Vertical Textile Curing Oven with Hanging Chain Conveyor
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current textile curing ovens suffer from significant energy loss due to horizontal orientation of heat sources, leading to increased energy consumption and equipment costs, while also requiring longer oven chambers to achieve optimal curing times, which complicates production and quality control.
Innovation Solution
A vertical orientation of the heat source and textile within a continuous conveyor system, utilizing a hanging chain conveyor to expose printed textiles to radiant heaters from both sides, minimizing energy loss and allowing for customizable oven design to optimize curing efficiency and reduce footprint.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If horizontal orientation of heat source and textile is used, then curing process is achieved, but energy loss increases due to radiation on oven chamber surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from horizontal orientation to vertical orientation of both the heat source and textile substrate. The heating elements are mounted vertically on oven walls, and textiles hang vertically from conveyor chains, creating a vertical heat transfer path that eliminates radiant energy loss to horizontal chamber surfaces while maintaining effective curing.
2Duration of action of moving object
If longer oven chamber is used, then dwell time increases for better curing, but equipment cost and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The vertical orientation allows continuous exposure of the textile to radiant heat from multiple angles as it passes through the oven chamber. The hanging textile receives radiation from vertical heating elements on both sides, maximizing heat transfer efficiency during the dwell time without requiring an extended chamber length.
3Loss of energy
If vertical orientation of heat source and textile is used, then energy loss is minimized, but device complexity increases due to conveyor system modification
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor system is designed with dual functionality: it horizontally transports substrates into and out of the oven chamber, then vertically suspends them within the chamber using hanging chains. This multi-functional design achieves vertical orientation benefits while maintaining a relatively simple overall conveyor structure.
4Length of stationary object
If vertical orientation is used, then oven chamber length is reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase for heat source positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The vertical heating elements are positioned at specific locations on opposite oven walls, creating localized zones of intense radiant heat that directly face the hanging textile. This localized positioning maximizes heat transfer efficiency in a compact chamber while the vertical orientation naturally accommodates positioning tolerances better than horizontal arrangements.
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 reduces energy consumption, shortens oven dimensions by 20-40%, ensures consistent heat transfer, and increases production rates by maintaining maximum heat application to printed inks, while allowing for flexible routing of conveyor systems to optimize production workflows.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing either radiation and/or convention means for curing of the applied inks
Implementation Method 2
belt driven conveyor ovens have been used to fully cure screen printed inks onto textiles
Data Source
AI summary
An oven and method for curing inks on various substrates and textiles, such as clothing or shirts, conveyed by an overhanging vertically oriented chain conveyor. Clips are attached to the chain conveyor for holding the printed textile in a vertical oven mount, as they pass by the radiant heating elements structured in the curing oven during usage.