Patent Publication Number: US-2020298593-A1

Title: Inkjet printer

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the priority benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-051819, filed on Mar. 19, 2019. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to an inkjet printer. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE BACKGROUND ART 
     Conventionally, inkjet printers that eject ink by an inkjet method are known. As such an inkjet printer, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2017-209983 (i.e., Patent Literature 1) discloses an inkjet printer that fixes ink by drying ink after the ink (UV instantaneous drying ink) is ejected from an inkjet head (inkjet head  120 ) to a medium (medium  50 ). 
     Patent Literature 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2017-209983 
     SUMMARY 
     In the inkjet printer disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2017-209983, the ink solvent and the like is evaporated to dry the ink when fixing ink (ink layer formed on the medium) ejected from the inkjet head to the medium, but the evaporated solvent or the like may condense and adhere to an unintended location (device in an inkjet printer, etc.). Furthermore, a part of the ink ejected from the inkjet head may be scattered as ink mist (misted ink), and may adhere to an unintended location (device in an inkjet printer, etc.). As described above, in the inkjet printer disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2017-209983, a part of ink ejected from the inkjet head (evaporated solvent, ink mist, etc.) may adhere to an unintended location. 
     The present disclosure has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to prevent a part of ink ejected from an inkjet head from adhering to an unintended location. 
     In order to solve the above problems, an inkjet printer of the present disclosure includes, an inkjet head that ejects ink onto a medium through an inkjet method when moving relative to the medium in a predetermined direction, and an intake part that is disposed on the back side of the inkjet head in the predetermined direction and that takes in air while moving relative to the medium in the predetermined direction together with the inkjet head. 
     According to the above configuration, a part of the ink ejected from the inkjet head (evaporated component, ink mist, etc.) can be suctioned by the intake part, and the part of the ink can be prevented from adhering to an unintended location (specifically, location not desired by the user, the manufacturer of the inkjet printer, etc.). 
     The intake part may take in an evaporated component of the ink components ejected from the inkjet head onto the medium. 
     According to the above configuration, the evaporated component can be suctioned in by the intake part, and the evaporated component can be prevented from adhering to an unintended location. 
     The intake part may take in a misted ink mist of the ink ejected from the inkjet head. 
     According to the above configuration, the ink mist can be suctioned by the intake part, and the ink mist can be prevented from adhering to an unintended location. 
     The inkjet printer according to the present disclosure may further include a first air supply part that is disposed on the front side of the inkjet head in the predetermined direction and that supplies air toward the medium side while moving relative to the medium in the predetermined direction together with the inkjet head. 
     According to the above configuration, a part of the ink ejected from the inkjet head can be moved away from the inkjet head by the air supply from the first air supply part, so that a part of the ink can be guided to the intake part on the back side, and the part of the ink can be prevented from adhering to an unintended location. 
     The inkjet printer according to the present disclosure may further include a second air supply part that is disposed between the inkjet head and the intake part and that supplies air toward the medium side while moving relative to the medium in the predetermined direction together with the inkjet head, where the second air supply part and the intake part may be disposed adjacent to each other in the predetermined direction. 
     According to the above configuration, a part of the ink ejected from the inkjet head can be moved away from the inkjet head by the air supply from the second air supply part, and furthermore, a part of the ink can be taken in by the intake part on the immediately back side of the second air supply part, so that the part of the ink can be prevented from adhering to an unintended location. 
     The inkjet printer according to the present disclosure may further include a drying device that is disposed between the inkjet head and the intake part, and that moves relative to the medium in the predetermined direction together with the inkjet head to dry the ink ejected from the inkjet head onto the medium. 
     According to the above configuration, the air intake part is located on the back side of the drying device, so that the intake part can take in components evaporated from the ink by the drying device, and a part of the ink ejected from the inkjet head (evaporated component) can be prevented from adhering to an unintended location. 
     The ink may contain an energy ray absorbing component that absorbs energy rays and generates heat, the drying device may irradiate the ink ejected onto the medium with the energy rays to heat the energy ray absorbing component and dry the ink, and the intake part may take in a component evaporated when drying the ink. 
     When the ink contains an energy ray absorbing component as in the configuration described above, the ink solvent and the like evaporate all at once due to the irradiation of the energy ray, but the evaporated solvent and the like can be effectively taken in by the intake part. Thus, the intake part operates effectively when the ink contains an energy ray absorbing component. 
     The inkjet printer according to the present disclosure may further include a third air supply part that is disposed between the drying device and the intake part and that supplies air toward the medium side while moving relative to the medium in the predetermined direction together with the inkjet head; where the third air supply part and the intake part may be disposed adjacent to each other in the predetermined direction. 
     According to the above configuration, a part of the ink ejected from the inkjet head can be moved away from the drying device by the air supply from the third air supply part, and furthermore, a part of the ink can be taken in by the intake part on the immediately back side of the third air supply part, so that the part of the ink can be prevented from adhering to an unintended location. 
     The inkjet printer according to the present disclosure may further include a fourth air supply part that is disposed between the inkjet head and the drying device, and that supplies air toward the medium side while moving relative to the medium in the predetermined direction together with the inkjet head. 
     According to the above configuration, a part of the ink ejected from the inkjet head can be moved away from, for example, the inkjet head and the drying device by the air supply from the fourth air supply part, and the part of the ink can be prevented from adhering to an unintended location. 
     Effects of Disclosure 
     According to the present disclosure, a part of the ink ejected from the inkjet head can be prevented from adhering to an unintended location. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an overall view of an inkjet printer according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a configuration view in a device main body. 
         FIG. 3  is a configuration view of a printing unit when viewed from below. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a left air supply part and the like. 
         FIG. 5  is a block diagram showing a device configuration for air supply and air intake. 
         FIG. 6  is a block diagram of a control system in the device main body. 
         FIG. 7  is a configuration view of the device main body for explaining airflow and the like. 
         FIG. 8  is a configuration view of a printing unit according to a modified example. 
         FIG. 9  is a configuration view of a printing unit according to a modified example. 
