Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F26—DRYING
  • F26B—DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM
  • F26B3/00—Drying solid materials or objects by processes involving the application of heat
  • F26B3/28—Drying solid materials or objects by processes involving the application of heat by radiation, e.g. from the sun
  • F26B3/30—Drying solid materials or objects by processes involving the application of heat by radiation, e.g. from the sun from infrared-emitting elements
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
  • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
  • B41J11/00—Devices or arrangements  of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form
  • B41J11/0015—Devices or arrangements  of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form for treating before, during or after printing or for uniform coating or laminating the copy material before or after printing
  • B41J11/002—Curing or drying the ink on the copy materials, e.g. by heating or irradiating
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
  • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
  • B41J11/00—Devices or arrangements  of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form
  • B41J11/0015—Devices or arrangements  of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form for treating before, during or after printing or for uniform coating or laminating the copy material before or after printing
  • B41J11/002—Curing or drying the ink on the copy materials, e.g. by heating or irradiating
  • B41J11/0021—Curing or drying the ink on the copy materials, e.g. by heating or irradiating using irradiation
  • B41J11/00216—Curing or drying the ink on the copy materials, e.g. by heating or irradiating using irradiation using infrared [IR] radiation or microwaves
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
  • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
  • B41J11/00—Devices or arrangements  of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form
  • B41J11/0015—Devices or arrangements  of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form for treating before, during or after printing or for uniform coating or laminating the copy material before or after printing
  • B41J11/002—Curing or drying the ink on the copy materials, e.g. by heating or irradiating
  • B41J11/0022—Curing or drying the ink on the copy materials, e.g. by heating or irradiating using convection means, e.g. by using a fan for blowing or sucking air
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
  • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
  • B41J11/00—Devices or arrangements  of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form
  • B41J11/0015—Devices or arrangements  of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form for treating before, during or after printing or for uniform coating or laminating the copy material before or after printing
  • B41J11/002—Curing or drying the ink on the copy materials, e.g. by heating or irradiating
  • B41J11/0024—Curing or drying the ink on the copy materials, e.g. by heating or irradiating using conduction means, e.g. by using a heated platen
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F26—DRYING
  • F26B—DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM
  • F26B13/00—Machines and apparatus for drying fabrics, fibres, yarns, or other materials in long lengths, with progressive movement
  • F26B13/06—Machines and apparatus for drying fabrics, fibres, yarns, or other materials in long lengths, with progressive movement with movement in a sinuous or zig-zag path
  • F26B13/08—Machines and apparatus for drying fabrics, fibres, yarns, or other materials in long lengths, with progressive movement with movement in a sinuous or zig-zag path using rollers
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F26—DRYING
  • F26B—DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM
  • F26B13/00—Machines and apparatus for drying fabrics, fibres, yarns, or other materials in long lengths, with progressive movement
  • F26B13/10—Arrangements for feeding, heating or supporting materials; Controlling movement, tension or position of materials
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F26—DRYING
  • F26B—DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM
  • F26B13/00—Machines and apparatus for drying fabrics, fibres, yarns, or other materials in long lengths, with progressive movement
  • F26B13/10—Arrangements for feeding, heating or supporting materials; Controlling movement, tension or position of materials
  • F26B13/14—Rollers, drums, cylinders; Arrangement of drives, supports, bearings, cleaning
  • F26B13/18—Rollers, drums, cylinders; Arrangement of drives, supports, bearings, cleaning heated or cooled, e.g. from inside, the material being dried on the outside surface by conduction

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a drying system and a printing system, and particularly relates to a technique for drying a substrate to which a liquid has been applied.
• a drying section to dry the ink after applying the ink.
• thermal energy is applied to the ink-coated substrate using heated air, a heat roll, an infrared heater, or the like to accelerate drying.
• Patent Document 1 describes a technique for heating an object to be dried to which a liquid is applied and conveyed using a heating drum and a hot air fan.
• Patent Document 2 describes a drying device that dries a member to which a liquid has been applied and is conveyed using a drying drum and an infrared heater.
