JP2011184164A - Device and method for seasoning printing paper, and inkjet recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To uniformly and quickly seasoning printing paper by improving ventilation to the end part of the paper even if the paper is curled. <P>SOLUTION: This printing paper seasoning device (10) includes a loading base (12) for stackingly loading a plurality of sheets of printing paper, air blow means (14a-14f, 15a-15f) for blowing air from the side-surface side to a paper storage area (34) formed between the loading base (12) and a top plate (28) disposed above the loading base (12) so as to face the loading base, side plates (20, 21, 22, 23) disposed on the side-surface parts of the paper storage area (34), and a discharge part (27) formed of openings (26A, 26B) formed in the side plate (21). The rate of opening at the end of the side plate (21) of the discharge part (27) is higher than the rate of opening at the center thereof. More desirably, the paper loading surface of the loading base (12) and the lower surface (paper suppressing surface) of the top plate (28) are formed in curved surfaces having respective curvatures in the direction orthogonal to the blowing direction of the air blow means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing paper seasoning apparatus and method, and an ink jet recording apparatus, and more particularly to a seasoning technique for improving the expansion and contraction deformation of a paper by adapting the paper after printing to environmental temperature and humidity.

  The sheet immediately after the ink is applied by the printing apparatus causes expansion and contraction of the sheet due to a difference in water amount due to the density of ink (the amount of ink) in the image area. This problem is particularly noticeable in a system that prints on general-purpose paper using water-based ink. Furthermore, when performing double-sided printing, printing on the opposite side (back side) is usually performed after completion of printing on one side (front side), but the paper immediately after printing the front side has a large expansion and contraction of the paper. There arises a problem that the size and position of images printed on the back side and the back side are shifted (the front and back registration is not aligned).

  In addition, not only double-sided printing but also single-sided printing, there is a problem that the print quality is deteriorated due to the occurrence of curling and cockle due to the above-mentioned paper deformation, and in addition, bookbinding performed after the printing process. There is also a problem of adversely affecting post-processing such as processes.

  There are disclosures in Patent Documents 1 to 3 and the like regarding a blower that sends air between sheets. Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which air is blown from the direction of one side of a sheet to the end face of the sheet bundle while the sheet bundle is held between the front and back by a pair of pressing members. The document 1 relates to a paper handling apparatus, and is a technique for improving the curling property by giving the pressing member an inclined shape so that a gap is formed between the pressing member and the paper.

  Patent Document 2 proposes a configuration in which an air nozzle is installed on the end face of a laminated printing paper so that the air nozzle can be moved up and down, and paper is sprinkled by ejecting pressurized air from the air nozzle. Moreover, the structure which presses the upper surface of a laminated paper with a press clamp at the time of completion | finish of ventilation is disclosed in order to prevent paper misalignment at the time of completion | finish of ventilation.

  In Patent Document 3, an outer peripheral wall is provided on the outer peripheral four surfaces of the laminated printing paper, and by providing an air outlet on at least one of the outer peripheral walls, diffusion from the air outlet to the outside of the laminated paper is prevented. Air can efficiently flow into a large number of print sheets. In addition, a configuration is disclosed in which air is sucked from between the sheets at the end of the air blowing, and the sheets are stacked in an orderly manner while suppressing paper flapping.

JP 2008-290800 A Japanese Patent No. 3436997 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-297813

  However, the devices described in Patent Documents 1 to 3 are technologies that aim to reduce the frictional force between papers by inserting air between papers (papermaking), and quickly adjust the printed papers to environmental humidity. The paper seasoning is not sufficient.

  Also, paper curl after printing increases depending on the image content, ink amount, and paper characteristics. In this case, the paper warpage at the edge increases, and it is difficult to perform seasoning uniformly.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and even when a sheet is curled, a printing sheet seasoning apparatus and method capable of seasoning a bundle of sheets uniformly in a short time, and the same An object is to provide an applied ink jet recording apparatus.

  In order to achieve the above object, the following invention modes are provided.

  (Invention 1): A printing paper seasoning device according to Invention 1 is disposed on a mounting table on which a plurality of printing papers are stacked and placed, and is placed on the top of the mounting table so as to face the mounting table. A top plate that covers the top of the stack of printing paper placed on the sheet, and a blower that blows air from the side of the sheet storage area formed between the mounting table and the top plate disposed opposite to each other. A side plate disposed on a side surface other than the surface on which the air blowing unit is installed, and an exhaust part configured by an opening formed in the side plate, The opening ratio of the side plate in the exhaust portion is different between the central portion and the end portion in the width direction of the printing paper, and the opening ratio of the end portion is higher than the opening ratio of the central portion. .

  According to the present invention, since the air volume at the end portion is increased with respect to the central portion of the paper, even if the paper is curled, the air blow unevenness at the paper end portion can be reduced. Thereby, seasoning performance improves.

  (Invention 2): The printing paper seasoning apparatus according to Invention 2 is characterized in that, in Invention 1, the exhaust part is formed on a side plate disposed on a side surface facing the surface on which the air blowing means is installed. And

  A mode in which an exhaust part is provided on a side surface (hereinafter, may be referred to as a “fan-opposing surface”) opposite to the side surface on which the blowing unit is installed is preferable. For example, when air is blown from the end face direction (one direction) of one side of the rectangular paper, an exhaust portion is formed on a side plate disposed at least on the side opposite to the side (side where the blowing unit is installed). The As described above, an exhaust portion may be provided at least on the air-facing surface, and an exhaust opening may be formed on the other side surface.

  (Invention 3): A printing paper seasoning device according to Invention 3, in Invention 1 or 2, wherein the paper storage area is rectangular when viewed from the top plate side, and the blowing means is disposed on one side of the rectangle, The side plates are arranged on the other three sides.

  The shape of the printing paper is not particularly limited, but generally rectangular printing paper is often used. Therefore, a configuration in which a rectangular sheet storage area is formed in a plan view is general.

  (Invention 4): The printing paper seasoning apparatus according to Invention 4 is the invention according to Invention 3, wherein the exhaust portion is formed on a first side plate disposed on a side opposite to the one side among the three sides, and the first side plate The aperture ratio of the end portion is higher than the aperture ratio of the central portion.

  With respect to the side plate (first side plate) arranged on the air blow-opposing surface, the air volume at the end is increased by an aspect in which the aperture ratio of the end portion of the first side plate is higher than the aperture ratio of the central portion of the first side plate. be able to.

  (Invention 5): The printing paper seasoning device according to Invention 5 is the invention according to Invention 3, in which the first side plate disposed on the side opposite to the one side among the three sides and the side having the first side plate are sandwiched. The exhaust part is formed across the second side plate and the third side plate arranged on two sides, and the first side plate of the second side plate and the third side plate is compared with the opening ratio of the central portion of the first side plate. It is characterized in that the opening ratio of the end portion on the near side is high.

  In this aspect, an exhaust opening is formed at least in the central portion of the first side plate disposed on the air blower facing surface, and an exhaust opening is provided at an end portion of at least the second side plate and the third side plate on the side close to the first side plate. Is formed. The end portion of the first side plate may or may not have an exhaust opening. When comparing the aperture ratio at the center portion of the first side plate with the aperture ratios at the end portions of the second and third side plates, the aperture ratio at the end portions of the second and third side plates is higher. According to this aspect, it is possible to increase the air volume at the end with respect to the center of the sheet. Note that the invention 5 can be combined with the structure of the invention 4.

  (Invention 6): A printing paper seasoning apparatus according to Invention 6, in any one of Inventions 1 to 5, wherein the end portion is in a range of 50 mm or more and 150 mm or less from an end of the paper storage area. To do.

  As a standard of the range of the “end portion” for increasing the aperture ratio, for example, it is generally preferable that the range is 50 to 150 mm from the end of the sheet. From the viewpoint of device design, it is difficult to use “paper” as a reference, so the edge of the paper storage area is set to 50 mm or more and 150 mm or less. More preferably, they are 60 mm or more and 120 mm or less, More preferably, they are 70 mm or more and 100 mm.

  From the viewpoint of realizing uniform seasoning, it is preferable that the “end portion” is as small as possible within a necessary range in which the object can be achieved.

  (Invention 7): The printing paper seasoning apparatus according to Invention 7 is the printing paper seasoning device according to any one of Inventions 1 to 5, wherein the end portion is at least 5% of the entire width of the paper storage area from the end of the paper storage area. % Or less.

  When the ratio to the paper width is defined as a standard of the range of the “edge portion” for increasing the aperture ratio, for example, it is preferably approximately 5% to 20% of the entire paper width. More preferably, they are 6% or more and 17% or less, More preferably, they are 7% or more and 15% or less.

  (Invention 8): The printing paper seasoning device according to Invention 8 is the printing paper seasoning device according to any one of Inventions 1 to 7, wherein the paper placement surface of the mounting table has a curvature in a direction orthogonal to the blowing direction of the blowing means. It is characterized by that.

  According to this aspect, the sheet is forcibly bent by the shape of the sheet placing surface having a curvature. With the configuration in which the air is blown from the end face direction of the curved paper side, the curling in the air blowing direction is corrected, and even when the paper curl is strong, the air permeability between the papers is improved and good seasoning is possible. That is, robustness against curling can be improved.

  (Invention 9): A printing paper seasoning device according to Invention 9, in Invention 8, the sheet pressing surface of the top plate facing the sheet placement surface has a curvature in a direction orthogonal to the blowing direction of the blowing means. It is characterized by that.

  In addition to the configuration of the invention 8, it is more preferable that the sheet pressing surface of the top plate has a curvature in the same direction as the sheet placing surface.

  (Invention 10): The printing paper seasoning apparatus according to Invention 10 is characterized in that, in any one of Inventions 1 to 9, the static pressure of air blown from the blowing means is 500 [Pa] or more. .

By blowing air under such conditions, it is possible to overcome the pressure loss between the sheets and ventilate between the sheets. More preferably, the air volume q passing through the unit length in the width direction of the sheet as viewed from the blowing side of the blowing unit per sheet is q> 0.02 [m ² / min], and blowing from the blowing unit It is assumed that the static pressure P of the air to be satisfied satisfies both the conditions of P> 500 [Pa].

