JP2000355099A - Drying apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a drying apparatus simple in structure, capable of being produced inexpensively and keeping high drying efficiency. SOLUTION: In a drying apparatus, round holes and oval holes 52 are respectively formed to the top surface of a reflecting plate 32 and a reflecting plate holder 34 and the round holes are used for positioning to be fixed by fixing screws while a stepped screws 54 are inserted in the oval holes 52. The stepped screws 54 are fixed to a bracket 48 and the reflecting plate 32 and the reflecting plate holder 34 are suspended through the stepped screws 54 so as to generate backlash in a horizontal direction. By this constitution, since the oval holes of the reflecting plate 32 and the reflecting plate holder 34 moves along the neck parts of the stepped screws 54, the thermal deformation of the reflecting plate 32 and the reflecting plate holder 34 can be prevented.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a drying apparatus for drying recording paper printed by an ink jet head.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Ink jet recording apparatuses can be printed at high speed and can perform color printing, but they are inexpensive, and the future is promising. This ink jet recording device has a lower ink absorbency on plain paper than a specialty paper having a good ink absorbency, so after printing, the recording paper is dried by a drying device to promote the fixing of the ink. I have.

[0003] As the drying apparatus, an apparatus using both a method of heating recording paper by radiant heat of an infrared heater and a hot air heating method of blowing hot air to a recording liquid is used (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H08-224871).

In the above prior art, a reflector for reflecting near infrared light of the infrared heater is disposed above the infrared heater. Although this reflector is fixed to the housing, the reflector expands and deforms due to the radiant heat of the infrared heater. When the reflector is deformed, the angle at which the infrared heater reflects near-infrared light changes, and the drying efficiency for drying the recording paper decreases.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to provide a simple structure, can be manufactured at a low price, and maintain high drying efficiency.

[0006]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a heat-insulating housing for partitioning a drying area is mounted on the main body frame, and a heating element for drying the recording paper is provided in the housing. Have been. The housing can be withdrawn from the main body frame by a withdrawing means, and is withdrawn along the recording paper conveyance direction.

As described above, since the housing can be pulled out from the main body frame and the housing is made of a heat insulating material, it is not heated even if the housing is directly touched.

Further, since the housing is pulled out along the recording paper conveyance direction, the jammed recording paper does not get caught and broken when pulled out. Therefore, the user can safely and easily cope with the maintenance when the recording paper is jammed.

Further, a reflector for reflecting the infrared light of the heating element toward the recording paper is suspended with a play in the horizontal direction. Therefore, even if the reflector is thermally expanded or contracted, the amount of thermal deformation is absorbed by the play, and the reflector is not thermally deformed, and the reflection direction of the infrared light of the heating element is scattered in a direction other than the predetermined direction. I will not do it. Therefore, the drying efficiency does not decrease.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the hole is formed in the top surface of the reflection plate. On the other hand, the head of this fixture is
It is larger than the size of the hole, and is suspended so that the reflector does not fall off.

A neck protrudes from the head, and when the neck is mounted on a mounting member fixed to the housing, a gap is formed between the mounting member and the reflector. The neck is smaller than the size of the hole, and the hole can move through the neck.

As described above, since the gap is provided between the mounting member and the reflection plate, heat is not transmitted. In addition, the reflecting plate can be moved by a dimensional difference generated between the reflecting plate and the neck of the fixture by the hole. For this reason, when the reflective plate thermally expands, the hole moves along the neck of the fixture, the amount of thermal deformation is absorbed, and the reflective plate is not thermally deformed.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, a heat insulating material is disposed in a gap provided between the mounting member and the reflector. The heat insulating material absorbs vertical play due to the gap and prevents heat conduction from the reflector to the mounting member.

As described above, the heat insulating material absorbs vertical play due to the gap generated between the reflector and the mounting member, so that the reflector is rattled and the heating element reflects infrared light in a direction other than the predetermined direction. There is no scattering. Further, heat from the reflector is not conducted to the mounting member.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a rectifying means is provided in the housing, and the rectifying means conveys the wind speed of the outside air introduced into the housing by an intake fan provided in the housing. Averaging is performed in the width direction of the recording paper.

