Adjustable Reflector Mechanism for Infrared Drying Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drying apparatuses for inkjet-recorded media struggle to adjust the intensity of infrared radiation emitted by heaters to achieve optimal drying conditions, as the heaters can only be in an ON or OFF state, leading to suboptimal drying when ink or recording medium types change.
Innovation Solution
The proposed drying apparatus incorporates a heating device with a heater, reflector, and lifting mechanism. The reflector is adjustable via a rack and pinion mechanism, allowing it to be lifted or lowered to change the number of infrared ray reflections, thereby adjusting the intensity of infrared radiation applied to the recording medium.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the heater is switched between ON and OFF states, then the heating device can be controlled, but the intensity of infrared ray emitted to the recording medium cannot be adjusted
Solution Approach 1:
The reflector plate is made movable instead of fixed, allowing it to be positioned at different locations to change the number of infrared ray reflections. This dynamic positioning enables continuous adjustment of heating intensity without replacing the heater, resolving the contradiction between simple control and adaptable drying conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical parameter of reflector plate position to control the number of infrared ray reflections. By varying this positional parameter, the heating intensity is adjusted according to different drying requirements, enabling versatility while maintaining simple heater control.
2Device complexity
If the heater intensity is kept constant, then the heating device is simple, but optimal drying cannot be achieved when ink or recording medium type changes
Solution Approach 1:
The reflector plate serves as an intermediary component between the constant-intensity heater and the recording medium. By adjusting the reflector plate's position, the heating intensity delivered to the medium is varied without changing the heater itself, maintaining device simplicity while achieving adaptation to different materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The static heating device is made dynamically adjustable through the movable reflector plate. This allows the system to adapt to different ink and recording medium types by changing the reflection path, without complicating the heater structure or requiring heater replacement.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the reflector plate is made movable to adjust infrared ray reflections, then drying intensity can be controlled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reflector plate is divided into multiple discrete positioning locations rather than being continuously adjustable. This segmentation allows drying intensity control through discrete position changes, reducing mechanical complexity while maintaining adaptability for different drying requirements.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables the adjustment of drying strength by altering the reflector's position, allowing for optimal drying conditions to be maintained regardless of ink or recording medium type, without the need to replace the heater.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of heaters which emit infrared ray
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of reflector plates each of which is provided for each heater and reflects infrared ray emitted from the heater toward the recording medium
Data Source
AI summary
A drying device dries a recording medium on which an image is formed, while conveying the recording medium. The drying apparatus includes a conveying member and a heating device. The conveying member supports and conveys the recording medium in a predetermined conveyance direction. The heating device heats the recording medium conveyed by the conveying member under a high temperature environment. The heating device includes a heater, a reflector and a lifting mechanism. The heater emits infrared ray. The reflector reflects the infrared ray emitted from the heater toward the recording medium. The lifting mechanism lifts and lowers the reflector relative to the heater to change a number of reflections of the infrared ray.