Inkjet Shutter Rigidity via Segmented Support Portions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet printers configured for larger sheet sizes, such as A3 or A4, face issues with shutter deformation, leading to inappropriate gaps between the medium and the inkjet head, which compromises recording quality due to the increased size of the opening portion in the nozzle-cap accommodating section.
Innovation Solution
A recording device with a liquid discharging head, an opposing section, and a shutter that includes support portions between head chips to prevent shutter bending, maintaining appropriate gaps and recording quality, and features like first and second ribs to enhance rigidity and guide the medium effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the opening portion size is increased to accommodate larger sheet sizes (A3/A4), then the printing capability is improved, but the shutter deforms and drops into the opening portion
Solution Approach 1:
The shutter is divided into multiple segments or sections, each supported by corresponding support portions in the opposing section. This segmentation allows each section to be independently supported, preventing overall deformation while maintaining the ability to cover large opening portions for A3/A4 printing.
Solution Approach 2:
Support portions are introduced as intermediary elements between the shutter and the opening portion. These support portions provide additional structural reinforcement at critical locations, acting as mediators that prevent the shutter from deforming or dropping into the enlarged opening while allowing the opening to remain large for A3/A4 printing.
2Area of stationary object
If the opening portion size is increased, then the printing capability is improved, but the gap between the medium and inkjet head becomes inappropriate
Solution Approach 1:
The shutter is segmented with multiple support portions that maintain uniform spacing and positioning. This segmentation ensures that the shutter remains flat and stable across the entire opening portion, preserving precise gap control between the medium and inkjet head even when the opening is enlarged for A3/A4 printing.
Solution Approach 2:
The structural parameters of the shutter are modified by adding support portions at specific locations and heights. This changes the mechanical properties of the shutter, enabling it to maintain appropriate rigidity and flatness across larger opening portions while preserving the precise gap required for high-quality printing on A3/A4 sheets.
3Area of stationary object
If the shutter is made larger to cover the enlarged opening portion, then the coverage is improved, but the shutter bends and deforms
Solution Approach 1:
The enlarged shutter is segmented into multiple sections, each reinforced by corresponding support portions. This segmentation prevents the entire large shutter from bending as a single unit, while the support portions provide localized reinforcement to maintain overall rigidity across the expanded area required for A3/A4 printing.
Solution Approach 2:
The shutter structure is enhanced by combining the shutter material with support portions formed from rigid materials in the opposing section. This composite structure provides the necessary strength and rigidity for the enlarged shutter area while maintaining the flexibility needed for proper operation during A3/A4 printing.
Data Source
AI summary
A recording device includes: a liquid discharging head; an opposing section including an opening portion formed at a position that is opposed to the liquid discharging head; a cap section disposed at an inside of the opening portion; and a shutter configured to open and close the opening portion. The opening portion is formed so as to be opened alternately at an upstream position and a downstream position along a medium width direction so as to correspond to the arrangement of a plurality of head chips. The opposing section includes a support portion disposed between two head chips adjacent in the medium width direction and configured to be able to support the shutter disposed at the shielding position.