BACKGROUND
Technical Field
[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a fabric drying apparatus, a fabric
image forming apparatus, and a fabric image forming system.
Related Art
[0002] There has been a known fabric drying apparatus that performs fixing and drying easily
and in a short time while releasing vapor generated from a fabric at the time of image
fixing in an image forming apparatus for fabrics or at the time of drying of the pretreatment
agent applied to a fabric before an image forming process.
[0003] An inkjet image forming apparatus for fabrics applies heat and pressure to a fabric
having an image formed thereon, to fix the ink to the fabric. However, a general fabric
drying apparatus uses a flat heater as its heat source, and therefore, any gap is
not formed between the ink applied to the fabric and the heater at the time of fixing.
[0004] In the above configuration, there are no gaps, and there is no place to escape for
the vapor generated due to the heated ink. As a result, the heat from the heater is
hardly transmitted to the ink due to the accumulated vapor, which hinders the fixing.
Therefore, there is the need to make the fixing time longer, which is a disadvantage.
[0005] Further, when not only the ink but also the pretreatment agent applied to the fabric
is dried before the ink to increase image quality and robustness, vapor is generated
by the heating as in the case with the ink. Therefore, there is no place for the vapor
to escape when the heater is brought into contact and is dried, and it is necessary
to make the drying time longer. However, unlike the ink, the pretreatment agent has
a disadvantage in that, when the pretreatment agent is heated for a long time, the
components of the pretreatment agent are precipitated to whiten the fabric.
[0006] To eliminate the above disadvantages, a method of applying heat from a fabric drying
apparatus to a fabric in a non-contact manner is used as an ink fixing method and
a method for drying a pretreatment agent. In this case, however, the resin component
in the ink is not sufficiently heated, which leads to a disadvantage that is poor
robustness or a longer fixing time for sufficiently heating the resin component.
[0007] A method of manually repeating opening and closing of a fabric drying apparatus to
release vapor may be used as another method. However, an operator who operates the
fabric drying apparatus at the time of fixing or drying the pretreatment agent becomes
necessary, and therefore, it is difficult to increase efficiency, which is another
disadvantage. A fabric drying apparatus that automatically repeats opening and closing
is also known, but has a disadvantage in that the costs are too high.
[0008] To eliminate the above disadvantages, there is a technique suggested for lowering
the possibility that the vapor to be generated by heating the moisture contained in
a treatment agent will wet a fabric or a heat press machine when heat treatment is
performed on a fabric having the treatment agent applied thereto (see
Japanese Patent No. 6620665, for example).
[0009] Japanese Patent No. 6620665 discloses a fabric supporting table that includes an auxiliary member that supports
a fabric, and a storage portion having a bottom wall and side walls. In this fabric
supporting table, the bottom wall and the side walls form a storage space for storing
the storage target, and have grooves that guide movement of the storage target in
a first direction and restrict movement of the storage target in a second direction.
[0010] By this technique, the possibility that the storage target will leak from the storage
portion in the second direction is lowered. Accordingly, the storage target is less
likely to come into contact with the fabric and the heat press machine, and the possibility
that the fabric and the heat press machine will get wet can be lowered.
[0011] A technique for preventing an increase in device size and increasing workability
at the time of transferring an image onto a fabric is disclosed as another technique
(see
Japanese Patent No. 6794798, for example).
[0012] Japanese Patent No. 6794798 discloses a fabric heating device that includes a receiving member on which a tray
for holding a fabric is mounted, and a heating unit that heats the fabric. In this
fabric heating device, the heating unit includes: a planar member facing the fabric
held on the tray; a heat generating member that heats the planar member; and a heat
insulating member that prevents diffusion of heat from the heat generating member
to the side opposite to the planar member side.
[0013] By this technique, workability at the time of transferring an image onto a fabric
is increased.
[0014] A technique for providing a fabric heating device that can be made smaller in size
and be operated more easily, and further, is safe and secure is disclosed as yet another
technique (see
Japanese Patent No. 6238033, for example).
[0015] Japanese Patent No. 6238033 discloses a fabric heating device that includes: a cassette having a box-like container
and a flat panel; a main body containing a heating plate; an insertion port for attaching
and detaching the cassette provided in the main body; and a heating plate position
switching mechanism for switching the position of the heating plate so that a pressure
heating treatment and a non-contact heat treatment can be performed with the single
heating plate.
[0016] By this technique, it is possible to obtain a fabric heating device that can achieve
safety, is very easy to handle, is simple, can shorten the working time, and can also
achieve miniaturization.
[0019] By this technique, the rotary iron has chemical resistance and non-adhesiveness.
Thus, the rotary iron can be used for drying a coated surface and drying a solvent-mixed
substance, and can also be easily applied to an object having a curved surface as
the surface to be dried. Furthermore, it is very easy to manufacture such a rotary
iron.
[0020] By the technique disclosed in
Japanese Patent No. 6620665, however, grooves for moving the storage target are formed on the opposite side,
via a fabric and a porous member, from the heating plate that heats the fabric. Therefore,
the vapor that is the storage target generated at the contact face between the heating
plate and the fabric has to pass through the inside of the fabric over time, to move
via the grooves. This causes a disadvantage in that the vapor is cooled and turns
into water when passing through the inside of the fabric, and the fabric becomes wet.
[0021] Further, in a case where the object on which an image is to be formed characteristically
hardly allows vapor to escape (such as a thick fabric, a finely woven fabric that
hardly passes vapor, or a fabric that has no gaps such as glass fiber, instead of
cloth or paper having gaps therein), vapor cannot pass through the inside of the object
on which an image is to be formed. As a result, the vapor fails to move into the grooves
and cannot be collected, which is a disadvantage. This disadvantage cannot be eliminated
by the other techniques disclosed in
Japanese Patent No. 6794798,
Japanese Patent No. 6238033, and
Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Application Publication No. 59-98898 either.
