Printing Device Transport Rollers for Friction Drying

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Solution Overview

Problem

In existing printing devices with a drying section that promotes drying by bringing a heating section into contact with the medium, the medium may not be properly transported due to the friction force generated between the medium and the heating section.

Innovation Solution

A printing device with a transport section that includes a first drive roller upstream of the printing section, a second drive roller between the printing section and the drying section that contacts the back surface of the medium, and a third drive roller downstream of the drying section, along with a drying section that includes a contact heating section for drying the medium.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a contact heating section is used to dry the medium by heating, then drying efficiency is improved, but medium transportation reliability deteriorates due to friction force between the medium and heating section

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrying efficiencyVSAvoidmedium transportation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A second drive roller is introduced as an intermediary element between the printing section and the contact heating section. This roller applies a transporting force to the back surface of the medium, acting as a mediator that ensures reliable medium transportation through the high-friction drying zone without interfering with the drying function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The transporting force is applied locally at the back surface of the medium through the second drive roller, which contacts only the back surface. This localized application of force ensures that the front surface (print surface) remains undisturbed while the back surface receives sufficient transporting force to overcome friction from the heating section.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Temperature

If friction force between medium and heating section increases to improve drying, then drying effectiveness is improved, but medium transport stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrying effectivenessVSAvoidmedium transport stability

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The second drive roller provides a counteracting transporting force that balances the adverse friction force generated by the contact heating section. By applying force in the transport direction at the back surface, it counterweights the stabilizing effect that would otherwise be compromised by high friction during drying.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

3Reliability

If a drive roller contacts the back surface to apply transporting force, then medium transport is improved, but the complexity of the transport section increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemedium transportVSAvoidtransport section structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The second drive roller performs multiple functions: it applies transporting force to the back surface of the medium, ensures stable medium feed through the printing and drying sections, and prevents medium deviation. This multi-functionality justifies the added component by consolidating several transport control functions into a single element.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 addresses the issue of medium transportation by providing a roller that applies a transporting force between the printing section and the drying section, ensuring proper medium transport even when friction forces increase, and by controlling the motor output based on measured tension to optimize the transporting force.

Implementation Method 1

a drying section that is arranged downstream of the printing section in the transport direction and that dries the medium printed by the printing section, wherein the drying section includes a contact heating section that heats the medium by contacting a back surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

a first drive roller that is arranged upstream of the printing section in the transport direction and that applies a transporting force to the medium, a second drive roller that is arranged between the printing section and the drying section in the transport direction and that contacts the back surface to apply a transporting force to the medium

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS20250153494A1Printing device and printing method

Publication Date: 2025.05.15 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

A printing device 1 includes transport sections 11, 12, and 13; a printing section 3; and a drying section 10, wherein the drying section 10 includes a contact heating section 101 that heats a medium P by contacting a back surface P2 and the transport sections 11, 12, and 13 include a first drive roller 11 that is arranged upstream of the printing section 3 in a transport direction A and applies a transporting force to the medium P, a second drive roller 12 that is arranged between the printing section 3 and the drying section 10 in the transport direction A and contacts the back surface P2 to apply a transporting force to the medium P, and a third drive roller 13 that is arranged downstream of the drying section 10 in the transport direction A and applies a transporting force to the medium P.