Printer

Abstract

Provided is a printer that improves the time efficiency of printing. A heating device 110 of a printer 10 comprises a heating device body 111, a heater 120, and a media guide 130. The media guide 130 is disposed so as to face a recording medium 5 transported by a medium transport device 50. The media guide 130 is a plate-like member that guides the recording medium 5 toward a heating chamber 113. A plurality of holes 131 are formed in the media guide 130 so as to pass through the thickness direction thereof.

Description

Printer

[0001] The present invention relates to a printer.

[0002] Conventionally, there has been known a printer that heats the ink ejected onto a recording medium with a heater to promote drying of the ink. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an inkjet printer provided with a heater provided on a mounting table. In such a printer, by controlling the temperature of the heater, it is possible to promote drying of the ink and suppress deformation of the mounting table due to heat.

[0003] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2023-176579

[0004] By the way, depending on the printer, the heater may become relatively hot and the members of the printer may become relatively hot. When a recording medium comes into contact with the member, the ink on the recording medium may dissolve. Therefore, the user needs to wait for printing without setting the recording medium to be used for the next printing until the temperature of the member drops.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and an object thereof is to provide a printer capable of improving the time efficiency of printing.

[0006] The printer according to the present invention includes a printer body having a support table for supporting a recording medium, an ink head for ejecting ink toward the recording medium, and a medium conveyance device for conveying the recording medium on which the ink has landed in a predetermined conveyance direction, and a heating device for drying the ink by heating the ink landed on the recording medium. The heating device includes a heating device body that partitions a heating chamber through which the recording medium passes, a heating source disposed in the heating chamber, and a plate-shaped medium guide provided upstream of the heating chamber in the conveyance direction and guiding the recording medium conveyed by the medium conveyance device toward the heating chamber. A through hole penetrating in the thickness direction is formed in the medium guide.

[0007] According to the printer of the present invention, the recording medium on which the ink has landed is heated in the heating chamber of the heating device. When the heating source located in the heating device body is heated, the media guide becomes relatively hot. However, due to the through-holes formed in the media guide, the temperature of the media guide cools down relatively easily. Therefore, the time required to wait for the media guide to cool down before replacing the recording medium can be relatively shortened. Thus, the waiting time during printing is reduced, and the time efficiency of printing can be improved.

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a printer that improves the time efficiency of printing.

[0009] Figure 1 is a front view showing a printer according to an embodiment. Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the printer along the section II-II in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a schematic bottom view showing the configuration of the bottom of the carriage and ink head. Figure 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the heating device in Figure 2. Figure 5 is a rear view of the media guide. Figure 6 is a plan view of the area around the media guide and support base.

[0010] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments described herein are not intended to particularly limit the present invention. Furthermore, the same reference numerals are used for components and parts that perform the same function, and redundant explanations are omitted or simplified as appropriate.

[0011] Figure 1 is a front view showing the printer 10 according to this embodiment. Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the printer 10 along the II-II section of Figure 1. In the following description of the printer 10, left, right, up, and down refer to the left, right, up, and down directions as seen from the perspective of a user standing in front of the printer 10. The direction from the printer 10 towards the user is considered the front, and the direction from the user towards the printer 10 is considered the rear. The symbols F, Rr, L, R, U, and D in the drawings indicate the front, rear, left, right, up, and down of the printer 10, respectively. The symbol Y in the drawings indicates the main scanning direction. In this embodiment, the main scanning direction Y is the left-right direction. The symbol X in the drawings indicates the sub-scanning direction. The sub-scanning direction X is the direction that intersects (in this case is orthogonal to) the main scanning direction Y in a plan view. Here, the sub-scanning direction X is the front-back direction on the support base 16 (see Figure 2), which will be described later. The sub-scanning direction X is an example of the transport direction in this invention. The main scanning direction Y is an example of the orthogonal direction in this invention. Here, the rear side of the sub-scanning direction X is referred to as the upstream side, and the front side of the sub-scanning direction X is referred to as the downstream side. However, these directions are merely defined for the sake of explanation and do not limit the installation configuration of the printer 10 in any way, nor do they limit the present invention in any way.

[0012] The printer 10 is an inkjet printer, a so-called inkjet printer. However, the printing method of the printer 10 is not limited to the inkjet method; for example, it may be a thermal printer or a laser printer. In this embodiment, the printer 10 is a roll-to-roll type printer that unfolds the recording medium 5 on the support base 16 (see Figure 2) and moves it in the sub-scanning direction X.

[0013] In this embodiment, the printer 10 prints on a roll-shaped recording medium 5. Here, printing on the recording medium 5 means printing on the unfolded portion of the recording medium 5 when the roll-shaped recording medium 5 is unfolded. The recording medium 5 is wound in a roll shape around a rotating axis A1 (see Figure 2) that extends in the main scanning direction Y when the recording medium 5 is placed in the printer 10. The recording medium 5 has a shape that allows it to be wound onto the winding roller 71 of the winding device 70, which will be described later. The recording medium 5 is printed on by the printer 10 when it is unfolded, i.e., in an unrolled state.

