Printing device

Abstract

Realized is a printing device provided with a drying mechanism capable of drying printed printing paper sheets more efficiently than conventional mechanisms.　This inkjet printing device is provided with a drying mechanism comprising a plurality of carbon heaters (310) for drying printing paper sheets, and comprises an angle adjustment means (4) for adjusting a heater angle which is an acute angle formed between the conveyance direction of the printing paper sheets and the longitudinal direction of the carbon heaters (310). The angle adjustment means (4) comprises, for example, a heater holding member (400) that holds the carbon heaters (310), actuators (481, 482) that actuate the heater holding member (400), motor drive circuits (471, 472) that drive motors included in the actuators (481, 482), and motor control units (461, 462) that control operation of the motor drive circuits (471, 472).

Description

printing device

[0001] The present invention relates to a printing device, and more particularly to a drying mechanism for fixing ink to a print medium after printing on the print medium.

[0002] Inkjet printing devices have been known for some time, which print on a print medium (substrate) such as printing paper by spraying ink onto the print medium using heat or pressure. When printing is performed using aqueous ink, the printed print medium must be dried quickly to fix the aqueous ink to the printed print medium. Therefore, inkjet printing devices are provided with a drying mechanism for drying the printed print medium using heat or hot air.

[0003] There are various types of drying mechanisms, but one known example is a drying mechanism 90 configured as shown in FIG. 30 , which uses multiple cylindrical carbon heaters 91. In this drying mechanism 90, the multiple carbon heaters 91 are arranged side by side in the transport direction of the printing paper 93. The area marked with reference numeral 94 in FIG. 30 is the printing area where the image is actually printed. The drying mechanism 90 is provided with an irradiation port 92, and heat (infrared rays) emitted from the carbon heater 91 is applied through the irradiation port 92 to the printed printing paper 93. This dries the printed printing paper 93. In other words, the ink is fixed on the printed printing paper 93.

[0004] The following prior art documents are known in relation to the present invention. Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2009-214328 discloses a heating unit equipped with a movable shutter film having multiple openings with opening widths corresponding to multiple paper sizes. This heating unit irradiates heat through openings with opening widths corresponding to the paper size, preventing deterioration of the conveyor belt due to direct heating by heat rays. Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2017-74725 discloses a technology for individually controlling multiple heating lamps arranged along the width direction of the printing paper. This technology reduces running costs associated with the operation of the heating lamps by controlling the on / off of multiple heating lamps according to the printing position of a variable pattern. Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-166799 discloses a technology for individually controlling two heaters arranged side by side in the width direction of the printing paper. This technology enables efficient heating of the printing medium.

[0005] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2009-214328 Japanese Patent Publication No. 2017-74725 Japanese Patent Publication No. 2019-166799

[0006] Incidentally, inkjet printing devices use printing paper of various sizes, but in the drying mechanism 90 configured as shown in Figure 30, the area irradiated with heat emitted from the multiple carbon heaters 91 is constant regardless of the paper size. For example, when wide printing paper 93a is used, the relationship between the printing paper 93a and the multiple carbon heaters 91 is as shown in part A of Figure 31, whereas when narrow printing paper 93b is used, the relationship between the printing paper 93b and the multiple carbon heaters 91 is as shown in part B of Figure 31. When narrow printing paper 93b is used, heat from the carbon heaters 91 is wasted on the dotted-line areas 95 and 96 in part B of Figure 31. In this way, energy is wasted.

[0007] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a printing device equipped with a drying mechanism that can dry printed media more efficiently than conventional methods.

[0008] A first aspect of the present invention is a printing device comprising: a transport mechanism that transports a print medium; a print head that prints on the print medium being transported by the transport mechanism by ejecting ink; a line heater that irradiates heat onto the print medium after printing; and an angle adjustment unit that adjusts the heater angle, which is the acute angle formed by the transport direction of the print medium and the longitudinal direction of the line heater.

[0009] In a second aspect of the present invention, based on the first aspect of the present invention, the angle adjustment unit adjusts the heater angle in accordance with a width of the print medium used for printing when printing starts.

[0010] A third aspect of the present invention is the second aspect of the present invention, wherein at least a first width and a second width narrower than the first width are prepared as the width of the printing medium, and the angle adjustment unit makes the heater angle when the width of the printing medium is the second width smaller than the heater angle when the width of the printing medium is the first width.

[0011] In a fourth aspect of the present invention, based on the second aspect of the present invention, the angle adjustment unit reduces the heater angle as the width of the print medium becomes narrower.

[0012] A fifth aspect of the present invention is the printing device of the first aspect of the present invention, further comprising: a first slot that holds roll paper of a first width as the printing medium; a second slot that holds roll paper of a second width narrower than the first width as the printing medium; a switching mechanism that switches the source from which roll paper to be used for printing is pulled out between the first slot and the second slot; and a splicer that joins the trailing end of the roll paper pulled out from the first slot to the starting end of the roll paper pulled out from the second slot, or the trailing end of the roll paper pulled out from the second slot to the starting end of the roll paper pulled out from the first slot.

[0013] In a sixth aspect of the present invention, based on the first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of the line heaters are arranged side by side in the transport direction of the print medium.

[0014] In a seventh aspect of the present invention, based on the first aspect of the present invention, the angle adjustment unit includes a heater holding member that holds the line heater so as to face the print medium, and an actuator that operates the heater holding member, and the actuator operates the heater holding member so that the heater angle approaches a target angle that is determined according to a width of the print medium used for printing.

