Ink Head and Tank Layout for Stable Wide-Media Printing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ink jet recording apparatuses face challenges in efficiently printing on wide and long recording media due to the limitations of ink head arrangements and the need for stable ink and processing liquid discharge during reciprocating movements, particularly when dealing with large recording surfaces.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a carriage with multiple ink heads, pre-processing and post-processing heads, and sub-tanks arranged in a staggered configuration to minimize pipe line length variations, ensuring stable ink and processing liquid discharge by optimizing the arrangement of ink heads and sub-tanks to reduce pressure fluctuations during reciprocation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the carriage length is reduced to improve compactness, then the recording device becomes more compact, but the arrangement of ink heads and sub-tanks becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a conventional linear arrangement of ink heads and sub-tanks to a two-dimensional matrix arrangement. Multiple ink heads and sub-tanks are positioned in both the main scanning direction and the sub scanning direction, creating a grid-like structure that maximizes space utilization within the carriage while maintaining functional relationships between components
Solution Approach 2:
The carriage is divided into multiple functional zones with ink heads and sub-tanks segmented and distributed across different positions. The ink heads are arranged in a matrix pattern with corresponding sub-tanks positioned to minimize pipeline lengths, creating modular segments that can be independently optimized for their respective functions
2Reliability
If ink heads and sub-tanks are arranged to minimize pipeline length variations, then pressure fluctuations are reduced, but the arrangement complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates an equipotential arrangement where all ink heads and sub-tanks are positioned to have substantially equal pipeline lengths. This is achieved by carefully calculating and adjusting the positions of sub-tanks relative to ink heads in the matrix arrangement, ensuring that pressure conditions are equivalent across all discharge points, thereby eliminating pressure fluctuations during reciprocating motion
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the carriage are optimized for specific functions: ink heads are positioned in discharge-oriented zones, while sub-tanks are positioned in storage zones with optimized pipeline connections. Each local area is designed with specific quality characteristics - discharge stability for ink heads and efficient ink supply for sub-tanks - creating a heterogeneous arrangement that optimizes overall system performance
3Productivity
If multiple ink heads and sub-tanks are arranged in a matrix pattern, then ink supply efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The matrix arrangement of ink heads and sub-tanks creates a universal structure that can serve multiple printing functions simultaneously. The same structural framework supports both the discharge function of ink heads and the storage function of sub-tanks, while the standardized matrix pattern can accommodate different numbers and types of ink heads depending on printing requirements, providing multi-functionality without proportionally increasing complexity
Data Source
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AI summary
A printing unit includes a carriage which reciprocates in a main scanning direction, a plurality of ink heads which are mounted on the carriage to be arranged in at least one column along the main scanning direction and discharge ink, and a plurality of tanks which are mounted on the carriage to be disposed along the main scanning direction and accommodate ink. The plurality of ink heads include a pair of first ink heads disposed at both ends in the main scanning direction and configured to discharge ink of a same color, and the plurality of tanks include a first tank accommodating ink of a color corresponding to the pair of first ink heads. In the carriage, an arrangement range in which the plurality of tanks are disposed is set to include the same region in the main scanning direction as an arrangement range in which the plurality of ink heads are disposed, and the first tank is disposed at a central portion in the main scanning direction among the plurality of tanks.