Inkjet Deaerator Vacuum Control for Ejection Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink jet printers face instability in ink ejection due to uncontrollable vacuum levels in deaerators, leading to issues with gas dissolved in the ink, which affects the ejection process.
Innovation Solution
A recording device with a vacuum level adjustment mechanism in the deaerator, controlled by a control portion, to adjust the vacuum level based on the operational status, ensuring it is higher when the ejection head is filled with ink and lower during standby states, and incorporating a feeding pump and deaerator in the ink flow path to manage ink supply and deaeration efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a vacuum pump is used to reduce pressure in the deaerator, then gas can be removed from the ink, but the vacuum level cannot be controlled and becomes unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the vacuum level parameter dynamically based on operational status. The control portion adjusts the vacuum level to be higher during ink filling operations and lower during standby states, optimizing both deaeration effectiveness and ejection stability. This parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction by making the vacuum level adaptive rather than fixed or uncontrolled.
Solution Approach 2:
The control portion monitors the operational status of the ejection head and adjusts the vacuum level accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures that the vacuum pump operates at appropriate levels for different conditions, providing both effective gas removal during filling and stable operation during standby, thus resolving the control issue.
2Reliability
If the vacuum level is kept high to remove gas from ink, then deaeration is effective, but foreign matter is generated and operation failures occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by adjusting the vacuum level based on operational cycles. During ink filling operations, high vacuum is applied for effective deaeration. During standby states, the vacuum level is reduced to prevent foreign matter generation and operation failures. This periodic adjustment resolves the contradiction between effective gas removal and prevention of harmful effects.
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 configuration stabilizes ink ejection by managing gas levels, reducing foreign matter generation and operation failures, and enhancing the durability and stability of the ejection process.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum pump is coupled to the deaerator, and the vacuum pump serves to reduce the pressure in the deaerator to a negative pressure
Data Source
AI summary
A recording device includes: an ink flow path that couples a liquid reservoir to the ejection head such that the ink stored in the liquid reservoir is supplied to the ejection head; a feeding pump exchangeably provided in the ink flow path and configured to feed the ink toward the ejection head; a deaerator provided in the ink flow path; a vacuum level adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a vacuum level in the deaerator; and a control portion that controls the vacuum level adjustment mechanism to adjust the vacuum level in the deaerator in accordance with a status of an operation to be executed.