Dynamic Suction Control for Variable Width Work Adherence
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ink jet printers face challenges in securely adhering works of varying widths to the platen, leading to potential conveyance failures and image quality issues due to inconsistent suction force distribution across the suction holes.
Innovation Solution
An image forming device with a conveyance guide member having suction holes over its entire width and a suction unit that adjusts suction force based on the work's width, using movable boards and cursors to define adjustable suction spaces, ensuring consistent contact and preventing excessive suction force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed suction force is applied to the platen, then wide works can be securely adhered, but narrow works experience excessive suction force causing conveyance failures
Solution Approach 1:
The suction force is made dynamically adjustable based on the detected work width. The suction control unit changes the suction force in accordance with the work width, transitioning from a fixed suction force system to a dynamic one that adapts to different work sizes, thereby preventing both insufficient and excessive suction.
Solution Approach 2:
The suction force parameter is changed according to the work width parameter. By detecting the work width and adjusting the suction force accordingly, the system optimizes the adherence characteristics for each work size, resolving the contradiction between securing wide works and preventing damage to narrow works.
2Reliability
If suction holes are distributed over the entire platen width, then narrow works can be adequately suctioned, but wide works have insufficient suction coverage
Solution Approach 1:
The suction holes are distributed over the entire platen width to provide uniform local suction capability across all positions. This ensures that regardless of where a narrow work is placed, adequate suction is available locally, while the overall system adjusts the total suction force to match the work width.
3Force
If high suction force is used to secure wide works, then adherence is improved, but narrow works suffer from excessive suction causing conveyance failures
Solution Approach 1:
The suction control unit receives feedback about the work width (detected by the detection unit) and adjusts the suction force accordingly. This closed-loop control ensures that the suction force is optimized for each work size, preventing conveyance failures while maintaining secure adherence.
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 solution ensures consistent adherence of the work to the platen regardless of width, preventing conveyance failures and maintaining image quality by dynamically adjusting the suction force according to the work's dimensions.
Implementation Method 1
a suction device which is arranged below the conveyance guide member and generates suction air by sucking air in a space on an upper side of the conveyance guide member via the plurality of suction holes, the suction unit closely adhering the work to the conveyance guide member by the suction air
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming device includes an image forming unit to form an image on a work, a conveyance unit to convey the work in a predetermined conveyance direction, a conveyance guide member, a suction unit, and a suction control unit. The conveyance guide member is a plate-shaped member which has a plurality of suction holes and guides conveyance of the work by the conveyance unit from below. The suction unit includes a suction device which generates suction air by sucking air in a space on an upper side of the conveyance guide member via the plurality of suction holes, and closely contacts the work to the conveyance guide member by the suction air. The suction control unit changes a sucking force of the suction device according to a length in the work width direction of the work guided by the conveyance guide member.