JP2005096415A - Inkjet printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To acquire a high picture quality by suppressing the spread of an ink which has impacted on a recording medium by increasing the ink viscosity after the impacting. <P>SOLUTION: For this inkjet printer, the ink of which the viscosity decreases accompanying the increase of temperature is heated by an ink heating device, and is discharged from a recording head to the recording medium. Then, the recording head is carried by a carrying device in a manner to be confronted with the discharging surface of the recording head. The inkjet printer is equipped with a cooling device which cools the recording medium on the upstream side in the carrying direction of the carrying device from the point where the ink which has impacted on the recording medium is hardened. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an inkjet printer, and more particularly to an inkjet printer that discharges ink after heating.

In recent years, inkjet printers have been widely used because images can be easily and inexpensively formed compared to methods that require plate making, such as gravure printing and flexographic printing. .
In the field of image recording on products and product packaging using an ink jet printer, materials having no ink absorbability such as resin and metal are often used for products and product packaging. Then, using such a non-ink-absorbing material as a recording medium, in order to fix the ink to the recording medium, photocurable ink is used, and after ejecting the ink onto the recording medium, for example, ultraviolet rays There is known a photo-curing type ink jet printer that cures and fixes ink by irradiating light such as, for example (see Patent Document 1).

  Patent Document 1 describes an example of an ink jet printer using a photocurable ink. Specifically, in the recording apparatus of Patent Document 1, a rotatable and transparent drum-shaped intermediate transfer member and a recording head facing the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer member are disposed. Ink is ejected from the outer surface of the intermediate transfer member to the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer member, and light is applied to the ink landed on the intermediate transfer member from the outside of the intermediate transfer member. Transferred to the medium. With such a recording form, the ink jet printer of Patent Document 1 prevents image quality deterioration such as beading and bleeding, and adjusts the viscosity of the ink landed on the intermediate transfer member to transfer the ink to the recording medium with the optimum viscosity. It can be done.

By the way, usually, when the photocurable ink is in a general indoor environment (about 18 to 28 ° C.), the viscosity is high and it is difficult to stably discharge the photocurable ink. In order to stabilize ejection, it is desirable that the ink viscosity is 3 to 20 mPas. Therefore, the photocurable ink is heated to about 40 to 80 ° C., and the ink viscosity is lowered to 3 to 20 mPas before ejection. Inkjet printers have been developed.
JP 2002-283545 A

  However, when the photocurable ink is ejected in a low-viscosity state, ink droplets spread between landing on the recording medium and irradiation with light, resulting in a blurred image. It will be recorded.

  An object of the present invention is to increase the ink viscosity after landing so as to suppress the spread of the ink that has landed on the recording medium and to improve the image quality.

An ink jet printer according to the invention of claim 1
An ink heating device for heating the ink whose viscosity decreases as the temperature rises;
A recording head for discharging ink heated by the ink heating device to a recording medium;
A conveying device that supports and conveys the recording medium so as to face the ejection surface of the recording head;
A cooling device for cooling the recording medium on the upstream side in the transport direction of the transport device from a point where the ink landed on the recording medium is cured;
It is characterized by having.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the recording medium is cooled by the cooling device on the upstream side in the transport direction from the point where the ink landed on the recording medium is cured, the ink is cured after landing on the recording medium. In the meantime, the ink can be cooled. Thereby, the ink viscosity after landing can be increased to prevent the ink from spreading, and high image quality can be achieved.

The invention according to claim 2 is the ink jet printer according to claim 1,
The cooling device and the ink heating device are connected so as to be capable of conducting heat,
The ink heating device heats the ink by using heat radiation from the cooling device generated by cooling the recording medium.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the ink heating device heats the ink using the heat radiation generated by the cooling device cooling the recording medium, the heat can be used efficiently.

The invention described in claim 3 is the ink jet printer according to claim 2,
The cooling device and the ink heating device are connected by a heat pipe.

  According to the third aspect of the invention, since the heat pipe connects the cooling device and the ink heating device, heat exchange can be performed efficiently.

Invention of Claim 4 is an inkjet printer as described in any one of Claims 1-3,
The cooling device is provided with a Peltier element.

  According to the invention described in claim 4, since the Peltier element is provided in the cooling device, the recording medium can be cooled by utilizing the Peltier effect by the Peltier element. Further, if the Peltier element and the heat lane plate are combined, the recording medium can be cooled uniformly.

