Dynamic Cleaning Liquid Control in Inkjet Printers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid ejecting apparatuses inefficiently manage cleaning liquid usage in waste liquid flow paths, as they do not adapt the supply amount of cleaning liquid based on the type or color of ink sucked, leading to excessive consumption.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejecting apparatus with a control unit that varies the supply amount of cleaning liquid depending on the type or color of ink sucked, using a suction unit to suck and supply cleaning liquid through a waste liquid flow path, and incorporating a cleaning liquid ejecting unit to optimize cleaning operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If a fixed amount of cleaning liquid is supplied to the waste liquid flow path regardless of ink type, then the cleaning operation is simple, but the cleaning liquid is excessively consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning liquid supply amount is made dynamic by varying it according to the ink type detected. The control unit adjusts the supply amount based on whether white ink or other colors of ink are being used, transitioning from a fixed static supply to a dynamic adaptive supply that matches actual cleaning needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The supply amount parameter of cleaning liquid is changed based on the ink type parameter. When white ink is detected, a larger supply amount is used; when other ink colors are detected, a smaller supply amount is used. This parameter adaptation resolves the contradiction between reducing waste and maintaining simple operation.
2Reliability
If the supply amount of cleaning liquid is increased to ensure thorough cleaning, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but cleaning liquid waste increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different supply amounts of cleaning liquid are applied according to local conditions - specifically, according to the ink type being used. White ink operations receive a higher supply amount for thorough cleaning, while other ink colors receive a lower supply amount, matching the actual cleaning requirement for each local situation.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of always applying excessive cleaning liquid to ensure cleaning effectiveness, the system applies partial action by adjusting the supply amount to match the actual need. The supply amount is optimized to be sufficient for cleaning effectiveness while avoiding excessive application that would cause waste.
3Productivity
If different supply amounts of cleaning liquid are used for different ink types, then cleaning liquid efficiency is improved, but control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit uses feedback from ink type detection to adjust the cleaning liquid supply amount. The system detects which ink type is being used and feeds this information back to the control unit, which then automatically adjusts the supply amount accordingly, achieving efficient cleaning liquid usage through intelligent feedback control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service by automatically detecting ink type and adjusting cleaning liquid supply without requiring manual intervention. The control unit autonomously manages the cleaning operation based on detected conditions, improving efficiency while keeping the user interface simple.
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 configuration allows for the efficient use of cleaning liquid by ensuring the appropriate amount is used based on the type or color of ink, reducing waste and simplifying the device configuration by integrating ink and cleaning liquid operations within a single head.
Implementation Method 1
a suction unit that performs an ink suction operation of sucking the ink from the nozzle of the ink ejecting unit via a waste liquid flow path
Implementation Method 2
a cleaning unit that performs a cleaning operation of supplying cleaning liquid from a cleaning liquid storage unit that stores the cleaning liquid to the waste liquid flow path
Data Source
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AI summary
A printer includes a head including a plurality of ink ejecting units for ejecting different types of inks from nozzles, a waste liquid flow path that is a flow path of ink sucked from the nozzles, a suction unit that performs an ink suction operation of sucking the ink from the nozzles of the ink ejecting units via the waste liquid flow path, and a cleaning operation of sucking the cleaning liquid from nozzles via the waste liquid flow path, and a control unit that controls the suction unit so as to vary a suction amount of the cleaning liquid depending on the type of the ink sucked by the ink suction operation when the cleaning operation is performed.