[0014] In this embodiment, the recording medium 5 is a heat-expandable medium that expands when heated. Here, the recording medium 5 expands when a portion heated to a predetermined heating temperature foams up. The recording medium 5 has a base portion made of, for example, a film, and a heat-expandable layer formed by heat-expandable microcapsules coated on the base portion. The heat-expandable layer contains a foaming agent and an additive. The foaming agent is selected from azodicarbonamide and / or their metal salts, hydrazodicarbonamide, sodium bicarbonate, trihydrazino-sym-triazine, pp'-oxybisbenzenesulfonyl hydrazide, dinitrosopentamethylenetetramine, azobisisobutyl-odinitrile, p-toluenesulfonyl hydrazide, bisbenzenesulfonyl hydrazide, etc. The polyolefin material is selected from thermoplastic elastomer polyolefin, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, atactic polypropylene polymer, or mixtures thereof. The heated portion of the heat-expandable layer of the recording medium 5 foams up, causing the heated portion of the recording medium 5 to expand. This makes it possible to create printed materials with raised and recessed areas. However, the recording medium 5 is not limited to this. The recording medium 5 may be, for example, recording paper, or a sheet made from a resin material such as PVC or polyester.

[0015] As shown in Figure 2, the printer 10 comprises a printer body 10a and legs 11. As shown in Figure 1, the printer body 10a has a casing that extends in the main scanning direction Y. As shown in Figure 2, the legs 11 support the printer body 10a. The legs 11 are provided on the lower surface of the printer body 10a and extend downward from the printer body 10a.

[0016] The printer 10 includes a support base 16, a guide member 18, and a support roller 14. The support base 16 and the support roller 14 support the recording medium 5. Here, the support base 16 and the support roller 14 support the roll-shaped recording medium 5 in an unfolded state. In the following description, the recording medium 5 includes the roll-shaped recording medium 5 in an unfolded state. The recording medium 5 is placed on the support base 16 in an unfolded state. Printing on the recording medium 5 is performed on the support base 16. The support base 16 is a so-called platen. In this embodiment, the support base 16 has a support surface 16B. The support surface 16B constitutes the upper surface of the support base 16. The support surface 16B extends in the main scanning direction Y and the sub-scanning direction X. Here, the recording medium 5 is placed on the support surface 16B. The support surface 16B supports the recording medium 5. The upstream portion of the support base 16 (here, the rear portion) is formed in a circular arc shape in cross-section, and curves downward as it moves towards the rear.

[0017] The guide member 18 is positioned in front of the support base 16. The guide member 18 is a member that guides the transport of the recording medium 5. In this embodiment, the guide member 18 is inclined diagonally downward from rear to front (i.e., from the upstream side to the downstream side in the sub-scanning direction X). The guide member 18 is formed in a flat plate shape.

[0018] The support roller 14 is a roller that extends in the main scanning direction Y. Although not shown in the figure, the support roller 14 is rotatably supported by the printer body 10a. The support roller 14 is positioned downstream of the guide member 18 in the sub-scanning direction X. Here, the support roller 14 is positioned in front of the guide member 18. The recording medium 5 is transported from the guide member 18 toward the circumferential surface of the support roller 14. As the recording medium 5 is transported, the support roller 14 rotates. As the support roller 14 rotates, the portion of the recording 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 Figure 1.

[0019] The printer 10 comprises a guide rail 17, a carriage 20, and an ink head 22 (see Figure 2). The guide rail 17 is positioned above the support base 16. As shown in Figure 1, the guide rail 17 is positioned parallel to the upper surface of the support base 16 and extends in the main scanning direction Y. The 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 Figure 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 such that its bottom surface is exposed downwards. The number of ink heads 22 is not particularly limited. Figure 3 is a schematic bottom view showing the configuration of the carriage 20 and the bottom surface of the ink head 22. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 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 constitutes the bottom surface of the ink head 22. A nozzle 26 for ejecting ink is formed on each nozzle surface 25. Multiple nozzles 26 are formed side by side in the sub-scanning direction X. Here, a row of multiple nozzles 26 arranged in the sub-scanning direction X is called a nozzle row 28. The number of nozzle rows 28 for one ink head 22 is four. However, the number of nozzle rows 28 for a single ink head 22 is not particularly limited and may be one to three, or five or more.

[0021] In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 3, one of the two ink heads 22 is a foam suppression ink head 22A, and the other of the two ink heads 22 is a color ink head 22B. The ink head 22 has a foam suppression ink head 22A and a color ink head 22B. Here, the foam suppression ink head 22A and the color ink head 22B are positioned at different locations in the sub-scanning direction X, a so-called staggered arrangement. In this embodiment, the foam suppression ink head 22A is positioned to protrude forward of the color ink head 22B.

[0022] The foam-suppressing ink head 22A (more specifically, the nozzle 26 of the foam-suppressing ink head 22A) ejects foam-suppressing ink that suppresses foaming even when the recording medium 5 (more specifically, the heat-foaming layer of the recording medium 5) is heated. The foam-suppressing ink is preferably a solvent ink suitable for the polyolefin surface that forms the heat-foaming layer of the recording medium 5. The color ink head 22B (more specifically, the nozzle 26 of the color ink head 22B) ejects color ink. An image can be formed on the recording medium 5 by 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 the inks selected from process color ink and spot color ink. The color of the color ink is not particularly limited. Also, the material of the color ink is not limited in any way. The color ink may be, for example, a solvent-based pigment ink.

[0023] As shown in Figure 2, the printer 10 is equipped with a sheet cutter 32. The sheet cutter 32 cuts the unfolded recording medium 5, which is supported on the support base 16. Here, the sheet cutter 32 is used to cut the recording medium 5 in a straight line along the main scanning direction Y. The recording medium 5 cut by the sheet cutter 32 is divided into two parts: the upstream side (rear side in this case) of the sub-scanning direction X and the downstream side (front side in this case) of the sub-scanning direction X.