         FIG. 10  is a configuration view of a printing unit according to a modified example. 
         FIG. 11  is a configuration view of a printing unit according to a modified example. 
         FIG. 12  is a configuration view of a printing unit according to a modified example. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, an inkjet printer  10  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. 
     (Configuration of Inkjet Printer  10 ) 
     The inkjet printer  10  is configured as shown in  FIG. 1 , for example, and prints an image on a medium M by an inkjet method. The medium M is, for example, a sheet material such as paper or cloth. The inkjet printer  10  includes a device main body  11  and a mount  12 . The device main body  11  is a part that prints an image on the medium M, and is supported by the mount  12  at an upper position away from the floor. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the device main body  11  includes a housing  110 , a platen  120  (not shown in  FIG. 2 ), a guide rail  130 , a drive mechanism  140 , a feed mechanism  150 , a printing unit  160 . 
     The housing  110  supports the platen  120  and interiorly accommodates the guide rail  130 , the drive mechanism  140 , the printing unit  160 , and the like. The platen  120  supports the medium M. The guide rail  130  is extended in the left-right direction, that is, along the main scanning direction, and guides (guides) the movement of the printing unit  160  along the main scanning direction. 
     The drive mechanism  140  moves the printing unit  160  along the main scanning direction. The drive mechanism  140  includes a driving pulley  141 , a driven pulley  142 , a driving belt  143 , and a driving motor  144 . 
     The driving pulley  141  is disposed at the right end of the device main body  11 . The driven pulley  142  is disposed at the left end of the device main body  11 . The driving belt  143  is formed in a band shape and is wound around the driving pulley  141  and the driven pulley  142 . The printing unit  160  (carriage  161  described later) is attached to the driving belt  143 . 
     The driving motor  144  includes a stepping motor or the like, and rotates the driving pulley  141 . This rotation causes the driving belt  143  to rotate, whereby the printing unit  160  moves along the main scanning direction. 
     The feed mechanism  150  is a mechanism for feeding the medium M in the sub scanning direction (direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the printing unit  160 ), which is the near-far direction. The feed mechanism  150  includes a driving motor  151 , a driving roller  152 , and a plurality of pinch rollers  153 . 
     The driving motor  151  includes a stepping motor or the like, and rotates the driving roller  152 . The driving roller  152  is accommodated in the platen  120  together with the driving motor  151 . A hole is provided in the upper surface of the platen  120 , and the driving roller  152  is exposed through the hole in the upper surface. 
     The driving roller  152  and the pinch roller  153  rotate with the central axis along the main scanning direction as a rotation axis. The driving roller  152  and the pinch roller  153  sandwich the medium M. As the driving roller  152  is rotated by the driving motor  151 , the medium M is fed along the sub scanning direction. 
     The printing unit  160  prints an image on the medium M by ejecting ink onto the medium M while moving in the main scanning direction. The printing unit  160  ejects ink when moving in the direction from the right to the left in  FIG. 2  (advancing direction) in the main scanning direction. As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the printing unit  160  includes a carriage  161 , an inkjet head  162 , a fixing device (drying device)  163 , a left air supply part  164 , an intermediate air supply part  165 , a right air supply part  166  and an intake part  167 . 
     The carriage  161  is mounted with the inkjet head  162 , the fixing device  163 , the left air supply part  164 , the intermediate air supply part  165 , the right air supply part  166 , and the intake part  167 . The carriage  161  is attached to the driving belt  143 , and the movement along the main scanning direction is guided by the guide rail  130 . The carriage  161  moves in the main scanning direction by the rotation of the driving belt  143  of the drive mechanism  140 , and thereby carries the inkjet head  162  and the like mounted on the carriage  161  in the main scanning direction (in other words, the printing unit  160  moves along the main scanning direction). 
     When printing an image, the inkjet head  162  ejects printing ink onto the medium M by an inkjet method (may be either a piezo method or a thermal head method). 
     The inkjet head  162  includes a head  162 C that ejects cyan (C) ink (the head alone is also called an inkjet head. Hereinafter, the same applies to the head), and a head  162 M that ejects magenta (M) ink. Furthermore, the inkjet head  162  includes a head  162 Y that ejects yellow (Y) ink and a head  162 K that ejects black (K) ink. 
     The device main body  11  has an ink supply mechanism (not shown), and ink is supplied to the heads  162 C to  162 K from a cartridge or an ink bottle attached to the device main body  11  through the ink supply mechanism. The ink cartridge, the ink supply mechanism, and the like may be mounted on the carriage  161 . 
     Each ink ejected from the inkjet head  162  includes, for example, an instantaneous drying ink that instantaneously dries with ultraviolet lights. The instantaneous drying ink includes a solvent (water, solvent, SUV (solvent UV ink component), etc.) and an ultraviolet absorbent in addition to the pigment or dye. When such instantaneous drying ink is irradiated with ultraviolet lights, the ultraviolet absorbent absorbs the ultraviolet lights and generates heat, and the solvent is evaporated by the generated heat. Due to the evaporation of the solvent, the instantaneous drying ink is dried and fixed on the medium M. 
     The fixing device  163  includes an LED or the like that emits ultraviolet lights. The fixing device  163  may include an LED that emits light of a predetermined wavelength and a wavelength conversion unit that performs wavelength conversion of the light. The fixing device  163  is located on the right side of the inkjet head  162 , and irradiates the ink ejected from the inkjet head  162  and landed on the medium M with ultraviolet lights from an LED or the like to dry and fix the ink on the medium M. The fixing device  163  can also be said to be a drying device for drying ink. 
     The left air supply part  164  to the right air supply part  166  sends out (exhales) gas (air herein) downward to supply air downward. The left air supply part  164  is located on the left side of the inkjet head  162 , and the intermediate air supply part  165  is located between the inkjet head  162  and the fixing device  163 . The right air supply part  166  is located between the fixing device  163  and the intake part  167 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the left air supply part  164  includes a main body  164 A, an air chamber  164 B, an air supply port  164 C, a connecting part  164 D, and a gas flow path  164 E. 
