Inkjet Belt Speed Control for Nozzle Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet image forming apparatuses face challenges with nozzle clogging and contamination due to dryness, as existing maintenance methods using non-image forming discharges through holes in an endless belt can lead to contamination of the belt and prolonged maintenance times, especially when the recording liquid amount is reduced to avoid contamination.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with an endless belt having holes, a driving unit, and a speed control unit that adjusts the belt's speed based on the acquired maintenance discharge amount of recording liquid from the nozzles, ensuring efficient passage through the holes during non-image forming operations, thereby reducing contamination and maintenance time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the recording liquid amount is reduced to avoid contamination of the endless belt, then contamination is reduced, but maintenance time is prolonged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the belt speed variable rather than fixed. The control unit dynamically adjusts the belt speed based on the discharge amount of recording liquid, allowing the system to adapt to different maintenance requirements and optimize both contamination prevention and maintenance efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of belt speed based on the discharge amount of recording liquid. By adjusting the belt speed parameter according to the maintenance discharge amount, the system optimizes the balance between preventing belt contamination and completing maintenance efficiently
2Reliability
If the recording liquid is forcefully discharged for maintenance, then nozzle maintenance is effective, but belt contamination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control where the control unit monitors the discharge amount of recording liquid and adjusts the belt speed accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures that maintenance effectiveness is achieved while preventing excessive contamination of the belt
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the belt speed parameter based on the discharge amount to optimize the balance between effective nozzle maintenance and minimizing belt contamination. The parameter adjustment allows controlled liquid passage through belt holes
3Productivity
If the belt speed is increased to reduce maintenance time, then productivity is improved, but liquid jetting direction alignment deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the belt speed dynamic and adjustable based on the discharge amount of recording liquid. This allows the system to optimize speed for each maintenance scenario, achieving both productivity improvement and precise liquid jetting direction alignment
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 effectively reduces contamination of the endless belt and shortens maintenance time by optimizing the recording liquid discharge through the belt's holes, ensuring reliable and efficient nozzle maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
an endless belt to transfer a recording medium such as paper to a counterpart region facing the heads
Implementation Method 2
a head with micronozzles to spray droplets of a recording liquid... piezoelectric inkjet printers
Implementation Method 3
the recording liquid is discharged into the caps provided for the heads... the recording liquid is discharged via holes provided in the endless belt
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes an endless belt having holes facing a head and to transfer a recording medium in a transferring direction perpendicular to an array direction of nozzles in the head, a driving unit to drive the endless belt, a driving speed control unit to control a driving speed of the endless belt, and a maintenance discharge amount acquisition unit to acquire an amount of a recording liquid to be discharged from the nozzles of the head to allow the amount of the recording liquid to be passed through the holes in the endless belt for performing maintenance during a non-image forming operation. The driving speed control unit sets the driving speed of the endless belt based on the amount of the recording liquid to be discharged from the nozzles acquired by the maintenance discharge amount acquisition unit.