[0024] As shown in Figure 1, the printer 10 includes a head movement mechanism 40 and a media transport device 50. The head movement mechanism 40 is a mechanism that moves the carriage 20, ink head 22 (see Figure 2), and sheet cutter 32 relative to the recording medium 5 supported on the support base 16 in the main scanning direction Y. Here, the head movement mechanism 40 moves the carriage 20, ink head 22, and sheet cutter 32 in the main scanning direction Y. Note that the configuration of the head movement mechanism 40 is not particularly limited.

[0025] In this embodiment, the head movement mechanism 40 includes a pulley 41, a pulley 42, a 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 wrapped around the pulleys 41 and 42. As shown in Figure 2, the belt 43 is fixed to the upper rear of the carriage 20. As shown in Figure 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. Here, the scan motor 44 is driven, causing the pulley 42 to rotate, which in turn causes the belt 43 to travel between the pulleys 41 and 42. This causes the carriage 20, the ink head 22, and the sheet cutter 32 to move in the main scanning direction Y.

[0026] The media transport device 50 is a mechanism that transports the recording medium 5 relative to the ink head 22 (see Figure 3) in the sub-scanning direction X. Here, the media transport device 50 transports the unfolded portion of the roll-shaped recording medium 5 supported on the support base 16 in the sub-scanning direction X. The media transport device 50 transports the recording medium 5 supported on the support surface 16B (see Figure 3) toward the heating device 110. The configuration of the media transport device 50 is not particularly limited.

[0027] In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 2, the media transport device 50 includes a grid roller 51, a pinch roller 52, and a feed motor 53. The grid roller 51 is provided on a support base 16. Here, the grid roller 51 is embedded in the support base 16 such that at least a portion of the grid roller 51 is exposed above the support base 16. The pinch roller 52 presses down on the unfolded portion of the roll-shaped recording medium 5 from above and is positioned above the grid roller 51. The pinch roller 52, together with the grid roller 51, sandwiches the recording medium 5. The pinch roller 52 faces the grid roller 51. The pinch roller 52 is configured to be movable in the vertical direction. Note that the installation positions and number of the grid roller 51 and pinch roller 52 are not particularly limited. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 1, multiple grid rollers 51 and pinch rollers 52 are arranged in the main scanning direction Y (three of each are shown in Figure 6). In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 2, the feed motor 53 is connected to the grid roller 51. When the feed motor 53 is driven and the grid roller 51 rotates with the recording medium 5 sandwiched between the grid roller 51 and the pinch roller 52, the unfolded portion of the roll-shaped recording medium 5 is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction X. Of the multiple grid rollers 51 arranged in the main scanning direction Y, the grid roller 51R (see Figure 6), which is located furthest to the right, sandwiches the vicinity of the right edge of the recording medium 5. Of the multiple grid rollers 51 arranged in the main scanning direction Y, the grid roller 51L (see Figure 6), which is located furthest to the left, sandwiches the vicinity of the left edge of the recording medium 5.

[0028] As shown in Figure 2, the printer 10 is equipped with a feed device 60 having a feed roller 61. A recording medium 5 wound in a roll is detachably attached to the feed device 60. The feed device 60 is a device that supplies the unfolded roll of recording medium 5 to the support base 16. The feed roller 61 is positioned behind and below the support base 16. As shown in Figure 1, the feed roller 61 is formed in a cylindrical or cylindrical shape extending in the main scanning direction Y. The recording medium 5 before printing is wound around the circumferential surface of the feed roller 61. The left end of the feed roller 61 is rotatably supported by the left guide plate 62L, and the right end of the feed roller 61 is rotatably supported by the right guide plate 62R. The media transport device 50 transports the unfolded recording medium 5 downstream in the sub-scanning direction X, so that the unfolded portion of the roll of recording medium 5 is fed from the feed roller 61 toward the support base 16. In this embodiment, the printer 10 does not have a motor to rotate the supply roller 61, but it may have such a motor.

[0029] As shown in Figure 2, the printer 10 is supported on a support base 16 and includes a winding device 70 that winds the unfolded recording medium 5 into a roll. The winding device 70 includes a winding roller 71 and a winding motor 75 (see Figure 1).

[0030] The winding roller 71 winds up the unfolded recording medium 5. As shown in Figure 1, the winding roller 71 is formed in a cylindrical or cylindrical shape extending in the main scanning direction Y. As shown in Figure 2, the winding roller 71 is positioned below the support base 16 and below the supply roller 61. The winding roller 71 is also positioned below the support roller 14. As shown in Figure 1, the printer 10 includes a first left side wall 76L and a first right side wall 76R that rotatably support the winding roller 71. The winding roller 71 includes a support portion 71a supported by the first left side wall 76L and the first right side wall 76R, and a cylindrical portion 71b with a larger diameter than the support portion 71a. The roll-shaped recording medium 5 is wound onto the circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 71b. The support portion 71a and the cylindrical portion 71b may be formed integrally or separately. The left end of the winding roller 71 is rotatably supported by the first left side wall 76L. The right end of the winding roller 71 is rotatably supported by the first right side wall 76R. The printer 10 includes a rail 74 that supports the first left side wall 76L and the first right side wall 76R. The rail 74 extends in the main scanning direction Y.

[0031] 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 in response to the driving force of the winding motor 75. In this embodiment, when the winding motor 75 is driven, the portion of the recording medium 5 supported by the support base 16 is transported downstream in the sub-scanning direction X toward the support roller 14. The recording medium 5 is then transported from the support roller 14 toward the winding roller 71 and wound onto the circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 71b of the winding roller 71.