[0015] An eighth aspect of the present invention is related to the seventh aspect of the present invention, wherein the heater holding member includes: a first slider; a second slider; and a slider connecting member having a first end slidably connected to the first slider and a second end slidably connected to the second slider, and holding the line heater between the first end and the second end; and the angle adjustment unit includes, as the actuators, a first actuator that moves the first slider in a direction parallel to the transport direction of the print medium, and a second actuator that moves the second slider in a direction parallel to the transport direction of the print medium, and the heater angle is adjusted by the first actuator moving the first slider and the second actuator moving the second slider, and the direction in which the first actuator moves the first slider is opposite to the direction in which the second actuator moves the second slider.

[0016] In a ninth aspect of the present invention, based on the eighth aspect of the present invention, a distance over which the first actuator moves the first slider is equal to a distance over which the second actuator moves the second slider.

[0017] In a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the seventh aspect of the present invention, the heater holding member includes: a first slider; a second slider; and a slider connecting member having a first end slidably connected to the first slider and a second end slidably connected to the second slider, and holding the line heater between the first end and the second end, wherein the actuator moves the first slider in a direction parallel to a transport direction of the print medium, thereby adjusting the heater angle.

[0018] In an eleventh aspect of the present invention, based on the seventh aspect of the present invention, the heater holding member integrally holds a plurality of the line heaters arranged side by side in the short side direction, and the actuator rotates the heater holding member with the rotation axis oriented perpendicular to the printing medium, thereby adjusting the heater angle.

[0019] In a twelfth aspect of the present invention, based on the seventh aspect of the present invention, the heater holding member holds one of the line heaters, and the actuator rotates the heater holding member with the rotation axis oriented perpendicular to the printing medium, thereby adjusting the heater angle.

[0020] In a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, based on the seventh aspect of the present invention, the actuator includes a motor, and the angle adjustment unit further includes: a motor drive circuit that drives the motor; and a motor controller that controls an operation of the motor drive circuit.

[0021] A fourteenth aspect of the present invention is any one of the first to thirteenth aspects of the present invention, wherein the printing device further includes a transport control unit that controls a transport speed at which the transport mechanism transports the printing medium, and the transport control unit increases the transport speed as the heater angle after adjustment by the angle adjustment unit becomes smaller.

[0022] A fifteenth aspect of the present invention is a printing device comprising: a transport mechanism that transports a print medium; a print head that prints on the print medium being transported by the transport mechanism by ejecting ink; a line heater that irradiates heat onto the print medium after printing; a heater holding member that holds the line heater and is configured to be able to adjust the heater angle, the heater angle being the acute angle formed by the transport direction of the print medium and the longitudinal direction of the line heater; and an actuator that operates the heater holding member, wherein the heater angle is adjusted by the actuator operating the heater holding member.

[0023] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a printing device equipped with a line heater for drying print media is provided with an angle adjustment unit that adjusts the heater angle, which is the acute angle between the print media transport direction and the longitudinal direction of the line heater. Therefore, by adjusting the heater angle according to the width of the print media used for printing, it is possible to align both ends of the line heater with both ends of the print media. This reduces heat radiation outside the print media area and enables efficient heat radiation to the entire print media. As described above, a printing device equipped with a drying mechanism (line heater) that can dry printed print media more efficiently than conventional methods is realized. Furthermore, by reducing unnecessary energy consumption, it can contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

[0024] According to the second aspect of the present invention, the heater angle is adjusted at the start of printing, so that, for example, the heater angle is prevented from changing during printing, which can prevent uneven drying.

[0025] According to the third aspect of the present invention, when narrow width print media is used, the printed print media is dried more efficiently than when wide width print media is used.

[0026] According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to more effectively suppress wasteful consumption of energy.

[0027] According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, printing on the print medium and drying of the printed print medium can be carried out efficiently even if the width of the print medium changes during printing.

[0028] According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the area irradiated with heat emitted from the line heater can be enlarged in the transport direction of the print medium.

[0029] According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the same effects as those of the first aspect of the present invention can be obtained.

[0030] According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the heater angle is adjusted by moving two sliders, so that the heater angle can be adjusted to the target angle in a relatively short time.

[0031] According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, when the center of the printing medium in the width direction passes through a specific position, regardless of the width of the printing medium, one end portion of the line heater is prevented from extending significantly outside the area of ​​the printing medium.

[0032] According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, one of the two sliders does not require a corresponding actuator, so that the angle adjustment section can be realized at relatively low cost.

[0033] According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, since a plurality of line heaters can be rotated integrally, the longitudinal direction of the line heater in the initial state can be set to be perpendicular to the transport direction of the print medium, or can be set to be parallel to the transport direction of the print medium.

[0034] According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, the angle adjustment section can be realized with a relatively simple configuration.

[0035] According to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to drive the actuator with a relatively simple configuration.

[0036] According to the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, the smaller the heater angle after adjustment by the angle adjustment unit, the higher the transport speed. Since the transport speed is controlled in accordance with the heater angle after adjustment in this manner, printing efficiency is improved.

[0037] According to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, the same effects as those of the first aspect of the present invention can be obtained.

