JP6012513B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a function of heating and drying a recording medium on which an image is formed.

  In an image forming apparatus for heating and drying a recording medium on which an image is formed, a blower fan (blower unit) and a heater (heating unit) are arranged inside a heat insulating cover, and the air blown from the blower fan is heated by the heater. Some of them have a drying mechanism for spraying on paper (recording medium) (for example, Patent Document 1). Moreover, in the said patent document 1, the thermistor (temperature detection means) is arrange | positioned inside a heat insulation cover, and the heating temperature of a heater is controlled based on the temperature of the air which the thermistor detected.

JP 2006-205506 A

  However, since the thermistor is affected by the radiant heat of the heater, the temperature of the air blown onto the roll paper (recording medium) cannot be detected with high accuracy.

  In view of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of accurately detecting the temperature of air blown onto a recording medium.

  An image forming apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention is disposed opposite to a conveyance path through which a recording medium on which droplets are ejected is conveyed, and a blower box including a plurality of air outlets on the conveyance path side, Blower means for blowing air to the blow box and blowing air to the recording medium through the plurality of blow outlets, heating means for heating the air stored in the blow box and blown from the blow outlet, and outside the blow box And a temperature detecting means provided between the plurality of outlets for detecting the temperature of the air between the blower box and the conveying path, and the heating based on the temperature of the air detected by the temperature detecting means Control means for controlling the heating temperature of the means.

  According to said invention, the heating means is stored in the ventilation box arrange | positioned facing the conveyance path, and the air ventilated from the ventilation means to the ventilation box is heated. Further, the air heated by the heating means is blown to the recording medium through a plurality of air outlets formed on the conveying path side of the blower box. Thereby, the recording medium is heated and dried.

  Further, a temperature detecting means is provided outside the air blowing box, and this temperature detecting means detects the temperature of the air between the air blowing box and the conveyance path. Here, the temperature detection means is provided between the plurality of air outlets, and the heat rays emitted from the heating means are blocked by the wall surface of the blower box between the air outlets, and the temperature detection means is influenced by the radiant heat of the heating means. It becomes difficult to receive. Thereby, the temperature detection means can detect the temperature of the air between a ventilation box and a conveyance path with a sufficient precision. And a control means controls the heating temperature of a heating means based on the temperature of the air which the temperature detection means detected.

  An image forming apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention is the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein a nozzle portion is provided from the plurality of outlets toward the conveyance path, and the temperature detection unit is disposed between the adjacent nozzle portions. Is provided.

  According to said invention, it can suppress that a nozzle part becomes a wall and air is directly sprayed from a blower outlet to a temperature detection means. Moreover, it can suppress that the air which blown off from the blower outlet diffuses compared with the case where there is no nozzle part.

  The image forming apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention is the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect, wherein the air outlets are formed in a long hole shape extending in a direction intersecting the conveyance direction of the recording medium, and are formed in a plurality of rows. Yes.

  According to the above invention, air can be blown uniformly in the width direction of the paper by making the air outlet a long hole. Moreover, the nozzle part extended along the blower outlet can suppress inflow to the temperature detection means of air other than the air heated by the heating means.

  The image forming apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect or the third aspect, wherein the temperature detecting means is located at a central portion in a direction intersecting with the conveying direction of the nozzle portion.

  According to the above invention, even if air flowing in the direction intersecting the transport direction in the image forming apparatus flows between the adjacent nozzle portions, it reaches the central portion in the direction intersecting the transport direction of the nozzle portion. Hateful. As a result, the temperature detection means is less susceptible to the influence of air other than the air heated by the heating means.

  An image forming apparatus according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the image forming apparatus according to any one of the second to fourth aspects, wherein the nozzle portion extends downward from the temperature detection unit and is disposed in the conveyance path. It extends linearly toward.

  According to the above invention, the air blown from the blowing means to the blowing box is directed by the linear nozzle portion and blown straight onto the recording medium. Thereby, it becomes difficult for air to diffuse and the recording medium can be efficiently heated and dried. Moreover, since the nozzle part is extended below the temperature detection means, it can suppress that the air with high temperature immediately after being heated diffuses and is blown to the temperature detection means.

  An image forming apparatus according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is the image forming apparatus according to any one of the second aspect to the fifth aspect, wherein the blower box includes a constricted portion having a flow path constricted toward the air outlet. Yes.

  According to said invention, compared with the case where there is no throttle part, air can be efficiently blown from a blower outlet.

  An image forming apparatus according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is the image forming apparatus according to any one of the third to sixth aspects, wherein the nozzle portions are provided in two rows as viewed from a direction intersecting the transport direction.

  According to said invention, compared with the case where three or more nozzle parts are provided, it can suppress that the air blown off from the adjacent nozzle part interferes with each other.

  An image forming apparatus according to an eighth aspect of the present invention is the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, wherein the heating means is a heater disposed above the air outlet.

  According to said invention, the air blown off from a blower outlet can be heated uniformly, and a drying nonuniformity can be suppressed.

  An image forming apparatus according to a ninth aspect of the present invention is the drying unit including the air blowing box, the air blowing means, the heating means, and the temperature detecting means according to any one of the first to eighth aspects. Are arranged in the conveyance direction of the recording medium, and the control means sets the heating temperature of the heating means of the drying unit located downstream in the conveyance direction to the heating unit of the drying unit located upstream in the conveyance direction. The temperature is controlled to be lower than the heating temperature of the heating means.

  According to the above invention, the recording medium heated on the upstream side in the transport direction can be prevented from being rapidly cooled on the downstream side, and the influence of heat can be reduced.

  Since the present invention has the above configuration, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that can accurately detect the temperature of air blown onto a recording medium.

1 is a front view showing an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows the heat drying process part which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which cut | disconnected the conveyance direction which shows the drying unit which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing cut | disconnected in the conveyance direction which shows the state by which the warm air was sprayed on the paper from the drying unit which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing cut | disconnected in the conveyance direction which shows the flow of the air around the drying unit which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing cut | disconnected in the conveyance direction which shows the drying unit which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of invention.

<First Embodiment>
Hereinafter, an exemplary embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus as an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

(overall structure)
This ink jet recording apparatus 10 is an ink jet recording apparatus that draws an image by an ink jet method using aqueous UV ink (ultraviolet curable ink using an aqueous medium) on a sheet of paper (recording paper) P. A paper supply unit 12 that supplies the paper P, a processing liquid application unit 14 that applies a predetermined processing liquid to the surface (drawing surface) of the paper P fed from the paper supply unit 12, and a processing liquid application unit 14. A processing liquid drying processing unit 16 that performs a drying process on the paper P to which the processing liquid is applied, and an image is formed by an inkjet method using aqueous UV ink on the surface of the paper P that has been subjected to the drying processing by the processing liquid drying processing unit 16. An ultraviolet ray (UV) is applied to the image recording unit 18 for recording, the heat drying processing unit 20 for drying the paper P on which the image is recorded by the image recording unit 18, and the paper P dried by the heat drying processing unit 20. Irradiation A UV irradiation processing unit 22 for fixing the image, a cooling processing unit 23 for cooling the paper P subjected to the UV irradiation processing by the UV irradiation processing unit 22, and a paper discharge unit 24 for discharging the cooled paper P. I have.

