Inkjet Drive Waveform Estimation System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods require time-consuming and resource-intensive measurements to determine optimal drive waveforms for inkjet heads and inks, leading to environmental waste and inefficiency.

Innovation Solution

A setting value data providing system that estimates suitable drive waveforms for inkjet heads using drive condition and physical property parameters, eliminating the need for actual measurements by calculating setting value data via a cloud-based system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If measurements are performed to determine optimal drive waveforms for inkjet heads and inks, then drive waveform accuracy is improved, but time consumption and resource usage increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrive waveform accuracyVSAvoidtime consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-calculates and stores optimal drive waveforms in a database based on ink physical properties (viscosity, surface tension, density) and inkjet head characteristics. When a specific ink and head combination is used, the system retrieves the pre-calculated waveform data instead of performing measurements, thus achieving accurate drive waveforms without time-consuming measurements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a database of drive waveform data by copying and storing optimal parameters for various ink and head combinations. This database serves as a reference that can be quickly queried and applied, eliminating the need to recreate measurement results for each new application while maintaining measurement-level accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Measurement precision

If measurements are performed to determine optimal drive waveforms, then drive waveform accuracy is improved, but environmental waste increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrive waveform accuracyVSAvoidenvironmental waste

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs the environmentally harmful measurements only once during database creation, storing the results for future use. This eliminates the need for repeated measurements and ink consumption that would otherwise occur for each new inkjet head or ink combination, significantly reducing environmental waste while maintaining measurement-level accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system recovers and reuses the measurement results by storing them in a database. Instead of discarding the valuable measurement data after a single use, the system retrieves and applies these results repeatedly for different applications, eliminating the need for repeated measurements and reducing ink waste.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Manufacturing precision

If repeated ink evaluations are performed, then drive waveform optimization is improved, but costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrive waveform optimizationVSAvoidevaluation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system copies proven optimal drive waveform parameters from the database for each new ink and head combination, eliminating the need for repeated expensive and time-consuming evaluation processes. This maintains manufacturing precision by using validated parameters while dramatically reducing evaluation time and costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

4Loss of time

If cloud-based estimation is used to determine drive waveforms, then time consumption is reduced, but measurement precision may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetime consumptionVSAvoiddrive waveform accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The cloud-based system does not merely estimate drive waveforms but copies pre-calculated optimal parameters from a comprehensive database. This approach retrieves measurement-level accuracy data instantly over the network, achieving both time reduction through cloud access and precision maintenance by using validated measurement results.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

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 need for repeated ink evaluations, minimizing waste and costs while providing efficient drive waveforms for inkjet heads, thus enhancing environmental sustainability.

Implementation Method 1

A liquid ejection device including an inkjet head generally forms an image on a print medium by supplying a drive signal to a piezoelectric element of the ink jet head to eject ink from a nozzle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentEP4530074A1Setting value data providing system

Publication Date: 2025.04.02 RISO TECH CORP

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AI summary

In an embodiment, a setting value data providing system includes a web server to receive, from a client device, drive condition parameters of an ink jet head and physical property parameters of an ink to be used by the ink jet head. The system further includes a setting value data calculation unit to estimate a suitable drive waveform for the ink jet head using a drive waveform estimation algorithm and the drive condition parameters and the physical property parameters of the ink and then calculate setting value data for generating the suitable drive waveform for the ink jet head. The web server outputs the calculated setting value data to the client device for use in a printer or the like incorporating the inkjet head.