Plasma Treatment System With Transport Rollers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conveyor belts in plasma discharging treatment apparatuses for sheet media are affected by corona or plasma, leading to inaccurate speed and position control, damage, and pollution, which contaminates printed sheets, especially in duplex printing.
Innovation Solution
A plasma discharging treatment apparatus with rotatable transport rollers and a guide member between them, allowing sheets to travel unhindered, preventing bending and curling, and using a plasma-resistant surface layer to maintain cleanliness and control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conveyor belt is used to transport sheets through corona or plasma, then the sheet can be treated, but the belt is damaged and polluted by the corona or plasma, leading to inaccurate speed and position control and contamination of printed sheets
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful conveyor belt is extracted and removed from the system. Instead of using a belt that gets damaged by corona or plasma, the patent uses a pair of transport rollers that are positioned such that the sheet passes between them through the plasma treatment zone without the rollers themselves being directly exposed to the harmful plasma, thus eliminating the pollution and damage problem while maintaining transport function
Solution Approach 2:
The sheet itself acts as an intermediary between the corona/plasma source and the transport rollers. The rollers are positioned adjacent to but not directly in the plasma path, with the sheet serving as the medium that receives plasma treatment while being transported by the rollers, thereby protecting the rollers from direct plasma exposure
2Productivity
If a conveyor belt is used for sheet transport, then continuous treatment is possible, but the belt becomes polluted with ink from duplex printed sheets and contaminates subsequent sheets
Solution Approach 1:
The polluted conveyor belt is extracted and replaced with transport rollers that do not come into direct contact with the sheet surface during plasma treatment. The rollers are positioned such that they transport the sheet edges or sides rather than the printed surface, preventing ink pickup and subsequent contamination of subsequent sheets while maintaining continuous operation capability
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of having the conveyor belt contact the sheet surface for transport (which causes pollution), the system inverts the approach by having the rollers contact only the edges or non-printed areas of the sheet, reversing the contact pattern to eliminate pollution while maintaining transport function
3Manufacturing precision
If a conveyor belt is exposed to corona or plasma, then sheet treatment is achieved, but the belt is burned through leading to downtime for replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The vulnerable conveyor belt is extracted and replaced with a transport mechanism using rollers that are protected from direct plasma exposure. The rollers are positioned adjacent to the plasma treatment zone rather than within it, allowing the sheet to receive full plasma treatment while the rollers remain outside the harmful plasma field, thus eliminating burn-through and extending service life indefinitely
Solution Approach 2:
The system design provides beforehand protection by positioning the transport rollers outside the plasma exposure zone. This preventive arrangement ensures that the rollers never experience the degrading effects of corona or plasma, avoiding the need for replacement due to burn-through while maintaining effective sheet treatment
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
Ensures reliable sheet transport and reduced pollution, maintaining print quality by preventing ink deposition and damage from corona or plasma exposure.
Implementation Method 1
A plasma discharging treatment apparatus comprises a pair of electrodes between which the corona or plasma is generated by applying a high voltage potential across the pair of electrodes
Implementation Method 2
a first electrode and a second electrode for generating a plasma or corona
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The present invention provides a plasma discharging treatment apparatus, comprising axfirst and second electrode for generating a plasma or corona, a transport path extending between the first and second electrode, wherein the second electrode comprises at least two rotatable transport rollers for transporting a cut sheet medium along the transport path, and wherein a guide member is positioned between the at least two transport rollers to define the transport path between the at least two transport rollers. The invention further provides a method for the plasma or corona treatment of cut sheet media.