Inkjet Nozzle Control Circuit Noise Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet recording apparatuses with piezoelectric elements face issues with electrical noise during waiting periods, leading to potential ink ejection into the conveyance path and contamination, especially when caps without ink collection functions are not promptly attached after printing.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus includes a control circuit that transmits ejection waveform data indicating no ink ejection after printing is completed, and a cap unit to prevent ink from reaching the conveyance path, ensuring the cap is attached only when necessary to prevent ink drying and thickening in nozzles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the driver holds ejection waveform data in register during waiting period, then the printing operation can be performed quickly when needed, but electrical noise may cause malfunction and ink ejection to conveyance path
Solution Approach 1:
The control circuit transmits a predetermined ejection waveform (cleaning waveform) in advance during the waiting period before printing is needed. This preliminary action ensures that any potential noise-induced malfunctions occur during the cleaning waveform transmission rather than during actual printing, preventing ink contamination of the conveyance path while maintaining quick printing readiness.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If cap is attached immediately after printing, then ink ejection to conveyance path is prevented, but ink may dry and thicken in nozzles if cap is attached too early
Solution Approach 1:
The system transmits a predetermined ejection waveform (cleaning waveform) during the waiting period before the cap is attached. This preliminary cleaning action removes any ink that might be ejected due to noise, ensuring that when the cap is subsequently attached, the nozzles are clean and ink will not dry and thicken, while still preventing ink contamination of the conveyance path.
3Device complexity
If cap is not provided with ink collection function, then cap structure is simpler, but inkjet head is contaminated by remaining ink between cap and inkjet head
Solution Approach 1:
The control circuit transmits a predetermined ejection waveform (cleaning waveform) during the waiting period to eject any remaining ink from the nozzles before the cap is attached. This preliminary cleaning action prevents ink from remaining between the cap and inkjet head, eliminating contamination issues while maintaining the simple cap structure without ink collection function.
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 solution effectively suppresses ink ejection due to noise during non-printing states and ensures the cap is used to prevent ink contamination, maintaining the inkjet head's integrity and preventing ink from reaching the conveyance path.
Implementation Method 1
An inkjet recording apparatus which ejects an ink using a piezoelectric element is known
Data Source
AI summary
An inkjet recording apparatus includes a plurality of nozzles, a pressurizing element, a driver, a controller and a control circuit. The pressurizing element is provided for each of the nozzles. The driver drives the pressurizing elements. The controller generates image data indicating whether ink is ejected for each of the nozzles. The control circuit transmits ejection waveform data indicating a signal transmitted to the pressurizing element and the image data. After printing according to the image data transmitted to the driver is completed, in a non-printing state in which there is no image data to be subsequently printed, the control circuit transmits at least one of the image data indicating a blank sheet and the ejection waveform data in which the ink is not ejected, to the driver.