U.S. patent application number 17/693923 was filed with the patent office on 2022-06-23 for de-contented fluid ejection.
The applicant listed for this patent is HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.. Invention is credited to Yubai Bi, Guillermo Martinez Ariza.
Application Number | 20220194098 17/693923 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | |
Filed Date | 2022-06-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220194098 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bi; Yubai ; et al. |
June 23, 2022 |
DE-CONTENTED FLUID EJECTION
Abstract
In example implementations, a system is provided. The system
includes at least one fluid ejection apparatus, a heater and an
energy source. The at least one fluid ejection apparatus dispenses
a de-contented fluid onto a substrate during conveyance of the
substrate. The heater is arranged after the at least one fluid
ejection apparatus along a substrate conveying path. The heater
removes a liquid from the de-contented fluid on the substrate such
that the particles of the de-contented fluid remain on the
substrate. The energy source is arranged after the heater along the
substrate conveying path. The energy source applies energy to the
substrate during the conveyance of the substrate to heat the
substrate to a temperature that is approximately a melting
temperature of the substrate to fuse the particles on the substrate
to the substrate.
Inventors: |
Bi; Yubai; (San Diego,
CA) ; Martinez Ariza; Guillermo; (San Diego,
CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P. |
Spring |
TX |
US |
|
|
Appl. No.: |
17/693923 |
Filed: |
March 14, 2022 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
16332200 |
Mar 11, 2019 |
11305557 |
|
|
PCT/US2016/056633 |
Oct 12, 2016 |
|
|
|
17693923 |
|
|
|
|
International
Class: |
B41J 11/00 20060101
B41J011/00; B41M 5/00 20060101 B41M005/00; B41M 7/00 20060101
B41M007/00; C09D 11/30 20060101 C09D011/30; B41J 2/01 20060101
B41J002/01; B41J 2/155 20060101 B41J002/155; B41J 2/21 20060101
B41J002/21 |
Claims
1. A system, comprising: a fluid ejection apparatus to dispense a
de-contented fluid onto a plastic substrate; a heater to remove a
liquid from the de-contented fluid on the plastic substrate such
that particles of the de-contented fluid remain on the plastic
substrate; an energy source to apply energy to the plastic
substrate; and a processor to control the fluid ejection apparatus
to dispense the de-contented fluid, to control the heater to heat
the de-contented fluid to remove the liquid from the de-contented
fluid, and to control the energy source to apply the energy to the
plastic substrate until the plastic substrate is heated to a
temperature that is approximately a melting temperature of the
plastic substrate to create imperfections on a top surface of the
plastic substrate, wherein particles that are melted are fused to
the plastic substrate via the imperfections.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the fluid ejection apparatus
comprises a plurality of fluid ejection apparatuses.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the plurality of fluid ejection
apparatuses corresponds to a width of the plastic substrate.
4. The system of claim 2, wherein each one of the plurality of
fluid ejection apparatuses dispenses a different colored
de-contented fluid.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the energy source comprises a
plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs), wherein the plurality of
LEDs emits energy at different wavelengths in accordance with an
absorption percentage of a respective color of the de-contented
fluid on the plastic substrate.
6. The system of claim 5, wherein the processor is to control the
plurality of LEDs to turn on and off to control the amount of
energy that is applied and to direct the plurality of LEDs towards
a specific area of the plastic substrate to provide targeted
heating.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the melting temperature of the
plastic substrate is below 150 degrees Celsius.
8. The system of claim 1, where the plastic substrate comprises
poly vinyl chloride, polycarbonate, polypropylene, or
polytehylene.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein the de-contented fluid comprises
a jettable ink that does not contain any binders.
