Inkjet Nozzle Ejection Detection with Airflow Stabilization
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ink jet printing technologies face challenges in accurately detecting ejection failures of ink droplets due to reduced flying distances and stirring caused by low ejection speeds or nozzle aging, leading to erroneous detection and unnecessary recovery processes.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus with a control unit, sensor, determination unit, and adjustment unit to detect and adjust ejection intervals, incorporating a liquid droplet detection sensor and a method to stabilize airflow before detection, ensuring accurate ejection state assessment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the ejection speed of ink droplets is reduced, then the flying distance is shortened and detection accuracy is improved, but the ink droplets are stirred up by airflow and detection accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary ejection of ink droplets before actual detection to stabilize the airflow in the detection area. This preliminary action removes turbulence and creates a stable environment for subsequent detection, preventing the harmful effect of airflow on low-speed droplets
Solution Approach 2:
The preliminary ejected ink droplets act as an intermediary to condition the airflow environment. By ejecting droplets in advance, the system prepares the detection area by stabilizing the air flow, which then allows accurate detection of subsequent droplets without the harmful effects of turbulence
2Productivity
If the carriage scanning is performed continuously, then productivity is improved, but airflow turbulence stirs up liquid droplets and causes erroneous detection
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic ejection of ink droplets with specific intervals, including suspension periods where no ejection occurs. This periodic action allows the airflow to stabilize between detection cycles, preventing turbulence-induced errors while maintaining overall productivity through efficient use of detection windows
3Measurement precision
If suspension time is extended to suppress airflow turbulence, then detection accuracy is improved, but detection period is prolonged
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies suspension time selectively - not for all nozzles or all detection operations, but only when and where airflow turbulence is detected or expected to affect detection accuracy. This partial application of suspension time achieves the necessary accuracy improvement without unnecessarily extending the overall detection period
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
Enhances detection accuracy by minimizing the impact of airflow turbulence and stirring, preventing erroneous ejection failure determinations and reducing unnecessary recovery processes.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor configured to detect the liquid droplet ejected from each of the nozzles
Data Source
AI summary
An embodiment of the present invention is a printing apparatus including: a print head including a plurality of nozzles each configured to eject a liquid droplet to a print medium; a control unit configured to control drive of each of the nozzles so as to eject the liquid droplet; a sensor configured to detect the liquid droplet ejected from each of the nozzles; a determination unit configured to perform determination as to whether or not stir of the liquid droplet is present in a case where each of the nozzles is driven by the control unit; and an adjustment unit configured to perform adjustment of an ejection interval between the nozzles in a case of detecting the liquid droplet by using the sensor, the adjustment being carried out based on the determination as to whether or not the stir is present.