Print Agent Drying With Hot Air and UV Stages
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printing systems face challenges in achieving rapid drying of print agents without adversely affecting print quality, and existing drying apparatuses are either large and expensive or consume significant energy.
Innovation Solution
A two-stage drying process combining hot air and ultraviolet radiation is used to dry print agents, where hot air reduces viscosity and promotes absorption into the substrate, followed by ultraviolet radiation to further dry the unabsorbed portion, optimizing drying time and quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If rapid drying techniques are used to increase printing productivity, then drying speed is improved, but print quality deteriorates due to adverse effects on print agent quality
Solution Approach 1:
The drying process is divided into two distinct stages: a first drying stage using conventional heating to remove bulk moisture, and a second drying stage using infrared radiation to complete drying and enhance print quality. This segmentation allows each stage to be optimized for its specific function, achieving both rapid drying and high print quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the drying parameter from conventional thermal heating to infrared radiation in the second stage. This parameter change enables rapid moisture removal while minimizing thermal stress on the print agent, thereby maintaining print quality while improving drying speed.
2Manufacturing precision
If conventional drying apparatuses are used to ensure print quality, then print quality is maintained, but device size and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges two different drying mechanisms (conventional heating and infrared radiation) into a single integrated drying apparatus. This combination achieves superior print quality and drying speed without requiring separate large-scale systems, thereby reducing overall device complexity and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The drying apparatus is designed to perform multiple functions: conventional heating for bulk moisture removal and infrared radiation for surface drying and quality enhancement. This multi-functionality allows a single apparatus to achieve results that would otherwise require multiple separate systems.
3Manufacturing precision
If extended drying time is used to maintain print quality, then print quality is preserved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drying process uses periodic action with two distinct phases: initial conventional heating and subsequent infrared radiation. This periodic approach removes moisture efficiently at each stage, reducing the total energy required compared to prolonged single-method drying while maintaining print quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces prolonged mechanical thermal heating with infrared radiation in the second drying stage. This substitution reduces energy consumption by targeting moisture removal more efficiently through electromagnetic radiation, achieving quality preservation with lower energy input.
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 method achieves quick and efficient drying with minimal energy consumption, maintaining print quality by reducing the viscosity of print agents and promoting absorption into the substrate, thereby minimizing surface evaporation and ensuring uniform drying.
Implementation Method 1
heating the print agent to reduce the viscosity of the print agent and to promote absorption of at least some of the print agent by the substrate
Implementation Method 2
irradiating the substrate with ultraviolet radiation to dry the unabsorbed portion of the print agent on the substrate
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of drying print agent is disclosed. The method comprises blowing hot air onto an absorbent printable medium that bears water- and/or solvent-based print agent to reduce the viscosity of the print agent and to promote absorption of at least some water and/or solvent in the print agent by the printable medium; and, subsequent to the blowing of hot air, irradiating the printable medium with ultraviolet radiation to dry the unabsorbed portion of print agent on the printable medium. A printer ink drying apparatus and a print apparatus are also disclosed.