Color Developing Machine Vertical Transport Path
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional color developing machines require winding and setting of print media into a roll form, making the process cumbersome and leading to a large device size when combined with ink jet printers, as they typically spread horizontally.
Innovation Solution
A color developing machine with a transportation path that intersects the horizontal direction, allowing for compact design, featuring heaters along the width of the path for optimized heating, a movable wall for maintenance, and an exhaust unit to efficiently discharge heated air, enabling independent heating control and reducing device size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the transportation path extends in the horizontal direction to accommodate the print medium, then the print medium can be transported through the color developing unit, but the device size becomes large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the transportation path orientation from horizontal to vertical direction. The print medium is fed from a lower feed roller and transported upward through the heating unit to an upper discharge roller, eliminating the need for horizontal space while maintaining the necessary transportation path length for color development
2Ease of operation
If the print medium is wound into a roll form and set on the feed roller, then the print medium can be fed into the color developing machine, but the operation becomes troublesome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent provides a feed roller that directly feeds the print medium from a reel in a continuous state without requiring the user to manually wind and set rolls. The feed roller is configured to automatically supply the print medium to the transportation path, eliminating preliminary manual preparation steps
Solution Approach 2:
The feed roller system is designed to automatically handle the print medium supply from the reel, performing the feeding function without requiring user intervention for winding and setting operations. The system serves itself by maintaining continuous print medium supply through the automated feed mechanism
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple heaters are arranged along the width direction of the print medium, then the heating control precision can be improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heating system is divided into multiple independent heater units arranged along the width direction of the print medium. Each heater can be independently controlled to provide precise temperature regulation across different zones, ensuring uniform heating while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
Different heaters positioned at different locations along the width direction can be controlled with different parameters to match the specific heating requirements of different regions of the print medium. This allows optimized heating control for each local area while maintaining overall system simplicity
4Area of stationary object
If the color developing unit is compactly formed with vertical transportation path, then the device size is reduced, but the heated air discharge efficiency may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
By orienting the transportation path vertically, the heated air naturally rises and can be efficiently discharged through the upper discharge roller area. This vertical arrangement utilizes gravitational and buoyant forces to facilitate air flow, maintaining high discharge efficiency while achieving compact horizontal footprint
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 alleviates the complexity of the color developing process, achieves miniaturization of the device, and enhances heating efficiency by allowing for precise temperature control and easy maintenance, while preventing heated air from remaining in the system.
Implementation Method 1
a heating unit with a plurality of heaters, where at least some of the plurality of heaters are arranged along a width direction of the print medium to be transported or the transportation path
Implementation Method 2
a reflecting member that reflects the heat released from the heater is preferably arranged at a position facing the transportation path with the heater in between
Implementation Method 3
the transportation path is preferably extended in the vertical direction. Thus, the air of the transportation path heated by the color developing unit is moved upward and can be discharged to the outside
Data Source
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AI summary
To alleviate the trouble of the color developing step and achieve miniaturization. A color developing unit that heats and color develops a print medium, on which ink is attached, is arranged, where the color developing unit includes a transportation path in which a carry-in port and a carry-out port of the print medium are in communication with outside air, the transportation path being extended in a direction intersecting a horizontal direction.