes a document transport device 1, an image reading device 2, an image forming unit 3, a sheet supply device 4, a cartridge mounting unit 5, a drying device (heating device) 6, and a sheet discharge unit 7. A post-processing device 200 is also disposed beside the image forming apparatus 100.

[0011] The document transport device 1 is a device that separates documents one by one from a document tray 11 and transports them toward a contact glass 13 of the image reading device 2. The document transport device 1 is equipped with a plurality of transport rollers and the like as a document transport means for transporting the documents.

[0012] The image reading device 2 is a device that reads an image of an original placed on the contact glass 13 or an image of an original passing over the contact glass 13. The image reading device 2 is equipped with an optical scanning unit 12 as an image reading section. The optical scanning unit 12 has a light source that irradiates light onto the original placed on the contact glass 13, and a CCD (charge coupled device) or the like as an image reading means that reads an image from the light reflected from the original. A contact image sensor (CIS) or the like may also be used as the image reading means.

[0013] The image forming unit 3 has a liquid ejection head 14 as a liquid ejection unit that ejects liquid ink onto a sheet. The liquid ejection head 14 may be a so-called serial type that ejects ink while moving in the main scanning direction (sheet width direction), or a so-called line type that ejects ink without moving a plurality of liquid ejection heads aligned in the main scanning direction.

[0014] A plurality of ink cartridges 15Y, 15M, 15C, and 15Bk are removably mounted in the cartridge mounting portion 5. Each ink cartridge 15Y, 15M, 15C, and 15Bk is filled with ink of a different color, such as yellow, magenta, cyan, or black. The ink in each ink cartridge is supplied to the liquid ejection head 14 by a liquid feed pump.

[0015] The sheet supply device 4 is provided with a plurality of paper feed cassettes 16 as sheet storage units. Each paper feed cassette 16 stores sheets P, so-called cut sheets, which have been cut to a predetermined size in advance in the paper transport direction (sheet transport direction), such as A4 size or B4 size, as sheets on which images are formed. Each paper feed cassette 16 is also provided with a paper feed roller 17 as sheet feeding means and a separation pad 18 as sheet separating means.

[0016] The drying device 6 is a heating unit that heats the paper and promotes the drying of ink on the paper by heat. The drying device 6 also functions as a transport device that transports the paper while sandwiching it between a pair of rotating rotors.

[0017] The post-processing device 200 is a device that performs post-processing such as alignment on sheets sent from the image forming device 100. The post-processing devices included in the post-processing device 200 may be a sheet alignment unit that aligns and discharges multiple sheets, a perforation unit that punches holes in sheets, a binding unit that binds multiple sheets, or a folding unit that folds sheets in half or in thirds.

[0018] The basic operation of the image forming apparatus according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

[0019] When an instruction to start a printing operation is given, paper P is fed from one of the paper feed cassettes 16. More specifically, as paper feed roller 17 rotates, the topmost paper P stored in paper feed cassette 16 is separated from the other papers (paper stack) by paper feed roller 17 and separation pad 18 and sent out.

[0020] When the paper P is transported to the horizontal transport path 20 facing the image forming unit 3, an image is formed on the paper P by the image forming unit 3. More specifically, the ejection operation of the liquid ejection head 14 is controlled in accordance with the image information of the original read by the image reading device 2 or the print information instructed to be printed from the terminal, and ink is ejected onto the image forming surface (upper surface) of the paper P to form an image. Note that the image formed on the paper P may be a meaningful image such as a character or a figure, or may be a pattern that does not have any meaning in itself.

[0021] When double-sided printing is performed, the paper P is conveyed in the opposite direction downstream of the image forming unit 3 in the paper conveyance direction, thereby guiding the paper P to the reverse conveyance path 21. More specifically, after the rear end of the paper P passes through the first path switching means 31, which is arranged downstream of the image forming unit 3 in the paper conveyance direction, the first path switching means 31 switches the conveyance path to the reverse conveyance path 21, and the paper P is conveyed in the opposite direction. As a result, the paper P is guided to the reverse conveyance path 21. Then, as the paper P passes through the reverse conveyance path 21, the paper P is conveyed again to the image forming unit 3 in an inverted state, and an image is formed on the reverse side of the paper P by the same operation of the image forming unit 3 as described above.

[0022] The sheet P on which the image has been formed is selectively guided by second path switching means 32, which is located downstream of first path switching means 31 in the sheet transport direction, to either transport path 22 that passes through drying device 6 or transport path 23 that does not pass through drying device 6. When sheet P is guided to transport path 22 that passes through drying device 6, drying of the ink on sheet P is promoted in drying device 6. On the other hand, when sheet P is guided to transport path 23 that does not pass through drying device 6, third path switching means 33 selectively guides sheet P to either transport path 24 leading to sheet discharge unit 7 or transport path 25 leading to post-processing device 200. Furthermore, sheet P that has passed through drying device 6 is selectively guided by another fourth path switching means 34 to either transport path 26 leading to sheet discharge unit 7 or transport path 27 leading to post-processing device 200.

[0023] Then, when the paper P is guided to the transport paths 24, 26 leading to the sheet discharge section 7, the paper P is discharged to the sheet discharge section 7. On the other hand, when the paper P is guided to the transport paths 25, 27 leading to the post-processing device 200, the paper P is transported to the post-processing device 200, where the paper P is subjected to a predetermined post-processing and then discharged. In this way, a series of printing operations is completed. Note that in this embodiment, a so-called face-down paper discharge method is adopted in which the paper P is sent to the sheet discharge section 7 or the post-processing device 200 with its image-formed side (the side on which ink is attached in the case of single-sided printing) facing downwards, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a face-up paper discharge method in which the paper P is sent with its image-formed side facing upwards may also be used.

[0024] In the image forming apparatus according to this embodiment, a conveying device including a plurality of pairs of conveying rollers is provided to convey the paper fed from the sheet feeding device 4.