[0038] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of an inkjet printing device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the detailed configuration of a paper feeding unit in the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of a print control device (controller) in the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining an overview of a drying mechanism in the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining adjustment of a heater angle in the embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the state of multiple carbon heaters when using relatively narrow printing paper in the embodiment. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an overview of a configuration related to heater angle adjustment in the embodiment. FIG. 8 is a plan view of an angle adjustment mechanism constituting a main part of an angle adjustment means in the embodiment. FIG. 9 is a front view of the angle adjustment mechanism as seen from the downstream side in the conveying direction in the embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining that multiple carbon heaters are arranged side by side in the conveying direction of printing paper in the embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the positional relationship between a slider connecting member and two sliders in the embodiment. FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the effect of moving two sliders by the same distance in opposite directions in the embodiment. FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of an angle adjustment means in the embodiment. FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining the effect in the embodiment. FIG. 15 is a plan view of an angle adjustment mechanism constituting a main part of an angle adjustment means in a first modified example of the embodiment. FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of an angle adjustment means in the first modified example. 25 is a diagram showing an example of the positional relationship between a slider connecting member and two sliders in the first modified example. FIG. 26 is a diagram for explaining the effect of the first modified example. FIG. 27 is a schematic diagram showing the initial state of the drying mechanism in the second modified example of the embodiment. FIG. 28 is a schematic perspective view of the angle adjustment mechanism in the second modified example. FIG. 29 is a plan view of the angle adjustment mechanism in the second modified example. FIG. 29 is a front view of the angle adjustment mechanism as seen from the downstream side in the conveying direction in the second modified example. FIG. 29 is a diagram for explaining the effect of the second modified example. FIG. 29 is a schematic perspective view of the angle adjustment mechanism in the third modified example of the embodiment. FIG. 29 is a plan view of the angle adjustment mechanism in the third modified example. FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 25.Fig. 10 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the angle adjustment means in the third modified example. Fig. 11 is a diagram for explaining the effect of the third modified example. Fig. 12 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of a main part of a fourth modified example of the embodiment. Fig. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a conventional drying mechanism. Fig. 14 is a diagram for explaining that energy is wasted in a conventional drying mechanism.

[0039] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0040] 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of an inkjet printing apparatus 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The inkjet printing apparatus 10 is made up of a printing press main body 200 and a print control device (controller) 100 that controls the operation of the printing press main body 200. The printing press main body 200 includes a paper delivery section 21 that delivers printing paper 20, which is a printing medium, a plurality of rollers 22 for transporting the printing paper 20 inside the printing press main body 200, a first printing section 23 that ejects white ink to form a base layer on the printing paper 20, a first drying mechanism 24 that dries the printing paper 20 that has been coated with the white ink, a cooling mechanism 25 that cools the printing paper 20 after drying by the first drying mechanism 24, a second printing section 26 that ejects color inks (process color inks) onto the printing paper 20, a second drying mechanism 27 that dries the printing paper 20 that has been coated with the color inks, a third drying mechanism 28 that further dries the printing paper 20 after drying by the second drying mechanism 27, and a paper take-up section 29 that takes up the printed printing paper 20. The ink used for printing in this inkjet printing device 10 is water-based ink.

[0041] The first printing unit 23 is composed of a print head that ejects white ink. The second printing unit 26 is composed of four print heads that eject C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), and K (black) ink, respectively. Each print head is composed of a plurality of head modules arranged, for example, in a staggered pattern. Each head module includes a number of nozzles that eject ink. Note that the first printing unit 23 may also be configured to apply a primer (coating liquid) to the printing paper 20. Furthermore, the second printing unit 26 may also be configured to eject special color inks in addition to process color inks onto the printing paper 20.

[0042] The first drying mechanism 24 and the second drying mechanism 27 are composed of multiple carbon heaters arranged in a row in the transport direction of the printing paper 20. Each carbon heater irradiates heat (infrared rays) onto the surface of the printing paper 20 to dry it. The third drying mechanism 28 is composed of a temperature control roller 281 and multiple carbon heaters 282 arranged in a row around the temperature control roller 281. The temperature control roller 281 rotates with the printing paper 20 wrapped around it, heating the back side of the printing paper 20 while moving the printing paper 20 in the desired transport direction. Each carbon heater 282 irradiates heat onto the surface of the printing paper 20. At least one of the first drying mechanism 24 and the second drying mechanism 27 is configured so that the angle (acute angle) between the carbon heater and the transport direction of the printing paper 20 can be adjusted. This will be explained in more detail later.

[0043] 2 is a schematic diagram showing the detailed configuration of the paper feed unit 21 in this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2 , the paper feed unit 21 is composed of two slots (a first slot 211 and a second slot 212) for holding roll paper (print paper 20 wound in a roll), a switching mechanism 213 that automatically switches the source of the roll paper used for printing between the first slot 211 and the second slot 212, and a splicer 214 that splices the end of the roll paper currently in use to the beginning of the roll paper to be used next using adhesive tape or the like. Note that when switching to a different roll paper when the remaining amount of roll paper currently in use is not yet 0, the roll paper in use is cut, and the end of the cut roll paper is then spliced ​​to the beginning of the next roll paper by the splicer 214. In the paper feed unit 21 as described above, for example, the first slot 211 holds relatively wide roll paper, and the second slot 212 holds relatively narrow roll paper. The slot from which the roll paper is pulled is then switched depending on the print job being executed, and the end of the roll paper in use is spliced ​​to the beginning of the roll paper to be used next by the splicer 214. In this way, the splicer 214 splices the end of the roll paper pulled from the first slot 211 to the beginning of the roll paper pulled from the second slot 212, or the end of the roll paper pulled from the second slot 212 to the beginning of the roll paper pulled from the first slot 211.

