Inkjet Head Segmentation for Purge Wipe Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ink-jet printer technologies require a large volume of ink to be ejected to remove air bubbles and foreign matters from the nozzles, leading to ink wastage during maintenance, as the ink remaining on the ejecting surface is sucked back into the nozzles due to negative pressure.
Innovation Solution
An image recording apparatus with a liquid-droplet ejecting head that divides the ejecting surface into unit areas, allowing for sequential purging and wiping actions, where the liquid supply is controlled to discharge a predetermined volume from each nozzle before wiping, reducing the amount of ink sucked back into the nozzles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a large volume of ink is ejected from the nozzles to move air bubbles and foreign matters away from the nozzle openings, then air bubbles and foreign matters are effectively removed, but ink wastage increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The ink ejecting surface is divided into multiple unit areas, each with its own incoming passage. This segmentation allows selective supply of ink to specific unit areas that require purging, rather than ejecting ink from all nozzles simultaneously. The control device activates only the incoming passages corresponding to unit areas where air bubbles or foreign matters are detected, thereby removing contaminants effectively while minimizing overall ink consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary purging actions by ejecting ink in advance before normal recording operations resume. The control device monitors the recording process and triggers purging operations proactively when air bubbles or foreign matters are detected in the flow passages, preventing them from reaching and blocking the nozzles during actual image recording, thus maintaining reliability while reducing reactive ink waste.
2Reliability
If ink is continuously supplied to the nozzles to prevent air bubbles and foreign matters from entering, then nozzle reliability is maintained, but ink consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ink supply system is segmented into multiple independent incoming passages, each serving a specific unit area with its own nozzles. This allows the control device to activate only the specific incoming passages that require ink supply for purging or normal operation, rather than continuously supplying ink to all nozzles. The segmentation enables precise control of ink flow to maintain nozzle reliability while minimizing overall ink consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates self-diagnosis functionality where the control device monitors the recording process to detect air bubbles or foreign matters in the flow passages. When contaminants are detected, the system automatically triggers purging operations by activating the appropriate incoming passages. This self-service mechanism ensures nozzle reliability is maintained through on-demand purging rather than continuous ink supply, significantly reducing unnecessary ink consumption.
3Reliability
If the wiping member is moved in contact with the ink ejecting surface to remove remaining ink, then the ink ejecting surface is kept clean, but the operation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ink ejecting surface is divided into multiple unit areas that can be wiped independently and sequentially. The control device coordinates the wiping mechanism to move through unit areas in a systematic sequence, wiping each area after ink ejection. This segmented approach allows the wiping operation to be performed efficiently on only the necessary areas rather than requiring complete surface wiping, thereby maintaining cleanliness while reducing overall wiping time.
Solution Approach 2:
The wiping operation is integrated into the continuous recording process, with the wiping member moving sequentially through unit areas during or immediately after ink ejection operations. This continuous wiping action ensures that ink remaining on the ejecting surface is removed promptly without interrupting the overall recording workflow, maintaining surface cleanliness while minimizing the time lost to wiping operations.
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 reduces the volume of ink needed for maintenance by synchronizing purging and wiping actions, minimizing ink wastage and improving the efficiency of air bubble and foreign matter removal.
Implementation Method 1
a wiping member formed of an elastic material; a moving mechanism for moving the wiping member in the one direction, in contact with the liquid ejecting surface
Implementation Method 2
A droplet of the ink is ejected from each nozzle when the ink in the corresponding pressure chamber is pressurized by a pulsation pressure wave
Data Source
AI summary
An image recording apparatus including an ink-jet head having four ink supply passages, manifold passages communicating with the respective ink supply passages, and individual ink passages extending from the common passages to nozzles open in an ink ejecting surface, wherein groups of the nozzles communicating with the respective manifold passages are open in respective unit areas u1-u4 arranged on the ink ejecting surface. The apparatus further includes a wiping member which is moved by a moving mechanism to wipe the unit areas, an ink supply device for selectively supplying the ink supply passages with an ink to perform a purging action for discharging the ink from the nozzles, and a control device controlling the moving mechanism and the ink supply device such that before a wiping action of the wiping member in each unit area is initiated, the purging action in the following unit area as seen in a wiping direction has been initiated and such that the purging action in each unit area is completed immediately before the wiping action in that unit area is initiated.