Output Roller Buffer Control for Tension-Safe Media Winding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Printing systems experience media deficiencies such as wrinkles, printing fluid smearing, and inaccurate media advancement during media collection due to the impact of tensions generated by the output roller winding operation, particularly in sheet-to-roll and roll-to-roll configurations.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a decoupling method to control the movement of the output roller relative to the media advance engine, creating a media buffer, and adjusting the rotation speed of the output roller to reduce tensions, using a controller to manage the media collection process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the output roller winds media during the printing operation, then media collection is achieved, but tensions are generated causing wrinkles, printing fluid smearing, and inaccurate media advancement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the media handling process into distinct phases: a first media advance operation where media is advanced without printing, and a second media advance operation where printing occurs. The output roller collects media during the first phase when no printing is performed, eliminating tensions that would otherwise cause wrinkles and smearing during the printing phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The output roller performs preliminary media collection during the first media advance operation before the printing operation begins. By collecting media in advance during a non-printing phase, the system prepares the media path without generating harmful tensions, ensuring accurate media advancement when printing subsequently occurs.
2Productivity
If the output roller collects media continuously, then media collection efficiency is improved, but tensions generated cause printing artifacts and media damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by alternating between media collection phases and printing phases. The output roller collects media during the first media advance operation (non-printing phase) and remains inactive or idle during the second media advance operation (printing phase). This periodic on-off collection pattern maintains high overall efficiency while eliminating continuous tension that causes printing artifacts.
Solution Approach 2:
Media collection is performed in advance during the first media advance operation before printing begins. This preliminary collection action prepares the media path and ensures proper tensioning without interfering with the subsequent printing operation, thereby preventing printing artifacts while maintaining collection efficiency.
3Speed
If the output roller operates at high speed to match media advance, then media collection keeps pace with printing, but tensions are generated causing media deficiencies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the operation into distinct phases where the output roller operates at high speed during the first media advance operation (non-printing phase) to collect media efficiently, then operates at reduced or zero speed during the second media advance operation (printing phase). This segmentation allows high-speed collection without generating harmful tensions during printing, maintaining both speed and media quality.
Data Source
AI summary
According to an example, a method to wind media in an output roller downstream a media advance engine comprises advancing a medium for a determined medium length, collecting a first portion of the determined medium length at a first speed by rotating the output roller in a winding direction, and collecting a second portion of the determined medium length by rotating the output roller in a winding direction at a second speed, wherein the first speed is greater than the second speed.