Adjustable Head Array Fixing Mechanism for Inkjet Printers
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Solution Overview
Problem
In image forming apparatuses like printers and facsimile machines with inkjet systems, maintaining high landing accuracy of ink droplets on a recording medium is challenging due to variations in the relative positions between the recording medium and the head array, leading to deteriorated recording accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A liquid discharge device with a head array, support body, moving assembly, and adjustable head array fixing device that includes gripping members and positioning pins to precisely position and fix the head array, ensuring accurate approach and retraction movements, thereby maintaining high recording accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the head array is moved to approach and retract positions, then productivity is improved through efficient recording and recovery operations, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to variations in relative positions between the head array and recording medium
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a positioning pin as an intermediary element that mediates between the head array and the support body. The positioning pin fits into a positioning hole to establish a precise relative position between the head array and recording medium, acting as a mechanical mediator that ensures consistent positioning during approach and retract operations without compromising recording efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs adjustable positioning mechanisms that allow modification of the head array's position parameters. The positioning pin and hole configuration enables precise adjustment of the head array's spatial coordinates, allowing optimization of both recording efficiency and landing accuracy by changing positional parameters to suit different operating conditions
2Manufacturing precision
If the head array position is fixed to improve manufacturing precision, then landing accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional fixing mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the positioning function into separate modular components: a positioning pin attached to one element and a positioning hole attached to another element. This segmentation allows each component to be independently manufactured, adjusted, and replaced, simplifying the overall fixing mechanism while maintaining high positioning precision through the dedicated pin-hole interface
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning pin and hole configuration enables self-alignment and self-positioning of the head array relative to the recording medium. The geometric fit between the pin and hole automatically establishes the correct relative position without requiring complex external fixing mechanisms, allowing the system to self-regulate its positioning
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid discharge device includes a head array, a support body, a moving assembly, and a head array fixing device. The head array fixing device fixes the head array at an approach position. The head array fixing device includes a gripping target member and a gripping member. The gripping target member is disposed on one of the head array and the support body and extending in a direction in which the head array approaches or retracts from a recording region of a recording medium. The gripping member is disposed on another of the head array and the support body, to grip the gripping target member to position the gripping target member in a conveyance direction and a width direction of the recording member. A gripping position at which the gripping member grips the gripping target member is adjustable in at least one of the conveyance direction and the width direction.