Heating Print Agent With Dynamic Reflector Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing heating systems in printing processes are inefficient in terms of time and energy usage when heating print agents, as they require warming up the radiation emitter to a predetermined temperature before irradiating the print agent, which prolongs the start-up time for print jobs.

Innovation Solution

A heating system comprising a radiation emitter and a reflector that shifts between a pre-heating position, where radiation is reflected back to enhance the emitter's temperature, and a heating position, where less radiation is reflected back to directly irradiate the print agent, optimizing energy efficiency and reducing warming time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If the radiation emitter is warmed up to a predetermined temperature before irradiating the print agent, then the heating effectiveness is improved, but the start-up time for print jobs is prolonged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveradiation emitter temperatureVSAvoidstart-up time

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The reflector is positioned in the pre-heating position before the printing process starts to concentrate radiation back onto the radiation emitter, pre-heating it rapidly so that when printing begins, the emitter is already at the required temperature, eliminating the warm-up delay

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the reflector position between two states: pre-heating position (where radiation is concentrated back on the emitter to rapidly increase temperature) and printing position (where radiation is directed to the print agent for actual printing). This dynamic switching allows the system to optimize for either speed or function depending on the operational phase

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Duration of action of moving object

If the reflector concentrates radiation back to the radiation emitter, then the warming time is reduced, but the energy efficiency is worsened due to radiation loss

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewarming timeVSAvoidradiation energy

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system operates in periodic cycles: during the pre-heating phase, the reflector concentrates radiation back on the emitter to rapidly increase temperature; during the printing phase, the reflector redirects radiation to the print agent. This periodic switching optimizes energy usage by concentrating radiation only when needed for heating, rather than continuously

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

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 solution reduces the time and energy required to reach the predetermined temperature for the radiation emitter, thereby shortening the start-up time for print jobs and increasing printing efficiency by enhancing energy efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

heat may be used for drying, curing, sublimating or fixing a print agent deposited on a print media. Heating systems may be used for heating the print agent on the print media.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRadiation: Radiation

Implementation Method 2

a reflector (30) to reflect a radiation emitted by the radiation emitter (20) back to the radiation emitter (20)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 3

The print agent on the print media may be heated by conduction, convection or radiation or a mixed of any of them.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 4

The print agent on the print media may be heated by conduction, convection or radiation or a mixed of any of them.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentUS11981121B2Heating print agent on print media

Publication Date: 2024.05.14 HEWLETT PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LP

AI summary

Examples relate to methods to heat a print agent deposited on a print agent, print an image on a print media and heating systems for a heating a print agent deposited on a print media. A heating system comprises a radiation emitter to irradiate a print agent deposited on a print media, a reflector to reflect a radiation emitted by the radiation emitter back to the radiation emitter, and a displacing member to shift the heating system between a pre-heating position wherein the radiation reflected back to the radiation emitter has a higher magnitude and a heating position wherein the radiation reflected back to the radiation emitter has a lower magnitude.