Liquid Ejecting Device Support Portion for Medium Tension

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Solution Overview

Problem

In liquid ejecting devices, the increasing length of the ejecting unit leads to longer distances between the transport unit and the guide portion, causing the medium to slacken, particularly when soft, which compromises printing quality due to variations in the gap between the ejecting unit and the medium, resulting in printing failures.

Innovation Solution

A liquid ejecting device configuration that includes a transport unit nipping the medium between a first and second roller, an ejecting unit downstream, a receiving groove portion, a guide portion, and a support portion positioned upstream of the receiving groove and downstream of the transport unit, ensuring the medium is supported at a consistent height to maintain tension and prevent slackening.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of moving object

If the ejecting unit length is increased to handle longer media, then the transport path length increases, but the medium becomes slack and printing quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveejecting unit lengthVSAvoidprinting quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The transport path is divided into multiple segments with intermediate support portions. Instead of having only transport unit and guide portion at the ends, support portions are added at intermediate positions to provide localized support and prevent slackening in each segment of the transport path.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Support portions are introduced as intermediary elements between the transport unit and guide portion. These support portions act as mediators that provide mechanical support to the medium, preventing it from sagging or becoming slack during transport through the ejecting unit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the distance between transport unit and guide portion is increased, then more media can be transported, but the medium sags and gap control becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemedia transport capabilityVSAvoidgap control reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The long transport path is segmented into multiple sections with support portions placed at intervals. This segmentation allows the medium to be supported at multiple points, maintaining proper tension and gap control even over extended distances.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Support portions are positioned in advance along the transport path to prevent the medium from sagging before it reaches the ejecting unit. This preliminary support action ensures the medium maintains proper tension and positioning throughout the entire transport path.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If soft media are transported over long distances, then more versatile media can be handled, but the medium becomes slack and printing accuracy decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemedia type versatilityVSAvoidprinting accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Support portions are strategically positioned at specific locations along the transport path where slackening is most likely to occur. This localized support approach provides targeted tension maintenance without requiring support throughout the entire path, effectively preventing slackening in soft media transport.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 configuration effectively suppresses medium slackening, maintaining consistent printing quality by ensuring the medium is transported in a state of equal or greater tension, thereby stabilizing the gap between the ejecting unit and the medium, reducing printing failures and improving accuracy.

Implementation Method 1

a transport unit configured to transport the medium in a transport direction while nipping the medium between a first roller and a second roller configured to press the medium toward the first roller

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

a support portion configured to support the medium at a position upstream of the receiving groove portion and downstream of the transport unit in the transport direction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTension: Tension

Data Source

PatentUS20240217764A1Liquid ejecting device

Publication Date: 2024.07.04 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

A liquid ejecting device includes a transport unit, an ejecting unit, a receiving groove portion, a guide portion, and a support portion. The transport unit transports a medium in a transport direction while nipping the medium by a first roller and a second roller capable of pressing the medium toward the first roller. The ejecting unit ejects a liquid onto the medium at a position downstream of the transport unit in the transport direction. The receiving groove portion faces the ejecting unit in a height direction intersecting the transport direction. The guide portion guides the medium at a position downstream of the ejecting unit in the transport direction. The support portion is provided so as to be able to support the medium at a position upstream of the receiving groove portion and downstream of the transport unit in the transport direction.