Patent Description:
A related-art inkjet type printing device includes a head, a carriage, a housing and a filter. For example, see Patent Literature <NUM>. The head is mounted on the carriage and accommodated in the housing. The filter is fixed to a lower portion of the carriage, and captures mist floating inside the housing due to reciprocating movement of the carriage.

<CIT> discloses a printing device comprising an inkjet head, a filter accommodating portion and a filter unit configured to collect mist, the filter unit is configured to be accommodated in the filter accommodating portion.

In a related-art printing device, when mist accumulates in a filter, mist removal capability decreases. Therefore, the filter needs to be replaced in a given term. At the time of filter replacement, the filter needs to be replaced by being gripped with a hand. Therefore, the filter contaminated by the mist may be directly touched by the hand, and the hand may be contaminated.

An object of the present invention is to provide a printing device capable of replacing a filter without directly touching the filter with a hand, and a filter.

A printing device according to a first aspect of the present invention is defined in claim <NUM>. A printing device according to a second aspect of the present invention is defined in claim <NUM>. The filter unit can be replaced by the grip portion without directly touching the filter with a hand. Accordingly, the mist adhering to the hand at the time of filter unit replacement can be reduced.

The grip portion may include at least one of a first handle provided at the other end of the filter unit and protruding in the given direction or upward, and a second handle provided at the one end of the filter unit and protruding in a direction opposite to the given direction or upward. In this case, since the grip portion includes at least one of the first handle protruding in the given direction or upward or the second handle provided at the one end of the filter unit and protruding in the direction opposite to the given direction or upward, the handle is less likely to be contaminated, and the mist adhering to the hand at the time of filter unit replacement can be reduced.

The filter unit may include a filter case configured to support an end portion of the filter unit on which the grip portion is provided, and the grip portion may be provided in the filter case. In this case, since the grip portion is provided on the filter case, a possibility of touching the filter is reduced, and the mist adhering to the hand at the time of filter unit replacement can be reduced.

The filter case may have rigidity higher than that of the filter. In this case, since the filter case has rigidity higher than that of the filter, the filter case is less likely to be deformed than the filter. Therefore, an original shape of the filter is easily maintained, a possibility that the filter accidentally comes into contact with an operator is reduced, and the mist adhering to the hand at the time of filter unit replacement can be reduced.

The filter case may include a lower case including a first opening edge portion and accommodated in a lower section of the filter accommodating portion, and an upper case including a second opening edge portion and accommodated in an upper section of the filter accommodating portion. The grip portion may be provided on the upper case. In this case, since the grip portion is provided on the upper case accommodated in an upper section of the filter accommodating portion, the grip portion is located on an upper side and is easily gripped. When the grip portion is provided in the lower case, the mist moving from the upper side to a lower side inside the filter easily adheres to the grip portion. Therefore, when the grip portion is provided on the upper case, the mist moves from the upper side to the lower side inside the filter unit, and thus, when the grip portion is located in the upper case, the grip portion is less likely to be contaminated than when the grip portion is located in the lower case, and the mist adhering to the hand at the time of filter unit replacement can be reduced.

The lower case may include an extension portion extending so as to be connected to the first opening edge portion at both ends of the lower case. In this case, since both ends of the extension portion are connected to the first opening edge portion, rigidity of the lower case can be increased.

The extension portion may extend in the given direction. In this case, since the extension portion extending in the given direction is provided, a possibility that the extension portion connected to the first opening edge portion is caught by the filter accommodating portion when the lower case moves in the given direction at the time of filter unit replacement is reduced.

The upper case may include an extension portion extending to be connected to the second opening edge portion at both ends of the upper case. In this case, since both ends of the extension portion are connected to the second opening edge portion, rigidity of the upper case can be increased.

At least one of the extension portion of the lower case or the extension portion of the upper case may extend in a direction intersecting the given direction. In this case, the rigidity of at least one of the lower case or the upper case can be increased by the extension portion extending in the direction intersecting the given direction.

The printing device may further include a sensor provided in the filter accommodating portion and configured to detect whether the filter unit is accommodated in the filter accommodating portion. In this case, the sensor can detect whether the filter unit is accommodated in the filter accommodating portion.

The printing device may further include a platen on which a printing medium is placed; and a platen movement control unit configured to move the platen when the sensor detects that the filter unit is accommodated in the filter accommodating portion. In this case, since the platen movement control unit moves the platen when the sensor detects that the filter unit is accommodated in the filter accommodating portion, the platen can be prevented from moving without the filter unit.

The sensor may include a detection lever provided at a position where the detection lever comes into contact with the filter unit accommodated in the filter accommodating portion. In this case, in a non-contact type sensor such as an optical sensor, there is a possibility of erroneous detection due to mist. On the other hand, in the present disclosure, the sensor detects whether the detection lever comes into contact with the filter unit and the filter unit is accommodated in the filter accommodating portion. Therefore, the possibility of erroneous detection can be reduced.

The detection lever may support the filter unit and come into contact with the filter case having rigidity higher than that of the filter. In this case, since the detection lever comes into contact with the filter case having rigidity higher than that of the filter, erroneous detection can be reduced.

The filter accommodating portion may be opened and closed between an open position and a closed position, and the detection lever may move along an opening and closing direction of the filter accommodating portion. In this case, since the detection lever moves in accordance with movement of the filter accommodating portion between the open position and the closed position, it is easy to detect presence or absence of the filter unit at the closed position more accurately.

The sensor may also detect the open position or the closed position of the filter accommodating portion. In this case, it is possible to more accurately detect that the filter unit is accommodated in the filter accommodating portion when the filter accommodating portion is at the closed position.

The platen movement control unit configured to move the platen may move the platen when the sensor detects that the filter accommodating portion is at the closed position and the filter unit is accommodated in the filter accommodating portion. In this case, it is possible to reduce a possibility that the platen moves when the filter accommodating portion is at the open position and the filter accommodating portion becomes an obstacle to movement of the platen. In addition, it is possible to reduce a possibility that the platen moves in a state where the filter unit is not accommodated in the filter accommodating portion.

The filter unit may be attachable to and detachable from the filter accommodating portion from a front surface side of the printing device. In this case, the filter unit can be easily attached to and detached from the filter accommodating portion.

A printing device <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. An upper side, a lower side, a lower left side, an upper right side, a lower right side and an upper left side in <FIG> respectively correspond to an upper side, a lower side, a front side, a rear side, a right side and a left side of the printing device <NUM>. An upper-lower direction in <FIG> is a vertical direction. In the following description, a left-right direction may be referred to as a main scanning direction, and a front-rear direction may be referred to as a sub-scanning direction. In the present embodiment, mechanical elements in the drawings indicate actual scales.

The printing device <NUM> shown in <FIG> is an inkjet printer, and prints by ejecting ink onto a printing medium such as cloth or paper. The printing device <NUM> can print a color image on the printing medium using white ink and color ink (ink in four colors of black, yellow, cyan and magenta).

An external configuration of the printing device <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>, <FIG>. As shown in <FIG>, the printing device <NUM> includes a housing <NUM>, a conveyance mechanism <NUM>, an operation button <NUM>, a display screen <NUM> and a storage unit <NUM>. The housing <NUM> has a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and includes a main body <NUM> and a lid <NUM>. In the main body <NUM>, a platen opening <NUM> having a rectangular shape in a front view is formed at a center of the housing <NUM> on a sub-scanning direction side, that is, a front surface of the housing <NUM> in the left-right direction. In the present embodiment, the sub-scanning direction is the front-rear direction. An internal position P described later is located behind the platen opening <NUM>. The lid <NUM> is provided on an upper side of the main body <NUM> and can be opened and closed between a position where an upper surface of the main body <NUM> is covered and a position where the upper surface of the main body <NUM> is opened by rotating about a rear end of the lid <NUM>. Hereinafter, a space surrounded by the upper surface, a right surface, a bottom surface and a left surface of the housing <NUM> is referred to as inside of the housing <NUM>.