     The main body  164 A has a cubic shape, and interiorly includes a cubic-shaped air chamber  164 B, and the air supply port  164 C penetrating the main body  164 A in the vertical direction is provided at the position of the lower surface (facing the medium side and facing downward). The air supply port  164 C is extended in the sub scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction, which is the moving direction of the printing unit  160 . The air supply port  164 C allows the air chamber  164 B to communicate with the lower side of the left air supply part  164  (main body  164 A). 
     The connecting part  164 D is provided in a convex shape on the far surface (surface facing in the far side direction) of the main body  164 A, and is connected to a first air supply pipe  181  to be described later. The gas flow path  164 E extends in the near-far direction (sub scanning direction), penetrates the main body  164 A and the connecting part  164 D, and communicates the air chamber  164 B with the first air supply pipe  181 . 
     As will be described later, gas is supplied to the air chamber  164 B via the first air supply pipe  181  and the gas flow path  164 E. Thus, the air chamber  164 B becomes a positive pressure, and the gas in the air chamber  164 B is sent out toward the lower side of the left air supply part  164  from the air supply port  164 C. 
     The intermediate air supply part  165  and the right air supply part  166  have the same structure as the left air supply part  164  and have the same functions. 
     Specifically, the intermediate air supply part  165  includes a main body  165 A ( FIG. 3 ) corresponding to the main body  164 A, an air chamber  165 B ( FIG. 3 ) corresponding to the air chamber  164 B, an air supply port  165 C ( FIG. 3 ) corresponding to the air supply port  164 C, a connecting part (not shown. Hereinafter also referred to as connecting part  165 D) corresponding to the connecting part  164 D, and a gas flow path (not shown) corresponding to the gas flow path  164 E (Hereinafter, also referred to as a gas flow path  165 E). A second air supply pipe  182  to be described later is connected to the connecting part  165 D. 
     The right air supply part  166  includes a main body  166 A ( FIG. 3 ) corresponding to the main body  164 A, an air chamber  166 B ( FIG. 3 ) corresponding to the air chamber  164 B, an air supply port  166 C ( FIG. 3 ) corresponding to the air supply port  164 C, a connecting part (not shown. Hereinafter also referred to as connecting part  166 D) corresponding to the connecting part  164 D, and a gas flow path (not shown) corresponding to the gas flow path  164 E (Hereinafter, also referred to as a gas flow path  166 E). A third air supply pipe  183  to be described later is connected to the connecting part  166 D. 
     The intake part  167  takes in air by suctioning gas on the lower side. The intake part  167  has a structure similar to the left air supply part  164  and the like (shape is different). The gas on the lower side includes, in addition to air, a solvent evaporated when drying the ink (also referred to as solvent vapor), and an ink mist which is a misted ink of the ink ejected from the inkjet head  162  (details will be described later). As shown in  FIG. 3 , the intake part  167  includes a main body  167 A, an air chamber  167 B, and an intake port  167 C. The intake part  167  further includes a connecting part (not shown. Hereinafter, it is also referred to as a connecting part  167 D) and a gas flow path (not shown. Hereinafter, it is also referred to as a gas flow path  167 E). 
     The main body  167 A has a cubic shape, and interiorly includes a cubic-shaped air chamber  167 B, and the intake port  167 C penetrating the main body  167 A in the vertical direction is provided at the position of the lower surface (facing downward on the medium side). The intake port  167 C extends along the sub scanning direction and communicates the air chamber  167 B and the lower side of the intake part  167  (main body  167 A). The connecting part  167 D is provided in a convex shape on the far surface of the main body  167 A, and is connected to an intake pipe  184  to be described later. The gas flow path  167 E extends in the near-far direction (sub scanning direction), penetrates the main body  167 A and the connecting part  167 D, and communicates the air chamber  167 B with the intake pipe  184 . 
     As will be described later, the gas in the air chamber  167 B is discharged from the air chamber  167 B through the intake pipe  184  and the gas flow path  167 E. As a result, the air chamber  167 B becomes a negative pressure. Due to such a negative pressure, the gas on the lower side of the intake part  167  is taken in from the intake port  167 C. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the width of each of the air supply port  164 C, the air supply port  165 C, the air supply port  166 C, and the intake port  167 C (length along the near-far direction, that is, the length along the sub scanning direction) is wider than the head  162 C, head  162 M, head  162 Y, and head  162 K of the inkjet head  162  (particularly, length along the sub scanning direction from the nozzle on the near most side to the nozzle on the far most side among the plurality of nozzles that eject ink) (see  FIG. 3 ). 
     The device main body  11  includes a first air supply device  171  to a third air supply device  173 , a first air supply pipe  181  to a third air supply pipe  183 , an air intake device  174 , a collecting device  175 , and an intake pipe  184  inside the housing  110 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     Each of the first air supply device  171  to the third air supply device  173  includes an air supply pump or a fan that blows air. One end of a first air supply pipe  181  is connected to the first air supply device  171 . Similarly, one end of a second air supply pipe  182  is connected to the second air supply device  172 . One end of a third air supply pipe  183  is connected to the third air supply device  173 . 
     Each of the first air supply pipe  181  to the third air supply pipe  183  is configured by one or more hollow rubber or resin tubes having flexibility. The other end of the first air supply pipe  181  is connected to the left air supply part  164  (connecting part  164 D). The other end of the second air supply pipe  182  is connected to the intermediate air supply part  165  (connecting part  165 D). The other end of the third supply pipe  183  is connected to the right air supply part  166  (connecting part  166 D). 
     The first air supply device  171  to the third air supply device  173  are immovable, while the left air supply part  164  to the right air supply part  166  are movable by the carriage  161 . Since the first air supply pipe  181  to the third air supply pipe  183  have flexibility, the first air supply pipe  181  to the third air supply pipe  183  deform following the movement of the left air supply part  164  to the right air supply part  166 . 
