Inkjet Printing Layout Using Drying Oven Heat for Ink Temperature Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Printing systems with temperature adjustment mechanisms for ink temperature control consume excessive power due to dedicated heating sections, leading to high energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A printing system that utilizes a drying oven with a heating section and a flow path section to discharge gas externally, eliminating the need for a dedicated heating section by using heated gas to adjust ink temperature, and incorporating blower fans, check valves, and temperature sensors to control gas flow for precise temperature management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a dedicated heating section is provided to adjust ink temperature, then ink temperature control is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the heating function into the existing drying oven that is already used for drying ink on the medium. The drying oven's heating section serves dual purposes: drying the printed medium and heating the ink in the ink supply path, eliminating the need for a separate dedicated heating section and reducing overall power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The drying oven is designed to perform multiple functions: it dries the ink on the printed medium while simultaneously heating the ink in the supply path. This multi-functionality allows one heating system to serve both purposes, reducing the need for additional heating components and lowering power consumption.
2Productivity
If a drying oven with heating section is used, then ink drying function is improved, but heat transfer to printing device may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the system into distinct thermal zones: the drying oven contains the heating section and is thermally isolated from the printing device. The ink supply path passes through the drying oven where it gets heated, but the printing device housing is separated and can be independently temperature-controlled, preventing harmful heat transfer to the printing device.
Solution Approach 2:
The ink itself acts as an intermediary that carries heat from the drying oven to where it is needed. The heated ink flows from the drying oven through the ink supply path to the printing device, allowing the printing device to receive appropriately temperatured ink without being directly exposed to the high temperatures in the drying oven.
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 configuration reduces power consumption, allows for precise ink temperature adjustment, improves ink ejection accuracy, and enables a compact design by minimizing heat transfer to the printing device, while enhancing the usability and cleaning efficiency of the system.
Implementation Method 1
a heating section that is arranged in the drying oven and that heats the medium
Implementation Method 2
a first flow path section that connects the drying oven and the first space and that is configured to discharge gas inside the drying oven to outside the drying oven
Data Source
AI summary
A printing system 1 includes a printing device 20 having a transport section 29 that transports a medium M, a printing section 27 that prints an image by ejecting ink onto the medium M transported by the transport section 29, and a housing 21 having a first space 22 in which the printing section 27 is arranged; a drying device 10 including a drying oven 14 into which the medium M on which the image is printed by the printing section 27 enters, and a heating section 15 that is arranged in the drying oven 14 and heats the medium M; and a flow path section 13 configured to discharge gas inside the drying oven 14 to outside the drying oven 14, that is a first flow path section 13A that connects the drying oven 14 and the first space 22.