JP2014184596A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technology allowing a photocurable liquid captured by a filter to be recovered efficiently in a liquid recovery member.SOLUTION: A pinter includes: a print head for discharging a liquid; and a mist recovery mechanism for recovering the mist-like liquid. The mist recovery mechanism has: an air flow generation part 93 for generating an air flow; a filter 95 arranged on an upstream side of the air flow with respect to the air flow generation part and capturing the mist-like liquid contained in the air flow; and a liquid recovery member 97 arranged on a lower side of the filter in a state where at least one part is overlapped with the filter, when viewed from a gravity direction, and recovering the liquid which the filter has captured. The filter has an inclination part which inclines with respect to the gravity direction and lowers toward the liquid recovery member at least on one side out of both sides of the direction in which the air flow passes, and guides the captured liquid to the liquid recovery member by lowering the liquid by making it run down along the inclination part. The liquid recovery part recovers the liquid guided by the inclination part of the filter.

Description

  The present invention relates to a mist collecting technique for collecting mist-like liquid in a printing apparatus that discharges liquid and prints an image on a printing medium.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as represented by an ink jet printer or the like, a printing apparatus that ejects ink and prints an image on a printing medium is known. In such a printing apparatus, the mist ink causes a contamination of the internal configuration of the apparatus and the printing medium. Therefore, the printing apparatus of Patent Document 1 is provided with a mechanism for collecting mist-like ink. Specifically, an exhaust fan that generates an airflow and a filter disposed upstream of the airflow with respect to the exhaust fan are provided, and mist-like ink contained in the airflow is supplemented by the filter. Furthermore, the ink captured by the filter is collected into the storage means.

JP 2008-213310 A

  By the way, printing can be performed using a photocurable liquid that is cured by light such as ultraviolet rays. However, since this liquid does not dry and solidify, it maintains fluidity until it is irradiated with light. As a result, since the liquid continues to maintain fluidity after being captured by the filter, if the amount of capture by the filter increases, there is a risk of dripping or scattering from the filter due to external force received from gravity or vibration. Therefore, when the liquid captured by the filter is recovered by a liquid recovery member such as the storage means of Patent Document 1, the liquid recovered by the filter is efficiently recovered before dripping or splashing from the filter. It is preferable to collect into a member.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of efficiently recovering a photocurable liquid supplemented by a filter to a liquid recovery member.

  In order to achieve the above object, a printing apparatus according to the present invention includes a print head that discharges a photocurable liquid onto a print medium, and a mist collection mechanism that collects the mist-like liquid. Is an airflow generation unit that generates an airflow, a filter that is arranged upstream of the airflow with respect to the airflow generation unit and supplements a mist-like liquid contained in the airflow, and at least a part of the filter when viewed from the direction of gravity. And a liquid recovery member that is disposed on the lower side of the filter in an overlapping state and collects the liquid captured by the filter, and the filter is disposed on both sides in the direction in which the airflow passes in the state of being disposed in the mist recovery mechanism. At least one of them has an inclined part that inclines with respect to the direction of gravity and descends toward the liquid recovery member, and the liquid that has been captured is lowered by being transmitted along the inclined part. Induced to member, the liquid recovery unit is characterized in that recovering the liquid induced by the inclined portion of the filter.

  In the present invention (printing apparatus) configured as described above, the liquid recovery member is disposed below the filter that supplements the mist-like liquid contained in the airflow generated by the airflow generation unit. The liquid recovery member is arranged in a state where at least a part thereof overlaps with the filter when viewed from the direction of gravity. Then, the liquid captured by the filter is recovered by the liquid recovery member. At this time, the filter has an inclined portion that is inclined with respect to the direction of gravity and descends toward the liquid recovery portion, and guides the supplemented liquid by being lowered along the inclined portion. On the other hand, the liquid recovery unit recovers the liquid guided by the inclined portion of the filter. As described above, in the present invention, the filter is provided with the inclined portion inclined with respect to the direction of gravity, and the liquid guided by the inclined portion is recovered by the liquid recovery member. As a result, it is possible to efficiently recover the photocurable liquid supplemented to the filter to the liquid recovery member.

