Conveyance Guide Slit Geometry for Sheet Cooling Without Clogging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional drying apparatuses face issues with sheet curling and damage due to hot air accumulation in conveyance paths, leading to potential sheet clogging and damage at the lateral ends of large or thick sheets.
Innovation Solution
A conveyance guide member with a main body portion, downstream end portion, and slits is designed, where the slit width at the downstream end is wider than at the main body portion, preventing sheet ends from contacting the slit and promoting effective cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a slit is provided in the conveyance guide member to improve air permeability and cooling, then cooling efficiency is improved, but the lateral end of the sheet may enter the slit causing damage or clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The slit width is varied along the conveyance direction, being narrower at the upstream end and wider at the downstream end. This local variation in geometry allows the slit to serve dual functions: preventing sheet end entry at the upstream portion while maintaining adequate air flow and cooling at the downstream portion where the wider opening exists.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the conveyance path is made with plate-like conveyance guide members, then structural stability is improved, but hot air accumulates and the sheet is hardly cooled
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyance guide member incorporates slits that extend along the conveyance direction, creating a porous-like structure in an otherwise solid plate. This allows air to pass through the guide member, preventing hot air accumulation while maintaining the overall plate-like structural stability for supporting and guiding the sheet.
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
Prevents sheet damage and clogging while enhancing cooling efficiency for large or thick sheets by widening the slit at the downstream end portion, accommodating various sheet sizes and shapes.
Implementation Method 1
hot air tends to accumulate and the sheet is hardly cooled. Therefore, it is considered to improve the air permeability by providing an opening in the conveyance guide member.
Data Source
AI summary
A conveyance guide member includes a main body portion, a downstream end portion, and a slit. The main body portion has a plate-like shape, and defines a conveyance path along which a sheet is conveyed in a predetermined conveyance direction. The downstream end portion is provided at an end portion of the main body portion on a downstream side in the conveyance direction and bent away from the conveyance path. The slit is provided along the conveyance direction over the main body portion and the downstream end portion. A width of the slit at the downstream end portion is wider than a width of the slit at the main body portion.