Inkjet Drum Cooling Air Layer for Dew Condensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image recording apparatuses using ink jet systems face issues with dew condensation on equipment, leading to recording defects, as maintaining low head temperatures requires frequent maintenance and increases costs, while cooling methods either slow down printing or require extensive paper paths.
Innovation Solution
An image recording apparatus with a cooling device that blows cooling air directly onto the paper's image recording surface, combined with a temperature-adjusted image recording drum and pressure roller to bring the paper into intimate contact, effectively inducing dew condensation on the paper side and preventing equipment condensation without slowing down the printing process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the head temperature is controlled to be equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature to stabilize droplet flight angle, then high-resolution image recording is achieved, but dew condensation occurs in the head causing recording defects
Solution Approach 1:
A cooling device is introduced as an intermediary component between the atmosphere and the head to control dew condensation. The cooling device blows cooled air onto the head surface, creating a protective air layer that prevents moisture in the atmosphere from condensing on the head, thus allowing the head to maintain low temperature for high-resolution recording without suffering from dew condensation defects
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature parameter of the air around the head is changed by introducing cooled air from the cooling device. By lowering the air temperature near the head surface, the dew point is reduced, preventing condensation while allowing the head itself to remain at the low temperature needed for stable droplet ejection and high-resolution image recording
2Manufacturing precision
If a dew condensation member is provided in the vicinity of the head to prevent dew condensation, then recording quality is improved, but the member requires periodic replacement increasing maintenance time and running cost
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling device operates continuously or periodically to maintain a cool air environment around the head, preventing dew condensation without requiring physical replacement. The system serves itself by continuously generating the protective cooled air layer, eliminating the need for consumable dew condensation members that would need periodic replacement, thus reducing maintenance time and running costs
3Object-affected harmful factors
If paper is passed through a cooling roller unit to cool the paper before printing on the rear surface, then dew condensation in the head is prevented, but the paper conveying path is extended and the apparatus size is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling device serves as a compact intermediary that cools the paper without requiring a large cooling roller unit. By blowing cooled air directly onto the paper surface in a localized area, the system achieves effective cooling in a compact space, preventing dew condensation while minimizing the extension of the paper conveying path and keeping the apparatus size small
4Productivity
If paper conveying speed is increased to improve printing processing speed, then productivity is improved, but contact time with cooling roller is insufficient and paper cannot be sufficiently cooled
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling device uses pneumatic flow of cooled air to cool the paper. By controlling the pressure and velocity of the blown air, the system can effectively cool the paper surface even when the paper conveying speed is high. The forced air flow compensates for the reduced contact time, allowing sufficient cooling to occur without slowing down the printing process, thus maintaining both high productivity and appropriate paper temperature
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 prevents dew condensation on equipment while ensuring high-quality image recording without reducing processing speed or extending the paper path, maintaining equipment stability and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
it is possible to induce dew condensation occurring in the vicinity of the image recording device on the paper side and prevent dew condensation on equipment
Implementation Method 2
an image recording drum temperature adjustment device which adjusts temperature of the image recording drum
Data Source
AI summary
An image recording apparatus includes: an image recording drum that suctions and holds a paper on an outer circumferential surface thereof in state of an image recording surface of the paper facing outward, and rotates at a constant speed so as to convey the paper; an image recording drum temperature adjustment device which adjusts temperature of the image recording drum; a cooling device which spouts out cooling air from a constant position towards the outer circumferential surface of the image recording drum in such a manner that the cooling air is blown onto the image recording surface of the paper conveyed by the image recording drum so as to cool the paper; and an image recording device which deposits ink onto the image recording surface of the paper conveyed by the image recording drum to record an image on the image recording surface, the image recording device being situated in a stage after the cooling device and depositing the ink onto the paper having been cooled to record the image.