Patent Publication Number: US-11660879-B2

Title: Ink jet printer

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of priority to Japanese Patent No. 2021-26047 filed on Feb. 22, 2021. The entire contents of this application are hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an ink jet printer. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A known ink jet printer prints an image on a recording medium in an ink jet manner. The ink jet printer of this type includes, for example, a platen on which a recording medium is placed and ink heads that discharge ink onto the recording medium placed on the platen. For some types of ink to be used, an ink jet printer includes a drying device, such as a heater or a fan, for promoting drying of ink discharged onto a recording medium. 
     For example, JP2018-159482 discloses an ink jet printer including a drying device having a plurality of fans as a means for promoting drying of ink discharged onto a recording medium. The drying device is configured to send air toward the recording medium from above the recording medium. A portion of the recording medium on which ink has been discharged is conveyed from a platen to a downstream platen (hereinafter referred to as a guide member), and heated air is sent toward the recording medium from the drying device at a position facing the guide member to thereby promote drying of the ink. 
     The guide member is also heated by air from the drying device so that drying of ink discharged onto the recording medium is also promoted by heat of the guide member. Here, in a case where a material constituting the guide member has a relatively high thermal conductivity, a large quantity of heat is dissipated to the outside, and thus, efficiency in drying ink with heat of the guide member might decrease. On the other hand, in a case where the material constituting the guide member has a relatively low thermal conductivity, temperature variation might occur in the guide member and affect drying of ink. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Preferred embodiments of the present invention provide ink jet printers each including a dryer capable of promoting drying of ink discharged onto a recording medium. 
     An ink jet printer according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a platen on which a recording medium is placed, a carriage disposed above the platen and movable in a main scanning direction, an ink head mounted on the carriage to discharge ink onto the recording medium, the recording medium being conveyed in a sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction, a first guide including an upper surface on which the recording medium is conveyed, the first guide being disposed downstream of the platen in the sub-scanning direction to guide movement of the recording medium, a second guide including an upper surface on which the recording medium is conveyed, the upper surface being tilted obliquely downward from an upstream side to a downstream side in the sub-scanning direction, the second guide being disposed below the first guide and downstream of the first guide in the sub-scanning direction to guide movement of the recording medium, and a dryer facing at least the second guide to send air toward the recording medium. The dryer includes a body case including an output port that is open toward at least the second guide, a fan disposed in the body case to send air toward the recording medium through the outlet port, and a heater disposed in the body case to heat air sent by the fan. The first guide has a thermal conductivity higher than a thermal conductivity of the second guide. 
     In an ink jet printer according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, air heated by the heater of the dryer is sent to the recording medium through the outlet port. Since the outlet port is open toward the second guide, drying of ink on the recording medium on the upper surface of the second guide is promoted. Since the thermal conductivity of the second guide is lower than the thermal conductivity of the first guide, heat dissipation to the second guide is reduced or prevented, and air at a relatively high temperature is allowed to flow in the second guide. That is, drying of ink discharged onto the recording medium can be promoted in the second guide. In addition, heated air flowing from the outlet port toward the second guide rises and flows on the upper surface of the first guide. Accordingly, drying of ink on the recording medium on the upper surface of the first guide is promoted, and the first guide is heated. Since the thermal conductivity of the first guide is higher than the thermal conductivity of the second guide, heat is transferred to a wide range in the first guide so that temperature distribution in the first guide can be made uniform or substantially uniform. That is, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of variation in drying ink in the first guide, while promoting drying of ink in the first guide. Since the second guide having a low thermal conductivity is located below the first guide, transfer of heat from the first guide to the second guide is reduced or prevented so that the temperature of the first guide can be maintained. 
     Preferred embodiments of the present invention provide ink jet printers each including a dryer capable of promoting drying of ink discharged onto a recording medium. 
     The above and other elements, features, steps, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the attached drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a printer according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  2    is a front view of a printer according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  3    is a perspective view of a printer from which a drying device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is detached. 
         FIG.  4    is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in  FIG.  2   . 
         FIG.  5    is a cross-sectional view of a drying device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Ink jet printers (each hereinafter simply referred to as a “printer”) according to preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the drawings. The preferred embodiments described here are, of course, not intended to particularly limit the present invention. Elements and features having the same functions are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description for the same members and parts will not be repeated or will be simplified as appropriate. 