(Paper Feeder)
The sheet feeding unit 12 feeds the sheets P stacked on the sheet feeding table 30 to the processing liquid applying unit 14 one by one. The sheet feeding unit 12 as an example of a sheet feeding unit mainly includes a sheet feeding base 30, a soccer device 32, a sheet feeding roller pair 34, a feeder board 36, a front pad 38, and a sheet feeding drum 40. Has been.

  The paper P is placed on the paper feed table 30 in a bundle state in which a large number of sheets are stacked. The sheet feed table 30 is provided so as to be lifted and lowered by a sheet feed table lifting device (not shown). The drive of the paper feed platform lifting / lowering device is controlled in conjunction with the increase / decrease of the paper P loaded on the paper feed platform 30 so that the paper P positioned at the top of the bundle is always positioned at a constant height. Then, the paper feed table 30 is moved up and down.

  The paper P as the recording paper is not particularly limited, but general-purpose printing paper used in general offset printing or the like (so-called high-quality paper, coated paper, art paper, or other paper mainly composed of cellulose) can be used. . In this example, coated paper is used. The coated paper is one in which a coating layer is provided by coating a coating material on the surface of high-quality paper or neutral paper that is generally not surface-treated. Specifically, art paper, coated paper, lightweight coated paper, finely coated paper and the like are preferably used.

  The soccer device 32 picks up the sheets P stacked on the sheet feeding table 30 one by one from the top and feeds them to the pair of sheet feeding rollers 34. The soccer device 32 includes a suction foot 32A that is movable up and down and swingable. The suction foot 32A sucks and holds the upper surface of the paper P, and the paper P is fed from the paper feed table 30 to the paper feed roller pair 34. Transport. At this time, the suction foot 32A sucks and holds the top surface of the front end side of the paper P positioned at the top of the bundle, pulls up the paper P, and the front ends of the paper P pulled up constitute a pair of paper feed rollers 34. Insert between rollers 34A, 34B.

  The paper feed roller pair 34 includes a pair of upper and lower rollers 34A and 34B that are pressed against each other. One of the pair of upper and lower rollers 34A and 34B is a drive roller (roller 34A) and the other is a driven roller (roller 34B). The drive roller (roller 34A) is driven by a motor (not shown) and rotates. The motor is driven in conjunction with the feeding of the paper P. When the paper P is fed from the soccer device 32, the motor rotates the driving roller (roller 34A) in accordance with the timing. The sheet P inserted between the pair of upper and lower rollers 34A, 34B is nipped by the rollers 34A, 34B and is sent out in the rotation direction of the rollers 34A, 34B (the installation direction of the feeder board 36).

  The feeder board 36 is formed corresponding to the paper width, and receives the paper P sent out from the paper feed roller pair 34 and guides it to the front pad 38. The feeder board 36 is installed so as to be inclined downward, and guides the paper P placed on the transport surface to the front pad 38 by sliding along the transport surface.

  On the feeder board 36, a plurality of tape feeders 36A for conveying the paper P are installed at intervals in the width direction. The tape feeder 36A is formed in an endless shape, and is driven to rotate by a motor (not shown). The paper P placed on the conveyance surface of the feeder board 36 is fed by the tape feeder 36A and conveyed on the feeder board 36.

A retainer 36B and a roller 36C are installed on the feeder board 36.
A plurality of retainers 36 </ b> B are arranged in a longitudinal line along the conveyance surface of the paper P (two in this example). The retainer 36 </ b> B is configured by a leaf spring having a width corresponding to the sheet width, and is placed in pressure contact with the conveyance surface. The paper P conveyed on the feeder board 36 by the tape feeder 36A passes through the retainer 36B, so that the unevenness is corrected. The retainer 36 </ b> B is formed by curling the rear end portion so that the paper P can be easily introduced between the retainer 36 </ b> B and the feeder board 36.

  The roller 36C is disposed between the front and rear retainers 36B. The roller 36C is placed in pressure contact with the transport surface of the paper P. The sheet P conveyed between the front and rear retainers 36B is conveyed while the upper surface is suppressed by the rollers 36C.

  The front pad 38 corrects the posture of the paper P. The front pad 38 is formed in a plate shape and is disposed orthogonal to the transport direction of the paper P. Further, it is driven by a motor (not shown) so as to be swingable. The leading edge of the sheet P conveyed on the feeder board 36 is brought into contact with the front pad 38 to correct the posture (so-called skew prevention). The front pad 38 swings in conjunction with the paper feeding to the paper feeding drum 40 and delivers the paper P whose posture has been corrected to the paper feeding drum 40.

  The paper supply drum 40 receives the paper P fed from the feeder board 36 via the front pad 38 and conveys it to the processing liquid application unit 14. The paper supply drum 40 is formed in a cylindrical shape and is driven to rotate by a motor (not shown). A gripper 40A is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the paper feed drum 40, and the leading edge of the paper P is gripped by the gripper 40A. The paper feed drum 40 conveys the paper P to the processing liquid application unit 14 while winding the paper P around the peripheral surface by gripping and rotating the leading edge of the paper P with the gripper 40A.

  The paper feed unit 12 is configured as described above. The sheets P stacked on the sheet feeding table 30 are pulled up one by one in order from the top by the soccer device 32 and fed to the pair of sheet feeding rollers 34. The paper P fed to the paper feed roller pair 34 is fed forward by a pair of upper and lower rollers 34A, 34B constituting the paper feed roller pair 34 and placed on the feeder board 36. The paper P placed on the feeder board 36 is transported by a tape feeder 36 </ b> A provided on the transport surface of the feeder board 36. Then, the retainer 36B is pressed against the transport surface of the feeder board 36 in the transport process, and the unevenness is corrected. The sheet P conveyed by the feeder board 36 has its leading end brought into contact with the front pad 38 to correct the inclination, and is then transferred to the sheet feeding drum 40. Then, it is transported by the paper feed drum 40 to the processing liquid application unit 14.

(Processing liquid application part)
The processing liquid application unit 14 applies a predetermined processing liquid to the surface (drawing surface) of the paper P. The treatment liquid application unit 14 mainly includes a treatment liquid application drum 42 that conveys the paper P, and a treatment liquid application unit 44 that applies a predetermined treatment liquid to the printing surface of the paper P conveyed by the treatment liquid application drum 42. It consists of

  The processing liquid application drum 42 receives the paper P from the paper supply drum 40 of the paper supply unit 12 and conveys the paper P to the processing liquid drying processing unit 16. The treatment liquid application drum 42 is formed in a cylindrical shape and is driven to rotate by a motor (not shown). A gripper 42A is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the treatment liquid applying drum 42, and the leading edge of the paper P is gripped by the gripper 42A. The treatment liquid application drum 42 conveys the paper P to the treatment liquid drying processing unit 16 (one rotation) while the paper P is wound around the circumferential surface by gripping and rotating the leading edge of the paper P with the gripper 42A. To transport one sheet of paper P). The rotation of the processing liquid application drum 42 and the paper supply drum 40 is controlled so that the timing of receiving and delivering the paper P matches each other. That is, it drives so that it may become the same peripheral speed, and it drives so that the position of a mutual gripper may match.