The operation button <NUM> and the display screen <NUM> are provided on a right side of the platen opening <NUM> on the front surface of the housing <NUM>. The operation button <NUM> inputs various types of information to the printing device <NUM> according to an operation by an operator. The display screen <NUM> displays the various types of information. Therefore, the operator operates the printing device <NUM> on a front side of the printing device <NUM>.

The conveyance mechanism <NUM> conveys a platen <NUM>, on which the printing medium is arranged, between the internal position P of the housing <NUM> and outside of the housing <NUM> through the platen opening <NUM>. The platen <NUM> is arranged at the internal position P of the housing <NUM> shown in <FIG>, and a liquid is ejected from a head <NUM> described later to perform printing.

As shown in <FIG>, the conveyance mechanism <NUM> includes a platen support portion <NUM> (see <FIG>), a pair of left and right rails <NUM>, a transmission member <NUM> and a sub-scanning motor <NUM> (see <FIG>). The platen support portion <NUM> supports the platen <NUM> from below. The platen <NUM> has a plate shape. The pair of left and right rails <NUM> extend in the front-rear direction and support the platen support portion <NUM> so as to be movable in the front-rear direction. Front ends of the pair of rails <NUM> are located forward than the front surface of the housing <NUM>.

The transmission member <NUM> is connected to the platen support portion <NUM> and the sub-scanning motor <NUM>, and moves the platen support portion <NUM> in the front-rear direction along a conveyance path defined by the pair of left and right rails <NUM> in response to driving of the sub-scanning motor <NUM>.

In a state where the platen <NUM> is arranged in front of the front surface of the housing <NUM>, that is, outside the housing <NUM>, the operator arranges the printing medium on an upper surface of the platen <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the storage unit <NUM> is provided on a right side of the housing <NUM>. A plurality of cartridges <NUM> are stored in the storage unit <NUM> from a front side. The cartridges <NUM> contain various liquids such as ink used for printing.

An internal structure of the printing device <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>. As shown in <FIG>, the printing device <NUM> includes, inside the housing <NUM> shown in <FIG>, a frame body <NUM>, inner walls <NUM>, <NUM> (see <FIG>), partition plates <NUM>, <NUM> (see <FIG>), a carriage <NUM>, heads <NUM> to <NUM>, a substrate box <NUM>, a movement mechanism <NUM>, a first maintenance mechanism <NUM>, a second maintenance mechanism <NUM>, mist collection mechanisms <NUM>, <NUM> (see <FIG>), a humidifier <NUM> (see <FIG>), and sensors <NUM> to <NUM> (see <FIG>).

As shown in <FIG>, the frame body <NUM> includes a plurality of shafts including shafts <NUM>, <NUM> and extending in the front-rear direction, a plurality of shafts extending in the left-right direction, and a plurality of shafts including shafts <NUM>, <NUM> and extending in the upper-lower direction. A guide shaft <NUM> is fixed to an upper end of the frame body <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the guide shaft <NUM> includes a front shaft <NUM>, a rear shaft <NUM>, a left shaft <NUM> and a right shaft <NUM>.

The front shaft <NUM> is arranged at a front end portion of the frame body <NUM>, and extends in the left-right direction from a left end portion to a right end portion of the frame body <NUM>. The rear shaft <NUM> is arranged substantially at a center of the frame body <NUM> in the front-rear direction, and extends in the left-right direction from the left end portion to the right end portion of the frame body <NUM>. The left shaft <NUM> is arranged at the left end portion of the frame body <NUM>, and extends in the front-rear direction from a left end of the front shaft <NUM> to a left end of the rear shaft <NUM>. The right shaft <NUM> is arranged at the right end portion of the frame body <NUM>, and extends in the front-rear direction from a right end of the front shaft <NUM> to a right end of the rear shaft <NUM>. The front shaft <NUM> and the rear shaft <NUM> support the carriage <NUM>. The conveyance mechanism <NUM> is fixed to the frame body <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the inner walls <NUM>, <NUM> are arranged to face each other in the main scanning direction intersecting the sub-scanning direction at the internal position P of the housing <NUM>. The inner walls <NUM>, <NUM> extend in the front-rear direction below the guide shaft <NUM> and are fixed to the frame body <NUM>. The inner wall <NUM> is provided on a left side of the platen <NUM> arranged at the internal position P, and is fixed to the shaft <NUM>. The inner wall <NUM> is provided on a right side of the platen <NUM> arranged at the internal position P, and is fixed to the shaft <NUM>. The inner walls <NUM>, <NUM> are located between the front shaft <NUM> and the rear shaft <NUM> in the front-rear direction.

The partition plate <NUM> is fixed to the frame body <NUM> below the guide shaft <NUM> and on a left side of the inner wall <NUM>, and extends in the front-rear and left-right directions. A right end portion of the partition plate <NUM> is connected to a lower end portion of the inner wall <NUM>. The partition plate <NUM> is fixed to the frame body <NUM> below the guide shaft <NUM> and on a right side of the inner wall <NUM>, and extends in the front-rear and left-right directions. A left end portion of the partition plate <NUM> is connected to a lower end portion of the inner wall <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, a supply port <NUM>, which has a circular shape in a plan view and penetrates the partition plate <NUM> in the upper-lower direction, is formed in a right front portion of the partition plate <NUM>. A supply port <NUM>, which has a circular shape in a plan view and penetrates the partition plate <NUM> in the upper-lower direction, is formed in a left front portion of the partition plate <NUM>. A positional relationship between the supply port <NUM> and the supply port <NUM> is not particularly limited, but in the present embodiment, the supply port <NUM> is formed in front of the supply port <NUM> in the front-rear direction.

As shown in <FIG>, the carriage <NUM> is supported by the front shaft <NUM> and the rear shaft <NUM> so as to be movable in the main scanning direction. The carriage <NUM> is provided with mounting portions <NUM> to <NUM>. The heads <NUM> to <NUM> are mounted on the mounting portions <NUM> to <NUM>, respectively. The mounting portions <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are arranged at a right portion of the carriage <NUM>, and are arranged in a row from a rear side to a front side in an order of the mounting portions <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. The mounting portions <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are arranged on a left side of the row of the mounting portions <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and are arranged in a row from a rear side to a front side in an order of the mounting portions <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>.

Each of the heads <NUM> to <NUM> is arranged inside the housing <NUM> and ejects a liquid. Each of white ink and color ink may be ejected from any one of the heads <NUM> to <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the white ink is supplied to each of the heads <NUM>, <NUM> from the white ink cartridge <NUM>. A discharge printing agent is supplied to each of the heads <NUM>, <NUM> from the discharge printing agent cartridge <NUM>. The discharge printing agent is a liquid for discharging a color of the printing medium. The color ink is supplied to each of the heads <NUM>, <NUM> from the color ink cartridge <NUM>. Each of the heads <NUM> to <NUM> ejects the liquid downward when the heads <NUM> to <NUM> are at a printing position B2 described later. Hereinafter, when the heads <NUM> to <NUM> are collectively referred to, or when any of the heads <NUM> to <NUM> is not specified, the heads <NUM> to <NUM> are referred to as the head <NUM>.

The movement mechanism <NUM> moves the carriage <NUM>, on which the head <NUM> is mounted, in the main scanning direction. The movement mechanism <NUM> includes a drive belt <NUM> and a main scanning motor <NUM>. The drive belt <NUM> is connected to a rear end portion of the carriage <NUM>. The drive belt <NUM> is provided on the rear shaft <NUM> and extends in the left-right direction. A left end portion of the drive belt <NUM> is connected to the main scanning motor <NUM>. When the main scanning motor <NUM> is driven, the drive belt <NUM> moves the carriage <NUM> in the left-right direction along the front shaft <NUM> and the rear shaft <NUM>.

