Droplet Ejecting Apparatus Temperature-Adaptive Waveform Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional droplet ejecting apparatuses face challenges in minimizing satellite droplet formation and maintaining stable ejection at varying environmental temperatures, leading to degraded image quality and increased risk of internal contamination.
Innovation Solution
A droplet ejecting apparatus with a recording head and print control unit that generates drive signals with a first contracting waveform component for ejecting droplets and a second contracting waveform component, adjusted to be output at oscillation-damping timing at high temperatures and resonating timing at low temperatures, to minimize satellite formation and ensure stable ejection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a second contracting waveform component is added to suppress satellite production, then satellite droplet length is reduced, but frequency characteristics degrade and unnecessary droplet ejection may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the timing of the second contracting waveform component based on environmental temperature. At lower temperatures, the second component is timed to resonate with the pressure wave to effectively shorten satellites. At higher temperatures, the timing is adjusted to avoid resonance that would cause unnecessary droplet ejection and frequency degradation. This temperature-dependent parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction between satellite suppression and frequency characteristic maintenance.
2Manufacturing precision
If the voltage of the second contracting waveform component is raised to further reduce satellite length, then satellite droplet length decreases, but unnecessary droplet ejection increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by monitoring environmental temperature and using this information to control the timing and intensity of the second contracting waveform component. The control unit adjusts the waveform parameters based on temperature feedback, ensuring that the second component is only applied when and where it is effective for satellite suppression, thereby avoiding unnecessary droplet ejection while maintaining precise satellite length control.
3Quantity of substance
If a waveform configuration P2+P3 is used to merge droplets, then large droplet ejection is enabled, but oscillation frequency characteristics degrade
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the waveform configuration adaptive rather than fixed. The control unit dynamically selects between different waveform configurations (P3 for small droplets, P2+P3 for large droplets) based on the required liquid amount and environmental conditions. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain optimal frequency characteristics for each ejection scenario while enabling both small and large droplet ejection capabilities.
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
The solution effectively reduces satellite droplet length and frequency, maintaining stable ejection and image quality across a wide temperature range without complicating the waveform configuration, thus enhancing printing speed and frequency characteristics.
Implementation Method 1
a piezoelectric element, and a control unit that controls the piezoelectric element
Implementation Method 2
a first contracting waveform component r1 that causes a principal droplet to be ejected
Implementation Method 3
a second contracting waveform component r2 to be applied after the waveform component d2 invariably at timing application at which amplifies oscillation of a meniscus generated by the waveform component r1
Implementation Method 4
The second contracting waveform component is set to be output at oscillation-damping timing at which a pressure wave generated by the first contracting waveform component is damped
Data Source
AI summary
A droplet ejecting apparatus includes a recording head including nozzles, liquid chambers communicating with the respective nozzles and storing ink, and actuators for applying pressure to the respective liquid chambers; and a print control unit configured to generate drive signals for driving the respective actuators to eject droplets from the nozzles. The drive signal includes a first contracting waveform component for ejecting a droplet and a second contracting waveform component for further contracting the liquid chamber after application of the first contracting waveform component but not ejecting a droplet. The second contracting waveform component is output at oscillation-damping timing at which a pressure wave generated by the first contracting waveform component is damped, in a condition where an environmental temperature is high, and is output at resonating timing at which resonance with the generated pressure wave occurs, in a condition where the environmental temperature is low.