Heating device of printer and printer

Abstract

In the present invention, it is less likely for variations in a heating temperature to occur. A heating device 110 of a printer 10 is a heating device 110 for heating a medium 5 that was printed. The heating device 110 includes a heater unit 120 for heating the medium 5 that is conveyed along a first direction X. The heater unit 120 includes a plurality of ceramic heaters 121 disposed side-by-side along a second direction Y crossing the first direction X. Each ceramic heater 121 has a first lateral-surface 131 and a second lateral-surface 132. The first lateral-surface 131 is located on one side in the second direction Y and extends obliquely with respect to the first direction X. The second lateral-surface 132 is located on the other side in the second direction Y and extends obliquely with respect to the first direction X. With respect to two ceramic heaters 121 which are adjacent to each other in the second direction Y, a second lateral-surface 132 of the ceramic heater 121 positioned on the one side in the second direction Y and a first lateral-surface 131 of the ceramic heater 121 positioned on the other side face each other.

Description

Printer heating device and printer

[0001] The present invention relates to a heating device for a printer and a printer.

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a printer for printing on a heat-rising medium that swells at heated positions. The printer includes an inkjet head that ejects ink that generates heat by absorbing energy rays of a predetermined wavelength, and an irradiation unit that irradiates the energy rays.

[0003] In this printer, ink is ejected from an inkjet head onto the portion of the medium that is to be raised. The portion of the medium onto which the ink has been ejected is irradiated with energy rays from an irradiation unit, causing the ink to heat up, and the portion of the medium onto which the ink has been ejected is heated, causing it to bulge.

[0004] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2021-74930

[0005] However, when heating and raising the medium, as in the printer described above, a higher heating temperature than usual is required, and if the heating temperature is uneven, the desired portion of the medium may not be heated sufficiently, and the desired portion of the medium may not be raised properly.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a heating device for a printer and a printer in which unevenness in heating temperature is less likely to occur.

[0007] A heating device for a printer according to the present invention is a heating device that heats a medium printed by a printer. The heating device includes a heater unit that heats the medium transported in a first direction. The heater unit has a plurality of ceramic heaters arranged side by side along a second direction intersecting the first direction. Each of the plurality of ceramic heaters has a first side and a second side. The first side is located on one side of the second direction and extends obliquely with respect to the first direction. The second side is located on the other side of the second direction and extends obliquely with respect to the first direction. For two ceramic heaters adjacent to each other in the second direction, the second side of the ceramic heater located on one side of the second direction faces the first side of the ceramic heater located on the other side of the second direction.

[0008] According to the heating device of the printer, the first and second sides of the ceramic heater are arranged diagonally with respect to the first direction, which is the direction in which the medium is transported, so that the heating temperature between two adjacent ceramic heaters is less likely to drop. This reduces unevenness in the heating temperature of the medium in the second direction, making it possible to heat the medium at a uniform heating temperature overall.

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a heating device for a printer and a printer in which unevenness in heating temperature is unlikely to occur.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a front view showing a printer according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the printer taken along the line II-II in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a bottom view showing a schematic configuration of the bottom of a carriage and an ink head. FIG. 4 is a view showing a heater unit of a heating device, as seen from the rear side of the printer. FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of range A in FIG. 4.

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments described here are not intended to limit the present invention in any particular way. Furthermore, the same reference numerals are used to designate components and parts that perform the same functions, and redundant descriptions will be omitted or simplified as appropriate.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a front view of a printer 10 according to this embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the printer 10 taken along the line II-II in FIG. 1 . In the following description of the printer 10, the terms left, right, top, and bottom refer to the left, right, top, and bottom directions, respectively, as seen from a user standing in front of the printer 10. The side of the printer 10 approaching the user is referred to as the front, and the side of the printer 10 approaching the user is referred to as the rear. The symbols F, Rr, L, R, U, and D in the drawings represent the front, rear, left, right, top, and bottom directions of the printer 10, respectively. The symbol Y in the drawings represents the main scanning direction Y. In this embodiment, the main scanning direction Y is the left-right direction. The symbol X in the drawings represents the sub-scanning direction X. The sub-scanning direction X is a direction that intersects (here, is perpendicular to) the main scanning direction Y in a plan view. In this embodiment, the sub-scanning direction X is the front-to-rear direction in a plan view. Here, the sub-scanning direction X is the front-to-rear direction on a support base 16 (see FIG. 2 ), which will be described later. Here, the rear side in the sub-scanning direction X is referred to as the upstream side, and the front side in the sub-scanning direction X is referred to as the downstream side. In this embodiment, the sub-scanning direction X is an example of a first direction. The main scanning direction Y is an example of a second direction that intersects with the first direction. However, these directions are merely defined for the convenience of explanation and do not limit the installation mode of the printer 10 or the present invention in any way.

[0013] The printer 10 is an inkjet printer, or what is known as an inkjet printer. However, the printing method of the printer 10 is not limited to the inkjet method, and it may be, for example, a thermal printer or a laser printer. In this embodiment, the printer 10 is a roll-to-roll type printer in which the medium 5 is laid out on a support base 16 (see FIG. 2 ) and moved in the sub-scanning direction X.

