Drying Device Support Unit Segmentation for Thermal Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
In drying devices, the support unit expands due to heat from the irradiation unit, causing the medium to tilt and potentially disrupting its transportation, as the shape change affects the medium's posture and alignment.
Innovation Solution
A drying device design featuring a support unit composed of aluminum for high thermal conductivity and a second support unit made of a material with a lower thermal expansion coefficient, such as SUS, to minimize tilting by maintaining the medium's alignment during transportation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the support unit is made of aluminum material for high thermal conductivity, then the drying efficiency is improved, but the thermal expansion causes the medium to tilt and disrupt transportation
Solution Approach 1:
The support unit is divided into multiple segments (first support unit and second support unit) with different material properties. The first support unit uses aluminum for high thermal conductivity in regions requiring efficient drying, while the second support unit uses materials with lower thermal expansion coefficients in regions where maintaining medium alignment is critical, thus resolving the contradiction between drying efficiency and medium stability.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the support unit are assigned different material characteristics tailored to their specific functions. The first support unit employs aluminum with high thermal conductivity for effective heat transfer to the medium, while the second support unit uses materials with lower thermal expansion coefficients to maintain dimensional stability and prevent medium tilting, achieving local optimization of both drying performance and medium alignment.
2Temperature
If the support unit expands due to heat from the irradiation unit, then the drying process is effective, but the shape change causes the medium to obliquely tilt and disrupt transportation
Solution Approach 1:
The support unit is segmented into multiple sections with different thermal expansion characteristics. The first support unit undergoes expansion for effective drying, while the second support unit is designed with lower thermal expansion to maintain shape stability, preventing the medium from tilting due to overall support unit deformation.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the support unit have different thermal expansion properties localized to their functional requirements. The first support unit allows expansion for heating efficiency, while the second support unit maintains dimensional stability to preserve medium alignment, thus resolving the contradiction between effective heating and shape stability.
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 effectively reduces the likelihood of medium tilting, ensuring stable transportation and accurate drying, even when the support units expand due to heating, thereby maintaining the medium's posture and preventing deviations in the drying process.
Implementation Method 1
an irradiation unit that irradiates the medium supported by the support unit with an infrared ray to dry the medium
Implementation Method 2
the first support unit is composed of an aluminum material
Implementation Method 3
the support unit expands due to the heat from the irradiation unit
Data Source
AI summary
A drying device dries a medium being transported, the drying device including a support unit configured to support the medium, and a non-contact heater facing the support unit. The support unit includes a first support unit and a second support unit located at a position different from a position of the first support unit in a transport direction of the medium being transported, the medium bends along the second support unit, the first support unit is composed of an aluminum material, and the second support unit is composed of a material having a thermal expansion coefficient smaller than a thermal expansion coefficient of the aluminum material.