EP0798116A1 - Mikrowellentrockner für eine Druckmaschine - Google Patents

Mikrowellentrockner für eine Druckmaschine Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0798116A1
EP0798116A1 EP96104908A EP96104908A EP0798116A1 EP 0798116 A1 EP0798116 A1 EP 0798116A1 EP 96104908 A EP96104908 A EP 96104908A EP 96104908 A EP96104908 A EP 96104908A EP 0798116 A1 EP0798116 A1 EP 0798116A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
web
heating device
microwave heating
press
microwave
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP96104908A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Ira B. Goldberg
Charles S. Hollingsworth
Lawrence J. Bain
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Goss International LLC
Original Assignee
Goss Graphic Systems Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Goss Graphic Systems Inc filed Critical Goss Graphic Systems Inc
Priority to EP96104908A priority Critical patent/EP0798116A1/de
Publication of EP0798116A1 publication Critical patent/EP0798116A1/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41F—PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES
    • B41F23/00—Devices for treating the surfaces of sheets, webs, or other articles in connection with printing
    • B41F23/04—Devices for treating the surfaces of sheets, webs, or other articles in connection with printing by heat drying, by cooling, by applying powders
    • B41F23/0486—Particular types of dryers
    • B41F23/0493—Microwave dryers

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to heating devices for a web printed by a printing press.
  • heating devices of a conventional nature have been utilized to heat a web printed by a printing press to dry the ink.
  • the printed web is passed through a drier which uses hot air convection heat transfer.
  • This process is relatively slow, and therefor long tunnels are needed to provide the residence time needed for heat transfer and solvent removal.
  • the tunnels to provide heat are both costly and energy inefficient, and large quantities of heated air must be circulated to heat the web and capture the solvent and water in the ink.
  • the prior heating devices require an excessive amount of space in the press room due to their inefficiency.
  • a microwave heating device was disclosed in White 3,739,130, but is not adequate for the heat set process needed by a printing press.
  • a principal feature of the present invention is the provision of an improved heating device for a printed web from a printing press.
  • the heating device of the present invention comprises, a microwave heating device having a chamber for heating a printed web, means for collecting information from the microwave heating device and press, and means for controlling the microwave heating device and press responsive to the collected information.
  • a feature of the invention is that operation of the microwave heating device is controlled in conjunction with operation of the press.
  • Yet another feature of the invention is that the power in the microwave heating device is controlled in accordance with the speed of the printing press.
  • a further feature of the invention is that operation of the microwave heating device is coordinated with the operation of a chiller for cooling the web after passing through the heating device.
  • microwave heating device may be immediately stopped in the case of a web break in the press or an emergency shut down of the press.
  • Still another feature of the invention is that the type of paper and ink used in the press may be supplied to the controlling device of the microwave drier.
  • a further feature of the invention is that the temperature of the web may be monitored by the controlling device.
  • the power supplied by the microwave may be controlled in accordance with the temperature of the web, the relative humidity in the chamber, the solvent vapor content of the chamber, or any combination thereof.
  • Yet another feature of the invention is that a solvent may be monitored by the controlling means in the chamber.
  • Still another feature of the invention is that an indication of a failure in a zone of the heating device may be supplied by the controlling device to the press, and the speed of the press may be slowed responsive to this condition in the microwave heating device. Also, in this event, the energy (heat) supplied by other zones may be increased, or an inactive (reserve) zone is activated while the power of other zones are readjusted to maintain the optimal heating profile.
  • a feature of the invention is that the controlling device may inform the press when it is ready to receive the printed web, and that the ink on the web is being properly heat set.
  • a stream of air may be directed towards the web in order to penetrate a boundary layer of gas adjacent a surface of the web.