  In order to quickly and uniformly adjust the printed paper to the humidity of the surrounding environment, the blowing means sends out air equivalent to the temperature and humidity of the surrounding environment (for example, a blower that blows the ambient air as it is). Preferably there is.

  As the air blowing means, an embodiment using a plurality of air blowers is preferable, and a structure capable of controlling the air output of the air blowers is preferable. Further, by arranging two or more blowers in the vertical direction of the paper storage area and controlling the output of these blowers (for example, lowering the blowing intensity on the lower side than on the upper side), the aperture ratio of the exhaust unit Combined with the characteristics of this, more appropriate air volume distribution and pressure distribution can be realized.

(Invention 11): The printing paper seasoning apparatus according to Invention 11 is the printing paper seasoning apparatus according to any one of Inventions 1 to 10, wherein the maximum number of sheets that can be processed at one time by the seasoning apparatus is M [sheets], Assuming that the length of one side in the width direction of the viewed paper is Wp [m], the air volume-static pressure characteristic of the air blowing means is a necessary air volume value Q = M × Wp × 0.02 [m ³ / min] and necessary. It includes the point of static pressure value P = 500 [Pa].

The necessary airflow value Q can be calculated from the maximum number of sheets M that can be accommodated on the mounting table and the paper size (Wp). A graph of the air volume-static pressure characteristics of the air blowing means is drawn, and a point representing the required air volume value Q = M × Wp × 0.02 [m ³ / min] and the required static pressure value P = 500 [Pa] and the characteristic graph From the positional relationship, it can be determined whether or not appropriate seasoning is possible by the blowing means.

For example, when a characteristic graph of the blowing means is drawn in a coordinate system in which the air volume is on the horizontal axis (increase is in the right direction) and the static pressure value is on the vertical axis (increase is in the upward direction), the required air volume value Q = M × Wp × 0 .02 [m ³ / min] and a point representing the required static pressure value P = 500 [Pa] is present on the line of the characteristic curve or in a region below the characteristic curve, the air blowing means Therefore, it is possible to blow air that satisfies the required air blowing condition. It is preferable to employ a blowing means that satisfies such conditions.

  (Invention 12): In any one of Inventions 1 to 11, the printing paper is divided into a plurality of bundles and accommodated by a multi-stage structure having at least one shelf board and partitioned by the shelf board. It is the structure.

  When the number of laminated sheets increases, the wind does not easily pass through the lower sheet due to the influence of gravity (the weight of the sheet). In order to cope with this problem, when storing a large number of sheets on the mounting table, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which the shelves are divided into an appropriate number of sheets and stored. By separating the storage space of the paper by the shelf plate member and the paper storage portion having a multi-stage configuration, the weight of the paper bundle divided into each stage is supported by each shelf board member and the mounting table. As a result, the load of its own weight is distributed, and the sheets stacked on the lower side can be sufficiently ventilated.

  In addition, in the case of a configuration in which the shelves are separately accommodated as described above, an aspect in which a blower unit (blower unit) is provided for each sheet storage range of each stage is also preferable.

  The printing paper seasoning apparatus according to the first to twelfth aspects may be configured as a separate apparatus from the printing machine, or may be incorporated as a part of the printing system in combination with the printing machine.

  (Invention 13): An ink jet recording apparatus according to Invention 13 is characterized in that the printing paper seasoning device according to any one of Inventions 1 to 12 is mounted on a paper discharge section.

  Since the printed matter recorded by the ink jet has a higher water content than the printed matter by other printing methods and the problem due to the deformation of the paper is remarkable, the seasoning device of the present invention is applied to the printed matter printed by the ink jet recording apparatus. It is effective to perform seasoning using.

  (Invention 14): The printing paper seasoning method according to the invention 14 includes stacking a plurality of printing papers on a mounting table, and covering the top of the bundle of printing papers placed on the mounting table with a top plate, A printing sheet that supplies air between the sheets of the bundle by blowing air from the side with respect to the sheet storage area formed between the mounting table and the top plate disposed opposite to each other. In which the opening for exhaust is formed in the side plate disposed on the side surface portion of the paper storage area, and the aperture ratio of the exhaust part constituted by the opening is set to the central portion in the width direction of the printing paper. The opening ratio of the end portion is made higher than the opening ratio of the central portion, and the air volume of the end portion is increased with respect to the central portion of the printing paper at the time of blowing by the blowing means. It is special to blow To.

  According to the present invention, the air permeability at the paper edge can be improved, and a sufficient paper interval can be secured at the paper edge. Thereby, uniform seasoning is possible. According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent expansion and deformation of paper after printing, and it is possible to improve productivity of printed matter. In addition, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent a front / back registration shift during double-sided printing and to improve post-process suitability such as a bookbinding process.

The perspective view of the seasoning apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. The top view which showed typically the flow of the wind inside the seasoning apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. The perspective view which shows the principal part of the seasoning apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. Explanatory drawing showing the curve direction of the paper The figure which showed the example of the paper mounting surface which combined the flat part and the curvature part, and a paper holding surface The figure which shows the opening pattern of the exhaust part which was used for comparison The figure which shows the example of the opening pattern of the exhaust part by this invention The figure which shows the mode of the ventilation state between sheets which concerns on the comparative example 1 using the opening pattern of FIG. The figure which shows the mode of the ventilation state between sheets in Example 1 using the opening pattern of FIG. The perspective view of the seasoning apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. The top view which showed typically the flow of the wind inside the seasoning apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. The perspective view of the seasoning apparatus which concerns on 4th Embodiment of this invention. The top view which showed typically the flow of the wind inside the seasoning apparatus which concerns on 4th Embodiment The perspective view of the seasoning apparatus which concerns on 5th Embodiment of this invention. The top view which shows the example of the side plate used as the state whose aperture ratio of an edge part is 100% Block diagram showing a configuration example of the control system of the seasoning device The principal part block diagram which shows other embodiment Illustration of printed material used for evaluation of air flow conditions Explanatory drawing of evaluation method of air flow condition Graph showing the correlation between air volume and seasoning time Graph showing the correlation between air volume and pressure loss A graph showing the relationship between the air flow-static pressure characteristics of the air blowing means and the air flow / static pressure conditions necessary to achieve good seasoning 1 is a configuration diagram of an ink jet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<First Embodiment: Configuration Example of Seasoning Device>
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a seasoning device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the seasoning apparatus 10 of this example includes a plurality of printing papers (not shown in FIG. 1, described as reference numeral 30 in FIGS. 4, 8, and 16, hereinafter simply referred to as “paper”). )) And blowers 14a, 15a to 15f for blowing air from the outer peripheral side surface of the sheet bundle stacked on the mounting table 12. Although the lower blowers 14b to 14f are not visible in FIG. 1, the blowers 14b to 14f are located under the upper blowers 15b to 15f in the same arrangement relationship as the blower 14a is arranged to the lower stage of the blower 15a. Is placed.

  Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the lower blowers 14a to 14f may be represented by reference numeral 14 and the upper blowers 15a to 15f may be represented by reference numeral 15. Although the centrifugal blower is illustrated in FIG. 1, the air blowing method is not particularly limited, and an axial flow blower may be employed.

  The seasoning device 10 of this example is configured to blow air toward the sheet bundle from one end face side corresponding to the long side of the rectangular sheet, and the plurality of blowers 14 facing the long side of the sheet. 15 is installed in two upper and lower stages. The blowers 14a to 14f are arranged at substantially equal intervals along the long side of the sheet on the lower left side of FIG. 1, and the upper blowers 15a to 15f are similarly arranged at substantially equal intervals in the vicinity of the upper portions of the blowers 14a to 14f. Are arranged in

  By arranging the blowers 14 and 15 in two upper and lower stages as described above, an airflow cross-sectional area capable of supplying air to all the sheets at once can be formed, and the stacking direction of the sheets 30 (that is, the up and down direction). The air volume distribution can be controlled. Further, by arranging the plurality of blowers 14a to 14f and 15a to 15f at substantially equal intervals in the paper width direction (horizontal direction), the air volume distribution in the paper width direction can be optimized.

  In addition, the seasoning apparatus 10 regulates the position of the paper on the mounting table 12, and side plates 20, 21, 22, and 23 are erected on the four outer peripheral surfaces of the mounting table 12 in order to increase the air blowing efficiency. ing. Openings or slits corresponding to the air blowing ports 24 and 25 are formed at the positions of the blowout ports of the blowers 14 and 15 on the side plate 20 on the surface where the blowers 14 and 15 are arranged.

  The air outlets 24 and 25 are configured so that the air can be blown at a time to the substantially entire area in the height direction of the paper accommodation range regulated by the mounting table 12 and the top plate 28. The opening length is substantially the same as the height of. With such a configuration, it is possible to simultaneously apply wind to all the sheets (the entire sheet bundle) placed on the mounting table 12 at once.

  Thus, by restricting the range of the air outlets and closing the vicinity of the air outlets 24 and 25 with the wall member (side plate 20), the traveling direction of the wind sent from the blowers 14 and 15 is regulated, Prevent leakage. As a result, the wind generated by the blowers 14 and 15 can be efficiently introduced into the paper storage space 34 (corresponding to the “paper storage area”) on the mounting table 12, and directed toward the sheet bundle placed on the mounting table 12. Can shine a strong wind.

  On the other hand, on the side surface 21 (corresponding to the “first side plate”) provided on the side surface (referred to as “air blowing facing surface”) facing the side surface on which the blowers 14 and 15 are disposed, among the four outer peripheral surfaces of the mounting table 12. Are formed with openings 26A and 26B for venting (exhaust). That is, a plurality of openings 26A, 26B are formed over substantially the entire area of the side plate 20 (the side plate erected on the side corresponding to the long side of the paper) facing the side plate 20 on which the blowers 14, 15 are installed and the paper storage space 34. Has been.

  A portion (exhaust opening forming portion) where the opening group (26A, 26B) is formed in the side plate 21 constitutes an “exhaust portion”. Hereinafter, the exhaust portion is indicated by reference numeral 27. In this way, by restricting the air outlets 24 and 25 that introduce air into the paper accommodation space 34 and the exhaust part 27 that discharges air, it is possible to efficiently send wind.

