Overlapping Platen and Fixing Unit in Inkjet Printers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lateral scan type recording apparatuses, such as ink jet printers, face challenges with large horizontal size due to separate installations of platen and forcible drying regions, leading to inadequate drying of recorded surfaces as they pass through the drying region without sufficient stop time.
Innovation Solution
The recording apparatus is designed with a support member and a fixing unit that overlap in the up and down direction, ensuring the recording surface stays within the fixing unit for sufficient time during intermittent transport, and includes a transport roller outside the fixing unit to prevent heat loss and temperature irregularities, allowing for efficient drying.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the platen and forcible drying region are installed separately in horizontal direction, then each component has sufficient installation space, but the entire apparatus becomes large-sized in horizontal direction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from horizontal arrangement to vertical stacking by placing the platen and forcing air drying region in different vertical levels. The platen is positioned at an upper level while the forcing air drying region is at a lower level, allowing both components to coexist without increasing horizontal footprint. This dimensional change resolves the contradiction by utilizing the vertical dimension for component separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements nesting by positioning the forcing air drying region within or adjacent to the vertical space occupied by the platen assembly. The drying region is integrated into the vertical structure rather than requiring separate horizontal space, effectively nesting functional zones within the overall apparatus structure to reduce horizontal dimensions.
2Volume of moving object
If the length of forcing air drying region is not appropriately set, then the apparatus remains compact, but the recording surface passes through without sufficient stop time for drying
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic control of the recording medium transport speed through the forcing air drying region. The transport amount is made variable based on the position within the drying region, reducing speed in the critical drying zone to ensure adequate drying time. This dynamic adjustment allows the apparatus to maintain compact dimensions while ensuring reliable drying completion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the transport parameter (transport amount) based on the position of the recording medium in the forcing air drying region. By adjusting the transport amount to be smaller in the drying region compared to other regions, the system ensures sufficient drying time without increasing the physical length of the drying region, maintaining compactness while improving drying reliability.
3Productivity
If the recording surface moves quickly through the drying region, then productivity is maintained, but drying is not sufficiently performed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic speed adjustment where the transport speed of the recording medium is reduced specifically within the forcing air drying region. The driving unit adjusts the transport amount based on position, creating a speed profile that maintains overall productivity while ensuring adequate drying time in the critical zone. This dynamic control resolves the contradiction between speed and drying sufficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic or intermittent transport action within the drying region, where the recording medium is held in position for extended periods to allow thorough drying. This periodic holding action interspersed with transport movements ensures adequate drying time while maintaining overall processing efficiency, resolving the contradiction between productivity and drying sufficiency.
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 reduces the horizontal size of the apparatus, ensures complete drying of the recording surface, and maintains high fixing efficiency by ensuring the recording surface stays within the drying region long enough to be properly fixed, preventing image jumbling and adhesive separation.
Implementation Method 1
an ink printed image formed on the continuous recording medium is heated and forcibly dried in a forcible drying region
Implementation Method 2
the recording surface after completion of recording enters into the forcible drying region
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a recording apparatus. The recording apparatus includes: a support member which supports a recording medium; a recording head which applies a recording material to one surface of the recording medium supported on the support member; and a fixing unit which fixes the recording material adhered to the one surface of the recording medium transported from the support member, wherein the support member and the fixing unit are arranged to be partly overlapped with each other in an up and down direction.