  The treatment liquid application unit 44 applies the treatment liquid to the surface of the paper P conveyed by the treatment liquid application drum 42 by a roller. The processing liquid application unit 44 mainly applies a coating roller 44A for applying the processing liquid to the paper P, a processing liquid tank 44B for storing the processing liquid, and a processing liquid stored in the processing liquid tank 44B. A pumping roller 44C to be supplied to the roller 44A. The pumping roller 44C is installed in pressure contact with the application roller 44A, and partly immersed in the processing liquid stored in the processing liquid tank 44B. The pumping roller 44C measures and pumps the processing liquid, and applies the processing liquid to the peripheral surface of the coating roller 44A with a certain thickness. The application roller 44A is provided corresponding to the paper width, is pressed against the paper P, and applies the treatment liquid applied to the peripheral surface thereof to the paper P. The application roller 44 </ b> A is driven by a contact / separation mechanism (not shown) and moves between a contact position that contacts the peripheral surface of the treatment liquid application drum 42 and a separation position that separates from the peripheral surface of the treatment liquid application drum 42. To do. The contact / separation mechanism moves the application roller 44 </ b> A in accordance with the passage timing of the paper P, and applies the treatment liquid onto the surface of the paper P conveyed by the treatment liquid application drum 42.

  In this example, the treatment liquid is applied by roller application, but the method of applying the treatment liquid is not limited to this. In addition, the structure provided using an inkjet head and the structure provided by spraying can also be employ | adopted.

  The treatment liquid application unit 14 is configured as described above. The paper P delivered from the paper supply drum 40 of the paper supply unit 12 is received by the processing liquid application drum 42. The treatment liquid applying drum 42 grips the leading end of the paper P with the gripper 42A and rotates, so that the paper P is wound around the circumferential surface and conveyed. In this conveyance process, the application roller 44A is pressed against the surface of the paper P, and the processing liquid is applied to the surface of the paper P.

  Here, the processing liquid applied to the surface of the paper P is applied with a processing liquid having a function of aggregating the color material in the aqueous UV ink that is ejected onto the paper P in the subsequent image recording unit 18. By applying such a treatment liquid to the surface of the paper P and ejecting water-based UV ink, even when using general-purpose printing paper, high-quality printing is possible without causing landing interference or the like. It can be carried out.

(Processing liquid drying processing part)
The processing liquid drying processing unit 16 performs a drying process on the paper P having a processing liquid applied to the surface. The processing liquid drying processing unit 16 mainly blows hot air onto the printing surface of the processing liquid drying processing drum 46 that transports the paper P, the paper transport guide 48, and the paper P that is transported by the processing liquid drying processing drum 46. It is comprised with the process liquid drying process unit 50 which makes it contact and dry.

  The processing liquid drying processing drum 46 receives the paper P from the processing liquid application drum 42 of the processing liquid application unit 14 and conveys the paper P to the image recording unit 18. The processing liquid drying processing drum 46 is constituted by a frame assembled in a cylindrical shape, and is driven to rotate by a motor (not shown). A gripper 46A is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the processing liquid drying processing drum 46, and the leading edge of the paper P is gripped by the gripper 46A. The processing liquid drying processing drum 46 conveys the paper P to the image recording unit 18 by gripping and rotating the leading edge of the paper P with the gripper 46A. Note that the treatment liquid drying treatment drum 46 of this example is configured so that grippers 42A are arranged at two locations on the outer peripheral surface so that two sheets of paper P can be conveyed by one rotation. The rotation of the processing liquid drying processing drum 46 and the processing liquid application drum 42 is controlled so that the timing of receiving and delivering the paper P is matched. That is, it drives so that it may become the same peripheral speed, and it drives so that the position of a mutual gripper may match.

  The paper transport guide 48 is arranged along the transport path of the paper P by the processing liquid drying processing drum 46 and guides the transport of the paper P.

  The processing liquid drying processing unit 50 is installed inside the processing liquid drying processing drum 46, and performs a drying process by blowing hot air toward the surface of the paper P conveyed by the processing liquid drying processing drum 46. In this example, two processing liquid drying processing units 50 are arranged in the processing liquid drying processing drum, and are configured to blow warm air toward the surface of the paper P conveyed by the processing liquid drying processing drum 46. ing.

  The processing liquid drying processing unit 16 is configured as described above. The paper P delivered from the processing liquid application drum 42 of the processing liquid application unit 14 is received by the processing liquid drying processing drum 46. The processing liquid drying processing drum 46 conveys the paper P by gripping the leading end of the paper P with the gripper 46 </ b> A and rotating. At this time, the treatment liquid drying treatment drum 46 conveys the surface of the paper P (the surface coated with the treatment liquid) inward. In the course of being conveyed by the processing liquid drying processing drum 46, the paper P is dried by being sprayed with hot air from the processing liquid drying processing unit 50 installed inside the processing liquid drying processing drum 46. That is, the solvent component in the treatment liquid is removed. As a result, an ink aggregation layer is formed on the surface of the paper P.

(Image recording part)
The image recording unit 18 ejects droplets of C, M, Y, and K active energy ray-curable inks on the printing surface of the paper P, and draws a color image on the printing surface of the paper P. In this embodiment, an ultraviolet curable aqueous ink (hereinafter referred to as UV ink) is used as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any other ink that can be cured by reacting with active energy rays may be used. Ink may be used. For example, an electron beam curable ink may be used.

  The image recording unit 18 mainly presses the image recording drum 52 that conveys the paper P, and the paper P that is conveyed by the image recording drum 52, and causes the paper P to adhere to the peripheral surface of the image recording drum 52. 54, inkjet heads 56C, 56M, 56Y, and 56K as an example of ejection heads that eject UV ink droplets of C, M, Y, and K colors on paper P, and an in-line sensor that reads an image recorded on paper P 58, a mist filter 60 that captures ink mist, and a drum cooling unit 62.

  The image recording drum 52 receives the paper P from the processing liquid drying processing drum 46 of the processing liquid drying processing unit 16 and conveys the paper P to the heat drying processing unit 20. The image recording drum 52 is formed in a cylindrical shape and is driven to rotate by a motor (not shown). A gripper 52A is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the image recording drum 52, and the leading edge of the paper P is gripped by the gripper 52A. The image recording drum 52 conveys the paper P to the heat-drying processing unit 20 while winding the paper P around the peripheral surface by gripping and rotating the leading edge of the paper P with the gripper 52A. The image recording drum 52 has a plurality of suction holes (not shown) formed in a predetermined pattern on the peripheral surface thereof. The paper P wound around the peripheral surface of the image recording drum 52 is conveyed while being sucked and held on the peripheral surface of the image recording drum 52 by being sucked from the suction holes. Thereby, the paper P can be conveyed with high smoothness.

