JP2023125190A - inkjet printer - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an inkjet printer which makes transport of a recording medium less likely to be hindered even if an apron is heated.SOLUTION: An inkjet printer includes: a platen 15 in which a recording medium is placed on an upper surface 15A; a transport device which transports the recording medium in a transport direction X; a front apron 40 which is disposed at the downstream of the platen 15 in the transport direction X and guides movement of the recording medium by the transport device; and a heating device which heats the front apron 40. An upstream side end 40U of the front apron 40 extends in a scanning direction Y and a center part 40UM as seen in the scanning direction Y is recessed in a downward direction D further than both ends 40UL and 40UR.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

The present invention relates to an inkjet printer.

2. Description of the Related Art Inkjet printers that print images on recording media using an inkjet method have been known. This type of inkjet printer includes, for example, a platen on which a recording medium is placed, and an ink head that ejects ink onto the recording medium placed on the platen. Further, depending on the type of ink used, some inkjet printers are equipped with a drying device such as a heater or a fan that accelerates drying of the ink ejected onto the recording medium.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an inkjet printer equipped with a drying device having a plurality of fans as means for accelerating drying of ink ejected onto a recording medium. Such a drying device is configured to send air toward the recording medium from above the recording medium. The portion of the recording medium on which the ink has been ejected is transported from the platen to the downstream platen (hereinafter referred to as an apron), and heated air is directed toward the recording medium from a drying device located opposite the apron. This speeds up the drying of the ink.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-159482

When an apron is heated like the inkjet printer described in Patent Document 1, the apron thermally expands. As a result, a portion of the apron protrudes above the platen, which may impede conveyance of the recording medium from the platen to the apron.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide an inkjet printer in which conveyance of a recording medium is not easily inhibited even when an apron is heated.

The inkjet printer disclosed herein includes a platen on which a recording medium is placed, an ink head that is provided above the platen and discharges ink downward, and conveys the recording medium in a predetermined conveyance direction. an apron that is disposed downstream of the platen in the transport direction and guides movement of the recording medium by the transport device; and a heating device that heats the apron. The upstream end of the apron in the conveyance direction extends in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction, and a central portion in the orthogonal direction is recessed below both ends.

According to the above inkjet printer, at the upstream end of the apron in the transport direction, the central portion in the orthogonal direction perpendicular to the transport direction is recessed below both ends. The central part of the upstream end of the apron can expand and move upward due to thermal expansion, but since it is originally concave downward, even if the apron is heated, it is difficult to protrude above the platen. Therefore, according to the above inkjet printer, even if the apron is heated, the conveyance of the recording medium is not easily hindered.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a printer according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the front apron. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the front apron attached to the lower frame, right side frame, and left side frame. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing how the front apron and the right side frame are attached to the base member. FIG. 3 is a view of the connecting portion between the lower frame and the front apron, viewed from below. FIG. 3 is a view of the left corner of the downstream end of the front apron, viewed from below. FIG. 3 is a view of a portion of the lower center portion of the front apron that is fixed to the lower frame, viewed from below. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the vicinity of one central screw hole of the lower frame. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the central portion of the front apron in the scanning direction. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the upstream end of the front apron.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An inkjet printer (hereinafter simply referred to as a "printer") according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiments described here are, of course, not intended to particularly limit the present invention. In addition, the same reference numerals are given to members and parts that have the same function, and redundant explanations are omitted or simplified as appropriate.

[Printer configuration]
FIG. 1 is a front view of a printer 10 according to this embodiment. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the printer 10 near the front apron 40, which will be described later. In the following description, left, right, upper, and lower mean the left, right, upper, and lower, respectively, as viewed from the operator in front of the printer 10. Furthermore, when the operator is facing the front of the printer 10, the direction from the rear of the printer 10 toward the operator is defined as the front, and the direction from the operator toward the rear of the printer 10 is defined as the rear. The symbols F, Rr, L, R, U, and D in the drawings represent front, rear, left, right, top, and bottom, respectively.