  And this invention can be used especially suitably with respect to the printing apparatus with which the airflow production | generation part is arrange | positioned under the filter in the gravity direction. That is, in such a printing apparatus, when the amount of liquid supplemented by the filter increases, the liquid that cannot be completely captured by the filter may fall and contaminate the airflow generation unit disposed below the filter. On the other hand, according to the present invention, the liquid that cannot be completely captured by the filter can be guided by the inclined portion of the filter and efficiently recovered to the liquid recovery member. Contamination can be suppressed.

  The mist collecting mechanism may further include a support member that supports the filter from below in the direction of gravity, and the support member may be provided with a vent hole through which airflow passes. good. In such a configuration, the filter provided above the airflow generation unit can be firmly supported from below by the support member. In addition, since the support member is provided with a vent hole through which the airflow passes, the airflow is prevented from being blocked by the support member, and the airflow necessary to supplement the mist-like liquid with the filter is ensured. be able to.

  The mist collecting mechanism further includes a light source that emits light that cures the liquid adhering to the print medium facing the print medium, and the air flow generation unit sets the printing device to cool the light source by the air flow. It may be configured. In such a printing apparatus, the liquid that adheres to the printing medium and is used for printing can be cured by light from the light source. However, since the illuminance of such a light source changes as the temperature rises, it is preferable to suppress the temperature rise of the light source. On the other hand, in this configuration, since the light source is cooled by the airflow generated by the airflow generation unit, the temperature rise of the light source can be suppressed. In addition, by using an air flow generation unit that generates an air flow for collecting mist for light source cooling, it is not necessary to provide a new configuration for light source cooling, and the apparatus configuration can be simplified.

  Incidentally, the printing apparatus can be configured such that the airflow generation unit generates an airflow that passes through the filter from the upper side to the lower side in the direction of gravity. When the airflow passes through the filter from the upper side to the lower side in this way, the liquid may easily accumulate in the lower part of the filter. Alternatively, if the amount of mist-like liquid contained in the airflow is large, the liquid may easily accumulate on the upper part of the filter without waiting for the liquid to permeate the filter.

  In order to effectively cope with the former, the printing apparatus may be configured so that the filter has an inclined portion on the lower side of the filter. As a result, the liquid accumulated in the lower portion of the filter can be guided to the inclined portion provided on the lower side of the filter and efficiently recovered in the liquid recovery portion. In order to effectively cope with the latter, the printing apparatus may be configured so that the filter has an inclined portion on the upper side of the filter. As a result, the liquid accumulated in the upper part of the filter can be guided to the inclined part provided on the upper side of the filter and efficiently recovered in the liquid recovery part.

1 is a perspective view partially showing an example of a device configuration of a printer to which the present invention can be applied. The front view which shows partially the structure of the support stage with which the printer shown in FIG. 1 is provided. FIG. 2 is a perspective view partially showing an internal configuration of a print processing unit included in the printer shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a front view partially showing an internal configuration of a print processing unit included in the printer shown in FIG. 1. The bottom view which shows typically the partial structure with which a printing unit is provided. The schematic cross section which partially showed the structure inside the ultraviolet irradiation device. The schematic perspective view which showed partially the structure of the top part of the ultraviolet irradiator shown in FIG.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view partially showing an example of a device configuration included in a printer to which the present invention can be applied. In FIG. 1 and the drawings shown below, an XYZ orthogonal coordinate system including a left-right direction X, a front-rear direction Y, and a gravity direction Z is shown as appropriate. The printer 1 prints an image on a printing medium A by ejecting ultraviolet curable UV (ultraviolet) ink that is cured by ultraviolet irradiation by an inkjet method. As the print medium A, various media such as posters, panels, and signboards are targeted. The printer 1 is of a so-called flat bed type, and the print head mounted on the print medium A is moved while the print head mounted on the print processing unit 5 is moved with respect to the print medium A horizontally supported by the support stage 3. Then, printing is performed by discharging UV ink.

