Ink-jet Guide Mechanism for Curling Medium Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink-jet recording apparatuses face issues with image accuracy due to curling of the recording medium, which can cause it to contact the recording head or change distance, leading to degradation in image quality.
Innovation Solution
An ink-jet recording apparatus with a guide mechanism featuring a movable guide member that adjusts its attitude to prevent the curled recording medium from floating and maintain a consistent distance with the recording head, including a pair of first and second rollers and a recording head positioned above a platen, with the guide member guiding the medium to a lower position than the rollers to prevent contact and maintain image accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the recording medium is jetted with ink, then the image recording function is achieved, but the recording medium curls and expands upwardly causing contact with the recording head and degradation of image recording accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
A guide member is introduced as an intermediary component between the platen and the recording medium. This guide member has a guide surface that supports the recording medium from below and can change its attitude to guide the front end of the recording medium to appropriate positions, preventing upward curling and contact with the recording head while maintaining image recording accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The guide member is designed with dynamic capability to change its attitude based on the position of the recording medium in the transporting direction. By dynamically adjusting the guide member's attitude between a first attitude (guiding to nipping position) and a second attitude (guiding to lower position), the system adapts to prevent recording medium curling and maintain consistent distance from the recording head
2Speed
If the recording medium is transported by rollers, then the transporting function is achieved, but the recording medium may float from the platen and contact the recording head due to ink jetting
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member acts as a mediator between the transporting rollers and the recording medium. It provides additional support from below through its guide surface, preventing the recording medium from floating upward due to ink jetting while allowing continuous transporting operation, thus maintaining both transporting speed and image recording reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The guide member provides preliminary support to the recording medium before it can float upward and contact the recording head. By positioning the guide member between the platen and recording medium, and adjusting its attitude based on recording medium position, it preemptively prevents the harmful floating and contact
Data Source
AI summary
An ink-jet recording apparatus includes a pair of first rollers which transports a recording medium in a transporting direction, a platen arranged at a downstream side of the transporting direction with respect to the first rollers, and which supports the recording medium, a pair of second rollers arranged at the downstream side of the transporting direction with respect to the platen, and which transports the recording medium in the transporting direction, a recording head arranged to face the platen and which jets ink droplets onto the recording medium supported by the platen, and a guide mechanism which changes an attitude of the guide member between a first attitude in which a front end of the recording medium is guided to a nipping position of the second rollers, and a second attitude in which the front end of the recording medium is guided to a lower position than the nipping position.