In <FIG>, a movement range R of the head <NUM> is indicated by using a center of the carriage <NUM> in the left-right direction. As shown in <FIG>, the head <NUM> is mainly arranged at one of three positions including a maintenance position B <NUM>, the printing position B2 and a head standby position B3, by the movement mechanism <NUM>. The maintenance position B1 is located at a left end portion of the movement range R of the head <NUM>, and is a position where the head <NUM> is maintained by the first maintenance mechanism <NUM> or the second maintenance mechanism <NUM> described later. The printing device <NUM> moves the head <NUM> to the maintenance position B1 when printing is not performed, and performs maintenance by the first maintenance mechanism <NUM> or the second maintenance mechanism <NUM>. The second maintenance mechanism <NUM> located on a right side of the first maintenance mechanism <NUM>. The printing position B2 is a position between the maintenance position B1 and the head standby position B3 in the main scanning direction and above the platen <NUM> arranged at the internal position P. When the head <NUM> is arranged at the printing position B2, the head <NUM> ejects the liquid according to print data, and printing is performed on the printing medium placed on the platen <NUM>. The head standby position B3 is located at a right end portion of the movement range R of the head <NUM>, and is a position where the head <NUM> is arranged when the operator performs an operation such as cleaning on the head <NUM>. For example, the printing device <NUM> moves the head <NUM> to the head standby position B3 and causes the head <NUM> to stand by according to an instruction based on the operation button <NUM> when printing is not performed.

The first maintenance mechanism <NUM> is provided at a position facing the head <NUM> arranged at the maintenance position B1 to maintain the head <NUM>. The first maintenance mechanism <NUM> is provided on the partition plate <NUM> on the left side of the inner wall <NUM> in the housing <NUM> and below the guide shaft <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the first maintenance mechanism <NUM> includes six caps <NUM> to <NUM> and a cap support portion <NUM>. A sponge containing a moisturizing liquid is arranged inside each of the caps <NUM> to <NUM>. A positional relationship of the caps <NUM> to <NUM> is the same as a positional relationship of the mounting portions <NUM> to <NUM>. Each of the caps <NUM> to <NUM> has a rectangular shape in a plan view, and is supported from below by the cap support portion <NUM>. The cap support portion <NUM> can move the caps <NUM> to <NUM> in the upper-lower direction. When printing is not performed, the printing device <NUM> moves the cap support portion <NUM> upward in a state where the head <NUM> is located at the maintenance position B1. Thereby, the caps <NUM> to <NUM> cover and cap nozzle surfaces of the heads <NUM> to <NUM> from below. As a result, drying of the ink or the discharge printing agent in a nozzle provided on the nozzle surface of the head <NUM> can be prevented.

The second maintenance mechanism <NUM> is provided at a position facing the head <NUM> arranged at the maintenance position B1 to maintain the head <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the second maintenance mechanism <NUM> is provided on the partition plate <NUM> on the left side of the inner wall <NUM> in the housing <NUM> and below the guide shaft <NUM>. The second maintenance mechanism <NUM> is located between the first maintenance mechanism <NUM> and the inner wall <NUM> in the main scanning direction. The second maintenance mechanism <NUM> is a mechanism that cleans the head <NUM> by performing wiping and flushing operations on the nozzle surface of the head <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the second maintenance mechanism <NUM> includes cleaning mechanisms <NUM> to <NUM>. The cleaning mechanisms <NUM> to <NUM> are located on a right side of the caps <NUM> to <NUM>, respectively. The cleaning mechanisms <NUM> to <NUM> have the same structure. The cleaning mechanism <NUM> includes wipers <NUM>, <NUM> and a punching metal <NUM>. The cleaning mechanism <NUM> includes wipers <NUM>, <NUM> and a punching metal <NUM>. <FIG> is an enlarged view of the cleaning mechanism <NUM> of <FIG>. As shown in <FIG>, the cleaning mechanism <NUM> includes a wiper <NUM> and a wiper <NUM>. Each of the cleaning mechanisms <NUM> to <NUM> further includes a cleaning liquid tank <NUM> and a flushing box <NUM>. In <FIG>, the punching metal <NUM> is not shown.

The wipers <NUM> to <NUM> wipe the nozzle surfaces of the heads <NUM> to <NUM>, respectively. Each of the wipers <NUM> to <NUM> includes a foam wiper <NUM> and a rubber wiper <NUM>. The foam wiper <NUM> is configured to be vertically reversed by a vertical reversing mechanism (not shown) or the like, and to be capable of entering the cleaning liquid tank <NUM>. Therefore, the foam wiper <NUM> is moistened by a cleaning liquid. The flushing box <NUM> is provided below each of the punching metals <NUM> to <NUM>, and receives the liquid that is ejected from the head <NUM> by a flushing operation and passes through each of the punching metals <NUM> to <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the mist collection mechanisms <NUM>, <NUM> collect mist generated when the liquid is ejected from the head <NUM>. In the main scanning direction, the mist collection mechanism <NUM> is provided on a left side of the conveyance mechanism <NUM> inside the housing <NUM> (see <FIG>), and the mist collection mechanism <NUM> is provided on a right side of the conveyance mechanism <NUM> inside the housing <NUM>. Since the mist collection mechanisms <NUM>, <NUM> have configurations symmetrical to each other, the configuration of the mist collection mechanism <NUM> will be described below, and description of the mist collection mechanism <NUM> will be omitted.

As shown in <FIG>, the mist collection mechanism <NUM> includes the inner wall <NUM>, three fans <NUM> (see <FIG>) and a filter unit <NUM>. The inner wall <NUM> has a hollow box shape. A right surface <NUM> of the inner wall <NUM> has a plate shape extending in the upper-lower and front-rear directions. A slit-shaped suction port <NUM> elongated in the front-rear direction is formed in an upper surface of the inner wall <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the inner wall <NUM> includes a fixing plate <NUM> and an accommodating portion <NUM>. The fixing plate <NUM> is a plate-shaped portion extending in the left-right direction at an upper end of the inner wall <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the fixing plate <NUM> is fixed to the shaft <NUM> extending in the front-rear direction. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the accommodating portion <NUM> has a box shape, and detachably accommodates the filter unit <NUM> having a rectangular parallelepiped shape elongated in the front-rear direction inside the inner wall <NUM>. The accommodating portion <NUM> is provided so as to be openable and closable with respect to the right surface <NUM> of the inner wall <NUM> in a direction indicated by an arrow Q (see <FIG>) by a hinge <NUM> connected to a rear end portion of the right surface of the inner wall <NUM> and a rear end portion of a right surface of a main body <NUM> of the accommodating portion <NUM>. An engaging portion <NUM> is provided at a right front portion of the accommodating portion <NUM>, and engages with an engaged portion <NUM> provided at a front end portion of the right surface <NUM> of the inner wall <NUM> so as not to be opened and closed without an operation of the operator.

A structure of the accommodating portion <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>. As shown in <FIG>, the accommodating portion <NUM> has a box shape whose upper side is open, and extends in the front-rear direction. The accommodating portion <NUM> includes side walls <NUM>, <NUM>, a rear wall <NUM> and a front wall <NUM>. The side wall <NUM> extends in the front-rear direction at a predetermined height along the fixing plate <NUM>. The height of the side wall <NUM> is, for example, slightly higher than a height of the filter unit <NUM>. The side wall <NUM> faces and is parallel to the side wall <NUM>, and extends in the front-rear direction at a predetermined height. The height of the side wall <NUM> is, for example, slightly lower than the height of the filter unit <NUM>. A pressing plate 495A is provided at an upper end portion of a front end portion of the side wall <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the pressing plate 495A extends obliquely upward to the right, and presses a left side of a front end portion of an upper surface 484A of the filter unit <NUM> downward. The rear wall <NUM> is provided on a rear end side of the accommodating portion <NUM>, and extends in the left-right direction at a predetermined height. A pressing plate 496A is provided at an upper end portion of the rear wall <NUM>. The pressing plate 496A extends obliquely upward to the front, and presses a rear end portion of the upper surface 484A of the filter unit <NUM> downward (see <FIG>).

