IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,269,254
Granted Patent B2
US 12,269,254 · App. 18/161,251 · Granted Apr 8, 2025

Dielectric heating apparatus and printing system

Inventor: Tadashi Aizawa (Matsumoto, JP)
Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
B41J11/00216B41J11/0021B41J11/00242H05B6/46H05B6/54H05B6/62
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,269,254
App. No.
18/161,251
Granted
Apr 8, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided is a dielectric heating apparatus for heating a first ink and a second ink that adhere to a medium. The first ink contains carbon black, and the second ink does not contain carbon black. The dielectric heating apparatus includes: a first electrode unit as an electrode unit configured to heat the first ink and the second ink, the first electrode unit including a first electrode and a second electrode that face the medium; and a first voltage application unit configured to apply an AC voltage having a frequency of 300 MHz or more and 300 GHz or less to the first electrode and the second electrode.

Claims (20)

1. A dielectric heating apparatus for heating a first ink and a second ink that adhere to a medium, the first ink containing carbon black, the second ink not containing carbon black, the dielectric heating apparatus comprising:

a first electrode unit and a second electrode unit as electrode units configured to heat the first ink and the second ink, the first electrode unit including a first electrode and a second electrode that face the medium, and the second electrode unit including a third electrode and a fourth electrode that face the medium;

a first voltage application unit configured to apply an AC voltage having a frequency of 300 MHz or more and 300 GHz or less to the first electrode and the second electrode; and

a second voltage application unit configured to apply an AC voltage having a frequency of 100 KHz or more and less than 300 MHz to the third electrode and the fourth electrode,

wherein the first electrode unit heats the first ink and the second ink after the second electrode unit heats the first ink and the second ink.

2. The dielectric heating apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a control unit configured to control the first voltage application unit, wherein

the first ink and the second ink are pigment inks containing a resin, and

the control unit controls the first voltage application unit to heat the first ink and the second ink to a temperature of 150° C. or more and 240° C. or less.

3. A printing system comprising:

the dielectric heating apparatus according to claim 1 ;

a discharge unit including a first discharge unit configured to discharge the first ink and cause the first ink to adhere to the medium, and a second discharge unit configured to discharge the second ink and cause the second ink to adhere to the medium; and

a transport unit configured to transport the medium along a transport path, wherein

the electrode units heat the first ink and the second ink downstream of a position in the transport path where the discharge unit causes the first ink and the second ink to adhere to the medium.

4. The printing system according to claim 3 , wherein

the transport unit includes a first transport unit configured to transport the medium in a first section of the transport path, and a second transport unit configured to transport the medium in a second section of the transport path downstream of the first section,

the discharge unit causes the first ink and the second ink to adhere to the medium in the first section, and

the electrode units heat the first ink and the second ink in the second section.

5. The printing system according to claim 4 , wherein

the first section and the second section are separated from each other.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 30, 2023
From: AIZAWA, TADASHI
To: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 062528/0584 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2022-012606 · Jan 31, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230241904A1 · Aug 3, 2023
References Cited (4)
US 20170066254A1 · Inoue · 2017 [cited by examiner]
US 20170266986A1 · Yamada · 2017 [cited by examiner]
US 20200087854A1 · Bertels · 2020 [cited by examiner]
JP 2017119395A · 2017 [cited by applicant]