Ink-jet Printer Card Heating System for Durable Printing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ink-jet printing technologies for cards, such as credit and smart cards, face challenges with low quality results, complexity, high costs, and lengthy curing processes, particularly when using thermal or ink-jet techniques with UV lamps.
Innovation Solution
An ink-jet printer design that uses a thermoplastic material card with a heating system and suction mechanism to ensure high-quality, durable prints by maintaining the card at an optimal temperature during printing, utilizing an auxiliary sensor for precise temperature control and a solvent system that chemically bonds ink with the card surface, allowing for quick and efficient printing without the need for UV lamps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If thermal printing is used, then printing quality is improved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex thermal printing system with a simpler ink-jet printing system that uses a heating element to facilitate ink bonding. The heating element is integrated into the printhead assembly, eliminating the need for separate thermal printing mechanisms while achieving durable prints through chemical bonding rather than thermal transfer.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the printing parameters by using a heated ink-jet system where the heating element raises the temperature of the card surface during printing. This temperature increase facilitates the chemical bonding between ink and card material, achieving thermal printing quality through parameter modification rather than system replacement.
2Reliability
If UV lamp curing is used, then ink fixation is improved, but printing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by heating the card surface before and during the ink deposition process. The heating element is activated in advance to prepare the card surface for ink bonding, and continues heating during printing to ensure immediate fixation. This eliminates the need for separate post-printing UV curing steps, as the bonding occurs during the printing process itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the heating function with the printing function by integrating the heating element directly into the printhead assembly. The heating and ink deposition operations are combined into a single simultaneous process, eliminating the sequential UV curing step required in traditional systems and reducing total processing time.
3Reliability
If UV lamp is added, then ink fixation is improved, but device complexity and dimensions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the heating function with the printing function by integrating the heating element directly into the printhead assembly. The heating and ink deposition operations are combined into a single simultaneous process, eliminating the separate UV lamp and curing mechanism, thereby reducing device complexity and overall dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The printhead assembly is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as the ink deposition mechanism and the heating source. The heating element is integrated into the printhead structure, allowing a single component to perform multiple functions (ink ejection and surface heating), thereby eliminating the need for separate UV curing equipment.
4Ease of manufacture
If film deposition is used, then printing preparation is simplified, but final print quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the intermediate film layer from the printing process. Instead of depositing ink onto a pre-applied film, the system directly deposits ink onto the heated card surface. The heating element facilitates direct chemical bonding between the ink and card material, removing the film deposition step entirely while improving print quality through direct bonding.
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 achieves high-quality, long-lasting prints on cards with reduced complexity and cost, while maintaining a compact design, enabling fast and efficient printing without the drawbacks of traditional methods.
Implementation Method 1
a heating system (42) for heating said card (11') during operation of the printing station (50)
Implementation Method 2
utilizing an auxiliary sensor for precise temperature control and a solvent system that chemically bonds ink with the card surface
Data Source
AI summary
An ink-jet printer for printing on a thermoplastic card includes a support on which the card is placed and a printing station includes at least one ink-jet printhead for printing on the card. A reservoir is coupled to the ink-jet printhead and contains an ink comprising: a medium consisting of a low-boiling organic solvent; an auxiliary solvent consisting of a high-boiling organic solvent; and a coloring component soluble in the medium. The support includes a heating system to heat the card during operation of the printing station.