Inkjet Recording Apparatus Conveyance Guide Sheet Floating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inkjet recording apparatuses face challenges in suppressing sheet floating from the conveyance belt at both end portions in the width direction, which can lead to sheet jamming, damage to the recording head, and disturbances in ink droplet trajectories.
Innovation Solution
An inkjet recording apparatus is designed with a conveyance guide that projects toward the conveyance belt more than the ejection port formed surface, effectively preventing sheet floating at both end portions in the width direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the suction force is increased to suppress sheet floating, then the sheet adhesion to conveyance belt is improved, but the ink droplet trajectory is disturbed by wind force
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyance belt is divided into multiple suction regions with independent suction force control. The suction force is segmented into stronger forces at end portions (to prevent floating) and weaker forces at central portions (to avoid disturbing ink droplets), resolving the contradiction between sheet adhesion and printing precision
Solution Approach 2:
Different suction forces are applied to different regions of the conveyance belt. The end portions have stronger suction to prevent floating, while the central region has weaker suction to avoid affecting ink droplet trajectories. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by making each region optimized for its specific function
2Reliability
If a spur is provided to suppress sheet floating, then the sheet positioning is improved, but the printed surface is disturbed by contact
Solution Approach 1:
A conveyance guide member is introduced as an intermediary between the sheet and the recording head. This guide member suppresses sheet floating and positioning issues without requiring direct contact between the spur and the printed surface, thus preventing image disturbance while maintaining positioning accuracy
3Productivity
If multiple head units are provided in the conveyance direction, then the printing productivity is improved, but the configuration is complicated by requiring a large number of rollers
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyance guide member serves multiple functions: it guides the sheet, suppresses floating, and works across multiple head units. This universal component reduces the need for separate rollers for each head unit, maintaining high productivity while simplifying the overall configuration
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 successfully suppresses sheet floating, preventing jamming and damage to the recording head, while maintaining accurate ink droplet trajectories and supporting high-speed continuous printing.
Implementation Method 1
The conveyance belt is formed with a number of through-holes through which air is sucked to attract the sheet to the conveyance belt
Data Source
AI summary
A printer (1) includes an endless conveyance belt (45) which attracts a sheet and conveys it in a predetermined conveyance direction; a recording head (30) provided with an ejection port formed surface (31) on which an ejection port for ejecting ink is formed, the ejection port formed surface (31) facing an outer circumferential surface of the conveyance belt (45) with a predetermined gap; and a conveyance guide (70) which faces the conveyance belt (45) on an upstream side of the ejection port formed surface (31) in the conveyance direction, is provided within a range containing both end portions of the conveyed sheet in a width direction intersecting the conveyance direction, and projects toward the conveyance belt (45) more than the ejection port formed surface (31).