Movable Medium Pressing Member for Printer Head Maintenance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing recording apparatuses face challenges in suppressing medium lifting during transportation, which affects printing quality, and maintenance of the head is obstructed by the medium pressing member, leading to issues with clogging and reduced printing efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A recording apparatus with a medium pressing member that can adjust its position relative to the support surface, moving closer to the support surface during printing and retracting during maintenance, allowing for optimal gap control between the medium guide surface and the belt surface, and utilizing a common driving source for the head and medium pressing member to reduce apparatus size and enhance printing efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the medium guide surface protrudes further than the liquid discharge surface of the head, then maintenance of the head is easier, but lifting up of the medium is suppressed less effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The medium pressing member is designed to be movable between a pressing position (closer to the belt surface) and a retreat position (further from the belt surface). During printing operations, the member is positioned at the pressing position to effectively suppress medium lifting. During maintenance operations, the member is retracted to the retreat position to provide access to the head for cleaning or capping operations.
2Reliability
If the gap between the medium guide surface and the belt surface is small, then medium lifting is suppressed better, but clogging of sheets increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the gap between the medium guide surface and the belt surface by moving the medium pressing member between pressing and retreat positions. During printing, the pressing position creates a small gap to suppress lifting. The system monitors sheet transport conditions and adjusts the member position to prevent clogging when sheets are transported in an undried state.
3Reliability
If the medium pressing member is fixed at the pressing position, then medium lifting is suppressed consistently, but maintenance operations are obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The medium pressing member is equipped with a driving mechanism that enables it to move between a pressing position (for effective medium lifting suppression during printing) and a retreat position (for unobstructed maintenance access). This dynamic positioning allows the system to optimize for either printing performance or maintenance accessibility depending on the operational phase.
4Ease of repair
If the medium pressing member is positioned further from the belt surface, then maintenance is facilitated, but medium lifting suppression is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The medium pressing member is designed with movable positioning capability, allowing it to be located at different distances from the belt surface. During printing operations, the member is positioned closer to the belt surface to suppress medium lifting. During maintenance operations, the member is moved further from the belt surface to facilitate access to the head for cleaning or capping operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A printer includes a head that is positioned at a plurality of recording positions by moving in a direction which is orthogonal to a transport direction of a sheet and a pressing member that has a medium guide surface which is able to face the sheet, in which when the head is positioned, the medium guide surface is positioned below the head surface, and during maintenance of the head, the medium guide surface is positioned above the head surface.