Recording Device Blade Moving Unit for Reverse Transport Belt Cleaning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing recording devices with transporting belts and cleaning units face issues with cleaning liquid adhesion to the belt during reverse transportation of recording media, limiting the distance of reverse transport and affecting recording quality.

Innovation Solution

A recording device with a rotating transporting belt and a cleaning liquid attaching unit that positions the cleaning liquid downstream of the recording medium's peeling position, combined with a blade system that moves to contact and separate from the belt surface to remove cleaning liquid, ensuring it doesn't adhere to the recording medium during reverse transport.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the cleaning liquid attaching unit is used to clean the transporting belt, then the cleaning effect is improved, but cleaning liquid remains on the belt surface and adheres to the recording medium during reverse transport

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning effectVSAvoidcleaning liquid adhesion to recording medium

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A blade is introduced as an intermediary element between the cleaning liquid attaching unit and the recording medium. The blade removes cleaning liquid from the transporting belt surface before the recording medium contacts the belt, preventing direct adhesion while maintaining the cleaning function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The cleaning function is segmented into two distinct stages: first, the cleaning liquid attaching unit applies cleaning liquid to the belt; second, the blade removes excess cleaning liquid from the belt surface. This segmentation ensures that cleaning occurs without leaving residual liquid that could adhere to the recording medium.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the recording medium is transported in reverse direction by a short distance, then cleaning liquid adhesion is suppressed through inter-nozzle distance design, but reverse transport by longer distance cannot be handled

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning liquid adhesion suppressionVSAvoidreverse transport distance capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The blade is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position and contact pressure on the transporting belt. This enables the system to adapt to different reverse transport distances while maintaining effective cleaning liquid removal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The blade performs preliminary removal of cleaning liquid from the transporting belt surface before the recording medium is transported in reverse. This preliminary action ensures that even when transporting for longer distances, no cleaning liquid remains on the belt to adhere to the recording medium.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If the blade is always in contact with the transporting belt, then cleaning liquid is continuously removed, but the blade may interfere with normal recording operation and increase device complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning liquid removalVSAvoidblade control mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The blade operates periodically rather than continuously - it contacts the transporting belt only when needed to remove cleaning liquid, and retracts during normal recording operations. This periodic action maintains cleaning effectiveness while reducing interference with recording and simplifying control requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

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

The solution effectively prevents cleaning liquid adhesion to the recording medium during reverse transportation, allowing for longer reverse transport distances without compromising recording quality, by strategically positioning the cleaning liquid and blade system in relation to the belt's rotation directions.

Implementation Method 1

a first blade configured to come into contact with the front surface to remove the cleaning liquid attached to the front surface by the cleaning liquid attaching unit

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurface contact removal:

Data Source

PatentUS11648786B2Recording device and method for reversely transporting recording medium

Publication Date: 2023.05.16 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

A recording device includes an endless transporting belt that transports a recording medium in a normal transport direction and a reverse transport direction, a recording head, a cleaning liquid attaching unit that attaches a cleaning liquid to a front surface of the transporting belt, a first blade that comes into contact with the front surface to remove the cleaning liquid attached to the front surface, and a blade moving unit that moves the first blade in approaching and separating directions with respect to the front surface. The blade moving unit causes the first blade to come into contact with the front surface when the transporting belt is rotating in a reverse rotation direction, and causes the first blade to be separated from the front surface when the transporting belt is rotating in a normal rotation direction.