Drying device

Abstract

A drying device capable of keeping substantially constant the temperature of a moving recording sheet and evenly drying it without increasing radiation heat. Though the surface temperature of a recording sheet is lower on the upstream in the drying region and the temperature of outside air blown into the drying region is lower, the temperature of the recording sheet moved in the drying region is kept substantially constant by making the output of the upstream halogen lamp larger than that of the downstream halogen lamp. Even if the airflow velocity in the drying region is different, the radiation heat amount is adjusted according to the velocity to keep substantially constant the temperature of the recording sheet moved in the drying region. Thus, the recording sheet can be evenly dried and even if a jam of the recording sheet occurs in the drying region, there is no possibility of scorching, fuming or the like. The opening of a reflector holder is closed by a plate formed of heat resisting glass, and the plate is disposed parallel to a surface of a platen. By the plate, the airflow is kept from entering the reflector to generate a turbulent flow, but the airflow having passed round the reflector holder to be guided to the platen surface passes through a space formed by the plate and the platen to be rectified. Accordingly, the wind velocity in the space becomes constant, thereby the recording sheet can be evenly dried.