Printing System Using Drying Oven Heat for Ink Temperature Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Printing systems with temperature adjustment mechanisms for ink temperature control consume excessive power due to dedicated heating sections, leading to high energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A printing system that utilizes a drying oven with a heating section and a flow path section to discharge gas, eliminating the need for a dedicated heating section by using heated gas to adjust ink temperature, and incorporates a blower fan and check valves to efficiently manage gas flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a dedicated heating section is provided to adjust ink temperature, then ink temperature control is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the heating function into the existing drying oven that is already required for drying the printed medium. The drying oven's heating section serves dual purposes: drying the medium and heating the ink, thereby eliminating the need for a separate dedicated heating section and reducing overall power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The drying oven is designed to perform multiple functions: it dries the printed medium by evaporating solvent and simultaneously heats the ink to appropriate temperature. This multi-functionality allows the system to achieve ink temperature control without adding dedicated heating equipment, thus reducing power consumption.
2Temperature
If a dedicated heating section is provided to adjust ink temperature, then ink temperature control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heating function is merged into the existing drying oven structure. The drying oven's heating section is positioned to simultaneously heat both the printed medium for drying and the ink supply, thereby eliminating the need for additional dedicated heating components and simplifying the overall system structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The drying oven performs dual functions: it dries the printed medium by evaporating solvent and simultaneously heats the ink to appropriate temperature for stable ejection. This multi-functionality reduces device complexity by eliminating the need for separate heating sections.
3Productivity
If heated gas is discharged from drying oven to first space, then ink temperature adjustment efficiency is improved, but gas flow management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a flow path section that connects the drying oven to the first space, allowing heated gas to flow from the drying oven to the ink supply area. A blower fan is installed in this flow path to actively manage gas flow, efficiently heating the ink while maintaining controllable gas circulation.
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
Reduces power consumption by adjusting ink temperature efficiently, improves ink landing accuracy, and allows for a compact system design by eliminating the need for additional heating elements.
Implementation Method 1
a heating section that is arranged in the drying oven and that heats the medium
Implementation Method 2
a blower fan that is arranged in the flow path section and that generates air flow to discharge gas from the drying oven to outside the drying oven
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
A printing system 1 includes a printing device 20 having a transport section 29 that transports a medium M, a printing section 27 that prints an image by ejecting ink onto the medium M transported by the transport section 29, and a housing 21 having a first space 22 in which the printing section 27 is arranged; a drying device 10 including a drying oven 14 into which the medium M on which the image is printed by the printing section 27 enters, and a heating section 15 that is arranged in the drying oven 14 and heats the medium M; and a flow path section 13 configured to discharge gas inside the drying oven 14 to outside the drying oven 14, that is a first flow path section 13A that connects the drying oven 14 and the first space 22.