Liquid Ejection Capping Mechanism Humidification Path Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing liquid ejection apparatuses face clogging issues due to increased viscosity of liquid near the ejection openings, as humid air struggles to reach and humidify the enclosing member and its vicinity, leading to absorption of water by high-viscosity liquid, causing clogging.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejection apparatus with a capping mechanism, humidifying mechanism, and controller that includes a lip-member moving mechanism, a humid air producer, and cutouts in the edge portion of the projecting portion to ensure humid air flows effectively along the enclosing member, preventing viscosity increase and clogging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the air inlet and air outlet are formed in the bottom face of the capping unit, then the humidification path is formed in the ejection space, but the humid air cannot flow along the enclosing member (separator) to humidify liquid adhering to it
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the humidification path from a simple bottom-face inlet-outlet configuration to a three-dimensional path that travels along the inner circumferential surface of the separator. The air inlet is positioned at the bottom face while the air outlet is formed at the upper end of the separator, creating a vertical humidification path that enables humid air to contact liquid on the separator's inner surface, thereby solving the coverage limitation of the conventional design.
2Reliability
If the capping unit encloses the ejection face to prevent liquid exposure, then liquid viscosity increases due to water absorption from non-humidified areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary humidification by positioning the air inlet at the bottom face of the separator and the air outlet at the upper end, creating a humidification path that proactively delivers humid air to the separator's inner surface before liquid can absorb moisture from non-humidified areas. This preliminary action prevents viscosity increase and maintains ejection opening functionality.
3Productivity
If the humid air circulation is stopped, then water of liquid near ejection openings is absorbed by non-humidified high-viscosity liquid on the enclosing member, causing clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent ensures continuous humidification action by establishing a humidification path that extends from the bottom face air inlet to the upper end air outlet of the separator. This continuous path maintains constant contact between humid air and the separator's inner surface, preventing liquid viscosity increase and ensuring ejection opening patency during continuous operation.
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 apparatus effectively reduces the viscosity of liquid on the separator and its vicinity, preventing clogging by ensuring humid air reaches and circulates around the ejection openings, maintaining ink ejection characteristics.
Implementation Method 1
Humid air is supplied from the air inlet into the ejection space, and air in the ejection space is discharged from the air outlet, so that liquid near the ejection openings is humidified. This humidification suppresses vaporization of the liquid being near the ejection openings
Implementation Method 2
air in the ejection space is discharged from the air outlet, so that liquid near the ejection openings is humidified
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejection apparatus includes: a head having an ejection face; a capping mechanism including: a separator having a lip member enclosing the head; a facing member facing the ejection face to form an ejection space; and a moving mechanism for moving the lip member between a contact position and a distant position; and a humidifying mechanism including: a humid air producer; a first projecting portion extending along a first side face of the head and extending in a direction away from the first side face; a supply opening defined by the first projecting portion and the separator, for supplying humid air into the ejection space; and an air discharger disposed on an opposite side of the ejection face from the supply opening and configured to discharge air from the ejection space. At least one cutout is formed in an edge portion of the first projecting portion.