[0025] 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the conveying device 40 on the upstream side in the paper conveying direction (upstream side in the sheet conveying direction) of the image forming unit 3. Hereinafter, the configuration of the conveying device according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 2, the conveying device 40 according to this embodiment includes multiple pairs of conveying rollers 41 as conveying members for conveying paper. Each pair of conveying rollers 41 is composed of two conveying rollers 42 that contact each other. As each conveying roller 42 rotates, the paper P is conveyed in the direction of arrow Y in FIG. 2. Of the pairs of conveying rollers 41, the pair of conveying rollers 41A, which is closest to the upstream side of the image forming unit 3 in the paper conveying direction, functions as a correction roller pair that corrects skew of the paper P. That is, the paper P hits the nip portion of the correction roller pair (pair of conveying rollers) 41A, which is stationary and does not rotate, causing the paper P to stop temporarily, and the skew is corrected. The paper P is then conveyed to the image forming unit 3 as the correction roller pair 41A rotates. Note that a guide member for guiding the paper P is disposed between the pairs of conveying rollers 41, but the guide member is omitted from FIG. 2 for simplification.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 2, the conveying device 40 according to this embodiment includes a blower 50 located upstream of the correction roller pair 41A in the sheet conveying direction. The blower 50 includes a blower member 51 and a heater 54 as a heat source. Specifically, the blower member 51 includes a fan 52 as an airflow generating member and a duct 53 as a flow path forming member. The duct 53 is positioned to blow air in a direction intersecting (perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to) the sheet P. The heater 54 may be a nichrome wire heater, a ceramic heater, a halogen heater, a graphite heater, or a carbon heater. In this embodiment, the heater 54 is positioned upstream of the fan 52 in the airflow direction. However, the heater 54 may be positioned downstream of the fan 52 in the airflow direction. The heater 54 and the fan 52 may be integrally configured.

[0028] In the air blower device 50 according to this embodiment, when the heater 54 starts generating heat and the fan 52 starts rotating, air heated by the heater 54 (warm air) is blown out from the air outlet 53a of the duct 53. In this state, when the paper P enters a predetermined area A (hereinafter referred to as the "air blowing area") facing the air outlet 53a, the warm air is blown onto the paper P. This warms the paper P before an image is formed on it. The paper P is then transported to the image forming unit 3, where ink is ejected onto the paper P to form an image. The heat from the heated paper P accelerates the drying of the ink on the paper P. This reduces ink bleeding or image distortion on the paper P. Furthermore, when volatile ink is used, pre-warming the paper P facilitates the evaporation of the ink, accelerating the drying of the ink.

[0029] Here, when the paper P enters the air blowing area A of the air blowing device 50, if air is blown against the paper P, the blown air (warm air) may cause the front end of the paper P (front end in the conveying direction) to curl up or the paper P to flap, preventing the paper P from entering between the correction roller pair 41A and causing a jam of the paper P. Even if the paper P does not jam, the paper P may not be conveyed smoothly, which may result in conveyance problems.

[0030] Therefore, in this embodiment, in order to suppress poor sheet transport caused by blowing air, the blowing operation of the blower device 50 is controlled. The blowing operation of the blower device 50 according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to Figs. 3 and 4.

[0031] FIG. 3 is a timing chart of the air blowing operation according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart thereof.

[0032] In this embodiment, when an image creation request is made and paper P is sent out from the paper feed cassette 16 (see FIG. 1), the air blower 50 starts blowing air at a predetermined timing (Step 1 in FIG. 4). Thereafter, the paper P is detected by a paper sensor 43 (see FIG. 2) serving as a sheet detection member located upstream of the air blower 50 in the paper transport direction.

[0033] 3, T1 is the timing when the leading edge of the sheet P is detected by the sheet sensor 43. The leading edge of the sheet P reaches the air blowing area A a predetermined time t after the timing T1 when the leading edge is detected by the sheet sensor 43. In order to prevent the leading edge of the sheet P from being affected by the air blowing at this time, in this embodiment, the air blowing by the air blowing device 50 is temporarily stopped (Step 3 in FIG. 4) a predetermined time t after the timing T1 when the leading edge of the sheet P is detected by the sheet sensor 43, that is, at timing T2 when the leading edge of the sheet P reaches the feeding area A (Step 2 in FIG. 4).

[0034] Then, while the leading edge of the sheet P is passing through the feeding area A (T2 to T3 in FIG. 3), the state in which the air blowing is stopped continues. Thereafter, at timing T3 when the leading edge of the sheet P passes through the air blowing area A (Step 4 in FIG. 4), the air blowing device 50 resumes blowing air (Step 5 in FIG. 4). At this time, the timing when the leading edge of the sheet P passes through the air blowing area A can be identified from the transport time of the sheet P from timing T1 when the leading edge of the sheet P is detected by the sheet sensor 43, etc.

[0035] Furthermore, the restarted air blowing by the air blower 50 continues until timing T8 when the leading edge of the next sheet of paper reaches the air blowing area A. That is, if there is a sheet of paper to be transported next (if "YES" in Step 6 of FIG. 4), the air blowing by the air blower 50 is temporarily stopped at timing T8 when the leading edge of the next sheet of paper reaches the air blowing area A. Then, the above-described control (Steps 2 to 5 of FIG. 4) is repeated until there is no more paper P to be transported next (if "NO" in Step 6 of FIG. 4), and the air blowing by the air blower 50 is stopped (Step 7 of FIG. 4), and the image formation operation is terminated.

[0036] In Figure 3, timing T4 indicates the timing when the rear end of the paper P (rear end in the transport direction) is detected by the paper sensor 43, timing T5 indicates the timing when the rear end of the paper P reaches the air blowing area A, timing T6 indicates the timing when the rear end of the paper P passes over the air blowing area A, timing T7 indicates the timing when the front end of the next paper P is detected by the paper sensor 43, and timing T9 indicates the timing when the front end of the next paper P passes over the air blowing area A.

[0037] In this manner, in this embodiment, by temporarily suspending the air blowing to the paper P from the time the leading edge of the paper P reaches the air blowing area A until it passes over it, it is possible to prevent the leading edge of the paper P from being turned up by the air blowing or the paper P from flapping. Therefore, in this embodiment, the paper P can easily enter between the pair of correction rollers 41A, improving the conveyance performance.

[0038] Furthermore, after the leading edge of the paper P passes through the air-blowing area A, air continues to be blown until the leading edge of the next paper P reaches the air-blowing area A (T3 to T8 in FIG. 3). This allows the paper P to be effectively warmed by the blown warm air. In particular, in this embodiment, air continues to be blown even after the trailing edge of the paper P passes through the air-blowing area A (after timing T6 in FIG. 3), so the blown warm air can keep the transport path and its surroundings warm. This allows the next paper P to be transported to be effectively warmed, accelerating the drying of ink on the paper P thereafter.

