WO2019131843A1

WO2019131843A1 - Printing device

Info

Publication number: WO2019131843A1
Application number: PCT/JP2018/048059
Authority: WO
Inventors: 浩二渋田; 亮太植村; 敬祐平井
Original assignee: 株式会社Ｓｃｒｅｅｎホールディングス
Priority date: 2017-12-28
Filing date: 2018-12-27
Publication date: 2019-07-04

Abstract

In a printing unit 2, a printing pathway Pa includes an upward inclining region Ru in which a print medium M rises obliquely, and a downward inclining region Rd which is downstream of the upward inclining region Ru in a transporting direction Dm, and in which the print medium M falls obliquely. By this means, a height difference between ejection heads 27 can be suppressed, and the height of the printing unit 2 can also be suppressed. In a drying unit 4, by upwardly folding back the print medium M using air turn bars 42, 43, the print medium M is transported along a rising drying pathway Pb1, and ink adhered to the print medium M is dried by means of a pre-stage heater H4. Thus, since the rising drying pathway Pb1 is provided in such a way as to effectively utilize the height of the drying unit 4, the drying pathway can be maintained while suppressing the height of the drying unit 4.

Description

Printing device

The present invention relates to a technique for drying ink deposited on a print medium.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, printing technology is known in which an ink is attached to a print medium to print an image on the print medium. In such printing techniques, it is necessary to dry the ink deposited on the print medium in order to fix the image on the print medium. Therefore, in the printing apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the ink is dried by a hot-air drier.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-286161

In recent years, a discharge head that discharges ink by an inkjet method is widely used. Therefore, the printing unit that discharges the ink from the discharge head to the printing medium and the drying unit that dries the ink that has landed on the printing medium are aligned, and while the printing medium is transported from the printing unit to the drying unit The printing device can be configured to execute sequentially.

By the way, in the printing unit and the drying unit, conditions required to transport the printing medium are different. That is, while the printing unit is required to transport the printing medium while stabilizing the position with respect to the ejection head, the drying unit transports the printing medium along a transport path having a length sufficient for drying the ink. Is required. However, it has been difficult to miniaturize the printing apparatus, in particular, to suppress the height thereof while achieving both of these.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and can suppress the height of a printing apparatus including a printing unit that discharges ink from a discharge head to a printing medium, and a drying unit that dries ink adhering to the printing medium The purpose is to

The printing apparatus according to the present invention comprises a plurality of front-stage backup rollers for winding from below the print medium transported in the transport direction, and a plurality of front-stage ejections arranged in the transport direction above the print medium supported by the plurality of front-stage backup rollers. A pre-stage printing unit having a head and a pre-stage delivery roller that winds the print medium from below from downstream in the transport direction of the plurality of pre-stage backup rollers, and discharging ink onto the print medium from the plurality of pre-stage ejection heads A plurality of front-side backup rollers for drying the ink adhering to the print medium carried out from the plurality of front-stage drying rollers; Supporting the print medium along a pre-pressing path including a downward sloping region where the plurality of pre-ejection heads And a pre-stage discharge head disposed to face the print medium passing through the descending inclination area, wherein the pre-stage discharge roller The print medium is carried out to the front drying unit along the upstream carry-out path which is disposed downstream in the transport direction and the print medium descends obliquely, and the front drying unit uses the upper reversing member for the print medium carried out from the front printing unit. By turning upward, the print medium is transported along the rising drying path along which the printing medium rises, and the ink adhering to the print medium passing through the rising drying path is dried.

In the present invention (printing apparatus) configured as described above, the plurality of front-stage ejection heads are arranged in the print medium conveyance direction above the print medium supported by the plurality of front-stage backup rollers in the front-stage printing path. In this way, it is possible to transport the print medium while stabilizing the position with respect to the front stage ejection head. At this time, since the plurality of front-stage backup rollers wind the print medium, the front-stage printing path is bent at the winding portion of each front-stage backup roller and is curved as a whole. Therefore, the heights of the plurality of front-end discharge heads arranged with respect to the front-end print path can not be equalized, and some front-end discharge heads must be higher than the other front-end discharge heads. At this time, when the difference between the heights of the front-stage ejection heads is large, it is difficult to reduce the height of the front-stage printing unit. On the other hand, in the present invention, the pre-stage printing path includes a rising inclination area in which the printing medium rises obliquely and a falling inclination area in which the printing medium descends obliquely downstream in the transport direction from the rising inclination area. As a result, it is possible to suppress the difference in height between the front-stage ejection heads, and as a result, to suppress the height of the front-stage printing unit.

The pre-stage printing unit has a pre-stage delivery roller for delivering the print medium having passed through the pre-stage printing path to the pre-stage drying unit. In order to stably carry out the print medium discharge by the front stage carry-out roller, it is necessary to wind the print medium on the front stage carry-out roller. Therefore, the pre-stage delivery roller winds up the print medium which has been moved down the descending inclination region of the pre-stage printing path, and discharges the print medium along the pre-stage delivery path which further descends obliquely. Therefore, in the pre-stage drying unit, it is difficult to secure a sufficient drying path for drying such a print medium further downward. On the other hand, in the present invention, the printing medium is conveyed along the rising and drying path in which the printing medium rises by folding back the printing medium carried out from the front stage printing unit by the upper reversing member, and the rising and drying path is The ink adhering to the passing print medium is dried. Thus, the rising drying path is provided by effectively using the height of the pre-drying unit. Therefore, it is possible to secure a long drying path (rising and drying path) while suppressing the height of the pre-stage drying unit.

As described above, in the present invention, the heights of the printing unit and the drying unit can be suppressed while satisfying the requirements of the printing unit and the drying unit. As a result, it is possible to suppress the height of the printing apparatus provided with the printing unit and the drying unit.

Further, the pre-stage drying unit conveys the print medium along the descending drying path in which the print medium descends by conveying the print medium along the rising drying path and then folding the print medium downward by the lower reversing member. The printing device may be configured to dry the ink deposited on the print media passing through the down-drying path. As a result, it is possible to further utilize the height of the pre-drying unit to further provide a descending drying path. Therefore, it is possible to secure a long drying path (up-and-down drying path and down-drying path) while suppressing the height of the pre-stage drying unit.

The configuration of the pre-stage printing path and the arrangement of the pre-stage ejection head can be changed as appropriate. Therefore, the pre-stage printing path includes an inclination switching area in which the print medium moves horizontally between the rising inclination area and the descending inclination area, and the plurality of pre-ejection heads face the printing medium passing through the inclination switching area. The printing apparatus may be configured to include the pre-stage ejection head disposed in the above.

Further, the printing apparatus may be configured such that the pre-stage delivery roller is a suction roller for sucking a print medium. In this configuration, the print medium can be supported by suction of the suction roller between the plurality of front-stage discharge heads and the front-stage drying unit, and the conveyance of the print medium in the front-side drying unit affects printing in the front-stage printing unit You can control the

Further, the printing apparatus may be configured such that the plurality of pre-stage ejection heads include four pre-stage ejection heads that eject inks of different process colors. In such a configuration, it is possible to suppress the height of the front-stage printing unit that prints the process color.

The pre-drying unit further includes an upstream roller that winds the print medium upstream in the conveyance direction of the upper reversing member, and the printing apparatus is configured to dry the print medium that falls between the upstream roller and the upper reversing member. You may configure. In such a configuration, it is possible to effectively utilize the path before being folded back by the upper reversing member as a drying path, and it is possible to secure a long drying path.

In addition, the upper reversing member may configure the printing apparatus so that the printing medium is folded back by the air turn bar. In such a configuration, the print medium can be folded back while suppressing the influence on the image printed on the print medium.

Further, the pre-stage drying unit may have a pre-stage heater for heating the print medium, and the printing apparatus may be configured to dry the ink attached to the print medium by the pre-stage heater. In such a configuration, the ink attached to the print medium can be dried by the front stage heater.

In addition, a plurality of rear stage backup rollers supporting the print medium from below along the rear stage print path along which the print medium rises obliquely, and a rear stage ejection head disposed above the print medium supported by the plurality of rear stage backup rollers A post-stage printing unit having a post-stage unloading roller that winds the print medium from below from downstream in the transport direction of the post-stage printing path, and discharging ink from the post-stage ejection head onto the print medium unloaded from the front stage drying section; And a post-stage drying unit for drying the ink attached to the print medium carried out of the print unit, and the post-stage carry-out roller moves the print medium horizontally by winding the print medium raised obliquely from the post-stage print path. Print medium is carried out to the rear-stage drying unit along the rear-stage carry-out route, and the rear-stage drying unit waters the print medium in one direction at the same height as the rear stage discharge route. Have upper drying path to move, so as to dry the ink deposited on the print medium that passes through the upper drying path may be configured to print device.

In such a configuration, the post-stage ejection head is disposed above the print medium supported by the plurality of post-stage backup rollers in the post-stage printing path. Thus, it is possible to transport the printing medium while stabilizing the position with respect to the post-stage ejection head. Further, the post-stage printing unit has a post-stage delivery roller that winds the print medium from below from downstream in the transport direction from the post-stage ejection head. The second stage delivery roller takes the print medium, which has been raised obliquely from the second stage printing path, and delivers the print medium to the second stage drying unit along the second stage delivery path along which the printing medium moves horizontally. In such a configuration, the post-stage ejection head is disposed with respect to the post-stage printing path in which the post-stage unloading roller is held lower than the post-stage unloading path for unloading the print medium. Therefore, the height of the post-stage ejection head can be suppressed, and as a result, the height of the post-stage printing unit can be suppressed.

The rear drying unit has an upper drying path in which the print medium moves horizontally in one direction at the same height as the rear unloading path, and dries the ink attached to the print medium passing through the upper drying path. As described above, since the upper drying path is provided horizontally, securing the upper drying path for a long time does not affect the height of the rear drying section. Therefore, it is possible to secure a long drying path (upper stage drying path) while suppressing the height of the post-stage drying unit.

That is, these heights can be suppressed while satisfying the requirements for the printing unit and the drying unit. As a result, it is possible to suppress the height of the printing apparatus provided with the printing unit and the drying unit.