[0014] In this embodiment, the printer 10 prints on a roll-shaped medium 5. Here, printing on the medium 5 refers to printing on a portion of the roll-shaped medium 5 when the roll-shaped medium 5 is unfolded. When the medium 5 is installed in the printer 10, the medium 5 is wound in a roll shape around a rotation axis A1 (see FIG. 2) that extends in the main scanning direction Y. The medium 5 has a shape that allows it to be wound onto a winding roller 71 (see FIG. 2) of a winding device 70, which will be described later. The medium 5 is printed on by the printer 10 in an unrolled, i.e., unfolded, state.

[0015] The medium 5 is a heat-expandable medium that expands when heated. Here, the medium 5 expands when heated at a predetermined temperature. The medium 5 includes a base made of, for example, a film, and a heat-expandable layer formed by thermally expandable microcapsules applied to the base. The heat-expandable layer contains a foaming agent and an additive. The foaming agent may be present in an amount of 0.1 to 10 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of a polyolefin material having an elastic modulus of less than 0.1 GPa. The foaming agent may be selected from azodicarbonamide and / or metal salts thereof, hydrazodicarbonamide, sodium bicarbonate, trihydrazino-sym-triazine, pp'-oxybisbenzenesulfonylhydrazide, dinitrosopentamethylenetetramine, azobisisobutyl-odinitrile, p-toluenesulfonylhydrazide, bisbenzenesulfonylhydrazide, and the like. The polyolefin material is selected from thermoplastic elastomer polyolefin, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, atactic polypropylene polymer, or a mixture thereof. The thickness of the heat-foamed layer is preferably, for example, 0.05 mm to 0.3 mm. The additive is preferably, for example, 0 to 200 parts by weight. The heated portion of the heat-foamed layer of the medium 5 foams, causing the heated portion of the medium 5 to bulge. This allows the creation of a printed matter with unevenness.

[0016] As shown in Fig. 2, the printer 10 includes a printer body 10a and legs 11. As shown in Fig. 1, the printer body 10a has a casing that extends in the main scanning direction Y. As shown in Fig. 2, the legs 11 support the printer body 10a. The legs 11 are provided on the underside of the printer body 10a and extend downward from the printer body 10a.

[0017] The printer 10 includes a support table 16 and a support roller 14. The support table 16 and the support roller 14 support the medium 5. Here, the support table 16 and the support roller 14 support the rolled medium 5 in an unfolded state. In the following description, the medium 5 includes the rolled medium 5 in an unfolded state. The medium 5 is placed on the support table 16 in an unfolded state. Printing on the medium 5 is performed on the support table 16. The support table 16 is a so-called platen. In this embodiment, the upper surface of the support table 16 extends in the main scanning direction Y and the sub-scanning direction X. The upstream portion of the support table 16 (here, the rear portion) has an arc-shaped cross section that curves downward as it approaches the rear.

[0018] The support roller 14 is a roller that extends in the main scanning direction Y. Although not shown here, the support roller 14 is supported by the printer body 10a so as to be rotatable relative to the printer body 10a. The support roller 14 is located downstream of the support base 16 in the sub-scanning direction X. Here, the support roller 14 is located in front of the support base 16. The medium 5 is transported from the support base 16 toward the circumferential surface of the support roller 14. The support roller 14 then rotates as the medium 5 is transported. As the support roller 14 rotates, the portion of the medium 5 supported by the support roller 14 is transported downstream in the sub-scanning direction X. Note that the support roller 14 is not shown in FIG. 1.

[0019] The printer 10 includes a guide rail 17, a carriage 20, and an ink head 22. The guide rail 17 is disposed above a support base 16. As shown in Figure 1, the guide rail 17 is disposed parallel to the upper surface of the support base 16 and extends in the main scanning direction Y. A carriage 20 is engaged with the guide rail 17. The carriage 20 is slidably mounted on the guide rail 17 and is configured to be movable in the main scanning direction Y.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 2, the ink head 22 ejects ink. The ink head 22 is mounted on the carriage 20. The ink head 22 is supported by the carriage 20 so that its bottom surface is exposed downward. The number of ink heads 22 is not particularly limited. FIG. 3 is a bottom view schematically showing the configuration of the carriage 20 and the bottom surface of the ink head 22. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, there are two ink heads 22. The two ink heads 22 are arranged side by side in the main scanning direction Y. Each ink head 22 has a nozzle surface 25. The nozzle surface 25 forms the bottom surface of the ink head 22. Nozzles 26 that eject ink are formed in each nozzle surface 25. A plurality of nozzles 26 are formed side by side in the sub-scanning direction X. Here, a row of multiple nozzles 26 lined up in the sub-scanning direction X is referred to as a nozzle row 28. The number of nozzle rows 28 per ink head 22 is four. However, the number of nozzle rows 28 per ink head 22 is not particularly limited, and may be any number between one and three, or may be five or more.

[0021] 3, one of the two ink heads 22 is an anti-foaming ink head 22A, and the other is a color ink head 22B. The ink heads 22 include an anti-foaming ink head 22A and a color ink head 22B. Here, the anti-foaming ink head 22A and the color ink heads 22B are positioned at different positions in the sub-scanning direction X, which is a so-called staggered arrangement. In this embodiment, the anti-foaming ink head 22A is positioned so as to protrude further forward than the color ink heads 22B.