The printer 10 prints on the recording medium 5. The recording medium 5 is, for example, recording paper. However, the recording medium 5 is not limited to recording paper. In addition to paper such as plain paper and inkjet printing paper, the recording medium 5 may include those made of resin materials such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyester, metal plates made of aluminum, iron, etc. Includes those made from glass plates, wood plates, cardboard, etc.

The printer 10 prints on the recording medium 5 while conveying the recording medium 5 in a predetermined conveyance direction. The conveyance direction of the recording medium 5 is basically a front-rear direction, and in front of the platen 15 is an oblique up-down direction. As shown in FIG. 2, hereinafter, the conveyance direction of the recording medium 5 will be indicated by the symbol X. Further, the downstream side in the transport direction X is represented by the symbol X1, and the upstream side is represented by the symbol X2. Regarding the front-back direction, downstream X1 in the transport direction X is the front. Regarding the front-back direction, the upstream X2 of the conveyance direction X is the rear. In front of the platen 15, the downstream direction X1 in the conveyance direction X is diagonally downward in the front direction, and the upstream direction X2 is in the opposite direction. An ink head 55, which will be described later, is provided so as to be movable leftward and rightward together with a carriage 50, which will be described later. Hereinafter, the moving direction of the ink head 55 will also be referred to as the scanning direction Y. The scanning direction Y corresponds to the width direction of the recording medium 5, and the conveying direction X corresponds to the longitudinal direction of the recording medium 5. The scanning direction Y and the transport direction X are orthogonal to each other. Note that the scanning direction Y and the conveying direction X are not particularly limited, and can be set as appropriate depending on the form of the printer 10 and the like.

As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 10 includes a base member 11, a main body case 12, a pair of legs 13, and an operation panel 14. The base member 11 extends in the scanning direction Y. As shown in FIG. 1, the legs 13 are attached to the lower part of the base member 11 and support the base member 11. The main body case 12 is supported by the base member 11. The main body case 12 includes left and right side panels 12L and 12R supported by the base member 11. The operation panel 14 is provided on the right front side of the main body case 12. However, the position of the operation panel 14 is not particularly limited. The operation panel 14 is used by the user to perform printing-related operations.

The printer 10 includes a platen 15 on which a recording medium 5 is placed, a carriage 50, an ink head 55 held by the carriage 50, a carriage moving device 60 that moves the carriage 50, and a conveyance device that conveys the recording medium 5. It is equipped with 70. The platen 15 , the carriage 50 , the ink head 55 , the carriage moving device 60 , and the conveyance device 70 are housed in the main body case 12 . The printer 10 further includes a recording medium 5 feeding device (not shown) and a rear apron disposed behind the platen 15, a winding device 90 for winding up the printed recording medium 5, and a winding device 90 disposed in front of the platen 15. It includes a front apron 40 and a heating device 80 (see FIG. 1 for both) that heats the front apron 40.

The platen 15 is provided on the base member 11. The platen 15 is a member on which printing is performed on the recording medium 5. The platen 15 includes an upper surface 15A on which the recording medium 5 is placed. The platen 15 is an example of a mounting table on which the recording medium 5 is mounted. The platen 15 is provided at the center of the base member 11 in the scanning direction Y here. The platen 15 extends in the scanning direction Y between the left and right side panels 12L and 12R of the main body case 12.

The front apron 40 is disposed downstream X1 of the platen 15 in the transport direction X, and guides the movement of the recording medium 5 by the transport device 70. The front apron 40 includes a guide surface 40A that guides the movement of the recording medium 5 by the transport device 70. The guide surface 40A is the upper surface of the front apron 40 here. As shown in FIG. 2, the front apron 40 is arranged ahead of the platen 15. The recording medium 5 conveyed from above the platen 15 is conveyed toward the winding device 90 on the guide surface 40A of the front apron 40. The front apron 40 is formed of a flexible plate-like material here. The front apron 40 is bent a plurality of times to have a curved shape (substantially arcuate) that is convex toward the front. However, the front apron 40 may be formed, for example, by bending a plate-like member into an arc shape without bending it. As shown in FIG. 2, a bent portion 41 is provided at the downstream end 40D of the front apron 40 in the conveying direction X. The bent portion 41 is formed by bending the entire width direction of the front apron 40 backward. The bending portion 41 is fixed to the base member 11 via a lower frame 30, which will be described later. Both left and right ends of the front apron 40 are fixed to the base member 11 via a left side frame 20L and a right side frame 20R (see FIG. 1), which will be described later.