Also, the latter-stage drying unit has a middle-stage drying path in which the printing medium folded back from the upper-stage drying path in the other direction opposite to one direction horizontally moves in the other direction at a lower height than the upper-stage drying path. The printing apparatus may be configured to dry the ink deposited on the print medium, which in turn passes through the middle drying path. In such a configuration, it is possible to secure a long drying path (upper stage drying path and middle stage drying path) while suppressing the width in the horizontal direction of the rear stage drying unit.

The post-drying unit has a lower drying path in which the printing medium folded back in one direction from the middle drying path horizontally moves in one direction at a height lower than that of the middle drying path. The printing apparatus may be configured to dry the ink attached to the printing medium which sequentially passes through the lower drying path. In such a configuration, it is possible to secure a long drying path (upper drying path, middle drying path, and lower drying path) while suppressing the width of the rear drying unit in the horizontal direction.

The post-drying unit further includes a first unit disposed downstream of the post-printing unit in the transport direction, and a second unit removably connected to the first unit, and the height of the upper drying path And the lower support member disposed according to the height of the lower drying path, the first unit and the first support member arranged according to the height of the intermediate drying path, and the lower support member disposed according to the height of the lower drying path In a state in which the printing medium is folded back from the middle drying path to the lower drying path by the middle supporting member and the lower supporting member of the first unit provided in each of the two units, the first unit is connected to the second unit. The upper stage support members of each of the one unit and the second unit form the upper stage drying path, and the middle stage support members of the first unit and the second unit form the middle stage drying path, and the first unit The lower support member of each of the second units forms the lower drying path, and the print medium is folded from the upper drying path to the intermediate drying path by the upper support members and the intermediate support members of the second unit, and the first unit to the second When the unit is removed, the upper stage support member of the first unit forms the upper stage drying path, the middle stage support member of the first unit forms the middle stage drying path, and the lower stage support member of the first unit runs the lower stage drying path The printing apparatus may be configured such that the printing medium is folded from the upper drying path to the middle drying path by the upper stage supporting member and the middle stage supporting member of the first unit. In such a configuration, the length of the drying path can be easily changed by attaching and detaching the second unit to and from the first unit.

Further, the middle stage support member and the lower stage support member of the first unit are configured such that the printing medium is folded back from the middle stage drying path to the lower stage drying path by winding the surface to which the ink of the printing medium is attached to the air turn bar. May be configured. In such a configuration, the print medium can be folded back by the interrupted support member and the lower stage support member of the first unit while suppressing the influence on the image printed on the print medium.

The post-drying unit further includes a third unit detachably connected to the first unit and the second unit between the first unit and the second unit, and the upper stage support member, the middle stage support member, and the lower stage support In the state where the member is provided in the third unit and the third unit is connected to the first unit and the second unit, the upper support member of each of the first unit, the third unit and the second unit forms the upper drying path The middle stage support members of each of the first unit, the third unit and the second unit form a middle stage dry path, and the lower stage support members of each of the first unit, the third unit and the second unit form a lower stage dry path The printing apparatus may be configured. In this configuration, the length of the drying path can be easily changed by changing the number of third units arranged in the first unit and the second unit.

Also, the printing apparatus may be configured such that the post-stage delivery roller is a suction roller that sucks a print medium. In such a configuration, the print medium can be supported by suction of the suction roller between the post-stage ejection head and the post-stage drying unit, and conveyance of the print medium in the post-stage drying unit affects printing in the post-stage printing unit. It can be suppressed.

The printing apparatus further includes a post-stage printing unit that discharges ink from the post-stage ejection head to the print medium carried out from the front-stage drying unit, and a post-stage drying unit that dries the ink attached to the print medium carried out from the post-stage printing unit The drying unit has a nozzle for jetting a gas, and the gas is jetted from the nozzle to the print medium to adhere to the print medium while supporting the print medium with a gap formed between the print medium and the nozzle. The printing apparatus may be configured to dry the stored ink. In such a configuration, the post-stage drying unit uses the gas injected for levitation conveyance to dry the print medium. Therefore, the configuration can be simplified as compared with the case where both the floating conveyance and drying functions are realized by individual configurations.

Further, the post-drying unit supports the print medium carried out of the post-printing unit along the upper drying path, thereby drying the ink attached to the print medium passing through the upper drying path in one horizontal direction. The printing apparatus may be configured to As described above, since the print medium passes in one direction in the horizontal direction along the upper drying path, even if the upper drying path is secured long, the height of the rear drying unit is not affected. Therefore, it is possible to secure a long drying path (upper stage drying path) while suppressing the height of the post-stage drying unit.

Further, the post-stage drying unit supports middle-stage drying by supporting the printing medium folded back in the horizontal direction opposite to one direction from the upper-stage drying path along the middle-stage drying path lower than the upper-stage drying path. The printing apparatus may be configured to dry the ink attached to the print medium passing through the path in the other direction. In such a configuration, it is possible to secure a long drying path (upper stage drying path and middle stage drying path) while suppressing the width in the horizontal direction of the rear stage drying unit.

Further, the post-stage drying unit passes the lower drying path in one direction by supporting the printing medium folded back in one direction from the middle drying path along the lower drying path having a height lower than that of the middle drying path. The printing apparatus may be configured to dry the ink attached to the printing medium. In such a configuration, it is possible to secure a long drying path (upper drying path, middle drying path, and lower drying path) while suppressing the width of the rear drying unit in the horizontal direction.

Further, the post-stage drying unit has a housing that accommodates the nozzle, is attached to the housing outside the housing in one direction, and reverses the printing medium in the other direction from the upper drying path to the middle drying path. The printing apparatus may be configured to further include a one-way reversing member attached to the housing outside the other direction of the housing and folding the print medium in one direction from the middle drying path toward the lower drying path. In such a configuration, the other direction reversing member and the one direction reversing member are disposed outside the housing. Therefore, the worker can easily perform maintenance work of these reversing members from the outside of the housing.

In addition, the one-way reversing member may configure the printing apparatus so that the printing medium is folded back by the air turn bar. In such a configuration, the print medium can be folded back while suppressing the influence on the image printed on the print medium.

In addition, the housing has a first unit housing disposed on the downstream side in the transport direction of the post-stage printing unit, and a second unit housing detachably connected to the first unit housing, and the first unit housing is The second unit housing accommodates the nozzles arranged according to the heights of the upper drying path, the middle drying path and the lower drying path, and the second unit housing corresponds to the heights of the upper drying path, the middle drying path and the lower drying path. In a state where the arranged nozzle is accommodated and the second unit housing is connected to the first unit housing, the other direction reversing member is attached to the second unit housing outside the one side of the second unit housing, and the upper stage drying path Print media from the first unit housing to the second unit housing from the first unit housing to the second drying route With the printer removed, the other direction reversing member is attached to the first unit housing outside the first unit housing in one direction, and printing is performed so that the print medium is folded in the other direction from the upper drying path to the middle drying path. The device may be configured. In such a configuration, the length of the drying path can be easily changed by attaching and detaching the second unit housing to and from the first unit housing.

Further, the post-stage drying unit may configure the printing apparatus so as to dry the ink attached to the print medium by ejecting the heated gas from the nozzle onto the print medium. In such a configuration, the ink can be efficiently dried by the heated gas.

The post-drying unit may further include a heater for heating the print medium, and the printing apparatus may be configured to dry the ink attached to the print medium by the heater. In such a configuration, drying of the ink can be promoted by separately using a heater.

In addition, the post-stage ejection head may configure the printing apparatus so as to eject white ink. In such a configuration, it is possible to suppress the height of the front-stage printing unit that performs white printing.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to suppress the height of a printing apparatus including a printing unit that discharges ink from the discharge head to the printing medium and a drying unit that dries the ink attached to the printing medium It is possible.

FIG. 1 is a front view schematically showing an example of a printing apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front view schematically showing a former printing unit and a former drying unit included in the printing apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a front view schematically showing a front drying unit and a rear printing unit included in the printing apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a front view schematically showing a post-stage printing unit and a post-stage drying unit provided in the printing apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a front view schematically showing a post-stage drying unit included in the printing apparatus of FIG. 1. The front view which shows typically the back | latter stage drying part comprised by the 1st unit independently. The front view which shows the modification of a back | latter stage drying part typically. The front view which shows typically another modification of a back | latter stage drying part. The front view which partially expands and shows the back | latter stage drying part of FIG. 8 typically. The front view which shows typically the back | latter stage drying part which concerns on another modification comprised by the 1st unit independently.

FIG. 1 is a front view schematically showing an example of a printing apparatus according to the present invention. In the drawings shown in FIG. 1 and the following, the horizontal direction X and the vertical direction Z are appropriately shown. As shown in FIG. 1, the printing apparatus 1 has a front-stage printing unit 2, a front-stage drying unit 4, a rear-stage printing unit 6, and a rear-stage drying unit 8 having the same height in the horizontal direction X (arrangement direction) in this order. Have an arrayed configuration. The printing apparatus 1 transports the print medium M from the delivery roll 11 to the take-up roll 12 by roll-to-roll while drying the print medium M printed by the front-stage printing unit 2 by the front-stage drying unit 4 The print medium M printed by the printing unit 6 is dried by the post-drying unit 8. Note that various materials such as paper or film can be used as the print medium M. Also, in the following, of both sides of the printing medium M, the side on which the image is printed is referred to as the front side, and the side opposite to the front side is referred to as the back side.

FIG. 2 is a front view schematically showing a pre-stage printing unit and a pre-stage drying unit provided in the printing apparatus of FIG. In the pre-stage printing unit 2, the transport direction Dm of the print medium M is from right to left in the figure. The pre-stage printing unit 2 includes a carry-in roller 21 for carrying in the print medium M fed from the delivery roll 11 and a carry-out roller 23 for carrying the print medium M toward the pre-stage drying unit 4. The carry-in roller 21 and the carry-out roller 23 drive the print medium M in the transport direction Dm by winding the back surface of the print medium M from below. Furthermore, the pre-stage printing unit 2 has a plurality of backup rollers 25 disposed between the carry-in roller 21 and the carry-out roller 23 in the transport direction Dm. Each of the backup rollers 25 supports the print medium M by winding the back surface of the print medium M conveyed in the conveyance direction Dm from below.