[0032] In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 2, when the recording medium 5 is transported from the supply device 60 toward the support base 16, the sub-scanning direction X is inclined upward as it moves from rear to front. When the recording medium 5 is transported from the guide member 18 toward the support roller 14, and when the recording medium 5 is transported from the support roller 14 toward the winding roller 71, the sub-scanning direction X is inclined downward as it moves from rear to front. Furthermore, the sub-scanning direction X is inclined more downward when the recording medium 5 is transported from the support roller 14 toward the winding roller 71 than when the recording medium 5 is transported from the guide member 18 toward the support roller 14.

[0033] In this embodiment, the printer 10 is equipped with an operation panel 55 located at the right end of the printer body 10a, as shown in Figure 1. The operation panel 55 is equipped with a display screen 56 that displays the status of the printer 10, and operation keys 57 that are operated by the user.

[0034] The heating device 110 is a device that heats and dries the ink that has landed on the recording medium 5. In this embodiment, the recording medium 5 is heated in order to foam and raise the portion of the recording medium 5 in which the foam-suppressing ink has not been discharged. As shown in Figure 2, the heating device 110 is a device that heats the portion of the recording medium 5 that has been transported downstream in the sub-scanning direction X from the support base 16 (more specifically, the support surface 16B), the guide member 18, and the support roller 14. The heating device 110 is located downstream in the sub-scanning direction X from the support base 16, the guide member 18, and the support roller 14. Here, the heating device 110 is located in front of the support base 16. Also, the heating device 110 is located below the support roller 14 and above the winding device 70. In this embodiment, the heating device 110 is located in the transport path 105 in which the recording medium 5 is transported from the support roller 14 toward the winding device 70.

[0035] Figure 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the area around the heating device 110 in Figure 2. As shown in Figure 4, the heating device 110 comprises a heating device body 111, a heater 120, and a media guide 130.

[0036] The heating device body 111 is a case-shaped member having a heating chamber 113. As shown in Figure 1, the heating device body 111 extends in the main scanning direction Y. As shown in Figure 2, the heating device body 111 is positioned in the middle of the transport path 105. In this embodiment, the heating device body 111 is positioned below the support surface 16B. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 4, the heating device body 111 has an upper wall 111a, a lower wall 111b, a rear wall 111c, and a front wall 111d. The upper wall 111a constitutes the upper end of the heating device body 111. The lower wall 111b constitutes the lower end of the heating device body 111. The upper wall 111a and the lower wall 111b face each other with the heating chamber 113 in between. The upper wall 111a is positioned above the lower wall 111b. Also, the upper wall 111a and the lower wall 111b are inclined rearward and downward. The front wall 111d constitutes the front end of the heating device body 111. The rear wall 111c constitutes the rear end of the heating device body 111. The front wall 111d is positioned in front of the upper wall 111a and the lower wall 111b. The rear wall 111c is positioned behind the upper wall 111a and the lower wall 111b. The front wall 111d and the rear wall 111c are inclined forward and downward.

[0037] In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 1, the heating device 110 includes a left fixing member 119L and a right fixing member 119R that fix the heating device body 111 to the printer body 10a. The left fixing member 119L and the right fixing member 119R are plate-shaped members fixed to the printer 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. Here, the left end of the heating device body 111 is provided on the left fixing member 119L. The right end of the heating device body 111 is provided on the right fixing member 119R. The heating device body 111 is fixed to the printer body 10a via the left fixing member 119L and the right fixing member 119R.

[0038] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 2, the printer 10 is equipped with an upper cover body 108. The upper cover body 108 is a member that covers the heating device 110 (in other words, the heating device body 111) from above. The upper cover body 108 covers the support roller 14 from above together with the heating device 110. The upper cover body 108 is connected to the printer body 10a and the heating device body 111 and covers the recording medium 5 that is transported from the support surface 16B toward the heating device 110 from above. Here, the upper cover body 108 is connected to the front upper part of the heating device body 111 and to the part of the printer body 10a that is located above the support roller 14, the support base 16 and the guide member 18. The upper cover body 108 extends in the main scanning direction Y. In this embodiment, the recording medium 5 that is transported downstream from the support base 16 is configured to pass below the upper cover body 108 and reach the support roller 14 and the heating device 110. Note that the upper cover body 108 is not shown in Figure 1.

[0039] In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 4, the heating device body 111 has a medium inlet 112 and a medium outlet 114. Here, the recording medium 5 is heated inside the heating device body 111 of the heating device 110 (i.e., the heating chamber 113). The medium inlet 112 and the medium outlet 114 are the parts through which the recording medium 5 passes. The portion of the recording medium 5 conveyed from the support roller 14 is conveyed into the heating device body 111 by passing through the medium inlet 112. The portion of the recording medium 5 inside the heating device body 111 is conveyed to the outside of the heating device body 111 by passing through the medium outlet 114. In this embodiment, the medium inlet 112 is formed in the upper wall 111a of the heating device body 111 and extends in the main scanning direction Y. The medium outlet 114 is formed in the lower wall 111b of the heating device body 111 and extends in the main scanning direction Y. The medium outlet 114 is located below the medium inlet 112. In this configuration, the media inlet 112 is located behind the media outlet 114.

