Differential Pressure Nozzle Cleaning for Inkjet Printers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid ejecting apparatuses, such as inkjet printers, face issues with ink adhesion and abrasion at nozzle discharge surfaces, leading to reduced image quality due to strong contact between the ink absorbing member and the nozzle peripheral region, which causes ink droplets to stray and results in damage to the nozzle surface.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejecting apparatus design that includes a pressing member with a concave portion for the nozzle peripheral region and a convex portion for other regions, allowing for differential pressure application to minimize damage during ink absorption, with a fabric sheet that has varying compression ratios and densities to adjust pressure according to the region, ensuring effective ink removal while protecting the nozzle surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the ink absorbing member is pressed strongly against the nozzle discharge surface to improve ink absorption, then the ink absorption efficiency is improved, but the nozzle peripheral region is abraded and liquid repellence is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing member is designed with a groove portion that creates a pressure distribution difference: the nozzle peripheral region receives smaller pressing force while the central region receives larger pressing force. This local differentiation allows effective ink absorption without abrading the delicate nozzle peripheral surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressing member's surface is segmented into different functional zones: a groove portion that corresponds to the nozzle peripheral region and a flat portion that corresponds to the central region. This segmentation enables differential pressure application to protect different areas according to their specific requirements.
2Reliability
If the ink absorbing member contacts the nozzle discharge surface to remove adhered ink, then the maintenance effectiveness is improved, but the liquid repellence of the nozzle peripheral region is reduced causing ink droplet straying
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing member applies different pressures to different regions: the groove portion protects the nozzle peripheral region from strong pressing that would reduce liquid repellence, while the flat portion ensures adequate ink absorption in the central region. This maintains both maintenance effectiveness and dot position accuracy.
3Device complexity
If a flat pressing surface is used to press the ink absorbing member uniformly, then the device complexity is reduced, but the nozzle peripheral region suffers from strong pressure causing abrasion
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of a completely complex adaptive system, the invention uses a relatively simple groove-patterned pressing member that creates local pressure differences. This achieves differentiated pressure protection with minimal added complexity, balancing simplicity and effectiveness.
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 design effectively absorbs ink from the nozzle surface while reducing abrasion and maintaining high image quality by applying lower pressure to the nozzle peripheral region, thus preventing ink droplet straying and extending the printer's operational period.
Implementation Method 1
an absorbing member which makes contact with the nozzle surface and is capable of absorbing a liquid which is adhered to the nozzle surface
Implementation Method 2
the liquid repellence of the nozzle peripheral region near the nozzles (the ink discharge ports) is reduced, an ink such as ink mist which is adhered to the nozzle discharge surface is more likely to spread wetly
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head which ejects a liquid from a plurality of nozzles disposed on a nozzle surface; an absorbing member which makes contact with the nozzle surface and can absorb a liquid which is adhered to the nozzle surface; and a pressing member which causes the ink absorbing member to contact the nozzle surface by pressing the absorbing member from a side which opposes a side which contacts the nozzle surface. In the liquid ejecting apparatus, a pressure applied to a nozzle peripheral region within the nozzle surface due to the absorbing member which is pressed by the pressing member making contact with the nozzle surface is smaller than a pressure applied to a region other than the nozzle peripheral region within the nozzle surface.