Inkjet Head Cleaning Device Guard Member Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Liquid jet heads face challenges in maintaining jet accuracy due to deformation or breakage from contact with base materials, and existing cleaning devices struggle to effectively clean the jet plate and guard member, especially when the side surfaces are not exposed, leading to reduced cleaning efficiency and potential ink fixation.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning device with a holder that includes a jet section for cleaning liquid, a contact part for aligning with the guard member, and protruding parts to guide the holder along the opening part of the guard member, allowing for precise alignment and cleaning without exposing the jet plate, while preventing the holder from contacting and damaging it.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a guard member is added to protect the jet plate from contact with base materials, then the reliability of the jet plate is improved, but the cleaning efficiency deteriorates because the cleaning device cannot access the jet plate surface
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning device is segmented into multiple functional components: a holder body, a protruding part that inserts into the opening part, a contact part that touches the guard member surface, and a jet section with cleaning liquid supply. This segmentation allows different parts to perform specialized functions - the protruding part provides guidance while the contact part enables cleaning access without exposing the jet plate
Solution Approach 2:
The contact part acts as an intermediary element between the cleaning device and the guard member. It makes contact with the guard member surface at positions that do not interfere with the jet plate protection function, enabling the cleaning device to access cleaning positions while the guard member continues to protect the jet plate
2Measurement precision
If the holder is designed to clamp the side surfaces of the guard member for alignment, then the alignment precision is improved, but the cleaning accessibility deteriorates when side surfaces are not exposed
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment mechanism transitions from lateral clamping of side surfaces to vertical insertion guidance. The protruding part inserts into the opening part in the thickness direction of the guard member, providing guidance in a different dimension. This allows alignment to be achieved through the opening part rather than through side surface contact
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of the holder clamping the guard member from the sides, the design is inverted so that the protruding part of the holder inserts into the opening part of the guard member for guidance, while the contact part makes contact with the guard member surface for cleaning. This inversion enables cleaning access without requiring exposed side surfaces
3Productivity
If the absorber is moved closer to the liquid ejection unit for suction cleaning, then the cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the risk of jet plate damage increases due to contact
Solution Approach 1:
The contact function is extracted from the protruding part and assigned to a separate contact part. The protruding part is responsible only for insertion and guidance into the opening part, while the contact part is responsible for making contact with the guard member surface for cleaning. This separation allows the cleaning function to be performed without the protruding part contacting the jet plate
Solution Approach 2:
The contact part serves as an intermediary that enables close proximity cleaning of the guard member surface without direct contact between the cleaning device and the jet plate. It mediates between the need for effective cleaning (close proximity) and the need to protect the jet plate (no contact)
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
Enables easy alignment and effective cleaning of the jet plate and guard member surfaces and inside the guard member without injuring the jet plate, even when side surfaces are not exposed, ensuring efficient removal of ink and maintaining jet accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
a jet section configured to jet a cleaning liquid toward at least one of the jet plate and the guard member
Implementation Method 2
an absorber which absorbs the liquid, and is housed in the recessed part
Data Source
AI summary
An alignment with a liquid jet head can easily be achieved, and surfaces of a jet plate and a guard member and an inside of an opening part of the guard member can be cleaned without injuring the jet plate even when side surfaces of the liquid jet head are not exposed, and a part of the jet plate is not exposed by the guard member. A cleaning device for an inkjet head includes a holder, and the holder includes a jet section which jets a cleaning liquid toward at least one of a nozzle plate and a nozzle guard, a contact part which makes contact with a surface of the nozzle guard provided with the opening part, and a protruding part which is inserted into the opening part in a non-contact state with the nozzle plate, and which guides the holder along a longitudinal direction of the opening part.