[0044] 2. Hardware Configuration of Print Control Device FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the print control device (controller) 100. As shown in FIG. 3, the print control device 100 includes a main body 110, an auxiliary storage device 121, an optical disk drive 122, a display unit 123, a keyboard 124, and a mouse 125. The main body 110 includes a CPU 111, a memory 112, a first disk interface unit 113, a second disk interface unit 114, a display control unit 115, an input interface unit 116, and a communication interface unit 117. The CPU 111, the memory 112, the first disk interface unit 113, the second disk interface unit 114, the display control unit 115, the input interface unit 116, and the communication interface unit 117 are connected to one another via a system bus. The auxiliary storage device 121 is connected to the first disk interface unit 113. The optical disk drive 122 is connected to the second disk interface unit 114. The display unit (display device) 123 is connected to the display control unit 115. A keyboard 124 and a mouse 125 are connected to the input interface unit 116. The printing machine main body 200 is connected to the communication interface unit 117 via a communication cable. The communication interface unit 117 is also connected to the LAN 6. The auxiliary storage device 121 is a magnetic disk device or the like. An optical disk 7, which is a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM, is inserted into the optical disk drive 122. The display unit 123 is a liquid crystal display or the like. The display unit 123 is used to display information desired by the operator. The keyboard 124 and mouse 125 are used by the operator to input instructions to this print control device 100.

[0045] The auxiliary storage device 121 stores a print control program 18 (a program for controlling the execution of print processing by the printer main body 200). The CPU 111 reads the print control program 18 stored in the auxiliary storage device 121 into the memory 112 and executes it to realize various functions of the print control device 100. The memory 112 includes RAM and ROM. The memory 112 functions as a work area for the CPU 111 to execute the print control program 18 stored in the auxiliary storage device 121. The print control program 18 is provided by being stored on the computer-readable recording medium (non-transitory recording medium). That is, a user, for example, purchases an optical disk 7 as a recording medium for the print control program 18, inserts it into the optical disk drive 122, reads the print control program 18 from the optical disk 7, and installs it in the auxiliary storage device 121.

[0046] 3. Drying Mechanism As described above, at least one of the first drying mechanism 24 and the second drying mechanism 27 is configured to be able to adjust the acute angle (hereinafter referred to as the "heater angle") formed between the transport direction of the printing paper 20 and the carbon heater. This will be explained below. In the following explanation, the drying mechanism configured to be able to adjust the heater angle will be designated by the reference numeral 30.

[0047] 3.1 Overview FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the drying mechanism 30 of this embodiment. The state shown in FIG. 4 is the state immediately after the inkjet printing apparatus 10 is turned on (i.e., the initial state). As shown in FIG. 4 , multiple carbon heaters 310, which are line heaters, are arranged in a line in the transport direction of the printing paper 20. The carbon heaters 310 use carbon fiber as a heating element and have, for example, a cylindrical shape. The area marked with the reference numeral 8 in FIG. 4 is the printing area where the image is actually printed. The drying mechanism 30 is provided with an irradiation port 320, and heat (infrared rays) emitted from the carbon heaters 310 is applied to the printed printing paper 20 through the irradiation port 320. To improve the heat irradiation efficiency, a reflector (reflecting plate) corresponding to each carbon heater 310 may be provided. A shutter is provided around the irradiation port 320, so that the heat emitted from the carbon heaters 310 is not irradiated to the area around the irradiation port 320.

[0048] In this embodiment, when printing begins, the heater angle is adjusted according to the width of the printing paper 20 used for printing. Specifically, the heater angle is adjusted according to the width of the printing paper 20 used for printing so as to maintain heat irradiation to the entire printing paper 20 while suppressing heat irradiation to areas outside the printing paper 20. More specifically, as shown in the bold framed area labeled 3 in parts A to D of FIG. 5 , both ends of the carbon heater 310 correspond to both ends of the printing paper 20. As a result, for example, when using the widest printing paper 20, the state of the multiple carbon heaters 310 is as shown in FIG. 4 , and when using a relatively narrow printing paper 20, the state of the multiple carbon heaters 310 is as shown in FIG. 6 . Adjusting the heater angle when printing begins prevents, for example, phenomena such as changes in the heater angle during printing, resulting in uneven drying.

[0049] Figure 7 shows an outline of the configuration related to heater angle adjustment. The printing paper 20 is transported by a transport mechanism 210, and an angle adjustment unit 4 is provided to adjust the heater angles of the multiple carbon heaters 310 that make up the drying mechanism 30, which is located downstream in the transport direction from the printing unit 220 (the first printing unit 23 or the second printing unit 26 in Figure 1) that prints on the printing paper 20. In this regard, the angle adjustment unit 4 adjusts the heater angles based on paper information 201, which includes information about the width of the printing paper 20 used for printing. The transport mechanism 210 is realized by a paper feed unit 21, multiple rollers 22, and a paper winding unit 29. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the printing paper 20 is transported by the transport mechanism 210 at a constant speed.

[0050] As can be seen from Figure 5, the angle adjustment means 4 reduces the heater angle as the width of the printing paper 20 becomes narrower. Also, while Figure 5 shows four different widths of the printing paper 20, it is sufficient if at least two different widths of the printing paper 20 (a first width and a second width narrower than the first width) are prepared. In this regard, the angle adjustment means 4 reduces the heater angle when the printing paper 20 is the second width compared to the heater angle when the printing paper 20 is the first width.

[0051] 3.2 Detailed Configuration for Adjusting the Heater Angle Next, a detailed configuration for adjusting the heater angle will be described. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the angle adjustment mechanism that constitutes the main part of the angle adjustment means 4 that adjusts the heater angle. Fig. 9 is a front view of the angle adjustment mechanism as seen from the downstream side in the conveyance direction. Note that Fig. 8 shows only one carbon heater 310, but in reality, as shown in Fig. 10, multiple carbon heaters 310 are arranged side by side in the conveyance direction of the printing paper 20.

