Liquid discharge apparatus

A liquid discharge apparatus includes a liquid discharging unit configured to discharge liquid onto a recording medium, a dryer unit configured to heat and dry the liquid, a medium supporting unit configured to support the recording medium while the liquid is dried by the dryer unit, the medium supporting unit having an opening section allowing vapor generated while the liquid is dried by the dryer unit to pass therethrough, a condensation causing member in contact with the medium supporting unit and configured to condense the vapor passed through the opening section, and a low thermal expansion member connected to the condensation causing member and having a smaller thermal expansion coefficient than the condensation causing member.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a liquid discharge apparatus.

2. Related Art

A liquid discharge apparatus including a medium supporting unit configured to support a recording medium has been used. For example, JP-A-10-217572 discloses an ink jet recording apparatus including a mesh member functioning as a medium supporting unit at a position near a heater used as a dryer unit. Through the mesh member, water vapor can be released to the outside. In addition, JP-A-2000-75773 discloses a recording apparatus including a sling functioning as a medium supporting unit configured to support a transfer material used as a recording medium. In the recording apparatus, a toner image transferred on the transfer material is caused to contact with a heating roller, which corresponds to a dryer unit, and water vapor is allowed to be expelled through the sling.

In recording apparatuses according to the related art, the medium supporting unit supporting the recording medium may be deformed in some cases. Particularly, in the medium supporting unit including the mesh member at the position near the heater, as disclosed in JP-A-10-217572, the mesh member may be thermally deformed. In addition, in the recording apparatus including the heating roller configured to be in contact with the transfer material used as the recording medium, which is supported by the sling functioning as the medium supporting unit, as disclosed in JP-A-2000-75773, the sling functioning as the medium supporting unit may be deformed due to a pressing force or to heat of the heating roller. Deformation of the medium supporting unit may cause deformation of the recording medium supported by the medium supporting unit. As a result, an image on the recording medium may be distorted, or the recording medium may not be properly transported.

SUMMARY

An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to reduce or control the deformation of the medium supporting unit supporting the recording medium, and to reduce the risk of deformation of the recording medium supported by the medium supporting unit.

A liquid discharge apparatus according to an aspect of the invention includes a liquid discharging unit, a dryer unit, a medium supporting unit, a condensation causing member, and a low-thermal expansion member. The liquid discharging unit is configured to discharge liquid onto a recording medium. The dryer unit is configured to heat and dry the liquid. The medium supporting unit is configured to support the recording medium while the liquid is dried by the dryer unit. The medium supporting unit has an opening section allowing vapor generated while the liquid is dried by the dryer unit to pass therethrough. The condensation causing member is in contact with the medium supporting unit and configured to condense the vapor passed through the opening section. The low thermal expansion member is connected to the condensation causing member and has a smaller thermal expansion coefficient than the condensation causing member.

In this aspect, the condensation causing member is connected to the low-thermal expansion member having a smaller thermal expansion coefficient than the condensation causing member. This reduces the deformation of the condensation causing member that may be caused by the heat from the dryer unit, and thus reduces the deformation of the medium supporting unit that is in contact with the condensation causing member. The “thermal expansion coefficient” (a rate of thermal expansion) is a rate of expansion per (° C.) in length or in volume of an object with an increase in temperature. The unit for this rate is 1/K. The thermal expansion coefficient (the rate of thermal expansion) includes both a volumetric thermal expansion coefficient (a rate of volumetric thermal expansion) and a linear expansion coefficient (a rate of linear expansion coefficient).

In the liquid discharge apparatus, the low thermal expansion member may be fastened to the condensation causing member.

In this case, the low thermal expansion member is fastened to the condensation causing member. Accordingly, the condensation causing member is tightly connected to the low-thermal expansion member having a smaller thermal coefficient than the condensation causing member. This effectively reduces the deformation of the condensation causing member, and thus reduces the deformation of the medium supporting unit that is in contact with the condensation causing member.

The liquid discharge apparatus may include an elastic member connecting the medium supporting unit and the low-thermal expansion member.