     The first air supply device  171  takes in surrounding gas and sends the taken-in gas into the first air supply pipe  181 . Here, the surrounding gas may be a gas outside the housing  110  (in this case, the first air supply device  171  may be provided so as to penetrate the housing  110 ), or may be a gas inside the housing  110  (same for other air supply devices). The gas sent into the first air supply pipe  181  by the first air supply device  171  flows into the air chamber  164 B through the first air supply pipe  181  and the gas flow path  164 E in the left air supply part  164 . As a result, the air chamber  164 B becomes a positive pressure, and the gas in the air chamber  164 B is sent downward (supplied) from the air supply port  164 C. Thus, the left air supply part  164  supplies gas from the air supply port  164 C to the lower side of the left air supply part  164  by the first air supply device  171 . 
     The second air supply device  172  takes in surrounding gas and sends the taken-in gas into the second air supply pipe  182 . The gas sent to the second air supply pipe  182  by the second air supply device  172  flows into the air chamber  165 B through the second air supply pipe  182  and the gas flow path  165 E of the intermediate air supply part  165 . As a result, the air chamber  165 B becomes a positive pressure, and the gas in the air chamber  165 B is sent out (supplied) toward the lower side from the air supply port  165 C. In this way, the intermediate air supply part  165  supplies gas from the air supply port  165 C to the lower side of the intermediate air supply part  165  by the second air supply device  172 . 
     The third air supply device  173  takes in surrounding gas and sends the taken-in gas into the third air supply pipe  183 . The gas sent into the third supply pipe  183  by the third air supply device  173  flows into the air chamber  166 B through the third air supply pipe  183  and the gas flow path  166 E of the right air supply part  166 . As a result, the air chamber  166 B becomes a positive pressure, and the gas in the air chamber  166 B is sent (supplied) toward the lower side from the air supply port  166 C. Thus, the right air supply part  166  supplies gas from the air supply port  166 C to the lower side of the right air supply part  166  by the third air supply device  173 . 
     The intake device  174  includes an exhaust pump or a fan that performs exhaust. The collecting device  175  cools the gas passing through the collecting device  175  and collects predetermined components (here, solvent vapor and ink mist described later) from the gas. The intake pipe  184  is configured by one or more hollow rubber or resin tubes having flexibility and forms a gas flow path. 
     The intake device  174  is connected to the collecting device  175 . One end of the intake pipe  184  is connected to the collecting device  175 . The other end of the intake pipe  184  is connected to the connecting part  167 D of the intake part  167 . 
     The intake device  174  is immovable, while the intake part  167  can be moved by the carriage  161 . Since the intake pipe  184  has flexibility, it deforms following the movement of the intake device  174 . 
     The intake device  174  takes in the gas in the air chamber  167 B of the intake part  167  through the collecting device  175 , the intake pipe  184 , and the gas flow path  167 E, and controls the air chamber  167 B to a negative pressure, thereby taking in surrounding gas (gas on lower side of intake part  167 ) of the intake port  167 C from the intake port  167 C. The gas taken in from the intake port  167 C passes through the air chamber  167 B, the gas flow path  167 E, and the intake pipe  184 , and thereafter passes through the collecting device  175 , and finally passes through the intake device  174  and exhausted to the outside of the intake device  174 . The gas taken in from the intake port  167 C and passing through the collecting device  175  includes solvent vapor and ink mist, which will be described later, in addition to air. The collecting device  175  cools the gas, and collects the solvent vapor and ink mist by liquefying or aggregating them. The remaining air is discharged to the outside by the intake device  174 . 
     The first air supply device  171  to the third air supply device  173  are immovable, while the left air supply part  164  to the right air supply part  166  are movable by the carriage  161 . Since the first air supply pipe  181  to the third air supply pipe  183  have flexibility, the first air supply pipe  181  to the third air supply pipe  183  deform following the movement of the left air supply part  164  to the right air supply part  166 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the inkjet printer  10  also includes a controller  190  and an operation panel  195  that control the entire inkjet printer  10 . 
     As shown in the block diagram of  FIG. 6 , the controller  190  controls the driving motor  144 , the driving motor  151 , the inkjet head  162 , the first air supply device  171 , the second air supply device  172 , and the third air supply device  173 , the intake device  174  and the collecting device  175 . The controller  190  includes various computers such as a microcomputer that operates according to a program. The controller  190  can communicate with an external host computer or the like, and image data is provided to the controller  190 . 
     The operation panel  195  includes a touch panel that receives an operation from the user. The operation panel  195  provides an operation signal indicating the content of the operation received from the user to the controller  190 . The controller  190  controls each component based on the operation signal. 
     (Operation of inkjet printer  10 ) 
     The controller  190  receives image data provided from a host computer or the like, and performs a printing process (control of each component described above) based on the image data. The printing process may be started with an operation for starting printing on the operation panel  195  as a trigger. Hereinafter, this printing process will be described, but here, it is assumed that the medium M is set by a user or the like at a position where printing can be started. 
     In the printing process, the controller  190  first drives the driving motor  144 , rotates the driving pulley  141 , and moves the printing unit  160  to the right initial position. Thereafter, the controller  190  drives the driving motor  144 , rotates the driving pulley  141 , and moves the printing unit  160  from the right (initial position) to the left. 
     The controller  190  controls each of the heads  162 C,  162 M,  162 Y, and  162 K of the inkjet head  162  at a timing based on the image data while the printing unit  160  is moving from right to left, and ejects ink from these heads. During this movement, the controller  190  operates the fixing device  163  located on the back side (right side of  FIG. 2 ) in the advancing direction of the inkjet head  162 , irradiates the ink ejected (landed) on the medium M with ultraviolet lights, and dries (fixes) the ink. Through such a process, one line of the image represented by the image data is printed. 
     Thereafter, the controller  190  drives the driving motor  151 , rotates the driving roller  152 , feeds the medium M in the sub scanning direction by a predetermined amount, drives the driving motor  144 , rotates the driving pulley  141 , and moves it to the initial position of the printing unit  160 . 
     Thereafter, the controller  190  drives the driving motor  144  to move the printing unit  160  from the right (initial position) to the left, and during the movement, controls each head  162 C,  162 M,  162 Y,  162 K of the inkjet head  162  at the timing based on the image data to eject ink from such heads. Furthermore, during the movement, the controller  190  operates the fixing device  163 , irradiates the ink ejected onto the medium M with ultraviolet lights, and dries (fixes) the ink. 
