Inkjet Printer Integrating Surface and Back Printing with Drum Drying

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current inkjet printers require separate equipment for surface and back printing on web-shaped materials, leading to increased costs and installation space, and face issues with ink flow and color blur at high speeds, especially when printing white ink which requires more ink and has difficulty drying.

Innovation Solution

An inkjet printer capable of performing both surface and back printing using a single-pass method with a conveyance mechanism, white inkjet heads, and drum-type drying units to dry inks quickly, allowing for continuous high-speed printing without ink flow or color blur.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If separate inkjet printers are prepared for surface printing and back printing, then printing functionality is provided, but equipment cost and installation area increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting functionalityVSAvoidinstallation area

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines surface printing and back printing functions into a single inkjet printer by integrating two white inkjet heads (one for surface printing, one for back printing) and two drum-type drying units into one device, allowing both printing modes to be performed on the same equipment thereby reducing installation area and equipment cost

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The inkjet printer is designed with multi-functionality to perform both surface printing and back printing operations. The printer includes white inkjet heads and drying units that can be activated for either surface printing or back printing modes, making a single device universal for both printing applications

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If printing speed is increased to about 30 m/min, then productivity improves, but ink flow and color blur occur due to insufficient drying

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting speedVSAvoidprint quality

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The drum-type drying units are positioned to dry the white ink immediately after it is discharged onto the print base material, before subsequent color inks are applied or before the material proceeds to the next printing stage. This preliminary drying action prevents ink flow and color blur even at high printing speeds of 30 m/min

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces conventional drying methods with drum-type drying units that provide efficient thermal drying. The drum structure with heated surface offers rapid and uniform drying action, substituting less effective drying mechanisms and enabling high-speed printing without compromising print quality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Manufacturing precision

If white ink is printed with larger amount, then white printing quality improves, but drying difficulty increases and printing speed cannot be increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewhite printing qualityVSAvoidprinting speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The drum-type drying units perform preliminary drying of white ink immediately after application, removing excess moisture before subsequent processing. This allows larger amounts of white ink to be applied for quality printing while still achieving rapid drying to maintain high printing speeds

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The drum-type drying mechanism provides efficient thermal energy transfer that rapidly evaporates solvent from white ink. This advanced drying system replaces conventional drying methods, enabling the use of larger ink amounts for better white printing quality while maintaining high printing speeds through rapid moisture removal

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

Enables high-speed image forming on web-shaped materials with aqueous inks without ink flow or color blur, reducing equipment costs and installation space by integrating surface and back printing capabilities into a single printer.

Implementation Method 1

a first drum-type drying unit configured to dry the white aqueous ink discharged by the first white inkjet head in the case of surface printing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 2

a heating mechanism configured to heat an inside of the housing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Data Source

PatentUS12076978B2Inkjet printer for both surface printing and back printing

Publication Date: 2024.09.03 THINK LABORATORY CO LTD

AI summary

Provided are an inkjet printer for both surface printing and back printing which is capable of performing both of surface printing and back printing while continuously conveying a web-shaped print base material (12) at high speed, and an inkjet printing method using the inkjet printer. The inkjet printer includes: a first white inkjet head (20a) configured to discharge a white aqueous ink to a surface of the web-shaped print base material (12) in a case of surface printing; a first drum-type drying unit (22a) configured to dry the white aqueous ink in the case of surface printing; a second white inkjet head (20b) configured to discharge a white aqueous ink to a surface of the web-shaped print base material (12) in a case of back printing; and a second drum-type drying unit (22b) configured to dry the white aqueous ink in the case of back printing.