In this case, the medium supporting unit and the low-thermal expansion member are connected via the elastic member. With this configuration, the deformation of the medium supporting unit is reduced, since the medium supporting unit is connected to the low-thermal expansion member having a smaller thermal expansion coefficient than the condensation causing member. In addition, with this configuration, the medium supporting unit is tensioned, since the elastic member is also connected to the low-thermal expansion member. Accordingly, the deformation can be absorbed by elastic force of the elastic member if the position or the size of the medium supporting unit changes in relation to the low-thermal expansion member due to the deformation (expansion or contraction) of at least a part of the medium supporting unit by heat. This reduces the risk of the deformation of the recording medium supported by the medium supporting unit.

In the liquid discharge apparatus, the low-thermal expansion member may be fastened to a middle section of the condensation causing member.

In this case, the low-thermal expansion member is fastened to the middle section of the condensation causing member. With this configuration, the direction of the deformation (movement) of the condensation causing member can be controlled if the condensation causing member is largely thermally expanded toward the low-thermal expansion member. In other words, the condensation causing member is moved (deformed) in the direction laterally away from the middle section (a planar direction) based on the middle section thereof fastened to the low-thermal expansion member. This reduces the occurrence of irregularities of the condensation causing member, and thus reduces the risk of deformation of the recording medium supported by the medium supporting unit that is in contact with the condensation causing member. The “middle section” may include an exact central area and an area around the exact central area, that is, a slightly off-centered area. In addition, the middle section may be the middle in every direction or may be the middle in only one direction.

In the liquid discharge apparatus, the condensation causing member may include a first condensation causing member and a second condensation causing member. The first condensation causing member has openings allowing the vapor to pass therethrough. The second condensation causing member is configured to cause condensation of the vapor passed through the openings of the first condensation causing member.

In this case, the condensation causing member includes the first condensation causing member having the openings allowing the vapor to pass therethrough, and the second condensation causing member configured to cause condensation of the vapor passed through the openings of the first condensation causing member. With this configuration, the vapor can pass through the openings of the first condensation causing member to be expelled from the vicinity of the first condensation causing member and condense on the first and second condensation causing members. This lowers the vapor concentration, and thus effectively reduces the condensation of the vapor on the medium supporting unit.

In the liquid discharge apparatus, the medium supporting unit may include a mesh member.

In this case, the medium supporting unit includes the mesh member, which enables the opening section to be readily provided at a low cost. In addition, in this configuration, the vapor can pass through the opening section of the medium supporting unit to be expelled from the vicinity of the medium supporting unit and condense on the condensation causing member, which lowers the vapor concentration, and thus effectively reduces the condensation of the vapor on the medium supporting unit.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT

A recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. The recording apparatus corresponds to a liquid discharge apparatus.

A brief description of a recording apparatus1in an embodiment of the invention will be given. The recording apparatus1is configured to record an image such as a photo, a character, a mark, or an illustration on a recording medium P by a water-based ink. However, the recording apparatus is not limited to a recording apparatus that uses water-based ink. The recording apparatus1in this embodiment is illustrated in a schematic side view ofFIG. 1.

The recording apparatus1includes a set portion2configured to send the recording medium P from a roll R1for recording. The recording apparatus1uses the roll-type recording medium as the recording medium P, but the recording apparatus according to the invention is not limited to a recording apparatus that uses the roll-type recording medium. For example, the recording medium may be a single sheet or a cut sheet.

The recording apparatus1is configured to drive the set portion2to rotate in a rotation direction C so as to transport the recording medium P in a transporting direction A. At this time, the roll R1disposed on the set portion2rotates along with the rotation of the set portion2. The recording medium P is unrolled from the roll R1along with the rotation of the roll R1and transported in the transporting direction A.

The recording apparatus1includes a transporting mechanism11including a plurality of transporting rollers (not illustrated) to transport the recording medium P, which is a roll-type recording medium, in the transporting direction A on a platen3. The set portion2may not be driven to rotate so as to transport the recording medium P in the transporting direction A. The set portion2may be configured to be passively rotated. The set portion2may be rotated by driving the transporting mechanism11.

