Liquid Coating Device Multi-Stage Separator Sheet Winding Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming systems face challenges in preventing sheets from winding around rollers during the liquid coating process, leading to difficulties in separating and removing sheets from the coating device, which can result in torn sheets and inefficient operation.
Innovation Solution
A liquid coating device with a multi-stage roller assembly, including a coating roller, pressure roller, and supply rollers, equipped with guide claws and a sheet receiver, that uses a combination of mechanical separation and elastic biasing to prevent sheet winding and facilitate easy removal, ensuring smooth sheet conveyance and coating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single separator is used to separate sheets from the coating roller, then the separation function is provided, but sheets may still wind around the supply roller causing operational difficulties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the sheet separation function into two distinct separators: a first separator positioned downstream of the coating roller, and a second separator positioned at the supply roller. This segmentation ensures that sheets are separated at multiple stages, preventing winding around the supply roller while maintaining reliable separation from the coating roller.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a sheet receiver as an intermediary component that temporarily stores separated sheets. This mediator component facilitates smooth sheet handling by providing a designated storage space, preventing sheets from being caught or wound around rollers during the separation and conveyance process.
2Manufacturing precision
If sheets are tightly constrained during coating to ensure uniform coating, then coating quality improves, but sheets become difficult to separate and remove
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a biasing member that dynamically adjusts the pressure between the supply roller and coating roller. The elastic biasing force allows the supply roller to apply sufficient pressure for uniform coating while automatically reducing constraint when sheet separation is needed, enabling both high coating quality and easy sheet removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the pressure parameter dynamically through the biasing member mechanism. During coating, high pressure ensures uniform liquid application; during separation, the elastic biasing force reduces the constraint parameter, allowing sheets to be easily separated and removed without compromising coating uniformity.
3Productivity
If the coating roller and supply roller are in constant contact to ensure continuous liquid supply, then coating continuity is maintained, but sheets may wind around the rollers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the first separator downstream of the coating roller before sheets can reach the supply roller. This preliminary separation action prevents sheets from being drawn into the supply roller-coating roller contact zone, maintaining continuous coating while preventing sheet winding.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harmful effect of tight roller contact (which could cause sheet winding) into a beneficial separation mechanism. The biasing member creates controlled pressure that ensures coating continuity while the first separator utilizes this pressure zone to effectively separate sheets before they can be wound around the rollers.
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid coating device includes a coating roller, a supply roller, a pressure roller, a first separator, a second separator, and a sheet receiver. The coating roller coats a sheet with liquid. The supply roller supplies the liquid to the coating roller. The pressure roller sandwiches the sheet, together with the coating roller. The first separator separates the sheet coated with the liquid, from the coating roller. The second separator separates, from the supply roller, a sheet that has not been separated by the first separator and has reached the supply roller. The sheet receiver forms a storage space to accommodate at least a portion of the sheet that has been separated from the supply roller by the second separator.