[0039] Next, an embodiment different from the first embodiment will be described. In the following description, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described, and other parts will be omitted as they are basically configured in the same way.

[0040] 5 and 6 are diagrams showing a timing chart and a flowchart of the air blowing operation according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0041] 5, in the second embodiment of the present invention, after an image creation request is made, the air blowing device 50 stops blowing air until timing T3 when the leading edge of the first sheet of paper P passes over the air blowing area A, and thereafter from timing T6 when the trailing edge of the first sheet of paper P passes over the air blowing area A to timing T9 when the leading edge of the next sheet of paper P passes over the air blowing area A. That is, in this embodiment, the air blowing device 50 blows air only from timing T3 when the leading edge of the sheet of paper P reaches the air blowing area A to timing T6 when the trailing edge of the sheet of paper P passes over the air blowing area A (Steps 1 to 4 in FIG. 6). Thereafter, when subsequent sheets of paper P are transported, the air blowing operation is controlled in the same manner.

[0042] In this manner, in this embodiment, the air blower 50 blows air only while the paper P is passing through the air blowing area A, thereby reducing the power consumption for air blowing. Also, the heater 54 may stop generating heat while the air blower 50 is stopped blowing air. This allows for even further reduction in power consumption.

[0043] 7 and 8 are diagrams showing a timing chart and a flowchart of the air blowing operation according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

[0044] As shown in Fig. 7, in the third embodiment of the present invention, from time T1 when the leading edge of sheet P is detected by sheet sensor 43 to time T3 when the leading edge of sheet P passes through air-blowing area A, air blower 50 blows air at a low volume (weak air force or slow air speed) that is low enough to prevent the leading edge of sheet P from being turned up (Steps 1 and 2 in Fig. 8). Then, at time T3 when the leading edge of sheet P passes through air-blowing area A, air blower 50 increases the air volume (increases the air force or increases the air speed) (Steps 3 and 4 in Fig. 8). Thereafter, at time T6 when the trailing edge of sheet P passes through air-blowing area A, air blower 50 stops blowing air (Steps 5 and 6 in Fig. 8), and if sheet P continues to be transported, similar air-blowing operation control is repeated.

[0045] As in the present embodiment, the amount of airflow may be reduced when the leading edge of the sheet P passes through the air blowing area A, thereby preventing the sheet P from turning over or flapping due to the airflow. The air force of the air blowing device 50 can be changed by changing the rotation speed of the fan 52 or by changing the opening area of the air outlet 53a of the duct 53. The timing at which the air blowing device 50 starts blowing air is not limited to timing T1 (see FIG. 7 ) when the leading edge of the sheet P is detected by the sheet sensor 43, but may also be timing T2 when the leading edge of the sheet P reaches the air blowing area A.

[0046] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the configuration of a transport device 40 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[0047] 9, in the fourth embodiment of the present invention, the air blowing direction of duct 53 is set to be oblique to the paper P and toward the upstream side of the paper transport direction Y. In this case, air is blown in a direction away from image forming unit 3, which can prevent the temperature of image forming unit 3 from rising due to warm air. Therefore, in this embodiment, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of problems such as an increase in ink viscosity and poor ink ejection caused by a temperature rise in image forming unit 3, and the function of image forming unit 3 can be maintained well.

[0048] The configuration according to this embodiment is preferably applied to a conveyance device 40 configured as shown in FIG. 10. In the configuration shown in FIG. 10, the air blower 50 is disposed between the image forming unit 3 and the correction roller pair 41A (because there is no correction roller pair 41A between the air blower 50 and the image forming unit 3), which tends to cause airflow from the air blower 50 to flow into the image forming unit 3. For this reason, if the air blowing direction of the air blower 50 is set perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the paper P, the air (warm air) blown from the air blower 50 may flow toward the image forming unit 3 and affect the ejection direction of ink ejected from the liquid ejection head 14. However, even in this configuration, the air blowing direction of the air blower 50 can be set upstream in the paper conveyance direction to prevent air from flowing toward the liquid ejection head 14. This prevents the ink ejection direction of the liquid ejection head 14 from being affected by the airflow, thereby preventing a deterioration in image quality.

[0049] The control of the air blowing operation in this embodiment may be any of the controls in the above-described embodiments. By applying any of the controls, it is possible to suppress the curling or flapping of the paper P caused by the air blowing in this embodiment as well. The controls in the above-described embodiments can also be applied to the embodiments described below.

[0050] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the configuration of a transport device 40 according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[0051] In the fifth embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 11, the air blowing direction of duct 53 is not oblique, but is set perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the paper transport direction Y or paper P, as in the first embodiment described above. In such a configuration, there is a risk that part of the blown warm air will be bounced off the paper P and headed toward the image forming unit 3. For this reason, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, a heat insulating member 55 is disposed between the air blowing device 50 and the image forming unit 3. Heat insulating materials such as silicone sponge or urethane foam can be used as the material for the heat insulating member 55.

[0052] As described above, in this embodiment, the heat insulating member 55 is disposed between the air blower 50 and the image forming unit 3, and therefore it is possible to prevent the temperature of the image forming unit 3 from rising due to the warm air blown out from the air blower 50. As a result, in this embodiment, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of an increase in ink viscosity and ink ejection defects that accompany a temperature rise in the image forming unit 3, and it is possible to maintain good functionality of the image forming unit 3. The configuration according to this embodiment can also be applied to other embodiments.

[0053] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the configuration of a transport device 40 according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

[0054] 12, a heat insulating member 55 is disposed between the air blower 50 and the cartridge mounting unit 5 located upstream of the air blower 50 in the paper transport direction. The above-mentioned materials can be used as the material for the heat insulating member 55.

[0055] In this way, in this embodiment, the heat insulating member 55 is disposed between the air blower 50 and the cartridge mounting portion 5, thereby preventing the temperature of the cartridge mounting portion 5 from rising due to the warm air blown out from the air blower 50. This prevents the occurrence of ink viscosity increases and ink clogging that accompany temperature increases in the ink cartridges 15Y, 15M, 15C, and 15Bk mounted in the cartridge mounting portion 5. The configuration according to this embodiment can also be applied to other embodiments.