On the other hand, the outside air rectified by the rectifying means by the ventilation passage passes along the top surface of the reflection plate, and then passes over the platen on which the recording paper is transported in the recording paper transport direction. It is led to an exhaust fan provided in the housing.

With such a configuration, the wind velocity of the outside air introduced into the housing is averaged in the width direction of the recording paper being conveyed, so that warm air passes uniformly in the width direction of the recording paper. Therefore, drying unevenness does not occur. Then, in this state, the warm air moves on the platen for transporting the recording paper in the recording paper transport direction, so that the drying efficiency of the recording paper is improved.

Further, the humidity and temperature of the air in the drying area are kept constant by exhausting the air containing moisture in the ink due to the drying of the recording paper in the drying area and the air whose temperature has been raised by the heating element. And the recording paper does not burn.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, as the rectifying means, the partition plate extends in the width direction of the recording paper being conveyed,
It receives outside air introduced into the housing.

As described above, the wind speed can be averaged in the width direction of the recording paper conveyed outside air introduced into the housing only by forming the partition plate, so that the structure is simple and the cost is remarkably reduced. Never rises.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the guide means is curved from the lower end of the side wall of the housing in the direction of transport of the recording sheet, and guides the rectified outside air onto the platen in the direction of transport of the recording sheet. are doing.

Therefore, the warm air directed downward is reliably guided from the lower end of the side wall of the housing onto the platen in the recording paper conveying direction, and the warm air leaks outside the housing (the recording paper conveying direction). And drying efficiency is improved.

[0023]

1 and 2 show a drying apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment.

The drying device 10 is disposed adjacent to the ink jet head 12. Each of the inkjet heads 12 for ejecting black, magenta, cyan, and yellow inks is mounted by a carriage (not shown). The carriage scans in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the recording paper P is conveyed. Is injected.

The recording paper P on which high-speed printing is performed by the inkjet head 12 is transferred to the drying device 10 while being sequentially conveyed by the nozzle width (not shown) of the inkjet head 12.

In the drying device 10, when the recording paper P passes between the heating element and the conveying path surface, the near-infrared light, radiant heat and warm air of the heating element cause the moisture of the ink that has landed on the recording paper P to become wet. Is evaporated to dry the recording paper P.

Hereinafter, the drying device 10 will be described in detail.

The drying device 10 has a bottom surface (dry area).
An open box-shaped housing 14 is provided. As shown in FIG. 3, the housing 14 has a housing holding member 16 formed by bending both ends of a rectangular plate material.
(Not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2).

A mounting piece (not shown) is fixed below the pair of side walls 16A of the housing holding member 16, and the housing 14 is attached to the mounting piece. A flange 16B is bridged over the upper end of the side wall 16A to facilitate holding the housing holding member 16. Further, a substantially C-shaped movable rail 18 is provided outside the side wall 16A.
Are provided along the transport direction of the recording paper P (see FIG. 1).

On the other hand, a platen 22 is provided on the main body frame 20 in which the housing holding member 16 is loaded. The platen 22 constitutes a conveying path surface of the recording paper P, and a rectangular hole 22A is formed in a top surface 22C of the platen 22, and a conveying roller 26 is exposed from the rectangular hole 22A. The recording paper P is transported.

A plurality of ribs 22B are formed on the top surface 22C of the platen 22 along the transport direction of the recording paper P, and the recording paper P may stick to the transport path surface due to static electricity or the like and jam. I try not to.

A pair of guide rails 24 with which the movable rail 18 can be engaged are provided on the inner wall of the main body frame 20, and the movable rail 18 is engaged with the guide rail 24 so as to extend along the transport direction of the recording paper P. Slide.

With such a configuration, the housing 14 can be pulled out on the platen 22 along the conveying direction of the recording paper P with respect to the main body frame 20. For this reason,
When maintenance is performed or when the recording paper P is jammed, the user can easily cope with the jam.

