Dynamic Curl Correction for Inkjet Stacking Thickness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink jet recording apparatuses face issues with curl correction in recording media, leading to collisions and defects when stacked, as existing methods rely on waiting times based on curl amount without considering stacking thickness, resulting in reduced throughput and potential collisions between discharged and stacked media.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejecting apparatus with a curl correcting device, detecting device, and controller that adjusts curl correction processing levels based on stacking thickness, performing more extensive correction when the thickness exceeds a threshold to prevent collisions and ensure neat stacking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a waiting time is set based on curl amount to correct curl, then curl correction is achieved, but throughput is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of waiting time from a fixed value to a variable value that depends on stacking thickness. When stacking thickness is large, a longer waiting time is applied for better curl correction. When stacking thickness is small, a shorter waiting time is used to maintain throughput. This dynamic parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction between curl correction quality and production efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the waiting time based on real-time detection of stacking thickness. The controller modifies the curl correction process parameters according to the actual stacking conditions, making the system adaptive rather than static. This dynamic approach allows optimal balance between curl correction and throughput under different operating conditions.
2Reliability
If waiting time is extended for curl correction, then collision between discharged and stacked media is reduced, but throughput decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The waiting time parameter is changed from a constant value to a variable that responds to stacking thickness conditions. When the output tray is nearly full (large stacking thickness), the waiting time is extended to prevent collisions. When the tray has space (small stacking thickness), the waiting time is reduced to maintain high throughput. This conditional parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction between reliability and productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback control by detecting stacking thickness and using this information to adjust the waiting time for curl correction. The detection device provides real-time information about the stacking state, and the controller uses this feedback to optimize the waiting time parameter, ensuring collision prevention only when necessary while maintaining high throughput otherwise.
3Manufacturing precision
If uniform curl correction is applied to all recording media, then consistent quality is achieved, but throughput is reduced due to extended waiting time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different curl correction levels to different recording media based on their position in the stack. Media discharged when the tray is nearly full receive extended waiting time for thorough curl correction. Media discharged when the tray has space receive shorter waiting time. This localized quality approach ensures high correction quality only where necessary, maintaining overall consistency while preserving throughput.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies partial curl correction (shorter waiting time) to media discharged under low-risk conditions and excessive curl correction (longer waiting time) to media discharged under high-risk conditions. This differentiated approach ensures adequate correction quality varies by situation rather than applying uniform excessive correction to all media, thus maintaining throughput while achieving sufficient quality consistency.
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejection head that ejects liquid on recording media, an output tray that supports the recording media stacked thereon, a curl-correcting device, a detecting device, and a controller. The curl-correcting device performs curl-correction processing on the recording media, which reduces an amount of curl of the recording media. The detecting device detects information related to a stacking thickness of the recording media. The controller sets the curl-correcting device to perform the curl-correction processing on the recording media at a first processing level when the stacking thickness is greater than or equal to the threshold stacking thickness. The controller sets the curl correcting device to perform the curl-correction processing on the recording media at a second processing level when the stacking thickness is less than the threshold stacking thickness. The first processing level includes more curl-correction processing than the second processing level.