[0056] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the configuration of a transport device 40 according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention.

[0057] 13, a wall member 56 is disposed between the conveying device 40 and the image forming unit 3 to suppress the inflow of air (warm air) from the blower device 50 into the image forming unit 3. The wall member 56 is made of a thin, soft sheet-like member such as Mylar.

[0058] 13, the wall member 56 is disposed continuously across the paper width direction (sheet width direction) X that intersects with the paper conveying direction Y, and further, the wall member 56 is in contact with the conveying surface (surface on which the paper P is placed and conveyed) 44a of the conveying belt 44 serving as a conveying member that faces the liquid ejection head 14. Therefore, the ink ejection space between the liquid ejection head 14 and the conveying belt 44 is separated from the space on the blower device 50 side by the wall member 56.

[0059] Therefore, in this embodiment, even if the air (warm air) blown out from the air blower 50 flows toward the image forming unit 3, the wall member 56 can prevent the air from flowing into the ink ejection space. This reduces the influence of the airflow on the ink ejection direction of the liquid ejection head 14.

[0060] In this embodiment, the paper sheet P enters the gap (nip) between the conveyor belt 44 and the wall member 56 and is conveyed by the rotating conveyor belt 44. At this time, the wall member 56 is in sliding contact with the conveying surface 44a of the rotating conveyor belt 44. However, as shown in FIG. 14, the wall member 56 is disposed so that the portion of the wall member 56 on the side of the leading edge 56a (contact portion with the conveying surface 44) faces the surface movement direction of the conveyor belt 44 (paper conveying direction Y). Therefore, even when the conveyor belt 44 rotates, the leading edge 56a of the wall member 56 does not turn up. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the wall member 56 has an inclined portion 56b whose distance from the conveying surface 44a of the conveyor belt 44 gradually increases from the contact position with the conveying surface 44a of the conveyor belt 44 toward the upstream side in the paper conveying direction Y. Therefore, when the paper sheet P is conveyed to the conveyor belt 44, the leading edge of the paper sheet P is guided along the inclined portion 56b. This allows the paper sheet P to smoothly enter between the wall member 56 and the conveying surface 44a.

[0061] Furthermore, the wall member 56 is not limited to being in contact with the conveyor belt 44, and may also be in contact with the guide member 45 as shown in Fig. 15. The wall member 56 is in contact with the guide surface 45a of the guide member 45 (the surface that contacts and is guided by the paper P) across the paper width direction X, thereby preventing air from flowing from the blower device 50 into the ink ejection space (the space between the liquid ejection head 14 and the guide member 45). The shape and material of the wall member 56 may be the same as those of the wall member 56 described above.

[0062] FIG. 16 is a diagram showing the configuration of a transport device 40 according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

[0063] 16, a cylindrical roller member 57 serving as a rotating body is interposed between a wall member 56 and the conveyor belt 44. The wall member 56 has a horizontally bent portion 56c formed so as to be bent at its lower end, and the lower surface of the bent portion 56c contacts the outer circumferential surface of the roller member 57. The roller member 57 is disposed to extend in the paper width direction X, and is in continuous contact with both the bent portion 56c of the wall member 56 and the conveyor surface 44a of the conveyor belt 44 across the paper width direction X.

[0064] In this manner, in this embodiment, the ink ejection space between the liquid ejection head 14 and the conveyor belt 44 is separated from the space on the side of the air blower 50 by the roller member 57 and the wall member 56. Therefore, in this embodiment as well, it is possible to prevent the air (warm air) blown out from the air blower 50 from flowing into the ink ejection space, and to reduce the influence of the airflow on the ink ejection direction.

[0065] Furthermore, the paper sheet P transported from the upstream side enters between the transport belt 44 and the roller member 57. At this time, the paper sheet P is transported by the rotating transport belt 44 and the driven rotating roller member 57. In this way, in this embodiment, the paper sheet P does not rub against the wall member 56, so that sliding resistance to the paper sheet P can be prevented and the paper sheet P can be transported smoothly.

[0066] The material of the wall member 56 may be a thin, soft, sheet-like material such as Mylar, similar to the wall member 56 described above. The material and shape of the roller member 57 are not particularly limited and can be selected appropriately as long as they do not interfere with the transport of the paper P. In particular, using foam rubber such as silicone sponge or other insulating materials as the material of the roller member 57 can prevent the temperature of the paper P from dropping when it comes into contact with the roller member 57. That is, if the roller member 57 is made of an insulating material, the heat loss from the paper P to the roller member 57 when the paper P comes into contact with the roller member 57 can be prevented, so the paper P can be transported to the image forming unit 3 with the heat stored in a good state. This effectively dries the ink on the paper P.

[0067] Furthermore, in order to prevent a temperature drop when the paper P contacts the roller member 57 or the wall member 56 shown in FIGS. 13 to 15 , warm air may be blown from the air blower 50 to preheat the roller member 57 or the wall member 56. In particular, during warm-up immediately after the image forming apparatus is turned on, the roller member 57 and the wall member 56 have not accumulated heat. Therefore, the air blower 50 may start blowing air after the image forming apparatus is turned on, between the time an image formation request is made and the time the first sheet of paper starts to be conveyed. Similarly, when there is a time interval between the end of an image formation operation and the next image formation request, the air blower 50 may continue blowing air for a predetermined time to warm the roller member 57 and the wall member 56. This prevents a temperature drop when the paper P contacts the roller member 57 or the wall member 56, effectively drying the ink on the paper P.

[0068] FIG. 17 is a diagram showing the configuration of a transport device 40 according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention.

[0069] 17, there is provided an opening / closing member 58 that opens and closes the flow path in duct 53. Opening / closing member 58 is configured to be rotatable about a support shaft 58a provided in duct 53, and the flow path in duct 53 is opened and closed by the rotation of opening / closing member 58. That is, when opening / closing member 58 is in the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 17, the flow path is opened, and when opening / closing member 58 is in the position shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 17, the flow path is closed.