  The suction from the suction hole acts only within a certain range, and acts between a predetermined suction start position and a predetermined suction end position. The suction start position is set to the installation position of the sheet pressing roller 54, and the suction end position is set to the downstream side of the installation position of the inline sensor 58 (for example, set to a position for delivering the sheet to the heat drying processing unit 20). .) That is, at least at the installation position (image recording position) of the inkjet heads 56C, 56M, 56Y, and 56K and the installation position (image reading position) of the inline sensor 58, the paper P is sucked and held on the peripheral surface of the image recording drum 52. Set to

  The mechanism for sucking and holding the paper P on the peripheral surface of the image recording drum 52 is not limited to the suction method using the negative pressure, and a method using electrostatic suction may be employed.

  Further, the image recording drum 52 of the present example is configured so that grippers 52A are disposed at two positions on the outer peripheral surface, and two sheets of paper P can be conveyed by one rotation. The rotation of the image recording drum 52 and the processing liquid drying processing drum 46 is controlled so that the timing of receiving and transferring the paper P to each other matches. That is, it drives so that it may become the same peripheral speed, and it drives so that the position of a mutual gripper may match.

  The sheet pressing roller 54 is disposed in the vicinity of the sheet receiving position of the image recording drum 52 (the position where the sheet P is received from the processing liquid drying processing drum 46). The sheet pressing roller 54 is composed of a rubber roller, and is installed in press contact with the peripheral surface of the image recording drum 52. The paper P transferred from the processing liquid drying processing drum 46 to the image recording drum 52 is nipped by passing through the paper pressing roller 54 and is brought into close contact with the peripheral surface of the image recording drum 52.

  The four inkjet heads 56C, 56M, 56Y, and 56K are arranged at a constant interval along the conveyance path of the paper P by the image recording drum 52. The inkjet heads 56 </ b> C, 56 </ b> M, 56 </ b> Y, 56 </ b> K are constituted by line heads corresponding to the paper width, and are arranged so that the nozzle surface faces the peripheral surface of the image recording drum 52. Each of the inkjet heads 56C, 56M, 56Y, and 56K discharges a droplet of UV ink from the nozzle row formed on the nozzle surface toward the image recording drum 52, thereby conveying the paper P conveyed by the image recording drum 52. Record an image on

  As described above, the UV ink ejected from each of the inkjet heads 56C, 56M, 56Y, and 56K can be cured by irradiating with ultraviolet rays after droplet ejection.

  The inline sensor 58 is installed on the downstream side of the rearmost inkjet head 56K with respect to the conveyance direction of the paper P by the image recording drum 52, and reads the images recorded by the inkjet heads 56C, 56M, 56Y, and 56K. The in-line sensor 58 is constituted by, for example, a line scanner, and reads images recorded by the inkjet heads 56C, 56M, 56Y, and 56K from the paper P conveyed by the image recording drum 52.

  A contact prevention plate 59 is installed in the vicinity of the inline sensor 58 on the downstream side of the inline sensor 58. The contact prevention plate 59 prevents the paper P from coming into contact with the in-line sensor 58 when the paper P is lifted due to a conveyance failure or the like.

  The mist filter 60 is disposed between the rearmost inkjet head 56K and the inline sensor 58, and sucks air around the image recording drum 52 to capture the ink mist. In this way, by sucking the air around the image recording drum 52 and capturing the ink mist, the ink mist can be prevented from entering the in-line sensor 58 and reading errors can be prevented.

  The drum cooling unit 62 cools the image recording drum 52 by blowing cold air onto the image recording drum 52. The drum cooling unit 62 mainly includes an air conditioner (not shown) and a duct 62A that blows cool air supplied from the air conditioner onto the peripheral surface of the image recording drum 52. The duct 62 </ b> A cools the image recording drum 52 by blowing cool air to an area other than the conveyance area of the paper P against the image recording drum 52. In this example, since the paper P is conveyed along the arc surface of the upper half of the image recording drum 52, the duct 62A blows cold air to the area of the lower half of the image recording drum 52 to record the image. The drum 52 is cooled. Specifically, the air outlet of the duct 62 </ b> A is formed in an arc shape so as to cover substantially the lower half of the image recording drum 52, and cold air is blown to the region of the substantially lower half of the image recording drum 52. Has been.

  Here, the temperature for cooling the image recording drum 52 is determined by the relationship with the temperatures of the inkjet heads 56C, 56M, 56Y, and 56K (particularly the temperature of the nozzle surface), and is higher than the temperatures of the inkjet heads 56C, 56M, 56Y, and 56K. It is cooled to a low temperature. Thereby, it is possible to prevent dew condensation from occurring in the inkjet heads 56C, 56M, 56Y and 56K. That is, by making the temperature of the image recording drum 52 lower than that of the inkjet heads 56C, 56M, 56Y, and 56K, condensation can be induced on the image recording drum side, and the condensation that occurs on the inkjet heads 56C, 56M, 56Y, and 56K. (Especially, condensation on the nozzle surface) can be prevented.

  The image recording unit 18 is configured as described above. The paper P delivered from the processing liquid drying processing drum 46 of the processing liquid drying processing unit 16 is received by the image recording drum 52. The image recording drum 52 conveys the paper P by gripping the leading end of the paper P with the gripper 52A and rotating. The paper P delivered to the image recording drum 52 is first brought into close contact with the peripheral surface of the image recording drum 52 by passing through the paper pressing roller 54. At the same time, it is sucked from the suction hole of the image recording drum 52 and sucked and held on the outer peripheral surface of the image recording drum 52. The sheet P is conveyed in this state and passes through the inkjet heads 56C, 56M, 56Y, and 56K. During the passage, droplets of UV inks of C, M, Y, and K colors are ejected from the inkjet heads 56C, 56M, 56Y, and 56K onto the surface, and a color image is drawn on the surface. Since the ink aggregation layer is formed on the surface of the paper P, a high-quality image can be recorded without causing feathering or bleeding.

  The paper P on which an image is recorded by the ink jet heads 56C, 56M, 56Y, and 56K then passes through the inline sensor 58. Then, an image recorded on the surface when the in-line sensor 58 passes is read. Reading of the recorded image is performed as necessary, and an inspection such as ejection failure is performed from the read image. When reading is performed, the reading is performed while being sucked and held by the image recording drum 52, so that reading can be performed with high accuracy. Further, since reading is performed immediately after image recording, for example, abnormalities such as ejection failure can be detected immediately, and it is possible to respond quickly. As a result, it is possible to prevent wasteful recording and minimize the occurrence of waste paper.

  Thereafter, the sheet P is transferred to the heat drying processing unit 20 after the suction is released.

(Heat drying processing part)
The heat drying processing unit 20 performs drying processing on the paper P after image recording, and removes the liquid component remaining on the surface of the paper P. The heat drying processing unit 20 mainly includes a chain gripper 64 as an example of a transport unit that transports the paper P on which an image is recorded, and a back tension that applies a back tension (tension) to the paper P transported by the chain gripper 64. The applying mechanism 66 and a drying unit 68 for heating and drying the paper P conveyed by the chain gripper 64 are configured.

  The chain gripper 64 is a paper transport mechanism commonly used in the heat drying processing unit 20, the UV irradiation processing unit 22, and the paper discharge unit 24. The chain gripper 64 receives the paper P delivered from the image recording unit 18 and discharges it. Transport to paper section 24.