[0022] The foam-inhibiting ink head 22A (more specifically, the nozzles 26 of the foam-inhibiting ink head 22A) ejects foam-inhibiting ink that inhibits foaming of the medium 5 (more specifically, the heat-foamable layer of the medium 5) even when heated. This foam-inhibiting ink is ejected onto portions of the medium 5 where foaming is desired and suppresses foaming even when heated. The portions of the medium 5 other than the portions onto which the foam-inhibiting ink is ejected are then heated, promoting foaming. As a result, the portions of the medium 5 onto which the foam-inhibiting ink is not ejected are heated and foamed, causing them to bulge. The foam-inhibiting ink is preferably, for example, an aqueous ink suitable for the polyolefin surface on which the heat-foamable layer of the medium 5 is formed. Here, the foam-inhibiting ink is a transparent (in other words, colorless) ink, but it may also be a colored ink.

[0023] The color ink head 22B (more specifically, the nozzles 26 of the color ink head 22B) ejects color ink. An image can be formed on the medium 5 using the color ink ejected from the color ink head 22B. The color ink ejected from the color ink head 22B is, for example, one of a process color ink and a spot color ink. Here, process color inks include, for example, cyan ink, magenta ink, yellow ink, and black ink. Spot color inks are color inks of colors other than the process color inks. Spot color inks include, for example, white ink, clear ink, gloss ink, primer ink, fluorescent ink, metallic ink, orange ink, red ink, violet ink, blue ink, and green ink. Here, one color ink is ejected from one nozzle row 28 of the color ink head 22B. Note that the material of the color ink is not limited in any way, and various materials conventionally used as ink materials for inkjet printers and the like can be used. The color ink may be, for example, a solvent-based pigment ink or an aqueous pigment ink. Unlike the above-mentioned foam-inhibiting ink, the color ink is not an ink that inhibits foaming even when the portion of the medium 5 onto which it is ejected is heated. However, the color ink may also be an ink that inhibits foaming even when the portion of the medium 5 onto which it is ejected is heated.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 2, the printer 10 is equipped with a sheet cutter 32. The sheet cutter 32 cuts the medium 5 in an unfolded state supported on the support base 16. In this example, the sheet cutter 32 is used to cut the medium 5 linearly along the main scanning direction Y. The medium 5 cut by the sheet cutter 32 is divided into two portions: one upstream of the sub-scanning direction X (here, the rear side) and one downstream of the sub-scanning direction X (here, the front side). In the following description, cutting the medium 5 linearly in the main scanning direction Y is referred to as a "sheet cut." Note that the sheet cutter 32 is not shown in FIG. 3.

[0025] 2, in this embodiment, the sheet cutter 32 is provided on the carriage 20. The sheet cutter 32 is configured to be movable in the vertical direction relative to the carriage 20. For example, the sheet cutter 32 may be attached to a solenoid (not shown) and configured to be moved in the vertical direction by turning the solenoid ON / OFF.

[0026] 2, in this embodiment, a cutter groove 16A extending in the main scanning direction Y is formed on the upper surface of the support base 16. In a plan view, the sheet cutter 32 is positioned so as to overlap the cutter groove 16A in the sub-scanning direction X. When the sheet cutter 32 cuts the medium 5, the sheet cutter 32 is configured to penetrate the medium 5 and enter the cutter groove 16A.

[0027] 1, the printer 10 includes a head movement mechanism 40 and a transport mechanism 50. The head movement mechanism 40 moves the carriage 20, the ink head 22, and the sheet cutter 32 in the main scanning direction Y relative to the medium 5 supported by the support base 16. Here, the head movement mechanism 40 moves the carriage 20, the ink head 22, and the sheet cutter 32 in the main scanning direction Y. The configuration of the head movement mechanism 40 is not particularly limited.

[0028] In this embodiment, the head moving mechanism 40 includes a pulley 41, a pulley 42, an endless belt 43, and a scan motor 44. The pulley 41 is provided around the left end of the guide rail 17. The pulley 42 is provided around the right end of the guide rail 17. The belt 43 is wound around the pulleys 41 and 42. As shown in FIG. 2, the belt 43 is fixed to the upper rear surface of the carriage 20. As shown in FIG. 1, the scan motor 44 is connected to the right pulley 42. However, the scan motor 44 may also be connected to the left pulley 41. In this embodiment, the scan motor 44 is driven to rotate the pulley 42, causing the belt 43 to run between the pulleys 41 and 42. As a result, the carriage 20, the ink head 22, and the sheet cutter 32 move in the main scanning direction Y.

[0029] The transport mechanism 50 transports the medium 5 in the sub-scanning direction X relative to the ink head 22. Here, the transport mechanism 50 transports the unfolded portion of the roll-shaped medium 5 supported on the support table 16 in the sub-scanning direction X. The configuration of the transport mechanism 50 is not particularly limited.