• Patent Documents 1 and 2 it is not possible to selectively add a drying heat source, and even when used only with a base material with a relatively high absorption rate such as high-quality paper, A large-sized drying mechanism is required that takes into consideration the use of a base material with relatively low absorption rate. This increases the cost of the drying mechanism and increases the size of the device. Furthermore, adding a heat roll or the like to a completed printing device as an afterthought would change the conveyance route, making it difficult to implement.
• the present invention was made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a drying system and a printing system that configure a drying zone compatible with base materials having a wide range of absorption rates.
• One aspect of the drying system for achieving the above object is a drying system that dries a base material to which a liquid is applied to a first surface and is transported along a transport path, the drying system comprising: a first surface to which a liquid is applied; A second drying zone in which a second heating device for drying a highly absorbent substrate having a relatively high liquid absorption rate is disposed upstream of the contact roll in contact with the first surface of the conveyance path.
• the method further includes a first drying zone in which a first heating device for drying a low-absorbency substrate having a relatively low liquid absorption rate is disposed upstream of the contact roll in the conveyance path. possible drying system. According to this aspect, it is possible to configure a drying zone compatible with base materials having a wide range of absorption rates, and to prevent the liquid applied to the base material from adhering to the contact roll.
• a first drying zone is additionally configured. This makes it possible to dry a low-absorbency base material that has a relatively low liquid absorption rate.
• the liquid contains a solvent and is dried in the second drying zone until the amount of residual solvent in the liquid applied to the superabsorbent substrate becomes 40% or less. This can prevent the liquid applied to the highly absorbent substrate from adhering to the contact roll.
• At least one of the first heating device and the second heating device includes an infrared heater that irradiates the first surface with infrared rays, and the substrate is heated in the first drying zone and the second drying zone. It is preferable that the ratio of the time heated by the infrared heater to the total time is 50% or less. Thereby, deformation of the base material can be prevented.
• the first heating device is an infrared heater that irradiates infrared rays onto a first surface of the base material, and rotates while holding a second surface of the base material opposite to the first surface on a heated outer peripheral surface. It is preferable to include at least one of a heat roll and a heating fan that blows heated air onto the first surface of the substrate. Thereby, the liquid applied to the base material can be dried.
• the second heating device includes an infrared heater that irradiates the first surface of the base material with infrared rays, and rotates while holding the second surface of the base material opposite to the first surface on the heated outer peripheral surface. It is preferable to include at least one of a heat roll and a heating fan that blows heated air onto the first surface of the substrate. Thereby, the liquid applied to the base material can be dried.
• first drying unit that is integrally configured with a first attachment mechanism, a first heating device, and a second attachment mechanism that engages with the first attachment mechanism.
• first drying zone can be additionally configured without affecting the control system and power supply configuration of the printing apparatus.
• the first drying zone is configured while maintaining the conveyance path before adding the first drying zone. This makes it possible to additionally configure the first drying zone without affecting the transport path.
• a third drying zone in which a third heating device for drying the highly absorbent substrate is arranged is configured upstream or downstream of the contact roll in the transport path, and It is preferable that a fourth drying zone can be additionally configured, in which a fourth heating device for drying the low-absorbency substrate is arranged, or on the downstream side. This makes it possible to configure a drying zone compatible with base materials having a wide range of absorption rates and prevent blocking.
• a fourth drying zone is additionally configured. This makes it possible to dry a low-absorbency base material that has a relatively low liquid absorption rate.
• the liquid contains a solvent and is dried in the second drying zone and the third drying zone until the amount of residual solvent in the liquid applied to the superabsorbent substrate becomes 20% or less. Thereby, blocking of the highly absorbent base material can be prevented.
• the fourth heating device includes an infrared heater that irradiates the first surface with infrared rays, a heat roll that rotates while holding a second surface opposite to the first surface on a heated outer peripheral surface, and a first
• the device includes at least one heating fan that blows heated air onto the surface of the device. Thereby, the liquid applied to the base material can be dried.
• the fourth drying zone can be additionally configured without affecting the control system and power supply configuration of the printing apparatus.
• the fourth drying zone is configured while maintaining the conveyance path before adding the fourth drying zone. Thereby, a fourth drying zone can be additionally configured without affecting the conveyance path.
