Recording Medium Support Thermal Expansion Compensation

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Solution Overview

Problem

In image forming apparatuses, thermal expansion of the platen surface during heating leads to deformation, affecting the accuracy of liquid droplet landing and deteriorating image formation quality due to changes in the flatness of the support surface.

Innovation Solution

A recording medium support device with a holder having an air chamber and duct, where the linear expansion coefficient of the duct's bottom surface is greater than that of the recording medium support, minimizing deformation caused by thermal expansion and maintaining the flatness of the support surface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the platen is heated to adjust permeability and fixability of liquid droplets, then the quality of image formation is improved, but the surface of the platen deforms due to thermal expansion, causing deterioration in landing position accuracy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage formation qualityVSAvoidlanding position accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the thermal expansion principle by designing the holder structure with materials having different linear expansion coefficients. The bottom surface of the air chamber or duct is made of material with larger linear expansion coefficient than the recording medium support, allowing differential expansion that compensates for thermal deformation and maintains surface flatness during heating operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #37Thermal expansion

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite materials in the holder structure, combining materials with different thermal expansion properties. The holder includes an air chamber and duct made of materials with larger linear expansion coefficients compared to the recording medium support, creating a composite structure that resists thermal deformation through differential expansion characteristics

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If the platen surface is heated, then liquid droplet fixability is improved, but the flatness of the support surface deteriorates due to thermal expansion deformation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveliquid droplet fixabilityVSAvoidflatness of support surface

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes thermal expansion by configuring the holder with materials having larger linear expansion coefficients for the air chamber or duct bottom surface compared to the recording medium support. This differential expansion compensates for thermal deformation, maintaining surface flatness even when heating is applied to improve liquid droplet fixability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #37Thermal expansion

3Manufacturing precision

If the recording medium support is heated, then image formation quality is improved, but the accuracy of liquid droplet landing position deteriorates due to surface deformation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage formation qualityVSAvoidlanding position accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies thermal expansion compensation by designing the holder structure where the air chamber or duct bottom surface is made of material with larger linear expansion coefficient than the recording medium support. This creates differential expansion that counteracts thermal deformation, maintaining both surface flatness and landing position accuracy during heating

Inventive Principle:

Principle #37Thermal expansion

Solution Approach 2:

The holder acts as an intermediary structure between the heating source and the recording medium support. By incorporating materials with different thermal expansion properties in the holder, it mediates the thermal effects and prevents direct transmission of deformation to the recording medium support surface

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 reduces the deformation of the recording medium support device, thereby maintaining the accuracy of liquid droplet landing and improving the quality of image formation by stabilizing the support surface during heating.

Implementation Method 1

the surface for supporting the recording medium is deformed due to thermal expansion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Implementation Method 2

A linear expansion coefficient of a bottom surface of the air chamber or a bottom surface of the duct away from the recording medium support is larger than a linear expansion coefficient of the recording medium support

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Data Source

PatentUS10864754B2Recording medium support device and image forming apparatus

Publication Date: 2020.12.15 RICOH CO LTD

AI summary

A recording medium support device includes a recording medium support, a holder, and a support heater. The recording medium support supports a recording medium on which liquid is discharged. The holder holds the recording medium support, the holder including an air chamber and a duct. The support heater heats the recording medium support. A linear expansion coefficient of a bottom surface of the air chamber or a bottom surface of the duct away from the recording medium support is larger than a linear expansion coefficient of the recording medium support.