Drying Device Heaters and Contact Guiding Roller for Inkjet Recording
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drying devices for aqueous ink in inkjet recording methods require multiple heating members and can result in voids due to partial peeling-off of the liquid applied area during conveyance, leading to inefficient drying and contamination.
Innovation Solution
A drying device with multiple heaters disposed along the conveyance path, including a first and second path for contact with the recording medium, utilizing a contact guiding roller with a concavo-convex structure to reduce peeling-off and contamination, and a method of forming a dried film with a Martens hardness of 30 N/mm2 or greater at 120 degrees C.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple heating members are used to dry the recording medium, then the drying efficiency is improved, but the device complexity and risk of peeling-off increase
Solution Approach 1:
The heating function is segmented into multiple heating members (first heating member and second heating member) positioned at different locations along the conveyance path. The first heating member is positioned to heat the recording medium before it contacts the contact guiding member, while the second heating member heats the medium after contact, allowing distributed thermal processing that improves drying efficiency without requiring all heaters to be concentrated in one complex assembly
Solution Approach 2:
A contact guiding member is introduced as an intermediary element between the heating members and the recording medium. This member has a concavo-convex structure that mechanically guides the medium through the heating zones while preventing direct adhesion that causes peeling-off. The intermediary structure mediates between the thermal processing requirement and the mechanical stability requirement
2Productivity
If the recording medium is conveyed in contact with heating members, then drying efficiency is improved, but peeling-off and void formation occur
Solution Approach 1:
The contact guiding member features a concavo-convex structure with locally varied surface properties. The convex portions provide contact points for mechanical guidance while the concave portions create air gaps or reduced contact zones that prevent adhesion. This local variation in contact quality allows the medium to be guided through heating zones without uniform adhesion that would cause peeling-off
Solution Approach 2:
The first heating member performs preliminary heating of the recording medium before it contacts the contact guiding member. This preliminary thermal action prepares the liquid applied area by initiating evaporation and reducing liquidity, thereby preventing peeling-off during subsequent contact with the guiding member while maintaining drying efficiency
3Ease of operation
If the liquid applied area contacts the conveyance path members, then conveyance is enabled, but contamination and voids are generated
Solution Approach 1:
The contact guiding member serves as an intermediary between the liquid-applied recording medium and the conveyance system. Its concavo-convex structure provides mechanical guidance for conveyance while the non-uniform contact surfaces prevent adhesion that would cause peeling-off and void formation. The intermediary structure enables conveyance without direct harmful contact
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of making the conveyance path members smooth and flat for easy conveyance (conventional approach), the invention uses a concavo-convex structure on the contact guiding member. This inverted approach creates controlled contact points rather than continuous contact, preventing adhesion while still enabling conveyance through the convex portions
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 efficiently dries the recording medium with fewer heaters, reducing voids and contamination by ensuring thorough drying and enhanced mechanical strength of the dried film.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of heaters disposed along a conveyance path of a recording medium to which liquid is applied in a contact manner, heat the recording medium in contact manner
Implementation Method 2
forming a dried film of the liquid; the liquid is applied to a glass plate to form a film and the film is dried with a reduced pressure at 100 degrees C. for three hours
Data Source
AI summary
A drying device includes heaters disposed along the direction of conveyance of a recording medium to which liquid is applied, the heaters being configured to heat the recording medium, wherein the recording medium is conveyed in contact with the heaters on a conveyance path including a first path on which the recording medium is conveyed in contact with the heaters for the second time and a second path on which the recording medium is conveyed in contact with the heaters for the second time, wherein a dried film of the liquid formed by the following method has a Martens hardness of 30 N/mm2 or greater at 120 degrees C.:method: the liquid is applied to a glass plate to form a film and the film is dried with a reduced pressure at 100 degrees C. for three hours to obtain the dried film having an average thickness of 5 μm.