Printing apparatus and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9493015-B2
Application number	US-201414546348-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 18, 2014
Priority date	May 30, 2012
Publication date	Nov 15, 2016
Grant date	Nov 15, 2016

Abstract

Methods for curing ink printed on a print medium are disclosed. The methods comprise heating air to a temperature suitable for curing the ink, and blowing the air through a plurality of holes onto the print medium.

First claim

What we claim is:

1. A printing apparatus comprising a conveyance system to convey a print medium through the apparatus in a conveyance direction, a drying system to dry ink printed on the print medium and a separate curing system to cure ink printed on the print medium, wherein the curing system is arranged downstream from the drying system in the conveyance direction and the curing system comprises:
a heater to heat air to a temperature suitable for curing the ink;
an impingement plate having a plurality of holes; and
a fan for blowing the heated air through the plurality of holes onto the print medium such that said ink deposited upon said surface is cured.

2. A printing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the curing system further comprises:
an air recirculation path for recirculating air blown onto the medium back to the heater.

3. A printing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the curing system further comprises:
a heating chamber, and wherein the heater is provided in the heating chamber.

4. The printing apparatus according to claim 3 , further comprising foldable wall portions that selectively fold inward to hold the heating chamber in a state in which the heating chamber is at least partially collapsed to facilitate threading of print media into a print zone.

5. A printing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the heater is a coil heater.

6. A printing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the curing system is movable along a plurality of guides, the guides extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the print medium.

7. A printing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the ink is latex ink.

8. A printing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the holes, of the plurality of holes, are evenly spaced on the impingement plate to evenly heat and cure said deposited ink.

9. A printing apparatus according to claim 1 , the impingement plate is arranged such that the heated air is delivered through the plurality of holes in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the print medium.

10. A printing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the heater heats the air to between 80-120° C.

11. A method for curing ink printed on a print medium, the method comprising:
heating air to a temperature suitable for curing the ink; and
blowing air through a plurality of holes in an impingement plate disposed at a print zone onto the print medium in a manner perpendicular to the print medium such that said ink deposited upon said surface is cured.

12. A method according to claim 11 , wherein the print medium is a metal sheet medium.

13. A method according to claim 12 , wherein the print medium is made of aluminium sheet metal.

14. A method according to claim 11 , wherein the air is heated in a heating chamber.

15. A method according to claim 14 , further comprising:
recirculating at least part of the air blown onto the print medium back to the heating chamber.

16. A method according to claim 11 , wherein the ink is latex ink.

17. A method according to claim 11 , further comprising setting the temperature to which the air is heated based on a type of print medium used.

18. A method according to claim 11 , further comprising setting the temperature to which the air is heated based on a velocity of the print medium through a print zone.

Assignees

• Hewlett Packard Development Co Lp

Inventors

• Monclus Velasco Antonio
• Claramunt Morera David
• Castells De Monet Raimon
• Perez Gellida Francisco Javier
• Soler Pedemonte Xavier
• Garcia Maza Jesus
• Bastardas Puigoriol Roger
• Zuza Irurueta Mikel
• Laso Plaza Elena
• Rodriguez Escanuela Francisco Javier

Classifications

• B41J11/0015 Primary

  for treating before, during or after printing or for uniform coating or laminating the copy material before or after printing (selective coating B41J2/2114) · CPC title

• B41J11/002

  Curing or drying the ink on the copy materials, e.g. by heating or irradiating · CPC title

• B41J11/0022 Primary

  using convection means, e.g. by using a fan for blowing or sucking air · CPC title