Ink Jet Printer Nozzle Detection Using Printed Droplets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ink jet printers consume ink unnecessarily during defective nozzle detection, as ink droplets are discharged specifically for detection purposes, leading to wasteful ink consumption.
Innovation Solution
An ink jet printer design that detects defective nozzles using ink droplets discharged during printing, with a detection mechanism that includes a light emitting section, a light receiving section, and a control system to identify nozzles not detecting ink droplets at scheduled timings, allowing for detection within the printable range without additional mechanical complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If ink droplets are discharged specifically for defective nozzle detection, then detection accuracy is improved, but ink consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses ink droplets that are already being discharged for printing purposes to perform defective nozzle detection. The ink jet head discharges ink droplets according to print data, and these same droplets are detected by the light receiving section to identify defective nozzles, eliminating the need for separate detection droplet discharge
Solution Approach 2:
The ink droplets serve dual purposes: they function as both the printing material and the detection target. The same ink discharge mechanism and droplets are utilized for both the inherent printing function and the defective nozzle detection function, maximizing resource utilization
2Measurement precision
If the light emitting section or light receiving section is moved in the sub scanning direction to detect all nozzles, then detection coverage is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The detection region width in the sub scanning direction is designed to be equal to or greater than the printable range width, allowing all nozzles to be detected by moving only in the main scanning direction. This dimensional adjustment eliminates the need for additional movement mechanisms in the sub scanning direction
Solution Approach 2:
The requirement for complex dual-directional movement mechanisms is extracted and eliminated by redesigning the detection region dimensions. The system achieves complete nozzle detection coverage through main scanning direction movement alone, removing unnecessary mechanical complexity
3Measurement precision
If the detection region width in the main scanning direction is increased to cover the entire printable range, then detection accuracy is improved, but the impact of print target image contents on detection execution increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system determines in advance which nozzles should discharge ink droplets based on print data before detection. The light receiving section is positioned to detect droplets from all nozzles across the printable range, and the control section compares actual detection results with the predetermined discharge plan to identify defective nozzles, ensuring consistent detection regardless of image contents
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 approach reduces wasteful ink consumption by utilizing ink droplets already being printed, improving detection accuracy and eliminating the need for additional mechanical components to move detection regions, thus enhancing the printer's efficiency and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
a light emitting section that emits light for detecting the flying ink droplet that was discharged from the nozzle; a light receiving section that receives the light emitted by the light emitting section
Data Source
AI summary
An ink jet printer is provided with an ink jet head in which a nozzle for discharging an ink droplet toward a print medium is formed, a light emitting section that emits light for detecting the flying ink droplet that was discharged from the nozzle, and a light receiving section that receives the light emitted by the light emitting section are provided; detects the ink droplet in a case where an amount of the light received by the light receiving section among the light emitted by the light emitting section is equal to or less than a predetermined amount; and determines that a nozzle is defective (S167) in a case where the ink droplet discharged from the nozzle based on print data in the printing by the ink jet head is not detected at a scheduled timing of passing through a detection region (YES in S163 and YES in S164).