SUMMARY
[0022] An object of the present invention is to eliminate the above disadvantages, and provide
a fabric drying apparatus that can prevent any image formation target and an image
forming apparatus from becoming wet due to vapor during drying or fixing, and shorten
the heating time to efficiently and inexpensively carry out a reliable pretreatment
step and a reliable fixing step.
[0023] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a fabric drying apparatus includes
a supporting member, . a roller-shaped rotatable heating member, a frame, and a moving
unit. The supporting member supports a fabric. The heating member comes into contact
with the fabric to heat the fabric. The frame holds the heating member such that the
heating member is movable with respect to the fabric. The moving unit moves the heating
member to bring the heating member into contact with the fabric.
[0024] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a fabric image forming apparatus
includes an image forming unit, a drying unit, a movable support unit, and an approaching
and retracting unit. The image forming unit forms an image on a fabric. The drying
unit includes a roller-shaped rotatable heating member, a frame, and a moving unit.
The roller-shaped rotatable heating member comes into contact with the fabric to heat
the fabric. The frame holds the heating member such that the heating member is movable
with respect to the fabric. The moving unit moves the heating member to bring the
heating member into contact with the fabric. The movable support unit supports the
fabric and causes the fabric to face the image forming unit and the drying unit. The
approaching and retracting unit brings the fabric supported by the support unit, and
the image forming unit and the drying unit close to and away from each other.
[0025] According to still another aspect of the present disclosure, a fabric image forming
system includes an image forming apparatus, a drying apparatus, a movable support
apparatus, and an approaching and retracting device. The image forming apparatus forms
an image on a fabric. The drying apparatus includes a roller-shaped rotatable heating
member, a frame, and a moving unit. The roller-shaped rotatable heating member comes
into contact with the fabric to heat the fabric. The frame holds the heating member
such that the heating member is movable with respect to the fabric and is movable
close to and away from the fabric. The moving unit moves the heating member to bring
the heating member into contact with the fabric. The movable support apparatus supports
the fabric and causes the fabric to face the image forming apparatus and the drying
apparatus. The approaching and retracting device brings the fabric supported by the
support apparatus and the drying apparatus close to and away from each other.
[0026] According to at least one aspect of the present disclosure, a fabric drying apparatus
can be provided that can shorten the heating time to efficiently and inexpensively
carry out a pretreatment step and a fixing step.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0027] A more complete appreciation of embodiments of the present disclosure and many of
the attendant advantages and features thereof can be readily obtained and understood
from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings,
wherein:
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a fabric drying apparatus according to a first embodiment
of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a heating roller that is used in the fabric drying apparatus
in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a heat press device occupying a closing position in
the fabric drying apparatus in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a fabric drying apparatus according to a second embodiment
of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a schematic view of an image forming apparatus according to a third embodiment
of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a schematic front view of an image forming system according to a fourth
embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of the image forming system according to the fourth
embodiment of the present invention.
[0028] The accompanying drawings are intended to depict embodiments of the present disclosure
and should not be interpreted to limit the scope thereof. The accompanying drawings
are not to be considered as drawn to scale unless explicitly noted. Also, identical
or similar reference numerals designate identical or similar components throughout
the several views.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0029] In describing embodiments illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology is employed
for the sake of clarity. However, the disclosure of this specification is not intended
to be limited to the specific terminology so selected and it is to be understood that
each specific element includes all technical equivalents that have a similar function,
operate in a similar manner, and achieve a similar result.
[0030] Referring now to the drawings, embodiments of the present disclosure are described
below. As used herein, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" are intended to include
the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
[0031] FIG. 1 illustrates a fabric drying apparatus according to a first embodiment of the
present invention. In the drawing, a fabric drying apparatus 1 includes a fabric mount
2 as a supporting member, and a heat press device 3 that is openable and closable
with respect to the fabric mount 2. The heat press device 3 includes: a heating roller
4 that is a heating member; a frame 5 that rotatably and movably supports the heating
roller 4; a power supply unit 6 that supplies power for heat generation to the heating
roller 4; and a moving unit 8 that reciprocates the heating roller 4 and the power
supply unit 6 within a moving range 7 indicated by a double-headed arrow in FIG. 1.
[0032] The fabric mount 2 has a function of holding a fabric 9 such as a T-shirt as a fabric
attached to a placement surface 2a that is the upper surface of the fabric mount 2,
and the fabric 9 placed on the placement surface 2a is held in a stretched state by
a member. On the fabric 9, an image is formed in an image formation region 10 indicated
by a double-dot-and-dash line in the drawing, by an image forming apparatus such as
an inkjet printer. A pretreatment agent may be applied onto the image formation region
10 prior to image formation.
[0033] The heat press device 3 is openable and closable with respect to the fabric mount
2, the lower end of the frame 5 and the upper end of the fabric mount 2 in FIG. 1
are coupled by a hinge, and the frame 5 is rotatably attached to the fabric mount
2. The heat press device 3 rotates in a clockwise direction 11a in FIG. 1 to occupy
the opening position at which the frame 5 is separated from the placement surface
2a, and rotates in a counterclockwise direction 11b to occupy the closing position
at which the frame 5 is brought in contact with the placement surface 2a.
