Adaptive Curing Device with Serial Chamber Flow Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional printing systems face challenges in achieving adaptive curing capabilities, particularly when dealing with substrates sensitive to aggressive temperature changes, which can lead to issues like wrinkles in thin-plastic media during the polymerization process.

Innovation Solution

A curing device with a fluid flow generator and an impingement device comprising serially connected chambers with actuable heating fluid restrictors, allowing for variable flow rates and uniform heating fluid distribution across the curing zone, enabling adaptive control of the curing process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a conventional curing device uses uniform heating across the entire curing zone, then the curing process is simple to control, but substrates sensitive to temperature changes (like thin-plastic media) develop wrinkles due to aggressive temperature changes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecuring process controlVSAvoidtemperature sensitivity damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The curing zone is divided into multiple independently controllable heating zones (first curing zone and second curing zone), each with its own heating fluid flow rate control. This segmentation allows different sections of the substrate to receive different heating intensities, preventing wrinkles on temperature-sensitive areas while maintaining effective curing elsewhere.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the curing zone are assigned different heating characteristics - some areas receive higher heating fluid flow rates for aggressive curing, while other areas receive lower flow rates for gentle heating. This local differentiation of heating quality enables tailored treatment for substrates with varying temperature sensitivities across different regions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If the heating fluid flow rate is increased to improve curing effectiveness, then polymerization is enhanced, but substrates sensitive to temperature changes suffer from aggressive temperature changes and wrinkles

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecuring effectivenessVSAvoidtemperature change damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts heating fluid flow rates to different zones based on substrate requirements. The flow rate control mechanism allows the curing system to adapt its heating intensity - increasing flow where rapid curing is needed and decreasing flow where gentle heating is required - thereby maintaining productivity while preventing damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The heating fluid flow rate parameter is varied across different zones of the curing device. By changing this critical parameter spatially, the system achieves different curing intensities in different regions, enabling effective curing of robust areas while protecting temperature-sensitive areas from excessive heating.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If a curing device uses multiple independently controllable heating zones, then adaptive curing for temperature-sensitive substrates is achieved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptive curing capabilityVSAvoidcuring device structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The curing device is segmented into multiple heating zones with independent flow control, enabling adaptive curing for different substrate types and regions. This segmentation provides the adaptability needed to handle temperature-sensitive substrates while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure through modular zone design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 allows for tailored curing profiles that accommodate substrates sensitive to temperature changes, reducing the risk of wrinkles and ensuring effective adhesion of pigment particles by optimizing heating fluid flow rates and distribution.

Implementation Method 1

a fluid flow generator to cause a heating fluid to flow towards a curing zone

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 2

The polymerization of the additional particles may be performed by the exposure to an external energy source

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 3

an impingement device arranged between the fluid flow generator and the curing zone, wherein the impingement device comprises a plurality chambers being the chambers separated from the fluid flow generator by a heating fluid restrictor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid flow restriction:

Data Source

PatentUS10688810B2Adaptative curing

Publication Date: 2020.06.23 HEWLETT PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LP

AI summary

Adaptative substrate curing by ejecting a curing flow rate to a curing zone by: heating a heating fluid to a curing temperature; causing the heating fluid to flow along a plurality of serially connected chambers separated being each pair of chambers separated by a heating fluid restrictor, actuating on the heating fluid restrictor as to determine a restricted flow rate between adjacent chambers thereby defining a curing flow rate that passes from the chambers towards the curing zone.