Microwave applicator for inkjet printer
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsGeoff Wotton, Michael F. Klopfenstein
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An inkjet printer includes a microwave drying station passing media through a waveguide thereof. A vacuum source coupled to the waveguide draws air into the waveguide and thereby aides in disturbing and scrubbing a boundary layer of vapor at the media surface otherwise hindering efficient drying of media thereat. Supporting the media on a perforated belt through the waveguide couples media to the belt by vacuum force and thereby contributes to an overall media feed mechanism.
Claims26
In combination:
- an inkjet printer producing print imaging by application of liquid ink droplets to media in a print zone;
- a microwave drying station, said microwave drying station including a waveguide chamber receiving said media therethrough;
- and
- a vacuum source coupled to said waveguide chamber, said vacuum source drawing air from said waveguide chamber.
A drying station for an inkjet printer, said drying station comprising:
- a microwave applicator including a waveguide, said waveguide being a bifurcated waveguide including a first chamber and a second chamber, said waveguide including a pathway therethrough, said first and second chambers being separated by a perforated structure therebetween;
- a vacuum source;
- and
- a conduit coupling said vacuum source to said second chamber.
A drying station for an inkjet printer, said drying station comprising:
- a microwave source;
- a microwave load;
- a waveguide coupling said microwave source and said microwave load;
- and
- a vacuum source coupled to said waveguide and drawing from said waveguide ink vapors produced thereby.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.