Inkjet Head Maintenance Layout for Compact Nozzle Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet recording apparatuses face issues with nozzle clogging due to moisture loss, solidification of ink, and entry of paper dust or air bubbles, leading to ejection failures, and existing cleaning mechanisms often result in a larger apparatus size.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejection apparatus with a maintenance unit that includes a cap tray for protecting ink ejection surfaces and a cleaning tray for recovering ejection capability, positioned to minimize the apparatus' width, using cap and cleaning mechanisms that move independently to maintain compact size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the cleaning mechanism and cap are arranged side by side in the sheet width direction and move integrally, then the cleaning and capping functions are maintained, but the apparatus dimension in the sheet width direction increases
Solution Approach 1:
The maintenance unit is divided into separate components: the cap tray and cleaning tray are positioned at different locations along the sheet conveyance direction rather than side by side. The cap mechanism and cleaning mechanism operate independently at their respective positions, allowing the apparatus to maintain compact width while preserving both cleaning and capping functions.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of arranging the cap and cleaning mechanisms side by side in the sheet width direction (horizontal dimension), the patent positions them at different locations along the sheet conveyance direction (longitudinal dimension). This dimensional reorganization allows both functions to coexist without increasing the apparatus width, effectively using the longitudinal space to resolve the spatial conflict.
2Length of stationary object
If the cap tray and cleaning tray are positioned to minimize apparatus width, then compact size is achieved, but access and operation of maintenance functions may be limited
Solution Approach 1:
The cap tray and cleaning tray are configured to be movable along the sheet conveyance direction, allowing them to be dynamically positioned for maintenance operations. The trays can be moved to accessible positions when maintenance is needed and retracted to compact positions during normal operation, balancing compact size with operational accessibility.
Data Source
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AI summary
A liquid ejection apparatus (1) includes an ejection head (22) configured to include an ejection port surface in which ejection ports for ejecting liquid are arranged, a cap (181) configured to be movable to a capping position where the ejection port surface is capped, and to an uncapped position where the ejection port surface is not capped, and a cleaning mechanism (191) configured to be movable, independently of the cap, to a cleaning position where the ejection head is cleaned, and to a standby position where the ejection head is not cleaned. The cap at the uncapped position is positioned above the cleaning mechanism at the standby position.