Ink Temperature Stabilization in Liquid Ejecting Head Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink jet printers using high viscous ink face issues with ink ejecting characteristics due to insufficient heating during suction treatment, leading to unstable ink temperature and poor ejecting performance.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejecting apparatus with a heating portion that heats the ink before feeding it to the head, including a maintenance device for controlled suction operations to stabilize the ink temperature, using a combination of heat sources and temperature detection for efficient temperature control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the maintenance device performs suction treatment to clean the liquid ejecting head, then the head is cleaned effectively, but the ink temperature becomes unstable and ejecting characteristics deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The heating portion heats the ink in the flow passage before the suction treatment is performed. This preliminary heating ensures that even though the suction process may introduce cooler ink, the ink has already been warmed to the appropriate temperature range, maintaining stable ejecting characteristics during and after cleaning.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating portion continues to heat the ink during the suction treatment process rather than stopping. This continuous heating ensures that the ink temperature remains stable throughout the cleaning operation, preventing temperature fluctuations that would degrade ejecting characteristics.
2Productivity
If the suction force is increased to improve cleaning efficiency, then the head cleaning is more effective, but the ink temperature stability is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The ink is heated before the high-force suction treatment begins. This preliminary heating compensates for the cooling effect that would occur during intense suction, allowing aggressive cleaning without sacrificing temperature stability.
Solution Approach 2:
Heating continues throughout the high-force suction process, maintaining ink temperature stability even when large amounts of ink are being moved through the system at high speed.
3Temperature
If the heating portion heats the ink continuously, then the ink temperature is stabilized, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heating portion performs preliminary heating before suction treatment and maintains heating only during maintenance operations rather than continuous heating during normal operation. This reduces overall energy consumption while ensuring temperature stability is maintained when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
Heating is applied periodically during maintenance operations rather than continuously. The heating portion activates during suction treatment to maintain temperature stability, then stops during normal recording operations, reducing total energy consumption.
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 ensures stable ink temperature is maintained, improving ejecting characteristics and allowing continuous high-accuracy recording operations by heating the ink to a predetermined temperature before feeding it to the head.
Implementation Method 1
the heating portion heats the liquid in the flow passage for a specific period of time before the liquid is fed to the liquid ejecting head
Implementation Method 2
the maintenance device performs maintenance of the liquid ejecting head by causing the liquid to be discharged from the liquid ejecting head through sucking operation
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes heating portions for heating liquid, a liquid ejecting head for ejecting the liquid heated by the heating portions, and a maintenance device for performing maintenance of the liquid ejecting head by causing the liquid to be discharged from the liquid ejecting head through sucking operation. The maintenance device performs a first suction for cleaning the liquid ejecting head by causing the head to discharge the liquid, waits until liquid is heated by the heating portions, and then performs a second suction with a suction force weaker than that of the first suction.