An upstream printing path Pa is formed between the most upstream backup roller 25 and the most downstream backup roller 25 among the plurality of backup rollers 25 in the transport direction Dm. The most upstream and most downstream backup rollers 25 support the print medium M at both ends of the front-stage printing path Pa, and support the printing medium M at a higher position as the backup roller 25 inside the front-stage printing path Pa. As a result, the pre-stage printing path Pa has a rising slope area Ru at the upstream end of the transport direction Dm, in which the print medium M rises obliquely as it proceeds in the transport direction Dm, and printing proceeds as it proceeds in the transport direction Dm. A downward slope region Rd in which the medium M descends obliquely is provided at the downstream end in the transport direction Dm (in other words, downstream of the upward slope region Ru in the transport direction Dm). That is, the print medium M transported along the pre-stage printing path Pa obliquely rises along the rising slope area Ru, and then descends diagonally along the falling slope area Rd. Furthermore, the pre-stage printing path Pa has an inclination switching area Rh in which the printing medium M moves horizontally between the ascending inclination area Ru and the descending inclination area Rd. Thus, the pre-stage printing path Pa has a curved shape that is convex upward. The heights of the most downstream and most upstream backup rollers 25 may be the same or different. In addition, the inclination switching area Rh for switching the inclination of the print medium M from the ascending inclination area Ru to the descending inclination area Rd may not necessarily be horizontal.

Further, the pre-stage printing unit 2 includes a plurality of ejection heads 27 that face the surface of the print medium M conveyed along the pre-stage printing path Pa and are arranged along the conveyance direction Dm. Specifically, the discharge head 27 is disposed on the surface of the print medium M which travels between two adjacent backup rollers 25, and each discharge head 27 thus has two backup rollers 25 on both sides. The ink is ejected onto the surface of the supported print medium M by an inkjet method. In the example shown here, four ejection heads 27 that eject four process color (yellow, magenta, cyan, black) inks and two special color inks (orange, violet, green, etc.) 2 Six ejection heads 27 including the individual ejection heads 27 are provided. Of the six ejection heads 27, the three ejection heads 27 on the upstream side in the transport direction Dm face the rising slope region Ru, and the two ejection heads 27 on the downstream side in the transport direction Dm are in the descending slope region Rd. Opposite, the remaining one ejection head 27 faces the inclination switching area Rh. Therefore, the front stage printing unit 2 can print a color image on the surface of the print medium M by the six ejection heads 27 that eject inks of different colors.

The print medium M on which the image has been printed in the former stage printing path Pa obliquely descends between the backup roller 25 and the unloading roller 23 on the most downstream side of the former stage printing path Pa and reaches the unloading roller 23. The carry-out roller 23 winds the back surface of the print medium M from below at the downstream side in the conveyance direction Dm of the plurality of backup rollers 25. Then, the carry-out roller 23 carries the print medium M out to the pre-stage drying unit 4 along the pre-stage carry-out path Pab where the print medium M descends obliquely as it proceeds in the transport direction Dm. The delivery roller 23 is a suction roller that sucks the back surface of the print medium M. By using such a suction roller, it is possible to grip the print medium M without bringing the print medium M into contact with the print surface (surface) of the print medium M without nipping the print medium M from both sides with the roller. As a result, the slip of the print medium M can be suppressed, and the driving force of the roller can be reliably transmitted to the print medium M. In particular, by using the suction roller as the carry-out roller 23, the transmission of the vibration of the print medium M from the front drying unit 4 to the front printing unit 2 is suppressed, and the position of the print medium M in the front printing path Pa is stabilized. Let As a result, it is possible to suppress the conveyance of the print medium M in the pre-stage drying unit 4 from affecting the printing in the pre-stage printing unit 2.

FIG. 3 is a front view schematically showing a front drying unit and a rear printing unit included in the printing apparatus of FIG. The pre-drying unit 4 dries the print medium M while appropriately turning the transport direction Dm of the print medium M in the vertical direction Z. The pre-drying unit 4 includes a carry-in roller 41 for winding the printing medium M carried out along the pre-loading carry-out path Pab (FIG. 2) from the pre-printing unit 2 from the back. The conveying direction Dm is bent downward in parallel with the vertical direction Z.

Further, the pre-stage drying unit 4 has a pair of air turn bars 42 and 43 that folds back the print medium M, which descends from the carry-in roller 41 in the vertical direction Z, upward in the vertical direction Z. Of the pair of air turn bars 42, 43, the air turn bar 42 on the upstream side in the transport direction Dm bends the print medium M, which descends along the vertical direction Z from the carry-in roller 41, in the horizontal direction X, and the downstream side in the transport direction Dm. The air turn bar 43 bends the print medium M moving along the horizontal direction X from the air turn bar 42 upward in parallel with the vertical direction Z. Therefore, the print medium M which has passed through the air turn bar 43 is transported along the rising drying path Pb1 which rises along the vertical direction Z. The print medium M is wound around the air turn bars 42 and 43, and the air turn bars 42 and 43 jet air, thereby providing a gap between the air turn bars 42 and 43 and the surface of the print medium M and performing printing. The medium M is transported. Thus, the print medium M can be folded back by the air turn bars 42 and 43 while suppressing the influence of the image printed on the surface of the print medium M.

The pre-drying unit 4 further includes a pair of

rollers

44 and 45 that folds back the printing medium M, which rises in the vertical direction Z along the rising and drying path Pb1, in parallel to the vertical direction Z. Of the pair of

rollers

44 and 45, the roller 44 on the upstream side in the transport direction Dm bends the print medium M rising along the rising and drying path Pb1 in the horizontal direction X, and the roller 45 on the downstream side in the transport direction Dm is The print medium M moving along the horizontal direction X from the roller 44 is folded downward in parallel with the vertical direction Z. Therefore, the print medium M which has passed the roller 45 is conveyed along the descending drying path Pb2 which descends along the vertical direction Z (that is, descends vertically). The

rollers

44 and 45 both wind the back surface of the print medium M.

The pre-drying unit 4 also has an air turn bar 46 that bends the print medium M, which descends along the descending drying path Pb2, in the horizontal direction X. Therefore, the print medium M having passed through the air turn bar 46 is carried out from the front drying unit 4 to the rear printing unit 6 along the horizontal direction X. The print medium M is wound around the air turn bar 46, and the air turn bar 46 jets air, thereby conveying the print medium M while providing a gap between the air turn bar 46 and the surface of the print medium M.

Furthermore, the pre-stage drying unit 4 has a pre-stage heater H4 for drying the ink attached to the surface of the print medium M for each of the rising drying path Pb1 and the falling drying path Pb2. The front stage heater H4 facing the rising drying path Pb1 dries the surface of the printing medium M passing the rising drying path Pb1, and the front stage heater H4 facing the falling drying path Pb2 is the printing medium M passing the falling drying path Pb2. Let dry. Further, the front-stage drying unit 4 has a front-stage heater H4 that dries the print medium M that is lowered between the carry-in roller 41 and the air turn bar 42. The pre-stage drying unit 4 dries the ink discharged onto the print medium M by the pre-stage printing unit 2 by the pre-stage heater H4 arranged as described above.

FIG. 4 is a front view schematically showing a post-stage printing unit and a post-stage drying unit provided in the printing apparatus of FIG. The post-stage printing unit 6 includes an air turn bar 61 that bends the printing medium M unloaded in the horizontal direction X from the front-stage drying unit 4 obliquely upward. The print medium M is wound around the air turn bar 61, and the air turn bar 61 jets air, thereby conveying the print medium M while providing a gap between the air turn bar 61 and the surface of the print medium M. Further, the post-stage printing unit 6 has a carry-out roller 63 for carrying the print medium M toward the post-stage drying unit 8, and a conveyance roller 65 disposed between the air turn bar 61 and the carry-out roller 63. The conveyance roller 65 and the discharge roller 63 wind the back surface of the print medium M from below and drive the print medium M in the conveyance direction Dm. Then, as the conveyance roller 65 advances to the discharge roller 63, the print medium M rises obliquely.

Further, the post-stage printing unit 6 has two backup rollers 67 between the conveyance roller 65 and the carry-out roller 63. A post-stage printing path Pc is formed between the two backup rollers 67. These backup rollers 67 are provided for the upward inclination from the conveyance roller 65 to the discharge roller 63, and form a post-stage print path Pc in which the print medium M obliquely rises as it proceeds in the conveyance direction Dm. Do.

Furthermore, the post-stage printing unit 6 includes an ejection head 69 facing the surface of the print medium M above the print medium M conveyed along the post-stage print path Pc. Specifically, the discharge head 69 is disposed on the surface of the print medium M traveling between the two backup rollers 67, and the discharge head 69 is thus supported by the two backup rollers 67 on both sides. Ink is ejected onto the surface of the print medium M by an inkjet method. In the example shown here, the ejection head 69 ejects white ink. Therefore, the subsequent stage printing unit 6 can print a white background image on the surface of the printing medium M with respect to the color image printed by the preceding stage printing unit 2.

The print medium M on which the image is printed on the post-stage print path Pc obliquely rises between the backup roller 67 and the carry-out roller 63 most downstream of the post-stage print path Pc and reaches the carry-out roller 63. The carry-out roller 63 winds the print medium M from below on the downstream side in the conveyance direction Dm of the two backup rollers 67. The discharge roller 63 winds the print medium M, which has obliquely risen from the post-stage print path Pc in this manner, to move the print medium M along the post-stage discharge path Pcd in which the print medium M moves in the horizontal direction X. Take it out. The carry-out roller 63 is a suction roller that sucks the back surface of the print medium M. By using such a suction roller, as described above, without causing the roller to contact the printing surface (surface) of the print medium M, the slip of the print medium M is suppressed and the driving force of the roller is reliably applied to the print medium M. It can be transmitted. In particular, by using a suction roller as the carry-out roller 63, transmission of vibration of the print medium M from the post-drying unit 8 to the post-printing unit 6 is suppressed, and the position of the print medium M in the post-printing path Pc is stabilized. Let As a result, it is possible to suppress the conveyance of the print medium M in the post-drying unit 8 from affecting the printing in the post-printing unit 6.

