Curing apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus, e.g. for curing a printing fluid, comprising an air treatment part, a curing part and an air circulation system. The air treatment part is to reduce the amount of a component comprised in air in the air treatment part and to supply treated air to a curing part. The curing part is to receive treated air from the air treatment part and to expose an item printed with a printing fluid comprising the component to the received treated air. The air circulation system is to cause the treated air to flow from the air treatment part into the curing part and to cause air from the curing part to flow into the air treatment part.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 an air treatment part to reduce the amount of a component comprised in air in the air treatment part and to supply treated air to a curing part;   the curing part to receive treated air from the air treatment part and to expose an item printed with a printing fluid comprising the component to the received treated air; and   an air circulation system to cause the treated air to flow from the air treatment part into the curing part and to cause air from the curing part to flow into the air treatment part.   
     
     
         2 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , the air treatment part comprising a catalytic oxidizer to oxidize the component. 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 2 , the air treatment part further comprising a heating element to heat air in the air treatment part and to supply heated air to the catalytic oxidizer. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 3 , further comprising a temperature control system to detect a temperature of air flowing out of the air treatment part or into the curing part and to control operation of the heating element in dependence on the detected temperature. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising an air mixing chamber having a first inlet for receiving air from the curing part, a second inlet for receiving ambient air from outside the apparatus, and an outlet for supplying air to the air treatment part. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 5 , the air mixing chamber being such that air supplied to the air treatment part comprises at least 80% by volume air received from the curing part. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 5 , the second inlet being adjustable to vary the percentage by volume of ambient air comprised in the air supplied to the air treatment part. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 7 , further comprising a temperature control system to detect a temperature of air flowing out of the air treatment part or into the curing part and to adjust the second inlet in dependence on the detected temperature. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , the air circulation system comprising an impulsion element provided in the air treatment part. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , the air treatment part being comprised in a curing module of a printer. 
     
     
         11 . A printer comprising a printing stage to print a printing fluid comprising latex onto a medium; and a curing stage to cure the printing fluid printed on the medium, the curing stage comprising the apparatus of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         12 . A curing module for a printer, the curing module comprising:
 a first chamber comprising an air inlet and an air cleaning element to reduce the amount of a volatile compound comprised in air in the first chamber;   a second chamber in fluid communication with the first chamber, the second chamber comprising an air outlet, the second chamber being to contain a medium printed with a printing fluid comprising the volatile compound during a curing process of the printing fluid in which the volatile compound in the printing fluid is evaporated into the air in the second chamber;   an air passage to enable air to flow from the air outlet of the second chamber to the air inlet of the first chamber; and   an air flow generator to cause air to flow through the first chamber, subsequently through the second chamber, and along the air passage, such that air flowing through the first chamber at least partly comprises air exhausted from the air outlet of the second chamber.   
     
     
         13 . A method comprising:
 receiving air containing a solvent vapor into a first chamber;   cleaning the received air by reducing the amount of the solvent vapor in the received air;   supplying the cleaned air to a second chamber containing a medium printed with a printing fluid comprising the solvent, during a curing process of the printing fluid in which the solvent is vaporized from the printing fluid into air in the second chamber; and   supplying air containing the solvent vapor from the second chamber to the first chamber, such that the received air at least partly comprises air from the second chamber.   
     
     
         14 . A method in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein supplying air containing the solvent vapor from the second chamber to the first chamber comprises mixing air from the second chamber with ambient air not containing the solvent vapor. 
     
     
         15 . A method in accordance with  claim 13 , further comprising heating the received air before it is cleaned.