Independent Reading Path for Ink Ejection Failure Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing recording apparatuses face issues with ink ejection failure detection, as image sensors in discharge paths get stained, leading to inaccurate checks and increased costs, weight, and size due to dedicated power sources.
Innovation Solution
The reading path is independent of the recording and discharge paths, allowing media with recorded images to pass through for ejection checks, reducing sensor staining and eliminating the need for a dedicated power source by using the driving roller's power for switching.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an image sensor is provided in a discharge path to check ink ejection failure, then the presence or absence of ink ejection failure can be checked, but the image sensor is likely to be stained with ink and the checking accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the medium transport system into separate paths: a discharge path for normal media and a reading path for check media. This segmentation allows the image sensor to read recorded images only from check media that has been specifically transported through the reading path, preventing ink-stained normal media from contacting the sensor and maintaining detection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a switching portion that acts as an intermediary to direct media flow. This switching mechanism routes check media (which contains recorded images for verification) through the reading path to the image sensor, while normal media is directed through the discharge path, thereby protecting the sensor from ink contamination.
2Ease of operation
If a dedicated power source is provided to drive the switching portion, then the switching between paths can be controlled, but the cost, apparatus weight, and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the switching portion multi-functional by enabling it to be driven by the existing transportation roller pair during normal operation. The switching mechanism utilizes the kinetic energy and motion of the transportation system itself to change paths, eliminating the need for a dedicated power source and reducing overall system weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The switching portion is designed to be self-driven by the transportation roller pair's motion. The system uses its own operational energy to control the path switching, rather than requiring external power, thereby reducing cost, weight, and complexity while maintaining operational control.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
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AI summary
A recording apparatus includes: a recording path (T2) passing a recorder (34) performing recording by ejecting liquid onto a medium; a feeding path (T1) through which the medium is fed to the recording path; a discharge path (T3) through which the medium after recording performed thereon by the recorder is discharged; a reading path (T5) that is a medium transportation path extending through a reader reading an image, that is a medium transportation path provided independently of the recording path, the feeding path, and the discharge path and to which the medium with a recorded image recorded thereon is fed, the recorded image being used to check a state of liquid ejection of the recorder; and a switching portion (42) switching between a first state in which a feeding direction of the medium after recording performed thereon by the recorder is set to a direction toward the reading path and a second state in which the feeding direction is set to a direction other than the direction toward the reading path.