[0052] The angle adjustment mechanism is composed of a heater holding member 400 consisting of two sliders 421, 422 and a slider connecting member 410, which holds the carbon heater 310 so that it faces the printing paper 20, a support rail 451 that supports the slider 421, an actuator 481 for moving the slider 421, a connecting rod 491 that physically connects the slider 421 and the actuator 481, a support rail 452 that supports the slider 422, an actuator 482 for moving the slider 422, and a connecting rod 492 that physically connects the slider 422 and the actuator 482. In this embodiment, the slider 421 serves as the first slider, the slider 422 serves as the second slider, the actuator 481 serves as the first actuator, and the actuator 482 serves as the second actuator.

[0053] 8 and 9 , the carbon heater 310 is held in an opening 411 between one end (slider 421 side) (hereinafter referred to as the "first end") and the other end (slider 422 side) (hereinafter referred to as the "second end") of a slider connecting member 410 that connects the sliders 421 and 422. A slide hole 431 is formed in the first end of the slider connecting member 410, and a slide hole 432 is formed in the second end of the slider connecting member 410. A protruding slide pin 441 is provided on the slider 421, and a protruding slide pin 442 is provided on the slider 422. The slider connecting member 410, the slider 421, and the slider 422 are configured so that the slide pin 441 is positioned in the slide hole 431 and the slide pin 442 is positioned in the slide hole 432. As described above, the first end of the slider connecting member 410 is slidably connected to the slider 421 , and the second end of the slider connecting member 410 is slidably connected to the slider 422 .

[0054] The actuator 481 is a known linear actuator that converts the rotational motion of a motor into linear motion using, for example, a ball screw. The actuator 481 is composed of a main body 4811 that includes a ball screw and a motor, and an extendable rod 4812 attached to the ball screw. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 , a connecting rod 491 is attached to the slider 421, and the tip of the extendable rod 4812 is fixedly connected to the connecting rod 491. With this configuration, the slider 421 moves as the extendable rod 4812 extends and retracts based on the rotation of the motor. In this way, the actuator 481 moves the slider 421 in a direction parallel to the transport direction of the printing paper 20. The actuator 482 has a configuration similar to that of the actuator 481, and moves the slider 422 in a direction parallel to the transport direction of the printing paper 20. However, when the extensible rod 4812 constituting the actuator 481 is extended, the slider 421 moves to the left in FIG. 8, whereas when the extensible rod 4822 constituting the actuator 482 is extended, the slider 422 moves to the right in FIG.

[0055] As described above, the first end of the slider connecting member 410 is slidably connected to the slider 421. Therefore, when the actuator 481 moves the slider 421, the first end of the slider connecting member 410 moves, changing the angle between the slider 421 and the slider connecting member 410. Also, as described above, the second end of the slider connecting member 410 is slidably connected to the slider 422. Therefore, when the actuator 482 moves the slider 422, the second end of the slider connecting member 410 moves, changing the angle between the slider 422 and the slider connecting member 410. For example, if the actuator 481 extends the extensible rod 4812 to move the slider 421 and the actuator 482 extends the extensible rod 4822 to move the slider 422 from the state shown in Fig. 8 (initial state), the positional relationship between the slider connecting member 410, the slider 421, and the slider 422 will be as shown in Fig. 11. Note that in Fig. 11, the direction of movement of the slider 421 when the extensible rod 4812 extends is indicated by an arrow labeled 51, and the direction of movement of the slider 422 when the extensible rod 4822 extends is indicated by an arrow labeled 52. As described above, by controlling the movement distance of the slider 421 by the actuator 481 and the movement distance of the slider 422 by the actuator 482 in accordance with the width of the printing paper 20 being used, it is possible to adjust the heater angle so as to maintain heat irradiation to the entire printing paper 20 while suppressing heat irradiation to areas outside the printing paper 20, as shown in parts A to D of Fig. 5.

[0056] In this embodiment, the actuators 481 and 482 are driven so that the direction in which the actuator 481 moves the slider 421 is opposite to the direction in which the actuator 482 moves the slider 422. Furthermore, the actuators 481 and 482 are driven so that the distance over which the actuator 481 moves the slider 421 is equal to the distance over which the actuator 482 moves the slider 422. This prevents one end of the carbon heater 310 from significantly extending outside the area of ​​the printing paper 20, as shown in part A of Figure 12, when the center of the printing paper 20 in the width direction passes through a specific position within the drying mechanism 30, regardless of the width of the printing paper 20, and both ends of the carbon heater 310 are aligned with both ends of the printing paper 20, as shown in part B of Figure 12.

[0057] Here, the overall configuration of the angle adjustment means 4 will be described with reference to FIG. 13 . Since the actuators 481 and 482 include motors (e.g., stepping motors), components for driving the motors are required. Therefore, in addition to the actuators 481 and 482 and the heater holding member 400 described above, the angle adjustment means 4 includes a motor drive circuit 471 that drives the motor in the actuator 481, a motor control unit (motor controller) 461 that controls the operation of the motor drive circuit 471 by providing a control signal (e.g., a pulse signal) to the motor drive circuit 471 that corresponds to the target rotation amount of the motor, a motor drive circuit 472 that drives the motor in the actuator 482, and a motor control unit 462 that controls the operation of the motor drive circuit 472 by providing a control signal to the motor drive circuit 472 that corresponds to the target rotation amount of the motor.

[0058] In the above configuration, when printing starts, motor control units 461 and 462 provide control signals to motor drive circuits 471 and 472, respectively, based on paper information 201, which includes information about the width of print paper 20 used for printing. As a result, motor drive circuits 471 and 472 drive the motors in actuators 481 and 482, respectively. As a result, sliders 421 and 422 move, adjusting the heater angle.

