Liquid Droplet Ejection Head Cleaning With Charge Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing liquid droplet ejection apparatuses fail to account for the amount of charge on a recording medium, leading to increased mist adhesion on the nozzle face, which deteriorates image quality and reduces productivity due to inefficient cleaning.

Innovation Solution

A liquid droplet ejection apparatus with a head cleaning device controlled by a hardware processor to adjust cleaning operations based on the amount of charge on the recording medium, using information from a surface electrometer to determine the appropriate cleaning mode.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If cleaning operation is increased in frequency or intensity, then mist adhesion on nozzle face is reduced, but productivity decreases due to increased downtime and head deterioration occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemist adhesion on nozzle faceVSAvoidimage recording productivity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the parameter of cleaning operation (frequency and intensity) from fixed to variable, adjusting it based on the amount of charge on the recording medium. When charge amount is high, cleaning is performed more frequently or with higher intensity to remove mist; when charge amount is low, cleaning is reduced or skipped, maintaining productivity while preventing head deterioration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces feedback control by measuring the amount of charge on the recording medium and using this information to adjust the cleaning operation. The control unit continuously monitors charge amount and dynamically adjusts cleaning frequency and intensity accordingly, creating a closed-loop system that optimizes both image quality and productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Object-affected harmful factors

If cleaning operation is increased in frequency or intensity, then mist adhesion on nozzle face is reduced, but head deterioration increases due to wearing of nozzle face

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemist adhesion on nozzle faceVSAvoidliquid droplet ejection head durability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention varies the cleaning operation parameters (frequency and intensity) based on the measured charge amount on the recording medium. By adjusting these parameters dynamically, the system performs cleaning only when necessary (when charge amount is high and mist adhesion is likely), thereby reducing unnecessary cleaning operations that cause nozzle face wear and extending head life.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The feedback mechanism uses charge amount measurement to control cleaning operation intensity. The control unit receives charge amount information and adjusts cleaning frequency and intensity accordingly, preventing excessive cleaning that would deteriorate the head while ensuring adequate cleaning when mist adhesion becomes problematic.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If cleaning operation is reduced, then productivity is maintained, but image quality deteriorates due to mist adhesion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage recording productivityVSAvoidimage quality

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention dynamically adjusts cleaning operation parameters based on charge amount conditions. When charge amount is high (increasing mist adhesion risk), cleaning is performed with appropriate frequency and intensity to maintain image quality. When charge amount is low, cleaning is reduced or omitted, maintaining productivity without compromising image quality since mist adhesion is minimal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The feedback control system continuously monitors charge amount and adjusts cleaning operation accordingly. This ensures cleaning is performed at appropriate times to maintain image quality while avoiding unnecessary cleaning operations that would reduce productivity, achieving optimal balance between both requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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 image quality degradation and productivity loss by accurately removing nozzle face mist, predicting and addressing charge-related issues.

Implementation Method 1

information on an amount of charge on the recording medium

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrostatic charge detection: Electrostatics

Data Source

PatentUS20250256511A1Liquid droplet ejection apparatus, head cleaning method, and storage medium

Publication Date: 2025.08.14 KONICA MINOLTA INC

AI summary

A liquid droplet ejection apparatus includes an image former that ejects a liquid droplet from a nozzle of a liquid droplet ejection head onto a recording medium conveyed, thereby recording an image thereon, a head cleaning device that cleans a nozzle face of the liquid droplet ejection head, and a hardware processor that controls a cleaning operation of the head cleaning device in accordance with information on an amount of charge on the recording medium.