Liquid Ejection Head Alignment for Cross-Track Landing Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid ejection systems face challenges in accurately maintaining the landing position of ejected liquid in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of a conveyed object, leading to potential color shifts and degraded image quality due to variations in the position of the recording medium.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejection apparatus with multiple liquid ejection head units, support members, and a detection unit that includes sensors to detect the position of the conveyed object in the orthogonal direction, allowing for precise adjustment of the ejection head units based on detection results to correct positional variations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the position of the print head is adjusted to correct positional variations, then the landing position accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional sensors and adjustment mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
A sensor is installed to detect the actual position of the conveyed object, and this detection result is fed back to a control unit that calculates positional variations and generates correction amounts. This feedback loop enables automatic correction of landing position deviations without manual intervention, improving precision while automating the complexity management.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-correction by automatically detecting positional variations through the sensor and adjusting the print head position based on calculated correction amounts. The apparatus serves itself by eliminating the need for external manual adjustment, thereby managing complexity through automation.
2Measurement precision
If a sensor is used to detect positional variations, then the measurement precision is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional detection components
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor detection results are fed back to the control unit, which automatically processes the position information and calculates correction amounts. This feedback mechanism transforms the added complexity of the sensor into a beneficial automated control system that improves measurement precision while managing system complexity through intelligent processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor-based detection system replaces manual or mechanical position checking methods with optical or electromagnetic detection, improving measurement precision while reducing the need for complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms.
3Manufacturing precision
If the print head position is adjusted in real-time, then the image quality is improved, but the productivity decreases due to additional adjustment time
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor detects positional variations and the control unit calculates correction amounts in advance, before the printing operation is significantly affected. This preliminary detection and calculation enable proactive correction, maintaining image quality while minimizing disruption to the printing process and productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The position detection and correction mechanisms operate continuously during the printing process, ensuring that adjustments are made seamlessly without interrupting the overall productivity. The system maintains continuous useful action by integrating correction into the normal printing workflow rather than requiring separate adjustment phases.
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejection apparatus is provided that includes a plurality of liquid ejection head units that eject liquid onto a conveyed object at different positions along a conveying path for the conveyed object; a first support member and a second support member that are respectively provided at an upstream side and a downstream side of a landing position of liquid ejected by a corresponding liquid ejection head unit; a detection unit that is installed between the first support member and the second support member for the corresponding liquid ejection head unit and is configured to output a detection result indicating a position of the conveyed object with respect to a direction orthogonal to a conveying direction of the conveyed object; and a moving unit configured to move each liquid ejection head unit based on the detection result.