The invention according to claim 5 is the inkjet printer according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The cooling device is provided with a frigister element.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the frigister element is provided in the cooling device, the recording medium can be cooled using the Peltier effect of the frigister element. In addition, the recording medium can be uniformly cooled by combining the frigister element and the heat lane plate.

Invention of Claim 6 is an inkjet printer as described in any one of Claims 1-5,
In order to maintain the recording head, a cap member that covers the ejection surface during maintenance and separates from the ejection surface during image recording is provided.
The cooling device cools the recording medium between the cap member and the recording head during image recording, and retracts from the position where the recording medium is cooled during maintenance.

  According to the invention described in claim 6, since the cooling device retreats from the position where the recording medium is cooled at the time of maintenance, when the cap member covers the ejection surface of the recording head, the cooling device does not obstruct the maintenance. Can be done.

The invention according to claim 7 is the ink jet printer according to claim 6,
A rotating shaft that is arranged on one end side or the other end side of the cooling device so as to be separated from the ejection surface of the recording head and extends along a direction orthogonal to the transport direction;
The cooling device is characterized in that the recording medium is retracted from a position to cool the recording medium by rotating approximately 90 degrees around the rotation axis.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, since the cooling device rotates about 90 degrees around the rotation axis, the recording medium can be retreated from the cooling position, so that the cooling device can be retreated with a simple configuration. Furthermore, space saving can be improved.

According to the present invention, since the recording medium is cooled by the cooling device on the upstream side in the transport direction from the point where the ink that has landed on the recording medium is cured, the time from when the ink has landed on the recording medium until it is cured. In addition, the ink can be cooled. Thereby, the ink viscosity after landing can be increased to prevent the ink from spreading, and high image quality can be achieved.
In addition, since the cooling device retreats from the position where the recording medium is cooled during maintenance, maintenance can be performed smoothly without the cooling device getting in the way when the cap member covers the ejection surface of the recording head.

Hereinafter, the ink jet printer according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
1 and 2 show an embodiment of an ink jet printer according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section AA in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a cross section taken along a line BB in FIG. It is sectional drawing shown. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a storage tray 3 for storing a plurality of recording media 2 in a stacked manner is provided below the inside of the inkjet printer 1. A take-out device 31 for taking out the recording medium 2 on which an image is to be recorded one by one from the accommodation tray 3 is provided above one end of the accommodation tray 3. As the recording medium 2, a cut sheet-like recording medium made of various papers such as plain paper, recycled paper, glossy paper, various fabrics, various non-woven fabrics, and resins can be used.

  A conveying device 4 that conveys the recording medium 2 is disposed above the storage tray 3. In the transport device 4, an annular transport belt 41 that supports the recording medium 2 in a planar shape and transports the recording medium 2 in the horizontal direction is stretched around a plurality of stretching rollers 42. In addition, the conveying device 4 is rotatably provided with a pressing roller 43 that presses the conveying belt 41 in order to convey the recording medium 2 in a planar shape at a position where the conveying belt 41 and the recording medium 2 start to contact each other. ing.

A discharge tray 5 for discharging the recording medium 2 on which an image is recorded is provided on the side of the inkjet printer 1.
Inside the inkjet printer 1, the recording medium 2 supplied from the storage tray 3 is transported to the transport belt 41, and is discharged from the transport belt 41 after the recording medium 2 is transported along the peripheral surface of the transport belt 41. A conveyance path 6 for discharging to the tray 5 is provided. A plurality of pairs of transport rollers 61, 61... For transporting the recording medium 2 in the transport direction X are provided at predetermined positions on the transport path 6.

  In addition, in the vicinity of the upper portion of the transport belt 41, black (Bk), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) inks are sequentially ejected onto the recording medium 2 along the transport direction X. A plurality of recording heads 7 are provided over the entire width of the conveyor belt 41. A large number of nozzles (not shown) for discharging ink toward the recording medium 2 are arranged on the discharge surface 71 (see FIG. 3) of the recording head 7. The conveyor belt 41 and the recording head 7 are arranged so that the circumferential surfaces face each other. As a result, the recording medium 2 supported by the conveyor belt 41 and the ejection surface 71 of the recording head 7 face each other.

  Behind the conveyance belt 41 (on the right side in FIG. 1), an ink tank 8 for storing each color ink and a pipe 81 for connecting the ink tank 8 and the recording head 7 are provided. Ink is supplied to each recording head 7 via a pipe 81.

