Liquid Ejecting Apparatus Upper Path Heating Arrangement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid ejecting apparatuses face challenges in efficiently managing the heating of liquid storage portions to prevent excessive evaporation and ensure adequate viscosity for ink supply, while also minimizing the risk of overheating and evaporation within the printing head and other components.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus includes a transport path with an upper path positioned above the liquid storage portion, where a heating unit is placed to heat the medium after recording, ensuring that ascending heated air does not directly impact the storage portion and that the liquid storage is moderately heated, reducing viscosity and preventing excessive evaporation within the printing head.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the liquid storage portion is heated to lower viscosity and improve liquid supply, then the liquid supply becomes easier, but excessive evaporation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The heating function is segmented into two distinct heating portions: one for heating the medium (drying function) and another for heating the liquid storage portion (viscosity control function). This segmentation allows independent control of heating parameters for each component, preventing excessive evaporation in the storage portion while maintaining adequate liquid supply.
Solution Approach 2:
Different heating conditions are applied to different locations: the medium receives heating for drying purposes, while the liquid storage portion receives controlled heating to maintain viscosity. The heating portions are positioned to provide localized heat where needed, with the second heating portion specifically targeting the liquid storage portion to prevent excessive evaporation.
2Productivity
If the drying portion heats the medium effectively, then drying performance improves, but the liquid storage portion becomes excessively heated
Solution Approach 1:
The heating system is divided into separate heating portions: a first heating portion for drying the medium and a second heating portion for heating the liquid storage portion. This segmentation allows the medium to be heated effectively for drying while the liquid storage portion is heated independently at controlled levels to prevent excessive temperature rise.
Solution Approach 2:
The transport path acts as an intermediary that carries the medium past the heating portions. The upper path positioning allows the medium to pass through heated air generated by the heating portions without direct contact with excessive heat sources, enabling controlled heat transfer for drying while preventing overheating of the liquid storage portion.
3Device complexity
If the liquid storage portion is positioned above the drying portion, then space utilization improves, but the liquid storage portion is heated by ascending air from the drying portion
Solution Approach 1:
The transport path serves as an intermediary channel that allows the medium to pass through heated air generated by the heating portions. The upper path positioning enables the medium to travel through controlled heated air without direct exposure to excessive heat sources, maintaining space efficiency while controlling temperature exposure.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating portions are strategically positioned to provide localized heating where needed. The second heating portion is specifically positioned to heat the liquid storage portion without causing excessive temperature rise, while the first heating portion handles medium drying. This local quality approach allows space-efficient arrangement while controlling thermal conditions.
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 facilitates efficient drying of the medium, prevents excessive heating of the liquid storage, and maintains optimal viscosity for ink supply, while minimizing evaporation risks within the printing head, thereby enhancing printing performance and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
a heating portion that heats the medium on which the recording has been performed
Implementation Method 2
the evaporated amount of the stored liquid becomes large
Implementation Method 3
the liquid storage member is heated by ascending air heated by the drying portion
Implementation Method 4
the viscosity of the stored liquid is lowered and it will be easier to supply the liquid
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejecting apparatus including a transporting portion that transports a medium along a transport path, a liquid ejecting head that performs recording by ejecting, through a nozzle, a liquid onto the medium that is being transported, a mounting portion in which a liquid storage portion that stores the liquid supplied to the liquid ejecting head is mounted, and a heating portion that heats the medium on which the recording has been performed. The transport path includes an upper path positioned above the mounting portion in a vertical direction. After transporting and passing the medium, on which the recording has been performed, through the upper path, the transporting portion discharges the medium through a discharge port. The heating portion is provided above the mounting portion in the vertical direction and heats the medium transported through the upper path.