[0040] In this embodiment, a heating passage 116 is provided inside the heating device body 111 (heating chamber 113). The heating passage 116 connects the medium inlet 112 and the medium outlet 114. Here, the heating passage 116 extends in the main scanning direction Y and in the vertical direction. More specifically, the heating passage 116 extends diagonally from the medium inlet 112 toward the medium outlet 114. The heating passage 116 inclins forward as it extends downward. The heating passage 116 is formed by a passage member 116a. The material forming the passage member 116a is not particularly limited, but for example, it can be formed by a member such as a wire. Multiple members such as wires are arranged in the main scanning direction Y so as to be spaced apart from each other. The passage member 116a is arranged so as to sandwich the recording medium 5 in the front-rear direction.

[0041] Here, the portion of the recording medium 5 that has passed through the medium inlet 112 passes through the heating passage 116 within the heating device body 111. The recording medium 5 is then transported downwards to the heating device 110 by passing through the heating passage 116 and the medium outlet 114.

[0042] The heater 120 is located inside the heating device body 111. The heater 120 is an example of a heat source in the present invention. The heater 120 is configured to heat a portion of the recording medium 5 transported into the heating device body 111 by heating the inside of the heating device body 111. Here, the heater 120 heats a portion of the recording medium 5 that passes through a heating passage 116 provided in the heating chamber 113 of the heating device body 111. Although not shown in the figures, the heater 120 extends in the main scanning direction Y. The heater 120 is the same length as, or slightly shorter than, the length of the heating chamber 113 of the heating device body 111 in the main scanning direction Y. Also, the length of the heater 120 in the main scanning direction Y is slightly longer than the length of the recording medium 5 in the main scanning direction Y. The type of heater 120 is not particularly limited. In this embodiment, the heater 120 is made of a ceramic heater.

[0043] The heater 120 is provided with a temperature sensor 120a. The temperature sensor 120a detects the temperature of the heater 120. The type of the temperature sensor 120a is not particularly limited, and for example, it is a thermistor. The control device 80 (see FIG. 1) is communicably connected to the heater 120 and the temperature sensor 120a. The control device 80 adjusts the degree of heat generation of the heater 120 so that the temperature of the heater obtained from the temperature sensor 120a falls within a predetermined range. Note that the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 120a is relatively close to the temperature of the media guide 130 described later.

[0044] In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the heater 120 is fixed to the heating device main body 111. Here, the heating device main body 111 is provided with a mounting member 118 extending in the main scanning direction Y. The mounting member 118 is fixed to the front wall 111d of the heating device main body 111. The heater 120 is attached to the mounting member 118 and is fixed to the front wall 111d of the heating device main body 111 via the mounting member 118. The heater 120 is disposed in front of the heating passage 116. Therefore, the heater 120 is configured to heat the portion of the recording medium 5 passing through the heating passage 116 from the front.

[0045] In the present embodiment, the heating temperature of the heater 120 is preferably a temperature at which the portion of the recording medium 5 where the ink for foam suppression is not discharged is foamed. For example, the temperature at which the recording medium 5 foams is about 200°C. Therefore, for example, the heating temperature of the heater 120 is preferably about 350 to 400°C. By this, the recording medium 5 can be sufficiently heated (for example, heated to about 200°C), so that the recording medium 5 can be partially foamed and raised.

[0046] Although not shown in the figures, the heating device 110 may be equipped with an internal intake mechanism that discharges steam generated when the recording medium 5 is heated from the heating chamber 113 to the outside. This internal intake mechanism is formed by an intake port, a fan, etc. The heating device 110 may also be equipped with an external intake mechanism that discharges odors and the like generated outside the heating device body 111. In this embodiment, some of the steam generated when the recording medium 5 is heated in the heating chamber 113 may be discharged to the outside of the heating device body 111 from the medium inlet 112. Odors outside the heating device body 111 remain, for example, in the space 108a (see Figure 2) between the upper cover body 108 and the heating device body 111. Therefore, the external intake mechanism sucks in and discharges odors and the like present in the space 108a between the upper cover body 108 and the heating device body 111.

[0047] The media guide 130 is positioned opposite the recording medium 5 being transported by the media transport device 50 (see Figure 1). The media guide 130 is a plate-shaped member extending in the main scanning direction Y. The media guide 130 is fixed to the left fixing member 119L and the right fixing member 119R (see Figure 1). In this embodiment, the media guide 130 is positioned opposite the recording medium 5 that passes through the guide member 18 and the support roller 14. The media guide 130 is a member that guides the recording medium 5 toward the heating chamber 113. In the sub-scanning direction X, the media guide 130 is positioned upstream of the heating chamber 113. In this embodiment, the media guide 130 is made of stainless steel. The material forming the media guide 130 is not limited to stainless steel, but it is preferable to use a material with relatively high thermal conductivity. In this embodiment, the media guide 130 is made of perforated metal.

[0048] Figure 5 is a rear view of the media guide 130. As shown in Figure 5, the media guide 130 extends in the main scanning direction Y. As shown in Figure 4, the media guide 130 comprises a first portion 130a extending upward from the upper wall 111a and a second portion 130b connected to the upper end of the first portion 130a and extending upward and backward. However, the shape of the media guide 130 is not limited to this.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 4, the first portion 130a extends substantially parallel to the recording medium 5 passing through the heating passage 116. In the present embodiment, the lower end portion of the first portion 130a is disposed at a position overlapping the medium inlet 112 in the front-rear direction. The second portion 130b is inclined in a direction closer to horizontal than the first portion 130a. Therefore, the media guide 130 has a bent shape that covers the space 108a by the first portion 130a and the second portion 130b. As shown in FIG. 5, in the present embodiment, the main scanning directions Y of the first portion 130a and the second portion 130b are formed to have substantially the same length. Also, the first portion 130a and the second portion 130b are formed of an integral member. However, the first portion 130a and the second portion 130b may be separate.

