Drying Printed Material Using Modulated Radiation Array
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for drying printed materials during multicolor printing face challenges in quickly and effectively drying the material without damaging the printed image, particularly due to the short dwell time between printing units and the need for precise radiation application.
Innovation Solution
A method using a one-dimensional or two-dimensional array of radiation sources, where high-resolution image data is transformed into lower resolution image data, and position data is used to control the intensity of the radiation sources, allowing for time-modulated radiation to dry the printing material as a function of its content without the need for sensors, using UV, visible, or infrared radiation depending on the ink type.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high-power radiation sources are used to dry printed material quickly, then drying speed is improved, but the printed image may be damaged by overheating
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using a one-dimensional array of individually controllable radiation sources where each source's intensity is independently modulated based on the local ink coverage at its corresponding position. This allows high radiation intensity to be applied only where ink is present, achieving fast drying without overheating areas without ink.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by time-modulating the intensity of each radiation source in real-time as the printing material moves through the dryer. The intensity of each source is dynamically adjusted according to the ink coverage data, allowing the system to adapt to varying ink amounts and achieve effective drying within the short dwell time without causing overheating.
2Manufacturing precision
If sensors and complex control systems are used to detect ink coverage and control radiation intensity, then drying precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by using image data from the printing press control system that already contains information about ink coverage at each position. This pre-existing data is used to pre-calculate the required radiation intensity for each source, eliminating the need for additional sensors and complex real-time detection systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements copying by using the same image data that controls the printing press to also control the dryer. The image data serves as a copy that contains all necessary information about ink distribution, allowing the dryer to replicate the printing pattern's drying requirements without additional measurement equipment.
3Reliability
If the dwell time between printing units is extended to allow effective drying, then drying effectiveness is improved, but printing productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the drying function into multiple independently controllable radiation sources arranged in a one-dimensional array. Each source handles a specific segment of the printing material width, allowing simultaneous drying of multiple regions with different ink coverage, thereby achieving effective drying within the limited dwell time without reducing throughput.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic action by using pulsed or modulated radiation from each source synchronized with the movement of the printing material. The radiation is applied in periodic bursts that correspond to the dwell time, maximizing drying efficiency within the available time window while maintaining high printing speed.
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 approach enables efficient and effective drying of printed materials by reducing the complexity of control systems and optical requirements, allowing for standard data usage across different printing settings and ensuring uniform illumination, thus overcoming previous methods' limitations.
Implementation Method 1
using UV, visible, or infrared radiation depending on the ink type
Implementation Method 2
printing inks provided with IR absorbers can be dried with the aid of a two-dimensional array of IR laser diodes
Data Source
AI summary
A method for drying printed material operates with the aid of a one-dimensional or two-dimensional array of radiation sources which can be driven individually or in groups. At the same time, the high-resolution image data describing the printing image or a content of printing forms for individual color separations is transformed into image data of lower resolution. Position data which describes the position of the printed image in the transport direction is also obtained from a device for transporting the printing material. Control data for modulation of an intensity of the radiation sources or groups of radiation sources of the array are generated from the image data of lower resolution and the position data, so that the printing material is swept over in the transport direction with time-modulated radiation points which in each case include a plurality of image points of the higher-resolution printed image.