Inkjet Maintenance Cap with Suppression Member
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet recording apparatuses using aqueous ink face issues with moisture vaporization from ink within nozzles during non-printing periods, leading to increased viscosity and potential ejection failures or clogging.
Innovation Solution
A maintenance device with a cap and suppression member is used to fit over the nozzle surface of an inkjet head, featuring an air supply port and an air discharge port. The suppression member is positioned between the air supply port and the nozzle surface, preventing direct contact between wetted air and the nozzle surface, thereby reducing condensation and maintaining uniform ink viscosity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wetted air is supplied directly to the nozzle surface to prevent ink viscosity increase, then ink ejection reliability is improved, but condensation occurs on the nozzle surface causing ink to be pulled out and deposit in the cap
Solution Approach 1:
A suppression member is introduced as an intermediary component between the air supply port and the nozzle surface. This member prevents wetted air from making direct contact with the nozzle surface, thereby eliminating condensation and ink deposition while still allowing the air supply function to operate through alternative pathways (side surfaces and discharge port).
Solution Approach 2:
The air supply function is segmented into multiple contact pathways: air can reach the nozzle surface through the side surfaces of the suppression member and through the air discharge port, rather than requiring direct contact from the air supply port. This segmentation maintains the humidification function while preventing harmful condensation.
2Stability of the object's composition
If air supply port is positioned close to nozzle surface for effective humidification, then ink viscosity control is improved, but direct contact causes condensation and ink pull-out
Solution Approach 1:
The suppression member serves as a mediator that allows the air supply port to be positioned close to the nozzle surface for effective humidification while preventing direct contact. The member's porous structure or gaps enable moisture transfer without liquid condensation, maintaining ink viscosity stability without harmful side effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The suppression member provides different local properties: it allows moisture passage through its porous structure or gaps while preventing liquid condensation and direct air contact. This local quality differentiation enables effective humidification at the nozzle surface without the harmful effects of condensation.
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 effectively prevents direct contact between wetted air and the nozzle surface, reducing condensation and maintaining uniform ink viscosity, which enhances the reliability of ink ejection and improves image density uniformity.
Implementation Method 1
The suppression member is opposed to the air supply port, provided between the air supply port and the nozzle surface, and separate from the air supply port and also separate from the nozzle surface
Data Source
AI summary
The maintenance device includes a cap and a suppression member. The cap, including an air supply port and an air discharge port, is to be fitted to a nozzle surface of an inkjet head. The suppression member is opposed to the air supply port, provided between the air supply port and the nozzle surface, and separate from the air supply port and also separate from the nozzle surface.