Movable Air Supply Port for Uniform Ink Drying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ink jet printing apparatuses face challenges with drying blur due to stagnant drying air, which is difficult to prevent even with multiple drying zones, and result in a large apparatus size.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus with a drying device that includes an air supply port and an air supply position changing mechanism, allowing the position of the air supply port to be adjusted relative to the printing medium, preventing air stagnation and ensuring uniform drying conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple drying zones are sequentially disposed along the transport direction, then drying effectiveness is improved, but apparatus size becomes large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the air supply port movable rather than fixed. The air supply port can change its position in the drying space to different locations, allowing a single port to perform the function of multiple static drying zones. This dynamic positioning enables the drying air to reach different areas of the printing medium sequentially, achieving effective drying throughout the apparatus without requiring multiple separate drying zones, thus resolving the contradiction between drying effectiveness and apparatus size.
2Device complexity
If drying is performed with wind in a single direction, then drying process is simple, but drying blur occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the dynamics principle to change the air supply port's position to multiple locations in the drying space. By positioning the air supply port at different locations, drying air is supplied from multiple directions to the printing medium rather than a single direction. This prevents the drying air from becoming stagnant and ensures uniform drying across the printing medium, thereby preventing drying blur while maintaining relatively simple drying process equipment.
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
Prevents drying blur by ensuring uniform drying conditions without increasing the apparatus size, maintaining consistent drying quality across the printing medium.
Implementation Method 1
a drying device that dries the liquid applied onto the printing medium in a drying space
Implementation Method 2
an air supply position changing mechanism that changes a position of the air supply port for the drying space with respect to the printing medium
Data Source
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AI summary
A printing apparatus includes: a printing unit that applies a liquid to a printing medium (12) to perform printing; a support member that supports the printing medium (12); a drying device (10) that dries the liquid applied onto the printing medium (12) in a drying space (67); and a control device (44) that is connected to the drying device (10), wherein the drying device (10) includes an air supply port for supplying a drying gas to the drying space (67), and an air supply position changing mechanism (70) that changes a position of the air supply port for the drying space (67) with respect to the printing medium (12). Drying blur on the printing medium (12), especially on a printing medium with poor ink absorptiveness, is effectively prevented from occuring without an increase of the size of the apparatus.