Inkjet Head Potential Equalization to Stop Paper Powder
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink jet printers face issues with paper powder sticking to the recording head due to electric fields generated during high-speed sheet transportation, leading to reduced recording quality and increased maintenance challenges, as existing solutions either fail to prevent paper powder from flying off or require complex and costly structures.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejecting apparatus with a medium contact section and same potential setting unit ensures that the medium contact section and liquid ejecting unit have the same potential, eliminating the electric field and preventing paper powder from sticking, while a cover member with a sheet contact section covers the roller to prevent paper powder from flying off and sticking to the recording head.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high-speed sheet transportation is implemented to increase productivity, then recording throughput is improved, but paper powder flies off and sticks to the ink jet recording head due to generated electric fields
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies equipotentiality by setting the potential of the sheet transportation path (including transportation rollers and guides) to be substantially equal to the potential of the ink jet recording head. This eliminates potential differences that would otherwise generate electric fields causing paper powder to fly off and stick to the recording head, thus resolving the contradiction between high-speed transportation and preventing paper powder contamination.
2Ease of operation
If friction and sliding contact between recording sheets and constituent elements are increased during high-speed transportation, then sheet transportation control is improved, but frictional electrification and peeling electrification become more pronounced, strengthening the electric field and increasing paper powder sticking
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies equipotentiality by designing the sheet transportation path constituents (transportation rollers, guides, etc.) to have substantially the same potential as the ink jet recording head. This eliminates potential differences that would otherwise cause frictional and peeling electrification to generate strong electric fields, thereby preventing paper powder from being charged and attracted to the recording head while maintaining effective sheet transportation control.
3Manufacturing precision
If complex structures are used to prevent paper powder from sticking to the recording head, then recording quality is maintained, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies parameter changes by modifying the electrical potential parameter of the sheet transportation path constituents to be substantially equal to that of the ink jet recording head. This simple parameter adjustment eliminates electric field generation and paper powder sticking without requiring complex mechanical structures, thus maintaining recording quality while avoiding increased device complexity and cost.
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 effectively prevents paper powder and dust from sticking to the ink jet recording head, maintaining recording quality and reducing maintenance needs by eliminating the electric field and using a simple, cost-effective structure.
Implementation Method 1
When the potential among the recording sheet, the support member (the platen), and the ink jet recording head (these three elements are collectively referred to as 'recording section constituent elements' hereinafter) is not controlled, an electric field is generated among the recording section constituent elements
Implementation Method 2
with increasing friction between the recording sheets housed in a sheet cassette, and sliding contact and contact between the constituent elements (e.g., an edge guide and a transportation roller) in the sheet transportation path and the recording sheets, frictional electrification and peeling electrification become much more pronounced
Implementation Method 3
a cover member with a sheet contact section covers the roller to prevent paper powder from flying off and sticking to the recording head
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting unit that ejects liquid onto a medium serving as an ejection target, a medium support unit that is disposed so as to face the liquid ejecting unit and supports the medium, a medium transportation unit that is first located at an upstream side of the liquid ejecting unit in a transportation direction of the medium and transports the medium to a downstream side, a medium contact section that makes contact with the medium between the medium transportation unit and the liquid ejecting unit in the transportation direction of the medium, and a same potential setting unit that sets the medium contact section and a predetermined section of the liquid ejecting unit to have the same potential.