[0034] The frame 5 has a shape surrounded in a rectangular shape having a space 5a formed
therein, and a back panel 12 is disposed on a surface facing a surface facing the
placement surface 2a in FIG. 1. The back panel 12 is provided to prevent the heating
roller 4 from being exposed to the outside, and a material that has a low thermal
conductivity such as a heat-resistant resin and hardly transmits the heat from the
heating roller 4 to the outside, such as a heat-resistant resin, is used for the back
panel 12. Thus, when an operator touches the back panel 12 while the heating roller
4 is generating heat, safety of the operator is ensured. The back panel 12 has a plurality
of through holes 12a for releasing vapor generated when the heating roller 4 comes
into contact with the moisture-containing fabric 9, to the outside through the space
5a.
[0035] The heating roller 4 is a roller-shaped heating member that is rotatably provided
to come into contact with and heat the fabric 9 placed on the placement surface 2a,
and can reciprocate within the moving range 7. The heating roller 4 is disposed in
the space 5a of the frame 5, and can reciprocate within the moving range 7 as a support
shaft 4a of the heating roller 4 is guided in guide grooves 13 formed in the frame
5. The heating roller 4 will be described later in greater detail.
[0036] The guide grooves 13 are formed to penetrate both side portions of the frame 5, and
has a function of guiding the heating roller 4 in a predetermined direction within
the moving range 7. The predetermined direction is a forward direction F of the apparatus,
which is the downward direction in FIG. 1, and a rearward direction R of the apparatus,
which is the upward direction in FIG. 1 (these directions will be hereinafter also
referred to as the front-rear direction FR), when the heat press device 3 occupies
the closing position with respect to the fabric mount 2, and refers to a direction
covering at least the entire region of the image formation region 10 on the fabric
9 held on the fabric mount 2.
[0037] Further, when the heat press device 3 occupies the closing position with respect
to the fabric mount 2, the guide grooves 13 also serve as releasing portions that
release a gas, such as the vapor (water vapor) generated when the heating roller 4
comes into contact with the fabric 9 and heats the fabric 9, to the outside of the
space 5a.
[0038] Referring now to FIG. 2, the configuration of a cross-section of the heating roller
4 is now described. The cross-section of the heating roller 4 includes, in order from
the inside to the outside, a shaft center portion 14 including the support shaft 4a,
a heat insulating layer 15, a heating body 16 that uses a nichrome wire or the like
as the source of heat, a metal layer 17, a heat-resistant rubber layer 18, and a surface
coating layer 19. A silicone-based rubber or the like is used as the heat-resistant
rubber layer 18, and a fluorine-based heat-shrinkable resin or the like that excels
in heat resistance, chemical resistance, and adhesiveness is used the surface coating
layer 19. As illustrated in FIG. 1, both end portions of the heating roller 4 are
coated with a coating roll material 20 having electrical insulation properties.
[0039] The heating roller 4 has the support shaft 4a so protruding from the shaft center
portion 14 to the outside of the coating roll material 20, and a bearing that rotatably
supports the coating roll material 20 is provided between the coating roll material
20 and the shaft center portion 14. The heating roller 4 is disposed at a position
where the heating roller 4 is pressed against the fabric 9 on the placement surface
2a with a predetermined pressing force when the heat press device 3 occupies the closing
position. With this arrangement, the coating roll material 20 is rotated by the friction
due to the contact with the fabric 9, and the support shaft 4a rolls along the guide
grooves 13, so that the heating roller 4 can move in the predetermined direction.
[0040] The supporting structure for the heating roller 4 is not limited to this, and may
have any configuration with which the heating roller 4 is rotated by the friction
caused by contact between the heating roller 4 and the fabric 9, and the support shaft
4a can roll and move along the guide grooves 13.
[0041] The power supply unit 6 that supplies power to the heating body 16 of the heating
roller 4 to generate heat is disposed near one end of support shaft 4a. A power cord
coupled to an external power supply is coupled to the power supply unit 6, and the
power supply unit 6 and the heating body 16 are coupled to each other by a known method,
such as a method of attaching a rotation ring to the heating body 16 using an end
of a power cord as a brush, for example. The power supply unit 6 is coupled to the
support shaft 4a, and can move in the predetermined direction integrally with the
heating roller 4.
[0042] The moving unit 8 that moves the heating roller 4 and the power supply unit 6 is
disposed near the heating roller 4 and the power supply unit 6 designed to be movable
integrally with the heating roller 4. A general moving unit is adopted as the moving
unit 8, and may be a rack and pinion mechanism in which a pinion is provided coaxially
with the support shaft 4a, a rack meshing with the pinion is disposed along the guide
grooves 13, and the pinion is rotated by a motor. In this configuration, when the
motor rotates forward and backward, the heating roller 4 and the power supply unit
6 reciprocate between the position indicated by a solid line and the position indicated
by a double-dot-and-dash line in FIG. 1, or within the moving range 7. The moving
unit 8 is not necessarily a rack and pinion mechanism, and some other configuration,
such as a known configuration using a motor, a timing pulley, and a timing belt, for
example, may be adopted.
[0043] Next, operations of the fabric drying apparatus 1 are described.
[0044] First, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the operator places the heat press device 3 in the
opening position, and causes the fabric mount 2 to hold the fabric 9. Here, the fabric
9 held on the fabric mount 2 is in a state in which a pretreatment agent has been
applied at least to the image formation region 10 or in a state in which image formation
with ink has been performed, and is in a wet state in which drying or fixing is to
be performed. The operator then rotates the heat press device 3 in the counterclockwise
direction 11b, to position the heat press device 3 at the closing position illustrated
in FIG. 3. After the heat press device 3 occupies the closing position, a start switch
provided in the fabric drying apparatus 1 is turned on, to start an operation of the
fabric drying apparatus 1.