[0050] A plurality of circular through-holes 131 are formed in the media guide 130. The through-hole 131 is a hole penetrating in the front-rear direction, which is the thickness direction of the media guide 130. Here, the "front-rear direction of the media guide 130" is inclined in the vertical direction with respect to the front-rear direction of the printer 10 (see FIG. 4). "The through-hole 131 penetrates in the front-rear direction of the media guide 130" means that the through-hole 131 penetrates the front-side surface and the rear-side surface of the media guide 130, and does not mean that the penetrating direction of the through-hole 131 completely coincides with the front-rear direction (horizontal direction) of the printer 10. In the present embodiment, the penetrating direction of the through-hole 131 is inclined in the vertical direction with respect to the front-rear direction (horizontal direction) of the printer 10. A plurality of through-holes 131 are formed along the main scanning direction Y and the sub-scanning direction X. As shown in FIG. 5, in the present embodiment, the through-hole 131 has a shape in which the length in the main scanning direction Y is longer than the sub-scanning direction X. However, the shape of the through-hole 131 is not particularly limited. The plurality of through-holes 131 are formed at equal intervals along the main scanning direction Y. That is, for the plurality of through-holes 131 having the same position in the sub-scanning direction X, the interval in the main scanning direction Y between the through-holes 131 is constant at the width L1.

[0051] Here, the region of the media guide 130 in which the through holes 131 are formed is referred to as the hole-forming region HR. In this embodiment, the right end of the hole-forming region HR is the rightmost position of the multiple through holes 131, and is located slightly to the left of the right end of the media guide 130. The left end of the hole-forming region HR is the leftmost position of the multiple through holes 131, and is located slightly to the right of the left end of the media guide 130. The lower end of the hole-forming region HR is the lowest position of the multiple through holes 131, and is located slightly above the lower end of the media guide 130. The upper end of the hole-forming region HR is the uppermost position of the multiple through holes 131, and is located slightly below the upper end of the media guide 130. Here, the upper end of the hole-forming region HR is referred to as the upper end HRu. The upper end HRu of the hole-forming region HR is located in the second portion 130b. As shown in Figure 4, the upper end HRu of the hole-forming region HR is located above the support base 16. As shown in Figure 5, the lower end of the hole-forming region HR is located in the first portion 130a. Therefore, in this embodiment, the through-hole 131 is formed over almost the entire surface of the media guide 130.

[0052] Figure 6 is a plan view of the media guide 130 and the area around the support base 16. Figure 6 is a schematic diagram with the upper cover body 108 (see Figure 2) removed. As shown in Figure 6, the width of the hole-forming region HR in the main scanning direction Y is defined as width L3 (see also Figure 5). The width of the area from the grid roller 51R to the grid roller 51L in the main scanning direction Y is defined as width L4. More specifically, width L4 is the length from the right end of the grid roller 51R to the left end of the grid roller 51L in the main scanning direction Y. In this case, the width L3 of the hole-forming region HR is longer than width L4. Therefore, the length of the recording medium 5 guided by the support base 16 in the main scanning direction Y is shorter than the width L3 of the hole-forming region HR in the main scanning direction Y.

[0053] As shown in Figure 1, the printer 10 is equipped with a control device 80. The control device 80 is a device that performs control related to printing in the printer 10. 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 for example, it is equipped with an I / F, a CPU, ROM, RAM, and a storage device. The control device 80 is located inside the printer body 10a. However, the control device 80 does not have to be located inside the printer body 10a. For example, the control device 80 may be a computer installed outside the printer body 10a. In this case, the control device 80 is connected to the control board (not shown) of the printer 10 via wired or wireless means so as to be able to communicate.

[0054] In this embodiment, for example, the control device 80 is communicatively connected to the ink head 22 (see Figure 2), the head movement mechanism 40 (specifically the scan motor 44), the media transport device 50 (specifically the feed motor 53), the operation panel 55, the winding device 70 (specifically the winding motor 75), the heater 120 (see Figure 2), and the temperature sensor 120a (see Figure 4). The control device 80 controls the ink head 22, the head movement mechanism 40, the media transport device 50, the operation panel 55, the winding device 70, and the heater 120.

[0055] In this embodiment, the control device 80 includes a temperature estimation unit 81. The temperature estimation unit 81 estimates the temperature of the media guide 130 (see Figure 2) based on the measurement value of the temperature sensor 120a (see Figure 4). That is, the temperature estimation unit 81 estimates the temperature of the media guide 130 based on the temperature of the heater 120. The method by which the temperature estimation unit 81 estimates the temperature of the media guide 130 is not particularly limited. For example, the temperature estimation unit 81 may estimate the temperature of the media guide 130 based on a map previously acquired regarding the measurement value of the temperature sensor 120a and the temperature of the media guide 130.

[0056] In this embodiment, the control device 80 includes a notification unit 82. The notification unit 82 notifies the user that the recording medium 5 should not be set in the printer 10 if the temperature estimated by the temperature estimation unit 81 is above a predetermined threshold. The notification unit 82 also notifies the user that the recording medium 5 may be set in the printer 10 if the temperature estimated by the temperature estimation unit 81 is below a predetermined threshold. Here, "setting the recording medium 5" means that the recording medium 5 pulled out from the supply device 60 is supported on the support stand 16 and the recording medium 5 is unfolded. That is, once the recording medium 5 is set, the printer 10 is ready to print on the recording medium 5. The threshold notified by the notification unit 82 is not particularly limited, but in this embodiment, for example, it is 85°C. In this embodiment, the notification unit 82 notifies the user by displaying on the operation panel 55 that the recording medium 5 should not be set or that the recording medium 5 may be set. However, the method of notification is not limited to this.

