Printing Apparatus Edge Detection Carriage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printing apparatuses face challenges in detecting both side edges of a medium independently of whether the printing head is movable or fixed, leading to increased apparatus size and potential accuracy issues due to sensor staining with ink.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus with a medium detection device that includes a movable carriage with two sensors positioned differently in the width direction, controlled by a unit that moves the carriage to detect side edges, reducing the apparatus's width dimension and minimizing ink contact with sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a sensor is disposed in the printing carriage to detect medium edges, then detection accuracy is improved, but the sensor may be stained with ink reducing reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor is extracted from the printing carriage and placed in a separate detection device positioned upstream of the printing head. This separation prevents the sensor from being exposed to ink during the printing process, eliminating the risk of ink staining while maintaining the ability to detect medium edges accurately.
Solution Approach 2:
The medium edge detection is performed in advance by the separate detection device before the medium reaches the printing head. This preliminary detection allows the system to acquire medium width information and adjust printing parameters beforehand, ensuring detection accuracy without exposing the sensor to ink contamination during printing.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a device that can detect both side edges of a medium is separately attached, then detection capability is improved, but the apparatus size in the width direction increases
Solution Approach 1:
The carriage in the detection device is designed to move in the width direction and position multiple sensors at different locations. This single movable carriage structure can detect both side edges of the medium as well as the medium width, providing multiple detection functions without requiring separate fixed devices for each function, thus avoiding increase in apparatus width.
Solution Approach 2:
The carriage is made movable in the width direction, allowing sensors to be dynamically positioned at different locations across the medium width. This dynamic positioning capability enables a compact structure where one carriage replaces what would otherwise require multiple fixed sensors spread across a wider area, reducing the overall apparatus width while maintaining comprehensive detection capability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If two sensors are disposed at different positions in the carriage, then both side edges can be detected, but the carriage must move extensively increasing complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The carriage is equipped with two sensors at different positions, but the detection process uses only the sensor that is currently positioned over the target edge. For detecting one side edge, only one sensor is actively used while the other sensor provides redundancy or detects the opposite edge when the carriage is in different positions. This partial usage reduces the effective movement required compared to using a single sensor that must traverse the entire width.
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
Enables independent detection of both side edges regardless of printing head mobility, reduces apparatus size, and maintains detection accuracy by minimizing ink contact and using a stepping motor for the detection device.
Implementation Method 1
the two sensors be optical sensors that irradiate the medium with light
Data Source
AI summary
A printing apparatus includes a transport portion that transports a medium, a printing head that performs printing on the medium, a medium detection device that is arranged upstream of the printing head in a transport direction of the medium and detects a side edge of the medium in a width direction intersecting with the transport direction, and a control unit that controls the transport portion, the printing head, and the medium detection device.