Expandable Conveying Plate Thermal Expansion Drying Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
In high temperature environments, the thermal expansion of the conveying plate in drying apparatuses leads to gaps and air leaks, reducing the suction force and potentially causing conveying and drying failures in inkjet recording systems.
Innovation Solution
The conveying plate is designed to be expandable and contractable in the direction parallel to the conveyance direction, with fixed end portions and movable intermediate sections, allowing it to thermally expand without disrupting the suction force by maintaining a stable structure and preventing air leaks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the conveying plate is fixedly mounted to the frame, then the structure is stable and simple, but thermal expansion under high temperature causes gaps and air leaks, reducing suction force and causing conveying failure
Solution Approach 1:
The conveying plate is designed with movable intermediate sections that can expand and contract in the conveyance direction, transforming the static fixed structure into a dynamic adaptive structure. This allows the plate to accommodate thermal expansion without forming gaps that would compromise suction force, while maintaining overall structural stability through the fixed end portions.
2Reliability
If the conveying plate is made expandable and contractable, then thermal expansion is accommodated without air leaks, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The conveying plate is divided into fixed end portions and movable intermediate sections. This segmentation allows different parts of the plate to have different functions: the fixed ends maintain structural stability and sealing, while the movable intermediate sections accommodate thermal expansion. This resolves the contradiction by achieving reliability through functional differentiation rather than uniform complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If the conveying plate is fixed, then manufacturing and installation are simple, but thermal expansion causes gaps that reduce suction force
Solution Approach 1:
The conveying plate incorporates movable intermediate sections that can dynamically adjust to thermal expansion, maintaining sealing and suction force. While slightly more complex than a fully fixed plate, the design remains manufacturable and installable through standardized components, achieving a balance between ease of manufacture and operational reliability.
4Reliability
If the conveying plate accommodates thermal expansion, then air leaks are prevented and suction force is maintained, but the structure requires more complex design
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the conveying plate into fixed and movable portions, the design achieves reliable drying performance through the movable sections that prevent air leaks, while keeping the overall structure manageable through the simplicity of fixed end portions. This segmentation strategy balances performance requirements with structural complexity.
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
This design ensures stable conveyance and drying of recording media by maintaining the suction force even under high temperature conditions, preventing conveying and drying failures.
Implementation Method 1
Under a high temperature environment during the operation of the drying apparatus, the conveying plate is heated and thermally expanded
Implementation Method 2
a suction part which attracts the recording medium to the conveying belt by sucking air through the through-holes of the conveying belt and the through-holes of the conveying plate
Data Source
AI summary
A drying apparatus includes an endless conveying belt, a conveying plate, and a suction device. The endless conveying belt has a number of through-holes, and supports the medium and conveys the medium in a predetermined conveyance direction. The conveying plate has a number of through-holes and supports the conveying belt in contact with an inner circumferential surface of the conveying belt. The suction device sucks air through the through-holes of the conveying belt and the through-holes of the conveying plate to attract the medium to the conveying plate. The conveying plate is formed so as to be expandable and contractable in a direction parallel to the conveyance direction.