Ink drying device and printing system
An ink drying device dries ink injected onto a recording medium. The ink drying device includes a main body including a counter plate facing the recording medium and including an inner space, and a heat generator located in the inner space of the main body to generate heat. The counter plate is provided with a plurality of discharge holes. The ink drying device further includes a heat diffusion layer provided on an outer surface of the counter plate that faces the recording medium.
1. An ink drying device that dries ink injected onto a recording medium, the ink drying device comprising:
a main body including a counter plate facing the recording medium and including an inner space and a plurality of discharge holes;
a heat generator located in the inner space of the main body to generate heat; and
a heat diffusion layer provided on an outer surface of the counter plate facing the recording medium.
2. The ink drying device according to claim 1 , further comprising another heat diffusion layer provided on an inner surface of the counter plate opposite to the outer surface.
3. The ink drying device according to claim 1 , further comprising a leg extending downward from the main body.
4. The ink drying device according to claim 1 , wherein the counter plate is located between the heat generator and the heat diffusion layer.
5. The ink drying device according to claim 1 , wherein the heat diffusion layers include a heat diffusion paint.
6. The ink drying device according to claim 5 , wherein the heat diffusion paint includes at least a metal oxide.
7. The ink drying device according to claim 1 , wherein the heat generator includes:
a heat source case located in the main body and including an inner space;
a heat source located in the heat source case to generate heat; and
a fan provided on the heat source case;
the heat source case is provided with a heat source-side discharge hole via which the heat generated by the heat source is discharged to the inner space of the main body; and
the main body is provided with an absorption slit that communicates the fan and an outside of the main body to each other.
8. The ink drying device according to claim 7 , wherein
the main body includes a cover that encloses the inner space together with the counter plate;
the main body is provided with a discharge slit between the counter plate and the cover; and
the main body is provided with a path in communication with the discharge slit to allow passage of a portion of the heat generated by the heat source.
9. The ink drying device according to claim 8 , wherein
the main body extends in a predetermined first direction;
the absorption slit is provided between the counter plate and one end among two ends of the cover in a second direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the first direction as seen in a plan view; and
the discharge slit is provided at the other end of the cover in the second direction.
10. The ink drying device according to claim 9 , wherein the main body further includes a guide provided in the discharge slit and extending downward and toward the one end in the second direction.
11. The ink drying device according to claim 7 , wherein
the heat generator includes a driving motor connected with the fan;
the ink drying device further comprising:
a temperature sensor provided on the counter plate; and
a controller communicably connected with the driving motor, the heat source and the temperature sensor;
the controller is configured or programmed to include:
an initial control processor that determines whether or not a detected temperature detected by the temperature sensor is no higher than a predetermined first temperature, and when the detected temperature is lower than, or equal to, the first temperature, controls the driving motor such that a rotation rate of the fan is a predetermined first rotation rate and controls the heat source such that an amount of the heat to be generated by the heat source is a predetermined first heat amount;
a printing control processor that, at a time of printing, controls the driving motor such that the rotation rate of the fan is a second rotation rate greater than the first rotation rate;
a first printing finish control processor that, at a time of finish of printing, stops heat generation by the heat source; and
a second printing finish control processor that, after the heat generation by the heat source is stopped by the first printing finish control processor, determines whether or not the detected temperature detected by the temperature sensor is no higher than a second temperature lower than the first temperature, and when the detected temperature is lower than, or equal to, the second temperature, stops the driving motor to stop the fan.
12. A printing system, comprising:
the ink drying device according to claim 1 ; and
a printing device including a carrying stand on which the recording medium is allowed to be placed, and an ink head that injects ink toward the carrying stand.
13. The printing system according to claim 12 , further comprising a guide rail extending in a main scanning direction, the guide rail allowing the ink head to slide thereon; wherein
the carrying stand extends in the main scanning direction; and
the counter plate of the main body of the ink drying device extends in the main scanning direction.
14. The printing system according to claim 13 , wherein the ink drying device is attached to the printing device such that the counter plate faces the carrying stand and is above the carrying stand.
15. The printing system according to claim 14 , further comprising a medium transportation mechanism that transports the recording medium placed on the carrying stand in a sub scanning direction with respect to the ink head; wherein
the ink drying device is located above one of two ends of the carrying stand in the sub scanning direction.