  FIG. 2 is a front view partially showing a configuration of a support stage included in the printer shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, in addition to the support stage 3, a sub-scanning moving unit 4 described later is also shown. The support stage 3 has a schematic configuration in which the four corners of the suction table 31 having a substantially flat plate shape that is long in the front-rear direction Y is supported by the leg member 33, and is movable by a caster attached to the lower end of the leg member 33. It has become. The suction table 31 has a placement plane 310 that is supported horizontally and facing upward, and the print medium A is placed on the placement plane 310. A plurality of suction ports (not shown) are opened upward on the mounting surface 310 of the suction table 31, and the suction table 31 sucks the plurality of suction ports by a built-in suction chamber 311. The print medium A is sucked and held on the placement plane 310.

  The support stage 3 has an operation panel 35 provided on the front side of the suction table 31, and an operator can give a command to the printer 1 by operating the operation panel 35. In addition, an open / close door 351 is provided in a substantially right half of the operation panel 35. The opening / closing door 351 is provided so that an operator can perform manual maintenance on the print processing unit 5. Specifically, by moving the print processing unit 5 from the state of FIG. 1 to the front side (+ Y side) in the front-rear direction Y, the open / close door 351 and the print processing unit 5 are brought close to each other to open and close An operator can access the print processing unit 5 through the door 351 and perform manual maintenance.

  In FIG. 2, the printer 1 includes a sub-scanning movement unit 4 that moves the print processing unit 5 in the front-rear direction Y, as indicated along with the support stage 3. The sub-scanning moving unit 4 includes a pair of left and right guide mechanisms 41 provided on the back side of the support stage 3, and a connecting frame 42 that connects the print processing unit 5 and the guide mechanism 41. The guide mechanism 41 is constituted by an LM guide (registered trademark), and extends in the front-rear direction Y and is fixed to the support stage 3, and a slider that slides in the front-rear direction Y with respect to the guide rail 41a. 41b. The print processing unit 5 is attached to the slider 41b via the connecting frame 42. Thus, the sub-scanning moving unit 4 supports the print processing unit 5 by the guide mechanism 41 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction Y.

  Further, the sub-scanning moving unit 4 includes a sub-scanning drive mechanism 43 that drives the print processing unit 5 in the front-rear direction Y along the guide mechanism 41. The sub-scanning drive mechanism 43 extends in the front-rear direction Y and is fixed to the connecting frame 42 via a support member 45 and is fixed to the connection stage 42 and is screwed to the screw shaft 44. And a nut member 46. The sub-scanning drive mechanism 43 drives (rotates) the nut member 46 by the sub-scanning motor 47 to move the print processing unit 5 in the front-rear direction Y (sub-scanning direction).

  The print processing unit 5 is a so-called gantry type, and has a schematic configuration in which a print head and various functional units are accommodated in a housing member 50 (FIG. 1) provided so as to cross the support stage 3 from the left-right direction X. Is provided. 3 is a perspective view partially showing an internal configuration of a print processing unit included in the printer shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a front view partially showing an internal configuration of the print processing unit provided in the printer shown in FIG. FIG.

  The print processing unit 5 accommodates in a housing member 50 a printing unit 6 on which a print head is mounted and a main scanning moving unit 7 that moves the printing unit 6 in the left-right direction X. The main scanning moving unit 7 includes a pair of upper and lower guide shafts 71 that reciprocally support the printing unit 6 in the left-right direction X, and a main scanning drive mechanism that linearly drives the printing unit 6 in the left-right direction X along the guide shaft 71. 73. The main scanning drive mechanism 73 includes a configuration in which a timing belt 74 extending in the left-right direction X along the guide shaft 71 is bridged between a main driving pulley 75 and a driven pulley 76. By driving, the printing unit 6 connected to the timing belt 74 is moved in the left-right direction X. Therefore, when the main scanning motor 77 rotates forward and backward, the printing unit 6 can be reciprocated in the left-right direction X (main scanning direction) via the timing belt 74.

