Drying Device Guide Grid with Floating Bearings

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Solution Overview

Problem

Sheet-shaped substrates printed or painted by a printing press experience deformation and warping during drying, leading to collisions and blockages within the drying device due to moisture gradients, causing issues with transport and adhesion on conveyor belts.

Innovation Solution

A drying device with a guide grid system featuring adjustable guide webs and transverse webs, designed to accommodate curved substrates by providing an open passage and allowing unhindered heat and radiation flow, while being mounted with a combination of fixed and floating bearings to prevent buckling and ensure mechanical stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a guide surface with nozzles is used to direct hot air onto the substrate, then drying efficiency is improved, but the risk of excessive heating and substrate deformation increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrying efficiencyVSAvoidsubstrate flatness
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The guide surface is equipped with nozzles that distribute hot air locally across the substrate surface, allowing targeted heating in specific areas rather than uniform heating, which improves drying efficiency while controlling deformation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The guide surface is designed to be adjustable in position and angle, allowing dynamic adaptation to different substrate types and drying requirements, optimizing both drying efficiency and flatness control for various materials

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If the guide surface is positioned close to the substrate for effective drying, then drying performance is improved, but the risk of substrate collision and transport issues increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrying performanceVSAvoidtransport reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The guide surface is mounted on adjustable supports that allow it to move closer to or farther from the substrate depending on the material being processed, enabling optimal drying performance while avoiding collisions with warped substrates

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Adjustable spacing elements or spacers are introduced between the guide surface and substrate to maintain an optimal gap for hot air flow while preventing direct contact and collision, ensuring both drying performance and transport reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Stability of the object's composition

If fixed bearings are used for the guide surface, then mechanical stability is improved, but the ability to accommodate substrate warping and movement decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical stabilityVSAvoidaccommodation of substrate deformation
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The guide surface combines fixed bearings for structural stability with adjustable or movable mounting elements that allow limited movement to accommodate substrate warping, achieving both mechanical stability and adaptability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 trouble-free transport of substrates through the drying device without sheet stoppers, maintaining substrate flatness and adhesion on conveyor belts, reducing waste and ensuring smooth processing.

Implementation Method 1

drying a surface of a sheet-shaped substrate printed and/or varnished by a printing press by applying heat

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 2

hot air flows or at least through which it can flow, and wherein the hot air flowing onto the surface of the substrate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 3

at least one infrared radiation source (11) arranged in the drying device (01)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInfrared radiation: Infrared Radiation

Data Source

PatentEP4414179A1Drying device for drying a surface of a sheet-like substrate printed and/or varnished by a printing machine by applying heat
Publication Date: 2024.08.14 KOENIG & BAUER AG
  • EP4414179A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4414179A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4414179A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a drying device for drying a surface of an arc-shaped substrate printed and/or varnished by a printing press by applying heat, wherein the drying device has a conveyor belt, wherein the conveyor belt is designed to move the printed and/or varnished substrate through the drying device, wherein the drying device has a guide grid (04) on its side facing the surface of the substrate to be dried, arranged at a distance from the conveyor belt and the printed and/or varnished substrate lying thereon, wherein the guide grid (04) has several bearing points (LP1; LP2; LP3; LP4) for its mechanical fastening in the drying device, wherein only one of these bearing points (LP1) is designed as a fixed bearing and the remaining bearing points (LP2; LP3; LP4) are each designed as a floating bearing.