Ink Circulation Buffering for Stable White Ink Replenishment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink replenishment in printing apparatuses can cause fluctuations in ink temperature and density distribution, leading to unstable ink properties and reduced print quality, particularly with white ink.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a circulation system with dedicated circulation paths and controlled replenishment processes to maintain stable ink temperature and prevent pigment precipitation, using sub-tanks, pumps, and sensors to manage ink flow and replenishment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If ink is replenished from the main tank to the head unit, then the ink supply is maintained, but the ink temperature fluctuates and becomes unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The ink storage system is divided into two separate tanks: a main tank for bulk storage and a sub-tank for active supply to the head unit. This segmentation allows the main tank to store ink at stable conditions while the sub-tank receives controlled replenishment, isolating temperature fluctuations to the sub-tank only and preventing them from affecting the entire system.
Solution Approach 2:
The sub-tank acts as an intermediary between the main tank and the head unit. It receives ink from the main tank through a controlled replenishment process and supplies it to the head unit, buffering temperature variations and ensuring stable ink delivery to the printing head.
2Use of energy by moving object
If ink stands still in the drum tank and pipe during non-replenishment time, then energy consumption is reduced, but pigments precipitate and generate ink density distribution
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous circulation, the system employs periodic circulation of ink in the sub-tank. The circulation is activated at specific intervals or under specific conditions to prevent pigment precipitation, then stopped to conserve energy. This periodic action maintains ink uniformity while minimizing energy consumption compared to continuous circulation.
3Stability of the object's composition
If continuous circulation of ink is maintained, then ink density uniformity is preserved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic circulation instead of continuous circulation to maintain ink density uniformity. The circulation is activated only when needed to prevent pigment precipitation, then stopped to conserve energy, achieving a balance between maintaining composition stability and reducing energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The circulation system is designed to activate automatically based on detected conditions (such as ink stagnation or temperature variations). The system monitors itself and initiates circulation only when necessary to maintain ink uniformity, eliminating the need for continuous energy-consuming operation while preserving ink quality.
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
Stabilizes ink properties during replenishment, ensuring high-quality printing by maintaining consistent ink temperature and density, thereby preventing reductions in print quality.
Implementation Method 1
a circulation pump for circulating the ink from the collection sub-tank to the supply sub-tank
Implementation Method 2
A negative pressure in the collection tank is set to be larger than that in the supply tank, and the ink is circulated inside a head unit due to this pressure difference
Implementation Method 3
implementing a circulation system with dedicated circulation paths and controlled replenishment processes to maintain stable ink temperature
Implementation Method 4
prevent pigment precipitation, using sub-tanks, pumps, and sensors to manage ink flow and replenishment
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
An ink is circulated in a circulation path including a supply sub-tank, a discharge head and a collection sub-tank in a head unit. If the amount of the ink in the head unit decreases, the ink stored in the buffer tank is replenished to the head unit. On the other hand, in a first non-replenishment time during which the ink is not replenished, the ink is circulated through the buffer tank, the collection sub-tank and the supply sub-tank in this order. Thus, a temperature fluctuation of the replenishment ink stored in the buffer tank is suppressed. As a result, even if the ink is replenished to the head unit from the buffer tank, physical properties, particularly a viscosity, of the ink do not largely vary.