Alternating Nozzle Row Preliminary Discharging to Suppress Ink Mist
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink jet recording apparatuses face issues with mist generation during preliminary discharging, leading to nozzle clogging and reduced printing quality due to the adhesion of mist to the liquid ejection surface, which existing methods fail to fully mitigate despite timing adjustments between nozzle rows.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejecting apparatus with a controller that implements a first preliminary discharging mode where concurrent discharging and non-discharging are intermittently performed between nozzle rows, reducing the simultaneous discharge of ink droplets and thereby minimizing mist generation by creating a pressure change in the flow path, thus suppressing mist adhesion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If preliminary discharging is performed from all nozzle rows simultaneously to moisten the cap interior, then the cap interior is effectively moistened, but mist is generated and adheres to the liquid ejection surface causing discharging failure
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle rows are divided into first and second groups that operate alternately. During preliminary discharging, only one group discharges at a time while the other remains inactive, preventing simultaneous discharge from all nozzles and thereby suppressing mist generation while still achieving effective cap moistening over time
Solution Approach 2:
The controller implements periodic alternating discharge patterns where the first nozzle rows discharge during one period and the second nozzle rows discharge during the next period. This periodic action ensures continuous cap moistening while preventing the accumulation of mist that occurs with simultaneous discharge
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the timing of preliminary discharging is staggered among nozzle rows to reduce mist, then mist generation is reduced, but air flow causing mist is still generated and mist cannot be fully reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The controller performs preliminary discharging with a specific alternating pattern before actual printing begins. This preliminary action moistens the cap interior and stabilizes ink flow in advance, preventing discharging failures during subsequent printing operations while controlling mist generation through the alternating nozzle row activation
3Productivity
If concurrent discharging is performed from multiple nozzle rows to improve printing speed, then productivity increases, but mist adhesion to liquid ejection surface increases causing quality degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the discharge timing of different nozzle rows based on operational phase. During preliminary discharging, nozzle rows alternate to suppress mist. During actual printing, the system can activate multiple nozzle rows concurrently to maintain high productivity, while the alternating pattern during setup ensures quality is not compromised
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 effectively reduces mist generation and adhesion to the liquid ejection surface, enhancing the stability and quality of ink droplet discharge, thereby improving printing performance by maintaining ink flow and preventing nozzle clogging.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure generating unit that causes a pressure change in a flow path communicating with the nozzles so that the liquid is discharged from the nozzles
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejecting apparatus carries out preliminary discharging in which the liquid is discharged from nozzle rows toward a cap. In preliminary discharging, the liquid ejecting apparatus intermittently carries out concurrent discharging and concurrent non-discharging from the nozzles in the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row in such a way that when concurrent discharging is performed from the nozzles in the first nozzle row, concurrent non-discharging from the nozzles in the second nozzle row is performed, and when concurrent discharging is performed from the nozzles in the second nozzle row, concurrent non-discharging from the nozzles in the first nozzle row is performed.