Rotating Support Unit for Liquid Ejection Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
In liquid ejection apparatuses, when a conveyance stop occurs during printing, the ejected ink can flow down and stain the internal components due to the medium hanging down, leading to potential printer malfunctions and maintenance issues.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus includes a support unit that can rotate to adjust its position, forming a curve convex downward when conveyance stops, ensuring the ink remains on the medium and preventing it from flowing into the printer's internal components. This is achieved through a controller that coordinates the movement of the support unit and conveyance rollers to maintain the medium in a curved position, utilizing sensors to detect the medium's position and adjust the conveyance direction accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the conveyance stops in a state where the medium is supported by the support unit, then the medium can be prevented from making contact with the print unit, but the liquid just ejected flows down from the medium and may stain the inside of the apparatus
Solution Approach 1:
The support unit is rotated to form a curve convex downward in the vertical direction with the medium. This curvature causes any liquid that flows down from the medium to be directed away from the print unit and toward the downstream conveyance unit, preventing staining of internal components while maintaining the medium's separation from the print unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The support unit is made rotatable about an axis along the width direction, allowing dynamic adjustment of the medium's position and curvature. This dynamic capability enables the system to adapt the medium's orientation to prevent both contact with the print unit and liquid flow staining, resolving the contradiction between these two harmful effects.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the support unit is displaced to the second position at a longer distance from the recording unit, then the medium can be prevented from making contact with the print unit, but the liquid ejection efficiency may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The support unit is made rotatable and can be dynamically positioned at different locations along the conveyance path. This allows the system to optimize the balance between preventing medium contact with the print unit and maintaining efficient liquid ejection by adjusting the support unit's position and orientation based on operational conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of only moving the support unit linearly along the conveyance direction, the system utilizes rotation about a width-direction axis to create a curved medium position. This adds a rotational dimension to the support unit's positioning capability, allowing prevention of contact while maintaining optimal ejection geometry.
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
This solution effectively prevents ink from staining the printer's internal components, facilitates easier removal of jammed sheets, and reduces the risk of printer damage by maintaining the ink on the medium, thus ensuring reliable operation and easier maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
when the conveyance stops in a state where at least a part of the medium is supported by the support unit, the support unit is selectively displaced between a first position opposed to the recording unit and a second position at a longer distance from the recording unit... controlling the conveyance unit such that the medium forms a curve convex downward in a vertical direction
Data Source
AI summary
A printer includes a line head that ejects ink onto a sheet, a belt conveyance unit that supports the sheet, an upstream conveyance roller pair that conveys the sheet to the belt conveyance unit, a downstream conveyance roller pair that conveys the sheet from the belt conveyance unit, and a controller, wherein the belt conveyance unit can be displaced between a first position opposed to the line head and a second position at a longer distance from the line head than the first position by rotating, and the controller displaces the belt conveyance unit to the second position, and controls the belt conveyance unit, the upstream conveyance roller pair, and the downstream conveyance roller pair such that the sheet forms a curve convex downward in a vertical direction when the conveyance stops.