The recording apparatus1includes a recording mechanism12including a recording head4configured to record while being reciprocated in a transverse direction B intersecting the transporting direction A of the recording medium P. The recording head4corresponds to a liquid discharging unit. The recording head4is configured to discharge the ink onto the recording medium P. The ink discharged from the recording head4forms or records an image on the recording medium P.

The recording apparatus1includes the recording head4that is configured to record while being reciprocated, but may include a “line head” having a plurality of nozzles configured to discharge the ink. The nozzles may be arranged in the cross direction B intersecting the transporting direction A. The “line head” is a recording head that has a nozzle area extending so as to cover an overall length of the recording medium P in the cross direction B intersecting the transporting direction A of the recording medium P. The line head is used in a recording apparatus in which one of the recording head and the recording medium P is fixed while the other one of them is moved during the image formation. The nozzle area of the line head extending in the cross direction B may not cover the overall length in the cross direction B of every kind of recording medium P that can be used in the recording apparatus.

The recording mechanism12includes an infrared heater5configured to dry the ink discharged from the recording head4. The infrared ray emitted from the infrared heater5has a wavelength of 0.76 to 1000 μm. Generally, the infrared ray can be grouped into a near-infrared ray, a middle-infrared ray, and a far-infrared ray, that have a wavelength region of about 0.78 to 2.5 μm, about 2.5 to 4.0 μm, and about 4.0 to 1000 μm, respectively. Each group may have a different definition. In this embodiment, the middle-infrared ray is preferable.

The recording apparatus1includes a medium support mechanism13downstream of the recording head4in the transport direction A of the recording medium P. The medium recording mechanism13includes a medium supporting unit6and a condensation causing member15including a first condensation causing member7and a second condensation causing member8. The medium support mechanism13will be described in detail later.

The recording apparatus1includes a dryer mechanism14at a position facing the medium supporting unit6. The dryer mechanism14is configured to heat and dry the recording medium P that is transported to the medium supporting unit6and the ink that is discharged onto the recording medium P. The dryer mechanism14includes an infrared heater9as a dryer unit. The recording apparatus1employs a radiation heat transfer method that uses the infrared heater9as the dryer unit. However, the recording apparatus may employ any dryer unit configured to dry the ink that is discharged from the recording head4onto the recording medium P. The kind, shape, placement, and the like of the dryer unit are not particularly limited. For example, the dryer unit may employ a convection heat drying method in which air such as hot air is blown against the recording medium P to evaporate the liquid by using the transferred heat. Alternatively, a dryer unit may employ an internal heat generation drying method in which microwaves are applied to the recording medium P to heat it from the inside. Methods may be used in combination.

The recording apparatus1includes a roll-up portion10downstream of the dryer mechanism14in the transporting direction A of the recording medium P. The roll-up portion10is configured to roll up the recording medium P in a roll R2shape. In the recording apparatus1, the roll-up portion10rotates in the rotation direction C to roll up the recording medium P.

Next, the medium support mechanism13will be described in detail. The medium support mechanism13of the recording apparatus1in this embodiment is illustrated in schematic perspective views inFIGS. 2 and 3. InFIGS. 2 and 3, the medium support mechanism13is viewed from the medium supporting unit6side, i.e., obliquely from above. The medium supporting unit6in this embodiment is illustrated in a schematic perspective view inFIG. 4. The condensation causing member15in this embodiment is illustrated in a schematic perspective view inFIG. 5.

As illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 4, the medium support mechanism13in this embodiment includes the medium supporting unit6, a first fixing member16, and a second fixing member17. The medium supporting unit6is disposed at a position facing the infrared heater9of the dryer mechanism14and is configured to support the recording medium P. The first fixing member16is disposed upstream of the medium supporting unit6in the transporting direction A and fixed to the medium supporting unit6. The second fixing member17is disposed downstream of the medium supporting unit6in the transporting direction A and fixed to the medium supporting unit6. Like the medium supporting unit6, the first fixing member16and the second fixing member17are configured to support the recording medium P. InFIG. 3, the first fixing member16and the second fixing member17are not attached.