10. A system, comprising: a primer applying apparatus to apply a
primer onto a plastic substrate; a fluid ejection apparatus to
dispense a de-contented fluid onto the primer that has been applied
to the plastic substrate; a heater to remove a liquid from the
de-contented fluid on the plastic substrate such that particles of
the de-contented fluid remain on the plastic substrate; an energy
source to apply energy to the plastic substrate; and a processor to
control the primer applying apparatus to apply the primer onto the
plastic substrate, to control the fluid ejection apparatus to
dispense the de-contented fluid, to control the heater to heat the
de-contented fluid to remove the liquid from the de-contented
fluid, and to control the energy source to apply the energy to the
plastic substrate until the plastic substrate is heated to a
temperature that is approximately a melting temperature of the
plastic substrate to create imperfections on a top surface of the
plastic substrate, wherein particles that are melted are fused to
the plastic substrate via the imperfections.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein the melting temperature of the
plastic substrate is greater than 150 degrees Celsius.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the primer comprises a
thermally fusible primer, wherein a melting temperature of the
primer is less than 150 degrees Celsius.
13. The system of claim 10, wherein the fluid ejection apparatus
comprises a plurality of fluid ejection apparatuses.
14. The system of claim 13, wherein each one of the plurality of
fluid ejection apparatuses dispenses a different colored
de-contented fluid.
15. The system of claim 10, wherein the energy source comprises a
plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs), wherein the plurality of
LEDs emits energy at different wavelengths in accordance with an
absorption percentage of a respective color of the de-contented
fluid on the plastic substrate.
16. The system of claim 15, wherein the primer is dried on the
plastic substrate before the plastic substrate is conveyed to the
fluid ejection apparatus.
17. A method, comprising: controlling, via a processor, a fluid
ejection apparatus to dispense a de-contented fluid onto a plastic
substrate to print an image; controlling, via the processor, a
heater to heat the de-contented fluid to remove water from the
de-contented fluid such that particles of the de-contented fluid
remain on the plastic substrate; and controlling, via the
processor, an energy source to apply energy from a plurality of
light emitting diodes (LEDs) to the plastic substrate to heat the
plastic substrate to a temperature that is approximately a melting
temperature of the plastic substrate to create imperfections on a
top surface of the plastic substrate, wherein particles that are
melted are fused to the plastic substrate via the
imperfections.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein controlling the fluid ejection
apparatus comprises: controlling, via the processor, the fluid
ejection apparatus to eject a plurality of different colored
de-contented fluids on the plastic substrate.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the plurality of LEDs is
controlled such that each LED emits a different wavelength of
energy based on an absorption percentage of a color of the
plurality of different colored de-contented fluids on the plastic
substrate.
20. The method of claim 17, wherein the melting temperature is
approximately 150 degrees Celsius and the temperature is less than
150 degrees Celsius.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 16/332,200, filed on Mar. 11, 2019, which is a
371(c) National Phase Application of International Application No.
PCT/2016/056633, filed Oct. 12, 2016, both of which are herein
incorporated by reference in their entireties.
BACKGROUND
[0002] De-contented ink is not commonly used to print on media such
as paper. De-contented ink has desirable properties such as better
jettability, longer shelf life, and low volatile organic compound
(VOC) emissions.
[0003] Other types of media, such as plastics, use inks that
contain non-polar, water insoluble and high molecular binders that
are jetted together with pigment colorants. These types of inks
contain large amount of co-solvent to facilitate the jetting and to
swell the plastic substrate. These co-solvents have to be driven
away by heating. This is followed by fusing. This process can limit
print speeds and create VOC issues.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example system of the
present disclosure;
[0005] FIG. 2 is a more detailed block diagram of the example
system of the present disclosure;
[0006] FIG. 3 is another more detailed block diagram of the example
system of the present disclosure;
[0007] FIG. 4 is an example close up diagram of the particles being
imbibed by a substrate;
[0008] FIG. 5 is an example chart of absorption percentages at
different wavelengths for different colors; and
[0009] FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of an example method for printing
de-contented ink on a plastic substrate.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0010] The present disclosure discloses a system and method for
printing on plastic substrates. As discussed above, some methods
used to print on plastic substrates do not print a durable image.
The ink that is applied to the plastic substrate can be easily
removed.
