Inkjet Recording Apparatus Width Detection Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink-jet recording apparatuses require frequent sensor movement to detect paper widths, leading to increased time from receiving a recording job to discharging the paper with an image, as each paper's width must be measured individually.
Innovation Solution
A recording apparatus with a conveying mechanism, a recording head, and sensors that store paper width information until a predetermined condition is met, such as a change in paper state or jam detection, allowing image recording based on pre-acquired width data without updating for each job.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the sensor moves to detect paper width for each recording paper, then the image quality is maintained, but the time from receipt of recording job to discharge of recording paper becomes long
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by detecting the width of the first recording paper in advance before image recording begins. The controller detects both ends of the first recording paper using the sensor, acquires its width, and stores this width information in memory. This pre-acquired width information is then used for subsequent image recording operations, eliminating the need to move the sensor for each individual paper width detection and thereby reducing the overall processing time while maintaining image quality.
2Measurement precision
If the sensor detects paper width for each recording paper, then accurate width information is obtained, but the recording process becomes slower
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs the width detection action in advance by detecting the first recording paper's width before the image recording process begins. The controller uses the sensor to detect both ends of the first recording paper, calculates its width, and stores this information. This pre-acquired accurate width information is then reused for subsequent recording operations, maintaining measurement precision while improving recording speed by avoiding repeated detection cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by storing the width information of the first recording paper and reusing this copied data for subsequent recording papers. Instead of physically moving the sensor to detect each paper's width individually, the system creates a digital copy of the width information and applies it to multiple recording operations, thereby maintaining accuracy while significantly improving productivity.
3Productivity
If the sensor remains stationary, then the recording process is faster, but the width detection capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by performing the width detection action in advance using the stationary sensor. The controller detects both ends of the first recording paper before image recording begins and stores the width information. This preliminary detection maintains the sensor's stationary position throughout the recording process, preserving recording speed while ensuring accurate width detection capability is not compromised.
Data Source
AI summary
A recording apparatus includes: a container; a conveying mechanism configured to convey a recording medium contained in the container; a recording head configured to record an image on the recording medium that has been conveyed through a conveying path by the conveying mechanism; a moving mechanism including a carriage and configured to move the carriage reciprocatingly together with the recording head; a first sensor installed in the carriage and configured to detect the recording medium; a second sensor configured to detect a change of a state of the container; a storage unit configured to store width information of the recording medium that is conveyed by the conveying mechanism; and a controller configured to control the conveying mechanism, the moving mechanism, and the recording head.