Liquid Ejecting Head Cleaning Device With Raised Pile Elements

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cleaning devices for liquid ejecting heads, such as those in ink jet printers, fail to effectively remove solidified ink from nozzles due to their inability to enter the nozzles and break down clogs, leading to nozzle clogging and reduced printing performance.

Innovation Solution

A cleaning device with a cleaning member featuring raised pile elements that can enter the nozzles, made of fibers with diameters smaller than 20 μm, which physically break down solidified ink and are accompanied by a cleaning liquid mechanism to soften and remove clogs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a fabric tape is used to wipe the nozzle face, then the ink on the nozzle face can be removed, but the solidified ink inside the nozzles cannot be removed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidnozzle clogging

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning member is divided into distinct functional sections: a pile section with raised pile elements for entering nozzles and breaking solidified ink, and a flat section for wiping the nozzle face. This segmentation allows each section to perform its specific function effectively, resolving the contradiction between removing surface ink and internal solidified ink.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cleaning member transitions from a two-dimensional flat fabric tape to a three-dimensional structure with raised pile elements. This dimensional change enables the pile elements to protrude into the nozzle channels, providing the mechanical action needed to break and remove solidified ink that a flat surface cannot achieve.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Device complexity

If the cleaning member does not enter the nozzles, then the structure remains simple, but solidified ink cannot be physically broken

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning member structureVSAvoidsolid material removal efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning member is divided into distinct functional sections: a pile section with raised pile elements for entering nozzles and breaking solidified ink, and a flat section for wiping the nozzle face. This segmentation allows each section to perform its specific function effectively, resolving the contradiction between removing surface ink and internal solidified ink.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cleaning member transitions from a two-dimensional flat fabric tape to a three-dimensional structure with raised pile elements. This dimensional change enables the pile elements to protrude into the nozzle channels, providing the mechanical action needed to break and remove solidified ink that a flat surface cannot achieve.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Strength

If the pile elements have large diameter, then they are stronger, but they cannot enter the nozzles

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepile element strengthVSAvoidpile element diameter

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The pile elements are designed with locally optimized properties: sufficiently long to penetrate the nozzle channels and reach solidified ink, but with diameter controlled to allow entry. The elements are also made of material with appropriate flexibility and strength characteristics for the specific cleaning function, resolving the contradiction between strength and entry capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 solution enhances the removal of solidified ink from nozzles, preventing clogs and improving the cleaning efficiency of the liquid ejecting head, allowing for effective ink discharge and maintaining printer performance.

Implementation Method 1

the tips of the raised pile elements on the pile section enter the nozzles to impinge against the ink or the like remaining and solidified on the nozzles. Therefore, the solidified ink or the like remaining on the nozzles is physically broken due to impingement by the pile section

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 2

the cleaning member is brought into contact with the region including the nozzle face of the liquid ejecting head so as to absorb the liquid remaining on the nozzles and the nozzle face of the liquid ejecting head

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS9174451B2Cleaning device for liquid ejecting head, and liquid ejecting apparatus with the same

Publication Date: 2015.11.03 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

The liquid ejecting apparatus includes a cleaning member that is brought into contact with a region including a nozzle face of the liquid ejecting head that ejects a liquid from nozzles formed in the nozzle face such that the cleaning member is capable of cleaning the liquid ejecting head, the cleaning member having a pile section in which a plurality of pile elements are raised in a portion of the cleaning member in contact with the region of the liquid ejecting head.