Ink-jet Recording Apparatus Distance Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink-jet recording apparatuses face challenges in maintaining a constant distance between nozzles and the sheet, leading to deviations in ink attachment positions due to sheet floating, and this is exacerbated by the inability to extend a contact member to the vicinity of the nozzles without interfering with the cap's movement during maintenance operations.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus includes a movable distance-defining member that can switch between positions to allow the cap to cover the nozzles without interference, using a controller to coordinate the movement of the sheet supporter and distance-defining member to maintain a constant distance between the sheet and the nozzles, ensuring the cap can cover the nozzles effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a contact member is extended to the vicinity of the nozzles to maintain constant distance, then the distance between nozzles and sheet is stabilized, but the cap movement during maintenance operation is disturbed
Solution Approach 1:
The contact member is designed to be movable between a first position (retracted) and a second position (extended to vicinity of nozzles). The controller dynamically adjusts the contact member's position based on operational mode: retracted during normal printing to allow cap movement, and extended during maintenance operations to maintain distance control. This dynamic reconfiguration resolves the contradiction between maintaining precision and enabling operational access.
2Productivity
If the sheet floats above the platen, then the conveyance path is maintained, but the distance between sheet and nozzles changes causing ink attaching position deviation
Solution Approach 1:
A contact member is introduced as an intermediary element between the sheet and the platen. This contact member maintains constant contact with the sheet lower surface, preventing the sheet from floating above the platen while allowing smooth conveyance. The contact member acts as a mediator that stabilizes the sheet position relative to the nozzles, ensuring consistent ink attaching positions during high-speed conveyance operations.
Data Source
AI summary
An image recording apparatus, including: a main body; an image recorder; a sheet supporter movable between an opposed position and a retracted position; a cap movable between a contact position and a distant position; a distance-defining member movable between a first position and a second position and configured to define a distance between an upper surface of a sheet and a lower surface of the recorder, the first position being a position where the member partially overlaps a region of the cap at the contact position, the second position being a position where at least a part of the member does not overlap the region; and a controller to control the cap to move from the distant position to the contact position after the supporter has been moved from the opposed position to the retracted position and the member has been moved from the first position to the second position.