The movable rail 18 and the guide rail 2
4 is provided along the transport direction of the recording paper P,
The housing 14 is pulled out along the transport direction of the recording paper P. For this reason, the recording paper P jammed when pulled out
Is less likely to be caught and torn (the recording paper P is hard to be caught because the housing 14 is pulled out in the direction in which the jammed recording paper P is stretched).

Here, the housing 14 is formed of a heat insulating material (Ex. Modified polypropylene oxide, polycarbonate (containing glass fiber), etc.), so that heat is hardly conducted. For this reason, it is not hot even if the hand directly touches the housing 14 pulled out from the main body frame 20.

Incidentally, as shown in FIG.
Alternatively, the movable rail 30 may be formed directly. in this case,
Since the housing holding member 16 (see FIG. 3) becomes unnecessary, the number of parts is reduced, and the cost can be reduced.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, brackets 72 are fixed inside the left and right side walls of the housing 14 in plan view. Upper part 7 of this bracket 72
A support portion 88 is notched in 2A so that an end of the halogen lamp 36 can be supported.

An escape portion 90 is formed in the upper portion 72A so that the partition wall 38 escapes without contact.
The lower portion 72B of the bracket 72 further includes a housing 14
And is bent in an inverted L-shape in side view so as to be located inside.

A support hole 92 is formed in the lower portion 72B. A star wheel support shaft 70 having an annular groove 98 formed at an end is inserted into the support hole 92, and a retaining ring (not shown) is provided. It is attached to the annular groove 98 and is prevented from falling off.

Further, a screw hole 102 is formed in the lower portion 72B so that the fixing screw 100 can be screwed therein. On the other hand, a boss 95 is formed on the inverted L-shaped holder 94 when viewed from the side, so that the fixing screw 100 can be inserted therethrough. Therefore, when the holder 94 is arranged outside the lower portion 72B and the fixing screw 100 is screwed, the holder 94 is fixed to the lower portion 72B.

The boss 95 formed on the holder 94
In the state in which the end face 95A of the boss 95 is in contact with the lower portion 72B, as shown in FIG. 6, a gap D is formed between the holder 94 and the lower portion 72B.

On the other hand, the thickness of the band-shaped sealing member 96 is smaller than the gap D, and the sealing member 96 is formed with a vertically elongated slot 96B corresponding to the boss 95. When the elongated hole 96B is inserted through the boss 95, the seal member 96 is supported by the boss 95 with play in the vertical direction.

When the housing 14 is pulled out of the main body frame (see FIG. 3) along the direction in which the recording paper P is conveyed, the lower end of the bracket 72 is positioned on the top surface 22 of the platen 22.
A gap is provided between the lower end portion of the bracket 72 and the platen 22 so as not to slide the C. When hot air leaks from this gap in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the recording paper P is conveyed, ink The drying efficiency is poor, and the fixing effect of the ink becomes insufficient.

For this reason, the lower end of the seal member 96 is brought into contact with the top surface 22C of the platen 22 to prevent hot air from leaking in a direction perpendicular to the recording paper P conveyance direction. Therefore, the drying efficiency of the ink is good, and the fixing effect of the ink is improved.

A notch 96 is provided above the seal member 96 to escape the star wheel support shaft 70.
A is formed.

Further, the thickness of the sealing member 96 is
, And the sealing member 96 is movable even when the holder 94 is fixed to the bracket 72.

The sealing member 96 has a weave density of 0.4 g.
/ Cm ³ or less, which satisfies specifications such as wear resistance, thermal characteristics, and mechanical strength. Here, it is needless to say that the seal member 96 needs to have heat resistance.

For this reason, even if the housing 14 is pulled out from the main frame 20 (see FIG. 3) and the seal member 96 slides on the top surface 22C of the platen 22, there is little wear.

