Inkjet Printer Cap Control for Reduced First Paper Output Time
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional inkjet printing systems face challenges in shortening the time from receiving a recording command to starting the recording operation, which can lead to ink drying in the inkjet head and subsequent deterioration of image quality due to inefficient timing of preparatory operations.
Innovation Solution
An improved inkjet printing apparatus with a cap that moves between covering and spaced positions, an ink receiver, and a controller that executes specific preparatory processes such as cap separation, carriage movement, flushing, and sheet conveyance in response to a preceding command, ensuring timely execution of these operations before the recording process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the preparatory operation is executed immediately before the recording operation, then the image recording quality is maintained, but the First Paper Output Time (FPOT) increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by executing the cap separation process in advance when a preceding command is received, rather than waiting until immediately before the recording operation. This allows the system to prepare the inkjet head by separating the cap earlier, reducing the FPOT while ensuring the inkjet head is ready for recording when needed, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining image quality and reducing output time.
2Productivity
If the time period from preparatory ejection to recording operation becomes longer, then the system can complete preparatory tasks, but ink dries inside the inkjet head and image quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent executes cap separation as a preliminary action upon receiving a preceding command, which prepares the inkjet head in advance without requiring a long time period between preparatory ejection and recording. This prevents ink drying by ensuring the cap is separated and the inkjet head is ready promptly, thus maintaining image quality while still allowing preparatory tasks to be completed.
3Loss of time
If the cap is separated earlier to reduce FPOT, then the output time is shortened, but ink may dry in the inkjet head
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by separating the cap in advance when a preceding command is received, optimizing the timing to reduce FPOT while preventing ink drying. This controlled preliminary action ensures the cap is separated early enough to shorten output time but not so early that ink dries, thus resolving the contradiction between reducing time and maintaining reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A controller of an inkjet printing apparatus is configured such that, in response to receipt of a preceding command, which notifies transmission of a recording command in advance, from an information processing device through the communication device, the controller executes a separating process to move from a covering position to a spaced position, a moving process to move a carriage, from which the cap is separated, from a first position to a second position, a flushing process to cause the inkjet head to eject the ink toward an ink receiver in response to receipt of a recording command instructing recording of an image on the sheet and upon completion of the moving process, and a recording process to cause a conveyer to convey the sheet and cause the inkjet head to eject the ink in accordance with the recording command, in response to completion of the flushing process.