Cooler for Inkjet Printer Show-Through Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet imaging devices face the challenge of show-through, where ink penetrates through the thickness of a print medium, reducing image quality in both simplex and duplex printing operations, due to the properties of the print medium and ink viscosity, and existing solutions often limit the type of print medium or ink used.
Innovation Solution
An inkjet printer is developed with a printhead and a cooler that cools the ink receiving member to a temperature below ambient before ejecting ink, preventing ink penetration by ensuring the ink stabilizes and solidifies before reaching the reverse side of the print medium.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If ink is ejected onto a porous print medium, then the print medium can accept the ink, but the ink penetrates through the thickness causing show-through
Solution Approach 1:
The print medium is cooled below ambient temperature before the ink is ejected onto it. This preliminary cooling action causes the ink to stabilize and solidify quickly upon contact, preventing penetration through the porous structure and eliminating show-through while maintaining ink absorption.
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature parameter of the print medium is changed from ambient to below-ambient before ink ejection. This parameter change alters the ink's behavior upon contact, causing it to stabilize and solidify rapidly, thereby preventing show-through while maintaining proper ink uptake.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the viscosity of the ink is increased to prevent show-through, then penetration is reduced, but the ink may not adhere properly to the print medium
Solution Approach 1:
By cooling the print medium before ink ejection, the system creates conditions where the ink stabilizes and solidifies quickly upon contact. This preliminary cooling action allows the use of lower viscosity inks that maintain good adhesion while still preventing show-through through rapid stabilization.
Solution Approach 2:
Changing the temperature parameter of the print medium to below-ambient allows the use of inks with optimized viscosity for adhesion. The cooling effect ensures that even lower viscosity inks will stabilize quickly and prevent show-through, while maintaining proper bonding to the print medium.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a polymer coating is applied to the print medium to prevent show-through, then the surface becomes nonporous, but the cost increases and certain inks cannot adhere effectively
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a polymer coating system, the invention uses a thermal field (cooling system) to achieve the same effect of preventing show-through. The cooling mechanism replaces the need for mechanical/chemical coatings, eliminating the associated costs and ink compatibility issues while maintaining the nonporous effect through thermal stabilization.
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the temperature parameter of the print medium rather than altering its physical structure with a coating, the system achieves show-through prevention without adding layers. This parameter-based approach maintains the original print medium properties, ensuring cost-effectiveness and compatibility with various ink types.
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 cooling process effectively reduces show-through by ensuring the ink bonds to the obverse surface without penetrating, improving image quality and allowing for a wider range of print media and ink types to be used without compromising image integrity.
Implementation Method 1
The cooler is positioned proximate the media path to cool the ink receiving member to a temperature less than an ambient temperature prior to the printhead ejecting ink onto the ink receiving member
Data Source
AI summary
An inkjet printer has been developed that reduces the effects of show-through by depositing ink onto a cooled print medium. The inkjet printer includes a printhead and a cooler. The printhead is configured to eject ink onto an ink receiving member as the ink receiving member is transported along a portion of a media path through the inkjet printer. The cooler is positioned proximate the media path to cool the ink receiving member prior to the printhead ejecting ink onto the ink receiving member.