Ejecting Head Maintenance Prevents Nozzle Damage
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-viscosity inks and larger discharge ports in fluid ejecting apparatuses cause damage during cleaning due to thickened ink being rubbed against nozzles, leading to ink being sucked into the ejecting head and leaving the discharge-port forming surface without sufficient fluid, resulting in damage and ink thickening.
Innovation Solution
A method involving capping processing followed by a waiting period without wiping, which allows fluid to be sucked into the ejecting head, preventing thickened fluid from being rubbed against the surface and maintaining the ejecting surface without wiping, along with temperature and time-based controls to manage fluid viscosity and evaporation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If wiping processing is performed after capping processing to remove fluid from the ejecting surface, then the ejecting surface appears clean, but thickened ink is rubbed against the nozzles causing damage to the discharge-port forming surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing capping processing before wiping processing. The cap member is placed on the ejecting surface to seal it, preventing fluid evaporation and thickening before the wiping operation. This ensures that any fluid present during wiping is already in a controlled state, preventing thickened ink from damaging the nozzles while still allowing the surface to be cleaned.
2Manufacturing precision
If wiping processing is performed to maintain the ejecting surface, then the surface remains clean, but ink remaining on the surface is sucked into the ejecting head leaving insufficient fluid for cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The cap member is placed on the ejecting surface before wiping to seal and protect it. This preliminary capping action prevents fluid from being sucked into the ejecting head during the wiping process, ensuring sufficient fluid remains on the surface for effective cleaning while maintaining surface cleanliness.
3Stability of the object's composition
If capping processing is performed again to prevent fluid evaporation, then fluid thickening is prevented, but additional waiting time is required without wiping
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action through the repeated capping and waiting cycles. After the initial capping and wiping, the cap member is placed on the ejecting surface again, and a waiting period is imposed before another wiping operation. This periodic capping prevents fluid evaporation and thickening, maintaining stable fluid composition while allowing controlled time intervals for maintenance operations.
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
Prevents damage to the ejecting surface by avoiding wiping with thickened fluid, ensures fluid removal without evaporation, and maintains ejection performance by smoothing meniscuses through flushing.
Implementation Method 1
fluid attached to the vicinities of the ejecting ports in the ejecting surface can be sucked into the ejecting head through the ejecting ports due to the difference in pressure between inside and outside the ejecting head
Implementation Method 2
wiping processing to wipe the ejecting surface with the wiping member
Data Source
AI summary
A method for maintaining a fluid ejecting apparatus including an ejecting head that has an ejecting surface in which a plurality of ejecting ports that eject fluid are formed, and a maintenance portion that performs maintenance processing to recover the ejection of fluid from the ejecting ports and that has a cap member and a wiping member. The method includes performing capping processing to put the cap member on the ejecting surface and to suck, and then wiping processing to wipe the ejecting surface with the wiping member, and performing the capping processing again and then waiting a predetermined time without performing the wiping processing.