     The controller  190  prints the image represented by the image data on the medium M by repeating the above. 
     When printing is performed as described above, a part of the ink ejected from each head  162 C,  162 M,  162 Y, and  162 K of the inkjet head  162  is misted to become an ink mist (see the dot K 1  in  FIG. 7 ), and may drift through a space between the inkjet head  162  and the medium M. Furthermore, at the time of fixing (drying) the ink ejected on the medium M, the solvent of the ink (a part (component) of the ink ejected from the head  162 C etc.) evaporates, and the solvent vapor which is the vapor of the solvent (see dotted line arrow K 2  in  FIG. 7 ) generates. In this embodiment, in order to prevent the ink mist and solvent vapor from adhering to unintended locations in the device main body  11 , air intake by the intake part  167  and air supply by the left air supply part  164 , and the like are performed. 
     Specifically, the controller  190  operates the intake device  174  while the printing unit  160  is moving from right to left (moving to eject ink), and causes the intake part  167  (intake port  167 C) to take in air. At this time, the controller  190  also operates the collecting device  175  to liquefy or aggregate the solvent vapor and the ink mist (collected by the collecting device  175 ). Furthermore, the controller  190  operates the first air supply device  171  to the third air supply device  173  while the printing unit  160  is moving from right to left (moving to eject ink), and causes the left air supply part  164  (air supply port  164 C), the intermediate air supply part  165  (air supply port  165 C), and the right air supply part  166  (air supply port  166 C) to supply air. The air supply and air intake are performed over the entire period during which the printing unit  160  is moving. 
     (Effects Etc. Of Air Intake and Air Supply) 
     The effects and the like of air intake by the intake part  167  and air supply by the left air supply part  164  will be described with reference to  FIG. 7 . In  FIG. 7 , the printing unit  160  (inkjet head  162  etc.) ejects ink while moving from right to left. In the following, the right is also referred to as the back side and the left is also referred to as the front side with the advancing direction of the printing unit  160  (inkjet head  162  etc.) as a reference. 
     The ink layer G in  FIG. 7  is formed by droplet-like ink ejected in droplets from each of the heads  162 C,  162 M,  162 Y,  162 K of the inkjet head  162  moving from right to left and reaching (landing) the medium M. The ink layer G includes ink layers G 1  to G 4  having different degrees of drying. The ink ejected from each of the heads  162 C,  162 M,  162 Y, and  162 K is divided into droplet-like ink that lands on the medium M to form the ink layer G and ink mist (see the dot K 1 ). 
     The ink layer G 1  is a part of the ink layer G located on the front side of the fixing device  163 . The ink layer G 1  is not yet irradiated with ultraviolet lights from the fixing device  163 . The ink layer G 1  is thus not dried. 
     The ink layer G 2  is a part of the ink layer G following the back side of the ink layer G 1 . The ink layer G 2  is located below the fixing device  163  and is a part irradiated with ultraviolet lights from the fixing device  163 . The ink layer G 2  has a high temperature due to the irradiation of ultraviolet lights, and the evaporation of the ink solvent (see the dotted line arrow K 2 ) has started. 
     The ink layer G 3  is a part of the ink layer G following the back side of the ink layer G 2 . The ink layer G 3  is located on the back side of the fixing device  163 , and is a part immediately after the irradiation of ultraviolet lights from the fixing device  163  is terminated. The ink layer G 3  still has a relatively high temperature due to the remaining heat after the irradiation of ultraviolet lights, and the evaporation of the ink solvent (see the dotted line arrow K 2 ) is continued. 
     The ink layer G 4  is a part of the ink layer G following the back side of the ink layer G 3 , and is a part that has been fixed on the medium M after the solvent of the ink has completely evaporated (the ink has dried). 
     The printing unit  160  pushes away the air in front by moving. A part of the air that has been pushed away goes around to the lower side of the printing unit  160  (see the airflow R 1 ). The air that has moved to the lower side moves backward (right direction) between the printing unit  160  and the medium M relatively with respect to the printing unit  160  moving from right to left. That is, due to the movement of the printing unit  160 , an airflow R 2  relatively directed backward with respect to the moving printing unit  160  is generated between the printing unit  160  and the medium M. The printing unit  160  includes the intake part  167  at the end, and since the intake part  167  takes in air while the printing unit  160  is moving, the airflow R 2  is eventually directed toward the intake part  167  (intake port  167 C). 
     The ink mist (reference number K 1 ) generated when ink is ejected from the inkjet head  162  is flowed in the airflow R 2  to relatively move backward (right direction) with respect to the printing unit  160 , and eventually taken in by the intake part  167 . 
     The solvent (solvent vapor) evaporated from the ink layer G 2  or the ink layer G 3  (see the dotted line arrow K 2 ) moves upward (the printing unit  160  side), but is flowed by the airflow R 2  flowing over the ink layers G 2  and G 3 , and thus is flowed backward and the solvent vapor is also eventually taken in by the intake part  167 . 
     At the back side of the moving printing unit  160 , the air pressure is lowered by the movement of the printing unit  160 . Accordingly, if there is no intake part  167 , the airflow R 2  eventually goes around to the back side of the printing unit  160 . In such a case, the ink mist or solvent vapor will be swung up to the back side of the printing unit  160  by the airflow going around to the back side of the printing unit  160 , and may adhere to an unintended location (periphery of the printing unit  160 , components in the device main body  11 , the medium M, etc.) in the device main body  11  (the solvent vapor adheres after condensation Hereinafter, the same applies). In this embodiment, since the intake part  167  is provided at the end of the printing unit  160  (back side of the inkjet head  162  and the fixing device  163 ) to perform the intake, the ink mist and the solvent vapor are taken in by the intake part  167 , so that the ink mist and the solvent vapor can be prevented from flowing in an unintended direction, and condensation due to aggregation of the solvent at the unintended location, adhesion of the solvent to the location due to the condensation, adhesion of the ink mist to the unintended location (ink mist is collected and adhered as ink), dropping of the adhered solvent or ink onto the medium M, and the like can be prevented. 