The front apron 40 is made of, for example, iron (for example, SECC). Front apron 40 may be made of aluminum. The front apron 40 is made of an elastically deformable material for reasons described below. The front apron 40 is preferably made of a material with relatively high thermal conductivity in order to equalize temperature distribution. The front apron 40 is spaced apart from the platen 15 so that the heat of the front apron 40 is not transferred and the platen 15 is not excessively heated. A gap is formed between the platen 15 and the front apron 40. The structure of the front apron 40 and the members supporting the front apron 40 will be described later.

The ink head 55 is provided to face the platen 15 and discharges ink toward the platen 15. As shown in FIG. 1, the ink head 55 is provided above the platen 15 and discharges ink downward. As a result, ink is ejected onto the recording medium 5 placed on the platen 15. The ink ejected from the ink head 55 is not particularly limited. The ink ejected from the ink head 55 is, for example, a solvent-based pigment ink, an aqueous ink, a photocurable ink (for example, an ultraviolet curable pigment ink that cures when exposed to ultraviolet light, so-called UV ink), etc. Good too.

The carriage moving device 60 moves the carriage 50 in the scanning direction Y. As shown in FIG. 1, the carriage moving device 60 includes a guide rail 61, left and right pulleys 62, an endless belt 63, and a scan motor 64. The guide rail 61 is arranged above the platen 15. The guide rail 61 extends in the scanning direction Y. The carriage 50 is configured to be movable in the scanning direction Y along a guide rail 61. A belt 63 is fixed to the carriage 50. The belt 63 is wound around the left and right pulleys 62. A scan motor 64 is connected to one pulley 62. When the scan motor 64 is driven and one of the pulleys 62 rotates, the belt 63 runs. As a result, the carriage 50 moves in the scanning direction Y. The carriage 50 holds an ink head 55. The ink head 55 moves in the scanning direction Y together with the carriage 50.

The transport device 70 moves the recording medium 5 in the transport direction X. In this embodiment, the conveyance device 70 includes a grit roller 71, a pinch roller 72, and a feed motor (not shown) that rotates the grit roller 71. The grit roller 71 is embedded in the platen 15. A portion of the grit roller 71 is exposed to the platen 15. The pinch roller 72 presses down the recording medium 5 from above. The pinch roller 72 is arranged above the grit roller 71. The pinch roller 72 is provided at a position facing the grit roller 71. The pinch roller 72 is configured to be movable in the vertical direction. When the feed motor is driven and the grit roller 71 rotates with the recording medium 5 sandwiched between the grit roller 71 and the pinch roller 72, the recording medium 5 is conveyed in the conveyance direction X. The number and installation positions of the grit rollers 71 and pinch rollers 72 are not particularly limited.

The heating device 80 heats the front apron 40. As shown in FIG. 2, in this embodiment, the heating device 80 includes an apron heater 81 attached to the lower surface of the front apron 40. As shown in FIG. The front apron 40 is heated by an apron heater 81. The heating device 80 is configured to maintain the temperature of the front apron 40 at a predetermined temperature. The heating device 80 thereby dries the ink ejected onto the recording medium 5. However, the configuration of the heating device 80 is not particularly limited. The heating device 80 may include a hot air generator 82 that blows hot air onto the front apron 40, as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG.

[Front apron configuration]
Below, the support member that supports the front apron 40 and the configuration of the front apron 40 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the front apron 40 is held by the base member 11 via the left and right side frames 20L, 20R and the lower frame 30. As shown in FIGS. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the front apron 40 attached to the lower frame 30, the right side frame 20R, and the left side frame 20L. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing how the front apron 40 and the right side frame 20R are attached to the base member 11. As shown in FIG. 4, the upstream end 40U of the front apron 40 is fixed to the left and right side panels 12L and 12R of the main body case 12 (in FIG. 4, only the right side is shown, but the same applies to the left side). The left and right ends of the front apron 40 are fixed to a left side frame 20L and a right side frame 20R, respectively. As shown in FIG. 4, the right side frame 20R and the left side frame 20L are fixed to the front surface of the base member 11 (in FIG. 4, only the right side is shown, but the same applies to the left side).

