Liquid Discharge Head Inspection With Adaptive Residual Vibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid discharge devices, such as inkjet printers, face discharge abnormalities due to insufficient inspection methods that require lengthy unit periods for both driving and detecting residual vibrations, necessitating a more efficient and time-effective approach to determine the discharge state.
Innovation Solution
A liquid discharge device with a drive section and determination section that employs multiple modes for determining the discharge state based on residual vibrations, including a first mode for vibrations smaller than one cycle and a second mode for vibrations equal to or larger than one cycle, allowing for faster and more precise inspection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the unit period is set to a sufficiently long time length to execute both driving of the discharge section and detection of residual vibration, then both driving and inspection can be completed, but the inspection time increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the inspection method adaptable to different vibration conditions. The determination section dynamically selects between two inspection approaches: using residual vibration smaller than one cycle when vibration amplitude is large, or using residual vibration equal to or larger than one cycle when vibration amplitude is small. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain reliable discharge state detection while minimizing inspection time according to the actual vibration characteristics of the discharge section.
2Reliability
If the unit period is set to a sufficiently long time length to execute both driving of the discharge section and detection of residual vibration, then both driving and inspection can be completed, but the cycle time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by varying the inspection criteria based on vibration amplitude characteristics. When residual vibration amplitude is large (smaller than one cycle), the system uses a shorter inspection window. When residual vibration amplitude is small (equal to or larger than one cycle), the system uses a longer inspection window. This parameter-based adaptation allows the unit period to be optimized for each inspection case, maintaining detection reliability while minimizing overall cycle time.
3Device complexity
If a single inspection mode is used for all discharge states, then the inspection method is simple, but it cannot accurately detect discharge abnormalities under varying vibration conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The determination section dynamically adapts the inspection method based on the actual vibration characteristics detected. By monitoring the amplitude of residual vibration, the system automatically selects the appropriate inspection mode: using residual vibration smaller than one cycle for high-amplitude vibrations or residual vibration equal to or larger than one cycle for low-amplitude vibrations. This dynamic approach maintains measurement precision across varying discharge conditions without requiring complex manual configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the inspection parameters based on vibration amplitude conditions. The system monitors the residual vibration signal and adjusts the inspection criteria accordingly - using one inspection parameter set when vibration amplitude is above a threshold and another parameter set when vibration amplitude is below the threshold. This parameter adaptation ensures accurate discharge abnormality detection across different operating conditions while keeping the control logic relatively simple.
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 approach enables quicker and more accurate detection of discharge abnormalities, reducing the time required for inspection and preventing print quality issues by addressing viscosity increases and other discharge anomalies.
Implementation Method 1
determination section configured to determine a state of the discharge section based on residual vibration, which is vibration remaining in the discharge section after the discharge section is driven
Data Source
AI summary
An inkjet printer that discharges ink filled in a discharge section onto a medium to form an image on the medium includes a drive control section configured to drive the discharge section and an inspection unit 6 configured to determine a state of the discharge section based on residual vibration, which is vibration remaining in the discharge section after the discharge section is driven. The inspection unit 6 determines the state of the discharge section in a mode selected out of a plurality of modes including a first mode for determining the state of the discharge section based on the residual vibration smaller than one cycle and a second mode for determining the state of the discharge section based on the residual vibration equal to or larger than one cycle.