Liquid Ejection Head Drive Waveform Resonance Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image forming apparatuses using liquid ejection methods face challenges in reducing mist generation and enabling high-frequency driving during droplet ejection.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus employs a liquid ejection head with a pressure generating unit and a head drive control unit that generates a drive waveform with specific expansion and contraction waveform elements, where the first contraction waveform element contracts the liquid chambers at resonance with pressure changes and the second contraction waveform element suppresses pressure changes, allowing for efficient droplet ejection and reduced mist generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional drive waveforms are used for droplet ejection, then droplet ejection can be achieved, but mist generation occurs and high-frequency driving is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies resonance vibration to the liquid chamber by timing the first contraction waveform element to coincide with the natural resonance frequency of the liquid chamber. This resonant vibration efficiently returns the liquid chamber to its initial state, suppressing residual pressure changes and enabling high-frequency driving while reducing mist generation caused by incomplete droplet ejection
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses periodic expansion and contraction waveform elements applied in sequence to the liquid chamber. The first expansion waveform element expands the liquid chamber, followed by the first contraction waveform element that contracts at resonance, then a second expansion waveform element, and finally a second contraction waveform element that suppresses pressure changes. This periodic action ensures complete droplet ejection and chamber reset, enabling high-frequency operation without mist generation
2Productivity
If conventional drive waveforms are used for droplet ejection, then droplet ejection can be achieved, but droplet ejection efficiency is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes resonance vibration in the liquid chamber during the first contraction phase to maximize the ejection efficiency. By timing the contraction waveform element to match the natural resonance frequency of the liquid chamber, the system achieves complete and efficient droplet ejection, ensuring that all liquid is properly expelled without residual pressure that would reduce ejection efficiency in subsequent cycles
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the droplet ejection process into multiple distinct phases using separate waveform elements: first expansion, first contraction (at resonance), second expansion, and second contraction (for pressure suppression). This segmentation allows each phase to be optimized independently, ensuring complete droplet ejection while preparing the liquid chamber for the next cycle, thereby improving both efficiency and reliability
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 solution effectively reduces mist generation and enables high-frequency driving by optimizing the waveform elements to control pressure changes in the liquid chambers, improving droplet ejection efficiency and image quality.
Implementation Method 1
the first contraction waveform element serves as a waveform element that contracts the individual liquid chambers at a timing of resonance with a change in a pressure in the individual liquid chambers due to the first expansion waveform element
Implementation Method 2
the second contraction waveform element serves as a waveform element that suppresses the change in the pressure in the individual liquid chambers
Data Source
AI summary
A head drive control unit generates and outputs a pulse formed of a first expansion waveform element to expand individual liquid chambers, a first contraction waveform element to contract the individual liquid chambers, a second expansion waveform element to expand the individual liquid chambers, and a second contraction waveform element to return the individual liquid chambers that have repeatedly expanded and contracted to an initial state. The first contraction waveform element serves as a waveform element that contracts the individual liquid chambers at a timing of resonance with a change in a pressure in the individual liquid chambers due to the first expansion waveform element. The second contraction waveform element serves as a waveform element that suppresses the change in the pressure in the individual liquid chambers.