Conveyor Guide Member Hole Segmentation for Inkjet Nozzle Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet recording devices face challenges with air flow and paper dust issues due to suction drafts, leading to nozzle clogging and paper jam problems, particularly in regions where the guide member overlaps with the inkjet head.
Innovation Solution
The conveyor device design includes a guide member with no through holes in specific regions to reduce suction drafts, and strategically places holes to manage paper dust, ensuring effective attachment and conveyance of paper while minimizing dust adhesion to nozzles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If suction holes are formed in the guide member to attach paper to the conveyance belt, then paper conveyance reliability is improved, but suction drafts cause paper dust to adhere to nozzles and lead to clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member is divided into multiple regions with different hole configurations: a first region with no holes to prevent dust generation near nozzles, and a second region with holes to ensure paper attachment. This segmentation allows the system to simultaneously achieve reliable paper conveyance and prevent nozzle clogging by spatially separating the functions.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the guide member are given different local qualities regarding hole formation. The first region (near the nozzle) has no holes to minimize dust adhesion, while the second region (away from the nozzle) has holes for effective paper suction. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by optimizing each region for its specific function.
2Reliability
If through holes are formed in the guide member for suction, then paper attachment to conveyance belt is improved, but suction drafts generate air flow that causes paper jams
Solution Approach 1:
The suction function is segmented between the guide member and conveyance belt. The guide member's first region has no holes to minimize suction drafts, while the conveyance belt provides suction holes for paper attachment. This segmentation reduces harmful air flows while maintaining attachment reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The conveyance belt acts as an intermediary that provides the necessary suction holes without requiring them in the guide member's first region. This intermediary structure allows paper attachment while reducing suction drafts that cause paper jams, as the belt's holes are positioned to minimize disruptive air flows.
3Ease of operation
If holes are placed in the guide member to support paper conveyance, then paper handling is improved, but dust generated in overlapping regions adheres to nozzles
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member is segmented into a first region without holes (to prevent dust generation near nozzles) and a second region with holes (for paper handling). This segmentation maintains paper handling efficiency in the second region while eliminating dust adhesion problems in the first region where the guide member overlaps with the nozzle area.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide member exhibits different local qualities: the first region has no holes to prevent dust generation and adhesion to nozzles, while the second region has holes for effective paper handling. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction by optimizing paper handling where needed while preventing dust issues in critical areas.
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
This configuration reduces nozzle clogging and paper jam occurrences by controlling suction drafts and paper dust distribution, maintaining stable inkjet recording performance.
Implementation Method 1
The suction section sucks the recording medium through a plurality of first holes passing through the guide member and a plurality of second holes passing through the conveyance belt to attach the recording medium to the conveyance belt
Data Source
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AI summary
A conveyor device (310) is arranged to face a recording head (340). The conveyor device (310) includes a conveyance belt (320) and a suction section (330). The conveyance belt (320) conveys a recording medium (P). The suction section (330) includes a guide member (332) that supports the recording medium (P) through the conveyance belt (320). The suction section (330) sucks the recording medium (P) through a plurality of first holes (335) passing through the guide member (332) and a plurality of second holes (321) passing through the conveyance belt (320) to attach the recording medium (P) to the conveyance belt (320). None of the first holes (335) are formed in a first region (339a) of the guide member (332). The first region (339a) is a region where a partial region (337) pertaining to a feeding member (202, 402, 403) overlaps with a head facing region (338) facing the recording head (340).