Ink Jet Printer Guide Member Thermal Conductivity Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink jet printers face inefficiencies in drying ink due to thermal conductivity variations in guide members, leading to inconsistent drying processes.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a platen with a first guide having high thermal conductivity and a second guide with low thermal conductivity, where the dryer sends heated air through an outlet port facing the second guide, reducing heat dissipation and promoting uniform temperature distribution on the first guide while ensuring effective drying on both guides.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the guide member has high thermal conductivity, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but heat dissipation to the outside increases reducing drying efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the thermal conductivity properties of different guide members based on their specific functional requirements. The first guide member (closer to the drying device) has high thermal conductivity to distribute heat uniformly, while the second guide member (downstream) has low thermal conductivity to maintain heat for drying. This localized differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction between heat transfer efficiency and heat dissipation.
2Loss of energy
If the guide member has low thermal conductivity, then heat dissipation is reduced, but temperature variation occurs affecting drying consistency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the guide member system into multiple distinct guide members with different thermal conductivity characteristics. The first guide member handles heat distribution with high thermal conductivity, while the second guide member handles heat retention with low thermal conductivity. This segmentation allows each component to optimize its thermal properties for its specific function, resolving the contradiction between heat dissipation reduction and temperature uniformity.
3Device complexity
If a single guide member is used, then device complexity is reduced, but drying consistency across different positions cannot be ensured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by assigning different thermal conductivity properties to different guide members based on their positions and functions in the drying process. The first guide member near the heat source has high thermal conductivity for uniform heat distribution, while the second guide member downstream has low thermal conductivity for heat retention. This differentiated approach ensures drying consistency across different positions while maintaining reasonable device 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 configuration enhances ink drying efficiency by maintaining high temperatures on the first guide and preventing heat transfer to the second guide, ensuring consistent drying across the printing surface.
Implementation Method 1
a heater disposed in the body case to heat air sent by the fan
Implementation Method 2
a fan disposed in the body case to send air toward the recording medium through the outlet port
Implementation Method 3
the first guide has a thermal conductivity higher than a thermal conductivity of the second guide
Implementation Method 4
the thermal conductivity of the second guide is lower than the thermal conductivity of the first guide, heat dissipation to the second guide is reduced or prevented
Data Source
AI summary
A printer includes a first guide disposed downstream of a platen in a sub-scanning direction to guide movement of a recording medium, a second guide disposed below the first guide and downstream of the first guide in the sub-scanning direction to guide movement of the recording medium, and a dryer facing the first guide and the second guide to send air toward the recording medium. The dryer includes a body case including an outlet port that is open toward the second guide, a fan to send air toward the recording medium through the outlet port, and a heater to heat air sent by the fan. The first guide has a thermal conductivity higher than a thermal conductivity of the second guide.