       FIG.  1    is a perspective view illustrating a printer  10  according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The printer  10  performs printing on a recording medium  5  (see  FIG.  2   ). The recording medium  5  is, for example, a recording sheet. The recording medium  5 , however, is not limited to a recording sheet. The recording medium  5  may be made of a resin material such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polyester, a metal sheet of, for example, aluminum or iron, a glass sheet, a wood sheet, or a corrugated cardboard, for example, as well as papers such as plain paper or ink jet printing paper. 
     In the following description, left, right, up, and down respectively refer to left, right, up, and down seen from an operator at the front of the printer  10 . A direction from the rear of the printer  10  toward the operator facing the front of the printer  10  will be referred to as forward, and a direction from the operator toward the rear of the printer  10  will be referred to as rearward. Characters F, Rr, L, R, U, and D in the drawings represent front, rear, left, right, up, and down, respectively. A carriage  30  described later (see  FIG.  2   ) is movable leftward and rightward. Supposing the rear side of the printer  10  is an upstream side and the front side of the printer  10  is a downstream side, the recording medium  5  is conveyed from the upstream side to the downstream side. In this preferred embodiment, the movement direction of the carriage  30  will be referred to as a main scanning direction Y, and the conveyance direction of the recording medium  5  will be referred to as a sub-scanning direction X. The main scanning direction Y corresponds to a left-right direction, and the sub-scanning direction X corresponds to the front-rear direction. The main scanning direction Y is orthogonal to the sub-scanning direction X. The main scanning direction Y and the sub-scanning direction X are not limited to specific directions, and may be set as necessary depending on, for example, the mode of the printer  10 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  1   , the printer  10  includes a body  10   a,  legs  11 , an operation panel  12 , and a front cover  13 . The body  10   a  includes a casing extending in the main scanning direction Y. The legs  11  support the body  10   a , and are disposed on the lower surface of the body  10   a . The operation panel  12  is disposed on the front surface at the right side of the body  10   a , for example. The location of the operation panel  12  is not specifically limited. The operation panel  12  is a panel with which a user performs operation concerning printing. Although not shown, the operation panel  12  includes, for example, a display section for displaying information on printing, such as a resolution and a thickness of ink, and a status of the printer  10  during printing, and an input section for inputting information concerning printing. The front cover  13  is pivotably disposed on the body  10   a . As illustrated in  FIG.  4   , the front cover  13  is disposed forward (i.e., downstream in the sub-scanning direction X) of the carriage  30 . The front cover  13  is made of, for example, a transparent acrylic resin.  FIG.  2    does not show the front cover  13 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  4   , the printer  10  includes a platen  16 . The recording medium  5  is placed on the platen  16 . Printing on the recording medium  5  is performed on the platen  16 . The platen  16  extends in the main scanning direction Y. The platen  16  is disposed in a center portion of the body  10   a . The platen  16  has a flat upper surface  16 A. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  3   , the body  10   a  includes a right middle frame  13 R, a left middle frame  13 L, a right arm  14 R, a left arm  14 L, and a lower apron  10   b  (see  FIG.  4   ). The right middle frame  13 R and the left middle frame  13 L are respectively disposed at the right and the left of a first guide member  18  described later, and attached to the body  10   a . The first guide member  18  is attached to the right middle frame  13 R and the left middle frame  13 L. The right arm  14 R and the left arm  14 L are respectively disposed at the right and the left of the second guide member  15 , fixed to the right middle frame  13 R and the left middle frame  13 L. A second guide member  15  is attached to the right arm  14 R and the left arm  14 L. The lower apron  10   b  is fixed to the body  10   a  and extends forward (toward the downstream side in the sub-scanning direction X) from the body  10   a.  The right middle frame  13 R, the left middle frame  13 L, the right arm  14 R, and the left arm  14 L are located forward of the platen  16  (see  FIG.  4   ). The right middle frame  13 R and the right arm  14 R are located at the right of the platen  16 . The left middle frame  13 L and the left arm  14 L are located at the left of the platen  16 . The right arm  14 R is located below the right middle frame  13 R. The left arm  14 L is located below the left middle frame  13 L. The right arm  14 R and the left arm  14 L support a drying device  50  (see  FIG.  1   ) described later. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  4   , the printer  10  includes an upstream guide member  17 , the first guide member  18 , and the second guide member  15 . The upstream guide member  17  is disposed rearward (i.e., upstream in the sub-scanning direction X) of the platen  16 . The upstream guide member  17  is supported by the body  10   a . The upper surface  17 A of the upstream guide member  17  tilts obliquely upward from the rear toward the front (i.e., from the upstream side toward the downstream side in the sub-scanning direction X). The upstream guide member  17  has an arc shape in cross section, for example. The upstream guide member  17  is curved to extend downward in a direction away from the platen  16 . The upstream guide member  17  guides movement of the recording medium  5 . That is, the upstream guide member  17  guides movement of the recording medium  5  to the platen  16 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  4   , the first guide member  18  is disposed forward (i.e., downstream in the sub-scanning direction X) of the platen  16 . The first guide member  18  is disposed next to the platen  16  in the sub-scanning direction X. The first guide member  18  is attached to the lower apron  10   b  as well as to the right middle frame  13 R (see  FIG.  3   ) and the left middle frame  13 L to be thereby supported by the body  10   a . The first guide member  18  and the platen  16  are not in contact with each other. That is, a gap  16 H is located between the first guide member  18  and the platen  16 . The upper surface  18 A of the first guide member  18  tilts obliquely downward from the rear toward the front (i.e., from the upstream side toward the downstream side in the sub-scanning direction X). The first guide member  18  has an arc shape in cross section, for example. The first guide member  18  is curved to extend downward in a direction away from the platen  16 . The first guide member  18  guides movement of the recording medium  5 . That is, the first guide member  18  guides movement of the recording medium  5  from the platen  16 . The recording medium  5  is conveyed on the upper surface  18 A of the first guide member  18 . The upper surface  18 A of the upper surface  18  has a length LA in the sub-scanning direction X (length in the front-rear direction in  FIG.  4   ) larger than a length LB of the upper surface  15 A of the second guide member  15  in the sub-scanning direction X (length in the front-rear direction in  FIG.  4   ). 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  4   , the second guide member  15  is disposed forward (i.e., downstream in the sub-scanning direction X) of the first guide member  18  and below the first guide member  18 . The second guide member  15  is attached to the right arm  14 R (see  FIG.  3   ) and the left arm  14 L to be thereby supported by the body  10   a . The upper surface  15 A of the second guide member  15  tilts obliquely downward from the rear toward the front. The second guide member  15  has a substantially U shape in cross section, for example. The second guide member  15  is declined downward in a direction away from the first guide member  18 . The second guide member  15  guides movement of the recording medium  5 . That is, the second guide member  15  guides movement of the recording medium  5  from the first guide member  18 . The recording medium  5  is conveyed on the upper surface  15 A of the second guide member  15 . Here, the first guide member  18  and the second guide member  15  guides the recording medium  5  to a winding device  19  (see  FIG.  1   ) to wind the recording medium  5  on the platen  16 . 
     The first guide member  18  has a thermal conductivity higher than that of the second guide member  15 . This configuration has an intention that the first guide member  18  is made of a material having a high thermal conductivity, such as iron, in order to make uniform or substantially uniform the temperature distribution at the upstream side, whereas the second guide member  15  is made of a material having a low thermal conductivity, such as stainless steel, in order to maintain the temperature (prevent or reduce a decrease in temperature) at the downstream side. Since heat is transferred to a wide range of the first guide member  18 , the temperature distribution in the upper surface  18 A of the first guide member  18  can be made uniform. In addition, since the second guide member  15  is located below the first guide member  18 , heat transfer from the first guide member  18  to the second guide member  15  is suppressed. Accordingly, the temperature of the first guide member  18  can be kept relatively high. Since the second guide member  15  has a thermal conductivity lower than that of the first guide member  18 , transfer, to the second guide member  15 , of air heated by a drying device  50  (see  FIG.  4   ) described later and discharged toward the second guide member  15  is reduced or prevented. Thus, heat dissipation to the second guide member  15  is reduced or prevented, and air at a relatively high temperature necessary for drying ink in the second guide member  15  is allowed to flow. Accordingly, drying of the recording medium  5  can be promoted on the upper surface  15 A of the second guide member  15 . Furthermore, since the second guide member  15  defines a circulation path  60  (see  FIG.  4   , described later), heat dissipation to the second guide member  15  is reduced or prevented so that air in the circulation path  60  circulates with the temperature kept relatively high. 
