Ink Jet Nozzle Array Arrangement for Cap Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink jet recording apparatuses face nozzle clogging due to ink thickening and solidification, which affects ink discharge and nozzle sealing, especially when cap members fail to maintain negative pressure and effectively seal nozzles in a left-to-stand state.
Innovation Solution
The arrangement of nozzle arrays within the cap member is optimized, with those at the end regions discharging ink with the lowest solid content concentration and central regions discharging ink with the highest solid content concentration, along with the use of glycerin to stabilize ink viscosity, and an ink absorbing material in the cap member to prevent solvent migration and clogging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a cap member is used to cover nozzles in a left-to-stand state, then nozzle drying is prevented, but ink may attach to and solidify on the edge section of the cap member, causing capping defects and insufficient adhesion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by arranging different ink types with different solid content concentrations at different locations within the cap member. Specifically, inks with lower solid content concentrations are placed in regions closer to the cap edge, while inks with higher solid content concentrations are placed in central regions. This spatial differentiation of ink properties prevents high solid content ink from reaching and solidifying on the cap edge, thereby maintaining cap adhesion while preventing nozzle drying.
2Manufacturing precision
If ink with high solid content concentration is discharged, then image quality is improved, but solid content accumulates on the cap member edge, causing clogging and adhesion failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by strategically positioning inks with different solid content concentrations in specific regions of the cap member. Inks with higher solid content concentrations, which provide better image quality, are placed in central regions away from the cap edge. Inks with lower solid content concentrations are placed in regions closer to the edge. This spatial arrangement allows high-quality imaging while preventing solid content accumulation on the cap edge that would cause adhesion failure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an intermediary approach by introducing inks with intermediate solid content concentrations as buffers between high solid content inks and the cap edge. These intermediary inks act as a protective layer, allowing high solid content inks to be used for quality imaging while the intermediate inks prevent direct contact between high solid content ink and the cap edge, thus preventing accumulation and adhesion failure.
3Manufacturing precision
If the nozzle diameter is reduced for high-definition recording, then image resolution is improved, but nozzle clogging has a greater influence on ink discharge
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by arranging inks with lower solid content concentrations in regions closer to the cap edge and inks with higher solid content concentrations in central regions. This pre-arranged spatial distribution prevents solid content accumulation on the cap edge before it can cause clogging of the small-diameter nozzles. The configuration proactively addresses potential clogging issues by preventing the root cause (solid content accumulation) rather than reacting to it after clogging occurs.
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 effectively suppresses solid content accumulation on the cap member edge, maintains nozzle integrity, and enhances ink discharge stability by preventing nozzle clogging and viscosity changes, ensuring high-speed printing and preventing image defects.
Implementation Method 1
along with the use of glycerin to stabilize ink viscosity
Implementation Method 2
an ink absorbing material in the cap member to prevent solvent migration and clogging
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided an ink jet recording apparatus including a recording head in which nozzle arrays are configured by lining up a plurality of nozzles which discharge identical inks and the nozzle arrays are arranged in a plurality of lines, and which discharges a plurality of types of ink, and a cap member which covers the plurality of the nozzle arrays in which out of a plurality of nozzle arrays which are accommodated in one cap member in a capping operation, a nozzle array in an end side region of the cap member discharges ink with the lowest solid content concentration and a nozzle array in a central region of the cap member discharges ink with highest solid content concentration.