Inkjet Recording Apparatus Refeeder Configuration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inkjet recording apparatuses face issues with jamming and ink leakage soiling the recording medium during dual-sided printing, as the refeed path's small radius of curvature increases jamming chances and ink leakage contaminates the sheet.
Innovation Solution
The inkjet recording apparatus design positions the ink reservoir below the refeeder, preventing ink from soiling the sheet and increasing the sheet's radius of curvature during refeeding, thus reducing jamming risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the refeed path is provided between the conveyor and the paper feeder, then dual-sided recording is enabled, but the sheet has to be turned over at a small radius of curvature which increases the chance of jamming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the refeed path from a horizontal arrangement (between conveyor and paper feeder) to a vertical arrangement (below the ink containers). This dimensional change allows the sheet to be turned over with a larger radius of curvature, reducing jamming risk while maintaining dual-sided recording capability.
2Device complexity
If the refeed path is provided below the ink containers, then space is optimized, but if ink leaks from an ink container, the leaking ink soils the refeed path and is transferred to a sheet
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional arrangement by placing the ink containers below the refeed path instead of above it. This reversal ensures that any ink leakage falls away from the refeed path and recorded sheets, preventing soil contamination while maintaining compact structure.
3Device complexity
If the refeeder is disposed above the recording medium feeder, then compact design is achieved, but the radius of curvature of a recording medium turned over in the refeeder is small which increases jamming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions the refeeder from a horizontally compact arrangement (above the feeder) to a vertically extended arrangement (below the ink containers). This vertical positioning provides adequate space for the sheet to turn over with a larger radius of curvature, reducing jamming while maintaining overall compactness.
Data Source
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AI summary
An inkjet recording apparatus includes: an ink ejection head having ink ejection openings; a conveyance mechanism which is disposed below the ink ejection head and conveys a recording medium facing the ink ejection openings; a recording medium feeder which is disposed below the conveyance mechanism, is capable of stocking therein a recording medium, and feeds a recording medium to the conveyance mechanism; a refeeder which is partially disposed below the recording medium feeder and which refeeds, to the conveyance mechanism, a recording medium having conveyed by the conveyance mechanism; and an ink reservoir which is disposed below the refeeder and reserves therein ink to be fed to the ink ejection head.