Sheet Drying Conveyance With Lift-Sensing Optical Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet drying apparatuses face challenges in sensing the presence or absence of sheets conveyed on a hot conveyance belt due to the difficulty in detecting lifted sheets, which complicates the detection process.
Innovation Solution
A sheet lift sensing mechanism is introduced, comprising a sheet lift sensor with a light emitter and receiver arranged orthogonal to the conveyance direction, and a sensing assist member that protrudes into the conveyance space to rotate the sheet, ensuring reliable detection of sheet lifts without contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a sheet drying apparatus uses a hot conveyance belt to dry sheets quickly, then drying efficiency is improved, but the ability to sense the presence or absence of sheets becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
A sensing assist member is introduced as an intermediary element between the sheet and the detection system. This member protrudes into the conveyance space and contacts the sheet to rotate it, serving as a mediator that enables the optical sensor to detect the sheet's presence by creating a detectable state change in the optical path
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct mechanical contact detection methods with an optical detection system. Instead of using mechanical sensors that would physically touch the hot belt, an optical sensor is used that detects sheet presence through light transmission, substituted with mechanical rotation action by the sensing assist member to enable detection
2Speed
If the conveyance belt is heated to dry ink quickly, then drying speed is improved, but sheet lift sensing becomes unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing assist member acts as an intermediary that physically contacts the sheet and rotates it to a detectable position. This mediator enables reliable detection by ensuring the sheet enters the optical path of the sensor, making the detection process reliable regardless of the hot belt conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The sensing assist member performs a preliminary action by rotating the sheet into the correct position before the optical sensor detects it. This preliminary rotation ensures that the sheet is properly oriented for detection, establishing the detectable state in advance
3Ease of operation
If a light sensor is used to detect sheet presence, then non-contact detection is achieved, but detection accuracy decreases when sheets are lifted
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing assist member performs a preliminary rotation action on the sheet to ensure it is positioned correctly in the optical path before detection occurs. This preliminary positioning action guarantees that the light sensor receives the expected light signal, ensuring detection accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The sensing assist member serves as an intermediary mechanical element that bridges the gap between the sheet's random position and the optical sensor's fixed detection path. By rotating the sheet, it mediates the positioning to ensure accurate optical detection
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 mechanism enables accurate and reliable detection of sheet lifts, preventing jams and facilitating easy removal of jammed sheets by rotating the sheet to align with the sensor's optical path, enhancing operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a sheet lift sensor having a light emitter and a light receiver arranged opposite each other
Implementation Method 2
a sensing assist member that protrudes from above into a conveyance space above the conveyance member, and contacts a lifted part of the sheet to rotate the sheet in a horizontal direction
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet drying apparatus includes a conveyance portion, a drying portion, and a sheet lift sensing mechanism. The conveyance portion has a conveyance member that moves while holding a sheet having an image formed on it with ink containing moisture. The drying portion is arranged opposite the conveyance member and heats and dries the sheet. The sheet lift sensing mechanism includes a sheet lift sensor having a light emitter and light receiver opposite each other in the width direction of the sheet horizontally orthogonal to the conveyance direction and a sensing assist member that protrudes from above into a conveyance space above the conveyance member and that contacts a lifted part of the sheet to rotate it in a horizontal direction. The distance from the conveyance member to the sensing assist member is smaller than the minimum height of the conveyance space.