Inkjet Carriage Speed Control for Menisci Integrity
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Ink-jet recording apparatuses face the challenge of nozzle menisci destruction during the high-speed movement of the carriage for setting the point of origin, which can lead to inaccurate ink droplet placement and image formation.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates a control mechanism that adjusts the speed of the carriage movement to prevent menisci destruction by decelerating the carriage to a lower speed before it abuts the cap holder, allowing the cap to move from the second to the first position, thereby minimizing the force on the nozzles and maintaining ink integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the carriage is moved at high speed during initialization to efficiently set the point of origin, then the time required for initialization is reduced, but the force acting on the nozzles increases causing destruction of menisci
Solution Approach 1:
The cap holder is designed with a slant surface that converts horizontal carriage movement into vertical cap movement. By adjusting the carriage speed dynamically - moving at high speed when the cap is in the second position and reducing speed when approaching the abutment portion - the system achieves efficient initialization while preventing menisci destruction through controlled force application
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the speed parameter of carriage movement based on the cap's position. When the cap is in the second position (spaced apart from nozzles), the carriage moves at high speed. When the cap approaches the first position (covering nozzles), the carriage speed is reduced to prevent excessive force on the menisci, thus optimizing both initialization time and menisci protection
2Device complexity
If the cap is moved from the second position to the first position using the carriage abutment mechanism, then the cap covering operation is integrated with carriage movement, but the upward force on the nozzles may cause menisci destruction
Solution Approach 1:
The slant surface mechanism dynamically converts horizontal carriage motion into vertical cap motion. The carriage moves horizontally and abuts on the abutment portion, which through the slant surface geometry, transforms this horizontal force into controlled vertical movement of the cap, integrating cap positioning with carriage movement while managing force application
Solution Approach 2:
The cap is preliminarily positioned in the second position (spaced apart from nozzles) before carriage movement begins. This preliminary positioning ensures that when the carriage moves and abuts on the abutment portion, the cap starts from a safe distance from the nozzles, reducing the risk of menisci destruction during the movement process
Data Source
AI summary
Ink-jet recording apparatus including carriage movable between first and second stationary members, cap movable between first position for covering nozzles of recording head mounted on the carriage and positioned near the first stationary member, and second position spaced from the first position, abutment portion movable by the carriage moving in first direction to move the cap to the first position, and control device for moving the carriage in second direction for abutment onto the second stationary member, setting this position of abutment as provisional point of origin of the carriage, moving the carriage in the first direction for abutment of the carriage onto the abutment portion at a speed lower than a speed of movement of the carriage before the abutment, further moving the carriage for abutment onto the first stationary member, and setting this position of abutment as point of origin of the carriage.