In the exhaust portion 27 in this example, the aperture ratio of the side plate 21 is different in the sheet width direction, and the aperture ratios at the end portions on both sides are higher than the aperture ratio at the center portion. Although details will be described later, the opening diameter φR_B of the opening 26B formed in the end portions on both sides of the side plate 21 is larger than the opening diameter φR_A of the opening 26A formed in the central portion of the side plate 21 (see FIG. 7). ),
The opening ratio of the end portion is relatively higher than the opening ratio of the central portion.

  In the example of FIG. 1, among the side plates 20 to 23 that surround the four outer peripheral surfaces of the mounting table 12, the side plates 22 and 23 sandwiched between the long side plates 20 and 21 (the side plates 22 and 23 are erected on the side corresponding to the short side of the paper). The side plate is not provided with an exhaust opening. However, in carrying out the present invention, an exhaust opening may be formed in the side plates 22 and 23 (see FIGS. 10 and 12).

  Note that the number and specifications of the blowers 14 and 15 constituting the blowing means, the size and shape of the blowing ports 24 and 25, etc., satisfy the predetermined blowing condition in consideration of the size, material, thickness, number of sheets, and the like of the paper. Therefore, it is appropriately designed so as to obtain the necessary air flow and pressure. Further, the height dimensions of the side plates 20, 21, 22, 23 are appropriately designed according to the maximum load capacity of sheets that can be set on the mounting table 12.

  When carrying out seasoning, a bundle of printed sheets (not shown) is placed on the mounting table 12 and covered with a top plate 28 from above. The top plate 28 is disposed substantially in parallel with the base surface of the mounting table 12 and plays a role of preventing the sheet from rising during blowing. The top plate 28 may be configured to be fixed at a predetermined height position, such as sealing the top surface of the paper accommodation space 34 by contacting the upper end surfaces of the side plates 20 to 23, or depending on the number of sheets 30. The structure which can adjust the height position of the board 28 suitably may be sufficient.

  For example, the top plate 28 is configured to be movable in the stacking direction of the sheets 30 by position adjusting means including a moving mechanism (not shown). Thus, the height position of the top plate 28 is adjusted according to the number of sheets 30 placed on the mounting table 12, and a sheet storage space 34 having an appropriate width suitable for the number of sheets to be processed is formed.

  Furthermore, the top plate 28 may be configured to rise at the start of air blowing. By starting blowing from each of the blowers 14 and 15, air is supplied between the sheets 30 on the mounting table 12, and an appropriate gap is formed between the sheets 30, so that the height position of each sheet rises with blowing. To do. As a result, the height position of the uppermost sheet rises more than when no air is blown. In this manner, a configuration in which the top plate 28 is raised in accordance with the amount of floating of the paper during blowing is also preferable. By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to ensure an appropriate amount of gap between the sheets, to suppress the flapping of the sheets due to the air blowing, and to avoid damage to the printed matter due to the contact between the sheets 30 and the top plate 28. .

<About the form of the blowing means>
In the seasoning device 10 of the present embodiment, which mainly aims to equalize the amount of water in the printed paper with ink applied to at least one side of the paper (according to environmental temperature and humidity), overdrying is prevented. From the point of view, it is preferable that the air blowing means blows ambient air (sends ambient temperature and humidity wind). If a means for blowing low-humidity air such as air heated by a heater (hot air), compressed air, dry air, or the like is employed, the residual water amount of the paper falls below the environmental saturation point and the paper contracts. For example, when low humidity air is used, a region where a large amount of ink is applied in the paper can be dried in a short time, while a non-ink applied portion or a region where the amount of ink is very small in the paper. Becomes excessively dry. There is a possibility that the expansion and contraction (deformation) of the paper may occur due to such a difference in water content.

  From such a point of view, the air blowing means in the present embodiment is configured to send out ambient temperature and humidity air with the blower (blowers 14 and 15), and controls the temperature and humidity such as a heating means such as a heater or a dehumidifying means. No means for adjusting is provided. With such a configuration, the printed paper can be adapted to the environmental temperature and humidity, and expansion / contraction deformation of the paper can be suppressed.

  FIG. 2 is a plan view schematically showing a state during blowing. The arrows in the figure show the outline of the wind flow. As shown in the figure, sufficient air is supplied between each sheet by sending winds from the blowers arranged along the long side direction of the sheet all at once, forcing air to exhaust and exhausting the air from the exhaust unit 27. However, the configuration is such that the posture stability of the paper is maintained.

  Regarding the air volume control between the blower rows arranged in six horizontal directions along the long side direction of the paper, it is possible to make the air volumes of each row equal or to make the air volumes different. For example, the air volume of the central blower row (14c, 15c row and 14d, 15d row) is relatively larger than the air flow rate of the blower rows (14a, 15a row, 14f, 15f row) at both ends. The air volume balance may be controlled in the blower row to give a desired air volume distribution in the horizontal direction. Note that the magnitude of the air volume corresponds to the strength of the blowing intensity, and the air volume distribution may be interpreted by replacing it with the distribution of the blowing intensity.

  In the above description, the blower group is arranged along the long side of the paper. However, when the present invention is implemented, a mode in which the blower group is arranged along the short side of the paper is also possible.

Second Embodiment
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a main part of the seasoning device 40 according to the second embodiment. The difference from the first embodiment described in FIG. 1 is that the mounting table 12 and the top plate 28 are curved. In FIG. 3, the same or similar elements as those in the example shown in FIG.

  In the seasoning device 40 shown in FIG. 3, the surface of the mounting table 12 (the surface on which the paper is placed, hereinafter referred to as the “paper mounting surface”) is curved in an upward arch shape. The bottom surface of the top plate 28 (the surface facing the base surface of the mounting table 12, hereinafter referred to as “paper holding surface”) is also an arch shape curved in the same direction as the arch shape of the paper mounting surface (the paper holding surface is a concave curved surface). It has become.

  When the blowing direction (direction parallel to the short side of the paper) of the blowers 14 and 15 is “x direction” and the direction orthogonal to this (direction parallel to the long side of the paper) is “y direction”, the seasoning shown in FIG. The sheet placement surface of the loading table 12 and the sheet pressing surface of the top plate 28 in the apparatus 40 have a curvature in the y direction (no curvature in the x direction).

  As shown in the drawing, both the sheet placement surface and the sheet holding surface are formed to be curved upward in the vertical direction (z direction in the figure). In FIG. 3, the paper storage space 34 is formed as a substantially arcuate space sandwiched between a plurality of curved surfaces (paper placement surface and paper holding surface) that are convexly curved in the same direction (z direction). As shown in the figure, the paper in the paper storage space 34 is forcibly bent along the curved shape by the paper storage space 34 defined by the mounting table 12 and the top plate 28 having a curved shape. Attitude is regulated.

<About the curving direction of the paper>
FIG. 4A illustrates the curled state of the paper after printing. It is assumed that curl is generated in the short side direction of the printed paper 30 as shown in FIG. When seasoning the paper with the seasoning device 40, the seasoning device 40 causes the paper 30 to bend in a direction (long side direction of the paper) perpendicular to the initial curl direction, as shown in FIG. 4B. The shape of the sheet storage space 34 is configured. In this way, the posture (curl state) of the sheet 30 is regulated, and air is blown from a direction substantially perpendicular to the side (arched side) of the curved sheet 30 (from the direction of the white arrow A in the figure).

The curvature 1 / r ₁ (where the radius of curvature r ₁ ) of the sheet placement surface in the seasoning device 40 described with reference to FIG. 3 is substantially the same over the sheet length along the x direction (air blowing direction). Further, the curvature 1 / r ₂ (where the radius of curvature r ₂ ) of the sheet pressing surface in the seasoning device 40 is substantially the same over the sheet length along the x direction (the blowing direction). The radius of curvature r ₂ of the curvature radius r ₁ and the paper restricting surface of the sheet stacking surface is not necessarily required to be the same, it is preferable to substantially the same value.

  The degree of curvature is appropriately designed according to the size, thickness, and upper limit of the sheet bundle. As an example, for example, when the width w of the long side of the sheet stack placement table is about 600 mm, the height H of the sheet placement surface is about 50 to 60 mm.

  Note that the curved surface of the paper placement surface does not necessarily have an arcuate shape (cylindrical shape). As shown in FIG. 5, the paper placement surface 43 includes flat portions (straight portions) 43A and 43B and a cylindrical shape. A combination of the surface portion (arc-shaped curvature portion) 43C may be used. The portion facing the center of the sheet is an upwardly convex curvature portion 43C, and the portions facing both ends of the sheet across the curvature portion 43C are flat portions 43A and 43B. Similarly, the sheet pressing surface 49 may be a combination of flat portions (straight portions) 49A and 49B and cylindrical surface portions (arc-shaped curvature portions) 49C.

  Each dimension in FIG. 5 is as follows, for example.

Ly: 627.1 ± 0.5 mm
Lc: 11.1 °
Lp: 197.2mm
H: 50.8mm
Radius of curvature r ₁ = r ₂ = 62.1 mm
In addition, the said dimension is an example and various design aspects are possible when implementing this invention. Further, if the configuration is such that at least the paper placement surface is curved, a corresponding effect can be obtained, and the paper holding surface can be a flat surface. However, more preferably, the sheet placement surface and the sheet holding surface are both curved.

<About the opening conditions in the exhaust part 27>
For comparison, FIG. 6 shows an example of an opening pattern in which the aperture ratio of the exhaust portion is constant in the sheet width direction (the aperture ratio = 9% over the entire surface). The example of FIG. 6 is an opening pattern in which openings 56 having a diameter R = 4 mm are arranged in a row at equal intervals in the vertical direction at a = 10 mm pitch, and are arranged in a staggered manner in the horizontal direction with an inter-column distance b = 14 mm. ing. The height h of the exhaust part was 110 mm.

  On the other hand, FIG. 7 is a plan view of the exhaust part corresponding to the embodiment of the present invention. Although the left end portion is shown in FIG. 7, the same applies to the right end portion (not shown). In the example shown in FIG. 7, the aperture ratio at the center is 9% as in FIG. 6, but the aperture ratio at the end is 36%. The opening diameter R_A of the opening 26A formed in the central portion of the side plate 21 is 4 mm, and the opening diameter R_B of the opening 26B formed in the end portion of the side plate 21 is 8 mm. The arrangement pitch of the openings 26A and 26B (vertical direction a = 10 mm, horizontal direction b = 14 mm) and the height dimension h of the exhaust part 27 are the same as in FIG.

