Ink Warming Flow Control for Image Formation Wait Time
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image forming apparatuses using inkjet systems face delays in starting image formation due to the time required to warm ink from a warming position to the recording head, resulting in prolonged wait times for users.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a heater that warms ink on an upstream supply path, including an acquisition processing portion to monitor ink temperature and a flow processing portion that directs the warmed ink along both the supply and recovery paths until it reaches the recording head, ensuring the ink is at the optimal temperature for image formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If ink is warmed from the warming position to the recording head using conventional methods, then the ink reaches the optimal temperature for image formation, but the user wait time before start of image formation is prolonged
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary warming of ink at the warming position upstream of the recording head before image formation is actually needed. By pre-warming the ink in advance and monitoring its temperature, the system ensures that when image formation is requested, the ink is already at or near the optimal temperature, thereby reducing or eliminating user wait time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the ink temperature at the warming position and uses this feedback information to control the warming process. When the monitored temperature reaches the predetermined threshold, the system determines that image formation can start immediately, allowing real-time adjustment and optimization of the warming process to minimize wait time while ensuring adequate temperature.
2Loss of time
If ink temperature is monitored continuously to reduce wait time, then image formation can start immediately when temperature is suitable, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit continuously acquires temperature information from the warming position and uses this feedback to automatically determine when image formation can commence. This feedback mechanism enables real-time monitoring and decision-making, reducing wait time without requiring complex manual intervention or overly sophisticated control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system monitors changes in ink temperature as a key parameter and triggers image formation based on predetermined temperature thresholds. By focusing on this single critical parameter change rather than controlling multiple variables, the system achieves efficient wait time reduction with relatively simple monitoring and control logic.
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 reduces user wait time by ensuring the ink is warmed efficiently and consistently, allowing for immediate image formation without delays.
Implementation Method 1
a heater which warms the ink at a warming position that is more on an upstream side of a flowing direction of the ink than the ejection portion on the supply path
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a first ink flow path, a second ink flow path, a heater, and a flow processing portion. The first ink flow path forms a supply path of ink that reaches an ejection portion which ejects the ink. The second ink flow path forms a recovery path of waste ink ejected by the ejection portion. The heater warms the ink at a warming position that is more on an upstream side of a flowing direction of the ink than the ejection portion on the supply path. The flow processing portion causes, when a temperature of the ink in a specific section from the warming position to the ejection portion on the supply path is smaller than a threshold value, the ink warmed by the heater to flow along the supply path and the recovery path until the ink reaches the ejection portion.