Printer having precision ink drying capability and method of assembling the printer
US6508552B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 26, 2001 |
| Grant date | Jan 21, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 26, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB41J11/00216
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A printer having precision ink drying capability and method of assembling the printer. The printer comprises a print head that is adapted to eject a plurality of ink drops through outlet orifices defined by the print head. The ink drops form a plurality of ink marks at a plurality of locations on a recording medium positioned opposite the outlet orifices. A plurality of heaters is disposed near the print head for heating the ink marks on the recording media in order to dry the ink marks. Drying the ink marks fixes the ink to the recording media. A plurality of sensors, that are disposed near the print head are also coupled to respective ones of the heaters for sensing the locations of the ink marks on the recording media. In addition, a controller interconnects each of the heaters to respective ones of the sensors for selectively energizing the heaters according to the locations of the ink marks sensed on the recording media by the sensors. Thus, the controller selectively informs the heaters of the locations of the ink marks on the recording media as the sensors sense the ink marks. In this manner, the heaters dry only the locations having ink marks with optimized energy output.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.