Liquid Ejecting Apparatus Head Unit Alignment for Throughput
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid ejecting apparatuses with multiple head units struggle to achieve an ideal arrangement of liquid ejecting heads for optimal print throughput, as the arrangement depends on the specific print content and are often dedicated devices that cannot be easily shared across different models.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejecting apparatus with head units aligned in the main scanning direction, where the center lines of the head units differ, allowing for flexible arrangement of liquid ejecting heads close to the center of the apparatus width, enabling easy sharing of components and minimizing the movement of head units, and optionally including a staggered layout for wide-band printing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If dedicated apparatus configurations are used for specific use purposes, then print throughput is optimized for specific content, but device versatility and ease of sharing across models deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The holding member is designed with a standardized structure that can accommodate different combinations of liquid ejecting heads (M heads total, with N active heads near center and M-N inactive heads at edges). This universal design allows the same apparatus configuration to serve multiple printing purposes by selectively activating different head combinations, enabling one apparatus to replace multiple dedicated devices.
2Area of stationary object
If liquid ejecting heads are arranged away from center for wide coverage, then printing width capability is improved, but head unit movement distance increases reducing throughput
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid ejecting heads are arranged with different functional zones: N heads positioned near the center for primary printing operations with minimal movement, and M-N heads positioned at edge locations for extended width coverage when needed. This local quality differentiation allows the system to optimize for speed during normal operations while maintaining the capability for wide-format printing by activating edge heads only when required.
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a plurality of head units, in each of which a plurality of recording heads are disposed so as to be aligned in a main scanning direction in a holding member as a frame body, and a plurality of nozzle openings for discharging ink being disposed in a sub scanning direction in each recording head. The head units are aligned such that center lines thereof in the main scanning direction differ from each other in the main scanning direction. M (M is a natural number) liquid ejecting heads are attachable to each holding member in the main scanning direction. N (M>N (N is a natural number)) liquid ejecting heads, which discharge liquid, among the M liquid ejecting heads are arranged so as to be close to a center side of an entire width of the head units in the main scanning direction.