[0045] When the start switch is turned on, power supply from the power supply unit 6 to
the heating body 16 is started, and the heating roller 4 starts heat generation. When
a temperature detecting unit detects that the temperature of the heating roller 4
has reached a predetermined temperature, the moving unit 8 starts operating, and the
heating roller 4 in contact with the fabric 9, and the power supply unit 6 start reciprocating
within the moving range 7. As the heating roller 4 that is generating heat as above
comes into direct contact with the fabric 9, and rolls, the image formation region
10 is efficiently heated, and drying or fixing is performed.
[0046] When the heating roller 4 that is generating heat comes into contact with the fabric
9 in the wet state described above, moisture such as ink and the pretreatment agent
contained in the fabric 9 is vaporized by heat, to generate vapor (water vapor) 21.
The generated vapor 21 is ejected from the guide grooves 13 and the through holes
12a to the outside of the space 5a, as indicated by arrow in FIG. 3. As described
above, the heating roller 4 that is generating heat rolls on the fabric 9 while being
in direct contact with the fabric 9, so that the drying or fixing operation on the
fabric 9 is completed. When it is determined from the temperature of the fabric 9,
the amount of movement of the heating roller 4, and the like that the drying or fixing
operation has been completed, the heating roller 4 is manually or automatically returned
to the initial position indicated by the solid line in FIG. 1.
[0047] After that, the heat press device 3 is manually or automatically positioned at the
opening position, the fabric 9 on which the drying or fixing operation has been completed
is removed from the fabric mount 2, and thus, a series of operations by the fabric
drying apparatus 1 is completed.
[0048] In a case where an opening/closing operation on the heat press device 3, which is
an operation of selectively positioning the heat press device 3 at the opening position
or the closing position, is manually performed, there is a need for a mechanism that
temporarily holds the heat press device 3 at the opening position, a mechanism that
cancels the holding, and the like. This is because the heat press device 3 needs to
occupy the opening position when the fabric 9 is attached to or detached from the
fabric mount 2, and is to increase safety during the handling of the fabric 9. In
a case where an opening/closing operation on the heat press device 3 is automatically
performed, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which a rotating shaft that
is rotatably supported by the fabric mount 2 and has the heat press device 3 attached
thereto is provided in place of a hinge, and a servo motor or a stepping motor that
rotationally drives the rotating shaft at a predetermined angle is used.
[0049] The heating roller 4 may be manually moved without the use of the moving unit 8.
As an example of this case, there is a configuration in which both end portions of
the support shaft 4a are projected from the respective guide grooves 13, the projected
both end portions are integrated at the upper portion of the back panel 12 to form
a grip portion, and the thus formed grip portion is gripped to reciprocate the heating
roller 4 within the moving range 7. In this case, the grip portion functions as the
moving unit.
[0050] In the conventional technique mentioned above, the fabric and the heating member
are in contact with each other at the time of a drying or fixing operation. Therefore,
there is no place for vapor to escape, and the fabric and the inside of the apparatus
become wet due to the generated vapor, which causes various disadvantages. In the
configuration according to the present embodiment, however, the position of the heating
roller 4 in contact with the fabric 9 moves and changes its position, and there is
constantly a non-contact portion of the fabric 9 with the heating roller 4, so that
a place for vapor 21 to escape can be kept without fail. With this configuration,
it is possible to achieve effects similar to the effects of a configuration in which
the heat press device 3 is detached from the fabric mount 2 to release the vapor 21,
and achieve various effects such as shortening of the drying or fixing time, prevention
of whitening of the fabric 9 due to the pretreatment agent, an increase in work efficiency,
and a cost reduction.
[0051] Further, as the heating roller 4 comes into direct contact with the fabric 9, a fabric
having image formation performed thereon with excellent robustness can be obtained
in a short time. Furthermore, as the heating roller 4 moves over the entire moving
range 7, at least the entire image formation region 10 of the fabric 9 can be heated.
Thus, the fixing step or the drying step for the fabric 9 can be carried out without
fail.
[0052] In view of the above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide
a fabric drying apparatus that can shorten the heating time, and efficiently and inexpensively
carry out a reliable pretreatment step and a reliable fixing step.
[0053] FIG. 4 illustrates a fabric drying apparatus according to a second embodiment of
the present invention. A fabric drying apparatus 1A differs from the fabric drying
apparatus 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 in that three heating rollers 4A, 4B, and 4C are
used as heating members instead of the heating roller 4, three power supply units
6 corresponding to the respective heating rollers 4A, 4B, and 4C are used, and moving
units 8A, 8B, and 8C are used instead of the moving unit 8. The other components are
the same as the corresponding components illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0054] Each of the heating rollers 4A, 4B, and 4C has a configuration similar to the heating
roller 4, and each corresponding power supply unit 6 is integrally coupled to each
support shaft. The heating rollers 4A, 4B, and 4C are arranged at predetermined intervals,
and can reciprocate in moving ranges 7A, 7B, and 7C, respectively.
[0055] The moving unit 8A similar to the moving unit 8 is disposed near the heating roller
4A and the power supply unit 6 that can move integrally with the heating roller 4A.
Likewise, the moving unit 8B is disposed near the heating roller 4B and the power
supply unit 6 that can move integrally with the heating roller 4B, and the moving
unit 8C is disposed near the heating roller 4C and the power supply unit 6 that can
move integrally with the heating roller 4C.
[0056] The moving unit 8A can reciprocate the heating roller 4A and the power supply unit
6, the moving unit 8B can reciprocate the heating roller 4B and the power supply unit
6, and the moving unit 8C can reciprocate the heating roller 4C and the power supply
unit 6. The moving units 8A, 8B, and 8C reciprocate the corresponding heating rollers
4A, 4B, and 4C and the corresponding power supply units 6 independently of one another,
and a control signal for driving is output from a control unit 22 to the drive unit
of each of the moving units 8A, 8B, and 8C.