  The ink used in the present embodiment is an ink that is cured by irradiation with light, particularly an ultraviolet curable ink that is cured by irradiation with ultraviolet rays. Ultraviolet curable inks are roughly classified into radically polymerizable inks containing radically polymerizable compounds and cationically polymerizable inks containing cationically polymerizable compounds as polymerizable compounds. Both inks are included in this embodiment. Each of these can be applied as an ink to be used, and a hybrid ink in which a radical polymerization ink and a cation polymerization ink are combined may be applied as an ink used in the present embodiment.

  And since the photocurable ink represented by the ultraviolet curable ink described above has a property of decreasing in viscosity as the temperature rises, at least in the nozzle of the recording head 7, the viscosity required for stable ejection In order to achieve this, the temperature of the ink must be increased. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 3, an ink heating device 9 that heats the ink in the nozzles is provided on the outer surface of the recording head 7 so as to come into contact therewith. In the ink heating device 9, a heating heat lane plate 91 that is in contact with the recording head 7 in the vicinity of the ejection surface 71 is provided over the entire width of the recording head 7 in order to heat the ink inside the nozzles. A Peltier element 92 serving as a heat source is connected to the heating heat lane plate 91 via a heat pipe 93. The heating heat lane plate 91 is provided with a temperature sensor 94 (see FIG. 6) that detects the temperature of the heating heat lane plate 91.

  In the present embodiment, the configuration in which the ink heating device 9 is installed outside the recording head 7 is exemplified. However, if the ink is reduced to a viscosity that enables stable ejection when the ink reaches the nozzle, the ink heating device is used. May be installed at any location, for example, installed inside the recording head 7, the pipe 81, or the ink tank 8.

  Further, near the upper portion of the conveyance belt 41 and downstream in the conveyance direction X of each recording head 7, light having a predetermined wavelength is irradiated to the ink ejected from each recording head 7 to the recording medium 2. A plurality of light irradiation devices 10 for curing the ink surface are provided corresponding to each recording head 7.

  The light source used in the light irradiation device 10 is not particularly limited. For example, it is preferable to use an LED array in which light emitting diodes (LEDs) that generate ultraviolet rays are arranged over the entire width of the transport belt 41.

  Further, below the recording head 7, a plurality of cooling devices 11 that face the ejection surface 71 via the conveyance belt 41 and cool the recording medium 2 on the conveyance belt 41 correspond to each recording head 7. Is provided. As shown in FIG. 3, the cooling device 11 is provided with a planar opposing plate 111 that faces the recording medium 2 via the conveyance belt 41. A cooling heat lane plate 112 is laminated on almost the entire surface of the counter plate 111 on the back surface side of the counter plate 111. The above-described Peltier element 92 is provided at one end of the cooling heat lane plate 112 so as to contact the upper surface.

Here, the Peltier element 92 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a side view illustrating a schematic configuration of the Peltier element 92. As shown in FIG. 5, in the Peltier element 92, a plurality of p-type semiconductors (P-type Bi ₂ Te ₃ ) 921 and n-type semiconductors (N-type Bi ₂ Te ₃ ) 922 serving as thermoelectric elements are alternately arranged. Is arranged. Of these p-type semiconductor 921 and n-type semiconductor 922, one end of the adjacent p-type semiconductor 921 and n-type semiconductor 922 is connected by a plurality of bonding metal pieces 923 made of, for example, copper electrodes. The upper and lower bonding metal pieces 923 are covered with ceramic plates 924 and 925, and the bonding metal pieces 923 located at both lower ends are connected to a power source 926. Thus, when a direct current is supplied from the power source 926, the upper ceramic plate 924 absorbs heat, and the lower ceramic plate 925 dissipates the absorbed heat.

It is also possible to install an improved product of the Peltier element 92 called a frigistor element in the cooling device 11. FIG. 6 is a side view illustrating a schematic configuration of the frigate element 82. As shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of p-type semiconductors (P-type Bi ₂ Te ₃ ) 821 and n-type semiconductors (N-type Bi ₂ Te ₃ ) 822 serving as thermoelectric elements are alternately arranged in the frigister element 82. Is arranged. These p-type semiconductor 821 and n-type semiconductor 822 are fixed by a resin member 827 called a separator. Further, of the p-type semiconductor 821 and the n-type semiconductor 822, one end of the adjacent p-type semiconductor 821 and n-type semiconductor 822 is connected by a plurality of bonding metal pieces 823 made of, for example, a copper electrode. The upper and lower joining metal pieces 823 are covered with insulating plates 824 and 825. The insulating plates 824 and 825 are made of an insulator that is more flexible than the ceramic plates 924 and 925 of the Peltier element 92. Since the Peltier element 92 uses the ceramic plates 924 and 925, it is difficult to attach the Peltier element 92 to the curved surface member. However, in the frigister element 82, the insulating plates 824 and 825 are made of an insulating film (for example, a PET film). Since it can be configured, the frigister element 82 can be attached to the curved member. Moreover, if a copper electrode pattern is bonded on the insulating film as a copper electrode, the flexibility can be further increased, and the film can be attached to a roller-shaped (columnar) member. That is, the cooling device 11 can be changed to a roller shape. A power source 826 is connected to the joining metal pieces 823 located at both lower ends. Thus, when a direct current is supplied from the power source 826, the upper insulating plate 824 absorbs heat, and the lower insulating plate 825 dissipates the absorbed heat.

