Printer Platen Angle Control for Paper Uplift

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional printers struggle to prevent paper uplift from the platen surface, especially when handling strong or stiff paper, as existing solutions are ineffective in maintaining paper flatness across varying paper strengths.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating entry and exit angle control units on the printhead side of the platen, in conjunction with a platen surface design featuring multiple contact parts, to control the angle of paper interaction with the platen, ensuring consistent paper adhesion regardless of paper strength.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the platen surface is disposed on the printhead side of a plane through the conveyance roller and discharge roller positions, then weak paper can be prevented from lifting away from the platen surface, but strong paper may lift up from the platen surface (such as in the middle of the platen)

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepaper adhesion to platenVSAvoidcompatibility with different paper types

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The invention introduces angle control units that can dynamically adjust the entry and exit angles of paper to the platen surface. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the system to adapt to different paper types (weak or strong) by optimizing the angles for each case, resolving the contradiction between maintaining adhesion for weak paper and preventing lift for strong paper

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the geometric parameters of paper-platen interaction by controlling entry and exit angles. By adjusting these angular parameters through the angle control units, the system can optimize paper adhesion for different paper strengths, transforming a fixed geometry problem into a controllable parameter problem

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If conventional platen configurations are used, then the structure remains simple, but paper uplift occurs during conveyance of stiff paper

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplaten configurationVSAvoidpaper flatness maintenance

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention introduces angle control units as intermediary components between the paper and platen surface. These units act as mediators that control the interaction geometry, ensuring proper paper engagement with the platen without requiring complex overall system redesign, thus maintaining relative simplicity while improving reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS9931870B2Printer

Publication Date: 2018.04.03 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

A printer can suppress paper lifting away from the platen surface even when conveying strong paper (regardless of paper strength) (a printer that can suppress paper uplift from the platen and is not easily affected by the type of paper). A printer 40 in which the platen surface 42a is on the inkjet head 21 side of a plane C through position A where paper 11 is held by a conveyance roller 36, and position B where the paper is held by a discharge roller, has: on the printhead 21 side of the plane C between the platen 42 and conveyance roller 36, at least one entry angle control unit 44 that contacts the paper 11 conveyed toward the platen surface 42a, and controls the entry angle of the paper 11 to the platen surface 42a; and on the printhead 21 side of the plane C between the platen 42 and the discharge roller 37, at least one exit angle control unit 46 that contacts the paper 11 conveyed in the direction away from the platen surface 42a, and controls the exit angle of the paper 11 from the platen surface 42a.