JP6082504B2 - Drying processing apparatus, drying processing method, drying processing program, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a drying processing apparatus, a drying processing method, a drying processing program, and an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to a drying processing technique for a medium having a liquid attached thereto.

  As an image forming apparatus using water-based ink, an ink jet recording apparatus is known. In an ink jet recording apparatus using water-based ink, fixing of ink onto a recording medium is promoted by subjecting the recording medium after drawing to a drying process.

  Patent Document 1 describes an ink jet recording apparatus including a drying processing unit that performs a drying process on a sheet after image recording. The drying processing unit described in the document employs a method of blowing hot air onto the paper.

  Note that the terms “image recording” and “paper” in Patent Document 1 correspond to the terms “image formation” and “medium” in this specification, respectively.

  Patent Document 2 describes an image forming apparatus including a medium drying apparatus that dries a recording medium on which an image is formed. The medium drying apparatus described in this document has a configuration in which a plurality of combinations of IR heaters and hot air nozzles are arranged. The medium drying apparatus described in this document realizes various processing conditions by appropriately adjusting the temperature and air volume of hot air.

  IR is an abbreviation for infrared ray that represents infrared rays. Further, the term “medium drying apparatus” in this document corresponds to the term “drying processing unit” in this specification.

  Patent Document 3 describes an image forming apparatus provided with a hot air current drying means for bringing a hot air current into contact with a paper sheet on which an image has been formed and drying it by heating. The hot air drying means described in the document is applied with a configuration in which the heater power supply amount and the air volume are controlled according to the paper thickness information, and the heating is performed with the appropriate heat amount and air flow according to the paper. Yes.

  Note that the terms of paper, hot air drying means, paper thickness information, and air volume in Patent Document 3 correspond to the terms medium, drying processing unit, medium information, and air flow rate in this specification, respectively.

JP2013-28140A JP 2012-131065 A JP 2010-167599 A

  However, when drying processing conditions that promote drying are applied when performing the drying processing, the temperature of the medium rises, and the dry state of the printed portion where the ink of the medium is adhered and the non-printed portion where the ink is not adhered The difference from the dry state becomes large. As a result, the medium is deformed.

  The ink jet recording apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 2, and the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 3 are all subject to deformation of the medium when drying processing conditions that promote drying are applied. It can happen.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and provides a drying processing apparatus, a drying processing method, a drying processing program, and an image forming apparatus capable of preventing deformation of the medium and obtaining a favorable dry state of the medium. For the purpose.

  In order to achieve the above object, the first aspect includes a medium transport unit that transports a medium to be dried, a medium information acquisition unit that acquires thickness information of the medium to be dried, and a medium to be dried. A heat irradiation drying processing unit that performs a drying process by heat irradiation, and a blower drying processing unit that performs a drying process by blowing air on a medium to be dried, and an upstream air blower disposed on the upstream side in the medium conveyance direction The drying process condition setting which sets the drying process condition according to the thickness of the drying process part and the downstream air blowing drying process part arrange | positioned downstream in the conveyance direction of a medium, and the acquired air thickness A thermal drying process control unit that controls the drying process by the thermal irradiation drying process unit based on the set drying process condition, and a blower that controls the drying process by the blow drying process unit based on the set drying process condition Dry A drying control condition setting unit that reduces heat irradiation by the heat irradiation drying processing unit relative to a relatively thin medium as a drying processing condition applied to the heat irradiation drying processing unit. And setting a drying processing condition for relatively increasing heat irradiation by the heat irradiation drying processing unit for a relatively thick medium, and is applied to at least the upstream side air drying processing unit of the air blowing drying processing unit As the drying processing conditions, the air temperature of the upstream air blowing drying processing unit, which is the temperature of the air blown from the upstream air blowing drying processing unit, the surface temperature of the medium being dried by the heat irradiation drying processing unit, or the heat irradiation drying It is a drying process condition set to a temperature range corresponding to the surface temperature of the medium after the drying process by the processing unit, and the volume of air blown per unit time discharged from the upstream air blowing drying process unit with respect to the relatively thin medium so That the upstream air drying processing unit increases the air volume, to provide a drying apparatus for setting a drying treatment conditions to reduce the air blowing amount of the upstream air drying unit with respect to a relatively thick medium.

  According to the first aspect, the drying process condition of the heat irradiation drying process unit and the drying process condition of the upstream blast drying process unit are set according to the thickness of the medium. By realizing the dry state, the temperature rise of the medium during the drying process is suppressed, and deformation of the medium is suppressed.

  Also, a drying process that sets at least a temperature range corresponding to the surface temperature of the medium during the drying process by the heat irradiation drying process part or the surface temperature of the medium after the drying process by the heat irradiation drying process part in the upstream blast drying process part By applying the conditions, the temperature change of the medium during the drying process is suppressed, and the deformation of the medium is suppressed.

  The second aspect is the drying processing apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the drying processing condition setting unit is a drying process applied to the upstream blast drying processing unit as a drying processing condition applied to the downstream blast drying processing unit. Set conditions.

  According to the 2nd aspect, the drying process conditions by a downstream air blowing drying process part are made common with the drying process conditions by an upstream air blowing drying process part, and the drying process based on fixed drying process conditions is implement | achieved.

  A 3rd aspect is a drying processing apparatus as described in a 1st aspect. WHEREIN: As a drying process condition applied to a ventilation drying process part, a drying process condition setting part is the ventilation volume and downstream ventilation drying of an upstream ventilation drying process part. The ratio with the ventilation volume of a process part is set.

  According to the third aspect, it is possible to correlate the drying process condition of the upstream-side drying process part and the process condition of the downstream drying process part.

  A 4th aspect is a drying processing apparatus as described in a 3rd aspect. WHEREIN: A drying process condition setting part is less than 1 in the ventilation volume of an upstream ventilation drying process part as a drying process condition applied to a downstream ventilation drying process part. Set the air flow rate multiplied by the number of.

  According to the 4th aspect, flapping of a medium is prevented by lowering the ventilation volume of a downstream ventilation drying process part rather than the ventilation volume of an upstream ventilation drying process part.

  A fifth aspect is a drying processing condition setting control table referred to by the drying processing condition setting unit in the drying processing apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, and defines the drying processing conditions for the thickness of the medium. A drying process condition setting control table storage unit for storing a drying process condition setting control table.

  In the fifth aspect, the drying process condition setting control table includes a heat irradiation drying process condition setting control table that defines the drying process condition of the heat irradiation drying process part, and a blow drying process condition that defines the drying process condition of the blow drying process part. You may comprise from a setting control table.

  In the fifth aspect, the drying process condition setting control table storage unit stores a heat irradiation drying process condition setting control table storage unit in which a heat irradiation drying process condition setting control table is stored, and a blow drying process condition setting control table. You may comprise from a ventilation drying process condition setting control table memory | storage part.

  A sixth aspect is the drying processing apparatus according to any one of the first aspect to the fifth aspect, wherein the deformation suppression priority mode prioritizes the deformation suppression of the medium to be dried, the drying target surface of the medium to be dried, A mode setting unit for setting at least one of a flaw prevention priority mode for preventing scratches on the opposite surface and a film strength priority mode for prioritizing improvement of the strength of a film formed on a medium to be dried, The drying processing condition setting unit changes at least one of the drying processing condition applied to the heat irradiation drying processing unit and the drying processing condition applied to the air blowing drying processing unit according to the set mode.

  According to the 6th aspect, the drying process based on the drying process conditions according to the set mode can be performed.

  As the mode setting in the sixth aspect, either manual setting or automatic setting is possible.

  A seventh aspect is the drying processing apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, in the processing region of the heat irradiation drying processing unit and the processing region of the blow drying processing unit, the drying process of the medium to be dried A support part that supports the opposite side of the target surface, a pressure application part that applies pressure to the supported medium, and a pressure application condition that sets the pressure application condition of the pressure application part according to the acquired thickness of the medium A pressure application control unit that controls the application of pressure by the pressure application unit based on the set pressure application condition, and the pressure application condition setting unit is a thickness in which the thickness of the medium to be processed is predetermined. If the pressure is less than the predetermined value, a pressure application condition for applying a pressure to bring the medium to be processed into contact with the support unit is set. When the thickness of the medium to be processed is equal to or greater than a predetermined thickness, the medium to be processed is supported by the support unit. Pressure separating from To set the pressure applying conditions to grant.

  According to the seventh aspect, since the pressure condition suitable for the pressure applied to the medium during the drying process is set according to the thickness of the medium, the medium is deformed by the pressure applied to the medium, and the medium is damaged. Can be prevented.

  According to an eighth aspect, in the drying treatment apparatus according to the seventh aspect, the pressure applying unit includes a hole that generates a pressure applied to the medium to be processed on a surface that supports the opposite side of the surface to be dried of the support unit. A flow path communicating with the hole, the flow path formed inside the support portion, and a pressure generating device connected to the flow path, wherein the pressure application control section switches suction or discharge from the hole .

  According to the 8th aspect, a deformation | transformation of a medium is prevented by attracting | sucking a medium from the hole of a support part. Further, the medium is prevented from being damaged by the contact between the support portion and the medium by separating the medium from the support portion by discharging from the hole of the support portion.

  The ninth aspect is a pressure application condition control table referred to by the pressure application condition setting unit in the drying processing apparatus according to the seventh aspect or the eighth aspect, and a pressure application condition that defines the pressure application condition with respect to the thickness of the medium A pressure application condition control table storage unit for storing the control table is provided.

  The pressure application condition control table in the ninth aspect and the drying processing condition control table described in the fifth aspect may be configured integrally.

  The pressure application condition control table storage unit in the ninth aspect may also be used as the drying processing condition setting control table storage unit described in the fifth aspect.

  A tenth aspect is the drying processing apparatus according to any one of the seventh to ninth aspects, wherein the deformation suppression priority mode prioritizes the deformation suppression of the medium to be dried, the drying target surface of the medium to be dried, A pressure setting condition setting unit is provided with a mode setting unit for setting a flaw prevention priority mode for preventing flaws on the opposite surface and a film strength priority mode for prioritizing improvement of the strength of the film formed on the medium to be dried. The pressure application condition applied to the pressure application unit is changed according to the set mode.

  According to the 10th aspect, pressure application control based on the drying process conditions according to the set mode can be performed.

  The eleventh aspect is the drying apparatus according to any one of the first to tenth aspects, wherein the surface temperature of the medium during the drying process by the heat irradiation drying process part or the medium after the drying process by the heat irradiation drying process part The temperature information acquisition part which acquires the information of this temperature is provided.

  In the eleventh aspect, an aspect including a temperature measuring unit that measures the temperature of the medium is applicable. In addition, it is possible to apply a mode including a temperature prediction unit that predicts the temperature of the medium from the drying processing conditions of the heat irradiation drying processing unit.

  In a twelfth aspect, a medium information acquisition step for acquiring information on the thickness of a medium to be dried, and heat irradiation drying for transporting the medium to be dried and performing a drying process on the medium to be dried by heat irradiation This is a processing step and a blow drying process step for conveying a medium to be dried and subjecting the medium to be dried to a drying process by blowing air, and blowing air to the medium to be dried at the upstream side in the medium conveying direction. And an upstream blast drying process including an upstream blast drying process for performing a drying process by the process, and a downstream blast drying process for performing a drying process by blowing on the medium to be dried on the downstream side in the medium transport direction. A drying treatment condition setting step for setting a drying treatment condition according to the thickness of the medium, and the drying treatment condition setting step is a drying treatment condition applied to the heat irradiation drying treatment step. The drying process conditions that relatively reduce the heat irradiation in the heat irradiation drying process for a relatively thin medium and relatively increase the heat irradiation in the heat irradiation drying process for a relatively thick medium. As the drying process condition that is set and applied to at least the upstream air drying process among the air blowing processes, the air blowing in the upstream air drying process that is the temperature of the air discharged in the upstream air drying process It is a drying process condition in which the temperature is set to a temperature range corresponding to the temperature of the medium during the drying process in the heat irradiation drying process or the surface temperature of the medium after the drying process in the heat irradiation drying process, and is relatively thin Increasing the blast volume in the upstream blast drying process, which is the volume of blast per unit time released in the upstream blast drying process relative to the medium, is relatively thick It provides a drying method of setting the drying conditions to reduce the air blowing amount of the upstream air drying process to the body.

  In a thirteenth aspect, a medium conveying means for conveying a medium to be dried, a medium information obtaining means for obtaining information on the thickness of the medium to be dried, and a drying process by heat irradiation on the medium to be dried The heat irradiation drying processing means for performing the drying process, the air blowing drying processing means for performing the drying process by blowing on the medium to be dried, the upstream air blowing drying processing means disposed on the upstream side in the medium transport direction, and the transport of the medium The blower drying process means provided with the downstream blow drying process means arranged on the downstream side in the direction, the drying process condition setting means for setting the drying process condition according to the thickness of the acquired medium, the set drying process condition A heat drying process control means for controlling the drying process by the heat irradiation drying process means, and a blow drying process for controlling the drying process by the blow drying process means based on the set drying process conditions. A drying processing program that functions as a processing control unit, wherein a computer is used as a drying processing condition applied to a thermal irradiation drying processing unit, and heat irradiation by the thermal irradiation drying processing unit is relatively performed on a relatively thin medium. A drying process condition is set to decrease and relatively increase heat irradiation by the heat irradiation drying processing means for a relatively thick medium, and applied to at least the upstream air drying processing means among the air blowing drying processing means. As the drying processing condition, the air temperature of the upstream air drying processing means, which is the temperature of the air blown from the upstream air blowing drying processing means, is the surface temperature of the medium during the drying process by the heat irradiation drying processing means, or heat irradiation. It is a drying process condition that is set in a temperature range corresponding to the surface temperature of the medium after the drying process by the drying process means, and is blown upstream on a relatively thin medium. A drying process that increases the air flow rate of the upstream air blow drying processing means, which is the volume of air blown per unit time released from the control means, and decreases the air flow rate of the upstream air blow drying processing means for a relatively thick medium. A drying processing program that functions as a drying processing condition setting means for setting conditions is provided.

