S-Shaped Transport Path for Long Media Serpentine Attenuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional printing apparatuses for long media struggle with attenuation of serpentine and skew, leading to printing defects, as existing skew correcting mechanisms do not address serpentine issues effectively, and configurations attempting to correct serpentine can introduce parallelism issues causing large skew.
Innovation Solution
A medium transport device with an S-shaped path using a first transport roller upstream of the skew correcting mechanism and a second transport roller with a winding angle of 90 degrees or more, positioned vertically and upstream of the first roller, to attenuate serpentine and skew, enhancing transportation accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If two transport rollers are combined to generate an S-shaped pass for serpentine attenuation, then serpentine attenuation is improved, but large skew may occur depending on parallelism of the rollers
Solution Approach 1:
The transport path is segmented into two distinct sections: an S-shaped pass section with two rollers for serpentine attenuation, and a skew correction section with dedicated skew correction rollers. This segmentation allows each section to specialize in one type of correction without interfering with the other, resolving the contradiction between serpentine attenuation and skew control.
Solution Approach 2:
The S-shaped pass acts as an intermediary mechanism between the medium source and the printing section. It pre-attenuates serpentine in a controlled manner before the medium enters the skew correction mechanism, allowing the skew correction mechanism to focus solely on skew without being overwhelmed by combined serpentine-skew corrections.
2Manufacturing precision
If a skew correcting mechanism is used to suppress skew, then skew-related printing defects are reduced, but serpentine attenuation function is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The transport system is divided into functionally distinct segments: the S-shaped pass segment handles serpentine attenuation, while the skew correction mechanism segment handles skew correction. This segmentation allows both functions to coexist without one compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The S-shaped pass performs preliminary serpentine attenuation before the medium reaches the skew correction mechanism. This preliminary action reduces the overall complexity of the transport path and allows the subsequent skew correction mechanism to operate more effectively on already-stabilized medium.
3Ease of operation
If transport rollers are used to transport long print medium, then transportation is enabled, but skew and serpentine are generated
Solution Approach 1:
The S-shaped pass introduces a controlled curved path for medium transportation. This curvature is specifically designed to counteract and attenuate serpentine waves in the medium while maintaining smooth transportation, transforming the harmful serpentine motion into a controlled corrective action.
Solution Approach 2:
The transport rollers serve multiple functions: they enable basic medium transportation, attenuate serpentine through the S-shaped pass configuration, and work in conjunction with the skew correction mechanism to reduce skew. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction between ease of operation and manufacturing precision.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a medium transport device transporting a medium. The medium transport device includes a skew correcting mechanism disposed on a transport path for transporting a long medium, a first transport roller disposed on the transport path and transporting the medium, and a second transport roller transporting the medium to the first transport roller. The first transport roller is disposed upstream of the skew correcting mechanism. The second transport roller is disposed upstream of and next to the first transport roller. The second transport roller contacts one surface of the medium, and the first transport roller contacts the other surface of the medium.