Blower Airflow Control for Sheet Conveyance Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dryers in printers face challenges in maintaining conveyance stability due to uneven airflow distribution, leading to sheet fluttering and potential impairment of printing quality.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a blower system with a first airflow generator for blowing air onto the sheet and a second airflow generator for exhaust, controlled by circuitry to adjust airflow amounts based on the type of sheet, ensures a balanced airflow ratio to minimize sheet fluttering and maintain stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a conventional dryer with single airflow generator is used, then the structure is simple, but sheet fluttering occurs and conveyance stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The single airflow generator is segmented into two independent airflow generators: a blowing unit that blows air onto the sheet and an exhaust unit that exhausts air from beneath the sheet. This segmentation allows independent control of airflow directions to eliminate fluttering while maintaining structural manageability.
Solution Approach 2:
Different airflow characteristics are applied to different regions: the blowing unit provides upward airflow to support the sheet, while the exhaust unit provides downward airflow to prevent fluttering. This local differentiation of airflow quality stabilizes the sheet during conveyance.
2Stability of the object's composition
If airflow amount is increased to prevent sheet fluttering, then conveyance stability improves, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit receives sheet type information as feedback and adjusts the airflow amounts of both blowing and exhaust units accordingly. This feedback mechanism optimizes energy consumption by matching airflow to actual sheet requirements rather than using excessive fixed airflow.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes airflow parameters (amount and distribution) based on sheet type. Different airflow amounts are allocated to blowing and exhaust units depending on the specific sheet characteristics, optimizing the balance between stability and energy efficiency.
3Device complexity
If fixed airflow ratio is used between blowing and exhaust units, then device control is simple, but printing quality deteriorates due to uneven airflow distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The airflow ratio between blowing and exhaust units is made dynamic rather than fixed. The control unit adjusts the airflow distribution ratio based on sheet type information, allowing optimal airflow balance for different printing conditions while maintaining manageable control through automated adjustment.
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 effectively reduces sheet fluttering and maintains conveyance stability by controlling the airflow balance, enhancing the printing process's efficiency and quality.
Implementation Method 1
a first airflow generator configured to generate a first airflow to be blown to a sheet conveyed in the blower
Implementation Method 2
a second airflow generator configured to generate a second airflow to exhaust air in the blower outside the blower
Implementation Method 3
The printer includes a dryer such as a heater to heat the sheet on which the liquid is applied to accelerate drying of the liquid applied on the sheet
Data Source
AI summary
A dryer includes a first airflow generator configured to generate a first airflow to be blown to a sheet conveyed in the blower, a second airflow generator configured to generate a second airflow to exhaust air in the blower outside the blower, and circuitry configured to control the first airflow generator and the second airflow generator to control a blowing amount of the first airflow and an exhaust amount of the second airflow according to a type of the sheet.