Carriage Wobbling Suppression via Dynamic Biasing in Inkjet Printers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing recording apparatuses fail to effectively suppress carriage wobbling across varying paper gaps (PG), as adjustments in PG alter the carriage's gravity center position and pulling position, leading to inconsistent wobbling prevention.
Innovation Solution
A recording apparatus with a carriage that includes a first sliding portion for adjusting the gap between the recording head and medium, a guide member for receiving the carriage's weight, and a second sliding portion biased by a biasing member, which adjusts the biasing force based on PG changes to maintain wobbling suppression across varying PG settings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the gap between recording head and paper is adjusted by changing the height position of the guide member, then the gap can be adjusted for different paper thicknesses, but the carriage wobbling prevention becomes inconsistent across different gap settings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the guide member movable in the vertical direction to adjust the gap between recording head and paper. The guide member can be positioned at different heights to accommodate various paper thicknesses, enabling dynamic adaptation while maintaining stable carriage guidance and wobbling prevention across different gap settings.
2Ease of manufacture
If the relative position between sliding member and carriage main body is changed to adjust gap, then gap adjustment is achieved without moving guide member, but the gravity center position and pulling position change causing inconsistent wobbling suppression
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by adjusting the relative position between the sliding member and carriage main body to change the gap without moving the guide member. This allows gap adjustment while keeping the guide member's position and the carriage's gravity center and pulling position unchanged, thereby maintaining consistent wobbling suppression across different gap settings.
3Reliability
If biasing force is increased to suppress carriage wobbling, then wobbling prevention improves, but the complexity of the biasing mechanism increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the anti-weight principle by introducing a biasing member that exerts a biasing force on the sliding member to counteract the carriage's weight and prevent wobbling. The biasing force is applied through a simple mechanical linkage that balances the carriage's gravitational force, effectively suppressing wobbling without requiring complex active control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies self-service by designing the biasing mechanism to automatically adjust and maintain the carriage's position without external control. The biasing member self-regulates the carriage's vertical position and wobbling through its elastic properties, eliminating the need for additional sensors or actuators to monitor and correct carriage position.
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 apparatus effectively suppresses carriage wobbling regardless of PG changes by dynamically adjusting the biasing force, ensuring consistent ink landing accuracy and reducing the need for additional grounding units, thereby reducing costs and space.
Implementation Method 1
a second sliding portion that is biased toward the guide member by a biasing member provided at a side of the main body of the carriage
Implementation Method 2
a guide member with which the first sliding portion makes contact and that receives a weight of the carriage through the first sliding portion
Implementation Method 3
a first sliding portion that is provided so as to be able to displace a relative position to a main body of the carriage constituting the carriage in a direction in which a gap between the recording head and the medium changes and moves in the scanning direction together with the carriage
Data Source
AI summary
An ink jet printer includes a carriage that includes a recording head which performs recording on a medium and is movable in a scanning direction of the recording head, a first sliding portion that is provided so as to be able to displace a relative position to a carriage main body in a direction in which a gap between the recording head and the medium changes and moves in the scanning direction together with the carriage, a guide member with which the first sliding portion makes contact and that is provided so as to extend in the scanning direction, and a gap adjusting unit that adjusts the gap by adjusting a position of the carriage main body relative to the first sliding portion.