  • Still another feature of the invention is that the stream of air may be controlled by the controlling device.
  • the air may be preheated by gas or electricity.
  • microwave heating device has a plurality of heating zones, and the controlling device controls operation of the device in each of the zones.
  • a feature of the invention is that the microwave heating device is expected to be 1/4 or shorter than the length of conventional heaters, and thus requires much less space in the press room as compared to prior heating devices.
  • Another feature of the present invention is that a cavity in the device provides a uniform energy across the web being printed.
  • a microwave heating device generally designated 10 having a plurality of applicators or heating zones 12 in order to heat inks on a printed web 18 from a printing press 20.
  • the heating zones are individually controlled by a master control unit 14 comprising a computer.
  • the heating device 10 has a power unit 16 controlled by the computer 14, with each of the power units 16 being associated with each of the heating zones 12.
  • the number of heating zones 12 depends on the energy required by the heating process, press speed, and the microwave frequency. Typical microwave frequencies for industrial heating are 915 and 2450 MHz. As examples, at 2450 MHz the maximum power output is 15 kW per power station, while at 915 MHz the maximum power output is 60-75 kW per power station. Thus, there may be 10 to 20 zones for 2450 MHz while there may be 3 to 4 zones for 915 MHz. If desired, the individual cavities or chambers 30 in an applicator 12 may be powered from either side of a web 18 printed by a printing press 20 to ensure uniform heating across a wide web 18.
  • this device when 2450 MHz is selected as the microwave frequency is to power each resonant cavity by its microwave generator.
  • the microwave source will generate 2 to 3 kW.
  • ouch cases a large number of sources are used to generate the required power.
  • this approach may have economical and practical advantages over dividing the power among many stations.
  • the computer 14 collects information and monitors the individual heating zones 12, the press 20, and a chiller 22 which cools the web 18 after the ink has been heated in the microwave heating device 10.
  • the computer 14 controls the applicators 12, the press 20 and the chiller 22, with the computer 14 monitoring a temperature sensor 23 in the chiller 22, such as a temperature sensor fiberoptic sold by Luxtron.
  • the information supplied from the press 20 to the computer 14 includes the type of paper, ink, the amount of ink coverage on the web, the press speed, an emergency shut down condition, and sensed web breaks.
  • the computer 14 immediately inhibits power to the power units 16 in order to immediately stop heating in the heating device 10.
  • power may be applied to the heating device 10 in order to start immediate heating of the web 18, and power may be removed from the heating device 10 in order to prevent heating of the web 18 that could damage the ink or char or burn the paper.
  • the computer 14 in turn supplies information to the press 20 to inform the press 20 that the microwave drier can receive paper, when the ink on the paper is properly being heat set, and a failure condition in any of the power units 16 or zones 12.
  • the individual microwave units 12 are controlled by the computer 14 based upon a desired heat set profile.
  • any malfunction of one of the power units 16 can cause the control unit 14 to redistribute the loads for drying without shutting down the press, or, if necessary, may cause the press speed to change so that proper drying can be maintained while the specific unit is being repaired. Since the units 16 are essentially independent, many types of repairs can be made while the press 20 is still operational.
  • the device 10 has a plurality of temperature sensors 24 adjacent the web 18, such as a fiberoptic Model 790 sold by Luxtron, or part NOEMI-TS sold by Nortech, and along the path of the web 18, an effluent solvent sensor 26, such as model Nos. TGS 822 and 823 sold by Figaro of Winnetka, Illinois, and a water vapor sensor 28, such as Models TF- and M-series sold by Panametrics.
  • the microwave power at each zone 12 is also monitored for proper control, along with the other sensors by the computer 14 for proper control of the device 10.
  • the primary control functions for each applicator 12 that are controlled by the computer are the air flow, air temperature, and microwave power.
  • Each zone 12 may have any number of pairs of microwave cavities 30, and the example of Fig. 2 shows two pairs of cavities 30.
  • Each pair is arranged so that the maximum electric field in one cavity is precisely in line along the web direction with the minimum of the second. If the cavities in each pair are in resonance with the source, and they are tuned identically, the power distribution across the web is an integral number of half cycles that exhibit a power distribution proportional to sin 2 (2n Pi y/W) , where y is the web position, L is the cavity length, and n is the number of wavelengths along the cavity length.
