Droplets Drying Device Light Shield Member Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing droplets drying devices in image forming apparatuses face challenges in efficiently drying droplets on a recording medium while maintaining light source intensity and minimizing size and power consumption, with issues related to light leakage and separate regions for cleaning and measurement.
Innovation Solution
A droplets drying device equipped with a drying mechanism featuring light sources arranged in the width direction of a recording medium, a moving mechanism to position the drying unit, a light shield member to interrupt light, and a measuring member to assess light quantity within the light shield region, allowing for effective light quantity correction and reduced size and power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a light shield member is introduced to prevent light leakage, then light quantity control precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The light shield member is integrated into the drying mechanism structure, combining the light shielding function with the existing drying unit. The light shield member is positioned at the rear side of the drying mechanism, allowing it to serve both as a structural component and a light blocking element, thereby preventing light leakage without significantly increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The light shield member acts as an intermediary element between the light sources and the external environment. It selectively blocks light from reaching certain areas while allowing the drying function to proceed, thus controlling light quantity distribution without requiring complex active control systems.
2Reliability
If separate regions are provided for cleaning and measurement, then functional reliability is improved, but device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning member and measuring member are integrated into the same maintenance unit structure. The measuring member is positioned within the light shield region, allowing both cleaning and measurement functions to be performed in a compact combined unit, thereby maintaining functional reliability while minimizing device size.
Solution Approach 2:
The measuring member is positioned in the light shield region, utilizing the spatial dimension created by the light shield member. This allows the measurement function to be integrated into the rear side of the drying mechanism, where the light shield member is located, thereby consolidating multiple functions in a compact arrangement.
3Productivity
If light sources are arranged in width direction for efficient drying, then productivity is improved, but light leakage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The light shield member serves as an intermediary that blocks light from the width-direction arranged light sources from leaking to unintended areas. It is positioned at the rear side of the drying mechanism to intercept and block light that might otherwise escape, thus preventing light leakage while preserving the high productivity achieved through width-direction light source arrangement.
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 ensures precise light quantity control, reduces light leakage, minimizes device size, and optimizes power usage by integrating cleaning and measurement functions within the light shield region, enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of the droplets drying process.
Implementation Method 1
dry droplets ejected onto the recording medium by emitting light toward the droplets
Implementation Method 2
receives light emitted from each of the light sources and measures a light quantity of the light source
Data Source
AI summary
A droplets drying device includes: a drying mechanism having a plurality of light sources that are arranged in a width direction of a recording medium, and dry droplets ejected onto the recording medium by emitting light toward the droplets; a moving mechanism that moves the drying mechanism in the width direction; a light shield member that is opposed to at least part of the drying mechanism being moved by the moving mechanism, and interrupts light emitted from the light sources disposed in the part, opposed to the light shield member, of the drying mechanism; and a measuring member that is disposed in a light shield region where the light shield member interrupts incoming light, and receives light emitted from each of the light sources and measures a light quantity of the light source as the measuring member is moved relative to the drying mechanism in the width direction.