Inkjet Nozzle Maintenance via Preliminary Ink Pushing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inkjet recording apparatuses face challenges in effectively removing dried and fixed ink from nozzle surfaces, as slowing down the blade movement during wiping operations is insufficient for complete ink removal.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates a control system that performs a first maintenance operation with a cleaning liquid application followed by a second operation where the ink is pushed out and then wiped, utilizing a blade that moves at increased speed to enhance ink removal efficiency and prevent drying.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the blade moves slowly during wiping operation, then the cleaning liquid has more time to dissolve the ink, but the ink dries and becomes fixed before it can be removed
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs a preliminary pushing operation before the wiping operation. The blade pushes the ink out from the nozzle surface in a first direction, removing the bulk of the ink before the wiping operation begins. This preliminary action prevents the ink from drying and becoming fixed during the subsequent wiping process.
Solution Approach 2:
The ink removal process is divided into two distinct operations: a pushing operation and a wiping operation. The pushing operation removes ink in the ejection direction, while the wiping operation removes residual ink perpendicular to the ejection direction. This segmentation allows each operation to be optimized independently, ensuring complete ink removal without drying issues.
2Reliability
If the blade moves quickly during wiping operation, then ink drying is prevented, but the cleaning liquid has insufficient time to dissolve and remove fixed ink
Solution Approach 1:
The pushing operation is performed before the wiping operation to remove the majority of the ink from the nozzle surface. By eliminating the bulk of the ink in advance, the subsequent wiping operation only needs to remove residual ink, which can be done quickly without allowing the ink to dry and become fixed.
3Device complexity
If only wiping operation is performed, then the structure is simple, but dried and fixed ink cannot be effectively removed
Solution Approach 1:
The maintenance operation is segmented into two distinct phases: a pushing operation that removes ink in the ejection direction, and a wiping operation that removes residual ink perpendicular to the ejection direction. This segmentation enables effective removal of both fresh and dried ink without requiring complex additional components.
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 ensures thorough ink removal by supplying cleaning liquid before wiping, reducing ink drying time and improving the effectiveness of the wiping process, especially when ink is prone to rapid drying.
Implementation Method 1
supplying a cleaning liquid to a nozzle surface while a blade wipes the nozzle surface
Data Source
AI summary
An inkjet recording apparatus includes a head unit, a wipe unit, and a control part. The head unit is provided with a nozzle surface on which a plurality of ink ejection ports is opened downward. The wipe unit performs a wiping operation in which a blade is moved along the nozzle surface while applying a cleaning liquid to the nozzle surface to wipe the nozzle surface. The control part controls the head unit and the wipe unit to perform a first maintenance operation to perform the wiping operation and a second maintenance operation to perform the wiping operation after the ink is pushed out from the nozzle surface. In the second maintenance operation, the cleaning liquid applied to the nozzle surface is suppled firstly, then the ink is pushed out from the nozzle surface, and then wiping operation is performed.