[0057] Based on the control signal from the control unit 22, the heating rollers 4A, 4B,
and 4C start reciprocating in the corresponding moving ranges 7A, 7B, and 7C, respectively.
At this point of time, each of the heating rollers 4A, 4B, and 4C can have either
a configuration in which all of the heating rollers 4A, 4B, and 4C move in the same
direction, or a configuration in which at least one of the heating rollers 4A, 4B,
and 4C moves in a direction different from the other heating rollers.
[0058] In the configuration in which all the heating rollers 4A, 4B, and 4C are moved in
the same direction, the durations of the fixing step and the drying step can be made
shorter than in the first embodiment, and the configurations of and the operation
control on the moving units 8A, 8B, and 8C can be simplified, so that a cost reduction
can be achieved.
[0059] In the configuration in which at least one of the heating rollers 4A, 4B, and 4C
is moved in a direction different from the other heating rollers, the durations of
the fixing step and the drying step can be made shorter than in the first embodiment,
and the durations of the fixing step and the drying step can be made shorter than
in the case where the respective heating rollers are moved in one direction.
[0060] In the present embodiment, the number of heating rollers is three. However, the number
of heating rollers may be any appropriate number, as long as the number of heating
rollers is two or greater, and efficient movement in the frame is possible.
[0061] FIG. 5 illustrates a fabric image forming apparatus according to a third embodiment
of the present invention. In the drawing, a fabric image forming apparatus 23 includes,
inside an apparatus main body 24, an image forming unit 25 that forms an image on
a fabric, a drying unit 26 that performs a drying operation including a fixing operation
on the fabric, and a support unit 27 that supports the fabric.
[0062] The inkjet image forming unit 25 has a known configuration including recording heads
that discharges ink, a carriage that holds the recording heads, a carriage guide member
that movably guides the carriage, and a carriage moving mechanism that moves the carriage.
[0063] The drying unit 26 includes the heating roller 4 described above, a frame similar
to the frame 5, a power supply unit similar to the power supply unit 6, and a moving
unit similar to the moving unit 8, and is designed in a manner similar to the heat
press device 3. The heating roller 4 and the power supply unit reciprocate between
the position indicated by a solid line and a dashed line in FIG. 5 and the position
indicated by a double-dot-and-dash line by an operation of a drive unit.
[0064] The support unit 27 includes a mount 28 on which a fabric is held, and a lifter 29
as an approaching and retracting unit that moves the fabric held on the mount 28 close
to and away from the image forming unit 25 and the drying unit 26. The support unit
27 is guided by a rail member and can be moved by a moving mechanism. The support
unit 27 selectively occupies an image forming position facing the image forming unit
25 as indicated by a solid line in FIG. 5, a drying position facing the drying unit
26 as indicated by a dot-and-dash line in FIG. 5, and an exposed position located
outside the apparatus main body 24 as indicated by a double-dot-and-dash line in FIG.
5.
[0065] The lifter 29 changes the position of the fabric on the mount 28 between a separated
position illustrated in the drawing and a proximity position close to the image forming
unit 25 and the drying unit 26. When the lifter 29 is operated to move the mount 28
to the proximity position while the support unit 27 occupies the drying position,
the fabric held by the mount 28 is pressed against the heating roller 4 at a predetermined
pressure. The lifter 29 has a known configuration like a cylinder that can vertically
move the mount 28.
[0066] Operations of the fabric image forming apparatus 23 described above are now described.
The operator of the fabric image forming apparatus 23 first operates the operating
unit of the fabric image forming apparatus 23 to position the support unit 27 at the
exposed position, so that the fabric on which an image is to be formed is held on
the mount 28. In a case where pretreatment is to be performed on the fabric at this
point of time, a pretreatment agent may be manually applied to the fabric, or a pretreatment
liquid may be discharged from some of the recording heads in the image forming unit
25. In a case where a pretreatment agent is applied, the operator positions the support
unit 27 at the drying position, and then operates the lifter 29 to position the mount
28 at the proximity position.
[0067] When the mount 28 occupies the proximity position, the heating roller 4 starts generating
heat. When the heating roller 4 reaches a predetermined temperature, the moving unit
operates, so that the heating roller 4 starts reciprocating between the position indicated
by a solid line and the position indicated by a double-dot-and-dash line in FIG. 5.
Thus, a drying operation is started. When the heating roller 4 that is generating
heat comes into contact with the fabric, the pretreatment agent contained in the fabric
is vaporized to generate vapor, and the generated vapor is ejected to the outside
of the frame through each guide groove and each through hole of the frame, and is
further ejected to the outside of the apparatus main body 24 via through holes formed
in the apparatus main body 24.
[0068] When it is determined from the temperature of the fabric, the amount of movement
of the heating roller 4, and the like that the drying operation has been completed,
the lifter 29 operates to return the mount 28 to the separated position. After that,
when an image forming operation is started by the operator, the moving mechanism operates
to change the position of the support unit 27 from the drying position to the image
forming position. In a case where an image forming operation is performed without
a pretreatment operation after the fabric is held on the mount 28 at the exposed position,
the position of the support unit 27 is changed from the exposed position to the image
forming position.
[0069] After the support unit 27 occupies the image forming position, the lifter 29 operates
to move the mount 28 to the proximity position, and the carriage moving mechanism
then operates to move the recording heads that are discharging ink onto the fabric
on the mount 28. Thus, the image forming operation is performed. After a desired image
is formed on the fabric, the operation of the carriage moving mechanism is stopped,
and the discharge of ink from the recording heads is also stopped. The lifter 29 then
operates to return the mount 28 to the separated position.
