Heating Control Shielding Plate for Thermal Damage Prevention

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing techniques for conveying planar objects like fabrics and papers risk thermal damage due to residual heat from heaters after printing or recording processes, as the conveyance belts or rollers continue to retain heat even after the heating source is stopped.

Innovation Solution

A heating control apparatus with a shielding member that can move between shielding and retraction positions to block heat radiation from the heat source to the conveyance member when the conveyance is stopped, preventing thermal damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the heater continues to operate after printing ends to maintain adhesion, then the adhesive bonding strength is improved, but the conveyance belt is subjected to prolonged thermal damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadhesive bonding strengthVSAvoidthermal damage to conveyance belt
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The shielding member is advanced to the shielding position before the heater is stopped, preemptively preventing residual heat from damaging the conveyance belt. This preliminary action ensures that when the heater stops operating, the shielding is already in place to block thermal radiation to the belt.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The shielding member is positioned to counteract the harmful thermal radiation from the heater before the heating process ends. By advancing the shielding member in advance, the system creates a protective barrier that neutralizes the potential thermal damage to the conveyance belt.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the heater is stopped immediately after printing ends, then thermal damage to the conveyance belt is reduced, but the adhesive bonding strength deteriorates due to insufficient heating

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal damage to conveyance beltVSAvoidadhesive bonding strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The shielding member is advanced to the shielding position before the heater is stopped, preemptively preventing residual heat from damaging the conveyance belt. This preliminary action ensures that when the heater stops operating, the shielding is already in place to block thermal radiation to the belt.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The shielding member acts as an intermediary element between the heater and the conveyance belt. It selectively blocks thermal radiation to the belt while allowing the heating process to complete effectively for adhesive bonding, mediating between the heating requirement and the thermal damage prevention requirement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Strength

If the heating process is extended to ensure complete adhesive curing, then the adhesive bonding strength is improved, but the productivity of the printing apparatus is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadhesive bonding strengthVSAvoidprinting throughput
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The shielding member is advanced to the shielding position before the heater is stopped, preemptively preventing residual heat from damaging the conveyance belt. This preliminary action ensures that when the heater stops operating, the shielding is already in place to block thermal radiation to the belt.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The shielding member is made dynamically controllable, allowing it to be advanced to the shielding position at the appropriate moment during the heating process. This dynamic control enables optimization of both heating effectiveness and productivity by timing the shielding activation to coincide with the end of the printing cycle.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

Effectively reduces the risk of thermal damage to conveyance members by shielding residual heat from the heat source, ensuring safe operation and extending the lifespan of conveyance components.

Implementation Method 1

a shielding member provided to be movable forward and backward between a shielding position at which radiation of heat from the heat source to the conveyance member is shielded

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat radiation blocking: Thermal Radiation

Data Source

PatentEP4070962B1Heating control apparatus and printing apparatus
Publication Date: 2024.07.24 KONICA MINOLTA INC
  • EP4070962B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP4070962B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4070962B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is a heating control apparatus capable of reducing a risk of damaging a conveyance member that conveys a planar conveyed object due to residual heat of a heat source that heats the conveyance member in a case printing ends and driving of the heat source is stopped. The heating control apparatus that controls heating of a belt (20) that conveys a fabric (60) in a state in the fabric (60) is in close contact with a conveyance surface including an adhesive layer includes: a heater (41) disposed to face the belt (20); a shielding plate (43) provided to be movable forward and backward between a shielding position at which radiation of heat from the heater (41) to the belt (20) is shielded and a retraction position retracted from the shielding position; and a driving unit (46), a drive circuit (48), and a control circuit (50) that perform control to advance the shielding plate (43) to the shielding position in a case where the conveyance of the belt (20) is stopped.