Drying Device Blowing Unit Size Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drying devices for continuous paper become large due to the need for multiple fan motors and complex air ducts to ensure uniform air supply, leading to increased size and pressure loss, which complicates maintenance and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A drying device with a blowing unit that jets heated gas through a port facing the substrate transport surface, where the heat source and fan motor are positioned to not face the substrate, reducing the device's size and improving maintenance efficiency by using a heated gas supply unit that recovers and circulates thermal energy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If multiple fan motors are disposed along the continuous paper width direction to achieve uniform air supply, then the uniformity of air supply is improved, but the device size increases and the number of components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The blowing unit is divided into multiple independent blowing sections along the substrate width direction, with each section having its own jetting ports. This segmentation allows uniform air supply to be achieved through distributed jetting while keeping each section compact, avoiding the need for a single large-scale fan system.
Solution Approach 2:
The heated gas inflow port is positioned on a side surface of the blowing unit rather than on the front surface facing the substrate. This spatial reconfiguration allows the heating components to be arranged in a different dimension, reducing the device's footprint in the substrate-facing direction while maintaining effective heated gas delivery.
2Manufacturing precision
If complex air ducts with rectifying plates are devised to blow air evenly to the heater, then the uniformity of air distribution is improved, but the pressure loss increases and the device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The complex air duct system with rectifying plates is replaced by direct jetting ports on the blowing unit. The heating and blowing functions are integrated directly at the substrate-facing surface, eliminating the intermediate air duct infrastructure and its associated pressure losses.
Solution Approach 2:
The blowing unit integrates multiple functions (heating, gas generation, and directed jetting) into a single compact component. This merging eliminates the need for separate air ducts and rectifying plates, reducing both pressure loss and device complexity while maintaining uniform air distribution through the jetting ports.
3Loss of energy
If the heater is disposed at a position facing the transport path to reduce pressure loss and heat loss, then the thermal efficiency is improved, but the device size increases in the direction facing the substrate
Solution Approach 1:
The heated gas inflow port and heating components are repositioned from the front surface to the side surface of the blowing unit. This dimensional reconfiguration allows the heating elements to be placed in a different spatial arrangement, reducing the device's thickness in the substrate-facing direction while keeping the heating function effective through direct proximity to the jetting ports.
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 effectively suppresses the increase in size of the drying device in the direction facing the substrate transport surface, enhances maintenance efficiency, and improves the drying process by ensuring uniform heat distribution and thermal energy recovery.
Implementation Method 1
a fan motor that blows a gas to the heat source to generate heated gas
Implementation Method 2
a heat source; and a fan motor that blows a gas to the heat source to generate heated gas
Implementation Method 3
a drying device that blows a heated gas to a substrate transport surface in a substrate transport path
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
Provided are a drying device, a liquid applying system, and a printing system that suppress an increase in size in a direction facing a substrate transport surface. A drying device that blows a heated gas to a substrate transport surface in a substrate transport path includes a blowing unit provided with a jetting port formed in a first surface facing the substrate transport surface, a heat source, and a fan motor that blows a gas to the heat source to generate the heated gas. A heated gas inflow port through which the heated gas is supplied is formed in a second surface of the blowing unit, the second surface intersecting the first surface.