As shown in FIG. 2, the bent portion 41 formed at the downstream end 40D of the front apron 40 is fixed to the lower frame 30. The lower frame 30 is configured such that its front end overlaps with the bent portion 41 of the front apron 40. The front end of the lower frame 30 supports a bending section 41. A rear end portion of the lower frame 30 is fixed to the front surface of the base member 11. The right side panel 12R, left side panel 12L, right side frame 20R, left side frame 20L, and lower frame 30 are examples of support members that support the front apron 40.

The right side frame 20R is arranged forward and to the right of the platen 15, and extends in the front-back direction and the up-down direction. The left side frame 20L is arranged in front and to the left of the platen 15, and extends in the front-back direction and the up-down direction. The right side frame 20R and the left side frame 20L face each other. As shown in FIG. 3, the right side frame 20R and the left side frame 20L each include a plurality of attachment pieces 21R and 21L to which the front apron 40 is attached. The plurality of attachment pieces 21L of the left side frame 20L extend toward the right. The plurality of attachment pieces 21R of the right side frame 20R extend toward the left. As shown in FIG. 3, the left and right ends of the front apron 40 are fixed to the left and right mounting pieces 21L and 21R, respectively, by bolts Bu1 (see also FIG. 4). By fixing the front apron 40 with the attachment pieces 21R and 21L, the left and right ends of the front apron 40 are fixed to the left side frame 20L and the right side frame 20R.

As shown in FIG. 4, both corners of the upstream end 40U of the front apron 40 in the scanning direction Y (left corner 40UL and right corner 40UR, see FIG. 3 for the left corner 40UL) are connected to the left side panel 12L by bolts Bu2. and is fixed to the right side panel 12R. Both corners 40UL and 40UR of the upstream end 40U of the front apron 40 in the scanning direction Y are arranged so that their vertical positions are aligned with the platen 15 or slightly lower than the platen 15, that is, lower than the platen 15. It is arranged so that it does not protrude upward. A central portion 40UM of the upstream end portion 40U of the front apron 40 in the scanning direction Y is not fixed to any other member and is free. Note that the "corner" of the front apron 40 refers to a location within, for example, 10% of the length of the front apron 40 from the end in both the conveying direction X and the scanning direction Y. Furthermore, the term "center" means the part excluding the "corners".

As shown in FIG. 2, the lower frame 30 is located below the platen 15. The lower frame 30 is provided substantially horizontally and extends in the front-back direction and the left-right direction. The position of the lower frame 30 in the left-right direction (scanning direction Y) is aligned with the platen 15. FIG. 5 is a view of the connecting portion between the lower frame 30 and the bent portion 41 of the front apron 40, viewed from below. As shown in FIG. 5, the lower frame 30 includes both corners (left corner 40DL and right corner 40DR) of the downstream end 40D of the front apron 40 in the scanning direction Y, and the center of the downstream end 40D in the scanning direction Y. It holds 40DM.

