Inkjet Recording Head Cooling Surface to Prevent Nozzle Dew Condensation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inkjet recording devices face issues with dew condensation on the nozzle surface due to local temperature rises, leading to print quality degradation and meniscus drying, which conventional dehumidification methods fail to effectively address without disturbing air flow and causing further problems.
Innovation Solution
An inkjet recording device with a cooling device having a cooling surface cooled to a lower temperature than the nozzle surface, positioned alongside the nozzle surface and recording medium, effectively dehumidifies the air without using fans, preventing dew condensation and meniscus drying while maintaining print quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a heater is installed on the recording medium conveyance device to improve throughput, then heating efficiency is improved, but dew condensation is generated on the nozzle surface due to temperature difference
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies preliminary anti-action by providing a cooling device that cools the nozzle surface in advance before the heated recording medium arrives. This pre-cooling creates a temperature gradient that prevents dew condensation from forming on the nozzle surface when the heated medium is conveyed underneath, thereby resolving the contradiction between improved throughput and prevention of dew condensation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies local quality by providing targeted cooling only at the nozzle surface area rather than cooling the entire device. The cooling device is positioned to specifically cool the region where dew condensation would occur, maintaining local temperature control that prevents condensation while allowing the rest of the system to operate at higher temperatures for improved throughput.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If dehumidification is performed using conventional methods (fans, air blowers), then humidity is reduced, but air flow is disturbed causing meniscus drying and print quality degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the mechanical dehumidification system (fans and air blowers) with a thermal field-based solution. Instead of using mechanical air movement to reduce humidity, the system uses localized cooling to create a temperature gradient that prevents dew condensation formation. This substitution eliminates air flow disturbance while achieving the same protective effect, thereby maintaining print quality.
3Temperature
If the distance between nozzle surface and heater is reduced to improve heating efficiency, then heating speed is improved, but local temperature rise causes more severe dew condensation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by providing differentiated temperature control at different locations. The nozzle surface is actively cooled to maintain a lower temperature, while the recording medium is heated by the heater. This creates a controlled temperature gradient where the temperature difference exists only in the vertical direction between nozzle and medium, preventing dew condensation on the nozzle while maintaining heating efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling device performs preliminary anti-action by cooling the nozzle surface in advance before the heated recording medium is positioned underneath. This pre-establishes a temperature gradient that counteracts the potential for dew condensation, allowing the system to operate with reduced distance between nozzle and heater for improved heating efficiency without suffering from condensation problems.
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 continuously prevents dew condensation on the nozzle surface, enhances dehumidification near the recording head, and maintains print quality by cooling the air without disturbing air flow, thus improving the overall performance of the inkjet recording device.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling device (7) having a cooling surface (72a) cooled to a temperature lower than temperature of a nozzle surface (2a) of the recording head (2)... effectively dehumidifies the air without using fans, preventing dew condensation
Implementation Method 2
effectively dehumidifies the air in the vicinity without using fans
Data Source
AI summary
An inkjet recording device for ejecting ink onto a recording medium to form an image on the recording medium while a recording head is moved with relative movement to the recording medium in a direction along an upper surface of the recording medium, including: a recording head for ejecting ink onto a recording medium; a heating device for heating the recording medium; a conveyance device for conveying the recording medium having been heated by the heating device to under the recording head; and a cooling device which is provided in a state of insulation from the recording head, and has a cooling surface which is cooled to a temperature lower than a temperature of a nozzle surface of the recording head, wherein the cooling surface and the nozzle surface of the recording head are disposed along a direction of the relative movement and to face the recording medium.