Inkjet Recording Apparatus Paper Flatness Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
When using an ink jet recording method with aqueous ink on thin paper, the water in the ink causes elongation and three-dimensional waving, leading to deteriorated printing quality, and existing drying techniques may result in fine wrinkles on the paper.
Innovation Solution
An ink jet recording apparatus and method that includes a transport unit gripping the paper's leading end, a heating unit along the transport path to dry the recording surface, a guide unit with suction holes to support the paper from the opposite surface, and a suction unit that sets a suction region upstream and a non-suction region downstream, with the first position for suction set at a residual water content of 1.0 to 3.0 g/m², preventing waving and wrinkling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If the paper is suctioned by the suction unit throughout the entire transport path, then the paper flatness is improved, but fine wrinkles occur on the paper surface
Solution Approach 1:
The suction region is segmented into two parts: a first suction region upstream of the first position where the paper is suctioned to prevent waving, and a second suction region downstream of the first position where suction is stopped to prevent fine wrinkles. This segmentation allows different suction conditions in different transport zones.
Solution Approach 2:
Different suction conditions are applied to different regions of the transport path. The upstream region (first suction region) applies suction force to maintain paper flatness during the critical drying phase, while the downstream region (second suction region) eliminates suction to allow the paper to relax and avoid wrinkle formation.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the paper is not suctioned during transport, then fine wrinkles are avoided, but three-dimensional waving occurs due to paper elongation from water permeation
Solution Approach 1:
The paper is suctioned in the first suction region before reaching the first position where residual water content is 1.0 to 3.0 g/m². This preliminary suction action prevents waving from occurring during the critical drying phase when the paper is most vulnerable to deformation from water permeation.
3Productivity
If the paper is dried quickly using a high-capacity heater, then drying time is reduced, but waving and wrinkling occur due to rapid water evaporation
Solution Approach 1:
The suction region is positioned based on feedback from the drying process. The first position where suction stops is set at the location where residual water content reaches 1.0 to 3.0 g/m², creating a feedback-controlled system that adapts the suction region to the actual drying progress and prevents both waving and fine wrinkles.
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 described solution effectively prevents waving and wrinkling of the paper during drying, ensuring high-quality printing by maintaining the paper's flatness and appropriate drying until a residual water content of 0.7 g/m² or lower is achieved.
Implementation Method 1
a heating unit that is provided along the transport path and heats the recording surface of the paper which is transported
Implementation Method 2
a suction unit that suctions the paper through the suction holes of the guide surface
Data Source
AI summary
The ink jet recording apparatus includes: transport means that transports paper having a recording surface, on which an image is formed using an aqueous ink, along a transport path; heating means that is provided along the transport path; guide means that is provided along the transport path and supports the paper using a guide surface having suction holes; and suction means that suctions the paper through the suction holes of the guide surface, a suction region and a non-suction region are set when the paper is transported, the suction region in which the paper is suctioned by the suction means is set upstream of a first position of the transport path, the non-suction region is set downstream of the first position, and the first position is set at a position in which a residual water content in the paper is 1.0 g/m2 to 3.0 g/m2.