Elastic Medium Conveyance for Textile Printing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing textile printing apparatuses face challenges in stably conveying elastic recording sheets like fabric, leading to unstable image formation and suboptimal drawing performance.

Innovation Solution

The recording apparatus incorporates a first conveying portion that stretches the medium in both the conveying direction and width direction using inclined rollers, and a second conveying portion that maintains the medium facing the printing portion, ensuring stable conveyance and printing of elastic media.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If elastic medium is conveyed without stretching, then the medium maintains its natural state, but the medium cannot be properly aligned and tensioned for stable printing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemedium alignment stabilityVSAvoidconveying mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The conveying mechanism is divided into multiple independent rollers (first conveying roller and second conveying roller) that can be independently controlled. The first conveying roller stretches the medium in the conveying direction while the second conveying roller maintains alignment in the width direction, allowing stable printing of elastic fabrics without excessive complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the stretching and alignment of the elastic medium by controlling the rotation speeds and positions of the conveying rollers. This dynamic control allows the medium to be properly tensioned and aligned during the printing process, resolving the contradiction between maintaining natural state and achieving stable alignment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Strength

If elastic medium is stretched only in conveying direction, then the medium is tensioned for printing, but wrinkles form in the width direction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemedium tensionVSAvoidmedium flatness

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

Different parts of the conveying system apply different functions: the first conveying roller applies tension in the conveying direction while the second conveying roller specifically addresses width-direction alignment. This localized functional differentiation prevents wrinkles in the width direction while maintaining necessary tension for printing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from one-dimensional stretching (conveying direction only) to two-dimensional control by introducing width-direction alignment through the second conveying roller. This dimensional expansion prevents wrinkle formation while maintaining the necessary tension for stable printing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Reliability

If conventional conveying is used for elastic fabric, then the apparatus structure is simple, but image formation becomes unstable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage formation stabilityVSAvoidconveying portion structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The conveying portion is segmented into functionally distinct rollers that independently handle different aspects of medium control. This segmentation enables stable image formation through specialized functions while keeping the overall structure relatively simple and manageable

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The conveying rollers act as intermediaries between the elastic fabric and the printing system, providing the necessary tension and alignment stabilization. This intermediary function enables stable image formation without requiring complex integration of all functions into a single mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 allows for stable and efficient textile printing of elastic fabrics by maintaining the medium's alignment and tension, enhancing printing performance and preventing wrinkles.

Implementation Method 1

a first conveying portion 11 that conveys the medium while stretching the medium in the conveying direction and in a width direction orthogonal to the conveying direction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS11820127B2Recording apparatus capable of printing elastic medium

Publication Date: 2023.11.21 KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC

AI summary

A recording apparatus includes a printing portion, a first conveying portion, and a second conveying portion. The printing portion ejects liquid to print a medium having elasticity. The first conveying portion is disposed upstream of the printing portion in a conveying direction along which the medium is conveyed to the printing portion, and conveys the medium while stretching the medium in the conveying direction and in a width direction orthogonal to the conveying direction. The second conveying portion conveys the medium conveyed by the first conveying portion while keeping the medium facing the printing portion.