Roll Paper Wrinkle Prevention in Liquid Discharging Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet printers using roll paper face issues with medium swelling, leading to wrinkles that interfere with the ink head and cause defects like contamination or failure, and result in folds or disturbances during winding.
Innovation Solution
A liquid discharging device with a transporting unit, winding unit, discharging unit, and supporting units featuring curved and convex portions that inhibit wrinkle growth by colliding with and stabilizing the medium, preventing significant upward floating and ensuring smooth printing and winding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the medium absorbs moisture from the discharged liquid, then the medium swells and forms wrinkles, but the wrinkles interfere with the ink head and cause defects such as contamination or failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by providing a wrinkle prevention mechanism that acts before wrinkles can grow to interfere with the ink head. The mechanism includes a prevention unit with pressing members that apply pressure to the medium in the wrinkle prevention region, preventing wrinkle formation at the source before the wrinkles can propagate to harmful levels that would interfere with ink head operation or cause contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful swelling effect into a beneficial controlled process by using the pressing members to manage the medium's dimensional changes. Instead of allowing uncontrolled swelling to create interfering wrinkles, the pressing members guide the medium through the discharge region, transforming the potential harm of moisture absorption into a controlled process that maintains medium stability during liquid discharge.
2Reliability
If the medium swells due to moisture absorption, then wrinkles occur and grow in the transport direction, but the wrinkles cause folds and disturbances during winding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by positioning the wrinkle prevention mechanism upstream in the transport direction, before the medium reaches the winding unit. The pressing members act on the medium in advance to prevent wrinkle formation and growth, ensuring that by the time the medium reaches the winding unit, the surface remains flat and free of wrinkles that would cause folds or disturbances during winding.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by providing a dedicated wrinkle prevention region and pressing members that act on the medium before it reaches critical stages. The prevention unit is positioned to address wrinkle formation early in the process, performing the necessary correction action in advance to ensure proper medium condition for subsequent winding operations.
3Manufacturing precision
If the medium is supported flat during discharge, then printing quality is maintained, but the medium may float upward due to swelling strain accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing different support characteristics in different regions. The first support unit provides flat support in the discharge region to maintain printing quality, while the second support unit provides elevated support in the wrinkle prevention region downstream to counteract swelling strain and prevent upward floating. This localized differentiation of support properties allows the system to simultaneously maintain both printing quality and medium position stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses another dimension by introducing vertical elevation of the second support unit relative to the first support unit. Instead of merely extending horizontal support, the solution elevates the support surface in the wrinkle prevention region, creating a stepped or inclined support structure that actively counteracts the upward floating force caused by swelling strain while maintaining flat support where printing occurs.
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 wrinkles from reaching the ink head and winding unit, reducing defects and maintaining printing quality and winding shape integrity.
Implementation Method 1
a second supporting unit disposed on a downstream side in the first direction of the first supporting unit, heated by a heater, and including a curved portion curved in a direction away from the discharging unit
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid discharging device including a transporting unit configured to transport a medium in a transport direction, a winding unit disposed on a downstream side of the transporting unit in the transport direction and configured to wind the medium, a recording head disposed between the transporting unit and the winding unit and configured to discharge ink onto the medium positioned in a discharge range, a medium supporting unit configured to support the medium positioned in the discharge range, and a medium guide unit disposed on a downstream side of the medium supporting unit in the transport direction, and heated by a heater, and moreover including a curved portion curved in a direction away from the recording head, wherein the curved portion includes a curved portion side convex portion group including curved portion side convex portions projecting in a direction approaching the recording head and arranged in an X direction.