FIG. 5 is a front view schematically showing a post-drying unit provided in the printing apparatus of FIG. The post-drying unit 8 includes a first unit 81 disposed on the downstream side in the transport direction Dm of the post-printing unit 6 and a second unit 82 detachably connected to the first unit 81. Thus, the post-stage printing unit 6, the first unit 81, and the second unit 82 are arranged in this order in the horizontal direction X (arrangement direction). The post-drying unit 8 dries the print medium M while appropriately folding the transport direction Dm of the print medium M in the horizontal direction X. That is, in the post-stage drying unit 8, the upper drying path Pd1 in which the print medium M moves horizontally in one direction X1 in the horizontal direction X and the other drying direction X2 in the horizontal direction X from the upper drying path Pd1 (opposite to the one direction X1) A middle stage drying path Pd2 in which the folded printing medium M horizontally moves below the upper drying path Pd1, and a middle stage drying path Pd2 from the middle drying path Pd2 the printing medium M horizontally translates in the lower direction of the middle drying path Pd2 And drying route Pd3.

The first unit 81 has a pair of

rollers

811 and 812 arranged according to the height of the upper drying path Pd1, and the second unit 82 has a pair of rollers arranged according to the height of the upper drying path Pd1. It has

rollers

821 and 822. That is, the

rollers

811 and 812 of the first unit 81 and the

rollers

821 and 822 of the second unit 82 are arranged in this order in one direction X1, and the upper drying path at the same height as the post-stage unloading path Pcd (FIG. 4) Pd1 is formed, and the printing medium M unloaded from the post-stage printing unit 6 along the post-stage unloading path Pcd is horizontally transported in one direction X1 along the upper drying path Pd1.

The second unit 82 also has a pair of

rollers

823 and 824 arranged according to the height of the middle drying path Pd2, and the first unit 81 is arranged according to the height of the middle drying path Pd2. It has a roller 813 and an air turn bar 814. That is, the middle drying path Pd2 is formed by arranging the

rollers

823 and 824 of the second unit 82, the roller 813 of the first unit 81, and the air turn bar 814 in the other direction X2 in this order, and turning back from the upper drying path Pd1. The printing medium M is horizontally conveyed in the other direction X2 along the middle drying path Pd2.

At this time, in the second unit 82, the roller 822 which winds the printing medium M from the back side at the most downstream of the upper drying path Pd1 vertically moves the printing medium M horizontally moving in one direction X1 along the upper drying path Pd1. Bend downward along Z. Furthermore, the roller 823 which winds the print medium M from the back surface at the uppermost stream of the middle drying path Pd2 folds the print medium M, which descends from the roller 822 along the vertical direction Z, in the other direction X2 in the horizontal direction X. Thus, the

rollers

822, 823 fold the print medium M from the upper drying path Pd1 to the middle drying path Pd2.

In addition, the first unit 81 has an air turn bar 815 and a roller 816 arranged according to the height of the lower drying path Pd3, and the second unit 82 is arranged according to the height of the lower drying path Pd3. It has a pair of

rollers

825, 826. That is, the air turn bar 815 and the roller 816 of the first unit 81 and the

rollers

825 and 826 of the second unit 82 are arranged in this order in one direction X1 to form the lower drying path Pd3 and return from the middle drying path Pd2. The print medium M is horizontally transported in one direction X1 along the lower drying path Pd3.

At this time, in the first unit 81, the air turn bar 814 which winds the printing medium M from the surface at the most downstream of the middle drying path Pd2 vertically moves the printing medium M horizontally moving in the other direction X2 along the middle drying path Pd2. Bend downward along the direction Z. Furthermore, the air turn bar 815 which winds the printing medium M from the surface at the uppermost stream of the lower drying path Pd3 bends the printing medium M, which descends along the vertical direction Z from the air turn bar 814, in one direction X1 of the horizontal direction X. Thus, the air turn bars 814 and 815 turn the printing medium M back from the middle drying path Pd2 to the lower drying path Pd3. Then, the print medium M is unloaded from the lower drying path Pd3 toward the winding roll 12. The print medium M is wound around the air turn bars 814 and 815, and the air turn bars 814 and 815 inject air to print while providing a gap between the air turn bars 814 and 815 and the surface of the print medium M. The medium M is transported. Thus, the print medium M can be folded back by the air turn bars 814 and 815 while suppressing the influence of the image printed on the surface of the print medium M.

Furthermore, the post-stage drying unit 8 has post-stage heaters H81 and H82 for drying the ink attached to the surface of the print medium M for each of the upper drying path Pd1, the middle drying path Pd2, and the lower drying path Pd3. That is, in each of the first unit 81 and the second unit 82, the post-stage heaters H81 and H82 are disposed to face the upper-stage drying path Pd1, and the post-stage heaters H81 and H82 are print media passing through the upper-stage drying path Pd1. Dry the surface of M. Further, in each of the second unit 82 and the first unit 81, the post-stage heaters H82 and H81 are disposed to face the middle-stage drying path Pd2, and the post-stage heaters H82 and H81 are print media passing through the middle-stage drying path Pd2. Dry the surface of M. Furthermore, in each of the first unit 81 and the second unit 82, the post-stage heaters H81 and H82 are disposed to face the lower drying path Pd3, and the post-stage heaters H81 and H82 are print media passing through the lower drying path Pd3. Dry the surface of M. The post-drying unit 8 dries the ink discharged onto the print medium M by the front-stage printing unit 2 and the rear-stage printing unit 6 by the rear-stage heaters H81 and H82 arranged as described above.

The second drying unit 8 can also be configured by the first unit 81 alone by removing the second unit 82 from the first unit 81 (FIG. 6). FIG. 6: is a front view which shows typically the back | latter stage drying part comprised by the 1st unit independently. As shown in FIG. 6, in the first unit 81 from which the second unit 82 is removed, the roller 811 and the roller 812 form the upper drying path Pd1, and the roller 813 and the air turn bar 814 form the middle drying path Pd2. The air turn bar 815 and the roller 816 constitute the lower drying path Pd3.

At this time, the roller 812 which winds the printing medium M from the back side at the most downstream of the upper drying path Pd1 moves the printing medium M horizontally moved in one direction X1 along the upper drying path Pd1 downward along the vertical direction Z Bend it. Furthermore, the roller 813 that winds the print medium M from the back surface at the uppermost stream of the middle drying path Pd2 folds the print medium M, which descends from the roller 812 along the vertical direction Z, in the other direction X2 in the horizontal direction X. Thus, the

rollers

812 and 813 fold the print medium M from the upper drying path Pd1 to the middle drying path Pd2.

In this configuration, the length of the drying path can be easily changed by switching the state in which the second unit 82 is attached to the first unit 81 and the state in which the second unit 82 is removed from the first unit 81 There is.

As described above, in this embodiment, in the pre-stage printing unit 2, the plurality of ejection heads 27 transport direction of the printing medium M above the printing medium M supported by the plurality of backup rollers 25 on the pre-stage printing path Pa. Line up to Dm. The first-stage printing path Pa is bent at the winding portion of each backup roller 25, and the printing medium M is inclined downstream of the rising inclination area Ru where the printing medium M rises obliquely and downstream of the rising inclination area Ru in the transport direction Dm. And a downward sloping region Rd. Thus, it is possible to transport the print medium M while stabilizing the position with respect to the ejection head 27. Furthermore, the front-stage printing path Pa has a curved shape including the rising slope region Ru and the falling slope region Rd, for example, in comparison with a configuration in which the front-stage printing path Pa continues to rise in the transport direction Dm or continues to descend. As a result, the height difference between the ejection heads 27 can be suppressed, and as a result, the height of the front-stage printing unit 2 can also be suppressed.

The preceding stage printing unit 2 has a delivery roller 23 for taking out the printing medium M having passed through the preceding stage printing path Pa to the preceding stage drying unit 4. In order to stably carry out the print medium M by the carry-out roller 23, it is necessary to wind the print medium M around the carry-out roller 23. Therefore, the carry-out roller 23 wraps the back surface of the print medium M which has come down from the downward inclined area of the post-stage print path Pc from below and carries out the print medium M while lowering the print medium M further obliquely along the pre-stage carry-out path Pab. . Therefore, in the pre-stage drying unit 4, it is difficult to secure a sufficient drying path for drying the print medium M further downward. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the print medium M carried out of the pre-stage printing unit 2 is folded upward by the air turn bars 42 and 43 to move the print medium M upward along the rising drying path Pb1. And the ink attached to the printing medium M passing through the upward drying path Pb1 is dried by the front stage heater H4. Thus, the rising drying path Pb1 is provided by effectively utilizing the height of the pre-drying unit 4. Therefore, it is possible to secure a long drying path (rising drying path Pb1) while suppressing the height of the pre-stage drying unit 4.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the heights of these can be suppressed while satisfying the requirements of the front-stage printing unit 2 and the front-stage drying unit 4. As a result, it is possible to suppress the height of the printing apparatus 1 provided with the pre-stage printing unit 2 and the pre-stage drying unit 4.

Further, the pre-stage drying unit 4 conveys the print medium M along the upward drying path Pb1, and then folds back the print medium M by the

rollers

44 and 45, thereby along the descending drying path Pb2 in which the print medium M descends. Print medium M is transported. Then, the ink attached to the print medium M passing through the descending drying path Pb2 is dried by the front stage heater H4. As a result, the descending drying path Pb2 can be further provided by effectively utilizing the height of the pre-drying unit 4. Therefore, it is possible to secure a long drying path (the rising drying path Pb1 and the falling drying path Pb2) while suppressing the height of the pre-stage drying unit 4.

Further, the front-stage drying unit 4 dries the print medium M, which descends between the carry-in roller 41 and the carry-in roller 41, around the print medium M upstream of the air turn bar 42 in the transport direction Dm. In such a configuration, it is possible to effectively utilize the path before folding back by the air turn bar 42 (that is, the transport path of the print medium M from the carry-in roller 41 to the air turn bar 42) as the drying path, and securing a long drying path. It is possible.

In the second-stage printing unit 6, the ejection head 69 is disposed above the print medium M supported by the second-stage printing path Pc by the two backup rollers 67. Thus, it is possible to transport the print medium M while stabilizing the position with respect to the ejection head 69. Further, the post-stage printing unit 6 has an unloading roller 63 that winds the back surface of the print medium M from below at a downstream side of the discharge head 69 in the transport direction Dm. The carry-out roller 63 winds the print medium M obliquely rising from the post-stage print path Pc, and carries the print medium M out to the post-stage drying unit 8 along the post-stage carry-out path Pcd in which the print medium M moves horizontally. Do. In such a configuration, the discharge head 69 is disposed on the post-stage printing path Pc in which the unloading roller 63 is held lower than the post-stage unloading path Pcd for unloading the print medium M. Therefore, the height of the discharge head 69 can be suppressed, and as a result, the height of the post-stage printing unit 6 can also be suppressed.

