Inkjet Printer Head Holder Posture Control via Encoder Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inkjet printing apparatuses face difficulties in maintaining the posture of a holder regardless of whether a print head is mounted, due to weight differences and potential contact failures, leading to instability and potential holder descent.
Innovation Solution
An inkjet printing apparatus with a holder unit, drive unit, and determination unit that uses a combination of electric contact readings and rotary encoder measurements to determine the presence or absence of a print head, adjusting the driving force to maintain posture appropriately.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a predetermined current is fed through the motor to maintain the posture of the holder, then the posture can be maintained in a simple control manner, but the current must be switched between cases with and without print head, leading to potential posture maintenance failure when electric contact is broken
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary verification process using the holder's own movement characteristics. Instead of relying solely on electric contact detection, the system uses the holder unit as a mediator to verify print head presence by observing its movement response to driving forces. This intermediary verification resolves the contradiction by providing a reliable detection method that works regardless of electric contact status.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by measuring the actual movement of the holder unit in response to a test driving force and comparing it against expected movement characteristics. This feedback mechanism allows the system to accurately determine print head presence based on physical response rather than electrical contact, resolving the reliability issue while maintaining simple control.
2Device complexity
If electric contact reading is used to determine print head mounting status, then the control method is simple, but contact failure causes mistaken determination leading to insufficient current and holder descent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the electrical detection system (electric contact reading) with a mechanical detection system based on measuring the holder unit's movement in response to a driving force. This substitution resolves the contradiction by providing a detection method that is both simple in concept and highly reliable, as it directly measures the physical presence of the print head through its effect on holder movement rather than relying on electrical contact integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The holder unit itself serves as an intermediary that translates the presence or absence of the print head into measurable movement characteristics. By using the holder's movement response as the detection basis, the system achieves both simplicity and reliability, overcoming the limitations of direct electric contact reading.
3Manufacturing precision
If PID control is used for heavy line-head to maintain posture, then precise control is achieved, but it is difficult to set appropriate parameters and control switching becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by using a simple predetermined current rather than full PID control for posture maintenance. This resolves the contradiction by demonstrating that excessive control complexity (full PID) is unnecessary when the goal is simply to maintain posture against gravity. The simpler approach achieves sufficient precision without the burden of complex parameter setting and switching.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the essential function needed for posture maintenance (counteracting gravity with a predetermined current) and removes unnecessary control complexity (PID parameter setting and switching). This extraction resolves the contradiction by keeping only the necessary control elements while eliminating the complex parameter management overhead.
Data Source
AI summary
There are provided an inkjet printing apparatus capable of maintaining posture of a holder regardless of presence or absence of an item which the holder supports and a method for controlling the inkjet printing apparatus. For this purpose, based on a change value Dsi of a rotary encoder 110 while driving a carriage motor 92 with driving force capable of maintaining posture of a head holder 90 which does not support a print head 8, the presence or absence of the print head 8 which the head holder 90 supports.