  The chain gripper 64 mainly includes a first sprocket 64A installed in the vicinity of the image recording drum 52, a second sprocket 64B installed in the paper discharge unit 24, a first sprocket 64A, and a second sprocket 64B. The endless chain 64C is wound around, a plurality of chain guides (not shown) for guiding the running of the chain 64C, and a plurality of grippers 64D attached to the chain 64C with a constant interval. The first sprocket 64 </ b> A, the second sprocket 64 </ b> B, the chain 64 </ b> C, and the chain guide are each configured as a pair and are disposed on both sides of the paper P in the width direction. The gripper 64D is installed over a chain 64C provided as a pair.

  The first sprocket 64A is installed close to the image recording drum 52 so that the paper P delivered from the image recording drum 52 can be received by the gripper 64D. The first sprocket 64A is rotatably supported by a bearing (not shown) and is connected to a motor (not shown) via a gear. The chain 64C wound around the first sprocket 64A and the second sprocket 64B travels by driving this motor.

  The second sprocket 64B is installed in the paper discharge unit 24 so that the paper P received from the image recording drum 52 can be collected by the paper discharge unit 24. That is, the installation position of the second sprocket 64B is the end of the transport path of the paper P by the chain gripper 64. The second sprocket 64B is pivotally supported by a bearing (not shown) and is rotatably provided.

  The chain 64C is formed in an endless shape and is wound around the first sprocket 64A and the second sprocket 64B.

  The chain guide is arranged at a predetermined position and guides the chain 64C to travel along a predetermined path (= guides so that the paper P travels along a predetermined transport path and is transported). In the present embodiment, the second sprocket 64B is disposed at a higher position than the first sprocket 64A. For this reason, a travel route in which the chain 64C is inclined in the middle is formed. Specifically, a travel path is configured by the first horizontal transport path 70A, the inclined transport path 70B, and the second horizontal transport path 70C.

  70 A of 1st horizontal conveyance paths are set to the same height as 1st sprocket 64A, and chain 64C wound around 1st sprocket 64A is set so that it may run horizontally. The second horizontal conveyance path 70C is set to the same height as the second sprocket 64B, and the chain 64C wound around the second sprocket 64B is set to travel horizontally. The inclined conveyance path 70B is set between the first horizontal conveyance path 70A and the second horizontal conveyance path 70C, and is set so as to connect the first horizontal conveyance path 70A and the second horizontal conveyance path 70C.

  The chain guide is disposed so as to form the first horizontal conveyance path 70A, the inclined conveyance path 70B, and the second horizontal conveyance path 70C. Specifically, it is disposed at at least a junction point between the first horizontal conveyance path 70A and the inclined conveyance path 70B and a junction point between the inclined conveyance path 70B and the second horizontal conveyance path 70C.

  A plurality of grippers 64D are attached to the chain 64C at a constant interval. The attachment interval of the gripper 64D is set in accordance with the reception interval of the paper P from the image recording drum 52. That is, it is set according to the reception interval of the paper P from the image recording drum 52 so that the paper P sequentially delivered from the image recording drum 52 can be received from the image recording drum 52 at the same timing.

  The chain gripper 64 is configured as described above. As described above, when a motor (not shown) connected to the first sprocket 64A is driven, the chain 64C travels. The chain 64C travels at the same speed as the peripheral speed of the image recording drum 52. The timing is adjusted so that the paper P delivered from the image recording drum 52 can be received by each gripper 64D.

  The back tension applying mechanism 66 applies a back tension (tension) to the paper P that is conveyed while its tip is held by the chain gripper 64. The back tension applying mechanism 66 mainly includes a guide plate 72 as a conveyance path disposed in the heat drying processing unit 20.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the guide plate 72 is configured by a hollow box plate having a width corresponding to the width of the paper P. The guide plate 72 includes a plurality of suction holes 200 formed in the upper surface 72A, and a suction fan (not shown) that is disposed on the lower side of the central portion of the guide plate 72 and sucks air from the plurality of suction holes 200. I have. Further, an exhaust pipe for discharging air sucked from a number of suction holes 200 by a suction fan is connected to the lower side of the guide plate 72.

  The guide plate 72 configured as described above is arranged along the transport path (= chain travel path) of the paper P by the chain gripper 64 and constitutes the transport path of the paper P. Specifically, it is disposed along the chain 64C that travels along the first horizontal conveyance path 70A, and is spaced apart by a predetermined distance from the chain 64C. Therefore, the paper P conveyed on the outer peripheral side of the chain 64C by the chain gripper 64 is conveyed while being dragged in a state where the surface opposite to the drawing surface is sucked by the upper surface of the guide plate 72 (see FIG. 4). ).

  The large number of suction holes 200 formed on the upper surface of the guide plate 72 sucks the portion excluding the front end portion of the paper P gripped by the gripper 64D when the suction fan sucks the hollow portion (inside) of the guide plate 72. To do. As a result, back tension (tension) is applied to the paper P conveyed by the chain gripper 64.

  As described above, since the guide plate 72 is disposed along the chain 64C that travels along the first horizontal transport path 70A, back tension is applied while the paper P is transported through the first horizontal transport path 70A. The

  As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of drying units 68 are arranged along the first horizontal transport path 70A. In the present embodiment, as an example, four drying units 68 are disposed along the first horizontal transport path 70A. 68 is provided. Accordingly, while the paper P passes under the four drying units 68, the drying unit 68 blows heated air (warm air) onto the paper P, and the paper P is heated and dried.

  The number of drying units 68 is set according to the processing capacity of the drying unit 68, the conveyance speed (= printing speed) of the paper P, and the like. That is, the number of installations is set so that the paper P received from the image recording unit 18 can be dried while being conveyed through the first horizontal conveyance path 70A.

  The heat drying processing unit 20 is configured as described above. The paper P delivered from the image recording drum 52 of the image recording unit 18 is received by the chain gripper 64. The chain gripper 64 grips the leading end of the paper P with the gripper 64 </ b> D and lifts it from the guide plate 72, and transports the paper P in a state where the rear end of the paper P is in contact with the guide plate 72. The paper P delivered to the chain gripper 64 is first transported along the first horizontal transport path 70A. In the process of being transported along the first horizontal transport path 70A, hot air is blown onto the paper P from the drying unit 68, and a heat drying process is performed. At this time, since the paper P is dried while being applied with the back tension (tension) by the back tension applying mechanism 66, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of drying unevenness and wrinkles.

(UV irradiation processing part)
The UV irradiation processing unit 22 irradiates the drawing surface of the paper P on which the UV ink has been ejected with ultraviolet rays as an example of an active energy ray to cure the UV ink and fix the image. Here, the active energy ray refers to an energy ray that can generate a starting species in the ink composition by irradiation, and widely includes α rays, γ rays, X rays, ultraviolet rays, visible rays, electron rays, and the like. Among them, ultraviolet rays and electron beams are preferably used from the viewpoint of curing sensitivity and device availability, and ultraviolet rays are more preferred. In this embodiment, since an image is formed with UV ink, it is fixed by irradiating with ultraviolet rays.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the UV irradiation processing unit 22 mainly includes a chain gripper 64 that transports the paper P, a back tension applying mechanism 66 that applies back tension to the paper P transported by the chain gripper 64, and a chain. It is composed of a UV irradiation unit 74 that irradiates the paper P conveyed by the gripper 64 with ultraviolet rays. Further, the chain gripper 64 and the back tension applying mechanism 66 are used in common with the heat drying processing unit 20.

