Inkjet Recording Device Curved Medium Path for Dry Wrinkle Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink jet printers face issues with dry wrinkles forming on roll paper during the drying process, which can cause the paper to lift and collide with the recording head, leading to contact and smudging, and result in waste due to incomplete recording.
Innovation Solution
A recording device with a controller that forms a curved portion of the medium between the drying unit and suction platen, preventing dry wrinkles from extending and reducing contact with the recording head, and includes mechanisms for maintaining the recording head and eliminating the curved portion to minimize waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the drying unit dries the roll paper that has absorbed a large amount of ink, then the drying efficiency is improved, but dry wrinkles are generated that extend upstream and reach the platen, causing the medium to lift up
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a curved portion in the medium between the drying unit and suction platen. This curvature prevents dry wrinkles from extending upstream to the platen by creating a physical barrier that redirects the wrinkle formation away from the critical recording area, thus maintaining medium flatness while preserving drying efficiency
2Stability of the object's composition
If the medium is completely adhered to the platen by the suction hole, then the medium stability is improved, but the recording head cannot perform maintenance operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adjusts the suction force of the suction platen. During recording operations, strong suction maintains medium adhesion for stability. During maintenance operations, the suction is reduced or released, allowing the medium to be slightly lifted for head access, then restored afterward. This dynamic control resolves the contradiction between adhesion stability and maintenance accessibility
3Shape
If the medium is fed by a predetermined amount while sucked by the medium suction mechanism, then the curved portion formation is improved, but the transport mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the functions of medium feeding and curved portion formation into a single integrated process. The transport mechanism feeds the medium by a predetermined amount while the suction mechanism simultaneously creates the curved portion through controlled suction. This merging of functions achieves the desired shape without requiring separate dedicated mechanisms, thus avoiding increased complexity
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
The curved portion effectively prevents dry wrinkles from reaching the suction platen, reducing the likelihood of paper lift and contact with the recording head, allowing for uninterrupted recording and minimizing waste by restarting from a clean section.
Implementation Method 1
a suction platen facing the recording head and being configured to suck the medium, a transport mechanism provided upstream from the suction platen in the transport direction of the medium and configured to transport the medium downstream in the transport direction, a medium suction mechanism configured to suck the medium fed to the drying unit
Implementation Method 2
Some ink jet printers include a drying unit that dries a medium on which recording is executed
Data Source
AI summary
A recording device includes a carriage including a recording head configured to discharge liquid onto a medium and being movable in an intersecting direction, the intersecting direction intersecting a transport direction of the medium, a suction platen facing the recording head and being configured to suck the medium, a transport mechanism provided upstream from the suction platen in the transport direction and configured to transport the medium downstream in the transport direction, a drying unit located downstream from the recording head in the transport direction, a medium suction mechanism configured to suck the medium fed to the drying unit, and a controller configured to control the transport mechanism. The controller is configured to form a curved portion by curving between the drying unit and the suction platen in the transport direction, a part of the medium.