Inkjet Print Head Cleaning via Border Fluid Spray and Gas Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet print heads experience nozzle downtime leading to ink viscosity issues and drying, especially in color printers where unused nozzles require multiple cleaning cycles, resulting in inefficiencies and potential jams.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning device with a first nozzle unit spraying fluid at an angle onto the component to be cleaned and a second nozzle unit generating a gaseous medium along the edge to distribute and remove deposits, minimizing fluid consumption and ensuring reliable cleaning by applying fluid only to the border region and using compressed air for distribution and drying.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cleaning fluid is sprayed onto the entire surface of the print head, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but fluid consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies cleaning fluid only to the border region of the print head surface rather than the entire surface. This localized application is achieved through a nozzle arrangement that targets specific peripheral areas, reducing fluid consumption while maintaining cleaning effectiveness through the subsequent action of the gaseous medium that distributes the fluid across the full surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a gaseous medium as an intermediary that acts as a distributor and amplifier. The gas flows over the surface to distribute the cleaning fluid applied at the border region across the entire print head surface, and also performs drying function. This intermediary enables effective full-surface cleaning with minimal fluid application.
2Reliability
If multiple cleaning cycles are performed to clean unused print heads, then cleaning completeness is improved, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a continuous cleaning process where cleaning fluid application, gaseous medium distribution, and drying occur in an integrated sequence without interruption. The gaseous medium continuously flows over the surface during and after fluid application, maintaining cleaning action throughout the process rather than requiring separate discrete cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple cleaning functions (wet cleaning, fluid distribution, and drying) into a single integrated cleaning device. The cleaning fluid nozzle unit and gaseous medium nozzle unit work together in one coordinated operation, combining what would traditionally require multiple separate cleaning cycles into one efficient process.
3Reliability
If cleaning devices with multiple nozzles are used to clean the entire surface, then cleaning coverage is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gaseous medium serves as an intermediary that eliminates the need for multiple fluid nozzles distributed across the surface. Instead of placing numerous cleaning fluid nozzles to cover the entire surface, the system uses border-region nozzles combined with gas flow to achieve complete surface coverage, significantly simplifying the nozzle arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional array of nozzles covering the surface to a one-dimensional border region nozzle arrangement combined with three-dimensional gas flow. The gaseous medium adds a volumetric dimension to fluid distribution, allowing fewer nozzles to achieve complete surface coverage through fluid transport by gas flow.
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 solution reduces costs, space requirements, and fluid consumption while ensuring high reliability in cleaning, as the gaseous medium effectively removes deposits and dries the surface, preventing partial cleaning failures and maintaining nozzle functionality.
Implementation Method 1
at least one first nozzle unit is positioned to spray a fluid at an angle onto a surface of the component that is to be cleaned
Implementation Method 2
at least one second nozzle unit generates a flow of a gaseous medium over the surface to be cleaned
Implementation Method 3
the gaseous medium effectively removes deposits and dries the surface
Data Source
AI summary
In a device to clean a component of deposits, at least one first nozzle unit is positioned to spray a fluid at an angle onto a surface of the component that is to be cleaned, the first nozzle unit being provided opposite a border region of the surface of the component that is to be cleaned. At least one second nozzle unit generates a flow of a gaseous medium over the surface to be cleaned and is provided adjacent to edge of the border region of the surface of the component that is to be cleaned.