Heating Portion Contact Control for Uniform Printing Medium Drying

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing printing methods require a significant amount of time to dry the medium and often result in drying unevenness, necessitating more efficient and uniform drying techniques.

Innovation Solution

A printing apparatus with a heating portion positioned to face the back surface of the printing medium, which alternates between a first state of full contact during transport stops and a second state of reduced contact during transport periods, enhancing adhesion and uniform drying while allowing smooth medium transport.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If hot air is used to dry the medium in a drying portion, then the medium can be dried, but a large amount of time is required to sufficiently dry the medium

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrying timeVSAvoiddrying efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the conventional hot air drying method with a heating portion that directly contacts the back surface of the printing medium. This substitution of the drying mechanism achieves much faster drying results, reducing drying time from an extended period to merely several seconds while significantly improving drying efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The heating portion acts as an intermediary element that transfers heat directly to the back surface of the printing medium. This intermediary heating mechanism enables rapid and uniform drying by conducting heat through the medium thickness, solving the time-consuming issue of conventional hot air drying

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If hot air is used to dry the medium, then drying can be achieved, but drying unevenness occurs and uniform drying is difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrying uniformityVSAvoiddrying unevenness

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The heating portion is designed to contact the back surface of the printing medium at multiple locations simultaneously, providing localized heating zones that collectively achieve uniform drying across the entire medium. This local quality approach eliminates drying unevenness by ensuring consistent heat distribution throughout the medium thickness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

By replacing the diffuse hot air drying system with a controlled heating portion that directly contacts the medium, the patent achieves precise and uniform heat distribution. This substitution eliminates the harmful effect of drying unevenness while maintaining effective drying

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If the heating portion is in contact with the back surface during transport, then drying efficiency is improved, but the medium transport becomes obstructed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrying efficiencyVSAvoidmedium transport smoothness

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The heating portion operates periodically by contacting the back surface of the printing medium only during stop periods when the medium is stationary on the platen. During transport periods, the heating portion retracts to avoid contact, thus maintaining smooth medium transport while achieving efficient drying during stops

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The heating portion is designed with dynamic movement capability, allowing it to extend and retract based on the operational state. During stop periods, it extends to contact the medium for heating; during transport periods, it retracts to avoid obstructing medium movement, thus adapting to different operational requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 enables efficient and uniform drying of the printing medium by increasing adhesion during stops and reducing contact during transport, thereby improving drying efficiency and preventing unevenness.

Implementation Method 1

the heating portion is in contact with the back surface during a stop period, in which transport of the printing medium is stopped

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS11173727B2Printing apparatus and printing method

Publication Date: 2021.11.16 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

A printing apparatus includes a printing portion that performs printing on a printing medium, a heating portion that heats the printing medium, which is performed downstream of the printing portion in transport of the printing medium, and a controller. The heating portion is disposed in a position facing a back surface, on which the printing is performed. The controller executes first control for putting the heating portion in a first state in which the heating portion is in contact with the back surface during a transport stop period, in which transport of the printing medium is stopped, and executes second control for putting the heating portion in a second state in which the heating portion contacts the back surface at a lower degree than in the first state during a transport period, in which the transport of the printing medium is performed.