Liquid Discharge Apparatus Cap Positioning Mechanism
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional liquid discharge apparatuses face issues with ink nozzle clogging due to air contact and paper powder, leading to print quality degradation and potential failure, and existing solutions compromise the sealing property during cap positioning.
Innovation Solution
A liquid discharge apparatus with a holding unit, cap, positioning unit, and separation member that changes posture to maintain the discharge head's position during capping, ensuring proper sealing without shifting the discharge surface relative to the cap unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the liquid discharge head is moved after the discharge surface contacts the cap unit for positioning, then the positioning is performed, but the position of the discharge surface shifts relative to the cap unit, spoiling the sealing property
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing positioning of the liquid discharge head relative to the cap unit BEFORE the discharge surface contacts the cap unit. The positioning member positions the discharge head at the correct position, and only then does the discharge surface contact the cap unit surface. This sequence ensures that the sealing property is maintained without position shift during contact.
2Productivity
If the nozzles are continuously in contact with air, then the liquid discharge apparatus operates continuously, but ink in the nozzles dries and becomes thickened and firmly fixed, causing nozzle clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by capping the discharge surface with the cap unit BEFORE the liquid discharge head is moved to the printing position. This preliminary capping prevents ink drying when the nozzles are not in use, while allowing continuous printing operations to proceed without interruption. The cap unit is quickly positioned and removed during printing, maintaining productivity while protecting nozzle functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the cap unit as an intermediary element between the discharge surface and the air environment. The cap unit physically separates the ink in the nozzles from atmospheric air, preventing evaporation and drying. This intermediary protects the nozzle functionality while allowing the system to operate continuously for productivity.
3Productivity
If the nozzles are in contact with paper powder and dust, then the printing process continues, but the nozzles become clogged, causing print quality degradation and liquid discharge head failure
Solution Approach 1:
The cap unit serves as an intermediary protective barrier that prevents paper powder and dust from contacting the nozzles during non-printing periods. By capping the discharge surface, the cap unit isolates the nozzles from contaminants in the printing environment, maintaining nozzle cleanliness and reliability while allowing continuous printing operations to proceed.
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid discharge apparatus includes a holding unit configured to hold a discharge head configured to discharge liquid, a cap configured to cap a discharge surface of the discharge head, a positioning unit configured to position the discharge head at a cap position where the discharge surface is capped by the cap; and a separation member configured to separate the cap from the discharge surface positioned at the cap position in a case where the member is in a first posture and bring the cap into contact with the discharge surface positioned at the cap position in a case where the member is in a second posture, and the member changes posture between the first posture and the second posture as the holding unit is displaced relative to the discharge head in a state in which the discharge head is positioned at the cap position by the positioning unit.