Ink Circulation Control for Printing Apparatuses

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pigment ink circulation methods in printing apparatuses lead to nonuniform printing density and clogging due to pigment precipitation, requiring frequent and prolonged circulation operations that decrease production capacity and shorten the service life of the circulating pump.

Innovation Solution

A printing apparatus with a circulation unit that adjusts the ink circulation time based on whether an ink discharge operation has occurred, utilizing the agitation effect of printing to reduce the necessary circulation time and extend pump service life.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If regular circulation operations are performed to prevent pigment precipitation, then printing quality is improved, but production capacity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting qualityVSAvoidproduction capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The circulation time is made dynamic rather than fixed, adjusting based on whether ink discharge operations occurred between circulations. When ink discharge occurs (providing agitation), circulation time is reduced; when no discharge occurs, circulation time is extended to prevent precipitation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from ink discharge operations to adjust circulation timing. The setting unit detects whether ink discharge occurred between circulations and automatically adjusts the next circulation time accordingly, creating a closed-loop control system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Manufacturing precision

If circulation time is extended to prevent pigment precipitation, then printing quality is improved, but pump service life decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting qualityVSAvoidpump service life

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The circulation duration is dynamically adjusted based on operational conditions. Instead of continuous or fixed-time circulation, the system shortens circulation time when ink discharge operations have recently occurred, reducing unnecessary pump operation while maintaining prevention of precipitation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The ink discharge operation itself provides agitation that partially prevents precipitation. The system leverages this self-service effect by reducing circulation time after ink discharge, allowing the printing operation to contribute to preventing pigment settlement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If circulation operations are performed frequently to prevent clogging, then reliability is improved, but time efficiency worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclogging preventionVSAvoidtime efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system monitors ink discharge operations and uses this information to adjust circulation timing. When ink discharge occurs, the agitation effect is detected and circulation is deferred or shortened, reducing wasted time while maintaining clogging prevention through targeted circulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of continuous circulation, the system uses periodic circulation operations timed based on ink discharge activity. This creates an optimized schedule that maintains reliability while minimizing time loss compared to continuous or fixed periodic circulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

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

Optimizes ink circulation time to maintain production capacity while prolonging the service life of the circulating pump by adjusting circulation intervals based on the agitation effect of printing operations, reducing pigment precipitation and preventing clogging.

Implementation Method 1

a circulation unit that performs a circulation operation of regularly circulating the ink through a predetermined circulation channel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCirculation: Convection

Implementation Method 2

the printing operation itself also exerts an agitation effect, which partly eliminates the precipitation of the pigment component

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAgitation: Turbulence

Implementation Method 3

the setting unit sets the circulation time such that the circulation time in a case where an ink discharge operation of discharging the ink from the ejection port is performed between a last circulation operation and the next circulation operation is shorter than the circulation time in a case where the ink discharge operation is not performed between the last circulation operation and the next circulation operation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTime optimization:

Data Source

PatentUS20240336071A1Printing apparatus and ink circulation method

Publication Date: 2024.10.10 CANON KK

AI summary

An object is to optimize the time of ink circulation by a configuration that regularly circulates an ink for agitation without decreasing the capacity of production of printed objects. To achieve this, in a case where an ink discharge operation of discharging an ink from an ejection port is performed between the last circulation operation and the next circulation operation, the circulation time in the next circulation operation is corrected.