Printer Sheet Transfer Mechanism with Adjustable Suction Holes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet transfer mechanisms for inkjet printers face challenges in preventing cockling and swelling of sheets under ink heads, leading to suboptimal printing quality and increased production costs due to high voltage requirements and unstable suction effects, which result in ink mist and power consumption issues.
Innovation Solution
A sheet transfer mechanism featuring a transfer belt with adhesion through-holes and a platen with adjustable suction through-holes, supported by an aspirator generating negative pressure, and an airflow equalizing plate to control suction force and airflow pulsation, ensuring sheet flatness and reducing ink mist.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If an electrostatic adherence system is used to prevent sheet cockling, then sheet flatness is improved, but device complexity and production cost increase due to high voltage generating means
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the electrostatic adherence system (which requires high voltage generating means) with a mechanical suction system using a suction fan and through-holes in the transfer belt and platen. This mechanical approach achieves sheet flatness control without the complexity of high voltage generation and control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a simple suction fan and through-hole structure instead of expensive electrostatic components. The suction system with adjustable through-holes provides a cost-effective solution for maintaining sheet flatness during transfer, eliminating the need for high voltage generating means.
2Force
If suction through-holes in platen and transfer belt overlap to maximize suction effect, then sheet adhesion is improved, but local suction gaps and airflow pulsation cause unstable suction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different hole configurations to different components: the transfer belt has through-holes arranged in a first pattern, while the platen has through-holes arranged in a second pattern that is intentionally different. This local differentiation ensures that holes do not directly overlap, creating multiple airflow paths that stabilize suction and eliminate pulsation while maintaining adequate adhesion force.
3Force
If large amount of airflow is used to obtain necessary suction force, then sheet adhesion is improved, but ink mist spread increases causing blot
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the suction airflow into multiple smaller streams by creating numerous non-overlapping through-holes in both the transfer belt and platen. This segmentation disperses the total airflow into many small channels, reducing the velocity and spread of each individual airflow stream, thereby preventing ink mist dispersion while collectively providing sufficient suction force.
4Stability of the object's composition
If suction force is concentrated to effectively hold sheet, then sheet flatness is improved, but power consumption and noise increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the suction function into multiple distributed through-holes rather than using a few large suction points. This segmentation allows the suction fan to operate at lower pressure and speed, reducing power consumption and noise, while the distributed holes collectively provide sufficient suction force to maintain sheet flatness throughout the transfer area.
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
The mechanism effectively prevents cockling and swelling, stabilizes suction force, reduces ink mist, and lowers power consumption and noise by dispersing suction force and controlling airflow pulsation, thereby enhancing printing quality and reducing production costs.
Implementation Method 1
an aspirator that generates airflow with negative pressure for holding the sheet on the transfer belt through the plurality of the suction through-holes and the plurality of the adhesion through-holes
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet transfer mechanism for a printer (100) to form an image on a sheet (10) being transferred in a transfer route by propelling ink at ink heads (110a), includes: a transfer belt (160) that has a plurality of adhesion through-holes (165) for holding a sheet (10) and transfers the sheet (10) being held thereon, a platen (620) that slidably supports the transfer belt (160) in an area facing the ink heads (110a) and has a plurality of suction through-holes (622) in an area through which the plurality of the adhesion through-holes (165) pass; a suction fan (650) that generates airflow with negative pressure for holding the sheet (10) on the transfer belt (160) through the plurality of the suction through-holes (622) and the plurality of the adhesion through-holes (165); and plugging plates (624) that adjust a number density of the suction through-holes (622) in the platen (620) depending on an arrangement of the ink heads (110a).