[0070] The opening and closing operation of the opening and closing member 58 is controlled by a control unit 60 shown in Fig. 18. In addition to the opening and closing operation of the opening and closing member 58, the control unit 60 also controls the air blowing operation (rotational drive) of the fan 52 and the conveying operation (rotational drive) of the conveying roller 42. The control unit 60 also receives a detection signal from the paper sensor 43, and controls various operations of the opening and closing member 58, the fan 52, and the conveying roller 42 based on the received detection signal.

[0071] In this manner, in this embodiment, the opening / closing member 58 opens and closes the flow path in the duct 53, thereby making it possible to stop and start air blowing from the air blowing device 50. Therefore, in this embodiment, the control unit 60 controls the opening and closing operation of the opening / closing member 58 based on the detection signal of the paper sensor 43, thereby stopping the air blowing when the leading edge of the paper P passes through the air blowing area A, thereby preventing the paper P from turning over or flapping due to the air blowing. The opening / closing member 58 may also be configured to open and close the flow path by sliding in a horizontal direction, for example.

[0072] Fig. 19 is a diagram showing the configuration of an image forming apparatus 100 according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 19 is a cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus 100, with the blower device 50 viewed from the upstream side in the paper transport direction, and in the figure, the left side is the front side (front) of the image forming apparatus 100, and the right side is the back side (rear) of the image forming apparatus.

[0073] In a tenth embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 19 , the air blower 50 does not include the heater 54, but utilizes heat generated by the drive unit 36, power supply unit 37, and electrical unit 38 arranged within the image forming apparatus 100. When the drive unit 36 drives the image forming unit 3, the conveyance rollers 42, etc., when the power supply unit 37 supplies power to various components within the image forming apparatus, and when electricity is applied to the electronic components of the electrical unit 38 that control the operation of the various components, heat is generated in these components. Air (warm air) heated by the heat generated by the drive unit 36, power supply unit 37, and electrical unit 38 is supplied into the duct 53 by the fan 52 and blown through the air outlet 53a of the duct 53 toward the paper P before image formation. The fan 52 is not limited to being located at the upstream end of the duct 53 in the air blowing direction, but may be located somewhere along the air blowing path within the duct 53 or on the downstream side of the duct 53 in the air blowing direction (near the air outlet 53a).

[0074] As described above, in this embodiment, heat generated by the drive unit 36, power supply unit 37, and electrical equipment unit 38 is used to warm the paper P before image formation, rather than heat generated by a heat source such as a heater, thereby reducing the required power consumption. In other words, by effectively utilizing the heat generated by heat dissipation members that dissipate heat regardless of the original purpose and function of the drive unit 36, power supply unit 37, electrical equipment unit 38, etc. as heat (warm air) to warm the paper P, the power consumption required for heat supply can be reduced and costs can be reduced. Furthermore, when the air blower 50 does not use a dedicated heat source, as in this embodiment, the cost of the device can be reduced and the configuration can be simplified, thereby improving the reliability of the device.

[0075] In addition, in this embodiment, the rear space 10 in which the drive unit 36, power supply unit 37, and electrical unit 38 are arranged is partitioned (isolated) from the front space 9 in which the image forming unit 3 and the like are arranged, so that dry air (warm air) in the rear space 10 can be blown onto the paper P. Specifically, in this embodiment, a front frame 101 and a rear frame 102 are provided in the image forming apparatus 100 as support members that support the image forming unit 3, duct 53, and the like. The image forming unit 3, recording medium supply unit 4, and duct 53 are arranged in the front space 9 in front of the rear frame 102, and the drive unit 36, power supply unit 37, and electrical unit 38 are arranged in the rear space 10 behind the rear frame 102.

[0076] In the rear space 10 configured in this manner, ink is not ejected and paper with ink attached is not transported, so there is less moisture due to evaporation of ink on the paper compared to the front space 9. For this reason, air with little moisture (warm air) can be supplied from the rear space 10 to the paper P, which can reduce the moisture in the paper P while warming the paper P, thereby effectively accelerating the drying of ink attached to the paper P.

[0077] FIG. 20 is a diagram showing the configuration of an image forming apparatus 100 according to an eleventh embodiment of the present invention.

[0078] In the eleventh embodiment of the present invention shown in Fig. 20, the air blower 50 utilizes heat generated from the drying device (heating section) 6. Therefore, the air blower 50 according to this embodiment also does not have a dedicated heat source (heater 54).

[0079] Here, an example of the configuration of the drying device 6 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0080] The drying device 6 shown in FIG. 21 includes a heating belt 90, a pressure roller 91, a heater 92, a nip forming member 93, a stay 94, a reflecting member 95, and a belt holding member 96.

[0081] The heating belt 90 is an endless belt (including a film) serving as a heating rotatable body that is heated by a heater 92. The heating belt 90 is composed of a flexible endless substrate 90a and a release layer 90b provided on the outer peripheral surface of the substrate 90a.

[0082] The pressure roller 91 is an elastic roller that serves as a pressure rotating body that applies pressure to the heating belt 90. The pressure roller 91 is composed of a cylindrical or columnar base body (core metal) 91a, an elastic layer 91b provided on the outer peripheral surface of the base body 91a, and a release layer 91c provided on the outer peripheral surface of the elastic layer 91b.

[0083] The heater 92 is a halogen heater that serves as a heat source for heating the heating belt 90. As the heat source, various heat sources can be used other than a halogen heater, such as other radiant heat heaters such as carbon heaters and ceramic heaters, or electromagnetic induction heating heaters.

[0084] The nip forming member 93 is disposed inside the heating belt 90 and sandwiches the heating belt 90 between it and the pressure roller 91 to form the nip portion N. The nip forming member 93 and the pressure roller 91 are biased to approach each other relatively, thereby pressing them together via the heating belt 90 to form the nip portion N.

[0085] The stay 94 is a support member that supports the nip forming member 93 so that the nip forming member 93 does not bend due to the pressure of the pressure roller 91. The stay 94 comes into contact with the surface of the nip forming member 93 opposite to the surface on the pressure roller 91 side, and supports the nip forming member 93.

[0086] The reflecting member 95 is a member that reflects light (for example, infrared light) or heat radiated from the heater 92 toward the heating belt 90. Since the reflecting member 95 is provided inside the heating belt 90, the light radiated from the heater 92 is reflected by the reflecting member 95 onto the inner circumferential surface of the heating belt 90.

