Plasma Treatment Sheet Transport Using Angled Electrode Entry
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing plasma treatment units in printers face challenges in reliably transporting sheets of print media between electrodes due to the risk of sheets bending into gaps and causing folds, wrinkles, or paper jams.
Innovation Solution
A method where sheets are transported at a non-zero angle greater than 5° with respect to the upstream edge of the electrodes, reducing the likelihood of the sheet curving into the gap by maintaining a relatively narrow and stiff portion over the gap.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the sheet is transported parallel to the electrode edge over the gap, then the sheet can be easily guided, but the sheet bends into the gap due to gravity and negative pressure causing folds or wrinkles
Solution Approach 1:
The sheet is transported at an angle of 5-45 degrees relative to the electrode edge, creating an asymmetric transport path. This asymmetric approach ensures that only a narrow portion of the sheet overhangs the gap at any time, maintaining sufficient stiffness to prevent bending into the gap while still allowing effective guidance through the plasma treatment unit.
2Shape
If negative pressure is applied to hold the sheet flat on the support structure, then the sheet remains flat during transport, but the sheet is drawn into the gap causing potential jams
Solution Approach 1:
By transporting the sheet at an angle rather than parallel to the electrode edge, the asymmetric configuration ensures that the negative pressure acts on a progressively narrowing portion of the sheet as it passes over the gap. This reduces the suction effect on any single point and prevents the sheet from being drawn into the gap, while still maintaining sheet flatness through the applied negative pressure.
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 approach enhances the reliability of sheet transport through the plasma treatment unit by preventing the sheet from bending into the gap, thus reducing the risk of jams and ensuring smooth passage.
Implementation Method 1
Plasma treatment, as known from e.g. EP2802455 B1, EP3344458 B1, JP2022106645 A, and/or EP2988945 B1, may be used to adjust the surface properties of a sheet
Implementation Method 2
a negative pressure applied for holding the sheet flat on the support structure
Data Source
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AI summary
A plasma treatment unit for a printer generally comprises a gap directly upstream of its electrode, into which gap sheet may bend, resulting in damage to the sheet or paper jams. The risk of this is reduced or prevented by a method for transporting sheets (8) of print media between electrodes (21, 22; 121; 221) of a plasma treatment unit (20; 120; 220) of a printer (1), the method comprising the step of: - arranging the sheet (S) and the electrodes (21, 22; 121; 221), so that an edge of the sheet (S) and an upstream edge of at least one of the electrodes (21, 22; 121; 221) are at a non-zero angle (A; B) with one another, as the sheet (S) passes over said electrode (21, 22; 121; 221).