AC Electric Field Drying for Liquid Ejecting Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid ejecting devices face challenges in maintaining printing quality due to liquid bleed-through and moisture-related issues, particularly when the medium's moisture content varies, leading to potential deterioration in printing quality.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejecting device equipped with an alternating current electric field generation unit, comprising a first and second electrode adjacent to each other, and a high-frequency voltage generation unit, which generates an alternating current electric field to dry the liquid on the medium, with the electrodes positioned upstream of the liquid ejecting head to control moisture levels effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a high-frequency voltage is applied to electrodes to dielectrically heat and dry the liquid on the medium, then printing quality is improved by preventing liquid bleed-through, but the device complexity increases due to the need for additional high-frequency voltage generation units and electrode structures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a resonance capacitor as an intermediary component that resonates with the inductance of the electrode structure to generate high-frequency voltage. This mediator enables the system to achieve the required high-frequency operation without complex voltage generation circuitry, thereby improving printing quality while limiting device complexity growth.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the electrical parameters of the system by using a resonance capacitor to achieve resonance at a specific frequency. This parameter change allows the electrode structure to self-generate the necessary high-frequency voltage through resonant oscillation, simplifying the overall device while maintaining effective dielectric heating for print quality.
2Temperature
If additional heat dissipation measures are implemented to manage the heat from dielectric heating, then temperature control is improved, but the device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs the medium itself as the heat dissipation medium. The liquid or coating material on the substrate absorbs the heat generated by dielectric heating and utilizes it for its own purposes (such as curing, drying, or chemical reactions). This self-service approach eliminates the need for separate cooling systems while maintaining effective temperature control.
3Manufacturing precision
If the electrodes are positioned upstream of the liquid ejecting head to dry the medium before liquid ejection, then the risk of liquid bleed-through is reduced, but the loss of time in the ejection process increases due to the additional drying step
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by positioning the electrodes upstream of the liquid ejecting head to pre-dry or pre-heat the substrate before liquid application. This preliminary treatment prevents liquid bleed-through by modifying the substrate surface properties in advance, ensuring better liquid absorption and preventing defects that would require rework or correction later.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent achieves continuous useful action by overlapping the electrode treatment zone with the liquid ejection zone. The dielectric heating and liquid ejection processes occur simultaneously in a continuous manner, eliminating idle time between drying and ejection steps. The upstream positioning allows the liquid to be ejected immediately after brief pre-treatment, maintaining process continuity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enhances printing quality by efficiently drying the liquid on the medium, reducing the risk of bleed-through and maintaining medium integrity, while also improving the drying efficiency and reducing the need for additional heat dissipation measures.
Implementation Method 1
generate an alternating current electric field by generation of a high-frequency voltage to positive electrodes and negative electrodes alternately disposed to dielectrically heat the liquid ejected onto the medium
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a liquid ejecting device. An alternating current electric field generation unit includes a first electrode and a second electrode disposed adjacent to each other, a high-frequency voltage generation unit configured to generate a high-frequency voltage to the first electrode and the second electrode, and a conductor configured to electrically couple the first electrode and the second electrode to the high-frequency voltage generation unit. The first electrode and the second electrode are disposed upstream of a liquid ejecting head in a transport direction of a medium.