Further, since the elongated hole 96B which is long in the vertical direction is formed, when the housing 14 is pulled out from the main body frame 20, the seal member 96 can escape upward, and the load applied to the seal member 96 is small. And it is harder to wear.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a plurality of star wheels 74 and 76 are rotatably supported on the star wheel support shaft 70. The star wheels 74 and 76 are thin, do not block near-infrared light from the halogen lamp 36 as a heating element, and prevent undried ink from being transferred to the recording paper P again. I have.

The star wheel 74 is arranged to face the transport roller 26 and follows the transport roller 26 to improve the transport force of the recording paper P. Further, by sandwiching and transporting the recording paper P between the star wheel 74 and the transport roller 26, it is possible to cope with the case where the recording paper P is deformed or the recording paper P is lifted, thereby preventing the occurrence of a jam.

The transport roller 26 is provided with a rubber roller 26A. Since the rubber roller 26A is exposed to the radiant heat of the halogen lamp 36, silicon rubber or the like having high heat resistance is often used.

In order to stabilize the paper conveyance force without the ink re-adhering to the recording paper P, it is desirable to apply a nip force of 5 to 15 g between the star wheel 74 and the conveyance roller 26. .

On the other hand, the star wheel 76 is located above the nip point between the star wheel 74 and the transport roller 26, and the recording sheet P touches only when the recording sheet P is dried and deformed to be lifted. The recording paper P is prevented from being caught in the halogen lamp 36 side, and the star wheel 76
It is considered not to touch.

It is desirable that the star wheels 76 are arranged at paper width positions suitable for each size of the recording paper P. However, if a large number of star wheels 76 are mounted in the width direction of the recording paper P being conveyed, jams or the like may occur. Can be reduced, but the number of assembly steps increases, and the cost of the drying apparatus 10 increases.

For this reason, by arranging the guard wire 78, which complements the function of the star wheel 76, over the entire area of the conveyed recording paper P in the width direction, the star wheel 7
As in the case of 6, the jam of the recording paper P in the housing 14 and the wrapping of the recording paper P around the halogen lamp 36 can be reduced.

Here, if the guard wires 78 are arranged in parallel along the transport direction of the recording paper P, a single line that is not dried is always generated immediately below the guard wire 78 along the transport direction of the recording paper P. . On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7, the right side in plan view is used as a reference for the recording paper P due to the side registration configuration, and the recording paper P of each size is conveyed to the right.

For this reason, the guard wire 78 is disposed at an angle of 5 to 10 degrees so as to spread along the transport direction (the direction of the arrow) with respect to the center of the recording paper P1 of the minimum size. positioned. A plurality of guard wires 7 based on the left guard wire 79 in plan view
8 are arranged in parallel, and each is located at the end of the recording paper P of each size.

Therefore, as the recording paper P is sequentially conveyed, the portion shielded by the guard wire 78 does not become linear, and the recording paper P is uniformly dried by the guard wire 78 without becoming uneven. .

The guard wire 78 is connected to the dry area 82.
Since the recording paper P is located at both ends in the width direction of the recording paper P on the upstream side of the recording paper P (see FIG. 2), even if the edge of the leading end of the recording paper P being conveyed is dried and curled, it is surely provided. The recording paper P is not entangled in the halogen lamp 36 (see FIG. 2) disposed in the drying area 82 (see FIG. 2).

On the other hand, the guard wire 78 is connected to the dry area 82.
The near-infrared light emitted from the halogen lamp 36 is shielded from the recording paper P, and the drying property is impaired when a large number of the recording papers P are attached. , The number of guard wires 78 is minimized and the total area for shielding near-infrared light emitted from the halogen lamp 36 is reduced. In addition, the cost is reduced as the number of guard wires 78 is reduced.

Here, the guard wire 78 is shown in FIG.
As shown in (A) and (B), when viewed from the side, it has a substantially U-shape, and both ends 78A of the guard wire 78 are bent so that the end faces face each other.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG.
Below the plate 80, plates 80 and 81 are fixed with fixing screws 84 along the width direction of the recording paper P to be conveyed, and the lower end of the plate 80 is curved toward the conveying direction of the recording paper P. A guide piece 58 (omitted in FIG. 8) is provided (described later).