     Furthermore, since the solvent vapor and the ink mist can be collected by the collecting device  175 , the solvent vapor and the ink mist can be prevented from being released into the atmosphere and the like, and an inkjet printer  10  that is friendly to the environment and the human body can be realized. 
     Moreover, in this embodiment, while the printing unit  160  is moving, the left air supply part  164  (air supply port  164 C), the intermediate air supply part  165  (air supply port  165 C), and the right air supply part  166  (air supply port)  166 C) each sends out (supplies) gas (air) downward (here, in particular, downward in the vertical direction (direction orthogonal to the surface of the medium M). This air supply generates airflows R 3  to R 5 . Specifically, the air supply from the left air supply part  164  generates an airflow R 3 , the air supply from the intermediate air supply part  165  generates an airflow R 4 , and the air supply from the right air supply part  166  generates an airflow R 5 . 
     The airflows R 3  to R 5  are directed downward and also relatively move in the right direction with respect to the moving printing unit  160 . That is, the airflows R 3  to R 5  are relatively directed in the lower right direction (backward and downward) with respect to the printing unit  160 . Such airflows R 3  to R 5  can prevent the airflow R 2  from moving upward (direction approaching the printing unit  160 , away from the medium M), and the airflows R 3  to R 5  move downward while involving the surrounding air, and thus the ink mist and the solvent vapor can be moved away from the printing unit  160 , and they can be prevented from moving upward (i.e., moving toward the printing unit  160 ). In particular, the airflows R 3  to R 5  can prevent the upward movement of the ink mist, and the airflows R 4  to R 5  can prevent the upward movement of the solvent vapor. By preventing such movement, the ink mist and the solvent vapor can be efficiently guided to the intake part  167 . 
     Since the airflows R 3  to R 5  prevent the upward movement of the ink mist and the solvent vapor, they can also be prevented from adhering particularly to the inkjet head  162  and the fixing device  163  of the printing unit  160 . Thus, ink ejection failure of the inkjet head  162 , color mixture of ink ejected from the inkjet head  162  and ink mist, irradiation failure of ultraviolet lights from the fixing device  163 , and the like can be prevented. Furthermore, contamination of the medium M by ink mist, and the like can be prevented. 
     In the above configuration, the intake part  167  is located immediately after the right air supply part  166  (both are adjacent to each other as a set), so that the ink mist and the solvent vapor moved away from the printing unit  160  by the airflow R 5  of the right air supply part  166  can be immediately taken in by the intake part  167 , and the ink mist and the solvent vapor can be effectively prevented from adhering to an unintended location in the device main body  11 . An intake part (similar to the intake part  167 ) for taking in air may be provided between the inkjet head  162  and the fixing device  163 , such as immediately after the intermediate air supply part  165 , but in this embodiment, the intake part  167  is provided only at the end (after all the air supply parts) and the intake part is not provided between the inkjet head  162  and the fixing device  163 , and the like, so that the ink mist and the solvent vapor can be taken in by the intake part  167  at the end while arranging the intake part in the one intake part  167  at the end. 
     Furthermore, the respective width of the air supply port  164 C, the air supply port  165 C, the air supply port  166 C, and the intake port  167 C is wider than each width of the head  162 C, the head  162 M, the head  162 Y, and the head  162 K of the inkjet head  162 , that is, the air supply port  164 C and the like are wider in the sub scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction (advancing direction of the printing unit  160 ) than the head  162 C and the like, so the airflows R 2  to R 5  can be generated across the entire sub scanning direction of the head  162 C and the like, and the upward movement of the ink mist and solvent vapor can be prevented and air intake can be performed efficiently. 
     MODIFIED EXAMPLES 
     The present disclosure is not limited to the embodiment described above, and various modifications can be applied to the embodiment described above. Modified examples will be illustrated below, where the same reference numerals are denoted on components having the same function and the components corresponding to those in the embodiment described above. 
     First Modified Example 
     As the instantaneous drying ink, that in which an ink component (e.g., solvent, coloring material, etc.) having an ultraviolet absorbing action may be used in addition to the ink added with an ultraviolet absorbent. The wavelength of the light (ultraviolet light) emitted from the LED lamp disposed in the fixing device  163  is preferably set to a wavelength within a range of 280 to 400 nm, which is substantially the same as the ultraviolet absorbent or the absorption wavelength in the ultraviolet absorbing action. In particular, an LED lamp capable of emitting ultraviolet lights having a wavelength in the range of 360 to 390 nm can output high power, and is preferably provided in the fixing device  163 . 
     The instantaneous drying ink may contain an energy ray absorbent other than the ultraviolet absorbent or an ink component (e.g., solvent, coloring material, etc.) having an energy ray absorbing action other than the ultraviolet light. That is, the instantaneous drying ink may be any ink that contains a component that absorbs energy rays. Examples of energy rays include visible light and infrared lights. In this case, the ink is dried by emitting energy rays (infrared lights, visible light, etc.) corresponding to the energy ray absorption characteristics (wavelength band of absorbable electromagnetic waves, etc.) from the fixing device  163 . 
     In the ink containing a component that absorbs energy rays, the solvent of the ink evaporates at one time by irradiation of the energy rays, but the evaporated solvent taken in by the intake part  167 . Thus, the configuration in which the intake part  167  is provided as described above operates effectively when the ink contains a component that absorbs energy rays. 
     The ink ejected from the inkjet head  162  may be dried by heat from a heater. In this case, the fixing device  163  may be a heater or the like. Furthermore, in place of the fixing device  163 , the medium M may be heated on the platen  120  side to dry the ink layer G. If the ink has high drying property, heating may be unnecessary. In this case, the fixing device  163  and the intermediate air supply part  165  and/or the right air supply part  166  can be omitted. 