As shown in <FIG>, the accommodating portion <NUM> includes a bottom surface <NUM>. The bottom surface <NUM> is a bottom plate extending in the front-rear direction. An opening edge portion 498A and an extension portion 498B are provided on the bottom surface <NUM>. The extension portion 498B extends in an oblique direction with respect to the side walls <NUM>, <NUM>, and both ends of the extension portion 498B are connected to the opening edge portion 498A. For example, five extension portions <NUM> are provided at equal intervals in the opening edge portion 498A. In the present embodiment, the filter unit <NUM> can be attached to and detached from the accommodating portion <NUM> from the front side of the printing device <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the accommodating portion <NUM> includes a sensor <NUM> that detects whether the filter unit <NUM> is accommodated in the accommodating portion <NUM>. The sensor <NUM> includes a detection lever <NUM> and a pressing portion <NUM>. The detection lever <NUM> is a rod-shaped member extending in the upper-lower direction. The detection lever <NUM> includes a contact portion <NUM> at an upper end portion thereof and a shaft support portion (not shown) at a lower end portion thereof, and a pressing portion <NUM> extends downward from the shaft support portion. A frame <NUM> is provided at a lower portion of the accommodating portion <NUM>, and a support plate 965A extends from the frame <NUM> in the left-right direction. The support plate 965A includes a shaft <NUM> extending in the front-rear direction, and a shaft support portion is rotatably supported by the shaft <NUM>. The pressing portion <NUM> is also a rod-shaped member. The frame <NUM> is provided with a physical switch <NUM>. The pressing portion <NUM> presses an actuator <NUM> of the physical switch <NUM>. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, when the filter unit <NUM> is accommodated in the accommodating portion <NUM>, the contact portion <NUM> physically comes into contact with a filter case <NUM> of the filter unit <NUM>. As will be described later, since the filter case <NUM> has rigidity higher than that of the filter <NUM>, the contact portion <NUM> is more reliably pressed leftward in <FIG>. Therefore, the detection lever <NUM> rotates clockwise about the shaft <NUM> from a position shown in <FIG> to a position shown in <FIG> when viewed from a rear side. Therefore, a lower end portion of the pressing portion <NUM> rotates rightward in <FIG> to press the actuator <NUM> of the physical switch <NUM>. An example of the physical switch <NUM> is a microswitch. As shown in <FIG>, the sensor <NUM> is provided on a front side of the lower portion of the accommodating portion <NUM>. The mist is sent to the fan <NUM> via an opening formed by the opening edge portion 498A provided in the bottom surface <NUM> of the accommodating portion <NUM>, and thus the mist is not sent to a position where the sensor <NUM> is provided. That is, the sensor <NUM> is provided at the position deviated from a passage of the mist.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, when the filter unit <NUM> is not accommodated in the accommodating portion <NUM>, the contact portion <NUM> does not come into contact with the filter case <NUM> of the filter unit <NUM>, and thus the contact portion <NUM> of the detection lever <NUM> is inclined rightward about the shaft <NUM>. Therefore, the lower end portion of the pressing portion <NUM> does not press the actuator <NUM> of the physical switch <NUM>. When only the filter <NUM> having rigidity lower than that of the filter case <NUM> is accommodated in the accommodating portion <NUM>, the contact portion <NUM> may slip into the filter <NUM>. Therefore, as shown in <FIG>, the detection lever <NUM> may not reliably rotate clockwise about the shaft <NUM>, and the lower end portion of the pressing portion <NUM> may not press the actuator <NUM> of the physical switch <NUM>. The same applies when the filter case <NUM> does not have rigidity higher than that of the filter <NUM>. Therefore, the contact portion <NUM> comes into contact with the filter case <NUM> of the filter unit <NUM> to detect presence or absence of the filter unit <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the accommodating portion <NUM> is opened and closed by the hinge <NUM> between an open position and a closed position in the direction indicated by the arrow Q. That is, the accommodating portion <NUM> is opened and closed in an arc in the left-right direction around the hinge <NUM>. In contrast, as described above, the detection lever <NUM> also rotates clockwise and counterclockwise, and moves in the left-right direction. Therefore, the detection lever <NUM> moves along an opening and closing direction of the accommodating portion <NUM>.

Structures of the filter unit <NUM> and the filter <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>, <FIG>. The filter unit <NUM> includes the filter <NUM> and the filter case <NUM>. The filter case <NUM> is a frame body and supports the filter <NUM> therein. The filter case <NUM> has a rectangular parallelepiped shape extending in one direction (forward direction) from one end (rear end) to the other end (front end), and includes an upper case <NUM> and a lower case <NUM>. The upper case <NUM> is accommodated in an upper section of the accommodating portion <NUM>, and the lower case <NUM> is accommodated in a lower section of the accommodating portion <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the upper case <NUM> includes the rectangular upper surface 484A extending in the front-rear direction. The upper case <NUM> includes a grip portion <NUM> at the other end (front end) of the upper surface 484A. The grip portion <NUM> is, for example, a handle 482A protruding from the other end (front end) of the upper surface 484A. A protruding direction of the handle 482A is, for example, the one direction (forward direction). The handle 482A is, for example, a semicircular plate. The upper case <NUM> includes a second opening edge portion <NUM> and an extension portion <NUM>. The second opening edge portion <NUM> is a rectangular edge portion elongated in the front-rear direction, and forms an opening 485A. The second opening edge portion <NUM> is one edge portion to which the extension portion <NUM> described later is connected. The extension portion <NUM> extends in the left-right direction, and both ends of the extension portion <NUM> are connected to the second opening edge portion <NUM>. The extension portion <NUM> is provided, for example, at a center of the second opening edge portion <NUM> in the front-rear direction, and has a predetermined width in the front-rear direction. The filter case <NUM> is more rigid than the filter <NUM>. That is, the filter case <NUM> has rigidity higher than that of the filter <NUM>. The filter case <NUM> is made of, for example, a synthetic resin such as polyester or polypropylene, and has rigidity higher than that of fibers constituting the filter <NUM>. Therefore, the filter case <NUM> is less likely to be deformed than the filter <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the lower case <NUM> includes a rectangular bottom surface 510A extending in the front-rear direction. The lower case <NUM> includes a first opening edge portion <NUM> and extension portions <NUM>, <NUM>. The first opening edge portion <NUM> is a rectangular edge portion elongated in the front-rear direction, and forms one opening 511A. The first opening edge portion <NUM> is one edge portion to which extension portions <NUM> and <NUM> to described later are connected. The extension portion <NUM> extends in the front-rear direction, and both ends of the extension portion <NUM> are connected to the first opening edge portion <NUM>. The extension portion <NUM> is provided, for example, at a center of the first opening edge portion <NUM> in the left-right direction, and has a predetermined width in the left-right direction. The extension portion <NUM> extends in the front-rear direction, and both ends of the extension portion <NUM> are connected to the first opening edge portion <NUM>. For example, three extension portions <NUM> are provided in the first opening edge portion <NUM> at equal intervals. The extension portion <NUM> has a predetermined width in the front-rear direction.