  A fourteenth aspect includes a drawing unit that forms an image on a medium, and a drying processing device that performs a drying process on the formed image. The drying processing device transports a medium to be dried. A medium information acquisition unit that acquires information on the thickness of a medium to be dried, a heat irradiation drying unit that performs drying by heat irradiation on the medium to be dried, and a medium to be dried A blower drying processing unit that performs a drying process by blowing air, and includes an upstream blower drying processing unit arranged on the upstream side in the medium transport direction and a downstream blower drying processing unit arranged on the downstream side in the medium transport direction. The air blowing drying processing unit, the drying processing condition setting unit for setting the drying processing condition according to the acquired thickness of the medium, and the heat for controlling the drying processing by the heat irradiation drying processing unit based on the set drying processing condition Drying control unit An air drying process control unit that controls the drying process by the air blowing drying process unit based on the set drying process condition, and the drying process condition setting unit is a drying process condition applied to the heat irradiation drying process unit The drying process conditions are such that the heat irradiation by the heat irradiation drying processing unit is relatively reduced for a relatively thin medium, and the heat irradiation by the heat irradiation drying processing unit is relatively increased for a relatively thick medium. As the drying process condition that is set and applied to at least the upstream blast drying process section of the blast drying process section, the blast of the upstream blast drying process section that is the temperature of the blast discharged from the upstream blast drying process section It is a drying process condition in which the temperature is set to a temperature range corresponding to the surface temperature of the medium during the drying process by the heat irradiation drying process part or the surface temperature of the medium after the drying process by the heat irradiation drying process part, The amount of air blown per unit time released from the upstream side air blowing and drying unit with respect to a thin medium is increased, and the amount of air blown by the upstream side air blowing and drying unit is increased, and the air flow is dried upstream with respect to a relatively thick medium. Provided is an image forming apparatus for setting a drying processing condition for reducing a blowing amount of a processing unit.

  According to the present invention, since the drying treatment conditions of the heat irradiation drying processing unit and the drying processing conditions of the upstream air blowing drying processing unit are set according to the thickness of the medium, deformation of the medium due to the difference in the thickness of the medium is suppressed. Thus, a good dry state of the medium can be obtained.

  Also, a drying process that sets at least a temperature range corresponding to the surface temperature of the medium during the drying process by the heat irradiation drying process part or the surface temperature of the medium after the drying process by the heat irradiation drying process part in the upstream blast drying process part By applying the conditions, the temperature change of the medium during the drying process is suppressed, and the deformation of the medium is suppressed.

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a drying processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the drying processing unit shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control system of the drying processing apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a control flow of the drying processing method according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a graph showing the relationship between the IR heater duty setting and the measured film surface temperature. FIG. 6A is an explanatory diagram schematically illustrating the measurement target surface of the medium. FIG. 6B is a view of the medium as viewed from the side. FIG. 7 is a graph showing the relationship between the film surface temperature and the amount of water on the medium. FIG. 8 is a graph showing the relationship between the thickness of the medium and the amount of water. FIG. 9 is a graph showing the relationship between the transport distance of the medium and the film surface temperature. FIG. 10 is a graph showing the relationship between the transport distance of the medium and the film surface temperature in the drying process in which the setting of the blowing temperature of the air knife and the setting of the blowing amount are different. FIG. 11A is an explanatory diagram showing the setting of the drying process condition with respect to the thickness of the medium. FIG. 11B is an explanatory diagram showing the setting of the drying process condition with respect to the thickness of the medium when the thickness of the medium can be changed in multiple stages. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the flow of control of the drying method according to the second embodiment. FIG. 13A is an explanatory diagram showing pressure setting with respect to the thickness of the medium in the drying method according to the second embodiment. FIG. 13B is an explanatory diagram illustrating pressure setting with respect to the thickness of the medium in consideration of the case where liquid is attached to both sides of the medium. FIG. 13C is an explanatory diagram of a table that defines the relationship between the thickness of the medium and the pressure setting. FIG. 14 is a block diagram of a control system of the drying processing apparatus according to the third embodiment. FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a control flow of the drying method according to the third embodiment. FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing the setting of the drying process condition with respect to the thickness of the medium according to the third embodiment. FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing the flow of control of the drying method according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram for changing the setting of the drying process condition according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram of a drying process condition control table showing a configuration example of the drying process condition setting control table. FIG. 20 is an overall configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 21 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a control system of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 22 is a configuration diagram of the ink jet head shown in FIG. 20, and is a perspective plan view of an ejection surface for ejecting ink droplets. FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the head module, including a partial cross-sectional view. 24 is a plan perspective view of the ejection surface of the head module shown in FIG. FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the head module.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[First Embodiment]
[Overall configuration of drying equipment]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a drying processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The drying processing apparatus 20 shown in the figure is a drying processing apparatus that performs a drying process on a medium P to which a liquid is attached. For example, the present invention can be applied to a drying processing apparatus that dries a medium on which an image is formed by an ink jet recording apparatus.

  The drying processing apparatus 20 illustrated in FIG. 1 includes a medium transport unit 64 that transports a medium P to be dried, a transport guide 72 that supports the medium P transported by the medium transport unit 64, and a drying process that performs a drying process on the medium P. A processing unit 73, a fixing processing unit 74 that performs a fixing process on the dried medium, a transport guide 75 that supports the medium P transported by the medium transporting unit 64, and a sheet discharge table on which the dried medium P is stacked. 76.

  The medium transport unit 64 functioning as a medium transport unit has a structure in which an endless chain 64C is wound around the first sprocket 64A and the second sprocket 64B. The chain 64C is supported by a chain guide (not shown).

  The first sprocket 64A, the second sprocket 64B, and the chain 64C are each configured as a pair. The pair of first sprockets 64A, the pair of second sprockets 64B, and the pair of chains 64C are disposed on both sides of the medium P in the width direction. The width direction of the medium P is a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the medium P.

  In this specification, the orthogonal term is regarded as the same as when the angle between the two directions is 90 degrees when the angle between the two directions is less than 90 degrees and when the angle between the two directions exceeds 90 degrees. Substantial orthogonality can be included.

  In this specification, the term “medium transport direction” may be used as a term representing the transport direction of the medium P. Moreover, the term of the width direction of a medium may be used as a term showing the direction orthogonal to a medium conveyance direction.

  The medium P supported by the gripper 64D attached to the chain 64C is conveyed by rotating one of the pair of first sprockets 64A or the pair of second sprockets 64B to run the pair of chains 64C.

  A gripper support member (not shown) is spanned between the pair of chains 64C. In the gripper support member, a plurality of grippers 64D are arranged corresponding to the width of the medium P. The gripper 64D has a structure in which the front end or the rear end of the medium P is sandwiched between a claw portion (not shown) and a claw base (not shown) to hold the front end or the rear end of the medium P.

  A conveyance guide 72 that functions as a support unit and a support unit and constitutes a pressure applying unit supports a side surface opposite to the drying target surface of the medium P that is conveyed in the processing region of the drying processing unit 73. The conveyance guide 72 has a length corresponding to the entire width of the medium P in a direction orthogonal to the medium conveyance direction. When a plurality of sizes of media are used, the full width of the medium P having the maximum full width is set.

  The transport guide 72 is provided with a plurality of holes (not shown) on the medium support surface that supports the medium P. Each of the plurality of holes communicates with a flow path (not shown) provided inside the conveyance guide 72. An internal flow path provided inside the conveyance guide 72 is connected to a pressure generator (not shown).

  The pressure generating device generates a pressure directed from the outside of the hole to the inside of the hole or a pressure directed from the inside of the hole to the outside of the hole with respect to the plurality of holes provided on the medium support surface of the conveyance guide 72. .

  When suction pressure is generated in the plurality of holes, the medium P is sucked to the medium support surface of the transport guide 72. When a pressure for discharging air from the plurality of holes is generated, the medium P is separated from the medium support surface of the transport guide 72. As the opening shape of the plurality of holes, a circular shape, an elliptical shape, a polygonal shape, or the like can be applied.

  The drying processing unit 73 is a position facing the conveyance guide 72 and is disposed at a position opposite to the conveyance guide 72 of the chain 64C. The drying processing unit 73 is a medium P transported by the medium transporting unit 64, and performs a drying process on the medium P supported by the transport guide 72. The configuration of the drying processing unit 73 and details of the drying processing will be described later.

  The fixing processing unit 74 is disposed on the downstream side of the drying processing unit 73 in the medium transport direction. The fixing processing unit 74 performs fixing processing on the medium P that has been subjected to drying processing by the drying processing unit 73. As an example of fixing treatment, fixing treatment by irradiation of actinic rays in image formation using ink that is cured by irradiation of actinic rays such as ultraviolet rays, fixing treatment by heating, fixing treatment by pressing, heating and pressing are used in combination. For example, fixing processing. The fixing processing unit 74 can be omitted.

  The conveyance guide 75 is a position facing the fixing processing unit 74 and is disposed on the opposite side of the chain 64C from the fixing processing unit 74. The conveyance guide 75 supports the medium P that is conveyed in the processing area of the fixing processing unit 74. The conveyance guide 75 may have the same structure and configuration as the conveyance guide 72.

  The paper discharge tray 76 accommodates a medium P that has been subjected to a drying process. Since the distance between the sheet discharge tray 76 and the medium transport unit 64 increases as the number of loaded media increases, the distance between the position where the medium is discharged and the position where the medium is loaded is within a certain range. To be kept.

  In FIG. 1, the inclined structure is applied to the conveyance path of the medium P in the processing area of the fixing processing unit 74. However, the conveyance path of the medium P in the processing area of the fixing processing unit 74 has a structure for conveying the medium P in the horizontal direction. You may apply.

  Although not shown in FIG. 1, a medium supply unit that delivers the medium P to be processed to the medium transport unit 64 is provided. The medium supply unit is shown in FIG.

[Configuration of drying processing section]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the drying processing unit 73 shown in FIG. The drying processing unit 73 includes an IR heater 73A, an upstream air knife 73C, and a downstream air knife 73D.

  The IR heater 73A functions as a heat irradiation drying processing unit and a heat irradiation drying processing means. The upstream air knife 73C functions as a blower drying processing unit, a blower drying processing unit, an upstream blower drying processing unit, and an upstream blower drying processing unit.

  The downstream air knife 73D functions as a blower drying processing unit, a blower drying processing unit, a downstream blower drying processing unit, and a downstream blower drying processing unit.

  The IR heater 73A, the upstream air knife 73C, and the downstream air knife 73D are arranged in order from the upstream side in the medium transport direction along the medium transport direction, in order from the IR heater 73A, the upstream air knife 73C, the IR heater 73A, the upstream air knife 73C, and the IR heater. 73A, upstream air knife 73C, IR heater 73A, downstream air knife 73D, IR heater 73A, and downstream air knife 73D are arranged in this order.

  That is, in the drying processing unit 73, the IR heater 73A and the upstream air knife 73C, or the IR heater 73A and the downstream air knife 73D are alternately arranged.

  In the present embodiment, it is not necessary to distinguish between the upstream air knife 73C and the downstream air knife 73D, so the terms of the upstream side or the downstream side are omitted, and both are described as the air knife 73C, the air knife 73D, or the air knives 73C and 73D. To do.

  In another embodiment, when it is necessary to distinguish between the two, the upstream side or downstream side terminology is used, and the upstream side air knife 73C or the downstream side air knife 73D is described.

  The drying processing unit 73 can change the drying processing conditions of the upstream air knife 73C and the drying processing conditions of the downstream air knife 73D.

  The IR heater 73A irradiates heat according to the set duty. When the duty is relatively increased, the irradiation heat amount is relatively increased, and when the duty is relatively decreased, the irradiation heat amount is relatively decreased. The duty of the IR heater 73A is the percentage of the period during which the IR heater 73A operates within the unit period.

  The air knives 73 </ b> C and 73 </ b> D are adjusted in air blowing temperature according to the setting of the air blowing temperature, which is one aspect of the drying process conditions. The air knives 73C and 73D have their blast volumes adjusted in accordance with the blast volume settings that are one aspect of the drying process conditions.

[Control system configuration]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control system of the drying processing apparatus 20 shown in FIG. The drying processing apparatus 20 shown in the figure includes a system controller 300, a conveyance control unit 310, a medium supply control unit 312, an IR heater control unit 320, an air knife control unit 321, a fixing process control unit 322, a medium discharge control unit 323, and a pressure control. Part 324 and the like.

  Further, the drying processing apparatus 20 includes a medium information acquisition unit 330, a drying processing condition setting unit 332, a display unit 334, and a table storage unit 336.

