Imaging system having heating area data for a recording medium
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current garment printing systems face inefficiencies in heating and drying processes, particularly in managing different sizes and types of recording media, which can lead to uneven printing and increased power consumption.
Innovation Solution
An imaging system comprising a liquid discharge device, a heating device, and a cassette with storage for heating-area and liquid discharge region data, allowing the heating device to adjust its heating based on pre-printed or post-printed image requirements, using multiple heating plates and contactless heating to reduce adhesion and damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single heating method is used for all recording media, then the device structure is simple, but the printing quality and efficiency deteriorate due to inability to adapt to different sizes and types
Solution Approach 1:
The heating device is divided into multiple heating plates (first heating plate, second heating plate, third heating plate) that can be selectively used based on the size and type of recording medium. Each heating plate corresponds to different heating areas, allowing the system to adapt to various recording media without requiring a completely different heating structure for each type.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically selects which heating plate to use based on the stored heating area data and liquid discharge region data. The controller chooses the appropriate heating plate (first, second, or third) according to the specific recording medium being processed, making the heating device adaptable rather than static.
2Reliability
If the entire recording medium is heated, then drying is thorough, but power consumption increases and damage to the recording medium occurs
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of heating the entire recording medium uniformly, the system heats only the liquid discharge region where ink has been applied. The heating plate applies heat locally to the specific area containing the liquid, ensuring thorough drying of the printed regions while avoiding unnecessary heating of empty areas, thus reducing power consumption and minimizing damage to the recording medium.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies heating action only where needed (partial action) - specifically to the liquid discharge region rather than the entire recording medium. This partial heating approach is sufficient to achieve the drying objective while avoiding the excessive energy consumption and potential damage that would result from heating the entire surface.
3Ease of manufacture
If heating is applied before printing, then the recording medium is prepared properly, but unnecessary energy is consumed on areas that will not be printed
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary heating of the recording medium in the holder before the liquid discharge operation. The heating plate heats the recording medium in advance, preparing it for optimal liquid discharge and printing performance. This preliminary action ensures the recording medium is at the appropriate temperature and condition before the actual printing process begins.
Solution Approach 2:
The preliminary heating is applied locally to the heating area defined in the stored data, which corresponds to where the liquid will be discharged. Rather than heating the entire recording medium unnecessarily, the system heats only the specific region that will receive liquid, preparing that area properly while avoiding energy waste on regions that will not be printed.
4Productivity
If contact heating is used, then heating efficiency is high, but adhesion and damage to the recording medium increase
Solution Approach 1:
The heating plate serves as an intermediary heating element that transfers thermal energy to the recording medium without direct contact. The heating plate is positioned to face the recording medium with a gap between them, allowing heat to be transferred through radiation or convection rather than direct contact, thus maintaining high heating efficiency while preventing adhesion and mechanical damage to the recording medium 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
Improves the processability and efficiency of printing by allowing dynamic heating adjustments based on data, reducing power consumption and minimizing damage to the recording medium, while enhancing the quality of printed images across various sizes and types.
Implementation Method 1
a heater configured to heat the heating area of the recording medium
Data Source
AI summary
An imaging system includes a liquid discharge device, a heating device, and a cassette. In the imaging system, the cassette includes a holder to hold a recording medium and a storage device to store heating-area data indicating a heating area of the recording medium to be heated before an image is printed on the recording medium. Moreover, in the imaging system, the liquid discharge device includes a printing device to discharge liquid onto the recording medium held by the holder to print the image on the recording medium and a writing device to write liquid discharge region data to the storage device, the liquid discharge region data indicating a liquid discharge region of the recording medium onto which the liquid is discharged by the printing device. Further, in the imaging system, the heating device includes a heater to heat the heating area of the recording medium.