Segmented Vacuum Device for Printer Media Cockle Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink jet printers face challenges in reducing cockling of print media due to swelling or shrinking caused by marking materials, which affects image quality, and existing solutions either increase energy consumption or complicate thermal decoupling and design flexibility.
Innovation Solution
The vacuum device is divided into two segments with independently controlled suction pressures, allowing for precise adjustment to minimize cockling while maintaining low energy consumption and avoiding extension into the print station, enabling effective thermal decoupling and design flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If high suction pressure is applied to eliminate cockles, then cockle suppression is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vacuum device is divided into two segments with different suction pressures: a first segment downstream of the print station with higher suction pressure to suppress cockles, and a second segment further downstream with lower suction pressure to maintain the flat state. This segmentation allows optimized energy consumption by applying high pressure only where necessary for cockle suppression.
Solution Approach 2:
Different suction pressures are applied to different spatial zones along the transport path. The first segment receives high suction pressure specifically at the location where cockles form after marking material application, while the second segment receives reduced pressure. This local differentiation optimizes energy use by concentrating high pressure only where cockle suppression is critical.
2Manufacturing precision
If suction device extends into print station region to prevent cockles, then cockle suppression is improved, but thermal decoupling becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The vacuum device is positioned to begin suction action immediately downstream of the print station, at the precise location where cockles start to form. This preliminary action prevents cockles from developing further without requiring the vacuum device to extend into the print station region, thereby maintaining thermal decoupling between the print and drying stations.
3Manufacturing precision
If high suction pressure is applied to flatten cockles, then cockle suppression is improved, but friction increases
Solution Approach 1:
The suction pressure is dynamically adjusted along the transport path, with higher pressure in the first segment where cockles form and lower pressure in the second segment where the sheet is already flat. This dynamic pressure distribution suppresses cockles effectively while minimizing friction and energy consumption in regions where high pressure is no longer needed.
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 approach effectively suppresses cockles with minimal energy and friction, maintaining design flexibility and preventing nozzle failures, while allowing for efficient drying and reduced bulkiness in the printer design.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum device arranged for attracting the media against the support surface on a section of the transport path downstream of the print station
Data Source
AI summary
A printer includes a print station; a media transport mechanism arranged for conveying print media on a transport path past the print station, the transport mechanism having a support surface for supporting the media; and a vacuum device arranged for attracting the media against the support surface on a section of the transport path downstream of the print station. The vacuum device is divided, in the direction along the transport path, into at least two segments in which the media are attractable with different non-zero suction pressures.