• the second drying zone also serves as the third drying zone. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the increase in size of the device.
• a printing system for achieving the above object includes a printing device that applies liquid to a first surface of a base material, and a contact roll that contacts the first surface, and that moves the base material along a conveyance path.
• This is a printing system that includes a conveyance device that conveys the image by using a drying system, and the above-mentioned drying system. According to this aspect, it is possible to configure a drying zone compatible with base materials having a wide range of absorption rates, and to prevent the liquid applied to the base material from adhering to the contact roll.
• FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an inkjet printing apparatus.
• FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the first inkjet section and the first additional drying section.
• FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a first inkjet section and a first additional drying section according to another embodiment.
• FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a base material and water contained in the aqueous ink applied to the base material.
• FIG. 5 is a graph for explaining the constant rate drying period and the decreasing rate drying period.
• FIG. 6 is a table showing the results of evaluating the relationship between the amount of residual solvent and the presence or absence of blocking.
• FIG. 7 is a table showing the results of evaluating the relationship between the usage rate of drying using an infrared heater and base material deformation.
• FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the addition mechanism of the first drying zone.
• FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the fourth drying zone addition mechanism.
• FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an inkjet printing apparatus 10.
• the inkjet printing apparatus 10 is a printing system that prints an image on a base material S, which is a long paper medium, in a single pass method.
• the inkjet printing apparatus 10 includes a paper feeding section 20, a first inkjet section 30, a first additional drying section 40, a substrate reversing section 50, a second inkjet section 60, and a second additional drying section 40. It includes a drying section 70, an inspection section 80, and a winding section 90.
• the base material S is conveyed in a roll-to-roll manner along a conveyance path from the paper feed section 20 to the winding section 90 by drive rolls (an example of a "conveyance device") driven by a motor (not shown). be done.
• the paper feed unit 20 includes a delivery roll on which the base material S before an image is printed is wound into a roll.
• the base material S supplied from the delivery roll is conveyed to the first inkjet section 30.
• the first inkjet section 30 applies water-based ink (an example of a "liquid”) to the surface of the substrate S by an inkjet method (an example of "application”) while conveying the substrate S conveyed from the paper feed section 20. Example) and print the image.
• water-based ink an example of a "liquid”
• inkjet method an example of "application”
• the first inkjet section 30 is configured with a first drying zone 34A (see FIG. 2) and a second drying zone 34B (see FIG. 2) along the conveyance path of the base material S.
• the first drying zone 34A and the second drying zone 34B receive thermal energy from a heating device, which will be described later, to dry the aqueous ink applied to the base material S.
• the base material S discharged from the first inkjet section 30 is conveyed to the first additional drying section 40.
• the first additional drying section 40 includes a fourth drying zone 42 (see FIG. 2).
• the fourth drying zone 42 receives thermal energy from a heating device, which will be described later, to dry the aqueous ink applied to the base material S while conveying the base material S.
• the base material S discharged from the first additional drying section 40 is conveyed to the base material reversing section 50.
• the base material reversing section 50 includes a turn bar.
• the turn bar turns the base material S upside down.
• the base material S with its front and back sides reversed is conveyed to the second inkjet section 60.
• the configuration of the second inkjet section 60 is similar to the first inkjet section 30.
• the second inkjet section 60 prints an image by applying water-based ink to the back surface of the base material S using an inkjet method, and dries the water-based ink applied to the base material S.
• the base material S discharged from the second inkjet section 60 is conveyed to the second additional drying section 70.
• the configuration of the second additional drying section 70 is similar to the first additional drying section 40.
• the second additional drying section 70 dries the water-based ink applied to the base material S while conveying the base material S.
• the base material S discharged from the second additional drying section 70 is conveyed to the inspection section 80.
• the inspection unit 80 inspects the images printed on the front and back sides of the base material S.
• the inspection unit 80 includes a scanner that photographs the front surface of the base material S, and a scanner that photographs the back surface.
• the inkjet printing device 10 also includes a processor (not shown) that determines whether the image captured by the scanner is good or bad.
• the base material S whose image has been inspected by the inspection section 80 is conveyed to the winding section 90 .