  FIG. 5 is a bottom view schematically illustrating a partial configuration included in the printing unit. The printing unit 6 includes a carriage unit 62 in which the print head 8 is mounted on a box-shaped carriage 61, and ultraviolet irradiators 9 fixed to the left and right sides of the carriage unit 62. The print head 8 has a nozzle that opens toward the placement plane 310 and discharges UV ink.

  More specifically, each print head 8 has a configuration in which a plurality of nozzle rows each having a plurality of nozzles (not shown) arranged linearly in the front-rear direction Y are arranged in the left-right direction X. Different colors of UV ink are ejected. Note that UV ink is ejected from the nozzles by an ink jet method in which the nozzles are driven by piezoelectric elements (piezo elements). The print head 8 faces a region Ra having a predetermined width in the front-rear direction Y, and an image is printed in the region Ra by ejecting ink to the region Ra while moving in parallel with the main scanning direction X.

  Each ultraviolet irradiator 9 has a configuration in which a light source substrate 91 for temporary curing and a light source substrate 92 for main curing are arranged in the front-rear direction Y. Specifically, the light source substrate 91 is disposed on the rear side (−Y side) in the front-rear direction Y, and the light source substrate 92 is disposed on the front side (+ Y side) in the front-rear direction Y. The light source substrate 91 for temporary curing includes a configuration in which a plurality of light sources 911 facing the placement plane 310 are arranged in a matrix in the left-right direction X and the front-rear direction Y, and printing on the placement plane 310 from each light source 911. The medium A is irradiated with ultraviolet rays. Note that the arrangement range of the light sources 911 on the light source substrate 91 overlaps with the region Ra in the front-rear direction Y in the bottom view, and the light source substrate 91 irradiates the region Ra with ultraviolet rays.

  On the other hand, the light source substrate 92 for main curing includes a configuration in which a plurality of light sources 921 facing the placement plane 310 are arranged in a matrix in the left-right direction X and the front-rear direction Y. The print medium A is irradiated with ultraviolet rays. Note that the arrangement range of the light sources 921 on the light source substrate 92 overlaps the region Rb in the front-rear direction Y in the bottom view, and the light source substrate 92 irradiates the region Rb with ultraviolet rays. Here, the region Rb is a region located on the front side (+ Y side) in the front-rear direction Y with respect to the region Ra and having a width narrower than that of the region Ra in the front-rear direction Y.

  The light sources 911 and 921 of the light source substrates 91 and 92 are configured by, for example, LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes). As can be seen from FIG. 5, the arrangement range of the light source 921 for main curing is wider in the left-right direction X than the arrangement range of the light source 911 for temporary curing. The cumulative amount of ultraviolet light emitted from the light source 911 for temporary curing is set lower than the cumulative amount of ultraviolet light emitted from the light source 921 for main curing. That is, the light source substrate 91 for temporary curing irradiates the UV ink discharged to the print medium A by the print head 8 with UV ink with a relatively small amount of accumulated light so that the shape is maintained. It is to be cured (temporarily cured) and not to completely cure the UV ink. On the other hand, the main curing light source substrate 92 irradiates the UV ink that has already been irradiated with the ultraviolet rays from the light source substrate 91 (that is, the UV ink that has been temporarily cured) with a relatively large amount of accumulated ultraviolet rays. The UV ink is completely cured.

  The printer 1 configured as described above performs printing on the print medium A by appropriately performing main scanning and sub-scanning. Specifically, the main scanning is executed by ejecting UV ink from the print head 8 while moving the printing unit 6 by the main scanning drive mechanism 73 in one of the forward direction and the backward direction of the main scanning direction X. . With one main scan, UV ink is ejected onto the region Ra and an image is printed. Note that main scanning can be performed in both the forward direction and the backward direction of the main scanning direction X. When a plurality of main scans are repeatedly performed, the main scan in the forward direction and the main scan in the backward direction are performed. Are executed alternately.

  The sub-scanning is executed by moving the print processing unit 6 by the sub-scanning driving mechanism 43 in the sub-scanning direction Y (one direction from the front side + Y to the rear side -Y) by the sub-scanning movement amount. The region Ra where the print head 8 discharges UV ink is moved with respect to the print medium A in the sub-scanning direction Y by the sub-scanning movement once. By executing the sub-scan every time the main scan is completed, printing can be performed on the area Ra while moving the area Ra in the sub-scanning direction Y, and an image can be printed on the entire surface of the print medium A.

