Ink Degassing Tank Layout for Low Re-Dissolution and Stable Ejection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet recording apparatuses face issues with ink degassing efficiency due to reduced surface area caused by floating bodies, leading to increased dissolved gas levels that can result in ejection failures.
Innovation Solution
A degassing device with a liquid tank, pressure decreasing device, circulation flow pass, circulation device, and floating body is used to circulate ink under reduced pressure, exposing it to a larger surface area to enhance degassing efficiency while minimizing re-dissolution of air.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a floating body is placed on the liquid surface to suppress re-dissolution of air, then re-dissolution is suppressed, but the surface area is narrowed and degassing efficiency is lowered
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid surface is segmented into multiple regions by dividing the floating body into multiple separate floating bodies, allowing different areas of the liquid surface to be exposed while still maintaining suppression of re-dissolution
Solution Approach 2:
The inlet port is positioned above the liquid surface in the vertical dimension, allowing liquid to fall onto the floating body from above, creating a three-dimensional degassing path that increases effective surface area without compromising the floating body's function
2Productivity
If pressure inside the ink tank is decreased to degas the ink, then dissolved gas is removed, but bubbles may be generated inside the recording head causing ejection failure
Solution Approach 1:
The circulation system preliminarily moves ink from the recording head to the tank before pressure decrease, and the floating body preliminarily suppresses re-dissolution, preparing the system for effective degassing while protecting against bubble formation
Solution Approach 2:
The circulating liquid acts as an intermediary medium that transfers dissolved gas from the recording head to the tank where pressure is decreased, preventing direct bubble formation in the recording head while enabling efficient degassing
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
The solution effectively reduces dissolved gas levels in ink, preventing ejection failures and maintaining image quality by improving degassing efficiency without disrupting the meniscus in the recording head.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure inside an ink tank is decreased to degas the ink
Implementation Method 2
a floating body is floated on the liquid surface
Implementation Method 3
The circulation device circulates the liquid through the circulation flow pass
Data Source
AI summary
A degassing device removes air dissolved in liquid under a pressure decreased atmosphere. The degassing device includes a liquid tank, a pressure decreasing device, a circulation flow pass, a circulation device, and a floating body. 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 floating body floats on a liquid surface in the liquid tank. An inlet port from the circulation flow pass to the liquid tank is provided above the liquid surface. The liquid flowing in through the inlet port into the liquid tank falls on the floating body above the liquid surface.