[0057] The configuration of the printer 10 according to this embodiment has been described above. Before printing is performed by the printer 10, the recording medium 5 is set. At this time, a portion of the roll-shaped recording medium 5 provided on the supply device 60 is pulled out. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 2, the recording medium 5 is supplied from the supply device 60 onto the support surface 16B of the support base 16 by the media transport device 50, and then the recording medium 5 passes inside the heating device 110. More specifically, the recording medium 5 is guided by the media guide 130, enters the heating device body 111 from the media inlet 112, passes through the heating passage 116, and is transported downwards from the media outlet 114 to the heating device 110. After that, the end of the recording medium 5 is fixed to the winding roller 71, and the recording medium 5 is set. When printing starts, color ink is ejected from the color ink head 22B (see Figure 3) onto the recording medium 5 supported on the support surface 16B of the support base 16, the ink lands on the recording medium 5, and an image is formed. After printing an image with color ink, foam-suppressing ink is ejected from the foam-suppressing ink head 22A (see Figure 3) to the parts of the recording medium 5 that are not to be raised. The recording medium 5, from which the color ink and foam-suppressing ink have been ejected, is guided by the guide member 18 to the medium inlet 112. The recording medium 5 then passes through the heating chamber 113 and reaches the medium outlet 114. As the recording medium 5 passes through the heating passage 116 of the heating chamber 113, the recording medium 5 is heated by the heat of the heater 120. As a result, the ink foams up in all parts of the recording medium 5 except for the parts from which the foam-suppressing ink has not been ejected.

[0058] When printing on the recording medium 5 is complete, the entire heating device 110 becomes relatively hot due to the heating of the heater 120. In other words, the media guide 130 becomes relatively hot. For example, when printing on the recording medium 5 is complete, the media guide 130 is at about 210°C. At this point, after printing on the recording medium 5 is complete, it may be necessary to replace it with a new recording medium 5 for the next printing and set the recording medium 5 again. When the recording medium 5 is set again in the manner described above, as the recording medium 5 enters the heating device 110, it may come into contact with the hot media guide 130, and the surface of the recording medium 5 (in this embodiment, the heated foam layer) may melt and fuse to the media guide 130. Therefore, the user needs to wait until the temperature of the media guide 130 has decreased before setting the recording medium 5.

[0059] At this time, the temperature estimation unit 81 estimates the temperature of the media guide 130 based on the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 120a. When printing to the recording medium 5 is completed, the temperature of the media guide 130 may be above a predetermined threshold. If the temperature estimated by the temperature estimation unit 81 is above the threshold, the notification unit 82 displays a notification on the operation panel 55 indicating that the recording medium 5 should not be set in the printer 10.

[0060] While the user is waiting to print, the heat from the heating device 110 is released to the outside of the printer 10, and the temperature of the heating device 110 gradually decreases. At this time, the heat trapped in the space 108a is released to the outside of the heating device 110 by passing through the through-hole 131 of the media guide 130. When heat is released from the space 108a, the temperature of the air in the space 108a decreases. At this time, heat exchange occurs between the air in contact with the media guide 130 and the media guide 130. That is, the heat from the media guide 130 is transferred to the air surrounding the media guide 130. As a result, the temperature of the media guide 130 gradually decreases. When the temperature estimated by the temperature estimation unit 81 falls below a predetermined threshold, the notification unit 82 displays a notification on the operation panel 55 indicating that it is OK to set the recording medium 5 in the printer 10. This allows the user to recognize that it is OK to set the recording medium 5 in the printer 10. At this time, the user sets the recording medium 5 in the printer 10 and starts the next print job.

[0061] As described above, the printer 10 of this embodiment comprises a printer body 10a, a heating device 110, and a media guide 130. The printer body 10a includes a support base 16, an ink head 22, and a media transport device 50. The recording medium 5, from which ink has been ejected from the ink head 22 on the support base 16, is transported by the media transport device 50 and heads toward the heating chamber 113. When the heater 120 located in the heating chamber 113 is heated, heat is transferred to the media guide 130, causing the media guide 130 to become relatively hot. However, since the media guide 130 has through holes 131 that penetrate in the thickness direction of the media guide 130, the temperature of the media guide 130 tends to drop relatively easily when waiting to print. Therefore, the time it takes for the temperature of the media guide 130 to drop after printing is completed is relatively short. This makes it possible to relatively shorten the waiting time until the user sets the recording medium 5 again. Therefore, the time efficiency of printing in the printer 10 can be improved.

[0062] Alternatively, instead of the through-hole 131, it is conceivable to provide irregularities on the media guide 130 to increase its surface area and promote temperature reduction. However, if irregularities are provided on the media guide 130, the transported recording medium 5 may get caught on these irregularities, potentially causing the recording medium 5 to jam in the transport path 105. As in this embodiment, the media guide 130 is provided with a through-hole 131, making it relatively difficult for the transported recording medium 5 to get caught on the media guide 130. Therefore, the through-hole 131 can prevent jamming of the recording medium 5 while promoting temperature reduction of the media guide 130.

