Thermal Transfer Printer Blower for Flash Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
During thermal transfer printing, intermediate transfer media often extends beyond the edges of products, leading to flash issues that diminish functionality and aesthetic appeal, as the liner is not cleanly removed.
Innovation Solution
A printing assembly with a blower that intermittently provides a cooling stream of air near the product to facilitate the removal of intermediate transfer media, peeling it cleanly and reducing flash occurrences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If thermal transfer printing is performed without cooling air, then the intermediate transfer media adheres to the product, but flash occurs at the edges where the media extends beyond the product
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by introducing cooling air to alter the temperature parameter of the intermediate transfer media at the edges. This temperature change modifies the adhesion properties, allowing clean separation at the edges while maintaining proper adhesion on the product surface, thereby eliminating flash without compromising printing quality
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling air acts as an intermediary substance that facilitates the separation process. By introducing this external cooling medium, the system achieves clean edge separation without requiring mechanical force or additional chemicals, thus resolving the flash issue while maintaining manufacturing precision
2Reliability
If the intermediate transfer media is heated to transfer the image, then the image transfers effectively, but the media cannot be cleanly removed from the product edges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by applying cooling air intermittently during the transfer process. The cooling is applied specifically when the media needs to be separated from the product edges, creating a temporal separation between the heating phase (for image transfer) and the cooling phase (for clean removal), thus achieving both reliable image transfer and clean media removal
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling air is applied locally at the edges of the product where flash occurs, rather than cooling the entire media uniformly. This localized cooling approach allows the center of the media to maintain adhesion for proper image transfer while the edges are cooled for clean separation, resolving the contradiction between transfer quality and removal cleanliness
3Manufacturing precision
If cooling air is provided continuously, then flash is reduced, but the printing speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic action by activating the cooling air only during specific phases of the printing process when flash is likely to occur, rather than continuously. This timing optimization reduces flash effectively while minimizing the time the cooling system operates, thereby maintaining printing speed and productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling air is provided in advance at the edges before the peeling process occurs. This preliminary cooling action prepares the edge regions for clean separation without requiring continuous cooling throughout the entire process, thus reducing flash while preserving printing efficiency
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 solution effectively reduces flash, enhances product aesthetics, allows for faster printing, and enables printing on various substrates with different materials and thicknesses, including unevenly distributed designs.
Implementation Method 1
a blower configured to intermittently provide a cooling stream of air proximate the product for facilitating removal of the intermediate transfer media from the product
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure is directed to a printing assembly that includes an image transfer station and a blower configured to intermittently provide a cooling stream of air to a product being printed upon. The blower may include a centrifugal fan and may have a single plenum providing air to two nozzles. The nozzles may be positioned such that the air targets the edges of the product to facilitate removal of the intermediate transfer media from the targeted areas and reduce the occurrence of flash. The blower may be configured to provide air when the product is expelled from the transfer assembly or while the intermediate transfer media is peeled from the product, but not to provide air when the product is being received by the transfer assembly. The printing assembly may include sensors and control circuitry for detecting the position of the product and controlling the blower accordingly.