Dual Rubber Hardness Wipe Blade for Ink-Jet Nozzle Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink-jet recording apparatuses face challenges in effectively preventing the drying and clogging of ink ejecting nozzles, leading to issues with image quality due to the degradation of water-repellent films on the ink ejecting surfaces, where the use of blades with varying rubber hardness for wiping is necessary but requires a balance to avoid scraping the film or leaving ink residue.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus employs a dual-wiper system with first and second wipers of different rubber hardnesses (30° to 45° ASKER C hardness for the first wiper and 50° or higher for the second wiper) to manage the wiping of ink from the ink ejecting surfaces of black and color recording heads, respectively, ensuring effective ink removal without damaging the water-repellent films.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single wipe blade with uniform rubber hardness is used for both black and color recording heads, then the device complexity is reduced, but the image quality deteriorates due to inability to optimize wiping for different ink types
Solution Approach 1:
The wipe blade is divided into multiple segments (first wipe blade for black ink, second wipe blade for color ink) with different rubber hardness values. Each segment is optimized for its specific ink type, allowing the system to maintain high image quality without excessive complexity by using a modular segmented structure rather than a completely separate blade system for each head.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the wipe blade assembly have different rubber hardness properties tailored to specific recording heads. The first wipe blade has rubber hardness of 30-45° ASKER C for black ink heads, while the second has 50° or higher for color ink heads. This local differentiation optimizes wiping effectiveness for each ink type while maintaining overall system simplicity.
2Productivity
If a wipe blade with high rubber hardness is used to effectively remove ink residue, then the ink removal efficiency is improved, but the water-repellent film on the ink ejecting surface is damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The rubber hardness parameter of the wipe blade is precisely controlled within specific ranges (30-45° ASKER C for black ink, 50° or higher for color ink). This parameter optimization ensures the wipe blade is soft enough to protect the water-repellent film while maintaining sufficient effectiveness to remove ink residue, resolving the contradiction between removal efficiency and film protection.
3Reliability
If a wipe blade with low rubber hardness is used to protect the water-repellent film, then the film integrity is maintained, but the ink residue removal effectiveness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By optimizing the rubber hardness parameter to specific ranges (30-45° ASKER C for black ink, 50° or higher for color ink), the wipe blade achieves the optimal balance between film protection and ink removal. The parameter is set high enough to ensure effective wiping but controlled to remain below thresholds that would damage the water-repellent film.
4Manufacturing precision
If different rubber hardness values are used for wipe blades corresponding to different recording heads, then the image quality is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple wipe blades with different rubber hardness values are merged into a single integrated wipe blade assembly that serves both black and color recording heads. The first and second wipe blades are positioned to contact their respective recording heads simultaneously, reducing device complexity by combining multiple functions into one unified structure rather than using completely separate blade systems.
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 effectively alleviates the degradation of the water-repellent films on the ink ejecting surfaces, reducing landing position deviations and ink residue, thereby maintaining image quality and preventing ink from adhering to the nozzle surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
The plurality of recording heads have each an ink ejecting surface which is provided with a nozzle region where an ejecting nozzle for ejecting water-based ink onto a recording medium is opened and is provided thereon with a water-repellent film
Implementation Method 2
The wiper is formed of a rubber-like elastic material, and the wiper is deformed elastically to be pushed against the ink ejecting surface, whereby it is possible to wipe the ink by making the wiper tightly contact the ink ejecting surface
Data Source
AI summary
An ink-jet recording apparatus includes a plurality of recording heads including a first recording head for ejecting black ink and a second recording head for ejecting a color ink; a rubber wipe blade; and a drive mechanism that moves the wipe blade along an ink ejecting surface and is able to move-up/down the wiper blade to approach or leave the ink ejecting surface. The wipe blade has: a first wipe blade that wipes purged ink on the ink ejecting surface of the first recording head; and a second wipe blade that wipes purged ink on the ink ejecting surface of the second recording head; wherein the first wipe blade is lower than the second wipe blade in rubber hardness, and the rubber hardness of the first wipe blade is 30° or higher to 45° or lower in ASKER C hardness.