[0030] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2 , the conveying mechanism 50 includes a grit roller 51, a pinch roller 52, and a feed motor 53. The grit roller 51 is mounted on the support base 16. Here, the grit roller 51 is embedded in the support base 16 so that at least a portion of the grit roller 51 is exposed above the support base 16. The pinch roller 52 presses down on the unfolded portion of the rolled medium 5 from above and is positioned above the grit roller 51. The pinch roller 52 sandwiches the medium 5 together with the grit roller 51. The pinch roller 52 faces the grit roller 51. The pinch roller 52 is configured to be movable in the vertical direction. Note that the installation positions and number of the grit rollers 51 and pinch rollers 52 are not particularly limited. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1 , seven grit rollers 51 and seven pinch rollers 52 are provided. The plurality of grit rollers 51 are arranged side by side in the main scanning direction Y, and the plurality of pinch rollers 52 are arranged side by side in the main scanning direction Y. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 2, a feed motor 53 is connected to the grit roller 51. When the feed motor 53 is driven to rotate the grit roller 51 with the medium 5 sandwiched between the grit roller 51 and the pinch roller 52, the unfolded portion of the roll-shaped medium 5 is transported in the sub-scanning direction X.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 2 , the printer 10 includes a supply device 60 having a supply roller 61. A rolled medium 5 is removably mounted on the supply device 60. The supply device 60 supplies the unrolled rolled medium 5 to the support table 16. The supply roller 61 is positioned behind and below the support table 16. As shown in FIG. 1 , the supply roller 61 has a cylindrical or columnar shape extending in the main scanning direction Y. The unprinted medium 5 is wound around the circumferential surface of the supply roller 61. The left end of the supply roller 61 is rotatably supported by a left guide plate 62L, and the right end of the supply roller 61 is rotatably supported by a right guide plate 62R. The transport mechanism 50 transports the unrolled medium 5 downstream in the sub-scanning direction X, and the unrolled portion of the rolled medium 5 is sent from the supply roller 61 toward the support table 16. In this embodiment, the printer 10 does not include a motor for rotating the supply roller 61, but may include such a motor.

[0032] 2, the printer 10 includes a winding device 70 that is supported on the support base 16 and winds the unfolded medium 5 into a roll. The winding device 70 includes a winding roller 71 and a winding motor 75 (see FIG. 1).

[0033] The take-up roller 71 winds up the unrolled medium 5. As shown in FIG. 1, the take-up roller 71 is formed in a cylindrical or columnar shape extending in the main scanning direction Y. As shown in FIG. 2, the take-up roller 71 is positioned below the support base 16 and below the supply roller 61. The take-up roller 71 is also positioned below the support roller 14. As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 10 includes a first left side wall 76L and a first right side wall 76R that rotatably support the take-up roller 71. The take-up roller 71 includes a support portion 71a supported by the first left side wall 76L and the first right side wall 76R, and a tubular portion 71b having a diameter larger than that of the support portion 71a. The rolled medium 5 is wound around the circumferential surface of the tubular portion 71b. The support portion 71a and the tubular portion 71b may be formed integrally or separately. The left end of the take-up roller 71 is rotatably supported by the first left side wall 76L. The right end of the take-up roller 71 is rotatably supported by the first right side wall 76R. The printer 10 includes rails 74 that support the first left side wall 76L and the first right side wall 76R. The rails 74 extend in the main scanning direction Y.

[0034] The winding motor 75 is connected to the winding roller 71 and rotates the winding roller 71. The winding motor 75 is indirectly connected to the winding roller 71 via a reduction gear or the like (not shown). The winding roller 71 rotates by receiving the driving force of the winding motor 75. In this embodiment, when the winding motor 75 is driven, the portion of the medium 5 supported by the support base 16 is transported downstream in the sub-scanning direction X toward the support roller 14. The medium 5 is then transported from the support roller 14 toward the winding roller 71 and is wound onto the circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 71b of the winding roller 71.

[0035] In this embodiment, the sub-scanning direction X when the medium 5 is transported from the supply device 60 to the support table 16 is inclined upward from the rear to the front. The sub-scanning direction X when the medium 5 is transported from the support roller 14 to the take-up roller 71 is inclined downward from the rear to the front.

[0036] 1, the printer 10 includes an operation panel 55 provided on the right end of the printer body 10a. The operation panel 55 includes a display screen 56 that displays the status of the printer 10, and operation keys 57 that are operated by the user.

[0037] The printer 10 is equipped with a control device 80. The control device 80 is a device that performs control related to printing, etc. The configuration of the control device 80 is not particularly limited. The control device 80 is, for example, a microcomputer. The hardware configuration of the microcomputer is not particularly limited, but it may include, for example, an I / F, a CPU, ROM, RAM, and a storage device. The control device 80 is provided inside the printer main body 10a. However, the control device 80 does not have to be provided inside the printer main body 10a. For example, the control device 80 may be a computer installed outside the printer main body 10a. In this case, the control device 80 is connected to a control board (not shown) of the printer 10 via a wired or wireless connection so as to be able to communicate with the control board.

[0038] In this embodiment, for example, the control device 80 is communicatively connected to the ink head 22, the head moving mechanism 40 (specifically, the scan motor 44), the transport mechanism 50 (specifically, the feed motor 53), the operation panel 55, and the winding device 70 (specifically, the winding motor 75). The control device 80 controls the ink head 22, the head moving mechanism 40, the transport mechanism 50, the operation panel 55, and the winding device 70.

[0039] In this embodiment, the medium 5 is heated to partially bulge, specifically, to cause foaming and bulging of portions of the medium 5 to which the foam-suppressing ink has not been ejected. Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2 , the printer 10 includes a heating device 110 for heating the medium 5. The heating device 110 heats a portion of the medium 5 that has been transported downstream in the sub-scanning direction X from the support table 16 and the support rollers 14. The heating device 110 is disposed downstream in the sub-scanning direction X from the support table 16 and the support rollers 14. In this embodiment, the heating device 110 is disposed forward of the support table 16. The heating device 110 is also disposed below the support rollers 14 and above the winding device 70. In this embodiment, the heating device 110 is disposed on the transport path 105 along which the medium 5 is transported from the support rollers 14 to the winding device 70.