  The system controller 300 functions as an overall control unit that performs overall control of each unit of the drying processing apparatus 20 and also functions as an arithmetic unit that performs various arithmetic processes. The system controller 300 includes a CPU 300A, a ROM 300B, and a RAM 300C. CPU is an abbreviation for Central Processing Unit, and ROM is an abbreviation for Read Only Memory. RAM is an abbreviation for Random Access Memory.

  The system controller 300 also functions as a memory controller that controls the writing of data to memories such as the ROM 300B and the RAM 300C and the reading of data from these memories.

  3 illustrates an example in which the memory such as the ROM 300B and the RAM 300C is built in the system controller 300, but the memory such as the ROM 300B and the RAM 300C may be provided outside the system controller 300.

  The conveyance control unit 310 controls the operation of the medium conveyance unit 64. Examples of the control of the medium transport unit 64 include travel start control of the chain 64C, travel stop control of the chain 64C, travel speed control of the chain 64C, and operation control of the gripper 64D shown in FIG.

  The medium supply control unit 312 illustrated in FIG. 3 controls the operation of the medium supply unit 69 in accordance with a command from the system controller 300. Control of the medium supply unit 69 includes supply start control of the medium P and supply stop control of the medium P.

  The medium supply unit 69 can be configured integrally with the medium transport unit 64. In an aspect in which the medium supply unit 69 and the medium transport unit 64 are configured integrally, the transport control unit 310 and the medium supply control unit 312 are configured integrally. As the medium supply unit 69, the configuration of the paper feeding unit 12 shown in FIG. 20 may be applied.

  The medium discharge control unit 323 controls the operation of the paper discharge tray 76 that functions as a medium discharge unit in response to a command from the system controller 300.

  The IR heater control unit 320 functioning as a heat drying process control unit and a heat drying process control unit controls the operation of the IR heater 73 </ b> A according to a command from the system controller 300. That is, the IR heater control unit 320 operates the IR heater 73A according to the duty set as the drying process condition.

  The air knife control unit 321 functioning as a blow drying process control unit and a blow drying process control unit controls the operation of the air knives 73 </ b> C and 73 </ b> D in response to a command from the system controller 300. That is, the air knife control unit 321 controls the operations of the air knives 73C and 73D according to the blowing temperature and the blowing amount set as the drying process conditions.

  The fixing processing control unit 322 controls the operation of the fixing processing unit 74 in accordance with a command from the system controller 300. When an aspect in which actinic rays are applied to the fixing processing unit 74 is applied, the fixing processing control unit 322 controls the activation start, irradiation stop, and actinic light irradiation intensity.

  The pressure control unit 324 that functions as a pressure application control unit and a pressure application control unit controls the pressure applied to the medium P from the transport guide 72 in accordance with a command from the system controller 300. That is, the pressure control unit 324 controls the operation of the pressure generator connected to the internal flow path of the conveyance guide 72 according to the pressure application condition set corresponding to the drying process condition. The operation control of the pressure generator includes switching between sucking the medium P into the transport guide 72 or discharging air from the transport guide 72 to separate the medium P from the transport guide 72.

  The medium information acquisition unit 330 acquires information on the medium P that is the target of the drying process. The information on the medium P to be dried includes at least information on the thickness of the medium P. As a mode for acquiring information on the medium P, a mode in which the information is directly acquired from the medium P by measurement or the like, a mode in which the medium P is acquired from an information body attached to the cartridge in which the medium P is accommodated, or information is acquired by data communication An aspect, the aspect which acquires the information input by the operator, etc. are mentioned.

  Examples of the information body include a barcode and an RF tag. Note that the RF tag may be referred to as an IC tag or a wireless tag. RF is an abbreviation for radio frequency. IC is an abbreviation for Integrated Circuit.

  The drying processing condition setting unit 332 performs various settings for the drying processing apparatus 20. The setting of the drying processing apparatus 20 includes setting of drying processing conditions. The drying process condition setting unit 332 can function as a pressure application condition setting unit. Details of the drying process conditions will be described later.

  Further, the drying processing mode setting may be included as the setting of the drying processing apparatus 20. Examples of the drying processing mode include a deformation suppression mode that prioritizes suppression of deformation of the medium, a scratch prevention priority mode that prevents scratches on the opposite side of the surface to be dried, and a film strength priority mode that prioritizes improvement of film strength. It is done.

  The drying processing condition setting unit 332 can function as a mode setting unit. Examples of modes for setting the drying processing mode include automatic setting based on medium information, manual setting by an operator, and combined use of automatic setting and manual setting. The drying processing condition setting unit 332 that enables manual setting includes a switch, a keyboard, a mouse, and the like that are operated by an operator.

  The display unit 334 includes a display device such as a liquid crystal panel, and displays various setting information of the device or information such as abnormality information on the display device in response to a command from the system controller 300. A setting screen for manually setting the mode may be displayed.

  A touch panel display device may be applied to the display unit 334 to integrally configure the drying process condition setting unit 332 and the display unit 334.

  The table processing unit 336 functioning as a drying process condition setting control table storage unit, a drying process condition setting control table storage unit, a pressure application condition control table storage unit, and a pressure application condition control table storage unit is used for various types of drying process control. A control table is stored. The IR heater control unit 320 and the air knife control unit 321 refer to various control tables stored in the table storage unit 336 via the system controller 300 and control the operations of the IR heater 73A and the air knives 73C and 73D, respectively. To do.

  The program storage unit 338 stores various programs applied to the drying processing apparatus 20. Various programs stored in the program storage unit 338 are read out via the system controller 300 and executed in each unit of the apparatus.

  Examples of various programs applied to the drying processing apparatus 20 include drying processing programs applied to the IR heater 73A and the air knives 73C and 73D.

[Description of Flowchart of Drying Method]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a control flow of the drying method according to the first embodiment of the present invention. If a drying process is started in start process S10, it will progress to medium information acquisition process S12. In the medium information acquisition step S12, at least information on the thickness of the medium P is acquired.

  In the medium thickness determination step S14, it is determined whether the medium P is a thin medium or a thick medium based on the acquired medium information. When the medium thickness determining step S14 is YES, the medium P is a thin medium, the process proceeds to the IR heater duty setting step S20, and the processing conditions of the IR heater 73A are set for the thin medium.

  In the IR heater duty setting step S20, when the processing conditions for the IR heater 73A are set, the process proceeds to the blower temperature setting step S22. In the blowing temperature setting step S22, the blowing temperature of the air knives 73C and 73D is set for a thin medium.

  When the air temperature of the air knives 73C and 73D is set, the flow proceeds to the air volume setting step S24, and the air volume of the air knives 73C and 73D is set for a thin medium. When the air flow rate of the air knives 73C and 73D is set, the process proceeds to the drying process step S40.

  If the medium P to be NO in the medium thickness determining step S14 is a thick medium, the process proceeds to the IR heater duty setting step S30, and the processing conditions of the IR heater 73A are set for a thick medium.

  When the processing conditions for the IR heater 73A are set in the IR heater duty setting step S30, the process proceeds to the blowing temperature setting step S32. In the blowing temperature setting step S32, the blowing temperature of the air knives 73C and 73D is set for a medium having a thick thickness.

  When the air temperature of the air knives 73C and 73D is set, the flow proceeds to the air volume setting step S34, and the air volume of the air knives 73C and 73D is set for a thick medium. When the air flow rate of the air knives 73C and 73D is set, the process proceeds to the drying process step S40.

  The IR heater duty setting step S20, the blowing temperature setting step S22, the blowing amount setting step S24, the IR heater duty setting step S30, the blowing temperature setting step S32, and the blowing amount setting step S34 function as a drying process condition setting step.

  The drying process S40 functions as a heat irradiation drying process, an air blowing drying process, an upstream air drying process, and a downstream air drying process.

  The IR heater duty setting step S20, the blowing temperature setting step S22, the blowing amount setting step S24, the IR heater duty setting step S30, the blowing temperature setting step S32, and the blowing amount setting step S34 in FIG. This is executed by the unit 332.

  In the drying process S40, the drying process is executed based on the duty that is the drying process condition of the IR heater 73A set according to the thickness of the medium P, the blowing temperature that is the drying process condition of the air knives 73C and 73D, and the blowing amount. The

  When the drying process for the medium P to be processed is completed, the process proceeds to the drying process continuation determination step S42. In the drying process continuation determination step S42, it is determined whether there is a medium to be processed next. If there is a medium P to be processed next, which is YES in the drying process continuation determination process S42, the process proceeds to the medium information acquisition process S12, and a series of processes from the medium information acquisition process S12 to the drying process S40 is executed. The

  If there is no medium P to be processed next, which is NO in the drying process continuation determination process S42, the process proceeds to an end process S44. In the end step S44, the end process of the drying process control is executed.

  In the medium thickness determining step S14, the thickness of the medium P to be processed may be classified into three or more stages. In the aspect in which the thickness of the medium P to be processed is classified into three or more stages in the medium thickness determining step S14, the processing conditions for the IR heater 73A, the air blowing temperature that is the processing condition for the air knives 73C and 73D, and the air flow amount for each classification Is set.

  When setting the processing conditions for the IR heater 73A and the processing conditions for the air knives 73C and 73D, the relationship between the thickness of the medium P to be processed, the processing conditions for the IR heater 73A, and the processing conditions for the air knives 73C and 73D is defined. It is possible to refer to the processed processing condition control table.

  A processing condition control table referred to when setting the processing conditions of the IR heater 73A and the processing conditions of the air knives 73C and 73D is stored in the table storage unit 336 of FIG.

[Description of drying conditions of IR heater]
Next, the drying process conditions will be described in detail. FIG. 5 is a graph showing the relationship between the IR heater duty setting and the measured film surface temperature.

  The horizontal series in FIG. 5 is the duty setting of the IR heater 73A shown in FIG. In FIG. 5, the duty of the IR heater 73A is described as IR duty. The duty setting of the IR heater 73A is expressed as a percentage.

  The vertical series in FIG. 5 is the measured value of the film surface temperature. The unit of the measured value of the film surface temperature is ° C. The measurement value measured using a thermometer can be applied to the measurement value of the film surface temperature in FIG. Of course, you may apply the measured value measured using the other method.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of conditions for measuring the film surface temperature shown in FIG. FIG 6 (A) is a diagram illustrating a measurement target surface P _A of the medium P schematically. FIG. 6B is a view of the medium P viewed from the side. The film surface temperature shown in FIG. 5 is a temperature measurement value of the surface 422 of the solid image 420 formed on the print portion P _B shown in FIG.

FIG 6 (A) to the measurement position 426 of the surface temperature of the printed portion P _B shown is a position on the center position 424 in the width direction of the medium P, is at the center position of the medium conveying direction of the printed portion P _B . Measuring position 428 of the temperature of the non-printed portion P _C is the center position of the medium conveying direction of the non-printed portion P _C located at a position on the center position 424 in the width direction of the medium P.

  Returning to FIG. 5, reference numeral 400 denotes a case where the thickness of the medium P is 0.11 millimeter. Reference numeral 402 denotes a case where the thickness of the medium P is 0.13 millimeters. Reference numeral 404 denotes a case where the thickness of the medium P is 0.21 millimeters. Reference numeral 406 denotes a case where the thickness of the medium P is 0.34 millimeters.

  When the duty setting of the IR heater 73A is fixed, as shown in FIG. 5, the measured value of the film surface temperature decreases as the thickness of the medium P increases, and the measured value of the film surface temperature increases as the thickness of the medium P decreases. In order to make the film surface temperature constant, it is necessary to set the duty setting of the IR heater 73A higher as the thickness of the medium P increases.

  FIG. 7 is a graph showing the relationship between the film surface temperature and the amount of water on the medium. The horizontal series in FIG. 7 is the film surface temperature. The unit of the film surface temperature is ° C. As the film surface temperature, a value predicted from the duty setting of the IR heater 73A of the thermometer can be used. The measured value measured using the thermometer can also be used.

  The vertical series in FIG. 7 is the amount of moisture on the medium. The amount of water in FIG. 7 indicates that the amount of water increases as it goes upward in the figure, and the amount of water decreases as it goes down in FIG. As the moisture content, a measured value of a moisture meter can be used.

  In FIG. 7, reference numeral 430 is the case where the thickness of the medium P is 0.09 millimeters. Reference numeral 432 denotes a case where the thickness of the medium P is 0.11 millimeter. Reference numeral 434 represents a case where the thickness of the medium P is 0.13 millimeters.

  Reference numeral 436 represents a case where the thickness of the medium P is 0.21 millimeters. Reference numeral 438 denotes a case where the thickness of the medium P is 0.34 millimeters. As shown in FIG. 7, the tendency of the relationship between the film surface temperature and the amount of water on the medium P varies depending on the thickness of the medium P.

  FIG. 8 is a graph showing the relationship between the thickness of the medium and the amount of water. FIG. 8 shows the relationship between the thickness of the medium P and the moisture content when the film surface temperature is fixed. The horizontal series in FIG. 8 is the thickness of the medium P. The unit of the thickness of the medium P is millimeter.

  The vertical series is the amount of moisture on the medium. The amount of water in FIG. 8 indicates that the amount of water increases as it goes upward in the figure, and the amount of water decreases as it goes down in FIG. The moisture content can be measured by a moisture meter. As shown in FIG. 8, the target amount of water on the medium P varies depending on the thickness of the medium P.

