Ink Jet Head Vertical Adjustment for Print Medium Height
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink jet printing apparatuses face challenges in maintaining optimal distance from large, curved, or irregularly surfaced print media, leading to potential contact with the ink jet head, which can damage the ink repellent film and result in ink adherence and print quality deterioration.
Innovation Solution
An ink jet printing apparatus equipped with a height information detecting unit and a moving mechanism that adjusts the position of the ink jet head and print medium to maintain a predetermined distance, ensuring precise ink placement and avoiding contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the position of the ink jet head is fixed to avoid contact with the print medium, then contact damage is prevented, but landing precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the ink jet head position adjustable rather than fixed. The head position adjusting mechanism allows the ink jet head to be moved in the vertical direction according to the actual distance to the print medium surface, enabling adaptation to surface irregularities while maintaining optimal printing distance and precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback through a distance detecting unit that continuously measures the distance between the ink jet head and the print medium surface. This detected distance information is fed back to the control unit, which then adjusts the head position via the head position adjusting mechanism to maintain the optimal printing distance.
2Manufacturing precision
If the ink jet head position is adjusted to maintain optimal distance, then landing precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical positioning systems with a combination of distance detection and controlled adjustment. The head position adjusting mechanism, guided by distance detection feedback, provides a simpler and more adaptive solution compared to rigid mechanical positioning systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The head position adjusting mechanism serves multiple functions: it prevents contact with the print medium, maintains optimal printing distance, and compensates for surface irregularities. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate mechanisms for each purpose, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
3Device complexity
If a fixed head position is used, then device complexity is reduced, but print quality deteriorates due to contact damage
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-adjustment through the distance detecting unit and head position adjusting mechanism, which automatically adapt the ink jet head position to the print medium surface conditions. This self-service capability maintains print quality without requiring complex external control systems.
Data Source
AI summary
An ink jet printing apparatus includes: a conveying mechanism that moves at least one of a print medium and an ink jet head in a predetermined conveyance direction; a height information detecting unit that obtains information related to the height of the surface of the print medium; a moving mechanism that moves at least one of the ink jet head and the print medium upward and downward in the vertical direction; and a control unit that controls the ink jet head while sequentially controlling the moving mechanism accompanying conveyance by the conveying mechanism, based on the information related to the height which is detected by the height information detecting unit, thereby maintaining the distance between the print medium and the ink jet head to be within a range which is set in advance, to perform a printing process on the print medium.