Drying Device Contact Heater Segmentation for Sheet Cockling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printing apparatuses face challenges in efficiently drying liquids on continuous sheets, leading to cockling (corrugation due to swelling) and reduced productivity, as the contact distance and curvature of heating elements affect the drying efficiency and sheet contact.
Innovation Solution
A drying device with a contact heater unit featuring a combination of heating rollers and a heating drum with varying diameters and winding angles, along with infrared heaters, is used to optimize the contact distance and heat distribution, ensuring even drying and reducing cockling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the contact distance of heating members is increased to improve drying efficiency, then the drying efficiency is improved, but the sheet contact becomes insufficient leading to cockling
Solution Approach 1:
The heating device is divided into multiple heating members (first heating member with larger diameter and second heating member with smaller diameter) that operate at different positions along the conveyance direction. This segmentation allows each heating member to have optimized contact characteristics - the first heating member provides extended contact distance for overall drying while the second heating member ensures adequate contact pressure to prevent cockling in critical areas
Solution Approach 2:
Different heating members are positioned to provide different heating characteristics at different locations on the sheet. The first heating member with larger diameter provides gentle, extended heating over a longer contact distance, while the second heating member with smaller diameter provides more concentrated heating with better contact pressure. This local differentiation of heating quality resolves the contradiction between extended contact distance and adequate sheet contact
2Length of moving object
If a single heating member with large diameter is used to increase contact distance, then drying efficiency improves, but contact pressure decreases causing poor sheet adhesion
Solution Approach 1:
The heating function is segmented between two heating members with different diameters. The first heating member (larger diameter) provides the extended contact distance needed for efficient drying, while the second heating member (smaller diameter) compensates for the reduced contact pressure by providing additional heating contact in areas where adhesion is critical
Solution Approach 2:
The heating members are designed with asymmetric diameters - the first heating member has a larger diameter to maximize contact distance, while the second heating member has a smaller diameter to maintain adequate contact pressure. This asymmetric design allows the system to simultaneously achieve both extended contact distance and sufficient contact pressure that would be impossible with a single symmetric heating member
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple heating members are added to improve drying uniformity, then drying quality improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heating system is segmented into two strategically positioned heating members rather than using a single complex heating element. This segmentation achieves improved drying uniformity by providing both extended contact distance and adequate contact pressure, while keeping the overall device structure relatively simple through the use of just two heating members with different diameters
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 enhances drying efficiency, reduces cockling, and increases productivity by maintaining a consistent contact with the sheet, even with increased contact distance, and effectively dries both thin and thick continuous bodies.
Implementation Method 1
a contact heater unit to contact and heat a medium
Implementation Method 2
accelerate drying of the applied liquid
Implementation Method 3
along infrared heaters
Data Source
AI summary
A drying device includes a contact heater unit to contact and heat a medium. The contact heater unit includes a plurality of heating members each having a curved contact face to contact the medium among plural heating members of the plurality of heating members to contact a first surface of the medium opposite a second surface of the medium on which liquid is applied. The plurality of heating members includes a first heating member and a plurality of second heating members. The first heating member has a maximum contact distance to contact the medium. The plurality of second heating members is disposed upstream from the first heating member in a direction of conveyance of the medium. Two heating members of the plurality of second heating members immediately upstream from the first heating member in the direction of conveyance of the medium contact the first surface of the medium.