The plate 80 has a hole 80A, and the plate 81 has a hole 81A.
The bent ends 78A of the guard wire 78 are hooked from the outside of the plates 80 and 81 into the holes 80A and 81A.

As shown in FIG. 8A, the length L ′ of the guard wire 78 is substantially equal to the distance between the plate 80 and the plate 81.

For this reason, the end 78 of the guard wire 78
When A is hooked on the holes 80A, 81A, a spring force is obtained, so that both ends 78A of the guard wire 78 are simply hooked on the holes 80A, 81A, and the holes 80A, 81A.
Despite being movable with respect to A, the guard wire 78 is supported on the housing 14 without rattling. Further, the end 78A of the guard wire 78 is
Mounting is easy because it is only hooked on 0A and 81A.

The straight portion of the downstream guard wire 78 is bent upward to form a bent portion 78B, which escapes so as not to hit the star wheel support shaft 70 of the star wheel 74 (see FIG. 2). I have.

Here, the temperature of the drying area 82 becomes high due to the near-infrared light or radiant heat of the halogen lamp 36 when the drying apparatus 10 is operating, but it is at room temperature during stoppage and the temperature change is large. Similarly, the high temperature state (FIG. 8)
(See FIG. 8B) or a normal temperature state (see FIG. 8A).

However, with the above configuration, the guard wire 7
8 is movably attached to the plate 80, the length L of the guard wire 78 expands due to heat as shown in FIG. 8A, and as shown in FIG.
Even if it becomes α, the amount of thermal expansion can be absorbed by the movement of both ends 78A of the guard wire 78, and the guard wire 78
Does not cause thermal deformation, and further, does not cause problems such as jamming with the recording paper P and unnecessary rubbing.

The plates 80 and 81 are connected to the housing 1
4 only by fixing the fixing screw 84 to the guard wire 7.
8, the guard wire 78 is arranged even in a housing having a specification different from that of the present embodiment.
Can be easily assembled.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG.
A substantially channel-shaped reflecting plate 32 having a trapezoidal shape with a corner cut off in a side view is disposed at a central portion of the reflecting plate 32. The top surface of the reflection plate 32 is arranged parallel to the platen 22, and a channel-like reflection plate holder 34 is provided outside the reflection plate 32 to support the reflection plate 32.

Two halogen lamps 36 are provided inside the reflection plate 32, and the near-infrared light of the halogen lamps 36 is reflected toward the recording paper P. The lengths of the halogen lamp 36 and the reflection plate 32 are set to be equal to or longer than the maximum paper width of the recording paper P to be printed, so that drying unevenness does not occur in the same recording paper P.

Further, by arranging a plurality of halogen lamps 36, compared with the case where the recording paper P is dried by a single halogen lamp 36, the recording paper P is evenly distributed without the concentration of near-infrared light and radiant heat. Dried.

On the other hand, the partition wall 38 hangs down from the ceiling of the housing 14 toward the reflector holder 34.
The partition wall 38 divides the inside of the housing 14 into an intake passage 40 and an exhaust passage 42.

An intake fan 44 (see FIG. 10) is provided on the ceiling on the intake passage 40 side. On the other hand, a partition plate 46 is provided in the housing 14 between the intake fan 44 and the reflection plate 32 in parallel with the reflection plate 32, and receives outside air sucked by the intake fan 44 on a surface. I have.

The partition plate 46 is provided over the entire area in the longitudinal direction of the housing 14 (in the width direction of the recording paper P to be conveyed).
The outside air introduced into the inside once hits the partition plate 46 and passes between the end of the partition plate 46 and the partition wall 38, so that the wind speed is averaged over the entire area in the longitudinal direction of the housing 14. Therefore, warm air does not uniformly pass in the width direction of the recording paper P, and drying unevenness does not occur.

Further, since the partition plate 46 receives the outside air from the surface, the outside air sucked by the suction fan 44 does not fall directly down, so that the temperature of the halogen lamp 36 does not suddenly drop. Therefore, the drying efficiency of the recording paper P does not decrease.

