Inkjet Head Drive Pulse Control for Wear-Adaptive Ejection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In liquid ejecting systems like inkjet printers, manufacturers face challenges in setting drive pulse waveforms due to varying usage conditions and head deterioration, leading to increased burden and impaired user convenience when the printer main body and head manufacturers are different.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejecting system with a head unit connected to a server through a network, allowing for decision and notification of drive pulse waveforms based on input information, enabling remote optimization and user notification of drive element deterioration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the manufacturer of the printer main body stores voltage correction information and implements deterioration suppression functions, then the print quality deterioration due to drive element wear can be reduced, but the device complexity and burden on the manufacturer increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary component that stores voltage correction information and provides it to the liquid ejecting apparatus. This externalizes the complex functions of storing correction data and determining deterioration degrees, allowing the printer main body manufacturer to benefit from deterioration suppression without implementing the complex storage and processing systems themselves. The server acts as a mediator between the head manufacturer (who understands deterioration patterns) and the printer user.
2Ease of operation
If the printer main body manufacturer implements deterioration notification and suppression functions, then user convenience is improved, but the ease of operation and burden on users increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automatic deterioration monitoring and correction waveform provision without requiring active user intervention. The liquid ejecting apparatus automatically communicates with the server, receives appropriate correction waveforms based on its usage patterns, and applies them to maintain print quality. This self-service mechanism improves user convenience while minimizing the operational burden on both manufacturers and users.
3Loss of time
If voltage correction information is stored in advance in the printer, then the response time for deterioration suppression is improved, but the adaptability to different usage conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static pre-stored correction information to dynamic, on-demand provision of correction waveforms. The server receives usage information from the liquid ejecting apparatus, dynamically determines the appropriate correction waveform based on actual usage conditions and deterioration patterns, and provides real-time corrections. This dynamic approach maintains fast response times while adapting to varying usage conditions across different manufacturers and users.
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
Reduces the burden on printer main body manufacturers and users by optimizing drive pulse waveforms and reducing print quality deterioration due to head element wear, enhancing system convenience and performance.
Implementation Method 1
a drive element for applying pressure fluctuation to a liquid in the pressure chamber by supplying a drive pulse
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejecting system includes a head unit that includes a nozzle for ejecting a liquid, a pressure chamber communicating with the nozzle, and a drive element for applying pressure fluctuation to a liquid in the pressure chamber by supplying a drive pulse, a first connection portion that is communicably connected to a server through a network, a decision portion that decides a waveform of the drive pulse supplied to the drive element based on first input information, and a first input portion to which the first input information is input from the server through the first connection portion.