Droplet Discharge Control via Fluctuation Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing droplet discharge apparatuses, such as ink jet printers, often interrupt printing unexpectedly due to maintenance triggers based on predetermined thresholds for printed sheets or ink usage, leading to uneven printing quality between before and after maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A control device calculates discharge amount fluctuations and determines maintenance needs based on nozzle ambient humidity and temperature, allowing for anticipated maintenance and minimizing unexpected interruptions by estimating the nozzle's dried state during droplet discharge jobs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If maintenance is executed based on predetermined thresholds for printed sheets or ink usage, then the discharge portion is maintained regularly, but printing may be interrupted unexpectedly during print jobs causing printing quality degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The control device calculates discharge amount fluctuation before the print job is executed and determines in advance whether maintenance is required during the print job. This preliminary determination allows the system to prepare for maintenance beforehand, preventing unexpected interruptions during printing and ensuring consistent printing quality across maintenance boundaries.
2Manufacturing precision
If maintenance is delayed until after printing completes, then printing quality consistency is maintained, but the discharge portion may deteriorate further requiring more extensive maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
By calculating discharge amount fluctuation and determining maintenance needs before the print job executes, the system can plan maintenance timing in advance. This allows maintenance to be performed at optimal intervals without excessive deterioration, balancing printing quality consistency with manageable maintenance requirements.
3Reliability
If maintenance frequency is increased, then discharge portion performance is maintained, but productivity decreases due to more frequent interruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The control device autonomously calculates discharge amount fluctuation and determines maintenance requirements without requiring external intervention or frequent scheduled interruptions. The system serves itself by monitoring its own discharge characteristics and making intelligent maintenance decisions, maintaining performance while minimizing productivity impact.
Solution Approach 2:
By determining maintenance needs before print jobs execute, the system can consolidate maintenance activities and avoid unnecessary interruptions. This preliminary determination allows maintenance to be performed only when truly needed, optimizing the balance between discharge portion performance and printing efficiency.
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 prevents unexpected maintenance during printing, ensuring consistent quality by allowing users to prepare for maintenance, thus reducing printing unevenness and improving overall print job execution.
Implementation Method 1
when a discharge amount of the droplets per unit time is large at the time of executing the droplet discharge job, an evaporation amount of the droplets discharged to the medium is increased and the nozzle ambient humidity thus tends to be high
Data Source
AI summary
A printing apparatus (droplet discharge apparatus) includes a discharge portion that has a nozzle discharging ink to a medium and a control device that allows the discharge portion to discharge the ink depending on execution of a print job defining a mode for discharging the ink to the medium. Before the print job is executed, the control device calculates a discharge amount fluctuation which is a fluctuation in a discharge amount of liquid per unit time by the discharge portion based on the print job and determines whether or not maintenance for recovering ink discharge performance of the discharge portion is required at the time of executing the print job based on the discharge amount fluctuation.