Variable Thickness Pressing Unit for Liquid Ejection Precision
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid ejecting apparatuses face challenges in maintaining precise liquid landing due to varying medium thickness, leading to increased mist and reduced landing precision, as the pressing unit struggles to effectively shorten the distance between the medium and the ejection unit without compromising the pressing force.
Innovation Solution
A pressing unit with regions of different distances to the support unit, allowing for precise adjustment to accommodate varying medium thickness by using a plate spring that can move along the width direction, utilizing magnetic force or a slide rail, and applying friction reduction processing only on specific areas to maintain effective contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the pressing unit is designed to contact the thick portion of the medium to ensure pressing force, then the medium can be pressed against the support unit, but the distance between the medium and ejection unit becomes long, reducing liquid landing precision
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing unit is designed with non-uniform thickness, where the thickness varies in the width direction. Specifically, the pressing unit has a thinner region corresponding to the thick portion of the medium and a thicker region corresponding to the thin portion of the medium. This local variation in thickness allows the pressing unit to maintain adequate pressing force on the thick portion while reducing the distance to the ejection unit, thereby improving liquid landing precision without sacrificing pressing reliability.
2Manufacturing precision
If the overall pressing unit is formed in a thin plate-like shape to shorten the distance between medium and ejection unit, then liquid landing precision improves, but the pressing effect on the medium is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing unit incorporates local thickness variation to provide different pressing forces in different regions. The region corresponding to the thick portion of the medium has greater thickness to provide stronger pressing force, while the region corresponding to the thin portion has lesser thickness to reduce distance to the ejection unit. This localized differentiation resolves the contradiction between maintaining pressing effect and reducing distance.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressing unit is effectively segmented into multiple regions with different thicknesses along the width direction. Each region is optimized for its specific function: one region prioritizes pressing force while another prioritizes proximity to the ejection unit. This segmentation allows the pressing unit to simultaneously achieve both pressing reliability and liquid landing precision.
3Reliability
If the pressing unit thickness is increased to press thick portions of the medium, then pressing force is sufficient, but the distance to the ejection unit increases causing floating mist
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing unit employs local thickness variation where only the region corresponding to the thick portion of the medium has increased thickness to provide adequate pressing force. The region corresponding to the thin portion maintains reduced thickness to minimize distance to the ejection unit and prevent floating mist. This localized approach eliminates floating mist while maintaining necessary pressing force where 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 solution ensures consistent pressing of the medium against the support unit while minimizing the distance to the ejection unit, preventing mist and enhancing landing precision without increasing the overall pressing unit thickness.
Implementation Method 1
the pressing unit is a plate spring
Implementation Method 2
utilizing magnetic force or a slide rail
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Provided is a liquid ejecting apparatus (1) that includes a support unit (3) configured to support a medium (P), an ejection unit (4) configured to eject a liquid onto the medium that is transported while being supported by the support unit (3), and a plate-like pressing unit (20) configured to press, against the support unit (3), an end portion (Pe) in a width direction intersecting with a transport direction (A) of the medium being transported in a region opposing the ejection unit (4). The pressing unit (20) includes regions (35,36) with different distances therefrom to the support unit via the medium.