  The end region 21B having an aperture ratio of 36% is in a range of ds = 84 mm from the end of the sheet accommodation space 34 toward the center. Similarly, the right end (not shown) has an end region 21B having an aperture ratio of 36% in a range of 84 mm from the end. The central region 21A excluding the end regions 21B at both ends is a portion with an aperture ratio of 9%.

(Seasoning performance evaluation results)
The device configuration described in the first embodiment (FIG. 1) is “Example 1”, the device configuration described in the second embodiment (FIG. 3) is “Example 2”, and the first embodiment (FIG. 1) is used. A configuration in which the aperture ratio of the exhaust section in the apparatus configuration described above is replaced with a uniform one in the vertical direction is “Comparative Example 1”, and the aperture ratio in the exhaust section in the apparatus configuration described in the second embodiment (FIG. 3) is uniform in the vertical direction. The configuration replaced with “N” was identified as “Comparative Example 2”, and the seasoning performance of the printing paper was evaluated in the seasoning apparatuses of Examples 1 and 2 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2.

<Evaluation conditions>
(1) Paper printing conditions ・ Conditions for the paper used: OK Topcoat (trade name) made by Oji Paper, 104 gsm Kikuhan (636mm x 469mm)
-Printing apparatus used: Inkjet printing apparatus-Conditions of printing image: Whole surface solid image Three types of images with ink application amounts of 3 g / m ² , 6 g / m ² and 10 g / m ² were evaluated.
(2) Conditions of seasoning apparatus: Opening conditions of exhaust part: Examples 1 and 2 are the opening pattern of FIG. 6 (opening ratio 9% in the central part, opening ratio 36% in the range of 84 mm width at both ends), Comparative Example 1 2 adopts the opening pattern of FIG. 5 (a uniform opening ratio of 9% over the entire surface).

-Blower: Sanyo Denki Blower San Ace B97 (9BMB24P2K01) Static pressure 1280 Pa, 12 pieces Rotational speed control is performed with the rotational speed control signal (rectangular wave Duty).

  -Blower control conditions: Drive with rectangular wave duty 60% for upper blower and rectangular wave duty 100% for lower blower.

-Top plate-base plate (mounting table) interval: 110 mm
(3) Evaluation method In an environment of 23 ° C. and 50% RH, 100 sheets of sheets printed by the inkjet printing apparatus were seasoned for 5 minutes, and the amount of moisture remaining on the sheets after seasoning was determined. It was measured. The amount of water was measured at two locations, the central portion of the paper and the paper side (paper edge).
The evaluation results are summarized in Table 1.

  <Evaluation results>

  The determination of the residual water content (seasoning performance) in Table 1 is as follows.

◎… Residual moisture within ± 0.2 g / m ² ○… Residual moisture within ± 0.3 g / m ² △… Residual moisture within ± 0.5 g / m ² ×… Residual moisture ± 0.7 g / m Less than ² XX: Residual moisture amount exceeds ± 0.7 g / m ² “Paper curl” in Table 1 represents the curl amount of the printing paper after ink application and before seasoning. The floating height of the paper square was measured.

  The residual moisture content (seasoning performance) in Table 1 was evaluated by the difference from the moisture content for 30 minutes in a free state in the evaluation environment (23 ° C., 50% RH).

  The “free state” means a state in which a sheet is left alone on a flat table with the printing surface facing up. Although the humidity control does not proceed in the stacked state, the water content is saturated in 30 minutes when the printing surface is opened to the atmosphere (complete seasoning state). Seasoning performance was evaluated by the difference from the moisture content at this time.

<< How to measure moisture content >>
The amount of moisture contained in the printing paper is punched out at 3cm x 3cm size on the paper, and using a trace moisture measuring device (here, "CA-200" (trade name) manufactured by Mitsubishi Chemical Analytech Co., Ltd. is used). taking measurement. The measured moisture content [g] is divided by the punched area to calculate the moisture content [g / m ² ] per unit area.

  The definition of “residual water amount” is a value obtained by subtracting the water amount retained by the paper before printing from the amount of water remaining after ink is deposited and dried. That is, only the moisture amount derived from the ink adhered by printing is targeted, excluding the moisture amount originally contained in the printing paper itself. Note that the amount of water held by the paper is separately measured using undrawn paper.

  As the experimental results of Table 1 show, the conditions in which the opening ratio of the end portion of the air blowing facing surface is larger than that of the central portion with respect to the condition where the opening ratio of the air blowing facing surface is uniform (Experiments 1-3, Experiments 7-9). In (Experiments 4 to 6, Experiments 10 to 12), improvement of seasoning performance was confirmed.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state of ventilation between sheets in Experiment 3 (Comparative Example 1). FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a state of ventilation between sheets in Experiment 6 (Example 1). These drawings are views as seen from the side through which the wind passes (the air blowing surface side).

  As shown in FIG. 8, when the paper curl is large, under the conditions of Comparative Example 1 (the aperture ratio of the air blowing facing surface is uniform), the paper interval is narrowed at both ends of the paper during the air blowing, and the seasoning performance deteriorates.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9, under the conditions of Example 1 (a configuration in which the aperture ratio at both ends is higher than the aperture ratio at the center), the air volume at the end increases with respect to the center of the sheet. In addition, the paper interval is substantially uniform. In addition, fluttering of the paper during blowing is reduced. Thereby, compared with the example of FIG. 7, seasoning performance improves.

  8 and 9 show the case of forward curl (convex upward), the same effect can be obtained in the case of reverse curl (convex downward).

  In addition, as described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5, when the curved guide is used (the paper placement surface of the base plate corresponding to the placement table 12 and the paper restraining surface of the top plate 28 facing the base plate are arranged in the blowing direction. In the case of adopting a configuration that is curved in an orthogonal direction), curling in the blowing direction is corrected and seasoning performance is improved. As is clear when the results of Experiments 4 to 6 and Experiments 10 to 12 in Table 1 are compared, in the case of Example 2 (a configuration in which the configuration of the curved guide and the control of the aperture ratio are combined), compared with Example 1. Further, the robustness against curling is improved.

  In the above experiments 1 to 12, as the air blow condition, the blower strength of the lower blower is made stronger than that of the upper blower. However, when the upper and lower blower strengths are made equal, or the blower strength of the upper blower is made lower than that of the lower blower. There are various modes for the distribution of the blowing intensity in the vertical direction. Although the seasoning performance is superior or inferior depending on the setting of the blast intensity distribution, the corresponding effect due to the opening condition of the exhaust part (increasing the opening ratio of the end part increases the air volume at the end part, The effect of securing the sheet interval is obtained.

<About the difference in aperture ratio>
In the example shown in FIG. 7, the example in which the aperture ratio of the end portion is 36% (4 times the center portion) with respect to the aperture ratio of 9% of the center portion is described. As for the preferable condition of the difference (or ratio) in the aperture ratio, if the ratio α of the aperture ratio is “α = center part aperture ratio / end part aperture ratio”, 0.05 ≦ α ≦ 0.6 is preferable, Preferably 0.1 ≦ α ≦ 0.5, and more preferably 0.2 ≦ α ≦ 0.4.

<Third Embodiment>
FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a main part of a seasoning apparatus 50 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. 10, elements that are the same as or similar to the example shown in FIG. 3 are given the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof are omitted. The difference between the second embodiment described with reference to FIG. 3 and the third embodiment illustrated in FIG. 10 is that in the seasoning device 50 of FIG. This is that an exhaust opening 26C is formed in each of the regions 22A and 23A. In FIG. 10, the side plate 22 is not visible, but, similarly to the side plate 23, an exhaust opening is formed in the end portion of the side plate 22 near the side plate 21.

  FIG. 11 is a plan view schematically showing a state during blowing in the seasoning device 50 shown in FIG. The arrow in FIG. 11 shows the outline of the flow of the wind. The partial areas 22 </ b> A and 23 </ b> A of the side plates 22 and 23 function as a part of the exhaust part 27.

  The aperture ratios of the regions 22A and 23A of the side plates 22 and 23 that function as a part of the exhaust portion 27 are not particularly limited, and there are various modes. That is, the aperture ratios of the regions 22A and 23A may be the same aperture ratio as the central region 21A of the side plate 21 on the air blowing facing surface, the same aperture ratio as the end region 21B, or an aperture ratio different from these. Good.

  Further, the width dimension of the areas 22A and 23A and the width dimension of the end area 21B (area where the aperture ratio is higher than the central part) in the side plate 21 may be designed to be the same value or different values. May be.

  Also with the seasoning device 50 having such a configuration, it is possible to increase the air volume at the end of the sheet in combination with the operational effects of the second embodiment described with reference to FIG.

<Fourth embodiment>
FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a main part of a seasoning device 60 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. 12, elements that are the same as or similar to the example shown in FIG. 10 are given the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof are omitted. The difference between the third embodiment described with reference to FIG. 12 and the fourth embodiment illustrated in FIG. 12 is that, in the seasoning device 60 of FIG. 12, the end regions 21B and 21B at both ends of the side plate 21 on the air blowing surface are exhausted. The opening 26B is not formed. In the seasoning device 60 of FIG. 12, the opening ratio of the end portions of the side plates 22 and 23 (partial regions 22A and 23A on the side close to the side plate 21) is higher than the opening ratio of the central region 21A of the side plate 21. It has an aperture ratio.

  FIG. 13 is a plan view schematically showing a state during blowing in the seasoning device 60 shown in FIG. The arrows in FIG. 13 show the outline of the wind flow. The partial areas 22 </ b> A and 23 </ b> A of the side plates 22 and 23 function as a part of the exhaust part 27.

  When the exhaust part 27 composed of the end region 22A of the side plate 22, the central part region 21A of the side plate 21 and the end region 23A of the side plate 23 is viewed as a whole (the exhaust part 27 is developed) When viewed from above, the aperture ratios of the end portions (regions 22A and 23A) are higher than the aperture ratio of the central region 21A.

