Hydrographic Printer Ink Drying Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printers fail to dry ink droplets on soluble films quickly enough, leading to smudges, smears, and blurs, making the films unusable for hydrographic printing.
Innovation Solution
A printer with a heating element and fan system that heats the air to an elevated temperature to dry ink droplets on the film in 15 seconds or less, ensuring stable and distinct image formation on soluble films with or without a peel-off backing layer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a soluble film with a peel-off backing layer is used for printing, then the film is easier to handle and store, but the ink droplets cannot be dried fast enough, causing smudges, smears, and blurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by introducing a heating element and fan system that pre-heats and directs hot air onto the film surface immediately after ink deposition. This preliminary drying action occurs within the printing mechanism itself, stabilizing the ink droplets before the film leaves the printing area, thereby preventing smudging while maintaining ease of handling through the backing layer
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses hot air as an intermediary medium between the ink droplets and the environment. The heating element generates hot air, and the fan directs this hot air onto the inked film surface, creating a controlled drying environment that prevents smudging while allowing the film to retain its backing layer for easy handling
2Productivity
If the ink droplets are deposited onto the film at high speed, then productivity increases, but the ink droplets pool and run on the surface, creating smudges and blurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuity of useful action by maintaining a continuous flow of hot air over the inked film surface through the fan system. This continuous thermal action ensures that ink droplets are constantly being dried as the film moves through the printing mechanism at high speed, preventing pooling and running while maintaining high productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by altering the temperature parameter of the air environment within the printing mechanism. The heating element raises the air temperature, and the fan directs this heated air onto the film, creating a localized high-temperature zone that accelerates ink drying and stabilizes droplets even during high-speed printing
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 printer effectively stabilizes and dries ink droplets on soluble films, preventing smudges and blurs, and enabling the successful transfer of images onto objects through hydrographic printing.
Implementation Method 1
A first heating element is secured to the lid. The first heating element heats the surrounding air from room temperature to an elevated temperature.
Implementation Method 2
The fan directs and blows the hot air produced by the first heating element onto a select region of the advancing film.
Data Source
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Figure 11
AI summary
A printer (10) and a method of printing is disclosed. The printer includes a frame having a printing mechanism. The printing mechanism has an exterior surface, an inlet (30) for receiving a leading edge of a film (12) and an advancing mechanism. The printing mechanism also has a print head capable of depositing a plurality of ink droplets onto the advancing film and an outlet for allowing the printed film to exit. A lid is secured to the printing mechanism and is movable between a closed position, where the film is covered, and an open position, where the film is exposed. A first heating element is secured to the lid which heats the incoming air. A first fan is located adjacent to the first heating element and functions to direct the heated air onto the plurality of ink droplets. An inlet aperture is formed in the exterior surface of the printing mechanism which is aligned with the first fan. A cover (60) having at least one opening formed there through is positioned over the inlet aperture. A baffle is positioned below the cover and has a plurality of openings formed there through. The baffle regulates the volume of air passing through the inlet aperture. A pair of second fans is positioned on either side of the print head for regulating the air temperature surrounding the print head. Lastly, a heater control unit (76) is utilized to regulate the temperature of the first heating element.