As an example of dimensions of the filter unit <NUM> described above, a length in the front-rear direction is <NUM>, a length in the left-right direction is <NUM>, and a height of a side surface is <NUM>. As an example of dimensions of the accommodating portion <NUM>, a length in the front-rear direction is <NUM> and a length in the left-right direction is <NUM>, and heights of the side walls <NUM>, <NUM>, the rear wall <NUM> and the front wall <NUM> may be such as to accommodate the filter unit <NUM>. The dimensions of the filter unit <NUM> and the filter <NUM> are not limited to the above, and may be any dimensions as long as the accommodating portion <NUM> can accommodate the filter unit <NUM>. However, it is required that the length in the front-rear direction is the longest, the height of the side surface is the shortest, and the length in the left-right direction is shorter than the length in the front-rear direction and longer than the height of the side surface. An example of dimensions of the handle 482A is a semicircular shape having a radius R of <NUM>. The filter <NUM> preferably has a large volume, and preferably has a rectangular parallelepiped shape so as to retain the mist as much as possible. For example, when several filters are laid in the accommodating portion <NUM>, a volume of the filter may not be large and the mist may not be sufficiently retained. In the filter unit <NUM>, at least an upper surface or a bottom surface of the filter <NUM> need to be exposed from the openings 485A, 511A, respectively, since it is necessary to take in air containing the mist from above and send out the air from which the mist has been collected downward, as shown in <FIG>.

The filter <NUM> adsorbs and collects the mist in the air. The filter <NUM> is, for example, a resin filter in which a plurality of minute holes are formed, and the mist is adsorbed on a surface of the filter <NUM>. The filter <NUM> is formed by, for example, overlapping two layers of filters made of the same material. The filter <NUM> has a rectangular parallelepiped shape extending in the one direction (front-rear direction) from the one end (rear end) to the other end (front end). In general, since a filter having only small holes has high mist collection performance, the holes are more likely to be clogged with the mist and the collection performance decreases in a relatively short time, compared to a filter having large holes. In contrast, in the filter <NUM>, it is desirable that an average size of minute holes of the filter <NUM> becomes smaller toward a downstream side of a flow of the air taken into the inner wall <NUM> from the suction port <NUM> by driving of the fan <NUM>. Thereby, a time for which collection performance of the filter <NUM> decreases is prolonged while increasing a collection rate of the mist by the filter <NUM>.

The three fans <NUM> shown in <FIG> are arranged inside the housing <NUM> (see <FIG>). The three fans <NUM> are arranged at a liquid ejection direction side (that is, downward) from the head <NUM>. For example, the fan <NUM> may be arranged below the front shaft <NUM> and the rear shaft <NUM>. The three fans <NUM> are provided at a lower portion of a left surface <NUM> of the inner wall <NUM>. The three fans <NUM> are arranged at substantially equal intervals in the front-rear direction, and have the following configuration. As shown in <FIG>, a suction port <NUM> of the fan <NUM> is located on a right side of the fan <NUM>, and an exhaust port <NUM> of the fan <NUM> is located on a left side of the fan <NUM>. That is, the suction port <NUM> is located on a side of the platen <NUM> arranged at the internal position P with respect to the fan <NUM>, and the exhaust port <NUM> is located on a left surface side of the housing <NUM> and on a side of the first maintenance mechanism <NUM> and the second maintenance mechanism <NUM> with respect to the fan <NUM>. Therefore, the exhaust port <NUM> of the fan <NUM> is located inside the housing <NUM>. The fan <NUM> is arranged between the inner wall <NUM> and the supply port <NUM> in the main scanning direction. The suction port <NUM> of the fan <NUM> is connected to the lower portion of the left surface <NUM> of the inner wall <NUM>.

The filter <NUM> is arranged on a side of the fan <NUM> with respect to the supply port <NUM>. For example, the filter <NUM> may be located in a path in the housing <NUM> from the exhaust port <NUM> of the fan <NUM> toward the supply port <NUM>, and more preferably, the filter <NUM> is arranged in a path in the housing <NUM> from the head <NUM> toward the suction port <NUM> of the fan <NUM>.

The suction port <NUM> is closer to a mist generation source, that is, the head <NUM> at the printing position B2 than the suction port <NUM> of the fan <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, in the mist collection mechanism <NUM>, when each fan <NUM> is driven, the air sucked into the inner wall <NUM> from the suction port <NUM> of the inner wall <NUM> passes through the filter unit <NUM>, so that the filter <NUM> adsorbs and collects the mist in the air. The air that has passed through the filter <NUM> and from which the mist has been collected is discharged from a space inside the inner wall <NUM> from the suction port <NUM> of the fan <NUM> via the exhaust port <NUM>. That is, when the fan <NUM> is driven, the air flows in a space surrounded by the right surface <NUM> and the left surface <NUM> of the inner wall <NUM> as indicated by an arrow K2.

When the number of printed sheets in the printing device <NUM> reaches a predetermined number, a display prompting replacement of the filter <NUM> is displayed on the display screen <NUM>. In the mist collection mechanism <NUM>, when the filter <NUM> is replaced, the operator operates the engaging portion <NUM> in a state where the platen <NUM> is moved to the back of the housing <NUM>. Thereby, engagement with the engaged portion <NUM> (see <FIG>) is released, and the accommodating portion <NUM> rotates about the hinge <NUM>. The operator grips the grip portion <NUM> of the filter case <NUM> from a front surface side of the printing device <NUM>, removes the used filter <NUM> together with the filter case <NUM>, fits the filter case <NUM> having the built-in unused filter <NUM> into the accommodating portion <NUM>, and then operates the engaging portion <NUM>. Thereby, the accommodating portion <NUM> rotates about the hinge <NUM>, and as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the engaging portion <NUM> engages with the engaged portion <NUM>, and the main body <NUM> is accommodated in the inner wall <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the mist collection mechanism <NUM> includes the inner wall <NUM>, three fans <NUM> (only one of which is shown in <FIG>) and the filter unit <NUM>, corresponding to the inner wall <NUM>, the three fans <NUM> and the filter unit <NUM> of the mist collection mechanism <NUM>, respectively. A slit-shaped suction port <NUM> elongated in the front-rear direction (see <FIG>) and corresponding to the suction port <NUM> is formed in an upper surface of the mist collection mechanism <NUM>. When each fan <NUM> is driven, the air flows through a space inside the inner wall <NUM> as indicated by an arrow K12 (see <FIG>). Specifically, when each fan <NUM> is driven, the air sucked from the suction port <NUM> passes through the filter <NUM> of the filter unit <NUM>, and then is sent from a side of a suction port <NUM> of the fan <NUM> to a side of an exhaust port <NUM> of the fan <NUM>.

The humidifier <NUM> shown in <FIG> supplies humidified air to the supply port <NUM> arranged on a side of the exhaust port <NUM> of the fan <NUM> (a left side of the fan <NUM>). The humidifier <NUM> supplies the humidified air to the supply port <NUM> arranged on the side of the exhaust port <NUM> of the fan <NUM> (a right side of the fan <NUM>). A position where the humidifier <NUM> is arranged is not particularly limited, but the humidifier <NUM> is provided inside the housing <NUM> and below the partition plate <NUM>. The humidifier <NUM> includes a storage unit <NUM> (see <FIG>), a humidification drive unit <NUM> (see <FIG>), a suction port <NUM>, tubes <NUM>, <NUM>, and fans <NUM>, <NUM> (see <FIG>). The storage unit <NUM> stores a liquid (for example, water) used for humidification. A water supply pipe may be connected to the storage unit <NUM>, and, for example, water may be supplied to the storage unit <NUM> from a water tap or an external device such as a water supply tank (not shown).

