Vacuum Hole Array with Dense Sparse Segmentation for Media Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing media supports require high suction power to hold large format media in place, which is inefficient and costly, and are not adaptable to media of different sizes.
Innovation Solution
The media support features a vacuum hole array with a combination of dense and sparse arrays, arranged with different pitches, allowing for reduced suction power while maintaining media stability across various sizes by positioning media edges close to vacuum holes, thereby reducing the number of required vacuum holes and pump power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a high number of vacuum holes are provided on large format media supports, then the media can be held in place, but the suction power required increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different hole densities in different regions of the media support. Dense arrays of vacuum holes are positioned along the edges where media stabilization is most critical, while sparse arrays are used in the center region. This local differentiation allows effective media holding with reduced overall suction power requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The vacuum hole array is segmented into distinct dense and sparse regions rather than using a uniform distribution. The support surface is divided into edge zones with high hole density and a central zone with low hole density, optimizing the balance between media holding effectiveness and power consumption.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a uniform dense array of vacuum holes is used across the entire media support, then media stability is ensured, but the number of vacuum holes and pump power requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the media support are assigned different hole densities based on their functional requirements. Edge regions receive dense arrays for maximum media stabilization, while the central region uses sparse arrays, reducing the total number of holes while maintaining overall media stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The hole distribution is dynamically optimized for different media sizes and positions. The system adapts the effective vacuum hole usage based on where the media is actually positioned, concentrating vacuum force where needed rather than uniformly across the entire support surface.
3Power
If vacuum holes are densely distributed across the entire media support surface, then sufficient vacuum force is provided, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The vacuum hole array implements local quality variation with dense distributions at edges and sparse distributions in the center. This reduces the total hole count and simplifies manufacturing while maintaining sufficient vacuum force where it is most needed for media stabilization.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of providing uniform vacuum force across the entire media support, the system applies concentrated vacuum force partially at the edges where it is most effective for preventing media curling and displacement, avoiding the complexity of full-surface dense hole distributions.
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 solution reduces the average number of vacuum holes per square meter, lowering the required suction power and enabling efficient holding of media of different sizes with less power consumption, while maintaining media stability and preventing curling or displacement.
Implementation Method 1
vacuum holes to hold the media in position against the support
Implementation Method 2
Relatively heavy duty pumps are connected to the holes to provide for a sufficient vacuum force
Data Source
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AI summary
the invention discloses a vacuum hole array (10) including a dense array (11) of vacuum holes (3), a first sparse array (12) including sparsely distributed rows (13) and columns (14) of vacuum holes (3), and a second sparse array (12A, 12B) including sparsely distributed rows (13) or sparsely distributed columns (14)of vacuum holes (3), and wherein the dense array (11) includes densely distributed rows (13) and densely distributed columns (14), and a constant pitch (R, C) of the sparse arrays (12, 12A, 12B) is equal to a constant pitch (r, c) of the dense array (11) multiplied by two or a higher integer (nr, nc).