Inkjet Print Bar Segmentation and Protective Cap Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet printing apparatuses face issues with ink drying and nozzle clogging due to idle nozzles during printing pauses, leading to reduced print quality, increased ink consumption, and wear on print heads, especially in color printers where unused print heads require frequent cleaning.
Innovation Solution
A print group design where print bars with print heads can be independently moved into a transport position and sealed with protective cap bars, preventing ink drying and allowing for immediate reactivation when needed, reducing maintenance and ink consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If printing occurs from all nozzles within a predetermined cycle to prevent drying, then nozzle drying is prevented, but ink consumption increases and print head wear increases
Solution Approach 1:
The printing system is divided into multiple independently controllable print bars, each with its own drive and guidance units. This allows selective operation of individual print bars based on printing needs, so that only actively used nozzles consume ink, while unused print bars remain sealed and protected without contributing to ink waste.
Solution Approach 2:
Protective cap bars are preliminarily positioned in racks adjacent to the transport unit, ready to immediately cover unused print bars when they are moved to the transport position. This preliminary preparation of protective barriers prevents ink drying without requiring continuous printing operations, thereby eliminating unnecessary ink consumption.
2Reliability
If cleaning cycles are performed frequently on unused print heads, then nozzle functionality is maintained, but productivity decreases and ink consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Protective cap bars are preliminarily positioned in racks adjacent to the transport unit, ready to immediately cover unused print bars when they are moved to the transport position. This preliminary preparation of protective barriers prevents ink drying without requiring continuous printing operations, thereby eliminating unnecessary ink consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective cap bars are extracted as separate, removable components that can be independently applied to individual print bars. This allows the sealing function to be decoupled from the printing operation, enabling unused print bars to be protected without requiring them to be part of an active printing cycle, thus maintaining productivity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple print bars are provided for color printing, then color printing capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The printing system is divided into multiple independently controllable print bars, each with its own drive and guidance units. This allows selective operation of individual print bars based on printing needs, so that only actively used nozzles consume ink, while unused print bars remain sealed and protected without contributing to ink waste.
Solution Approach 2:
The print bars are designed with dynamic positioning capability, allowing them to be independently moved between printing position and transport position by separate drive and guidance units. This dynamic configuration enables flexible adaptation to different printing requirements (single-color, multi-color, B&W) without requiring permanent fixed installations for all possible printing modes.
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
Prevents nozzle drying, reduces maintenance costs, and enhances print quality by ensuring unused print heads are protected and ready for use, minimizing disruptions and ink waste.
Implementation Method 1
Due to the effect of the evaporation from the nozzle opening, the danger exists here that the viscosity of the ink then changes.
Data Source
AI summary
In a print group for an inkjet printing apparatus a printing unit is provided comprising a housing with print bars having print heads. A transport unit is provided for a printing substrate. Drive and guidance units are arranged per print bar which move the print bars independently of one another in a perpendicular direction from a printing position into a transport position and back. In a park unit racks are provided for protective cap bars. A protective cap bar is provided per print bar which when coupled to said print bar seals it. Print bars in an operating position not provided for printing are in the transport position and are coupled with associated protective cap bars. Print bars in said operating position for printing are in the printing position and their associated protective cap bars are arranged in the park unit racks.