The suction port <NUM> is attached to a right side surface of the housing <NUM>, and takes the air into the humidifier <NUM> from the outside of the housing <NUM>. The humidification drive unit <NUM> humidifies the air taken into the humidifier <NUM> from the outside of the housing <NUM> via the suction port <NUM> using the liquid stored in the storage unit <NUM>. The humidification drive unit <NUM> may humidify the air by any method such as a steam method, a vaporization method, an ultrasonic method and an electrolysis method. The humidifier <NUM> may include a filter that removes dust and the like in the air in a flow path of the air before humidification, such as between the suction port <NUM> and the storage unit <NUM> (see <FIG>). One end of the tube <NUM> is connected to the humidifier <NUM>, and the other end thereof is connected to the supply port <NUM>. The supply port <NUM> is located below the head <NUM> arranged on a left end side of the movement range R. One end of the tube <NUM> is connected to the humidifier <NUM>, and the other end thereof is connected to the supply port <NUM>. The supply port <NUM> is located below the head <NUM> arranged on a right end side of the movement range R.

The fan <NUM> shown in <FIG> supplies the air humidified by the humidification drive unit <NUM> to the supply port <NUM> via the tube <NUM> shown in <FIG>. The humidified air supplied to the supply port <NUM> is sent toward the head <NUM> through a space (left side space) on the left side of the inner wall <NUM> inside the housing <NUM> and above the partition plate <NUM>. The fan <NUM> shown in <FIG> supplies the air humidified by the humidification drive unit <NUM> to the supply port <NUM> via the tube <NUM> shown in <FIG>. The humidified air supplied from the supply port <NUM> is sent toward the head <NUM> inside the housing <NUM> through a space (right side space) on the right side of the inner wall <NUM> inside the housing <NUM> and above the partition plate <NUM>. In the printing device <NUM>, since an internal space thereof is partitioned into upper and lower spaces by the partition plates <NUM>, <NUM>, the humidified air supplied to the supply ports <NUM>, <NUM> by the humidifier <NUM> is easily directed to the head <NUM>.

An electrical configuration of the printing device <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>. As shown in <FIG>, a control unit <NUM> of the printing device <NUM> includes a CPU <NUM>, a ROM <NUM> and a RAM <NUM>. The CPU <NUM> is electrically connected to the ROM <NUM> and the RAM <NUM>, and controls the printing device <NUM>. The ROM <NUM> stores a control program for the CPU <NUM> to control an operation of the printing device <NUM>, information required by the CPU <NUM> when various programs are executed, and the like. The RAM <NUM> temporarily stores various types of data used in the control program, print data for printing on the printing medium, and the like. Some of these electrical elements are provided in the substrate box <NUM> provided on a right side of the head <NUM>.

The main scanning motor <NUM>, the sub-scanning motor <NUM>, a head drive unit <NUM>, a first maintenance drive unit <NUM>, a second maintenance drive unit <NUM>, the humidifier <NUM>, the sensors <NUM> to <NUM>, <NUM>, the fans <NUM>, <NUM> and the operation button <NUM> are electrically connected to the CPU <NUM>. The main scanning motor <NUM> is driven to move the carriage <NUM> in the main scanning direction. The sub-scanning motor <NUM> is driven to move the platen <NUM> in the sub-scanning direction. Thereby, the head <NUM> (see <FIG>) moves relative to the platen <NUM> in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction. The head drive unit <NUM> is configured by a pressure element or the like, and is driven to eject the white ink from the heads <NUM>, <NUM>, eject the discharge printing agent from the heads <NUM>, <NUM>, or eject the color ink from the heads <NUM>, <NUM>.

The first maintenance drive unit <NUM> can move the cap support portion <NUM> (see <FIG>) in the upper-lower direction. The second maintenance drive unit <NUM> can change positions of the wipers <NUM> to <NUM> (see <FIG>) between a contact position and a non-contact position. Each of the sensors <NUM> to <NUM> detects a temperature and a humidity inside the housing <NUM>, and outputs a detection result to the CPU <NUM>. The CPU <NUM> can determine whether the detection result satisfies a predetermined ejection standard based on the detection result from each of the sensors <NUM> to <NUM>. The operation button <NUM> is operated by the operator and outputs a signal corresponding to the operation to the CPU <NUM>. The operator can input, for example, a printing instruction for starting printing to the printing device <NUM> by operating the operation button <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, each of the sensors <NUM> to <NUM> is provided inside the housing <NUM> and detects both the temperature and the humidity inside the housing <NUM>. The sensors <NUM>, <NUM> are provided corresponding to the supply ports <NUM>, <NUM>, respectively. For example, as shown in <FIG>, the sensor <NUM> is arranged on a left side of the front shaft <NUM> and in vicinity of an upper side of the supply port <NUM>, and the sensor <NUM> is arranged on a right side of the front shaft <NUM> and in vicinity of an upper side of the supply port <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the sensor <NUM> is arranged below the partition plate <NUM> and on a left side of the humidifier <NUM>, and detects a temperature and a humidity of atmosphere around the humidifier <NUM>, that is, non-humidified atmosphere not humidified by the humidifier <NUM>. The sensor <NUM> is provided in the accommodating portion <NUM> and detects whether the filter unit <NUM> is accommodated in the accommodating portion <NUM>.

According to the above configuration, the printing device <NUM> conveys the printing medium in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction with respect to the head <NUM> by moving the platen <NUM> in the front-rear direction (the sub-scanning direction) by driving the sub-scanning motor <NUM> and moving the carriage <NUM> in the left-right direction (the main scanning direction) by driving the main scanning motor <NUM>. The printing device <NUM> ejects various types of liquid from the head <NUM> while conveying the printing medium in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction with respect to the head <NUM>. Specifically, the printing device <NUM> first ejects the discharge printing agent from the heads <NUM>, <NUM> to discharge the color from the printing medium. Alternatively, the printing device <NUM> first forms a base on the printing medium by ejecting the white ink from the heads <NUM>, <NUM>. The printing device <NUM> prints a color image by ejecting the color ink from the heads <NUM>, <NUM> onto a portion of the printing medium from which the color is discharged or the formed base. The printing device <NUM> may eject both the white ink and the discharge printing agent.

A flow of air inside the housing <NUM> when the CPU <NUM> of the printing device <NUM> drives the fans <NUM>, <NUM> and the humidifier <NUM> (see <FIG>) will be described with reference to <FIG>. When the CPU <NUM> drives the fans <NUM>, <NUM> and the humidifier <NUM>, the humidified air flowing from the humidifier <NUM> toward the supply port <NUM>, which is indicated by an arrow K1, and the air discharged from the exhaust port <NUM> of the fan <NUM> (see <FIG>), which is indicated by an arrow K2, merge with each other on the left side of the inner wall <NUM> inside the housing <NUM>. The humidified air merged with the air discharged from the exhaust port <NUM> moves leftward and upward in a left side space between the left surface of the housing <NUM> and the inner wall <NUM> as indicated by an arrow K3.

The humidified air moves rightward along the upper surface of the housing <NUM> above the guide shaft <NUM> as indicated by an arrow K4. A part of the humidified air is sucked into the inner wall <NUM> from the suction port <NUM> (see <FIG>), and the rest of the humidified air is discharged to the outside of the housing <NUM> from the platen opening <NUM> (see <FIG>). That is, the humidified air supplied from the supply port <NUM> merges with the air discharged from the exhaust port <NUM> of the fan <NUM> (see <FIG>), and moves as indicated by the arrows K3, K4, whereby the nozzle surfaces of the heads <NUM> to <NUM> shown in <FIG> are humidified, and drying of the liquid inside the nozzle provided in the head <NUM> can be prevented. It is also possible to prevent drying of the foam wiper <NUM> moistened by the sponge containing the moisturizing liquid arranged inside each of the caps <NUM> to <NUM> of the first maintenance mechanism <NUM> and the cleaning liquid of the second maintenance mechanism <NUM>.