[0070] When the mount 28 occupies the separated position, the moving mechanism operates
to change the position of the support unit 27 from the image forming position to the
drying position, and the lifter 29 then operates to move the mount 28 to the proximity
position. When the mount 28 occupies the proximity position, the heating roller 4
starts generating heat, so that a fixing operation on the fabric by the heating roller
4 is performed like the drying operation. The vapor generated from the fabric at the
time of the fixing operation is ejected to the outside of the frame through each guide
groove and each through hole of the frame, and is further ejected to the outside of
the apparatus main body 24 via through holes formed in the apparatus main body 24.
When it is determined from the temperature of the fabric, the amount of movement of
the heating roller 4, and the like that the fixing operation has been completed, the
lifter 29 operates to return the mount 28 to the separated position, and thus, the
fixing operation is completed.
[0071] By this series of operations, it is possible to achieve the same effect as an effect
of the first embodiment, which is the effect to provide a fabric image forming apparatus
that can shorten the heating time to efficiently and inexpensively carry out a reliable
pretreatment step and a reliable fixing step.
[0072] In the third embodiment, the support unit 27 is located at the exposed position and
the pretreatment agent is manually applied when a pretreatment operation is performed.
However, a configuration in which the pretreatment agent is automatically applied
to the fabric may be adopted for the image forming unit 25. In this case, the pretreatment
agent applying operation is performed at the image forming position, and the drying
operation is performed at the drying position, like the image forming operation and
the fixing operation. Accordingly, the pretreatment operation and the drying operation
can be automatically performed, the image forming operation and the fixing operation
can be further performed subsequent to the drying operation, and the series of steps
can be fully automatically carried out to simplify and shorten the process.
[0073] The fabric image forming apparatus 23 may have a configuration in which the heating
rollers 4A, 4B, and 4C, the power supply units 6, and the moving units 8A, 8B, and
8C used in the second embodiment are used instead of the heating roller 4, the power
supply unit, and the moving unit.
[0074] With this configuration, it is possible to achieve the same effects as effects of
the second embodiment, which are an effect to simplify the configuration and operation
control of each of the moving units 8A, 8B, and 8C and lower the costs, and an effect
to make the durations of the fixing step and the drying step shorter than in a case
where the respective heating rollers are moved in one direction.
[0075] FIG. 6 is a schematic front view of a fabric image forming system according to a
fourth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of
the fabric image forming system. In the drawing, a fabric image forming system 30
includes an image forming apparatus 31 that forms an image on a fabric, a drying apparatus
32 that performs a drying operation including a fixing operation on the fabric, and
a support apparatus 33 that supports the fabric.
[0076] The inkjet image forming apparatus 31 has a known configuration similar to the image
forming unit 25 described above, including recording heads that discharge ink, a carriage
that holds the recording heads, a carriage guide member that movably guides the carriage,
and a carriage moving mechanism that moves the carriage.
[0077] The drying apparatus 32 includes the heating roller 4 described above, a frame similar
to the frame 5, a power supply unit similar to the power supply unit 6, and a moving
unit similar to the moving unit 8, and is designed in a manner similar to the heat
press device 3. The heating roller 4 and the power supply unit reciprocate between
the position indicated by a solid line and a dashed line in FIG. 6 and the position
indicated by a double-dot-and-dash line by an operation of a drive unit.
[0078] The support apparatus 33 includes a mount 34 on which a fabric is held, and a lifter
35 as an approaching and retracting device that moves the fabric held on the mount
34 close to and away from the drying apparatus 32. The support apparatus 33 is guided
by a rail member and can be moved by a moving mechanism. The support apparatus 33
selectively occupies an image forming position at which the fabric on the mount 34
enters the inside of the image forming apparatus 31 and is subjected to image formation,
and a drying position facing the drying apparatus 32 illustrated in FIG. 6.
[0079] The lifter 35 changes the position of the fabric on the mount 34 between a separated
position and a proximity position close to the drying apparatus 32 as illustrated
in FIG. 6. When the lifter 35 is operated to move the mount 34 to the proximity position
while the support apparatus 33 occupies the drying position, the fabric held by the
mount 34 is pressed against the heating roller 4 at a predetermined pressure. When
the support apparatus 33 occupies the image forming position while the lifter 35 is
in a non-operating state or while the mount 34 occupies the separated position at
the height illustrated in FIG. 6, the fabric on the mount 34 faces the image forming
unit of the image forming apparatus 31 so that image formation can be performed. Like
the lifter 29, the lifter 35 has a known configuration such as a cylinder.
[0080] Operations of the fabric image forming system 30 described above are now described.
The operator of the fabric image forming system 30 first operates the operating unit
of the fabric image forming system 30 to position the support apparatus 33 at the
drying position, so that the fabric on which an image is to be formed is held on the
mount 34. In a case where pretreatment is to be performed on the fabric at this point
of time, a pretreatment agent is manually applied onto the fabric. After the pretreatment
agent is applied, the operator operates the lifter 35 to position the mount 34 at
the proximity position.
[0081] When the mount 34 occupies the proximity position, the heating roller 4 starts generating
heat. When the heating roller 4 reaches a predetermined temperature, the moving unit
operates, so that the heating roller 4 starts reciprocating between the position indicated
by a solid line and the position indicated by a double-dot-and-dash line in FIG. 6.
Thus, a drying operation is started. When the heating roller 4 that is generating
heat comes into contact with the fabric, the pretreatment agent contained in the fabric
is vaporized to generate vapor, and the generated vapor is ejected to the outside
of the frame through each guide groove and each through hole of the frame.
[0082] When it is determined from the temperature of the fabric, the amount of movement
of the heating roller 4, and the like that the drying operation has been completed,
the lifter 35 operates to return the mount 34 to the separated position. After that,
when an image forming operation is started by the operator, the moving mechanism operates
to change the position of the support apparatus 33 from the drying position to the
image forming position. In a case where an image forming operation is performed without
a pretreatment operation after the fabric is held on the mount 34 at the drying position,
the position of the support apparatus 33 is changed from the drying position to the
image forming position.
