Inkjet Head Contact Member Layout for Wiper Clearance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid ejection apparatuses, such as printers with line-type inkjet heads, require multiple wipers to prevent sheet warpage, leading to increased costs and labor for wiper replacement due to complex configurations.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejection apparatus with a contact member that is displaceable between two positions, allowing it to interfere with a wiper at one position and avoid interference at another, reducing the need for multiple wipers and simplifying maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple wipers are provided to correspond to multiple head units, then sheet warpage is suppressed, but apparatus cost and maintenance complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The contact member integrates the functions of multiple wipers into a single component. Instead of providing separate wipers for each head unit, the contact member is configured to contact the medium at multiple positions simultaneously, achieving sheet warpage suppression with a single integrated structure, thereby reducing apparatus cost and maintenance complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The contact member serves multiple functions: it acts as a support for the medium, suppresses sheet warpage, and enables sheet conveyance. By making the contact member multi-functional, the patent eliminates the need for separate wipers for each head unit, reducing the number of components while maintaining effective sheet control
2Reliability
If multiple wipers are provided for each head unit, then head surface cleaning is effective, but wiper replacement labor and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple wiper functions are merged into a single contact member that can be replaced as one unit. The contact member is designed to contact the medium at multiple positions, providing comprehensive head surface cleaning while reducing replacement labor from multiple individual wiper replacements to a single component replacement
Solution Approach 2:
The contact member is designed as a replaceable component that can be easily removed and replaced. By making the contact member a discrete, modular component, the patent simplifies maintenance procedures allowing quick replacement without disassembling the entire apparatus, thereby improving ease of repair
3Reliability
If contact member is positioned to interfere with wiper, then medium contact is suppressed, but wiper operation is blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The contact member is designed to be movable between different positions. During recording, it is positioned to contact the medium and suppress warpage. During wiper operation, it can be moved to a position that does not interfere with the wiper, thereby dynamically resolving the conflict between medium contact suppression and wiper operation
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejection apparatus includes a liquid ejection head, a wiper that wipes a head surface with nozzles provided thereon in the liquid ejection head by moving with respect to the head surface to wipe the head surface, and at least one contact member provided integrally with the liquid ejection head and configured to come into contact with the medium conveyed between the head surface and a facing portion, wherein the contact member is displaceable between a first position and a second position that are relative positions to the head surface, the first position is a position at which the contact member is allowed to interfere with the wiper and come into contact with the medium, and the second position is a position at which the contact member is not allowed to interfere with the wiper.