Dual-Sided Heater Arrangement for Uniform Ink Drying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printing apparatuses face issues with uneven drying of ink due to varying heating times across the width of the medium, leading to potential damage from uneven ink solidification and shrinkage.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus with a drying unit comprising a first heater unit and a second heater unit, where both units are aligned in the transport direction, ensuring consistent heating times across the medium, along with individually controllable heaters to optimize energy usage and accommodate varying paper widths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If multiple small heaters are arranged in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction to heat the entire width of the medium, then the heating coverage is improved, but the heating time varies across different positions of the medium leading to uneven drying
Solution Approach 1:
The heater is divided into multiple independent heating elements arranged in the width direction, with each element positioned to heat a specific region. The first heating elements are arranged in the width direction at the same transport direction position, while second heating elements are positioned between them, creating segmented heating zones that can be independently controlled to achieve uniform drying across the entire medium width.
Solution Approach 2:
Different heating elements are positioned at different locations to provide localized heating appropriate for each region of the medium. First heating elements heat the printed surface while second heating elements heat the opposite surface, with their positions and configurations optimized for their specific heating zones to ensure uniform drying throughout.
2Area of stationary object
If heaters are arranged at different positions in the transport direction to cover the entire width, then the heating coverage is improved, but the heating time varies leading to ink solidification issues and medium damage
Solution Approach 1:
The heating system is segmented into first heating elements arranged at the same transport direction position and second heating elements positioned between them, allowing simultaneous heating of different width regions without varying heating times that would compromise medium integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating arrangement extends into the third dimension by positioning second heating elements on the opposite surface of the medium, heating from both sides simultaneously. This dimensional approach ensures uniform heating across the entire width while maintaining consistent heating time, preventing ink solidification issues and medium damage.
3Device complexity
If a single large heater is used to heat the entire width of the medium, then the device complexity is reduced, but the heater cannot be easily commonized across different paper widths
Solution Approach 1:
The heater is segmented into multiple independent heating elements that can be selectively activated based on the paper width. First heating elements are arranged in the width direction at the same transport direction position, with second heating elements positioned between them, allowing the system to accommodate different paper widths by controlling which elements are active, enabling commonization across different printer models.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating system incorporates dynamic control capabilities where individual heating elements can be independently activated or deactivated based on the detected paper width. This dynamic adjustment allows a single heater configuration to serve multiple paper width requirements, improving adaptability while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure.
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 configuration ensures consistent ink drying, reduces energy consumption, and increases throughput by maintaining uniform heating even at increased medium transport speeds, while allowing for commonization of heater components across different paper widths.
Implementation Method 1
a first heating element that heats the medium
Implementation Method 2
Each of the first heaters includes a first heating element that heats the medium
Data Source
AI summary
A printing apparatus includes a transport unit for transporting a continuous sheet, a printing unit for printing by discharging ink to the continuous sheet, and a drying unit for drying the ink deposited on the continuous sheet. The drying unit includes a first heater unit for heating a printed surface of the continuous sheet and a second heater unit for heating the opposite surface of the continuous sheet to the printed surface. The first heater unit includes a plurality of first heaters that are disposed at the same position in a transport direction and that are arranged in width directions. The second heater unit includes a plurality of second heaters that are disposed at a position superposed on the first heater unit in the transport direction and that are disposed at positions between adjacent ones of first heating elements of the first heaters in the width directions.