[0040] As shown in Fig. 2, the heating device 110 includes a heating device main body 111 and a heater unit 120. The heating device main body 111 is a case-like body with an internal space. As shown in Fig. 1, the heating device main body 111 extends in the main scanning direction Y. As shown in Fig. 2, the heating device main body 111 is disposed midway along the conveying path 105.

[0041] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1 , the heating device 110 includes a left fixing member 119L and a right fixing member 119R that fix the heating device main body 111 to the printer main body 10a. The left fixing member 119L and the right fixing member 119R are plate-shaped members fixed to the printer main body 10a. The left fixing member 119L and the right fixing member 119R are arranged side by side in the main scanning direction Y and face each other. In this example, the left end of the heating device main body 111 is provided on the left fixing member 119L. The right end of the heating device main body 111 is provided on the right fixing member 119R. The heating device main body 111 is fixed to the printer main body 10a via the left fixing member 119L and the right fixing member 119R.

[0042] In this embodiment, the heating device main body 111 is formed with a medium inlet 112 and a medium outlet 114. Here, the medium 5 is heated within the heating device main body 111 of the heating device 110. The medium inlet 112 and the medium outlet 114 are portions through which the medium 5 passes. The portion of the medium 5 transported from the support roller 14 passes through the medium inlet 112 and is transported into the heating device main body 111. The portion of the medium 5 within the heating device main body 111 passes through the medium outlet 114 and is transported to the outside of the heating device main body 111. In this embodiment, the medium inlet 112 is formed on the top surface of the heating device main body 111 and extends in the main scanning direction Y. The medium outlet 114 is formed on the bottom surface of the heating device main body 111 and extends in the main scanning direction Y. The medium outlet 114 is located below the medium inlet 112.

[0043] In this embodiment, a heating support surface 116 is provided inside the heating device main body 111. The heating support surface 116 connects the medium inlet 112 and the medium outlet 114. Here, the heating support surface 116 extends in the main scanning direction Y and in the up-down direction. More specifically, the heating support surface 116 extends obliquely from the medium inlet 112 toward the medium outlet 114. Here, the portion of the medium 5 that passes through the medium inlet 112 is supported by the heating support surface 116 within the heating device main body 111. The portion of the medium 5 supported by the heating support surface 116 passes through the medium outlet 114 and is transported below the heating device 110.

[0044] The heater unit 120 is disposed inside the heating device main body 111. The heater unit 120 is configured to heat the interior of the heating device main body 111, thereby heating a portion of the medium 5 transported inside the heating device main body 111. Here, the heater unit 120 heats a portion of the medium 5 supported on the heat support surface 116 disposed inside the heating device main body 111. As shown in FIG. 1 , the heater unit 120 extends in the main scanning direction Y. The heater unit 120 has a size equal to or slightly shorter than the length of the space inside the heating device main body 111 in the main scanning direction Y. Furthermore, the length of the heater unit 120 in the main scanning direction Y is slightly longer than the length of the medium 5 in the main scanning direction Y.

[0045] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the heater unit 120 of the heating device 110, as seen from the rear side of the printer 10. FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of range A in FIG. 4. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the heater unit 120 has a plurality of ceramic heaters 121. The plurality of ceramic heaters 121 are arranged side by side in the main scanning direction Y. The number of ceramic heaters 121 constituting the heater unit 120 is not particularly limited, but is 13 in this example. Here, the number of ceramic heaters 121 is determined appropriately depending on the size of the ceramic heaters 121 and the length of the heating device main body 111 in the main scanning direction Y.

[0046] In this embodiment, the multiple ceramic heaters 121 have the same configuration, shape, size, etc. Each ceramic heater 121 has a heater body 130 and a temperature sensor 140. The ceramic heater 121 also has a first side surface 131, a second side surface 132, a first connecting surface 133, and a second connecting surface 134.

[0047] Here, the heater body 130 is composed of a first side surface 131, a second side surface 132, a first connecting surface 133, and a second connecting surface 134. The first side surface 131 and the second side surface 132 are aligned in the main scanning direction Y and face each other. The first side surface 131 is located on one side of the heater body 130 in the main scanning direction Y. Here, the first side surface 131 constitutes the left side surface of the heater body 130. The second side surface 132 is located on the other side of the heater body 130 in the main scanning direction Y. Here, the second side surface 132 constitutes the right side surface of the heater body 130. The first side surface 131 and the second side surface 132 are arranged parallel to each other. In this embodiment, the first side surface 131 and the second side surface 132 extend obliquely with respect to the sub-scanning direction X. Here, the first side surface 131 and the second side surface 132 extend in a first inclined direction D1, which is a direction oblique to the sub-scanning direction X. The first inclined direction D1 is an example of an inclined direction. In this embodiment, the length of the first side surface 131 in the first inclined direction D1 is the same as the length of the second side surface 132 in the first inclined direction D1, but they may be different.

