Inkjet Drawing Head Maintenance via Multi-Unit Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet type drawing devices face issues with ink discharge malfunctions due to clogging and drying of ink in nozzles, requiring frequent maintenance, and have limited flexibility in maintenance operations, making it difficult to adjust maintenance according to circumstances and ensuring efficient workflow.
Innovation Solution
A drawing device with a bi-axial moving head and multiple maintenance units positioned differently, allowing the processor to control and perform various maintenance operations as needed, including purging and wiping, to maintain the ink discharge surface efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the drawing head moves only in one direction (uniaxial structure), then the device structure is simple, but the maintenance operation order is fixed and cannot be adjusted according to circumstances
Solution Approach 1:
The drawing head is configured to move in two directions (first direction and second direction intersecting at an angle) instead of one direction, adding a dimensional degree of freedom. This enables the drawing head to reach multiple maintenance units positioned at different locations, allowing flexible selection of maintenance operation orders and combinations based on actual needs
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple maintenance units are provided at different positions, then maintenance flexibility is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The maintenance function is segmented into multiple independent maintenance units, each positioned at different locations within the movable range of the drawing head. Each maintenance unit can perform specific maintenance tasks, and the drawing head can selectively visit different units based on maintenance needs, achieving flexibility without requiring all units to be simultaneously active
3Ease of operation
If the drawing head moves between stand-by area and drawing area, then maintenance can be performed, but the line of flow efficiency is reduced due to limited area arrangement
Solution Approach 1:
The drawing head's movement path and maintenance operation sequence are made dynamic and adjustable. The system can selectively move the drawing head to different maintenance units based on actual maintenance needs, rather than following a fixed path through all areas. This dynamic adaptation allows optimization of the line of flow efficiency while ensuring maintenance accessibility
Data Source
AI summary
A drawing device, including: a drawing head which performs drawing on a drawing target; a head moving unit which moves the drawing head in a first direction and in a second direction which intersects with the first direction; a processor which controls the drawing head and the head moving unit; and a plurality of maintenance units in which the drawing head performs maintenance with contents different from each other, wherein within a range where the drawing head is moved by the head moving unit, a drawing area, a stand-by area and the plurality of maintenance units are provided at positions different from each other, and the processor controls the head moving unit to control whether the maintenance is performed or not in at least one of the plurality of maintenance units when the drawing head moves between the stand-by area and the drawing area.