Inkjet Recording Apparatus With Static-Brush Dust Extraction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet recording apparatuses experience nozzle clogging and contamination of the conveyance belt due to paper dust generated by the static eliminating member during electrostatic sheet conveyance, leading to degraded image quality.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates a static eliminating device with a rotating brush and duct system to remove paper dust, coupled with a suction pump to collect foreign matter, and a scraper to prevent nozzle clogging, while a control system manages the operation of these components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a static eliminating member is used to remove electrical charge from the sheet, then the suction force is increased, but paper dust is generated that adheres to the nozzle surface and clogs the nozzles
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful paper dust generated by the static eliminating brush is extracted from the system using a suction device with a suction port positioned near the brush. The suction pump removes paper dust through a suction passage, preventing it from adhering to the nozzle surface and causing clogs.
Solution Approach 2:
A duct is introduced as an intermediary component that guides the paper dust from the static eliminating brush to the suction port. The duct positions the suction port effectively close to the brush, enabling efficient paper dust collection without interfering with the static elimination function.
2Reliability
If the static eliminating brush contacts the sheet to remove charge, then conveyance reliability is improved, but the conveyance belt becomes contaminated with paper dust
Solution Approach 1:
Paper dust that would otherwise contaminate the conveyance belt is extracted by the suction device positioned near the static eliminating brush. The suction pump continuously removes paper dust through the suction passage, preventing accumulation on the conveyance belt surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The suction pump operates continuously or periodically to maintain a constant removal of paper dust from the area around the static eliminating brush and conveyance belt. This continuous action ensures that paper dust does not accumulate and contaminate the conveyance belt during sheet conveyance.
3Reliability
If a suction device is added to remove paper dust, then nozzle clogging is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The suction device is designed to serve multiple functions: removing paper dust from both the nozzle area and the conveyance belt region. The single suction pump and suction passage system handles paper dust collection from multiple sources, reducing the need for separate cleaning mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The suction device is integrated with the existing static eliminating device structure. The duct is positioned to utilize the space near the static eliminating brush, and the suction port is arranged to collect paper dust at its source without requiring separate independent systems for dust removal.
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
Effectively reduces nozzle clogging and conveyance belt contamination, maintaining image quality by efficiently removing paper dust through the integrated static eliminating and suction mechanisms.
Implementation Method 1
a conveyance belt made of resin is electrostatically charged by a charging means, and the sheet is attracted by the electrostatic force generated by internal polarization in the sheet when it is pressed against the belt
Implementation Method 2
the suction force is increased through static elimination on the side of the sheet opposite from its side facing the conveyance belt (suction surface) by use of a static eliminating member such as a static eliminating brush
Implementation Method 3
The suction pump sucks the air inside the cap... Through the foreign matter suction passage, the duct and the suction pump communicate with each other so that the foreign matter in the duct is collected using the suction pump
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
An inkjet recording apparatus (100) has a conveyance portion (5) conveying a sheet while electrostatically attracting it onto a conveyance belt (8), a recording portion (9) having a recording head (17) and disposed opposite the conveyance surface of the conveyance belt (8), a cap (50) attached to the ink ejection surface (171) of the recording head (17), a suction pump (55) sucking the air inside the cap (50), an ink discharge passage (51), a static eliminating device (41), a control portion (110), and a foreign matter suction passage (53). The static eliminating device (41) has a roll-form static eliminating brush (41), a brush drive motor (60) rotating the brush forward with respect to the movement direction of the conveyance belt (8), a duct (42) covering the side of the static eliminating brush (41) opposite from the conveyance belt (8), and a scraper scraping off foreign matter adhering to the static eliminating brush (41). Through the foreign matter suction passage (53) the duct (42) and the suction pump (55) communicate with each other so that, using the suction pump (55) and the foreign matter suction passage (53), the foreign matter in the duct (42) is collected.