Printed-Item Treatment Assembly With Fume Recirculation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing digital printing and screen printing systems face challenges in effectively abating solvents like aldehydes from glazes and inks, leading to pollution, and existing solvent recovery methods are costly and inefficient.

Innovation Solution

A system that recirculates volatile fumes from a drying unit into an oven or drying unit, using burners to abate aldehydes and recover energy, with a ventilation circuit to manage airflow and temperature control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If post combustor burners are used to abate solvents downstream of the oven chimney, then solvent abatement is achieved, but installation cost and energy consumption increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesolvent pollutionVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges the solvent abatement function with the existing oven heating function by redirecting oven exhaust gases containing hot combustion air back into the oven chamber. This eliminates the need for separate post-combustor burners and their associated high energy consumption, while achieving effective solvent abatement through the recycled hot gases.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses the oven's own exhaust gases to perform the abatement function, making the oven self-sufficient for solvent treatment. The hot combustion air generated by the oven's normal operation is recirculated back into the chamber, creating a self-contained abatement system without external energy input.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If solvent based products are used in digital printing, then printing flexibility is maintained, but satisfactory printing results cannot be obtained

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprinting flexibilityVSAvoidprinting quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the thermal parameters within the oven chamber by recirculating hot exhaust gases, creating optimized temperature profiles that enable satisfactory drying and curing results when using solvent-based digital printing products, thereby resolving the quality issue while maintaining printing flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

Effectively abates aldehydes and recovers energy, providing a simple and efficient solution for solvent treatment in digital printing systems.

Implementation Method 1

a ventilation circuit (5) conveying the volatile fumes or currents within the oven (3) and/or in recirculation within the drying unit (2)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRecirculation:

Implementation Method 2

using burners to abate aldehydes and recover energy

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Implementation Method 3

using burners to abate aldehydes and recover energy

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 4

abate aldehydes

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal decomposition: Pyrolysis

Implementation Method 5

abate aldehydes

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOxidation: Oxidation

Data Source

PatentEP3707452B1Assembly for treating primted items
Publication Date: 2025.10.08 SITI B&T GROUP SPA
  • EP3707452B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3707452B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3707452B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to an assembly for treating items, such as tiles or slabs, printed by digital printing or screen printing of inks or glazes, comprising: - a drying unit (2) of the printed items; - a cooking unit or oven (3) of the printed and dried items, the cooking unit or oven (3) being located downstream of the drying unit (2) or being in any case adapted to receive and subsequently treat the items treated in the latter;