Printing Apparatus Corrugating Member and Cutter Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Printing apparatuses face issues with rolled sheets curling and touching the printing head, leading to smearing and ink misdirection, due to the sheets being unsupported during printing and cutting.

Innovation Solution

A printing apparatus design where the corrugating member corrugates the printing medium, and the cutter is positioned forward of the downstream roller to prevent the sheet from curling and contacting the printing head, ensuring stable support and ink application.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the sheet is unrolled and cut before printing, then the printing process can be completed, but the sheet curls and touches the printing head causing smearing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting process completionVSAvoidprint quality

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

A support member is introduced as an intermediary element between the printing head and the sheet. This support member extends in the sheet width direction and provides continuous support to the sheet during printing, preventing curling and contact with the printing head while allowing the printing process to proceed normally

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If the cutter is positioned to cut the sheet, then cutting function is achieved, but the sheet becomes unsupported and curls during printing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecutting functionVSAvoidsheet stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The support member acts as a mediator that maintains sheet stability even after cutting. By providing continuous support across the sheet width, it prevents the cut edges from curling and maintains proper sheet positioning throughout the printing process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If the sheet is left unsupported during printing, then the printing head can access the sheet, but the sheet curls and contacts the printing head

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting head accessVSAvoidsheet curling and smearing

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The support member serves as a mediator that simultaneously enables printing head access while preventing harmful curling. It provides underlying support to the sheet without interfering with the printing head's ability to deposit ink, thus eliminating smearing while maintaining operational ease

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12194737B2Printing apparatus

Publication Date: 2025.01.14 BROTHER KOGYO KK

AI summary

A printing apparatus, having a platen to support a printing medium unrolled from a roll, a conveyer to convey the printing medium on the platen in a first direction, a head to print an image on the printing medium supported by the platen at a position on one side of the platen in a second direction intersecting with the first direction, a corrugating member to corrugate the printing medium, and a cutter to cut the printing medium, is provided. The corrugating member has a plurality of ribs and presser portions. The plurality of ribs align spaced from one another in a third direction, which intersects with the first direction and the second direction. The plurality of ribs protrude from the platen in the second direction. The presser portions press the printing medium toward the platen at intervening positions between adjoining ones of the plurality of ribs.