Print Medium Leading-Edge Control for Jam-Free Printing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The change in conveyance state of print media, such as curling or lifting during conveyance, can lead to print quality degradation, dirty printheads, or jamming, especially when transitioning from conveyance by a single roller to conveyance by multiple rollers.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus with a conveyance unit and control unit that regulates printing operations based on the position of the print medium's leading edge, using a support member and regulation member to manage lift and conveyance state, and adjusts conveyance distance to avoid critical sections where lift or conveyance state changes occur.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If printing is performed continuously during conveyance, then productivity is improved, but print quality deteriorates when the leading edge passes through critical sections
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit identifies critical sections in advance and pre-regulates printing operations before the leading edge enters these sections. By predicting when the leading edge will pass through discharge rollers or other critical areas, the system proactively stops printing in advance, preventing quality degradation while minimizing interruption to overall productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the position of the leading edge relative to discharge rollers and other conveyance elements. Based on this feedback, the control unit dynamically adjusts printing operations, stopping printing when the leading edge approaches critical sections and resuming when it has passed through, thereby maintaining print quality while maximizing productivity.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the print medium is conveyed by multiple rollers, then conveyance stability is improved, but the risk of lift and jam increases at transition points
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary anti-action by regulating printing operations before the leading edge reaches discharge rollers or transition zones. By stopping printing in advance, the system prevents the printhead from contacting the leading edge, which could cause lift, dirt accumulation, or jamming, thereby maintaining reliability while preserving the benefits of multi-roller conveyance stability.
3Manufacturing precision
If the leading edge position is monitored continuously, then print quality is maintained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and focuses monitoring efforts only on the critical leading edge position relative to discharge rollers and other key conveyance elements, rather than continuously monitoring the entire print medium. This selective monitoring approach maintains print quality consistency while minimizing the added complexity of the control system.
Data Source
AI summary
A printing apparatus includes a conveyance unit arranged on an upstream side of a printing unit with respect to a conveyance direction of a print medium and configured to convey the print medium to the printing unit, and a control unit configured to, after a start of printing of the print medium by the printing unit, regulate the printing by the printing unit during a time when a leading edge of the print medium conveyed by the conveyance unit is passing through a set section preset on a conveyance path of the print medium.