Printing Method Backward Transport Mark Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printing methods face challenges in accurately positioning a printing apparatus after an interruption, particularly due to meandering of the recording medium during backward transport, leading to detection failures and increased costs from advanced movement mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A printing method that includes transporting the recording medium in a first direction and then reversing it by a stable distance to align a mark within the detection region, using a steering unit to correct deviations, allowing for accurate restart of printing without the need for an advanced movement mechanism for the mark detecting unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the recording medium is transported in the backward direction for positioning, then the printing position can be aligned, but the mark detection fails due to meandering and the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of moving the mark detecting unit forward to track meandering (complex solution), the patent reverses the approach by transporting the recording medium backward to a positioned state where the mark naturally enters the detection region. This inversion eliminates the need for complex tracking mechanisms while achieving accurate positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the problematic element (mark detecting unit movement mechanism) from the system. By removing the need for the mark detecting unit to move forward and track meandering, the solution simplifies the device structure while maintaining positioning accuracy through backward transport and natural mark alignment.
2Measurement precision
If the mark detecting unit position is moved to follow meandering, then mark detection accuracy improves, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of moving the detector to follow the meandering mark (complex solution), the patent inverts the approach by moving the recording medium backward so that the stationary detector can naturally detect the mark. This eliminates the need for complex movement mechanisms while maintaining detection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent removes the mark detecting unit movement mechanism from the system. By making the detector stationary and using backward transport to position the mark within the fixed detection region, the solution achieves accurate detection without adding device complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If the recording medium is transported backward without steering correction, then the transport process is simple, but the mark moves out of detection region due to meandering
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary steering correction during the backward transport process. By pre-correcting the meandering deviation before the mark reaches the detection region, the system ensures accurate detection without requiring complex real-time tracking mechanisms, thus maintaining both simplicity and precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses feedback from the steering unit to correct meandering during backward transport. The steering correction mechanism continuously adjusts the recording medium position based on detected deviations, ensuring the mark remains on the correct trajectory to enter the detection region accurately.
Data Source
AI summary
A printing method of a printing apparatus which includes a transport unit, a transport position output unit, a mark detecting unit, a steering unit, and a storage unit, the method including first processing in which the medium is transported by a first distance in the second direction, and positions the first mark on the downstream side of the detecting region in the second direction; second processing in which arriving at a predetermined position of the first mark is detected based on the output value of the drum encoder and a reference value; and third processing in which printing is started based on a detecting timing of the first mark, in which the first distance is a first stable transport distance or more which converges a deviation amount in the third direction into a predetermined first deviation amount until the first mark reaches the first predetermined position.