FIG. 6 is a view of the left corner 40DL of the downstream end 40D of the front apron 40 viewed from below. FIG. 7 is a view of a portion of the lower end central portion 40DM of the front apron 40 that is fixed to the lower frame 30, viewed from below. As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the downstream end 40D (bending portion 41) of the front apron 40 has a left corner hole 42L and a right corner hole 42R formed at the left and right corners 40DL and 40DR, respectively, and a central portion. A plurality of central holes 42M formed in the diameter 40DM are provided. The number of central holes 42M is not particularly limited, and may be one. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the left corner hole 42L and the center hole 42M are long holes that are long in the scanning direction Y. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the position of the left corner hole 42L in the front-rear direction is different from the position of the center hole 42M in the front-rear direction. The center hole 42M is arranged at the rear of the left corner hole 42L. Although the details of the right corner hole 42R are not shown, they are similar to the left corner hole 42L shown in FIG. 6. The position of the right corner hole 42R in the front-rear direction is aligned with the left corner hole 42L.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the lower frame 30 has a left screw hole 31L that overlaps with the left corner hole 42L of the front apron 40, and a right screw hole 31R that overlaps with the right corner hole 42R of the front apron 40 (see FIG. 5, (details not shown) and a central screw hole 31M arranged between the left screw hole 31L and the right screw hole 31R. The position of the central screw hole 31M in the front-rear direction is aligned with the left screw hole 31L and the right screw hole 31R. The position of the center screw hole 31M in the scanning direction Y is aligned with the center hole 42M of the front apron 40. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, when the central screw hole 31M is not connected to the central hole 42M of the front apron 40, the position of the central screw hole 31M in the scanning direction Y is aligned with the central hole 42M of the front apron 40, and the central screw hole 31M is aligned with the central hole 42M of the front apron 40. It is located ahead of 42M. FIG. 7 illustrates a state before the center hole 42M of the front apron 40 and the center screw hole 31M of the lower frame 30 are connected.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the vicinity of one central screw hole 31M of the lower frame 30. As shown in FIG. 8, grooves 32 are provided on the left and right sides (both sides in the scanning direction Y) of the central screw hole 31M to separate the periphery of the central screw hole 31M from the left and right portions thereof. Due to the left and right grooves 32, the peripheral portion of the central screw hole 31M is easily bent in the transport direction X when a force in the transport direction X is applied. Hereinafter, the portion provided with this central screw hole 31M and configured to be able to bend in the conveying direction X (the portion between the pair of grooves 32) will also be referred to as the flexible portion 33. Note that, as shown in FIG. 6, a left screw hole 31L is also provided in the flexible portion 33. A groove 32 is formed on the right side of the left screw hole 31L. Although not shown, a groove 32 is also formed to the left of the right screw hole 31R.

The left corner hole 42L and right corner hole 42R of the front apron 40 are coupled to the left screw hole 31L and right screw hole 31R of the lower frame 30 by bolts Bd1 (shown by two-dot chain lines in FIG. 6). The bolt Bd1 is inserted through the left and right corner holes 42L, 42R and the left and right screw holes 31L, 31R, and connects the left and right corner holes 42L, 42R with the left and right screw holes 31L, 31R. Here, the bolt Bd1 is engaged with the left and right screw holes 31L and 31R. The center hole 42M of the front apron 40 and the center screw hole 31M of the lower frame 30 are connected by a bolt Bd2 (see FIG. 2). The bolt Bd2 is inserted into the center hole 42M of the front apron 40 and the center screw hole 31M of the lower frame 30 while bending the front apron 40 forward, and connects the center hole 42M and the center screw hole 31M. Here, the bolt Bd2 is engaged with the central screw hole 31M. Thereby, the lower end central portion 40DM of the front apron 40 protrudes more forward than the lower left corner 40DL and the lower right corner 40DR.

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the central portion of the front apron 40 in the scanning direction Y. As shown in FIG. FIG. 10 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the upstream end 40U of the front apron 40. As shown in FIG. 9, by connecting the center hole 42M and the center screw hole 31M with the bolt Bd2 and pushing the downstream center portion 40DM of the front apron 40 forward, the upstream center portion 40UM of the front apron 40 is moved rearward. (In FIG. 9, the front apron 40 indicated by a solid line indicates the front apron 40 with the center hole 42M and the center screw hole 31M fixed, and the front apron 40 indicated by a chain double-dashed line indicates the front apron 40 with the center hole 42M and the center screw hole 31M fixed. 42M and the central screw hole 31M are shown in a state in which the front apron 40 is not fixed). As a result, as shown in FIG. 10, the upstream central portion 40UM of the front apron 40 is recessed below the upstream end portions 40UL and 40UR. The upstream end 40U of the front apron 40 is curved such that the central portion 40UM is more convex downward than both end portions 40UL and 40UR.