  • one cavity is offset from the other by a distance that corresponds to a phase shift of Pi/2.
  • the microwave energy in each zone 12 is supplied by the source, which, in turn, is controlled by the control unit 14 based upon preprogrammed information and the sensors located on the press 20, microwave generators, and applicators 12. Temperature is the most critical measurement since it has a direct effect on the quality of the print, paper coating, and paper quality.
  • Fiber optic temperature sensors 24 can be placed in holes 34 through the walls 32 separating the cavities or chambers 30. These sensors 24 should be placed so that the maximum and minimum temperatures can be determined, and the operation of the heater 10 can be maintained in the proper range.
  • air is forced through slots 36 in the wall 38 between the microwave cavities 30 and exits through openings 48 in the top wall 40 and the bottom wall 42 of the cavity 30.
  • the solvents in the air may be collected in a suitable manner, and may be burned or collected and retained for later disposal.
  • the gap 44 may be 1/8" to 1/4" for 2450 MHz microwave energy, and somewhat larger for 915 MHz. This shearing effect causes turbulence which facilitates removing the evaporated solvent.
  • dry preheated air passed through ducts 46 is used to penetrate the boundary along the web 18.
  • the solvent sensors 26 and water vapor sensors 28 can be placed at key locations, as shown, adjacent openings 48 in the top wall 40, in order to determine the amount of solvents and water vapor released from the inks when heated.
  • the amount of solvent or water vapor being removed is related to temperature, power, air flow, and dwell time, whereas the temperature is primarily dependent on the power and speed of the web 18.
  • the inks on the printed web 18 from the press 20 are heated in the microwave heating device 10 in order to dry the inks on the web 18.
  • the control unit 14 coordinates operation of the press 20 and heating device 10.
  • the control unit 14 coordinates operation between the microwave heating device 10 and chiller 22 in order to cool the web 18 and inks after they pass through the microwave heating device 10.
  • the microwave heating device 10 is greatly more efficient than prior convention heating devices, and significantly reduces the amount of floor space required in the press room.
  • the solution to this problem is to design a cavity that can provide a uniform energy across the web in accordance with alternate embodiments of the invention which are shown in Figs. 3 and 4.
  • cavities that generate a uniform electric filed across the web are used. Only two cavity modes can meet the condition. One of these cavities is cylindrical with the mode designation TM 0m0 , as shown in Fig. 3, and the other is rectangular, as shown in Fig. 4, with the mode designation TE 10n , where n in an integer. These mode designations are standard microwave practice.
  • the TM 0m0 mode cavity 60 is cylindrical.
  • TM represents a cavity with a magnetic field transverse to its axis.
  • the subscripts l, m, and n, represent the half wavelengths of electric field, respectively in the circumference, radius, and length.
  • the electric field is constant in the direction parallel to the axis, and is zero in the radial direction.
  • a web 18 fed through the cylindrical portion of the cavity will experience a constant electric field perpendicular to the direction in which the web 18 moves. If the Q factor (power storage) in the cavity is reasonably large (e.g.
  • Fig. 3 shows a cross section of a series of cavities that could constitute a web drying system.
  • These features were previously described which describes rectangular TE 10n mode cavities.
  • the resonant frequency of the TM 0m0 mode cavity cannot be adjusted by changing the axial length of the cavity. Rather, some tuning adjustments need to be made by inserting a metal conductor 52 or Teflon dielectric through slots along the cavity axis. These should be symmetrical about the web 18.
  • the TE 10n mode is rectangular.
  • TE represents a cavity with a magnetic field transverse to its length, in this case, the length L, in Fig. 4 is not the longest direction of the cavity.
  • the dimensions a (x-direction), b (y-direction), and L (z-direction) represent the dimensions in which there are respectively one, zero, and any integer, n, half-wavelengths of the magnetic field.
  • the electric field which is needed to heat the web 18, is constant along the y-direction as shown in Fig. 3, reaches a maximum in the center of the cavity, and falls to zero at either wall (half wavelengths in x and z direction).