     The materials of the first guide member  18  and the second guide member  15  are not specifically limited as long as the relationship in thermal conductivity described above is satisfied. The first guide member  18  is made of, for example, iron (e.g., SECC). The first guide member  18  may be made of aluminum. The second guide member  15  is made of, for example, stainless steel (SUS). 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  2   , the printer  10  includes ink heads  35  to discharge ink. The ink heads  35  discharge aqueous ink to the recording medium  5  conveyed in the sub-scanning direction X. The ink heads  35  are disposed above the platen  16 . The ink heads  35  are movable in the main scanning direction Y. In this preferred embodiment, the ink heads  35  are connected to ink cartridges  37  through unillustrated ink supply paths. The ink cartridges  37  are detachably disposed at the left end of the body  10   a , for example. 
     As aqueous ink, latex ink is preferably used. The latex ink includes a solvent, a coloring material, and a binder resin. In the latex ink, the binder resin is dispersed or emulsified in the solvent. As the solvent, one or more types of water and water-soluble organic solvents (e.g., lower alcohol or lower ketone) that can be uniformly mixed with water may be selectively used. The latex ink includes 50% by mass or more and 90% by mass or less of the solvent with respect to the total mass of latex ink. As the coloring material, a conventional coloring material included in the latex ink may be selectively used. Examples of the coloring material include dyes and pigments such as water-soluble dyes. As the binder resin, a conventional binder resin included in the latex ink may be selected as appropriate. Ink discharged from the ink heads  35  is not limited to aqueous ink, and may be, for example, photocurable ink (e.g., UV curable pigment ink that is cured by UV irradiation, so-called UV ink) or solvent-based pigment ink. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  2   , the printer  10  includes a head moving mechanism  31  and a medium conveying mechanism  32 . The head moving mechanism  31  causes the ink heads  35  to move in the main scanning direction Y relative to the recording medium  5  on the platen  16 . In this preferred embodiment, the head moving mechanism  31  causes the ink heads  35  to move in the main scanning direction Y. The head moving mechanism  31  herein includes a guide rail  20 , a first pulley  21 , a second pulley  22 , an endless belt  23 , a first driving motor  24 , and the carriage  30 . The guide rail  20  guides movement of the carriage  30  in the main scanning direction Y. As illustrated in  FIG.  4   , the guide rail  20  is disposed above the platen  16 . As illustrated in  FIG.  2   , the guide rail  20  extends in the main scanning direction Y. The first pulley  21  is disposed at the left end of the guide rail  20 . The second pulley  22  is disposed at the right end of the guide rail  20 . The belt  23  is wound around the first pulley  21  and the second pulley  22 . In this preferred embodiment, the first driving motor  24  is connected to the second pulley  22 . The first driving motor  24  may be connected to the first pulley  21 . When the first driving motor  24  is driven to cause the second pulley  22  to rotate, the belt  23  runs between the first pulley  21  and the second pulley  22 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  2   , the carriage  30  is attached to the belt  23 . The carriage  30  is disposed above the platen  16 . As illustrated in  FIG.  4   , the carriage  30  is slidably engaged with the guide rail  20 . The ink heads  35  are mounted on the carriage  30 . In this preferred embodiment, when the belt  23  runs by driving of the first driving motor  24  so that the carriage  30  moves in the main scanning direction Y, the head moving mechanism  31  causes the ink heads  35  mounted on the carriage  30  to move in the main scanning direction Y. 