[0048] The first connecting surface 133 and the second connecting surface 134 are aligned in the sub-scanning direction X and face each other. The first connecting surface 133 is located on one side of the heater main body 130 in the sub-scanning direction X. In this example, the first connecting surface 133 constitutes the upper side of the heater main body 130. The first connecting surface 133 connects one end (here, the upper end) of the first side surface 131 in the sub-scanning direction X to one end (here, the upper end) of the second side surface 132 in the sub-scanning direction X. The second connecting surface 134 is located on the other side of the heater main body 130 in the sub-scanning direction X. In this example, the second connecting surface 134 constitutes the lower side of the heater main body 130. The second connecting surface 134 connects the other end (here, the lower end) of the first side surface 131 in the sub-scanning direction X to the other end (here, the lower end) of the second side surface 132 in the sub-scanning direction X. The first connecting surface 133 and the second connecting surface 134 are arranged in parallel. In this embodiment, the first connecting surface 133 and the second connecting surface 134 extend obliquely with respect to the main scanning direction Y. Here, the first connecting surface 133 and the second connecting surface 134 extend in a second inclined direction D2, which is an oblique direction with respect to the main scanning direction Y. In this embodiment, the length of the first connecting surface 133 in the second inclined direction D2 is the same as the length of the second connecting surface 134 in the second inclined direction D2, but they may be different.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 4 , the second inclination direction D2 and the first inclination direction D1 intersect, more specifically, are perpendicular to each other. Therefore, the first side surface 131 and the second side surface 132 are perpendicular to the first connecting surface 133 and perpendicular to the second connecting surface 134. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5 , the angle R1 between the first inclination direction D1 and the sub-scanning direction X is 1 degree or greater and 15 degrees or less, preferably 1 degree or greater and 10 degrees or less, and particularly preferably 1 degree or greater and 5 degrees or less. For example, the angle R1 is 3 degrees. That is, the first side surface 131 and the second side surface 132 are inclined by the angle R1 with respect to the sub-scanning direction X. Here, the angle between the second inclination direction D2 and the main scanning direction Y is the same as the angle R1.

[0050] In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 4, the shape formed by the first side surface 131, the second side surface 132, the first connecting surface 133, and the second connecting surface 134 is rectangular, more specifically, square. In other words, the shape of the heater body 130 when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction Y and the sub-scanning direction X is rectangular (more specifically, square). The material forming the heater body 130 is not particularly limited. However, the shape of the heater body 130 may be rectangular. Here, the heater body 130 is formed from ceramic.

[0051] The temperature sensor 140 detects the temperature of the ceramic heater 121. The type of the temperature sensor 140 is not particularly limited. Here, the temperature sensor 140 is configured by a thermocouple. The position of the temperature sensor 140 relative to the heater body 130 is not particularly limited. For example, the temperature sensor 140 is disposed in the center of the heater body 130. Although not shown, a heat source that generates heat is provided in the center of the heater body 130. In this embodiment, the control device 80 in FIG. 1 is communicatively connected to the temperature sensor 140 and the heat source. The control device 80 adjusts the degree of heat generation in the heat source so that the temperature of the ceramic heater 121 obtained from the temperature sensor 140 falls within a predetermined range.

[0052] In this embodiment, the heating temperature of the ceramic heater 121 is preferably a temperature at which the portions of the medium 5 onto which the foam-suppressing ink has not been ejected will foam. For example, the temperature at which the medium 5 foams is about 200°C. Therefore, the heating temperature of the ceramic heater 121 is preferably about 350°C to 400°C. This allows the medium 5 to be sufficiently heated (for example, to about 200°C), causing the medium 5 to foam and bulge in parts.

[0053] In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 2, the plurality of ceramic heaters 121 are fixed to the heating device main body 111. Here, the heating device main body 111 is provided with a plate-shaped mounting member 118 extending in the main scanning direction Y. The mounting member 118 is fixed to the heating device main body 111. The plurality of ceramic heaters 121 are attached to the mounting member 118. In this case, as shown in Fig. 4, the positions of the plurality of ceramic heaters 121 in the sub-scanning direction X are the same.

[0054] When multiple ceramic heaters 121 are arranged side by side in the main scanning direction Y, the first side surface 131 and the second side surface 132 of each ceramic heater 121 are arranged parallel to each other, as shown in Fig. 5 . Here, two adjacent ceramic heaters 121 in the main scanning direction Y are spaced apart. In this embodiment, as described above, the heater body 130 is made of ceramic, and therefore dimensional errors are likely to occur. Therefore, it is difficult to bring two adjacent ceramic heaters 121 in the main scanning direction Y into complete contact with each other, and therefore the two adjacent ceramic heaters 121 are spaced apart. Here, for two ceramic heaters 121 adjacent to each other in the main scanning direction Y, the second side surface 132 of the ceramic heater 121 on one side (here, the left side) in the main scanning direction Y and the first side surface 131 of the ceramic heater 121 on the other side (here, the right side) in the main scanning direction Y (hereinafter, simply referred to as the "first side surface 131 and second side surface 132 of two adjacent ceramic heaters 121") are arranged parallel to each other and spaced apart. Here, a gap S1 formed between the first side surface 131 and the second side surface 132 of two adjacent ceramic heaters 121 extends in the first inclined direction D1. Therefore, when viewed from the first inclined direction D1, the gap S1 is a gap that penetrates between the two adjacent ceramic heaters 121 in the first inclined direction D1. Here, the "penetrating gap" refers to a state in which an object present deep inside the ceramic heater 121 can be seen through the gap S1.

[0055] In this embodiment, the first side surfaces 131 and second side surfaces 132 of the multiple ceramic heaters 121 extend along a first inclined direction D1 that is inclined with respect to the sub-scanning direction X. Therefore, when the heater unit 120 is viewed from the sub-scanning direction X, no gap is formed between two adjacent ceramic heaters 121 that penetrates in the sub-scanning direction X. In other words, when the heater unit 120 is viewed from the sub-scanning direction X (e.g., the downstream side in the sub-scanning direction X), anything that exists deep inside the heater unit 120 (e.g., the upstream side in the sub-scanning direction X) is blocked by the heater body 130 and cannot be seen between the two adjacent ceramic heaters 121.

