Printing Apparatus Cutter Positioning for Image Quality
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming devices face challenges in cutting sheets without deteriorating image quality, particularly when the cutting unit is positioned closer to the image forming unit.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus is designed with a cutter positioned on the receiver-side of the image recorder, allowing for controlled cutting of the recording medium after the image recording process is completed, using a second conveying direction opposite to the first conveying direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the cutting unit is positioned closer to the image forming unit, then the device size is reduced, but image quality deteriorates due to image deviation during cutting
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by conveying the sheet in a second direction (opposite to the first conveying direction) to position the cutting section upstream of the image forming section before cutting occurs. This preliminary positioning ensures that when cutting happens, the sheet will be conveyed in the opposite direction, preventing image deviation and maintaining image quality while allowing the cutter to be positioned closer to the image recorder.
2Device complexity
If the cutting unit is positioned closer to the image forming unit, then the device complexity is reduced, but the risk of image deviation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically changes the conveying direction of the sheet by introducing a second conveying direction opposite to the first conveying direction. This dynamic reversal of conveyance direction allows the cutting unit to be positioned closer to the image forming unit while ensuring that the sheet moves in the opposite direction during cutting, thereby preventing image deviation and maintaining image stability without increasing device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a printing apparatus including: a holder; an image recorder; a receiver; a cutter; a first conveyor; and a controller. The controller is configured to execute: a first conveying process of conveying a recording medium by the first conveyor along a first conveying direction to the image recorder; an image recording process of recording an image on the recording medium by the image recorder; a second conveying process of conveying the recording medium with the image recorded in a second conveying direction opposite to the first conveying direction by a predetermined amount, after the image recording process; and a cutting process of cutting the recording medium by the cutter, after the second conveying process.