Nested Belt Heater for Compact Printing Energy Use
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printing apparatuses are not compact and efficient in terms of heating and energy consumption, and methods for treating marking material on media are not optimized for compactness and energy use.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus comprising a roll and a continuous belt forming a nip, with a heater disposed inside the belt having a circumferentially-extending heating surface contacting the belt over an angle of at least 90°, and a stripping member to assist in media separation, allowing for efficient heating and energy use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a heater is disposed inside the belt contacting the inner surface over an angle of at least 90°, then heating efficiency and energy consumption are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heater is disposed inside the belt, nesting the heating element within the belt structure. This allows the heater to contact the inner surface of the belt over an angle of at least 90°, improving heating efficiency and reducing energy consumption while maintaining a compact configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The heater contacts the belt over an angle of at least 90° circumferentially, extending the heating action across a significant portion of the belt's inner surface. This angular extension in the circumferential dimension improves heat distribution and efficiency without proportionally increasing device complexity.
2Productivity
If the heater contacts the belt over a larger angle, then heating efficiency improves, but the size of the apparatus increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heater is nested inside the belt structure, allowing it to contact the inner surface over an angle of at least 90° without significantly increasing the overall apparatus volume. This nested configuration enables extended heating coverage while maintaining a compact footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating action is extended circumferentially over at least 90°, utilizing the angular dimension to improve heating efficiency. This circumferential extension allows the heater to treat marking material more effectively without proportionally increasing the apparatus size in other dimensions.
3Loss of energy
If heating efficiency is increased, then energy consumption decreases, but the complexity of the heating system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heater is disposed inside the belt, nesting the heating element within the belt structure. This configuration improves heating efficiency by direct contact over an angle of at least 90°, reducing energy loss while the integrated design minimizes the increase in system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The heater contacts the inner surface of the belt over an angle of at least 90°, allowing the belt itself to serve as the heat transfer medium. This self-service approach improves energy efficiency by eliminating the need for additional heat transfer components while keeping the heating system relatively simple.
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
The solution enables a more compact and energy-efficient printing process with increased productivity, as measured by the number of prints per minute, while maintaining effective fixing of marking material on various media types.
Implementation Method 1
a heater disposed inside of the belt. The heater includes a circumferentially-extending heating surface contacting the inner surface of the belt
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatuses useful in printing and methods of treating marking material on media are disclosed. An embodiment of the apparatuses includes a roll including a first outer surface; a continuous belt including an inner surface and a second outer surface forming a nip by contact with the first outer surface, the belt being driven by rotation of the roll; and a heater disposed inside of the belt. The heater includes a circumferentially-extending heating surface contacting the inner surface of the belt over an angle of at least about 90°.