Printer Gas Ejector Cleaning for Ejection Surface Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional printers degrade the performance of the ejection surface due to the wiper blade rubbing against it, leading to ink droplet adhesion issues.
Innovation Solution
A printer design that uses a gas ejector to clean the ejection surface by ejecting gas from a position away from the ink ejection outlets, generating an airflow that removes ink droplets while preventing surface degradation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If a wiper blade is used to remove ink droplets from the ejection surface, then ink droplet removal is achieved, but the surface performance (water repellency) of the ejection surface degrades due to rubbing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical wiper blade system with a gas ejector system that uses gas flow to remove ink droplets. The gas ejector directs gas toward the ejection surface from a position away from the ink ejection outlets, creating a gas flow that carries ink droplets away without mechanical contact, thus preventing surface performance degradation while maintaining effective ink removal
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs pneumatic principles by using a gas ejector to generate a gas flow that removes ink droplets from the ejection surface. The gas flow is directed at an angle to create a cushioning effect and transport ink particles away from the surface without requiring physical contact, thereby preserving the surface's water repellency and other performance characteristics
2Reliability
If gas is ejected from a position away from the ink ejection outlets, then surface performance is preserved, but cleaning effectiveness must be optimized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by directing gas flow to specific regions of the ejection surface - particularly targeting areas with ink accumulation while avoiding direct impact on the ink ejection outlets. The gas ejector is positioned to create localized gas flow patterns that are optimized for cleaning specific zones without compromising the functionality of the ejection outlets
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes angular positioning of the gas ejector to create gas flow in a direction that is not perpendicular to the ejection surface but at an angled trajectory. This dimensional adjustment allows the gas flow to effectively remove ink droplets while maintaining a safe distance from the ejection outlets, optimizing both cleaning effectiveness and surface protection
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
Effectively removes ink droplets from the ejection surface without degrading its performance, reducing ink consumption and preventing condensation or drying of the ink ejection outlets.
Implementation Method 1
The gas ejector generates an airflow that goes at least from one end of the ejection surface to the other end thereof in the first direction
Data Source
AI summary
A technique allows satisfactory removal of ink droplets adhering to the ejection surface of an ejection head while preventing the occurrence of performance degradation of the ejection surface. A printer performs printing by ejecting ink droplets to an upper surface of a long band-like base material (M). The printer includes an ejection head and a cleaner. The ejection head has an ejection surface in which a plurality of ink ejection outlets for ejecting ink droplets are arranged in a width direction (X). The cleaner cleans the ejection surface. The cleaner includes a gas ejector. The gas ejector ejects gas to the ejection surface from a position away from the ink ejection outlets in the Y direction.