Printing Apparatus Multi-Pass Heating for Abrasion Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printing apparatuses face challenges in achieving sufficient film formation and abrasion resistance due to polymer particles dissolving when water and solvent components evaporate, leading to increased apparatus size with multiple heating rollers.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus with a conveyance unit, a printing unit, and a heating unit on the downstream side, where the first surface of the printing medium passes through the heating unit multiple times after ink ejection, allowing for evaporation of liquid components and film formation of polymer particles, thereby achieving abrasion resistance with a single heating section.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple heating rollers are arranged in the conveyance direction to evaporate liquid components and form polymer films, then desired abrasion resistance is achieved, but the printing apparatus becomes large
Solution Approach 1:
The printing medium is conveyed to pass through the same heating unit multiple times in a periodic manner. The control unit controls the conveyance unit to create multiple heating cycles, where liquid components are evaporated in earlier passes and polymer film formation is completed in subsequent passes, achieving abrasion resistance without requiring multiple heating rollers
Solution Approach 2:
Liquid components such as water and solvent are evaporated in advance during earlier heating passes before polymer film formation is completed. This preliminary evaporation prevents polymer particles from dissolving during subsequent heating, enabling proper film formation and achieving desired abrasion resistance with a single heating unit
2Length of stationary object
If a single heating roller is used to simultaneously evaporate liquid components and form polymer films, then apparatus size is reduced, but film formation is insufficient and abrasion resistance is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The heating process is divided into multiple periodic cycles by controlling the conveyance unit to pass the printing medium through the heating unit repeatedly. Each pass contributes to the overall film formation process, with later passes completing the film formation after liquid components have been evaporated in earlier passes
Solution Approach 2:
The heating action continues across multiple passes rather than being a single continuous operation. The control unit ensures that heating is applied continuously across multiple cycles, maintaining the thermal process needed for both liquid evaporation and polymer film formation to complete successfully
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 configuration effectively forms a film on the printing medium, enhancing abrasion resistance while maintaining a compact apparatus size by allowing multiple passes through a single heating section.
Implementation Method 1
evaporation of water or a solvent
Implementation Method 2
film formation of polymer particles
Data Source
AI summary
A printing apparatus includes a conveyance unit, a printing unit, and a heating unit provided on a downstream side with respect to the printing unit in the conveyance direction, and a control unit. The conveyance unit conveys a printing medium along a conveyance direction. The printing unit ejects ink onto the printing medium conveyed by the conveyance unit. The heating unit heats the printing medium on which ink has been ejected by the printing unit while being in contact therewith. The control unit controls the printing apparatus such that a first surface of the printing medium passes through the same heating unit a plurality of times, wherein the first surface includes ink having been ejected by the printing unit onto the first surface.