  That is, by setting the duty of the IR heater 73A shown in FIG. 2 according to the thickness of the medium P, it is possible to realize a constant film surface temperature regardless of the thickness of the medium P. Specifically, when the thickness of the medium P is relatively thick, the duty of the IR heater 73A is set to be high, and the drying treatment condition is set such that the amount of heat irradiation from the IR heater 73A is increased and the drying is relatively accelerated. .

  On the other hand, when the thickness of the medium P is relatively thin, the duty of the IR heater 73A is set low, and the drying process condition is set such that the amount of heat irradiation from the IR heater 73A is reduced and drying is relatively suppressed. In this way, by setting the duty of the IR heater 73A according to the thickness of the medium P, it becomes possible to realize a constant dry state of the medium regardless of the thickness of the medium P.

  The film surface temperatures in the graphs shown in FIGS. 5, 7, and 8 are measured for one type of medium and ink. By obtaining the relationship between the thickness of the medium P and the duty setting of the IR heater 73A for each type of medium P, type of ink, and type of liquid, it is possible to deal with various media, inks, and liquids. .

[Description of air knife drying conditions]
FIG. 9 is a graph showing the relationship between the transport distance of the medium and the film surface temperature. The horizontal series in FIG. 9 is the transport distance of the medium P. The unit of the transport distance of the medium P is millimeter. The transport distance of the medium P is a distance on the transport path of the medium P from the supply position of the medium P to the medium transport unit 64 in FIG. The conveyance distance of the medium shown in FIG. 9 corresponds to the drying process period for the medium P. In the description using FIG. 9, FIG. 6A is referred to as appropriate.

  The vertical series in FIG. 9 is the film surface temperature. The unit of the film surface temperature is ° C. A measured value measured using a thermometer can be applied to the film surface temperature in FIG. The measurement position of the film surface temperature is the same as that of the graph shown in FIG.

Code 450 of FIG. 9 is a duty of the IR heater 73A is in when it is set relatively high, it plotted for each conveying distance temperature measurements of the printed portion P _B shown in FIG. 6 (A).

Code 452 of FIG. 9 is a plot when the duty of the IR heater 73A is set relatively high, the temperature measurement of the non-printed portion P _C each conveying distance.

Code 454 of FIG. 9 is a plot of the prior duty IR heater 73A is set relatively high, the temperature measurements of the printing portion P _B for each conveying distance. Code 456 of FIG. 9 is a duty of the IR heater 73A is prior to be set relatively high, it plotted for each conveying distance temperature measurements of the non-printed portion P _C. That is, FIG. 9 shows the difference in film surface temperature before and after the duty of the IR heater 73A is set high.

When the duty of the IR heater 73A is set high, the surface temperature of the printed portion P _B, and the non-printed portion P _C is increased. Then, the temperature difference between the surface temperature of the non-printed portion P _C of the surface temperature and the printed portion P _B also rises.

Before the duty of the IR heater 73A is set high, the temperature difference between the surface temperature of the non-printed portion P _C and the surface temperature of the printed portion P _B and T _1, the duty of the IR heater 73A is set higher after the, when the temperature difference between the surface temperature of the non-printed portion P _C and the surface temperature of the printed portion P _B and the T _2, have a relationship of T 1 _{<T 2.}

When the temperature difference between the printed portion P _B and the non-printed portion P _C is relatively large, deformation of the medium P is increased. That is, there is a possibility that the deformation of the medium P is promoted by setting the duty of the IR heater 73A to be relatively high.

However, since in order to further reduce the temperature difference between the printed portion P _B and the non-printed portion P _C, thus affecting the film strength resulting in setting the duty of the IR heaters 73A relatively low, IR heaters 73A The duty cannot be set too low.

  The film strength is an index representing the degree of fixing of ink onto the medium P. When the film strength is relatively high, it indicates that the ink is more fixed on the medium P. If the film strength is relatively small, it indicates that the ink is not fixed more on the medium P. The film strength can be improved by increasing the film surface temperature.

  FIG. 10 is a graph showing the relationship between the transport distance of the medium and the film surface temperature in the drying process in which the setting of the blowing temperature of the air knives 73C and 73D and the setting of the blowing amount are different. 10, parts that are the same as or similar to those in FIG. 9 are given the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof are omitted as appropriate. In the description using FIG. 10, FIG. 6A is referred to as appropriate.

Reference numeral 460 in FIG. 10 is a plot of the measured temperature values of the printed portion P _B shown in FIG. 6A for each transport distance, and the setting of the air temperature of the air knives 73C and 73D and the setting of the air flow rate are the codes. The temperature measurement value of the printed portion P _B marked with 454 is changed with respect to the plot for each transport distance.

Code 462 of FIG. 10 is a plot for each conveying distance temperature measurements of the non-printed portion P _C, setting the blast temperature of the air knife 73C and 73D, and the print part P of air volume settings by symbol 456 The temperature measurement value of _B is changed with respect to the plot for each conveyance distance.

  10 does not change the setting of the duty of the IR heater 73A with respect to the drying process condition for which the data of the graph shown in FIG. 9 is acquired, and relatively reduces the setting of the air temperature of the air knives 73C and 73D. The setting of the air volume of 73C and 73D is made relatively high.

After the setting of the air temperature of the air knives 73C and 73D and the setting of the air flow rate are changed, the print portion P is compared with that before the setting of the air temperature of the air knives 73C and 73D and the setting of the air flow rate are changed. _B and non-printing areas P _C with no increase in the film surface temperature, the printed portion P _B and the temperature difference T ₃ between the non-printed portion P _C, is smaller than the temperature difference T ₂ shown in FIG. Further, T ₃ <T ₁ is satisfied.

In summary, by changing the duty setting of the IR heater 73A according to the thickness of the medium P, a constant film surface temperature is maintained and a constant film strength is ensured. Further, the blast temperature of the air knife 73C and 73D according to the thickness of the medium P set, and increase in the surface temperature is suppressed by changing the air volume setting, the printing portion P _B and the non-printed portion P _C The temperature difference is kept within a certain range.

  FIG. 11A is an explanatory diagram showing the setting of the drying process condition with respect to the thickness of the medium. FIG. 11A shows the setting of the duty of the IR heater 73A shown in FIG. 2, the setting of the air temperature of the air knives 73C and 73D, and the air knife when the medium P is divided into two stages of a thick medium and a thin medium. The setting of the blast volume of 73C and 73D is illustrated.

  The low and high in FIG. 11A indicate the relative setting relationship between the case where the medium P is a thin medium and the case where the medium P is a thick medium. The same applies to the following drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 11A, the duty of the IR heater 73A shown in FIG. 2 when the medium P is a thin medium is set lower than the duty of the IR heater 73A when the medium P is a thick medium. When the medium P is a thin medium, the temperature rise of the medium P is suppressed and deformation of the medium P is prevented. When the medium P is thick, drying of the medium P is promoted.

  For example, the duty setting of the IR heater 73A when the medium P is a thin medium can be set to 40%, and the duty setting of the IR heater 73A when the medium P is a thick medium can be set to 100%.

  As shown in FIG. 11A, the setting of the blowing temperature, which is the blowing temperature discharged from the air knives 73C and 73D shown in FIG. 2 when the medium P is a thin medium, corresponds to the surface temperature of the medium P. Set to temperature range. That is, when the medium P is a thin medium, the air temperature of the air knives 73C and 73D is set relatively low in correspondence with the duty setting of the IR heater 73A. The temperature range corresponding to the surface temperature of the medium P is a temperature range including the surface temperature of the medium P, and is determined in consideration of the type and thickness of the medium P from the viewpoint of preventing deformation of the medium P. For example, a temperature range in which 90% of the surface temperature of the medium P is the lower limit and 100% of the surface temperature of the medium P is the upper limit can be given.

  When the medium P is thin, the temperature of the medium P is kept constant, and deformation of the medium P is suppressed. When the medium P is thick, drying of the medium P is promoted.

  In the present embodiment, the surface temperature of the medium P during the drying process by the IR heater 73A or the surface temperature of the medium P after the drying process by the IR heater 73A is applied to the surface temperature of the medium P.

The surface temperature of the medium P may be applied the temperature of the surface 422 of the image 420 ate shown in FIG. 6 (B), applying the surface temperature of the non-printed portion P _C that shown in FIG. 6 (B) May be. Moreover, you may apply both average temperature.

  A temperature information acquisition unit may be provided, and the surface temperature of the medium P after the heat irradiation of the IR heater 73A may be measured to acquire the surface temperature information of the medium P as the temperature information of the medium P. Information on the surface temperature of the medium P may be acquired as temperature information of the medium P by predicting the surface temperature of the medium P after the heat irradiation of the IR heater 73A from the duty setting.

  As shown in FIG. 11A, the blown air volume of the air knives 73C and 73D when the medium P is a thin medium is the volume per unit time discharged from the air knives 73C and 73D when the medium P is a thick medium. It is set higher than the setting of the air flow rate.

  When the medium P is thin, drying of the medium P is promoted by air blowing. When the medium P is thick, flapping of the medium P is prevented.

  The range of the thickness of the thick medium and the range of the thickness of the thin medium can be appropriately changed according to the type of the medium, the type of the liquid attached to the medium, and the like.

  As an example of the division of the thickness of the medium P, when the thickness of the medium P is 0.06 mm or more and 0.39 mm or less, the thin medium is 0.06 mm or more and 0.20 mm or less, and 0.21 mm or more and 0.39 mm or less. An example in which a medium of millimeter or less is used as a thick medium is given.

  That is, with reference to an intermediate value in the thickness range of the medium P, a thickness less than the intermediate value can be a thin medium, and a thickness greater than or equal to the intermediate value can be a medium. The division of the thickness of the medium P is not limited to the above example, and can be appropriately determined in consideration of the type of the medium and other conditions of the drying process.

  In addition, it is possible to divide the thickness of the medium P into three or more stages, and increase the suction pressure for thinner media, switch between suction and discharge at a predetermined thickness, and increase the discharge pressure for thicker media. is there. As a reference for switching between suction and discharge, an intermediate value in the range of the thickness of the medium P can be applied.

  FIG. 11B is an explanatory diagram showing the setting of the drying process condition for the thickness of the medium P when the thickness of the medium can be changed in multiple stages. FIG. 11B shows an example in which the thickness of the medium P is divided into six stages. The number of media thickness categories can be changed as appropriate.

The thickness of the medium P shown in FIG. 11B has a relationship of A ₁ <A ₂ <A ₃ <A ₄ <A ₅ <A ₆ . In FIG. 11B, the numerical value of the duty setting of the IR heater 73A, the numerical value of the air temperature setting of the air knives 73C and 73D, and the numerical value of the air flow amount setting of the air knives 73C and 73D are set to 100 as the maximum setting. For example, 80 means 80% of the maximum setting.

  As shown in FIG. 11B, the duty of the IR heater 73A is set to be relatively high as the thickness of the medium P increases.

  Since the air temperature of the air knives 73C and 73D is set to a temperature corresponding to the surface temperature of the medium P, it is increased as the thickness of the medium P increases. The setting of the air volume of the air knives 73C and 73D is lowered as the thickness of the medium P increases.

  The relationship of the drying process condition with respect to the thickness of the medium P shown in FIG. 11B is based on the thickness of the medium P functioning as a heat irradiation drying process condition setting control table that defines the drying process condition of the heat irradiation drying process unit. A duty setting control table for the IR heater 73A, an air temperature setting control table for the air knives 73C and 73D using the thickness of the medium P as a parameter, and an air flow rate setting control table for the air knives 73C and 73D using the thickness of the medium P as a parameter. Can do.

  Further, the duty setting control table of the IR heater 73A, the blowing temperature setting control table of the air knives 73C and 73D, and the blowing amount setting control table of the air knives 73C and 73D are integrally configured, and the drying process using the thickness of the medium P as a parameter. It is possible to configure a condition setting control table.

  The drying processing condition setting unit 332 illustrated in FIG. 3 sets the drying processing conditions of the drying processing unit 73 illustrated in FIG. 1 with reference to the drying processing condition setting control table illustrated in FIG. Is possible.

  Also, a duty setting control table for the IR heater 73A, a blowing temperature setting control table for the air knives 73C and 73D, and a blowing amount setting control table for the air knives 73C and 73D are created for each type of medium and each type of liquid. Therefore, it is possible to cope with the setting of various media and liquid drying treatment conditions.

  The setting of the blowing temperature and the setting of the blowing amount shown in FIG. 11A may be set to at least the upstream air knife 73C among the upstream air knife 73C and the downstream air knife 73D.

  In the present embodiment, the setting of the air temperature of the upstream air knife 73C and the setting of the air volume are applied to the setting of the air temperature of the downstream air knife 73D and the air volume. However, as in the third embodiment to be described later. In addition, it is possible to apply a setting different from the setting of the blowing temperature of the upstream air knife 73C and the setting of the blowing amount to the setting of the blowing temperature of the downstream air knife 73D and the setting of the blowing amount.

[Function and effect]
According to the drying processing apparatus and the drying processing method configured as described above, the duty of the IR heater is set according to the thickness of the medium, and the blowing temperature and the blowing amount of the air knife are set according to the thickness of the medium. The film surface temperature at which a certain film strength of the liquid adhered on the medium is realized is maintained, an increase in the temperature difference between the printed part and the non-printed part is prevented, and deformation of the medium is suppressed.

  A drying processing program corresponding to the drying processing apparatus and the drying processing method described above can be configured. That is, it is possible to configure a drying processing program that causes a computer to execute functions of means corresponding to the respective units shown in FIGS. 1 to 3.