  Furthermore, the light sources 911 and 921 of the ultraviolet irradiator 9 emit ultraviolet rays during execution of main scanning, and cure the UV ink ejected to the print medium A by the print head 8. First, the operation of the temporary curing light source 911 will be described. During execution of the main scanning, the light source 911 of the ultraviolet irradiator 9 on the rear side of the print head 8 in the moving direction in the main scanning is turned on. As a result, the ultraviolet irradiator 9 on the rear side moves so as to follow the print head 8 while irradiating the UV ink ejected to the region Ra during the main scanning being performed, thereby preliminarily curing the UV ink. .

  On the other hand, the operation of the light source 921 for main curing is as follows. During execution of the main scan, the light source 921 of the ultraviolet irradiator 9 on the rear side of the print head 8 in the moving direction in the main scan is turned on. It should be noted that the region Rb where the light source 921 emits ultraviolet rays is shifted to the front side (+ Y side) in the sub-scanning direction Y with respect to the region Ra where the print head 8 ejects UV ink in the main scanning being executed. Therefore, in a mode in which printing is performed while performing sub-scanning from the front side (+ Y) to the rear side (−Y), the light source 921 is ejected to the printing medium A and subjected to temporary curing in the main scanning that is performed first. The UV ink is fully cured. Then, each time the sub-scan is executed, the region Rb where the light source 921 performs the main curing moves to the rear side (−Y) in the sub-scanning direction Y, so that the main curing is performed on the entire surface of the printing medium A. can do.

  FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view partially showing the internal configuration of the ultraviolet irradiator. FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view partially showing the configuration of the top of the ultraviolet irradiator shown in FIG. The ultraviolet irradiator 9 includes a housing 90 on which the above-described light source substrates 91 and 92 are attached to the bottom. An intake port 90 a that opens upward (+ Z side) is provided at the top of the housing 90, and an exhaust port 90 b that opens on the rear side (−Y side) is provided on the lower side surface of the housing 90. The intake port 90a is inclined with respect to the gravity direction Z and descends from the front side (+ Y side) in the front-rear direction Y toward the rear side (−Y side).

  In the gravity direction Z, a fan 93 is attached to a substantially central portion in the housing 90. The fan 93 sucks air from the upper side and exhausts it to the lower side. By the operation of the fan 93, the air flowing from the air inlet 90a is blown to the light source boards 91 and 92 and then flows out to the air outlet 90b. F is generated. Thus, the fan 93 functions as a cooling fan that blows air to the light source substrates 91 and 92 and cools the light sources 911 and 921 of the light source substrates 91 and 92. Thereby, the temperature rise of the light sources 911 and 921 can be suppressed, and the illuminance of the light sources 911 and 921 can be stabilized. Further, a heat sink 94 such as a fin attached to the upper surfaces of the light source substrates 91 and 92 is disposed in the housing 90. As a result, heat transmitted from the light sources 911 and 921 to the light source substrates 91 and 92 is efficiently released by the heat sink 94, and cooling of the light source substrates 91 and 92 by the fan 93 is promoted.

  Incidentally, the air taken in through the intake port 90a includes ink mist that floats inside the printer 1. In particular, in the above-described configuration in which the ultraviolet irradiator 9 is attached to the side of the print head 8, a part of the UV ink ejected from the print head 8 may become ink mist, and air containing a large amount of ink mist is the intake port. There is a high risk of flowing in from 90a. Therefore, the ultraviolet irradiator 9 has a filter 95 that captures ink mist. The filter 95 has a rectangular shape, and is attached so as to close the intake port 90a as shown by a one-dot chain line in FIG. The filter 95 is detachable from the intake port 90a, and the filter 95 can be appropriately replaced by an operator.

