Inkjet Maintenance Absorption Body with Penetration Suppressing Section
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Solution Overview
Problem
In inkjet printers, the maintenance device for liquid ejecting heads can cause color mixing in nozzles due to uneven ink distribution on the nozzle forming surface, as ink absorption bodies may penetrate and spread, transferring ink from one nozzle row to another of different colors during maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A maintenance device with a liquid absorption body featuring a penetration suppressing section, which prevents the ink from penetrating and spreading between nozzle rows ejecting different colors, is used. This section is disposed between nozzle rows in a direction intersecting the nozzle row direction, ensuring that ink is not transferred between adjacent nozzle rows during maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the liquid absorption body is used to absorb ink from the nozzle forming surface, then ink removal effectiveness is improved, but color mixing may occur when ink penetrates and spreads to adjacent nozzle rows
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid absorption body is divided into multiple absorption regions corresponding to different nozzle rows, with penetration suppressing sections (non-absorbing regions) positioned between them. This segmentation prevents ink from spreading laterally between adjacent nozzle rows while maintaining effective absorption from each row.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the liquid absorption body have different properties: regions facing nozzle rows have high ink absorption capability, while regions positioned between nozzle rows have low or zero absorption capability. This local differentiation allows selective absorption without cross-contamination between adjacent nozzle rows.
2Productivity
If the liquid absorption body repeatedly contacts the nozzle forming surface, then maintenance efficiency is improved, but ink already absorbed may transfer to different color nozzles
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid absorption body incorporates penetration suppressing sections that create isolated absorption zones. When the absorption body repeatedly contacts the nozzle forming surface, ink from different nozzle rows remains confined to its respective absorption region, preventing transfer to adjacent nozzle rows even during repeated contact cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The penetration suppressing sections act as intermediary barriers between adjacent absorption regions. These non-absorbing regions prevent direct lateral communication between ink sources from different nozzle rows, allowing the liquid absorption body to be reused multiple times without cross-contamination.
3Device complexity
If the liquid absorption body structure is simplified, then device complexity is reduced, but ink penetration and spread between nozzle rows increases
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid absorption body is segmented into absorption regions and penetration suppressing sections in a straightforward pattern that matches the nozzle row layout. This segmentation can be implemented as a simple periodic structure or patterned design that does not significantly increase manufacturing complexity while effectively preventing ink spread.
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid absorption body exhibits local quality differentiation with simple geometric patterns of absorbing and non-absorbing regions. This can be achieved through straightforward material selection or simple structural design that creates distinct zones without requiring complex multi-layer or heterogeneous constructions.
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 effectively suppresses color mixing in nozzles by preventing ink transfer between different color nozzle rows, while efficiently using the liquid absorption body, ensuring reliable ink absorption and reduced maintenance frequency.
Implementation Method 1
a liquid absorption body which absorbs a liquid which is attached to a nozzle forming surface by abutting the nozzle forming surface
Implementation Method 2
a liquid absorption body which absorbs a liquid which is attached to a nozzle forming surface by abutting the nozzle forming surface
Data Source
AI summary
A maintenance device includes a liquid absorption body which absorbs a liquid which is attached to a nozzle forming surface by abutting the nozzle forming surface of a liquid ejecting head in which a plurality of nozzle rows configured of a plurality of nozzles ejecting the liquid are provided in parallel, wherein the liquid absorption body has a penetration suppressing section which suppresses the spread of the liquid due to penetration of the liquid absorbed from the nozzle forming surface of the liquid ejecting head, and wherein the penetration suppressing section is disposed between the nozzle rows ejecting the liquids of different colors from each other in a direction intersecting the nozzle row direction, in a case where the liquid absorption body abuts the nozzle forming surface of the liquid ejecting head.