Print Medium Cooling and Heating for Ink Fixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printing methods face issues with ink permeation into print media, leading to cockling and poor image fastness due to excessive moisture absorption and uneven evaporation of solvents, which are not effectively addressed by existing humidity-controlled and temperature-based drying methods.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the application of ink to a print medium, followed by cooling to maintain the ink's original temperature using air blowing, and subsequent heating while maintaining the medium in a flat state to control ink permeation and drying, utilizing a printing apparatus with specific conveyance and fixing mechanisms to manage ink viscosity and solvent evaporation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the print medium passes through a high-humidity space to promote solvent permeation, then ink fastness is improved, but the print medium excessively absorbs moisture causing cockling
Solution Approach 1:
The ink is cooled to its original temperature before the print medium enters the high-humidity space. This preliminary cooling action prevents excessive moisture absorption by the print medium during the permeation process, thereby avoiding cockling while still allowing solvent permeation to occur in the subsequent heating stage
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature of the ink is changed from ambient temperature to cooled temperature (original temperature or below) before humidity exposure. This parameter change controls the ink's viscosity and moisture absorption characteristics, preventing cockling while maintaining the ability to achieve good fastness through controlled solvent permeation
2Productivity
If the temperature is increased immediately after ink application to dry the print medium, then drying speed is improved, but water evaporates before solvent causing poor ink fastness
Solution Approach 1:
The ink is cooled to its original temperature or below before heating begins. This preliminary cooling action ensures that when heating subsequently occurs, the solvent evaporates at the appropriate time rather than water evaporating first, thereby maintaining good ink fastness while still achieving efficient drying
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature parameter is first decreased (cooling phase) and then increased (heating phase) in a controlled sequence. This parameter change strategy controls the evaporation sequence of water and solvent, ensuring proper ink fixation without sacrificing drying speed
3Productivity
If the print medium is heated without maintaining a flat state, then drying efficiency is improved, but the print medium deforms causing poor print quality
Solution Approach 1:
The print medium is cooled to its original temperature before entering the heating zone. This preliminary cooling action stabilizes the print medium's physical state, allowing it to maintain flatness during the subsequent heating process while still achieving efficient drying through controlled solvent evaporation
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 effectively suppresses cockling and enhances image fastness by ensuring controlled ink permeation and solvent distribution, resulting in improved print quality and medium stability.
Implementation Method 1
applying the ink to a first surface of the print medium with a liquid application unit
Implementation Method 2
cooling the print medium to which the ink is applied in the applying, to temperature equal to or below temperature of liquid applied in the applying, by blowing air to the print medium
Implementation Method 3
the water content included in the ink is made to evaporate to a certain level, and thereafter the remaining water content and a solvent with a higher vapor pressure than the water content are made to evaporate to dry the print medium
Data Source
AI summary
An object is to provide a method of appropriately drying a print medium. A fixing method includes: applying ink to the print medium; cooling the print medium to which the ink is applied in the applying; and heating the print medium cooled in the cooling while maintaining the print medium in a flat and smooth state.