Print agent drying apparatus
AssigneeHP Scitex Ltd.
InventorsAlex Veis, Yubai Bi, Eyal Kotik, Amir Hesed
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of drying print agent is disclosed. The method comprises blowing hot air onto an absorbent printable medium that bears water- and/or solvent-based print agent to reduce the viscosity of the print agent and to promote absorption of at least some water and/or solvent in the print agent by the printable medium; and, subsequent to the blowing of hot air, irradiating the printable medium with ultraviolet radiation to dry the unabsorbed portion of print agent on the printable medium. A printer ink drying apparatus and a print apparatus are also disclosed.
Claims15
A method of drying print agent, the method comprising:
- blowing hot air onto an absorbent printable medium that bears water- and/or solvent-based print agent to reduce the viscosity of the print agent and to promote absorption of at least some water and/or solvent in the print agent by the printable medium, wherein the hot air heats the water- and/or solvent-based print agent without causing evaporation of the water- and/or solvent-based print agent, wherein the water- and/or solvent-based print agent is non-curable;
- and
- subsequent to the blowing of hot air, drying the unabsorbed portion of the water- and/or solvent-based print agent on the printable medium by irradiating the printable medium with ultraviolet radiation.
A printer ink drying apparatus to dry printer ink, the printer ink drying apparatus comprising:
- printer ink, wherein the printer ink is non-curable and comprises at least water and/or a solvent, and a colorant;
- a hot air unit to direct hot air onto the printer ink that has been deposited onto a substrate, wherein the hot air unit is to direct hot air to heat up the printer ink, to thereby flush at least a portion of the water and/or the solvent into the substrate;
- and
- a light source to emit ultraviolet light towards the printer ink on the substrate;
- wherein the light source is located downstream of the hot air unit in a direction of advancement of the substrate.
A print apparatus comprising:
- a printing substance distribution unit storing a non-curable solvent-based printing substance comprising water and/or a solvent, and a colorant onto an absorbent substrate;
- and
- a dryer unit comprising:
- an air blower to blow air onto the printing substance, to cause a portion of the water and/or the solvent to be absorbed into the absorbent substrate, wherein the air blower heats the water- and/or solvent without causing evaporation of the water- and/or solvent;
- and
- a light source to emit ultraviolet radiation towards the absorbent substrate, to dry an unabsorbed portion of the printing substance;
- wherein the light source is located downstream of the air blower in a direction of advancement of the absorbent substrate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.