Drying Unit Suction Guide Stabilizes Recording Medium
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drying units for recording media experience shaking issues when air is supplied from a downstream position, leading to uneven drying and potential image quality issues due to the dispersion of laser light intensity caused by paper movement.
Innovation Solution
A drying unit design incorporating a suction guide unit with a contact guide portion that absorbs air and stabilizes the recording medium, ensuring it remains in contact with the contact guide surface while passing through the irradiation range, thereby maintaining a consistent distance from the laser light source and preventing shaking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If air is supplied from a downstream position to evaporate moisture, then drying efficiency is improved, but shaking of the recording medium occurs causing uneven drying
Solution Approach 1:
A suction guide unit is introduced as an intermediary component between the air supply portion and the recording medium. This unit includes a guide surface that contacts the recording medium and a suction portion that generates negative pressure, acting as a mediator to stabilize the medium while allowing air flow for drying.
Solution Approach 2:
The suction guide unit provides a counteracting force to the air flow-induced shaking. The suction portion generates negative pressure that counterbalances the disruptive forces caused by air supply, stabilizing the recording medium position during the drying process.
2Speed
If air flow rate is increased to enhance evaporation, then drying speed improves, but laser light intensity becomes uneven due to medium movement
Solution Approach 1:
The suction guide unit creates a feedback mechanism where the suction portion continuously adjusts to maintain the recording medium in a stable position. The negative pressure generated provides real-time correction to medium displacement, ensuring consistent laser light intensity during high-speed drying.
Solution Approach 2:
The suction guide unit provides beforehand cushioning by pre-stabilizing the recording medium before laser irradiation. The guide surface and suction portion work together to prevent medium movement in advance, ensuring uniform laser light intensity from the beginning of the drying process.
3Stability of the object's composition
If suction is applied to stabilize the recording medium, then shaking is suppressed, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The suction guide unit merges multiple functions into a single integrated component. The guide surface provides mechanical support and positioning, while the suction portion provides aerodynamic stabilization, combining these functions in one unit that simplifies the overall device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The suction guide unit serves multiple purposes: it guides the recording medium through the drying zone, stabilizes the medium against air flow-induced shaking, and maintains consistent positioning for laser irradiation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components.
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 suppresses shaking and ensures uniform drying, preventing moisture re-adhesion and maintaining consistent laser light intensity, resulting in improved image quality and reduced drying unevenness.
Implementation Method 1
an irradiation portion that radiates laser light to a recording medium to be fed in a predetermined feeding direction, so as to evaporate moisture of liquid droplets adhering to the recording medium
Implementation Method 2
a supply portion that blows and supplies air to a space between the irradiation portion and the recording medium
Implementation Method 3
an absorption portion that absorbs at least a part of the air flowing to an upstream side in the feeding direction along the recording medium
Implementation Method 4
a suction guide unit including a contact guide portion that sucks the recording medium in a position opposite to the irradiation portion with respect to the recording medium, so that the recording medium is brought into contact with the contact guide portion and guided to pass through the drying unit
Data Source
AI summary
A drying unit includes: an irradiation portion that radiates laser light to a recording medium being fed in a predetermined feeding direction, so as to evaporate moisture of liquid droplets adhering to the recording medium; a supply portion that blows and supplies air to a space between the irradiation portion and the recording medium through and outlet from a position at a downstream side of the irradiation portion in the feeding direction; an absorption portion that absorbs at least a part of the air flowing to an upstream side in the feeding direction along the recording medium in a position at an upstream side of the irradiation portion in the feeding direction; and a suction guide unit as defined herein.