[0083] After the support apparatus 33 occupies the image forming position, the carriage
moving mechanism operates to move the recording heads that are discharging ink onto
the fabric on the mount 34, and the image forming operation is performed. After a
desired image is formed on the fabric, the operation of the carriage moving mechanism
comes to a halt, and the discharge of ink from the recording heads also stops. Thus,
the image forming operation is completed.
[0084] After the image forming operation is completed, the moving mechanism operates to
change the position of the support apparatus 33 from the image forming position to
the drying position, and the lifter 35 then operates to move the mount 34 to the proximity
position. As the mount 34 occupies the proximity position, the heating roller 4 starts
generating heat, and a fixing operation on the fabric by the heating roller 4 is performed
in a manner similar to the drying operation. The vapor generated from the fabric at
the time of the fixing operation is ejected to the outside of the frame through each
guide groove and each through hole of the frame. When it is determined from the temperature
of the fabric, the amount of movement of the heating roller 4, and the like that the
fixing operation has been completed, the lifter 35 operates to return the mount 34
to the separated position, and thus, the fixing operation is completed.
[0085] By this series of operations, it is possible to achieve the same effect as an effect
of the first embodiment, which is the effect to provide a fabric image forming system
that can shorten the heating time to efficiently and inexpensively carry out a reliable
pretreatment step and a reliable fixing step.
[0086] In the fourth embodiment, the support apparatus 33 is located at the drying position,
and the pretreatment agent is manually applied when a pretreatment operation is performed.
However, a configuration in which the pretreatment agent is automatically applied
to the fabric may be adopted for the image forming apparatus 31, as in the third embodiment.
As an example, a configuration in which a pretreatment liquid is discharged from some
of the recording heads in the image forming apparatus 31 may be adopted. In this case,
the pretreatment agent applying operation is performed at the image forming position,
and the drying operation is performed at the drying position, like the image forming
operation and the fixing operation. With this arrangement, the series of steps is
fully automatically carried out, and thus, the process can be simplified and shortened.
[0087] The fabric image forming system 30 may have a configuration in which the respective
heating rollers 4A, 4B, and 4C, the respective power supply units 6, and the respective
moving units 8A, 8B, and 8C used in the second embodiment are used instead of the
heating roller 4, the power supply unit, and the moving unit.
[0088] With this configuration, it is possible to achieve the same effects as effects of
the second embodiment, which are an effect to simplify the configuration and operation
control of each of the moving units 8A, 8B, and 8C and lower the costs, and an effect
to make the durations of the fixing step and the drying step shorter than in a case
where the respective heating rollers are moved in one direction.
[0089] The fourth embodiment described above concerns a configuration in which the lifter
35 as an approaching and retracting device that moves the fabric held on the mount
34 close to and away from the heating roller 4 is provided in the support apparatus
33. In this configuration, the support apparatus 33 includes the approaching and retracting
device. Accordingly, the fabric held on the mount 34 can be positioned at an optimum
height with respect to the image forming unit and the pretreatment agent applicator
provided in the image forming apparatus 31, and the pretreatment agent applying operation
and the image forming operation on the fabric can be performed in a preferred manner.
[0090] A modification of the fourth embodiment may be a configuration in which the frame
that holds the heating roller 4 is vertically movable with respect to the apparatus
main body of the drying apparatus 32, and an approaching and retracting device 36
that moves the heating roller 4 close to and away from the fabric held on the mount
34 is provided on the side of the drying apparatus 32 as illustrated in FIG. 6. In
this configuration, the drying apparatus 32 includes the approaching and retracting
device 36, the configuration of the support apparatus 33 can be simplified, and the
costs can be lowered.
[0091] In each of the above embodiments, the fabric 9, which is a T-shirt, is used as the
fabric serving as a recording medium to which the present invention can be applied.
However, the fabric is not necessarily a T-shirt, but may be a fabric processed as
a garment such as a sweatshirt, a fabric formed with one piece of cloth such as a
handkerchief or a towel, a fabric serving as a part of a product such as a tote bag,
or the like.
[0092] Aspects of embodiments of the present invention are, for example, as follows.
First Aspect
[0093] A fabric drying apparatus includes: a supporting member to support a fabric; a roller-shaped
rotatable heating member to come into contact with the fabric to heat the fabric;
a frame that holds the heating member such that the heating member is movable with
respect to the fabric; a moving unit to move the heating member to bring the heating
member into contact with an entire surface of the fabric; and an approaching and retracting
unit that brings the fabric supported by the supporting member and the heating member
close to and away from each other.
Second Aspect
[0094] The fabric drying apparatus according to the first aspect further includes a plurality
of heating members including the heating member.
Third Aspect
[0095] In the fabric drying apparatus according to the second aspect, the plurality of heating
members move in the same direction.
Fourth Aspect
[0096] In the fabric drying apparatus according to the second aspect, at least one heating
member of the plurality of heating members moves in a direction different from a direction
in which another heating member of the plurality of heating members moves.
Fifth Aspect
[0097] A fabric image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit to form an image
on a fabric; a drying unit including: a roller-shaped rotatable heating member to
come into contact with the fabric to heat the fabric; a frame that holds the heating
member such that the heating member is movable with respect to the fabric; and a moving
unit to move the heating member to bring the heating member into contact with an entire
surface of the fabric; a movable support unit to support the fabric and cause the
fabric to face the image forming unit and the drying unit; and an approaching and
retracting unit to bring the fabric supported by the support unit, and the image forming
unit and the drying unit close to and away from each other.
