Printing Apparatus Dynamic Pressing Force Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In printing apparatuses that simultaneously transport mediums unwound from multiple roll bodies, inefficiencies arise when printing on one medium is complete but the other is not, leading to increased medium consumption and reduced efficiency due to unnecessary transport and rewinding.
Innovation Solution
The printing apparatus reduces the pressing force on non-printing mediums, applying transport resistance to prevent unnecessary transport and using a support unit to stabilize the medium, thereby controlling the transport force and preventing image quality deterioration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the transport unit simultaneously transports multiple mediums unwound from roll bodies, then printing productivity is improved, but medium consumption increases when printing on one medium is complete but another is not
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing force applied to each medium is made dynamically adjustable based on printing status. When printing on a particular medium is complete, the pressing force on that medium is reduced, allowing the transport unit to stop transporting it while continuing to transport mediums that still require printing. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by enabling selective transport based on actual printing needs.
Solution Approach 2:
Different pressing forces are applied to different mediums based on their individual printing statuses. The control unit identifies which mediums are in the printing state and which are not, and applies corresponding pressing forces accordingly. This local differentiation allows the system to maintain high productivity for active printing while minimizing medium consumption for completed printing tasks.
2Productivity
If the transport unit continues to transport a medium after printing is complete, then printing efficiency is maintained, but time is wasted due to unnecessary transport and rewinding
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit continuously monitors the printing status of each medium and uses this feedback to adjust the pressing force accordingly. When printing on a medium is detected as complete, the control unit reduces the pressing force on that specific medium, which in turn causes the transport unit to stop transporting it. This feedback mechanism eliminates unnecessary transport and rewinding operations, resolving the time loss issue while maintaining printing efficiency.
3Loss of substance
If the pressing force on non-printing mediums is reduced, then unnecessary transport is prevented, but the medium may not be stable during transport
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing force adjustment is applied selectively to individual mediums based on their printing status, rather than uniformly to all mediums. The control unit identifies which mediums are in the printing state and applies normal pressing force to them, while reducing pressing force only on mediums that are not being printed on. This segmentation approach maintains stability for active printing mediums while preventing unnecessary transport of completed ones.
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 approach minimizes the transport of non-printing mediums, reduces medium consumption, maintains printing efficiency, and ensures image quality by preventing the non-printing medium from being transported unnecessarily and rewound, thus enhancing overall printing performance.
Implementation Method 1
the transport unit transports the medium by applying transport force to the medium, and a pressing unit presses the medium toward the transport unit, thereby applying transport resistance to the medium
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a printing apparatus which is provided with a holding unit that holds, so as to be rotatable, a plurality of roll bodies on which a medium (M) is wound in a cylindrical shape, a transport device (100) which has a transport unit (110) that imparts a transport force by coming into contact with the medium (M) that is unwound from the roll body which is held in the holding unit, a pressing unit (120) which presses the medium (M) toward the transport unit (110), and an adjustment unit (140) which is able to adjust a pressing force on the medium (M) in each of a plurality of regions in a width direction, and is able to transport the plurality of mediums (M) in the transport direction (F) in a state of being lined up in the width direction, a printing unit which performs printing on the medium (M) that is transported by the transport device (100), and a control unit which controls the adjustment unit (140) such that pressing force on the medium (M) in the non-printing state is smaller than in the printing state.