     The medium conveying mechanism  32  moves the recording medium  5  on the platen  16  in the sub-scanning direction X relative to the ink heads  35 . The medium conveying mechanism  32  herein causes the recording medium  5  on the platen  16  to move in the sub-scanning direction X. The medium conveying mechanism  32  is not limited to a specific configuration. As illustrated in  FIG.  4   , in this preferred embodiment, the medium conveying mechanism  32  includes a grit roller  25 , a pinching roller  26 , and a second driving motor (not shown) for driving the grit roller  25 . The grit roller  25  is disposed on the platen  16 . The grit roller  25  herein is at least partially embedded in the platen  16 . The pinching roller  26  presses the recording medium  5  from above. The pinching roller  26  is disposed above the grit roller  25 . The pinching roller  26  is disposed at a position facing the grit roller  25 . The pinching roller  26  is movable upward and downward. When the second driving motor is driven to cause the grit roller  25  to rotate with the recording medium  5  sandwiched between the grit roller  25  and the pinching roller  26 , the recording medium  5  is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction X. The location and the number of the grit rollers  25  and the location and the number of the pinching rollers  26  are not specifically limited. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  1   , the printer  10  includes the drying device  50 . The drying device  50  dries ink discharged onto the recording medium  5 . The drying device  50  sends air toward the recording medium  5  on the platen  16 . The drying device  50  sends air toward the recording medium  5  guided by the first guide member  18  and the second guide member  15 . As illustrated in  FIG.  4   , the drying device  50  is disposed forward (i.e., downstream in the sub-scanning direction X) of the platen  16 . The drying device  50  faces at least the second guide member  15 . In this preferred embodiment, the drying device  50  faces the first guide member  18  and the second guide member  15 . The drying device  50  partially overlaps with the first guide member  18  in plan view. The drying device  50  overlaps with the second guide member  15  in plan view. As illustrated in  FIG.  2   , the drying device  50  partially overlaps with the first guide member  18  and the second guide member  15  in front view. The drying device  50  is detachably attached to the right arm  14 R and the left arm  14 L of the body  10   a.    
     As illustrated in  FIG.  4   , the drying device  50  includes a body case  51  (see also  FIG.  1   ) extending in the main scanning direction Y, a first fan  56  for initial drying and a second fan  66  for complete drying disposed in the body case  51 , and heaters  67 . The body case  51  includes a first inlet port  54  (see  FIG.  1   ) at the right end of the body case  51 , a first outlet port  55  at the rear end of the body case  51 , a second inlet port  64  in a rear portion of the body case  51 , and second outlet ports  65  in a rear portion of the body case  51 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  5   , the body case  51  includes a first chamber  53  and a second chamber  63 . The first chamber  53  and the second chamber  63  are separated from each other by a partition wall  63 F. The first chamber  53  includes an intake chamber  53 A located forward (i.e., downstream in the sub-scanning direction X) of the second chamber  63 , and an exhaust chamber  53 B communicating with the intake chamber  53 A and located above the second chamber  63 . In the exhaust chamber  53 B, an opening area of the first outlet port  55  is smaller than the area of an opening at the intake chamber  53 A. That is, the exhaust chamber  53 B is tapered toward the first outlet port  55 . The second chamber  63  is disposed rearward of the first chamber  53 . The first chamber  53  includes the first inlet port  54  and the first outlet port  55 . The second chamber  63  includes the second inlet port  64  and the second outlet ports  65 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  1   , the first inlet port  54  is provided at the front end (i.e., downstream end in the sub-scanning direction X) of the body case  51 . The first inlet port  54  is provided at the right end of the body case  51 . The first inlet port  54  is open rightward. The first inlet port  54  does not face the first guide member  18  or the second guide member  15 . The first inlet port  54  has a slit shape. The first inlet port  54  is included in the intake chamber  53 A. The first inlet port  54  causes the outside of the body case  51  to communicate with the first chamber  53 . The first inlet port  54  allows outside air to be taken in the body case  51  (in the first chamber  53  in this preferred embodiment). The first inlet port  54  may be provided at the left end of the body case  51 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  5   , the first outlet port  55  extends in the main scanning direction Y and is open toward the platen  16 . In this preferred embodiment, the first outlet port  55  is open rearward (i.e., to the upstream side in the sub-scanning direction X). The first outlet port  55  has a slit shape. The first outlet port  55  is located above the upper surface  16 A of the platen  16 . The first outlet port  55  is located above the first inlet port  54 . The first outlet port  55  is disposed rearward of the second outlet ports  65 . The first inlet port  54  is included in the exhaust chamber  53 B. The first outlet port  55  communicates with the first inlet port  54 . The first outlet port  55  causes the first chamber  53  to communicate with the outside of the body case  51 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  5   , the first fan  56  is disposed in the first chamber  53 . More specifically, the first fan  56  is disposed in the intake chamber  53 A. The drying device  50  includes one first fan  56 . The number of first fans  56  is not limited to one. The first fan  56  is located at a side of the first inlet port  54 . In this preferred embodiment, the first fan  56  is disposed at the left of the first inlet port  54 . The first fan  56  sucks air from the first inlet port  54  and lets the air to be discharged toward the platen  16  (rearward in this preferred embodiment) from the first outlet port  55  (see  FIG.  4   ). 