As indicated by a magnified part of the medium supporting unit6inFIG. 2, the medium supporting unit6in this embodiment has an opening section21that allows vapor generated during the drying process of the ink using the infrared heater9to pass therethrough. The medium supporting unit6includes the opening section21at least over an area that may be in contact with the recording medium P. Preferably, the medium supporting unit6has at least a part that is composed of a linear member. In addition, the medium supporting unit6preferably has a mesh-like structure (net-like structure) composed of linear members. The mesh-like structure appropriately supports the recording medium P and allows the vapor to pass through the medium supporting unit6. An example of the linear member includes a thin linear metal such as a metal wire. However, the material thereof is not limited to metal. In the mesh-like structure, the meshes of the medium supporting unit6correspond to the opening section21. A shape or the like of the opening section21is not particularly limited. Preferably, the opening section21has at least a part that is composed of a linear member having a diameter of 0.05 mm or more and 0.3 mm or less. In addition, an opening ratio of the opening section21to the medium supporting unit6is preferably 40% or more and less than 100%.

The medium support mechanism13includes the condensation causing member15configured to condense the vapor passed through the opening section21. The condensation causing member15includes the first condensation causing member7and the second condensation causing member8that are configured to condense the vapor passed through the opening section21of the medium supporting unit6. As illustrated inFIG. 3andFIG. 5, the first condensation causing member7has openings23configured to pass the vapor therethrough. The second condensation causing member8is composed of a plate member having no openings for passing the vapor therethrough. With this configuration, the vapor passed through the openings23of the first condensation causing member7can condense into liquid on the plate member.

As illustrated inFIG. 2andFIG. 3, the medium supporting unit6, the first condensation causing member7, and the second condensation causing member8are fastened together at a fastening member18located upstream in the transporting direction A, and connected to a chassis of the recording apparatus1. With this configuration, the upstream side of the medium supporting unit6is less likely to have a high temperature, because, on the upstream side of the medium supporting unit6in the transporting direction A, heat generated by the infrared heater9is likely to be transferred from the medium supporting unit6to the first condensation causing member7, the second condensation causing member8, and the chassis of the recording apparatus1. Accordingly, the area on the upstream side of the medium supporting unit6in the transporting direction A is less likely to be subjected to thermal expansion by heat. However, the invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, the medium supporting unit6, the first condensation causing member7, and the second condensation causing member8may not be connected to the chassis at the upstream side in the transporting direction A.

On the other hand, at the downstream side in the transporting direction A, the medium supporting unit6, the first condensation causing member7, and the second condensation causing member8are not fastened together. With this configuration, at the downstream side in the transporting direction A, the medium supporting unit6is likely to have a high temperature and to be thermally expanded. However, as illustrated inFIG. 2andFIG. 3, the recording apparatus1in this embodiment includes a tensioning mechanism24disposed downstream of the medium supporting unit6in the transporting direction A. The tensioning mechanism24includes a plurality of springs19as tensioning members that are arranged in the cross direction B intersecting the transporting direction A and configured to provide tension to the medium supporting unit6. The medium supporting unit6is stretched by the springs19, and thus the deformation of the medium supporting unit6to be caused by the thermal expansion of the medium supporting unit6is absorbed by the springs19. This reduces the risk of deformation of the recording medium P supported by the medium supporting unit6.

The recording apparatus1in this embodiment employs the spring19as a tensioning member, but the tensioning member is not limited to the spring19. Preferably, an elastic member such as the spring19is used as the tensioning member. In this configuration, the medium supporting unit6is simply stretched by the elastic member, and thus the tensioning member can be readily provided at a low cost.

The recording apparatus1in this embodiment includes a reinforcing member20downstream of the second condensation causing member8in the transporting direction A. The reinforcing member20is a member that is less likely to be deformed than the medium supporting unit6. The springs19are connected to both of the medium supporting unit6and the reinforcing member20. Since the medium supporting unit6is connected to the reinforcing member20that is less likely to be deformed than the medium supporting unit6via the springs19, the deformation of the medium supporting unit6is effectively reduced in the recording apparatus1.

