Printer Scanner Detects Surface Damage to Prevent Print Errors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional printers fail to inhibit printing on areas with damage or dirt on the printing surface and areas where printing has already been performed, leading to suboptimal image quality and potential damage.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus equipped with a scanner and controller that detects damage or dirt on the printing surface, adjusts the sheet position to prevent printing on these areas, and ensures that images are printed only on clean, undamaged sections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional printers perform printing on the entire sheet surface without detection, then printing operation is simple and fast, but printing quality deteriorates due to damage and dirt on the printing surface
Solution Approach 1:
The scanner scans the printing surface of the sheet before the printing operation to detect damage and dirt in advance. The controller identifies error positions based on the scan data and adjusts the sheet position or skips the printing area before actual printing occurs, preventing quality deterioration from the outset.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates a feedback loop where the scanner detects the printing surface quality, the controller processes this information to identify error positions, and then adjusts the printing operation accordingly. This closed-loop control ensures that printing only occurs on clean areas of the sheet.
2Reliability
If the sheet is conveyed without position adjustment, then the printing operation is simple, but printing is accidentally performed on areas where printing has already been performed
Solution Approach 1:
The scanner scans the sheet surface before printing to detect previously printed areas. The controller uses this advance information to calculate the necessary position adjustment and executes the adjustment before the actual printing operation, preventing accidental printing on already printed areas.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of relying solely on mechanical position adjustment mechanisms, the system uses optical scanning and electronic control to detect and correct positioning errors. The controller calculates precise position adjustments based on scan data and directs the conveyance mechanism accordingly.
3Measurement precision
If automatic cueing is performed without scanning, then the setup process is fast, but damage and dirt on the printing surface are not detected
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the automatic cueing function with the scanning function into a single integrated process. The scanner scans the sheet during the cueing operation, and the controller simultaneously performs position adjustment and damage detection, combining multiple functions to improve both detection precision and setup efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The scanning device serves multiple functions: it detects damage and dirt on the printing surface, identifies the leading end position of the sheet, and provides data for position adjustment. This multi-functional approach improves detection precision while maintaining setup speed.
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 damaged or dirty areas, ensuring high-quality images are printed only on suitable sections of the sheet, thereby maintaining the integrity of the printing surface and avoiding paper jams.
Implementation Method 1
a scanner facing the conveyance route at a downstream from the printing head in a discharge direction in which the sheet is conveyed toward the discharge opening along the conveyance route, and configured to scan a printing surface of the sheet
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a printing apparatus, including: a casing having a discharge opening and a conveyance route; a roller; a driving source; a printing head; a scanner disposed at a downstream side in a discharge direction; and a controller. The controller is configured to, depending on a printing preparation command, detect a leading-end position of a sheet; determine whether a printing surface of the sheet includes an error position that is not suitable for printing; and convey the sheet until the error position reaches the downstream position from the printing head. Then, the controller controls the printing head to execute printing of an image on the sheet.