Inkjet Drying Apparatus Heater Casing Narrow Port Design
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional inkjet printing apparatuses face challenges in achieving uniform quantity distribution and heat-quantity supply of warm air due to increased pressure loss and heat loss in the ducts, and they struggle with obtaining sufficient gripping force during print medium transportation, leading to potential staining and unstable ink drying.
Innovation Solution
A drying apparatus with a heater enclosed in a casing, where air is blown through a narrow port to increase air velocity and reduce heat loss, combined with a suction unit to recirculate warm air and maintain static pressure, ensuring efficient heating and gripping force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a separate warm-air supplying unit with long ducts is used to obtain large quantity of air and heat, then the quantity of warm air supplied is increased, but pressure loss and heat loss increase, making uniform quantity distribution and uniform heat-quantity supply difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the warm air supply system into multiple separate blowing sources, each supplying warm air to a specific region. Instead of using one long duct system, multiple short ducts are used, reducing the overall length and minimizing pressure loss and heat loss while still providing sufficient quantity of warm air to the entire drying region.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention implements regional warm air supply by assigning different blowing sources to different regions (front region, intermediate region, rear region). Each region receives warm air with appropriate quantity and temperature characteristics tailored to its specific drying requirements, achieving uniform heat-quantity supply across the entire print medium surface.
2Force
If pressure is increased to obtain sufficient gripping force for print medium transportation, then gripping force is improved, but the risk of staining increases when ink droplets adhere to the nip roller
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces a suction platen as an intermediary component between the nip roller and the print medium. The suction platen holds the print medium through suction force, allowing the nip roller to rotate and drive the medium without direct contact. This eliminates the staining problem caused by ink-adhered nip rollers while maintaining sufficient gripping force through the suction mechanism.
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 achieves uniform air distribution and heat supply, reduces heat loss, and provides a sufficient gripping force for stable print medium transportation, preventing staining and enhancing ink drying efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a heater (37) facing a transportation path (35) where a print medium (WP) is transported... warm air heated with the heater (37)
Implementation Method 2
a blowing source (39) configured to blow air to the heater (37)... a blowing port (41b) configured to narrow and blow warm air heated with the heater (37)
Implementation Method 3
a suction unit configured to supply air to the blowing source... recirculate warm air
Data Source
AI summary
In an inkjet printing apparatus, heaters are enclosed with a heater casing, achieving accumulation of heated air and efficient performance of heating. A blowing fan blows air to the heaters. The heater casing includes a blowing port configured to narrow and blow warm air heated with the heaters to a transportation path outside the heater casing in a direction along the transportation path. The warm air narrowed at the blowing port obtains an increased air velocity thereof. In addition, uniform air-quantity distribution and uniform heat-quantity are obtainable. Moreover, the heaters face the transportation path. Consequently, the heaters are provided closer to the transportation path than a conventional external heater. This suppresses heat loss.