Recording Apparatus Airflow Control for Uniform Drying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing recording apparatuses face issues with air blow streaking and drying unevenness due to disturbed airflow caused by differences in nozzle distances, leading to non-uniform drying of recording media, particularly with non-absorptive media like PET, PVC, and PE.
Innovation Solution
A recording apparatus with a first air blowing portion and a second air blowing portion, each having distinct nozzle hole configurations and air velocities, is designed to control airflow such that the air velocity and total air amount ratio between the two portions are within specific ranges, ensuring uniform drying by minimizing crossflow and optimizing air distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the distance between the distal end surfaces of the nozzles and the recording medium gradually decreases in the conveyance direction, then drying efficiency is improved, but airflow disturbance occurs causing drying unevenness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the nozzle characteristics between upstream and downstream positions. Specifically, the upstream dryer has nozzles with larger total cross-sectional area to generate higher air velocity for efficient drying, while the downstream dryer has nozzles with smaller total cross-sectional area to produce lower air velocity that prevents airflow disturbance and maintains drying uniformity. This localized differentiation resolves the contradiction between drying efficiency and drying uniformity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of nozzle total cross-sectional area along the conveyance direction. By progressively reducing the total cross-sectional area of nozzles from upstream to downstream dryers, the air velocity is appropriately controlled at each position. This parameter change enables the system to achieve both high drying efficiency upstream and uniform drying downstream, resolving the technical contradiction.
2Productivity
If high velocity air is used for efficient drying, then drying speed is improved, but air blow streaking of liquid occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by varying the air velocity dynamically along the conveyance direction. The upstream dryer uses high velocity air to achieve fast drying, while the downstream dryer uses low velocity air to prevent air blow streaking. This dynamic adjustment of air velocity resolves the contradiction between drying speed and prevention of air blow streaking.
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 effectively suppresses air blow streaking and drying unevenness, enhancing the drying efficiency and uniformity of non-absorptive recording media by carefully managing airflow dynamics between the air blowing portions.
Implementation Method 1
a first air blowing portion having a plurality of first nozzle holes of which total cross-sectional area is a first total cross-sectional area, and configured to blow air toward the recording medium through the plurality of first nozzle holes; a second air blowing portion having a plurality of second nozzle holes of which total cross-sectional area is a second total cross-sectional area smaller than the first total cross-sectional area, and configured to blow air toward the recording medium through the plurality of second nozzle holes
Data Source
AI summary
A recording apparatus includes a recording portion, a first air blowing portion comprising a plurality of first nozzle holes, a second air blowing portion comprising a plurality of second nozzle holes, and provided to be adjacent to the first air blowing portion on a downstream side in a conveyance direction, and a control portion configured to control the first air blowing portion and the second air blowing portion such that a first air velocity in the plurality of first nozzle holes is lower than a second air velocity in the plurality of second nozzle holes, and a ratio of a first total air amount, which is a total air amount per unit time blown from the plurality of first nozzle holes, and a second total air amount, which is a total air amount per unit time blown from the plurality of second nozzle holes, is within a predetermined range.