Drying Furnace Control Using External Humidity and Print-Image Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drying apparatuses face challenges in quickly drying printing media within a drying furnace due to the inability to maintain high temperatures without a humidity sensor, which is necessary to prevent sensor failure.
Innovation Solution
A drying apparatus and method that utilizes a warm air supply system to adjust and control warm air temperature based on outside air data and print image information, eliminating the need for a humidity sensor inside the furnace.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a humidity sensor is disposed inside the drying furnace to detect humidity conditions, then the drying process can be controlled according to actual humidity, but the sensor is exposed to high temperatures causing sensor failure and reduced reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary approach by placing the humidity sensor outside the drying furnace and using mathematical modeling to estimate internal humidity conditions. The sensor measures external humidity as a proxy, and the control system calculates equivalent internal humidity based on the relationship between external and internal humidity conditions, avoiding direct exposure of the sensor to high temperatures while maintaining measurement capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the humidity measurement function by using external humidity sensor data combined with computational models to represent internal humidity conditions. Instead of physically placing a sensor inside the furnace, the system replicates the measurement capability through data processing and mathematical relationships between external and internal environmental parameters
2Productivity
If the temperature inside the drying furnace is increased to quickly dry the printing medium, then drying speed improves, but without a humidity sensor inside the furnace, the drying condition cannot be precisely controlled
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback control system where external humidity sensor data continuously monitors environmental conditions, and the control unit adjusts drying parameters based on this feedback. The system calculates internal humidity from external measurements and uses this information to regulate temperature and airflow, maintaining precise control over the drying process even at elevated temperatures
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the measurement parameter from direct internal humidity sensing to external humidity measurement combined with computational estimation. By transforming the measurement approach from physical sensing inside the furnace to external sensing with mathematical modeling, the system enables high-temperature operation while maintaining control precision through parameter transformation and calculation
3Reliability
If no humidity sensor is placed inside the drying furnace to avoid sensor failure, then sensor reliability improves, but the ability to control drying according to actual humidity conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses external humidity measurement as an intermediary to infer internal humidity conditions. The external sensor serves as a mediator that indirectly provides information about the internal drying environment through established relationships between external and internal humidity, enabling adaptive control without compromising system reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/physical sensor placement approach with a computational approach. Instead of mechanically placing a sensor inside the furnace, the system uses mathematical models and data processing to determine internal humidity conditions, substituting physical sensing with computational estimation to maintain both reliability and adaptability
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
Enables efficient drying of printing media by adjusting warm air conditions based on external humidity and print characteristics, effectively drying the media without the need for an internal humidity sensor.
Implementation Method 1
a warm air supply part which takes in warm air generated by heating outside air
Implementation Method 2
a transport part which transports a printing medium, on which an image formed of inks is printed, inside the drying furnace
Implementation Method 3
a warm air guide part which guides warm air supplied into the drying furnace by the warm air supply part to the printing medium
Implementation Method 4
for drying a printing medium on which an image formed of inks is printed
Data Source
AI summary
The control part has an outside air data acquisition part which acquires outside air data indicating at least the amount of water vapor contained in the outside air and a print image information acquisition part which acquires print image information of an image printed on the printing medium and controls the control target on the basis of the outside air data and the print image information.