• the winding unit 90 includes a winding roll (an example of a "transport device") connected to a motor (not shown).
• the winding unit 90 causes the winding roll to wind up the base material S on which the image is printed, by rotating the winding roll by a motor (not shown).
• the inkjet printing apparatus 10 supplies the substrate S to the paper feeding section 20, the first inkjet section 30, the first additional drying section 40, the substrate reversing section 50, the second inkjet section 60, and the second inkjet section 60.
• the printed material is manufactured by transporting the base material S to the additional drying section 70, the inspection section 80, and the winding section 90 in this order, and subjecting the base material S to each processing.
• FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the first inkjet section 30 and the first additional drying section 40 including the drying system according to this embodiment. As described above, the configurations of the second inkjet section 60 and the second additional drying section 70 are also similar. Note that FIG. 2 is shown more simply than FIG. 1.
• the first inkjet section 30 includes a plurality of pass rolls 12, inkjet heads 32K, 32C, 32M, 32Y, a first drying zone 34A, a second drying zone 34B, and a third drying zone. 48. Note that here, the second drying zone 34B also serves as the third drying zone 48.
• the base material S conveyed from the paper feed section 20 to the first inkjet section 30 is guided and conveyed inside the first inkjet section 30 by the path roll 12 .
• the inkjet heads 32K, 32C, 32M, and 32Y are line-type recording heads that can print on the transported substrate S by one scan.
• the inkjet heads 32K, 32C, 32M, and 32Y are arranged at regular intervals along the transport path.
• the inkjet heads 32K, 32C, 32M, and 32Y each include a nozzle surface (not shown) in which a plurality of nozzles, which are ejection ports for aqueous ink, are arranged two-dimensionally, and the nozzle surfaces are arranged to face the base material S.
• the inkjet heads 32K, 32C, 32M, and 32Y each receive black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) water-based inks from ink tanks (not shown) via piping routes (not shown).
• K black
• C cyan
• M magenta
• Y yellow
• Water-based ink refers to ink in which coloring materials such as dyes and pigments are dissolved or dispersed in water and a water-soluble solvent.
• a water-based pigment ink is used as the water-based ink.
• Organic pigments are used for the black, cyan, magenta, and yellow aqueous inks.
• the inkjet heads 32K, 32C, 32M, and 32Y each discharge droplets of water-based ink toward the base material S.
• the ejected droplets are applied to the print surface (an example of the "first surface") of the base material S, and an image is printed on the print surface of the base material S.
• the ink colors and the number of colors are not limited to this embodiment.
• an inkjet head that ejects light color ink such as light magenta and light cyan, special color ink such as green, orange, and violet, clear ink, metallic ink, etc. may be added.
• the order in which the inkjet heads of each color are arranged is not limited.
• the substrate S on which color images have been printed by the inkjet heads 32K, 32C, 32M, and 32Y is guided by the pass roll 12 and passes through the first drying zone 34A.
• a plurality of heating fans 37 are arranged in the first drying zone 34A as an auxiliary drying device.
• the plurality of heating fans 37 each include a blower outlet (not shown) that blows out heated air, and are arranged with the blower outlet facing the conveyance path of the base material S.
• the plurality of heating fans 37 blow heated air onto the printed surface (side A) of the base material S from their respective blow-off ports. Thereby, the printed surface of the base material S passing through the first drying zone 34A is heated by the heated air, and the drying of the aqueous ink applied to the printed surface is promoted.
• the first drying zone 34A includes an infrared heater that irradiates the printed surface of the substrate S with infrared rays, and an infrared heater that holds the surface of the substrate S opposite to the printed surface (Side B) on the heated outer peripheral surface.
• a rotating heat roll may be provided.
• the second drying zone 34B includes a first heat roll 36 (an example of a "second heating device", an example of a “third heating device”), and a plurality of heating fans 37 (an example of a "second heating device”). ” and an example of the “third heating device”) are arranged.
