Patent ID: 6308626
Filing Date: 2001-10-30
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
An improved dryer apparatus for drying media printed by a large format ink jet print engine, comprising:an elongate plenum member having at least one tapered interior space and oriented to span a lateral width of a large format ink jet print engine, said elongate plenum member dimensionally adapted to dispose advantageously proximally a printing zone of said large format ink jet print engine;a plurality of ports formed through a wall of said elongate plenum member, fluidly coupled to said at least one tapered interior space, and oriented proximate said printing zone;at least one heating element disposed inside said at least one tapered interior space; andat least one fan means fluidly coupled to said at least one tapered interior space for creating an intake airflow over said at least one heating element and through said at least one tapered interior space, and for creating an exhaust flow of heated air though said plurality of ports so that a printing media emerging from said printing zone encounters said exhaust flow of heated air which dries a printing ink composition printed onto said printing media;wherein said at least one tapered interior space comprises a tapered interior diameter decreasing from an end proximate said fan and said heating element to an opposite end of said interior space, said tapered interior diameter promoting improved air flow out of said ports regardless of the distance each of said ports resides from said fan.