Similarly, in a right side space on the right side of the inner wall <NUM> inside the housing <NUM>, air flows indicated by arrows K11 to K13 respectively corresponding to the arrows K1 to K3 are generated. The humidified air moves leftward along the upper surface of the housing <NUM> above the guide shaft <NUM> as indicated by an arrow K14. A part of the humidified air is sucked from the suction port <NUM> (see <FIG>), and the rest of the humidified air is discharged to the outside of the housing <NUM> from the platen opening <NUM>. The humidified air supplied from the supply port <NUM> merges with the air discharged from the exhaust port <NUM> of the fan <NUM> (see <FIG>), and moves as indicated by the arrows K13, K14, thereby humidifying atmosphere in vicinity of the right end portion of the movement range R of the head <NUM> and the nozzle surfaces of the heads <NUM> to <NUM>.

Platen movement processing will be described with reference to <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>. The CPU <NUM> operates by reading the control program from the ROM <NUM> to execute the platen movement processing. First, the CPU <NUM> determines whether the platen is moved (S1). For example, when the operation button <NUM> is operated by the operator and an instruction such as a printing instruction for moving the platen is input, it is determined that the platen is moved (S1: YES). The CPU <NUM> also determines that the platen is moved when the printing instruction is input from the operation button <NUM> or a terminal device (not shown) (S1: YES).

Next, the CPU <NUM> determines whether the filter <NUM> is accommodated in the accommodating portion <NUM> (S2). As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, when the filter unit <NUM> is accommodated in the accommodating portion <NUM>, the contact portion <NUM> of the detection lever <NUM> physically comes into contact with the filter case <NUM>, so that the detection lever <NUM> rotates leftward about the axis <NUM> and becomes vertical. Therefore, the lower end portion of the pressing portion <NUM> rotates rightward and presses the actuator <NUM> of the physical switch <NUM>. Accordingly, the physical switch <NUM> is turned on, and it is detected that the filter unit <NUM> is accommodated in the accommodating portion <NUM> (S2: YES). Next, the CPU <NUM> drives the sub-scanning motor <NUM> to move the platen support portion <NUM> in the front-rear direction along the conveyance path defined by the pair of left and right rails <NUM> (S3).

When it is determined in S1 that the platen is not moved (S1: NO), the CPU <NUM> repeats the processing of S1. When it is determined in S2 that the filter unit <NUM> is not accommodated in the accommodating portion <NUM> (S2: NO), the CPU <NUM> repeats the processing of S2. As shown in <FIG>, when the accommodating portion <NUM> is opened, even if the filter <NUM> is accommodated in the accommodating portion <NUM> as shown in <FIG>, the filter case <NUM> does not come into contact with the contact portion <NUM>, and the detection lever <NUM> does not rotate clockwise about the shaft <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. Therefore, the lower end portion of the pressing portion <NUM> does not rotate rightward as shown in <FIG>, and does not press the actuator <NUM> of the physical switch <NUM>. Accordingly, the physical switch <NUM> is not turned on. Therefore, even when the filter <NUM> is accommodated in the accommodating portion <NUM>, the sensor <NUM> can detect that the accommodating portion <NUM> is opened.

When the accommodating portion <NUM> is closed as shown in <FIG> and the filter <NUM> is accommodated in the accommodating portion <NUM> as shown in <FIG>, the filter unit <NUM> is pressed leftward by the fixing plate <NUM> and the side wall <NUM> shown in <FIG>. Therefore, the filter case <NUM> comes into contact with the contact portion <NUM>, and the detection lever <NUM> rotates leftward about the shaft <NUM> and becomes vertical. Accordingly, the lower end portion of the pressing portion <NUM> rotates rightward and presses the actuator <NUM> of the physical switch <NUM>. Therefore, the physical switch <NUM> is turned on. Accordingly, when the filter <NUM> is accommodated in the accommodating portion <NUM>, the sensor <NUM> can detect that the accommodating portion <NUM> is closed.

In the present embodiment, since the filter <NUM> includes the grip portion <NUM> provided on a front end side, the filter <NUM> can be replaced by the grip portion <NUM> without directly touching the filter <NUM> with a hand. Accordingly, the mist adhering to the hand at the time of filter replacement can be reduced.

Since the filter <NUM> includes the handle 482A as the grip portion <NUM> protruding forward from a front end of the filter case <NUM>, the handle 482A is less likely to be contaminated, and the mist adhering to the hand at the time of filter replacement can be reduced.

Since the grip portion <NUM> is provided in the filter case <NUM>, a possibility of touching the filter <NUM> is reduced, and the mist adhering to the hand at the time of filter replacement can be reduced.

Since the filter case <NUM> has rigidity higher than that of the filter <NUM>, the filter case <NUM> is less likely to be deformed than the filter <NUM> alone. Therefore, an original shape of the filter <NUM> is easily maintained, a possibility that the filter <NUM> accidentally comes into contact with the operator is reduced, and the mist adhering to the hand at the time of filter replacement can be reduced.

Since the grip portion <NUM> is provided on the upper case <NUM> accommodated in an upper section of the accommodating portion <NUM>, the grip portion <NUM> is located on an upper side and is easily gripped. When the grip portion <NUM> is provided in the lower case <NUM>, the mist moving from the upper side to a lower side inside the filter <NUM> easily adheres to the grip portion. Therefore, when the grip portion <NUM> is provided on the upper case <NUM>, the mist moves from the upper side to the lower side inside the filter <NUM>, and thus, when the grip portion <NUM> is located in the upper case <NUM>, the grip portion <NUM> is less likely to be contaminated than when the grip portion <NUM> is located in the lower case <NUM>, and the mist adhering to the hand at the time of filter replacement can be reduced.

As shown in <FIG>, since the lower case <NUM> includes the extension portions <NUM> extending to be connected to the first opening edge portion <NUM> at both ends, rigidity of the lower case <NUM> can be increased. Since the extension portion <NUM> extends in the front-rear direction, even if the filter unit <NUM> is moved in the front-rear direction when the filter unit <NUM> is attached to or detached from the accommodating portion <NUM>, a possibility that the extension portion <NUM> is caught by the bottom surface <NUM> of the accommodating portion <NUM> can be reduced.

As shown in <FIG>, since the upper case <NUM> includes the extension portion <NUM> extending to be connected to the second opening edge portion <NUM> at both ends, rigidity of the upper case <NUM> can be increased.

As shown in <FIG>, the extension portion <NUM> extends in the left-right direction intersecting the front-rear direction, and the extension portion <NUM> extends in the left-right direction intersecting the front-rear direction, so that rigidity of the lower case <NUM> and the upper case <NUM> can be increased.

As shown in <FIG>, since the sensor <NUM> is provided in the accommodating portion <NUM> and detects whether the filter <NUM> is accommodated in the accommodating portion <NUM>, the sensor <NUM> can detect whether the filter <NUM> is accommodated in the accommodating portion <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, when the sensor <NUM> detects that the filter <NUM> is accommodated in the accommodating portion <NUM>, the CPU <NUM> moves the platen <NUM>, so that the platen <NUM> can be prevented from moving without the filter <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the sensor <NUM> includes the detection lever <NUM> provided at a position where the detection lever <NUM> can come into contact with the filter <NUM> accommodated in the accommodating portion <NUM>. Therefore, in a non-contact type sensor such as an optical sensor, there is a possibility of erroneous detection due to the mist. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the detection lever <NUM> comes into contact with the filter case <NUM> of the filter <NUM>, and the sensor <NUM> detects whether the filter <NUM> is accommodated in the accommodating portion <NUM>. Therefore, the possibility of erroneous detection can be reduced. In the present embodiment, since the sensor <NUM> is arranged outside a passage of the mist, the possibility of erroneous detection due to the mist is reduced. Since a position of the detection lever <NUM> is on a side opposite to the hinge <NUM> serving as a rotation center of the filter unit <NUM>, a movement region of the detection lever <NUM> can be widened and erroneous detection can be reduced.

As shown in <FIG>, since the detection lever <NUM> physically comes into contact with the filter case <NUM> having rigidity higher than that of the filter <NUM>, erroneous detection can be reduced.