• the first heat roll 36 is rotationally driven by a motor (not shown). Further, the outer peripheral surface of the first heat roll 36 is heated by a heater (not shown). The first heat roll 36 rotates while holding the surface of the substrate S opposite to the printed surface (an example of a "second surface") on the outer peripheral surface, thereby transferring the substrate S to the side opposite to the printed surface. Transport while heating from the side. Thereby, the base material S passing through the second drying zone 34B is heated by the first heat roll 36, and the drying of the water-based ink applied to the printing surface is promoted.
• the plurality of heating fans 37 are arranged with each blower outlet facing the conveyance path of the base material S.
• the plurality of heating fans 37 blow heated air onto the printing surface of the base material S from their respective blower ports. Thereby, the printing surface of the base material S passing through the second drying zone 34B is heated by the heated air, and the drying of the aqueous ink applied to the printing surface is promoted.
• An infrared heater that irradiates the printed surface of the base material S with infrared rays may be arranged in the second drying zone 34B.
• the substrate S that has passed through the second drying zone 34B is transferred from the first inkjet section 30 to the first additional drying section by an A-side touch roll 12A (an example of a "contact roll"), which is a pass roll 12 that contacts the printed surface. 40.
• the base material S transported to the first additional drying section 40 is transported inside the first additional drying section 40 .
• the first additional drying section 40 includes a fourth drying zone 42.
• the fourth drying zone 42 includes a plurality of A-side touch rolls 12A, a plurality of second heat rolls 44 (an example of a "fourth heating device"), and a plurality of heating fans 37 (an example of a "fourth heating device”). ”) is placed.
• the configuration of the second heat roll 44 is similar to that of the first heat roll 36, but its diameter is relatively smaller than that of the first heat roll 36.
• the second heat rolls 44 each wrap the base material S around its outer peripheral surface and rotate, thereby conveying the base material S while heating it from the surface opposite to the printed surface. Thereby, the base material S passing through the fourth drying zone 42 is heated by the second heat roll 44, and the drying of the water-based ink applied to the printing surface is promoted.
• the heating fans 37 are arranged with their blower ports facing the conveyance path of the substrate S, and blow heated air onto the printing surface of the substrate S from the blower ports. Thereby, the printing surface of the base material S passing through the fourth drying zone 42 is heated by the heated air, and the drying of the aqueous ink applied to the printing surface is promoted.
• an infrared heater that irradiates the printed surface of the substrate S with infrared rays and a heat roll that rotates while holding the printed surface of the substrate S on the heated outer peripheral surface are arranged. Good too.
• the base material S that has passed through the fourth drying zone 42 is conveyed from the first additional drying section 40 to the base material reversing section 50 (see FIG. 1).
• the first drying zone 34A and the fourth drying zone 42 are configured to be able to be added to the base inkjet printing device 10 as needed. That is, the inkjet printing device 10 serving as the base is not provided with the first drying zone 34A and the fourth drying zone 42. The same applies to the second inkjet section 60 and the second additional drying section 70.
• FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a first inkjet section 30 and a first additional drying section 40 according to another embodiment.
• the third drying zone 48 is configured downstream of the first A-side touch roll 12A in the conveyance path of the substrate S and upstream of the first additional drying section 40. .
• An infrared heater 49 is arranged in the third drying zone 48 .
• the infrared heater 49 heats the substrate S by irradiating the printed surface of the substrate S with infrared rays.
• the third drying zone 48 includes a heating fan that blows out heated air from an outlet, and a heat roll that rotates while holding the printed surface of the substrate S or the surface opposite to the printed surface on the heated outer peripheral surface. may be placed.
• FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the base material S and the water contained in the aqueous ink applied to the base material S.
• F4A in FIG. 4 shows the case where the base material S is high quality paper
• F4B in FIG. 4 shows the case where the base material S is coated paper.
• Woodfree paper is a highly absorbent substrate that has a relatively high absorption rate for water-based inks.
• coated paper is a low-absorbency base material that has a relatively low absorption rate for water-based ink. Note that coated paper includes gloss coated paper, matte coated paper, and the like.
• the base material S can absorb a large amount of moisture MS inside the support BS.
• the coated paper has a coating layer CT that is difficult to absorb moisture MS on the surface of the support BS.
