Inkjet Head Cleaning Mode Selection for Water-Repellent Film Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inkjet recording apparatuses damage the water-repellent film on the nozzle surface while attempting to remove ink residues, leading to decreased ink ejection performance.
Innovation Solution
A head cleaning apparatus that performs cleaning operations in either a rub mode or a stamp mode, determined by a controller based on predetermined conditions, to effectively remove ink residues without damaging the water-repellent film.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the cleaning member and nozzle surface are brought into contact and relatively slid on each other (rub mode), then ink remaining on the nozzle surface is removed, but the water-repellent film on the nozzle surface is damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the cleaning mode selectable and changeable based on conditions. The cleaning unit can switch between rub mode (sliding contact) and stamp mode (contact without sliding) depending on the cleaning requirements, allowing the system to adapt its mechanical action to preserve the water-repellent film while still removing ink residues effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the cleaning process by introducing a mode selection mechanism. By changing the contact dynamics parameter (sliding vs. non-sliding) based on predetermined conditions such as cleaning effectiveness requirements and water-repellent film preservation needs, the system optimizes the balance between ink removal and film protection.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the cleaning member and nozzle surface are brought into contact and kept still (stamp mode), then the water-repellent film is preserved, but ink residues may not be removed effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically selects between stamp mode and rub mode based on predetermined conditions. When ink removal effectiveness is prioritized and conditions permit, the system switches to rub mode while maintaining the protective stamp mode as a baseline, ensuring the water-repellent film is preserved unless necessary cleaning action is required.
Solution Approach 2:
The operational parameter of contact dynamics is changed from static (stamp mode) to dynamic (rub mode) based on cleaning effectiveness requirements. This parameter change allows the system to overcome the limitation of stamp mode insufficient ink removal while maintaining film protection as the default state.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4A~4B
AI summary
A head cleaning apparatus (20) includes a cleaning unit (21) that includes a cleaning member (211) and a determination unit (40). The head cleaning apparatus is configured to perform a cleaning operation of cleaning a nozzle surface (11a) of an inkjet head (10) with the cleaning member, the nozzle surface having a water-repellent film. The cleaning operation is performed either in a rub mode or a stamp mode. In the rub mode, the cleaning member and the nozzle surface are brought into contact and relatively slid on each other. In the stamp mode, the cleaning member and the nozzle surface are brought into contact and kept still. The determination unit determines which mode is performed, the rub mode or the stamp mode, in the cleaning operation based on a predetermined condition.