Inkjet Printer Nozzle Timing Control for Residual Vibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inkjet printing technologies face challenges in suppressing the effect of residual vibration in the meniscus of ink within the nozzle, leading to decreased ejection speed and positional deviation of ink on the printing medium, particularly when the ejection interval is shorter than the decay time of residual vibration.
Innovation Solution
A method is introduced where the control part determines N output timings based on a prohibition interval, adjusting candidate timings to ensure that the effect of residual vibration is suppressed by setting output timings either outside or after the prohibition interval, thereby stabilizing ink ejection from the nozzle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the ejection interval of ink is reduced to increase printing speed, then productivity is improved, but the residual vibration of the meniscus does not decay between ejections causing ejection speed decrease and positional deviation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies periodic action by using multiple types of ejection signals (first, second, third types) with different周期的 characteristics. When residual vibration is detected, the system switches to a different ejection signal type with a longer period or different frequency characteristics, allowing the meniscus vibration to decay while still maintaining periodic ink ejection. This resolves the contradiction by enabling high-speed printing through periodic ejection while maintaining accuracy by adapting the period characteristics based on vibration state.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the parameters of the ejection signal (voltage amplitude, pulse width, frequency) depending on the vibration state of the meniscus. By detecting residual vibration and switching between different ejection signal types with different parameter sets, the system can maintain stable ejection at high speeds. This parameter adaptation allows the system to achieve both high productivity and reliable ejection accuracy.
2Reliability
If multiple types of ejection signals are prepared to suppress residual vibration effect, then ejection accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple signal types
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service by automatically detecting the vibration state of the meniscus and autonomously selecting the appropriate ejection signal type. The control unit monitors the decay time of residual vibration and switches between first, second, or third type ejection signals without external intervention. This automation reduces control complexity while maintaining high ejection accuracy through adaptive signal selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses feedback by monitoring the residual vibration decay time and using this information to select the appropriate ejection signal type. The control unit measures the time required for meniscus vibration to decay and feeds this information back into the signal selection logic. This feedback mechanism enables accurate ejection by adapting to real-time vibration conditions without requiring complex manual control.
3Reliability
If the ejection interval is longer than the decay time to allow vibration decay, then ejection accuracy is improved, but productivity decreases due to longer intervals between ejections
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies dynamics by making the ejection interval adaptive rather than fixed. The control unit dynamically adjusts the timing and type of ejection signals based on the real-time vibration state of the meniscus. When vibration decays quickly, shorter intervals are used for high productivity; when vibration persists, the system switches to ejection signal types that accommodate longer intervals while maintaining accuracy. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between speed and accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
By using multiple periodic ejection signal types with different characteristics, the system can maintain rhythmic ink ejection even when some periods need to be extended for vibration decay. The periodic nature of the ejection is preserved through structured signal types, while the period duration can be flexibly adjusted based on vibration conditions, enabling both high productivity and accurate ejection.
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 effectively suppresses the impact of residual vibration, ensuring consistent ink ejection speed and accurate positioning on the printing medium by adjusting output timings in accordance with the relative speed of the printing medium and the ejection head.
Implementation Method 1
a driving element giving pressure variation to the ink inside the pressure chamber
Implementation Method 2
there occurs vibration in a meniscus of the ink formed in the nozzle as the ink is ejected and this vibration decays with the passage of time
Data Source
AI summary
The N candidate timings Tc (I) from the first one to the N-th one which are arranged in chronological order with an interval of the cycle Cs in accordance with the transport speed V of the printing medium WP are set. When the I-th candidate timing Tc (I) is set outside the prohibition interval Pw with the (I−1)th output timing Td (I−1) as the starting point timing, the I-th candidate timing Tc (I) is determined as the I-th output timing Td (I). On the other hand, when the I-th candidate timing Tc (I) is set within the prohibition interval Pw with the (I−1)th output timing Td (I−1) as the starting point timing, a timing after the prohibition interval Pw is determined as the I-th output timing Td (I).