Printer Suction Platen Prevents Label Sheet Buckling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printers face challenges in preventing buckling and skewing of label sheets due to contact forces from side guides, especially when the label sheets are conveyed through a narrow path.
Innovation Solution
The printer incorporates a conveyor system with a suction-attraction force generator that creates a suction force between the side guides and the label sheet, preventing buckling and maintaining sheet alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If side guides make contact with end edges of the label sheet to guide the sheet, then the sheet is guided in the conveying direction, but the contact force causes buckling and skewing of the sheet
Solution Approach 1:
A suction-attraction platen unit is introduced as an intermediary between the side guides and the label sheet. The platen uses suction force to hold the sheet flat, while the side guides only provide lateral positioning. This mediator prevents direct contact forces from causing buckling, as the suction platen supports the sheet's weight and stabilizes its position without requiring mechanical contact from the guides.
2Manufacturing precision
If the label sheet is conveyed through a narrow path between side guides, then the sheet is aligned in the width direction, but the sheet is subjected to moments that cause deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The suction-attraction platen applies a counteracting force to balance the moments caused by the narrow path conveyance. The suction force creates a holding effect that counterweights the deforming moments, allowing the sheet to maintain its shape while being precisely aligned between the side guides. The suction platen essentially provides an opposing force that prevents the moments from causing buckling or skewing.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the pump sucks air from suction ports to prevent the label sheet from floating, then the sheet is held on the platen surface, but additional components increase device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The suction-attraction platen unit serves multiple functions simultaneously: it holds the label sheet flat on its surface, prevents the sheet from floating or deviating during conveyance, and works in conjunction with the side guides to maintain precise alignment. By integrating these multiple functions into a single component, the design avoids adding separate mechanisms for each function, thereby reducing overall device complexity despite the addition of the pump.
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 solution effectively suppresses buckling and skewing of the label sheets, ensuring smooth conveyance and accurate image recording, even when the sheets are subjected to moments that could cause deformation.
Implementation Method 1
The suction-attraction force generator is configured to generate a suction-attraction force in an area, in the first supporting surface, which is adjacent to the side guide and in which the sheet passes
Data Source
AI summary
A printer includes: a conveyor conveying a sheet in a conveying direction; a first supporting part positioned on an upstream side in the conveying direction with respect to the conveyor, and having a first supporting surface; a side guide making contact with at least one of both ends, in a width direction of the sheet, in the first supporting surface, the width direction being orthogonal to the conveying direction and parallel to the first supporting surface; a suction-attraction force generator generating a suction-attraction force in an area, in the first supporting surface, which is adjacent to the side guide and in which the sheet passes; a second supporting part positioned on a downstream side in the conveying direction with respect to the conveyor, and having a second supporting surface; and a recording part recording an image on the sheet supported by the second supporting surface.