Inkjet Print Head Guide Stabilizes Curled Media Gap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image recording apparatuses, such as ink jet printers, face issues with image quality degradation due to wrinkled or curled recording media, which can cause errors in conveyance and nonuniform gaps between print heads and recording media, leading to poor print quality.
Innovation Solution
A recording unit with a holding member that includes a guiding portion to prevent the recording medium from contacting the print head, a fixing member to maintain the holding member perpendicular to the conveying surface, and an ink supply section to ensure consistent ink delivery, all of which work together to stabilize the recording medium and maintain print head integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a conventional ink jet recording apparatus is used, then image recording can be performed, but image quality degrades when the recording medium is wrinkled or curled
Solution Approach 1:
A guide member is introduced as an intermediary component between the recording medium and the print head. This guide member has a guiding surface that contacts and stabilizes the recording medium, preventing wrinkles and curls from reaching the print head, thereby maintaining image quality without requiring the recording medium itself to be perfectly flat
Solution Approach 2:
The guide member is divided into multiple surfaces with different functions: a first guiding surface for stabilizing the recording medium, a second guiding surface for supporting curled portions, and a third guiding surface for preventing wrinkles at the leading end. This segmentation allows each surface to address specific aspects of medium instability
2Productivity
If the recording medium is curled or wrinkled, then conveyance may proceed, but the gap between nozzles and recording medium becomes nonuniform
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member acts as a mediator that maintains a stable reference plane between the print head and the recording medium. Even when the medium is curled or wrinkled, the guide member's flat guiding surfaces ensure uniform spacing, allowing continuous conveyance while preserving gap uniformity for consistent droplet ejection
3Productivity
If wrinkled or curled recording medium contacts the print head, then recording may continue, but conveyance errors occur
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member serves as a protective intermediary that intercepts wrinkles and curls before they can contact the print head. This prevents conveyance errors and recording interruptions, allowing continuous operation while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The guide member provides beforehand cushioning by pre-stabilizing the recording medium through its guiding surfaces. Wrinkles and curls are corrected or supported in advance before the medium reaches the critical print head area, preventing contact errors and ensuring reliable conveyance
Data Source
AI summary
A recording unit according to the present invention includes a holding member, a recording element held on the holding member, an ink supply section held on the holding member, and a guiding portion provided in the holding member. The guiding portion guides a recording medium so as to prevent the recording medium from contacting the recording element. An image recording apparatus according to the present invention includes a conveying mechanism having a conveying member on which a recording medium is placed for conveyance, a recording unit, and a fixing member which fixes the recording unit. A guiding portion of the recording unit guides the recording medium to the conveying member so as to prevent the recording medium from contacting the recording element. The guiding portion also maintains a constant gap between the recording medium and the recording element to achieve high-quality image recording.