Inkjet Recording Apparatus Edge Detection and Preliminary Discharge Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet recording apparatuses face issues with preliminary discharge operations, where false detection of the recording medium's edge position can cause the carriage to interfere with the medium, leading to ink adhesion, reduced throughput, and potential damage to the recording head, especially when the medium is floating or misrecognized as larger than its actual width.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates a detection sensor system that determines the preliminary discharge position based on the width of the recording medium, using multiple confirmation positions to accurately identify the edge, preventing interference and ensuring proper ink discharge without moving the carriage beyond the medium's edge, thus maintaining optimal operation and preventing damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the preliminary discharge operation is performed at a position close to the edge of the recording medium, then throughput is improved, but the ink may adhere to and stain the recording medium
Solution Approach 1:
An absorbing member is introduced as an intermediary between the recording head and the recording medium. The preliminary discharged ink is directed onto the absorbing member instead of the recording medium, preventing ink adhesion and staining while maintaining the ability to perform preliminary discharge operations close to the medium edge for improved throughput
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the preliminary discharge operation is performed at a position far away from the recording medium, then ink staining is prevented, but the moving distance of the recording head becomes long, lowering throughput
Solution Approach 1:
The absorbing member serves as a mediator that allows the preliminary discharge position to be close to the recording medium edge without causing ink staining. This resolves the contradiction by enabling short recording head movement distances (improving throughput) while preventing harmful ink adhesion to the recording medium
3Reliability
If the optical sensor detects the recording medium on the absorbing member with ink residual substance, then false detection occurs and the width of the recording medium is misrecognized, but the detection mechanism cannot be changed
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary discharge operations that direct ink onto the absorbing member away from the recording medium edge. By controlling the discharge position and using the absorbing member to capture ink, the system prevents ink residual substances from interfering with subsequent optical detection, ensuring accurate width measurement
Solution Approach 2:
The absorbing member acts as an intermediary that separates the preliminary discharge function from the detection function. It captures ink residual substances that would otherwise interfere with optical sensor detection, allowing accurate detection of the recording medium width without false readings
4Reliability
If the carriage moves to the outer side of the recording medium when the medium is floating, then interference occurs and the recording medium may become rolled in or the discharge port surface may become damaged, but the movement control must be adjusted
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary discharge operations at controlled positions that prevent the recording medium from floating during carriage movement. By directing preliminary discharged ink to the absorbing member and controlling discharge timing, the system prevents medium floating before carriage reversal, eliminating the risk of interference, rolling, or damage
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary discharge operations before the carriage reversal movement. By controlling the discharge timing and position in advance, the system ensures the recording medium is properly positioned and supported, preventing floating during the subsequent carriage movement to the outer side
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 ensures accurate preliminary discharge operations without interfering with the recording medium's edges, maintaining throughput, and preventing damage to the recording head, even when false detections occur, by determining the appropriate preliminary discharge position based on the medium's width and detection sensor data.
Implementation Method 1
The optical sensor then detects the recording medium based on an amount of light reflected from the recording medium
Implementation Method 2
a recording head configured to discharge ink and perform recording on a recording medium
Data Source
AI summary
An inkjet recording apparatus that performs preliminary discharge operation without a carriage and a recording medium interfering with each other is provided. The inkjet recording apparatus performs, at a center region in a conveyance direction of a recording medium, the preliminary operation at a position according to an edge portion of the recording medium obtained by an optical sensor. Further, the inkjet recording apparatus performs, at a leading edge region and a trailing edge region of a recording medium, the preliminary operation at a position based on input data.