  The UV irradiation unit 74 is disposed opposite to the guide plate 72 on the inner peripheral side of the chain 64C on the downstream side in the transport direction from the drying unit 68, and ultraviolet rays (UV) are applied to the drawing surface of the paper P that has passed through the heat drying processing unit 20. Irradiate.

(Cooling processing part)
The cooling processing unit 23 cools the paper P that has been heated and dried by the ink drying processing unit 20 and irradiated with ultraviolet rays by the UV irradiation processing unit 22. The paper cooling unit 23 mainly includes a chain gripper 64 that transports the UV irradiated paper P, and a support plate 82 as an example of a transport surface that supports the paper P transported by the chain gripper 64 and is in sliding contact with the paper P. And a blower unit 78 for blowing air to the paper P conveyed by the chain gripper 64.

  As described above, the chain gripper 64 is used in common with the ink drying processing unit 20 and the UV irradiation processing unit 22. The support plate 82 is disposed along the chain 64C that travels along the first horizontal conveyance path 70A and the inclined conveyance path 70B.

  A plurality of the air blowing units 78 are arranged to face the support plate 82 (conveying surface). In the present embodiment, as an example, two air blowing units 78 face the supporting plate 82 arranged in the first horizontal conveyance path 70A. A blower unit 78 is provided, and three blower units 78 are provided so as to face the support plate 82 disposed in the inclined conveyance path 70B. By blowing air from each blower unit 78 to the paper P, the paper The surface of P (the drawing surface) is cooled. The cooled paper P is transported to the second horizontal transport path 70C.

(Output section)
The paper discharge unit 24 collects the paper P on which a series of image recording processing has been performed. The paper discharge unit 24 mainly includes a chain gripper 64 that transports the UV-irradiated paper P and a paper discharge tray 76 that stacks and collects the paper P.

  As described above, the chain gripper 64 is used in common with the heat drying processing unit 20 and the UV irradiation processing unit 22. The chain gripper 64 releases the paper P on the paper discharge tray 76 and stacks the paper P on the paper discharge tray 76.

  The paper discharge tray 76 stacks and collects the paper P released from the chain gripper 64. The paper discharge tray 76 is provided with a paper pad (a front paper pad, a rear paper pad, a horizontal paper pad, etc.) (not shown) so that the sheets P are stacked in an orderly manner.

  Further, the paper discharge tray 76 is provided so as to be lifted and lowered by a paper discharge tray lifting / lowering device (not shown). The discharge platform lifting device is controlled in conjunction with the increase / decrease of the paper P stacked on the paper discharge tray 76 so that the uppermost paper P is always positioned at a certain height. The paper table 76 is moved up and down.

(Details of heat drying processing section)
Next, the heat drying process part 20 which is the principal part of the inkjet recording apparatus 10 of this embodiment is demonstrated in detail.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the heat drying processing unit 20 includes a plurality of drying units 68 arranged in parallel at intervals in the transport direction. The drying unit 68 mainly includes a blower unit 94 as an example of a blower unit, a blower box 86, heaters 88 and 90 as an example of a heating unit stored in the blower box 86, and a thermistor as an example of a temperature detection unit. 92 (see FIG. 3).

  The blower unit 94 is a box-shaped unit supported by a support beam (not shown) in the apparatus, and is detachable from the apparatus. A large number of slit-shaped openings 94A are formed on the upper surface of the blower unit 94 and the side surface on the downstream side in the conveying direction, and the inside and the outside of the blower unit 94 communicate with each other through the openings 94A.

  A handle 98 is attached to the outer wall of the blower unit 94. The handle 98 is formed by connecting arms extending upward from both side walls of the blower unit 94 with a handle. The handle 98 is gripped and the blower box 86 is lifted upward to remove the drying unit 68 from the apparatus. Can do. In addition, when it is not necessary to remove the drying unit 68 frequently, you may fix the ventilation unit 94 to the flame | frame in an apparatus. In this case, the handle 98 need not be provided.

  A blower fan 96 is stored in the blower unit 94. As shown in FIG. 3, the blower fan 96 includes a casing 96A and rotating blades 96B provided inside the casing 96A. In the present embodiment, the rotating fan 96 includes three blades. Although the wing 96B is employed, the present invention is not limited to this, and a rotating wing 96B composed of two or four or more wings may be used. The rotating blade 96B is provided so as to be rotatable with respect to the housing 96A, and is connected to a driving means such as a motor (not shown). Accordingly, when the driving means is driven, the rotary blade 96B rotates with respect to the housing 96A, takes air from the outside of the blower unit 94 and blows it to the blower box 86.

  Note that the number of blower fans 96 is appropriately set according to the air volume required for the drying unit 68 and the width of the paper P. For this reason, nine or more blower fans 96 may be disposed, and conversely, seven or less.

  A blower box 86 is attached below the blower unit 94. The blower box 86 is a long member that is disposed to face the guide plate 72 and has a direction that intersects the transport direction as a longitudinal direction. The blower box 86 includes an outer cylinder part 100 attached to the lower end part of the blower unit 94 and a rectifying member 102 attached to the inner peripheral side of the outer cylinder part 100.

  The outer cylinder part 100 is a rectangular member having a rectangular shape in plan view, and the upper end part of the outer cylinder part 100 communicates with the blower unit 94. Further, a long rectifying member 102 is attached to the inner peripheral side of the outer cylindrical portion 100.

  The rectifying member 102 extends in the longitudinal direction of the air blowing box 86, and both end portions of the rectifying member 102 are welded to the inner wall of the outer cylinder portion 100 facing the width direction of the paper P. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the rectifying member 102 may be provided with a flange and fastened to the outer cylinder portion 100 with a bolt.

  The upper part of the rectifying member 102 is bent and formed in a mountain shape so as to protrude upward as viewed from the direction intersecting the transport direction. The flow path inside the blower box 86 is branched to the downstream side in the transport direction and the upstream side in the transport direction by the slope of the straightening member 102 formed in this mountain shape. In addition, a narrowed portion 102A having a flow path narrowed downward is configured.

  Further, two air outlets 86 </ b> A and 86 </ b> B are formed between the outer cylinder portion 100 and the rectifying member 102. The outlets 86A and 86B are formed so as to open toward the guide plate 72 of the blower box 86, and nozzle portions 86C and 86D extend along the outlets 86A and 86B.

  The nozzle portions 86C and 86D are formed in a straight line toward the guide plate 72, and are provided in two rows as viewed from the direction intersecting the transport direction. The nozzle portion 86C is formed by the inner wall on the downstream side in the transport direction of the outer cylinder portion 100 and the rectifying member 102, and the nozzle portion 86D is formed by the inner wall on the upstream side in the transport direction of the outer cylinder portion 100 and the rectification member 102. It is formed with.