[0056] The configuration of the printer 10 according to this embodiment has been described above. In this embodiment, the medium 5 is supplied from the supply device 60 to the support table 16 by the transport mechanism 50. An image can be printed on the medium 5 by ejecting color inks from the color ink heads 22B onto the medium 5 on the support table 16. After the image is printed using color inks, the foam-suppressing ink head 22A ejects foam-suppressing ink onto portions of the medium 5 where no protrusion is desired.

[0057] After the foam-inhibiting ink and color ink are ejected onto the medium 5 on the support table 16 in this manner, the medium 5 is transported downstream in the sub-scanning direction X by the transport mechanism 50. As shown in FIG. 2 , the medium 5 transported from the support table 16 passes through the support roller 14 and then reaches the heating device 110. The portion of the medium 5 transported downstream in the sub-scanning direction X passes through the medium inlet 112 of the heating device main body 111 and is placed inside the heating device main body 111. Inside the heating device main body 111, the medium 5 is supported on the heat support surface 116. At this time, the multiple ceramic heaters 121 of the heater unit 120 are activated, and the multiple ceramic heaters 121 heat the portion of the medium 5 inside the heating device main body 111. The portions of the medium 5 onto which the foam-inhibiting ink has not been ejected foam and bulge when heated. This results in the formation of irregularities on the medium 5.

[0058] After the medium 5 has been heated by the heating device 110 in this manner, the portion of the medium 5 within the heating device main body 111 is transported below the heating device main body 111 through the medium outlet 114, for example, by driving the winding motor 75 of the winding device 70 and the transport mechanism 50. The medium 5 is then wound around the circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 71b of the winding roller 71. In this manner, by heating the medium 5 and partially raising it, a printed matter with concave and convex portions can be created.

[0059] As described above, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2 , the printer 10 includes a support table 16 that supports the medium 5, a transport mechanism 50 that transports the medium 5 supported on the support table 16 downstream in the sub-scanning direction X, and a heating device 110. The heating device 110 is a heating device of the printer 10 that heats the medium 5 that has been printed by the printer 10. The heating device 110 includes a heater unit 120 that heats the medium 5 transported in the sub-scanning direction X. As shown in FIG. 4 , the heater unit 120 includes multiple ceramic heaters 121 arranged side by side along the main scanning direction Y, which is an example of a second direction that intersects with the sub-scanning direction X. Each of the multiple ceramic heaters 121 has a first side surface 131 located on one side of the main scanning direction Y (here, the left side) and extending obliquely with respect to the sub-scanning direction X, and a second side surface 132 located on the other side of the main scanning direction Y (here, the right side) and extending obliquely with respect to the sub-scanning direction X. As shown in Figure 5, for two ceramic heaters 121 adjacent to each other in the main scanning direction Y, the second side surface 132 of the ceramic heater 121 located on one side (here, the left side) in the main scanning direction Y faces the first side surface 131 of the ceramic heater 121 located on the other side (here, the right side) in the main scanning direction Y. In this way, the first side surface 131 and the second side surface 132 of the ceramic heater 121 are disposed obliquely with respect to the sub-scanning direction X, which is the direction in which the medium 5 is transported, so that the heating temperature is less likely to decrease between two adjacent ceramic heaters 121. This makes it possible to reduce unevenness in the heating temperature of the medium 5 in the main scanning direction Y. This allows the medium 5 to be heated at a uniform heating temperature overall.

[0060] 2, in this embodiment, the heating device 110 is disposed downstream of the support table 16 in the sub-scanning direction X. This allows the heating device 110 to heat the portion of the medium 5 that has been transported downstream of the support table 16 in the sub-scanning direction X.

[0061] 5 , in the present embodiment, of two ceramic heaters 121 adjacent to each other in the main scanning direction Y, the second side surface 132 of the ceramic heater 121 located on one side (here, the left side) in the main scanning direction Y and the first side surface 131 of the ceramic heater 121 located on the other side (here, the right side) in the main scanning direction Y are arranged parallel to each other and spaced apart from each other. This allows the ceramic heaters 121 to be arranged side by side in the main scanning direction Y at a predetermined distance apart, without two adjacent ceramic heaters 121 abutting against each other.

[0062] In this embodiment, when the heater unit 120 is viewed from the sub-scanning direction X, there is no gap formed between two ceramic heaters 121 adjacent to each other in the main scanning direction Y, which penetrates the heater unit 120 in the sub-scanning direction X. In this way, the fact that there is no gap formed between two adjacent ceramic heaters 121 in the sub-scanning direction X means that the ceramic heaters 121 are continuous in the main scanning direction Y when the heater unit 120 is viewed from the sub-scanning direction X. Therefore, because there is no gap formed between the ceramic heaters 121 in the sub-scanning direction X, it is possible to reduce unevenness in the heating temperature.

