Recording Apparatus Ink Adhering Position Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing recording apparatuses face challenges in maintaining consistent ink adhering positions across multiple recording heads due to variations in height during transportation or installation, leading to degraded print quality and requiring labor-intensive adjustments.

Innovation Solution

A recording apparatus equipped with a plurality of recording heads, a carriage, a reference portion, and a measuring unit that uses a distance sensor to measure and adjust the adhering position of each recording head, allowing for easy adjustment of ink discharge positions through a controller.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple recording heads are mounted on the carriage, then recording efficiency is improved, but height variation between recording heads occurs causing ink adhering position deviation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverecording efficiencyVSAvoidink adhering position accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical height adjustment with an automated optical measurement system. A distance sensor optically measures the distance between each recording head and the platen, and the controller automatically calculates and applies correction values to the ink adhering positions, eliminating the need for manual measurement and adjustment while maintaining high precision across multiple recording heads

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-adjustment by automatically measuring the actual distance of each recording head from the platen using the distance sensor, calculating the deviation from the reference position, and applying correction values to the ink adhering positions without requiring external manual intervention, enabling the system to self-correct height variations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Manufacturing precision

If manual height adjustment is performed after transportation or recording head replacement, then ink adhering position accuracy is improved, but labor time and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveink adhering position accuracyVSAvoidadjustment complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback control by continuously measuring the actual distance between recording heads and the platen using the distance sensor, comparing these measurements against reference values, and automatically adjusting the ink adhering positions based on the calculated deviations, ensuring consistent precision without manual intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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

Enables easy and precise adjustment of ink adhering positions, reducing the need for manual height measurements and labor, thereby maintaining consistent print quality despite variations in recording head heights.

Implementation Method 1

JP-A-2016-88022 discloses a recording apparatus having a function of measuring distances between a recording medium and a recording unit by an acoustic wave type distance sensor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustic wave: Sound

Data Source

PatentUS12090756B2Recording apparatus

Publication Date: 2024.09.17 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

A recording apparatus includes a plurality of recording heads that performs recording by discharging ink onto a recording medium, a carriage on which the plurality of the recording heads are mounted, a reference portion provided at a position faceable by the plurality of recording heads, a distance sensor that is provided in either the plurality of recording heads or the reference portion to measure a distance between the plurality of recording heads and the reference portion, and a controller that controls execution of a predetermined process based on a measurement result of the distance sensor to adjust an ink adhering position discharged by each of the recording heads.