Security-Document Varnish Drying With Negative-Pressure Extraction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional drying devices for identification, valuable, and security documents release harmful substances and unpleasant odors during the drying process, posing environmental and health risks.

Innovation Solution

A drying device with a dual-shell housing and separate air supply and extraction systems, where hot air is directed from one direction and extracted from another, ensuring immediate removal of pollutants and odors, and featuring a nozzle plate for uniform air distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If hot air drying is used to dry the varnish on the blank, then the drying efficiency is improved, but harmful substances and unpleasant odors are released into the environment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrying efficiencyVSAvoidpollutant emission
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts harmful substances and odors from the drying chamber using a dedicated extraction fan. The extraction fan creates negative pressure that draws out the gas mixture containing pollutants released during hot air drying, preventing their release into the environment while maintaining efficient drying conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces an intermediary extraction system that mediates between the hot air drying process and the environment. The extraction fan acts as an intermediary device that captures harmful substances at the source and removes them through a controlled pathway, preventing direct release into the surrounding environment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If the drying housing is formed as a single piece, then the structure is simple, but it is difficult to adapt to different card formats and sizes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehousing structureVSAvoidadaptability to different card formats
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The drying housing is segmented into a first half-shell and a second half-shell that can be separated from each other. This segmentation allows the housing to be opened and adjusted to accommodate different card formats and sizes, while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure when assembled.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Device complexity

If air supply and exhaust are located on the same side of the device, then the device structure is simplified, but the drying uniformity and pollutant removal efficiency are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair flow path structureVSAvoiddrying uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention transitions from a single-side air supply and exhaust configuration to a multi-dimensional arrangement where air is supplied from one side of the drying chamber and exhaust is extracted from the opposite side. This spatial distribution improves both drying uniformity across the blank surface and pollutant removal efficiency by creating more effective air flow paths.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 device ensures low pollutant emission and uniform drying by preventing the escape of harmful substances into the environment, enhancing safety and efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

a hot air blower (110) which is fluidically connected to the receiving space (108) such that an air flow generated by the hot air blower (110) is directed to the receiving space (108), wherein the generated air flow has a temperature that is higher than room temperature

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 2

an extraction fan (112) which is fluidically connected to the receiving space (108) such that a negative pressure generated by the extraction fan (112) leads to the extraction of the gas mixture present in the receiving space (108)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP4420879B1Drying device and method for drying a varnish on a blank of an identification document, value document or security document
Publication Date: 2025.10.01 BUNDESDRUCKEREI GMBH
  • EP4420879B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4420879B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4420879B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Drying device (100) for drying a varnish on a blank (200) of an identity, value or security document, comprising: - a drying housing (102) which provides a receiving chamber (108) for receiving the blank (200); - a hot air blower (110) which is fluidly connected to the receiving chamber (108) such that an airflow generated by the hot air blower (110) is directed to the receiving chamber (108), wherein the generated airflow has a temperature that is higher than room temperature; and - an extraction blower (112) which is fluidly connected to the receiving chamber (108) such that a negative pressure generated by the extraction blower (112) leads to the extraction of the gas mixture present in the receiving chamber (108). The invention also relates to a method for drying a lacquer on a blank (200) of an identity, value or security document.