[0087] The belt holding members 96 are a pair of holding members that hold the heating belt 90 at both ends in the longitudinal direction. Each belt holding member 96 is formed in a C-shape or a cylindrical shape, and is inserted into the inside of both ends in the longitudinal direction of the heating belt 90. This allows the heating belt 90 to be rotatably held. Furthermore, when the heating belt 90 is in a stationary state where it is not rotating, the heating belt 90 is basically held in a state where no tension is generated in the circumferential direction (free belt method).

[0088] As shown in FIG. 21 , when the pressure roller 91 is driven to rotate by a drive source provided in the image forming apparatus main body, the driving force of the pressure roller 91 is transmitted to the heating belt 90 via the nip portion N, causing the heating belt 90 to rotate. Furthermore, the heaters 92 generate heat, causing the heating belt 90 to be heated from the inside. When the temperature of the heating belt 90 reaches a predetermined temperature (drying temperature), a sheet of paper P on which an image has been formed enters the nip portion N between the heating belt 90 and the pressure roller 91, and the image-formed surface of the sheet of paper P (the surface on which the ink I has been applied) comes into contact with the heating belt 90 and is heated. This promotes drying of the ink I on the sheet of paper P. The sheet of paper P is then discharged from the drying device 6 by the rotating heating belt 90 and pressure roller 91, and is transported to the sheet discharge section 7 or post-processing device 200 shown in FIG. 1 .

[0089] As described above, when the heating belt 90 is heated by the heater 92 in the drying device 6, part of the heat of the heating belt 90 is released into the surrounding air and becomes warm air. If this warm air is left as it is, it will be released outside the image forming apparatus and will not be effectively utilized. Therefore, in this embodiment, the warm air floating around the drying device 6 is used to warm the paper before image formation.

[0090] 20 , warm air generated around the drying device 6 is sucked in by the suction fan 59 through the suction ports 61a of the first duct 61. The first duct 61 is arranged in the longitudinal direction (paper width direction) of the heating belt 90 provided in the drying device 6, and has multiple suction ports 61a facing the heating belt 90. The warm air sucked in through each suction port 61a is guided through the first duct 61 to the second duct 62 arranged in the rear space 10, and is further guided by the blower fan 64 to the third duct 63. The third duct 63 is arranged opposite the transport path along which the paper P before image formation is transported, and the warm air is blown out from the multiple blower ports 63a provided in the third duct 63 to the paper P before image formation.

[0091] In this manner, in this embodiment, by blowing warm air around the drying device 6 onto the paper P via the multiple ducts 61, 62, and 63 that serve as flow path forming members, the heat generated by the heater 92 of the drying device 6 can be effectively used to warm the paper P before image formation. Therefore, in this embodiment, power consumption can be reduced compared to a configuration in which both the drying device 6 and the air blower 50 are provided with individual heat sources. In other words, by using the heater 92 as a common heat source for the drying device 6 and the air blower 50, power consumption can be reduced, leading to lower costs.

[0092] 22, the blower 50 may be configured to utilize heat generated from heat dissipation members such as the drive unit 36 and the power supply unit 37 disposed in the rear space 10, in addition to the heat generated from the dryer 6. This allows for further reduction in power consumption.

[0093] FIG. 23 is a diagram showing the configuration of a transport device 40 according to a thirteenth embodiment of the present invention.

[0094] 23, unlike the above-described embodiments, the air blowing device 50 is configured to blow air to paper P after image formation as well as to paper P before image formation. Specifically, the air blowing member 51 shown in Fig. 23 has an upstream air blowing section 51A that blows air to paper P upstream of the liquid ejection head 14 in the paper transport direction, and a downstream air blowing section 51B that blows air to paper P downstream of the liquid ejection head 14 in the paper transport direction.

[0095] The air blowing member 51 according to this embodiment is composed of one duct 53 as a flow path forming member and two fans 52A, 52B as airflow generating members. The duct 53 is continuously provided from the upstream air blowing section 51A to the downstream air blowing section 51B, and has air outlets 53a, 53b in the upstream air blowing section 51A and the downstream air blowing section 51B, respectively. Of the two fans 52A, 52B, the first fan 52A is disposed on the upstream air blowing section 51A side in the duct 53 and generates an airflow toward the air outlet 53a of the upstream air blowing section 51A. In contrast, the other fan, the second fan 52B, is disposed on the downstream air blowing section 51B side in the duct 53 and generates an airflow toward the air outlet 53a of the downstream air blowing section 51B. A heater 54 is provided as a heat source on the downstream air blowing section 51B side in the duct 53.

[0096] In the present embodiment configured as described above, air (warm air) heated by heat generated by heater 54 is blown out from air outlet 53a of upstream air blowing section 51A by first fan 52A and is blown onto sheet P before image formation. After that, an image is formed on sheet P in image forming section 3, and when sheet P is transported to downstream air blowing section 51B, warm air is blown out from air outlet 53b of downstream air blowing section 51B by second fan 52B, and the blown warm air is blown onto sheet P after image formation.

[0097] In this manner, in this embodiment, warm air is blown onto the paper P both before and after image formation, which makes it possible to more effectively dry the ink on the paper P. Also, as in this embodiment, by guiding the warm air from the heating section (downstream air blowing section 51B) that heats the paper downstream in the paper transport direction from the liquid ejection head 14 to the upstream air blowing section 51A via the duct 53, the heat of the heating source can be shared, eliminating the need to provide multiple heating sources and enabling the device to be made smaller and less expensive.

[0098] 24, duct 53 may have duct 65 that collects warm air blown from downstream blower 51B. Ducts 65 shown in FIG. 24 are arranged on both sides of guide member 66 that constitutes the transport path in the paper width direction, and collect warm air blown toward guide member 66 or paper P by sucking it in through suction ports 65a. Duct 65 is also connected to upstream blower 51A, and guides the collected warm air to upstream blower 51A. In this way, duct 53 may be configured to guide warm air blown from downstream blower 51B to upstream blower 51A.

[0099] Also in this embodiment, when the leading edge of the sheet P passes through the respective air blowing areas A1 and A2 (see FIG. 23) of the upstream air blowing section 51A and the downstream air blowing section 51B, the air blowing from each of the air blowing sections 51A and 51B is stopped or the air volume is reduced, as in the above-described embodiment. This makes it possible to prevent the sheet P from turning over or flapping, and improves transportability.

