Inkjet Heater Protective Layer for Stable Ejection After Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inkjet printing technologies face issues with unstable ejection characteristics due to burnt-on deposits on heaters, leading to changes in ejection speed and quality, affecting printed images.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejection apparatus with a thermal action unit and a first protective layer made of a material that dissolves through electrochemical reaction with ink, allowing for the removal of burnt-on deposits and stabilization of ejection characteristics through a cleaning and aging process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a preliminary ejection process (aging) is performed to form burnt-on ink on heater surfaces, then ejection characteristics are stabilized, but the heaters accumulate burnt-on deposits that eventually degrade performance
Solution Approach 1:
A protective layer made of metal-containing material is introduced as an intermediary between the heater and the ink. This layer undergoes electrochemical reactions with the ink, allowing burnt-on deposits to form on the protective layer instead of directly on the heater, while still providing the beneficial aging effect for ejection stability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the chemical state and composition of the heater surface by coating it with a metal-containing protective layer. This layer can be dynamically reacted with ink through electrochemical reactions, transforming the heater surface properties to prevent direct ink combustion while maintaining ejection characteristics
2Object-generated harmful factors
If burnt-on deposits are removed from heater surfaces, then heater performance is restored, but ejection characteristics become unstable again
Solution Approach 1:
The protective layer serves as a sacrificial intermediary that accumulates burnt-on deposits instead of the heater. When cleaning is performed, only the protective layer with its burnt-on deposits is removed or reacted, leaving the heater surface intact and ready to quickly regain stable ejection characteristics
Solution Approach 2:
The protective layer is pre-formed on the heater surface before ink ejection begins. This preliminary action creates a stable interface that can undergo controlled electrochemical reactions, ensuring consistent ejection characteristics from the start and through subsequent cleaning cycles
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
Stabilizes ejection characteristics by removing burnt-on deposits, ensuring consistent ink ejection and high-quality printing.
Implementation Method 1
a first protective layer provided to block a contact between the thermal action unit and the liquid and formed of a material containing metal that dissolves into the liquid by having an electrochemical reaction with the liquid
Implementation Method 2
a thermal action unit having a heat generating element for generating energy required to eject the liquid
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure aims to obtain stable ejection characteristics after performing removal of burnt-on deposits. An embodiment of the present invention is a liquid ejection apparatus including: a liquid ejection head having an ejection port from which to eject liquid, a thermal action unit having a heat generating element for generating energy required to eject the liquid, and a first protective layer provided to block a contact between the thermal action unit and the liquid and formed of a material containing metal that dissolves into the liquid by having an electrochemical reaction with the liquid; and a control unit configured to perform a cleaning process to remove burnt-on deposits accumulating on the first protective layer by dissolving the first protective layer through an electrochemical reaction and perform an aging process to accumulate burnt-on deposits onto the first protective layer after the cleaning process.