Ventilated Inkjet Head Frame Reduces Horizontal Wind
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional inkjet recording apparatuses experience issues with ink displacement and smudgy images due to horizontal winds generated between the head frame and the conveyor belt, which disturb the direction of ejected ink droplets and satellite droplets, leading to poor print quality.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of ventilation openings in the head frame, except where the linear recording heads are attached, allows downward airflow to also pass through these openings, reducing horizontal wind speed and minimizing ink displacement, thereby improving print quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the head frame is designed as a solid plate structure, then structural strength and stability are improved, but horizontal wind generation increases causing ink displacement
Solution Approach 1:
The head frame is designed with through-holes (ventilation openings) that allow air to pass through, transforming the solid plate structure into a porous configuration. This reduces the horizontal wind generated by the suction force acting on the head frame, thereby preventing ink displacement while maintaining structural integrity through strategic hole placement and sizing.
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful horizontal wind is extracted or removed from the system by introducing ventilation openings in the head frame. The openings allow the suction force to act on the air rather than generating horizontal wind, effectively taking out the harmful effect while preserving the necessary structural function of the head frame.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If ventilation openings are added to the head frame, then horizontal wind speed is reduced improving print quality, but structural strength may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The head frame is designed with non-uniform distribution of ventilation openings, where the size, shape, and placement of holes vary in different regions. This local quality approach allows the structure to maintain strength in critical areas while providing sufficient ventilation in other areas, optimizing both print quality and structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The head frame structure is segmented by introducing multiple discrete ventilation openings rather than a continuous solid structure. This segmentation allows the frame to maintain structural strength through the distributed configuration of openings while effectively reducing horizontal wind speed through increased air permeability.
3Reliability
If the suction force is increased to improve recording medium conveyance, then conveyance reliability is improved, but horizontal wind generation increases causing ink displacement
Solution Approach 1:
The ventilation openings in the head frame act as an intermediary that allows the suction force to act on the air flow rather than directly generating horizontal wind. This mediator structure enables increased suction force for reliable conveyance while the openings dissipate the force to prevent harmful horizontal wind generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution utilizes pneumatic principles by designing the head frame with ventilation openings that control air flow patterns. The openings allow the suction force ( pneumatic force) to be distributed and dissipated, preventing the generation of horizontal wind while maintaining effective recording medium conveyance through controlled air flow management.
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 reduces wind speed and prevents ink displacement, resulting in clear and clean images by stabilizing ink droplets on the recording medium.
Implementation Method 1
a suction unit that is disposed below the placement face of the conveyor belt and that applies a suction force by a downward airflow to the recording medium, such that the recording medium is sucked onto the placement face
Implementation Method 2
The head frame shaped like a plate may have a ventilation opening penetrating in a thickness direction at a portion shaped like a plate except for where the plurality of linear recording heads is attached
Data Source
AI summary
An inkjet recording apparatus may include a conveyor belt, suction unit, linear recording heads, and head frame shaped like a plate. The conveyor belt has a placement face on which a recording medium is placed and may be configured to cause the placement face to move in a conveyance direction. The suction unit disposed below the placement face applies a suction force exerted by a downward airflow to the recording medium placed on the placement face. The linear recording heads may be disposed upward opposite to the suction unit across the conveyor belt, have a nozzle face where an ink ejection nozzle is formed, and extend in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction. Linear recording heads may be arranged in the conveyance direction. The linear recording heads may be attached to the head frame. The head frame may have a ventilation opening penetrating in a thickness direction.