Image Recording Apparatus Post-Jam Cutting Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
When a jam occurs in an image recording apparatus that uses a roll body, users may cut the recording medium obliquely, leading to skew issues that conventional skew correction methods cannot address, potentially causing further jams.
Innovation Solution
The image recording apparatus includes a conveyer with a roller pair downstream of the cutter, a cutter to cut the recording medium perpendicular to the conveying direction, a recording engine, a jam handling detector, and a controller. The controller executes a post-jam conveyance to move the leading edge of the recording medium downstream of the roller pair and cuts the recording medium while nipping it with the roller pair, without performing skew correction during this process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the leading edge of the recording medium is brought into contact with the roller pair in a non-rotating state for skew correction, then skew correction is achieved, but the recording medium skews and jams become more likely to occur when the leading edge is oblique
Solution Approach 1:
The controller performs preliminary conveyance to move the leading edge downstream of the roller pair before cutting. This preliminary action ensures that when cutting occurs, the leading edge is already in the correct position, allowing the cutter to cut straight without causing skew during the cutting process itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent separates the skew correction function from the cutting function by using different roller pairs. The first roller pair handles skew correction while the second roller pair (downstream) handles the cutting operation. This segmentation allows each function to operate independently without interfering with the other, preventing skew induction during cutting.
2Ease of operation
If the user cuts the recording medium with scissors or the like without using the cutter, then jam handling is achieved, but the leading edge becomes oblique and skew correction cannot be performed
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically performs the skew correction function after user-initiated jam handling. When the user removes the jammed recording medium, the controller automatically detects this event and initiates the conveyance and cutting operations to restore proper alignment, eliminating the need for manual intervention to fix the oblique leading edge.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller detects when jam handling has been executed and uses this feedback information to automatically initiate the post-jam conveyance and cutting operations. This feedback mechanism ensures that the system responds automatically to user actions, restoring proper recording medium alignment without requiring additional manual steps.
3Productivity
If the cutter cuts the recording medium without the roller pair nipping it first, then cutting is achieved, but the cutting line may not be perpendicular to the conveying direction and skew issues arise
Solution Approach 1:
The controller performs preliminary conveyance to move the recording medium to the correct position where the leading edge is downstream of the roller pair before initiating the cutting operation. This ensures that when the cutter operates, the recording medium is properly positioned and nipped by the roller pair, guaranteeing a perpendicular cut.
Solution Approach 2:
The roller pair acts as an intermediary mechanism between the conveyer and the cutter. By nipping the recording medium with the roller pair first, it stabilizes the medium in the correct position and orientation, ensuring that the subsequent cutting operation produces a straight line perpendicular to the conveying direction.
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
This solution allows the recording medium to be cut straight, preventing skew issues and reducing the likelihood of further jams, ensuring proper image recording and media handling.
Implementation Method 1
a roller pair that is disposed downstream of the cutter in the conveying direction, configured to nip the recording medium, and configured to rotate in a forward rotation direction which is a direction for conveying the nipped recording medium in the conveying direction
Data Source
AI summary
An image recording apparatus includes a conveyer, a cutter, a recording engine, a jam handling detector, and a controller. The conveyer includes a roller pair disposed downstream of the cutter in a conveying direction, configured to nip the recording medium, and configured to rotate in a forward rotation direction to convey the recording medium in the conveying direction. The controller conveys the recording medium such that a leading edge moves from upstream to downstream of the roller pair in the conveying direction after the jam handling detector detecting that a jam handling has been executed, cuts the recording medium conveyed to a position where the leading edge is downstream of the roller pair with the cutter while nipping the leading edge with the roller pair, and does not execute a skew correction when executing the post-jam conveyance.