The post-drying unit 8 has the upper drying path Pd1 in which the printing medium M horizontally moves in one direction X1 at the same height as the post unloading path Pcd, and adheres to the printing medium M passing through the upper drying path Pd1. The ink is dried by the post-stage heaters H81 and H82. As described above, since the upper drying path Pd1 is provided horizontally, the height of the rear drying section 8 is not affected even if the upper drying path Pd1 is secured long. Therefore, it is possible to secure a long drying path (upper drying path Pd1) while suppressing the height of the post-stage drying unit 8.

That is, the heights of these can be suppressed while satisfying the requirements for the post-stage printing unit 6 and the post-stage drying unit 8 respectively. As a result, it is possible to suppress the height of the printing apparatus 1 provided with the post-stage printing unit 6 and the post-stage drying unit 8.

Further, the post-stage drying unit 8 has a middle drying path Pd2 in which the printing medium M folded back in the other direction X2 from the upper drying path Pd1 horizontally moves in the other direction X2 at a height lower than the upper drying path Pd1. Then, the ink attached to the printing medium M sequentially passing through the upper drying path Pd1 and the middle drying path Pd2 is dried by the post-stage heaters H81 and H82. In this configuration, it is possible to secure a long drying path (the rising drying path Pb1 and the falling drying path Pb2) while suppressing the width in the horizontal direction X of the post-stage drying unit 8.

Further, the post-stage drying unit 8 has a lower drying path Pd3 in which the printing medium M folded back from the middle drying path Pd2 in one direction X1 horizontally moves in one direction X1 at a height lower than the middle drying path Pd2. Then, the ink attached to the printing medium M sequentially passing through the upper drying path Pd1, the middle drying path Pd2, and the lower drying path Pd3 is dried by the rear heaters H81 and H82. With this configuration, it is possible to secure a long drying path (upper drying path Pd1, middle drying path Pd2 and lower drying path Pd3) while suppressing the width in the horizontal direction X of the rear drying unit 8.

In the embodiment described above, the printing apparatus 1 corresponds to an example of the “printing apparatus” of the present invention, the printing medium M corresponds to an example of the “printing medium” of the present invention, and the conveyance direction Dm corresponds to This corresponds to an example of “transport direction”.

Further, the pre-stage printing unit 2 corresponds to an example of the "pre-stage printing unit" of the present invention, the backup roller 25 corresponds to an example of the "pre-stage backup roller" of the present invention, and the ejection head 27 corresponds to the "pre-stage ejection head of the present invention". The delivery roller 23 corresponds to an example of the "delivery roller" of the present invention, the pre-stage printing path Pa corresponds to one example of the "pre-stage printing path" of the invention, and the ascending slope region Ru is the invention. Corresponds to an example of the “rising inclination area” of the present invention, the descending inclination area Rd corresponds to an example of the “falling inclination area” of the present invention, and the inclination switching area Rh corresponds to an example of the “inclination switching area” of the present invention The pre-stage unloading path Pab corresponds to an example of the “pre-stage unloading path” in the present invention.

Further, the pre-stage drying unit 4 corresponds to an example of the "pre-stage drying unit" of the present invention, the pre-stage heater H4 corresponds to an example of the "pre-stage heater" of the present invention, and the air turn bars 42 and 43 correspond to "upward inversion of the present invention". The

rollers

44 and 45 correspond to an example of the “downward reversing member” of the present invention, the carry-in roller 41 corresponds to an example of the “upstream roller” of the present invention, and the rising drying path Pb1 is a main member. The down-drying path Pb2 corresponds to an example of the "down-drying path" of the present invention.

The post-stage printing unit 6 corresponds to an example of the “post-stage printing unit” of the present invention, the backup roller 67 corresponds to an example of the “post-stage backup roller” of the present invention, and the ejection head 69 corresponds to the “post-stage ejection head of the present invention”. The delivery roller 63 corresponds to an example of the “post-stage delivery roller” in the present invention, and the post-stage printing path Pc corresponds to an example of the “post-stage printing path” in the present invention.

The second drying unit 8 corresponds to an example of the “second drying unit” of the present invention, the second heaters H 81 and H 82 correspond to an example of the “second heater” of the present invention, and the first unit 81 corresponds to the “first heater” of the present invention. The second unit 82 corresponds to an example of “one unit”, the second unit 82 corresponds to an example of “second unit” of the present invention, and in the first unit 81, the roller 811 and the roller 812 correspond to an example of “upper support member” of the present invention In the second unit 82, the roller 821 and the roller 822 correspond to an example of the “upper stage support member” in the present invention, and in the first unit 81, the roller 813 and the air turn bar 814 are the “middle stage support member” in the present invention. In the second unit 82, the roller 823 and the roller 824 correspond to an example of the “middle support member” in the present invention, and in the first unit 81, the air turn bar 815 Roller 816 corresponds to an example of the "lower support member" of the present invention, and in the second unit 82, the roller 825 and the roller 826 correspond to an example of the "lower support member" of the present invention, and the upper drying path Pd1 is this The middle drying route Pd2 corresponds to an example of the “middle drying route” of the present invention, and the lower drying route Pd3 corresponds to an example of the “lower drying route” of the present invention. The one direction X1 corresponds to an example of the "one direction" of the present invention, and the other direction X2 corresponds to an example of the "other direction" of the present invention.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made other than the above without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, the configuration of the post-drying unit 8 may be changed as shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a front view schematically showing a modification of the post-drying unit. The post-drying unit 8 of FIG. 7 includes a third unit 83 disposed between the first unit 81 and the second unit 82 and detachably connected to the first unit 81 and the second unit 82. Thus, the first unit 81, the third unit 83, and the second unit 82 are arranged in this order in the horizontal direction X (arrangement direction).

The third unit 83 includes a pair of rollers 831 and 832 (upper stage support members) arranged in accordance with the height of the upper stage drying path Pd1. The

rollers

811 and 812 of the first unit 81, the

rollers

831 and 832 of the third unit 83, and the

rollers

821 and 822 of the second unit 82 are arranged in this order in one direction X1 to form the upper drying path Pd1. The printing medium M which has been formed and carried out from the post-stage printing unit 6 along the post-stage unloading path Pcd is horizontally transported in one direction X1 along the upper drying path Pd1.

The third unit 83 also has a pair of rollers 833 and 834 (middle support members) arranged in accordance with the height of the middle drying path Pd2. The

rollers

823 and 824 of the second unit 82, the

rollers

833 and 834 of the third unit 83, and the rollers 813 and air turn bar 814 of the first unit 81 are arranged in this order in the other direction X2 to form the middle drying path Pd2. And horizontally transport the printing medium M returned from the upper drying path Pd1 in the other direction X2 along the middle drying path Pd2.

Furthermore, the third unit 83 has a pair of rollers 835 and 836 (lower stage support members) arranged in accordance with the height of the lower stage drying path Pd3. The air turn bar 815 and the roller 816 of the first unit 81, the

rollers

835 and 836 of the third unit 83, and the

rollers

825 and 826 of the second unit 82 are arranged in this order in one direction X1 to form the lower drying path Pd3. And horizontally transport the print medium M returned from the middle drying path Pd2 in one direction X1 along the lower drying path Pd3.

Furthermore, the third unit 83 has a rear stage heater H83 for drying the ink attached to the surface of the print medium M for each of the upper drying path Pd1, the middle drying path Pd2, and the lower drying path Pd3. That is, in the third unit 83, the post-stage heater H83 is disposed to face each of the upper drying path Pd1, the middle drying path Pd2, and the lower drying path Pd3. Then, the second heater H83 dries the surface of the printing medium M passing through the upper drying path Pd1, the middle drying path Pd2, and the lower drying path Pd3 in the third unit 83. That is, in the post-stage drying unit 8, the post-stage printing unit 2 and the post-stage printing unit 6 dry the ink discharged onto the print medium M by the post-stage heaters H81, H82, and H83.

In the post-drying unit 8, the number of third units 83 that can be disposed between the first unit 81 and the second unit 82 is not limited to one as shown in FIG. That is, the plurality of third units 83 can be connected in series in the horizontal direction X between the first unit 81 and the second unit 82. Alternatively, the third unit 83 can be removed from between the first unit 81 and the second unit 82 and configured as in the example of FIG. 5. That is, by increasing or decreasing the number of the third units 83 arranged in the first unit 81 and the second unit 82, the length of the drying path can be easily extended or shortened.

FIG. 8 is a front view schematically showing another modified example of the post-drying unit, and FIG. 9 is a front view schematically showing a post-drying unit of FIG. 8 in an enlarged manner. In FIG. 9, the post-stage heaters H81 and H82 shown in FIG. 8 are shown as the post-stage heaters H8 without distinction. Similar to the above example, the first unit 81 has a first unit housing 810, the second unit 82 has a second unit housing 820, and the first unit housing 810 and the second unit housing 820 are a post-drying unit The eight housings 80 are configured. Each rear stage heater H81 is accommodated in the first unit housing 810, and each rear stage heater H82 is accommodated in the second unit housing 820. On the other hand, in this modification, the post-stage heaters H81 and H82 included in the post-stage drying unit 8 differ from the above example in that they function as a floating support member that supports the print medium M by floating conveyance.

More specifically, each of the rear heaters H81 and H82 provided for the upper drying path Pd1 is an upper support member Hu disposed on the upper side with respect to the printing medium M conveyed along the upper drying path Pd1. , And a lower support member Hl disposed on the lower side. That is, the upper support member Hu and the lower support member H1 sandwich the print medium M conveyed along the upper drying path Pd1 from the vertical direction Z. Similarly, each of the post-stage heaters H81 and H82 provided for the middle drying path Pd2 (or lower drying path Pd3) is also applied to the printing medium M conveyed along the middle drying path Pd2 (or lower drying path Pd3) The upper support member Hu disposed on the upper side and the lower support member H1 disposed on the lower side, and the upper support member Hu and the lower support member Hl form a middle drying path Pd2 (or The print medium M conveyed along the lower drying path Pd3) is sandwiched from the vertical direction Z.