  That is, the computer is a medium conveying unit that functions as a medium conveying unit, a medium information acquiring unit that functions as a medium information acquiring unit, a thermal irradiation drying processing unit that functions as a thermal irradiation drying process, and a blow drying process that functions as a blow drying unit. A drying process program that functions as a drying process condition setting unit that functions as a drying process condition setting unit, a thermal drying process control unit that functions as a thermal drying process control unit, and a blow drying process control unit that functions as a blow drying process control unit It is possible to configure.

[Second Embodiment]
[overall structure]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the second embodiment described below, the pressure application condition applied to the medium P from the transport guide 72 constituting the pressure application unit is appropriately set when the drying process in the first embodiment is executed. In the following description, the description of the same or similar parts as in the first embodiment will be omitted as appropriate.

  In the second embodiment, the pressure condition applied to the medium P via the conveyance guide 72 is set from both the viewpoint of preventing scratches on the surface of the medium P on the conveyance guide 72 side and the viewpoint of preventing deformation of the medium P. The

[Description of Flowchart of Drying Method]
FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the flow of control of the drying method according to the second embodiment. In the flowchart shown in the figure, the blowing temperature setting step S22 and the blowing amount setting step S24 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 4 are illustrated as the blowing condition setting step S21. In the flowchart shown in FIG. 12, when the blowing conditions of the air knives 73 </ b> C and 73 </ b> D shown in FIG. 2 are set for a thin medium by the blowing condition setting step S <b> 21 functioning as a drying processing condition setting step, the pressure applying condition of FIG. Proceed to setting step S27.

  In the pressure application condition setting step S27, the pressure condition applied to the medium P from the transport guide 72 shown in FIG. 1 is set for a thin medium. When the pressure condition applied to the medium P is set, the process proceeds to the drying process step S40 in FIG.

  In the flowchart shown in FIG. 12, the blowing temperature setting step S32 and the blowing amount setting step S34 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 4 are shown as the blowing condition setting step S31. In the flowchart shown in FIG. 12, when the blowing conditions of the air knives 73C and 73D are set by the blowing condition setting step S31 functioning as the drying process condition setting step, the process proceeds to the pressure application condition setting step S37.

  In the pressure application condition setting step S37, the pressure condition applied to the medium P from the transport guide 72 is set for a thick medium. When the pressure condition to be applied to the medium P is set, the process proceeds to the drying process step S40. The processes after the drying process S40 are the same as those in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  FIG. 13A is an explanatory diagram illustrating setting of the pressure condition with respect to the thickness of the medium in the drying method according to the second embodiment. The processing conditions of the drying processing unit 73 shown in FIG. 13A are the same as those in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 13A, the pressure condition when the medium P set in the pressure application condition setting step S27 in FIG. 12 is thin is the pressure for sucking the medium P through the transport guide 72 shown in FIG. As a condition, the deformation of the medium P is prevented by fixing the medium P.

  On the other hand, the pressure condition when the medium P is thick set in the pressure application condition setting step S37 in FIG. 12 is a pressure condition for discharging the air from the transport guide 72 and separating the medium P from the transport guide 72. Damage due to contact with the P conveyance guide 72 is prevented.

  FIG. 13B is an explanatory diagram illustrating the setting of the pressure condition with respect to the thickness of the medium in consideration of the case where liquid is attached to both sides of the medium. As a case where the liquid is attached to both sides of the medium P, double-sided printing for forming images on both sides of the medium P is raised. The setting of the drying processing unit 73 in FIG. 13B is the same as that in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 13B, when a liquid is attached to one side, it is the same as that in FIG. In the case where the liquid is adhered to both surfaces, the pressure condition for discharging the air from the conveyance guide 72 and separating the medium P from the conveyance guide 72 when the medium P is a thin medium and when the medium P is thick. Is set.

  When the liquid is attached to both surfaces, damage to the liquid attached to the medium P and damage to the medium P due to contact between the conveyance guide 72 and the medium P are prevented. In particular, in the case of duplex printing in which images are formed on both sides of the medium P, damage to the images is prevented.

  The term image in this specification is a concept including what is classified into text such as characters and symbols, and what is classified into mask patterns and wiring patterns.

FIG. 13C is an explanatory diagram of a pressure condition control table that defines the relationship between the thickness of the medium P and the pressure condition. The thickness of the medium P in FIG. 13C has a relationship of A ₁ <A ₂ <A ₃ <A ₄ <A ₅ <A ₆ . In the pressure of FIG. 13C, a positive value represents discharge, and a negative value represents suction. The pressure value in FIG. 13C is a relative numerical value when the maximum value is 100. For example, 60 means 60 percent of the maximum value.

  The pressure condition control table shown in FIG. 13C is stored in the table storage unit 336 in FIG. 1 and is referred to during the drying process. The pressure condition control table may be created for each type of medium and each type of liquid.

[Function and effect]
According to the drying processing apparatus and the drying processing method according to the second embodiment configured as described above, the pressure condition suitable for the pressure applied to the medium during the drying process is set according to the thickness of the medium. Further, it is possible to prevent deformation of the medium due to application of pressure to the medium and damage to the medium.

[Third Embodiment]
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the third embodiment described below, the description of the same or similar parts as those in the first and second embodiments will be omitted as appropriate.

[Overall configuration]
In the drying process in the present embodiment, the setting of the blowing temperature of the downstream air knife 73D shown in FIG. 2 is set separately from the setting of the blowing temperature of the upstream air knife 73C shown in FIG. 2 according to the thickness of the medium P. Is done. Further, the setting of the air flow rate of the downstream air knife 73D is set separately from the setting of the air flow rate of the upstream air knife 73C.

  The air temperature is the temperature of air discharged from the upstream air knife 73C and the downstream air knife 73D.

  The air volume is the volume of air per unit time discharged from the upstream air knife 73C and the downstream air knife 73D.

  To set the air temperature of the upstream air knife 73C and the air volume of the upstream air knife 73C, the air temperature of the air knives 73C and 73D shown in the first embodiment and the air volume of the air knives 73C and 73D are set. Applies.

  In other words, the setting of the blowing temperature of the air knives 73C and 73D and the setting of the blowing amount of the air knives 73C and 73D shown in the first embodiment are at least the setting of the blowing temperature of the upstream air knife 73C and the blowing amount of the upstream air knife 73C. Applied to the settings.

[Control system configuration]
FIG. 14 is a block diagram of a control system of the drying processing apparatus according to the third embodiment. In the figure, the same or similar parts as in FIG.

  In the drying processing apparatus 20A shown in FIG. 14, the air knife control unit 321A is individually controlled based on the setting of the blowing air temperature and the setting of the blowing amount for the upstream air knife 73C and the downstream air knife 73D. The same duty is set for all IR heaters 73A.

[Description of Flowchart of Drying Method]
FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a control flow of the drying method according to the third embodiment. 15, parts that are the same as or similar to those in FIG. 4 are given the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof are omitted as appropriate.

  In the flowchart shown in FIG. 15, when the duty of the IR heater 73 </ b> A is set for a thin medium in the IR heater duty setting step S <b> 20, the upstream air knife in the upstream drying processing condition setting step S <b> 23 that functions as the drying processing condition setting step. The drying process condition of 73C is set for a thin medium.

  When the drying process condition of the upstream air knife 73C is set for a thin medium, the process proceeds to the downstream drying process condition setting process S25 functioning as the drying process condition setting process. In the downstream drying process condition setting process S25, the downstream air knife 73D is set. The drying process conditions are set for a thin medium, and the process proceeds to the drying process S40.

  Similarly, when the duty setting of the IR heater 73A is set for a thick medium in the IR heater duty setting step S30, the upstream air knife 73C is dried in the upstream drying processing condition setting step S33 functioning as a drying processing condition setting step. The processing condition is set for a thick medium.

  When the setting of the drying process condition of the upstream air knife 73C is set for a thick medium, the process proceeds to the downstream drying process condition setting process S35 functioning as the drying process condition setting process. In the downstream drying process condition setting process S35, the downstream side The setting of the drying process condition of the air knife 73D is set for a thick medium, and the process proceeds to the drying process step S40. The processes after the drying process S40 are the same as those in the first embodiment and the second embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing the setting of the drying process condition with respect to the thickness of the medium P in the third embodiment. The duty of the IR heater, the upstream air temperature, and the upstream air flow in FIG. 16 are the same as the duty, air temperature, and air flow of the IR heater in FIGS. 11A and 13A, and a description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 16, in the drying process according to the present embodiment, when the medium P is a thick medium, the setting of the blowing temperature of the downstream air knife 73D is set lower than the setting of the blowing temperature of the upstream air knife 73C. Thus, the medium P is cooled by the air blown from the downstream air knife 73D. On the other hand, when the medium P is thin, the setting of the air temperature of the upstream air knife 73C and the downstream air knife 73D is the same, and the deformation of the medium P is suppressed by keeping the temperature of the medium P constant.

  In addition, the fluttering of the medium P is prevented by setting the air volume of the downstream air knife 73D lower than the air volume of the upstream air knife 73C regardless of the thickness of the medium P. For example, the setting of the air flow rate of the downstream air knife 73D can be set by multiplying the setting of the air flow rate of the upstream air knife 73C by a number less than one.

[Function and effect]
According to the drying processing apparatus and the drying processing method according to the third embodiment configured as described above, when the medium P is a thick medium, the setting of the blowing temperature of the downstream air knife 73D is the setting of the blowing temperature of the upstream air knife 73C. The medium P is cooled by the air blown from the downstream air knife 73D.

  In addition, fluttering of the medium P is prevented by setting the air flow rate of the downstream air knife 73D to be lower than the air flow rate setting of the upstream air knife 73C.

[Fourth Embodiment]
Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the fourth embodiment described below, the description of the same or similar parts as those in the first to third embodiments will be omitted as appropriate.

[Overview]
The drying processing apparatus and the drying processing method according to the fourth embodiment are configured such that the operator can change the setting of the drying processing conditions set according to the thickness of the medium.

  FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a control flow of a drying method according to a modification of the embodiment of the present invention. 17, parts that are the same as or similar to those in FIG. 4 are given the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

  In the flowchart shown in FIG. 17, in the IR heater duty setting step S20, the blowing temperature setting step S22, the blowing amount setting step S24, the IR heater duty setting step S30, the blowing temperature setting step S32, and the blowing amount setting step S34, the drying processing unit When the drying process condition 73 is set, the process proceeds to the setting change determination step S38.

  In the setting change determination step S38, it is determined whether or not the setting of the set drying processing conditions has been changed. When the setting of the drying process condition that is YES in the setting change determination step S38 is changed, the process proceeds to the setting change step S39. In the setting change step S39, the setting of the drying process conditions is changed from the viewpoint of suppressing deformation, preventing scratches, and improving the film strength. When the setting of the drying process condition is changed, the process proceeds to the drying process step S40.

  The change of the setting of the drying processing condition of the drying processing unit 73 is performed by the operator using the drying processing condition setting unit 332 while viewing the setting change screen displayed on the display unit 334 shown in FIG.

  In the setting change determination step S38, when the setting of the drying processing condition that is NO determination is not changed, the process proceeds to the drying processing step S40. The processes after the drying process S40 are the same as those in the first to third embodiments, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram for changing the setting of the drying process condition according to the fourth embodiment. The setting change of the drying process condition is performed from the viewpoint of the thickness of the medium, deformation suppression, scratch prevention, and improvement of film strength. The thickness of the medium is the same as the setting of the drying process condition for the thickness of the medium shown in FIG.

  When the setting is changed from the viewpoint of suppressing deformation, the setting is changed to the setting of the drying processing condition that gives top priority to suppressing deformation of the medium. The duty setting of the IR heater 73A corresponding to the duty setting of the IR heater shown in FIG. 18 is relatively lowered. The duty setting of the IR heater 73A when the setting is changed from the viewpoint of suppressing deformation can be the same setting as the duty setting of the IR heater 73A when the medium P is a thin medium.

  The setting of the air temperature of the upstream air knife 73C corresponding to the upstream air temperature shown in FIG. 18 is relatively lowered. When the setting is changed from the viewpoint of suppressing deformation, the setting of the blowing temperature of the upstream air knife 73C is changed to a setting lower than the surface temperature after heat irradiation by the IR heater 73A.

  The setting of the air flow rate of the upstream air knife 73C corresponding to the upstream air flow rate shown in FIG. 18 is relatively high. The setting of the air flow rate of the upstream air knife 73C when the setting is changed from the viewpoint of suppressing deformation can be the same setting as the air flow rate of the upstream air knife 73C when the medium P is thin.

  The setting of the air temperature of the downstream air knife 73D corresponding to the downstream air temperature shown in FIG. 18 is relatively low. The setting of the blowing temperature of the downstream air knife 73D when the setting is changed from the viewpoint of suppressing deformation uses the same setting as the setting of the blowing temperature of the upstream air knife 73C when the setting is changed from the viewpoint of suppressing deformation. Can do.

  The setting of the air flow rate of the downstream air knife 73D corresponding to the downstream air flow rate shown in FIG. 18 is relatively high. The setting of the blowing amount of the downstream air knife 73D when the setting is changed from the viewpoint of suppressing deformation uses the same setting as the setting of the blowing amount of the upstream air knife 73C when the setting is changed from the viewpoint of suppressing deformation. Can do.

