Conveyance device, liquid discharge apparatus, and post-processing apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11697292-B2
Application number	US-202217582019-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 24, 2022
Priority date	Mar 2, 2021
Publication date	Jul 11, 2023
Grant date	Jul 11, 2023

Abstract

A conveyance device includes a conveyor having an outer face that contacts a sheet adhered with liquid. The conveyor conveys the sheet. A heat radiator generates air. A ventilator sends the air to the outer face of the conveyor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A conveyance device comprising:
a conveyor having an outer face configured to contact a sheet adhered with liquid, the conveyor configured to convey the sheet;
a heat radiator configured to generate air; and
a ventilator configured to send the air to the outer face of the conveyor.

2. The conveyance device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a guide configured to guide the sheet in a sheet conveyance direction;
a conveyance path defined by the guide;
a conveyance path exterior disposed outside the guide; and
a conveyance path interior disposed inside the guide,
wherein the conveyor is configured to span the conveyance path exterior and the conveyance path interior, and
wherein the ventilator is disposed in the conveyance path exterior.

3. The conveyance device according to claim 2 ,
wherein the guide has a through hole in which the conveyor is disposed, and
wherein a clearance is provided between an edge of the through hole and the outer face of the conveyor.

4. The conveyance device according to claim 2 ,
wherein the conveyor is configured to rotate in a rotation direction to convey the sheet.

5. The conveyance device according to claim 4 ,
wherein the ventilator is configured to send the air to the outer face of the conveyor in a downstream region of the conveyor in the sheet conveyance direction.

6. The conveyance device according to claim 4 ,
wherein the ventilator is configured to send the air to the outer face of the conveyor in an upstream region of the conveyor in the sheet conveyance direction.

7. The conveyance device according to claim 2 ,
wherein the ventilator is configured to send the air to the conveyor in an airflow direction away from the guide.

8. The conveyance device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
another conveyor having an outer face configured to contact a first side of the sheet; and
another ventilator configured to send the air to the outer face of said another conveyor,
wherein the conveyor is configured to contact a second side of the sheet opposite the first side of the sheet.

9. The conveyance device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the ventilator is configured to send the air to the conveyor in an airflow direction and the conveyor is configured to convey the sheet in a sheet conveyance direction, and
wherein the airflow direction is at an acute angle to the sheet conveyance direction.

10. The conveyance device according to claim 1 , further comprising a cover disposed opposite the outer face of the conveyor with a gap between the cover and the outer face of the conveyor.

11. The conveyance device according to claim 1 , further comprising another conveyor having an outer face configured to contact a first side of the sheet, said another conveyor shifted from the conveyor in a sheet conveyance direction in which the conveyor conveys the sheet,
wherein the conveyor is configured to contact a second side of the sheet opposite the first side of the sheet.

12. The conveyance device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the ventilator includes:
a first vent; and
a second vent arranged with the first vent in a direction perpendicular to a sheet conveyance direction in which the conveyor conveys the sheet.

13. The conveyance device according to claim 12 ,
wherein the first vent is configured to discharge the air in a first discharge amount and the second vent is configured to discharge the air in a second discharge amount different from the first discharge amount.

14. The conveyance device according to claim 12 ,
wherein the first vent is configured to discharge the air at a first wind velocity and the second vent is configured to discharge the air at a second wind velocity different from the first wind velocity.

15. The conveyance device according to claim 12 , further comprising a controller configured to change one of a discharge amount and a wind velocity of the air discharged from each of the first vent and the second vent.

16. The conveyance device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a first chamber configured to accommodate the conveyor; and
a second chamber configured to accommodate the heat radiator and separated from the first chamber.

17. The conveyance device according to claim 16 ,
wherein the conveyer includes one of a roller and an endless belt,
wherein the heat radiator includes at least one of a driver, a power supply, or an electrical component, and
wherein the ventilator includes:
a duct disposed in the first chamber and configured to send the air to the conveyer; and
a fan configured to send the air inside the second chamber into the duct.

18. A liquid discharge apparatus comprising:
a liquid discharger configured to discharge liquid onto a sheet; and
a conveyance device configured to convey the sheet,
the conveyance device including:
a conveyor having an outer face configured to contact the sheet adhered with the liquid, the conveyor configured to convey the sheet;
a heat radiator configured to generate air; and
a ventilator configured to send the air to the outer face of the conveyor.

19. The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 18 ,
wherein the liquid discharger is configured to discharge the liquid onto the sheet to form an image on the sheet.

20. A post-processing apparatus comprising:
a conveyance device including:
a conveyor having an outer face configured to contact a sheet adhered with liquid, the conveyor configured to convey the sheet;
a heat radiator configured to generate air; and
a ventilator configured to send the air to the outer face of the conveyor; and

a post-processing device configured to perform post-processing on the sheet conveyed from the conveyance device.

Assignees

• Onodera Ken
• Ricoh Co Ltd

Inventors

• Onodera Ken

Classifications

• B41J29/377 Primary

  Cooling or ventilating arrangements · CPC title

• B41J11/0022 Primary

  using convection means, e.g. by using a fan for blowing or sucking air · CPC title

• Y02P70/10

  Greenhouse gas [GHG] capture, material saving, heat recovery or other energy efficient measures, e.g. motor control, characterised by manufacturing processes, e.g. for rolling metal or metal working · CPC title

• B41J11/0024

  using conduction means, e.g. by using a heated platen · CPC title

• F26B3/20

  the heat source being a heated surface {, e.g. a moving belt or conveyor}(F26B3/22 takes precedence) · CPC title