Printer Ink Collector Heating Porous Media Waste
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Solution Overview
Problem
When printing on large format porous media, ink tends to pass through the pores, resulting in significant waste ink that complicates cleaning and can permanently stain or damage printer components.
Innovation Solution
A collector system integrated with the printer that proactively heats the ink that passes through the pores, causing it to bond and harden, preventing further staining and facilitating easy removal, comprising a heat arrangement and a disposable substrate to absorb and contain the ink.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If printing on large format porous media is performed, then printing capability is improved, but ink waste increases and printer components are stained or damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful waste ink from the printing system by introducing a collector that captures ink passing through the porous media. The collector is positioned to receive and contain the waste ink, separating it from the printer components and preventing staining and damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a disposable substrate within the collector that can be easily replaced. This substrate absorbs and contains the waste ink, and when saturated, the entire collector assembly can be discarded or the substrate replaced, eliminating the need for complex cleaning of permanent components.
2Adaptability or versatility
If ink passes through porous media, then printing on porous media is achieved, but cleaning complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The collector extracts waste ink from the printing process, preventing it from contacting printer components that would require cleaning. By capturing ink at the source of waste generation, the system eliminates the cleaning burden.
Solution Approach 2:
The disposable substrate in the collector simplifies maintenance by replacing complex cleaning procedures with simple substrate replacement. When the substrate is saturated with waste ink, it is discarded and replaced with a fresh one, eliminating tedious cleaning operations.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If collector heats ink to bond and harden, then staining is prevented and removal is facilitated, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The collector uses a heating element to change the temperature parameter of the waste ink, causing it to bond and harden. This thermal treatment transforms the ink from a staining liquid into a solidified residue that is easier to remove and less harmful to printer components.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating process induces a phase transition in the waste ink, changing it from liquid to solid state. This phase change facilitates easier removal and disposal while preventing staining, as the solidified ink adheres to the substrate rather than spreading.
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 reduces the risk of ink staining and damage to printer parts by bonding and hardening the ink, making it easy to remove and dispose of, while minimizing energy consumption and maintaining printer efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
A collector system integrated with the printer that proactively heats the ink that passes through the pores, causing it to bond and harden
Implementation Method 2
comprising a heat arrangement and a disposable substrate to absorb and contain the ink
Data Source
AI summary
Arrangement or method for collecting and heating print substance that passes through porous media in a printer.