[0059] Incidentally, if the target heater angle determined according to the width of the printing paper 20 used for printing is called the "target angle," then motor drive circuits 471 and 472 drive the motors in actuators 481 and 482, respectively, according to the target angle. This causes sliders 421 and 422 to move according to the target angle. In this way, actuators 481 and 482 operate heater holding member 400 so that the heater angle approaches the target angle.

[0060] 4. Effects According to this embodiment, the inkjet printing device 10 is provided with an angle adjustment unit 4 that adjusts the acute angle (heater angle) between the conveyance direction of the printing paper 20 and the carbon heater 310 that constitutes the drying mechanism 30. Therefore, by adjusting the heater angle according to the width of the printing paper 20 used for printing, both ends of the carbon heater 310 can be aligned with both ends of the printing paper 20. For example, when using the widest printing paper 20, the state of the multiple carbon heaters 310 is as shown in part A of FIG. 14 , and when using a relatively narrow printing paper 20, the state of the multiple carbon heaters 310 is as shown in part B of FIG. 14 . In this way, heat radiation outside the printing paper 20 is suppressed, while heat radiation to the entire printing paper 20 is enabled. As described above, this embodiment realizes an inkjet printing device 10 equipped with a drying mechanism 30 that can dry printed printing paper 20 more efficiently than conventional methods. Furthermore, by suppressing unnecessary energy consumption, this contributes to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

[0061] 5. Modifications Modifications of the above embodiment will now be described.

[0062] <5.1 First Modification> In the above embodiment, the heater angle was adjusted by moving both the slider 421 and the slider 422, but it is also possible to adjust the heater angle by moving either the slider 421 or the slider 422. Therefore, an embodiment in which the heater angle is adjusted by moving only the slider 421 will be described as a first modification.

[0063] Fig. 15 is a plan view of the angle adjustment mechanism constituting the main part of the angle adjustment means 4 in this modified example. As shown in Fig. 15, an actuator 481 corresponding to the slider 421 is provided, but an actuator corresponding to the slider 422 is not provided. Therefore, the slider 421 can move, but the slider 422 cannot. Note that, as with the above embodiment, the first end of the slider connecting member 410 is slidably connected to the slider 421, and the second end is slidably connected to the slider 422.

[0064] 16 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the angle adjustment means 4 in this modified example. The angle adjustment means 4 is composed of a heater holding member 400 that holds the carbon heater 310, an actuator 481 that operates the heater holding member 400, a motor drive circuit 471 that drives the motor in the actuator 481, and a motor control unit 461 that controls the operation of the motor drive circuit 471.

[0065] In the above configuration, when printing starts, the motor control unit 461 sends a control signal to the motor drive circuit 471 based on the paper information 201, which includes information about the width of the printing paper 20 used for printing. This causes the motor drive circuit 471 to drive the motor in the actuator 481. This moves the slider 421, adjusting the heater angle.

[0066] For example, when the actuator 481 extends the extensible rod 4812 from the state shown in Fig. 15 (initial state) to move the slider 421, the positional relationship between the slider connecting member 410, the slider 421, and the slider 422 becomes as shown in Fig. 17. In Fig. 17, the direction of movement of the slider 421 when the extensible rod 4812 is extended is indicated by an arrow with reference numeral 53.

[0067] In this modified example, the position of the slider 422 is fixed. Therefore, if a configuration were adopted in which the center of the width of the printing paper 20 passes through a specific position within the drying mechanism 30 regardless of the width of the printing paper 20, one end of the carbon heater 310 would extend significantly outside the area of ​​the printing paper 20 when narrow printing paper 20 is used. Therefore, when using the angle adjustment mechanism of this modified example, it is preferable to adopt a configuration in which the end of the width of the printing paper 20 (the end on the slider 422 side) passes through a specific position within the drying mechanism 30 regardless of the width of the printing paper 20. As a result, for example, when using the widest printing paper 20, the state of the multiple carbon heaters 310 is as shown in part A of FIG. 18 , and when using relatively narrow printing paper 20, the state of the multiple carbon heaters 310 is as shown in part B of FIG. 18 . It can be seen from part B of FIG. 18 that even when using narrow printing paper 20, heat radiation outside the area of ​​the printing paper 20 is suppressed and heat is efficiently radiated to the entire printing paper 20.

[0068] According to this modified example, an actuator for moving the slider 422 is not required, so an inkjet printing device 10 equipped with a drying mechanism 30 that can dry printed printing paper 20 more efficiently than conventional methods can be realized at a lower cost than the above embodiment.

[0069] 5.2 Second Modification In the above embodiment, in the initial state, the longitudinal direction of each carbon heater 310 was perpendicular to the transport direction of the printing paper 20 (see FIG. 4). However, the present invention is not limited to this. Therefore, an embodiment in which the longitudinal direction of each carbon heater 310 in the initial state is parallel to the transport direction of the printing paper 20 will be described as a second modification.

[0070] Figure 19 is a schematic diagram showing the initial state of the drying mechanism 30 in this modified example. As shown in Figure 19, multiple carbon heaters 310 are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the printing paper 20. The longitudinal direction of each carbon heater 310 is parallel to the transport direction of the printing paper 20.

