Media Transport Apparatus With Stacked Holding Sections
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
High-speed digital printing presses face challenges in balancing throughput with the drying time of printing fluids, which requires sheets to be handled carefully until dry, conflicting with the need for efficient operation and energy reduction.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a media transport apparatus with configurable holding sections that delay the transport of sheets, allowing printing fluids to dry while reducing the energy used for drying and minimizing the footprint of the printing press, by stacking transport sections perpendicular to the sheet plane and using air flow to assist sheet transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high-speed transport is used to maintain throughput, then productivity is improved, but printing fluids cannot dry properly
Solution Approach 1:
The transport system is divided into multiple independent holding sections (first holding section, second holding section, etc.) that can operate at different speeds. This segmentation allows the sheet to be transported quickly through most sections while pausing in intermediate holding sections for drying, thus maintaining high throughput while ensuring adequate drying time.
Solution Approach 2:
The holding sections operate periodically - transporting sheets at high speed during non-drying phases and pausing during drying phases. This periodic alternation between transport and holding states enables the system to maintain high average throughput while providing sufficient drying time at critical intervals.
2Duration of action of moving object
If drying time is extended to allow printing fluids to dry, then drying quality is improved, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The drying process is segmented across multiple holding sections rather than requiring one long continuous drying period. Sheets can be held in intermediate sections for drying while other sections continue transporting, allowing extended drying time without proportionally reducing overall throughput.
Solution Approach 2:
The system adds a vertical dimension with multiple stacked holding sections, allowing sheets to progress through different vertical levels. This enables extended drying time through vertical progression rather than horizontal extension, maintaining compact footprint while improving drying quality.
3Reliability
If traditional drying methods are used, then drying effectiveness is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The holding sections utilize the natural pause in transport to allow passive evaporation of printing fluids. By holding sheets stationary in controlled environments, the system enables self-drying through natural evaporation rather than requiring active energy-intensive drying mechanisms, thus improving drying effectiveness while reducing energy consumption.
4Duration of action of moving object
If holding sections are added to extend drying time, then drying quality is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into modular holding sections that can be independently controlled. Each section functions as a discrete unit with similar structure, allowing the system to achieve extended drying time through repetition of simple modular units rather than requiring a single complex holding 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
This solution allows for balanced throughput and drying time without increasing the press's footprint, significantly reducing energy consumption and enabling efficient handling of wet sheets, as demonstrated by reducing dryer power usage by a factor of six.
Implementation Method 1
Air flow may be directed onto the second media transport section to assist in transferring a sheet onto the second media transport section
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
Certain examples described herein relate to transporting sheets of print media. In one example, a media transport apparatus has a plurality of media transport sections including a first media transport section and a second media transport section offset from the first media transport section in a media transport direction. The media transport apparatus has a holding section arranged to receive a sheet of print media from the first media transport section. The holding section is moveable to deposit the sheet of print media upon the second media transport section.