Drying apparatus, recording apparatus, and drying method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018236784-A1
Application number	US-201815901399-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 21, 2018
Priority date	Feb 22, 2017
Publication date	Aug 23, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A drying apparatus includes: a heating drying portion that heats and dries a thermoplastic medium to which a liquid has been applied; and a pressurizing portion that pressurizes the thermoplastic medium heated by the heating drying portion to correct a shape of the thermoplastic medium. The pressurizing portion pressurizes, while heating, the heated thermoplastic medium in accordance with a state of the thermoplastic medium deformed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A drying apparatus, comprising:
a heating drying portion that heats and dries a thermoplastic medium to which a liquid has been applied; and a pressurizing portion that pressurizes the thermoplastic medium heated by the heating drying portion to correct a shape of the thermoplastic medium, wherein the pressurizing portion pressurizes, while heating, the heated thermoplastic medium in accordance with a state of the thermoplastic medium deformed.

2 . The drying apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the pressurizing portion has a roller and is able to change a heating temperature in each portion of the roller different in an axial direction of the roller.

3 . The drying apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein
the roller is able to change the heating temperature at a center portion and end portions in the axial direction.

4 . The drying apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein
in the roller, an external diameter of the center portion in the axial direction is larger than an external diameter of the end portions in the axial direction.

5 . The drying apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising
a determination unit that determines extension of the thermoplastic medium heated by the heating drying portion, for each region of the thermoplastic medium, wherein the pressurizing portion pressurizes a region with less extension in the heated thermoplastic medium at a heating temperature higher than a temperature at which a region with more extension in the heated thermoplastic medium is pressurized.

6 . The drying apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein
the pressurizing portion pressurizes the region with less extension while heating the region with less extension at a temperature equal to or higher than a glass transition temperature of the thermoplastic medium.

7 . The drying apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein
the pressurizing portion pressurizes the region with more extension while heating the region with more extension at a temperature lower than a glass transition temperature of the thermoplastic medium.

8 . The drying apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the heating drying portion dries the thermoplastic medium by radiant heating.

9 . The drying apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the heating drying portion dries the thermoplastic medium by convective heating.

10 . A recording apparatus, comprising:
a recording head capable of discharging ink as the liquid onto the thermoplastic medium; and the drying apparatus according to claim 1 .

11 . A recording apparatus, comprising:
a recording head capable of discharging ink as the liquid onto the thermoplastic medium; and the drying apparatus according to claim 2 .

12 . A recording apparatus, comprising:
a recording head capable of discharging ink as the liquid onto the thermoplastic medium; and the drying apparatus according to claim 3 .

13 . A recording apparatus, comprising:
a recording head capable of discharging ink as the liquid onto the thermoplastic medium; and the drying apparatus according to claim 4 .

14 . A recording apparatus, comprising:
a recording head capable of discharging ink as the liquid onto the thermoplastic medium; and the drying apparatus according to claim 5 .

15 . A recording apparatus, comprising:
a recording head capable of discharging ink as the liquid onto the thermoplastic medium; and the drying apparatus according to claim 6 .

16 . A recording apparatus, comprising:
a recording head capable of discharging ink as the liquid onto the thermoplastic medium; and the drying apparatus according to claim 7 .

17 . A recording apparatus, comprising:
a recording head capable of discharging ink as the liquid onto the thermoplastic medium; and the drying apparatus according to claim 8 .

18 . A recording apparatus, comprising:
a recording head capable of discharging ink as the liquid onto the thermoplastic medium; and the drying apparatus according to claim 9 .

19 . A drying method, comprising:
heating and drying a thermoplastic medium to which a liquid has been applied; and pressurizing the thermoplastic medium heated in the heating and drying to correct a shape of the thermoplastic medium, wherein the pressurizing pressurizes, while heating, the heated thermoplastic medium in accordance with a state of the thermoplastic medium deformed.

Assignees

• Seiko Epson Corp

Inventors

• Okada Hideki

Classifications

• B29C2795/002

  before shaping · CPC title

• B41M5/0047

  by ink-jet printing · CPC title

• B41M5/0064

  on plastics, horn, rubber, or other organic polymers · CPC title

• B29C2037/90

  Measuring, controlling or regulating · CPC title

• B41J11/0005

  Curl smoothing, i.e. smoothing down corrugated printing material, e.g. by pressing means acting on wrinkled printing material · CPC title