  Even with such a configuration, it is possible to increase the air volume at the edge of the sheet.

  The width dimension of the regions 22A and 23A and the width dimension of the end region 21B (the region where the exhaust opening is not formed) in the side plate 21 may be designed to be the same value or different values. May be.

  As a modified example of the fourth embodiment, openings may be provided at both end portions (21B, 21B) of the side plate 21 on the air blowing facing surface. In this case, the aperture ratio may be the same as that of the central area 21A (that is, the aperture ratio is uniform over the entire surface of the side plate 21), or may be lower than the aperture ratio of the central area 21A.

<Fifth Embodiment>
FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a main part of a seasoning device 41 according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. This seasoning device 41 is a modification of the seasoning device 40 according to the second embodiment described in FIG. 3. In FIG. 14, the same or similar elements as those in the example shown in FIG. The description is omitted.

  In the seasoning device 41 of FIG. 14, the opening ratio of the regions (the end portion indicated by reference numeral 21 </ b> B) at both ends of the side plate 21 disposed on the air blowing facing surface is 100% (that is, there is no wall at the end portion). The width dimension of the side plate 21 (the width of the central partial area indicated by reference numeral 21A in FIG. 14) is smaller than the width of the paper 30, and there are no walls (side plates 21) in the end regions 21B and 21B on the left and right sides.

  As described above, the exhaust openings 26B and 26B are formed by a configuration in which the end regions 21B and 21B are completely opened (opening ratio 100%). Also by this form, the effect of this invention expresses like other embodiment.

  Of course, it is possible to apply the same structure as the structure of the airflow opposing surface demonstrated in FIG. 14 to the airflow opposing surface of 1st Embodiment (FIG. 1) or 3rd Embodiment (FIG. 10).

  FIG. 15 shows the seasoning device 10 of FIG. 1 (the mounting table 12 is flat) when the same configuration as that of the fifth embodiment (FIG. 14) is applied to the air blowing facing surface of the first embodiment (FIG. 1). It is a top view which shows the example of the side plate 21 arrange | positioned at the ventilation opposing surface. 15, elements that are the same as or similar to the example shown in FIG. 7 are given the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof are omitted.

  As is clear from comparison between FIG. 15 and FIG. 7, the side plate 21 shown in FIG. 15 does not have the portion denoted by reference numeral 21 </ b> B in FIG. 7, and has only the portion corresponding to the central region 21 </ b> A. . By replacing the side plate 21 shown in FIG. 15 with the side plate 21 shown in FIG. 1, it is possible to form a state in which the end regions 21B and 21B on both sides have no walls (a state where the aperture ratio is 100%).

<Modification 1>
In each of the above-described embodiments, a circular hole is exemplified as the opening shape of the exhaust unit 27. However, the opening shape is not limited to this and may be a slit or the like. The aperture ratio can be controlled by changing the width and length of the slit.

<Modification 2>
The mode of changing the aperture ratio of the exhaust unit 27 is not limited to the two-stage switching mode in which the aperture ratio corresponding to the central portion of the sheet and the aperture ratio corresponding to the end portion of the sheet are set to different values. A mode is also possible in which the mode is switched stepwise to four stages, N stages (N is an integer of 2 or more). In this case, the amount of change (step width) for changing the aperture ratio may be constant or different. Further, the width (length in the width direction) of each divided area when the exhaust part is divided into N stages from the edge to the center in the paper width direction may be equal or uneven. It may be a distribution.

  Furthermore, instead of the above-described stepwise change, an aspect in which the aperture ratio is continuously changed by an aspect in which the width of the slit is continuously changed is also possible.

<Modification 3>
At least one of the side plates 20 to 23 described in the first embodiment to the fifth embodiment, preferably two or more adjacent side plates are configured to be slidable, and the x direction and / or y of the paper storage space 34 is configured. A configuration in which the width in the direction can be freely adjusted is also possible. For example, the side plates 21 to 23 in FIG. 1 are configured to be able to move forward and backward, respectively, so that the area of the sheet storage area defined by the side plates 20 to 23 can be increased or decreased. With this configuration, it is possible to handle paper of different sizes. By sliding the side plate according to the size of the paper to be used, it is possible to adjust the size of the paper storage space 34 suitable for the paper. When the paper size is limited to a specific type (for example, only A4 size and A3 size), only one of the side plates 20 to 23, for example, only the side plate 21 is movable. May be.

<Description of control system>
FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing a main part configuration relating to the control system of the seasoning apparatus. Here, a seasoning device 70 having a paper size adjustment function will be described as an example. The block diagram of FIG. 16 can be applied to any form of the first to fourth embodiments. The seasoning device 70 includes a drive circuit 72 for driving the lower blower 14, a drive circuit 73 for driving the upper blower 15, a drive mechanism 74 necessary for driving the side plate 21, and the drive mechanism 74. A motor 75 serving as a power source for driving the motor 75, a drive circuit 76 thereof, and a control unit 78.

  The control unit 78 includes, for example, a central processing unit (CPU) and its peripheral circuits, and gives control signals to the drive circuits (72, 73, 76) according to a predetermined program, and the motor 75 and blowers 14, 15 are provided. To control the operation. The control unit 78 plays a role as an air blowing control means in that it controls the output air flow (air blowing intensity) of the lower blower 14 and the upper blower 15 to variably control the air flow distribution in the vertical direction.

  The seasoning device 70 includes an operation unit 82 as a user interface. The operation unit 82 includes an input device 83 and a display unit (display) 84 for an operator (user) to perform various inputs. The input device 83 can employ various forms such as a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel, and buttons. By operating the input device 83, the operator can input printing conditions (paper type, paper brand, paper size and other attribute information, printing mode, etc.), input / edit of attached information, information search, and the like. Various information such as input contents and search results can be confirmed through display on the display unit 84.

  In addition, the seasoning device 70 has a communication interface 86, and information can be obtained directly from an external device (not shown) such as a control circuit of a printing press or a host computer via the communication interface 86. The communication method of the communication interface 86 is not particularly limited, and may be wired or wireless. As a means for acquiring information from the outside, a media interface for reading and writing an external storage medium (removable medium) may be provided instead of or in addition to the input device 83 and the communication interface 86.

  Through these, it is possible to acquire paper attribute information (paper size, paper type, brand, etc.) and information on the amount of ink applied to the printing paper. The amount of ink applied to the paper can be calculated from the image data to be drawn.

  According to the seasoning device 70 shown in FIG. 16, the side plate position can be variably controlled in accordance with the paper attributes such as paper type, paper brand, paper size, etc., and appropriate air flow control and air blow time can be controlled. . For example, the optimum seasoning time according to the attributes of the paper to be used, the timing for switching the upper and lower air volume distribution, the air volume balance, etc. are determined in advance by experiments, etc., and the information is stored as a table data in a ROM or the like. It is memorized in the means. The control unit 78 refers to the table data and performs air blowing control that meets the corresponding conditions.

  Further, according to the seasoning device 70, it is possible to control the air volume and the blow time according to the amount of ink applied to the paper 30. Similarly to the above, the optimum seasoning time according to the ink amount, the timing for switching the upper and lower air volume distribution, the air volume balance, etc. are determined in advance by experiments, etc., and these information is stored as table data in a storage means such as a ROM. Remember me. The control unit 78 refers to the table data and performs air blowing control that meets the corresponding conditions. The larger the ink amount, the longer the air blowing time. It is also possible to perform control by appropriately combining the above-described elements such as paper attributes and ink amounts.

<Modification 4>
FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing still another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 17 is a side view schematically showing a state during blowing. In FIG. 17, elements that are the same as or similar to those described in FIG. 1 are given the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof are omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 17, it is possible to employ a configuration in which a shelf plate 92 is provided in the paper storage unit on the mounting table 12 and the paper 30 is divided into a plurality of shelves. In the figure, an example is shown in which three shelves 92 divide into four stages, but the number of shelves 92 can be one or more, depending on the number of stages to be divided into shelves. By providing n shelf plates 92 between the mounting table 12 and the top plate 28 (n is a natural number), (n + 1) stages of accommodating portions are formed.

  For example, a structure like a well-known “drawer” can be adopted as means for taking out and putting in the paper 30 for each stage. Although the detailed structure is not shown, a bundle of sheets can be set by pulling out the sheet storage portion for each stage. Further, the upper and lower blowers 14 and 15 similar to those shown in FIG. 1 are provided for each of the divided stages, and the vertical air flow distribution can be controlled for each sheet bundle. When attention is paid to each level, the shelf plate 92 functions as a member corresponding to the “mounting table” or the “top plate”.

  According to this mode, the sheets stacked on the lower side can be sufficiently ventilated, and a large number of sheets 30 can be seasoned in a short time.

  In addition, by adopting such a multi-stage structure, it is possible to continuously season a large amount of printed matter, so that productivity can be increased.

<Description of air blowing conditions required for seasoning>
[Airflow conditions]
In order to perform seasoning quickly on a large number of printed materials (paper bundles after printing), it is necessary to constantly blow air between the sheets with a certain amount of airflow. The airflow conditions suitable for seasoning were clarified by the following evaluation experiment.

(Evaluation methods)
(Procedure 1): As shown in FIG. 18, left and right margins 212 and 213 and upper and lower margins 214 and 215 are secured to the printing paper 210 by appropriate amounts, respectively, and a solid image ( The image portion indicated by reference numeral 218 is printed. Here, the amount of residual water contained in the image portion 218 after printing was about 2.5 [g / m ² ]. As the printing paper 210, A1 grade gloss coated paper “Tokuhishi Art Both Sides N” (trade name) manufactured by Mitsubishi Paper Industries was used.

  (Procedure 2): A sheet (printed material) after such printing is sandwiched between two plates 221 and 222 as shown in FIG. 19, and a gap 226 having a predetermined thickness is formed between the plates 221 and 222 by a spacer 224. To do. That is, the printing paper 210 is placed on the plate 221 with the image portion 218 facing upward, the spacers 224 having a predetermined thickness are placed on the left and right margins 212 and 213, and the plate 222 is placed thereon. The plate 221 is a mounting table, and the plate 222 is a member corresponding to a top plate. In this way, a gap having a predetermined height h is formed on the image portion 218 of the printing paper 210. In addition, FIG.19 (b) is the figure seen from the blower (blower) 230 side of Fig.19 (a).

