Liquid Ejection Head Temperature Control via Variable Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid ejection heads face challenges in rapidly reaching and maintaining a stable temperature for ink ejection, leading to variations in ejection volume and speed, which can result in poor image quality and increased costs due to the need for complex circuitry to manage multiple heaters.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejection head with a detection unit to monitor temperature and a heating unit that adjusts its heating value based on the temperature difference from a target temperature, allowing for discrete temperature control across multiple areas to stabilize ink ejection performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If multiple types of heaters with different heating values are mounted in the print head to rapidly reach temperature and maintain stability, then temperature control performance is improved, but device complexity and cost increase due to additional select circuits and driver circuits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the heating value of the single heater variable rather than fixed. The heating unit dynamically adjusts its heating value based on the detected temperature, using multiple heating value settings (first, second, third heating values) to achieve different control objectives: rapid heating when temperature is low, and precise maintenance when temperature is near target. This dynamic adjustment replaces the need for multiple physical heaters and their associated complex control circuits.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of heating value from a fixed characteristic to a variable one. By allowing the heating unit to operate at different heating value levels depending on the temperature difference between detected and target temperatures, the system achieves multiple heating modes with a single heater. This parameter change eliminates the need for multiple heater elements and simplifies the overall circuit architecture while maintaining effective temperature control.
2Device complexity
If a single heater is used with variable heating values, then device complexity is reduced, but temperature control precision and stability may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control by continuously detecting the temperature of the liquid ejection head and using this information to adjust the heating value of the heater. The detection unit monitors temperature, and based on the difference between detected temperature and target temperature, the heating unit selects appropriate heating values. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures temperature stability and precision even with a single heater, preventing both overheating and insufficient heating.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains reliability through dynamic adaptation of the heating value. When temperature is significantly below target, the heater operates at higher heating values for rapid response. When temperature approaches target, it switches to lower heating values for precise maintenance. This dynamic behavior, driven by real-time temperature feedback, ensures both rapid response and stable maintenance, achieving reliable temperature control with simplified hardware.
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
This approach enables rapid temperature adjustment and stable ink ejection, reducing temperature variations and improving image quality while minimizing circuit complexity and costs.
Implementation Method 1
a heating unit configured to heat the liquid ejection head by a heating value varying according to a temperature difference between a temperature detected by the detection unit and a predetermined target temperature
Implementation Method 2
a detection unit configured to detect a temperature of the liquid ejection head
Data Source
AI summary
In order to keep possible local temperature differences in a liquid ejection head small to allow stable liquid ejection performance to be achieved, temperatures in a plurality of heating areas in a liquid ejection head are discretely controlled using heating elements and temperature detection elements.