Spiral Tube Warming Layout for Faster Ink Temperature Uniformity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing warming devices for inkjet systems, which use a metal plate heated by a heater and piping in contact, face inefficiencies in heating the ink, leading to unstable temperature uniformity and prolonged warming times.
Innovation Solution
A warming device comprising a corrugated tube with a spiral portion, a storing portion for a liquid heating medium, and a heater that heats only the lower portion of the storing portion, creating a temperature difference to enhance convection and reduce warming time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a metal plate heated by a heater with piping in contact is used to warm ink, then the ink can be warmed, but the temperature uniformity is unstable and the warming time is prolonged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a spiral-shaped heating tube instead of straight piping, creating a curved path that increases the surface area in contact with the heating medium. This spiral configuration enhances heat transfer efficiency and promotes more uniform temperature distribution throughout the ink, resolving the temperature uniformity issue while reducing warming time
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes a liquid heating medium circulating through the spiral heating tube to transfer heat to the ink. This hydraulic system allows for controlled heat transfer and better temperature management compared to direct heater contact, improving both temperature uniformity and heating efficiency
2Stability of the object's composition
If the heater heats the entire storing portion, then more uniform heating is achieved, but the time required for temperature uniformity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heater is strategically positioned to heat only the lower portion of the storing container where the heating medium is located. This localized heating approach creates a temperature gradient that drives natural convection currents, allowing the heated medium to circulate and uniformly distribute heat throughout the entire container over time, achieving both speed and uniformity
3Productivity
If the heater heats only the lower portion of the storing portion, then the warming time is shortened, but the heating coverage is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs natural convection where the heating medium automatically circulates from the heated lower portion to the upper portions and back, without requiring external pumping or additional heating elements. This self-service mechanism ensures complete heating coverage while maintaining high warming efficiency through the spiral tube's enhanced heat transfer surface area
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 shortens the time required for temperature uniformity of the heating medium and stabilizes ink temperature, improving the efficiency of the warming process.
Implementation Method 1
a heater configured to heat a lower portion of the storing portion that stores the spiral portion and a liquid heating medium used for warming the spiral portion
Implementation Method 2
the time required for uniformizing a temperature of the heating medium can be shortened
Data Source
AI summary
A warming device includes a corrugated tube, a storing portion, and a heater. The corrugated tube includes a spiral portion that is formed spirally. The storing portion stores the spiral portion and a liquid heating medium used for warming the spiral portion. The heater heats a portion of the storing portion that is lower than an upper end portion of the spiral portion and does not heat a portion of the storing portion that is higher than the upper end portion.