Spiral Tube Heating Device for Inkjet Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inkjet recording apparatuses require multiple heaters and temperature sensors to maintain ink viscosity, leading to complex control procedures and potential temperature overshoots, especially when cold ink flows into the system.
Innovation Solution
A spirally formed tube with a cylindrical container and a liquid heat medium, where a heater is placed within the container to uniformly heat the ink, reducing the need for multiple heaters and sensors, and allowing for precise temperature control through a single temperature sensor measuring the heat medium.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If multiple heaters and temperature sensors are used to control ink temperature in straight parallel tubes, then temperature control capability is improved, but device complexity and control procedure complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the spiral curvature principle by transforming the straight parallel tubes into a single spiral tube. This curvature configuration allows a single heater wrapped around the spiral tube to uniformly heat the ink as it flows through the spiral path, eliminating the need for multiple heaters and temperature sensors while maintaining effective temperature control capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple straight tubes into a single spiral tube configuration. This consolidation reduces the number of heating and sensing elements required, simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining the ability to control ink temperature throughout the entire flow path
2Speed
If local intense heating is applied near the tube inlet when cold ink flows in, then temperature response speed is improved, but temperature overshoot and stability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The spiral tube configuration enables continuous uniform heating action along the entire ink flow path. As ink flows through the spiral, it receives consistent thermal energy from the wrapped heater, preventing temperature overshoot while maintaining responsive temperature control without requiring intermittent intense local heating
Solution Approach 2:
The spiral curvature extends the heating path length and ensures uniform heat distribution throughout the ink flow. This continuous exposure to thermal energy along the spiral path provides stable temperature control with responsive adjustment capability, eliminating the need for aggressive local heating that causes overshoot
3Temperature
If straight parallel tubes are used with multiple heaters, then heating coverage is improved, but space efficiency and structural simplicity worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The spiral tube configuration packs a long heating path into a compact volume by utilizing three-dimensional spiral geometry. This curvature-based design provides extensive heating coverage along the spiral path while occupying less space than multiple straight parallel tubes would require
Solution Approach 2:
The heater is wrapped around and nested within the spiral tube structure, maximizing the use of available space. This nested configuration provides comprehensive heating coverage along the entire ink flow path while maintaining a compact overall device footprint
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 enables efficient, stable, and precise heating of ink with reduced temperature overshoots, simplified control, and improved space efficiency, while maintaining ink quality for high-image quality printing.
Implementation Method 1
The heater (41) is provided in the cylindrical part (43S). The liquid heat medium (44) is in liquid form and fills the container (43).
Data Source
AI summary
A heating device includes a tube, a container, a heater, and heat medium. The tube through which liquid flows is spirally formed. The container has a cylindrical part whose axial direction is along a spiral direction of the tube and stores the tube. The heater is provided in the cylindrical part. The heat medium is in liquid form and fills the container.