Inkjet Head Control Unit Prevents Ink Hardening During Discharge Faults
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink jet type recording apparatuses face challenges in restoring discharge faults, particularly with high viscosity inks, as the ink can harden due to continued heating, making it impossible to restore the nozzle openings, leading to permanent discharge faults.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a control unit that detects discharge faults and switches to a discharge prohibition mode, prohibiting the driving of the pressure generation unit corresponding to the faulty nozzle opening, allowing for continued printing using other nozzle openings and enabling restoration processes without worsening the fault.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cleaning or restoration operations are performed continuously on a nozzle opening with a discharge fault, then the nozzle may be restored, but the ink hardens due to continued heating on the hot platen, making restoration impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit applies preliminary anti-action by detecting discharge faults and immediately prohibiting further driving of the corresponding pressure generation unit, thereby preventing the harmful effect of ink hardening before it occurs. The system proactively stops the problematic operation rather than attempting restoration on already hardened ink.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of continuing to drive the pressure generation unit in an attempt to restore the nozzle, the control unit inverts the approach by prohibiting further driving. This reverse action prevents the worsening of the discharge fault and allows for effective restoration processes to be applied without the complicating factor of hardened ink.
2Productivity
If printing continues after a discharge fault occurs, then productivity is maintained, but the discharge fault worsens and becomes irreversible
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit segments the printing operation by identifying and isolating the specific pressure generation unit with the discharge fault. It prohibits driving only the faulty unit while allowing other units to continue operating, thereby maintaining overall productivity while preventing the specific fault from worsening.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit implements feedback by continuously monitoring for discharge faults and automatically adjusting the driving status of pressure generation units based on detected conditions. When a fault is detected, the system provides feedback to prohibit further driving of the affected unit, preventing irreversible deterioration.
3Productivity
If the pressure generation unit is driven frequently to maintain printing speed, then productivity is improved, but discharge faults occur more frequently
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit implements periodic action by monitoring discharge faults at regular intervals during printing operations. This allows the system to maintain high printing speed through continuous operation while periodically checking for and preventing discharge faults before they worsen.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit uses feedback mechanisms to monitor the status of each pressure generation unit during frequent driving operations. When a discharge fault is detected, the system immediately provides feedback to prohibit further driving of the affected unit, thereby preventing the fault from worsening despite the high-frequency 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 prevents further deterioration of discharge faults, allows for reliable restoration of faulty nozzle openings, and maintains printing quality by prohibiting driving of the faulty actuator, thus preventing ink thickening and enabling easy restoration.
Implementation Method 1
an ink jet type recording head in which a nozzle plate, in which a nozzle opening is provided, and a flow channel formation substrate, in which a pressure generation chamber that is in communication with the nozzle opening is provided, are bonded using an adhesive agent, or the like, has been proposed as an ink jet type recording head that uses a piezoelectric actuator
Implementation Method 2
it is no longer possible to restore the discharge fault with cleaning, or the like. It is thought that the reason for this is that ink becomes hardened as a result of continuation of a state of being heated on a hot platen after the discharge fault
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head that is provided with a plurality of nozzle openings that discharge a liquid, and pressure generation units that generate pressure changes in pressure generation chambers that are respectively in communication with the nozzle openings, a detection unit that detects a discharge fault of liquid droplets of the liquid ejecting head for each of the nozzle openings, and a control unit that controls the pressure generation units, in which the control unit has a discharge prohibition mode in which the driving of a pressure generation unit that corresponds to a nozzle opening in which a discharge fault is detected, is prohibited after the corresponding discharge fault is detected while recording is underway.