[0011] Some solutions include using inks that contain non-polar,
water insoluble, and high molecular weight latex binders that are
jetted together with pigment colorants, as described above to
achieve durability. However, these types of inks contain large
amounts of co-solvents to facilitate the jetting and to swell the
plastic substrate. These co-solvents have to be driven away, then
the ink film is fused at high temperatures. However, this process
can limit print speeds and create VOC issues.
[0012] In addition, the non-polar, water insoluble, high molecular
weight latex binder can create an insoluble crust on the printing
nozzle surface. The insoluble crust can gradually block the jetting
nozzle. As a result, jetting may not be sustained and reliable
jetting may not be achieved.
[0013] It would be preferable to use de-contented ink to print on
plastic substrates. De-contented inks are inks that do not include
any binder or solvents. A de-contented inks has desirable
properties such as a longer shelf life, better jettability, and low
VOC emissions. However, de-contented ink does not generate durable
images on plastic substrates because there is no binder to bind the
pigments on the plastic substrates.
[0014] The present disclosure provides a system that can produce a
durable image on a substrate (e.g., plastic-based substrates) using
de-contented ink. A durable image may be defined as an image that
can withstand an eraser rub, wiping with a liquid such as 70%
isopropylalcohol (IPA) or Windex.RTM., tape adhesion, and the
like.
[0015] In one implementation, energizing the de-contented ink film,
e.g., heating the particles of de-contented ink to a temperature
that is close to, or just below, a melting temperature of the
plastic substrate, produces a durable image. Heating the particles
of de-contented ink allows the particles to diffuse or melt into
the surfaces of the plastic substrate. In other words, the
particles can be imbibed by the plastic substrate. Said another
way, some hydrophobic binder may migrate into the condensed pigment
matrices, thereby, generating a durable image.
[0016] FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an example system 100
of the present disclosure. The system 100 includes a fluid ejection
system 102, a processor 104, a memory 106 and an input/output (I/O)
interface 108. In one example, the fluid ejection system 102 may be
used to print on substrates. For example, the fluid ejection system
102 may be a printer, a multi-function device, a distributed
printing system, and the like.
[0017] In one implementation, the fluid ejection system 102 may
include a fluid ejection apparatus 110, a heater 112, and an energy
source 114. Examples and additional details of the fluid ejection
apparatus 110, the heater 112 and the energy source 114 are
described below.
[0018] As will be appreciated, the fluid ejection system 102, as
described herein, may selectively eject droplets of fluid such that
the droplets of fluid may be deposited on a substrate. The
patterning of such deposited droplets of fluid on the substrate may
cause an image to be formed on the substrate. Such formation of an
image may be referred to as printing.
[0019] In one example, the processor 104 may control operation of
the fluid ejection system 102 and the various components within the
fluid ejection system 102. In one example, the memory 106 may be a
non-transitory computer readable medium that stores instructions
that are executed by the processor. In one example, the I/O
interface 108 may include a display, a keyboard, an input device
(e.g., a mouse or a touchpad), and the like. The I/O interface 108
may allow a user to enter a print job that is executed by the fluid
ejection system 102 under control of the processor 104.
[0020] It should be noted that the system 100 may include
additional components not shown. For example, the system 100 may
also include a feedback loop, communication modules, and the
like.
[0021] FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of an example fluid
ejection system 102. In one implementation, the fluid ejection
system 102 may include at least one fluid ejection apparatus 202, a
heater 204 and an energy source 206. In one example, the energy
source 206 may be a light emitting diode (LED) based energy source
that includes one LED or a plurality of LEDs. The heater 204 may be
arranged along a substrate conveying path 218 after the fluid
ejection apparatus 202. The energy source 206 may be arranged along
the substrate conveying path 218 after the heater 204.
[0022] In one example, a substrate 208 may be moved along the
substrate conveying path 218 below the fluid ejection apparatus
202, the heater 204 and the energy source 206. In one example, the
substrate 208 may be a plastic. For example, the plastic may be a
poly vinyl chloride (PVC), polycarbonate, or any other plastic.