[0071] FIG. 20 is a schematic perspective view of the angle adjustment mechanism of this modified example. FIG. 21 is a plan view of the angle adjustment mechanism of this modified example. FIG. 22 is a front view of the angle adjustment mechanism of this modified example, viewed from the downstream side in the conveying direction. The angle adjustment mechanism of this modified example is composed of a heater holding member 61 that integrally holds multiple carbon heaters 310 arranged in the respective short-side directions, and an actuator 62 that operates the heater holding member 61. The actuator 62 contains a motor, and when the motor rotates, the heater holding member 61 also rotates accordingly. In this way, the actuator 62 rotates the heater holding member 61 with its rotation axis oriented perpendicular to the printing paper 20. At this time, the multiple carbon heaters 310 rotate integrally. The rotation axis is located at the center of the heater holding member 61. As described above, the heater angle is adjusted by the actuator 62 rotating the heater holding member 61.

[0072] In this modification, the plurality of carbon heaters 310 rotate integrally based on the operation of a single actuator 62. That is, the angle adjustment mechanism includes only one actuator, as in the first modification. Therefore, the overall configuration of the angle adjustment means 4 in this modification is the same as the overall configuration of the angle adjustment means 4 in the first modification (see FIG. 16 ).

[0073] In this modified example, when printing begins, the motor inside the actuator 62 is driven according to the width of the printing paper 20 used for printing. This rotates the heater holding member 61, which integrally holds multiple carbon heaters 310, and adjusts the heater angle. For example, the heater angle is adjusted as shown in Figure 23. In the example shown in Figure 23, heat irradiation outside the area of ​​the printing paper 20 is suppressed, and heat is efficiently irradiated onto the entire printing paper 20.

[0074] As described above, this modification also realizes an inkjet printing apparatus 10 equipped with a drying mechanism 30 that can dry printed printing paper 20 more efficiently than conventional methods.

[0075] In addition, by adopting an angle adjustment mechanism that rotates multiple carbon heaters 310 as a unit, as in this modified example, the longitudinal direction of the carbon heaters 310 in the initial state can be made to be perpendicular to the transport direction of the printing paper 20, or parallel to the transport direction of the printing paper 20.

[0076] 5.3 Third Modification In the above embodiment, the heater angles of the multiple carbon heaters 310 are adjusted based on the operation of the same actuator. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Therefore, an embodiment in which an actuator is provided for each carbon heater 310 will be described as a third modification.

[0077] Figure 24 is a schematic perspective view of the angle adjustment mechanism in this modified example. Figure 25 is a plan view of the angle adjustment mechanism in this modified example. Figure 26 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in Figure 25. In this modified example, an angle adjustment mechanism having the configuration shown in Figures 24 to 26 is provided for each carbon heater 310. Therefore, for example, if the drying mechanism 30 includes nine carbon heaters 310, nine angle adjustment mechanisms having similar configurations are provided.

[0078] As shown in Figures 24 to 26, the angle adjustment mechanism in this modified example is composed of a heater holding member 71 that holds one carbon heater 310 and an actuator 72 that operates the heater holding member 71. The actuator 72 contains a motor, and when the motor rotates, the heater holding member 71 also rotates. As in the second modified example, the actuator 72 rotates the heater holding member 71 with its rotation axis oriented perpendicular to the printing paper 20. At this time, the rotation axis is located at the center of the heater holding member 71 (the center of the carbon heater 310). As described above, the actuator 72 rotates the heater holding member 71, thereby adjusting the heater angle. Typically, the heater angles of multiple carbon heaters 310 are adjusted to the same angle.

[0079] 27 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the angle adjustment means 4 in this modified example. It is assumed that the drying mechanism 30 includes n carbon heaters 310, where n is a natural number. Since an actuator 72 is provided for each carbon heater 310, the angle adjustment means 4 is made up of n heater holding members 71(1) to 71(n), n actuators 72(1) to 72(n), n motor drive circuits 73(1) to 73(n), and n motor control units 74(1) to 74(n).

[0080] In the above configuration, when printing begins, motor control units 74(1) to 74(n) each send a control signal to motor drive circuits 73(1) to 73(n) based on paper information 201, which includes information about the width of the printing paper 20 used for printing. This causes motor drive circuits 73(1) to 73(n) to drive the motors in actuators 72(1) to 72(n), respectively. This causes heater holding members 71(1) to 71(n) to rotate, adjusting the heater angle for each of the n carbon heaters 310.

[0081] Focusing on one carbon heater 310, for example, when using the widest printing paper 20, the state of that carbon heater 310 is as shown in part A of Fig. 28, and when using a relatively narrow printing paper 20, the state of that carbon heater 310 is as shown in part B of Fig. 28. From part B of Fig. 28, it can be seen that even when using narrow printing paper 20, heat is prevented from being emitted outside the area of ​​the printing paper 20, and heat is efficiently irradiated to the entire printing paper 20.

[0082] As described above, this modification also realizes an inkjet printing apparatus 10 equipped with a drying mechanism 30 that can dry printed printing paper 20 more efficiently than conventional methods.

[0083] 5.4 Fourth Modification As described above, the angle adjustment unit 4 reduces the heater angle as the width of the printing paper 20 becomes narrower (see FIG. 5 ). In this regard, as the heater angle becomes smaller, the energy density of the heat irradiated to the printing paper 20 (heat emitted from the carbon heater 310) increases. In other words, the upper limit of the drying capacity of the drying mechanism 30 can be increased. Higher drying capacity shortens the time required to dry the printed printing paper 20, allowing for a higher printing speed. In other words, the transport speed (the speed at which the transport mechanism 210 transports the printing paper 20) can be increased. Therefore, an embodiment in which the transport speed is changed depending on the width of the printing paper 20 used for printing will be described as a fourth modification.

[0084] 29 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the main parts of this modified example. This inkjet printing device 10 is provided with a transport control unit 150 that controls the transport speed, and the transport control unit 150 controls the transport speed based on paper information 201 that includes information about the width of the printing paper 20 used for printing. The transport control unit 150 is a functional component that is realized when the print control program 18 is executed by the print control device 100.

