Recording Device Curl Determination and Gap Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing recording devices face challenges in preventing friction between the transported medium and the recording section, leading to difficulties in recording high-quality images due to inaccurate curl determination and unnecessary drying, especially when the actual amount of curls is small.

Innovation Solution

The solution involves setting determination regions in the recording region to accurately calculate the liquid volume ratios, using the average value of these ratios to determine curl generation, and adjusting the recording section's position and drying time based on detected temperature and humidity to prevent friction and ensure proper drying.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If the recording section is moved away from the support pedestal to prevent friction, then friction between paper and recording section is reduced, but image quality deteriorates due to increased deviation of ink from impact position

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefriction between paper and recording sectionVSAvoidimage quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by dividing the paper into multiple regions (first region near corner section, second region adjacent to first region, third region adjacent to second region) and calculating liquid volume ratios separately for each region. This allows targeted determination of curl generation based on local ink distribution characteristics, enabling precise control of recording section positioning without unnecessary movement that would degrade image quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the determination process into distinct steps: calculating liquid volume ratios for each region, determining continuous regions with correlated curl generation, and setting determination regions based on these continuous regions. This segmentation enables accurate curl detection without over-reaction, preventing unnecessary recording section movement that would cause image quality deterioration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the recording section is moved away from the support pedestal based on total liquid volume, then friction is prevented, but image quality deteriorates when actual curl amount is small due to unnecessary movement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefriction between paper and recording sectionVSAvoidcurl determination accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using total liquid volume across the entire paper, the patent focuses on local liquid volume ratios in specific regions (particularly the first region near the corner section and continuous regions). This local measurement approach provides more accurate curl determination, preventing false positives that would trigger unnecessary recording section movement and maintain image quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic determination of recording section positioning by continuously monitoring liquid volume ratios in different regions and adjusting the recording section gap accordingly. This dynamic approach allows the system to respond only when actual curl generation occurs, avoiding unnecessary movements that would degrade image quality while still preventing friction when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Object-affected harmful factors

If drying time is increased to prevent friction, then paper dryness degree is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to unnecessary drying when curl amount is small

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefriction between paper and recording sectionVSAvoidprinting speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by analyzing liquid volume ratios in specific regions rather than treating the entire paper uniformly. This enables accurate identification of papers that actually require drying, preventing unnecessary drying operations that would reduce printing speed while still ensuring proper drying when curl generation is detected.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback control by using liquid volume ratio calculations to determine both recording section positioning and drying requirements. This feedback mechanism ensures that drying time is extended only when actual curl generation is detected, maintaining productivity by avoiding unnecessary drying operations while still preventing friction when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3017958B1Recording device and curl determination method
Publication Date: 2018.07.04 SEIKO EPSON CORP
  • EP3017958B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3017958B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3017958B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

There is provided a recording device including a transport section that transports paper along a support surface; a recording section; a determination region setting section; a liquid volume ratio calculation section; a determination section; and a recording position adjustment section that, when the determination section determines that the average value is larger than the threshold, adjusts a distance of the recording section from the support surface to a distance which is longer than a case in which the average value is not larger than the threshold.