Printing Apparatus Dynamic Head-to-Medium Distance Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Printing apparatuses face challenges in maintaining a consistent head-to-medium distance when printing high-stiffness media, leading to potential image quality issues due to the media's inclination and varying distances during the printing process.
Innovation Solution
The printing apparatus employs a conveyance unit with multiple rollers and a control system that adjusts the printing element array and conveyance operation to ensure consistent image printing by selectively using printing elements based on the media's support conditions, using a scanning mechanism that crosses the conveyance direction and controlling the conveyance operation to maintain a stable head-to-medium distance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If flat-pass conveyance is used for high-stiffness print medium, then the print medium can be conveyed smoothly without undue drag, but the head-to-medium distance changes during printing of leading or trailing edge portions resulting in poor image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adjusts the printing element array configuration based on the real-time conveyance state of the print medium. The control unit switches between a first printing element array (when both conveyance members support the medium) and a second printing element array (when only one conveyance member supports the medium), adapting the printing system to the changing mechanical conditions during flat-pass conveyance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the printing system by selecting different printing element arrays with different characteristics. The first printing element array is used when the print medium is supported by both conveyance members, while the second printing element array is used when the medium is supported by only one conveyance member, thereby optimizing print quality under varying support conditions.
2Area of stationary object
If the entire printing element array is used for high-stiffness media, then printing coverage is maximized, but image quality deteriorates due to varying head-to-medium distance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the printing element array into multiple distinct arrays (first printing element array and second printing element array) with different functional characteristics. This segmentation allows the system to selectively activate appropriate printing elements based on the conveyance state, ensuring high-quality printing in regions where head-to-medium distance is stable while managing variations in regions where distance changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different printing element configurations to different spatial regions of the print medium based on local support conditions. The first printing element array is used in regions where both conveyance members provide support, while the second printing element array is used in regions where only one conveyance member supports the medium, optimizing print quality for each local condition.
Data Source
AI summary
A printing apparatus provides a conveyance operation in which a conveyance unit conveys a print medium in a conveyance direction, and includes a control unit to control a printing unit such that, in a case where an image is to be printed onto a print medium of a first type in a first state in which the print medium of the first type is supported by a first conveyance member and not supported by a second conveyance member, the printing unit uses a printing element included in a first region from which a distance to the print medium of the first type in a height direction perpendicular to a surface where the printing elements are arrayed is a first distance, and does not use a printing element included in a second region from which a distance to the print medium of the first type in the height direction is a second distance greater than the first distance.