Inkjet Printer Gap Measurement for Wave-Shaped Sheets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet printers face challenges in maintaining accurate ink droplet placement on wave-shaped recording sheets due to varying gaps between the ink discharging surface and the recording sheet, leading to potential positional deviations and low-quality prints, especially in undesirable deformation scenarios like high-humidity environments or folded/curled sheets.
Innovation Solution
An inkjet printer system that includes a control device capable of acquiring gap information between the ink discharging surface and the recording sheet's mountain and valley portions, determining abnormal gap information by comparing deviations from reference values, and adjusting ink discharging timing to correct positional deviations, ensuring accurate ink placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the recording sheet is deformed in a wave shape to improve printing adaptability, then the inkjet printer can handle various sheet conditions, but the gap between the ink discharging surface and recording sheet varies causing positional deviation
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary measurement of gap information at multiple positions on the recording sheet before actual printing. This advance measurement allows the control device to calculate appropriate ink discharging timing for each position, compensating for the wave shape effects before printing begins.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the ink discharging timing parameter based on the measured gap information at different positions. By adjusting the discharge timing according to the local gap size, the system compensates for the varying distances caused by wave-shaped deformation, maintaining precise ink placement.
2Manufacturing precision
If ink discharging timing is adjusted for each position on wave-shaped recording sheet to improve print quality, then positional accuracy improves, but measurement and control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the recording sheet into multiple measurement positions and measures gap information separately at each position. This segmentation allows the complex problem of wave-shaped compensation to be broken down into manageable discrete measurements and calculations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the recording sheet itself as the measurement target by measuring the gap between the ink discharging surface and the sheet at multiple positions. This self-service approach eliminates the need for separate measurement devices or complex external measurement systems.
3Manufacturing precision
If gap information is acquired at multiple positions to determine abnormal values, then ink placement precision improves, but time required for measurement and processing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system measures gap information at multiple positions (excessive action) to ensure adequate data for detecting abnormal values and calculating appropriate ink discharging timing. This over-measurement approach ensures sufficient information is available for accurate compensation while managing the trade-off with measurement time.
Data Source
AI summary
A method is provided that is implemented on a control device connected with an inkjet printer, which includes an inkjet head having an ink discharging surface, a head scanning unit reciprocating the inkjet head relative to a recording sheet along a scanning direction parallel to the ink discharging surface, and a wave shape generating mechanism deforming the recording sheet in a predetermined wave shape that has tops of portions protruding in a first direction toward the ink discharging surface and bottoms of portions recessed in a second direction opposite to the first direction alternately arranged along the scanning direction, the method including acquiring gap information related to a gap between the ink discharging surface and each individual one of the tops and the bottoms on the recording sheet, and determining whether the gap information acquired for each individual one of the tops and the bottoms is abnormal.