  Here, while the p-type semiconductor 921 and the n-type semiconductor 922 of the Peltier element 92 are fixed by the hard ceramic plate 92, the p-type semiconductor 821 and the n-type semiconductor 822 of the frigister element 82 are larger than the ceramic plate 92. Since the insulating plates 824 and 825 are fixed by the highly flexible resin member 827 and also have higher flexibility than the ceramic plate 92, the fixing member of the cooling device 11 for fixing the ridge element 82 is a gently curved surface. Even if it has, it is possible to curve and fix the frigister element 82 along the curved surface, and it is hard to break. Further, in the case of the Peltier element 92, the service life is reduced by the ON / OFF control (rapid cooling), but the frigister element 82 can be rapidly cooled by the ON / OFF control, and the service life is reduced by the rapid cooling use. It is an element. In consideration of shortening the start-up time in this apparatus, it is effective to use the frigister element 82.

In the cooling device 11 of the present embodiment, since the cooling heat lane plate 112 is in contact with the endothermic ceramic plate 924, the entire surface of the cooling heat lane plate 112 is cooled. The cooling control of the cooling device 11 is determined by the size, current, and voltage of the Peltier element 92 or the frigister element 82. Therefore, when the voltage value of the power source 926 is defined, the current is variable, and the current value Is regulated, the cooling temperature can be controlled by making the voltage variable.
Further, since the heat pipe 93 is in contact with the heat radiating ceramic plate 925, the heat dissipated from the ceramic plate 925 is conducted to the heating heat lane plate 91 through the heat pipe 93.

  A rotating shaft (not shown) extending along a direction orthogonal to the transport direction X is arranged at one front side of the cooling device 11 so as to be separated from the ejection surface 71 below the recording head 7. Has been. The rotating shaft and the cooling device 11 are connected to each other, and the cooling device 11 is lowered approximately 90 degrees around the rotating shaft so that the counter plate 111 hangs down from the horizontal state as the rotating shaft rotates. (See FIGS. 2 and 4). Here, a state where the opposing plate 111 is horizontal is referred to as a cooling state, and a state where the opposing plate 111 is suspended is referred to as a retracted state. In addition, in this embodiment, although the case where the rotating shaft was arrange | positioned in the one end side of the front of the cooling device 11 was illustrated, the rotating shaft may be arrange | positioned in the back other end side.

Below the cooling device 11, a plurality of cap members 12 that can be moved up and down for maintenance of the recording head 7 are provided so as to correspond to the recording heads 7. As shown in FIG. 2, when the cap member 12 is raised and comes into close contact with the ejection surface 71 of the recording head 7, the ejection surface 71 and the nozzle are covered with the cap member 12 so that the moisture retention state is maintained. Yes. Further, a suction pump 122 (see FIG. 7) is connected to the cap member 12 via a waste ink pipe 121 shown in FIG. 5, and the suction pump 71 and the nozzle are covered with the cap member 12 in a state where the suction pump 71 is covered. When 122 is activated, the ink attached to the ejection surface and the ink in the nozzle can be sucked. The operation of securing the normal operation by moisturizing the recording head 7 or removing the ink by suction is referred to as maintenance of the recording head 7.
The cap member 12 is lowered with the start of image recording, and is separated from the ejection surface 71.

