Laser Printing Permanency via Tar Polymerization and Compression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional printing apparatuses face issues with ink limitations, nozzle clogging due to ink drying, and byproducts like smoke and tar compounds that affect print quality and safety, especially when dealing with various paper types and conditions.
Innovation Solution
An inkless printing apparatus using a laser to carbonize substrates, accompanied by an electromagnetic radiator to polymerize tar compounds, a compressor to enhance print permanency, and a coating to bind reaction products, while managing byproducts through discharge systems to maintain safety and quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a laser is used to carbonize the substrate for inkless printing, then the printing apparatus can avoid ink-related issues (nozzle clogging, limited capacity), but byproducts such as smoke and tar-like compounds are produced that can condense on the paper causing unwanted color changes and contaminate laser optics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the harmful byproducts (smoke and tar compounds) generated during laser carbonization using a suction device. This separation allows the beneficial carbonization effect to continue while eliminating the harmful condensation and contamination effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent captures the tar-like compounds produced during carbonization and uses them as a binder material. These previously harmful byproducts are now applied to the printed surface to improve print permanency and abrasion resistance, converting a negative effect into a beneficial function.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the laser intensity is reduced to minimize byproduct formation, then contamination is reduced, but the print quality and carbonization effectiveness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The suction device actively removes byproducts from the printing zone, allowing the laser to operate at optimal intensity for high-quality carbonization without suffering from contamination effects. The extraction system decouples the print quality from byproduct formation constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a binder layer (comprising captured tar compounds and optionally additional binders) as an intermediary between the carbonized print and the paper surface. This mediator enhances print permanency and provides abrasion resistance without requiring reduction of laser intensity.
3Manufacturing precision
If a transparent cover is used to obtain a low oxygen environment, then the carbonization process is improved, but the cover gets dirty due to byproduct condensation, reducing laser beam effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The suction device extracts byproducts from the printing zone before they can condense on the transparent cover, maintaining cover cleanliness and laser beam effectiveness while preserving the beneficial low-oxygen carbonization environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent maintains continuous operation of the laser at optimal intensity by continuously removing byproducts, ensuring uninterrupted high-quality carbonization without periodic interruptions for cover cleaning.
4Adaptability or versatility
If conventional ink is used for printing, then the printing apparatus can handle various paper types, but the ink may dry and clog the nozzle when the apparatus is not used for an extended period
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the inkjet mechanical system with a laser-based thermal carbonization system. This substitution eliminates nozzles and ink reservoirs entirely, using optical energy to directly carbonize the paper surface, thereby avoiding all ink-related reliability issues while maintaining versatility with various paper types.
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 enhances print permanency and quality by polymerizing tar compounds, compressing them into the substrate, and applying a binder, while effectively managing byproducts to ensure safe and high-quality printing across different paper types and conditions.
Implementation Method 1
at least one laser for selectively heating one or more parts of the surface of said paper object to a level wherein the heated part of said surface at least partly carbonizes
Implementation Method 2
an electromagnetic radiator configured to irradiate at least the reaction products in the substrate to cause at least the tar like compounds to polymerize and interlink
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, comprising a laser configured to treat a substrate by at least partially carbonizing said substrate, wherein at least tar like compounds are formed in the substrate as reaction products of the carbonizing, and an electromagnetic radiator configured to irradiate at least the reaction products in the substrate to cause at least the tar like compounds to polymerize and interlink The present invention further relates to a printing apparatus, comprising a laser configured to treat a substrate, wherein reaction products are formed in the substrate, and a compressor configured to compress at least the reaction products in the substrate. The invention also relates to a printing method, comprising the steps of: - at least partially carbonizing a substrate with a laser, thereby forming at least tar like compounds as reaction products of the carbonizing in said substrate; - compressing the reaction products onto the substrate; and - substantially simultaneously with said compressing step, supplying energy to the reaction products that are pressed onto the substrate.