  Here, two heaters 88 and 90 are stored in the air blowing box 86. The heater 88 is disposed above the air outlet 86A, and the heater 90 is disposed above the air outlet 86B. Further, the heaters 88 and 90 extend in the direction intersecting the transport direction along the air outlet 86A. In this embodiment, a sheathed heater is used as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this, and other heaters may be employed. The heaters 88 and 90 are connected to a power source (not shown) and generate heat when a voltage is applied to an internal nichrome wire or the like, and heat air blown from the outlets 86A and 86B by the action of radiant heat.

  A thermistor 92 is disposed on the outer peripheral side of the blower box 86. The thermistor 92 is a sensor that detects the temperature between the air blowing box 86 and the guide plate 72 by changing the resistance value according to the amount of heat, and is provided between the nozzle portion 86C and the nozzle portion 86D. . In the present embodiment, as an example, one thermistor 92 is arranged at the center in the longitudinal direction of the nozzle portion 86C. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of thermistors 92 are arranged at intervals in the longitudinal direction of the nozzle portion 86C. May be. The accuracy can be improved by increasing the number of detection points as described above.

  The thermistor 92 and the heaters 88 and 90 are connected to a control unit 104 as an example of a control unit. The control unit 104 is connected to the thermistors 92 and heaters 88 provided in the four drying units 68 arranged in the transport direction. The thermistors 92 detect the temperatures by instructing the thermistors 92 to detect the temperatures. Get the temperature.

  Further, the control unit 104 controls a power source that applies a voltage to the heater 88 of each drying unit 68, and changes the heating temperature of the heater 88 by changing the applied voltage or current. In the present embodiment, as an example, when the detection temperature of the thermistor 92 is high, the heating temperature of the heater 88 is controlled to be low, and when the detection temperature of the thermistor 92 is low, the heating temperature of the heater 88 is high. Although it controls, it is not restricted to this, For example, you may control so that the heating temperature of the heater 88 may be changed gradually.

  In the present embodiment, among the four drying units 68 arranged in the transport direction, the heating temperature of the heater 88 of the drying unit 68 located on the upstream side is set high, and the drying unit 68 located on the downstream side is set. The heating temperature of the heater 88 is set low. Thereby, it can suppress that the paper P dried by heat is cooled rapidly. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the heating temperatures of the heaters 88 of all the drying units 68 may be constant.

  In the present embodiment, the nozzle portions 86C and 86D are formed from the outlet 86A toward the guide plate 72. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the nozzle portions 86C and 86D may not be formed. In this case, since the rectifying member 102 is formed of a flat plate and is blown from the outlet 86A to the paper P without passing through the nozzle portions 86C and 86D, the air may diffuse without being directed. For this reason, a separate guide member or the like may be arranged so that air is blown onto the paper P.

(Function and effect)
Next, operations and effects of the inkjet recording apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment will be described.

  When the user starts the operation of the ink jet recording apparatus 10 and starts image recording, as shown in FIG. 1, the paper P is fed from the paper feeding unit 12, and the image recording unit 18 applies the paper P to the paper P as described above. UV ink is ejected. The paper P on which the UV ink is ejected is transferred from the image recording drum 52 to the chain gripper 64.

  After gripping the leading end of the paper P with the gripper 64 </ b> D and receiving the paper P from the image recording drum 52, the gripper 64 </ b> D conveys the paper P to the guide plate 72. At this time, the leading end portion of the paper P gripped by the gripper 64D is floating from the guide plate 72, and the portion in contact with the guide plate 72 is sucked by the suction hole 200. Therefore, the gripper 64D Transport while dragging P.

  The sheet P conveyed onto the guide plate 72 passes under the drying unit 68 as shown in FIG. At this time, the air blown from the blower unit 94 of the drying unit 68 to the blower box 86 branches inside the blower box 86 and is heated by the heater 88 while the flow path is narrowed toward the blowout ports 86A and 86B. . The heated air is directed while passing through the nozzle portion 86 </ b> C from the air outlet 86 </ b> A and is blown linearly onto the paper P conveyed on the guide plate 72. Similarly, the air heated by the heater 90 is directed while passing through the nozzle portion 86D from the air outlet 86B, and is blown linearly onto the paper P conveyed on the guide plate 72.

  At this time, since the flow path of the air is throttled by the throttle portion 102A, the air flow becomes smoother than when there is no throttle portion 102A, and air can be efficiently blown to the nozzle portions 86C and 86D. Further, since the air blown out from the nozzle portions 86C and 86D is directed, it is difficult to diffuse before reaching the paper P. Thereby, the paper P can be efficiently heated and dried. Further, the nozzle portions 86C and 86D serve as walls, and air can be prevented from being directly blown from the outlets 86A and 86B to the thermistor 92.

  Further, since the thermistor 92 is provided between the nozzle portions 86C and 86D, the rectifying member 102 between the nozzle portions 86C and 86D blocks the heat rays generated by the heaters 88 and 90, and the thermistor 92 The influence of 90 radiant heat is suppressed. Thereby, the thermistor 92 can detect the temperature of the air between the blower box 86 and the guide plate 72 with high accuracy. In particular, since the thermistor 92 has entered the inside of the blower box 86, the temperature of the air that has been blown and returned from the nozzles 86C and 86D to the paper P can be detected efficiently.

  The above operation will be described with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 5, illustrations other than the drying unit 68 are omitted for convenience of explanation. As shown in FIG. 4, the air blown from the nozzles 86 </ b> C and 86 </ b> D to the paper P flows along the paper P. Here, when the air that is blown from the nozzle portion 86C to the paper P and flows to the upstream side in the conveyance direction and the air that is blown from the nozzle portion 86D to the paper P and flows to the downstream side in the conveyance direction collide with each other, the air rises and blows to the thermistor 92 Therefore, the temperature of the air blown from the nozzle portions 86C and 86D can be detected.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 5, room temperature air that has not been heated flows in the apparatus. For example, when the thermistor 92 is disposed between adjacent drying units 68, the thermistor 92 is Under the influence of air, a temperature lower than the temperature of the air blown to the paper P may be detected. On the other hand, if the thermistor 92 is disposed between the nozzle portions 86C and 86D, even if the room temperature air O1 flowing in the apparatus flows from above toward the blower box 86, the thermistor 92 is provided. The air O1 is blocked by the nozzles 86C and 86D before reaching the flow, and flows in the other direction. Further, the air O2 flowing below the nozzle portions 86C and 86D is blocked or taken in by the air blown toward the paper P from the nozzle portions 86C and 86D, and is difficult to reach the thermistor 92. As a result, the thermistor 92 is less susceptible to normal temperature air flowing in the apparatus, and the temperature of the air heated by the heaters 88 and 90 and blown to the paper P can be detected with high accuracy.

  In the present embodiment, the thermistor 92 enters the blower box 86, but is not limited thereto, and may be provided below the nozzle portions 86C and 86D. In the present embodiment, the heaters 88 and 90 are provided above the respective outlets 86A and 86B. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the heaters 88 and 90 may be provided at other positions. For example, one heater may be provided directly below the blower fan 96. In this case, since the air before branching can be heated, the number of heaters can be smaller than the number of outlets 86A and 86B.

Second Embodiment
Next, an inkjet recording apparatus 150 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In addition, about the structure similar to 1st Embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The ink jet recording apparatus 150 according to the present embodiment has the same configuration as that of the first embodiment except for the drying unit 152. As shown in FIG. 6, the drying unit 152 according to this embodiment mainly includes a blower unit 154, a blower box 156, heaters 158, 160, 162, and thermistors 164, 166.

