Ink-jet Apparatus Driven Roller Platen Gap Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink-jet recording apparatuses face challenges in maintaining a consistent gap between the recording medium and the recording portion, which degrades image quality due to varying thicknesses of recording media.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus employs a driven roller and a platen that move in tandem with a cooperative portion to adjust the gap based on the thickness of the recording medium, ensuring an invariant gap between the recording portion and the medium, regardless of its thickness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a fixed platen position is used, then the device structure is simple, but the gap between the recording section and recording medium varies with medium thickness, degrading image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The platen is made movable rather than fixed, allowing it to adjust its position dynamically based on the thickness of the recording medium. The platen can move in the thickness direction to maintain a constant gap between the recording section and the recording medium surface, resolving the contradiction between maintaining precision and avoiding complex adjustment mechanisms.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the platen is adjusted for thick media, then thick media can be recorded properly, but thin media cannot be recorded due to excessive gap
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a thickness detection mechanism that measures the thickness of the inserted recording medium and provides feedback to the control unit. Based on this feedback, the control unit automatically adjusts the platen position to maintain the optimal gap for recording, enabling the system to adapt to various media thicknesses while maintaining precise gap control.
3Manufacturing precision
If manual platen adjustment is used, then the structure is simple, but the gap adjustment precision is insufficient for varying media thicknesses
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automatic thickness detection and platen adjustment without requiring manual intervention. The thickness detection mechanism automatically measures the medium thickness, and the control unit automatically positions the platen at the appropriate height, eliminating the need for manual adjustment while achieving high precision gap control.
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 solution maintains image quality by maintaining a consistent gap, preventing deformation and jamming of the recording paper, and improving transport precision, even with varying media thicknesses.
Implementation Method 1
a first biasing member biasing the driven roller to the transporting roller
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided an ink-jet recording apparatus including: a transporting roller; a driven roller provided opposite the transporting roller to sandwich the recording medium between the driven roller and the transporting roller, while moving in an approaching-departing direction based on a thickness of the recording medium; a first biasing member biasing the driven roller to the transporting roller; a platen; a recording portion configured to jet ink droplets from nozzles; and a cooperative portion moving along with the movement of the driven roller in the approaching-departing direction to move the platen.