[Operations and effects of embodiment]
Below, the effects that can be achieved by the printer 10 according to this embodiment will be explained. The printer 10 according to the present embodiment includes a platen 15 on which a recording medium 5 is placed on an upper surface 15A, a conveying device 70 that conveys the recording medium 5 in the conveying direction It includes a front apron 40 that is arranged and guides the movement of the recording medium 5 by the conveying device 70, and a heating device 80 that heats the front apron 40. The upstream end portion 40U of the front apron 40 extends in the scanning direction Y, and the central portion 40UM in the scanning direction Y is recessed below both end portions 40UL and 40UR. According to this printer 10, even if the front apron 40 is heated, the conveyance of the recording medium 5 is unlikely to be hindered.

The front apron thermally expands when heated. In conventional inkjet printers, thermal expansion of the front apron causes a portion of the front apron to protrude above the platen, which may impede conveyance of the recording medium from the platen to the front apron.

To solve this problem, in the printer 10 according to the present embodiment, the central portion 40UM of the upstream end 40U of the front apron 40 is located below both end portions 40UL and 40UR. The central portion 40UM of the upstream end 40U of the front apron 40 can expand and move upward due to thermal expansion, but since it is originally concave downward, it is difficult to protrude upward relative to the platen 15. Therefore, according to the printer 10, even if the front apron 40 is heated, the conveyance of the recording medium 5 is not hindered, and smooth conveyance of the recording medium 5 is ensured.

In this embodiment, the printer 10 includes a support member that supports the front apron 40. The support member here includes a right side panel 12R, a left side panel 12L, a right side frame 20R, a left side frame 20L, and a lower frame 30. The support member includes a first holding part (here, the front ends of the right side panel 12R and the left side panel 12L) to which both corners 40UL and 40UR of the upstream end 40U of the front apron 40 are fixed, and the front apron 40. A second holding portion (here, left screw hole 31L and right screw hole 31R) to which both corners 40DL and 40DR are fixed at downstream end 40D of front apron 40, and a central portion 40DM at downstream end 40D of front apron 40. A third holding part (here, the central screw hole 31M) is fixed to the third holding part. The front apron 40 includes a guide surface 40A on which the recording medium 5 is placed, is made of a flexible plate-like material, and has a curved shape in which the guide surface 40A protrudes toward the front. There is. The central screw hole 31M (third holding portion) is located forward of the central hole 42M in a state in which the downstream central portion 40DM of the front apron 40 is supported without being fixed to the front apron 40. The central hole 42M is provided in the downstream central portion 40DM of the front apron 40, and is a fixing location to which the central screw hole 31M serving as the third holding portion is fixed. By bending the front apron 40, the central screw hole 31M serving as the third holding portion is overlapped with the central hole 42M, and is fixed to the central hole 42M in this state. According to this configuration, as described above, the center portion 40UM of the upstream end portion 40U of the front apron 40 can be recessed downward.

More specifically, in a state where the third holding portion (center screw hole 31M) is not fixed to the fixed location (center hole 42M) of the front apron 40 and supports the downstream center portion 40DM of the front apron 40, The position in the scanning direction Y is aligned with the center hole 42M and is located in front of the center hole 42M. The center hole 42M and the center screw hole 31M are overlapped by bending the front apron 40. The bolt Bd2 is inserted through the overlapping central hole 42M and central screw hole 31M, and connects the central hole 42M and the central screw hole 31M. According to this configuration, by a simple method of shifting the position of the central hole 42M of the front apron 40 and the position of the central screw hole 31M of the lower frame 30, the central part 40DM of the downstream end 40D of the front apron 40 can be moved forward. It can be bent to

Note that the method of bending the center portion 40DM of the downstream end portion 40D of the front apron 40 is not limited to the above-mentioned method. In the embodiment described above, by arranging the center hole 42M of the front apron 40 rearward than the left corner hole 42L and the right corner hole 42R, the center portion 40DM of the downstream end 40D of the front apron 40 protrudes forward. I was letting it happen. However, for example, by arranging the central screw hole 31M of the lower frame 30 further forward of the front apron 40 than the left screw hole 31L and the right screw hole 31R, the central portion 40DM of the downstream end 40D of the front apron 40 may be made to protrude forward.