As described above, the recording apparatus1includes the recording head4, which is configured to discharge ink onto the recording medium P, and the infrared heater9, which is configured to heat and dry the ink. In addition, since the medium supporting unit6is disposed at the position facing the infrared heater9, the medium supporting unit6supports the recording medium P while the ink is dried by the infrared heater9. A recording apparatus that is configured to support the recording medium P by a medium supporting unit while the ink is dried by a dryer unit may be deformed by heat particularly at the medium supporting unit. However, the deformation of the medium supporting unit6is reduced in the recording apparatus1, which has a similar configuration to that described above, since the deformation of the medium supporting unit6is absorbed due to the elastic force of the springs19.

In the recording apparatus1, the medium supporting unit6and the condensation causing member15are disposed at the position facing the infrared heater9functioning as an after heater, which is disposed downstream of the recording mechanism12in the transporting direction A. However, the medium supporting unit6and the condensation causing member15may be disposed at a position facing the infrared heater5used as a print heater included in the recording mechanism12, i.e., they may be disposed on the platen3.

As illustrated by a magnified part of the medium supporting unit6inFIG. 2, the medium supporting unit6in this embodiment includes the mesh member that has the opening section21allowing the vapor, which is generated during the drying process of the ink using the infrared heater9, to pass therethrough. With this configuration, the vapor can be expelled from the vicinity of the medium supporting unit6through the opening section21. This effectively reduces the condensation of the vapor on the medium supporting unit6.

As described above, the recording apparatus1includes the condensation causing member15configured to cause the vapor passed through the opening section21to condense into liquid. With this configuration, in the recording apparatus1, the vapor can be expelled from the vicinity of the medium supporting unit6through the opening section21, and the vapor can condense on the condensation causing member15. This lowers the vapor concentration, and thus effectively reduces the condensation of the vapor on the medium supporting unit6.

The shape or the like of the opening section21is not particularly limited, but it is preferable that at least a part thereof be composed of a linear member having a diameter of 0.3 mm or less. With this configuration, the condensation of the vapor on a contact portion of the medium supporting unit6with the recording medium P can be properly reduced.

The opening ratio of the opening section21to the medium supporting unit6is preferably 40% or more. With this configuration, the condensation of the vapor on the contact portion of the medium supporting unit6with the recording medium P can be appropriately reduced.

As described above, the medium supporting unit6is composed of the mesh member. With this configuration, the opening section21of the medium supporting unit6in this embodiment can be readily produced at a low cost. In addition, with this configuration, the vapor can be expelled from the vicinity of the medium supporting unit6through the opening section21, and the vapor can condense on the condensation causing member15. This lowers the vapor concentration, and thus effectively reduces the condensation of the vapor on the medium supporting unit6.

In the recording apparatus1, in order to reduce the condensation of the vapor on the medium supporting unit6, the medium supporting unit6is composed of a stainless steel (SUS defined in JIS), and the condensation causing member15(the first and second condensation causing members7and8) is composed of aluminum, which has a higher thermal conductivity than the stainless steel. The condensation of the vapor on the condensation causing member15is caused by the condensation causing member15having a higher temperature conductivity than the medium supporting unit6. This configuration reduces the condensation of the vapor on the medium supporting unit6. However, the invention may employ configurations other than the above.

In the recording apparatus1, the reinforcing member20is composed of an electro-galvanized steel sheet (SECC defined in JIS). However, the reinforcing member20is not limited to this configuration. The reinforcing member20may be composed of SUS, for example, when having a shape that is less likely to be deformed than the medium supporting unit6.

Like the medium supporting unit6in this embodiment, it is preferable that at least a part of the medium supporting unit be made of stainless steel. Stainless steel is not only inexpensive and strong, but also low in temperature conductivity and thermal conductivity, such that if forms a large contact angle with a droplet generated by the condensation of the vapor and remains mainly dry. Accordingly, the condensation of the vapor on the medium supporting unit6is effectively reduced.

