Printing Apparatus Media Tension Control for Bubble Prevention
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Large format printers face media jams due to tension-related media bubbles forming in the print zone, which can damage expensive printing modules and require manual intervention for resolution.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a deformation zone between media driving arrangements downstream of the print zone, where the media is under lower tension, allowing for deformation and reducing the risk of bubbles forming in the print zone, along with a sensor to detect bubbles and adjust driving speed or pressure to prevent jams.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the media is advanced through the print zone with tension to maintain flatness, then the media remains stable and flat, but media bubbles may form due to accumulated stress downstream
Solution Approach 1:
The media path is segmented into distinct zones: a print zone with higher tension for flatness and a deformation zone downstream with lower tension for bubble accommodation. This segmentation allows each zone to serve its specific function without interfering with the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The deformation zone acts as an intermediary between the print zone and the downstream media handling system. It absorbs stress and deformations that would otherwise propagate back to the print zone and cause bubble formation during printing.
2Manufacturing precision
If printing modules are positioned close to the media path to increase printing accuracy, then print quality improves, but the risk of media bubbles contacting the modules increases
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful function of the downstream area is extracted and relocated to the deformation zone, which is positioned away from the print zone. This allows the printing modules to be placed close to the media path for high precision while the deformation zone absorbs bubbles before they can reach the printing area.
3Device complexity
If a single media driving arrangement is used to advance media, then the system is simple, but stress and tension cannot be differentiated across different zones
Solution Approach 1:
The media driving system is segmented into multiple independent driving arrangements: a first driving arrangement for the print zone and a second driving arrangement for the deformation zone. This allows independent control of tension in each zone, enabling precise media management.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts tension characteristics in different zones by using multiple driving arrangements that can operate independently. The first driving arrangement maintains higher tension in the print zone while the second creates lower tension in the deformation zone, adapting to the different requirements of each area.
Data Source
AI summary
A printing apparatus comprises a print zone and a media handling system for advancing media through a media path and through the print zone, wherein the media handling system comprises a first media driving arrangement positioned downstream of the print zone in the direction of advance of the media, and a second media driving arrangement positioned downstream of the first arrangement, the second media driving arrangement being operable to cause the tension of the media in a deformation zone between the two driving arrangements to be lower than the tension of the media in the print zone.