Inkjet Cap Cleaning via Absorber Contact to Prevent Wear
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional liquid discharging apparatuses suffer from damage to caps and increased liquid viscosity during capping, leading to uneven cleaning and nozzle contamination due to ink droplet transfer and moisture loss.
Innovation Solution
A liquid discharging apparatus with a cap unit and cleaner system, where absorbers in the cleaner contact the edges of recesses in the cap unit to remove adhering liquid and retain moisture, preventing damage and viscosity increase by closing the recesses without sliding, thus maintaining cleanliness and moisture retention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If lips of the cleaning unit slide on the top face of the cap unit to wipe off ink droplets, then the ink droplets on the top face of the cap unit are removed, but the top face of the cap unit becomes worn and damaged
Solution Approach 1:
A receiving portion is introduced as an intermediary component between the cleaning unit lips and the cap unit top face. The receiving portion receives and holds the lips during cleaning operation, preventing direct sliding contact between the lips and the cap surface, thereby eliminating wear and damage to the cap while maintaining effective ink droplet removal
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning function is segmented into two distinct components: the cleaning unit with lips for ink removal, and the receiving portion on the cap unit that acts as a protective interface. This segmentation allows the cleaning action to be isolated from the cap surface, preventing damage while maintaining cleaning effectiveness
2Device complexity
If the cleaning unit is spaced away from the top face of the cap unit, then the cap unit structure is simplified, but the inside of the cap unit becomes dried due to exposure to air
Solution Approach 1:
The receiving portion is designed with a configuration that preliminarily prepares for moisture retention by providing a enclosed space structure. When the cap unit moves to the capping position, this pre-configured receiving portion automatically closes over the nozzle, preventing air exposure and moisture loss before the capping action is complete
3Productivity
If the cap unit moves to the capping position with ink droplets on the top face, then the cap unit can close the nozzles, but ink droplets are transferred to the discharge faces of the inkjet heads causing contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The receiving portion serves as a mediator between the cap unit top face and the nozzle discharge faces. It provides a physical barrier that prevents ink droplets on the cap top face from being transferred to the discharge faces during the capping movement, while still allowing the cap to effectively close the nozzles
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 reduces cleaning unevenness and prevents nozzle contamination by eliminating liquid transfer and maintaining moisture within the cap unit, ensuring efficient and clean operation.
Implementation Method 1
the cleaner is provided with absorbers contacting edges of the recesses of the cap unit, and closes the recesses in synchronization with movement of the cap unit to the retracting position
Implementation Method 2
absorbers contacting edges of the recesses of the cap unit
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a liquid discharging apparatus for discharging a liquid. The liquid discharging apparatus includes droplet dischargers each discharging droplets onto a substrate, a cap unit provided with recesses covering outlets of the droplet dischargers, and movable between a retracting position away from the outlets of the droplet dischargers and a capping position in which the outlets of the droplet dischargers are closed, and a cleaner provided with absorbers contacting edges of the recesses of the cap unit, and closing the recesses in synchronization with movement of the cap unit to the retracting position.