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  5   , the second inlet port  64  is provided in a rear wall  63 Rr of the body case  51 . The second inlet port  64  is open toward the first guide member  18 . The second inlet port  64  has a rectangular shape. The second inlet port  64  causes the outside of the body case  51  and the second chamber  63  to communicate with each other. The second inlet port  64  allows outside air to be taken in the body case  51  (in the second chamber  63  in this preferred embodiment). The second inlet port  64  is disposed below the first outlet port  55 . The second inlet port  64  is disposed forward (i.e., downstream in the sub-scanning direction X) of the first outlet port  55 . The second inlet port  64  is an example of an inlet port. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  5   , the second outlet ports  65  are provided in the rear wall  63 Rr of the body case  51 . The second outlet ports  65  are open toward the first guide member  18  and the second guide member  15 . Each of the second outlet ports  65  has a circular shape, for example. The second outlet ports  65  communicate with the second inlet port  64 . The second outlet ports  65  cause the second chamber  63  to communicate with the outside of the body case  51 . The second outlet ports  65  are disposed below the first outlet port  55 . The second outlet ports  65  are disposed below the second inlet port  64 . The second outlet ports  65  are disposed forward (i.e., downstream in the sub-scanning direction X) of the second inlet port  64 . The second outlet ports  65  are an example of outlet ports. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  5   , the second fan  66  is disposed in the second chamber  63 . The second fan  66  is located between the second inlet port  64  and the heaters  67 . The second fan  66  sucks air from the second inlet port  64  and discharges air from the second outlet ports  65  toward the first guide member  18  and the second guide member  15  (rearward and obliquely downward in this preferred embodiment) through the heaters  67 . The airflow rate of the second fan  66  is smaller than that of the first fan  56 . The second fan  66  is an example of a fan. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  5   , the heaters  67  are disposed in the body case  51 . The heaters  67  are disposed in the second chamber  63 . In this preferred embodiment, two heaters  67  are disposed in the second chamber  63  and arranged in the top-bottom direction. The heaters  67  extend in the main scanning direction Y. The heaters  67  heat air sent by the second fan  66 . The heaters  67  are, for example, sheathed heaters. The inside of the second chamber  63  is divided by an inner partition wall  63 M into a space having the second inlet port  64  and provided with the second fan  66 , and a space provided with the heaters  67  and facing the second outlet ports  65 . The walls defining the second chamber  63 , specifically, the partition wall  63 F separating the first chamber  53  and the second chamber  63  from each other, the rear wall  63 Rr having the second inlet port  64  and the second outlet ports  65 , a lower wall  63 D of the body case  51 , a right wall  63 R (see  FIG.  1   ) of the body case  51 , and a left wall  63 L of the body case  51  are made of, for example, stainless steel in order to reduce or prevent dissipation of air heated by the heaters  67  from the second chamber  63 . The inner partition wall  63 M is also made of, for example, stainless steel in order to reduce or prevent dissipation of air heated by the heaters  67  from the second chamber  63 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  5   , the body case  51  includes a projecting plate  70  extending from the lower end of the body case  51  toward the second guide member  15  (rearward and obliquely downward in this preferred embodiment). The projecting plate  70  is located below the second outlet ports  65 . The projecting plate  70  is located above a lower end  15 B of the second guide member  15 . The projecting plate  70  extends in the main scanning direction Y. 
     The projecting plate  70  is made of an elastically deformable material. The projecting plate  70  is made of rubber, for example. 
     An airflow of the drying device  50  will now be described. First, the first fan  56  causes air sucked from the first inlet port  54  to flow in the main scanning direction Y in the intake chamber  53 A of the first chamber  53 . As indicated by arrow FA 1  in  FIG.  5   , air flowing in the intake chamber  53 A enters the exhaust chamber  53 B to be narrowed and sent toward the first outlet port  55  at an increasing flow velocity. Air is rectified in the exhaust chamber  53 B, and is discharged from the first outlet port  55  toward the platen  16 , as indicated by arrow FA 2  in  FIG.  5   . The first outlet port  55  herein has a slit shape extending in the main scanning direction Y, and air sent toward the first outlet port  55  at an increasing flow velocity is released from the slit opening. Thus, air is allowed to be sent in the entire region of the platen  16  in the main scanning direction Y. 
