Humidifying Roller Timing Control for Paper Conveyance Stability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Paper sheets tend to curve or become wavy during the heating process in image forming due to uneven moisture distribution, leading to unstable paper conveyance in existing humidifying units.
Innovation Solution
A paper humidifying apparatus with paired humidifying rollers that separate and press against each other to apply moisture, controlled by a drive unit and controller, ensuring stable paper conveyance by preventing adhesion and winding issues, and featuring water supply and removal rollers with timed operation to manage moisture effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the humidifying rollers are pressed against each other to apply moisture to the paper, then the moisture application effectiveness is improved, but the paper may adhere to the rollers and cause unstable conveyance
Solution Approach 1:
The water supply rollers supply water to the humidifying rollers in advance before the paper reaches the nip portion, and the water removing units remove excess water beforehand. This preliminary moisture management prevents both insufficient humidification and excessive adhesion during paper conveyance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the moisture content on the humidifying rollers by controlling water supply and removal operations. By changing the moisture parameter on the roller surfaces, the system optimizes the balance between effective humidification and preventing paper adhesion.
2Productivity
If the humidifying rollers are pressed against each other continuously, then moisture is consistently applied to paper, but paper tips may wind around the rollers causing conveyance failure
Solution Approach 1:
The humidifying rollers are pressed against each other periodically rather than continuously. The pressurization is timed to occur after the paper tip has passed the nip portion, creating a periodic cycle of contact and separation that maintains productivity while preventing paper winding.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs water removal operations before the paper reaches the humidifying nip, preparing the roller surface in advance to prevent adhesion. This preliminary preparation enables safe periodic pressurization without paper winding risks.
3Quantity of substance
If water is supplied continuously to the humidifying rollers, then moisture application is sufficient, but excess moisture causes paper adhesion and conveyance instability
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically controls the moisture quantity on the humidifying rollers by adjusting water supply and removal operations. This parameter management ensures sufficient moisture for humidification while preventing excessive moisture that would cause adhesion.
Solution Approach 2:
The water supply and removal units operate continuously or in coordinated cycles to maintain optimal moisture levels on the humidifying rollers. This continuous control ensures consistent moisture application without allowing excess moisture accumulation that would harm conveyance stability.
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 ensures stable and efficient conveyance of paper sheets with applied moisture, preventing curling and damage, while optimizing moisture application based on paper conditions for improved processing.
Implementation Method 1
humidifying rollers, forming a pair, which are pressed against each other forming a nip portion and which apply moisture to a sheet of paper when sandwiching and conveying the sheet of paper
Implementation Method 2
there is a possibility that paper conveyance be unstable when sandwiching and conveying a sheet of paper P with the pair of humidifying rollers 501 and 501 as a result of the sheet of paper P and the humidifying rollers 501 and 501 becoming highly adhesive to each other
Data Source
AI summary
A paper humidifying apparatus includes humidifying rollers, a first drive unit and a controller. The humidifying rollers, forming a pair, are pressed against each other forming a nip portion and apply moisture to a sheet of paper when sandwiching and conveying the sheet of paper. The first drive unit which makes the humidifying rollers separate from each other or press against each other. The controller controls the first drive unit. The controller controls the first drive unit so as to make the humidifying rollers separate from each other and receive the sheet of paper, and after a tip of the sheet of paper passes a position corresponding to the nip portion, the controller controls the first drive unit so as to make the humidifying rollers press against each other to apply moisture to the sheet of paper.