Dynamic Suction Control for Printer Medium Position Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
In printers, lowering the suction power of the platen during printing to facilitate medium transport leads to medium shifting in the drying section, causing image quality deterioration due to tension imbalance.
Innovation Solution
An image recording apparatus with a control section that dynamically adjusts suction power and motor torque to maintain medium position stability by switching between high-suction and low-suction modes during printing and transport operations, ensuring the suction power is lower during recording and higher during transport, and adjusting torque accordingly to prevent medium shifting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the suction power of the platen is lowered during printing to facilitate medium transport, then the overall operational time is shortened, but the medium position shifts during printing causing image quality deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The suction power of the platen is dynamically adjusted based on the operational phase. During printing operations, the suction power is lowered to facilitate medium transport and reduce operational time. During transport operations, the suction power is raised to maintain medium position stability. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by optimizing suction power for each specific operational context rather than maintaining a fixed level.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the suction power parameter according to the operational mode. By switching between high suction power during transport and low suction power during printing, the system achieves both fast operational time and stable medium position. This parameter change strategy allows the system to optimize for different objectives at different times, resolving the contradiction between productivity and precision.
2Speed
If tension is imparted to the medium from the downstream side during printing, then the medium can be transported efficiently, but the medium contracts in the drying section causing position shift
Solution Approach 1:
The tension applied to the medium is dynamically controlled based on the operational phase. During printing, the tension is reduced to prevent medium contraction and position shift in the drying section. During transport, the tension is increased to enable efficient medium movement. This dynamic control of tension resolves the contradiction between transport speed and position stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The tension application is periodic, alternating between high tension during transport operations and low tension during printing operations. This periodic action allows the system to achieve efficient transport when needed while maintaining position stability during printing, resolving the contradiction through time-separated optimization.
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 solution effectively prevents medium position shifting during printing, thereby maintaining image quality while allowing for efficient transport and reducing operational time.
Implementation Method 1
a suction section which suctions the medium supported on the medium support section through the suction hole
Implementation Method 2
a heating section which fixes the image recorded on the medium and is located further on the downstream side of the transport pathway than the image recording area
Data Source
AI summary
An image recording apparatus includes: a heating section which is located further on the downstream side of a transport pathway than an image recording area, but further on the upstream side of the transport pathway than a transport roller which is rotated by a motor; and a control section which lowers the suction power of a suction section to a medium from a first suction power to a second suction power lower than the first suction power during a recording operation and makes a first torque which is generated at the motor in a period which is during the recording operation and in which the suction power of the suction section is a suction power lower than the first suction power, be lower than a second torque which is generated at the motor during a transport operation.