• the coating layer CT containing moisture MS is brittle and easily causes failures such as peeling. Therefore, when a water-based ink is applied to coated paper, it is necessary to dry the applied moisture MS by inputting a large amount of heat, rather than allowing the support BS and the coating layer CT to absorb the moisture MS. For this reason, it is generally known that coated paper requires a greater amount of heat for drying than high-quality paper.
• the second drying zone 34B which is a basic drying zone configured in the base inkjet printing device 10, is for drying high-quality paper with a relatively high absorption rate.
• the amount of heat required to dry the wood-free paper is determined. This can be determined either by calculation or experimentally. At this time, since the drying load is large, the amount of heat is calculated based on the largest thickness of the base material S to be used.
• the second drying zone 34B is configured according to this amount of heat. Note that even if the paper is made of high-quality paper, if the A-side touch roll 12A touches the printed surface while it is not dry, the applied water-based ink will adhere to the A-side touch roll 12A. For this reason, the A-side touch roll 12A is arranged downstream of the second drying zone 34B in the transport path of the base material S. In addition, a space is secured in which the first drying zone 34A can be added upstream of the A-side touch roll 12A in the transport path of the base material S.
• the first drying zone 34A and the fourth drying zone 42 which can be added to the base inkjet printing apparatus 10, are for drying coated paper having a relatively low absorption rate.
• the amount of heat required to dry the coated paper is determined. At this time, two amounts of heat are determined: the amount of heat required until contact with the printed surface of the base material S becomes possible, and the amount of heat required until winding up.
• a first drying zone 34A is added on the upstream side of the conveyance path from the A-side touch roll 12A, which first contacts the printed surface, based on the amount of heat required to contact the printed surface. Furthermore, based on the amount of heat input required before winding up, a fourth drying zone 42 is added on the downstream side of the conveyance path from the A-side touch roll 12A that first contacts the printed surface.
• an independent unit means that each of the transport path system, control system, and power supply configuration does not have any influence.
• FIG. 5 is a graph for explaining a constant rate drying period and a decreasing rate drying period when a base material coated with an aqueous ink is dried with a constant amount of heat.
• the horizontal axis shows the drying time
• the vertical axis on the left side shows the paper surface temperature (surface temperature of the base material)
• the vertical axis on the right side shows the amount of residual solvent in the base material.
• the unit of residual solvent amount is %.
• each of a high absorbency base material and a low absorbency base material is shown.
• the constant rate drying period is a period in which the applied aqueous ink mainly evaporates at the air-liquid interface.
• the rate of increase in paper surface temperature is relatively low and the rate of decrease in the amount of residual solvent is relatively high.
• the lapse rate drying period is a period during which the aqueous ink that has penetrated into the base material evaporates.
• the rate of increase in paper surface temperature is relatively high and the rate of decrease in the amount of residual solvent is relatively low.
• the constant rate drying period is until the amount of residual solvent is 40% or less, and for low absorbent substrates, the constant rate drying period is until the amount of residual solvent is 30% or less. It is.
• infrared heaters which are non-contact heating devices, heating fans, and heat rolls that support the surface opposite to the printed surface are used to prevent contact with the printed surface. Configure a drying zone.
• the residual solvent amount must be 40% or less for highly absorbent substrates, and 30% or less for low absorbent substrates. Then, the printed surface is contacted with the A-side touch roll 12A.
• a low-absorbency base material is relatively easier to block than a high-absorbency base material, it is necessary to strengthen drying more with a low-absorbency base material.
• blocking refers to a phenomenon in which base materials that have been rolled up and overlapped stick to each other.
• FIG. 6 is a table showing the results of evaluating the relationship between the amount of residual solvent during winding of the base material and the presence or absence of blocking. In FIG. 6, "OK” indicates that no blocking occurs, and “NG” indicates that blocking occurs.
• a low-absorbency base material with a relatively high base material surface smoothness has a lower amount of residual solvent that prevents blocking during winding.
