Image Recording Device Reverse Conveyance Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional image recording devices experience a decrease in image quality due to unrecorded recording media being stopped for an extended period between the drive roller and the nip roller, leading to media degradation and poor recording results.

Innovation Solution

The image recording device includes a drive roller, a driven roller, and a control unit that conveys the recording medium in a reverse direction once the primary conveyance direction stops, ensuring the recorded image is positioned between the rollers, thereby minimizing the time the unrecorded media is stationary and reducing degradation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the recording medium is stopped between the drive roller and the nip roller for a long time, then the image recording can be completed, but the unrecorded recording media degenerates and image quality decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage qualityVSAvoidtime unrecorded media is stopped

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies reverse conveying to move the recording medium from the downstream side back toward the upstream side after the recording process. This inversion of the normal conveyance direction allows the recorded image to be positioned between the rollers while minimizing the time unrecorded media remains stationary, thereby preventing degradation and maintaining image quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit performs preliminary actions by initiating reverse conveying immediately after the recording process completes. This preliminary reverse movement ensures that the recording medium is continuously moved rather than remaining stationary, preventing media degradation before quality issues can occur.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Device complexity

If the recording medium is continuously conveyed in the first direction, then the recording process is simple, but the unrecorded media stops for a long time causing degradation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconveyance control complexityVSAvoidimage quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamic conveyance control that allows the system to switch between forward and reverse directions based on the recording process requirements. The control unit dynamically adjusts the conveyance direction and timing to ensure the recorded image is positioned between the rollers, adding complexity to the control system but maintaining image quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Manufacturing precision

If the recording medium is stopped for image recording, then the image can be recorded accurately, but the unrecorded media between the rollers degrades

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage recording accuracyVSAvoidmedia degradation

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

By implementing reverse conveying, the patent inverts the normal forward conveyance direction after recording. This allows the recording medium to be moved back so that the recorded image ends up between the rollers, while unrecorded media is continuously moved in the reverse direction, preventing the harmful effect of media degradation during the stopped period.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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 approach effectively inhibits the decrease in image quality by limiting the time the unrecorded media is stopped between the rollers to within 2.5 seconds, preventing media degradation and maintaining image quality.

Implementation Method 1

conveying the sheet in the conveyance direction by rotating a drive roller... ensuring friction force between the drive roller and the sheet

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

The recording unit is configured and arranged to record an image on the recording medium arranged further to a downstream side than the drive roller

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMaterial discharge/deposition: Deposition (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS9375957B2Image recording device and image recording method

Publication Date: 2016.06.28 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

An image recording device includes a drive roller that conveys a recording medium by rotating, a driven roller that grasps the recording medium between it and the drive roller, a recording unit capable of recording an image on the recording medium arranged further to the downstream side than the drive roller in a first direction which is the recording media conveyance direction, and a control unit that records an image on the recording media while conveying the recording media in the first direction. The control unit, when the conveying of the recording media in the first direction stops, starts conveying the recording media in a second direction which is the reverse direction of the first direction, and stops conveying of the recording media in the second direction in a state with the image recorded on the recording media positioned between the drive roller and the driven roller.