Extraction of Airflow Unit from Carriage for Droplet Discharge Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vibration from the fan in printing apparatuses can affect the ink discharge mode of the discharging head, leading to deviations in ink landing positions and deteriorated printing quality.
Innovation Solution
The airflow generating unit is positioned outside the carriage's movement region, enhancing cooling efficiency of the head driving circuit while minimizing vibration transmission to the discharging head, and multiple airflow units are strategically placed to maintain the head driving circuit's temperature during maintenance and operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the fan is disposed inside the carriage to cool the head driving circuit, then cooling efficiency is improved, but vibration is transmitted to the discharging head affecting ink discharge mode
Solution Approach 1:
The airflow generating unit (fan) is extracted from the carriage structure and disposed outside the carriage. This separation removes the vibration source from the moving carriage, preventing vibration transmission to the discharging head while maintaining the cooling function through direct airflow to the heat dissipation unit.
Solution Approach 2:
A heat dissipation unit is introduced as an intermediary component between the head driving circuit and the airflow generating unit. The heat dissipation unit receives cooling airflow from outside the carriage and transfers it to the head driving circuit, enabling indirect cooling that avoids vibration transmission while maintaining thermal management.
2Temperature
If the airflow generating unit operates continuously to cool the head driving circuit, then temperature control is improved, but downtime during maintenance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The airflow generating unit operates dynamically based on carriage position. The control unit activates the fan when the carriage is in the maintenance region and deactivates it when in the droplet discharging region, enabling adaptive cooling that reduces unnecessary operation during maintenance while maintaining temperature control during printing.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit monitors the carriage position and provides feedback control for the airflow generating unit operation. Based on real-time position information, the system automatically adjusts fan operation to coincide with maintenance periods, optimizing both temperature management and maintenance efficiency.
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 configuration suppresses heat generation and vibration influence on the discharging head, reduces downtime during maintenance, and effectively removes ink mist, thereby improving printing quality and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
an airflow toward the heat dissipation unit is generated by an airflow generating unit
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a droplet discharging device capable of, while suppressing influence on a droplet discharge mode of a discharging head, suppressing heat generation of a head driving circuit for driving the discharging head. A printing apparatus (10) (droplet discharging device) includes a discharging head (54) configured to discharge ink, a head driving circuit (56) configured to drive the discharging head (54), a heat dissipation unit (57) configured to dissipate heat generated in the head driving circuit (56), a carriage (52) configured to move in a state of supporting the discharging head (54), the head driving circuit (56), and the heat dissipation unit (57), and an air blowing unit (60) disposed outside a movement region of the carriage (52) and capable of generating an airflow toward the heat dissipation unit (57) supported by the carriage (52).