• Infrared heaters have different heat absorption rates depending on the color of the object to which infrared rays are irradiated. Therefore, if used in the latter half of the drying process (downstream of the conveyance path from the A-side touch roll that first contacts the printed surface), the residual moisture of the printed matter will vary depending on the color of the printed image, especially due to deformation of the substrate. lead to deterioration. Therefore, infrared heaters are not preferably used late in the drying process. On the other hand, since the infrared heater is non-contact and has relatively high thermal efficiency, it is used in the first half of the drying process (upstream of the conveyance path from the A-side touch roll that first contacts the printed surface).
• FIG. 7 is a table showing the results of evaluating the relationship between the usage rate of the infrared heater and substrate deformation in the drying zone upstream of the conveyance path from the A-side touch roll that first contacts the printed surface.
• the usage rate of the infrared heater is the ratio of the time during which the base material is heated by the infrared heater to the total heating time during which the base material is heated.
• base materials having basis weights of 104 gsm (g/m 2 ), 127 gsm, 157 gsm, and 210 gsm were evaluated.
• “OK” indicates that the base material deformation is within the allowable range
• “NG” indicates that the base material deformation is outside the allowable range.
• the base material with a basis weight of 104 gsm was outside the allowable range. Furthermore, when the usage rate of the infrared heater was 70%, base materials with basis weights of 104 gsm, 127 gsm, and 157 gsm were outside the allowable range.
• the ratio of the time heated by the infrared heater exceeds 50% of the total heating time during which the base material is heated, the base material will deform, which is not preferable. Further, it can be seen that it is preferable that the ratio of the time for heating by the infrared heater is 50% or less of the total heating time for heating the base material so that the base material does not deform.
• the heat roll has high heat transfer efficiency to the base material because it comes into contact with the base material, but it is only in the latter half of the drying process that it can come into contact with the printed surface.
• a heat roll in the first half of the drying process use a relatively large diameter drum or It is necessary to devise measures such as arranging a large number of small-diameter rolls.
• Heated air by a heating fan does not have high thermal efficiency, but it not only inputs thermal energy, but also has a drying effect due to humidity differences and the ability to replace air containing a large amount of evaporated solvent with fresh air. be. Heated air can be used during the first or second half of the drying process. Since heated air is non-contact, it is effective to use it on the printing surface.
• the base inkjet printing device 10 is used and it is dried in the second drying zone 34B.
• the amount of heat in the second drying zone 34B is determined so as to dry the highly absorbent substrate to a level where it can contact the printed surface before reaching the A-side touch roll 12A that first contacts the printed surface. do.
• the amount of heat in the second drying zone 34B is the amount of heat that dries the amount of residual solvent in the liquid applied to the highly absorbent substrate to 40% or less.
• the amount of heat in the second drying zone 34B is determined so as to dry the highly absorbent base material to a level that does not cause blocking when it is wound up by the winding section 90.
• the amount of heat in the second drying zone 34B is the amount of heat that dries the amount of residual solvent in the liquid applied to the highly absorbent substrate to 20% or less.
• a first drying zone 34A and a fourth drying zone 42 are additionally configured to the base inkjet printing device 10.
• the amount of heat in the first drying zone 34A is determined so as to dry the low-absorbency substrate to a level where it can contact the printed surface before reaching the A-side touch roll that first contacts the printed surface.
• the amount of heat in the first drying zone 34A is such that the amount of heat in the first drying zone 34A and the second drying zone 34B dries the residual solvent amount of the liquid applied to the low-absorbency substrate to 30% or less. It is the amount of heat.
• the amount of heat in the fourth drying zone 42 is determined so as to dry the low-absorbency base material to a level that does not cause blocking when it is wound up by the winding section 90.
• the amount of heat in the fourth drying zone 42 is such that the amount of residual solvent in the liquid applied to the low-absorbency substrate by the first drying zone 34A, the second drying zone 34B, and the fourth drying zone 42 is 15%. % or less.
• a third drying zone 48 may be provided to dry the low absorbency substrate to a level where it can contact the printed surface before reaching the A-side touch roll where it first contacts the printed surface.
• the high-absorbency base material and the low-absorbency base material can satisfy drying properties that allow contact with the printed surface and blocking resistance during winding.
• the amount of heat required for drying when printing the front side of the substrate S and the amount of heat required for drying when printing the back side of the substrate S may be considered to be the same.
• FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining an additional mechanism of the first drying zone 34A.
• F8A in FIG. 8 shows a part of the first inkjet section 30 in a state where the first drying zone 34A is not configured.
• a transport path for the base material S is configured by a plurality of pass rolls 12.
• the first inkjet section 30 includes a first attachment mechanism 39A.
• F8B in FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the first drying unit 38 for configuring the first drying zone 34A.
• the first drying unit 38 has a structure in which a plurality of heating fans 37 and a second attachment mechanism 39B that engages with the first attachment mechanism 39A are integrated.
• the first drying unit 38 is positioned and attached to the inkjet printing apparatus 10 by a first attachment mechanism 39A and a second attachment mechanism 39B.
• F8C in FIG. 8 shows the first drying zone 34A configured by engaging the second attachment mechanism 39B of the first drying unit 38 with the first attachment mechanism 39A.
• a plurality of heating fans 37 are arranged on the conveyance path of the base material S.
• the first drying zone 34A is configured to be able to be added by the first drying unit 38 while maintaining the transport path of the base material S before adding the first drying zone 34A.
• a first mounting mechanism 39A and a second mounting mechanism 39B which are members for positioning and mounting, are prepared in advance for both the inkjet printing device 10 serving as the base and the first drying unit 38. However, processing for positioning and mounting may be provided.
• FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the additional mechanism of the fourth drying zone 42.
• F9A in FIG. 9 shows the first additional drying section 40 without the fourth drying zone 42 configured.
• a transport path for the base material S is configured by a plurality of pass rolls 12.
• the first additional drying section 40 includes a third attachment mechanism 47A.
• F9B in FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the second drying unit 46 for configuring the fourth drying zone 42.
• the second drying unit 46 includes a plurality of A-side touch rolls 12A, a plurality of heating fans 37, a plurality of second heat rolls 44, and a fourth attachment mechanism 47B that engages with the third attachment mechanism 47A. It has the following structure.
• the second drying unit 46 is positioned and attached to the inkjet printing apparatus 10 by a third attachment mechanism 47A and a fourth attachment mechanism 47B.
• F9C in FIG. 9 shows the fourth drying zone 42 configured by engaging the fourth attachment mechanism 47B of the second drying unit 46 with the third attachment mechanism 47A.
• the fourth drying zone 42 there is an additional conveyance system that conveys the base material S in the order of the A-side touch roll 12A, the second heat roll 44, the second heat roll 44, and the A-side touch roll 12A.
• a route is configured.
• two second heat rolls 44 and six heating fans 37 are arranged on the additional conveyance path.
• the fourth drying zone 42 is configured to be able to be added while maintaining the transport path of the base material S other than the first additional drying section 40.
• the fourth drying zone 42 is configured to be addable by the second drying unit 46.
• the fourth drying zone 42 may be configured to be able to be added while maintaining the transport path of the base material S in the first additional drying section 40 before the fourth drying zone 42 is added.
• the first drying zone 34A may be added by configuring an additional conveyance path like the fourth drying zone 42.
• a third mounting mechanism 47A and a fourth mounting mechanism 47B which are members for positioning and mounting, are prepared in advance for both the inkjet printing device 10 serving as the base and the second drying unit 46. However, processing for positioning and mounting may be provided.
• the drying zone is divided into two sections before and after the A-side touch roll 12A, and the drying zone can be added selectively according to the absorption rate of the base material, so that one printing device can be used as a base.
• the drying zone can be added selectively according to the absorption rate of the base material, so that one printing device can be used as a base.
• the drying device according to this embodiment is not limited to inkjet printing devices, but can be applied to printing devices that form images by applying water-based ink.
• the drying device according to the present embodiment can also be applied to a printing device that prints and dries sheets of paper as a base material while conveying them one by one, and stacks them on a paper discharge table.
• the components of the transport path for the base material are the pass rolls, but the components of the transport path for the base material of the sheet-fed printing apparatus are the guide plate and the transport drum.

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• 2023
  • 2023-03-01 JP JP2024507703A patent/JPWO2023176446A1/ja active Pending
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• 2024
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