Inkjet printer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet printers face challenges in maintaining the planarity of the transfer surface and adhering print substrates effectively, especially when the substrates have low tensile strength when wet, leading to deformations and uneven printing due to uneven suction forces.
Innovation Solution
The inkjet printer employs a suction device with differentiated suction forces along the feed direction, applying a lower suction force at the printing station and a higher force upstream to prevent deformations, and includes an adjustment assembly to maintain planarity using a breathable micro-perforated belt and guide screws to compensate for bending.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If strong and uniform suction force is applied to hold the print substrate in place, then the substrate adherence is improved, but the substrate structure is damaged causing permanent depressions or ridges
Solution Approach 1:
The suction force is differentiated along the feed direction, with higher suction applied upstream from the printing station and lower suction applied at the printing station. This local differentiation allows strong adherence upstream while protecting the wet ink substrate at the printing station from deformation.
Solution Approach 2:
The transfer surface is divided into multiple suction zones with independently controllable suction forces. The suction means are partialized according to the form of the print substrate, activating suction only in areas actually occupied by the substrate, with different suction levels in different zones.
2Reliability
If high suction force is applied upstream from the printing station, then the substrate is held firmly in place, but the transfer surface bends downwards causing unevenness and print defects
Solution Approach 1:
An adjustment assembly is introduced to counteract the downward bending of the transfer surface caused by upstream suction. The adjustment assembly applies an opposing upward force to maintain the transfer surface in a substantially planar position despite the high suction forces applied upstream.
3Productivity
If the suction means are partialized to mask the transfer surface, then the suction efficiency is maximized, but the complexity of the suction control system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The suction system is made dynamically controllable, allowing the suction means to be selectively activated or deactivated in different zones along the feed direction. This dynamic control enables the suction force to be differentiated between upstream and printing station areas, optimizing both efficiency and substrate protection.
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 that the print substrate is held firmly without causing deformations and maintains evenness of the transfer surface, resulting in improved print quality and substrate adherence.
Implementation Method 1
a suction device (20) associated to the continuous conveyor (5) to hold the print substrate (2) on the transfer surface (10)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~5
AI summary
Inkjet printer (1) operable to print a print substrate (2) made of textile, paper or plastic material, or the like, and provided with a sliding transfer surface (10) to feed the print substrate (2) in a feed direction (9); a printing device (17) arranged above the transfer surface (10) to define, on the transfer surface (10), a printing station (19); suction device (20) arranged below the transfer surface (10) to maintain the print substrate (2) adhering to and stationary with respect to the transfer surface (10) during sliding; and an adjustment assembly to adjust planarity of the transfer surface (10).