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Drying Of Solid Materials (AREA)
EP96104908A 1996-03-27 1996-03-27 Mikrowellentrockner für eine Druckmaschine Withdrawn EP0798116A1 (de)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP96104908A EP0798116A1 (de) 1996-03-27 1996-03-27 Mikrowellentrockner für eine Druckmaschine

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP96104908A EP0798116A1 (de) 1996-03-27 1996-03-27 Mikrowellentrockner für eine Druckmaschine

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0798116A1 true EP0798116A1 (de) 1997-10-01

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EP96104908A Withdrawn EP0798116A1 (de) 1996-03-27 1996-03-27 Mikrowellentrockner für eine Druckmaschine

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Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE10252751A1 (de) * 2002-11-13 2004-06-03 Nexpress Solutions Llc Verfahren zum Fixieren von Toner auf einem Bedruckstoff und Fixiereinrichtung
DE10305775A1 (de) * 2003-02-12 2004-09-02 Nexpress Solutions Llc Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Brandvermeidung in Druckmaschinen
DE102007035989A1 (de) * 2007-08-01 2009-02-05 Eastman Kodak Co. System zum Trocknen eines Substrats
US7674300B2 (en) 2006-12-28 2010-03-09 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Process for dyeing a textile web
US7740666B2 (en) 2006-12-28 2010-06-22 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Process for dyeing a textile web
DE102008063215A1 (de) * 2008-12-29 2010-07-08 Eastman Kodak Co. Druckmaschine für bahnförmigen Bedruckstoff und Verfahren zum Trocknen eines bahnförmigen Bedruckstoffs und/oder eines darauf befindlichen Druckmediums in einer Druckmaschine
US7954431B2 (en) 2006-06-09 2011-06-07 Heidelberger Druchmaschinen Ag Method for determining operating parameters of a printing press
US8182552B2 (en) 2006-12-28 2012-05-22 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Process for dyeing a textile web
US8632613B2 (en) 2007-12-27 2014-01-21 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Process for applying one or more treatment agents to a textile web
CN110561905A (zh) * 2019-09-24 2019-12-13 如皋市天元服饰印业有限公司 一种多色平型网板印花机工序间烘干机
CN113135050A (zh) * 2021-03-31 2021-07-20 北京印刷学院 一种基于温湿度检测的喷墨印刷烘干智能调控方法和装置

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1991017889A1 (en) * 1990-05-14 1991-11-28 Sama Engineering S.A.S. Di Roberto Macchetta & C. A printing ink drying apparatus and method in flexographic or rotogravure printing machine
DE4433904A1 (de) * 1993-09-22 1995-04-06 Rockwell International Corp Vorrichtung zum Erhitzen einer Druckbahn für eine Druckpresse

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1991017889A1 (en) * 1990-05-14 1991-11-28 Sama Engineering S.A.S. Di Roberto Macchetta & C. A printing ink drying apparatus and method in flexographic or rotogravure printing machine
DE4433904A1 (de) * 1993-09-22 1995-04-06 Rockwell International Corp Vorrichtung zum Erhitzen einer Druckbahn für eine Druckpresse

Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE10252751A1 (de) * 2002-11-13 2004-06-03 Nexpress Solutions Llc Verfahren zum Fixieren von Toner auf einem Bedruckstoff und Fixiereinrichtung
DE10305775A1 (de) * 2003-02-12 2004-09-02 Nexpress Solutions Llc Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Brandvermeidung in Druckmaschinen
US7035556B2 (en) 2003-02-12 2006-04-25 Eastman Kodak Company Method and apparatus for preventing fire in printing machines
US7954431B2 (en) 2006-06-09 2011-06-07 Heidelberger Druchmaschinen Ag Method for determining operating parameters of a printing press
US7674300B2 (en) 2006-12-28 2010-03-09 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Process for dyeing a textile web
US7740666B2 (en) 2006-12-28 2010-06-22 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Process for dyeing a textile web
US8182552B2 (en) 2006-12-28 2012-05-22 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Process for dyeing a textile web
DE102007035989A1 (de) * 2007-08-01 2009-02-05 Eastman Kodak Co. System zum Trocknen eines Substrats
US8632613B2 (en) 2007-12-27 2014-01-21 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Process for applying one or more treatment agents to a textile web
DE102008063215A1 (de) * 2008-12-29 2010-07-08 Eastman Kodak Co. Druckmaschine für bahnförmigen Bedruckstoff und Verfahren zum Trocknen eines bahnförmigen Bedruckstoffs und/oder eines darauf befindlichen Druckmediums in einer Druckmaschine
CN110561905A (zh) * 2019-09-24 2019-12-13 如皋市天元服饰印业有限公司 一种多色平型网板印花机工序间烘干机
CN113135050A (zh) * 2021-03-31 2021-07-20 北京印刷学院 一种基于温湿度检测的喷墨印刷烘干智能调控方法和装置

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