[0023] In another example, the fluid ejection apparatus 202, the
heater 204 and the energy source 206 may be moved over the
substrate 208 (e.g., via a movable carriage). It should be noted
that although the substrate conveying path 218 is illustrated as
moving from left to right in FIG. 2 that the substrate conveying
path 218 may also move from right to left if the order of the fluid
ejection apparatus 202, the heater 204 and the energy source 206
are rearranged.
[0024] In one example, the fluid ejection apparatus 202 may eject,
or dispense, a de-contented fluid 210 onto the substrate 208. The
de-contented fluid 210 may be an ink that does not contain any
binders, such as polyurethane, grafted polyurethane (PUG), latexes
or small amounts of solvent. In one example, the de-contented fluid
210 may be a water based ink that is easily jettable and has low
VOC emissions.
[0025] Although a single fluid ejection apparatus 202 is
illustrated in FIG. 2, it should be noted that the fluid ejection
system 102 may include a plurality of fluid ejection apparatuses
202. For example, the fluid ejection system 102 may be a
distributed print system that uses a plurality of fluid ejection
apparatuses 202 to print across a width of the substrate 208. In
other words, the number of the plurality of fluid ejection
apparatuses 202 may correspond to a width of the substrate 208.
[0026] In one example, the single fluid ejection apparatus 202 may
dispense a plurality of different colored de-contented fluids 210.
In another example, a plurality of fluid ejection apparatuses 202
may each dispense a different colored de-contented fluid 210 or
each dispense a plurality of different colored de-contented fluids
210.
[0027] In one example, the heater 204 may remove liquid 212 from
the de-contented fluid 210 that is applied to the substrate 208. As
a result, particles 214 of the de-contented fluid 210 may remain on
the substrate 208 after the de-contented fluid 210 is dried. In one
example, the liquid 212 that is removed may be water.
[0028] As the substrate 208 moves along the substrate conveying
path 218, the particles 214 that remain on the substrate 208 may
pass below the energy source 206. The energy source 206 may emit
energy that is absorbed by the particles 214. The particles 214 may
be heated to a temperature that is just below a melting temperature
of the substrate 208.
[0029] Using an LED based energy source 206 may provide many
advantages over other heating methods. In one example, the LED
based energy source 206 may be instantly turned on and off to
precisely control the amount of energy that is applied, and
thereby, the temperature of the particles 214 when the LED based
energy source 206 is activated. In contrast, other heating methods
such as thermal fusion or infrared heating can continue to heat the
atmosphere around the particles 214 even when the energy source is
turned off.
[0030] In addition, the LED based energy source 206 may be more
selective. The LED based energy source 206 may be directed towards
specific areas of the substrate 208. In other words, the LED based
energy source 206 may provide a more targeted heating.
[0031] Moreover, different LEDs of the LED based energy source 206
may apply energy to different specific colors. For example, fluid
ejection system 102 may be a cyan, magenta, yellow, key (or black)
(CYMK) color printer. Each color (e.g., cyan, magenta, yellow and
black) may absorb different wavelengths of light to be energized,
or heated. FIG. 5 illustrates an example chart 500 that illustrates
the absorption percentages at different wavelengths for different
colors.
[0032] The chart 500 illustrates a wavelength of an example LED.
The wavelength emitted by the example LED in the chart 500 may be
absorbed at high percentages by the yellow and black colors of the
example ink. A second LED may be used to emit wavelengths around
520 nanometers (nm) to 580 nm to heat the cyan and magenta
colors.
[0033] As a result, the LED based energy source 206 may have a
plurality of different LED lights that each emit a different
wavelength of energy. In other words, each one of the plurality of
different LED lights may be a different color that emits a
different wavelength of light onto the particles 214. Depending on
the colors of the particles 214 on the substrate 208, different LED
lights of the LED based energy source 206 may be selectively turned
on and off.
[0034] The particles 214 may be dried in one cycle under the LED
based energy source 206. In another example, the particles 214 may
be dried via multiple cycles under the LED based energy source 206.
