Printer Platen Suction Control via Dynamic Valve Arrays
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printing apparatuses face challenges in generating sufficient suction force for target printing media of varying sizes, leading to improper suction and increased costs due to complex suction mechanisms and increased number of suction holes.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus with a platen featuring through holes in a matrix arrangement, air chambers, communication tubes, and suction valves, where air chambers are positioned differently in the length and width directions to optimize suction force based on media size, and through holes are strategically placed in concave portions to enhance airflow and reduce pressure loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If the number of air suction holes is increased to improve suction force for narrow sheet bodies, then suction force is improved, but the sheet body may be strongly pulled into the holes creating difficulty in moving the sheet body
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the suction holes selectively openable and closable based on the size of the sheet body being processed. The control unit opens a greater number of suction holes when a narrow sheet body is detected to increase suction force, and closes some holes when a wide sheet body is detected to prevent the sheet from being caught. This dynamic adjustment of hole openness resolves the contradiction between needing strong suction and needing easy sheet removal.
2Adaptability or versatility
If partition walls are provided in the vacuum chamber to form multiple chambers along the transporting direction, then suction area is changed according to transporting position, but the number of suction holes open to atmosphere increases for narrow sheet bodies, preventing sufficient suction force
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses dynamics by dynamically controlling the openness of suction holes based on sheet body width detection. The control unit adjusts which suction holes are open or closed according to the detected sheet size, allowing the system to adapt suction area while maintaining sufficient suction force for narrow sheets without the limitation of fixed partition walls.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by varying the number of open suction holes as a controllable parameter. Instead of being constrained by fixed physical partitions, the system changes the operational parameter of hole openness to optimize suction force for different sheet widths, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and suction force.
3Force
If air is strongly sucked from the vacuum chamber to exert sufficient suction force for narrow sheet bodies, then suction force is improved, but sheet bodies with long length may be strongly pulled into holes creating difficulty in moving them
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by dynamically adjusting the number of open suction holes based on both the length and width of the sheet body. For narrow sheets, more holes are opened to provide sufficient suction force. For long sheets, the system selectively closes some holes to prevent the sheet from being strongly pulled into the holes, making removal easier. This dynamic control resolves the contradiction between suction force and ease of operation.
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 configuration allows for effective and efficient suction and holding of target printing media of different sizes, stabilizing the printing process while reducing costs by using a single air blower and minimizing pressure loss, thus ensuring stable printing performance.
Implementation Method 1
an air blower configured to suck and exhaust air in the plurality of air chambers with which the air blower communicates via the plurality of communication tubes
Data Source
AI summary
A printer includes a platen including a loading surface on which a target printing medium is loaded and in which through holes are formed, a printing unit performing printing on the target printing medium, a platen stand on which the platen is loaded, the platen stand including air chambers communicating with the through holes, communication tubes that individually communicate with the air chambers, an air blower configured to suck and exhaust air in the air chambers, and suction opening/closing valves individually provided in the communication tubes, the suction opening/closing valves configured to open and close communication between the air blower and the plurality of air chambers. The plurality of air chambers are provided at different positions adjacent to one another in a length direction and a width direction of the target printing medium loaded on the loading surface.