  The pressure applied to the medium P from the transport guide 72 corresponding to the pressure shown in FIG. 18 is set to suction.

  When the setting is changed from the viewpoint of preventing flaws, the setting is changed to the setting of the drying process condition that places top priority on flaw prevention. The duty setting of the IR heater 73A corresponding to the duty setting of the IR heater shown in FIG. 18 is relatively increased. The duty setting of the IR heater 73A when the setting is changed from the viewpoint of scratch prevention can be the same setting as the duty setting of the IR heater 73A when the medium P is a thick medium.

  The settings of the upstream air knife 73C corresponding to the upstream blowing temperature and the upstream blowing amount shown in FIG. 18 are turned off. The settings of the downstream air knife 73D corresponding to the downstream air blowing temperature and the downstream air blowing amount shown in FIG. 18 are turned off.

  The pressure applied to the medium P from the transport guide 72 corresponding to the pressure shown in FIG. 18 is set to discharge.

  When the setting is changed from the viewpoint of improving the film strength, the setting is changed to the setting of the drying treatment condition that gives the highest priority to the improvement of the film strength. The duty setting of the IR heater 73A corresponding to the duty setting of the IR heater shown in FIG. 18 is relatively increased. The duty setting of the IR heater 73A when the setting is changed from the viewpoint of improving the film strength can be the same setting as the duty setting of the IR heater 73A when the medium P is a thick medium.

  The setting of the air temperature of the upstream air knife 73C corresponding to the upstream air temperature shown in FIG. 18 is relatively high. When the setting is changed from the viewpoint of improving the film strength, the setting of the blowing temperature of the upstream air knife 73C is changed to a temperature higher than the surface temperature after heat irradiation by the IR heater.

  The setting of the air flow rate of the upstream air knife 73C corresponding to the upstream air flow rate shown in FIG. 18 is relatively high. The setting of the air flow rate of the upstream air knife 73C when the setting is changed from the viewpoint of improving the film strength can be the same as the setting of the air flow rate of the upstream air knife 73C when the medium P is a thin medium. .

  The setting of the air temperature of the downstream air knife 73D corresponding to the downstream air temperature shown in FIG. 18 is relatively high. The setting of the blowing temperature of the downstream air knife 73D when the setting is changed from the viewpoint of improving the film strength is the same as the setting of the blowing temperature of the upstream air knife 73C when the setting is changed from the viewpoint of improving the film strength. Settings can be used.

  The setting of the air flow rate of the downstream air knife 73D corresponding to the downstream air flow rate shown in FIG. 18 is relatively high. The setting of the blowing amount of the downstream air knife 73D when the setting is changed from the viewpoint of improving the film strength is the same as the setting of the blowing amount of the upstream air knife 73C when the setting is changed from the viewpoint of improving the film strength. Settings can be used.

  The pressure applied to the medium P from the transport guide 72 corresponding to the pressure shown in FIG. 18 is set to suction.

  The aspect of changing the drying process condition setting shown in FIG. 18 may be defined as the drying process mode, and the drying process condition may be changed according to the switching of the drying process mode. In other words, a drying process mode switching unit that switches between the sheet deformation suppression priority mode, the flaw prevention priority mode, and the film strength priority mode can be provided, and the setting of the drying process condition can be changed according to the switching of the drying process mode.

  As an example of the configuration of the mode switching unit, a drying process mode switching screen is displayed on the display unit 334 shown in FIG. 3, and a drying process mode using a switch, a keyboard, a mouse, or the like, which is one form of the drying process condition setting unit 332. The mode which switches is mentioned.

  The drying processing modes listed above are examples. The drying processing mode is not limited to the above example, and can be changed, added, and deleted.

  According to the fourth embodiment configured as described above, the setting of the drying process condition can be changed by the operator, and the drying process based on the drying process condition corresponding to the special request such as medium deformation suppression priority is realized. Can do.

  Moreover, the drying process suitable for the drying process mode is realized by configuring the drying process condition to be changed according to the drying process mode.

[Configuration example of drying processing condition control table]
FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram of a drying process condition control table showing a configuration example of the drying process condition setting control table. The drying processing condition setting control table shown in FIG. 19 is a table in which the drying processing condition settings described so far are integrated.

  In the drying processing condition setting control table shown in FIG. 19, the thickness of the medium is used as a parameter. The thickness of the medium is divided into two stages: a thin medium and a thick medium. Further, each medium thickness category has parameters of standard, deformation suppression, scratch prevention, and film strength.

  The setting values stored in the drying processing condition setting control table shown in FIG. 19 are expressed as a ratio when the maximum setting value is 100. A negative sign in the pressure applied to the medium P from the transport guide 72 represents suction. The drying processing condition setting control table shown in FIG. 19 is stored in the table storage unit 336 in FIG.

  The drying process condition control table shown in FIG. 19 is an example, and parameters and set values are appropriately added, deleted, changed, etc. according to the specifications of the drying processing apparatuses 20 and 20A and the requirements for the drying process. .

  Further, the first embodiment to the fourth embodiment can be appropriately combined. For example, it is possible to configure a drying processing program that causes a computer to execute the functions of the units corresponding to the respective units shown in the first to fourth embodiments.

[Example of application to image forming apparatus]
Next, an inkjet recording apparatus will be described as an apparatus application example of the drying processing apparatus, the drying processing method, and the drying processing program according to the present embodiment. 20 to 25 used in the following description, the same or similar parts as those in FIGS. 1 to 19 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

[overall structure]
FIG. 20 is an overall configuration diagram of the inkjet recording apparatus 10. 20, parts that are the same as or similar to those in FIGS. 1 and 2 are given the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

  An ink jet recording apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1 is an ink jet type image forming apparatus that forms an image by an ink jet method using ink on a sheet medium P.

  The ink jet recording apparatus 10 mainly includes a paper feeding unit 12 that feeds the medium P, a processing liquid applying unit 14 that applies a processing liquid to the medium P fed from the paper feeding unit 12, and a processing liquid applying unit 14. A processing liquid drying processing unit 16 that performs a drying process on the medium P to which the processing liquid is applied, and an image is recorded by an inkjet method using ink for image recording of the medium P that has been subjected to the drying process by the processing liquid drying processing unit 16. A drawing unit 18 that performs the drying process on the medium P on which an image has been recorded by the drawing unit 18, and a paper discharge unit 24 that discharges the medium P that has been subjected to the drying process by the drying processing unit 20. , Including.

  The terms drawing and printing in this specification can be appropriately read as image recording, image formation, recording, or formation. In addition, the terms “ejection”, “droplet ejection”, “recording”, and “formation” in this specification can be interchanged.

  The drying processing apparatus 20 shown in FIG. 20 is applied to the drying processing apparatuses 20 and 20A described with reference to FIGS. The drying treatment apparatuses 20 and 20A described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 19 can be applied to the treatment liquid drying treatment unit 16 shown in FIG.

[Paper Feeder]
The paper feed unit 12 mainly includes a paper feed base 30, a soccer device 32, a paper feed roller pair 34, a feeder board 36, a front pad 38, and a paper feed drum 40. The media P loaded on the table 30 are fed to the processing liquid application unit 14 one by one.

  The media P loaded on the paper feed tray 30 are pulled up one by one in order from the top by the soccer device 32 and fed to the paper feed roller pair 34. The medium P fed to the paper feed roller pair 34 is placed on the feeder board 36 and conveyed by the feeder board 36.

  The medium P is pressed against the conveying surface of the feeder board 36 by the retainer 36A and the guide roller 36B, and the unevenness is corrected. The inclination of the medium P is corrected by the front end of the medium P being in contact with the front pad 38. The medium P conveyed by the feeder board 36 is delivered to the paper feed cylinder 40.

  The medium P delivered to the paper feed cylinder 40 is transported to the treatment liquid application unit 14 with its leading end gripped by the gripper 40A of the paper feed cylinder 40. Detailed illustration of the gripper 40A is omitted.

  The gripper 40A includes a claw base in which a plurality of claws are arranged along the axial direction of the paper feed cylinder 40, and is arranged at a position facing the plurality of claws, and further supports the plurality of claws so as to be slidable. A gripper shaft is included.

  The gripper 40A is opened and closed by swinging the claws by rotating the gripper shaft. The arrangement of the plurality of claws is determined in accordance with the size of the medium P.

[Treatment liquid application part]
The treatment liquid application unit 14 mainly includes a treatment liquid cylinder 42 that conveys the medium P, and a treatment liquid application device 44 that applies a predetermined treatment liquid to the image recording surface of the medium P conveyed by the treatment liquid cylinder 42. The processing liquid is applied to the image recording surface of the medium P.

  The treatment liquid applied to the medium P has a function of aggregating the color material in the ink to be ejected onto the medium P by the subsequent drawing unit 18 or a function of insolubilizing the color material of the ink. By applying the treatment liquid to the medium P and ejecting the ink, high-quality printing can be performed without causing landing interference or the like even when using general-purpose paper.

  The medium P delivered from the paper feed cylinder 40 of the paper feed unit 12 is delivered to the processing liquid cylinder 42. The processing liquid cylinder 42 grips the front end of the medium P with the gripper 42A, and sucks and holds the sheet on the outer peripheral surface.

  The gripper 42 </ b> A can apply the same configuration as the gripper 40 </ b> A provided in the paper feed cylinder 40, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  The gripper 42A grips the leading end of the medium P, holds the medium P on the outer peripheral surface of the processing liquid cylinder 42, and rotates the processing liquid cylinder 42, whereby the medium P is wound around the outer peripheral surface of the processing liquid cylinder 42. Are transported. The processing liquid is applied to the medium P conveyed to the processing liquid cylinder 42 from the processing liquid applying device 44.

  As an example of the form of application, application using an application roller, application using a blade, or the like can be given. Examples of other forms of application include ejection by an ink jet method or spraying by a spray method.

[Processing liquid drying processing section]
The treatment liquid drying processing unit 16 mainly includes a treatment liquid drying processing cylinder 46 that conveys the medium P, a sheet conveyance guide 48 that supports the medium P conveyed by the treatment liquid drying treatment cylinder 46, and a treatment liquid drying treatment cylinder 46. And a processing liquid drying processing unit 50 that blows hot air on the medium P conveyed by the apparatus and dries the medium P to which the processing liquid is applied.

  The medium P transferred from the treatment liquid cylinder 42 of the treatment liquid application unit 14 to the treatment liquid drying treatment cylinder 46 is gripped by a gripper 46 </ b> A provided in the treatment liquid drying treatment cylinder 46. The gripper 46 </ b> A can apply the same configuration as the gripper 40 </ b> A provided in the paper feed cylinder 40, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

  The medium P is supported by the paper transport guide 48 on the surface opposite to the surface on which the processing liquid is applied with the surface on which the processing liquid is applied facing inward. By rotating the treatment liquid drying treatment cylinder 46, the medium P is wound around the outer peripheral surface of the treatment liquid drying treatment cylinder 46 and conveyed.

  The medium P conveyed by the treatment liquid drying treatment cylinder 46 is subjected to a drying process by blowing hot air from a treatment liquid drying treatment unit 50 installed inside the treatment liquid drying treatment cylinder 46. When the medium P is dried, the solvent component in the processing liquid applied to the medium P is removed, and a processing liquid layer is formed on the surface of the medium P to which the processing liquid is applied.

[Drawing part]
The drawing unit 18 mainly presses the drawing cylinder 52 that functions as an impression cylinder that rotates and conveys the medium P, and the medium P that is conveyed by the drawing cylinder 52, so that the medium P adheres to the outer peripheral surface of the drawing cylinder 52. A pressing roller 54; inkjet heads 56C, 56M, 56Y and 56K that discharge ink droplets of C, M, Y, and K colors onto the medium P; and an inline sensor 58 that reads an image drawn on the medium P. A color image is drawn on the medium P by ejecting ink droplets of each color of C, M, Y, and K toward the medium P including the processing liquid layer.

  The ink jet heads 56C, 56M, 56Y and 56K applied to the present embodiment are piezoelectric systems that eject ink by utilizing the flexural deformation of piezoelectric elements, and ink is ejected by generating a film boiling phenomenon by heating the ink. Various methods such as a thermal method to be applied can be applied.

  Further, as the ink jet heads 56C, 56M, 56Y and 56K applied to the present embodiment, the full line type head shown in FIG.

  The medium P transferred from the processing liquid drying processing cylinder 46 of the processing liquid drying processing unit 16 to the drawing cylinder 52 is gripped by the gripper 52 </ b> A provided in the drawing cylinder 52. The gripper 52 </ b> A can apply the same configuration as the gripper 42 </ b> A provided in the processing liquid cylinder 42, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

  The medium P is brought into close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the drawing cylinder 52 by passing under the sheet pressing roller 54.

  The medium P sucked and held on the outer peripheral surface of the drawing cylinder 52 passes from the ink jet heads 56C, 56M, 56Y and 56K when passing through the ink discharge area immediately below the ink jet heads 56C, 56M, 56Y and 56K. C, M, Y, and K ink droplets are ejected to record a color image.

  The ink adhering to the medium P reacts with the treatment liquid layer formed on the medium P and is fixed to the medium P without causing feathering or bleeding. In this way, a high-quality image is drawn on the medium P.

  When the medium P drawn by the ink jet heads 56C, 56M, 56Y and 56K passes through the reading area of the inline sensor 58, the drawn image is read. The image read by the inline sensor 58 includes a test image.

