Multi-Head Ink Printing With Variable Conveyor Motion to Limit Vibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid discharge apparatuses face issues with vibrations due to rapid acceleration and deceleration of the conveyance member, leading to image defects such as vertical unevenness on the application object, while increasing productivity through higher speeds exacerbates these vibrations.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus employs multiple heads for different inks and adjusts the acceleration and speed of the conveyor based on the type of printing operation, with lower speeds and accelerations during color printing to minimize vibrations and prevent image defects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the conveyance member moves at higher speed to increase productivity, then productivity is improved, but vibrations occur causing image defects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the conveyance speed variable rather than constant. The control unit dynamically adjusts the conveyance speed based on the printing phase: using higher speeds during non-printing phases (platen movement between lines) and lower speeds during printing phases (when the carriage is discharging ink). This dynamic speed adjustment allows the system to achieve high productivity overall while maintaining image quality during critical printing operations by reducing vibrations when the head is actively discharging ink.
2Productivity
If the conveyance member accelerates rapidly to increase productivity, then productivity is improved, but vibrations occur causing vertical unevenness on the application object
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the conveyance acceleration variable rather than constant. The control unit dynamically adjusts the acceleration profile based on the printing phase: using higher accelerations during non-printing phases and lower accelerations during printing phases. This dynamic acceleration adjustment allows the system to achieve rapid conveyance overall while maintaining surface uniformity during critical printing operations by minimizing vibrations when the carriage is actively discharging ink.
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid discharge apparatus includes a first head to discharge a first ink; a second head to discharge a second ink different from the first ink; a carriage mounting the first head and the second head to move the first head and the second head in a first scanning direction; a conveyor to move a medium relative to the carriage in a second scanning direction orthogonal to the first scanning direction; and circuitry. The circuitry causes the conveyor to move the medium at least with a first acceleration or at a first speed when the first head discharges the first ink; and causes the conveyor to move the medium at least with a second acceleration different from the first acceleration or at a second speed different from the first speed when the second head discharges the second ink.