Inkjet Carriage Mist Adhesion Prevention via Segmented Discharge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet recording apparatuses face issues with nozzle clogging due to the adhesion of treatment liquid mist to the ink head, especially when the ink head and treatment liquid head are mounted on a single carriage, leading to increased mist generation and flocculation of ink.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus is designed such that the ink head does not pass through the treatment liquid discharging part after discharging the treatment liquid in the same scan, reducing the adhesion of treatment liquid mist to the ink head and minimizing nozzle clogging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the ink head and treatment liquid head are mounted on a single carriage, then device complexity is reduced, but mist of treatment liquid adheres to ink head nozzles causing flocculation and nozzle clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the discharging area into distinct printing part and non-printing part, with separate discharging members for each. The treatment liquid discharging occurs at the non-printing part where the ink head does not pass through, segmenting the harmful mist generation zone from the ink head path.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the treatment liquid discharging function from the printing part and relocates it to the non-printing part. This separation removes the source of harmful mist adhesion from the ink head's operational path, eliminating the clogging problem while maintaining the single carriage structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the gap between nozzle and target object is increased for thick cloth printing, then printing capability is improved, but floating amount of mist increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a spatial dimension solution by creating a dedicated non-printing part for treatment liquid discharging, separated from the ink head's scanning path. This dimensional separation allows the ink head to pass through areas without treatment liquid mist, enabling larger gaps for thick cloth printing without increasing mist adhesion.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If treatment liquid is discharged at the printing part, then mist floating amount is reduced, but density unevenness of treatment liquid occurs and print quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the discharging function into two independent parts: printing part for ink discharge and non-printing part for treatment liquid discharge. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized independently - the printing part maintains print quality while the non-printing part handles treatment liquid discharge with controlled mist generation.
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
This configuration effectively reduces the adhesion of treatment liquid mist to the ink head, thereby suppressing flocculation of the coloring material ink and preventing nozzle clogging, which improves print quality and reduces maintenance needs.
Implementation Method 1
a treatment liquid head that ejects a treatment liquid (flocculation agent) having a flocculation effect on a coloring material ink and a coloring material
Data Source
AI summary
An inkjet recording apparatus of a scanning type includes: a treatment liquid head that ejects a treatment liquid having a flocculation effect on a coloring material ink and a coloring material; and an ink head that ejects the coloring material ink in a single carriage, wherein the ink head does not pass through a treatment liquid discharging part after discharging the treatment liquid in a same scan.