Ink-jet Sheet Guidance Flap System for Curvature Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink-jet recording apparatuses face issues with sheet guidance stability due to sheet swelling during printing, leading to potential damage, jamming, and improper routing, especially when the sheet's curved state causes contact instability with the carriage or guide members.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus employs first and second flaps strategically positioned to guide the sheet, with the first flap pressing the sheet's center downward to counteract curvature and the second flaps extending beyond the first flaps to ensure both ends are guided correctly into the second conveyance route, preventing misalignment and jamming.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the sheet is conveyed through the conveyance route after ink recording, then image recording is completed, but the sheet swells and curves causing contact instability with guide members
Solution Approach 1:
The sheet guide member is positioned and configured in advance to engage with the sheet before the swelling and curvature problems occur. The guide member's geometry and position are pre-set to accommodate the sheet's natural behavior after ink recording, preventing contact instability before it arises.
Solution Approach 2:
The sheet guide member acts as an intermediary element between the sheet and the conveyance route. It mediates the interaction by providing a controlled contact point that guides the sheet through the conveyance route while accommodating the sheet's swelling and curvature, preventing direct harmful contact with other components.
2Ease of operation
If the sheet guide member rotates downward under its own weight to guide the sheet, then the sheet is directed to the second conveyance route, but the curved sheet causes unstable contact and possible misrouting
Solution Approach 1:
The sheet guide member has different geometric characteristics at different locations. The portion that contacts the sheet is specifically designed with a certain curvature and position to match the sheet's swollen state, while other portions maintain their structural integrity for rotation and guidance functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The sheet guide member incorporates curved surfaces and geometries that match the curvature of the swollen sheet. This curvature matching allows the guide member to accommodate the sheet's shape during rotation and guidance, maintaining stable contact while directing the sheet to the correct conveyance route.
3Reliability
If the first flap presses the sheet center downward to counteract curvature, then sheet guidance is stabilized, but the sheet ends may not be properly guided into the second conveyance route
Solution Approach 1:
The guidance function is divided into multiple segments: the first flap handles the center portion of the sheet by pressing it downward to counteract curvature, while the second flaps handle the end portions of the sheet by extending beyond the first flaps to guide them into the second conveyance route. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in guiding specific parts of the sheet.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution moves from a single-point contact guidance to a multi-dimensional guidance system. The first flap acts at the center (one dimension), while the second flaps extend beyond to act at the ends (adding spatial dimension), creating a distributed guidance system that addresses both curvature and routing requirements simultaneously.
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
This configuration stabilizes sheet guidance along both conveyance routes, preventing damage and jamming by effectively managing sheet curvature, ensuring smooth and accurate routing during both single-side and double-side printing.
Implementation Method 1
The sheet swells as ink adheres thereto
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided an ink-jet recording apparatus including: a body including a first conveyance route; a recording unit; a switchback conveyance part; a first flap moving between a first state in which the first flap guides, to the switchback conveyance part, a sheet conveyed to one side in a first direction and a second state in which the first flap guides, from the first conveyance route to a second conveyance route, the sheet conveyed to the other side in the first direction; and second flaps moving between a third state in which the second flaps guide, to the switchback conveyance part, the sheet conveyed to one side in the first direction and a fourth state in which the second flaps guide, from the first conveyance route to the second conveyance route, the sheet conveyed to the other side in the first direction.