Printing Apparatus Reverse Transport Cut Piece
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printing apparatuses face difficulties in transporting cut pieces from downstream to upstream due to varying transport path heights, which can destabilize the cut pieces and hinder efficient processing.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus with a transport control method that includes a forward feeding step, cutting step, superposing step, and reverse feeding step, where the cutting unit cuts the medium into a base portion and a cut piece, and the transport unit superposes the upstream end of the cut piece over the base portion, allowing it to be transported from downstream to upstream, supported by the base portion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the transport path is set with upstream height shorter than downstream height to stabilize medium posture during cutting, then cutting stability is improved, but transporting the cut piece from downstream to upstream becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The invention reverses the conventional transport direction for the cut piece. Instead of transporting the cut piece in the same direction as the original medium flow (downstream to discharge), the cut piece is transported upstream against the original flow direction by the transport unit, allowing it to be returned to the upstream side of the cutting unit for further processing or stacking.
Solution Approach 2:
The transport unit acts as an intermediary mechanism between the cutting unit and the upstream transport path. It picks up the cut piece from the downstream side and transports it upstream, mediating the height difference and direction change required to overcome the transport path configuration limitation.
2Device complexity
If the cut piece is transported independently without superposing on the base portion, then transport control is simplified, but the cut piece becomes unstable and may contact ink receivers
Solution Approach 1:
The cut piece is superposed (placed on top of) the base portion during transport, creating a nested configuration where one medium element carries another. This nested arrangement stabilizes the cut piece during upstream transport without requiring complex separate transport control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The transport operation merges the base portion and cut piece into a single transport unit temporarily. By combining these elements during the upstream transport phase, the system achieves stable transport with simpler control, avoiding the need for separate complex positioning systems for the cut piece.
Data Source
AI summary
A transport unit configured to transport a medium, a printing unit configured to perform printing on the medium, and a cutting unit configured to cut the medium are provided, the cutting unit located downstream of the printing unit cuts the medium into a base portion upstream of the cutting unit, and a cut piece downstream of the cutting unit, and the transport unit, with an upstream end of the cut piece in a state of being superposed over the base portion, transports the upstream end of the cut piece from downstream of the cutting unit to upstream of the cutting unit.