Inkjet Apparatus Suction Unit Sheet Curl Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet image forming apparatuses face efficiency issues due to sheet curl, which causes variations in the distance between the recording head and the sheet, leading to soiled nozzles and degraded image quality, especially when humidity is high or the sheet is thin, and existing solutions require lengthy standby times to correct curl, reducing printing efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An inkjet-type image forming apparatus with a suction unit that forces the sheet onto a platen guide plate by intermittently transporting it and reversing its direction to maintain a flat plane, eliminating the need for standby times and preventing nozzle soiling, thereby improving image quality and printing precision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the sheet is directly transported to the platen guide plate without standby time, then printing efficiency is improved, but sheet curl causes the sheet surface to be non-planar leading to nozzle soiling and degraded image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The suction unit is activated before the sheet reaches the platen guide plate to preliminarily flatten the sheet by suctioning it onto the guide plate surface. This preliminary action removes curl without requiring standby time, allowing continuous printing while maintaining sheet flatness and preventing nozzle soiling.
Solution Approach 2:
The suction unit acts as an intermediary mechanism between the sheet transport system and the platen guide plate. It applies suction force to flatten the sheet dynamically during transport, mediating between the need for continuous printing and the requirement for sheet flatness without requiring the sheet to stop.
2Stability of the object's composition
If standby time is extended to change reverse curl state to forward curl state, then sheet flatness is improved, but the time for sheet to pass through print area increases reducing printing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical standby approach (stopping the sheet to allow curl reversal) with a pneumatic system (suction unit). The suction unit dynamically flattens the sheet during transport by applying suction force, eliminating the need for time-consuming standby periods while maintaining sheet flatness.
Solution Approach 2:
The suction unit operates periodically or continuously during sheet transport to maintain sheet flatness. Rather than requiring a single extended standby period, the suction is applied in a timed manner during the transport cycle, allowing the sheet to be flattened and printed upon without stopping the printing process.
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 solution enhances printing efficiency by maintaining sheet flatness without curl, preventing nozzle soiling, and improving image quality, ensuring precise and reliable printing without the need for extended standby times.
Implementation Method 1
a suction unit configured to suction the sheet onto the platen guide plate
Data Source
AI summary
An inkjet-type image forming apparatus includes a recording head configured to eject ink to form an image; a carriage where the recording head is provided, the carriage being configured to reciprocate in a direction orthogonal to a sheet transport direction; a transport unit disposed upstream of a print area in the sheet transport direction, the transport unit being configured to intermittently transport a sheet to the print area; a transport control unit configured to control the transport unit; a platen guide plate; a suction unit configured to suction the sheet onto the platen guide plate; and a control unit.