Further, on the back surface of the partition plate 46, FIG.
As shown in (A), a channel-shaped bracket 48 is fixed with fixing screws 50. One side wall 48A of the bracket 48 is fixed to the partition plate 46 side,
The other side wall 48B suspends the reflecting plate 32 and the reflecting plate holder 34 with a play in the horizontal direction via a stepped screw 54 described later.

As a specific suspension method, the reflecting plate 32
A round hole (not shown) and an oval hole 52 are formed in the top surface of the reflector holder 34 and the top surface of the reflector holder 34, respectively. The round holes are used for positioning, are formed at two places along the transport direction of the recording paper P, and are fixed by fixing screws (not shown).

An oval hole 52 is formed from this round hole in a direction perpendicular to the direction of transport of the recording paper P.
With this oval hole 52, the reflection plate 32 and the reflection plate holder 34 can thermally expand in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the recording paper P with respect to the fixed round hole.

The length (L2) of the oval hole 52 is slightly longer than the thermal deformation of the reflector 32 and the reflector holder 34 so that the thermal expansion of the reflector 32 and the reflector holder 34 is not hindered. ing.

Specifically, the reflecting plate 32 is heated by near-infrared light and radiant heat of the halogen lamp 36 for drying the recording paper P, and the temperature rises by about 80 deg. Therefore, when the length of the reflector 32 is 391 mm, the linear expansion coefficient is proportional to 2.36 × 10 ⁻⁵ mm / mm / ° C., and the reflector 32 is expected to have a thermal expansion of about 0.74 mm. The length of the oval hole 52 is slightly longer than 0.74 mm.

A stepped screw 54 fixed to the side wall 48B by a nut 60 is inserted through the oval hole 52.
The stepped screw 54 includes a head 54A and a neck 54
B, a step 54C, and a screw 54D.

The head 54A is larger than the size of the oval hole 52. The reflector 32 is placed on the head 54A, and the reflector 32 and the reflector holder 34 are suspended so as not to fall off. ing.

A neck 54B protrudes from the head 54A, and the outer dimension of the neck 54B is smaller than the width of the oval hole 52. Thus, the oval hole is movable around the neck 54B.

More specifically, the reflecting plate 32 and the reflecting plate holder 34 are formed by the oval holes 52 so as to have a dimensional difference (L2) between the outer dimension L1 of the neck 54B of the stepped screw 54 and the length L2 of the oval holes 52. −L1) can be moved.

When the reflection plate 32 and the reflection plate holder 34 thermally expand, the oval hole 52 moves around the neck 54B (in the direction of arrow A) as shown in FIG. The minute is absorbed by the movement of the oval hole 52,
The reflection plate 32 and the reflection plate holder 34 are not thermally deformed.

On the other hand, the length of the neck portion 54B is longer than the thicknesses of the reflection plate 32 and the reflection plate holder 34, and a screw portion 54D is formed at the tip of the neck portion 54B.
The base of D is a step 54C.

The screw portion 54D is screwed in until the step portion 54C comes into contact with the other side wall 48B of the bracket 48, and is fixed with the nut 60. At this time, since the length of the neck portion 54B is longer than the thicknesses of the reflection plate 32 and the reflection plate holder 34, a gap t is provided between the side wall 48B and the reflection plate holder 34.

A heat insulator 56 having a hole to be inserted into the neck portion 54B is arranged so as to fill the gap t. Since the heat insulating material 56 absorbs vertical play caused by the gap t, the reflecting plate 32 plays back and the halogen lamp 36
The reflection direction of the near-infrared light (see FIG. 2) is not scattered except in a predetermined direction.

Further, heat conduction from the reflector 32 to the other side wall 48B of the bracket 48 via the reflector holder 34 is prevented. Further, a heat insulating material 57 is arranged between the partition plate 46 and the side wall 48A. Therefore, heat does not conduct to the partition plate 46 via the one side wall 48B of the bracket 48.

