Printing system and method
A printing system includes a media transport device to move a medium at a speed ranging from about 15.24 mpm to about 609.6 mpm. The system includes an ink applicator to apply ink on the medium, and a treatment applicator to apply a treatment composition (including liquid vehicle, polyvalent metal salt fixing agent, and latex resin having an acid number less than 20) before or after the ink is applied, to form a printed-on medium. The system further includes a heating system programmed to: i) dry the printed-on medium at a predetermined temperature for a reduced dwell time (from about 1 second to about 40 seconds); and ii) leave residual moisture in the printed-on medium for a predetermined time after the reduced dwell time. The residual moisture is at a level that is higher than an initial moisture content of the medium prior to treatment composition and ink application.
1. A printing system, comprising:
a media transport device to move a medium at a speed ranging from about 15.24 mpm to about 609.6 mpm;
an ink applicator to apply ink on the medium;
a treatment applicator to apply a treatment composition on the medium before or after the ink is applied on the medium to form a printed-on medium, the treatment composition including a liquid vehicle, a polyvalent metal salt fixing agent, and a latex resin having an acid number less than 20; and
a heating system programmed to: i) dry the printed-on medium at a predetermined temperature for a reduced dwell time ranging from about 1 second to about 40 seconds; and ii) dry the medium such that the residual moisture level in the printed-on medium within 10 seconds of the reduced dwell time ranges from about 3% to about 5% over an initial moisture content of the medium prior to treatment composition and ink application.
2. The printing system as defined in claim 1 wherein the heating system includes a forced air convective dryer.
3. The printing system as defined in claim 2 wherein the heating system further includes an IR emitter.
4. The printing system as defined in claim 1 , further comprising at least one of:
an in-line thermal imaging camera to monitor an exit temperature of the printed-on medium from the heating system; and
an in-line moisture analyzer to measure the residual moisture level of the printed-on medium.
5. The printing system as defined in claim 1 wherein:
the treatment applicator is positioned and programmed to apply the treatment composition on the medium; and
the ink applicator is positioned and programmed to apply the ink to the treatment composition on the medium within a predetermined time of the treatment composition being applied.
6. A printing system, comprising:
a media transport device to move a medium at a speed ranging from about 15.24 mpm to about 609.6 mpm;
an ink applicator to apply ink on the medium;
a treatment applicator to apply a treatment composition on the medium before or after the ink is applied on the medium to form a printed-on medium, the treatment composition including a liquid vehicle, a polyvalent metal salt fixing agent, and a latex resin having an acid number less than 20;
a heating system programmed to: i) dry the printed-on medium at a predetermined temperature for a reduced dwell time ranging from about 1 second to about 40 seconds; and ii) leave residual moisture in the printed-on medium for a predetermined time after the reduced dwell time, the residual moisture being at a level that is higher than an initial moisture content of the medium prior to treatment composition and ink application; and
at least one of an in-line moisture analyzer to measure the residual moisture level of the printed-on medium and an in-line thermal imaging camera to monitor an exit temperature of the printed-on medium from the heating system.
7. A printing method, comprising:
transporting a medium through a printer at a speed ranging from about 15.24 mpm to about 609.6 mpm;
applying ink on the medium;
applying a treatment composition on at least a portion of the medium before or after the ink is applied thereon, thereby forming a printed-on medium, the treatment composition including a liquid vehicle, a polyvalent metal salt fixing agent, and a latex resin having an acid number less than 20;
drying the printed-on medium at a predetermined temperature for a reduced dwell time ranging from about 1 second to about 40 seconds, thereby leaving residual moisture in the printed-on medium for a predetermined time after the reduced dwell time, the residual moisture being at a level that is higher than an initial moisture content of the medium prior to treatment composition and ink application; and
at least one of:
performing a finishing process within 10 seconds of the printed-on medium exiting a dryer used in the drying step;
measuring the residual moisture level within 10 seconds of the printed-on medium exiting a dryer used in the drying step; and
monitoring an exit temperature of the printed-on medium using an in-line thermal imaging camera.
8. The printing method as defined in claim 7 wherein:
the treatment composition is applied to at least a portion of the medium; and
the ink is applied to the treatment composition within a predetermined time of the treatment composition being applied.
9. The printing method as defined in claim 7 wherein:
the ink is applied to at least a portion of the medium; and
the treatment composition is applied to the ink on the medium.
10. The printing method as defined in claim 7 wherein the finishing process is selected from rolling the printed-on medium, or cutting the printed-on medium into sheets and stacking the sheets.
11. The printing method as defined in claim 7 wherein the residual moisture level ranges from about 3% to about 5% over the initial moisture content of the medium, and wherein the printed-on medium exhibits a minimal optical density loss or no optical density loss within the predetermined time after the printed-on medium is exposed to the reduced dwell time.