Inkjet Head Flushing Waveforms for Liquid Consumption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid ejecting apparatuses face inefficiencies in flushing processes, leading to excessive liquid consumption due to either wasting liquid when thickening is slight or struggling to eject liquid when thickening is significant, as current methods either consume too much liquid or fail to diffuse thickened liquid effectively.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejecting apparatus that employs two distinct drive waveforms for flushing: a first waveform to displace the meniscus and break thickened liquid, followed by a second waveform to push out the liquid without substantial displacement, optimizing the flushing process to reduce overall liquid consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a single drive waveform is used for flushing, then the apparatus is simple to operate, but liquid consumption increases when thickening is slight or ejection fails when thickening is significant
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the flushing operation into two distinct drive waveforms: a first drive waveform for initial flushing that effectively breaks up thickened liquid, and a second drive waveform for subsequent flushing that minimizes liquid consumption. This segmentation allows the system to adapt to different thickening conditions without increasing operational complexity, as the control unit automatically selects the appropriate waveform.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic adaptation by automatically switching between two drive waveforms based on the actual flushing conditions and liquid thickening state. The control unit monitors ejection performance and adjusts the drive waveform in real-time, transitioning from a more aggressive first waveform to a conservative second waveform as flushing progresses, thereby optimizing liquid consumption dynamically.
2Productivity
If decompression is performed to pull meniscus into pressure chamber, then liquid ejection is enhanced, but thickened liquid diffuses to pressure chamber side requiring more liquid to be discharged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the pressure chamber operation into two phases with distinct drive waveforms. The first drive waveform performs necessary decompression to pull the meniscus and break up thickened liquid, while the second drive waveform focuses on ejection without substantial meniscus displacement, preventing diffusion of thickened liquid into the pressure chamber and reducing overall liquid consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The first drive waveform performs preliminary action by breaking up thickened liquid and positioning the meniscus before the second drive waveform executes the actual ejection. This preliminary breakdown prevents the need for excessive subsequent ejection cycles, reducing total liquid consumption while maintaining ejection effectiveness.
3Loss of substance
If push shooting manner is used without initial decompression, then liquid ejection is achieved, but force for stirring liquid is weak making it difficult to eject when thickening is significant
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the flushing process into two distinct drive waveforms where the first waveform provides strong decompression force to pull the meniscus and stir thickened liquid, while the second waveform uses push shooting manner for efficient ejection. This segmentation combines the advantages of both approaches: effective thickened liquid breakdown followed by energy-efficient ejection.
Solution Approach 2:
The first drive waveform performs preliminary action by strongly decompressing the pressure chamber and stirring the thickened liquid before the second waveform executes the actual ejection. This preliminary stirring action ensures that subsequent ejection cycles using push shooting manner can proceed efficiently with minimal liquid consumption.
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 effectively reduces liquid consumption by initially breaking down thickened liquid with a high-ejecting-volume waveform and then using a low-ejecting-volume waveform to minimize diffusion, thereby minimizing the total amount of liquid used in the flushing process.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure generation unit to generate a pressure variation to liquid within the pressure chamber, and is capable of ejecting the liquid from the nozzle by an operation of the pressure generation unit
Implementation Method 2
the liquid within the head is thickened by evaporating a solvent through a surface (meniscus) of the ink which is exposed at the nozzle of the liquid ejecting head
Data Source
AI summary
A first flushing pulse is a drive waveform for ejecting ink by displacing a meniscus onto a pressure chamber side and an ejecting side while interposing a standby position from the standby position, a second flushing pulse is a drive waveform for ejecting the ink by pushing out the meniscus onto the ejecting side, without substantially displacing the meniscus onto the pressure chamber side from the standby position, and in a flushing processing, after a first flushing processing is performed by ejecting the ink one or more times in accordance with the first flushing pulse, a second flushing processing is performed by ejecting the ink a plurality of times in accordance with the second flushing pulse.