Printing Device With Dryer and UV Polymer Melting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printing technologies face challenges in efficiently fixing ink to objects within a short time frame, particularly in ensuring rapid evaporation of solvents and effective melting and solidification of polymers to secure ink adhesion.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus incorporating an ink ejector that ejects ink containing a medium and a fixing polymer, a dryer to heat the object for solvent evaporation, and a melting device that irradiates the ink with UV rays to melt and fix the polymer to the object.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If UV irradiation is used to cure ink containing polymerizable substances, then ink fixation is achieved, but the process time increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes phase transition of polymer from solid to liquid through melting, then rapid solidification upon cooling to achieve ink fixation. This physical phase change mechanism replaces UV curing, enabling faster processing while maintaining reliable ink adhesion to the substrate
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the chemical curing mechanism (UV irradiation causing polymerization) with a physical melting and solidification mechanism. By using heat to melt the polymer and then allowing natural cooling for solidification, the system achieves faster fixation without requiring UV light sources and associated curing time
2Productivity
If heating is applied to evaporate solvent in ink, then fixation is expedited, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs phase transition of water from liquid to vapor through evaporation to remove solvent from ink. By controlling the heating process to achieve complete evaporation of the medium, the system enables rapid solvent removal without excessive energy consumption, balancing fixation speed with energy efficiency
3Reliability
If the fixing polymer is melted through UV irradiation, then ink adhesion is secured, but the process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex UV irradiation systems with simpler heating mechanisms. By using conventional heating elements to melt the fixing polymer and then allowing natural cooling for solidification, the system achieves reliable ink adhesion with significantly reduced device complexity and fewer specialized components
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 enables rapid and effective fixation of ink by ensuring complete solvent evaporation and polymer melting, resulting in stable ink adhesion on the object.
Implementation Method 1
The dryer is configured to heat the object to expedite evaporation of the medium
Implementation Method 2
The melting device is configured to irradiate the ink on the object with ultraviolet rays to subject the ink to heat that causes the fixing polymer to melt
Data Source
AI summary
A printing apparatus includes an ink ejector, a dryer, and a melting device. The ink ejector ejects an ink to an object on which a printed record is to be produced. The ink contains a medium and a fixing polymer. The dryer heats the object to expedite evaporation of the medium. The melting device is configured to irradiate the ink on the object with ultraviolet rays to subject the ink to heat that causes the fixing polymer to melt and to fix the ink to the object accordingly.