Inkjet Head Capping with Shared Pump Humidified Air Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet recording apparatuses using water-based ink face issues with ink viscosity increase and clogging due to moisture evaporation from nozzles during non-printing operations, and existing solutions for temperature-controlled humidified air delivery are bulky and complex when multiple inkjet heads are used.
Innovation Solution
A maintenance device with multiple caps, one air pump, and supply parts for each inkjet head, which generates and delivers temperature-controlled humidified air to each cap, using a centralized air pump system to maintain ink quality without increasing device size or complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If one tank and one pump are used for all caps, then device size and complexity are reduced, but temperature control for each cap becomes impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the air supply function by providing individual supply parts for each cap while sharing a common pump. Each supply part can independently control humidified air supply to its corresponding cap, enabling temperature control for each cap without requiring separate pumps, thus resolving the contradiction between device complexity and temperature control capability
Solution Approach 2:
The single air pump serves multiple functions by supplying air to multiple supply parts that each serve different caps. This multi-functional design allows the system to maintain temperature control for each cap while using a shared pump, reducing overall device complexity while preserving individual temperature control capability
2Temperature
If individual tanks and pumps are provided for each cap, then temperature control for each cap is enabled, but device size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple air supply functions into a single pump that serves all caps through shared air supply pathways. By combining the pump function while maintaining individual supply parts for each cap, the system achieves temperature control for each cap without the complexity of multiple pumps, effectively resolving the contradiction
3Device complexity
If humidified air is supplied to all caps from a single source, then device complexity is reduced, but individual temperature control for each inkjet head becomes impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The air supply system is segmented into multiple independent supply parts, each dedicated to a specific cap. Although these supply parts share a common pump and are structurally integrated (reducing complexity), each supply part can independently adjust and control the temperature and flow of humidified air to its corresponding cap, thereby achieving individual temperature control capability while maintaining low device complexity
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
Effectively suppresses ink viscosity increase and clogging by delivering humidified air to each inkjet head, maintaining ink quality and preventing moisture evaporation, while keeping the device compact and efficient.
Implementation Method 1
supply parts provided for the caps, store a humidifying medium, generate a humidified air by passing air supplied from the air pump, and supply the humidified air to the caps
Data Source
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AI summary
A maintenance device (30) maintains a head unit (11) including a plurality of inkjet heads (12). The maintenance device (30) includes a plurality of caps (72), one air pump (95), and a plurality of supply parts (92). The caps (72) are provided for the inkjet heads (12), and attached to nozzle surfaces of the inkjet heads (12). The air pump (95) supplies air to a plurality of places. The supply parts (92) are provided for the caps (72), store a humidifying medium, generate a humidified air by passing air supplied from the air pump (95), and supply the humidified air to the caps (72) .