     The ink ejected by the inkjet head  162  may be, other than each ink of YMCK, each ink of RGB, light color ink, white ink, pearl ink, metallic ink, clear ink (e.g., energy ray curable ink such as UV curable resin, etc. or an ink for forming a protective layer for protecting the surface (printing surface) of the medium M), and the like. 
     As ink ejected from the inkjet head  162 , energy ray curable ink such as UV curable ink may be used in addition to the instantaneous drying ink. In this case, the printing unit  160  is provided with an emission device that emits an energy ray for curing the energy ray curable ink. When the instantaneous drying ink and the energy ray curable ink are used, the fixing device  163  may function as the emission device if the energy rays used for both are the same (e.g., the same wavelength band, etc.). For example, the energy ray curable ink may be ejected from the inkjet head  162  when moving in the left direction (outward path) and may be cured when moving in the right direction (return path) (irradiating energy rays in the return path). The energy ray curable ink ejected on to the medium M thus can be cured after flattening. In such a case, either an instantaneous drying ink and an energy ray curable ink in which the energy rays used for curing the curable ink are different are adopted (irradiate the energy ray curable ink in the outward path), or printing with the energy ray curable ink is performed after the printing with the instantaneous drying ink. 
     Second Modified Example 
     The orientation of each of the air supply ports  164 C to  166 C of the left air supply part  164  to the right air supply part  166  is arbitrary, and for example, air supply for discharging gas toward the lower diagonally front side or the lower diagonally back side may be performed. The air supply ports  164 C to  166 C are, for example, formed to a slit shape so as not to generate turbulence on the lower side of the printing unit  160  so as not to hinder the flight of ink droplets ejected by inkjet, and a guide member for rectifying the discharged gas may be provided in the vicinity of each of the air supply ports  164 C to  166 C. Furthermore, the air supply ports  164 C to  166 C may be formed in a slit shape or a rectangular shape, and a structural object of a collection of tubular bodies (including a polygonal tube, a cylinder, etc.) such as a honeycomb structure may be disposed in the air supply ports  164 C to  166 C to rectify the gas. 
     The first air supply device  171  to the third air supply device  173  may be an ultrasonic blower, a device that supplies compressed gas from a cylinder, or the like (the air supply includes sending gas other than air). The first air supply device  171  to the third air supply device  173  may be combined into one air supply device, and gas may be supplied from the one air supply device to each of the left air supply part  164  to the right air supply part  166 . Furthermore, the first air supply device  171  to the third air supply device  173  may be omitted, and various fans such as line flow fans (fans for air supply) and a motor for rotating the fan may be provided in each of the left air supply part  164  to the right air supply part  166 . The orientation of each of the air supply ports  164 C to  166 C may be any orientation that can supply air in an arbitrary direction on the medium M side. In addition to the lower side, the medium side includes a lower diagonally front side or a lower diagonally back side (hereinafter the same). 
     The intake device  174  may be omitted, and various fans such as a line flow fan (fan for intake) and a motor for rotating the fan may be provided in the intake part  167 . The orientation of the intake port  167 C is arbitrary, and for example, may be an arbitrary direction on the medium M side. Furthermore, since the airflow R 2  goes around to the back side of the printing unit  160  if the intake part  167  is not present, the orientation of the intake port  167 C may be backward. Moreover, as long as the ink mist or solvent vapor can be taken in, the intake port  167  may be directed upward or forward to taken in the ink mist or solvent vapor. 
     Third Modified Example 
     The arrangement of the air supply port is arbitrary. For example, as shown in  FIG. 8 , the inkjet head  260  may include air supply parts  261  to  264  similar to the left air supply part  164  in front of each of the heads  162 C,  162 M,  162 Y, and  162 K. The air supply part  261  is located in front of the head  162 C, the air supply part  262  is located in front of the head  162 C, the air supply part  263  is located in front of the head  162 Y, and the air supply part  264  is located in the head  162 K. With such an arrangement, the ink mist can be effectively prevented from adhering to each head by the air supply from the air supply parts  261  to  264 . 
     The inkjet head  162  may include a head other than a head that ejects CMYK ink. For example, the inkjet head  162  may include each head that ejects each ink of RGB (head that ejects red ink, head that ejects green ink, head that ejects blue ink) in addition to or in place of each head  162 C,  162 M,  162 Y, and  162 K of CMYK. Thus, color rendering property can be improved, and ink smearing can be prevented. 
     For example, as shown in  FIG. 9 , the inkjet head  360  may include two sets of units U 1  and U 2 . Each of the units U 1  and U 2  includes an inkjet head  162 , a fixing device  163 , a left air supply part  164 , an intermediate air supply part  165 , a right air supply part  166 , and an intake part  167 . The two sets of units U 1  and U 2  are arranged in the left-right direction and mounted on the carriage  161 . The inkjet heads  162  of the two sets of units U 1  and U 2  may have different inks to be ejected. For example, the inkjet head  162  of the unit U 1  has a head that ejects each CMYK ink, and the inkjet head  162  of the unit U 2  has a head that ejects an arbitrary ink other than CMYK, such as for example, RGB ink. With an air supply part and an intake part provided for each unit, mixing of ink mist generated in one unit with ink ejected by another unit, mixing of solvent vapor generated in one unit with ink ejected by another unit or mixing with solvent vapor of another unit, and the like can be prevented. Three or more units may be provided. For example, in order to represent intermediate colors well, a unit including an inkjet head  162  that ejects light-colored ink may be added. One unit may include an inkjet head  162  that ejects other inks such as clear ink. 
     Fourth Modified Example 
     In the description made above, the heads of the inkjet head  162  are arranged in a line along the main scanning direction, but the arrangement of the heads is also arbitrary. For example, as shown in  FIG. 10 , a plurality of heads may be arranged in the sub scanning direction. The printing unit  460  of  FIG. 10  includes an inkjet head  462 . The inkjet head  462  includes, from the nearside direction, a head  462 W that ejects white ink in the first column, heads  462 C,  462 M,  462 Y, and  462 K that eject each ink of CMYK in the second column, heads  462 R,  462 G, and  462 B that eject each ink of RGB in the third column, and a head  462 T that ejects pearl ink, metallic ink, clear ink, and the like in the fourth column. In addition, the heads that eject each ink of primary color (e.g., CMY) may be arranged in the first column, the heads that eject each color of secondary color (e.g., RGB) may be arranged in the second column, a head that ejects ink of tertiary color (e.g., K) may be arranged in the third column, and a head that ejects other ink may be arranged in the fourth row (this arrangement can prevent smearing of ink, etc.). The types of ink that can be ejected can be increased while suppressing the length of the inkjet head  162  in the main scanning direction by also arranging a plurality of heads in the sub scanning direction. 