Sixth Aspect
[0098] The fabric image forming apparatus according to the fifth aspect further includes
a plurality of heating members including the heating member.
Seventh Aspect
[0099] In the fabric image forming apparatus according to the sixth aspect, the plurality
of heating members move in the same direction.
Eighth Aspect
[0100] In the fabric image forming apparatus according to the sixth aspect, at least one
heating member of the plurality of heating members moves in a direction different
from a direction in which another heating member of the plurality of heating members
moves.
Aspect 9
[0101] A fabric image forming system includes: an image forming apparatus to form an image
on a fabric; a drying apparatus including a roller-shaped rotatable heating member
to come into contact with the fabric to heat the fabric, a frame that holds the heating
member such that the heating member is movable with respect to the fabric and is movable
close to and away from the fabric, and a moving unit to move the heating member to
bring the heating member into contact with an entire surface of the fabric; a movable
support apparatus to support the fabric and cause the fabric to face the image forming
apparatus and the drying apparatus; and an approaching and retracting device to bring
the fabric supported by the support apparatus, and the drying apparatus close to and
away from each other.
Tenth Aspect
[0102] The fabric image forming system according to the ninth aspect further includes a
plurality of heating members including the heating member.
Aspect 11
[0103] In the fabric image forming system according to the tenth aspect, the plurality of
heating members move in the same direction.
Aspect 12
[0104] In the fabric image forming system according to the tenth aspect, at least one heating
member of the plurality of heating members move in a direction different from a direction
in which another heating member of the plurality of heating members moves.
Aspect 13
[0105] In the fabric image forming system according to any one of the ninth to twelfth aspects,
the approaching and retracting device moves the fabric supported by the support apparatus
close to and away from the drying apparatus.
Aspect 14
[0106] In the fabric image forming system according to any one of the ninth to twelfth aspects,
the approaching and retracting device moves the drying apparatus close to and away
from the fabric supported by the support apparatus.
[0107] The above-described embodiments are illustrative and do not limit the present disclosure.
Thus, numerous additional modifications and variations are possible in light of the
above teachings, unless otherwise specified.
[0108] Although most preferable advantages have been described above, advantages of the
present disclosure are not limited to the advantages described above.
1. A fabric drying apparatus, comprising:
a supporting member (2) to support a fabric;
a roller-shaped rotatable heating member (4) to come into contact with the fabric
to heat the fabric;
a frame (5) that holds the heating member (4) such that the heating member (4) is
movable with respect to the fabric; and
a moving unit (8) to move the heating member (4) to bring the heating member (4) into
contact with the fabric.
2. The fabric drying apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of
heating members (4A, 4B, 4C) including the heating member (4).
3. The fabric drying apparatus according to claim 2,
wherein the plurality of heating members (4A, 4B, 4C) move in the same direction.
4. The fabric drying apparatus according to claim 2,
wherein at least one heating member of the plurality of heating members (4A, 4B, 4C)
moves in a direction different from a direction in which another heating member of
the plurality of heating members (4A, 4B, 4C) moves.
5. A fabric image forming apparatus, comprising:
an image forming unit (25) to form an image on a fabric;
a drying unit (26) including:
a roller-shaped rotatable heating member (4) to come into contact with the fabric
to heat the fabric;
a frame (5) that holds the heating member (4) such that the heating member (4) is
movable with respect to the fabric; and
a moving unit (8) to move the heating member (4) to bring the heating member (4) into
contact with the fabric;
a movable support unit (27) to support the fabric and cause the fabric to face the
image forming unit (25) and the drying unit (26); and
an approaching and retracting unit (29) to bring the fabric supported by the support
unit (27), and the image forming unit (25) and the drying unit (26) close to and away
from each other.
6. The fabric image forming apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a plurality
of heating members (4A, 4B, 4C) including the heating member (4).
7. The fabric image forming apparatus according to claim 6,
wherein the plurality of heating members (4A, 4B, 4C) move in the same direction.
8. The fabric image forming apparatus according to claim 6,
wherein at least one heating member of the plurality of heating members (4A, 4B, 4C)
moves in a direction different from a direction in which another heating member of
the plurality of heating members (4A, 4B, 4C) moves.
9. A fabric image forming system, comprising:
an image forming apparatus (31) to form an image on a fabric;
a drying apparatus (32) including:
a roller-shaped rotatable heating member (4) to come into contact with the fabric
to heat the fabric;
a frame (5) that holds the heating member (4) such that the heating member (4) is
movable with respect to the fabric and is movable close to and away from the fabric;
and
a moving unit (8) to move the heating member (4) to bring the heating member (4) into
contact with the fabric;
a movable support apparatus (33) to support the fabric and cause the fabric to face
the image forming apparatus (31) and the drying apparatus (32); and
an approaching and retracting device (35) to bring the fabric supported by the support
apparatus (33) and the drying apparatus (32) close to and away from each other.
10. The fabric image forming system according to claim 9, further comprising a plurality
of heating members (4A, 4B, 4C) including the heating member (4).
11. The fabric image forming system according to claim 10,
wherein the plurality of heating members (4A, 4B, 4C) move in the same direction.
12. The fabric image forming system according to claim 10,
wherein at least one heating member of the plurality of heating members (4A, 4B, 4C)
moves in a direction different from a direction in which another heating member of
the plurality of heating members (4A, 4B, 4C) moves.
13. The fabric image forming system according to any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the
approaching and retracting device (35) moves the fabric supported by the support apparatus
(33) close to and away from the drying apparatus (32).
14. The fabric image forming system according to any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the
approaching and retracting device moves the drying apparatus (32) close to and away
from the fabric supported by the support apparatus (33).