Indirect Inkjet Printing Liquid Conditioning Medium Residue Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
In indirect inkjet printing, the printing ink often fails to detach completely from the intermediate carrier, leading to residue issues and inefficiencies in transferring the ink onto the printing material, particularly with water-based inks where thermal conductivity is poor, causing uneven heating and energy distribution.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a liquid conditioning medium applied to the intermediate carrier, which reacts with the printing liquid to increase viscosity only in the contact region, forming a film that allows for residue-free transfer, and using a release agent with a higher boiling temperature than the solvent to facilitate solvent evaporation without affecting the release agent, along with localized heating to improve energy efficiency and ink transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If printing ink is applied onto an intermediate carrier for indirect inkjet printing, then the ink can be transferred onto the printing material, but the printing ink does not detach completely from the intermediate carrier causing residue issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a liquid conditioning medium that changes the physical-chemical parameters of the intermediate carrier surface, specifically increasing the viscosity of the printing liquid in the contact region through chemical reaction. This parameter change enables complete ink detachment and transfer without residue by forming a film structure that facilitates clean release.
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid conditioning medium acts as an intermediary substance between the printing ink and the intermediate carrier. It mediates the interaction by reacting with the printing liquid to form a conditioned contact region that enables complete transfer while preventing residue formation on the carrier surface.
2Use of energy by moving object
If thermal energy is applied to dry water-based inks on the intermediate carrier, then the ink can be evaporated and transferred, but the poor thermal conductivity causes uneven heating and energy inefficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the thermal parameters of the contact region by applying a liquid conditioning medium that reacts with the printing liquid. This creates a localized region with improved thermal properties that enables more uniform heat distribution and efficient evaporation of water-based inks, reducing energy loss and preventing uneven heating.
3Manufacturing precision
If a liquid conditioning medium is applied to increase viscosity in the contact region, then residue-free transfer is achieved, but the complexity of the printing process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid conditioning medium is applied in advance to the intermediate carrier before the printing ink is jetted onto it. This preliminary action prepares the surface to react with and condition the printing liquid, ensuring complete transfer without residue while adding minimal complexity to the overall process flow.
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 method enables residue-free transfer of printing ink from the intermediate carrier to the printing material, improving print quality and reducing energy consumption by ensuring precise heating and ink drying, especially with water-based inks, while minimizing thermal image formation on the carrier.
Implementation Method 1
the first substance of the liquid conditioning medium increases the viscosity of the printing liquid on the intermediate carrier in the contact region by way of a reaction with the second substance of the printing liquid
Implementation Method 2
the printing liquid is heated, and the printing liquid is transferred from the intermediate carrier onto the printing material
Implementation Method 3
the printing liquid is heated
Implementation Method 4
using a release agent with a higher boiling temperature than the solvent to facilitate solvent evaporation without affecting the release agent
Data Source
AI summary
A method for the indirect application of printing liquid onto a printing material provides an intermediate carrier, preferably a circulating belt, a liquid conditioning medium including a first substance applied onto the intermediate carrier and a printing liquid, in particular an inkjet ink, including a second substance applied onto the conditioning medium on the intermediate carrier. The printing liquid is situated as droplets or a layer substantially on the conditioning medium and the droplets or the layer form a contact region on their underside with the conditioning medium. The printing liquid is heated, preferably by way of a dryer and the printing liquid is transferred from the intermediate carrier onto the printing material.