Inkjet Recording Head Cap Asymmetry for Wiping Ink Adhesion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink accumulating at step portions on the discharge orifice surface of recording heads can adhere to the vicinity of discharge orifices during wiping operations, leading to defective ink discharge in ink jet recording apparatuses.
Innovation Solution
A recording apparatus design featuring a cap with a first member positioned near one side of the discharge orifice region and a second member positioned near the other side, where the second member is closer to the discharge orifice surface than the first member, preventing ink from adhering during wiping by guiding it away from the orifice area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a wiper is used to clean the discharge orifice surface, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but ink may accumulate at step portions and adhere to the discharge orifices during wiping
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cap as an intermediary component between the wiper and the discharge orifices. The cap includes a suction port that creates negative pressure to prevent ink from adhering to the discharge orifices during the wiping operation. This intermediary structure resolves the contradiction by allowing effective wiping while preventing harmful ink adhesion through the suction mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the pressure parameter by introducing a suction port in the cap that generates negative pressure. This pressure change prevents ink from adhering to the discharge orifices during wiping. By controlling the pressure parameter, the system achieves both effective cleaning and prevention of ink adhesion.
2Reliability
If suction operation is performed to remove ink from discharge orifices, then clogging is reduced, but residual ink remains on the discharge orifice surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the suction operation with a wiping operation in a continuous sequence. After the suction port removes ink from the discharge orifices, the wiper immediately follows to clean the discharge orifice surface. This continuous action ensures that residual ink is removed, preventing adhesion during subsequent wiping operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The suction operation is performed as a preliminary action before the wiping operation. By removing ink from the discharge orifices first through suction, the subsequent wiping operation can effectively clean the surface without causing ink adhesion. This preliminary action prepares the system for the next cleaning step.
3Productivity
If the cap covers the discharge orifice surface during suction, then ink removal efficiency is improved, but ink may move to step portions and accumulate
Solution Approach 1:
The cap serves as an intermediary structure that not only covers the discharge orifice surface during suction to improve efficiency but also includes a suction port that creates negative pressure. This negative pressure prevents ink from moving to and accumulating at step portions, thus resolving the contradiction between efficient ink removal and prevention of ink accumulation.
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 design effectively reduces the likelihood of ink adhering to the discharge orifice vicinity during wiping, preventing defective ink discharge and maintaining proper inkjet recording performance.
Implementation Method 1
a suction pump configured to create negative pressure inside the cap and thereby draw ink from the discharge orifices
Implementation Method 2
a wiper configured to wipe the discharge orifice surface
Data Source
AI summary
A recording apparatus includes a recording head having discharge orifices arranged on a discharge orifice surface, a cap, a wiper, and a moving unit that moves the wiper in a first direction. When the cap covers the discharge orifice surface, a first member is disposed at an inside wall of the cap at a position near a first side of a region having the discharge orifices, and a second member is disposed at another inside wall of the cap at a position near a second side of the region having the discharge orifices. The first side faces in a direction opposite to the first direction and the second side faces in the first direction. In a direction normal to the discharge orifice surface, a distance between the second member and the discharge orifice surface is smaller than a distance between the first member and the discharge orifice surface.