Ink Degassing via Vertical Circulation and Pressure Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet recording apparatuses face inefficiencies in degassing ink due to the difficulty in replacing ink near the liquid surface with ink from the bottom surface, where dissolved gas levels are higher, leading to reduced degassing efficiency and increased power consumption or prolonged degassing times.
Innovation Solution
A degassing device that includes a liquid tank, pressure decreasing device, circulation flow pass, circulation device, dissolved gas amount measuring device, and control device, which circulates ink through a dedicated flow path to expose the liquid surface to decreased pressure, improving degassing efficiency by replacing ink with higher dissolved gas content from the bottom surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the stirrer is located at the bottom of the ink tank to degas the ink, then the ink near the bottom surface where the amount of dissolved gas is large can be processed, but when the ink capacity increases, it becomes difficult to replace the ink near the liquid surface with the ink near the bottom surface, leading to reduced degassing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a circulation flow path that creates a vertical dimension of ink movement, allowing ink to circulate from the bottom to the liquid surface and back. This dimensional approach enables effective degassing of large ink volumes by continuously bringing high-dissolved-gas ink from the bottom into contact with the liquid surface where degassing occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The circulation flow path acts as an intermediary mechanism that facilitates the exchange between ink at different positions in the tank. It mediates the transfer of ink from the bottom surface (high dissolved gas) to the liquid surface (degassing zone) and returns the degassed ink back to the tank, enabling efficient degassing throughout the entire ink volume.
2Power
If constant power is supplied to the degassing device, then the device operates stably, but the degassing efficiency may be lowered by using too much power when the amount of dissolved gas is small or by prolonging the time required for degassing when the amount of dissolved gas is large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a circulation device with variable speed capability that can dynamically adjust its operation based on the actual dissolved gas amount in the ink. The control device monitors the degassing state and adjusts the circulation device's speed accordingly, enabling the system to adapt to changing conditions and maintain optimal degassing efficiency without wasting power.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates a feedback mechanism where the control device monitors the dissolved gas amount in the ink and uses this information to adjust the circulation device's operation. This feedback loop ensures that the circulation device operates at the appropriate speed to match the actual degassing needs, preventing both power waste when dissolved gas is low and extended degassing time when dissolved gas is high.
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
Enhances degassing efficiency by effectively removing air dissolved in the ink, reducing power usage, and minimizing noise, while maintaining the meniscus shape in the recording head nozzle, thus preventing ejection failures and maintaining image quality.
Implementation Method 1
The pressure decreasing device decreases pressure in the liquid tank
Implementation Method 2
The circulation device circulates the liquid through the circulation flow pass
Implementation Method 3
The dissolved gas amount measuring device measures an amount of dissolved gas of the liquid in the liquid tank
Data Source
AI summary
A degassing device removes air dissolved in a liquid under a pressure decreased atmosphere, includes a liquid tank, a pressure decreasing device, a circulation flow pass, a circulation device, a dissolved gas amount measuring device, and a control device. The liquid tank stores the liquid. The pressure decreasing device decreases pressure in the liquid tank. The circulation flow pass communicates different positions of the liquid tank. The circulation device circulates the liquid through the circulation flow pass. The dissolved gas amount measuring device measures an amount of dissolved gas of the liquid in the liquid tank. The control device controls the circulation device in accordance with the amount of dissolved gas measured by the dissolved gas amount measuring device.