Ink-jet Carriage Segmentation for Paper Floating Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink-jet recording apparatuses face issues with paper floating up due to ink swelling, leading to potential contact with the jetting surface, which can damage the nozzles and affect printing quality by altering the distance between the paper and the jetting surface, causing movement fluctuations and increased friction.
Innovation Solution
An ink-jet recording apparatus with a protective member and a regulating mechanism that keeps the protective member closer to the transport surface than the jetting surface, preventing paper contact with the nozzles and stabilizing the carriage movement to maintain consistent printing quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If rollers are provided on the carriage to press down the recording paper and prevent floating-up, then the recording paper is prevented from contacting the jetting surface, but the carriage may be moved in the separating direction due to the force acting on the rollers when the paper floats up
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into two independent carriages: a first carriage that moves reciprocally for printing, and a second carriage that moves only in the separating direction to press down the paper. This segmentation allows each carriage to perform its specific function without interfering with the other's movement stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The second carriage acts as an intermediary between the paper and the first carriage. It absorbs the force from the floating paper through its dedicated pressing mechanism, preventing this force from being transmitted to the first carriage and causing unwanted movement.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the carriage is moved in the separating direction to make separation from the transport surface, then the paper floating-up is prevented, but the meniscus of the nozzle may be destroyed by the acceleration and the distance between the jetting surface and the recording paper may be varied
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the pressing function into a dedicated second carriage, the first carriage's reciprocating motion remains undisturbed. The second carriage handles all pressing actions independently, ensuring the first carriage maintains its precise position and velocity for high-quality printing.
Solution Approach 2:
The second carriage is equipped with its own driving mechanism that allows it to move independently in the separating direction. This self-service capability enables the second carriage to perform its pressing function without requiring movement of the first carriage, thus preserving printing precision.
3Ease of operation
If the carriage is moved by a belt attached to the carriage, then the carriage can be driven reciprocally, but the tension angle of the belt may be varied and the velocity of movement of the carriage may be varied or fluctuated
Solution Approach 1:
The driving systems are segmented and assigned to different carriages: the belt mechanism drives only the first carriage for reciprocating motion, while the second carriage has its own driving mechanism for pressing. This separation ensures that belt tension variations do not affect the pressing function, and the first carriage's velocity can be controlled independently for consistent printing.
Data Source
AI summary
An ink-jet recording apparatus is provided, the ink-jet recording apparatus including an ink-jet head, a first carriage on which the ink-jet head is carried, a guide member, a moving mechanism which moves the first carriage along the guide member, a transport mechanism which transports a medium along a transport surface, and a second carriage which is reciprocatively movable while following movement of the first carriage and which is constructed relatively movably in a direction perpendicular to the transport surface with respect to the first carriage. The second carriage has a protective member which protects a jetting surface from the medium and a regulating member which regulates movement of the second carriage in relation to a third direction.