Ink-jet Printer Cap Lip Cleaning via Integrated Wiper and Ink Supply
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ink-jet printers face issues with foreign materials adhering to the cap's lip, which can cause ejection failures and damage when the cap is used to clean the ink ejection face, due to high resistance and vibration during the cleaning process.
Innovation Solution
An ink-jet printer design that integrates a wiper and a cap cleaner, where the wiper moves in parallel to the ink ejection face, wiping off ink and supplying it to the cap cleaner, allowing the cap cleaner to effectively remove foreign materials from the cap's lip while wetting it with ink, ensuring reliable removal of dust and paper powder.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the cap is spaced from the ink ejection face during cleaning, then the cap can be accessed for cleaning, but high resistance occurs between the cap cleaner and the dry cap surface, causing vibration that hinders effective cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces ink as an intermediary substance between the cap cleaner and the cap surface. The ink supplier delivers ink to the cap cleaner, which then applies the ink to the cap surface during cleaning. This intermediary ink layer reduces friction and resistance between the cap cleaner and the cap, eliminating vibration and enabling effective cleaning of foreign materials.
2Ease of operation
If the cap cleaner cleans a dry cap, then the cleaning process can proceed, but vibration occurs due to high resistance, preventing sufficient removal of foreign materials
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of the cap surface from dry to wet by supplying ink to the cap cleaner, which then applies it to the cap. This parameter change (from dry to wet surface) reduces resistance and vibration during cleaning, enabling reliable removal of foreign materials while maintaining ease of operation.
3Reliability
If foreign materials adhere to the cap lip, then the cap can still cover the ink ejection face, but the foreign materials may adhere to the ink ejection face causing ejection failure or damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary cleaning action by continuously or periodically cleaning the cap lip with the cap cleaner before foreign materials can transfer to the ink ejection face. The ink-supplied cap cleaner maintains the cap lip free of foreign materials, preventing contamination of the ink ejection face and ensuring reliable nozzle ejection function.
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 integrated wiper and cap cleaner system ensures efficient removal of foreign materials from the cap's lip, preventing ejection failures and maintaining inkjet head performance by keeping the cap wet during cleaning, thus reducing vibration and ensuring effective cleaning.
Implementation Method 1
the cap cleaner cleans the lip of the cap while wetting the lip with the ink
Data Source
AI summary
An object of the present invention is to provide an ink-jet printer that can wipe off ink adhering to an ink ejection face and besides can clean a lip of a cap in such a manner that foreign materials adhering to the lip can surely be removed. An ink-jet printer includes a cap, a wiper, a cap cleaning blade, and an ink supplier. The cap is contactable with and separable from an ink ejection face of an ink-jet head, and includes a lip that is brought into close contact with the ink ejection face. The wiper is movable in parallel to and relative to the ink ejection face. The cap cleaning blade is provided integrally with the wiper, and, while being in contact with the lip, cleans the lip in association with the wiper moving relative to the ink ejection face. The ink supplier supplies ink wiped off by the wiper to the cap cleaning blade.