In this embodiment, the lower frame 30 as a support member includes a flexible portion 33 that is provided with a third holding portion (central screw hole 31M) and can be bent in the transport direction X. The lower frame 30 flexes and supports the front apron 40 at the center in the scanning direction Y. Therefore, it is preferable that the area around the central screw hole 31M is configured to bend in the transport direction X to absorb the thermal expansion of the front apron 40 in the transport direction X. Note that the configuration for making the flexible portion 33 more flexible is not particularly limited. For example, the flexible portion 33 may protrude more than other portions of the lower frame 30. By reducing the thickness and width of the flexible portion 33, the flexible portion 33 may be made more flexible.

[Other embodiments]
The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above. However, the above-described embodiments are merely illustrative, and the present invention can be implemented in various other forms.

For example, in the embodiment described above, the curvature of the upstream end 40U of the front apron 40 is formed by bending the front apron 40. However, the curve of the upstream end 40U of the front apron 40 may be formed by bending the front apron 40, for example. The method of curving the upstream end 40U of the front apron 40 is not particularly limited.

In the embodiment described above, the front apron 40 and the support member were fixed by fastening screws inserted through holes in the front apron 40 into screw holes provided in the support member. However, the method of fixing the front apron and the support member is not particularly limited. Even in the case of fastening using screws, the screws do not need to be engaged with the screw holes provided in the support member. For example, the support member may be provided with a hole without a thread through which a bolt can be inserted, and the bolt and support member may be coupled by tightening a nut onto the bolt.

Unless otherwise specifically limited, the embodiments do not limit the present invention.

5 Recording medium 10 Printer 12L Left side panel (supporting member)
12R Right side panel (support member)
15 Platen 20L Left side frame (supporting member)
20R Right side frame (support member)
30 Lower frame (supporting member)
31L left screw hole (second holding part)
31R Right screw hole (second holding part)
31M center screw hole (third holding part, second hole)
33 Flexible part 40 Front apron (apron)
40A Guide surface (placement surface)
42L Left corner hole 42R Right corner hole 42M Center hole (first hole)
55 Ink head 70 Conveying device 80 Heating device Bd2 Bolt (screw)

Claims (4)

a platen on which a recording medium is placed;
an ink head provided above the platen and ejecting ink downward;
a conveyance device that conveys the recording medium in a predetermined conveyance direction;
an apron that is disposed downstream of the platen in the transport direction and guides movement of the recording medium by the transport device;
A heating device that heats the apron,
The upstream end of the apron in the conveyance direction extends in an orthogonal direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction, and a central portion in the orthogonal direction is recessed below both ends.
inkjet printer. a first holding part to which both corners of the upstream end of the apron are fixed; a second holding part to which both corners of the downstream end of the apron are fixed; and a central part of the downstream end of the apron. further comprising a support member that supports the apron, and a third holding part to which the apron is fixed;
The apron includes a mounting surface on which the recording medium is mounted, and is formed of a flexible plate-like material, and the mounting surface is configured in a curved shape convex toward the front. Ori,
The third holding part is a fixing point provided at the downstream central part of the apron and to which the third holding part is fixed, in a state where the third holding part supports the downstream central part of the apron without being fixed to the apron. , and by bending the apron, the apron is fixed to the fixing location in a state overlapping with the fixing location in the downstream center part.
The inkjet printer according to claim 1. A first hole is provided at the downstream end of the apron and is formed at the center in the orthogonal direction and is coupled to the third holding part,
In a state where the third holding part supports the downstream central part of the apron without being fixed to the first hole of the apron, the position in the orthogonal direction is aligned with the first hole, and a second hole located forward of the first hole,
The first hole and the second hole are overlapped by bending the apron,
The method further includes a screw inserted through the overlapping first hole and the second hole to connect the first hole and the second hole.
The inkjet printer according to claim 2. The support member is provided with the third holding portion and includes a flexible portion that can be bent in the conveyance direction.
The inkjet printer according to claim 2 or 3.

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