Conveyance Belt Cleaning Liquid Control for Fabric Ejection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing liquid ejection apparatuses face difficulties in adjusting the supply amount of cleaning liquid to the cleaning liquid storage unit, leading to potential excess or insufficiency, which affects the cleaning efficiency and reproducibility.

Innovation Solution

A liquid ejection apparatus with a control unit that adjusts the supply of cleaning liquid to a cleaning liquid tank through an opening and closing unit, allowing for precise control of the supply amount based on user input and operational conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If manual valve adjustment is used to control cleaning liquid supply, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision of supply amount deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesupply control mechanismVSAvoidcleaning liquid supply amount

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical valve adjustment with an automated control system comprising a supply unit, opening and closing unit, and control unit. This substitution eliminates the need for manual operation while achieving precise control of cleaning liquid supply amount through automated opening/closing cycles, thereby resolving the contradiction between device complexity and supply precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit automatically manages the supply unit's opening and closing operations based on predetermined conditions or user-defined parameters. The system serves itself by autonomously regulating the cleaning liquid supply without requiring manual intervention, thus maintaining precision while simplifying user interaction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If manual valve adjustment is used for cleaning liquid supply, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability of supply amount control deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesupply adjustment operationVSAvoidsupply amount consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The automated control system replaces manual valve adjustment, ensuring consistent and reliable supply amount control through programmed opening and closing cycles. The control unit reliably executes supply regulation based on predetermined conditions, eliminating the variability inherent in manual operation while maintaining ease of use through automatic functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit monitors and regulates the supply unit's operation based on predetermined conditions or user-defined parameters, ensuring reliable and consistent cleaning liquid supply. The system incorporates feedback mechanisms to maintain supply amount consistency across different operating conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Manufacturing precision

If precise control of cleaning liquid supply is implemented, then manufacturing precision of supply amount is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning liquid supply amountVSAvoidsupply control mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements precise supply amount control by replacing complex manual adjustment mechanisms with an automated control system. The supply unit with opening and closing functionality, managed by the control unit, provides precise control through automated cycles, reducing the complexity of manual operation while maintaining high precision in supply amount.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Reliability

If automated control of cleaning liquid supply is implemented, then reliability of supply amount control is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesupply amount consistencyVSAvoidsupply control mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The automated control system replaces manual valve adjustment mechanisms, improving reliability of supply amount control through programmed opening and closing cycles. The control unit ensures consistent supply regulation based on predetermined conditions, eliminating manual variability while the integrated design keeps overall system complexity manageable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS20260077609A1Liquid ejection apparatus

Publication Date: 2026.03.19 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

A liquid ejection apparatus includes a conveyance belt that conveys a fabric and has an outer peripheral surface on which the fabric can be placed, an ejection unit that ejects a liquid to the fabric placed on the outer peripheral surface and conveyed, a cleaning unit that cleans the outer peripheral surface, a cleaning liquid tank that stores a cleaning liquid in which a part of the cleaning unit is immersed, a supply unit that supplies the cleaning liquid to the cleaning liquid tank and includes an opening and closing unit that switches between an open state in which the cleaning liquid is supplied to the cleaning liquid tank and a closed state in which the cleaning liquid is not supplied to the cleaning liquid tank, and a control unit that controls the opening and closing unit to adjust a supply amount of the cleaning liquid supplied from the supply unit to the cleaning liquid tank.