Staged Air-Blow Drying Apparatus for Printing Media Crease Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
In printing media dried with hot wind, uneven ink distribution leads to non-uniform temperature distribution, causing creases and potential contact with nozzles, which hinders efficient drying.
Innovation Solution
A drying apparatus and method involving a conveyor system with staged dryers, where the first stage uses rotary bodies to support the non-recording surface and inject hot wind onto the recording surface, followed by a second stage with nozzles on both surfaces to further dry the media, preventing crease-induced nozzle contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If hot wind is injected to dry the printing medium efficiently, then drying efficiency is improved, but temperature distribution becomes nonuniform causing creases and nozzle contact
Solution Approach 1:
The drying process is segmented into multiple stages: a first drying stage using hot wind injection for efficient moisture removal, followed by a second drying stage with different parameters to correct temperature nonuniformity and prevent creases. This segmentation allows each stage to optimize for its specific function without compromising overall quality
Solution Approach 2:
The first drying stage performs preliminary moisture removal using aggressive hot wind injection, preparing the printing medium for the second stage. By removing the bulk moisture first, the subsequent stage can focus on uniform drying and crease prevention without the interference of excessive surface moisture
2Productivity
If hot wind temperature is increased to accelerate evaporation, then evaporation rate is improved, but crease formation increases due to temperature nonuniformity
Solution Approach 1:
The drying process uses periodic action by alternating between two drying stages with different temperature and airflow characteristics. The first stage uses high temperature for rapid evaporation, then transitions to the second stage with modified parameters to eliminate temperature nonuniformity and prevent creases, creating a rhythmic drying pattern
3Manufacturing precision
If uniform drying is achieved to prevent creases, then printing medium quality is improved, but drying time increases reducing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The first drying stage performs preliminary moisture removal using aggressive hot wind injection, preparing the printing medium for the second stage. By removing the bulk moisture first, the subsequent stage can focus on uniform drying without requiring extended time for the entire process
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes drying parameters between stages: the first stage uses high temperature and high airflow for rapid moisture removal, then the second stage adjusts temperature and airflow parameters to achieve uniform drying. This dynamic parameter adjustment maintains efficiency while ensuring quality
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 approach promotes moisture evaporation while preventing creases and nozzle contact, ensuring efficient and uniform drying of the printing medium.
Implementation Method 1
the first nozzles inject a hot wind of 60°C or higher to the recording surface
Implementation Method 2
a temperature distribution of the printing medium becomes nonuniform by the influence of the latent heat of the aqueous ink
Implementation Method 3
the rotary bodies have peripheral surfaces configured to contact the non-recording surface of the printing medium and rotate, following the printing medium
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
In the air-blow dryers 7a, 7b, the back surface M2 of the printing medium M is supported by the rollers 74 while the hot wind is injected from the nozzles 76u to the front surface M1 of the printing medium M. By extending the printing medium M along the rollers 74, the evaporation of the moisture can be promoted by the hot wind while the formation of creases of the printing medium M is suppressed against the influence of the temperature distribution caused by the latent heat of the moisture on the printing medium M. After a certain amount of the moisture is evaporated, the temperature of the printing medium M becomes relatively uniform. In the air-blow dryers 7c, 7d, the printing medium M is dried by injecting the hot wind to the printing medium M from the nozzles 761 and 76u from both sides.