Drying Device Movable Opening for Airflow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drying devices face challenges in adjusting the temperature and air supply state due to the large opening that allows heated air to escape, making it difficult to control the heated state of the medium.
Innovation Solution
A drying device with a housing that includes an internal space and an opening of a specific size to accommodate a platen, equipped with a heater, fan, processor, and memory to control the air supply state by switching between different air supply states, thereby adjusting the heated state of the medium.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a large opening is provided in the heating device to allow the platen and medium to enter, then ease of operation is improved, but temperature control deteriorates due to heated air escape
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the opening movable rather than fixed. The opening can be opened to allow platen insertion and then closed to retain heated air. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by providing both easy access (when opened) and temperature control (when closed), allowing the system to switch between these two states as needed.
2Ease of operation
If the opening size is increased to accommodate platen passage, then ease of operation is improved, but air supply control deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The opening is designed to be movable, allowing it to switch between open and closed states. When closed, it enables precise control over the air supply state within the heating chamber. This dynamic characteristic allows the system to maintain both ease of platen insertion and adaptability in air supply control for different drying requirements.
3Productivity
If heated air is supplied to the internal space, then drying effectiveness is improved, but temperature stability deteriorates due to air escape
Solution Approach 1:
The movable opening allows the system to dynamically switch between open (for platen loading) and closed (for heating) states. When closed, the heated air is retained within the chamber, maintaining temperature stability while still enabling effective drying through controlled air circulation via the fan.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating device incorporates a temperature sensor that detects the internal temperature and provides feedback to the controller. The controller adjusts the heater and fan operations based on this feedback to maintain the desired temperature range, thereby stabilizing temperature while ensuring effective drying.
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 device effectively adjusts the heated state of the medium by controlling the air supply state, ensuring optimal drying conditions and improving the fixing and color development of ink on the medium.
Implementation Method 1
a heater 44 configured to heat air
Implementation Method 2
a fan 45 configured to supply heated air to the internal space 40
Implementation Method 3
drying the medium to which the ink or a treatment liquid has been applied
Data Source
AI summary
A drying device includes a housing, a heater, a fan, and a processor. The housing includes an internal space housing a platen and an opening connected to the internal space and being of a size through which the platen passes. A medium to which an ink or a treatment liquid is applied is placed on the platen. The fan supplies heated air to the internal space. In a housed state of the platen housed in the internal space, the processor switches an air supply state of the heated air supplied by the fan from a first air supply state to a second air supply state different from the first air supply state by controlling at least one of the heater or the fan.