Selective Primer Removal Using Addressable Valves
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printing systems face inefficiencies in selectively applying primer to print substrates, as current methods often apply primer uniformly, which can impede special solutions like bonding agents and require custom equipment, leading to maintenance issues and storage challenges due to primer's high pH level.
Innovation Solution
A priming station with an addressable air knife and pivotable valves is used to selectively remove primer from a metering roller, allowing for precise application of primer across the substrate, reducing equipment needs and maintenance, and enabling the use of a pressurized fluid to control primer distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If primer is applied uniformly to the entire substrate using a page-wide roller, then adhesion of printing fluid or toner is improved across the whole surface, but special solutions like bonding agents cannot be applied to specific areas and equipment complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The priming system is segmented into multiple independently controllable priming stations, each capable of applying primer to specific zones of the substrate. This allows selective priming of different areas while leaving other areas unprimed for special solutions like bonding agents.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the substrate receive different treatments: some areas receive primer for improved adhesion, while other areas remain unprimed to accommodate special solutions. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between needing uniform adhesion and requiring selective application zones.
2Adaptability or versatility
If custom-made equipment is used for each individual print job to achieve selective priming, then selective application is achieved, but device complexity and storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The priming system uses dynamically adjustable priming stations that can be reconfigured for different print jobs through software control rather than physical customization. This allows the same equipment to adapt to different selective priming requirements without requiring custom-made components for each job.
Solution Approach 2:
A single multi-functional priming system with multiple addressable stations can handle various selective priming patterns across different print jobs, replacing the need for multiple custom-made equipment variants. The system provides universal capability through programmable control of individual priming zones.
3Reliability
If primer is applied to all areas of the substrate, then adhesion is improved uniformly, but special solutions like bonding agents are impeded in their function
Solution Approach 1:
The substrate surface is treated with different properties in different regions: primed areas provide enhanced adhesion for printing fluid, while unprimed areas maintain compatibility with special solutions like bonding agents. This spatial differentiation of surface properties eliminates the harmful interference effect.
4Manufacturing precision
If a page-wide roller is used for priming treatment, then uniform application is achieved, but selective application to specific areas is not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The single page-wide roller is replaced with multiple smaller priming stations, each responsible for a specific zone. This segmentation enables both uniform application within each zone (maintaining manufacturing precision) and selective application across different areas (enabling versatility).
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of applying primer to the entire substrate width with one roller, the system applies primer partially to only those specific areas where it is needed. Each priming station targets its designated zone with precise control, avoiding unnecessary primer application in areas designated for special solutions.
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 selective primer application, minimizing primer on specific areas of the substrate, allowing for the use of special solutions without interference, simplifies the priming unit design, reduces costs, and minimizes maintenance, while improving system utilization and storage efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a pressurized fluid is supplied by a chamber to a plurality of individually addressable valves positioned along a width of the metering roller such that the pressurized fluid can be selectively supplied through the individually addressable valves to remove primer from the metering roller
Data Source
AI summary
In one example, an apparatus for selectively removing primer in a printing system is described, having a chamber for supply of a pressurised fluid, a plurality of valves fluidically coupled to the chamber and individually pivotable about a common elongate member that extends along a length of the apparatus, and a set of actuators to pivot the plurality of valves about the elongate member to selectively supply pressurised fluid from the chamber along the length of the apparatus.