Inkjet Recording Apparatus with Mode-Based Inter-Page Recovery
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet recording apparatuses face issues with ink droplet variations causing density unevenness and streaks due to manufacturing errors or temporal changes, leading to increased recording time and reduced throughput due to inter-page recovery operations.
Innovation Solution
A recording apparatus with a control unit that determines the necessity of inter-page recovery operations based on recording mode information, optimizing the execution of recovery operations to maintain ink discharge performance and reduce recording time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If inter-page recovery operations are performed to maintain ink discharge performance, then image quality is maintained, but recording time increases and throughput decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of recovery operation frequency based on actual recording conditions. The control unit monitors recording mode information and temporal changes in ink discharge performance, then adaptively determines whether to perform inter-page recovery operations. This dynamic approach replaces fixed-frequency recovery operations with condition-based operations, resolving the contradiction between maintaining performance and maximizing throughput.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of recovery operation timing from a fixed schedule to a variable schedule based on recording mode information. By analyzing the content and characteristics of recording data, the system adjusts the frequency and timing of recovery operations, performing them only when necessary to maintain image quality while minimizing interruptions to recording throughput.
2Manufacturing precision
If inter-page recovery operations are performed frequently to maintain ink discharge performance, then density unevenness and streaks are reduced, but recording time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms where the control unit continuously monitors recording mode information and ink discharge performance characteristics. Based on this feedback, the system intelligently determines the necessity of recovery operations, performing them only when actual degradation is detected or predicted. This feedback-driven approach prevents unnecessary recovery operations that would waste time while ensuring operations are performed when needed for image quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary analysis of recording mode information before executing recording operations. By examining the characteristics of upcoming recording data, the system can predict when ink discharge performance degradation might occur and proactively schedule recovery operations only when necessary, rather than performing them routinely. This preliminary assessment reduces unnecessary recovery operations and associated time losses.
Data Source
AI summary
A recording apparatus includes a recording unit, a scanning unit configured to perform relative scanning by moving the recording unit and a recording medium relative to each other at least once with respect to a unit region on the recording medium, a recovery unit configured to perform a recovery operation for maintaining or recovering a recording performance of the recording unit for application of a recording material, and a control unit configured to control the recovery unit, wherein the control unit acquires recording mode information about recording of an image to be performed on a recording medium for (n+1)-th page (n being a natural number) and determines, based on the acquired recording mode information, whether to perform an inter-page recovery operation at timing after recording of an image on a recording medium for n-th page ends and before recording of an image on a recording medium for (n+1)-th page starts.