[0085] The conveyance control unit 150 increases the conveyance speed as the width of the printing paper 20 used for printing becomes narrower, based on the paper information 201. In other words, the conveyance control unit 150 increases the conveyance speed as the heater angle after adjustment by the angle adjustment unit 4 becomes smaller.

[0086] According to this modification, the narrower the width of the printing paper 20 used for printing, the faster the conveying speed (printing speed) can be, which provides the same effect as the above embodiment, as well as the effect of improving printing efficiency.

[0087] <6. Others> The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment (including modified examples), and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment (including modified examples), a carbon heater is used as the line heater, but the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention can also be applied to cases where, for example, a graphite heater is used as the line heater.

[0088] 4...Angle adjustment means 10...Inkjet printing device 20...Printing paper 21...Paper feeding section 30...Drying mechanism 61, 71, 71(1) to 71(4), 400...Heater holding member 62, 72, 72(1) to 72(4), 481, 482...Actuator 73(1) to 73(4), 471, 472...Motor drive circuit 74(1) to 74(4), 461, 462...Motor control section 100...Printing control device (controller) 200...Printing machine body 310...Carbon heater 320...Irradiation port 410...Slider connecting member 421, 422...Slider 431, 432...Slide hole 441, 442...Sliding pin 4812, 4822...Telescopic rod

Claims

1. A printing device comprising: a transport mechanism for transporting a printing medium; a print head for printing on the printing medium being transported by the transport mechanism by ejecting ink; a line heater for irradiating heat onto the printing medium after printing; and an angle adjustment unit for adjusting the heater angle, which is the acute angle formed by the transport direction of the printing medium and the longitudinal direction of the line heater.

2. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein the angle adjustment unit adjusts the heater angle in accordance with the width of the printing medium used for printing when printing starts.

3. A printing device as described in claim 2, wherein at least a first width and a second width narrower than the first width are prepared as the width of the printing medium, and the angle adjustment unit makes the heater angle when the width of the printing medium is the second width smaller than the heater angle when the width of the printing medium is the first width.

4. The printing device according to claim 2, wherein the angle adjustment section reduces the heater angle as the width of the print medium becomes narrower.

5. The printing device described in claim 1, further comprising: a first slot that holds roll paper of a first width as the printing medium; a second slot that holds roll paper of a second width narrower than the first width as the printing medium; a switching mechanism that switches the source from which the roll paper to be used for printing is pulled out between the first slot and the second slot; and a splicer that joins the end of the roll paper pulled out from the first slot to the beginning of the roll paper pulled out from the second slot, or the end of the roll paper pulled out from the second slot to the beginning of the roll paper pulled out from the first slot.

6. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of said line-type heaters are arranged side by side in the transport direction of said print medium.

7. The printing device described in claim 1, wherein the angle adjustment unit includes a heater holding member that holds the line-type heater so as to face the printing medium, and an actuator that operates the heater holding member, and the actuator operates the heater holding member so that the heater angle approaches a target angle determined according to the width of the printing medium used for printing.

8. The printing device described in claim 7, wherein the heater holding member includes: a first slider; a second slider; and a slider connecting member having a first end slidably connected to the first slider and a second end slidably connected to the second slider, holding the line-type heater between the first end and the second end; the angle adjustment unit includes as the actuators a first actuator that moves the first slider in a direction parallel to the transport direction of the print medium, and a second actuator that moves the second slider in a direction parallel to the transport direction of the print medium; the heater angle is adjusted by the first actuator moving the first slider and the second actuator moving the second slider; and the direction in which the first actuator moves the first slider is opposite to the direction in which the second actuator moves the second slider.

9. The printing apparatus of claim 8, wherein the distance that said first actuator moves said first slider is equal to the distance that said second actuator moves said second slider.

10. The printing device described in claim 7, wherein the heater holding member includes: a first slider; a second slider; and a slider connecting member having a first end slidably connected to the first slider and a second end slidably connected to the second slider, holding the line-type heater between the first end and the second end, and wherein the actuator moves the first slider in a direction parallel to the transport direction of the printing medium, thereby adjusting the heater angle.

11. A printing device as described in claim 7, wherein the heater holding member integrally holds multiple line-type heaters arranged in a line in the respective short sides, and the actuator rotates the heater holding member with the rotation axis oriented perpendicular to the printing medium, thereby adjusting the heater angle.

12. The printing device described in claim 7, wherein the heater holding member holds one of the line-type heaters, and the actuator rotates the heater holding member with the rotation axis oriented perpendicular to the printing medium, thereby adjusting the heater angle.

13. The printing device according to claim 7, wherein the actuator includes a motor, and the angle adjustment unit further includes: a motor drive circuit that drives the motor; and a motor controller that controls the operation of the motor drive circuit.

14. A printing device as described in any one of claims 1 to 13, further comprising a transport control unit that controls the transport speed at which the transport mechanism transports the printing medium, wherein the transport control unit increases the transport speed as the heater angle after adjustment by the angle adjustment unit becomes smaller.

15. A printing device comprising: a transport mechanism for transporting a printing medium; a print head for printing on the printing medium being transported by the transport mechanism by ejecting ink; a line heater for irradiating heat to the printed printing medium; a heater holding member for holding the line heater, the heater angle being the acute angle formed by the transport direction of the printing medium and the longitudinal direction of the line heater, and configured to adjust the heater angle; and an actuator for operating the heater holding member, wherein the actuator operates the heater holding member to adjust the heater angle.

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