Electrode Plate Bending for Stable Attractive Force
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink-jet printers face issues with unstable attractive forces and electric field directions near connecting portions of electrodes, leading to deviations in ink placement and potential peeling of protective films due to contact with the conveyor belt.
Innovation Solution
The electrodes and protective film are bent to position connecting portions away from the recording head, with the electrodes disposed on inclined surfaces to reduce stress and the protective film rounded at bent portions to prevent peeling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the connecting portion of the electrode plate is located at a position opposed to the recording head, then the electrode structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the attractive force becomes unstable and the electric field direction becomes inconsistent in specific areas
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting portion of the electrode plate is extracted from the region opposed to the recording head and relocated to a position not opposed to the recording head. This removes the source of instability (the connecting portion with large electrode spacing) from the critical recording region, eliminating the harmful variations in attractive force and electric field direction while preserving the overall electrode structure's simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode plate is designed with a comb-like structure featuring multiple protruding portions and recessed portions, creating a three-dimensional electrode configuration. This dimensional complexity allows the connecting portion to be positioned in a non-opposed location while maintaining effective electrode coverage over the recording head region, resolving the conflict between structural simplicity and field stability
2Ease of manufacture
If the electrode protection film is bonded horizontally to the electrode support base, then the bonding process is simple, but the protective film peels off due to rubbing against the moving conveyor belt
Solution Approach 1:
The upstream end of the electrode protection film is formed with a rounded shape instead of a straight edge. This curvature allows the film to flex and conform to the movement of the conveyor belt, reducing stress concentration and preventing the film from peeling off during operation while maintaining simple bonding procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The protective film is pre-formed with a rounded upstream end before bonding to the electrode support base. This preliminary shaping creates a stress-distributing geometry that preemptively counteracts the peeling forces generated by conveyor belt movement, preventing the harmful effect before it occurs during operation
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 stabilizes the attractive force and electric field direction, improving image quality and preventing protective film peeling, while reducing the size of the base and maintaining tension in the conveyor belt.
Implementation Method 1
an electrostatic-attractive-force generating means configured to permit the conveyor belt to generate an electrostatic attractive force
Implementation Method 2
A Johnsen-Rahbeck force, i.e., an attractive force, to be applied between the conveyor belt and the sheet increases with an increase in the current that flows between the conveyor belt and the sheet
Data Source
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AI summary
A recording apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium, including: a recording head (2); a conveyor belt (53) for conveying the medium in a conveyance direction; an attraction device (60) including: a base (61; 261); a first electrode (52; 262) having first extending portions (62a; 262a) and a first connecting portion (62b; 262b); a second electrode (63; 263) having second extending portions (63a; 263a) and a second connecting portion (63b; 263b); and a protective film (64; 264) provided on the base to cover the electrodes, the attraction device being configured to permit the belt to generate an attractive force to attract the medium to the belt. The first connecting portion and the second connecting portion are located respectively on an upstream side and on a downstream side, of the head, in the conveyance direction. The first electrode and the protective film are bent such that the first connecting portion is located distant from the head by a distance larger than a distance by which the first extending portions are distant from the head.