[0100] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible without departing from the gist of the invention.

[0101] The image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied is not limited to the image forming apparatus shown in Fig. 1. The present invention is also applicable to, for example, an image forming apparatus shown in Fig. 25 or 26.

[0102] The following describes the configuration of other image forming apparatuses to which the present invention can be applied. Note that in each image forming apparatus, the description will be focused on the parts that are different from the above-described embodiment, and the other parts are the same as the above-described embodiment, so the description will be omitted.

[0103] 25 includes the same components as those of the above-described embodiment, namely, document transport device 1, image reading device 2, image forming unit 3, sheet supply device 4, cartridge mounting unit 5, drying device 6, and sheet discharge unit 7, as well as a manual sheet supply device 8. However, unlike the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, image forming unit 3 shown in FIG. 25 is disposed so as to face a transport path 80 along which paper P is transported obliquely relative to the horizontal direction.

[0104] The manual sheet feeder 8 has a manual tray 68 as a loading section for loading paper sheets, and a paper feed roller 69 as a feeding means for feeding paper sheets from the manual tray 68. The manual tray 68 is attached to the image forming apparatus main body so as to be openable (swingable). When the manual tray 68 is in the open state (the state shown in FIG. 25), paper sheets can be loaded on the manual tray 68 and fed.

[0105] 25, when an instruction to start a printing operation is given, paper P is supplied from the sheet supply device 4 or the manual sheet supply device 8, and the paper P is transported to the image forming unit 3. Then, when the paper P is transported to the image forming unit 3, ink is ejected from the liquid ejection head 14 onto the paper P, and an image is formed.

[0106] When double-sided printing is performed, after the paper P passes through the image forming unit 3, the paper P is transported in the opposite direction, and the first path switching means 71 guides the paper P to the reverse transport path 81. By passing through the reverse transport path 81, the paper P is transported again to the image forming unit 3 in an inverted state, and an image is formed on the back side of the paper P.

[0107] The paper P with an image formed on one or both sides is transported to the drying device 6, where the ink on the paper P is dried. After passing through the drying device 6, the paper P is selectively guided by the second path switching means 72 to either a transport path 82 leading to the upper sheet discharge section 7 or a transport path 83 leading to the lower sheet discharge section 7. When the paper P is guided to the transport path 82 leading to the upper sheet discharge section 7, the paper P is discharged to the upper sheet discharge section 7. On the other hand, when the paper P is guided to the transport path 83 leading to the lower sheet discharge section 7, the paper P is further selectively guided by the third path switching means 73 to either a transport path 84 leading to the lower sheet discharge section 7 or a transport path 85 leading to the post-processing device 200.

[0108] When the paper P is guided to the conveying path 84 leading to the lower sheet discharge section 7, the paper P is discharged to the lower sheet discharge section 7. On the other hand, when the paper P is guided to the conveying path 85 leading to the post-processing device 200, the paper P is conveyed to the post-processing device 200, where post-processing is performed on the paper P.

[0109] 26, like the image forming apparatus 100 shown in Fig. 25, includes an original transport device 1, an image reading device 2, an image forming unit 3, a sheet supply device 4, a cartridge mounting unit 5, a drying device 6, a sheet discharge unit 7, and a manual sheet supply device 8. In this case, the image forming unit 3 is disposed so as to face a transport path 86 along which paper P is transported horizontally, like the embodiment shown in Fig. 1.

[0110] 26, when an instruction to start a printing operation is given, paper P is supplied from the sheet supply device 4 or the manual sheet supply device 8, and the paper P is transported to the image forming unit 3. Then, when the paper P is transported to the image forming unit 3, ink is ejected from the liquid ejection head 14 onto the paper P, and an image is formed.

[0111] When double-sided printing is performed, after the paper P passes through the image forming unit 3, the paper P is transported in the opposite direction, and the first path switching means 74 guides the paper P to the reverse transport path 87. By passing through the reverse transport path 87, the paper P is transported again to the image forming unit 3 in an inverted state, and an image is formed on the back side of the paper P.

[0112] The paper sheet P, on which an image has been formed on one or both sides, is selectively guided by the second path switching means 75 to either a conveying path 88 heading toward the drying device 6 or a conveying path 89 heading toward the post-processing device 200. When the paper sheet P is guided to the conveying path 88 heading toward the drying device 6, the ink on the paper sheet P is dried by the drying device 6. After passing through the drying device 6, the paper sheet P is discharged to the sheet discharge section 7. On the other hand, when the paper sheet P is guided to the conveying path 89 heading toward the post-processing device 200, the paper sheet P is transported to the post-processing device 200, where post-processing is performed on the paper sheet P.

[0113] By applying the present invention to the image forming apparatus 100 shown in Fig. 25 or 26, the same effects as those described above can be obtained. That is, in the conveying device mounted on these image forming apparatuses 100, if a blower that blows air onto the paper is provided, it is possible to prevent the paper from turning over or flapping by stopping the air blowing from the blower or reducing the air volume when the leading edge of the paper passes through the air blowing area.

[0114] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to a transport device that is integrally provided in the image forming apparatus main body, but can also be applied to a transport device (transport unit) that is detachable from the image forming apparatus main body. Figure 27 shows an example of a transport unit 300 to which the present invention can be applied.

[0115] 27 includes transport paths 88, 98 for transporting paper sheets on which an image has been formed to a post-processing section (for example, sheet aligning device 200), and is configured to be detachable from the image forming apparatus main body. In this type of transport unit 300, if a blower that blows air onto paper sheets is provided, similar to the above-described embodiment, it is possible to prevent the paper sheets from turning over or flapping by stopping the air blowing from the blower or reducing the air volume when the leading edge of the paper sheets passes through the air blowing area.

[0116] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to conveyance devices mounted on image forming apparatuses, but can also be applied to liquid ejection devices that eject treatment liquid or the like onto paper that does not form an image. Fig. 28 shows an example of a liquid ejection device 500 to which the present invention can be applied.