For example, each cycle may melt different colored particles 214
using different LED energy wavelengths of the LED based energy
source 206.
[0035] In one example, the particles 214 may be heated quickly by
the LED based energy source 206. For example, the particles 214 may
be exposed to the LED based energy source 206 for only a few
seconds. For example, the substrate conveying path 218 may be moved
at a rate of approximately seven feet per minute.
[0036] Referring back to FIG. 2, after the particles 214 are
melted, the particles 214 may be infused into, or imbibed by, the
substrate 208. As noted above, the particles 214 may be heated to a
temperature that is approximately a melting temperature of the
substrate 208. In one example, the temperature may be just below
the melting temperature of the substrate 208. In one example, the
melting temperature of the substrate 208 may be approximately 150
degrees Celsius (.degree. C.). In another example, where the
substrate 208 is polypropylene or polyethylene, the melting
temperature may be lower than 150.degree. C.
[0037] FIG. 4 illustrates an example close up diagram of the
particles 404 being imbibed by a plastic substrate 402. As noted
above, previous attempts to print on plastic substrates using
de-contented ink were not very successful. For example, the
de-contented ink could be removed easily.
[0038] However, by heating the particles 404 up to a temperature
that is just below the melting temperature of the plastic substrate
402, the particles 404 may be melted. As the substrate 402 reaches
near a melting temperature, imperfections may be created in a top
surface 406 of the plastic substrate 402. The melted particles 404
may be diffused into, or imbibed by, the imperfections of the top
surface 406 of the plastic substrate 402. As a result, the printed
image may have better adhesion to the plastic substrate 402 than in
previous methods, thereby, creating a more durable printed
image.
[0039] However, if the substrate 208 has a melting temperature that
is greater than 150.degree. C., then heating the particles 214 to a
temperature that is just below the melting temperature may
negatively affect the particles 214. As a result, a primer may be
applied to the substrate 208 as illustrated in FIG. 3 for
substrates 208 that have a melting temperature that is greater than
a temperature at which the particles 214 may begin to decompose
(e.g., greater than 200.degree. C.).
[0040] The example fluid ejection system 102 in FIG. 3 may include
a primer applying device 302, at least one fluid ejection apparatus
304, a heater 306 and an LED energy source 310. The at least one
fluid ejection apparatus 304 may be arranged along a substrate
conveying path 314 after the primer applying device 302. The heater
306 may be arranged along the substrate conveying path 314 after
the fluid ejection apparatus 304. The LED energy source 310 may be
arranged along the substrate conveying path 314 after the heater
306.
[0041] In one example, a substrate 312 may be moved along the
substrate conveying path 314 below the primer applying device 302,
the fluid ejection apparatus 304, the heater 306 and the LED energy
source 310.
[0042] In another example, the primer applying device 302, the
fluid ejection apparatus 304, the heater 306 and the LED energy
source 310 may be moved over the substrate 312 (e.g., via a movable
carriage). It should be noted that although the substrate conveying
path 314 is illustrated as moving from left to right in FIG. 3, the
substrate conveying path 314 may also move from left to right if
the order of the primer applying device 302, the fluid ejection
apparatus 304, the heater 306 and the LED energy source 310 are
rearranged.
[0043] In one example, the substrate 312 may be a plastic substrate
that has a melting temperature that is higher than 150.degree. C.
As a result, heating the particles 320 that are left by
de-contented fluid 318 that is dispensed by the fluid ejection
apparatus 304 to temperatures higher than 150.degree. C. may damage
the particles 320. For example, the particles may become decomposed
at temperatures around 200.degree. C. and higher.
[0044] As a result, a primer 316 may be dispensed, or applied, onto
the substrate 312 before the de-contented fluid 318 is dispensed.
The primer 316 may be a thermally fusible primer. The thermally
fusible primer may be a latex or a wax.
[0045] In another implementation, the primer layer may be coated
with a different coating method. For example, the coating method
may include Gravure coating, reverse roll coating, knife-over-roll
coating, metering rod coating, slot die coating, curtain coating,
air knife coating, and the like. The coating may be dried before
reaching the fluid ejection apparatus 304.