In the cooling state, the cooling device 11 is located between the cap member 12 and the recording head 7 and hinders the raising of the cap member 12. Therefore, when the cap member 12 is raised, the cooling device 11 is in the retracted state. Thus, the cap member 12 is retracted from the moving path.
Further, since the conveyance belt 41 is interposed between the cap member 12 and the recording head 7, the conveyance belt 41 becomes an obstacle when the cap member 12 covers the ejection surface 71 of the recording head 7. However, in order to prevent this, for example, during maintenance, the conveyor belt 41 is retracted from directly below the recording head 7, or an opening or a gap is formed in the conveyor belt 41 so that the cap member 41 can be inserted. That's fine.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the inkjet printer 1 is provided with a control device 15 that controls each drive unit. The control device 15 includes an input unit 16 to which an instruction at the time of image recording is input, a transport drive source 44 serving as a drive source of the transport device 4, a light source 101 of the light irradiation device 10, and a rotation shaft drive source. The rotating shaft driving source 20, the capping driving source 123 serving as the driving source for the cap member 12, the recording head 7, the storage unit 17, the Peltier element 92, the temperature sensor 94, and the suction pump 122 are electrically connected. Connected. In addition to the above, each drive unit of the ink jet printer 1 is connected to the control device 15. The control device 15 controls various devices in accordance with a control program and control data written in the storage unit 17 based on an instruction from the input unit 16.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.
When the inkjet printer 1 is on standby, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the cooling device 11 is in the retracted state, and the cap member 12 is in close contact with the ejection surface 71 of the recording head 7.
When an image recording start instruction is input to the input unit 16, the control device 15 controls the capping drive source 123 so that the cap member 12 is separated from the ejection surface 71 of the recording head 7. Thereafter, the control device 15 controls the rotary shaft drive source 20 so that the cooling device 11 is in a cooled state. As a result, the ink jet printer 1 is in a state where an image can be recorded as shown in FIG.

  Then, the control device 15 controls the Peltier element 92 based on the detection result of the temperature sensor 94 so that the cooling device 11 and the ink heating device 9 operate. Thereby, the cooling device 11 can cool the recording medium 2, and the ink heating device 9 can heat the ink in the nozzles.

  Here, since the viscosity required for stable ejection is 3 to 20 mPas, the controller 15 controls the Peltier element 92 so that the ink is heated to about 40 to 80 ° C. and the ink viscosity is reduced to 3 to 20 mPas. I have control. In order to reduce the spread of ink landed on the recording medium 2, it is desired to cool at a temperature difference of 10 ° C. or more with respect to the ink temperature at the time of ejection. It is preferable to control the Peltier element 92 so that the temperature is 20 ° C. or more lower than the ink temperature at the time of ejection. Here, at the time of image recording, since the conveyance belt 41 is interposed between the recording medium 2 and the cooling device 11, the control device 15 takes into account the thermal conductivity, thickness, and the like of the conveyance belt 41. It is necessary to cause the Peltier element 92 to be controlled.

  Note that when the detection result of the temperature sensor 94 is 80 ° C. or higher, the ink viscosity becomes too low and stable ejection becomes difficult, so temperature control for the recording head 7 is necessary. For example, the heating heat lane plate 91 can be brought into and out of contact with the recording head 7, and when the detection result of the temperature sensor 94 is 80 ° C. or higher, the heating heat lane plate 91 is separated to prevent heat transfer to the recording head 7. If a cooling fan dedicated to 91 is installed and the detection result of the temperature sensor 94 is 80 ° C. or higher, the cooling fan is operated and cooled, and the temperature of the recording head 7 can be controlled.

When the ink in the nozzle is heated to a temperature at which stable ejection is possible, the control device 15 operates the take-out device 31 to take out the uppermost recording medium 2 stored in the storage tray 3 and rotate the transport roller 61. The recording medium 2 taken out is operated to be transported. When the recording medium 2 reaches the pressing roller 43, the control device 15 operates the pressing roller 43 to press the recording medium 2 against the peripheral surface of the conveying belt 41 from the tip end portion. When the recording medium 2 is sent to the position of the recording head 7 as the conveying belt 41 rotates, the recording medium 2 is cooled by the cooling effect of the cooling device 11. In addition, the control device 15 causes the recording head 2 to eject ink from the recording head 7, but the ink that has landed on the recording medium 2 is cooled to become highly viscous and difficult to spread. Immediately after that, the ink that has landed on the recording medium 2 is irradiated with light from the light irradiation device 10, and the ink on the recording medium 2 is cured.
When an image is formed on the recording medium 2 and the leading end of the recording medium 2 is separated from the conveying belt 41, the recording medium 2 is conveyed by the conveying roller 61 and discharged from the discharge tray 5 to the outside.