[0063] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4 , each of the multiple ceramic heaters 121 has a first connecting surface 133 and a second connecting surface 134. The first connecting surface 133 connects an end of the first side surface 131 on one side in the sub-scanning direction X (here, the upstream side) to an end of the second side surface 132 on one side in the sub-scanning direction X. The second connecting surface 134 connects an end of the first side surface 131 on the other side in the sub-scanning direction X (here, the downstream side) to an end of the second side surface 132 on the other side in the sub-scanning direction X. The shape formed by the first side surface 131, the second side surface 132, the first connecting surface 133, and the second connecting surface 134 is rectangular. As a result, even if the ceramic heater 121 is rectangular, by arranging the ceramic heater 121 at an angle so that the first side surface 131 and the second side surface 132 are oblique with respect to the sub-scanning direction X, it is possible to reduce unevenness in the heating temperature produced by the heating device 110.

[0064] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5 , the angle R1 between the first inclined direction D1, along which the first side surface 131 extends, and the sub-scanning direction X, and the angle R1 between the first inclined direction D1, along which the second side surface 132 extends, and the sub-scanning direction X, are both 1 degree or greater and 15 degrees or less. For example, to partially foam and raise the medium 5, a higher heating temperature, such as approximately 450 degrees, is required. For example, the inventors of the present application have found, after various studies, that if the angle R1 between the first inclined direction D1 and the sub-scanning direction X is set to 15 degrees or greater, the ceramic heater 121 is tilted too much, making it difficult to ensure the desired heating temperature. Therefore, by setting the angle R1 between the first inclined direction D1 and the sub-scanning direction X to 1 degree or greater and 15 degrees or less, as in this embodiment, it is possible to ensure the desired heating temperature while reducing unevenness in the heating temperature.

[0065] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2 , the heating device 110 includes a heating device main body 111 having an internal space. The heating device main body 111 is formed with a medium inlet 112 and a medium outlet 114. The medium inlet 112 is a portion through which the medium 5 disposed outside the heating device main body 111 passes before entering the heating device main body 111. The medium outlet 114 is a portion through which the medium 5 disposed inside the heating device main body 111 passes before exiting the heating device main body 111. The heater unit 120 is disposed inside the heating device main body 111. As such, the interior of the heating device main body 111 is a somewhat enclosed space. Therefore, by heating the medium 5 inside the heating device main body 111 with the heater unit 120, the medium 5 can be efficiently heated.

[0066] In this embodiment, the first connecting surface 133 and the second connecting surface 134 of the ceramic heater 121 of the heater unit 120 extend obliquely with respect to the main scanning direction Y, and the heater body 130 of the ceramic heater 121 is rectangular. However, the first connecting surface 133 and the second connecting surface 134 may extend in the main scanning direction Y. The heater body 130 of the ceramic heater 121 is not limited to a rectangular shape and may be, for example, a parallelogram shape.

[0067] 5 Medium 10 Printer 16 Support stand 50 Conveyance mechanism 110 Heating device (heating device of printer) 111 Heating device main body 112 Medium inlet 114 Medium outlet 120 Heater unit 121 Ceramic heater 131 First side surface 132 Second side surface 133 First connecting surface 134 Second connecting surface D1 First tilt direction (tilt direction) X Sub-scanning direction (first direction) Y Main scanning direction (second direction)

Claims

1. A heating device for a printer that heats a medium printed by a printer, comprising a heater unit that heats the medium as it is transported in a first direction, the heater unit having a plurality of ceramic heaters arranged side by side along a second direction that intersects with the first direction, each of the plurality of ceramic heaters having a first side located on one side of the second direction and extending obliquely with respect to the first direction, and a second side located on the other side of the second direction and extending obliquely with respect to the first direction, wherein for two ceramic heaters adjacent to each other in the second direction, the second side of the ceramic heater located on one side of the second direction faces the first side of the ceramic heater located on the other side of the second direction.

2. A heating device for a printer as described in claim 1, wherein, in two adjacent ceramic heaters in the second direction, the second side of the ceramic heater located on one side in the second direction and the first side of the ceramic heater located on the other side in the second direction are arranged parallel to each other.

3. A heating device for a printer as described in claim 1, wherein, for two adjacent ceramic heaters in the second direction, the second side of the ceramic heater located on one side in the second direction and the first side of the ceramic heater located on the other side in the second direction are spaced apart.

4. A heating device for a printer as described in claim 3, wherein when the heater unit is viewed from the first direction, no gap penetrating in the first direction is formed between two adjacent ceramic heaters in the second direction.

5. A heating device for a printer as described in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of ceramic heaters has: a first connection surface connecting an end of the first side surface on one side in the first direction to an end of the second side surface on one side in the first direction; and a second connection surface connecting an end of the first side surface on the other side in the first direction to an end of the second side surface on the other side in the first direction.

6. The heating device of a printer according to claim 5, wherein the shape formed by the first side surface, the second side surface, the first connecting surface, and the second connecting surface is rectangular.

7. A heating device for a printer as described in claim 1, wherein the angle formed between the inclined direction in which the first side surface extends and the first direction, and the angle formed between the inclined direction in which the second side surface extends and the first direction are greater than or equal to 1 degree and less than 15 degrees.

8. A heating device for a printer as described in claim 1, comprising a heating device body having a space inside, the heating device body having a medium inlet through which the medium arranged outside the heating device body passes to enter the inside of the heating device body, and a medium outlet through which the medium inside the heating device body passes to exit the outside of the heating device body, and the heater unit is arranged inside the heating device body.

9. A printer comprising: a heating device for a printer according to any one of claims 1 to 8; a support table that supports the medium; and a transport mechanism that transports the medium supported on the support table downstream in the first direction, wherein the heating device is positioned downstream of the support table in the first direction.

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