Pivotal Heated Platen Ink Dryer for Digital Printers
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Solution Overview
Problem
High speed digital printers face inefficiencies in drying ink on substrates with thick backing paper, as freestanding infrared heaters lack precise temperature control and often cause hot and cold spots, leading to wet or heat-damaged areas.
Innovation Solution
An ink dryer with a heated platen and a temperature controlling device that can pivotally attach to digital printers, forming a channel with the post print platen to radiate heat uniformly and maintain a controlled temperature between 120° F to 190° F, ensuring consistent drying.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If freestanding infrared heaters are used to dry ink on substrates with thick backing paper, then the heating coverage is improved, but temperature control precision deteriorates causing hot and cold spots
Solution Approach 1:
The heating system is segmented into multiple independent heating zones along the platen surface. Each zone can be independently controlled to eliminate hot and cold spots, ensuring uniform temperature distribution across the entire heating area while maintaining precise temperature control.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the platen are equipped with independent temperature control to address local variations in heat distribution. This allows each local area to maintain the optimal temperature required for ink drying, preventing both overheating and underheating in different zones.
2Productivity
If freestanding infrared heaters are positioned close to the media for effective drying, then drying efficiency is improved, but temperature uniformity deteriorates causing hot and cold areas
Solution Approach 1:
The platen is designed with adjustable positioning mechanisms that allow dynamic adjustment of the heating distance and angle relative to the media. This enables optimization of both drying efficiency and temperature uniformity by adapting the heating configuration to different substrate types and ink formulations.
Solution Approach 2:
Temperature sensors are integrated into the platen to provide real-time feedback on temperature distribution. This feedback is used by the control system to automatically adjust heating power in different zones, maintaining uniform temperature while ensuring efficient ink drying.
3Device complexity
If heat is applied to the back of the substrate to cure ink, then the drying method is simple, but effectiveness deteriorates on materials with thick backing paper
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of heating from the back of the substrate, the system inverts the approach by heating from the front surface where the ink is applied. This direct heating method ensures that heat is applied where it is most needed, significantly improving drying effectiveness on substrates with thick backing paper while maintaining operational simplicity.
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 provides effective ink drying by maintaining consistent heat across the substrate, preventing damage and ensuring the ink is dry enough for immediate winding without defects.
Implementation Method 1
an inner surface configured to radiate heat
Data Source
AI summary
Ink dryers of the present technology include a heated platen configured to pivotally attach to a digital printer, and a controller that controls the temperature of the heated platen. The ink dryers may also include a current sensor that allows the controller to determine if whether the printer is active or asleep. The controller may turn on the heated platen when the printer is active, and turn off the heated platen when the printer is asleep.