Heating apparatus and image forming system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fabric printing apparatuses face challenges with cooling and insulation mechanisms, leading to increased size and complexity, particularly when targeting specific temperature control and heating times.
Innovation Solution
A heating apparatus with a removable holder and receiver system that allows for vertical movement of the heater relative to the heating object, enabling non-contact heating and efficient temperature control, integrated with a fabric printing system for improved usability and downsizing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If cooling and insulation mechanisms are incorporated into the fabric printing apparatus, then temperature control capability is improved, but the apparatus size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heating apparatus is divided into separable components: a removable holder for the fabric and a fixed heater unit. This segmentation allows the cooling and insulation mechanisms to be concentrated in the compact heater unit rather than distributed throughout the entire apparatus, reducing overall size while maintaining temperature control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The holder is extracted as a removable component from the heating apparatus. This extraction allows the main heating unit to be minimized in size, containing only the essential heater and control mechanisms, while the holder can be separately designed and replaced as needed.
2Productivity
If the heater is positioned in contact with the fabric, then heating efficiency is improved, but the apparatus complexity increases due to positioning and control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The holder is designed to be movable, allowing dynamic adjustment of the fabric position relative to the heater. This dynamic positioning enables contact heating for high efficiency while simplifying the overall structure by using a simple movable holder rather than complex fixed positioning mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable holder serves multiple functions: it holds the fabric, positions it relative to the heater, and enables both contact and non-contact heating modes. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate positioning and control mechanisms, thereby reducing apparatus 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
The solution enhances the usability of the heating apparatus by allowing for efficient temperature control and downsizing, improving the fabric printing process by fixing images on fabric without degrading print quality.
Implementation Method 1
A heater heats the heating object held by the holder held by the receiver
Data Source
AI summary
A heating apparatus includes a body and a holder removably placed inside the body. The holder removably holds a heating object. A receiver removably holds the holder. A heater heats the heating object held by the holder held by the receiver. A mover moves one of the receiver and the heater vertically relative to another one of the receiver and the heater to a non-contact heating position where the heating object is isolated from the heater.