Force-balancing gas flow in dryers for printing systems

摘要

Systems and methods are provided for balancing air flow in dryers of printing systems. The dryer includes a heating element, top flow generator, and bottom flow generator. The heating element is within the dryer, and heats a web of printed media. The top flow generator directly projects a first jet of gas onto a top side of the web. The first jet of gas deflects air proximate to the web. The bottom flow generator directly projects a second jet of gas onto an opposing side of the web. The second jet strikes the web at substantially the same location as the first jet, and compensates orthogonal force applied to the web by the first jet. Furthermore, the top and bottom flow generators are both oriented to project the jets partially in the direction of travel of the web.

主权项

1. A dryer comprising:
multiple heating elements that are operable to directly radiate heat onto a web of printed media as the web travels through an interior of the dryer; a top flow generator that is located within the interior and is operable to directly project a first jet of gas onto a top side of the web that deflects air proximate to the web; and a bottom flow generator that is located within the interior and is operable to directly project a second jet of gas onto an opposing side of the web, wherein the second jet strikes the web at substantially the same location as the first jet and applies an amount of orthogonal force to the web equal to an amount of orthogonal force applied to the web by the first jet, thereby preventing the web from deflecting vertically while in the dryer, which ensures that the web does not change its distance with respect to one of the multiple heating elements, wherein the top and bottom flow generators are both oriented to project the jets partially in the direction of travel of the web without projecting air against the direction of travel of the web, and the top flow generator is located between the heating elements along the direction of travel.