Conveyor Suction Chamber Partitioning for Inkjet Dust Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet printers face contamination issues due to paper dust, which can clog nozzles and affect print quality, as paper fibers and filler materials are dislodged and carried by conveyor rollers and air currents, leading to dust accumulation under the recording head.
Innovation Solution
A conveyor device with a suction section and air flow chamber is designed, featuring a partition wall that divides the chamber into areas with different pressure levels, restricting air flow and dust movement under the recording head, thereby preventing dust from attaching to the nozzles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If suction holes are used to hold paper onto the conveyor belt, then paper conveyance is achieved, but air flow is generated that stirs up paper dust and expands contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The air flow chamber is divided into multiple spaces by partition walls, with different suction holes in each space having different negative pressure levels. This segmentation allows independent control of air flow in different regions, preventing excessive air flow that would stir up paper dust while maintaining sufficient suction for paper conveyance.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the air flow chamber are given different negative pressure characteristics. The first space has a first negative pressure level while the second space has a second negative pressure level, allowing localized optimization of air flow control to prevent paper dust contamination in specific areas.
2Speed
If strong air flow is used to convey paper, then conveyance speed is improved, but paper dust is stirred up and blown off from paper
Solution Approach 1:
The air flow chamber is segmented into multiple spaces with different negative pressure levels, allowing the system to maintain sufficient air flow for paper conveyance while preventing excessive air flow that would stir up and blow off paper dust.
3Productivity
If paper is conveyed close to the recording head, then printing efficiency is improved, but paper dust attaches to the nozzle and causes clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The air flow chamber is divided into multiple spaces by partition walls, with the third space specifically positioned to overlap with the recording head. This segmentation allows the system to maintain close proximity between paper and recording head for high printing efficiency while using different negative pressure levels to prevent paper dust from reaching and clogging the nozzle.
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 effectively reduces dust accumulation and air flow under the recording head, minimizing nozzle clogging and improving print quality by maintaining a cleaner environment for inkjet heads.
Implementation Method 1
negative pressure for sucking the recording medium onto another surface of the conveyor belt is created in the air flow chamber
Implementation Method 2
Pressure in the first space is less negative than pressure in the second space
Data Source
AI summary
A conveyor device is disposed opposite to a recording head. The conveyor device includes a conveyor belt and a suction section. The suction section sucks on a recording medium through the conveyor belt. The suction section includes an air flow chamber and a guide member. The air flow chamber is disposed opposite to one surface of the conveyor belt, and negative pressure for sucking the recording medium onto another surface of the conveyor belt is created in the air flow chamber. The guide member covers the air flow chamber and supports the conveyor belt. The air flow chamber includes a partition wall dividing the air flow chamber into first and second spaces. The first space includes a third space overlapping with the recording head with the conveyor belt and the guide member therebetween. Pressure in the first space is less negative than pressure in the second space.