Cleaning Liquid Discharging Apparatus Flow Paths

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Solution Overview

Problem

In liquid discharging apparatuses, such as printers, the cleaning efficiency is compromised when a cleaning liquid with high contamination is used to clean a discharging head with a small volume, requiring a large amount of cleaning liquid and reducing effectiveness.

Innovation Solution

A method where a cleaning liquid is first passed through a smaller volume second flow path to clean it, and then used to clean a larger volume first flow path, utilizing the relatively low contamination cleaning liquid to enhance efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If cleaning liquid is supplied from the upstream of the supply flow path toward the discharging head, then the supply flow path is cleaned, but the cleaning liquid becomes highly contaminated and requires a large amount to clean the discharging head effectively

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveamount of cleaning liquidVSAvoidcleaning effect

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The supply flow path is divided into a first flow path (upstream of the valve) and a second flow path (downstream of the valve). The cleaning process is segmented into two sequential steps: first cleaning the second flow path with fresh cleaning liquid, then cleaning the first flow path with the same cleaning liquid. This segmentation allows the cleaning liquid to maintain effectiveness throughout the entire supply flow path without becoming highly contaminated before reaching the discharging head.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If cleaning liquid with high contamination is used to clean the discharging head, then the supply flow path can be cleaned, but the cleaning efficiency drops and more cleaning liquid is needed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning efficiencyVSAvoidamount of cleaning liquid

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The second flow path (including the discharging head) is cleaned first with fresh cleaning liquid before the first flow path is cleaned. This preliminary action ensures that the discharging head receives the cleanest cleaning liquid, maximizing cleaning efficiency. The cleaning liquid is then reused to clean the first flow path, optimizing the overall cleaning process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 reduces the amount of cleaning liquid needed and maintains high cleaning efficiency by using the low-contamination cleaning liquid to effectively clean both flow paths, thereby preventing a drop in cleaning performance.

Implementation Method 1

a second flow path cleaning step of causing a cleaning liquid to pass through the second flow path so that the second flow path is cleaned

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid flow:

Implementation Method 2

a first flow path cleaning step of causing the cleaning liquid that has passed through the second flow path to pass through the first flow path so that the first flow path is cleaned

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid flow:

Data Source

PatentUS10875319B2Method of cleaning liquid discharging apparatus

Publication Date: 2020.12.29 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

A method of cleaning a liquid discharging apparatus has a second flow path cleaning step of causing a cleaning liquid to pass through a second flow path so that the second flow path is cleaned, and also includes a first flow path cleaning step of causing the cleaning liquid that has passed through the second flow path to pass through a first flow path so that the first flow path is cleaned.