Inkjet Head Liquid Return and Storage Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet recording devices face challenges in managing ink remaining in the head and channels during storage, leading to increased ink wastage and the need for large maintenance liquid quantities to clean the head and channels.
Innovation Solution
A liquid discharging device with a cartridge mounting part, tank, head, and discharge unit that includes a cap to create negative pressure for discharging liquid, allowing for efficient return and replacement of ink with storage liquid, reducing wastage and facilitating easy maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the head and channels are cleaned with maintenance liquid during storage, then the head is cleaned from ink residue, but large quantities of maintenance liquid are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by returning ink to the cartridge before storage mode begins, preventing the need for extensive cleaning later. The controller executes a return process that actively pumps ink from the head and channels back to the cartridge, proactively addressing the cleanliness issue before storage commences.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the state of the liquid in the system by introducing storage liquid with different properties (lower viscosity, different composition) to replace ink. This parameter change allows the system to transition from ink-filled state to storage liquid-filled state, enabling easy removal and replacement of liquid without extensive cleaning.
2Productivity
If ink remains in the head and channels during storage, then the device is ready for immediate use, but ink wastage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by returning ink to the cartridge before storage mode starts. This proactive measure eliminates ink wastage during storage while maintaining readiness for immediate use, as the head is prepared with storage liquid that can be quickly replaced with fresh ink when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies discarding and recovering by actively recovering ink from the head and channels and returning it to the cartridge instead of discarding it. This recovery process prevents ink wastage while maintaining system readiness, as the ink is preserved and can be reused when the device is taken out of storage mode.
3Reliability
If a large amount of maintenance liquid is used to clean the head and channels, then thorough cleaning is achieved, but the complexity of the maintenance process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies extraction by removing the need for complex cleaning processes. Instead of using maintenance liquid to chemically clean the head and channels, the system extracts and returns the ink itself to the cartridge, then fills with storage liquid. This simplifies the maintenance process while achieving thorough cleaning效果.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses parameter changes to simplify maintenance by changing the liquid properties to enable easy removal and replacement. Storage liquid has different viscosity and composition characteristics that allow it to be easily pumped out and replaced, reducing maintenance complexity while maintaining cleaning effectiveness.
4Productivity
If the cartridge capacity is increased to reduce exchange frequency, then continuous printing period is extended, but the device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the liquid management into separate functional components: ink cartridge, tank for storage liquid, and channels with pump system. This segmentation allows the cartridge to remain a manageable size while the tank provides extended capacity, achieving long continuous printing periods without increasing overall device size excessively.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary tank system that mediates between the cartridge and the head. This intermediary allows efficient return and replacement of liquid, enabling extended printing periods by facilitating quick cartridge exchanges and liquid replenishment without requiring the cartridge itself to be extremely large.
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
The solution minimizes ink wastage during storage by returning ink to the cartridge and easily replacing it with storage liquid, enhancing the efficiency of the inkjet recording process and extending continuous printing periods without cartridge exchange.
Implementation Method 1
the discharge unit being configured to discharge the liquid from the nozzle by creating a negative pressure in an internal space of the cap
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid discharging device includes: a cartridge mounting part; a tank connected to the cartridge mounting part; a head that ejects a liquid; a discharge configured to discharge the liquid from the head; and a controller. The liquid is at least a storage liquid, a first liquid which is different from the storage liquid, or a mixture thereof. In a storage mode, the controller executes: a return process of returning the first liquid from the tank to a first liquid cartridge mounted on the cartridge mounting part; a first discharging process of discharging the first liquid from the head; a storage liquid supplying process for supplying a storage liquid from a storage liquid cartridge to the tank; and a second discharging process of discharging the storage liquid from the head, after executing the storage liquid supplying process.