Inkjet Print Head Nozzle Cleaning With Ultrasonic Contamination Capture

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Solution Overview

Problem

Cleaning liquid with contamination can enter the interior of print heads or their ink supply system, leading to ink curing issues.

Innovation Solution

A cleaning method using a cleaning slide with an ultrasonic cleaning device, suction device, and rinsing device, involving forward and return movements to prevent contamination by aspirating cleaning liquid and contaminants immediately after ultrasonic cleaning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If cleaning liquid is applied to nozzle surfaces using ultrasonic vibration, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but cleaning liquid with contamination may enter the interior of print heads

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidcontamination of ink supply system

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The suction device is positioned downstream of the ultrasonic cleaning device and activated during the cleaning process to preemptively capture cleaning liquid before it can enter the print head interior, preventing contamination before it occurs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The suction device acts as an intermediary element between the cleaning liquid application and the print head interior, intercepting and removing cleaning liquid to prevent it from reaching the ink supply system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Prevents cleaning liquid and contaminants from entering print head nozzles and ink supply systems, ensuring proper ink curing and reducing contamination risks.

Implementation Method 1

a cleaning slide carries out a movement along the assembly and cleans the nozzle surfaces with a cleaning liquid caused to vibrate in ultrasonic vibration

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUltrasonic vibration: Ultrasonic Vibration

Implementation Method 2

the suction device following the ultrasonic cleaning device are activated and... aspirating cleaning liquid and contaminants immediately after ultrasonic cleaning

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Data Source

PatentUS12391046B2Method of cleaning nozzle surfaces of an inkjet print head assembly

Publication Date: 2025.08.19 HEIDELBERGER DRUCKMASCHINEN AG

AI summary

A method for cleaning nozzle surfaces of an inkjet print head assembly includes using a cleaning slide to carry out a movement along the assembly and clean the nozzle surfaces with a cleaning liquid in ultrasonic vibration. The cleaning slide includes an ultrasonic cleaning device, a suction device, and a rinsing device and the movement of the cleaning slide includes a forward movement and a backward movement. During the forward movement, the ultrasonic cleaning device and the suction device following the ultrasonic cleaning device are activated while the rinsing device following the two is deactivated. During the backward movement, the rinsing device and the suction device following the rinsing device are activated while the ultrasonic cleaning device following the two is deactivated. Cleaning liquid and contamination are advantageously prevented from reaching the interior of print heads or into an ink supply system thereof, preferably in industrial inkjet printing.