Ink Vapor Evacuation Constriction Barrier
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink vapor created during inkjet printing can lead to fouling in the drying unit of printing devices, as existing evacuation devices are often positioned downstream of the print group, allowing ink vapor to penetrate and cause issues between the print group and the evacuation device.
Innovation Solution
An evacuation device with a mechanical barrier forming a constriction above the printed recording medium, combined with a blower producing a gas flow counter to the transport direction, effectively prevents ink vapor from penetrating the constriction and directs it to an evacuation unit positioned before the constriction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the evacuation device is positioned downstream of the print group, then the evacuation device can effectively remove ink vapor, but ink vapor penetrates between the print group and evacuation device causing fouling of the recording medium and printing system
Solution Approach 1:
A mechanical barrier is introduced as an intermediary element between the print group and evacuation device. This barrier forms a constriction that creates a physical separation, preventing ink vapor generated at the print group from directly reaching the recording medium while allowing the evacuation device to maintain its downstream position for effective vapor removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The space between the print group and evacuation device is segmented into two regions by the mechanical barrier: an evacuation region before the constriction where ink vapor is collected, and a protected region after the constriction where the recording medium travels. This segmentation prevents vapor migration while maintaining evacuation effectiveness.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a mechanical barrier forming a constriction is introduced, then ink vapor penetration is prevented, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical barrier is implemented as a thin-walled tube or conduit structure that forms the constriction. This thin-film approach provides effective vapor blocking while minimizing structural complexity and maintaining a compact design.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the constriction extent is reduced to less than 25 mm, then ink vapor penetration is more effectively prevented, but the tunnel for recording medium transport becomes more restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The constriction dimensions are optimized to specific parameter ranges (extent less than 25 mm, preferably less than 15 mm or 5 mm) that balance vapor blocking effectiveness with adequate recording medium transport capability. The mechanical barrier geometry is adjusted to maintain these critical dimension parameters.
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 efficiently reduces or prevents fouling by ensuring that a significant portion of the ink vapor is evacuated before it can reach the drying unit, thereby maintaining the quality of the printing process.
Implementation Method 1
a blower (203) that is designed to produce a gas flow (204) traveling counter to the transport direction (1) in the constriction (202) above the printed front side of the recording medium (120)
Implementation Method 2
an evacuation unit (205) that is configured to evacuate ink vapor (170) from the printed front side of the recording medium (120), said ink vapor being in an evacuation region (206) that is arranged before the constriction (202), with respect to the transport direction (1)
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an evacuation device for an inkjet printing device that is designed to guide a printed recording medium along a transport direction through a constriction with an opposite gas flow, in order to be able to efficiently and comprehensively evacuate ink vapor before the constriction, in terms of the transport direction.