  The drying unit 152 is longer in the transport direction than the drying unit 68 of the first embodiment, and the blower unit 154 includes a larger blower fan 168 than the blower fan 96 of the first embodiment. The blower box 156 includes an outer cylinder part 170 communicating with the blower fan 168 and two rectifying members 172 and 174 provided on the inner peripheral side of the outer cylinder part 170.

  The outer cylindrical portion 170 is a rectangular tube-shaped member in plan view, and the rectifying members 172 and 174 are formed in parallel to each other, and extend in the width direction of the paper P and are fixed to the inner wall of the outer cylindrical portion 170. . Here, three blower outlets 156A, 156B, and 156C are formed in the blower box 156 by the outer tube portion 170 and the rectifying members 172 and 174, and the respective blower outlets 156A, 156B, and 156C are directed to the conveyance path. Nozzle portions 156D, 156E, and 156F are provided. The nozzle portions 156D, 156E, and 156F extend in the direction intersecting the transport direction and are formed longer than the width of the paper P.

  The nozzle portion 156D is formed by the inner wall on the downstream side in the transport direction of the outer tube portion 170 and the rectifying member 172, and the nozzle portion 156F is formed by the inner wall on the upstream side in the transport direction of the outer tube portion 170 and the rectifying member 174. It is formed with. Further, the nozzle portion 156E is formed between the rectifying members 172 and 174, and the intervals between the nozzle portions are formed equally.

  Three heaters 158, 160, and 162 are stored in the air blowing box 156, and are disposed above the air outlets 156A, 156B, and 156C, respectively. Further, two thermistors 164 and 166 are arranged on the outer peripheral side of the blower box 156. The thermistor 164 is disposed between the nozzle portion 156D and the nozzle portion 156E, and the thermistor 166 is disposed between the nozzle portion 156E and the nozzle portion 156F.

  Three heaters 158, 160, 162 and two thermistors 164, 166 are connected to the control unit 176. The control unit 176 controls the heating temperature of the heaters 158, 160, 162 based on the air temperature detected by the thermistors 164, 166.

  According to the ink jet recording apparatus 150 according to the present embodiment, air is blown from the three rows of the nozzle portions 156D, 156E, and 156F to the paper P. Therefore, the amount of the vertical component blown to the paper P is increased from the first embodiment, and drying is performed. Efficiency can be improved. Other operations are the same as in the first embodiment.

  In the present embodiment, the three rows of nozzle portions 156D, 156E, and 156F are provided. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the number of nozzles may be further increased. In this case, in order to prevent the air blown from each nozzle from interfering with each other, it is preferable that the interval between the nozzles is set to, for example, 70 mm or more.

  Although the first embodiment and the second embodiment of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be carried out in various modes without departing from the gist of the present invention. Needless to say you get. For example, the control unit 104 may not only control the heating temperature of the heaters 88 and 90 but also control the ON and OFF of the heaters 88 and 90 to change the temperature of the air blown onto the paper P.

10, 150 Inkjet recording apparatus (image forming apparatus)
68, 152 Drying unit 72 Guide plate (conveyance path)
94, 154 Blower unit (Blower unit)
86, 156 Blower box 86A, 86B, 156A, 156B, 156C Air outlet 86C, 86D, 156D, 156E, 156F Nozzle part 88, 90, 158, 160, 162 Heater (heating means)
92, 164, 166 thermistor (temperature detection means)
102A Control part 104, 176 Control means

Claims (11)

A blower box that is disposed opposite to a conveyance path through which a recording medium from which droplets are discharged is conveyed, and has a plurality of air outlets on the conveyance path side;
Blower means for blowing air to the blower box and blowing air to the recording medium through the plurality of outlets;
A heating means for heating the air stored in the blower box and blown from the air outlet;
A temperature detecting means that is provided outside the air blowing box and between the plurality of air outlets, and detects a temperature of air between the air blowing box and the conveying path;
Control means for controlling the heating temperature of the heating means based on the temperature of the air detected by the temperature detection means;
I have a,
A nozzle portion is provided from the plurality of outlets toward the conveyance path, and the temperature detection means is provided between the adjacent nozzle portions,
The image forming apparatus , wherein the nozzle portion extends downward from the temperature detection unit and extends linearly toward the conveyance path . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heating unit is a heater disposed above the air outlet . A plurality of drying units including the air blowing box, the air blowing means, the heating means, and the temperature detecting means are arranged in the conveyance direction of the recording medium,
The said control means controls the heating temperature of the said heating means of the said drying unit located in the downstream of a conveyance direction to temperature lower than the heating temperature of the said heating means of the said drying unit located in the upstream of a conveyance direction. Item 3. The image forming apparatus according to Item 1 or 2 . A blower box that is disposed opposite to a conveyance path through which a recording medium from which droplets are discharged is conveyed, and has a plurality of air outlets on the conveyance path side;
Blower means for blowing air to the blower box and blowing air to the recording medium through the plurality of outlets;
A heating means for heating the air stored in the blower box and blown from the air outlet;
A temperature detecting means that is provided outside the air blowing box and between the plurality of air outlets, and detects a temperature of air between the air blowing box and the conveying path;
Control means for controlling the heating temperature of the heating means based on the temperature of the air detected by the temperature detection means;
Have
The image forming apparatus , wherein the heating means is a heater disposed above the air outlet . A blower box that is disposed opposite to a conveyance path through which a recording medium from which droplets are discharged is conveyed, and has a plurality of air outlets on the conveyance path side;
Blower means for blowing air to the blower box and blowing air to the recording medium through the plurality of outlets;
A heating means for heating the air stored in the blower box and blown from the air outlet;
A temperature detecting means that is provided outside the air blowing box and between the plurality of air outlets, and detects a temperature of air between the air blowing box and the conveying path;
Control means for controlling the heating temperature of the heating means based on the temperature of the air detected by the temperature detection means;
Have
A plurality of drying units including the air blowing box, the air blowing means, the heating means, and the temperature detecting means are arranged in the conveyance direction of the recording medium,
The control means controls the heating temperature of the heating means of the drying unit located downstream in the transport direction to a temperature lower than the heating temperature of the heating means of the drying unit located upstream in the transport direction. Forming equipment. A nozzle portion is provided from the plurality of outlets toward the conveyance path,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the temperature detection unit is provided between the adjacent nozzle portions . 7. The air outlet according to claim 1, wherein the air outlets extend in a direction intersecting with the conveyance direction of the recording medium, are formed in a long hole shape, and are formed in a plurality of rows. Image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the temperature detection unit is located at a central portion in a direction intersecting with a conveyance direction of the nozzle portion . The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, and 8, wherein the blower box includes a throttle portion in which a flow path is narrowed toward the air outlet . The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the nozzle portions are provided in two rows as viewed from a direction intersecting the transport direction. The conveyance path is configured to include a guide plate in which a large number of suction holes are formed,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the blowing unit blows air onto the recording medium that is conveyed while being dragged while being attracted to an upper surface of the guide plate.

Images