With such a structure, the backlash is absorbed by the heat insulating material 56 in the vertical direction, and the reflecting plate 32 is positioned by the round hole and the fixing screw 50 in the transport direction of the recording paper P and in the direction perpendicular to the transport direction. Despite this, there is no hindrance to the thermal expansion of the reflector 32 and reflector holder 34.

Therefore, the reflection plate 32 and the reflection plate holder 34 are not thermally deformed, and the reflection direction of the near-infrared light of the halogen lamp 36 shown in FIG. 2 is not scattered other than in a predetermined direction. Therefore, the drying efficiency does not decrease.

The reflection plate 32 and the reflection plate holder 34
The housing 14 is deformed due to the thermal deformation of
Star wheel 7 that conveys the recording paper P following the roller 26
The axis of No. 4 does not tilt and does not deteriorate the transportability of the recording paper P.

Next, the flow of wind circulating in the housing 14 will be described.

As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, outside air is sucked by an intake fan 44 disposed above the housing 14 and is sent into the housing 14. The outside air taken in by the intake fan 44 is once supplied to the partition plate 46.
And passes between the end of the partition plate 46 and the partition wall 38.

At this time, the wind speed of the outside air sent into the housing 14 is averaged over the entire area in the longitudinal direction of the housing 14 (with respect to the width direction of the recording paper P being conveyed).

Next, the outside air passes through a space 66 provided between the partition plate 46 and the reflector holder 34, and passes between the reflector holder 34 and the side wall 14A of the housing 14. During this time, the outside air is slightly warmed by the heat conducted to the reflection plate holder 34 to become warm air.

At the lower end of the plate 80 fixed to the side wall 14A of the housing 14, a guide piece 58 (omitted in FIG. 10) which is curved in the conveying direction of the recording paper P is provided. The warm air that has been rectified and has flowed downward between the reflector holder 34 and the side wall 14A is guided on the platen 22 in the transport direction of the recording paper P.

The guide pieces 58 reliably guide the warm air from the lower end of the side wall 14A of the housing 14 on the platen 22 in the direction in which the recording paper P is conveyed.
Hardly leaks to the outside, and the drying efficiency is improved.

The seal member 96 (see FIG. 1) supported by the holder 94 (see FIG. 1) prevents the warm air moving on the platen 22 from leaking in a direction perpendicular to the recording paper P conveyance direction. Sealing further improves the drying efficiency.

Further, the printing surface of the recording paper P conveyed on the platen 22 is printed on the recording paper P by both radiant heat and warm air.
The ink landed on the substrate is dried evenly in a short time. In addition, since outside air flows around the reflector holder 34, overheating of the halogen lamp 36 can be prevented, and rise near the periphery can be suppressed.

Next, the warm air that has flown from the upstream side to the downstream side on the platen 22 is reflected by the reflection plate holder 34 and the housing 14.
And is exhausted to the outside by an exhaust fan 62 provided at the longitudinal end of the housing 14 through the exhaust passage 42.

Therefore, the humid air in contact with the printing surface of the recording paper P is exhausted, and the condensation on the housing 14 can be prevented.

The humidity and temperature of the air in the drying area 82 are kept constant by exhausting the air containing moisture in the ink due to the drying of the recording paper P and the air whose temperature has been raised by the halogen lamp 36. And the recording paper P is not scorched. Here, there is experimental data that it is preferable to move hot air at a wind speed of 1 m / S on the platen 22 in order to keep the surface temperature of the recording paper P constant.