  The inline sensor 58 includes an imaging device such as a CCD image sensor, and an imaging device that generates electrical image data of an image to be read is applied. CCD is an abbreviation for Charge Coupled Device.

  Image reading by the in-line sensor 58 is performed as necessary, and recording element abnormality detection of the inkjet heads 56C, 56M, 56Y, and 56K is performed based on the image reading data.

  The medium P that has passed through the reading area of the in-line sensor 58 is released from the drawing cylinder 52 and transferred to the drying processing apparatus 20.

[Dry processing equipment]
The drying processing apparatus 20 includes a drying processing unit 73 that performs a drying process on the medium P conveyed by the medium conveying unit 64, performs a drying process on the medium P after drawing, and remains on the medium P. Remove liquid components.

  Here, the description of the drying processing apparatus 20 is omitted. In the inkjet recording apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 20, the medium supply unit 69 shown in FIG.

[Output section]
The paper discharge unit 24 that collects the medium P on which a series of image recording has been performed includes a paper discharge tray 76 that stacks and collects the medium P. The paper discharge unit 24 shown in FIG. 20 adopts the paper discharge configuration of the drying processing apparatus 20 shown in FIG. Detailed description is omitted here.

[Description of control system]
FIG. 21 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a control system of the inkjet recording apparatus 10 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 21, the inkjet recording apparatus 10 includes a system controller 100, a communication unit 102, an image memory 104, a conveyance control unit 110, a paper feed control unit 112, a processing liquid application control unit 114, a processing liquid drying control unit 116, A drawing control unit 118, an operation unit 130, a display unit 132, and the like are provided.

  The system controller 100 functions as an overall control unit that performs overall control of each unit of the inkjet recording apparatus 10 and also functions as a calculation unit that performs various calculation processes. The system controller 100 includes a CPU 100A, a ROM 100B, and a RAM 100C. CPU is an abbreviation for Central Processing Unit, and ROM is an abbreviation for Read Only Memory. RAM is an abbreviation for Random Access Memory.

  The system controller 100 also functions as a memory controller that controls the writing of data to the memories such as the ROM 100B, the RAM 100C, and the image memory 104, and the reading of data from these memories.

  21 illustrates an example in which the memory such as the ROM 100B and the RAM 100C is built in the system controller 100, but the memory such as the ROM 100B and the RAM 100C may be provided outside the system controller 100.

  The system controller 100 shown in FIG. 21 may have the function of the system controller 300 shown in FIG. That is, the system controller 100 illustrated in FIG. 21 may control the respective units of the drying processing apparatus 20 illustrated in FIG. 21 in an integrated manner instead of the system controller 300 illustrated in FIG.

  Further, the ROM 100B and the RAM 100C illustrated in FIG. 21 may also be used as the ROM 300B and the RAM 300C illustrated in FIG.

  The communication unit 102 includes a communication interface, and transmits and receives data to and from the host computer 103 connected to the communication interface.

  The image memory 104 functions as a temporary storage unit for various data including image data, and data is read and written through the system controller 100. Image data captured from the host computer 103 via the communication unit 102 is temporarily stored in the image memory 104.

  The transport control unit 110 controls the operation of the transport system 11 for the medium P in the inkjet recording apparatus 10. The transport system 11 includes the processing liquid cylinder 42, the processing liquid drying processing cylinder 46, and the drawing cylinder 52 illustrated in FIG.

  The conveyance control unit 110 illustrated in FIG. 21 may have the function of the conveyance control unit 310 illustrated in FIG. 21 is a transport control unit provided in the drying processing apparatus 20 shown in FIG. 21, and the transport control unit 110 in FIG. 21 replaces the transport control unit 310 shown in FIG. 3 by the medium transport unit 64 shown in FIG. It is also possible to control the operation.

  The paper feed control unit 112 illustrated in FIG. 21 operates the paper feed unit 12 in response to a command from the system controller 100 to control the medium P supply start operation, the medium P supply stop operation, and the like.

  The processing liquid application control unit 114 operates the processing liquid application unit 14 in response to a command from the system controller 100 to control the application amount and application timing of the processing liquid.

  The processing liquid drying control unit 116 operates the processing liquid drying processing unit 16 in accordance with a command from the system controller 100 to control the drying temperature, the flow rate of the drying gas, the timing of spraying the drying gas, and the like.

  The drawing control unit 118 controls the operation of the recording head provided in the drawing unit 18 in response to a command from the system controller 100. The illustration of each part constituting the drawing control unit 118 shown below is omitted. In FIG. 21, the illustration of the inkjet heads 56C, 56M, 56Y, and 56K is omitted.

  The drawing control unit 118 includes: an image processing unit that forms dot data from input image data; a waveform generation unit that generates a drive voltage waveform; a waveform storage unit that stores a drive voltage waveform; and a recording head. And a drive circuit that supplies a drive voltage having a drive waveform corresponding to the dot data.

  In the image processing unit, color separation processing for separating input image data into RGB colors, color conversion processing for converting RGB into CMYK, correction processing such as gamma correction and unevenness correction, and gradation values for each color pixel. A halftone process for converting to a gradation value less than the original gradation value is performed.

  As an example of the input image data, raster data represented by digital values from 0 to 255 can be cited. The dot data obtained as a result of the halftone process may be a binary image or a multi-value image of three or more values.

  Based on the dot data generated through the processing by the image processing unit, the ejection timing and ink ejection amount at each pixel position are determined, the ejection timing at each pixel position, the drive voltage corresponding to the ink ejection amount, and the ejection of each pixel. A control signal for determining the timing is generated, this driving voltage is supplied to the recording head, and dots are formed at the recording position by the ink droplets ejected from the recording head.

  The inline sensor 58 reads an image drawn on the medium P and sends it to the abnormal recording element detection unit via the system controller 100. The abnormal recording element detection unit analyzes the presence or absence of the abnormal recording element of the recording head based on the read signal of the inline sensor 58.

  The operation unit 130 illustrated in FIG. 21 includes an operation member such as an operation button, a keyboard, or a touch panel, and sends operation information input from the operation member to the system controller 100. The system controller 100 executes various processes in accordance with the operation information sent from the operation unit 130.

  The operation unit 130 illustrated in FIG. 21 can also be used as the operation member provided in the drying processing condition setting unit 332 illustrated in FIG. 3. That is, in place of the operation member provided in the drying processing condition setting unit 332 illustrated in FIG. 3, information is input to the drying processing apparatus 20 illustrated in FIG. 21 using the operation unit 130 illustrated in FIG. 21. Embodiments are possible.

  The display unit 132 includes a display device such as a liquid crystal panel, and displays various setting information of the device or information such as abnormality information on the display device in response to a command from the system controller 100. The display unit 334 illustrated in FIG. 3 can also be used as the display unit 132 illustrated in FIG.

  The parameter storage unit 134 stores various parameters used in the inkjet recording apparatus 10. Various parameters stored in the parameter storage unit 134 are read out via the system controller 100 and set in each unit of the apparatus.

  The program storage unit 136 stores a program used for each unit of the inkjet recording apparatus 10. Various programs stored in the program storage unit 136 are read out via the system controller 100 and executed in each unit of the apparatus.

[Structure of recording head]
FIG. 22 is a configuration diagram of the inkjet heads 56C, 56M, 56Y, and 56K shown in FIG. 20, and is a perspective plan view of an ejection surface for ejecting ink droplets. The symbol X in FIG. 22 represents the width direction of the medium P. A symbol Y in FIG. 22 represents the medium transport direction of the medium P.

  The same structure is applied to the inkjet heads 56C, 56M, 56Y and 56K corresponding to the respective colors of CMYK. When it is not necessary to distinguish between the inkjet heads 56C, 56M, 56Y and 56K, the alphabets of the inkjet heads 56C, 56M, 56Y and 56K may be omitted and described as the inkjet head 56.

  The inkjet head 56 shown in FIG. 22 has a structure in which a plurality of head modules 200 are connected in the width direction of the medium P perpendicular to the medium transport direction. The plurality of head modules 200 constituting the inkjet head 56 can apply the same structure. Further, the head module 200 can function as a recording head by itself.

The inkjet head 56 illustrated in FIG. 22 has a structure in which a plurality of head modules 200 are arranged in a line along the width direction of the medium P, and has a length corresponding to the total length L _max of the medium P in the width direction of the medium P. This is a full-line type recording head in which a plurality of nozzle portions are arranged. In FIG. 22, the illustration of the nozzle portion is omitted. The nozzle portion is illustrated with reference numeral 281 in FIG.

  A plurality of nozzle openings are arranged on the ejection surface 277 of the head module 200 constituting the inkjet head 56. In FIG. 22, the illustration of the nozzle openings is omitted. The nozzle opening is shown in FIG. Details of the arrangement of the plurality of nozzles and the arrangement of the plurality of nozzle openings will be described later.

  In the present embodiment, the inkjet head 56 having a structure in which a plurality of head modules 200 are arranged in a line along the width direction of the medium P is illustrated, but the plurality of head modules 200 are staggered in the width direction of the medium P. The plurality of head modules 200 may be integrated.

[Example structure of recording head]
FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the head module 200 and includes a partial cross-sectional view. 24 is a perspective plan view of the ejection surface 277 of the head module 200 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 23, the head module 200 has an ink supply unit including an ink supply chamber 232, an ink circulation chamber 236, and the like on the upper side in FIG. 23, which is the opposite side of the ejection surface 277 of the nozzle plate 275. .

  The ink supply chamber 232 is connected to an ink tank (not shown) via a supply pipe 252, and the ink circulation chamber 236 is connected to a collection tank (not shown) via a circulation pipe 256.

  In FIG. 24, the number of nozzle openings 280 is omitted, but a plurality of nozzle openings 280 are arranged on the ejection surface 277 of the nozzle plate 275 of one head module 200 in a two-dimensional arrangement.

  That is, the head module 200 extends along the long-side end surface along the V direction having an angle β with respect to the width direction of the medium P and the W direction with an angle α with respect to the medium transport direction. It has a parallelogram planar shape having an end surface on the short side, and a plurality of nozzle openings 280 are arranged in a matrix in the row direction along the V direction and the column direction along the W direction.

  The arrangement of the nozzle openings 280 is not limited to the mode illustrated in FIG. 24, and a plurality of nozzle openings 280 are arranged along the row direction along the width direction of the medium P and the column direction obliquely intersecting the width direction of the medium P. A nozzle opening 280 may be arranged.

  That is, the matrix arrangement of the nozzle openings 280 means that the plurality of nozzle openings 280 are projected in the width direction of the medium P, and the plurality of nozzle openings 280 are arranged along the width direction of the medium P. In the projection nozzle group, the nozzle openings 280 are arranged so that the distance between the nozzle openings 280 is uniform.

  In the projection nozzle group in the width direction of the medium P, the nozzle openings 280 belonging to one head module 200 and the nozzle openings 280 belonging to the other head module 200 coexist in the connecting portion between adjacent head modules 200.

  When there is no attachment position error in each head module 200, the nozzle opening 280 belonging to one head module 200 and the nozzle opening 280 belonging to the other head module 200 in the connection area are arranged at the same position. Also, the arrangement of the nozzle openings 280 is uniform.

  FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the head module 200. Reference numeral 214 is an ink supply path, reference numeral 218 is a pressure chamber, reference numeral 216 is an individual supply path connecting each pressure chamber 218 and the ink supply path 214, and reference numeral 220 is a nozzle communication path connecting the pressure chamber 218 to the nozzle opening 280, reference numeral 226. Is a circulation individual flow path connecting the nozzle communication path 220 and the circulation common flow path 228. The pressure chamber 218 may be referred to as a liquid chamber.

  A vibration plate 266 is provided on the flow path structure 210 constituting the flow path portions 214, 216, 218, 220, 226 and 228. A piezoelectric element 230 having a laminated structure of a lower electrode 265, a piezoelectric layer 231, and an upper electrode 264 is disposed on the vibration plate 266 via an adhesive layer 267. The lower electrode 265 may be referred to as a common electrode, and the upper electrode 264 may be referred to as an individual electrode.

  The upper electrode 264 is an individual electrode patterned corresponding to the shape of each pressure chamber 218, and a piezoelectric element 230 is provided for each pressure chamber 218.

  The ink supply path 214 is connected to the ink supply chamber 232 described with reference to FIG. 23, and ink is supplied from the ink supply path 214 to the pressure chamber 218 via the individual supply path 216. By applying a driving voltage to the upper electrode 264 of the piezoelectric element 230 provided in the corresponding pressure chamber 218 according to the image data of the image to be recorded, the piezoelectric element 230 and the diaphragm 266 are deformed and the pressure chamber. The volume of 218 changes, and ink is ejected from the nozzle opening 280 through the nozzle communication path 220 due to a pressure change accompanying this.

  By controlling the driving of the piezoelectric element 230 corresponding to each nozzle opening 280 according to the dot arrangement data generated from the image data, ink droplets can be ejected from the nozzle opening 280.

  A desired image can be formed on the medium P by controlling the ink ejection timing from each nozzle opening 280 in accordance with the transport speed while transporting the medium P in the medium transport direction at a constant speed. .

  Although not shown, the pressure chamber 218 provided corresponding to each nozzle opening 280 has a substantially square planar shape, and the outlet to the nozzle opening 280 is provided at one of the diagonal corners. And an individual supply path 216 serving as an inlet for supply ink.

