AC Electric Field Ink Drying for Fabric Fixation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dielectric heating of ink on fabrics struggles to maintain temperatures higher than the boiling point of water, affecting the fixing and scratch resistance of printed images.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus that applies a processing liquid with a polar material like urea and uses an AC electric field generator with first and second electrodes to create an AC electric field, enabling effective dielectric heating and drying of ink, with glycerin as a solvent to enhance heating efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If dielectric heating is used to dry ink on fabric, then drying speed is improved, but the heating temperature cannot be maintained above the boiling point of water
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the liquid by selecting substances with high dielectric loss factors that remain effective at elevated temperatures. The processing liquid contains polar materials (urea, glycerin, ethanol, isopropanol) whose dielectric properties enable sustained dielectric heating above water's boiling point, resolving the temperature limitation while maintaining high drying speed.
2Temperature
If traditional hot air drying is used, then heating temperature can be maintained high, but energy consumption increases and drying speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical hot air circulation system with an electromagnetic field-based dielectric heating system. The AC electric field generator directly heats the polar molecules in the processing liquid and ink through dielectric loss, eliminating the need for large volumes of hot air and significantly reducing energy consumption while maintaining high temperatures and fast drying speed.
3Strength
If dielectric heating is applied to improve ink fixation, then scratch resistance is improved, but the heating process is limited by water boiling point
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of the processing liquid and ink to include substances with high dielectric loss factors (urea, glycerin, ethanol, isopropanol). These materials enable dielectric heating to effectively raise temperatures above water's boiling point, achieving the necessary heat for proper ink fixation and enhanced scratch resistance without being constrained by water's phase change limitation.
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
The solution allows for continuous heating above the boiling point of water, improving ink fixation and scratch resistance on fabrics, while reducing energy consumption compared to traditional drying methods.
Implementation Method 1
When dielectric heating is performed on ink printed on a fabric or the like, it becomes an issue to continue heating at a temperature higher than the boiling point of water.
Data Source
AI summary
A printing apparatus 1 includes a pretreatment unit 4 that applies a processing liquid containing a polar material to a fabric M, a printing unit 5 that applies ink containing a color material to the fabric M applied with the processing liquid, and an AC electric field generator 62 that generates an AC electric field. The AC electric field generator 62 includes a first electrodes 71 and a second electrode 72 that face the fabric M and that are disposed adjacent to each other, a high-frequency voltage generator 77 that generates a high-frequency voltage to be applied to the first electrodes 71 and the second electrode 72, and a conductors 73 that electrically connects the first electrodes 71 and the second electrode 72 to the high-frequency voltage generator 77.