Printing Apparatus Cutter Alignment Correction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In image forming apparatuses with serial type printing heads, the conveyance accuracy of rollers is degraded when the cutter mechanism cuts the roll sheet during conveying operations, leading to misalignment of printed images and banding issues.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus configuration that includes a supply tray, a moving head with nozzles, a conveying device, a cutter positioned closer to the supply tray, and a controller. The controller performs a first printing process with repeated recording processes, including pass operations, conveyance operations, a cutting process, and a correction process to ensure accurate conveyance and alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the cutter mechanism is driven to cut the roll sheet during conveying operation, then the cutting operation can be performed, but the conveying operation must be interrupted and conveyance accuracy is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calculations to determine the optimal timing for cutting operations. The controller calculates when the cutter should operate based on pre-determined parameters including nozzle range dimensions and conveyance amounts, ensuring that cutting occurs only when it will not disrupt the printing alignment. This preliminary planning allows the system to maintain conveyance accuracy while still performing cutting operations efficiently.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback control by continuously monitoring the relationship between the cutter position, head position, and conveyance amount. The controller adjusts subsequent conveyance operations based on whether the cutting operation was performed, using feedback signals to maintain accurate conveyance. This feedback mechanism ensures that even when cutting interrupts conveying, the system can compensate and maintain overall conveyance accuracy.
2Ease of manufacture
If the conveying operation is interrupted for cutting, then the cutting can be performed, but the conveying amount after cutting becomes smaller than required and image misalignment occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically changes conveyance parameters based on the cutting operation status. When a cutting operation is performed, the controller adjusts the conveyance amount for subsequent operations to compensate for the interruption. This parameter adjustment ensures that the total conveyance distance remains accurate even though individual conveyance segments are modified due to cutting interruptions.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller performs preliminary calculations to determine the exact timing and positioning for cutting operations. By calculating in advance when cutting should occur and what the subsequent conveyance amount should be, the system prevents image misalignment. This preliminary action ensures that the cutting operation does not disrupt the overall printing alignment.
3Ease of operation
If the cutter is positioned closer to the supply tray, then the cutter does not interfere with the head movement, but the control complexity increases to ensure proper timing and positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the control process into distinct phases: head movement control, cutter operation control, and conveyance control. By separating these control functions and assigning them to different control logic blocks, the system manages the increased complexity through modular organization. The controller switches between different control modes based on the operational phase, making the overall complex system manageable through segmentation of control responsibilities.
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 solution ensures accurate conveyance and alignment of printed images, preventing banding issues by correcting the conveyance amount and ensuring the downstream end of the pass area faces the nozzle range during cutting, thus maintaining image quality.
Implementation Method 1
a head having an ejection surface including a nozzle range in which a plurality of nozzles configured to eject ink toward the printing medium are arranged
Implementation Method 2
a cutter arranged closer to the supply tray with respect to the head, the cutter being configured to cut the printing medium
Implementation Method 3
a conveying device configured to convey the printing medium along a conveying direction which intersects with the moving direction
Data Source
AI summary
A printing apparatus comprises a supply tray, a head having nozzles, a moving device configured to move the head, a conveying device, a cutter, and a controller. The controller performs a first printing process including a first pass operation to eject ink while moving the head and a first conveyance operation to convey the printing medium by a first conveyance amount. A first pass area of the printing medium in a current recording process overlaps the first pass area in a previous recording process. The controller is configured to perform a cutting process of cutting the printing medium, and a correction process of correcting the first conveyance amount in such a manner that a downstream end of the first pass area faces a downstream end of the nozzle range. The cutter is configured to cut the printing medium after the correction process is performed.