Ink Jet Recording Apparatus Dual-Side Heating Drying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink jet recording apparatuses using organic solvent-based inks face issues with smearing and incomplete drying, particularly with hard-to-dry inks like latex ink, especially at high recording speeds or with non-absorbent media, leading to nozzle clogging and inefficient drying.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus employs a combination of platen, carriage, and upper heaters to heat the recording medium from both sides, maintaining a surface temperature of 60°C to 80°C beneath the recording head, ensuring complete drying and preventing nozzle clogging, while reducing the risk of cockling or melting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a platen heater is used to heat the recording medium from the lower side, then ink drying is improved, but intense heating causes coating film formation on the ink surface which prevents solvent volatilization
Solution Approach 1:
The heating function is divided into two independent heating means: a platen heater for heating the recording medium from the lower side, and a carriage heater for heating from the upper side. This segmentation allows each heater to operate at optimized temperature levels, preventing coating film formation while ensuring complete ink drying.
Solution Approach 2:
Different heating intensities are applied to different locations: the platen heater provides gentle heating from below to prevent coating film formation, while the carriage heater provides focused heating at the printing area to ensure complete ink drying. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between gentle and intense heating requirements.
2Manufacturing precision
If heating temperature at the printing area is increased to prevent smearing, then ink smearing is reduced, but nozzle drying occurs causing ink non-discharge
Solution Approach 1:
The heating function is segmented between the platen heater (providing gentle heating to prevent smearing) and the carriage heater (providing focused heating at the printing area). This segmentation allows precise temperature control that prevents both smearing and nozzle drying.
Solution Approach 2:
The platen heater acts as an intermediary that provides gentle heating to prevent smearing, while the carriage heater provides additional focused heating where needed. This intermediary heating approach prevents excessive temperature rise that would cause nozzle drying.
3Manufacturing precision
If only upper side heating is used to prevent smearing, then ink smearing is reduced, but intense heating is necessary which prevents complete drying
Solution Approach 1:
Heating is segmented into two sources: upper side heating via the carriage heater for smearing prevention, and lower side heating via the platen heater for complete drying. This dual-segmented approach eliminates the need for intense single-sided heating.
4Productivity
If recording speed is increased for productivity, then output is improved, but ink drying time is reduced causing smearing and incomplete drying
Solution Approach 1:
The platen heater provides continuous gentle heating throughout the recording process, ensuring that even at high recording speeds, the ink receives sufficient heat for complete drying without smearing.
Solution Approach 2:
The platen heater performs preliminary heating of the recording medium before the ink is ejected, preparing the surface for optimal ink reception and drying, which maintains drying quality even at high recording speeds.
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 configuration effectively prevents smearing and ensures complete drying of ink on the recording medium, even with hard-to-dry inks, at high speeds, and with non-absorbent media, while reducing the risk of nozzle clogging and medium defects.
Implementation Method 1
a platen heater that is mounted on the platen and heats the recording medium from a lower side of the recording medium
Implementation Method 2
a carriage heater that is mounted on the carriage and heats the recording medium from an upper side of the recording medium
Implementation Method 3
an upper heater that is disposed on a downstream side of the carriage in a moving direction of the recording medium and heats the recording medium from the upper side of the recording medium
Implementation Method 4
the surface temperature of the recording medium directly below the recording head for discharging ink droplets is in a desired temperature range, thereby the smearing of ink that lands on the recording medium can be prevented and can be completely dried
Data Source
AI summary
An ink jet recording apparatus is provided and includes: a carriage on which a recording head for discharging ink droplets onto the recording medium is mounted and that moves relative to the recording medium; a platen that supports the recording medium at a predetermined position; and heating means for heating the recording medium, in which heating means includes a platen heater that is mounted on the platen and heats the recording medium from a lower side of the recording medium, a carriage heater that is mounted on the carriage and heats the recording medium from an upper side of the recording medium, and an upper heater that is disposed on a downstream side of the carriage in a moving direction of the recording medium and heats the recording medium from the upper side of the recording medium.