Heated Pressure Roller for Partially Dried Inkjet Media
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet printers often create curled, cockled, or otherwise distorted printable media due to incompletely dried printing fluid, which complicates finishing processes like stacking and alignment.
Innovation Solution
A partially dried inkjet media conditioner using heated pressure rollers to apply pressure and heat to both sides of the media, increasing evaporation of printing fluid and reducing distorted properties such as curl, cockle, and surface roughness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If inkjet printers deposit printing fluid onto printable media, then printing quality is improved, but the media develops distorted properties such as curl, cockle, and reduced stiffness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a preliminary drying action immediately after inkjet printing by passing the media through a drying zone with heated rollers and controlled humidity. This preliminary drying prevents the media from developing severe distorted properties before finishing operations, resolving the contradiction by stabilizing the media while preserving print quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes physical parameters (temperature, humidity, air flow) in the drying zone to control the evaporation rate of printing fluid. By optimizing these parameters, the media is dried sufficiently to maintain physical stability while avoiding over-drying that could affect print quality, thus resolving the technical contradiction.
2Manufacturing precision
If printing fluid is allowed to remain wet on media, then printing quality is maintained, but finishing processes become difficult due to distorted properties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a preliminary drying and conditioning process before finishing operations. The media passes through heated rollers and a controlled humidity environment that removes excess moisture and reduces distorted properties like curl and cockle, making subsequent finishing processes easier while maintaining printing quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary drying zone with heated rollers and controlled air flow between the printing and finishing processes. This intermediary process acts as a mediator that transitions the media from a wet, distorted state to a drier, more stable state, facilitating easier finishing operations while preserving print quality.
3Stability of the object's composition
If heated pressure rollers are applied to increase evaporation, then distorted properties are reduced, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the temperature, pressure, and residence time parameters in the drying zone to achieve efficient evaporation. By carefully balancing these parameters, the system reduces distorted properties with minimal energy consumption, avoiding excessive heating that would waste energy while still achieving sufficient drying.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic or controlled air flow patterns in the drying zone that enhance evaporation efficiency. The heated rollers are intermittently activated or operate at variable temperatures, reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining effective moisture removal and media stabilization.
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
Effectively removes or reduces distorted properties in the media, improving its stiffness and alignment, making finishing processes more manageable by enhancing the evaporation of printing fluid and realigning fibers.
Implementation Method 1
increase evaporation of printing fluid applied to the partially dried inkjet media
Implementation Method 2
a heated pressure roller 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
Implementation Method 3
apply pressure to a first side of partially dried inkjet media
Data Source
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AI summary
In one example, a system for a partially dried inkjet media conditioner includes a heated pressure roller 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.