The accommodating portion <NUM> of the filter <NUM> is opened and closed between the open position and the closed position, and the detection lever <NUM> moves along the opening and closing direction of the accommodating portion <NUM>. Therefore, since the detection lever <NUM> moves in accordance with movement of the accommodating portion <NUM> between the open position and the closed position, it is easy to detect presence or absence of the filter at the closed position more accurately.

Since the sensor <NUM> also detects the open position or the closed position of the accommodating portion <NUM>, the sensor <NUM> can more accurately detect that the filter is accommodated in the filter accommodating portion when the filter accommodating portion is at the closed position.

As shown in <FIG>, the CPU <NUM> that moves the platen <NUM> moves the platen <NUM> when the sensor <NUM> detects that the accommodating portion <NUM> of the filter <NUM> is at the closed position and the filter <NUM> is accommodated in the accommodating portion <NUM>. Therefore, it is possible to reduce a possibility that the platen <NUM> moves when the accommodating portion <NUM> is at the open position and the accommodating portion <NUM> becomes an obstacle to movement of the platen <NUM>. It is possible to reduce a possibility that the platen <NUM> moves in a state where the filter <NUM> is not accommodated in the accommodating portion <NUM>.

Since the filter <NUM> can be attached to and detached from the accommodating portion <NUM> from the front surface side of the printing device <NUM>, the filter <NUM> can be easily attached to and detached from the accommodating portion <NUM>.

In the above embodiment, the accommodating portion <NUM> is an example of a "filter accommodating portion" according to the present disclosure. The CPU <NUM> is an example of a "platen movement control unit" according to the present disclosure. The sensor <NUM> is an example of a "sensor" according to the present disclosure. The head <NUM> is an example of an "inkjet head" according to the present disclosure. A rear direction is an example of an opposite direction according to the present disclosure.

The present disclosure can be variously modified from the above embodiment. Various modifications described below can be combined with each other. As shown in <FIG>, the filter case <NUM> may include the handle 482A as a grip portion at a front end portion of the upper case <NUM>, and may include a handle 482B as a grip portion at a rear end portion of the upper case <NUM>. In this case, the handle 482A and the handle 482B can be gripped by respective hands. The handle 482A may protrude forward or upward. The handle 482B may protrude rearward or upward. That is, since the handle 482A provided at the front end portion of the upper case <NUM> may protrude forward or upward, it can be said that the handle 482A protrudes outward from the filter <NUM>. Since the handle 482B provided at the rear end portion of the upper case <NUM> may protrude rearward or upward, it can be said that the handle 482B protrudes outward from the filter <NUM>. In addition, the handles 482A, 482B may not have a semicircular shape in a plan view. For example, the shape may be rectangular.

As shown in <FIG>, the filter case <NUM> may be provided with recesses 482C as grip portions on both side surfaces on a front end portion side of the upper case <NUM>, respectively. The recess 482C has a bottom portion and does not penetrate therethrough. Instead of the recess 482C, a penetrating hole may be used. In the present disclosure, the filter case <NUM> may not be provided. In addition, the handle, the recess and the through hole as the grip portions may not be provided in the filter case <NUM>, may be provided in the filter <NUM>, or may be provided in the lower case <NUM>.

The filter case <NUM> may not have rigidity higher than that of the filter <NUM>, or may have the same rigidity as that of the filter <NUM>. The number of the extension portions <NUM> of the upper case <NUM> is not limited to one, and may be a plurality as long as the extension portions <NUM> do not interfere with passage of the air containing the mist. The number of the extension portions <NUM> of the lower case <NUM> is not limited to three, and may be two, four or the like as long as the extension portions <NUM> do not interfere with passage of the air containing the mist and can maintain the rigidity of the lower case <NUM>. The extension portion <NUM> of the upper case <NUM> and the extension portion <NUM> of the lower case <NUM> may extend in an oblique direction with respect to the front-rear direction. The extension portions <NUM>, <NUM> may not be provided.

Shapes of the first opening edge portion <NUM> and the second opening edge portion <NUM> are not limited to rectangles. Opening areas of the openings <NUM>1A, 485A formed by the first opening edge portion <NUM> and the second opening edge portion <NUM> are preferably large from a viewpoint of ventilation.

The filter <NUM> may not include the filter case <NUM> as long as the filter <NUM> has rigidity that allows the pressing portion <NUM> to press the actuator <NUM> of the physical switch <NUM> by causing the contact portion <NUM> to come into contact with the filter <NUM> to rotate the detection lever <NUM>. The filter <NUM> may be provided with the grip portion <NUM>. The filter case <NUM> may be formed of a metal material. In this case, the filter case <NUM> can be repeatedly used by replacing the filter <NUM>.

The physical switch <NUM> of the sensor <NUM> may be turned off when the filter <NUM> is detected, and may be turned on when the filter <NUM> is not detected. The sensor <NUM> may include a mechanical switch other than the physical switch <NUM>. The accommodating portion <NUM>, the filter unit <NUM> and the filter <NUM> are arranged such that longitudinal directions thereof coincide with the front-rear direction of the printing device <NUM>, but may be arranged such that the longitudinal directions thereof coincide with the left-right direction of the printing device <NUM>. For example, the accommodating portion <NUM> may be provided on a right side or a left side of the platen opening <NUM> on a front surface of the main body <NUM>. In this case, the accommodating portion <NUM> may be provided so as to be able to be pulled out from inside of the printing device <NUM>, and the filter <NUM> may be able to be attached and detached from the front surface side, or a front panel may be detached and the filter <NUM> may be able to be attached and detached from the front surface side.

Each of the main scanning direction, the sub-scanning direction and the ejection direction of the printing device <NUM> may be appropriately changed in any direction of the printing device <NUM> according to a configuration of the printing device <NUM>.

The shapes, numbers and arrangements of the fans <NUM>, <NUM>, the supply ports <NUM>, <NUM> and the filter <NUM> may be changed as appropriate. At least one of the inner walls <NUM>, <NUM> may be omitted, or the configuration and arrangement thereof may be appropriately changed. For example, the printing device <NUM> may include one or more fans inside the housing <NUM>, and any one of the fans <NUM>, <NUM> may be omitted. Although three fans <NUM> are arranged in the front-rear direction, the number of the fans <NUM> may be four or more, or may be two or less. The number of the fans <NUM> and the number of the fans <NUM> may be the same as each other or may be different from each other. The fan may be provided on only one of the inner walls <NUM>, <NUM>. At least one of the fans <NUM>, <NUM> may be provided in a space other than the inner walls <NUM>, <NUM> (for example, the left side space or the right side space). The supply port <NUM> may be provided between the fan <NUM> and the head <NUM>.

The program executed by the CPU <NUM> may be received from other devices via a cable or wireless communication and stored in a nonvolatile storage device. Other devices include, for example, a PC and a server connected via a network.

Claim 1:
A printing device (<NUM>) comprising:
an inkjet head (<NUM>);
a filter accommodating portion (<NUM>); and
a filter unit (<NUM>) configured to collect mist, configured to be accommodated in the filter accommodating portion (<NUM>), configured to be replaced, and extending from one end to an other end of the filter unit (<NUM>) in a given direction,
wherein the filter unit (<NUM>) includes a filter (<NUM>);
characterised in that:
the filter unit (<NUM>) includes a grip portion (<NUM>) configured to allow the filter unit (<NUM>) to be replaced by the grip portion (<NUM>) without touching the filter (<NUM>) by hand, so that the mist adhering to the hand at the time of filter unit (<NUM>) replacement can be reduced, the grip portion (<NUM>) being provided at at least one of the one end or the other end of the filter unit (<NUM>),
wherein the grip portion (<NUM>) includes a handle (482A) protruding from the filter unit (<NUM>), a recessed portion (482C) recessed inside the filter unit (<NUM>), or a hole.