  The filter 95 is attached to be inclined with respect to the gravity direction Z and descends from the front side (+ Y side) in the front-rear direction Y toward the rear side (−Y side). Therefore, the front portion 95a corresponding to the front side of the filter 95 and the back portion 95b corresponding to the back side of the filter 95 are “inclined portions” that are inclined with respect to the gravity direction Z, and the front side in the front-rear direction Y (+ Y side) ) To the rear side (−Y side). The filter 95 (the front part 95a and the back part 95b) is parallel to the inclined intake port 90a in the same manner.

  A filter support plate 96 having a flat plate shape is attached to the intake port 90a, and the filter 95 is supported by the filter support plate 96. The filter support plate 96 is set back below the intake port 90a and is detachably attached to the housing 50. The filter support plate 96 is inclined with respect to the gravitational direction Z and extends from the front side (+ Y side) in the front-rear direction Y to the rear side (+ Y side). -Move towards (Y side). Thus, when the filter 95 is attached to the filter support plate 96 facing the intake port 90a from below through the intake port 90a, the filter 95 is supported in a posture inclined with respect to the gravity direction Z as described above. . Further, the filter support plate 96 is formed with a plurality of slits 96 a extending in parallel in the front-rear direction Y and aligned in the left-right direction X. Therefore, the airflow F that has passed through the filter F can pass through the filter support plate 96 through the slit 96a.

  Further, in the ultraviolet irradiator 9, an ink tray 97 that is detachably attached to the front portion of the housing 50 is disposed below the filter 50, and the filter tilted with respect to the gravity direction Z as described above. It faces the descending end portion 95d of 95 from below. In other words, the ink tray 97 is disposed on the lower side of the filter 95 in a state where at least a part of the ink tray 97 overlaps the descending end portion 95d of the filter 95 when viewed from the gravity direction Z. The ink tray 97 has a predetermined depth in the gravity direction Z and receives and stores the UV ink dropped from the filter 50. In the present embodiment, the inner wall of the housing 50 also serves as a part of the side wall of the ink tray 97. However, the configuration of the ink tray 97 is not limited to this, and the inner wall of the housing 50 and the side wall of the ink tray 97 may be separately configured, and the ink tray 97 may be arranged away from the inner wall of the housing 50. As shown in FIG. 7, the ink tray 97 can be visually recognized through the slit 96a of the filter support plate 96 by removing the filter 95 from the opening 95a. Therefore, when replacing the filter 95, the operator can easily determine whether or not the ink tray 97 needs to be replaced by visually checking the amount of UV ink stored in the ink tray 97.

  In the ultraviolet irradiator 9 having such a configuration, when the airflow F generated by the fan 93 flows from the intake port 90a, the filter 95 is moved from the front portion 95a (upper side) to the back portion 95b (lower side). Pass through. Therefore, most of the ink mist contained in the airflow F is captured by the filter 95 and does not enter the downstream side of the airflow F from the filter 95. Further, the front portion 95a and the back portion 95b of the filter 95 are inclined toward the ink tray 97 while being inclined with respect to the gravity direction Z, and the filter 95 is lowered along the front portion 95a and the back portion 95b. Then, the supplemented UV ink is guided to the descending end portion 95d. Thus, the UV ink guided to the lower end portion 95d of the filter 95 is dropped and is collected in the ink tray 97 disposed below the lower end portion 95d. That is, the ink tray 97 collects the UV ink guided by the front portion 95a and the back portion 95b of the filter 95. Thus, the ultraviolet irradiator 9 has a built-in mist collecting mechanism C including the fan 93, the filter 95, and the ink tray 97.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the ink tray 97 is disposed below the filter 95 that supplements the ink mist included in the airflow F generated by the fan 93. This liquid recovery member is arranged in a state where at least a part thereof overlaps with the filter 95 when viewed from the gravity direction Z. Then, the UV ink captured by the filter 95 is collected in the ink tray 97. At this time, the filter 95 has a front portion 95a and a back portion 95b (inclined portion) that are inclined with respect to the gravity direction Z and descend toward the ink tray 97, and are transmitted through the front portion 95a and the back portion 95b. By lowering, the supplemented UV ink is guided. On the other hand, the ink tray 97 collects the UV ink guided by the front portion 95a and the back portion 95b of the filter 95. As described above, the ultraviolet irradiator 9 according to the present embodiment includes the filter 97 with the front portions 95a and 95b inclined with respect to the gravitational direction Z, and the UV ink guided by the front portion 95a and the back portion 95b is supplied to the ink tray. Collect at 97. As a result, the UV ink supplemented to the filter 95 can be efficiently collected in the ink tray 97.

