Droplet Driving Control Device for Inkjet Printers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet printers face challenges in maintaining image quality when the image formation speed exceeds the designated range, leading to droplet speed and amount fluctuations due to residual pressure vibration, which affects droplet landing position and size.
Innovation Solution
A droplet driving control device that adjusts the droplet ejection period by selectively setting ON or OFF individual pulse signals in a reference driving waveform, generating adjusted driving waveforms to minimize residual pressure vibration and maintain consistent droplet ejection timing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the image formation speed is increased beyond the designated range, then the productivity is improved, but the droplet speed and amount fluctuate due to residual pressure vibration, causing deterioration in manufacturing precision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the droplet ejection period adjustable rather than fixed. The control device dynamically changes the ejection period based on the image formation speed, allowing the system to adapt to different operating conditions. This dynamic adjustment compensates for residual pressure vibration effects at high speeds, maintaining droplet consistency and landing precision even when productivity is increased.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by modifying the droplet ejection period in response to varying image formation speeds. When the image formation speed exceeds the designated range, the control device adjusts the ejection period to compensate for residual pressure vibration, thereby maintaining stable droplet speed and amount. This parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction by allowing high-speed operation without sacrificing droplet precision.
2Productivity
If the droplet ejection frequency is increased to match high image formation speed, then the productivity is improved, but the residual pressure vibration causes droplet speed and amount to fluctuate, worsening the stability
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the droplet ejection period based on the actual image formation speed. Rather than maintaining a fixed high-frequency ejection pattern that exacerbates residual pressure vibration, the control device modifies the ejection timing to maintain stability. This dynamic approach allows high productivity while compensating for vibration-induced fluctuations in droplet characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The control device employs feedback by monitoring the image formation speed and adjusting the droplet ejection period accordingly. When high speed operation causes residual pressure vibration that affects droplet consistency, the system responds by modifying the ejection timing. This feedback mechanism ensures that productivity gains do not come at the cost of droplet stability.
3Device complexity
If a fixed reference driving waveform is used for droplet ejection, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to maintain image quality at varying speeds is compromised, worsening the adaptability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static reference driving waveform into a dynamic one by allowing selective ON/OFF of pulse signals based on operating conditions. This dynamic waveform adjustment maintains relatively simple device architecture while significantly improving adaptability to different image formation speeds, ensuring consistent image quality across the operating range.
Data Source
AI summary
A droplet driving control device includes: an output unit which outputs, at droplet ejection timing, a driving waveform for ejecting each droplet at a requested droplet ejection period, the waveform being a reference driving waveform including a plurality of pulse signals which can be set ON or OFF individually; a determination unit which determines whether the droplet ejection period has to be changed or not; an adjustment unit which sets each of the pulse signals of the reference driving waveform ON or OFF selectively based on a determination result of the determination unit to adjust the reference driving waveform to an adjusted driving waveform; and a droplet ejection control unit which ejects each droplet by use of the adjusted driving waveform adjusted by the adjustment unit.