Inkjet Drying Duct Layout for Faster Low-Temperature Media Drying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet image forming apparatuses face challenges in efficiently drying the recording medium due to the use of low-temperature air, which can reduce productivity and affect the chafing-proof properties of the printed images.
Innovation Solution
The inkjet recording apparatus employs a configuration with a conveyance unit, an air blowing unit, and dual heating units in the duct to efficiently heat and guide air for effective drying, ensuring the recording medium is conveyed and dried uniformly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If low-temperature air is blown onto the recording medium, then energy consumption is reduced, but the recording medium may not be sufficiently dried, which reduces productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The heating function is segmented into multiple heating units distributed along the duct. Each heating unit independently heats the air at different positions, allowing efficient heating without excessive energy consumption from a single high-power heater
Solution Approach 2:
The air is heated in advance within the duct before being blown onto the recording medium. The heating units pre-heat the air as it flows through the duct, ensuring hot air is delivered to the drying area without requiring high instantaneous power
2Loss of energy
If heating efficiency is improved by concentrating heating elements, then air heating efficiency increases, but the structure becomes more complex and may cause uneven heating
Solution Approach 1:
Different heating units are positioned at different locations along the duct to provide localized heating where needed. This ensures uniform temperature distribution throughout the air flow path without requiring a complex centralized heating system
Solution Approach 2:
The heating units are arranged to provide continuous heating along the entire air flow path in the duct. This ensures the air is progressively heated throughout its journey, maintaining efficient and continuous heat transfer without interruptions or temperature drops
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 the efficiency of air heating and drying, improving the chafing-proof properties and overall productivity of the printing process.
Implementation Method 1
a first heating unit and a second heating unit 12b configured to heat the air in the duct
Implementation Method 2
an air blowing unit configured to blow air, a duct that is arranged above the conveyance unit in a vertical direction and is configured to guide the air blown by the air blowing unit to the recording medium conveyed by the conveyance unit
Implementation Method 3
The recording medium is dried by the hot air blown from above a conveyance path
Implementation Method 4
hot air is blown onto the recording medium. The recording medium is dried by the hot air blown from above a conveyance path
Data Source
AI summary
An inkjet recording apparatus includes an ink image formation unit to form an ink image on a recording medium, and a drying module having a conveyance unit to convey the recording medium, an air blowing unit to blow air, a duct, and first and second heating units to dry the recording medium on which the ink image is formed. The duct is arranged above the conveyance unit in a vertical direction and guides air blown by the air blowing unit to the conveyed recording medium. The first and second heating units heats air in the duct. The second heating unit is arranged downstream of the first heating unit in a direction of a current of air generated by the air blowing unit. When being viewed along the direction of the air current, the second heating unit includes a part not overlapping the first heating unit.