Alternatively, the medium supporting unit6may include a member made of a nickel-plated or chrome-plated metal other than stainless steel, such as steel or iron. Such a member is low in temperature conductivity and thermal conductivity, such that it forms a large contact angle with a droplet generated by the condensation of the vapor and remains mainly dry. Accordingly, the condensation of the vapor on the medium supporting unit6is appropriately reduced.

The reinforcing member20is not only less likely to be physically deformed, but also less likely to be thermally deformed than the medium supporting unit6. Thus, the reinforcing member20is a low thermal expansion member having a smaller thermal expansion coefficient than the condensation causing member15. In other words, the recording apparatus1includes the reinforcing member20that is connected to the condensation causing member15and has a smaller thermal expansion coefficient than the condensation causing member15.

In the recording apparatus1, the medium supporting unit6is in contact with a ridge in the transporting direction A of a downstream side end22of the first condensation causing member7. In other words, the condensation causing member15is in contact with the medium supporting unit6. In such a configuration, deformation of the condensation causing member15may cause deformation of the medium supporting unit6. The deformation of the medium supporting unit6may be caused by not only a factor relating to the medium supporting unit6itself, but also a factor relating to the condensation causing member15. However, in the recording apparatus1, the condensation causing member15is connected to the reinforcing member20that has a smaller thermal expansion coefficient than the condensation causing member15. This reduces the deformation of the condensation causing member15due to heat from the infrared heater9, and thus reduces the deformation of the medium supporting unit6that is in contact with the condensation causing member15.

As described above, in the recording apparatus1, the medium supporting unit6and the reinforcing member20are connected via the springs19. In this configuration, the deformation of the medium supporting unit6is reduced by the connection of the medium supporting unit6and the reinforcing member20, which has a smaller thermal expansion coefficient than the condensation causing member15. In addition, the medium supporting unit6is tensioned since the springs19are connected to the reinforcing member20. The medium supporting unit6is tensioned and stretched, and thus the deformation of the medium supporting unit6is effectively reduced.

In the recording apparatus1, the reinforcing member20is fastened to the condensation causing member15. This will be described in detail later. In such a configuration, the condensation causing member15is tightly connected to the reinforcing member20having a smaller thermal coefficient than the condensation causing member15. This effectively reduces the deformation of the condensation causing member15, and thus reduces the deformation of the medium supporting unit6that is in contact with the condensation causing member15.

As described above, in the recording apparatus1, the condensation causing member15includes the first condensation causing member7and the second condensation causing member8. As illustrated inFIG. 3andFIG. 5, the first condensation causing member7has the openings23that allow the vapor to pass therethrough. The second condensation causing member8is configured to allow the vapor that has passed through the openings23to condense into liquid. In the recording apparatus1, the vapor is expelled from the vicinity of the first condensation causing member7through the openings23, and is allowed to condense into liquid on the first condensation causing member7and the second condensation causing member8. This lowers the vapor concentration, and thus effectively reduces the condensation of the vapor on the medium supporting unit6.

Next, the tensioning mechanism24of the recording apparatus1in this embodiment will be described in detail.FIG. 6is a schematic perspective view illustrating the medium support mechanism13of the recording apparatus1in this embodiment.FIG. 7is a schematic cross-sectional side view illustrating the medium support mechanism13of the recording apparatus1in this embodiment.FIG. 7illustrates the medium support mechanism13from which the reinforcing member20is removed.FIG. 8is a schematic cross-sectional side view of the tensioning mechanism24of the recording apparatus1in this embodiment.

As illustrated inFIG. 6, the medium supporting unit6includes a plurality of holes25located along the transverse direction B at an end thereof in the transporting direction A. The reinforcing member20includes a plurality of holes26at positions corresponding to the holes25of the medium supporting unit6. As illustrated inFIG. 6andFIG. 8, the springs19are hooked into the holes25of the medium supporting unit6and the holes26of the reinforcing member20to connect the medium supporting unit6and the reinforcing member20such that the medium supporting unit6and the ridge in the transporting direction A of the downstream side end22of the first condensation causing member7are in contact with each other. In other words, the medium supporting unit6is stretched in the transporting direction A by the springs10that are connected to the reinforcing member20, and thus the medium supporting unit6is tensioned by the springs19. In this way, the medium supporting unit6is tensioned in an area facing the infrared heater9.

