Liquid Ejection Head Voltage Staging to Suppress Kogation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink burning on the heater surface and changes in ejection characteristics due to kogation formation during printing, leading to image unevenness and quality issues in liquid ejection apparatuses.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejection apparatus with a control unit that manages potential differences between electrodes to control kogation formation, employing a three-stage process of aging, preprocessing, and printing to stabilize the electrode surface and maintain consistent ejection characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If aging processing is performed with a smaller potential difference to accumulate kogation efficiently, then the aging time is shortened, but the kogation adhered during aging is removed during printing, causing image unevenness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing aging processing with a first potential difference to accumulate kogation on the heater surface before actual printing. This preliminary kogation accumulation creates a stable base layer that prevents ink burning during subsequent printing operations. The control unit specifically controls the potential difference during aging to be different from printing conditions, optimizing the aging process while ensuring stable ejection characteristics during actual use.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by using different potential differences for different operational stages. The control unit dynamically adjusts the potential difference between the first electrode and second electrode based on the operational phase: a first potential difference during aging to promote kogation accumulation, and a second potential difference during printing to maintain stable ejection. This dynamic adjustment prevents kogation removal during printing while maintaining image uniformity.
2Productivity
If the same potential difference is used during aging and printing, then the kogation adhesion remains consistent, but the aging process takes longer and is less efficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by varying the potential difference parameter according to the operational stage. During aging processing, the control unit sets a first potential difference that optimizes kogation accumulation efficiency, reducing aging time. During printing, a second potential difference is used to maintain stable kogation adhesion and consistent ejection characteristics. This parameter optimization achieves both efficient aging and stable printing performance.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If a larger potential difference is applied to move charged particles away from the heater surface, then kogation production is suppressed, but ejection characteristics change and image quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by performing aging processing that intentionally allows controlled kogation accumulation on the heater surface before actual printing. This preliminary kogation layer acts as a protective barrier that prevents ink burning during subsequent printing operations. The control unit manages the potential difference to ensure kogation accumulates during aging but remains stable during printing, thereby preventing harmful ink burning without affecting ejection characteristics.
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 solution effectively suppresses image unevenness and maintains consistent ejection characteristics by controlling potential differences to manage kogation, ensuring high-quality printing.
Implementation Method 1
a heat generation resistor configured to generate energy to eject a liquid by generating heat by applying power
Implementation Method 2
first and second electrodes arranged to generate an electric field in a liquid chamber of a liquid ejection head. Potentials of the first and second electrodes are controlled to generate the electric field in the liquid chamber, and charged particles that cause kogation are moved away from the heater surface
Data Source
AI summary
Provides a technique that can suppress occurrence of the image unevenness and the like due to a burnt ink on a heater surface. To this end, between aging processing and printing processing, preprocessing is performed with a potential difference between a potential difference during aging processing and a potential difference during printing processing.