  Further, the present invention can be used particularly suitably for the printer 1 in which the fan 93 is disposed below the filter 95 as in the present embodiment. That is, in such a printer 1, when the amount of UV ink captured by the filter 95 increases, UV ink that cannot be completely captured by the filter 95 falls and contaminates the fan 93 disposed below the filter 95. There is a fear. On the other hand, according to the present embodiment, the UV ink that can no longer be captured by the filter 95 can be guided by the front portion 95a and the back portion 95b of the filter 95 and efficiently collected in the ink tray 97. Contamination of the fan 93 with the UV ink dropped from 95 can be suppressed.

  Further, the mist collecting mechanism C of the present embodiment further includes a filter support plate 96 that supports the filter 95 from below. Therefore, the filter 95 provided above the fan 93 can be firmly supported from the lower side by the filter support plate 96. Moreover, since the filter support plate 96 is formed with slits 96a through which the airflow F passes, it is necessary to suppress the airflow F from being blocked by the filter support plate 96 and supplement the ink mist with the filter 95. The airflow F which becomes can be ensured.

  In the present embodiment, the light sources 911 and 921 that emit ultraviolet rays are cooled by the airflow F generated by the fan 93. Therefore, it is possible to stabilize the illuminance of the light sources 911 and 921 while suppressing the temperature rise of the light sources 911 and 921. In addition, by using the fan 93 that generates the airflow F that can be used for mist collection for cooling the light sources 911 and 921, it is not necessary to provide a new configuration for cooling the light source, and the apparatus configuration of the printer 1 is simplified. It is possible.

  Incidentally, when the airflow F passes through the filter 95 from the upper side to the lower side as in the printer 1, the UV ink may easily accumulate in the lower part of the filter 95. Alternatively, if the amount of ink mist contained in the airflow F is large, the ink may easily accumulate on the upper portion of the filter 95 without waiting for the UV ink to permeate the filter 95.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, in order to effectively cope with the former, the filter 95 has a back portion 95b that functions as an inclined portion on the lower side. As a result, the UV ink accumulated in the lower portion of the filter 95 can be guided by the back portion 95 b provided on the lower side of the filter 95 and efficiently collected in the ink tray 97. In order to effectively cope with the latter, the filter 95 has a surface portion 95a that functions as an inclined portion on the upper side. Accordingly, the UV ink accumulated on the upper portion of the filter 95 can be guided by the front portion 95 a provided on the upper side of the filter 95 and efficiently collected in the ink tray 97.

Others As described above, in the above embodiment, the printer 1 corresponds to an example of the “printing apparatus” of the present invention, the UV ink corresponds to an example of the “liquid” of the present invention, and the print medium A corresponds to the “printing apparatus” of the present invention. The print head 8 corresponds to an example of the “print head” of the present invention, the mist recovery mechanism C corresponds to an example of the “mist recovery mechanism” of the present invention, and the fan 93 corresponds to the present invention. The airflow F corresponds to an example of the “airflow” of the present invention, the filter 95 corresponds to an example of the “filter” of the present invention, and the front portion 95a or the back portion 95b corresponds to the “airflow generation portion” of the present invention. The filter support plate 96 corresponds to an example of the “support member” of the present invention, the slit 96 a corresponds to an example of the “vent hole” of the present invention, and the ink tray 97. Corresponds to an example of the “liquid recovery member” of the present invention, and a light source 911 and 921 correspond to an example of the “light source” of the present invention, and ultraviolet rays correspond to an example of “light” of the present invention.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made to the above-described one without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, in the above embodiment, the inclined portions 95a and 95b that are inclined with respect to the gravity direction Z are provided on both sides of the filter 95 in the direction in which the airflow F passes. However, the inclined portion may be provided only on one side.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, the case where this invention was applied with respect to the structure by which the fan 93 is arrange | positioned under the filter 95 was illustrated. However, the application target of the present invention is not limited to this. Therefore, the present invention can also be applied to a configuration in which the filter 95 and the fan 93 are arranged in the horizontal direction and the airflow F generated by the fan 93 passes through the filter 95 in the horizontal direction. Even in such a configuration, the filter 97 has an inclined portion inclined with respect to the gravity direction Z, and the UV ink guided by the inclined portion is collected by the ink tray 97, so that the UV ink supplemented to the filter 95 can be efficiently obtained. It can be collected in the ink tray 97.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, the case where the mist collection | recovery mechanism C was incorporated in the ultraviolet irradiation device 9, and the fan 93 of the mist collection | recovery mechanism C was used also for cooling of the light sources 911 and 921 was illustrated. However, it is not essential to use the fan 93 of the mist collection mechanism C for other purposes such as cooling, and the present invention can be applied to the printer 1 including the mist collection mechanism C that performs only mist collection. it can.

