Inkjet Dryer Half-Wave Symmetrical Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet printing systems face issues with insufficient drying of recording media, leading to smeared print images and contamination of system components, and excessive drying can degrade the media and image, while existing drying technologies are inefficient and costly due to fluctuations in mains voltage and current consumption.
Innovation Solution
A dryer system with multiple drying modules supplied via alternating current with a sequence of positive and negative half-waves, controlled by a controller to maintain a nominal temperature curve, and equipped with voltage and current measurement meters to optimize heating element activation and reduce power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by stationary object
If conventional drying technologies are used, then drying capability is provided, but power consumption is high and load on electrical supply grid increases due to mains voltage and current fluctuations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by controlling heating elements to operate in alternating half-waves of the AC supply cycle. The controller selectively activates heating elements during positive half-waves and suppresses them during negative half-waves, creating a periodic operation pattern that reduces peak current demand while maintaining effective drying through cumulative thermal energy input over complete AC cycles.
2Productivity
If intensive drying is applied, then drying speed is improved, but degradation of recording medium and print image occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics by continuously adapting the drying process to actual conditions. The controller monitors temperature, humidity, and drying progress in real-time, dynamically adjusting the activation pattern of heating elements during both positive and negative half-waves. This dynamic control ensures optimal drying speed while preventing overheating and degradation of the recording medium or print image.
3Reliability
If continuous operation of heating elements is used, then drying effectiveness is maintained, but electrical supply grid loading increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by synchronizing heating element operation with the AC supply cycle. Heating elements are activated during positive half-waves when the supply voltage is favorable, and suppressed during negative half-waves when current draw would be excessive. This periodic operation maintains drying effectiveness through cumulative heating while significantly reducing peak loading on the electrical supply grid.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuity of useful action by maintaining the drying process throughout complete AC cycles rather than stopping entirely during negative half-waves. The controller manages heating element activation to provide continuous thermal energy input over time, ensuring drying effectiveness is maintained despite intermittent suppression during individual half-waves.
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
Ensures reliable and gentle drying of inkjet printing images while minimizing the load on the electrical supply grid, preventing image damage and system contamination, and reducing operational costs by efficiently managing power usage.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of heating elements that are supplied with electrical power via at least two supply lines
Implementation Method 2
thermal energy for drying a recording medium
Data Source
AI summary
In a drying system for a printing system, a plurality of dryers can be arranged along a drying route to dry a recording medium. The plurality of dryers can including multiple resistive heating elements configured to dry the recording medium. The dryers can be supplied via two or more supply lines with an alternating current having a sequence of alternating positive and negative half-waves. A controller of the drying system can be coupled to the dryers and can couple the dryers uniformly on average with the at least two supply lines given positive and negative half-waves based on a nominal temperature curve along the drying route. The controller can jointly couple the resistive heating elements of a corresponding dryer with a multiphase supply grid or jointly decouple the resistive heating elements of the dryer with the multiphase supply grid during a half-wave.