Liquid Ejecting Apparatus Ink Holding Portion Segmentation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In liquid ejecting apparatuses with multiple nozzle groups, uneven ink distribution in cap members leads to insufficient suction force in some cap members during idle suction, resulting in incomplete ink discharge.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus includes a liquid holding portion with a liquid reservoir that communicates with the atmosphere via an atmosphere communicating portion, allowing for efficient discharge of liquid by reducing pressure loss and preventing ink from being absorbed by porous materials, and a liquid reception portion that receives and stores ink before it flows into the reservoir, shortening the flight distance of droplets during flushing to minimize mist generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If ink is held in an absorbing member formed of porous material, then the liquid holding portion can store the liquid, but the suction force is insufficient and liquid discharge is slow
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid holding portion is divided into two functional regions: a liquid reception portion that receives liquid from the ejecting ports, and a liquid reservoir portion that stores the liquid. This segmentation allows the reception portion to be positioned closer to the ejecting ports, shortening the flight distance of droplets and reducing mist generation, while the reservoir portion provides adequate storage capacity without requiring porous materials that impede suction.
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid reception portion acts as an intermediary structure between the ejecting ports and the liquid reservoir portion. It receives liquid directly from the ejecting ports, allowing for efficient transfer and storage without the need for porous absorbing materials, thereby maintaining high suction efficiency while providing sufficient liquid storage capacity.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the liquid reception portion is disposed close to the ejecting ports, then mist generation is reduced, but the liquid storage capacity is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid holding portion is divided into two functional regions: a liquid reception portion that receives liquid from the ejecting ports, and a liquid reservoir portion that stores the liquid. This segmentation allows the reception portion to be positioned closer to the ejecting ports, shortening the flight distance of droplets and reducing mist generation, while the reservoir portion provides adequate storage capacity without requiring porous materials that impede suction.
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid reservoir portion is configured to extend in the vertical direction (downward) from the liquid reception portion. This vertical extension provides additional storage capacity without increasing the horizontal footprint or requiring the reception portion to be farther from the ejecting ports, thus maintaining low mist generation while increasing storage capacity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple cap members are provided for different nozzle groups, then selective cleaning is enabled, but uneven ink distribution leads to insufficient suction force in some cap members
Solution Approach 1:
Each cap member is segmented into a liquid reception portion and a liquid reservoir portion. The reception portion receives liquid from specific nozzle groups, allowing selective cleaning of different nozzle groups while maintaining consistent suction performance across all cap members through the standardized reservoir design.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical state and distribution of liquid storage by using a non-porous liquid reservoir portion where liquid is stored as a pooled liquid rather than absorbed into porous material. This parameter change ensures consistent suction force across multiple cap members regardless of the amount of liquid held, as the suction mechanism directly contacts the liquid surface in the reservoir portion.
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
This configuration ensures efficient discharge of liquid from multiple liquid holding portions, reduces pressure loss during suction, and minimizes mist generation during flushing, improving the overall efficiency and print quality of the liquid ejecting apparatus.
Implementation Method 1
the liquid reservoir portion communicates with the atmosphere via the atmosphere communicating portion, when the suction mechanism that is connected to the liquid holding portion is driven, in comparison to a case in which the liquid that is absorbed in an absorbing member formed of a porous material or the like is sucked, it is possible to quickly discharge the liquid that is stored in the plurality of liquid reservoir portions
Implementation Method 2
a suction mechanism which is connected to the plurality of liquid holding portions
Implementation Method 3
the liquid reception portion is disposed to be suspended in the space within the liquid holding portion... the liquid received by the liquid reception portion flows down the liquid reception portion and is stored in the liquid reservoir portion
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejecting apparatus is provided with a liquid ejecting unit capable of ejecting liquid, a plurality of liquid holding portions capable of holding the liquid that is discharged from the liquid ejecting unit, and a suction mechanism which is connected to the plurality of liquid holding portions. The liquid holding portion includes a liquid reception portion which receives the liquid that is discharged from the liquid ejecting unit, a liquid reservoir portion capable of storing the liquid further down in a vertical direction than the liquid reception portion, and an atmosphere communicating portion which communicates the liquid reservoir portion with the atmosphere.