     The fixing device  163  in  FIG. 10  includes a plurality of fixing devices  163 A to  163 D arranged in the sub scanning direction. The fixing device  163 A is disposed at a position corresponding to the head in the first column, and fixes the ink ejected from the head in the first column to the medium M (e.g., drying or curing by irradiating ultraviolet lights etc.). The fixing device  163 B is disposed at a position corresponding to the head in the second column, and fixes the ink ejected from the head in the second column to the medium M (e.g., drying or curing by irradiating ultraviolet lights etc.). The fixing device  163 C is disposed at a position corresponding to the head in the third column, and fixes the ink ejected from the head in the third column to the medium M (e.g., drying or curing by irradiating ultraviolet lights etc.). The fixing device  163 D is disposed at a position corresponding to the head in the fourth column, and fixes the ink ejected from the head in the fourth column to the medium M (e.g., drying or curing by irradiating ultraviolet lights etc.). Thus, by corresponding each of the plurality of fixing devices  163 A to  163 D disposed along the sub scanning direction to the heads of each column, the mode of each of the fixing devices  163 A to  163 D (type of energy ray, whether it is a heater, etc.) can be made different, and ink corresponding to each mode can be arranged in each column. This increases the types of ink that can be employed. 
     The printing unit  560  shown in  FIG. 11  may include air supply parts  561  to  563  on the left side (front side in the advancing direction) of each of the set of heads arranged in the sub scanning direction, similar to the example of  FIG. 8 . The air supply part  561  is disposed on the left side of the heads  568 A and  568 B. The air supply part  562  is disposed on the left side of the heads  568 C to  568 F. The air supply part  563  is disposed on the left side of the heads  568 G to  568 J. The air supply parts  561  to  563  have the same configuration as the air supply part  164  and the like. The width of each of the air supply part  561  to  563  is longer than the total widths of the plurality of heads on the right side (here, the length from the head on the near most side to the head on the far most side), but if the width of the head on the right side is short, it is accordingly made shorter (e.g., the air supply part  561  has a narrower width than the air supply part  562  etc.). Such a configuration can prevent unnecessary airflow from being generated. The widths of the intermediate air supply part  165 , the right air supply part  166 , the intake part  167 , and the like are wider than the total of the longest widths in each column. Thus, ink mist and solvent vapor can be effectively guided to the intake part  167 , and can be taken in by the intake part  167 . The ink mist can be effectively prevented from adhering to each head by the air supply from the air supply parts  561  to  563 . 
     Fifth Modified Example 
     The present disclosure is also applicable to a line printer. In this case, as in the printing unit  660  of  FIG. 12 , a fixing device  163 , a left air supply part  164  to a right air supply part  166 , and an intake part  167  are preferably provided for each head that ejects each ink of CMYK. The printing unit  660  of  FIG. 12  includes a unit UC including a head  162 C that ejects cyan ink, a fixing device  163 , a left air supply part  164  to a right air supply part  166 , and an intake part  167 ; a unit UM including a head  162 M that ejects magenta ink, a fixing device  163 , a left air supply part  164  to a right air supply part  166 , and an intake part  167 ; a unit UY (not shown) including a head  162 Y that ejects yellow ink, a fixing device  163 , a left air supply part  164  to a right air supply part  166 , and an intake part  167 ; and a unit UK (not shown) including a head  162 K that ejects black ink, a fixing device  163 , a left air supply part  164  to a right air supply part  166 , and an intake part  167 . In the line printer, the printing unit  660  does not move in the main scanning direction, and the medium M moves in the sub scanning direction. That is, the printing unit  660  relatively moves in the sub scanning direction with respect to the medium M (left side in the plane of drawing in  FIG. 12  is the front side in the moving direction). Even in such a printing unit  660 , solvent vapor and ink mist can be taken in by the intake parts  167  of the units UC, UM, UY, and UK. In particular, since the ink layer formed by the ink ejected from each unit moves toward the back side in the relative moving direction of the printing unit  660 , solvent vapor can be supplied by the intake part  167  in each unit. Furthermore, it is possible to suppress, to some extent, the solvent vapor and ink mist from move upward by the air supply from the left air supply part  164  to the right air supply part  166  of each unit. To effectively guide the solvent vapor and the ink mist to the intake part  167  by the air supply from the left air supply part  164  to the right air supply part  166 , the orientation of each air supply port  164 C to  166 C of the left air supply part  164  to the right air supply part  166  may be set toward the diagonally lower side heading toward the back side in the relative moving direction. That is, the air supply ports  164 C to  166 C may discharge gas backward and diagonally downward. The unit UC, unit UM, unit UY, and unit UK may be configured as separate housings. Furthermore, a unit for ejecting other ink may be provided. 
     The present disclosure is also applicable to sign graphics printers, textile printers, industrial printers, 3D printers, various solution (expressed as ink) applying machines, and the like. 
     Sixth Modified Example 
     The inkjet printer  10  merely needs to include, for example, an intake part  167  disposed on the back side of various heads such as the inkjet head  162  (back side in the relative moving direction with respect to the medium), and an arbitrary air supply part such as the left air supply part  164  may be omitted. Thus, the ink mist and the solvent vapor can be taken in, and can be prevented from adhering to an unintended location. The ink may be that in which components other than the solvent are evaporated by the fixing device  163  or the like (intake part  167  merely needs to take in various components evaporated from the ink). Ideally, it is preferable to employ an inkjet head  162  or the like that does not generate ink mist. In this case, the intake part  167  only needs to be able to take in various components evaporated from the ink.