Segmented Ventilation Member for Sheet Adsorption Pressure Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
In ink jet recording apparatuses, pressure loss in vent members during air suction leads to the need for increased suction force to adsorb sheet members, resulting in larger apparatuses or higher power consumption, especially when sheet member edges warp.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus employs a support suction unit with a ventilation member that divides the air chamber into sections with different pressure loss characteristics, using direct suction in one section to securely adsorb the sheet member and suction through the ventilation member in another section to maintain strong adsorption sustainability, thereby reducing pressure loss and power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If suction force is increased to compensate pressure loss in the vent member, then the sheet member can be reliably adsorbed on the mounting surface, but the apparatus size increases or power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air chamber is divided into a first section and a second section, with the first section having smaller vents and the second section having larger vents. This segmentation allows different suction characteristics in different regions, optimizing both adsorption reliability and power consumption by matching suction force to local requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the air chamber are given different vent configurations. The first section has smaller vents for stronger suction to handle warped edges, while the second section has larger vents for weaker suction to maintain adsorption sustainability. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between reliable adsorption and energy efficiency.
2Reliability
If suction force is increased to compensate pressure loss in the vent member, then the sheet member can be reliably adsorbed on the mounting surface, but the apparatus size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air chamber is segmented into two sections with different vent sizes. This allows the use of a more compact suction source that can provide variable suction force without requiring a uniformly large suction system throughout the entire air chamber, thereby reducing overall apparatus size while maintaining adsorption reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The vent member has non-uniform vent sizes distributed across different regions. The first section has smaller vents requiring less suction force, while the second section has larger vents. This local quality variation allows a more compact suction source to effectively adsorb the sheet member without requiring a uniformly large apparatus.
3Manufacturing precision
If a flat plate-shaped vent member is used to support the sheet member, then flatness of the sheet member and mounting surface is ensured, but pressure loss occurs during air suction
Solution Approach 1:
The vent member has different vent sizes at different locations. The first section has smaller vents that provide stronger suction to compensate for pressure loss and ensure flatness, while the second section has larger vents that reduce pressure loss. This local differentiation allows the system to maintain flatness where needed while minimizing overall pressure loss.
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 allows for reliable adsorption of sheet members on the mounting surface, preventing warping and ensuring high-quality image formation while minimizing apparatus size and power consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a suction fan that sucks air from the side opposite to the mounting surface of the conveyance belt through the air chamber
Implementation Method 2
pressure loss occurs in the vent member while air is sucked through the vent member
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
Provided are a sheet member conveyance apparatus and an ink jet recording apparatus with which it is possible to suction-attract a sheet member more reliably onto a mounting surface. The sheet member conveyance apparatus is provided with: a ventilation member provided on the side of a conveyance member opposite to a mounting surface thereof, along a movement path in a conveyance direction of the conveyance member; an air chamber which is provided on said opposite side along the movement path in a range including a region overlapping the ventilation member, and which enables ventilation with the mounting surface side of the conveyance member via ventilation holes in the conveyance member; and a suction part that sucks air via the air chamber from the side of the conveyance member opposite to the mounting surface side thereof, to suction-attract a sheet member onto the mounting surface. The air chamber includes a first section and a second section which is provided on a downstream side in the conveyance direction of the first section, and in which ventilation is provided by means of a ventilation path passing through the ventilation holes and the ventilation member. The ventilation member is provided such that a pressure loss in the ventilation path from the mounting surface side of the conveyance member to the first section is smaller than a pressure loss in the ventilation path from the mounting surface side of the conveyance member to the second section.