Thermal Gradient Dryer for Customizable Print Watermarks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for creating watermarks, such as the dandy roll and cylinder mold processes, are limited in their ability to efficiently and effectively produce watermarks on print media using thermal gradients for security and identification purposes.

Innovation Solution

A dryer module in a printing device equipped with a temperature gradient transport belt and a heat source, controlled by a processor, is used to dry printing fluid at varying rates on selected portions of the print media, creating a watermark by manipulating thermal gradients and heat application.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If traditional dandy roll or cylinder mold processes are used to create watermarks, then watermarks can be produced on paper, but the process is limited in efficiency and effectiveness for security and identification purposes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewatermark creation efficiencyVSAvoidwatermark customization capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by controlling the drying rate of printing fluid through thermal gradients. By varying temperature parameters across different zones of the dryer, the system creates different drying rates that produce watermark effects. This allows efficient production while maintaining high adaptability for customized security and identification watermarks on various media types.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If a temperature gradient transport belt with heat source is used to dry printing fluid at varying rates, then visible watermarks can be created on coated media, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewatermark visibility and clarityVSAvoiddryer module structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements universality by integrating multiple functions into the dryer module. The temperature gradient transport belt serves both as a drying mechanism and a watermark creation tool. The heat source system provides both uniform drying and localized thermal gradients for watermark formation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate watermarking equipment, thereby managing complexity while achieving high manufacturing precision for visible watermarks on coated media.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 method allows for the creation of visible watermarks on coated media, enhancing security and identification features by controlling the drying rate and heat distribution, resulting in clear and customizable watermarks.

Implementation Method 1

transporting the print media on the temperature gradient transport belt that installed on a pair of transport rollers through the dryer under a heat source to dry the printing fluid at a desired rate on selected portions of the print media to create the watermark

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal gradient: Temperature Gradient

Implementation Method 2

the heat source applies heat to a print media that moves below the heat source via the temperature gradient transport belt

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 3

a pair of transport rollers, a temperature gradient transport belt coupled to the pair of transport rollers to rotate around the pair of transport rollers

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS10549552B1Method and apparatus for creating a watermark via thermal gradients in a dryer

Publication Date: 2020.02.04 XEROX CORP

AI summary

An apparatus and a method for creating a watermark are disclosed. For example, the apparatus may be a dryer module of a printing device. The dryer module may include a pair of transport rollers, a temperature gradient transport belt coupled to the pair of transport rollers to rotate around the pair of transport rollers, a heat source located above the temperature gradient transport belt, wherein the heat source applies heat to a print media that moves below the heat source via the temperature gradient transport belt, and a processor communicatively coupled to the rollers and the heat source, wherein the processor controls a speed of the temperature gradient transport belt via the pair of rollers and an amount of heat that is applied by the heat source to dry a printing fluid dispensed on selected portions of the print media at a desired rate to create the watermark on the print media.