[0117] 28 has a treatment liquid discharge unit 70 as a liquid discharge unit that discharges treatment liquid to modify the surface of paper before image formation. In this case, after treatment liquid is discharged from treatment liquid discharge unit 70 onto the paper, the paper is transported to image forming apparatus 100. Then, after ink is discharged onto the paper in image forming unit 3, the paper is transported to drying device 6, where the ink on the paper is dried.

[0118] In the case where the transport device mounted on such liquid ejection device 500 is also provided with a blower that blows air onto the paper, it is preferable to stop blowing air from the blower or reduce the air volume when the leading edge of the paper passes through the blowing area, as in the above-described embodiment, thereby preventing the paper from turning over or flapping.

[0119] The present invention can also be applied to a post-processing device that performs post-processing on paper on which an image has been formed. Fig. 29 shows an example of a post-processing device 400 to which the present invention can be applied.

[0120] The post-processing device 400 shown in FIG. 29 includes a post-processing section 401 that performs post-processing such as stapling or punching on sheets. When sheets are transported from the image forming apparatus 100 to the post-processing device 400 shown in FIG. 29, the sheets are transported by a pair of transport rollers and then placed on a loading tray 403 of the post-processing section 401. If the sheets are loaded face-up (with the image formation surface facing upward), the image formation order can be reversed (the images are formed starting from the later page). Furthermore, the sheets P loaded on the loading tray 403 are transported in reverse front-to-back directions by transport rollers 402 provided in the post-processing section 401. As a result, the trailing edge of the sheets P abuts against a trailing edge restriction section 403a of the loading tray 403, aligning the trailing edge of the sheets P. Furthermore, the transport rollers 402 are configured to be movable from a position where they can contact the sheets P to a retracted position where they do not contact the sheets P so as not to interfere with the discharge of the sheets to the loading tray 403. Then, with the rear end position of the sheet P aligned, the sheet P is subjected to stapling, punching, etc. Thereafter, the conveying rollers 402 rotate in the reverse direction, and the sheet P on the loading tray 403 is discharged to the outside of the post-processing device 400.

[0121] Even in the conveying device mounted on such a post-processing device 400, if a blower device that blows air onto the paper is provided, as in the above-described embodiment, it is possible to prevent the paper from rolling over or flapping by stopping the air blowing from the blower device or reducing the air volume when the leading edge of the paper passes through the blowing area.

[0122] In addition, in the present invention, paper includes not only plain paper but also cardboard, thin paper, coated paper, label paper, envelopes, etc. Furthermore, the sheets conveyed by the conveying device according to the present invention are not limited to paper sheets, but may also be resin sheets such as overhead projector sheets. [Explanation of symbols]

[0123] 3 Image forming unit 14 Liquid ejection head (liquid ejection unit) 40 Conveyor 42 Conveying roller (conveying member) 44 Conveyor belt (conveyor member) 44a Conveying surface 45 Guide member 45a Guide surface 50 Blower 51 Ventilation member 51A Upstream ventilation section 51B Downstream blower section 52 Fan (airflow generating component) 53 Duct (flow path forming member) 54 Heater (heat source) 55 Heat insulating materials 56 Wall components 56b Slope 57 Roller member (rotating body) 58 Opening and closing member 61 First duct (flow path forming member) 62 Second duct (flow path forming member) 63 Third duct (flow path forming member) 100 Image forming device 400 Aftertreatment Device A Ventilation area P Paper (sheet) Y Paper transport direction (sheet transport direction) [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0124] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2019-64169

Claims

1. a conveying member that conveys a sheet; a blower member that is disposed upstream in a sheet conveying direction from a liquid ejection unit that ejects liquid onto the sheet, and that has an upstream blower unit that blows air within a predetermined area toward the sheet being conveyed by the conveying member; Equipped with A conveying device characterized in that the air volume of the upstream blowing section is changed when the leading end of the sheet in the conveying direction is located within the specified area and when the leading end of the sheet in the conveying direction has passed beyond the specified area.

2. The conveying device according to claim 1 , wherein the upstream blowing section blows air toward an upstream side in a sheet conveying direction.

3. The conveying device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a wall member disposed between the liquid discharge unit and the upstream blower unit.

4. The conveying device according to claim 3 , wherein the wall member is disposed so as to come into contact with a member that conveys or guides the sheet.

5. The conveying device according to claim 3 , wherein the wall member is disposed so as to come into contact with a conveying member that rotates to convey the sheet, via a rotating body.

6. the wall member is disposed so as to come into contact with a conveying surface or a guiding surface of a member that conveys or guides the sheet, The conveying device according to claim 4 , wherein the wall member has an inclined portion whose distance from the conveying surface or the guiding surface increases from a contact position with the conveying surface or the guiding surface toward an upstream side in the sheet conveying direction.

7. A heating source is provided, The conveying device according to claim 1 , wherein the upstream blower blows warm air heated by the heat source toward the sheet.

8. the air blowing member has a downstream air blowing section that blows air toward the sheet downstream of the liquid ejection section in the sheet conveying direction, The conveying device according to claim 7 , wherein warm air heated by the heat source is blown onto the sheet from the upstream blower and the downstream blower.

9. The conveying device according to claim 1 , wherein the air blowing member has a flow path forming member that guides warm air from a heating section that heats the sheet downstream in the sheet conveying direction from the liquid ejection section to the upstream air blowing section.

10. The conveying device according to claim 1 , further comprising a heat insulating member disposed at least one of upstream and downstream of the upstream blower in the sheet conveying direction.

11. The conveying device according to claim 1 , wherein the upstream blowing section does not blow air when the leading edge of the sheet in the conveying direction is located within the predetermined area.

12. The conveying device according to claim 1 , wherein the upstream blower blows air onto the sheet before a liquid is applied thereto.

13. The conveying device according to claim 1 , wherein the upstream blower blows gas into a space that houses at least one of a power supply unit, a drive unit, and an electrical component unit.

14. The conveying device according to claim 1 , wherein the upstream blower blows gas heated by a drying device that heats the sheet to which a liquid has been applied.

15. a liquid discharge unit that discharges liquid onto a sheet; A conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 14; A liquid ejection device comprising:

16. an image forming unit that deposits a liquid on a sheet to form an image; A conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 14; An image forming apparatus comprising:

17. A conveying device as described in any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that it is provided with a post-processing unit that processes the sheet conveyed by the conveying member.

Images