[0046] The fluid ejection apparatus 304 may then dispense the
de-contented fluid 318 onto the primer 316 to print an image.
Although a single fluid ejection apparatus 304 is illustrated in
FIG. 3, it should be noted that the fluid ejection system 102 may
include a plurality of fluid ejection apparatuses 304. For example,
the fluid ejection system 102 may be a distributed print system
that uses a plurality of fluid ejection apparatuses 304 to print
across a width of the substrate 312. In other words, the number of
the plurality of fluid ejection apparatuses 304 may correspond to a
width of the substrate 312.
[0047] In one example, the single fluid ejection apparatus 304 may
dispense a plurality of different colored de-contented fluids 318.
In another example, a plurality of fluid ejection apparatuses 304
may each dispense a different colored de-contented fluid 318 or
each dispense a plurality of different colored de-contented fluids
318.
[0048] In one example, the heater 306 may remove liquid 308 from
the de-contented fluid 318 that is applied to the substrate 312. As
a result, the particles 320 of the de-contented fluid 318 may
remain on the substrate 312 after the de-contented fluid 318 is
dried. In one example, the liquid 308 that is removed may be
water.
[0049] As the substrate 312 moves along the substrate conveying
path 314, the particles 320 that remain on the substrate 312 may
pass below the LED energy source 310. The LED energy source 310 may
emit energy that is absorbed by the particles 320. The particles
320 may be heated to a temperature that is just below a melting
temperature of the primer 316. In one example, the temperature may
be a temperature just below the melting temperature of the primer
316 (e.g., just below 150.degree. C.).
[0050] After the particles are melted, the particles 214 may be
infused into the primer 316. The primer 316 may be adhered to the
substrate 312. The use of the primer 316 allows the substrate 312
to be a variety of different materials. For example, in addition to
plastics that have a melting temperature below 150.degree. C., the
substrate 312 may also be plastics that have a melting temperature
above 150.degree. C., metals, and the like.
[0051] FIG. 6 illustrates a flow diagram of an example method 600
for printing de-contented ink on a plastic substrate. In one
example, the blocks of the method 600 may be performed by the
system 100 or the fluid ejection system 102.
[0052] At block 602, the method 600 begins. At block 604, the
method 600 applies a de-contented fluid on a plastic substrate to
print an image. For example, the de-contented fluid may be an ink
having one or more different colors that are applied by a fluid
ejection apparatus to print the image on the plastic substrate.
[0053] In some implementations, a primer may be applied to the
plastic substrate before the de-contented fluid is dispensed onto
the plastic substrate. The primer may be a thermally fusible
primer.
[0054] At block 606, the method 600 dries the de-contented fluid to
remove water from the de-contented fluid. In one example, a heater
may apply heat to the de-contented fluid to remove liquid (e.g.,
water) from the de-contented fluid.
[0055] At block 608, the method 600 applies energy from at least
one LED to heat the de-contented fluid that is dried to a
temperature that is at approximately a melting temperature of the
plastic substrate. In one implementation, the LED may be part of an
LED energy source. The LED energy source may have a plurality of
different LEDs to emit energy at different wavelengths. The
different wavelengths may be selectively absorbed by different
colors of particles that remain on the plastic substrate after the
liquid is removed from the de-contented fluid.
[0056] The energy emitted by the LED may be absorbed by the
particles to heat the particles and melt the particles. In one
example, the melting temperature of the plastic substrate may be
approximately 150.degree. C. and the particles may be heated to a
temperature that is just below the melting temperature, or just
below 150.degree. C. At block 610, the method 600 ends.
[0057] It will be appreciated that variants of the above-disclosed
and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be
combined into many other different systems or applications.
Furthermore, the term "approximately" when used with regard to a
value may correspond to a range of .+-.10%. Various presently
unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications,
variations, or improvements therein may be subsequently made by
those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed
by the following claims.
* * * * *