As described above, in the recording apparatus1, the medium supporting unit6, the first condensation causing member7, and the second condensation causing member8are not fastened together at the downstream side in the transporting direction A. Accordingly, the medium supporting unit6is likely to have a high temperature and be thermally expanded at the downstream side in the transporting direction A. However, since the medium supporting unit6is tensioned by the springs19at the downstream side in the transporting direction A, the deformation of the medium supporting unit6is effectively reduced.

Next, how the reinforcing member20is fastened to the condensation causing member15will be described in detail.FIG. 9andFIG. 10are schematic perspective views illustrating the medium support mechanism13of the recording apparatus1in this embodiment. InFIG. 9andFIG. 10, the medium support mechanism13is viewed from the condensation causing member15side, i.e., obliquely from below, and the medium supporting unit6is not attached. InFIG. 9, the reinforcing member20is fastened to the condensation causing member15. InFIG. 10, the reinforcing member20is not attached to the condensation causing member15.FIG. 11is a schematic perspective view illustrating the tensioning mechanism24of the recording apparatus1in this embodiment. InFIG. 11, the tensioning mechanism24is viewed from the condensation causing member15side, and the medium supporting unit6is not attached.FIG. 12is a schematic perspective view illustrating a route for collecting the liquid generated by the condensation of the vapor in the recording apparatus1. InFIG. 12, the medium supporting unit6and the first condensation causing member7are not attached.

As illustrated inFIG. 9andFIG. 10, in the recording apparatus1, the second condensation causing member8has a threaded hole28at a middle section thereof in the transverse direction B. A screw27is screwed into the threaded hole28so as to fasten the reinforcing member20to the second condensation causing member8. In other words, in the recording apparatus1, the reinforcing member20functioning as the low thermal expansion member is fastened to the middle section of the condensation causing member15.

With this configuration, the condensation causing member15can be moved (deformed) in the transverse direction B with respect to the reinforcing member20based on the middle section29if the condensation causing member15is largely thermally deformed toward the reinforcing member20. This reduces not only the deformation of the reinforcing member20and the condensation causing member15, but also the movement distance of the condensation causing member15toward the reinforcing member20. The middle section29may include not only an exact central area, but also a slightly off-centered area. In addition, the middle section29may not be the middle in every direction and may be the middle in only one direction, as in this embodiment. In this embodiment, the middle section29is the middle section in the transverse direction B.

As illustrated inFIG. 10andFIG. 11, the second condensation causing member8includes a rain gutter shaped bent portion31that protrudes downward while being elongated in the transverse direction B. As illustrated inFIG. 9andFIG. 11, the reinforcing member20includes a cutout30that allows the bent portion31to be inserted thereto. The cutout30has a width gradually increasing from one side to the other side in the transverse direction B. As illustrated inFIG. 10, the bent portion31has a height gradually decreasing from one side to the other side in the transverse direction B.

As illustrated inFIG. 12, since the recording apparatus1includes the bent portion31having a height gradually decreasing from the one side to the other side in the transverse direction B, the liquid generated by the condensation of the vapor on the second condensation causing member8is forced to move on the bent portion31in a direction D. Then, the liquid is collected by a waste liquid bottle33after being passed through a tube32.

In the recording apparatus1, the bent portion31is inserted into the cutout30, and as illustrated inFIG. 11, the cutout30is configured to have a gap34at its end with respect to the bent portion31in the transverse direction B. This allows the second condensation causing member8to move in the transverse direction B with respect to the reinforcing member20if the second condensation causing member8expands largely against the reinforcing member20. Accordingly, the deformation of the second condensation causing member8and the reinforcing member20is reduced.

The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-015930, filed Jan. 30, 2014 is expressly incorporated reference herein.