Liquid Ejection Carriage Detection Timing Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid ejection apparatuses face inefficiencies in transitioning between printing tasks based on first and second data sets, leading to prolonged periods between completing printing on one sheet and starting printing on another.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejection apparatus with a controller that determines and adjusts the movement of a carriage to optimize the positioning for detecting and printing on subsequent sheets, by calculating and comparing moving periods between detection and preparation phases, and adjusting the scanning direction to minimize the interval between completing and starting print tasks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the carriage waits for the next sheet to be conveyed to the printing position before moving to detect it, then the detection timing is accurate, but the total time between completing first printing and starting second printing is prolonged
Solution Approach 1:
The carriage performs preliminary movement to the detection position before the second sheet actually arrives at the printing position. By calculating the conveying time of the second sheet and moving the carriage ahead of schedule to the detection position, the system can detect the sheet as soon as it enters the detection zone, rather than waiting for it to reach the printing position. This preliminary action reduces the idle waiting time while maintaining accurate detection timing.
2Productivity
If the carriage moves to the detection position after the sheet is already at the printing position, then the detection is timely, but the carriage movement creates a longer interval between printing tasks
Solution Approach 1:
The carriage movement is made dynamic and adaptive rather than fixed. The controller calculates the optimal detection position based on real-time factors including the conveying speed of the sheet, the current carriage position, and the predicted arrival time of the second sheet. This dynamic adjustment allows the carriage to move to the detection position at the optimal moment, balancing timely detection with minimizing unnecessary movement time, thereby optimizing printing throughput.
3Device complexity
If the system uses fixed detection positioning for all sheets, then the detection mechanism is simple, but it cannot optimize for varying sheet conveying times and printing intervals
Solution Approach 1:
The detection positioning is changed from fixed to variable based on parameter changes. The controller adjusts the detection position parameter dynamically according to changing conditions such as sheet conveying time, carriage position, and printing intervals. By modifying the detection position parameter rather than using a fixed location, the system maintains simple detection hardware while achieving optimized printing efficiency for varying operational conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejection apparatus includes a liquid ejection head, a sensor, a carriage, and a controller. The controller is configured to perform: setting a first sheet at a first printing position; printing an image on the first sheet while conveying the first sheet from the first printing position; determining whether an interval is more than a predetermined period; in a case where the interval is determined to be more than the predetermined period: causing the carriage to move in a first direction to a first detection position at which a second sheet is detected; and in response to detecting the second sheet, causing the carriage to move in the first direction to a first carriage position.