Conveyor Roller Contamination Estimation in Inkjet Printers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid application apparatuses, such as inkjet recording devices, face challenges in accurately measuring the amount of extraneous matter, like paper dust, attached to conveyor rollers, which affects conveyance accuracy and image quality due to non-uniform distribution and accumulation of debris.
Innovation Solution
A liquid application apparatus with a controller that calculates an estimated value of extraneous matter on conveyor rollers using weighting data based on the amount of paper dust distributed across the recording medium, allowing for precise measurement and management of extraneous matter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the number of conveyance times or liquid usage amount is used to estimate extraneous matter, then the estimation process is simple, but the measurement precision is insufficient due to non-uniform paper dust distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The recording medium surface is divided into multiple areas (first area at the end portion and second area at the center portion) with different weighting coefficients. The controller calculates extraneous matter amounts separately for each area and combines them with appropriate weighting, thereby improving estimation accuracy while maintaining computational feasibility.
Solution Approach 2:
Different weighting coefficients are assigned to different areas of the recording medium based on their paper dust characteristics. The end portion area receives a larger weighting coefficient than the center portion area, reflecting the non-uniform distribution of paper dust and improving the overall estimation accuracy of extraneous matter amount.
2Reliability
If conventional estimation methods are used, then the device complexity is low, but the conveyance accuracy deteriorates due to inaccurate extraneous matter measurement
Solution Approach 1:
The calculation of extraneous matter amount is segmented into multiple area-based calculations with different weighting coefficients. This segmentation improves the accuracy of extraneous matter estimation, which directly enhances conveyance accuracy by enabling more precise cleaning timing and conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller uses the calculated extraneous matter amount to determine cleaning timing and conditions. This feedback mechanism ensures that cleaning operations are performed based on actual contamination levels, thereby maintaining conveyance accuracy without requiring excessive complexity in the control system.
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid application apparatus comprises: a pair of conveyor rollers including two rollers configured to rotate while pinching a recording medium thereby to convey the recording medium in a first direction; a liquid applicator configured to apply a liquid; and a controller configured to control driving of the pair of conveyor rollers and to control the liquid applicator. The controller executes a calculation process of calculating an estimated value of an amount of extraneous matter attached to the pair of conveyor rollers taking into account weighting data indicating a weighting given, based on an amount of paper dust, to each of areas on the recording medium which areas are arranged in a second direction crossing the first direction.