Roll Sheet Conveyance Backlash Management in Printing Apparatus
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The sheet conveyance accuracy in printing apparatuses can be affected by user interference with the roll sheet, especially when the backlash in the conveyance mechanism is not at its maximum designed or measured state, leading to potential inaccuracies during printing operations.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus with a control unit that performs a preparatory operation involving forward and reverse conveyance of the sheet before a print job, only if a predetermined condition is met, such as the cover being closed, to ensure the backlash is at a known maximum state, thereby maintaining conveyance accuracy without significantly reducing printing efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a preparatory operation is performed before every print job to manage backlash, then sheet conveyance accuracy is improved, but printing efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing a preparatory operation that conveys the sheet forward and then reverses before printing. This preliminary conveyance cycle positions the sheet and backlash state in a known condition, ensuring accurate conveyance during the actual printing operation. The preparatory action eliminates unpredictable backlash effects that would otherwise compromise printing precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by making the preparatory operation conditional rather than fixed. The control unit determines whether to execute the preparatory operation based on real-time detection of sheet conveyance state and backlash conditions. This dynamic approach allows the system to adaptively perform preparatory actions only when necessary, optimizing both accuracy and efficiency.
2Ease of operation
If the cover is opened to allow user access to the roll sheet, then ease of operation is improved, but sheet conveyance accuracy deteriorates due to potential user interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by using a detection unit to monitor whether the cover is opened during standby mode. Based on this feedback information, the control unit determines the appropriate action: if the cover is opened, the system performs a preparatory operation before the next print job to compensate for potential backlash changes caused by user interference. This feedback mechanism maintains accuracy while allowing necessary user access.
Data Source
AI summary
A printing apparatus includes a conveyance unit including a pair of rotation members that nip a roll sheet, and configured to convey the sheet by rotation of the pair of rotation members, a printing unit, and a control unit configured to, upon executing a new print job, cause the conveyance unit to perform a preparatory operation in which the sheet is conveyed in a forward direction and then conveyed in a reverse direction and stopped. If a predetermined condition is met after completion of a previous print job, the control unit causes the conveyance unit to perform the preparatory operation, and if the predetermined condition is not met after completion of a previous print job, the control unit does not cause the conveyance unit to perform the preparatory operation.