Printer Edge Detection via Acceleration Measurement
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional printers fail to detect and prevent printing on regions outside the intended printing area, leading to unintended ink application and wastage.
Innovation Solution
A printer equipped with a detector positioned forward of the printing head that measures acceleration to detect the edge of the printing medium, allowing the controller to stop the printing head before it reaches unsuitable regions, thereby preventing unwanted printing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the printer uses only speed change detection based on timing roller rotation, then it can detect when the timing roller leaves the recording medium, but it cannot detect regions on the recording medium that are not suitable for printing
Solution Approach 1:
The detector is positioned forward of the printing head to perform preliminary detection of the recording medium's edge or unsuitable regions before the printing head reaches them. This advance detection allows the controller to stop printing in advance, preventing unwanted printing on regions outside the intended printing area.
Solution Approach 2:
A detector is introduced as an intermediary component between the printing head and the recording medium. This detector serves as a mediator that detects boundaries or unsuitable regions and transmits this information to the controller, enabling the printing head to stop at appropriate positions without directly contacting or damaging the recording medium.
2Productivity
If the printer stops only when speed change exceeds a prescribed value, then it can respond to sudden separation, but it cannot prevent printing in regions outside the printing region that do not cause significant speed changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical speed-change-based detection system with an optical or electromagnetic detector system. This substitution allows for more precise detection of printing region boundaries and unsuitable areas, enabling the printer to stop with higher precision at region boundaries regardless of whether significant speed changes occur.
3Measurement precision
If the detector is positioned at the printing head location, then it can detect boundaries accurately, but it cannot provide advance warning to stop printing before reaching unsuitable regions
Solution Approach 1:
The detector is positioned forward of the printing head in the movement direction, creating a spatial offset that provides advance warning of upcoming boundaries or unsuitable regions. This preliminary detection allows the controller to initiate stopping actions before the printing head reaches the boundary, preventing unwanted printing and eliminating the need for repositioning after boundary detection.
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
Effectively prevents printing on regions outside the intended area, ensuring ink is only applied where intended, reducing wastage and improving printing efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
A detector arranged further forward in a movement direction of the printer than the printing head and detecting a boundary of the printing medium or a location on the printing medium not suitable to be printed on
Data Source
AI summary
A printer prints on a printing medium as the printer is moved. The printer includes a printing unit, a detector, and a controller. The printing unit prints an image on the printing medium. The detector detects a region on the printing medium that is not suitable to be printed on by the printing unit. The controller makes the printing unit stop printing when the detector detects the region on the printing medium that is not suitable to be printed on while the printing unit is printing.