Fluid Circulating Element Selective Recirculation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet printing systems face issues with ink quality degradation due to prolonged storage in fluidic chambers, leading to altered drop trajectories, velocities, and colors, which negatively impact print quality.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus with a fluid circulating element that selectively recirculates ink based on the firing frequency of drop ejecting elements, ensuring fresh ink is provided when needed and preventing unnecessary recirculation to maintain ink quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If ink is held in fluidic chambers for prolonged periods without firing or recirculating, then energy consumption is reduced, but ink quality degrades due to evaporation and pigment separation
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic recirculation of ink through the fluidic chambers at predetermined time intervals, rather than continuous recirculation. This periodic action refreshes the ink to prevent evaporation and pigment separation while minimizing unnecessary energy consumption during active printing periods.
2Reliability
If ink is recirculated continuously, then ink quality is maintained, but energy consumption increases and drop ejection precision may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The controller is configured to recirculate ink only at predetermined time intervals when the printhead is not actively printing, rather than continuous recirculation. This periodic approach maintains ink quality while significantly reducing energy consumption and avoiding interference with active drop ejection operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the recirculation timing based on the printing state. The controller monitors whether the printhead is in an active printing state and schedules recirculation operations during idle periods, making the recirculation behavior adaptive to system conditions rather than fixed.
3Reliability
If recirculation occurs during active printing, then ink freshness is maintained, but drop trajectories and velocities are altered affecting print quality
Solution Approach 1:
The controller dynamically monitors the printing state and conditionally schedules recirculation operations. When active printing is detected, recirculation is postponed or cancelled to prevent interference with drop ejection. Recirculation is only executed during idle periods when no drops are being ejected, ensuring both ink freshness and printing precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system proactively prevents recirculation during active printing periods by monitoring the printing state in advance. The controller schedules recirculation operations only during predetermined idle time intervals, thereby preventing the harmful effect of altered drop trajectories before they can occur.
Data Source
AI summary
According to an example, a printing apparatus may include two drop ejecting elements, a fluid circulating element, and a logic device. The logic device may determine whether one or both of a first drop ejecting element and a second drop ejecting element have been fired within a predetermined period of time prior to a current time. In response to the determination, the logic device may selectively transmit an output signal that is to cause the fluid circulating element to be selectively fired, in which the fluid circulating element is positioned to circulate fluid adjacent to both the first drop ejecting element and the second drop ejecting element.