Treatment Liquid Application Roller Tension Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The application of treatment liquid to elongated recording media in inkjet image recording systems often results in image quality issues due to slack in the recording medium, leading to inadequate tension during re-start of conveyance, causing the medium to stick to application rollers, especially when the viscosity of the liquid is high or the medium is thin.
Innovation Solution
A treatment liquid application apparatus that includes a first application roller, a press roller, a conveyance roller, an obtaining unit for measuring slack, a conveyance amount calculation unit, a detection unit to monitor the conveyance amount, and a control unit to press the recording medium onto the application roller only after the slack is removed, ensuring appropriate tension is applied before treatment liquid application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If treatment liquid is applied to elongated recording medium before inkjet printing, then image quality is improved, but recording medium slack causes the medium to stick to application rollers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies treatment liquid to the elongated recording medium before the inkjet printing process. This preliminary application of treatment liquid prepares the recording medium surface to receive ink droplets, improving image quality while establishing a controlled process sequence that prevents slack-related issues during subsequent printing operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent controls the viscosity parameter of the treatment liquid to prevent the recording medium from sticking to application rollers. By optimizing the viscosity within a specific range, the treatment liquid provides sufficient flow properties to avoid adhesion problems while maintaining effectiveness in preparing the recording medium surface for high-quality image formation.
2Ease of manufacture
If recording medium is pressed onto application roller to apply treatment liquid, then treatment liquid application is effective, but recording medium sticks to roller when tension is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent controls the viscosity parameter of the treatment liquid to prevent the recording medium from sticking to application rollers. By optimizing the viscosity within a specific range, the treatment liquid provides sufficient flow properties to avoid adhesion problems while maintaining effectiveness in preparing the recording medium surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies a preliminary tensioning action to the elongated recording medium before it contacts the application roller. This preliminary anti-action counteracts the potential sticking force that would cause the medium to roll around the roller, ensuring smooth conveyance while still allowing effective treatment liquid application.
3Productivity
If conveyance roller stops during elongated recording medium conveyance, then processing can be paused, but slack occurs due to inertia of upstream roller
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic tension control system that automatically adjusts tension based on the conveyance state. When the conveyance roller pauses, the system dynamically increases tension to compensate for slack caused by upstream roller inertia, and reduces tension when conveyance resumes, maintaining optimal conditions throughout the variable-speed operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a feedback mechanism that monitors the conveyance roller's motion state and adjusts the tension applied to the elongated recording medium accordingly. When pausing is detected, feedback signals trigger increased tension application to prevent slack; when conveyance resumes, feedback signals reduce tension to prevent over-tightening, ensuring continuous stability.
Data Source
AI summary
A treatment liquid application apparatus including an application roller for applying treatment liquid; a press roller for pressing against the application roller an elongated recording medium which is placed between the press roller and the application roller; and a conveyance roller located downstream relative to the application roller on a conveyance path of the recording medium and conveying the recording medium is disclosed. The apparatus includes a control unit for causing the press roller to be pressed against the application roller when a value related to a conveyance amount of the recording medium conveyed by the conveyance roller from a re-start of conveyance exceeds a value corresponding to a slack amount of the recording medium which occurs in an upstream side of the conveyance roller at a stopping of conveyance.