[0106]

According to the present invention, the above configuration is provided.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, even if the reflector is thermally expanded or contracted, the amount of thermal deformation is absorbed by the backlash, and the reflector is not thermally deformed. The directions are not scattered in directions other than the predetermined direction. Therefore, the drying efficiency does not decrease.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the wind velocity of the outside air introduced into the housing is averaged in the width direction of the conveyed recording paper, so that the warm air is uniformly distributed in the width direction of the recording paper. Pass through, so that drying unevenness does not occur. Then, in this state, the warm air moves on the platen for transporting the recording paper in the recording paper transport direction, so that the drying efficiency of the recording paper is improved. In addition, it is possible to keep the humidity and temperature of the air in the drying area constant by exhausting the air containing moisture in the ink due to the drying of the recording paper in the drying area and the air whose temperature has increased due to the heating element. The recording paper does not burn.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a drying device according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing a drying device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which a housing used in the drying device according to the embodiment is pulled out from a main body frame.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a modification of FIG.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing a seal member provided in the drying device according to the present embodiment and a supporting means for supporting the seal member.

FIG. 6 is a front view showing a seal member provided in the drying device according to the present embodiment and support means for supporting the seal member.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing an arrangement of guard wires used in the drying device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 8A is a side view showing a normal temperature state of a guard wire used in the drying device according to the present embodiment, and FIG.
FIG. 4 is a side view showing a high temperature state of the guard wire.

FIG. 9A is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a method of suspending a reflection plate used in the drying device according to the present embodiment, and FIG.
It is an expanded sectional view showing the state where this reflection board expanded.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a flow of wind circulating in a housing of the drying device according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a side sectional view showing a flow of wind circulating in a housing of the drying device according to the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 drying device 32 reflector 46 partition plate (rectifying means) 48 mounting member 52 oval hole (hanging means) 54 stepped screw (hanging means (mounting tool)) 54A head (hanging means) 54B neck (hanging) Means) 54C Step (Hanging Means) 54D Thread (Hanging Means) 56 Heat Insulation Material 58 Guide Piece (Guiding Means) t Gap

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Keisuke Yasuda 2274 Hongo, Ebina-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Jun Isozaki 2274 Hongo, Ebina-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. In-house (72) Inventor Fumihiko Ogasawara 2274 Hongo, Ebina-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.Ebina Office (72) Inventor Jun Takamura 2274 Hongo, Ebina-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. Person Yumiko Namba 2274 Hongo, Ebina-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.Ebina Office (72) Inventor Yoshihiko Fujimura 2274 Hongo, Ebina-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. Ebina Office F-term (reference) 2C056 HA32 HA34 HA47 HA49 2C061 AQ0 5 BB28 CK10

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A recording paper printed by an ink-jet head is dried, a main body frame, a heat-insulating housing mounted on the main body frame to define a drying area, and a recording paper provided in the housing for drying the recording paper. A drying unit comprising: a heating element to be pulled out; and a drawer that allows the housing to be pulled out of the main body frame along a direction in which the recording paper is conveyed. A drying device, comprising: a reflecting plate that reflects light toward the surface; and a suspending unit that suspends the reflecting plate with play in the horizontal direction. 2. The hanging means comprises: a hole formed in a top surface of the reflection plate; a mounting member fixed to the housing; and a head for hanging the reflection plate larger than the size of the hole. And a neck protruding from the head and having a gap formed between the reflection plate when attached to the attachment member and having a hole smaller than the dimension of the hole and capable of moving the hole. The drying device according to claim 1, wherein the drying device is configured. 3. The heat insulating material according to claim 2, further comprising: a heat insulating material disposed in the gap to absorb vertical play due to the gap and prevent heat conduction from the reflector to the mounting member. Drying equipment. 4. A rectifier for averaging the wind speed of the outside air introduced into the housing by an intake fan provided in the housing in a width direction of the recording paper being conveyed, and rectifying the wind by the rectifier. After passing outside air along the top surface of the reflection plate, the air passage passes along the recording paper conveyance direction on a platen on which the recording paper is conveyed, and a ventilation path leading to an exhaust fan provided in the housing. The drying device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: 5. The rectifying means is a partition plate which extends in a width direction of the conveyed recording paper and receives a surface of outside air introduced into the housing.
The drying device according to item 1. 6. A guide means which is curved from the lower end of the side wall of the housing in the transport direction of the recording paper and guides the rectified and downwardly directed outside air onto the platen in the transport direction of the recording paper. The drying device according to claim 1.