Dryer and printer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10882339-B2
Application number	US-201916712615-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 12, 2019
Priority date	Dec 27, 2018
Publication date	Jan 5, 2021
Grant date	Jan 5, 2021

Abstract

A dryer includes a heater configured to heat an object to dry the object, a plurality of collection devices configured to collect a liquid generated by liquefication of condensed vapor in the dryer, a drainage tube configured to drain the liquid from each of the plurality of collection devices, a pump configured to feed the liquid through the drainage tube, a switch configured to switch a connection between the plurality of collection devices and the switch, and a pressure sensor configured to measure a pressure between the switch and the pump.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A dryer comprising:
a heater configured to heat an object to dry the object;
a plurality of collection devices configured to collect a liquid generated by liquefication of condensed vapor in the dryer;
a drainage tube configured to drain the liquid from each of the plurality of collection devices;
a pump configured to feed the liquid through the drainage tube;
a switch configured to switch a connection between the plurality of collection devices and the switch; and
a pressure sensor configured to measure a pressure between the switch and the pump.

2. The dryer according to claim 1 ,
wherein the pressure sensor measures a pressure inside the drainage tube connecting the switch and the pump.

3. The dryer according to claim 2 ,
wherein the pressure sensor transmits a signal to distinguish between a collected state and an uncollected state,
wherein the liquid is collected through the plurality of collection devices in the collected state, and
the liquid is not collected through the plurality of collection devices in the uncollected state.

4. The dryer according to claim 3 ,
wherein the pressure sensor transmits the signal when the pressure measured by the pressure sensor exceeds a threshold pressure.

5. The dryer according to claim 4 ,
wherein the switch switches the connection between the plurality of collection devices and the pump when the signal from the pressure sensor indicates the uncollected state.

6. The dryer according to claim 4 , further comprising:
a plurality of switches including the switch; and
a plurality of collection position groups each including the plurality of collection devices,
wherein each of the plurality of switches is connected to corresponding one of the plurality of collection position groups.

7. The dryer according to claim 6 ,
wherein the pressure sensor transmits an abnormal notification signal to notify abnormality in the dryer when the pressure measured by the pressure sensor does not exceed the threshold pressure during operation of the pump while closing the drainage tube by the plurality of switches.

8. A printer comprising:
a liquid application unit configured to apply a liquid onto the object; and
the dryer according to claim 1 configured to dry the object on which the liquid is applied by the liquid application unit.

Assignees

• Yoshinuma Toshihiro
• Ricoh Co Ltd

Inventors

• Yoshinuma Toshihiro

Classifications

• B41F23/0403 Primary

  Drying webs (B41F23/0486 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B41J11/00242

  Controlling the temperature of the conduction means · CPC title

• B41J11/0022

  using convection means, e.g. by using a fan for blowing or sucking air · CPC title

• B01D5/009

  Collecting, removing and/or treatment of the condensate · CPC title

• B41J2/17596

  Ink pumps, ink valves · CPC title