Ink Supply Mechanism With Relief Valve Pressure Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink jet recording apparatuses face challenges in maintaining a proper circulation flow rate and ink pressure near the nozzle, as existing techniques require adjustments in tank heights and channel resistances, which are physically limited and difficult to control, leading to issues with air inclusion, leakage, and printing quality.
Innovation Solution
An ink supplying mechanism with a circulating system that includes an ink jet head, upstream and downstream tanks, and a circulating pump, featuring a relief valve to manage the liquid surface and atmospheric pressure, allowing for adjustable circulation flow rates and nozzle pressures through the use of sensors and valves to control the flow and pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the height difference between upstream and downstream tanks is increased to increase circulation flow rate, then the circulation flow rate is improved, but the physical arrangement of tanks becomes difficult and channel resistance changes making flow rate control unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the control parameter from mechanical height adjustment to electrical valve control. By using solenoid valves to control the communication between tanks and atmospheric pressure, the system can adjust circulation flow rate and nozzle pressure independently of tank physical arrangement, resolving the contradiction between improving flow rate and maintaining adjustability.
2Stress or pressure
If tank heights are adjusted to control ink pressure near nozzle, then the ink pressure is improved, but the physical limitation on tank arrangement makes adjustment difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the control method from mechanical height adjustment to valve-based pressure control. By controlling which tanks communicate with atmospheric pressure through solenoid valves, the system can independently adjust ink pressure near the nozzle without being constrained by physical tank arrangement, resolving the contradiction between improving pressure control and maintaining ease of operation.
3Device complexity
If the circulation system uses fixed tank heights and channel resistances, then the system structure is simple, but it is difficult to maintain proper flow rate and pressure leading to air inclusion and leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces dynamic control through solenoid valves that can change the system configuration in real-time. The valves control communication between tanks and atmospheric pressure, allowing the system to adapt circulation flow rate and ink pressure dynamically, ensuring proper conditions for preventing air inclusion and leakage while maintaining relatively simple physical structure.
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 solution enables the adjustment of circulation flow rates and nozzle pressures, ensuring optimal printing conditions even with physical limitations, reducing the likelihood of stagnation, air inclusion, and maintaining stable ink properties.
Implementation Method 1
a circulating pump that feeds the ink from the downstream side tank back to the upstream side tank
Implementation Method 2
a relief valve that is capable of opening and closing at least a liquid surface of the downstream side tank with respect to the atmospheric pressure, closes the relief valve, drives the circulating pump, sets the liquid surface of the downstream side tank to a negative pressure
Data Source
AI summary
An ink supplying mechanism includes a circulating system that connects an ink jet head having a nozzle, a pressure chamber opposed to the nozzle, and an upstream port and a downstream port that communicate with the pressure chamber, an upstream side tank that communicates with the ink jet head via the upstream port and is capable of storing an ink, a downstream side tank that communicates with the ink jet head via the downstream port and is capable of storing the ink, and a circulating pump that feeds the ink from the downstream side tank back to the upstream side tank. The ink supplying mechanism has a relief valve that is capable of opening and closing at least a liquid surface of the downstream side tank with respect to the atmospheric pressure, closes the relief valve to drive the circulating pump, sets the liquid surface of the downstream side tank to a negative pressure, and feeds the ink from the downstream side tank back to the upstream side tank via a feedback channel to circulate the ink.