Heating Surface Recesses for Ink Contamination Prevention
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet image forming apparatuses face contamination issues due to ink adhering to conveyance rollers during double-sided printing, leading to contamination of subsequent recording media.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus employs a drying unit with a heating surface featuring recesses and controlled temperature distribution along the conveyance path, using a combination of a heating roller and non-contact dryers to minimize ink transfer and contamination, with temperature control strategies to ensure efficient drying and prevent ink adherence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a drying unit with heating surface is used to dry the recording medium, then the drying efficiency is improved, but the heating surface becomes contaminated with ink
Solution Approach 1:
The heating surface is designed with recesses at specific locations where ink transfer is most likely to occur. These recesses create local structural differences that prevent ink from adhering to the heating surface while maintaining effective thermal contact with the recording medium. This local structural modification resolves the contradiction by preserving drying efficiency while eliminating contamination at critical areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The recesses in the heating surface act as intermediaries between the heating elements and the recording medium. They provide a structural buffer that prevents direct ink contact with the heating surface while still allowing thermal energy transfer. This intermediary structure enables the heating function to continue without the harmful side effect of ink contamination.
2Productivity
If the conveyance roller is used to convey the recording medium during drying, then the recording medium is conveyed efficiently, but the liquid ink adheres to the conveyance roller and contaminates subsequent recording media
Solution Approach 1:
The recesses in the heating surface are positioned to act before the ink can transfer to the conveyance roller. By providing a structured interface at the heating surface that prevents ink adhesion in advance, the system proactively eliminates the contamination problem before it can affect the conveyance roller and subsequent recording media.
3Speed
If the temperature of the heating surface is increased to improve drying, then the drying speed is improved, but the ink adheres more strongly to the heating surface
Solution Approach 1:
The recesses create local structural variations on the heating surface that prevent ink adhesion even at elevated temperatures. The structural design of the recesses ensures that thermal energy can be effectively transferred to accelerate drying while the physical geometry prevents ink from forming strong adhesive bonds with the heating surface.
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 effectively prevents contamination of the heating surface and recording media by ensuring proper drying and ink fixation, enhancing the efficiency and productivity of the image forming process while maintaining apparatus size and speed.
Implementation Method 1
a drying unit that dries the recording medium with a heating surface having recesses at a predetermined location
Implementation Method 2
the liquid applied to the first side is heated and dried while the recording medium is conveyed
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2(a)~2(b)
Figure 3
AI summary
An image forming apparatus (100) includes a first liquid applier (2'), a second liquid applier (2), a conveyor (6), and a heater (5). The first liquid applier (2') applies liquid to a first side of a recording medium. The second liquid applier (2) applies the liquid to a second side of the recording medium bearing the liquid applied to the first side by the first liquid applier (2'). The conveyor (6) conveys, in a conveyance direction, the recording medium bearing the liquid applied to the second side by the second liquid applier (2). The heater (5) heats the recording medium conveyed by the conveyor (6). The conveyor (6) conveys the recording medium in contact with the first side of the recording medium. The heater (5) heats the recording medium at different temperatures between an upstream location and a downstream location in the conveyance direction of the recording medium.