Modular radial impeller drum for printing devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10870269-B2
Application number	US-201816210726-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 5, 2018
Priority date	Dec 5, 2018
Publication date	Dec 22, 2020
Grant date	Dec 22, 2020

Abstract

A modular radial impeller drum for cooling print media in a printing device are disclosed. For example, the modular radial impeller drum includes a plurality of impeller modules coupled together to form a surface to transport the print media. Each one of the plurality of impeller modules includes a cylindrical outer surface, a cylindrical center axis inside of the cylindrical outer surface, and a plurality of impeller blades coupled between the cylindrical outer surface and the cylindrical center axis, wherein each one of the plurality of impeller blades are angled, wherein the plurality of impeller modules are coupled together such that the plurality of impeller blades of each one of the plurality of impeller modules are aligned across a length of the modular radial impeller drum.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A modular radial impeller drum for cooling print media in a printing device, comprising:
a plurality of impeller modules coupled together to form a surface to transport the print media, wherein each one of the plurality of impeller modules, comprises:
a cylindrical outer surface;
a cylindrical center axis inside of the cylindrical outer surface; and
a plurality of impeller blades coupled between the cylindrical outer surface and the cylindrical center axis, wherein each one of the plurality of impeller blades are angled, wherein the plurality of impeller modules are coupled together such that the plurality of impeller blades of each one of the plurality of impeller modules are aligned across a length of the modular radial impeller drum.

2. The modular radial impeller drum of claim 1 , wherein the each one of the plurality of impeller blades are angled to have a helical shaped curve.

3. The modular radial impeller drum of claim 2 , wherein the each one of the plurality of impeller blades are aligned to form a helical pattern along the length of the modular radial impeller drum.

4. The modular radial impeller drum of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of impeller modules each further comprises:
a male index on a first side; and
a female index on a second side.

5. The modular radial impeller drum of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of impeller modules are aligned by fitting the male index of a first impeller module to a female index of a second impeller module that is adjacent to the first impeller module.

6. The modular radial impeller drum of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of impeller modules are coupled together mechanically or thermally.

7. The modular radial impeller drum of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of impeller modules are coupled together mechanically via a locking shaft that is fitted through the cylindrical center axis of each one of the plurality of impeller modules and a locking nut is coupled to each end of the locking shaft.

8. The modular radial impeller drum of claim 6 , wherein the plurality impeller modules are coupled together mechanically via interlocking tabs on the each one of the plurality of impeller modules.

9. The modular radial impeller drum of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of impeller modules are coupled together thermally via a welding process.

10. The modular radial impeller drum of claim 1 , wherein each one of the plurality of impeller modules are formed via a casting tool.

11. The modular radial impeller drum of claim 1 , wherein the length of the modular radial impeller drum is greater than 20 inches.

12. The modular radial impeller drum of claim 1 , wherein the each one of the plurality of impeller modules are fabricated from aluminum.

13. A cooler module of a printing device, comprising:
at least one modular radial impeller drum; and
at least one blower coupled to an end of the first modular radial impeller drum to provide an air flow across a length of the at least one modular radial impeller drum, wherein the at least one modular radial impeller drum maintains the air flow at a constant velocity across the length of the at least one modular radial impeller drum, wherein the at least one modular radial impeller drum comprises a plurality of impeller modules, wherein each one of the plurality of impeller modules, comprises:
a cylindrical outer surface;
a cylindrical center axis inside of the cylindrical outer surface; and
a plurality of impeller blades coupled between the cylindrical outer surface and the cylindrical center axis, wherein each one of the plurality of impeller blades are angled, wherein the plurality of impeller modules are coupled together such that the plurality of impeller blades of each one of the plurality of impeller modules are aligned across a length of the at least one modular radial impeller drum.

14. The cooler module of the printing device of claim 13 , wherein the at least one modular radial impeller drum comprises a plurality of modular radial impeller drums located adjacent to each other and to receive a print media between the plurality of modular radial impeller drums.

15. The cooler module of the printing device of claim 14 , wherein the at least one blower comprises a plurality of blowers, wherein each one of the plurality of blowers are coupled to an end of a respective one of the plurality of modular radial impeller drums.

16. The cooler module of the printing device of claim 13 , wherein the each one of the plurality of impeller blades are angled such that the plurality of impeller blades of the each one of the plurality of impeller modules are aligned to form a helical pattern along the length of the at least one modular radial impeller drum.

17. The cooler module of the printing device of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of impeller modules each further comprises:
a male index on a first side; and
a female index on a second side.

18. The cooler module of the printing device of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of impeller modules are aligned by fitting the male index of a first impeller module to a female index of a second impeller module that is adjacent to the first impeller module.

19. The cooler module of the printing device of claim 13 , wherein the length of the modular radial impeller drum is greater than 20 inches.

20. A modular radial impeller drum for cooling print media in a printing device, comprising:
a plurality of impeller modules coupled together to form a surface to transport the print media that has a length that is approximately equal to a width of the print media, wherein each one of the plurality of impeller modules are casted from aluminum and comprises:
a cylindrical outer surface having an alignment feature on each edge of the cylindrical outer surface;
a cylindrical center axis inside of the cylindrical outer surface; and
a plurality of impeller blades coupled between the cylindrical outer surface and the cylindrical center axis, wherein each one of the plurality of impeller blades are angled, wherein the plurality of impeller modules are coupled together such that the alignment feature of adjacent impeller modules are coupled together such that the plurality of impeller blades of each one of the plurality of impeller modules are aligned across the length of the modular radial impeller drum, wherein the plurality of impeller modules are coupled together via center shaft that runs through the cylindrical center axis of the each one of the plurality of impeller modules and at least one locking nut coupled to an end of the center shaft and an outermost impeller module.

Assignees

• Xerox Corp

Inventors

• Campbell Richard A
• Shelhart Timothy Gordon
• Knopp Daniel Raymond

Classifications

• B65H2402/60

  Coupling, adapter or locking means · CPC title

• B65H2404/1375

  means for assemble/disassemble · CPC title

• B65H2301/5144

  Cooling · CPC title

• B41J29/377

  Cooling or ventilating arrangements · CPC title

• B41F23/0479 Primary

  using chill rolls · CPC title