  (Procedure 3): Next, the blower 230 blows air to the gap 226. As the blower 230, Sanyo Electric's blower “San Ace B97 (9BMB24P2K01)” (trade name) was used. The output air volume is controlled by controlling the blower input current.

Then, the wind speed v [m / s] is measured at the outlet portion 232 of the air passage formed by the two plates 221 and 222 in FIG. 19A, and the height h of the gap 226 (corresponding to the sheet interval) is measured. Using this, the air volume per sheet unit length in the sheet width direction (Wp direction in FIG. 19B) q = h · v [m ² / min] is calculated. As an anemometer, “Anemomaster anemometer MODEL6004” (trade name) manufactured by Kanomax Co., Ltd. was used.

(Procedure 4): Thus, the air flow is stopped after a predetermined time while maintaining a constant air flow, the paper 210 is taken out, and the remaining water amount w [g / m ² ] is measured. The measuring method is the same as the “moisture content measuring method” described above.

(Procedure 5): The ventilation time when the residual water amount w measured through the procedures 1 to 4 is less than 0.5 [g / m ² ] is defined as seasoning time.

  FIG. 20 shows the relationship between the air volume per unit paper length (inter-paper air volume) and the seasoning time thus obtained.

(Evaluation results)
As is apparent from FIG. 20, it was found that rapid seasoning within 15 minutes can be achieved under the condition that the air volume q per sheet unit length is 0.02 [m ² / min] or more.

[Conditions for static air pressure]
Moreover, in order to ventilate between sheets of a large number of printed matter (sheet bundle after printing), a static air pressure sufficient to overcome the pressure loss is required. Generally, in the case of a fluid flowing between parallel plates, the pressure loss P _loss is expressed by the following equation.

  The sheet interval h is mainly regulated by the number of sheets placed on the mounting table and the distance between the mounting table and the top plate. Although the pressure loss can be reduced as the interval h is increased, it is restricted from the point that the apparatus size increases and the paper fluttering and bending due to the air blow tend to occur. It is preferable to do.

  In that case, as the static air pressure required for the air blowing means, it is required to satisfy the required air volume at a paper interval h = about 0.3 mm in consideration of air blow unevenness. Assuming that the short distance (469 mm) of chrysanthemum paper widely used for printing paper is assumed as the air blowing distance L, the relationship between the amount of air flowing between the paper and the pressure loss is shown in the graph of FIG.

From FIG. 21, it was found that 500 [Pa] is required as the static air pressure in order to satisfy the air volume per unit length q = 0.02 [m ² / min] at h = 0.3 mm.

<About the capacity and seasoning performance of the blower unit>
The relationship between the capacity of the blower unit and the seasoning performance was examined under the following conditions.
・ Maximum number of processed sheets M = 200 ・ Length of one side (long side) of paper 636mm (paper size: chrysanthemum half)
・ Required air flow Q = 200 × 0.636 × 0.02 = 2.54 [m ³ / min]
・ Necessary static pressure P = 500 [Pa]
The following configurations were compared as the blower units to be used.

Blower unit A: San Ace B97 (9BMB24P2K01) manufactured by Sanyo Denki
Blower unit B: Matsushita Electric EH5402
Blower unit C: San Ace 92 (9G0924A2011) manufactured by Sanyo Denki
FIG. 22 is a characteristic showing the relationship between the air volume and the static pressure when the types and number of the air blowing units A to C are changed. In FIG. 22, the points indicated by black squares are “necessary air flow Q = 200 × 0.636 × 0.02 = 2.54 [m ³ / min]” and “required static pressure P = 500 [ Pa] ”. The required air volume Q is calculated from Q = M × Wp × 0.02 [m ³ / min] as the maximum number of processed sheets M [sheets] and the length Wp [m] of one side of the sheet viewed from the blowing direction. The

  As shown in FIG. 22, the air volume-static pressure characteristic (QP characteristic) of the system in the case where the air blowing means is constituted by the air blowing units A × 6 or the air blowing units B × 6 is the above-mentioned minimum necessary. The point (Q, P) which shows the ventilation conditions is included.

  For this reason, rapid seasoning is possible by using the air blowing means constituted by 6 air blowing units A × 6 or air blowing units B × 6.

  On the other hand, in the case where the air blowing means is configured by 6 air blowing units C × 6, the required static pressure value P = 500 [Pa] is not satisfied, and quick seasoning is difficult.

  Similarly, a configuration using only one air blowing unit A to C cannot satisfy the conditions of the required air volume Q and the required static pressure P at the same time, and quick seasoning is difficult.

Thus, when the point representing the necessary airflow value Q = M × Wp × 0.02 [m ³ / min] and the necessary static pressure value P = 500 [Pa] is compared with the characteristic curve of the blowing means, When the point of the said required ventilation conditions exists on the line | wire of a characteristic curve, or the area | region below a characteristic curve, the ventilation which satisfy | fills a required ventilation condition is possible by the said ventilation means.

  Note that if the paper flutters excessively due to excessive airflow and pressure, the paper will bend and scratches will occur on the image. The upper limit of airflow and static pressure during blowing prevents the paper from fluttering excessively. Determined from a viewpoint.

<About the timing of seasoning>
Although the timing for performing seasoning is not particularly limited, for example, it is performed at the following timing.

  (1) When only one-side printing is performed, seasoning is performed after the one-side printing.

  (2) When performing double-sided printing, seasoning is performed after printing on the front side and before printing on the back side.

  (3) When performing double-sided printing, seasoning is performed after backside printing in addition to the case of (2).

<Application example to inkjet printing system>
An example of a printing system in which the seasoning apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention described in FIGS. 1 to 3, 5, 10 to 17, and the like is combined with an ink jet printer will be described.

  FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. The ink jet recording apparatus 100 includes an ink jet head 172M, 172K, 172C, 172Y on a recording medium 124 (hereinafter also referred to as “paper” for convenience) held on an impression cylinder (drawing drum 170) of the drawing unit 116. It is an impression cylinder direct drawing type ink jet recording apparatus that forms a desired color image by ejecting ink of a plurality of colors, and a treatment liquid (here, a coagulation treatment liquid) is applied onto the recording medium 124 before ink ejection. An on-demand type image forming apparatus to which a two-liquid reaction (aggregation) method in which an image is formed on a recording medium 124 by reacting a processing liquid and an ink liquid is applied.

  As shown in the figure, the ink jet recording apparatus 100 mainly includes a paper feeding unit 112, a treatment liquid application unit 114, a drawing unit 116, a drying unit 118, a fixing unit 120, and a paper discharge unit 122.

  The seasoning apparatus 10 (or 40, 50, 60, 70) described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, 5, 10 to 17, etc. has a discharge tray 192 of a paper discharge unit 122 (corresponding to a “paper discharge unit”). (See FIG. 21).

(Paper Feeder)
The paper feeding unit 112 is a mechanism that supplies the recording medium 124 to the processing liquid application unit 114, and the recording medium 124 that is a sheet is stacked on the paper feeding unit 112. The paper feed unit 112 is provided with a paper feed tray 150, and the recording medium 124 is fed from the paper feed tray 150 to the processing liquid application unit 114 one by one.

  In the inkjet recording apparatus 100 of this example, a plurality of types of recording media 124 having different paper types and sizes (paper sizes) can be used as the recording medium 124. A mode is also possible in which a plurality of paper trays (not shown) for separately collecting various recording media are provided in the paper feeding unit 112 and the paper to be sent to the paper feeding tray 150 is automatically switched from among the plurality of paper trays. In addition, a mode is also possible in which the operator selects or replaces the paper tray as necessary. In this example, a sheet (cut paper) is used as the recording medium 124, but a configuration in which continuous paper (roll paper) is cut to a required size and fed is also possible.

(Processing liquid application part)
The processing liquid application unit 114 is a mechanism that applies the processing liquid to the recording surface of the recording medium 124. The treatment liquid contains a color material aggregating agent that agglomerates the color material (pigment in this example) in the ink applied by the drawing unit 116, and the ink comes into contact with the treatment liquid and the ink. And the solvent are promoted.

  As shown in FIG. 23, the treatment liquid application unit 114 includes a paper feed cylinder 152, a treatment liquid drum 154, and a treatment liquid application device 156. The treatment liquid drum 154 is a drum that holds and rotates the recording medium 124. The processing liquid drum 154 includes a claw-shaped holding means (gripper) 155 on the outer peripheral surface thereof, and the recording medium 124 is sandwiched between the claw of the holding means 155 and the peripheral surface of the processing liquid drum 154. The tip can be held. The treatment liquid drum 154 may be provided with a suction hole on the outer peripheral surface thereof and connected to a suction unit that performs suction from the suction hole. As a result, the recording medium 124 can be held in close contact with the peripheral surface of the treatment liquid drum 154.

  A processing liquid coating device 156 is provided outside the processing liquid drum 154 so as to face the peripheral surface thereof. The processing liquid coating device 156 includes a processing liquid container in which the processing liquid is stored, an anix roller partially immersed in the processing liquid in the processing liquid container, and the recording medium 124 on the anix roller and the processing liquid drum 154. And a rubber roller that transfers the measured processing liquid to the recording medium 124. According to the processing liquid coating apparatus 156, the processing liquid can be applied to the recording medium 124 while being measured.

  In the present embodiment, the configuration in which the application method using the roller is exemplified, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, various methods such as a spray method and an ink jet method can be applied.

  The recording medium 124 to which the processing liquid is applied by the processing liquid applying unit 114 is transferred from the processing liquid drum 154 to the drawing drum 170 of the drawing unit 116 via the intermediate transport unit 126.

(Drawing part)
The drawing unit 116 includes a drawing drum 170, a paper holding roller 174, and ink jet heads 172M, 172K, 172C, and 172Y. Similar to the treatment liquid drum 154, the drawing drum 170 includes a claw-shaped holding means (gripper) 171 on the outer peripheral surface thereof. The recording medium 124 fixed to the drawing drum 170 is conveyed with the recording surface facing outward, and ink is applied to the recording surface from the inkjet heads 172M, 172K, 172C, 172Y.

