Dryer Waste Liquid Collection with Pressure Sensor Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-speed printers face challenges in efficiently collecting condensate waste liquids generated during the drying process, leading to potential contamination of sheets and instability in dryer operations due to the accumulation of waste liquids.
Innovation Solution
A dryer system equipped with a waste-liquid collection device comprising a collection pan, a liquid feed device, a switching device, and a pressure sensor, which allows for reliable collection and measurement of waste liquids, ensuring stable operation and preventing contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a waste-liquid collection mechanism is used in the dryer, then vapor condensation is effective, but waste liquid accumulation causes operational instability and sheet contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure sensor provides real-time feedback on the liquid level in the collection pan by measuring pressure changes. When the liquid level reaches a predetermined threshold, the pressure change triggers the controller to activate the pump, creating a closed-loop feedback system that prevents waste liquid accumulation and maintains reliable operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the weight of the accumulated waste liquid itself to trigger the drainage mechanism. As liquid accumulates in the collection pan, the increasing weight creates a pressure change that automatically activates the pump to drain the liquid, making the system self-regulating without requiring external monitoring or intervention.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If continuous waste liquid drainage is implemented, then contamination is prevented, but energy consumption and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous drainage, the system implements periodic drainage triggered by pressure sensors that detect when waste liquid accumulation reaches a predetermined level. The pump operates only during these periodic drainage events, significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous operation while still preventing sheet contamination effectively.
3Quantity of substance
If multiple collection devices are used to collect waste liquid from different locations, then collection efficiency improves, but system complexity and liquid transfer requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple collection devices (collection pans from different radiation fins) into a single common collection pan where all waste liquid accumulates. This consolidation simplifies the system structure by eliminating the need for multiple separate drainage paths and pumps, while a single pressure sensor and pump handle the collection from all locations, maintaining high collection capacity with reduced complexity.
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 system effectively collects waste liquids, maintaining image quality and ensuring stable dryer operation by periodically draining and monitoring the waste liquids, preventing overflow and malfunctions.
Implementation Method 1
a heater configured to heat an object to dry the object
Implementation Method 2
The radiation fin condenses and liquefy vapor in the dryer into the waste liquid
Data Source
AI summary
A dryer includes a heater configured to heat an object to dry the object, a plurality of collection devices configured to collect a liquid generated by liquefication of condensed vapor in the dryer, a drainage tube configured to drain the liquid from each of the plurality of collection devices, a pump configured to feed the liquid through the drainage tube, a switch configured to switch a connection between the plurality of collection devices and the switch, and a pressure sensor configured to measure a pressure between the switch and the pump.