Movable Line Head and Scan Sensor for Deviated Media Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing liquid discharging apparatuses face challenges in accurately forming images on deviated media, as edge sensors can only detect positions within a limited range, leading to potential misalignment of image formation on the medium.

Innovation Solution

A liquid discharging apparatus with a movable line head and a scan sensor that detects the end portion of the medium, allowing the controller to adjust the line head's position in real-time based on the detection results, ensuring accurate liquid discharge alignment even when the medium is significantly deviated from its intended position.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a stationary edge sensor is used to detect medium position, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision deteriorates when the medium is greatly deviated from the original position

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensor system complexityVSAvoidmedium position detection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor is made movable along the transport direction of the medium, allowing it to dynamically adjust its detection position. This enables the sensor to track and detect the medium's end position even when the medium is greatly deviated, resolving the contradiction between simple device structure and accurate measurement under deviation conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Device complexity

If the sensor detection range is limited, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability deteriorates when the medium is transported beyond the detectable range

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensor system complexityVSAvoidimage formation reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

By making the sensor movable along the transport direction, the detection range is dynamically extended. The sensor can follow the medium's position changes and detect end positions even when the medium is transported beyond the original fixed detection range, thereby improving reliability without significantly increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If the line head position is fixed, then the device complexity is reduced, but the manufacturing precision deteriorates when the medium position deviates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition control system complexityVSAvoidimage formation position accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The movable sensor provides real-time feedback on the medium's end position. Based on this feedback, the line head position is adjusted to maintain accurate alignment with the medium, ensuring precise image formation even when the medium position deviates during transport.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The line head is made movable in the transport direction, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position based on the sensor's detection results. This dynamic adjustment capability ensures that the line head remains accurately aligned with the medium's actual position, resolving the contradiction between simple device structure and precise image formation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3109051B1Liquid discharging apparatus
Publication Date: 2019.09.04 SEIKO EPSON CORP
  • EP3109051B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3109051B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3109051B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A liquid discharging apparatus (1) includes a transport section (10) for a medium (P), a line head (19) in which nozzles discharging liquid in an intersecting direction (B) that intersects a direction of transporting the medium are arrayed, a scan sensor (20) that is capable of detecting an end portion (25) of the medium (P) in the intersecting direction (B) by being moved in the intersecting direction (B), and a controller that controls movement in the intersecting direction (B) of the scan sensor (20) and controls discharging of the liquid, in which the line head (19) is movable in the intersecting direction (B), and the controller sets a position of the line head in the intersecting direction (B) based on a detection result of the scan sensor (20).