Borderless Inkjet Platen Control to Prevent Rib Staining
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink adherence to platen ribs during borderless printing can cause staining of subsequent sheets due to insufficient margin regions on the edges of the recording medium.
Innovation Solution
An image recording apparatus with a platen and controller that controls the recorder to record borderless images by causing colorant to adhere beyond the edges of the recording medium, varying the extent based on the separation distance between the ribs and the edges, minimizing ink adhesion to ribs and creating minimal margin regions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the printer records a borderless image by resizing the image such that edges extend beyond the sheet boundaries, then the margin regions on sheet edges are minimized, but ink may adhere to the ribs on the platen and stain subsequent sheets
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the recording behavior in different spatial zones. The controller determines whether to extend colorant beyond sheet edges based on the specific separation distance between the sheet edge and the nearest rib. When separation distance is sufficient, borderless recording is enabled; when separation distance is small, the recorder avoids discharging colorant in the region that would contact ribs. This localized adaptation resolves the contradiction by optimizing margin regions where beneficial while preventing ink adhesion to ribs where harmful.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by performing a determination step before the actual borderless recording. The controller first calculates the separation distance between the sheet edge and the rib, then decides whether to enable borderless recording or adjust the discharge amount accordingly. This preliminary assessment prevents the harmful effect of ink adhesion to ribs before it occurs, while still allowing margin region minimization when conditions permit.
2Ease of operation
If the printer uses a platen with ribs to support the sheet, then the sheet is properly supported during recording, but the ribs may contact and stain subsequent sheets when borderless printing is performed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the colorant discharge amount based on the separation distance parameter. When the separation distance between sheet edge and rib is small, the controller reduces or eliminates colorant discharge in the region that would contact the rib. This parameter-based control maintains the sheet support function of the ribs while preventing the harmful staining effect on subsequent sheets.
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
Minimizes ink adhesion to platen ribs and reduces edge staining across varying sheet sizes, ensuring clean recording surfaces and simplified image data generation.
Implementation Method 1
The recorder is configured to record an image on the recording medium by causing a colorant to adhere to the recording medium supported by the platen
Data Source
AI summary
An image recording apparatus includes a platen, a recorder, and a controller. The platen includes ribs arranged at intervals in a first direction and protruding from a base. The platen supports a recording medium on at least a part of the ribs. The recorder is arranged to face the platen and records an image on the recording medium by causing a colorant to adhere to the recording medium. The controller controls the recorder to record a borderless image, in which no margin is reserved at least on a first end of the recording medium, by causing a portion of the colorant to adhere to the recording medium and another portion of the colorant to exceed in the first direction from the first end of the recording medium by a first length. The first length is a length corresponding to a size of the recording medium in the first direction.