Inkjet Drying Unit with Gas Flow Gap for Vapor Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet printing apparatuses face low drying efficiency and productivity issues when using aluminum sintered materials as print media, due to trapped water vapor and surface soiling, especially when heating from above, which affects the handling and image quality of large substrates.
Innovation Solution
An inkjet printing apparatus with a drying unit and a gas flow generating unit that creates a space between the print medium and the table, allowing for efficient gas flow to escape and promote drying, while maintaining substrate flatness and image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the aluminum sintered material is heated from above to evaporate the preliminary processing fluid, then the drying of the surface layer is improved, but the drying efficiency of the interior and back side decreases due to trapped water vapor
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the drying process into two independent pathways: upper heating for surface drying and lower heating for back-side and interior drying. This segmentation allows each heating zone to optimize its function without interfering with the other, resolving the contradiction between surface drying quality and overall drying efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds a vertical dimension to the drying approach by introducing heating from below the table, creating a three-dimensional heating field. This dimensional change enables simultaneous drying of the back side and interior regions that were previously inaccessible to top-down heating, thereby improving overall drying efficiency
2Ease of operation
If the aluminum sintered material is placed directly on the table for heating, then the handling is simplified, but the surface of the back side becomes soiled and water droplets adhere
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces a mesh member as an intermediary between the aluminum sintered material and the table. This mesh member serves as a mediator that allows heat and water vapor to pass through to the back side while preventing direct contact between the material and the table surface, thus preventing soiling and water droplet adhesion while maintaining handling simplicity
3Productivity
If only a mesh member is used as the platen for back side heating, then the water vapor can escape, but the drying speed decreases and printed sheet flatness cannot be secured
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges two functional elements into a unified platen structure: a mesh member for water vapor removal and a heating unit for thermal processing. This combination allows the system to simultaneously achieve effective vapor escape and maintain printed sheet flatness through controlled heating, resolving the contradiction between vapor removal and flatness maintenance
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 solution significantly improves drying efficiency and productivity by effectively removing water vapor and preventing surface soiling, ensuring better handling and image quality, especially for large substrates.
Implementation Method 1
the aluminum sintered material is heated from above and dried, it is possible to evaporate the preliminary processing fluid which is contained in a porous material
Implementation Method 2
a gas flow generating unit for generating a gas flow in a space which is formed between the table and a surface of the print medium toward the side of the table
Data Source
AI summary
An inkjet printing apparatus that performs printing by ejecting ink from an ink jet head onto a print medium includes a drying unit for drying a liquid which is contained in the print medium, a table on which the print medium is placed; and a gas flow generating unit for generating a gas flow in a space which is formed between the table and a surface of the print medium toward the side of the table.