Inkjet Flushing Receiver Detection for Accurate Recording Head Timing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Ink-jet recording apparatuses face the challenge of ink being jetted outside the flushing receiver due to deviations in the actual position or size of the flushing receiver from the designed specifications, leading to unsatisfactory ink jetting during image recording.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a movable body, recording head, ink receiving unit, detection target, detector, encoder, and controller, which uses position detection and timing determination to ensure accurate flushing by adjusting the flushing start based on the actual position of the ink receiving unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the flushing receiver is fixed at a design-specified position and size, then the device structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the actual position or size may deviate from design specifications causing ink to be jetted outside the flushing receiver
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of the flushing receiver's actual position and size before the flushing operation. The detection unit measures the flushing receiver during a pre-scan movement, and the control unit calculates the actual flushing starting position in advance based on these measurements, ensuring accurate ink jetting without requiring complex real-time adjustments during flushing
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the detection unit continuously monitors the actual position and dimensions of the flushing receiver, and this information is fed back to the control unit which adjusts the flushing starting position accordingly. This closed-loop control ensures that ink is always jetted at the correct position despite manufacturing variations
2Reliability
If the flushing receiver position is not adjusted, then the operation is simple and fast, but ink may be jetted outside the flushing receiver leading to flushing failure
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs position detection and calculation of the actual flushing starting position during a pre-scan movement before the actual flushing operation. This preliminary action ensures that when flushing begins, the correct position is already determined, maintaining high reliability without significant time loss during the actual flushing process
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the existing pre-scan movement (which is already part of the normal operation cycle) to perform the position detection of the flushing receiver. This self-service approach utilizes existing system movements to gather necessary information, avoiding the need for separate detection movements and minimizing additional time loss
Data Source
AI summary
The controller moves a movable body along a moving direction. A recording head and a detector are mounted on the movable body. The detector detects a detection target fixed to an ink receiving unit. The ink receiving unit receives an ink jetted from the recording head at a time of a flushing. The controller obtains, based on a signal from an encoder, a position of the movable body in a case that the detection target is detected by the detector during movement of the movable body. The controller determines a start timing of the flushing based on the obtained position of the movable body.