Carriage Catching Units for Liquid Ejector Mist
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid ejecting apparatuses face challenges in effectively capturing mist of ink immediately after its occurrence, leading to potential contamination of the medium and the ejecting unit.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejecting apparatus is designed with a carriage that reciprocates in a reciprocating direction, equipped with catching units and a collecting unit that includes a catching port for mist, an air blowing unit to direct air currents, and suctioning fans to efficiently collect and redirect mist to a collecting unit, preventing contamination and malfunctions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a collecting unit is provided to collect mist of ink, then mist contamination is suppressed, but mist cannot be collected immediately after occurrence
Solution Approach 1:
The collecting unit is divided into multiple catching units (first catching unit, second catching unit, etc.) positioned at different locations around the ejecting unit. Each catching unit has catching ports facing different directions to capture mist from various angles immediately as it is generated during ejection, eliminating the time delay by having multiple collection points operating simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The catching units are arranged in a three-dimensional configuration around the ejecting unit, with catching ports oriented in different spatial directions. This multi-dimensional arrangement ensures that mist is captured immediately after occurrence regardless of its ejection direction, achieving instantaneous collection by covering all spatial dimensions
2Reliability
If catching units with catching ports are provided, then mist can be caught immediately, but device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
Each catching unit is designed as a multi-functional component that serves both as a structural support element and as a mist collection device. The catching units integrate the functions of structural framework and mist interception, reducing the need for separate dedicated mist collection components and thereby simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining effective mist capture
Solution Approach 2:
The catching units are merged with the carriage structure, combining the mist collection function with the existing mechanical framework. By integrating mist collection capabilities into the carriage assembly rather than adding separate independent collection systems, the design reduces overall device complexity while achieving immediate mist capture
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 apparatus effectively captures mist of ink immediately after its occurrence, preventing contamination and ensuring smooth operation by efficiently directing and collecting the mist using air currents and suctioning fans, thereby maintaining the integrity of the recording process.
Implementation Method 1
an air blowing unit which blows air in a direction opposite to the transport direction
Implementation Method 2
a suctioning unit which generates suction in a direction opposite to the air current
Data Source
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AI summary
A liquid ejecting apparatus which includes a carriage including an ejecting unit which ejects liquid onto a medium, and can reciprocate in a reciprocating direction; and a collecting unit which collects mist which occurs along with ejecting of the liquid from the ejecting unit from a collecting port, in which the carriage includes catching units which catch mist which occurs along with ejecting of the liquid from the ejecting unit on at least one side of the ejecting unit in the reciprocating direction, the catching units include a catching port of the mist into which an air current can flow along with the reciprocating of the carriage, an outlet of the air current, and a regulation unit which regulates the air current which flows in from the catching port so as to go toward the outlet side, and the outlet is provided at a position at which the outlet can face the collecting port.