Impingement Heating for Uniform Print Fluid Curing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing printing devices face challenges in uniformly heating print fluids to support the adhesion of pigment particles on both flexible and rigid print media without damaging the media or reducing throughput, as rapid heating can polymerize surface particles while leaving deeper particles unaffected and excessive heating can deteriorate the media.

Innovation Solution

The use of an impingement device that modifies the flow rate and distribution of a heating fluid to quickly heat the print fluid to a desired temperature and maintain it for a specific duration, ensuring uniform curing and adhesion across the print medium, regardless of its material or flexibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If rapid heating is applied to polymerize surface particles, then adhesion is improved, but deeper particles remain unaffected and heating uniformity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveadhesionVSAvoidheating uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The heating process is segmented into multiple zones with different temperature profiles. The impingement device creates a first heating zone with intense localized heating for rapid polymerization, followed by a second heating zone with gentler heating to ensure uniform penetration throughout the print fluid depth, resolving the contradiction between rapid surface polymerization and deep particle heating uniformity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the print fluid receive different heating intensities tailored to their specific needs. The surface region receives intense impingement heating for rapid polymerization and adhesion, while deeper regions receive sustained but gentler heating to ensure complete polymerization without overheating, achieving both strong adhesion and uniform heating throughout

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Strength

If excessive heating is applied to ensure complete polymerization, then adhesion is improved, but the print medium deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveadhesionVSAvoidmedia deterioration

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The heating process is divided into staged zones: an initial intense heating zone for rapid polymerization, followed by a gradual cooling zone. This segmentation allows the print medium to withstand the heating process without deterioration, as the temperature is reduced in later stages after the critical polymerization is complete

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The heating is applied periodically rather than continuously at maximum intensity. The impingement heating is applied in controlled pulses or stages, allowing brief intervals for heat dissipation and preventing thermal accumulation that would cause media deterioration, while still achieving complete polymerization over time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Strength

If heating duration is extended to ensure complete polymerization, then adhesion is improved, but throughput decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveadhesionVSAvoidthroughput

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The print fluid is preheated before entering the main impingement heating zone, so that the polymerization process is already initiated. This preliminary action reduces the residence time required in the intense heating zone, enabling complete polymerization and strong adhesion while maintaining high throughput

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The impingement heating device enables the system to 'rush through' the polymerization process in a brief intense heating period rather than requiring prolonged gentle heating. The high-energy impingement heating completes polymerization in a short time window, maintaining high production speed while ensuring complete adhesion

Inventive Principle:

Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

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 approach allows for durable and high-quality printing on various materials with satisfactory gloss, maintaining throughput by ensuring consistent heating across the print medium's depth, thereby enhancing the printing process's efficiency and performance.

Implementation Method 1

an impingement device (404) that modifies a flow rate of a heating fluid towards a curing zone (104)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 2

quickly heating up the print fluid to a desired temperature

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 3

The additional particles may be polymerizable by applying heat

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPolymerization: Photopolymerisation

Data Source

PatentUS10864752B2Printing on rigid and flexible print media

Publication Date: 2020.12.15 HEWLETT PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LP

AI summary

A printing device is described. The printing device comprises a fluid flow generator to cause a heating fluid to flow towards a curing zone that is downstream of a print zone in terms of an advance direction of the print medium. The printing device comprises an impingement device arranged upstream of the curing zone in terms of the heating fluid flow. The impingement device is to modify a flow rate of the heating fluid towards the curing zone along the advance direction.