Warm-Air Nozzle Layout for Sheet Drying Without Floatation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional drying devices in inkjet recording apparatuses face inefficiencies in drying sheets due to sheet floating from the conveyor belt when air is blown harder, leading to shape changes and potential conveying malfunctions.
Innovation Solution
The drying device employs warm air blowing nozzles positioned close to the conveyor belt with penetrating portions and ribs to control air flow, reducing the average air blowing speed and preventing sheet floatation while maintaining efficient drying.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If air is blown harder to improve drying efficiency, then drying efficiency is improved, but sheet floating from conveying belt occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The blowing duct is designed with different structures at different locations: the first blowing portion has nozzles facing the sheet directly, while the second blowing portion has nozzles angled at 45 degrees or more relative to the sheet. This local differentiation allows effective drying at the upstream end while preventing sheet floating at the downstream end where air speed would otherwise be excessive.
2Productivity
If nozzles are positioned closer to conveying belt to improve drying efficiency, then drying efficiency is improved, but sheet floating occurs due to increased air speed in gap
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different nozzle configurations to different portions of the blowing duct. The first blowing portion (upstream) uses nozzles facing the sheet directly for efficient drying, while the second blowing portion (downstream) uses nozzles angled at 45 degrees or more to reduce air speed and prevent sheet floating, thus locally optimizing each section's function.
Solution Approach 2:
The blowing duct is segmented into multiple blowing portions with different nozzle arrangements. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each section: the first portion maximizes drying efficiency while the second portion controls air speed to prevent harmful sheet floating, resolving the contradiction through spatial division of functions.
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 drying efficiency and prevents sheet floatation, ensuring stable conveyance and effective drying of sheets without increasing air blowing speed excessively.
Implementation Method 1
a drying device to dry the sheet... dries the sheet by that a lot of nozzles formed in a blowing duct blow air supplied from such as a blowing fan onto the sheet
Implementation Method 2
a sheet conveyed by a rotating conveying belt
Data Source
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AI summary
A drying device for drying a sheet on which an image is formed by discharged ink includes a conveyance portion, a fan; a duct guiding an air blown from the fan to the conveyed sheet and a heater heating the air in the duct. The duct includes a plurality of nozzles blowing the air in the duct to the conveyed sheet, a first surface provided with the plurality of nozzles; a second surface opposing the first surface; and a recess portion formed along a conveyance direction of the sheet. In a widthwise direction, the recess portion is provided between a first nozzle and a second nozzle, of the plurality of nozzles, and the second nozzle is disposed side by side with the first nozzle.