Air Shoe Roller Lateral Constraint for Wrinkle-Free Web Guiding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Inkjet printing systems face challenges in preventing wrinkles in receiver media due to moisture-induced expansion and contraction, which affects image quality, as existing web-guiding systems fail to manage high angular changes without causing wrinkles.

Innovation Solution

A web-guiding system featuring a fixed structure with air holes for minimal contact and a web-guiding roller providing lateral constraint, allowing large wrap angles without wrinkling, using air flow to lift the media and prevent friction-induced buckling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the receiver media contacts the web-guiding structure with high wrap angle, then the media can be guided through large angular changes, but friction-induced buckling and wrinkles occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveangular change capabilityVSAvoidwrinkles

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs an air bearing system where compressed air is supplied through holes in the web-guiding structure to create an air cushion between the media and the guiding surface. This pneumatic approach replaces direct mechanical contact with fluid-based support, enabling large angular changes without friction-induced wrinkling while maintaining effective web guidance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the receiver media is supported by air flow, then contact-induced wrinkles are prevented, but lateral stability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovewrinklesVSAvoidlateral stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a hybrid support system where the majority of the media width is supported by air flow to prevent wrinkles, while localized contact zones are maintained at the edges or specific regions through web-guiding rollers. This local quality differentiation provides lateral stability where needed while preserving the wrinkle-prevention benefits of air bearing across the main media surface

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system effectively prevents wrinkles by minimizing media contact with the guiding structure and providing lateral stability, enabling high angular changes without compromising image quality.

Implementation Method 1

an air source 220 for providing an air flow 225 through the air holes 215. The air flow 225 lifts the receiver media 10 away from the web-guiding structure 205

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAir flow lifting: Air Lubrication

Data Source

PatentUS9352923B2Air shoe with roller providing lateral constraint

Publication Date: 2016.05.31 EASTMAN KODAK CO

AI summary

A web-guiding system for guiding a web of media along a transport path including a web-guiding roller located in proximity to a fixed web-guiding structure having a pattern of air holes formed through its exterior surface. The web of media travels around the web-guiding roller with the web of media contacting the web-guiding roller through a wrap angle of less than 5 degrees, and travels around the fixed web-guiding structure through a wrap angle of more than 10 degrees. An air source provides an air flow through the air holes formed lifting the web of media away from the web-guiding structure such that the web of media is substantially not in contact with the web-guiding structure.