Inkjet Drying Angle Control for Glossy Non-Porous Media
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet printing on non-permeable or low-permeable materials like vinyl chloride sheets results in image impairment and decreased glossiness due to ink overflow and slow drying, which affects productivity and print quality, especially in high-speed printing.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus with two drying stages, each using gas blowing at different angles relative to the conveyance direction, to promote ink thickening and fixation, minimizing surface disturbances and maintaining glossiness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If heated gas is blown at high air speed to increase drying efficiency, then productivity is improved, but glossiness of the printed image surface decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The drying process is divided into two distinct stages: a first drying stage with gas blowing at a first angle to promote solvent evaporation and ink thickening, and a second drying stage with gas blowing at a second angle to maintain surface smoothness and glossiness. This segmentation allows each stage to optimize for its specific function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The first drying stage performs preliminary action by promoting solvent evaporation and ink thickening before the second drying stage. This preliminary thickening ensures that the ink film is sufficiently formed before the final drying, preventing surface disturbance and glossiness loss in the subsequent stage.
2Productivity
If temperature of heated gas is set high to increase drying efficiency, then productivity is improved, but damage to print medium occurs and power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of gas blowing angle between two drying stages. The first drying uses gas at a first angle to maximize evaporation efficiency, while the second drying uses gas at a second angle to minimize surface disturbance. This parameter change allows effective drying without requiring excessively high temperatures that would damage the print medium.
3Manufacturing precision
If drying time is extended by slowing printing speed to maintain quality, then glossiness is preserved, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The drying process is segmented into two stages with different gas blowing angles. The first stage rapidly promotes solvent evaporation and ink thickening, while the second stage maintains surface smoothness. This segmentation enables high-speed drying without sacrificing glossiness, resolving the contradiction between drying time and printing speed.
4Productivity
If ink is not sufficiently thickened before hot air is blown, then productivity is maintained, but smoothness of ink film surface is disturbed and glossiness decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The first drying stage performs preliminary action by promoting solvent evaporation and ink thickening before the second drying stage. This preliminary thickening ensures that the ink film is sufficiently formed and stable before the final drying, preventing surface disturbance and glossiness loss while maintaining high productivity.
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 dual drying system effectively prevents ink overflow and maintains glossiness on non-permeable materials, enhancing print quality and productivity without increasing apparatus size or power consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a first drying means that is disposed downstream relative to the print head in the conveying direction, and dries ink applied to the print medium by blowing gas such that an angle formed with the conveying direction is a first angle
Implementation Method 2
a second drying means that is disposed downstream relative to the first drying means in the conveying direction, and dries ink applied to the print medium by blowing gas such that an angle formed with the conveying direction is a second angle different from the first angle
Data Source
AI summary
A printing apparatus includes a print head that applies ink to a print medium; a conveyance unit that conveys a print medium in a conveying direction; a first drying means that is disposed downstream relative to the print head in the conveying direction, and dries ink applied to the print medium by blowing gas such that an angle formed with the conveying direction is a first angle; and a second drying means that is disposed downstream relative to the first drying means in the conveying direction, and dries ink applied to the print medium by blowing gas such that an angle formed with the conveying direction is a second angle different from the first angle.