Inkjet Printer Ink Heating Control via Page Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet printers face challenges in starting printing operations quickly while heating the ink to a predetermined temperature without increasing costs, particularly for ink-circulation types, which require longer heating times and often use power supply units with limited capacity.
Innovation Solution
A control method that adjusts the electric power supplied to the heating unit based on the ink temperature and calculated page coverage rate, allowing for power-saving modes and optimized heating strategies to reduce standby time and energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a power supply unit with large capacity is used to supply sufficient electric power for both printing operation and heater, then the inkjet printer can heat the ink and carry out printing operation simultaneously, but the inclusion of the power supply unit with large capacity causes increase in costs
Solution Approach 1:
The power supply unit's output capacity is made dynamically adjustable based on the heating requirements. The control unit varies the power supply capacity according to the ink temperature and heating needs, allowing the system to use larger power when heating is required and smaller power when printing is the primary function, thus avoiding the need for an oversized power supply unit that would increase costs.
2Ease of manufacture
If a power supply unit with small capacity is used to avoid increase in costs, then the cost is reduced, but the small capacity forces the inkjet printer to stand by for starting its printing operation until the temperature of the ink rises up to its predetermined reference temperature beyond the lower limit value
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary heating of the ink before the printing operation starts. The control unit monitors the ink temperature and activates the heater in advance to bring the ink to the required temperature range, ensuring that when printing begins, the ink is already at the appropriate temperature, thus minimizing standby time even with a small capacity power supply unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit continuously monitors the ink temperature and adjusts the heating process accordingly. Based on feedback from temperature sensors, the system dynamically controls the heater's operation to achieve the target temperature efficiently, preventing excessive standby time while maintaining cost-effectiveness through optimized power usage.
3Ease of manufacture
If the power supply unit supplies the heater with electric power controlled with consideration given to maximum amount of electric power needed for printing operation, then the cost is controlled, but it takes a longer time before the inkjet printer starts its printing operation
Solution Approach 1:
The electric power supplied to the heater is dynamically adjusted based on the ink temperature and heating requirements. The control unit increases the power supply to the heater when the ink temperature is low and decreases it as the temperature approaches the target range, enabling efficient heating without excessive power consumption and reducing overall heating time while maintaining cost control.
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
Enables inkjet printers to initiate printing operations faster while maintaining ink temperature within the required range without excessive cost, particularly benefiting ink-circulation type printers by efficiently managing electric power distribution between heating and printing processes.
Implementation Method 1
a heater for heating ink
Data Source
AI summary
An inkjet printer includes an inkjet head configured to perform printing on a printing sheet by use of ink. The inkjet printer includes: a heater configured to heat the ink; a thermometer configured to measure the temperature of the ink; and a controller configured to control the amount of electric power to be supplied to the heater and to control the inkjet head. In a case where the measured value of the ink temperature measured by the thermometer is in a range of a first reference temperature inclusive to a second reference temperature exclusive, the controller calculates a coverage rate of a page to be printed, and accordingly changes the amount of electric power to be supplied to the heater depending on the coverage rate thus calculated.