  When the image recording is completed, the control device 15 controls the rotary shaft drive source 20 so that the cooling device 11 is in the retracted state, and then the cap member 12 is brought into close contact with the ejection surface 71 of the recording head 7. The capping drive source 123 is controlled.

As described above, according to the inkjet printer 1 of the present embodiment, the recording medium 2 is cooled by the cooling device 11 on the upstream side in the transport direction X from the point where the ink landed on the recording medium 2 is cured. The ink can be cooled between the time when the ink lands on the recording medium 2 and the time when the ink is cured. Thereby, the ink viscosity after landing can be increased to prevent the ink from spreading, and high image quality can be achieved.
In addition, the cooling device 11 and the ink heating device 9 are connected to each other through a heat pipe 93 so as to be able to conduct heat, and the ink heating device 9 uses heat radiation generated when the cooling device 11 cools the recording medium 2. Since the ink is heated, efficient heat utilization is possible.
Further, since the cooling device 11 rotates about 90 degrees around the rotation axis, the recording medium 2 can be retreated from the position for cooling, so that the cooling device 11 can be retreated with a simple configuration and further space saving. Can also be improved.

It is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and can be modified as appropriate.
For example, in the present embodiment, a photocurable ink typified by an ultraviolet curable ink is illustrated as an ink that decreases in viscosity as the temperature rises. Not only curable ink but other water-based ink or oil-based ink may be used.
In the present embodiment, the temperature sensor 94 is configured to indirectly detect the temperature of the ink by detecting the temperature of the heating heat lane plate 91. For example, the temperature sensor is disposed in the nozzle. The ink temperature may be directly detected.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the case where the cooling device 11 is disposed at a position facing the ejection surface 71 of the recording head 7 is illustrated, but the ink that has landed on the recording medium 2 is cured at the installation location of the cooling device 11. Any location may be used as long as it is upstream in the transport direction X from the point. For example, in the present embodiment, since the ink is cured by being irradiated with light from the light irradiation device 10, it is preferable that the cooling device 11 is disposed upstream of the position facing the light irradiation device 10.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an ink jet printer according to an exemplary embodiment and illustrating a state during image recording. It is the schematic showing the state at the time of the standby of the inkjet printer of FIG. It is sectional drawing showing the AA cross section of the inkjet printer of FIG. It is sectional drawing showing the BB cross section of the inkjet printer of FIG. It is the schematic showing the schematic structure of the Peltier device with which the inkjet printer of FIG. 1 is equipped. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a frigister element included in the ink jet printer of FIG. 1. It is a block diagram showing the main control apparatus of the inkjet printer of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Inkjet printer 2 Recording medium 4 Conveyance apparatus 9 Ink heating apparatus 11 Cooling apparatus 12 Cap member 71 Discharge surface 82 Frigister element 92 Peltier element 93 Heat pipe X Conveyance direction

Claims (7)

An ink heating device for heating the ink whose viscosity decreases as the temperature rises;
A recording head for discharging ink heated by the ink heating device to a recording medium;
A conveying device that supports and conveys the recording medium so as to face the ejection surface of the recording head;
A cooling device for cooling the recording medium on the upstream side in the transport direction of the transport device from a point where the ink landed on the recording medium is cured;
An ink jet printer comprising: The inkjet printer according to claim 1.
The cooling device and the ink heating device are connected so as to be capable of conducting heat,
The ink-jet printer is characterized in that the ink heating device heats ink by using heat radiation from the cooling device generated by cooling the recording medium. The inkjet printer according to claim 2.
The ink jet printer, wherein the cooling device and the ink heating device are connected by a heat pipe. In the inkjet printer as described in any one of Claims 1-3,
An ink jet printer, wherein the cooling device is provided with a Peltier element. In the inkjet printer as described in any one of Claims 1-3,
An ink jet printer, wherein the cooling device is provided with a frigister element. In the ink jet printer according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
In order to maintain the recording head, a cap member that covers the ejection surface during maintenance and separates from the ejection surface during image recording is provided.
The ink jet printer, wherein the cooling device cools the recording medium between the cap member and the recording head at the time of image recording and retracts from the position at which the recording medium is cooled at the time of maintenance. The inkjet printer according to claim 6, wherein
A rotating shaft that is arranged on one end side or the other end side of the cooling device so as to be separated from the ejection surface of the recording head and extends along a direction orthogonal to the transport direction;
The ink jet printer according to claim 1, wherein the cooling device is retreated from a position to cool the recording medium by rotating approximately 90 degrees about the rotation axis.

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