Transporting Belt Vibration Attenuation in Liquid Ejecting Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing liquid ejecting devices do not effectively manage micro vibrations in the transporting belt, which can degrade the quality of images printed on media due to uncontrolled vibration propagation during the printing process.

Innovation Solution

A liquid ejecting device with a transporting belt system that includes first and second gripping portions, which alternately grip and release the belt at predetermined positions, using detection units for precise control to attenuate micro vibrations before they reach the printing area, ensuring accurate and high-quality image formation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the gripping portion grips and releases the transporting belt during operation, then the belt can be transported and positioned, but micro vibrations are generated that propagate to the printing area and degrade image quality

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebelt transport operationVSAvoidmicro vibration affecting image quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The transporting belt is divided into multiple sections with different stiffness characteristics. The belt has a flexible portion and a rigid portion, where the flexible portion absorbs vibrations while the rigid portion maintains positional accuracy during gripping and release operations, preventing vibration propagation to the printing area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A damping structure is integrated into the transporting belt system to attenuate micro vibrations before they reach the printing area. This cushioning mechanism is positioned strategically to absorb vibrations generated during gripping and release operations, protecting the image quality from vibration-induced degradation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Productivity

If the gripping portion moves rapidly to transport the belt, then productivity increases, but vibration and displacement accuracy decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransport speedVSAvoiddisplacement accuracy at printing position

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The gripping portion employs dynamic control with variable speed profiles. During transport, the belt is moved at high speed for productivity, but near the printing area, the system automatically reduces speed and applies damping control to minimize vibrations and ensure precise positioning, thus maintaining both productivity and manufacturing precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

A detection unit monitors the position and vibration state of the transporting belt in real-time. This feedback information is used to adjust the gripping force and movement speed dynamically, ensuring that when the belt approaches the printing area, vibrations are minimized and positioning accuracy is maximized, reconciling high-speed transport with precision requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Device complexity

If a single gripping portion is used to transport the belt, then device complexity is reduced, but transport accuracy and vibration control are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of gripping portionsVSAvoidtransport accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using one complex gripping mechanism, the system employs multiple simpler gripping portions distributed along the transporting belt. Each gripping portion handles a specific section, allowing independent control of vibration and position for each segment, which improves overall transport accuracy without requiring any single gripping device to be overly complex.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 solution significantly improves image quality by attenuating micro vibrations in the transporting belt, enhancing transport accuracy and maintaining consistent displacement across the belt, thus ensuring better printing results.

Implementation Method 1

A micro vibration in an up-and-down direction excited by the gripping portion when the gripping portion grips the transporting belt and releases the gripped transporting belt may propagate to a printing start position of the medium supported by the transporting belt

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Data Source

PatentUS11383534B2Liquid ejecting device and transporting method of transporting belt

Publication Date: 2022.07.12 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

A liquid ejecting device includes a transporting belt configured to transport a medium, a head configured to eject a liquid onto the medium, a first gripping portion configured to grip the first end portion of the transporting belt, and move in the transport direction, and a second gripping portion configured to grip the second end portion of the transporting belt, and move in the transport direction. When the head is positioned outside the transporting belt with respect to the second end portion, the first gripping portion performs a first operation of gripping the transporting belt and moving to a predetermined position, and releasing the gripped transporting belt. When the head is positioned outside the transporting belt with respect to the first end portion, the second gripping portion performs a second operation of gripping the transporting belt and moving to a predetermined position, and releasing the gripped transporting belt.