As shown in FIG. 9, the upper support member Hu has a plurality of upper nozzles Nu arranged at equal intervals in the horizontal direction X. The lower surface of the upper nozzle Nu faces the print medium M from the upper side. An injection hole for air is provided on the lower surface of the upper nozzle Nu, and a predetermined gap is formed between the lower surface of the upper nozzle Nu and the print medium M by injecting air downward from the injection hole.

The lower support member H1 has a plurality of lower nozzles N1 aligned in the horizontal direction X at equal intervals. The upper surface of the lower nozzle Nl faces the print medium M from the lower side. An injection hole for air is provided on the upper surface of the lower nozzle Nl, and a predetermined gap is formed between the upper surface of the lower nozzle Nl and the print medium M by injecting air upward from the injection hole .

The upper nozzle Nu faces from the upper side to the range between the lower nozzles Nl adjacent in the horizontal direction X, and the lower nozzle Nl faces from the lower side to the range between the upper nozzles Nu adjacent in the horizontal direction X . That is, in the horizontal direction X, the upper nozzles Nu and the lower nozzles Nl are alternately arranged at equal pitches, in other words, arranged in a staggered manner. As a result, the printing medium M is biased downward by the air from the upper nozzle Nu at a portion facing the upper nozzle Nu and is biased lower than the transport center line L, and is lower at a portion facing the lower nozzle Nl. The air from the nozzle N1 is pushed upward to be biased upward from the transport center line L. Here, the transport center line L is a horizontal imaginary straight line in which the distances in the vertical direction Z from the upper nozzle Nu and the lower nozzle Nl are equal. Therefore, the print medium M passing between the upper support member Hu and the lower support member H1 has a corrugated shape between the upper side and the lower side of the transport center line L.

These post-stage heaters H8 spray air (gas) heated to a temperature higher than room temperature toward the print medium M from the spray holes of the upper nozzle Nu and the lower nozzle N1. The printing medium M is heated by the air, and the ink adhering to the printing medium M is dried. The room temperature is the temperature of the external environment where the post-stage drying unit 8 is installed, and when the value obtained by measuring the temperature of the external environment is 25 degrees, 25 degrees is the room temperature. The heated air is generated by heating the air taken in from the external environment by the rear-stage drying unit 8.

As described above, in the post-stage drying unit 8 shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the post-stage heaters H81 and H82 have both the drying function of the print medium M and the floating conveyance function of the print medium M. The ink of the print medium M is dried by heating with warm air while functioning as a floating support member that supports the medium M by floating conveyance. In addition, since the post-stage heaters H81 and H82 have a conveyance function of the print medium M, the rollers 811 812 821 824 813 816 825 of the post-stage drying unit 8 according to the example of FIG. 5 are omitted. .

Furthermore, the arrangement of the

rollers

822, 823, the air turn bars 814, 815 and the rollers 826 is different from the example of FIG. That is, in the example of FIG. 5, the members for folding back the print medium M such as the

rollers

822, 823, the air turn bars 814, 815 and the rollers 826 are accommodated in the housing 80, while in the example of FIG. A member is disposed outside the housing 80.

More specifically, the

rollers

822 and 823 aligned in the vertical direction Z are provided separately from the second unit 82, and are disposed outside the second unit housing 820 of the second unit 82 in one direction X1. Of the

rollers

822, 823, the upper roller 822 is rotatably supported by the removable support member S2 on the outer wall on the one direction X1 side of the second unit housing 820, and the lower roller 823 is the second A removable support member S3 is rotatably supported on the outer wall in the one direction X1 side of the unit housing 820.

The upper end of the roller 822 for winding the back surface of the print medium M is located at the same height as the upper end of the delivery roller 63 (FIG. 4) for winding the back surface of the print medium M in the post-stage printing unit An imaginary straight line (corresponding to the conveyance center line L in FIG. 9) passing with the upper end of the carry-out roller 63 is parallel to the horizontal direction X. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9, the print medium M passing through the rear heaters H81 and H82 ripples up and down. Therefore, in the upper drying path Pd1, in the arrangement range of the rear heaters H81 and H82, the print medium M is conveyed while waving between the upper side and the lower side of the virtual straight line, while the arrangement range of the rear heaters H81 and H82 Outside the range, it is transported horizontally. Thus, the rear stage heater H81, the rear stage heater H82, and the roller 822 form the upper drying path Pd1.

Then, the print medium M conveyed in the horizontal direction X one direction X1 through the upper drying path Pd1 is folded downward by the roller 822 outside the second unit housing 820, and then the horizontal direction is determined by the roller 823. It is folded back in the X direction X 2 and enters the middle drying path Pd 2 in the second unit housing 820.

The air turn bars 814 and 815 are provided separately from the first unit 81 in the vertical direction Z, and are disposed outside the first unit housing 810 of the first unit 81 in the other direction X2. Of the air turn bars 814 and 815, the upper air turn bar 814 is supported by the support member S4 attached to the outer wall on the other direction X2 side of the second unit housing 820, and the lower air turn bar 815 is the second The unit housing 820 is supported by a support member S5 attached to the outer wall on the other direction X2 side.

The height of the lower end of the roller 823 for winding the back surface of the print medium M adds the distance (flying distance) between the air turn bar 814 and the print medium M to the height of the upper end of the air turn bar 814 for winding the surface of the print medium M Height, ie, the height of the upper surface (non-printing surface) of the print medium M floated by the air turn bar 814, and a virtual straight line passing through the lower end of the roller 823 and the upper end of the air turn bar 814 (see FIG. The transport center line L) is parallel to the horizontal direction X. Here, if the lower end of the roller 823 is within the range obtained by adding the floating distance to the thickness of the print medium M from the upper end of the air turn bar 814 to the upper side, these are treated as having the same height. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9, the print medium M passing through the rear heaters H81 and H82 ripples up and down. Therefore, in the middle drying path Pd2, the printing medium M is conveyed while waving between the upper side and the lower side of the virtual straight line in the arrangement range of the rear stage heaters H81 and H82, while the arrangement range of the rear stage heaters H81 and H82 Outside the range, it is transported horizontally. Thus, the roller 823, the rear stage heater H82, the rear stage heater H81, and the air turn bar 814 form the middle drying path Pd2.

The print medium M conveyed in the other direction X2 in the horizontal direction X after passing through the middle drying path Pd2 is folded downward by the air turn bar 814 outside the first unit housing 810 and then by the air turn bar 815 It is folded back in one direction X 1 in the horizontal direction X, and enters the lower drying path Pd 3 in the first unit housing 810.

The roller 826 is provided separately from the second unit 82, and is disposed outside the second unit housing 820 of the second unit 82 in one direction X1. The roller 826 is rotatably supported by a removable support member S6 on the outer wall on the one side X1 side of the second unit housing 820.

The height of the upper end of the roller 826 for winding the back surface of the print medium M pulls the distance (flying distance) between the air turn bar 815 and the print medium M to the height of the lower end of the air turn bar 815 for winding the surface of the print medium M Height, ie, the height of the lower surface (non-printing surface) of the print medium M floated by the air turn bar 815, and an imaginary straight line passing through the upper end of the roller 826 and the lower end of the air turn bar 815 (see FIG. The transport center line L) is parallel to the horizontal direction X. Here, if the upper end of the roller 826 is within the range obtained by adding the floating distance to the thickness of the print medium M from the lower end of the air turn bar 815 to the lower side, they are treated as having the same height. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9, the print medium M passing through the rear heaters H81 and H82 ripples up and down. Therefore, in the lower drying path Pd3, in the arrangement range of the rear heaters H81 and H82, the print medium M is transported while waving between the upper side and the lower side of the virtual straight line, while the arrangement range of the rear heaters H81 and H82 Outside the range, it is transported horizontally. Thus, the air turn bar 815, the rear stage heater H81, the rear stage heater H82, and the roller 826 form the lower drying path Pd3.

The print medium M conveyed through the lower drying path Pd3 and transported in the horizontal direction X in one direction X1 is supported by the roller 826 outside the second unit housing 820.

In such a modification, the post-stage heaters H81 and H82 have an upper nozzle Nu and a lower nozzle N1 that jet air. Then, the post-stage heaters H81 and H82 form a gap between each of the upper nozzle Nu and the lower nozzle Nl and the print medium M by injecting air from the upper nozzle Nu and the lower nozzle Nl to the print medium M. While supporting the print medium M in the state, the ink attached to the print medium M is dried. In such a configuration, the air which the rear-stage heaters H81 and H82 spray for floating and transporting is used to dry the print medium M. Therefore, the configuration can be simplified as compared with the case where both the floating conveyance and drying functions are realized by individual configurations.

Further, in particular, the post-drying unit 8 sprays the heated air from the upper nozzle Nu and the lower nozzle Nl onto the print medium M to dry the ink attached to the print medium M. In such a configuration, the heated air can efficiently dry the ink.

The second drying unit 8 supports the printing medium M carried out of the second printing unit 6 along the upper drying path Pd1 by the second heaters H81 and H82 to make the upper drying path Pd1 one direction X1 in the horizontal direction X. The ink adhering to the print medium M passing through is dried. As described above, since the print medium M passes along the upper drying path Pd1 toward the one direction X1 in the horizontal direction X, even if the upper drying path Pd1 is secured long, There is no effect. Therefore, it is possible to secure a long drying path (upper drying path Pd1) while suppressing the height of the post-stage drying unit 8.

Further, the post-stage drying unit 8 follows the middle drying path Pd2 having a height lower than that of the upper drying path Pd1, with the print medium M folded back in the horizontal direction X from the upper drying path Pd1 in the horizontal direction X opposite to the one X1. The ink attached to the printing medium M which passes through the middle drying path Pd2 in the other direction X2 is dried by supporting the rear stage heaters H81 and H82. In this configuration, it is possible to secure a long drying path (upper drying path Pd1 and middle drying path Pd2) while suppressing the width in the horizontal direction X of the post-stage drying unit 8.

Further, the post-drying unit 8 supports the print medium M folded back from the middle drying path Pd2 in one direction X1 by the rear heaters H81 and H82 along the lower drying path Pd3 having a height lower than that of the middle drying path Pd2. The ink adhering to the print medium M passing through the lower drying path Pd3 in one direction X1 is dried. With this configuration, it is possible to secure a long drying path (upper drying path Pd1, middle drying path Pd2 and lower drying path Pd3) while suppressing the width in the horizontal direction X of the rear drying unit 8.