     As indicated by arrow FB 1  in  FIG.  5   , the second fan  66  causes air sucked from the second inlet port  64  to flow toward the heaters  67 . As indicated by arrow FB 2  in  FIG.  5   , air heated by the heaters  67  flows from the plurality of second outlet ports  65  toward the first guide member  18  and the second guide member  15 . Air that has reached the recording medium  5  guided by the first guide member  18  and the second guide member  15  flows upward with an upward airflow as indicated by arrow FB 3  in  FIG.  5    and flows into the second inlet port  64 . As described above, air heated by the heaters  67  circulates in the second chamber  63  and a space  50 S. The space  50 S is surrounded by the upper surface  18 A of the first guide member  18 , the upper surface  15 A of the second guide member  15 , and the body case  51 . That is, in the printer  10 , the circulation path  60  in which air at a temperature higher than air discharged from the first outlet port  55  circulates is formed in the space  50 S and the second chamber  63 . In this preferred embodiment, the first guide member  18  is made of a material having a high thermal conductivity, such as iron, in order to make uniform or substantially uniform the temperature distribution at the upstream side, and the second guide member  15  is made of a material having a low thermal conductivity, such as stainless steel, in order to maintain the temperature (reduce or prevent a decrease in temperature) at the downstream side. Air discharged from the plurality of second outlet ports  65  needs to be sent to the recording medium  5  onto which ink is discharged (the recording medium  5  after printing) in a state where heat necessary for drying the ink is not released. In view of this, the material of a conveyance path of the recording medium  5  after printing is preferably made of a material having a low thermal conductivity. On the other hand, in the conveyance path of the recording medium  5  immediately after printing, surface temperature distribution needs to be uniform from the viewpoint of printing quality after drying and quality in winding the recording medium  5 . A material having a low thermal conductivity causes a temperature increase only in a portion subjected to heat from, for example, the heaters, and the surface temperature distribution cannot be made uniform or substantially uniform. In view of this, the conveyance path includes the first guide member  18  and the second guide member  15 , and the first guide member  18  is made of a material having a high thermal conductivity such as iron, whereas the second guide member  15  is made of a material having a low thermal conductivity such as stainless steel in order to reduce or prevent dissipation of heated air and make uniform or substantially uniform the surface temperature. Since the drying device  50  includes the projecting plate  70  located below the second outlet ports  65 , it is possible to reduce or prevent an outflow of air discharged from the second outlet ports  65  to the outside from space between a rear portion of the body case  51  and the second guide member  15 . The number of the second outlet ports  65  open toward the second guide member  15  is larger than the number of the second outlet ports  65  open toward the first guide member  18 . This is because an emphasis is placed on drying of ink by making uniform or substantially uniform the surface temperature on the first guide member  18 , whereas ink is dried by heated air in the second guide member  15 . 
     As described above, in the printer  10  according to this preferred embodiment, air heated by the heaters  67  of the drying device  50  is sent to the recording medium  5  through the second outlet ports  65 . In this preferred embodiment, since the second outlet ports  65  are open toward the second guide member  15 , drying of ink on the recording medium  5  on the upper surface  15 A of the second guide member  15  is promoted by the high temperature air immediately after being heated by the heater  67 . Since the thermal conductivity of the second guide member  15  is lower than the thermal conductivity of the first guide member  18 , heat dissipation to the second guide member  15  is reduced or prevented, and air at a relatively high temperature is allowed to flow in the second guide member  15 . That is, in the second guide member  15 , drying of ink discharged onto the recording medium  5  is promoted. In addition, heated air flowing from the second outlet ports  65  toward the second guide member  15  rises and flows on the upper surface  18 A of the first guide member  18 . Accordingly, drying of ink on the recording medium  5  on the upper surface  18 A of the first guide member  18  is promoted, and the first guide member  18  is heated. Since the thermal conductivity of the first guide member  18  is higher than the thermal conductivity of the second guide member  15 , heat is transferred to a wide range in the first guide member  18  so that temperature distribution in the first guide member  18  is made uniform or substantially uniform. That is, it is possible to reduce or prevent the occurrence of variation in drying ink in the first guide member  18 , while promoting drying of ink in the first guide member  18 . In this preferred embodiment, since the second guide member  15  having a low thermal conductivity is located below the first guide member  18 , transfer of heat of the first guide member  18  to the second guide member  15  through the contact portion is reduced or prevented so that the temperature of the first guide member  18  is maintained. 