[0063] In the printer 10 of this embodiment, the through holes 131 are formed at equal intervals along the main scanning direction Y. That is, the width L1 between the through holes 131 in the main scanning direction Y is constant for all of the through holes 131. As a result, the temperature of the media guide 130 tends to decrease uniformly in the main scanning direction Y. Therefore, the temperature of the part of the media guide 130 facing the transported recording medium 5 is suppressed to vary depending on the position in the main scanning direction Y. If there is a locally high temperature part of the media guide 130, it is necessary to wait to print until the temperature of that part decreases. However, in this embodiment, since the temperature variation of the media guide 130 in the main scanning direction Y is suppressed, the time until the recording medium 5 reaches a temperature suitable for setting can be shortened compared to when the through holes 131 are not formed at equal intervals.

[0064] In the printer 10 of this embodiment, the upper end HRu of the hole-forming region HR is located above the support base 16. The part of the media guide 130 other than the hole-forming region HR does not cool down as easily as the hole-forming region HR. If the upper end HRu of the hole-forming region HR is located below the support base 16, the transported recording medium 5 may come into contact with the part of the media guide 130 other than the hole-forming region HR. However, as in this embodiment, because the upper end HRu of the hole-forming region HR is located above the support base 16, even if the transported recording medium 5 comes into contact with the media guide 130, the recording medium 5 will come into contact with a part of the media guide 130 below the upper end HRu of the hole-forming region HR. In other words, through holes 131 are formed in the part of the media guide 130 that the recording medium 5 may come into contact with, and the temperature of that part cools down relatively easily. As a result, when the recording medium 5 comes into contact with the media guide 130, welding of the surface of the recording medium 5 to the media guide 130 is further suppressed.

[0065] In the printer 10 of this embodiment, the width L3 of the hole-forming region HR is formed to be longer than the width L4 from the grid roller 52R to the grid roller 52L. The grid roller 52R sandwiches the vicinity of the right edge of the recording medium 5. The grid roller 51L sandwiches the vicinity of the left edge of the recording medium 5. Therefore, the width L3 of the hole-forming region HR is approximately equal to or greater than the width of the recording medium 5 being transported in the main scanning direction Y. If the width L3 of the hole-forming region HR is shorter than the width of the recording medium 5, then the through-hole 131 is not formed in the portion of the media guide 130 facing the vicinity of the end of the recording medium 5 in the main scanning direction Y, and the temperature in that portion may be locally high. However, as in this embodiment, when the width L3 of the hole-forming region HR is longer than the width L4, the recording medium 5 passes through a position facing the hole-forming region HR, or a position facing a portion relatively close to the hole-forming region HR in the main scanning direction Y. In other words, the portion of the media guide 130 that the recording medium 5 may come into contact with is the hole-forming region HR and the portion relatively close to the hole-forming region HR in the main scanning direction Y. This portion tends to cool down relatively quickly when waiting to print. As a result, when the recording medium 5 comes into contact with the media guide 130, welding of the surface of the recording medium 5 to the media guide 130 is further suppressed.

[0066] In the printer 10 of this embodiment, the media guide 130 is made of a metallic material (in this case, stainless steel). Therefore, the media guide 130 has relatively high thermal conductivity. This facilitates heat exchange between the air in contact with the media guide 130 and the media guide 130 itself. In other words, the temperature of the media guide 130 decreases easily. Therefore, the waiting time until the temperature of the media guide 130 drops can be further reduced.

[0067] A preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above. However, the printer of the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above.

[0068] In the embodiment described above, the temperature of the media guide 130 was estimated based on the temperature of the temperature sensor 120a provided on the heater 120, but the method for measuring the temperature of the media guide 130 is not limited to this. For example, a temperature sensor may be provided on the media guide, and the temperature of the media guide 130 may be measured directly using the temperature sensor.

[0069] The technology disclosed herein can be applied to various types of printers. In addition to the roll-to-roll type printers shown in the embodiments described above, it can also be applied to so-called flatbed type printers, for example, in which a recording medium is fixed on a table and the table is transported to print. Furthermore, it can also be applied to so-called gantry type printers, in which a recording medium is placed on a table and a carriage is moved relative to the table in the main scanning direction Y and in the front-back direction to print.

[0070] 5 Recording medium 10 Printer 10a Printer body 16 Support stand 50 Media transport mechanism 110 Heating device 111 Heating device body 113 Heating chamber 120 Heat source (heater) 130 Media guide

Claims

1. A printer having a support base for supporting a recording medium, an ink head for ejecting ink toward the recording medium, and a media transport device for transporting the recording medium on which the ink has landed in a predetermined transport direction; and a heating device for drying the ink by heating the ink that has landed on the recording medium, wherein the heating device comprises a heating device body that partitions a heating chamber through which the recording medium passes, a heating source disposed in the heating chamber, and a plate-shaped media guide provided upstream of the heating chamber in the transport direction for guiding the recording medium transported by the media transport device toward the heating chamber, wherein the media guide has through holes formed in the thickness direction.

2. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the through holes are formed in multiple locations at equal intervals along a direction perpendicular to the transport direction.

3. The printer according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of through holes are formed in the media guide, and the upper end of the region in the media guide where the plurality of through holes are formed is located above the support base.

4. The printer according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of grid rollers provided on the support base and arranged in an orthogonal direction perpendicular to the transport direction for transporting the recording medium, wherein a plurality of through holes are formed along the orthogonal direction, and the width in the orthogonal direction of the region in the media guide in which the plurality of through holes are formed is longer than the width in the orthogonal direction from the grid roller located furthest to one side of the plurality of grid rollers in the orthogonal direction to the grid roller located furthest to the other side of the plurality of grid rollers.

5. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the media guide is formed of a metallic material.

Images