Further, the post-drying unit 8 includes a housing 80 for housing the post-heaters H81 and H82. Furthermore, the housings 802 are attached to the housing 80 outside the one direction X1 of the housing 80 and fold the print medium M in the other direction X2 from the upper drying path Pd1 to the middle drying path Pd2 (other direction reversing member) The air turn bars 814 and 815 (one-way reversing member) that are attached to the housing 80 outside the other direction X2 80 and fold the print medium M in one direction X1 toward the lower drying path Pd3 from the middle drying path Pd2 toward the lower drying path Pd3 It is provided in eight. In this configuration, the

rollers

822, 823, the air turn bars 814, 815, and the rollers 826 are disposed outside the housing 80 of the post drying unit 8. Therefore, the worker can easily perform these maintenance work from the outside of the housing 80.

At this time, the print medium M is folded back by the air turn bars 814 and 815. Therefore, the print medium M can be folded back while suppressing the influence on the image printed on the print medium M.

The second drying unit 8 can be configured by the first unit 81 alone by removing the second unit 82 from the first unit 81 (FIG. 10). FIG. 10: is a front view which shows typically the back | latter stage drying part which concerns on another modification comprised by the 1st unit independently. As shown in FIG. 10, the

rollers

822 and 823 are disposed outside the first unit housing 810 of the first unit 81 from which the second unit 82 is removed, in one direction X1. Of the

rollers

822, 823, the upper roller 822 is rotatably supported by the removable support member S2 on the outer wall on the one direction X1 side of the first unit housing 810, and the lower roller 823 is the first A removable support member S3 is rotatably supported on the outer wall in the one direction X1 side of the unit housing 810.

Further, the roller 826 is disposed outside the first unit housing 810 of the first unit 81 from which the second unit 82 is removed, in the direction X1. The roller 826 is rotatably supported by a removable support member S <b> 6 on the outer wall in the one direction X <b> 1 of the first unit housing 810.

In the second-stage drying unit 8 of FIG. 10, the print medium M conveyed in the horizontal direction X in one direction X1 passing through the upper drying path Pd1 is folded downward by the roller 822 outside the first unit housing 810. Then, it is turned back in the other direction X 2 in the horizontal direction X by the roller 823 and enters the middle drying path Pd 2 in the first unit housing 810.

In addition, the print medium M conveyed in the other direction X2 in the horizontal direction X through the middle drying path Pd2 is folded downward by the air turn bar 814 outside the first unit housing 810 and then by the air turn bar 815 It is folded back in one direction X 1 in the horizontal direction X, and enters the lower drying path Pd 3 in the first unit housing 810.

Then, the print medium M conveyed through the lower drying path Pd3 and transported in one direction X1 in the horizontal direction X is supported by the roller 826 outside the first unit housing 810.

Thus, the rear stage heater H81 and the roller 822 form the upper stage drying path Pd1, the roller 823, the rear stage heater H81 and the air turn bar 814 form the middle stage drying path Pd2, and the air turn bar 815 and the roller 826 form the lower stage drying path Pd3. Do.

Thus, the housing 80 has the first unit housing 810 disposed on the downstream side in the transport direction Dm of the rear-stage drying unit 8 and the second unit housing 820 detachably connected to the first unit housing 810. . The first unit housing 810 accommodates the rear stage heater H81 disposed in accordance with the heights of the upper drying path Pd1, the middle drying path Pd2, and the lower drying path Pd3. In addition, the second unit housing 820 accommodates the rear stage heater H82 disposed in accordance with the height of the upper drying path Pd1, the middle drying path Pd2, and the lower drying path Pd3. Then, in a state where the second unit housing 820 is connected to the first unit housing 810, the

rollers

822, 823 are attached to the second unit housing 820 outside the one direction X1 of the second unit housing 820, and the upper drying path Pd1. The printing medium M is folded back in the other direction X2 from the middle drying path Pd2 to the middle drying path Pd2. On the other hand, when the second unit housing 820 is removed from the first unit housing 810, the

rollers

822, 823 are attached to the first unit housing 810 outside the one direction X1 of the first unit housing 810, and the upper drying path Pd1. The printing medium M is folded back in the other direction X2 from the middle drying path Pd2 to the middle drying path Pd2. In such a configuration, the length of the drying path can be easily changed by attaching and detaching the second unit housing 820 to and from the first unit housing 810.

Thus, in another modification of the post-stage drying unit 8, the upper nozzle Nu and the lower nozzle Nl correspond to an example of the "nozzle" of the present invention, and air corresponds to an example of the "gas" of the present invention The

rollers

822 and 823 correspond to an example of the “other direction reversing member” in the present invention, and the air turn bars 814 and 815 correspond to the “one direction reversing member” in the present invention.

It is also possible to make changes other than the examples of FIGS. 7-10. For example, in the pre-stage printing unit 2, the arrangement and number of the ejection heads 27 or the color of the ink ejected from the ejection heads 27 can be appropriately changed. Furthermore, the number and arrangement of the backup rollers 25 can be changed, and the arrangement of the carry-in rollers 21 and the carry-out rollers 23 can be changed.

Further, in the pre-stage drying unit 4, the conveyance direction Dm of the print medium M in the rising drying path Pb1 or the falling drying path Pb2 is not limited to the vertical direction, and may be inclined. Furthermore, in the pre-stage drying unit 4, the specific configuration for folding the print medium M or the number of foldings of the print medium M may be changed.

Further, in the pre-stage printing unit 2, the arrangement and the number of the ejection heads 27 or the color of the ink ejected from the ejection heads 27 can be appropriately changed. Further, the number and arrangement of the backup rollers 25 can be changed, and the arrangement of the carry-in rollers 21 and the carry-out rollers 23 can be changed. Similarly, in the post-stage printing unit 6, the arrangement and number of the ejection heads 69, or the color of the ink ejected from the ejection heads 69 can be changed as appropriate. In addition, the number and arrangement of the backup rollers 67 can be changed, and the arrangement of the conveyance rollers 65 and the discharge rollers 63 can be changed.

Further, in the post-stage drying unit 8, the specific configuration for folding the print medium M or the number of foldings of the print medium M may be changed.

Further, the folding from the middle drying path Pd2 to the lower drying path Pd3 may be performed by rollers instead of the air turn bars 814 and 815 as long as the print medium M is sufficiently dried by then.

Further, the number of supporting members such as rollers for supporting the print medium M and the air turn bar may be appropriately changed in the front drying unit 4 and the rear drying unit 8. Further, the print medium M may be supported by a support member other than the roller (for example, a support plate or the like extending along the transport direction Dm).

In the above example, the roller is used to wind the back surface of the print medium M, but if the print medium M is sufficiently dried, the roller is wound around the surface of the print medium M You may configure it.

Further, the number and arrangement of the heaters in the pre-drying unit 4 or the post-drying unit 8 may be changed as appropriate. Specifically, a heater is disposed only on the front side of the print medium M, a heater is disposed only on the back side of the print medium M, or a heater is disposed on both the front side and the back side of the print medium M it can.

In drying the print medium M, the method using a halogen heater, the method using heating air shown in FIG. 9 or the like can be used appropriately or in combination.

Further, in the example shown in FIG. 9, a part of the upper side nozzle Nu or the lower side nozzle Nl provided in the rear stage heater H8 may be replaced with a roller to combine floating conveyance and support conveyance. In this case, the circumferential surface of the roller may be heated, and the printing medium M may be dried by the roller contacting the printing medium M.

Further, in the example shown in FIG. 9, air at room temperature may be jetted to the print medium M from the upper nozzle Nu and the lower nozzle Nl. In such a configuration, the heaters H81 and H82 do not have the function of heating the print medium M, but have only the floating conveyance function. That is, the upper support member Hu and the lower support member H1 constitute floating support members H81 and H82 that support the print medium M by floating conveyance. As described above, it is possible to dry the print medium M by blowing air from the upper nozzle Nu and the lower nozzle Nl without heating the print medium M.

Alternatively, in a configuration in which air at room temperature is jetted from the upper nozzle Nu and the lower nozzle Nl, the casing of the rear heater H8 is heated to a temperature higher than room temperature to dry the ink attached to the printing medium M by radiant heat from the casing. It is good. In this case, the housing of the rear stage heater H8 functions as an example of the "heater" in the present invention. The casing of the post-stage heater H8 may be heated to room temperature or higher to function as a "heater" while injecting heated air from the upper nozzle Nu and the lower nozzle Nl. In any case, drying of the ink can be promoted by separately using the “heater”.

Alternatively, a member (heater) for heating the print medium M may be provided in addition to the rear stage heater H8 without heating the housing of the rear stage heater H8. This can also accelerate the drying of the ink.

Further, various methods can be used to dry the ink adhering to the print medium M in the pre-stage drying unit 4. For example, in the same manner as the rear drying unit 8 in FIGS. 8 to 10, in the front drying unit 4, the floating support member H4 supporting the print medium M by floating conveyance by spraying air from the nozzles is replaced with the heater H4. It can be used. Also in this case, the ink attached to the print medium M can be dried by spraying the print medium M with the room temperature or heated air from the nozzle, as in the post-stage drying unit 8. In addition, various modifications are possible such as drying the ink attached to the print medium M by radiant heat from the housing of the heated heater H4 or a separately provided heater.

Also, the support mode of the print medium M can be variously changed. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 5, the rollers 811 812 821 functioning as the “upper stage support member” may be omitted. Also in this configuration, the print medium M can be supported by the carry-out roller and the roller 822.

Further, the gas injected from the nozzles such as the upper nozzle Nu and the lower nozzle Nl is not limited to air, and may be, for example, nitrogen gas.

Further, the heights of the front-stage printing unit 2, the front-stage drying unit 4, the rear-stage printing unit 6, and the rear-stage drying unit 8 do not have to be the same, and may be different.

In addition, various inks including aqueous and oily can be used as the ink used for printing. That is, in the case of printing with an ink that requires drying, the above-described embodiment is suitable.

