FIRE ENCLOSURE AND SAFETY SYSTEM FOR AN INKJET PRINTER USING A RADIANT DRYER UNIT

• US 20120285708A1
• Filed: 05/10/2012
• Published: 11/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Boland, Stuart J., Walker, Casey E., Bildstein, Carl R., Johnson, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 9,433,809 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 169/46
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 2/04 Removing or cutting-off the supply of inflammable material
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 3/00 Fire prevention, containment or extinguishing specially adapted for particular objects or places in oil wells E21B29/08, A62C35/00; in mines or tunnels E21F5/00 ; for nuclear reactors G21C9/04
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/377 Cooling or ventilating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/38 Drives, motors, controls or automatic cut-off devices for the entire printing mechanism

Abstract

Fire control and containment for a production printing system that includes a dryer unit, an air intake fan, and an exhaust fan. A fire control and containment system includes an enclosure surrounding the dryer unit. The enclosure includes controllable doors, a temperature sensor, and an air pressure sensor in the enclosure. The fire containment and control system also includes a controller operable to detect a fire event based on changes in air pressure and air temperature in the enclosure detected by the air pressure and air temperature sensors. In response to detecting the fire event, the controller closes the doors of the enclosure to prevent the print medium from entering, controls the air intake fan and the exhaust fan to reduce the air pressure in the enclosure, and controls the dryer unit to reduce temperature in the enclosure to suppress fire.

Claims

1. A fire control and containment system for a production printing system, wherein the production printing system comprises a dryer unit, an air intake fan, and an exhaust fan, the fire safety and control system comprising:

an enclosure surrounding the dryer unit and comprising controllable doors through which a print medium passes when open;

a temperature sensor and an air pressure sensor in the enclosure; and

a controller operable to detect a fire event based on changes in air pressure and air temperature in the enclosure detected by the air pressure and air temperature sensors;

in response to detecting the fire event, the controller is further operable to close the doors of the enclosure to prevent the print medium from entering, to control the air intake fan and the exhaust fan to reduce the air pressure in the enclosure, and to control the dryer unit to reduce temperature in the enclosure to suppress fire.

2. The fire control and containment system of claim 1, further comprising:

a fire extinguishing unit operable to dispense a fire retardant, wherein the controller is further operable to direct the fire extinguishing unit to dispense the fire retardant during the fire event.

3. The fire control and containment system of claim 1, further comprising:

an alarm, wherein the controller is operable to direct the alarm to alert personnel of the fire event.

4. The fire control and containment system of claim 1, further comprising:

a vent affixed to the exhaust fan to vent the exhaust from an operating environment of the production printing system.

5. The fire control and containment system of claim 1, further comprising:

a blade, wherein the controller is further operable to direct the blade to cut the print medium and prevent additional print medium from entering the enclosure during the fire event.

6. The fire control and containment system of claim 1, wherein the enclosure is operable to thermally isolate the dryer unit from the controller.

7. The fire control and containment system of claim 1, further comprising:

a humidity sensor, wherein the controller is further operable to detect the fire event based on humidity detected by the humidity sensor being outside a predetermined range.

8. A method of controlling and containing fire in a production printing system that comprises a dryer unit, an air intake fan, and an exhaust fan, method comprising:

monitoring air pressure and air temperature sensors to detect temperature and pressure changes in the air within an enclosure surrounding the dryer unit;

detecting a fire event based on the detected air pressure and air temperature changes in the enclosure; and

upon detecting the fire event;

closing doors of the enclosure to prevent the print medium from entering;

controlling speeds of the air intake fan and the exhaust fan to reduce the air pressure in the enclosure; and

controlling the dryer unit to reduce temperature in the enclosure to suppress fire.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

initiating a fire extinguishing unit to dispense a fire retardant within the enclosure during the fire event.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

sealing the enclosure from an operating environment of the production printing system.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

generating an alarm to alert personnel of the fire event.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

cutting the print medium to prevent additional print medium from entering the enclosure during the fire event.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein detecting the fire event further comprises detecting humidity outside a predetermined range.

14. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a controller, direct the controller to control and contain fire in a production printing system that comprises a dryer unit, an air intake fan, and an exhaust fan, the instructions further directing the controller to:

monitor air pressure and air temperature sensors to detect temperature and pressure changes in the air within an enclosure surrounding the dryer unit;

detect a fire event based on the detected air pressure and air temperature changes in the enclosure; and

upon detecting the fire event;

close doors of the enclosure to prevent the print medium from entering;

control speeds of the air intake fan and the exhaust fan to reduce the air pressure in the enclosure; and

control the dryer unit to reduce temperature in the enclosure to suppress fire.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14, the instructions further directing the controller to initiate a fire extinguishing unit to dispense a fire retardant within the enclosure during the fire event.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, the instructions further directing the controller to hermetically seal the enclosure from the controller.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14, the instructions further directing the controller to initiate cutting of the print medium to prevent additional print medium from entering the enclosure during the fire event.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14, the instructions further directing the controller to determine the fire event based on a detection of humidity outside a predetermined range.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14, the instructions further directing the controller to calculate and store optimized set points for control based on system control inputs to adjust for changes in air intake filter restriction and reflector component emissivity.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14, the instructions further directing the controller to control speeds of the air intake fan and the exhaust fan to automatically compensate for overdriven building exhaust.