Side Member Flexure Reduces Friction Load in Inkjet Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink jet printers face issues with sheet-like media being lifted off during transport due to friction, causing added load and potential recording quality deterioration.
Innovation Solution
A transport apparatus with side members that are flexurally deformed along the transport direction, forming spaces between the sheet-like medium and the holding surface, and applying tension to prevent slide contact and lifting, integrated into a recording apparatus for efficient media handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If edges of the sheet-like medium are made to be in slide contact with the side pressing unit, then the sheet-like medium can be suppressed from being lifted off, but a load is added on the sheet-like medium due to friction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an inclined portion as an intermediary element between the side pressing unit and the sheet-like medium. This inclined portion guides the medium edges to be interposed between the opposed faces and the holding surface, enabling suppression of lifting off through geometric constraint rather than direct frictional contact with the side pressing unit.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of having the side pressing unit directly contact and press the sheet-like medium edges (which causes friction), the patent inverts the approach by having the medium edges interposed between the side pressing unit's opposed faces and the holding surface. The suppression of lifting off is achieved through the geometric arrangement and suction force rather than direct pressing force.
2Reliability
If the sheet-like medium is transported while edges are in slide contact with the side pressing unit, then lifting off is suppressed, but friction causes added load and potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The inclined portion serves as a mediator that redirects the medium edges to a position where they are interposed between the opposed faces and the holding surface. This geometric arrangement allows the suction force to act directly on the medium edges for stabilization without requiring frictional contact with the side pressing unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical friction-based suppression method with a suction-based method. The holding surface with suction holes generates negative pressure to hold the medium edges in place, substituting the mechanical slide contact and friction with a pneumatic holding mechanism.
3Reliability
If direct pressure is applied to suppress lifting off, then edge stability is improved, but the load on the medium increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical pressing force with suction force. The holding surface with suction holes generates negative pressure to hold the sheet-like medium edges, eliminating the need for direct mechanical pressing and thereby reducing the load on the medium while maintaining edge stability.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of applying outward pressing force from the side pressing unit, the patent uses inward suction force from the holding surface. This inverted approach achieves the same goal of suppressing lifting off but with a force direction that is more favorable for reducing medium load.
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
The solution effectively suppresses the lifting of sheet-like medium edges and reduces load on the medium, ensuring accurate ink placement and high recording quality by maintaining edge contact with the holding surface without direct pressure.
Implementation Method 1
a suction fan, and a side pressing unit. In the printer described in JP-A-2000-153604, the sheet-like medium is transported while the suction fan is driven to suck the sheet-like medium (recording sheet) to the platen
Implementation Method 2
the side members form spaces between the other surface of the sheet-like medium and the opposed faces when the sheet-like medium is transported in a state where edges of the sheet-like medium in the width direction are interposed between the opposed faces and the holding surface
Data Source
AI summary
A transport apparatus which transports a sheet-like medium along a transport direction while one surface of the sheet-like medium is sucked to a holding surface, includes side members having opposed faces which are opposed to a portion of the holding surface at a position near the edge of the holding surface in a width direction intersecting with the transport direction. The side members form spaces between the other surface of the sheet-like medium and the opposed faces when the sheet-like medium is transported in a state where edges of the sheet-like medium in the width direction are interposed between the opposed faces and the holding surface.