The present invention is applicable to the whole of the printing technology for drying the ink deposited on the printing medium.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printer 2 ... Pre-stage printing part 23 ... Delivery roller 25 ... Backup roller (pre-stage backup roller)
27 ... Ejection head (pre-ejection head)
Pa: pre-stage printing path Ru: rising slope area Rd: descending slope area Rh: slope switching area Pab: pre-stage delivery path 4: pre-stage drying section 41: carrying-in roller (upstream roller)
42: Air turn bar (upper reversing member)
43: Air turn bar (upper reversing member)
44: Roller (downward reversing member)
45 ... roller (downward reversing member)
Pb1 ... ascending drying path Pb2 ... descending drying path H4 ... pre-stage heater 6 ... post-stage printing unit 63 ... delivery roller (post-stage delivery roller)
67 · · · Backup roller (second-stage backup roller)
69 ... Ejection head (post-stage ejection head)
Pc ... post-stage printing path 8 ... post-stage drying section 80 ... housing 81 ... first unit 82 ... second unit 83 ... third unit 810 ... first unit housing 811 ... roller (upper stage support member)
812 ... roller (upper stage support member)
813 ... roller (intermediate support member)
814 ... Air turn bar (interruption support member)
815 ... Air turn bar (lower support member)
816 ... Air turn bar (lower support member)
820 ... second unit housing 821 ... roller (upper stage support member)
822 ... roller (upper stage support member)
823 ... roller (interruption support member)
824 ... roller (discontinuous support member)
825 ... roller (lower stage support member)
826 ... roller (lower stage support member)
831 ... roller (upper stage support member)
832 ... roller (upper stage supporting member)
833 ... roller (interruption supporting member)
834 ... roller (interruption supporting member)
835 ... roller (lower stage support member)
836 ... roller (lower support member)
Pd1 upper stage drying path Pd2 middle stage drying path Pd3 lower stage drying path H81 later stage heater H82 later stage heater H83 later stage heater X horizontal direction X1 one direction X2 other direction M print medium Dm conveyance direction S2 support Member S3 ... Support member S4 ... Support member S5 ... Support member S6 ... Support member

Claims

A plurality of pre-stage backup rollers for winding from below the print medium transported in the transport direction; a plurality of pre-stage ejection heads aligned in the transport direction above the print medium supported by the plurality of pre-stage backup rollers; A front stage printing unit that has a front stage unloading roller that winds the print medium from below from downstream of the front stage backup roller in the transport direction, and discharges ink from the plurality of front stage ejection heads to the printing medium;
And an upstream drying unit configured to dry the ink attached to the print medium carried out from the upstream printing unit;
The plurality of front-stage backup rollers have a front-end printing path including a rising inclination area in which the print medium obliquely rises and a falling inclination area in which the print medium obliquely falls downstream in the transport direction from the rising inclination area. Support the print medium along;
The plurality of pre-stage ejection heads are a pre-stage ejection head disposed to face the print medium passing through the ascending slope area, and an anterior stage disposed to face the print medium passing through the descending slope area Including a discharge head,
The pre-stage delivery roller is disposed downstream of the descending slope area in the transport direction, and delivers the print medium to the pre-stage drying unit along a pre-stage delivery path along which the print medium descends obliquely.
The pre-drying unit conveys the print medium along a rising drying path in which the print medium rises by folding back the print medium carried out from the pre-printing unit by the upper reversing member, thereby performing the rising drying. A printing apparatus for drying ink attached to the print medium passing through a path.
The pre-drying unit conveys the print medium along the rising and drying path, and then folds back the print medium by a lower reversing member to lower the print medium, thereby lowering the print medium along the falling and drying path. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink adhering to the print medium passing through the descending drying path is dried.
The front-end printing path includes an inclination switching area in which the print medium moves horizontally between the ascending inclination area and the descending inclination area.
3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of front-stage discharge heads include front-stage discharge heads disposed to face the print medium passing through the tilt switching area.
The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the pre-stage delivery roller is a suction roller for sucking the print medium.
The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the plurality of pre-stage ejection heads include four pre-stage ejection heads that eject inks of different process colors.
The pre-drying unit further includes an upstream roller for winding the print medium upstream of the upper reversing member in the transport direction, and drying the print medium which falls between the upstream roller and the upper reversing member. The printing apparatus according to any one of Items 1 to 5.
The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the upper reversing member folds the print medium by an air turn bar.
The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the pre-drying unit includes a pre-heater configured to heat the print medium, and the ink attached to the print medium is dried by the pre-heater.
A plurality of rear stage backup rollers supporting the print medium from below along the rear stage printing path along which the print medium rises obliquely, and a rear stage ejection disposed above the print medium supported by the plurality of rear stage backup rollers The printing apparatus further includes a head, and a downstream unloading roller that winds the printing medium from below from downstream in the downstream transport direction of the downstream printing path, and discharges ink from the downstream ejection head to the printing medium unloaded from the upstream drying unit. The latter printing unit,
And a post-drying unit configured to dry the ink attached to the print medium carried out of the post-printing unit;
The second stage delivery roller takes out the printing medium along the second stage delivery path along which the printing medium moves horizontally by winding the printing medium which has been raised obliquely from the second stage printing path, and carries out the printing medium to the second stage drying unit. ,
The latter-stage drying unit has an upper-stage drying path in which the print medium horizontally moves in one direction at the same height as the latter-stage discharge path, and dries the ink attached to the print medium passing the upper-stage drying path. A printing apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims.
The latter-stage drying unit has a middle stage drying path in which the printing medium folded back from the upper stage drying path in the other direction opposite to the one direction horizontally moves in the other direction at a height lower than the upper stage drying path. The printing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the ink attached to the print medium which passes through the upper drying path and the middle drying path in sequence is dried.
The latter-stage drying unit has a lower drying path in which the printing medium folded back from the middle drying path in the one direction horizontally moves in one direction at a height lower than the middle drying path, and the upper drying path The printing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the ink attached to the print medium, which sequentially passes through the middle drying path and the lower drying path, is dried.
The post-drying unit further includes a first unit disposed downstream of the post-printing unit in the transport direction, and a second unit detachably connected to the first unit.
An upper stage support member arranged according to the height of the upper stage drying path, a middle stage support member arranged according to the height of the middle stage drying path, and a lower stage arranged according to the height of the lower stage drying path A support member is provided on each of the first unit and the second unit,
The print medium is folded back from the middle drying path to the lower drying path by the middle stage supporting member and the lower stage supporting member of the first unit.
In a state where the second unit is connected to the first unit, the upper support member of each of the first unit and the second unit form the upper drying path, and the first unit and the second unit respectively And the lower support member of each of the first unit and the second unit forms the lower drying path, and the upper support member of the second unit and the intermediate step form the middle drying path. The print medium is folded back from the upper drying path to the middle drying path by a support member;
In a state in which the second unit is removed from the first unit, the upper stage support member of the first unit forms the upper stage drying path, and the middle stage support member of the first unit forms the middle stage drying path. And the lower stage support member of the first unit forms the lower stage drying path, and the print medium from the upper stage drying path to the middle stage drying path is formed by the upper stage support member and the middle stage support member of the first unit. The printing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein is folded back.
The middle stage support member and the lower stage support member of the first unit fold the print medium from the middle stage drying path to the lower stage drying path by winding the surface to which the ink of the printing medium is attached to an air turn bar. The printing apparatus according to claim 12.
The post-drying unit further includes a third unit detachably connected to the first unit and the second unit between the first unit and the second unit,
The upper stage support member, the middle stage support member, and the lower stage support member are provided in the third unit,
In a state in which the third unit is connected to the first unit and the second unit, the upper support member of each of the first unit, the third unit, and the second unit form the upper drying path. The middle stage support members of each of the first unit, the third unit, and the second unit form the middle stage drying path, and the lower stage support members of each of the first unit, the third unit, and the second unit are The printing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the lower drying path is formed.
The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 14, wherein the second stage delivery roller is a suction roller for sucking the print medium.
A post-stage printing unit that ejects ink from the post-stage ejection head onto the print medium carried out from the pre-stage drying unit;
And a post-drying unit configured to dry the ink attached to the print medium carried out of the post-printing unit;
The post-drying unit has a nozzle for injecting a gas, and the gas is injected onto the print medium from the nozzle to form a gap between the print medium and the nozzle. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the ink attached to the print medium is dried while being supported.
The second-stage drying unit adheres to the print medium passing through the upper-stage drying path in one horizontal direction by supporting the printing medium carried out from the second-stage printing unit along the upper-stage drying path. The printing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the ink is dried.
The post-drying unit supports the print medium, which is folded back from the upper drying path in the horizontal direction opposite to the one direction, along a middle drying path having a height lower than the upper drying path. The printing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the ink attached to the print medium passing through the middle drying path in the other direction is dried.
The second drying section supports the lower drying path by supporting the printing medium folded back in one direction from the middle drying path along a lower drying path having a height lower than that of the middle drying path. The printing apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the ink attached to the print medium passing in a direction is dried.
The post-drying unit has a housing that accommodates the nozzle, and is attached to the housing on the outside of the housing in one direction to move the print medium from the upper drying path to the middle drying path in the other direction. Another direction reversing member which folds back, and a one-way reversing member which is attached to the housing outside the other direction of the housing and folds the print medium in the one direction from the middle drying path toward the lower drying path The printing device according to claim 19 having.
21. The printing apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the one-way reversing member folds back the print medium by an air turn bar.
The housing includes a first unit housing disposed downstream of the post-stage printing unit in the transport direction, and a second unit housing detachably connected to the first unit housing.
The first unit housing accommodates the nozzles arranged according to the heights of the upper stage drying path, the middle stage drying path, and the lower stage drying path,
The second unit housing accommodates the nozzles arranged in accordance with the heights of the upper stage drying path, the middle stage drying path, and the lower stage drying path,
In a state where the second unit housing is connected to the first unit housing, the other direction reversing member is attached to the second unit housing outside the one direction of the second unit housing and from the upper stage drying path Folding the print medium in the other direction into the middle drying path;
In a state where the second unit housing is removed from the first unit housing, the other direction reversing member is attached to the first unit housing outside the one direction of the first unit housing and from the upper stage drying path 22. The printing apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the print medium is folded back in the other direction to the middle drying path.
The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 16 to 22, wherein the post-drying unit dries the ink attached to the print medium by spraying a heated gas from the nozzle onto the print medium.
The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 16 to 23, wherein the rear-stage drying unit further includes a heater that heats the print medium, and the ink attached to the print medium is dried by the heater.
The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 24, wherein the post-stage ejection head ejects white ink.