Liquid Ejecting Apparatus Head Unit Width Reduction via Bidirectional Scanning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet printers face issues with image quality deterioration due to differences in ejection characteristics among heads, leading to density irregularities and the need for wider head units, which increases the printer's size and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejecting apparatus with a head unit that moves alternately in both directions, forming multiple raster lines with a control system that sets the total movement amount of the head unit to be larger than the effective nozzle width multiplied by (m×n−1) but smaller than (m×n), ensuring image resolution is n times the nozzle pitch, thereby minimizing density irregularities and head unit width.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the width of the head unit in the first direction is increased to eject liquid across the entire width region of the medium during movement in the second direction, then the liquid ejection coverage is improved, but the head unit width and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention makes the head unit movable in both the first direction (width direction) and the second direction (movement direction) by providing a movement mechanism. This dynamic configuration allows the head unit to change its position and orientation during operation, enabling it to eject liquid across the entire width region of the medium without requiring a permanently wide head unit structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds the first direction (width direction) as an additional dimension of movement to the traditional second direction (movement direction). By enabling movement in both directions, the system transforms a one-dimensional scanning approach into a two-dimensional scanning approach, allowing the head unit to cover the entire width region of the medium through coordinated movements in both directions rather than requiring a wide static structure.
2Productivity
If multiple heads are arranged along the first direction to increase printing speed, then the productivity is improved, but the head unit width increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention makes the head unit movable in the first direction (width direction) by providing a movement mechanism. This allows multiple heads arranged along the first direction to sequentially position themselves over different regions of the medium, enabling high-speed printing without requiring all heads to be simultaneously positioned over the medium, thus reducing the required head unit width.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention divides the printing task into multiple segments by using multiple heads that can independently position themselves in the first direction. Each head can work on different regions of the medium at different times, and the movement mechanism enables these segmented operations to be coordinated, achieving high productivity without requiring a wide head unit structure.
3Area of stationary object
If the total movement amount of the head unit in the first direction is increased to cover the entire width region, then the liquid ejection coverage is improved, but the head unit width must be increased to maintain ejection effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The invention makes the head unit movable in the first direction (width direction) by providing a movement mechanism. This allows the head unit to dynamically position itself at different locations along the width of the medium, enabling complete width coverage through movement rather than requiring a wide static structure that would be needed if the head unit remained fixed in position.
Data Source
AI summary
Liquid ejecting apparatuses and image formed methods are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a liquid ejecting apparatus is provided including a head unit, a movement mechanism, and a control section. The head unit has along a first direction a plurality of heads, in which a plurality of nozzles that eject a liquid onto a medium are lined up in the first direction, and the head unit forms a single raster line by ejecting the liquid while performing m number of movements relative to the medium in a second direction, which intersects the first direction. The movement mechanism causes the head unit to perform a plurality of movements relative to the medium alternately in the second direction and the first direction. The control section forms an image having a resolution that is n times a pitch of the nozzles.