Segmented Suction Plate Layout for Long Inkjet Sheet Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ink jet recording apparatuses face difficulties in transporting elongated transport plates and suction devices due to increased size or number of recording heads, leading to challenges in maintaining effective suction and smooth transportation of recording media.
Innovation Solution
The transport plate and suction device are divided into multiple units, with shifted positions and joints to ensure proper communication of suction holes with suction chambers, allowing for easy transportation and maintaining suction force, even with elongation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the transport plate and suction device are made longer to accommodate increased recording head sizes or numbers, then the recording capacity is improved, but the transportation and assembly difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transport plate is divided into multiple divided transport plates arranged in the transport direction, and the suction device is divided into multiple suction chambers. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured and transported separately, then assembled together to form the complete elongated structure needed for increased recording capacity.
2Productivity
If the transport plate and suction device are elongated to accommodate more recording heads, then the recording capacity is improved, but the suction effectiveness deteriorates due to potential disconnection between suction holes and suction chambers
Solution Approach 1:
Both the transport plate and suction device are segmented into multiple units that can be independently manufactured and then precisely assembled. This ensures that suction holes remain properly aligned with suction chambers throughout the elongated structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The joints of the divided transport plates and suction chambers are intentionally positioned asymmetrically relative to each other in the transport direction. This asymmetric offset prevents misalignment between suction holes and suction chambers, ensuring continuous effective suction across the entire elongated structure.
3Ease of manufacture
If the transport plate is divided into multiple units, then the ease of transportation is improved, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transport plate is divided into multiple divided transport plates that can be transported separately. While this increases the number of components, each individual plate remains structurally simple and manageable, balancing transportation ease with controlled structural complexity.
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 configuration ensures smooth transportation and effective suction of recording media, even with increased recording head sizes or numbers, by maintaining proper air flow and suction force across the divided units.
Implementation Method 1
a suction device that adsorbs the recording medium to the transport device
Implementation Method 2
The endless belt includes a plurality of air intake holes, penetrating through the endless belt in a second direction
Data Source
AI summary
An ink jet recording apparatus includes a recording head, a transport device, and a suction device. The transport device includes an endless belt that transports a sheet along a first direction, and a transport plate. The suction device adsorbs the sheet to the endless belt. The endless belt includes a plurality of air intake holes, penetrating in a second direction, intersecting the first direction and corresponding to an ink ejecting direction from the recording head toward the sheet. The transport plate includes a plurality of suction holes penetrating in the second direction, and a plurality of divided transport plates aligned in the first direction. The suction device includes a plurality of suction chambers divided along the first direction. A joint between the divided transport plates adjacent to each other, and a joint between the suction chambers adjacent to each other, are positionally shifted from each other in the first direction.