  The inkjet heads 172M, 172K, 172C, and 172Y are full-line inkjet recording heads (inkjet heads) each having a length corresponding to the maximum width of the image forming area on the recording medium 124. Is formed with a nozzle row in which a plurality of nozzles for ink ejection are arranged over the entire width of the image forming area. Each inkjet head 172M, 172K, 172C, 172Y is installed so as to extend in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the recording medium 124 (the rotation direction of the drawing drum 170).

  The droplets of the corresponding color ink are ejected from the inkjet heads 172M, 172K, 172C, and 172Y toward the recording surface of the recording medium 124 held in close contact with the drawing drum 170, whereby the processing liquid application unit 114 performs the processing. The ink comes into contact with the treatment liquid previously applied to the recording surface, and the color material (pigment) dispersed in the ink is aggregated to form a color material aggregate. Thereby, the color material flow on the recording medium 124 is prevented, and an image is formed on the recording surface of the recording medium 124.

  In this example, the configuration of CMYK standard colors (four colors) is illustrated, but the combination of ink colors and the number of colors is not limited to this embodiment, and light ink, dark ink, and special colors are used as necessary. Ink may be added. For example, it is possible to add an inkjet head that discharges light-colored ink such as light cyan and light magenta, and the arrangement order of the color heads is not particularly limited.

  The recording medium 124 on which an image is formed by the drawing unit 116 is transferred from the drawing drum 170 to the drying drum 176 of the drying unit 118 via the intermediate conveyance unit 128.

(Drying part)
The drying unit 118 is a mechanism for drying moisture contained in the solvent separated by the color material aggregating action, and includes a drying drum 176 and a solvent drying device 178, as shown in FIG.

  Similar to the processing liquid drum 154, the drying drum 176 includes a claw-shaped holding unit (gripper) 177 on the outer peripheral surface thereof, and the holding unit 177 can hold the leading end of the recording medium 124.

  The solvent drying device 178 is disposed at a position facing the outer peripheral surface of the drying drum 176, and includes a plurality of halogen heaters 180 and hot air ejection nozzles 182 disposed between the halogen heaters 180.

  Various drying conditions can be realized by appropriately adjusting the temperature and air volume of the hot air blown toward the recording medium 124 from each hot air ejection nozzle 182 and the temperature of each halogen heater 180.

  The surface temperature of the drying drum 176 is set to 50 ° C. or higher. Drying is accelerated by heating from the back surface of the recording medium 124, and image destruction during fixing can be prevented. The upper limit of the surface temperature of the drying drum 176 is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of safety of maintenance work such as cleaning ink adhering to the surface of the drying drum 176 (preventing burns due to high temperatures). It is preferably set to 75 degrees or less (more preferably 60 degrees C or less).

  It is held on the outer peripheral surface of the drying drum 176 so that the recording surface of the recording medium 124 faces outward (that is, in a state where the recording surface of the recording medium 124 is convex), and is dried while being rotated and conveyed. By doing so, it is possible to prevent the recording medium 124 from being wrinkled or lifted, and to reliably prevent unevenness in drying due to these.

  The recording medium 124 that has been dried by the drying unit 118 is transferred from the drying drum 176 to the fixing drum 184 of the fixing unit 120 via the intermediate conveyance unit 130.

(Fixing part)
The fixing unit 120 includes a fixing drum 184, a halogen heater 186, a fixing roller 188, and an inline sensor 190. Like the processing liquid drum 154, the fixing drum 184 includes a claw-shaped holding unit (gripper) 185 on the outer peripheral surface, and the leading end of the recording medium 124 can be held by the holding unit 185.

  With the rotation of the fixing drum 184, the recording medium 124 is conveyed with the recording surface facing outward. The recording surface is preheated by the halogen heater 186, fixing processing by the fixing roller 188, and by the inline sensor 190. Inspection is performed.

  The halogen heater 186 is controlled to a predetermined temperature (for example, 180 ° C.). Thereby, preheating of the recording medium 124 is performed.

  The fixing roller 188 is a roller member that heats and pressurizes the dried ink to weld the self-dispersing polymer fine particles in the ink to form a film of the ink, and is configured to heat and press the recording medium 124. The Specifically, the fixing roller 188 is disposed so as to be in pressure contact with the fixing drum 184 and constitutes a nip roller with the fixing drum 184. As a result, the recording medium 124 is sandwiched between the fixing roller 188 and the fixing drum 184 and nipped at a predetermined nip pressure (for example, 0.15 MPa), and the fixing process is performed.

  The fixing roller 188 is configured by a heating roller in which a halogen lamp is incorporated in a metal pipe such as aluminum having good thermal conductivity, and is controlled to a predetermined temperature (for example, 60 to 80 ° C.). By heating the recording medium 124 with this heating roller, thermal energy equal to or higher than the Tg temperature (glass transition temperature) of the latex contained in the ink is applied, and the latex particles are melted. As a result, pressing and fixing are performed on the unevenness of the recording medium 124, and the unevenness of the image surface is leveled to obtain glossiness.

  In the embodiment of FIG. 23, only one fixing roller 188 is provided. However, a configuration in which a plurality of fixing rollers 188 are provided may be used depending on the thickness of the image layer and the Tg characteristics of latex particles.

  On the other hand, the in-line sensor 190 is a measuring means for measuring a check pattern, a moisture content, a surface temperature, a glossiness, and the like for an image fixed on the recording medium 124, and a CCD line sensor or the like is applied.

  According to the fixing unit 120 configured as described above, the latex particles in the thin image layer formed by the drying unit 118 are heated and pressurized by the fixing roller 188 and are melted. Can be made. The surface temperature of the fixing drum 184 is set to 50 ° C. or higher. The recording medium 124 held on the outer peripheral surface of the fixing drum 184 is heated from the back surface to accelerate drying, thereby preventing image destruction at the time of fixing and increasing the image strength by the effect of increasing the image temperature. Can do.

  In addition, instead of the ink containing the high boiling point solvent and the polymer fine particles (thermoplastic resin particles), a monomer component that can be polymerized and cured by UV exposure may be contained. In this case, the inkjet recording apparatus 100 includes a UV exposure unit that exposes the ink on the recording medium 124 to UV light instead of the heat-pressure fixing unit (fixing roller 188) using a heat roller. As described above, when ink containing an actinic ray curable resin such as a UV curable resin is used, an actinic ray such as a UV lamp or an ultraviolet LD (laser diode) array is used instead of the fixing roller 188 for heat fixing. Means for irradiating are provided.

(Output section)
As shown in FIG. 23, a paper discharge unit 122 is provided following the fixing unit 120. The paper discharge unit 122 includes a discharge tray 192. Between the discharge tray 192 and the fixing drum 184 of the fixing unit 120, a transfer drum 194, a conveyance belt 196, and a stretching roller 198 are in contact with each other. Is provided. The recording medium 124 is sent to the conveyor belt 196 by the transfer drum 194 and discharged to the discharge tray 192. Although the details of the paper transport mechanism by the transport belt 196 are not shown, the recording medium 124 after printing is held at the front end of the paper by a gripper (not shown) gripped between the endless transport belt 196, and the transport belt 196. Is carried above the discharge tray 192.

  As the discharge tray 192, the above-described seasoning device 10 (or 40, 50, etc.) is employed, which has both a function as a mounting table for loading printed sheets (printed matter) and a function as a seasoning machine. For example, when 100 sheets (predetermined number) have been collected on the tray, a partition plate (equivalent to the top plate 28) is automatically inserted, and seasoning is collectively performed on a bundle of 100 sheets below the partition plate.

  Although not shown in FIG. 23, the ink jet recording apparatus 100 of this example includes an ink storage / loading unit for supplying ink to the respective ink jet heads 172M, 172K, 172C, and 172Y, processing liquid, in addition to the above configuration A means for supplying a processing liquid to the applying unit 114 and a head maintenance unit for cleaning each ink jet head 172M, 172K, 172C, 172Y (nozzle surface wiping, purging, nozzle suction, etc.) Are provided with a position detection sensor for detecting the position of the recording medium 124 and a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of each part of the apparatus.

(Support for double-sided printing)
In the case of performing duplex printing, in the inkjet recording apparatus 100 of FIG. 23, seasoning is performed for a predetermined time by the seasoning apparatus 10 after printing one side (front surface) of the paper. Then, the sheet bundle subjected to the seasoning process is returned to the paper feeding unit 112, and the back side is printed.

  As a result, front and back registration misalignment does not occur, and good duplex printing can be realized in a short time.

  Further, the inkjet recording apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 23 may include a plurality of seasoning apparatuses 10 used for the discharge tray 192, and each seasoning apparatus 10 may be moved between the paper discharge unit 122 and the paper supply unit 112. Good.

  For example, a configuration in which each seasoning device 10 can run with casters may be employed, or a configuration in which the seasoning device 10 travels on a rail may be employed.

  During the period when the first seasoning device is seasoning a bundle of printed materials, another (second) seasoning device is set in the paper discharge unit 122 and receives a newly printed output. A bundle of sheets for which seasoning has been completed by the first seasoning apparatus is supplied to the sheet feeding unit 112.

  When a specified number of printed materials are accumulated in the second seasoning device, the second seasoning device retracts from the paper discharge unit 122 and starts seasoning. Then, the third seasoning device or the empty first seasoning device is set in the paper discharge unit 122 and printing is continued. In this way, by configuring a system that uses a plurality of seasoning devices as a wheel, automation can be realized and a large amount of printed matter can be produced efficiently.

<About ink>
The ink used in the practice of the present invention is a water-based ink containing water as a solvent. For example, a water-based pigment ink containing a pigment that is a coloring material (colorant) or polymer fine particles as a solvent-insoluble material is used. .

  The concentration of the solvent-insoluble material is preferably 1 wt% or more and 20 wt% or less considering a viscosity of 20 mPa · s or less suitable for ejection. More preferably, the pigment concentration is 4 wt% or more in order to obtain the optical density of the image.

  The surface tension of the ink is preferably 20 mN / m or more and 40 mN / m or less in consideration of ejection stability.

