Cleaning Roller SP Value Difference Prevents Platen Swelling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional cleaning apparatuses for platen rollers in thermal transfer printing systems cause swelling, leading to uneven contact pressure and quality issues in printed images due to the similarity in SP values between the cleaning rollers and the platen rollers, resulting in dark and light patterns along the axial direction of the printed images.

Innovation Solution

Designing a cleaning apparatus with a cleaning roller that has SP values (dissolution parameters) differing by at least 2.0 from those of the platen roller, preventing component transfer and subsequent swelling, and using materials like silicone rubber for the cleaning roller to maintain high friction coefficients and prevent diameter fluctuations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a cleaning roller made of rubber with similar SP value to the platen roller is used, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but roller swelling occurs causing uneven contact pressure and dark/light patterns in printed images

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidimage quality uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the SP value parameter of the cleaning roller material from being similar to the platen roller (conventional rubber) to being significantly different (at least 2.0 difference). This parameter change prevents component transfer and swelling while maintaining cleaning effectiveness, thereby eliminating dark/light patterns in printed images.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite material selection by combining specific base materials (silicone rubber, fluororubber, or acrylic resin) with carefully selected additives that have SP values at least 2.0 different from the platen roller. This composite approach ensures both cleaning performance and prevention of unwanted material transfer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of operation

If the cleaning roller is brought into contact with the platen roller to remove dirt, then cleaning function is improved, but component transfer occurs causing swelling and diameter unevenness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning functionVSAvoidroller diameter uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the chemical parameter (SP value) of the cleaning roller material to be at least 2.0 different from the platen roller. This parameter change creates chemical incompatibility that prevents component transfer and swelling, maintaining roller diameter uniformity while preserving the cleaning function through continuous contact operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If conventional rubber materials with similar SP values are used for both rollers, then material compatibility and cleaning performance are improved, but swelling prevents consistent contact pressure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning performanceVSAvoidcontact pressure consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the SP value parameter of the cleaning roller from being similar to the platen roller to being at least 2.0 different. This parameter change prevents component transfer that would cause swelling, thereby maintaining consistent roller diameter and uniform contact pressure across the axial direction during cleaning operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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

Prevents roller swelling and maintains high-quality printing by ensuring consistent contact pressure and image quality without the occurrence of dark and light patterns, as demonstrated by the use of silicone rubber with an SP value difference of 2.7 from the urethane rubber platen roller.

Implementation Method 1

The cleaning roller comes in contact with a surface of the platen roller to rotate according to rotation of the platen roller, thereby removing dirt on the platen roller

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

The cleaning roller is configured such that SP values (dissolution parameters) of the cleaning roller and of all additives added in the cleaning roller have differences of at least 2.0 from the SP value of the platen roller

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Implementation Method 3

the cleaning roller is configured such that SP values (dissolution parameters) of the cleaning roller and of all additives added in the cleaning roller have differences of at least 2.0 from the SP value of the platen roller

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDissolution parameter difference: Solvation

Data Source

PatentUS8072474B2Cleaning apparatus for roller and printing apparatus using cleaning apparatus

Publication Date: 2011.12.06 KK TOSHIBA

AI summary

A cleaning apparatus for a roller includes a platen roller and a cleaning roller brought into contact with the platen roller to clean a surface of the platen roller, where the cleaning roller is configured such that SP values (dissolution parameter) of the cleaning roller and of all additives added in the cleaning roller have differences of at least 2.0 from an SP value of the platen roller.