Inkjet Printer Vacuum Duct Segmentation for Suction Loss Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet printers with vacuum platens face increased path resistance and suction loss due to the need for flexible, long vacuum ducts when the cover opens and closes, requiring high-capacity vacuum fans, which complicates printer size and cost reduction.
Innovation Solution
An inkjet printer design that disconnects and reconnects the vacuum path between the vacuum fan and platen as the cover opens and closes, maintaining a short vacuum path length, reducing air flow loss, and allowing for a smaller vacuum fan, with the vacuum duct disconnecting from the intake opening when the cover opens.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a flexible and long vacuum duct is used to connect the vacuum fan to the moving vacuum platen, then the vacuum path can accommodate cover opening and closing motion, but path resistance increases and suction loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vacuum duct is divided into a fixed portion connected to the vacuum fan and a movable portion connected to the vacuum platen. The movable portion can be detached when the cover opens, allowing the fixed portion to remain short and minimize path resistance during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The vacuum duct system transitions from a static long duct to a dynamic configuration where the movable duct portion can be detached. This allows the system to adapt between two states: connected during printing for suction, and disconnected during paper loading to eliminate path resistance.
2Reliability
If a long vacuum duct is used to maintain connection between vacuum fan and platen during cover motion, then connectivity is maintained, but the vacuum fan capacity must be increased to compensate for path resistance
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the vacuum duct into fixed and movable portions, the system maintains reliable connectivity during printing while allowing the movable portion to be detached during paper loading. This eliminates the need for high-capacity vacuum fans to compensate for long duct path resistance.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the vacuum duct is routed through the center of the opening and closing motion of the cover, then the duct is not affected by length changes, but the vacuum path length still increases causing path resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The vacuum duct is segmented into a fixed portion and a movable portion that can be detached. This allows the fixed portion to maintain stable, short length while the movable portion accommodates the cover motion, eliminating path resistance issues.
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 design reduces air flow loss and eliminates the need for large vacuum fans, enabling a more compact printer size while maintaining effective suction and facilitating easier paper loading.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum platen with numerous suction holes for pulling the recording medium to the platen surface
Implementation Method 2
a vacuum fan disposed to the printer case; and a vacuum path enabling connecting and disconnecting the intake opening of the vacuum fan to the suction unit of the vacuum platen
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides, as an aspect thereof, an inkjet printer that connects a vacuum fan on the printer case side and a vacuum platen on the cover side through a short vacuum path. The platen moves in conjunction with the cover of the roll paper compartment. The platen is a vacuum platen having vacuum regions, suction holes, and a platen-side air path on the platen side, and a vacuum fan and a vacuum duct that connects the vacuum fan to the suction unit of the platen on the printer case side. The vacuum duct is disconnected from the suction unit of the platen when the platen moves in conjunction with the cover, and the length of the vacuum duct can therefore be short, corresponding to the distance between the intake opening of the vacuum fan and the suction unit of the platen when the cover is closed.