Inkjet Nozzle Meniscus Integrity During Carriage-Based Replenishment
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Solution Overview
Problem
In on-carriage-type inkjet recording apparatuses, the pressure applied during ink replenishment can break the nozzle meniscus, leading to ink discharge failures.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejection apparatus design that moves the carriage and cap into a non-capping state before replenishing the ink, preventing pressure on the nozzle and allowing for safe ink replenishment without breaking the nozzle meniscus, and includes a control unit to manage the non-capping state and determine necessary cleaning based on the duration of this state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ink replenishment is performed while the nozzle is covered by the cap, then the recording head can remain sealed, but pressure is applied to the capping means side and the nozzle meniscus is broken causing ink discharge failure
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit automatically opens the cap before ink replenishment and closes it after replenishment is complete. This preliminary action of opening the cap prevents pressure from being applied to the nozzle during ink replenishment, thereby preventing meniscus breakage while still allowing convenient ink replenishment operation.
2Reliability
If the cap is opened during ink replenishment to prevent pressure on the nozzle, then the nozzle meniscus is preserved, but the recording head is exposed to air which may cause drying
Solution Approach 1:
The cap is opened only for the specific periodic interval during which ink replenishment is performed, and is closed at all other times. This periodic opening/closing action ensures the nozzle is exposed to air only when necessary for replenishment, minimizing drying risk while maintaining meniscus integrity during replenishment.
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejection apparatus has a liquid ejection head that has nozzles for ejecting liquid, a liquid container that has a liquid replenishing port through which the liquid is replenished from the outside, a plug member that can close the liquid replenishing port by being positioned at a closing position and open the liquid replenishing port by being positioned at an open position, a carriage configured to arrange the liquid ejection head and the liquid container, a cap configured to cap the nozzles so as to cover the nozzles, and a control unit, assuming that a state where the nozzles are covered by the cap is a capping state and a state where the nozzles are not covered by the cap is a non-capping state, configured to bring the nozzles and the cap into the non-capping state before removing the external container from the liquid replenishing port.