  The color material used in the ink can be a pigment or a mixture of a dye and a pigment. From the viewpoint of aggregability at the time of contact with the treatment liquid, a pigment in a dispersed state in the ink is preferable because it aggregates more effectively. Among the pigments, a pigment dispersed by a dispersant, a self-dispersing pigment, a pigment whose surface is coated with a resin (microcapsule pigment), and a polymer graft pigment are particularly preferable. From the viewpoint of pigment aggregation, a form modified with a carboxyl group having a low dissociation degree is more preferable.

  In the colored ink liquid used in this embodiment, it is preferable to add polymer fine particles not containing a colorant as a component that reacts with the treatment liquid. The polymer fine particles can enhance the thickening action and aggregation action of the ink by reaction with the treatment liquid, and can improve the image quality. In particular, a highly safe ink can be obtained by incorporating anionic polymer fine particles into the ink.

  By using polymer fine particles that react with the treatment liquid and cause thickening and aggregating action in the ink, the image quality can be improved. It also has the effect of improving the scratch resistance and water resistance of the image.

  The dispersion method in the polymer ink is not limited to emulsion, and it may be dissolved or exist in a colloidal dispersion state.

  The polymer fine particles may be obtained by dispersing the polymer fine particles using an emulsifier, or may be dispersed without using an emulsifier. As the emulsifier, a low molecular weight surfactant is usually used, but a high molecular weight surfactant can also be used as an emulsifier. It is also preferable to use capsule type polymer fine particles (core / shell type polymer fine particles having different compositions at the center and outer edge of the particle) whose outer shell is made of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid or the like.

  Examples of the resin component added to the ink as polymer fine particles include acrylic resins, vinyl acetate resins, styrene-butadiene resins, vinyl chloride resins, acrylic-styrene resins, butadiene resins, styrene resins, and the like.

  From the viewpoint of imparting high-speed cohesiveness to the polymer fine particles, those having a carboxylic acid group having a low dissociation degree are more preferable. Since the carboxylic acid group is easily affected by pH change, the dispersion state is easily changed and the cohesiveness is high.

  The change of the dispersion state with respect to the pH change of the polymer fine particles can be adjusted by the content ratio of the constituent component in the polymer fine particles having a carboxylic acid group such as an acrylate ester, and the like depending on the anionic surfactant used as the dispersant. Can also be adjusted.

  The resin component of the polymer fine particles is preferably a polymer having both a hydrophilic portion and a hydrophobic portion. By having the hydrophobic portion, the hydrophobic portion is oriented inside the polymer fine particle, the hydrophilic portion is efficiently oriented outside, and the effect of increasing the dispersion state with respect to the pH change of the liquid is greater, and aggregation is caused. Done more efficiently.

  Further, two or more kinds of polymer fine particles may be mixed and used in the ink.

  As the pH adjuster added to the ink of the present embodiment, an organic base or an inorganic alkali base can be used as a neutralizing agent. The pH adjusting agent is preferably added so that the inkjet ink has a pH of 6 to 10 for the purpose of improving the storage stability of the inkjet ink.

  The ink of this embodiment preferably contains a water-soluble organic solvent for the purpose of preventing clogging of the nozzles of the inkjet head due to drying. Such water-soluble organic solvents include wetting agents and penetrants.

  Examples of the water-soluble organic solvent include polyhydric alcohols, polyhydric alcohol derivatives, nitrogen-containing solvents, alcohols, sulfur-containing solvents and the like, as in the case of the treatment liquid.

  In addition, surfactants, pH buffers, antioxidants, fungicides, viscosity modifiers, conductive agents, ultraviolet absorbers, and the like can be added as necessary.

  Moreover, thermoplastic resin fine particles can be contained in the ink. By including a thermoplastic resin, film formation progresses in the process of heating, and the image strength can be improved. When a thermoplastic resin is contained, it is more effective to perform a fixing step of heating and pressing an image in addition to a heating process in drying.

  In addition, by containing a UV curable monomer in the ink, after sufficiently evaporating moisture in the drying section, the image is irradiated with UV in a fixing section equipped with a UV irradiation lamp, etc. The monomer can be cured and polymerized to improve the image strength.

<About treatment liquid>
The treatment liquid (aggregation treatment liquid) used in the practice of the present invention is preferably a treatment liquid that causes aggregation of pigments and polymer fine particles contained in the ink by changing the pH of the ink.

  Treatment liquid components include polyacrylic acid, acetic acid, glycolic acid, malonic acid, malic acid, maleic acid, ascorbic acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, fumaric acid, citric acid, tartaric acid, lactic acid, sulfonic acid, orthophosphoric acid, pyrrolidone It is preferably selected from carboxylic acid, pyrone carboxylic acid, pyrrole carboxylic acid, furan carboxylic acid, pyridine carboxylic acid, coumaric acid, thiophene carboxylic acid, nicotinic acid, derivatives of these compounds, or salts thereof.

  Moreover, as a preferable example of the treatment liquid, a treatment liquid to which a polyvalent metal salt or polyallylamine is added can be exemplified. These compounds may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

  From the viewpoint of pH aggregation performance with the ink, the treatment liquid preferably has a pH of 1 to 6, more preferably 2 to 5, and particularly preferably 3 to 5.

  In addition, the treatment liquid preferably contains water and other additive-soluble organic solvents for the purpose of preventing clogging of the nozzles of the inkjet head due to drying. Such water and other additive-soluble organic solvents include wetting agents and penetrants. These solvents can be used alone or in combination with water and other additives.

  The treatment liquid may further contain a resin component in order to improve fixability and abrasion resistance. The resin component may be any resin component that does not impair the ejection properties from the head when the treatment liquid is ejected by the ink jet method and has storage stability, and water-soluble resins and resin emulsions can be used freely.

  In addition, surfactants, pH buffers, antioxidants, fungicides, viscosity modifiers, conductive agents, ultraviolet absorbers, and the like can be added as necessary.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Seasoning apparatus, 12 ... Mounting table, 14, 15 ... Blower, 14a-14f, 15a-15f ... Blower (blower), 20, 21, 22, 23 ... Side plate, 24, 25 ... Blower, 26A, 26B, 26C ... opening, 27 ... exhaust part, 28 ... top plate, 30 ... paper, 34 ... paper accommodation space, 40, 41, 50, 60, 70 ... seasoning device, 92 ... shelf plate, 100 ... inkjet recording device, 122 ... Output section

Claims (14)

A mounting table for stacking and mounting a plurality of printing sheets;
A top plate that is disposed on the top of the mounting table so as to face the mounting table, and covers the top of the bundle of printing sheets placed on the mounting table;
A blowing means for blowing air from a side surface with respect to a sheet storage area formed between the mounting table and the top plate disposed opposite to each other;
A side plate disposed on a side surface other than the surface on which the air blowing means is installed, of the side surface portion of the paper storage area,
An exhaust part constituted by an opening formed in the side plate;
With
The opening ratio of the side plate in the exhaust portion is different between the central portion and the end portion in the width direction of the printing paper, and the opening ratio of the end portion is higher than the opening ratio of the central portion. Printing paper seasoning device. In claim 1,
The said exhaust part is formed in the side plate arrange | positioned at the side surface facing the surface in which the said ventilation means is installed, The printing paper seasoning apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. In claim 1 or 2,
The paper storage area is rectangular when viewed from the top side,
A printing paper seasoning apparatus, wherein the blowing means is arranged on one side of the rectangle and the side plate is arranged on the other three sides. In claim 3,
The exhaust portion is formed on a first side plate disposed on a side opposite to the one side among the three sides, and an opening ratio of an end portion is higher than an opening ratio of a central portion of the first side plate. Printing paper seasoning device. In claim 3,
The exhaust part extends across a first side plate disposed on a side facing the one side among the three sides, and a second side plate and a third side plate disposed on the other two sides across the side having the first side plate. Formed,
A printing paper seasoning apparatus, wherein an opening ratio of an end portion of the second side plate and the third side plate closer to the first side plate is higher than an opening ratio of a central portion of the first side plate. In any one of Claims 1 thru | or 5,
The printing paper seasoning apparatus, wherein the end portion is in a range of 50 mm or more and 150 mm or less from an end of the paper storage area. In any one of Claims 1 thru | or 5,
The printing paper seasoning apparatus, wherein the end portion is in the range of 5% to 20% of the entire width of the paper storage area from the edge of the paper storage area. In any one of Claims 1 thru | or 7,
The printing paper seasoning apparatus, wherein the paper placing surface of the mounting table has a curvature in a direction orthogonal to the blowing direction of the blowing means. In claim 8,
The printing paper seasoning apparatus, wherein the paper holding surface of the top plate facing the paper placement surface has a curvature in a direction orthogonal to the blowing direction of the blowing means. In any one of Claims 1 thru | or 9,
A printing paper seasoning apparatus, wherein a static pressure of air blown from the blowing means is 500 [Pa] or more. In any one of Claims 1 thru | or 10,
When the maximum number of sheets that can be processed at one time by the seasoning apparatus is M [sheets], and the length of one side in the width direction of the sheet viewed from the blowing side of the blowing unit is Wp [m],
The air volume-static pressure characteristic of the air blowing means includes a point of required air volume value Q = M × Wp × 0.02 [m ³ / min] and required static pressure value P = 500 [Pa]. Printing paper seasoning device. In any one of Claims 1 thru | or 11,
A printing paper seasoning device having at least one shelf plate and configured to divide and store the printing paper into a plurality of bundles by a plurality of stages partitioned by the shelf plate.   An ink jet recording apparatus, wherein the printing paper seasoning device according to any one of claims 1 to 12 is mounted on a paper discharge unit. A plurality of printing sheets are stacked on the mounting table, the top of the stack of printing sheets placed on the mounting table is covered with a top plate, and the space between the mounting table and the top plate is opposed to each other. A method for seasoning a printing sheet that supplies air between the sheets of the bundle by blowing air from a side surface to the sheet storage area formed in the sheet,
An opening for exhaust is formed in a side plate disposed on a side surface portion of the paper accommodating region, and an opening ratio of the exhaust portion constituted by the opening is made different between a central portion and an end portion in the width direction of the printing paper, The opening ratio of the end portion is higher than the opening ratio of the central portion,
A printing paper seasoning method, wherein air is blown in a state in which an air volume at an end portion is increased with respect to a central portion of the printing paper during blowing by the blowing means.

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