Inkjet Recording Apparatus Phase Detection Charging Timing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional inkjet recording apparatuses struggle to maintain optimal charging timing for continuous printing on long products like cables, hoses, and pipes, leading to print disorders due to changes in ink viscosity and temperature, and are unable to apply phase detection charging signals effectively during infinite printing.

Innovation Solution

An inkjet recording apparatus that continuously detects the optimum charging timing by using a phase detection charging signal, even during non-printing periods, and applies it to ink particles for character width adjustment to ensure accurate printing on long products by shifting the particulation cycle phase and comparing charged voltages to a threshold.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the particulation cycle phase is shifted to detect optimum charging timing during non-printing periods, then charging timing accuracy is improved, but printing speed deteriorates due to time consumption for detection

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharging timing accuracyVSAvoidprinting speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs phase detection charging during non-printing periods before actual printing begins, allowing the optimum charging timing to be detected and stored in advance. This preliminary detection ensures that when printing starts, the system already has the optimized charging parameters ready, eliminating the need to slow down printing to perform detection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously updates the optimum charging phase by accumulating charged amount information from successive phase detection charging operations. Even during non-printing periods, the system maintains continuous monitoring and adjustment of charging timing, ensuring that the printing system always operates with current optimal parameters without interrupting the printing flow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

2Measurement precision

If phase detection charging is performed during non-printing periods, then charging timing is optimized, but the non-printing period duration increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoptimum charging phase detectionVSAvoidnon-printing period duration
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs phase detection charging with excessive action by conducting multiple phase detection operations during the non-printing period to ensure accurate detection of the optimum charging phase. Although this consumes more time than a single detection would require, it guarantees robust detection under varying conditions such as temperature and ink viscosity changes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Productivity

If printing is performed continuously on long products without non-printing periods, then productivity is improved, but the ability to detect and adjust optimum charging timing is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontinuous printing capabilityVSAvoidoptimum charging phase detection
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements periodic phase detection charging at predetermined intervals during continuous printing operations. This periodic action allows the system to maintain continuous productivity while still periodically updating the optimum charging timing to adapt to changes in ink properties, temperature, and other environmental factors that may occur during extended printing runs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from charged amount detection during periodic phase detection charging to continuously adjust and update the optimum charging phase. The detected charged amount information is fed back to modify the charging timing, ensuring that the system adapts to changing conditions while maintaining continuous printing operations without complete non-printing periods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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 allows for continuous, high-quality printing on long products without print disorders by constantly adjusting the charging timing, ensuring the inkjet recording apparatus maintains optimal charging conditions, even during infinite printing scenarios.

Implementation Method 1

a charging electrode to apply two kinds of charging signals to the ink particles

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical charging: Electrostatic Induction

Implementation Method 2

An inkjet recording apparatus is configured to print by subjecting an ink injected from a nozzle to particulation at a constant cycle

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInk injection and particulation: Jet

Data Source

PatentEP2559557B1Inkjet recording apparatus
Publication Date: 2014.10.15 HITACHI IND EQUIP SYST CO LTD
  • EP2559557B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2559557B1 patent drawingFigure 2A(a)~2B(b)
  • EP2559557B1 patent drawingFigure 2C

AI summary

An inkjet recording apparatus includes an ink particle generation unit that makes a pressurized ink injected from a nozzle into particles, a charging unit that electrically charges the ink particle of those subjected to particulation, which corresponds to a dot to be printed, a polarizing unit that polarizes the electrically charged ink particle in a polarizing electric field, a collection unit that allows a gutter to collect the ink particle corresponding to the dot that is not printed, and a character forming unit that forms a character as a dot matrix on a printing object. A phase detection charging signal is applied to the ink particle that is not used for printing when forming the dot matrix character so as to detect an optimum charging timing in a process of forming the dot matrix character.