  Further, the arrangement relationship between the filter 95 and the ink tray 97 is not limited to the content of the above embodiment. Accordingly, the arrangement relationship between the filter 95 and the ink tray 97 can be changed in each direction XYZ. At this time, for example, the filter 95 and the ink tray 97 may be separated from each other or brought into contact with each other.

  Further, the support mode of the filter 95 is not limited to that by the above-described filter support plate 96, and various modes can be used. Therefore, an engagement member may be provided so as to protrude from the inner wall of the housing 90, and the filter 95 may be supported by being hooked on the engagement member.

  Further, the positional relationship between the filter 95 and the fan 93 is not limited to the contents of the above embodiment. Accordingly, the arrangement relationship between the filter 95 and the ink tray 97 can be changed in each direction XYZ. Furthermore, the specific configuration for generating the airflow F is not limited to the content of the above embodiment. Therefore, not only the location of the fan 93 but also the posture and number of the fans 93 can be changed as appropriate.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to the so-called flatbed type printer 1 is illustrated. However, the type of the printer 1 to which the present invention can be applied is not limited to the flat bed type.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printer, 8 ... Print head, 9 ... Ultraviolet irradiator, 90a ... Intake port, 90b ... Exhaust port, 911 ... Light source, 921 ... Light source, 93 ... Fan, 95 ... Filter, 95a ... Front part, 95b ... Back part 96 ... Filter support plate, 96a ... Slit, 97 ... Ink tray, C ... Mist collection mechanism, F ... Airflow, A ... Printing medium

Claims (7)

A print head for discharging a photo-curable liquid onto a print medium;
A mist collecting mechanism for collecting the mist-like liquid,
The mist collecting mechanism is
An airflow generator for generating airflow;
A filter that is arranged on the upstream side of the airflow with respect to the airflow generation unit and supplements the mist-like liquid contained in the airflow;
A liquid recovery member that is disposed on the lower side of the filter in a state where at least part of the filter overlaps with the filter as viewed from the direction of gravity, and recovers the liquid supplemented by the filter;
The filter has an inclined portion that is inclined with respect to the direction of gravity and descends toward the liquid recovery member on at least one of both sides in the direction in which the airflow passes in a state where the filter is disposed in the mist recovery mechanism. And guiding the liquid supplemented to the liquid recovery member by descending along the inclined portion,
The printing apparatus, wherein the liquid recovery unit recovers the liquid guided by the inclined portion of the filter.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the airflow generation unit is disposed below the filter in the gravity direction. The mist collection mechanism further includes a support member that supports the filter from the lower side in the gravity direction,
The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the support member is provided with a vent hole through which the airflow passes. The mist collecting mechanism further includes a light source that emits light that cures the liquid attached to the print medium, facing the print medium,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the airflow generation unit cools the light source with the airflow.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the airflow generation unit generates the airflow that passes through the filter from the upper side to the lower side in the gravity direction.   The printing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the filter has the inclined portion on the lower side of the filter.   The printing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the filter has the inclined portion on the upper side of the filter.

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