Heated Pressure Roller Conditioner for Curl Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet printers often cause curl, cockle, and other physical property changes in printed media due to partially dried printing fluid, making finishing processes difficult.
Innovation Solution
A partially dried inkjet media conditioner with a heated pressure roller assembly applies pressure and heat to increase evaporation of printing fluid, reducing distorted properties and making the media compatible with finishing devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If inkjet printers deposit printing fluid onto printable media, then printing can be performed, but curl and cockle occur in the media when the printing fluid is not completely dry
Solution Approach 1:
The conditioner is positioned between the inkjet printer and finishing processes to pre-dry and flatten the media before it reaches the finishing section. This preliminary action removes curl and cockle caused by partially dried printing fluid, ensuring the media is ready for subsequent finishing operations without delays.
Solution Approach 2:
The conditioner changes the physical parameters of the media by applying heat and pressure to evaporate the printing fluid and restore the media to its original flat state. This parameter change transforms the media from a distorted, fluid-containing state to a dry, flat state suitable for finishing.
2Productivity
If printing fluid is deposited on media, then printing output is achieved, but physical properties of the media change when fluid is not completely dry
Solution Approach 1:
The conditioner operates continuously between the printer and finishing processes, maintaining a steady state of media processing. It continuously applies heat and pressure to ensure printing fluid is evaporated and media physical properties are stabilized before finishing operations begin.
Solution Approach 2:
The conditioner modifies the physical and chemical parameters of the media by controlling temperature and pressure to evaporate printing fluid. This restores the media's physical properties such as stiffness, flatness, and dimensional stability to acceptable ranges for finishing processes.
3Shape
If conditioner applies heat and pressure to media, then evaporation of printing fluid increases and distortions are reduced, but additional equipment and process steps are required
Solution Approach 1:
The conditioner combines multiple functions into a single integrated assembly: heating elements for evaporation, pressure rollers for flattening, and support structures for media handling. This merging of functions reduces the number of separate components and simplifies the overall system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The conditioner assembly serves multiple purposes: it dries the printing fluid through heat, flattens curl and cockle through pressure, and prepares the media for finishing processes. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated devices for each function.
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 conditioner effectively removes or reduces distortions such as curl and increased surface roughness, enabling smoother stacking, alignment, and finishing of printed media by enhancing evaporation and embedding extruded fibers, thus improving media compatibility with finishing equipment.
Implementation Method 1
a heated pressure roller assembly to apply pressure to a first side of partially dried inkjet media and apply heat to a second side of the partially dried inkjet media. The conditioner may be utilized to increase evaporation of printing fluid applied to the partially dried inkjet media
Implementation Method 2
The conditioner may be utilized to increase evaporation of printing fluid applied to the partially dried inkjet media. In some examples, these distorted properties may be caused by printing fluid deposited on the media and the media absorbing the printing fluid
Data Source
AI summary
A conditioner includes a pressure roller assembly, a tension roller assembly, a heating element, a pressure roller drive motor, a tension drive motor, and a controller. The heating element heats the pressure roller assembly. The pressure roller drive motor rotates the pressure roller assembly. The tension drive motor rotates the tension roller assembly. The controller receives a print job complete notification to initiate a conditioner shutdown. In response to the print job complete notification, the controller turns off the tension drive motor. The controller sets the heating element to a predetermined temperature and waits a first predetermined period. In response to the first predetermined period elapsing, the controller turns off the heating element. With the heating element turned off, the controller turns off the pressure roller drive motor.