Printing Apparatus Heating Section Pulse Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In printing apparatuses that heat media to evaporate ink, prolonged printing periods lead to increased electric power consumption due to continuous heating requirements, which can result in inefficient energy use and potential damage to the medium.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus with a heating section that includes multiple ceramic heaters, each controlled by a pulse signal to adjust heating intensity based on the specific needs of different regions of the medium, allowing for precise temperature control and reduced power consumption by only heating during necessary periods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the heater continues heating the medium during the entire printing period, then the medium is kept at optimal temperature for ink evaporation, but the electric power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by controlling the heater to operate only during specific periods when ink discharge occurs, rather than continuously. The heating operation is synchronized with the printing process, activating the heater before and after ink discharge to ensure proper evaporation timing, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining heating reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making the heating control adaptable to varying printing conditions. The control unit dynamically adjusts heating parameters based on the actual printing state, medium type, and environmental factors, allowing the system to optimize power consumption in real-time while ensuring adequate heating when needed.
2Productivity
If the heater operates at high power continuously, then the ink evaporation process is efficient, but the medium may be damaged due to excessive heat
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses periodic action to control heater operation timing, activating high-power heating only during specific windows before and after ink discharge when evaporation is most needed. This prevents continuous high-temperature exposure that could damage the medium, while still achieving efficient evaporation during the critical periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting heating power levels based on the printing process stage and medium characteristics. The control unit modifies temperature and power parameters in real-time, using higher power when evaporation is critical and reducing power to prevent medium damage, thus optimizing both productivity and medium integrity.
3Power
If the heating section is positioned close to the discharge section, then the heating efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the heating function into multiple independent heating units positioned at different locations relative to the discharge section. Each heating unit can be independently controlled to heat specific regions, allowing the system to achieve efficient heating without requiring a single complex heating structure, thus reducing overall device complexity.
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
This solution enables efficient heating and drying of ink on the medium while minimizing energy use and reducing the risk of medium damage, as the heaters are controlled to maintain optimal temperatures and reduce unnecessary heat application.
Implementation Method 1
a first heater that generates heat in accordance with a first pulse included in the first pulse signal, and heats the medium
Implementation Method 2
heating a medium to which the liquid discharged by the printing apparatus adheres and evaporating the water content of the liquid that has adhered to the medium
Data Source
AI summary
There is provide a printing apparatus including: a transport section that transports a medium in a first direction; a discharge section that discharges a liquid to the medium transported by the transport section; a signal generation section that outputs a first pulse signal; and a heating section that is provided downstream of the discharge section in the first direction, includes a first heater that generates heat in accordance with a first pulse included in the first pulse signal, and heats the medium, in which the signal generation section adjusts the first pulse in accordance with a heating amount for heating the medium by the heating section.