  The shape of the pressure chamber is not limited to a square. The planar shape of the pressure chamber may have various forms such as a square such as a rhombus and a rectangle, a pentagon, a hexagon and other polygons, a circle and an ellipse.

  A circulation outlet (not shown) is formed in the nozzle part 281 including the nozzle opening 280 and the nozzle communication path 220, and the nozzle part 281 communicates with the circulation individual flow path 226 via the circulation outlet.

  Of the ink in the nozzle portion 281, ink that is not used for ejection is collected into the circulation common channel 228 via the circulation individual channel 226.

  The circulation common flow path 228 is connected to the ink circulation chamber 236 described with reference to FIG. 23, and the ink is always collected to the circulation common flow path 228 through the circulation individual flow path 226, so that the nozzle portion at the time of non-ejection Ink thickening is prevented.

  The ink jet head 56 is not limited to the structure shown in FIGS. The nozzle openings 280 and the nozzle portions 281 may be arranged in a single row in the width direction of the medium P, which is the width direction of the medium P, or in a two-row staggered arrangement.

  In FIG. 25, as an example of the piezoelectric element, a piezoelectric element 230 having a structure separated individually corresponding to each nozzle portion 281 is illustrated. Of course, a structure in which the piezoelectric layer 231 is integrally formed with respect to the plurality of nozzle portions 281, individual electrodes are formed corresponding to the respective nozzle portions 281, and an active region is formed for each nozzle portion 281 is applied. Also good.

  A heater is provided in the pressure chamber 218 as a pressure generating element instead of the piezoelectric element, and a driving voltage is supplied to the heater to generate heat, and ink in the pressure chamber 218 is ejected from the nozzle opening 280 using a film boiling phenomenon. A thermal method may be applied.

  The inkjet recording apparatus 10 described with reference to FIGS. 20 to 25 can be changed, added, deleted, and the like. For example, it is possible to omit the configuration relating to the application of the processing liquid and the drying of the processing liquid, and to change the configuration of the conveyance system of the recording medium.

  Further, when the drying processing apparatus 20 described using FIGS. 1 to 19 is applied to the ink jet recording apparatus 10 described using FIGS. 20 to 25, the configuration shown in FIGS. On the other hand, the overlapping configurations in the configurations shown in FIGS. 20 to 25 can be appropriately deleted, changed, or shared. Further, the configuration that is insufficient in the configuration shown in FIGS. 20 to 25 can be added as appropriate to the configuration shown in FIGS.

  The drying processing apparatus, the drying processing method, the drying processing program, and the image forming apparatus described above can be changed, added, or deleted as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Moreover, it is also possible to combine each embodiment mentioned above suitably.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Inkjet recording apparatus, 20 ... Drying processing apparatus, 64 ... Medium conveyance part, 72 ... Conveyance guide, 73 ... Drying processing part, 73A, 73B ... IR heater, 73C ... Upstream air knife, 73D ... Downstream air knife, 100, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 300 ... System controller, 110, 310 ... Conveyance control part, 320 ... IR heater control part, 321 ... Air knife control part, 324 ... Pressure control part, 330 ... Medium information acquisition part, 332 ... Drying process condition setting part, 336 ... Table Memory

Claims (14)

A medium transport unit for transporting a medium to be dried;
A medium information acquisition unit for acquiring information on the thickness of the medium to be dried;
A heat irradiation drying processing unit for performing a drying process by heat irradiation on a medium to be dried; and
An air-drying processing unit that performs a drying process by blowing air on a medium to be dried, an upstream-side air-drying processing unit disposed on the upstream side in the medium transport direction, and a downstream disposed on the downstream side in the medium transport direction A blast drying processing unit provided with a side blast drying processing unit;
A drying process condition setting unit for setting a drying process condition according to the thickness of the acquired medium;
A thermal drying process control unit for controlling a drying process by the thermal irradiation drying process unit based on the set drying process condition;
A blow drying process control unit for controlling a drying process by the blow drying process unit based on the set drying process condition;
With
The drying processing condition setting unit relatively reduces heat irradiation by the heat irradiation drying processing unit relative to a relatively thin medium as a drying processing condition applied to the heat irradiation drying processing unit. A drying process that sets a drying process condition for relatively increasing heat irradiation by the heat irradiation drying processing unit with respect to a thick medium, and is applied to at least the upstream-side air drying processing unit among the air blowing drying processing units. As a condition, the air temperature of the upstream air blowing / drying processing unit, which is the temperature of the air blown from the upstream air blowing / drying processing unit, the surface temperature of the medium during the drying process by the heat irradiation drying processing unit, or the heat It is a drying process condition set in a temperature range corresponding to the surface temperature of the medium after the drying process by the irradiation drying process unit, and is a unit time discharged from the upstream side air drying process unit to a relatively thin medium A drying process that sets a drying process condition that increases the blowing amount of the upstream blowing drying processing unit, which is the volume of the surrounding blowing, and decreases the blowing amount of the upstream blowing drying processing unit with respect to a relatively thick medium apparatus.   The drying processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drying processing condition setting unit sets a drying processing condition applied to the upstream air blowing drying processing unit as a drying processing condition applied to the downstream air blowing drying processing unit. .   The said drying process condition setting part sets the ratio of the ventilation volume of the said upstream ventilation drying process part and the ventilation volume of the said downstream ventilation drying process part as a drying process condition applied to the said ventilation drying process part. Item 2. The drying treatment apparatus according to Item 1.   The said drying process condition setting part sets the ventilation volume which multiplied the number of less than 1 to the ventilation volume of the said upstream ventilation drying process part as a drying process condition applied to the said downstream ventilation drying process part. The drying treatment apparatus according to 1.   A drying processing condition setting control table that is referred to by the drying processing condition setting unit, and includes a drying processing condition setting control table storage unit that stores a drying processing condition setting control table that defines a drying processing condition with respect to the thickness of the medium. The drying processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4. It is formed on the deformation suppression priority mode that prioritizes the deformation suppression of the drying target medium, the scratch prevention priority mode that prevents scratches on the opposite side of the drying target surface of the drying target medium, and the drying target medium. A mode setting unit that sets at least one of the film strength priority modes that prioritize the improvement of film strength
The drying processing condition setting unit determines at least one of a drying processing condition applied to the thermal irradiation drying processing unit and a drying processing condition applied to the blower drying processing unit according to the set mode. The drying processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5 to be changed. In the processing region of the heat irradiation drying processing unit, and the processing region of the blower drying processing unit, a support unit that supports the opposite surface of the drying processing target surface of the medium to be dried,
A pressure applying unit that applies pressure to the supported medium;
A pressure application condition setting unit for setting a pressure application condition of the pressure application unit according to the thickness of the acquired medium;
A pressure application control unit that controls the application of pressure by the pressure application unit based on the set pressure application condition; and
With
The pressure application condition setting unit sets a pressure application condition for applying a pressure for bringing the medium to be processed into contact with the support unit when the thickness of the medium to be processed is less than a predetermined thickness. 6. The drying process according to claim 1, wherein when the thickness of the medium is equal to or greater than a predetermined thickness, a pressure application condition for applying a pressure for separating the medium to be processed from the support portion is set. apparatus. The pressure applying unit is configured to generate a pressure to be applied to a medium to be processed on a surface of the support unit that supports an opposite side of the surface to be dried;
A flow path communicating with the hole, and a flow path formed inside the support portion;
A pressure generator connected to the flow path;
With
The drying processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the pressure application control unit switches suction or discharge from the hole.   The pressure application condition control table that is a pressure application condition control table that is referred to by the pressure application condition setting unit and that stores a pressure application condition control table that defines a pressure application condition with respect to the thickness of the medium. Or the drying processing apparatus of 8. It is formed on the deformation suppression priority mode that prioritizes the deformation suppression of the drying target medium, the scratch prevention priority mode that prevents scratches on the surface opposite to the drying target surface of the drying target medium, and the drying target medium. A mode setting unit for setting a film strength priority mode that prioritizes the improvement of film strength.
The drying processing apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the pressure application condition setting unit changes a pressure application condition applied to the pressure application unit according to the set mode.   The temperature information acquisition part which acquires the information of the surface temperature of the medium in the drying process by the said heat irradiation drying process part, or the temperature of the medium after the drying process by the said heat irradiation drying process part is provided. The drying treatment apparatus according to claim 1. A medium information acquisition step for acquiring information on the thickness of the medium to be dried;
A heat irradiation drying treatment step of transporting a medium to be dried and subjecting the medium to be dried to a drying treatment by heat irradiation;
This is a blow drying process that transports a medium to be dried and performs a drying process by blowing on the medium to be dried, and performs a drying process by blowing on the medium to be dried on the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the medium. An upstream blast drying process including an upstream blast drying process, and a downstream blast drying process that performs a drying process by blowing on a medium to be dried on the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the medium;
A drying process condition setting step for setting a drying process condition according to the thickness of the acquired medium;
Including
The drying treatment condition setting step relatively reduces heat irradiation in the heat irradiation drying treatment step relative to a relatively thin medium as a drying treatment condition applied to the heat irradiation drying treatment step. A drying process that sets a drying process condition for relatively increasing heat irradiation in the heat irradiation drying process for a thick medium, and that is applied to at least the upstream-side air drying process in the air drying process. As conditions, the air temperature of the upstream air blowing process, which is the temperature of the air discharged in the upstream air drying process, the temperature of the medium during the drying process in the heat irradiation drying process, or the heat irradiation It is a drying process condition set in a temperature range corresponding to the surface temperature of the medium after the drying process in the drying process, and the upstream side air drying is performed on a relatively thin medium. Increase the blast volume in the upstream blast drying process, which is the volume of blast per unit time released in the process, and decrease the blast volume in the upstream blast drying process for a relatively thick medium. A drying processing method for setting drying processing conditions. Computer
Medium conveying means for conveying a medium to be dried;
Medium information acquisition means for acquiring information on the thickness of the medium to be dried;
A heat irradiation drying processing means for performing a drying process by heat irradiation on the medium to be dried;
A blow drying process means for performing a drying process by blowing air on a medium to be dried, an upstream blow drying process means disposed on the upstream side in the medium transport direction, and a downstream disposed on the downstream side in the medium transport direction A blow drying treatment means provided with a side blow drying treatment means;
A drying process condition setting means for setting a drying process condition according to the thickness of the acquired medium;
Thermal drying processing control means for controlling drying processing by the thermal irradiation drying processing means based on the set drying processing conditions;
A drying process program that functions as a blow drying process control unit that controls a drying process by the blow drying process unit based on the set drying process condition;
As a drying processing condition applied to the heat irradiation drying processing means, the computer is configured to reduce heat irradiation by the heat irradiation drying processing means relative to a relatively thin medium, and to a relatively thick medium. A drying process condition for relatively increasing heat irradiation by the heat irradiation drying process unit is set, and a drying process condition that is applied to at least the upstream air blowing process unit among the blowing process units is the upstream. The blowing temperature of the upstream blowing drying processing means, which is the temperature of the blowing discharged from the side blowing drying processing means, is the surface temperature of the medium being dried by the thermal irradiation drying processing means, or by the thermal irradiation drying processing means. It is a drying process condition set in a temperature range corresponding to the surface temperature of the medium after the drying process, and is released from the upstream-side air-drying processing unit with respect to a relatively thin medium. The drying process condition is set to increase the blowing volume of the upstream blowing drying processing means, which is the volume of blowing air per unit time, and to reduce the blowing volume of the upstream blowing drying processing means for a relatively thick medium. A drying processing program that functions as the drying processing condition setting means. A drawing unit for forming an image on a medium;
A drying processing apparatus for performing a drying process on the formed image;
With
The drying processing apparatus includes a medium transport unit that transports a medium to be dried,
A medium information acquisition unit for acquiring information on the thickness of the medium to be dried;
A heat irradiation drying processing unit for performing a drying process by heat irradiation on a medium to be dried; and
An air-drying processing unit that performs a drying process by blowing air on a medium to be dried, an upstream-side air-drying processing unit disposed on the upstream side in the medium transport direction, and a downstream disposed on the downstream side in the medium transport direction A blast drying processing unit provided with a side blast drying processing unit;
A drying process condition setting unit for setting a drying process condition according to the thickness of the acquired medium;
A thermal drying process control unit for controlling a drying process by the thermal irradiation drying process unit based on the set drying process condition;
A blow drying process control unit for controlling a drying process by the blow drying process unit based on the set drying process condition;
With
The drying processing condition setting unit relatively reduces heat irradiation by the heat irradiation drying processing unit relative to a relatively thin medium as a drying processing condition applied to the heat irradiation drying processing unit. A drying process that sets a drying process condition for relatively increasing heat irradiation by the heat irradiation drying processing unit with respect to a thick medium, and is applied to at least the upstream-side air drying processing unit among the air blowing drying processing units. As a condition, the air temperature of the upstream air blowing / drying processing unit, which is the temperature of the air blown from the upstream air blowing / drying processing unit, the surface temperature of the medium during the drying process by the heat irradiation drying processing unit, or the heat It is a drying process condition set in a temperature range corresponding to the surface temperature of the medium after the drying process by the irradiation drying process unit, and is a unit time discharged from the upstream side air drying process unit to a relatively thin medium Image formation for setting a drying processing condition for increasing the air blowing amount of the upstream air blowing / drying processing unit, which is the volume of air per unit air, and reducing the air blowing amount of the upstream air blowing / drying processing unit with respect to a relatively thick medium apparatus.

Images