Inkjet Printer Ejection Hole Load Distribution
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet printers face instability in ink ejection when ejection holes are densely arranged and ink droplets are ejected at short intervals, leading to irregular ink ejection and poor image quality due to excessive load on ejection holes.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a recording controller that alternates the use of ejection holes between main scans, using half of the ejection holes in each scan and staggering their activation to distribute the load evenly, thereby maintaining stable ejection and preventing distortion in ink droplets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If ink droplets are ejected at shorter intervals from densely arranged ejection holes, then printing speed is improved, but ink ejection becomes unstable and image quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the array of ejection holes into multiple groups (first ejection hole array, second ejection hole array, etc.) arranged in the sub-scanning direction. By controlling different groups to eject ink alternately or simultaneously in a coordinated manner, the system maintains high printing speed while preventing overload on individual ejection holes, thus resolving the contradiction between productivity and reliability.
2Productivity
If all ejection holes eject ink droplets in a single main scan, then productivity is improved, but the load on each ejection hole becomes severe causing irregular ejection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the ejection holes into multiple arrays (first, second, third, etc.) positioned at different locations in the sub-scanning direction. Image data is divided and assigned to different ejection hole arrays, allowing simultaneous ejection from multiple arrays while distributing the total load. This maintains high productivity through parallel operation while ensuring uniform dot formation by preventing any single array from being overloaded.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic action by alternately controlling different ejection hole arrays to eject ink droplets in successive main scans. For example, the first ejection hole array ejects in one scan while the second array is activated in the next scan. This periodic activation pattern distributes the ejection load over time, maintaining dot formation uniformity while achieving high overall productivity through coordinated multi-array operation.
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 approach ensures stable ink ejection and high-quality image printing at high speeds by minimizing load fluctuations on ejection holes and preventing nonuniform dot formation, even with short ejection cycles.
Implementation Method 1
The recording head in this inkjet printer has a piezoelectric actuator for each ejection hole. During a recording operation, drive voltages are applied to the piezoelectric actuators, deforming the piezoelectric actuators and causing a prescribed amount of ink to be ejected from the corresponding ejection holes.
Data Source
AI summary
The recording head is formed with ejection holes including first ejection holes and second ejection holes arranged in a first direction. A recording medium has invisible columns extending in the first direction and invisible rows extending in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The invisible columns have first invisible columns and second invisible columns alternately arranged in the second direction. The scanning unit performs a first scan and a second scan in the second direction. The controller prevents the recording head in the first scan from ejecting ink droplets from the first ejection holes onto the first invisible columns and from the second ejection holes onto the second invisible columns, and prevents the recording head in the second scan from ejecting ink droplets from the first ejection holes onto the second invisible columns and from the second ejection holes at the first invisible columns.