     In the printer  10  according to this preferred embodiment, the length LA of the upper surface  18 A of the first guide member  18  in the sub-scanning direction X is larger than the length LB of the upper surface  15 A of the second guide member  15  in the sub-scanning direction X. The thermal conductivity of the first guide member  18  is higher than the thermal conductivity of the second guide member  15 , and heat is transferred to a wide range in the first guide member  18 . Thus, a longer time is obtained for conveyance of the recording medium  5  by the first guide member  18  to which heat is easily transferred so that ink discharged onto the recording medium  5  can be effectively dried at the early stage. 
     In the printer  10  according to this preferred embodiment, the body case  51  includes the projecting plate  70  located below the second outlet ports  65 , extending in the main scanning direction Y, and extending from the lower end of the body case  51  toward the second guide member  15 . Accordingly, an outflow of air heated by the heaters  67  toward the outside from below the body case  51  can be reduced or prevented, and an inflow of cold outside air onto the second guide member  15  from below the body case  51  can be reduced or prevented. 
     In the printer  10  according to this preferred embodiment, the projecting plate  70  is located above the lower end  15 B of the second guide member  15 . Accordingly, it is possible to further ensure reduction or prevention of an inflow of cold outside air onto the second guide member  15  from below the body case  51 . 
     In the printer  10  according to this preferred embodiment, the body case  51  includes the second inlet port  64  that is open toward the first guide member  18 . The second inlet port  64  is located above the second outlet ports  65 , causes air heated by the heaters  67  to flow onto the upper surface  15 A of the second guide member  15  from the inside (the second chamber  63  in this preferred embodiment) of the drying device  50  through the second outlet ports  65  and to circulate to the inside of the drying device  50  from the second inlet port  64  by way of the upper surface  18 A of the first guide member  18 . Thus, the second guide member  15  and the first guide member  18  are heated (warmed) with power consumption of the heaters  67  reduced. 
     The foregoing description is directed to the preferred embodiments of the present invention. The preferred embodiments described above, however, are merely examples, and the present invention can be performed in various modes. 
     In the preferred embodiments described above, the second outlet ports  65  are open toward the first guide member  18  and the second guide member  15 . However, the present invention is not limited to this example. The second outlet ports  65  only need to be open toward at least the second guide member  15 . 
     In the preferred embodiments described above, the second fan  66  is located between the second inlet port  64  and the heaters  67 . However, the present invention is not limited to this example. The second fan  66  may be located between the heaters  67  and the second outlet ports  65 . 
     In the preferred embodiments described above, the first guide member  18  and the second guide member  15  are continuous and tilt downward such that the first guide member  18  and the second guide member  15  tilt at the same angle. However, the present invention is not limited to this example. For example, the tilt angles of the first guide member  18  and the second guide member  15  may be different from each other, and/or a step may be provided between the first guide member  18  and the second guide member  15  such that the second guide member  15  is lower than the first guide member  18 . In the sub-scanning direction X (i.e., the front-rear direction), the first guide member  18  and the second guide member  15  may overlap with each other. Arrangement of the first guide member  18  and the second guide member  15  may be changed depending on, for example, deformation of the recording medium  5  so that the front end of the recording medium  5  does not enter a gap between the first guide member  18  and the second guide member  15 . 
     The terms and expressions used herein are for description only and are not to be interpreted in a limited sense. These terms and expressions should be recognized as not excluding any equivalents to the elements shown and described herein and as allowing any modification encompassed in the scope of the claims. The present invention may be embodied in many various forms. This disclosure should be regarded as providing preferred embodiments of the principles of the present invention. These preferred embodiments are provided with the understanding that they are not intended to limit the present invention to the preferred embodiments described in the specification and/or shown in the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments described herein. The present invention encompasses any of preferred embodiments including equivalent elements, modifications, deletions, combinations, improvements and/or alterations which can be recognized by a person of ordinary skill in the art based on the disclosure. The elements of each claim should be interpreted broadly based on the terms used in the claim, and should not be limited to any of the preferred embodiments described in this specification or referred to during the prosecution of the present application. 
     While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it is to be understood that variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. The scope of the present invention, therefore, is to be determined solely by the following claims.